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Weston Lundgren. No Way Out is part of the Life Application Teaching series form Dr. Randall Smith's sermons recorded in his church in Sebring Florida. They are about attitude and they are intentional. is the story of a man who felt himself to be a pawn in life a man with few something makes sense to us, it must be what God truly desires. for those who were ritually cleansed. 5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. He selected events to help us truly see, believe and have life. Key Principle: Believers arent called to solve problems for Jesus, but to invite Jesus to become their solution. Not to mention, people really dont know how to react or treat you when, well you know, you have no eyelashes, eyebrows, head hair, and just look like a freak. In short, the hills around Bethlehem were home to the hundreds of lambs used in ritual worship in the Temple. That same path in reverse direction is a mere five and one quarter to five and one half hours journey (because it drops downhill). Check social media profiles, photos and videos, places of employment, public records, resumes and CV, arrest records, business records, memorials and work history . minds the details of how He got there, Here is the point: Jesus said the standard for His followers was His Word, set properly in its context and filled out with the principles behind what was written. That was a display of the worst of religion at work. The central issue isnt about who is right at all. this. It wont be our service alone, because we can put on a show. Galilee region by that time. Dont stumble over it! After the cessation of blood and required time of waiting, a woman and her child would perform the necessary rituals of purification to be ceremonially clean and return to the household with the rest of the family. His account gave selected events with a specific stated purpose that he included near the end of the work. brought a woman who was caught in the act of committing adultery. The truth is that my senses are limited and can produce a faulty conclusion. Set in this context are the four instructions of the chapter. Dont miss that Jesus offered three witnesses to His identity and veracity: The If you take the time to read the remaining part of what John recalled from Jesuss words that day, you will see several important truths about being a people of faith and not a people dominated with a religious spirit. Next Sunday, the entire family was there in the front pew, dressed and sparkling. 5 No eye looked with pity on you to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you. The text is clear the man encountered his slaves the next day. How could this be? They clean every room in the house and get ready to remove all chametz from the place. The title of our series exposes the simplest part of the idea: What Jesus did, but it doesnt offer the richness of the texture to what we are going to deep dive into. Leaky faucets are minor league stuff to Him. Constant stimulation has made us hunger for more constant stimulation. When she asked if I had any questions, I fought the urge to spit out, Have you ever thought of using an umlaut with your name?. They were hilarious, talented and worked like a well-oiled basketball playing (and sometimes goofing off) machine. is the word sent or caught and refers to the water of the Gihon Spring Clients expect faster response time, and it is hard to maintain a true sense of what really matters over what seems urgent right now. Inviting Jesus into what we think we have mastered and become good at is a necessary part of daily inviting the Savior to lead us. When asked why she did it, she replied, My church taught me to love people., I am hoping we are teaching that too. He had no desire to amend or retire Since wedding feasts were often seven day events, John may have recalled that Jesus and the disciples (who were in fact invited) didnt get there until the end of the week long feast. 3 In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters; 4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.] I read those words, Jesus sounds down or feeling persecuted. Do you take it Cf. There is a tendency in many of us as we mature to believe we have been placed in the lives of others as Gods interpreter of Law. (Romans 13:1) From the original call of man in the Garden, ruling and ordering were part of what God wanted man to accomplish. Romans 14:13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine thisnot to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brothers way. What I know is that it is an impulse that must be fought when I am with other people. When you read the nobleman had to lower himself to seek help from a humble Jewish villager and itinerant preacher, dont forget this truth: There is no home into which sickness and sorrow cannot enter and when it does it reduces our man-made social divisions. Look for a moment at the opening of Matthews Gospel. Rather, he climbed the steep path some twenty miles from Capernaum to Cana. Jesus needed no plan from His disciples to do the Fathers work only submission to His direction. Today, we want to return to a discussion from Romans about living out our faith together. Without skipping a heartbeat he said, Oh, Mary, [cough, gulp], I am so sorry. Add to that, many of the followers of the God of Abraham could be found to living quite differently than the ideals they taught. The phrase no room in the inn gave rise to the idea the couple was stuck in an animal stable as a last resort to give birth , but that is a merely implied in the English reading. The matter is speculative, and though it could conceivably have been part of the events of Luke 2, it is worth noting the shepherds appear to have been outside Bethlehem and came INTO the village to find the baby. Jesus first allegiance is to the plan of God, not to our intermediate comfort. Yet, Jesus made clear He didnt come to uproot the Law. Lambs could also be used for burnt offerings (Oleh dedicatory offerings). "Matt is a real find. A blind man The shepherds were probably educated in keeping the animals from hurt, damage or blemish. The text also reminds us that people of faith follow Gods Word closely, and must always be careful not to equate their preferences and deductions as equal to GODS STANDARD. The big idea of the text is this. Giving sight to a man born blind at the Siloam Pool in Jerusalem (John 9:1-7). It is hiding in guilt and isolation from God, because you dont want to stop doing what you are doing. He said it this way: Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine thisnot to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brothers way. | The Wall Street Journal. Key Principle: In Biblical terms, I dont go to Heaven, we do. It includes separating ourselves from pandering to our physical wants and desires apart from an intimate walk with Jesus. God wasnt creating anymore, but He wasnt completely passive either. We will take more time here, but dont miss the key points. That isnt a judgment call it is simple sin. They The Gospel according to Matthew followed the saga of Jesus pressing against the political power machine, the confused religious establishment and the raw demonic attacks as the light of truth pushed into a well-fortified castle of darkness. He taught: The story recorded in Johns Gospel (4:46-54) is a profound and yet simple story but it requires you know something of the geography of where Jesus lived and traveled. Buy DVD. Dont deliberately do what will offend and hurt them, because it hinders their walk. Key Principle: Believers have to learn how to stay in our assigned lane of conscience while we offer great care to others around us. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. The man knew what caused the problem we dont need to know. Yet, I kept asking, Is that really what God intended me to do? Is faith a last refuge, a cop out for things that Christians dont know or havent searched out? If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. John 5:14). Design requires a designer in every area I can grasp. Randall B Smith, 80. He reserved the right to know before the Father WHEN He should reveal Sunrise helps ease pain. We fire back at people when we arent Jesus centered, but feel the need to protect our own weakness. What does faith really mean in a time like ours? In the story of the water into wine at Cana (found in John 2), we saw that Jesus transforms what is yielded to Him for His use. Obviously, Paul argues that believers are to keep a ledger clear of debt as much as is possible, but recognize there is one part of the ledger that can never be clear: the part concerning our love. Scholars debate whether the reference of Migdal Eder the Tower of the Flock' referred to a specific tower in the area (not archaeologically identified but widely thought to have existed) or a more common feature of the landscape of the Judean wilderness near to Bethlehem (a common watchtower, the foundations of many of which still exist in the area). Because of the stir, It comes down to active choices. The separation anxiety many believers feel is from God. Jesus question included HIMSELF. In that case, Jesus isnt one of many paths, He is THE WAY. 8 And He said to them, Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter. So they took it to him. Sadducees (who I will experience the delight of one-ness with God. The females are [considered] peace offerings. Email. She was born on October 10, 1947 to Joseph. Paul claimed that ACTIONS AND BEHAVIORS could show the reality of a persons true walk with God. We are all wrestling dragons of our own making. Jesus, but holding back in recognition the great day of the feast could not be It was only then he could truly say he was no longer blind. I suspect posts would have highlighted concerns, and perhaps even voices of outrage at the following realities: Economic Inequity: The world seemed very economically divided between those who possessed the best things this life could offer and those who had hardly enough to survive, or were living paycheck to paycheck. The man became INVISIBLE once AGAIN. Jesus said Gods real intent was to keep our eyes from roving and our thoughts from fantasizing about physical rendezvous with another that was not our spouse. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. They want to walk daily and deeply with God. Jesus Clearly the man expressed he had NO ONE, but was able to obey Jesus ON HIS OWN. It shouldnt surprise us to know that Jesus knew what He was looking for in a follower. Gospel students will recall the fact that the tamiyd was sacrificed the third hour every morning, and Marks Gospel recalled that was the same time Jesus was Crucified (Mark 15:25, Mishnah: Tamid 3:7). We learn how to build an image that isnt whole: We construct avatars and selective profiles, and many wrestle with how to say enough to be included in the conversation and judged an interesting person. Many who respond arent the people we were intentionally addressing. If that is you, drop the pretense and remember that you will give a report to Jesus concerning that thing. 10/9/2022 6:22 AM. Is that a fair characterization? This second set of practices focused on the temptation we all have to operate life apart from resting in Gods power. Some things are to be increasingly evident: My Christ-like thinking will cause me to focus on fulfilling the desires of my Father and enable me to put my hungers behind His desires. We are zealous for freedom, but we are weak in our worship of God. Our following of Jesus will show up in the inner attitudes of the heart that we know we wont let go, and let God change. At the same time, he acknowledged that God gave each believer His own Spirit, and is willing to work within each of us to convict of sin, direct in lifestyle and work with each of us over the long haul of life. Key Principle: How we see Jesus determines our ability to discern the truth. 5. Rich and powerful break down just like poor and needy when sickness strikes and death nears. True faith requires of us a change. I change my behavior. We are going to look at the evidence of what Jesus DID to offer testimony and substance to what He claimed about Himself. I admit driving on the other side of the road is a bit of a challenge, so I insisted we get an automatic. to do and when He intends to do it, and is fully able to deal with the tension of not pleasing even a follower in the immediate He wrote: Each year as we approach Christmas and Easter, we are inevitably greeted at magazine racks by news journals trumpeting the latest scholarship on the historical Jesus. The fact that very little of what appears ever has lasting scholarly value seems of little concern to the journals in question. Sometimes, it even takes time to find out if the surrender is real: A young woman had become critically ill and her prognosis was grim; she would likely die within the year. Will they refuse a good restaurant for lunch and go home to eat bread, drink water and send the money they would have spent to missionaries? Christianity isnt an individual thing it is a team thing. We pale in comparison to His importance, and He did it willingly for us, and for the glory of His Father. If we dont get the proper order, WE feel like we are blocking up the assembly line of food orders. 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. If you DO know Him as Savior, you have tasted of the sweetness of His ability to transform your life. Some believe that the ethical commands of the Bible are license to do become the judge of everyone around them. 4:12-17), and mayb e a third word Disciples at the point in the text where He gathered close companions (Mt. The end of the text calls for us to deliberately change our appearance. 7 reminds us that Jesus was well-regarded and had become quite popular in the You see, ball hogs dont trust the team. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. We feel the guilt of being bored with a time to reflect, pray and hopefully even think deeply about our lives and our Savior. Leaders were seething but(for the If these proceedings have shown us anything, they clarified a weakness in teaching people to distinguish between deeply held gut-level opinion and carefully cross-checked evidence. There is no prize to the guy who finishes eating first at the banquet. As I rode the rapids toward my bone marrow transplant, I could not get over the sheer comedy that comes from trying to live a typical life in such an atypical way. It all depends on how you see Jesus. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to the use of that data. Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. Yet, if you keep reading, it was outside the John can have his monthly cigar. Genesis 1:1-2:3 offered the story of the seven days and the Sabbath. In 2:2-3 God stopped his creative labors, but He continued to maintain the life of the creation He built. I am a Pennsylvania native and quick to correct the pronunciation of Lancaster. Remember, they were revealed to offer long life, security, and propriety as He wants to change what comes out of the faucet, not merely stop its leak. He was a graduate of Troup High School. The Law appeared to say you were not in violation as long as they were still breathing but that wasnt the point of what God intended. Groups are a great place to start. Do you want to have no fear of authority? How should we handle other believers with whom we may fundamentally disagree on some life practice? The simple fact is that we live for Jesus, not for self. That was the time of this story. Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. maintained if they acted on their angry emotion. Venice, FL (34285) Today. The point is, the issues of consumption and celebration were not issues of debate when the text of Scripture was clear. Jesus giving sight to a man born blind at the Siloam If you want people to trust Jesus as their Savior, perhaps hanging a lamp of your own trust is the best place to start. That one is still just plain water. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. There is an indication in verse one and two that Mary was already at the feast, at the time when Jesus and His disciples arrived on the third day. They were in the place east of the Jordan Rivers entrance, north of the Sea of Galilee, where no kosher delis could be found. As a Long Island gal, Billy Joels River of Dreams seemed to be the sound track of my life during that time. For them, the Jesus called the man to take responsibility for his own life, and follow Jesus. would be a significant backlash in the world around Him. Since the beginning, God has instructed His people to be generous. Boy, was he getting his eyes opened! As he began his ascent toward the Canadian shore, he paused, steadied the balancing pole and suddenly executed a back somersault. Jesus, who is Lord of the Sabbath, claimed that He had the right to make the man carry his things, since God ALWAYS WORKED on Sabbath (5:17-18). He has the power to do it, and the expectation that you will let Him. The man kept his claims simple and based on Paul actually claims that people who truly have Jesus as their Savior make choices to walk a different path than they had when they came to Christ. It begins when I admit my need. They asked a question that showed how deep an impact the Randy studied in Jerusalem & holds degrees in Near East Archaeology & a Doctorate in Comparative Religion from Conservative Theological Seminary. How much does it cost? We can't thank Randall D. Smith and Dottie Smith enough for how they have served and led this congregation. In some ways, even the most disciplined and mature believers among us spend far more time providing for the flesh in daily life than for the real world the spiritual one. I dont smoke them and I dont like them. They heard You shall not commit murder but Jesus argued that His original intent was not to limit the scope of harm to a knife or a club, but to include murder by mouth and other kinds of wounds to the heart. recalls how people reacted to the work of Jesus. afterlife, they reasoned that God needed to settle all things in this life (at When I walk by faith, I walk in the light of His Word and see the world as He proclaims it to be. In this metaphor, Jesus is One you can put on like you would put on new clothing. . Dr. Randall Smith is a respected Bible teacher who has lived and worked in the places of the Bible for more than a quarter of his Life. The simple call of the believer is to put on Jesus and peel off self. In a sense, the weak were a GIFT to the strong because they forced the strong to slow down and help others who cant get over the wall without assistance. We are not to withhold our deliberate action to meet the needs of those around us, without the expectation of any specific return on our action. We dont see everything the same way, and we shouldnt expect to. Maybe you believe something strongly, but the other person doesnt. Believers are to bring Heaven into the room, not try to sneak darkness into Heaven when they go. A relationship of following edicts is not intimate; it is sterile. They assumed that anyone who didnt keep Sabbath just wasnt willing to give it all to Jesus. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. Toss enough slop around a room carelessly and the whole room will end up covered and they did. If you listen closely, you can hear the optimism in his words. A third possibility should be mentioned, because there is a reference in the (Apocryphal) Wisdom of Solomon 7:3-6 that may relate the identification of this cloth to the royal line of David. Dont let your testimony take a beating out of your own carelessness. When we consider what we are compared to Who He is, we see it clearly. 1:18-25) and add in your margin or mind the word Miracle. It took Divine intervention to bring a child to a womb without a father, but God knows how to make an entrance and enjoys dropping surprises into His story. At the heart of the issue are accusations from decades past, and deep concerns of many who, in unrelated personal stories, have sadly faced criminal abuse in their lives that was not resolved justly. Past Sunday the first morning message was preached by a guest speaker, Dr. Randall Smith. 32 Since the beginning of time it has never been Clearly, Bethlehem is a village associated with the care of Temple lambs. He included three truths about the man Jesus encountered: The man was sick for a long time (5:5). is notable the men drew her past the outer doors that were normally reserved We struggle to find new ways to keep people engaged. of judgment. We have a lot to say when someone sins. I will know peace. In his spare time he studies art, literature, and designs travel itineraries. Here is the truth: Believers must not embrace civil authority and then feel justified starving its ability to collect revenue necessary to perform its vital civil tasks. Consider Marys story for a moment. This is the sadness of living in a world of relative values presented by the teachers of situational ethics. They ask, Is the man really wrong for stealing if he and his family are starving? The problem with implying that wrong isnt wrong in these circumstances is it leaves out the power of God! Law when parsing the difficult portions!). Ninety-nine percent of the things you believe are believed on authority The ordinary person believes in the solar system, atoms, and the circulation of the blood on authoritybecause the scientists say so. will unpack that from the Gospel of John in a few moments. The bottom line is that Jesus took His followers to a place that was uncomfortable, and didnt seem to have all they would need. Once seated, I looked at her navy blue monogrammed name that was embroidered on her crisp white doctors coat Dr. Maggot. This idea leads right into the second instruction. Religion is about making people conform to what you believe they ought to be. startling truth. Here is the key: I truly believe Gods Word only when I accept the Word as it is stated and change my life to conform to what it says I should do and become. Even believers are tempted to light up the phone line when moral failure is apparent, but what about when their insecurities are displayed before. The hardest part of the driving were the one hundred and fifty roundabouts (or circles), because the driver must access them in the opposite direction from what we do here. Crowds surrounded him, but few ever saw or acknowledged him. In a time when church and faith seem to be in decline, Gods work in our midst is just getting started. Himself to the crowds. I walk quickly, I eat quickly I live like I am in some kind of race to accomplish more. With the pictures of his son playing like a video loop in his mind, the man cared little about any humiliation of asking for help, nor was he fixed on any social difference in status between Jesus and himself. The final set of teachings show our confidence must be in Gods power, not ours. How can I cast off sins hold on my life as a follower of Jesus? We talk about spending hours on email, but we, too, are being spent.. Second, the time of the healing was given. Then how does he now see? 20 His parents answered them John 6:4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. I keep picturing in my head a musical praise interlude. amount of truth I do not understand and my often ignored inner desire to Other formats: Paperback. wine crisis, and He declared, It isnt yet my time!, Second, it is clear Jesus knew when He was revealed, there It is our walk with Him that gets too little attention. Remember, that is the fallacy of What would Jesus do? You and I arent called to do what Jesus did, but rather what Jesus instructed US to do. We have found 71 people in the UK with the name Randall-smith. regrets and our shame. Jesus had no desire to render the Law void, neither by keeping it and thereby retiring it nor by cancelling it. We wont know for sure (this side of eternity) what happened long ago between these people (if anything) by the methods used in this process. Attempted to explain why many are leaving the American church. It opened with notes about The Setting (John 5:1-7). That is what we need to talk about. The man replied, Once that preacher got in the wagon those mules couldnt understand a word I said!. The marriage will be labeled a disgrace, and there could well be a lasting social stigma on the couple and even the children of that union. What does Paul mean by make no provision for the flesh then? That is the point of John 5:19. Faith, in essence, is the absolute trust that the world is not how it appears, but how God says it operates in His Word. This included paying taxes into a system that used the money for purposes we wouldnt individually agree to as believers. He understood the play. He wanted them to know what Jesus said (so he included seven I Am sayings of Jesus in the work) and he wanted them to grapple with what Jesus DID (so he included seven miracles of Jesus) as well. Textually, this action was taken, according to the angel of the Lord, to be a sign to the shepherds. Romans 14:10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Jesus didnt offer them INFORMATION on where to get more wine. They cared about their world, but they were much more invested in holding onto their place than standing firmly on big issues since those who stood on principle often ended up floating in the Tiber River. It may regard how one looks at a Baroque nude sculpture of Gian Lorenzo Bernini in an art museum, but it certainly isnt about porn. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Jesus spent time with the Father and taught His disciples to spend time with Him in prayer. At that time, Jesus headed with some followers to Jerusalem. Besides the time we get with him, he teaches more than half of the year in the places where Biblical events unfolded. The problem was not their obedience to that command; it was the application to others who did not come to Christ from the same background. We assume John cut off the unnecessary parts of the interaction, but it is interesting he included Jesus objection. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. The previously disclosed Word of God (cp. The YouTube teaching series titled One Hour. I think that may affect believers who have been fully marinated in American juices when they attempt to meaningfully stop for an hour on Sunday morning at church and worship.