07-19-15 As far as it depends on you!

Scripture:   Romans 12:1-21 (18-20)

The Personnel Journal reported this incredible statistic: since the beginning of recorded history, the entire world has been at peace less than eight percent of the time! In its study, the periodical discovered that of 3530 years of recorded history, only 286 years saw peace. Moreover, in excess of 8000 peace treaties were made--and broken. 

Romans 12:1-21

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.

          3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

          9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

          14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

          17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."  21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

Romans 12:18-20

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (The MSG Rom 12:18 If you've got it in you, get along with everybody.) 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 

My kid’s facebook response

Gretchen Ingle

Regardless of what you think about any issue, please stop saying you are unfriending/blocking everyone with a different opinion. Don't call others ignorant, judgemental, or sinful, and then turn around and act the same way towards them. How are things ever going to change if we can't engage in healthy dialogue? Let's seek to understand one another and educate ourselves instead of tearing one another down. Both sides are promoting love (by different definitions), but such actions exhibit hate.

Nathan Cooper

While there have certainly been people on both sides who have used divisive and hateful words in the name of love, the response I have seen on social media from the vast majority of you on both sides of this issue has been graceful. When we treat each other with grace and respect, regardless of where we fall on this (or any) issue, then love does indeed win.

 

VIDEO - HARMONY from Right Now Media

7 STEPS TO LIVING AT PEACE WITH (nearly) EVERYONE

1   BEYOND BITTERNESS       Hebrews 12:14-15

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

2   SEEK & PURSUE PEACE        Psalm 34:14

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

3   WORK AT PEACE        Romans 14:19-20

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

4   MAKE PEACE THE MASTER OF YOUR HEART        Colossians 3:15-16

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

5   MAKE PEACE EVEN WITH YOUR ENIMIES        Proverbs 16:7

When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.

6   REWARD FOR PEACE        Proverbs 12:20

There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace.

7   REAP WHAT YOU SOW        James 3:17-18

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

 

Greet one another (Rom. 16:16, 1 Cor. 16:20, 2 Cor. 13:12, 1 Pet. 5:14)

Comfort one another (1 Thess. 4:18)

Forgive one another (Col. 3:13)

Build one another up (Rom. 15:2; 1 Thess. 5:11)

Serve one another (Gal. 5:13)

Bear one another's burdens (Gal. 6:2)

Encourage one another (Heb. 10:25)

Meet with one another (Heb. 10:25)

Be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving toward one another (Eph. 4:32, Rom. 12:10)

Receive (welcome) one another as Christ received us (Rom. 15:7)

Care for one another (1 Cor. 12:25)

Minister one to another (1 Pet. 4:10)

Show hospitality to one another (1 Pet. 4:9)

Pray for one another (James 5:16)

Romans 12:18-20

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (The MSG Rom 12:18 If you've got it in you, get along with everybody.) 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

07-12-15 http://

Scripture:  Luke 9:57-62

SING – accapella – I Have decided to follow Jesus!

I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back, No turning back

The world behind me, the Cross before me

No turning back, No turning back

Though none go with me still I will follow

No turning back, No turning back

          Will you decide now, to follow Jesus?

No turning back, No turning back

The song of my decision – I have not looked back – not for a moment.

 THREE PEOPLE WHO TURNED BACK

Luke 9:57-62

            As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." (Matt 7:21-22 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”) Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." (today you would say let me text, email, Instagram-a-selfie) Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow (http://) and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

EXAMPLES: The Rich Ruler

Mark 10:17-31

            As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good — except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'" "Teacher, all these I have kept since I was a boy." 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack, go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22 At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

28 Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" 29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields — and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Lot’s wife looked back

Genesis 19:15-26 MSG

              At break of day, the angels pushed Lot to get going, "Hurry. Get your wife and two daughters out of here before it's too late and you're caught in the punishment of the city." Lot was dragging his feet. The men grabbed Lot's arm, and the arms of his wife and daughters — God was so merciful to them! — and dragged them to safety outside the city. When they had them outside, Lot was told, "Now run for your life! Don't look back! Don't stop anywhere on the plain — run for the hills or you'll be swept away."

