Holy Week Part 3...Unworthy...PERFECT!

Not too long ago I was talking to an old friend of mine that I haven’t seen in quite some time. When I told him that I had just spoke at church our conversation got real silent. He responded by saying “Are you a preacher now”, I almost died laughing. I explained to him that I was still a teacher and a coach, but was just speaking that one time. In his mind I know he was thinking ANDREW…CHURCH?
This story has been on my heart this week as I have been reading, listening, and watching things about Jesus and His last few weeks on earth. I have been reminded that God used average, unworthy, and foolish people to accomplish His will. Two sermons today one by Joby Martin and the other by Christina Caine reaffirmed these concept.
Think about Noah: building an ark in the desert…REALLY? LOL but look how GOD showed up! Moses: a Murderer….a man who talked to a burning bush, the man who separates the red sea. Can you imagine being his friend and being so confused how your friend could be used by God when he was so simple and imperfect? What about David when he was a boy and used 5 smooth stones instead of armor to kill Goliath. His brothers mocked him, but he trusted God. Peter scolds Jesus, Doubts him and almost drowns, and then denies him. How is he repaid? He is the Rock of the church and when he preaches at Pentecost 3000 people are saved by the Holy Spirit. How about Mary and Joseph….both were look at as foolish, but God always protected them. What about Paul? He killed Christians…he was going to persecute more when he is blinded on the Damascus road. God then uses him to spread the Gospel like no other. Then the disciples were all chosen by Jesus. Each one of the disciples was not chosen by other Rabbis because they weren’t viewed as good enough.
As the time grew closer Jesus tried teaching His disciples and those around, but they would not believe. Jesus used miracles to show how great God was and is. God used all these people and countless others who were unworthy and unjust to show just how powerful and might HE is.

To many times as Christians and the “church” we get trapped thinking…God can’t use me, I’m just normal….or whatever excuses we can find. However, God is waiting to add your name to the list of unworthy, unjust, sinful people that HE worked through to show HIS power and HIS mercy.

Thanks you God for working through sinful people in scriptures and in today’s society.

Do I deserve to speak to people about the Gospel, NO! Those closed to me knew a few weeks ago I would do a “good” job and I would be “fine”, but God had something bigger in mind. God took away all my comfort to speak in public, he took away all my preparation, and HE spoke through me and HE SAVED dozens of children and people. GOD did all that and those closed to me know that I was shaking and nervous beyond words before I spoke. Then to make sure I understood what was going on He provided words I did not write down in my notes. As this was happening I watched GOD TAKE OVER AND SAY just another unworthy sinner that I can use.

When we are unworthy we are perfect tools for God. What is HE trying to do through you?

Thank you JESUS for using and SAVING unworthy people.

Holy Week Part 2...Joby Martin....Pride...THANK YOU JESUS

Monday’s big topic was Pride. I was listening to a pastor by the name of Joby Martin from Beach United Methodist Church in Jac. Fla preached on Pride and how it separates us from God.

This Holy Week has reminded me that it was religious people who sought out to kill Jesus. They wanted a reason to persecute Him because He was making them look bad or not follow their protocol for a rabbi or teacher. What a shame, these church people killed and ignored their KING and SAVIOR. Then again I do that, we all do if we are honest. When we let pride set in we lose sight of who God is and what Jesus did for us. Pride causes us to mistreat others and opportunities provided for us by God himself.

God works in spite of us NOT because of us!

My prayer this Holy Week and thus time forward is for God to remove my pride to remind me that I am NOTHING without JESUS! I can accomplish ABSOLUTELY NOTHING without JESUS CHRIST and His sacrifice on the Cross.

The scripture was from Luke 7:

³⁶Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. ³⁷When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, ³⁸and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

³⁹When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."

⁴⁰Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.

⁴¹"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,^[d] and the other fifty. ⁴²Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

⁴³Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

⁴⁴Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

⁴⁸Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

⁴⁹The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

⁵⁰Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

This passage is full of possible topics or discussions, but a few things hit my heart very hard.

1. The lady washes Jesus’ feet with the perfume from her alabaster jar and was symbolically laying down on her pride and surrenders everything she had to Jesus. I pray that we all will find the same humility and fall at His feet surrendering all our pride to Jesus.

2. The Pharisee (religious leader) looks down on both Jesus and this woman because she sinned and because Jesus let her touch him. Really? This guy should KNOW JESUS, as the Church WE SHOULD accept those who are different. We shouldn’t reach out to just the well dressed visitor on Sunday, but also the YOUNG MAN who is heading to the STRIP CLUB. YEA EVEN HIM! Jesus died for all of us. So many “churched” people forget that we are still dirty evil sinners who have found grace and mercy and are forgiven. This Pharisee is to proud to see the beauty in this sinner surrendering to JESUS!

3. The parable of the forgiven debt here really hits home to me. Real short on this one THANK YOU JESUS for REMOVING MY DEBT!

I write because God places it on my heart, not because my words are worthy or significant. I speak because God provides the words, not because I deserve to. I am NOTHING WITHOUT JESUS! I’m NOT BETTER THEN ANYONE and I am very thankful for that.

In this sermon Joby also references Gal. 6:3-4:

3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,

I pray that we all lay down our pride unless it is pride in what GOD does through us by HIS SON JESUS. Thank You God for working through me and for calling me to these things, may YOU GET ALL THE PRAISE, HONOR, and GLORY!

My sin is just as guilty as the Pharisees for killing Jesus, with that in mind How can I remain proud? Not possible! Praise God Praise GOD!

Holy Week Part 1...Lyman UMC SERVICES

I all of a sudden had tons of ideas and words in my heart so once again I have decided to write/blog them down. This week is my favorite week of the year. It is the week where I do not celebrate because I am religious or enjoy church, but because I, like all humans, was born away from God and when Jesus died for me HE closed that gap!

As I was up late Sunday watching 3:16 by Lucado I was overwhelmed (a term that certainly describe my heart the last few days) with how much God loved me and all of you. That no matter what we are worthy of HIS forgiveness, if we weren't He wouldn't have let his Son die for us.

Luke 19:28-40 (New International Version)

The Triumphal Entry

²⁸After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. ²⁹As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ³⁰"Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' "

³²Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. ³³As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

³⁴They replied, "The Lord needs it."

³⁵They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. ³⁶As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

³⁷When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
³⁸"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"^[a]
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

³⁹Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"

⁴⁰"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

I am sure most of you heard this recently since it is the Palm Sunday story, but at a closer look there are several things we can take from it. These were the questions that had been laid on my heart Sunday before leaving home for church.

1. What has the Lord sent us to find? What is the Colt we should be bringing back?

2. What “cloak” should we be laying down for Jesus? A cloak was expensive/important and not something you would just throw on the ground, but for JESUS, YES throw it down!

3. If the Stones could cry out praises to Jesus shouldn’t we?

4. Why did they persecute him already? Religious leaders/teachers were ready to kill him, and JESUS knew this and let it happened. Jesus will work in spite of us not because of us, will be turn people away or bring them closer to Jesus with our actions and feelings.

I know these are different questions then we normally associate with Palm Sunday or this scripture, but they were questions laid on my heart. As this week continues Jesus will eat with friends who will betray Him, deny Him, and abandon Him in the last few hours of His precious life, but He still loved them upon His return.

As this week continues, may we learn what God has planned for us to Learn. May we learn how much HE loves us and may we ALL realize the price it cost so that we may be free.

If you are still reading this THANK YOU! I only write the things that God places on my heart and I pray that this week will be life changing for all of us. I am thankful for all the post and tweets that have shared the massive number of lives converted this week already! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Maunday Thursday, Good Friday (both @ 7pm), Easter Sunrise service 7am with a breakfast following. ALL AT LYMAN UMC please come join us if you aren’t having a service at your church. May we be ONE BODY and WORSHIP ONE LORD and SHARE ONE CAUSE and LIVE OUT ONE LOVE!

MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL!