Monthly Archives: April 2017

Why is it so hard to accept the word of others? (John 20:27-29), April 30, 2017

Today’s Podcast

Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Topic Introduction with headline.
Scripture
1. John 20:27-29
2. Jesus: Reach out and touch Me. See the punctures in My hands; reach out your hand, and put it to My side; leave behind your faithlessness, and believe.

Thomas (filled with emotion): You are the one True God and Lord of my life.

Jesus: Thomas, you have faith because you have seen Me. Blessed are all those who never see Me and yet they still believe.

Devotional
1. My wife gets on to me all the time thinking that I don’t believe her when she tells me something.
  1. Mr Right Brain
  2. Have to work through the logic of her answer
  3. Does it fit the science or math or philosophy or some other discipline I’ve studied?
  4. Does it fit into my personal frame of reference?
  5. Usually agree with her after I’ve logically gone through it, but while I’m on that mental journey, she thinks I don’t believe her
2. A little frustrating for both of us
  1. Can damage a relationship if you don’t understand how the other person processes information
  2. Still strains a relationship at times when she just wants me to stop the logic part of my brain and nod my head
  3. That’s what the other disciples wanted Thomas to do
3. I think I relate to Thomas
  1. The science, math, philosophy, logic of the situation didn’t fit with his experience
  2. Needed to work through his logic to make sense of what they were saying
  3. He wasn’t there to see what they saw and might have eventually put it together
  4. Reviewing Jesus’ miracles
  5. Recalling Jesus’ words
  6. Listening to the stories from those who saw Him
  7. Would have put the logic together and believed but would take time
4. Jesus appeared to cut through the logic and made Himself known immediately
  1. Don’t worry about the science or philosophy or experience
  2. Just believe
  3. Sometimes hard for the right brain people
  4. We need to work on that part of our personalities
  5. Blessed (happy) are those that believe without seeing, without going through all the logic
    1. They won’t be as frustrated
    2. It won’t take them as long to get there
    3. They won’t have to work through the unexplained to believe
    4. They can just take by faith the news they hear from other believers
5. If you’re on the right brain side of the crowd
  1. Let loose a little
  2. Just believe
  3. You’ll be blessed by it

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Covered from head to toe (John 20:22-23), April 29, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Have you ever lived or worked in a place that required you to be covered head to toe to protect you from exposure to the elements? Welcome to the world!
Scripture
1. John 20:22-23
2. Jesus: Welcome the Holy Spirit of the living God. You now have the mantle of God’s forgiveness. As you go, you are able to share the life-giving power to forgive sins, or to withhold forgiveness.
Devotional
1. Between my freshman and junior year of college, to earn a little money, I worked in a grocery chain warehouse loading their delivery trucks.
  1. It was hard work, but I didn’t mind it so much.
  2. It kept me in good physical condition
  3. pay wasn’t so bad for a young kid
  4. Negatives were night work, 7 to whenever trucks were loaded
  5. Worked in the freezer
2. I don’t like the cold
  1. Born and raised in Tennessee
  2. Got some snow and few days, maybe a week at a time below freezing
  3. Never liked cold
  4. After serving in Desert Storm, Saudi Arabia, hated cold – anything below 60 degrees
3. In the freezer temperatures at zero or just below
  1. Dry ice in boxes to keep frozen foods cold during transport
  2. dressed from head to toe
    1. Thermals
    2. Freezer coveralls
    3. Gloves
    4. Hat
    5. Mask
  3. Stayed protected from the cold and severe injury
4. When we ask Jesus into our lives He gives us the mantle of God’s forgiveness
  1. I think about the covering I had when working in that freezer
  2. Covered from head to toe with His Spirit
  3. Protected by His forgiveness
  4. Guilt and burden of sin cannot get through
  5. Free from the internal injury sin because His spirit keeps the fiery darts of Satan away from us
5. We underestimate the power of forgiveness
  1. God’s forgiveness to us
  2. Our forgiveness of others
  3. When He forgives us, we have the power to forgive others
  4. His grace and mercy extended to us shows us how to love and how to extend that same grace and mercy to those who wrong us
6. What does forgiveness do?
  1. It takes away the barriers that keep us from loving each other
  2. It tears down the walls in relationships
  3. It stops the negative thinking that builds up about our neighbors
  4. It helps us see others as God sees them, their potential as His children
  5. It helps us love unconditionally
7. Invite Him into your life and be covered by the mantle of His forgiveness
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

What does peace mean to you? (John 20:20-21), April 28, 2017

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Today’s Podcast

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s and you saw peace signs everywhere. Technology brought the Viet Nam War into our living rooms for the first time in history and we heard the daily body count from across the sea. Everyone longed for peace.
Scripture
1. John 20:20-21
2. Jesus: May each one of you be at peace.

As He was speaking, He revealed the wounds in His hands and side. The disciples began to celebrate as it sank in that they were really seeing the Lord.

Jesus: I give you the gift of peace. In the same way the Father sent Me, I am now sending you.

Devotional
1. What does peace mean to you?
  1. There will never be peace between nations.
  2. We can’t even have peace within nations as evidenced by our most recent elections here.
  3. We often can’t achieve peace in our own households as evidenced by divorce rates climbing toward 60%
  4. So what is peace?
2. Definition of peace: 1. freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility. 2.freedom from or the cessation of war or violence.
  1. Is this what Jesus promised His disciples and us?
  2. Freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility?
  3. Slander; persecution; martyrdom
  4. Where is the peace He promised?
3. If looking for peace in regard to our relation to the world, it will never happen
  1. The world hated Him and will hate us
  2. Promised trouble in this world and all who follow Him have found trouble if they share His message or live the life He demands of us
  3. The world opposes us and tries to turn us to their ways
  4. When we don’t they do everything they can to destroy us
4. So what kind of peace did Jesus leave?
  1. Inner peace
  2. Peace with ourselves and with God
  3. Freedom from the guilt that plagues us because of estrangement from God in our wickedness
  4. Doesn’t mean we’re murderers or robbers
    1. Although, Jesus says hate means murder
    2. Coveting, means robbery
    3. Robbing God with our tithes and offerings
  5. All have sinned against God
  6. Failed to honor Him and live the life He wants us to live
  7. We know we need His forgiveness
  8. He gives assurance of forgiveness and peace
5. What can you give in exchange for that peace?
  1. Nothing
  2. Nothing in all the world is worth the peace you can have in knowing your sins are forgiven
  3. Every follower of Jesus who is really all in for Him knows that
  4. His legacy is peace
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

We all need mentors, peers, and students? (John 20:17-18), April 27, 2017

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Today’s Podcast

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Who do you have in your life helping you along the path? We all need certain kinds of people. Jesus’ words today reminded me of that.
Scripture
1. John 20:17
2. Jesus: Mary!

Mary Magdalene (turning to Jesus and speaking in Hebrew): Rabboni, my Teacher!

Jesus: Mary, you cannot hold Me. I must rise above this world to be with My Father, who is also your Father; My God, who is also your God. Go tell this to all My brothers

Devotional
1. We all need three kinds of people in our lives.
  1. Mentors
  2. Peers
  3. People we are mentoring
2. We often try to journey through life on our own
  1. God made us with the need for relationships
  2. All have different gifts
  3. None have enough gifts and talents to make it through life alone
  4. God created us with the need to reach out to others
3. Mary came looking for Jesus’ body
  1. Came with others to carry out the funerary rituals
  2. Knew she couldn’t do it alone
  3. When Jesus met her in the garden and she recognized Him for who He was, she called Him teacher
  4. He was her mentor, learned from Him
  5. We need someone to pull us along – a teacher
4. Go tell this to all My brothers
  1. Mary ran to tell the story
  2. These brothers were Jesus’ friends while He walked with us
  3. His inner circle gave Him strength
  4. They were His confidants
  5. He knew He was God’s son, but considered them His brothers
5. Reached out to all who came to Him to teach, heal, share the message
  1. God’s kingdom is at hand
  2. Believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins
  3. Jesus is the true son of God
  4. He gives freely of His grace and mercy for the asking
  5. He just asks us to follow His ways in return
6. So who is your mentor? Who challenges you along your Christian walk? Who are you helping progressing along the journey as a mentor to them? We all need those three kinds of people in our lives. Take inventory and see how you’re doing.
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Perfectionists never get to perfect, but Jesus did (John 19:30), April 26, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Perfectionists have a hard time determining when they are done with a project. Something always needs a little more work before it’s ready to go public. Not so with the perfect man.
Scripture
1. John 19:30
2. Jesus: It is finished!
Devotional
1. I’m not a terrible artist, but I don’t haven’t painted in a while and when I pick up the hobby, I don’t do it very long at a time.
  1. I have a problem
  2. I start working on a painting and don’t know when to stop
  3. Always one more thing I can do better
  4. Make one more correction
  5. Finally end up with a hodge-podge of corrections that make the whole thing a mess
2. Same with some other hobbies and projects
  1. Want everything to be perfect but can never get there
  2. Never know when to stop and say this is right, this is done
  3. Need it to be just a little better
  4. Need one more thing to make it right
  5. Want things to be a exactly right but in our flawed state we don’t really know what perfect looks like because we’re not perfect
3. Jesus had a job to do
  1. Share the message of God’s love
  2. Tell of the reconciliation He wanted with His highest creation
  3. Came to pay the penalty for the sins we committed
  4. God told us the penalty for sin was blood spilled; death
4. Moses gave the Israelites the laws concerning blood sacrifices to atone for sins
  1. Every year sacrifices made
  2. Scapegoat took on the sins of the community as representation of their repentance
  3. Blood spilled and sacrifice made
5. Jesus came
  1. He became the scapegoat for us
  2. Penalty for sins committed still death; sacrifice; spilling of blood
  3. But the scapegoat was imperfect; had to return every year and do it again
  4. Jesus didn’t sin; His was the blood of man, but a perfect, sinless man
  5. He intervened as man to God and God to man and sacrificed Himself for our sin
  6. The perfect sacrifice spilled His blood to atone for our sins
6. Jesus knew what He came to do
  1. He knew what the outcome was to be
  2. He took all the punishment and abuse we could dish out
  3. With His last breath He lifted His brush from the canvas of humanity’s future
  4. It is finish – a perfect plan of salvation
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Wills are important (John 19:26-27), April 25, 2017

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Today’s Podcast

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Wills are really important. Jesus made a will during His last moments on the cross. Listen to what He said.
Scripture
1. John 19:26-27
2. Jesus (to Mary, His mother): Dear woman, this is your son (motioning to the beloved disciple)! (to John, His disciple) This is now your mother.
Devotional
1. At age 22, I made my first will. My wife had the original and my parents and in-laws both received copies.
  1. Parents and in-laws were a little shocked
  2. Why was I making a will at such a young age
  3. Army wanted every soldier to have a will because we deploy to a conflict at a moment’s notice
  4. Important to let someone know your wishes before you pass away
  5. Avoids family fights over the things you leave behind
  6. Didn’t have much, but told where all of it went
  7. Subsequent wills determined what happened to minor children should both my wife and I die simultaneously or should she precede me in death
  8. I wanted to know who was raising my children and that the values they held were similar to mine
2. Jesus didn’t have much that we know of in terms of earthly belongings
  1. Mary’s son, but not Joseph’s son
  2. May not have been heir to Joseph’s inheritance since he was not his son
  3. May not have owned anything more than the clothes on His back
  4. Don’t hear of material things Jesus possessed
  5. Talks about teaching and preaching accepting what is offered and staying in homes opened to them. Expect that was His practice as well
3. In the room where He at the Passover with His disciples gave them His last will and testament
  1. My peace I give you
  2. I leave my legacy of peace with you
  3. I’m preparing a place for you and I’m coming back
4. On the cross, looks down and sees His mother
  1. May have seen her following at the edge of the crowd as He carried His cross
  2. May have seen her agony and grief
  3. Could not comfort her while the soldiers pushed Him toward Golgotha
  4. Did not want to depart without giving Mary what He had for her
  5. Gave His last will and testament to her
  6. All He could give at that point to keep her from being destitute as a widow in a land that didn’t recognize the importance of women
  7. Mary, treat John as your son. John, treat Mary as your mother. Comfort each other in my absence. Draw strength from each other and care for each other
5. Wills are important, even to Jesus. They are about taking care of the ones you love.
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

What happens when you give in to the mob? (John 19:11), April 24, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Mob rule is a scary thing. It’s easy to get trapped in it. But dangerous when you let it rule you.
Scripture
1. John 19:11
2. Jesus: Any authority you have over Me comes from above, not from your political position. Because of this, the one who handed Me to you is guilty of the greater sin.
Devotional
1. I have to admit, on more than one occasion, I’ve just given in to the crowd.
  1. I was in charge
  2. I knew in my heart what should be done
  3. I knew the consequences that would take place if I let the crowd rule and gave in to their demands
  4. The crowd was small, my platoon or my staff or the section I was leading at the time
  5. They were tired or hungry or wanted to stop or do something I knew wouldn’t have the outcome we needed
  6. I gave in to their demand
  7. It didn’t turn out well
  8. Mission wasn’t accomplished
  9. Results were poor
  10. All of us embarrassed
2. Pilate was the governor
  1. Had the authority to release Jesus
  2. Knew what was right
  3. Knew the consequences of giving Jesus over to this mob
  4. An innocent man would die because of his failure to stand up for what was right
  5. Wife even warned him of the failure in justice
  6. Pilate listened to the crowd instead of his conscience
  7. Gave a glimmer of hope when he offered Barabas in place of Jesus
3. It’s easy to follow the crowd
  1. Jesus told us broad the way that leads to destruction, though
  2. Easy to follow the crowd that leads to nowhere
  3. Harder to follow the narrow path that leads to righteousness
  4. Harder to stand for what is right and just and holy
  5. Like salmon swimming upstream against the current
  6. Everyone else will push against you trying to turn you around
  7. But when you know what is right it is worth maintaining the course
  8. In the end you will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

What is truth? (John 18:33-37)

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Say it enough times and it must be true. That’s what some want you to believe. But what is truth?
Scripture
1. John 18:33-37
2. Pilate: Are You the King of the Jews?

Jesus: Are you asking Me because you believe this is true, or have others said this about Me?

Pilate: I’m not a Jew, am I? Your people, including the chief priests, have arrested You and placed You in my custody. What have You done?

Jesus: My kingdom is not recognized in this world. If this were My kingdom, My servants would be fighting for My freedom. But My kingdom is not in this physical realm.

Pilate: So You are a king?

Jesus: You say that I am king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the cosmos: to demonstrate the power of truth. Everyone who seeks truth hears My voice.

Devotional
1. I’m not a salesman for GEICO, but I love some of their commercials.
  1. Remember the one with the young lady that believes everything on the Internet must be true, just because it’s on the Internet?
  2. She argues with the man next to her and just doesn’t understand that everything on the Internet isn’t necessarily true
  3. And then the prince charming she meets on the Internet walks up for their first date
  4. He’s not what she expected, either
  5. What is truth?
2. Webster defines truth as:
  1. The real facts about something : the things that are true
  2. Truth is most often used to mean being in accord with fact or reality, or fidelity to an original or standard. Truth may also often be used in modern contexts to refer to an idea of “truth to self,” or authenticity.
  3. Humankind has been on a search for truth since Satan deceived Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden because at the moment they ate that forbidden fruit they discovered there was something in the world that was not true.
  4. Satan lied to them and we have been faced with this dilemma about what is reality and what is not ever since
3. Pilate wants to know the truth about Jesus
  1. We want to know the same thing
  2. We want to know about God, scriptures, heaven, and hell
  3. We want to know if there is an afterlife and a judgment
  4. We want to know if what scriptures say about the endtimes is true of if what the world says is true
  5. How do we know what is true and what is not?
4. Take a test drive
  1. Read God’s word with an open heart
  2. Let Him speak to you through His word
  3. Let Him reveal Himself to you
  4. His spirit will guide you into all truth and you will know what is real and what is not
  5. His truth will set you free
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Oh, what a tangled web (John 18:23), April 22, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive. It really is true. Best to never entangle yourself, just as Jesus taught us.
Scripture
1. John 18:23
2. Jesus: If I have spoken incorrectly, why don’t you point out the untruths that I speak? Why do you hit Me if what I have said is correct?
Devotional
1. Do you remember the game called gossip?
  1. As many as are in the crowd, usually a dozen or more, sit in a circle
  2. First person whispers something in the ear of the person next to them
  3. The message is passed along around the circle
  4. See just how accurate the story is at the end of the circle
  5. Usually not very accurate
2. Gossip is a game but it’s worse in real life
  1. Little fibs that are told to one person or another
  2. Can’t remember what’s been told when it isn’t the truth
  3. The fib changes from time to time because it was fabricated
  4. Get caught in the lie and then reputation suffers as integrity is damaged
3. Jesus faced the high priest in trial
  1. Teachings were public
  2. Many probably recorded His teachings and took them back to the priests to argue about what He taught
  3. Never could win the arguments against what He said
  4. Always based in scripture which He knew better than they
  5. Challenged their authority because of His knowledge and actions to back up His knowledge
4. Just look at My record
  1. Show me where I’ve misspoken
  2. Point out the untruths that I’ve told the crowds
  3. Give an example of something I’ve taught that is contradictory to the scriptures
  4. Give evidence that supports the need for punishment
5. None could be found
  1. Even witnesses paid to lie could not hold up to cross examination by the high priest
  2. Farce of a trial had to stand some scrutiny for Pilate to execute Jesus
  3. Had to have some evidence and some reasonable facsimile of fairness
  4. Nothing Jesus had said or taught could be used against Him
  5. Everything Jesus said was true and right
  6. Everything the prosecutors brought before the priests failed to meet the standards for any punishment, much less death
6. Jesus always shared truth
  1. Many didn’t like what He said, but He gave them the truth
  2. Today, many do not like what Christians say, but we must share the truth
  3. Only the truth can free us from the guilt of sin
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

No secret societies (John 18:20-21), April 21, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Secrets are something Jesus reached inside others and made known. He didn’t seem to have any Himself. Maybe we should follow suit.
Scripture
1. John 18:20-21
2. Jesus: I have spoken in public where the world can hear, always teaching in the synagogue and in the temple where the Jewish people gather. I have never spoken in secret. So why would you need to interrogate Me? Many have heard Me teach. Why don’t you question them? They know what I have taught.
Devotional
1. I’ve taken several oaths in my life.
  1. As an Army officer to support and defend the Constitution
  2. To my wife
  3. In court, to tell the truth
  4. In various legal situations attesting to my identity or the truth of some legal document
  5. All those oaths are public record or can be
2. I’ve never belonged to one of those secret societies. And I don’t want to.
  1. Oaths behind closed doors.
  2. Teachings that you must reach certain levels before you are allowed to hear what the next level knows
  3. Secrets about beliefs and activities
  4. Secrets about loyalties and how deep those loyalties extend
3. That’s what I like about Jesus’ testimony to the high priest
  1. Wasn’t trying to be flippant
  2. Wasn’t trying to be rude or arrogant
  3. Just stating fact
  4. Everything He did was in the open for all to see
  5. Even His prayers were open enough for His disciples to overhear and record them for us later in the gospels
4. Beware of those religions that hide behind secrets
  1. Jesus had no secrets
  2. Everything He did, He did in the open for all to hear
  3. I think He tells us to do the same
  4. We have nothing to hide when we follow His command and His example
  5. It’s true many have died because of His teaching, but so did He
5. What did He teach that cost His life?
  1. God wants a personal relationship with each of us
  2. Only one relationship never ends, think about it
  3. Everyone you enter into a relationship with will die or move or things change that change the relationship
  4. Every relationship with anything or anyone terrestrial will end
  5. Only a relationship with God can last
  6. Only He is immortal and relates with our immortal soul
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”