Hope for Today (English): Recent Episodes
Heralds of Hope
In this episode, J. Mark dives into Mark 11:22-26, where Jesus commands His disciples to “have faith in God.” Discover the essential components of effective prayer: making God the object of your faith, trusting His will with authentic belief, and maintaining a heart that freely forgives. This passage challenges us to examine the authenticity of our faith and how it shapes our prayer life.
Why were the Pharisees threatened by Jesus? In this episode, J. Mark studies Mark 11:12–21, where Jesus repeatedly confronts the religious system of His day. Through the cursing of the fig tree, the cleansing of the temple, and the religious leaders' plot to kill Him, Jesus exposes a fruitless religion that looked righteous on the outside but lacked true devotion to God. This episode challenges us to examine our own faith and ask whether our religion is merely outward or reflects genuine obedience to Christ.
In this episode, J. Mark explores Mark 11:1-11, the account of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. As Jesus rides into the city on a donkey, the crowds welcome Him with cries of "Hosanna!" This moment is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies that reveal Jesus as the promised Messiah. Listen to this episode where J. Mark unpacks these prophecies and shows how their fulfillment strengthens our faith in Christ.
Do you need to see to believe? In this episode, J. Mark studies Mark 10:46-52, where Blind Bartimaeus is healed. Though a blind beggar, Bartimaeus recognized Jesus as the Messiah, and showed persistent faith. Jesus restored his sight, not only physically, but spiritually. Join us as we explore this passage and discover the depth of Jesus’ compassion.
What is the path to greatness according to Jesus? In this episode, J. Mark walks us through Mark 10:32-45 where Jesus predicts his death for the third time and redefines true greatness. He outlines three steps to being great in the Kingdom of God—embracing suffering, allowing Jesus to correct our misconceptions, and humbly serving others. While the world equates greatness with wealth, power, and prestige, Jesus exemplifies a radically different path marked by suffering, service, and sacrifice.
Jesus told the rich young ruler, “Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor.” Does Jesus require that of us if we want to receive eternal life? In this episode, J. Mark explores Mark 10:17–31, the account of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus seeking eternal life. As Jesus challenged the young man to sell his possessions and give to the poor, He exposed the true condition of his heart. In this lesson, we follow the directions Jesus gave the rich young ruler, learning to look upward to Christ, inward at our priorities, outward beyond self-reliance, and onward to the hope of eternal life.
Children are an important part of God's kingdom. In this episode, J. Mark explores Mark 10:13–16, where Jesus demonstrates the high value He places on children. While the disciples and religious leaders did not regard children as important, Jesus showed them that their perspective was flawed. He highlighted both the value and the virtues of children, teaching that we must become like little children to enter His kingdom. Join us for "Children of the Kingdom" as we discover what it means to have childlike faith and learn the importance of valuing the children God has placed in our lives.
In this episode, J. Mark concludes his study of Jesus’ teaching on divorce and remarriage in Mark 10:6-12. In Part 1 of “Maybe I Do,” we explored the confrontation and the concession. In this episode, we return to Genesis with Jesus as He clarifies God’s original design for marriage. Jesus teaches that marriage is intended to be a lifelong covenant that reflects the relationship between Christ and His Church. We examine the seriousness of divorce, the impact of broken families on society, and the Church’s responsibility to uphold and model biblical marriage.
What does Jesus teach about divorce? In part 1 of “Maybe, I Do,” we see the Pharisees challenge Jesus with questions on divorce in Mark 10:1-12. J. Mark explores the cultural and religious views of divorce that the Pharisees had, and Jesus’ response to these views. Jesus takes us back to the beginning, in the […]
As followers of Jesus, we are to learn from him and grow more like him. This is discipleship. In this episode, J. Mark takes us through Mark 9:42-50, where we see Jesus lay out the qualities of radical discipleship. We see how when we embrace radical love, radical purity, and radical obedience, we can make […]
In this episode, Bible teacher J. Mark explores the values Jesus taught His disciples in Mark 9:30-41. As Jesus continues preparing the disciples for His coming death and resurrection, He challenges them by emphasizing three values of His kingdom: anonymity, humility, and inclusivity. J. Mark shows how Jesus modeled servant-hearted living as the suffering servant, […]
In this episode, J. Mark discusses the four kinds of faith revealed in Mark 9:14-29. Through this account of the demon-possessed boy, we see examples of different kinds of faith coupled with the power of God. Jesus invites us to place our faith in Him, but sometimes our faith is weak. The father of the […]
In this episode, J. Mark continues our study by looking at Mark 9:9-13. Jesus and His disciples descend from the mountain after the Transfiguration, but what began as a glorious mountaintop experience gives way to the reality of suffering, rejection, and the shadow of the cross. In “Shadows of Suffering,” we explore Jesus’ mysterious command to […]
Mark 3:20-35 Thank you for joining us as we look into the Word of God together. Last time in Mark 3, we looked at what it means to lead well. In today’s lesson, the scribes give us an example of poor leadership; they attribute the works of Jesus to demons. This is the passage many […]
Mark 3:7-19 It is excellent to be with you again today. We are honored to be here and consider it a privilege to look into the Word of God with you. In our area, there are many resources for leaders. Books that describe leadership and how to improve your leadership. People who offer personal coaching […]
Mark 2:23-28 We are honored and glad to be with you today. Thank you for being there as we continue to examine Jesus’ teachings regarding the Sabbath. Last time was the first part of this series. If you missed it, you can listen anytime on our website. The teaching was divided into two parts, and […]
Mark 2:23-28 It’s great to be with you. Thank you for joining us as we study God’s Word. The Bible is full of practical truth we can put into daily practice. It does not matter where you are from, His Words will instruct and form all of us, IF we allow them to. We must […]
Mark 2:18-22 Thank you for joining us as we study God’s Word together. One of the things that validates God’s work on the earth is the lives that he changes. You probably know someone who was not following Christ. They may have been very harsh and unkind. Or maybe they were only concerned about themselves, […]
Mark 2:13-17 It’s great to be with you again today. Thank you so much for being there. We are honored to be here and consider it a privilege to investigate the Word of God with you. As an introduction to this lesson, think about a flame. When you put a candle in the flame, it […]
Mark 2:1-12 We are glad and honored to be with you today. Thank you so much for being there. We trust that this lesson will be a blessing for you. Before we go to the lesson with J Mark, I have a question for you. In your mind, what makes Christianity different from all other […]
Mark 1:35-45 It’s great to be with you. Thank you for joining us as we study God’s Word. The Bible is filled with truth that we can pattern our lives after. It does not matter which culture we are in; God speaks to all of us through this special book. Last time, we discussed the […]
Mark 1:21-34 Thank you for joining us as we study God’s Word together. This book is so much more than just a book; it pulses with life and has a profound effect on those who delve into it. I was recently impressed with this truth while studying 1 Peter 3. The more I learned, the […]
Mark 1:16-20 Welcome to another lesson from the Gospel of Mark. Today’s story is a powerful example for all of us. It is the short account of Jesus calling a few disciples. Jesus invites them to follow Him, so they immediately drop what they are doing and go with Jesus. This invitation remains open to […]
Mark 1:9-15 Thank you so much for being there. We are honored to be here and consider it a privilege to look into the Word of God together. Our lesson today is a continuation of what we started last time, and our title is “Preparing the Son of Man.” We are examining three things Jesus […]
Mark 1:9-15 We are delighted to be with you again today. We have just started our study in Mark, and last week we looked at John the Baptist preparing the way. The takeaway was: How are we preparing for Christ’s 2nd coming? Great question. If we are expecting Him, our lives will be much different […]
Mark 1:1-8 It’s great to be with you. Thank you for joining us as we study God’s Word. The Bible remains relevant and beneficial for all who study it. Even though it was written a long time ago, it has proven and continues to confirm that it is a timeless treasure. All who are willing […]
Mark 1:1 Thank you for joining us as we study God’s Word together. This book is so much more than just a book. Peter calls it living and abiding, and then he further describes it by adding the word forever. Now think about the combination of those two words, living forever and abiding forever. Two […]
Colossians 4:7-18 Thank you so much for being there; we are honored to be with you today. Looking into the Word of God and allowing it to mold and shape us is a benefit for every human who is willing to do this. We trust today’s teaching will be a blessing for you. Today is […]
Colossians 4:2-6 It’s good to be with you today as we take another look at God’s Word together. This program is produced by Heralds of Hope, where our goal is to use media to make disciples of Jesus. This program is the media. We are studying in Colossians, and Lord willing, all of us are […]
Colossians 4:2-6 Thank you for joining us as we study God’s Word together. No matter who you are or what you have experienced, we are confident the Bible has something for you right where you are. It is our prayer that as we look into God’s Word together, each of us will become like Jesus, […]
Colossians 3:15-17 t is good to be with you today as we study God’s Word together. God, through His Word, has revealed more of Himself to us, and it is beneficial for us to apply ourselves and learn from this incredible book. Some passages require time and effort to understand, while others are easily explained […]
Colossians 3:8-14 It is good to be here with you for part two of “Pursuing Perfection.” This teaching is from the middle of Colossians 3. Last time, we had the first part of this teaching: discarding the old. We looked at several specific actions that we must get rid of. Today, we will look at […]
Colossians 3:8-14 Thank you for joining us as we study God’s Word together. No matter where you are or what you are going through, we are confident the Bible has good principles for you right where you are. The Holy Spirit through God’s Word can speak to and guide you, it is up to us […]
Colossians 3:1-7 Thank you for joining us in studying the Bible together. It doesn’t matter if you’ve read the Bible many times or just recently started following Jesus; there is something here for everyone, and with God’s help, you will hear what He is saying to you. Last time, we started Colossians 3. This is […]
Colossians 3:1-7 We are honored to be with you today. Thanks so much for being here. The Bible is always relevant; we study it to become more like Jesus. He is our Savior, and like we have learned from Colossians, He is the preeminent one. Today’s lesson is the first of two parts, and the […]
Colossians 2:16-23 Thank you for joining us as we study God’s Word together. No matter where you come from or what you have been through, we are confident the Bible speaks to you right where you are. The Holy Spirit, through God’s Word, can speak to you and guide you. It is on us to […]
Colossians 2:8-15 I am so glad to be with you for part two of “Complete in Christ.” If you missed the first part of this teaching, please take the time to look it up; it is worthwhile. The first reason we are complete in Christ is because of His person. The following two reasons are […]
Colossians 2:8-15 Thank you for joining us. Whether you’ve read the Bible many times or just recently started following Jesus, there is something here for all of us, and with God’s help, we will learn together. Think back to the first week of creation. God created the earth, and then each day, he created things […]
Colossians 2:1-7We are honored to be with you today. Thanks so much for being there. The Bible is always relevant, and when we open its pages with the goal of learning, it does not often leave us disappointed. Today, we are finishing our lesson from Colossians 2, which is titled “God’s Treasure Chest.” We started […]
Colossians 2:1-7 Thank you for joining us as we study God’s Word together. No matter where you come from or what has happened to you, the Holy Spirit can speak to you through God’s Word and show you the next step to being more like Jesus. We pray this program will disciple you in your […]
II Cor. 10:1-6 Hello and welcome to Hope for Today, we are so glad you joined us for today’s teaching from II Cor 10. Just over twenty-five years ago I was learning to drive a vehicle. I had to learn how to keep the car on my side of the road and in the center […]
Thanks again for joining us on Hope for Today. Today is the final lesson on giving. Chapters 8 and 9 in II Corinthians teach us many things about giving. Our first lesson was “The Heart of Giving,” and today’s lesson is titled “The Graces of Giving.” I mention the first one since it is similar […]
Thank you for joining us for today’s program. The Bible is such a practical book, and I love how the wisdom in its pages can be applied to every situation we face. This lesson will deal with some specifics of group giving. If you remember, the last two lessons were about other aspects of giving. […]
Welcome to another episode of Hope for Today. I’m so glad you’re joining us to study God’s Word and learn how we can live for Him. Last week, we examined “The Heart of Giving.” This was the first of several lessons examining different aspects of giving. Jesus is quoted in Acts as saying, “It is […]
Thank you so much for joining us for today’s teaching; we are honored to be with you and look forward to learning from God’s Word. We believe the principles in the Bible are for every one of us, and it is for our good when we apply these principles to our lives. God understands us. […]
II Corinthians 6:11-7:1 Thank you so much for joining us for today’s teaching, we are honored to be with you and look forward to learning from God’s Word together. As an introduction to today’s lesson, I’d like you to think about this question. If you had only one word to describe God, what word would […]
II Corinthians 6:1-10 Welcome to Hope for Today, we are happy to be here with you. Our study in II Corinthians has brought us to chapter 6. Last week we had the first lesson on the Paradox of Ministry. Today we will continue this teaching. If you missed last week, just go to our website […]
II Corinthians 6:1-10 Thanks so much for being there. We are honored to be here and learn from God’s Word together. This book is truly amazing, no other book has the life of God in its pages like the Bible. It is always healthy for us to spend time reading it and learning from it. […]
II Corinthians 5:17-21 Thank you for listening to Hope for Today, we are honored to be here and so glad you chose to join us for today’s lesson. Our lesson today from the end of II Corinthians 5 is one of my favorite sections of the Bible. There is so much packed in here and […]
II Corinthians 5:11-16 Hello and welcome to today’s program. We are honored to be here and thankful that you are there. For an introduction, think about this question: What makes Christianity different from any other religion? There are many correct answers to this question, so I am not going to act like there is only […]
II Corinthians 5:1-10 It is so good to be here with you today. Thank you for being there. Recently, we received this testimony from a listener in Malawi. “In today’s teaching, I learned that we should surrender ourselves to God for Him to take full control of our lives. It is Him who knows tomorrow. […]
II Corinthians 4:13-18 Hello, and thank you for joining us. We are honored you have chosen to be with us, and we trust you’ll be blessed by our time together. Today’s title is “Dying to Live,” taken from II Corinthians 4. Dying to live—think about that. This is a paradox. A paradox is a statement […]
II Corinthians 4:7-12 Thank you for listening to Hope for Today. We are honored to be here and so glad you chose to join us for today’s lesson from II Corinthians 4. The title is “Jars of Clay,” and J Mark is here to share this teaching with us. In 1947, a boy was herding […]
II Corinthians 4:1-6 Welcome to another lesson from II Corinthians, we are honored you have chosen to be here with us. Heralds of Hope produces this program, but Bible teaching is not the only thing we do. We also distribute Bibles. Please pray for us as you think about us. Pray that God would use […]
II Corinthians 4:1-6 Welcome to another lesson from II Corinthians, we are honored you have chosen to be here with us. Heralds of Hope produces this program, but Bible teaching is not the only thing we do. We also distribute Bibles. Please pray for us as you think about us. Pray that God would use […]
II Corinthians 3:7-18 Welcome, thanks for joining us. This program is produced by Heralds of Hope, we are a small media ministry, and our mission is to use media to make disciples of Jesus Christ to accomplish the great commission in our lifetime. Media has many forms, what you are doing, listening to the radio, […]
II Corinthians 3:7-18 Welcome, thanks for joining us. This program is produced by Heralds of Hope, we are a small media ministry, and our mission is to use media to make disciples of Jesus Christ to accomplish the great commission in our lifetime. Media has many forms, what you are doing, listening to the radio, […]
II Cor. 3:1-6 Thanks for joining us on Hope for Today, we are honored to be here and so glad you chose to be there. Recently we received this testimony from one of our listeners, “Through the program, I have learned a lot but one thing that remains in my heart is that despite what […]
II Cor. 3:1-6 Thanks for joining us on Hope for Today, we are honored to be here and so glad you chose to be there. Recently we received this testimony from one of our listeners, “Through the program, I have learned a lot but one thing that remains in my heart is that despite what […]
II Cor. 2:12-17 Welcome to another lesson from II Corinthians. We are so glad you joined us. Our title today is Diffusing the Aroma of Christ, and it is taken from II Cor 2. Here is Pastor J Mark for today’s teaching. “Essential oils” are almost as old as human history. These oils are compounds […]
II Cor. 2:12-17 Welcome to another lesson from II Corinthians. We are so glad you joined us. Our title today is Diffusing the Aroma of Christ, and it is taken from II Cor 2. Here is Pastor J Mark for today’s teaching. “Essential oils” are almost as old as human history. These oils are compounds […]
II Cor. 1:23-2:11 We are honored to be with you today, thank you for joining us. Last week we had the first session about the heart of a Godly leader and this week we will continue our teaching on this topic. We are looking at the qualities that show the heart of a Godly leader. […]
II Cor. 1:23-2:11 We are honored to be with you today, thank you for joining us. Last week we had the first session about the heart of a Godly leader and this week we will continue our teaching on this topic. We are looking at the qualities that show the heart of a Godly leader. […]
II Cor. 1:23-2:11 It is good to be here with you, thank you for joining us on Hope for Today and today we are going to look at the Heart of a Godly Leader. This lesson covers two weeks, we will start it today and finish it next week. Some of you may be thinking, […]
II Cor. 1:23-2:11 It is good to be here with you, thank you for joining us on Hope for Today and today we are going to look at the Heart of a Godly Leader. This lesson covers two weeks, we will start it today and finish it next week. Some of you may be thinking, […]
II Cor. 1:15-22 Hello and thank you for joining us. Today we are looking at the last part of Second Corinthians 1, the title is Established in Christ. When I heard this title, I thought of foundations. Think about the foundation of a building. Normally it is not visible, and it is usually one of […]
II Cor. 1:8-14 It is good to be with you again today as we continue our study in II Corinthians. Today our lesson is a topic that will connect with everybody. How can you say that if you don’t know me, you might be thinking? You are right. I don’t know you. But I know […]
II Cor. 1:3-7 It is good to be with you for another week. Today is our second lesson from II Corinthians. Each week we look at a few verses and hear what God is saying through those verses. There are many ways you can study the Bible and learn from it. Lord willing He will […]
II Cor. 1:1-2 Thanks so much for joining us here on Hope for Today, it is good to be with you and we are excited that today’s lesson is from a New Testament book. It has been a while since we spent time in the New Testament. We just completed about a year of study […]
Exodus 40:17-38 We are honored to be with you today. Thanks for joining us for this last lesson in Exodus. Next week we begin our study in Second Corinthians. However, today’s lesson is a longer section of verses from Exodus 40 titled “Preparing for Worship.” I don’t know what comes into your mind when you […]
Exodus 34:29-31 Hello and thank you for listening to Hope for Today. We are honored to be with you again today. The program you are listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope, we are a small ministry from the United States. Two things we focus on are Bible distribution and Bible teaching. We teach […]
Exodus 34:18-28 It is good to be with you again, thanks for being there, and thanks for listening to Hope for Today. Our title today is “Details are Important” and it is taken from Exodus 34. As I was thinking about this title and looking at Exodus 34, I thought about a question I have […]
Exodus 34:10-17 Thank you for listening to Hope for Today. We are honored that you have chosen to be with us for today’s lesson. Today our title is “Moses as God’s Man,” and our passage is the next section of Exodus 34. Before we get into today’s lesson think about that title. “Moses as God’s […]
Exodus 34:1-9 It is so good to be with you again today, thanks for listening and continuing with us in our journey through Exodus. We have been in Exodus just over a year and now we are coming to the end of Exodus. Personally, the interactions between God and Moses are some of my favorite […]
Exodus 33:18-20 Welcome, we’re so glad you joined us for this study in Exodus. We are nearing the end of Exodus and now we are looking at a time when Moses was with God on Mt Sinai. This story is amazing and there is much we can learn from Moses’ interaction with God. Our lesson […]
Exodus 18:1-12Thank you for joining us here on Hope for Today. This program is produced by Heralds of Hope, and we thank God for the opportunity to serve Him this way. Our mission is to use media to make disciples of Jesus Christ to accomplish the great commission in our lifetime. Media has many aspects to it, but the two we use the most are radio and the Bible. Currently, our radio program is translated into 23 different languages, and so far this year, we have distributed just over 50,000 Bibles.
Before Pastor J. Mark joins us, I’d like to share a few testimonies from our listeners. The first testimony is from one of our partners in Zambia; he said, “The teaching yesterday, it really inspired me, especially the verse from I Cor. 10:31.” It is encouraging for us to hear testimonies like this, and we are glad to hear the Spirit is taking the verses we share and using them to encourage Christians everywhere. What a miracle!
Here is another testimony, “It is a pleasure to listen to direct truth about the prophecies of God being taught here; I thank God that you preach it without hiding any truth.”
This listener accurately describes what we aim to do. If God’s Word includes it, we also want to include it in our teaching. We are in no position to say this is needed and that is not needed; if God put it in the Bible, it is important; we all need it. We want to be disciples of Jesus and make disciples of Jesus who honor all Scripture and grow in our love of Him. Jesus teaches in John 14 that the test of our love is if we obey His teaching. We want to pass this test, and we want you to pass His test.
The title for today’s lesson is A Father-in-law Can Help, and it is taken from Exodus 18, and Pastor J. Mark is here to share this teaching with us.
Some cultures of the world have a very close-knit family life. Their emphasis is on community. Everyone has a place of importance; everyone matters. It is lovely when you see such family spirit expressed. In other cultures, people break up into their own little units and pay very little attention to each other. Their emphasis is on the individual. They miss the strength of community and the richness of sharing.
Moses was part of a culture that valued family and community. Yet when Moses was called by God to lead Israel out of Egypt, he left his wife and his sons with her father. We are not sure exactly why Moses did this, but Exodus chapter four provides some clues for us. Regardless, Moses went to deliver the people of God without his wife and children.
But now, the people of Israel are on their way from Egypt to Canaan. They were passing near the area where Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, lived. He wanted Moses’ wife and sons to join him again. The father-in-law, Jethro, made plans to accomplish this. We read about how A FATHER-IN-LAW CAN HELP in Exodus 18:1-12.
1. When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;
2. Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,
3. And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:
4. And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:
5. And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:
6. And he said unto Moses, I thy father-in-law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.
7. And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.
8. And Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.
9. And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.
10. And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
11. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.
12. And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father in law before God.
From this text, we can find the WAYS a father-in-law can help.
One way he can help is to
Gather Information.
Jethro heard all that God had done for Moses. The news of the terrible plagues in Egypt and Israel’s miraculous release from there spread. People everywhere were talking about these amazing events. The news reached the country of Midian, where Jethro lived. The report emphasized the hand and work of God. Jethro heard all that God had done for Moses and for Israel, His people, in the process of bringing Israel out of Egypt. God and His actions were being talked about all across the land. Jethro gathered this information.
In response to this information, Jethro took Moses’ wife, Zipporah, and their two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, and prepared to meet Moses. He said, “Let us go and see what has happened.” So, he came with his daughter, Moses’ wife, and his two sons to meet Moses in the wilderness where Israel was camped by the mount of God, Mount Sinai.
We draw this lesson from this account that a father-in-law should be interested in what is happening. He should gather information. He should be ready to respond appropriately when the reports he hears are confirmed.
The second way a father-in-law can help is to
Make A Visit.
So, Jethro gathered the family together, his daughter and her two sons, and started for the place where Moses was camped by the mount of God. You may recall that when Moses met God at the burning bush in the desert of Midian, He said to Moses, “You are going to worship me upon this mountain.” And what God said came true. Moses worshipped God alone at the burning bush, but now, here he was camped by the mount of God with the children of Israel.
When Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, arrived in the camp, he sent his announcement to Moses, I, your father-in-law Jethro, have come to you, and I brought your wife and two sons.
Moses immediately went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed before him. He honored his father-in-law’s age and position, and he kissed him. Then they talked to each other about what had happened in their personal lives and their families during their absence from each other. I’m sure they had a lot of catching up to do.
Naturally, Moses was glad to see his family. So, he welcomed them into his tent. Jethro was responsible for bringing Moses’ wife and her two sons to their husband and father.
Moses told his father-in-law all the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake. He reviewed it all for Jethro: how God had vindicated His high and holy name in Egypt by bringing judgment to all the gods of Egypt. Moses was careful to give the LORD His rightful place. The LORD had judged Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and the LORD had delivered them out of all their troubles as they were traveling through the wilderness. It was a beautiful testimony that Moses gave to his father-in-law, Jethro.
A father-in-law can help his family if he pays a visit. He can see for himself what the LORD is doing, and he can hear about the marvelous things the Lord has done for his son-in-law. He ought to pay a visit so that he has firsthand information for himself.
The third way in which a father-in-law can help is to
Give a Declaration.
After their initial greetings, Jethro congratulated Moses on the success he had experienced. He rejoiced in the goodness of God in delivering Israel from Egypt. He said: “Blessed be the LORD who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians.”
It’s remarkable that a priest of Midian, who was not a member of the children of Israel, knew the work of God when he saw it! He could tell when God was working for His people. There was no other viable explanation for it. The people themselves had been murmuring against Moses and against God. But here was one who came from the outside and looked in. He blessed the LORD and said, “God has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and I rejoice in this.”
But Jethro wasn’t finished speaking; he made a confession, “Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they behaved proudly He was above them.” There was no question left in Jethro’s mind. He saw that God stands over all, and above all.
To show that his previous words were spoken in sincerity, he offered a burnt offering and sacrifices to God right there with the children of Israel. He acknowledged God’s working and joined the elders of Israel in worship by offering a sacrifice unto the LORD. Aaron, Moses’ brother and all the elders of Israel sat down with him and ate bread together before the LORD. That was their way of showing they approved of what he had said and done.
This text gives us a wonderful example of the role of a father-in-law. He should be interested in the life of his son-in-law, his daughter, and their family. He should care enough to find out what is happening in their lives. And he should take time to visit them, to hear what God is doing in their lives, and to bless God for His goodness.
When he takes time to do that, he will acknowledge the goodness of God. Even though Jethro was a religious man, it seems he didn’t know the true God, Jehovah. But when he came face to face with the truth of God, he didn’t turn his back on it. He believed it. He embraced it. He saw what was happening, and he joined with these people of God in worship. The testimony of a godly family can lead an unbelieving father-in-law to Jesus!
Are you a father-in-law? If you are, you now have several practical ways you can use to help your daughter and her family. What will you do with what you have learned?
Thanks, J. Mark, for this teaching, and thank you for being here for this teaching from God’s Word. It is amazing how timeless the Bible is. We believe this book is the best foundation to live by. For all the hard questions in life, the Bible has the best answers—not the easy answers, but certainly the best ones. And He, Jesus, promises to be with us; what a comforting promise.
If you have any questions or if you’d like a copy of today’s teaching, here are a few ways you can contact us. The best way is via email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could write to us. Our address is: Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. On our website, you will find other teaching similar to this and more helpful resources; please look around while you are there. If you go to the connect tab, you can message us directly. Again, the website is heraldsofhope.org.
Thank you so much for being with us. We look forward to next week and hope you will join us for more lessons from Exodus. I will leave you with the comforting promise Jesus left to all His disciples in the last verse of Matthew, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 18:1-12* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 17:8-16 Time is interesting to think about; we have the past, present, and future. We believe God created the world about 6,000 years ago; everything from now back to then is history. It is important for us to understand and learn from the past. Now, we have a very short moment called the present; this moment is very precious, and what we do now has consequences. The future lies out before us, unknown. We don’t know if we have 2 days, 2 years, or 200 years. Only God knows, and He also knows exactly what will happen in the future. Three simple words: past, present, and future, and they each play a part in God’s story.
You see, God Overrules History. Think of history as His story. God is the author, and He knows what is happening at every moment in every place. We can’t grasp how this can be done, and we are astounded by our powerful God. With God, the past, present, and future are sure; they will happen exactly as He planned.
Today’s story is one example from history of how God was involved and helped the children of Israel win one of their first battles. Turn to Exodus 17, and we will hear more about this great God.
Earthly rulers make big promises. They have big plans, but they find them hard to carry out and the promises hard to keep. They rise and fall. They come and go. They are somewhat like the ebb and flow of the sea. Behind all of history is the God of the universe, but most rulers of the kingdoms of the world pay no attention to Him.
In our world today, governments rise and fall regularly. Some change by elections, some by military coup, and some by conquest by a foreign power. Even the greatest empires of the world had a limited lifetime. They lasted hundreds of years, but today they are gone, relegated to the ash heap of history.
In their day, they thought they were invincible. But they didn’t understand that God had raised them up to accomplish His purposes. He was moving in the kingdoms of men to prepare the world for the fulfillment of His plans. The Bible tells us that God rules in the kingdoms of men.
Many years ago, in the country of Babylon, there was a proud king named Nebuchadnezzar. He felt what had been accomplished in his kingdom was of his own doing. He was a rather smart man, to be sure, but he gave God no credit. Because he was so proud and gave God no credit, the Lord sent him out with the beasts of the field for seven years. He lost his reason; he couldn’t think like a rational human being. He was out there with the oxen in the field eating grass until he learned, the Bible says, that God rules. When he came back to his throne, and his reason returned to him, he made a decree throughout all his kingdom that men should honor the God of heaven because He rules in the kingdoms of men.
God rules in the kingdoms of men whether they acknowledge Him or not. We will find some help in understanding how GOD OVERRULES HISTORY in Exodus 17:8-16.
8. Then came Amalek and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
9. And Moses said unto Joshua, choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
10. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12. But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
13. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
14. And the LORD said unto Moses, write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
15. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it, Jehovah-nissi:
16. For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
From this text, we gain several INSIGHTS into how God rules in the kingdoms of men. They emerge from this particular battle between Amalek and Israel.
The first INSIGHT comes from
The Call to Battle.
Amalek had attacked Israel and fought with them in Rephidim. Amalek was a descendant of Esau. The Bible tells us there had been conflict between Esau and Jacob ever since the boys were born, while their father Isaac still lived. So, this was an old problem which surfaced again.
In order to meet this provocation by the Amalekites, Moses ordered Joshua to set up a military organization and mobilize the army. This is the first mention in the Bible that the men of Israel were to engage in battle. They had no experience in warfare and probably had little, if any, military equipment. But God told Moses to get the men ready for battle.
There is the account of how Abraham armed the servants of his household and fought the Canaanite kings to rescue his nephew Lot. But that was a very small group of men compared to this experience. Here, Joshua was commanded by Moses to choose out men, organize them to battle, and fight with Amalek.
Then Moses said he would go up to the top of the hill. Notice what he was going to take with him to the hilltop. He said, “I will go up on top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.” The rod of God symbolized the authority of God that had been delegated to Moses and the fact that God rules and overrules in history.
There was careful administration. Joshua did exactly what Moses asked him to do. Moses did what he had promised Joshua he would do; the orders were carried out, and the cooperation was complete. The call to battle had been given.
The next INSIGHT comes from
The Conquest in the Battle.
Moses took his position on the hill and lifted his hands in intercession to God. When he did that, Israel prevailed; they were defeating the Amalekites. But when Moses’ hands got heavy, and he lowered them, Amalek prevailed.
