Matthew 26:14-16
Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him. Continue reading
Judas Iscariot
Don’t trade off your blessing!
I want to be blessed by the Lord Jesus! I want every possible glorious, joyous blessing He wants me to have but I don’t always get it.
That’s not His fault but mine. Continue reading
You can’t win them all – part 4
I don’t know about your salvation. I don’t know how many opportunities you have had to accept God’s grace and forgiveness.
He is known as a God of second chances. Continue reading
You can’t win them all – part 3
I am by no means perfect but I know the pathway to perfection and have seen a glimpse of it. But keeping my eyes on Jesus all the time is hard in a world that keeps enticing me away.
I am not tempted by all things, yet the adversary knows what temptations will work. Continue reading
You can’t win them all – part 1
What do you get out of church, Sunday school, and Bible study?
Some get very much and others very little. There are those that don’t get fed in a church service and others that take lots of notes.
What you get out of it is entirely up to you.
Case in point,
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:66-69
Peter was one of twelve men that traveled with Jesus. Along with the others he witnessed miracles, heard teaching, and watched His lifestyle.
However it was Peter alone that proclaimed that Jesus was the Christ. That’s not to say the others did not think it also.
But among the twelve is one that is of a different nature.
Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” John 6:70
Knowing what Judas will do begs the question as to why he didn’t get anything from the teaching of Jesus.
How is it the others went on to preach, teach, and evangelize and Judas did not?
Let’s investigate this tragedy this week.
Betrayed!
Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss. But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:47-48
You couldn’t look at Judas and just say bad things about him.
He was trusted enough by the others to carry their money, although it is revealed later that he often stole from them.
But nothing indicated that he would be a traitor.
Jesus told all the disciples that one of them was a devil. It probably came as a big surprise to the others when Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss.
Have you been betrayed and hurt? It’s hard to get over – whether it’s a family member or a friend.
You trust them with your love, inner thoughts, and secrets. Then someone else reveals to you what you entrusted to another.
There have been many divorces because one spouse felt betrayed by the other.
Some of the worse betrayals come in anger. You get mad enough to start spouting things you shouldn’t. The Bible actually has something to say about that; When arguing with your neighbor, don’t betray another person’s secret. Others may accuse you of gossip, and you will never regain your good reputation. Prov 25:9-10
Enough about others; how about betraying God?
But like Adam, you broke my covenant and betrayed my trust. Hos 6:7
Is it betrayal to not pray to Him, not thank Him, or not praise Him?
Does He feel betrayed when you don’t share His love with someone else?
Is it betrayal to call yourself a Christian and allow horrible language or jokes to come out of your mouth?
Jesus loved the church and gave His life for her. So is it betrayal of His love to not go?
As for me, I do not want to be a betrayer of my Lord and Savior. I do not want to betray those that trust me with their thoughts and confession. Confession leads to healing. Betrayal leads to heartache and pain.
David knew about betrayal. He had some good friends try to kill or capture him. He knew the feeling of broken trust. He had such a conscience about betrayal that he said this – O Lord my God, if I have done wrong or am guilty of injustice, if I have betrayed a friend or plundered my enemy without cause, then let my enemies capture me. Let them trample me into the ground and drag my honor in the dust. Ps 7:3-5
If you feel like I have ever betrayed you, then please forgive me!
Regret
Everyone has some regret over something said or done. Each handles it in a different way.
I carried around the burden of a regret for several years. Then I realized that I could not do anything to change the past – that I can only affect now and the future.
I released that burden. Continue reading
Remorse vs Repentance
After yesterday’s Greater Sin topic, the question arises about the outcome of Judas Iscariot, the one that betrayed Jesus.
The comment was made that Judas repented. Continue reading
Morning Thought with Pastor Tim 