Matthew – God’s Purposes
The fallen angel and his demon army knows Jesus better than we know him. He was with him in heaven before he fell. He fell because he wanted to be God, to take God’s place. He is still trying to take God’s place in our hearts, minds and souls. We see it in the lives of some students that we teach. We see it in some of our family members. We see it at our churches, places of business and pretty much everywhere. We see it in us from time to time until we realize what is going on and put a stop to this insanity.
Yes, it is insane to follow someone who wants to destroy you versus One who gives Life abundant now and forever. We all are demon possessed from time to time, I think, until we see God for Who He is, humble ourselves before Him, repent of all our sin, not holding anything back, believe and accept His Son as the Giver of Life, our Savior and our Lord. Being LORD, the One and Only in control of our lives is key.
Jesus will guide us into God’s purposes for us. Sometimes we think what He asks is too much. But when we consider the alternative and what Jesus did for us, then we know nothing is too much when God takes control.
Jesus has confronted evil head on in this next passage. It is a strange passage to us. He sends the devil and his demons packing into a herd of pigs. Obviously, this is not a Jewish community to have hogs as a way of earning a living. So when Jesus does this miraculous healing of two men who are tormenting the neighborhood, they can only look at their economy of living going over the edge of the cliff. The community comes to Jesus, not to accept Him but to ask him to leave. Who Jesus is and Who He represents is just too much for them.Matthew 8, NKJV
Two Demon-Possessed Men Healed
28 When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. 29 And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”
30 Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. 31 So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.”
32 And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.
33 Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.
QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT:Is Jesus too much for you? Is Jesus too much for us? For me? Were the healed men afraid to talk about how Jesus changed their lives? No, they were the talk of the town! Are we overwhelmed by His power? Do we shy away when He asks us to join Him in His work to seek and to save the lost? He gave us authority, his authority, to go out into the world, preaching and teaching His word, His story to all nations. Is this task too much to ask? What or who are we afraid of? Who is guiding us? Who is guiding this fear and timidness?
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are Lord, God, the Maker of Heaven and earth and all that is in it. You created us. You gave us life through Jesus Christ, Your Son. You continue to give us guidance and the provisions to tell your story. Be our strength, wisdom, insight and understanding. Open our mouths and let Your words pour out as You promised they would through Your Holy Spirit in us. You overwhelm us at times with your power and relentless love and care but you are not too much for me. Go with us this day as we teach.
In Jesus Name, Amen
I am stopped by the profound question in our passage today, “WHO CAN THIS BE?” Who is Jesus indeed? Who is Jesus to you? Who is Jesus today in the world we walk around and relate to on our journey? Do we really know Jesus? Do we care to know the fullness of Jesus? Do we care to listen to the Truth of what He teaches? Is He, in our heart, mind and soul, who we think He is?
Wind and Wave Obey Jesus
QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT:
Our passage today causes me to think about our habits of discipleship when following the King of kings and Lord of lords who we say we believe in, trust with all our hearts and will obey when He calls us to task. Jesus helps those who are following Him around watching Him do miraculous acts of healing while listening intently to His teaching. They want to follow Him, they say. They want to be inside the work with Him, being a part of all the excitement. A particular scribe says he will follow Jesus wherever He goes. So, Jesus, who knows and sees inside their hearts, does a cost analysis of what it takes to follow Him with all that is in us. 
Am I constantly counting the cost of following Jesus before I obey Him? What is my habit when called by Him to follow His leading in small and large tasks that require sacrifice of time, talents and resources? Do I bargain with God the way the man did who wanted to take care of funeral arrangements before following Jesus? In other words, do the things of this world come before Christ?
When you put all of this “cost analysis” together you get a clear picture of the cost of discipleship…or following Jesus with all that is in you, leaving the rest of the world stuff behind.
For God so loved the world that He GAVE…
We must not forget God’s purpose in Jesus’ mission to seek and to save the lost as we read each passage of Jesus’ ministry and miraculous moments of glorifying God. He is led by God. He is told what to say and when to act upon God’s behalf. “I only say and do what the Father tells me to say and do”. He tells the people in front of Him this statement many times. So we must keep this in mind as we read of Jesus’ actions on behalf of God, OUR Father.
10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
Ponder that for awhile. Make a mental list then praise God for each moment. There will be more moments as we live our lives in ways to give Him all the glory, honor and praise!
24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT:
We want to begin by thanking all the people and church groups who contributed to our mission work here in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Our treasurer for Finding Focus Ministries will be making the last payment on our living and ministry expenses with our partner, World Gospel Mission. We thank and praise God for you as passionately as Paul prayed for those who supported him. (See Philippians 1)
Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
I Never Knew You
We were created with all kinds of inner mechanisms to see, touch, feel, taste, and hear. We were given intricate minds to understand and interpret our senses. We were created with hearts and souls at the center of our being to be filled with all the Creator has for us. How are we using what God gave us to love Him back and to love others?
The Lamp of the Body
You Cannot Serve God and Riches
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
Do Good to Please God
The Model Prayer
8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Fasting to Be Seen Only by God
Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
Christ Fulfills the Law
Murder Begins in the Heart
Adultery in the Heart
Go the Second Mile
Matthew 5:13-16, NKJV
What happens when we lose our saltiness? What causes this to happen in our lives? I am a “lifer” in God’s church. Here is what I have noticed and heard in God’s people who begin to lose their “salt” as their lights dim, causing people to avoid them:
