With Him

Is it possible to be with Jesus, but not really? I think so. In Matthew 26 there are a number of people with Jesus, but most of them aren't really with Him.

Verses 69-75...
Peter was with Jesus, but denying Him.

Verses 57-68...
Caiaphas, the scribes and the elders were with Jesus, but revolted by Him.

Verses 47-56...
The large crowd was with Jesus, but on mission against Him.

Verse 56...
The disciples were with Jesus, but running scared from Him.

Verses 36-46...
The disciples were with Jesus, but disengaged from Him.

Verses 26-35...
The disciples were with Jesus, but confused about Him.

Verses 14-25...
Judas was with Him, but betraying Him.

But here's the good one...
In verses 6-13 the Bible says a woman came and anointed the head of Jesus with very costly perfume from an alabaster vial. Although her actions infuriated the disciples, Jesus commended her. And although here name is not mentioned, Jesus said that what she did would be remembered wherever the gospel was proclaimed.

The woman was with Jesus, and worshipped Him.

What about you? Are you with Him?

It Must Just Be Me

When I was reading this morning the following verse made me laugh...

"Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him." (Matthew 24:1)

I've read it before and didn't find anything humorous in it. So I wanted to see if maybe I was just losing my mind (which, if you know me, is quite possible). I got to the office and looked for notes on the subject from several sources I trust. Nope, nothing. So again, it's probably just me, but here's what made me laugh. Jesus was leaving the temple and the disciples came to point out the temple buildings. HELLO, MACFLY!! Can you say, "Captain Obvious"?

Here are several thoughts the laughter prompted...
1. When we're just showing up, Jesus has been there before us.
2. When we're lecturing Jesus on what is and what isn't, He is completely aware and informed.
3. Jesus doesn't need ANYTHING from us, and yet He chooses us to be a part of what He's doing.

A Song from Last Night

Several have asked about the song that David V. shared at the end of the service last night. It's called "The More I Seek You" by Gateway Worship. Gateway Worship is a ministry of Gateway Church in Texas. The song is from their album entitled Living for You. This is the same ministry team and album that brought us the incredible "Revelation Song." Gateway Worship has released several albums since this one, and each is very good.

Really?

"And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21:22)

Recommended Music

Free Chapel is a church with two campuses. The original campus is in Gainesville, GA. The new campus is located in Orange County, CA. Check out these two albums from Free Chapel, "Moving Forward" and "Power of the Cross." Neither are brand new, but both are worth listening to.

Faith (or the Lack Thereof)

Matthew has much to say about faith or the lack thereof. So much in fact, that this post would be WAY to long if we addressed them all. However, as I read this week, one of those statements struck me again for its shear sadness. Chapter 13, verse 58 says, "And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief." In light of all the miracles that had taken place in previous chapters, in light of the specific ways Jesus had performed the miracles, in light of the way the Lord commended those who had received healing, it is so sad that in His hometown, Jesus did not perform many miracles. Why? "Because of their unbelief." Now, I am fully aware that there have been abuses by those who say, "You weren't healed because you didn't have enough faith." I'm not talking about that. What I'm talking about is the Lord Himself. This is Jesus! This isn't a "faith healer." This is God! WHAT IN THE WORLD?! Jesus is Who He says He is. He has all authority in heaven and on earth. His power was not diminished between Matthew chapter 9 and Matthew chapter 13, and His power has not diminished from Matthew 13 to this very day. Jesus Christ is the Lord of Glory! He is King of the Universe! He is God and He is able!

The Authority

After Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount...

"When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes." (Matthew 7:28)

Jesus didn't just teach well. The scribes could do that. It wasn't just a good sermon. They had heard plenty of those. The people were amazed because Jesus had authority.

And shortly thereafter...

"And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, and saying, 'Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.' Jesus said to him, 'I will come and heal him.' But the centurion said, 'Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, "Go!" and he goes, and to another, "Come!" and he comes, and to my slave, "Do this!" and he does it.' Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, 'Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;  but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' And Jesus said to the centurion, 'Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.' And the servant was healed that very moment." (Matthew 8:5-13)

Jesus affirmed the man because the man recognized completely the authority that Jesus had to heal the servant. Sickness (and everything else) submits to the authority of Jesus Christ.

So how does this affect us?

Following His crucifixion and resurrection...
"And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'” (Matthew 28:18-20)

We have been commissioned by the authority of Jesus Christ Himself. And how much authority does Jesus have? ALL!

"App"ortunities to Make Him Known

There are several evangelism apps available. Three worth checking out are Steps 2 Peace with God from The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Witness from King's Witness, and Knowing God from Campus Crusade Australia.

A Prayer of Daniel

"And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name." (Daniel 9:15-19)

Connection to past.
Confession of sin.
Calling for change.
Cry of repentance.
Commitment to the greatness of God's name.

Humiliation and Exaltation

"'Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.' All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king answered and said, 'Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?' While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, 'O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.' Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws. At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, 'What have you done?' At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble." (Daniel 4:27-37)

"For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another." (Isaiah 48:11)

"Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matthew 23:12)

Then...

"And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven." (Daniel 2:16-19)

Daniel made the matter known.

Daniel and his friends sought God for mercy in the matter.

God revealed the answer to Daniel.

Daniel blessed the Lord.

Inheritance - A Train of Thought

"This shall be their inheritance: I am their inheritance: and you shall give them no possession in Israel; I am their possession." (Ezekiel 44:28 - in reference to the Levitical priests)


"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:8-10)


"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:3-14)

And They're Off

The choir & band enjoyed a great time of fellowship, worship and prayer at the Fall Kickoff last night. We're looking forward to all that God has in store for us this season. We're excited about the opportunity to minister from Everything Glorious and Jesus Saves. If you were unable to attend, the music ministry brochures, books and CDs are now available. Pick up your copies in the choir room.

Summer Is Over (Well, Almost)

Despite the blazing temperatures still registering on the thermometers, summer is quickly coming to a close. In less than three weeks, school will be back in session, football fever will have taken hold, and the Fall season of the Wynne Choir & Band will be underway. The band will be on their regular schedule this Sunday, August 7, from 4:00pm to 5:30pm in the Worship Center. The Choir & Band Fall Kickoff will take place the following Wednesday, August 10, in the Student Room from 6:00pm to 8:30pm. Then the choir will be back on their regular Wednesday rehearsal schedule on August 17. Be in prayer for all that God has in store.