Why Our Walk With Jesus Seems So Hard Some Days

Written by Rev. Daniel Forster

“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:19)
Somehow upon receiving the freedom that comes when we accept Christ into our lives, we come up with a false notion that following Jesus is going to be easy. Because of this false notion, many folks who decide to give their lives to Christ end up returning to the life they were saved from. The enemy plants lies in their heads – that God is not with them or that the freedom they briefly experienced was not meant for them.

All we have to do is look at what Jesus faced and come to terms with the fact that we will face these things too. It is not that God is not with us, nor is His grace is unobtainable. These lies are tools used by the enemy to deceive us. There are four things I want to share with you today, that Jesus experienced and we will too.

Change Your Self-Image

Written by Terri Savelle Foy

When I was a little girl growing up in church, many times they would call all the children of the church up to the front for the guest minister to pray over. We would all be lined up waiting for the preacher to get to us and wondering what he might say. I would hear all these amazing things about the kids down the row, then I would hear the preacher say things to my sister like, "You're bold and courageous! You're a powerhouse! You're a lion!"

I would be standing there just waiting to hear what awesome things he might say over me. Suddenly, he'd get to me and his voice would become very soft and he'd almost whisper, "And you're just precious! You're a little sweetheart. You're a peacemaker and a little lamb." I thought, "That's not fair! I want to be the lion!"

Family Problems : Cain And Abel

Scripture Passage   :   Genesis 4:1-12

INTRODUCTION: Many families have problems with one member turning against another. This is the direct result of the coming of sin into the world. These problems began with the first family and they continue to this day. In fact, Jesus prophesied that a man’s foes would often be those of his own household (Matthew 10:34-36).

1. THE PROMISE OF A SEED (Genesis 3:15
   )
1. The Judgment for Sin was Great
2. But God Promised a Seed of a Woman that would Defeat Satan
2. THE BIRTH OF TWO BROTHERS (Genesis 4:1-2[1] And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.[2] And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.)
1. Eve Bore Cain and Abel
2. She Evidently Thought Cain was the Chosen Seed – “I have gotten a man from the LORD”
3. THE LIFE OF THE BROTHERS (Genesis 4:2
   )
1. Abel was a Keeper of Sheep
2. Cain was a Tiller of the Ground
3. Application: Family interests are varied. It is best to help children follow after occupations that fit their interests and abilities, for these are from the Lord.
4. THE OFFERINGS OF THE BROTHERS (Genesis 4:3-5)
1. Cain Brought an Offering
1. Of the fruit of his labors (Genesis 4:3
   )
2. The Lord did not respect his offering (Genesis 4:5
   )
2. Abel Brought an Offering (Genesis 4:4
   )
1. Of his flock of sheep
1. Of the firstlings
2. Of the fat
2. The Lord had respect unto his offering
3. Note: although we are not specifically told here, God usually showed His pleasure (respect) for an offering by sending fire from heaven to consume it. This probably happened with Abel’s offering but not with Cain’s.
4. Note: here we find that Cain and Abel were not only separated by interests and occupations, but also by spiritual perception. This often happens in families and is one of the most difficult problems in families.
5. THE HEART OF CAIN (Genesis 4:5-7)
1. He Did Not Repent of his Sin
2. He Blamed Others for his Rejection
1. He blamed God
2. He blamed Abel
3. He Rejected the Warning of the Lord (Genesis 4:7
   )
1. Well-doing will be accepted
2. Rebellion puts sin in charge
3. Obedience gives strength and authority (probably a reference to Abel)
1. His desire will submit to you
2. You will rule over him
6. THE HATRED OF CAIN (Genesis 4:8-9)
1. Cain Confronted his Brother (Genesis 4:8
   )
2. Cain Killed his Brother (Genesis 4:8
   )
3. Cain Denied Responsibility for his Brother (Genesis 4:9
   )
7. THE PUNISHMENT OF CAIN (Genesis 4:10-12)
1. He Bore the Guilt of his Brother’s Blood (Genesis 4:10
   )
2. He Could Not Pursue his Occupation (Genesis 4:11
   )
3. He Could Not Live in his Home Town (Genesis 4:12
   )
8. THE REPLACEMENT OF CAIN (Genesis 4:25-26)
1. God Gave Seth to Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:25
   )
2. Seth Replaced Abel who was Killed (Genesis 4:26
   )
3. Note: tragedies will occur in our families, but those who trust in the Lord and follow Him will be rewarded. Even Abel was used of God to give us a great message of truth (Hebrews 11:4
   ).

CONCLUSION: We are to love our family members and seek to lead them to the Lord. However, we are not told that they will understand our devotion to the Lord or that they will support our service to Him. However, God will give us new family in the Lord (Matthew 12:47-49; Ephesians 3:15
). We can serve with them while we continue to love our physical family.

David Reagan

http://www.learnthebible.org/sermon-outlines/family-problems.html

Gethsemane: The Traitor's Kiss

Dr. Ray Pritchard

“Jesus asked him, ’Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?’” (Luke 22:48).

When we study the four gospels, we find a remarkable series of facts about Judas:
He was personally chosen to be an apostle by Jesus Christ.
He forsook all to follow the Lord.
He spent 3 1/2 years traveling the length and breadth of Israel with Christ.
He saw the miracles of Christ in person.
He heard Christ give all his famous discourses.
He watched as Christ healed the sick, raised the dead, and cast out demons.
He, along with the other apostles, was sent out to preach the gospel.
He was one of the leaders of the apostolic band.
No one ever suspected him of treason.

That’s what makes his story so perplexing. What would make a man follow Jesus so closely for so long and then betray him at the end? The Bible itself gives us some tantalizing hints but no final answer to that question. We don’t know all that motivated Judas to go to the Jewish leaders with his evil plan. Was it envy? Was it disappointment? Was it misplaced patriotism? Was it greed? Was it some backhanded attempt to force Jesus to lead a revolution against Rome?

Perhaps the motives in his heart were as mixed as ours often are.

In the end the only thing that matters is that he betrayed Jesus. For that one act his name will live forever in infamy.

What he did, I could do. If I think otherwise, then I have missed the point of this story. Judas is a lot like us and we’re a lot like him. In fact, the more religious we are, the more like Judas we are. After all, you can’t get much more religious than being an apostle. He was as “in” as any person could ever be.

And yet he betrayed the Lord.

The story of Judas is in the Bible for many reasons, not the least of which is that before we take anything for granted, we should at least ask the question the other apostles asked that fateful night:

“Lord, is it I?”

Search me, Lord Jesus, and see if there be any Judas in me. Would I betray you, Lord? Reveal the truth and then heal my soul lest I for thirty pieces of silver should betray you again. Amen.

 

You can reach the author at ray@keepbelieving.com. Click here to sign up for the free email sermon.

About Dr. Ray Pritchard

Dr. Ray Pritchard is the president of Keep Believing Ministries, in Internet-based ministry serving Christians in 225 countries. He is the author of 27 books, including Stealth Attack, Fire and Rain, Credo, The Healing Power of Forgiveness, An Anchor for the Soul and Why Did This Happen to Me? Ray and Marlene, his wife of 37 years, have three sons-Josh, Mark and Nick, two daughters-in-law--Leah and Vanessa, and two grandsons--Knox and Eli. His hobbies include biking, surfing the Internet, and anything related to the Civil War.

http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/dr-ray-pritchard/gethsemane-the-traitors-kiss.html