Sermons by Archbishop Foley Beach

Why We Do Christmas

Why We Do Christmas

MESSAGE SUMMARY:

Introduction: We are still in the season of Advent, which means “coming” or “arrival”. The Church begins this season of “arrival” or Advent as the time we recognize and celebrate the “arrival” of Jesus – both Jesus’ “first coming” and His “second coming”. We celebrate Jesus’ “first coming” on Christmas Eve. The season of Advent is, also, a season of hope; and Advent is the beginning of our Church’s “New Year”.

Message:  What does Christmas mean to you? “Could we be missing the point of what Christmas is all about”? Irrespective of all the personal, social and cultural noise we encounter around the Christmas season, we must not lose sight of the fact that Christmas is all and only about Jesus. At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of the most important person that ever lived – the God and man Jesus.

Is this birth and life of the Incarnate and unique Son of God, as both the Creator of the Universe and the Savior of humankind, true? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” because Jesus birth and life are based upon historical evidence. Also, the birth of Jesus is God coming among us in a desire to have a personal relationship with us and with all people. If God is so desirous of a personal relationship with us, why did God go to so much trouble to bring Jesus to us? Because, every time we sin, we are building a barrier between us and God – God is Holy, and He cannot relate to sin. Therefore, God’s Grace provided Jesus as both the means of our Salvation and as an intermediary (i.e. Jesus is both God and a human without sin) from which we can have God’s desired personal relationship with us. However, when Jesus died on the cross, He took on all sin and became the required and once offered sacrificial payment for all sin. Jesus birth, life, death and Resurrection became the doorway for our personal relationship with God. As Jesus tells us in Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man {Jesus}came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”. “God loves us because of who God is.”

Why do so few of us accept God’s offered gift of Salvation through His Grace? When those not yet believing look at the lives of those of us that believe, they, often, they see us living by the fruit of the flesh rather than by the fruit of the Spirit – our hypocrisy. Also, God’s offer is rejected because He may require us to give up some sin that we enjoy. Additionally, some believe that the cost of becoming a Christian is too great; however, the cost of not becoming a Christian is far greater than the cost of becoming a Christian and accepting God’s offer. Many refuse God’s gift because they believe that they are not worthy or good enough for God and His gift. They are correct; none of us are worthy of God’s gift, but that is the point – Jesus’ birth, life, death and Resurrection provide us with the means a path to be worthy of God’s gift.

Is Jesus your Savior? God has given you the greatest Christmas gift that you will ever receive. Have you accepted His Gift and opened His gift into your life? If not, then why not? With your hands open, you can accept God’s Christmas gift by saying: “I am sorry; thank you; and please”.

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Mark 10:45; John 15:13; John 3:16-17; Galatians 5:18-25. (Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.).

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE LINK: www.awordfromthelord.org.

WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Jesus Followers Should Fear, Respect, and Praise God’s Power, Sovereignty, and Holiness; but in Life’s Trials They Should “fear not for I {Jesus} am with you always””: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/

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A Day Is Coming – Part 2

A Day Is Coming – Part 2

MESSAGE SUMMARY:

We are in the season of Advent, which means “coming” or “arrival”. The Church begins this season of “arrival” or Advent as the time we recognize and celebrate the “arrival” of Jesus – both Jesus’ “first coming” and His “second coming”. We celebrate Jesus’ “first coming” on Christmas Eve. The season of Advent is, also, a season of hope; and Advent is the beginning of our Church’s “New Year”.

In the book of Isaiah, Isaiah 24 through Isaiah 26 presents prophesies regarding the future about 600 years before the birth of Jesus. More specifically, Isaiah 24:1-13 describes the destruction of the world resulting from the sinful acts of God’s people. However, Isaiah 24:14-16 describes a period of joy and hope in the world. As in the time of Isaiah, we should not give credence to the prophesies, by fellow humans today, of the world’s destruction and/or a specific date for Jesus’ ”second coming” {arrival}. Jesus told us both not to be “anxious” about those things that we cannot control and that “no one knows the day and the hour” of His return (i. e. Jesus “second coming”). Rather, in this season of Advent, we recognize the hope brought to the world by God’s grace and His gift of Jesus.

Our hope is built upon Jesus’ birth, death on the cross, and His Resurrection all providing us with the means for our Redemption, Salvation, and our Eternal Life. However, there will be a day when Jesus returns again to earth (i. e. Jesus’ “second coming”) on a day that cannot be predicted by humans. Jesus’ “second coming” will establish His Kingdom and a new Heaven. Therefore, even though we do not know the when of Jesus’ “second coming” we haves God’s promise of the what Jesus’ “second coming” will mean. We need not fear the “second coming”.

The “second coming” is a promise by God and should lead us, in this season of Advent, to renew our preparation in hope and not fear and anxiety. We have God’s promise that nothing can separate us from His love, as the Apostle John tells us in 1 John 4:16-19: “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us." We do not want to get so wrapped up in the details of Jesus’ “second coming” so that, like the First Century Jews, we miss Jesus.

One certainty, in Jesus’ “second coming”, is our “Judgement”. Jesus’ “second coming” will “arrive”, but we have nothing to fear if we are ready. We are “ready” by living lives of Faithfulness to the Gospel and through Repentance. Is there something in your life with which you have not dealt with in Repentance? If so, you are not “ready”. We must be willing to follow Jesus and to respond to those things He asks of us.

The Apostle John tell us in Revelation 22:20-21: “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The Grace of Lord Jesus be with all. Amen”. Do you want to be ready for Jesus’ “second coming”? If so, are you ready

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12f).

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV):  Isaiah 24:1-16; Romans 8:38-39; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:12-19; 1 John 4:16-19; Revelation 20:4; Matthew 25:31-32; Johnb5:24; 1 Corinthians 11:28-32; Romans 11:25-27; Luke 1:31-33; Hebrews 1:8; Hebrews 10:37-39; Revelation 22:20-21. (Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.).

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE LINK: www.awordfromthelord.org

WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “At Jesus’ Crucifixion and Death, the “Temple Veil” Was Torn; After Jesus Easter Resurrection, You Now Pray Directly with God”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/

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A Day Is Coming – Part 1

A Day Is Coming – Part 1

MESSAGE SUMMARY:

We are entering the season of Advent, which means “coming” or “arrival”. The Church begins this season of “arrival” or Advent as the time we recognize and celebrate the “arrival” of Jesus – both Jesus’ “first coming” and His “second coming”. We celebrate Jesus’ “first coming” on Christmas Eve. The season of Advent is, also, the beginning of the Church’s “New Year”.

Today, we begin our focus for Advent on Jesus “second coming” as promised by the Jesus in Luke 21:27-28: “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”. Jesus realized that his first “arrival” on Earth was to sacrifice and to fulfil the Old Testament prophesies. Jesus knew, also, that His “first arrival” would provide a means that, through His sacrifice and Resurrection, could give all humans a personal relationship with God. However, Jesus knew that, after His sacrifice in His “first coming” into the World, that He would return to the World – Jesus’ “second coming”.

Jesus’ “arrival”, in His “second coming”, is described, in the Bible text, that 1) Jesus is coming as the Son of Man – a term Jesus used to refer to Himself, from God’s perspective; 2) Jesus is coming in a cloud; 3) Jesus’ coming is preceded with certain signs in the Universe – all the “signs”, described in the Scripture, have already happened; and 4) the time of His coming being will be “soon” but “unknown”. As we are told in James 5:7-8, Jesus is coming again: “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.". The Bible, clearly, teaches that Jesus is coming into the World again – the “second coming”.

What do we need to do given the certainty of Jesus’ “second coming”? In Luke 21:34-36, Jesus answers this important question regarding our preparation for His “second coming”: “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”. Be reminded that the “cares” and “anxieties” of our lives can trap us from being ready for Jesus’ “second coming”.

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD’S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21).

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV):  Mark 13:32; Luke 21:27-28; Matthew 16:27; Daniel 7:13-14; Luke 21:25; Luke 21:8-10; Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Mark 13:32; John 14:3; Acts 1:9; 1 John 2:28;  1 Thessalonians 3:2; Hebrews 9:28; James 5:7-8; 2 Peter 3:10; Luke 21:34-36.  (Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.).

WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “When Jesus Asked You: “Whom do you say that I am?”, Did You Answer Jesus: “You are my God and the Lord of my Life!”?”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/

A WORDFROM THE LORD WEBSITE LINK: www.awordfromthelord.org

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Turkeys and Eagles – Part 6: We Don’t Need to Be Wimpy Christians

Turkeys and Eagles – Part 6: We Don’t Need to Be Wimpy Christians

MESSAGE SUMMARY:  Series Overview: This Series has been looking at Paul’s letter to the Ephesians to point out “Turkeyisms” – things by which have duped us into believing or behaving in ways which aren’t what Christianity is all about. This Series has pointed out some changes in our thinking needed so that we can be like “Eagles” -- o be the people that God wants and intended for us to be. This Sermon will focus on Ephesians 6.

Sermon: Turkey Thinking: “There is no real devil; the devil is just a concept to explain evil.” (The devil’s best trick is to get us to believe there is no devil.); Eagle Thinking: “The devil and his cohorts never sleep.”  Ephesians 6:10 – “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”. How does one know if they are being tempted by the enemy? We know we are being tempted by the enemy when we are influenced to do something against Jesus -- the enemy wants to make us a weak Christian. However, we can’t blame the temptations of our flesh on the devil. We need to always be clothed in the full armor of God to be full-time soldiers of Jesus against the devil.

Turkey Thinking: “There is no spiritual warfare; Christianity is love, joy, and peace. Christianity is not about war.”; Eagle Thinking: “If I am serving the Lord, then I am always engaged in a spiritual battle.”. In this battle, we are not battling our fellow humans. One of the enemy’s best strategies is to get us fighting each other, especially in the church.  The devil wants us to divide and conquer. We must put on the full armor of God so that we can stand firm against the devil. The “full armor” means we are to both seek and speak God’s truth while establishing a relationship with God. We are to live a righteous life in the full awareness that God has forgiven us. In standing firm and with our relationship with God, we are to share the Gospel. We are to “take up the shield of faith” by trusting in God in our warfare with the devil.

The evil one wants us to doubt our Salvation from God’s Grace and our faith that ensure eternal life with Jesus. Finally, we are to “take up the sword of the Spirit” – the Word of God. In Ephesians 6, the sword is the only element, of God’s full armor, that is for both offense as well as defense. Paul then tells us “to pray in the Holy Spirit” – praying while fully focused on the Lord; prayer is the most powerful weapon we have in our fight against the devil. God wants us to be strong in Him” and not wimpy Christians in our warfare with the evil one.

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD’S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 6:10-20; Matthew 13:19-21; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 4:12.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE SEARCH: www.AWFTL.org/bible-search/

WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “For a Jesus Follower in Difficult Circumstances, God: “is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster””: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.

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Turkeys and Eagles, Part 5: Following Jesus Changes Everything in Our Families

Turkeys and Eagles, Part 5: Following Jesus Changes Everything in Our Families

MESSAGE SUMMARY:   

Series Overview: This Series has been looking at Paul’s letter to the Ephesians to point out “Turkeyisms” – those things of our culture and some worldviews by which we may have been duped into beliefs inconsistent with the Gospel of Jesus or behaving in a manner that is not what Christianity is all about. This Series has pointed out some changes in our thinking needed to be like “Eagles” so that we can be the people that God wants and expects us to be.

Today’s Sermon: A look into Ephesians 5 provides a perspective on many “Turkeyisms”; however, the focus today is just on one: Turkey Thinking – “My Christianity has no effect on my family relationships, but my upbringing does”; but Eagle Thinking – My Christianity places me in the Kingdom of God with a radically different view of family relationships”. Being in the Kingdom of God Changes everything for those that follow Jesus.

Marriage in America is having a rough time, and we can’t say that Christian marriage is different. Too many of us, who say that we follow Jesus today, don’t let Christianity follow us through the front door as we live our secular lives. In the First Century of the Ephesians, both Jewish and Greek laws greatly diminished the roles, respect for, and value of women. In the Roman world, of the same period, women and children were just passed around – women had many husbands. It was into this world of Judaism and Greco Roman culture that Jesus walked in; and we found Jesus respecting and honoring women. Jesus raised the status of women – Jesus brought a whole new way of thinking about family, marriage, children, and divorce into First Century culture that has provided an ethical context for two thousand years.

In the same period and culture, Paul came along; and he set up churches. He wrote letters, which were written in the culture of this period, to the Christians in churches like the church in Ephesus. These early Christians were a part of the Kingdom of God – the blessed followers of Jesus – they were called to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to be imitators of Jesus. Therefore, followers of Jesus were to be vessels of His light to the world. Followers of Jesus were to be different from this culture of the period. By being different in their families, followers of Jesus would transform the culture (which, eventually, they did!!!).

From Ephesians 5:21, we are to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ”. “Submitting” is treating others like you wish to be treated. In Ephesians 5, Paul applies this principle of Christianity to the family (i.e. wives, husbands, and children) and to the workplace (i.e. employees). The Kingdom of God calls us to loving family relationships; therefore we, as followers of Jesus, are called to be different and not a part of the culture.

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:13

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV):  Ephesians 5:21-33, 6:1-4; John 4:25-28; Mark 10:6-10; Proverbs 31:10-31; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.; Psalms 73a:1-14.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE SEARCH: www.AWFTL.org/bible-search/

WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Jesus Followers Are Given the Incredible Gift of the Holy Spirit - “your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way’””: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.

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Turkeys and Eagles, Part 3: A Child of God’s Light

Turkeys and Eagles, Part 3: A Child of God’s Light

 MESSAGE SUMMARY:   

Introduction – When God looks at us, our actions and the situations in our lives, God sees us as if we had never sinned – we are Justified through the blood of Jesus. While we are forgiven of our sins, we are instructed to confess our sins (1 John 1:9) because this “confession” is for us – it is so that we might be healed and renewed in the Holy Spirit. Also, this “confession” is for us to forgive as Christ forgives -- we are to unconditionally release those we believe have offended us just as Christ released us. Also, by our forgiving others, we are released. We were created to be like Jesus – to soar like the eagle and not to be “Turkeyized”!

Message – God has made us to be “Eagle Christians”, but so many times we are “Turkeyized”. Often, we have been taught things that are not in line with the Christian faith. In Proverbs 23:7: “As a man thinks within himself, so he is.”. As a Christian, our behavior follows our thinking. – If we think right, the presence of the Lord will be with us.  

In Ephesians 5:1-14, Paul explicitly defines for us how we are to be “imitators of God” as God’s beloved children (i.e. God is our father). From Ephesians, we can differentiate between “Turkeyisms” vs. “Eagle Thinking “: 1) My circumstances are such there is no way God could be honored in my life Vs. God gives me the ability to represent Him in my life and the world; 2) Sex is dirty and is not appropriate for Christians Vs. Sex is a gift from God, and it is beautiful within the context of marriage; and 3) My life doesn’t make much of a difference Vs. I am a vessel of God’s light – when we are not living for Jesus as our Lord, we are living in darkness. We, as followers of Jesus, are the light of the world – we need to live as we were created to be; and then we will be blessed and soar like eagles.

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV):  Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:1-14; Proverbs 23:7; Philippians 4:8; 1 Corinthians 6:9; John 8:12; Psalms 70a:1-12.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE SEARCH: www.AWFTL.org/bible-search/

WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Jesus Followers Are the Enemy’s {devil’s} Target to Mess You Up and To Destroy Your Relationship with God”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.

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Turkeys and Eagles, Part 2: Created to Be Like God

Turkeys and Eagles, Part 2: Created to Be Like God

MESSAGE SUMMARY:   

Introduction – In Part 1 of this series, “Called as an ‘Eagle’ But Saved as a ‘Turkey’” we learned, from the story about “Bubba the Eagle” and from relating this story to Ephesians 4, that many of us Christians have been “Turkeyized”. We learned that, rather than practicing New Testament Christianity, we have been practicing, in too many places, “Churchianity”. Now, we are looking at Paul’s letter to the Ephesians to help break us out of this “Churchianity”. Rather than soaring with the eagles, too many of us are gobbling with the turkeys.

Message – In this teaching today, we will look at “Created to Be Like God”. We live in a world that has many people with no desire to soar, and they will never reach the heights that God intended for us. Too many Christians are grounded because we have not been taught how to soar like an eagle. Now, “turkey thinking” posits that “living as a Christian is no different than living like everyone else”. However, “eagle thinking” posits that “as a Christian, I think different from everyone else” In Ephesians 4:17-18, “Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.”. Analogous for us today, we can substitute “nonbeliever” for “Gentile” in this passage. The key to how we live is how we think. This behavior is, also, illustrated in Romans 1:21 where Paul describes where he cannot tell if a group is really Christian because their thinking is so messed up.

