Luke 12:22 NKJV Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.

1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Jesus loves us and wants us to be worry-free. How do I know? The Bible tells me so. Luke reminds us at the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus said, “do not worry about your life.“ Pretty simple, right? Wrong!!!! That is one of the most challenging things there is to do. What’s crazy to me is that as a young Christian, this was one of the easier principles for me to connect with. I’m typically a pretty laid-back guy with not too many cares in the world, or at least I used to be, so much so that it would frustrate people around me, because even as a kid, my thought process was that God would take care of it. 

However, now more than ever, I worry about so much. My Life-my own mortality; my Family-my relationships with my wife and with my kids; my Business-EVERYTHING (every little freaking thing); my Faith-are you still there Lord. It’s honestly like the more God has blessed me, the more I worry about what He’s blessed me with. But common sense (or the Wisdom of the Word) should tell me that if He blessed me with it, then why would I worry (Proverbs 10:22 NKJV The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it). 

I see the issue in one of my favorite scriptures, Matthew 11:28 NKJV Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. This was never a problem for me; I loved running to Him when I felt overwhelmed and casting all of my cares at His feet. Yet, here was my screw up, Jesus said to “Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.“ 

Yet, rather than taking His yoke (a contraption used to pair oxen to carry extremely heavy loads), I was taking back His burdens. What?? A yoke is also a burden or bondage. Jesus died to give us a divine exchange, His righteousness for our sin, burdens, sorrows, and diseases. Yet when we hold on to the worries and the cares that are supposed to be laid at His feet, we grab hold of the very burden that He died for. We need to grab His Yoke (which, without going into the first sermonette I ever preached in front of Pastor John K. Jenkins… long story, irrelevant, and a great memory for me). His Yoke is the Cross, and when we grab ahold of it rather than our worries, we receive the Grace that is sufficient to meet every need we have (Phil 4:19). After all, His Yoke is easy…Matthew 11:30 NKJV For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Psalm 147:7 NKJV Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; Sing praises on the harp to our God,

Today we celebrate Thanksgiving across the nation, yet Psalm 147:7 should be on our tongues everyday.

Mark 14:3-4. And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. …10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them.

Here in the book of Mark, the author tells a well known story of Mary coming to anoint Jesus’ body while at the house of Simon the leper.  That statement is significant in itself, the fact they were eating at the home of a former leper speaks of Jesus healing power (the book of John tells this same story and we find out a risen Lazarus was also present).  Yet it is here where the rubber seemed to meet the road for Judas.  I call it his breaking point, because it was here when Mary broke open the alabaster box of perfume smelling oil (alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard), that she would unknowingly be preparing Jesus’s body for burial.  

However, this breaking of the alabaster box, sent Judas spiraling.  He couldn’t fathom how something so expensive could be wasted on Jesus and not given to the ministry that he was working so hard to finance.  We later in John’s gospel find out it was Judas making the comment, and we see here that he had others also angry as it said  some who were indignant (moved with indignation or resentment, to be very displeased).

So much so that Judas, Evan after Jesus pleas for them to understand that what Mary was doing held special value, he immediately got up and went to the chief priests to betray Him (Jesus) to them (the high priests).  Wow resentment (bitterness) will make you quickly loose the big picture, fracture relationships, make permanent decisions based on temporary circumstances

That’s where I want to park today, Judas could not obviously determine from this ladies one action, that Jesus, who they knew to be the Son of God, needed to be betrayed.  I beg you to consider that these feelings had been building up.  We having hindsight know that his betrayal was a part of the divine plan, but his humanity still had to get him to this decision point.  What was it.  Was it that fact that when he came aboard to follow this rabbi, Judas had different expectations?  Could it be that because Judas was in charge of the money, all of the denarii he watch pass through their coffers, he realized how lucrative this could be or maybe how much he could have?  Maybe Judas was thinking about the life he left and what he loss to follow this guy who maybe didn’t seem to the King Judas hoped he would be.  Maybe his relationship had soured with Jesus and this was the last straw, the last difference of opinion, the straw that broke the camel’s back.  

Judas would then make a decision that changed everything.  It destroyed his walk with Jesus; his faith in God; his relationship with his brothers and filled him with embarrassment and shame. It cost Jesus his life; it destroyed the ministry they had built (as he knew it) and it ultimately cost him his own life as well.  If only he could have waited until the circumstances around him changed.  How different would life had been for him. 

What resentment are you holding on to, I mean gripping to for dear life.  Who hurt you that bad, that your blinders are up and all you see is read.  You have completely cut off the relationship (at least the way it was and could still be); you have isolated your feelings to the point where your heart is rock solid.  

Stop!!! Let Judas help you.  The circumstances are about to change, hold on I know it hurts but open your heart again.  Let Jesus do what He was about to do for Judas, Change Everything.  Jesus revealed the truth of who He was (in his persecution and execution on the cross) to the disciples, yes even Judas and while it was too late to stop his rash decision, it was not too late to save his life.  Jesus died for all of our sins including that decision Judas made.  And also for you and that person you currently resent.  But resentment will cloud your judgement; open you up to irrational decisions and ultimately lead to guilt and shame.  If Judas was here I guarantee he would have many sermons to offer on this topic, but for now let his life do the speaking.

James 1:13-15 NKJV

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

I was drawn (get it) to this verse today, and could not hep but wonder about a couple of words and their Greek meanings.  It was pretty interesting, walk with me.

We know the author and creator of temptation.  He showed his seductive face in the early chapters of Genesis, when he painted a deceptive picture of the Tree God told Adam and Eve not to eat from.  Yes satan, the devil, Beelzebub, or just the enemy, whatever you call him, he is the villain of all our stories.  So with this as the foundation of our journey let’s look at the text.

Let no one say when he is tempted (g3985; in the Greek; peirazō, meaning-to try whether a thing can be done; or to attempt, or to endeavour; lastly to try, make trial of, test), “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

I think that we can all agree or should all agree that God does not do either of those things to us.  He does not need to try or test to see if something can be done; He can do all things.  He doesn’t attempt anything, He does it.  Therefore, temptation is not aligned with His character.  So if you did not before let’s all agree now.  TEMPTATION CANNOT COME FROM GOD.  

Next, But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  There is a point when we are all tempted.  Let’s cancel another thought, the devil is not bringing temptation and throwing it at us.  The text clearly states that temptation happens when he is drawn away (g1828, the Greek word exelkō, meaning-to draw out or draw away. To lure forth as in hunting and fishing as game is lured from its hiding place, so man by lure is allured from the safety of self-restraint to sin).  I find this to be fascinating.  If you’ve ever been fishing, (I’ve only ever hunted as a kid if you consider going after black bird with a BB gun near the canal by my childhood home) you have a unique strategy.  You bait the hook, putting something on the hook that the fish wants.  Something that will make the fish come to your bait which is really covering the trap (the hook).  And that is just what the enemy does.  He sees what you desire, what you want and cleverly places it where it can be seen but away from your hiding place or the safety of self-restraint.  You see when the fish is in its hiding place it’s safe.  It has to come out from the protection.  If we stay in our safe place; (Psalm 91:1 NKJV. He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty), we cannot be lead astray, we have to come out from the protection.  

We’re drawn away from safety by his own desires (g1939, the Greek word epithymia, meaning-to desire, to lust after, to crave, have a longing desire for what is forbidden) and enticed.  Lusting what is forbidden.  Going back to Satan’s first deception, isn’t that exactly what he did make what was forbidden seem desirable.  Our lust and desires draw us away from the Safety we’ve been given, have set up for ourselves, even provided by others.  

If only it stopped there we could have a chance.  Because it is here that our desire shifts gears and goes full throttle.  You see when we stray away going after desire, that’s when desire has conceived (g4815, the Greek word syllambanō, meaning-to clasp, to seize (arrest or capture); to catch, or take one as prisoner; and while ot also means to conceive, as of a woman, those other meanings are terrifying because they seem to work together.  Physically capturing taking you prisoner then forcing conception somewhat like rape), it gives birth (g5088, the Greek word tiktō, meaning-to produce (from seed) producing sin) to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.  Like the woman in the book of Proverbs, chapter 7 she gives the perfect example of this process.  

However, God loves us too much to allow even our weaknesses to doom us.  He gave us all a way to escape when our own desires get us into a harmful situation.  

1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

The Lord came to protect us from ourselves and as if dying on the cross to cover all of our sins was not enough.  He has also given us outlets to save us from ourselves and our waywardness that can keep us from living the life freedom He also came to provide for us.

God cannot tempt us it is not in His character.  The devil cannot attack us in our safe places, we have to leave and open ourselves up to him.   When we leave ourselves open, the enemy wants to imprison us but God has given each of us a way of escape.  

Matthew 27:3-6 NKJV

Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” 5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.

There is a recent story about Kyren Lacy, who was a star football player at LSU. Many projected him to be a no-brainer first-round draft pick. That means generational wealth for him and his family. Why do I bring this up??

Lacy was being charged with vehicular homicide for an accident that he had nothing to do with. However, he was pointed out as the culprit by the lady who actually hit the car that killed the gentleman in the passing vehicle. The sad part is that once the video was released, it was plain to see that Lacey’s car was nearly 80 yards behind the accident. It was apparent, but two people pinned the blame on Lacy, and he was criminally charged. 

Why do I share this story with you, and what does it have to do with this scripture?

Judas was a disciple of Jesus; he spent approximately three years with this Messiah. Day after day, he saw miracles, healings, and people changed. And even as close as he was to Holiness, he betrayed Jesus because he thought he knew better than Jesus. 

However, after making the worst decision of his life, he was extremely remorseful. Here, however, is where the condemnation kicks in. Condemnation means to give judgment against, to judge worthy of punishment. And in that is where Judas found himself. After realizing his mistake, he then wanted to punish himself. He then went and hanged himself. 

Judas spent all that time with the living Savior, yet he never truly knew his love. 

Unfortunately, this is why I brought this up. Kyren Lacy knew he was innocent, but charged, and even worse, he was made to believe that he was indeed complicit in the death of the other driver. The condemnation drove him to a similar fate; he felt that he deserved punishment for a crime he never committed. 

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

We need to be clear; for those who are in Christ, there is no condemnation. This means that when we feel condemned, it is the flesh, not the Spirit. 

We all live in the flesh, which means some days we will feel condemned, unworthy, or even unloved. Yet the truth is, God does not give us those feelings, and that is all they are. He gave us His Son, Jesus, who died for all of our sins. Because He did God said in Heb 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

Had Judas or Kyren Lacy understood this, perhaps they would not have punished themselves and allowed themselves to be loved and forgiven. 

Have you ever seen a quote, and thought for sure it came from a famous person or a particular type of individual, only to be stunned when you see the person who spoke such impactful or incredibly ignorant words?  Yes, that was a mouthful.  But it was exactly what I thought when reading Matthew Chapter 8.  If I told you that Jesus said of this person:

Matt 8:10

When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!

Then later in this same chapter Jesus would say of this group:

Matt 8:26

But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”

Of course you, like me would say that the first verse shared had to be one of those disciples closest to him, maybe Peter, James or even John.  They were with Jesus in the most incredible of situations and clearly had been able to see Miracles and heard the most faith filled sermons ever spoken.  That had to be them right?

And of course the second verse had to be some rebellious Jewish Pharisee or even a non Jewish outlaw who could care nothing about the word’s of Jesus.  Of course…..

We would be both wrong.  

Matthew 8:5 NKJV

Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him,

A centurion: an officer in the Roman army received one of the greatest honors by hearing these words from Jesus: “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!

From a Roman solder!!!

Then who was he speaking of in the second verse: 

Matt 8:10 8:25 NKJV

Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

Come on that, cannot be right.  The disciples are the ones with little faith?  Well if they didn’t have faith, what hope do we have??  Don’t be discouraged, Paul exhorts us by reminding us:

Romans 5:5 NKJV

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

So why did I write this?  Just to remind us that Jesus is worth our Faith and He is always looking for Faith to reward.  Even in those times where we are scared and it seems like our ship is going down, we can have faith in Jesus.  Because regardless of what storm we might be going through, there is a second part of that scripture we can put our faith in: 

Matthew 8:26 NKJV

But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 

HE WILL CALM YOUR STORM

The 14 chapter of John’s Gospel is rich with Jesus’ teachings/prayers/declarations.  He is speaking a lot in this chapter.  So much so that I counted only 3 of the 31 verses are not in red (red lettering in certain bibles denote Jesus actually speaking; therefor the white wording is typically words of that chapter’s author or someone else other than Jesus speaking).  Therefore, to me this chapter is significant; just read through it and you will see.  Jesus tell us about the mansions that await us in heaven, how He is going prepare a place for us (Believers), He’s the only way to the Father, those that believe in Him will do greater works than Him, if we ask anything in His name…He will do it, He will send the Holy Spirit to help us……Do you understand the major things Jesus tells us in this chapter it is unbelievable.  

Yet in all of these gems being shared, Jesus tells us twice to not let our hearts be troubled.

John 14:1 NKJV

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 

John 14:27 NKJV

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 Why!!!

Jesus knows everything, so He knows that regardless of all that He is assuring us of; our hearts will still be affected.  We will definitely have times of fear.  

Why will our hearts be troubled as believers of Jesus?  Because Life happens and we are human.  We cannot go through this life, in this temporary body and not be afraid.  So Jesus gives us an anchor to hold on to in this 14th chapter.  Believe in God and in Jesus.  If we believe in God, that He sent Jesus His son to this earth to die for us in the divine exchange where His righteousness was exchanged for our sinfulness; then we will become the righteousness of God through Christ.  That is what we must believe.  However, Jesus did not stop there (yet the truth of the Gospel is more than enough), He also left us His Peace.  His Peace is not like ours or anyone in this world, a fading peace a disrupted peace a finicky peace.  But His Peace is Shalom Peace which in Hebrew means: 

completeness, safety, soundness (in body), welfare, health, prosperity, peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment, peace used of human relationships, and peace with God especially in our covenant relationship with Jesus. 

Sound familiar; it should.  

Regardless of all of the unknown that lies ahead; for that matter all that we do know which lies ahead…Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled!!!  Because HIS PEACE is in us, with us and for us