Pastor Mary Haley

Peruse: John 12:1-11 (NLT) Jesus Anointed at Bethany
12 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

9 When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

Ponder: Jesus—the resurrection and the life—is welcome in the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. They love Jesus so much they must find ways to proclaim, serve, and worship him. Lazarus proclaims and worships Jesus as the True Son of God who raised him back to life and crowds in Bethany and Jerusalem hear his testimony. Love compels Lazarus to share the Truth and many accept Jesus as the prophesied Messiah. Love compels Martha to prepare a feast as a way to worship and serve Jesus. Love compels Mary to anoint the feet of Jesus with nard; the fragrance fills the house. Her tears spill forth as she expresses her gratitude and worships him. In this moment, the presence and grace of God surrounds these worshipers as they gather to love and listen intently to the heart of their Creator. This is what we, as disciples of Christ, do when we gather around the Word of God; we proclaim, serve, and worship the Lord out of love and gratitude. Welcome Jesus into the home of your heart and let him speak Truth to your soul, today. Like Lazarus, Martha and Mary let love compel you to express your worship and gratitude for all he has done for you.

Prayer: Lord, may the fragrance of your anointed presence permeate my home, my heart, and my life. I love and worship you! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: In our passage today, we are reminded why Jesus had to become human. Jesus was not by nature flesh and blood. While on earth, Jesus subjected himself to temptation because he wanted to be able to understand and sympathize with his human family. Our Lord felt the pressure of temptation, just like you and me…yet, he resisted it. He chose to put on flesh, so he could pay the penalty for the sins of our flesh, as well as defeat Satan and his power over death. So, Jesus came to die in order to bring us salvation; that was his purpose and how he would redeem his children. He came to put on humanity, so we could put on divinity and become the Father’s sons and daughters. Let the Holy Spirit lead you, today.

Hebrews 2:10-18 NLT
10 God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.

11 So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. 12 For he said to God,
“I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.
I will praise you among your assembled people.”
13 He also said,
“I will put my trust in him,”
that is, “I and the children God has given me.”

14 Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

16 We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. 18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for understanding me and my needs. You are always there to help me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: The Bible is essential for God’s people, because the Holy Spirit moves upon the Word to bring a greater understanding of the truth found within its lessons about faith. Although the author of the letters to the Hebrews is not clearly identified, this disciple of Christ is certainly writing to Hebrew Christians or believers who are seeking to walk by faith with God. These writings come during a time of great persecution for the believers, so the first chapters are written to share the gospel [Good News] of faith and encourage the readers to hold fast to the teachings or revelation of Christ. Otherwise, they will drift away from the truth and into deception.

If God announces He is sending Good News into the world, then we must face the reality and existing presence of undesirable situations or bad news. Good News is sent to overcome the bad news. The bad news is humanity is guilty of sin against God’s holy commands; the punishment is death. However, because of his great love God has chosen to send his Son—Jesus—to pay the penalty for our sin. Jesus took God’s judgment against our sin when he died on the cross. Faith calls us to place our sins upon the cross of Christ, so we can be forgiven and saved from the penalty of death and separation from God.

According to Scripture, there are two deaths: physical death “first death” and eternal death or “second death.” The Holy Spirit raised Christ from the first death to live eternal life with Father God. When Christ returns for His Church [rapture/taking believers to heaven], the living believers on earth at that time—those who trust in his substitutionary sacrifice for our sins—there will be no first or second death [Good News of eternal life]. At that time, Christ will also raise the bodies of believers who experienced the first death, but will enjoy eternal life and never experience the second death [again Good News]. When all the believers have been taken to heaven, for those on earth who have rejected Christ’s sacrifice, they will have a window of time and opportunity [in the midst of intense tribulation/suffering] to believe or they will face the first and second death [the bad news with no hope for salvation]. Now, is the time to believe and accept the work of Christ on the cross.

We, too, need to hold onto this gospel of grace and encourage one another: Christ came to provide forgiveness of sin to all who will believe and receive the promise and miracle of eternal life with God. While we wait, we hold fast to the Holy Spirit who helps us faithfully stay the course in accomplishing God’s purpose to redeemed and save a world of sinners. Please tell someone today about the love of God found in Jesus our Savior.

