Come pray anytime on Saturday.
The doors will be open.
And let us know how we can pray
for you and your family this Holy Week.
Right now, email me back prayer requests.
Remember:
Maundy Thursday Worship – 7pm
Good Friday Worship – 7pm
Easter Worship – 8:30 and 11:00am
Easter Breakfast & Egg Hunt – 10am
Whoever welcomes you
welcomes me …
Matthew 10:40
Yesterday I wrote on what Jesus was doing in his last days – separating sheep and goats and indeed teaching on how to get to heaven.
I made the case that the key to eternal life in a dying world is opening our doors and our hearts to Jesus’ disciples. Opening our doors? Yes! Feeding, housing, and clothing them if necessary. Why? Because they come to us carrying the message of eternal life through Jesus Christ. And opening our hearts to this message is the secret to eternal life.
Today’s verse reiterates that point. In a chapter – Matthew 10 – devoted to discipleship – calling them and “16 sending [them] out like sheep into the midst of wolves,” Jesus concludes with these words: “40 Whoever welcomes you welcomes me.” (Or to retranslate that: “whoever opens their door to your message and opens their heart to me.” And isn’t that the key to eternal life?!)
Jesus goes on to say to the world, “42 if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded."
“25 Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? … 40 And the King will tell them, 'I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”
In Christ’s Love,
a guy who needs to join
the welcome wagon
"When the Son of Man
comes in his glory, and all the angels with him,
then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
All the nations will be gathered before him,
and he will separate people one from another
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats …
Matthew 25:31-32
What did Jesus do in his final week on earth? He separated sheep from goats …
… or rather, he told how – on Judgment Day -- humanity will be “sorted.”
The famous line in Jesus’ teaching here starts in verse 34. “Then the king will say to those at his right hand, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom … for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink …”
The saved sheep answer, "37 Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?” The condemned goats didn’t give “him” food or clothing, so they answer in the same way – “44 When was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or …”
Many faithful people view this passage as scripture’s most passionate call to care for the poor. And indeed, caring for the poor is one of scriptures most important themes!!!
But I don’t think that this is what this passage is really about.
Why? Several clues …
· We are saved by grace, not by works. That is THE repeated theme of the New Testament – that we sin and fall short, so it’s faith in Jesus and God’s grace that saves us. Period. Therefore, as crucial as caring for the hungry is, it can’t be the basis of salvation!
· Except isn’t that what Jesus just said?!!
· Here’s the second clue. In verse 40, Jesus says, “just as you did it to one of the members of my family, you did it to me.” In a generic sense, yes, everyone in the world, including the poor, is a member of Jesus family. But let’s be specific. Who does Jesus specifically say is a member of his family? In Matthew 12, “47 someone told [Jesus], ‘Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside …?’ 49 [But] pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’”
· Now read that previous quote in this context of family: “37 ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry … or thirsty … 38 and when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you …?” … 40 And the king will answer them, ‘ … Just as you did it to one of the least of these [who are my disciples and thus members of my family], you did it to me.”
· So what if this is saying, not “take care of the poor as your ticket to heaven,” but “graciously receive and listen to and even take care of Jesus disciples who come to you with gospel because what they’re proclaiming is the ticket to heaven.”
· Indeed, if people kick out those who are proclaiming the Gospel, isn’t this kicking out Jesus and his message from their lives?!
· Doesn’t this understanding focus sheep and goats and salvation on faith in Jesus and the message that all disciples (including you and me) are called to proclaim?!
· Doesn’t this make sense in the context of Matthew 10? It says, “5 Jesus sent out … these twelve [disciples, saying] … 7 As you go, proclaim the good news … 14 [but] if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.” 37 ‘Lord … 38 when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you …?” … 40 And the king will answer them, ‘ … Just as you did it to one of the least of these [who are my disciples and thus members of my family], you did it to me.”
· In Matthew 24, Jesus says his family will be hungry, thirsty, and lacking shelter or clothing. No wonder. When Jesus sends his disciples out – Matthew 10 – he says, “9 Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food.”
· In Matthew 24, Jesus says that his family might be imprisoned and needing visiting and care. No wonder. In Matthew 5 he predicts those exact circumstances for his followers, saying, “11 Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 [Instead,] rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
· In Matthew 24, Jesus says that accepting his family (of disciples) will determine whether they’re sorted into sheep and goats on the day of judgment. In Matthew 10, Jesus says that if we do NOT accept Jesus’ (family of) disciples and their message it’ will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”
Are we called to take care of the poor? ABSOLUTELY.
