Mem – The Washing Of The Word

Posted on October 30, 2020 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Turn with me in your Bibles to Psalm 119. As you’re turning, let me talk about this wonderful chapter in God’s Hymnbook.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. The Psalm is divided into 22 section, each section using one of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each section is comprised of eight verses, and each verse in that section begins with the Hebrew letter that heads that section. Tonight we’ll be looking at the 13th letter of the Hebrew Alphabet, Mem מ, also spelled Meem, Meme, or Mim. We will go with Mem since this is in our King James text. The Jewish learning site Chabad.org gives us some interesting things about the Hebrew Mem:

“The word mem stands for mayim, which means water. Water constitutes a vital element in our lives: a human being is largely composed of water and the majority of the earth is covered with it.”

Water is essential for humans, in fact, for all life on the earth. We drink it, bathe in it, swim in it, and are born in it. Water is frozen to cool our drinks, and boiled to make our tea and coffee. Water cleanses, shapes, and molds. All humans are born in water, inside our mother’s womb. When a person is saved by faith in Christ, that believer is baptized or immersed in water as a testimony of their transformation. The first miracle ever recorded that our Jesus did was to change six pots of water into wine. Jesus promised to give “living water” (John 4:10) to those who believe on Him. He said:

John 4:14 whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

When Jesus prophesied of the coming of the Holy Spirit, He illustrated the Spirit as water:

John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. {but this spake He of the Spirit …

When Jesus wanted to illustrate the Christian way of life, He poured water into a basin, and washed His disciples feet (John 13:5). After Jesus died on the Cross, His death was confirmed when His executioner,

John 19:34 … one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

Water is so valuable. Is it little wonder that God uses it to illustrate His Holy Word, the Scripture. You should be at Mem now, or

Psalm 119:97-104 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. 102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. 103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

When the Psalmist speaks of God’s Law, he is referring to the Scripture, the Holy Bible. God’s Word is God’s Law. What God has said is right is right. What God has said is wrong, is wrong. God’s Word was given to man to guide us in the path of life.

God’s Word establishes what is truth. Jesus prayed for the Church,

John 17:17 Sanctify {your Church} through thy truth: thy word is truth.

There is a battle going on, right now, for the soul of America. This battle is over what is and is not truth. God’s Word is truth. What God has said is true, is true. Yet not all believe this. Progressivism has crept into the Church, and has twisted the Word of God until it resembles the Word of Man or the Word of satan. This is what the devil did in the Garden of Eden. God told Adam,

Genesis 2:17 of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

The instruction was very clear. What God said was black and white law. There is not confusion in it. When you eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will SURELY die. Not maybe, not sometimes, not possibly, but SURELY. But the devil, that Old Serpent (Revelation 12:9), slithered into the Garden and contradicted God. “Has God really said you can’t eat of every tree in this Garden” (Genesis 3:1)? Oh no!

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

Oh no! God is trying to deprive you of joy. He is restricting you from what will make you happy. Go ahead and eat. What’s the harm? Enjoy what is before you – you have the right.

The first question found in the Bible questions the Word of God. It is this Word that created all things. It is this Word that placed humanity in a perfect place. There were no questions in creation. God spoke in love, and blessing came forth.

When we begin to question God’s Word, we lose the blessings that God would have us enjoy. The Word of God sets that which is normal, based on the Creator Who made us. The Law of God does not deprive us. It blesses us. It gives us peace and prosperity.

Psalm 119:97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

What does your mind dwell on? The devil is constantly trying to hijack our minds. In America, he has doubled down on human sexuality, bringing confusion all across our nation. I was watching a show that I like called NCIS. My wife and I have bought the DVDs, and enjoy most of the shows. They are pretty clean, with little cursing and nudity. But the devil has got into it as well. The show we watched last night had a young Marine murdered. As the NCIS team questioned people to try and find out who did the murder, they question a young, weeping black man. The lead investigator, Gibbs, asked the young man, “Who was this Marine to you?” The young man, pitifully crying, said with tears in his voice,

“He was my husband”

Webster’s 1913 Dictionary defined the word “husband”:

n. 1. The male head of a household; one who orders the economy of a

family.

4. A married man; a man who has a wife; – the correlative to wife.

The husband and wife are one person in law. – Blackstone.

5. The male of a pair of animals.

The word “husband” has been redefined in American society by using the word in contexts such as I described above. Humans are creatures with feelings, and feelings drive our actions. The LGBTQ+ movement has redefined human sexuality to where your gender is fluid. In other words, you choose your sexual orientation, or no orientation at all. A site maintained by K W Counselling Services, defines LGBTQ+ as “all of the communities included in the “LGBTTTQQIAA”. Are you confused? I am. The ways that people define themselves sexually today are – and here are just a few ways: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, 2/ Two Spirit, Intersex, Asexual, Pansexual, Agender, Bigender, and Pangender. As people have drifted away from the Scripture, the Holy Bible, as a society we have drifted into sexual confusion. There are those who are quick to point out that Jesus never spoke on human sexuality. Yet this is not true. Jesus was asked about Biblical marriage one day. Here is His response:

Matthew 19:4-6 … Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Any normative reading of the text makes it clear that Jesus considered marriage to be male and female. Saying “have you not READ”, Jesus was using, as His authority, the written Word of God in the Book of Genesis. I not means want to vilify or judge anyone. What you do privately is no business of mine. But neither I nor you are free to twist the Law of God, His written Word, in order to make our feelings better. The Psalmist tells us that the Word of God is to be focused on, and taken into our lives as truths.

The word of the world confuses. The Word of God establishes order and stability.

Psalm 119:98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

We are called, as God’s people, to follow the Lord Who saved us. What has He commanded?

2 Corinthians 6:16-18 and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 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.

God’s children by faith in Christ are to heed His Word. Jesus told us that we must not just HEAR His Word, but we must also DO His Word.

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

To hear God’s Word and not do it, it makes no change in your life nor in your situation. I have had people come to me for counseling. I open up the Word of God, and show them what the Scripture says they must DO. Those who DO as God said, those live blessed lives. Those who DO NOT DO as God says, their lives are confused, and peace never finds them.

Psalm 119:99-102 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. 102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

The Psalmist describes the Word of God in four ways:

  1. Thy TESTIMONIES, the Hebrew עֵדוּתʻêdûwth, {pronounced ay-dooth}. This refers to something that God has witnesses and bears out as truth. I was not there to see creation being formed, and neither have you. But God testifies as to what happened, for He was the first cause as well as the witness of it. The Psalmist meditates on what God witnesses to us. When death looms near, meditate on what God has told you of Heaven. Do not let fear grasp you, but read of Heaven in God’s Word. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”.
  2. Thy PRECEPTS. The Hebrew פִּקּוּדpiqqûwd, {pronounced pik-kood’}, this word means “a mandate or directive, a command”. What God has said is right, this we are to do, regardless as to how we feel.
  3. Thy WORD. The Hebrew דָּבָר dâbâr, {pronounced daw-baw’}, it refers to what God has said to us, through the Apostles and Prophets, to us as His children. We are to walk in the way that He says, otherwise we will stumble in the darkness as the world does. Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”.
  4. Thy JUDGMENTS. The Hebrew מִשְׁפָּט mishpâṭ, {pronounced mish-pawt’}, this word means “the verdict or decrees that God has made, determining right from wrong, good from evil, truth from untruth”.

The believer in Christ is to walk daily with God, heeding that which God has affirmed. This is the only way to peace in this life.

Psalm 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

The word translated “sweet” in our text is the Niphal Perfect of the Hebrew MALATS (מלץ pronounced maw-lats’), which means not only “sweet”, but also “agreeable, pleasant, and smooth”. This Hebrew word is only found one time in all of Holy Scripture, here in this wonderful Psalm. The Word of God is uniquely sweet. It is unlike anything else in all of God’s creation.

When we speak of the Heroes of our faith, the great Believers, they all had one thing in common: To them, the Word of God was SWEET.

You cannot tell if something is sweet or bitter just by looking at it. You must experience sweetness. It must come in through your senses. Taste goes beyond a mere head knowledge. The taste of sweetness is an internal experience. The great Commentator, Matthew Henry, wrote:

“a good man carries his Bible with him, if not in his hands, yet in his head and in his heart. By meditation on God’s testimonies we understand more than our teachers, when we understand our own hearts. …. The soul has its tastes as well as the body.”

God wants us to taste His Word. To turn from tasting man’s word, satan’s word, the world’s word – and to turn to God’s Word. We are commanded by the Apostle to…

Romans 12:1-2 … present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind …

You can let the devil and the world shape your mind, or you can let God shape your mind. When you take in the Word of God, and taste it spiritually, you will find it to be sweeter than honey! Taste is intimate – something you must do for yourself. I can put something in my mouth and tell you how sweet it is, but you will never know – intimately know – how sweet it is until you taste it yourself.

Because of Adam’s sin, people are born into this world physically alive, but spiritually dead. The Scripture says that we were all…

Colossians 2:13 … dead in your sins …

If the Word of God is not sweet in your mouth, then it may be that you are yet dead in your sins and in desperate need of Christ! What good is honey in a dead man’s mouth? Put honey in a dead man’s mouth and ask him how it tastes! He cannot taste its sweetness, for he is separate from the land of the living. Make the dead man alive, and then let him taste that which is sweeter than honey! We were all spiritually dead before we came to Jesus. The Bible was a dead book, and bitter like vinegar. But after Christ came into my life … oh, how much sweeter God’s Word is!

I remember watching an old movie called Spencer’s Mountain (1963), which was what the series “The Walton’s” was based on. At one point in the movie the Dean of a local College asked Clay Spencer what he had against pastors and the Church. Spencer replied “Because everything I’m for, they’re against. They’re against smoking and drinking and kissing and cussing, and I’m for all those things”. The actor perfectly illustrates the spiritual death that all non-Christians are under. Jesus said it another way:

John 3:19-21 … this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

This world needs Jesus. America needs Jesus. We need to continue to proclaim the Gospel of salvation to whosoever will, so that others may be saved and come to treasure God’s Word. Judgment is coming! God has declared:

Ezekiel 18:4 … the soul that sinneth, it shall die …

If the Word of God is not sweet to you, dear friend, then you need to meet the Jesus of the Bible. When you are saved by faith in Him, your eyes will be opened, and your spiritual taste buds will be brought to life. Jesus Christ tasted death for us, so we can taste the joys of Heaven and of God’s Word. The Bible tells us:

Hebrews 2:9-11 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

If you are a Christian, you love the Word of God. To you it is sweeter than honey to your taste, and getting sweeter every day. The Christian finds no food sweeter than God’s Word. Man’s Word is convoluted, poisoned, and confusing. God’s Word is sweet. God’s Word is sweet, for it washes away sin. To hear the world speak, sin is only a spot or a dalliance instead of a mortal disease. God’s sweet Word tells me otherwise.

Psalm 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

It is time for Christians everywhere to return to God’s Word, and to live for Him. America is in a terrible place spiritually. Let us live for Jesus, reading His Word daily. Let us meditate upon the Scripture. Let us turn off the television, and turn to the Book of Books.

Let us get back to the Bible. May God touch your hearts with His Word and His Spirit! Amen and Amen!

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What’s In It For Me? Red Letters #49

Posted on October 25, 2020 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Henley Design Studio on Unsplash

Matthew 19:27-30 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

Let’s take a moment and pay attention to Peter’s words:

Matthew 19:27 ….. Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

To put Peter’s words into modern lingo, he asked, “What’s in it for ME?”. Jesus, we have given up everything to follow You. Now, what are YOU going to do for US?

It is so easy for this mentality to creep into our lives. As a pastor of a small Church I have often had people call or visit, considering whether they wanted to be members here or not. They walk around the facilities, looking at our child care areas. “What’s in it for me?” They come in this building, and look over the song books and pews. “What’s in it for me?” Many times Churches become like businesses, catering to this type of mentality. I hear people say, “We need to build, so we can attract the younger crowd”. There’s a lot of truth in this, but nonetheless, is this pleasing to God? I think we need to build, to grow, to expand our outreach. But we need to tread very lightly lest we begin to cater to the “what’s in it for me” crowd.

We are called “CHRISTians” because CHRIST is supposed to be the center of all we do. I am not to be the center. You are not to be the center. Jesus is to be the center. I have heard people say, “If we do foot washing at this Church, the other Churches will mock us, and the young people won’t want to come”. I have heard people say, “I don’t want to be baptized because I’LL look foolish. Baptism is for children.” And yet, was not our Lord Jesus baptized before He began His earthly ministry? When Jesus presented Himself to John the Baptist, John said, and I paraphrase Matthew 3:13-17:

“Jesus came to be baptized by John. John refused at first, saying, Jesus YOU need to baptize ME, not I, You. Jesus said, You must baptize Me NOW, for this fulfills all righteousness. When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit of God descended on Him like a dove. The Heavenly Father spoke. THIS is My Beloved Son, In WHOM I am WELL pleased.”

Had Jesus put Himself FIRST, the Spirit would have never descended, and the Father would never have spoken. Jesus never asked “What’s in it for Me?” Jesus just came and did as the Father asked. Jesus taught His people, His Christians, to do as God asked. To put ourselves LAST, not first.

Yet pride lurks in the hearts of every person. We must constantly be on the lookout for the “What’s in it for me?” mentality. In our chapter today we read:

Matthew 19:2 … great multitudes followed Jesus; and He healed them there

God does love us. God sent His Son for us. But Beloved, God can only save us when we make HIM the center of our lives. Life is not about ME, but about JESUS. It is about what GOD has said in His Word. People have always tried to add things and thoughts to the Gospel that God never put there.

When Christianity becomes ME focused, it is not CHRISTianity, but MYSELFianity. A Biblical, saving faith trusts not in me or my wants, but in God and His wants. It is the Kingdom of GOD that I am a part of, not the Kingdom of ME.

Pastor John Stott once said, “Christ is the center of Christianity; all else is circumference.” It is so very true that God loves us, and gave His Son for us. As the Apostle said:

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

God wants us to live victorious, confident, and comfortable lives in Him. But the key is the words “in Him”. God gave us salvation through Christ so that we would be freed from the narcissism of sin. We are no longer possessions of the devil. We are no longer chained to hell by our passions. We belong to God. He loves us, and we love Him.

Narcissism is incompatible with the Christian faith. What did Jesus say the two greatest commandments are? Listen to this conversation:

Matthew 22:36-40 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

What is the greatest commandment? Love God with your ALL. God is to have ALL of you. All of your emotions. All of your desires. All. What is the second greatest commandment? Love your neighbor as you love yourself. These two principles are very far from narcissism.

To Get To Heaven, I Need To Be Like A Child

Matthew 19:13-15 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, {Allow the} little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. 15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

Who will be in Heaven one day? Will it be the know it alls, or the elite, or the sharp ones? No. It will be those who come to Jesus. It will be those willing to be where Jesus is.

Parents began to bring little children to Jesus, and the disciples tried to prevent this. I don’t believe the children were disrupting services. I don’t believe there was one child in that bunch who “ran the family”. I believe these children were loved, and disciplined by their parents. If you don’t discipline your child, you teach your child narcissism. If your child is the CENTER of your family, you are failing as a parent. The child needs to be taught that the world does NOT revolve around them. Otherwise they grow up to be Antifa anarchists, or BLM radicals destroying private property!

These children were brought to Jesus, and Jesus blessed them. But note what Jesus said:

vs 14 of such is the kingdom of heaven

Heaven will be populated by those who could be LED TO JESUS. Heaven will be filled by those who made CHRIST the center of their lives. Right after this, a man comes to Jesus:

Matthew 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

Now this looks like a straight forward question. But the King James text does not give the inflection that the original language does. The parallel text of Luke 18:18 tells us that this man is a ruler. He is a person of power. He thinks much of himself. He says, “what GOOD THING shall I DO that I may have eternal life?”. This man believes himself to be self righteous, self sufficient. Jesus tells the man:

Matthew 19:17 … Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God

You can get several great truths out of this when you read it. First of all, the man addressed Jesus not as “Christ”, but “Good MASTER”, ἀγαθός agathos διδάσκαλος didaskalos, literally “Good Teacher”. To this man Jesus was JUST a Teacher. Jesus tells him rather succinctly,

“If I’m just a TEACHER to you, then I’m not GOOD.
Only God is GOOD.”

Jesus is THE Christ, the Messiah, God become flesh. What did John say?

1 John 4:1-3 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist

The spirit of antichrist is on this young man. John went on to say:

1 John 4:14-16 the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Jesus Christ is God in the flesh (John 1:14)
Jesus Christ is our greatest Treasure (Matthew 13:44)
Jesus Christ is the only way to God (John 14:6)
Jesus Christ has all authority in Heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18-20)
God made all things through Christ (John 1:3)
Jesus Christ holds all things together (Colossians 1:17)

Jesus is the Manifest Member of the Godhead, come to save us from our sins. He is not just “Good Teacher”. If He is just man,m then He is not good.
No one is good, but God!

This man asks “What GOOD thing can I do, that I may have eternal life?” Beloved, if there are none good, but God, then the answer is there is nothing GOOD you can do. You need God. You need Christ. But you are hopelessly and helplessly lost. But Jesus was speaking to a man that I have often encountered in ministry. You know the type. The person who will not listen to you. The person who has made up their mind, and knows that they are right, no matter what is said. The stubborn, prideful person. That’s who this man was. I heard this at the Pastor’s Retreat earlier this month:

You might be a Pastor if you had a dream that while you were speaking, no one was listening. And then you realized it wasn’t a dream.

I’ve been there. Jesus has been there. We’ve all been there. So Jesus continues on. This man is puffed up with pride, and not going to listen. Jesus continues:

Matthew 19:17-19 …. if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Jesus quotes the Law of God, the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth commandments. The man is quick to respond.

Matthew 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

Oh, how he puffed up with pride. He was like the Pharisee in the parable Jesus told us:

Luke 18:10-14 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

This young man was on his way to hell. Hell will not be filled with rapists, child molesters, murders, and liars. The bulk of hell will not be populated with Stalins, Hitlers, or Klansmen. Yes, many will be there of that sort, but I believe the bulk of hell will be “good people”, people who felt they didn’t need Jesus Christ to get to Heaven. Hell will be filled with people who refused to bend the knee to the Lord.

This man was proud of himself. “What do I lack, Jesus? I am so GOOD!” Then Jesus hits him with a bombshell:

Matthew 19:21-22 If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

The young man defined himself as the center of the universe. His stuff was all gathered around him, like the vessels of the Temple were gathered around the altar of God. Jesus said:

Sell all that stuff that defines you.
Stop letting YOU be the center of the universe.
Give what you have to those in need.
Come, and follow Me!

The young man went away sad, for he had GREAT POSSESSIONS. He was the center of His universe. Jesus said:

Matthew 19:23-26 Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

You do not have to have a bunch of money in the bank to be “rich”. You are “rich” when you gather to yourself stuff, without regard to others. You are “rich” when you have all you need, and yet want more. I have talked to men with a million dollars in the bank, and asked, “Is there anything I can get you?” They reply, “Another million would be nice”. Greed. Narcissism. Self centeredness.

Back to Peter’s question, “What’s in it for me?” Jesus said:

Matthew 19:28-30 … Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

What you give up for Jesus, you will see in return in glory. But if you focus on being first in this life, you will lose everything. Only God is good. You need the blessing of God in order to get into Heaven.

Right after Jesus says, the first shall be last; and the last shall be first, He explains what this means in a parable. Look in the next chapter. You see, chapter divisions are not in the original text of Scripture. They were added by translators to aid in finding the Word of Life. So look at chapter 20. We read:

Matthew 20:1 … FOR the kingdom of heaven is like …

Do you see the word FOR. It links what Jesus said in chapter 19 to what He now says. Do you want to go to Heaven? Then here is what Heaven is like. Here is what you’ll see in Heaven, and it will be radically different from anything you have ever seen. It will not be like this earth, where everyone puts themselves first. Oh no. That’s not Heaven. If that’s how you are, you won’t like Heaven.

If you are ME CENTERED, you will NEVER like HEAVEN!

Matthew 20:1-2 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

The Lord our God is the Householder, the owner of Heaven’s Vineyards. He went out at 6 am to hire laborers – LABORERS. Do you see that word? LABORERS. There are a lot of people who come and “give their lives” to Jesus, and want to live on the welfare roster of the Church.

If you are saved, you are saved by grace to
WORK for God.

What does the Scripture say?

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

You are called of God to be a worker together with Christ (2 Corinthians 6:1). We are to be mature, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This man went out at 6 am and hired laborers. He promised them a penny a day.

Matthew 20:3-7 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

The Lord our God, the Householder in this parable, hires workers at the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 11th hours. When God calls us to salvation, He has called us to salvation at different stages of our lives. Some are called when very young, others at older ages. God even calls to salvation those who are at the 11th hour, very late in life. The Householder paid whatever He felt was right. Now the end of the day comes. We read:

Matthew 20:8-12 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12 saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

The Householder gave each worker, whether they came into His vineyard later or earlier, the same penny a day. The ones who had been there all day began to complain. But we were with You longer. We worked through the heat of the day. Yet YOU made them EQUAL to us!

Preach! Their complaint is that the Householder isn’t FAIR. Beloved, GOD is not FAIR. Thank GOD our GOD is not fair. It isn’t fair that Jesus had to die for your sins and mine. It isn’t fair that He had to bear my hell so I could inherit His Heaven. No, God isn’t fair. Thank God that He isn’t!

The Householder – our God – responds:

Matthew 20:13-16 … Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

God has the right to do with His Heaven as He will. Those called into Heaven at the 11th hour receive the same glory and joy of Heaven as those who received Christ in the morning. So, do you know Jesus? Have you received His call, and hold to Him as both Lord and Savior? If not, today would be a glorious day to meet Him.

Those whom come to Christ will one day be equally paid for what they give up. What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, but lose his own soul (Mark 8:36)? The first shall be last, and the last shall be first.

Make sure you put Jesus first, or Beloved, you won’t last.

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

Posted in Sermon Series "Red Letters", Sermons Preached | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

First Cry From A Bloody Pulpit

Posted on October 25, 2020 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Thanti Nguyen on Unsplash

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

This is Jesus’ first cry from the Cross of Calvary. It is not recorded anywhere in the Scripture but here in the Book of Luke. Jesus has been beaten, flogged with razor tipped whips. He has been forced to the Cross. His dignity has been stripped from Him, along with His clothes. But look at His first cry from this bloody Cross. He doesn’t cry out in pain. Peter said,

Reviled, He reviled not again. Suffering, Jesus did not threaten those who hurt Him. Jesus committed Himself to the Father, for He judges righteously (my paraphrase of 1 Peter 2:23). Listen to His words:

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”

You, like myself, have probably been at time misjudged or betrayed by a friend. We do not like this, and often bear scars in our hearts from the betrayal. Yet Jesus does not rail against the seeming injustice of what He is going through. No, He pleads FOR US. He prays FOR THOSE WHO HURT HIM.

Jesus Christ had to die to bring us to God.

The Way Of The World Is To Be Self Focused

When Jesus preached His first sermon, He preached it to His greatest enemy, Lucifer, also called satan and the devil.

Where did satan come from? He was created of God to be an archangel. The beauty and power that Lucifer had, he had from the Grace of God. If you have talent, if you have beauty, if you have life, you have it of God. You are not better than others. You have been blessed. Lucifer – his name means “Shining One” – was greatly blessed of God. God said of Lucifer through the Prophet:

“You, O Lucifer, are an anointed Angel that oversees Heaven. I put you in your place. I gave you charge over the other angels. I, the Lord Your God, made you perfect … but you found iniquity (my paraphrase of Ezekiel 28:14-15)”

Lucifer was put in a perfect place, but wanted more. He was given the keys to Heaven, but wanted the Throne of God. When Lucifer was cast out of Heaven, his first mission was to bring humanity into his ways. “Eve, neither you nor Adam will die if you eat that which is forbidden. Oh no! God knows that when you eat of this fruit, you will be like Him, Triune, eternal, knowing good and evil” (see Genesis 3:1-5). Eve ate, and Adam ate. What is the result?

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:

But God was not satisfied with this. He could have destroyed all things, but would not. So God sent His Only Son:

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

The devil taught Adam that the way forward was to do as he did. Seize control. Take the Throne of God. He tried to get Jesus our Lord to do the same thing.

Taken into the wilderness by the Spirit of God, satan tempted our Master (Matthew 4:1-11), just as he tempts us. In each of the three temptations, satan tried to get Jesus to put Jesus first. This is what we do, and what we are tempted to do every day, to put OURSELVES first.

Hungry, the devil tempted Jesus to feed Himself by turning stones into bread. Abandoned, the devil tried to get Jesus to tempt God by testing Him.
Exalted, the devil tempted Jesus to worship another god.

With each temptation Jesus rebuked satan. He refused to put Himself first, to follow Adam’s lead.

Hungry, Jesus preferred the Word of God. “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4).

Abandoned, Jesus would not anger His Father. “ It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” (Matthew 4:7).

Exalted, Jesus would only worship the Lord our God. “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Matthew 4:10)”.

You May Think You Are Living, But If You Are Not Following God, You Are Following The Devil

Leaving the wilderness, Jesus went out and preached to all …

Matthew 4:17 Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Repent. Stop mimicking satan, and
turn to the God Who created you. Follow Him!

As Jesus preached and healed, multitudes of people followed Him (Matthew 4:25). Jesus went up into a high mountain and preached what we call “The Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5,6, & 7), the longest sermon our Lord ever preached. Multitudes heard Jesus as He preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1).

At the beginning of His ministry, multitudes followed Jesus. Why? Because He healed them. Because He fed them. Because they thought that Jesus would overthrow Rome, and return Israel to it’s former power. But a people without God are a people in bondage.

Lucifer lost Heaven when he exalted himself over God.
Adam lost Eden when he exalted himself over God.
Israel lost her autonomy when she exalted herself over God.
America is being robbed of it’s freedom because
we exalt ourselves over God.

When it became clear that Jesus was not going to be a shortcut to restoration of Israel, the multitudes that once FOLLOWED Jesus now CONDEMNS Jesus.

Luke 23:1 … the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

Jesus was not perverting the nation. He was calling the nation back to God. Jesus was innocent of what they charge Him with. There was no sin, no lawlessness in Jesus. When Pilate came to judge Jesus, we read:

Luke 23:13-17 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: 15 no, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. 16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him. 17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

Why is Jesus being accused? From the devil’s perspective, Jesus is being accused because He would not support the narcissism that satan loved. Jesus lived to please the Father. Jesus lived to do as the Godhead called Him to do. Neither Pilate the Governor, nor Herod the Roman designated King of Israel found fault with Jesus. “There is nothing worthy of death in Him”. Jesus Christ was without sin. The Bible says,

Romans 6:23 … the wages of sin is death

It is sin and selfishness

that brought death, destruction, disease, and the devil into the world.

It is sin and selfishness

that brought forth thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:18).

It is sin and selfishness

that brought pain into what should be the joy of child birth (Genesis 3:16).

It is sin and selfishness

that caused God to turn His face from us (Isaiah 59:2).

For every misery we have in this blessed world, it can all be traced back to sin and selfishness.

Jesus stands before Pilate. I find no sin in this Man. Herod found no reason the kill this Man. Jesus was innocent. Jesus is, as John the Baptist said,

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

Pilate did not know this. Herod did not know this. “None of the princes of this world knew {this}: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:8). Jesus was, to them, no more than a “carpenter’s Son” (Matthew 13:55). Jesus was an innocent Man. Both Herod and Pilate, Gentiles, knew that He was without sin.

Luke 23:18-19 …{the multitude} cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: 19 (who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

It was the multitude, following satan, that commanded Jesus’ death. But it was the Godhead – Father, Son, and Spirit – that orchestrated His death.

Jesus, Who was loved of the Father “before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24), was “foreordained before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20) “to put away sin by His self-sacrifice”.

Barabbas the murderer was released, and Jesus, the Innocent Lamb, was sacrificed. We who are sinners are released when we call on Jesus, recognizing Him as the payment for our sins. When we surrender ourselves to Him, He surrenders His death to us.

The first cry from the Cross was Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. But the night before at Gethsemane, our Jesus prayed three times…

Matthew 26:39 O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

There was no other way that we could be saved. Jesus had to die for our sins. Three times Jesus asked for another way, and the Father willed His death. I find it interesting – and I do not believe it to be a coincidence – that Pilate asked the people three times to let Jesus go.

Luke 23:22-23 {Pilate} said unto them the THIRD TIME, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. 23 And they {pressured Pilate} with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified.

There was no sin in Jesus. Jesus came to be our payment for sins in the eyes of God Almighty. Had Jesus had sin in Him, His death would have made little difference to the world. Had Jesus Christ been a sinner like the rest of us are, then His Blood would have been absolutely valueless. It would have been like another animal sacrifice. Yet Jesus Christ was absolutely without sin.

1 John 3:5 … And ye know that {Jesus} was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

The Lamb must be without spot or blemish. The Sacrifice cannot have spot or blemish (Numbers 19:2; 28:3, 9, 11). If Jesus were a sinner like us, He could no more pay for our sins than I or you could. It is the:

Hebrews 9:14 … blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

It is not our works that save us, but the works of Christ upon the Cross. We are redeemed from this fallen world to serve a Living God.

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

Jesus Christ is without spot or blemish. He is Perfect, as Perfect as God become Man can be. He is from above, and we are from below (John 8:23). “Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world” (John 8:23). Our Jesus was without sin.

Our Jesus Was Crucified In A Hell On Earth
Called Calvarius

Luke 23:32-33 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

Word Study “Calvary”. What an interesting word. This is the only place where “Calvary” is found in the King James. The word rendered “Calvary” is actually the Greek κρανίον, from which we get our word “cranium” or skull. Jesus was crucified at κρανίον, the place of the Skull.

The Jews called this place Γολγοθᾶ “Golgotha”, which also meant “A place of a skull” (see Matthew 27:33; Mark 15:22; John 19:17). The word “Calvary” entered the King James because the translators referred to William Tyndale’s translation of this passage – and Tyndale used “Calvary” in his rendering of Luke 23:33, borrowing it from the Latin Vulgate.

“Place Of The Skull” Was “Golgotha” To The Jews, But Calvarius To The Gentiles.

Calvarius was a horrible place outside of Jerusalem. It was a place where lepers were banished. A place where Rome executed criminals, and left their bodies to decompose. This was a place where Israel, when she was not ruled by Rome, stoned those who broke the Law of God. It was on the other side of the wall that was around the Holy City. It was outside the camp (Numbers 15:36). It was outside the gate of the city. The Sin Offering was burned with fire “outside the camp” (Exodus 29:14). Calvarius was where justice was meted out for both Jews and Gentiles.

PREACH When man wanted to work his way to God, our Creator had Moses scale Mount Sinai to receive the Law on stone tablets. But when God wanted to save mankind, He sent His Son Jesus from Mount Zion to a place the Romans called Calvarius and the Jews called Golgotha.

Calvarius is a hopeless place. The Stepson of a Carpenter, I am sure Jesus helped Joseph drive nails as a young boy. The Stepson of a Carpenter, the Son of God now has nails driven into His flesh. In His earthly ministry Jesus often healed lepers, lepers who were banished to Calvarius, in obedience to the Law of God.

Leviticus 13:46 All the days wherein the plague (of leprosy) shall be in him, he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; WITHOUT THE CAMP shall his habitation be.

Jesus healed many lepers, restored many to their homes, bringing them in from without the camp back into the city by cleansing them. But now Jesus, this innocent and righteous man, He hangs in Calvarius. Jesus used to use this place to illustrate hell and eternal judgment. Calvarius was a place where bones were littered about, and fires constantly burned to keep the decay from the city. As Jesus once taught His disciples, pointing to this place as a place that illustrates eternal damnation, He told us:

Luke 12:4-5 I say unto you, my friends, be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: fear Him {God}, which after He hath killed, hath power to cast into hell; Yea, I say unto you, Fear HIM!

Is there a hell? Yes, just as sure as there is a Heaven. Jesus preached of Hell to His disciples. Our God is a just God, a Holy God, and Heaven is a holy and wonderfully righteous place. It will not be religious people who occupy Heaven, but people who are redeemed, righteous in the eyes of God. There is a hell just as there was a Calvarius, a place where justice is finally met. Hell is the spiritual equivalent of Calvarius.

Why is our Jesus, innocent Jesus, on a cross in this “Place of the Skull”, this hell on earth?

Because Jesus Is Making Payment For Our Sins

Luke 23:34-38 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 and saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

People say, “I’m not a sinner”. No? Look at your life. Look at those around the Cross of Calvarius.

Look at the soldiers, kneeling at His feet. They are not there to worship Jesus. No. The Bible says:

Luke 23:34 And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

They part His clothing, and cast dice for it. Jesus is on the hill of Golgotha, the hill of punishment, making payment for their sins. But the soldiers, dotted with Christ’s blood, are unconcerned. A poor man’s clothing is more to them than what Christ is doing. Oh, do not be too quick to judge these men, for many of us are the same. We love things more than God. We love stuff, more than the Creator. What shall it profit a person, if you gain the whole world, but lose your own soul (Mark 8:36)? These soldiers have no eyes for Christ. He is no more to them than the thieves on either side. They just want His clothing. They just want His stuff.

Luke 23:35 And the people stood beholding.

Word Study The word “BEHOLDING” is the Greek theōréō, {pronounced theh-o-reh’-o}. If you think of the word, it is close to the English THEATER. That’s what it means. The people were watching Jesus, being entertained. They were spectators. They were watching Jesus, unconcerned over His suffering, entertained by His suffering and bleeding. Jesus was not dying to be an attraction. The Bible says:

2 Corinthians 5:21 {the Father} hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

He is dying not to entertain, but to save. He is dying so that we can stand in God’s Heaven, and walk in His Presence every day.

Luke 23:35 … And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

Jesus could not save Himself, if He was going to save us. “It pleased the Eternal God to bruise Him for us; the Father put Jesus to grief. Jesus’ soul was an offering for sin” (my paraphrase of Isaiah 53:10).

Jesus cannot save Himself, because we cannot save ourselves. He dies, so that we might live.

Are you a child of God by faith in Christ?

Our Lord Jesus died a lonely death outside the camp and outside the gate for us. Would you be saved? Then you must go outside the camp and outside the gate to the Cross of Christ. So many lose eternity because they are too PROUD to come to Jesus. “What will my friends think? What will others around me say about me?” Beloved, that is of little concern. We are told in …

Hebrews 13:12-15 Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

You will not find salvation from sin and eternal life following the pattern of this world. You will not find the glory of God’s presence in your daily lives unless you go with Jesus outside the gate. Put away your pride. Give yourselves to Him Who loves you this very day. Do not wait, nor hesitate. You, like I, am a sinner. Let us run to Him Who says,

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!

May God draw you into union with Him this very day. Amen and Amen!

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Heed God’s Word And God’s Way

Posted on October 23, 2020 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Many people do not read the Old Testament because it often seems confusing. It can be confusing. However, there are great truths in the Old Testament that relate directly to our modern day lives. One of the stories that relate to us today is the story of King Jehoshaphat, King Ahab, and a prophet named Micaiah, the son of Imla.

King Jehoshaphat

King Jehoshaphat was a good king who ruled over Judah. The Bible says of Jehoshaphat:

2 Chronicles 17:3-4 …. the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; 4 but sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.

Jehoshaphat “walked” in the ways of his ancestor King David. He did not worship false gods, here literally called “Baal”. Baal was the supreme male god of the Phoenicians and the Canaanites. When Solomon, King David’s son, first dedicated the Temple in 2 Chronicles 7, the Bible tells us:

2 Chronicles 7:12-14 the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; {my note … could this be the Coronavirus, this “pestilence”?} 14 if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

God told His people – and us who profess to be Christian – to humble ourselves, to pray, to seek HIS face. Not the false gods and goddesses of our land, but the Lord of Scripture. But this is not where God left it. He said that His people are to “turn from their wicked ways”. Beloved, the Bible declares:

Romans 6:23 … the wages of sin is death

Blessing will not come to the land until God’s people do as He says. Jehoshaphat did as God said. Jehoshaphat walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto {Baal}. Jehoshaphat sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments. Jehoshaphat honored the God of the Bible, and God blessed his life.

2 Chronicles 17:5-6 Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance. 6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.

Jesus tells us in …

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Blessings come when we follow God. Jehoshaphat followed God. His heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord. He did not halfheartedly follow God, but enjoyed following the Lord. Jehoshaphat removed the altars to the false gods and goddesses that were in the land. He also sent out teachers into the land to tell the people about the Lord. We are told:

2 Chronicles 17:9 they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.

What was the result of this? There was peace in the land. As the people drew near to God through His Word, God drew near to them. The Bible says:

2 Chronicles 17:10 the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

There was prosperity in the land because the leadership of Judah loved God. Cities were built. Businesses flourished. The military of that land became great (2 Chronicles 17:12-13). But then Jehoshaphat messed up.

King Ahab

2 Chronicles 18:1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.

Jehoshaphat had all that he needed. There was peace in the land. He and his people had riches, and honor in abundance. There was no one going to make war with Judah, because Judah was protected by God. But then Jehoshaphat joined forces with Ahab. Who was Ahab?

Ahab was the King of Israel, the ten northern tribes. When Solomon died, his son Rehoboam over taxed the northern tribes. They revolted against the Throne of David, and made their own nation, a second Israel. As a separate nation they called Jeroboam to be their King. Jeroboam was the great, great, great, great, great grandfather of Ahab. The Bible tells us …

1 Kings 16:30-33 Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him. 31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. 32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.

Ahab would lead Israel far away from God. He worshiped the false god Baal, and commanded this to be the state religion. Elijah told Ahab:

1 Kings 18:18 … I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.

Ahab sent his prophets of Baal to Mount Carmel to challenge Elijah and the God of the Scripture. Elijah called fire down from Heaven, calling upon God in prayer, saying:

1 Kings 18:36-39 … Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.

The 450 prophets of Baal who stood against Elijah were executed that day. Yet Ahab did not repent. He continued in the worship of Baal, continued to reject the God of Scripture.

Jehoshaphat had no reason to join forces with this evil king – but he did. Oh Beloved, God tells His people:

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 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.

God’s children are to be in the world, but not of the world. Jehoshaphat should have known better. I do not know why he did it, but he joined forces – actually making a treaty – with Ahab. Ahab wanted to attack and conquer the Aramean held city of Ramoth-gilead. When Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to go with him to Ramoth-gilead, Jehoshaphat, as a believer, told Ahab:

2 Chronicles 18:4 … Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord to day.

He wanted Ahab to ask a godly prophet what the Lord’s will was before he committed to following Ahab. Ahab called his false prophets, asking them:

2 Chronicles 18:5 … Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.

These false prophets were not in tune with God. They were only saying what they thought Ahab wanted to hear. However,

2 Chronicles 18:6 … Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him?

Jehoshaphat was not impressed with the large number of false prophets. He just wanted to hear what God said through JUST ONE prophet of the true God.

The Prophet Micaiah, The Son Of Imlah

2 Chronicles 18:7 … the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

J. Vernon McGee once said:

“Someone has said that a man is not really known by his friends. Rather, he is known by his enemies. Every man ought to make sure that he has the right enemies. The best compliment that could be paid to Micaiah was for Ahab to say, ‘I hate him.'””

That is so true. When you stand for the Lord, you will make enemies. Jesus said to us:

John 15:18-20 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

In our world today there are many false prophets who will tell you what you want to hear. But they will not tell you what God has said. Ahab was mad at Micaiah because he didn’t tell him what he wanted to hear. People are often mad at Bible teachers and preachers because they do not tickle their ears. The Apostle warned Timothy:

2 Timothy 4:2-4 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

To endorse a lie as the truth is not only to mislead people, but you can possible draw people to destruction. Ahab had his select false prophets who only told him what he wanted to hear. But he hated Micaiah, for Micaiah told him what GOD wanted him to hear.

Are You Of The 400? Or Micaiah?

Beloved, when you tell others that God endorses other than male/ Female marriages, you have become one of the 400 Ahab listened to. When you declare that sexual infidelity prior to marriage is perfectly fine, you have become one of the 400 Ahab listened to. When you begin to preach evolution, believing that man evolved from apes, but was never created by God from the dust of the ground, you are one of the 400 that Ahab listened to. When you declare abortion is acceptable to the God Who made us, you have become one of the 400 that Ahab listened to. Ahab didn’t want to hear the Biblical truth. Ahab didn’t want to hear the Word of the Lord. Ahab just wanted to hear what would support his feelings, his desires, his wants.

But then they call for Micaiah. The messenger that Ahab sent to Micaiah said:

2 Chronicles 18:12 … Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.

Now the pressure is on Micaiah. There are 400 false prophets talking to both Ahab and Jehoshaphat. Micaiah is the lone prophet of God. What will he do? Well, Micaiahis actually one of the four disciples of Elijah (J. D., Eisenstein, Otzar Midrashim, vol.1 (New York: Noble, 1915), p. 173. Hupat Etivahu, part four, number 47). I believe Micaiah had been there when Elijah stood against the 450 prophets of Baal. Now he is confronted with 400 prophets of Baal, and a very wicked King Ahab. What will he do? Micaiah tells the messenger:

2 Chronicles 18:13 … As the Lord liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak..

“As the Lord liveth” is the Hebrew יְהֹוָה Yahweh חַי chay, {pronounced khah’-ee}, which is a play on words. He says “As the Ever Living, Always Living God says, that I will speak”. His attention is not fixed on what others think of him. His attention is not fixed on popular opinion, or majority rule. Micaiah was going to preach what God told him to preach, regardless as to the outcome. The world needs preachers and teachers like this, people who are not afraid of speaking the Word of God. Micaiah comes to where Ahab and Jehoshaphat are, and Ahab asks Micaiah:

2 Chronicles 18:14 … Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?

Micaiah knew what Ahab wanted to hear, so he told Jehoshaphat sarcastically answers him:

2 Chronicles 18:14 … Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.

When Jehoshaphat pressed Micaiah for the truth, he said:

2 Chronicles 18:16 … I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.

Ahab said, “Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?” 2 Chronicles 18:17. Ahab thought that Elijah and Micaiah were his enemies, but they were not. The Bible tells us that we are to be:

Ephesians 4:15 …. speaking the truth in love

The Prophet, Pastor, or Teacher of God is obligated to speak the Word of God. The hearer can then hear and repent, or sulk and hate the messenger. God’s will will be done! Micaiah continues with:

2 Chronicles 18:18-22 … Therefore hear the word of the Lord; I saw the Lord sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. 19 And the Lord said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner. 20 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? 21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so. 22 Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken {destruction} against thee.

This is a very interesting text of Scripture. Because Ahab rejected the Word of God, first from Elijah, then from Micaiah, God gave him over to lying spirits. God will reach out and try to lead people into the way of Christ. But if people continue to resist, then God give them over. He backs up and says, “All right – you wanted it – here it is!”. We see the same thing in:

Romans 1:21-28 when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

God tells us what is the truth. When we refuse to hear it, and reject His Word repeatedly, then God backs away. Ahab was planting and had been planting the seeds of his own destruction. When you reject the way of God, you walk a path to destruction. God is in control. God is always true. What He tells us to do, He tells us from a heart of love and care.

Ahab refused to repent. He told his servants:

2 Chronicles 18:26-27 … Put this fellow {Micaiah} in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace. 27 And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the Lord spoken by me.

King Ahab does not heed Micaiah, but had him imprisoned. And what of King Jehoshaphat? We read:

2 Chronicles 18:28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.

The believing King Jehoshaphat is unequally yoked with King Ahab – and they both lead their people to battle. God has already determined the destruction of Ahab. Jehoshaphat almost got killed himself because of his foolishness. The Bible says that:

2 Chronicles 18:31-32 … Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him; and God moved them to depart from him. 32 For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.

Ahab died that day on the battlefield. An archer fired an arrow in the air, and it ended up in the weakest part of Ahab’s armor. It was the grace of God that Jehoshaphat was not killed.

Beloved, follow the Lord. Christians, do not unequally yoke yourselves with unbelievers. Heed the Word of God. Do what He tells you to do. Do not believe that you can keep one foot in the world and one foot in God’s Kingdom. When Jehoshaphat got back to Jerusalem:

2 Chronicles 19:2-3 …. Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. 3 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.

God hold His followers accountable. The stepbrother of Christ put it this eway:

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

You and I are called to be ambassadors for Christ. We are called to be light in the Lord. We are to both love, and follow our God. We are never to enter into an intimate relationship with the lost. Live your lives, not like Ahab, nor like Ahab’s 400, but like Micaiah.

All glory to God in the highest! Amen and Amen!

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Receive Ye One Another

Posted on October 18, 2020 by bibleteacherorg
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Romans 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

There is nothing more disturbing to me than what the political process has become in America. When we listen to the politicians, we do not hear civility, but mudslinging and rudeness. I despise it. I was raised in a civil household. My parents taught me to respect others. Yet it seems we live in a day of terrible disrespect, and of evil actions to one another.

When God spoke to the Roman Church, He was speaking to a diverse group of people from several different backgrounds. In the society of that day, the Jews despised the Romans, because Rome had overthrown Israel. The Romans despised the Jews as a defeated people. Yet within the Church there was both Romans as well as Jews.

God does not want His Church to be like the lost world. The Church is a city of light. Jesus said of His people:

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

The Scripture says that we are to be …

Colossians 1:12-14 giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

The world is a kingdom of darkness. It’s dark prince, satan, rules this world through fallen creatures and the powers of sin and death. But we who are Christ’s are IN this dark world, but not OF this dark world.

The Church Is IN But Never OF

In our text today we are told:

Romans 15:7 Wherefore RECEIVE ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Word Study The word translated RECEIVE is the Greek προσλαμβάνω proslambánō, {pronounced pros-lam-ban’-o}, which means “to take to oneself, to welcome, to embrace that which is given”. Some translations use the word “accept”, but I do not think that is a good rendering of this word. In Matthew 16:22 the word proslambánō is used when Jesus told Peter that He was going to be crucified. In that text we read:

Matthew 16:22 Then Peter took {proslambánō} {Jesus}, and began to rebuke {Jesus}, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

To render the word as “accept” makes no sense. Peter was not accepting what Jesus said. Peter was incorrectly rebuking the Lord. But nonetheless Peter EMBRACED Jesus. Peter proslambánō – hugged Jesus to himself. Now Jesus rebuked Peter for his action that day (you can read the context yourself). But Peter did not accept what Jesus was saying … though he nevertheless EMBRACED our Lord. He loved Jesus, and did not want Jesus to die (see also Mark 8:32). Or consider the use of proslambánō in the ministry of the Evangelist Apollo, a contemporary of Paul. The Bible says that …

Acts 18:26 {Apollos the Evangelist} began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took {proslambánō} him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

Apollos was a sincere, God called Evangelist. He was “an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures” (Acts 18:24). But Aquila and Priscilla were disciples of the Apostle Paul (Acts 18:1-4), who had often stayed in their home. As a matter of fact, Paul had often preached in their home, which was where a small Church met (Romans 16:3; 1 Corinthians 16:19}. When Aquila and Priscilla heard Apollos preach, they heard him preach some things wrong (can you believe it? Preachers are sometimes wrong:). Anyway, they EMBRACED or WELCOMED Apollos after his preaching in the Synagogue at Ephesus, but corrected his errors by “expounding unto Apollo the Way of God MORE PERFECTLY”.

Aquila and Priscilla did not agree with Apollos – but they welcomed him, and lovingly corrected him.

When the Apostle tells us to “receive ye one another”, he is telling us to lovingly welcome one another. We are to care for our brothers and sisters in Christ. And yet, we are NOT to allow the errors of the world to flourish in our midst. The Church is a lighthouse in a world of darkness. The Church is NOT to be like the world. The Church is to be like Christ. The Bible is very specific on these points. The world is lost, and exists in darkness, in the grasp of satan and under the influence of sin. But the Church belongs to Jesus. If you are saved by faith in Christ then the Bible commands you:

Romans 12:1-5 I beseech you therefore, BRETHREN, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

The Church is one body in CHRIST. We are bound together by faith and practice to Christ.

Christ was baptized, we are baptized.
Christ believed the Scripture, we believe the Scripture.
Christ reached out to sinners, we reach out to sinners.
Christ pursued holiness, we pursue holiness.
Christ lived to serve the Father, we live to serve the Father.
Christ rebuked sin, we rebuke sin.
Christ loved the unlovely, but hated the sin;
We love the unlovely, but hate sin.
Christ gave Himself to destroy sin, we give ourselves to destroy sin.

I could go on and on. The Church is Jesus’ body, and He is the head. Why did Jesus die?

Galatians 1:4 … our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father

The Church is a body of believers, delivered from this world by the blood of Jesus Christ. We are to be friendly to sinners, but haters of sin. The late Evangelist Billy Graham stated:

“Throughout the Bible, the lines are definitely drawn between the world of unbelievers and the world of the children of God. “Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). Jesus Himself said, “The world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:14-16). Again Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18).

The Bible also teaches that the Christian will face opposition in the world. “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution,” said the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 3:12. Just as Christ’s life with all its love, concern and selflessness was a rebuke to the cosmos of His time, so our lives with Christ abiding in us today bring about criticism, opposition and persecution from those who cannot comprehend the mystery of God’s redemptive grace.

The Bible teaches that we are not to be discouraged by this belligerence. We are to consider it evidence that we are identified with Christ. Jesus said, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12).”

It shocks me that there are professing Christians in every denomination, and even in Catholicism, that believes sexual relations before marriage and abortion is fine. The Christian is called of God to stand up and speak out against that which the Bible defines is “sin”.

The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
The gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our LORD.

The Church – with its many believers in Christ – is under the direction and guidance of Jesus Christ our Lord. The Church is never to justify sinfulness. We are to point others to Christ, to believe on Jesus, and be received by Jesus Who gave Himself for us all. When a person comes to Christ seeking salvation, they overcome the devil and sin by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony (Revelation 12:11). The Church never concedes to evil, to sin, to darkness. Light must shine. It cannot be light if it does not shine. When we are saved, what are we to do? The Bible says:

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 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.

We love all around us. But we do not accept into the fellowship as a part of the Church any who wallow in sin. Come out from amng them, and be ye separate. Do not touch the unclean thing, and I will receive you. Does this mean the Christian never sins? No, not at all. But

.. when we sin, and are convicted of our sin, or are corrected by a brother or sister in Christ, as Aquila and Priscilla corrected Apollos, then we repent of our sin and confess it in the name of Jesus (1 John 1:8-10).

How do we determine what is, and is not, sin? How did Jesus determine right and wrong? “It is written”. What did Jesus tell the devil when tempted in the wilderness?

Matthew 4:4 … It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

When Jesus rebuked those in the Temple, chasing out the moneychangers, the defilers of God’s house, what did our Lord say?

Matthew 21:13 … It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

When Jesus submitted to the death of the Cross, what did our Lord say?

Matthew 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him…

The Bible tells us what is right, and what is wrong. We do not heed opinion polls, peer pressure, or popular vote. We do not go by feelings. We go by what our God has said, and recorded in this grand old Book we call the Bible. The phrase “it is written” is peppered all through the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus referred to the Scripture. The Apostles referred to the Scripture. We can do no less.

What do we do if a professing brother or sister is in an act that the Bible says is sinful? The Bible gives us clear direction. In 1 Corinthians 5 a young man was in a sexual relationship with his stepmother. The Church at Corinth justified this activity rather than rebuking it. The Apostle Paul said:

1 Corinthians 5:1-7 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. 3 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. 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 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…

The Christian is “unleavened” because Jesus Christ died for our sins. We do not welcome sin into our congregation. The sinner is loved, but Christ is shared with them. If a brother or a sister descends into sin, the Church members are not to welcome their sin. The Apostle is even more specific:

1 Corinthians 5:11-13 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. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Those who are outside the Church, God judges. But within the flock we are never to condone sin. We are to lovingly correct our brothers and sisters when they step away from the Way of Christ. We are to hate the sin, but love the sinner. If the brother or sister repents, and forgoes the sin, putting it under the blood of Christ, they are welcomed back. But if not they are recognized as those who have fallen. They are released unto satan for the destruction of the flesh. They make their choice.

The Church Is Filled With Imperfects

Romans 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

When the Apostle says “WELCOME one another”, he is not saying to welcome sin. But he is telling us to welcome one another as imperfect creations, the workmanship of Christ (Ephesians 2:10). Dr Joe Pettigrew writes:

“In the early church, Jews and Gentiles despised each other. Each wanted the other to become like them. But Paul took the axe to the root of that tree: “For Christ Himself…reconciled both groups…by means of His death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.” (Ephesians 2:14–16) We certainly will disagree on many things, but the way we treat each other will reflect our love for our fellow man. Jesus is pretty clear about how we are to treat each other.”

A Church is a body of imperfect, but saved people. We are to love one another, just as Christ loved and still loves us. Sin is what God says is sin. But there are other things that are not sin. There are cultural differences. There are differences in tastes.

In the previous chapter the Apostle addresses a problem that occurred in the Church at Rome. He wrote:

Romans 14:1-4 Him that is weak in the faith RECEIVE ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Word Study The word translated RECEIVE is our old friend προσλαμβάνω proslambánō, {pronounced pros-lam-ban’-o}. Paul is talking of brothers and sisters in Christ. He says those who are WEAK or YOUNG IN THE FAITH – in their walk with Christ – we are to welcome them. But we are not to impose on them “doubtful disputations”. This is the Greek διαλογισμός διάκρισις dialogismos diakrisis. These are very interesting words. They both begin with DIA, meaning “of two types”. You could translate this as “two thinkings and two judgments”. The picture given here is of a person who is arguing with himself about what is right and wrong, a person confused. My Bible says that:

1 Corinthians 14:33 God is not the author of confusion, but of peace…

From the beginning of the Church, believers have often drifted into arguing about things of which the Bible sets no clear standards. Christians have argued about holidays, feasts, circumcision or no circumcision, and in our context, about food.

Rome was the center of pagan religion in the ancient world. The main gods and goddesses in Roman culture were Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, Zeus, Venus, Pluto, Diana, Mars, and Janus. There were more I know, but these were the top tier. Rome made sacrifices to these gods and goddesses, and as center for worship the animals sacrificed were countless! What to do with all this meat? The temples of the false gods and goddesses were not stupid. They sold sacrificed meat to the public at a very good price. And this caused a problem in the Church at Rome.

The Gentiles in the Church at Rome saw nothing wrong with eating these sacrificed meats. Food is food, and cheap is cheap. But then there were Jewish believers in the Church at Rome, and they believed that to eat anything not kosher was a sin. So now you have two factions, all fighting over food. What did the Lord tell us about food?

One day Peter was in prayer. Now Peter is a very Jewish Christian. As he prays, the Bible says:

Acts 10:9-16 …. Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 and he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

God was going to send Peter to a Gentile Centurion named Cornelius. The Gentiles ate all manner of food.The Jews, however, ate only what God declared “clean” in the Old Testament. With this vision, God clarified what He had previously declared through Jesus Christ our Lord. When Jesus was told by the Pharisees that His disciples were eating unclean food because they were not washing their hands, our Lord said:

Matthew 15:10-11 … Hear, and understand: 11 not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

God removed the ceremonial laws when Christ came to this earth. Consequently, you as believers are free to eat any type of food. God has no provisions on us. The Gentile Christians were used to eating any and all foods, regardless as to whom it was sacrificed to. The Jewish Christians, however, were raised in a culture that taught them to eat only “clean” foods. So what is happening at Rome. Christians are arguing over things that are not sinful. We still do this today.

We argue over the “proper” type of singing in Church.
We argue over the color of the walls.
We argue over pews or chairs.
We argue over versions of the Bible.
We argue over whether women should wear pants or skirts.
We argue over hair length for men and women.
We argue over tattoos and ear rings.
We argue over what days are the Sabbath.
We argue over tobacco and alcohol use.

The Apostle tells the Church that – when we receive someone into our fellowship – we are not to trot out things that are matters of opinion and treat these things as if they are sin. The Word of God and the leading of God the Holy Spirit is the final determining factors. Every Christian belongs to Jesus. The Apostle said:

Romans 14:4-10 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. 7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

If a thing is a sin, then there should be very clear Scripture that shows it to be a sin. There are certain things that I personally do not like. Yet this does not make what I don’t like a sin. The Scripture determines sin. The ceremonial portions of the Law are gone. The Law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. But now that Christ has come, the ceremonial laws do not apply

Galatians 3:23-26 … before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

But what of the Jewish believer? The Apostle gave a very clear direction in this. He said:

Romans 14:15-19 if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17 for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

There are many things that fall into what I call “gray areas”. On these things, if it brings disharmony in the body of Christ, even though it is lawful for me to do it, I must not. The highest Law that the Christian follows is the Law of love. Jesus commands us:

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

To the world Jesus says, (Matthew 7:12) “all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Simply put, if you don’t want it done to you, don’t do it to others. This is the general law for all of civilization. But for the Christian, the Law is much greater. Love one another, as Jesus loves you. Again, our focal text:

Romans 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Jesus welcomes us into the Family of God. Jesus tolerates our daily failures. Jesus does not come down hard on us every time we mess up – and we all mess up plenty. Jesus never considered Himself first, but put us first. The Bible tells us to put our brothers and sisters in Christ first. To love those who do things that we don’t like. Now again, IF THE SCRIPTURE SAYS IT IS SIN, IT IS SIN. Period. But there are other things that are gray areas. To these areas, we avoid doing it in the presence of our easily offended brothers and sisters. The Apostle put it this way:

Romans 14:21-22 … It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God.

Consider the life of Christ, and imitate Him. Reject and correct sin. But in areas of preference and feelings, if it hurtss the faith of others, have it to yourself. Do it at home, in privacy, before God. But do not cause your brother or sister in Christ to stumble over something not clearly a sin.

May God touch your hearts with His Word!

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Joseph’s Bones

Posted on October 18, 2020 by bibleteacherorg
Jacob's Bones
Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash

Genesis 50:14-26 And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father. 15 And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. 16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, 17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. 18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. 19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. 22 And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees. 24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. 26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

The Book Of Genesis Begins With A Disobedient
Believer, And Closes With An Obedient Believer

I love the Book of Genesis. It shows us the pattern to follow for blessing, and the path to travel to cursing. Genesis begins with blessing, as God creates all things. But it moves to cursing when man rejects God, and chooses his own path.

The Apostle sums up the first part of human history by saying,

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

Throughout Genesis, we see those who dishonor God and follow Him to blessing. But the Book ends with a positive example, A man by the name of Joseph. A man who, though tried, nearly as much as Job was tried, kept his eyes on the Lord Jesus. Beloved,

Trials can make you BITTER, but if you are in Christ,
trials should make you BETTER.

Joseph was the youngest son of Jacob, who would one day become Israel.

Genesis 37:3-5 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors. 4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, THEY HATED HIM, AND COULD NOT SPEAK PEACEABLY UNTO HIM. 5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

Joseph was PREFERRED over his brothers by his daddy, Jacob. When a parent prefers one child over another, this can lead to bullying in the family. Jacob was bullied. They COULD NOT speak peaceably unto Joseph. Not WOULD not, but COULD not. Bad parenting makes good bullying. Being bullied, Joseph looked to God. I have heard it said that…

God lives at the end of Desperation Street.

Being bullied makes you desperate. Joseph hid himself in God, so much so that God began to speak to him in visions. God gave Joseph a dream in which it appeared he would rule over his brothers. In verse 9 we are told Joseph dreamed another dream, and in this dream his entire family was going to bow down to him. God promised Joseph he would be lifted up. Joseph lifted God up, and God would lift Joseph up!

Before there was Scripture, God spoke to His people in dreams.

  • God came to Abraham in a dream, saying “Do not be afraid. I am a shield to you, and your reward will be great” (Genesis 15:1)
  • God came to Israel (Jacob) in a dream, calling “Jacob, Jacob” (Genesis 46:2)
  • Pharaoh would later in our story have a dream (Genesis 41:1-7), a dream that would bless both Jacob and Israel.

There are 21 dreams recorded in the Bible, and 10 of these happen in the Book of Genesis.

Being bullied, Joseph did not turn to drugs or suicide. Joseph refused depression and despair. Joseph looked up. When you seek God, you will find God (Jeremiah 29:13).Joseph sought God.

If We Are With Jesus, Trials Will End In Blessing

God has a plan for your life. Your life should not be mediocre. You should not be a victim. You were not made to be bullied. You were not designed to be the servant of satan. God made you to walk with Him daily.

Illustrate As I left the Post Office the other day, a lady cried out to me, begging for gas money. I pulled out my wallet, and headed toward her. I handed her some cash, and like a volcano she immediately erupted. Her emotions were like 50 wild cats in a 1 pound bag. She professed to be a Christian, but immediately began to rail against God. God had abandoned her. There were no Churches open. Everywhere she looked, she found only condemnation and vitriol. As she said this, she paid little attention to the cash I put in her hand. This woman was thoroughly broken by life. I asked if I could pray for her, and she immediately bowed her head. As I prayed, I asked that God give her comfort … but she was too bitter. Her cup was filled to the brim with bitterness.

Bitterness! What a horrible fruit bitterness brings. Bitterness defiles you.

Hebrews 12:14-15 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any ROOT OF BITTERNESS springing up trouble you, and thereby many be DEFILED …

LOOKING DILIGENTLY. Look not at the trial, but at the Lord Who saved you. When Joseph was afflicted, he looked toward God. Joseph focused on the promise that God made him. He did not focus on the hurt, but on the Healer.

Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness… be put away from you

As humans, we often focus on what we do NOT have, rather than the good we have. Joseph’s brothers did not have the love of their father, so they took it out on Joseph.

Genesis 37:18-20 when {Joseph’s brothers saw him} afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. 19 And they said one to another, Behold, this DREAMER cometh. 20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

If Joseph’s brother Reuben had not objected, Joseph would have been killed right then. Instead of killing Joseph, they cast him into a pit, and then sold him to slave traders headed toward Egypt.

Genesis 37:36 … the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.

Just Like That, Joseph Went From The PAMPERING Of Jacob To The PIT, and from The PIT to POTIPHAR

Through all these life changes, Joseph clung to the PROMISE that God made him. Listen, dearly Beloved:

Are CIRCUMSTANCES your god, or is GOD your God?

Where your head is, is where your emotions will be. Joseph kept on loving the Lord. Joseph rejected bitterness and trusted God. His life radically changed, but his spirit remained the same. God saves, but only in the fullness of HIS time (Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:10). Had Joseph let bitterness take him, we would have never read these words.

Genesis 39:2-4 the LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH, and he was a PROSPEROUS man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that THE LORD WAS WITH HIM, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4 And JOSEPH FOUND GRACE in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

I have known many who have gone from a joyous life to cancer, or Alzheimer’s, or a stroke, who allowed bitterness to take them. Whatever prison you may have been cast into, look upward. Trust God! The God Who saved you, He saves you still. Avoid the gall of bitterness.

Illustrate In the early Church, Apostles Peter and John were going about, sharing the Word of God to all who would hear. One man, merely called “Simon”, was converted under the preaching of Philip. We read:

Acts 8:12-13 when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Simon was a saved man – at least outwardly. But as Simon followed the Apostles and watched how they operated in the power of God the Holy Spirit, Simon “offered the Apostles money, saying, give me also this power” (Acts 8:18-19). Peter’s reply was very harsh. He said:

Acts 8:20-23 … Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that THOU ART IN THE GALL OF BITTERNESS, AND IN THE BOND OF INIQUITY.

The “gall of bitterness, and the bond of iniquity” has no place in the Christ follower. Cast it away. Let God be your portion.

Psalm 73:26 God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Joseph was willing to wait on the Lord (Psalm 27:14; 37:34; Proverbs 20:22). God has promised that Joseph would one day be in the palace.

Genesis 39:7-9 it came to pass after these things, that {Potiphar’s} wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8 But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9 there is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

The Devil Watches Us How often are we tempted to circumvent the plan of God? The devil watches us, just as he watched our Lord Jesus Christ, and waits for opportunities to try and tempt us from God’s best. Potiphar’s wife set her mind on taking Joseph as more than a servant. Yet Joseph kept the promise of God ever before him. It was not God’s best for Joseph to fall into sexual sin. Of course, Potiphar’s wife was not happy with this. She lied about Joseph to her husband, telling him that Joseph accosted her. Joseph was imprisoned (Genesis 39:20) on trumped up charges.

There is nothing more hurtful than to be wrongfully accused, and punished for something you never did.

Joseph has gone from Pampering, to Pit, to Potiphar, and now he is in Prison. Can you guess where God is?

Genesis 39:21-23 But THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.

There is a song Reba McEntire sings, “You Never Gave Up On Me”. I like to sing these words to my God:

You never gave up on me
Oh, You never gave up on me
I’m here where I was always meant to be
I never gave up, ’cause Lord, You never gave up on me

Our God is so good! He never gives up on us. We must look upward to Him!

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

I am told that Joseph spent this last stint in prison for about 13 years. Joseph was in Prison because of a lie, but God was still in control. The prison would be used by God to put Joseph on the Throne. God is in control.

While in prison the King’s Butler and Baker were also imprisoned alongside of Joseph. Joseph got to meet them because God blessed Joseph. the warden made Joseph his number 2 man, an assistant in running the prison.

Genesis 40:5-6 … {the butler and the baker} dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison. 6 And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.

A person who has enjoyed the grace of God has a tender heart. Joseph was not focused on the bars that imprisoned him, but on loving those around him. These two men were sad. Concerned, Joseph asks them why they are sad. “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it” (Genesis 40:8). Joseph was not bothered with this. He said:

Genesis 40:8 … Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

When you have a daily relationship with God, the Lord communes with you. Joseph listened to both men’s dreams. When Joseph interpreted the two men’s dreams, he foretold that the Butler would be restored to his old position (Genesis 40:13), but the Baker would be hanged (Genesis 40:19). The Butler promised that he would speak to the King on Joseph’s behalf, but “the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him”. It was not time for the trial to end. Two more years passed, then Pharaoh had two dreams.

Genesis 41:8 … it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

When none could interpret the dreams, the Butler remembered Joseph. He told Pharaoh about Joseph, and the King sent for him. Pharaoh told Joseph:

Genesis 41:15 … I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.

Please listen to Joseph’s response. He says:

Genesis 41:16 … It is NOT IN ME: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

The saved live to glorify God!

Pharaoh told Joseph about seven fat cows, and how the seven fat cows were eaten up by seven thin cows. He told of one seven eared corn stalk, and how another stalk with seven withered ears came up and ate the seven good ears (Genesis 41:18-24). Joseph told Pharaoh:

Genesis 41:28-36 … What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh. 29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: 30 and there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; 31 and the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. 32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. 35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. 36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.

Joseph Goes From Pampering, To Pit, To Potiphar, To Prison. Now He Moves Into The Palace.

The King will promote Joseph to the second highest seat in the land. Joseph would spearhead the collection of grain in preparation for the seven years of drought and starvation. Everything works out exactly as God said.

There is one more temptation left for Joseph to overcome. That which started Joseph’s journey was the hatred of his brothers. Joseph leads Egypt through the seven years of plenty. When the seven years of drought come, Jacob would send his sons to Egypt to seek food from a Joseph he thought was dead.

When Joseph’s brothers stood before him, they did not recognize Joseph. Like the Egyptians, he had an Egyptian name (Zaphnath-paaneah see Genesis 41:45). Joseph was shaved, like the Egyptians shaved themselves (Genesis 41:14), and dressed like the Egyptians around him. Here are his brothers before him, bowing down to him just as God foretold.

Would Joseph go from Palace to Punishing his brothers, making them suffer as he suffered?

Beloved, vengeance belongs to God. The Bible says:

Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather GIVE PLACE UNTO WRATH: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

When his brothers stand before him, Joseph does not avenge himself against them.

Genesis 45:3-5 I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. 4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 5 Now therefore BE NOT GRIEVED, NOR ANGRY WITH YOURSELVES, THAT YE SOLD ME HITHER: FOR GOD DID SEND ME BEFORE YOU TO PRESERVE LIFE.

Joseph refused to be petty, saying, “It was God Who sent me here before you, to preserve life”. Joseph saw the divine chain that brought him to where he needed to be for the glory of God. He was not angry at his brothers.

Genesis 45:8 … it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Joseph reunited with his family. When Jacob died, Joseph and his family went back to Canaan to bury him (Genesis 50:13), then returned to Egypt. Joseph carried no grudge against his brothers. Joseph told his brothers:

Genesis 50:19-21 … Fear not: for AM I IN THE PLACE OF GOD? 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

Joseph took care of his family until, at 110 years old, he died. But Joseph told his brothers:

Genesis 50:24-26 … I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. 26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Joseph wanted his brothers to keep his bones in Egypt, but to carry his bones to Canaan when the time was right. Joseph’s bones became a witness to the people of Israel, a witness long after his death. Israel would be afflicted in Egypt for many years following the death of Joseph. Throughout the afflictions, the Israelites remembered Joseph’s bones. When God raised up Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt many hundreds of years later, the Bible says:

Exodus 13:19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straightly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and YE SHALL CARRY UP MY BONES AWAY HENCE WITH YOU.

As Joshua led the children of Israel into the Promised Land, it was Joseph’s bones that went with them. His bones reminded Israel to trust the God Who saved them. Just as Joseph trusted the Lord Jesus even in the worst of times, God wants His people to trust and believe on Him.

After conquering the land, Joshua died and was buried at the age of 110 years old (Joshua 24:29) – the same age that Joseph was when he died. I do not believe this was a coincidence. Both Joseph and Joshua trusted God, no matter what the circumstances. They followed the Lord. Right after Joshua was buried, we read:

Joshua 24:32 And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.

How about YOUR bones? When you leave this life, what legacy will you leave behind for your posterity? Trust in the Lord. Follow Him with all your heart. Live a life of faith, so that when you leave this earth, your example will lead others to the Lord. If you do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, today is the day to give yourselves to Him. Commit to following Him daily, no matter where the streams of life may take you. For whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13)

May God bless you hearts with His Word. Amen and Amen.

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Seven Things To Consider When Voting

Posted on October 18, 2020 by bibleteacherorg
I voted image
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

Tennessee began it’s early voting today, October 14th. You have until October 14, 2020 to participate in early voting. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. I thought as, I went to vote today, I would cover seven things every Christian needs to consider before voting.

  1. When you vote, make sure that you vote based on the direction of the Holy Bible. The Scripture is the truth that Christians follow. When Jesus prayed for His Church, He prayed:

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

It is God’s Word that is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path (Psalm 110:105). Much of the secularization of America today has come about because the Church of Jesus Christ has not adhered to the Word of God. As believers in Christ, we are commanded to obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29). The great Apostle tells us:

Romans 12:2 … be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

What does your candidate believe? What does the Bible tell you is right and wrong? Does what your candidate believes line up with what you believe? Christians, if we elect godless people who have no respect for the Bible, then we will vote ourselves into a place of destruction. Let God’s Word guide you.

  1. Before you vote, seek God’s direction through prayer. The Bible commands us to:

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Psalms 37:3, 5 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

  1. Ask yourself what do the candidates believe on Constitutionally endorsed principles? Does the candidate truly believe in what our Constitution calls the first and second Amendments? Does he or she believe that,

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Do not vote away your First Amendment privileges! It is the First Amendment that gives you the right to freely worship the Lord in both public and private settings. Does he or she believe that,

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

Whether you own a gun or not, like guns or not, “the right OF THE PEOPLE to KEEP and BEAR ARMS shall not be infringed”. Why is this important? Because when England wanted to keep Americans in their place, one of the first things they did was outlaw guns among the colonists. The Tenth Amendment Center writes:

“Following the passage of the Intolerable Acts, the Massachusetts Government Act dissolved the provincial government in the state, and General Thomas Gage was appointed royal governor, all which inflamed tensions and prompted backlash from Americans who saw it as the Crown attempted to force their colonies into submission. … It was clear to the British that gun control measures would be necessary if they were to maintain their rule. Gage had only 2,000 troops in Boston, while there were thousands of armed men in Boston and more in the surrounding area.

One solution, Kopel writes, was to deprive the Americans of gunpowder. In September 1774, several hundred Redcoats raided a Charlestown powder house – where militias and merchants stored their gunpowder due to its volatile nature – and seized all but the powder belonging to the colonial government. … In October 1774 the Provincial Congress convened, with John Hancock acting as its president. The Congress adopted a resolution that condemned the military occupation of Boston and called on private citizens to arm themselves and engage in military drills. The Provincial Congress also appointed a Committee of Safety, giving it the power to call up the militia. “

It is the Second Amendment that gives American citizens the right to keep and bear arms, lest the government become tyrannical. The Second Amendment protects the other Amendments, that is, our freedom as American citizens.

  1. Ask yourself, What do the candidates believe on practical Christian application? Does the candidate view all life as sacred? Do they agree that God is the Designer of Life? Do they agree with the Scripture, that all people are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27)? Does the candidate have a policy to give welfare to the genuinely needy?

Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

  1. What is the track record of the candidate? If the candidate has previously been in office, what did he or she do while they were in office? Did he or she abuse their office, or were they guilty of malingering at the public expense? You are not voting for a pastor, but a politician. Whether the candidate is a professed Christian or not should not influence your vote. There are many who profess Christ, but do not live Christlike lives. As the Bible says:

James 2:17-19 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

  1. Bear in mind that Our God is ultimately in control. We are God’s instruments that He uses to bring about His plan.

Romans 13:1-4 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

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

  1. Finally, regardless as to who wins, commit yourself to pray for that individual. The Bible commands us to pray for our leaders. It is disheartening to hear people say, “He might be YOUR President, but he’s not MINE”. You are an American Christian. You live in this country. Whoever is elected is indeed YOUR President. As a citizen of America and as citizens of the Kingdom of God you are commanded to pray for your leaders.

1 Timothy 2:1-3 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;

Your vote matters. Look up to God, and vote! May God bless you all this election year. Amen and Amen.

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4. The Musts Of Christianity: We MUST Love

Posted on October 10, 2020 by bibleteacherorg

John 4:1-4 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) 3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. 4 And {Jesus} must needs go through Samaria.

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I have noticed that the quarantine from the Coronavirus has made people a little meaner, a little uglier, than they were before. I don’t know if it’s the masks that are hiding the faces, but people seem more predisposed to bed abrupt and rude during this time. I’m standing in line at Aldi’s, one of our local stores, and have my facemask and gloves on. Behind me are standing two Afrian-American women – neither observing social distancing toward me (or towardanyone) – who are apparently in a bad humor. The Caucasian lady in front of me is equally in a bad humor, and both parties are complaining LOUDLY how there are not enough registers opened. In my mind I wonder, “Where are you in such a hurry to go to?”. Under the Governor’s quarantine no one is rushing to eat out, or to make a doctor’s appointment. “Chill out” is the next words that come to mind.

Following Aldi’s, I head to Kroger’s to gas up the car and buy some crushed ice. We have no ice maker, so I usually buy the 20 pound bag of ice. After fueling up my van I step over to the Cashier and ask for a 20 pound bag of ice. She frostily tells me “We no longer carry 20 pound bags”, while rolling her eyes. So I tell her “Well, just me a bag of whatever you have – it will be all right.”

Trials and tribulations will often bring out the worst in people. What is bad about rudeness and other such negative emotions is that they spread as quickly as does the Coronavirus. A person with a bad or an unloving nature will easily rub off on others around them. Racists often make other racists. Haters often make other haters. The attitude you carry will, like a virus, spread to others. The Apostle wrote:

1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Or as another version puts it, “Bad company ruins good morals”. Or as King Solomon wrote:

Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Proverbs 22:24-25 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

Your attitude sets the tone around you. If you are born again by faith in Christ then you are called to love others as you have been loved.

  • Love is the fulfillment of the Law of God:

Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

  • Love is the evidence that you have been born into God’s Family:

1 John 2:9-11 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

  • Love is not merely emotion, but an outward action that seeks God’s best for others:

Galatians 5:13-14 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

  • God modeled the love that He would have us show through the life of His Son, Jesus Christ:

1 John 4:9-12 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Why Was Jesus Compelled To Go Through Samaria?

We read in our focal text today:

John 4:2-4 … Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) 3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. 4 And {Jesus} must needs go through Samaria.

Jesus MUST NEEDS go through Samaria. The phrase translated “MUST NEEDS” is the Greek verb δεῖ deî, (pronounced die) which is translated “it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right and proper”. The same word is used describing our Lord’s appointment with Calvary in:

Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he MUST {deî} go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

It was imperative that Jesus go through Samaria. Jesus is compelled to go through Samaria. What compelled Him? Was it that this was the only road to get where He was going? No. Though the Jews from Galilee would often short cut through Samaria, the Jews from Judea refused to walk through the same area. It was their habit to take a circuitous route on the eastern bank of the Jordan instead of the more direct route through Samaria. Why? Because they considered the Samaritans to be half breeds, genetically unworthy to be recognized. This great hatred between the Samaritans and the Judeans went back to 722 B.C. when the Ten Northern Tribes of Israel were conquered by Assyria (see 2 Kings 17:6, 24). Because of their conquering those Jews who remained in Samaria remarried with pagan Assyrians. The subsequent children of these people were considered half-breeds and heretics. When God sent Ezra and Zerubbabel, along with Jeshua back into Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple after years of captivity the Samaritans offered to help in the rebuilding. We read:

Ezra 4:2-3 … they {the Samaritans} came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. 3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.

The Judean refugees abruptly turned away the offer of help from Samaria – and taking offense, the Samaritans responded in kind by hindering the rebuilding of the Temple (Ezra 4:4). This is the way of hatred. This is how Satan works in hatred.

The Assyrians overthrow Israel, taking the land.
God allows the Israelites to return after some years.
The returning Israelites come, bearing in their hearts hatred.
The descendants of the Assyrians offer help.
Israel, driven by hatred, rebuffs the children of Assyria.
Now the children of Assyria hate Israel.
A hatred that has continued for over 800 years!

Some people believe that God taught hatred of enemies in the Old Testament, but love of enemies in the New. Many are familiar with Jesus’ teaching:

Matthew 5:43-45 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, 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 {God your Father} maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

The truth is when Jesus stated “you have heard it hath been said”, He is not changing Old Testament Scriptural teachings. He is changing what many erroneous Old Covenant “scholars” taught. God never taught to hate your enemies. There were times when God had Israel remove certain peoples from this earth, but that was because their practices were so evil that they were unspeakable. The Old Testament tells us:

Proverbs 25:21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.

The Apostle Paul quoted this text in Romans 12:20 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. He went on to add – as God inspired him – Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. When a Child of God responds to evil with good it had the effect of quenching the evil. But when a Child of God, ones like Zerubbabel and Jeshua, responds lovelessly toward the enemy – it pours gasoline on a flame. God told His Old Testament saints:

Exodus 23:4-5 If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. 5 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.

God sometimes brings trial to an enemy to correct an evil. King Solomon said:

Proverbs 24:17-18 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

What God does or allows to be done to another, He is governed by seeking the best for that person or people. God has that right. He has said (Ezekiel 18:4) “all souls are mine”.

God has a purpose for every person who has ever been born, and that purpose is only realized when he or she is connected to the Godhead through Christ.

God sent Christ ointo the world to save ALL people – not just a select few. God spoke through the Prophet saying:

Ezekiel 33:11 … As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways …

Christ must needs go through Samaria because God our Father will have ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). Our God did not send Christ Jesus our Lord to offer His salvation to just a few, but to whosoever will receive Him as Lord and Savior. Our God is “longsuffering to us all, not willing that any should perish, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE” (2 Peter 3:9).

Love Compelled Jesus To Reach Others
Not Like Himself

John 4:5-9 Then cometh {Jesus} to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

There was a time in America that water fountains were labeled “White’s Only” and “Colored Only”. What was taught during the Jim Crow era was that whites would be contaminated if they drank anything from the same source that the black person used. Jim Crow laws established strict segregation along racial lines, not just at water fountains, but also in schools, on buses, and in restaurants. These things were not driven by love, but by negative, unbiblical emotions.

The same was true in Jesus’ day. Solomon said “there is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Racism and bigotry has been around since the start of human history. When Jesus asked this woman of Samaria for a drink of water bigotry is evident in two texts.

  1. Jesus is by Himself because “His disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat”. Why would ALL of the disciples be gone away to buy meat? I suspect that prejudice and bigotry had something to do with this.
  2. The Jews considered the Samaritans to be unclean people, and would not drink from the same well that they drank from. They justified this by taking Leviticus 15 and applying it to anyone who was not Jewish. Though the well in Samaria was originally Jacob’s well – deeded to Joseph his son – no Jew would drink from the same buc ket that a Samaritan drank from. This is why the woman said to Jesus:

John 4:9 … How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? …

“Don’t you know that this is a colored only fountain?” That is exactly what is going on. Beloved, our God does not see color. He sees people. Every person God sees is made in His image and after His likeness (Genesis 1:27). There are no inferior humans – all life is sacred. Jesus told 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:

Church, you MUST go to all races. God is no Respecter of persons. Peter must needs go to Cornelius, a Gentile believer. Love compels him to go, so that he can learn:

Acts 10:34-35 … God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.

When the Holy Spirit falls on the early Church, Philip must needs go to Samaria (Acts 8:5). Love compelled him to go. Once he led Samaria into a great revival, the Holy Spirit sent Philip to an Ethiopian Official to share Christ with him. Love compels. If you have been loved of God, you must love as you were loved.

Beloved, if God had loved as we so horribly love, then few would have been saved. If God had only gone to people like Himself, then would ANY be saved?

We are none of us like God. The Bible says:

Romans 5:8 … God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

We are NOTHING like God, yet God sought us out. The Samaritan woman is NOTHING like Jesus, and yet Jesus seeks her out. God the Son stepped outside of His comfort zone. Our God Who is righteous, and holy, and just, lowered Himself to go to and among the fallen sinner. God does not care if you are colored like a Samaritan or like a Jew or like a White or like a Black, Red, or Yellow people. Christ must needs go to Samaria because love compelled Him. The Pharisees asked “why does your Master eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Matthew 9:11). The better question is, “Why does God care about any of us? Why would Jesus be compelled to go to Samaria to meet one woman not like Him?

Because this is what love looks like.
Love looks like a weary Jew sitting down with a Samaritan woman.

Love Looks Like Jesus

John 4:10-14 … {Jesus said} If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

This woman started her day like she had every other day. She lived her life in the momnent. She sought love, but never found it. Jesus promises this woman “a well of water springing up into everlasting life”. Perhaps her whole life she has lived as less than. Like many before her, she sought happiness in other fallen creatures. She says:

John 4:15 … Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

Any change to her miserable existence would be welcomed. Jesus tells her:

John 4:16 … Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

F.B. Meyer notes:

“This really meant that she must confess her sins and have them put away before she could expect the up rushing of the fountain of life.”

The woman acknowledges,

John 4:17-18 … I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

The woman has sought love in men. She has sought love in religion. Yet her life is unsatisfactory, unpleasing. She needed what all people need.

This woman needed to fall in love with the Savior.
She had been looking for the Messiah.
Now He is here!

John 4:25-30 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. 27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? 28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

When Jesus found Peter, he left his fishing boat (Luke 18:28).

When Jesus found James and John, they left the family business (Mark 1:20)

When Jesus found the woman, she left her waterpot (John 4:28).

When Jesus found Matthew, he left his tax tables (Luke 5:28).

When Jesus found Zacchaeus, he left his tree (Luke 19:6).

When Jesus found Saul, he left off persecuting Christians (Acts 9:4).

Jesus must find people in order that they be changed. We must let Jesus shine through us. We must love those not like ourselves. We must do good in the power of God’s Spirit, that Christ may come to others. I cannot save anyone, but Jesus Christ can save everyone. Turn to Jesus. Turn to Jesus.

May Christ Jesus bless this message through His Word and His Spirit. Amen and Amen.

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The Christian View Of Politics

Posted on October 6, 2020 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Marco Oriolesi on Unsplash

I teach a men’s discipleship Bible study on Tuesday nights at our Church. As we come together, we fellowship, and study the Word of God. As part of our class we talk about things going on around us.

In our class last night, several of the men wanted to get home right after the Bible Study so they could watch the Presidential Debates. If you watched the debates (I didn’t), I was told that it was a – and I quote one news source – a “hot mess”. Again, I didn’t watch it. But as part of our study we are going through the Book of John, and the text we read are really appropriate to this time in American history. What we read was what occurred right after Lazarus was resurrected from the grave by Jesus. Let’s read this together:

John 11:44-53 And {Lazarus} that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. 46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. 49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. 53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

Who Controls The Earth? Politicians? Or God?
I Believe God Is In Control – ALWAYS!

What you see in the text above is POLITICS. It has nothing to do with religion. The Lord Jesus Christ had upset the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the Herodians, and the Temple Officials. Jesus came preaching the truth of God. Nothing will gain you enemies than preaching the truth of God, the Scripture itself. The Pharisees and Sadducees were upset with Jesus because, at the beginning of His ministry, He entered into the Temple and removed all things that dishonored God. The Bible says that Jesus ..

John 2:15-16 made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 16 and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.

The Pharisees were upset by what our Lord did. They and the Sadducees were probably making money on the selling of sacrifices. When Jesus ran the money changers out, they asked Him:

John 2:18 … What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

In other words, “By what authority are You doing what You just did”? Jesus’ answer (you can read it in John 2:19-21) did not satisfy them. From that point on in His earthly ministry, Jesus and the religious crowd were at odds with one another. They were constantly chasing after Jesus. They questioned His ministry, from A to Z. Jesus spoke the Word of God, carrying the message of the Father to the world. Jesus said, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father” (John 14:9). Yet the politicians continued to hate Jesus. Why? Because Jesus was genuinely concerned for the lost. They, in turn, were only concerned for themselves, and how they looked before the people.

Then Jesus resurrected His friend Lazarus from the grave. The politicians had been planning to destroy Jesus – but now they meet in earnest, plotting His death.

John 11:47-48 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

The chief priest of the Temple gathered with the Pharisees, the religious conservatives of Jesus’ day. They called a meeting of “the Counsel”, the Jewish Supreme Court known as the Sanhedrin, or “The Seventy”. The question before the Court was not whether Jesus was true to the Scripture. No, the Bible had nothing to do with what they were planning. Instead they postulated a straw man argument. They said:

“If Jesus continues without us doing something, then He will gather many who believe in Him. If enough believe in Him, the Romans will see this as an uprising against their authority. If that happens (and we know it will), then we will lose our jobs, and our nation will be destroyed!”

These people – politicians all – are looking for a reason to kill Jesus. They cannot find a reason in the Scripture. The Bible states that:

Deuteronomy 5:17 Thou shalt not kill {רָצַח râtsach, {pronounced raw-tsakh’, “do murder”}

When Noah and his family got off the Ark, the very first Law God gave humanity was:

Genesis 9:5-6 … surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

The Sanhedrin had no Biblical reason to kill Jesus. Had Jesus committed a capital offense, then He could be tried and executed – but ONLY if there were two witnesses who saw Jesus do the offense. The Bible says:

Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

Jesus had done nothing worthy of capital punishment. The Scripture would not support killing this Man. So the politicians used a straw man argument against Jesus because, frankly, that is what Rotten Politics 101 teaches. With their “we’d better get rid of Jesus” argument on the table, the High Priest speaks up:

John 11:49-50 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

Rather than correct the discussion, Caiaphas joins in with the “kill Jesus” decision. Caiaphas says, “It is better for Jesus to die for the people – and this will save our nation Israel”. Caiaphas is not doing what High Priests should do. He should be interceding with God for the people. Instead, he has moved into the realm of politics in order to have Jesus killed. After all, Jesus is rocking the boat!

What is most extraordinary about our text today is what the Apostle writes next. We read:

John 11:51-52 And this spake {Caiaphas} not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

Did you catch that? Caiaphas did NOT speak this of himself. When he spoke of Jesus dying for Israel, in fact, for all the people, Caiaphas was prophesying. If you study your Bible you’ll find out that prophecy is a gift given by God. The Bible says:

Romans 12:6 … Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

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 Ghost.

1 Corinthians 12:7-10 … the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit … prophecy

Caiaphas is not a believer in Jesus Christ. He is a plotter against Christ, part of the conspiracy to murder the Messiah. And yet, God gives him a prophesy. He speaks as God moves him! That should tell you something.

Our God is in control. It is not the politicians that determine the fate of our nation, but our God.

As these politicians plot the murder of Christ, this is in accordance with God’s own will. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is …

Revelation 13:8 … the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

The politicians were plotting murder, but God knew that Jesus Christ had to die. It is only through Christ’s death that our sins are covered. The Bible tells us:

Romans 5:8-19 God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

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: 13 (for until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification. 17 For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

God the Father sent His Son Jesus into the world to be our Messiah, our Savior from sin. Jesus had to die on Calvary. He had to go to that Cross, or else, we would never be forgiven. Sin is a trespass against an infinite and immortal being we call God. When you offend the Infinite, nothing you will ever do will correct that offense.

So Jesus went to Calvary to be the correction.
Jesus Christ, by dying for us, whited out our sins.
When we believe on Him, and receive Him as Lord and Savior,
we become the sons and daughters of God. Forgiven. Redeemed.

The politicians plotted against the Son of God, but Jesus came to be our Savior. He knew He was going to die. Jesus actually knew who was going to kill Him. The Bible tells us:

Mark 8:31 and {Jesus} began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Mark 9:31 {Jesus} said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

Mark 10:33 {Jesus said} Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34 and they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

Jesus knew. God knew. The only ones who did not know were the politicians. The Apostle said:

1 Corinthians 2:7-8 … we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

The politicians who plotted and planned and executed the betrayal of Christ had no idea they were doing God’s work. They thought they were protecting themselves. God is in control.

The Christian Responsibility In The Area Of Politics

Every election year for, I guess, the past 11,576 days, or 31.7 years, I have had to choose between two candidates, neither of which I particularly liked. The last politician I cared for was Ronald Reagan. You may not have liked him, but I did. I thought he was a good Christian man, though like all of somewhat flawed. Since Reagan left office on January 20, 1989, I have struggled every year at who I would vote for.

And yet I voted.

So many Christians I talk to have thrown up their hands, saying, “I’m just not going to vote”. That is certainly your decision. I never thought about this before, but I was reading the article “Politics and Its Christian Discontents” today, and really enjoyed it. David Deavel wrote:

“Politics as we know it and civilization, on the other hand, with their complicated and morally messy details, were founded by Cain, who founded the first city in the land of Nod after being exiled from his family. Cities have organized government, social stratification, and a written language. They have more complex market systems and, generally speaking, more advanced technology and a more developed artistic and cultural world. Politics and civilization, you see, are the legacy of a killer.”

I never thought about that before. It was Cain who, on killing his brother Abel, went to the land of Nod. The Bible says:

Genesis 4:17 Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

It was Cain who built the city, and named the city. Cities are organized governments. Cain was probably the first politician. Many Christians throughout the history of the Church have withdrawn themselves from politics, preferring to live in monasteries or closed communities. After all, doesn’t the Scripture say:

Philippians 3:20 … our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:

The word translated CONVERSATION is the Greek πολίτευμα políteuma, {pronounced pol-it’-yoo-mah}, from where we get the word “politics”. The word literally means “our community, our citizenship, our commonwealth”. The Christian has dual citizenship. We are citizens of the countries we are in on this earth, but our most real citizenship is in Heaven, with Jesus Christ our Lord.

But does that mean we should not vote?

I don’t think so. The Bible tells us that Jesus wants us to be

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

When God saved us through faith in Christ, He left us on this earth to represent Him. Light does not stay enclosed, but shines so that all can see it. Jesus said:

Matthew 5:13 … Ye are the salt of the earth …

Light contained has no purpose. Salt in the shaker does nothing. As Christians we are called to have an impact on our world for Jesus. What better impact can we have than to VOTE? We need to VOTE. When Israel was carried away into captivity, exiled to Babylon, God told His people:

Jeremiah 29:5-7 … build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; 6 take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. 7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

The old song says,

This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through;
My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue;
The angels beckon me to Heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore!

It’s true that this earth is a place we are just passing through. But just as Israel was not going to stay in Babylon captivity forever, neither will we be on this earth forever. But while we’re here, we are to make homes here. We are to marry, and give in marriage. We are to contribute positively to the area we are in, no matter where that area is. We are to seek the peace of the city, of the nation, to pray unto the Lord for it.

Christians are to be in the world, but not OF it. Jesus prayed for His Church:

John 17:14-19 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 (one). 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. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

Christian, you are on mission for Jesus until the day He calls you home. You need to contribute. You need to vote.

But Who Should I Vote For? They Are All So Flawed!

I agree. I do not personally like any of the candidates that are running. And yet, I will vote. I will not tell you who to vote for, but I’ll tell you what I do. I pray and ask God Who I should vote for. Yes, they are all flawed. But God can use (and does use) flawed people.

God used a pagan Persian king called Artaxerxes I. Artaxerxes gave Ezra a letter, stating:

Ezra 7:12-13 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time. 13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

In the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, Nehemiah, his cup bearer, asked:

Nehemiah 2:5-8 If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchers, that I may build it. 6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. 7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah; 8 and a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.

This Persian King gave Nehemiah the authority and the funds to go back to Israel, and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. There are so many other examples in Scripture.

  • God gave Joseph the favor of the unbelieving King of Egypt, so that Joseph could save Israel, causing it to become a mighty nation.
  • God sent Daniel to Babylon. Daniel excelled, and was made the Prince of the Magi (Daniel 5:29) by unbelieving King Belshazzar. Daniel taught the Magi about the coming of Jesus Christ. Descendants of these Magi would come to see the Baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1).
  • Cyrus the King of Persia, though an unbeliever, rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem:

Ezra 1:1-2 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

God is in control! He is always in control. As we come to the election this year, let’s not be monks. Let’s vote. Before you vote, seek God’s face. Seek His direction. Whoever goes into the White House, will go in accordance to the will of God. The Apostle said”

Romans 13:1-2 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

God is in control. Pray. Seek God’s face. Then vote. Regardless as to who gets into office, pray for that individual daily. Pray for kings, and all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Let the light of Christ shine through all that you do. Vote! David Deavel wrote:

“We will certainly not be able to create a Heaven on earth, but we are often able to put off the creation of little hells.”

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

Posted in John, Politics, Sermons Preached | Leave a comment

Forgiveness and Unity

Posted on October 6, 2020 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Felix Koutchinski on Unsplash

Matthew 18:12-14 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

The Importance Of Christian Unity

It is so easy to misinterpret and misapply Scripture. We know that God says of His Bible that,

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

  • It is the Bible that gives us “doctrine”, truths by which we live.
  • It is the Bible that “corrects” us, keeping us in the Way of Christ.
  • It is the Bible that gives us “instruction in righteousness”, that is, in how to best live our lives so as to honor our Savior and Lord.
  • It is the Bible that makes us “perfect”, that is, “mature” in the eyes of God.
  • It is the Bible that equips us to do good works, works that GOD considers good.

This is why it’s so very important to read the Bible carefully. The text above has often been preached by well meaning Pastors as an evangelistic message, teaching us how we ought to “go out from the Church and tell others about Christ”. The principle preached is correct. We should go out from the Church and tell others about Christ. This is what the Great Commission teaches us. Didn’t Jesus say:

Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you …

Yes, we should go out and reach others for Christ. We are salt, but no good if we stay in the salt shaker. We are light, but no good to God nor anyone else if we are only light while in this building. The salt must go. The light must go. But our focal text has nothing to do with reaching the lost.

This text deals with Christian unity.

It’s very clear that it deals with Christian unity, a unified Church. First, what is Jesus speaking of? Who is lost? Jesus is speaking of a sheep. A SHEEP that went astray. The word “sheep” is used 189 times in the Bible. Many times it just refers to the animal, that baa, baa, baa sheep. Abel was a keeper of sheep (Genesis 4:2). Abraham had lots of sheep (Genesis 12:16). But sheep has another use in scripture. Sheep is a term used for the people of God, those saved by faith. You find this in the Old Testament:

Psalm 95:7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. …

Psalm 100:3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Before the Millennial Kingdom begins on the earth, Jesus said:

Matthew 25:31-34 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

It is the sheep on Christ’s right hand that will enter His Kingdom. But the goats on the left hand, what happens to them?

Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

When Jesus speaks of leaving the ninety and nine to reach out to the one sheep that strayed, and went “into the mountains”, He is speaking of a believer who wanders away from the Shepherd and the Church. This is not a lost person, but a saved person, a well intentioned believer who has allowed life to lead himself or herself astray. This is not a goat, but a sheep. The shepherd went after the one sheep. Why? We are told in:

Matthew 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Again, what does Jesus mean by “little ones”. Read your context.

Matthew 18:6 … one of these little ones which believe in me …

When one of the “sheep” gets away from the flock and the protection of the shepherd, the little one is susceptible to be eaten of wolves. The protection that a believer has is the Church, the gathering of like minded believers. As we come to this section of Scripture Jesus is emphasizing the importance of Christian unity and love. The Church must remain Christ focused, and must care for one another. It is not God’s will that any of you should perish. He wants you to live blessed lives in Him. God our Father wants you to be the light of the world, the City of God (Matthew 5:14). We cannot be light while there are divisions and fighting among us.

Jesus is ministering now in the shadow of the Cross. It will not be very long before Judas Iscariot betrays the Lord, and the disciples will scatter as the Master is taken. Jesus knows this is coming. He knows His earthly purpose will soon be fulfilled. As He speaks in the shadow of the Cross, He wants His Church to know the importance of unity in Him. There is safety in the Church. There is protection in the Church.

Conflict Resolution In The Church

A Church is a gathering of imperfect, but saved people, following Jesus Christ the Lord. Imperfect people often err. It happens. I have heard people get mad and leave their local Church because someone did something that hurt their feelings. It is a weak Christian that runs away from a problem, rather than resolving it the way Christ directs. Read with me:

Matthew 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Jesus says “if thy BROTHER”. This is a brother in the faith, a fellow believer in Christ. If a fellow Christian trespass against thee, does something that offends you, then what are you to do? Does Jesus say?

“Get on the phone and tell somebody else – preferably a lost person – about it”.

Does Jesus say?

“Smile outwardly, but inwardly carry a grudge against that person”.

No, Jesus says, “Go to that brother or sister who offended you, and privately discuss it”. The hurt, though it may have occurred publicly, is to be resolved privately. “Tell him his fault between thee and him ALONE”. Don’t tell anybody else. Tell that person. Jesus said in ..

Luke 17:3-4 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

There is no limit on the number of times a brother or sister in Christ offends you and you must forgive them. If they hear you, and repent of what they did (yes, say “I’m sorry”), then you are to LET IT GO. Let go of the hurt. Let go of the slight. After all, how many times a day do we ourselves fail our Jesus? The Apostolic text says:

Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Jesus forgives us repeatedly throughout the day when we fail Him. As He has forgiven us, we are to forgive those who offend us. When Jesus taught us the Lord’s Prayer – the model we are to follow when we pray – part of that prayer is:

Matthew 6:12 … forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

As we have been forgiven, we are to forgive. To drive this point home, Jesus said, following this Model Prayer:

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

A failure to forgive someone is a breach of Grace. To harbor a grudge is to harm yourself. This active sin puts a wall between you and your Lord Jesus. God says:

Isaiah 59:2 … your iniquities have separated between you and your God,

and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Forgiveness is not an optional thing, but a commanded thing. Why is this so important? Because the Church is a group of believers who are to WORK TOGETHER FOR CHRIST. The Body is one, and has many members (1 Corinthians 12:12). God sets the members in the Body as it pleases Him (1 Corinthians 12:18). And every member needs the other member. You have gifts given you by God that I do not have. When we unite as a Church, we stand together against the darkness. God has ordered that there be no division in the Body, but the members should care about one another (1 Corinthians 12:25). God has decreed:

Leviticus 19:17 … Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart

Ok, so you’ve went to your brother or sister who has offended you, and the conflict still exists. What is done then? Jesus said:

Matthew 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

This is not a new thing that Jesus devised. Jesus took this from the Old Testament Law.

Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

If there is a breach, and the other brother is at fault and will not repent, then you are to take another believer with you and, together, speak to the wayward brother or sister. But what if they continue to repent?

Matthew 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Those who will not make peace, in the end, are expelled from the Church. They are recognized as “heathen” and “publican”. That means the erring brother or sister is, at that point, treated as if they were lost (for they are).

You see, the only way that I know you’re saved is by your evident and outward behavior. The Apostolic text states:

1 John 4:20-21 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

The person who is saved will be loving of others, gracious to others, kind to others, forgiving of others. These are the fingerprints of God on the saved life. If a person stews in hatred, that person was lost anyway. The Church is called to recognize it when that person will not repent.

Why is unity so important in the Church? Because Jesus is in our midst only when we are together in Christian unity.

Matthew 18:18-20 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

The Church, bound together by Christian love, has been given a great deal of power by God. The Church has the power to bind, and to loose. Not because of our power, but because, when we gather together in love, loving Jesus, then Jesus is manifest in us. And there is nothing too great for Jesus to do.

Are There Any Loopholes In What Jesus Said To Do?

As Jesus finishes teaching these great truths, Peter comes to Him and asks the question in everyone’s mind. Don’t make fun of Peter. When God gives us a law, then it is in our human nature to look for “loopholes”. Like when we drive. When the speed limit says “70 MPH”, we often drive 75, because “it’s only five miles over the limit”. I heard a fellow one day talking, LOUDLY, about a ticket he got for going 5 miles over the speed limit. He said, “I can’t believe the cop gave me a ticket! I just can’t believe it! I’m going to take this to court. I was only – only – five miles over”. If he took it to court, I’m curious what the judge said. I think I know. I think he had to pay the ticket, and maybe a little more for stupidity. The word LIMIT means LIMIT. But we are human.

So Peter comes and asks the question we were all thinking:

Matthew 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

“Lord, seven is a good number. That’s the number of completion. If my brother offends me seven times, can I hate him after that?” Jesus replied in a very interesting way:

Matthew 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Now why did Jesus choose “seventy times seven”? If you were a Jew, you would know this. When God gave Israel His Law, He gave them Shmita, or the Sabbatical Year. At the website My Jewish Learning we are told:

“In the Shmita year, debts are to be forgiven, agricultural lands to lie fallow, private land holdings to become open to the commons, and staples such as food storage and perennial harvests to be freely redistributed and accessible to all.”

Every 7 years Israel was to have Shmita (see Exodus 23:10-11). Though Israel was given this Law, for 490 years or 70 times Israel refused to take Shmita. It was only after 490 years of disobedience that God punished His Israel, and placed them in 70 years of captivity by Babylon, and later Medo-Persia. That is 70 times 7. Jesus said, you are to forgive your brother, just as God forgave Israel, 70 x 7 or 490 years. Let me ask, how many of you sitting here today are 490 years old? No one, I’d guess.

As long as you live, you are to forgive the brother or sister who has offended you. Those who will not do so are LOST, not found. They are not of Christ’s Kingdom.

Jesus now speaks a pretty lengthy parable. This parable is only found in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus says:

Matthew 18:23-24 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

The “King” in this parable is a reference to our Heavenly Father. The King is settling accounts with His servants (that’s we who believe in Jesus). One servant stands in front of the King. This servant owes ten thousand talents. Now, this is an astronomical amount of money. Six hundred talents was the Roman Tax levied on all of Southern Palestine. Ten thousand talents is over 16 times more than that tax. It was impossible for the man to repay this.

Matthew 18:25-27 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

The man begged the King for Grace. And the King gave Grace. Rather than make the man pay what he owed, the King forgave him this tremendous debt. Beloved, if you are saved by faith in Christ, then you have been forgiven an immeasurable amount by God. Sin is an offense against God. Sin is a slight against the Immortal. And yet, for Christ’s sake, we have been forgiven.

The forgiven should themselves forgive. We have been forgiven much. We must forgive much.

Matthew 18:28-30 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

The man did the opposite that was done to him. He should have been gracious. Instead, he had no grace in him. He not only cast his poor servant into prison, but humiliated him by grabbing him by the throat. But word gets around.

Matthew 18:31-34 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

The King reversed his earlier decision. The evil and ungracious servant was “delivered to the tormentors”. What does this mean? I don’t know, but I don’t want to find out! I think that God surrenders the ungracious believers to something that causes them pain until they repent. Again, I don’t know exactly what that it. But I do know, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31).

Jesus brings the parable home. He ends with:

Matthew 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

We are to forgive – FROM THE HEART – anyone who offends who is a brother or a sister in Christ. Always. No loopholes. It is the unified Church that can bring light back to America. Let us work together for Jesus, loving Him and loving one another. May God bless our hearts with this His Word. Amen and Amen.

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