Tag: Ministry

Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus – the high priest’s slave. But Jesus said to Peter – “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me ?” So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied Him up.

In Part 3 of my continuing sermon leading-up to Resurrection Sunday I continue from the Gospel of John – Chapter 18. And that’s Verses 10 to 12. Peter wanted to prove his devotion to Christ, so he set out to physically fight against the Roman soldiers and Temple guards. This utter rebellion completely went against what Christ had taught His disciples earlier that evening. He did not want them to use violence – to use weapons – in a spiritual battle. His disciples – then and now – are not to fight for His life, for He suffered for us. He gave His life for us, so that we can live.

As Christians we will be persecuted along this journey by those who don’t believe and follow Christ. Persecution is being mocked and ridiculed for who and what we believe. It’s discrimination against us and special restrictive laws for us. It’s physical violence against us. Many Christians around the world believe and follow our God in total secrecy to protect their lives, but that’s not what God intended for us. During His short ministry here in this world He protected His disciples, and He prepared them by teaching them how to depend on The Holy Spirit for protection and wisdom once He returns to the Father. We have that same unlimited power of the Spirit living within us – if we truly believe in the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Our 3-in-1 God is very much alive today, and God The Holy Spirit guides and directs us from within every step of the way towards eternal life.

I’ll continue this journey through John Chapter 18 – next Sunday Scripture.

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to Him, so He stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for ?” – He asked. “Jesus the Nazarene” – they replied. “I Am He” – Jesus said. (Judas – who betrayed Him – was standing with them.) As Jesus said “I Am He” they all drew back and fell to the ground !  Once more He asked them – “Who are you looking for ?” And again they replied – “Jesus the Nazarene.” “I told you that I Am He” – Jesus said. “And since I am the One you want – let these others go.” He did this to fulfill His own statement: “I did not lose a single one of those You have given Me.”

In Part 2 of my sermon leading-up to Resurrection Sunday I continue from the Gospel of John – Chapter 18. And that’s Verses 4 to 9. The Roman soldiers and Temple guards – led by Judas the betrayer – repeatedly asked for “Jesus the Nazarene” even though they knew exactly who He was. Jesus repeatedly told them “I Am He” – also meaning “The ‘I Am’ is here” – and “I am the Lord”. Jesus presented Himself just as the Father presented Himself to Moses.

God replied to Moses – “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.” God also said to Moses – “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh – the God of your ancestors – the God of Abraham – the God of Isaac – and the God of Jacob – has sent me to you. This is my eternal name – my name to remember for all generations. (Exodus 3:14-15)

Our God is omnipotent.

When the Roman soldiers drew back and fell to the ground upon Jesus proclaiming that “I Am He” – they didn’t really understand why that happened. They got back up and confronted Jesus who demanded that His disciples be let go. Jesus was about to sacrifice His own life for His followers. He was protecting His sheep from the wolves by the power of the name the Father gave Him. He guarded them – except for the one headed for destruction (Judas).

I’ll continue this journey through John Chapter 18 – next Sunday Scripture.

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

After saying these things – Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with His disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. Judas – the betrayer – knew this place – because Jesus had often gone there with His disciples. The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons – they arrived at the olive grove.

That’s from the first 3 verses of the Gospel of John – Chapter 18. It’s the start of the suffering and death of Jesus. He had just completed His final prayer to the Father (John Chapter 17). On that Thursday He and His disciples left the city and walked across the dry river valley just outside the east walls of town.

He wanted to pray once more in one of His favorite places – Gethsemane – a beautiful garden of flourishing olive trees along the western foot of the Mount Of Olives. He and His disciples went there often to rest and pray.

Armed Roman soldiers and Temple guards – led by Judas – met Jesus and His disciples there. Jesus already knew what was going to happen.

At The Last Supper Jesus said, “I tell you the truth – one of you will betray Me ! It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” He gave the bread to Judas who ate the bread. Satan entered into him at that moment. Judas left at once. He went out into the darkness of the night.

I’ll continue this journey through John Chapter 18 – next Sunday Scripture.

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

Greetings my friends ! On this 4TH Sunday of January of 2021 I begin my 15TH year as part of a church family. I’m also in the middle of my 15TH year on this fantastic journey believing and following and trusting Christ my Savior.

Later this morning I’ll be preaching my first sermon of 2021 to my church family. It’s titled “Kingdom & World”, and it’s mostly based on the Gospel Of John. It’s a follow-up to my previous Gospel Of John sermon from 8 weeks ago titled “Spirit & Truth”. That sermon was a follow-up to a Gospel Of John sermon that I preached in both 2014 (to my previous church family) and 2016 (to my current church family) titled “Vine & Branches”.

God has a sense of humor. I’ve been studying John – his 3 letters and his Gospel – for about 4 months now. Without even looking for it on my computer – I somehow stumbled across my very first “forgotten” sermon ever preached. It too was a Gospel Of John sermon (8:31-47) titled “Jesus & Abraham”. I preached it 9 years ago on New Year’s Day 2012 to my first church family. I actually wrote much of it in the middle of the Caribbean on a cruise during the week before Christmas. To this day it remains the only sermon that I was told to write. Every other sermon since that very first one I’ve written on my own by choice.

I call it my “forgotten” sermon – not really because of the content of the sermon – but because of the strange circumstances surrounding me preaching for the first time on that New Year’s Day. I’d intentionally forgotten that Sunday morning over time, but every so often I’m reminded of it. God places those moments on our journey intentionally so that we are given the chance to react appropriately to them. If we don’t react positively then He keeps giving us chances to turn a valley into a peak – to build our faith in Him.

Looking back upon that first sermon I thought that it was good for its time. I hope to resurrect it, reimagine it, and rewrite it later this year. I think that I can do so much better glorifying God with those 17 verses of Scripture.

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries