Luke 7:1-10 ~ Jesus went with them

Luke 7:1-10

After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 

Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 

4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 

6 And Jesus went with them. 

When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9

When Jesus heard these things, 
he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 

10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.


Doubt.
God doesn't enjoy it.
Do I Doubt? Really not much at all. I spent 16 of the first years of my life doubting that I believed fervently in the unseen. It was a popular thought to toss around, is this knowable. I joined a Youth Group in High School,  I saw the peace and serenity of belief in Jesus as Lord. Later we were asked to make a decision. I did and felt the Holy Spirit come into my being - my soul. Light filled me. I have never been without the Holy Spirit again.

Others around me doubt. People I love. The point being - we who are strong, don't want to say to those around us - You Doubt?!!! We are bearing with God's Children in encouragement.

Life is in progress.

The Goal is to Finish in Faith.
Our destination is Jesus Christ.
The One who loves you most. Our Hero. The Savior we need. Jesus.
Naked we were born into the is world, naked we will leave.

Doubt is an incredibly uncomfortable circumstance for the believer. 

I discovered, personally, people actually can cry so hard that tears leave our faces. A beloved Person in my life came to me to announce-  the faith defended for years -  had been abandoned. They were astonished to see my reaction. I sobbed - if you don't know the Love of God, you have nothing.

To dismiss doubt and questioning would not be done to our small children learning about life.

Why would we dismiss doubt and the tools the Bible gives us for learning to overcome doubt that we all experience. Especially when others try to share their disbelief.  Be careful with doubters. Go gently.

Picture several scenarios -

a) A Bible Study that dictates the truth of the Bible. All questions are answered with "Because the Bible says so." You are going to encourage the faithful. This reiterates the Truth. But an early believer in the Bible calls this living on the good milk of the Bible. This young believer is not apt to say - the seeds of life are choking this valued ideal out of my life and I really would like some answers on what is going on in my life.

b) A mature facilitator of the Word of God is going to think about the questions life throws at us to drown out the Truth. Drawing from and coaxing out experiences in others that encourage each other in confidence of shared experience and safety. The facilitator is going to know from thinking this out how the Bible supports itself and will use the stories of Scripture to teach the same point three different ways. This is the way a lot of us learn.

c) You have been invited to a Bible Study that encourages you to understand this is all fable. The discussions are lively. The toad in the water is being gradually warmed to boiling the frog to death. Be vwery caweful. Perhaps it's time to depart. The upward path of the Bible is upward to God. Filled with the reality that this is hard work, life throws curves. God says when we seek Him - we please Him - giving Justice with Mercy and Humility. Love.







Setting the scene for the Disciples.

The reality of Scripture is about situations of real life. These Disciples of Jesus were in awe of Him as they saw impossible things occur. Then they were completely afraid and ran out on these experiences because they were human and overwhelmed. Their lives were at stake and the work of Jesus looked as if it had failed. And suddenly they were shown Jesus was alive.

After a life threatening situation - denial causes the brain to reel back. People will try to act as if they can cope with the disaster as if it was normal circumstance. This is the way Ted Bundy lured people to their deaths. Jesus was Alive!!! And did they believe this - sorta - maybe. And two of the Gospels explain that even in the wake of Salvation - people were not perfect and were in doubt.

Now I ask you, is that a fable type story or does this encompass the reality of Violent Death and Government upheaval?

The Scriptures are painting a very real picture of real events. Not platitudes and fable.

Consider what we know of Cochlear Ear Implants - after the brain is operated on - the recipient of the Cochlear Ear hearing device placed in the brain, have months to overcome. Hearing people sound very odd. The doctors describe this literally as hearing people as if Daffy Duck was talking, because we don't hear with our ears, we hear with a brain to ear connection.



Mark 8:23-25

23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

The event of the life of Jesus you just read is recorded by similar stories in the Talmud recordings of the Sanhedrin Council. The actual Sanhedrin Council records the baffling and upsetting miracles surrounding Jesus of Nazareth. Housed in a museum in Scotland. What you just read is a 2,000 year old account of recovery from brain surgery. A Miracle with logic. Uncovered in this generation. Millenniums after the event we can see Jesus left us this mystery for it to be revealed. Blessed are the eyes that didn't see this miracle and yet believe.

Jesus is alive and working today.
Fact. And Good News. 

