Worry

Image via WikipediaChapel Daily Inspiration-Worry

 

JESUS (CONT’D) This is why I tell you: do not be worried about the food and drink you need in order to stay alive, or about clothes for your body. After all, isn’t life more importantly than food? And isn’t the body more important than clothes.

JESUS (CONT’D) Look at the birds: they do not plant seeds, gather a harvest or put it in barns; yet your Father in heaven takes care of them! Aren’t you worth much more than birds? Can any of you live a bit longer by worrying about it? If you can’t manage even such a small thing, why worry about the other things?

JESUS (CONT’D) Worry can cause the object of your worry to consume your thoughts and reduce your ability to trust God; and it can even harm your health.

JESUS (CONT’D) And why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow: they do not work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that not even King Solomen with all his wealth had clothes as beautiful as one of these flowers. It is God who clothes the wild grass - grass that is here today and gone tomorrow, burned up in the fire. What little faith you have.

JESUS (CONT’D) So don’t be all upset, always concerned: Where will my food come from? or my drink? or my clothes? (These are the things that those who do not believe in God are always concerned about.) Your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and what he requires of you control of every area of your life: your work, play, plans, relationships, and he will provide you with all these needs (not your desires). So do not worry about tomorrow; it will have enough worries of its own. There is no need to add to the troubles each day brings.

JESUS (CONT’D) Do not be afraid, little flock for your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom.

JESUS (CONT’D) Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks will receive and anyone who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to him who knocks.

JESUS (CONT’D) Would any of you who are fathers give your son a stone when he asks for bread? Or would you give him a snake when he asks for a fish? As wicked as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

JESUS (CONT’D) Therefore seek after the Kingdom of God. Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it. But the gate to life is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it.

JESUS (CONT’D) The Kingdom of God is like this. A man happens to find a treasure hidden in a field. He covers it up again, and is so happy that he goes and sells everything he has and then goes back and buys that field.

JESUS (CONT’D) Also, the Kingdom of God is like this. A man is looking for fine pearls, and when he finds one that is unusually fine, he goes and sells everything he has, and buys that pearl.

JESUS (CONT’D) Also, the Kingdom of God is like this. Some fishermen threw their net out in the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When the net was full, they pulled it to shore and sat down to divide the fish. The good ones go into the buckets, the worthless ones are thrown away. It will be like this at the end of the age: the angels will go out and gather up the evil people from among the good and will throw them into the fiery furnace where they will cry and gnash their teeth.

JESUS (CONT’D) Do you understand?

DISCIPLES Yes!

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THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT -DAY JESUS walks up to a large boulder and sits down. Nicodemus sits at the edge of a crowd. Jesus begins to teach.

Image via WikipediaTHE SERMON ON THE MOUNT -DAY JESUS walks up to a large boulder and sits down. Nicodemus sits at the edge of a crowd. Jesus begins to teach.

JESUS The Kingdom of God can come in to your hearts. But you need to turn away from your self centerness and self control and turn your life over to God’s control. Those who do, will achieve true happiness.

JESUS (CONT’D) Hope and Joy to those who give up their pride and personal independence and submit themselves to God, yield to his authority and will, commit their life to him and his control, and be willing to allow him to love them.

JESUS (CONT’D) Hope and Joy to you who are hungry now; you will be filled.

JESUS (CONT’D) Hope and Joy to those who mourn or are sad, God will comfort them!

JESUS (CONT’D) Hope and Joy to you who weep in sincere sorrow for your earthly ways, you will laugh!

JESUS (CONT’D) Hope and Joy to those who give up self control; they will receive what God has promised; love, healing, and peace with God.

JESUS (CONT’D) Hope and Joy to those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires and give up pursuing personal needs; God will satisfy them fully.

JESUS (CONT’D) Hope and Joy to those who’s life is controlled by love and are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them.

JESUS (CONT’D) Hope and Joy to the pure in heart; they will see God.

JESUS (CONT’D) Hope and Joy to those who work for peace; God will call them his children!

JESUS (CONT’D) Hope and Joy to those who are persecuted because they do what God requires; the Kingdom of God belongs to them!

JESUS (CONT’D) Hope and Joy to you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. It will take your eyes off earthly rewards and it will strip away weak belief. It strengthens the faith of those who endure. Be happy and glad, leap for joy for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the followers who lived before you were persecuted.

JESUS (CONT’D) But how terrible for you who are rich now you have had your easy life!

JESUS (CONT’D) Do not store up riches for yourselves here on earth. Sell all your belongings and give the money to the poor. Instead, store up riches for yourself in heaven where they will never decrease because no challenge can get to them. For your heart will always be where your riches are. For whatever you store up, you will spend much of your time and energy thinking about it.

JESUS (CONT’D) How terrible for you who are full now; you will go hungry.

JESUS (CONT’D) How terrible for you who laugh now; you will mourn and weep.

JESUS (CONT’D) No one can live fully in both Earth’s and Gods Kingdom; they will hate one and love the other; they will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Your desire for money and what it can buy will possess you and will outweigh your commitment to God and spiritual matters.

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Chapel-daily Inspiration- Evil Spirits

Image via WikipediaEvil Spirits

Just then a man who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,

DEMON What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!

JESUS Be quiet! Come out of him! The man shakes violently and collapses. The people are amazed and ask each other,

PEOPLE What is this? A new teaching - and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.

JESUS I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

JESUS (CONT’D) All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

JESUS (CONT’D) Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

PEOPLE What must we do to do the works God requires?

JESUS The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.

PEOPLE What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’

JESUS I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

PEOPLE Sir, from now on give us this bread.

JESUS I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

JESUS (CONT’D) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.

NICODEMUS Jesus this is all good, but I still need more guidance. I still do not under stand where your Kingdom is?

JESUS Come follow me and learn.

Chapel daily Inspiration-The teaching Jesus

Image via WikipediaThe teaching Jesus

 

CUT TO: ACT 2 - DAY EXT. TOWN SQUARE Jesus begins to teach the people. They are amazed at his teaching, because his message has authority.

JESUS I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgement to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. he who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

JESUS (CONT’D) I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

JESUS (CONT’D) Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out - those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

JESUS (CONT’D) If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid.

JESUS (CONT’D) For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

JESUS (CONT’D) I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?

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Eternal Life

Eternal Life

 

NICODEMUS What good must I do to get eternal life.

JESUS If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.

JESUS (CONT’D) Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me , and cannot be my disciple.

NICODEMUS What kind of commitment is expected?

JESUS The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.

JESUS (CONT’D)Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

JESUS (CONT’D) Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evil doers.

JESUS (CONT’D) Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain comes down, the streams rose and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.

NICODEMUS This will take a lot of trust. How can I do this.

JESUS Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God, trust in me. Come follow me and learn.

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One Greater than the temple

Image via WikipediaOne Greater than the temple

 

NICODEMUS Your disciples pick heads of grain on the Sabbath, this is unlawful.

JESUS Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions ate the consecrated bread - which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

NICODEMUS Teacher, I don’t fully understand what you mean to be born again. How can I do this? I will follow you wherever you go.

JESUS Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head. Come follow me and learn.

NICODEMUS Well then, how can I respond to your invitation?

JESUS A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many quests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited. Come, for everything is now ready.

JESUS (CONT’D) But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.

JESUS (CONT’D) Another said, I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.

JESUS (CONT’D) Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.

JESUS (CONT’D) The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.

JESUS (CONT’D) Sir, the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

JESUS (CONT’D) Then the master told his servant, Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.

NICODEMUS Can we reject our salvation?

JESUS Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will acknowledge him before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

JESUS (CONT’D) When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches a way what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

JESUS (CONT’D) The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he last only a short time when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

JESUS (CONT’D) The one who receive the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

JESUS (CONT’D) But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

JESUS (CONT’D) I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the words I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

JESUS (CONT’D) I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man does not remain in me and I in him, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you.

JESUS (CONT’D) This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourself to be my disciples.

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OUTSIDE ROMAN CENTURION HOME As Jesus leaves the home, a funeral possession starts to pass by. When Jesus sees the mother crying, his heart goes out to her and he says:

Image via WikipediaOUTSIDE ROMAN CENTURION HOME As Jesus leaves the home, a funeral possession starts to pass by. When Jesus sees the mother crying, his heart goes out to her and he says:

JESUS Don’t cry. Jesus goes up to the coffin and touch it, and those carrying it stand still. He says:

JESUS (CONT’D) Young man, I say to you, get up! The dead man sits up and begins to move around. The people in the funeral possession and standing around start praising God:

PEOPLE A great prophet has appeared among us. God has come to help his people. Nicodemus is overcome, and walks away.

CUT TO: INT NICODEMUS HOME-KITCHEN TABLE Nicodemus and his wife are sitting at a table talking.

NICODEMUS I have been following this man Jesus, and he is becoming a great religious leader. The people are coming to him and praising him.

NICODEMUS (CONT’D) The rich and the poor are coming to him to perform miracles. I’ve even seen Roman leaders, government officials, religious leader. Many are friends of mine.

NICODEMUS (CONT’D) And I keep being pushed into the background. This man may very well be the Messiah. If he is, I need to become a disciple.

NICODEMUS (CONT’D) Otherwise, if he takes over the government, I could lose my job in the Sanhedren. And if he is not the Messiah, I could report to the Sanhedren.

NICODEMUS (CONT’D) But, the one thing that bothers me, is that he keeps helping people, and he does not use it to achieve authority or money. How can he become the Messiah, if he does not take over the government.

NICODEMUS (CONT’D) I know what I will do. I will go to him and pretend to become a disciple, but stay in the background. Then I can be there when he becomes the Messiah; and if he doesn’t I still won’t be tied to him.

NICODEMUS (CONT’D) If I go to him and ask a religious question. I can show him, that I am interested, and still be doing my current job. Yes, that is what I will do. Nicodemus gets up and walks out.

CUT TO: INT DARK ROOM 2 MEN AT TABLE LIT ONLY Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night and talks to him:

NICODEMUS Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.

JESUS I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.

NICODEMUS How can a man be born when he is old? Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!

JESUS I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

NICODEMUS How can this be?

JESUS You are Israel’s teacher, and do you not understand these things? I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven - the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

JESUS (CONT’D) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done in obedience to God.

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