Hebrews 2:1-4 NLT A Warning against Drifting Away
1 So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. 2 For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. 3 So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? 4 And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the sacrifice of your life for my sin and for the gifts and work of the Holy Spirit who brings new eternal life to me. Keep my heart attuned to your gospel of grace; please don’t let me drift to the right or to the left of your perfect plumb line of truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Sometimes we gravitate to the Scriptures that portray Jesus the way we want to see him. We love hearing about Christ’s many miracles, “Hallelujah!”… Christ’s affirming acts of kindness to the oppressed, “Glory be to God!”…and we celebrate the power of Christ to take down evil, “Yes and Amen!” Yet, many times we neglect to focus on the Messiah and the truths of his suffering for righteousness that is revealed in Scripture. Truthfully, as disciples of Christ, we would like to pass right on by the Scriptures that speak about our need to deny self, pick up our cross of shame to walk into wholeness, or faithfully endure suffering [mistreatment] for the advancement of the gospel.

In our passage today, Jesus takes his disciples aside for the purpose of helping them spiritually see the things that must take place; the suffering that is forthcoming. Therefore, Jesus reminds them of everything the prophetic Scriptures have said about him—a portion of the truth they had not understood, but will understand as each one is fulfilled.

Some of the prophetic predictions are a bit concealed in the Old Testament, but speak about the unfolding mission of Messiah:
Betrayal “Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me” (Psalm 41:9)

Crucifixion “My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat. They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing” (Psalm 22:16-18). “Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!. But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth (Isaiah 53:4-7).

Resurrection: “For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever” (Psalm 16:10-11).
Humanity’s sin against God is responsible for Christ’s suffering and although that may be hard to hear, it is the truth nonetheless.

Luke 18:31-34 NLT Jesus Again Predicts His Death
31 Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. 32 He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. 33 They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”
34 But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to pay the penalty for my sin against you. I rejoice knowing resurrection follows suffering. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: It is not uncommon to hear of a nation who boasts about the power of its armies and military weapons. Watch the news and it will become apparent just how overly confident (faithlessly wicked) some leaders are in their own human strength and abilities. If you like history, review the past and read up about what happens to overly confident leaders; in time they fall, self-slaughter, or are destroyed. Of course, believers recognize this as truth, because God’s Word tells us: “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall” (Prov 16:18). Humility and obedience before God—fear of the Lord—is always the position of the wise (Ps 149:4). Sadly, I rarely see the fear of the Lord in government leaders. Actually, in the Spirit, I see many of the world’s leaders shaking their fists in defiance against God.

Our passage today is a songful prayer written by King David who is about to lead Israel into a battle instigated by the Ammonites—a battle that has not been anticipated (2 Sam 10). So, David prays and asks the Lord to give his humble warriors the victory; to strengthen and save them. Clearly, David does not trust in the same strategies as the leaders of other nations. Therefore, David reveals a huge contrast in leadership, because he trusts God abundantly more than what human strength can ever accomplish. David has been pushed into a spiritual war, so he/his ambassadors lead the people to call upon the name of the Lord for salvation.

We are all engaged in a spiritual war of some kind; this war cannot be won through human strength or weaponry. Our first line of defense should be to pray and ask the Lord for wisdom, revelation, and divine strength to navigate the battle. We must humbly place our trust in Jesus who makes a righteous way for us to be successful; to bring the resources of the Kingdom to our aid (Mat 6:33). Faith is essential and we use it through prayer and by thanking God for the victory yet to come. Trusting God works! Depending upon God for guidance is wise! Humility in leadership brings God’s anointing for victory! I am so very grateful for Jesus—the Anointed One—who continually brings salvation to his own.
Psalm 20:7-8
7 
Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,    but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.
8 
Those nations will fall down and collapse,    but we will rise up and stand firm.

Prayer: Lord, please forgive us for being a prideful creation. We can do nothing without You; we have no strength that can sustain our flesh. Our very breath is given by You. Holy Spirit, please bring humility to humanity and overshadow the world’s leaders with Your righteousness. I pray for the leaders of this nation, as well as the leaders of all nations, to bow before Your throne in fear and awe. I pray for the Ukrainian government and people; please save them and fight for them, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

April 4, 2022

Written by: Jennifer Auer, Pastor Mary Haley’s Assistant

Last week I found myself inside of a courtroom. I had been called for jury duty, and I was selected to sit as a juror. Moments before the jury went back to deliberate on a verdict, and about 11 hours of being at the courthouse, I learned that I was the alternate juror, and I was released from my civil duty.

