Ray Bentley: Recent Episodes
Ray Bentley
Ray Bentley Ministries is a daily teaching brought to you by Pastor Ray Bentley of Maranatha Chapel in San Diego, Ca. His teaching can be heard on Maranatha’s Radio Show which airs across the United States and worldwide. For more information about Pastor Ray Bentley, please visit: https://raybentley.com
It's fundamental. It's basic, it's the anchor that will hold your life together. Jesus is Lord. Don't let a church become your Lord. Don't let a man become your Lord. Don't let a pastor or a priest be your Lord. Don't let some denomination. Don't let some other additional book or teachings outside of the Bible.
What is the essence of the good news? You could describe this world as very, very messy, painful, struggling agony. And Jesus comes into the mess. He comes into the pain. He comes into the agony. He comes in the midst of the struggle. He enters into the darkness of this world and he brings light spread.
If at first you don't succeed, give up. Right? No. Try. Try again. You're not going to be perfect on this earth. There will come a day when we'll be like Jesus in heaven. But in the meantime, the point of being a Christian is that you readily acknowledge that you are broken and that you're not perfect and you don't have to be.
Paul suffered for Christ and surprisingly he said that was cause for rejoicing. Why did Paul rejoice in suffering? When you suffer in Jesus. The glory of God rests upon you. Through suffering, there is a place that I enter into my experience and intimacy and knowledge of the love of Jesus. I can't get anywhere else.
When bad things happen to good people or those who follow the Lord and you begin to wonder God, do you see? You see what I'm going through? Do you know how hard it is down here? Do you care? And that's why always we go to the cross.
When the world rebels and turns its back on God, it pays the price. Even then, God cares. God says to us, in our broken world and condition, I still love you. I still want a relationship with you. God said, I'm gonna show you my love. You will see my love. And in fact, when I get done, I will prove my love.
We know of God's presence because we can see his effect in this world for people to say, well, how can you believe in God? You can't see him when you're made out of invisible things. Everything that can be seen is made of these tiny invisible atoms. And the in him, the Messiah, all things hold together.
Apostle Paul's desire for the Colossians is the same as the Lord's desire for us today. God wants you to experience supernatural strength. Why? So you can do amazing miracles now, Paul says. Basically, you and I need supernatural resurrection power or strength to be patient. Oh, how we need to pray for patience, especially in these times of spreading disease.
Someone who said love is a verb, and we know from English class that a verb is an action word. Pastor Ray Bentley says we need to be more verbal. Love is action. It's not just what you say. I believe this doctrine, and I believe this creed, and I ascribe to, you know, this is who I am. But you say that.But it's more true that what you do is what you really believe spread. You see all of these people coming down before the King
God loves us so much. He helps us in the most amazing ways. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. All things. And again, the secret meaning of the Greek word all is all. That's exactly what it means. All things through Christ who strengthens me. Spread. You see all these people coming down before the King.
Paul writes, children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother. Which is the first commandment with promise that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth. And you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her. Now Christ is our example. Now how did this love story begin? By the way, the Bible is a love story. It's very passionate romantic story. Every fairy tale that's ever been written borrows from this story. And you have this this beautiful, attractive, desirable bride who has been stolen, who has been taken advantage of, who has in some ways been imprisoned.
And all of a sudden you realize there are other human beings. And then in particular, the opposite sex as you begin to fall and to fall in love. Do you remember? I think the first step in falling in love again is to start paying attention again. Do you remember, when you first found the love, how much attention you paid with phone calls and with cards and and maybe flowers and expressing your heart with words.Do that again. You want to appreciate your wife. What does that mean? Appreciation. Very simply, appreciation means goes up in value. What does Jesus do with us? He builds us up. That's what the word edify means. He builds us up with his words. So, husbands, build your wives up. Sometimes we can get, you know, two familiar and two critical.
I think that, you know, all, my brothers and sisters need to look carefully at this. Verse 21 says, submitting to one another in the fear of God. So in reality, the foundation of what Paul is now going to share is that both of us submit, but we both submit in different ways.
Marriage is God's idea. It's his design that one man and one woman would promise to him that they'll live together as one for the rest of their lives.But today, we'll see there's more involved in Hannon's ship and procreation. We'll see. Marriage is God's colorful painting of our relationship with him. Let's open our Bibles to my favorite chapter in all of the Bible, Ephesians chapter five. Okay. The title of the message is The Mystery of Marriage. It is a wonderful picture of our relationship between Jesus, who is the heavenly bridegroom, and the church, which is like the bride.
Now that is that's amazing to me. Why is Paul comparing a man who gets drunk with wine and alcohol, with a man or a woman that is filled with his spirit? He is. He's bringing some rather unusual linkage here. But there is a purpose. These two have more in common than what appear on the surface. For instance, both men have a thirst. Both men have a need. Both men have something inside that they need to help with the pressures of life and the anxieties of life and and the complexities of life. And, you know, you ask a guy that drinks, why are you drinking? And he says, because it helps me relax. Takes the edge off and it makes me calm down.
The foundation of Ephesians. And by the way, it is not only the foundation of Ephesians. It is God's priority throughout the entire Bible. And this is how God has revealed himself to us and how we have a relationship with him. It begins with what God has done for you. It begins with God's gift to you of salvation, forgiveness, eternal life, the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The instant the instant light comes on the scene. Darkness is chased away. Every time you turn on the light switch, you see a powerful spiritual principle demonstrated right before your eyes.
Our goal as believers should be spiritual growth. The process often reveals some surprising things growing spiritually is a greater revelation of just how big a sinner that I really am, and God's grace is deeper than I had imagined. His mercy is far wider than I could have ever dreamed, and as I begin to experience that now, I have a greater capacity to share that same love, grace, forgiveness toward others spread.
To put on the mind of Christ we have to put off the mind of the world, and we need to start thinking heavenly thoughts and heavenly minded ways. And they're very, very different. This world says, looking out for number one and be aggressive and dominate. And Jesus said, blessed are the poor in spirit, the ones who feel like they're just bankrupt, spiritually blessed.
There's books on how to dress for success and all the rest, but it really doesn't change who you are on the inside. It's a presentation. But now Paul here tells us that there is another kind of wardrobe. It's a heavenly wardrobe, or new and spiritual clothing that really makes a new spread.
There's an old saying. When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you're gone, the world will cry and you will rejoice. Today, pastor Ray brings us some insight on living a life that touches others. We are studying Ephesians with a focus on maturing spiritually
You start with this little tiny group 2000 years ago, and today you see that because of the pastors, prophets, evangelists and pastors and teachers, there are now 2.5 billion people. 2000 years later, who believe that Jesus is not dead in some tomb in the Middle East, but he actually rose from the dead that he is alive.That's a pretty aggressive growth campaign. Today, pastor Ray points out how the Lord structured the church to reach the world just that way. Let's open our Bibles to Ephesianschapter four. And we're now in the second section of Ephesians, where Paul is saying, I therefore the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you, verse one, to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.
You want to make peace. Show the gentleman house of God. Not that God's running around. He's angry and he's fed up. And he can't wait to judge everybody. That's that's not God. That's not the one I believe in. I believe in the one who said he takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.
God knows our needs and meets them. What are the top three things you would like out of life? I want love. I want to love and be loved. I want peace. Peace of mind. Peace of heart. And I want joy. Well, isn't it interesting? The three top things that human beings crave and desire are the very first three fruit of the spirit when we're reconciled to him.
God loves you. He loves you, and he never tires of telling you so. For God to express all the love in his heart toward you is going to take forever. You will never get to the end. He will never get done. He will never finish pulling out of his heart. How he feels about you and all that he has done for you through His Son Jesus Christ spread.
when we turn from our sins and turn to God. When you turn around and you face God, who is love, and God who is light. The number one comforting thing is I'm not alone anymore. Number two, this is a process. The fear that because of the things and the hurts and the wounds is a process of God removing fear and replacing it with his love.
verses 15 through 23 of Ephesians, chapter one, this letter he is writing Paul's circumstances. While he is writing, he is in prison. This is one of the letters that are called the prison letters of the Apostle Paul. You would never know.You would never dream, from his letter that he was in prison. He doesn't talk about, oh, it's so hard. And I'm struggling and I'm suffering, and they beat me up and and the rations are not enough, and and I'm cold and miserable. Oh, please pray for me. But in reality, we find a very different example. Whereas you would think that the Ephesians loving Paul so much would be worried about Paul.
Paul started the church of Ephesus. It was about the year 53 A.D.. It was on his third and final missionary journey that he came to this area called Ephesus. He stayed in Ephesus for about two years. Now that was very unusual. Most of the time Paul would be a place a few weeks, a few months, get a few believers and essentially start a house church.
Wouldn't it have been a thrill to experience the Garden of Eden creation just the way God intended? Well, one day the earth will return to its former glory. It's part of God's plan for the last days and beyond. And today, pastor Ray takes us to Ephesians and reveals some of those surprising facts. Okay, the title of the message is Unsolved Mysteries.
in him, in Jesus we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace. That's the best gift that we could receive, as it were forgiven, were washed, and were cleansed from our sins just by simple faith which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence.
God's grace is his unmerited favor. More than that, it is a glorious grace. There is a glory. God is glorious, and Jesus is glorious. Isaiah says that when you actually see Jesus, his brightness will be so great, the sun will disappear. You won't even be able to see the sun anymore. That's how bright he will be. So that's the glory.
There's a lot of bad news in the world. I think you would agree with that. And. One of the reasons I like going to church, other than the fact that I'm the pastor, I'm supposed to be there. is that you get to actually hear some good news? Well, the disciples 2000 years ago, it was Easter was not the first one was not and is not a good time.
There are four different versions. Stories of the resurrection. Each one has its own unique little perspective. Luke was a doctor. He was a physician, and he brings out more of the compassion of Jesus than than any of the gospel writers, probably because that's the physician's heart that Luke himself had. You know, the story, about Jesus and about, Friday and the crucifixion.
I like that I like being chosen by God in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. That's your destiny. His holiness. So you might as well get used to holiness now. And, you know, yield to it and desire it. it is who we are, who Christ is.
What do you mean, you chose me? It's a secret. You didn't choose me, I chose you, and this is a secret. Really? For the family of God. It's not something that you go out and you herald to the world, but, the very fact that you are here, at church and ready to worship the Lord and studying the Bible and ready to share in communion as a believer in Jesus Christ, is because God chose you before you chose him.
And we will find out later in this letter that actually, what you think of as the ministry in preaching and teaching and Sunday school and missions. the real work of the ministry is what happens outside of the church. It's not what happens in here. This is all the preparation, for the work of the ministry. And the work of the ministry happens when we go home, when we go to school, when we go to our occupations and and from God's perspective, there is really no secular calling.
the word saint means holy. And so now that's kind of interesting, because when it says that you're a saint, if you're a believer in Christ, it is saying that you are holy. I want later this week for you to really think about it for just a moment and go, are you kidding me? I'm a saint. How could I be a saint?
John McKay, the former president of Princeton Theological Seminary, wrote to this book of Ephesians, I owe my life. And he went on to explain that in July of 1903, when he was a boy of 14, he experienced through reading the book of Ephesians what he says as a boyish rapture in the Highland hills.
And the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead as far as Dan. So here's what's happened. Moses has led them from Egypt and the Passover and across the wilderness, and they're now at the edge of the Promised Land, which is the Jordan River. But Moses is not allowed to go in, because there was a time in the wilderness where Moses got angry.
So we are now in the last month of the 40th year. That's the book of Deuteronomy is about 30. It covers 30 days. Literally, Moses is just a few weeks away from climbing a mountain and dying and the Lord burying him. But before he goes, he gives this last great speech, exhortation to the new generation that had all been born during the last 40 years to their parents who, you know, died in the wilderness.
Moses says, give ear, oh heavens, and I will speak. And here on earth the words of my mouth. Let my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, as the rain drops on the tender herb. As showers on the grass. For I proclaim the name of the Lord Yahweh. Ascribe greatness to God. He is the rock.
But life, all of life, is a school teaching us about the character of God. All of the things that you and I will experience, all the things that we will go through in life, have, have this purpose in mind. God wants you to know what he is like. He wants to reveal to you through your circumstances to come through for you, to bless you, to come through your circumstances so that you go, wow, God, you are amazing.
And I just want to say this morning that I think this is a very appropriate message for our time. So there's a word for us, the Lord, through Moses, is challenging them and us two things. And that's what we're going to hear this morning to walk in our identity and secondly, in our authority. Moses, in this speech and the book of Deuteronomy, is exhorting a new generation.
Really? How many of you would love to even be more happy than you are right now? Okay, well, here it is. It's interesting that as we get into this and what it talks about is actually a recipe for happiness. Okay, so we're going to be following along in the, in the what I call life lesson. So here's the first life lesson.
So if a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and they have borne him children, both the loved and the unloved. And if the firstborn son is of her who is unloved, then it shall be on the day he bequeathed his possessions to his sons, that he must not bestow firstborn status on the son of the loved wife, in preference to the son of the unloved, the true firstborn.But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his. So this is God's word, God's law. It is given to Moses. And now the divine Supreme creator of the universe is adjudicating a man and a situation that he's brought himself into with more than one wife and one that he really loves.
Natural birth. In other words, you're born as a human being in the flesh. That's good. You're made in God's image, but it's not enough. Jesus said, you must be born. What? Again, there's another birth, a second birth that really counts for eternity. It's a spiritual birth and a relationship with the Lord. So where did I get this from?
But what does this all mean for us today in our lives? So here's my first, you know, current life application for what we're about to read. And it's this every one of us is accountable to Jesus, the supreme judge. And so we're going to talk about our accountability unto the Lord. We begin in chapter 16 verse 18. So this is Moses encouraging a new generation that's just about ready to cross the Jordan River and finally enter into the Promised Land.
It's called Destroy the Idols. This was a command that God gave to the children of Israel. 3000 years ago. So chapter 11. Deuteronomy chapter 11. back to verse 22. The whole book of Deuteronomy is the final 30 days or the last month of their 40 year journey. They are literally on the edge of the Jordan River. Once the children of Israel cross on to the other side, they're in the Promised Land, which God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So Moses is again reminding these kids, these next generation, to be careful to obey the commandments which I command you to do, which he received from God. To love the Lord your God. To walk in his ways, to hold fast to him.
And God gave a command. Every idol must be destroyed. The children of Israel had a long history with idols. And this was a very powerful, important truth that was given at that time. So chapter 11, Deuteronomy, chapter 11, back to verse 22. And again, I mentioned for those who maybe knew that, Deuteronomy, of course, there was no New Testament at the time of Jesus, 2000 years ago.
So we're going to, you know, we're dropping in life lessons as we go through this study. So here's the first life lesson, and then we'll read the scriptures that go along with it. Jesus, the Messiah becomes our. Because in fact, that's the title of the message. Well, that's a strange title of the message when it comes actually out of our text, Deuteronomy chapter seven, verse 12 says this, then it shall come to pass.
And we're going to find Moses praying because he wanted to see the kingdom come in the Promised Land. so verse 23, he's he's talking to the 2.1 million Israelis there. And Moses says, then I pleaded with the Lord of that time, saying, oh, Lord God, you have begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand for what God is there in heaven or on earth, who can do anything like your works and your mighty deeds? I pray, let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, those pleasant mountains and Lebanon.
We're going to kind of overview a few highlights from Deuteronomy chapters three through seven. Okay. So, we're going to start in chapter three. And, you know, I've been dropping kind of the life lessons as we go along
They've come all this way. He says in verse two. This is fascinating. It is 11 days journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea. Now it came to pass in the 40th year and the 11th month, on the first day of the month that Moses spoke to the children of Israel, according to all that the Lord had given him his commandments to them, after he had killed Sihon, the king of the Amorites, and dwelt in Ashbourne, and then og, king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in dry.
Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm. The successful warrior is the average man with laser like focus. Today, even better encouragement from the mouth of Moses, inspired by God Himself. Let's open our Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy. Here's an interesting little fact I was just reminded of in the New Testament in the Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as Jesus, you know, went around and teaching and doing miracles and everything else.
Amazingly. And we're actually at the end of the 40 year wilderness journey of Israel. We've come to the end, and we kind of get kind of the last bits and pieces of the story. Now, what's interesting is, though, we have one more book about the wilderness, and it's quite a long book. It's called The Book of Deuteronomy. That's where we're headed next.
The guy's name is Phineas, but the subject matter is about holiness and intimacy and intimacy with God. God doesn't want you to just know about him. God doesn't want you to just learn about him. God wants you to explore perience him. So let's look into the story beginning with verse one. He says, Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab.
The subject that the guy's name is Phineas. But the subject matter this morning is about holiness and intimacy. Intimacy with God. God doesn't want you to just know about him. God doesn't want you to just learn about him. God wants you to experience him. He has sent his spirit into us, and he's generally not even just called the spirit, but he is specifically called over and over again the Holy Spirit because in the presence of God as God, I don't even know how to describe it.
Numbers 22 Verse 30So the donkey said to Balan, he starts counseling. They want scrap. You see all these people coming down before the king. Lift your face. Jesus is coming to the song. Sing along. Let it bring. Welcome to Maranatha radio with Pastor Rayburn. Maranatha! Bringing the message of Christ soon return the whole gospel to the whole world. If God could communicate through a pillar of fire or a pillar of cloud, why couldn't he speak through an animal?
Here the wise men traveled far from the east, because they saw the star of a king that had been born in the Holy Land. Well, it just so happens that that the original prophecy for the Star of Bethlehem is in our passage, the Book of Numbers. Okay. There's two names that I want to bring to your attention, because they're the main characters of the story. We're just about to read the one, main character's name. He is a prophet, as you see here in your notes. The enigma of a prophet named Balam. Everybody say Balam. Balam is a prophet from ancient Mesopotamia. The place between the two rivers, the ancient part of the world. And he plays a major role at this time. In fact, as we shall see.
And then God says, all right, Moses, that's it, because he's disobedient. Now you are not going to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land. This is kind of at the end of the 40 years, and they're right on the border. They're ready to go in. And then, you know, Moses does one thing and he can't go in.It's kind of a mysterious story or perplexing story in some ways. But I want you to notice the title of the message is Not about Moses, though. That's the bulk of the story. There's actually someone else who is the and we're going to land on and is the major theme of the story I want to share with you and so this is new for me.
And then God says, all right, Moses, that's it. Because he's disobedient. Now, you are not going to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land. This is kind of at the end of the 40 years, and they're right on the border. They're ready to go in. And then, you know, Moses does one thing and he can't go in.
hopefully want to learn from Korra's rebellion. You know, mistakes that we do not want to go down that road. Okay, so, Korra, the guy's name is Korra. Everybody say Korra called Korra's rebellion. There really is a divine order in every everything God does. God loves. Obviously. Just look at planet Earth and the nature, you know, mankind, the animal kingdom, the flowers, rivers and streams, the animals and creatures, and let alone the vast universe God loves is very creative.And he loves diversity. But there is within the spiritual world, there is there divine order there. Even in nature, there is divine order laws. You might call them, principles. We call the law of gravity and the coming into an understanding of that. So there is an order that comes into everything God does. What we discover is the nation Israel.
I'm going to mostly be in numbers 13, and at the end I'm going to share a little bit at the beginning of numbers 14. I'm going to actually give you the life lessons through the message. So as we begin here, it is the purpose of God for us to mature in our walk of faith. So just as you were born physically as a little baby, and then you go through being a little child and adolescent and then a young adult, and then finally into the full maturity as a human being.
The lesson we need to learn today. Victory does not come from our swords, but it comes from the hand of the Lord. That was Israel's strength is that it is always God, and it is all from God, and therefore only when we recognize the source of our success is God can we actually continue being successful.
So the Lord is hovering over our chaos, ready to speak words of life into our messy world. God is here. God is ready to move in. And in fact, and you know, as as I would describe it, we are in the presence of God in a very special way. Jesus said, of course, every child of God has the Holy Spirit within them.
Let's open our Bibles to the Book of Numbers, chapters eight through 12, and look at the exciting title of the message today. Where it all went wrong. Everything up until now, actually, you know, we're going to go. I'm going to highlight eight through 12, but I'm going to pull some scriptures out of that section. But this is the section of scriptures we're going to be going through.
so chapter eight, we're going to start with a good part of the story. They're journeying in the wilderness. And when they journey, they they need to bring with them the furniture that is in the tabernacle, because it's a earthly replica Marvel shadow of the real throne of God in heaven. So it starts by talking about the menorah.
It's a blessing. Your identity, spiritual, a body. He's got it all there for us. Now what's interesting is so I encourage you to do that today. Come clean, come honest, get help and walk in the holiness of God. Notice at the end of his ministry, Jesus declared himself a Nazarite when he said in Matthew 26 verse 29, but I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my father's kingdom. And walking in the closeness with the Lord begins to release the glory that already dwells within and lets the river begin to flow. As you confess, you have washed in the blood and grow, mature in Christ. Amen. So let me just close with John 17 verse 26. Let's read this. And I have declared to them your name, and will declare it, that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.
We're going to highlight some things from chapters four, five, and six. I won't be able to read, you know, dive into every detail, but I'm going to give you some of the highlights. Kind of the 30,000ft view. Okay. Chapter four, beginning in verse one, says, then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, take a census of the sons of Kossuth from among the children of Levi by their families, by their fathers house, from 30 years old and above, even the 50 years old, all who entered the service to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting where they would meet with God.
The second lesson the wilderness teaches that God is in the midst of us. If you could have a if you were to look down, let's say, from a God's eye view or from a drone's view of Israel, God said, okay, three tribes. So God's in the middle. And then three tribes camp to the north, three to the south, three to the east, three to the west.
It's called The Book of Numbers, and it's all about being in the wilderness. You guys excited? You ready? I'm going to paint a picture for you. In this sermon this morning. And we're going to be painting a picture on the imagination. God uses the imagination. It's a place where the things that are invisible, God speaks to us, that we can then imaginatively realize.I want you to take a census. And and really, what God is building is an army. And so numbers. Why did God spend so much time? This is going to be in the Word of God, read by people for thousands of years, and people that are not alive anymore that we don't know. Why would God include their names?
And wives, respect, submit, listen to honor and reverence your husbands, even as the church, as the bride does Christ. And then Ephesians 521 puts that into this context, submitting one to another, and the fear of the Lord and Jesus teaching true love is not being the boss and having somebody do what you want. But the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is what the servant of all. And there's Jesus alive, with the nail prints in his hands. And and yet he is resurrected and he doesn't understand, and he's trying to apologize. And Jesus says, Peter, do you love me? Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Oh, okay, then feed my sheep. Then he asks him again the second time. Peter, do you love me?
So when we come now to Ephesians chapter six, beginning in verse five, we come to an interesting passage beginning in verse five. Paul says, now bond servants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling and sincerity of heart, as to Christ, not with eye service as men pleasers, but as bond servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with good will, doing service as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. How would you prepare a meal and serve the meal? If Jesus were going to eat it? You know, as a pastor now, there it is. And you like it. I don't know, you know.
Ephesians 6Jesus says. Yeah, just like that. Only just the opposite. Today, from the writings of a bond servant in Ephesians. Pastor Ray brings us a good look at humility and servanthood. Let's open our Bibles to Ephesians chapter six. Okay, Paul, we've been in a section where the rubber meets the road. It's a very practical section. After beginning with all these beautiful truths of who we are and our identity in Christ and our eternal future as being accepted in the beloved. The Bible does not condone slavery. It acknowledges slavery that it was there and part of the world then. And unfortunately, even this so modern 21st century in parts of the world, it is still with us today. So what? What about the gospel? What about Christianity? What about slavery? And what do we do with this passage where Paul says, bond servants be obedient to those who are your masters?
Ephesians 6Now, there are two reasons for this call to honor and obey our parents. The first is there is a natural law of children obeying their parents, that God is just kind of written into the genetic code of of human existence. Or as Paul puts it, for this is right. And I think that we would generally agree. And it's interesting that essentially every culture and every society is built on the premise that children ought to obey their parents.
Ephesians 6Paul writes, children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother. Which is the first commandment, with a promise that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth. And you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Ephesians 5:22-33Okay, I married, I made this commitment, but I don't even know really what it means or how to keep it. I have my own needs and maybe even look at a spouse says, you're going to meet my needs and it fails. So what about a Christian man? A Christian man is a man who he doesn't just sacrifice his life out of nothing.
Ephesians 5:22-33By the way, marriage is a religious thing. It is a spiritual thing. God is the originator of it. The world is not always gone along with it. In fact, when Paul was writing, to the church of Ephesus 2000 years ago, marriage was a lot different than it is today. Now, as it is today. At least until recently, the idea has predominantly, been captured of the idea of a Christian marriage
Ephesians 5:18This is one of the most fascinating verses to me in the in the New Testament. Paul says, and do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation or excess, but be filled with the spirit. Now that is that's amazing to me. Why is Paul comparing a man who gets drunk with wine and alcohol, with a man or a woman that is filled with his spirit?
Paul says, once you have been bathed, then saturated in the love and the grace of God. Now we are free to begin exploring. What does it really mean to walk with God? What does it mean to have my heart transform my desires, my interests, my thinking, my emotions? everything about me. What does it mean to walk with God?Now I am learning how to love others. And that I've been brought into this marvelous and wonderful family. Then, beginning in verses eight through 14, Paul says, to walk with God also means to walk in the light. In verse eight he says, for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light.
Neither filthiness nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather the giving of thanks. So here's what it means to not walk in love. Now Paul was writing to a church that was in the midst of a Roman pagan culture, a very sensual culture, and a and a culture that was, you know, beyond even where we are now, although it seems like our that we are moving, we never seem to stay the same. So if you live only for the outward things, the problem is it never satisfies, and it never obviously fills the hole that's on the inside. So you're caught in a trap. That which initially satisfied me doesn't do it anymore. And so now I need more. And so the accumulation of things or the vulnerability to addictions or whatever in the flesh, it just grows exponentially out until finally you're lost.
Beginning in verse one of chapter five, Paul says, therefore be imitators of God as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma. So he says, therefore be imitators of God. Now therefore, what is there for?And that's what Paul is saying, that as as Christians, you know, being a Christian is, well, let's say what it is not it's not being a religious person as opposed to a non-religious person. Being religious doesn't really mean anything, at least especially to God. It doesn't mean that now I follow a system of rules and morality and, and so forth.
Cleaning out the old clothes and the closet. And I've given here from these verses 17 or 19 for words that typify the what the worldly wardrobe has to offer. And I'm obviously talking about now on the inside. Number one hardness. Here's here the condition of our heart. The Bible says, is a hardening of the heart. And there is a certain logic to it, because life is full of pain and we don't like pain. Let's read this scripture out loud together. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. You need to change the way you think, and we need to start thinking heavenly thoughts and heavenly minded ways.
What are clothes for? Well, there to cover up what needs to be covered up and to make us presentable. It's the same dynamic for our heavenly wardrobe, as we'll find out today. We're studying the words of Paul the Apostle about the spiritual clothing we each must wear.Ephesians 4
There's an old saying. When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you're gone, the world will cry and you will rejoice. Today, pastor Ray brings us some insight on living a life that touches others. Ephesians 4:7
Imagine being a part of a small Bible study group, and your study leader says his vision is that over 2 billion people would one day be a part of the group. That's a pretty aggressive growth campaign. Today, pastor Ray points out how the Lord structured the church to reach the world in just that way. Ephesians 4
One of the Lord's great desires is that brothers and sisters live in peace with one another. More than that is, desire is of all would have peace with God. Well, today, pastor Ray points out where peace is ultimately found. Ephesians 4:1
Today we'll focus on how we can sit, walk and stand our relationship with the Lord. We'll see. It's a progression healthy believers will experience as they grow in the knowledge of God and His Word. It's all part of taking what we believe and letting it affect how we live each day. Ephesians 4:1
The creator of the heavens and earth keeps his eye on you and me. Not only that, he loves us so much, he allowed his only begotten son to die so that we wouldn't. Today, pastor Ray takes us to Paul's counsel in Ephesians, where we examine a prayer by the Apostle for all believers. Ephesians 3:14-21
Today, pastor Ray takes us to the words of Paul the Apostle while locked in a damp, dark Roman prison cell. He prayed for you and me. He prayed that we would have the same perspective he had on trials and tribulations. That's our objective today. Pastor Ray takes us to one of Paul's prison epistles. Ephesians 3:14-21
The whole gospel to the whole world was the hope of Paradise. Ripped from the grasp of the disciples when their Messiah died on the cross. They may have thought so for a little while. Today, pastor Ray shows us how the death of Christ was necessary. It ushered in a new covenant, a new agreement between God and manEphesians 3:1
When he was locked in a prison cell in Rome, Paul wrote some tremendous words of encouragement and strength for his fellow believers. Today we'll get a glimpse at God's plan for both Jew and Gentile. At the time, a revolutionary concept that both would be included. Ephesians 3:1
Jesus is the rock on which we stand. And if there's disparity or inconsistency between what he says and what we do. We need to change. Ephesians 2:18
You know God has crafted some awesome scenery from the Grand Canyon to the Swiss Alps, from the tropical rainforests of Brazil to the serene austerity of the Saharan desert. But just imagine what God has handcrafted for the heavenly city of Jerusalem. We'll get a sneak peek on today's program Ephesians 2:18
Today we'll see how we're brought together, brought near to the Lord through the shed blood of Jesus. Pastor Ray titled today's study Made nigh by the blood. What's the significance? We'll find out as pastor Ray beginsEphesians 2:8
Oftentimes, we're known more for what we're against than what we're for, more for what we refrain from doing than what we set out to do. Well, today, pastor Ray shows us how we can be doers of the word and show the world with a love of God.Ephesians 2:8-10
Our needs and desires come as no surprise to God. We can't forget that he created us. What's more, he knows how to meet those needs and he knows how needs that go unmet temporarily in build character. And that shapes us into who he wants us to be. More on that today from pastor Ray. Ephesians 2
We all want to be loved even though we can sometimes feel so unlovable. Yet God loved you enough to send his only son to give his life so that God can spend eternity with you. It's the greatest love story ever. But we'll see that love is more poignant when we realize he loved us when we were his enemyEphesians 2
If we choose to, we can add another fear to our collection. If you follow the news, listen to a small talk at work, or just speak with a neighbor, you can find something new to bring anxiety. Today, pastor Ray says God has a better idea. Trust in him and his love and providence will sustain you.Ephesians 2:1-3
If you had a treasured antique, you might have it appraised, but the only real way to know its worth is by the price someone is actually willing to pay. Well, to God, you're worth the price. Jesus paid at Calvary. Your worth is beyond measure. More on that today. As pastor Ray points out, that we're God's treasure.Ephesians 1:15-23
We sometimes expect this life to be a bed of roses, but often feel nothing but the thorns. As Erma Bombeck put it, if life is a bowl of cherries, what am I doing in the pits? Today, as pastor Ray continues our studies in Ephesians, we'll get good counsel for tough times from Paul, the prayer warrior. Ephesians 1:15-23
Wouldn't it have been a thrill to experience the Garden of Eden creation just the way God intended? Well, one day the earth will return to its former glory. It's part of God's plan for the last days and beyond. And today, pastor Ray takes us to the book of Ephesians and reveals some of those surprising facts. Ephesians 1:67-9
The disciples have run every which way. Finally he shows up to them and for 40 days he shows them, look, I'm alive. It's really me. I'm alive, I am risen! So they gather together. And now what is on the disciples minds? Acts 1:6
God knew from the beginning of time that we would fail, that we would sin. And so his plan from the very start was to redeem us, to rescue us from the death sentence of our sins. And today, pastor Ray brings us the whole story of God's salvation plan and how we each must respond. Ephesians 1:6
We have a spiritual debt problem. The wages of our sin is death, and we can't afford that. Today we'll see Jesus paid the price himself and purchased our eternal life. Foundational teachings coming up.Ephesians 1:3
Jesus died for sinners. Which sinners? Even the worst of them. Pastor Ray Bentley says, that's how great is our Savior's love. God has never refused a man or woman, boy or girl from any nation, language, kindred or tribe was come to him and said, please sir, I am a sinner. I accept the love of your son. I want to go to heaven. He has never refused anyone.Ephesians 1
Coming up today, pastor Ray Bentley brings us a primer on prayer from the book of Ephesians. If you've ever wanted to learn how to pray better or I would have loved to be able to spend time, let's say, with the Apostle Paul, how does he pray? What is it like to pray? You read Ephesians. You'll feel like you've been with Paul while in prayer. Ephesians 1
Tomorrow We will take a break from our study in Luke and pivot to a study in the book of Ephesians!Maybe you have questions for the unusual predicament you're in. Well, today, pastor Ray helps you bring those doubts, those questions, those concerns to the Lord. All right, Luke, chapter one, beginning in verse 26.
