East Ridge Pres

Matthew 26:37  And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. There are glimpses of Jesus’ heart, his human emotional life in the gospels. Here we see the human heart of Jesus. We see the reality of his true human nature, that he was one of us. We see the depths of his grief. v 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” Jesus speaks from his heart. Jesus sorrows as a human being. His sorrow overwhelms him even to death. He even longs for human company in his emotional torment. v 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” His heart, his emotions, longed to be free of this suffering. But despite the pain in his heart, he submits his will to God. He accepts obedience though his emotions cause him to drop sweat like heavy drops of blood. John 19:26 When Jesus saw his mother a

Luke 23:32  Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,[d] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” The thief is so close to death, so desperate that he speaks straight to the point. His need is now. His need is urgent. The thief knew he was a sinner. He had stolen from other people. He had broken God’s law. He deserved death. This is the moment when all of us finally reach Jesus in prayer.

John 13:3  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Washing feet is an ancient practice in warm climates where people walk around barefoot or in sandals on the dusty roads. When someone entered your home to rest or eat, it was a courtesy and kindness to provide for the washing of their feet. Abraham

Isaiah 50:5-6 The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. Jesus listened to the word of the Father and obeyed him and did not turn backward. He obeyed even when he was struck and abused. Even when he was mocked and disgraced. Because it was God’s will. Because in God’s love for us, he commanded Jesus to suffer for us. And Jesus heard and obeyed. By his obedience, not your own, you are saved. vv 7-8 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Jesus faced adversaries and set his face like flint, because he knew that the Lord God helped him. He knew he would not be disgraced, he would not be put to shame. He kn

John 13: 36-38 Simon Peter said to [Jesus], “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times. Simon Peter overestimated his devotion to Jesus. He overestimated his obedience. His faith. His self-denial. His commitment. We do the same. We say we have faith. We say we love the Bible. We say we are disciples. Following Jesus. Then we leave Him in a moment. In a crisis, we act like we have no faith at all. In a moment of fear, we leave Jesus. Will we lay down our lives for Jesus? Or will we refuse to follow that far? Will we leave Jesus, our Lord, again today? Turn our back on him again. And for what? A trifle. The smallest thing. A fear. A pain. A comfort. A pleasure. Let us truthfully examine ourselves.

Isaiah 42:1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. The first few verses of Isaiah 42 is a servant song. Isaiah prophecies the coming of Jesus, the Servant of God. “Behold My Servant” is God speaking. Jesus pleases God. God delights in him. He fulfills God’s plan. He establishes God’s universal kingdom of justice and righteousness. v 2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. Jesus did not seize power by violence, by screaming for attention, by assaulting the crowds with fiery speeches and political propaganda. He came in gentleness, caring for the sick and speaking God’s truth plainly. v 3 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. Are you a bruised reed? Are you damaged, hurting, weak? Jesus came for you. And he will not break you, but nurse you in your pain and grief. Mend you. H

1 Kings 1:1 Now King David was old and advanced in years… 24 And Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne’? 25 For he has gone down this day and has sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king's sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ Adonijah had made himself king and challenged the true king. We have made ourselves king and obeyed our own laws and followed our own authority. We have lived as open rebels against the Christ. We have celebrated openly our own authority and own glory. And we have rejected our King, our Christ. 33 And the king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. 34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long

Mark 1:35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. The number one thing you can do for your family, friends, church, neighbors, coworkers is go in a room alone and shut the door and pray and worship God. Go to your desolate place alone. Every day Leave everyone to love everyone. Not just because you pray for them, but also because prayer will change you. And that will be a blessing to them. Learn how to pray. Make prayer a daily habit. Draw close to God in love. The more you love God the more good it will be for everyone in your life. Try scripture prayers. Speak with your voice, stand with hands raised, kneel down, or even lie face down. And pray the word of God. The Lord’s Prayer, Paul’s prayers, Psalms, doxologies from the Epistles, songs from Revelation, the Prophets, Mary’s prayer, etc. You can add your own words when you feel the need. But pray God’s word, join with the whole church praying these Holy Spirit i

Luke 15:8-10  “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” There is joy in heaven over every sinner who repents. Each individual one. Each person is rejoiced over by God. What an amazing statement. Repent means turn from your sin to God for forgiveness and a NEW life of following Jesus. God rejoices. The angels rejoice. The saints who have gone us before us rejoice. Heaven rejoices. The joy of God. The celebration of God. Over human beings! More than that, over sinful and rebellious and proud human beings, when they humble themselves, reject their past and their own dark hearts. Let me invite you to enter into the joy of God. Look at the world with God’s eyes. Enter into his joy

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another… A church is a kind of team. The Bible is full of sports metaphors. We are partnering together, pursuing victory. Victory over who? The devil. What is victory? Victory is obedience to God. And the victory is to the glory of God. The first question to ask is “Do you want to win?” I am convinced many Christians do not really want to win. We may be willing to go to church or go to a breakfast or SS class or small group, but we don’t really want to win. If no one wants to win, then why are we even playing? Why do we not want to bring glory to God? The next question is “Are the members of your church committed to victory for every member of the church?” Remember victory is obedience to God. Are you passionate for all of your brothers and sisters to win? A church must be men and women working together as partners, as team

Genesis 1:27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. We were created in the image of God, but by our sin that image of God was marred and disfigured in us. Vandalized. Defaced. Mutilated. But we need Christ in order to be human. We are recreated in Jesus. Jesus who is the new perfect image of God. “Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 Jesus died on the cross with the goal of making us whole human beings. Restoring the image of God fully. Grace restores nature. Grace restores humanity. Graces makes us truly human, because a full human is a being made in the image of God. Even though Adam was made in the image of God he still had the duty to obey God and grow to a much greater maturity. A duty he rejected. Adam did not have the highest humanity. A greater humanity is in Jesus Christ and it is to this goal he leads us. This means that ordinary human vocations are service in the kingdom of God. Christians can honorably se

John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. Eternal life is knowing Jesus. Do you know Jesus Christ? Do you want to know him better? Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. “ We see God the Father in Jesus. When Paul prayed for other Christians he prayed “that you may know HIM better.” (Eph 1:17) Paul revealed his personal desire when he wrote “I want to know Christ.” (Phil 3:10) and said everything was garbage and dung compared to knowing Jesus Christ. At another time he prayed that Christians “may have power… to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:18-19) Imagine praying that and having that prayer answered? Christians want to be saved, we want eternal life, we want to go to heaven when they die, but how many of us want to know Jesus? I am a sinner in the area of n

Luke 10: 8-9  Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ “the kingdom of God” is a future event, an action of God not man, when Christ will conquer and rule everything at his return. BUT Jesus tells them to proclaim “the kingdom of God has come near to you” “has reached you.” The wonder of the day of salvation has reached you in the present. He is speaking of himself. He is saying that God is acting now with power in people’s lives. To change them. Through Jesus the kingdom comes to them. But he says here through the Church, the kingdom of God is reaching people, coming near to them. The waters are lapping at their door. Though Jesus is not physically present. We must tell people of the world the same. “the kingdom of God has reached you” “the kingdom of God has come near to you.” I am a messenger of Jesus, a messenger of the Kingdom. Jesus comes to them in you. you take the kingdom of God int

Matthew 23:4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. Beware of proud Bible teachers. Beware of proud pastors and speakers and authors. Beware of proud saints and their words and example. Arrogant elites, the pure ones. In their teaching they pile on a load of duties, duties which may all be good and righteous, but you are unable to move, dying under the burden and they give you no help. They are obedient in many ways and impressive to everyone around them. They are disciplined. They are sacrificial. They are rigorous. They are proud of their holiness and stand above the herd and common people. They rail against them and criticize them. They don’t actually love them. They don’t kindly and gently help them. They are obedient in many ways and seem like they know all about God, but don’t know God in reality and so they can’t please God. Their impressive obedience is not burning with the fire of love. It is

Nehemiah 8: 2  So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard… 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. When you go into your roo

Luke 8:22  One day [Jesus] got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. v 24a And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are dying!” When storms come, we feel like this: I am dying. I am in danger. I am losing everything. I am terrified. God sends a terrible squall down on the lake for the JOY of the disciples. but they feel terror. God assaults us so that we will give up on everything but Jesus, so we will run to Jesus, put our attention on him again. No doubt they were using their skills, fighting the storm, working, sweating, but now they give up and go to Jesus. God wants us to lose hope in everything but Jesus God sends a terrible squall down on the lake for the JOY of the disciples. v 24b And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm.

Luke 12:15 Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. In the USA we have lost our minds. We think we need all this stuff. We think we are suffering when we don’t have all this stuff. We expect luxury or we are bitter. We expect entertainment or we are bored. We expect pleasure or we are frustrated. We expect the latest and greatest technology or we are deprived. We expect a feast at every meal, sumptuous, delicious, large quantities, all the best, the food we like and the drinks we like. How much of your time do you spend thinking about stuff you want? Looking at stuff you want? How much time do you spend shopping? How much time do you spend ordering stuff online? How often do you think about the next thing you need. When you closets are full. You own multiple computers, televisions, appliances, tools, weapons, equipment, vehicles. How much of your money do you spend buying stuff that does not give life? when you could

Leviticus 1:3 ”He shall bring [the burnt offering] to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord." Daily we come to God in prayer in Jesus name. Only by Jesus sacrifice may we be accepted before God and live in daily communion with him. Jesus offered up himself that we may be accepted before the Father. v 4 "He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him." We lay ours hands on Jesus because Jesus represents us to the Father. Jesus is our sacrifice. Jesus covers us over, makes atonement for us, so we are shielded from the awful final destruction of God coming on the world for our rebellion. v 5 "Then he shall kill the bull before the Lord, and Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar" Jesus was killed for us. His blood poured out for our lives. Are you spattered with his blood? This is an ugly scene and yet a beautiful scene. Have you been made ho

Luke 14:28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it ?29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Are you going to be able to finish what you have started? Did you really count the cost? Did you really understand what allegiance to Jesus, what faith in Jesus, meant when you first said that you believed? There are many who never counted the cost. They didn’t know what it meant to obey Jesus and yet they prayed a prayer and said they had put their faith in Jesus. They came in to the church with the wrong idea. They didn’t know the cost. They didn’t know they had to give up everything to obey Jesus. They thought they just had to pray and believe. They thought they were trying to get forgiveness now and heaven when they died. Then they found out Jesus demands everything. v 33 So therefore, any one of yo

1 Thessalonians 1:5 "Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction." I hear people say: Sermons are boring. Reading the Bible is dull. I don’t like books and school. There is too much talk and not enough power. Where is the power of God like in ancient times? Where is the power of God in the church? Where is the power of God in my life? Here is the truth. The power of God is in the word of God. His speaking is powerful action. He says “let there be light” and there is light. The word is God’s mighty deed. When the word of God is heard and believed the power of God is rolling through the church and your life in a mighty way. Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? The word is a fire! The word is a hammer! Powerful. Breaking rocks. Burning up straw. Purifying. The word is much more than information. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-e