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Please pray with me and for me.
Father God in our daily lives may we live like we are dying, with no forgiveness withheld, and no anger held within. Amen
Three weeks ago I challenged you to invest wisely not in the stock market but in the heart of one you love for the dividend will be worth more than you may ever know.
Two weeks ago I challenged you to see how you could go about anointing another’s heart with your presence so they know they are not alone.
Last week I challenged you to examine how your relationship is with others. Examining if your relationship is right with those you love and know in your life. I asked you if you were living for eternity or for this world.
This week listen to the words and wisdom written by Victor E. Frankl who was a prisoner in a Nazi Concentration Camp. Victor E. Frankl argued that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how we cope with it. For Victor Frankl believed, “That, which does not kill me, makes me stronger.”
Victor Frankl went on to write in his wisdom of life experiences: “Then I spoke about the future. I said that to the impartial the future must seem hopeless. I agreed that each of us could guess for himself how small were his chances of survival. I told them that even though there was no typhus epidemic in the camp, I estimated my own chances in about one in twenty. But I also told them, in spite of this, I had no intention of losing hope and giving up. For no man knew what the future would bring, let alone the next hour. But I did not only talk of the future and the veil which was drawn over it.”
I also mentioned the past; all its joys, and how its light shown even in the present darkness. Again I quoted a poet-to avoid sounding like a preacher myself-, who had written,
“What you have experienced in your life, no power on earth can take from you.”
Please open your Bible to the New Testament Book of 2nd Timothy 4:7,
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
On your daily bucket list, on your life bucket list, how do you define fighting the good fight? I don’t know about you but I was raised that there is a time to speak and a time to shut up and play dumb.
In the wisdom of the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes 3:7,
“a time to tear, and a time to mend; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.”
When one reads what Paul wrote in 2nd Timothy 4:7, one may think it is an “ego” statement for ‘look at what I have done’,
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith
In reading this statement of Paul it all appears to be about what I have done when in reality this is not what Paul is saying to us. In the Greek language the word “I” doesn’t begin each phrase. In the original Greek, 2nd Timothy 4:7 actually reads,
“The good fight have I fought, the race have I finished, the faith I have kept.”
In your life, are you like Paul? Or are you so busy fighting life that you’re missing out on living life? Did you hear what I just asked you?
“Or are you so busy fighting life that you’re missing out on living life?”
It takes one breath to enter this world and one breath to exit this world so why waste the gift of breath in-between birth and death fighting?
Bucket List #7: Jesus wanted to witness something truly majestic before He died.
In Jesus final week on earth He was about to experience something truly majestic. Jesus would go through the darkest hour of His life and still walk in obedience with His Father, Our Father Who Art in Heaven.
Matthew 26:36-38,
Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray.” And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, Jesus began to be very sorrowful and troubled. Then Jesus said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.
a.) Jesus knew good intentions are never enough to get you through to greatness.
The reality is, there are many with good intentions:
· I’ll get up early tomorrow
· I will do it this evening
· We’ll get together soon and talk
· I will do better next week
It has been said that, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Merely intending to do good without doing good, is of no value at all.
On your bucket list, what intentions do you have? Are they easy to write or are you going to follow through with them?
In studying the Bible we see in Matthew 26, that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ had the best intentions to include His disciples. Jesus could have walked away in frustration with His disciples; but Jesus had made a commitment.
We find in Matthew 26:39-41,
And going a little further Jesus fell on His face and prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; never the less, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” And Jesus came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and Jesus said to Peter, “So you could not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
The purpose of Jesus coming into this world was to make atonement, reconciliation between God and humans. As time got closer to Jesus' death, Satan did everything to try to stop God’s plan for Jesus' life. When Satin found he could not murder Jesus, Satan figured there were two more things he could do:
1.) Satin tried to get Jesus to sin.
2.) Satin tried to get Jesus to refuse the cross.
On your bucket list do you have turning to God as my rock or turning to this world as my rock? Do you remember Matthew 16:18?
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
Do you remember what Jesus had told His disciples after they had sung and went to the Mount of Olives and the conversation Jesus had?
Matthew 26:31-35
Then Jesus said to them, “You will fall away, you’re going to desert me, because of me this night; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the flock of the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up I will go to before you to Galilee.” Peter declared, proclaimed, to Jesus, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to Peter, “Truly I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you Peter will deny me three times.” Peter said to Jesus, “Even if I must die with You, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples.
a.) Jesus knew that to witness something truly majestic you have to be willing go where few people dare to go.
Few people want to be seriously ill, to be dependent upon another for help. Few people want to not be independent. When you are being attacked do you stand there shaking your head in disbelief asking how this could happen to me? Or in your situation are you willing to go where few people dare to go?
OKAY GOD HOW CAN I USE THIS SITUATION TO SERVE YOU BY HELPING ANOTHER? OR, Do you cry in a pathetic voice, “I DON’T DESERVE
THIS” OR, “HEY GOD, WHY NOT HIM?”
It was in knowing where His strength Jesus came from that Jesus did not give up as we learn in Matthew 26:42-46, that Jesus went back a second time, He did not give up.
Again, for the second time Jesus went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done.” And again Jesus came and found His disciples sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, Jesus went away and prayed for a third time, saying the same words. Then Jesus came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise; let us be going; see my betrayer is at hand.
Our Lord and Savior Jesus had three times the opportunity to change His mind and He never changed His mind, as He prayed the same prayer. Instead of waking them up in anger Jesus woke them up in love.
On your bucket list of life how do you deal with life when things are not going the way you want it? In anger, short temper, or in patience through the love of God, what impression do you leave on the heart of those you know and love?
Jesus recognized His disciples were tired and Jesus didn’t try to avoid trouble; Jesus faced what lay before Him in confidence because He knew His Father would be at His side and that He, Jesus, was not alone.
You see Jesus knew the truth and Jesus wanted to witness something majestic before He died.
Bucket List #8: Jesus wanted to be kissed by a beautiful person
And, the next thing that happened in the final week of Jesus’ life was that Jesus got a kiss. Matthew 26:47-54
While Jesus was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with Judas a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priest and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given the chief priest and the elders of the people a sign, saying, “The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him.” And Judas came up behind Jesus at once and said, “Hail, Master!” And Judas kissed Jesus. Jesus said to Judas, “Friend, why are you here?” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. And behold one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to the one who cut off the high priest ear, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and He will at once send me more than twelve legions (12,000) of angels? But how then should the scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”
This wasn’t the first time that Jesus had been kissed and Jesus made a choice as we all have the choice in our lives. Is there someone who has sold you out, done you wrong? Judas was beautiful in the sight of Jesus because Jesus looks not only at who you are, but at who you can be!
In your life are you so busy being judgmental that you miss the potential standing before you? After all, Judas died from guilt and as Jesus predicted, in John 6:64,
But there are some of you that do not believe. For Jesus knew from the first who those were who did not believe, and who it was that should betray Him.
Matthew 26:75,
And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And Peter went out, went away, and wept bitterly.
You see, Bucket List # 8 (a.) Jesus knew His purpose went beyond kissing and telling.
Matthew 27:12-18
But when Jesus was accused by the chief priest and elders, Jesus made no answer. Then Pilate said to Jesus, “Do you not hear how many things they say against you?” But Jesus gave Pilate no answer, not even to a single charge; so that the governor wondered greatly. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they then had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the people had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want to release for you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?” For Pilate knew they had arrested Jesus out of envy.
In knowing His purpose, Jesus has taught us a valuable lesson for our lives: Let God defend and protect you and stop trying to do it yourself. Now this doesn’t mean in letting God defend and protect us, and if we stop trying to do it ourselves, life will be any easier.
Jesus was oppressed and treated harshly, yet Jesus never said a word. Jesus was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the sheerer, Jesus did not open His mouth.
Bucket List # 8 (b.): Jesus knew He would save someone; or else He would die trying.
Remember what we learned in Matthew 27:15-18
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?” For Pilate knew that it was out of envy that they had arrested Jesus.
For our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ knew His purpose, as He taught us in Mark 10:45:
For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.
On your bucket list how do you base every decision you make? How do you serve?
What are you giving for your loved ones and those who know you to hold onto?
· When the temptation comes, what is that the last thing you want others to remember
you for?
· Is the way you leave home the way you want to be remembered?
· Have you left the legacy for your kids and spouse that you want to be remembered for?
· Do you want relationships with those you love to end the way they are at this very moment?
· Do you want your relationship with God to end like it is if this is your last day?
On this last Sunday of our series: Jesus’ Bucket List: Things I Must Do In My Life
How do you want your dash, the time between your birth and death to be remembered? Have you learned to live the words Country Western Singer Tim McGraw wrote and sings?
Live like you were dying
He said, “I was in my early forties, with a lot of life before me,
When a moment came that stopped me on a dime.
And I spent most of the next days looking at x-rays
And talking ‘bout the options, ‘bout sweet time.’
And I asked him when it sank in
That this might be the real end.
“How’s it hit you when you get that kind of news?
Man, what’d you do?" He said,
“I went sky diving; I went rocky mountain climbing;
I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fumanchu.
And I loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter.
And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying.”
And he said, “Someday I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dying.”
He said, “I was finally the husband that most the time I wasn’t.
And I became a friend a friend would like to have.
And all of ‘a sudden going fishin’ wasn’t such an imposition.
And I went three times that year I lost my dad.
“And I finally read the good book and I took a good hard look
At what I’d do if I could do it all again …. and then
“I went sky diving; I went rocky mountain climbing;
I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fumanchu.
And I loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter.
And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying.”
And he said, “Someday I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dying.”
Like tomorrow was a gift
And you’ve got eternity to think of what you did with it ….
What you did with it …. What did I do with it?
In the wisdom of UCLA Coaching icon, John Wooden who turned 99 on Wednesday of this week:
“Live as though you are dying. Learn as though you’ll live forever.”
I want to ask you, at this very second,
HOW ARE YOU LIVING, DYING, BREATHING, IN YOUR LIFE?
Let us pray,
Father God may we remember the answer is not what we are but who we are in the hearts of those we know and love. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, from the earth we came and to the earth we shall all return. And in the end may we remember Father God that all that is left is memories of times gone by. Amen
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