The crowd

““Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ””Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today is Palm Sunday. It is the Sunday that begins Holy Week, when we remember all that unfolded that fateful week in Jesus’ life.

The verse above is first spoken in Zechariah. Israe at the time he wrote it was beaten down and needing deliverance. The king they hoped for was not what they received. Jesus came humbly riding on a donkey. He was not going to liberate Israel from the Romans, but rather from their sins.

Today, many would like a genie in a bottle rather than a saviour who tells them, “take up your cross and follow me!” We want our problems solved, riches, ease and comfort. However, Jesus said, “if you do not take up your cross and follow Me, you cannot be My disciple!” Christianity is not ease, but rather that of a relationship with Him, allowing Him to be Lord and laying down our own rights to rule.

Just as Jesus submitted to death on a cross for us, we may need to submit to death of earthly expectations. Our cross may be caring for a disabled child for all his life, it may be isolation from family who hate Christianity, it may mean being betrayed and handed over to those who hate us.

Are you ready?

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=l3-XroRBMrE&si=8ceCHyLDqYPMgG3f

Content

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I can agree with Paul here. I have learned to rough it as the Aussies would say. However, living in a tent or. Car would challenge me. My son is involved in outreach to these people in Brisbane, Australia. I also don’t think I’d like to use a rock as a pillow as Jacob had done. That would be a tad uncomfortable.

Paul was the maker of tents and so I imagine he spent some time in these. I like tents when camping but as I age they are becoming uncomfortable. Yet, Paul was in chains in prison when he wrote this letter to the Phillipians. The discomfort he would have experienced would have been extreme.I understand that with Christ all things are possible. Jesus is the ingredient in contentment. 

In July/Auguelst my friend Chelle and I will go to Mangri to do research and serve the Lord. Whilst in Mangri we will have beds, not as comfortable as mine here in Kathmandu but clean. We aim to travel to another place called Talcha which is not clean nor is it comfortable. Chelle does not want me to go there as she has had a dream in which I landed on my head. When I think of that place I see intense darkness. We will see what the Lord wants.

Serving the Lord and responding to His heart is paramount. He provides strength for all that comes our way. Amen!

Workers

“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭37‬-‭38‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What was Jesus doing when He said this statement? He was out in the harvest field preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing the sick. Scriptures says:

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭36‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Compassion causes workers to go into the harvest field. Jesus was a man of compassion. As His family He invites us to share His burden.

It is interesting that He said this to the disciples. They were following Him as their teacher and rabbi. They were happy to watch Him work. However, they would soon be thrust into the field and commissioned to also preach the gospel, heal the sick and cast out devils.

We are not merely spectators. We are invited to be participators. This life is not about me, myself and I but rather my Lord and others. What is He inviting me to do today?

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=TINGp8OGWz8&si=TPI_rD8_O8s9rm_C

God’s sanctuary

“Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you?”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

When I have a guest I make sure they have all they need. I feed them well and talk to them. Yet it is so easy to take the presence of God for granted. He is not just a guest, He is Lord of the manor.

In the Old Testament when God came to live with the Israelites in the wilderness, to start with He was a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. When He instructed Moses to build a tent temple He then was right in the midst of the people. Even they took Him for granted and complained.

When Jesus came to earth and walked among us the people came to Him for healing, but few stayed for relationship. Even His disciples fell to arguing about who was the greatest among them when He was going through His greatest trials. Again and again they failed to act as if they had God living among them.

What is it with us? We are selfish beings consumed with us and our needs and not God and His desires. He had blessed us with His presence. What would He like to do with and through us today?

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=DMyctpbTSxg&si=pfTJKI2DU56deYJa

No weapon

“But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Isaiah‬ ‭54‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do we, do I believe this or not? If we say, “yes”, then why do we confess the things we do? “I have gout, I have high blood pressure, I have blah blah blah!” As we confess these things we make room for demons carrying sickness and disease. As we moan about who wronged us we create curses, as we talk little about Jesus we disempower His work in our lives.

Conversely, as we speak scripture over our lives we empower the word of God to act in our lives. This scripture is full of power. Whilst it was spoken to one group of people many years ago, it applies to all God’s children. We can claim that power in our own lives.

Anyone who speaks against us, plots against us will fail. Yesterday my American buddy, who is coming with me to Mugu, had a motor Scooter accident. A little boy ran out in front of her. She had seen him and avoided a nasty accident. However, she was compelled to take the child to a hospital for a CT scan and possible stitches. 6,500R later ($70Au thereabouts) the child was released with plaster over a cut on his forehead. My friend rallied prayer warriors and we went to work. A police report had to be made as well. Fortunately, it did not say much at all.

My friend and I have had an increase in enemy’s activities as we March towards the coming time in Mugu. Our project has been troubled all along. People who were to help us disappoint. However, God has a man. If anything we are now more determined than ever. No weapon that is formed against us will prosper! Amen!

No one else

“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Peter says this on the day of Pentecost to the crowd that has assembled to hear the cause of the rushing wind and tongues of fire. 

All the disciples had forsaken Jesus in His hour of need and trial, yet Jesus forgave them and pored out His Holy Spirit on them. They were used mightily when empowered by the Holy Spirit.

No one else had come close to being like Jesus. Many rose and said, “follow me!” However, all died and stayed dead. Jesus rose from the grave. He poured out His Holy Spirit on the disciples and this same spirit turned uneducated men into bold preachers. No on else was able to transform humble fishermen into miracle workers.

We are disappointed in people, continually. My latest is this morning. I needed medicine brought from Australia and the person who was to bring it, forgot. This is a trouble to me as in Nepal the cost is astronomical. However, it can be purchased.

I must do for this person what Jesus did for His disciples, forgive and release. Amen!

Know Him

“I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!”Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul did indeed come to know Jesus and experience the power that raised Jesus from the dead. Eternally he is alive in Christ. However, whilst on the earth he suffered greatly for his faith: he was stoned, whipped, falsely accused, imprisoned, shipwrecked and more. He identified in Christ’s suffering. The Lord showed him what he would suffer for following Him, yet he proceeded.

Many suffer, have suffered and will suffer. Jesus told us, “take up your cross and follow me!” Each of us has a cross. Each of us must choose to follow! Jesus also said, “he who finds his life will lose his life, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

The challenge we face is to try and ensure we do not suffer. It is not possible. We will suffer now or in eternity. Taking up our cross can be as simple as denying our fleshly desires. Self loves to exult, strut and preen. Self is drawn to attacking others for displeasing us. Self ha to die and submit to Jesus. Amen!