Luke 22:21-22 - "But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table. 22 "For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!" NASU
The closer and longer the friendship the deeper the pain will be. If you have been betrayed please read this entire Pump Up. I am hoping to share with you some information to assist you in healing from this wound.
You will wrestle with the thought: "Do I ever want to put myself in the position to be hurt like this again?" Once your trust has been broken, you will try to protect yourself from it ever happening again. What feelings will you experience? It is common to have emotions of anger, disappointment, doubt, grief, shame and fear of it happening again. For you to trust a deserving person will now take much longer because you have "trust" issues. You don't want to deny having trust issues. Admit it! Yes, I have trust issues because I was betrayed. Your mistake was you never thought it could happen to you. Now you know that it can.
You had the "pure" mind. If you have asked yourself why couldn't I see it there is your answer? You were operating from "pure" motives not evil ones like the person who did the betraying. You were doing the right thing. Doing the right thing in this world doesn't always equate with not having any problems. People taking advantage of people has been happening for thousands of years.
In my mind though, King David's betrayal of his servant Uriah (2 Sam. 11) is right there at the top of the list. Uriah is one of David's most loyal army officers. He is one of David's mighty men. In today's military Uriah would have been a Navy Seal, a Green Beret or a member of Delta Force. While Uriah is out fighting David's battles David is at home having a sexual relationship with his wife. When his wife informs David she is pregnant David calls Uriah home. He gets Uriah drunk and then dismisses him. David thinks Uriah will go home and have sex with his wife and David's sin will be hidden, but Uriah being a loyal soldier would not have sex with his wife while his brothers were engaged in the war. When David's plan fails twice he sends Uriah back to the battle with a note for Joab to see to it Uriah is killed in battle. What David did to Uriah, one of his faithful soldiers, is what I call a betrayal in the first degree.
First, when you operate from having pure motives betrayal is just something that will happen. Second, being betrayed generally won't kill you unless your name is Uriah and King David is the betrayer. It is often said, "What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger." Third, God's Spirit is able to help you navigate through any rough water you may find yourself while here on earth. Think About These: The betrayer will be betrayed (2 Sam.12:10-12) or what goes around comes around. When people speak evil of you, live so that no one will believe them. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Luke 16:15 - And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detest-able in the sight of God. NASU
People have done many good deeds for others only to be judged by a few as to what their real motive was behind the action. You don't have to worry about what others think of why you do what you do. God is your Judge and trust me He will not judge you incorrectly. He never makes mistakes. His judgment is always 100% correct every time. He knows your heart. He knows your motive for doing good deeds for others. It doesn't matter what anyone says about you and why you blessed someone's life. Don't worry about people speaking maliciously about you. They are not your judge.
Jesse has all 7 of his sons pass by Samuel and God doesn't choose any of them. Samuel asks Jesse, "Is this all of your sons?" and Jesse basically says, well I have one more, he is the youngest and he is tending sheep. (Being a shepherd is the worst job in the world according to Israelites and this is the one God chooses to be the next King of Israel.) Before Jesse parades all of his sons by Samuel, notice what God says to Samuel: 1 Sam. 16:7- But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." It is a common mistake that we look at someone's physical stature, their looks or their wealth and we determine from these if the person is the proper candidate for the position. This is not the way God determines if this is the correct person. Some people may put the measuring tape around their arms or chest to see if they qualify, but God measures the person's heart as only He can do. Only the Lord can tell if the person will quit when times get tough. David then teaches his son Solomon the same lesson God taught him through Samuel when He states: 1 Chron. 28:9- As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts….
So have you wanted to quit on the Lord lately? If yes, welcome to the club. Now get back up and get in the fight. The Lord needs you to help others on the road that leads to Eternal Life. Think About This: Our aim should be service not success. Service is nothing but love in work clothes. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Acts 15:36-39 - After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are." 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. 38 But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. NASU
He was welcomed into Christianity by Barnabas but no one else was so inclined to allow Saul to join their fellowship. I don't know why I have been shocked all these years to see Christians not allow people who have been converted to Jesus to be accepted into their fellowship. I remember being converted to Christ in 1975 and if you had long hair the older Christians would frown at you for your appearance. People today who may have tattoos most likely experience the same type of judgmental behavior from older Christians. The first century Christians didn't allow Saul to be openly welcomed into the Lord's church. Barnabas gave Saul a second chance if you will, but not just Saul.
Barnabas, Saul and John Mark had been on a previous missionary trip when John Mark leaves the group and goes home to Jerusalem. We are not told why he exited the group. We have no idea if there were a family emergency or what the reason for his return. What we do know is when Saul who is now called Paul wants to take another missionary journey Barnabas wants to take John Mark. He wants to give him a second chance and Paul is totally against bringing John Mark with them. No second chance for you is Paul's stance even though he was the one who had been given a second chance from Barnabas. Saul was a Pharisee in Judaism and they are known for being judgmental and we can see Paul is judging John Mark as unworthy of a second chance.
I am referring to someone like John Mark.You expected them to act a certain way and they didn't. You wanted your child to go to a certain college and they didn't go there. You wanted your child to work with you in your family business and they went a different way. Can you find it within your heart to give someone a second chance like Barnabas did John Mark?
John Mark is also called Peter's son in 1 Pet. 5:13- She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. We would understand this to be his son in the faith. One other item of information for us is when you read the Gospel of Mark this is the same John Mark who was given a second chance by Barnabas. I would say beyond a shadow of doubt that John Mark was worthy of a second chance and because of Barnabas giving him this chance we have benefited greatly. Maybe you know someone like John Mark that is in need of a second chance. I hope you will do the right thing. Think About These: Men with clenched fists can't shake hands. Two marks of a Christian: giving and forgiving. It is far better to forgive and forget than to hate and remember. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Luke 12:35-40 - "Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. 36 "Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. 37 "Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes;…
38 " Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.… 40 "You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect." NASU
"Listen, everyone, be ready. On the 3rd hut, you hike the ball, and I am going to drop back and hit the open receiver and one of you guys better be open." Every kid who has ever played pickup neighborhood football is ready. We are looking at who is going to be covering us as we walk to the line of scrimmage. We know the mission. Be ready and get open. If you are a Christian, you know your mission. Be ready and stay that way until you here the knock on the door from our Master.
Sometimes your dog sees you out on the field and he does what he always does he runs out to you. He wants you to play with him. He wants you to throw him a ball or a stick. You are trying to get him off the field. The center hikes the ball and you are not ready. The quarterback sees you are not ready. You have become distracted. One of the other receivers is walking up to the line and his sibling yells at him and says, mom says it is time to come home for dinner. He is arguing with his brother that he can't come home right now, and the center hikes the ball. He is starting to run but the defense has now chased the quarterback out of position. You were not ready because you were arguing with your sibling. There are 100 other scenarios that we have probably all lived through. Why is it so easy to be distracted? Why is it so hard to Be Ready and stay that way?
You have been betrayed by a Christian brother or sister, and you have been left wondering is this all worth it? Everywhere you look all you see are evil deeds and evil people doing some of the most heinous crimes imaginable. You start to question yourself. Is Jesus ever going to return? Why it has been almost 2,000 years. He has missed numerous great chances to come back and put an end to all the wickedness in the world. If He were coming, He should have been here by now you might be thinking. What really has happened? You are not wearing the one article of clothing you should be wearing. The Lord said, "Be dressed in readiness,…" If you watch any war movies or police shows they all employee something known as "diversionary tactics" when they are going in for a big attack or bust. They use this because they are so successful in helping the military or police force to accomplish their mission. Well, guess what? The devil uses the same tactic to distract us from our mission. What is our mission once again? Be Ready For The Master's Return!
Think About These: Today's preparation determines tomorrow's achievement. Get ready for eternity. You are going to spend a lot of time there. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Micah 6:8 - He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? NASU
First, we are to do justice. We are to practice justice. If we see someone being denied justice we are to speak up for the person being denied justice. We are to uphold what is right in the eyes of the LORD. This may cost you a friendship, a position at work or it may cause you to be ostracized within the Lord's body, aka His church. Just look at how the Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees and Priests turned on Jesus in fits of envy and jealousy. Matt 27:17-18 - "Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18 For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over. As Christians, we must always remember being excommunicated from man's church doesn't mean one has been excommunicated from the Lord's Church. Second, we are to love kindness or as some translations say to love mercy. If we are to understand this verse completely we must go back to verse 6 and 7 and see what verse 8 is being compared to: Mic 6:6-7 - With what shall I come to the LORD and bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves? Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? Kindness and mercy is being compared to sacrifices and offerings. God expects the child of God to be a just person, a person who loves being kind to all people and especially to the ones who can never repay you. If you show them acts of kindness and mercy then you are pleasing the LORD of all creation. Third, you are to walk humbly with the LORD your God. In other words, you walk with God confessing He is the One you worship, love and adore. He is the One who can forgive you of your sins and allow you to be in a relationship with Him. He doesn't want any of your possessions (burnt offerings, calves, rams, oil or sacrifices). He only wants you and all you can give Him. The "all" that you can give Him is your obedience to His desires. In our text today He shares with us His desires. He desires we do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with Him. Now I ask you, do those three desires seem unreasonable to you?
Enoch walked with God. We don't know what they talked about as they walked over the years but we know one thing Enoch made a habit of it and it served him well. One day Enoch was walking with God and the next second he was gone from earth to live with God for all eternity. How cool was that? This is the greatest hope of the Christian to be walking with God while here on earth and then one day life as we know it is changed. We are now just a spirit separated from this body in the presence of God where we will await the end of this world as we know it. We will enter what is called the New Heaven and New Earth after the final judgment day. The question is why will we get to go to the New Heaven and New Earth? The answer is Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross at Calvary, we believe in His sacrifice, and we believe in the atonement of His blood for our sins. This belief led us to be baptized into Christ and resurrected from that watery grave to serve our Savior Jesus Christ. So if you want to please the Lord: 1. Do Justice 2. Love Kindness/Mercy 3. Walk Humbly with the LORD Think About These: It is just as well that justice is blind; she might not like some of the things done in her name if she could see them. If you were arrested for being kind, would there be enough evidence to convict you? A breath of kindness is more moving than a gale of flattery. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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