The Christian Target

Posted on January 15, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/focused-woman-aiming-for-the-target-6090784/

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

This is not a text that God gives to the lost,
but to the saved Church That Belongs To Jesus

The lost care not a bit about glorifying God. The lost need to be saved before they can be taught to glorify God. This is a text for the Children of God. How do you become a Child of God? Do you work hard? Do you try to be better? Do you do religious things? No, you are saved by “calling upon the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:26; Romans 10:13). The Scripture says:

Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

It is faith in Jesus Christ that saves you. It is believing that the Blood of Christ, God’s Only Son, was shed on Calvary for your sins and mine. When God convinced you that you were a sinner without hope before His glorious Throne, and you repented and believed on Christ (Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19) then the Holy Spirit of God changed you.

John 6:63 … It is the Spirit that quickeneth (makes alive)

The Holy Spirit made you spiritually alive. Once the Spirit makes you alive, the Spirit adopts you into the Family of God.

Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, ‘Abba! Father!

Oh, how wondrously salvation changes a life. Once we receive Christ by faith, God adopts us into His holy family (Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:23; Luke 10:27). We are part of His Kingdom. He is our King and our Lord, our Father and our Shepherd.

We who are saved are no longer SLAVES unto God,
but are SONS & DAUGHTERS unto God.
Now Saved, Dear Christian, You Are To “Glorify” God.

Illustrate: Let me see if I can explain it this way. I and my dear wife helped out at Riverside Elementary last Thursday afternoon, my day off. The class I was with – a group of second graders – were learning to read by sounding out their words. Before you can read, you have to know your alphabet. The little boy I was with struggled as we went through three paragraphs of a book about an osprey. When he hit a hard word, I would say “Sound it out. What sound does the letter ___ make?” The sound of each letter is a basic think that each child must learn before they can read. The Christian way of life cannot be effectively lived unless we understand the basic truth, “whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God”.

Our Example For Christian Life Is Jesus Christ

We have just come through the Christmas season, and I preached through the traditional Christmas verses. On the night that our Lord Jesus became flesh (incarnate), when God became Man, the Angel of God told the shepherds where they could find Him. The Scripture then says:

Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

At His incarnation, His lowering into humanity, Christ Jesus glorified God. He did this by lowering Himself down to our level. By “humbling Himself”. Jesus “took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man … and became obedient to God unto the death of the Cross” (Philippians 2:5-8

This humility to the will of God followed Jesus throughout His earthly life. When Jesus was twelve years old (Luke 2:42), He and his earthly parents went to Jerusalem to observe the Passover. Jesus would be crucified some 20 years later on that same festival as “The Lamb of God Who taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). When Mary and Joseph leave Jerusalem, Jesus – unknown to them – stayed behind in the Temple. After three days they found Him in the Temple (Luke 2:46) teaching the “Doctors of Theology” – the Rabbis. Mary asked Jesus why He stayed at the Temple when they had plans to go home. Our Lord said:

Luke 2:49 (ESV) “… Why were you looking for Me? Did you not know that I MUST BE IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE ..”

This is what distinguishes the CHRISTIAN from the LOST. The CHRISTIAN wants to be near the Father, to be in His House. The LOST care little for God’s glory.

Our Lord Jesus knows the Ten Commandments, because our Lord Jesus is “the Word. And the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1-3). It was Jesus who dictated the Law unto Moses, Jesus Who gave the fifth commandment:

Exodus 20:12 (ESV) Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you ..

Jesus honored His earthly family – but He honored the Father God more. We who are His children are to put our God ABOVE even our earthly family. This glorifies God. Jesus told us:

Matthew 10:37 (NIV) Anyone who loves their father or mother MORE THAN ME IS NOT WORTHY OF ME; anyone who loves their son or daughter MORE THAN ME IS NOT WORTHY OF ME …

Though we are to honor our parents, love our wives and husbands, and raise our children, our primary duty – as it was with Jesus – is to glorify God first and foremost. This is what Jesus called “The Great Commandment”:

Luke 10:27 … Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

God is to have your ALL. This is what glorifying God is. You see this through the entire life of Christ. Though the Son of God (John 10:15; Mark 14:61-62; Luke 1:35; Luke 4:41),

Jesus glorified God in all things. When Jesus got ready to start His earthly ministry, He went to John the Baptist to be baptized. John told Jesus, “I need to be baptized by YOU, not YOU by me!” (Matthew 3:14). Our Lord Jesus told John:

Matthew 3:15 (ESV) … Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.

We as Christians “fulfill all righteousness” when we
glorify God, putting Him first in all things.

Why did Jesus stay in the Temple? To glorify God. Why did Jesus get baptized? To glorify God. When “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1). After 40 days and 40 nights of testing, the devil came to Jesus, saying:

Matthew 4:3 (ESV) “If You are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread”.

As God, Jesus could command the stones to be bread. As a perfect but hungry Man, Jesus could be readily excused for following this suggestion from the evil one. But notice how Jesus responds:

Matthew 4:4 (ESV) “It is WRITTEN, man shall not live by bread alone, but BY EVERY WORD THAT COMES FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD”.

Jesus glorified God. With every temptation Jesus told that old devil, “It is WRITTEN”. Jesus never put His needs and wants above giving glory to God.

And Beloved, Jesus expects the SAME BEHAVIOR from you! He said:

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV) “You {saved people} are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

When we put ourselves second, and let our light shine, we “give glory to” God. How important is it to glorify God? Jesus Christ – the Son of God and God the Son – said:

John 8:50 … I seek not mine own glory …

Jesus gave glory to God by lowering Himself to come to this earth. Jesus glorified God by upholding and cherishing the Scripture, the Word of God. Jesus glorified God by doing His will, no matter how hard it might. As Jesus prepared to go to the Cross of Calvary, He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Bible says that Jesus:

Matthew 26:39 … fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Three times our Lord Jesus prayed (Matthew 26:44) “If it be possible, Father, let this cup pass from Me. NEVERTHELESS not My will, but Thine be done”. Jesus glorified the Father at all times. He upheld the Father’s Word, and lowered Himself. As the Scripture says, Jesus …

Philippians 2:7-10 … made Himself of no reputation, and took upon him (self) the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…

One day we all shall bow at the feet of Jesus, giving glory to God the Son. The Son glorified the Father, and died on Calvary to bring us to God. Since the Son glorified God in His life, and glorifies Him still – why do we not think that WE are to glorify God in our lives. The reason Jesus gave His life for us was to glorify God. Once we are saved by the glorious Cross of Christ, WE are to glorify God.

As Jesus Has Shown Us, We Christians Must Do

1 Corinthians 10:31 … whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Illustrate: When I was in the Air Force, every year I had to “qualify” on the rifle range, firing the M16 Rifle. I received several “Marksmanship” medals for my shooting – all but one year. When we “qualified”, we all had our own targets to shoot at. I remember one of the first times I went shooting, I put several of my rounds in my neighbor’s target. The range instructor pointed out what I had done (it was obvious, because my neighbor had too many holes in his target), and showed me (duh) what my target was. After that I hit my target every time. I was aiming at the right space.

Too many professing Christians never grow in their walk with God because they are aiming at the wrong target. There is no blessing if you’re shooting at the wrong mark!

Robertson’s Word Pictures In The New Testament notes that:

“{Glorifying God} is the ruling motive in the Christian’s life…””

God calls us into His Family by the Blood of Christ and by the regenerative power of the Holy Spirit. God calls us into a Church NOT JUST TO BE A CHURCH, but to glorify God. The Scripture reminds us:

Romans 15:5-7 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

We are called to glorify God with our mouths, and our behavior. The Apostle Paul often emphasized the glory of God. He wrote:

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Philippians 4:20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The number one question we should ask before doing ANYTHING is:

Does What I Want To Do GLORIFY GOD?

The goal of the Christian walk is not to get to Heaven – Jesus has already accomplished that for us. The goal is to glorify God. I have spoken repeatedly the last few weeks on the future judgment of the Christian. Every Christian shall have their works judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:9-11; Romans 14:10-12).

Do you know what the basis of your future judgment will be?
It will be whether what you did in this life glorified God or not.

Look in our context today. Leading up to this verse, the Apostle gives the Church an example of what not to do in God’s Old Testament Israel.

1 Corinthians 10:1-5 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

The Apostle starts with “Moreover, brethren”. He is addressing the Church. Paul uses God’s Old Covenant people, Israel, to show us what to avoid. “Our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea”. This is Israel. They came out of Egypt, led by God in “pillar of fire and pillar of cloud” (Exodus 13:22). The Bible says, “the LORD went before them in a pillar” (Exodus 13:21). Every day they would get up and follow God. God took them through the Red Sea, and destroyed the armies of Egypt. God looked after His people. We read “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ”. God treated every saved Israelite the same, loving them, and providing for them.

How did Israel repay the love that God gave them? They murmured. They complained. They kept looking with longing eyes back to Egypt.
They were addicted to spiritual “selfies”.

Illustrate: You know what a “selfie” is, don’t you? Most senior citizens today have photo albums filled with pictures that tell stories. Back when we took pictures, film went in a roll, and every picture was carefully judged as valuable. What will senior citizens show their grandchildren years from now? Picture after picture of “selfies”. Pictures of food they ate. Nothing deep nor of value. No story behind the picture. Just selfishness on display.

This is what the world does with its life. The world lives for the world, for the “selfie”. The Christian is to live so as to glorify God. What if we as Christians glorified God in our marriages, our families, in how we raised our children, in our businesses?

1 Corinthians 10:6-10 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

You can live to glorify God, or you can murmur. Murmuring leads to “evil things”, to “idolatry”, to “fornication” or sexual sin, to “tempting Christ” or blasphemy against God, and of course to more murmuring. When overwhelmed by life we are to glorify God, believing He is in control. We are to glorify God, and DO the things He says do.

1 Corinthians 10:12-14 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

Verse 13 is often MISquoted with the statement, “God won’t put more on you than you can stand”. That isn’t what the verse says. You have to look at the verse before and the verse after where we see that word “Wherefore”. When I see a “Wherefore”, I always ask myself “what is it THERE FOR?”. The first “Wherefore” tells us …

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth
take heed lest he fall

Christians, we do not stand in our own power. It is God that makes us stand. It is God Who is in control. When you STAND at the Red Sea, call upon to part the Sea. The worst thing you can do is to make a golden calf, as the second “wherefore” notes:

Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry

Listen Beloved:

Christianity is NOT a “selfie”, but a “GOD HELP ME”!

When you run to God, make sure you are not running to a “golden calf”, but to the God of the Scripture. Rely on Him, and Him only.

We are not to be like the world.
We are to be like Jesus.

1 We glorify God when we, like Christ, put others first for the sake of the Gospel:

1 Corinthians 10:23-24 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

The Cross of Christ has removed many of the restrictions that Israel went under through the Law. We Christians are allowed to eat things the Israelites were forbidden to eat. When we sin, we do not need to carry an animal to an altar nor to a priest. Jesus Christ is our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16). Jesus Christ’s Cross is our sacrifice for sin (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2; Romans 5:8; Hebrews 9:12; 1 Timothy 2:5). Do not allow your freedom to hinder the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 10:28 … if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake …

I do not drink alcohol because alcohol is forbidden the Christian. I do not drink alcohol because I don’t want to offend those who cannot drink. If you are witnessing Christ to a Jew, do not eat pork. If you are telling a Mormon how to be saved, do not smoke or chew tobacco.

1 Corinthians 10:32-33 Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

What is Paul talking about? Is he telling us to ignore sin, and turn a blind eye to the evil of the world? No. Paul said in Galatians 1:10, “Am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Jesus made it plain to us that – as Christians – the world will hate us. “If the world hate you, know that it hated Me first” (John 15:18-25). We never compromise the truth for “PR”. We do, however, look for ways to lead others to Christ. Paul put himself in situations that were uncomfortable for himself as an ex-Pharisee and a Jew. Yet Paul did this to lead others to Christ.

2 We glorify God when we put our own desires last and God’s desire first. We ask ourselves in every thing we do, “Is what I want glorifying God? Is what I want leading others to Christ?” If not, we need to change our trajectory. The Bible says:

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

God wants us to reach out to others so that they might be saved. Our unity in outreaching others with the Gospel is how we glorify Jesus, and glorify our God. May we as His Church commit to His glory as we enter this New Year. Amen and Amen.

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The Abomination Of Poor Judgment

Posted on January 13, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/bible-blur-christ-christianity-372326/

Turn with me in your Bibles to:

Proverbs 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight. 2 When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.

Opening: Since the 9-11 terrorist attacks, our government established the TSA. With the body searches and bag inspections you need to get to the airport about 3 hours before your flight. A woman was at the airport, and had gone through all the checkpoints. As she was early for check in she decided to get a little something to eat. Then she saw the Cookie Stand. Five freshly baked cookies for about $5.00. She couldn’t resist. Paying her $5.00, she put her brown bag of cookies in her carry on. At her gate she sat next to a nice looking, well dressed man.

