Heavenly Perspective (Luke 20:27-40)

Heavenly Perspective

• Luke 20:27 (NLT)

---

We could get smart with our criticizers as my last devotion stated by answering a question with a question, or we could just simply ignore them, and stay focused with our assignment at hand. But, here in Luke 20:27-40 as the Sadducees tried to discredit Jesus (for they did not believe in the resurrection), he responded to them by answering their question about marriage, not for the sake of the Sadducees who were blinded to the truth through their traditions but for His disciples and the others who may needed that question answered, before it became a stumbling block. 

We must remember that natural minded people will never be able to grasp spiritual things, but those who have ears to hear will listen and receive spiritual truth. So in each conflict we must be aware of those around us so that our response though it may not make any sense to the one we are in conflict with yet it is transforming to it's bystanders.

The relationship between husband and wife and with their children is to model the relationship God desires to have with mankind. It is a tool to draw people closer to Him. In Heaven everything has become perfected, complete, lacking nothing. On earth we only know in part, in heaven we will know fully. Nothing will be the same! Our satisfaction will come through our Heavenly Father alone. We are now married to the lamb of God. All our relationships will be different. 

What we experience on earth is just a foretaste of what we experience in Heaven. Somethings we just cannot fully grasp yet it's beyond our imagination, they are God's mysteries yet to be revealed. I love surprising my son's with the desires of their hearts going even beyond what they expected. Just celebrating Elisha's birthday I secretly put together a ping pong table in the basement and just couldn't wait until he had his cake, finished opening the gifts he expected and then brought him downstairs to show him the big surprise. The look on his face does such joy to my heart. I delight in blessing him! 
This is how our God is regarding heaven, "eyes have not seen nor ears have heard what He has planned for us, His beloved."

Will we still be with our spouse in Heaven as a married couple? What if we have had more than one wife Marriage is about two becoming one, it is about our rib returning to our body as our very own. How that looks in heaven I can't even imagine, yet I know how good my God is, and that their will be no disappointments, we will be fulfilled, and as joyful beyond what we could ever think

Critical Response (Luke 20:20-26)

Critical Response

• Luke 20:20 (NLT)

---

This week's Presidential debate was heated. If you don't like criticism, politics is not for you! For one person to get the advantage over the other they scrutinize every word and action their opponent makes with the hope that they find a flaw and can discredit them.

Luke 20:20-26 actually deals with politics for Jesus is asked about taxes, which was a big part of the debates discussion. Now understand that as Christians we have no choice but to vote. God is the author of government and we need to vote for the individual that leans most towards biblical principles. We cannot just vote for a political party, for we are not of the elephant or the donkey but of the Lion and the Lamb. I prayed to the Lord about this election and He told me to vote for Family and for Life.

This message though is not really about politics as neither was the question the religious leaders asked Jesus. It is all about how we respond to criticism, for the enemy's agenda is to discredit and destroy us, that is where politicians and Christians have much in common. The rate this nation is going with special interest groups pushing their agenda the more criticism we are going to continue to face. The sad thing as Jesus experienced is some of the heaviest criticizers are those you would expect are on the same side, like family, friends, other Christians.

There are a lot more critics in the world than encouraging people, even in the church. We have all been criticized and we have all responded in a way that we are not proud of. I know Christians who cannot hold a job simply because they can't deal with criticism. We got to understand that we can't make everyone like us, and because Jesus is in us, we are an enemy to the world. It never feels good to be criticized whether justly or unjustly but it is a tool that either makes us or breaks us.

Jesus teaches us as His followers in this chapter how to respond to criticism?

1. When responding to judgmental individuals it is best to ans `wer a question with a question.

We must beware of the motive behind people when they ask us a question so we can respond appropriately.

There are people around us waiting for us to say the wrong thing, or words that they can twist to give us a bad name.

2. Don't let critical people distract us, stay focused and continue with our God given assignment. If they move us the enemy now has a foothold.

3. We must not take it personal, Jesus get's in people's way so they must find a way to get Him out of the way, it is not about us, it is the one within.

4. Understand whom are enemy is, so we are not ignorant of His devices.

Jesus greatest enemies were those who you would think would be his greatest allies.
The counterfeit, (those whom have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof), oppose the genuine, they are too proud to admit their lack of credibility and instead criticize and appoint judgment when in fact they are jealous.

5. It is best to take a step back and reconnect with the Holy Spirit when necessary. 

We have been given the Holy Spirit whom will give us the words we need when we need them. It is vital that we stay sensitive to the promptings and the still small voice within. Unnecessary trouble can come when we respond in the wrong manner.

Wisdom as it is says in Proverbs is always within our grasp if we are listening. When in the heat of a conversation it is easy to get in the flesh but only in the Spirit does wisdom come. A harsh response will get a harsh reaction. A wise response will silence those whom oppose us. 

What level we are at will determine our outcome, if we are in the flesh we are grounded and Satan has the high ground, if we are in the Spirit, we have the upper hand, and are not ignorant of His devices and fly above His scheme not snared in His trap.

Another major issue discussed at the debate was oil, the prices continue to go up, and it is effecting gas, electricity, food, etc. Who has the best plan to lower the gas prices? 

The reason we as Christians respond to criticism in a worldly manner is because we are out of gas. We are not filled up! The price of gas is too much. Is there a price? Yes, our lives! What does that mean? Daily we must empty ourselves before Him and He will respond by filling us up. We cannot face the enemy if we don't have on the face of God.

Weeping and Yelling! (Luke 19:41-48)

         I wish I could force people to change but I cannot, each person has a free will, all I can do is lead by example and hope they will follow. It is so hard to witness someone you love choose to go down the path of destruction. Sometimes learning the hard way is the only option. All I can do is pray and hope that when destruction comes they will truly surrender to God so He can help them recover.

Jesus in Luke 19:41-44 weeps over the city of Jerusalem. The people refused to receive it's Savior for they would not accept the package He came in. They wanted outward peace while He came to give them inward peace.

If we had a friend or family member who kept getting beat up fighting we would want to help them out, but if we realized they were the cause of the fight would it be just to fight with them when they are in the wrong.  It is hard to see loved ones beat up but only when they get beat up bad enough will they eventually surrender.  So sometimes letting God have His way is letting the devil have his way (so he thinks) for a time being.  

Jesus in Luke 19:45-48 goes from weeping to yelling as He sees the temple being used as a market rather than a place of prayer.  The reason for destruction as we see above is from separation from God.  Jerusalem had religion but without any power for there was no prayer.  People often use church for their own gain, as a marketing scheme for self-promotion.  When the church is praying community transformation follows.  We see so many communities with churches on every corner yet sinful activity prevails.  Believers gathering together for whatever reason means nothing without the primary reason being prayer.  Looking religious does not impress God.  The bible says our faith is what pleases God.  Faith is a verb meaning action, so prayer, responding in action is what impresses God.  Christ the head brings forth His will to the body by prayer and moves as we respond in obedience.

Would Jesus respond the same way in our church today is the question we must ask, would He go around kicking over the useless self promoting junk we fill our churches with?  Is communicating with Jesus the main object of our church commitment?   The Pharisees response to Jesus was to kill Him.  How many church leaders today do the same regarding the Holy Spirit because they have their own agenda in God's place?