Really think about Mark 8. 
I discussed this in the nineteen seventies with my great-aunt Eloise. I asked here why the trees looked like walking trees. She said because that is the way Jesus decided to work the miracle. THIS IS A MIRACLE EXPLAINED TO OUR GENERATION. 


Read Hebrews 11 , the real people of the real Word of God have had doubts. Jesus always works with sinners, He loves you as you are. The disciples had time to process, time to adapt, saw the Holy Spirit of God didn't abandon them. Went forth to do such miraculous things in the name of Jesus that the world has never, ever, ever changed this way before. 

We have a spiral of fear with doubt. Will God love me? Is this pointless? God doesn't work on a magic formula. God's Plan is Good and He equips us, He promises, with every good thing to do His Will. The narrow path... this is where life gets meaningful.  God helps sinners, saints, faithful and loves the whole world. If you are talking to God and being very honest, He honestly calls that seeking and He is going to answer. You need to focus on the "Hey, was that answered prayer or was that just om."  That unseen assurance - is God.  Our destination is Jesus. 

I had a loved one tell me once that the list of saints exhausted him.

If you look at the Victory - It's a Miracle. And you just had to be good enough to get there? Well in faith - we are forgiven our sins to adhere with joy to the Word of God.  Not giving God a broom to sweep up - hope He didn't see that. 

Exhausting? Na.

If you break down the Victory into steps - it's Life.

The Victory is usually ... Unseen.

Noah had doubts and got drunk.

Abraham had doubts and became a very unhappy fixer.

Well, say this just couldn't happen if the Holy Spirit lives in you - is wrong. John the Baptist wanted to know if Jesus is God. Prophets have the Holy Spirit. So John the Baptist was telling us about life in God.

A relationship. Up and down. Journey forward, real topics. Real life.


This is about having doubts being strengthened and being allowed by God to have the process.
We can have the Tree of Knowledge. We can know all the Bible. We can be the good seed. The struggling seed.

And Knowing that what covers all this knowledge is - LOVE.

Common problems known to God - 
Being pressed to drink.
Being pressed like Noah to be sexually inappropriate.
Being Perez and having your grandson be your son...
Being the Elijah of the New Testament.

WE are Not God.

This is the story of process and journey.
Abide in Jesus. He will abide in you. WE NEED THIS.

This is about having
Forgiveness - John the Baptist preached this. So did Paul and Peter. Labeling SIN as SIN. Seeking Restitution with God.

Knowing the Peace of God on the afternoons John the Baptist saw the crowds come to learn about God. Inside themselves.

This is Jesus telling the Woman on the Hill in Samaria that God will Dwell within us.

This is about John, Peter, Paul and John Mark wanting to be in Relationship with God.

And in Turmoil - finding a way to healing recovery and joy again.
Fear in Divorce
Fear in Economic Trouble
Loss of Child in Death
Changes of Season in Life
A Fruitful Life Looking for Meaning
Always Being Able to Say I'm Learning from God
Seeing God Unfold His Plan, coming to terms with Joy

Saying JESUS - is where we will Trust.
In doubt, in emotion, in joy, in prayer
THE LORD'S PRAYER

We do not have to solve anything totally today. Because God will be for us. We just have to try a little bit.And Try again. And communicate. God had to sweep up after all these amazing people He loves - He probably is going to not drop us on our head and leave us there.

Don't take your whole life, make it into a pineapple and then devour that in one bite.

Lean a little bit on God.

Matthew 11:28
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."


Day in, Day out, Seasons Come.
The Church is still Going Forth.
Solutions are God's Specialty.
HE says that He is the destination.
Father God loves you.



Father God, 

Where is our Joy? The adventure of what You have brought us through. You have been steadfast. How many things have we overcome? Many. You are Strong Lord. Make us strong again in Your Might. Schemes to bring us down? Not from You. Let us hold up our Problems to You. You are our armor, strength and shield. The Armor of God cannot be removed. You are our fortress.

In the fortress of God, we will see the mercies of God renew. If we don't count the blessings - they fly by unappreciated. What is in the Fortress of God - joy and peace in our belief. The Power of the Holy Spirit - is hope. Compassion and Mercy are the fruit from believers. The destination is salvation.

Jesus is compassionate and merciful. Our advocate. You will call us to defend our hopes with gentleness and respect but our defense in You is sure. God will call me to do what He strengthens me to do. On this I trust in Jesus, our Strong Deliverer. Amen.


 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Matthew 18:3 ~ children

Dear New Mom,

Oh, the Jesus question. What will you do with your freedom from faith,  the whole wide world and God???

Your Mom believes and your Dad is a new Buddhist.

John Adams believed Thomas Jefferson (who had, with great deliberation, ruined Adam's career and their friendship) could have redemption. Jefferson came to believe 'something' was out there and was a Higher Power. And as John Adams died, he said he saw Thomas Jefferson and spoke of what Jesus brings to 2/3 rd's of the world, "Thomas Jefferson LIVES."

Pangaea. Why? The awesome miracle of drawing from Oxygen and creating carbon dioxide. Surviving the death of a daughter in childbirth.

How? Forces unseen. My friend's father went on to be the Valedictorian of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A and M. He credited this achievement to hardship. He went on to get a Master's in A E, also Valedictorian. Asked to make the graduation speech, he said his accreditation would be being color blind. He had been labeled at his Elementary School for years as being Mentally Retarded. Unable to learn colors. He would go home and have hysterics and cry. His parents tried and tried to help him learn colors. This man loves Jesus.

I know a man who has had extremely rare success in business. He is remembered today as an astonishment. He was not able to graduate from college due to Dyslexia. And coming from a highly educated family, they were Not Pleased with lack of Graduation. With his Dyslexia, his oral memory was incredible. His business associates never knew. He could remember details in business spanning generations. He believed in God as he spoke with Him outdoors. One day he heard God speak and his son's leg was saved. He owned his own seat on Wall Street.

Radiation. It was denied to exist. Jesus is denied to exist. Usually, not by people who have read all of the Roman Empire's History.

Dear New Mom, today you don't feel God. This does not mean that in 40 to 60 years you will not. DNA and the path's of God do not run a straight course. We have no idea what will be in your life. My Uncle Jimmy LOATHED 'Christians' for Decades. He was a hater and shook with hate as he spoke. And died a much, much happier and significantly Peaceful man for discovering Jesus at age 72.

If you do not see God, why would you say to your precious child, he should share your world view. What if something were to happen to him like infant mortality, when he is a father, and Jesus helps him stand on his feet and breathe again.

Hope is one of the Highest Forms of Love. When my Grandmother Bit died, she, also, had an amazing connecting life to Life moment. "Thomas Jefferson Lives."

Forces unseen. Children have wings. Let your child fly High. Love.

My Grandmother Anita used to say, "Blessings to you!"

Anne-Laurel

Matthew 18:3

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Matthew 13:52-56 ~ The carpenter's Son

Matthew 13:52-56

52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe 
who has been trained 
for the kingdom of heaven
 is like a master of a house, 
who brings out of his treasure 
what is new and what is old.”

53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there

54 And coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 

55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? 
Is not his mother called Mary? 
And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 
56 And are not all his sisters with us? 
Where then did this man get all these things?”

Joseph is not an old top hat, left in the back closet, covered in moth balls.

We learn about Joseph's parenting concerns and priorities  in :

Matthew 2
21 And he rose 
and took the child and his mother
 and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee


God does not use coincidence. He plans events out. Especially concerning His Beloved Only Son, Jesus. We find 34 mentions of Joseph in the New Testament. It is Absolutely Not a Coincidence the body of Jesus is claimed by a Joseph.






What is Jesus? Jesus is the manifestation of God's Word. Let there be Light created our Jesus, Light of the World.

Proverbs 8

When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
29 when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,
31 rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.
32 “And now, O sons, listen to me:
blessed are those who keep my ways.


John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life,a and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.



James tells us Jesus has instructed him, when we need wisdom, for words or a decision, we can ask God for Wisdom and He will bless us.

Proverbs begins the discussion of God's delight as Jesus becomes Light of Light, True God of True God.

Joseph has brought Jesus up. We can look to Proverbs to find what tools Joseph used with Jesus Christ as a young boy. This is part of the sermon today from Fr. Brian at HopePointe.

God is God of Love. God of encouragement.

Proverbs 1:2-3
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;

Proverbs 2:1-3
2 My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding

Proverbs 2:7
7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity

Proverbs 4:7
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.

Proverbs 6
My son, keep your father's commandment,
and forsake not your mother's teaching.
21 Bind them on your heart always;
tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will lead you;
when you lie down, they will watch over you;
and when you awake, they will talk with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life

Proverbs 16:20-22
20 Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good,
and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise of heart is called discerning,
and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
22 Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it

Proverbs 22:11-12
11 He who loves purity of heart,
and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
but he overthrows the words of the traitor.





