After a mighty worship time, which brought us into the presence of the Lord, Pastor Josiah
reminded us that our mission is to culture like Christ, and our vision is Jesus. The previous week we learned about Jesus sending His disciples out to proclaim the gospel and demonstrate the kingdom. We also are to tell and do kingdom work.
This week Pastor Josiah informed us of King Herod and his wife Herodias, who was married to Herod’s brother. John the Baptist proclaimed that this union was adulterous and against the Lord’s will. Heriodias was furious, but King Herod
“respected John ; and knowing that he was a good and holy
man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever
he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.”
Mark 6:20 (NLT)
Even to very powerful people like Herod, John was not afraid of proclaiming the truth. Was
John’s boldness intriguing to Herod? John was convicting Herod of his sin. Pastor Josiah stated that he likes the Holy Spirit’s convicting him because the Holy Spirit is still working in and with him. I do like to know that I am sinning so that I can repent and change my ways, but I do not always like to feel convicted.
At Herod’s birthday party, Herodias’ daughter danced for the king and his guests. Impetuously, because he was greatly pleased, Herod offered her up to half his kingdom. His step daughter, who was also his niece, asked for John’s head on a platter. Though Herod regretted her request, he felt he had to follow through. However, John did not recant his convicting words and was beheaded.
Upright people have a backbone. For us as believers, we need to know whose we are. Pastor
Josiah advised us, “Make up your mind today for what you struggle with tomorrow.” Be prepared for the attack, for you know that satan is “like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) Another tactic the enemy likes to use is hiding in our blind spots because he capitalizes in those blind areas. We need to be aware and have that full armor of God on: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of the Lord. Ephesians 6:14-17
Pastor Josiah explained because of his identity in the Lord, he is not his old self. That old man is gone, and he has been made new. When temptation shows up, he already has his mind made up; there is victory in Jesus. He is thinking of the King and the Kingdom. In 1 Corinthians 15:58 it says, “So, dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is useless.”
(NLT). We need to be determined to follow Jesus.
After Jesus heard the news of John’s death, he left in a boat to be alone. He was mourning the death of His cousin and needed to mourn alone.
“But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot
from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from
the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed the sick.”
Matthew 14:13b-14 (NLT)
Even though He was grieving for John, who had prepared the way for Jesus, Jesus had great
compassion for the people. “Compassion-Grk.splagchnizomai-To be moved as to one’s bowel. To feel deep sympathy or pity.” Jesus exemplified Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourself.” (NIV)
Jesus’ heart was broken, but instead of caring for His own needs, He healed the sick. He
modeled for us humility here and on the cross submission to His Father’s will-INCREDIBLE!
Jesus also illustrated John 15:12-13. “This is my commandment: love each other in the
same way I have loved you.There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s
friends.” (NLT) Pastor Josiah asked a big question. ”Are you willing to lay your life down for
others?” Dying for others is one thing, but living for others is another.
In Luke 9 Herod Antipas heard about Jesus and was puzzled. To him Jesus looked a lot like
John; however, in reality, John looked a lot like Jesus. Herod inadvertently was complimenting John. “‘I beheaded John,’ Herod said,’so who is this man about whom I hear such stories?’ And he kept trying to see him.” Luke 9:9 (NLT) Though Herod was not a Jesus
follower, he wanted to see Him. Again Herod was curious.
Not only did Herod want to see Jesus, but so did the crowds that had seen Jesus perform
miracles before. In John 6:3 “Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around
him.” (NLT) The apostles had returned from their going, telling, and doing. Jesus on the hill
gave the disciples a different perspective; the disciples were inconvenienced; and He was an
example.
First, He gave them a different perspective. Jesus asked Philip who was from the area about
where they could buy food. Because Philip was a mere man, he had a mere man’s perspective. He replied,”Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!” John 6:7 (NLT) Jesus was testing Philip. In the Kingdom, there’s more than one way to accomplish a task. Andrew found a young boy with” five barley loves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” John 6:8 (NLT) As a side note, Andrew brought Simon Peter to the Lord, and then he found the boy and brought him with his offering. Andrew is always on the look out.
The Paramount Point is “The limitations of men are endless possibilities with God.” Jesus
took the loaves and fish, thanked His heavenly Father for His provision, and had the disciples
distribute the food. All four gospels, Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; and John
6:5-13, recounted the feeding of the five thousand men. After the crowd (possibly as large as
twenty thousand people with men, women and children) ate, the disciples gathered up twelve baskets of left overs-one for each disciple. Pastor Josiah emphasized to “Take care of the mission; God will take care of you.”
Second, the disciples were inconvenienced. They had just finished going out two by two where they shared Jesus and demonstrated the Kingdom. They wanted some quiet time; they needed to eat and recuperate; however the needs of the huge crowd were a priority for the Lord. Sometimes Jesus is inconvenient. The trap for us is that we like convenience, and we want things done immediately. However, that is not how the sovereign Lord sees things.
“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord.
'For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And my thoughts than your thoughts.”’
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
Our inconvenience may be God’s way of shaping and forming us to be more like Him.
Finally, Jesus was the supreme example of generosity, for He modeled how to pour into His
disciples, who shared Jesus wherever they went. Because the Lord Jesus trained them and
they followed His example, we are Christ followers. Jesus gave of His life so that we could have life.
In John 6:5-7 Philip saw the feeding of the huge crowd through his limited eyes. In the Kingdom way, there is more. In the Kingdom, if you share and the person does not respond, share again. If you ask the Lord for something and He does not give it to you, ask again. Keep knocking on the door. Keep giving.
“Do not conform 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.”
Romans 12:2 (NIV)
By not conforming to this world, you are thinking differently. Think Kingdom! By being
transformed, you can be salt and light in this dark and troubled world.
Calendar:
12/4-Midweek Encounter
12/6-LB potluck and caroling-6:00 in the Activity Center
12/7-Women’s Christmas Tea-11:00-1:00. Last day to register is Wednesday so that we can
get enough food.
Submitted by
Larry and Annette Linthicum
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