Is that what separates us into sheep and goats? I doesn’t jibe with any other passage in the New Testament.
Therefore, what did Jesus spend his final week doing? Separating sheep and goats? I don’t think so. Rather, he spent his time imploring his current generation and all future generations to accept him and his message … and to accept his disciples and their message about him … for when we invite these itinerant ministers into our home, and feed them, and clothe them, and accept their message, then we are saved.
In Christ’s Love,
a guy who wants to say “baa”
… forever
LONG ONE … SORRY!!!
"When the Son of Man
comes in his glory, and all the angels with him,
then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
All the nations will be gathered before him,
and he will separate people one from another
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats …
Matthew 25:31-32
What did Jesus do in his final week on earth? He separated sheep from goats …
… or rather, he told how – on Judgment Day -- humanity will be “sorted.”
The famous line in Jesus’ teaching here starts in verse 34. “Then the king will say to those at his right hand, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom … for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink …”
The saved sheep answer, "37 Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?” The condemned goats didn’t give “him” food or clothing, so they answer in the same way – “44 When was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or …”
Many faithful people view this passage as scripture’s most passionate call to care for the poor. And indeed, caring for the poor is one of scriptures most important themes!!!
But I don’t think that this is what this passage is really about.
Why? Several clues …
· We are saved by grace, not by works. That is THE repeated theme of the New Testament – that we sin and fall short, so it’s faith in Jesus and God’s grace that saves us. Period. Therefore, as crucial as caring for the hungry is, it can’t be the basis of salvation!
· Except isn’t that what Jesus just said?!!
· Here’s the second clue. In verse 40, Jesus says, “just as you did it to one of the members of my family, you did it to me.” In a generic sense, yes, everyone in the world, including the poor, is a member of Jesus family. But let’s be specific. Who does Jesus specifically say is a member of his family? In Matthew 12, “47 someone told [Jesus], ‘Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside …?’ 49 [But] pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’”
· Now read that previous quote in this context of family: “37 ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry … or thirsty … 38 and when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you …?” … 40 And the king will answer them, ‘ … Just as you did it to one of the least of these [who are my disciples and thus members of my family], you did it to me.”
· So what if this is saying, not “take care of the poor as your ticket to heaven,” but “graciously receive and listen to and even take care of Jesus disciples who come to you with gospel because what they’re proclaiming is the ticket to heaven.”
· Indeed, if people kick out those who are proclaiming the Gospel, isn’t this kicking out Jesus and his message from their lives?!
· Doesn’t this understanding focus sheep and goats and salvation on faith in Jesus and the message that all disciples (including you and me) are called to proclaim?!
· Doesn’t this make sense in the context of Matthew 10? It says, “5 Jesus sent out … these twelve [disciples, saying] … 7 As you go, proclaim the good news … 14 [but] if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.” 37 ‘Lord … 38 when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you …?” … 40 And the king will answer them, ‘ … Just as you did it to one of the least of these [who are my disciples and thus members of my family], you did it to me.”
· In Matthew 24, Jesus says his family will be hungry, thirsty, and lacking shelter or clothing. No wonder. When Jesus sends his disciples out – Matthew 10 – he says, “9 Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food.”
· In Matthew 24, Jesus says that his family might be imprisoned and needing visiting and care. No wonder. In Matthew 5 he predicts those exact circumstances for his followers, saying, “11 Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 [Instead,] rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
· In Matthew 24, Jesus says that accepting his family (of disciples) will determine whether they’re sorted into sheep and goats on the day of judgment. In Matthew 10, Jesus says that if we do NOT accept Jesus’ (family of) disciples and their message it’ will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”
Are we called to take care of the poor? ABSOLUTELY.
But is that what separates us into sheep and goats? This one lone story doesn’t jibe with the process of justification and salvation in any other passage in the New Testament. And besides bread and a meal only last for a few hours. Indeed, as Jesus reminded Satan in the wilderness, “4:4 Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
So … what did Jesus spend his final week doing? Separating sheep and goats? I don’t think so. Rather, he spent his time imploring his current generation and all future generations to accept him and his message … and to accept his disciples and their message about him … for when we invite these itinerant ministers into our home, and feed them, and clothe them, and accept their message, then we are saved.
