By Word Of Mouth

As we celebrated Palm Sunday and the Triumphal entry..

📖 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.  They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,    “Hosanna!”      

 “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”   “Blessed is the king of Israel!”  John 12:12-13

I had a thought....was it really triumphant?  Were the majority of those people genuine? ..real? Was it from the heart or just words from the mouth?

I have some thoughts; 

Believing that many of the people cheering for Jesus as he entered Jerusalem were the same people that days later cheered for the release of Barabbas (an insurrectionist and murderer) and demanded Jesus to be crucified.

📖 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Luke 23:20-21

How did it come to that!?

First of all, how did they know He was coming? The didn't see it posted on social media or even read it in the paper, I even doubt it was on a poster nailed to a tree.

Word Of Mouth. 

Word of mouth would have brought people out to see this man they called a king, someone to save them from the oppressive Romans.

Word of mouth about His teachings and miracles would have proceeded Him. 

Why He even claimed to be God's son!

I am sure there were those who truly knew and loved Jesus, believing who He was.

But how from a praising crowd to a condemning one in less than a week's time?

By Word Of Mouth.  

What began as whispers of blasphemy and false teachings by those who were afraid of Jesus turned an adoring crowd into an angry mob.

📖  “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. Mark 15:9-11

By Word Of Mouth information reached the religious leaders' ears about one who was willing to betray this Jesus for money.  

📖Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.  They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over. Mark 14:10-11

By Word Of Mouth Judas passed on information that would lead to the arrest of Jesus.

📖 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Mark 14:44-46

By Word Of Mouth Peter manages to spread to those around him he is not a follower of this criminal.

📖But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.  Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Matthew 26:70-74

By Word Of Mouth the crowd of people are convinced that they want Barabbas released and Jesus crucified.

📖But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.  Matthew 27:20

By Word Of Mouth the events on that hill began to spread!

The words of the thief beside Him

📖 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”  But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-

43

The darkness.

📖From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. Matthew 27:45

The anguished cry

📖 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). Matthew 27:46

The tearing of the curtain.

📖And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split... Matthew 27:50-51

and 3 days later.....

By word of mouth

HE ISN'T HERE! HE IS ALIVE!

📖 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”  So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Matthew 28:6-8

And the account has continued...by word of mouth!

Are we spreading the gospel by word of mouth?

We Must be careful what we are spreading by word of mouth.

📖 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:2-3

We MUST spread the truth of the gospel by words that proceed from our mouths.

📖 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:212-22

The best way for us to introduce others to who Jesus is.....

is by Word Of Mouth! 

🙏My prayer is that all that we speak glorifies God.  Father, I pray that we honor Him with all that comes from our mouths. That we are excited to pass on the knowledge and experience that we have about who Jesus is. About His great love for us. For His sacrifice for our sins, and His wonderous resurrection! Especially this Holy weekend ....

📖May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 

♥️

That One Thing

Mark 10 was the text used for one of the Sunday messages. As I read more of the surrounding Scriptures I was moved, inspired.

📖 17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

We know that this was to warn us about loving money and material things. Putting them ahead of everything...especially our relationship with Christ.

📖  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

But it got me thinking. What is it I am holding on to? What is that one thing I won't let go of when asked by God?

Sometimes it is material things, but what about attitudes (anger, hurt, even sorrow), or time, or even relationships.   I take these verses to say that we have to be willing to give up anything He asks of us. 

📖 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. Matthew 19:29-30

📖 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

📖 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.  Luke 9:23-24

See that?  Deny ourselves, nothing specific....for each of us it is different. What we must give up and sacrifice will be different for me or for you, and I believe different at different times. The point is that we are humble and serving God in all we do and when the time comes that we must give up or sacrifice something we are willing and ready....we don't hesitate and cling to what has possibly become too important....more important that following Him.   Did you also notice..."daily"?  We may need to deny certain things daily....as our natural instinct is to be self focused, self centered. 

Oh to be able to say;

📖 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  Galatians 2:20

As we move toward Palm Sunday and Easter week may we understand, with our hearts... our souls...not just our minds.. the sacrifice Christ made for us. 

🙏Lord I pray that we come before You humble, help us to see when we have placed more importance on something other than You and give us the desire and strength to let go and leave anything that is asked of us for Your sake. Amen♥️

🎵 I've Been Crucified With Christ

Toxic or Tonic

 A "buzz" word that we hear quite a bit these days is "toxic"  toxic relationships, toxic people, toxic associations. 

::poisonous or unpleasant substances or situations

I am not going to get into the use of the term. While I understand it's use, and the need to use wisdom and care in our relationships, I find the term and its use to be less than helpful on many occasions.

I want to come from a different direction.

It came to mind while listening to a book; a person was described as a TONIC. 

::giving a feeling of vigor or well-being; invigorating:

It is simple; I strive to be a tonic to all those I come in contact with....not toxic...

📖  With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.  Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:9-12

I want to be a balm, a breath of fresh air, a soothing mist, a refreshing spring, a calming spirit...

Just as the Lord is to us;

📖 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he refreshes my soul. Psalm 23:1-2

Jesus told us He would be just that to us;

 📖 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

In reading Romans 12 I find it sums it up for me!

📖 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

 We are a comfort to others because we have been given comfort;

📖 May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! He is the compassionate Father and God of all comfort. He’s the one who comforts us in all our trouble so that we can comfort other people who are in every kind of trouble. We offer the same comfort that we ourselves received from God.  That is because we receive so much comfort through Christ in the same way that we share so many of Christ’s sufferings. So if we have trouble, it is to bring you comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is to bring you comfort from the experience of endurance while you go through the same sufferings that we also suffer.  Our hope for you is certain, because we know that as you are partners in suffering, so also you are partners in comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (CEB)

Continue in the work of compassion and encouragement.

 📖 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

📖  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at t he proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10

🙏My payer 

📖 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. (2 Corinthians 13:9)

so that when you choose to be a tonic for someone today, you have what you need.♥️

Make Him Known

"Make Jesus Known"

The slogan for NAMB's 2024 fund raising campaign.  This past Sunday started the "week of prayer" for North American missionaries and began their annual Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.  Throughout the month we learn a bit about different missionaries that serve throughout North America. Not usually the first place that comes to mind when you think about missionaries...probably your mind goes to international missions and remote villages, in Third World countries.  

The theme video for this year said so much to me. 

One thing was the number of "unreached" people in North America. ..281 million!

Each missionary spoke about their goal, their purpose is to make Jesus known. 

What struck me, and I shared it at the end of our service....we can give money and support these missionaries in prayer....but it does NOT let US off the hook. We don't just check a box and say "there, I have supported them. Now it is up to the missionaries." 

We, each of us, have the opportunity every day to Make Jesus Known. We are missionaries too!

We can use every opportunity that God places us in to share Jesus with our words, our responses, reactions, and our choices. 

📖 “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Luke 12:8

I am grateful for those who take their lives and their families and go to the places where God calls them to serve the life of a missionary.  I am honored to support them. 

But I don't want to dishonor what they do by failing to share when and where I am able. 

📖 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:15-16

We, as followers of Christ, are called to Make Jesus Known.

📖 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

🙏 Lord Jesus I pray that we have your boldness, that it goes before each of us every day as we strive to make You known♥️

🎬 Make Jesus Known. Annie Armstrong Easter Offering