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Philippians 4:10-11- But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. NASU
This declaration is followed by a well known passage of scripture that many people take completely out of context which is verse 13 which says, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Many people try and apply this passage to some athletic event they are competing in and their reason for being able to accomplish this feat is because they are a Christian and Christ will strengthen them. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but this passage doesn't have any promise for you being able to accomplish some athletic event because you are a Christian. However, you can be content whether you have a lot in this life or if you have nothing because Jesus does give you the strength to endure those situations of life.
They didn't have any cupboards filled with food or a refrigerator that likewise was filled with food. They lived everyday thankful for what they had and they knew God was going to provide for them that day. They had learned how to be content.
Do you think more about what you have obtained in life and are thankful or do you think more about what you want to obtain in this life? In other words, are you satisfied with what God has provided for you or do you think about having something that you don't have? Do you believe this one more item is going to bring you happiness or contentment?
Jack Ballard preached a sermon at the Mount Carmel Christian Church entitled "The Attitude of Gratitude". In this message he stated if you will have the "Attitude of Gratitude" you will be able to find life a lot easier to navigate. When we are grateful for what God has provided us it is much easier to be "content". Ashley Wooldridge said in one of his sermons "Gratitude changes your focus from what you Lack to what you Have.
When you are thinking about what you don't have it takes away your peace and contentment. However, if you are grateful then it is a lot easier to live in the state of contentment. All you have to decide is where do you want to live? Do you want to live in the state of contentment or the state of anxiety and nervousness? Think About These: All the world lives in two tents: content or discontent. Contentment is something that depends a little on position and a lot on disposition. The best way for a person to have contentment is to count his blessings and not his cash. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Mk 5:21-24 - When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore. 22 One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet
23 and implored Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live." 24 And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him. NASU
I can remember going into meetings and saying, "Hold all my calls I don't want any interruptions."
Jairus is not the only interruption that Jesus will encounter this day. While on the way to Jairus' house Jesus is faced with another interruption. This time it is a woman who is in need of Jesus' healing powers for herself. She thought, "If I just touch His garments, I will get well." She moves in and secretly touches Jesus' clothes and when she does she is immediately healed of her 12 year long illness. This is where the story gets interesting. Jesus stops, turns around and says, "Who touched My garments?" This is not going according to her plan. She wanted to touch Him be healed and slip off into the crowd. Jesus wasn't supposed to stop and turn around and question the crowd of people.
Would you get involved and speak out like this? "Alright, if you touched Him I want you to tell Him, NOW, the longer we stand here the sicker my daughter becomes." Jairus waits patiently while Jesus engages with this lady and commends her for her faith.
The lady was sick for 12 years with her illness yet she never gave up on her faith. Would we continue to pray about something if our prayer had not been answered in 12 years? Would we remain faithful to God if we hadn't received the answer to our prayer sooner than that?
Do you know that anything that doesn't help you accomplish your goals is an interruption in your life? When interruptions entered into Jesus' life He used them to Glorify God. We need to realize interruptions may come into our life and stay for years so that we can glorify God with them. Jairus is going to receive more than he asked for that day. He asked for a healing and what he is about to receive is his 12 year old daughter resurrected from the dead. Many times with God you will receive more than you ask, but you must persevere through to the end. If your life is being altered because of interruptions, be like Jairus and the woman who suffered for 12 years, put your faith in Jesus and wait for Him to answer your prayers. Think About This: Life is 10% what you make it and 90% how you take it. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word John 12:37 - Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. NIV
At first I would always say He did give you a sign or a miracle and it is called the "Resurrection of Jesus Christ" and all you have to do is believe in it. Later on in my ministry I would just say, "No, you wouldn't!" Then they would say something like "What do you mean I wouldn't?" Then I would say Jesus accomplished a lot of miracles and the people saw Him do them and John 12 says, "… they still would not believe in him." So excuse me but you might be exactly like them. You could see a miracle and still not believe in God.
