Take Heart Ministries

We are not sure who authored Psalm 1 but the author was both wise and

observant. If we are wise and pay attention, we will observe this Psalm played out all around us.

There are those who listen to the wrong voices and follow the wrong models. Their life is like a leaf driven by the wind. They are chaff and have no lasting fruit.

The Godly delight in the law of God and meditate on it. They put down deep roots and over the course of time bear much fruit. They survive winds that take out the the ungodly. They prosper in the Lord.

Our culture is surrounded by scorners and they are demanding to be heard. Don’t listen to them. Delight in the law of the Lord and His precepts.

In a very simple statement, the Apostle Paul summarized what took place at the cross.

“For He has made Him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

It is a powerful statement that expresses the opposite of what took place in the fall of mankind. Adam and Eve gave up their original standing in exchange for a miserable life. They gave up a garden for a grave and a life of satisfaction for one of frustration.

Then Jesus came. Again there was an exchange.

I gave Him my sin. He gave me His righteousness.

I gave Him my death. He gave me His life.

I gave Him my old life. He gave me a new life.

I gave Him my sorrow. He gave me His joy.

I gave Him my weakness. He gave me His power.

I gave Him my grave. He gave me His glory.

Don’t miss out on the exchanged life.

This is an interesting parable. It is very brief and pointed.

It is a parable of two sons, two invitations, two responses two changes of heart and two destinies.

Some respond quickly to the Savior’s call but they do not follow through.

They “pray a prayer” but their life gives no evidence of a change. They said “yes” but did “no”. Perhaps the cost was just too much in their opinion.

Others are slow to come to the Savior. They said “no” to that call of God but

eventually something changed. Their heart changed and they believed. The Holy Spirit is gracious and kind and never gave up on them.

If you have said “no” in the past, don’t you think it is time to turn around!

Much of Jesus’s teaching and ministry took place around the Sea of Galilee,

particularly at Capernaum. They were responsive and they were blessed. With the blessing of have having access to Jesus comes extra responsibility.

We are blessed in our country with churches on every corner. The gospel is preached over the airwaves and the multiple copies of the Bible are in our

homes.

When Jesus shows up great things happen.

The Town is Honored

The People Are Helped

Crowds Gather

Assistance is Needed

Faith is Rewarded

Resistance is Expected.

God is glorified when Jesus comes to town!

People were amazed at the teaching of Jesus. It wasn’t just that He had

command of His material. The people had heard other teachers who were

scholars but Jesus’s teaching was different. His hearers recognized that He wasn’t like other scribes.

“They were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one that had

authority and not as the scribes”(Mark 1:21-28)

The authority of Jesus belonged to Him as it belonged to no other person.

The Right of Jesus to Exercise Authority.

The Realm in which Jesus Exercised Authority

The Reaction to His Exercised Authority

How do you respond to the authority of Jesus?

This is not how most of the world pictures Jesus but this is how Mark introduced His ministry.

“Jesus came preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.”

We often view Jesus as He healed, delivered and even raised the dead. He taught and fed 5000. He walked on water. Little children were welcome in His presence, as were the worst of sinners.

John the Baptizer was the preacher who called for repentance. But now John was in prison and Jesus comes into Galilee preaching in such a way that the people were amazed at His obvious authority and His audacity. His message was like John’s!

The message was simple.

The Time is Fulfilled.

The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand.

Repent.

Believe.

This is an outline for today!

Letting go is not easy. A parent may stand just out of reach in a swimming pool and say “You can do this. Turn loose of the side and come to me. I have you and you won’t sink.” It is a simple illustration but we must learn that life is best lived when we trust God and turn loose.

This last message, in our series of podcasts dealing with courage, takes us to this biblical promise. It naturally breaks into four sections.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not lean on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him and His work all along the way. He will direct your path.

That is a promise to live by from Proverbs 3:5,6.

Have courage and Take Heart! Jesus cares for you.

“For the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but it is the wisdom and power of God to us who are saved”.

Jesus embraced the cross. He did not run from it, but taking all of our sin upon Himself, He sacrificed His life as payment in our place. He calls for us to “take up our cross and follow Him.”

Why does it take courage to embrace the cross?

Because of the reaction of the world.

Because we must rest from our works and trust Him.

The world reacts against the message of the cross and our own nature chooses to work for our salvation but that never works. Our hope of salvation is found in trusting in Jesus who bore our sin.

Good leaders are influenced by good people. That is a biblical truth that needs to be replicated in our world.

Josiah was eight years old when he became king in Jerusalem. When he was 26 years old, he instituted a refurbishment of the temple and took necessary steps to put Judah on the right path. The book of law was found in the clutter of the temple, read and acted upon. The Passover was restored as it should have been.

How did Josiah know to do that? Where did He find courage? One of the unsung heroines of the Bible was Huldah, a prophetess. She was recognized for her wisdom and walk with God and she influenced King Josiah. Thank God for people who faithfully speak truth to power.

The Mark of a Prophet

The Making of a Prophet

The Message of a Prophet

The Mantle of a Prophet

In the Bible’s list of good kings that honored the Lord, Hezekiah, King of Judah, stands out. There was revival in the land under Hezekiah. He made right, a number of wrongs that had been incorporated into daily life. Isaiah was a constant witness to Hezekiah. He had the ear of the King.

In his old age, he cried out to God and God extended his life. A longer life is not necessarily a better life. He gained an extra fifteen years and fathered another son. Manasseh would be the next king over Judah and what a terrible king he

would be.

In addition, the reasoning of Hezekiah failed. He allowed the Babylonians to see all of his riches and strength. Isaiah confronted Hezekiah and said “Judgement is coming. The kingdom will be pillaged by the Babylonians. Your sons and daughters will be carried away to Babylon.”

Hezekiah’s response speaks to us with all of our national problems. “At least it

won’t happen while I’m alive.” We see that same response in our present day. Socialism, Communism and Islam are on the rise and we think “At least it won’t happen in my day.

May we have “Courage to Face the Future.”