Most likely, the men on the battlefield never knew what Moses was doing up on the hill. They may have thought the battle ebbed and flowed by the ability of the soldiers on the field. But what Moses did on the hill was more important than what Joshua did on the battlefield. Now there was a cooperation which was necessary, but when Moses prayed and lifted his hands to God, the forces of Israel were successful.
But he got weary. His arms got tired. If you’ve ever stood for a long time with your arms in the air, you know how heavy they become. Moses was interceding, and intercession is work. He got weary and was exhausted. So, they turned up a stone for him to sit on. This elevated him so Aaron could stand on one side and Hur on the other, holding up his hands until the sun went down for that day. And as long as they held up his hands, Israel prevailed.
What happened on the hill was more important in many respects than what happened on the battlefield. Because Moses was faithful in his prayer, because Moses’ hands were held up in intercession to the God of the universe, Joshua’s forces on the battlefield were successful. That should convince us that God overrules in history. It should also convince us of the power of intercessory prayer in winning the spiritual battles we face.
The Final INSIGHT naturally follows:
The Memorial of the Battle.
The Lord said, “Write this for a memorial, so the succeeding generations might understand how God rules and overrules in history.” I am sure that Moses put in that document that he was up on the hill praying when the forces were on the battlefield with Amalek.
When you and I fight major battles in life, and the Lord delivers us, it is good for us to have some kind of memorial of that event. That memorial serves as a reminder to us of God’s provision. It also can be a conversation starter for our children and grandchildren. When they ask, “What’s the reason for that memorial?” we can then share with them the experience of how God delivered us in our time of difficulty.
Furthermore, there was a prediction in that memorial document. The Lord told Moses, “I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” Now please understand that God doesn’t act by whims and fancies. God knows everything, and He operates by a certain divine law. He is merciful to those who seek Him, but He renders just judgment to those who turn against Him. That is the reason for His pronouncement against Amalek. Amalek did not worship the true God. That is why this prediction was included in the memorial record of this battle.
Moses wrote a memorial and built a praise altar. He named it Jehovah-nissi, which means “the Lord is my banner.” Moses echoed what God said when he made this remark, “Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” That banner was important. It was a symbol of God’s victory to both Israel and the Amalekites. Every time it was lifted up, people would remember the great victory that God had provided for them.
Don’t ever forget that God is against those who are against Him. This is important. God is merciful toward those who seek His face. But with those who turn against Him and go their own way, He has constant conflict. This same truth is contained in the New Testament. Listen to the words of Jesus in John 3:16, 17 and 18.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begottenSon, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” See, that’s God’s mercy being extended to those who believe on Him.
But listen to verse 18, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” There is the promise of judgment for those who turn against God or reject His love.
As you read the Bible, you should see how God overrules history, shaping and preparing the world for His plans as human history moves toward its end.
Since God is the ruler of history, He certainly is concerned about all people. Be assured, without Him, we fail; with Him, we triumph.
Thanks, J. Mark, for teaching us, and thank you for joining us. We trust our time together has been a blessing. If you would like this teaching or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.
Here are a few ways you can contact us. The best way is via email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter. Our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. On our website, you will find more teaching like this and other helpful resources; please look around while you are there. Again, our website is heraldsofhope.org.
Thank you so much for being with us. We look forward to next week and hope you will join us then as we continue our study in Exodus. I will part with an encouraging thought from Joel chapter 2, “Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God and there is no other.” Blessings as you serve our great King!
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 17:8-16* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 17:1-7 A couple of years ago, I was teaching in the upper grades of a small Christian school in our city. The one student had an interesting story. As an older student, she was doing well and liked being at school. As I got to know her, I learned when she was young, reading was very hard, almost impossible. When she was young, the words did not stay still on the page, and many times, she would see letters and words backwards. Even at her age, she could still write exactly reversed.
As her teacher, I would not have guessed she had such a struggle to arrive where she was. It was difficult, but she persevered. Then after she graduated, can you guess what she did? She went on to help students who had similar challenges with reading. She understands and is very qualified to speak into the lives of students who struggle like she did.
This story is a small picture of what God can do and wants to do with each of us. Most of us have a hard area of life. Paul calls it a “thorn in the flesh.” An area of weakness or difficulty we would rather not have. It is God’s desire to use trial to show His strength. Paul understood this and accepted the difficulty; my former student used her difficulty to help others. The challenge is for us to go through our “thorn in the flesh” depending on God, not whining and complaining to Him.
In today’s lesson, the children of Israel had a difficulty; unfortunately, they quickly turned to whining and complaining. The story is found in Exodus 17, and we will listen to Pastor J. Mark teach us more about a God Who can overcome our problems.
It is wonderful how God provides solutions to our problems. He is able to overcome what to us seem to be insurmountable difficulties, impossible situations.
I have learned that difficulties provide opportunities. If we had no difficulties, we would never, never rely upon God. We would never test our strength. We would never know what we could do if there were no difficulties. So, difficulties provide opportunities.
Ever since the days of Adam, when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, we have had problems that affect our daily lives. The LORD told Adam then that he would need to live by the sweat of his face. He would have to work hard to stay alive. So, the problems of our existence are a part of our being human.
Yet, in our humanity and its difficulties, God has not forsaken us. God has been with us. Even those who deny Him are objects of His care, for the sun rises on the evil and the good, and God sends rain on the just and the unjust. So, God has not forsaken us even though we do have problems and difficulties of existence.
The most serious moment for the people of God is when they begin to challenge and question His wisdom. That is what happened in this Scripture in Exodus 17:1-7.
1. And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.
2. Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?
3. And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
4. And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.
5. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.
6. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
7. And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?
The children of Israel began to question the wisdom of God in bringing them out there into the wilderness. They needed to learn that GOD CAN OVERCOME YOUR PROBLEMS.
I invite you to trace with me the STAGES of Israel’s situation until God overcame their problem so that you can trust Him as you face difficult experiences.
We note the first stage is,
Their Difficulty
The Scripture tells us they made this journey according to the commandment of the LORD. They were following the direction of the LORD, but the LORD’s way is not always easy. When they came to Rephidim, they found that there was no water there. Yet they had come there in the direction of the LORD. The people of Israel were traveling with flocks and herds. They all must have water. In the heat of the Sinai Peninsula, it is not surprising that they were thirsty. But keep this in mind, when you follow the LORD’s way, it will not always be easy.
But in their difficulty, the LORD’s people were not always patient. Since they were in the LORD’s way and they were the LORD’s people, the LORD would take care of them. But they were not patient. They began to strive with Moses and chide him. They said, “Give us water that we may drink.” They demanded water. It was with them an immediate requirement. I find that human need often determines our drives. We want what we want, and we want it now. That was their difficulty. They were not patient.
The LORD’s servant was not always responsible, so Moses returned the question and said, “Why do you strive with me? Why are you putting the LORD to the test?” He understood that the LORD’s people going in the LORD’s way would be taken care of by the LORD. But their difficulty was that they couldn’t see that; they were not trusting God.
Do your difficulties overwhelm you? Are you overcome by them? Do the problems seem to be more than you can solve? The LORD wants you to trust Him. Without the difficulty of no water, there would have been no opportunity for them to trust fully in God.
The second stage that we trace is,
Their Discontent
They had a burning thirst. The Bible tells us the people thirsted there for water. It would be natural in the hot desert sun to dry out quickly. It was natural for them to be thirsty. Most likely, the more they talked about it, the worse they felt. The more they argued with Moses, the more demanding they became. But when we magnify our problem, our discontent grows. It was so with Israel.
They then made an outrageous charge against Moses. They said to him, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to kill us and our children and cattle with thirst?” Well, you won’t die overnight if you don’t have water. Earlier in their journey, when they felt hunger pangs, they said to Moses, “You brought us out in the wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Now they said, “You brought us out of Egypt to kill us with thirst.” Somehow, they could not reconcile themselves to their situation. Discontent increased and flourished. The more they thought about it, the worse they felt and the worse they reacted toward Moses.
Moses was at his wit’s end; he didn’t know what to do, so he went to the LORD. He prayed and cried out to the LORD, “What shall I do? What shall I do?” Moses was a good example for us because he turned to the LORD when he faced a problem. The LORD does not need to be the last resort. He can be the first resort when we are in trouble. Moses turned to the LORD. That is a good thing to do. He asked the question, “What shall I do for these people?”
The situation was very serious because they were about to stone Moses. Even though it was he who led them out of the land of bondage into this land on the way to the land of promise, they were about to stone him - about to do away with him. Their physical thirst and their discontent had distorted their reasoning.
Discontentment often leads people to make rash and unfounded statements. They blamed Moses for something for which he was not responsible and wouldn’t have thought of doing. It was not his intention to bring the people of God out into the wilderness to let them die there. Moses had an eye to the Promised Land, and he was expecting that they would all stay together until they got there. But their discontentment almost disrupted the plan.
Then the third stage is,
Their Deliverance
The LORD heard and answered Moses. I want you to see what He told him to do. He said, “Take your place as leader. Don’t fear. Go before the people and take the elders with you as witnesses. Let them stand beside you there in Horeb. But you are the leader, so you take your place and your rod with which you smote the river in Egypt. Now take that miracle-working rod and take your place.” That’s good advice.
Many leaders today have turned away from their place and their instruments of power. God ordered Moses to take his place of leadership where he belonged with the rod of God in his hand with which he had worked miracles.
Then the LORD gave him the plan and assurance of His presence. He said, “I’ll be standing there before you upon the rock in Horeb.” That was God’s presence. He assured Moses that he would not be standing alone. Then He gave him His plan. He said, “You shall smite the rock.” Moses was now to use his rod, with which he had smitten the river of Egypt and turned it to blood, to bring water out of the rock. To smite the rock meant that Moses should strike it with all his might. Then the LORD said, “Water will come out of it.” That was His promise. The LORD had a plan; His presence was assured; His command was to be obeyed; and the promise was results - water in the sight of all the people.
“And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.” Their leader’s obedience brought them deliverance. Moses did what God told him to do, so God could do what He promised to do: water flowed from the rock and relieved their thirst. Deliverance comes when we are willing to take God’s way.
Now here are three stages that show us we need not be the victims of our problems. God has a solution for each problem. It may not be exactly like Israel’s - to strike a rock for water, but God has a solution appropriate to our problem.
An important warning comes to us as we face problems in life. Let us not charge God unreasonably when we meet difficulties. We are all human, as the children of Israel were. Sometimes when we get into difficulties, we are inclined to be discontent with His provision. But He wants us to trust Him so He can provide deliverance for us. He can do that as we trust in Him.
Thanks, J. Mark, for teaching us, and thank you for joining us. We trust our time together has been a blessing. If you would like this teaching or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.
Here are a few ways you can contact us. The best way is via email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter. Our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. On our website, you will find more teaching like this and other helpful resources; please look around while you are there. Again, our website is heraldsofhope.org.
Thank you so much for being with us. We look forward to next week and hope you will join us then as we continue our study in Exodus. I will part with an encouraging thought from Joel chapter 2, “Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God and there is no other.” Blessings as you serve our great King!
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 17:1-7* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 16:22-35 Here at Heralds of Hope, we do lots of our work on computers. This means we have different programs to track our information. Some programs are just for email, others are used to track our donations and expenses, and some programs are used to record and produce this radio program. There are quite a few different systems to understand and maintain.
Earlier this year, we started bringing our various systems together into one system. One of our employees is designing the program to meet our specific needs here at Heralds of Hope. I have found that learning from him is much better than trying to figure it out by myself using trial and error. Since I know who made the program, I can go directly to him, and he explains exactly how it works and why it is working that way.
After he answers my questions, I would be foolish to think he doesn’t know what he is talking about and try to fix it my way. Absolutely not; he made the program and knows exactly how it works. So, I had better listen to him.
Humans also have a programmer. We were made by God. If you want to know how we work best and what is good for us, ask Him. He knows; He made us. We may not understand it or know why He created us the way He did, but He is the Creator, and He knows best.
We apply this truth to many areas. For example, God created male and female, we don’t know exactly why He made two and not 4 or 5, but He is the designer, and He knows best. After He created male and female, He taught us about marriage, which is between one male and one female. Again, He does not tell us all the reasons; He just tells us the story and gives us directions. At the end of the creation week, God rested, and He teaches us to do the same.
Today let’s take a closer look at the idea of rest, the Sabbath; the principle is to rest one day out of seven. If our Creator tells us this is a good idea, we had better pay attention. After all, He knows us best. Please turn to Exodus 16 and give your attention to J. Mark Horst for more teaching on the Sabbath.
One of the principles God has written into His universe is the Holy Sabbath. Dr. Yoder had a friend in Jerusalem who often spoke about Jewish worship. Many times, in his addresses, he said, “The Sabbath kept the Jews more than the Jews kept the Sabbath.” That is a telling remark. The holy sabbath, as God ordained it from creation, kept the Jews all during their history.
When God finished creating all things, He set aside a day of rest. We read about this in Genesis 2:1-3. From the beginning of creation, God saw the value of rest: one day in seven. It has been His intention that all people regard this principle.
In Exodus 16:22-35 we have the account of how God taught His people, the Children of Israel, to keep the Sabbath.
22. And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.
23. And he said unto them, this is that which the LORD hath said, Tomorrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake today, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.
24. And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.
25. And Moses said, eat that today; for today is a sabbath unto the LORD: today ye shall not find it in the field.
26. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.
27. And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.
28. And the LORD said unto Moses, how long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?
29. See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.
30. So the people rested on the seventh day.
31. And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
32. And Moses said, this is the thing which the LORD commandeth. Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.
33. And Moses said unto Aaron, take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.
34. As the LORD commanded Moses, Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.
35. And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.
What is the purpose of God in establishing the Sabbath? The ANSWERS to that question are found in this Scripture.
The First ANSWER is
The Sabbath Provided a Rest
There were six days in which their normal activities were carried out. But on that seventh day, they were to have a rest unto the LORD. Look what it tells us in verse 23, “Tomorrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD.” This day seven was to be different from all other days. All other days were much alike: the manna came in the morning; they went out and gathered it and prepared it for the day’s need.
But the seventh day was to be different. God showed that difference by withholding their manna so there was none to gather. So, God Himself respected the Sabbath day by not providing any manna on that day.
It was a day different from all other days. Religious Jews who observe the Sabbath even now look back to the Sabbath during the first three days of the week. During the last three days of the week, they look forward to the Sabbath because, to them, the Sabbath is that holy day in which there should be rest. A day which is different from all other days.
That doesn’t mean, of course, that the other six days should not be observed as being unto the LORD, but this is a special day providing a time for rest.
It would seem that we ought to see this principle in the holy Sabbath--a day of rest. It is the LORD’s Sabbath, and we should, therefore, observe it with care. We should pay attention to the principle well demonstrated in this experience of Israel. God Himself respected the Sabbath with the people of Israel long ago because He provided no manna on that day. He made it possible for them to provide for their needs by gathering twice as much on the day prior to the Sabbath, which on other days, they could not do. It was, therefore, a day of rest.
The Next ANSWER is
The Sabbath Provided a Reminder
By the very fact that there was no manna on that particular day reminded the people of Israel that God meant what He said. Some went out to gather manna on that day, apparently not believing God, and they found none. So, God had to rebuke them through Moses. He asked them a very pointed question in these words: “How long do you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws?” Their actions showed they didn’t believe that God meant what He had said.
Then the LORD said, “See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore, he gives on the sixth day the bread of two days.” They were reminded that God is not to be trifled with. When God has spoken, He means what He says. That brings a real hope to us because the Bible tells us God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His Word, the Holy Scripture, never changes, and we are very thankful God has this principle so clearly defined.
But sometimes, we also tempt God like some of those did on that day. We ignore and neglect the commandments of God. We presume upon God. “Can God mean what He says?” we ask ourselves. Of course! When God has spoken with such clarity, it ought to tell us that the Sabbath was to be kept holy. Israel was charged with the keeping of the Sabbath as a holy day. It was to be a reminder to them that the God Who set aside this holy day is Himself holy.
Now let us see this principle in the holy Sabbath. It was a day set apart unto the LORD, and therefore it had to be a special day. It was not an ordinary day like all other days. It provided the people of Israel a reminder of the divine holiness of God, for He had sanctified this day unto Himself. He honored it Himself by withholding manna on that day.
Let’s see this principle in the holy Sabbath that it was and is a day set apart unto the LORD--the holy Sabbath for the holy LORD.
The Final ANSWER is
The Sabbath Provided A Remembrance
The third answer to the question of the reason for the Sabbath is inseparably related to the first and second: to provide a rest and a reminder.
I was impressed as I read this passage and noted that Moses told Aaron to fill an omer full of manna and lay it up before the LORD. It was to be kept as a remembrance, as a memorial. Ordinarily, they couldn’t keep manna beyond one day except in preparation for the Sabbath. But this was special; this would last indefinitely.
God reminded them of His mercy and His provision by preserving this one pot of manna. It was to help them remember how God fed them. The LORD said by Moses, “…that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.” This omer of manna was proof that God had taken care of them in a remarkable way.
His mercy did not fail. His mercy was there, so when they needed manna on six days, they could go out and gather it, enough on day six for the seventh. The omer of manna placed in the ark of the testimony told them that God’s mercy never fails.
The Sabbath also helped them to remember the care and mercy of God. We, too, need things to refresh our memory, something to remind us of the mercy and care of God. The Sabbath provided such a remembrance for Israel. It can be that for us.
Let us see this principle in the holy Sabbath then as a remembrance of God’s love for His people. A remembrance for you because God has so ordained that we, too, should remember His mercy and care. Keeping the Sabbath brings this principle to us in a remarkable way.
There are three answers. The Sabbath provided a rest for God’s people. We need a rest - one day in a week. The Sabbath provided a reminder for the people of Israel that the holy God meant what He said. The Sabbath provided a remembrance of God’s mercy and care, along with the omer of manna stored in the ark.
So, whether you are Jewish or whether you are Gentile, let this principle come through that the holy Sabbath is to remind us of the mercy and care of the holy God. Do you trust in the God Who provided such a lasting care?
Thanks, J. Mark, for teaching us, and thank you for joining us. We trust our time together has been a blessing. If you would like this teaching or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.
Here are a few ways you can contact us. The best way is via email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter. Our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. On our website, you will find more teaching like this and other helpful resources; please look around while you are there. Again, our website is heraldsofhope.org.
Thank you so much for being with us. We look forward to next week and hope you will join us then as we continue our study in Exodus. I will part with an encouraging thought from Joel chapter 2, “Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God and there is no other.” Blessings as you serve our great King!
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 16:22-35* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 16:13-21 Seven years ago, there was a new baby in our house. We were thankful God blessed us with a healthy baby boy. My wife and I were excited to have another child, and we did our best to care for him. Like all babies, there were many things he needed, and as a baby, he could do very little for himself. We fed him, bathed him, changed him, and at first, we really did everything for him. Yes, he had ways of letting us know what he needed, but as soon as we knew, we would do our best to help him.
As new parents, we were thrilled to help our son; we wanted to provide for him and help him in everything we could. This example gives us a glimpse of God’s heart. Just like we wanted to provide and care for our child, God wants to provide and care for His children.
II Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” The prophet Hanani said this to King Asa; however, this has always been God’s heart. This verse gives me the idea that God is looking, searching for those who trust Him, then when He finds someone, He is right there to help. Just like the first few days our son was home, we were there as soon as we heard the smallest noise. I am sure God is a much better parent than we were, but just like we as parents wanted to provide and care for our son, so God loves to provide and care for His children.
If you can, turn to Exodus 16. Today we will see God’s unique provision for the children of Israel. We are so glad you joined us; now, let’s go with Bible teacher J. Mark Horst to Exodus 16.
Too many of us take undue pride in our own achievements. We give too little credit to God. We somehow feel that, given our own abilities, we can make it. We forget that God is the one Who gave us our abilities, our power to earn a living, even the very breath we breathe. Our pride makes us reluctant to give God any kind of credit.
We forget that God’s open hand of mercy is what feeds every living creature, as the Psalmist very clearly tells us. Were it not for His mercy, we would be consumed. The end would be upon us if God did not continue to extend His mercy to all living creatures everywhere. It is important to recognize God’s gracious provision for us.
In Exodus 16:13-21 there is the account of how GOD DOES PROVIDE. He does it beautifully, faithfully, effectively, and abundantly. Listen as I read that text.
13. And it came to pass, that in the evening the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.
14. And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.
15. And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they knew not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
16. This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.
17. And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
18. And when they measured it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.
19. And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning.
20. Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.
21. And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.
In this text from Exodus, we find the PROOFS that God does provide. While this experience has to do with the children of Israel, it has a personal application for every child of God.
Adequate proof of God’s provision was shown in
The Heavenly Bread
This was a special provision God made for the people of Israel. There was no grain available. Wheat and barley did not grow in that wilderness. There were no vineyards or olive groves. Only palm trees and a bit of grass can be seen today at the oases in the wilderness, and they are far apart. So, food has to be a miracle from the LORD, especially for such a multitude.
We are told that the dew came down. In the morning, when the dew evaporated, it left behind small seed-like things on the ground, like hoarfrost. It came by a miracle. It came from the clouds as though the people of Israel were living on air. There was no evidence of where it came from, but God was providing this special food for them. It was heavenly bread.
It was simple bread. It came down from heaven, but it was nothing complex. It looked like frost balls on the ground. There were no fancies or luxuries about this. This was not a multi-course meal or a sweet dessert. This was a necessary staple of life. It would supply their need daily. It provided their total nutritional need. It was the kind of thing that people could live on. It gave them the energy they needed to perform their work and continue their journey to Canaan. It met their needs, nothing more and nothing less.
They called this heavenly bread manna because they didn’t know what it was. But they recognized that it was sent by the gracious provision of God. He does provide! He provides for the ordinary with simple things. The manna was His simple way of providing for their needs at this particular time.
God means for us to have the basic necessities of life. So, He provides, and sometimes He does it in miraculous ways. He helps us to see how He takes care of our needs.
Adequate proof of God’s provision was also shown in
The Daily Bread.
We are taught in the New Testament to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” That is how God provided for His people. They would go out in the morning and gather what they needed. They were not to gather more than they needed or less than they needed. The people who needed more gathered more, and the people who needed less gathered less because they were instructed to gather according to the number of people in their families. An omer was the quantity prescribed for each person, about a liter or a liter and a half. Here we have the daily bread according to need, not according to their wants.
They could not provide for tomorrow. It was the daily experience, to gather each day. They gathered it, and they measured it on a daily basis. That was to teach them trust in the LORD. Isn’t it beautiful to see how the LORD provided for them on a daily basis? What the LORD provided they were to gather.
God didn’t do all the work for them. He gave them the manna in a form that they could prepare for eating. So, what the LORD provided, they were to gather. This left some responsibility to them. The LORD still does it that way. He does not provide completely, but He provides sufficiently so that each one can have what he needs on a daily basis.
It was that way back in the Garden of Eden when Adam was first created. The LORD told him that he was to keep and dress the garden. As the result of his labor, he could eat all the fruit of the trees in the garden except that one tree that was forbidden to him.
God provided for the children of Israel, but they needed to gather it and prepare it. This teaches us that God intends for us to work for our daily food. We cannot simply depend upon Him. We have a certain responsibility. When God provides for us, He expects us to be actively responsible to gather together what we may need. The problem with many of us is that we think our needs are greater than they are, and we begin to pursue wants instead of real needs.