18 But Lot protested, "No, masters, you can't mean it! I know that you've taken a liking to me and have done me an immense favor in saving my life, but I can't run for the mountains — who knows what terrible thing might happen to me in the mountains and leave me for dead. Look over there — that town is close enough to get to. It's a small town, hardly anything to it. Let me escape there and save my life — it's a mere wide place in the road." He said to him, "All right. If you insist. I'll let you have your way. And I won't stamp out the town you've spotted. 22 But hurry up. Run for it! I can't do anything until you get there." That's why the town was called Zoar, that is, Smalltown.

23 The sun was high in the sky when Lot arrived at Zoar. Then God rained brimstone and fire down on Sodom and Gomorrah — a river of lava from God out of the sky! —   and destroyed these cities and the entire plain and everyone who lived in the cities and everything that grew from the ground. 26 But Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt.  What did Lot’s wife do? She looked back! She took her hand off the plow!

Lot’s Wife & Others

Luke 17:20-34

         Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." 22 Then he said to his disciples, "The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. Men will tell you, 'There he is!' or 'Here he is!' Do not go running off after them. For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

26 "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

28 "It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. "It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot's wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

 

Annanias and Sapphira turned back

Mark turned back

Judas turned back to the Romans

 

Joshua decided HTTP

Saul of Tarsus decided HTTP

Ethipoian Enuch decided HTTP

Adoniram Judson decided / left for life – no turning back. HTTP

07-05-15 Scarlet Cord of Redemption

Joshua 2:1-20
           Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

          The king of Jericho was told, "Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land." So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land."

          4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don't know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them." (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.

          8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, "I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.   When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death."

          14 "Our lives for your lives!" the men assured her. "If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land."

          15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. Now she had said to them, "Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way."

          17 The men said to her, "This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. If anyone goes outside your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head; we will not be responsible. As for anyone who is in the house with you, his blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on him. But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear."

Rahab in the Old Testament

        The Biblical text identifies her as a zônāh, a prostitute (Joshua 2:1), The first-century historian Josephus reports that she kept an inn. The consonants that comprise the word “prostitute” in Hebrew are znh, which are the same consonants that comprise the Hebrew word for a female who gives food and provisions.

Zonah is used in Josh 6:1 but in verses 17, 22, 25 the word is hazzownah which more directly refers to a harlot or the term we are most familiar with = prostitute. That title was not looked at with as much distain then as it is today and was sometimes associated with Caananite & Baal temple worship.  Hazownaah - Strongs #2181  zanah (zaw-naw') = a primitive root; to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication)

Rahab in the New Testament

Hebrews 11:30-31
       By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.  31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. 

James 2:25-26

       In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
       Hebrews & James use the same Greek word translated prostitute: pornh = A prostitute; a harlot; a woman who sells her body for sexual uses. 

Rahab is saved

Josh 6:20-25
       When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city. 21 They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it — men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.

          22 Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, "Go into the prostitute's house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her." 23 So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel. end of vs 25 and she lives among the Israelites to this day.

The genealogy in Matthew’s gospel. Jewish genealogies usually only included the names of men. Surprise- we find four women included in Christ’s genealogy. These aren’t just any women, either. The first woman is Tamar, who disguised herself as a prostitute and bore twin sons by her father-in-law Judah. The second is Rahab [Salmon (one of the spies?) of the tribe of Judah. His father Nahshon was the leader of that tribe during the early wilderness wanderings (Num. 1:7; 2:3). Judah was the leading tribe (Num. 10:14) and Salmon would have taken his father’s leadership spot. Salmon was of the princely line in Judah, the royal tribe of Israel and became the husband of Rahab Matthew. 1:5]. Next is Rahab’s daughter-in-law, Ruth, a Moabitess, descended from a line marred by incest. Then we find Uriah’s wife, Bathseheba, with whom King David had an adulterous affair. Jesus came to save sinners. That foreigners such as Ruth and Rahab are included shows that God’s grace extended beyond Israel to all people.

          Do you see the Scarlet Cord of Redemption?

Exodus 12:7

       Take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses.  Exodus 12:12-13   "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn — both men and animals — and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

Hebrews 9:19-22

       When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20 He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep."   21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Matthew 1:5-6

Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.

The Blood of Jesus

John 6:53-57
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.