Friends, I was reminded that day that we have such a grave responsibility to represent Christ within this fallen world: in all places, at all times, and to all people. It is through us, that others either return or come to know the love of Christ. But we must remember, at the same time, the enemy who rules this world is doing everything in his power to pull each one of us away from Jesus and to keep people from knowing about the power of His full forgiveness and transformation of lives.

We MUST remember that because of Jesus, you and I have direct access to God, Himself. In the old covenant, access to God had layers of regulations. But, in the new covenant, and “because of the blood of Jesus” (v.19) we can approach God ourselves. As Christians all of our sins have been, are being, and will be forgiven by the blood of Jesus, as long as we hold tightly without wavering to our faith and trust in Him, and Him alone.

Friends, the last two verses of today’s passage are critical as we move forward: 1. God calls us to encourage one another. God’s plan for each of our lives includes other Christians speaking His Word, the Truth, into and over our lives and praying for us. 2. God’s purpose within this encouragement is for us to stir up love and good works within one another. Jesus reminds us that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). 3. Finally, we must gather to do this encouraging and this stirring up to love and to do good works. This is not just gathering on Sundays, or gathering for Bible study, although both are so wonderfully needed, this is about getting together in small groups to minister to one another. You will notice that we must gather “especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.” (v.25)

Hebrews 10:19-25 NLT
A Call to Persevere

19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Prayer: Jesus, I cannot thank You enough for giving me the most precious gift of salvation. Please help me, Lord, to keep holding my faith firmly and to never ever let it go. I want to be more and more of an encouragement to my brothers and sisters of the faith, and I want to bring more and more of Your love out and into a needy world. I pray all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: I love dinner time with family; it is a special treat when I have the opportunity to serve and enjoy my loved ones around a table filled with amazing tastes and smells. We share gratitude, life-lessons, and food. These times are satisfying physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The Gospels reveal Jesus loved dinner with family and friends, as well.

Our passage today takes place just prior to Passover. Jesus is in Bethany sharing a meal with loved ones and friends. People have gathered to be with Jesus. Martha wants to serve Jesus, Lazarus wants to rest in Jesus, Judas wants to take from Jesus, and Mary just wants to worship Jesus. In glorious fashion, Jesus loves each one. Notice, Jesus does not berate Judas. However, Jesus does come to Mary’s defense.

Several days ago, we looked at the role of Caiaphas in the death of Jesus. Caiaphas had no idea what he was saying when he proclaimed it was “better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed” (John 11:50). The grace of God put those words in his mouth in preparation for Christ’s crucifixion and death. Mary, in our lesson today, had no idea the spiritual depth and purpose of anointing Jesus’ feet with nard (John 12:3). Yet, the grace of God put the idea in her mind to prepared for Christ’s burial. Lastly, Judas has a greedy hand, but God knows it and uses the sin in his heart to betray Jesus in order to save the world (John 22:21-22). Judas seems to be concerned about the money; a year’s wages spent foolishly, but within days he will sell the King of kings—the Savior of the world—for thirty pieces of silver; the price of a slave (Ex 21:32). God’s purposes will always be fulfilled; may we choose to be a “righteous” part of His plan.

John 12:1-8 NLT Jesus Anointed at Bethany
12 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.
4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.
7 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

Prayer: Lord, summons your people into a posture of genuine worship and oneness. Call us by name and help us be a part of accomplishing your purpose for the Kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Isaiah continually spoke to Israel about her spiritual blindness and deafness when it came to their awareness and obedience to God. In Chapter 42, Isaiah tells Israel God mourns their spiritual decay. Israel is not only a nation of people; Israel represents all the people that God uses to further his plan of redemption for the human race. Israel includes all people who respond to God in faith, believe in Him for salvation, and seek to serve and obey Him. In our passage today, the Lord reminds Israel who He is and the plans He has for them. God’s purpose for using Israel is to make the people into a holy nation of priests.

Think about your spiritual life and how you view yourself. As believers, we are being formed into a holy nation of priests; therefore, we have a part to play in the formation process. Our commitment to Christ involves surrendering to the leading of the Holy Spirit who brings spiritual life and imparts it into our spirits, produces spiritual maturity in our souls, and causes us to grow the spiritual fruit that identifies us as His holy priests—those who worship and witness to the sacred ways of our Lord. God is faithful to fulfill His purpose for us.

Isaiah 43:16-21 NLT
I am the Lord, who opened a way through the waters,    making a dry path through the sea.
17 
I called forth the mighty army of Egypt    with all its chariots and horses.I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned,    their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candlewick.
18 
“But forget all that—    it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
19 
For I am about to do something new.    See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?I will make a pathway through the wilderness.    I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
20 
The wild animals in the fields will thank me,    the jackals and owls, too,    for giving them water in the desert.Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland    so my chosen people can be refreshed.
21 
I have made Israel for myself,    and they will someday honor me before the whole world.

Prayer: Lord, today I must remember I am a new creation in Christ Jesus—chosen and destined to reflect Your divine priesthood. I am refreshed by Your Spirit through the washing of the Word over my soul; Your Word makes me fertile ground for the growth of Your righteous fruit. Draw me closer to Yourself, because I want to bring honor to Your glorious name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: As I was reading our passage for today, several thoughts about faith kept coming to my mind. So, please look with me; I want you to examine the faith of these religious leaders [the Pharisees]. What do you notice? These leaders have been standing face to face with Jesus watching him release the power of God to raise three people from the dead: Jairus’ daughter, the widow’s son, and Lazarus (Matthew 9:18–26; Luke 7:11-17; John 11:1-44). However, instead of celebrating this miraculous power of God’s goodness and being excited about what that power could do for God’s people, the City of Jerusalem, and the spiritual redemption of the world, these leaders are more concerned and focused on the world’s power [Roman empire]. Keep in mind the Jews only received partial freedom from the Romans; they were still living under constant brutality and threat—a forced peace settlement based on fear and control. Jesus wanted so much more for them; true freedom and peace with God.

So, my first thought about faith: Every believer has experienced the greatest healing and liberating miracle of all times—we have eternal life and salvation because Christ has redeemed us and raised us from dead living. Therefore; it is an act of unfaithfulness to think more about what is going on in the world [fear of what any human being/governing authority] can do to us than what is purposed for us by God. Our faith must stay focused on the unseen eternal things as we, through prayer and praise, call for the promises of God to be manifest and revealed. Jesus is eternal! We must celebrate the power of God with us and be courageously obedient to the Spirit’s promptings if we are going to see our faith overcome the work of evil in our Father’s world.

My second thought about faith: God can speak prophetically through willing mouths, unaware mouths, and even unwilling mouths if it accomplishes His Kingdom purpose. With words God places in his mouth, Caiaphas sets the plan of God in motion to offer Jesus as the Pascal Lamb who will lay down His life to save God’s people and the world. So, the next time we are tempted to minimize the power of God moving in us, may we immediately cast that worldly mindset down and ask God to use our faith and mouths to accomplish His purpose. Don’t be surprised by the words you may speak as a willing vessel. Remember, in our lesson today, God uses even the twisted motives and actions of his enemies to bring about his will; how much more will he use his sons and daughters. No devil can thwart the purposes of God. Glory to our righteous King!

John 11:45-52 NLT The Plot to Kill Jesus
45 Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen. 46 But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council [Sanhedrin] together. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. 48 If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple [our place] and our nation.”

49 Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time,[that year] said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about! 50 You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”

51 He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. 52 And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for using this passage today from the Apostle John to challenge my thinking. I want to use my faith—through spoken words and courageous actions— in such a way it advances Your kingdom of salvation and eternal life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: I am always praying for creative ways to help people with debt and lack; yet, I am grateful Connect2Christ Church is faithful to partner with other non-profits and churches to help those in our community who need food and resources. No one should go hungry in our community; we are responsible to take care of one another.

In our passage today, we gain a whole new perspective of what life was like for the poor in 797BC during Elisha’s prophetic ministry. Today, we cannot comprehend the debt in which the poor could find themselves, as well as the cost of trying to satisfy that debt. Widows were left with little or no option; they were abandoned by the government, as well as the religious organizations. If a person could not pay what he or she owed monetarily, the only other option was to sell family members as slaves. Elisha called on the name of the Lord and God provided an amazingly creative way to meet the needs of one poor widow. God provided based on this woman’s obedience. I can only imagine the witness of this woman to the goodness of God from that day on.

2 Kings 4:1-7 Elisha Helps a Poor Widow
4 One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.”

2 “What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?”
“Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied.

3 And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. 4 Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.”

5 So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. 6 Soon every container was full to the brim!
“Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons.

“There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing.

7 When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this lesson revealing the reality of your miraculous love and creative provision for this poor widow. Her faith to seek your help and her obedience to follow through is an amazing example for us. Continue to give your sons and daughters a heart for the poor and a willingness to be a blessing. In Jesus’ name. Amen.