A Life That Matters
| The Gospel According To the Birds - #6513 |
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| A Word With You - Your Personal Power |
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Download MP3 (right click to save) So who needs an alarm clock in our neighborhood? We've got ravens! Yeah, those big black birds discovered our backyard. Now, ravens apparently are early risers, a little earlier than most people are. And they are also, shall we say, active conversationalists. Which makes them wonderful alarm clocks for those early morning hours whether you want them or not! Frankly I don't mind it. It's great to have all the birds singing their little spring concert in our yard. Actually, they do more than sing, they preach! I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Gospel According To the Birds." Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Luke 12 , where we find the Gospel from the birds. The Gospel's not for the birds, no, it's from the birds. The subject of their sermon is security. And that might be an issue that you have reason to be concerned about right now. Well, Jesus has just told this in this passage about a man whose idea of security echoes that of almost everyone around us. He has a lot of crops to take care of, and he says in Luke 12:18 , "I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to myself, 'You have plenty of good things laid up for many years.'" Well, that's pretty much our world's concept of security. "What have you got in your storeroom, man? What have you got to fall back on? What have you got in your IRA? What have you got for retirement? What have you got in case medical emergencies come up?" Then here comes the message from that bird passage in the Bible as Jesus talks to us beginning at verse 22, "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body what you will wear. Life is more than food and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens...'" Well, I have no choice. They make sure I consider them every morning. Jesus said, "Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap. They have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable are you than birds!" I love these simple words, "They have no storeroom, yet God feeds them." And then He says, "If He'll do that for the ravens, He'll surely do that for you." Now, we live in a world that says surplus equals security. The Gospel according to the birds is simple but eloquent. It says, "Our security is this: We have a Father who is a great provider. That's where your security is; not what you have in your storeroom." Jesus goes on to talk about how the pagans are chasing after things and after material security. But He says, "You seek His kingdom, and then sell what you have and give to the poor, and pass on the kingdom to other people." You're secure. Not because you can see where it's going to come from, but because of who your Father is. In fact, I wonder if some day Jesus isn't going to return and say to a lot of us, "What are you doing sitting on all of that? Why do you have so much in your storeroom?" See, we are Father-fed people. We don't need big reserves. We're to feed others with the gifts that He's given to us. You don't ever have to worry about having enough. In fact, one day those ravens proved that God will always find a way to meet your need. When every other source of security and supply was cut off from Elijah, the ravens brought it. God will always find a way, even if you have to keep your window open for the ravens to come in with it. If the usual means of supply are cut off, God doesn't need those. It's been God that's been the source all along. He'll deliver it another way. He will feed you from His storeroom. If you don't believe me, just ask the birds. |
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Comments
Until then, the children in Bangladesh starve every day, day in and day out for years. Until we do it, God did not
"find a way" for all those who starved to death except death itself to ease their pain. That way was there the day they were born. Too much is left for God to do when we fail to understand how the Universe works when we take the responsibilitie s given to us.
God is the provider, but He will not do for us what we can do for ourselves. Remember Jesus' words? "Without me you can do nothing."
There seems to be a lot of negativity and rejection on your part to everything Ron writes. Why is that?
Gregg: You are right. God does not "find a way" to circumvent our own actions. He has no hands, but ours, to do his will. That is "The Way" it works on this earth. If we hoard, God does not get to use what we hoard and so He does not get fed if we don't feed the children. "When you feed them, you feed me."-Jesus. And that does not mean Jesus is God.
I believe that we are made in His spiritual and physical image. However, I believe and know that we are made of the dust of the ground where God isn't, so how can you say He doesn't have hands. We may not know the substance of His being, but that's ok. Somethings are not meant for us to understand.
Sounds like you're starting to get upset. Sorry about that, but until you can prove to me that Jesus is not God and that God is not the universe, but created the universe, I will continue to use my Bible and believe what it says. After all it's the inspired word of God. Yes the truth will set you meaning everyone who accepts it free. Straight from the mouth of Jesus the Divine Son of God.
The Bible's Covers never closed, and the Word of God is still being spoken, and every word you and I speak is The Word of God when we debate...both sides.
The Bible is a record, (get it?) of the progressive revelation of God to mankind as much as any man is willing and able to receive it. Ideas change, so God's Word changes as we learn to perceive it in a different way. Jesus: "Seek and Find!"
The word of God Jesus never changes. He's the sasme yesterday, today and forever. The Bible is the written word of God, and His message never changes it's the same as it's always been. With God's help I will continue to hold to what the Bible says. Get it?
The only change would be people trying to make it say things it really doesn't say. You come across as one of them.
The Word of God as it changes is what does not change. The change is the way we perceive it and we are learning all of the time. It is "getting to know God" which is "getting to know the Word of God" not just the Word of God as it is as a record in the Bible, which also records the Hebrews changing perception of God's Word. 70 for 7 killed, eye for eye killed, 70x7 forgiven. That is progression. Do not fear this.
God not only has hands but they are nailed-scarred from hanging on the cross for your sins. In John 20, after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples and Thomas. He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.”
I don't doubt. I believe as I have told you. It is my Faith as is yours your Faith. I use to have your Faith. I now have a stronger, more realistic Faith.
That comment about us being God and man sounds to me like it boarders on blasphemy. Jesus is God and man. Read John 20.
Christine. Don't let anyone deceive you or confuse you with their false statements. When you study your Bible ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. Jesus said that there would be false teachers in the last days. He described them as wolves in sheeps clothing.
Take every scripture that pertains to the subject you're studying.
Neither yours or my statements are "false."
That would be blasphemy because both statements are inspired by God's revelation to each of us as we are willing and able to understand it.
There's a difference. When the Pharisees accused Jesus of blasphemy for claliming to be God. The difference is He (Jesus) is God, no way around it, and we're not God. If I am God because I'm made in His image, then why would I deny it? The fact is we're not God. Are you your mother or father because you're made in their image? I'm not giving an opinion, I'm stating a fact.
Jesus said. "If they don't want to hear the truth leave them alone.
Thank you. You made my day. Yes, you're correct Jesus is fully God and fully man. Thank you also for coming up with John 20. I've been trying to find that scripture for a long time, and was having trouble locating it. You have proven that prayers are answered.
Some people don't believe that Jesus is God, I do. Verses 24 through 30 proves it, but it is better to read the entire chapter.
Let the Holy Spirit guide and pray while studying.
I would like you to tell me seriously your comcept of God. Who is He? and How did He come into existence? If He's the universe like you mentioned in a previous comment, then who created Him?
One last remark conceerning your claim that we are God. Who created who? We are not God. We are created beings, and God is the Creator pure and simple.
The Universe has no beginning and no end, and always was and will always be. Like God? I told you to send for my book. It is all in there, simplified for you.
I told you that I need the Bible only. No other book will do unless it references the Bible as it is written.
God is the creator, the universe is created by God.
The first lie recorded in the Bible was in Genesis 3 when Satan told Adam and Eve that by eating of the tree of the knowlige they would be like God knowing good and Evil. That was never God's intention for His created beings.
1. I am no more of a liar than you are.
2. I have read every remark you have written since I started reading this blog.
3. You have read mine.
4. The only reason you haven't read my book is because the blog limits the number of letters I can send at one time. Otherwise, you would have read it.
5. You won't read my book, I won't read any more of your material.(it might confuse me, right? Your way or the highway? Bye Church Lady. How conveenient!
I never called you a liar and you know it. I was quoting the first Lie Satan told Adam and Eve from Genesis 3. However, When some one denies the Jesus is God the Son when the Bible clearly says He is and makes statement like "We are God and man". What am I suppose to think? Sorry if you took it that way. If you don't want to read anymore of my material that's fine with me.No Marvin it's not my way or the hyway. It's God's way. And for you information I'm not the church Lady.
Maybe you have a problem with this one without rationalizing something other than what it actually says: The Sons of God and the Daughters of Men (Genesis 6:1-8) | Bible
That is what you are suppose to think: what the Bible says, not whether Marv and the first lie relate!
I admit that Satan told the first lie to Adam and Eve. Mary had nothing to do with it. Never said you were lying, but you are twisting the scriptures to agree with your way of thinking.
Anyway, I thought you weren't going to continue reading my material?
And I admit that I "twist" what was never straight in the first place, and not to agree with my thinking, but to suggest a different interpretation because the traditional one does not hold up against the reaction of the listeners in the first century who came by the thousands to hear Jesus, for instance. As I said, The Pharisees were so upset, they asked Jesus to shut them up. -Marv...
All of them love me dearly as I also love them. I will add Mary to my list, since I tend to ponder in my heart before I write. -Marv