Luke 22:1-6
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
1 The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching. 2 The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction.
3 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, 4 and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. 5 They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. 6 So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around.
On yesterday, Palm Sunday, many of our churches replayed the triumphal entry of Jesus to the city of Jerusalem. He and many of His followers were gathered there, with the Jewish multitude, for the Passover celebration. In the midst of the celebration, betrayal and murder were being plotted.
In the midst of our worship, do we allow Satan access? Do we give him entry through our sin? “…Satan entered into Judas Iscariot…”
Satan may tempt you but you don’t have to give in. “…greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1st John 4:4). Judas had no choice. His role in God’s plan was fixed. But you … you have the Holy Spirit … you don’t have to give Satan victory … you can overcome!
Monday, April 06, 2009
Friday, April 03, 2009
THE GREAT SCENE
Mark 11:8-10
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus’ Triumphant Entry
8 Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,
“Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David!
Praise God in highest heaven!”
A great celebration … the parade is on! I can imagine it was like the NFL champs returning o home after winning the Super Bowl.
The crowd was looking for the conquering king (like King David). They anticipated political change.
But this King came to die … and just a few days later the sentiments of the crowd changed…
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus’ Triumphant Entry
8 Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,
“Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David!
Praise God in highest heaven!”
A great celebration … the parade is on! I can imagine it was like the NFL champs returning o home after winning the Super Bowl.
The crowd was looking for the conquering king (like King David). They anticipated political change.
But this King came to die … and just a few days later the sentiments of the crowd changed…
Thursday, April 02, 2009
BE DONE
1 Peter 2:1-3
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
1 So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. 2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
Has the LORD been good to you? You and I know the answer to that question. Of course He has! The Apostle Peter encourages us in how to respond now that we has had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
Be done … when we recognize how good God is to us, we ought to abandon all our bad.
Grow … when we abandon the bad, replace it with a craving for the good. Nourish yourself with spiritual milk. Your spiritual walk is a process which needs feeding. God’s Word … prayer … worship … service to others … this is the diet for growth in your salvation experience.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
1 So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. 2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
Has the LORD been good to you? You and I know the answer to that question. Of course He has! The Apostle Peter encourages us in how to respond now that we has had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
Be done … when we recognize how good God is to us, we ought to abandon all our bad.
Grow … when we abandon the bad, replace it with a craving for the good. Nourish yourself with spiritual milk. Your spiritual walk is a process which needs feeding. God’s Word … prayer … worship … service to others … this is the diet for growth in your salvation experience.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
THE LEADER’S HEART
1 Samuel 16:6-7
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Samuel Anoints David as King
6 When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!”
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
God elevates leaders based on His criteria, not on the judgments of the world.
Skill, intelligence and hard work are part of the package that makes a good leader. Above these however, God has an even higher standard. The quality of the character of a person is the bottom line.
Outward impressiveness … appearance, height, weight, complexion, color, hair style, clothes or ‘bling’ … do not make the man or the woman. What makes a person in God’s eyes is the condition of the heart.
David said, “Create in me a clean heart…” – (Psalm 51:10). That is what it takes to be a leader in God’s kingdom building program.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Samuel Anoints David as King
6 When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!”
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
God elevates leaders based on His criteria, not on the judgments of the world.
Skill, intelligence and hard work are part of the package that makes a good leader. Above these however, God has an even higher standard. The quality of the character of a person is the bottom line.
Outward impressiveness … appearance, height, weight, complexion, color, hair style, clothes or ‘bling’ … do not make the man or the woman. What makes a person in God’s eyes is the condition of the heart.
David said, “Create in me a clean heart…” – (Psalm 51:10). That is what it takes to be a leader in God’s kingdom building program.
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