Luke 21:36 ~ pray

Luke 21:36

Watch you therefore, 

and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy.

Things not in the Bible

"It's all good."

And "Eat, Drink and be Merry."

Ok, "Eat, Drink and be Merry" IS in the Bible.

Isaiah 22:13

And behold, joy and gladness!

Killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine.

“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

Luke 12:19

19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” 

Lazarus and the Rich Man.

We would all want the Merriment of the Splendor of God.

And, yet, Jesus was so far and so high beyond

the understanding of the people He chose

from the Beginning

to have in His Family for prior Generations

and the people He chose to see every day.

Yes, Jesus is the Light of the world.

John said if all that Jesus did was recorded,

we couldn't have all the books in all the world,

explain the Glory of God.

Why would you tell an Angel, 

"Sure, Ok, as a virgin engaged to Joseph -  the match my father, Heli, has set all of his pride upon - son of David, son of Kings of Israel. Sure, fine, ok, I'll have an out-of-wedlock pregnancy where I could be stoned to death from being betrothed to the Joseph of that guy's lineage."

Let's think about why Mary said, "Yes. " To God Himself.

Jesus told us. All about everything.

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

 of

The Disciples and The Godly

Understanding God

Luke 11:1

Jesus' Disciples rather 'abruptly' arrived and said to Jesus, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, Manifest Word of God, Light of the World, Light of All Men, "Hey, John's disciples know how to tap in to God in prayer power - teach us." That's the message of summary version.

However - we have to give the Disciples credit. 

In the Days following the Resurrection, Assumption and Given the Holy Spirit:

They didn't say with a tone, "Oh." The Tone would say - that's so yesterday - healing the blind, lame, sick and the "poor." They didn't smile, like they found the conversation a little to the right of overly religious. The Disciples didn't say really, miracles died off. That's why today we live "Days may come." The Apostles did not say, "Let's tone it down to impress the right people and say 'gotcha' not all prayer is answered, it's soooo nice to participate in the godly things, without messing with things like, "Miracles." These men wouldn't say, "Looking at godly things every day is - so - 'really'. "

The Disciples - give more credit - didn't say, "Sure, when you raise little children you give them "G" Rated. Then when they grow up and see divorce, then you "Date" the way people Date. And you don't bother with things like your son's girlfriend is in the hotel room next to you, and it is, "all ok." The Disciples did not cater to gay people and then act like it was a Mission Trip to speak of.

They didn't go into bars and brothels and haul out sinners. They didn't dwell at all on the things we could call sin.  The Disciples never discussed the 4 legal types of Roman Empire approved marriage.

Ok, really, the Disciples didn't even say, "OH THEN... I prayed, and he was healed, and my halo is that good."

(If Jesus had had Disciples this cool, surely the Synagogues would not have asked Jesus to speak. And the Mary Magdalenes would never approach Jesus. Or the woman who cried for her daughter. Or the Jairus of the world. But the donkeys and few horses would look better. The blind would never have sought out Jesus or the leper. A thinner crowd to be sure.)

Instead, because 

We All Fall Short of The Glory of God 

- The Disciples fell into this:

Spiritual pride - until - their lives were at stake. I think we said, 'Stake'.

"Maybe" they fell into Acts 8 - I have the goods - give me the Powah. Simon the magician offered silver. The Disciples, according to the Bible, said this:

Mark 10:28

Then Peter began to speak up. 

"We've given up everything to follow you," he said.

The Disciples actually enjoyed tattled to Jesus walking as Grace upon Grace - "Jesus, that man over there used Your Good Name and he healed and that's a no-no." Jesus disagreed.

The Disciples felt free to discuss where Jesus should and shouldn't speak. "That Samaritan Woman - really? Oh c'mon, we were just discussing 'her.'"

The Disciples said we need Jesus to call down fire on these sinners. Saying, the Disciples felt at ease to pronounce Judgement on others. Being all that - in Spiritual say so.

The Disciples moved children out of the way - to better place the momentum of the Jesus Thing.

The Disciples wanted to move ahead of the other Disciples. James and John.... did they ask their mother to help them? ...Placement, Position and Power. And then the other Disciples displayed a gang mentality to shut "That" down.

John the Baptist asked Jesus if He really was all He said.

The Disciples didn't get up early enough to pray with Jesus. As late arrivers, the Disciples had to go and look for Him and say, "Hey, the crowd is looking for You, get it?" And they didn't stay awake at night to pray, either.

(If Jesus had gone along with all these neat labels - Mathew and his thug white-collar group - probably wouldn't have lasted long. )

What happened to Judas? The Scriptures tell us he loved money. The Scriptures tell us he wanted to manipulate Jesus. Maybe even as the Agent of Jesus to direct the show. Judas went to the government? Sort of - yes. Judas went to the Temple and Sanhedrin Council - where Judas wanted to "blend."

We know Mary was all that and never made mistakes. Instead, remember, this is "Hail Mary." Mary had endured having to run with haste when trouble came from her family. Mary was Not Going to Be Far More Sympathetic to Jesus going on The Path of God. And Jesus had to curb His own mother's appeal. More Blessed are those who do the Will of God. My Mother and Brothers are those who do 

the Will of God. Mary was allowed to wait outside.

 Mary, having almost been stoned to death, did rain on a Work of God including, "All where healed." Saying - "Sh, Jesus, Sh and get home."

 "Suuuuure. You aren't out of your mind, c'mon home. FAST."

And, "What do you mean you were sitting with the Big Men in the Temple, move out of that now, young man."

Or even "Pondered this in her heart."

Mark 9

23 “If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!”

And this would be the proof of Jesus being God. Being the Sunrise from on High, tenderly visiting us. Even Mary couldn't keep up with Jesus.

Luke 1

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, 68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us[h] from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

(Father God, as parents, we say thank You for the mistakes of Mary and Joseph. Really. Amen and Amen.)

When we say Jesus lived our lives. JESUS LIVED OUR LIVES.

Jesus did Not Pick to be born in a Palace. Jesus did not walk on water past the Disciples and Peter. Or even Mary.

How do things get this tangled up? 

We often wonder how the culture, the world has so many problems.

Jesus said this. Jesus has told us everything.

Hebrews 1

He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4 So He became as far superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs.

He said, "Lead us not into Temptation."

Jesus said this about God. In the Lord's Prayer.

We are too tempted to lean on Jesus and be who we are. 

We expect Waiter Jesus to see it our way and act like us.

When Mary told God Himself, through Archangel Gabriel, she'd risk death and all things for Him and for unborn Jesus - she met an Angel of the Lord. These Messengers Stand in The Presence of God. They have to say, "Fear Not." Mary knew all about her cousin Priest Zachariah. Mary knew God was owed the deference of His Glory. Mary took on the Way of God and then privately had messed down the road. Whew. Thank God for Mary. Real Scripture is really comforting.

"Lead us not into Temptation" 

Is not talking all about Scary Movies, Rock and Roll, Sex, Drugs and Alcohol. Not Fornication, not Adultery. Lead us not into Temptation is saying - look at who you are to Jesus Christ God's Son. Have humility. Obedience. Reverence. Loyalty. Love.

See what Jesus really Lived. And see Jesus said in John 14, 15 and 16 Jesus has Joy not the fabled life of the Messiah - in the mess of real life. Jesus being God then goes on in John 17 to pray for us. Because Jesus sees us. Jesus sees us with His compassion. Jesus sees us as sheep in need of a Loving, Good Shepherd.

"Lead us not into the Temptation" 

Of picking up our joystick, putting our game face on, put cruise control on - to let Jesus suffer us.

Luke 21:36

Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy.

Matthew 25

‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me."

2 Peter 2:25

For ye were going astray as sheep,

 but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer 

of your souls.

Abba,Father,

The Truth is we cannot do 3,000 pages of Scripture. 

We do not do what we ought and we do what we ought not.

 No human being in the Bible ever did all You wanted of them. 

We need Jesus. Jesus, we need Your Grace. 

We need Jesus not just to fulfill the iotas and dots of Scripture 

we need Jesus as our Shepherd.

 Daily.

Father God, with the Help of Father, Son and Holy Spirit 

You have said You are not human and our ways are not Your Way. 

We need Your Way, Your Life, Your Truth.

 We need Abundant Life 

to have the Joy, Faith and Hope 

to have all Your Fruit to live lives abiding in You.

Our Father

Who art in Heaven

Holy is Your Name.

Your Kingdom come

Your Will Be Done

on earth as in Heaven.

Give us this day

our daily Living Bread.

Please Forgive us our Sins,

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us Not into Temptation.

Deliver us from evil.

For Thine is

The Kingdom

The Power

and the Glory.

Amen and Thank You for Jesus Christ.

We pray