Knocked Off Course - Don't Give Up!

 Knocked Off Course -  Don't Give Up!

Sometimes life throws you a curve ball.  Have you ever had it all figured out?  Made the right plans, finally got on course for an important goal you were excited about?  Actually started on your journey, for instance: 

• furthering your education  
• starting your dream job
• buying a house/ car, etc...
  

 

Or it might be another/ smaller feat like: working on improving a special relationship.  It doesn't matter the actual objective, just the fact that you started working on your goal.  Say you're getting good results and starting to feel great about your project when all of a sudden you get 'blindsided'.  Something happens that you didn't anticipate.  It throws you completely off course and you don't know how to fix it; you don't have the resources.  You feel overwhelmed, even hopeless, so much so that you don't want to get out of bed.  DON'T QUIT!  It's all a part of this thing called life.  Though it may seem like 'dooms day' it happens to everyone, and believe me - this too shall pass!

Luke 10: 25-37 This story is about a man who set out on a journey that he was happy about.  He had money in his pocket and was far along on his trip when he was attacked, robbed, beaten and left for dead.  Several people passed by and didn't offer to help.  (They might have thought that their reason for not stopping was legitimate.) But a very unlikely person whom he had prejudice about became the person who not only stopped to help; but also invested in his complete recovery free of charge.

²⁵ And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

²⁶ He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

²⁷ And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

²⁸ And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

²⁹ But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

³⁰ And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

³¹ And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

³² And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

³³ But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

³⁴ And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

³⁵ And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

³⁶ Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

³⁷ And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Sometimes the people who you believe will be there to support and or help you to accomplish your goals will disappoint you.  They won't help, whatever the reason.  Still DON'T QUIT! 

THE PRIEST - Could have been going to serve his community, be running late for a meeting, or just didn't want to be seen with this wounded man.  Who knows what others might think?

THE LEVITE - Could have been going to the synagogue.  If he had gotten his clothes soiled he wouldn't be allowed to perform his duties there.  His duties were more valuable than a life. 

THE SAMARITAN - Was a political enemy.  The wounded man was a Jew.  They were of two different class systems and beliefs.   Being a Samaritan was very unpopular.  However, the Samaritan chose to treat the Jewish victim like a human, and did to him what he would have wanted for himself.  

No matter what failure you're facing DON'T QUIT! This story symbolizes that:

1. God cares about your bad experiences, your failures, and defeats. HE will never leave you nor forsake you Deutoronomy 31:6  HE always come to your rescue.  HE doesn't discriminate.  How can HE scorn what HE created.
2. God expects you to remember a time when you needed help and was rescued (by HIM).  HE expects you to do the same to another person inspite of your differences and beliefs. 
3. We all have bad days.  So help someone up on your good day because it's a cycle.  Don't break it, and DON"T QUIT!
4. Help someone because you can.  You don't have to be reimbursed.  Be a neighbor!
   
5. On your  'bad day' or 'bad season' accept help.  Being overwhelmed, failure is all a part of life.  Nothing lasts forever.  

No matter how prepared you are for a task or mission, you will never have full control of everything.  Sometimes unexpected things happen.  If and when they do, accept help and pay it forward when you get better.  Not everyone will do what you expect.  But don't forget, you disappoint people too. No one is perfect.  Get better and move on.  Always pay it forward!

TESTIMONY: Dr. Seth Postell's Testimony (I Met Messiah)

WORSHIP: Surely Now | Acoustic Session | Rock City Worship

DON"T QUIT!

 

The Summary of the Bible..

 The Summary of the Bible..

The Bible is arguably the greatest book ever written because it is the manual to a happy and healthy lifestyle.  Answers to every question in life are introduced and answered.  In short, it is a book about a King, HIS kingdom, and HIS people. It is in essence a love story.

The story goes that at first God had an excellent relationship with HIS people who walked away from HIM.  In their retreat they encountered numerous obstacles and opposition.  They tried to make their way back to HIM unsuccessfully.  HE in turn intervened and sent help in the form of HIS Son to lead them back to HIM.  As a result, those who choose to return can do so before HE resends HIS Son to physically take them back to HIM in HIS homeland.  Those who refuse to return will be eternally banished.  Those who do will have the opportunity to live in a new earth, almost like starting over again from scratch.

