SCRIPTURE:
“I
tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven
them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be
forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin." He said this because they
were saying, "He has an evil spirit." (Mark 3:28-30, NIV)
Observations:
I looked
for words or phrases that were repeated!
-
sins (2)
-
blasphemies (2)
-
forgiven (2)
I looked
for any connections!
Jesus speaking on blasphemy was
connected to the teachers of the law stating that He had an evil spirit
in Him.
Interpretations:
I asked
myself why is that significant?
To state that Jesus had an evil
spirit in Him, which the teachers of the law did, Jesus was letting them
know that they were blaspheming against the Holy Spirit for that remark.
Jesus wanted to also let them know it is an eternal sin what they were
doing: attributing Jesus' miracles to an evil spirit instead of to the Holy
Spirit.
Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life here.
There have been so many times that I could be likened to a Pharisee
instead of being an imitation of Jesus as I live my life. That is not
something I am proud of and it is repulsive if anything else. My
handling of this election is a prime example.
I started attacking a person whose views I do not agree with and in
the process started hurting all those who supported that person.
The Pharisees did the same thing by attacking Jesus in front of His
disciples and others because they did not like what Jesus stood for. So,
they focused on character assassination. This incident could have really
hurt the disciples and would have impacted their view of Jesus if not
for all the time they had already spent with Jesus and got to know Him.
I believed what I was doing was right but most of it could be labeled
'MISPLACED CONFIDENCE'. Instead of placing my CONFIDENCE in God and
using
http://www.pittsburghstandard.com and
http://www.facebook.com which I
joined in NOV 2006 for the main purpose of reaching out to all my
friends with the love of Christ, but I caused hurt this election
season.
This past Sunday, Pastor Bucknell at Oakland International Fellowship took me and others through the 2nd
session of Discipleship Training. He gave us 40 words and asked us to
place them within three categories: LACK OF CONFIDENCE, FOCUSED-CONFIDENCE IN
GOD, and MISPLACED CONFIDENCE.
I did the exercise and realized in this election season most of the
words that would describe me fell in the VICE category of MISPLACED
CONFIDENCE: Prideful, Defiant, Revengeful, Angry, Argumentative, Critical,
Bitter, Hateful, Envious, and Spiteful.
All these described me when I am supposed to be a FOLLOWER OF CHRIST.
The Bible says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend than the kisses
of an enemy."
When my friends rebuked me with harsh words for some of my writing, I
took it personally but it still was a WAKEUP CALL As I read more and
more, I saw how far I had gone. The problem with MISPLACED CONFIDENCE is
our confidence is so much in what we are doing thinking it is right that
we DECEIVE ourselves. I did that this election season. I went on my own.
I went beyond addressing the issues the Bible is against but went for
personal attacks.
When I read through the whole Bible, the signature verse Jesus gave
me is:
"But life is worth nothing unless I use it to do the work assigned me by
the Lord Jesus, the work of telling others about God's mighty goodness
and love!"(Acts 20:24, TLB)
I joined facebook mainly for that reason and also decided to use
facebook to help candidates running for SGB who I strongly believed
would help the student body I love.
I went away from that focus once my CONFIDENCE in GOD was redirected
into MISPLACED CONFIDENCE and LACK OF CONFIDENCE.
LACK OF CONFIDENCE:
1. Anxious 2. Fearful 3. Doubtful 4. Despairing 5. Hopeless 6. Stressed
7. Sad 8. Worrisome 9. Depressed.
Having joined the ranks of 'LACK OF CONFIDENCE' and 'MISPLACED
CONFIDENCE' during this election season and by my actions, I felt I lost
my right to be heard anymore. I stopped writing devotionals like I used
to.
When I had GOD-FOCUSED CONFIDENCE, it motivated me to write
devotionals to reach every friend of mine that would read them to touch
them with the LOVE OF CHRIST.
I made this election an idol in my life and thinking I was doing
things in the Name of God, I started hurting people. People rightfully
started to wonder 'Is this the same Ramesh, we knew?'
Rightfully so!
I became a Pharisee and lost my right to be heard just as the
Pharisees in the Name of God hurt people thinking they were doing right.
If my characteristics were attributed to GOD-FOCUSED CONFIDENCE, this
is what my friends would have seen:
1. Self-control 2. Faithful 3. Loving 4. Joyful 5. Peaceful 6. Patience
7. Kindness 8. Reasonable 9. Good 10. Merciful 11. Gentle
Most of them are the Fruit of the Spirit.
I have never been ESP: emotionally, spiritually, and physically sick
as much as I got sick during this election period and afterwards because I had
MISPLACED CONFIDENCE.
The Word of God which I used for years for the purposes of reaching
out to others with the LOVE OF CHRIST, I used this same WORD for
judgment purposes.
I thank all my brothers and sisters in Christ who have corrected me
even if it meant harsh rebuke and also all those that loved me
unconditionally despite my wrong turn. Thank you Liz, Zela, Amy, and
Luke.
I am so thankful to my dear brothers and sisters from Oakland
International Fellowship who have rebuked me gently publicly and
privately for my political season actions that have not been
Christ-like.
Originally, I was hurt that they did not come to my defense when I was
being attacked but as I look back, now I am thankful. Showing Christ's
love and preaching the Gospel of Grace is utmost important than putting
anyone down.
I did not come to have a passion to see the unborn saved and
protected, sanctity of marriage protected, and Israel protected among
other issues because my friends shoved those issues down my throat but
because I came to experience CHRIST'S LOVE in my own life and what God's
Word says.
In Oakland International Fellowship, I have come to see no matter how
far I have gone even using the Name of God for political purposes, there are brothers and
sisters who genuinely love me, care for me, and pray for me especially
from Living Acts small group and Potters Clay small group and also
other cell groups where we study the Bible, pray for one another, and
grow in community with each other.
They could have easily done the same thing as someone who wrote to me
and said, "I can consider you no longer a friend nor a
brother-in-Christ. Keep your self-righteous talk to yourself"
In a way they would have been right but they did not. I want to thank
all my other friends apart from OIF who did not abandon me after this
election season for things I wrote. I ask your forgiveness and your help
of accountability if I ever drift again from my primary focus of loving
students and reaching them with Christ's love which is why I am even here at
Pitt.
Once I lost that focus, I lost my love for my job, facebook, and
Pittsburgh Standard but am so glad for God's Word and His people who
encourage which gave me my passion back to love students through my job,
facebook, and
http://www.pittsburghstandard.com
Jesus' promise of 'It is not the healthy that need the doctor but the
sick' became much more applicable to me now more than ever.
I thank the Lord for bringing me back to His love and what He desires
through using Pastor Bucknell's Sunday school training in discipleship.
Pastor Bucknell did not even have to say all the MISPLACED CONFIDENCE and LACK OF
CONFIDENCE applied to me. I just knew God was speaking to me through
that lesson. The source for the lesson is from
http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net
When people experience Christ's deep love in their life, Christ will
convict them of issues such as abortion, gay marriage, Israel, poor,
immigration, and so on.
On the issues that I wrote about, I don't disagree but what I do have
a problem is that it was not presented in LOVE. Any article that
turns people away from Christ or prevents people from wanting to know
Christ is a stumbling block and disservice. I have been guilty of that
and ask forgiveness.
Giving God's Word is one thing and giving our own word is another.
God's Word can convict and the Gospel can be offensive to many who hear
it but that becomes an issue between the person hearing it and God not
the one who delivered it.
I don't want your view of Jesus to change because you all know that I
love Jesus and have acted in a way that is not Christ-like. Don't let my
words this election keep you from Jesus and His Word which is the
Absolute Truth.
I ask you
now dear friend, what is your view of Jesus?
Dear friend, your view of Jesus could be based on what you see in the
lives of those who claim to be followers of Christ. Those who have
MISPLACED CONFIDENCE can turn you away from wanting to know Christ.
Those who have GOD-FOCUSED CONFIDENCE, can lead you to want to know
Christ.
At one point, my life was very much GOD-FOCUSED CONFIDENCE but this
election season, I lost my way and some of my friends. But, don't
let one individual like me or a group of individuals give you a negative
view of Jesus. I want to get back to GOD-FOCUSED CONFIDENCE which starts
with allowing Christ the Lord to work in me and through me through the
power of the Holy Spirit.
Do not let people
who believe in Jesus and yet live a life apart from Christ influence
your view of Jesus but look to the Gospels to get your view of Jesus.
Jesus will not disappoint.
Sadly, we do make judgments about Jesus based on people we know who
have come to know Jesus but their lifestyle does not reflect that. That
is why it is so important that our life reflect accurately who Jesus is
and why Jesus came. More than anything, it is important we get our view
of Jesus from the Gospels as a whole.
It is the Holy Spirit that guides and
leads us. We are forgiven by the blood of Jesus. When God looks at us,
He sees Christ in us and we have access to Heaven. Jesus loves you so much that Jesus
died on the cross for you shedding His precious blood. If you were the only One, Jesus would have
still died for you. Jesus came back to life to give you help, hope, and
healing.
May you know the love of Jesus
in your life and not fear the unpardonable sin if you know Jesus as your
Lord and Personal Savior!
If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior, you can come
to know Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior for He wants to accept
you. Now is the time of Salvation.
View Jesus as one who took the nails on his hands and feet for you,
who took the crown of thorns on his head, and a spear to his side, just
so He can save you from the bondage of sin and death. Jesus died for
your sin to redeem you and give you a new life no matter where you have
been or what you have done. His mercy and grace is there for you when
you acknowledge you are a sinner in need of a Savior to save you and a
Lord to lead your life. Jesus will be both your Lord and Savior when you
turn to Him. Jesus came back on the third day to save, is alive, and
sits at the right Hand of God.
May you experience the power of His love as I have through His Word
and through His people as He works by the power of the Holy Spirit!
Amen!
“View
Immanuel Everyday Wonderfully!” (V.I.E.W)/”What
is your view of Jesus in life?”
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, this is a scary passage because for the first time in
this chapter I read about a sin that cannot be forgiven but has eternal
consequences. Oh
Lord, that can scare people into thinking they might have committed it.
Lord those that are afraid they might have committed it, please let them
know in your love that they have not because you put it upon my heart
once that if we are worried about not being forgiven then we have not
committed it. The teachers of the law were so out there that they did
not even worry about what they were saying and doing. It did not matter
to them that they attributed evil to you. There are still those in this
world that do the same. That is scary Lord. Help us please not to be
paralyzed regarding blasphemy but to hold on to you for when we hold on
to you, we are holding on to hope. Thank you Lord that we cannot commit
blasphemy in our minds or thoughts because that is not what you
addressed. Instead, you addressed what the teachers of the law spoke directly. Help
those who are troubled and confused about this passage. Show them your
love and your security. Thank you so much Jesus! Jesus I also thank you
that it is not possible for your followers to commit the unpardonable
sin. For non-Christians who do not know you, it is possible Lord but
help us to reach them before they commit it. You Oh Lord died for the
world to save it. You would not have done that if it was not possible to
grant people in this world Salvation when they turn their lives over to
you. Thank you Jesus your death made it possible because of your
cleansing precious Blood. Help us Oh Lord for the honor and glory of
your Name! Protect us from evil and help us to live for you. We are so
sorry for our sin and ask you for your help. Please be our Lord and
Personal Savior and fill us with the Holy Spirit. Thank you so much
Jesus you are our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus you have
heard my prayer and answered me! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
ANALOGY OF INVITING PEOPLE TO THE GREAT PHYSICIAN:
We are like an ambulance taking
sick people to the
hospital. People are dying and there is an emergency because of an
epidemic virus. The ambulance takes the initiative to go to the place
people are dying and bring them to the hospital. They are not dead yet
but there is no time to wait. The ambulance needs to get to the hospital
for that virus to be treated. The virus has infected the mind, body, and
soul spreading rapidly. You and I cannot do anything to heal our friends
of this virus except be the AMBULANCE taking them to the HOSPITAL where
the GREAT PHYSICIAN waits.
Once at the hospital, there is a GREAT PHYSICIAN that waits. The sick
are gathered from all corners of the earth and come to this hospital.
This hospital is called CALVARY OF SALVATION and the EMERGENCY WARD is
called GOLGOTHA.
The GREAT PHYSICIAN is not like other doctors who can only treat
patients with physical ailments but this GREAT PHYSICIAN is much
more and knows He has to stay 72 HOURS for every dying person there to
be healed.
He knows what He has to do! This GREAT PHYSICIAN knew that only His
BLOOD can wipe away this epidemic VIRUS, so for you and me He went to
the blood transfusion room where people were about to die. There He lay
down on the bed made of wood.
The surgeons walk into the room. They turn this GREAT PHYSICIAN on
His back. Instead of using an IV, a WHIP with sharp glass, etc is
used to draw out the BLOOD from the GREAT PHYSICIAN'S back! It does not
stop there but to elevate the head on the bed of wood, a CROWN OF THORNS
is used which draws more BLOOD.
As the head is elevated, the GREAT PHYSICIAN's hands are stretched
wide on the wooden bed. Then the feet are bound together. This is done
for the BLOOD transfusion to begin. Instead of using an IV, NAILS and a
HAMMER is used. The NAILS are pounded through the hands into the wooden
bed with a HAMMER so the BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. The NAILS
are pounded through the feet into the wooden bed with a HAMMER so more
BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. As the BLOOD continues to flow from
the GREAT PHYSICIAN's body, the GREAT PHYSICIAN flat lines. Then the
surgeons insert a SPEAR into the heart to make sure all the BLOOD is
out. All the BLOOD is out!
Now, the GREAT PHYSICIAN is moved into the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA MORGUE
being guarded by security.
Now the CALVARY OF SALVATION hospital has a BLOOD DONOR whose BLOOD
can be used to save everyone there from this EPIDEMIC VIRUS.
Those dying need to be taken there to receive the BLOOD transfusion
that is available. However, the BLOOD will not be forced upon those
dying! THE PUREST RED ANTIDOTE is only given to those that are willing
to receive the BLOOD TRANSFUSION so they could LIVE.
All that accept the BLOOD are being CLEANSED of this EPIDEMIC VIRUS
in their system that is infecting the mind, body, and soul. This
BLOOD goes into the dying person's mind, body, and soul and eats away at
the virus cleaning them and making them pure. This VIRUS is known as
SIN. The BLOOD is the PRECIOUS CLEANSING BLOOD OF THE GREAT PHYSICIAN,
JESUS CHRIST.
The WOODEN BED is the CROSS OF CHRIST where the dying need to be led
too.
72 HOURS LATER, there is a commotion at the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA
MORGUE. THE GREAT PHYSICIAN is not there anymore and the ANGELS that
visit tell loved ones who came there, that THE GREAT PHYSICIAN IS ALIVE
and will save all that come to Him.
It is true even to this day, for all that come to the HOSPITAL OF CALVARY come to realize that His CLEANSING
BLOOD shed on the WOODEN BED (CROSS) will never run out. Anyone infected
who wants to be healed of their sickness can accept what Jesus did for
them and be covered in His precious CLEANSING
BLOOD.
I have done that friend and know that at the foot of the cross where
Jesus died shedding His precious cleansing blood for my sin and the sins
of the world, I can find forgiveness and grace.
Thanks be to God that Christ's death on the cross was temporary to
remove all His precious cleansing blood for our sake but after He was
buried, Jesus came back to life to save.
To this day, all who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved when
they acknowledge what Jesus Christ has done for them and what He can do
for them.
Friend, Jesus loves you so much and if you were the only one living
on earth, Jesus would have done the same for you. What I shared with you
was an analogy but in real life it has happened. Jesus went to the cross
for you and me and His precious cleansing blood was shed so you and I
could have life. Jesus came back to life 72 hours later and is alive but
His blood continues to heal people on every corner of the earth to those
that accept Him.
May my spoken words and
unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my
Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)
If you would like to invite Jesus
Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can
this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises
for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His
wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to
the Lord. You can come right now as you pray this prayer, meaning it in
your heart. You can invite the GREAT PHYSICIAN right now as you make this your prayer.
Dear Jesus,
thank you for healing the paralytic after forgiving his sins. You set him
free to go home. I want to be free. I don’t know
everything about you. I still have a lot of questions. What I do know is
that you died on the cross for my sins. When it comes to sin, I am a
paralytic Oh Lord. I am infected with this deadly disease known as sin.
I am not perfect but a sinner who needs your cleansing blood to clean me
of my sin. I confess to you my sin and repent of my sin. I know
you have forgiven me when you died on the cross. I want to accept that
forgiveness. Thank
you for shedding your cleansing precious blood for me. You were nailed
to the cross because of me. It is like I actually held the hammer and
pounded the nails so I could be free. Thank you for willingly dying for
me Jesus. Thank you for taking the shame and pain for me. Thank you for
doing that to set me free. I come to the cross and ask you for your
healing in my life. Thank you for the power of your Blood to redeem
humanity. Thank you for coming back to life to save us and give us
Eternal Life as we yield to you. Your blood can heal us where we are. I
love you Jesus. I want you Jesus. Even with my questions, I come to you now and accept you
into my heart. Please Jesus come into my heart and make my heart your
home. Give me a transfusion of change. Live in me Jesus and I will live
for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I thank you Jesus
for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for
living in me Jesus. I acknowledge you now as my Lord and Personal
Savior. Please be the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank you for being my
Lord and Personal Savior Jesus and because of what you have done for me when
God looks at me, He now sees me covered in your blood and His judgment
passes over me. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me.
Thank you for being with me Lord. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit.
Thank you Jesus I now belong to you and never need to be alone! You will
always be with me and have given me Salvation. In Your Name I Pray
Jesus! Amen!
May my spoken words and
unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my
Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)
