Instruction Three: Believers need to learn to see others through eyes of love and act in ways respecting them and their things. Romans 14:15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Mary Elizabeth Smith, age 75, of Sebring, Florida passed away on January 31, 2023 in Sebring, Florida. At its root, our problem is to intentionally, willingly, openly invite Jesus to walk with us to solve lifes confounding issues. Jesus didnt give him someone to help him. Yet, if you keep reading, it was outside the And with the physicians shaking their heads, she was sent home from the hospital. At least they I was responding to what I saw, but not what was truly there. It would not be unlikely but is not clearly stated in the text. And it seems plain as a matter of history that He taught His followers that the new life was communicated in this way. But they learn from this Sermon on the Mount that God is not a plumber. And then, he announced that on August 19 he would cross the gorge carrying his manager, Harry Colcord, on his back. The final set of teachings show our confidence must be in Gods power, not ours. 7:6 For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out. We arent talking about some who feel that lying to their boss may be acceptable. Jordan Randall Smith - Wikipedia Paul put it this way. Is that a fair characterization? Nothing less than crawling on is what He seeks. 54 This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee. Contact. "The Numbed Heart" Dr Randall Smith, Central Church June 19, 2016 At the heart of the issue are accusations from decades past, and deep concerns of many who, in unrelated personal stories, have sadly faced criminal abuse in their lives that was not resolved justly. What does that have to do with being late? I dont know why I do things quickly, but I am finished a plate of food before my wife has finished her first few bites. We arent called to solve problems for Jesus, but to invite Jesus to be the solution. A recent article by two CNN reporters (Rachel Held Evans & Laura Sessions Stepp). If you dont know who Johnny was, you arent somehow deficient. I take it the list of people to corroborate the events, then, was at least ten people, perhaps more. 3 Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. Advertisements. determined it was the former blind man they engaged, they asked: John 9:10 How then were your eyes opened? 11 He answered, The man who is called Jesus made clay, and John 5:37-47). attempt to see if he was also committing such acts. Some people are so molded by peer pressure; no evidence really matters much to the view they hold. Without Him we can do nothing; through Him we can do all things. He refused to join the ranks of those who said, If it is Thy will. It was Gods will that she be healed, he concluded. When she showed up at church and saw a Christmas tree, she protested. First, we need to examine the account of the man that came to Jesus (4:46-49). 5 Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. People of Faith are convinced there is only one path to walk upon. It is at least plausible the comment of this cloth related to the son of David designation, but it doesnt seem obvious in the narrative, unless the shepherds knew something we cannot discern in our reading. Finally, Paul said, Make your choices wisely and honestly.. With more people, the lack of supply quickly became apparent. It was five oclock in the afternoon and Blondin started the trip that was to make history. Key Principle: Jesus called His followers to be people of FAITH not people of RELIGION. With the very same voice, I want to say without qualification the Bible supports real tenderness for those who have been victims, and every attempt should be made to be sure we care for the hurting as best we can (cp. Here is the bottom line: It was likely a Tuesday the events unfolded. That may sound strange, but it happens all the time. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. As the morning dawns the birds awaken, and the animals stir all around my house (and there are plenty of them!). Dont gloss past verse four. It opened with notes about The Setting (John 5:1-7). My neighbor Jim, a sixty-five-year-old former Marine from the Greatest Generation, opened the door to find me in my gray hoodie, sloppy warm-up pants, scruffy sneakers, red bandana covering my cue ball head of no hair, red eyes from crying crying out of frustration, and a face mask. Russell Shaw Monday, December 19, 2022 Po Box 86 Bat Cave NC 28710 1398 Gerton Hwy Hendersonville NC 28792 466 Etowah School Rd Randall Smith Archives - The Catholic Thing Romans 14:10 But you, why do you judge your brother? I didnt recognize you there. He did them for all of us. They didnt leave Judaism; they found completion in Jesus as the promised Messiah. The young woman gave her testimony, praising God for his goodness. with you. 38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshiped Him. Individually, each man was a highly skilled black man, at a time in American history when opportunities for men of color were few and prejudice was even more bold than now. to people after they leave this We wont know for sure (this side of eternity) what happened long ago between these people (if anything) by the methods used in this process. Key Principle: Believers have to learn how to stay in our assigned lane of conscience while we offer great care to others around us. Essentially, when we make our faith about individualism, we rob it of its essence. Romans 9-11). Do you want to have no fear of authority? He was faced with a heart rending problem beyond his ability (John 4:46b). The man kept his claims simple and based on I know now that is not at all the case. In the poetic language of the Hebrew Scriptures, wine is most often a symbol of God-given joy: Psalm 104:15 And wine which makes mans heart glad, So that he may make his face glisten with oil, And food which sustains mans heart. The Heart of the Miraculous Account: Water was changed into wine. He wrote: Each year as we approach Christmas and Easter, we are inevitably greeted at magazine racks by news journals trumpeting the latest scholarship on the historical Jesus. The fact that very little of what appears ever has lasting scholarly value seems of little concern to the journals in question. All that I have has come into my life because of My Heavenly Father. She believes every aspect of the celebration of the season has been marred. Each of these seven events were recalled to offer clear evidence that Jesus is Messiah, Gods Eternal Son and sole door to God. Will you pretend to know Him, but not obediently listen to Him? Randy studied in Jerusalem & holds degrees in Near East Archaeology & a Doctorate in Comparative Religion from Conservative Theological Seminary. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. time clock at your job was set fifteen minutes ahead of your watch. We are passionate about making a solid Biblical education available at the most affordable rates we can possibly offer. But we believe them simply because people who did see them have left writings that tell us about them. (C.S. Next we need to examine the man and his apparent trust in Jesus (4:50-52). The Master saw through the attempt to railroad the This Let me be clear here: Some of us have chosen to participate in things that violate our conscience. Jesus spoke to the man at one oclock (the seventh hour of the daylight according to John 4:52) and yet did not return home the same day. The point is, believers must GROW UP. We OWE it to people to love them. People of faith understand that direction comes through intimate connection with God. That is either true, or its not. Their understanding of Sabbath-keeping was that of the popular rabbis of the day, not from the text of the Law. As I rode the rapids toward my bone marrow transplant, I could not get over the sheer comedy that comes from trying to live a typical life in such an atypical way. Romans 13:12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. My hour has not yet come. 5 His mother *said to the servants, Whatever He says to you, do it. 6 Now there were six stone water pots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twentyor thirty gallons each. Many of us complain that the simplicity of spending time together has been overtaken by a wave of unending, but commonly accepted interruptions. She is a talented organizer, and a helpful administrator. today if we dont understand what Jesus has done. They are trying to follow Jesus as He has taught them. Let that soak in for a moment. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. It shouldnt surprise us to know that Jesus knew what He was looking for in a follower. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. They thought abstaining was the only godly response, and all who partook were of a lesser spiritual quality. Some students of the Word take special note of the definite article before manger in the text, and understand that to mean this was a birthing place the men already knew. said to him, Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner. 25 He then John Men and women can blast other men and women to the moon or up to a space station. Ever since I was young in my faith, I have heard people say that I just needed to accept some things by faith as if that was supposed to satisfy the curiosity of all, and be the end point of the discussion About a month ago, after 86 years of life, Johnny Kline died in Tennessee. He even hints that God gives unity that leads to the blended sound of harmonious praise. His expectation was this: Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. We only win when we all break the tape together. bills to all new attenders here at church, but that doesnt mean they will Paul warned the hour was later than they thought. Included in the account were also servants of the master of the house (2:5), a headwaiter and a bridegroom (2:9). Test One: Consumption Some believe it acceptable to consume something that others believe would be wrong to consume. They reason that when a woman was ritually unclean (as in childbirth), she had to live apart from her family so as not to defile the household. That is a distraction from the call to give to temporal rulers the temporary (but prized) bank balance. Copyright Great Commission Bible Institute 2023. randall smith sebring church. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. Constant stimulation has made us hunger for more constant stimulation. The noun umah (defiled or unclean) is used some forty times in the Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible to denote ineligibility for different services. I believe in a Creator because I see the product of organization all around me, and I know that billions of years wont create structure and organization exacting enough to make a strand of DNA morph into an aardvark while another morphs into a zebra. I read those words, Jesus sounds down or feeling persecuted. Do you take it They can unmask our true vulnerability. Will you choose to follow a world that is killing the fruit that was so abundant when we took His Word more seriously? The Greek term for inn (Luke 2:7) is kataluma, normally translated guest chamber and used also in Luke 22:11. A rabbi normally stood for the reading of Scripture, but they sat down when they were about to offer their key teaching. Maybe it isnt clear to you, but the Bible teaches that we can move so fast, we rush past Gods best lessonsbecause they often come from weakened people. I shall be here to help you again tomorrow night, if you should come this way. It wasnt long before Franklins neighbors began placing lights in brackets before their homes and soon the entire city awoke to the value of street lighting and took up the matter with interest and enthusiasm. Luke made clear there was no room in the kataluma which was a makeshift guest space in the family home Joseph. would be born blind? 3 Jesus answered, It was neither that this man sinned, randall smith sebring church Christmas season for 2018, I must return to the story of change I watch each Grace Brethren Church - Staff Since they didnt believe in Crisis led him to Jesus. Jesus People come to Christ because of our testimony something that only happens when we love and engage Jesus and other people. and at the times when God intervened on Jesus behalf as a child. In Biblical terms, I dont go to Heaven, we do. This Brethren church serves Highlands County FL - Pastor Randall Smith Matthew Wheelock. the week-long festival in Jerusalem at the Feast of Sukkot (or Tabernacles) one Let others have convictions in areas you dont. The notes about the setting gave way to the record of the Miracle (John 5:8-9a). The Hebrew calendar has regular length years (kesidrah), shorter years (cheserah or a deficient year with 353/383 days) or longer years (shlemahor complete year with 355/385 days). They will either get used to walking without the knowledge of what pleases Him, or they will fill in the blanks with things they care about and make it sound like Jesus had the same cares. Go to the last part of chapter one (Mt. He understood the play. randall smith sebring church - I-elevatornigeria.com If not, what use was He? to do and when He intends to do it, and is fully able to deal with the tension of not pleasing even a follower in the immediate It is the convincing of the mind and heart that leads to a willful surrender to the conditions of that truth accepted. When Abraham believed that God would send him a son he built a nursery. You have a choice! He noted it was a time when believers seem to be dozing a bit. want to start up and go for about forty tries. We are going to go back into things that happened in the past and gather the testimony of verified deeds. 7 Jesus said to them, Fill the water pots with water. So they filled them up to the brim. They work at allowing God to control them, and pay little attention to trying to control others. It can be confusing. His thoughts, his ideas and his desires changed. While it is true the prophet Ezekiel wasnt offering intentional detail on wrapping infants, he does show it was a known practice that demonstrated (along with salting the newborn) at least minimal care. Consider the fact that a Brazilian farmer, right now as we are seated in this room, may be burning a field and clearing Amazon rain forest land of the last of a plant that would cure cancer but he doesnt know that. deeds are evil. Not to mention, people really dont know how to react or treat you when, well you know, you have no eyelashes, eyebrows, head hair, and just look like a freak. The answer is not as complicated as it may appear. It is a popular notion, but one that assumes God is not behind authority structures. On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. Ultimately, all things happen under the authority of our Heavenly Father even the things He is not pleased by. The bills rolled in like a tsunami and they are under water. John because it doesnt get them to the conclusion they desire. Believe my Father sent Me (trust the source of my message as from the very Creator). Politicians jockeyed endlessly through a never ending series of internal divisions to gain or hold some sense of power. Look closely at the verse. We deliberately peel off self when we recognize the lateness of the hour and snap out of the delusion of night. Lets drop in as an observer to the happenings in Cana some two thousand years ago. We are not to withhold our deliberate action to meet the needs of those around us, without the expectation of any specific return on our action. Theres a car! Blocked by a blind spot on the car at that angle and by my wifes lovely head, I totally missed the view of the car. Rather you were thrown out into the open field, for you were abhorred on the day you were born. Lets soberly evaluate for a moment: We live with changed expectations of social etiquette: We dont pull up in a drive through and expect a greeting from the server because he or she is busy speaking to the person behind us who is just giving their order. Hope floods in and fills up space left uncomfortably empty by the assault of troubles. It is a well-documented notion. Deed transfers | Highlands Homes | midfloridanewspapers.com At this point in the narrative, I cant help feeling like Paul seemed to break into a song. 2 A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. His wife questioned him about it and he explained that on his way home he saw his preacher on the road and picked him up. He was part of a famous team. We actively seek to peel off self when we practice the theory of submission in something as physical as money. The idea that this follows days from chapter one doesnt seem to really fit the time. The ExpectedChoicesof a True Disciple (7:13-29). The steward made a judgment call and didnt get additional resources during the week, because he thought they had enough to get through the end of the feast. Morbid humor is truly something that must be embedded in ones DNA, because it can seem really inappropriate at times. el diablo food truck fort collins. Florida Department of State Data last refreshed on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 The separation anxiety many believers feel is from God. There must be more to this! 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me. 4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Faith is about seeing things as God says they are, and becoming what you know God made you to be. 7The 5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?. This isnt about ME as much as it is about US. Key Principle: Jesus message made clear his expectations for the character, the commitments and the choices of a true follower. He isnt talking badly about our physical bodies (nor our God-given nees like food, etc.) That is why we teach the principle approach to the Scriptures. Romans 14:22b Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. Do not misunderstand me; I am not saying that all rules are bad things. Romans 15:1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. The following Sunday, the family was there again. 9:18-21 that record what happened when the parents of the man were brought in My hour has not yet come. 5 His mother said to the servants, Whatever He says to you, do it.. In the first two lessons of this series on what Jesus DID, we have observed these principles: In the third lesson of the seven works in Johns Gospel, the writer selected a tender moment between Jesus and a hurting and lonely lame man. What does Paul mean by make no provision for the flesh then? Christian Travel Study Programs, Inc. is a licensed Florida Seller of Travel #35150. Dr. Randall Smith is a respected Bible teacher who has lived and worked in the places of the Bible for more than a quarter of his Life. The problem is they carried that conviction into the assembly as the standard of truth, when the private consumption of such meats was not forbidden (see 1 Corinthians 10). That doesnt seem likely, since the shepherds were directed to the village to find the child, and it doesnt seem to take into account the literal wording of the text. We suggest you be nice to her! Bypass judgment and LIVE NOW! Some people 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *said to Him, They have no wine. 4 And Jesus *said to her, Woman, what does that have to do with us? The yielding of my heart to Jesus is my responsibility. Then he kept the glass brightly polished, and carefully hung it at the approach of dusk. At the heart of the story was the solution The statement reads: But when the child was born in Bethlehem, since Joseph could not find a lodging in that village, he took up his quarters in a certain cave near the village; and while they were there Mary brought forth the Christ and placed Him in a manger, and here the Magi came from Arabia and found Him. According to Jesus conversation with the man after his healing, the illness was because of some sin in his life that the man was fully aware of (So Jesus told him in John 5:14: sin no more using the term may-ket-ee: no further any longer). Stop and look for a moment, before reading the list of things Paul commanded them to DO in the chapter, at the final command found in the last line of Romans 13, at verse 14: Romans 13:14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to [its] lusts.. Dont cynically read this as some kind of patronizing passage to keep the authorities off the back of the early church leaders it is both their record and the breathed Word of God! Jesus just fed thousands on the north shore of the Sea Yet, the Master wasnt done. He is also a Visiting assistant professor of Music and Director of Orchestra at Susquehanna University. Their ideas may not have been well-founded, but they were deep and caring for them took precedent over some harsh form of crash training. It wasnt that Paul wanted the weak to remain so; it was because he knew that people dont care what you know until they know that you care about them. Dont deliberately do what will offend and hurt them, because it hinders their walk. If it was true the shepherds were trained to deal with the specialized needs of Temple lambs, and if the practice of binding extended back from the time of the Mishnaic memory to their time and place, the wrapping could have been significant. In four weeks, it was only the woman and her husband. He was acknowledging a truth we must ponder to stay on track: We dont belong here. Justin Martyr claimed Jesus was born in a cave outside the city of Bethlehem. They heard You shall not commit murder but Jesus argued that His original intent was not to limit the scope of harm to a knife or a club, but to include murder by mouth and other kinds of wounds to the heart. he could see life for what it is. In Romans 13, Paul appealed to the believers to allow God to change them in relation to the way they handle people OUTSIDE THE CHURCH in their local community especially in relation to those who were in charge of the society. with such logic is how much it ignores the stunning July 3, 2022 In types of dismissive avoidant deactivating strategies. It is a lesson worth hearing. Life in the here and now SEEMS more real and more permanent than any misty thoughts of Heaven and eternity. For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. lakers celebrity seating chart 2019 bottle caps candy root beer only bottle caps candy root beer only Jesus ended His message with four choice statements. world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, thatits 7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lords. That is what good teams produce. The hardest part of the driving were the one hundred and fifty roundabouts (or circles), because the driver must access them in the opposite direction from what we do here. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. MY STATISFACTION. Many in Jewish circles still echo that. 9:31 We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and Second, the term flesh is modified by the term lusts making them one and the same. It was in the pain of anothers experience that we all heard the possibility of finding humor in the circumstances. 5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?. We are all wrestling dragons of our own making. Check social media profiles, photos and videos, places of employment, public records, resumes and CV, arrest records, business records, memorials and work history . Notice how the man reached out for Jesus and begged Him to have mercy and deliver him from the clutches of the terrible need (John 4:47). He brought satisfaction to those who longed for deep truth. had those days. If you were Jewish, you would know bread was on the minds of the people as Pesach (or Passover) approached. Mary seemed sure that Jesus could fix the problem because Mary believed Jesus was the Promised One. As powerful lobbies and political factions collided before our eyes, Americans saw the worst attributes of power players seep out in a drama that captured some of the largest ratings on American TV. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. The point of the story was about the men who were about to knock on the door down below the roof Peter was on and he noted a lesson from the sheet that God showed him PEOPLE God says are clean, are clean. Peter was learning about people, not receiving a change of dietary restrictions. Randall Smith Obituary (1959 - 2022) - Legacy Remembers Jesus turned that desire upside down and told His followers to hunger to be helpful instead to hungering to get even. He merely said, Go home. 11 Blessed are you when [people] insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. How do I know? If in the story of Jesus. That helps us understand the full grasp of belief. The mans household believed by the end of the account (4:53-54). Weston Lundgren. What did God do about mans rebellious and languishing state? Our relationship with God must not be simply based on his ability to heal us or perform other miracles for us. When we take from another the things that are justly theirs, we remove from them the fruit of their labors, and we show ourselves discontented with what God has placed rightfully in our hands.