October 2021 – Page 3 of 3 – Sonshine's Journal

October 7, 2021October 7, 2021

“Who Does He Think He Is?”

If you want to know who Jesus is; pay attention

Mark 2 If you want to know who this Jesus is, pay close attention, for time is of the essence.

Join Jesus as he teaches and where pious religious leaders, who know the Torah backward and forwards, come to find out who this man is. Outwardly, they are polite, but their heart chastises Jesus with this question: “who can forgive sins but God alone?” Forgiveness followed by healing should have answered their question that Jesus is God in the flesh who can do both.

Immediately, Jesus removes himself from the crowded home to the seaside where he could teach unencumbered by their stares. He encounters Levi, the tax collector whose heart is prepared, and he steps out of his comfort zone to “immediately” follow Jesus. He invites his tax collectors and sinners to a feast at which the Pharisees mingle so they can ask why Jesus doesn’t follow protocol about fasting.

The following Sabbath, these same outwardly religious leaders tag along through a grain field. They challenge his ideas about the Sabbath, to which Jesus replied, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” [Mark 2:27]

Jesus saw to the heart of the matter: The religious leaders wanted to justify their rules; Levi wanted righteousness.

Which do you want?

October 6, 2021October 6, 2021

Three People, Three Responses

John 2 to 4: John reveals Jesus as the Lamb of God, a teacher who came from God, and God incarnate; the “I AM.” Jesus is the author of signs and miracles by changing water into wine, explaining the Spirit of God as the breath of God is and the healing work of the living water. In each one, an individual comes face to face with the Messiah.

Although the wine steward does not know what has transpired behind the scene of the wedding festivities, he marvels that it is the best wine. He is perplexed but never asks why or how. He is the person who sees the evidence but walks away unchanged and uncaring. Jesus asks Nicodemus why he doesn’t understand the spiritual principle of being born again. As the Teacher of Israel, he is perplexed but boldly asks how a person can be born again, yet leaves as he came. The Samaritan woman challenges Jesus about water but learns that there are two kinds of water; physical water that refreshes for a moment and living water that refreshes over and over and over. She is perplexed but leaves her water pot, returns to the village, and announces that Christ has told her everything she ever did.

The woman at the well is a picture of the new believer whose heart is changed and seeks to tell others about that change. Three people, three responses but only one was an instrument of a changed life, the woman at the well. Which one are you?

October 5, 2021October 5, 2021

Not Today Satan!

John 1:15-51; Matthew 4; Luke 4-5 John provided the way, and the crowds flocked because their hearts were hungry to learn and to be forgiven. The religious leaders sent a delegation to ask who he was. He responded: “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” Further, he said: “I myself have seen, and have testified that this Jesus is the Son of God.”

After this, the evil one transgressed this scene and provided a powerful teaching lesson, so we might ask: Who is the real deliverer and promise keeper? Satan seeks to test our faithfulness to God by providing a condition by which we can be “blessed or delivered.” It is always “if” you will do thus and so. Learn from Jesus how to respond; resist him, use words of scripture and he will flee. Just say, not today Satan!

Beware of Satan’s ploys for success. Jesus never says “if” you do thus and so. Jesus says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” and follow Him. That is the path to success!

Say yes to Jesus and no to Satan. Who are you following?

October 4, 2021October 4, 2021

John the Baptist…

Mark 1; Luke 3; Matthew 3 The Traits of a True Servant of God

The prophets Isaiah and Malachi prophesied that God would open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing to his people in due season. John the Baptist was that blessing that came in the form of the true servant, humble and announcing that the kingdom of God/Heaven was now before the people and the nation. He challenged the status quo, challenged the hearts to repent of what Malachi called the false righteousness of works, and challenged the religious establishment. He knew he was not the Messiah and proclaimed as such to the religious leaders when asked. He pricked the hearts and many yielded to the message of the gospel. He obeyed the Law and yet challenged men to listen to the heart of God.

The mark of a faithful and true servant is that they do not take center stage, usurping the main speaker. John was that chosen one who offered to do the work of the ministry serving expecting nothing in return but God’s blessing. Jesus summarized his work and life: “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” [Matt 11:11] “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” [Matt 11:15]

Is this how we serve?

October 3, 2021October 3, 2021

Following the Dream

Matthew 2; Luke 2:39-52 Sometimes God speaks to us in a dream as he did with Joseph of Genesis and Joseph, the husband of Mary here in Matthew. First, when Joseph hears of Mary’s pregnancy, the angel of the Lord comes to Joseph in a dream to not fear but “arise” and take Mary to be his wife and call the child Jesus for he will save his people from their sins. The second time, the angel of the Lord comes to Joseph in a dream and tells him to “arise” and flee to Egypt for Herod seeks to destroy him. The third time, an angel again comes to Joseph and speaks to him, “arise” and take the young child and his mother back to Israel, for those who seek to destroy him are dead. The fourth time, an angel again speaks to Joseph in a dream, warning him to not go to Jerusalem but to go to Nazareth so that the words of the prophets would be fulfilled; he shall be called a Nazarene.

It was in Nazareth that Jesus grew in favor with God and man. It was Nathaniel that questioned, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” [Jn 1:46] and responded: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel!” [Jn 1:49]

When God speaks, whether from the Word or a dream, do we obey as Joseph did?

Do we echo the words of Nathaniel when we come face to face with Him?

October 2, 2021October 2, 2021

Immanuel!

Matt 1 and Luke 2:1-38 The 400 yrs. of silence have ended, and God’s plan is revealed through the gospel writers of Matthew, the Jewish publican, and Luke, the Gentile physician. Also, that we might know and believe, Paul the Pharisee turned Believer, wrote: Gal 4:4 “But when the appropriate time/the appointed time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,” Both Matthew and Luke record the events surrounding our Savior’s birth, but long ago in eternity past, God’s plan was set in motion. He sent forth his Son born of a virgin to fulfill the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” [Is 7:14]

John the Baptist prepared the way by preaching a message of repentance and noted that Jesus was the Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world. [John 1:35] Jesus is that perfect Lamb. John, the Apostle, records what that message was and is: 1Jo 4:10 In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Do you know Him?

October 1, 2021October 1, 2021

God’s Silence is Broken—a Message of Hope!

“Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.” [2Tim 3:16, 17]

Luke 1 and John 1:1-14 It has been 400 yrs. of silence since heaven spoke, yet in His perfect time; God spoke again that the people might know that His plan was still effectual and present, perfectly time just for you!

Years before Luke and John wrote, the prophet Zechariah had seen eight visions for a discouraged people to remind them that His love was everlasting and why He had been faithful to them. [Jer. 31:3] Fast forward 400 yrs., and God sends another message of love and plan to a discouraged people through a priest named (ironically) Zechariah as he ministered at the altar of incense. This Zechariah listens but questions, unlike the prophet Zechariah of 400 yrs. ago! Gabriel, the angelic messenger, says that you will be silent because you did not believe until God’s plan comes to pass.

Do we question God’s plan when we hear His voice? Beloved, God loves so much that His plan is perfect, and His timing is perfect and He sends His message of love to you who may be discouraged today.