Who Is This Man? A Palm Sunday Message

Posted on April 12, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Cody Board on Unsplash

Matthew 21:1-11 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

When Jesus came into Jerusalem, the city itself asked the question:

Who is this?

The Multitude Wanted A Physical Savior

Word Study: There was “a very great multitude” that went in front of this Man riding on “a colt, the foal of an ass”. The “multitude”, the Greek ὄχλος óchlos, [pronounced okh’los], means “a crowd, a throng, a huge number of people”. “Multitude” is a favorite word of Matthew the Tax Collector. Matthew uses this word forty times to describe the people that followed Jesus. As Jesus …

Matthew 4:23-25 … went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. 25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

Multitudes followed Jesus because He cared for and healed the sick and broken. Jesus cast out demons, and healed everything from mental illness to deadly diseases. There were so many people following Jesus for relief of their suffering that when He taught …

Matthew 5:1 … seeing the multitudes, Jesus went up into a mountain, and sat down …

so that He could teach the people. Who is this Jesus? To the multitudes, Jesus is a miracle worker, a medicine man. Jesus even went beyond this. When Jesus was in Capernaum, the place where He met and called Matthew to follow Him,

Matthew 9:18 … came a certain ruler, and worshiped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

As Jesus headed to the unnamed Ruler’s home, a woman in the crowd, “diseased with an issue of blood for twelve years” (Matthew 9:20) saw Jesus. Thinking to herself, she said:

Matthew 9:21 … If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole

Touching Jesus – just the hem of His garment – caused her to be healed immediately! Jesus told her,

Matthew 9:22 … Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith has made thee whole!

Who is this man who can heal without a thought? But He is more, more than just a Healer. When He reaches the Ruler’s home, the mourners are crying over this twelve year old girl who has died. This Man said:

Matthew 9:24-25 … Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25 {Jesus responded, and}He went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

Who is this Man Who not only heals, but raises the dead? The crowds around Jesus grow larger and larger every day. Then it comes time when the Jew must go to Jerusalem, to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. What a special time Passover is! It commemorates the time that God saved Israel from Egypt. The lamb without spot or blemish was to be taken into the home, and killed. It’s blood was placed on the home of the believers, and it’s meat roasted and eaten. The Jews called this Feast Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. God told Israel,

Exodus 12:13 (NIV) The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

The blood of the lamb would make atonement – a covering from the wrath of God – on the home that it was on. Israel left Egypt because of the Passover. Every year Israel was to celebrate the Passover. “In the generations to come, You Israel shall celebrate the Passover. It will be a lasting ordinance.” (Exodus 12:14).

Multitudes are following Jesus – and Jesus is heading into Jerusalem. Why is Jesus going to Jerusalem? Because the Passover must be celebrated. But this Passover will be different from the other Passovers that Israel celebrated. Why? Because of this Man.

This Man Is The Fulfillment Of God’s Promises

Who is this Man, this Jesus? We see a glimpse of Who He is in our text. He needs to go to Jerusalem, to celebrate the Passover at the Temple. We read:

Matthew 21:1-11 And when {Jesus and His disciples}drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage{the “House of Unripe Figs”, eastward of Jerusalem}, unto the mount of Olives {a mountain range east of Jerusalem}, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem is special this time. He must enter Jerusalem on “a colt the foal of an ass”. Jesus was going to ride into Jerusalem on “a colt of a donkey that no one had ever ridden before” (Mark 11:1-3). Why is this important. Because over 540 years ago the Prophet Zechariah foresaw the coming of this Man to Jerusalem. Zechariah wrote:

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

When the King of Kings – the prophesied Messiah – came into Jerusalem, He would ride “upon a donkey (a jackass), a colt the foal of a jackass”. Jesus rode this young donkey into Jerusalem “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet” Zechariah. This Man is the fulfillment of Prophecy. When Adam sinned, and brought sin and death into the world by his disobedience:

Romans 5:12 … by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

God made a prophecy to Satan, the evil serpent who led Adam into sin. The Lord promised that old devil:

Genesis 3:15 …. I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

This was God’s first promise that a Messiah – a Redeemer would come and destroy the works of the devil. God was not going to abandon His creation, but He would save it. From the day that that promise was given, mankind waited for the Savior. God prophesied that the Messiah …

… would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, fulfilling the prophecy (Luke 2:4-6)

… would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14)

Jesus was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:22-23)

… would come from Abraham’s line (Genesis 12:3)

Jesus came from Abraham’s lineage (Matthew 1:1)

… would come from the Tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10)

Jesus came from the line of Judah (Hebrews 7:14)

… would inherit King David’s throne (Isaiah 9:7)

Jesus is the inheritor of King David’s throne (Luke 1:32-33)

… would be called “Immanuel, God with us” (Isaiah 7:14)

Jesus is Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23)

… would have a Herald go before Him (Isaiah 40:3-5)

Jesus had John the Baptist go before Him (Luke 3:3-6)

There were at least 44 prophesies made in the Old Testament about the coming of the Messiah. These prophesies were all fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ.

It was prophesied Messiah would be a Nazarene (Isaiah 11:1), would bring light to Galilee (Isaiah 9:1-2), would speak in parables (Psalm 78:2-4; Isaiah 6:9-10). I could go on and on. Throughout Matthew’s Gospel the phrase:

“That it might be fulfilled”

is repeated ten times. This Man, this Jesus, is the One Whom God promised would come. He is God the Son. Jesus is a Prophet, but much more than a Prophet. He is God with us, God incarnate, God in human form. Demons were afraid of Jesus!

Mark 3:11 … unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

The multitudes, seeing the miracles that Jesus did,

Matthew 21:9 … the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

Who was Jesus to these multitudes? Jesus is “he that cometh in the name of the Lord”. The multitudes saw Jesus as a present King over Israel, Someone who would cast down Rome as Moses cast down Egypt. They cried out as they laid their outer garments and palm leaves before Jesus:

Hosanna in the highest

Word Study: “Hosanna” is what the multitudes are crying out. “Hosanna” is actually three Hebrew words yāšaʿ nā’ ‘ānnā’, which is a short prayer that means “save us now, I beseech Thee, O Lord” (contracted from Psalm 118:25-26). What the crowd is chanting is: Save us now, we beseech Thee, Oh Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord!

The multitudes see Jesus as a temporal King Who will rescue Israel from Rome.

Herod saw Jesus as such a King – and for this reason had all the children two years old and younger killed in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16-18). This, too was a fulfillment of prophecy (Matthew 2:17-18; Jeremiah 31:15). This was not the first time the people would cry out to Jesus to make Him King. In John 6:15 the people tried to make Jesus King – but He refused their efforts.

The people do not need another King. The people need the Messiah, the Savior. The people need the Lamb of God Who taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29, 36). Jesus is not riding into Jerusalem on a white horse as a conquering King. He is riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, a young donkey. Jesus is coming not to overthrow Rome, but to overthrow Satan and his forces of evil. Jesus is coming to Jerusalem as the fulfillment of every prophecy ever made concerning our deliverance.

Who is this Man, Jerusalem asks. The multitude said:

Matthew 21:11 … This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

Yes, Jesus is a Prophet – but He is more than a Prophet. He is the Lord God incarnate. He is the Savior, the Lamb. Yet Jesus is NOT the Prophet of Nazareth. His hometown does not believe Jesus is the Messiah. They mock Him, saying:

Mark 6:2-3 (ESV) “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

The multitude wants Jesus to be their new King, one who will overthrow Rome. And Jerusalem, the Capital City that the King should rule from, does not know Who Jesus is.

Jesus is the Messiah. He is coming to Jerusalem one last time to be sacrificed for our sins. He is coming, not to the Temple to have His blood shed, but to Jerusalem to be executed on a Hill called Calvary.

In just a few days, the multitude that praised Jesus and demanded He be King, would turn and demand His crucifixion. The same crowd that now cheers will in a few days jeer, and mock as Jesus hangs dying for our sins.

Who Is This Man Who Disrupts The Temple?

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry our Lord entered the area of the Temple. In the Courtyard of the Gentiles Jesus found a marketplace. Jesus “found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” (John 2:14-17). Some 3 ½ years have passed, and Jesus is entering Jerusalem for the last time. Has Israel learned their lesson?

No, for what does Jesus discover?

Matthew 21:12-14 Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. 14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

Jesus did not come to be a temporary fix to our problems. Jesus Christ came to save whosoever will, and through that salvation to change our hearts to become children of God. Jesus told us:

Matthew 15:17-20 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

As humans, we need more than a better form of leader. We need to be saved from ourselves. We need a new heart. Jesus can give us new hearts.

Just as Jesus had “the blind and the lame come to him in the temple; and He healed them”, Jesus alone has the power to heal us. We are all born with a heart problem. Jesus, as the Author of the New Covenant, came to fix our hearts (that is, if we would come to Him in faith). The Prophet Jeremiah spoke to Israel in one of their worst times in human history. Israel had wandered far away from God, just as Israel was far away from God while Jesus walked this earth. God spoke through Jeremiah, saying:

Jeremiah 31:31-34 (ESV) “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

God promised that He would come to Israel with a New Covenant, a Covenant that came with a heart transplant. It is this Holy Week that Jesus will institute what we call “The Lord’s Table” at the end of the Feast of the Passover, just before Jesus goes to the Cross. We will celebrate that Lord’s Table next Sunday, on Easter morning. Jesus told His disciples:

Luke 22:20 (ESV) … This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

1 Corinthians 11:25 (ESV) … “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Jesus rode into Jerusalem because the Old Covenant, the Covenant of animal sacrifices, of festivals & feasts, and of circumcision, these things do not change the heart. The Bible says that these things called “The Law” served but one purpose. The Apostle said:

Galatians 3:24-25 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

The Law of Sacrifices & Rites was but a shadow of what would come in Jesus Christ. The Law could not work on our hearts. But through Jesus, His sacrifice on Calvary made payment for our sins. The Scripture says:

Hebrews 10:10 … we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Jesus had to chase the marketplace out of the Court of the Gentiles at the beginning of His ministry because “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). You can make a Law, force people to obey it, but if their heart is unsaved by God, they will sneak around and do it all over again. This is what humans do. Jesus Christ came to replace the Mosaic Law by a Higher Law, a New Covenant. And those who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior are also recipients of the Holy Spirit, Who works a mystery in the life of the believer. It is because of Jesus that the Spirit comes, but it is because of the Spirit that we are born again, indwelt, changed daily, and made the workmanship of God.

Religion is not enough. You need a relationship with God through Jesus Christ His Son.

The money changers and sellers had to be cast out of the Temple twice. The heart is not changed by the Law. This same crowd that is praising Jesus will, in just a few short days, be demanding:

“Let Him be crucified!”

Pilate, the Roman Governor, will attempt to release Jesus from crucifixion. He will ask the crowd to allow Jesus to depart, and Barabbas – a known murderer – to be put to death. The crowd will cry out:

“Let Him be crucified!”

Pilate asks, “Why? What evil has He done? I find no fault in this Jesus”. Yet the crowd will demand all the more,

“Let Him be crucified!” (Matthew 27:20-23)

What evil had Jesus done? He went against the status quo. He called evil, evil. Jesus reached out to sinners, seeking to bring their souls to God. Only God can save. Only God can change the heart. The Scripture says:

Psalm 3:8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord …

Psalm 62:1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

It is Jesus Who will save. It is Jesus Who can change the heart. Will you not come to Him while you can? The Physician Luke tells us something else that happened when Jesus came into Jerusalem. We read:

Luke 19:41-45 And when he was come near, {Jesus} beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. 45 And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought

Before Jesus went into the Temple to cast out the money changers for the second time, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem. Why? Because He knows that the people for whom He came, they will reject Him. As a result, Jerusalem – and Israel – will be destroyed by Roman forces a few years later.

No nation can long stand with wickedness in its heart. No people can survive who reject the love of God and the love of neighbor. Israel will not listen.

Will you listen? Will you hear Jesus calling you to His side? Oh, dear Lord, that you would save our nation, save our communities. I beg you, give yourselves over to Jesus this very day. Jesus can, and will fix you. To God be the glory! Amen and Amen.

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Who Is In Jesus’ Family?

Posted on April 5, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash

Luke 8:19-21 Then came to {Jesus} his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. 20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Jesus had a physical earthly family

His earthly mother Mary is at the door of the house, but cannot get to Jesus. God used Mary to bring forth Christ. Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Savior of all who will believe on Him. Jesus is …

Revelation 1:5 … Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own Blood …

Jesus is Man. Jesus is Perfect Man. Jesus is Sinless Man. You ask, “How can there be a sinless Man?”, and my answer is, “Only if He is a Unique Creation and God”. Adam was sinless in the Garden of Eden, but when Adam sinned, “by one man – Adam – sin entered into the world, and DEATH BY SIN; and so death PASSED UPON ALL MEN, for that all have sinned.” (Romans 5:12). All humans born naturally are born sinners. This is a problem because, though God loves us, God is holy, without sin (1 Peter 1:16; Isaiah 57:15).

God is holy – but we are not!
How can the gap be bridged between God and Man?

A Perfect Man, a Messiah, a Savior, cannot come through human effort. Humans are fallen. God must make a way. God must enter the creation as Man. This is what happened in Jesus. Jesus Christ is ETERNAL GOD THE SON. He declared Himself …

Revelation 1:8 … Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

“Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the Ending” is a title given only to God, “The Almighty”. Our Lord Jesus existed with God the Father and God the Spirit from eternity past. God left eternity, and came to this earth through a virgin named Mary. Yet though Jesus has a beginning as a human, as God Jesus has always been. Colossians 1:17 tells us, “Jesus is before ALL THINGS”, and John 1:3 declares, “All things were made by Him. Nothing ever made was made without Him”.

Jesus Christ is THE Son of God, THE Eternal Son Who came to be among us. He was born through supernatural action. Gabriel told Mary His mother:

Luke 1:35 … The Holy {Spirit} 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.

Jesus is indeed “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Born of a virgin named Mary, Joseph, Mary’s husband, did not lay with his wife until after Jesus was born. Once Jesus was born, Joseph went on to love his wife Mary, and to have other children by Mary.

Jesus was NOT an only Child!

When Jesus preached in Nazareth, those He grew up with said:

Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

Jesus had four stepbrothers – children of Joseph and Mary – along with several sisters who are unnamed. When Jesus began preaching the Kingdom of God and His Gospel, many of His friends – and probably His earthly family – believed “Jesus is beside Himself” (Mark 3:21). We are told in …

John 7:5 (ESV) … For not even his brothers believed in {Jesus}.

His brothers and mother would – after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection – come to believe in Jesus. On the Day of Pentecost 120 believers would gather in an upper room, and pray together, waiting for the promise of the Spirit. This small Church was …

Acts 1:14 … with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers

Yes, later His earthly family would believe in Jesus. Later Jesus’ stepbrother James would refer to Jesus as “our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory” (James 2:1). But at this point in His ministry, none of Jesus’ immediate family seems to believe that He is the Messiah.

THEN Jesus’ Unbelieving Earthly Family
Came To See Him

Luke 8:19 Then came to {Jesus} his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.

Our text starts with THEN. The THEN tells us that we need to see what occurred before Jesus stopped at this private home to teach.

Luke 8:1-3 And it came to pass afterward, that He {Jesus} went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with Him, 2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Word Study: Jesus is traveling with a small group of believers. He is going through “every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God”. The words “preaching and shewing” are the Greek κηρύσσω καὶ εὐαγγελίζω, kēryssō καί euangelizō which means “to publish or proclaim openly the Gospel or Good News”. The twelve Apostles are with Jesus. There are a few women with Jesus. “Mary called Magdalene” is there, a person whom Jesus cast seven demons out of her. There is also a woman named “Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward”. This woman had been afflicted, but Jesus cured her. Joanna is the wife of King Herod’s Cupbearer (see also Luke 24:10), a very important position in the King’s household. The Gospel of Christ had reached into the home of His greatest enemy, Herod. There is also a “Susanna, and many others” who are ministering to Jesus, meeting His physical earthly needs. God is providing a way for the Gospel to go forth, to be spread to small villages and large cities.

Luke 8:4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:

Word Study: There is a large crowd following Jesus. In the midst of this crowd, Jesus speaks a “parable” (παραβολή parabolḗ, [pronounced par-ab-ol-ay’]). The disciples asked Jesus:

Matthew 13:10 … why speakest Thou unto them in parables? …

Jesus told His closest disciples:

Luke 8:10 … Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

The Parable is given to the Child of God by faith in Christ. The Parable is NOT given to the unbeliever to help them better understand spiritual truths. The Parable is given to HIDE the deeper truths from the lost. A Parable cannot be understood unless Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit gives us the key to it. The Christian way of life is a supernatural way of life. You cannot learn your way into being a Christian. You must be born again, born supernaturally into this family. Look when Jesus speaks this Parable:

Luke 8:4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:

A Sower Went Out To Sow

Luke 8:5-8 A Sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. 8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Those who are spiritually deaf – lost people – will hear the words of this Parable, but it will mean nothing to them. Only those with “ears to hear” (Matthew 11:15; 13:9; 13:43; Mark 4:9; 4:23; 7:16) are going to get any benefit from this Parable. To all others it is but noise.

Preach!: You must be born again! You must have received Jesus as Lord and Savior. You must have believed that Jesus is the Only Begotten of the Father. You MUST BE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD BY FAITH. Jesus explains the Parable to those who will come to Him and listen.

Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

“The seed is the word of God”. Jesus has gone throughout every city and village, proclaiming He is Messiah, proclaiming that He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life: that no one comes to the Father BUT through Him (John 14:6). Jesus is the Owner of the “keys of the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 16:19). It is Jesus Who “has the keys of hades and death” (Revelation 1:18). There is “none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). There is a large crowd following Jesus not just for what He proclaimed, but also for what He has done. Jesus sowed the seed. He did not plow the field, nor break up the ground. What was this seed?

John 6:39-40 … this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (40) And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Jesus said “every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” Jesus has promised eternal life to whosoever believeth on Him. Jesus sowed the Gospel Seed regardless as to who stood in front of Him. Whether it was a leper, a deaf person, a crippled person, a Jew or a Gentile, Jesus proclaimed Himself the Only Christ, the Messiah. Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He told us:

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus did not choose where to sow. Where ever He was, He sowed. Whenever the opportunity presented itself, Jesus sowed. The Sower sows. The Sower does not water, nor cause the seed to grow. The Apostle said:

2 Timothy 2:23-26 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. (24) And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, (25) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (26) And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

The Sower sows the Gospel. The Sower does not sow the word of the world, but the Word of God, the Holy Scripture. Will all sowing be productive? No!

Luke 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

It’s interesting that the first condition of the Sowing of the Good News is that the seed fall “by the way side”. Some people hear the Gospel. They hear that Jesus Christ is the Eternal Son of God, prophesied to come and save us. They hear that:

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

They hear that “unto us was born in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). They hear that Jesus came to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Though these hear the Gospel clearly preached by Jesus, nonetheless the “devil” comes, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved”. That old Devil we call Lucifer, and Satan, and the Great Dragon, and that Ancient Serpent (Revelation 12:9) is constantly warring against the spreading of the Gospel.

The Devil robs the seed of the Gospel in various ways. He brings in strange doctrines. He teaches that “only a certain class of person will be saved”. The devil loves to teach that “the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary is insufficient to save the soul”, that salvation is part Christ and part my efforts. The devil brings in strange doctrines that say “saved, we may remain in our sin”. No, no! Did not the Scripture say in Matthew 1:21, “Jesus shall save His people FROM THEIR SINS”. The Gospel seed changes the heart in which it is sown. “God be thanked, that YE WERE (past tense) the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that was delivered you” (Romans 6:17). What does the Gospel seed do? It frees us!

Romans 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

The Gospel is not just stolen by Satan, but it can take root on shallow ground. Jesus said:

Luke 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

Some hear the Gospel, and receive it, but only in a shallow way. There are some who willingly receive the Gospel when they are in hospitals, or in hospice, or at some bleak moment in their lives. They want to receive Jesus as a “Savior” to save them out of what they are being afflicted by. They just want a temporary relief. Jesus said that these believe at first, but then ..

… in time of temptation {they} fall away.

Word Study: The word translated “temptation” is the Greek πειρασμός peirasmós, [pronounced pi-ras-mos’], which means “a trial of a person’s fidelity, integrity, or virtue”. The stepbrother of Jesus, James wrote:

James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations {peirasmós}, 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

God allows trials to come our way to test and strengthen our faith. The faith that cannot stand up to a trial is a faith that cannot save a soul. Many today see Jesus Christ as a spare tire that they are to call on when life gets tough. Jesus Christ is no spare tire. Jesus Christ is the Way to the Father, the entry into the Family of God. When a trial crushes a person’s faith, that person was not truly saved in the first place. The Apostle said:

1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Of that large crowd around Jesus, there was a third type of result there from the sowing of the Gospel. Jesus said:

Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

Word Study: Today we would call this type of person “the Nominal Christian”. This is the person who has decided to stay attached to the world, but also wants to stay attached to Jesus. Jesus does not call this “nominal Christianity”, but a life that is “choked”, the Greek συμπνίγω sympnígō, [pronounced soom-pnee’-go], which means “to strangle completely, to choke utterly, to press around so as to suffocate, to press on every side so as to crush”. Are these people saved? I don’t think so, but it’s hard to tell from the text. Jesus said:

John 10:10 … I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Jesus chastised those who followed Him that “would not come to Me, that ye might have life” (John 5:40). If your life looks like that of the lost, and you “bring no fruit to perfection” – you bear nothing for Jesus – then you should carefully examine your salvation. The Bible says:

Philippians 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

If you are mentally and physically bound to worldly living, the Scripture calls you to repent. The stepbrother of Christ wrote:

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

I would not want to meet my Maker while bound to the sinful ways of this world. Beloved, the person who receives Christ as Lord and Savior is CHANGED. Though you will not be perfect, the Scripture says:

2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 17 (ESV) For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and {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. … 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

The saved believer follows after Jesus, not the world. We love and seek Him daily! The Christian is meant to be FRUITFUL.

Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Word Study: This is the Normal Christian Life. The Christian is first of all supernaturally saved. Hearing and believing the Gospel of Salvation, that person “calls upon the Name of the Lord” and is saved (Acts 2:21). Let’s look at the words “HEARD” and “KEEP”. They “heard” the Word of God. They “heard” Jesus. This is the Greek ἀκούω akoúō, [pronounced ak-oo’-o], which means “to harken to, to stop and apply that which you heard to yourself”. The Gospel will not save you when you apply it to others around you, but not to your own life. Some people on hearing the Gospel think, “Oh, that’s not for me. I’m a good person. I’m in good shape. I don’t need a Savior”. I assure you, if you think this, then you will never have a Savior. The Gospel must be applied to your heart by YOU.

Word Study: The word “keep” is the Greek κατέχω katéchō, [pronounced kat-ekh’-o], which means “to hold onto, to hold fast, to possess it, to guard it”. You regard the Word of Salvation, that precious Gospel, as a precious thing. You will not release it, but cling to it. When I was overseas, one of my most prized possessions was my PASSPORT. It showed that I was a citizen of another country, under another sovereign’s laws. The Gospel is the Christian’s passport to glory – and I will never give it up. The Apostle said:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 … the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

No Christian makes light of the Gospel of Salvation. We cherish it. We guard it. We live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ!

You Must Be Born Again

Returning to our starting verses, we read:

Luke 8:19-21 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. 20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 21 And He answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Heaven is God’s Home. Heaven is where the Children of God will one day go. How can I become a Child of God? I must “hear the word of God, and do it”. I must hear the Gospel and, applying it to my life, repent and surrender my life to Jesus. Jesus recognizes no relatives of His that have not believed in Him. None. Not even His own stepbrothers.

Let us give ourselves wholly to Him. For the glory of God, and to honor Jesus – call upon Him and be saved! May God the Holy Spirit draw you into Christ’s family this very day. Amen and Amen!

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Who Is God?

Posted on April 5, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Kalen Emsley on Unsplash

Turn with me in your Bibles to Jeremiah chapter 1. Jeremiah comes right after Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Solomon, Isaiah, JEREMIAH. Jeremiah was known as the “Weeping Prophet”. Why? Because God had been good to Israel, but Israel turned away from God. God’s people were chasing sin. God’s people had become indistinguishable from the lost peoples around them. So God sent Jeremiah to a hard hearted people with an uncomfortable message.

Jeremiah preached to Israel more than 40 years. The Book of Jeremiah, is the longest book in the Bible by Hebrew word count. It has 22,285 Hebrew words.

Jeremiah Teaches Us The Goodness
& Faithfulness Of God

We see God’s goodness in Jeremiah’s appointment: We are told in Jeremiah 1:1 that these are “the words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin” (1:1). Jeremiah is the “son of Hilkiah”. Jeremiah’s father “Hilkiah” is the Hebrew חִלְקִיָּה Chilqîyâh, {pronounced khil-kee-yaw’}, which means “The LORD {YHWH} Is My Portion”. The Priestly Tribe of Israel, the Levites, were given no land when they entered Canaan. As priests, God was their Portion (Deuteronomy 10:9; 18:1-8). As the son of a Priest, Jeremiah should have been a Priest himself. However, his father was of the lineage of priests that came from Abiathar. When King Solomon came to the throne, his elder brother Adonijah conspired with the Priest Abiathar to take the throne from Solomon. Solomon ordered his brother Adonijah’s death for this treasonous treachery. But rather than kill the Priest Abiathar, Solomon fired him, and exiled him and his family to (1 Kings 2:20-27) …

“Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord God before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.”

Jeremiah, though of the line of priests, could not be a priest because his family was deposed from that office. Jeremiah was – in effect – punished for something he had no control over. Growing up, I’m sure Jeremiah felt less than and at a loss. But our God does not punish the innocent for the guilty. God called Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 1:4-5 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

The word “Then” tells us that Jeremiah was called to prophesy when Jerusalem was at its lowest point. God’s people had turned away from the Lord to follow false idols and selfishness. God allowed Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon to invade Judah, and deport its citizens four times (605, 597, 586, 582 BC). In 586 BC Jerusalem fell, and the Temple was destroyed. Why? Because God’s people stopped following the Lord.

But God in His love nevertheless raised up a Prophet to call His people to repentance. Jeremiah was that Prophet.

See the Goodness of God! God had a plan for Jeremiah’s life, just as He has a plan for yours. No one can mess up God’s plan that He has for you BUT YOU. When God made the world, He made it good, because God is good. The world is not a mess because God made it so, but because WE made it so. God made us “in His image, and after His likeness” (Genesis 1:26). God gave us dominion over this planet. God gave us a companion, a spouse of the opposite sex. When the couple became one flesh (Genesis 2:24), they multiplied and filled the earth. When we look at the intricacy of our bodies, we, along with King David, can say:

Psalm 139:14 I will praise Thee {O Lord}; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Our God is SO GOOD! Adam brought sin into the world, and “death by sin. Death passed upon all people, for all are sinners” (Romans 5:12). God could have destroyed all of humanity by wiping out Adam and Eve, but God did not. Why? Why did God allow mankind to continue on? Because “the goodness of God endureth continually” (Psalm 52:1). It is the “the goodness of God {that} leadeth thee to repentance” (Romans 2:4). Praise Him, that …

Psalm 103:10-11 (ESV) {God} does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him;

God did not have to give Jeremiah another chance – but He did. God told Jeremiah that his life was planned before he was even a zygote! “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee”. God wanted Jeremiah to be His Prophet. Jeremiah was frightened by this call.

Jeremiah 1:6 Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

When Moses was called to lead Israel out of Egypt, he gave God a similar excuse as to why he couldn’t fulfill the plan of God. Moses said, “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” (Exodus 4:10). God told Moses, “Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” (Exodus 4:11-12).

If God calls you, He will equip you to do what He calls you to do. Just trust in Him.

God is not only GOOD, but God is FAITHFUL
(1 Corinthians 1:9; 10:13)

God tells Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 1:7-8 … Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

Then God, we are told,

Jeremiah 1:9 … the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

God Is Not Just Good And Faithful, But God Is HOLY

So many people today think of God as “Good”, “Faithful”, and even “Love”. God is indeed all these things. But God is also HOLY and RIGHTEOUS.

Why was Judah being afflicted by Babylon? Was it because God was forgetful, or less than powerful? No! It was because His people began to be UNHOLY and UNRIGHTEOUS.

God’s people are NOT to be UNHOLY or UNRIGHTEOUS. When Jesus Christ was born into this earth, the Angel told Joseph:

Matthew 1:21 {Mary} shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

When God saves a people, He does not allow them to remain in their sins. When God saves a people, He expects His people to follow Him. He said:

Leviticus 20:7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God.

1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

God will not bless an unholy people. He will not bless an unrighteous child. Our God is Holy. Our God is Righteous. I don’t think people understand this concept – even those I have great respect for. For instance …

Illustrate: I was listening to a group of Christian musicians called Mercy Me the other day, hearing their new song entitled “Flawless”. In the song they sing:

“Well let me introduce you to amazing Grace.
No matter the bumps, No matter the bruises;
No matter the scars, Still the truth is;
The cross has made, The cross has made you flawless.
No matter the hurt, Or how deep the wound is,
No matter the pain, Still the truth is,
The cross has made, The cross has made you flawless.”

Is it true that “the Cross has made you flawless”? No, it’s not true. The Cross doesn’t make you flawless.
The Cross makes you blameless.

You will not find a scripture anywhere in the Bible that says that the Cross makes you flawless. You are flawed, and will be flawed while you are on this earth in this life. Jeremiah was “but a child”, unable to do God’s Work. But God told him, “I’ll put the words in your mouth. I’ll give you the words to say.” Moses likewise was not flawless, but flawed. “I am not eloquent”. The Cross doesn’t make you flawless, it makes you blameless. Here’s the Scripture:

Colossians 1:19-23 (ESV) … For in {Jesus} all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through {Jesus} to reconcile to {God} all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 {Jesus} has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation[g] under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

The Cross does not make us flawless. The Cross makes the believer in Jesus three things:

holy
blameless
above reproach

Adam traded …

Paradise for Perdition,
the Garden of Eden for Gehenna,
daily communion with God with contention against God.

Though God is good and faithful and merciful, Adam betrayed God, and brought sin into the world. God is HOLY. He is WITHOUT SIN. When the Prophet Isaiah looked into Heaven, what did he see?

Isaiah 6:1-4 … I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim {angels}. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.

When Isaiah saw God in His holy glory, he cried out “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”. This is the natural state of man. God is holy, without blemish, righteous and true. When we see Him face to face we realize that we do not measure up to God. He is pure. We are flawed, broken creatures. Only when an angel took a burning coal from the altar of God and put it on Isaiah’s lips (Isaiah 6:6), only then was Isaiah’s iniquity purged (Isaiah 6:7).

This is a picture of the Cross of Christ.
The Cross was God’s Altar of sacrifice.
The Lamb of God died on that Cross.
The Lamb of God paid our sin debt on that Cross.

The Cross of Christ does not make us flawless. The Cross makes the believer “holy”. When you believe on the Only Begotten Son of God, God Himself marks you, and enters your life. You become one of His Children. Flawed yes, but a Child Who loves the Father, a Child Who loves Jesus. Because Jesus took the penalty for my sin on Himself while on that Cross of Calvary, I as a believer am “blameless”. Jesus took my blame. He took my punishment. Praise Him, He took the whipping that I should have taken. But not only this, God makes His Children by faith “above reproach”. Jesus not only took our penalty on Himself, but Jesus imputed His righteousness TO US (Romans 4:22-24).

God saved Israel out of Egypt, and Israel is not to be like Egypt anymore. Egypt is worldliness. God saves the Christian out of the world. The Christian is to live in the Kingdom of God, emulating Jesus.
We are not to be like the world.

God gives Jeremiah two visions:

Jeremiah 1:11-12 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. 12 Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

The first vision is “a rod of an almond tree”. The almond tree was also known as “the watching tree”, as the word “almond” is the Hebrew shaqed, but the word for “watching” is the Hebrew shoqed. God was watching over Judah. He was watching to see if they would repent and return to Him Who loved them. Further, it is a “rod”, which is the Hebrew maqqêl, {pronounced mak-kale}. This word is used of the staff that a traveler might use for walking (Genesis 32:11), or when riding an animal (Numbers 22:27). When David went to meet Goliath, he carried a staff with him (1 Samuel 17:40). God was watching His people, watching their unfaithfulness. God was coming to punish them if they would not repent.

The second vision that God gave Jeremiah was …

Jeremiah 1:13-15 And the word of the Lord came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north. 14 Then the Lord said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the Lord; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.

Jeremiah saw a “seething” pot, the Hebrew nâphach, {pronounced naw-fakh’}, which means “a blowing or breathing pot”. When God made Adam from the dust of the Garden, the Scripture says “God breathed {nâphach} into his nostrils the breath of life” (Genesis 2:7). What is coming to Judah is not a breath of life, but a breath of death, defeat, destruction, and disaster. Though Babylon is coming, it is God Who is driving this. Through this God says:

Jeremiah 1:16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.

God punishes sin. God and sin are not compatible. When God (who is GOOD) saves us, He does not save us so we can follow other gods or the works of our hands. He saves us so that we can live as children of the Kingdom of God.

Two of my favorite Presidents are Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln. They were both very humorous men. One story I heard of Abraham Lincoln is that one day he wanted to go out riding, but the horse he tried to ride was extremely skittish. Every time he tried to mount the horse, it would back away, or start bucking and kicking. At one point the horse hooked one of it’s rear hooves in the rider’s stirrup. President Lincoln said to the horse, “If you’re going to get on, my friend, I’m going to get off!”

Who’s In Charge Of The Horse?

I believe what President Lincoln said to the horse is what God is saying to us in America today. He’s saying, “If you’re going to get on, I’m going to get off”. God saved Israel so that Israel could serve Him. He told Pharaoh,

Exodus 7:16 (ESV) Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness.

In the same way, God saves the Christian so that we might serve Him. Pastor Rick Warren said:

“You were saved to serve God. The Bible says, “It is he who saved us and chose us for his holy work not because we deserved it but because that was his plan” (2 Timothy 1:9a TLB). God redeemed you so you could do his “holy work.” You’re not saved by service, but you are saved for service. In God’s Kingdom, you have a place, a purpose, a role, and a function to fulfill. This gives your life great significance and value. It cost Jesus his own life to purchase your salvation. The Bible reminds us, “God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God” (1 Corinthians 6:20 CEV).”

When God saves you, He saves you not to be comfortable, but to live within His plan for your life. We are saved out of the world, and into His Kingdom. The Scripture says:

Romans 14:17 (ESV) For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

If you are in God’s Kingdom by faith in Christ, it is not about YOU …

It is not about YOU …
It is NOT about YOU …

It is about God. We are called to “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”. We are to be like Jesus. If we are in Christ, we are to …

1 Timothy 6:11 flee {the}se things {of the world}; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness …

You may stand alone with God. Yet if you do, you will be in a great place. God told Jeremiah that punishment was coming to Judah because she rejected Him as God. But God told Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 1:17-19 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. 18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defensed city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. 19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.

David stood before Goliath and won. Why? God was with him.

Moses stood before Pharaoh and won. Why? God was with him.

Jeremiah will stand before Judah and win. Why? God was with him.

Stand with the Lord, and you shall be blessed. May God make His Church to do so, for the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen and Amen!

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Jesus’ Prayer From Calvary

Posted on April 1, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
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Turn with me in your Bibles to Psalm 22.

The disciples watched everything Jesus did. Watching Him pray:

Luke 11:1 … as {Jesus} was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

One of His disciples came to Jesus one day and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples”. That was when Jesus taught them what we call the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer we know best in is Matthew 6:9-13, but the Lord’s Prayer is also recorded in:

Luke 11:2-4 And {Jesus} said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

This, I’m sure, is a different “Lord’s Prayer” than the one most of you have memorized; but Luke’s account has all the same elements as does Matthew 6:9-13.

The Lord taught His disciples
How to pray by His example

The Apostles recorded the thirty eight times Jesus prayed in the Gospels. As an Orthodox Jew, Jesus prayed at least three times a day as the Jews normally did. “Evening and morning and at noon will I pray and cry aloud: and God shall hear my voice!” (Psalm 55:17). Jesus prayed all night before He chose the first twelve Apostles (Luke 6:12-16). Jesus prayed various times as He met great challenge and darkness. Jesus prayed in Gethsemane all night prior to his capture, trials, and crucifixion.

Jesus also prayed while He was being crucified, one of the most terrible and shameful forms of death. Jesus prayed as He hung on Calvary:

“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)

Jesus Quoted Psalm 22:1 in His Prayer From Calvary

Psalm 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

Jesus prayer is the introduction to what is known as the Psalm of the Cross. the Psalm begins with the prayer our Lord Jesus on the Cross. Jesus cried out:

My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?

Why did the Father look away from the Son? Why would Father – who always called Jesus “Beloved Son” – forsake Jesus? Because the penalty of our sin was laid fully on Jesus. The Scripture says in

Isaiah 53:5-6 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

God is of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on iniquity (Habakkuk 1:13). The Father laid upon Jesus our iniquity and our transgressions. Jesus Christ came into this world to die on the Cross of Calvary. Jesus came knowing that He was the Lamb of God that takes away sin.

As the Messiah (and David) pray, there is the sense that God the Father is not listening.

Psalm 22:1 … why art Thou so far from helping Me, and from the words of My roaring?

Though these words are not recorded as a prayer that Jesus said from Calvary, I believe
Jesus could have prayed this.

Dr. Bob Utley (retired professor of hermeneutics), in his Bible Commentary, notes:

“ The psalmist is calling on God in direct address with intensity and passion. They know each other! Just a note about Jesus quoting the first part of this psalm from the cross, by that He meant (or an inspired gospel writer) for future readers to read the whole psalm. Quoting the first line was a way to denote a context on a Scripture scroll. ”

Jesus always walked hand in hand with both Father and Spirit. Yet now it seems as if God is so far away, that He might not hear my prayers. Jesus is the Son of Man Who came to this earth living a perfect and sinless life. His mission is to give His life for our sins. In taking sin on Himself, Jesus is cutting Himself off from both Father and Spirit.

Psalm 22 is not only a prayer of David, but it is a prophecy fulfilled when Jesus died for our sins. He did so by losing contact with our Father because of our sin. This prayer continues:

Psalm 22:2-3 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. 3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Though God was seemingly far away, the Psalmist presents a person who continued to both seek as well as to praise the Lord.

Though suffering, Jesus does not attack God in His suffering. He calls God “holy”, and the One Who “inhabit{s} the praises of Israel”. He prays God’s past faithfulness.

Psalm 22:4-6 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. 5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. 6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

The fathers of Israel trusted the Lord, and He delivered them. But God’s only Begotten Son could not be deliver.

On Calvary, Jesus was treated like He was nothing. “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:3). I believe in His honesty He would have shared with the Father – as David did – the suffering he was going through.

None was more reviled in His life than Jesus was. As He was on the Cross,

Psalm 22:7-8 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

Again, this is prophetic, as it was fulfilled . Suffering, none offer any comfort. They mock Him, and scorn Him.

Matthew 27:39-43 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

Jesus received nothing but mockery and pain. Though when He was reviled, reviled not in return; when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.

David prayed,

Psalm 22:9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. 10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly. 11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. 12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. 13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

All (even the Presence of the Father) turned against Jesus while He was on the Cross. . Surrounded by enemies Jesus continues to pray. The Prophet speaks. He prays, acknowledging the terrible pain that gripped Him. His “bones are out of joint” because of the crucifixion. His heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. Jesus is physically exhausted. Blood loss has caused loss of strength and dehydration. “My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws”.

Psalm 22:17-19 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. 19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

Again, this could be Jesus’ prayer. Stretched out on the Cross, you would be able to count the ribs of the condemned. The Bible says in:

John 19:23-24 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. 24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

Jesus is hanging on Calvary, all of His dignity gone! And yet, He continues to pray, to find His strength in His Father.

Psalm 22:20-23 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. 21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. 22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

Though afflicted, this Seeker sought deliverance from His suffering, while continuing to honor the Father. He vowed, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee”. God would be glorified and praised. If you take Psalm 22:1-22 as a prayer, you see a pattern of how we could pray, though afflicted.

Rather than hiding yourself from God, be honest and forthcoming. Bring your questions to the Father. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?” (vs 1). It is ok to share your pain to the Father. It is ok to ask questions. Yet, we are never to condemn God for whatever might come. At no point in this prayer does the sufferer “punch down” on God. As the Psalmist went through hard times in His ministry, He called on God for strength. He called on God to be Present.

In the first 22 verses we see what could be a prayer from the Cross. But as we turn to verse 23 and following, this is no longer a prayer. The remaining verses DO NOT SPEAK TO GOD, BUT SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC. You might call these verses an anointed Word:

Psalm 22:23-24 Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. 24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

We are encouraged to praise God, giving Him glory even in the midst of the trial. If the trial has come to you, it has come at the behest of the Creator. Because we “fear the Lord,we praise him”, because He is good. Our God has never his Himself from the afflicted, but hears our prayers.

Psalm 22:25-27 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. 26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. 27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

The prayer still praises God, because our God is good! (Psalm 73:1). The Scripture says, Matthew 5:45, “God maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust”. Our God is in control! “For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations”(Psalm 22:28). The Jesus Who was reviled, mocked, and tormented relies fully on the Father.

When Jesus is Lord of this earth, “all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before {Him}”. That Day is coming – and I’m looking forward to it. This Psalm ends with the promise of the future:

Psalm 22:29-31 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. 30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. 31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

May your future be firmly rooted in Jesus Christ. Let us worship Him, for He is worthy. As J Vernon McGee once said in Thru The Bible,

“in Psalm 22 we see the cross, in Psalm 23 the crook (the Shepherd’s crook), and in Psalm 24 the crown (the King’s crown). In Psalm 22 Christ is the Savior; in Psalm 23 He is the Satisfier; in Psalm 24 He is the Sovereign. In Psalm 22 He is the foundation; in Psalm 23 He is the manifestation; in Psalm 24 He is the expectation. In Psalm 22 He dies; in Psalm 23 He is living; in Psalm 24 He is coming. Psalm 22 speaks of the past; Psalm 23 speaks of the present; and Psalm 24 speaks of the future. In Psalm 22 He gives His life for the sheep; in Psalm 23 He gives His love to the sheep; in Psalm 24 He gives us light when He shall appear. What a wonderful picture we have of Christ in these three psalms!”

Let us learn to pray like Jesus prayed. And now, to our prayer service. Amen and Amen.

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Be Strong – Grow In Grace

Posted on March 28, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by James Coleman on Unsplash

Turn with me in your Bibles to 2 Timothy chapter 2. A few weeks ago we studied the “faithful sayings” of the Apostle Paul, pistos logos, “faithful is the Word”. We looked at:

2 Timothy 2:11-13 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

I noted then that, if as believers we deny Jesus, that is, to allow that there are other ways to be saved apart from Jesus, or if we affirm that anyone but Jesus is the Messiah, then He will deny us. We can have a crisis of faith – we have all experienced that at times. But we cannot deny Him, or we will be denied.

Look at verse 1:

2 Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Paul exhorts Timothy – a missionary he left at Ephesus – to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”. It is GRACE that saves a person. If we are saved BY GRACE, then our salvation is not of WORKS, otherwise GRACE is no more GRACE (Romans 11:6).

We are not saved by:

religious ritual, by bead counting, by praying to a saint or to Mary.
We are not saved by animal sacrifices, nor by holy water, nor by
ceremonial baptism (which is but a like figure of salvation – 1 Peter 3:21). We are not saved by genuflection, by a human priest’s blessing,
by last rites, by institutions, by human efforts.

We are saved by Grace. 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 anyone should boast”. It is the sacrifice that Jesus made on the Cross that saves me. When I received Jesus as Lord and Savior, believing Him to be the one and only Messiah, the Savior, and believed He died for my salvation, and rose from the grave for my justification – then God the Holy Spirit saves me. It is the Spirit of God that causes the Christian to be “born again”. Not as we were, but as children of God.

It is GRACE that brings us to the new birth. It is GRACE that makes the new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Rituals do nothing. The Apostle said:

Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

But Grace Is Not A Temporal Thing

The Christian is SAVED by GRACE (Ephesians 2:5), but GRACE is also what we live in. The Bible tells us to:

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Grace is something we GROW in. Our focal text says:

2 Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

We are “strong in the grace” when we – when afflicted or placed in the crucible of life – run to the arms of Jesus rather than relying on our strength. “Blessed is the one whose strength is in God” (Psalm 84:5). “Blessed is the one who trusteth in God” (Psalm 84:12). “Blessed is the one that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. But cursed is the one who trusts in man, who makes flesh his arm, whose heart departs from the Lord (Jeremiah 17:5-8). Oh Beloved, we need to be “strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”.

How do we grow in Grace?
How do we get STRONGER in Grace?

We rely upon the Word of God. We rely upon the teaching of the Prophets and the Apostles, this thing we call the Holy Bible. The Apostle tells Timothy (and Timothy is helping establish local churches in Ephesus):

2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Paul says, “the things that thou hast heard of me”, the truths that Paul wrote in the Bible, Timothy was to heed that Word. Timothy was also to teach what he had been taught by the Apostle to “faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also”. The Church and it’s power is derived from the teachings of the Apostles and Prophets found in this Bible.

There was a time when Baptists were called “people of the Book”. When we came together as a Church, every Christian would bring their Bible. We believed the Bible to be the Word of God, inspired of God, and written by holy men as they were “moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). When Jesus was in the Upper Room, teaching His disciples just before His crucifixion, He told them:

John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

The Holy Spirit would come to the Apostles first to teach them the truth of God’s Word. The Holy Spirit would minister to the Apostles first,

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

In the Old Testament, God moved on the Prophets to write the Word of God, the Bible. In the New Testament the Holy Spirit of God moved on the Apostles, causing them to write the sacred scriptures. The Southern Baptist Faith and Message states that the Scriptures are:

… written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation. Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21. (Section I, Baptist Faith & Message, 2000)

The Church and the Christian have lost their power in this present age because we do not believe the Scripture necessary nor sufficient. Consider how few come to our Wednesday night and Sunday night services. If our people believed the Scripture to be sufficient, they would come to hear it and apply it to their lives. Listen Beloved:

You are only STRONG in GRACE and GROWING in GRACE when you feast on the truths of God’s Word.

The early Church grew because …

Acts 2:42 … they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

They “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine”, that is, the writings the Apostles made that we today call the New Testament. These men wrote as empowered by God the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul told Timothy to heed HIS WORDS, and to TEACH THESE WORDS to other people of faith.

Timothy helped local Churches organize in Ephesus. When Paul wrote to the Church at Ephesus, not how he described the Church:

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; {20} And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; {21} In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: {22} In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

The Church is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets”. Paul is speaking of the Bible you have. The FOUNDATION of the Church is not strange and worldly philosophies, but the Holy Scripture, rightly read, studied, and understood.

Illustrate: Recently in USA TODAY I read:

“Penn swimmer Lia Thomas becomes first
trans woman to win NCAA swimming championship”

This biological man beat the women with the best time. The liberal world cheers this. Yet the “Washington Examiner” noted:

“Thomas, formerly known as Will Thomas, competed on the University of Pennsylvania’s men’s swimming team for the first half of his collegiate career before deciding to transition and join the women’s swimming team. When he made the switch, Thomas went from ranking #462 as a male to #1 as a female. He went on to break multiple records at the national level this season. In one December race, he beat the girls swimming against him by nearly 40 seconds. On Thursday, he finished the 500-yard freestyle two seconds ahead of every other swimmer, two of whom were Olympians.”

This is what happens when people depart from the Word of God. The Scripture defines God’s design, whereas Americans today are defying God’s design. What God has established as true and proper are found in this Scripture, this Holy Book. We read:

2 Timothy 2:3-5 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

We as Christians are in a battle for the souls of mankind. On our side is the Holy Scripture, a Scripture that the world, and much of the Church, does not believe. This is why there is mass confusion in America today, because we have as a nation and as a Church departed from the sufficiency of the Scripture. So many professing Christians sit watching hours of television, flooding their souls with the word of man, while ignoring the Word of God.

If you love and adhere to God’s Word, you are going to be in the minority. You will be ridiculed by the enemy. You perhaps will be banned from social media, or even imprisoned for what you believe. Yet we are to continue our allegiance to Jesus Christ and this Word of God – even unto the death.

2 Timothy 2:7-10 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. 8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: 9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Our cause is right, and just. If we are saved by Grace, the Holy Spirit indwells us:

Romans 8:9 ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

You are the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 6:19), and the Spirit of God inhabits you. The Apostle Paul was imprisoned for preaching the Scripture, that “Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead”. Paul said, “I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound”. The Word of God cannot be bound, though we can be. God’s Word is sufficient. God’s Word is sure. It is God’s Word that leads us to Grace and salvation. It is God’s Word that strengthens our faith daily.

We Are To Avoid The Word Of The World,
While Embracing The Word Of God

2 Timothy 2:14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

We are not called to “strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers”. These are the words of the world, the words of Satan. As early as the Book of Genesis – in the Garden of Eden – Satan attacked the Word of God. Satan will always attack the Word of God. What did the devil, that old serpent, say to Eve?

Genesis 3:1 … Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

His accusation – though left handed – was that God was withholding something good from Adam and Eve. Then Satan directly attacks the Word of God:

Genesis 3:4-5 … Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

This is what the devil and the world does. It contradicts the Word of God. It makes God out to be a liar, or a Simon Legree, or Someone worst. As soon as Satan got Eve to suspect the Scripture, it was very little time before she ate the forbidden, and gave also to her husband with her. This is what the devil and the lost world does. They promote a word that causes “subverting of the hearers”, not blessing. If the devil can get you to receive the word of the world over the Word of God, then he can effectually destroy your walk with God. The Apostle told the Church at Thessalonica:

1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

When the words of the Bible are received as “the word of God”, then these words “effectually work{s}” in our lives. The New Testament scriptures are not the words of men, but are the Word of God. The Apostle said in another place:

1 Corinthians 14:37-38 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. {38} But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant …

We are to empty our hearts of the word of the world, and trust the Word of God. The Great Evangelist D.L. Moody wrote:

“I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything that is contrary to God’s law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts. But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God. We must be emptied before we can be filled.”

Human opinion may or may not be right. Human philosophies lead to mass confusion. But God’s Word, the Bible, is true and reliable. Solomon wrote:

Proverbs 30:5-6 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. {6} Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

We cannot compromise with the world.

Christians Are To Study The Scriptures,
In Partnership With God

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

How does one know if they are a genuine Christian? We “Study” the Scriptures. The word “Study” is the Greek spoudazo {pronounced spoo-dad’-zo}, “be diligent to study, apply oneself toward, to focus on and apply to the life”. The word “approved” is the Greek dokimos {pronounced dok’-ee-mos}, which means “genuine, true, of good value”. How does one know you are a Christian? By studying the Word of God. By not just reading it, but applying it’s teachings to your life. If your Christian walk is in accordance to the Word of God, then you are where you need to be.

The Pharisees often attacked Jesus, believing themselves to be genuinely saved and anointed of God. Yet Jesus often chastised the Pharisees because they turned away from the Word of God, twisting it by their traditions. Jesus indicted them, saying:

Mark 7:9-13 … Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. {10} For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: {11} But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. {12} And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; {13} Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Jesus declared that the Pharisees were charlatans, pretenders to faith, because they did not adhere to the Scripture. The Scripture commands that we “honor our father and mother” (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; Matthew 15:4). We are to take care of our families. The Pharisees developed a system called “Corban”, and dedicated moneys that they wanted to preserve as “Corban” or dedicated to God. When their parents needed help, the Pharisee would say, “The only free money I have is Corban, dedicated to God”. By their man made laws and customs, the Pharisees violated the Word of God.

The Lord orders us to study Scripture but not human opinion. Human opinion comes from a sinful source, and ultimately does not profit the user. What does Paul tell us:

2 Timothy 2:16-18 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

We are to study and revere the Word of God, but are to “shun profane and vain babblings”. We are to reject the liberal agenda. The liberal, progressive nonsense that television is pushing as normative is destroying the family in America – which is what Satan loves to do. These things are “profane and vain babblings”. “Profane” is the Greek βέβηλος bébēlos, {pronounced beb’-ay-los}, which means “wicked, unlawful, unholy”. The words “vain babblings” is but one word in the Greek κενοφωνία kenophōnía, {pronounced ken-of-o-nee’-ah}, which means “empty discussions, words that are useless and fruitless”. As Christians, we are NOT to engage in the false teachings of this world. We are to SHUN the PROFANE, the WICKED, the EVIL. We are to SHUN the empty things the world promotes as truth. Why? Because these things do nothing to build UP our faith. They, on the other hand, tear down our faith. In short,

Turn off the Television, and open the Book!

You prove yourself a genuine believer by measuring up to the Word of God. Let us assume you say:

“I am a Christian going to Heaven. I am also living in a sexual relationship outside of Biblical marriage.”

What does the Scripture say? We read in Scripture of those who live in sexual sin in:

Romans 1:21-32 … when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

A cursory reading of this Scripture tells us that the person who says,

“I am a Christian going to Heaven. I am also living
in a sexual relationship outside of Biblical marriage.”

is not true. The Christian’s lifestyle will adhere to the standard of this Book. We learn of Christ from this Book. We learn of salvation from this Book. We learn how a child of God is to live from this Book. “Profane and vain babblings” always lead to “more ungodliness”. We are not to allow this nonsense into our midst.

The Apostle very rarely names people in his writings, but here he speaks of two men:

2 Timothy 2:17-18 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

The word of the world “eats like a canker, a cancer”. There are many churches today infected with the cancer of the word of this world. Paul refers to two men, “Hymenaeus and Philetus”, who brought the word of the world into the local Church. Paul talks about “Hymenaeus” here, as well as in:

1 Timothy 1:18-20 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; 19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

“Hymenaeus and Alexander” were blasphemers, speaking untruths against God. They might have been the first among those who preach an “all faiths inclusive” doctrine, or what gibberish I often hear, “there are many ways to Heaven”. This is blasphemy. Jesus said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: No one comes to the Father BUT BY ME” (John 14:6). False teaching and false teachers always lead people away from the faith, and away from Grace. This is why we are to reject it.

God’s Word is true.

Let us end with these words:

2 Timothy 2:19-20 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.

The Lord knows who are His children. If you are a Child of God, you are to “depart from iniquity”. The Family of God is a GREAT HOUSE, a fantastic dynasty ordered with Christ at its Head, and believers – built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets (the Bible). In any GREAT HOUSE there are many different containers. Some containers are “vessels of gold and of silver”, whereas others are “vessels of wood and of earth”. Some vessels contain honorable things, but others dishonorable.

We are to strive to be vessels of honorable things. We do this by studying and applying God’s Word to our lives. We believe what the Apostles and Prophets believe. We adhere to the truths of Scripture, though none go with us. The Apostle says,

2 Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

The Lord will not use you unless your view is HIS view. Your mind must be HIS mind. We are to follow His Word. The days are short – judgment is coming. Jesus could come any day. May God move on us to cherish His Word. Amen and Amen.

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Reject Not The Counsel Of God

Posted on March 27, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by arquidis molina on Unsplash

Turn with me in your Bibles to Luke 7 verse 28.

Opening: When I was a little boy – around 7 years old – my high tech was a little pocket radio. It wasn’t much – I don’t even remember where I got it. It ran on one 9 volt battery. I kept myself in batteries by digging into the cracks of couch and chair cushions looking for lost change. That little radio only received the AM stations. The station I loved listening to was WKIX (850 AM). WKIX played rock and pop music – this was long before RAP or Hip Hop had come along. I loved singing to the radio, and tried my best to memorize those songs.

There was one song that came out in 1965. The lyrics were by songwriter Hal David, and the music by Burt Bacharach. That song was “What The World Needs Now Is Love”. When Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1968, singer Jackie DeShannon’s version of the song was played over and over on the radio. I loved and memorized the song:

What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
No not just for some, but for everyone

What was interesting about the song – and something I didn’t realize until just the other day – is that the song is addressed to God. The song only has two stanzas. Listen to the first stanza:

Lord, we don’t need another mountain
There are mountains and hillsides enough to climb
There are oceans and rivers enough to cross
Enough to last ’til the end of time

“Lord, don’t you know …”. We need to tell infinite and eternal God, the Creator of all things, that we need love. Now listen to the second stanza:

Lord, we don’t need another meadow
There are cornfields and wheat fields enough to grow
There are sunbeams and moonbeams enough to shine
Oh listen, Lord, if you want to know

What gets me now that I am much older, and a Christ follower, is that we humans thought we needed to tell God we need more love. God has been telling us this from the beginning of human history. We didn’t need to forbidden fruit that Adam ate. We don’t really need most of the things we possess. We all need love. We all need Jesus! It’s not God’s fault that we don’t have Jesus. It’s our fault. If you have Jesus, you will love. If you have received Jesus as Lord and Savior, you will love. The Apostle said:

1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

When Jesus came to this earth from Heaven, leaving His glorious Throne, He walked among us, showing us what love looks like. We are told in

1 John 4:16 … we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Salvation comes when we “know and believe the love that God has toward us”. We believe that we are sinners in need of the Savior. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior sent of God the Father to this earth. We believe that faith in Jesus brings forgiveness of sins. Hiding in the shadow of His Cross, we who believe and have been saved by the love of Christ, we now love those who are near us.

The Pharisees And Scholars Of The Law
Of Moses Rejected Both John And Jesus

The forerunner of Jesus the Messiah was John the Baptist. John baptized people to prepare them for the coming of the Messiah. Jesus said of John:

Luke 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

Why was John the greatest prophet, of all the prophets up until this moment? Because the other prophets foresaw the coming of Christ, but John actually saw the coming of Christ. John baptized Jesus, and heard the Father say, “This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). John was the forerunner of Jesus, Incarnate God, Himself baptized by John. If God is love, and He is, Jesus is the manifestation of Who God is. Jesus loved. He loved everyone.

Jesus loved the blind, the cripple, the diseased, the disenfranchised, the demon possessed, and the dead. Jesus lovingly touched and healed whosoever would come to Him, humbled and believing.

John endorsed Jesus, and Jesus endorsed John. From that moment on those who believed …

Luke 7:29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John

Word Study: “Justified God”. In the Bible it says that God justifies us {Greek δικαιόω dikaióō, [pronounced dik-ah-yo’-o]} when we believe on Jesus (Romans 3:21-26; 4:5-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Justification is when God declares you righteous, right in His sight, because Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sin. We are told in Romans 5:9, “Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” But what does it mean that the people and the sinners called “publicans” “Justified God” when they were baptized? It means that they proved their faith in God by their actions. They declared God righteous, and Jesus to be the only sent Redeemer from Heaven.

A saved or “justified” person will prove their inward faith by outward acts of obedience.

But not all “Justified God”. We read:

Luke 7:30 BUT the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

The Pharisees and Lawyers (NOT Lawyers like our Brother Jerry Bridenbaugh is, but Lawyers who specialized in the study of the Law of Moses) rejected the testimony of God. When John came baptizing, he did so at the direction of God (Isaiah 40:3-5; Malachi 3:1; 4:5). What John did, he did in love and obedience to the Father. What he did was “the testimony of God”. Further, Jesus endorsed John’s ministry. As Jesus is the Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, then His endorsement is “the testimony of God”. Further, when Jesus was baptized by John, the Holy Spirit of God descended and lit on Jesus (Luke 3:22). This is “the testimony of God”. The Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the threefold “testimony of God” by refusing the Triune Witness that came through John’s the Baptist’s ministry.

As this is like a courtroom setting, and the Three Witnesses of God have been rejected, Jesus as a Chief Prosecutor sums up the state’s case against the Pharisees and Lawyers.

Luke 7:31-32 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? {Jesus is speaking of the Pharisees & Lawyers} and to what are they like? 32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

The Pharisees and Lawyers consider themselves the Elders of Israel. What does Jesus say they are? Prosecutor Jesus says, “they are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another”. They are “sitting in the marketplace”. The “marketplace” is where buying and selling goes on. They are neither buying nor selling. John the Baptist came representing the Kingdom of God, and Jesus Christ it’s King. John came on a mission from God. In the Marketplace of Human Ideas John taught that we are all sinners, and that as sinners John preached that we are to “bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin] (Matthew 3:8, Amplified Version). In repentance the sinner turns to God, and turns away from sin. In repentance the sinner’s eyes are on Jesus!

The Pharisees and Lawyers refused to repent. They “rejected the counsel of God” by refusing to submit to baptism – their hearts were hardened. They “SAT in the marketplace”, neither buying nor selling, doing all they could to disrupt the business at hand. They were useless. Not only were they like orange cones disrupting a busy highway, the Pharisees and Lawyers spent their time “calling one to another”. Vendors in the Marketplace would call out the names of their products. John kept calling out “Jesus”, trying to get a lost world to come to the Savior. Not only did the Pharisees and Lawyers refuse to sell, they impeded what John and Jesus were selling. Why?

Because it was all about them. Their agenda had nothing to do with God, nor the Kingdom of Heaven. They wanted to be gods, wanted to be the center of attention. “We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept”.

The whole point of the Pharisee and the Lawyer was
confusion. They were agents of confusion.

What they said was confusion. Jesus indicted them:

Luke 7:33-35 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. 34 The Son of man {that’s Jesus} is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! 35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.

They couldn’t be pleased unless you were dancing to their tune. The Pharisees and Lawyers – who should have been staunch defenders of God and His Word – were agents of darkness and rubes of Satan. The Pharisees and Lawyers were not concerned with the love of God, nor with loving God. They were concerned with what would make them happy. Period! Jesus told these unbelievers, “wisdom is justified of all her children”. That is, if you are following wisdom (the way of God) then it will be proved by the fruit of your life. The Pharisees and Lawyers had no good fruit. The fruit of their lives was to tear down and destroy the souls of others. The fruit of John the Baptist’s life and Jesus’ life was to draw people into the Kingdom of God. This proverb is much like the proverb of Luke 6:44-45, “each tree is known by it’s fruit. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh”.

Self Righteous People Will Never Understand Grace

But Jesus is not done with the Pharisees. We read:

Luke 7:36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.

Here we see the depth of the love of Jesus! Jesus is not one Who says, “Do what I say, but NOT what I do”. No, Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Plain:

Luke 6:29-30 … unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. 30 Give to every man that asketh of thee …

Jesus has been frequently attacked by Pharisees. The Pharisees are “filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus” (Luke 6:11). Jesus healed people on the Sabbath Day, a terrible offense to the Pharisees and Lawyers. They were constantly picking, plotting, planning harm to the Lord. A Pharisee named Simon the Leper invites Jesus to dinner (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8). A lesser man would have run, but not our Jesus. Jesus Christ came to this earth to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Though repeatedly rebuffed by the Pharisees, Jesus still wanted to save them from the snare of self righteousness.

Then a Pharisee invites Jesus to dinner.

Though Luke does not give his name, Matthew (26:6) and Mark (14:3) both call him Simon the Leper. He was Simon “the Leper” because at one time he had leprosy, a terrible affliction in the early world. Leprosy was easily diagnosed, as it is a skin disease. The Law of God diagnosed what leprosy looked like, but did not offer a cure for leprosy. For this reason leprosy was often used as a symbol representing sin in the Bible. When Miriam, Moses’ sister was given leprosy when she failed to trust God (Numbers 12:5-9). Elisha’s servant Gehazi is given leprosy because he is greedy (2 Kings 5:20). Joab, King David’s nephew, was cursed with leprosy because he murdered Abner (2 Samuel 3:29). And King Uzziah offered incense in the Temple to himself, causing God to inflict him with leprosy (2 Chronicles 26). Leprosy, a real disease, is often used to illustrate sin.

Leprosy corrupts.
Sin corrupts.
Leprosy destroys families.
Sin destroys families.
Leprosy can kill.
Sin can kill.
Leprosy makes a person alone, separated from God and friends.
Sin makes a person alone, separated from God and friends.
Leprosy is diagnosed by the Law.
Sin is diagnosed by the Law.
The Law cannot cure Leprosy – only God can.
The Law cannot cure sin – only God can.

Simon had been a leper, but he is also a Pharisee – so he knows what the Law says. The Law says:

Leviticus 13:46 … as long as the plague is in the leper, he is defiled and unclean. He shall dwell alone outside of normal society – he is not allowed in the city (author’s paraphrase).

Simon would have never been at his home, much less invited Jesus to his home if he were still a leper. God in His Grace healed Simon of leprosy!
Simon had no reason to be self righteous!

Then a woman enters Simon’s home. We read:

Luke 7:37-38 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

This woman had been afflicted by the leprosy of sin for much of her life. Whereas Simon is known as “The Leper”, she is merely “A Sinner”. Why was this woman at Simon’s home? The Soniclight Commentary notes that “Social custom allowed needy people to visit such meals and to partake of some of the leftovers. Moreover it was not unusual for people to drop in when a rabbi was visiting”. Luke does not tell us what this woman’s sin is, though we can guess. The woman brings an “alabaster box of ointment”, an item that would have been extremely costly. Small alabaster vials filled with costly perfumes were often worn on a cord around the neck. This woman “wash{ed Jesus’} feet with tears, and wipe{d} them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment”. As Simon watches this, he judges both Jesus as well as this woman.

Luke 7:39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

This leads us to believe that this woman was a prostitute. Joel B. Green in his book “The Gospel of Luke” called her “a prostitute by vocation, a whore by social status”. This woman not only washes Jesus’ feet – she KISSES His feet repeatedly – a sign of humility, love, and deep respect.

When Simon sees this, he “spake within himself”, condemning Jesus as no Prophet, much less a Rabbi – and this woman as a “sinner”, a defiled person God would have nothing to do with. Jesus knows what Simon is thinking. He says:

Luke 7:40-43 … Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

Word Study: First we need to note Simon’s hypocrisy. Though in his mind he has judged Jesus as “no prophet”, he calls Jesus “Master”, the Greek διδάσκαλος didáskalos, {pronounced did-as’-kal-os}, a reference to a “master Teacher”. Religion and the Law of Rites and Sacrifices often makes hypocrites – and this is no exception. Jesus gives a beautiful illustration with two men who owed much, though one owed 50 pence and the other 500. Jesus asked Simon, “if both debts were forgiven these men, and neither had the money to pay, then which man would love the creditor more?” The answer is simple.

The one who owed the most.

Now, WHO is the one who owed the most? For years I thought it was this unnamed woman. But now I don’t think that is the case. Simon had leprosy, a terrible disease that is symbolic of sin. God has intervened in his life, curing him, and restoring Simon back to his home and his family. Simon should be immensely grateful to God for what He has done. But instead, Simon doesn’t feel grateful. Simon is a Pharisee. He follows the Law. Simon deserved to be healed, because he kept the Law of God as all Pharisees did. And as a keeper of the Law, Simon is upset that this tramp would come in his home, and wash Jesus’ feet. Oh, and by the way –

Simon was doing Jesus a favor by allowing Him to come into his home! How dare Jesus allow this woman to come in and wash His feet! Simon is blinded by self righteousness. Jesus now highlights this woman’s actions.

Luke 7:44-47 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

Saving faith comes to Jesus, and bows down at His feet. Saving faith clings to Jesus, adoring
Jesus as the Savior and Lord.

Simon had been greatly blessed by God. One commentary suggested that Simon might have been a leper that Jesus Himself healed, and so he now invited Christ to his home to “even up the score”. I don’t know if that’s true or not. I do know this.

You cannot be saved and NOT love Jesus. “We love Him, for He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Though Jesus was a Guest in Simon’s home, he made no effort to provide even the smallest amenity – like a wash basin and a cloth – to the Lord. He fed Jesus, but begrudgingly. The woman, on the other hand, ministered to Jesus. She ministered to God! Jesus said, “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little”.

Luke 7:48-50 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Jesus forgave the woman’s sins. Why? Because the Bible says:

Psalm 51:17 (NET) The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit – O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.

There has never been an animal sacrifice that made payment for sin. God allowed animal sacrifices and rituals, such as those found in the Mosaic Law, to teach Israel that sin can only be covered by Blood. It is not the Blood of animals that makes payment for sin. Oh no! It is

1 John 1:7 (ESV) … the Blood of Jesus {God’s} Son cleanses us from all sin ..

Because Jesus died for our sins, and we have called upon Him believing, Jesus has said, “Your sins, which are many, are forgiven. Your faith in Me has saved you. Go in peace!”. The others wondered, “Who is this that forgives sins also”? It is Jesus, and only Jesus. Our Lord Jesus said:

John 5:22-27 the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

Have you received the Lord Jesus as your one and only Savior? If not, I beg you, turn to Him and live! There is salvation in Jesus. He can forgive you all your sins, and bring you into the Kingdom of God. Jesus can baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and empower you to walk daily with Him. Through Christ we have the victory! Blessed be His holy Name! May the Spirit move you to come surrendered to Jesus. Amen and amen!

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Jonah’s Prayer

Posted on March 25, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Turn with me in your Bibles to the Book of Jonah. I love the Book of Jonah. Some believe that Jonah is only a fairy-tale. After all, how can a whale swallow a man? But Jesus didn’t consider Jonah to be a fairy-tale. Jesus used Jonah to describe His death, burial, and resurrection. Our Lord said:

Matthew 12:40 For as {Jonah} was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The King James translation of “the whale’s belly” is unfortunate. This is the Greek κῆτος κοιλία kētos koilia, which means “a sea monster’s belly, the belly of a great fish”. Jesus never said Jonah was in a whale. Our Lord knew the Scripture, and knew that the Book of Jonah says:

Jonah 1:17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Word Study: “a great fish” is the Hebrewגָּדוֹל דָּג gâdôwl, {pronounced gaw-dole’} dâg, {pronounced dawg} or GREAT FISH. Whales are not carnivorous, feeding only on small plankton in the ocean water. The Lord “had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah”.

Why did Jonah get swallowed? He got swallowed because he allowed anger and a desire for revenge on his enemies to consume him.

People Need To Read Their Bibles

I often have people tell me, “God doesn’t make us do anything. He has given us free will!”. If you agree with this, you need to read your Bible. Our God, He is Lord. He is in control of all things, and decides what will be. This is what we call sovereignty. Our God “works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11). If God is NOT sovereign, then how can the Scripture promise:

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

There is no “working together for good” if God is not in control. “By Christ Jesus all things consist or are held together” (Colossians 1:17). God said in

Isaiah 45:5-7 I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. 7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create {calamity}: I the Lord do all these things.

And the Psalmist said in 115:3 (ESV), “Our God is in Heaven; He does whatever pleases Him”. King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 19:21 (ESV), “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”. The stepbrother of Jesus, James said in 4:14-15 (ESV), “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that”.

Our God is in control. Yes, He has given us free will, but HIS WILL will triumph. God does not bow to us, but we bow to HIM. He is God. He is the Potter, and we are the clay. He is the Shepherd, and we the sheep.

Are you at Jonah? Let’s start at verse 1:

Jonah 1:1-2 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

God chose Jonah to go to Ninevah, the capital city of Assyria, and “cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me”. The Bible says that God “makes nations great and destroys them” (Job 12:23, NIV). Ninevah’s “wickedness {has} come up before God”. It’s wickedness is out of control. God does NOT have to warn Ninevah. When the world became so wicked and,

Genesis 6:5-7 … God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

God did not send a messenger to the world to warn it to repent. He told Noah to build a boat. I’m sure Noah told people what he was doing, and why – but God did not have to warn anyone. When God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah He sent angels to evacuate Lot’s family (see Genesis 19). The angels warned no one about the impending destruction that God was going to bring.

God didn’t have to warn Ninevah. But He did. He wanted Jonah to go and tell Ninevah about the impending destruction. Now, God didn’t tell Jonah why He wanted to give Ninevah a chance. He just told Jonah to go. It is only at the end of the book of Jonah that we are told why God gave Ninevah a chance to repent. God tells Jonah at the end of this book:

Jonah 4:11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than six score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

A “score” is twenty, so “six score thousand persons” is 120,000 people that God wanted to spare destruction. Who were these people? They were those who don’t know their right hand from their left. Who is that? God is speaking of little children. There are 120,000 little children in Ninevah. Jesus loves the little children. When the disciples tried to keep the little children from coming to Jesus, the Bible says:

Mark 10:13-15 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, {Allow} the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

God loves little children. He wants the little children to come to Him, to be saved. God is sparing Ninevah because there are 120,000 little children, children that do not know their right hand from their left.

But Jonah …

God told Jonah to go. What did Jonah do? We read:

Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

Jonah was foolish. He thought he could hide from God. God is not only omnipotent, all powerful, but God is also omnipresent, everywhere. You cannot hide from God. The Bible says “no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of {God}” (Hebrews 4:13, ESV). Jonah thought that by running to Tarshish (about 2500 miles from Ninevah) he would be far enough away to where God could not make him go to Ninevah. Jonah wanted Ninevah destroyed, not saved. But God wanted Ninevah saved. God had been working in the hearts of those people, and needed Jonah to tell them to repent.

Jonah 1:4 But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

You can’t run away from God. God said in Jeremiah 23:24, “Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? Declares the Lord. Do I not fill Heaven and earth?”

God is everywhere. Jonah is not hiding from God. The ship begins to toss about on the waves, but Jonah is napping. His crew mates first woke Jonah up:

Jonah 1:6 So the ship master came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.

People get very religious when death comes near. The ship master had a multi-faith prayer meeting to ask whatever god there is to spare them. He demanded Jonah’s prayers, too. Then they began to think, “Let’s cast lots, and see if we can find out who God is mad at” (my paraphrase). The lot landed on Jonah. The Bible says:

Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.

God controls the outcome of the lot. And the lot falls on Jonah. Jonah tells them to throw him in the ocean (verse 12), and let him perish. This will calm the waters. Jonah thought he was dead. But God had other plans for Jonah.

Jonah’s Pain Brought Out Jonah’s Prayer

Jonah is in the belly of a great fish that God specifically prepared to swallow him. This isn’t like the cartoons, where Jonah is sitting in a boat with a lantern to keep the darkness at bay. No, Jonah is swallowed, but nothing else. Jonah is having to struggle to breath, and in pitch black darkness. The smell of rotted fish is thick in the air. Jonah is in a worst state than any have ever been in. Samson was blinded, and tied to pillars to be mocked. Joseph was cast in a pit, then sold into slavery by his brothers. Daniel was carried off into Babylonian captivity, losing family and lands. Jonah is in a worst place. He can’t run. He can’t move about. He can’t see. But Jonah can pray. Jonah cries out:

Jonah 2:2 I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

Jonah is in “the belly of hell”, but he knows that God can still hear him. When he was running from God, he was doing something that only an insane person would do. But now that he is in “the belly of hell”, he comes to himself. Jonah is much like the Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son. The Prodigal Son takes his inheritance, leaves home, and squanders all he owns. When he is out of money, and can only find work as a hog farmer, trapped by his sin, the Prodigal …

Luke 15:17-20 (ESV) … came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father.

When the Prodigal got home, he found out that his Father is merciful. Jonah is counting on the mercy of God for himself.

Psalm 130:2 (ESV) O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

Jonah 2:3-4 For Thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all Thy billows and Thy waves passed over me. 4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward Thy holy temple.

Jonah acknowledges that it is GOD Who had him cast overboard. It is GOD Who caused Jonah to be swallowed by a great fish. Jonah acknowledged his foolishness, and promised to “look again toward Thy holy temple”. When the Prophet Daniel was taken away in captivity by Babylon, the Bible says that

Daniel 6:10 … {Daniel} went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God

Jonah repenting, promised that he would pray toward Jerusalem again.

Jonah 2:5-7 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. 6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God. 7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

As Jonah prays, he repents and acknowledges the great Grace of God. Jonah closes his prayer with:

Jonah 2:8-9 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. 9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.

Jonah promises to live as a believer, to obey God as a good servant should. In his misery I believe Jonah was sincere. But once God released Jonah, Jonah did the bare minimum in telling the Ninevites about repenting. Though Jonah prayed, “Salvation is of the Lord”, he didn’t really believe it. But salvation IS of the Lord. The Lord can use broken creatures like Jonah – and like us. Praise God that salvation does not rely on us, but on God the Holy Spirit and the Holy Word of God. Pastor Steven Lee, North Campus of Bethlehem Baptist Church wrote:

“Be persistent in prayer, knowing your God is even more persistent in mercy. … Of all the people who shouldn’t have expected their prayers to be answered, it was Jonah. He openly rebelled against God. When God called, he ran in the opposite direction. He jumped aboard a ship and tried to flee the Sovereign of the seas. Even when the storms raged, he refused to pray for deliverance. He would have rather drowned than repented. And yet, out of this watery grave, he comes to his senses and cries out — and wonder of wonders, God listens and answers.”

Our God is merciful and loving. He not only wanted to save Ninevah for the sake of 120,000 children, but He wanted to use a broken vessel like Jonah to do it. Why? Because “salvation is of the Lord”. Though Jonah does a pitiful job of preaching to the Ninevites, that great city does get saved.

Jonah 3:5-9 … the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

Does Jonah rejoice at their salvation? No, he doesn’t. In fact, Jonah gets mad at God for being so merciful. Jonah prays once more unto God:

Jonah 4:2-3 … I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

The fact that God IS “gracious, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness”, is the very reason that Jonah did not get digested by that fish. God is gracious, and merciful, slow to anger, and kind. He loves everyone, and gives whosoever will an opportunity to repent and run into His arms.

Would that we all understand this great truth. Let us pray! Amen and Amen!

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Who Will Not Be In Paradise?

Posted on March 22, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
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The Book of Revelation is a vision that the Apostle John had when he was exiled by the Roman Government to the prison island called Patmos. Left on that island for dead, Jesus came to John, and showed him things to come. One of the greatest parts of this Book (and all parts are wonderful) is when John looked into Paradise, the Kingdom of God. What did John see there?

Revelation 21:1-7 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

The Bible Begins And Ends With Paradise

The Bible begins with Adam and Eve in a perfect Paradise called Eden, a place on this earth. But Adam’s sin brought corruption to this entire world. Every person born of Adam, every plant reproduced from that time, every animal, every creature, even the bacteria unseen – all things became corrupted by Adam’s sin. The bad news of the Scripture is:

Romans 5:12 … by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned

Everything poisonous, deadly, pain creating, harmful, hurtful came into this present world with Adam’s sin. Not only did Adam bring spiritual death on himself and his descendants, he brought corruption into the animal world. God told Adam, “Cursed is the ground of earth because of what you did. You will labor and sorrow because of this curse all the days of your life. The ground will bring forth thorns and thistles – and you’ll have to labor in the field to be fed” (paraphrase of Genesis 3:17-19). Adam’s sin brought what Darwin erroneously called “The survival of the fittest” into what had previously been the Garden of God. Blood was spilled in Eden because of Adam’s sin. The Scripture says that the animal kingdom itself groans, waiting for the end of sin’s reign on this earth. We read:

Romans 8:19-24 (ESV) … the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved.

The world itself now groans under the misery
of sin and corruption.

But once God completes His Church, once the saved are gathered into Heaven, at the end of time God will create a new heaven and a new earth. This is a reference not to the Heaven where God is, but the heavens or the atmosphere around this earth. God will recreate this world, and all that is in it. Sin will be eradicated. God will put a New Jerusalem on the earth, a place where God the Son will rule and reign over this planet. When that happens there will be no more tears, nor suffering, nor death. Jesus upon the Throne, ruling from the New Jerusalem, will decree “I make all things new”. Jesus is the “Alpha and Omega” (Revelation 22:13-16) Who will live with us on this new earth forever.

What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see;
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace.
When He takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land;
What a day, glorious day that will be!

Not All Will Enter Heaven, Nor The New Paradise

But then – we come to a glaring stop! Right after talking about this wonderful restored Eden on earth, the Apostle records these words:

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Not everyone will be in the New Jerusalem, nor on the restored earth. Some will reject the Alpha and Omega. Some will reject the Gospel of salvation, and continue living their lives in darkness. When He walked this earth, Jesus said:

John 3:17-20 (ESV) … God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

Many have heard the Gospel since Jesus died on Calvary, but many reject it, for to be saved is to turn from darkness to light. Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will NOT walk in darkness, but will have the LIGHT of life” (John 8:12).

Those who reject Jesus as Christ AND Lord, as Messiah AND God, will NOT enter Paradise.

When Adam sinned, both he and Eve were cast out of Paradise. “God drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24).

The unrepentant sinner will not be in Heaven, nor in the recreated Paradise of the New Jerusalem. Where will the unrepentant sinner be? John is quite specific:

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death

Here we see eight categories of unrepentant sinners that will not be in glory with Jesus, but will be cast into “the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone”. We are introduced to this horrible lake in Revelation 20 at the Great White Throne of God. This the Throne that every unbeliever will one day stand before. When an unbeliever dies rejecting Jesus, that unbeliever immediately goes to a place called hades or hell. Our Lord Jesus believed in this place of torment. In Luke Chapter 16 Jesus spoke of a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. When the beggar died, he was “carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom”. All believers go to that place of faith. But the “rich man died, and IN HELL lifted up his eyes, being in TORMENTS” (Luke 16:23). The rich man was not annihilated. He felt torment, and knew what a horrible place he was in. The rich man was in HELL, the Greek ᾅδης háidēs, {pronounced hah’-dace}. He could not leave that place, nor could anyone come to him to give him relief.

Hades is a horrible place. It is a prison of fire, a prison where the sinner, rejecting the light of Christ, stays until the
Great White Throne Judgment.

At that Great White Throne the dead, small or great, stand before God to be judged. I believe they stand before the Jesus that they rejected in this life. Jesus said, “The Father judges no one, but has given ALL JUDGMENT to the Son” (John 5:22, ESV). Those who stand before the Lord Jesus to be judged will have their works exposed as sinful. None will escape. “Death and HELL (háidēs, Hades) deliver up the dead which were in them” (Revelation 20:13). All unbelievers stand before Jesus. The Bible says:

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Who Will Be Consigned To The Lake Of Fire?

The believer in Christ – the “workmanship of God” (Ephesians 2:10), the “Good Shepherd’s sheep who follow Him” (John 10:4) – will be eternally in a restored Eden called New Jerusalem. We will be on an earth without sin, an earth where there is no sin and no killing.

Isaiah 11:6-9 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

But unbelievers will not be there. Unbelievers are characterized as:

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful … shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone…

Word Study: “The fearful”, the Greek “δειλός deilós, {pronounced di-los’}” means “the faithless”. Jesus equated a surrender to fear as an outward expression of faithlessness or unbelief. The same word is used by Jesus when He was asleep on board a ship when a storm arose. The disciples “woke Jesus up, saying, “Lord, save us, we perish” (Matthew 8:25-26; also Mark 4:40). Jesus told them,

“Why are ye FEARFUL (deilós), O ye of little faith?”

There are times when we all experience fear, but to live in fear rather than faith is the action of an unbeliever. The Apostle John wrote in another place,

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Those who are daily living “fearful” rather than faithfully may not be saved. The “fearful” will one day be in the Lake of Fire.

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving

Unbelievers in Jesus will be in that Lake of Fire forever. The soul is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27; 9:6). Though man is a sinner, “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

If a person rejects Jesus as the One Messiah, the Christ, and dies in a state of unbelief, that person will FIRST be cast into Hades then at the Great White Throne
into the Lake of Fire.

The Bible warns that to leave this life without Christ is to be in a state of condemnation.

Revelation 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

Oh Beloved, do not leave this life unbelieving. Turn to Jesus. Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2)!

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable …

Word Study: The word “abominable” is the Greek βδελύσσω bdelýssō, {pronounced bdel-oos’-so}, which means “that which stinks, is disgusting, or detested by God – an abomination”. God told Israel:

Leviticus 18:29-30 For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. 30 Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.

What were the “abominations” that God said would not be among His people. Well, if you read Leviticus chapter 18, God is quite explicit.

Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination (Hebrew תּוֹעֵבַה tôwʻêbah, {pronounced to-ay-baw’}, “that which is abominable, an abomination, morally repugnant”)

Many balk at this, saying, “Well, that was the OLD Testament. We are people of the NEW Testament. That’s true. But in the NEW Testament the Apostle says in

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NKJV) “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”

Those that are excluded from Paradise are sexual sinners, unbelievers, greedy people, drunkards, and those who harm others financially or physically. These are not the only abominations God speaks of. In the Book of Proverbs there are seven things listed as “an abomination to God” (Hebrewtôwʻêbah):

Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Sexual sin is a violation of God’s design (for male and female He made them – Genesis 1:27). But pride, a false witness, killing an innocent, the wicked imaginations of the heart, the troublemaker, the one continually stirring up trouble – these are all abominations before God.

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers…

Word Study: “Murderers” are those who, without justification, take a human life. Whether we punish the murderer or not in this life, God will punish them in the next. The word “whoremongers” is the Greek πόρνος pornos, which refers to “sexual sinners”. The Bible refers to sexual sins as homosexual, bestial, sexual intercourse with someone outside of marriage, or sexual intercourse that breaks the vows of marriage. Our Lord Jesus said:

Matthew 15:19-20 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Sexual sins defile people. Those who are saved by faith in Christ step away from the darkness of sexual sin in order to walk with Jesus in the light of God’s Grace.

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters…

Two words are used here to designate faith in anything BUT God. Those who are “sorcerers” (Greek pharmakeusin) are those who use drugs, portions, charms, or enchantments in order to invoke the spirit world to meet a need. God said of sorcery:

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord …

Those who reject Christ, and cling to the darkness doing those things which God has said are unacceptable in this life – they shall not enter Heaven, nor shall they be a part of God’s restored Eden, the New Jerusalem.

But no one has to have, as their final destination, the Lake of Fire that burns forever. Jesus calls whosoever will to come to Him, and receive Him as Christ and Lord. Jesus tells us as this wonderful Book of Revelation closes:

Revelation 22:14-17 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Heaven or hell, it is each person’s choice. Will you receive Jesus as Christ and Lord? Or will you cling to the darkness into eternity. The choice is entirely yours. May you make the right decision. Receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Do so this very day. Jesus Christ came to this earth to save sinners from their sins. Praise Him for it! Amen and Amen!

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The Nature Of Marvelous Faith

Posted on March 20, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
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Luke 7:1-10 Now when {Jesus} had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. 3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: 5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: 7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. 8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

Faith is a very important thing.
There are all types of faith in our world.

Atheists and humanists have faith. They have faith that there is no God, no Creator Who made all things. Their faith is in themselves, in what they do or perceive. These people believe that “I can do all things through myself who strengthens me”. There are many like this in the world. What does God say of those who are atheists? “The FOOL hath said in his heart, ‘there is NO GOD’. They are corrupt. Their works are abominable, and no good at all” (Psalm 14:1).

Some have faith in technology. They believe that technology will make our lives great. Medical technology will, they believe, extend life indefinitely. Artificial intelligence will usher in a paradise on the earth.

Some have great faith in politics or philosophy. They believe that, if their party or position were dominant, that America would blossom. Others put their faith in money or riches. They are like the farmer Jesus spoke of in Luke chapter 12. He had a good year of crops, so he decided to:

Luke 12: 18-19 … This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

Was this man blessed? No, for God said unto him,

Luke 12:20 … Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

The Bible tells us that Faith is “the substance on things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. It is to believe in something that has not yet come to pass. Biblical faith is not based on ourselves, but on the God Who made us. The Bible says:

Romans 14:23 … whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Genuine faith believes in the God of Scripture. Saving faith believes in God the Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. And faith cannot come from a place of pride. Faith is humbled, trusting in Someone outside of yourself.

The Truths Found In Scripture Context

As we look at our text today, we would be tempted to just dive in and talk about this Centurion. When I studied for this sermon, I wanted to rush into Luke 7 and focus on this interesting man. A Centurion is a highly skilled soldier, a Commander of a Roman Century, a group of skilled Legionnaires. Each Century could have up to a hundred skilled men. This Centurion is a highly successful man, an important man by Roman standards. I want you to remember that. But let’s take a good look at the first verse of our text.

Luke 7:1 Now when {Jesus} had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

“when {Jesus} had ended all his sayings”. Let’s not skip these words, because they are important, and explain much about this Centurion. In Luke Chapter 6, Jesus preaches what is called His “Sermon on the Plain”. You have probably all heard of the “Sermon on the Mount”, but few have been exposed to the “Sermon on the Plain”.

The “Sermon on the Mount” is the first recorded sermon Jesus preached, after He called Simon Peter, Andrew, and James and John, the sons of Zebedee to follow Him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, preaching, teaching and healing Jews. As the Jewish crowds began to follow Jesus, our Lord went up into a mountain, sat down, and began to preach (Matthew 5:1). What Jesus did was directed toward the Jews.

Many years before this day, God spoke to Israel from Mount Sinai, through the Prophet Moses. God made a covenant with Israel. On that day Israel said:

Exodus 19:8 … All that the Lord hath spoken we will do …

Israel’s faith was not in God, but in their ability to be good enough to please God. While Moses was on Sinai receiving the Law from God, in just those 40 days Israel rejected God, and created a golden calf to replace God. Throughout the history of Israel you see a nation that relied on itself, and not on God. As Jesus started His ministry, Jesus preached His Sermon on the Mount.

Just as Moses’ message from Sinai was addressed to Jews, Jesus’ message from the Mount was addressed to Jews.

The Sermon on the Plain is different from the Sermon on the Mount. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus goes up a mountain, sits down, and teaches Jews. In the Sermon on the Plain Jesus comes DOWN from a mountain after praying all night (Luke 6:12) and stands on flat land. Here He speaks not primarily to Jews, but to both Jews and Gentiles. We read:

Luke 6:17 {Jesus} came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

“Judaea and Jerusalem” are predominantly Jewish territories, whereas “Tyre and Sidon” are Gentile territories.

Jesus prayed all night long before the Sermon on the Plain, as He needed to address not just Israel, but people from diverse Gentile backgrounds.

The Sermon on the Mount has 9 Beatitudes or Blessed Teachings, whereas the Sermon on the Plain has only four. But both sermons focus on what God expects of faith.

Luke 7:1 Now when {Jesus} had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

“Capernaum” is a very interesting place. When Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth and preached, He was driven from Nazareth (Luke 4:16, 28-30). So Jesus walked away from Nazareth and began to minister in Capernaum. Jesus has ministered in Capernaum before, both teaching and preaching, as well as healing people. We read:

Luke 7:2-5 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. 3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: 5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

The Centurion heard that Jesus was in Capernaum. As I said before, a Centurion is an important man. He leads 80-100 skilled soldiers. He is a commander, an officer of importance. But notice something about this Centurion.

This man loved his men. His men were not tools, things to be used then thrown away. This man cared deeply for his men. He was an important man, but he realized his importance comes only because the men that follow him are cherished. His “servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die”. The Centurion wanted Jesus to heal his trooper.

The Centurion could have dressed up in his military gear, and marched to where Jesus was, arrogantly demanding Him to come. He could have, but he didn’t. The Centurion went to the “elders of the Jews” and asked that they represent him before Jesus. These “elders of the Jews” were more than likely highly regarded Pharisees or Sadducees, important people in Israel. The Centurion sent these elders “beseeching {Jesus} that He would come and heal his servant”. The word “beseeching” is the Greek ἐρωτάω erōtáō, {pronounced er-o-tah’-o}, which means “to request, to ask, to pray to”. The word erōtáō tells us that, though this man was a “Very Important Person”, he realized that Jesus was MUCH MORE important.

When these elders come to Jesus, we see something else about this Centurion. We read:

Luke 7:4-5 … when they came to Jesus, they besought Him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: 5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue

Word Study: The word “besought” is an interesting compound word, the Greek παρακαλέω parakaléō, {pronounced par-ak-al-eh’-o}, which means “to come alongside, to beg, to comfort, to intimately request”. These elders are pleading with Jesus to come and minister to this Centurion’s servant. This Centurion – though a commander of the soldiers of Rome – has not used his position to drive down Israel. No, as a matter of fact, this Centurion did what Jesus preached in his Sermon on the Plain. Jesus said:

Luke 6:27-28 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

The average Israelite hated Rome for conquering and occupying Israel. This Centurion understood Israel’s hatred of Rome, and did not hold their hatred in his heart. This Centurion did as Jesus said:

Luke 6:31-36 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

The Centurion “loved Israel”, though he was part of the occupying force. The Centurion proved his love for Israel by “building a synagogue” in Capernaum, a place where Jesus had taught, and the Bible was shared to Israel.

How did Jesus respond? He didn’t say a word. Jesus saw the Centurion’s faith in what the elder’s said of him. We read:

Luke 7:6 … Then Jesus went with them. …

God responds to faith. Genuine faith moves the heart of God. Why? Because:

Genuine, God Honoring Faith Is Humble

The faith that saves, the faith that brings a blessing, is the faith that is humble. Humility is in short supply in our world today. Sadly, human pride gets more out of control every day. The Bible says:

1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Human Pride!: Over the last two plus years, America has been humbled by the Coronavirus. Not just America, but the whole world has been humbled by the Coronavirus. Churches and businesses went through lock downs. We were told to cover our faces with masks. Vaccines were developed, and we were ordered to get vaccines. Some local churches dissolved under the pride, as various groups lobbied for one side or the other. During the worst of the virus, people in arrogance destroyed private and public property. Racism flourished, and rather than join hands we pointed fingers, because we all felt that we were superior to the other side. The Prophet Amos said:

Amos 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?

King Nebuchadnezzar, once arrogant, thinking himself to be a god, repented once he experienced the disciplining hand of the True God. Nebuchadnezzar said:

Daniel 4:35 … all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing {compared to God}: and {God} doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and NONE can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest thou?

The God of the Scripture, He is LORD of all. The Pandemic should have humbled us as a nation, but instead we found other things to be arrogant about. The “devil like a roaring lion, went about seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8), and he got a belly full.

The Centurion, a man who had lived through numerous battles, paid attention to God. He put his trust not in his own abilities, but in the coming Messiah. This Centurion humbled himself. We read:

Luke 7:6-7 … And when {Jesus} was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: 7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

The Centurion had not sent the elders of Israel to fetch Jesus because HE was important. The Centurion asked the elders of Israel to go to Jesus because his mindset was “I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof”. As Jesus preached His Sermon on the Mount, the Pharisees thought that THEY were worthy, but JESUS was UNWORTHY. But this Centurion said, “I am not worthy”. The words translated “NOT worthy” is the Greek οὐ ἱκανός ou hikanós, {pronounced hik-an-os’}, which means “I am not sufficient, I am not much, I am not enough”. The Prophet John the Baptist made the same statement when the Pharisees asked if he were the Christ, the Messiah. John said, “I am not worthy to carry Jesus’ shoes” (Matthew 3:11). This Centurion said,

Lord, trouble not Thyself: for I am not worthy

Jesus is Lord. The Centurion is nothing. Oh, by the world’s standards, this was an important man. But this man had a humbled heart. God can bless those with the humbled hearts. Greatness comes from those with humbled hearts. God can use the humble. God can save the humble.

God used a humble Moses to write the foundation of Scripture.
God used a humble Noah to save a world from destruction.
God used a humble Joseph to save two nations from destruction,
so that Messiah could come into the world.
God used a humble David to kill Goliath with a stone and a sling.
God used a humble Daniel to plant faith in Babylon so that
Wise Men would one day worship Jesus.

The Centurion says:

Luke 7:8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.


The Centurion doesn’t say, “I am a man IN authority”. No, but he says, “I also am a man set under authority”. The arrogant can never lead. The arrogant can never be blessed. Note first the word “also”. The Centurion saw Jesus as a man under authority. Our Lord Jesus was sent to this earth by the Father. There is no arrogance even in the Trinity of God. The Father leads the Godhead. The Son is sent of the Father. Jesus said,

Matthew 10:40 (ESV) … whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

John 5:22-24, 37 (ESV) For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 37 … the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me.
John 7:16 (ESV) … My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.

John 8:16 (ESV) … My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.

I could go on and on, but you need to understand this. There is power in humility. God Himself models humility. It is the devil who promotes “Just do you” mentality, or “be yourself”. The Son of God says, humble yourself. This is where power with God is.

Humble Faith Is Marvelous To God

Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Word Study The Centurion had a faith that caused Jesus to “marvel”. Do you see it? “When Jesus heard it, He MARVELED”. This is the Greek θαυμάζω thaumazō which means “to hold in admiration, to wonder at, to marvel”.

When we look at Jesus and see all that He did, we marvel at Him. When Jesus calmed the storm with but a word, His disciples marveled at Jesus (Matthew 8:27). When Jesus healed a paralyzed man, the crowds marveled (Matthew 9:8). When Jesus cursed a fig tree, and it died in a day, His disciples marveled (Matthew 21:20). Jesus is marvelous (Matthew 21:42). Why would Jesus love us so? The love of Christ is indeed marvelous!

Do you know there are two places in scripture where Jesus is said to marvel? It is here, and in

Mark 6:6 … and Jesus marveled because of their unbelief …

When Jesus went to His hometown of Nazareth, He marveled at their unbelief. Their unbelief was so strong that Jesus could do no mighty work there. Oh, He healed a few people. But Jesus could not do as He did in Capernaum.

Leaving Nazareth, marveling at Nazareth’s unbelief, Jesus went to Capernaum and marveled at the faith of not a Jew, but a Gentile, a Roman Centurion!

Beloved, God cannot work in your life unless you possess genuine faith. The way you achieve genuine faith is by humbling yourselves under the mighty hand of God. We hear God’s Word, trust it, and DO it.

When Jesus ended the Sermon on the Plain, His last word was this:

Luke 6:46-49 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Jesus never met that Centurion face to face, and yet Jesus marveled at his faith. Once more, Jesus never said a word. Faith moved Him to go to the Centurion’s home, and faith causes Jesus to heal the Centurion’s servant. The Scripture says God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6), those who humble themselves in His mighty presence. Let us learn to say with David,

1 Chronicles 29:10-13 … Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. 11 Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

May God draw us all to the same place as this Centurion. For Christ’s glory, and for the spread of God’s Kingdom we pray. Amen and Amen!

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Memorial Service for Bill Tanner

Posted on March 19, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
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Memorial Service for Bill Tanner

Prelude (Violin)

Welcome & Introduction (David Buffaloe)

I’d like to start out by thanking the family of Bill Tanner for allowing me to be here today. I had the honor of officiating the memorial of Bill’s wife and your mother and grandmother, Lois Gertrude Potts Tanner on July 26, 2016. At that time they had been married 66 years. Bill lived on this earth without Gertrude for nearly 5 ½ years (5 years, 4 months, 6 days) before he rejoined her on December 2, 2021. I know there was shouting in glory when Bill and Gertrude reunited!

When Steve asked me to officiate this service, he sent me an autobiography that Bill wrote entitled “My Story”. As I read it, I thought it would be fitting to hear Bill’s words at his memorial. In a sense Bill – though now with Jesus – will help in officiating his own memorial. As the Scripture says (Hebrews 11:4), “he being dead yet speaketh”.

Bill lived a tough life. He went through the Great Depression, and as a boy helped pick cotton on the farm of Aunt Mae and Uncle Ernest in Red Hill, Tennessee. Bill’s mother worked in Lawrenceburg, and later Columbia, Tennessee. While living on Cemetery Avenue in Columbia, the family was listening to the radio Sunday, December 7, 1941 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Bill fished in the Columbia Duck River, and being poor made his own fishing tackle out of straight pins. He attended Whitthorne Junior High (now a Middle School) in Columbia, graduating from the eighth grade in the spring of 1941. Entering the Army Medical Corp at 17 years old, he trained and was qualified as a Psychiatric Social Worker.

In our Church we sometimes have “Testimonial Services”. In Bill’s autobiography, he “testified” that as a young boy … these are his words:

“… I had never been to Church or attended any type of worship service. While in junior high school a friend invited me to visit his church one Sunday. I mentioned it to mother, but she seemed to think that I didn’t have proper clothing to wear. Since she never attended we didn’t discuss the matter further. I often wonder what a positive difference church attendance and faith in God would have had in our lives.”

I’m afraid that often happens to people seeking the Lord. They don’t “go to Church” because their clothing is shabby, or their morals are off. So many people tell me “When I straighten out my life, I’ll come to Church”. They misunderstand. The Church is a body of people who are broken, and who need the Lord Jesus Christ. When I read this section in “My Story” my heart broke. I rejoiced later in reading where Bill spoke of meeting and marrying the love of his life, Gertrude Potts. He wrote:

“I asked her to marry me and she agreed. This was undoubtedly one of the best decisions I ever made (the best one was when I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior several years later!).”

In 1956 Bill and his family moved to Judson Road in Wheaton, Maryland. Bill once more speaks:

“During this time a friend at work who was a devout Christian … began to talk to me about becoming a Christian. This man’s name was Robert R. Hudson. He was the accountant for our small company. Bob was persistent. He told me what being a Christian had meant to him, and kept asking if Lois and I would like to visit his Church, First Baptist Church of Silver Spring, Maryland. … Lois had been baptized early in life while a member of the little Nazarene Church in Fly, Tennessee. We both accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and were baptized by Reverend Frank Brasington at First Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. We began attending on a regular basis and became involved in Sunday School. This was a turning point in our lives.”

Bill’s faith in Jesus was proved by his life. While in Anderson, South Carolina, Bill was ordained a Deacon, and was active in the North Anderson Baptist Church.

One thing that was evident in reading Bill’s autobiography was that his life was not easy.

Throughout his life on this earth Bill and his family changed residences many times.

When Bill retired, he and Gertrude moved to Sun City, a gated community near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Toward the end of his autobiography, Bill again speaks …

“Our social life centers around our Church (First Baptist Church of Bluffton) where we attend both morning and evening services on Sunday plus other activities during the week. We have many friends there and do enjoy the fellowship and worship experience.”

Bill made his final move December 2, 2021. He carried nothing of this earth with him, but moved into a prepared place, a place Jesus has promised to all who believe in Him. Jesus said:

John 14:2-3 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

This Promised Land is available to all who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. I expect to see Bill and Lois one day, and get to know them personally in what is called that “sweet by and by”. May God the Holy Spirit draw every heart here today to Jesus, “the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to God the Father but through Jesus” (John 14:6).

Opening Prayer (David Buffaloe)

Music: It Is Well With My Soul (Violin)

Reflections: Steve Tanner

Message (David Buffaloe)

One of the greatest and most well known texts in this Bible is found in …

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.

This verse is taught to children in Vacation Bible Schools. Most every person I meet has memorized the text. But this verse is part of a conversation that the Lord Jesus Christ had with a Rabbi named Nicodemus.

Nicodemus thought that he was in a good place with God. He was religious. He came to Jesus by night to commend the Lord. Nicodemus was a good man. But was he where he needed to be with God? No. Though he was good and moral, Jesus told Nicodemus:

You must be born again. Unless you are born again,
you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.

Heaven is God’s Kingdom. Heaven is God’s home.

I have in my hand an ancient lock that a dear friend gave me. I have taken this lock to various locksmiths who have said they cannot open it. Why? It needs a specific key that I do not have, and have no idea where it is. Heaven is a gated community, a locked community. Only those who are “born again” – not just born physically, but are born spiritually – can enter Heaven, God’s Home. I may never find the key to this lock, but I tell you – no – JESUS tells you – HE IS THE KEY TO HEAVEN. Jesus said:

John 3:14-15 .. the Son of Man must be lifted up. That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God the Father sent God the Son to this earth – not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:17). Jesus, speaking of Himself in the third Person, told Nicodemus and us …

John 3:18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the Only Begotten Son of God.

Though we are all born broken with sin (for there are none righteous, no, not one – Romans 3:10), and because of sin are separated from God spiritually, Jesus came to unite us with our Creator. Dying on the Cross of Calvary, Jesus made payment for our transgressions and sins. The Bible declares:

1 John 1:7 … the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin …

Jesus took the penalty of our brokenness on Himself, so that – if we believe on Him – His standing before the Father is placed on our Heavenly accounts. There are not many ways to God. There is but one way to God, and that way is through faith in Jesus. The Apostles preached:

Acts 4:12 (ESV) … there is salvation in no one else {but Jesus}, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved…

The Apostle Paul said in 1 Timothy 2:5, “there is ONE GOD, and there is ONE MEDIATOR between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus”. Through Jesus God has reconciled to Himself all things, making peace by THE BLOOD OF CHRIST’S CROSS (Colossians 1:20).

You have had the privilege of hearing Bill’s testimony. Bill is not dead, but He is with Jesus this very day. Jesus has said “I am the resurrection and the life. Whosoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26).

Jesus asks us all, “Do YOU believe this?”

Bill and Lois did. They are now in glory with the Lord, a place where all of God’s Children will go. If you have received Jesus as He is, both Christ and Lord, then you will see this beautiful couple again one day. The Kingdom of God is our present and eternal home.

What does this Kingdom look like? The Apostle John gives us a glimpse of Paradise:

Revelation 21:3-5 (ESV) … God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

Bill is not only my brother in Christ, but a fellow veteran. I now turn this service over to the America Legion:

Veteran Honors/ Tribute: American Legion

Music: How Great Thou Art (Violin)

Blessing:

Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

For Jesus’ glory and honor, amen and amen!

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