Using your Imagination

Luke 22:47-53

These Scriptures deal primarily with the betrayal and arrest of Jesus, and I for one have always let my thoughts go to that low-life Judas and the religious dudes like the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come out with the soldiers at night under the cover of darkness to arrest Him.

But lets not go there today, let’s use our imagination and join the crowd, but you are not one of them, yes, you are with them but you are under the orders of the chief priest, you’re his servant. Now Scripture does not tell us if Peter was going for the high priest and was just lousy with a sword, you do recall he’s much better with a fishing-net than a sword.  But we are told the following; “And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him.”  (Luke 22:49-51 ESV)

I feel the need to put in a note at this point; if you are of the Muslim faith I’ve been told you call Jesus one of your prophets, but do not acknowledge Him as the Son of God.  Do you see a contrast between Jesus and your chief prophet Mohammed?  Jesus, when He is being attacked and arrested tells His followers “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him.”  But in your Koran you are taught to kill and enslave anyone who is not of your faith.  I will follow Jesus, and my prayer is that you will come out of the darkness of hate and come into the Light that is found only in Christ Jesus.

Now use your imagination, I know it is almost a lost art, but it is still there, your putting yourself in the place of the chief priest’s servant, you may or may not want to be there, but you’re a servant and you do as you are told.  This big guy comes at you with a sword, and you are not sure, but you believe the boss pushed you in the direction of the man with the sword and the next thing you recall is blood going all over the place, and you see Jesus, telling His followers “No more of this!” and he bends over and picks up your ear and it’s beyond your understanding, He puts it back on your head and you see the blood stop and your ear is back in place and there is no more pain!

Let me ask you a question, and I hope you ponder on it for a few minutes; what do you think of Jesus, is He your enemy, someone you want to destroy or has He just become your savior, your deliverer?  For without Him fixing the ear you would have been in big trouble. 

To be totally upfront with you that is where each of us are, we have a sin problem, its end game is death for eternity, leaving us like the high priest’s servant, wounded with little hope, that is unless Jesus rescues us and heals our wound.  And the good news is that is the purpose of the Cross, God required a sinless man to take our place on the Cross, and Jesus the one who John the Baptist said being filled with the Holy Spirit, said to his disciples in John 1: 29, “Behold the Lamb of God!”  And in verse 34 John the Baptist states; “And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

Today it is your choice, you can ask Jesus to come and rescue you from the control of sin, the sin that makes you hate people who you do not know, the sin that makes you fear and distrust all but your little group.  God has extended His grace and will give you the faith you need at this moment to agree with God that you have a wound, that sin has control of your life and you are wanting to be free of fear and hate.  If you choose to agree with God that you’re a sinner, then pray this prayer, Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God, and that you died for all sin, and I believe that with all my heart and I believe God the Father raised you from the dead, and that your blood has covered my sins, now and forever.

If you prayed that prayer in faith, welcome to the family of God, now get a Bible and begin to let the Holy Spirit teach and guide you in how to live life on planet earth.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Jesus customs & habits

Luke 22: 39-46

Have you ever given thought to Jesus having customs or habits, often I forget He was all man and all God, and when He was tempted by the devil it was a full court press on His manhood.  One of His customs was to go to the Mount of Olives for time alone with His Father, but this time He took the twelve disciples and used it as a teaching time with them.  Do you recall that when they came to the Mount of Olives Jesus told the twelve, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation?”

It was not that long ago I would have assumed anyone reading this would know the meaning of temptation, but that is not the time we live in.  Today I was at What-A-Burger and ordered a biscuit with eggs and sausage and it cost $3.15 and before I could tell the young lady I would give her $5:15, she had put the five dollars as the amount and did not know how to give me back $2.00  That should make my point, in that she was in high school but maybe it is just grammar and not math they are learning; anyway let me define the word temptation.  Temptation: “a desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise.”

Dr. Luke shares with us that Jesus withdrew from them about a stone’s throw and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me.  Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.”  From before Creation Jesus was fully aware of this date, it was not just the man, but also the Son of God who knew that He would take on your sins and mine, and that the Father would not be able to look on His Son.  That one fact is beyond my understanding, and most of us spend our time thinking about the physical suffering that Christ was aware of and I have no doubt it was in His mind also.  The Father and the Son (Jesus) are one, they had always been one and Jesus knew on that day, the day He took on our sins, the Father would not be with Him.

Have you given thought to the power we would have as Christians if we had the attitude of Christ, in these seven words; “not my will, but yours be done?”  God’s will before ours, ask any church goer and most, if honest, would tell you they want God to be willing to let them have want they want when they want it, and want that to be His will.  It’s called a God like granddad on granddad’s best day of giving in to our wants.  It is also called disaster and God is too loving and good to do so, unless that is what is needed to change our direction.

Now Jesus was not having a normal prayer time, listen to what has been recorded; “And 

there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony 

he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to 

the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping 

for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may 

not enter into temptation.”  (Luke 22:43-46 ESV)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Nothing

Luke 22:35-38

Charles Thomas Studd, often known as C. T. Studd, was a British cricketer and missionary.  His story has had a profound effect on my life.  Norman Grubbs writes: “Charles Thomas Studd was born in England in 1860, one of three sons of a wealthy retired planter, Edward Studd, who had made a fortune in India and had come back to England to spend it. After being converted to Christ during a Moody-Sankey campaign in England in 1877, Edward Studd became deeply concerned about the spiritual welfare of his three sons and influenced them for the cause of Christ before his death two years later.”

It was while in China that C. T. reached the age (25 years old) in which according to his father's will he was to inherit a large sum of money. Through reading God's Word and much prayer, C. T. felt led to give his entire fortune to Christ! "This was not a fool's plunge on his part. It was his public testimony before God and man that he believed God's Word to be the surest thing on earth, and that the hundred fold interest which God has promised in this life, not to speak of the next, is an actual reality for those who believe it and act on it."

Before knowing the exact amount of his inheritance, C.T. sent £5000 to Mr. Moody, another £5000 to George Müller (£4000 to be used on missionary work and £1000 among the orphans); as well as £15,000 pounds to support other worthy ministries. In a few months, he was able to discover the exact amount of his inheritance and he gave some additional thousands away, leaving about £3400 pounds in his possession.

Three years after arriving in China, C. T. married a young Irish missionary from Ulster named Priscilla Livingstone Stewart. Just before the wedding he presented his bride with the remaining money from his inheritance. She, not to be outdone, said, "Charlie, what did the Lord tell the rich young man to do?" "Sell all." "Well then, we will start clear with the Lord at our wedding." And they proceeded to give the rest of the money away for the Lord's work.”

You may be wondering how does this wonderful story of faith tie into Luke 22:35-38?  So listen to the question Jesus ask and the reply of the twelve; “And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.”  (Luke 22:35 ESV)  It saddens my heart when Christian groups send people out on the street to beg from the non-Christian, as if God is broke.  What shame that brings on the name of Christ, for when God sends us out He will instruct His servants on what they are to take with them.

On this first trip they were instructed to take nothing, and what did they need, nothing.  But this time Jesus is giving a clear message to take your moneybag if you have one, and a knapsack, and even a sword.  One might ask, what is happening and the answer is Scripture is being fulfilled in Isaiah 53:12, “Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”  It has been said by a teacher I’ve sat under, that the moment Peter used the sword Jesus became numbered with the transgressors.  But long before that the religious leaders had numbered Jesus as one who was a transgressor, but it is a wise person who grasp that Jesus was pure, sinless, the Lamb of God whose blood was shed for your sins and mine.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

How would I React?

Luke 22:31-34

Do you ever allow your mind to visit the dark place in your thinker?  Like what would I do if this happen, or where would I run to if this happen, or maybe it’s if I was in Peter shoes I would not have done that or I would have done so and so. We would be wise to give attention to these words from our Lord; “This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.  (Luke 21:13-15)

In my mind I always have the right answer, but that is before fear and the pride of life comes into play, it’s before I give thought to what others will think of me, it is even before emotions enter the picture.  Will you stop for a moment and give thought to this big fisherman who has many great gifts but also has a problem I can identify with; opening the mouth before giving thought to the questions.  Proverbs 29:20, states this truth; “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”

And what was taking place right before Jesus foretells Peter’s denial; you are 100% correct the disciples are having a dispute over which of them would be regarded as the greatest.  Have you given thought that some of them were saying it’s Peter, he is the one who walked on the water, and it was Peter Jesus took up on the mountain that special night, sure Peter you’re the man.  And do you recall that John the Baptist was standing with two of his disciples and Jesus walked by and John said; “Behold the Lamb of God!”  And the two left John and followed Jesus, and one of them was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother and he went and found Simon and said, “We have found the Messiah” (which means the Christ).  And he brought Simon to Jesus, and Jesus looked at him and said, “So you are Simon the son of John?  You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

But on this day Jesus did not address him as Peter, He addressed him by his old name, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”  (Luke 22:31-32 ESV)  Simon is the old man or the flesh, Simon looks to self and not to God, Simon is strong and can run a business, but it is Peter the rock that will be the man God will use to do great things. 

Now I have no doubt Peter believed his reply to Jesus; “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”  Peter believed he had answered Jesus from his heart, but that is before fear and the pride of life came into play, it’s before he gave thought to what others would think of him, it is even before his emotions came into the picture.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A Desire to be Served - Not to Serve

Luke 22:24-30

The twelve disciples at the time of this Passover where Jesus is giving them the instruction for future actions concerning the Lord’s Supper are very fleshly men, men whose desires are not to serve but to be served.  But before we lambaste them let us examine the culture we live in and how the enemy of our soul has set us up to put self as number one.

This is my observation, from the day a child shows up on planet earth they are told they are the greatest, each act is so cute and at a very young age we ask a child who has no understanding of what is good or bad for them, what they want, and if they like or want to eat whatever.  As a grandparent, I’ve been part of this sham, it begins long before they play soccer or T-ball and stand on the field looking at whatever as the ball they should be focused on goes right by them, and we tell them they were the best player on the field.  When they fail at a subject or make poor grades it must me a bad teacher, not the most brilliant child that has ever been on planet earth.  So we set them up, we train them like a bird dog to seek self and put others last, and then as an adult we detest selfishness in others, never seeing it in ourselves.

So before we condemn these twelve followers of Christ, we must realize the enemy did a number on them as he has on us, it is his nature, it was what caused Lucifer to rebel against God, he wanted to be equal to the Father.  And I assume the dinner is over and they have finished discussing which one of them is the dog that is going to sell out Jesus, and the conversation goes to who is the greatest among the twelve.

You can bet the farm on this, as they were deciding who was going to sell out the Lord; they began, not looking inwardly but outwardly and their thoughts were on how much they had given to be with Jesus.  When one does this pride is always at the door, and pride always asks the question, am I not the best am I not better than ______?

So you and I who are followers of Christ have our own special kind of flesh and it is clear in Scripture that it is always present and battling with the Spirit of Christ who lives in us.  My friend Bill often referred to Romans chapter 7 as the book on the defeated Christian life, and if the apostle Paul experiences this battle you can bet it is one we also encounter.  It would be wise for each of us who follower Christ to take these words to heart; “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:11-14)

And Jesus said these words to them; “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.”  (Luke 22:25-27 ESV)

If you are a follower of Christ, an ambassador does only what they are told to do, then do as your Master has stated above.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Are Chrsitians in a Fog?

Luke 22:14-23

And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.  For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.” 

You have been one of the 12 disciples Jesus chose to be with Him day and night, and you have seen signs and wonders beyond understanding, and Jesus is telling you how earnestly He has desired to eat this Passover with you before He suffers.  If you are in your right mind you have questions, why this Passover and what are you talking about, do you have a health problem we are not aware of?   Should their minds not have gone to why are we observing Passover, what happened on Passover and why is Jesus saying; For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”  What is going to be fulfilled, are we part of it, why is this Passover more important than the last two we spent with you?

And then Jesus said “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”  Maybe some of the twelve recall the words of John the Baptist, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Is this what is about to happen, is Jesus going to cause the kingdom of God to come?  But then Jesus took the bread and broke it and passed it out and said; “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  And still no questions, it sure makes me wonder, are these guys awake, or maybe they are all waiting for Peter to speak, for it is Peter who often asked the question all the others are wanting to ask. 

Next Jesus takes the cup after they have eaten and says; “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.  For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”  Now they are awake but they still are not asking Jesus questions, but began to talk among themselves as to which one of them was going to do this.  It is like they forgot Jesus was in the room, they forgot His authority, His commanding the sea to be calm, they forgot about Jesus raising a dead Lazarus, His feeding 5,000 men plus their families with only a few fish and loaves of bread, they seemed to be in a fog.

Could it be that many of us who also are followers of Christ are in a fog?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice  

You need a Helper

Luke 22:7-13

As a Gentile, I need a Jewish teacher to show me the reasoning and meaning of many of the customs and traditions of the Jewish people.  As I wrote these words the Spirit said, “You have the very best of teachers if only you would seek Him!”  Do you recall the words of Jesus in John 14:26? “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.”  Once more my mind needs to be renewed in the ways of God, and with that new direction let us explore these verses.

We talked about this, God was preparing the Jewish people, a people who had only the knowledge in history of being a free people, and a leader named Moses telling them to prepare to leave Egypt for a land of promise, but first on this night they must prepare a special meal.  They were to pick the best of lambs, one without blemish or any defect, a year old lamb, and it was to be killed at twilight.  They were to put some of the blood on the two doorposts and the lintel of the house where they would eat it.  It shall be eaten that night after being roasted on the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.  All was to be eaten before morning, or be burned, and this was the way it should be eaten; with the belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand, it shall be eaten in haste.  For this is the LORD’S Passover!  Picking up the account in Exodus 12:12-14,  “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 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. “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.”

So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare for us, that we may eat it.”  Now to observe this day a Passover lamb had to be sacrificed, and though Jesus had told them many times that He was the Lamb of God, not one of His disciples understood that Jesus was the Lamb that would redeem all of mankind from the control of sin and death.

Now these two men, who would later become mighty men, were clueless and ask Jesus, “Where will you have us prepare it?” He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.”

As Gentiles we also look back to the day when the Lamb of God gave His life to set us free from the control of sin and death, it is a gift anyone can have, it cost God His only Son, for Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. If you have not bowed your knee to the Lamb, and confessed that you are guilty of breaking both the laws of God and man, then today is a great day to prepare for your Passover.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Is there a Judas living in me?

July 1, 2015

Luke 22: 3-6

“Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.”

As I began to write on these three verses this question came into my mind; is there a Judas living in my earthsuit?   Wow, it is still early and I’ve not finished my first cup of coffee and that’s a lot to ponder over.  First, Judas is a follower of Christ, and he has been chosen by Jesus, he has been on mission trips and has seen God do great things through him. 

As you ponder on the question, “Is there a Judas living in my earthsuit?”  We need to ask more questions, Judas was a follower of Christ and so am I, Judas and I have this in common.  Judas was chosen by Jesus but the question remains did Jesus choose me?  We will find the answer to our question in John 15:16, "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”  Jesus also said these words through the lips of John in chapter 6 verse 44, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”  So it looks like Judas and I have more in common than I would have ever considered, should I be concerned? 

There is still more, do you recall Jesus sending the twelve out in two’s, Dr. Luke gives us this insight in Luke 9:1-2, “And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.”  Dr. Luke gives this report in verse six, “And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.”  This is not going the way I thought it would, that dude and I have way too much in common, I’ve also gone on mission trips, and Judas and the twelve it seems were much more successful than what I experienced, should I be troubled?

And the answer is no and yes, no, in that Judas knew Jesus and even hung out with Him, he may have even believed Jesus was God, but Judas did not receive Jesus as his Lord, did not give up the rights to his life and ask Jesus Christ to become his life, Judas never experienced Pentecost, never had the Holy Spirit come to live in his life, but I have, and Jesus has given me eternal life, because He is the giver of life.  Now let’s deal with the yes, for I still have a free will, my flesh wants to be in control and each day I have the same battles as Judas, to want what I want more than to submit to the authority of Christ.  How are you doing with the Judas living in you?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A reminder of God's faithfulness

Luke 22:1-2

As a Jew both Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are reminders of God’s faithfulness to His chosen people.  These two events had become almost interchangeable by the time Jesus showed up on planet earth.  For the Jews Passover was a meal commemorating the night the death angel passed over the homes of all the Jewish people who by faith had put the blood of a lamb on the doorpost of their homes as instructed by Moses while still in Egypt.  On that night the first born of both man and animals where the blood was not on the doorpost died, and there was great sadness in Egypt.  God set a time and a place for the Jewish people to recall His faithfulness, you can read all about it in Exodus 12, but let’s pay close attention to these verses; “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever.”  (Exodus 12:14-17 ESV)

Not being Jewish, but having experienced slavery, for you and I have been held in bondage by sin, Satan was our master and it was the blood of the Lamb, our LORD Jesus Christ that has given each of us the choice to choose freedom or slavery.  So this is a special day for the Jew as is Easter for each of us, and at Oakwood where Jan and I worship it is a big day, much planning goes into the services and it is all to recall what God has done for each of us.

You would think Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread would be a consuming time of preparation but that is not what is taking place.  I have stated often that Religions end game always ends in death.  It is as true today as it was in the time of Jesus, take a stand for Jesus and the world will hate you, for Jesus is not tolerant to the killing of babies, He is not tolerant to a man having sex with a man or a woman having sex with a woman, in fact Jesus is not tolerant when you or I put self before God or others.  As a follower of Christ we must learn from Jesus, and this is what Jesus said about how the world would treat us; "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19)

So this is how the religious leaders were planning for these two great times; “And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.”  (Luke 22:2 ESV)  It could be said that the religious leaders were a mite intolerant desiring to kill Jesus, but as stated above death is always the end game of religion.   A couple of quotes from Blaise Pascal; “Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.” 

“In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don’t.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A Life that is being Examine

Luke 21:34-38

When things slow down life will become easier, we will have time to rest, read, go places and do what we’ve dreamed of doing.  I’ve had such foolish thoughts and at 73 years of age I must guard my heart.  If only these words of Jesus had come to me earlier or if I had been open to grasping the fullness of what Jesus is saying in verse 34.  This is the quote: “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.”  (Luke 21:34 ESV)

Jesus is telling each of us to examine our lives, do you recall that Jesus told us it’s not what goes into our mouths that corrupts us but what comes out of our hearts.  Our hearts can become full of overindulgence for stuff, sex, power, attentions, work, pleasure, and many others things.  Our life becomes so full of our choices and pursuits that we find little time for what brings us peace and contentment, and even less time to be quiet and listen to our Teacher the Holy Spirit.

Jesus does not only talk about dissipation, but drunkenness and cares of this life, and will you consider that drunkenness is not the intoxication of adult beverages but the pursuit and desires of the heart to fill the void, the hole in your soul that only God can fill.  

A young lady who I care very much about, her life and future had just finished college and I ask what were her plans now that she was out of college, and her reply was “I’m going to follow my heart” and that can be a very dangerous thing to do.  Proverbs 4:23 tells us the following; “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”  And the great prophet Jeremiah shares this insight with us in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”  Does it not seem clear that our hearts need to be under surveillance?

This day Jesus is referring to maybe for some like Saul who became the apostle Paul when he encountered Jesus, and for some it will be your death to self and receiving the life Jesus has for each of us in John 10:10, and for some it will be His soon coming, and yet for some it will be the white throne judgment.  But the day is sure to come, for Jesus our Creator has stated in verse 35, “For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.”

If you’re not a follower of Christ ask yourself this question, “is my life weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life?  If the answer is yes, stop and pray agreeing with God that you are a sinner and ask Jesus to forgive you and to come into your heart and life, and He will.  But if you are a follower of Christ, take heart to what Jesus is saying in verse 36, “But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36 ESV)

Jesus depended on talking to His Father; many of the greatest victories were won in the quiet nights and early morning as Jesus talked with His Father at the mount called Olivet.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

He coming back

Luke 21:25-28

What a wonderful time to write on these verses this morning, I was out digging through the garbage can before the trash men came to pick it up.  Now that is not the norm, but some receipts I needed were in the trash.  As I was looking, our security person came by and was sharing how he prayed God’s blessing on us each morning, and as he was driving off he said, Jesus is coming back soon, very soon.

As a follower of Christ and as the culture becomes more bold in its disregard for authority, man’s or God’s, many who are followers of Christ are looking to the Eastern Sky, for Jesus’ soon return.   Dr. Luke shares these words from Jesus; “Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.” (Luke 21:10-11 ESV)  And many who have disdain for Christ and even some who go by the name Christian will do as the apostle Peter is telling us in 2 Peter 3:3-4,“knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.  They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming?  For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”  And guess what I just read on the Internet, “Why Jesus can’t come back in 2015 (or even this decade?”)  It makes one wonder if this foolish person knows more than Jesus, for Jesus was clear that only the Father knows the time and the date.

A time is coming for these are the words of our Creator and LORD, “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Luke 21:25-26 ESV)  And I have no clue if it has anything to do with a red moon, but this I do know, when it happens the world is going to take notice and it is going to scare the willies or the heebie-jeebies out of them.  For Jesus, who knows all, who has been to the front and back of what we call time; says they will faint with fear.

Do you enjoy good news?  For all who are in Christ and He is living in them, not by any action of self but by grace and faith in the finished work of the Cross, this is good news:  “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:27-28 ESV)

The lesson of the fig tree, and many people and I am one of them who believes this prophesy took place in1948 when Israel once more became a nation.  You will want to read and ponder on these verses, for Jesus has stated; (Luke 21:31-33 ESV) these words, “So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Luke 21:31-33 ESV)

Many believe a generation is from 70-80 years, if so it may be later than you think!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice