Faith in the Valley: Recent Episodes
Mark Jones
Faith in the Valley is a Christ-centered weekly broadcast from Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor Maryland. Its purpose is to present Jesus of the Bible. We hope that believers will be encouraged and that those are still unsure about Jesus will understand what the Bible has to say about God the Son.
Possibly the worst lie ever told is the lie that says you need to do a lot of good things to go to heaven. That's a lie.
In this episode you find out what the truth is.
This message was preached at Wakefield Valley Bible Church on February 19 2023.
Visit the church at www.wakefieldbible.org.
Everyone was born dead - spiritually dead. But God, because of His mercy and love has made alive those who believe.
This lesson was taught on February 12, 2023 at Wakefield Valley Bible Church.
Please visit www.wakefieldbible.org for more information.
This is our mid-week study.
1 John 5 brings all of it together - the obedience tests, the love tests, and the doctrine tests.
Please visit www.wakefieldbible.org for more information.
There is one thing above all others that God wants you to know. What is it? I share it in this episode.
This message was preached on February 5, 2023.
If you want to know more about the church please visit www.wakefieldbible.org.
A time is coming when Jesus will judge believers. In that moment, you need not fear. Listen and find out how.
This the mid-week devotional from 1 John.
To learn more about the church please visit www.wakefieldbibl@yahoo.com.
Change your church in this way and people will notice.
This message was preached at Wakefield Valley Bible Church on January 27, 2023.
For more information on the church please visit www.wakefieldbible.org.
Praise God for His blessings!
In this lesson we look at the first 14 verses of Ephesians One. And in these verses, we find out how much God has blessed us.
This message was preached January 22, 2023 at Wakefield Valley Bible Church.
Please visit www.wakefieldbible.org for more information.
Here are two important questions.
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Can a doctrinally sound church be loveless? The answer is "yes."
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How then can a doctrinally sound church become lovelless? The answer is found in this episode.
This message was preached at Wakefield Valley Bible Church on January 15, 2023.
To learn more about the church please visit, www.wakefieldbible.org.
New Years Day in 2023 is a time to reflect. It is a time to look back at 2022 and see where God walked with you. And it is a time to look ahead and to anticipate where God will be with you this year.
This message was preached at Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, MD on January 1st 2023.
Please visit www.wakefieldbible.org for more information.
Who is the answer to our every question? Who meets our every need?
In this special Christmas episdoe we explore these questions.
This message was preached at Wakefield Valley Bible Church on December 25, 2022.
Please visit www.wakefieldbible.org for more information.
There are four kinds of peace:
Inner Peace
Interpersonal Peace
World Peace
Peace with God
One of these is essential in order to have the other three. Listen and find out which one it is.
This message was preached on December 18, 2022, at Wakefield Valley Bible Church.
Visit www.wakefieldbible.org for more information about the church.
Why are some Christians joyless? In this message I give you a few reasons. But more importantly, I give you three steps to restore your joy.
This message was preached at Wakefield Valley Bible Church, in New Windsor, Maryland on December 11, 2022.
Please visit our website, www.wakefieldbible.org for more information.
There are people who wish to destroy your faith and your church. They are false teachers or prophets. 1 John 4:1-6 tells us how to identify them.
This was taught on December 7th (Remember Pearl Harbor Day!) 2022.
For more information about the church visit www.WakefieldBible.org
"I believe! Help me with my unbelief!" are words that all of us have said. We believe in Jesus but lack faith all the same.
How can you deal with this? How can you have faith when you seem to lack faith?
There are two simple steps. Listen to find out.
This message was preached on December 4, 2022 are Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, MD 21157.
Visit www.WakefieldBible.org for more information.
We study the first theme of Advent, Hope.
How can you find hope in a hopeless situation? Psalms 130 and 13 help us find hope.
This message was preached at Wakefield Valley Bible Church on November 27, 2022.
Please visit the church website, www.wakefieldbible.org for more informaiton.
This lesson is a series of contrasts. Love versus Hate, Murder versus Self-Sacrifice.
This lesson was taught on November 16, 2022 at our prayer meeting.
This is our first lesson on the spiritual discipline of Evangelism.
This message was preached on November 13, 2022.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
This is our mid-week Bible study.
We are currently in 1 John 3:4-10.
Please visit the church website for more information.
WakefieldBible.org
Does God expect us to attend church? What is church - is it a flock, a building, or a family? And if you designed a worship service, what would you include?
This is the preaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on November 6, 2022.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
What did Jesus mean when He told the woman, "You must worship God in spirit and in truth"?
This is the preaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on October 30, 2022.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
This is our mid-week Bible study. We are studying 1 John.
Today we will look at 1 John 2:28-3:3
This is our first lesson on the Spiritual Discipline of Worship.
This is the preaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on October 23, 2022.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
There are five prayers that God will always answer. Here they are.
This is our third lesson on the spiritual discipline of prayer.
This is the preaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on October 14, 2022.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
Here are two tools, weapons even, that believers can use to defeat false teachers, antichrists.
This is our mid-week Bible study.
Please visit www.WakefieldBible.org for more information.
How should you pray? Jesus teaches a very simple method.
This is our second lesson on the spiritual discipline of prayer.
This is the preaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This is our fourth message looking at the Spiritual Disciplines.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on October 9, 2022.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
There are three ways an antichrist will deny Jesus.
- They say He is not the Christ
- They say He is not God the Son
- They say He did not come as fully God and fully man.
But these false teachings do not stand against the truth.
- Because Jesus is the Christ
- Jesus is God the Son
- Jesus is fully God and fully man.
This is our mid-week Bible study.
When Jesus stands before the throne and prays for you, He secures your salvation.
This is our first lesson on the spiritual discipline of prayer.
This is the preaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This is our third message looking at the Spiritual Disciplines.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on October 2, 2022.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
This is a redo of episode 96.
What happens when you use the truth to confront heretics? They flee.
Continue to stand on the truth of Jesus Christ.
What happens when we stand firmly on the truth? People leave.
This is our mid-week study.
Currently we are studying 1 John.
Please check out the church at WakefieldBible.org.
This is the preaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This is our third message looking at the Spiritual Disciplines.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on September 25, 2022.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
This is the preaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This is our second message looking at the Spiritual Disciplines.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on September 18, 2022.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
We study the three stages of life and how God is always there.
This is our mid-week devotional.
Currently we are studying 1 John.
Please check out the church at WakefieldBible.org.
This is the preaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This is our first message looking at the spiritual disciplines.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on September 11, 2022.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
We study the three stages of life and how God is always there.
This is our mid-week devotional.
Currently we are studying 1 John.
Please check out the church at WakefieldBible.org.
We study the three stages of life and how God is always there.
This is our mid-week devotional.
Currently we are studying 1 John.
Please check out the church at WakefieldBible.org.
This is the 3rd and final teaching on how to be a good neighbor.
This is the preaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on August 21, 2022.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
This is our mid-week devotional.
Currently we are studying 1 John.
Please check out the church at WakefieldBible.org.
This is our mid-week devotional.
Currently we are studying 1 John.
Please check out the church at WakefieldBible.org.
Why do we need a go-between? Who stands between us and God?
What did Jesus mean when He commanded you to love your neighbor.
This is the preaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on August 14, 2022.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
Why do we need a go-between? Who stands between us and God?
What did Jesus mean when He commanded you to love your neighbor.
This is the preaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on August 14, 2022.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
This is our mid-week devotional.
Currently we are studying 1 John.
Please check out the church at WakefieldBible.org.
Why do we need a go-between? Who stands between us and God?
In this episode you will learn how to relate to your weird neighbors.
This is the preaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on August 7, 2022.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen
Why do we need a go-between? Who stands between us and God?
In this episode you will learn that Jesus is your mediator. He is your go-between.
This is the preaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on July 31, 2022.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen
1 John 1:8-9
Something amazing happens when you agree with God about your sin.
Please visit the church at www.WakefieldBible.org for more information about the church.
What is our relationship with the Law?
In this episode we will discover the improtance of God's commands in our salvation.
This is the preaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on July 24, 2022.
Today we learn where suffering comes from and how we can deal with it.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen
This is our third study of 1 John. Today, we study 1 John 1:6-7.
We will examine the first of three tests found in chapter one.
Please visit the church at www.WakefieldBible.org for more information about the church.
Why do we face trials?
What can we do about them?
This is the preaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on July 17, 2022.
Today we learn where suffering comes from and how we can deal with it.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen
This is the preaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on June 26, 2022
Today we learn how the blood of the Lamb defeats the power of Satan.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen
This is the preaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on June 19, 2022
Today we learn how God defines manhood.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen
This is our second study of 1 John. Today, we study 1 John 1:2-4 and learn that there is something greater than eternal life.
Please visit the church at www.WakefieldBible.org for more information about the church.
This is the teaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on June 12, 2022
Today we learn the main idol in our life and how to confront it.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
This is our second study of 1 John. Today, we read 1 John 1:1-4 and learn about two amazing benefits that come with salvation.
Please visit the church at www.WakefieldBible.org for more information about the church.
This is the teaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on June 5, 2022.
Today we learn that when God calls you there is a wrong question and a right question to ask God.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
This is five minute, mid-week devotional study. These will be released Wednesdays at 6:30 PM EST.
In this is our first study in 1 John.
This is the teaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on May 28, 2022.
We learn that God takes all the things of our life and works them together four our ultimate good.
It teaches us that wherever you may go, God is there with you.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
This is the teaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on May 22, 2022.
We learn that God takes all the things of our life and works them together four our ultimate good.
It teaches us that wherever you may go, God is there with you.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org. Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
This is the teaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
This sermon, preached at Wakefield on May 15, 2022 looks at the story of Joseph.
It teaches us that wherever you may go, God is there with you.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
This is the teaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA. If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
This is the teaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
This is the teaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
This is the teaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
This is the teaching ministry of Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland, USA.
If you want to know more about the church, visit WakefieldBible.org.
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.
God Tests Abraham
The word "test" means "to prove by trial." It is designed to prove faith.
What are some trials you have experienced?
When God tested you, how did you measure up to James 1:2?
Why did God test Abraham?
- To test Abraham's faith
- To demonstrate absolute obedience.
- To reveal God as Jehovah-Jireh.
- To foreshadow Jesus Christ.
What did Abraham believe that helped him with his faith? Hebrews 11:17-19
God Will Provide
What do verses 3, 5 & 8 tell you about Abraham's mindset?
What is faith and why does it matter? Hebrews 11:1, 6
God Does Provide
Allen P. Ross writes, "Isaac was brought 'from the dead' twice - once from Sarah's dead
womb and again from a high altar." (Bible Knowledge Commentary, Genesis)
Substitutionary Atonement
Abraham did not withhold his own son. Likewise, God, did not withhold Jesus. Genesis 22:12; Romans 8:32
This message was preached at Wakefield Valley Bible Church of New Windsor, Maryland on March 27, 2022.
There are two children’s stories that are alike but different. I want to tell you both and point out the morals of each One is Chicken Little. In Chicken Little, a young chick is struck on the head by a falling acorn. Confused and very upset the young chick begins to tell the other animals that the sky is falling. Paranoia and mass hysteria set in because all the animals believe the world is coming to an end.
The farm animals, all upset, decided they needed an answer to the question, Is the world about to end? So they set out to find the king animal who could answer that question.
They found a fox and assumed he was the king. The fox assured them he was and would be glad to hear their concern, they only needed to go with him into his den. They did so and the fox killed all the animals and ate them.
What’s the moral of Chicken Little? Don’t believe everything you are told.
The other story that’s similar but different is the Boy Who Cried Wolf. In this story, a shepherd boy, bored with his job, decides to cry “wolf” although there was no wolf around.
When he cries “Wolf” the villagers come to his rescue only to find there is no wolf. The boy enjoys the prank so much he does it again and again the villagers come. Eventually, a wolf does appear. And when the boy cries “wolf” no one comes because he had lied the other times.
What’s the moral of the story? Liars are not believed even when they tell the truth.
Today I am going to share with you some lies and half-truths Christians are telling and believing. As we get deep into the message there is a chance that I will offend some of you. I want to ask for forgiveness now. But I think it is essential that you learn how to deal with lies and half-truths when they come your way.
We are studying How to Survive in a Post-Christian World.
Last week we learned how to use two tests to examine ideas, people, and organizations. These tests are:
- The Jesus Test – Find out what they believe about Jesus.
- The Bible Test – Find out what they think about the Bible and whether or not what they teach agrees with the Bible.
Our primary text was 1 John 4. Let’s return to that passage and read verse 1.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
Take note of the term the Spirit of the Antichrist.
Turn to 2 John verse 7-11
For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
What is an antichrist or the spirit of the antichrist – anti means opposed. So an antichrist is someone or some teaching that is opposed to Jesus. It takes you away from Christ or it hides Christ from you.
Other than testing what else should we do about these false prophets that are in the world?
RESPONSE ONE and TWO
- Do not believe everything you are told. 1 John 4:1
- Do not encourage it or aid it. 2 John 1:10-11
David Guzik says this:
- John is not talking about all error, but only error which masquerades as true Christianity.
- John is not talking about all who hold the error which masquerades as true Christianity, but about those who teach those errors which masquerade as true Christianity.
- John is not talking about all teachers who err, but those who err in the most fundamental truths, and those who are active in spreading those fundamental errors.
Deuteronomy 13:1-5
Look Good but Sound Bad
I believe the Apostle John had Deuteronomy 13 and 18 in mind when he said: “to test.”
“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. 5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst.
In this passage, God warns us of false prophets who look good but teach evil.
They are able to perform miracles and do some interesting things but if you listen to the message it is opposed – anti – to the Lord – Christ.
What does God tell you to do when you come across such?
STEP THREE
Kill the source. We cannot take someone out and execute them today. But we can eliminate the source of this bad doctrine.
Deuteronomy 18:20-22
20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.
How and Why Does this Happen?
Deuteronomy 18 raises a question. In today’s world, how is it we can wonder, “How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?” Or how can we tell truth from lies?
The reason believers today would say this is:
- We are biblically illiterate.
- We have swapped the Bible for showmanship, for celebrity, for feelings, for prophecy
Consider Jeremiah 23:25-28
I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ 26 How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, 27 who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbor, as their fathers forgot My name for Baal.
28 “The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully.
What is the chaff to the wheat?” says the Lord.
According to verse 27, what are these false prophets attempting to do? People today have traded away wheat for chaff. People today want the sensations, the miracles, the prophecies that tickle their ears. They do not want the Bible.
STEP FOUR
Review
- Do not believe everything
- Do not encourage it or aid it.
- Kill the source
- Fear or respect only God and His Word.
George Orwell once said, "There are some ideas so stupid that only intellectuals believe them." I am not an intellectual and it's my belief that you are not one either. So when we are confronted with a new idea we need to evaluate them. We need to see if they have merit, see if they are true or false.
We finished the first section of our series How to Survive in a Post-Christian World.
- We learned that God has appointed our leaders and for that reason, we are to subject ourselves to their leadership except when they ask us to disobey God.
- We learned that we are to love our neighbors even when they hate us and persecute us.
- And we learned that in these last days we need to wake up, put off the deeds of darkness, and put on the armor of light.
Today we will begin our new section with a question. It is a True or False question.
I will ask this question in just a moment, but I want you to refrain from shouting out your answer. I want you to keep your answer to the question to yourself. And a little later we will answer it aloud.
Here is the question:
True or False – All roads that lead to God are good.
Today the one thing you will learn is how to answer that question and any other question that may come your way.
Let’s pray
Test the Spirits Turn in your Bible to 1 John 4:1-3.
I opened this lesson with a question, is this a true or false statement – All roads that lead to God are good.
A little later we will answer that question. But first we have to cover some ground. We need to learn the fundamentals on how to know whether something is true or false.
Follow along as I read from 1 John 4:1-3
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
The idea of “testing” or “trying” the spirits is found elsewhere in the Bible. Leave a finger at 1 John 4 but turn to 1 Thessalonians 5:20:22
Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
I want to take 1 John and 1 Thessalonians and mash the two passages together.
In 1 Thessalonians we are told to “Test all things.” In 1 John we are told to “test the spirits.” Let’s start with “the spirits” of 1 John.
We know that the Holy Spirit is God. John just mentioned the Holy Spirit in the last verse of chapter three.
So we know of the Holy Spirit, but this passage tells us that there are even more spirits in this world and we must test them.
What does it mean to test? It means to make a critical examination of something; to determine the genuineness of something; to really examine it.
The Greek word for test is used for metallurgy. It is the test that a goldsmith would use to test the purity of gold.
We should never take something at face value. We should evaluate it. We should make sure it is genuine. We should check its purity.
We make these evaluations 1,000s of times per day. Every time we sit on a chair we determine whether or not it will hold. When we drive our cars down the road or over a bridge the mind evaluates whether or not it will hold.
These tests are based on past experience. It has held before. It will hold this time.
In 1994, here in Westminster, Robert Knight took a dinner break from his job at the sewer treatment plant, jumped in his car, and drove toward town to get some food. It was 2 am.
As he drove along route 31, all of a sudden the road was no longer there and Robert in his van plunged into a sinkhole that measured 45 feet wide and 18 feet deep. He died a few hours later in shock trauma.
We ask ourselves, why did Robert drive route 31 if there was a possibility that a sinkhole might swallow him up? Why didn’t he take another road? The reason he drove on that road without any fear is that the road had never swallowed him up before or anyone else for that matter. He made an evaluation based on past experiences. We do this all the time.
Faith is an evaluation based on past experiences. We know that God will do such in such because He has always done so in the past.
Past experiences or faith is one test but there are others. Another test is the doctrine of Christ.
The First Test – Jesus John is not worrying about sinkholes or even matters that we can evaluate with past experience. John is focused on things pertaining to Jesus, to spiritual matters.
How can we determine if a religious idea, a religious person, or a religious institution is genuine?
One way is to see what they say about Jesus.
1 John is an early response to an early version of Gnosticism. Gnosticism believed that Jesus was not God and that Jesus was spirit. Gnostics believed that Jesus did not have a body.
Gnostics believe that all things physical are bad and all things spiritual are good. In the time of 1 John they believed that Jesus was an emanation, a spirit, and did not have a body.
What does that wrong thinking do to the crucifixion?
What does it do to the resurrection?
Look back at 1 John 4:1-3
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
You can see in verses 2 and 3 John’s response to the Gnostics.
- Something is false if it believes Jesus did not come in the flesh. Jesus is God incarnate. Jesus came to this earth in full humanity
- The Holy Spirit (v2) testifies to the true nature of God the Son. Satan and false prophets distort the nature of Jesus.
Satan is a liar and a murderer. His false prophets are the same. (John 8:44) He wants to keep you from salvation. He wants to kill you spiritually forever.
There are other things about Jesus you must believe. They too can be used to test an idea, person, or institution.
- Jesus is God the Son.
- Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world.
- Jesus rose again bodily on the 3rd day
- Salvation is only through Jesus
Satan and his false prophets want to keep you from truly understanding and believing on Jesus because Jesus is God and salvation only comes through Jesus.
You can test a spirit or everything by what they believe concerning Jesus.
Here is a question you can ask when you are uncertain about someone’s faith or ideas:
Who is Jesus to you?
The Word In a few minutes, we will answer our True or False question. Don’t shout it out. Keep your answer quiet. I will give you an opportunity to share in a bit.
But remember the question is: True or False – All roads that lead to God are good.
There is a second test that we need to use when we are confronted by something. It is the Word test.
We have been looking at 1 John 4 and also considering 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22
In both passages, prophecy is mentioned. In 1 Thessalonians Paul tells us not to despise prophecies. In 1 John, John warns us about false prophets.
What does Paul mean in 1 Thessalonians when he tells us not to despise prophecies? The word “prophecies” can mean the spoken revelation from God.
That’s the way I always imagine prophecies. Some longhaired, crazy-eyed prophet standing up on a hill shouting out, “Thus saith the LORD!!!”
But the word prophecies can mean the written word of God. In fact, the idea of the written word is meant more often than spoken.
An example is found in 2 Peter 1:19-21
And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Paul is saying that when the Word is preached, taught, or read we are to take it seriously. We must not reject it. We must receive it. Do not despise the Word.
Example of the Word Test A perfect example of this can be found in Acts 17:10-12.
If you have walked with Christ for any amount of time you are familiar with the story of the Bereans. Christians admire the Bereans. Many churches bear their name – Berean Bible Church, Berean Baptist Church.... Why so?
Let’s read and find out.
Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.
The Bereans did not take what Paul said at face value. They tested his words and they tested him. They did so by comparing him and his words to Scripture.
Why did they do this? It was their nature. It was who they were as a synagogue. They were people of the Word. They studied it with eagerness. So it was natural for them to use the Word as a tool to test whether or not something was true.
Pray to God that we too would be a church of the Word.
The Word of God is what we should use to test everything.
Let’s go back to our question. I will ask it again and now you will give me your answer.
Don’t shout it out. Rather let’s do a show of hands.
If you believe it is True when I say “All roads that lead to God are good.” Then raise your hand.
If you believe it is False when I say the same raise your hands.
The answer is False.
Why? We want to be like the Bereans. What verse or passage should we use to test this question?
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
I think it’s time for a pop quiz.
I gave you time to think about your answer to the True or False question. How here comes one and I will not give you any time to think about it. But I will help you with this hint.
Hint: You can find a passage to help you evaluate this idea in the Book of Genesis. There, I have eliminated 65 other Bible books.
Here is the idea to evaluate.
On Thursday, February 25, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives Passed the Equality Act. The act is not yet law because it has to pass the Senate. But if it does, many things in the US will change. Here is one change that we can test.
If Equality Act passes the Senate, we will no longer be allowed to identify people by biological gender. No longer will there be males or females, boys or girls.
What is a Bible passage, found in the book of Genesis, that will help you test this new idea?
Genesis 1:27 and 5:2
If you would like to read more about the impact the Equity Act can have on our society, Mary Rice Hasson wrote an opinion piece for Newsweek Magazine titled The Equity Act and the End of Females. https://www.newsweek.com/equality-act-end-females-opinion-1571432
Also, The Heritage Foundation has an article The Equity Act – How Could Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Laws Affect You? https://www.heritage.org/gender/heritage-explains/the-equality-act
Remember, don’t despise or dismiss or reject God’s Word. Read it with eagerness. God is using it to teach you. And you can use the Word to test everything.
Conclusion The Apostle John warned about false prophets. False prophets are everywhere. They are writing books. They are on TV and radio. They are on social media. And they even occupy the halls of government.
They use all forms of media – print, broadcast, and the internet. Every day they feed you with their false doctrine and corrupt ideas.
How can you test these people, test their ideas, and test their organizations?
- Find out what they think about Jesus.
- Test them using the Bible.
Let us pray that you and this church will eagerly study God’s Word so that we will not fall to Satan’s lies.
To kick off this message I want to ask you a few questions. In fact, grab a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. Now on the front of that paper, I want you to write down the answer to question number one. Here it is.
- If you could instantly change anything about anyone who would you change and what would you change?
Turn the page over and let’s answer question number two. So question number one was on the front and question number two will be on the back.
- If you could instantly change anything about yourself what would you change?
Now I have a third question, but you don’t need to write anything down.
- Which of these changes – Changing someone else or changing yourself – is more likely to happen?
So hold those thoughts and I will come back to it later.
We have been in a series titled How to Survive in a Post-Christian World. Over the last few episodes we have learned:
- That God places leaders over us – Kings, Queens, Prime Ministers, Presidents – and for that reason we are to subject ourselves to them.
- There is one exception to our obedience. We obey our leaders as long as our obedience does not conflict with the Bible.
- These governmental leaders are God’s ministers. He uses them to restrain evil.
- We have also learned that God commands us to love our neighbors. Neighbors are those who are closest to us – our spouse, kids, parents, and people in the immediate community. We are to love them even when they disagree with us or even hate us.
Today we will complete Romans 13 and God has for us two distinct lessons.
- Is to wake up
- Is to work on ourselves.
Today you will learn this one thing: As the return of Jesus draws closer we are to wake up and wear Christ.
Wake Up Turn in your Bibles to Romans 13. I will read verses 11-14
And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk [c]properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Look again at verse 11.
And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
When Paul writes, “knowing the time” he is saying “understand the season you are in.”
That is why we are studying life in a post-Christian world.
What season are we in?
The Bible is clear. We are in the “Last Days.”
This not based on current events, or on the signs of the times. It is what the Bible teaches.
When did the Last Days begin? There are two possible answers.
- Is with the Ascension of Christ.
- 10 days later with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Turn to Acts 2.
Let’s look at verse 14
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only [e]the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘Andit shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
Peter goes on quoting the Prophet Joel. When we read Joel we have to treat it like Peter. The prophecy was partially fulfilled on the day of Pentecost and will be fully fulfilled as we approach the last last days.
According to both, Joel and Peter, we are in the Last Days.
Going back to Romans 13, we should consider the Last Days like a season, like a period of time. And we are in this season.
The question is, how should we live during the last days?
First of all, we should be awake and aware of our walk.
Many believers today are sleepwalking through life. Pastor David Guzik writes about this in his commentary. He points out that we can do a lot when we sleepwalk. We can:
- speak when we are asleep
- hear when we are asleep
- walk when we are asleep
- sing when we are asleep
- think when we are asleep
I will add that we can go to church while we sleep and even go through the motions of worship while we are asleep.
Here’s how I know that.
When you read the Scripture are you listening to what the Holy Spirit is saying through the Bible or do you go through the motions?
Sometimes I read a chapter only to finish and wonder what I just read. My mind was not engaged. I did not think about the words or ask God to show me what He wants for me to learn.
And even more importantly, I ignore what God is doing in my life with that passage. I am sleepwalking in respect to the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word.
When you sing in church, do you sing out of rote – mechanical, habitual repetition or do you think about the words you sing?
Do you use them to actually worship God or do you just repeat the words you see on the screen or in a hymnal with never a thought?
As we sleepwalk through life a few things can happen.
- We will miss out on what God is doing.
Here is God working all around us, but our eyes are closed and we are unengaged. Maybe God is pulling at the heartstrings of your neighbor but you do not notice because you are asleep.
- We will not be changed by what God is saying.
2 Tim 3:16-17 tells us that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God for a reason – to teach us, to reproof us, to correct us, to train us, so that we will be competent and equipped. But none of that matters if we as sleepwalking through this life.
- We will be attacked by the enemy.
The devil is out there and he wants to ruin you and your testimony. You need to wake up before he destroys you and your family. 1 Peter 5:8
- We will sin. Rom 13:12
Romans 13:12 Paul tells us to cast off the works of darkness. Because we have been sleepwalking we have fallen into sinful habits.
Wake up to the Word of God.
Wake up to the Holy Spirit.
Hear Christ knocking at the door of your heart. He wants to come you’re your life and walk with you in fellowship.
Every day is one day closer to Jesus’ return. Tomorrow is one day closer to the Rapture. Do we really want to be found napping when Jesus returns?
Work on Yourself So let’s come back to our original three questions. Look back at that piece of paper I had you fill out.
- Who and what would you change?
- What would you change about yourself?
- Which of the two changes is more likely to happen?
The rule of thumb is that we cannot change other people but MAYBE we can change ourselves.
Let’s talk about change.
It is important to remember that God never changes. This is called immutability. God is immutable. He doesn’t change.
Often we use the doctrine of the Immutability of God to teach against current trends. I have used it to teach that God’s views on marriage – one man to one woman – has not changed.
That idea is important but immutability is much larger than that. God’s mercy, kindness, love, justice, and wisdom also never change. They are always perfect. God’s love for you never changes, even when you sin.
Because God is immutable it is impossible for Him to change.
People change. We are mutable. Everything about us can change – our weight, hair color, and even our values and opinions. God has given us the ability to change.
I can choose to lose weight. I can dye my hair. I can political parties. God has given us power over these things and more. God has given us the power to change.
But there is one thing unbelieving humans cannot change. There is one thing that unbelieving humans have no control over and that is the power that sin has over them.
An unbeliever cannot help but sin.
Notice that I said “unbeliever.” A believer, someone who is truly born again, that person has power over sin and can change. If you are a believer, you can resist temptation and the power of sin.
Look again at Romans 13:12-14. Let’s pick up midway through 12.
Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk [c]properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Look at those actions again.
- Cast off
- Put on
- Walk properly
- Put on
If the Bible commands it, then we can do it. If the Bible tells us to cast off and put on, then we can do those things.
Whereas the unbeliever has no choice but to sin, we choose to sin when we sin. And we choose not to sin when we walk properly.
How does this work?
Put On Christ
When a believer puts on Christ, Christ becomes the believer’s armor. We do not just assume the character of Jesus. We do not just copy the ways of Jesus. We put on Jesus. Jesus becomes our armor. We call upon Jesus to protect us, to defend us, to empower us.
Turn to Ephesians 4:17-
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as [f]the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
It is not enough to learn about Christ. We must learn Christ.
Daily as you walk with Christ and talk with Christ He changes you. Although behaviors are changed the more important thing is a heart change – inner change.
Sin affects or corrupts our behavior. When we sin we do things that are counter to God’s teaching.
But sin also corrupts our thinking. The unbeliever in verse 18 is corrupted and blinded by sin. An unbeliever’s thinking has been corrupted. That’s why when you talk to a loved one or neighbor about the things of God they just don’t get it. They even come up with silly, stupid, or corrupt ideas and opinions. Sin has blinded them and made them ignorant.
But God, in Christ, makes us a new creature. He teaches us. We learn from Him – IF we listen – If we allow Him to teach.
You are a New Person
Romans 13:14 says that because we put on Christ we make no provision for the flesh.
Look at Galatians 3:26
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
When you became a believer you became a new person. God changed you. You have a new nature.
That nature should not make provisions for sin. Whoever you were before Christ has been changed.
What’s happening here? God is not just forcing a behavior change. God is accomplishing an inner change, a heart change.
There is so much more we need to discuss. Like the armor of God. The elders will preach on this subject in the future. And much more on putting off and putting on.
But I will stop here and answer another question. What does this have to do with a post-Christian world?
In a post-Christian world, it is essential that we live as good citizens, obeying our leaders but defending the truth.
In a post-Christian world, we must love our neighbors as God has first loved us – regardless of their mindset and behavior.
And during these times, as we see the world slipping deeper and deeper into darkness, we need to wake up and put on Christ.
When we are awake and walking properly then no matter how crazy things may get we still wear Christ. We still represent Him and His Word. And we will respond correctly to the madness around us.
If you, a believer, have been walking in darkness, wake up and put off the deeds of sin. Remember, Jesus is one day closer to coming back. Don’t be caught napping.
And if you have never placed your faith in Jesus Christ, then you are completely living in darkness. You are consumed by sin. Everything you do takes you farther and farther away from God.
But God loves you. He sent His Son Jesus to die for your sin. Call upon God to save you. God wants to forgive you of your sin.
How can you be forgiven? The Bible says, “Believe on Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”
I am asking God to open your eyes and show you that you are a sinner.
I am asking God to awaken you to your greatest need – you need to believe that Jesus died for your sin.
Tell God you are a sinner.
Turn away from that sin.
And turn to Jesus and ask Him to save you.
This is Mark Jones and I will speak with you next week.
At the start of 2021, we began a study on How to Survive in a Post-Christian World. The influence of Christianity, especially in the western world, is on the decline. With this decline comes a change in how people respond to Christians. More and more we will find ourselves out of sorts with our community, even with people we know well and love.
We will begin to experience persecution. For that reason, I am preparing my church to handle the coming persecution.
Over the past three messages, we have studied how we should respond to our leaders, especially the government. Today we will begin to look at our responsibility to our community or to our neighbors.
Today you will learn that no matter how people in your community might behave or think you must love them.
And at the end of this message, I will share with you a piece of Scripture that I have intentionally held back these past three weeks.
Let’s pray.
Open your Bibles to Romans 13.
We will read verses 8-10.
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9* The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”[a] and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10* Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Before we get into the Scripture I want you to make a list either in your mind or on paper of the people you meet and interact with every day.
If you are married with kids, then your spouse and kids would be on the top of the list. If you work, then your coworkers would be on the list. There are others in the community, maybe a business you frequent, or a school you attend. These are the names on your list.
Paul in the first 7 verses of Romans 13 taught us our responsibility to our government officials. Now he pulls the lesson back closer to home. He will now teach us what our responsibility is to those we see almost every day – your spouse, your kids, your parents, your co-workers, your neighbors.
The first few words of the passage – “Let no debt remain outstanding...” is not a lesson on credit. Rather, Paul is using financial debts to make a point about our obligations to one another.
He is saying that there is no maximum limit on the amount of love we are to give to someone else. Love is a permanent obligation that we must have for those close to us.
How much are we supposed to love our wives, husbands, or kids? How much are we supposed to love our family? There is no amount that is too much. Whatever the amount that you give in love to those close to you it is not enough.
And that includes unbelievers. And that includes people who are very different from you.
Before we get into the heart of this passage look at the end of verse nine. Paul sums all of the above by using Jesus’ teaching “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
When you love your neighbor you are loving those you interact with every day. The Bible is telling you to love real people.
Paul is referencing the Law and Jesus’ teaching. Let’s look first at Matthew 22:37-40.
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38* This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40* All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
There is much we can say about this passage but let’s just keep the discussion centered around the reason we came here. Jesus teaches that the second greatest commandment is “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Let’s start inward and move out with these questions.
- How do you love yourself? What are some ways you love yourself?
- What are ways that you show love to those close to you? Spouse, kids, parents...
- How do you express love to your co-workers or to your neighbor?
- How do you love those in the community – cashier, a trade you hire,
- Finally, how do you show the love of God to those who are opposed to you?
The scripture that both Paul and Jesus are using comes from the Law and is based on the 10 Commandments. Turn to Exodus 20.
The 10 Commandments can be divided into two sections. Verses 3-7 are the commands that are between us and God. And verses 8-17 are the commands between us and our fellow humans.
Let’s read these verses – 8-17.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
So it starts with honoring the Sabbath. Then honoring your parents. After that, it covers murder, adultery, theft, lying, and coveting.
Now turn back to Romans 13 and let’s look at verses 8-10.
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
At first glance it appears that Paul had omitted some of the commandments. But he covers them with verse 9 where he writes “and whatever other command there may be...”
These 10 Commandments are summed up in the idea of love. By choosing not to commit adultery, murder, theft, lying, and others, we are choosing to love our neighbors.
Remember this series in How to Survive in a Post-Christian World. This post-Christian world will turn against us. We will find ourselves at odds with many who live in our neighborhood. Even those close to us may no longer share our values. We will feel the sting of persecution.
But God commands us to love them. He tells us that we owe them more love than we currently give.
One other thing. Our neighbors are not commanded to love us back. The commands given in Romans 13 are to us. It is our responsibility to love regardless of whether they love us or not.
When we turned to Romans 13 a few weeks back I intentionally skipped and important passage. It is the key passage on which Romans 13 is constructed. All of our talk about obeying our leaders and today’s words on loving our neighbors is built upon it.
Now is the time to look at these important words. Look at Romans 12 starting at verse 9.
We will read these verses without comment.
Let’s pray over the passage before we read it.
Heavenly Father, we ask that God the Holy Spirit use this passage to teach us an important lesson. We ask for insight and clarity as we read it. Amen.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given[d] to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have[e] regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
So how do we do what God has called us to do in Romans 12:9-21?
We obey the leaders God has placed over us. And we love our neighbors. And wherever we have been wronged, however, we have been abused, God will take care of it. He will be our avenger.
Let’s pray.
Two messages back we learned that our first responsibility to our leaders is to pray for them and to give thanks to God for them. I hope this week you prayed for the president of your prime minister, or whatever leader God has placed over you. I hope that you also thanked God for them.
For some of you this teaching – to pray and to give thanks – is a tough pill to swallow. Maybe you did not vote for this particular leader. Possibly he or she does not represent your values. Or this leader is corrupt.
Whatever, God expects it of us. Prayer is our first and most important calling toward our leaders. So please pray for your leaders regardless of their politics.
In the last message, we learned that God appoints human leaders over us. And for that reason, we are to subject ourselves to their leadership as long as their leading is not in conflict with God’s Bible.
When the Bible disagrees with our human leaders we are to obey God and be willing to suffer the consequences. We looked at the Apostles in Acts 5. The apostles told the religious leaders that they had to obey God before they would obey men.
We considered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were willing to suffer the consequences that come when a believer chooses to obey God rather than men.
Today we will continue to look at our responsibility to our government.
Today the key thing we will learn is that God expects us to be the very best citizens we can be..
Let’s pray.
The Purpose of Government Let’s open our Bibles to Romans 13. Last week we studied Romans 13:1-2. Today we will pick up at verse 3 and read through verse 5.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.
Within this text, we find the primary purpose for government and we also find God’s expectation for our lifestyle under this government.
Let’s look at 1 Peter 2:13-17
Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
The primary and the original purpose of government is to restrain evil. This purpose was first established by God in Genesis 9:5-6.
The flood of Noah is in chapter 7 of Genesis. In Chapter 8 God delivers Noah and his family back on dry ground. In chapter 9 God makes a covenant with Noah.
Just prior to making the covenant. God teaches Noah about the importance of life, especially the life of mankind.
People would begin again to populate the earth. Sin was already present in the hearts of Noah and his family. Soon there would be wickedness done against other humans.
God wanted Noah and us even to understand how much He, God, valued human life. Let’s read.
Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man.
6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.
God has placed a high value on the life of all mankind. Everyone is created in the image of God – whether that person lives a good life or an evil one. When someone murders another person they kill an image-bearer. God says in Genesis 9 that it is the responsibility of people to then take the life of the murderer.
Even when an animal kills a man that animal is to be put to death. Why? Animals just act out of their nature. The reason again is that God places the highest value on human life. Humans are image-bearers. For this reason, the animal must die.
The unconditional covenant between God and mankind called the Noahic Covenant is found here in Genesis 9. Bits and pieces of this same covenant are found in Genesis 6 and 8. Look at Genesis 8:21
And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.
They’re hardly off the ark and already God is acknowledging the sinfulness of man. Our imaginations within our hearts are evil. The ultimate end of such evil is murder. God in Genesis 9 states that murder must be dealt with and the way to deal with it is capital punishment. Capital punishment becomes the responsibility of the government. In fact, the restraint of all forms of evil is the purpose of government.
Why Should We Obey Our Leaders? Reason One There are two basic reasons why we should obey our leaders. The first one is so we will avoid punishment or their wrath.
Return to Romans 13.
Look at verses 3-4
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
God places a person in a leadership position to retrain evil. When a person does evil the government official becomes God’s avenger. Those that murder, the government is called to execute wrath.
The wording “bear the sword” in verse four is in reference to capital punishment. Romans typically executed criminals by beheading them with a sword. Crucifixion was rarely used and only for the worst of offenders.
When the government executes someone, they are acting on behalf of God.
There is some great advice in this passage for the believer. It is found in verse 3. “Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same.”
You’re driving over the speed limit. You come over a hill and there sits the police officer. Your heart begins to beat faster. Your palms sweat. You hope he had his radar off. But no. On come the blue lights. Busted!
Here is what that verse is saying. If you don’t want to fear the police office, don’t speed.
God expects all Christians to be good citizens. We are expected to obey the laws and live peaceably in our communities.
Reason Two There is a second reason why we should obey our leaders.
- We then obey our leaders to avoid their wrath.
- We also obey our leaders because of our conscience.
Look at Romans 13:5-7.
Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
What is meant by “for conscience sake”? It means we obey because it is our duty to God.
Obeying the laws of the land is a way we serve God. It is a way that we bring glory to God.
The conscience is our moral compass or our moral awareness. It is a part of our personality that makes us feel guilty when we violate the law and it is the thing that makes us feel good when we follow the law.
We should want to please God in our actions. Our behavior should be pleasing to God.
Turn to Hebrews 13:18.
In Hebrews 13:18 the writer of it asks that the reader to pray for them. There are two distinct prayer requests.
The second request is in verse 19. He wants to return to them soon. So prayer is necessary for that to happen.
The first request is in verse 18. Let’s read that.
Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.
The write of Hebrews desires to live honorably. When you live honorably you will have a good conscience. When you live honorably you obey the laws. You are a good citizen.
Remember 1 Peter 2:13-17
Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Here’s an Example of How We Should Obey Let’s go back to Romans 13 and see how Paul teaches us to obey our leaders.
He commands us to pay our taxes and fees.
Romans 13:6-7 says,
For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
Out of fear and for consciousness' sake we should do our duty and pay our taxes.
Jesus taught this very thing. Look at Mark 12:12-17.
13 Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. 14 When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?”
But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” 16 So they brought it.
And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
17 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and toGod the things that are God’s.”
And they marveled at Him.
Many of you know this story.
The Pharisees and the Herodians (Herod’s people) were trying to trick Jesus. Either possible answer – “yes” or “No” – would be viewed negatively by someone. If Jesus says “Yes, we should pay taxes” the Jews would be upset. And if Jesus said, “No!” Then the Romans would be upset.
Jesus tells them to give to Caesar that which is Caesar’s. But what does He mean “to God the things that are God’s”?
- Possibly He is talking about the Temple Tax?
- But more than likely He is speaking of spiritual matters, such as worship.
The Caesars often viewed themselves as gods.
On a Denarius there was a picture of the Emperor. On this coin, it was probably Tiberius. On the Tiberius coin, there was his image and an inscription – “Tiberius Caesar Augustus, Son of the Divine Augustus.”
We must never make our leaders into gods. Leaders must never claim deity. But sometimes we do and sometimes they do.
Like Romans 13, Jesus is teaching loyalty to the state, to the government. And He is also teaching loyalty to God, not man.
Conclusion
Let’s return to our opening. In that, I asked you if you had been praying and giving thanks for your leader.
I have been praying for President Biden and Vice President Harris.
Let me encourage you one more time to do the same – pray for your leaders.
Last lesson we learned that God has appointed our leaders. For that reason, we are to subject ourselves to them. But when there are things that are not in line with God’s word we are to obey God and suffer the consequences.
Today we built upon that teaching.
We learned that God gave us government to restrain evil. For that alone, we should be thankful.
God calls us to obey our leaders for two reasons.
- So we will not experience punishment
- And to serve God.
Overall the God has taught us to be the very best citizens we can be.
Surviving in a Post-Christian America
Message Three – To Obey or Not Obey
On January 20th, our country went through a change of leadership. President Biden became our 46th president of the United States. I watched a good deal of the Inauguration. Lady Gaga did a fabulous job singing the National Anthem.
Recently I heard Amanda Gorman, our Youth Poet Laureate, recite one of her poems; so I was interested to hear her read her new poem The Hill We Climb.
I sang along with Garth Brooks as he performed Amazing Grace.
And as I listened to President Biden’s speech, I shared his hope for unity.
Every 4-8 years we go through this. We welcome a new government into power. The republic created 243 years ago still stands.
So now what?
What do we as Christians do with respect to this new government? Do we honor and respect President Biden and Vice President Harris or do we stand against them?
Do we subject ourselves to these leaders for the next four years or do we rebel?
Two weeks back you learned that your first responsibility toward your leaders is to pray for them and to thank God for them.
But do we have to obey them? Must we follow in lockstep wherever they lead?
Today you will learn the answer to the question – must I obey...
You will learn that ....
God commands us to obey our government as long as our obedience is not in conflict with God. When we do choose to obey God rather than man we must be willing to accept the consequences.
Subjection Romans 13:1-2
Believers are to be subject to their governing authorities because God has appointed these leaders.
Look at Romans 13:1-2
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
Why does the Word tell us to subject ourselves to our political leaders? The reason we are to subject ourselves to our governing authorities is that God has appointed them. God raises leaders up and God removes them.
If the Scripture is telling the truth, (and we know it is) then God just appointed President Biden and God just removed President Trump. And we are to subject ourselves to that change.
Remember, Paul is writing the book of Romans at the time Nero is Emperor. As I discussed two weeks back, Nero was one of the most perverse leaders of all time. Yet Paul told the readers of Romans that they were to subject themselves to this leader.
Several questions come to mind.
What about:
- Hitler who executed 4-6 million Jews (2/3 of all European Jews)
- Stalin who killed approximately 20 million Soviet citizens
- Chairman Mao killed as many as 45 million Chinese citizens
- Or what about the United States, who has aborted 62 million babies since Roe v Wade.
What is a believer’s responsibility to a government like that? Must a Christian obey their leaders when their leaders sanction murder?
Three Things to Think About 1. Does the Bible and especially Romans 13 teach the “Divine Right of Kings”? The DRK is “the doctrine that kings derive their authority from God, not from their subjects.” The DRK teaches that human rulers are beyond reproach or criticism by his or her subjects. Rebellion would be the worst of political crimes.
So is this biblical? No – Romans and elsewhere in Scripture teach that we are subject in general but not in absolute.
Remember that
- Nathan called out King David’s sin in 2 Samuel 12:7
- Jeremiah stood against Ahab in 1 Kings 18
- Remember Daniel in the lions’ den?
- John the Baptist confronted Herod and religious leaders with their sin.
There is another important teaching in the Scripture that destroys the idea of the Divine Right of Kings.
What is it? All men are created equal.
- All are sinners. Romans 3:23 (All men are created equal.)
- All are guilty and those without Christ will be held accountable for their sins.
So does the Bible teach that we must obey our leaders because they are without reproach? The answer is no.
- Christians are citizens of two kingdoms. You are a citizen of the country in which you live. And you are a citizen of heaven. Phil 3:20 and Col 1:13
Why is this important?
Because you are to subject yourself to your leaders as long as there is no conflict with God’s laws.
Look at Acts 5:17-32
What does that story teach? It teaches when man’s laws are in conflict with God’s laws then we must choose to obey God.
Another example is found in Daniel 3:13-18.
What does that story teach? It teaches that when we choose to obey God and not man we must be willing to accept the consequences.
Here is another example. Who is Kim Davis?
Kim Davis was the former county clerk in Rowan County Kentucky who refused to sign marriage licenses for same-sex couples.
Shortly after the US Supreme Court made same-sex marriages legal, same-sex couples began to come to the Rowan County Courthouse for a license to marry.
Kim Davis was the county clerk. Her name was on every marriage license and above her name was a line for her signature.
She said,
"I never imagined a day like this would come, where I would be asked to violate a central teaching of Scripture and of Jesus Himself regarding marriage. To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God's definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience."
Because of her refusal, she was jailed and sued. Eventually, she returned to her post after they removed her name from the signature block. Her assistant clerks signed from then on. She refused. Ultimately she was voted out of office.
All in all, this worked out as it can.
- The government made same-sex marriage legal.
- Kim Davis, a representative of that government, chose to obey God rather than man and to suffer the consequences. She used her Frist Amendment rights to do so.
The First Amendment says:
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.
When we are faced with a decision to obey the government or obey God we should always choose “Obey God.” But we should do so in the way that fits the issue and with an understanding that we must be willing to suffer the consequences.
Kim Davis did not set off any bombs. She did not try to violently overthrow the government. She exercised her constitutional rights to resist a law that was in conflict with the Bible.
The people of Rowan County Kentucky also exercised their rights and in due time voted her out of office.
So must we obey our leaders in all matters? The answer is no when the laws of man are in opposition to the laws of God. But we must be willing to suffer the consequences.
- One final question then we will conclude. What about our founding fathers and the American Revolution, was that a violation of Romans 13 because they did rebel against the sitting government?
Pastor John MacArthur Jr. says that “the American Revolution was born out of a violation of Romans 13:1-7.”
Let’s look at that.
On August 2, 1776, 56 members of the 2nd Constitutional Congress signed the Declaration of Independence.
These men too struggled with the teaching of Romans 13. But they also considered the entire Bible.
The Declaration of Independence is a document that explains why they felt justified to break with England.
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
It rejects the Divine Right of Kings because it states this:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness
The signers believed that the King of England and the government he represented was no longer a government worthy of subjection.
Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
They then wrote down 28 ways the King had violated them and the law.
Finally, they appealed to God that they would establish a new country that would be worthy of God-ordained subjection.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States
The final sentence of the declaration calls upon one another and upon God’s providence.
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
When we stand and obey God rather than man we can only depend upon God and one another.
Conclusion
So are we subject to our leaders? Yes, we are.
Why? Because God has appointed them. God appointed President Biden and God removed President Trump.
Must we obey them in all matters? No.
Why?
There is no Divine Right of Kings. And we are citizens of two kingdoms. When man’s kingdom disagrees with God’s we must choose God’s and suffer the consequences.
Let’s pray.
This past Wednesday, I was horrified as I watched on TV US citizens storming the capitol. These individuals destroyed and stole property, attacked authorities, broke onto the senate and house floors, and occupied offices. I thought to myself, “I can’t believe what I am seeing!”
I never thought I would see the day when citizens of this country would storm the US Capitol to try and stop a lawful procedure. Something in this country has changed. There has been a shift.
Then I noticed something else. At first, I looked past it. But then I say it. The flags. The flags and banners came to the forefront of my view.
The rioters carried flags and banners.
Many of the flags were the US flag hung upside down. Others carried flags that featured President Trump’s name and image.
But in this crowd of rioters, there were several who carried flags that bore another name. And that name was Jesus.
The name of Jesus was on Capitol steps. The name of Jesus was climbing over the barricade. The name of Jesus was knocking down the Capitol doors.
Some of these people were doing these things in the name of Jesus.
So this raises some questions.
- Does Jesus approve of this protest?
- Does Jesus approve of this insurrection?
Or the question this message and the next will try to answer
Is it okay for a Christian to overthrow his country?
Today we will begin to answer that question – is it okay for a Christian to overthrow his country?
And in answering this question, we will learn our number one priority to our government.
Let’s Pray
Open your Bible to 1 Timothy 2
Our First Responsibility In 1st Timothy, Paul lays out our first responsibility to our community and to our leaders.
What could it be?
Let’s read the passage:
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
The Bible is very clear.
Our first responsibility toward all humans is to pray for them.
Paul uses three general terms to cover the idea of prayer.
- Supplication – which is to ask
- Prayers – which is to communicate with God
- Intercessions – which is to ask on behalf of someone
Sometimes the Word is making a distinction within a list. Here I think the Word is using three ways to say the same thing for emphasis.
There is a fourth term that is a bit different from the first three – “Giving Thanks”
Two things immediately stand out.
- Paul does tell us who to pray for – everyone and especially our leaders.
- Initially, Paul does not tell us what to pray. He only tells us to pray. I say initially because I do think a verse later he gives us what we can pray.
So what would a first-century believer pray for on behalf of all men?
What do you pray for today?
- Health needs
- Work and financial needs
- Family struggles
- Marriage struggle
When you pray for leadership – for the president, for the governor, what do you pray?
- Protection
- Policies
- Moral behavior
The early church father, Tertullian, helps us understand what 1st-century believers may have prayed. He writes,
“We pray for all the emperors, that God may grant them long life, a secure government, a prosperous family, vigorous troops, a faithful senate, an obedient people; that the whole world may be in peace; and that God may grant, both to Caesar and to every man, the accomplishment of their just desires.”
- It is one thing to pray for someone. It is another thing to give thanks for them.
You probably know 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
That means we give thanks for the people and circumstances we like AND for the people and circumstances, we do not like.
Why does God want us to give thanks for all men and all leaders?
Why even would God want us to pray for all men and all leaders?
When you sincerely pray for someone and give thanks for someone – if that someone is someone who you do not like – your prayers and gratitude for that person keep bitterness away.
Gratitude keeps bitterness away.
It’s easy to pray for the people you love.
It’s easy to pray for the folks you agree with.
But what about the person who has hurt you?
What about the person who has wronged you?
What about the leader who upsets you or disturbs you, or disgusts you?
That is not so easy.
When you pray and give thanks, God can use that to keep you from becoming bitter.
I also think God is doing something with what He is asking us to do.
- Ask for their needs
- Pray in general for them
- Pray specifically on their behalf
- Then give thanks for them
Think about that person you are very angry with. Think about that person who you do not want to pray for.
If all you had to do was pray for them then your prayers might be what theologians call Imprecatory Prayers.
What are Imprecatory Prayers? Well, the Book of Psalms has several Imprecatory Psalms. David wrote them while he was on the run.
Imprecatory Psalms are psalms when David asked God to judge, bring down curses, and calamity upon his enemies.
So yours might sound like this:
“Dear God, rain down fire on my ex-husband”
“Heavenly Father, strike my teenage daughter’s tongue!”
It’s hard to call upon God to curse someone when you must follow that prayer up with words of gratitude.
“Dear God, strike Joe dead! But thanks for the two kids he gave me” doesn’t ring true.
Prayer + Gratitude does not equal Bitterness.
Prayer + Gratitude gives you a look into the heart of God.
Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:43-45
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
There are people in your life who have hurt you. Pray for them and find a way to give thanks.
Even here in this church, there is probably someone who has disappointed you and you struggle to pray for them. They have wronged you and you omit them from your prayer list. They have hurt you and you want God to hurt them back.
God asks you to pray for them and to give thanks.
Do not let bitterness set in.
Do not let your prayers become a weapon.
No one has been wronged more than God. And He blesses even the worst of humanity.
When you pray and give thanks for all men then you get a glimpse into the heart of God. You live our life on earth as God lives in heaven.
Responsibility to Our Leaders Let’s talk about our responsibility toward our rulers.
Our first responsibility as a citizen of this country is to pray for and give thanks for our rulers.
Think about the situation in Rome and what we have here in the U.S.
We have something that the Roman citizen did not have. We have the vote.
The great civil rights leader, The Honorable John Lewis, once said, “Voting is the most powerful non-violent tool we have.”
The ability to vote is powerful but I respectfully disagree with Mr. Lewis.
The most powerful non-violent tool we have is prayer. Every believer in every situation has the ability and opportunity to pray.
In the U.S. we have the vote and prayer. But a believer in North Korea does not have the vote. But they do have prayer.
I said earlier in this message that Paul does not initially tell us what to pray only that we should pray.
But in 1 Timothy 2:3-4 he does give us one thing we should always pray for on behalf of all men, especially our leaders.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
The one thing we should always pray for when we pray for all men and our leaders is for their salvation.
Over the years and over the presidents, my prayers have been varied. A few have even been Imprecatory.
But the most consistent thing I have prayed for in regard to our leaders has been for their salvation.
I pray even today that President Trump repents of his sin and turns to Christ for salvation.
I have prayed similar prayers for almost every president.
If we want true change in our country, true change will only come when our leaders believe on Christ. Not until then. So we should pray for their salvation.
Why Should We Pray? We’re almost done. But I have held back the best part of this passage – the ultimate WHY WE SHOULD PRAY.
This is found in the second part of verse 2.
Our first responsibility is to pray and give thanks. Why should we do that?
...that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence
We pray for all men.
We pray for rulers.
We pray for their needs and their salvation.
Why? So they will leave us alone.
So we can lead a quiet, peaceable life.
So we can raise our kids, do our jobs, worship our God without them interfering.
Isn’t that what you want? Don’t you want the government to do its job to do and leave you alone?
Yes, but you’re thinking, “I already have that.”
But you’re looking at this verse through western eyes.
Think about the Christian family in North Korea, or Egypt, or Iran.
They just want to live a quiet life. They want to raise their kids. Go about their work. Worship the Savior without the threat of some leader kicking down their door and dragging them off to prison because they love Jesus.
Think about the people who originally received and read 1 Timothy.
In the recent newsletter, I told you to try and determine who the emperor was at the time Paul wrote 1 Timothy.
The answer is Nero.
What do we know about Nero?
- He covered Christians in pitch, hung them on poles, and set them on fire to use as torches in his garden.
- Nero murdered his mother, his aunt, his first wife Octavia (who was also his step-sister) and murdered his second wife by kicking her to death (She was pregnant at the time.)
- He then married two different men. The first he castrated and the second looked so much like his second wife that Nero dressed this man up in his second wife’s clothes and called him by his dead wife’s name.
- And he burned Rome down and then blamed it on Christians. This led to the empire-wide persecution of believers.
But Paul in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 says we are to give thanks for and pray for him.
If Paul can pray for Nero, you can pray for ___________________.
Next Sunday we will have a guest speaker, Pastor Matt Robinson. When I return on the 24th we will continue to answer the question,
Is it okay for Christians to overthrow their country?
But today you learned that your first responsibility is to pray for all men, especially your leaders, and to give thanks for them.
I told the church last week that Mayberry is gone and it’s not coming back. The little town and its lifestyle featured in the Andy Griffith Show is gone forever. In fact, The America of Mayberry has been gone for a long time. America didn’t change last November when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the election. American has been in a state of change for generations.
This change has brought to the US the decline of Christianity and the reality of persecution.
For that reason, I want to take 2021 and prepare our church for this coming persecution. So for the next several months, we will study:
- Our Responsibility to One Another and our Responsibility to our community
- Our Responsibility to Our Government
- How to Test the Spirits
- How to Endure Hardship, Suffering, and Persecution
- How to Evangelize and Disciple When We are Not Permitted
- The Things We Must Die For
In today’s lesson, we will set an important foundation for this series. We will establish a base upon which all the other messages must be built.
And I will share with you four ways that we can avoid the coming persecution.
Let’s Pray
The Foundation
Everything every church does must be based on some key Scripture. Obviously, all Scripture comes from God. All Scripture is equal in importance. But when it comes to the mission and purpose of the church there are five passages that must come first.
Let’s first turn to Matthew 28:19-20
Gotherefore andmake disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I amwith you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
What is the popular name for this passage? (The Great Commission.)
A Commission is an instruction or a command given to a group of people or possibly to an individual.
In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus commissioned His apostles, His disciples, and all local churches to do something.
That means whether you are Wakefield Valley Bible Church or Westminster Baptist, you have the same marching orders. Whether you are Church of the Open Door or St. Paul’s in downtown London, God has the same expectation.
A secret house church in China is under this commission. A small group of worshippers meeting under a tree in Kenya are commissioned the same.
The Great Commission is the Mission Statement for every church ever planted. Every small group. Every Sunday School class. Every Christian ministry.
What did Jesus commission us to do?
- Make Disciples of Every Nation
- Baptize them
- Teach them to obey everything Jesus taught
What is the promise of this commission – Jesus will always be with us.
Why do you think this promise is important?
One reason is that when we go about accomplishing the Great Commission, it will seem like no one is with us. We will suffer attacks from Satan and the world.
We must always know that Jesus stands with us as we go about completing His commission.
Every Creature
I did promise to share with you how we can avoid this coming persecution. But first, let’s look at:
Turn to Mark 16:14-18
Years ago I learned that the passage in Matthew 28 is not the only Great Commission. There are actually four more.
In Mark 16:14-18, we find one of these four. I want to share this and the other commissions with you. When I do I want to point out what I have identified as the key teaching in each.
Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the worldand preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved;but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And thesesigns will follow those who believe:In My name they will cast out demons;they will speak with new tongues; 18 they[b]will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them;they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
It sounds like Matthew’s but I will point out the preaching of the gospel is not to be exclusive. We are to share the gospel with every creature.
People naturally like to be with people who are like them. What’s the expression? “Birds of the feather flock together.”
For that reason, you end up with places like Little Italy and China Town. This desire to group culturally is not necessarily sinful, but it can lead to prejudice and segregation.
The Jews at the time of Jesus, possibly even the Apostles, were very nationalistic and inward-focused. They did not easily relate to other cultures.
But here, Jesus commands them to leave this mindset behind and to reach everyone with the gospel.
A quote attributed to Martin Luther King Jr. is that “Sunday is the most segregated day of the week.”
Consider your church. Look around at the congregation where you worship. How representative of the surrounding culture is it?
I like what Ed Stetzer says about this.
Mr. Stetzer says
“People like the idea of diversity. They just don’t like being around different people,” “Maybe their sense is that church is the space where they don’t have to worry about issues like this,”
He goes on to say, “If you don’t like diversity, you’re really not going to like heaven.”
But Jesus has called us to not segregate but to share Christ with everyone, regardless of race, gender, or even sexuality.
He is calling us to share the gospel with people who make us uncomfortable.
But don’t let my illustration make you think only black and white, only race.
What about sharing Christ with someone who hates you? That applies here as well.
Look at John 15:18-19
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yetbecause you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
On the one hand, Jesus tells us to share with everyone. On the other, he tells us that since we are His we will be hated.
Jesus is telling us to share with those who hate us.
God has called us to share Christ with every creature
America is changing. Christianity is in decline. These changes will soon be felt here. As we go forth and share the gospel with every creature, most of those we meet will hate us. With that hate will come persecution.
The Full Gospel
Persecution is coming, but there is a way we can avoid it. I want to share that with you. But first lest look at Luke 24:44-49
Turn to Luke 24:44-49
We looked at this passage a few weeks back. But we need to return to it with the Great Commission in mind.
44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written,and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance andremission of sins should be preached in His nameto all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 Andyou are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
Many churches teach many things other than the gospel. Sometimes they teach good works. Sometimes they teach morality. Often the sermons address current events.
But Jesus called upon us to teach the gospel.
What is the gospel?
It is the fact that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again on the third day for our eternal life. It is a command for repentance – a turning from sin and a turning to Christ.
This needs to be the heart and soul of preaching.
I first heard this illustration from J. Vernon McGee. And I have told it over the years. Here it is again.
In England, there is a chapel built over 200 years ago bearing these words over the door: "We Preach Christ Crucified."
The chapel's early pastors did preach Christ crucified. People came with testimonies of how lives were changed, and there was vitality in the church.
But time passed. Vines grew over the motto "We Preach Christ Crucified," until it read-only, "We Preach Christ." The men who stood in the pulpit named the name of Jesus Christ but preached a social gospel of good works and morality.
The vines continued to grow until the motto read "We Preach." And they did. They preached philosophy, ethics, politics, and literature. But not Jesus Christ.
Not long after that, the little chapel was emptied.
I grew up in a church that would be classified a “We preach” church.
Jesus on the cross and the empty tomb was displayed in the stained glass windows. A crucifix hung over the altar to remind us of His death.
The prayers we recited recognized that Jesus died for sin.
But when the priest entered the pulpit to preach, he never once told me why Jesus died and what I needed to believe for salvation. Never in all my years did I hear the gospel taught.
We must preach the fact that Jesus died and rose again. And we must tell people why this is essential.
Persecution is coming. Our country is changing. But we must share the gospel with everyone. Even if it costs us, We must preach Christ crucified and risen.
Sin and Salvation
Soon we will get to what I promised, how Wakefield can avoid the coming persecution. But first, turn to John 20:19-23
19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you!As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
At first glance, this commission is like the others. But I believe there is something very important in it that the Holy Spirit through the Apostle John wants you to know.
Jesus sent these disciples and sends us. That is the same.
Jesus empowers us with the Holy Spirit. That’s new. I’ll address that later.
The thing that really stands out to me is the ministry of the church in regards to sin. Look at verse 23.
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
We know that Christ has commissioned the church to share the gospel with all nationalities, all peoples, even those who hate us.
We know that we are to make disciples of them and to teach them to obey everything that Jesus has spoken.
And now we know that God has commissioned the church to proclaim the hope of forgiveness found in the gospel and the curse of unforgiveness retained by those who reject the gospel.
Let me ask you a few questions:
- What motivates God to forgive sin?
- Why would God not forgive someone?
- Why is that important?
- What ultimately happens to the person who accepts the gospel?
- What ultimately happens to the person who rejects the gospel?
God has commissioned the church to proclaim this truth – there is sin and death, but then there is salvation in Jesus Christ.
Today, not every church calls sin a sin.
There are many reasons for this; here is one reason. Cultures change what sin is and is not
I’m not good with math. How many years back is 2015? (5-ish)
What is significant about the date of June 26, 2015?
(the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all state bans on same-sex marriage, legalized it in all fifty states, and required states to honor out-of-state same-sex marriage licenses in the case Obergefell v. Hodges.)
As a country, our laws changed. What was once wrong in society, is now allowed.
Countries change. Laws change. People change.
But here’s a question - does God change? (Numbers 23:19,Hebrews 13:8,James 1:17)
I live in a community and interact with all types of people in the community. I believe that I should be gracious to all who I interact with. I believe we should treat each other with kindness and respect.
But as a pastor of this church, it is essential that I proclaim both the curse of sin, the destination of the sinner, but also the salvation that can only be found in Jesus.
America has changed and will change even more. Persecution is on the horizon. But we as a church must continue to proclaim that Jesus forgives sin and saves the sinner from eternal hell.
Empowerment and Company
One last section and then I will share how to avoid the coming persecution. That will be good to know. But first turn to our last commission
Turn to Acts 1:4-8
This is the last commission we will examine.
And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you haveheard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water,but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6* Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you toknow times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive powerwhen the Holy Spirit has come upon you; andyou shall be [a]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea andSamaria, and to theend of the earth.”*
There are two important teachings in this commission.
- When we do the work Jesus has called us to do, we are not alone nor are we without power. God has given us the Holy Spirit to do this work.
That means many things. Here are two.
- It means that anyone can make disciples, not just professional clergy. Why? Because every believer has been filled by the Holy Spirit.
- It means that when we are in a hard place, a place where we are not accepted, a place where we are suffering or under persecution, then we know we are not alone, God is with us.
There is a second thing that stands out in this passage.
- God has called us to reach our surrounding community as well as the world.
In fact, I personally think that our heart for local, personal, evangelism, is the true measuring stick for a heart of missions. Not foreign missions.
Come back to me. Stop thinking about your upcoming lunch. I want you to hear from me.
I greatly value the fact that we support foreign missions. It means a great deal to me that we send about 25 percent of our budget to people doing God’s work in the Philippines, Turkey, the continent of Africa, Argentina, Japan, and even Brazil. That number equals about $41,000 dollars per year.
But how much money in our budget is allocated to local outreach? And how much did we spend?
More importantly, do we only write a check and ask the people on that bulletin board to witness on our behalf or do we share Christ as well?
Let me dive even deeper with this last question.
And this question will be directed to both you and to me.
When is the last time you witnessed to someone?
We can no longer hide behind our missionaries and hope they will witness on our behalf.
God commissioned us to make disciples, not just write checks.
Conclusion
Mayberry is long gone. It left long ago. America changed long ago. And it will continue to change.
With this change will come even greater persecution.
I believe persecution will come upon us.
But I have promised all along a way or ways we can avoid this persecution.
Here are four ways we can avoid the coming persecution:
- Stop preaching to every person Christ crucified and risen. If we stop that, persecution will pass us by.
- Stop telling people that sin is sin and salvation is found only in Jesus. If we stop doing that, then persecution will pass us by.
- Stop witnessing to our neighbor and to the world. If we just turn inward and leave everyone alone, then persecution will pass us by.
- Stop making disciples and teaching the words of Jesus to those who attend this church. If we stop doing that then persecution will not come.
The way to avoid the coming persecution is to disobey the Great Commission.
Is that what you want to do? (NO)
So since we have decided to
- Share the gospel with everyone, even those who hate us
- Tell people about sin and salvation
- Witness to our neighbors
- To make disciples and teach all to obey Christ
Since we have decided to obey the Great Commission, then persecution will come. So now let’s prepare.
Let’s Pray:
“Please God forgive us, forgive me, for not obeying the Great Commission.”
Sometimes bitterness overwhelms us. But God has a way of taking your bitterness and turning it into something better.
What is the solution to our broken culture? There are many things that can be done, but there is the ultimate answer.
God sees you and God listens to you! We are always heard and seen when we spend time with God.
If God exists why do people suffer? And why, especially, do believers suffer? This episode of Faith in the Valley will answer these questions.
Dr. David Jeremiah, in his book I Never Thought I Would See the Day! identifies three types of atheists.
- Atheists due to Circumstances. People are atheists by circumstances because they were raised apart from the gospel. Ephesians 2:12 and Acts 17:22-23 are examples of such.
- Atheists by Choice. They know the truth but choose to reject it. Psalm 14:1; 53:1 and Romans 1:18-20
- Atheists by Lifestyle. These are God-believers who their life as if there is no God. 1 Corinthian 2:10-3:3
How To Respond
Voddie Baucham in Expository Apologetics says:
- Be biblical
- Be easy to remember (and understand)
- Be conversational
John 4
Always relate to people. Jesus didn’t let barriers stop Him you from relating. Verses 7,9
Introduce God or faith. In verse 10, Jesus introduces God.
Make Jesus the solution to the problem. In verses 13-14 Jesus makes Himself the solution.
Point out their problem. In John 4:16-18 Jesus introduces the problem—the woman’s sin.
Do not let them take you off track. In verses 21-24 Jesus does not let the woman take the conversation off of the gospel.
Present the truth in such a way that they must make a decision. In verse 26 Jesus presents the most important truth and now she must respond to it.
Application
Whether a person chooses to reject, lives like they reject, or were just raised that way, we witness to them all the same—We share Jesus as the solution to their problem, which is sin.
It is NOT your job to change their minds. That’s the Holy Spirit’s responsibility. It is your job to present the truth.
Edmund Burke said, "Evil prevails when good men do nothing." That is the sad story of Eli in 1 Samuel. And it is our story today.
Check out this episode as we look at the contrast between the sons of Eli and Samuel. And we ask ourselves, Now that we know about it, what are we going to do about it?
Who is Your Hero? Hannah's Hero 1 Samuel 2:1-2
Hannah had prayed with a bitter heart. Now her heart expresses joy.
Joy is lasting but happiness is fleeting.
Hannah’s joy comes from her position “in the Lord.”
“My horn” is in reference to power.
Hannah’s power comes from her position “in the Lord.”
The greatest power over people is sin. But those that are in Christ have power over sin. Romans 6:5-14
She can smile at her enemies because the Lord has saved her. Nothing and no one can take that from her. Romans 8:31-39
God is Unique 1 Samuel 2:3-8
If it is unfit for others to hear it is unfit to say.
Everything you do and say must be done knowing that the Lord is the God of knowledge.
God is the hero of those who need heroes. See also Matthew 5:3-6 and James 4:6
Christ is Empowered 1 Samuel 2:9-10
How the Lord blessed Hannah:
- The Lord gave Hannah the power to go home without Samuel. 1 Samuel 2:11.
- The Lord gave her an opportunity to visit her son on a regular basis. 1 Samuel 2:18-20
- The Lord blessed Hannah with more children. 1 Samuel 2:21
- The Lord allowed Hannah to see her son grow in God. 1 Samuel 2:21
- The Lord gave Hannah a prophecy that is the first utterance. 1 Samuel 2:10.
Your Hero, Too Is it happiness or joy that fills your heart?
What has power over you? People? Emotions? A situation?
Have you trusted in the Lord’s salvation or on in your own strength?
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The unrelenting prayers of a barren woman changed a nation and the world.
With this lesson, we begin a new study on the Life of King David. I have included below a sample of the sermon handout.
The Situation Israel needed godly leadership. Judges 21:25
God used a nobody from a family of nobodies to be an answer to this problem. 1 Samuel 1:1-2
The Impact 1 Samuel 1:4-8
Elkanah gave her a double portion or he gave her only one portion.
Regardless, Peninnah tormented Hannah.
This happened every year. 1 Samuel 1:7
It affected her marriage, her physical and mental health, her marriage, and possibly her relationship with God.
The Emotions 1 Samuel 1:9-18
The bitterness of soul is desperation. It is the feeling of abandonment.
Bitterness results in hostility toward others. Peninnah? Elkanah? God?
When you feel like God has abandoned you, the only way you can turn is toward God. Matthew 27:45-46;
Luke 23:46
Jesus taught about persistent prayer. Matthew 7:7
and Luke 18:1-7
Yes, He Cares 1 Samuel 1:19
Samuel means “God has heard.”
God is omniscient. He hears everything, at all times, and with equal volume.
God shows He cares by saying “No” and by saying “Yes.” Romans 8:28
God answered the prayer of a nation by answering the prayer of a nobody.
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The best way to listen is to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, or just about any podcast app.
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Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/. I would especially love to hear from you if you have believed on Jesus.
Welcome to Faith in the Valley. For these show notes, I have attached a sample of my Sunday morning sermon handout. Where the words are underlined I typically leave a blank and then coordinate the handout with the slides.
The podcast episode does not match the Sunday sermon exactly, but they are close. Let's see if this tool works.
Your Takeaway You will never be right if you get Jesus wrong.
Handout Confusion John 3:9-17
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a religious leader.
Being born again or born of the Spirit confused Nicodemus. John 3:4, 9, 10
Jesus used earthly things to illustrate heavenly things. John 3:6-8, 12
So Jesus used an Old Testament story to help Nicodemus understand.
Snakes Numbers 21:4-9
The Jews complained about God and Moses.
God punished the Jews with venomous snakes.
They begged that God remove the snakes but God did not. Rather God provided a cure Verse 8
All who looked at the bronze serpent were cured because God was willing and able to cure them. Verse 8
Why Jesus? John 3:14-16
-
“Lifted Up” is in reference to His crucifixion.
-
We have a sin problem. John 3:17, we are already condemned See also Romans 6:23.
- God does not take away the problem, rather He provides a cure.
-
That cure is Jesus’ death on the cross.
-
Jesus came to give eternal life to those who believe in Him.
-
Everyone may come and be saved.
-
Jesus is willing and able to save you.
-
God does this because He loves you. See also 2 Peter 3:9
Now what? Believe in Jesus and be saved.
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Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/. I would especially love to hear from you if you have believed on Jesus.
Stephen Colbert defines a fool as "someone who doesn't act according to logic...who doesn't act according to social norms or social expectations of what a human reaction would be."
Today we will study what it means to be a fool for Jesus Christ. You see, being a fool is one thing, but being a fool for Christ is something altogether different.
Your Takeaway If you are a fool for Jesus Christ then you have all the wisdom and all the power you will ever need.
The Lesson The Cross Causes Division - 1:05 1 Corinthians 1:18-19
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
Wisdom and Signs - 2:50 1 Corinthians 1:20-23
Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
A Fool for Christ - 5:45 Stephen Colbert defines a fool for Christ. He says, "Someone who is willing to be wrong in society or wrong according to our time, but right according to our conscience which is guided by the Holy Spirit."
Did that surprise you?! Well, I would guess that Steven Colbert is full of many surprises.
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The best way to listen is to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, or just about any podcast app.
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How can a church achieve unity if everyone is different? Great question. But it is possible. Unity doesn't mean we dress alike, look alike, or vote alike. Unity is found in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and the cross.
Takeaway The cross is the solution for church division.
The Lesson Definition of Fellowship - 2:25 Philippians 2:1-2
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Jesus is the Example - 4:40 Philippians 2:3-8
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Reasons for Division at Corinth - 6:05 1 Corinthians 1:10-12
Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”
The Cross is the Solution - 8:20 1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
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The Church is broken. Not just our local church, but most churches which surround us. Even those that we deem to be successful. Why? Well, the short answer is that people are broken. And people populate churches.
Open your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 1.
Takeaway Before we dive into the lesson, here is your takeaway. The church is not about you. The church is not about your pet program – missions, choir, Sunday School, Small Groups or children’s ministry. The church is not right to life, the poor, or social justice.
The church is about Jesus Christ and fellowship with Him.
Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
To best understand 1 Corinthians we need some introductory materials.
Corinth is located in South Central Greece on the isthmus of Corinth. An isthmus is a narrow piece of land that connects two larger pieces of land. I will have a link in the show notes of a map of Corinth and there you should see the isthmus.
Today there is a canal that cuts the isthmus in half, allowing ships to avoid going around Peloponnese peninsula. But at the time of Paul the canal was not there. Rather, ships were pulled out of the water, placed on logs and dragged across the land. This type of portage made Corinth a great place of business because sailing crews would be delayed until their ship reached the other side.
Corinth was a very immoral city. Most cities have immorality, but Corinth took it to another level. The focal point of Corinth was the Temple of Aphrodite. Aphrodite is the ancient Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation.
In ancient Corinth, there were over 1,000 temple prostitutes, both women and men who served the Temple of Aphrodite. Every day and every night they would pour into Corinth to sell their bodies in the name of worship. Many of the church members of Corinth were saved out of this wicked lifestyle.
Listen to 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
I wonder how many of you find yourself under the heading of “such were some of you...”? If we are honest, most of us fall under that heading.
But the good news is that Jesus has made you, believer, holy. And He replaced your gross sin with His righteousness. So we can say “such WERE some of you.”
And maybe that is part of the problem in the church today. We have forgotten two important things.
- The first thing we have forgotten is “such were some of you...” We have forgotten the sin out of which we have been rescued.
- The second thing we have forgotten is “such were some of you...” We have forgotten, or possibly never learned, that when Jesus saved us He made us holy and He credited us with His righteousness.
The key verse in 1 Corinthians is 1:9. I must credit Ray Stedman for this observation. I found it in his book Letters to a Troubled Church. I’ll put a link to this book in the show notes.
In verse 9 of 1 Corinthians 1 we key verse of the book.
Look at 1 Corinthians 1:9 again,
“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The purpose of this epistle to restore our fellowship with Jesus Christ our Lord.
The church is broken and we are broken because we no longer walk in fellowship with Jesus. Every human, regardless of their parentage, regardless of their accomplishments, regardless of their physical appearance – every human was created to have a relationship with God. But sin has broken that relationship.
This is why you struggle with many things. This is why your family struggles. Because we are not in fellowship with Jesus.
And of course, this was the problem with the church in Corinth. They believed on Jesus. They loved and worshipped Jesus. But they were out of fellowship.
Why was the church in Corinth out of fellowship?
- Division
- Judging of Others
- Sexual Immorality
- Marital Problems
- Self-centered worship
Is there a cure for this broken fellowship? Yes, and we can see it within the first nine verses.
Look again at 1 Corinthians 1:1-9. Count how many of these verses reference Jesus.
1* Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord*.
Our focus in life and the focus of the church must be on Jesus Christ.
Today most churches are self-centered organizations. They base their ministry around the personality of the pastor, or around a key ministry, or around a key family, or around a cause.
Music, media, and style, will often be the drawing card to a church. Not a church’s relationship with Jesus.
Two Examples Years ago I was on staff at a church that had AWANA. AWANA is a children’s outreach and discipleship ministry. Occasionally, I would give tours to the people who would happen by the church. Some, when they saw the AWANA banner hanging in the hallway, would say, “this is the church for us because you have AWANA.”
Now I have no issue with AWANA. But these people would make a decision on a church before they heard one sermon, before they sampled one worship service, and before they even met the senior pastor. They were drawn to a church based on a children’s ministry. Their selection had nothing to do with Jesus.
Another example is this - I know many people who have left a church because their self-interests were no longer being met. And then they picked a church to meet that unmet need. In all the cases I know of, not one person left because of a lack of focus on Jesus.
In the next lesson, we will begin to study a church divided. And to prepare for it you should read the first 4 chapters of 1 Corinthians. And as you read, ask yourself – am I a divisive person?
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Links Isthmus of Corinth
Letters to a Troubled Church by Ray C. Stedman
In every church, there are only two worshippers. Whether it is a large church or a small, you will find only two worshippers in attendance.
What am I talking about? Turn to Genesis 4 and I will explain. There are only two worshippers in any church. There is either an Abel or a Cain. As we study this idea you need to ask yourself and God which am I?
Today, as we continue with our series, Getting to Know God we need to learn just one thing.
Your Takeaway Today’s Takeaway is this: Worship only out of faith not out of obligation.
Genesis 4:1-8 Let’s read Genesis 4:1-8
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
6 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
Cain and Abel, that story is familiar to us. Cain is the first murderer. He killed his brother Abel.
It appears that Cain was jealous. He was jealous because God favored Abel’s offering but did not favor his. But what does this have to do with worship? How does this story link to the idea that there are only two worshippers?
Let’s look first at the text of Genesis 4 and try to answer the question why did God respect the worship of one and not the other.
3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
We can immediately see a difference in the two offerings. Cain’s was produce and Abel’s was sheep. Now, this could be because Cain was a farmer and Abel a shepherd. But for this moment I want to focus not on what was offered but the value of the offering.
Cain’s brought available produce. There was nothing to distinguish it. But Abel’s was the firstborn and the fat. It seems to me that Cain just chose what was available but Abel picked his best.
When you worship, when you attend your local church do you bring your best? Or do you just get it done?
I have been there. Maybe you are there now. When we worship on Sunday are we just getting it done, are we not bringing our best?
Note what God says to Cain.
6 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
On any given day, even Sunday, sin desires us. It is there crouching, waiting to attack. As believers, God has given us the ability to not fall prey to sin. We can rule over it. See Romans 6.
God says to Cain that he did not do well. God is asking Cain to reevaluate his worship. God wants Cain to understand where he came up short. He is extending mercy to Cain. He wants Cain to be aware of sin and to defeat it.
Some people struggle with correction. Some take the feedback, learn the lesson, and adjust. Some, though, react poorly to correction. They become defensive, they speak out or act out. Cain reacted poorly and acted out.
4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
There is not much I can add to the murder of Abel. The Scripture says it all. But I will ask you this. How do you react when you are corrected? Do you listen and learn or do you bristle and burn? Which are you?
God gives us a caution. Sin is crouching, waiting to attack. Do not let your thin-skinned, defensive nature lead you to sin even further. Because when you do, there is the possibility of even worse behavior.
Hebrews 11:4 Remember, there are only two worshippers in this church – Cain and Abel. So we need to dig deeper to understand what happened. We need to understand this so that we can see who we may be. Turn to Hebrews 11:4
Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Note first that Abel’s sacrifice was “more excellent.” Why was it “more excellent?”
- Abel picked from his best. He gave his best. We have already touched on that.
- Abel’s sacrifice had life and Cain’s did not. I know that the Law permitted grain offerings. So to offer produce was permissible. But this offering is long before the Law. I believe that God expected an offering to reflect the coming sacrifice of Jesus. Look at Hebrews 12:24. "And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
- Abel’s sacrifice was by faith, not Cain’s. That means that Cain’s sacrifice was out of obligation. But Abel’s heard God’s Word and worshipped accordingly. “Faith -cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:17. Abel heard God’s Word on worship and Abel responded correctly.
So Abel gave his best. Abel’s sacrifice reflected the coming sacrifice of Jesus. And Abel’s sacrifice was by faith.
Cain did not give his best. He did not reflect Jesus in his worship. And he worshipped out of obligation, not faith.
In every church, there are only two worshippers. An Abel and a Cain. Which are you?
God only respects our worship when we worship in faith, when we acknowledge the Savior in our worship, and when we give our best.
When we do NOT worship correctly, we know that God is forgiving. He is merciful. Like He was with Cain. God only wants us to evaluate and correct. So He warns us of the sin that is lurking. He tells us to control this sin or it will get the better of us. Sadly Cain did not.
It is my hope that as the Word convicts you of your wrong reasons to worship, you will not get defensive or act out. But you will listen to the Holy Spirit and respond to the hand of mercy extended to you.
The Holy Spirit and the Bible will point out our sin. If the Holy Spirit is pointing out your sin, you need to listen and learn. You need to ask God for forgiveness.
Christ died for your sins. He paid the price for not only your sins but the sins of the whole world.
If you know that you are a sinner, believe on Jesus, on His death, on His resurrection. Trust in Him. When you believe like that, God will forgive you of your sins – sins you have committed, sins that you will someday commit. All forgiven by God.
Imagine that! You can have forgiveness if you would only believe.
This is Mark Jones the pastor of Wakefield Valley Bible Church. Let me take a moment and invite you to join us in worship. We meet Sunday mornings at 10:45 for worship. And you are invited.
We are a simple church that worships God with a simple faith. We believe what you have heard preached on this podcast – That Jesus is God the Son. That He died for our sins. And that He rose again three days later. And we believe that God will forgive and save anyone who believes the same.
So if you live near us and are looking for a church family, then please visit.
Don’t forget to visit our website, Wakefieldbible.org. There you find out more about the church and at the website, you can also sign and receive a bible study on the gospel of John. Just sign up at the website and we will email to you a wonderful resource to help you better understand John’s gospel.
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Even after many years of being a Christian I still struggle with temptation. I know what the Bible says. I try to do my best. But still, I am tempted to do wrong.
Maybe that is you as well. You know what is right but you are tempted do wrong.
Takeaway Today we will study the subject of temptation. And I want to give you a simple takeaway. If you put Jesus first you will overcome temptation.
James 1:13-15 Open your Bible to James 1:13. From James, I want you to understand some basics about temptation.
James 1:13-15
"Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death."
The first two things I want you to know about temptation can be found in verse 13.
- God is untemptable. That’s probably not a real word, Untemptable. But you get the idea. Why is God untemptable? Because God cannot sin. That is known as the impeccability of God. God cannot sin. So God cannot be tempted
- God does not tempt you. He may test you. But God will never tempt you to sin.
Look back at verse 14. It reads, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” Our response to temptation comes from within us. We are drawn away by our own desires. Temptation acts like a lure. Like a fishing lure.
We are like a fish in a pond, and Satan, the old crafty fisherman, casts his line in our direction. On the end of his line is a big fat worm with a hook hidden inside. Our own inner desires cause us to strike and to take that lure into our mouths only to find out that we are now caught.
Finally, verse 15 completes the picture. Think of it this way - temptation leads to desire, desire births sin, and sin leads to death. What kind of death – physical or spiritual? The answer is one, or the other, or all of the above.
Genesis 3:1-6 Last week examined Lucifer. We studied his creation, his beauty, his wisdom, and his fall. Now we see him again. And what is he doing? He is tempting Eve and Adam to sin.
Look at Genesis 3:1-6.
"Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate."
Lucifer, his name now is Satan, Satan is that crafty serpent. He brings his wisdom and his appeal to Eve and tempts her. Notice how he does it.
In verse 4 he suggests that God is a liar. Satan says, “You will not surely die.” God had said in Genesis 2:17 that they would surely die. So Satan calls God a liar. Remember last week when we looked at John 8 we learned that Satan is the father of lies.
Another thing Satan does, is he attacks God’s character. In Genesis 3:5 he says, “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Satan is saying that God is holding something back from Adam and Eve. That God is protecting His place by not giving all knowledge to Adam and Eve.
And the final aspect of Satan’s temptation comes from his own desires. Remember from our last study, Lucifer desired to be God. And now he is tempting Eve with the same thing. He says “your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God...”
And Adam and Eve fall. The temptation is a strong lure. Their inner desires well up and they take the bait. Temptation stirred up desire. Desire gave birth to sin. And sin led to death, both physical and spiritual.
Think about it. All temptation comes to you in this way. You are lured by Satan, or the world, or your own desires. And before you know it, sin has taken hold. And then death arrives. Spiritual death, possibly physical death. Or both.
Matthew 4:1-11 Here Satan tempts Jesus three times. He tempts in verses 1-4. He tempts Jesus again in verses 5-7. And the last time Satan tempts Jesus in verses 8-11.
In the first temptation, Satan wanted to see if Jesus, the Son of God, would obey His father or follow His own desires. Jesus uses Scripture to tell Satan that "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
In the second temptation, Satan wants to see if Jesus is prideful. But Jesus responds with Scripture again and tells Satan, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”
Finally, Satan offers Jesus a shortcut to glory. God that Father had a plan for Jesus, but Satan was saying that Jesus can shortcut that plan if He would just worship Satan.
Jesus responds to this temptation with, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"
What is our takeaway? Put Jesus first and you will defeat temptation. I think this summarizes how Jesus responded. Jesus put God and His Word first and defeated this temptation. And if you follow this pattern, you too will defeat temptation.
Temptation is a reality for everyone – believers and unbelievers.
If you are a unbeliever, then it is almost impossible for you not to sin. These sins add up. If you are a good person and only sinned 3 times a day, then in your lifetime you will sin approximately 70,000 times.
Go before the traffic judge with 70,000 speeding tickets and let me know how that goes.
Go before God the judge with 70,000 sins and see what will happen. But 70,000 is not really what is important. One sin is enough to separate you from a holy God.
So we are in a bad way. But God sent His Son Jesus to die for these sins. To take them to the cross and to pay the price for your wicked behavior. Now all you need to do is believe on Jesus. Trust in Him. He died for your sins. Believe that. He rose again for your eternal life – believe that. Accept the salvation He offers.
This Mark Jones and you have been listening to Faith in the Valley. If you are looking for a church that approaches faith simply then please visit. If you are tired of the noise. If you desire to know and relate to the people you worship with, then please visit.
I would define Wakefield as a simple church. Our worship is simple. The faith we practice is simply focused on Jesus. We simply study the Bible and love the Savior.
So if you live near New Windsor Maryland, please drop by. Our morning service begins at 10:45 AM. We would love to have you visit and worship with us.
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Sign up for our show notes. When you sign up, you receive an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever a new episode is released. Just CLICK HERE and sign up today!
The best way to listen is to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, or just about any podcast app.
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Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/. I would especially love to hear from you if you have believed on Jesus.
I want to be brief with this lesson. I want to do it quickly. Why the rush? Because today we will study Lucifer and I have no desire to give Lucifer any significant time.
Here is today’s takeaway. Lucifer wants to fill you full of lies and he wants to steal God’s glory.
Ezekiel 28:12-15 Open your Bible to Ezekiel 28 and find your way to verse 11.
Here we find a lament for the king of Tyre. But it is understood by most Bible scholars that this lament is for Lucifer, the fallen Cherub.
“You were the seal of perfection,
Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The sardius, topaz, and diamond,
Beryl, onyx, and jasper,
Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold.
The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes
Was prepared for you on the day you were created.
14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers;
I established you;
You were on the holy mountain of God;
You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,
Till iniquity was found in you."
Facts About Lucifer * God created Lucifer with perfect wisdom and beauty. * Lucifer moved between the throne room of God and the Garden of Eden. * He was a covering Cherub, meaning he protected God’s holiness. * Lucifer was created holy.
But Lucifer gave all of that up. Lucifer turned away from God and rebelled. Look again at Ezekiel 28:15
"You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,
Till iniquity was found in you."
Isaiah 14:12-14 Now turn to Isaiah 14:12
“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’"
This passage describes the fall of Lucifer.
In verse 13 we see that Lucifer desired to be above God and that he desired to be worshipped as God.
But in verse 14 we see that Lucifer wanted even more than that. Lucifer wanted to be God. Look again at verse 14, here are the words of Lucifer,
“I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High."
Imagine that. A created being, an angel, desired to be God. But that is exactly what Lucifer desired. And God cast him out to earth.
Application What can we apply from a study of Lucifer?
Let’s use John 8 to help us apply what we have learned. Read John 8:44. In John 8, Jesus is debating the Jewish leadership. It is a heated debate. Read Jesus’ words.
"You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it."
So here is your application. When you reject the truth of the gospel, when we reject the salvation Jesus is offering, then you are a child of Satan. God is not your father and you are condemned forever.
But when you trust on Jesus Christ, when you accept the truth of the gospel, then God is your Father and you are saved forever.
So which are you? In whom do you trust? It is my hope and prayer that you have put your trust on Jesus Christ. You are a sinner – Jesus died for those sins. You are far from God because of your sin – but if you believe on Jesus you will be a child of God.
Now if you have never done this. If you have never believed on Jesus, then do it now. Believe today.
- Tell God about your sins.
- Believe that Jesus died for these sins.
- And, ask Him to save you.
This is Pastor Mark Jones. You have been listening to episode 37 of Faith in the Valley. If you have enjoyed this podcast, please review it wherever you listen. Your reviews help the podcast go father.
Also, if you live near New Windsor Maryland, please visit. Wakefield Valley Bible Church is a non-denominational Bible church focused on Jesus Christ. I know you and your family would be welcomed. Thanks, and I will speak with you soon.
Sign Up & Subscribe Remember to review, like and share the podcast. This helps spread the good news of Jesus around the world.
Sign up for our show notes. When you sign up, you receive an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever a new episode is released. Just CLICK HERE and sign up today!
The best way to listen is to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, or just about any podcast app.
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Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/. I would especially love to hear from you if you have believed on Jesus.
Several people have said, “If you aim at nothing you will hit nothing.” And you know what? I believe that. A life lived without purpose is a life without focus, a life without a destination, a life without a goal.
In the Bible, God tells us the purpose He has for our lives. He tells us in general or overall terms. He then sets out some specific purposes again for all of us. And He guides us to understand our Personal Purpose, the purpose He has just for you.
In today’s lesson, we will look closely at the Overall and Specific Purposes. In our church life groups, we covered the Personal Purpose. I will give the listeners a link to that handout and you can use it to determine your personal purpose.
Our Takeaway for today is Our Purpose is God’s Purpose for Us.
Overall Purpose Let’s start at Genesis 1:26
It reads,
"Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..."
Now I want you to see the shift in language that has occurred. In Genesis 1:3, God said, “Let there be light” and in Genesis 1:11 God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass,...” But here in Genesis 1:26 God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..."
This shift in language indicates an increase in importance. Mankind has a higher nature than anything else created.
I will pause and ask you a question, What does it mean to be created in God’s image? ....... There is no easy answer to this question. I have taught that it means we have been created Body, Soul, and Spirit - three parts, like God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That may be right, but I’m not certain.
Adam Clarke in his commentary teaches that man was created with some of the attributes of God, namely Knowledge, Holiness, and Righteousness. He used Ephesians 4:24 and Colossians 3:10 to make his point. I suggest you look these verses up on your own.
What we need to understand is that God has created us in His image and because of this image, God has given us a very detailed purpose.
Let’s pick up at Genesis 1:26 and read through Genesis 1:28. I will make a few comments as I read.
"Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"
The Overall Purpose stated in that passage consists of 5 things or five parts.
- Dominion – Mankind was created capable of ruling the world. If Clarke's idea on the image is correct – knowledge, holiness, and righteousness, we can see how man before the fall was created capable. Today we do not do a very good job ruling the world. And that is because of sin.
- Fruitful – This means to be creative. Man and woman were to work side-by-side and create. They were to fill the world with their creations. And they were to fill the world with God’s image.
- Multiply – Simply this. Have children and fill the world with more image bearers.
- I want to use the King James word here which is Replenish. In other translations, the word is "fill." An in 1611 when the King James Bible was printed the word Replenish meant to fill. The Hebrew here means to fill or even fulfill.
- Finally, we are to Subdue. When add subdue to dominion you come up with a benevolent leader.
So those are the 5 things or parts to our Overall Purpose. All of humanity is to carry out these 5.
Specific Purposes Now let’s consider Specific Purpose. I will move through these quickly.
-
Work. Work was not a result of the Fall. God gave work to mankind before the fall. God gave two forms of work to man.
-
Physical Work
- Intellectual Work
Look at Genesis 2:15, and verses 19-20. The man was to till the garden, physical, and name the animals, intellectual.
- To know God’s Word. In Genesis 3:2-3 Eve does not fully know God’s command regarding the tree in the center of the Garden. That leads me to a question. What happens to those who do not know the Word well. Look at Ephesians 4:14
"...that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting..."
When you do not know God’s word well you are easily deceived. This is a wicked and twisted world. Every day unbelievers espouse all types of twisted ideas and send them our way. How do we know if their ideas are valid? We compare them to the word, the Bible. Unfortunately, when we are ignorant of what God said then we carried away and tricked by these smooth talkers.
- To keep God’s commands. In Genesis 2:16 God gave clear instructions. And sadly these instructions were not followed. Why do command your young children not to touch the stove? To be mean? To be controlling? To take away things of pleasure. No! You tell them not to touch the stove because you love them. God commands us because He loves us.
- Is to have a relationship with God.
Look at Genesis 3:8
"And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden."
I believe God walked in the garden daily. I believe when He did, He met up with Adam and Eve. I believe the three walked together and built upon their relationship.
Sadly today we struggle even relating to one another. And a relationship with God seems so foreign to many of us. But God created you for this purpose.
In Genesis 3:8 Adam and Eve hid from God. Why? Because of sin. They did not want to be with God because of their sin.
If you have never put your trust on Jesus Christ. If you have never believed on Jesus, then you have no relationship with God, and you cannot live up the purposes that God has for you.
Believe that you are a sinner. Believe that Jesus died for those sins. With your sins be forgiven you can have the relationship for which you were created.
Speaking to believers for a moment – If you are harboring sin in your life, then you need to confess that sin to God your father. Although a believer cannot lose their salvation, they can harm the relationship when they go through life with unconfessed sin. Sit down with God and tell Him about your sin. 1 John 1:9, says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Thanks for listening to Faith in the Valley. If you are interested in learning about your Personal Purpose I have a link in the show notes to our Life Group handout. This handout does not stand alone very well because a leader uses it in a group, but I believe you can still use the tool. Just look for the Session-3 handout in the series titled Getting to Know God. Here is the link.
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This past week I was at the church Saturday morning for a meeting. Around 11 AM, when the meeting was breaking up, Russ, one of our elders entered the church carrying large box. In the box was a mixer, some bowls, and ingredients for a project. There were eggs, milk, coconut flakes, and saltine crackers.
I knew quickly what Russ was up to. He was going to use the church kitchen to make Cracker Pudding. That’s right, you heard correctly, Cracker Pudding. Cracker Pudding is a Carroll County favorite. Locals to this area love it. Since I did not grow up here, I have had to warm to the idea of pudding made with crackers and coconut. But I can report that it is good. Unique but good.
But Russ was doing something else as he created his pudding. Russ was living out the image of God. Everyone is created in the image of God. And so all of us live out or bear His image. We model certain characteristics of God as we live life.
One thing we know about God is that He is the creator. And from that, we can conclude that God is creative. Since God is creative we are creative too. Whether it is baking or gardening, painting or knitting. Maybe you have a knack to organize a file cabinet, or you can tell a good story. Whatever! You are creative because God is creative.
And that is what I want you to know about God today. God is creative and because of God, we are creative too.
Last week we started a new series, Getting to Know God. In the first episode, we learned that God is holy and He makes His children holy too.
Today we will see the creative side of God. And one thing I want you to know is that all people are creative because God is creative.
So let us begin at Genesis 1:1-5
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.
One the first day God created time and matter. Before Genesis 1:1 only God existed.
In verses, 3-5 God creates light and divides it from the darkness. With the creation of light and dividing it from darkness, God created time.
On the second day, God created the atmosphere.
On the third day, God created the seas and the continents.
Look at Genesis 1:9- 13
Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
11 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 So the evening and the morning were the third day.
And on the fourth day, God created the sun, the moon, and the stars. And on the On the fifth and sixth days, God created all marine life and He created the animals.
And of course on the sixth day God created man, male and female He created and He created mankind in His image. Listen to part of Genesis 1:26 "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..."
We will talk more about the image in the next episode but understand this. We are creative because God is creative.
When we knit, or write poetry, or make cracker pudding, we are living out the image of God given by God to us.
Here is a question that needs to be considered. What can we learn about God through looking at His creation?
I heard somewhere that there are 800,000 species of beetle. What does that tell us about creator God?
Another question, What attributes of God do we see in His creation? Omnipotence all powerful, Omniscience all knowledgeable.
This week take five minutes and read Psalm 19. This Psalm, Psalm 19, describes the two revelations of God – Nature and God’s Bible.
God communicates to us through both. As you read Psalm 19 I want you to learn one thing from it. Both the creation and the Bible declare the glory of God. It reveals His attributes.
And when you finish Psalm 19 flip over to Romans 1:20
Romans 1:20 says,
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse..."
You see. When we look up at the stars we know there is a God who created them. We know it in our hearts. When we stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon or look up at the Austrian Alps, we know deep down inside that God created these things. All of us are without excuse.
God has revealed Himself to every one of us. So stop denying God. Stop pretending there is no God. Rather call out to God, right now, wherever you are, and ask Him to save you. Denying God is a terrible sin, especially when you know that He is for real. The only way you can be forgiven of that sin is to ask His Son Jesus to save you.
The Bible says in Acts 16:31 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and though shalt be saved."
When should you do that? You should do it right now. Believe that Jesus is God the Son. Believe that He died for your sins. Turn from your sin and believe on Him. You are without excuse, my friend. You know that God is real. The creation proves that. So stop running from God and start believing on Him.
Thanks for listening to Faith in the Valley. Below, I have a link to Russ’s Cracker Pudding recipe. It's a one-page PDF of the recipe. Also, Denee, one of the ladies in the church shared a simple drawing that explains dominion. I did not cover this in this message but I thought you would like to see her doodle. I will include a link to that as well.
Resources Russ' Cracker Pudding Recipe
Denee's Doodle
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Sign up for our show notes. When you sign up, you receive an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever a new episode is released. Just CLICK HERE and sign up today!
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Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/. I would especially love to hear from you if you have believed on Jesus.
In Colossians 1, starting at verse 9, Paul begins to pray. He is praying for the church in Colossae and he is praying for us.
What does he pray? Paul has some specific requests. Among them is his desire for us to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. And later, Paul prays that we would increase in the knowledge of God.
This request of knowing God should come as no surprise. God created all humans to have a relationship with Him. Any relationship is based on knowing something about the other. God knows all about us. He wants us to know about Him
We begin a series today titled Getting to Know God. This study will start at the beginning and pursue a knowledge of God from creation to Christ. We will follow what preachers of old called the Scarlet thread or road through the Bible.
But before we step on that scarlet road, we need to learn a thing or two about God.
Today we will learn that God is holy and He makes His children holy too.
Turn to Isaiah 45:22
“Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
This is a great verse because it shares three important things about God. It gives us insight into His heart or His passion. It is God’s heart that people repent or turn from their sins. “Turn to me and be saved” God said.
When we use the word repent or repentance, it means just that – to turn from our sins and to turn to God for salvation.
First, you were walking that way, the wrong way, toward judgment. Then you turn this way, toward God and toward salvation. That is the heart of God.
It reveals another thing about the heart of God. It is God’s desire that All People repent and be saved. “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth!” There is no race, nationality, or people group which is kept from God. God desires that all turn to Him.
Finally, the verse reveals an attribute of God. Some of you may be asking what is an attribute? Fair enough. An attribute is a quality or characteristic of God. It is who God is. Notice what God declares at the end of Isaiah 45:22? “For I am God, and there is no other.”
Several times throughout Isaiah 45 God has made the same statement, “I am God, and there is no other.” See if you can find them.
What does it mean? It is a way of saying “God is holy.” God stands alone. God has no peer. God is holy.
I know that some of you think that holiness is about being morally good. And it can mean that. But here, in Isaiah 45, the meaning of holiness is to be set apart. To be unique.
So from Isaiah 45:22 we learn that God wants all people to turn from their sin and turn to Him and be saved. And we learned that God is holy.
I think too much about things. Sometimes that is a good thing and sometimes it is not so good. Here it is good.
I am thinking about God’s holiness. And I realize that God created me to have a relationship with Him. But I’m not holy. And I know enough Bible to know that Hebrews 12:14 says, “without holiness no one will see the Lord.”........
Uh Oh. God wants us to turn to Him. He wants us to be saved. But He is holy. And He demands holiness from us.
Here is a truth. If we gathered all the humans that are living or have ever lived and asked them to put all of their holiness on a scale. It wouldn’t add up to one milligram of holiness. In fact, we would all bend down and look at that scale and there would be nothing on it. We have no holiness to offer God.
So what is a person to do? Look at 1 Corinthians 1:30
“But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption..”
When a person believes on Jesus, that person is placed in Christ. When we are placed in Christ we receive wisdom from God. We have righteousness. That would be Christ’s righteousness given to us. We have sanctification and we have redemption.
Redemption simply means salvation. Because we are in Christ we have salvation.
But what about that word “Sanctification”? What does it mean? Sanctification means to be set apart, to be holy. When we believe we are placed in Christ and in Christ we have wisdom, righteousness, salvation, and holiness.
And that is what God wants you to know about Him – That He is holy and that He has made His children holy too.
If you are not a believer, then you have no holiness. The solution is easy. Turn away from your sin and turn to God. Ask God to forgive you and save you. Believe that Jesus died for your sin. And your sin will be removed, and you in Christ will be holy.
This is Mark Jones, the pastor of Wakefield Valley Bible Church. I will see you next week with another lesson from Faith in the Valley. Don’t forget to visit our website Wakefieldbible.org for more information about the church. Also, if you are free this Sunday and live in the area, drop by and worship with us. We would love to meet you.
Thanks and God bless.
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Sign up for our show notes. When you sign up, you receive an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever a new episode is released. Just CLICK HERE and sign up today!
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Here is the truth of the matter. Sin brings death. Adam brought death on mankind with his sin in the garden. But Jesus brings life. His person, sacrifice, and resurrection bring life. This life defeats death.
Today we will look at the seventh and final sign performed by Jesus and recorded in John’s Gospel. This sign is the raising of Lazarus from the dead.
Before we do, I would like to take one minute and review the other six signs.
- We started in episode 26 with Jesus changing the water into wine.
- In episode 27 Jesus healed the nobleman’s son.
- In episodes 28 and 29 Jesus heals the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda
- In episode 30 Jesus feeds the 5000 and in episode 31 He walks on water.
- And in episode 32 Jesus healed the man born blind.
Each sign declares and aspect of Jesus. Each reveals a portion of His glory.
Today we will see clearly that Jesus gives life. Or another way to say it is Jesus defeats death.
John 11:1-4
Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
4 When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Jesus in verse four declares what will soon happen. The sickness of Lazarus will not result in permanent death. Rather, something special will happen so that Jesus may be glorified.
Jesus waits for two more days after hearing of the illness. Why did He wait? To allow Lazarus to die and to be dead for a number of days.
You can see this intention in verses 11-14
These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”
12 Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.
14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.”
So Jesus and the 12 travel to Bethany, which is about 2 miles from Jerusalem.
John 11:17-25 with my comments
17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.
(So Lazarus must have died shortly after the sisters first sent word to Jesus. As was the custom, he was buried immediately.)
18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles[a] away. 19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house.
(Remember, Martha was the lady of action and Martha the contemplative one.)
21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”
(Martha greets Jesus with a statement of faith. But I do not think that Martha expects Jesus to raise Lazarus from the dead.)
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
So here is the lesson for today. Jesus is the giver of life. He himself is the resurrection and the life. When someone believes on Jesus Christ, their once dead spirit is made alive. And the believer’s spirit will never ever die. When a believer in Christ dies, their spirit and of course soul lives on. The body is put in the grave. But when the end comes, even that body is resurrected as a new eternal body. And is joined with the believer to live forever.
When a believer in Christ dies, their spirit and soul live on. The body is put in the grave. But when the end comes, even that body is resurrected as a new eternal body. And is joined with the believer to live forever.
Martha responds to this great I am statement with “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
Let’s pick up at verse 32 when Mary comes on the scene.
Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?”
They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
37 And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”
Well, Jesus could’ve done just that, but He is about to do something even more amazing.
But before I go to the actual raising of Lazarus I want to take a stab at answering a question. This question concerns verse 35, "Jesus wept." Why did Jesus weep?
I think to answer that we have to consider verses 33, "Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled."
In the wording “groaned in spirit” means He was angry. And the follow-on word “troubled” is just that, agitated.
Why was Jesus angry and agitated? And why did He weep?
Mankind was not created for this moment. We were not supposed to be shackled by sin, blinded by Satan, left to live out a life only to die in our sins.
Sin and Satan blinded most of these people from seeing Jesus as God. Even Mary and Martha are lost in the hopelessness of the moment. And standing before all of them is the Resurrection and the life. But most are blind to this fact. And so because of all of this, Jesus is angry, He is agitated, and He weeps.
Now let’s go to verse 43 and watch as Jesus gives life to Lazarus.
43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
Praise God! What a moment. The Great I am, the Resurrection and the Life. Called Lazarus back from the dead. Life re-entered his body. His decayed flesh was made alive again. His dead muscles were empowered again.
A day is coming my friend, in the near future, when Jesus will call all believers from the grave. Their long dead bodies will come back to life. The rotten flesh, the dead muscles, will become new. And we will live forever in this new body in the presence of God.
I wish I could tell you that all who witnessed this event celebrated and believed. But this was not the case. There were some who responded with hate. Just know this. Those that possess death hate life. And the agents of death will do whatever they can to kill life.
And kill they will. They will soon take Jesus and hang him on a cross. But three days later, Jesus will rise again. And the Resurrection and the life will fully and forever defeat death.
That concludes this study on the glory of Jesus in the seven signs performed by the Savior and recorded in John.
I will not release a podcast for the next week. But on the 14th of September Faith in the Valley will return with a new study. We will move through the Old Testament looking for Christ. This will be chronological in design. Starting in Genesis and heading toward the Gospels.
Sign Up & Subscribe Remember to review, like and share the podcast. This helps spread the good news of Jesus around the world.
Sign up for our show notes. When you sign up, you receive an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever a new episode is released. Just CLICK HERE and sign up today!
The best way to listen is to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, or just about any podcast app.
If you live in a country that tries to block Christian podcasts, here is a link to our RSS feed. You may be able to use our RSS to get the podcast.
Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/. I would especially love to hear from you if you have believed on Jesus.
The world is a dark place. Just today, as I was preparing this lesson, a man drove a van up Las Ramblas in Barcelona and killed 13 people and injured another 100.
On any given day, terrible things done to others. Child abuse, rapes, murders. The world is a dark place.
But it is also dark in your local community, where good citizens go about their business doing no harm to others. It is dark because they are blind, spiritually blind, and they move through life lost and hopeless.
Today we will look at the healing of the man born blind. His blindness is both physical and spiritual.
Turn to John 9 and let us look at the sixth sign performed by Jesus.
So what do we need to learn today? Our takeaway is this. Jesus is the only light that can drive away the darkness that surrounds us.
Let’s read John 9:1-7
Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.
Like the paralytic man at the pool of Bethesda, Jesus sees this man and decides on His own to heal him. The man did not cry out for Christ. Rather Jesus takes the initiative. We would call this a sovereign decision. Jesus is God and as God, He can make such decisions.
The disciples ask about the reason for the man’s blindness. The Jews at the time of Jesus assumed all suffering was due to sin. But this is not the case. Just read the book of Job. Not all suffering is due to sin.
Another assumption we often make is that the man was blinded by God so that later at this moment, God could heal him and get the glory.
The Greek here is flexible and I believe that God looked at this man and decided to change the man’s situation. God decided to heal the man and rightly get the glory.
Jesus then makes the statement that gives us the focus of our study. He says, in verses 4 and 5, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Jesus has work to do, which is directed by God the Father. His time is limited on this earth and while He has time He is going to declare His light, which is the gospel.
Our time is limited as well, my friends. Any moment God can call us home. But some of you are saying, “No too soon, I have things to do.” And I would say to that “Yes you do.” You have family, friends, and neighbors to share the gospel with.
So Jesus heals this man and the man then bumps into some of his neighbors.
You can read John 9:8-12 on your own.
These neighbors knew this blind man. But when they see him healed some do not recognize him.
Why don’t they recognize him? All their lives and all of his life they had seen him live and function as a blind man. Maybe he walked with a stick like some blind do today, and now he is walking without this tool.
Before, his eyes were dead in appearance. Now they have life. The man had been changed by this healing. And the people struggled with these changes.
You, too, were changed when you met Jesus. Not necessarily in a physical sense, but in a spiritual. And when this happened some said to you, “You’re different. You’ve changed.” Some of you lost friends and even family because of the change Christ worked in you. This man’s situation reminds me of my former change. And it should remind you of how Jesus changed you.
After meeting his neighbors, the healed man is brought before the Pharisees. They debate with the man, his parents, and the man again in verses 13-34. This debate is confrontational, it is exciting, but most of all it is sad. It is sad because the Pharisees show themselves to be blind.
Let us start with John 9:13-17
They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”
16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.”
Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.
17 They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?”
He said, “He is a prophet.”
Many of the Pharisees are upset because Jesus broke the Sabbath by healing the man. He broke it by spitting on the ground and using His spit to make clay. It is a violation to knead clay on the Sabbath.
This divides the Pharisees. Some say He cannot be from God because He broke the Sabbath. Others say He must be from God because He heals the blind. Eventually, the Sabbath lovers win out.
Next, they bring in the parents. The parents testified that this is the son and that he was blind since birth. But that is all they say because the Pharisees threatened to excommunicate anyone who follows Jesus. Excommunication from the Synagogue would be a serious thing. So they go silent.
And then for the final exchange, the Pharisees bring the man back. Look at verses 24-34. As I read I want you to take notice of the healed man. He is capable of standing his ground. He is not intimidated by the educated Pharisees.
So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.”
25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”
26 Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”
27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”
28 Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”
30 The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
34 They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out.
Did you see that? This blind beggar is well spoken and has a strong backbone. He never wavers. He never falters.
We should be so bold. When called to defend your faith, do you falter or do you stand strong? This man stood strong.
Charles Stanley, writing for In Touch Magazine listed eight reasons why your faith may falter. Here are the eight:
- A situation goes against our human reasoning.
- We allow feelings to overcome our faith.
- We don’t see God in certain circumstances.
- We listen to negative counsel.
- We focus on our circumstances.
- We may be ignorant of God’s ways.
- We might feel guilt over past sins.
- We could be listening to the devil.
I know these 8 went by quickly. I will include them in the show notes. So go to wakefieldbible.org/podcast and look for episode 32.
Many of Dr. Stanely’s observations apply to this man’s situation, but he does not falter. He stands firm.
Now we return to the great purpose of this healing.
Let’s look at verses 35-38 first.
Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”
36 He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”
37 And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.”
38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.
Here is a short application of these verses that are important to our overall lesson. Jesus takes the time to share the gospel with just one person. All along it was about bringing this one man from darkness to light.
Often churches and ministries get taken up with large group evangelism – rallies and revivals. I wonder how many people truly get saved through such. Not as many as we think.
Most salvations happen when one person shares Christ with one other person. How were you led to Christ? Most of you through the witness of one other person.
God has called you and me to share the light. To share the gospel with others. This week why not start with just one person.
As you and I share, we need to be aware of the three types of spiritually blind people. When you share the light of Jesus with others, they will be blind. We need to understand how they may be blind.
First, here are some general principles about the unsaved spiritually blind.
- Someone who is spiritually blind does not see Christ for who He is. Jesus is God. And the spiritually blind cannot see Him as God.
- Also the spiritually blind cannot understand Scripture. They can read it and even make some sense of it, but they cannot understand it. Why? Because to understand the Bible you must have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Those that are spiritually blind either do not have the Holy Spirit or have so quenched Him that there is little understanding. Hmmm?
- The spiritually blind love the sinful world or are heavily drawn to it. Here is 2 Corinthians 4:4. “...whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”
So those three things identify the most of the spiritually blind. These spiritually blind are unsaved. But there is an another type of spiritually blind person. Look at 2 Peter 1:8-9
For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
So the second type of spiritually blind you may encounter is a saved person who is blind. This happens when a believer stops walking in the Spirit. They no longer live as it is described in 2 Peter 1:5-7. Like the unbeliever, they are drawn toward the world. And, although they are saved they have grieved and quenched the Holy Spirit to the point that Scripture rarely speaks to them.
According to 2 Peter they have become blind, or at best shortsighted, which means they live only in the present and only for themselves. And they begin to forget or neglect what God has done for them.
The final form of spiritual blindness is what Jesus is addressing at the end of John 9:39-41
And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”
40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?”
41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.
The Pharisees suffer from a form of blindness that is unique to any religious person, especially if their religion has a measure of the truth in it.
The Pharisees knew the Scripture, they had an understanding of God and His Bible. But they could not come to accept Jesus as God and Savior.
I bet you know people like this. Their religion gets in the way of faith. What can we do? Really the answer is the same no matter which type of blind person we encounter.
- Pray for them.
- Share the gospel with them.
- Allow the Holy Spirit to do the rest.
Only God can remove the blindness.
Now I wonder, do you see yourself in any of these three? Do you reject Jesus as God? Does the Bible not speak to you?
My friend, you need to quickly, even now ask God to save you. Believe on Jesus Christ. Trust in Him. Ask God to open your eyes.
When God opens your eyes you will see Jesus as God. You will see your sin. And you will see that only Jesus can save you.
Sign Up & Subscribe Remember to review, like and share the podcast. This helps spread the good news of Jesus around the world.
Sign up for our show notes. When you sign up, you receive an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever a new episode is released. Just CLICK HERE and sign up today!
The best way to listen is to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, or just about any podcast app.
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Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/. I would especially love to hear from you if you have believed on Jesus.
Resources
8 Reasons Our Faith Falters, by Dr. Charles Stanley, https://www.intouch.org/read/blog/8-reasons-our-faith-falters
Sometimes life is overwhelming. Moments, situations, goals, whatever. You have no idea how this thing will work out. How will you overcome this situation? How will you accomplish this goal? How will you endure this moment?
Maybe your family member has cancer.
Maybe your spouse has left you.
Maybe you’ve started a new job or created a new business.
Whatever that thing. You wonder, how will this work out?
And this is what you need to know - Jesus is God of the How.
And that is our takeaway for today’s lesson. Jesus takes care of the How, we just need to be faithful.
We are still pursuing the glory of God in Jesus Christ.
To learn of God’s glory, we are looking at the seven signs performed by Jesus which are recorded in the Gospel of John. Today we continue in John 6. Let’s read John 6:16-21
Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. 19 So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. 20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
Both Matthew and Mark record the same event. I want us to look at Mark’s version now and examine Matthew’s later. Here is Mark 6:45-52
Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. 46 And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. 47 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. 48 Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. 49 And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 51 Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. 52 For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.
Now let’s put John and Mark together.
- Jesus puts the 12 in a boat and sends them back across the sea of Galilee.
- They rowed about 3-4 miles. But the going gets tough because of the storm.
- During the 4th watch or between 3-6 am Jesus comes walking across the water.
- At the end of Mark’s account, we learn that the hearts of the 12 were still hardened toward Jesus. In other words, many still did not believe that He is God.
I was born in Jacksonville Florida. For the first 5 years of my life, we lived along the panhandle of Florida – Lake City, Tallahassee, and Panama City. But shortly after turning 5 we moved to Atlanta.
When we moved to Atlanta my parents rented an apartment. The apartment complex had a pool. It was around this time that I learned the story of Jesus walking on the water.
So, like any kid, as soon as the pool opened I had to try. And you know what!?! I mustered up all the faith I had and stepped out on the water.....and I sank. On the first step, I went straight to the bottom of the pool.
Why is it we cannot walk on water? Boats and water bugs can move across the top of the water. Why can’t I? Sciencemag.org explains it this way.
“There’s a simple reason you can’t walk on water: Humans are so big that the force of gravity overcomes the so-called surface tension of water, making us sink.“
So how did Jesus walk on the water? Jesus is fully God and fully human. Why didn’t He sink? Did He change the surface tension? HOW did He do it? I don’t know HOW He did it. The HOW does not matter. I only need to be faithful. We just need to believe.
I don’t know HOW He did it. The HOW does not matter. I only need to be faithful. We just need to believe. Remember, that is today’s takeaway. Jesus is God of the How. We only need to be faithful.
Let’s pursue this idea a bit further. Turn to Matthew 14:22. Here is Matthew’s version of the story. It is much the same but with something different and surprizing. Let's start at verse 25.Now in the fourth watch of the
Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
Now in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
Before we look at the text I want you to answer a question.
What in your life seems overwhelming or impossible?
It should be something you must deal with, something that confronts you.
I have a few. Let me share one. I know that God called me to Wakefield to lead this church to a place of health and growth. And there was a time, about a year and a half ago that I thought we were on the way to such. Now not so. We have in the last year lost people, and I am very concerned. I want to figure out how to fix this problem.
What about you? What is that thing that seems impossible? Maybe your spouse or child is far from God. You want desperately for them to turn to Christ. But it seems impossible.
Maybe your marriage is struggling. Maybe your job offers you no future. Maybe......well you fill in the blank.
You can see what this situation ought to be but you cannot figure out HOW to get there.
Recently, Andy Stanley, in his book Visioneering reminded me that God is God of how and we just need to be faithful.
Look again at the story. As Jesus is walking up to the boat, Peter says in verse 28, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Now Peter has spent a lifetime on the water. He’s not some 5-year-old kid at the local pool testing the laws of Science. Peter knows that people sink when they step out on the water. But he has faith in Jesus. And if Jesus tells him to walk on the water, then walk on the water he will.
Peter doesn’t know how he will walk any more than he knows how Jesus walks. Peter will let Jesus worry about the how. Peter will just be faithful. So in verse 29 Peter gets out of the boat and starts to walk on the water toward Jesus.
It is natural that when God begins to take care of the how we either begin to take personal credit or become fearful of the things we cannot control, the things that surround us. And that is what happens to Peter. In verse 30 we read, “But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And of course, Jesus saves Peter.
I know your situation looks impossible. I know that the problem or goal you have is overwhelming. But you need only to be faithful. Do what God has called you to do and let God take care of the How.
Now when I say that we only need to be faithful, I do not mean that we just sit passively waiting for God to work. As we respond in faith there are steps to take. Remember Peter did get out of the boat. And Peter did take steps toward Jesus.
As God takes care of the HOW you should be doing what God has called you to do. God has called all churches to fulfill the Great Commission. At Wakefield, we made the Great Commission into our mission statement which is to Share Christ and to Build believers.
I need to be faithful to that. I need to share Christ and build believers. Those who attend Wakefield need to be doing the same. We need to be doing our part. And as we do that, God will take care of the how.
I asked you earlier to think about that overwhelming thing. Now here is a simple question to move you forward as God takes care of the how.
What actions could you take as God takes care of the HOW?
Take a few minutes. Write down what you can be doing. What will be your steps of faith?
Here’s an example of what I am talking about. If your spouse is unsaved and that seems overwhelming, what actions can you be doing as God takes care of the how?
Here are a few that come to mind:
- Pray
- Live the life that the Bible teaches you to live.
- Submit yourself to the direction and needs of your spouse.
- Share truth of Jesus with your spouse.
At the end of Matthew, the 12 worshipped Jesus and declared Him to be the Son of God. Even after the feeding of the 5,000 they still did not understand who Jesus was. But when He walked on the water, when Peter did as well, and when Jesus reached down and saved Peter, they knew that He was God the Son.
When we begin to walk in faith and allow God to take care of the how, then we will see Jesus for who He is - God the Son.
All of what I taught today was taught with a believer in mind. So if you do not believe on Jesus Christ, here are a few short words for you. You really only have one overwhelming thing in your life. Only one thing!? Yes, and here it is. The problem is you have unforgiven sin.
Now some of you are thinking, “That doesn’t seem so bad.” But truly it is. Because of unforgiven sin, you are far from God. You were created to be a child of God, to have a relationship with God, but your sin keeps that from happening. And some day, when you die, because you do not have this relationship, you will be sent to hell and ultimately the Lake of Fire forever.
So HOW do you fix this? Don’t worry. God has taken care of the HOW. God the Father sent His Son Jesus to take care of the how. Jesus died for your sin. All you need to do is respond in faith.
I love Romans 10:11, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” In other words, there is no hell for those who believe on Jesus. So listener, believe today.
When you can, drop over to www.wakefieldbible.org and use the contact page to say hello. We would love to hear from you. I will see you next time. Bye.
Let’s start with a question. What is your greatest need? What is your deepest longing? I know mine. And I am certain you know yours.
This question is related to today’s takeaway. Today we must come to understand that Jesus is able. And He is able to fulfill your greatest need and your deepest longing.
We are in a lesson series, pursuing the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. We want to see the glory of Jesus. Initially, we are looking at the seven signs performed by Jesus and recorded in the gospel of John.
So far we examined 3 signs.
- The turning of water into wine
- The healing of the nobleman’s son
- The healing of the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda
Today we will watch as Jesus feeds the 5,000. And like the others, Jesus will reveal something about Himself.
Turn to John 6 and let’s get right to it. John 6:1-15 "After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. Then a great multitude followed
After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.
Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”
One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”
Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.
So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
A couple of observations. Why did Jesus and His disciples cross over the Sea of Galilee? John does not tell us, but Mark does. In Mark 6:31 we see that the people were constantly coming to Jesus and the 12. So Jesus crossed the sea so that they could have some peace and some rest.
Well, it did not work, for as soon as Jesus crosses, the people were there.
Another observation. How does Jesus react when He sees the crowd? Again, not in John but in Mark, we see that Jesus was moved to compassion. For me, compassion is like that of pity. But it’s more than that. Compassion is an emotion that is followed by an action. When we are compassionate we act.
What action did Jesus attach to His compassion? He fed them. He fed them though not just to feed them. He fed them so that they would come to understand who He was and what He could give to them.
Before we get to that, Jesus also uses this moment to test Philip and the 12. Look at John 6:5-6 again.
Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
What was the test? I believe Jesus wanted to see if Philip and the 12 believed that Jesus was able. Is Jesus able to provide for these people? Is Jesus able to meet this need?
Philip fails the test. But Andrew comes to the rescue when he brings a boy who happens to have 2 fish and 5 loaves.
Whenever Jesus performs a sign in John it is to reveal something about Himself. Here He wants the crowd to understand who He is. He wants the people to know Him as Jehovah God.
Jehovah is the name of God. There are many ways we can understand Jehovah.Here are three.
- Jehovah is the God who is near to them who call on Him for deliverance. Psalm 145:18-19
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.
Jehovah hears our cry and brings deliverance. From what do you need deliverance? Overwhelming emotion? The strong grip of sin? Anxiety? Whatever it is Jehovah is near and Jehovah hears your cry. He will deliver you.
- Jehovah is there for the brokenhearted. Look at Psalm 34:18
The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Why do you have a broken heart? Have you lost a spouse to death or divorce? Is your child far from you and further from God? Is there some loss in your life? Jehovah is near. Call on Him. Only He can truly heal a broken heart.
Finally, let’s look at Psalm 31:3. Speaking to Jehovah, David writes, For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name’s
For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name’s sake, Lead me and guide me.
So number 3 - Jehovah provides guidance.
Now how do I make the link between the feeding of the 5000 and Jehovah? That’s a great question. Look at Exodus 16. In Exodus 16 the people of Israel are complaining to Moses.
In Exodus 16 the people of Israel are complaining to Moses. Basically, they are saying that they were better off in Egypt where at least they had food. You should know the story. Moses goes to Egypt. He secures the release of the Israelites from slavery. They depart Egypt, cross through the Red Sea. And now here they are in the middle of the desert with nothing to eat. And the people are complaining. So Jehovah God hears their cries and provides both bread and quail.
Let’s read Exodus 16:12.
I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, "At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the LORD your God."
Jehovah heard their cries. And He delivered them from hunger. Jehovah is always near and Jehovah is always able to provide your greatest need and fill your deepest longing.
How do the people respond to Jesus miracle with the fish and the bread? Do they accept Jesus as Jehovah God? Sadly no.
On your own read John 6:25-the end of the chapter. You will see that they do not accept Jesus as Jehovah God. Nor are they interested in the eternal life which He offers. They just want free food. They reject Him. They reject salvation. They then leave Him and return to their former lives.
Even today I see this. People are told of Jesus. They are offered eternal life through Christ. But they reject Him and continue down the same path they have always traveled. That same path which is far from God.
Today, Jesus is using the Word of God and your circumstances to reveal that He is God. He wants to save you from your sin. He wants to give you eternal life. But yet, many of you still reject Jesus. Many of you turn your back on Jesus.
Today, do not turn away. Rather, turn your back on sin and turn to Jesus. Ask Him to save you. Ask Him to take away your sin and to give you eternal life. Tell the truth to Jesus. Tell Him your sins. Believe on Jesus, that He died and rose again for your salvation. Call on Christ to save you. Do not turn away from Him who wants to save you. Do not turn away from Jehovah God, Jesus Christ.
Sign Up & Subscribe Remember to review, like and share the podcast. This helps spread the good news of Jesus around the world.
Sign up for our show notes. When you sign up, you receive an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever a new episode is released. Just CLICK HERE and sign up today!
The best way to listen is to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, or just about any podcast app.
If you live in a country that tries to block Christian podcasts, here is a link to our RSS feed. You may be able to use our RSS to get the podcast.
Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/. I would especially love to hear from you if you have believed on Jesus.
This is the fourth lesson on the subject of Christ’s glory. I want to remind you of our theme verse, 2 Corinthians 4:6. Here it is from the long forgotten Good News Translation.
“The God who said, ‘Out of darkness the light shall shine!’ is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts, to bring us the knowledge of God's glory shining in the face of Christ.”
And that is what we are attempting in this study. We want to open up the Scripture and search for Jesus Christ. It is like a treasure hunt. When we find Jesus in the Bible we find God’s glory. Why? Jesus, God the Son, reflects the glory of God the Father.
In the first three lessons, we looked at the first three signs of Jesus recorded in John’s gospel. These signs show Jesus revealing the glory of God. Sometimes when He reveals His glory people are happy. And sometimes, when He reveals, people get mad. They get so mad the want to kill Him.
Last week we studied John 5:1-18. Here Jesus healed the man at the pool of Bethesda. Today we return to John 5 to see with greater clarity His revealed glory. But before we do, I think it is important that we come to understand more about the glory of God.
So the question is, what is the glory of God?
God’s glory is a difficult concept to define. Let’s consider the basic understanding of glory meaning light. Both the Hebrew Kavod and the Greek Doxa mean light or brilliant light. Here are two examples of that: Isaiah 60:1-3 and Revelation 21:22-25
In Isaiah and Revelation, we see glory as brightness, a manifestation of God.
But glory must be more than bright light. And it is. Let’s start at Isaiah 6:1-3 In Isaiah 6, The seraphim proclaim the holiness of God. As they proclaim His holiness, they sing, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts. The earth is full of His glory.”
I believe that the glory of God is His revealed holiness. God is holy. He is three times holy, or holiness complete. His glory is His holiness revealed to mankind.
Why is this important? Because when people are confronted by the glory of God, by God’s holiness, they are convicted, and they have a sense of helplessness. Our sin, no matter how small, is gross and great in the presence of the Holy God.
In Isaiah 6:5 this very thing happens. Isaiah, when confronted by the glory of God becomes instantly aware of his sin. He says, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.”
Isaiah cries out to God for salvation. God provides that salvation, and we see it given in a very symbolic manner. Look at verses 6 and 7. "Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.'”
God’s glory is holiness revealed. When we are confronted by God’s holiness there is only one response - acknowledge your sin and call upon God to save you.
Turn to Leviticus 10. In Leviticus 10 I will make a similar connection between God’s glory and His holiness. I will also show you the wrong way to approach God.
"Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.’”
Nadab and Abihu approached through their own strength, they approached God without repentance and without responding to His holiness. They were careless and maybe even flippant in their worship. And God struck them dead.
When God reveals His glory, we become aware of our sin and we should repent and turn to Him because God is holy and to be worshiped.
Now let’s turn to John 5:19 and pick up where we left off last week. There is a great deal in this monologue we are not going to address. I want you to read it carefully. In fact, do that now. Read John 5:16-47.
I will address just one aspect of the monologue. The one thing I want show you in this monologue is that Jesus, God the Son, like God the Father has power over life and death.
Please read John 5:21-27
"For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man"
Jesus is the revealed glory of God, He is holiness personified. Jesus is the giver of eternal life and He is also the one who judges those who reject Him.
I want eternal life and you should want it as well. We receive this life by hearing the Word and believing. Please remember Verse, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."
God is calling you. Those that hear His voice and believe will be saved. Those that reject Him, who do not turn toward Jesus, they will be judged.
The paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda is a picture of this very thing. His limbs were dead or withered. They had no life. Without life, he was condemned. Jesus, though, healed this man. He gave his dead limbs life and instantly the man could walk.
If you are a believer, your story is the same. One day, in your past, you too were spiritually dead with no hope. And Jesus looked and picked you. He spoke and you heard His voice. You turned toward Him. And your dead spirit, incapable of responding to God, Jesus gave it life. And you jumped up and became fully alive.
This happened when God revealed His glory in the person of Jesus to you. And you saw yourself for what you were, a sinner without hope. But God called you and saved you.
There are unbelievers listening to this podcast. You may be one. You hear the voice of God through the Word calling to you. If you are listening and now you see the glory of God in the person of Jesus, turn from your sin and call on Jesus to save you. Jesus is perfectly holy. This holy Jesus loves you and wants to save you.
Jesus has already died for your sin. He has already paid the price for your wickedness. Now Jesus is waiting for you to respond. Please call on Jesus today.
- Believe that Jesus died and rose again for your sin and for your eternal life.
- Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sin.
- Call on Jesus to save you.
There is no reason to delay this. There is no reason to wait. Do it now.
Sign Up & Subscribe Remember to review, like and share the podcast. This helps spread the good news of Jesus around the world.
Sign up for our show notes. When you sign up, you receive an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever a new episode is released. Just CLICK HERE and sign up today!
The best way to listen is to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, or just about any podcast app.
If you live in a country that tries to block Christian podcasts, here is a link to our RSS feed. You may be able to use our RSS to get the podcast.
Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/. I would especially love to hear from you if you have believed on Jesus.
We are on a journey of discovery. Our goal is to understand the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
In the first leg of our journey, we are visiting the seven signs performed by Christ that are recorded in the Gospel of John. These signs reveal the Glory of Jesus.
Our first was when Jesus turned the water into wine. This sign revealed Jesus’ love and mercy toward people. It demonstrated a truth about God – that God blesses both the righteous and the unrighteous. And it also revealed His power over the physical universe.
The second sign we studied was the healing of the nobleman’s son. Again Jesus demonstrated His love and mercy for mankind. It also revealed that God the Son is not hindered by distance, nor is he hindered by a lack of faith.
Purpose Today, in this episode, we go the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus heals a paralyzed man. Open your Bible to John chapter 5. In a minute we will read verses 1-6. But before we do that I want you to look at verses 16-23.
In verses 16-23 we discover the primary reason Jesus heals this man. Of course, Jesus heals the man because he is merciful and because He loves people and because He has pity on this man. But the ultimate reason Jesus heals this man is to declare His deity.
Please read John 5:16-18
We need to understand this fact. Jesus healed the man at the Pool of Bethesda for this moment. He healed the man to force this debate. This debate gave Jesus the opportunity to declare His deity.
Healing Now read John 5:1-6
Jesus goes to Jerusalem because of the Feast Holiday, probably Passover. He makes His way over to the Sheep Gate Pool, called Bethesda. This pool had become a place of healing. John writes that there was a great multitude of sick at the pool hoping to get healed.
The end of verse 3 and all of verse 4 tell a story of the waters and how an angel brought healing. The Scripture relays this story but does not comment on it. In other words, is this the reality or does it represent the myth of the pool? Regardless, if you look at verse 7 you will see that the man expected to be healed if he could only get there first. So the man believed this story.
Now back to verses 5 and 6. Jesus looks across the multitude and picks one man. How did Jesus choose? Here are some choices. You can pick only one.
- The man had been there the longest.
- The man was nicer than everyone else.
- Jesus loved this man more than the others.
- We do not know how Jesus chose.
The fourth answer is the correct answer. We do not know how Jesus chose.
There are two distinct forms of God’s will.
- God’s moral will – Which is recorded in full in God’s Bible.
- God’s sovereign will – Which in large part is unknown to us.
How He chose we can only guess. But we know this, Jesus was exercising His sovereign will. God has a plan and He does not often share His plan with us. We only understand His will after the fact.
From a human point of view, the choice Jesus makes might seem random or worse yet, unfair. But remember, Jesus is God. And He is Lord and God over all of the creation. As God, He will make choices that seem to go against our idea of fairness.
When I say, “God is Sovereign”, what does that mean?
Christianity.com has an answer. The answer contains 6 bullet statements. I suggest you click the link listed below and read the entire article. Here is the one bullet statement from that article.
- “God can do all things and accomplish all things. Nothing is too difficult for Him, and He orchestrates and determines everything that is going to happen in your life, in my life, in America, and throughout the world. Whatever He wants to do in the universe, He does, for nothing is impossible with Him (Jeremiah 32:17).”
God the Son looks at the hundreds, maybe thousands at the pool. All needed healing. And Jesus picks just one man.
God Speaks And that man is healed. Jesus heals this man with His word. Jesus says in verse 8, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."
Take a moment and read Psalm 33:6-9.
As you read, note how God speaks and things happen. Jesus spoke and the man was healed. You see when God speaks stuff happens. And when God speaks to men, men need to obey. In Psalm 33:9 it says, “He commanded, and it stood fast.” When God speaks we need to obey. The man in our story does just that. He picks up his bed and walks.
All miracles are unexplainable events. And this healing is just that – without explanation. If you were paralyzed for 38 years and I gave you a shot that cured the paralysis, it would take weeks and weeks of therapy before you could walk. Why? Because your unused legs would be weak and because you would’ve forgotten the basics of walking. But not this man. This man is up and walking instantly. What a miracle! What a sign that reveals the Glory of Christ!
Jesus is God Take a minute and read John 5:9-13. As you read, notice that the healed man did not know who Jesus was. Remember this - God is not hindered by your lack of faith or your unbelief. God is all powerful, He is sovereign. God will do what God is going to do.
In verse 15 the man pointed out Jesus as the healer. This got Jesus in trouble with the Jews because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. And now we come to the primary reason Jesus healed this man. Jesus loves the man. Jesus had pity and mercy on the man. But the primary reason Jesus healed the man was to declare His deity. Jesus healed this man to declare that He is God.
Read again John 5:15-18
In verse 17, when Jesus stated, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” He declared His deity. He does it in two ways.
- Jesus says, like the Father, He, Jesus is Lord over the Sabbath.
God in Genesis sets the pattern. God works for six days and then rests from His work. But God does not truly stop working – ever! The sun rises and sets on the Sabbath. The planets orbit on the Sabbath. Wildlife is fed, the weather is directed, people are saved, and sadly people are condemned; all on the Sabbath. God the Father does not stop working, nor does God the Son.
- Jesus calls the heavenly Father “My Father.” To declare God the Father as His Father, Jesus has made himself equal to God.
And of course as we read in verse 18, this declaration enraged the Jews and they sought all the more to kill Jesus.
We will stop here. Next week we will pick up with John 5:19. Verses 19 through the end of the chapter is a long important monolog. So we want to give it its own lesson.
Today, we saw Jesus make a decisive sovereign act. Jesus looked across the multitude and selected one man to heal. He healed this man to declare His deity.
Think about this. Although there seem to be times when God is asleep or disengaged, the truth is God never stops working. God is always at work. And to personalize this idea, God never stops caring for you. In your darkest moments, God is there at work. In your greatest triumphs, God is there at work. When you sense His presence, God is there and when you can’t sense His presence, God is there. God is never absent; God is never asleep; God is always there.
Closing Thoughts For the believer, God is there because He has a personal relationship with you. He is answering your prayers, He is receiving your worship, He is enjoying you. But for the unbeliever, I think God is there as well. But God is not there because He has a personal relationship with you. God is there because He wants a personal relationship with you. God is not necessarily answering your prayers, He is not receiving your worship, and I do not think that God is enjoying you because much of your life is centered around your sin.
You can change this. You can have that personal relationship with God. Turn from your sinful ways and turn to Jesus Christ. Admit that you are a sinner. Believe the Jesus died for your sin. And call on Him to save you.
Thank you for listening to Faith in the Valley. If you live in or near Carroll County Maryland, come by this Sunday and worship with us. If you already have a church home, then we want you to faithfully worship and serve there. But if you do not, then please consider making Wakefield your church family. You can find out more about Wakefield Valley Bible Church at wakefieldbible.org.
Thanks again for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and rate and review wherever you listen.
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Resources What Does the Phrase "God is Sovereign" Really Mean?
We live in a self-centered world; a selfie-world. Sadly the church has become a place of self-worship. When this happens, the worship of Jesus is replaced with the worship of self.
Takeaway Don't focus on your glory. Focus on the glory of Jesus Christ.
Wrong Reason The people of Galilee were drawn to the words and works of Jesus. They were not drawn to Him. John 4:45
People followed Jesus for what He could do for them.
People attend church for the same reason.
Last Resort This nobleman “implored” Jesus. He begged Jesus repeatedly. v 47
Why did Jesus initially ignore the man? Because to this man, Jesus was only a miracle worker. v 48
This man’s lack of faith does not hinder Jesus.
Why does God do what God does?
- Isaiah 48:11 – God does is for His name’s sake. That His glory will be supreme.
- Ephesians 1:3-5, 6, 12, 14 – He saves and secures us for the praise of His glory.
But sadly in the church, we have pushed the glory of God to the side and demanded that our needs take first place.
Believer Later the man believes unto salvation. Verses 51-54
Someday when you meet this man in heaven, like you, he will be giving glory to God not worrying about his own needs.
What Are We to Do? Stop focusing on our own glory and focus on the glory of Jesus Christ.
Closing Thoughts Many people are depending on self to go to heaven. But self can never save you. Only Jesus can save.
Stop believing in self and believe on Jesus. The Bible teaches that fact. Jesus says in John 14:6 says, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me."
So the only way to God is through Jesus. Believe that and be saved.
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We walk through this world with our eyes toward the ground - looking down, down at our feet. Maybe there is a practical reason for this. Maybe it is so we will not trip. Or we want to focus on where we are walking.
But occasionally something happens. Something just out of our field of view occurs that causes us to look up. A sunset. A clap of thunder. Or better yet, something we cannot explain. Something supernatural, something miraculous.
Today, we begin a journey, a quest. This quest is to understand the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Our theme verse for this journey is 2 Corinthians 4:6.
"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
So how does this quest begin? It begins by looking up. Taking our eyes off of the now, off of the everyday, the mundane, and looking at the amazing glory of Christ.
Takeaway Your takeaway is: When Jesus reveals His glory, people are saved.
John 2:1-5
Signs Signs point to something beyond themselves. A road sign tells you that a town is 10 miles ahead. The signs recorded in this gospel point the reader to the glory of Jesus.
Relationship So what is happening here with the term “woman”? We are witnessing a change in the relationship between Mary and Jesus.
Jesus is at the beginning His ministry – and with that, Mary is no longer “mom.” Mary is just another woman. Now Mary must relate to Jesus differently. The relationship of mom to son has changed to sinner to Savior.
Regardless of what you may have heard, Mary is a sinner – Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Mary is a sinner in need of a Savior. Mary needs to trust on Jesus Christ and ask Him to forgive her.
Hour John 7:6, 8, 30; 8:20; 12:23-24
Jesus Saves John 2:6-11
When Jesus reveals His glory, people are saved.
Jesus does save the newlyweds from embarrassment. But being saved from embarrassment does not save someone from sin.
Closing Thoughts Jesus left His home in heaven. He walked among us. Jesus witnessed the sin and depravity of mankind. Jesus knew that we are not able to save ourselves. So He died on the cross for our sin.
Listeners, you need to believe on Jesus Christ. Admit that you are a sinner. Believe that Jesus died for your sin. And call on Him to save you.
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The best way to listen is to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, or just about any podcast app.
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Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/. I would especially love to hear from you if you have believed on Jesus.
If you are a parent, God has given you a unique gift - children. Children are a gift from God. They are a gift that both learns and teaches.
This is our final lesson in Biblical Marriage and Family series. This series started with episode 19. If this is your first episode, I encourage you to go back and listen to all of them.
Your Takeaway Kids are gifts that both learn and teach.
The Gift Psalm 127
- Anything you do is empty when the Lord is not in it.
- Children are a heritage, a gift, they are never a burden.
- Children are to be sharpened and to be pointed in the right direction.
We Teach Children Psalm 128
To Fear God “In the Bible, the word translated “fear” can mean several things. It can refer to the terror one feels in a frightening situation (Deuteronomy 2:25). It can mean “respect” in the way a servant fears his master and serves him faithfully (Joshua 24:14). Fear can also denote the reverence or awe a person feels in the presence of greatness (Isaiah 6:5). The fear of the Lord is a combination of all of these.” (How is the Fear of the Lord the Beginning of Wisdom? https://www.gotquestions.org/fear-Lord-beginning-wisdom.html
Teaching the fear of God brings a blessing.
Ephesians 6:1-3
Obedience Albert Barnes gives 5 reasons why we should teach a child to obey. (Albert Barnes Notes, Notes http://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/ephesians/6.htm)
It is a command with a promise.
Salvation Never assume that your child will learn about salvation from a pastor or a Sunday school teacher.
- Teach your kids that Jesus Christ is God the Son.
- Teach your kids that they are sinful.
- Teach your kids that sin separates them from God.
- Teach your kids that the only way they can be with God in heaven is to have their sin forgiven.
- And teach your kids that the only way God will forgive our sins is if they believe on God the Son, Jesus Christ.
So we are to teach children to fear God, to obey and honor their parents and how to be saved.
This ends the series on Biblical Marriage and Family. We will be starting a new series next week. This series will take us on a journey, a quest to discover God's glory.
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Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/. I would especially love to hear from you if you have believed on Jesus.
God has a purpose, a calling for everyone. He has commanded men and women to fill and subdue the earth. To accomplish this, God has given us family. A father, a mother, and the kids all doing their part.
God has given each gender certain responsibilities. In the last episode, we learned that God, in the Old Testament, gave women three responsibilities: To birth children, to manage the home, and to be a companion to the man. Today we add another responsibility to that list.
Your Takeaway God has called older women to teach younger women how to live a life pleasing to Him.
Older Women The word “likewise” links the older men to the older women.
- Reverent in behavior – Her life is a sacred duty.
- Not Slanderers – Older women should not use lies to discredit people. Slander is a sin of words or the tongue.
- Slaves to wine – Drunkenness, and abuse of alcohol was a problem for older women.
A Teacher of Good 1. To love their husbands. This is the first priority. Women are to be “devoted” to their husbands. 2. Love their children. After her husband, a mother must love her children. 3. Be discreet. To be self-controlled. It is difficult to manage a home and family if you cannot manage yourself. 4. Be chaste. To be sexually pure. It is impossible to be devoted to a husband if you are not sexually pure. Over 15% of Christian women view pornography every month. 5. Homemaker. To be busy at home. It’s about laziness and idleness, not just location. 6. Kindness. All of this done with kindness. 7. Obedient to their own husbands. “Subject yourselves” Submission is a voluntary response. You submit because God has called you to and to show respect to your husband.
Closing Thoughts God has given a great responsibility to older women - the role of mentoring younger women.
If you are an older woman you should seek out a young woman to mentor. Build a friendship. Build a relationship. Teach her from your experience. And share Jesus Christ.
Teach how she should love her husband, love her kids, and how to live life. But also tell her about sin, the cross, the grave, and the resurrection. Tell her about Jesus.
Sign Up & Subscribe Please review, like, and share the podcast. This helps spread the good news of Jesus around the world.
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Resources Susanna Wesley - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanna_Wesley
Susanna Wesley: Servant of God by Sandy Dengler
http://www.covenanteyes.com/
http://dirtygirlsministries.com/
Dirty Girls Come Clean by Crystal Renaud
Beauty, strength, wisdom, and a really cool lasso. The Wonder Woman of the comics is impressive. But I think the Wonder Woman of Proverbs 31 can take her. The Proverbs 31 woman is formidable is her strength and her character. Her ability to create trust and respect sets her above all others. (Although she would welcome the Lasso of Truth to help with the kids.)
Welcome back to Faith in the Valley. At Wakefield Valley Bible Church, where I pastor, we are studying Marriage and Family. This is the fifth lesson on that subject.
Our first podcast episode on Marriage and Family is episode 19. In that lesson, we looked at the foundational truths of marriage and family. We then studied the seriousness of marriage. Sadly, for many, marriage has become a joke. But not for God.
The last two lessons have focused on men – dads and husbands. Today we will shift our focus to that of women, especially wives and mothers. As with husbands and fathers, I want to first determine the biblical responsibilities of wives and mothers.
Responsibilities of Old Testament Women According to Andreas J. Kostenberger in God, Marriage, and Family, there are three responsibilities.
- to present her husband with children
- to manage the home
- to be a companion to the husband
The Value God values women the same as men. Both men and women are equal in God's eyes because both are image bearers.
A virtuous wife is very difficult to find. Their value exceeds worldly wealth.
A husband can fully trust a virtuous wife.
The Work A wife and mother should focus her work on the betterment of her family. She can do this working at home or even outside of the home.
A wife should love her work. She should find joy in serving her family.
A wife should manage the home in such a way that it runs with efficiency.
The Why Proverbs 31:10-31 is a poem. It follows two structures. One, the entire passage is an alphabetic acrostic poem. We cannot see this form in English. The other structure spans verses 20-27. This structure is called a chiasm.
Gotquestions.org defines a chiasm as “A chiasm is a literary device in which a sequence of ideas is presented and then repeated in reverse order. The result is a ‘mirror’ effect as the ideas are ‘reflected’ back in a passage.” For a more detailed explanation go to the resources section below and follow the gotquestions.org link.
Proverbs 31:20-27 is in an A,B,C,D,X,D',C',B',A' pattern. The X-verse is not reflected back. So, X is the climax of the passage and really the climax of the entire proverb. It answers the all important question, Why does this woman do all of this? Verse 23 is the X-verse
Proverbs 31:23 says, "Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land."
The NIV gets the right understanding of the verse. "Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land."
The reason the Proverbs 31 woman does all she does is so that her husband will be respected.
Ephesians 5:33 confirms this teaching. "Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." It is the husband's ultimate responsibility to make sure his wife is loved and it is the wife's ultimate responsibility to make certain her husband is respected.
The Praise When the wife does all she can do to honor her calling, to serve her family, and to see that her husband is respected, she too will be praised.
This woman is praised by her children, her husband, the community, and the Lord.
Great respect is earned when great respect is given.
Closing Thoughts Some of you may be struggling with this teaching. You are thinking that it is so yesteryear and too simplistic. I understand. But God does not complicate matters of life. He has a simple task for humans – to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth. He designed man and woman with this in mind. And God uses family to accomplish this. A father and a mother doing their bit to fill the earth.
God does not complicate things. We do. But not God.
Another example of this is God’s plan to save you. God wants you to live forever with Him in heaven. But we have made this impossible because we are full of sin. But God had a SIMPLE solution. He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for that sin. Because Jesus died our sin problem has been taken care of. All we need to do is to believe that. Then we will be saved.
Romans 10:9 says it simply, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Life can get complicated. But eternal life is simple. Believe that Jesus, God the Son died for your sins. Believe that God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. Believe that and you will be saved.
I hope that you will believe just that.
Sign Up & Subscribe Please review, like, and share the podcast. This helps spread the good news of Jesus around the world.
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Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/. I would especially love to hear from you if you have believed on Jesus.
Resources God, Marriage, and Family by Andreas Kostenberger and David Jones
What is a Chiasm/Chiastic Structure in the Bible?
https://www.gotquestions.org/chiasm-chiastic.html
This is our fourth lesson on Marriage and Family. Today we will learn how to get a new wife. In fact, I believe if you follow these steps you will have a new wife in as little as 3 weeks.
Your takeaway: If you become the husband God has called you to be then you will get a new wife in only three weeks.
Love Her Ephesians 5:25
Love her sacrificially.
Love her unconditionally.
Wash Her Ephesians 5:26-28
The Holy Spirit (the water) and the Word (the Bible) are cleansing the church for its future marriage to Christ.
Husbands, too, can cleanse their wives. This means you make her spiritual well-being a priority.
How can you do this?
- Read the Bible to her and with her.
- Pray for her and with her.
- Encourage your wife's spiritual growth.
- Protect her from sin.
Flip Her Almost every minute of every day you are concerned with yourself. In you marriage, you must flip that and make your wife's needs and desires your priority.
If you consider Ephesians 5:28b, when you make your wife the priority it's a win-win situation.
Closing Thoughts All of us should want the marriage God has planned for us. Unfortunately, sin has hurt our marriages. But God has a solution. His solution is for all of us to have a relationship with Him. Sadly, that same sin problem has impacted our relationship with Him as well.
But long ago God provided the solution to this sin problem. He sent His Son Jesus to die for that sin. If you believe on Jesus Christ your sin problem will be fixed and you will be able to have a relationship with God. Also, your human relationships will be transformed.
Sign Up & Subscribe Please review, like, and share the podcast. This helps spread the good news of Jesus around the world.
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The best way to listen is to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, or just about any podcast app.
If you live in a country that tries to block Christian podcasts, here is a link to our RSS feed. You may be able to use our RSS to get the podcast.
Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/. I would especially love to hear from you if you have believed on Jesus.
In Genesis 1:28, God commanded man and woman to “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
The way we do that, the way we multiply, fill, and subdue, is through the family. You and your spouse are having children and subduing your little half acre in response to God’s command. You see, God created the family to fulfill this command.
Over the next few episodes, we will focus on family. And today, we will focus on family structure and the responsibilities that come with this structure.
I want you to understand one aspect of the family structure - the family is father-centered. God designed family with dad in the middle.
That is your take away. The family is dad-centered. It’s all about dad. Because of that, God has given every dad these important responsibilities.
Responsibilities The Spiritual Leader * He models strict personal faith to Jehovah. Joshua 24:15 * He leads his family to and in worship. * He instructs his family in the traditions of the Exodus. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 * He instructs his sons in the way of wisdom. Proverbs 1-9
The Primary Provider God puts the responsibility to provide squarely on the shoulders of dad. 1 Timothy 5:8
The Protector * He protects himself against sin. Exodus 20:5 * He disciplines his children when they sin. * He protects his daughters against male predators. Exodus 22:16-17
Closing Thoughts As the spiritual leader of the family, God wants the father to teach his children about salvation. It should be the priority of every dad to see his kids saved. Dads, you need to share with your sons and daughters the truth of Jesus Christ.
You need to tell them the truth of Jesus Christ. Teach them about sin. Everyone is a sinner - Romans 3:23. But the gift of God is Jesus - Romans 6:23. Tell your kids that if they believe on Jesus they will have a right relationship with God, their heavenly Father. And all their sins will be forgiven.
Remember dads, it is your responsibility to live out your faith in front of your wife and kids. Lead your family to church. Make time at least weekly for family worship. And protect yourself and your family from Satan's attacks.
Sign Up & Subscribe Please review, like, and share the podcast. This helps spread the good news of Jesus around the world.
Sign up for our show notes. When you sign up, you receive an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever a new episode is released. Just CLICK HERE and sign up today!
The best way to listen is to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, or just about any podcast app.
If you live in a country that tries to block Christian podcasts, here is a link to our RSS feed. You may be able to use our RSS to get the podcast.
Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/. I would especially love to hear from you if you have believed on Jesus.
Resources Men as Providers by JD Gunter
The Lamb by John R. Cross
Grace for the Moment: 365 Devotions for Kids by Max Lucado
Marriage has become a joke. For instance, there is a woman named Erika who is married to the Eiffel Tower. A Japanese man who is married to a video game character, and a Swedish woman who has been married to the Berlin Wall for the past 30 years. There is a woman married to a rollercoaster and a man married to his pillow. And there are several people, unable to find true love, who have just married themselves.
Marriage has become a joke for many. But not for God. And I hope, not for you.
Takeaway Marriage is a very serious agreement between a man, a woman, and God.
Definition "Marriage is an exclusive heterosexual covenant between one man and one woman, ordained and sealed by God, preceded by a public leaving of parents, consummated in sexual union, issuing in a permanent mutually supportive partnership, and normally crowned by the gift of children." (John R. W. Stott, Marriage and Divorce)
Witness Genesis 2:22-24
God acts as the witness as Adam declares his love for Eve.
God is the witness to all valid marriages.
Officiant Matthew 19:4-6
God joins together all valid marriages.
Marriage is sacred because it involves God.
Permanent Matthew 19:6; Genesis 2:24; Ruth 1:14
Marriage is an inseparable union.
God created marriage but man created divorce.
Closing Thoughts Maybe your marriage is on shaky ground. Maybe you and your spouse are struggling. There is hope at your local Bible believing church. If you already attend, then sit down with the pastor and try to work things out. If you do not currently attend a church, ask your spouse to go with you to find a church where the Bible is taught. And once you find such a church, make an appointment with the pastor. He will be glad to help you.
Years ago you made a covenant with your spouse. You made a covenant to love your spouse unconditionally until death do you part. You made this covenant before God. And it was God who married you. Do not turn your back on this covenant.
You may not know this, but couples who regularly attend a church are 35 percent less likely to divorce than those who do not attend at all. However here is another number. Couples who attend church once and a while, say only on Easter and Christmas, are 20 percent more likely to divorce than those who do not attend at all.
I want to let you into a little secret. Attendance has nothing to do with it. It is all about the heart. The Bible tells us that the heart, left alone is sinful. And there is no hope for it, for you, and for your relationships.
But those who put their trust in Jesus are given a new heart. And it is that heart that responds to God and His leading. Having a successful marriage is not related to attendance it is related to having a new heart. And God wants to give you this new heart.
Romans 3:11 says, "There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God."
If you are thinking about a relationship with God, it is because God is calling you. God is seeking you. God is drawing you to Himself.
Now, it’s your turn. Believe on Jesus Christ, God the Son. Believe He died for your sins. Turn from your sinful ways and turn to Jesus. Call on Jesus to save you.
If you believed on Jesus and also happen to be married, tell your spouse what you just did. Explain to them your decision to believe on Jesus. And then ask them to believe as well.
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Resources Are the Seven Catholic Sacraments Biblical?
Fact Checker: Divorce Rate Among Christians.
When I pray, in addition to the prayers for people, I pray for five goals. These goals are for Wakefield Valley Bible Church, the church where I am the pastor. One goal is: To develop men and women of godly character who fully represent biblical masculinity and femininity.
This goal has motivated this series. I believe the best way for men and women to realize such is for them to learn what God intends.
If you desire to be a man or woman who represents biblical masculinity or femininity - If you desire to have the marriage that God has planned for you - Then turn to Genesis 1 and follow along.
Image and Purpose Genesis 1:26-28
- God created both man and woman.
- God created both man and woman in His own image.
- God created both man and woman to fulfill His purposes.
Created Order and Roles Genesis 2:7, 15-17; 1 Corinthians 11:8-12
- God created man first.
- God created the woman for man.
- God entrusted the man with the moral commands and the responsibility to teach and lead the woman in these commands.
Marriage Genesis 2:18, 21-25
- God is the creator of marriage.
- God designed marriage to be monogamous.
- God designed marriage to be heterosexual.
- A marriage creates a new family.
- Marriage is meant for life.
The Fall Genesis 3; Romans 5; 1 Timothy 2:12-15
- Eve ignores Adam's earlier teaching. She ignores his leaders. And she disobeys God's commands.
- Eve does not consult her protector and partner.
- Adam is passive and does not lead or enforce God's commands.
- God holds Adam responsible for the sin.
Consequences * Marriage will no longer be a harmonious relationship. * Women will seek to control men. * Men will lead by force and domination.
Closing Thoughts It is possible that you are struggling with some of these ideas, especially the teaching on marriage. I hope you will take the time to explore the Scripture for yourself. God through His Bible will challenge you and change you if you allow Him.
A correct understanding of what Gods says about marriage is important. But more important is how you understand sin, salvation, and Jesus. The Bible is clear. Jesus is the only way to be saved from your sin.
Your sin separates you from God. But Jesus has died so that if you believe on Him you will be saved. Believe on Jesus today. Believe that He is God the Son. Believe that He died for your sin. Believe that He is alive even today. Believe and be saved.
Sign Up & Subscribe Remember to review, like and share the podcast. This helps spread the good news of Jesus around the world.
Sign up for our show notes. When you sign up, you receive an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever a new episode is released. Just CLICK HERE and sign up today!
The best way to listen is to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, or just about any podcast app.
If you live in a country that tries to block Christian podcasts, here is a link to our RSS feed. You may be able to use our RSS to get the podcast.
Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/. I would especially love to hear from you if you have believed on Jesus.
Resources What Does it Mean That Humanity is Made in the Image of God?
If you could go a back in time to the Crucifixion, who would be there? Who would be at the cross? In this episode, we will do just that. We will return to the cross. And next to us will be Pontius Pilate, Mary Magdalene, The Thief, and the Roman Centurion.
Liberty Church hosted a community the 2017 Good Friday service. Four preachers spoke. Each spoke of a different character.
- Pastor Jim Crocker presents Pontius Pilate - 1:48
- Pastor Mark Jones presents Mary Magdalene - 14:40
- Pastor Glen Willet presents The Thief - 29:16
- Pastor Gary Buchman presents the Roman Centurion - 40:12
Thanks to Pastor Joe Ready and his team at Liberty Church. You can learn more about Liberty Church at www.Libertychurchlive.com
Pastor Jim Crocker serves at Bible Fellowship Church in Reisterstown, Maryland. Check out their website for more information. www.bfconline.net
Pastor Glen Willet is the worship leader for Westminster Baptist Church in Westminster, Maryland. You can learn more at www.westminster-baptist-church.org.
Pastor Gary Buchman is a missionary with Churches in Missions. Check them out at www.churchesinmissions.org
What is your greatest need? Food? Shelter? Love? No, your greatest need is forgiveness. Without forgiveness, you are forever lost in your sin, forever judged by your failures, and forever separated from God.
But Jesus took care of your need. Jesus endured the mockery, the abuse, and the cross so that you can be forgiven.
Your Takeaway Your takeaway for this lesson is that Jesus suffered so that by believing on Him you may be forever forgiven.
In this lesson, we will examine the three Roman trials of Jesus.
First Roman Trial Luke 23:1-7
The Jews originally charged Jesus with blasphemy. But when they brought Him before Pontius Pilate they changed the charge. They said Jesus was guilty of the following three crimes.
- Sedition
- Tax evasion
- Claiming to be a king
Pilate dismissed these charges and sent Jesus to see Herod.
Second Roman Trial Luke 23:8-12
This is Herod Antipas, Herod the Great's son.
Herod was excited to see Jesus. He wanted Jesus to entertain him with a miracle. Jesus did not play along, so Herod turned on Him. Herod and his men mocked and abused Jesus.
Third Roman Trial
John 18:33-40
Pilate again questioned Jesus.
Pilate did not believe in absolute truth.
Here is a multiple choice question that will determine your worldview, especially in matters of absolute truth.
How do you know what is right and what is wrong?
- Right or wrong is determined by human choice.
- Right or wrong is determined by whatever feels good.
- Right or wrong is based on human survival.
- God's character is good and He has revealed to us in the Bible what is right and what is wrong.
If Pilate had a choice it was probably option 3. But option 4 is the correct answer - God reveals what is right and wrong to us in His Bible.
The trial and crucifixion are both right and wrong. It broke multiple commands of God yet God willed it. Acts 2:23
God used sinful men to accomplish His plan. Why? So that you could realize your greatest need - forgiveness.
John 19:1-16
Pilate tries again to free Jesus. He has Jesus flogged hoping that this punishment would appease the Jews. It did not.
Jesus was stripped naked. Tied to a pole and whipped from the shoulders to the loins. Professionals beat Him within an inch of His life. Then they dressed Jesus in a purple robe and put on His head a crown of thorns.
Closing Thoughts Think about it. Jesus endured the mocking of Herod and the scourging of Roman soldiers. Yet Jesus stood quietly by as these wicked men abused Him.
Why would God the Son do that? Because you have a great need - forgiveness. Jesus knows that if He leaves it up to you, you will die in your sin, far from God. So Jesus stepped in and took your place. Jesus paid the price so that you can be forgiven and have a relationship with God.
Please, my friend, believe this. Believe that Jesus died for your sin. Believe that He rose for your eternal life. Believe on Jesus today!
Sign Up & Subscribe Remember to review, like and share the podcast. This helps spread the good news of Jesus around the world.
Sign up for our show notes. When you sign up, you receive an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever a new episode is released. Just CLICK HERE and sign up today!
The best way to listen is to subscribe at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, or just about any podcast app.
If you live in a country that tries to block Christian podcasts, here is a link to our RSS feed. You may be able to use our RSS to get the podcast.
Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/. I would especially love to hear from you if you believed on Jesus.
Resources The Scourging of Jesus by David McClister
I love a good courtroom drama. Whether it is To Kill a Mockingbird, The 12 Angry Men, Anatomy of a Murder, or one of my all-time favorites The Caine Mutiny.
But the greatest legal drama is the trial of Jesus. It is just as moving as those mentioned above but with one big difference. The trial of Jesus actually happened. Jesus was accused, He was tried, He was sentenced, and He was executed.
Your Takeaway Jesus was in control of His suffering. Jesus suffered because He allowed it to happen.
Arrest John 18:1-11
Jesus knows all things because Jesus is God. John 18:4
The men fell when Jesus spoke because Jesus will be worshiped. John 18:5-6; Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10
There are eight "I am" statements in the gospel of John. See the Resources section for a list.
Trial One John 18:12-14; 18:19-24
Jesus was taken to Annas' house. Annas was no longer the High Priest. But Annas held the power.
Jesus was slapped because He questioned the legality of Annas' trial. John 18:20-21
Trial Two Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin could not come up with a charge. Matthew 26:57-60a
Jesus did claim to be the Messiah. Mark 14:60-65
In Luke 22:60-65, why was Jesus in the courtyard? To be beaten.
Trial Three Matthew 27:1-2
This trial was a legal trial because it was held in the daytime.
Closing Thoughts Jesus was abused because Jesus allowed it. Why was He abused? To bring glory to God and for your sin and my sin.
Everyone has a relationship with the crucifixion. We relate to it in one of two ways.
- One is that we disregard the crucifixion as something unimportant to us. We reject this sacrifice. It is not meaningful to us.
- Or, two, the crucifixion is personal. We accept that Jesus died for our sin. We trust in the finished work of Christ.
Which do you hold? Careful with your answer because your answer determines your eternity. Reject Christ and spend eternity in hell separated from God. Accept Christ and spend eternity in heaven with God.
Sign Up & Subscribe Sign up for our show notes. When you sign up, you receive an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever a new episode is released. Just CLICK HERE and sign up today!
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Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/. I would especially love to hear from you if you believed on Jesus.
Resources The "I am" Statements of Jesus
- John 6:35, 48 I am the bread of life
- John 8:12, 9:5 I am the light of the world
- John 8:58 Before Abraham was, I am
- John 10:9 I am the door
- John 10:11 I am the good shepherd
- John 11:25 I am the resurrection and the life
- John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life
- John 15:1 I am the true vine
The Illegal, Unjust Trials of Jesus, Part 1 by John MacArthur
The Illegal, Unjust Trials of Jesus, Part 2 by John MacArthur
Can't a be a Christian and hate God's people?! Strong words! But Jesus speaks of a judgment at the end of the Tribulation period that teaches just that. People will be judged based on their treatment of the Jews.
So this is the final lesson on the Olivet Discourse. This study started in Episode 5, with the Jews fully and finally rejecting Jesus. Jesus then told them that He would not return to the Temple until they welcomed Him back. His strong words led the disciples to ask three questions:
- When will these things be?
- What will be the sign of your coming?
- What will be the sign of the end of the age?
Jesus answered these questions. He gave specific signs for each.
In the last episode, we learned what will happen to Jews who reject Jesus. In today's episode, Jesus will focus His words on the judgment of gentiles, or non-Jews.
Your Takeaway A believer must have the right attitude about the Jewish people.
Judgment of the Nations Matthew 25:31-33
Jesus sets up His throne, most likely the Throne of David, and begins to sort people into two groups - the sheep and the goats
A word to help us understand this passage is "nations" in verse 32. In this verse, the word "nations" means "gentiles."
Joel 3:1-3
Both Joel 3 and Matthew 25 are speaking about the same event. Joel tells us more about the judgment. God judges the gentiles based on their treatment of the Jewish people.
The Valley of Jehoshaphat could be the valley created when the Mount of Olives is split in two. Zechariah 14:4
In Matthew 25, what makes a sheep a sheep or a goat a goat? Are the Jews sheep and the gentiles goats? No. Both sheep and goats are gentiles.
Here are three things to consider.
- Both sheep and goats are gentiles.
- People are sorted into these groups based on how they treated the Jewish people during the Tribulation period.
- They are condemned based on whether they are saved or not.
So the first consideration comes from the correct understanding of the Joel passage and the Matthew passage. There is a key word in Matthew 25:40 that helps us understand. That word is "brethren" or "brothers".
When Jesus uses "brethren" He means Jews. The Jewish people are His brothers. Jesus does not set up the throne to judge His brothers. He set up the throne to judge gentiles.
The second consideration is that Jesus divided the gentiles based on how they treated the Jews. Look again at Matthew 25:35-40. All the wonderful things done for Jesus were actually done for the Jews.
The third consideration is that people are never saved based on their deeds. They are saved based on the grace of God. See Ephesians 2:8-9. Note how in Matthew 25:37 Jesus refers to the sheep as "righteous". Believers have the righteousness of Christ. This righteousness is applied to a person when they believe on Jesus.
Self Evaluation What is your attitude toward the Jewish people? Are you pro- or anti-Semitic? If you hate the Jewish people then you are in error. The Bible teaches three important facts about the Jews.
- The Jews are God's people. Look at Deuteronomy 7:6-8
- God has promised to bless people who bless the Jews. See Genesis 12:2-3
- Salvation comes from the Jews. Read John 4:22
I know that most Jews today are secular. I know that most do not believe the Bible, even the Old Testament. I know that some Jews, like all nationalities, do bad things. But none of that removes our responsibility. We are to love the Jewish people. And believers should be witnessing to the Jewish people.
Closing Thoughts This study on the Olivet Discourse has focused on three things.
- I have repeatedly stressed the right relationship toward the Jewish people. That was a feature of this episode, episode 14, and episode 6.
- I have frequently asked you to share Jesus with your friends, neighbors, and loved ones. I hope you have done so. Time could be running out.
- I have shared the truth of Jesus with those who do not believe.
I told you at the beginning of this study that I am a reluctant end-times preacher. I get no joy in it other than this - Jesus is coming again.
For those who do not believe, the return of Jesus means judgment. For those who believe, His return means salvation.
I hope you are one of the saved. I hope you have put your faith in Jesus. If not there is still time. Stop what you are doing at this moment and sit down in a quiet place. Share your heart with God. Ask God to show you your sin. Ask God to forgive you your sin. If you believe on Jesus - that He died for your sin and rose again - share that with God.
Look at Romans 6:23. This verse teaches two important points. 1) The wages of sin is death. That means left to ourselves, our plans, our methods, it all leads to death. And not just any death, but eternal death or hell. 2) But the gift of God is eternal life. Eternal live is in Jesus Christ our Lord. Stop trusting in your ways. Those only lead to death. Trust in Jesus. Choose eternal life. Choose Jesus.
Sign Up & Subscribe Sign up for our show notes. When you sign up, you receive an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever a new episode is released. Just CLICK HERE and sign up today!
Subscribe to Faith in the Valley. You can subscribe at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, and many other podcast apps. And we are now on iHeartRadio! Subscribing on one of these apps is the best way to listen.
If you live in a country that tries to block Christian podcasts, here is a link to our RSS feed. You may be able to use our RSS to get the podcast.
Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/. I would especially love to hear from you if you believed on Jesus.
In the previous episode, Watch, Work, and Wait Part 1, we learned what believers should be doing as they wait on Jesus to return. In this episode, the idea continues but with two changes.
The first change is that the words are focused on the Nation of Israel alive during the tribulation period. In the previous lesson, the material was general. It applied to both gentiles and Jews. But this material is for Jews alive when Christ returns.
The second change is that the words deal with judgment - how will unbelieving Jews be judged when Jesus returns.
At the end of this lesson, I will share with you the two forms of judgment humans will face. Everyone, Jew or gentile, is given the option of choosing their judgment. And you can make this choice knowing your options. You can pick how you want to be judged.
Your Takeaway Judgment is certain. Which one will you attend?
Wise & Foolish Matthew 25:1-13
- I believe the 10 virgins represent the Nation of Israel.
- Jesus is using Jewish wedding traditions to teach this lesson.
- The difference between the wise and the foolish virgins is that the wise had oil and the foolish did not.
- In the Bible oil is a symbol for the Holy Spirit. See 1 john 2:20; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22.
- You are unsaved if you do not have the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9; Matthew 25:11-12
The judgment - Jews who reject Jesus, Jesus will reject.
Faithful & Unfaithful Matthew 25:14-30
- A talent is a weight of gold or silver.
- Jews need to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord.
The judgment - God will condemn Jews who reject Jesus. Matthew 25:30
Two Judgments 1. The Great White Throne of Judgment - Revelation 20:11-15 2. The Judgment Seat of Christ/Bema Seat - Romans 14:10-12
Closing Thoughts God has given every human one life to live then the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27) Judgment is guaranteed.
But here is the amazing thing. Although God will judge every person, every person gets to pick which judgment to go to. There are two to choose from. Choice number one is the Great White Throne of Judgment. You make that choice by rejecting Jesus. Choice number two is the Judgment Seat of Christ. You select the Judgment Seat of Christ by believing on Jesus.
Don't dismiss this truth. Understand it. Ask God to help you with it. Then, and most importantly, choose Jesus. Jesus will save you from the Great White Throne of Judgment. At the Great White Throne, everyone is cast into the lake of fire. Everyone is condemned. But at the Judgment Seat of Christ, everyone is saved.
Trust in Christ. He died for your sin, the sin that separates you from God. He died and rose again for your salvation. Trust that and nothing else. If you do, then you are forgiven and your salvation is secure.
Please Visit I would love it if you visited Wakefield Valley Bible Church. Our Sunday morning service begins at 10:45 AM. Before you come, go to WakefieldBible.org to learn moe. We have programs for the entire family so bring the kids.
Sign Up & Subscribe Sign up for our show notes. When you sign up, you receive an email notification and a copy of the show notes when a new episode is released. Just CLICK HERE and sign up today!
Subscribe to Faith in the Valley. You can subscribe at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, and many other podcast apps. Subscribing on one of these apps is the best way to listen.
If you live in a country that tries to block Christian podcasts, here is a link to our RSS feed. You may be able to use our RSS to get the podcast.
Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/.
Resources The Jewish Wedding Analogy
What Does it Mean to Wait on the Lord?
If you would like to hear more about the Nation of Israel check out Episode 6 - God Loves Israel.
What should we be doing until Jesus comes back? Here are a few options.
- Devote every waking hour to prayer and Bible study.
- Sell all our property and go sit on a mountaintop to wait for His return.
- Sacrifice all the pleasures of life - relationships, things, knowledge - to prove our worth to God.
What should we do until Jesus returns? Jesus tells us to watch, work, and wait.
Key Takeaway Stay busy until Jesus returns. Jesus has told us to watch, work, and wait.
Watch & Pray Mark 13:33-37
Jesus uses the word "watch" four times.
The first time, verse 33, He says, "watch and pray."
Jesus uses this expression in Matthew 26:41. In this verse, He teaches that watching and praying will overcome temptation.
Watching is being aware of what is going on around you. But watching is not enough. You must also pray.
Satan, the world, and your own desires can cause you to fall away. These things can destroy your witness.
Now, in these last days, we cannot afford to lose our witness. We cannot fall asleep on the job.
Work & Look Matthew 24:45-51
In this passage, Jesus teaches that until He returns we are to work and look.
The faithful and wise servants are believers. The evil servants are unbelievers.
Jesus will find believers working for Him and unbelievers not working for Him.
Ephesians 2:10 teaches that we were "created in Christ for good works."
What are these good works? Could they be prayer, Bible study, or going to church?
Mr. Mark D. Roberts, at the Theology of Work website, says, "The good works encompass the whole of the Christian, all that we do by God's grace for God's purposes."
If you are a bricklayer, doctor, or lawyer, the good works you do are bricklaying, doctoring, and lawyering if you do these things for God.
Mr. Roberts in his post pointed the reader to Colossians 3:17. This reads, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
Until Jesus returns we are to be working and looking for Him. It should be our hope that God when He returns, finds us serving Him.
Final Thoughts Some of you think that you must work your way to heaven, that you must earn God's salvation. That is a wrong understanding. God does not save you based on your good deeds. Rather, God's salvation is a free gift of grace.
Read Ephesians 2:8-9.
You are saved by grace. It is a free gift from God. There are no conditions. All you need to do is accept this gift by faith. Believe that Jesus died and rose again for your sin.
If you have not done this, then God wants you to trust in Him right now. Do not delay. Take the salvation that God offers through His Son.
Please Visit I would love it if you visited Wakefield Valley Bible Church. Our Sunday morning service begins at 10:45 AM. Before you come, go to WakefieldBible.org to get our address. We have programs for the entire family so bring the kids.
Sign Up Many people have subscribed to our show notes. When you subscribe, you will get an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever an episode is released. Just CLICK HERE and sign up today!
Look for us on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, and many other podcast apps. Subscribing on one of these apps is the best way to listen.
If you live in a country that tries to block Christian podcasts, here is a link to our RSS feed. You may be able to use our RSS to get the podcast.
Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/.
Resources What are the Good Works God has Prepared for Us? by Mark D. Roberts
In today's lesson, we look at the difference between the second coming and the rapture.
The second coming of Jesus is preceded by signs. These signs are so certain that when they happen, you can easily predict the return of Jesus. The rapture is not that way. There are no signs. The rapture will come and catch people by surprise.
Your Takeaway You need to live life expectantly. Live in continual readiness, continual watchfulness - Live your life expecting Jesus to return today.
The 2nd Coming Matthew 24:32-35
When the fig tree blooms summer is just around the corner.
Jesus is teaching that the signs for His second coming are certain. Once you see the Antichrist enter the Temple you will know that there are exactly three and one-half years until Jesus returns.
In Matthew 24:34 the word "generation" is referring to the Nation of Israel not to the generation alive when Jesus spoke the words.
An example of this use of "generation" can be found in Matthew 23:33-36. It was the Nation of Israel that rejected the prophets. This rejection spanned the entire history of the Jews, not just the ones alive when Jesus spoke. See verse 36.
Jesus closes this section stating His words are more secure and more lasting than the creation.
The Rapture Matthew 24:36-44
Many great Bible teachers do not consider Matthew 24:36-44 as being rapture passage. But I do.
Jesus is showing the contrast between His second coming and the rapture. This contrast can be seen in His use of "But" to start off verse 36.
In a sense, Jesus is saying that the 2nd coming can be predicted but the rapture cannot be so.
No one knows when the rapture will happen. There are no signs.
People will be going about their lives - eating, drinking, getting married - and all of a sudden the rapture will occur.
In Matthew 24:42-44 Jesus gives the key thought. Live life expecting Him to return. Always be waiting for Jesus.
Closing Thoughts Many people are afraid of the rapture. It scares them.
If you are a believer, you should not fear the rapture. If you are an unbeliever, I can understand why you may be afraid. Don't fear the rapture; rather fear missing the rapture.
How can you know for certain that when the rapture happens you will be with Jesus? That's easy. Put your faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus, God the Son, died for your sins. He took on Himself the wrath of God so that all who believe would not receive God's wrath.
If you believe on Jesus, then you are saved from God's wrath. Salvation has nothing to do with you trying to be good. Salvation has everything to do with Jesus dying for you and you believing on Him.
Believe on Jesus and you will be taken to be with Him when the rapture happens. One moment you will be in your tired, sick body, and the next moment you will be in your eternal body, standing before Jesus.
Believe today, because the rapture could happen any minute.
Please Visit I would love it if you visited Wakefield Valley Bible Church. Our Sunday morning service begins at 10:45 AM. Before you come, go to WakefieldBible.org to get our address. We have programs for the entire family so bring the kids.
Sign Up Many people have subscribed to our show notes. If you subscribe, you will get an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever an episode is released. Just CLICK HERE and sign up today!
Look for us on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, and many other podcast apps. iTunes and the like are the best way to listen.
If you live in a country that tries to block Christian podcasts, here is a link to our RSS feed. You may be able to use the RSS to get the podcast.
Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/.
Resources What is the Rapture of the Church?
What on Earth is Happening? What Jesus Said About the End of the Age by Ray Stedman
What will be a sign before Jesus returns? What are the signs of His second coming? The 2nd coming will be preceded by total darkness and then God's glory, His Shekinah glory. These are the signs.
Your Takeaway Make sure you are numbered among the elect, make sure you are a believer in Christ.
