Mark 14:53-72
The mob brought Jesus from the Mount of Olives down to the high priest. The men of authority gathered together to find or fabricate evidence that they could use to put Jesus to death. All the lies and false witnesses could not convict Jesus of anything. Through it all Jesus remained silent. False allegation after false allegation, Jesus did not say a word.
Peter had followed behind the mob and made his way into the courtyard of the high priest. There Peter stood with the guards by the fire. Just hours earlier, Peter had swore his allegiance to Jesus. Publicly, Peter declared that "Even If all fall away, I will not." Now, Jesus was on trial for His life or so it seemed. When times get tough, how close do you follow your leader? Will you stand to be falsely accused, and possibly suffer the same consequences, or will you follow from a distance, and wait to see how things play out? Jesus had even warned Peter of his upcoming unfaithfulness. Yet, Peter did not stay close enough to Jesus to remain faithful as he had declared.
Jesus did not respond to any of the false allegations, but when questioned about His identity, He declares the Truth, "I am". Jesus is the Christ, the World's Only Savior! The high priest and the men of the council could not believe their ears. Their evil hearts leaped with inner joy, for they believed that they had accomplished their mission. As they were condemning Jesus, Peter was in the courtyard being accused of being a follower of Jesus. Peter could have declared "Yes, I am", but as Jesus had said on the Mount of Olives, before the next dawn, Peter would deny Him three times.
If you have elected Christ as your Choice, then you have declared to the world that "I am a Christian". But, how many times a day do we deny Christ to the people we encounter? Maybe not in words, but in deeds. How do we react when someone falsely accuses us? How do we treat others when they disappoint us and violate our trust? When driving down the street do we cut other people off, or get angry when others do the same to us? At work, do we share the love of Christ, or the bitterness of a bad nights sleep? When your friends are planning a wild night out, do you join in, or just listen? When everyone wants to go to the strip club after work, how do you respond?
We deny Christ every time we fail to act Christ-like.
Every time we fail to stand up for Christ we deny Him and His existence in our lives.
WHEN I REALIZED HOW MANY TIMES I'VE DENIED JESUS, I JUST FELL DOWN AND WEPT LIKE PETER.
After the resurrection, Jesus reveals Himself to the disciples, He rebukes them for their unfaithfulness. Jesus then asks Peter three times, Do you Love Me more than these? Jesus commands Peter to feed and care for His Sheep. If you Love Christ, then you will feed and care for the lambs of God. Your past doesn't matter, Christ was crucified for the forgiveness of our sins, it's time to feed His sheep, not to shear them.
Jesus is the World's Only Savior.
J.W.O.S.
Spread the Word
Rev. Brian K. Shobe
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Too Hard to Handle?
Genesis 4:13
Cain was jealous of his brother Abel because God showed respect for Abel's offering and not his. God told Cain that if he did his very best and gave from his heart, he too could be rewarded as Abel. However, Cain choose to eliminate the competition. Cain killed his own brother; in his grief and anxiety over being rebuffed by God. Thus Cain suffered a greater judgement; to be cast from the presence of God.
Cain knew that this punishment would be both spiritual death and ultimately physical death. It seems that Cain was more fearful of the pending physical death that would result when his brethren recognized that the Spirit of God was no longer with Cain. Cain tells God that this punishment is too hard, but God only relieves him from the possibility of physical death at the hands of men. Cain's sin has resulted in spiritual death that was not reversible.
Sin causes permanent spiritual death. It is too hard for us to handle. That is why God provided Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus is the Worlds only Savior! Through Jesus Christ our spiritual death can be reversed; Accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, Repent of sin and Confess that Jesus is God's son who died on the cross, and God raised Him from the grave on the third day. The punishment for sin is too hard to handle, but not if you accept Christ as Savior.
How are you handling the criticism and chastisement from God? Are you accepting of God's correction in His Word, or are you being rebellious, arrogant and self-righteous in the face of the Truth? You do not have to live with the curse of Cain; Jesus Christ offers you a better way. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and The Life. Follow Jesus, Read God's Word daily, and make better Choices through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is Coming!
J.W.O.S.
Spread the Word!
Rev. Brian K. Shobe
Cain was jealous of his brother Abel because God showed respect for Abel's offering and not his. God told Cain that if he did his very best and gave from his heart, he too could be rewarded as Abel. However, Cain choose to eliminate the competition. Cain killed his own brother; in his grief and anxiety over being rebuffed by God. Thus Cain suffered a greater judgement; to be cast from the presence of God.
Cain knew that this punishment would be both spiritual death and ultimately physical death. It seems that Cain was more fearful of the pending physical death that would result when his brethren recognized that the Spirit of God was no longer with Cain. Cain tells God that this punishment is too hard, but God only relieves him from the possibility of physical death at the hands of men. Cain's sin has resulted in spiritual death that was not reversible.
Sin causes permanent spiritual death. It is too hard for us to handle. That is why God provided Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus is the Worlds only Savior! Through Jesus Christ our spiritual death can be reversed; Accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, Repent of sin and Confess that Jesus is God's son who died on the cross, and God raised Him from the grave on the third day. The punishment for sin is too hard to handle, but not if you accept Christ as Savior.
How are you handling the criticism and chastisement from God? Are you accepting of God's correction in His Word, or are you being rebellious, arrogant and self-righteous in the face of the Truth? You do not have to live with the curse of Cain; Jesus Christ offers you a better way. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and The Life. Follow Jesus, Read God's Word daily, and make better Choices through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is Coming!
J.W.O.S.
Spread the Word!
Rev. Brian K. Shobe
Sunday, January 01, 2012
It's too late to believe God, after His Judgement
Numbers 14:1-45
The Children of Israel didn't believe God when He said; He would bring them into the land of Promise. They grumbled against God, and threaten to overthrow Moses and Aaron by electing new leaders that would take them back to Egypt. When God tired of listening to their Grumbling, He appeared at the Tent of Meeting and spoke to Moses. God condemned the grumbling multitude to death in the desert. Upon hearing this judgment from Moses, these grumbling masses wanted to accept the first offer. But it was too late; God had already made His judgment.
If God presents a Blessing and an opportunity, take it, believe God in Faith, that He shall provide a way. Doubt is the killer of our Dreams, Blessings, and Miracles. Don't let doubt and fear destroy what God has prepared for you. Waiting to build up your courage or waiting to recognize that a lack of faith will lead you down a more destructive path is a bad strategy. God may just reserve His promises for the next generation. God did not remove or change His promise, the Children of Abraham still made it into the Land of Promise. However, the generation of grumblers, died never seeing the promise fulfilled.
Are you a member of the Generation of Promise or of the grumblers? If you are grumbling, because you're unable to see how God is going to manifest His Promises in your Life, then Just Stop Grumbling! Believe God! Turn up your Faith and Praise Him in the Midst of your Storm! God loves you, and is being patience... but one day He will say "Enough is Enough", Jesus is Coming!
Jesus is the World's Only Savior,
and He is coming back again...
J.W.O.S. Spread the Word!
Rev. Brian K. Shobe
The Children of Israel didn't believe God when He said; He would bring them into the land of Promise. They grumbled against God, and threaten to overthrow Moses and Aaron by electing new leaders that would take them back to Egypt. When God tired of listening to their Grumbling, He appeared at the Tent of Meeting and spoke to Moses. God condemned the grumbling multitude to death in the desert. Upon hearing this judgment from Moses, these grumbling masses wanted to accept the first offer. But it was too late; God had already made His judgment.
If God presents a Blessing and an opportunity, take it, believe God in Faith, that He shall provide a way. Doubt is the killer of our Dreams, Blessings, and Miracles. Don't let doubt and fear destroy what God has prepared for you. Waiting to build up your courage or waiting to recognize that a lack of faith will lead you down a more destructive path is a bad strategy. God may just reserve His promises for the next generation. God did not remove or change His promise, the Children of Abraham still made it into the Land of Promise. However, the generation of grumblers, died never seeing the promise fulfilled.
Are you a member of the Generation of Promise or of the grumblers? If you are grumbling, because you're unable to see how God is going to manifest His Promises in your Life, then Just Stop Grumbling! Believe God! Turn up your Faith and Praise Him in the Midst of your Storm! God loves you, and is being patience... but one day He will say "Enough is Enough", Jesus is Coming!
Jesus is the World's Only Savior,
and He is coming back again...
J.W.O.S. Spread the Word!
Rev. Brian K. Shobe
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