Episode 50

Disciple Up Show Notes, #50
The Day the Universe Changed
4-4-2018, by Louie Marsh

What’s coming up –

55 – 5-9- 1st Anniversary!

Don’t know what I’ll do – if you want to say anything about the impact of this podcast on your life in it’s first year e-mail, put it on FaceBook, etc.

 Title from a PBS series, that I enjoy watching even though I disagree with it a lot.

Here’s the wiki page.

Most if not all the episodes are available for purchase on Amazon or to view on YouTube here.

The Day the Universe Changed: A Personal View by James Burke is a British documentary television series written and presented by science historian James Burke, originally broadcast on BBC1 from 19 March until 21 May 1985 by the BBC. The series’ primary focus is on the effect of advances in science and technology on western society in its philosophical aspects.

The title comes from the philosophical idea that the universe essentially only exists as one perceives it through what one knows; therefore, if one changes one’s perception of the universe with new knowledge, one has essentially changed the universe itself. To illustrate this concept, James Burke tells the various stories of important scientific discoveries and technological advances and how they fundamentally altered how western civilization perceives the world. The series runs in roughly chronological order, from around the beginning of the Middle Ages to the present.

In the United States, the ten-week hour-long series was broadcast from 13 October to 15 December 1986, on PBS and was rebroadcast on The Learning Channel in 1993

Some Harsh Realities

1) Death RULES  over my life!

    Anyone who is among the living has hope–even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!  For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten. Eccl. 9:4-5

 

2) Death Destroys ALL MEANING!

     For the wise person and the fool both die, and in the days to come, both will be forgotten So now I hate life because everything done here under the sun is so irrational. Everything is meaningless, like chasing the wind. I am disgusted that I must leave the fruits of my hard work to others. And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? And yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work. How meaningless! Eccl. 2:16-19 (NLT)

3) But I won’t Despair because Jesus gives HOPE!

 I die every day–I mean that, brothers–just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 1 Cor. 15:31-32

 “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?  Hosea 13:14

 

4) The Universe is Changed Through JESUS!

     What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now!  It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God. 1 Peter 1:3-4, 18-21 (Message)

 

  • I’m FREE FROM FEAR because Death has been Defeated!

 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Rev. 1:17-18

 

key = control, power over, Lordship.

    When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”  “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 15:54-57

 Death is no longer the end of it all.

  • Jesus Christ is the SOURCE of this living hope!

 

5) The Results of this hope – LIVING BEYOND MYSELF!

I think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead. And he did deliver us from mortal danger. And we are confident that he will continue to deliver us. He will rescue us because you are helping by praying for us. As a result, many will give thanks to God because so many people’s prayers for our safety have been answered.  2 Cor. 1:8-11 (NLT)

1, You can live beyond your own resources through the Resurrection Power of Jesus Christ!

2, No matter how bad it gets – faith and hope in the God who raises the dead will see you through!

3, This comes through the Resurrection Power of Jesus!

  • You live with UNSTOPPABLE POWER!

     I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, Phil. 3:10

 1, Paul and the early Christians, were unstoppable!

2, Because no matter what you did to them – they won!

a, This is the reality of that Yuppie saying, “A win – win situation.”

b, If you jailed them – they witnessed, if you let them go – they witnessed, if you killed them – they rejoiced to see their Living Lord!

3, The reality of the Resurrection can turn any situation into victory in all our lives!

  • How Do I GET  This Power?

     But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:8-10

 

God:

The one and only God, who is holy, made us in his image to know him. He is the creator of all things, perfect, holy and worth of our worship & obedience. He is love and in the end will judge all sin.

26  Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… 27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27 (ESV)

Mankind:

All people, though created good, have become sinful by nature, we sin and cut ourselves off from God’s love and grace. (Gen. 3)

23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 (ESV)

8  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8 (ESV)

Christ:

Is God in human flesh (John 1:1), lived a perfect life, died on the cross, thus fulfilling the law & taking on himself the punishment for our sins.(Mark 10:45; John 1:14; Heb. 7:26; Rom. 3:21-26, 5:12-21) He rose again from the dead, showing that God accepted his sacrifice

45  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 (ESV)

8  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9  In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:8-10 (ESV)

Response –

Establish A Spiritual B.A.S.I.S. for Living

 B = Believe Jesus died on the Cross for me and showed He was God by coming back to life again.

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.  For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,  (1 Cor. 15:2-4)

A = Accept Christ as Lord of My life and His free forgiveness of my sins.

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God–  (John 1:12)

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace  (Eph. 1:7)

S = Switch to God’s Plan for my life.

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”  (Mark 1:15)

 I = Inform others of your decision.

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  (Romans 10:9)

 S = Submerge yourself in Christ.

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,  for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  (Galatians 3:26-27)

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Episode 49

 Tales From the Scrypt – the Road to the First Easter

Most of this episode features me reading the scripts I wrote for the short form radio show I do on KLPZ, 1380 AM (found online at 1380am.com). I won’t put all my scripts here in show notes, but want to share with you what I said at the end of the show.

Because God loves us He chose to end our separation and reconcile us to Himself by sending His Son Jesus to be the one perfect sacrifice for sin. He came to earth as God in human flesh, lived a perfect life, died on the cross to forgive our sins, was buried and then rose from the dead conquering both death and hell and now lives forever more. He offers everyone salvation by accepting the gift of salvation that He died to provide.

BASIS is how we respond to the Gospel of Jesus. First I must BELIEVE that Jesus is my Savior and that he saves my by His grace. Then I must ACCEPT Him as my personal Lord, this is where I begin to give my life to Him and live according to His commands. This submitting to Christ continues when I SWITCH or repent. This means I turn away from sin and self and turn to follow Jesus and His word. This is the real engine of change in the believer’s life. This is not a onetime only event but a regular activity as I continually turn away from all sin and selfishness that I discover in my life. Next I INFORM others of my choice both verbally, by telling others about my decision to follow Jesus and by the way I’m now living. Finally I SUBMERGE myself in Christ through water baptism and by seeking to be in Christ every moment of every day. This is the essence of the Living Free Movement, to live fully submerged in Jesus, faithfully following Him no matter how difficult or painful His way might be.

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Episode 48

Disciple Up # 49
The Cruel Curse of Christian Cliches
By Louie Marsh, 3-21-2018

What’s coming up –

THIS EPISODE -The Cruel Curse of Christian Clichés

49 – 3-28- Tales From the Scrypt – The Easter Story

55 – 5-9- 1st Anniversary!

Don’t know what I’ll do – if you want to say anything about the impact of this podcast on your life in it’s first year e-mail, put it on FaceBook, etc.

NEW SEGMENT – WOULDA-COULDA-SHOULDA

 Thoughts on last week’s topic that I missed including.

I probably didn’t stress enough that being transparent with others starts with being transparent with yourself! This is why it’s such a boost to our spiritual and emotional growth and our overall growth as a person.

The Disciple Up Low Down On Why Clichés Matter.

THE CLICHES:

“God needed another angel.”

God doesn’t NEED anything – because He’s God! See my sermon from 2-25-2018

“When God closes a door, He opens a window.”

But if God closes a door in your life, there’s no guarantee He’ll open a window. He may not open anything. He may want you to realize you have the wrong address.

6  And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7  And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8  So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9  And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10  And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:6-10 (ESV)

“The greatest distance in the universe is the eighteen inches between your head and your heart.”

This isn’t Biblical and displays the anti-intellectual strain in large parts of fundamentalism. It’s bad – God designed your heart and mind to work together!

“You’re never more safe than when you’re in God’s will.”

Jesus seems to disagree:

 16  You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17  You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. 18  But not a hair of your head will perish. Luke 21:16-18 (ESV)

Look at all the Christian martyrs including all the Apostles except John!

Justin Martyr (AD 100–165) was almost certainly reflecting on this passage when he said, “They can kill us but they cannot harm us.”

“God will not give you more than you can handle.”

The problem, though, is that God will give you more than you can handle. He’ll do it to make you lean on Him. He’ll do it because He loves you.

8  For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10  He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11  You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 (ESV)

John Newton (1725–1807), the former slave trader who penned “Amazing Grace.” Wrote this in a letter:

“Though our frames and perceptions may vary, the report of faith concerning [the time of death] is the same. The Lord usually reserves dying strength for a dying hour … When the time shall arrive which he has appointed for your dismissal, I make no doubt but that he will overpower all your fears, silence all your enemies, and give you a comfortable, triumphant entrance into his kingdom. You have nothing to fear from death; for Jesus, by dying, has disarmed it of its sting, has perfumed the grave, and opened the gates of glory for his believing people.”

“God helps those who help themselves.”

Ever hear of the Gospel? Salvation by Grace?  This isn’t all false but reflects a mind set upon earning God’s approval by works.

“Let go and let God.”

As J. I. Packer once put it, “The Christian’s motto should not be ‘Let go and let God’ but ‘Trust God and get going.'”

“Everything happens for a reason.”

Yes, that scientifically true but that doesn’t mean it’s a good reason or a healthy one or that God intended it to happen.

“God said it. I believe it. That settles it”

True BUT – that shouldn’t discount struggles

“Sowing a seed” when you mean give money

 That’s “My Truth”

The Christian Side Hug

Really? We can’t just hug people naturally?

Christian Cliché video

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Episode 47

Disciple Up # 47
Transparent Discipleship
By Louie Marsh, 3-14-2018

What’s coming up –

48 – 3-21-The Cruel Curse of Christian Clichés

49 – 3-28- Tales From the Scrypt – The Easter Story

55 – 5-9- 1st Anniversary!

Don’t know what I’ll do – if you want to say anything about the impact of this podcast on your life in it’s first year e-mail, put it on FaceBook, etc.

My book Getting Real is all about this – from the Psalms which is if not the most then one of the most real books in the Bible.

The Disciple Up Low Down on the Importance of Transparency

Biblical Basis for Transparency

Throughout the Bible, the heroes of faith are presented as men subject to like passions as we are (Jas. 5:17) with strengths and weaknesses. For example, it not only portrays Abraham as a friend of God but also as a liar who jeopardized his wife’s virtue.

  1. The Lord Jesus

2) The Psalms – as real as you can get!

Hindrances to Transparency

There is a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) transparency about the characters in the Bible. But many of us go around wearing a mask. Why are we afraid to let others know who we really are?

We are afraid to be transparent because we fear others may not like what they see and reject us. Worse, your words or actions may be misinterpreted and gossip, like wild fire, may spread to many others. Another hindrance to transparency is the “living by faith” extreme of denying our feeling.

Therefore, we put up this “I-Must-Always-Be-Strong” facade such that nothing can go out and nothing can come in. It becomes impossible to “connect” (build close relationships) with others.

Quotes:

Jennie Allen

“We are all hiding from each other with big fig leaves, but God says, “You could stop because I am a way better covering. I have an actual payment for all the sin you are hiding. But it will take coming out from behind your leaves. It will take humility to see that you need me”

Joni Eareckson Tada

Gut-wrenching questions honor God. Despair directed at God is a way of encountering him, opening ourselves up to the One and only Someone who can actually do something about our plight.

Madeleine L’Engle

When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability… To be alive is to be vulnerable.

Henri J.M. Nouwen

I always try to turn my personal struggles into something helpful for others.

Henri J. M. Nouwen

Maybe we wonder if God can take all that goes on in our mind and heart. Maybe we simply want to hold on to our own pleasurable imaginings, afraid that in showing them to our Lord, we may have to give them up. Thus, we are constantly tempted to fall back…out of fear or out of greed, and to keep from our God what often is the most in need of His healing touch.

Juliana of Norwich

It is very great pleasure to [Christ] when a simple soul comes to him nakedly, plainly and unpretentiously.

How To Build A Foundation For Transparency

  1. We cannot hide anything from God  You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Psa 139:3
  2. We can tell God anything and everything.

1  How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2  How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 3  Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, Psalm 13:1-3 (ESV)

Paul was not afraid to allow others to see him as he was.  15  The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16  But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17  To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:15-17 (ESV)

Benefits of Transparency

  1. People will see you as a real human being.
  2. Your transparency lets people into you life and creates a real healthy relationship.
  3. Transparency creates transparency. It will draw your disciples out to reveal their hearts to you. This in turn will enable you to know where the applications of God’s word are to be made in their lives.
  4. Your transparency gives others the freedom to hurt, permission to fail, and the confidence to  trust in the Grace of God

 Potential Problems with Transparency

  1. To be transparent isn’t telling everyone everything about everything.
    29  Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)

6  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:6 (ESV)

    1. Don’t harm people by sharing things they can’t handle and will hurt them.
    2. Always make sure whatever you say that you point people to Christ.

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Episode 46

Disciple Up Show Notes # 46
Dealing with Failure
By Louie Marsh, 3-7-2017

Intro.

Support the Disciple Empowering podcast!!!

What we’re going to do on the show today.

Examples of Failures in the Bible:

The prophet Elijah’s breakdown

 Intro to the Disciple Up SmackDown – history of Disciple Up Low Down and how this developed. Decided today to do this off an outline not a script like the Low Down so they’ll have very different styles and identities.

The Disciple Up SmackDown on Admitting I Failed

When discussing failure with most modern Americans and sadly that includes Christians you’ll almost always get the lecture if you dare to say anything like, “I failed.”

There’s a huge difference between admitting something you’ve done has failed and saying you are a failure.

What is this so called “positivity?” It’s a determined and deliberate denial of reality. I believe Disciples of Jesus believe, speak and live the truth. So when you’ve sinned you admit it, and when you’ve failed you admit it.

Quotes:

“Failure means I dared try.”

– Jack Hyles

“It is better to make a thousand failures than to be too cowardly to ever undertake anything.”

– Clovis G. Chappell

“And seldom if ever do I leave the pulpit without a sense of partial failure, a mood of penitence, a cry to God for forgiveness, and a resolve to look to Him for grace to do better in the future.”

– John Stott

“Failures are finger posts on the road to achievement.”

C.S. Lewis

“Sum up the life of Jesus by any other standard than God’s, and it is an anticlimax of failure.”

– Oswald Chambers

“What is God’s remedy for dejection at apparent failure in our labors? This – the assurance that God’s purpose cannot fail, that God’s plans cannot miscarry, that God’s will must be done. Our labors are not intended to bring about that which God has not decreed.”

– A. W. Pink

“To dwell on the past simply causes failure in the present. While you are sitting down and bemoaning the past and regretting all the things you have not done, you are crippling yourself and preventing yourself from working in the present. Is that Christianity? Of course it is not.”

– Martyn Lloyd-Jones

“One who faces his own failures is steadily advancing on the pilgrim’s way.”

– William Temple

John Mark’s desertion

Peter’s denial of Christ

 Failures who didn’t recover:

Saul

 Judas

 Samson (sort of)

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Episode 45

Disciple Up #45
In Remembrance: Billy Graham
By Louie Marsh, 2-28-2018

Great source of information on Billy’s life and ministry: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/billy-graham/

Looking for a Biblical position on God and suffering?  Check out Episode 16 – God and suffering.

Four Lessons We Should Learn From Billy Today:

  • Integrity:
  • Focus:
  • Action Not Protest:
  •  Transparency:

Books by Billy Graham

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Episode 44

Disciple Up #44
The Disciple & Free Speech
By Louie Marsh, 2-21-2018

General Commands on Speech:

29  Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)

6  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:6 (ESV)

15  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)

Practical Power of Speech:

1  A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2  The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. Proverbs 15:1-2 (ESV)

28  Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. Proverbs 17:28 (ESV)

19  Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; James 1:19 (ESV)

Quotes:

Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/freedom_of_speech

People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use. Soren Kierkegaard

It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them. Mark Twain

I believe that freedom of speech and freedom of religion go hand-in-hand in America. Kirk Cameron

I live in America. I have the right to write whatever I want. And it’s equaled by another right just as powerful: the right not to read it. Freedom of speech includes the freedom to offend people. Brad Thor

Freedom of speech means freedom for those who you despise, and freedom to express the most despicable views. It also means that the government cannot pick and choose which expressions to authorize and which to prevent. Alan Dershowitz

What Speech Shows Me About Myself

8  but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11  Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12  Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. James 3:8-12 (ESV)

11  it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Matthew 15:11 (ESV)

34  You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34 (ESV)

God & Speech:

3  Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Psalm 141:3 (ESV)

2   Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3  For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words. Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 (ESV)

11  whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:11 (ESV)

36  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37  for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37 (ESV)

The Disciple Up Low Down On the Disciple & Censorship

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Episode 43

43 Disciple Up Show Notes
Why Did God Let This Happen To Me? Pt. 2
Louie Marsh, 2-14-2018

Why God Allowed My Pain

 3) To Teach Me To trust God more.

 We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.  Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.  2 Cor. 1:8-9

 4) To Give Me a ministry to others.

 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good  Genesis 50:20

 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  2 Cor. 1:4

Story of Joseph.  He was so mistreated by his brothers, and others in Egypt. He was a good guy who had a ton of bad things happen to him! His 11 brothers sold him into slavery and then told their Dad he’d been eaten by a lion!

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20

 Sources of Strength:

1) The plan of God.

 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

2) The promises of God.

 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4

Did you know that there are over 7000 promises from God in the Bible? Learn which ones apply to you and hang on to them!

3) The people of God.

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Cor. 1:3-4

4) The presence of Christ.

 Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 (Message)

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Episode 42

42 Disciple Up Show Notes
Why Did God Let This Happen To Me?
Louie Marsh, 2-7-2018

I dealt with this from a more philosophical perspective in episode 16 – God and Suffering

Suffering Is…

1) A part of following Jesus.

 But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.  To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.  1 Pet.2:20-21

 2) It can be good for my faith!

 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  1 Pet. 1:6-7

Suffering Isn’t….

1) God punishing you for your sins.

     Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no!… Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them–do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Luke 13:1-5

1  As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2  And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3  Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:1-3 (ESV)

 Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?”   Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. John 9:1-3 (Message)

20  The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. Ezekiel 18:20 (ESV)

The Four Sources of Suffering

1) The world.

 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you… If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.   John 15:18-20

 2) The devil.

 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  1 Peter 5:8

3) The flesh/old nature.

 For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death.  Romans 7:5

4) God.

 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:  “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,  and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”  Endure hardship as discipline;  Hebrews 12:5-7

  • Only As A last resort.

 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.  Do not be like the horse or the mule,  which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle  or they will not come to you.  Psalm 32:8-9

Why God Allowed My Pain

          1) He’s Given Me A choice.

 …then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.  Joshua 24:15

          2) To Get My attention.

 Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being.  Proverbs 20:30

 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance  2 Cor. 7:9

 

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Episode 41

41 Disciple Up Show Notes
Great Commission Month – Commissioned Times Five!
By Louie Marsh, 1-30-2018

The Five Great Commissions:

 18  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

 15  And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17  And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18  they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18 (ESV)

 45  Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46  and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47  and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48  You are witnesses of these things. 49  And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:45-49 (ESV)

21  Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” John 20:21-23 (ESV)

8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (ESV)

What About the Timing & Differences?

 John’s “great commission” is said during Jesus’ resurrections appearances, so it’s actually not what we think of as THE great commission. It’s Jesus being the Master Teacher and repeating what he’s saying so we’ll get it.

Luke’s Great Commission seems to be at a different time also. Luke merges his resurrection appearances together perhaps to save space and move the narrative forward. The opening of the minds and the being witnesses could be referring to John’s commission? Either way it’s clear from Acts that Luke is very focused on them being empowered by the Spirit for this calling.

Mark and the textual difficulties. Go here to read some excellent summaries of different points of view: https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/3973/is-the-ending-of-the-gospel-of-mark-169-20-original

Great Commission Quotes:

 “Rather than give me one thousand who have gained a vision for the world, give me one who will keep that vision.” Ralph Winter

 “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”      William Carey in his so-called Deathless Sermon, Isaiah 54:2-3

 Shout the victory of Jesus Christ!”  John Hyde “Praying Hyde” – Missionary to India – while he lay dying.

No Reserves. No Retreats. No Regrets.   William Borden

 Highlights of Each Commission:

In Matthew the disciples were charged and commissioned to…

  1. Go out and share the Gospel.
  2. Disciple of all nations (all ethic groups).
  3. Baptize all new followers of Jesus,
  4. Teach them to obey the things that Jesus taught.
  5. Jesus would be with them always as they carried out this command.

 In Mark the disciples were…

  1. to proclaim good news to all creation.
  2. to baptize all new believers.
  3. Were told supernatural signs would accompany and protect them.

 In Luke the disciples were called to…

  1. proclaim repentance and the forgiveness of sins to all nations.
  2. To wait for the Holy Spirit to empower them and then do these things in His Power.

 In John the disciples…

  1. Like Jesus, they were being sent to speak for God.
  2. The Holy Spirit would empower them to fulfill this command.
  3. They were to proclaim forgiveness of sin and release people from it’s power.

 Finally, in Acts the disciples were commanded by Jesus to…

  1. They were to receive the Spirit’s power.
  2. To be His witnesses everywhere.

Summary of all five:

 1) Preach the Gospel Everywhere

2) Baptize new disciples.

3) Teach them to obey

4) Do it all in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Disciple Up Low Down On Being Commissioned

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