Traitor In A Tree Ep. #102

Traitor In A Tree Ep. #102

A Traitor In A Tree For some folks, the higher they climb on life's ladder of accomplishments with fame and fortune, their view of others is tainted by a smug self-righteousness. From the top of life's ladder, the view is far-reaching and ego-inflating. A mind set above others is in danger of believing it is better than others. Small things that are bad can cause great harm; they can also become good things of great blessing in the blink of an eye. Just one glance from Jesus, is the greatest blink of an eye of all time. Zaccheus was a chief tax collector who worked for the Roman Empire. The Jewish people saw him as a villainous traitor who fraudulently took extra money for himself beyond the regular taxes. He was wealthy and despised. The name we pronounce in English is, Zaccheus, but in Greek it's pronounced, "Zahk -high-yahss" and it means, "pure." It might seem strange to think of this despised villain as pure, but methinks he's just like the rest of us. We're made in the image and likeness of God and placed in a world of selfishness and greed. We have a lofty view of ourselves until we meet a lowly servant named Jesus. Let me pause for a moment and read a description of what Jesus did from Philippians 2:7, "But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being." Zaccheus needed to see a Savior who would glance his way. Let's read his story from Luke 19:1-10 from the Amplified Bible. "Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man called Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector [a superintendent to whom others reported], and he was rich. Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, but he could not see because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran on ahead [of the crowd] and climbed up in a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. When Jesus reached the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house." So Zaccheus hurried and came down, and welcomed Jesus with joy. When the people saw it, they all began muttering [in discontent], "He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a [notorious] sinner." Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, "See, Lord, I am [now] giving half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone out of anything, I will give back four times as much." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this household, because he, too, is a [spiritual] son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."" ‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭1‬-‭10‬ ‭AMP‬‬ Jesus is always on the lookout for folks in trees. People who are searching for Him. Zaccheus must've known he wasn't doing life in the right way. He got rich at the expense of others. Maybe he had an axe to grind because he was a short guy. When someone has to climb a tree to see they must be pretty short. Maybe his shortness drove him to overachieve. Maybe he was exacting revenge from people who mocked his stature. None of that really matters in the eyes of Jesus. He's only looking to see if you're looking. Zaccheus knew enough about Jesus that he just had to see Him. When Jesus walked by his tree, He stopped and invited Himself into Zaccheus' home. The Jews only saw a traitor in a tree. Not only was he a dirtbag tax collector, but he was the chief dirtbag tax collector. When Jesus looked up in the tree, he didn't see a dirtbag, He saw a sinner seeking salvation from a Savior. The Jews might as well have been perched in their own lofty trees of self-righteous arrogance. They didn't consider the little guy to still be a Jew. He was a traitor And a turncoat. I can imagine the people cursing the sinner in a tree. How could Jesus hang out with a loser like that? Well, we already know the end of that story and the beginning of new life for Zaccheus. In repentance, and evidence of his salvation and a changed life, he paid back more than what he had fraudulently taken. The name Zaccheus was now pure again, just as he had been as a child. He became like a child and climbed a tree to see Jesus. Receiving Jesus, Zaccheus became a child of God. Zaccheus was lost and Jesus came to seek and save him. Jesus became the curse and carried our sins on a tree - He was crucified on a cross. Zaccheus was an outcast redeemed by Jesus. Soon after, Jesus would become an outcast to redeem all of us. It happened to me too. How about you? Thanks for reading the transcript of our podcast/video from Bible Shorts With BibleBob. Please go to your favorite podcast host or our YouTube channel and subscribe to Bible Shorts With Biblebob. Thank you. Go do something nice for somebody. 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Be Quiet You Blind Beggar! Ep. # 101 Podcast

"Be Quiet You Blind Beggar!" Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus was well known. They called him, Bartimaeus the "blind man." Today's Target Bible verses are found in Mark 10‬:‭46‬-‭52‬ with cross references found in the other synoptic Gospels of Matthew 20:29-34 and Luke 18:35-43. "Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar, Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting beside the road [as was his custom]. [Matt 20:29-34; Luke 18:35-43] When Bartimaeus heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and say, "Jesus, Son of David (Messiah), have mercy on me!" Many sternly rebuked him, telling him to keep still and be quiet; but he kept on shouting out all the more, "Son of David (Messiah), have mercy on me!" Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man, telling him, "Take courage, get up! He is calling for you." Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni (my Master), let me regain my sight." Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith [and confident trust in My power] has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and began following Jesus on the road. [Is 42:6, 7]" ‭‭Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭46‬-‭52‬ ‭AMP‬‬ The blind man had a voice. He used it to cry out to Jesus, but the people surrounding the blind man told him to be quiet. It was pretty much the same as saying, your blindness excludes you from having a voice. We want Jesus to be deaf to your cries because you're not worthy. This is a holy parade, please don't disturb this hallowed atmosphere. To your blindness, add dumbness and do not speak so the Savior is deaf to your pleas for mercy. To the afflicted, it was like they said, "Be silent, go and stay silent in your affliction - quiet and out of sight ." Hard-hearted and devoid of compassion, the people told the blind man to stay quiet. They knew Jesus had healed others, but why didn't they want healing for Bartimaeus? This man couldn't see, but what he could do was speak. The people wanted to stop him from doing what he could do. They might as well have said: "Your blindness also renders you speechless and thereby worthless." They were applying the law of ignorance that says, "One weakness in you means you are nothing but weakness." Have you ever been defined as worthless by a weak moment in your past? Perhaps you've done it yourself. You've told yourself not to bother crying out for help because you're not worthy to step out of your affliction. The weakness of sin will render you blind, deaf and dumb to the ways of God. Bartimaeus was told to be quiet, but he wouldn't stop. He cried out louder, Jesus heard him and healed him. Spiritually blinded by our sin we must regain our sight by crying out to Jesus. We must not only go to Him, but we must follow Him. Bartimaeus regained his sight and immediately began following Jesus. The people who tried to stop a blind man from crying out to Jesus were more blind than he was. Their own blindness prevented them from seeing why Jesus came - to seek and save the lost, to give sight to the blind. He had already detailed His mission in the fourth chapter of Luke: "So He came to Nazareth, [that Nazareth] where He had been brought up, and He entered the synagogue, as was His custom on the Sabbath day. And He stood up to read. And there was handed to Him [the roll of] the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened (unrolled) the book and found the place where it was written, [Isa. 61:1, 2.] The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound]. [Isa. 61:1, 2.] Then He rolled up the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were gazing [attentively] at Him." ‭‭Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬-‭20‬ ‭AMPC‬‬ What sight have you lost? What weakness prevents you from crying out? Have you been told to be quiet? Have you been made to feel worthless because of a weakness you have? Will you cry out to Jesus now? Thanks for reading the transcript of our podcast/video from Bible Shorts With BibleBob. Ep #101 will be available late afternoon on 7/13/26. Please go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. 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The Old Woman Walked A Long Way Just To Know His Name

THE OLD WOMAN WALKED A LONG WAY JUST TO KNOW HIS NAME "Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name," ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬ ‭AMPC‬‬ We never know the extent of our efforts to share the love of Christ with others. Peter Philpott was a Pastor at the Moody Church in Chicago. One night he was awakened by a call from the family of woman who was gravely ill. He got up out of bed and went to the hotel where they were staying. He prayed for her physical health and then addressed her spiritual needs. He shared the message of Jesus with her and she accepted Christ into her heart. The next morning Pastor Peter called to check on her condition and found they had already checked out of the hotel. About five or six years later he took over the pastorate of a church in Los Angeles, California. One day after service, the three family members he ministered to in the hotel came up to him. Lela Long was the young woman who had been ill and given her life to Christ. She thanked him for giving her new direction in her life. Lela handed Pastor Peter a copy of a song she wrote called, "Jesus Is the Sweetest Name I Know." She said "I have written this especially for you, in remembrance of the day you introduced me to the most wonderful Person I have ever known." Pastor Peter asked Lela, "What was the inspiration for the theme of this song?" Lela then went on to explain how she knew a medical missionary in China who shared the Gospel with every patient he met. One day a very old woman, stooped over from age came to see him. She had walked a very long way as evidenced by her mud-caked feet. He treated her physical needs, shared Jesus with her and the old woman left. Several days later, the old woman made the long journey again and returned to see the missionary. He asked her how he could help her physical needs. She had no needs other than to ask the missionary one question, "He saved me. He lives in my heart, and He has made me so happy, but sir, I have forgotten His name." The missionary said to the woman, "His name is Jesus." The stooped over old woman bowed her head in the Oriental way and told the missionary thank you. The old woman turned to make the long journey home. As she slowly walked away, the missionary could hear repeat the name, "Jesus…Jesus…Jesus…" Lela told Pastor Phil that's how she was inspired to write the song, "Jesus Is the Sweetest Name I Know." Here are the lyrics: There have been names that I have loved to hear, But never has there been a name so dear To this heart of mine, as the name divine, The precious, precious name of Jesus. Refrain: Jesus is the sweetest name I know, And He's just the same as His lovely name, And that's the reason why I love Him so; Oh, Jesus is the sweetest name I know. 2 There is no name in earth or heav'n above, That we should give such honor and such love, As the blessed name, let us all acclaim, That wondrous, glorious name of Jesus. [Refrain] 3 And some day I shall see Him face to face To thank and praise Him for His wondrous grace, Which He gave to me, when He made me free, The blessèd Son of God called Jesus. [Refrain] We may never have someone with whom we've shared the Gospel with return and give a testimony that validates our efforts. Looking for validation takes our eyes off Jesus. As a teacher and a preacher, God has blessed me with several testimonies. I admit they do give fuel to the fire inside me. It's a fire so contagious it can be shut up. I pray that as you listen to this podcast that you are touched by the Holy Spirit. I pray He gives you so much peace and makes you so happy, you walk around just saying His name. "Jesus…..Jesus…..Jesus." Authors Note: I read several articles to prepare for this teaching including "Travelers Trails" which was adapted from research by Jerry Vargo. The song is in the Public Domain.

Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory Podcast

This is the true story of how the Battle Hymn of the Republic was written. Here are the lyrics: 1 Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of this terrible swift sword; His truth is marching on. Refrain: Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on. 2 I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps; They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps; I can read the righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps; His day is marching on. [Refrain] 3 He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat; O be swift, my soul, to answer Him; be jubilant, my feet! Our God is marching on. [Refrain] 4 In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me; As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free, while God is marching on. [Refrain]

DON'T WARN THEM PODCAST

DON'T WARN THEM We live in a world with mockers on many street corners. They find power to gain attention by wagging a coarsely jesting tongue. Crudely joking at the expense of others is not a Christ-like habit. Casting negative aspersions on the character of others shouldn't be uttered by a mouth in whose body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Coarse humor lacks the filter of God's wisdom upon our tongues. Having a mind renewed in Christ will make "put downs" a foreign entity in our spirits. We'll be uncomfortable mocking others just like mocking does to others. It's not wise to reprimand mockers as they have unteachable and stony hearts. Only God can humble them. Use your time and tongue wisely. Lift others up. Treat them as being more valuable than yourself. Look for Jesus in everyone you meet. If they scoff at you, shake it off and move on. While it's true that God desires that nobody should perish into the eternal fires of hell's mockery, sadly some do. Never give up on them, but don't waste your attention on the mockers. Give your time to the hungry and hurting. Just sayin…. "So don't even bother to correct a mocker, for he'll only hate you for it. But go ahead and correct the wise; they'll love you even more." Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭8‬ ‭TPT‬‬ "Never correct conceited people; they will hate you for it. But if you correct the wise, they will respect you." Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭8‬ ‭GNT ‬‬ "Don't warn those who make fun of others, or they will hate you. Warn those who are wise, and they will love you." ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭8‬ ‭NIRV‬‬ "If you reason with an arrogant cynic, you'll get slapped in the face; confront bad behavior and get a kick in the shins. So don't waste your time on a scoffer; all you'll get for your pains is abuse. But if you correct those who care about life, that's different—they'll love you for it! Save your breath for the wise—they'll be wiser for it; tell good people what you know—they'll profit from it. Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-God, insight into life from knowing a Holy God. It's through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens, and the years of your life ripen. Live wisely and wisdom will permeate your life; mock life and life will mock you." Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭7‬ ‭MSG‬‬ Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.#godstorieswithbiblebob #BibleShortsWithBiblebob #ywap4Christ #JLYASDW