It's a mystery how Jesus could be fully God and fully man. It doesn't seem possible, but with God all things are possible. But as humanity is traced back to someone we'll talk about today, a young teenage girl gave birth to the one who would save her from her sin. With remarkable spiritual insight from Luke. Luke chapter one, beginning in verse 26.
The Bible says without faith it is impossible to please God. But God isn't holding back his plans and purposes until we decide to believe. Can you imagine how little God could do if he was always waiting for someone's faith to catch up? We'll discuss that today in our study of Luke Luke chapter one. Luke 1:1-25
It's never too late to turn over a new leaf to make positive changes.And today, pastor Ray helps us see how our plans and prayers and dreams can be a part of our walk with the Lord. It's one of the essentials will uncover as pastor Ray launches an in-depth study today in the Gospel of Luke. Luke 1:1-25
Passover SpecialGod wants believers to be holy, to be set aside for his kingdom purposes. Today, pastor Ray points out the practical meaning of holiness. Let's open our Bibles to the gospel of Mark chapter 14. We're going to look at the Last Supper that Jesus had with the disciples and talk about Jesus as our Passover.
Passover SpecialThe Bible is full of fascinating insight. Some is obvious from the text, some is less obvious because it lies just below the surface. Today, pastor Ray helps us dig a little deeper into the joys celebration of Passover. He'll explain how it paints a picture of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. Here's pastor Ray to begin. Let's open our Bibles to the gospel of Mark, chapter 14.
God could have disseminated his message of love anywhere he wanted, but he chose people. And to the people he chose. He gives them power to be his ambassadors. And today, Pastor Ray points out, along with his charge to share his love, he protects those in his service until their earthly time is up. Mark 16:12
Important facts are often backed up with confirmation. Reporters should try to secure multiple sources for testimony is often confirmed with multiple witnesses. Well, today, Pastor Ray points out our forgiveness of sin was paid for by Jesus crucifixion, and it was confirmed when Jesus rose again. Mark Chapter 16
Jesus lived the life of a pauper. We read of no real earthly possessions. He didn't live paycheck to paycheck. He lived meal to meal. And yet, after his death, his body was laid in a rich man's tomb. What's the significance of that and why that gesture of generosity? Well, we'll find out today. Mark 15:42-47
We all know that Jesus paid for our sins on the cross, but that sacrifice was surrounded by circumstances and symbolism that yield great insights into God's plan and the Lord's care for you and me. Glad you're along for our studies in the Gospel of Mark today and our careful study of the Crucifixion.Mark 15:33
Is Jesus some ivory towers savior who rules from on high but doesn't know the plight of the common man? No. He came to Earth as a common man and experienced real pain like we do. Even to the point of being brutally beaten and crucified today. What encouragement and reassurance that offers. Mark 15:21
We refer to Jesus as Lord. It's as if it's a second name or a term of endearment. Actually, if Jesus is Lord, He's in charge. Calling Jesus, Lord means we acquiesce. We yield to His leadership and direction. And today, Pastor Ray points out Jesus invited that devotion. Mark 15:21-32
Suffering and injustice is painful. Plotting revenge or retribution somehow pacifies our flesh. We want to settle the score. But was that Jesus approach? Pastor races. It was just the opposite. Jesus taught us to forgive our enemies, to bless them. We'll see the benefits of that approach today. Mark Chapter 15:1-20
Many of us can think of certain court cases that were highly irregular. Certain facets of the proceeding called into question whether the outcome was just inappropriate. Today, Pastor Ray points out those same kinds of concerns hung over the trial of Jesus like dark thunderclouds. Mark 14