Title: WHY WE GATHER
Author: Lenny Ports
Text: Hebrews 10:19-22
Let me start out with a story from the gospels. This passage that I am about to read
comes from John chapter 11 right after Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. This
miracle of raising the dead ru?ed the feathers of the religious leaders in that day,
especially that Jesus raised Lazarus 4 days after he died. For the Jews believed that
the spirit of a man stayed in the man for 3 days after physical death, so that on the 4th
day, he would be considered completely dead because his spirit would not be in him
any longer.
John 11:47 Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together.
"What are we going to do?" they asked each other. "This man certainly performs many
miraculous signs. 48 If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in
him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation."
Let me just stop there for a moment. These priests and Pharisees are supposed to be
God's representatives on the earth. This is a clear example of where their faith was. It
was in the place where they said, "What are we going to do?" This is the same mistake
that many of us make when we are faced with a challenging situation. It is so easy to
get in our heads and to allow our minds to go down paths of fear and confusion. No
matter what we might be facing, it makes no sense to let fear get the best of us, or to
react in a way that WE have to do something about it. The truth is that those are the
moments we are to exercise our FAITH in the One who is able to completely change
the situation around for our good and for His glory!
Let's continue with the story...
John 11:49 Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, "You don't know what
you're talking about! 50 You don't realize that it's better for you that one man should
die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed." 51 He did not say this on
his own; as high ...
Author: Lenny Ports
Text: Hebrews 10:19-22
Let me start out with a story from the gospels. This passage that I am about to read
comes from John chapter 11 right after Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. This
miracle of raising the dead ru?ed the feathers of the religious leaders in that day,
especially that Jesus raised Lazarus 4 days after he died. For the Jews believed that
the spirit of a man stayed in the man for 3 days after physical death, so that on the 4th
day, he would be considered completely dead because his spirit would not be in him
any longer.
John 11:47 Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together.
"What are we going to do?" they asked each other. "This man certainly performs many
miraculous signs. 48 If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in
him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation."
Let me just stop there for a moment. These priests and Pharisees are supposed to be
God's representatives on the earth. This is a clear example of where their faith was. It
was in the place where they said, "What are we going to do?" This is the same mistake
that many of us make when we are faced with a challenging situation. It is so easy to
get in our heads and to allow our minds to go down paths of fear and confusion. No
matter what we might be facing, it makes no sense to let fear get the best of us, or to
react in a way that WE have to do something about it. The truth is that those are the
moments we are to exercise our FAITH in the One who is able to completely change
the situation around for our good and for His glory!
Let's continue with the story...
John 11:49 Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, "You don't know what
you're talking about! 50 You don't realize that it's better for you that one man should
die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed." 51 He did not say this on
his own; as high ...
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