The Faith of Friends: Matthew 9:1-8

Posted on by shannonrainwater
Today’s Reading; Matthew 9:1-8
Have you ever seen the commercial that shows people seeing the good deeds of another person then doing one themselves? One person sees another open the door for a mother that has her hands full. Then that person pick up something that was dropped by another. Then so on and so on.
Jesus finishes His trip across the sea and ended up into His own town. First thing that happens is a group of people carrying their friend stops Him him and scripture doesn’t record them saying anything. In parallel gospels they record that the friends went so far as to tear the roof up and lowered the man.
Matthew writes that Jesus saw the faith of the FRIENDS. Not anything about the paralytic. What we can learn in that we must realize that our faith or lack of faith has an impact upon the lives of others.

Know Jesus or No Jesus: Matthew 8:28-34

Posted on by shannonrainwater

Today’s Reading: Matthew 8:28-34

If Jesus were to pass you by in your normal life would you recognize Him? I mean if you were at work and Jesus is walking around in the background, you catch eyes with Him and He waves, would you know that it was Jesus at all? Chances are probably not. You couldn’t know that it was He if you never met in person. Our passage today accounts of two demon possessed men that recognized Jesus for exactly who He is. “What do You have to do with us, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” They called Him “Son of God”! They know exactly WHO He is! and they tremble at the thought of the coming Judgement.
If the demons know and tremble so much how much more should we? What if we were given a choice to follow Him or face the same Judgement? That’s right! We do have a choice. But it is much more than recognizing who Jesus is. It is following Him and making Him our Savoir by accepting His sacrifice for our sins. The demons do not have this offer of grace, hence they reason they tremble. They know Him just like we know Him but do not follow.
Have you you made this decision? You can know all there is to know about Jesus and be like the demons OR you can intimately KNOW Him! If you have not please do not hesitate to make this commitment now.
If you have made this commitment then who have told?

The Only True Airbender: Matthew 8:22-27

Posted on by shannonrainwater

Today’s Reading: Matthew 8:22-27

Ok, so I admit I like watching Blackbelt Theater. IF you don’t know what it is, it is basically Chinese made movies that have kung-fu and a fantasy type story-line. These were quite popular during the 70’s and early 80’s. More recently, a movie called “The Last Air-bender” was out in theaters. It is about a boy who could manipulate air but supposedly could also manipulate water, fire, and earth as well. The story goes that the fire-country was taking over and this boy was still learning how to move water. I will not spoil the ending for you if you decide to watch it.
In today’s passage, we pick up from yesterday and remember that Jesus was getting into a boat to escape the crowds that was forming around Him. A short time after that He goes to a part of the boat and starts to take a nap. Well, just then a storm rises up which was common in this area and it was tossing the boat around quite violently. Get this… the disciples had to WAKE HIM UP!!! During my time in the Navy, I took a cruise on a Amphibious Assault ship and sailed the North Atlantic. It too is known for high waves sometimes up to 50ft. Unlike Jesus, I was awake through the night for fear of my life. I could relate to the disciples very much. They were scared for their lives and were a little irritated that Jesus was still sleeping.
Then there is Jesus’ reaction. “Why are you fearful, you of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm.” He was still trying to teach them how to have faith. Even after this the disciples were amazed at His power and said “What kind of man is this?—even the winds and the sea obey Him!”
We go through bad times in our life and we can call our storms. Sometimes we go through them but we can be assured that Jesus is still with us. Think about this; there were other boats in the area that could easily set sail and get close to Jesus. Maybe He sent the storm to get away for a while to get some rest?
The bigger point and application is this. Sometimes Jesus sends storms in our lives so that our faith could grow. The disciples has the Creator of EVERYTHING in the boat and they still felt like they were going to die. When they saw Jesus speak to the wind and waves and they obeyed they got a glimpse of the stories of their own heritage when Moses spread his arms to split the Red Sea to allow the deliverance of the nation of Israel. That same power that separated the seas was the same power that calmed the sea.
Today as you go about think about some times that you were in one of life’s storms and how God spoke to the elements and brought you through it.

Jesus and the Paparazzi Matthew 8:18-22

Posted on by shannonrainwater
Today’s reading; Matthew 8:18-22

Jesus just finished with a healing service that probably lasted all night. Picture it… people from all over the country that have traveled MILES just to see, and hear Jesus. People brought Him sick and diseased people. Imagine listening to Jesus teach and everyone around you is probably coughing or has open sores. Kinda gross huh? Now finish the thought with Jesus healing everyone. Do you think that He would have some people that would want to follow him wherever? OF COURSE!!! In fact, Jesus had so many people around him that he could barely move. So he gets into a boat just to distance Himself a little.

As He was getting into the boat a scribe, yes the same scribe(s) that Jesus was rebuking earlier, came and made a statement. He said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you will go.” First, he called Jesus a TEACHER. By doing this he acknowledged that Jesus has authority and coming from a known scribe (they were known for being very knowledgeable in Scripture) was extraordinary. 
I love Jesus’ reply: “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” WHAT?!?!? You mean that Jesus was refusing to have him follow? Not at all!! Jesus was merely trying to put things into perspective for him. He was telling the scribe that following Him was not going to be easy. Although while food and clothing are physical necessities for human survival, an established home is not. However, part of human emotional make-up is a strong drive for the security of a home. Jesus’ demand for his followers was not impossible, but it was lofty enough that only the most committed would accept it. We are not told whether the scribe followed Jesus or not.
Next we see that another person that was ALREADY following Jesus said that he must go and bury his father. Jewish tradition was that the eldest son was responsible for the care and burial for the parents. This came from the commandment to “Honor thy mother and father.” It was not known whether his father was dead already or not. It took one year from the time of death to fully bury a corpse. This was so that the bones, that were in the care of the eldest, could be placed in an estuary. 
Jesus’ reaction? “FOLLOW ME, and Let the dead bury their own dead.” Jesus saw this tradition and the way the disciple used it as an excuse. There is no excuse. 
Bottom line and thought for today;
Although it is no easy task to follow Jesus there is no excuse not to. What are some hindrances to FULLY follow Him? 

What is it about the Healing Touch? Matthew 8:14-17

Posted on by shannonrainwater

Today’s Reading: Matthew 8:14-17

I have heard it said that the touch from another human is like a healing touch. We crave to be touched as if we need to be accepted and consoled. If you have ever noticed when a person is sick in the hospital and they see a loved one, they will reach out to touch them.

The religious leaders in Jesus’ day were known to never touch a woman because they did not want to find themselves defiled and unclean if they were in their menstrual cycle. But Jesus often found Himself touching people, man or woman, to heal them. He was not afraid of defiling himself because it was impossible. Jesus could not be defiled if he made the disease leave.

In this passage Jesus went to Peter’s house. He saw his mother-in-law who had a fever. He touched her and the fever left. And the scripture says that she got and started to serve Him. Later that evening, people were bringing to Him demon-possessed and sick people. The contrast is that He spoke to the demons and touched those who were sick. I do not believe that this was Jesus only mode of healing people, however, it is significant that He spoke directly to the demons because He had authority over them. He touched diseased people because of the compassion and desire to make people whole.

Today meditate on the fact that Jesus has authority over our weaknesses and diseases. He is able and willing to make us whole.

Recognizing Authority

Posted on by shannonrainwater
Today’s Reading; Matthew 8:5-9

I wished I had a parallel story on this but quite frankly I do not. I guess sometimes you should just let the story speak for itself.

Here we have a member of the Roman army and not just any leader. He is a Centurion. He probably was entrusted with around 60-125 troops, hence the name centurion. This is where we get our word for century or 100 years. He must have heard the message of Jesus at some point. 
1. The Centurion PLEADED with Jesus. Roman soldiers were not known for pleading with anyone. They were given authority, especially over the Jews, to act in the place of Caesar. But this one was different. He obviously had compassion for his troops because he was concerned about his servant. “My servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible agony.”
2. The Centurion recognized the Rank of Jesus. Or more appropriately he recognized that Jesus has AUTHORITY. He wouldn’t let Jesus come to his house to heal his servant. But instead he says to Jesus that if He were to just say the word it would be sufficient. His basis was by Jesus’ authority. Then he talks of his own authority by saying that what ever he says it happens, “I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my •slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” So just like the Centurion has authority and gives commands Jesus has authority and gives commands.
3. Jesus recognizes the Centurions FAITH. Jesus answered the Centurion with a tremendous statement. “I assure you: I have not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith!” Yes! He said this IN FRONT OF OTHER JEWS! The Jews already did not have high regard for Roman soldiers. But when they heard this imagine what they must have thought? The Sermon on the Mount must still have been fresh in their minds and the teaching on faith was being reinforced here. Jesus points out that this man who just simply asked for Jesus to say the word and heal his servant without going to his house. But it was much more than this… The Centurion BELIEVED that Jesus could do it. 
How many times have we asked Jesus to do something for us but we expected Him to be there as well? Or, how many times have we prayed for something but not fully believe that it would be fulfilled. Is it a problem with our faith? Would Jesus say about us that He has not found anyone in Texas, Georgia, or _(fill in your place)____ that has greater faith?

Faith In Action Matthew 8:1-4

Posted on by shannonrainwater

In the last series of devotionals, we took a close look at “The Sermon on the Mount”. Jesus gave His listeners (that includes us by the way) some pointers for them to live as Christians. Most of which tore down traditions that have been built up and enforced by the Jewish leaders.
Now we have come to the point where Jesus has just finished His sermon and is now walking away from the mountain area. A man approaches Him who probably listened to the whole thing. He was a leper. Lepers were NOT supposed to be in public. They were banished from the city to a quarantine area better known as a Leper Colony. They were not allowed to leave even to get food and water. They did eat because family members would travel to the colony and leave food and water by the entrance. They were not allowed to worship either because they were considered “unclean” and had to wrap open sore with strips of cloth. Remember the verse in Isaiah? “All our righteousness are like filthy rags”? Those filthy rags that it refers to are these rags that are wrapped around a leper’s sore. I will not get into the gross details but I think you get the picture. This man not only had faith to come and listen to Jesus and risk causing a scene but he knew that this man Jesus was no ordinary man.
Look at the passage and see what he says, “Lord if you are WILLING. You can make me clean”. The leper man not only breaks away from being isolation but seeks out the one whom he knows can make Him clean. That took FAITH!!!
Also, this man must have been there when Jesus said “Ask and you will receive”. So he did! And the Scripture says that Jesus was so full of compassion that He did not hesitate and touched the man. The Bible says the the disease IMMEDIATELY left him. Two things to note here. First, Jesus touched a leper. The transmission of the disease was by touching. Jesus was so filled with compassion that he knew the man needed a human touch. He had probably had not been touched in years. Second, Jesus had the power over the disease and it IMMEDIATELY left him.
Then what did Jesus do? He told him to “NOT tell anyone but go and tell the priest, and offer the gift that Moses prescribed as a testimony.” Why? So that his healing would be accepted among his people and he could worship again. This man was made whole just by asking.
Have we asked to be made whole? Sometimes we need to ask!

The Foundation for Kingdom Minded Warriors Matthew 7:24-29

Posted on by shannonrainwater
Today’s Reading Matthew 7:24-29

Just after graduating from Naval Aircrewman Candidate School, I was sent to SERE school (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape). The “survival” portion of the school was part of my favorite. During this phase we learned how to scrounge for the basic needs for life. FOOD, WATER, SHELTER. Food was scarce but we picked leaves and searched for bugs. Water was everywhere because it was Maine during January and it had just snowed. Only we learned to keep our canteens in our inner part of jackets otherwise it would freeze. When that happens you had to wait till it thaws before getting to drink. Building or finding a shelter was the toughest part. You wanted one that gives enough cover that you would EVADE from the enemy but also strong enough to battle against the elements. So naturally it could not be near a dried creek bed in low land or out in a field where it’s hard to camouflage. It had to be under a fallen tree, under a rock, and it had to stand the test. We were “graded” that night when the instructors would hike through the forest and try to find us. We passed if our shelter was hidden and strong.

Jesus said that the person who hears what He is saying and does nothing is like the person who builds his shelter on the sand. You see if you build on the sand it usually meant that it is near a water source or in low lying land. If it rained the waters will rise and soften the ground causing your shelter to fall apart. Jesus says this is what the foolish man does.
However, if your shelter was built properly. It could stand the test of a rainstorm. Jesus used this to illustrate that what He just finished preaching about was a foundation to His ministry and is our foundation to being Kingdom minded. If we listen and ACT upon it we will be like the sensible man who built his shelter upon the rock.
This was the last verse in chapter 7 and it ends Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount”. The last two verses are what is unique and is a transition from this scene to the next. The people who were listening were astonished because He spoke as authority. Even higher authority than the scribes.

Go about today and think about the Points of Jesus’ sermon.
The Beatitudes
Believers Are Salt and Light
Christ Fulfills the Law
Murder Begins in the Heart
Adultery in the Heart
Divorce Practices Censured
Tell the Truth
Go the Second Mile
Love Your Enemies
How to Give
How to Pray
The Model Prayer
How to Fast
God and Possessions
The Cure for Anxiety
Do Not Judge
Keep Asking, Searching, Knocking
Entering the Kingdom
The Two Foundations

How to Spot a False Prophet and survive the narrow gate.

Posted on by shannonrainwater
Today’s Reading Matthew 7:13-21
One of the murals on the walls at the US Navy BUDS classrooms reads “The only easy day was yesterday”.  Meaning that what you did today is NOTHING compared to what you are going to do tomorrow. They have the mindset that the body is capable of doing much more than what the mind tells it can. A SEAL team member chooses to go through the toughest situations so that he can be the best and able to save lives in challenging situations. This is the key to developing a strong minded and effective soldier. You would not want a person who chooses the easy way out. He would be ineffective and too self-absorbed. Imagine yourself involved in a situation where you needed rescuing. Would you choose a person who has not experienced hardship firsthand and only read it in a book? Or would you choose a person who willingly took the time to go through worst-case scenarios and hardships just to gain the experience?
Jesus taught that the easy way is not the good way. It leads to destruction and that MANY go through it. The Way to life is “narrow” and few people find it. Why can’t they find it? The next few verses tells us. False prophets lead people astray. They do it by preaching in Jesus’ name but adding to the Gospel. They preach a message that makes you “feel” good inside and even tell the congregation that you will be happy and prosperous if you have enough faith. How do you get faith? Send me a small monetary gift and we will pray that God will answer your prayer! (sorry couldn’t help that). This is an example of the wide and easy gate that Jesus was referring to. 
These false teachers are sometimes hard to spot because they guise themselves as genuine Men of God! (7:15) They do it so well that many have deceived themselves! (7:22) So how do we know that they are false teachers? Here is what Jesus says:
You’ll know them by their fruit (7:16)
       a. An apple tree produces apples. It can not produce an orange. So if they are evil then their deeds are going to show them as evil.
       b. A thorn-bush cannot produce any good fruit. Remember what the fruits of the Spirit are? Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 
In general, the false teacher will not have any of these “fruits of the Spirit”. You might remember watching the news or read an article on a popular televangelist that is arrested for indecency or tax-fraud. These ARE false prophets.
As for the Christian, we are to stay focused on the narrow road. If we are then it is hard to meander off and get distracted with worldly desires. Jesus said that we will face persecution for His name. But the path WILL lead to life. The only easy day here on earth was yesterday but it is good to know that we have the Holy Spirit as our Guide, Jesus as our Savoir, and the Promises of the Father. 
 

Something to Think About

Posted on by shannonrainwater

Ever thought about the reasons why Jesus picked a few people to be His close followers? Well, the obvious ones were that He picked 12 symbolizing the 12 tribes of Israel, He did come to save sinners, and he was considered a Rabbi and therefore had disciples, but why have a few to hang out with?
If you look at at of the teachings from Jesus that were directed specifically to the disciples they were mostly about developing Christian character. After all they are the Patriarchs of the Christian faith and had to develop the image. Sort of being Brand Marketers. The most important aspect of this training Jesus gave them was Personal Evangelism. 
How is your personal evangelism experience? Have you talked to anyone about Jesus? If it is like most and it happens almost none of the time then you are not alone. Perhaps you don’t know how to go about doing it? Or maybe you experience fear of rejection? Either way we are commanded to tell others. 
I’m in the process of developing an online training course to teach and show how to share your faith without fear. 
In the meantime, be in prayer about this process and that it develops into a user friendly course that will assist those who need it. Also, pray for opportunities for you to share your faith and start by building those relationships. The easiest way to start is by fulfilling someone else’s need.
Email or comment here if you have any questions. 
Carry On!