March 2004

I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:11 – 16

…the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God…

…what Christ has accomplished through me…by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit.

So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”

But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain … So after I have completed this task … I will go to Spain and visit you on the way.

Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.

I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there…

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March 14, 2004
Predictions of the Passion

Mark 14:1 – 42

Who killed Jesus? Jews? Romans? Satan? You and I?
At Bethany Jesus predicted his death 14:1 – 9

· The religious leaders planned to kill Jesus and He knew it
· A woman anointed him for burial and Jesus affirmed her

During Passover Jesus predicted his rejection 14:10 – 31

· He allowed Judas to betray him
· He announced the denial of his disciples

In Gethsemene Jesus predicted his suffering 14:32 – 42

· He called for prayer support to bear the sorrow
· He wrestled with his will to undergo the pain
· He foreshadowed this was his task alone

Jesus gave up his life voluntarily and intentionally!

The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. John 10:17,18

These predictions expose God’s purpose in the suffering of Jesus

“Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour John 12:27

For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. John 12:47

Before our world was created God announced his plan for you!

For he [God, the Father] chose us in him [the Lord Jesus Christ] before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will
Ephesians 1:4 - 5

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. I Peter 1:18 – 21

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March 21, 2004
When People Mess Up

Mark 14:43 –52, 66 -72
The suffering (passion) of our Lord shows us that even in His most difficult moments Jesus intensely loves people who blow it

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

Satan destroys evildoers (Judas)
· Satan takes advantage of your sin
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. John 12:4 - 6

Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. Luke 22:3 – 6

· Sin will always…
…take you farther than you intend to go
… cost you more than you want to pay
· Satan leads you to self destruction
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy John 10:10

When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. Matthew 27: 3- 5

The crowd sets you up for pain (Malchus)
· You will get involved in deception and violence
· You will be used and abused
· You will lose your ability to hear God
Jesus loves people who oppose Him
Love your enemies , do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you Luke 6:27 - 28

If you are caught up with the wrong crowed Jesus will heal you and restore your hearing

Jesus rebuilds broken lives (Peter)
· He sees every failure

The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Luke 27:61-62

· He sees your desire for forgiveness
But go, tell his disciples and Peter Mark 16:7

Have you fallen away from the Lord?
Jesus will take you back!
Jesus has work for you in his kingdom!

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1. It was at night
2. The use of a traitor (Judas)
3. No legal summons
4. An uncondemned man was bound

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him John 1:11

The religious trials convicted Jesus of blasphemy

1. Annas key religious leader
2. Caiaphas high priest
3. Sanhedrin religious supreme court

Post-modern people are turned off by “organized religion”
You miss what God is doing when you

“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.’” Mark 14:58

· Fail to focus on Jesus, your Savior

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus. Mark 14:61 - 62

By His silence Jesus modeled for Christians to Face our own passion with faith and dignity
The Roman trials charged Jesus with treason

… knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. Mark 15:10

· Are blind to the spiritual dimension

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” John 18:36

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. II Corinthians 4:4

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. Luke 23:8

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD Jeremiah 29:13 - 14

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 1:12 - 13