Recently, my son and a bunch of kids on his track team were giving a hard time to a brother of one of their teammates who did not run with the team.  They really had no real reason to do it other than the fact that this kid was different than them.  It reminded me of a time when a good friend of mine confronted me about always making fun of him.  I was a little taken aback but I understood, it made him feel bad and here I was a friend but made him feel like he was not good enough.  It was not my intent, but God showed me later that I did it not to make him feel bad but ultimately to make myself look or feel better about myself.  I was amazed but then He showed me parts of my past where others had done the same to me I felt a lot like my friend did.  It was like déjà vu.

So check out the originator, we call him the accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10) or Satan.  Satan has consistently tried to make us feel bad about ourselves, make us question what God has spoken to us and written about us in His Word.  An accuser according to scripture is one who makes an accusation before a judge.  I find that exceptional, the devil makes these accusations about us in the presence of The Judge, our Father (not touching that right now).  Revelations actually says of Satan “who accused them before our God day and night.”  That is what he spends the majority of his time doing accusing us.

Luke4:3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

Check out Luke 4; “If You are the Son of God,” the question itself is an accusation, that Jesus is not really who he says He is.  This simple question could cause doubt in 3 areas, 1) His relationship with God (is God really your Father), 2) the power God has given Him (Can you use His power to change things) and 3) the purpose God had given Him (reconciling the world to God with a new covenant).  His method is exactly the same toward us, he wants us to question our Position, Power and Purpose.

Position: “If You are the Son of God” We are God’s Sons/Daughters, joint heirs with Christ.  We are not God’s enemies, as a matter of fact we are no longer His servants or even disciples, because of Christ’s sacrifice we became Sons/Daughters.  Our position has changed to that of royalty and Satan hates it, because he understands what being a Son/Daughter means…We are still learning, but starting to get it!!

Power:  ”command this stone” We have power!!!  Satan saw God’s power up close and knew that a Son of God would possess the same power.  Particularly in this case, he challenged Jesus to command (to speak or say) His situation.  He had not eaten in 40 days, a piece of bread would have tasted great but there was no bread around Jesus had the power to change His situation just by speaking to His situation.  We have the power to speak life over every situation we encounter and the ability to speak directly to the giver of life thru prayer.  So there is great power in us and Satan will do all he can to have us question it.

Purpose: this stone to become bread This was exactly why Jesus came to turn our stone into bread.  Stone and bread both represent God’s word in the Scripture.  Many times the term stone is a direct reference to the Law of Moses, or the old covenant which Israel lived under for many years.  The term bread is all over the bible as a symbol of God’s word, and in the New Testament as the word that became flesh in the form of Jesus Christ our sacrificial lamb.  Jesus’ purpose was to replace the Old Testament or the Law with a new Covenant, but it was time yet.  Jesus was given specific direction from God but Satan wanted to cause doubt about the timing.  Any question about our purpose can cause doubt and Satan will do want he can to get us off task.

Jesus always speaks life and never tears us down, even when correcting us it always comes in the form of life, so when you hear otherwise know that the accuser is behind it.

Heb 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Today while looking at this scripture, I could not help but hear the Lord say look at that word endured.  Endured according to the dictionary means to suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently or to tolerate (someone or something).  That is exactly what Jesus did on the cross, He suffered the most painful, despicable, humiliating and disgusting act ever known to man and He did it patiently.  He also tolerated, the very people that He created, to treat Him like crap and He also tolerated sin, which He abhors, to be placed on Him at the cross.

I had always looked at the late night prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus’ toughest moment, having to make a choice to go to the cross.  As amazing as that display of Jesus’ love for each of us, what was even more amazing was His choice to remain on the cross and endure all He did.  What do I mean, weren’t they one and the same?  Well, remember what scripture has to say.  When Peter struck the ear of one of the High Priest’s servants, Jesus lovingly reminds us “…Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?…”  At any moment Jesus could have come down from that cross, crushed every Roman soldier and laughed in the face of each Pharisee & Sadducee.  Yet Jesus stayed on the cross and endured all for us.

Jesus knew what God wanted Him to do and He did it.  Many of us can relate to this, we know what God’s word says and we know what we should do because of that.  Jesus shows us something incredible, a power that we don’t often tap into; you see, even though He could have changed the situation on His own, He endured and trusted that God’s plan was much better for Him and all those He loved.  He had staying power, the ability to stay although His situation was as difficult as it could possibly be.

Often when we go through tough times in life, and rather than trust Jesus to change our circumstances, we step in and make things happen, because we want to ease the pain or stop the suffering.  The problem is when we step in to fix things we leave Jesus out.  Jesus knew that “the joy that was set before Him” was much better than the temporary situation of the cross.  After the cross, His name would be above all names; He would soon be sitting at the right hand of the throne of God and each of us would have the opportunity for eternal life.  Whatever we are going thru, remember this; Jesus knows what is best for you, trust Him to change things and He will.

1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

I wanted to share something I heard today.  I was watching the “Voice,” don’t laugh you know you watch it too.  Anyway, Ne-Yo lead of the show with a song I had never heard before called Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself).  I could not make out the words at first, but there came a point when I was able to put it together and I just said.  That’s Jesus…..

This is Jesus’ M.O. loving us even while we have no clue.  Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Jesus loves us so much and so good; it allows us to learn to love ourselves.  Jesus is saying something to us that goes beyond Ne-Yo’s clever lyrics.  When we let Jesus love us, He loves us until we learn to love ourselves; but then He keeps loving and never stops.

Be encouraged His love for you is so powerful, that it will give you strength during your weakest moments, forgiveness for all of your sin and Grace/Favor for your toughest challenge.   Be blessed!!!

Luke 24:13-27 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him…….25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Have you heard the expression, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know?”  It is considered to be a key principle for success.  You can be the smartest person in the world, with the greatest idea, but if you don’t know the right people, that idea may never become more than just a cleaver thought.  This is true when it comes to eternity; it is not at all about what you know but all about who you “KNOW.”  I will explain more in a minute.

The two disciples in this text are very sad and are now traveling just days after Jesus’ crucifixion.  The men were going home to Emmaus, a town only about eight miles away from Jerusalem, but this would become the most significant trip of their lives.  The trip was made so memorable because of who they would come to KNOW, Jesus Christ.  Although they were both disciples and had met Jesus before, like so many people today they did not really KNOW Him. I just want to highlight a couple of things from this text that Jesus wants us to KNOW.

1. Jesus Is Always With Us, Even When We Don’t Think So: 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him……  These two disciples had just experienced the death of Jesus on the cross and they were in great despair.  All they can do as they begin life without Jesus, is attempt to console one another by talking about all that had just happened.  As they take the long walk home, they probably feel like the only two people in the world.  You can probably relate to them as they become frustrated with this bothersome stranger who has no idea about all the drama that has taken place in their lives.  In their hurt, pain and frustration, they did not realize that Jesus was the stranger desiring to accompany them on their trip.  They failed to understand that Jesus not only knew about their pain, but He had already remedied their situation.  Jesus is with us even at our weakest moments, and like these disciples, we don’t always recognize His presence.  Let this text remind us that even in our darkest hour Jesus is walking with us, He cares about us and desires to bless us and restore our hope.
2. Jesus Wants Us to See Him Everywhere In the Bible: 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.  Jesus did something that many of our Preachers today should be doing; breaking down the scripture to show us where Jesus is.  Jesus was in the beginning before the world was created and although His name is not mentioned in the Old Testament, God ensured that we can see Jesus everywhere in the bible.  Whether it is the story of Isaac, Joseph, the High Priest Melchizedek, Boaz or even “The Angel of the Lord;” it could be the many characteristics and or sacrifices of the Tabernacle, Jesus shows up all over.  The text says that Jesus expounded or thoroughly taught/explained in ALL of the scriptures, which during that time was ONLY the Old Testament.  Jesus wants us to know Him and see all of His promises and miracles in scripture.  This will increase our faith and empower us to walk freely in His victory.   All we have to do is ask Jesus to show Himself to us in scripture.
   Look at what happens when Jesus exposed Himself to the disciples in scripture.  32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”  Our hearts will burn too, like a consuming fire, when we see our savior all throughout the bible and in our situations.
3. Jesus Wants Us to Remember His Sacrifice: 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.  Here the trip ended in a meal, but I am persuaded that this was no ordinary meal.  I believe that it is very important to Jesus that we remember the sacrifice that He made for us on the cross.  When we are reminded that all of our sins, sicknesses and diseases were laid upon Jesus at that cross and they were removed from us forever, we will have a new perspective on life.  Jesus told His disciples how to remember what He has done for us, we call it communion.  Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciple (Matt 26:26)….”Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (1 Cor 11:24).  You see when we remember what Jesus has done for us, we realize that His sacrifice will overshadow any problem or circumstance we will ever encounter.  His shed blood empowers us to trust and believe Him to supply our every need, whatever it may be.

Conclusion:  These two disciples followed Jesus during His ministry on earth, but it is obvious that there was so much they did not know about Him.  Jesus showed them so much about Himself in the scriptures.  He became intimate with them, exposing Himself in a way that they’d never seen before; then finally reminded them of His ultimate love sacrifice.  Now at their weakest moment their hope was restored and they were reenergized.  When they went in the house to break bread with Jesus it was evening and they had traveled all day, they were exhausted.  The distance between Jerusalem and Emmaus has been estimated anywhere between 7.5 to 9.1 miles, so it was at least a four to five hours trip.  Though it was late they quickly jumped up and hurried back along that long road to tell the other disciples about all that Jesus shared with them.  They thought they knew Him before, but now they really KNOW Jesus and if you KNOW Jesus, He is all you will need to know.

Ps 30:5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

I know that some of you read the title and started singing, so come on back (if you didn’t sing don’t worry, your just too young).  Hey I just want to share something Jesus reminded me recently.  This is a familiar verse and  God provided me a new appreciation for it’s significance.  So check it out.

1. For His anger is but for a moment: Therefore God has been angry with us, but His anger is only for a moment.  We will talk about that moment soon.
2. Weeping may endure for a night: Our tears will last for a night, but we will make it thru the night.  Trouble won’t last always…. just know when it hurts the worse it will not last.
3. His favor is for life: his favor (the Hebrew (Ratsown) definition includes pleasure, delight, goodwill, acceptance, acceptance & desire) is for LIFE (forever & in order to live).  So God is pleased, He delights, He accepts and desires us and that favor will last forever (live to enjoy it).
4. But joy comes in the morning: We can look forward to the morning because we will receive Joy that only the Lord can give.  Nehemiah reminds us that “The Joy of the Lord is our strength.  I like the way Israel Houghton defined morning, “it is when we wake up!!”  Therefore when we wake up we will find God’s strength!!!

So let’s talk about the moment God is angry and the night when the weeping lasted the longest.  One night Jesus Christ was crucified on a cross at Calvary or Golgotha (place of the skull).  It was while Jesus was on that cross that ALL of our (everyone) sins were placed on Him (Jesus).  God was angry because of SIN, therefore He punished it once and for all.  Jesus died for all of our sins and because God destroyed sin that night, He would never have to do it again.  Jesus died so that God would never again be angry with us.  Believe in what Jesus did and remember that your sins have already been punished, so stop condemning yourself for something that was taken care of many years ago.  Focus on GOD’s favor and joy that was promised to each of us.

God Bless You!!

2 Cor 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

When I was growing up, I was taught things like, “Real Men don’t cry,” “Never let them see you sweat,” “Only the strong survive,” “Macho Men never say sorry.”  Many of us were groomed from a young age to be hard, and it was reiterated in movies, TV and in music.  Weakness was not something to be proud of or to admit, especially men! So what is Paul talking about in this text?  What is this thorn that tormented Paul?  What did Jesus mean when He said “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness?”  And what in the world is Weak-Strength?  (There is a great deal in this text and we will not cover even close to all)

Paul is responsible for drafting over half of the New Testament; he was the ultimate preacher’s preacher.  The man that God used to start 14 congregations in the early church, and the Lord’s spokesman to the Gentiles.  He could have easily been arrogant, rude and unapproachable, you know like many of our clergy today.  The text says Paul received an abundance of the revelations, and admits that with all that he had received, he very well could have been exalted.  This makes his acknowledgment all that more impressive, let’s see what Paul reveals:

1. Transparency:  And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.  Paul acknowledged a short coming, one that no one else had any idea about.  It was something that the church and history would have never known, but he felt necessary to share.  Why?  Transparency is a necessary ingredient to a healthy and intimate relationship.  Because of Jesus’ love for us he became transparent in every aspect opening His life up to us both in scripture and in our hearts.  Paul acknowledged weakness to the Lord, the one he was in intimate relationship with.
   Recently, my wife shared with me that I never acknowledge my wrongs/issues.  It caught me off guard because I am a STRONG proponent of transparency, especially in the church.  It caused me to reflect and see what this crazy woman was talking about.  As I did, I realized that although I did not like it, she was not so crazy.  I knew I had issues, things I would not want others to know and even some things I had not admitted to her.  So I decided that I would share those thorns, lest I be exalted in my own mind.
2. Expectancy:  Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  Paul quickly took this “thorn in the flesh” to the Lord, with an expectation that the Lord would remove it.  I realized that I have done the same, more than three times I might add.  So many things about me I have asked Jesus to remove or change and He has constantly reminded me the same thing, but I have not always wanted to believe Him.  God has made me the way He made me because He knows who I am, why I’m here and what my future holds.  This gives even more credence to His answer to Paul’s plea.  “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  Jesus’ all sufficient Grace is more than enough to offset my weakness; as a matter of fact it is because of our weaknesses that we see His perfect strength.  Therefore my new expectation is that even with our many issues, we can be honest with God and those closest to us, because Jesus’ Grace and Strength are perfectly seen through them all.  Learn what Paul came to understand and now I understand even more, we can be ourselves and don’t have to worry about what others think because Jesus knows everything about us and has already given us an abundance of Grace to cover every thorn in the flesh, and it is because of how much He loves us.
3. Dependency:  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.  Paul was then able to boast in those infirmities or weaknesses (which the Lord would not remove), but his boasting is because in those very areas of weakness (check this out) the power of Christ rested upon him.  So rather than attempting to hide his weaknesses, he began to be dependent on the power of Christ.  We too have to depend on this power, because our weaknesses put Christ’s power on display.  When I acknowledged my weakness to my wife, it not only freed me up, allowed her another window into who I am; it also immediately put the power of Christ on display!!!  My dependency has to be in Jesus and not my ability, my weakness, my faults or my efforts.  Paul began to take pleasure in his weaknesses; “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.”  Begin to be dependent on Christ, and begin to boast in your thorn so that all can see the Power of Christ.  You will then experience the power of Weak-Strength.

Transparency is tough for us, because we have to become vulnerable and admit to others who we really are and the things that we are not necessarily proud of are on display to others.  But with that transparency we are able to have Expectancy, we are able to expect an answer or understanding about our weaknesses.  Jesus advised Paul about his thorn in the flesh and let Paul know to expect His Grace, which was more than enough to cover all weakness.  The word thorn is actually a Greek word (skovloy) that means pointed piece of wood or a sharp stake; and this thorn was in the flesh.  Jesus could relate; He knew what a thorn or sharp pointed stake in His flesh felt like.  He literally took our thorn in the flesh onto Calvary’s cross, and because He did all of our Dependency is in Him. Because ALL Power is in those same hands that were pierced w/thorns on the cross, we can be confident in our Weak-Strength.