We can be assured,
Joseph was created to be the earthly father of Jesus Christ.

And in reading these Words, know Jesus' earthly father, Joseph, displayed this to His young Son.



We find the Gospels tell us what a very good father our Abba has given Jesus on earth.

And finish with this thought on Father's Day:


Proverbs 15:23
To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and a word in season,
how good it is!

Abba,

You have provided Your Son with Joseph as His earthly Father.

God has supplied every need according to his riches in glory for Christ Jesus.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

The Gospels give testimony to Joseph 26 times, Twenty-six times, Twenty-six times, Twenty-six Times:

How many times? Twenty-six times Joseph is given good love, credit, mention and praise.


“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 

"Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

And on this blessing, we know Ephesians tells us families live in Heaven.Blessings repeat and all through the Bible Fathers and sons return together. The Circle completes. And for this we pray and will expect with great joy in the Willingness of 'Father' God.

 Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Mark 2:1-12 ~ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son"

Mark 2:1-12

 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 

Capernaum frequently had all 1,500 people of Capernaum arrive to hear Jesus

2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 



5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” 

So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 

12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”


Psalm 126

1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.
4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

We know this event in the life of Jesus Christ because the Gospels were written by men who knew the call of Jesus to speak and teach of The Son of God.

Someday, because of the gift of Life from the way of Jesus our Lord - we will see the Life and each day of Jesus Christ. This very event just as Jesus saw this in it's entirety. Just exactly as the event really happened - because those people who have had glimpses of Heaven know that the creator of Heaven created earth.

I'm saying Jesus will make His memories alive for us to see. Our technology - our wisdom - is merely "seeing through the glass darkly" and Jesus will show us His life exactly. We will,  in Heaven, sit with Jesus and see His Life!!!

This day will be a prime example of the Joy Jesus had living here with us. As a man and fully God.

When we think of going to Church - we know Church is made up of people - and we all fall short of His Glory. But know this - Jesus died for His Church. The Church continues after 2,000 years from Jesus explaining a non-existent Church would be here to glorify Jesus. When we go to God's House on Sunday, we are sitting in the House of God.

God will feed us - the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Staying in step with the Spirit - we do away with:
sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like - those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The way Jesus ministers - He cleansed impurities. He did not try to hide sin exists. The man in the painting demonstrates helplessness and weakness - but God makes all things possible. God is his strength, healing, and grace. Jesus turns this time into His Father's Glory. God is the center. Because Father God is sufficient - Jesus, The Son of God, calls us His.

The purpose of the Church is to Worship God. To encourage us to live the life God gives us. To press on in humility when the victory is unseen. To give us His Grace when life is good. Walking the path of our lives with faith, in all seasons of our lives.




Father God,

 Please be the center of me and the ones I love. We hold on to You, Father God - look to Jesus -  for the free gift of Salvation - be within us as the fruit of Your Holy Spirit. 

We are nourished - in all seasons of our life - we will depend on You  and Your steadfast Love will see us through. 

Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Isaiah 51:8-11 ~ His Righteousness will be forever, and His salvation to all generations

Isaiah 51:8-11

“My Righteousness will be forever,
and my salvation to all generations.

Awake! Awake! Clothe yourself with strength,
you arm of the Lord!

Awake, as in days gone by,
as in generations of long ago.
as it not you who split apart Rehab,
who pierced that sea monster through?

Was it not you who dried up the sea,
the waters of the great deep,
who made a road in the depths of the sea
so that the redeemed could cross over?”

“The scattered ones of the Lord will return,
and they will enter Zion with singing.
Everlasting joy will be upon their heads;
they will attain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away."

John 6:35
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."

John 6:40
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

Ephesians 1:23
The fulness of Him that filleth all in all.

Joel, in the Power of the Holy Spirit, said we will all see Him. Paul also wrote of this Glory. John tells us all people will see Jesus.

Revelation 1:7
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.



Our Abba,

You are the Lord God, You are Father and Son and Holy Spirit. We will behold the Glory of our Lord, as we are being transformed from one degree of glory to another.

Come Holy Spirit, let the Glory of the Lord shine forth.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

And in this we shall rejoice, for ourselves, our loved ones, the people God has given us. Our God has strengthened us, Our God has provided Rest for us. And in God we will be found in Peace. Let Your Holy Spirit, in the Name of Jesus be our comfort, strength and blessing. Amen Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †