What’s Your Power Source, Part 3

Posted on January 9, 2022 by bibleteacherorg

Please turn with me in your Bibles to Acts chapter four.

Photo by Ismael Paramo on Unsplash

I have a workshop outside my home, one that I love to go and tinker in. I love woodworking. I love taking raw wood, and turning it into attractive and useful things. There’s a pleasure in working with your hands and your mind. Anyway, I have three basic types of tools in my shop.

  • I have tools that require no external power source, things like chisels, hammers, screwdrivers, hand crank drills, hand saws, etc. These tools are ME powered. It takes MY energy to drive them, and they stop working when I myself get tired.
  • I have tools that are battery operated. I love these things, because they have no power cord to get in my way. They run off of lithium batteries, which store a charge for a long time, and are able to deliver a lot of power to my tools. When the battery dies, that is, runs out of charge, it stops quickly. When this happens I have to put in another battery that is charged, or let this battery charge before I can continue my work.
  • I have tools that are power cord operated. Though the cord limits my freedom of movement, the tool will keep on running as long as I have it plugged into the wall AND pay my electric bill.

What does any of this have to do with the Christian way of life? Our God has given us resources to enable us to live in this world, but empowered by His Kingdom. Sometimes we want to live out our lives in our own power. We use our strength, just as I use hand tools in my shop. Sometimes this is effective – but after a while we just run out of energy. The Lord said:

Jeremiah 17:5-6 (ESV) Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.

There are times in our lives when our own strength is enough. But if you habitually live out your life this way, after a while, life will just be miserable. You won’t see the good all around you. You’ll wear yourself out.

Then there are times when we are on battery power. We get charged up. We come to Church, and get a blessing, and move into Monday with a positive outlook. But you can only carry a charge so long. Some only read their Bible or pray on Sundays, charging themselves up. But it won’t last. You have more freedom of movement, but suddenly when life happens you’ll find yourself out of power, dead in the water!

But then, others live their lives plugged into God. This limits your freedom, of course, because you can’t go but so far from God before you pull the plug out. But being plugged in to God – this is what gave the early Christian POWER and the Church POWER.

Staying Plugged In Means Uniting In Prayer

Peter and John preached the Gospel at the 3 pm prayer meeting last week, having the audacity to preach on Solomon’s Porch. Brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Ruling Council, we read:

Acts 4:17-20 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straightly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

The Council said “let us straightly threaten them”. This is the same word in the Greek, apeilē apeileō, which could be translated “threatening, let us threaten them, or menacing, let us menace them. What they are saying is very dark, very stark, very fearful. These men were preaching Christ on Solomon’s Porch, a place in the Temple. The Council tells them to not “speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus”. Peter and John replied without hesitation, saying, “we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard”. We have no choice. We must preach Jesus resurrected from the dead. We must preach salvation through the name of Jesus. The Council let Peter and John go. We read:

Acts 4:23 And being let go, they {Peter and John} went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

Peter and John went back “to their own company” to other Christians, and shared what they had been told, fearful as it was. The Church is at a crucial cross road. Will they give in to FEAR, and allow the Council to dictate their actions, or will they plug into God.

They plugged into God. Or rather, they stayed plugged into God. They began to pray. This prayer tells us much about the early Church and it’s power.

Acts 4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

Word Study: Please note that they DID NOT start their prayer complaining about their abuse at the hands of the Council. We are told “with one accord” they started praying by recognizing the GREATNESS of God. “Lord, thou art God”. This is the Greek despotēs sy Theos, which means “Master of everything, You are God”. Our God is SOVEREIGN. He is over all things, for He is the Maker of all things. The Bible says that God is …

Ephesians 1:11 … Him Who works all things according to the counsel of His will …

The Jewish Council locked up Peter and John, and held them over night in a jail cell. The Jewish Council “menacing, they menaced them; threatening, they threatened them”. And yet, our God is SOVEREIGN. He is in control of all things. God said through Isaiah:

Isaiah 46:9-10 (ESV) … I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

We pull the plug out of the wall when we begin to think God has lost control. He hasn’t. It is human to sometimes wonder what God is doing. As the Church prayed, they stayed plugged into God by praying the Scripture.

Acts 4:25-26 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

As they pray they are quoting Psalm 2:1-2 where King David noted that the darkness and the evil always arrays itself “against the Lord, and against his Christ”. The “heathen” will always “rage”. Those who do not know the Lord will always “imagine vain things”. Yet, this does not mean that the darkness is in control. God is in control. God is always in control. Though Peter and John in their prayer did not quote the rest of Psalm 2, I want to quote what is just beyond our text.

Psalm 2:4-6 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

God “laughs” at the futile attempts of man
to thwart His purpose.

God “holds them in derision”. God will triumph! As Peter and John quote Psalm 2 in their prayer, noting that David foresaw (through God) that “the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ”, they say:

Acts 4:27-28 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

They acknowledge it happened exactly as David prophesied. That the rulers, “Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together” in one accord against Jesus. And yet, as they pray this, they acknowledge that this was all according to God’s plan. God allowed the evil to flare and seem to be in charge, that He would be able to perform a greater thing.

The Apostles and the Church stayed plugged into God by rejecting fear, and embracing the sovereignty of God through prayer and united love. If it happened, God caused it or allowed it. God is at the helm,
not Satan!

Continuing their prayer …

Acts 4:29-30 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

The Church acknowledge the threatening menace against them, but rather than pray it go away, prayed “that with all boldness they may speak thy word”. They asked that God do a supernatural work through them for the glory of Jesus Christ. Did God bless them? Yes!

Acts 4:31-33 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy {Spirit}, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

The evidence of God’s Power was that the Church’s members loved one another, and loved God. They took care of one another, and preached with further power “the resurrection of the Lord Jesus”. The Apostle tells us:

Romans 13:8-10 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Jesus presented the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:36-40) in the Law as, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind”. God is to be preeminent in our love. But He also decreed, “That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34). Because the Church and the Christian stayed plugged in to God, we read “great grace was upon them all”.

Staying Plugged In Requires Your Obedience To God

As the Church grows, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is spread, the Sanhedrin once more is aroused against it. We read:

Acts 5:17-18 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

Had the Apostles and the early Church backed away from the Name of Jesus, and compromised with the Council of the Sanhedrin, all would have died in obscurity. But praise God, the Church did not do this. They stayed plugged into God. They continued to stand up for the Lord Jesus Christ. As a result, they got to spend another night in “the common prison”. In Acts 4:3 we see Peter and John “put in hold until the next day”. They are once more put in this temporary Sheriff’s Jail until they are tried by the Council. But things are different this time. We read:

Acts 5:19-20 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary notes, “There is no prison so dark, so strong, but God can visit his people in it, and, if he pleases, fetch them out. Recoveries from sickness, releases out of trouble, are granted, not that we may enjoy the comforts of life, but that God may be honored with the services of our life.”

The Angel of the Lord is mentioned 58 times in the Bible.

  • The Angel of the Lord went to Hagar when Sarai cast her out. God told Hagar through this Angel to return to Abram and Sarai, and promised to bless Hagar for being obedient (Genesis 16:7-10).
  • The Angel of the Lord stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac (Genesis 22:11), and promised “in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” (Genesis 22:17-18).
  • The Angel of the Lord “appeared unto Moses in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush” (Exodus 3:2) and called Moses to be God’s representative to Israel and Egypt.
  • The Angel of the Lord stopped the prophet Balaam from cursing Israel (Numbers 22:32).
  • The Angel of the Lord told Joseph that Mary was carrying the Messiah (Matthew 1:20).
  • And the Angel of the Lord rolled back the stone of Jesus’ tomb (Matthew 28:2), not to let Jesus out, but to let the disciples in to see that “He has risen, just as He said”.

The Angel of the Lord is a Specialized Angel
that speaks for God.

The Psalmist said that “The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear God, and delivers them” (Psalm 34:7). The Angel of the Lord opens the prison doors, and tells the Apostles that God wants them to:“Go”, “stand”, and “speaK”.

The Apostles were to boldly Go back to the scene of their arrest. They were not to hide their light under a bushel, nor be afraid of men. God wants whosoever will to hear that Jesus has defeated death, that Jesus is risen, and promises eternal life to those who receive Christ as Lord and Savior.

The Apostles were to stand, to hold their ground, to “stand by faith” (Romans 11:20). God calls His people to stand up for Him, to “put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11-14). Standing is often not very easy, especially when you stand against the darkness with Jesus. David had to stand before Goliath, the prophet Job had to stand in faith though he lost all things. Jeremiah stood and preached, though none wished to hear. John the Baptist stood against Herod, though it cost him his head. Go and STAND.

God’s people are to speak in the Temple the Word of life. There is only one way to eternal life, and that is through Him Who defeated death, Jesus Christ our Lord. Go “holding forth the Word of life” (Philippians 2:16). Tell others about Jesus. What did they do? Exactly as they were told. This next section is very amusing, if you dwell on it.

Acts 5:21-24 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told, 23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. 24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.

God’s people went back into the Temple and taught. They didn’t hide. They taught! Early in the morning. While they are teaching, the unbelieving Sanhedrin convenes, and sends soldiers to the prison to retrieve these troublemakers. But they aren’t there! They’re in the Temple teaching about Jesus! Finally someone comes into the judgment hall and tells them:

Acts 5:25-27 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. 26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

Peter and the Apostles are brought before the Council once more. The High Priest asks, “Did not we straightly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” (Acts 5:28). Peter and the Apostles respond:

Acts 5:29-33 … We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Peter and the Apostles said “We ought to obey God rather than men”. The Church was growing because God’s people were obeying God. The Church was being preserved because they were obeying God. The power of the Church is the “Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him”. As Christians we are to be obedient to God.

Are you? Or are you a fence sitter? Pastor Tim Burt tells us this parable:

Illustration: There was a large group of people gathered. On one side of the group stood Jesus. On the other side stood the fallen Archangel, Lucifer, also known as Satan or the Devil. Jesus was on one side of the fence calling out to people, Satan on the other side calling out to people. One by one, each person making up their own, went over the fence to either Jesus or Satan. A smaller crowd went to Jesus’ side, and about twice as many went to Satan’s side. One man who was called climbed the fence that was there and sat on it. In time, Jesus told His group, “Come now, My children, we must go home!” Jesus and His children went to glory, and with a dark puff Satan and his people blended into the darkness.

The man on the fence sat alone.

In a few moments Satan came back, wrinkled brow, searching for something he misplaced. The man asked, “Have you lost something?” Satan looked straight at him and replied, “Oh, there you are. Come with me.” The man protested. “I sat on the fence. I chose neither you nor him.” Satan said, “That’s true, but I own the fence.”

Matthew 12:30 (ESV)Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters.

Make your choice. Choose to obey and follow Jesus, or choose Satan, darkness, and damnation. The choice is entirely up to you. May God the Holy Spirit move you to Jesus through this, God’s Word. Amen and amen.

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Baptist Distinctives 1: All Scripture Is God’s Word

Posted on January 7, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

When our Lord Jesus prepared to go to the Cross and give His life for ours, He prayed about His Church and the Word of God He had given to His Church. Jesus said:

John 17:13-17 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Jesus knew that His Church would be attacked by the lost world, just as He was attacked. Throughout His ministry Jesus focused time and time again on the Word of God. Jesus gave His Church the Word of God. Though the Pharisees, Scribes, Sadducees, and Priests stood at odds with Jesus, our Lord repeatedly referred to the Word of God. Jesus often said, “It is written”, and quoted the Old Testament Scriptures as directives from God. Jesus knew that if Satan was going to infiltrate the Church that He was building, Satan would do so through twisting of the Word of God. This is what Satan did in the Garden of Eden when he said to Adam and Eve, “Hath God really said” and “God said you will die, but you will not die!” (Genesis 3:1, 4). Jesus was concerned about His Church. This is why He asked the Father to “Sanctify them (keep the Church out of the world) through Thy truth: Thy WORD is truth (the Bible is true).

Salvation Comes Only By Faith In Christ

I along with others who call themselves Baptists firmly believe that salvation comes only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is a decision that each person must make between themselves and the call of God’s Holy Spirit. Now, how do I know that this statement is true? How do I know that you must believe in Jesus? Perhaps you can believe in another god, or in mother nature, or in father time, or in the stars of the sky as the ancient Babylonians believed. Perhaps there are many ways unto God.

If I hold a loose, flimsy view of the Scripture, then I can weave other methods and means of salvation into my life.

Some who are Christian call themselves Social Justice Warriors, and believe that salvation is to establish a certain social order between the races. Black Pastor and seminary dean Voddie Baucham Jr said “CRT {Critical Race Theory} is at least as foreign to Christianity as Hinduism is”. Social Justice cannot fix what ails this fallen world. The Bible makes it clear that all are fallen sinners in need of salvation (Romans 3:23).

How do I know all have sinned?
Because the Bible says so.
How do I know how to be saved?
By reading the Bible.

The Apostle clearly outlined the simplicity but necessity of salvation when he (as moved by the Holy Spirit) wrote:

Romans 10:8-13 … that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Salvation is a confession that Jesus is Lord and Savior, and that Jesus has risen from the dead. These are not works, but acts of faith that come from a heart opened by God the Holy Spirit to receive and believe on these truths. This is what we believe as Baptists.

Our starting place for defining salvation
is what the Bible has to say about it

Baptists Are People Of “The Book”

It might surprise you to know that there are 45,000 denominations of Christians globally. Though there are an estimated 2 billion professing Christians in the world today, we have separated ourselves into thousands of denominations.

What about Baptists? Do we all believe the same? No. Even among Baptists there are many different sects or denominations. In America there are – as noted by Baylor University – 19 Baptist denominations. A partial list of these is:

Alliance of Baptists
American Baptist Association
American Baptist Churches USA
Conservative Baptist Association
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
General Association of Regular Baptist Churches
National Association Of Free Will Baptists
Pentecostal Free Will Baptists
Primitive Baptists
Progressive National Baptist Convention
Seventh Day Baptists
Southern Baptist Convention

Of these various groups:

  • Some Baptists are Reformed or call themselves Particular Baptists or Calvinistic Baptists. They believe that God elects or chooses certain souls to salvation, and that only those so elected can possibly be saved.
  • Some Baptists worship only only Saturday, as the Seventh Day Adventists do.
  • Some Baptists consider not only the Lord’s Table and Baptism to be ordinances, but also consider foot washing to be an ordinance (something a Christian is ORDERED to do by Jesus). There are no Baptists who consider these actions to be sacraments, a necessary practice in order to be saved. Baptists universally believe salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone (Solus Christus).
  • Some Baptists adhere to the King James Version of the Scripture as the only true Bible. I believe this is a very narrow view of Scripture, as all Scripture is compiled and translated from ancient Hebrew, Aramaic, Chaldean, and Greek manuscripts. To say that the King James Version is the only version of the Bible is to say that Christians prior to 1611 had no access to God’s Holy Word, which is patently untrue. The Geneva Bible of 1560 was read by Christians prior to the King James. One of the earliest Bible translations into English was the Tyndale Bible (1522-1536). This Bible was also one of the earliest Bibles mass produced because of new advances in the art of printing. I preach from the King James because I choose to do so.

I’ve talked about the differences between Baptists – but what do we have in common. Baptists have a HIGH VIEW of Scripture.

Though we differ in some areas, we as Baptists believe the Scripture to be God breathed, God inspired, and God ordered. In most Baptist Churches the first thing you see on entering the sanctuary is the Bible on the Lord’s Table.

At this Church we are members of the Southern Baptist Convention, and if we are asked what we believe (a statement of faith) we refer to the Baptist Faith and Message. The Baptist Faith and Message is a general overview of what Southern Baptists believe. The very first article of the Baptist Faith and Message is:

“I. The Scriptures: The Holy Bible was 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.”

This statement is what led me to become a Southern Baptist. I am proud that we bind together with other believing Baptists to support missions throughout the world. I feel blessed that, as Southern Baptists, we believe in the autonomy of the local Church. There are no hierarchies of rulers above us.

We are a body of believer-priests, led by a believer-priest called Pastor, and are directed and ultimately led by the Holy Scripture and the Holy Spirit of God for the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord. It is the Spirit and the Scripture that binds us together. This is what Jesus envisioned.

If you believe God’s Word to be true in all that it affirms, then what you believe effects what you do. For instance, if you believe as Jesus did that “Thy Word, O God, is truth”, then that belief effects everything religious you do.

Your View Of Scripture Effects
Your Walk With And Service To Jesus

For instance, Baptists believe that genuine Baptism is a command (an ordinance) that a Christian must obey of their own free will. Further, Baptists believe that a person must go down into the water, and come up out of the water to be properly baptized. Why do we believe this? Because the Bible says so.

Baptism is a command (an ordinance or an order from Jesus) because the Bible says Jesus said so. We often quote what we commonly call “The Great Commission” where Jesus commanded us:

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Jesus commanded baptism of those who believed in Him. It is an ordinance, an order from our Lord. As Baptists we believe that a person is baptized not by sprinkling or pouring, but by immersion in water. Why be so picky? Because the Bible says so. When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist (yes, Jesus was baptized, too), we read:

Mark 1:10-11 .. And straightway coming up out of the water, {Jesus} saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: 11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Jesus came “up out of the water“. John did not sprinkle Him, nor pour water on Jesus. The Bible tells us that John the Baptist

John 3:23 … was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

John chose where he baptized carefully, making sure there was “much water there“. If he were baptizing from a cup or a fount, the amount of water would not have mattered. John baptized by immersion.

Word Study: Further, the word “baptize” is transliterated from the Greek βαπτίζω baptízō, {pronounced bap-tid’-zo}, which means “to immerse, to submerge, to make fully wet”. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance notes, “used only in the New Testament of ceremonial {washing}“. Further, the Scripture compares baptism to a symbol of death in:

Romans 6:3-5 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

When the disciple goes down into the water, this is symbolic of their death to their old way of life. When they come up out of the water this is symbolic of their resurrection into new life with Jesus Christ as their Lord. In the early Church baptism was by immersion in water. For instance, when Philip led the Ethiopian Eunuch to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior …

Acts 8:36-39 … the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

Preach: As Baptists, we do not receive new members onto the written roll of the Church until the convert is baptized by immersion. We see baptism as an ordinance. If you will not obey Jesus in this simple ordinance, we do not want you on the roll! However, we do not say that those who are baptized by sprinkling or by pouring are not Christians. Baptism is an ordinance, a command, but not a sacrament.

A sacrament is an action that one must perform in order to be saved. We do not believe baptism to be a sacrament. Why? Because the Scripture says so.

When Jesus was on the Cross dying for our sins, a thief that hung near our Lord believed on Jesus. He said, “Jesus, LORD, remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom“. Jesus told that thief, “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:41-43). The Scripture tells us that Jesus promised this totally unbaptized man that he would be with Him – that very day – in Paradise or Heaven. If Baptism were a SACRAMENT, then Jesus would not have promised this man Paradise with Him.

Jesus never disobeyed the decreetive will of God.

Baptism is clearly NOT a sacrament, a necessary function of salvation. It is, however, an ordinance or a command from Jesus. And Jesus said, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). If you love Jesus, you WILL be baptized or your own volition!

We do not baptize babies. There is no place in scripture where a baby was ever baptized by anyone. Baptism is a decision freely reached by the convert.

The Catholic Church baptizes babies because it considers water baptism a sacrament, or a necessary part of grace

This is probably what prompted that sect to baptize by sprinkling from a fount or chalice. If you force a baby underwater, it is cruel, and leads to choking! One of the major differences between Baptist Churches and Churches of Christ is that the Church of Christ views baptism to be a sacrament, or a necessary part of salvation.

The Church of Christ along with the Catholic Church believe in the doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration

An online commentary I love to visit called “Got Questions” notes:

“The problem with this viewpoint is that there are biblical passages that clearly and explicitly declare faith to be the only requirement for salvation. John 3:16, one of the most well-known verses in the Bible, states, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” In Acts 16:30, the Philippian jailer asks the Apostle Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” If there was ever an opportunity for Paul to present a four-part formula, this was it. Paul’s response was simple: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). No baptism, no confession, just faith. … There are literally dozens of verses in the New Testament that attribute salvation to faith/belief with no other requirement mentioned in the context. If baptism, or anything else, is necessary for salvation, all of these verses are wrong, and the Bible contains errors and is therefore no longer worthy of our trust.”

A high view of Scripture effects how you live out your faith. Equally, a low view of Scripture effects how you live out your faith.

The Scripture Is And Will Always Be
Politically Incorrect. Period.

The reason why many people abandon the Scripture is because it is not “with the times”. But the Scripture has never been with the times. Returning to Jesus’ prayer for His Church, He said:

John 17:14-17 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

The Bible is very much a PATRIARCHAL Book.

God is our “Father”, not our “Mother”.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Sin came into the world “by one man”, not by “one woman”.

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

The antidote for sin is belief in a Perfect God/Man named Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

God has decreed that man lead his family, as Christ leads the Church.

Ephesians 5:22-24 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

The leadership of the local Church is male, not female.

1 Timothy 3:2-5 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

1 Timothy 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

God does not undermine women by making the Bible Patriarchal. On the contrary, God used women in both Testaments to do mighty and wonderful things.

  • God used a virgin called Mary (Luke 1:35) to bring Messiah into the world.
  • One of Jesus’ most faithful followers was Mary Magdalene (Matthew 27:56), who was the first disciple to discover that Jesus rose from the grave.
  • Jesus often rested at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany (John 11:1). Mary was often found sitting at the feet of Jesus as He taught Scripture(Luke 10:42).
  • The Apostle Paul commends Phebe, a servant of the Church which is at Cenchrea (Romans 16:1). In the same chapter Paul tells us that his favorite helpers were Priscilla and Aquila (Romans 16:3), who had a Church meeting in their home.

I could go on and on. God never undermines women, as the Scripture always treats women as precious, and just as much in the image of God as a man is. However, in God’s design, He has established men in leadership positions in the home, the community, and in the Church.

I am certain as I read these words – which are quoted directly from Scripture – there are many who are offended by them. But I can only say, “It is written”. This is what the Bible says. I do not feel the need to make excuses nor debate what God’s Word has said. What He has written, He has written. If you choose otherwise then you believe this Book is just a human book, with no effect on eternity whatsoever. Many sects professing Christ believe this. I have an inherent problem with this. If this book is just a human book, with no effect on eternity, then how can you say that Jesus Christ is the only Way unto God? How can you say that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone? If part of the Book is flawed, how do we determine the true from the untrue? Who’s to say?

It is all confusion.

For me and my house, we believe in the purity of God’s Word. We believe that it is wholly true, and valid for the believer in God for all ages. Though I and my wife love and accept Christians from all walks of faith regardless of their practice, we hold the Scripture to be true, and the foundation on which all life is to be built on. The Church is defined by the Scripture. I close with these words:

Ephesians 2:18-22 For through {Jesus} we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 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.

May God bless the preaching of His Word, to the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen and Amen.

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What’s Your Power Source, Part 2

Posted on January 3, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Ian Stauffer on Unsplash

This morning we were in Acts Chapter Four asking the question, “What’s Your Power Source?” We will shortly be in Acts Chapter Five as we continue this subject.

I believe the weakness of the Church in America today can be attributed to many programs and many human solutions, but we pay little attention to God the Holy Spirit. We fill ourselves with our own talents and abilities. I was reading an article the other day where the Author said something like this:

“God was invented by man when we lived in simpler times. But now that we have become technologically advanced, now that we have medical science, now that we make our own miracles, we no longer need God. God is obsolete. We are our own God.”

I think this is foolishness – and delusion. As Solomon said, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9, ESV). Solomon was caught up in the accomplishments and abilities of his advanced age. Solomon in his wisdom did much good in Israel. And yet, without God, Solomon said “vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, KJV). If God is not in it, if you live a life with no greater purpose than to satisfy yourself, in time life itself seems meaningless! Solomon for all of his riches and all of his knowledge, ended Ecclesiastes with:

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

This is why Jesus gave the Church, and every Christian, the Holy Spirit. God wants you to be filled not with fear, nor with pride, but with His Holy Spirit. Please turn with me to John chapter 14. I feel led to talk about the Holy Spirit prior to going to Acts chapter 5. First, let’s examine …

Who Or What Is The Holy Spirit?

Some people think the Holy Spirit is a power, much like electricity or nuclear energy. But the Bible makes it very clear that the Holy Spirit is a PERSON. The Holy Spirit is the THIRD Person of the Trinity of God. In the commonly named Great Commission Jesus told us His Church:

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

When a believer is baptized in water, we are baptized “in the name” or by the authority of God.

Note that “In The NAME” is SINGULAR, not PLURAL.

Jesus noted that the authority by which we are baptized is “the Father”, “the Son”, and “the Holy Ghost {Pneuma, Spirit}”. All three Persons of the Godhead are given equal authority and deference. As we study the Holy Spirit in the life of Christ, we see that Jesus did the miracles He did through the power of the Holy Spirit. Pastor Mark Jones for Desiring God Ministries notes:

“Christ’s inseparable companion during his earthly ministry as a true man was the Holy Spirit. Therefore, at all of the major events in the life of Christ, the Holy Spirit took a prominent role. The Holy Spirit was the immediate, divine, efficient cause of the incarnation (Matthew 1:18, 20; Luke 1:35). This was a fitting “beginning” for Christ since Isaiah spoke of the Messiah as one endowed with the Spirit (Isaiah 42:1; 61:1). … ”

The Bible tells us that, though Jesus is God in Human Flesh, the miracles He did were through the power of God the Holy Spirit. We read:

Acts 10:38 …. God {the Father} anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy {Spirit} and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

The Holy Spirit is God. God the Father anointed God the Son with God the Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself said:

Matthew 12:28 if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Jesus did not use His own divine power to heal or to cast out demons. Jesus used the power of the Holy Spirit. That is, the Holy Spirit, Who is God, indwelt the frame of Christ, and operated through the Messiah.

As Jesus allowed the Spirit to empower Him, He wants us to allow the Spirit to empower us!

When Jesus prepared to go to the Cross of Calvary, He began to introduce the Holy Spirit to His disciples. Jesus told them:

John 14:15-18 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 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. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Word Study: Jesus said that if we loved Him and kept His commandments (He is LORD), then He would, in turn, pray to the Father, and the Father would send “another Comforter”. The Holy Spirit is called the “παράκλητος paraklētos, One Who Comes Alongside To Assist You”. Our Lord Jesus often came alongside the suffering and the sinner to assist them, to lift them up, to encourage them, to teach them, and if needed, to rebuke them. The Holy Spirit is “another” Comforter like Jesus was a comforter while on this earth. Just as the Father sent Jesus to this earth to give His life for our sins, the Father sends the Holy Spirit to those who obey Jesus’ commandments. The Comforter, when He comes, will not leave.

Jesus said, “that HE may abide with you for ever”.

As Jesus is a Comforter, the Holy Spirit is a Comforter.
As Jesus is a Person sent by the Father,
the Holy Spirit is a Person sent by the Father.

The Spirit is not an IT but a “HE”. The Holy Spirit is not just called “Comforter”, but also “the Spirit of truth”. It is the Holy Spirit of God Who moved the Prophets to speak and write the Scripture. Peter tells us:

2 Peter 1:21 … the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy {SPIRIT}.

Word Study: The King James translators alternated the translation of pneuma {Spirit} with the word “Ghost”. David Crowder has a song out called “I Know A Ghost”. I like David Crowder, but he’s no theologian. The better translation of pneuma is SPIRIT. That’s what I will use throughout the rest of this sermon.

The Holy Spirit is the ultimate Writer of the Scripture.

Jeremiah 31:31-32 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:

But when this text is quoted in the New Testament, we read:

Hebrews 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

And in Isaiah 6:8-9 I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

But when quoted by Paul in Acts 28:25-26 … Well spake the Holy Ghost by {Isaiah} the prophet unto our fathers, 26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

When our Lord Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1, He said “David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Mark 12:36). When Peter quoted the Psalms that Prophesied the betrayal of Jesus by Judas (Psalm 41:9; Psalm 55:12-15), Peter said “the Holy {Spirit} by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas” (Acts 1:16).

I could go on and on, for there are numerous references like those I just quoted. But we have seen enough to know it is the Holy Spirit that communicated the Scripture to us through the Prophets. Jesus told His disciples, “ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be IN you”. The Holy Spirit would come to take Jesus’ place. He would walk with the Apostles and all who believe on Jesus. The Spirit would INDWELL the believer, lifting us up, and empowering us just as Jesus did.

The Lord said, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you”. When the Holy Spirit comes to us, He represents Christ Jesus so exactly that it is as if Jesus Himself is inside us. The Spirit represents Jesus, just as Jesus represented the Father.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy {Spirit}, 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.

The Holy Spirit comes to the believer to teach us the things that Jesus Christ said. Jesus said “He shall bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you”. Jesus reiterates this again in:

John 15:26-27 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

The Holy Spirit will “testify” of Jesus, just as the Disciples were to testify of Jesus. The Spirit speaks to us, and we speak to the world. That is the arrangement. We share the Gospel, as the Spirit shares the Christ. While Jesus was on this earth ministering, the Holy Spirit came at times and left at times. But once Jesus left this earth, the Holy Spirit came to indwell God’s people. Jesus said:

John 16:5-8 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. 8 And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Word Study: The Holy Spirit came to “reprove” (ἐλέγχω elénchō), that is, “to convict, convince, refute, or correct”. The Holy Spirit would work in conjunction with the disciples as they witnessed Christ. The Spirit would only speak truth. Jesus said:

John 16:13-14 Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

The Holy Spirit came to guide the Church into “all truth”. The Spirit is repeatedly referred to by Jesus as a “He”. Not a SHE or an IT, but a “He”.

Do Not Lie To The Spirit Of Truth

The Holy Spirit is a PERSON, not a POWER. The Spirit can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30). The Spirit can be sinned against (Isaiah 63:10). The Spirit can be quenched or suppressed (1 Thessalonians 5:19). You can also lie to the Spirit of God, a very dangerous thing to do. Turn with me to:

Acts 5:1-4 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

So what is happening in Acts chapter 5? Our Lord Jesus has ascended to Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father making intercession for His Church (Romans 8:34). The Holy Spirit was sent to the Church on the Day of Pentecost to indwell the believer in Christ. The Scripture says:

Romans 8:9 … if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

As the early Church is gathering, believers are “together, and had all things common; (Acts 2:44) And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need”. No one is making the believers do these things. The Church is loving, and love demands doing good. As people sell things, and bring the sale of the items into the Church, two followers known as Ananias and Sapphira conspire against the Kingdom of God. They could have kept the money for the sale. Or they could have specified they were only donating a part of the land sold. They didn’t do this. Ananias and Sapphira decided to pretend they were giving all the money from the sale when they only gave a part.

And the Holy Spirit knew it. The Spirit alerts Peter to what is going on. Peter says,

Acts 5:3 … Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy {Spirit}, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

You cannot “lie” to an IT. You cannot “lie” to a door, a wall, a rock, or electrical energy. Peter said:

Acts 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Ananias had free will, and could choose to have honestly withheld the money, withheld part of the money, or could give all of the money. No lie is needed!

But Ananias lied to the Spirit of Truth. Peter put it clearly. He said, “thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God”. The Holy Spirit is God, and Ananias lied to God. Beloved, you ought not ever lie to God. God sees the heart. We look on the OUTWARD, but “the LORD sees not as man sees. The LORD looks on the HEART” (1 Samuel 16:7). We read:

Acts 5:5-6 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

Nothing breaks up a camp meeting like people dropping dead! Beloved, sin can kill you. In fact, sin will kill you. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Ananias should have known better! When we partake of the Lord’s Table, I always warn you against “eating the bread or drinking the cup unworthily” (1 Corinthians 11:27). To do so can bring sickness and early death. The Corinthians did this, and the Apostle said “for this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep {die}” (1 Corinthians 11:30). It is a dangerous thing to blaspheme God. It can be a fatal thing to blaspheme God the Holy Spirit! We continue:

Acts 5:7-9 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

When Sapphira comes in, she doesn’t know that her husband is dead. Peter asks her what the land sold for. When Sapphira parrots her husband, Peter tells her “How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?” Sapphira along with her husband lied to the Holy Spirit of God, the Third Person of the Trinity. She died and was laid to rest alongside of her husband (verse 10). What effect did this have on the growing Church?

Acts 5:11-12 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. 12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

The Church experienced the “fear of the Lord”. That is, they all had respect and reverence for the things of God. When the Holy Spirit is active in the lives of the members of the Church, God is respected and His Word upheld. The blessing of the Church is in every believer being yielded to the Word of God and the Spirit of God. We end with this:

Acts 5:14-16 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Let us draw closer to God the Holy Spirit and the Word of truth this New Year. Let us do this for the glory of God our Savior. Amen and Amen.

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What’s Your Power Source

Posted on January 2, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Felipe Bastias on Unsplash

Acts 4:1-8 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. 4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. 5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost,

A couple of weeks ago we saw the Apostles Peter and John at the Eastern Gate of the Temple, that lovely bronze gate called “Beautiful”. This is the first gate opened when the sun rises, and a main entrance into the Temple. We saw a homeless man begging for money, a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb. Year after year this man suffered, and when he called out to Peter and John, he hoped for just a few cents to help him eat that day.

The unnamed man got more than he bargained for. Peter told the man:

Acts 3:6-8 ….. Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And {he who was lame} leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

This was the 9th hour of the day, a time of Jewish prayer about 3 pm.

As people had their prayers interrupted, they left where they were in the Temple to see watch this healed man.

Peter used this time to preach the Gospel of Christ. What happens? As we come to chapter four, we see, as the ball player Yogi Berra used to say: It’s deja vu all over again!

The Lost World Despises The True Jesus

So now we come to chapter four. Peter is preaching the Gospel in Solomon’s Porch (Acts 3:11). This is the exact same porch where Jesus told the Pharisees and Priests that He was the Christ (John 10:23), and the “Jews took up stones again to stone {Jesus}” (John 10:31). They could not kill Jesus, as it was not yet His time to be crucified. “Jesus escaped out of their hand” (John 10:39). But they tried to kill Him.

It is on this same porch – Solomon’s Porch – that Peter and John are confronted by (guess who?) the same curmudgeons that Jesus had to meet. The lost world despises the true Jesus, but desperately needs to Gospel!

Acts 4:1-2 And as they {Peter and John} spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

As Peter is preaching, he says “God raised up His Son Jesus” (Acts 3:26). The “priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees” are upset with this politically incorrect message.

  • The “priests” are those who were instrumental in having Jesus Christ killed. It was the High Priests Joseph Caiaphas (Matthew 26:57) and his father in law Annas that had Jesus sent to the Governor Pilate to be crucified.
  • The “captain of the temple guard” is a special Levitical Office that assisted the High Priest. The “captain” would control the Temple Police (1 Chronicles 9:11; Nehemiah 11:11). His title was “Ruler of the House of God”.
  • Finally the “Sadducees” were the rich political leaders of Israel. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection. “The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.” (Acts 23:8; Mark 12:18). And PETER IS PREACHING A RESURRECTED JESUS! Holy cow!

This unholy trinity of power is enraged that Peter and John are preaching in their Temple. How dare they?

These are the people who got rid of Jesus. They saw the soldier spear Christ’s side, and “blood and water ran out” (John 19:34). They saw Jesus’ dead body removed from the Cross by Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus (John 19:38-39). These same men ordered that a guard be placed at the Tomb of Jesus, lest He be taken away by His disciples (Matthew 27:63-64). Jesus was dead, and He needs to stay buried. So …

Acts 4:3 …they {the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees} laid hands on them {Peter and John}, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

They lock up these “troublemakers”, and wait to judge them the next day. Dinner is ready, and they didn’t want to miss their meal! But the damage has been done. As Peter and John preached on Solomon’s Porch, we read:

Acts 4:4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

Around “five thousand” believed on Jesus for salvation, and were saved. On the Day of Pentecost Peter preached, and there were 3000 saved. What is going on? The next day we read that Peter and John are removed from prison.

Acts 4:5-7 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

Peter and John are “set … in the midst” of “rulers, and elders, and scribes, And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest”. The High Priest “Annas” is the father-in-law of “Caiaphas”. Though Caiaphas is the acting High Priest, Annas is the power behind that office (John 18:13, 24). Peter and John are asked: By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

What Is The POWER That Drives You?

Word Study: Let’s look at what the Sanhedrin {the ruling council} asked Peter and John. The Dakes Analytical Bible notes, “By what NAME means by what AUTHORITY. The council was convinced that they {Peter and John} had wrought a miracle, but by what means they were not certain. As all traffic with demons and familiar spirits was unlawful they hoped by examination to prove them guilty of death according to Leviticus 20:27”.

They wanted Peter or John to confess to healing the man at the Gate Beautiful through occultism.

How will Peter answer? Peter often put his foot in his mouth when he walked with our Jesus. On the night that our Lord Jesus was crucified, right after the disciples celebrated the first Lord’s Table with Jesus, our Lord said:

Mark 14:27-28 All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. 28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.

Jesus knew that He would meet the judgment of the Sanhedrin, and the Cross of Calvary alone. But Peter spoke up. Peter was ALWAYS speaking up!

Mark 14:29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.

Peter is a faithful follower of Jesus, but he is
full of HIMSELF.

Peter is filled with pride in his own power. Peter is a strong fisherman. He had fought the waves of the sea, and often pulled in nets filled with fish. Peter had two guns – his left arm and his right arm. With his guns he had, I’m sure, beaten others before he met Jesus. “Everyone else will run away. But Jesus, You misjudge me! I’ll be there no matter what!”

Word Study: The Bible warns against PRIDE. I wondered if the word PRIDE had an acronym (an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word) on the internet. It does. In fact, there are some 30 acronyms for PRIDE in the free dictionary. The one I think is most accurate is Personal Responsibility in Delivering Excellence. The motto of the P.R.I.D.E. filled person is “I can do ALL things”. Peter was like that. He was filled with self assurance. He knew he could do all things. Peter believed in HIMSELF.Peter is the picture of the self assured man. The Bible warns us:

Proverbs 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Pride brings contention (Proverbs 13:10), problems, destruction.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and a {arrogant [גֹּבַהּ gôbahh]} spirit before a fall

Jesus told Peter in Mark 14:30, “Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.”

Did Peter listen to Jesus? Did Peter draw closer to God, or to himself? We read:

Mark 14:31 {Peter} spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.

Peter bowed up with pride, and the others followed suit. They were NOT going to betray Jesus. Yet they did. As Peter stood outside the Temple, watching Jesus being tried for blasphemy, Peter was questioned first by a young woman who said, “I saw you with Jesus” (Mark 14:67). Peter denied the Lord. Then a little girl (Mark 14:69) confronted Peter, who said “I don’t know Jesus”. When another said, “Yes, we all saw you with Jesus”, it was at this point “Peter began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this Man of whom ye speak” (Mark 14:71). And the second time the cock crowed. At this point Peter remembered the words Jesus spoke, and wept bitterly (Mark 14:72; Matthew 26:75).

We Choose What Or Who Will Fill Us

You choose the power that will enable you to live your life. Before Jesus died on Calvary, Peter filled himself with Peter. But now Peter allows himself to be filled with Someone else. We read:

Acts 4:8-10 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Word Study: Peter was “filled with the Holy Ghost”. He was not filled with PRIDE, not filled with HIMSELF, not filled with FEAR. He was “filled with the Holy Ghost”. Who is this “Holy Ghost”? This is the Greek hagios pneuma, which the King James sometimes translates “Holy Ghost” and other times “Holy Spirit”. The latter is the best translation. The Holy Spirit of God was promised by Jesus to every believer. When a person believes on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, God the Holy Spirit comes to that believer and causes the believer to be “born again”. Jesus told Nicodemus,

John 3:5 … Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God

Jesus said, “that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). The Holy Spirit must effect a change in you in order that you be saved. When the Gospel is preached and believed on, you are born again because the Holy Spirit causes it to be so. The Christian is:

1 Peter 1:23 … born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

It was the Spirit that caused the Messiah (Christ) to become flesh (Jesus). The Angel told Mary, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35). The birth of Christ into humanity was a miracle. The new birth of every Christian is a miracle! When we called on the name of Jesus, we were saved.

Romans 10:9, 11 … if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. … 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

When we profess Jesus to be Lord, our LORD, and believe that “God hath raised him from the dead”, we are saved. The Holy Spirit does a work in our hearts. Oh, I wish I had time to tell you all that Spirit does.

The Spirit REGENERATES you,
making you spiritually alive (John 3:3-8).
The Spirit SANCTIFIES you,
making you a saint of God (1 Peter 1:2).
The Spirit ADOPTS you,
making you a son of God (Romans 8:9-16).
The Spirit SEALS you,
fixing your destination heavenward (2 Cor 1:21-22).
The Spirit BAPTIZES you,
uniting you with the Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:13).
The Spirit INDWELLS you,
making you God’s possession (2 Tim 1:13-14).

Oh what a glorious salvation we have! But there is one other thing the Spirit does. The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. We are baptized in the NAME of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). The Holy Spirit can FILL us. This is what is going on with Peter right now.

Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy {Spirit}…

Peter is not filled with FEAR, not filled with HIMSELF, but he is FILLED with God. His focus is GOD. His desire is GOD. He is surrendered to God. This is the Christian superpower! Not in us, but through God’s Spirit. When Zerubbabel led a group of Israelis back to Israel to rebuild Jerusalem, God told him:

Zechariah 4:6 (ESV) …Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

Peter and John are standing before this crowd who wanted them dead, and are standing in the power of Almighty God the Holy Spirit. Though there are Sadducees in that bunch, Peter unafraid says:

Acts 4:9-10 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Peter said, “The power that healed this man was not the occult. It was the “name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole”. It is because of Jesus we are saved. It is because of His Blood shed on Calvary that we are empowered and inhabited by God the Holy Spirit. It is Jesus – the Jesus Who died and ROSE AGAIN – Who caused this man to be made whole.

Acts 4:11-12 This {same Jesus} is the Stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Peter is actually quoting both Psalms and Isaiah, two prophecies concerning the coming of the Christ {Messiah}. These prophesies are:

Psalm 118:22-23 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

Isaiah 28:16 … thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’

The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Priests are the “builders” of Judaism. Yet they rejected Jesus Christ, God’s Cornerstone and God’s Foundation. Each trusted in their own abilities.

  • The Pharisees and Priests trusted in their ability to keep the Law of God, believing this would save them. The Law is good, and right. But the problem is that we are all fallen humans – even the Pharisees. The Apostle said:

Romans 8:3-4 … what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Without the Spirit of God, we could not be born again. Without the Spirit of God, we could not honor God’s Law. We are all fallen, and all need the Savior. The Bible says:

Hebrews 10:4, 11-12 … it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. … 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But {Jesus}, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

  • The Sadducees trusted in their popularity and political power to be right with God. Yet they were just as polluted as every other human on the face of this earth is polluted. We must have the power of God change us, or else we have no foundation with God. We must receive Jesus Christ as He is. As Peter boldly said to these “builders”:

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The NAME or AUTHORITY that brought about the crippled man’s healing was JESUS. The NAME or AUTHORITY that brings about our own salvation from sin and selfish sickness is JESUS. We all desperately need God. When we call on Jesus, God the Holy Spirit comes to us, and fulfills the promise of God:

Hebrews 10:16-24 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Oh, what a blessing it is to be the miracle that is a Christian. Will you join me, or continue to live your life in your own power? Though 5000 came to Jesus through a Spirit Filled Peter’s preaching, what did these “holy men” of Israel do? They had a little pow wow. We read:

Acts 4:13-18 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. 17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straightly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

This is the devil’s way. This is where “cancel culture” comes from, Satan himself. “Don’t say the name of Jesus anymore, you ignorant people!” But Peter replied:

Acts 4:19-21 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

What will you do with this information? Will you receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, and allow God to create a miracle in you? Or will you follow the dead crowd to a miserable life, and a damned afterlife? The choice is yours. You choose Who will fill you. You choose by which Power you will live your life. May God the Holy Spirit through this Word draw you close to His side this very day. Amen and Amen.

Posted in Acts, General, Sermons Preached | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How Dare You?

Posted on December 31, 2021 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

1 Corinthians 6:1-8 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

The Believer’s PORTION Is God

Corinth was – like America today – a litigious society. People sue one another today at the drop of a hat. There is nothing new under the sun!

But as Paul addresses the Church, he wants us to understand that our mission is to lead others to know Jesus Christ as Savior. The Church is to be the Light of Christ in a dark world. As Jesus said:

Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

We are supposed to allow the light of Christ’s love shine from us, out into the darkness of Pagan America. The Church has a responsibility in the place where Christ has planted us. “For we are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). We are placed where we are placed for a Divine Reason. We are to “your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”. The goal of the Church is to win souls from the kingdom of Darkness, and to bring souls to Jesus so that He can:

Colossians 1:13 … deliver {them} from the power of darkness, and translate {them} into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (my paraphrase)

Earthly things should not cause God’s people to sue one another in law courts. The Bible tells us as Christians that we are loved of Jesus, and washed from our sins by His own Blood (Revelation 1:5). Jesus did this so that He could

Revelation 1:6 {make} us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

We are Christ’s Royal Family. Our destination is glory. Our eternity is life. We belong to God. We are not, as believers, to fight over temporal things, but to remember our Great Commission. We are a soul saving lighthouse! Among Israel, eleven tribes were given land. But the Tribe of Levi was given no land. Why? Because God is our portion. Not the things of this world, but GOD. King David understood this. He wrote numerous times:

Psalm 73:6 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Psalm 142:5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

And Jeremiah, that soulful Prophet, wrote:

Lamentations 3:24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

Preach: The believer who begins to put possessions over his or her PRIESTHOOD has forgotten their purpose in life. Our purpose is not to hold on to as much STUFF as possible. Our purpose is to hold onto as much GOD as possible.

Dare Any Of You?

1 Corinthians 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

Word Study: The Apostle is not talking about taking an unbeliever to court, but taking a fellow believer to court. Ironside wrote in his commentary (page 178):

“… [believers quarreling with one another in the world’s law courts] is saying to the world, ‘We Christians are just as covetous and just as quarrelsome, we are just as much concerned about having our own way and about self-pleasing as you of the world are. We recognize your judges as having authority over the Church of God,’ and it is degrading to the Christian thus to act.”

The word translated “another” is the Greek ἕτερος héteros, {pronounced het’-er-os}, which here means “your neighbor”. He is addressing disputes within the Church. This is brought home in verse 6:

1 Corinthians 6:6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

And again brought out in verse 8:

1 Corinthians 6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

These are fellow believers that are suing one another in a godless, pagan courtroom. Jesus commanded us as believers to love one another. He said:

John 13:34-35 … A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

The love we are to have toward one another is love as Jesus loved. That type of love is self sacrificing as opposed to self exalting. The love that Christ wants us to love does not demean another, but builds up the other. When believers love believers as Christ loved us, this type of love brings great JOY. Jesus said:

John 15:10-14 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

As Jesus emptied Himself and walked through this life in humble adoration toward God, we who are His are commanded to do the same. Christians will one day judge both the world, and the fallen angels:

1 Corinthians 6:2-3 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

If during the Millennial Reign of Christ we who are “saints shall judge the world”, then we should be able to settle minor disputes in the family of God right now. The Dakes Annotated Bible notes:

“judge” {is the Greek} krino, which means to judge or make a legal decision. It does not refer to passing judgment on angels or sending them to punishment. It does mean that Saints will be exalted higher than angels and will rule them, making decisions for the administration of the universe. Saints, not angels, become heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ to inherit all things.”

Romans 8:17-18 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

If Saints are to judge angels, and assist Jesus in judging the world, we should be able to judge legal matters between fellow believers. We are “Saints” not because we are perfect, but because we have believed on Jesus and are now saved. As “Saints” we are set apart from the world to serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Ephesians 4:1-3 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Rather than air the dirty linen of the Church in public, the Apostle says:

1 Corinthians 6:7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

Christians Are To Dispense Blessing, Not Cursing

Word Study: The Apostle now asks two questions of every Christian: “Why do ye not rather take wrong?” and “why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?”. The phrase “take wrong” is the Greek ἀδικέω adikéō, {pronounced ad-ee-keh’-o}, which means “to absorb the hurt”. The word translated “defrauded” is the Greek ἀποστερέω aposteréō, {pronounced ap-os-ter-eh’-o}, which means “to allow yourself to suffer damages”. Rather than always standing up for ourselves and demanding “my rights”, the needs of the Kingdom outweigh our own needs.

The needs of the Kingdom outweigh
our own personal needs.

This is not a new teaching in the Scripture, but a foundational truth that we often ignore. We are told in:

Romans 12:14-21 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 (ESV) See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

And the Chief Apostle wrote:

1 Peter 3:8-12 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him {turn from} evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

The sense of Scripture is that the Christian is to be focused on loving those around us. Let God be the judge. Do good, even when evil is done to you. Solomon said:

Proverbs 20:22 (ESV) Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

And our Lord Jesus plainly taught:

Matthew 5:38-48 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

This is an evil, litigious world … but as Christians we do not need to join the fray. Let us love others as Christ has loved us. Do good, and let God be the Judge.

Our Focus Is Always To Lead Others
From Darkness And Into Light

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators {sexually immoral}, nor idolaters, nor adulterers {violating the sanctity of marriage}, nor effeminate {malakós, young boys kept for homosexual relationships}, nor abusers of themselves with mankind {arsenokoitēs, one who lies with a malle as with a female, a Sodomite}, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous {pleonektēs, those greedy of gain}, nor drunkards, nor revilers {loidoros, those who are abusive or bullying}, nor extortioners {harpax, robbers, ravenous wolves. See Matthew 7:15}, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Those who are going to Heaven are those who have been “washed”, “sanctified”, and “justified”. Those who are engaged in evil lifestyle choices shall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.

Each of these lifestyle choices have one thing in common: they violate Biblical Love and Divine Design.

God says that those who are engaged in these things MUST undergo the Triune Blessing of salvation. Those around us need to be introduced to Jesus, so that Jesus can lead them to Living Water.

  • Those who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior are WASHED. Jesus Christ has WASHED us from our sins in HIS OWN BLOOD (Revelation 1:5). We have WASHED our robes and made them white in the BLOOD OF THE LAMB (Revelation 7:14).
  • Those who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior are SANCTIFIED, set apart as God’s own children. We are SANCTIFIED in Jesus Christ, called to be SAINTS (1 Corinthians 1:2). We have an inheritance among them which are SANCTIFIED by faith (Acts 26:18; Acts 20:32).
  • Those who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior are JUSTIFIED by God. We are JUSTIFIED freely by His Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24). God no longer sees the believer in Christ as a sinner, but as a son of God. JUSTIFIED by Christ’s Blood, we are saved from wrath by Him (Romans 5:9). Being JUSTIFIED by His Grace, we are made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7).

Our focus is not our rights, but the needs of the sinner, and the commands of our Savior. We are His people. We live to bring others the glorious Gospel of salvation so that they, too, might be saved. May God the Holy Spirit touch your hearts with His Word this day. Amen and Amen.

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Purge Out The Leaven

Posted on December 26, 2021 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Wesual Click on Unsplash

1 Corinthians 5:7-8 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

The fallen world often frightens me.

I was reading an article in Touchstone magazine (“A Journal of Mere Christianity”) that noted:

“In February of last year, The Dallas Observer reported that the Satanic Temple of Texas had filed a First Amendment religious liberty lawsuit to defend its right to perform child sacrifices as religious ritual. The reason this otherwise shocking news may not have crossed your transom is that the Satanists only perform this ritual during abortion procedures. … once the doctor has killed the child, the mother affirms her deed by saying, ‘By my body, my blood. By my will, it is done.’” The author of the briefing, J. Douglas Johnson (Deputy Editor of Touchstone) went on to note, “… like the demons who knew exactly who Jesus was when they saw him and said so, the Satanists know a child sacrifice when they see one”.

Sadly, though the demons and their followers often know right from wrong, Christ’s Church sometimes blurs the lines of truth and fallacy. No where is this more evident than in the matter of human sexuality. When God created man and woman, He gave us not only His command to “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over {it}…” (Genesis 1:28), but God gave us an appetite to love our opposite. God said:

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Biblical marriage – one man married to one woman for one lifetime – was the standard that God established in the beginning of human history. When people depart from God’s design we have numerous problems, such as:

Unwanted children who are aborted
Sexually transmitted diseases
Confused children and families
Gender dysphoria
Abnormal {as God determines “normal”} sexual desires

Jesus Christ Is Our Passover

1 Corinthians 5:7-8 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us…

The Apostle tells the Christian to “Purge out therefore the old leaven”. What does this mean? The night before Israel was saved from Egypt, they sacrificed a “Passover Lamb” (Exodus 12:11). Where ever God “passed over”, if He saw the blood of the Lamb on the doorposts of the home, God would keep on going. But where the Blood was NOT, death came. The Blood of the Lamb brought salvation to Israel.

Jesus Christ is our Passover Lamb. His Blood was shed to save us from our sins. The Christian is a person who has been led by God outside of a spiritual Egypt, outside of this world of darkness. Jesus Christ fixed us!

When Jesus came to this earth, He came to fix the broken. As “Christ”, our Lord is equal to both Father and Spirit. Christ is the Eternal “Word” of God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD. The Same was in the beginning with God. ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM; and without Him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:1-3). As “Jesus”, our Lord was supernaturally born of a Virgin into the humanity He helped create. The Prophet said:

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. {which means “God with us”, Matthew 1:23)

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.

The “child is born”. This is Jesus. The “son is given”. This is Christ. God the Son could never be born, for He is eternal, without beginning or end. But Jesus the Son of Man was born. Jesus is the …

John 1:29 …. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world

Jesus did not come to us to ENHANCE sin,
but to DEMOLISH sin.

Jesus was born “a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). He was not born to enable sin, but to disable sin and it’s power over us. When you receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior you come from a state where you were enslaved to sin, and enter a state where you want to serve God. The Apostle wrote:

Romans 6:17-19 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

Romans 6:14 … sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Though the Christian has the ability to sin, the Spirit of God indwells the believer in Christ. “If anyone have not the Spirit of Christ, HE IS NONE OF HIS”. When we who are saved sin, the Spirit of God within us becomes “grieved” (Ephesians 4:30, Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption). The Spirit moves within us, “guiding us into ALL TRUTH” (John 16:13). Not into error, but into truth. As we who are Christians live out our lives we “walk in the Spirit”. Not in SIN, but IN THE SPIRIT.

Galatians 5:16, 25 … Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. … 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Christians Are To Purge Out The Old Leaven

When Israel celebrated the yearly Passover (commemorating their deliverance from Egypt), part of that Passover was to go about the home looking for Leaven (yeast – see Exodus 12:15; 13:6-7). All yeast or leaven was to be gathered up and cast outside of the home. Often the little children went about the home with a feather, checking every corner, nook, and cranny for leaven. Leaven is symbolic for sin in the Bible. The site Got Questions notes:

“… leaven represents sin or corruption. The law forbade grain offerings made with leaven (Leviticus 2:11). In fact, no yeast was allowed to be burned on the altar in any sacrifice. The grain offering for Aaron and his sons (the priests) was also not to contain leaven and was to be eaten in a holy place (Leviticus 6:17). … Leaven is also mentioned in the New Testament. In Matthew 16:6–12, Jesus compared the false teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees and Herodians to leaven. ”

God tells His Children to “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened (vs 7)”. When we recognize sin in our lives we are to address that sin IMMEDIATELY. We have to use the feather of Grace to sweep out that evil. We are not to tolerate evil in our lives, nor in our gatherings … lest the death angel come.

In short, a sinning Christ is Abnormal, not normal. A sinning Christian will be under the conviction of God the Holy Spirit. A sinning Christian who will not repent may meet the death angel.

Sin must not be in our bodies. Sin must not be in our homes. Sin must not be in our Church gatherings. Sin is any behavior or attitude that our God considers unholy and unlike Christ. When Paul told the Corinthians,

1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

It is “Christ” Who saved us by dying for us. But it is WE who are saved who are to keep our bodies, our families, and our gatherings “unleavened”. We as believers are “a new lump”. We do not belong to this world, but to the Kingdom of Christ. Jesus said:

John 8:12 … I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

The Apostle said in 1 John 1:6, “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth…”

As Christians we do not walk in darkness. We do not live out our lives in Egypt. We follow a risen Savior, and live so as to please Him. The Corinthians forgot this. Paul writes:

1 Corinthians 5:1-2 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

There was a young man who professed to be a believer in the congregation at Corinth. This young man was involved in “fornication”, the Greek πορνεία porneía, [pronounced por-ni’-ah]. Whenever a person violates the sanctity of the marriage sexually by unlawfully coming into that marriage sexually, this is called “adultery”, the Greek μοιχεύω moicheúō, [pronounced moy-khyoo’-o]. The Apostle did not use this word for what the young man did. Though what he did was adultery, his action was much more horrendous. This is why the Apostle uses porneía, a word often used to describe “adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals, or sexual intercourse with close relatives”. The young man in question was having sexual intercourse with his father’s wife, or his stepmother. In God’s Word we are told:

Leviticus 18:8 The nakedness of thy father’s wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father’s nakedness.

Leviticus 20:11 And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Those who were sexually engaged with “his father’s wife” were stoned with stones until they were dead in the Old Testament. To those who say that – once saved you can do whatever you want, the Scripture says “NOT SO”. Though Christians are not to physically stone a member of the Family of God until dead, the Apostle tells us to do something else. We are to “mourn” over the one who does such a thing. We “mourn” because a terrible crime against God was committed in our midst. We “mourn” because leaven has entered the congregation of light. And leaven, when introduced, will grow until it “leavens the whole lump”. The Apostle tells the Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 5:3-5 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

We do not stone the offender, but we “deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus”. We reject that type of behavior from amongst the flock. The word “deliver” is the Greek παραδίδωμι paradídōmi, [pronounced par-ad-id’-o-mee], which means “to surrender or yield up, to give into the hands of another (here, to Satan)”. What does this mean? It means that as believers we spiritually hand the offender over to Satan, so that he might destroy them.

We stop fellowshipping with that professor.
We stop regarding that professor to be a brother or sister in Christ.

This is not an action that is taken lightly. If a brother or sister in Christ does evil, we are to try and convince them to repent and return to the Master. We are told in another place:

Galatians 6:1-2 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

We are to lovingly and carefully share the Scripture truth with the wandering believer. The Scripture says:

James 5:19-20 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

We are to do our best to reach the wayward believer. But if they will not hear, they are to be turned over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus (vs 5). The Apostle himself turned two other men over to Satan.

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.

Beloved, there is safety in the Church of Christ. There is safety in this Blood Bought assembly. For those who do evil, and refuse to repent, we are to let them go, to turn them over to Satan. Why Satan? Because we are told that Satan has the power of Death (Hebrews 2:14).

We Do Not Keep Company With Certain Fornicators

Jesus was often seen sitting among the sinners. The Pharisees charged Jesus with being “a friend of publicans and sinners” (Matthew 11:19). Jesus sat with sinners, all types of sinners, to lead them to salvation. But once a person is saved, their attitude toward sin changes. A good illustration is in the life of Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was a tax collector, one of the richest tax collectors of his day. When he heard Jesus was coming past his home, Zacchaeus got up in a tree and waited. The Bible says:

Luke 19:5-7 … when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

Zacchaeus responded to the Gospel call of Jesus. He “came down, and received {Jesus} joyfully”. Receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior, Zacchaeus:

Luke 19:8-9 … stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

Zacchaeus’ behavior toward sin changed. All that he had stolen, he was going to return. He is no longer lost, but found. No longer blind, but now he sees.

It is fine to reach out to and share the Gospel with an unsaved sinner. Jesus did this all the time. But we are not to condone a SAVED person doing evil. We are to spot it, highlight it, and if the person will not repent, refuse to fellowship with them until they repent.

We see this in:

1 Corinthians 5:9-11 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

If someone who is “called a brother”, but continues in sexual sin, is “covetous” (pleonéktēs, constantly wanting more stuff, rabidly eager for gain), or an “idolater” (worships false gods), or a “railer” (loídoros, reviles or mocks), or a “drunkard”, or an “extortioner” (hárpax, one who illegally takes something not their own, or forces one to give something not their own). If someone professes to be a brother or sister in Christ, and yet continues in this lifestyle choice, then we are not to enable them further. We are to tell them to repent, and have no casual relationship with them. The Apostle said, “with such an one no not to eat”.

But and if they repent we are to receive them. But until they repent, the Apostle said “Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” This seems harsh, but it is not. Those who will do such things will lower the holiness of the whole Church if embraced in their sin.

Let us live for Jesus while we are here. We are to be God’s lighthouse. May Jesus Christ, through His Spirit and this His Word, reach many hearts through this text. Amen and amen.

Posted in 1 Corinthians, Sermons Preached | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Be A Good Steward Where God Puts You

Posted on December 26, 2021 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Tim Umphreys on Unsplash

Please turn with me in your Bibles to Ezekiel 34. We’re going to go on a journey today that will end up in Bethlehem. Get ready to travel!

We have a tendency to think that what we do does not matter. After all, who am I? But the Bible is very clear that everything we as Christians do is important. The Apostle writes:

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV) Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

And this as well, Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

What you do (or don’t do) matters

Ancient Israel got into a mess because the leadership of the nation turned away from following God. The leaders didn’t do their jobs, and the people did not try to correct the problem. God told Ezekiel:

Ezekiel 34:2-8 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. 4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. 5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. 7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; 8 As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;

The “shepherds” or leaders in Israel “fed themselves, and fed not my flock”.

Parents were not tending to their children, but their own needs. Husbands were not tending to their wives, but their own needs. Priests were not sharing the Word of God with the people.Politicians and Princes were not focused on heeding God’s Word.
Israel had become lazy in her faith.
As the leadership goes, so goes the nation.


So Israel fell – no, they WALKED into Babylonian captivity. But not all of Israel divorced God. There were people like Daniel.

Daniel Faithfully Followed God
Not “Political Correctness” Nor The Crowd

Let’s move our caravan to the Book of Daniel. Daniel and Ezekiel were about the same age. Daniel, and his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego loved the Lord.

Though they were taken into Babylonian captivity about 600 years before Christ came, they kept their eyes on the Lord and not on their situation.

The first test Daniel and his friends had to endure was whether they would compromise with their unbelieving captors or not. The Bible says:

Daniel 1:8-9 … Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs…

As Daniel sought to serve God first, “God gave Daniel favor and compassion” from his pagan taskmaster. Daniel loved God! God loved Daniel! When King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a dream no one could interpret:

Daniel 2:19 … the secret {was} revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

Daniel refused to take credit for knowing the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Daniel told the King:

Daniel 2:27-28 … The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; 28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.

When Daniel gave Nebuchadnezzar the interpretation of the dream, the King made Daniel …

Daniel 2:48 … ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.

Word Study: The phrase “the wise men” is the Hebrewחַכִּים chakkîym, {pronounced khak-keem’}, which means “wise men, Magian or Magi”. Daniel was known as

Daniel 5:11 … a man … in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;

Daniel was considered the wisest of the wise men. He was the Chief Magi. When Babylon fell to Assyria, the King of Assyria loved Daniel!

Daniel 6:1-3 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

Daniel put God first, and God made Daniel first. Daniel was over all the wise men, the Magi, over all the rulers in Medo-Persia. In “Manners And Customs Of The Bible” we read (Page 399):

“These wise men, or more properly named Magi, belonged to a large and influential order of men. Though the origin of Magism is somewhat obscure, it’s thought to have it’s beginning among either the Chaldeans {Babylonians} or the Assyrians; more probably among the former.”

Daniel also prophesied of the coming of the Messiah (Daniel 9:24-27). The Magi knew that the Messiah was prophesied to be (Numbers 24:17) “… a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter … out of Israel”.

Daniel Planted A Seed Among The Magi,
Which Bloomed In Matthew Chapter Two

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

Word Study: What would cause a group of “wise men” (μάγος mágos, [pronounced mag’-os] or MAGI) to travel around 1000 miles to Jerusalem? Though exiled to Babylon, Daniel remained faithful to God. His faith planted a seed that would – 600 years later – lead these Magi to Jerusalem.

The Bible doesn’t tell us how many Magi there were in this group that came looking for Jesus. We do know, however,

  • First, they are Gentiles, not Jews. We learn this because they are Magi from the East (verse 1).
  • Second, we know that these Magi did not come when Jesus was in a manger. Look at verse:

Matthew 2:11 … And when they {the Magi} were come INTO THE HOUSE …

Word Study: Last week we saw the Shepherds come to visit Jesus, they found Him lying in a manger; because there was no room for them in the INN {κατάλυμα katalyma, “guest chamber”}. Though Jesus is still in Bethlehem, He is not in a manger but in a HOUSE or HOME (οἰκία oikía, [pronounced oy-kee’-ah]). Jesus was older than He was when He was in the manger. These Magi are seeking out Jesus to “worship” Him. Our Jesus is worthy of worship. I say again, Jesus is worthy of worship! God told Israel, “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me … Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God an a jealous God … “ (Exodus 20:3, 5). And yet the Bible says:

Hebrews 1:6 (ESV) … when He {God} brings the firstborn {Jesus} into the world, He says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

Jesus Christ is worthy of worship! Our Jesus is “the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). It is only through Jesus Christ that we find “peace with God”.

Romans 5:1 (ESV) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Magi followed a star, “His Star” to Jerusalem, so they could worship Jesus. Our Jesus is “the Root and Descendant of David, the Bright and Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16). Our Jesus is worthy of worship! Jesus is worth more than mere sustenance. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4, ESV). Jesus is the Living Word of God. In John 6:35 Jesus said:

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

Jesus satisfies our hunger and thirst for righteousness. Only through Him are we filled (Matthew 5:6). Jesus is “the Light of the World”. The world stumbles about in the darkness of sin, but the believer follows the Savior and Lord of all.

“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)

Jesus is worthy of worship because – though Eternal God the Son – He came to this earth and humbled Himself to be our Good Shepherd:

In John 10:11 Jesus declared, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Because Jesus has laid His life down for us, we have the promise of eternal life. Jesus said:

John 11:25-26 … I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. …

You may believe in many things, but if you do NOT believe in Jesus, you will not be saved from darkness and damnation. Jesus declared “I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE: no one comes to the Father BUT BY ME.” (John 14:6).

The Magi Were “Joyous” Unbelievers Were “Troubled”

Matthew 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Word Study: These Magi had been searching many miles and many months for Jesus. They were seeking Him out to worship Him. But Herod and Jerusalem were “troubled”. This is the Greek ταράσσω tarássō, {pronounced tar-as’-so}, which means “to strike one’s spirit with fear and dread, to be anxious, distressed, agitated like boiling water”. The Bible tells us that

1 John 3:8 … for this purpose the Son of God was manifested {became flesh}, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

The Lamb of God became incarnate {flesh} to defeat the devil, death, and disease. When Jesus came into the world, it was as if God had said once again “Let there be Light” and there was Light (Genesis 1:3). Yet those vested in darkness were not pleased with the Light of God coming into the world.

Jesus said in John 3:19 … this is the condemnation, that LIGHT is come into the world, and {people} LOVED DARKNESS rather than LIGHT, because THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL ..

Herod did not want the Light that is Christ. Jerusalem did not want the Light that is Christ. Jesus came unto His own people (John 1:11), and HIS OWN RECEIVED HIM NOT. Herod begins to plot.

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

The Priests and Scribes, well acquainted with the Scriptures, knew that Micah 5:2 noted that the “Ancient of Days” or the Incarnate Messiah would come from Bethlehem. Herod now knows where Jesus is. He tells the Magi:

Matthew 2:8-9 And {Herod} sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

The Magi had the guidance of an unbelieving King Herod, and supernatural star that led them to the exact home Jesus was in. The Bible.org Devotional notes: “Most amazing were the people of Jerusalem, and in particular, the religious scholars of Judaism, who knew where to turn in Scripture to learn about Messiah’s birth. —– Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2, Zechariah 9:9, Psalm 22:16-18. While the magi traveled many miles to worship Messiah, over a good deal of time, the people of Jerusalem could not find it in themselves to walk the five or six miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.”

Matthew 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

The words “exceeding great joy” {chairō sphodra megas chara} tell us that the Magi did not quietly go to Jesus. There was shouting, and praising of God. For 483 years the Magi had looked forward to meeting the Messiah. Now they were at the end of their journey.

Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

When the Magi “came into the house” they did not see Joseph, nor any animals nor shepherds. If they were there, the Scripture would have said so. No, they saw “the young child with Mary his mother”. Their response was to “fall down, and worship Him”. The Magi gave the young Jesus three gifts suited to our Lord and Savior.

  • They gave Jesus “gold”, a gift suitable for a King. Jesus Christ is the “blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15).
  • The Magi gave Jesus “frankincense”, a highly aromatic spice used on by the Priests in the worship of God. The formula for these holy spices is found in Exodus 30:34-38. God told the Priests “you shall not make {this spice} for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the Lord. Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people.” Jesus Christ is the High Priest of His people (Hebrews 3:1; 4:14-15; 5:5; 6:20; 9:11). We have direct access to God through Jesus Christ, and Jesus “maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:34).
  • These Wise Men gave Jesus “myrrh”. Like frankincense, myrrh was a very costly item. It was used in the burial of the dead. The Israelis washed the corpse, then wound strips of cloth intermixed with myrrh and aloe. When Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea “brought a mixture of myrrh and aloe, about a hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury” (John 19:39-40). Jesus Christ, our King and High Priest, would also be the Good Shepherd Who lays His life down for us (John 10:11).

Having completed their mission, the Magi (Matthew 2:12) “being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way”.

Why Was Jesus Still In Bethlehem After Two Years?

In Luke 2 we see Jesus born, and laid in a manger. Some time later Jesus is still in Bethlehem, and as of yet Joseph has not taken his family back to Nazareth. So WHY is Jesus still in Bethlehem? It is because Jesus Christ, as the Messiah, must fulfill every Old Testament prophecy made about Him. When evil King Herod heard that the Magi went home without telling him where Jesus was, we read:

Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

Herod decreed that his soldiers kill every child “two years old and under”. This tells us that Herod believed the Magi had been traveling up to two years to find the Christ. Rather than try and determine which child was the Christ, Herod had every child in that age range killed.

What a horrible thing! The Scripture goes on to tell us:

Matthew 2:17-18 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Matthew quotes the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:15, which foretold that “Rachel” would be heard weeping for her children. Bethlehem is not only the City of David, but it is the place where Rachel, one of the wives of Jacob, was buried (Genesis 35:19). It was prophesied that “Rachel” would weep and not be comforted because her “children are not”, that is, ceased to live. Herod would kill all the children 2 years old and younger. How horrible!

I often hear people judge God, saying, “If He were genuinely a loving and giving God, why would He allow such atrocities to bed done?” The answer is quite simple. We are “made in God’s image and likeness” (Genesis 1:27). We have the power to choose the right or the wrong. When we reject God’s love, and turn instead to satisfying our selfish desires, sin can lead us to the lowest of all places. This is where Herod was.

We have a choice. We all have a choice. We can run to the Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, and be blessed beyond measure. Or we can wallow in selfishness and darkness, consumed by sin. The choice is ours. Will you, like the Magi, come to Jesus to worship Him. Or will you, like Herod, seek your joy in self worship? Beloved, only Jesus is worthy of worship. Let us be wise as the Magi were wise. Let us come to Jesus. Here is the place of blessing.

May God the Holy Spirit draw you into a close relationship with Jesus. Amen and Amen.

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Be Stewards Of God’s Grace

Posted on December 24, 2021 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Evi Odioko on Unsplash

1 Corinthians 4:1-4 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

Judge Not

One of the most abused Bible verses in the Scripture is “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). People love to trot this verse out anytime they make a lifestyle choice that the Scripture forbids.

The Scripture condemns practicing homosexuality.
The Scripture forbids sex outside of Biblical marriage.
The Scripture forbids drunkenness, thievery, greediness.

The Apostle said in:

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (ESV) … do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

And again in 1 Timothy 1:8-10 (ESV) Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,

“Sound doctrine” (hygiainō didaskalia, wholesome or healthy teachings) will never advocate behavior that is forbidden by the Scripture. When Jesus said “Judge not, that ye be not judged”, Jesus was not forbidding that we should never make judgments. Right after saying “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1), Jesus went on to say in …

Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

And again in Matthew 7:15-16 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

As believers in Christ we are required to make judgments all the time. Our judgments are not based on our opinions, but on what the Holy Scripture says.

Scripture is our ruler.
Scripture is our weight scale.
Scripture is our measuring cup.
Scripture is our thermometer.
Scripture is our odometer.
Scripture is our thermostat.
Scripture drives the Christian!

It is not what PEOPLE say, but what GOD has said. When Jesus said “Judge not, that ye be not judged” He was warning us to EXAMINE OUR OWN LIVES FIRST before looking at another person’s life. When you read the context of Matthew 7 you will see that Jesus was NOT saying don’t make judgments. What He was saying was “Don’t make judgments without first examining your OWN life”. This is why He said:

Matthew 7:2-3 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Jesus is addressing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the Self Righteous, who were one in the same. Examine yourselves first – then try and help others!

Stewards Are Judged By Their Master

As workers together with God (2 Corinthians 6:1) and lively stones in the House of God (1 Peter 2:5) we ARE and WILL BE judged by our God.

The Corinthians have been comparing the ministry of Paul to the ministry of Apollos, and in their minds (and mouths) Paul’s ministry was terribly poor compared to Apollos. The first thing that Paul brings out is:

1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Word Study:He starts with “Let a man so account of us”. Here he uses an interesting word, the Greek λογίζομαι logízomai, [pronounced log-id’-zom-ahee], which means “to take an inventory of”. Paul tells the Corinthians, “if you are calculating my ministry, start your calculations with this: we Apostles are ministers of Christ and stewards of God. Paul is telling the Church, “I don’t work for YOU. I work for JESUS”. And by implication, Paul is saying “YOU work for Jesus TOO”.

It is perfectly acceptable to judge a person’s behavior based on what the Scripture clearly outlines. There are certain things that Christians should and should not do. In 1 Corinthians 5 the Apostle will chastise the Church for not calling out and condemning fornication (sexual sin) in its midst. That requires judgment. In chapter 4 Paul is telling the Church “I work for Jesus. Jesus is my Master. Jesus will judge how I fulfilled my spiritual gifting. I am a STEWARD of God”.

Word Study: Every Christian is a “steward” of Grace. This is the Greek οἰκονόμος oikonómos, [pronounced oy-kon-om’-os], meaning “someone placed in charge of a property that is not their own”. Stewards work for the Master. Stewards are not primarily concerned with what other stewards think or do. Good Stewards tend to their area of assignment so as to please the Owner of the property. As humans, we truly own nothing. The Bible starts with:

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth …

God is the Owner of all things, and humans are but managers. The Christian does not even own themselves. The Bible says:

1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Our “body” and our “spirit” belong to God. He purchased us with the blood of Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord. “You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a Lamb without blemish or spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19). We belong to God. We live our lives to please God. The Apostle said:

1 Corinthians 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

We are to love others. We are to try and help others. But as Christians, we live our lives to please the Owner of the Building, the Owner of the Garden. “You are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9, ESV). God is building the building. God is planting the field. We are servants of God.

1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Stewards are to be “found faithful” by
the Owner of the property.

The Source of our salvation is God.
The Source of our spiritual gifting is God.
The Source of our spiritual power is God.

The Apostle said “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV)”. God gave us salvation, Sanctified us with His power, and indwelt us by His Spirit. We are to live to please the Master.

1 Corinthians 4:3-4 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

Paul does not waste time making judgments on his life, or listening to the judgments that others make on his spiritual gift. Paul said “I judge not mine own self”. He does not waste time critiquing what he has done for the Lord. Paul just follows the orders that the Lord gave him. He does the best he can with what God has entrusted to him.

There will always be murmurers and complainers among humans. Paul had little time for the murmurers and complainers! He focused on pleasing God.

Dr. Charles Stanley notes:

“In the apostle’s day, a steward was a household manager—he himself didn’t own anything but was responsible for his master’s possessions and affairs. In essence, that’s what the Christian life is like. Every possession, privilege, and duty we have has been given to us by God. And as stewards, we are accountable to the Lord for the way we serve Him, what we say, and how we treat one another. The goal is God’s glory—not our rights, comforts, or pleasures.”

We cannot always see the end result of our work for God – but we can rest in the knowledge that God is in control. As Paul said earlier,

1 Corinthians 3:6 (ESV) I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

As stewards of God we do not often see the final results. We are just to be “found faithful” to our God every day. Do the best you can, as God decrees, and trust God for the results. The one who plants the garden does not necessarily determine the harvest. It is all in God’s hands. Live to please God. Because “He that judgeth me is the Lord”. The Lord judges us NOW, and will judge us at the Judgment Seat. We discussed that last week.

1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

When it comes to determining the performance of your ministry, let God be the judge. At the Judgment Seat of Christ our Lord will “make manifest the counsels of the hearts”. God will reveal the motivation behind what you did for Him. If you did something, but it was misunderstood by others (like the Corinthians), your heart’s cry will be revealed at the Judgment Seat. Paul begins to chastise the Corinthians for their murmuring against him.

Good Stewards Suffer

1 Corinthians 4:6-9 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. 7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. 9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

Word Study: The Apostle went through a great deal of persecution and loss in order to be an effective Steward of what God had given him to do. As an Apostle, Paul became a “spectacle” to the world, to the angels, and to people. The word “spectacle” is the Greek θέατρον théatron, [pronounced theh’-at-ron]. The word refers to a THEATER, a CARNIVAL SIDESHOW, or a Roman COLISEUM. Paul is saying, “I have been put on display by both Heaven and earth, for the amusement of others”. Paul often had to allow himself to be put in humiliating places in order to fulfill his calling. Right after Paul received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior on the Damascus Road, the Bible says:

Acts 9:19-25 (ESV) … For some days {Paul} was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But {Paul} increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. 23 When many days had passed, the Jews {Pharisees and Priests} plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to {Paul}. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

Here comes Saul, delivered like a loaf of bread outside of the city! To do God’s work, to be a good Steward of what God has given you to do, sometimes requires you look like a fool. We read:

1 Corinthians 4:10-13 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; 12 And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the off scouring of all things unto this day.

If you are going to live for God, you will be minimized in the Coliseum of life. Others will talk about you. Some will mock you. Perhaps a lazy Church like Corinth will criticize you. Yet you are Stewards for God.

Preach: The Corinthians were NOT living for Christ. When you have NO trials or tribulations, when your faith causes NO raised eyebrows by the world around you, you are NOT living for Christ. You are instead living as poor stewards, and will find this in the Judgment Seat of Christ one day.

John 15:20 (ESV) … ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

Christians, if you are living for Christ you will find resistance. If not, you will drift heavenward on gossamer wings (or so you believe)

We should expect difficulties if we are living for Jesus. Let us live for Jesus anyway! He is the Master, the Maker, and we but His stewards and children.

1 Corinthians 4:14-16 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

The Apostle said, “be ye followers of me”. This is not the only time Paul says this to the Church. In Philippians 3:17, “Brothers, join in imitating me”. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ”.

Paul encourages the Corinthian believers to stop complaining, and to start living as Stewards of God.

As Paul put aside everything that might interfere with his being an effective Steward, he begs the Corinthians “be ye followers of me”. Some were even complaining that Paul had not visited then enough. Paul ends with these fatherly words:

1 Corinthians 4:18-21 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

Paul told the Corinthians, “Straighten up. Be better Stewards than you are now. Or else!” Oh Beloved, make sure that you stay on the right side of God’s Grace. Continue to serve Him, to please Him, to bring glory to Him.

May God touch your hearts with His Word and His Spirit. Amen and Amen.

Posted in 1 Corinthians, Sermons Preached | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Best Christmas Ever!

Posted on December 19, 2021 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

John 1:16-17 And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Consider Both Jesus and Moses

Moses was the Great Prophet of the Covenant of Law. Moses was a recipient of Grace. Moses loved the Lord. God said of Moses, “Thou hast found Grace in My sight, and I know thee by name.” God knew Moses because Moses loved God. But Moses led an Israel out of Egypt, and Israel that would not love the Lord as they should.

So through Moses, God gave the Law
to Israel from Mount Sinai.

When the Bible tells us that “the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (above, John 1:17), it does not mean that anyone was ever saved by the Law. The Law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24) that we might be justified by faith. You cannot work your way to God. You cannot be good enough to be in God’s graces. Moses murdered a man, and his his body in the sand of the desert. Moses was not saved by keeping a law, but by trusting in and loving God.

Moses was the Chief Prophet of the Old Covenant of God. When Moses prepared to die he promised that another Prophet like himself would come.

Acts 3:22 … A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

Jesus Christ is that Prophet. Jesus took the place of
Moses as leader of God’s people.

There are a lot of similarities between the life of Moses and the life of Jesus. Both Moses and Jesus were preserved in their childhood. The King of Egypt tried to kill Moses. King Herod of Israel tried to kill Jesus.

When Pharaoh wanted Moses dead, his mother hid her son in a little “ark of bulrushes” (Exodus 2:3), and hid him in the weeds at the edge of the river Nile. It was here that the princess of Egypt found Moses, and having compassion for him, brought Moses into the palace to raise as her own.

By God’s Grace Moses had access to the best food, the finest clothing, the best teachers, the most comfortable places to live. Moses grew up in a palace.

If Moses enjoyed the abundance of God’s Grace in the palace, you would think that Jesus Christ, God’s Only Begotten Son, would also be embraced in a palace. But He was not. Jesus was hidden as Moses was hidden, but not in a palace. The Bible says that Jesus was born in a relatively unknown place. Turn one chapter back to:

Luke 2:1-6 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

Jesus Christ Is The New Covenant Moses!

Moses was born a slave, but raised in a palace. But Jesus was born a subject of Rome, but raised in a relatively unknown place. Jesus was born “{in} the city of David, which is called Bethlehem”. Why? What reason did God have for this?

Word Study: The Jews often named their children and places in meaningful ways. The name “Bethlehem” means “The House of Bread”. How fitting it was that our Lord Jesus would be born in the “House of Bread”. Jesus is God’s Manna from Heaven. Jesus would, just before His crucifixion,

Matthew 26:26 {take} bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, TAKE, EAT, THIS IS MY BODY.

The New Testament Moses, our Jesus said, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35).

It was appropriate that God’s Manna from Heaven be born in the House of Bread. But He was also born into the lowest of all places.

Not a palace.
Not a five star motel.
Jesus was born in a manger.
In “The House of Bread”.
And stayed hidden there around 2 years.
(We’ll talk more about this next Sunday)

Moses was given the Law inscribed on stone tablets by “The Finger of God” (Exodus 31:18). Jesus Christ was made flesh by the “Finger of God” interacting with Mary (Luke 1:35). Jesus Christ is our New Covenant Law.

None of the princes of this world suspected this baby was God incarnate (1 Corinthians 2:8). Had Jesus been born in a palace King Herod would have known where He was, and would have had Jesus killed outright. But Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and stayed there 2 years until the time when the Angel of the Lord told Joseph,

Matthew 2:13 … Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

The Bible truly says “the Lord God omnipotent reigneth” (Revelation 19:6). Our Jesus came to this earth:

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

Jesus was “made of a woman”. God took a virgin called Mary, and through His infinite power caused her to bear a Son, the Son of God. The Angel said “with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). God’s love for us did the impossible. God Himself became part of His own creation!

The “Lamb of God” (John 1:29; John 1:36) entered this world in Bethlehem. The Bible says that …

God Literally Was With Us In The Flesh

Luke 2: 7 And {Mary} brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Mary had no midwife but her husband to attend her. She “brought forth her firstborn son”, and wrapped the Savior of the world in “swaddling clothes”, strips of soft cloth.

Jesus was laid in a “manger”, a place that animals ate from. Again this is appropriate, as Jesus is God’s true Manna from Heaven. Jesus said, “As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.” Finally, there was “no room” better suited for Jesus to be born in. As our God is all powerful, Jesus could have been born in better circumstances. But God is in control!

Why was Jesus, the very Son of God, born in such a low place? The Bible tells us in …

Philippians 2:6-8 (ESV) … though {Jesus} was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus was born on purpose to be a Servant, a Suffering Servant to us all. Though the very glory of God shined from His face, Jesus came in the lowest place possible to reach the lowest of people.

Fear Not!

Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Shepherds were some of the least of all the people. Shepherds had to keep an eye on their sheep no matter what the weather. They had to be diligent in the dark of night, lest a predator come in and maul their charges. Imagine if you will sitting far out of town in the dark, the stars and a campfire the only things to give you light.

God did not send His Angel to the Palace, nor the Chief Priest’s residence, nor the the head of the city council, the Sanhedrin. God reached out to the least.

Luke 2:9 … the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid

These shepherds were not prepared for the “glory of the Lord”. In Moses day, when an idolatrous Israel saw the “glory of the Lord”, they saw it as a fearful thing.

Exodus 24:17 … the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

When the “glory” of the Lord shined around the shepherds, they were “sore afraid”. Why? Because they did not know the Lord. But Jesus came to this earth specifically to reach the lost. Even as a Baby laying in a Manger, Heaven is reaching out to the lost and needy. The Angel of the Lord tells the shepherds:

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

“Fear not”. Don’t be afraid! God is giving you “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people”. This is not a time for fear, but a time for faith. This is a time to rejoice at the love that God has for us all. Note though the words of the Angel:

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

I have often wondered why the angel said that Jesus is “a Savior” and not “the Savior”. We know there is only ONE Savior, Jesus Christ. The Apostles preached:

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Jesus is clearly the one and only Savior. But why is He called “a Savior”? God alone can be THE Savior, and Christ alone is Emmanuel, God with us, our Savior. The Lord said:

Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior.

There is no Savior but God. But too often we foolishly choose other things or people to take the place of God. Though God says, “there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me.” (Isaiah 45:21). Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved, to be made right with God.

So Why A Savior, and Not THE Savior?

Because all people know we need a Savior, but many people choose inferior saviors rather than Jesus. Some people choose money as a savior. Some choose talent or skill as a savior. Humans are always making saviors to take the place of Jesus Christ. There are “gods many and lords many” (1 Corinthians 8:5) in the world today.

Money
Sexuality
Power
Rabbit’s foot.
Lucky underwear.
Baby blankets.

Illustrate: Baby blankets? Yes, even that. I was at the Gospel Coalition website when I came across a wonderful article written by Jason Soroski on the “Charlie Brown Christmas Special”. This wonderful animation has been on television since 1967. I love that show! At one point of the show Linus begins to quote our focal text:

Luke 2:8-11 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

As Linus says “Fear not”, the baby blanket he’s held in his hand up to this time – the baby blanket he refuses to let go of, no matter what others believe – Linus drops the blanket, and ignoring it, focuses on THE Savior.

Jesus can be to you A Savior, while you make Him one of many. Or Jesus can be to you THE Savior. This is the best way. Drop your blanket. Focus on Jesus! Run to Him and Him alone. Trust in Him. Give your lives to Him.

The forces against us, against America, cannot be defeated by human strength. The Apostle said:

Ephesians 6:12 … we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Where I have no power to resist, no power to defeat, God with us has all the power I need. While we stand with Christ Jesus, we can never be defeated.

Isaiah 8:10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.

Moses knew that the best place to be is in the Presence of Almighty God! Moses told God:

“I beseech You, O Lord, show me Your glory” (Exodus 33:18).

God replied: “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.” (Exodus 33:19).

God said, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee”. The GLORY of God is the GOODNESS of God. God is so good to us. He loves us so. As God spoke to Moses, you see His care for His children. God tells Moses:

“You cannot see My face and live. Moses, stand beside Me on this rock. When My GLORY passes by, I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by”(Exodus 33:20-22).

God put Moses in the cleft of the rock to protect him. That is the best place you can be in these uncertain days is in the cleft of the Rock. The best place is to be with Jesus, our Emmanuel! Only Jesus is

Hebrews 2:18 … able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him

Moses could not save himself. The Law of God cannot save us. But Jesus is both a Savior and the Lord. Jesus saves to the uttermost.

Don’t Fear. Run To Where Jesus Is!

The Angel of the Lord tells the shepherds:

Luke 2:12-14 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

The shepherds had no star to guide them to Jesus. They were told to go to a familiar place, a place where they had probably kept their sheep in past times. The shepherds were not forced to go to Jesus. They were given an opportunity. God bid them “go”, but did not force. Christianity is a “whosoever will” faith. Jesus said:

Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Mark 8:34 … Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Revelation 22:17 … whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

The Shepherds ran to Jesus.

Luke 2:15-16 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

The shepherds left their flocks in the dark. They went to where Jesus was “with haste”. They put their fears down. They put their false gods down. They put their broken hearts down. And they ran to where Jesus was.

Finding Emmanuel (just as the Angel said) the Shepherds did not return to their flocks, but …

Luke 2:17-18 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

Now read that one more time carefully. The SHEPHERDS went with HASTE to where Jesus Christ lay. But when the shepherds told others of Jesus, what did they do? Nothing! They “wondered at those things which were told them”. They did not go to see Jesus. They heard the message, and did nothing about it. They just “wondered”. Beloved, if you would be saved, run to Jesus. Do not wonder. Do not wait. Seek Him as both Lord and Savior today. And Jesus will make a wonder of your life. May God the Holy Spirit and His Word touch your hearts this day. Merry Christmas!

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Guard Your Tongue, Guard The Temple

Posted on December 17, 2021 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Juan Encalada on Unsplash

1 Corinthians 3:16-18 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

Let’s Define The “Temple”

There are five Temples mentioned in the Bible. The Temple is properly where God meets man. There is the Temple of Heaven. There is the portable Temple, the Tabernacle. There is the Temple that was not portable, like Solomon’s Temple. There is the Temple of the Church. And there is the Temple that is the Christian.

  • Let’s talk about the Temple that is the Christian. The Bible teaches that the Christian – saved by faith in Christ – is indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. Jesus said:

John 11:26 … (ESV) everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. …

John 6:35 (ESV) .. I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

John 5:24 (ESV) .. 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.

God meets us at the point of salvation. Then God promises to never leave us, making us a Temple. Jesus said:

John 14:11, 23 (ESV) I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. .. 23 .. If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

John 16:7 (ESV) … I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

How does both the Father and the Son come to the believer to “make their home with us?” It is through the indwelling Holy Spirit of God.

Jesus said in John 14:26 (ESV) … the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Jesus did not stop here. He said:

John 14:16 (ESV) … I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

John 15:26 (ESV) … when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

Preach!: The Holy Spirit is called the “Comforter” (KJV), literally the “Helper” or “The One Who Comes Alongside To Lift Up”. Every Christian, saved by faith in Christ, is indwelt by the “Helper”. The Holy Spirit represents both the Father and the Son, and never leaves us. Also called “The Spirit of Christ”, the Apostle said in Romans 8:9, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”

The New Testament Temple Is Superior
Because God Stays With It

In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit dwelt in first the Tabernacle (the Tent of Worship for nomadic Israel), and later in the Temple. After King Solomon finished building the Temple, the Ark of the Covenant was brought up to be placed in the Temple.

1 Kings 8:4, 10-11 (ESV) .. And {the Priests} brought up the ark of the Lord, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up. .. 10 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

God indwelt the Temple of His Old Covenant people. The Holy Spirit did not come to indwell the people themselves but temporarily, for Christ had not yet went to the Cross. But the Spirit of God came on the Temple and on people, and would later depart. You see this coming and going of the Spirit of God all throughout the Old Testament.

In the New Testament under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit comes and stays as He is God’s promise of salvation to the believer.

The Apostle said in Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV) … when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in {Jesus}, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

As God Cannot Leave Either The Christian Nor The Church, We Are Warned Not To Defile The Temple

Again, the Temple is both the individual Christian, and the Church where Christians come together to minister and grow. The Temple is where we meet God. We must not defile the Temple!

1 Corinthians 3:16-18 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy…

In Corinthians, Paul refers to both the Temple of the Church and the Temple of the Christian. Note that contextually …

  • 1 Corinthians 3:16 refers to the Temple of the CHURCH or the gathering of believers
  • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 refers to the Temple of the INDIVIDUAL believer

In Chapter 3 we last week examined the Judgment Seat of Christ where every believer will be judged by the works that they did with other believers. What were the Corinthians doing together? They were not blessing one another, but were spreading

CONTENTIONS in the Church (1:11)
DIVISIONS in the Church (1:12-13)
ENVYING in the Church (3:3)

Corinth was defiling the Temple of the Church. But believers were also defiling the Temple of their bodies.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

The Holy Spirit comes to stay with the Christian. If the Christian gets into heterosexual sin or homosexual sin, the Spirit cannot leave. Christ paid for us – “ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s”. You belong to God.

Sexual sin defiles the believer’s Temple. It joins God the Holy Spirit with satanic sensuality – and God can take your life!

Our Lord Jesus talked about bodily defilement. He said:

Matthew 15:11 (ESV) … it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.

Matthew 15:17-20 (ESV) Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.

As Christians, we need to be careful not to defile our personal Temple (our bodies), nor our shared Temple (the Church).

Protect The Temple Of The Church By
Guarding Your Tongues

The Corinthians used their TONGUES to cut the Church up. The Apostle note:

1 Corinthians 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

Oh, how our mouths get us into trouble!

Illustrate: I have heard of young people who died, and went to Heaven, and came back to tell us what they saw. One boy named Alex Malarkey (sic – no joke) claimed to have died, went to Heaven, and returned to this earth. He wrote the book “The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven”. Later Alex confessed that he lied about the whole experience. He said:

“I said I went to Heaven because I thought it would give me attention. When I made the claims that I did, I had never read the Bible. People have profited from lies, and continue to. They should read the Bible, which is enough. The Bible is the only source of truth {about Heaven}. … It is only through repentance of your sins and a belief in Jesus as the Son of God, who died for your sins (even though He committed none of His own) so that you can be forgiven … ”

Alex’s lie hurt his witness, and many churches throughout our land. He confessed his sin, and I’m sure is forgiven for it. But the misuse of his tongue hurt the Body of Christ, and perhaps drove some from the Gospel of salvation. Alex will have to give an account for this to Jesus one day at the Judgment Seat.

Though Alex did not really look into Heaven,
the Prophet Isaiah did.

When Isaiah looked into Heaven, he wasn’t overjoyed at all. Looking at the Preincarnate Jesus on His Throne (The Apostle John quotes Isaiah in John 12:38-41, applying his writings to Jesus) the Prophet cried out:

Isaiah 6:5 … (ESV) “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!”

Said Pastor Greg Morris, “{Isaiah’s} eyes see the Holy King of Israel, the God of armies, and he does not run to sit on his lap, but falls to his face, confessing the evil, not only of his tongue, but of the tongues he lived among on earth. Here he did not lament that he dwelled among a people of sexual immorality, murder, or idolatry. What he said, and what the people said — their conversation — horrified him before the Righteous One.”

It is the ungoverned tongue that our God finds most shocking. When the Bible addresses the unrighteousness of the lost, note what is said:

Romans 3:10-14 (ESV) … “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”

The misused tongue hurts people, and defiles the Church.

It is with the tongue that we are saved. The tongue shares the Gospel, that grand and glorious salvation we can all have through Christ. Jesus warned us:

Matthew 12:36-37 (ESV) I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

God gave us mouths to praise Him in His Temple. He gave us mouths to sing to our Savior. He gave us mouths to testify of Christ’s greatness. Wise King Solomon said:

Proverbs 18:21 (ESV) … Death and life are in the power of the tongue …

When a person is saved, God saves us to eternal life and the light of Christ. Our mouths should be dedicated to sowing eternal life, and speaking light to those around us. The Apostle tells us:

1 Corinthians 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Our tongues need to be holy and loving. We are to speak truth, to speak that which honors the Lord Who saved us. We are to “speak the truth IN LOVE” (Ephesians 4:15). Not harshly, but with love for God our Savior, and love for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Let us be like the seraphim in Isaiah’s vision.When Isaiah looked into Heaven and realized his speech was corrupt, what happened? One of the seraphim (angels) flew to Isaiah, and touched his lips with a burning coal taken from the altar of Jesus. This is a beautiful illustration for us to ponder. When we hear that which does not honor Christ, something which defiles the Temple of the Church, let us take a coal from Christ’s altar. Let us take the Word of Jesus to the offender and touch their lips in love.

Do Not Let The Mouth Of The World Be Your Mouth

1 Corinthians 3:18-21 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 21 Therefore let no man glory in men….

Do not follow the pattern of the world. The pattern of the child of Adam is, if one strike you, strike them back harder. If they stab you with a knife, shoot them with a gun! No, this is not the pattern of Christ’s family. We are to “love one another as Jesus Christ loved us” (John 13:34; John 15:12). This is the genius of Heaven. If you are offended, be like the seraphim. Take of the light of Christ and share it with your fellow believers. If you are the offender, be prepared to freely receive the coal of light from a seraphim, a fellow believer in Christ.

Let us always remember:

1 Corinthians 3:21-23 For all things are your’s; 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your’s; 23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

May Jesus Christ and the blessed Holy Spirit draw you close to God and to one another. For His sake and glory. Amen and Amen.

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