|
Luke 17:15-17 - Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him.
And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine — where are they? NASU
If you were out walking and you saw a person you had to warn them by crying out, "Leper, Leper." In doing this, you warned them that you were an outcast of society and to stay away from you. Jesus on one of His daily outings approaches 10 lepers and tells them to "go and show themselves to the priest." On their way they are all healed of this horrendous disease. Their skin would have changed back to normal and it would have been very obvious to them. All 10 of them would have known they were healed.
WOW! One out of ten returns to say "Thanks!" Jesus changed all ten of their lives for the better and only one will slightly inconvenience himself and return to Jesus to say "Thanks!" How could such a little thing have been neglected? Why was it so hard for 9 out 10 not to return and say "Thanks!"?
While I was a minister in MD, I would handout Tootsie Rolls on Sunday mornings after the service to the children as they walked out of the building. You don't know how many parents I heard say to their child, "What do you say?" The correct answer was always "Thank you." It makes a parent feel good when the child says thanks without being coached. Some lessons we teach are children are invaluable and one such lesson is teaching them to say, "Thank you!" as well as being thankful. Did your parents teach you to say, "Thanks!" and have you taught this same lesson to your child(ren)?
You know if my parents were alive I would call them to "thank" them for all they did for me. I can't call them, but there are some others that will be hearing from me today. Maybe you have a teacher, preacher, coach, friend or relative that really helped change your life. Today would be a great day to give them a call and say "Thanks!" Let us be like the One Leper and not the nine. Think About These: Even though we can't have all that we want, we ought to be thankful we don't get what we deserve. If you can't be thankful for what you have, be thankful for what you don't have. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word For Past Issues of my Pump Ups go to www.SeragosPumpUps.com
0 Comments
Matt. 10:1-4 - Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these…and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. NASU
Judas was a popular name in the first century. Judas means "he shall be praised." I guess it is fair to say he didn't live up to his name. His last name IS NOT "Iscariot" as many people seem to think. Iscariot means "man of Kerioth." Therefore, Judas Iscariot was actually "Judas the man of Kerioth."
As any athlete can tell you having the right coach is very important. As any coach can tell you having an athlete who will not only listen but they will also apply what is being taught is vitally important. Judas was associating with the right teacher and students so where did he go wrong? He was given the same power and authority over unclean spirits as the other disciples. He was able to heal every kind of disease and sickness the text says. Imagine all the good he could have done. He could have totally eliminated every leper camp he approached because he was given the power to heal every sickness and disease. How many people do you know that have many God given talents, have associated with the right people and yet, they have wasted these talents?
WOW! Why wasn't the perfume sold and the money given to the poor? Those words sound spiritual. How noble of Judas to think of all the poor people in the world. This proves that what a person says doesn't always reveal the contents of their heart. A person's actions will tell you more about them than their words. I am pretty sure we are in contact with people on a daily basis who say one thing and do another.
He could have given the money to Matthew to watch over it since he was accustomed to collecting money, but He didn't. The only way you and I are going to get spiritually stronger is when we face our temptations and conquer them. If you are facing temptations today don't pray that the LORD remove them. Pray that He will strengthen you to overcome them, to defeat and destroy them once and for all. Judas started out traveling on the right road, but some where along the way he took a wrong turn. It doesn't matter how you start it matters how you finish. Think About This: A hypocrite never intends to be what he pretends to be. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Acts 20:35 - “...Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
We always hear about what it is that someone wants. Some want a new car, a bigger house, a student loan paid off, and the list could go on forever. Would you like a dollar for every time you heard someone say they wanted to win the lottery?
Well, this is what I ask. “Are you giving to them now?” If you say, "No" then guess what? I don’t believe you will give to them if you win the lottery. Why do I say that? It is because we are creatures of habit. We will do what we have always been doing. If you don’t help people out with the little bit that you possess now you are not going to help them if you possess more.
We are to give from what we already have. God has blessed us all. If you don’t believe you are rich right now I suggest that you travel to a third world country and see for yourself. Do you have running water or electricity in your house? I stayed at a missionary's house in Uganda, and they only received electricity every other day.
I made a promise to God if I ever saw another totally naked person begging I would help them.
I always carried under clothes and socks in my computer backpack in case my luggage was lost on a trip. If you have travelled much, you will learn this lesson quickly. Always carry extra under clothes with you when you travel and especially if you are going overseas. I pulled out a pair of boxer shorts and a T-shirt from my bag. I approached the man holding out the clothes and he accepted them. I thanked God for allowing me to keep my promise that I made six years earlier.