In Christ’s Love,
a guy who wants to say “baa”
… forever
LONG ONE … SORRY!!!
In those days before the Flood,
the people were enjoying
banquets and parties and weddings
right up to the time Noah
entered his boat.
Matthew 24:38
This is a season of transition for all three of our boys. And since my church and devotional family is family, let me update you on the Thomas family news.
· After finishing graduate school in Connecticut, Paul and his wife, Meredith, are moving to Charleston, SC in June! Paul is becoming the organist at the Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul (Anglican).
· Graduating in May, Jay will be commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. After two months of training in Norfolk, he’ll be assigned to the cruiser U.S.S. Vicksburg out of Mayport, FL (Jacksonville).
· And Robbie … Robbie just chose his college: N.C. State. (Made his old Wolfpack mother and father proud!) And the whole church is invited to his homeschool graduation. It’ll be a service of worship at church on Friday, May 9, 7pm!!!
Wow! By the end of May, we’ll be just like the people “right up to the time of Noah” … enjoying banquets and parties and [graduations].”
But … wow! Those ought to be scary words, rather than celebratory words.
We know of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) and we know a few key events before the next Sunday (the Last Supper and Good Friday came between Palm Sunday and Easter) … BUT do you know what Jesus spent most of that holy week doing? Jesus spent his final week, according to scripture, doing four main things.
1. A little healing.
2. A lot of prayer.
3. There were significant warnings to the Jews that many of them were about to reject their own Messiah. And therefore, what they thought of as their “inheritance” would be spread wider – now on the basis of faith rather than ethnicity. (Though some Jews would believe – they weren’t rejected – Jesus was saying that the Kingdom would now spread on the basis of faith … and among the Gentiles. See for example, “The Lesson of the Fig Tree” and “The Parable of the Wicked Tenants” as an example – Mt 24:32ff, 21:33ff).
4. But perhaps the most significant thing Jesus did during that final week was point to his Second Coming. (Some of the headings in Matthew include, “The Coming of the Son of Man,” “The Necessity for Watchfulness,” “The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids” – see Matthew chapters 21-26.)
Therefore …
· because it’s Holy Week (the week in which all of these prophetic sayings about Jesus took place) …
· and because today is the occurrence of the first of “four blood moons” (Wait, don’t get too excited. Even if something truly major were to happen, it’s more likely to happen by the fourth moon, not the first. Therefore, don’t expect the world to end this afternoon … unless you’ve waited too long to do your taxes!) …
· therefore, in the midst of this prophetically charged season, I want to point you back to our scripture for today.
Are you more focused on heaven and scripture and God’s daily kingdom … or on banquets and parties and graduations … on jobs and finances and hobbies … on baseball and school and senior proms … on shopping and errands and yard work? We don’t know when Jesus will come. (It could be today.) And we don’t know what day we’ll die. (It could be today.) Are you ready? Are you focusing on heaven and scripture and God’s daily kingdom daily?
In Christ’s Love,
even in a busy season,
a guy who wants to focus
Let us know you’re prayer requests.
And Sign Up for a Time to Pray!
Sign up right now (via email) for a time to join us
between Good Friday 3am (technically early Saturday morning at 3)
and Sunday Morning at 8am to pray at church.
Reply with your prayer requests,
and let me know when you’d like to pray.
THE CHURCH WILL BE STAFFED THROUGHOUT THESE HOURS.
Now the works of the flesh are obvious:
fornication, impurity, licentiousness,
idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife,
jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions,
factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing,
and things like these.
Galatians 5:19-22
This past week, while I rode with my son to visit a potential college, I gave him some fatherly advice. I said, "Robbie, when you go to college, you can find whatever you want. If someone wants academics, they can find academics. If they want drugs, they can find drugs. If they want a Christian groups, they can find plenty of Christian groups. If they want sex, they will find sex."
I said, "It was exactly the same in my generation. There was plenty of sex, drugs, and alcohol ... but there was one difference. My generation might have done all those things, but deep down we all knew it was wrong. (Fun. But wrong.)"
"In your generation," I said, "the rules have changed. Many people say that many of these things a just fine."
Yesterday, I wrote about the fruits of the Spirit. Most Christians joyfully quote these verses. Few, however, memorize the three verses before -- the poisoned fruit of human flesh. Look at that list of the works of the flesh. Do you find sex, drugs, alcohol, and a dozen more snares?
Let me tell you why I bring these up today ... This week, we're going to focus a little on the coming blood moons and end-times prophecy. And I want to focus on the changing morays of our culture and a particular word -- "lawlessness."
· Scripture says that one of the hallmarks of the end-times will be lawlessness -- indeed, read that Galatians 5 list again.
· "And because of the increase of lawlessness," says Jesus, pointing to the end times, "the love of many will grow cold" (Mt 24:12).
· To which the Apostle Paul adds, "[So] don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for [that day will not come] until ... the man of lawlessness is revealed ..." (2 Thes 2:3).
Every age has had lawlessness, drunkeness, and carousing. That's what I told Robbie on the way to college visit. But in our society there used to be a time when we still discerned right from wrong.
We all know that culture has changed. But Christian culture is changing too. I want to invite you to click the following link, and pray about why American Christians are looking more and more like the flesh than the Spirit. http://m.christianpost.com/news/sexual-atheism-christian-dating-data-reveals-a-deeper-spiritual-malaise-117717/
In Christ's Love,
a concerned father
The fruit of the Spirit is ... joy.
Galatians 5:22-23
Those are the words on the front of our altar. But it's really peace that I want to talk about.
Like joy, peace is a fruit of the Spirit. Using the same three dots, we could just as truthfully say, "the fruit of the Spirit is ... peace."
I heard a sermon this morning in which the pastor said,
No God. No Peace.
Know God. Know Peace.
Which way do you spell "know" (or "no") when wanting love ... joy ... peace ... patient ... kindness ... generosity ... faithfulness ... gentleness ... or self-control.
We can't manufacture this kind of fruit, especially when the world keeps manufacturing the worst kinds of problems and pain. The only escape from some of the world's pits is the wings of the Spirit.
In Christ's Love,
a guy who spells "no"
with a "k" and a "w"
From: Pastor Ed Thomas [mailto:pastored@spiritofjoy.us]
Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2014 8:40 AM
Subject: LENT: Apr 12 - 2 Chronicles 18:13
"As the Lord lives,
whatever my God says,
that I will speak."
2 Chronicles 18:13
Let me tell you the story that led to the prophet Micaiah uttering these words -- words which should serve as a compass for all of us.
To wrap up the story,
In Christ's Love,
a guy who only wants to speak God's Word
and only wants to listen to truth
The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood,
before the great and the terrible day
of the LORD comes.
Joel 2:31
There is a lot of attention on the stars and moon in recent days.
This week the sun and and Earth and Mars were in perfect alignment. (This is not an uncommon occurrence. It happens about once every two years.)
But what is uncommon is what is about to happen next week. The first of four "blood moons." (You can look up the astronomical details.) But blood moons are rare. They generally occur once every several hundred years.
This, however, is the third set in the last 60 years. Many Bible students are intrigued by the fact that ...
· The first of these Blood Moons occurred in the 1940s when Israel - after hundreds and hundreds of years of non-existence - became a country again. (Is that prophetic or coincidence?)
· The second occurred in the 1960s when Jerusalem became fully unified under Israel. (Is that prophetic or coincidence?)
· The third set – occurring next week – sees all four Blood Moons occurring on four major Jewish holidays. (Is that prophetic or coincidence?)
I will not make any predictions. But here is what I do know:
· More than a quarter of the Bible is prophecy.
· The specificity of prophecy is most thrilling when we examine the life of Jesus. There were hundreds of prophecies and hundreds of years of prophecies fulfilled to the letter in his lifetime.
· Most Biblical prophecies have already been fulfilled.
· The remainder are essentially end times prophecies.
· The Old Testament, the New Testament, and Jesus himself prophesy about what will happen at the end of the age.
Are blood moons a sign?
I don't know! But what I do know is that …
· We are always called to be watchful.
· We are always called to be ready.
· We are always called to examine our own hearts.
· We are always called to witness to those whose hearts are cold.
In Christ's love,
a guy who always strives to be ready
– and is curious about what might
or might not begin next week!
I have peace though I walk
in the stubbornness of my heart
Deuteronomy 29:19
In Deuteronomy 29 God and Moses are warning the people of Israel about what will happen if they fail to obey God's commands when they come into the promised land.
They tell Israel that some will say, "I have peace though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart."
In modern English, no one would say it exactly like this. Rather, in our English- speaking, modern world, many do simply say, "I have peace in my heart," though they are walking in blatant stubbornness and sin.
We do what we want to do. And sometimes it brings a short-term peace, or satisfaction, or thrill. But we've all seen it, these short-term thrills often wind up as long-term griefs. What once seemed like peace and satisfaction often turns into addiction or adversity.
For example, sixties were labeled the era of freelove. A generation or two later, that freelove has resulted in adversity for an epidemic of single moms and children who don't know their dads. In the short run, an amorous couple joyfully declared, "I have peace," as they walked in the stubbornness of their heart.
Society says purity is an archaic notion. And indeed, on an individual, case-by-case basis, many people seem to escape any real consequences of their rebellion. They simply seem to be having fun. But as Scripture says, "none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself." As we've said and as we've seen, society does not escape these God-mocking behaviors. And in the long-run, most individuals really don't either. Look at the divorce rates. Look at the people yoked to to the flame of their youth who in the long-run has very different values and beliefs. Look at the once faithful children, who have forsaken their faith, because they wanted to ignore God's wisdom so they could excuse adventurous behaviors and still feel good about themselves.
In the short-run, they can say, "I have peace," though they walk in the stubbornness of their heart. The problem is that this world, and especially our years of youthfulness, are just a moment and a twinkling of the eye. In the long run, how many shipwreck their children, bankrupt their souls, and leave in doubt their Eternal future, all for some momentary thrills.
God is not against fun! And none of these rules is about legalism. They are about wisdom. God knows the long-term consequences of what happens when we go astray. He'd rather see us shore up the dike before the storm, than watch us – his little children – endure the consequences of the flood. God loves us. And that long-term joy is better than any short-term thrill.
Indeed, we can celebrate because – as it says in the next two headings in my Bible – we have "Restoration Promised" if we "Choose Life"!
In Christ's Love,
a guy who is glad that
his short term naïveté
has been replaced by
God's long-term guidance
Sent from my iPhone
Religion that is pure and undefiled
before God, the Father, is this:
to care for orphans and widows
in their distress.
James 1:27
The heart of Lutheran Theology runs through Romans 3 – “23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are now justified by his grace …25 … effective through faith … 28 apart from works prescribed by the law.” In other words, it’s God’s actions (grace), not our actions (falling short), that save us.
Martin Luther, therefore, wasn’t a big fan of the book of James, and this Apostle’s contention that “2:17 faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.”
So which is it? Paul’s “apart from works, we’re saved by faith” or James’ “without works, faith is dead”? Indeed, does the only pure religion demand that we do the work of “car[ing] for orphans and widows”?
It’s both!
Why? Because 1) the Bible says so. And because 2) the two statements really don’t contradict each other anyway!
1. If it ever appears that there’s a contradiction in Scripture, don’t just reason it away in a human way. Live at the apparent intersection of these two contradictions … until God gives you clarity. If you have to lean in one direction or the other, lean toward the dominant witness of several clear Biblical principles and don’t opt for the “cool contradiction” (which is sometimes how cults and sects start). But also be patient, realizing that clarity usually comes from a further studying of scripture.
2. But here’s why these two really don’t conflict …
a. We’re saved by faith … not our works.
b. And that’s a good thing because we all sin … and without God’s grace we’d be eternally dead and doomed (see Ephesians 2:1ff).
c. But once we come to faith – and are rescued from eternal death – shouldn’t that change us?!!
d. Shouldn’t we want to live like our Savior taught us to live?
e. Pure and undefiled faith prompts a makeover on our hearts and lives.
f. It’s not that we won’t still make mistakes. (Yes, we’ll still continually sin and fall short.) Nevertheless, as we grow in faith, we’ll grow in faith, love, and obedience to the ways of the Lord.
g. As we grow in faith, we’ll begin to look more and more like Jesus.
h. And we’ll begin to care more and more for people – including the orphans and widows.
i. And we’ll do this through joyful generosity, rather than dead legalism.
In Christ’s Love,
A guy who is pure and undefiled
– not on my own, of course,
but through God’s grace – and
wants to live joyfully and
generously in response
to God’s love
