Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 345
December 20, 2017
25 Devotions – Day Twenty
The Native: The Three Wisemen Of Calvary
The following is a message I was privileged to preach at Point Of Mercy in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve added it to The Native Bible Study because I feel it fits into the theme of the study.
John 19:38-39
38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
Among the many interesting things about the Burial of Our Lord is these two men. Jesus needed no help to die, or to rise again, but of necessity someone would carry His body to the tomb. He was carried in, but He would walk out of His own accord.
I believe that every event in The Bible has a specific purpose, so I believe that these men’s involvement was no accident. The Lord and these two men went together into the tomb. They were hand selected for the job, they were wise men, and friends. I mention they were all wise men, so today lets call them The Wisemen Of Calvary.
You must start with Jesus, who was so much more than a man. His resurrection would write not just a new law, but a new covenant. This wasn’t just anyone, this was The Savior.
His entire mission was about relationship. It was more than only the forgiveness of sins, it was about a life of working together. Jesus’ goal was to wash away our sins, and to walk with us through the highways and byways as we reach others.
1 Peter 2:5-6
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
That’s why I love about this part of that day. It is the unique aspect of Calvary, Jesus knew that not just any men could do the job. They were doing more than burying a body, they were laying The Spiritual Cornerstone of the Church. The men that carried His body had to meet certain requirements, the first goes back to a conversation Jesus had with one of them in John 3.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
They had to be believers. They didn’t have to understand everything going on. They could be like us, they could have fears, and questions about certain things, but they had to be believers. Nicodemus first words in John 3:22 to Jesus confessed his belief, and our text reflects Joseph’s belief as well. Their faith in Him was the very reason they had volunteered for this task.
Our Savior doesn’t expect us to get everything, just to trust Him. If you have questions, ask with the right attitude. He will answer the relevant ones. When He doesn’t answer the others, trust that His Grace is sufficient. I didn’t know what I was facing this week, when I got the call about Mom’s heart attack, but I trusted that no matter what, God was in control. I was terrified, but I knew He wasn’t, and that was enough.
If you’re going to do anything for Jesus, you must believe the words of our Pastor’s (Pastor Denny Livingston) song, that “He is Greater Than The Need, and Bigger Than The Problem.” They didn’t understand why this had happened, they couldn’t predict the events of Sunday, but through it all, they had a firm grip on The Lord Jesus. In one sense, they were carrying Him, but their love for Him, was carrying them through this.
If you’re going through something, if the events of your life are shaking you, grasp The Savior a little tighter. He will carry you from the sorrow of your heartache to the shouts of an empty tomb. You see, these men had a relationship with Jesus, and that will produce life out of death, joy out of sorrow, and hope in a hopeless situation.
The second man was Joseph of Arimathea. Both he and Nicodemus were rulers of the Jews, members of the Sanhedrin, which was like a religious senate of the Jews. They were secret disciples, but the events of Calvary converted their silence into action.
It was Joseph’s tomb, he had it built for himself. Like many do, he placed a garden outside of it. They say men would do this so they could go there, and remind themselves of their own mortality. David said, teach me to know my end, so he would know how frail he was.
Here is the thing that always puzzled me, why Calvary for a graveyard? The Scriptures say that His burial place was in the same area as His Death. The way I read John 19, this was a place that had been used as a execution place before. Why there?
I understand that it fulfilled prophecy, let’s not forget, we view things on this side of Calvary, but on that side, what was Joseph’s thinking originally? Was it to remind this successful man that we all enter and exit this world in the same manner?
Did he realize there was a reason that he didn’t understand, but knew there was a higher purpose? If so, even without knowing everything he listened. Be sensitive to God’s leading in your life, and if you’re uncertain, seek council. Pray about it, talk to the Man Of God that He has placed to watch for our souls. God placed Pastors in my life and yours because they know where God wants to take us.
God had a plan for the piece of land Joseph had. Matthew said that Joseph had built the tomb for himself, and John said it was in the same place where Jesus was crucified.
Joseph built the tomb, and had the garden planted, and cultivated. God will plant, and cultivate things in you before its ever time to harvest. Joseph’s tomb and garden had a great future, but they started with rock, dirt, and seed. You’ll have some hard knocks, and some things will have to be dug out, but He has a wonderful future ahead.
Perhaps it was an inherited piece of land? Maybe an ancestor had been assigned it in the day of Joshua’s, and the family had reclaimed it after the return from Babylon. After all, who would want a place like this. Scholars say it is probable that the reason it was called the place of the skull was that it was famous for the skulls of condemned prisoners beheaded there.
Can you imagine that being your inheritance? The place of anguish and sorrow, and your family handing you the deed? It’s yours now, good luck, it was my problem first, now it’s yours. How many have hand me down horrors you inherited?
Jesus forever transformed the way we view Calvary. Now we look at it, not as a place of execution, but exoneration! No matter what you’ve inherited, He can make you new. He can transform whatever your situation and give you a much better inheritance!
The last man was Nicodemus. I wonder if the memory of that first meeting with Jesus echoed through his mind the way the outside light bounced off the sides of the cave? As he wrapped the body of Jesus with myrrh and aloes, did He remember The Master saying “You must be born again?”
As they entered the cave did he think about his own question, “How can a man enter the second time into his mother’s womb?” As he wrapped the side of Jesus with clothes covered in myrrh and aloes, did he remember the words of Jesus?
John 3:5
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
When the Roman soldier had pierced Jesus’ side, out ran blood and water. This pointed back to the night time conversation, and ahead to Baptism and the Infilling Of The Spirit. Did verses fourteen and fifteen of John 3 dance through his thoughts?
Jesus hinted at Nicodemus’ conversion conversation about the last time we would see Nicodemus in Scripture. He was essentially saying “Nic, you’ll carry me in, but I’ll bring you out!” Nicodemus and Joseph both refused to follow their colleagues when they plotted against Jesus. They knew the Jews had it in for Jesus. Perhaps they even tried to warn Jesus, not that He didn’t already know. When He went to raise Lazarus, the disciples said Master the Jews recently sought to kill you. I’m sure it wasn’t hard to figure out, but maybe Joseph and Nicodemus had told them.
Either way, Nicodemus had a 100 pound combination of myrrh and aloes ready. There was no Jerusalem mart, or judea.com with same day delivery. When it was time for it, He was equipped to complete the task. When God calls you, He will equip you with what you need, when you need it.
This whole message has brought us to these three points. First, (1) your journey should reflect your conversion. As a Christian, we must never get too far from our first trip to the altar. That was Christ’s whole message to the seven Churches of Revelation, when you meet Me here, I’ll keep you there, as long as wherever you are, you stay connected to here.
The second event we see Nicodemus at in Scripture was in John 7. The Pharisees were attacking Jesus verbally, Nicodemus defended Him. The second point of the Message is, (2) Your commitment will compel you to action. Pastor preached a masterpiece of a message about the Three Tables Of The Church, and I believe that all of us can serve the needs of others.
These Sanhedrin members essentially became grave diggers for their love of Jesus. Jesus reputation was attacked, Nicodemus’ commitment compelled him to act then, and at Calvary. On the day of the preparation for eating the Passover, when no one wanted to touch a dead body, because of being considered unclean, these men were committed to Christ.
That brings us to the third and final point, (3) From conversion to completion, it will result in caring for Christ’s body. That wasn’t just the physical earthly body of The Savior they were carrying, it was symbolic of The Church.
These men aren’t remembered for their riches, their power, or their importance. They were remembered for ministering to the need of The Savior. Jesus said when you do for others, you’re doing for Me. He will never forget what those men did for Him, or what you do for others, because He views it as what you’ve done for Him.
Jesus’ name means Jehovah Is Salvation, Joseph means He adds, and Nicodemus means Victory of the people. That day, God brought into the tomb of death, Salvation, addition, and victory. He washed our sins away. Jesus added an exit from death into an abundant life, and provided victory for all people.
He did this so we would have the opportunity to be converted. Knowing that our commitment to Him would compel us to action. An the end result would be caring for the body of Christ. When you carry a love for Jesus, it will change you, the place you’re in, and everything thing you touch. That relationship with Jesus, that love and commitment will make us all witnesses and Wisemen, thanks to Calvary.
Watercolor Christmas Mansion
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December 19, 2017
25 Devotions – Day Nineteen
The Native God Is Greater
John 5:9
If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
I believe that God is greater … I could stop there, truth be told, as Christians, we should be able to stop there. The trouble is, the enemy brings trouble, in an attempt to fill our eyes with anything but God. Yes, our problems are both real and hard, but so is Our Glorious God!
I have struggled this past few years with fear, grappling with it in ebbs and flows. I knew better, I know God, I know Him in His strength, even in my weakness. The enemy has tried to keep us so focused on our trials, that we give lip service to the wonder of Our Creator.
The trouble for our detractor is this, God is both persistent and consistent. He constantly reminded me of His goodness. When worry knocked, faith stood against it. When I was weary, tears of joy flowed. Over that time, my faith was building.
The last few weeks, I have felt a change. I began to watch God again, not for anything, just to watch Him. Too often, we look to Him for a solution, when instead we should just watch Him. The Angels view God, not for anything, save the delight of seeing Him. This is what every Christian must return to see.
Mary watched Him in His crib. Joseph stared amazed that God had small fingers and tiny toes. The Wisemen, scholars, rejoiced at His little movements. The shepherds were in awe, at Heaven’s perfect Lamb.
Are you worried this Christmas? Nervous about the trials that surround you? Let me encourage you, for the next few days, do not seek an answer, seek The Savior. Take a few minutes in prayer, and in reading His Word, and watch Him.
Zacchaeus sought to see Jesus, who He was, and became a new man in the process. Matthew looked at Jesus, and left everything behind for a new life. Lazarus heard Jesus, because He loved God, and followed His voice out of the tomb!
Watch Him today, not for anything, except for Him! Wonder at His love, His long suffering, and His compassion. Rejoice in His favor, celebrate His joy, and most of all, that you know Him. If you do not know Him, let me encourage you to meet Him this day. For to know Jesus, is to know that, God Is Greater!!!
Watercolor Christmas Kiss
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December 18, 2017
Christmas LEDS
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Have you ever thought much about the lights on your Christmas tree? Who makes them, or the time it takes to produce them? From the old fashioned, large painted light bulbs, to bubble lights, and the new LEDs, they brighten up your home and heart at Christmas.
I’ve seen a lot of different kinds through the years. One particular year the lights at Christmas made a lot of difference. It was the day after Thanksgiving in the Shaunessy household, and everyone was waiting on Ben to bring home the tree.
Like always, when he stopped to pick up a tree, he bought new strings of lights. One of the few luxuries Ben allowed himself, was new lights every Christmas. As a kid, it had been his job to untangle the lights, and replace the bulbs that somehow go out between January and December, all while sitting in a box. When he was thirty, he couldn’t handle it anymore.
He told Camille that even if it cost them money, he wasn’t untangling lights that year. So, aggravation had borrowed from necessity, to invent a tradition. Some fun had crept into it over time, as he began buying a different set of lights each year.
The family took turns guessing what type of lights Dad, and now Granddad, would bring home each year. This year, he had a surprise. Each Christmas bulb, was an LED cased in small metal strips, shaped like old fashioned street lamps, the kind you see on Christmas cards.
Ben had found them on a website last Christmas, and he knew they would be his next light purchase. He unveiled them with a flourish, and Camille brought out the special ornaments she had bought when he let her in on the secret. It was a truly beautiful tree, shimmering in light.
The family basked in the bright glow of it, and the warm smiles on the couple’s faces. Ben built a fire in the fireplace, and the family decorated it together.
That night they watched it for hours. They turned all the other lights off, except for the tree and the natural light from the fireplace. It crackled as the embers glowed, the tree glistened, and Ben and Camille beamed happily.
The season hurried along. Cookies were baked, presents were bought, and candy was boiled. A fun, memorable holiday season, all leading up to the warmth and pageantry of Christmas. It was as perfect a year as Ben could remember, right up until December 23.
There had been a snow the first week of the month, but hadn’t lasted but a couple of days. All three weathermen predicted a White Christmas, and everyone believed them. Just up to the first rumbling of thunder, and the downpour of rain two days before Christmas.
The storm didn’t let up. It was that cold kind of rain, that would soak, and chill you, until your bones were sore. Camille wasn’t too happy at breakfast that morning. Ben tried to reassure her.
“It’s only rain honey. We can close the blinds and pretend it’s a white Christmas after all.” She had her doubts at breakfast, and was depressed bedtime that night.
Ben’s bride managed to hide her dissatisfaction the next day when the kids, and grandkids showed up. She took the soaked coats as Ben helped with the luggage. Soon, she lost her cares in her family’s laughter.
By supper, Camille was happily ignoring the storm. Afterwards everyone gathered in the living room giggling, and anticipating Christmas Day. Ben let out a sigh of relief, knowing Camille would be ok.
That of course, was when the power went out. Camille and the grandkids instantly looked to Ben to fix it all. The parents, a little embarrassed to admit they were hoping Dad had an answer, peeked at him sideways.
“It’s okay guys, it’ll probably come back on soon.” He had them believing what he hoped to be true, until Elene, the oldest grandchild, checked her smartphone. “They’re saying a transformer is down, and probably won’t be fixed til the day after Christmas.”
This unintended sabotage by the child he held at a day old didn’t help. Ben made a mental note to suggest she not volunteer ‘helpful’ information at inopportune moments in the future. In the meantime, he had a momentary stroke of genius, board games.
For the next two hours, dice were rolled, top hats and race cars moved, and deeds were bought and sold. Ships were sunk, numbered colors were reversed, and revolvers were used in the conservatory. All by the light of a fire.
Through it all he couldn’t help but notice the way the light bounced off both the tree and Camille’s beautiful face. Blankets and pillows replaced the games as everyone settled down to sleep in the warmest place in the House. Drake and Miles, their first and second born, took turns stoking the fire through the night.
Camille put on a brave face Christmas morning, as they used the fireplace to cook bacon, eggs, and biscuits with the old camping skillet and Dutch oven. By noon, her face started to fall, it was time to cook the biggest meal of her year, and it wasn’t going to happen.
She wasn’t even sure if anything in the refrigerator would make it through the power outage. Ben didn’t make the mistake of trying to downplay it, but he couldn’t let it ruin Christmas. Instead of trying to be the hero himself, he decided to make Camille the one who rescued Christmas.
“Honey, if anyone can salvage Christmas, it’s you. You’re the best cook I know, always have been. Plus, if you look at it one way, this is sort of a challenge. A lot of people can be a great cook with all the kitchen stuff nowadays. If you could pull it off with no electricity, the family would talk about it for years to come.”
Personally, Ben didn’t care if they ate peanut butter and banana sandwiches for Christmas, but he knew this was important to Camille. She rolled up her sleeves and went to work. That woman marched towards the pantry like Schwarzkopf heading towards Kuwait.
Four hours later, it was finished. An while it was not your typical Christmas fare, it was good. Ben wasn’t sure exactly how, but Camille had accomplished it,
She used bouillon cubes and onions to make a French onion soup. There was corn bread and baked potatoes. The main savory dish were individual meat pies using of all things, beef jerky and canned vegetables. For desert, apple cinnamon bread from the Dutch oven.
After dinner, gifts were opened, and for once no one had to carry out trash bags full of wrapping paper. The fireplace made a perfect holiday incinerator for the used bits of paper and ribbons. Ben led a prayer, as he did every Christmas.
“Dear Lord, we’d like to thank you for this food, our home, our family, and friends. This isn’t exactly the way we had it planned, but I imagine Joseph had similar thoughts. Either way, You had it worked out then, just like You did this Christmas.”
The funny thing is Lord, I was so excited about those LED’s, I didn’t even realize how important this old fireplace would be this year. You always surprise me, in a good way Lord. Thank You for giving us an unforgettable Christmas this year.”
They all said Amen, and hugged the one closest to them. Elene, who had been so out of sync with her previous announcement, was right on track with this one. “You know Grandpa, you might say we had the LEDs after all.”
Puzzled faces told her to continue. “I mean it’s Christmas, and we have Love, Each Other, and a Dramatically, Dreamy Christmas … Christmas LEDs!” Everyone laughed.
An, as if that had been the point of it all, that’s when the power came back on. Quickly they all turned everything off besides the fireplace and the tree. The family spent the rest of Christmas happily in love’s light. Christmas Light May hang on your tree, but the real thing, should burn brightly in our hearts, Merry Christmas.
25 Devotions – Day Eighteen
The Native: From Their Sins
Matthew 1:21
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Many times in translation, because of the difference in language, small words are necessary in English to explain the thought of the Greek or Hebrew. The concept is there, but an and, or the, is added to make the English make sense. This is not the case in this verse.
The word for their in the Greek original is autos, and the definition of it is worth its weight in gold. Much more than a preposition, it contains the concept of a baffling wind. Wind is easily explained, but baffling can mean inexplicable, impossible, and puzzling. When you put the two together, it’s a very specific description of our sins.
Just as people have watched the threat of a hurricane or a tornado on the horizon, the same thing held true with our sinful nature. The only difference was , before Christ, no matter how much warning you had, there was no escape. They were neither out-runnable, or deniable, and prior to Calvary, they most certainly weren’t dis-solvable.
He calmed the storm that was locked in our souls, washed away the stains, and removed the hold they had on us.
Yet, Christ came to save His people from their sins. So that inexplicable, impossible grip man’s transgressions had, would no longer hold any power. The God we serve, not only forgave our sins, He separated us from them. Jesus was born so that you and I could be made new.
He calmed the storm that was locked in our souls, washed away the stains, and removed the hold they had on us. The word not only translates their, but both him and her. Jesus came to redeem the world, and to be a Personal Savior.
He cares about us individually just as much as He cares about the Church as a whole. No problem is too small for His attention and nothing is so big as to baffle Him. It may confuse us on our own, but not our Christ.
Sin’s winds may intimidate us, but they hold no terror for Him. The God that rescued us from a destroying wind, spoke to Job in the whirlwind. He took Elijah home in a whirlwind, and empowered the early Church by filling the Upper Room with a Mighty Rushing Wind. Mighty in the Greek indicates violent, wind translates Breath, and Rushing is phero, to carry some burden, or to move one with force or speed.
As our Lead Pastor, Pastor Denny Livingston, once preached, He didn’t only carrry something into the Upper Room, He expelled some things. The God we serve is powerful enough to still the winds that rage against our soul, separate us from their power and their practice, and bear whatever burdens we will face in the future.
In this season, we don’t rejoice because of an age old story, we celebrate a very present Savior. The God we worship in Bethlehem, greeted us this morning. He is present above, around, and inside us. We feel Him, we see His work, and know that He is soon to return.
It may confuse us on our own, but not our Christ.
If you don’t know Him, I challenge you to bring your past sins, and your present condition to Him. Allow The Lord Jesus to show you why Bethlehem changed everything. If you know Him, don’t allow temporary problems to rob you of the joy of the season. He is in your present season with you, and He will bring you through to the next season, with something greater than you had before.
The gift of Christmas is not complete without the rest of Christ’s life, and it’s not meant to be. As Pastor Livingston preached so wonderfully yesterday, birth is just the beginning. We follow on, no matter how cold the season, or how dark the days, in the warmth of His light.
Jesus saved us to transform us, giving us a whole new life. One that isn’t isolated from the problems of this world, but insulated against them. We face a very real, and very dangerous world, but we face it with a very real, and very formidable God on our side. He matches the wind with a whirlwind. His voice is louder than the waves of the sea. Finally His hand is powerful enough to takes us from Earth to Heaven. Whatever your their is, He is enough to deal with it!
December 17, 2017
iPainting Santa’s Soldier
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25 Devotions – Day Seventeen
The Native: Eleven Til Midnight
Luke 2:7-8
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Pause after verse seven for a moment. Suppose you were in a far country, that Christianity was foreign to you. Instead of reading this in the book of Luke, you’re listening to a man share the story with you. Would you interrupt when he began verse eight? He tells you this amazing story about this couple, and suddenly shifts gears to some shepherds.
You and I know why Luke wrote the way that he did. We know that the Shepherds and the Angels will bring everything full circle to Bethlehem, but that’s because we know the story. If you were a stranger, would you see the connection?
I ask this to highlight something, the fact that two seemingly unrelated events, three separate groups of people, all tie together. When you add in the Star in the Heavens, the Wise men journeying from the far East, and Herod’s plot, it’s a whirlwind of activity.
The same is true today. Things are happening so fast, events that appear to have no connection with the other. The same day that one government makes a judicial decision altering an entire nation’s laws, in Europe the Vatican signs a treaty with the Palestinians.
While this is going on, Greece, which has not been prominently on the world stage since after the time of Alexander, is now the concern of every European leader. The head of Russia met with their Prime Minister to offer support. Some would argue that they were mere coincidences, until you consider something else. First of which is the words of Zechariah that referenced Zion and Greece.
The second, the same year that contains four blood moons, at least two of which occur during Jewish feasts, Jupiter and Venus align. Whether you believe this is the same as the Wisemen’s star or not it’s still significant. They form a pattern that has not been seen in two thousand years, since the birth of Christ.
Lastly, the seventeenth of Tammuz is a Jewish fast day. It commemorates the breach of the walls of Jerusalem, and begins a three week period of mourning. According to the Mishnah, five calamities occurred on this date through the years. Every 10 to 20 years, this coincides with July 4. This happened both on July 4, 1776, and on July 4, 2015 as well.
Seemingly unconnected groups, events that would appear to have no tie to the other. Isn’t that what a stranger would see in the pause between verses seven and eight of Luke? It’s made clear in verses eleven and twelve, which I believe points to the time on history’s clock. Spuritually, we are somewhere around eleven minutes until midnight.
It is my heartfelt belief that soon, The Native Of Bethlehem, will call for those who have anticipated His return to join Him. All signs point to the fact that our world needs more than a religious Herod, a political cleric, or an economic powerhouse of a leader. Although it will seek out one, expecting hope, only to embrace chaos.
What this world needs today, is the same thing it needed over 2,000 years ago. A savior, One who didn’t merely promise Heaven, He delivered it. On a mountain spanning a bloody cross and an empty tomb, He opened the passage to Eternity.
I encourage you today, if you don’t know Him, to pause and examine the claims of the shepherds. If they had not seen the Angels, what connection would they have with an out of town carpenter, his pregnant wife, and a newborn baby? Oh, but if they did see an angel, if they were there by invitation, what then?
You and I have been invited to salvation, an opportunity to trade this world’s pain for Heaven’s peace. I don’t know how long we have until that day arrives, but I know this. The shepherds wasted no time reaching Bethlehem.
I would encourage you to make a decision today, reach out to a God who’s arms have been wide open for two thousand years. You will find Him powerful enough to wash away your sins, wise enough to dry your tears, and strong enough to keep us in these last days. For like the shepherds, I believe we will see Him very, very soon.
