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Jn 5:36 - "… the very works that I do — testify about Me,…" NASU
He wasn't a hypocrite because what He preached was exactly how He lived. John the Baptist was in prison and he is having some doubts about Jesus being the Messiah so he sends some of his men to ask Jesus if He were the One that was to come or should they be looking for another. Jesus gives them this answer in Lk 7:22-23 - And He answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM." NASU Oh yeah, He is the One all right because Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be doing exactly what Jesus said He has been doing.
I was at the bedside of a man who was going in for some major heart surgery. When we were all alone he confessed to me that he had not been living his life correctly and he would like to have a second chance to make things right at home, at work, and most importantly with the Lord. I prayed that he would come through his surgery successfully and that the Lord would allow him time to change his legacy. I learned something very important from that brother that day. It was when you are faced with the possibility that you might die you don't want to be a hypocrite.
Now is the time for some introspection. Can you say that your works testify that what you're doing matches what you think is important? If you said, "My family, my job or the Lord is important to me." Then your works should be your proof that your family, job or the Lord is really important to you. Don't say that something is important to you and then have no works to support your statement because that will make you a hypocrite and that is certainly not what you're interested in accomplishing. It was really important for Jesus to stay focused on His goals and we see Him doing exactly that staying focused on His purpose for coming to earth. That is why He says that His works testify about Him. So ask yourself this question: "What do your works say about you?" Think on These: The plain fact is that human beings are happy only when they are striving for something worthwhile. This will be a better world when the power of love replaces the love of power. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Go To www.SeragosPumpUps.com
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Luke 2:15 -16 - When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us. So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger." NASU
I send this Pump Up out every year at this time for all my new subscribers. I have made some updates to it this year. May you have a very Merry Christmas.
What some may not know is the meaning of Bethlehem. It means "house of bread." Jesus was the Bread of Life or the Bread of God that came from the "house of bread" to give spiritual life to the world. John 6:33 - "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world." John 6:35 - Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. John 6:41 - So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” John 6:48 - "I am the bread of life." John 6:51 - "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” Jesus was and is the Bread of Life. If you are spiritually hungry Jesus is the One who can take away all of your hunger pains. If you have been wondering - "What is my purpose in life?" Then look to Jesus for your answers. I did and have never regretted looking to Him for guidance in this life.
The sheep were offered on the altar were special as they were sheep without a blemish. When John the Baptist saw Jesus he said this about Him. John 1:29 - The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John saw Jesus as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world and this Lamb was born in Bethlehem where a lot of other lambs were born and would sacrifice their blood. But only the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus, could atone for the sins of mankind. I hope and pray you have allowed the blood of Jesus to wash away your sins.
What greater gift could anyone receive? Truly, Jesus is the Gift that keeps on giving. Think on This: Jesus is the reason for the season. The Christmas season is only as meaningful as we make it. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Matt. 14:24-25 - But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. NASU
Mark 6:47-48 - When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea;… John 6:17-19 - It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened.
This is the first lesson that I have ever taught on this miracle. Let's look at this miracle. Matthew says, "the boat was already a long distance from the land,…" and Mark says, "the boat was in the middle of the sea,…" and John says, "…when they had rowed about three or four miles…" Now let me share this with you. It is NIGHT TIME! Matt and Mark say, "…in the fourth watch of the night…" What does that mean? The night was broken into four groups of time. The 1st watch was from 6 pm - 9 pm, 2nd watch was from 9 pm - midnight, 3rd watch was from midnight - 3 am and the 4th watch is from 3 am - 6 am. John says, "It had already become dark…" Do you have the picture now? It is dark and it is between 3 am - 6 am and the boat with the disciples is 3 or 4 miles away and Jesus according to Mark sees them straining at the oars. Seriously! I have lived on a lake and it isn't even a mile from one side to other and I can tell you right now I would never be able to tell what was going on with a boat that was 500 yards from shore. I don't know about you but I would call that a miracle. I would call that night vision par excellence.
