NCarolinian

"Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?" - Matthew 26:53-54 After addressing His disciple about severing the ear of the high priest's servant, Jesus focused on the real reason the mob was there - His death. Jesus had three rhetorical questions He posed. First Jesus asked,  "Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father," .  Not only is Jesus probably making the officials mad again for calling God His Father, but Christ introduces the possibility of an option for His arrest and further developments because He is calling on His Father. In the second question, Christ re-affirms His association with God the Father by His access to command an impressive army of " more than " 72,000 angels.  "and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angel...

Romans 16:20 suggests this idea: "The God of peace will smash and completely obliterate Satan under your feet! If Satan tries to get in your way or to block your path, then it's time for you to act like a soldier - lift your feet high, stomp and pound down hard, crushing the enemy under your feet and leaving him in a heap, trampled beyond recognition, as you march on..." However, it is important to point out that this smashing and crushing of Satan must be done in cooperation with God. Alone you are no match for this archenemy. That's the reason Paul says, '... The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet ....'. In other words, this is a joint partnership between you and God. By yourself, you could never keep Satan subdued. But with God as your Partner, the devil has no chance of ever slipping out from under your heel! The glorious truth is that Jesus already completely destroyed Satan's power over you through His death and resurrection...

Micah prophesies a future time when Jesus will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. When the inhabitants of the earth during that time will beat their swords into farming equipment (plowshares) and their spears into gardening equipment (pruning hooks). Nations will not fight with each other anymore, therefore they will not make provisions for a military. ( Micah 4:3 ) To ponder the returning to pre-Fall (pre-Sin) like conditions is captivating. The inhabitants will be stewards of a drastically changed topography due to all of humanity's irresponsibility and the judgments during The Tribulation Period. However, as long as people give Christ His due tribute, Jesus will continue to send rain for the crops and harvest, just as He did in Deuteronomy 11:13-15 ( Zechariah 14:16-18 ). I also believe God will return the process of farming and planting back to an easier, blessed activity ( Genesis 3:17-19; Zechariah 8:12 ). Reigning with ...

The Kingdom of God and The Kingdom of the World are the two realms of consideration. God is the ruler of His Kingdom. The Evil One is the temporary ruler of The Kingdom of the World ( 1 John 5:19 ) with Money being a Chief godly Lieutenant . Every human born cannot escape being a participant in this world. However, citizenship reflects the decision of which kingdom and ruler one desires to live in and under respectively.  From birth, humans see the world as The Great Provider or Grim Reaper of life's opportunities and choices.  Some may say,  "What a great, big, wonderful world! What a great religion - Christianity! Why shouldn't I be able to 'have my cake and eat it too' - live as the world and as a Christian?" However, the catch or question becomes - which Kingdom or sphere of influence do you choose as your life? Misery awaits the individual who has a leg in the Kingdom of this world and a leg in the Kingdom of God. "No one can serve two ma...

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. - John 15:7 Many people, including some church pastors and teachers, only see, read, and declare the second part of this verse - "ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."  It is true that Scripture says believers in Christ can come boldly or with confidence before God's throne of grace to receive mercy and grace in our time of need ( Hebrews 4:16 ). Even the original Greek word for "ask" ( aiteo ) in this verse means to boldly or confidently request, with respect, of your superior - something you know He can provide. However, the key is to have seen, read and understood the first part of the verse so you can implement the second half - "If you remain in me and my words remain in you" . This is and "If...Then" statement without the "Then". "Jesus knew that if His words take up permanent residency i...

You have spent enough time in the past doing what unbelievers choose to do - living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. Therefore, arm yourself with the proper Christ-like attitude - be done with sin.  Your worldly connections are going to think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.  This is the reason The Gospel is preached - because He who has suffered in His body is done with sin, you also must be done with it and live according to His Spirit.   (Excerpts from 1 Peter 4:1-6 ) "I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus - no turning back, no turning back. The Cross before me, the world behind me, The Cross before me, the world behind me, The Cross before me, the world behind me - no turning back, no turning...

Much emphasis is placed on the mind  and especially what we do with it - in Scripture.  Jesus charged believers to love God with "all your mind" (Matthew 22:37) . What does this look like? Try to always think about Him and things connected to Him. Also, study His Word. There are a plethora of influences that can distract the believer's mind from God.  Jesus, speaking to Satan as he manipulated Peter momentarily, said - "...you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of man." (Matthew 16:23) Notice that Jesus stated Satan's agenda is keeping humanity's focus on ourselves - "the things of man" . Paul, in his letter to the church in Ephesus, also spoke to Satan's tricks. "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." (Ephesians 6:11) The word "schemes"  translates to mind games.  Remember what Christ told His disciples as He sent them out to minister? ...

The feelings I experience when I read about or see a picture depicting Jesus,  God's Word in flesh, Creator of all, on bent knee, washing and drying His disciples feet is a tear-jerker of an image for me  ( John 13:1-17 ) .   Even knowing that my Lord first came as the suffering servant, this event still wrenches my heart and spirit.  It is no real surprise then that I empathize with Peter's sentiments -  If I have no part with you unless you wash me, then wash my hands and head as well. (Longer Version/Pritchard Paraphrase of Peter's response -  John 13:8-9 ) Christ's washing dealt with integrity not salvation. The Lord's instruction to Peter included a very important word - "with" . "Jesus answered, 'Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.'" Jesus did not say, "Unless I wash you, you have no part in me." This would have indicated Peter lacked salvation. However, disconnection from communion or fellowship...

So, it all comes down to three things.... Love Love Love All that the Old Testament was pointing toward, predicting or foreshadowing was love. All that the Old Testament ever wanted was us to love perfectly. Servants or prophets were sent to mankind to tell and show God's love, but God's people rejected their words and actions. Then God sent Love Incarnate - Christ Jesus of Nazareth - His Son. He spoke and revealed love perfectly, yet again His own rejected and even killed Him.  But it was for me and you and all of humanity that He died and rose again victorious over sin, death, hell, and the grave - So That we too can be victorious in our daily life with Him through the Holy Spirit. His charge to us - to love, love, love.  Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself'. All the L...

If I am persuading someone to follow me, I had better have an awesome "hook and bait". Whatever I am offering - whether it be goods, services, a job, or just me (friendship) - it had better be convincing. It helps if you, your goods, services or job that is offered is authentic and of good repute too. "As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him." (Matthew 4:18-22) Maybe it was the persona of Jesus. Maybe it was the reputation of Jesus. Maybe it was the intrigue t...

Agendas - they can be peace killers. They are meant to bring order, focus, and importance to our lives and daily plans. However, while agendas may provide structure and schedule to an otherwise chaotic day/life, to-do lists can also hinder us from living, moving and being in God (Acts 17:28).  As Christians, placing God first on a list or first in our day is a good start, but is not where we should leave Him, it is not the whole picture. I believe the proper perspective to grasp and attain is God in, with and around you everywhere you turn. Paul Burleson, another blogger I follow, likened this idea to a wheel and spoke analogy. He says, "...think of God as the hub. Remember that old bicycle you use to ride? The wheels had a hub. From it went the various spokes that enabled those wheels to create what was necessary for that bike to function according to it's purpose or intention. That is an inadequate yet much better way of thinking about our relationship to God than is...

Ever played the game "Gossip"? You get a group of about ten people, place them in a circle and have one person whisper a catch phrase or simple sentence to the person to the left with no repeats. By the time the phrase travels full circle, chances are great the phrase is not as it left the original speaker. Sometimes when we are listening, a speaker's diction can be sloppy and enunciation is needed. Other times when we are listening a word is misused in a sentence and we can receive the wrong message. Still, during other listening engagements the grammar of some individuals makes you wonder if they ever went to school at all. It is interesting what we choose to hear sometimes with or without orator issues. Jesus spoke several times to His disciples about His upcoming betrayal, suffering, death, burial, and resurrection. However, the disciples seemed to focus on one thing and not hear the other.  In Matthew 16:21-23 it says, From that time on Jesus began to ex...