Free from concern???

32 I want you to be free from concerns. A man who isn’t married is concerned about the Lord’s concerns—how he can please the Lord.33 But a married man is concerned about the world’s concerns—how he can please his wife. 34 His attention is divided. A woman who isn’t married or who is a virgin is concerned about the Lord’s concerns so that she can be dedicated to God in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the world’s concerns—how she can please her husband. 35 I’m saying this for your own advantage. It’s not to restrict you but rather to promote effective and consistent service to the Lord without distraction. 36 If someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward an unmarried woman whom he knows, and if he has strong feelings and it seems like the right thing to do, he should do what he wants—he’s not sinning—they should get married. 37 But if a man stands firm in his decision, and doesn’t feel the pressure, but has his own will under control, he does right if he decides in his own heart not to marry the woman. 38 Therefore, the one who marries the unmarried woman does right, and the one who doesn’t get married will do even better. 39 A woman is obligated to stay in her marriage as long as her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wants, only it should be a believer in the Lord. 40 But in my opinion, she will be happier if she stays the way she is. And I think that I have God’s Spirit too. (1 Corinthians 7:32-40, CEB)

There is a reason Roman Catholic priests are not supposed to be married. They are married to their congregation, or to God. So their focus is the people and the mission of God.

I can safely say that being a husband, father, and pastor makes for a lack of focus sometimes. But not being married could also cause issues as we have seen from scandals in the church.

So how do we stay free from concerns?

We don’t in this life. But we strive to follow God where God is leading us and to be what God has created us to be. Will we succeed, yes, but we will fall short sometimes.

Just follow God and know that God is always there to help you up when you fall.

Purified

17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters welcomed us warmly. 18 On the next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James. All of the elders were present. 19 After greeting them, he gave them a detailed report of what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 Those who heard this praised God. Then they said to him, “Brother, you see how many thousands of Jews have become believers, and all of them keep the Law passionately. 21 They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to reject Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to live according to our customs. 22 What about this? Without a doubt, they will hear that you have arrived. 23 You must therefore do what we tell you. Four men among us have made a solemn promise.24 Take them with you, go through the purification ritual with them, and pay the cost of having their heads shaved. Everyone will know there is nothing to those reports about you but that you too live a life in keeping with the Law. 25 As for the Gentile believers, we wrote a letter about what we decided, that they avoid food offered to idols, blood, the meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality.”26 The following day Paul took the men with him and went through the purification ritual with them. He entered the temple and publicly announced the completion of the days of purification, when the offering would be presented for each one of them. (Acts 21:17-26, CEB)

What does it mean to be purified?

Is there a ritual for purification?

To purify silver the silversmith holds the silver in the hot fire burning off the impurities until they can see their reflection. So until we reflect God so that others see God and not us we are not purified.

So how do we get purified? Shave our heads and offer sacrifices and follow the Law to the letter?

The law can not make us pure, only God can, so we follow God and do what God has commended, love God and love others, and in this we will be purified.

Do not put you own desires or needs above that of another. Love God, love neighbor.

Love People, Love God!

hear

21 Jesus and his followers went into Capernaum. Immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and started teaching. 22 The people were amazed by his teaching, for he was teaching them with authority, not like the legal experts. 23 Suddenly, there in the synagogue, a person with an evil spirit screamed, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the holy one from God.” 25 “Silence!” Jesus said, speaking harshly to the demon. “Come out of him!” 26 The unclean spirit shook him and screamed, then it came out. 27 Everyone was shaken and questioned among themselves, “What’s this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands unclean spirits and they obey him!” 28 Right away the news about him spread throughout the entire region of Galilee. (Mark 1:21-28, CEB)

Even the unclean spirits obey him!

Did the clean spirits obey other people?

The spirits knew who Jesus was before he told the spirits who he was. They recognized God incarnate. Why do we struggle with this?

I wonder if we had been in the temple with Jesus and heard his teaching and saw the things he did, would we be quicker to believe who he is?

Or would it make us wonder and question as it seems the leaders and some of the people of that time did. We think that being there would make us believe so much easier, but would it?

