FASTING TO BE FILLED!

Posted on May 14, 2021 by randscallawayffm

When I fast, it is usually for spiritual reasons seeking God’s wisdom for concerns that are weighing heavy on my heart.  Although, I have discovered recently it is physically good for the body to renew itself.  (No, I’m not selling a new diet plan!)  I withhold food and only drink liquids concentrating on serious conversations with God throughout the day and into the night.  As I do this, I am reminded of what Jesus said about fasting; “Don’t let others know you are doing it”, “Don’t call attention to yourself”.  This is between God and myself.

In Jesus’ day, the religious, full of pride, self-righteous, and arrogant elite would take off their regal robes and put on sack cloth, go to the public square and throw ashes on themselves and proceed to act like martyrs.  It was “show and tell” time of how religious they were.  Mm, I wonder how that was received by common folk who scratched out a living, merely surviving on one meal a day at best?

Jesus is asked why he and his disciples don’t fast according to Jewish tradition.  His answer probably confused them.  The reason we fast today is to lay down all that sustains us to seek the God of answers to what is troubling us and to fill ourselves with all of God to receive it.  The religious leaders apparently forgot that.  God is with them, standing in the flesh as Jesus Christ, His Son!  They don’t have to fast to seek Him, to hear Him, to touch Him and learn the answers to life through fasting…He is right there! 

Yes, there is no need for the leaders to fast to seek God.  What is needed is to open their minds to learn from Jesus, open eyes to see the glory of God in Him with opened ears to hear and understand what He is saying!  He is right there!  Hello!  Celebrate!  Worship at His feet!  Follow Him wherever He goes.  Imitate what He does and how He does it!  But most religious leaders did not.

Jesus has come with new life! It’s a new day!  It’s a new way of life when we seek Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives!  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”  (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV) That’s why Jesus goes on to give another seemingly baffling analogy of wineskins that would have made sense to wine producers of His day.  Let’s break it down…

OLD

We shouldn’t try to fit Jesus into our old life.  That would be the most stressful life we could imagine!  Jesus wants all of us, not just part of us.  Jesus’ abundant life will not fit into your old life of thinking and behaving.  Jesus can’t be poured into our old, worn out “skin”, stretched to the limit with the effects of sin!  When we repent and believe in Jesus, we are brand new creatures.  We leave the old skin behind and are given a new skin!  

NEW

All of Jesus is poured into our new life, our new skin, filled to the brim, able to stretch and grow in God’s might and character.  In our new skin, Jesus will fill us to overflow with His Holy Spirit’s power that transforms us with a new lifestyle that will brim with His love, goodness, mercy and grace.  No, we just can’t fit Christ into the our old “skins”.  Christ wants to fill us with new life, discarding the old life behind in the trash heap of our former sin-selves.

Warren Wiersbe, Commentator, explains the analogy this way;

“Jesus came to bring spiritual health to sick sinners. As the Bridegroom, He came to give spiritual joy. The Christian life is a feast, not a funeral. The illustration of the cloth reminds us that He came to bring spiritual wholeness; He did not come to “patch us up” and then let us fall apart. The image of the wineskins teaches that He gives spiritual fullness. Jewish religion was a worn-out wineskin that would burst if filled with the new wine of the gospel. Jesus did not come to renovate Moses or even mix law and grace. He came with new life!”

NEW WINESKINS OF FAITH

Jesus came to fulfill The Law with a new way of life that did not negate God’s commands but instead gave new understanding to what God intended all along—a loving, intimate, growing relationship with Him!  Christ in us, approaching God at any time!  Yes!

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 9:14-17, NLT

A Discussion about Fasting

14 One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?”

15 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

16 “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.

17 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.”

Abba, Father in Heaven,

I am humbled that the God of Creation knows my name, the number of hairs on my head, and knows all my sin but loved me enough to send Your Son to save me, forgive me, remembering my sins no more while making we whole and brand new!  No patches but made new!  This is amazing grace!  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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LEAVING ONE CALLING FOR ANOTHER

Posted on May 13, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Randy and I were happy as teachers.  We worked hard to train for this calling of God for seemingly years.  Miracles of God’s care flowed in every detail of doing His will.  We gave up seeking the frivolous, as most of our friends did, to seeking real purpose for life.  God led us to be public school teachers who knew Him and provided the way to attain the training needed while being married and raising three children.  Finally, we achieved our goals by being chosen as teachers.  We taught for a while until a new, fresh calling was revealed by our Father. 

God called us to leave teaching, using what we had learned in teaching to serve full time for His church.  We followed.  It was scary.  It required more training.  It was life-changing, but we followed knowing He knew what was best for us.  God had a purpose to fulfill in us for His glory.  He is still doing that even in our “retirement” days. We are not the only ones, believe me!  Being called, chosen for a work for such a time as this, has been God’s way throughout the centuries of mankind.  God Word is full of stories of His glory, teaching His children to obey His calling on their lives!

Matthew, a Jewish man, had counting skills and was obviously a man to be trusted for correctness in his accounting.  So, he was chosen by the Romans, the oppressors of the Jews, to collect exorbitant taxes from his own people.  Accepting this role meant being shunned by his family and all his friends.  He was now their enemy, a tax collector who used his skills for the enemy. 

Matthew knew enough about The Law to be somewhat intrigued by a Man who walked by his booth often.  Matthew’s curiosity grew as crowds began to follow this man.  He heard the stories of healing, restoring sight to the blind and making the lame to walk.  He was calculating how many ways this Man was healing.  He craned his neck from side to side each time this Man passed by, so he could get a glimpse of Him.  Then Matthew, stuck in his booth with bars on the windows to protect him from his own people, would go back to his chosen work.

Matthew did his work as he always did until the day Jesus came, looked him right in the eyes with compassion and said to Matthew, “Follow Me”.  In two simple words, Matthew heard, leave this calling, chosen by the oppressors, for Me and My calling for you.  Those eyes seem to say, I know you.  I love you.  I know where you have been and what you have done.  His voice said, “Follow Me.  Be my disciple.”  I will teach you how to do a new work.  Simple words for a great calling to now belong to Jesus.

Wow.  

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 9:9-13, NLT

Jesus Calls Matthew

9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.

10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”

12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

LET’S GO A BIT DEEPER…

Matthew knew who he was, a sinner.  Jesus knew that Matthew knew he was a sinner in need of a Savior.  THAT is what attracted Jesus to Matthew, the tax collector!  Jesus comes to those who know they are sinners.  “All have sinned and come short of God’s glory.” Paul writes later to the churches establishing in Rome.  Let’s take a look at the whole passage in Romans 3:21-24, Msg, and flesh out this commonly quoted phrase;

“This makes it clear, doesn’t it, that whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it’s clear enough, isn’t it, that we’re sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else? Our involvement with God’s revelation doesn’t put us right with God. What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else’s sin.

God Has Set Things Right

21-24 But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him.”

Matthew is called, chosen to be justified (just as if he had never sinned) by Jesus.  His slate of sin wiped clean by Jesus Christ.  He was made “right” from all his past deeds.  He was ready to follow Jesus into a new life of love, trust and obedience.  Who could want anything more? 

Joyfully, Matthew leaves his cage of collecting to follow the one who collects sinners and sets them free to love and serve like Jesus.  Matthew, a quick learning, wants to serve Jesus immediately by inviting him to his house for a meal to honor the One and Only who takes away the sin of the world.  A sinner invites Jesus to his house!  Imagine what the church leaders are saying.  Wait, we don’t have to imagine. The work of Jesus is fulfilled by the prophets who wrote earlier that the Messiah would serve in this very way!  Jesus came to seek and to save the lost who KNOW they are sinners.  Matthew is a sinner justified and made whole by Jesus.  He invited his friends in the tax collecting world to know Jesus, too!  Matthew leaves one calling for another in obedience.

Later, Matthew will describe Jesus as “a friend to sinners”.  (Matthew 11)  Who would know better than Matthew?  Jesus is our Friend, Advocate to the Father, and the Redeemer of all sin.  Jesus came to die and rise again, to justify our sin, each one of us, no matter where we have been or what we’ve done or doing right now.  He stands ready to forgive confessed sin and wipe the slate clean.  Jesus our Savior wants to be the Lord of all we think, do or say. What a testimony Matthew has written about what Jesus did for him!

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Great are you, Lord!  I am so grateful for your saving grace.  I am a sinner saved only by your grace.  I am not perfect for sure, but perfectly forgiven.  I will live life by asking what you want with a willingness to obey.  Change and transform me continually to be all you want me to be.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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HOMETOWN

Posted on May 12, 2021 by randscallawayffm

“I knew you when…”  If you are the one who moved away from where you grew up to accept a job in another town, state or country, you will know the back story of what Jesus is experiencing as he went back to his own town.  Many know and are impressed with Jesus, who grew up there as a good student of the Law.  They are amazed with his apparent ability to now heal people.  But what do they really believe about who He is?  Do they still believe he is just another human like them? “Well, I knew Jesus when…”  “He was a good boy”, a little weird at times, but nevertheless a good son to his parents, strange story there, though.”  Is that what they were thinking?  “Did you hear about his insane cousin who lives in the wilderness eating bugs?”  “Yeah, that family is not like us, that’s for sure.”

I wonder if Jesus already knew the man who was paralyzed since the man was from his own home town?  Probably.  Remember, he is God’s Son, Jesus not only knows him physically but spiritually, with the ability, like God, to look inside and see his heart.  Jesus knows it is unclean and needs to be cleansed and changed from the inside out!  What good would it be to walk around, still a sinful man?  Wow, when we camp on this thought, we understand why Jesus dealt with the inside first, before the healing, “Be encouraged, my child!  Your sins are forgiven.” 

Jesus also “saw the faith” of those who brought the paralyzed man to him!  Jesus knew them, too, and knew their hearts of faith, enough faith to be kind and loving, hoping that their friend could be healed and walk again!  Do you see how much is going on here?  Friends, we have a Savior who wants to be our Lord, who not only heals but cleanses us from all unrighteousness and saves our souls for eternity—IF we believe!

Of course, the teachers who may have taught him in Synagogue School were outraged.  There immediate thoughts were–who does he think he is…God?  It was proven that that Jesus is indeed God in flesh by knowing exactly what they were thinking and mumbling about in outrage.  God sees hearts.  God knows our hearts.  Jesus knows what God knows.  Lesson in heart reading is complete! 

So, Jesus, always led by the Father, let’s his hometown teachers in on why he came and by who’s authority.  The big reveal is stated clearly for all to hear and see, “’I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.’ Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!’  And the man jumped up and went home!” 

But do they understand?  Not quite.  “…they praised God for giving humans such authority”.  I wonder what Jesus was thinking at this point?  Did He sigh?

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT OUR OWN HEARTS…

Do we really believe that what we believe about God is really real?  Read this question many times until understanding grows and behavior begins to be fruitful.  For what we really believe will be reflected in our thinking and ultimate behaving.

Does Jesus look into my heart and see my faith?

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 9:1-8, NLT

Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man

9 Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. 2 Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.”

3 But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?”

4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 6 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

7 And the man jumped up and went home! 8 Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for giving humans such authority.

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Hallowed is Your Name.  Great are you Lord!  May Your Kingdom come and live in me, reign supremely in me.  May Your will be done on earth in every detail of today as it is in heaven.  May your glory be revealed to all those around us.  May we return seeing, hearing and understanding with really believing with praise to you!  Yes, give us this day evidence of Your Holy Presence living in us.  Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  Lead us not into temptations to get even, hold grudges or bring them down with gossip but instead deliver us from sin completely.  Heal us from the past effects of our sins.  Move us forward, growing in your character.  For only by your power are we completely forgiven and healed.  So to you be the glory for all that is right and good forevermore. 

In Jesus Name, Amen, I really believe!

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CALM DOWN!

Posted on May 11, 2021 by randscallawayffm

It was such a peaceful drive to our destination with three kids in the back of the van—until it wasn’t.  About an hour into the drive sarcasm escalated to little physical jabs at each other until the words of authority came from the front seat, “CALM DOWN”!  “Be quiet.  Be still.  Don’t make me come back there!”  I heard the same words from my parents when my brother and I amused ourselves by fighting in the back seat.  “He crossed my line!”  “She’s breathing in my space!”  How silly, right?  We amuse ourselves with doing evil when good escapes our thinking.

Sometimes in the midst of ministry, a sudden, unexpected storm of doubt seeps into our being.  Anxiety blossoms into full-on stress mode.  We begin to blame others for doing well as we struggle with our part of what God gave us to do.  We begin to sarcastically make fun of each other, jab at each other’s abilities, which leads to a storm of broken relationships.  These storms are presented by evil and we fall for it and run with it!  I can hear God, our Father in heaven calling out to all of us, “CALM DOWN!”  “Don’t make me come down there again!” 

These are just some of the thoughts that are flooding into my mind as we read a very short, familiar passage that reveals the glory and power of Jesus, Son of God.  Jesus says to God’s creation, “Be still!”  Jesus not only commanded the sudden lake storm to be quiet, he REBUKED it according to this passage of God’s Word!  The meaning of the word rebuke is; to express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions.  Mm…

Wait, was Jesus rebuking the devil himself so calm waters would resume on their journey to the “other side”?

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 8:23-27, NLT

Jesus Calms the Storm

23 Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. 24 Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

27 The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

CONSIDER THIS…

This sudden storm could have been the work of the enemy to stop the ministry on “the other side of the lake”.  The other side of the lake was known as godless territory.  Did the evil one launch his limited supernatural power to stop Jesus and his team from going there?  Did he stir the waters and provide the winds to rock the boat of Jesus and his ministry team?  Why not?  He does that to us often!!  Right?

Remember, always remember:  Satan acts in violence.  Jesus operates in peace. 

We learn that Jesus, alpha and omega, Lord of all and over all, will always have the upper hand in with the enemy.  Jesus was, is and always will be the final say and the Victor over our enemy.  Jesus wins every time.  The disciples run to Jesus and Jesus responds with “Calm down”.  He rebukes nature that was stirred to delay their trip and nature calms down.  The mission of Jesus proceeds in victory. 

Jesus Heals Two Demon-Possessed Men

28 When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They came out of the tombs and were so violent that no one could go through that area.

29 They began screaming at him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?”

30 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. 31 So the demons begged, “If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”

32 “All right, go!” Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.

33 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them alone.

MINISTRY ON THE BEACH…

Jesus and his crew get to the other side of the lake and are met on the beach by men filled with legions of demons!  Beth Moore, renowned Bible scholar, writes, “Our God is even God over the godless.  Christ steps foot on their “turf” on the other side of the lake.  The demons knew He carried His authority with Him.  You see, as hard as the demonic world tries to keep Him out, no one can keep Christ out of any place He is determined to go.  The one place He will not force His presence is the human heart.  The demons that met Christ at the shore that day were far more wicked than ignorant.”   

Moore goes on to say, “This idea is considered in most commentaries that the storm which occurred on the way “to the other side” could have been an attempt by the kingdom of darkness to discourage Christ’s arrival!  We see a hint toward the possibility of this idea in the way Christ REBUKED the wind and waters almost as if they were disobedient.  Could they (demons) have been temporarily acting under the instruction of the god of the air while the overruling Son of God was sleeping?  Just food for thought, but it would help to explain why the demonic literally met Christ on the sore, knowing for certain who He was.”

The demonic filled men bowed to the new authority of Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace and Jesus healed them. 

“Who is this man?”, said the disciples.  This man is Jesus, Son of God, who came to save the lost and rescue the perishing.  If you need healing from the storms that are blowing through your life right now.  Invite Jesus to enter into the stirred waters of your heart, mind and soul with the same prayer of the disciples, “Lord, save us!”  He will rebuke what is dark and reveal the calm assurance of His glorious Light of Life.  He will calm your heart in the storm with His everlasting, supreme peace.  This is His gift to us for believing in Him.  Believe and be saved.

Abba, Father in Heaven,

By Your Word we know you created all, you are in all and you control all on earth as it is in heaven.  You overrule the darkness with your Light.  You are the Victor over our consistent enemy.  You fight the battles with us and for us.  Yes, you are God and we are not.  Thank you, Jesus for saving our souls so that we can be in holy relationship with you forever!  Continue to grow us in and through the storms of life, helping us get to the other side!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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HOW MUCH IS THAT?

Posted on May 10, 2021 by randscallawayffm

I am that person who loves a bargain.  I enjoy bartering and bargaining for the lowest price and best deal in town.  Randy sends me in as the “closer” on any car purchase we make.  He says I have the gift to make it happen.  The first time I went to Tijuana, Mexico, I was introduced to street bargaining.  Every vendor asked a high price knowing and hoping to get half of what they were asking.  Back and forth bidding was fun for me. I came away with eight Mexican blankets for family members.  Who won here?  I don’t think it was me!  (Smiling)

Jesus is very clear and precise about following Him.  There is a cost, but what isn’t in this world?  There is always a high cost to be led by sin into a destructive lifestyle that maims or destroys you and your family in many ways.  Following Jesus is taking a path less traveled which leads to eternal life.  To follow is hard but the reward is so great we cannot even imagine all of it.  (See Revelation, the book at the end of the Bible!)  Leaving our friends and family members behind to follow Jesus can be emotionally painful but Jesus takes care of those who are precious to us.  (Read the blog about the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law.) 

We will pay a cost, one way or another, for the way we live this life on earth.  We will pay a high cost for the one we have chosen to follow.  There are only two choices.  Do we want to follow Satan into confusion, lies, cheating, and all other forms of evil here on earth that lead to eternal fires of death? OR do want to follow Jesus that leads to all that is the best for us?  With Jesus we learn and grow in his right living (righteousness) that leads to more life, abundant life. The term “abundant life” comes from the Bible verse John 10:10b, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” “More abundantly” means to have a superabundance of a thing. “Abundant life” refers to life in its abounding fullness of joy and strength for spirit, soul and body.

Yes, there is a great cost to saying yes to God by believing in His Son, Jesus.  There is a great cost to turning from your unbelieving friends with lifestyles that lead to complacently at the very least to destructive patterns and addictions at the most that lead to joyless living.  So, you see, the cost is greater still of NOT following him.  That cost is death eternal with no hope here and no hope of eternal life with Him there.  You lose all hope of seeing your precious loved ones who believed and have gone on before you.  You lose out on the joy of being with Jesus in “the room he has prepared for us in heaven” where there are no tears or sorrows ever again.  Mm, yeah, I choose Life.  I choose Jesus.  What about you?

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 8:18-22, NLT

The Cost of Following Jesus

18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake.

19 Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

20 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

21 Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.”

WE NEED TO KNOW…

I am almost embarrassed for the teacher who tried to bargain with the Son of God! Can you live day to day with being in charge of your life, asks Jesus?  Friends, we need to know and understand this simple truth.  There is no bargaining, haggling or negotiating with God to be done.  The deal has been made.  The price for our sin, all sin, has been decided and paid in full by Jesus who died to save us and rose again to prove He is King of kings, Lord of lords and the Final Victor over evil and death.  It is finished.

“My sin, not in part, but the whole has been was nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, it is well, it is well with my soul.”  It is finished.  I am His and He is mine.  So, I will follow you.

“Follow me now…” says Jesus.

I will follow You, is my only response. That is all that is needed. 

Abba, Father in Heaven,

You are who you say you are.  You love in ways beyond my wildest imagination.  You give life.  You lead us down paths that are narrow and sometimes scary but you provide extreme hope while getting to where we need to be, doing what you want us to do.  You are with us.  Your Presence never leaves a soul who follows you.  I am so grateful you want us to follow you wherever you lead for I know whom I have believed!  Thank you for allowing us to follow you to life forevermore.  Thank you for all the lessons along the way.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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GLIMPSES OF THE KINGDOM!

Posted on May 8, 2021 by randscallawayffm

What is the greatest moment you have experienced?  When was that time when you knew nobody else but God could have done this?  What was a troubling trial lifted out of your hands?  How did you feel when the trial was over and it was taken care of in a way you never expected?  Do you remember the smile that returned along with the peace that followed a sigh of relief?  There are so many times in my own life that there is not enough time to tell it all.  But I know Who was responsible for it all.  Jesus advocating to our Father in Heaven for me.

Yes, Jesus, Son of God, does that.  He did it for Peter right in the middle of Jesus’ earthly ministry to “seek and to save the lost”, “to take our sicknesses” as well as teach us how to live the way God intended for us.  All these works, foretold by the prophets and fulfilled in Jesus give us glimpses into the Kingdom of God that lives in all of us who believe. 

Troubles come in right in the middle of ministry often.  But so does the touch of Jesus who gives us glimpses into the Kingdom of God work.  Consider the scene.  Peter has committed to following Jesus, leaving his fishing work and family behind.  Jesus knows Peter’s mother-in-law is very ill.  Jesus, God’s Son, also knows how her sickness is troubling to Peter.  Jesus goes with Peter to his house to take care of people that are precious to him so Peter can take care of people precious to God.  Let that sink in, ministry leaders.

When we accept the call to fully follow Jesus with our lives, He takes care of those people that we care about on our journey with Him.  Why?  Because he loves and cares for them as much as He cares for you!  Jesus loves ALL people.  He knows what you need.  He knows what your loved ones need.  Peter, experienced in how Jesus cared for him, wrote;

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Simply stated and fully believed.  Do you think Peter may have recalled the day Jesus’ touch of healing was provided to his mother-in-law right in the middle of his journey with following Jesus in ministry to others?  I think he probably did along with many other instances where Jesus gave Peter glimpses into the Kingdom of God!

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 8:14-17, NLT

Jesus Heals Many People

14 When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. 15 But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.

16 That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. 17 This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said,

“He took our sicknesses
    and removed our diseases.”

POINTS TO PONDER…

Peter was daily taught by Jesus, the Word made flesh, while Jesus followed God’s commands.  While walking the earth, Jesus invested his life in Peter.  Read the gospel accounts and we learn that Jesus would correct him, remind, rebuke and forgive him all while unconditionally loving on Peter who had a greater work designed just for him in God’s Kingdom work.  In other words, Jesus took constant CARE of Peter as Peter took care of what God had given him to do. 

Peter would write his own letters later to the churches established after Jesus rose again and later ascended to Heaven.  Peter, who learned from the Master Teacher, Jesus, who assigned him to be “The Rock upon whom His church will be established”, (Read the whole passage in Matthew 16) writes; 

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.  (1 Peter 5)

Yes, God will take of us, you and I, no matter what, in the best way possible, the Kingdom way!

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Thank you for loving and caring for us every minute of every day.  To you be the glory, honor and praise for what you do in us to “restore us and make us strong, firm and steadfast”.  You are God and we are your children whom you love and cherish.  Thank you, Lord, for these precious thoughts of your never-ending care.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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“BECAUSE YOU BELIEVED”

Posted on May 7, 2021 by randscallawayffm

I wonder sometimes if my requests to God are just words thrown into the airspace due to my desperation.  I wonder if I really believe what I say I believe about God is really real?  When I stop to consider, ponder, meditate on His promises and revisit the day of my salvation, the answer is yes, I believe!  This “exercise” of faith is important to evaluate the depth of our believing faith in the One and Only who can change lives with His unchangeable love, mercy and grace.  Jesus tells us at the end of this healing story that who we are and what we truly believe inside reveals the depth of our faith. 

What you and I really believe will always be reflected in our behavior in this world while we wait expectantly for the next eternal home…”because you believed”.

PAUSE FOR PRAYER  (“Have a Little Talk with Jesus” moment)

What do I believe? 

Who am I because I believe? 

What do I do because I believe? 

What do I say and how do I say it because I believe? 

How do I behave each day, all day long, because of what I believe?

What do I think about most because of what I believe?

Crowds push and shove to be near Jesus who has now gained popularity for healing everyone who comes to Him. But what does each individual in that mass of people really believe?  Since God knows hearts, Jesus tells them clearly and uncovers the depth of their faith.  Yikes.

What would Jesus say about the depth of our faith as believers?  “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!”, said Jesus to the mostly Jewish crowd.  One thing we can always count on—Jesus will always reveal Truth because He is Truth.  I love that!  In a world of charades, playacting, work enough to get by, blaming instead of owning our mistakes, gossip, lies and game playing, Truth will always, sooner than later, be revealed.  Faith is revealed.

Do I really believe that what I think and believe about God is really real?  Ask yourself this question often.  Because the enemy tries to get between our faith and God daily.

EXERCISE YOUR FAITH MUSCLES BY REMEMBERING WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DONE

Jesus shows us that faith reveals what we really believe.  Stop and pause to answer this question for life today, right now:  What did Jesus do or provide because you had the faith to ask and believe?

Because I believed, God ________________.  Fill in the blank.  THIS is the testimony of our faith!

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 8:5-13, NLT

The Faith of a Roman Officer

5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”

7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”

8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

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10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! 11 And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12 But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

13 Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.

I’m now singing a chorus I sang in my youth, “Faith in God Can Move a Mighty Mountain” as worship to God.

Faith in God can move a mighty mountain,
Faith can calm the troubled sea;
Faith can make a desert like a fountain,
Faith can bring the victory.

Followed by singing the chorus of “The Solid Rock”

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Our hope, faith, trust, is built upon what you have provided in your gift of salvation.  Jesus, you are the foundation of faith that is built on believing all you revealed to us when you came down from heaven to seek and to save us, the lost, the hopeless in an unbelieving world.  You turned the world upside down and inside out with what believing, trusting and obeying I all about.  You are still doing it!  Thank you.  Thank you for your mercy and unended grace as we build our faith strong enough to move mountains with you. You are God and we are not.  I believe in You.  Life is all about you.  My life is in you!

In Jesus Name, Amen.  I believe.

Faith truly is the Victory that overcomes the world!  (Yes, another old hymn, it’s that kind of day!)

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NEW MISSION—NEW TESTIMONY!

Posted on May 6, 2021 by randscallawayffm

There are many life circumstances that cause depression, anxieties of all kinds coupled with worry and fear.  Some are self-inflicted.  Some are not.  Sometimes in the middle of it all, we push people away because we have lost hope.  Our only mission seems to be to succumb to our present situation.  People shy away from a person who is needy because it is uncomfortable for them.  So, as desperation seeps in, we feel alone.  Very alone.  We might, on a good day, seek other people like us who are going through the same thing so we can be in misery together, but we don’t seek real relief.  We just stay isolated from the rest of the world.  Hopeless.

“Suddenly”

This word leaps off the page for me this morning.  What was the last time you did something suddenly, foregoing all risk, because you were led by the Spirit of God to do so?  When was the last time you obeyed, without overthinking it, and suddenly ran to the One and Only who would guide you to restoration and hope of life eternal?  I love how this man, isolated to the rest of the world by his illness, “suddenly” decided to approach Jesus, seeking help from the One and Only who he decided and was convinced in his mind would indeed heal him.  What a wonderful thought this morning for all of us who isolate because we think we have no hope until “suddenly” led by the Holy Spirit, we jump up from the ashes of defeat to victory in Jesus!

“…if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean”, proclaims the leper who approached Jesus in the crowd with great risk of being driven away.  We learn from this man that even in desperation, he asks for Jesus’ will to be done, “if you are willing”–you know what I want but what do YOU want, Jesus? We learn from this man’s humility that God’s will must triumph over our want. The man’s humbled, yielded will is probably what first got Jesus’ attention.  What do you think?  All we surmise from this point is this man is on his knees before the Son of God asking for His will for his hopeless life of isolation because of a flesh eating disease. 

“I am willing, be healed” is the response of a loving Savior and Lord.  But wait!  Jesus doesn’t stop there!  Jesus then delivers HIS plan and purpose for this restored, healed man.   Obey the Law, he tells the healed man, by showing those in charge that you are completely clean and restored to health.  This was protection for the man from the community who had pushed him out.  The authorities must clear him for passage to return to his family, make a living, and rebuild relationships with his friends!  Cleared, he can now, without fear of being stoned and driven away, return to those he loved most.  But first, he had to be “cleared for take-off”, so to speak, before his new life and mission given to him by Jesus, the One and Only, who did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill could begin.  The now healed man had to be shown cleansed and given the “go-ahead”.

He is no longer “the leper”.  Jesus gave the leper and new attitude with a new way of life with a new persona—”Healed and Restored”!  Jesus then told him his new mission.  Testify.  Go tell.  Go tell your story so others may know hope.  Wow!

“This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 8:1-4, NLT

Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy

Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. 2 Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”

3 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”

In the background of my mind the song, “My Testimony” is playing.  (By Elevation)

I saw satan fall like lightning
I saw darkness run for cover
But the miracle that I just can’t get over
My name is registered in heaven

I believe in signs and wonders
I have resurrection power
Still the miracle that I just can’t get over
My name is registered in heaven
My praise belongs to you forever

This is my testimony from death to life
Cause grace rewrote my story, I’ll testify
By Jesus Christ the Righteous
I’m justified
This is my testimony
This is my testimony

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Great are you Lord!  Thank you for saving my soul and making me whole.  Thank you for restoration and healing over the years.  Thank you for lessons learned through mistakes and missteps.  Thank you for protection and provision.  Thank you for all you have done, are doing and will do.  May your Kingdom come and reign in me and all around me.  May your glory of you in me be my testimony.  May YOUR WILL be done in every detail of this new day.  Give us this day all we need to be a testimony of your goodness and saving grace.  Lead us not to temptations to be shy and hold back what we know about you.  Deliver us from evil.  For you have all power, to you be all glory!  Forever.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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ROCK AND SAND

Posted on May 5, 2021 by randscallawayffm

We can listen to someone speak, only be impressed and applaud what is said.  “Ooh, good sermon, Pastor”, as we walk out the door.  Allow me to let you in on some insider information.  We consider those words as a half-hearted, “sandy” attempt to compliment how the words were said, but not really intended for life-change.  You see, most pastors do not consider these words endearing after pouring their hearts out with what God has told them to say.  But if we sincerely said, “I understood what you said and I know what I need to change in my life” is an encouragement that tells the speaker that what was said was understood for growing lives.  Yes, this would be taken as “rock-solid” affirmation of what was said.  As former pastors and speakers, we sometimes knew when a sermon or talk only impressed for the moment but not internalized for life-change.  But that does not stop us from saying what God wants said.

We can all read something inspiring and feel encouraged by the words for the moment.  We can be the loudest singer who worships, but if we do nothing about what was said, sung or read, changing little to nothing in our lives, Jesus says we are foolish, building our lives on sandy slopes that eventually the sea of trouble consumes.  But if we hear AND follow God’s Word given to us, attaching ourselves into the bedrock of our salvation, we begin to grow in wisdom, building our very lives on the rock-solid foundation of Jesus Christ.  Troubles rain down but we will not turn from Him for we know He is right beside us.  Some people will rise up against us, but still, we are firm, standing on the rock.  Sand shifts but embedded rock does not.  Have you ever stood on the sandy shore of the ocean?  You can’t stand there for long, can you?

Jesus tells us we are walking a slippery slope of unwise decisions making which leads to collapsible living if we do not hear, trust, follow and obey.  When we are living on sandy slopes, we will always wonder why everything falls apart in our lives when troubles come.  We first blame others, blame lack of funds, lack of friends, lack of knowledge when what we really lack is Jesus, the Solid Rock. 

So, the most important question to ask ourselves this morning is, who is the One and Only upon whom we are basing all of our lives? 

Are we walking a slipper slope of faith OR standing on the Solid Rock which cannot be moved?

Matthew-The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 7:24-29

Building on a Solid Foundation

24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.

And we’re singing…

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

  • Refrain:
    On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
    All other ground is sinking sand,
    All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Only You.  Hallowed is your Name.  Great are you Lord!  You are my Solid Rock on which I stand.  You are my wisdom, strength, understanding, insight, love, mercy and grace.  Grow me in and through troubles and help me stand firm in faith.  Help me to love like you love me.  Keep me from walking in sand but to stand firm on The Rock.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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TO TELL THE TRUTH

Posted on May 4, 2021 by randscallawayffm

There was a show that has made a comeback recently called, To Tell the Truth.  Three people would tell the same story of who they were, what they did and how they did it.  A panel of judges would ask various questions trying to determine who was lying and who was telling the truth.  The “liars” where sometimes tripped up and it would be obvious who was the truth teller.  But sometimes the panel was fooled.  Does this happen it real life?  Wouldn’t be kind of awesome if liar’s pants really did catch fire?  It would so much easier to tell who is telling the truth, right?

As believers, sometimes we try to fool people with our self-righteousness when our hearts are cold, our minds bitter with the past toward people who wronged us, making our souls be less than pure.  We do life to please people not God.  We do just enough to get by but not fully enjoying what God has invited us to be and do because our hearts are not motivated with what He sees as right.  We grumble and complain more and more and wonder why people begin to shy away from us.  If we were fruit trees, our “fruit” would be seriously sad to see and bitter to taste.  If the manager of the orchard comes along and evaluates our lives, we may be cut down, taken from where we are and put where we don’t want to be.

Seek what is Truth.  Seek Jesus who IS Truth.  Becoming a believer means living like Jesus taught us to live, loving unconditionally, seeing the best in others and encouraging them, thinking the best of situations and circumstances not the worst.  Paul expands Jesus’ teaching on the mount.  He explains how to bear good fruit by allowing the Holy Spirit take over the growing process.  He lists what the work of the Holy Spirit can do in us. 

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.”  Galatians 5:22-26, NLT

What do we learn?  We cannot do this alone.  We cannot grow without the Holy Spirit’s power working in us.  We cannot even begin until we have nailed our own selfishness to Jesus’ cross to die!  That’s where all sin went to die forever.  From death to the old fruitless, selfish life to an eternal growing, fruitful life with Christ!  This is serious Truth.

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 7:15-23, NLT

The Tree and Its Fruit

15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

True Disciples

21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

Abba, Father in Heaven,

The last thing I want you to say to me is, “I never knew you” so go ahead and do what you must in me so I will trust and obey quickly with a heart motivated to please you alone because of my love for you.  May your Holy Spirit speak to my heart about what is offensive to you and together correct those flaws in my character.  May the power of your Holy Spirit do His growing work in me so that I can be more fruitful in my life.  Most of all, help me to know Truth and live Truth.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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