Tuesday, 8 April 2014

Kingdom Builders

Good evening all! I've hope you've had a great week. Once again it has been busy at Eston but it is such a blessing to be in ministry. Trying my very best to minister the Grace of God to all who I come into contact with.

I am writing this blog at the moment back home in Wellingborough as tomorrow I head off for Spring Harvest with the ALOVE team. We are leading the Distinctive group which is the 11-14 year olds that are coming to Spring Harvest. I am a team member and will be leading the Deeper Space which allows the opportunity for the young people to discuss and debate what they have learned and hopefully be challenged to take the message deeper and apply it to the whole of their lives. So if you are reading this can you quickly say a prayer, right now, wherever you are, for the young people gathering tomorrow at Minehead, for all the team members and that the Holy Spirit would really move and make a difference in all our lives.

It's quite amazing how much you learn by teaching. I was preparing my GRID lesson (11-14 year old teaching resource) and the theme was the "Encounters with Jesus". We have looked at a couple of disciples and their encounters with Jesus such as Thomas and John, but this week as we are running up to Easter we looked at Judas. Now I always thought that the reason Judas betrayed Jesus because he lost his faith. He was swayed by what the Pharisees said and the persuasion of money got the better of him. But studying Judas and looking into who he was, it goes much deeper. Judas was a man who was disappointed in Jesus, not because Jesus did anything wrong but He wasn't what Judas wanted Him to be. Judas was a Jew that believed when the Messiah comes He would come and rescue the Jews from oppression, so when Jesus came claiming to be the Son of God, Judas was ready for Jesus to be a warrior ready to free them from the rule of the Romans. But we know Jesus did not come to fight, He came to rescue us yes, but not as a warrior but through His teaching of Love and forgiveness. I think Jesus and Judas were just two very different people, Judas wanted to build an empire with the Messiah claiming the throne over the conquered Roman empire, this was seen when the woman came to Jesus to pour perfume over His head. Judas just saw this as a waste and focused on what could of been gained of selling that expensive bottle. However Jesus saw this as a loving sacrifice, Jesus rejoiced over the woman giving her all to Him as this is what is required in His Kingdom, Love. That's what Jesus came to Earth for, to bridge the Gap between God and man and to build His Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. Judas just couldn't understand this, so his last resort was to betray His Lord. 

I don't understand all the hidden details in the story but I know that my Jesus died for me, He rose again and lives within me. I must make sure I am a Kingdom builder, I need to offer myself as a living sacrifice in worship and Love and show Grace so that His Kingdom can be a reality here on Earth.

I hope you have a good week. God Bless.

@peggo36
pegg.j@hotmail.co.uk





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