Days Before the Passover!

 

 

 

      I would like to talk about the days before the Passover, with next weekend being Good Friday and Easter.  I get my text from Mark 14:1-72 (KJV). Please read the whole chapter to get the best out of my message.

     We find here that the Chief priests and scribes plot to kill Jesus, but they don't want to do it on the Feast day.  For they know there would be trouble with a lot of the people who believe in Jesus. Here I point out that no man can change God's word, for it was told from the Prophets how it was going to happen.  The Chief priests and scribes should of known this by all the studying they did in the scrolls.  These men were high educated men, but still could not see what was really happing around them.  This is one reason I believe that God can not use men that don't go to collage, God is the one who made earth and all that in it, That mean you and me, So if you give your self to God to be use, He is all knowing and He will use you and give all that you need to know to do His work.

     Then we see Mary of Bethany pour ointment on Jesus head and anoint His body for His burying. Now she use a good sum of money for this ointment and it smells nice.  No there was a few there that did like the idea of her doing that, so they try to make her look bad for the use of the money. Saying how it could be use for feeding the poor. Now Jesus know are heart, what we really mean, Mary did this for the love of Jesus. The few men could of bad for being shown up, really want to know why not use it for the poor, or just want to keep the money for them self.  But Jesus set us straight, telling them she is doing a good work, and we will always have poor people to show are love to, But Jesus wont be with them for long.   I thing here we see how some people get jealous of other doing things they wish they would of. How some think money is to important to them, and how some thing that you can solve the poor in the world.  Well Jesus tell us we will always have poor with us. We have to remember that God and his son come first then we Show Gods love.

     Now Judas plans on betray Jesus, Now we see Judas going to the Chief priests and making plans, seeing how much he can get for turning Jesus over to them. Money is not a bad thing, greed is. Greed will blind us to everything around us.  Just one of Satan tool to lead us away from Jesus.

     Here now is the beginning of the new and out with the old.  The last Passover and the (new) The first Lord Supper.  This is a great moment in the world. I don't think many realize it. Jesus is making a door way so easy for us to be with God, He is that last Lamb that died and bled  for all of us.

     Then we come to Peter pledges his allegiance to Jesus,  But we are so must like Peter.  So willing but sometime falling way short.  Jesus know what we can and can not do. But with Jesus we can do all things.  When we  fall short and sin, thanks to Jesus all we have to do is pray to Jesus for the sins we committed and ask for forgiveness.

      Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, Now here we see Peter, James and John fall asleep on Jesus not once but two times.  Jesus is praying to God for his will to be done. I wonder if maybe Satan was there too.  Trying to get Jesus one last time. I hate say it but Peter, James, and Paul were not helping.

     Then Jesus is put under arrest.  His disciples run away s Jesus is led away.  What else could his disciples do to him.   Can you think of a time you ran from Jesus. I can thing of a few of my self.  But each time I come back I grow stronger in Jesus.

     Now Jesus is put on trail for thing he did not do in front of the Sanhedrin.  Now here I think of how often do I get people coming up to me and accused of things I did not do, but give in to accuser so I wont get in trouble.

     Last in this chapter we see Peter protests that he does not know Jesus.  Can you remember the last time you confess that you didn't know Jesus, was to get ahead in work, to keep a friend from leaving, to go to a sport game.  So many reasons why we do it, But thanks to Jesus he wont hold a grudge against us.  All we have to do is fall to are knees and confess to Jesus, and He will forgive us.

     I ask you to think hard about why you celebrate Easter (Passover)!  Make sure it is for the right reason.

 

God bless

Reverend Dale Merchant

God is not dead, but is alive !

 

 In Matthew 28; 18-20 it  reads,

  

     18) And Jesus came and spake unto them: saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and  in earth.

     19) Go ye there for, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

     20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the word. Amen.

 

     Now that is  one of the best promise that Jesus gave us.  Jesus stated that He has power over heaven and earth. To me that cover everything and every one. So as true believer of Jesus we have Jesus with us 24/7.  For Jesus can not lie!  So when we get in a spot in life that looks to big for us, we quote verses 28:18 - 20.  for what can be bigger then Jesus. not the earth or heaven!  so we lean on Jesus and give Jesus all our faith that he will take care of us and do away with that problem.  For God is not dead.

 

Past the word on to at lest people a day even if it these four words. God is not Dead!!

   

God Bless

Reverend Dale Merchant

 

What does Charity mean?

 

I sorry to change subjects, but I feel lead to do this. To many people are using Love for this word. I don't think we should.

 

 

     First we have to read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.  Now we have to break down the meaning of the words that define the word charity. I am using the KJV Bible, so the word might be different in yours bible then mine.

     In verse (4) we see the words sufferth long,  to suffer means to undergo something painful or unpleasant, as injury, grief, etc; endure; bear; be afflicted with. to tolerate or endure evil, injury, etc. Long of greater then usual or stander length.

     Kind means sympathetic, friendly; gentle, tender-hearted, generous, etc

     Envith not, a feeling of discontent and Ill will because of another's advantages, possessions, etc; resentful, dislike of another who has something desirable.

     Veunteth not means not to boast; brag.

     Puffed up means to praise unduly.

     Now in verse (5) we have these words.

     Unseemly means unpleasing in appearance; unfair; unattractive.

     Seeketh not her own means not to look for gratitude from others around you for showing charity.

     Easy provoked means we are not to anger; or be irritated right away, but to be calm and relaxed.

     think no evil means (think) to have an opinion, judgment, etc, (no) not any, not a, not one, (evil) anything thing morally bad or wrong; wickedness; depravity; sin.

     Now in verse (6) we have rejoiceth not in iniquity means (rejoiceth) to make glad; delight. (not) in no manner, to no degree, etc, (iniquity) lack of righteousness or justice; wickedness; sin.

     Truth means the quality of being in accordance with experience, facts, or reality; conformity with fact.

     In verse (7) beareth to undergo successfully; withstand; stand; endure.

     Thing any matter, circumstance, affair, or concern.

     Believeth to have trust and confidence.

     Hopeth to trust or rely.

     Endureth to last, continue; remain.

     Verse (8) never faitheth (never) not at all; by no chance; in no case; under on condition. (faileth) to leave; abandon.

     Verse(13) greatest of most importance; highest in class.

 

please let me know how has help you or not in the meaning of Charity.

 

God Bless You

Rev. Dale