In Matthew 20:20-23, this scripture talks about James, John and their mother came to Jesus and asked if they could sit on His left hand and right hand in heaven. Jesus said you don’t know what you are asking. I can’t give that to you because the Father has already assigned those seats. But what I can do is that you can enter into My baptism. James and John both said yes. Jesus woke me up one morning 40 years ago with this scripture. Once He explained what the scriptures meant, Jesus turn to me and asked if I would enter into His baptism. If you don’t know what Jesus’s baptism is. It is the baptism of death. It’s the cross. Jesus looked at me and asked. He didn’t say that I would come out on the other side. For me He meant actual death. It took me 3 days to decide. I knew that if I didn’t, I would miss God’s plan for my life. That was 40 years ago. What I have found is that there is no other way to live. What I gained for out weights what my life could have gained. So I know that at any time my life will be required. It’s the only life to live. I am crucified with Christ.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I have another on-going story to tell you. To see the story all you have to do is open your eyes and look at television, Facebook or any other social media. The story isn’t new. In fact it is as old as man. The fight that we see today isn’t about race or politics or even the Corona virus. It is about fighting God and man not wanting to surrender his life to God. I don’t know if this is the last days but it seems pretty convincing. There is a shaking going on. Everyone that can be shaken from the faith will be. Circumstances have never been the criteria for our faith. It isn’t based upon this world. We see things that can make us afraid. Jesus talked about it in the parable of the sower. He said,”he that heareth the word and understandeth it which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth some a hundredfold some 60 some 30″(Matthew 13:23). Then God showed me Gideon and the army of Israel. Gideon put out a call for an army and 33000 men showed up. God said there were too many men. He told Gideon to say all that were afraid to go home. 23,000 men went home. These are the believers that produce 30% in the army of God. God said it was still too many. God told Gideon to have the army to drink from the stream and everyone that watched for the enemy could stay. God said to send the rest home. 9600 men went home. These are the believers who produced 60%. The 300 men the left defeated the midianite army of over 100,000 men. These 300 men took their life in their hands and trusted God. These are the believers that produce a 100%. They are prepared to stand and fight. These are the believers that are call for such a time as this. The call of God has gone out. How you respond is your choice.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In these “unprecedented times”, the Bible tells us what to think about. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things” (Phillipians 4:8 NKJV).

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 20:17-19, Jesus and the disciples were headed for Jerusalem. Jesus takes the disciples aside to tell them something. Jesus said, I go to Jerusalem to die. I will be betrayed and handed over to the gentiles to be crucified. And on the third day I shall rise again. Jesus entered into the covenant of Abraham. This is where He is sacrificed to God. Then God resurrected Jesus. We as believers entered into the same covenant. And we must be sacrificed to God and let Him resurrect us into a new and living way. If you are a believer and are unwilling to follow God and His commandments, then you need to go back to the cross and die. We can’t resurrect ourselves. Only God can. If you don’t die to yourself, there is no guarantee that you will enter heaven. Those that are dead and endure to the end shall be saved(Galatians 2:20).

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus told the story of the vineyard and the owner. The owner went out early in the morning and hired workers for his vineyard. They agreed on a penny for the day’s work. The owner went out at 9 am and 12 noon and 3pm and hired workers for the vineyard. They agreed to work for a penny. The owner went out at 5pm and found men idle. He hired them for a penny also. Finally, the day ended and called all to recieve their payment. He started with the last to the first. The first hires saw the owner made everyone a penny. They thinking they would recieve more. When they received a penny, they started complaining against the owner. The owner said you have received what you agreed to. He said are you evil because I am good. Then jesus said the last shall be first and the first shall be last. For many are called but few are chosen.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The Law of God commanded that each person must work to obtain salvation. It was by following the rules and regulations. What God was showing man that he was a sinner separated from God and couldn’t earn salvation. The popular belief in Judaism was you could earn your way to heaven. Even the disciples believed this. So when Jesus told that they couldn’t earn their way to heaven, it through out their beliefs. Peter was shaken and asked Jesus what they supposed to do. Jesus explained that God is to only one who can give a person salvation. Jesus told the disciples because they have left father, mother, sister, brother and family to follow Jesus shall recieve everlasting life. Then He said the first shall be last and the last first. It’s the parable of the marriage supper. With God nothing is impossible.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 19:23-26, Jesus talks about the deceitfulness of riches. He told them that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Each night walled cities would close their gates for the night. If a traveler came after the gates were closed, he had to enter through the eye of the needle. It was a small door on side of the gate. If he had a camel, the only way that camel could enter the eye was to be unloaded. The same holds true for a rich man. If he wants to enter in, he has to unload the love and desire for his riches. God isn’t saying that we aren’t to be successful. What God is saying is that your can’t let money control you. As the bible says the love of money is the root of all evil. The disciples were amazed and said, “who can be saved”? Jesus said “with man it’s impossible, but with God all things are possible”.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 19:16-22, a young man came to Jesus. He called Jesus Good Master. Then asked what he had to do to enter into the kingdom. Jesus told him that there is only one that is good and that is God. Then Jesus explained how to enter into the kingdom. What Jesus said was to follow the 10 commandments. The young man said that he had followed them from his youth. The young man asked what more do I lack. Jesus told him if you want to be perfect, go and sell everything you have and come and follow Me. The young man went away sorrowing because he was very wealthy. What Jesus was saying to us is that we are to surrender everything we have and let God make the decisions for us. We don’t understand or have the power to get us from this earth home. Only God knows what we need and can provide for us.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

We all have our opinion of what the kingdom of heaven is like. Then there is what God has made it. God has said that we haven’t seen or heard what God has prepared for us. In Matthew 19:13-15, children were wanting to see Jesus. The disciples rebuked the children. Jesus intervened and told the disciples to let the children come. Jesus said that we couldn’t enter into the kingdom of heaven unless we became like these children. Why would Jesus say this? It’s because children believe no matter what. There is no agenda, it’s just faith. Their hearts are open to Jesus and are vulnerable. As an adult, we find being vulnerable scary. We are trained to be tough and hard hearted. But Jesus said unless you become like these children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 19:10-12, Jesus talks about being a eunuch, a person who isn’t married and doesn’t want to be. After Jesus talked about marriage and divorce, the disciples said that it would be better no to marry. Apostle Paul talked about not being married was better than being married for a Christian. He said it was better because you could devote all your time to God. But he went to say that for some it was better to marry than to burn or want relationships. Jesus talked about being a eunuch. He said that some are born this way. He also said some people choose the kind of life. Jesus said if you can receive this kind of life, let him recieve it.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com