HEALED AND RESTORED

Posted on April 5, 2019 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – God’s Purposes

When we are sick, most of us have a have few close friends or family members who will look in on us, provide help and speak words of comfort. If they are believers, they will pray for God’s healing for us. We are grateful for these friends and family who have hearts to help in the best way possible by just “being there” for us.

But what about those who are chronically ill. They seem to be beyond our normal way of life and not on our radar. We don’t understand what they are going through and we sometimes subtly judge them in our hearts and minds. (Yes, we do!) We’d like to think we don’t but we do at times by merely ignoring them. They become outcasts to our “normal”. We don’t know how to help so we stop helping. We don’t know what to say so we stop talking. We don’t know how to comfort so we stop coming by. We even stop praying when healing doesn’t come.

I think about this as I attempt to get inside the mind, heart and soul of the woman with the chronic bleeding disorder who got up and dressed herself as best she could, rushed into the crowd following Jesus who was on his way to raise a little girl from the dead! “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well”. This is her goal. Jesus’ power to heal has become her determination to be well.

The song going through my mind right now is an old hymn chorus…

My Jesus knows just what I need.
My Jesus knows just what I need.
He satisfies and every need supplies
Jesus knows just what I need.

The woman picks up her pace even though she is so weak from blood loss, the source of life for her physical body. If only, if only she mutters to herself. She is getting closer to Him who heals. She can hear his voice. If only, if only…she makes one last concerted effort to dive at the feet of Jesus and touch the hem of his garment. As soon as she touches this part of Jesus, a power surges leaps from the Son of God into her body. Every part of who she was is now overwhelmed by Jesus’ power. Jesus knows that His power has been released to her. “Your faith has made you well.” What an encouragement! Jesus has healed an outcast from society because of her illness and restored her to full health in all ways!

Is there not a tear coming to your eyes? Tears are flowing from mine. Can you imagine the power of Jesus flowing from His Body to hers? Do we realize this can happen to us?

My Jesus knows just what I need
Yes, He knows just what I need
He satisfies and every need supplies
Jesus knows just what I need.

THEN, that’s not all! Jesus makes his way to the home of a beloved little girl who has just died. He shows God’s glory once again by raising her to full health from DEATH! She is restored to her family…all because of the faith of the one who begged Jesus to come into his house to save his little girl.

Do you see the correlation between our faith and the expression of the power and glory of God expressed?

My Jesus knows just what I need…

Take time to thank God for all He has done to save us, restore us, grow us and heal us. There are not enough words but He will appreciate our effort to live grateful lives before Him.

Matthew 9, NKJV
A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed
18 While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.” 19 So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.

Matthew 9, hem20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” 22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.

Matthew 9 Jesus raises a girl23 When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, 24 He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. 25 But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went out into all that land.

Both of these healings and restoration are a part of God’s Word because of the evidence of faith and to show the power and glory of God.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for healing and restoring me. Thank you for your continual work in and through me by the power of Your Holy Spirit who lives in me.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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WHY FAST?

Posted on April 4, 2019 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – God’s Purposes

Matthew 9 why fastWe have covered the call of Matthew in the first part of
this study. We need now to understand the four pictures of His ministry that Jesus gave in this message. As the Physician, He 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.

Matthew 9 skinsThe 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! Eternal Life!

Matthew 9
Matthew 9 fastingJesus Is Questioned About Fasting
14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. 17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

QUESTIONS TO THOUGHT:

Matthew 9 new wineWhy fast when the reason to fast is to seek Jesus who was right in front of them! We sometimes fast for wrong motivations. We fast to lose weight, to cleanse our bodies physically at times, or to fast from the busyness of life.

The only reason to fast, spiritually, is to seek God and His purposes for our lives. Fasting is stopping the routine and letting go of all that stands in the way of total focus and attention on God. Fasting is not about the food not consumed but about letting God overwhelm us with His love, mercy, and grace and then allow His Holy Spirit to consume US with His direction for our lives. Once we find Him, there is no need to fast but to celebrate!

Why do you fast?

Our old lives and all the thinking we had before rebirth into God’s Kingdom must go so that both hands with our hearts, minds and souls can grasp and cling to our new life and all that God now has to offer us. We are now traveling down a new road on a new journey with God to God.

We shed the old wineskins (old clothes of sin with worldly thinking) and clothe ourselves in new “skins” of love, joy, peace, graciousness, gentleness, kindness, patience which Christ helps us to wear with grace and beauty.

“Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.” Romans 13:14, NLT

“Put on your new nature, created to be like God–truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:24, NLT

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!”
2 Corinthians 5:17

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

matthew-9-god-fills-us.jpg16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

What “skins” are you wearing?

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for teaching us daily, helping us to understand and live according to your word. Thank you for new life in Christ. Thank you, dear Jesus, for paying my debt of all my sin. Thank you, Holy Spirit for guiding me to Truth in what to wear, how to love, when to speak and when to be silent and listen. I don’t always have it right but you help me correct my ways. Thank you for all you have done are doing and will do in my life. Thank for continued transformation to be all you intended for me to to be.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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CALLED

Posted on April 3, 2019 by randscallawayffm
Matthew – God’s Purposes
 
Matthew 9 invites usBelievers use the word “called” often when describing God’s purpose and action in us and through us. Being called of God is not just for preachers. We are all called as true followers of Jesus to a variety of tasks, at just the right time and place, with the words to say and the ability and strength to say them with God’s love and purpose for His glory. Whew, I know that was a long sentence but isn’t that what being called…or “invited” to join God in His work, as Henry Blackaby explains, all about when we really think about it?
 
I highly recommend to all of you to take some time to go through the workbook study of Experiencing God by Blackaby. This tool of God’s transformed me at a stage in my life I needed it most. Here are a few quotes:
 
Matthew 9 best material“Will God ever ask you to do something you are not able to do? The answer is yes–all the time! It must be that way, for God’s glory and kingdom. If we function according to our ability alone, we get the glory; if we function according to the power of the Spirit within us, God gets the glory. He wants to reveal Himself to a watching world.”
 
God will call us with the invitation “follow Me” from a successful life to a more rewarding, fulfilling life with Him. You can count on the task being too much for you to handle. Always. God uses His work to grow us into all He intended for us to be since our creation.
 
“The reality is that the Lord never calls the qualified; He qualifies the called.”
 
We say yes…God does the rest.
 
“The Holy Spirit doesn’t need to equip you for what you’re not going to do, so if you’re in rebellion against Jesus and refusing His right to be Lord, He doesn’t need to send the Holy Spirit to equip you for service. And, tragically, you miss out on the joy that He brings. So let the Holy Spirit deal with anything that’s keeping you from obeying Christ.”
 
“We don’t choose what we will do for God; He invites us to join Him where He wants to involve us.”
 
“Some spiritual leaders try to be more committed. What they need is to be more submitted.”
 
“The fact that God can bring character development and personal growth out of any situation is conditional on people’s willingness to submit to God’s will. God is sovereign over every life, but those who yield their will to him will be shaped according to his purposes. When God directs a life for his purposes, all of life is a school. No experience, good or bad, is ever wasted (Rom. 8:28). God doesn’t squander people’s time. He doesn’t ignore their pain. He brings not only healing but growth out of even the worst experiences. Every relationship can be God’s instrument to mature a person’s character.”
 
“You cannot stay the way you are and go with God.”
 
So, here we come to the “calling” of Matthew. Matthew is sitting in his daily spot doing what he has always done, when Jesus comes and invites Matthew to leave what he knows and go where Jesus goes. “Follow Me”, invites Jesus.
 
Matthew 9, NKJV
Matthew 9 calling of
Matthew the Tax Collector
9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.
 
10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
 
Matthew 9 calling of Matthew
12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, [b]to repentance.”
 
QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT
 
Have you experienced God in this way? Have you been invited, like Matthew, to leave what you know, only to say, “I can’t do that now, I’m not ready.” “I’ve never done that before.” “I’m afraid.” “Oh, that would cause too much stress for me.”
 
OR did you say yes, like Matthew, to God’s invitation? What were the results? Did God receive glory?
 
Matthew 9 relationship
Blackaby reminds us that God does not NEED us to do His work. Shocking to our systems, I know, but this is true. God, all mighty, does not need us but He invites us so that HIS glory can be seen in and through us. He calls us to tasks well beyond our abilities so that we may learn more about God, depending on God, from the experience! The God experience also draws us into a much deeper, more intimate relationship WITH God! Hallelujah! Praise God!
 
Now, how do you feel about saying Yes to God’s invitation to join Him in HIS work?
 
“When you offer yourself to God as His servant, He first expects to shape you into the instrument of His choosing. He will always work in you before He works through you.”
–Blackaby
 
Allow this to happen and see what happens next!
 
“Right now, God is working all around you.”
 
Matthew 9 go with God“Jesus was the Son of God. Yet He never took the initiative to dream a dream or launch a new ministry. He lived His life in absolute dependence upon His Father. If Jesus was that dependent on the Father, then you and I should realize how ludicrous it is for us to set out on our own without any direction or guidance from the Father.”
― Henry T. Blackaby, Experiencing God
 
Matthew 9 callingDear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for reminding us this morning that You are God and we are not. You call us out and invite us from time to time to your work to seek and to save the lost around us. You are always at work in our world that you created. Help us see You at work. Help us to listen as your servants for your invitation to join you. Help us to be flexible and pliable as you shape us for Your work. Thank you for the awesome opportunity to join You, knowing you don’t really need us to fulfill your purposes but you want to invite us and grow us in the process because of your care and love for us. Wow. Continue to do what you need to do in me. I’m listening. I’m Yours.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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POWER AND COMPASSION QUESTIONED

Posted on April 2, 2019 by randscallawayffm
Matthew – God’s Purposes
 
Matthew 9 encounters with Jesus
The first words of this chapter cause us to look back to the swine situation which precedes it, where we find the Gadarenes so resenting the loss of their swine economy and disgusted with Christ’s company that they sent Him away from their coasts.
 
So, Jesus entered a ship, and passed over. They were glad to see him go, probably jeering on the shoreline. He took them at their word, and we never read that he came into their coasts again. Now here observe His justice—that he left them. Christ will not tarry long where he is not welcome. In righteous judgment, he forsakes those places and persons that are weary of him, but abides with those that covet and court his stay. If the unbeliever will depart from Christ, let him depart; it is at his peril, 1 Cor. 7:15. 2.
 
We also see His patience—that he did not leave some destroying judgment behind him, to punish them, as they deserved, for their contempt and contumacy. How easily, how justly, might he have sent them after their swine, who were already so much under the devil’s power. The provocation, indeed, was very great: but He passed it by without any angry resentments or uproar of emotion.
 
Jesus just entered into a ship, and passed over. This was the day of his patience; he came not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them; not to kill, but to cure. Spiritual judgments agree more with the constitution of gospel times; yet some observe, that in those bloody wars which the Romans made upon the Jews, which began not many years after this, they first besieged the town of Gadara, where these Gadarenes dwelt. Think about it…Those that drive Christ from them, draw all miseries upon them. Woe unto us, if God depart from us.
 
Now we come to the other side where Jesus picks up where He left off. He still seeks to save the lost who are without God.
Matthew 9, NKJV
 
Matthew 9 healingJesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic
9 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. 2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
 
3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”
 
4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7 And he arose and departed to his house.
 
8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.
 
THINK ABOUT IT…
 
He came into his own city, Capernaum, the principal place of his residence at present (Mark 2:1), and therefore called his own city. He had himself testified, that a prophet is least honored in his own country and city, yet He came; for he sought not his own honor. He was content to be humiliated and despised of the people.
 
Are we content to carry out the mission God has given us if it includes humiliation at times?
 
THE HEALING
 
We read and understand two things happening here:
 
Matthew 9 be encouragedI. The faith of his friends in bringing him to Christ. His illness was such, that he could not come to Christ himself, so he was carried. If we do as well as we can, Jesus will accept us. Christ had an eye for their faith.
 
Little children cannot go to Christ themselves, but He will have an eye for the faith of those that bring them. Our efforts will not be in vain. How encouraging, right?!
 
Jesus saw their faith, the faith of the paralytic himself, as well as of those who brought him to Jesus to be healed. He was also questioned by the authorities of the synagogue.
 
2. The favor of Christ to this man. What encouragement to a sick man who for days on end could only lie in his bed. “Son, be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven”. This was sovereign hope and healing to a sick man. It was enough for him to get up, pick up his bed of linens and be transformed! He was changed instantly by the power and authority of Jesus Christ! He was healed and pardoned by the only One who had authority to do both. Addressing him as “Son” showed Christ comforting compassion.
 
Do we bring people to Jesus for healing, restoration and forgiveness for the right motivations of heart? Do we only invite them to church and hope for the best?
 
THE CRITICISM
 
A group of the scribes were appalled and said within themselves, in their hearts, among themselves, in their secret whispering, “This man blasphemes”. See how the greatest instance of heaven’s power and grace is branded with the blackest note of hell’s enmity; Christ’s pardoning sin is termed blasphemy. Nothing Jesus did was out of the sovereignty and commission of God, His Father. THEY, therefore, are guilty of blasphemy, that have no such commission, and yet pretend to pardon sin.
 
Do we take credit for what God does and who God is at times? Do we take the glory that is due to God?
 
THE CONVICTION
 
1. Jesus calls them out. He knows their hearts before he hears their voices.
2. Jesus argues the case. He exerts his authority in the Kingdom of grace.
 
Matthew Henry, Commentator, “This is a general argument to prove that Christ had a divine mission. His miracles, especially his miraculous cures, confirm what he said of himself, that he was the Son of God; the power that appeared in his cures proved him sent of God; and the pity that appeared in them proved him sent of God to heal and save. The God of truth would not set his seal to a lie.”
 
Do we question the power of God when done in and for others?
 
Matthew 8 God
Dear Heavenly Father,
There is so much to learn from Your Word each time we read and listen and learn. Thank you, Jesus, for coming to earth to explain and give examples, for being a Master Teacher and storyteller. But most of all, thank you for laying down your life for all of us, paying the debt of all our sins. There is no one like you. No one. To You be all glory, honor and praise.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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TOO MUCH?

Posted on April 1, 2019 by randscallawayffm
Matthew – God’s Purposes
 
Matthew 8 herd of pigs.jpeg
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.
 
Matthew 8 demonsJesus 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.
 
Matthew 8 menQUESTIONS 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
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WHO CAN THIS BE?

Posted on March 31, 2019 by randscallawayffm
Matthew – God’s Purposes
 
Matthew 8 Jesus sleeps
You think you know a person from the way they relate to you and others. You think you know them from the how they work, react, and respond to life. You think you know a person until they do something you have never seen them do. Then your thinking about them changes…sometimes drastically.
 
The devout, called followers of Jesus think they know him. They know him as a great speaker, a healer, a prophet, a person who seems to know everything about them. They, like others, love being with Him. There’s just something about Him that they can’t put their finger on that draws many other people to Him, too. Even when He speaks Truth that hurts and convicts the hearts of those who come to Him, they still listen and want to be near Him or they walk away dejected and ashamed because of their sin they refuse to admit.
 
Matthew 8 who is thisI 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?
 
Are we, like the young disciples, just getting to know Truth in the Person of Jesus Christ, Son of God? Jesus IS who He says He is. Jesus IS Truth, the Only Way to God, and Life eternal whether we choose to accept Him, believe in what He says and does, repent before Him and live for Him or not.
 
Matthew 8 obey Him
WHO CAN THIS BE? He is our Savior, Jesus the Christ, the Messiah sent to seek and to save the lost and bring all people back into a relationships with God, our Father. He is LORD of lords and KING of kings who gives us His Holy Spirit upon our repentance and rebirth into life eternal to guide us into all Truth about Him with what He has done, is doing and will do in each of our lives who find and follow Him. As we travel through Matthew we must look closely at all the words that describe the character and actions of Jesus, for it is then that we discover more about God.
 
Wow, Who can this be? He is Jesus, the One we have been waiting for all our lives.
 
Matthew 8, NKJV
 
Matthew 8 rough watersWind and Wave Obey Jesus
23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
 
26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
 
matthew-8-god.jpgQUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT:
Who is Jesus?
Who do you think He is to the world?
How do we tell others about who He is?
Do we tell others or do we hope they can just get a glimpse from our example of living life? Yikes, is that the Truth of the Person of Jesus, though?
Is living our life before people, hoping they will get who Jesus is enough?
Our lives are not perfect enough to show who Jesus is but telling others who seek help on their journey of our perfectly forgiven hearts, minds and souls might be a start to guiding them to Who Jesus is and what He can do for all who come to Him. Mm.
 
Matthew 8 Jesus is.jpg
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Your Word of Truth in the Person of Jesus Christ, Your Son. Thank you for showing your power through Jesus in calming the sea then and in calming the storms of our lives now…just by your words. Lord, thank you. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for restoring my soul from past hurts. Thank you for teaching me the Truth of Who you are. I think I know you, then You do something miraculous once more, causing me to go deeper still in my thinking. Thank you for your constant teaching. I’m listening.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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HOW MUCH?

Posted on March 30, 2019 by randscallawayffm
Matthew – God’s Purposes
 
Matthew 8 leave the boats.jpg
Randy computes and pays our yearly taxes. My job is to care for our finances during the rest of the year. I am careful to save all the receipts for Randy to sort through at the end of the tax year. He loves my system of cramming all receipts in one file folder…not! Why sort twice when you’re going to do it at the end of the year is my philosophy. Because I pay the bills monthly and follow a budget as closely as I can, I am constantly computing cost of items in my mind. As I go to the grocery store, I know generally what the cost will be before I get the register to check out.
 
Living in Bolivia with using B’s (Bolivianos, Bolivian dollars) I must ask, “How much?” constantly, in Spanish, then compute in my head, dividing the amount by 7 so I can realize the cost in US dollars. We have been living here for two months and have two more months to go. What will be troublesome with this new way of thinking is coming home to Kroger and dividing the cost by 7 and wondering why they are charging me full price! Habits are formed, sociologists say, in 21 days. We are well past that!
 
Matthew 8 costOur 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.
 
Matthew 8, NKJV
 
matthew-8-follow.jpg
The Cost of Discipleship
18 And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. 19 Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.”
 
20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
 
21 Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
 
22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
 
QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT ABOUT THE COST:
 
Matthew 8 costs more not toAm 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?
 
Jesus is pretty straight forward with His words. His words fulfill the original first and second commandment laws: (Exodus 20)
1. I am the Lord, Your God.
2. You shall NO other gods before me.
 
Jesus gives meaning with meat in His defining the intent of the law as:
1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul.
2. Love others like I have loved you.
 
Matthew 8 crossWhen 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.
 
So, is the cost too great? This is what we decide each day. What do you think?
 
Do we consider the cost too great? Let’s consider what Jesus did for us. Jesus, who is God in human form, left the throne of heaven, laid his glory down to pick up a cross so he could pay the debt of all our sin. He allowed himself to be mocked and leered at while He hung naked in humility on the cross. He had the power to stop the madness but He used that power instead to cling to the cross for you and for me. His love is relentless, unchangeable, unfathomable, so deep and so intimate we cannot truly wrap our heads around it. But when we come close we decide that no cost is so great that we cannot follow the One who died and rose again for each one of us.
 
Matthew 8 grahamFor God so loved the world that He GAVE…
 
How much? You decide.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
I’m yours. Thank you, thank you, thank you for saving my soul. Thank you for restoring me time and time again through all the hard times of life. Thank you for allowing me to join you in your work here, right now, today. No cost is so great that compares to the cost you paid to save me. Continue to spur my thinking. Continue to change my habits through your process of transforming me.
In Jesus Name, Amen
 
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus,
No turning back, No turning back.
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THE HEALER WITH PURPOSE

Posted on March 29, 2019 by randscallawayffm
Matthew – God’s Purposes
 
matthew-8-crowds-followed.jpg
After teaching the multitudes on the mountain top, Jesus walks down to the minister to those who are suffering in every day life in the valley. It is in this ministry of healing, touching lives and changing their outcomes of living day to day Jesus uses to glorify God. This is the purpose of Jesus’ ministry…to point people back to God, their Father and Creator.
 
He restores people to health in all ways. He brings physical healing and spiritual restoration. Jesus, who is God’s Son, came to earth to reintroduce or introduce for the first time all people of all nations to God. He came to show them the character of God, how God works, how much God loves and cares for us, along with God’s desire for people to come back to Him and love Him back.
 
Matthew 8 I want to heal youWe 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.
 
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
8 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. 2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
 
3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
 
4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
 
Jesus laying hands on Roman Centurion
Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant
5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
 
7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
 
8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
 
Matthew 8 faith demostrated10 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.
 
Peter’s Mother-in-Law Healed
14 Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. 15 So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.
 
QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT:
Matthew 8 faith
In all three healing miracles, God is praised and given “testimony” to his greatness. There is a man of great faith, the centurion, who realizes that just a word from Jesus, God’s Son, will make his servant well again. The leper goes to the local priest to show his restoration and cleanness that gives testimony to the work of God. Peter’s mother in law is healed so that God is praised and glorified right before this new disciple’s eyes. I’m pretty sure that Peter never forgot that moment in time in his life and future ministry with God!
 
So, what does this mean for our daily living? When has God stepped into your life and brought healing, restoration, power and resolution in ways that showed His glory?
 
Matthew 8 healerPonder 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!
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the ways you touch our lives. To you be all the glory! We are nothing without You. We can do nothing of significance for your Kingdom without You leading us and helping us. Thank you for inviting us to join you in your work. You are our life! All of life!
In Jesus Name, Amen

 

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ONE WITH AUTHORITY

Posted on March 28, 2019 by randscallawayffm
Matthew – God’s Purpose
 
Matthew 7 words to live
Who do you listen to as one who has authority? Who makes you straighten your back and fix your clothes as they walk by or come into the room? Who causes you to look in the mirror to see if you have every hair in place and faced washed? Who is it that you admire and want to be near? To whom do you put all your hope and trust? Who do you love more than life itself?
 
We come to the end of the teaching of Jesus on the mountainside with one last mini “sermon” that has been written into a childhood song around the world. I just heard it sung by children at church last Sunday that we are attending here in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Even though it was sung in their language of Spanish, we “got it”! Remember the song?
 
TMatthew 7 rains camehe wise man built his house upon the rock
The wise man built his house upon the rock
The wise man built his house upon the rock
And the rains came tumbling down
 
The rains came down and the floods came up
The rains came down and the floods came up
The rains came down and the floods came up
And the house on the rock stood firm
 
The foolish man built his house upon the sand
The foolish man built his house upon the sand
The foolish man built his house upon the sand
And the rains came tumbling down
 
The rains came down and the floods came up
The rains came down and the floods came up
The rains came down and the floods came up
And the house on the sand went smash
 

Matthew 7 rock and sand
This is a simple song, straight from His teaching, with a powerful message from Jesus Christ, our Lord. As the One and Only Son of God, Jesus has the authority to tell us to hear and put into practice what He is telling us to do in this illustration. Build your life on Jesus, the Solid Rock of salvation, as our foundation. Build upon this foundation with bricks and mortar of obedience, trust and faith in the One who saved and redeemed us. Nothing can separate from the love of God. No storm or trouble that arises can wash away our faith if it is built on Jesus Christ, the Solid Rock.
 
Storms come and storms go but what remains is Jesus. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. “All other ground is sinking sand.”
 
Matthew 7, NKJV
Build on the Rock
matthew-7-building.jpg24 “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.
 
26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
 
28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
 
matthew-7-never-be-shaken.jpgQUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT:
Who is my foundation? Who do I look up to and want to be at my best when He comes near to me? What am I building? Where do I place all my hope, faith and trust? To whom do I serve? Who has ultimate authority over life and death?
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
I decided long ago to love and follow You with all that is in me. Thank you for showing me how to live. Thank you for Your Holy Spirit who guides and corrects, comforts and encourages as I walk with You. Thank you for showing us that our obedience is building a strong structured faith that cannot be moved. I shall not be moved, Lord, from Your Love and Presence. There is NO ONE like You! Great are You Lord! Continue to transform me into all you intended for this “house” to be.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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WHAT ARE YOU ASKING?

Posted on March 27, 2019 by randscallawayffm
Matthew – God’s Purposes
 
Matthew 6 prayer and fastingWe 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)
 
We have two months to go to fulfill our agreement to serve. We thank God for what He has done in the last two months, for what He is doing in and through us currently and look forward to what He will do. We pray and ask to finish well. We know you will pray that prayer with us.
 
Today we come to Jesus’ teaching where He explains to us how to ask and seek with the promise to find all that God has for us that is best in His eyes. Our Father in Heaven knows what we need and will provide exactly what He deems best for his children at just the right time and in the right place on our journey. I know because I live with this teaching in my heart, mind and soul every day. I love how God works!
 
Matthew 7, NKJV
 
Matthew 7 ask and seekKeep Asking, Seeking, Knocking
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! 12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
 
QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT: For what am I asking? Am I asking for a want or a true need? Am I asking for spiritual nourishment that leads to growth, wisdom, insight and understanding, strength of character along with the guidance of His Holy Spirit? For WHAT am I asking? If I get what I ask God for will it make me a better person, living His way? Am I asking for help for problem solving? Am I asking for help to relate to others in more loving ways? Am I asking for help to understand His Word more so I can live more closely to Him? Mm. For what am I asking? AND do I realize WHO I’m asking? Do I give Him glory, honor and praise as I humble myself before Him to ask what His best is for me?
 
Matthew 7 12
AND that ‘s not all…look at verse 12 that Jesus slid in for good measure. “Whatever you want other to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law”. Mm. Do I ask God to help others on their journey? Do I ask God what I can do for others and then do it with God’s help?
 
Matthew 7 narrow
The Narrow Way
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
 
QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT: What path am I choosing? The easy way looks, well, easier. We always say work smarter, not harder in this world. But we are not of this world. That’s why the road to God is narrow, not many choose the hard work, sacrifice, obedience to God that the journey requires. Mm. What way am I choosing? What will my reward be?
 
Matthew 7 18You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
 
QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT: Follow those who are false and rotten on the inside but look good and close to God on the outside are deadly to our walk with God. Watch closely at what they say and do when no one is looking. For out of the mouth comes from what is in the heart, Jesus reminds us in his teachings later. Look for character traits which are “fruits” that are developing in people and in ourselves.
 
Matthew 7 what God wantsI Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
 
QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT: At the end of a long day, what will God say to my heart? “Well done or what were you thinking?” We can do good things for bad reasons, reasons not of God and for His glory. Lawlessness here is not following the number one Law Commandment, “You shall love the Lord, Your God, with all your heart, mind and soul.”
 
matthew-7-jesus-help-me.jpg
Dear Heavenly Father,
I love Your Word that speaks volumes to us each morning. I feel closer to You when I read and understand Your ways. I hear Your Holy Spirit convict, challenge, encourage and guide me to developing better fruit in my own life. Thank you, Lord for your teaching. Thank you for saving us. Thank you for your mercy and grace that is new each day.  Grow us still. Transform us to be all you intended for us to be…and then do.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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