Matthew 21:33-46 ~ marvelous in His eyes

 

Matthew 21:33-46

 “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. 34 When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. 35 And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 

36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 

39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that He was speaking about them. 46 And although they were seeking to arrest Him, they feared the crowds, because they held Him to be a prophet.

Matthew 13:44

The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, 

which a man found and covered up. 

Then in his joy he goes 

and sells all that he has 

and buys that field.

Matthew 13:47-50

“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.

 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. 

The angels will come 

and separate the wicked from the righteous 

50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, 

where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Luke 17:20-21

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, 

He answered them, “

The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ 

For behold, 

the Kingdom of God is 

in the midst of you.”

Mark 4:30-32

Again he said, "What shall we say the Kingdom of God is like, 

or what parable shall we use to describe it? 

It is like a mustard seed, 

which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground, 

yet when it is sown,

 it grows up and becomes larger 

than all the garden plants 

and forms large branches; 

so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade."

John 15:4

Abide in me, and I in you. 

As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,

 unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, 

unless you abide in me.

Abba, Father,

Father God, we abide in You. 

Knowing apart from You 

we have no good. 

You are the Vine, we are the branches. 

Father, please, each day grow us to be the people dear to You. 

Each day, provide us the path 

You would have us to travel and journey along. 

You are the Light of the World. 

Dwell in us, please, Father.

Dwell in those we Love.

Help us to seek You first.

In Jesus Christ, we will finish well.

To see

to bring

to be

more daily

Thy Kingdom come

Thy will be done

on earth

as in Heaven

In Jesus Christ is 

Our Love, Joy and Hope.

Thank You for Jesus.

We ask this in the Highest Name You've given us;

 Jesus. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Lord Jesus 

John 14:23-27 ~ Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid †

John 14:23-27

 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep my word, 

and My Father will love him, 

and We will come to him and make Our Home with him. 

24 Whoever does not love Me does not keep My Words. 

And the Word that you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, 

whom the Father will send in My Name, 

He will teach you all things 

and bring to your remembrance 

all that I have said to you. 

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. 

Not as the world gives do I give to you. 

Let not your hearts be troubled, 

neither let them be afraid. 

About 5 years ago, I was in a Bible Study for a few weeks about the Holy Spirit. And the room was filled with people I've known for 23 years. We studied all the passages about the Holy Spirit and one of the women said to me, later, I get tired of hearing about the Holy Spirit! I love Jesus, I know Jesus, I understand the Lord and His Love (she does!), but I don't get the Holy Spirit other than, He is one of the Holy Trinity. I'm tired of the elusiveness of this.

Why don't we put a few aspects of the Holy Spirit with our Father, Jesus and see if this isn't more readily available in our hearts.

We do understand and Love Jesus. And Jesus is not going to roll out of us like the movie "Ghostbusters" and the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man. And if we know our souls have Jesus, then we know the Holy Spirit lives within us. Now, we know we have the Light of mankind, Light of the world, Light of nations and Light of Heaven.

Advocate, sighing within us when we can't pray. 

Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. 

For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, 

but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us 

with groanings too deep for words.

1 Kings 19:12, 13

A fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; 

and after the fire a still small voice.

So it was, when Elijah heard it,

 that he wrapped his face in his mantle 

and went out and stood 

Gabriel announces how well he knows God, saying, 

"I stand in the presence of God."

When we are close to the Lord,

The Holy Spirit is stirring the waters within us.

Our soul sings within us.

Isaiah 6:2-4

Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: 

With two wings they covered their faces, 

with two they covered their feet, 

and with two they were flying. 

3And they were calling out to one another: 

“Holy, holy, holy 

is the LORD of Hosts; 

all the earth is full of His glory.” 

At the sound of their voices 

the doorposts and thresholds shook,

 and the temple was filled with smoke

Revelation 4:8

And each of the four living creatures had six wings

 and was covered with eyes all around and within. 

Day and night they never stop saying: 

"Holy, Holy, Holy, 

is the Lord God Almighty, 

who was and is and is to come!"

Psalm 72:19

And blessed be His glorious name forever; 

may all the earth 

be filled 

with His glory. 

Amen and Amen.

Abba, Father,

Dwell in us, please, Father.

Dwell in those we Love.

Help us to seek You first.

In Jesus Christ, we will finish well.

To see

to bring

to be

more daily

Thy Kingdom come

Thy will be done

on earth

as in Heaven

In Jesus Christ is 

Our Love, Joy and Hope.

Thank You for Jesus.

To You, our Father, be the Glory

Amen and Alleluia

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Lord Jesus 

Psalm 138 ~ Your Right Hand delivers me

 

Psalm 138

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;

before the gods I sing your praise!

2 I bow down toward your holy temple

and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,

for you have exalted above all things

your name and your word!

3 On the day I called, you answered me;

my strength of soul you increased [you made me bold in my soul with strength].

4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,

for they have heard the words of your mouth,

5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,

for great is the glory of the Lord!

6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,

but the haughty he knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

you preserve my life;

you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

and your right hand delivers me.

8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;

your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

Do not forsake the work of your hands!

When we read the Scriptures with our hands and souls open in prayer, we read them, then they truly speak to us. Sure, some passages have a phrase containing a favorite verse, and we will look to it as our favorite spot in our home or yard. Yet sometimes, you read a passage, and part of it leaps to you, your eyes are opened to the Scripture.

When I've read Psalm 138, sometimes it Is the joy of God. Or another day, the thrill of a situation solved. In times of difficulty, the promise of the LORD who says to me, He would never forsake me, I am the work of His hands. This is the Scripture being living and active to us.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active, 

sharper than any two-edged sword, 

piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, 

of joints and of marrow, 

and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

I was part of the team that fixes the light meal for our Wednesday Church Service. It fits yesterday's readings so well!!! And today's! Let me share part of a favorite sermon of mine from years ago

You made me bold in my soul with strength

Years Ago, Decade, Favorite Sermon, One, Thereof

This is a true story. 

Susan opened her door one day to find her next door neighbor, Betty, there. Her neighbor said, "We've lived next door for some time, we haven't known each other well, but I've come to tell you we are moving away."

Susan asked if it was a job transfer. No, replied Betty, nothing like that. Susan was filled with concern with the look on Betty's face, Betty was staring at the floor with a woebegone, stricken look. Susan asked if Betty would share the trouble with her.

Betty said, "I guess the main trouble is my husband and I are hopeless alcoholics. We've tried therapy, but really don't have the money for years of help. We've tried Alcoholics Anonymous, but we can't find the strength to stick with the program. We are loosing the house, they are coming to take away one of the cars today. We will divorce. We just aren't good for each other." Betty's voice cracked. "If it weren't for my son, I don't know if I'd care, but I don't know what will become of him to be from such a broken home."

Susan said to Betty, quietly. "There is a solution."

Betty looked up to see Susan, "What solution would that be?"

Susan said, "Jesus heals people. Jesus saves people."

Betty replied, with some scorn, "Oh, religion. We've done that from time to time. Well, I mean I believe in God, but He hasn't been around much or seemed to care much really."

Susan said, "Well, you really want to change is what you are saying. Isn't it? You want help with all of your heart. You want the solution, isn't that the truth in what you are telling me?"

"I've never heard it put exactly that way, but yes. Yes, it is what I am saying." Betty said.

Susan asked Betty to ask Jesus into her heart. Betty said she didn't know how. Susan and Betty got down on their knees together and this is what they prayed, "Father God, I am a sinner and an alcoholic. I need You. I cannot give up alcohol on my strength alone. I need Jesus to come and live in my heart. I am about to loose my marriage, my house, my car and I don't know what to do. Please help me. Please help me to see a way forward. I ask for your help in Jesus' name. Amen."

3 nights later, their neighbor Bill, Betty's husband, came over. He said, I understand Betty came over here. She is completely different and things are changing in my household. I don't know what you did to her, but I need that too. That night Sam, Betty and Bill knelt for prayer on their hard kitchen tile and prayed for Bill to have Jesus live in his heart. Bill surrendered his life to Jesus.

And what happened? 

The marriage was saved. 

Their son did not grow up in a broken home. 

The house was saved. 

The job was saved. 

Betty and Bill were saved. Forever. Eternally.

That is what Jesus does. 

He saves the broken, the bruised reed. The undeserving. He is the Light that Shines.

John 5:17

Jesus said to them, 

"My Father is always at his work to this very day, 

and I, too, am working."

Luke 18:1

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them 

that they should always pray 

and not give up

For great is the glory of the Lord!

Abba, Father,

Blessed Be the Name of Jesus

and those who call upon Him

Blessed be those who have

their hope in You

Thank You for hearing our prayers

and answering us

as our Father.

In the Highest Name of

Jesus, Alleluia,

Amen

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Lord Jesus