Do you need to see Jesus to believe in Jesus?

Where is Jesus?

28 When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake in the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed came from among the tombs to meet him. They were so violent that nobody could travel on that road. 29 They cried out, “What are you going to do with us, Son of God? Have you come to torture us before the time of judgment?” 30 Far off in the distance a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons pleaded with him, “If you throw us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 32 Then he said to the demons, “Go away,” and they came out and went into the pigs. The whole herd rushed down the cliff into the lake and drowned. 33 Those who tended the pigs ran into the city and told everything that had happened to the demon-possessed men.34 Then the whole city came out and met Jesus. When they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region. 9 Boarding a boat, Jesus crossed to the other side of the lake and went to his own city. (Matthew 8:28—9:1, CEB)

Why pigs?

Well the most prominent reason is to show that Jesus was not with the Israelites at this point. The Israelites would not be herding pigs as they are unclean. Jesus was doing miracles for everyone.

Where can you go that Jesus is not already there? No where. We do not go someplace to take Jesus, we go there to meet Jesus and join him in what God is already actively doing there.

Where can you join Jesus?

tripped

12 “Write this to the angel of the church in Pergamum: These are the words of the one who has the sharp, two-edged sword: 13 I know that you are living right where Satan’s throne is. You are holding on to my name, and you didn’t break faith with me even at the time that Antipas, my faithful witness, was killed among you, where Satan lives. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have some there who follow Balaam’s teaching. Balaam had taught Balak to trip up the Israelites so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. 15 In the same way, you have some who follow the Nicolaitans’ teaching. 16 So change your hearts and lives. If you don’t, I am coming to you soon, and I will make war on them with the sword that comes from my mouth. 17 If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. I will give those who emerge victorious some of the hidden manna to eat. I will also give to each of them a white stone with a new name written on it, which no one knows except the one who receives it. (Revelation 2:12-17, CEB)

It is easy to have faith in Jesus and yet get caught up in the world around us. We get tripped up by those around us doing things and we think it will be ok, but then fall into bad habits.

Jesus wants us to be focused on Him. God gives us a life we can’t possibly image, we just need to stay true to our faith and follow God.

What trips you up and takes your focus away from Jesus?

Not natural…

6 But it’s not as though God’s word has failed. Not all who are descended from Israel are part of Israel. 7 Not all of Abraham’s children are called Abraham’s descendants, but instead your descendants will be named through Isaac. 8 That means it isn’t the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children from the promise who are counted as descendants. 9 The words in the promise were: A year from now I will return, and Sarah will have a son. 10 Not only that, but also Rebecca conceived children with one man, our ancestor Isaac. 11 When they hadn’t been born yet and when they hadn’t yet done anything good or bad, it was shown that God’s purpose would continue because it was based on his choice. 12 It wasn’t because of what was done but because of God’s call. This was said to her: The older child will be a slave to the younger one. 13 As it is written, I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau. 14 So what are we going to say? Isn’t this unfair on God’s part? Absolutely not! 15 He says to Moses, I’ll have mercy on whomever I choose to have mercy, and I’ll show compassion to whomever I choose to show compassion. 16 So then, it doesn’t depend on a person’s desire or effort. It depends entirely on God, who shows mercy. 17 Scripture says to Pharaoh, I have put you in this position for this very thing: so I can show my power in you and so that my name can be spread through the entire earth. 18 So then, God has mercy on whomever he wants to, but he makes resistant whomever he wants to. (Romans 9:6-18, CEB)

We are children of God, not natural children, but adopted.

God wants us to be a part of the family, and has made a way for us to be God’s children, not by our desire, but because God wants us.

God has chosen you. And there isn’t anything you can do about it!

Disciples

13 Jesus went up on a mountain and called those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve and called them apostles. He appointed them to be with him, to be sent out to preach, 15 and to have authority to throw out demons. 16 He appointed twelve: Peter, a name he gave Simon; 17 James and John, Zebedee’s sons, whom he nicknamed Boanerges, which means “sons of Thunder”; 18 and Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, Alphaeus’ son; Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean; 19 and Judas Iscariot, (Mark 3:13-19a, CEB)

What would you do if Jesus called you? Well he has called you…

Jesus called those he wanted. Does that mean there are some Jesus doesn’t want? Well no, Jesus wants us all, but all of us are not meant to be called for the same thing. We all have gifts for the kingdom. And we all are called.