Let me share a few that can be found in the book of John: In John 2 Jesus turns the water into wine, In John 4 He heals a royal official's son in Capernaum, In John 5 He heals a man who had been sick for 38 years and he complained he had no one to help him get in the water when it was stirred, In John 9 He heals the man blind from birth and In John 11 He resurrects Lazarus from the dead. These are just some of the miracles Jesus accomplished and yet there were people who didn't believe in Him knowing that He had the reputation of being a miracle worker. Would anyone of those miracles be enough to cause you to come to faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
I want to challenge you to read the book of John and every time Jesus does a miracle put yourself right there with all those people and Jesus and ask yourself two questions: 1. Who can do this? 2. Who works a miracle right in front of all these people? The answer is your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He doesn't change. He is still a miracle worker. I challenge you not to be like those mentioned in John 12 - Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. Doesn't that verse make you feel sad? They were eyewitnesses to His miracles and they would not believe. I believe Jesus still works miracles in our world today but people aren't looking for them. Open your eyes you will be astonished what you might see. Don't be like them. Believe in the miracles that Jesus did and allow them to strengthen your faith. Think About These: Living without Faith is like driving in the fog. Hope is putting Faith to work when doubting would be easier. There are a thousand ways to please God but none without FAITH. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Luke 10:38-41 - "...He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." NASU
Martha's sister Mary is so enthralled with Jesus and His teachings the text says, "…Mary was seated at the Lord's feet." Mary is laser focused in on what Jesus is teaching while her sister, Martha, is concerned about what to feed everyone. Martha is trying to be a very good host, but when you have the Son of God in your house first things first and by that I mean you sit at the Rabbi's feet and listen to every word He speaks. My question is a simple one. If Jesus were in your home where would you be? Would you be at His feet listening to God speak to your heart, feeding your soul or would you be in the kitchen preparing a meal? In life we have choices that we will have to live with the rest of our lives. Some of our choices are more demanding of our time and resources. When you make your life choices make sure you choose ones that will help you get closer to God. Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and Martha chose to work in the kitchen and prepare a meal for all the disciples.
Lord, don't You care? How many times have we thought the same thing when we are going through some type of struggle in our own lives? We cry out "Lord don't you care that I am suffering, I am all alone, and I am the only one serving you? What thanks do I get for being a Christian?" Would Jesus say the same thing to us that He said to Martha? Verses 41-42 - But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." When we worry about everything that is going on around us we need to take a few minutes sit down and read the Word of God. We need to let God speak to us. We need to hear Jesus' commentary on Mary's choice. For He said "only one thing is necessary" and Mary has chosen the one thing that is necessary. He also says that the good part could not be taken away from her.
Don't allow the distractions of life take you away from your time with Jesus. Think About These: Choice, not chance, determines your destiny. Where we go and what we do advertise what we are. Many Christians expect the world to respect a book they neglect. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Matt 16:21-22 - From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. 22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, " God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You." NASU
Sports fans will enjoy how he handled star Reggie Jackson. Weaver had a rule that no one could steal a base unless given the steal sign. This upset Jackson because he felt he knew the pitchers and catchers well enough to judge who he could and could not steal off of. So one game he decided to steal without a sign. He got a good jump off the pitcher and easily beat the throw to second base. As he shook the dirt off his uniform, Jackson smiled with delight, feeling he had vindicated his judgment to his manager. Later, Weaver took Jackson aside and explained why he hadn’t given the steal sign. First, the next batter was Lee May, his best power hitter other than Jackson. When Jackson stole second, first base was left open, so the other team walked Lee May intentionally, taking the bat out of his hands. Second, the following batter hadn’t been strong against that pitcher, so Weaver felt he had to send up a pinch hitter to try to drive in the men on base. That left Weaver without bench strength later in the game when he needed it. The problem was, Jackson saw only his relationship to the pitcher and catcher. Weaver was watching the whole game. We, too, see only so far, but God sees the bigger picture. When He sends us a signal, it’s wise to obey, no matter what we may think we know.
Peter is not real crazy about Jesus' plan so he takes Jesus aside and begins to rebuke Him. He tells Jesus that His plan is all wrong and that He is not going to die. Wow! The audacity of Peter to rebuke Jesus. Jesus then calls Peter His "adversary" which is the translation of the word "satan" and tells Pete to get behind Him. An adversary is one who opposes you or your plan and that is exactly what Peter was doing. Jesus even tells Peter why he is opposing Him "…for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
What type of Bozo would think such a thing? I have to admit I have more in common with Peter than Jesus. On more than one occasion I have thought my plan for my life was the best one. Maybe just maybe you likewise have followed in the footsteps of Peter and Gary and thought God's plans for you were all wrong. Well, go ahead and get a good laugh out of it, shake your head in bewilderment of how you could be so stupid to ever think God would be wrong and then tell God you are now willing to follow His plan for you.
IF those plans would have come to fruition I am sure that Proverbs 14 would have been speaking about me. Prov. 14:12 - There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. I think we could all agree that what God says in Jeremiah has a much better sound and promise to it. Jere. 29:11 - For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. When you accept God's plans for your life you will be able to find contentment with whatever is happening because you know this will all work out for the good just like Paul says in Romans 8. Think About These: It is better to appreciate something you have than to have something you can't appreciate. Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word 1. Copied - https://bible.org/illustration/baltimore-orioles-manager |
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