Sin Must Be Acknowledged!

Mark 1:5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.  

Whether we like it or not, sin is a major topic in the Bible.  It is what causes us to be separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). It is what causes us to be lost (Romans 6:23). And sin is the sole reason that Jesus left heaven and died on the cross (1 Peter 2:21-25).  Therefore, any preacher that wants to be true to the purpose of Jesus’ mission, MUST talk about sin!

As John went through the country side of Israel, he taught the message of repentance as we saw in yesterday’s RTS.  But in today’s installment, we see a new gem about sin.  As John taught and the people responded to his teaching by being baptized, the text says that they did so “confessing their sins”.

The concept of confessing our sins comes down to acknowledgement.  We have to come to a point that we recognize that behaviors and actions are indeed wrong and sinful.  Let me give you an example.  Let’s say that your sin of choice is stealing.  One day you steal so much money that you have all you will ever need so that you do not need to steal any longer.  Giving up that life of sin may appear to be that of repentance, but is it really?  Sure the sin has been ceased...that is certainly an aspect of repentance, but only because they do not need to do that sin any longer.  What is missing is the concept of recognition!  For us to have the proper reaction to sin, we must have the understanding that sin is wrong in all circumstances and for all times.

Reflecting His SON,  

Dennis Hogan

Minister, North Hardin Church of Christ

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

1804 Sam Stewart Dr.

Radcliff, KY  40160

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

their e-mail address to me and I will add them to my mail list.

Repentance is Essential!

Mark 1:1-3 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; (2) As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. (3) The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 

Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 

Yesterday, we looked at verses 1-3.  Today we will focus our attention on verse 4 but there is a fundamental point is verse 2 we need to see and understand.  In verse 2 it tells us that John the Baptist is a messenger sent by God.  If we are not careful, we can gloss over that fact without the importance sinking in.  We must not just assume that John the man was sent by God.  Nor that simply his mission was endorsed by God.  But rather that he was carrying and delivering the specific message that God wanted the world to know.  Once John got here, he did not preach about stuff that we wanted or thought was needed.  He, like Jesus, spoke, taught and preached the specific message that GOD wanted delivered.

John 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

In our passage today, we see the foundation of the message that God wanted John to teach:  Repentance! 

Repentance is not just a topic from a fuddy-duddy generations gone by.  It is not just a subject from old guys that want to keep the youth from having fun.  Repentance instead is ESSENTIAL for having our sins removed.

So what is Repentance?

The Best definition of Repentance is: A change of mind that by necessity leads to a change of life.  A change of heart that causes us to change directions to live the life that God describes.  The best verse in the Bible to describe repentance is:

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

In verse 1 it tells us that we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice.  That simply means that we are to live the specific life that God instructs even to the point of making significant sacrifices in our lives.  Then in verse Paul tells us how this can and must be achieved.  It is a two step solution:

1.  We Cannot Be Conformed to the World!

The world, in this use, are the influences that lead us away from what God wants.  The world and those in it is what causes us to desire to lead a life where we want to always please ourselves....at the expense of God.

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

2.  Instead we Must be Transformed by the Renewing of our Minds.

Another word for transformation is “Change”.  We must understand that change is required to please God. A person, any person, in fact ALL people are indeed influenced by the world before being a follower a Jesus.  That following of the world is what caused salvation to be needed.  So we need a drastic change in our thinking, in our reactions, in our lifestyles, our behaviours and every aspect of our lives so that we are able to have an about face and begin living the life that God desires.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Once we 1. are no longer conformed to the world and 2.  are transformed by renewing our minds,  we can and MUST be able to PROVE, through our actions, what the will of God is.  The transformation cannot JUST be in our minds, it must be translated to the manner in which we live our every day lives.

That is  repentance!

That is the message that God wanted John to preach!  It is the primary message that John did preach.  It was a foundational message that Jesus preached and continues to be a message found throughout the New Testament!.

Repentance is pretty essential!

Reflecting His SON,  

Dennis Hogan

Minister, North Hardin Church of Christ

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

1804 Sam Stewart Dr.

Radcliff, KY  40160

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

their e-mail address to me and I will add them to my mail list.

God Needs You!

Mark 1:1-3 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; (2) As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. (3) The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 

I have heard it said most of my life, especially as it pertains to the giving of money, that God does not NEED anything from man.  From the aspect that God has eternal power at his disposal – that he was able to speak into existence the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1) that is certainly true.  From the aspect that God can manipulate things so that his will is done under any circumstances....again that is true. (Ex 32:7-14)  But that does not change the fact that God uses ordinary, every-day people to carry out his will.  And for that reason, God DOES need us!

In our text today, we have the introduction of John the Baptist.  Talk about your every-day kind of guy...but ordinary he wasn’t!  He did not have a ‘fancy’ degree.  He was not considered a religious leader of his day.  In fact, the religious leaders of his day were intimidated by his message.  With that said, this run-of-the-mill guy served a critical role in the success of Jesus.  He was to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord!

In a similar manner, there is a critical role that each of us can and must play.  I would think that it is every bit as important as the role that John the Baptist served.  We each are to continue the mission that Jesus started.  The final words, according to Matthew’s account, to Jesus’ closest followers was about perpetuating his mission that he had started.

Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 

Every single follower, in the history of Christianity, falls into this mission.  Therefore, we are taught to follow, then we should also be taught to teach and to keep the duplication process going.  In some ways, this reminds me of the modern day network marketing system.  Teach.  Teach them to teach.  Teach all of them to teach. And so on and so on!

Someone might say:  “What difference does it make if I don’t follow this system..there are so many other people that could teach instead?”  I do think that a lot of people feel this way.  There are two predominate reasons why this attitude is flawed.

1.  What if everyone....or even most people had this attitude?  Well, that question is largely rhetorical.  The system would obviously collapse. The fact is, christianity is described in the Bible as a human body in 1 Cor. 12:12-26. Each person is a part of the body.  Some are eyes. Some are ears.  Some are hands, feet, vital organs and so on.  Paul describes this illustration as each member being essential for the effective and efficient function of the body as a whole.  If the one part of the body is injured, the whole body suffers.

2.  The Top will survive, the bottom will wither and die.  In network marketing, if a person down the line quits, the people on the top of the chart will continue to make their money, but the people below are the ones that suffer.  Along this way of thinking, we need to understand that each of us are connected to people that other Christians may not be. If we do not positively effect them and teach them the truth they may never run across another person that can or will.  God’s plan will still be ultimately carried out, but the people that we, individually, could reach, may be lost due to our apathy.

So from that perspective, yes God does NEED us.  God needs us and the Lost needs us.  Won’t you be the member of the body that you were called to be?  Won’t you do your part in fulfilling the mission of Jesus?

Reflecting His SON,  

Dennis Hogan

Minister, North Hardin Church of Christ

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

1804 Sam Stewart Dr.

Radcliff, KY  40160

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

their e-mail address to me and I will add them to my mail list.

Jesus Disciples...Love One Another!

John 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

This passage begins in a very interesting manner.  “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples”.....In other words, Jesus doesn’t just desire that we are followers of his, He wants us to demonstrate it to the world.  And the specific way that we are to demonstrate our discipleship is by LOVING ONE ANOTHER.  Certainly, as we talk about behaving like Jesus, the characteristic of love should be one of the most obvious.  Because Jesus was the most perfect example of love.

Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

The fact that Jesus gave up the glory of heaven, Came down to this world to set an example for us to follow, And then died on the cross for our sins is the PERFECT demonstration of love.  Paul specifically tells us that he did all of this “while we were yet sinners”.  In other words, it wasn’t because we deserved it....or that we had earned it.  It is not even because we wanted it or asked for it.  It is also worthy to note that there was no benefit to him to do this monumental act of love.  He did it only because he loved us.  One characteristic of the kind of Godly love that we are to emulate is that God and Jesus did what we needed not what we think we wanted.  Here’s an example of what I mean.  If you gave a child the choice of what he WANTED to eat for any or every meal, What would he request?  Probably cookies, cake, or candy.  So as a loving parent, Do we allow them to eat only what they want?  Not good parents.  Good parents would insist that they eat vegetables, meat...a well balance meal.  Even to the point that little Johnny cries and says that he doesn’t want to.  Why would a parent do something that little Johnny doesn’t want?  Because in the long run it is what’s best for him.  And true love does what is best for others.  Therefore, we too must love others and do what is be for them in spite of what they want.

Matthew 28:19-20  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 

The ABSOLUTE greatest thing that we can do for someone is to teach them about Jesus.  Because through him, They can solve the greatest problem of their life....SIN.  This may not be what the person wants. In fact, the person may think they want to be left alone and not to have “your religion” “shoved down the throat.  But love demands that we teach them anyway because it is what is best for them.

2 Timothy 4:2-4  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

Paul tells Timothy that there will come a day when folks would rather hear cute stories and fables than to hear the truth that they need.  What is Paul’s recommendation to Timothy if and when this happens?  To tell them what they want to hear?  No!  To Preach THE word.  To do it when it is popular and when it is not.  The same principle applies to erring Christians as well.

Galatians 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 

James 5:19-20  Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; (20) Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. 

Erring Christians in this situation will not be begging for us to come and show them the error of their way.  I assure you, it will be quite the opposite.  But the need is critical.  Notice the language that James uses.  Notice the condition that he describes these erring  Christians in...Save a soul from DEATH and hide a multitude of sin.  These people are in danger of spiritual and eternal punishment without our influence.  They need us, regardless of what they think they want.  And like Jesus, we need to do what they need, not what they want.  But there is more to demonstrating our love to our brethren than just restoring the erring.

Galatians 6:2   Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 

Galatians 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. 

I think the two primary characteristics of true godly love are compassion and action.  First we need to genuinely feel and care about the needs of others.  Within any congregation there are people hurting. They will not walk up to another member that they do not know very well and start unloading their problems.  So we need to be more receptive of the feelings of others.  But the another implication is that we need to know our brothers and sisters truly like our physical family.  If I was to get into trouble, the first place I would go for help is to my family.  Therefore we need to be close to our brothers and sisters in Christ so we can know when they are in trouble.  But the second part of love is action.

1 John 3:16-18   Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (17) But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? (18) My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 

John asks a rhetorical question here: How can we really say we have love if we have an opportunity to help someone and we CHOOSE not to?  Then he answers that question by stating a truth.  That we should not just love in word.  But in ACTION!  If we truly want to be a follower of Jesus, we too must demonstrate our love to others just like Jesus did.

Reflecting the SON,  

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

12 Hours of Jesus is a community focused effort to teach the world more about Jesus.  Our first event is May 10th in Radcliff Kentucky.

Website:  www.12hoursofjesus.org 

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/12hoursofjesus

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

their e-mail address to me and I will add them to my mail list.

Jesus Disciples...Do NOT Walk in Darkness!

John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 

Jesus informs us of a concept of Christian living that must be a part of the disciple’s life.  It has much in common with a couple of earlier characteristic ...And yet, quite different as well.  The verse tells us that Jesus partially defines himself as being the “the LIGHT of the world”.  In contrast, he informs us that if we intend to follow him and be his disciple, we MUST NOT walk in the darkness.  To fully understand this characteristic of being a disciple of Christ, we must understand the Bible’s concept of darkness and light.

1 John 1:5  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 

Whatever this light and darkness is, we know that God is light.  In other words, he is the very embodiment, source and definition of that light.  I think it is safe to conclude that one of the characteristics of God that embodies the essence of the light is his purity and holiness.  So much so that the text goes on to tell us that in God there is NO darkness AT ALL.  And because of our need to be imitators of God,  We too need to strive to be in the light, and that we should not walk in that darkness.  OK....so God is the light, but what is the darkness?

John 3:19-21  And this is the condemnation, that light (Jesus, vrs 16) is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (21) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. 

The darkness here is contrasted against the purity of Jesus.  Notice the key words or phrases that really define the darkness in these verses.

1.  Men Loved darkness rather than light (vrs 19)

2.  Their deeds were evil.

3.  Evil doers hate and shun the light

4.  Does not want his actions reproved

I think an obvious example to describe this concept is when a house is infested with cockroaches.  If you walk into the kitchen in the middle of the night and turn on the lights,  The roaches which have come out into the darkness to do what they do, now escape into the cracks and crevices to escape the light and being exposed.  The same goes with the world...or at least it used to.  This darkness then is the environment, atmosphere and nature of evil and/or sin.  It is where sin abounds!  The fact is, in this “darkness” there is a perception by those in it, that they can do what ever they like, because their actions are masked and hidden by the darkness.  And because of that, folks that are in the dark tend to participate in activities and behaviors that they normally would not if they thought they would be seen of others.  But another danger of the darkness by those desiring to be followers of Christ is that in the there are others that who could care less about God that will encourage you to do more sin, do it longer and to do it more often.

Deuteronomy 7:2-4   And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: (3) Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. (4) For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.

God warns the Jews not to be closely tied to the evil peoples of the land they are about to process.  And the important thing is that he gives the specific reason for why.  Because they WILL turn you away from God!  That is the inherent danger with the darkness.  And thus the reason why we should avoid the darkness at all costs.  If God is the light and he is...and the darkness is inherently evil, and it is...Then why as Jesus disciples would we want to be in the darkness?  Why would we want to expose ourselves to surroundings that would alienate us from God?  The answer is that we shouldn’t.  If we truly desire to be followers of God.  We must avoid the darkness at all costs.

Reflecting the SON,  

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

12 Hours of Jesus is a community focused effort to teach the world more about Jesus.  Our first event is May 10th in Radcliff Kentucky.

Website:  www.12hoursofjesus.org 

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/12hoursofjesus

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

their e-mail address to me and I will add them to my mail list.

Jesus Disciples Are...Willing to Deny Themselves!

Matt. 16:24   Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

In my opinion,  this concept of denying oneself is the MOST fundamental and foundational principle of Christian living.  It is much more than just a pattern of behavior.  It is a way of life!  And a process of thought!  In fact, I think it must go even one step further.  I think it must become one of our key elements of our spiritual DNA.  What do I mean by spiritual DNA?  DNA, from a physical standpoint, is the key component in the human body that defines WHO you are.  So spiritual DNA then, is an analogy of describing what it is that makes us WHO we are spiritually.  It is those characteristics that define HOW  and WHY we do what we do individually.  Denying oneself MUST be a characteristic of WHO we are.  It must be the perspective from which we make EVERY spiritual decision.  As God’s children, Jesus’ followers, and seekers of Heaven...Our mission is to do the will of God!  Following God’s will is even required at the denial of our own will.

Ecclesiastes 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 

1 John 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 

So if doing the will of God is our sole objective,  why is it that we fulfill his will so poorly or incompletely?Because there is a part of us that would rather please ourselves instead.

Judges 17:6  In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. 

This passage says it all.  Folks do not follow God as they should because we want to please ourselves.  They want to do what is right in their OWN Eyes!  But there are consequences for such a lifestyle.

Proverbs 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. 

We certainly have the RIGHT as American citizens to do whatever we want.  To behave in any manner that we choose,  or set standards for living whatever lifestyle that we like.  And therefore, we can do what ever seems right in our own eyes.  BUT...that is clearly not the mindset that we are to have when we are FOLLOWERS of God.  Instead we are to DENY THYSELF.  Denying oneself is about setting aside my own wishes and beliefs and doing WHATEVER it is that God would desire of me.  Regardless of the cost.  Regardless of the area of our life.  Notice a few areas of life that Jesus specifically mentions that we ought to deny ourselves:

1.  Work/Job

Matt. 4:21-22  And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. (22) And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. 

I would not advocate for everyone to go immediately and quit their jobs.  On the contrary.  The Bible tells us that we need to work.

2 Thessalonians 3:10   For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 

But certainly we should NOT be more devoted to our jobs, bosses, income or lifestyles than we are to our Savior.  Therefore, if there is something about our jobs that causes us not to be as faithful to God as we ought we need to deny ourselves of that job. 

2.  Material Goods

Matt. 8:19-20  And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. (20) And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 

Jesus was describing his life of minimalism and I think suggesting a comparable way of thinking for us as well.  But again, it comes down to attitude and priorities.

1 Timothy 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

Paul tells Timothy that it is a LOVE of or for money that is the “root of all evil”.  And the same principle applies to all other materialistic items in our lives.  We cannot put anything in front of serving our lord.  Not our favorite pastimes, vacations, or any other thing.

3.  Family

Matt. 10:34-37  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (35) For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. (36) And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. (37) He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 

Luke 14:26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 

All too often I have heard people make excuses for their unfaithfulness based upon family.  But of all of the examples of denying self, tyhis one is the most clear and evident.  If we love and somehow live in such a manner that puts our family above the one that died on the cross for our sins,  Then Jesus says we are not worthy of him. 

In whatever aspect of our life that we choose to discuss,  We are to deny ourselves,  Put aside our own desires, wants, and selfish ambitions, So that we might truly, completely, and earnestly fulfill the will of God.

Reflecting the SON,  

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

12 Hours of Jesus is a community focused effort to teach the world more about Jesus.  Our first event is May 10th in Radcliff Kentucky.

Website:  www.12hoursofjesus.org 

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/12hoursofjesus

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

their e-mail address to me and I will add them to my mail list.

Jesus Disciples Are...Laborers!

Matt. 9:37  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; 

Too often,  our culture or society has untold influence on the church that is difficult to recognize.  I think it has certainly infiltrated our thinking on this point.  We live in a society that so celebrates being number ONE that being a role player is almost unacceptable. Michael Jordan was such a special basketball player.  But he could not have won a single game if he played 5 on 1.  Almost equally so, having a team of people that were all superstars such as Michael Jordan could have been unsuccessful because of a rivalry between personalities all wanting to demonstrate PERSONAL greatness rather than team success.  Michael enjoyed success because he was supported by a TEAM of support players that complimented his talents.

In our first text in this point, Jesus says that laborers are few.  Laborers...Support players.  Jesus didn’t say that he there was a shortage of supervisors, managers and bosses who will stand back and look important.  But rather folks that will roll up their sleeves and get to doing the work of laborers.

Matt. 14:14-21  And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. (15) And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. (16) But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. (17) And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. (18) He said, Bring them hither to me. (19) And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. (20) And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. (21) And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

Jesus performed a great miracle here, but notice that it was performed through the simple acts of people passing out food.  What these men did, did not require training or great talent or education.  Just the willingness to do what is needed.  

Matthew 25:31-40  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:  (32) And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:  (33) And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  (34) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  (35) For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  (36) Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  (37) Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  (38) When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  (39) Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  (40) And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Jesus tells us in this passage that serving others is one of several make or break criteria to getting into heaven.  Again the description of the service is defined in the small things in life that literally any human being can do:  Giving food to the hunger, giving a glass of water to the thirsty, giving someone a place to sleep, giving clothing to a person in need visiting those that needs encouragement.

Some folks act as if one cannot be a dynamic preacher, a skillful teacher, a persuasive personal evangelist, an operatic song leader,  an inspirational elder, or a some other high profile leader then they are not important.  On the contrary!  Some of the most important tasks are simply willing to be a laborer.  To do whatever it takes to accomplish the most simple tasks.  Jesus says that he needs laborers.  His disciples are to be the ones that fulfill that call.

Reflecting the SON,  

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

12 Hours of Jesus is a community focused effort to teach the world more about Jesus.  Our first event is May 10th in Radcliff Kentucky.

Website:  www.12hoursofjesus.org 

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/12hoursofjesus

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

their e-mail address to me and I will add them to my mail list.

Jesus Disciples Are...Servants Not Masters!

Matt. 10:24  The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 

This idea may seem a bit obvious, but Jesus goes through the trouble of making this point , therefore, we ought not ignore it. But....many people are definitely ignoring it...so apparently it must not be that obvious.  What does it mean then that a disciple is not above his master?  In what ever scenario that you want to look at this word master, It carries with it a concept of authority.  A boss has authority over an employee.  A teacher has authority over a student.  A government has authority over its subjects.  And in all of those scenarios, the person in subjection NEVER has the right to ASSUME...for himself...authority that HAS NOT BEEN GRANTED to him by the master in charge!  For instance, If one assumed for himself authority on a ship, that was not granted, it is called a MUTINY!  If it happens to a government, It is usually referred to as treason.  Jesus, simply, is warning us NOT to rebel against him.  Or to attempt to assume authority that has ONLY been given to him.

Matthew 28:18   And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 

Matthew 16:18   And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

Ephesians 1:20-22   Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (21) Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (22) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 

Notice the direct, and unambiguous language used here.  ALL power has been given unto Jesus!  Period.  Jesus said he would build HIS church.  His,,,not ours.  And that God gave to Jesus to be HEAD over ALL things to the CHURCH. Therefore, there remains no room for us to assume any power or decision making authority for ourselves!

We never really hear about mutinies,vuprisings, rebellions or treason in religion today.  But I assure you they happen EVERY SINGLE day.  The problem with rebellions in religion is that they don’t appear to be what they are.  Rebellions, Mutinies, and Religious treason does not look like rebellions that we see in the movies where a group storms a building and tries to take over in a militaristic manner.  That would be too easy to spot and identify.  But Satan is far too crafty.  Instead religious mutinies today take the form of “improvements” or “Changing” things for the “Good”.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. (14) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (15) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 

One good indicator of a mututiny taking place is the use of the word “but”.  It usually takes place in the form of:  “I know that the Bible says....But...”  You see when this kind of statement is made, one recognizes that God has mad known his will but the individual wishes to insert their will and thus mutinizes the will of God  To do other than than what God’s will is, is wrestling authority away from Jesus that he has not given to us and that is spiritual mutiny.  When we do such,we putting ourselves above the master.  It doesn’t appear to be overthrowing Jesus’ authority.  Most folks do it out of a noble motive of wanting to improve and cause a service to be more attractive to outsiders.  But without Jesus authorizing it, We have put ourselves above the master

If we are to be Jesus’ followers,  We must ALWAYS be content to FOLLOW Jesus rather than try to go on our own path and hope that God will accept it.  We must be his SERVANTS and be content with that.

Reflecting the SON,  

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

12 Hours of Jesus is a community focused effort to teach the world more about Jesus.  Our first event is May 10th in Radcliff Kentucky.

Website:  www.12hoursofjesus.org 

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/12hoursofjesus

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

their e-mail address to me and I will add them to my mail list.

Jesus Disciples Are...Obedient!

John 8:31   Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 

It is one thing to be willing to hear the teachings of Jesus...or to even to desire to be a learner of Jesus through diligent study or regular attendance at various Bible studies...or even, in many ways, to be like Jesus.  But it is quite different to be obedient to the Will of God.  Jesus though, says that obedience is one of those defining characteristics of being a disciple. What does it really mean to be obedient to God? 

It means that we MUST do what God wants REGARDLESS of what we want.

In other words, SUBMITTING to the WILL of God.  And it is doing THAT will for the right reasons.  That really is the key.  Consider this.  By percentage, my guess is that only 1% or less of the world’s populations has ever committed murder.  By mathematical definition then, 99% of the world has not murdered anyone and subsequently has followed the directives of God in that regard.  Does that mean that the world has been obedient to God?  Not necessarily!  Because most of those people did not refrain from murder BECAUSE God said so!  But rather because they simply were not inclined to commit that act or did not feel the need to.  To make a comparison now.  Do we have that same kind of loyalty to God’s will in regards to sins of a sexual nature?  Have 99% of the world’s population refrained from adultery, fornication, and homosexuality?  Of course not.  In fact the numbers are possibly reversed.  So why then do so many people participate in this sin?  Because THEY WANT TO!  Their desire to fulfill their own sensual pleasures are more important than what God wants.  So then why do faithful Christians refrain from sexual immorality?  Is it because we do not have the same kinds of desires?  Of course not.  But rather we refrain BECAUSE God has told us to.

So many people think that just because their lifestyles parallels, to a large degree, the teachings in the Bible, that they are obedient.  Or that because they obey God on certain things that they AGREE with him on that they are obedient. Obedience, however is not  numbers game.  It is the COMPLETE replacement of my will for the will of God regardless of what I want.  Obedience, by in large, is a mind set.  It’s a way of life.

1 John 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

Walking in the light is not an accidental intersection of God’s command.  We cannot live contrary to God on a variety of issues, And think that we are obedient because we approve of and subsequently follow a couple of God’s directives.  Obedience is a conscientious decision to live as God would want.  It is adapting our lives to be as much like God’s nature as we can humanly get.  When we comprehend that basic concept, Then it becomes much easier to Not to do this sinful act, to stay away from that sinful environment, And to be willing to participate in any other service that God would want us to do.   When we do, THEN we are Jesus’ disciples

John 14:15   If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

Not only does Jesus say obedience is a defining characteristic of discipleship, he also says that obedience is inseparably to the greatest command!

Matthew 22:36-37 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? (37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

The greatest thing single thing that we can do for God is to love him with all of our being,  And the greatest demonstration of our Love to him is through our willingness to submit to his will.

Reflecting the SON,  

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

12 Hours of Jesus is a community focused effort to teach the world more about Jesus.  Our first event is May 10th in Radcliff Kentucky.

Website:  www.12hoursofjesus.org 

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/12hoursofjesus

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

their e-mail address to me and I will add them to my mail list.

Jesus Disciples Are...Imitators of Him!

Mark 8:34  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

This Characteristic of being Jesus’ disciple is the most literal to the word follower.  In this passage he commands his disciples to follow him.  What does it mean to follow?  I think Jesus’ use of this word is very much like the behaviors of playing the children’s game “Follow-the-Leader”.  If the leader stops and jumps up and down, then everyone behind is required to do the same thing in a manner that as closely mimics the leader as possible.  If the leader begins to run, then everyone else runs as well.  Notice in the game, three separate things are being followed

1.  The pathway or direction of the leader

2.  The Leader’s Specific actions

3.  The Leader’s particular mannerisms

This is exactly the concept that Jesus is intending to portray of his followers.  It is quite literally putting into action the teachings that  we have heard and learned.  Notice...

1 Peter 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 

There is a couple of key points that need to be emphasized.  First notice that Jesus’ life was lived in such a manner that it was INTENDED to be an example for us follow.  We are not to look at Jesus just as the Son of God that was the perfect and spotless lamb of God.  But equally he was human.  He endured the difficulties, disappointments, worries, shame, frustrations and temptation that we must endure.  And yet he endured in such a manner that if we emulate him, we will continually please God.  

But secondly,  Peter tells us that we are to follow in his STEPS.  Have you ever noticed that word?  We are not just to follow in a vague direction as him.  It is not good enough to have a similar philosophical outlook as Jesus.  We are to follow in his immediate footsteps.  That implies that we are to manage our life to imitate Jesus’ actions, behaviors and even our thoughts to such minute detail that we are walking in his very footprints.

Can we really call ourselves followers of Christ if behave, act and react in life in a manner that draws someone to think that we are not Christ like?  Certainly Not.  We therefore, as his disciples. MUST be CHRIST like.

Reflecting the SON,  

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

12 Hours of Jesus is a community focused effort to teach the world more about Jesus.  Our first event is May 10th in Radcliff Kentucky.

Website:  www.12hoursofjesus.org 

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/12hoursofjesus

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

their e-mail address to me and I will add them to my mail list.