do you have anything to eat?

Luke 24
I think this is one of the most profound statements Jesus makes to his disciples (us)

this is the glorified, risen, Jesus. the one they saw die, brutally. they put him in the tomb.
he asks them: do you have anything to eat.
they hand him a piece of fish.
and he eats.
can you imagine this scene. he is asking THEM if they have any food.
they stare at him dumbfounded and hand him a fish.

I can just see him shaking his head ..uhm thanks.
or maybe like a scene from 'the office', he looks into the camera and just nods...

he takes the fish and graciously eats it.

remember he is now the risen king of kings. remember in heaven there is no need for food or refreshments.

but he takes what they offer and eats.
then he talks.

I’ve been telling you this all along, that everything written about Me in the Hebrew Scriptures must be fulfilled—everything from the law of Moses to the prophets to the psalms.
Then He opens their minds so they can comprehend the meaning of the Hebrew Scriptures.

 

do you see that ? did you catch it?

 

the disciples gave him real food.

 

but he is trying to give them spiritual food.

 

he open their minds to be able to comprehend what just happened. from birth to death, resurrection and life.

 

how vital it is for us to be eating the word of God.

instead we act like we have absolutely no time for the word, for devotions ...

or..I really don't need to read the bible everyday...that's ok for you...you like to read...

 

are we becoming like this picture?

 

we have become fussy eaters !!

notice Jesus didn't say anything, just ate the fish.

 

we only want to eat what makes us happy.

 

psalm 1

For you, the Eternal’s Word is your happiness.
    It is your focus—from dusk to dawn

 

 

 

 



 

faith comes....

how often have we read that verse? faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God. and then try desperately to get faith. or feel guilty that we don't have enough faith. because without faith, it is impossible to please him. isn't that the other verse on faith we use all the time?

but let's back up a minute and really stop and hear what God is saying. faith comes...did you see that. faith comes..IT COMES !! if you don't have it, you can get it

how does faith come? it comes by hearing. it comes by hearing the Word of God. it comes by hearing God!

we are in a two way relationship with God, in prayer, in life and what He has to say is way more important that what I have to say. faith COMES by hearing.


what does the word tell us in proverbs?
look at 4:20-22

My son, pay attention to all the words I am telling you.
   Lean in closer so you may hear all I say.
 Keep them before you; meditate on them;
   set them safely in your heart.
For those who discover them, they are life.
    They bring wholeness and healing to their bodies.


read that again. circle it. highlight it. read it again.

Faith comes by paying attention to ALL THE WORD....lean in closer so you may hear, because faith comes by hearing. keep them before you and meditate on them, study them, hear the word of God.

what if we did this. what if we heard the word of God from God and then faith comes.

God speaks primarily through his word and anything that does not agree with the bible is not from God. faith comes.

it isn't that we don't have faith. we don't have patience to wait. to pay attention, lean in closer.
can you imagine, leaning in closer to God to listen and hear the word from the word...
faith comes...

it's about the lost sheep...

Jesus (with another parable): ^3-4 Wouldn’t every single one of you, if you have 100 sheep and lose one, leave the 99 in their grazing lands and go out searching for the lost sheep until you find it? ⁵ When you find the lost sheep, wouldn’t you hoist it up on your shoulders, feeling wonderful? ⁶ And when you go home, wouldn’t you call together your friends and neighbors? Wouldn’t you say, “Come over and celebrate with me, because I’ve found my lost sheep”? ⁷ This is how it is in heaven. They’re happier over one sinner who changes his way of life than they are over 99 good and just people who don’t need to change their ways of life.

who wouldn't go after the one sheep? They (the ones in the parable) wouldn't have gone after the one sheep. in that culture, in that time..it wouldn't have been effective to go after 1 little sheep.
 the stray.
the lost one.
I have 99...who cares about 1 little sheep.
But Jesus tells them. I would.
not only do I go after the one little sheep, but I rejoice when I find him.

"don't just listen to my words. get the deeper meaning"

Jesus says " this is how it is in Heaven"

that one lost sheep.

Luke 15 begins with: Jesus became increasingly popular among notorious sinners, tax collectors and other social outcasts.  The religious noticed this.
what did they notice?
that the notorious sinner, the lost sheep was now healed, whole and set free.
and they weren't.

Heaven is rejoicing over the lost sheep that is now found, not the religious that are sitting safe and sound.

the lost sheep that is now healed, and then set free.

'get the deeper meaning'
is it possible that God is trying to tell us something more..
something deeper
healing is found by the lost sheep

it makes me think of how we, as the body of Christ are having healing inside the church for the 99, when the 1 is out front staring at the closed doors.
Jesus left the 99 in search of the 1
He left the 99 to go heal the one.
not just physical healing, but whole healing, body, soul and spirit.
bringing that lost sheep into his pasture
"this is how it is in Heaven"

is it possible that we are to go out to find the one and take healing to them
is it possible that healing isn't for the religious but for the lost?
not that we as His children don't receive healing, we most certainly do.
but He came for the sick..didn't he say that
if we are found, and there are those outside of our circle that are sick, aren't we to be going after the 1

I think a change is coming
a change in how we think of healing, wholeness
how we handle and give healing to the one
remember earlier in Luke Jesus says: '...and the crowds swelled wherever He went. He wasn't impressed"

it's about the lost sheep
its about the 1


(this post was written by Brian and Kim )

the cost of salt...

 

if you want to be My disciple, it will cost you everything.

Don’t underestimate that cost!

³⁴ Don’t be like salt that has lost its taste. How can its saltiness be restored? Flavorless salt is absolutely worthless. ³⁵ You can’t even use it as fertilizer, so it’s worth less than manure! Don’t just listen to My words here.

Get the deeper meaning.

 

this is from Luke 14..the end of the chapter

 

and it hits me every time I read it.

get the deeper meaning.

 

have you ever heard an altar call like this one?

come to Me and you could lose everything

 

I think we have this mindset in the U.S. that if we choose Jesus as Lord and Savior, then everything will be roses and rainbows.

we have made a fairytale of salvation.

I choose Jesus and He gives me everything I want or need.

I can now eat ice cream and oreo's for breakfast.

I can personally tell you that eating ice cream and oreo's for breakfast is only going to make you fat.

it's not the deeper meaning

 

how about this.

let's do what the word says;

count the cost

don't underestimate the cost

 

our salvation cost more than we can every pay

we sometimes say salvation is free

but was it free?

it cost a life

it cost blood

His life and His blood

 

If you want to be My disciple it will cost you everything.

don't underestimate that cost.

I have no idea what the cost will be for you,

but I know my family has paid a cost,

I have paid a cost

it hasn't been roses and rainbows every day.

but,

the deeper meaning has been worth every thing it cost me

 

I have been reading a book by Tom Doyle called "Dreams and Visions" : is Jesus awakening the Muslim world?

it has been mind blowing and to me

They, our Muslim friends who are choosing Jesus, know the cost.

they lose family, friends, are beaten and beheaded

yet they choose to love and be loved by Jesus

they understand the cost of the salt.

 

"Don't be like the salt that lost its flavor - it's worthless...it is worth less than manure"

 

I want my salt, my life, my following of  Jesus to be salt

to flavor my neighborhood, my family, my life.

 

do you understand the cost?

do you know how your salt taste?

 

"don't just listen to my words. get the deeper meaning"

 

the cost of the salt.