Rummaging through her purse for her phone, she looked up and saw that the nice young man had her bag of cookies in his hand. Unfolding the top of the bag, he opened it, and fished out a cookie as she glared at him. He notice she was watching him, so he put the bag between them and said, “Help yourself”!

“How rude”, she thought. She pulled a cookie out of the bag, and he reached over and grabbed a cookie, too. As she ate her cookie she wondered who had raised this man. What utter gall he had. She reached in the bag, and got the next to the last cookie. The man finished eating a cookie, and reached in the bag. It was the last cookie, so he broke it in half, and gave her half.

She started to chew him out when the airline began boarding. As they got on the plane, she was relieved to see he sat several rows down from her. She certain didn’t want to sit next to that hateful fellow. As she found her seat, she went to slide her carry on bag under the seat when she smelled chocolate chip cookie. Her bad was in her carry on all the time! She felt herself shrink down to just a few inches tall as she realized the rude and ugly person was herself.

A false balance is abomination to the Lord

Every day we make judgments. You can’t live without making judgments. The world loves to quote the passage:

Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

They usually quote this text when they want to do something that God has said is evil, be it

drunkenness and wild partying (Galatians 5:21)
sex outside of Biblical marriage (Hebrews 13:4)
sex outside of God’s design (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9)
drug use (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
racism and hatred (James 2:8)

and so forth. Anytime people want to walk in darkness they will say, “judge not, that you be not judged”. Yet the Bible does not forbid judging. Jesus said right after He said “Judge not that you be not judged”,

Matthew 7:2-6 … For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

We are to judge ourselves FIRST, and make sure that we’re not guilty of what we are telling others not to do. Jesus went on to say “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine”. This is, in itself, a judgment. Jesus equated those who were unsaved, who did not believe in Him, as DOGS or SWINE.

We are not to be hypocritical judges, but we must be able to discern swine and dogs from those who are not so. One commentary notes:

“In His sermon, Jesus uses dogs and pigs as representative of those who would ridicule, reject, and blaspheme the gospel once it is presented to them. We are not to expose the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have no other purpose than to trample it and return to their own evil ways. Repeatedly sharing the gospel with someone who continually scoffs and ridicules Christ is like casting pearls before swine. We can identify such people through discernment, which is given in some measure to all Christians (1 Corinthians 2:15–16).”

As Christians, Children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26) the Holy Spirit is given to us to “guide us into all truth” (John 16:13). We are furthermore given the Word of God, the Holy Bible, which is always true. Jesus prayed:

John 17:17 Sanctify them through Thy truth {o Father}: Thy Word is truth.

The Psalmist (33:4) said “the WORD OF THE LORD is RIGHT; and all His works are done in truth”.

We who are Christian are to avoid “false balance”. We are not to have one standard for ourselves, and another standard for everyone else.

The Pharisees judged Jesus to be evil because He healed people on the Sabbath Day. The Pharisees openly condemned Jesus (see Mark 3:1–6, Luke 6:6–10; 13:10–17; 14:1–6; John 5:1–18), and said that “he had a devil” or operated “through the power of Satan” because He healed on the Sabbath. The problem was that the Pharisees did not condemn Jesus because He violated the Law of God (which He did not do). They condemned Jesus because He broke their traditions and additions to the Law of God. When they accused Jesus of violating Sabbath by healing people, Jesus told them:

Luke 13:15 (ESV) You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it?

Jesus told these religious hypocrites:

John 7:22-24 (ESV) you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.

We Avoid False Balances When The Bible Is Our Standard

Proverbs 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord

Word Study: God calls a “false balance” or poor judgment an “abomination”, the Hebrew tôʿēḇâ (pronounced to-ay-baw) means “something disgusting, whether ethically or ritually”. God uses this word in the context of:

Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination (tôʿēḇâ) .

Deuteronomy 7:25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination (tôʿēḇâ) to the LORD thy God.

A false balance in a butcher’s shop will rob a client of meat that they rightfully paid for. A false balance in truth will rob a person from God’s best.

God had Israel cast Canaan out of the land because they participated in ABOMINATIONS (see 2 Chronicles 33:2). God wants us to judge righteous judgments. We are to measure all things by the Word of God.

Proverbs 11:1 … but a just weight is his delight.

Word Study: The word translated “just” is the Hebrew šālēm (pronounced shaw-lame’). This word means to be “complete, peaceful, perfect”. What is interesting about this particular word is that when Lot was taken captive by the enemy, Abraham in faith went out with 318 trained servants and defeated the foe. The Bible says:

Genesis 14:16 {Abraham} brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

Abraham was met by Someone special. We read:

Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

Melchizedek is the King of “Salem” [šālēm (pronounced shaw-lame’)], the King of Peace. Melchizedek ministered to Abraham and his men. Melchizedek is both a King and a Priest. Some believe that Melchizedek is an Old Testament appearance of Jesus Christ. This is possible. We are told in

Hebrews 6:20 …. Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Melchizedek is a King and a Priest, and

our Lord Jesus Christ is a King (Revelation 19:16)

and a Priest (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:14-16).

Jesus told the Pharisees,

John 8:56 (ESV) Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.

As Abraham met Melchizedek face to face, I believe that this was the event Jesus was referring to. Abraham met Melchizedek, an Old Testament manifestation of Christ, and gave tithes to Him. God delights in a just [šālēm (pronounced shaw-lame’)] judgment. If we practice judgment, let us do it as Jesus did. Let us judge based on what the Word of God has said. Let that be our standard.


Let us judge our lives by the Word of God.
Let us judge right and wrong by the Word of God.
Let us judge ourselves first, knowing:

1 Corinthians 4:2 … it is required in stewards that a {person} be found faithful.

Let us, like Jesus, live so as to please our God. Let us not have pride in our abilities, but in what God has said. Our lives are borrowed from God. Judge righteous judgments. Judge like Jesus judged, according to the Word of God. Judge as one who will “one day give an account of yourself unto God”.

Amen and Amen.

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Behold, He Prayeth

Posted on January 11, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by RODNAE Productions: https://www.pexels.com/photo/side-view-photo-of-praying-man-7468222/

Acts 9:8-12 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

Opening Illustration: I was reading in the Baptist and Reflector recently the article “Congress Remains Largely Christian Despite Societal Trends”. The article said:

“At least 88 percent of Congress – 469 of the 534 members – identified as Christian in the poll of the current 118th legislative body that is predominantly Protestant, Pew said in its analysis of poll results gathered by Congressional Quarterly’s Roll Call, with only one member identifying as religiously unaffiliated.”

I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel reassured. If 88% of Congress is “Christian”, then why did both houses affirm same sex marriage in spite of clear Biblical statements against this? If 88% of Congress is “Christian”, why do we see so much behavior that is clearly unChristian. I submit to you that there is a difference between religious person and Christian. A person is not right with God because they say they are Christian. A person is not right with God because they self identify as a Christian.

When John the Baptist saw the Pharisees and Sadducees flocking to his baptism, John didn’t commend them for being there. Instead John said (and we need more preaching like this today):

Matthew 3:7-8 {my paraphrase} … O generation of VIPERS, Who has warned you to flee from the wrath {of God} that is to come? BEAR FRUIT in keeping with repentance…”

What makes a snake a VIPER? It is the MOUTH. If you are a Christian, God will change your MOUTH.
The “born again” are MADE by & DRAWN to PRAYER.

A “Viper” cannot “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10). A viper has no hands nor feet to do good. God saves us through our mouths, and grows us through our mouths.

How did YOU get saved? You PRAYED!
You called on Heaven.
You REPENTED, turning away from yourself.
You CRIED OUT to God.
Prayer is the key to Heaven’s Gate.

Romans 10:9-13 (ESV) if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

You “callED on the name of the Lord”. This is prayer. Like Peter, you cried out, “Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:30). You prayed. Prayer is the heart cry of the saved. Prayer is the crying of the newly born again. Prayer is the breath of Heaven. You PRAYED to be saved. You PRAYED to Heaven in the name of Jesus Christ. Biblically there is no particular “Sinner’s Prayer” that is the key to salvation. The Spirit of God opened your eyes, and you prayed. You “called upon the Name of the Lord”, and because of that were saved.

Once saved, God changed your heart. Changing your heart, God leads you as Christians to:

Romans 12:9-12 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

I believe one of the key characteristics of the Christian – the mark of genuineness – is that they PRAY. Prayer is not a Sunday morning thing, but a daily thing for the Christian.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV) Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

And our Lord said in Luke 18:1 that “we ought ALWAYS TO PRAY and not lose heart”. C.H. Spurgeon on today’s focal text said:

“For behold, he (Saul) prays is a surer witness of a man’s conversion that “Behold, he sings” or, “Behold, he reads the Scripture”, or “Behold, he preaches … when a man really prays we may know for sure he has passed from death to life.”

God Will Only Use Those Who Genuinely Pray

Let’s consider a “certain disciple named Ananias”. Ananias was a praying man.

Acts 9:10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said,

Behold, I am here, Lord.

Prayer is not just giving our demands to God. Yes, we may come to God for our needs. We should …

Hebrews 4:16 … come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

There’s nothing wrong with bringing our needs to God. But the primary part of prayer is to please and glorify our Lord. How did Jesus teach us to pray? Was it …

“Our Father, which art in Heaven …. give US this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts … deliver us from evil .. Amen”

This is how most people pray. We pray without regard to the glory and majesty of God. Jesus taught us to pray thusly:

Matthew 6:9-10 …. Our Father which art in Heaven, {listen to this} HALLOWED BE THY NAME. THY KINGDOM COME, {not mine, but THINE} THY WILL BE DONE, in earth as it is in Heaven …

We pray the GLORY of GOD before we pray for His GIFTS.

Ananias was praying. A big part of prayer is to listen for God’s Voice. And then Jesus called:

“Ananias” (vs 10)

Ananias is not shocked that Jesus is talking to him. Jesus said,

John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me …

God makes His Voice known to His Children. Jesus speaks, and Ananias is listening. Without a hitch he responds:

“Behold, I am here, LORD” (vs 10)

Behold: I love it. There’s that BEHOLD again. You need to pay attention to the BEHOLDS of Scripture. Behold, I am here Lord. I await your direction. What do YOU want ME to DO?

God will use those who pray, but He will never use the person who does not pray. Do you want to be used of God? Then pray. Seek His Presence. Seek His Voice. Seek His Word. Tell God, “I am here LORD. What do YOU want me to do?” God speaks to Ananias:

Acts 9:11 … Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas {not Iscariot. Judas Iscariot NEVER prayed} for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

Here’s another BEHOLD of Scripture. Ananias is praying, “BEHOLD, I am here, LORD”. Now God tells Ananias to go where “Saul, of Tarsus” is praying.

behold, he prayeth

Jesus knows the HOUSE Saul is praying in.
He is calling Heaven from the HOUSE OF JUDAS.
Jesus knows the STREET that Saul is praying on.
Saul is on STRAIGHT Street.
Saul hasn’t always been on STRAIGHT Street.

This is the SECOND TIME Saul has prayed. When Jesus knocked him down on the Damascus Road, Saul prayed, saying:

Acts 9:5-6 Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. {you make it hard on yourself when you kick against the ox goad} 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Proper Prayer Gets The Attention Of Heaven

For years Saul had been religious, a Pharisee of the Pharisees. The Pharisees were known for their prayers. They prayed in the Synagogue. They prayed in the Temple. If the Pharisee was crossing the street and it was “Prayer Time”, he would stop and pray in the midst of traffic. Jesus spoke about the Pharisees when He said:

Matthew 6:5 … when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

The hypocrites or the Pharisees like Saul loved to pray being seen of men. They didn’t care if Heaven saw them, but they sure enjoyed the accolade they received. Those who knew Saul of Tarsus might say, “Yes, that Pharisee is a praying man”. But no, he wasn’t.

Saul had seen praying men. As Stephen was stoned to death, he heard that dear saint say …

Acts 7:56 … BEHOLD, I see the Heavens opened, and the Son of Man {Jesus} standing on the right hand of God …

As Stephen was beaten to death with rock after rock, his blood spattering like a red shower on their clothing, Stephen did not curse them. Saul heard Stephen pray:

Acts 7:60 Lord, lay not this sin to their charge …

Saul’s prayers were Pharisee prayers. They were like the Pharisee who stood in the Temple praying:

Luke 18:11 … God I thank thee I am not as other men are …

Heaven does not hear self righteous, pride filled prayers.
Prayer is a conversation between an adopted child and a Heavenly Father.
Prayer is the heart-cry of the clay to the Potter.
Prayer is the bleat of the sheep to the Shepherd.

The prayer that God hears comes from the living, not the spiritually dead. “God is the God of the living, not of the dead” (Mark 12:27). God does not hear the prayers that are rote. What prayer does God hear? God hears the HUMBLE prayer. He hears the salvation cry of the Publican, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13).

How will Ananias know Saul? How do Christians know one another? The answer is in:

Behold, he prayeth, (vs 11)

Saul’s prayers as a Pharisee were self righteous. Now as he prays he is God focused.

Acts 9:9 …. {Saul} was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

The center of Saul’s prayers are no longer Saul, nor the accolade of others. Saul’s prayers are now God focused, Christ centered.

1 God hears prayers that glorify Him:

John 14:13-14 whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Prayer is in the name of Jesus, for the glory of God, and in the power of the Spirit of God. Saul rejected the name of Jesus, and his prayers were never prayers in the eyes of God.

2 God hears prayers that are humble, not self righteous:

1 Peter 5:5-6 … be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

James 4:6 …. God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Prayer is not where we tell God what to do. Prayer is where we cry out to God as children saved by Grace. In what other ways had Saul never prayed?

Acts 8:3 Saul made havock of the Church, entering into every house, and {binding} men and women, committed them to prison …

3 God hears prayers that come from love and lift up others, not hateful prayers:

Matthew 5:43-48 … Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Saul never prayed for his enemies, these Christians, but sought to capture and commit as many as he could. When Saul had captured as many Christians as he could in Jerusalem, he went back to the High Priest and sought warrants to destroy the Church in Damascus.

When Jesus taught us the “Lord’s Prayer”, He told us:

Matthew 6:14-15 … if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

You Partner With God Through Prayer

Jesus tells Ananias:

Acts 9:11-12 … Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

Saul will not receive his sight until Ananias goes to him. God told Ananias, “behold, he prayeth”. He is not as he was, but has been changed by his encounter with Jesus. Ananias – though not disobedient – shares his fear with God.

Does anyone here get scared besides me? Has anyone here been frightened and lost as to what to do? So often I cry out, God help me. So often I plead the Blood over my broken life.

Ananias prays:

Acts 9:13-14 … Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

God listens to Ananias, and then comforts his fears. He says:

Acts 9:15-16 … Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for My name’s sake.

Had Ananias not done as Jesus decreed, I am sure that the Lord would have chosen another. But what if no one would go to Saul? What if every Christian said, “He’s just TOO BAD to be saved”? There is no one too bad that Christ will not save them. If we would pray, and seek His face, He will save.

As I read this text it occurred to me that Jesus includes us in His glorious plan of salvation as we pray. Because Ananias was a praying man, Jesus used him to reach out to Saul. Saved by Grace, Saul became truly a praying man. Once Ananias came to Saul, we read that he put his hands on Saul and said:

Acts 9:17 … Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

God used prayer and obedience to reach Saul. The enemy of Christianity “preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God” (vs 20). God can use those who pray. I want to end with these words from C.H. Spurgeon:

“Urge the people to more prayer. Have a prayer meeting, even if you have it all to yourself. And if you are asked how many were present, you can say, “Four.” “Four! how so?” “Why, there was myself, and God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, and we have had a rich and real communion together.” We must have an outpouring of real devotion or else what is to become of many of our churches? Oh! may God awaken us all and stir us up to pray, for when we pray, we shall be victorious. I should like to take you, this morning, as Samson did the foxes, tie the firebrands of prayer to you, and send you in among the shocks of corn till you burn the whole up. I should like to make a conflagration by my words and set all the churches on fire till the whole has smoked like a sacrifice to God’s throne. If you pray, you have proof that you are a Christian. The less you pray, the less reason have you to believe your Christianity. And if you have neglected to pray altogether, then you have ceased to breathe and you may be afraid that you never did breathe at all.”

If the Church will continue in America, we must come away from cultural Christianity and return to prayer. Mere motion will no longer suffice. We need the power of God if we are going to lead souls to Christ. My prayer is that God will draw us as His Church into His plan fore His glory.

Posted in Acts, prayer, Praying Like Jesus Series, Sermons Preached | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

God Will Bring Thee Into Judgment

Posted on January 10, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Sora Shimazaki: https://www.pexels.com/photo/judges-desk-with-gavel-and-scales-5669619/

Please turn with me in your Bibles to Ecclesiastes chapter 12.

No matter how old you get to be before you pass from this life, this life always seems too short a time. The Apostle Paul said in:

Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, {outside of God’s Kingdom}redeeming the time.

Life is so very short. We think it to be long, but the older I get, the faster the years seem to go. The Apostle realized – as James said:

James 4:14 … what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

In the Book of Ecclesiastes we read the words of the wisest man who ever lived outside of Jesus Christ, a man named Solomon.

Solomon asked God to give him “wisdom” so that he might rule Israel. God told Solomon (1 Kings 3:12):

“I have given you a wise and understanding heart. There was never anyone like you before, nor shall there be anyone like you after you are gone”.

That’s a fantastic promise! We think people like the late Steve Jobs were genius’, or the current Bill Gates. They are nothing compared to Solomon. Solomon was given divine wisdom and divine knowledge. If we should listen to anybody, we should listen to Solomon. Solomon looked back over his life, and offers words of wisdom to those who will hear. But having wisdom doesn’t mean you will act wisely. As Solomon writes, he tells us something that he wished someone had told him when he was younger.

Every Soul Will Be Judged By Its Owner

I said we’d start in Ecclesiastes 12, but the chapter divisions in our Bibles is a man made thing. The original scripture has no chapters or verses. The first Bibles to include verse numbers were printed in 1555 AD. We’ll start our context at :

Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

Young people often wander off into foolishness. If you live to be an old person (like myself), you will look back over your life and wish there were certain things you had done, and certain things that you did not do. Life is a gift from God. The life you have – right now – is God’s gift.

In our world today people say, “It’s MY body, and I’ll do what I want to do”. It may be your body, but YOU belong to God. God said:

Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

It is human arrogance that makes us think that we “own” ourselves. I have heard tell of people who “sold their souls to the devil”. That is but a figment of the imagination.

Illustrate: If I were to walk outside and put a “for sale” sign on your car, would YOU let me get away with it? No, you would not. I don’t own your car, and I can’t legally sell your car. Only YOU can as the owner. God is the Author of life. God is the OWNER of every soul.
1 God owns the CHRISTIAN’S Soul:

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

God bought your salvation with the Blood of His dear Son. You were REDEEMED from damnation and darkness to walk in the light of Christ. Peter said:

1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain {way of life} received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Christian, God paid for your salvation. He purchased you out of hell – a place you richly deserved and still deserve – by putting YOUR punishment on HIS Son. Because God has done this for you, and you have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the Scripture says:

1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that YOU are God’s Temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

You, dear Christian, are God’s Church. You are “members of Christ” (1 Corinthians 6:15-16). God saved us so that He could:

Titus 2:14 … redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

The Christian is saved, not so that we can live for ourselves, but that we can live for Christ. Again,

2 Corinthians 5:15 {Jesus} died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Your life is a stewardship from God, dear Christian.

When our Lord Jesus died on the Cross of Calvary, what did the God-Man, our Messiah, say? Did His soul return to the dust, to the grave? No, but Jesus said:

Luke 23:46 (ESV) … Father, into YOUR hands I commit MY Spirit …

And Stephen, that precious Martyr Stephen we spoke of this morning, as he died he cried out:

Acts 7:59 (ESV) … Lord Jesus, receive my spirit


2 God owns the UNBELIEVER’S Soul:

But what of the unbeliever? Our God is the One Who …

Isaiah 42:5 … created the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein

God is the Giver of Life. When a Christian receives Christ as Lord and Savior, possession of their soul does not transfer from Satan to God. If that were true, there would be NO HELL – and the Bible makes it plain that THERE IS A HELL.

If Satan owns a soul, then God has NO RIGHT to throw that soul into hell. God would be stealing from Satan if He took what Satan owned. All souls – even the atheist – belong to God.

When an unbeliever or a believer dies, the soul returns to God Who gave it. Solomon says this in a very poetic way:

Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

And the Prophet Zechariah says:

Zechariah 12:1 (ESV) … Thus declares the Lord, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him:

The reason that God made unlawfully taking a human life a CAPITAL OFFENSE (Genesis 9:6; Numbers 35:30-34) is because all life belongs to God. No one has a right to destroy that which God has created BUT God. God will judge all souls. God will judge His Children, those saved by faith in Christ.

God Will Judge His Born Again CHILDREN

Solomon said – let’s read it again:

Ecclesiastes 11:10-12:1 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and PUT AWAY EVIL from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. 1 REMEMBER NOW THY CREATOR in the days of thy youth…

God will judge ALL souls. The Apostle said:

Romans 2:6-8 (ESV) … {God} will render to each one according to his works:

to those {Saved} who by patience in well-doing seek for glory

and honor and immortality, {God} will give eternal life;

BUT for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth,

but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

Let’s talk of the SAVED first. God saved you and left you on this earth for a purpose. Work for God!

The saved will have their works examined at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Our souls are saved from hell, because we honored God by receiving Christ as Lord and Savior. We shine for Jesus as lights in this present darkness. If you are saved, God has changed your heart. He has changed your WANT TO. The Bible says:

1 Corinthians 3:23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

The Judgment Seat of Christ is a judgment where God examines how we have used our stewardship, our lives. Our lives belong to Him. Did we honor Him? The Apostle said:

1 Corinthians 3:8-15 every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The “fire” at the Judgment Seat of Christ will test the works we did for the Lord. When Paul explained this to the Corinthian Church, they refused to process it. So God caused him to write to them a second time saying:

2 Corinthians 5:9-11 Wherefore we labor., that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

You, dear Christian, belong to God. Your life is a stewardship from God. One day we shall stand in front of Him and have our stewardship judged. Did you act as the

Matthew 5:14 … light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

Did you …

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

God will reward that. Solomon reminds us to serve God while we can.

I love the way that Solomon talks of advancing age.

Ecclesiastes 12:1-2 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

This is so amusing! As we get older, “evil days”, the Hebrew raʿ, “grievous” or “sad” days come. No one lives forever. Our bodies are designed to return to dust, and our souls to the Lord Who made us. Inside of me right now is a sixteen year old boy stuck in the body of a 600 year old man! We can’t do what we used to do. As we we get older, our EYES get weaker. The “the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars” become “darkened” to us. What else happens as we age.

Ecclesiastes 12:3-5 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble,
{your ARMS get weak}
and the strong men shall bow themselves,
{your LEGS, the STRONG MEN get weak}
and the grinders cease because they are few,
{your teeth fall out}
and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
{your EYES go dim}
4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;
{you can’t stand LOUD noises. A bird tweet wakes you up}
5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high,
{you don’t want to stand on a ladder}
and fears shall be in the way,
{and you get more and more worried and fearful}
and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden,
{you used to be able to lift much, but now a grasshopper is too much}
and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

We who are saved should take care to serve the Lord while we can. There will come a day when our strength will wear out, and we will not be able to serve the Lord. Serve Him while you can, for your works will be judged.

But what of the LOST?

God Will ALSO Judge His Salvation Rejecting CREATION

My time is running out. Let’s look at the last two verses:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

To those who have rejected the Messiah, who will not honor God nor acknowledge His great gift of life, to these another judgment comes. This is a Great White Throne Judgment, a place where God will judge all Christ rejecting souls.

The person who has rejected Christ and lived without regard to their Creator, is a person who has robbed the Almighty. This Throne does not judge WORKS, but judges SOULS.

Revelation 20:11-15 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

There is no redemption, no hope for those who leave this life without Christ. You may rob God of His rightful possession while you walk this earth. You may march, and scream “My Body, My Life” as you shed the blood of the innocent. You may reject God’s design in creation. You may be hateful. You might even get away with murder, the taking of innocent life, while you are on this earth.

But Judgment Day is coming.

The soul will return to God. If you have not given yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ, if you have not received Him by faith, then you have no hope. Your next stop is judgment, and fire that will not destroy but trap. God is holy, and He will bring every work into judgment. What should you do to “work the works of God”? You should do as Jesus said:

John 6:29 … This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

May God lead you to Christ’s side this very day. Amen and Amen!

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Keep Your Eyes On The Lord

Posted on January 6, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/human-standing-beside-crucifix-statue-on-mountain-415571/

The Psalms (called the Hebrew Hymnbook) is the longest book in the Bible. There are 150 Psalms, or songs. The Psalms are divided into 5 books that focus on God and His glory. One source suggests that the divisions be regarded as:

Psalm 1-41 Book 1 – God Beside Us
Psalm 42-72 Book 2 – God Before Us
Psalm 73-89 Book 3 – God All Around Us
Psalm 90-106 Book 4 – God Above Us
Psalm 107-150 Book 5 – God Among Us

Tonight we’ll be in Psalm 73, the first Psalm in Book 3, “God is All Around Us”. This Psalm was written by Asaph, one of the Choir Directors under King David:

1 Chronicles 25:1 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals …

The Psalm Begins With An Honest Testimony From Asaph

Psalm 73:1-2 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

Asaph begins by remembering how good God has been to His people. He says that “God is good to Israel”, but he do9esn’t limit the goodness of God to just Israel. God is good to those who have a “clean heart”. How do you get a “clean heart”? It is by turning to God in faith. King David said:

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a CLEAN HEART, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Jesus told us that the evil that is done among humans comes from the unregenerate or unsaved heart. What is in the heart is shown by the hand. Jesus said:

Mark 7:21-23 … from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

When we come to God in faith He changes our hearts. Being led of the Holy Spirit to repent and rest in Him, God washes away our sin and gives us a new heart. God does as He promised in Ezekiel 11:19 and Ezekiel 36:25-27,

“I will give you a new heart, and a new Spirit will I put in you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and be careful to obey My rules.”

The Bible tells us that those who will go to Heaven one day are those whose hearts are being cleansed by God now on the earth!

Psalm 24:3-4 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in His holy place? {Heaven} He who has CLEAN HANDS and a PURE HEART, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully.

Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount:

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

It is God Who purifies the heart of a person. When we REPENT, and turn to HIM and HIM ALONE, God moves on our lives and cleanses our hearts. This heart cleansing does not stop after salvation, but continues throughout our lives. God does not do this just for Israel, but He does it for any who believe on Him. When the early Church began to see Gentiles come to Christ (for the Church started out primarily Jewish), the Bible tells us that the Pharisees infiltrated the Church and demanded that the Gentiles be circumcised and made to keep the ceremonial laws of Israel (Acts 15:5). The Apostle Peter stood against this, saying:

Acts 15:7-9 (ESV) … “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and {God} made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

It is God that cleanses the heart. It is God that saves by Grace when we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. However clean our hearts might be, however, we must work with God to keep our hearts cleansed. Asaph brings this out. Though he speaks of the goodness of God to those “of a clean heart”, Asaph goes on to say:

Psalm 73:2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

Asaph is doing what every believer should do. He is examining his faith in the light of the goodness of God. Asaph did not completely fall away from God, but he was starting to fall. He uses words like “ALMOST” (mᵊʿaṭ, a little bit) and “WELL NIGH” (‘în, just about)What caused this calamity?

Psalm 73:3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Asaph began to look at the lavish lifestyles of the lost, the “foolish”. The Scripture says, “the FOOL hath said in their HEARTS, there is NO GOD” (Psalm 14:1; 53:1). When the Bible uses the word “FOOL” it is always in reference to a lost person, a person with a corrupted heart. As humans, we divide people up by RACE and NATIONALITY. We speak of “red and yellow, black, brown or white”. But God divides people by their hearts. There are those SAVED BY FAITH or those with hearts being made pure, and those who REJECT SALVATION or those who hold onto their wicked hearts.

God looks at the INSIDE. Asaph started looking at the OUTSIDE, at what things the lost had – and he began to envy them.

Psalm 73:4-6 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

Note first “there are no bands in their death”. The word “” is the Hebrew chartsubbâh, {pronounced khar-tsoob-baw’}, meaning “fetters, chains, something which binds”. The wealthy lost many times come to death with minimal pain, minimal suffering. I have known of members who left this life – good Christians – whose family had to pay extensive medical and funeral expenses, often to the loss of the entire estate. The wicked live every day without a thought of God. They go about drugged up on Valium, liquor, or some other narcotic. They are not chained in their deaths, nor do they suffer as others do in this life. What chains do the wealthy wicked have? “Pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment”.

Psalm 73:7-9 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

These people mock God’s people and mock God. In their wickedness they believe themselves to be gods. I heard a comedian the other day mock Christianity, saying that it is insane to believe that a virgin had a Child Who grew up to walk on water. As he said this, the audience laughed and hooted, having a great time. The wicked mock God and mock the Gospel. They mock the standards that God has set for morality, calling them outdated and unwarranted. Asaph wonders where God is while these people do these things. If God is true, then why does He allow this?

Psalm 73:10-12 Therefore His people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

On top of all that the wicked get away with, they also negatively impact God’s people. Though God’s people get a full cup, it is “wrung out to them”. The righteous receive little, but the unrighteous seem to prosper. The wicked asks, “How doth God know?”. The Jewish Study Bible notes:

““There was no atheism in ancient times, only the notion that God lacked knowledge and power” (cf. Ps. 10:4,11,13; 94:7; and similar phrases in Ps. 59:7; 64:5; Isa. 29:15; Ezek. 8:12).”

They believe that – IF there is a God – He is ignorant of what is going on, or asleep at the helm. As Asaph looks at the life of the wicked, he begins to think that he would be better off on “the other team”. He says:

Psalm 73:13-16 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. 15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. 16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me…

Comparing his life with the life of the wicked, outwardly Asaph begins to wonder if he has done right with his life. He begins to drift in his faith. Rather than be light, he becomes part of the darkness. Asaph begins to lose his divine perspective when he remembers,

The Strength Of The Believer Is Only Maintained By
Uniting With God In His Sanctuaries

Psalm 73:17-18 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

The faith of the believer is only maintained by going “into the sanctuary of God”. The word translated “sanctuary” is the Hebrew miqdāš, which means “the holy places”. A “sanctuary” is both a place and a time when you get away from the things of this world to focus on God. Christians drift from a right relationship with God and into the darkness when they do not spend time in the Tabernacle, Temple, or Church. The professing Christian that spends great amounts of time in social media and worldliness and little time in prayer or God’s Word will soon find themselves acting like unbelievers.

As Asaph got back into a right relationship with God, he realized that these rich wicked people he admired were “in slippery places”. Though they may have much now, they have little to look forward to in eternity. The wicked rich are like those Jesus spoke of in Luke 16, the Rich Man and Lazarus. Though the Rich Man had fine clothing and the best housing and nourishment anyone could have, and though Lazarus had nothing but the crumbs the dogs didn’t eat, what happened after death? Jesus said:

Luke 16:22-23 (ESV) The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in {HELL}, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

Though Lazarus lived a lonely life, in death he was heralded into Heaven by the angels. The rich man who had a full and wicked life in death died alone. In hell, he had no companionship, nor and compassion. Asaph says of these wicked ones:

Psalm 73:19-20 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

Their life, which seemed so wonderful, “in a moment” dissolved into terror. In this life they were made in the image of God, but would have nothing to do with God. In the next life God “despise(s) their image”, their pridefulness.

Dear ones, it is so necessary that we who belong to God by faith in Christ continue in doing that which feeds our souls. We can live without television. We can live without social media. We can live without worshiping the gods and goddesses of this world. But we cannot live without God.

The secret of happiness is not a large bank account or a large home or even great health. The secret of happiness is to know God, and to know that He is your Father, your Savior, your Help and guide.

When Asaph compared his life to the life of the lost world, he began to cherish what they had. Then he realized what they have is NOTHING. Asaph repented:

Psalm 73:21-22 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

Asaph states that “I was as a beast before thee”. Animals have no moral sense. Humans only are created in the image and likeness of God (see Genesis 1:26-27), and only humans have a moral sense or a conscience. The farther we wander from God, the more brutish and animal like we become. Our Lord Jesus told us:

Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV) “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

God wants us as focused on Him as He is on us. What you have been given, dear Christian, are things that you should be using to serve the Lord Who saved you, who laid down His life for you. Jesus laid His life down for us:

John 15:13-14 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (14) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Jesus Christ laid down His life for us on Calvary, and He expects us to lay down our lives for Him.

If you are saved – and I pray that you are – you are only saved because you surrendered all of your life to God.

There came a point in your earthly existence when you surrendered all idols, all treasures, all things and came to the Lord on bent knee. On that day you entered into a growing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. God laid His life down for you when He was nailed to that Cross. If you are His friend, if you find that God is your desire, then you must lay down your life for Him daily.

God Allows Hard Things In Our Lives To Grow Our Faith,
To Make Us More Like Jesus

Psalm 73:23-26 Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

The power of the believer is that God is with us – not just now, but into eternity. Each and every one of us are mortal, frail, and subject to fail. The joy of salvation is not found in the stuff that we have, but in the constant Companionship of God. As Asaph thought upon this, his love for God began to be greater than his love for any one else. “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” As humans, our bodies fail. Our flesh weakens, and our physical hearts suffer deprivation. These bodies will not exist forever. However, “God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever”.

The commentator Matthew Henry said: “…. Those who have God for their Inheritance and their Portion for ever, ought to look with holy contempt and indifference upon the possessions of this world. …”

What we have in God is greater than anything else. As the Apostle Paul began to look at his infirmities and failures, he like Asaph went to God in prayer. God spoke to Paul as he spoke to Asaph, saying:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 … My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

The weaker the Christian is, the closer to God we need to get. Our power is in God. Our strength is in surrender to Him. We end with:

Psalm 73:27-28 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

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Wise Men Look For The True King

Posted on January 1, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Ron Lach : https://www.pexels.com/photo/ornamental-iconostasis-in-orthodox-church-10618214/

Matthew 2:1-2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

“Now WHEN”

Our text starts with

Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem

WHEN was Jesus born? When we celebrate the holiday we call “Christmas”, we are celebrating the unique birth of the Son of God. First off, we do not know exactly when Jesus Christ was born. The Christian History Institute notes:

“{Church Pastor} Hippolytus, writing around 200, set 25 December AD 8 as Christ’s birthday, but he mentioned no celebration. Early in the third century, {Pastors} Africanus and Evodius both gave 25 December {as His birthday}. Apparently the date {of December 25th} was already an old tradition … Around AD 350, {Roman Catholic} Pope Julius I declared December 25 the official date for Christmas.”

December 25th is a tradition the that most of the Church follows. I believe this is a good tradition. America needs more of Jesus, not less. When we celebrate Christmas as Christians, we are not celebrating the birth of Jesus as we might celebrate your birthday or my birthday.

What we are celebrating at Christ is called “The Incarnation”

The word “Incarnation” speaks to “when the Holy Son of God became Perfect Human”. Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, is like no other Man who has ever lived. The Apostles believed that Jesus was – prior to His birth – co-equal and co-eternal with the Godhead. The Scripture says:

John 1:1, 14 (ESV) … In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. … 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Colossians 2:6, 9 (ESV) Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, … 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily

That Baby in the Manger that we celebrate is “JESUS, Who shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus is “Emmanuel, which means, God with us” (Matthew 1:23). This is no ordinary man. Jesus is God become Man. He is the One Whom the Holy Spirit brought to us through a virgin named Mary. He was “Mary’s firstborn Son, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger” (Luke 2:7).

When the Wise Men came looking for Jesus, it was not on the same night that He was born. There are a few clues to this in our focal text.

Matthew 2:11 … when they {the Wise Men} were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother

When the shepherds came into the Manger, they saw a BABE {Greek βρέφος brephos} (see Luke 2:12), an infant. The Wise Men came into a HOUSE, not a manger. Jesus was laid in a manger the night He was incarnate. The Wise Men saw the “young child” {Greek παιδίον paidion, little boy}. These words tell us that an indeterminate amount of time has passed between the shepherds visit and that of the Wise Men. How much time passed?

The Timeline: After Jesus the Messiah was born in Bethlehem as prophesied in Micah 5:2 & Jeremiah 23:5, Mary and Joseph did not immediately return home to Nazareth. They stayed in Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem in the first place because Caesar ordered all to go to their ancestral homes to be counted (Luke 2:1-4). Mary and Joseph stayed in Bethlehem after the census. Why? Because of the Law of God. The Bible says:

Leviticus 12:2-4 … If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. 3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.

The Temple is in Jerusalem, about 7 miles from Bethlehem, whereas Nazareth is about 91 miles away.

A healthy man could walk from Jerusalem to Bethlehem in about 3 hours, whereas a trip to Nazareth would take about 30 hours, ten times as long. As Mary and Joseph wanted to keep the Law of God, it made perfect sense that they stay in Bethlehem until the Law was fulfilled. Jesus is “the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29-32). Mary and Joseph were following God’s leadership, so that …

Galatians 4:4-5 when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Mary was – according to the Law – unclean for forty days following the birth of Christ. Jesus was to be circumcised on the eighth day following His birth, or He would have been – under the Law – “cut off” from Israel (Genesis 17:14). Then after Jesus was circumcised, Mary and Joseph stayed in Bethlehem for another 33 days until she could return to the Temple …

Leviticus 12:6 … when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest

The fact that Jesus is God Incarnate does not erase the Law of God. Mary and Joseph still had to do this. We are told:

Luke 2:21-24 when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

We are told in Luke 2:39 that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus did not return to Nazareth until they fulfilled “all things according to the Law of the Lord”. The Wise Men visited Jesus sometime after the 40 days of Mary’s purification according to the Law of God.

Who Were These “Wise Men”?

Matthew 2:1-2 … there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?

The Bible tells us that these Wise Men are coming “from the east to Jerusalem”. Who exactly are these “wise men”? To answer that, we need to look at Israel’s history.

Israel’s history begins with a man named Abraham. God promised Abraham that – if Abraham would follow God as KING – that God would create a nation from his seed. God said:

Genesis 12:1-2 … Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation

“Follow Me, Abraham. Put Me first. If you do, I will cause you who is now childless to have a child, and eventually become a nation”. God promised Abraham a nation. This is Israel, or what would be Israel. But God also told Abraham:

Genesis 12:3 … in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

From a sterile man and a barren woman God would not only create a nation (Israel), but would bless ALL the nations of this earth
(the coming of the Messiah).

Abraham followed God, and God gave him a son Isaac. God keeps His promises. Isaac has children, one of which is Jacob. God saves Jacob, and saving Jacob, changes his name to Israel. Now Israel has 12 children. Those 12 children create twelve tribes. These twelve tribes grow. Then God tells Israel that one of the Tribes, Judah, is where the King of Israel will come:

Genesis 49:10 The scepter {the Throne} shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

God the King of Israel declared that all rulers would come from Judah until the Messiah or Shiloh came. Shiloh or the Messiah would come from Judah. So let’s put it this way.

God told Abraham – and Israel – “I am your King. If you have a human King, he shall come from Judah. That human King shall rule until Messiah comes out of Judah. The Messiah is God.”

For the longest time Israel had none other than GOD as their King. And God as King chose different people to lead His nation. God chose …

Moses from the tribe of Levi (the Priests), then
Joshua from the tribe of Ephraim. Soon God called
the Judges Othniel from the tribe of Judah,
Ehud from the tribe of Benjamin,
Gideon from the tribe of Manasseh,
Samson from the tribe of Dan,
Tola from the tribe of Issachar,
and Ibzan from the tribe of Judah.

God was King, and He established rulers over Israel. But then one day Israel decided they wanted to be like every other nation. They demanded of the Prophet Samuel:

“We want a king like all the other nations have. Give us a king to lead us!”
(1 Samuel 8:1-6, paraphrased summary)

So God let Israel choose a King. Did Israel do what God said? Did they choose a King from Judah? No. Israel chose Saul, who was from the Tribe of Benjamin. Saul would not listen to God. God in grace allowed him to reign 40 years, but GOD chose Saul’s successor. God sent Samuel to the home of Jesse, for He said:

Acts 13:22 … I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.

David was from the tribe of Judah. David was not perfect. In fact, David committed terrible sins against God and man. He took Bathsheba, another man’s wife, and then murdered Uriah her husband (2 Samuel 12:10). God punished David for his sins. But David did love the Lord. David wanted to build a Temple for God, but the Lord told him that this would be Solomon his son’s duty. God told David:

2 Samuel 7:12-13 … {David} I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

In this “Davidic Covenant” God promised that the Messiah would come from David’s lineage. The Messiah must come from the line of Judah. The Messiah must come from the line of David.

From the time God made His promise to David, Israel and her kings kept drifting away from God. When God is not your King you never know what a mess you will get into.

In 606 A.D. Babylon conquered Israel, and carried captive the Prophet Daniel and his friends to that pagan land. Daniel loves the Lord. When he is told to pray only to the king of Babylon Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel refuses to do so. Daniel will not bow his knee to any but the King of Heaven. Daniel kept his eyes on God. He prayed daily at an open window that faced Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10-12) even though he was forbidden to do this. Daniel’s King was God! Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den (Daniel 6:16). The next morning Daniel told King Darius:

Daniel 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

When you follow God as King, He protects His children. Daniel was not only saved from the lion’s appetites, but he was elevated through the reigns of Babylon and Persia (Daniel 6:28) to be Chief of the Wise Men.

As Chief of the Wise Men (Daniel 2:48), Daniel taught them of the coming of the Messiah. God gave him a vision which is recorded in:

Daniel 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

These Wise Men or Astrologers came looking for not just any King. Daniel planted a seed by telling his Wise Men about the Messiah. These men had been watching the sky for a sign from God since the days of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27), well over 400 years. These men came to see the Messiah, the King of Heaven.

Wise Men (And Women) Look For The True King

Matthew 2:2 … we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

They came to Jerusalem because this is the capital city of Israel. If the Messiah – the true King of the Jews was anywhere, He would be in Jerusalem. Did they find the Messiah in Jerusalem? No, because He was in Bethlehem. Why was the Messiah in Bethlehem? We read:

Matthew 2:3-6 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Herod was the “Acting King” of Israel, but he was not even a Jew. Herod was an Idumean, a descendant of Esau, not Jacob. He was not supposed to be on the throne, but was appointed by Caesar to fill the position. And Herod wanted to keep his stolen throne. So he called his advisors, asking them “where Christ should be born”. He knew exactly what he was asking. When you say “Christ” you are saying “Messiah” or “God with us”. His advisors quoted

Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

Herod sends the Wise Men to Bethlehem, but encourages them to return when they find the Messiah …

Matthew 2:8 … that I may come and worship him also.

Herod did not want to “worship” Jesus the Messiah. Herod would do whatever it took to keep his unlawful throne – even to kill the Messiah. Men have been trying to kill God for years. The German Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche in 1884 declared that “God remains dead. And we have killed him”. We have tried to re-invent God, to modify God, to make ourselves Gods, and when all else fails we have tried to kill God.

Just as Adam did, Herod made himself king on the throne of life. Adam sinned and hid himself from God. Herod sinned, and plotted to kill God. Neither succeeded in their fool’s errand.

The Wise Men left the false king’s palace, and went to where the Messiah was enthroned. We read:

Matthew 2:9-11 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him

These men found the Messiah. I often wonder why the Wise Men stopped in Jerusalem rather than just continue to follow the star in the first place. The star was leading them where they needed to go. I suspect it is because God wanted the Wise Men – and us – to see the difference between a false king and the True King.

The Wise Men did not WORSHIP the false king Herod.
He was on a glittering throne.
But like a whited tomb, there was nothing worthy of worship there.
The Wise Men brought no gifts to the false king Herod.
It would be a waste of their resources.
Instead these men followed the Light of God
To where Jesus was, and there they WORSHIPED!

Jesus is worthy of worship! We read:

Matthew 2:11 … when {the Wise Men} had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

To Herod the false king they gave nothing. But to Jesus Christ, the Messiah of God, they first gave their hearts. Then they gave three gifts worthy of the Messiah. They gave “gold, and frankincense and myrrh”. What are the significance of these gifts?

Gold: The word “GOLD” is found 419 times in the Bible. Gold has been treasured by man since the beginning of time. Eden was a place where not only Adam and Eve were, but it was a place of gold (see Genesis 2:11-12). Abraham was “very rich in gold” (Genesis 13:2). When Pharaoh honored Joseph, he put “a gold chain about his neck” (Genesis 41:42). When Israel was directed to make the Ark of the Covenant, it was “overlaid with Gold” (Exodus 25:10-17). The Wise Men gave gold to the Messiah because God is worth more than ANYTHING else we might seek. Jesus is worthy of worship. He is the True King of Heaven. When John the Revelator looked into Heaven, we read that Jesus Christ …

Revelation 5:5 … the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David …

Is designated the Judge and Ruler of all the earth. Our Jesus is THE Worthy King! He is worth more than Gold!

Frankincense: Frankincense would be a strange gift to give a normal human child, but Jesus is no normal human Child. Frankincense was burned by the priests as a smoke offering to God (see Exodus 30:34). It symbolized holiness and righteousness. Jesus Christ as the Messiah is not only the KING of Heaven and the KING of His people, but Jesus is our HIGH PRIEST. The Bible says:

Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus represents His people before God our Father. He is the One Mediator between God and Man (1 Timothy 2:5). Jesus saves His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21; Acts 26:18).

Myrrh: But now we come to the strangest of gifts. When the Jews buried a body, they prepared it beforehand by using strips of cloth and a paste made with aloe and “myrrh”. Myrrh could also be mixed with wine as a drug given to convicts about to be crucified. The myrrh poisoned wine stupefied the crucified, making their crucifixion easier to endure. On the day that our Lord Jesus was crucified, He was offered “gall” which is the poisoned mixture of wine and myrrh. Jesus refused to take it (see Mark 15:23; Matthew 27:34). Jesus took the full weight of our sin on Himself when He went to the Cross of Calvary. It was on that horrid Cross that our Savior died. After His death, the Bible says:

John 19:39-41 there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

Jesus is Heaven’s King, the Messiah sent to save us from our sins. Jesus was slain, and by His Blood redeems us to God, making us Children of God (Revelation 5:9-10). Herod rejected Christ, choosing to reign in his own power – and his reign brought death. But to those who have trusted in Christ – you are truly Wise. You are Wise Men and Women who believe in and follow Him. Walking in the light with Jesus, His Blood cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). Do you know Him? Do you know my Jesus. Have you received Him as Lord and Savior? If so, we will be together – forever. If not, I beg you, call on His Name and be saved. Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Amen and Amen.

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Consider Your Ways

Posted on January 1, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Elijah O’Donnell: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-standing-by-chair-with-head-down-5303044/

I’m going to throw a curve at you this New Year’s Day of 2023. I never thought I’d hit 2023 – did you? I’m going to ask you to turn in your Bibles to Haggai chapter 1. Now, if you have to turn to the front of your Bibles and look at the Table of Contents, don’t feel bad. I had to do the same thing. Haggai comes directly after Zephaniah, and directly before Zechariah. That didn’t help, did it? Use your Table of Contents.

In Haggai our God is speaking to His people Israel. The nation has fallen prey to first the Philistines, then to the Babylonians, and finally to the Medo-Persians. God allowed Israel to go into a 70 year captivity because – as His people – they ignored God and His direction. God does not force anyone to follow Him. He is longsuffering and merciful. But God knows what is best, and calls us to follow Him. God speaks to His people. Let’s read:

Haggai 1:1-7 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, 2 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built. 3 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled {sāp̄an, roofed} houses, and this house lie waste? 5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

Regardless Of Testament, God Wants To Be First In Our Lives

Most Christians are confused when they come to the Old Testament. They think that the Old Testament has only to do with Israel and the Jews, and the New Testament only deals with the Church. The reality is that both Old and New Testaments are very similar. When Jesus was asked the question:

Matthew 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

The one asking was referencing the Old Testament Law and wanted to know what the number one commandment was. Jesus did not hesitate, but replied:

Matthew 22:37-38 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment.

The TOP commandment in the Law is that we who believe in God are to love Him with our ALL. We know this because Jesus said it. We know it because God gave it to Moses on Mount Sinai. The first three of the Ten Commandments are:

Exodus 20:3 You shall have NO OTHER GODS before Me. (that’s #1)

Exodus 20:4 You shall not make anything to bow down to or serve. Serve only God (that’s #2)

Exodus 20:7 You shall not take My name in vain (that’s #3)

This is Old Testament. God is to be number one in your life if you believe in Him. Does this only apply to the Jews? No!

John told the Church:

1 John 5:2-5 (ESV) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

We are commanded to LOVE GOD. Now we need to understand what God means by LOVE. When we speak of LOVE in the world, we are generally referring to EMOTION and PASSION. When we speak of LOVE, it starts with a warm, fuzzy feeling, and moves outward from there. This is not how the Bible defines love. John told us:

this is the love of God, that we
keep his commandments

To LOVE GOD is to DO what He says. We are commanded to love God with our all, whether in the Old or New Testaments. Loving God means DOING what He says. John goes on to say:

And his commandments are not burdensome

That’s absolutely true. You see, God is the Creator. When we do what God tells us to do, then we are doing what’s best FOR OURSELVES. When we OBEY God, His commands are not those of some Heavenly Tyrant. God knows the end from the beginning, and everything in between. When we OBEY God, we are actually – selfishly – doing what’s best for us.

Israel has disobeyed God. They have not loved God with their all, but have made God second, third, or even last place in their lives. They have put themselves FIRST. When God gave Israel the command to let the land rest every 7 years (the Sabbatical Year), God was doing this to bless His people. The land needs to rest. But Israel ignored the Word of God, and ignored His commands.

When we ignore God’s commands, we put ourselves at risk!

God Sent Israel Back To The Land For A Purpose

As Israel drifted from God, she suffered under the Philistines, then under Babylon, and at this writing under Persia. And yet, God in His Grace is merciful. God allows Israel to return to Jerusalem under the decree of Cyrus, King of Persia. God raised up Zerubbabel, a descendant of the line of King David, to the position of Governor of Israel. Again, this was unheard of. The Persians rarely allowed the conquered any freedom of government. Yet God in His Grace was still blessing His people, though they had wandered far away from Him. God will make a way.

When Israel returns to Jerusalem, they come to the Temple and rebuild the altar, while they begin to once more offer sacrifices. Two years pass and Israel lays the foundation to rebuild the Temple. But then trials happen.

Trials happen to all of us. When Jesus spoke of trials, He said:

Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV) “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

If you love Jesus, you do what Jesus says. If you love God, you do what God says. Jesus is God the Son. He said, “If you love Me and do as I say, when the storms of life come your house will not fall”. The wind and the rains come to every life, whether saved or unsaved.

Salvation is by faith in Christ, but blessing ALWAYS
comes by loving God, putting God first.

When you walk with God in love, He will bless you, even in the trying times. He promises those who love Him:

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

And again,

Deuteronomy 7:9 … the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments

Deuteronomy 30:16 … I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land

Israel works on the Temple for a while, but when trials come they get off course. They back away from obeying God. Their reason for being in the Promised Land is to rebuild the Temple. But 14 years pass and, as nothing happens, people get used to the nothing. So God raises up Haggai AND Zechariah the Prophets. This is recorded in

Ezra 5:1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.

What does God tell His people?

Haggai 1:2 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.

Let’s break the Prophecy down. God loves His people. God loves you. I hope you know that. But notice how God addresses His people. He does not address them as Shepherd:

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my SHEPHERD, I shall not want

Nor does He address them as Father nor even as the Potter:

Isaiah 64:8 O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our Potter …

But God addresses Israel as “Lord of hosts”, the Commander of the Armies of Heaven. As Commander of the Armies, God can protect, or He can chastise. He speaks to the people,

This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built

The entire reason that Israel has returned to the land is to rebuild God’s Temple. But they have put the Lord’s work on the back burner. Charles Feinberg wrote in his book The Minor Prophets:

“Give God the supreme place in your life”.

This applies to us as God’s people today. Jesus watched how unbelievers lived their lives, struggling and chasing after the pleasures and goods of this world. In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus said:

Matthew 6:31-34 … do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the {unbelieving} Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

We are to put God first even when – or should I say especially when things are not optimum in our lives. When we go through the harsh trials we do not give up and walk away, nor do we turn our backs on Him Who loves us so. What did Jesus say? Was it,

When you feel like it, come follow Me?, or
Lay back in your recliner, and follow Me?

No, but Jesus said:

Matthew 16:24 … If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Three things. We DENY OURSELVES, or put our lives on the back burner. We TAKE UP OUR CROSS. The Cross is full of suffering. But we are not alone. We FOLLOW HIM. We love our God, and cling to Him with all our might. Israel did not do this. God told them:

Haggai 1:3-5Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled {sāp̄an, roofed} houses, and this house lie waste? 5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

Now, God does not need a Temple to live in. When the Apostle stood at Mars Hill he said:

Acts 17:24-25 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

Furthermore, God is not really interested in the sacrifices that Israel would bring to the Temple. God told His people through the Prophet:

Hosea 6:6 I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

God does not need our “stuff”. He does not need our Temples, our Churches, our offerings. What God wants is our HEARTS. When we put our stuff above what we give to God, then our STUFF becomes our GODS.

When God Is Second, We Always Lose Out

Haggai 1:5-7 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

Word Study: Verses 5-7 can be looked at like an Oreo cookie. Verse 5 and 7 is the sweet cookie part, and verse 6 the white filling. God tells Israel – and us – to “consider your ways”. This is the Hebrew Qal Imperative śûm derek, which means

Lay hold of YOUR way of life. Pick it up, and examine it. Insure you are on the right path. Insure you are walking with God.

When we walk in love with God, God walks in love with us. Jesus told us:

John 14:15, 21, 23 If ye love me, keep my commandments. … 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 23 … If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

When God is put first, when you love Him with ALL your heart as Jesus commanded (see Matthew 22:36 … Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind), then God is a very real Presence in your life. Israel blossomed while they kept their eyes – and their hearts – on God. Yet at some point Israel began to forget their love for God their Savior. They forgot God’s warning:

Job 8:11-15 Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water? 12 While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant. 13 Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish. 14 His confidence is severed, and his trust is a spider’s web. 15 He leans against his house, but it does not stand; he lays hold of it, but it does not endure.

A “house” without God cannot stand. A “Israel” without the Spirit of God
becomes weak and powerless.
A “church” or a “Christian” without Christ loses all blessing.
The power of God is in the Presence of God.

Haggai 1:6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages [to put it] into a bag with holes.

Illustrate: I had a young man come to me the other day because of problems he had in his life. As we talked about his problems, I shared how – in my life – I had come through similar situations. What worked in my life was when I stopped striving in my own power, and began to do the things God said do. That’s how you love God. You do the things God said do. The natural desire of the fallen human is to seek out our own solutions, to be “self made”, to suck it up and power on. God told His people “You’re working hard at fixing what ails you, but you’re getting no where. You know why? Because you’ve cut ME out of the process”.

Humanism does thing in human power. Christianity relies on Christ.

Illustrate: I was watching a recording that “CBS Sunday Morning” made this past Sunday. In December 1772 John Newton wrote the song “Amazing Grace”. This past Sunday the song turned 250 years old. As I watched the broadcast, I at first was amazed that CBS would pay tribute to John Newton, much less “Amazing Grace”. But as I watched the broadcast I realized something else.

At NO POINT did the 6 ½ minute broadcast mention “God” or “Jesus” or “Christ”. The writers at CBS sanitized God and Jesus completely out of the tribute. CBS made no mention as to how Jesus transformed the life of John Newton, and turned a slave trader into an abolitionist.

It is NOT “Amazing Grace” if you cut out the love of God.
It is NOT “Amazing Grace” if it is divorced from the Gospel.
It is NOT “Amazing Grace” if it is self help and humanist.

Our God – throughout the Old Testament – by Grace transformed people, blessing their lives when they followed Him.

Abraham went from sterile, to the Father of a Nation.
Moses went from murderer to greatest prophet.
David went from the sheep’s pasture to the throne.
Jacob went from thief to prince of God.
Joseph went from slave to vice-king of Egypt.
Elizabeth went from barren to mother of John the Baptist.
And Mary went from virgin to mother of the Messiah.

Throughout the Gospels Jesus came to the least and the less. God is willing to save any by Grace. But once saved by Grace, we are to follow Him.

Consider Your Ways. Are You Following Jesus?

Jesus told Israel:

Haggai 1:7-8 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. (8) Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.

If you are saved by Grace, you are saved on purpose. You are not here for nothing, but are here for God. Love Him. Serve Him. Put Him first. At the end of his life King Solomon said:

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

If you want to have a better year this year than you did last year, put the Lord first. Follow Him with all your heart. God will bless you when you heed His Word. God will bless our nation when we – His people – live for Him. Let us make 2023 a great year in following the Lord. Amen and Amen.

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Behold Simeon (After Christmas Message)

Posted on December 31, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Jens Johnsson: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-wooden-arrow-signed-66100/

Luke 2:25-26 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. (26) And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

Throughout the Scripture there are times when God gives us a STOP sign. He puts a “behold” (the Greek ἰδού idoú, [pronounced id-oo’]) in the text. When Joseph discovered Mary was with Child, he slept, and

Matthew 1:20 … behold (idoú) the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Gabriel’s appearance demanded a “behold”, and so did what the Angel had to say to Joseph:

Matthew 1:23 … behold (idoú) a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

As the Wise Men came to see Jesus as a young toddler in Bethlehem (I’ll preach on this Sunday) we see three “behold”s in Matthew 2:1, 9 &13. There are “behold”s all through the ministry of Jesus as Jesus was baptized, and taught, and healed, and revealed the truths of God. Now we see a man in the Temple. This man’s name is Simeon. We are not given his family tree, nor his race, nor even his age. We know that he is Jewish because the name Simeon is a Jewish name. His name has an interesting meaning.

Simeon means “He that hears and obeys”.

God throughout Scripture has told us that the way to blessing is to follow the Lord. The Psalmist said:

Psalm 1:1-4 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Life is about the choices we make. We can hear what God says and follow our own path, or we can hear what God says and follow God. God told Israel:

Deuteronomy 28:1-7 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. 3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. 6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 7 The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

Israel was saved from Egypt by God Almighty. Israel walked through the Red Sea as if on dry land. God fed Israel manna from Heaven, and meat in the wilderness. As long as Israel followed the Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of cloud by night, she was blessed. As long as Israel heard and obeyed God’s Voice, she was blessed. But when Israel got off course of following God, she was cursed.

Jesus told us:

Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

This has nothing to do with salvation itself. Salvation is by faith in Christ. One of my favorite texts are:

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by GRACE are ye saved through faith, AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the GIFT OF GOD, NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.

Because Jesus “by the Grace of God tasted death for every man”, taking our sin upon Him, we are saved IF we believe on Him. Someone asked Jesus once,

John 6:28 … What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

Jesus told them,

John 6:29 … THIS is THE WORK OF GOD, that you BELIEVE ON HIM Whom God {the Father} HATH SENT

Salvation is by faith in Christ, But BLESSING is by obedience!

Simeon is in the Temple. Why is he in the Temple? Our text tells us:

Luke 2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

Simeon is clearly a man saved by faith. How do we know this? Because the Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost, if you prefer) is revealing things to him. Jesus told us that when the Holy Spirit came, that He would:

John 16:8-11 … when {The Spirit} is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

The Spirit “REPROVES”, that is the Greek ἐλέγχω elénchō, [pronounced el-eng’-kho], which means “TO CONVICT, TO REBUKE, TO ADMONISH, TO TELL A FAULT”. The Spirit convicts and convinces people that they are sinners in need of the Savior. The Spirit tells people that there is a judgment day coming, and that we all need the righteousness that is only found in Christ. The Holy Spirit comes to, Jesus said:

“when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth”
(John 16:13).

The Holy Spirit will glorify Christ (John 16:14), as Jesus is the only Way unto God. Once we believe on Christ, Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would come and abide with us forever (John 14:16). The Holy Spirit told Simeon, “you will not leave this life until you see the LORD’S CHRIST {Christos, Messiah}. The Spirit did not tell Simeon WHERE the Christ would be, only that he would see the Christ. So Simeon asked himself the question:

“As the Spirit cannot lie, and I will see the Christ before I die,
then where must I be if I expect to see the Christ?”

If you want to be blessed of God, put yourself in the right places to be blessed of God. God can bless you in front of the television, or in the pool hall, or out in the middle of the woods while you are hunting, or in a dance hall. God can do whatever God wants to do. BUT it is more likely that – if you are looking for God – you will find Him:

In the Temple or Church, or
When you are doing good to others and being the light, or
When you are praying and seeking Him, or
When you are reading and studying God’s Word.

Now God can bless you anywhere He wants to bless you. But God is most likely to be in places where light and not darkness are prominent. You do not look for flour in a tea bag

Luke 2:27 And {Simeon} came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law

Simeon is in the right place to see the Christ. He is in the Temple. But what if Mary and Joseph had disobeyed God? Though Mary was the mother of the Christ, she was still subject to the will and Word of God. The Bible says that when a pregnant woman has a male child

Leviticus 12:2-4 … If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. 3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.

Mary was not exempt from the command of God because she bore the Messiah. Mary and Joseph followed the Word of God, and did as God said without question. Mary was considered unclean for 40 days, which is a very interesting number. Forty (40) is often used for testing and judgment.

When God sent the flood it rained for 40 days and 40 nights (Genesis 7:4).
When Moses was on Sinai he was with God 40 days and 40 nights (Exodus 24:18).
Jonah preached “40 days and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4).
Ezekiel laid on his right side 40 days to declare Judah’s sinfulness (Ezekiel 4:6).

Though Mary was having a Special Child, the Son of God, she did not exempt herself from doing what God said in His Word. When we obey God we bless ourselves, and we bless others. Mary was unclean 7 days, and on the eighth day we read:

Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Mary then returned to Bethlehem for another 33 days, remaining unclean for a total of 40 days. When Simeon saw Mary she along with Joseph had returned to the Temple to do as the Law said:

Leviticus 12:6 … when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest

Luke 2:22-24 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

Mary and Joseph obeyed God’s Word, and Simeon obeyed God’s Spirit. Because of this they meet in the Temple, and Simeon was blessed of God.

Love God With All Your Heart

God does not expect us to be perfect, but He does call us to be loyal to Him. Simeon was loyal to God. Simeon loved God. We read in …

Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout

Two words are used to describe Simeon. He is “just”, the Greek δίκαιος díkaios, [pronounced dik’-ah-yos], which means “to be upright in God’s eyes. To walk with God”. The Apostle said in:

Romans 1:17 … The JUST shall live by faith ..

Jesus Christ died for us so that we might be made JUST or RIGHTEOUS in the eyes of God (Romans 5:19). A person is justified by faith in God, by receiving God as our Savior. We are “justified” by receiving Christ as our Savior. But once justified by faith, we walk in the light with our Savior and Lord. The Bible says:

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, [díkaios] and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Jesus gave His life on Calvary to make payment for our sins (1 Peter 3:18) “that He might bring us to God”. Saved, we imitate Jesus.

1 John 2:29 … ye know that {Jesus} is righteous, [díkaios] ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of {God}.

Genuine saving faith changes the focus of the life. It is like the old song, Amazing Grace:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found. WAS BLIND, but NOW I SEE.
Twas Grace that taught me heart to fear, and Grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that faith appear, the hour I first believed.

Simeon was “JUST”. But Simeon was also “devout”. The word “” is the Greek εὐλαβής eulabḗs, [pronounced yoo-lab-ace’], which means “to live carefully so as to bring glory and love to God, to reverence God”. I told this to the men in my Bible class last night:

God does not expect you to be PERFECT.
God expects you to LOVE HIM.
God expects you to GLORIFY Him with your life.

When we sin – and we do – the Bible says:

1 John 2:1-6 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

We are called to love God, and to live so that God and others can see that love. We “keep his commandments” not to BE saved, but BECAUSE we are saved. He is our Father Who loves us so. He is the Son, Who died a horrible death for our sins. He is the Spirit Who indwells us, and never leaves nor forsakes us. Simeon loved God, so he hated sin. He, like the Apostle, said in his heart:

Romans 6:2 … How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Simeon knew that:

Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Simeon was saved by faith in God. He believed in God, looked for Christ, and lived his life carefully for to please the Lord Who love him. We who are saved by faith in Christ do not live as the world. We live as children of God. The Apostle wrote:

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (10) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (11) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

There Is A Wonderful Benefit In Living For The Lord

Simeon first of all got the blessing of holding the Baby Jesus in his arms! What a great blessing that was! But the second great blessing Simeon had was all fear of death was gone. Notice what he says:

Luke 2:28-32 Then took he {Jesus} up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Simeon had absolutely no fear of death. He was ready to meet his Maker. The great Scottish Preacher Alexander Maclaren wrote:

“Simeon not only recognizes, but welcomes the approach of death. ‘Thou lettest Thy servant depart in peace.’ Yes, there speaks a calm voice tranquilly accepting the permission. He feels no agitation, no fluster of any kind, but quietly slips away from his post. And the reason for that peaceful welcome of the end is ‘for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.’ That sight is the reason, first of all, for his being sure that the curfew had rung for him, and that the day’s work was done. But it is also the reason for the peacefulness of his departure. He went ‘in peace …”

Simeon saw the Messiah, and death had lost all it’s power over him. Since God sent His Son to this earth for us, Simeon knew that God would keep His promises. He had the CONFIDENCE that every Christian should have, the confidence the Apostle spoke of:

2 Corinthians 5:6-9 … we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (7) (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (8) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (9) Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

We who are Christ’s work for the Father until our work is done. Simeon’s work is done. He is ready to meet His Savior and Lord. Death is but a transition from this plane to a higher plane, a place where Jesus is. The Apostle Paul said:

Philippians 1:21 (ESV) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Death is not an end for the believer in Christ, but a new beginning. The Apostle said, “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” (Philippians 1:23). I so look forward to seeing the Savior. I so look forward to exploring the boundless glory of Heaven. To die is no demotion, but a promotion for the believer sold out for Christ. Are you ready? If you are not, today is a great day to decide to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. May He move your hearts to “walk in the Light as He is in the Light”. Amen and amen.

Posted in Christmas, Christmas Sermons, Luke, Sermons Preached | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

You Have Free Will (A Christmas Message)

Posted on December 27, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Tsaone Raymond Nthebolang: https://www.pexels.com/photo/boy-sitting-on-tyre-12083635/

Luke 2:1-5 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

I guess the most frequent question I’m asked as a Pastor is “If God is good, why is there so much suffering in the world?” I think it’s a fair question asked by sincere people. The heart of our suffering comes down to two words:

Free Will

When God made us, He created us “in His own image and after His likeness” (Genesis 1:27). Animals have a free will, but are not in the likeness of God. It is not immoral to enslave an animal, or to kill it and eat its flesh. It is immoral to enslave a person. It is immoral to eat a person’s flesh. Humans are not animals, and animals are not humans. We see this in the order of creation.

When God created the animals, He brought each creature to Adam to see what he would name them (Genesis 2:19). The animal did not name itself. Animals can be owned, bridled, ridden, farmed, sold, caged, forced into slaughterhouses – and there are no repercussions or penalties from God for doing so. Animals have free will, but are lower creations. They are not in God’s image.

Adam and Eve have both free will and the image of God. God told Adam that he was free to choose to eat of any tree in the Garden BUT the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). Someone asked me once, “Why did Adam have ONE tree that he could not eat of? Why did God even put that tree there?” Again, this is a fair question.

Free will assumes a person has a choice.

If I went to the market to buy bread, but say, only one type of bread – white Wonder Bread – was the only bread available. If that’s all you can get, there is no free will. Free will means a choice. If you had a Garden where absolutely everything is edible, you have no opportunity to exercise your free will. Free will would just be a blank concept, but would never be practically expressed. God gave man free will, then gave humanity a choice. Choose to do your job, and never suffer. Choose to disobey God and do the forbidden, then choose death over life (Genesis 2:17).

You know the story. Adam chose to disobey God. When you disobey God you lose His blessing. God has free will too. Humanity could enjoy the Garden while they obeyed the Owner of the Garden. But once they chose to reject God’s directive, they lost God’s blessing. God said to Adam:

Genesis 2:17-19 … cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground…

Man was creation’s caregiver. Because Adam fell into sin, creation fell into sin. The ground previously brought forth only fruit bearing plants. Now the ground is cursed – thorns and thistles along with other weeds come up. Man never had to use his sweat glands. But now he does, for “in the sweat of your face you will eat bread”. God said to Eve:

Genesis 2:16 …. I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children…

This is what sin brings. It brings suffering. Free will that rejects God’s directive brings pain. The child that touches the flame when warned by the parent gets burned. It is not the parent’s fault. It is not God’s fault. Adam chose the pain. The Bible says:

Romans 5:12 … 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

The Bible tells us “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). It is your choice. You choose life by choosing to follow God. You choose death and suffering by choosing to follow yourself. Just as it was with Adam, your sin effects others.

Adam sinned, and he became the doorway by which both spiritual as well as physicaldeath entered the world.

The sin of one effects another. When free will turns away from God, it brings bad things with it.

God Has Free Will – And Wants Better For Us All

As we have gone through the Christmas story, last week we saw that Gabriel came to a young virgin named Mary. God wanted to use Mary as the vessel by which He would bring Salvation to the world. God proposed – and Mary agreed. She was given a choice. She said:

Luke 1:38 … Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.

So she has surrendered herself to the Lord. Over eight months pass, and we read …

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days

Look at the phrase “it came to pass”. This phrase occurs 452 times in Scripture, and often precedes suffering in the Bible. When Cain was jealous of his brother Abel we read:

Genesis 4:8 “it came to pass” that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him …

“it came to pass” later shows up in Genesis 6 when God decides to destroy the world by flood. The phrase “it came to pass” illustrates humanities bad choices in free will. Sin always brings suffering. But God is loving. We have free will, but God has free will. The Bible tells us that God in love persists in reaching out to us. The Apostle said:

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Why is this pregnant woman traveling to Bethlehem on a donkey? Because God is love. God of His own free will promised to save the world from sin. God promised that He would be our Redeemer.

God promised “redemption for His people; He ordained His covenant forever”
(Psalm 111:9).
God promised to “sweep away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you” (Isaiah 44:22).
God promised “put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love
and with Him is full redemption” (Psalm 130:7).

God promised to send Redemption through a virgin. God promised He would come down from Heaven miraculously:

Isaiah 7:14 the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel …

God would come to this earth through a virgin birth. The Son of God would be born of a woman (Luke 1:35). The Son of God would also be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:4-6). The Son of God would be God the Son. How would God send His Son to this earth? Will He come through a royal family, as is His due? Will He be born in a Palace? No, the Bible says:

Luke 2:4-5 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

God the Son would not be born in an easy way. Joseph would have to take Mary his wife on a week’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Why does Jesus have to be born in Bethlehem? Because God said so. Mary is “great with child”. Joseph is suffering, because he must carry the woman he loves on a horrible trip in the last days of her pregnancy. Mary is suffering because she is “great with child”. They are having to go to Bethlehem because the Roman Ruler Caesar Augustus has ordered it. Why did Caesar do this? The Prince of Preachers C.H. Spurgeon notes:

“A little tyrant, Herod, by some show of independent spirit, offends the greater tyrant, Augustus. Augustus informs him that he shall no longer treat him as a friend, but as a vassal; and albeit Herod makes the most abject submission, and his friends at the Roman court intercede for him, yet Augustus, to show his displeasure, orders a census to be taken of all the Jewish people, in readiness for a contemplated taxation, which, however, was not carried out till some ten years after.”

The puppet king Herod in free will offended Caesar. Caesar in free will ordered that people return to their home towns. There was no exception to the rule. It didn’t matter that Mary was pregnant. Suffering, she had to go. Yet on the other side of that suffering God was still in control. God lowered Himself down into our suffering. God did not take the easy path, but the path of self sacrifice.

There is only one God, and He is not you or I. There is only one God, and He is in control of all things! His hand is on the donkey that Mary rides on, and His hand is on the heart of those who suppose themselves to be gods. Caesar may order the census, but it is the Almighty God Who controls all things. He is in control now, He has never not been in control. What God has said, that He will do. We may make a god of ourselves, of our wills, of our abilities, of our powers, of our might. Yet it is God Who oversees all things, and controls all things according to the good pleasure of His Will.

The Free Will Of God And The Free Will Of Woman
Brought Redemption To Us All

Luke 2:6-7 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

No mere man can bring redemption for sin. Sin is a terrible affront to the Unchanging and Eternal God. We can no more seek redemption from God by our works than can an ant please a human by its works. The Bible says:

Isaiah 64:6 …. we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Solomon said “the plowing of the wicked is sin” (Proverbs 21:4). We cannot make ourselves right before God. God must make a way. God made the way of righteousness through faith in Christ. Note that the text tells us first:

Luke 2:7 {Mary} brought forth her firstborn son

Mary did not bring for THEIR firstborn Son. Joseph had nothing to do with this Child, other than acting as a surrogate Father or a Stepfather, if you will. God told Mary that:

Luke 1:35 … The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

This is not Joseph’s son, but God’s Son. Jesus is Mary’s Firstborn, but He is The Only Begotten of the Father. The Apostle said that …

John 1:14 … the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

And you know John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jesus Christ – the Eternal Word of God – was with God from eternity. Jesus became the “only begotten” of God. He became God – Man, God in our midst. Like Man Jesus had all the failures we have:

A temporal body
A flesh that was weak
A carbon based life form
Jesus hungered, rested, slept

But Jesus had one thing that we do not naturally possess. Jesus was born into this world without sin. He had no old sin nature. The Bible says:

1 Peter 2:22 (ESV) {Jesus} committed NO SIN, neither was deceit found in His mouth.

Hebrews 4:15 (ESV) {Jesus was} in every respect tempted as we are, YET WITHOUT SIN.

1 John 3:5 (ESV) {Jesus} appeared to take away sins, and IN HIM THERE IS NO SIN.

Jesus came “in the likeness of sinful flesh” (Romans 8:3). He looked like any other Jewish baby Who had ever come into this world. But Jesus’ birth bypassed Joseph, and therefore bypassed the sin inherent in each and every one of us. Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23). Jesus Christ came as “the Lamb of God, without spot or blemish” (1 Peter 1:19; John 1:29; 1:36).

There have been “good men” who followed the Lord in the Scripture. But they were all flawed by sin.

Noah built the Ark by faith (Genesis 6:9),
but leaving the Ark got drunken and cursed his family.
Abraham, the Friend of God (2 Chronicles 20:7; James 2:23),
laid with Hagar then cast her away with her child.
Moses led Israel faithfully till he came to Meribah (Numbers 20:24),
and there he denied God before the Rock that was Christ.
David, a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22),
took another man’s wife then murdered that man.

We are all flawed – all but this Baby, this Child wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. This Child is Mary’s Firstborn, and the Father’s Only Begotten. This Child is Eternal God in a small but sinless package.

Luke 2:7 {Mary} wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

This is God the Son, Who

Philippians 2:7-8 … took upon Him the form of a Servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a Man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Mary In Free Will Bore Christ. God In Free Will Sent Christ. Christ In Free Will Lowered Himself. What Will YOU Do?

God has done His part. The Lamb of God is in the Manger. God has lowered Himself, and become Man. So what will YOU do? It is no coincidence what comes next:

Luke 2:8-9 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Imagine yourself a shepherd “abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night”. All of a sudden to your darkness accustomed eyes the “Angel of the Lord” appears in all his brilliance. It had to be blinding as well as frightening. I find it interesting the God comes to the shepherds first with His Messiah. Jesus is the LAMB OF GOD, so who better to see Him first but shepherds.

The Bible mentions shepherds and shepherding over 200 times.

We see in the Scripture that Abel, Abraham, Lot, Isaac, Jacob, Jacob’s twelve sons, Moses, King David, and Amos were all shepherds. But we also know that God is the Shepherd of His people (Psalm 23:1; Isaiah 40:11; Psalm 79:13). The Lamb of God is in the Manger. Who better to see the Lamb of God than the Shepherds. Gabriel tells the Shepherds:

Luke 2:10-11 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

“Fear not”. Put away your fear. This is the first preaching of the Gospel. Bible teacher Ray Stedman writes:

“It is striking that the human emotion that was first encountered by the angelic messenger was that of fear. Men were afraid in that day. They were afraid of many things, as they are today. There was Herod the Great on the throne. Herod was cruel, and was able to accomplish his wrath upon whoever was the object of his disfavor. He had personally put to death many, even in his own family, because of their antagonism to his plans. Also there were the Romans, too, with their proud legions, marching up and down across the face of the earth, holding everything in a severe and iron bondage. Many wars broke out and the economy was uncertain. The people were afraid.”

I think we’re afraid today. People are awash in fear. We had the fear of the Pandemic. We had the fear of tyrannical Government. We have the fear of Antifa, of armed militia and militant groups, of cancel culture, of far left or far right extremes. I remarked to my dear wife the other day that it seems as if there are fewer Christmas lights this year, fewer “Merry Christmas” declarations, or even “Happy Holidays”. We have, as a nation, depended on politicians to fix the sin problem. Even in Jesus’ day politicians are not fixing anything. The reason a pregnant virgin is on a donkey to Bethlehem is because of a politician.

Fear not.

Why Angel? Why should we not fear? There are fearsome things all about. The second witch of Shakespeare’s Macbeth (Acts 4, Scene 1) says:

“By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes!”

Or as the comic strip Pogo said,

“We have met the enemy, and he is us.”

Human solutions will not fix the human problem. We need the Lamb of God. We need to come out of the dark night that surrounds us, and go to that Manger where Jesus is. The Angel said:

Luke 2:10 I bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people

Jesus did not come for just the Republican or just the Democrat. Jesus did not come for the elite, or the common. Jesus did not come for the drug abuser reusing needles in the street, or the rich alcoholic getting drunk on 12 year old Scotch whiskey. Jesus did not come for just the heterosexual sinner, but for the homosexual as well. Jesus came for ALL. If you are PEOPLE, Jesus came for you. He lowered Himself to a Manger. What does this little Lamb offer us?

Luke 2:11 … For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

Jesus Christ came to be the Savior of whosoever will. Someone once asked Jesus:

John 6:28 … What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

How can we have peace with God? How can we please God, Who is holy and without sin? Jesus replied:

John 6:29 … This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom {God} hath sent.

How can we find our way out of the cesspool we have made of humanity? We can – in free will – turn to Jesus Christ as Savior. The Angel said:

Luke 2:12-17 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

The shepherds heard the Gospel, and leaving all they had, went to where Jesus was. They believed, and went to tell others what they had seen. What will you do? God has given you free will. It is your choice. Realize, dear one, that you will have to live in the choice you make. May God lead you to make the right choice, to choose Jesus. Amen and amen!

Posted in Christmas, Christmas Sermons, General, Luke, Sermons Preached | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mary said …

Posted on December 20, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Samuel Hájnik: https://www.pexels.com/photo/art-landmark-building-painting-12796028/

Luke 1:31-34 … {Mary} thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

The President recently signed into law the “Respect for Marriage Act”, which many praised as a giant step forward for progressive humanism. One statement that a certain Senator made was, “{Americans} should be able to marry whom they love. All Americans deserve full civil rights under the Law regardless of where they live.”

Some churches praised the Presidential signing, saying that there are provisions that protect the religious freedom as well as the tax exempt status of Churches opposed to same sex marriage. Frankly I don’t see this as a “win” for any Christ focused Church. Jesus told us that – as His people – we would suffer persecution in this world. Jesus said:

John 15:18-21 (ESV) If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

The Apostles certainly suffered persecution. The Apostle Paul told his young student Timothy:

2 Timothy 4:18 (ESV) The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

2 Timothy 2:3 (ESV) Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

We as Christians are in a battle for the soul of America. The world will not understand our hearts. Now, I’m not here to talk about this particular Act, another in a long line of advances that anti-Christs have made. The Apostle John told us

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

The forces against God, the antichrists, will always rise up to battle against the Gospel of salvation. What does God expect of us in these days? Let’s tie this into the life of Mary in a section of Scripture we often call “The Christmas Story”.

God’s Word Is Always True, For God Is Always God

We have always lived in a world that has two views of God. The first view is the Subjective View of God. This is the most popular concept of God. In the Subjective View we believe that God exists for our benefit. This view creeps into the pulpits of many different Churches, even Baptist Churches. I have heard preachers say,

“God created Adam because God was lonely and needed a companion. After creating Adam, God saw that “it is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18), so he made Adam a helper called Eve.”

What is foolish about this statement is that God has never been alone. In Genesis 1:26 God – the Hebrew Elohim – said “Let US make humanity in OUR image, after OUR likeness”. God has never been alone. God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is complete in Himself. God created angels. He did not create out of a need for us. God created us for another reason, a reason the antichrists hate. God did not create us because He somehow had to do so or else He would suffer.

The Second View of God is the Objective View. In the Subjective View we say that God created us because He somehow needed us. In short, God exists because we exist. But the Objective View of God is that God created us because we need Him. We are incomplete without God. God made us in His image and in His likeness so that we could worship Him as God, and glorify Him for Who He is.

When we walk away from God we rip a hole in our very lives. We are made in the likeness, the image of God. We are not gods, but we were made to imitate and glorify Him.

Humans were created by Grace and Love flowing from God – but God does not need us to complete Himself. God lacks nothing. Our creation is an extension of God’s goodness.

Romans 11:36 For of {God}, and through {God}, and to {God}, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

We as humans exist not to be gods, but to bring GLORY to God.

We are told in 1 Chronicles 16:29, “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”

The wise King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of {humanity}.”

The Apostle said in 1 Corinthians 10:31 and 1 Peter 4:11, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. … that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Illustrate: God does not need us. We need God. We were created to need God. Let’s play a little game I like to call “What if?”. The Angel comes to Mary and tells her that she is going to bear the Messiah. Mary replies with:

How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

What if Mary had said, “No! It’s not happening Gabe. It’s my body, my life. You don’t have permission to do this!” What if this had happened? Would God have stopped the Plan of Salvation? Would the Messiah have never been born? No, I believe that Messiah would have come through another vessel, another person.

God sent Moses to Israel to save His people from enslavement to Egypt. It was God’s will that Israel enter the Promised Land of Canaan. God had Moses tell Pharaoh, “Let My people go, that they may worship Me in the wilderness” (Exodus 7:16). It was God’s desire that Moses lead Israel into the Promised Land. When the first generation of Israel rejected God’s command, the Lord had them wander in the wilderness for 40 years until all the dissidents passed away. Moses was to lead that second generation into Canaan. But Moses failed to glorify God in Kadesh (Numbers 20:10). God told Moses and Aaron, “because you would not believe Me nor glorify Me neither you Moses nor Aaron your brother will lead Israel into Canaan” (Numbers 20:12). God chose Joshua to take Moses’ place. If Mary had rejected God, God’s Word would still have been fulfilled. God keeps His Word.

As Gabriel unveiled God’s Plan to Mary he said:

Luke 1:35-37 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

God is God, and we are not. When God calls us into a relationship with Him, or calls us to do a task for Him, it is not because He is somehow unable or impotent, needing us to “save the day”. God caused Elisabeth, Mary’s elderly cousin to have a child – a magnificent Prophet John the Baptist – though she was completely infertile. If God can turn the infertile to the fertile, He can move on Mary’s body to produce the Messiah. The Angel told Mary:

For with God nothing shall be impossible

This is a common theme throughout the Scripture. When Abraham wondered how his dear infertile wife Sarah could have a child, the preincarnate Jesus told him:

Genesis 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Illustrate: Sarah did not believe as Mary did, though she did not object. But God chose to use Sarah anyway. “With God nothing shall be impossible”. Just this past Tuesday the news noted that “U.S. Scientists Produce Fusion Power That Replicates The Sun’s Energy”. Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (California) bombarded a tiny pellet of hydrogen plasma with lasers to produce this mini-sun. What took humanity thousands of years to replicate, God spoke into existence when He said “Let there be …”

As our Lord Jesus said in

Mark 10:27 … With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.

Mary told Gabriel:

Luke 1:38 … Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

When God Calls Us, He Calls Us To To Fill Our Needs, Not His

Mary puts absolutely NO CONDITIONS on her partnership with God. She said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord”. The word “handmaid” is the Greek δούλη doúlē, {pronounced doo’-lay}, which means “a female slave”. Mary gives over all her rights to God, putting herself under His complete control.

This is the wisest thing a human can do when approached by God.

When Moses, for instance, was approached by God to lead Israel from Egypt, Moses began to enumerate his various inabilities. He let fear take control, rather than know that “with God, all things are possible”. Moses told God,

Exodus 4:10 … O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

He kept resisting God until the Lord assigned his brother Aaron to be the spokesman for Moses (Exodus 4:14). Moses would have done better trusting in God. Aaron would become a yoke around Moses neck, dragging that good man down instead of lifting him up. Mary did not second guess God. She surrendered herself to God. “Lord, I am your slave – do with me as You will”.

When Gabriel leaves, Mary goes to her cousin Elizabeth’s home to help her through her pregnancy. When Mary stepped out in faith, trusting in the God Who is limitless, then blessings come. Elisabeth speaks:

Luke 1:43-45 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Elisabeth says something that is key, something we all need to grab hold of. She says,

blessed is she that believed

Mary was not blessed because God chose her.
Mary was not blessed because the angel Gabriel came to her.
Mary was not blessed because she was somehow special.
Mary was blessed because “she believed” what God said.

Belief does not stand still. Belief trusts in God, and moves when God says move. When the Apostle Thomas doubted the resurrection of Christ from the grave, Jesus appeared before him eight days later in a locked room. He told Thomas,

John 20:27 (ESV) {Thomas} “Put your finger here, and see My hands; put out your hand and place it in My side. DO NOT DISBELIEVE, BUT BELIEVE”. Thomas answered {Jesus}, “My Lord and My God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”.

Mary had not seen that she was with the Messiah, but believed God – and acted on that belief. God blessed her because of her belief. Mary’s belief in God shows in the words she speaks:

Luke 1:46-48 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

It is not Mary’s goodness or worthiness that leads God to use her for the incarnation of Christ. God called Mary to be the mother of Christ’s humanity because our God is the God of all Grace. It is the God of all Grace that calls us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus (1 Peter 5:10). It is God Who is able to make ALL GRACE abound towards us (2 Corinthians 9:8). God was reaching out by Grace to Mary, causing Mary to worship the Lord. Hear her words of worship:

My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior

Mary does not claim herself to be worthy of this great honor. God is in fact her “Savior”. Mary was not “immaculate” or sinless. No one has ever had that title outside of our Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 3:5). Mary goes on to say:

vs 48 … {God} hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden

Word Study: The words “low estate” is the Greek ταπείνωσις, tapeinōsis which is translated as “VILE” in:

Philippians 3:20-21 … we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our VILE body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body …

Mary said in effect, “God regarded the vileness of my life, and yet still in Grace used me”. Mary was a good woman who loved the Lord, but this was not why God used her. God used her because Mary understood that God worked through her weakness.

If God could use a broken vessel like Mary to bring the Incarnate Christ, He can use the least to do the most if they surrender to Him.

When God reaches down, it is to lift up. God reached down to Mary to use her to bring forth the Messiah. God reached down through the Messiah to bring salvation from Calvary. God in love reaches down to us all, for none of us are worthy. The Apostle quotes Psalm 14:1-3 & Psalm 53:1-3, writing:

Romans 3:10-12 None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.

What we see so evident in our world today is a broken creation, trying to fix its brokenness with its own broken ideas and its own broken tools. God calls to us, as He called out to Mary. He calls out to us in Christ. Will we follow the ways of darkness, or will we surrender as Mary, and allow God to work in us?

Progressive humanism will not fix what ails us. We all need God. We all need Christ. Jesus told us of a Pharisee and a Publican who went up to the Temple to pray. The Pharisee prayed, relying on his worth and the worth that religion gave him:

Luke 18:11-12 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

The Pharisee is much like the leper who attempts to fix his ailment. Religion wraps him in fine white linen. At first, he looks fine – clean and white. But in time the linen soaks through with the terrible disease, and that which is at the core comes into the light. Religion and time are enemies of one another. But to those who, like Mary, say to the Lord “I am your servant – use me as You will”, to them the Lord will come. Say unto Him Who calls:

You are God, and I am not.
You are Whole, but I am broken.
Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.
Create in me a clean heart, O Lord,
And renew a right spirit within me.
Turn us unto Thee, O Lord,
And we shall be turned!

Salvation and blessing comes when we “be converted, and become as little children” (Matthew 18:3-4). God uses the little. God uses the broken. God uses the least, and the less than. Mary’s greatness came from her willingness to let God be God. We read:

Luke 1:49 For He that is MIGHTY hath done to me great things; and HOLY IS HIS NAME

Let Us Share The Gospel Of God With Others

Life is a gift from God. Eternal life is a gift from God. This Christmas let us share the message of God’s Gospel. Our God is MIGHTY – there is nothing that He cannot do. Further, our God is HOLY and UNBROKEN. He came to save sinners, to save them that will “fear the Lord”. Mary said:

Luke 1:50-52 … And {God’s} mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

If a person has no fear of God, that person will never
swim in the sea of God’s mercy.

God is God – and we are not. You recently should have received something from this Church by mail that examined the “Fear of the Lord”. God’s mercy is only on those who fear the Lord. Our infinite God has been saving people from brokenness for thousands of years. He has said, “I am the LORD, I change not” (Malachi 3:6). The Scripture assures us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). When all else fails, the mercy of God never fails (Lamentations 3:22-25).

Luke 1:53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away.

What does our God require? Come hungry. Come thirsty. He is able to fill your every need. Oh that you would come to Him today, and receive life more abundantly (John 10:10). May God through His Spirit touch your hearts with His Word. Amen and Amen.

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