Last week I ended by saying “Jesus is a challenging leader whose words pierce through the layers of human pride. Has Jesus ‘shocked’ you recently by what He said?” I thought it would be helpful to share with you some “shocking” words from Jesus. I hope these will pierce through the layers of pride in your life, just as they did through mine!
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire.” John 8:44
“Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath? Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.” John 7:23, 24
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.” John 6:56, 57
“Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, ‘See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.’ The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.” John 5:14, 15
“Then the Jews demanded of him, ‘What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.’” John 2:18, 19
Humbled,
Jeff Powell
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Shocked by Jesus' Words?
Recently I have re-read through some of the Gospels (writings about Jesus). I have marveled at how the religious leaders “had no room” inside of them for Jesus’ words. Jesus would teach, and the religious leaders would get distracted by details that they could not reconcile with their theology. Their focus on these details would cause them to “miss” the point of what Jesus was saying.
I have marveled at how Jesus plainly told them who He was and yet they constantly asked Him, “who are you?” and “where do you come from?” They repeatedly missed the answers that Jesus gave to them because the answers He gave to them were not the answers they wanted to hear.
If we are honest, all too often we are just like the religious leaders. If we are not careful, our lives leave us with “no room” for Jesus’ words. We don’t “hear” what Jesus is saying because He is not saying what we want Him to say, so we keep asking Him questions that He has already answered! Yes, we can be just like the religious leaders!
Jesus said some harsh stuff - such harshness that quite honestly would cause most church goers to become offended and leave the church if their pastor spoke to them the way Jesus spoke to the people! I found myself thinking “wow Jesus that was pretty hard” and “of course they are not receiving what you said, look at how you said it.” Yikes! Me standing in judgment of how Jesus said things? Yep. That is the point. Sadly, we judge what is being said not by the content of what is said, but rather by the tone in which it was said. Jesus is a challenging leader whose words pierce through the layers of human pride. Has Jesus “shocked” you recently by what He said?
In fresh awe of Jesus,
Jeff Powell
I have marveled at how Jesus plainly told them who He was and yet they constantly asked Him, “who are you?” and “where do you come from?” They repeatedly missed the answers that Jesus gave to them because the answers He gave to them were not the answers they wanted to hear.
If we are honest, all too often we are just like the religious leaders. If we are not careful, our lives leave us with “no room” for Jesus’ words. We don’t “hear” what Jesus is saying because He is not saying what we want Him to say, so we keep asking Him questions that He has already answered! Yes, we can be just like the religious leaders!
Jesus said some harsh stuff - such harshness that quite honestly would cause most church goers to become offended and leave the church if their pastor spoke to them the way Jesus spoke to the people! I found myself thinking “wow Jesus that was pretty hard” and “of course they are not receiving what you said, look at how you said it.” Yikes! Me standing in judgment of how Jesus said things? Yep. That is the point. Sadly, we judge what is being said not by the content of what is said, but rather by the tone in which it was said. Jesus is a challenging leader whose words pierce through the layers of human pride. Has Jesus “shocked” you recently by what He said?
In fresh awe of Jesus,
Jeff Powell
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
An Update on Pastor Jeff's Heart
This past week I have been in South Carolina on a time of solitude and seeking God. A few months ago I shared with you that I had been seeking God to change my heart. That is a prayer that God loves His children to pray and it is a prayer that He is guaranteed to answer! For a few months I have been praying Ezekiel 11:18-20 over my life.
This passages says, “They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.”
Months ago I realized that there were some stoney places in my heart. You know places that had become hardened and cynical to life. I also realized that there were some places in my heart that had become divided. You know those places of compromise and justification. I was not pleased with what I saw and I know God was not either. So I set out on removing the “vile images and detestable idols” that had been allowed to take up residence within.
God led me to deal with things that I did not want to deal with. He led me to humble myself in ways that I did not want to humble myself. Part of that process was to schedule time away from my family and ministry to seek Him in solitude. That is what I have been doing this week.
Brokeness is good. It allows the light of God’s glory to shine through us IF we humble ourselves! What area of your life is broken? Humbly bring it to God - you won’t regret it!
In Solitude,
Jeff Powell
This passages says, “They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.”
Months ago I realized that there were some stoney places in my heart. You know places that had become hardened and cynical to life. I also realized that there were some places in my heart that had become divided. You know those places of compromise and justification. I was not pleased with what I saw and I know God was not either. So I set out on removing the “vile images and detestable idols” that had been allowed to take up residence within.
God led me to deal with things that I did not want to deal with. He led me to humble myself in ways that I did not want to humble myself. Part of that process was to schedule time away from my family and ministry to seek Him in solitude. That is what I have been doing this week.
Brokeness is good. It allows the light of God’s glory to shine through us IF we humble ourselves! What area of your life is broken? Humbly bring it to God - you won’t regret it!
In Solitude,
Jeff Powell
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Wisdom From An Eight Year Old
Recently, my son Austin needed some help. He was in the process of taking over an area of our back yard to use as his play space. The problem was that this area had not been tended to in quite some time. He gave it his best shot at clearing the grass, weeds, and bushes; but still more was needing to be done. At this point he wisely asked me to help him finish up clearing this area. I gladly accepted his request and took my weed eater and finished the job. He and I then raked up the debris and put it in our trash can. The next day I marveled at the transformation this area had become now that Austin had access to it!
This got me to thinking about our lives. Let’s be honest. There are times when we tackle areas of our lives that are filled with weeds and debris because we want those areas to become useful to us. But let’s face it, we can only clean so much before we reach the end of our resources. At this point, we need to be wise like my son Austin and ask for help - help from God and others to make the necessary changes that are needed in your life!
At this point, you probably realize that this will take humility and admitting that you can’t do it all by yourself. IF you have realized this, good job! That is the point. In fact, Hebrews 11:34 says in part, “...whose weakness was turned to strength...” My friend, this is the plan of God for you! He wants to turn your weakness into great strength. But this can only happen if we will humbly ask for help! 1 Peter 5:6 says it this way, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
Are you in need of God to lift you up? Simply bring your weakness (what you cannot do) to Him and He will help you!
Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell
This got me to thinking about our lives. Let’s be honest. There are times when we tackle areas of our lives that are filled with weeds and debris because we want those areas to become useful to us. But let’s face it, we can only clean so much before we reach the end of our resources. At this point, we need to be wise like my son Austin and ask for help - help from God and others to make the necessary changes that are needed in your life!
At this point, you probably realize that this will take humility and admitting that you can’t do it all by yourself. IF you have realized this, good job! That is the point. In fact, Hebrews 11:34 says in part, “...whose weakness was turned to strength...” My friend, this is the plan of God for you! He wants to turn your weakness into great strength. But this can only happen if we will humbly ask for help! 1 Peter 5:6 says it this way, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
Are you in need of God to lift you up? Simply bring your weakness (what you cannot do) to Him and He will help you!
Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell
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