What is your gift?

Proof

33 When the council members heard this, they became furious and wanted to kill the apostles. 34 One council member, a Pharisee and teacher of the Law named Gamaliel, well-respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be taken outside for a few moments. 35 He said, “Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you intend to do to these people. 36 Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and some four hundred men joined him. After he was killed, all of his followers scattered, and nothing came of that. 37 Afterward, at the time of the census, Judas the Galilean appeared and got some people to follow him in a revolt. He was killed too, and all his followers scattered far and wide. 38 Here’s my recommendation in this case: Distance yourselves from these men. Let them go! If their plan or activity is of human origin, it will end in ruin. 39 If it originates with God, you won’t be able to stop them. Instead, you would actually find yourselves fighting God!” The council was convinced by his reasoning. 40 After calling the apostles back, they had them beaten. They ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, then let them go. 41 The apostles left the council rejoicing because they had been regarded as worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the name. 42 Every day they continued to teach and proclaim the good news that Jesus is the Christ, both in the temple and in houses. (Acts 5:33-42, CEB)

Have you ever met someone who said you can’t prove that Jesus is God and that God doesn’t exist?

How do we prove that God exists and that Jesus is who the Bible claims He is? There is little to no imperial proof of the existence of God. Other than creation and the promises that were made and kept, but these will not prove that God exists. This passage of the Bible actually tells us the proof of God and Jesus. If we let them go and the movement dies it is of man, but if it continues then you are fighting God.

The best proof for me of the fact that Jesus is God, the 12 disciples were all martyred, and none of them said it wasn’t true, they died defending Jesus as the Son of God and our of 12 men, one of them would have saved there one skin! Ok John was technically not martyred but he was boiled in oil and didn’t deny Christ.

Do you believe?

What is your proof?

prestige?

17 Nevertheless, each person should live the kind of life that the Lord assigned when he called each one. This is what I teach in all the churches. 18 If someone was circumcised when called, he shouldn’t try to reverse it. If someone wasn’t circumcised when he was called, he shouldn’t be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing; not being circumcised is nothing. What matters is keeping God’s commandments. 20 Each person should stay in the situation they were in when they were called. 21 If you were a slave when you were called, don’t let it bother you. But if you are actually able to be free, take advantage of the opportunity. 22 Anyone who was a slave when they were called by the Lord has the status of being the Lord’s free person. In the same way, anyone who was a free person when they were called is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought and paid for. Don’t become slaves of people. 24 So then, brothers and sisters, each of you should stay with God in the situation you were in when you were called. (1 Corinthians 7:17-24, CEB)

We are slaves of God. We were bought with a price and should see that as love. And we should not be worried about our outward appearance, or that we have made the proper modifications to our bodies. Circumcision or being of a certain appearance doesn’t matter. It isn’t the cloak you wear, but the status of your heart.

God knows why you do the things you do, is it for the prestige or is it out of love of God and neighbor?

Set your heart on God and know you are beloved.

People bait?

14 After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, 15 saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!” 16 As Jesus passed alongside the Galilee Sea, he saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew, throwing fishing nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” 18 Right away, they left their nets and followed him.19 After going a little farther, he saw James and John, Zebedee’s sons, in their boat repairing the fishing nets. 20 At that very moment he called them. They followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers. (Mark 1:14-20, CEB)

I am not a fisherman but I know that when fishing for different fish it is best to switch the bait. Some bait works for some fish and not others. Some fish may prefer a synthetic worm to live or it may work better to catch them.

But I wonder what bait works best for people? For me tator tots or bacon would work. But that may not work for you.

But these fishermen used nets to catch fish so there isn’t any bait. So are we the nets then?

Is it our lives show the grace and love of Christ to those around us and they are “dragged” into God’s love?

Are we the thing that helps people see how much God loves them?

How do we fish for people?