The disciples were struggling with the wind and the waves. What are the winds and waves that you're struggling against? What are the wind and waves that are trying to keep you from accomplishing your goals? The disciple's goal was to get to the other side of the lake. Whatever the obstacles that are beating down on you Jesus can see them today as clear as He saw them in the middle of the night with His disciples. The disciples cried out in fear when they saw Jesus walking on the water towards them and He said, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." You need to hear Jesus telling you to take courage and not be afraid of your situation.
Look at what happened to Peter when he called out to Jesus: Matt 14:28-29 - Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Get out of your boat and walk towards Jesus is the best advice I can give you. Think On These: The world would be improved with less television and more vision. It is when we forget ourselves that we do things that are most likely to be remembered. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word John 13:2 - During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,…
John 13:21-22 - When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me." NASU
Jesus was betrayed by Judas. Judas was a part of the group known as the 12 disciples. We could say he was a part of the inner circle. He betrays the friendship he had with Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. He was a thief. He was greedy. He was the type of person who permitted the devil to have access to his heart. You would not want to associate with him. He would be exactly the type of person you would warn your children to stay away from him.
The pain that comes from betrayal is unique and it is so devastating it even hurt Jesus. Look at what the text says, "When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit,…" The word troubled means agitated. Jesus' spirit was agitated after he informed the disciples that Judas was going to betray Him. What He said to His disciples was this: John 13:18-19 - I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.' He prophesied His betrayal. He wanted them to know He knew it was going to happen to Him when He says, the one who was eating with Me was going to lift up his heel against Me. "Lifting up your heel" is a reference to a horse that lifts up its heels against the one who feeds and takes care of it.
Betrayal tells you a lot about the person who did the betraying. In Judas' case, he was not worthy of the spiritual gifts he possessed. Look what Luke 9:1-2 says, And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. Judas was one of the twelve as I stated earlier. Look at the power he possessed. He could cast out demons and heal people, but no he would rather give access of his heart to the devil and betray Jesus. What does this say about Jesus? Jesus, the one betrayed, offered one special ingredient to the relationship and that was TRUST. Jesus "trusted" His disciples offering them friendship and love and Judas cast all of that aside because he was greedy and not worthy of the spiritual blessings and benefits offered to him. If you don't ever want to be betrayed then you are going to have to go through life never trusting anyone. That doesn't sound like the way I want to live. I would rather trust people and if they betray me so be it. At least I trusted them. As my mom taught me "it is never wrong to do right." Let's be like Jesus and trust people. Think About This: Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. - William Shakespeare Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word John 12:3-8 - Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair;… But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?" Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. Therefore Jesus said, "Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me." NASU
Mary anoints Jesus with $24,000 worth of perfume. John says, "Costly perfume of pure nard…" What a display of love. What an act of selfless giving. What have I ever given to Jesus that was that costly? Nothing! Wow! Mary loves Jesus with a love that is truly amazing, and totally superior to any of my minor acts of love. But what does she receive for her self sacrificing act of love? She receives criticism and ridicule. The disciples treat her with indignation. Their actions remind me of what John said about Cain: 1 John 3:11-12 - we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous. Many times I have seen Christians harassed from evil people and John informs us why this has happened because the motive of the person who is doing the harassing is evil.
Isn't it amazing today how one Christian can do something for the Lord out of pure love, like Mary and this very same act will be called into question by other disciples? I can tell you right now from 35 years of experience in the local church I would rather have a congregation full of Mary's than even one Judas. She loves and it was evident by what she gave. Judas was filled with greed. He was a thief and gave nothing to help the cause. There are two lessons here for us the first is to be careful who you allow to influence you in life. Be influenced by loving and giving people and not greedy hateful people. The second lesson is don't allow criticism to stop you from doing good to others. Be like Mary and do all the good you can for Jesus and His creation. Jesus said, what Mary was doing was the right thing for her to do. Can you hear God telling you what you are doing is the correct action? Think About This: A Christian is the one who makes it easier for other people to believe in God. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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