Certainly you have something to give to others. Certainly, you have something in your home that you are not using that could be a blessing in someone else's life. So, why not give it and receive a blessing that comes with giving it away? If you are a coach can you find one thing your athletes did to receive a compliment from you today? If you are a boss can you find one thing your employee did to receive a compliment from you today? Do you realize how far an "at a boy, way to hustle or good job" can go? Believe this passage of scripture, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." So start being a giver today, which in turn will make you a receiver. You will not regret it. Think About These: Some of the greatest gifts are not monetary ones. If you have lost a loved one how much money would you give to have 10 minutes with them? Time we all have time and there are others that could use some of our time. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Matt. 6:19-21 - "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. NASU
He teaches them about being merciful, gentle, peacemakers, accepting persecution, being the salt of the earth and being the light of the world. He teaches them it is wrong to murder, commit adultery and to hate. He teaches them properly how to give to the poor, how to pray, how to forgive and how to fast properly. After the lesson on fasting, Jesus teaches them about how to properly handle their finances. He says, "…store up for yourselves treasure in heaven…" There is good reason for Christ followers to store up treasure in heaven. The reason is no thieves can break in and steal what you have deposited into your account in heaven. There is no stock market to crash there. There are no Ponzi schemes taking place in Heaven. Your TREASURE is 100% secure in Heaven.
Joseph (aka Barnabas) was a Levite. This means he was from the priestly tribe of Levi. Levi was one of the 12 sons of Jacob. Moses and Aaron were from this tribe. Jesus was not from this tribe. We can see from the above passage that Barnabas had a tract of land; he sold this piece of property and gave the money to the apostles. In other words, he was laying up a treasure in heaven that could not be taken from him. There are lots of people who give to the Lord's church to help advance the Lord's Kingdom here on earth. My dad did a similar deed for the church he attended in AZ. The church was in a building program and dad gave them the deed to a piece of property that was his. When I was in MD we likewise had a building program and a young man who had recently been converted to Christ gave the title to his motorcycle and the money was given to the Lord's church. These three men were all making deposits or storing up their Heavenly Treasure Account.
I am not against saving for one's retirement or putting money into our IRA. I believe we should be prepared for a time when we are not employed. I also believe we should be making deposits into our HTA's or Heavenly Treasure Account. There is a day coming when we are going to depart from this world and go to the next one. What will await for us upon our arrival in heaven depends on what we were focused on while here on earth.
Even doing little things for people is seen by God and rewarded by Him also. Matt 6:3-4 - "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. NASU Lk 14:13-14 - "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. "But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." NASU I hope this financial advice will bless you beyond measure. May your HTA increase daily. Think About These: Two marks of a Christian: Giving and Forgiving. Blessed are those who can give without remembering and receive without forgetting. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Mark 7:25-29 - But after hearing of Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet. Now the woman was a Gentile… And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And He was saying to her, "Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and
throw it to the dogs." But she answered and said to Him, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children's crumbs." And He said to her, "Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter." NASU
Would you persistently ask Jesus to cast the demon from your child? Notice what the text says, "And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter." WOW! How hard is it for a parent to admit their child has a demon? Yet, this mother humbles herself and admits her daughter has a demon, admits she needs help for herself and for her daughter. She owns her situation. She doesn't try to blame anyone else for her situation.
When you read the parallel story in Matthew 15 the disciples tell Jesus to "send her away." That seems to be the disciples answer to every problem. If you remember right before the feeding of the 5,000 they gave Jesus this same answer. This Gentile mother was not going to give up finding a cure for her daughter. Jesus even tells her, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matt.15:24). This answer from Jesus doesn't deter her. She continues to beg. Jesus then says something to her that puzzles me even to this very day, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." What? Did Jesus just say that? Did He compare this lady to dogs? Yes, He did. WOW! I am blown away. But wait a minute look at what the Gentile mother says, "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their master' table." She says; if you want to compare me to a dog go ahead. I will take that and more. But will you please help my daughter? There you have it my friends an example from a Gentile mother. She humbles herself and never gives up when it comes to helping her child.
If you want to help your children you must keep the faith. As you read this Pump Up it has been 12 years since my mom went to be with the Lord. One of the greatest lessons she taught her children was to "keep your faith" especially during the trying times. Love and miss you mom. Thanks for teaching us to "keep the faith." Think About These: When you become wrinkled with care and worry, it's time to have your faith lifted. Faith is the hinge that holds the believer to a personal relationship with God. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
Archives
November 2024
AuthorGary A Serago. Categories
All
|
RSS Feed