“Turkey thinking” says “I am a sinner always in need”, but “eagle thinking” says “I am created to be like God”. When becoming a follower of Jesus, we become a new creation, and the Spirit of God indwells us; therefore, God is in our lives as we live our lives. In this context, “turkey thinking” would say “I’m just a sinner and I’m stuck”; but “eagle thinking” says “I’m created in the image of God”. We should be different from those nonbelievers living in today’s culture because we have Jesus living in us. However, many of us have been “Turkeyized”; but with Jesus in our lives, we can soar with the Eagles!

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12f

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV):  Ephesians 4:17-32; Romans 1:21-23; Genesis 2:5; Colossians 1:15-20; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Psalms 67:1-7.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE SEARCH: www.AWFTL.org/bible-search/

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.

WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Letting God Be Lord Over Your Finances, which Are His but He Entrusted to You, Will Liberate Your Life!”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/

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Turkeys and Eagles, Part 1: Called as an “Eagle” But Saved as a “Turkey”

Turkeys and Eagles, Part 1: Called as an “Eagle” But Saved as a “Turkey”

MESSAGE SUMMARY:

From the Gospel of Luke (7:36-50): "Compassion Unpacked"

Introduction – Today’s teaching begins with a story that tells us how “Bubba the Eagle”, born an “Eagle”, learned to be a “Turkey” when he was “saved by the turkeys”; but the “turkeys”, ultimately, convinced him that he was a “buzzard”. However, the wise owl tells Bubba that he is neither a “turkey” or a “buzzard” – the owl tells Bubba the he was born and is called to be an “Eagle” and that he is an “Eagle”. Also, we learn that any question answered “true” in the “True-False” test, presented in today’s teaching, means that one has been “Turkeyized” by the church.

Message – The study compares our call as “Christians” to being like “Eagles” as expressed by Paul in Ephesians 4:1-6: “Therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6†one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”. However, the same attributes can be easily twisted in a way that leads us to being “Turkeyized”. If our perspective of being a Christian is as “our duty” rather than as “our call” by Jesus as defined by Paul in Ephesians 4. 1-6, then it is time for us to be who Jesus has called us to be – men and women who know and serve Jesus out of His call to us; not just out of duty. Remember, God calls us to be “Eagles” not “turkeys”.

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, IAM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD’S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV):  Ephesians 4:1-16; Romans 12:1-16; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Psalms 61:1-8.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE SEARCH: www.AWFTL.org/bible-search/

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.

WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Jesus Followers’ Righteousness Will Flow, with the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, from Their Heart Through Their Personal Relationship with Jesus”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/

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Remembering “he who is forgiven little, loves little”, Is You Focus Outward in the Love and Service of Others?

Remembering “he who is forgiven little, loves little”, Is Your Focus Outward in the Love and Service of Others?

MESSAGE SUMMARY:

From the Gospel of Luke (7:36-50): "Compassion Unpacked"

Luke 7:36-50 describes the compassion of God revealed to those who come to Him in humility and faith. In unpacking Luke’s Gospel reference, Luke is relating a dinner party taking place in the home of a Pharisee. The Pharisees’ thought that their attempts at righteousness would earn them more favor with God, but their focus was outward not inward and in their hearts. The Pharisees were always in Jesus face attacking Jesus and trying to dismiss His teachings.

In the Scripture references from Luke and Matthew below, Jesus gave strong words of description and condemnation regarding the Pharisees’ hearts and behaviors. However, there were many Pharisees that were Godly and spiritual men. We need to be careful that we do not become twenty-first century Pharisees like the Pharisees identified by Jesus in Luke 7. Like the Pharisees, many of us know the Word of God; but we need to be careful that we do not become judgmental and self-surviving, thereby, missing the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit and forgetting to apply the love and Justice of God in our lives and relationships.

Jesus is at this dinner party, in Luke 7, given by a Pharisee, and we are told that a sinful woman comes into the party. The woman comes up behind Jesus and weeps with such intensity that her tears fall on Jesus’ feet. The woman, after her earlier conversion, is probably overcome with the conviction of her sinful life and remorse, thereby, becoming a servant to her Lord. In these actions of conviction and love toward Jesus, Jesus explains, to Simon the Pharisee in Luke 7:47, that: “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”.

Simon the Pharisee represents many modern day “church people”. We can get caught up in our personal righteousness. We get used to the presence of God and His peace in our lives, but then we encounter a new follower of Jesus. They, before their conversion, were living in the ways of the world without God’s peace. Now, these new believers are so excited with their new life; and their outward manifestation of their conversion may not “fit” with our personal Christian behavioral norms. Sadly, too many modern Christians judge and condemn these new believers rather than loving, encouraging, and embracing these new believers. After all, none of us deserve the forgiveness of God: “I am who I am by the Grace of God through Jesus.“.

God wants to have a heart-to-heart talk with us. Therefore, if there is anything in our lives blocking our talk with God, we must remove it – we need to open ourselves to what God will do for us if we will just let go of our life impediments. We must pray for God’s guidance to keep us from becoming judgmental, self-righteous, self-centered Christians like the Pharisees in Luke 7.

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:13

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV):  Luke 7:36-50; Matthew 5:20; Luke 11:37-44; Luke 15:1-7: Matthew 23:13-19; Matthew 23:23-36; Psalms 55b:13-23.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE SEARCH: www.AWFTL.org/bible-search/

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.

WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Jesus Followers Have a Personal Relationship with the Creator of the Universe So Pray, Listen, and Be Patient for God’s Call”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/

DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

As a Follower of Jesus, You Should “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name” Every Day - Do You?

As a Follower of Jesus, You Should “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name” Every Day - Do You?

MESSAGE SUMMARY:

From the Gospel of Luke (17:11-19): “Giving Thanks to the Lord”

Introduction from “Living the Bible”: Rev. William Tyndall, in the 1500s, translated the entire Bible, by hand, from Latin into English so that the ordinary people could have the Word from the Lord. Tyndall was burned at the stake, in 1537, by the Church because of his courage and gift of the translated Bible to the human race. In 1611, Tyndall’s translation was used to develop the King James version of the English Bible. People have died in the translation, printing, and distribution of the Bible so that we can have our Bible to read and understand. If we would just take ten minutes a day to read the Bible, our Spiritual lives would be greater than we could imagine. By the way, it is OK to mark in the Bible – you can underline key points or make notes to increase your knowledge and understanding of the Lord’s Word. As we systematically read the Bible we need to learn and understand God’s Word – through study and memorization. Also, we need to meditate on God’s Word from the Bible: “but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." (Psalms 1:2). The five fingers for getting a grasp of the Bible’s scriptures are: 1) hear; 2) read; 3) mark; 4) learn; and 5) inwardly digest the scriptures. Remember, “The Bible is the inspired Word of God, and it contains all that is needed for our Salvation.”.

Today’s Message – “Giving Thanks to the Lord”: In Isaiah 12:4, we are instructed: “And you will say in that day: ‘Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.’”. If we compare all our lives’ conveniences and facilitators today with the life situation of a twenty-five-year-old person in 1900, we will realize how truly blessed and privileged, in terms of things that make our lives easier, we are to live today. Also, we are blessed to live where we live today. When is the last time we gave thanks to God for living in this time period and living in America? “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name.”

We have so many things, including our health, job, home facilities, and family, for which we should “give thanks to the Lord”. However, we get focused on ourselves; and we forget how blessed our lives are. Therefore, we forget to “give thanks to the Lord”.

In Luke 17:11-19, Luke tells us the story of Jesus healing the ten lepers: “On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’ When he saw them he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, ‘Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ And he said to him, ‘Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.’". Of the ten lepers that Jesus healed, only one leper, the “foreigner”, gave “thanks to the LORD, call upon his name”. It seems that Jesus is disappointed that not one of His fellow Jews gave thanks for being healed. We can only hope that we don’t take God’s blessings for grated and fail to “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name.”. As followers of Jesus, we should not need our country’s upcoming legally designated Thanksgiving Day to, during every day of our lives: “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name.”.

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE SEARCH: www.AWFTL.org/bible-search/

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.

WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “To Be a Jesus Follower, You Must First Enter the Only Door to God’s Kingdom and that Door is Jesus – the Door to Eternal Life”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/

DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB