The Man Judas #2

The Lord said to me…”I will test my people with a Plumbline, Amos 7:8 (TLB)

The Plumbline is a blog to bring hope and encourage to the Body of Christ.

The Man Judas #2

In our last study we saw an ugly side of Judas.  Let’s look at our focus passage.  5 "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the moneybox; and he used to take what was put in it. John 12:5-6 (NKJV)

Judas exhibits a mind-blowing selfishness that emerges from his heart in regard to Mary’s offering. The Bible gives a clear explanation of Judas’ heart. This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the moneybox; and he used to take what was put in it. (Verse: 6). Talk about speaking the truth. So much for, so called, “political correctness”. The Word identifies Judas as non-caring of the poor and a thief to boot. Judas pretended to be thinking about others while he was really thinking of no one but himself.

Romans 8:5-8 (NKJV) 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Paul describes two classes of people: those that live according to the sinful nature and those who live according to the Spirit.

(1) The sinful nature means one is occupied with its desires, thoughts, emotions and physical gratification. This includes sexual immorality, adultery, hatred, selfish ambition, outbursts of anger and so forth (see Gal 5:19-21), but also drug addiction, obscenity, pornographic pleasures from sex scenes in plays, books, magazines, TV, movies videos, the internet etc. Paul proclaims this sinful nature must be crucified and put to death. Otherwise the carnally minded faces death.

(2) To live in accordance with the Spirit is seek and submit to the Holy Spirit’s direction and enablement, and to focus one’s attention, thoughts, energy and values on the things of God. It is to live consciously at all times in God’s presence, trusting him to give us help and grace we need to accomplish his will in and through us.

Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. Romans 8:7 (MSG)

Selfishness always tries to get the attention off of the selfish as did Judas and onto to “extravagance” of others. Selfishness is the destroyer and crippler of the spiritual man.

The Man Judas

The Lord said to me…”I will test my people with a Plumbline, Amos 7:8 (TLB)

The Plumbline is a blog to bring hope and encourage to the Body of Christ.

The Man Judas

Jesus went to Bethany about a week before the Passover. Bethany was the hometown of Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Martha made preparations for meal to be served. Lazarus was one of a number who had joined Jesus at the table for supper. Mary moved toward Jesus while taking a pound of expensive spikenard and anointed the feet of Jesus and whipped His feet with her hair. Immediately the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. What a beautiful act of worship this represents.

But not everybody was impressed with Mary’s sacrifice of worship. One of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, the one who would one day betray Jesus the Christ, made this statement; “Why was this fragrant oil not sold which was worth a year’s wages and the money given to the poor?” The truth is, Judas didn’t really care about the poor because the Bible tells us he was a thief and the treasurer of the moneybox and helped himself to what was put in it.

I’m sure you have picked-up on the contrast of heart between Mary and Judas. The Holy Spirit has stunningly unveiled in this passage Mary’s spirit of generosity, and Judas’ spirit of selfishness.

Why did Mary do this? Why did she give such an extravagant generous gift to the Lord? Judas defined the value of her gift, a sum of money, equivalent to a whole year’s wages. Think of it, the perfume was irretrievably poured out. It was all gone. Why was Judas so bent-out-of-shape? After all it wasn’t his money.

This incident zero’s in on the fact, wherever you find generosity, you’ll find selfishness scrambling for supremacy. This is an ongoing challenge in our own hearts. We need to make periodic checkups regarding our condition – am I generous or am I selfish? Our self-examination we help us to determine which one of these is in control. What rules you, generous or selfish?

John 12:1-8 (NKJV) 1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4 Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, 5 "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the moneybox; and he used to take what was put in it. 7 But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."

The Man Cain

The Lord said to me…”I will test my people with a Plumbline, Amos 7:8 (TLB)
The Plumbline is a blog to bring hope and encourage to the Body of Christ.

The Man Cain

Adam and Eve loved each other and she conceived and had a baby boy they called Cain. She said, "I've gotten a man, with God’s help!" Some time later she had another baby, named Abel. When these two brothers grew up Abel became a herdsman and Cain a farmer.

In the course of time Cain brought some the fruits of the soil as en offering. Able brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel’s offering. But Cain’s offering the Lord did not look on with favor. The question begging to be asked is; why did God accept Able’s offering and why did God reject Cain’s offering? I have read this story about Cain & Able for years and years. But only recently have I been able to form the solution to the question.

Please note that Able presented the “firstborn” of his flock. Look at Genesis 4:4 (NKJV) Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering. (The emphasis is mine). The firstborn is a significant factor in the understanding of the “why”.

The “firstborn” of Abel’s flock was clearly articulated in verse four. You’ll note it doesn’t say that Cain brought the firstfruits of his crop. In verse 3 the Bible says, “in the process of time, Cain got around to bringing an offering to the Lord. This implies that he didn’t bring his firstfruits to the Lord. This seams to be the reason why God didn’t respect Cain’s offering.

There is a lesson here for us. God is looking at our hearts.  When we give of our first of our firstfruits or our tithe, the Lord receives and respects our offering. The tithe is my firstfruit.  The tithe MUST be FIRST!

Malachi 3:10 (MSG) bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don't open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams.

Cain got angry with God. Then he murdered his brother Able, who was a righteous man.

Sweet Peace

The Lord said to me…”I will test my people with a Plumbline, Amos 7:8 (TLB)

The Plumbline is a blog to bring hope and encourage to the Body of Christ.

Sweet Peace

Herbert Hoover said, “Peace is not made at the council tables, or by treaties, but in the hearts of men”. True peace is a matter of the heart. Peace rules the day when Christ rules the mind. These are all inescapable truths.

Jeremiah 33:6 (NIV) "'Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.

The Hebrew word for peace is shalom; its basic meaning is the positive presence of harmony, wholeness, soundness, well being and success in all areas of life. (1) Peace can refer to tranquilly in international relationships, such as peace between warring nations. (2) Itit  could also refer to a settled feeling within a nation, as during times of prosperity and no civil war.  (3) It can be experienced as wholeness and harmony in human relationships both inside the home and outside the home. (4) it can refer to one’s personal sense of wholeness and well being, free from anxiety and fear, at peace within one’s own soul. (5) Finally, though shalom is not used in Genesis 1 & 2  it describes the  original created world that existed in perfect harmony and wholeness. When God created the heaven and the earth He created world at peace. Genesis 1:31 (NKJV) Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

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.

John 14:27 (NLT) “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

Psalms 29:11 (MSG) GOD makes his people strong. GOD gives his people peace.

Psalms 85:8 (NKJV) I will hear what God the LORD will speak; For He will speak peace to His people and to His saints;

·      The psalmist goes as a prophet to consult the Lord; and, having made his request, waits an answer from the spirit of prophecy. He is satisfied that the answer will be gracious; and having received it he relates it to the people.

·      He will give prosperity to the people in general; and to his saints—his followers, in particular.

Bite Your Tongue

The Lord said to me…”I will test my people with a Plumbline, Amos 7:8 (TLB)

The Plumbline is a blog to bring hope and encourage to the Body of Christ.

Bite Your Tongue

Someone has said, “Language, like linen, looks best when it is clean.” 

A lad in Boston rather small for his age worked in an office as an errand boy. One day his employers were mocking him a little about being so small and said "You will never amount to much; you are too small.”

The lad looked at them and said, "Well, I can do something which none of you   four men can do.”

What is that they asked?   

"I don't know that I should tell you," They were eager to know and urged him to tell them what he could do what none of them was able to do.

The little fellow replied,  “I can keep from swearing.”

That ended the conversation.

Deuteronomy 5:11 (NASB)  'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.

Hosea 4:2 (NKJV) By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed.

Matthew 5:34 (NKJV) But I say to you, do not swear at all: