John 21:15-19
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
This is a well-known passage: When Jesus had to ask Peter 3 times if Peter loved Him. However, many of us do not understand the whole meaning of it! The reason is because this Bible is TRANSLATED.
The actual words that Jesus used each time are AGAPE, AGAPE and finally, PHILIAS- there IS a difference in these words!
Jesus asks Peter twice if he AGAPEs Him, and Peter twice replies that he PHILIASes Him. The third time, Jesus then lowers Himself to Peter's standard by asking Peter if he PHILIASes Him..and thus Peter is grieved because the third time, Jesus had to lower himself to what Peter could offer Him.
This illustrates how Jesus also lowered Himself to take on human form (i.e. our standards), and shows that He lowers himself to what we can offer Him when we cannot reach His level!
This was a humbling experience for Peter (note that Jesus asks Peter this question 3 times- which is the same number of times Peter denied Him when He was crucified.) However, after He did that, Peter became His most effective servant! -Note:In 1 & 2 Peter, Peter never uses 'PHILIAS' anymore , but the love words shown there are all 'AGAPE'. Surely, pride comes before a downfall.
Are we willing to surrender our lives to Christ? Many might unwittingly say 'Yes!' but yet know not how great a scope this covers. If we are not faithful in little things, how can we be faithful in great things? (Read the parable of Talents):
Matthew 25
14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.
18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’
21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’
23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Yup. If we cant give ourselves for hours or days, how will we give ourselves for a Lifetime!
The Lord does not do things without a reason- he provided you with your job / school so that we can Feed God's Sheep and Plead for Christ's Cause!
If you are going to be a bridge for God- expect to be WALKED UPON.
Meditate upon this (:
Sunday, November 4, 2007
"Ye Have Not, Because..."
Because, YE ASK NOT!
That is a big problem with christians today. Many conveniently think that since God knows everything,
"Then we don't need to pray and ask for anything, what. Since He knows everything, and since He has already laid out the best path, then why do we need to pray and ask Him for it?"
And then, when 'bad' things happen to us, we then cry to God : "WHY!"
Doesn't that sound familiar?
Well, the thing is, God sometimes does not give us the 'best' because He is waiting for us to ASK.
Take Moses at the mountain-top with God, when He wanted to destroy the nation of Israel and start a whole new Chosen Nation from Moses:
7 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.'
9 "I have seen these people," the LORD said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."
11 But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. "O LORD," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.' " 14 Then the LORD relented and did not bring on His people the disaster He had threatened.
If Moses had not asked, the Lord would have indeed have killed the whole nation of Israel, and athough He had promised Abraham that his offspring would become a Great Nation "numerous as the stars in the shy", God would be justified in doing so!
However, because Moses pleaded, the Lord RELENTED and thus the Israelites were not killed.
Is that not enough to convince anyone that prayer is so very important?
More verses (NIV):
Genesis 25:21Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
2 Samuel 21:14They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul's father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.
2 Samuel 24:25David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
1 Kings 9:3The LORD said to him: "I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and My heart will always be there.
2 Chronicles 30:27The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, His holy dwelling place.
Ezra 8:23So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
Job 42:9So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted Job's prayer.
Psalm 17:1[ A prayer of David. ] Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer— it does not rise from deceitful lips.
Psalm 80:4O LORD God Almighty, how long will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people?
Psalm 102:17He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.
Proverbs 15:8The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
Proverbs 15:29The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
Proverbs 28:9If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.
Lamentations 3:44You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through.
Matthew 6:5[ Prayer ] "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
Matthew 21:22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Mark 9:29He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer. "
Acts 10:5The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.
Acts 10:31and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.
Romans 12:12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
2 Corinthians 1:11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Philippians 4:6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Colossians 4:2[ Further Instructions ] Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:12Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
Etc etc. For more verses on Prayer, check out Bible Gateway (type 'Prayer').
Hope this has managed to convince to all the importance of prayer!
That is a big problem with christians today. Many conveniently think that since God knows everything,
"Then we don't need to pray and ask for anything, what. Since He knows everything, and since He has already laid out the best path, then why do we need to pray and ask Him for it?"
And then, when 'bad' things happen to us, we then cry to God : "WHY!"
Doesn't that sound familiar?
Well, the thing is, God sometimes does not give us the 'best' because He is waiting for us to ASK.
Take Moses at the mountain-top with God, when He wanted to destroy the nation of Israel and start a whole new Chosen Nation from Moses:
7 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.'
9 "I have seen these people," the LORD said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."
11 But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. "O LORD," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.' " 14 Then the LORD relented and did not bring on His people the disaster He had threatened.
If Moses had not asked, the Lord would have indeed have killed the whole nation of Israel, and athough He had promised Abraham that his offspring would become a Great Nation "numerous as the stars in the shy", God would be justified in doing so!
However, because Moses pleaded, the Lord RELENTED and thus the Israelites were not killed.
Is that not enough to convince anyone that prayer is so very important?
More verses (NIV):
Genesis 25:21Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
2 Samuel 21:14They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul's father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.
2 Samuel 24:25David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
1 Kings 9:3The LORD said to him: "I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and My heart will always be there.
2 Chronicles 30:27The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, His holy dwelling place.
Ezra 8:23So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
Job 42:9So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted Job's prayer.
Psalm 17:1[ A prayer of David. ] Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer— it does not rise from deceitful lips.
Psalm 80:4O LORD God Almighty, how long will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people?
Psalm 102:17He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.
Proverbs 15:8The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
Proverbs 15:29The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
Proverbs 28:9If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.
Lamentations 3:44You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through.
Matthew 6:5[ Prayer ] "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
Matthew 21:22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Mark 9:29He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer. "
Acts 10:5The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.
Acts 10:31and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.
Romans 12:12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
2 Corinthians 1:11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Philippians 4:6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Colossians 4:2[ Further Instructions ] Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:12Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
Etc etc. For more verses on Prayer, check out Bible Gateway (type 'Prayer').
Hope this has managed to convince to all the importance of prayer!
Friday, November 2, 2007
Desires Of The Heart
Strangely, this desire of my heart- although many a time being doused with water.. has never died out. And while i cannot believe that the Lord would use me in such a way because of my total, utter unworthiness.. this has never failed to quench that spiritual fire. Although my flesh may fail and i may fall- Still, it burns.
Yet, i do not know what i am struggling against- my mind says "Madness! You are much too unworthy and would only fail"
But my heart says "That is exactly why the Lord wants to use you"
From external sources come disbelief..and even the firm belief that i have been too 'imaginative' and a little deluded.
Yes, when i look at myself i see the utter stupidity of my 'desires'- but yet this small voice doth continually speak to me- what can this mean?
I dare not even utter it out for fear of the common disbelief and mockery (although playful) from brethren who are no doubt very kind-heartedly trying to dissaude me from the task.
Ah, Lord, that you guide me!
For all that is Mine i want to give to You- Only show me Your Way.
O, but You have taught me to abide in You and Wait on You; not to worry but cast all my cares unto You with prayer and supplication- and so i shall continue.
But if You have granted me this strange desire only You can have placed in my heart -for i know not any means otherwise which might cause me to have such a strange desire- then i Rejoice and am Glad at being counted Worthy to toil for Your Sake!
O, let the Holy Spirit always guide my steps; Teach me to be faithful in small things that i might be faithful in greater things!
Yet, i do not know what i am struggling against- my mind says "Madness! You are much too unworthy and would only fail"
But my heart says "That is exactly why the Lord wants to use you"
From external sources come disbelief..and even the firm belief that i have been too 'imaginative' and a little deluded.
Yes, when i look at myself i see the utter stupidity of my 'desires'- but yet this small voice doth continually speak to me- what can this mean?
I dare not even utter it out for fear of the common disbelief and mockery (although playful) from brethren who are no doubt very kind-heartedly trying to dissaude me from the task.
Ah, Lord, that you guide me!
For all that is Mine i want to give to You- Only show me Your Way.
O, but You have taught me to abide in You and Wait on You; not to worry but cast all my cares unto You with prayer and supplication- and so i shall continue.
But if You have granted me this strange desire only You can have placed in my heart -for i know not any means otherwise which might cause me to have such a strange desire- then i Rejoice and am Glad at being counted Worthy to toil for Your Sake!
O, let the Holy Spirit always guide my steps; Teach me to be faithful in small things that i might be faithful in greater things!
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