Tag Archives: languages

Why don’t I understand? (John 8:42-47), February 27, 2017

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Today’s Podcast


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  1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
  2. Two languages = bilingual; three languages = trilingual; one language = American
  3. Scripture
    1. John 8:42-27)
    2. Jesus:  I come from the one True God, and I’m not here on My own. He sent Me on a mission. If God were your Father, you would know that and would love Me.  You don’t even understand what I’m saying. Do you? Why not? It is because You cannot stand to hear My voice.  You are just like your true father, the devil; and you spend your time pursuing the things your father loves. He started out as a killer, and he cannot tolerate truth because he is void of anything true. At the core of his character, he is a liar; everything he speaks originates in these lies because he is the father of lies.  So when I speak truth, you don’t believe Me.  If I speak the truth, why don’t you believe Me? If you belong to God’s family, then why can’t you hear God speak? The answer is clear; you are not in God’s family. I speak truth, and you don’t believe Me. Can any of you convict Me of sin?
  4. Devotional
    1. I’ve lived in San Antonio, Texas for almost 18 years. Almost 65% of the population is hispanic so Spanish is a prevalent language in the city and surrounding area. In fact, in many retail stores in the area, you must be bilingual to work there. This isn’t a discussion about whether that is good or bad, right or wrong, just a fact of when and where I live today.
      1. Despite living here almost 18 years i don’t speak and understand very little Spanish
      2. I hear it everywhere. I see it everywhere, but I just don’t get it.
    2. Contrast with my living in Germany for just three years while I was in the service.
      1. Lived on the economy, not on a military installation
      2. Landlords didn’t speak English
      3. Spoke and wrote passable German within a few months and fairly fluent before we left country; primary language for my four year old
    3. Thought about those two difference in understanding languages when I read Jesus’ words
      1. I wanted to learn German
      2. Although it would be helpful, my heart isn’t into learning Spanish
      3. I took the time and energy to learn the language and listen to those around me; I asked questions when I didn’t understand
      4. I mostly ignore the Spanish I hear around me unless I need to hear something specific from someone who doesn’t speak English; I seldom ask questions about words or phrases
    4. Same is true in a sense with spiritual language
      1. Do we listen to the language God speaks to us through His words?
        1. Love
        2. Grace
        3. Mercy
      2. Or do we ignore it because we’re just not interested in know what He is saying, much the way I treat the Spanish I hear around me
      3. So the issue at hand. There are two spiritual languages. One comes from God, who speaks only the truth, the other comes from the father of lies. Listen again to the questions and comments Jesus had for the Jews around Him that day. They are just as applicable to us.
      4. I come from the one True God, and I’m not here on My own. He sent Me on a mission. If God were your Father, you would know that and would love Me.  You don’t even understand what I’m saying. Do you? Why not? It is because You cannot stand to hear My voice.  You are just like your true father, the devil; and you spend your time pursuing the things your father loves. He started out as a killer, and he cannot tolerate truth because he is void of anything true. At the core of his character, he is a liar; everything he speaks originates in these lies because he is the father of lies.  So when I speak truth, you don’t believe Me.  If I speak the truth, why don’t you believe Me? If you belong to God’s family, then why can’t you hear God speak? The answer is clear; you are not in God’s family. I speak truth, and you don’t believe Me. Can any of you convict Me of sin?
    5. Can you hear His voice and understand His words? If not, you might want to check the language you’re speaking.
  5. 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.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Spread the word! (Mark 16:15-18) September 17, 2016

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – John 19-21

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Mark 16:15-18
Jesus: Go out into the world and share the good news with all of creation. Anyone who believes this good news and is ceremonially washed will be rescued, but anyone who does not believe it will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: they will be able to cast out demons in My name, speak with new tongues, take up serpents, drink poison without being harmed, and lay their hands on the sick to heal them.

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

Mark gives us a little different version of the Great Commission than Matthew. We like to recite Matthew’s better. I wonder why? Don’t we like the aspect of casting out demons, speaking in new languages, taking up serpents, drinking poison and healing the sick? Don’t those sound pretty exciting in what are mostly hum-drum routine days for most of us?

We get up, get dressed, go to work or school. We see the same people most of the time and go about our daily business without much change from day to day. Don’t you think it would shake things up a bit if we saw some of the things Jesus says will follow us if we believe in Him and these signs follow us around? So what happened? Why don’t we see any of these things except in some of the fringe groups that we usually call a little crazy.

We don’t talk about exorcism. Demons are just fairy tales, right? Some think speaking in tongues is a sign of the Holy Spirit’s presence, but most think speaking in different languages is just one of many gifts and view the gift differently than those denominations that view it as the only real evidence of God’s indwelling presence, so some call that group a little odd.

Snake handlers? Well, God cursed them in the Garden of Eden and I guess He did a good thing. I have no desire to handle snakes, especially poisonous ones. Doing so on purpose? Yep, just about everyone I know thinks that borders on the not so sane side. But there are some that pick out this verse and stand on it as something we should be doing. So they take them to worship services with them. Just don’t expect me to be in those services, okay?

Drinking poison? Another one of those that isn’t the norm. If the body is God’s temple, I don’t want to be pouring poison in it on purpose. Now healing the sick, I’d like to see a lot more of that, but we don’t seem to call people together to lay on hands and pray for the sick do we. We ask the preacher to do that, but do we, as believers do what Jesus said to do and lay hands on the sick to heal them? Not very often.

So what happened? Why don’t we do these things? Why do we like the Matthew version so much better than this one? First, we need to consider that some of those crazy sounding things, taking up serpents, drinking poison, maybe even casting out demons are for our physical protection. Remember Jesus said we would be hated because of His name. His earliest followers were thrown in prison, stood before kings and authorities. Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake on the island of Malta and some of those early leaders were forced to drink poison in Rome’s attempt whip out this new group they could blame for their troubles.

Through the centuries, God has, on occasion, used His miraculous power to let His children overcome such sure means of physical death. He intervened many times for many people to demonstrate His mighty power and bring glory to His name. Because He is God, He can circumvent the normal processes of this world and do things we cannot imagine. As Jesus said, anything is possible for God. So He can make the bite of a deadly snake nothing more than a sting. He can change the effects of a deadly poison to a sweet tasting nectar as easily as He changed the water into wine at the wedding in Cana. Anything is possible for Him. And sometimes He does those things for His children.

So why don’t we get together over the sick, lay hands on them, and ask for His healing? Is it because we don’t believe? Why don’t we share the message of the good news with all creation? Are we afraid? Of what? If He can change the nature of snake venom and poison, why should we be afraid to share the message? Who should we fear? Jesus told us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Do we really believe? We might say we do, but if we really believe, we be doing what He said to do. Not just make disciples, but going about boldly, without fear, healing the sick, casting out demons, not worrying about poisons, or snakes, or anything else Satan might throw at us to try to distract us from the mission Jesus sent us out to do. Spread the word, Jesus died that we might live. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.