The Bible is divided into two sections: 

1. The Old Testament

2. The New Testament

The Old Testament is divided into five sections:

• The Law
• The Historical Books
• The Books of Wisdom & Poetry
• The Major Prophets
• The Minor Prophets

The Law - The 1st five books of the bible which introduces us to God's people (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deutoronomy)

The Historical Books -  (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1&2 Samuels, 1&2 Kings, 1&2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther)

The Books of Wisdom & Poetry - (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Songs of Solomon)

The Major Prophets - (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel) 

The Minor Prophets - (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Hagai, Zechariah, Malachi)

The New Testament is also divided into five sections:

• The Four Gospels
• The Historical Book
• The Letters Of Paul
• The General Letters
• The Prophetic Book

The Four Gospels - (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)

The Historical Book - (Acts)

The Letters Of Paul - (Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon)

The General Letters - (Hebrews, James, 1,2&3 John, Jude)

The Prophetic Book - (Revelation)

God's attitude towards man is one of pure love, not condemnation.  If we would only give HIM a chance to prove it to us.  I dare you to take the leap and ask HIM to expose HIS love to you today.  Ask HIM to shine HIS light into your dark situations.  HIS desire is that your life be filled with joy and peace and fulfilment. Don't live on empty when HE has made so many accomodations for you to live otherwise.  We are all equally qualified for HIS goodness and grace. Just try HIM today! The proof is in the pudding!

TESTIMONIAL: 

SONG: God's love is so wonderful

A Chapter a day opens up your understanding. READ IT!

FAITH is the currency of God's Kingdom - Heaven..

FAITH is the  currency of God's Kingdom - Heaven....

The currency of Heaven is faith.  If you want to trade goods and services in heaven or its commonwealth (i.e earth) you will need faith.  God's government has a system where faith is extremely crucial in order to be effective.

Luke 20 This whole passage is about authority. First it's about identifying who is in charge, and then observing the terms of that leadership. Jesus was teaching the gospel, (i.e. revelation of the Kingdom Of God) and the Jewish leaders questioned HIS authority.  They wanted to know/prove or rather discredit HIS allegiance to the Almighty God.  HIS first reference was to John the Baptist who was popularly known as a Jewish representative/ prophet from the Almighty God.  John the Baptist had previously endorsed Jesus as God's chosen representative.  If they acknowledged John's authority, then they would have to automatically accept Jesus's. Also, John had said to his followers that Jesus had more authority from God than he himself did.

HIS second reference was to the parable of the tenants.  A landlord rented his vineyard to farmers  who usurped their authority and killed the landlord's servants and son whom he sent to collect payment on his behalf from the tenants.  So the landlord decided to replace these tenants himself.  Thirdly, they tried to trap Jesus regarding the Roman government regarding taxes.  Romans were in charge of the Jewish society at that time, and because they had failed to get Jesus arrested based on their religious practices, they attempted to get him arrested based on politics.  But Jesus was much smarter than they were.  

Rome required all Jews to pay taxes based on Roman laws.  The financial medium of exchange at that time was known as the denario.  Back then, just as is now, every society had a mandated currency whereby its people exchange it for goods and services in order to maintain economic equilibrium. Without the currency you were unable to trade, hence unable to live and thrive in the same society.  For the Jews, the Roman Empire was the ruling authority.  If Jesus opposed the Roman government they could have him arrested or even killed.  They asked Jesus if it was right for Jews to pay taxes to the Romans, because HE was preaching about another government.  Jesus responded, give to Caesar - in his earthly kingdom what he required (denario), and to God - in HIS Heavenly Kingdom what HE required (faith).

Hebrews 11:6

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Ephesians 2  Access to God's Kingdom is granted based on God's grace to mankind and our acceptance of HIS grace through faith in HIM.  No one has more privilege than the other because grace is a gift from God that no man can earn.  The laws of Heaven are different from the laws of earth.  Thirdly, the Sadducees further tried to question HIS authority by asking about a widow that was married to seven different brothers.  Who would have rights to her at the resurrection.  Jesus clarified that human marriage does not/ will not occur in heaven.  Marriage is an earthly experience.  

Human laws do not apply to Heavenly laws.  Heavenly laws are superior.  HE used Moses' testimony that the spiritual is more powerful than the physical; that heavenly laws over-ride earthly ones.  Jesus further stated that He had more superiority than David (who the Jews regarded as God's anointed king on earth).  David was God's choice.  But David testified that he was indeed a subject of the Messiah - God's chosen replacement.  Jesus is very careful to warn HIS listeners to beware of religious leaders who would mislead them into believing that they are God's chosen authority on earth.  God's authority on earth is based on those who promote the Kingdom of God by faith in Christ based only God's grace.  Your power to barter on earth in God's commonwealth is based on your faith in God's word. Romans 10  The word of God is Jesus John 1 It is important to understand faith in order to make the most of it, and to reap the rewards God intended for us from the very beginning of time.  Hebrews 11

Invest your faith and watch it multiply!

TESTIMONY: 

VIDEO: Lord I believe in You - Crystal Lewis