Jeremy Camp - Shine - Lyrics - Reckless Album 2013
Matthew 20:20-28
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something.
21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The Subtitles call this: A Mother's Request
This would be what Pastor's call - a day of challenge. Even Texas High School Football Coaches hate when moms do this. Texas High School Principals call meetings about this, before school starts. That's a joke son, a joke.
Who else had days like this? Jesus. His mom called Him home early when He was twelve. His mom called Him home, when He was controversial. Jesus, being God, had to put Himself in the center - when His own mom was blessed. Telling us today, Jesus is the center. Focus on HIM.
Luke 11:27-30
As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Jesus is the Word of God.
Controversy. Jesus was in the center of controversy in His Life. And invoke His name in unexpected places today, you get controversy. God is not in favor of controversy. He is a God of order.
1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
Let us stir one another up to good works.
When we tell a controversial story, we hope a seed is planted. Raising us up to do His work. This is a true story. One I have known for decades. Explaining why we see denominational flight.
A small boy was being raised by good people. One day the four year old boy saw people attending Church, he asked him mom to take him, she explained they went on major holidays, but they'd get around to going - God is what they worshiped and Jesus, His Son. The boy asked why they didn't go all the time. The boy's mother said well, they just didn't. All the time. His father came home and the boy asked again, the father's reply was much the same. The boy wept at the dinner table. His parents took him that Sunday and he pulled them to the front pew. He was fully engaged and quite thrilled. His parents were rather stunned. And Sundays became a Day of Worship for the entire family, for the rest of their lives. And they sat on the front pew. The minister was pleased and from time to time referred to the family.
The boy played football and went on to college. He graduated and was really enraged to find he could be drafted into the Vietnam War. He was prime to go. And he had never been more angry in his life, the American Way could be the death of him. He suddenly understood the Civil Rights Movement. And saw what the Church needed to do. He enrolled quickly, with like minded men, into seminary. The place ministers refer to as cemetery.
Just as Jesus combined service to power and complications of this nature - Jesus tells us about faith and works.
James 2
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
These men were going to help the country because the country would not help itself. Works was the cry. Faith was not required, it was damaging the 'Movement.' Ease your way into faith.
No one was going to believe a Virgin could conceive a child. Obviously, if you read the Greek, the Aramaic, the Hebrew, the KJV - God did not intend us to believe a fairy tale. This was about works creating a path Jesus meant to plow. Don't look back, don't take your hand from the plow, open your mind to the new and groovy ways to connect to the ONE. Jesus didn't feed the 5,000, HE encouraged them to put their pocket food into baskets. Never mind it was only loaves and fish, not figs, nuts, grapes, melons, tomatoes, lamb, chicken, or lentils. God didn't part the Red Sea, HE made a drought. And Pharaoh and the chariots arrived in the rainy season. And as we went further down this path, open your mind - om - om - om. Jesus as God's Son was never required to Die. No one requires their Son to die. And besides that this is the HOLY GHOST - no permanent solid body saying He lives and we have new bodies joining HIM in a new Heaven and new Earth. Jesus never said HE was the way, the only way to the Father.
This is a dangerous path.
People leave. And slowly people leading the Church learn, God's Words create a burning in the heart - the disciples felt as they recognized HIM.
Yes, this is a controversial story. The point being, we serve to glorify HIM. And test our own soul, to know if we are putting HIM in the center.
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Why are the denominational changes occurring?
Romans 15:4
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Hebrews 1:11
They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.
John 20:29
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
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