Behold the King: It’s a Hard Knock Harvest (Part 4)
Notes
Transcript
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Jesus, the bringer of eternal peace, stepped into our broken world, knowing that the toxic grip of sin would push back against His message of love and redemption. Yet, despite the challenges, the rewards of glorifying God, living out the Gospel, and helping others on their Faithway journey are everlasting. Our hearts must be moved to embrace His grace, share His Gospel, and extend a helping hand to those in darkness, for the impact we make echoes through eternity.
In a fascinating article, writer Tim Grierson walks us through the history of the TV dad and shows how each dad reflects the values in America at that time. Below you will see the summary of each era of TV dad.
Mid 1950s - Jim Anderson (Father Knows Best): Father Knows Best preached a wholesome, slightly square domestic normalcy that placed the dad at the top. His job is to go to work and make a living, enduring his little tots when he comes home at night. Everything's perfect, and nobody has any major problems.The 1960s - Steve Douglas (My Three Sons): Steve Douglas was the friendly, noble single dad to three growing boys. What was mildly edgy about the show was that his character was a widower, allowing Americans to see a nontraditional family dynamic on TV. My Three Sons at least started to reveal the cracks in the idealized American portrait of father-mother-and-cute-kids.1970s - Archie Bunker (All in the Family): This was a father who definitely didn't know best—more accurately, he represented an outdated worldview that was quickly being shoved aside by a new (and, for him, frightening) order.Late 1980s - Dan Conner (Roseanne): Dan was a new kind of father: vulnerable and sweet, henpecked by his bossy wife but still hopelessly devoted to her. Dan was a man constantly ashamed of his inability to give his family a better life, but always trying to compensate by being as good a guy as possible.1990s - Homer Simpson (The Simpsons): In Homer, The Simpsons found what is, to this day, the perfect modern-day TV father: drunken, well-intentioned, utterly worthless, prone to anger, always at a loss for the right thing to do or say.2000s - Tony Soprano (The Sopranos): Tony Soprano is the prototypical breadwinner and head of the household; except he's so hobbled by inner turmoil and “business” concerns that he's on the verge of a nervous breakdown.2010s - Bob Belcher (Bob's Burgers): In Bob we see the overextended modern dad in all his rumpled glory, just trying to keep his head above water in all aspects of his life.
Dad’s, are you training yourself to accept societies norms or to be a disciplined man of God?
While you might have been born with some natural ability such as a strong body, perfect pitch in music, an eye for perspective. None of of can claim a natural spiritual advantage over anyone. We are all born equally disadvantaged.
What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
It is for this very reason that Jesus teaches his disciples, and now you that as children of grace, our spiritual discipline is everything!
Mankind left to himself will naturally show its depravity.
Illustrations of Depravity
Illustrations of Depravity
Jesus teaches his disciples that plans look good on paper but as soon as you put into action the deep rootedness of the sin curse messes the plan up.
Depravity: the innate corruption of human nature, due to original sin.
For the son dishonoureth the father, The daughter riseth up against her mother, The daughter in law against her mother in law; A man’s enemies are the men of his own house.
What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Preposterous Rebellion
Preposterous Rebellion
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Why do the heathen rage, And the people imagine a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,
Let us break their bands asunder, And cast away their cords from us.
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: The Lord shall have them in derision.
In a dusty frontier town nestled amidst the rugged landscapes of the Wild West, the editor of a struggling small-town newspaper faced a daunting challenge. Desperate to fill the empty columns of his publication, he hatched a daring plan.
Summoning the skilled compositor of his printing press, he ordered the timeless words of the Ten Commandments to be set in bold typeface, devoid of any editorial commentary. With each letter painstakingly placed, the editor hoped to captivate the attention of the town's inhabitants and spark a renewed interest in his publication.
As the ink dried and the printing press roared to life, the editor anxiously awaited the impact of his audacious move. Little did he know that this seemingly innocent act would set off a chain of events that would reverberate throughout the town and beyond.
Just three days later, a mysterious letter arrived at the newspaper office, addressed to the editor. With weathered hands, he broke the seal and read the words that sent a chill down his spine.
"Cancel my subscription. Your words hit too close to home."
Confusion gripped the editor's mind. How could the Ten Commandments, a testament to morality, be deemed too personal? Unbeknownst to him, his action had struck a raw nerve and awakened a dormant fire that had long smoldered within the hearts of the townsfolk.
Proximity Rupture
Proximity Rupture
In the year 1935, a man named Donohoe decided to leave behind a will that was quite… unconventional, to say the least. In his document, he addressed his two daughters, Fances Marie and Denise Victoria, with a rather mischievous twist. Instead of showering them with riches, he purposefully bequeathed them a whole $1 each, accompanied by a father’s curse. He stated “May your lives be fraught with misery, unhappiness and poignant sorrow. May their deaths be soon and of a lingering, malign and torturous nature. May their souls rest in hell and suffer the torments of the damned for eternity.”
For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: Neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
But it was thou, a man mine equal, My guide, and mine acquaintance.
I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
Incentives for Dedication
Incentives for Dedication
Jesus states something that is hard for us as Americans to hear.
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Luke records this conversation
And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Jesus gives us a choice. He is saying that in light of the reality that He is the creator and intimate Savior of the world, our loyalty should be with Him above the loyalty we have for anyone else.
Embracing Relationship
Embracing Relationship
"I feel like a monster," Gabriel Marshall said to his dad. Eight-year-old Gabriel had recently undergone surgery to remove a tumor from his brain, and he now bore a conspicuous scar on the side of his head. His dad, Josh, had an idea: he got a tattoo on the side of his head that was in the exact shape of Gabriel's scar. He told Gabriel, "If people want to stare at you, then they can stare at both of us."
A picture of the two sporting their scars eventually won first place in a Father's Day photo competition run by St. Baldrick's Foundation, "an organization dedicated to fighting childhood cancer."
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Everlasting Reward
Everlasting Reward
Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
A touching and extraordinary gift from a widow in Boston warmed the hearts of the Salvation Army staff in the city. This kind-hearted woman, who chose to remain anonymous, placed a diamond ring and her wedding band in a red kettle, along with a heartfelt note. Her intention was for the rings to be sold, and the money used to buy toys for children in need.
In the note, she explained that she wanted to honor her husband's memory. He had always been generous, especially during Christmas. She wrote, "To remember him, I'm giving this ring. I hope someone who has made a lot of money this year will buy it for ten times its worth." She added, "There's no price on love or the sentimental value of this ring, but the money will make a difference for the kids."
This beautiful act of kindness reminds us that true wealth lies in our ability to help others. It encourages us to think beyond ourselves and consider how we can make a positive impact on those who are less fortunate. Let this story inspire us to embrace generosity and contribute to the well-being of our communities.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.