The 2nd Coming Jesus return will be like lightening - sudden, visible, and awe-inspiring. Matthew 24:27
Judgment will be sudden and severe. Matthew 24:28
When the tribulation ends the earth will be swallowed up in total darkness. The sun, the moon, and the stars will be darkened. Matthew 24:29
Then the glory of God will appear so that the entire earth will witness it. Matthew 24:30
And all those that rejected Jesus will mourn. They will realize that judgment has arrived. Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7
Family Reunion Jesus will send His angels throughout the world and throughout heaven to gather all the saints. Matthew 24:31; Mark 13:27
Will you be at this reunion? Are you numbered among the elect? You can know for certain that you will be there - just believe on Jesus Christ.
- Jesus is God the Son - believe that!
- Jesus died for your sins - believe that!
- Jesus rose again for your eternal life - believe that!
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!" Acts 16:31
Please Visit If you want to know more about Wakefield Valley Bible Church please visit WakefieldBible.org. We are a non-denominational Bible church located in New Windsor, Maryland, just minutes from Westminster, Maryland.
Our Sunday morning service begins at 10:45 AM. We have programs for the entire family, so bring the kids.
Sign Up Get an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever an episode is released. Just CLICK HERE and sign up today!
Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/.
Resources What is the Shekinah glory?
The world population today is about 7 billion people. The sad thing is, most of the 7 billion believe they will go to heaven when they die. But this is not true. Most will go to hell because they have rejected Jesus.
In today's lesson, I will encourage you to share Christ one more time with your unsaved loved ones. Write them a letter, send them an email, take them out for coffee and share the gospel with them while there is still time.
Your Takeaway While there is still time, tell your unsaved loved one about Jesus.
Second Half of the Tribulation The 2nd half begins when the Antichrist demands that all the inhabitants of the world worship him as God. Matthew 24:15; Daniel 9:27
It is Satan's desire to become like God. Isaiah 14:12-14
Satan creates a false trinity.
- The Antichrist takes on the role of Jesus.
- The False Prophet assumes the role of Holy Spirit.
- Satan pretends to be the Heavenly Father.
And the world worships this unholy trinity. Revelation 13:12
Jesus tells people to flee when this happens and says that this will be the worst tribulation of all time. Matthew 24:16-22
Detailed Timeline of the Seven Years of Tribulation The Events of the Tribulation Period
Closing Thoughts Judgment is coming and there is nothing we can do to stop it. But we can tell those we love about Jesus, and the cross, and the empty tomb, and the salvation He offers. Tell the one you love while there's still time.
Please Visit If you want to know more about Wakefield Valley Bible Church please visit WakefieldBible.org. We are a non-denominational Bible church located in New Windsor, Maryland, just minutes from Westminster, Maryland.
Our Sunday morning service begins at 10:45 AM. We have programs for the entire family, so bring the kids.
Sign Up Get an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever an episode is released. Just CLICK HERE and sign up today!
Finally, feel free to contact us with any question. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/.
Recently a friend suggested that President Trump may be the Antichrist. This is not the first time I have heard such a statement. In the years I have been a Christian, people have told me that the Pope, Henry Kissinger, and Presidents Reagan and Obama were the Antichrist.
So who is the Antichrist and is he alive today? Let's dive into the Bible and see if we can answer this question.
Your Takeaway Use biblical wisdom, not common opinion, to discern the person of the Antichrist.
Spirit of the Antichrist The Antichrist is alive today as the Spirit of the Antichrist.
What is the spirit of the Antichrist? Any person who denies that God the Son, Jesus, has come in the flesh to the world. - 1 John 4:3; 2 John 1:7
This deception, the denial of deity and manhood of God the Son and His saving mission to the earth has overtaken the western world.
So, yes, the spirit of the Antichrist is alive and well today.
The Antichrist Human Origin There is an actual person who will be the Antichrist.
The Bible gives different names to the Antichrist. They are:
- The Seed of Satan - Genesis 3:15
- The Little Horn - Daniel 7:8
- The King of Fierce Countenance - Daniel 8:23
- The Prince that Shall Come - Daniel 9:26
- The Desolator - Daniel 9:27
- The Willful King - Daniel 11:36
- The Man of Sin - 2 Thessalonians 2:3
- The Son of Perdition - 2 Thessalonians 2:3
- The Lawless One - 2 Thessalonians 2:8
- The Antichrist - 1 John 2:22
- The Beast - Revelation 11:7; 13:1-10
From some of these passages, we can deduce the origin of the Antichrist.
Revelation 13:1-10 - The Beast comes out of the sea. The sea stands for the gentile nations.
Daniel 7:8, 19-26 - The Little Horn of Daniel is a blasphemous human ruler that rises out of the revived fourth empire to rule over Israel. The four are:
- The Babylonian Empire
- The Medo-Persian Empire
- The Greek Empire
- The Roman Empire
Daniel 9:27 - We learned in an earlier episode that the seven-year tribulation period will start with Israel signing a seven-year covenant with the Antichrist. This predicted Antichrist is the "prince who is to come" in Daniel 9:26. This verse identifies his nationality as the same who destroyed the Jerusalem and the Temple.
Rome destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in A.D. 70.
The human origin of the Antichrist will be Roman.
Supernatural Origin Genesis 3:15 - This passage teaches that the Messiah, the offspring of the woman, will be in conflict with the offspring of Satan.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 - The Antichrist will come forth by the "workings of Satan." The Antichrist will come to be by Satanic power or means.
Three options:
- Satan will impregnate a woman. (Fruchtenbaum, 212-213)
- Two humans will conceive a child, but at the moment of conception, Satan will enter a woman's womb and be a part of the creation and gestation of this child. (Adso of Montier-En-Der)
- Totally human but possessed and controlled by Satan.
Regardless, he will have supernatural power that will deceive many and keep them from salvation. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
So the Antichrist will be of Roman origin and have supernatural powers. That rules out President Trump.
Please Visit If you want to know more about Wakefield Valley Bible Church please visit WakefieldBible.org. We are a non-denominational Bible church located in New Windsor, Maryland, just minutes from Westminster, Maryland.
Our Sunday morning service begins at 10:45. We have programs for the entire family, so bring the kids.
Sign Up Get an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever an episode is released. Just CLICK HERE to sign up and we will email you with a copy of the show notes and let you know when a new episode has been released. At this time, all who sign up will receive a Special Gift – a Study Guide for the Gospel of John. Sign up today!
Finally, please let us know if you believed on Jesus for salvation. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/.
Resources The Rise and Fall of the Antichrist by Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum
The Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events by Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum
Letter on the Origin and Time of the Antichrist by Adso of Montier-En-Der
What is God doing at this time in the earth? Great question! I like how Colin Marshall and Tony Payne answer it in their book The Trellis and the Vine. They write, "..the work God is doing in the world now, in these last days between the first and second comings of Christ, is to gather people into His kingdom through the prayerful proclamation of the gospel."
Your Key Takeaway Use these last days to share Jesus with those you love.
The First Half of the Tribulation World war, famine, and earthquakes - Matthew 24:7-8 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - Revelation 6:1-8 1. White Horse - The Anti-Christ 2. The Red Horse - War 3. The Black Horse - Famine 4. The Pale Horse - Death
Persecution - Matthew 24:9-10; Revelation 6:9-11 False Prophets - Matthew 24:11 Gross Sinfulness - Matthew 24:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:7 The gospel preached worldwide and a multitude saved. - Matthew 24:14; Revelation 7:1-10 Closing Thoughts We only get one life to live and then the judgment. Make sure that you go into the judgment with Jesus as your savior. Trust in Jesus. Hebrews 9:27
How do you trust in Jesus? Romans 10:9-11
- Believe that Jesus is God.
- Believe He died for your sins.
- Believe that He rose again for your eternal life.
And you will be saved.
When you are saved, you are made righteous, as if you never sinned.
And God will never send you to hell. You will be a child of God.
Please Visit If you want to know more about Wakefield Valley Bible Church please visit WakefieldBible.org. We are a non-denominational Bible church located in New Windsor, Maryland, just minutes from Westminster, Maryland.
Our Sunday morning service begins at 10:45. We have programs for the entire family, so bring the kids.
Sign Up Get an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever an episode is released. Just CLICK HERE to sign up and we will email you with a copy of the show notes and let you know when a new episode has been released. At this time, all who sign up will receive a Special Gift – a Study Guide for the Gospel of John. Sign up today!
Finally, please let us know if you believed on Jesus for salvation. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/.
Resources Mentioned The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind-shift That Changes Everything, by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne
The Revelation of Jesus Christ by John F. Walvoord
Wars everywhere - People claiming to be Jesus - Christians being murdered. Jesus told His disciples to expect this. And we should expect it as well. Why? Because this is the world in which we live.
In today's lesson Jesus answers the first question about the coming destruction of the Temple. Along with the destruction, Jesus tells the disciples that they will be surrounded by trouble. But in the middle of all this trouble, there is hope. God will save and secure all those who believe on Him.
Your Key Takeaway Jesus will save and secure those who believe on Him.
The Truth 1. False Messiahs - Luke 21:8 2. Wars and Rumors of Wars - Luke 21:9 3. Persecution - Luke 21:12-17
False Messiahs and wars are not signs of the end. Luke 21:9b
Persecution becomes an opportunity to share the gospel.
Jesus will give the persecuted the words to say.
Jesus will save and secure the persecuted.
The Answer The answer to the disciples' first question is "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that the desolation is near." Luke 21:20-24
Timeline
- A.D. 66 - Jews revolt against Rome.
- A.D. 69 - Rome attacks Judea and surrounds Jerusalem. This was led by Vespasian
- A.D. 70 - Titus attacks Jerusalem and the Temple is destroyed. Josephus claims that 1.1 million were killed.
- A.D. 72 - Roman Colosseum started by Vespasian. It was finished in A.D. 80. 100,000 Jewish slaves were used in the construction.
- A.D. 81 - The Arch of Titus was constructed.
Time of the Gentiles The time of the Gentiles started in B.C. 588 with the Babylonian captivity of Jerusalem. It will end with the second coming of Jesus. Luke 21:24
As the time of the Gentiles comes to an end, God will save Israel. Romans 11:25-27
Closing Thoughts The promise to save and secure Israel and the persecuted is because they believed on Jesus.
Do you believe Jesus died for your sins and rose again? If so you are saved and eternally secure. Those that believe will find that all their questions about life are answered. Christ, the cross, and the empty tomb is an answer to all our questions.
Trust in Jesus for your salvation and your security.
Please Visit If you want to know more about Wakefield Valley Bible Church please visit WakefieldBible.org. We are a non-denominational Bible church located in New Windsor, Maryland, just minutes from Westminster, Maryland.
Our Sunday morning service begins at 10:45. We have programs for the entire family, so bring the kids.
Sign Up Get an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever an episode is released. Just CLICK HERE to sign up and we will email you with a copy of the show notes and let you know when a new episode has been released. At this time, all who sign up will receive a Special Gift – a Study Guide for the Gospel of John. Sign up today!
Finally, please let us know if you believed on Jesus for salvation. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/.
Resources List of Messiah Claimants
What Every Person Should Know About War, by Chris Hedges
Whatever Happened to the Twelve Apostles? Article by Dr. Ken Curtis.
90,000 Christians Martyred in 2016
Information on the Roman Colosseum
Information on the Arch of Titus
Carving inside the Arch of Titus
Detailed study on the Times of the Gentiles can be found in Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum's book Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events.
God loves Israel. He loves the Jewish people. God loves them even though they reject His Son, Jesus. In spite of this rejection, God is moving now to save Israel from its sin and to establish the Jewish people as a nation that loves Jesus Christ.
Three Questions 1. When will these things be? 2. What will be the sign of your coming? 3. And of the end of the age?
Seven Events The seven key events that will precede the seven years of tribulation.
- Restoration of Israel Ezekiel 20:33-38
Israel is gathered out of wrath and into judgment. Israel will come out of judgment believing on Jesus.
See also Ezekiel 22:17-22; 36:22-24; Isaiah 11:11-12; Zephaniah 2:1-2.
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Invasion of Israel Ezekiel 38:1-39:16
-
One-world government Daniel 7:23-24
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World split into 10 kingdoms. Daniel 7:24
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The rise of the Anti-Christ Daniel 7:24; II Thessalonians 2:1-3
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A period of peace and security for Israel I Thessalonians 5:1-3
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Israel signs a 7-year covenant with the Anti-Christ. Daniel 9:27
Resources Article on the Rapture
The Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events, by Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum
Chosen People Ministries Info: Chosen People Website
I Found Shalom video series and free booklet
Please Visit If you want to know more about Wakefield Valley Bible Church please visit WakefieldBible.org. We are a non-denominational Bible church located in New Windsor, Maryland, just minutes from Westminster, Maryland.
Our Sunday morning service begins at 10:45. We do have programs for the entire family, so bring the kids.
Sign Up Get an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever an episode is released. Just CLICK HERE to sign up and we will email you with a copy of the show notes and let you know when a new episode has been released. At this time, all who sign up will receive a Special Gift – a Study Guide for the Gospel of John. Sign up today!
Finally, please let us know if you believed on Jesus for salvation. You can contact us by clicking HERE or going to www.wakefieldbible.org/contact-us/.
A time coming when all of this will end. Some think it will be because of global warming. Others point to nuclear war. Or maybe an asteroid strike. But the real reason is God. God is going to put an end to all of this. How do I know? Because God told us in His Bible.
The important thing is not that the end is coming, nor even how it will all end. More importantly, have you accepted or rejected the person and work of Jesus Christ.
I am a reluctant end-times preacher. I know that many people love messages on the end-times. I also know that some of the great preachers expound on this subject. I’m not one of them.
But here we are about to begin a study on Matthew 24 and 25, on what is called the Olivet Discourse. Why, if I am reluctant, am I preaching on this topic? Because Jesus said these words and I think it is important to study the words of Christ. And every day we get another day closer to the end.
Let’s look at Matthew 24:1. In verse one we read that Jesus departed from the Temple and that the disciples pointed out to Him the temple buildings. This seems insignificant. So what if He left the Temple. The point of this verse is that Jesus walked out of the Temple and He is not going back until He comes again.
How do I know this? Look at Matthew 23:39. So Jesus is saying that He is leaving the Temple and will not return until they welcome Him back.
What led to this departure? That is our subject today as we study the Rejection of Jesus Christ.
Turn back to Matthew chapter 21. Go to verse 12. Matthew 21:12. Jesus has entered Jerusalem on the back of a colt, surrounded by people praising Him and waving Palms. This is the event from which we get Palm Sunday.
He then goes to the Temple and drives out the money changers. Movies on the life of Jesus always include this scene. It usually portrays a wild-eyed Jesus, sometimes with a whip, flipping tables, and opening animal cages.
The gospel of Mark records the same scene. But Mark adds something that I want to include. Put your finger in Matthew and flip over to Mark 11:15.
Look at verse 16, Jesus stops people who were carrying, the NIV translates as “merchandise” the KJV says “vessels.” I’ve heard it taught that people, going about their business would cut across the Temple, using the Temple as a shortcut, to get from one side of town to another.
But Ray Stedman, in his book What on Earth is Happening? gives a different point of view.
He writes, "The word 'vessel' refers to a utensil of worship. Mark is telling us that Jesus not only shut down the commerce of the temple but He also shut down the religious rituals of the temple." (Stedman 22)
I’m going to turn back to Matthew 21 and make this point. The Temple and its worship practices were offensive to God. Why? The Temple had become a place of merchandise instead of a place to worship God. And its worship, that too was hollow, empty. Why? Because they rejected the one they should be worshiping.
Look at Matthew 21:14-15.The Temple leaders reject Christ not necessarily because He purged the Temple but because the people worshiped Him. The people were doing what those who ran the Temple did not do, they focused their worship on Jesus Christ, the Messiah – The Son of David.
Let me pause and ask you to tell me about the place you worship. Where is its focus? Does your place of worship declare Jesus Christ to be God? If not, then you are rejecting Jesus like these Temple leaders.
The people selling doves and the money changers were actually providing a valuable service to the Temple. The people needed these doves to participate in the worship and they needed Temple currency in order to give an offering. The service these people provided was not wrong. Rather it had overtaken the Temple. The buying and was the priority.
Tell me about where you worship. Maybe your place of worship is about music, or caring for the poor, or educating children. These are good causes. But when these things become the focus, when a church is all about its music or its services, then the church is no longer about Jesus. Thus the church is no different than the Temple in Matthew 21. And then you are rejecting God the Son.
Now let’s turn to Matthew 21:33, to what is often called the Parable of the Tenants. The parable of the tenants is a story about a landowner who plants a vineyard then rents that vineyard to some farmers. These farmers are to work the vineyard while the owner is away.
Now when the harvest comes the owner sends his servants to collect and the tenant farmers “beat one of the servants, kill another one, and stone the third. Take a moment and read Matthew 21:37-45.
My takeaway is this. The tenant farmers are the Chief Priests and the religious leaders of the day. The owner is God the Father. The son is Jesus. The story tells me that the tenant farmers knew who the son was. They knew full and well who the son was yet they still killed him because they wanted to hold on to what they had. Likewise, the priests and the Pharisees knew who Jesus was, but still they wanted to put an end to Him. They wanted to kill Him so they could hold on to what they possessed.
Some of you reading this know who Jesus is - God the Son - and you know what Jesus did – died on the cross for your sin – yet you still reject Him. Why do you not put your faith in Jesus? Why do you not make Jesus Lord of your life? Because you would rather hold on to the life you have. You know that Jesus is God and you understand that He died for your sins, yet you still reject Him.
In the parable, the owner of the vineyard brought these wicked tenants to judgment. Don’t let this life, which you are trying to hold on to, cause you to be judged by God. Trust in Jesus.
Admit that you are a sinner.
Believe that Jesus, God the Son, died for your sin.
Call upon God to save you.
Do not continue to reject what you know is true. Believe on Jesus Christ.
So and the end of Matthew 23:37-39 Jesus says his peace and walks out of the Temple. He will not return to the Temple until He comes again. And every day the time for His return gets another day closer.
Are you attending a place of worship that does not acknowledge Jesus as God – that focuses on things other than Jesus? You can try and change it, but you may have to leave and find a church that is Jesus-focused. Because until that happens you are in a place that rejects Jesus. And are you sitting here now, aware of who Jesus is and what He did for you, yet still you reject Him. Today is the day of salvation my friend. Stop what you are doing and ask Jesus to save you.
Resources What on Earth is Happening?: What Jesus Said about the End of the Age by Ray C. Stedman
Please Visit If you want to know more about Wakefield Valley Bible Church please visit WakefieldBible.org. We are a non-denominational Bible church located in New Windsor, Maryland, just minutes from Westminster, Maryland.
Our Sunday morning service begins at 10:45. We do have programs for the entire family, so bring the kids.
And please let us know if you believed on Jesus for salvation.
Sign Up Get an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever an episode is released. Just CLICK HERE to sign up and we will email you with a copy of the show notes and let you know when a new episode has been released. At this time, all who sign up will receive a Special Gift – a Study Guide for the Gospel of John. Sign up today!
These days it seems that everyone is pursuing happiness. We try just about anything to make ourselves happy. But God has promised something greater to those that believe on Jesus Christ. God promised joy.
The Difference
Happiness is external. Happiness is based on our circumstances. If you have a good meal, your happy. If your loved one gives you a kiss, your happy. A good night's sleep and you're happy. Happiness is external. Happiness is based on your circumstances.
Joy is internal. And joy is not based on your circumstances. True joy comes from God.
Let's learn three simple truths about joy.
Joy & Salvation
Luke 10:17-20 teaches that joy should not be based on what we have done, but joy is to be based on our salvation.
We respond in joy to God when we think about the great gift of salvation that God has given.
We deserve death and hell. God, though is merciful. God does not give you what you deserve. Instead He gives you eternal life with Him. That makes us rejoice.
Joy & The Spirit
There is a dynamic element to joy. Joy is eternal, but day to day, joy can change.
Look at Galatians 5:16. Believers are commanded to walk in the Spirit. Life is a journey, and as we walk God tells us to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
What is the result of walking in this way? Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that joy is a fruit, or a result of walking in the Spirit. Walk as you should and joy will flow out of you.
Joy & Suffering
When we suffer, joy is the correct response. James 1:2
Why?
- Joy makes us stronger. James 1:2-5 and 1 Peter 1:6-9
- Suffering cannot remove your salvation, so joy is eternal. Romans 8:38-39
- Suffering allows us to experience the life of Christ. Hebrews 12:2
How to Get Joy
Joy comes when you put your trust in Jesus Christ, God the Son.
All are removed from God. Why? Because of sin. So sin or sinful people can never be with God. That means everyone is separated from God, because everyone has this sin problem. Romans 3:23
But God has provided a way. He gave His Son Jesus that if you believe on Him you will have everlasting life. John 3:16
Please turn away from your sinful ways and believe on Jesus. Believe that He died on the cross for YOUR SIN.
If you do this, then you will receive eternal life and you will receive eternal joy.
Please Visit
Faith in the Valley is recorded at Wakefield Valley Bible Church in New Windsor, Maryland. We are less than 10 minutes from Westminster, Maryland.
Our Sunday morning service begins at 10:45. Please bring the entire family. You can learn more about the church at WakefieldBible.org.
Sign Up Get an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever an episode is released. Just CLICK HERE to sign up and we will email you with a copy of the show notes and let you know when a new episode has been released. At this time, all who sign up will receive a Special Gift - a Study Guide for the Gospel of John. Sign up today!
I was recently reminded of my least favorite Bible verse. This verse is 1 Peter 1:16. Peter is quoting from Leviticus 11:44.
"Be holy, for I am holy."
The reason it is my least favorite is because of the standard. God has made himself the standard of holiness. It is this standard that we must all meet. We must measure our holiness next to God's.
I cannot meet this standard and neither can you. Everyone falls short of God's holiness. Hebrews 12:14 makes it worse. It says, without holiness, "no one will see the Lord."
Before you get discourage let me share the good news. Although we can never meet God's standard, God has taken care of it. In Jesus we are able to be holy. 1 Corinthians 1:30 teaches this fact.
The word "sanctification" means holiness. In Christ we have wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and salvation. God took care of it.
Why does God do this? Why does He give you Christ's wisdom, Christ's righteousness, and Christ's holiness? He does it for His glory. Look at 1 Corinthians 1:31.
If God does something for His glory, then God will do it to the fullest. So the best place you can be is in Jesus Christ, because in Christ you are holy.
How?
How do you get to be "in Christ"? Believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son and believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins.
Everyone sins. Because of this, everyone is separated from God. Remember, no one can meet God's standard for holiness. This separation leads to hell. Romans 3:23
But if you believe on Jesus Christ you will be saved. Acts 16:31
Your sins will be forgiven and you will receive the gift of God - eternal life in heaven with Him. Romans 6:23
Please Visit
If you want to know more about Wakefield Valley Bible Church please visit WakefieldBible.org. We are a non denominational Bible church located in New Windsor, Maryland, just minutes from Westminster, Maryland.
Our Sunday morning service begins at 10:45. We do have programs for the entire family, so bring the kids.
And please let us know if you believed on Jesus for salvation.
Sign Up Get an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever an episode is released. Just CLICK HERE to sign up and we will email you with a copy of the show notes and let you know when a new episode has been released. At this time, all who sign up will receive a Special Gift - a Study Guide for the Gospel of John. Sign up today!
Adoption stories are amazing! Paperwork, travel, money, and then a child! This child gets a new family and sometimes even a new name.
When you believe on Jesus, God adopts you and makes you a member of His family.
When God adopts you, He does three things: He gives you a new nature. He gives you a new name. He gives you a new relationship.
New Nature
Romans 8:12-15
When you trusted in Christ, God gave you a new nature. This new nature gives you power over sin.
2 Peter 1:3-4
God gave you everything you need to live this life in a godly way. Believers are a partaker of the divine nature. The believer now has power over sin.
New Name
God has given all believers a new name. That new name is "a child of God."
Romans 8:16-17
All humans are NOT children of God. Only those that believe on Jesus receive this new name.
New Relationship
God also gave you a new relationship. Believers have an intimate relationship with The Heavenly Father - God is now your daddy. You can now approach God in boldness.
Finally, God will never leave you nor forsake you. This relationship is eternal.
Closing Info
Faith in the Valley is recorded at Wakefield Valley Bible Church. Our morning service is at 10:45am. You can find out more information at our website at www.WakefieldBible.org.
Sign Up Get an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever an episode is released. Just CLICK HERE to sign up and we will email you with a copy of the show notes and let you know when a new episode has been released. At this time, all who sign up will receive a Special Gift - a Study Guide for the Gospel of John. Sign up today!
God is chasing you. And I pray that He catches you, because if He does, He will make you like Jesus - holy and without blame.
In this first episode of Faith in the Valley, Pastor Mark Jones shares that it is God's desire to save you and make you like Jesus.
Our text for today is Ephesians 1:3-6
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
In this passage, we learn that God has predetermined three things for everyone who believes in Him.
- What you will be - God has determined that the believer will be holy and blameless. Look at verse 4. You will be like His Son, Jesus. I understand that we struggle with sin. But God gives the righteousness of Christ to those who believe.
- Where you will be - All that believe on Jesus Christ will be with God in heaven. Look at verse 4b. Even now the believer's home is in heaven.
- Who we will be - Believers are adopted by God. We become His children. See verse 5.
Why does God do this? He does it because He loves you. But more importantly, He does it for His own glory.
Resources:
The Hound of Heaven, by Francis Thompson
Sign Up Get an email notification and a copy of the show notes whenever an episode is released. Just CLICK HERE to sign up and we will email you with a copy of the show notes and let you know when a new episode has been released. At this time, all who sign up will receive a Special Gift - a Study Guide for the Gospel of John. Sign up today!