So, let’s remember that God expects us to be diligent in gathering what He provides. Our existence is to be a daily walk of faith, believing that God will provide for every need in every circumstance.
We must therefore trust Him every day so that He can provide us with those necessary things of life, even if it is only the common things such as daily bread. But God does provide, and we thank and praise Him for it.
Adequate proof of God’s provision was also shown in
The Sufficient Bread.
Let me emphasize again that the manna they gathered was only for one day. Moses instructed them, “Let no one leave any of it until the morning.” What was left could not be eaten. Some of them did not listen to Moses; they didn’t think that Moses knew what he was talking about. They kept some over until the morning, and it became wormy and stank. Moses was very angry with them because they did not listen to him. But one lesson was enough. They didn’t try that again.
God prepared it that way to teach them that every day had its sufficient bread. It was sufficient for that day and that day only. When the sun came up in the morning, what was left on the ground that had not been gathered, and wasn’t needed, melted. It was a miracle that came to His people daily. God was providing for them in a beautiful way. They needed to recognize His sufficiency. God was able day by day to provide for their needs.
There is a delicate balance between recognizing God’s daily and sufficient care and our responsibility to look ahead into the future for possible unforeseen needs. In this particular case, God wanted the children of Israel to learn that He had sufficient quantity for every day. They didn’t need to worry about tomorrow because tomorrow would take care of itself. God would be there again the next morning to provide sufficiently for their daily needs.
There is a precious lesson here for us. God provides and supplies the needs of all His creatures. But our problem so often is that we do not recognize God’s hand of provision. We think so much of our own achievements and do not give God enough credit for what He is doing.
I appeal to you to make God truly personal in your life so that His daily care becomes your sufficient provision. He will not come to us with manna raining it down from heaven, but He has provided for us in such a way that we can gather a sufficient quantity to meet our needs. God means for us to be responsible, to do the thing we ought to do in providing for ourselves from the abundance that He has given us. It is wonderful how the LORD provides in such a sufficient way for all our needs.
So here we have the proofs that God does provide heavenly bread, daily bread, and sufficient bread. He gave them all they needed, but no more. I urge you to come and trust in the One Who still provides in such abundant and appropriate ways.
Thanks, J. Mark, for teaching us, and thank you for joining us. We trust our time together has been a blessing. If you would like this teaching or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.
Here are a few ways you can contact us. The best way is via email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter. Our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. On our website, you will find more teaching like this and other helpful resources; please look around while you are there. Again, our website is heraldsofhope.org.
Thank you so much for being with us. We look forward to next week and hope you will join us then as we continue our study in Exodus. I will part with an encouraging thought from Joel chapter 2, “Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God and there is no other.” Blessings as you serve our great King!
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 16:13-21* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 16:1-12 One lesson we ought to learn early in life is that God is in control. That can be a very hard lesson for us to learn. We want to be in control, we feel we can manage our own affairs. So, because we are able to choose, we can make it hard for ourselves when we do not recognize the hand of God in our lives. As a result, we talk back to God when we shouldn’t.
God loves us and desires what is best for us. He may take us through difficult experiences to form us and shape us and make us what He wants us to be. Through these hard things of life, He can bless us far above what He would have otherwise. But we are often inclined in times like that to say, “Wait, LORD, I don’t want to go through this difficulty.” We turn against God. We talk back to God. We are not content to let God control and direct us.
The children of Israel were in distress. They had begun their journey from the land of their bondage to the land of promise. They had many things to learn, especially learning to know their God. We see them learning in Exodus 16:1-12 in the wilderness.
1. And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came into the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.
2. And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:
3. And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
4. Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
5. And it shall come to pass that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.
6. And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt.
7. And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?
8. And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.
9. And Moses spoke unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings
10. And it came to pass, as Aaron spoke unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
11. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,
12. I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.
From this experience in the life of Israel, we should find DIRECTIVES to face our situations and not talk back to God. I invite you to think through them with me.
The First DIRECTIVE is,
The Complaint of a Distressed People.
They had just begun their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, the land that God had promised to their forefathers many years before. God had told Abraham He was going to take them out of Egypt and bring them into that land. According to the opening verse in chapter 16 of Exodus, we learn that they had been on the way a mere forty-three days. It was the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. That is not long, but long enough to come to a serious testing time.
They were languishing in their condition. It was a distressing situation. As they reflected upon where they had come from, the lush green valley of the Nile, they said, “We rather had died in Egypt as slaves beside the flesh pots than to be here in the wilderness like this.”
Or they would rather have died in Egypt by the hand of the LORD, which meant they would have preferred to die during the plagues God brought upon the people of Egypt. They’d rather be dead than be with God. They said they would rather fall into destruction than be guided by the discipline of the Almighty.
A few hunger pangs made them forget their groanings and the sorry plight they were in when they were slaves in Egypt because their taskmasters made them work with rigor. God had heard their groanings then and had moved to relieve them. But now, here in the Wilderness of Sin on the way to Mt. Sinai, they forgot about the rigors of their slavery and thought only of the food they had to eat back in Egypt.
Do you know what discontent does in the heart and spirit of a man? Discontent magnifies the past; it vilifies the present and nullifies the future. Discontent will be destructive in your life, when you think about the past, as you live in the present, and as you consider the future. Let me repeat that. Discontent magnifies the past, vilifies the present, and nullifies the future. The complaint of this distressed people was a way in which they talked back to God, and it exposed their thankless hearts.
The Next DIRECTIVE is,
The Care of Divine Providence.
The LORD said I am going to give you flesh, or meat, and I am going to give you bread because I want to see if you are going to obey my laws or not. Look at verse 4. “Then the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or not.”
To receive from the LORD’s hand means to trust Him. God was kindly disposed toward them. He wanted to take care of their daily needs, and in doing so, He was going to see whether or not they were willing to trust Him and walk before Him in simple faith and trust. It was a demonstration of His day-to-day care.
There were tokens of His love which He promised them. He said they would find in the evening that they would know the LORD had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning, they would have assurance of God’s love and glory. Isn’t that beautiful? The LORD wants to give us all we need. To the people of Israel, He said, at evening, you are going to think about God’s deliverance. Just before we retire at night is a good time to think about God’s precious presence and deliverance. In the morning, as we get up, and we see the glory of the sunrise, it is good for us to remember with assurance God’s love which brings light and life.
God’s care aims to satisfy the complaining heart. God said I am going to tell them and show them. To talk back to God denies His love for us. His love is expressed in His daily reminders evening and morning. But He wants to know, will we walk in His law or not? Will we be faithful in loving obedience to what He wants in our lives? When we talk back to God, we deny His love.
This directive comes to us then to help us not to talk back to God. We are to be mindful of His care and expression of divine providence.
The Final DIRECTIVE is,
The Confirmation of Divine Presence.
Moses invited the congregation to draw near to the LORD. He said, “Come near before the LORD, because He has heard your murmurings.” Let’s get this squared away and understand each other. You come now to the LORD because you have made your murmurings to Him. What are we that your murmurings should be against us? Your murmurings really are against the LORD because we are only His instruments and His servants.
So, Aaron spoke to the congregation of Israel and invited them to come. Then the whole congregation looked toward the wilderness and saw the glory of the LORD as it appeared in the cloud. When they looked toward the wilderness, they were looking toward the way which they feared to go. They had traveled forty-three days into that wilderness, and they had many more days ahead of them. And the glory of the LORD appeared not from where they had come but from where they were going. And they all saw it. They saw the glory of the LORD appearing to them in the cloud toward the wilderness, the direction which God was wanting to take them.
Then the LORD made a beautiful promise. He said, “At evening you shall have flesh, and in the morning, you shall be filled with bread.” Surely then they would realize that the LORD was their God. The promise had to do with meat and bread but much, much more—the presence, the daily divine presence of God. He said, “And ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.”
Has it ever occurred to you that the daily food you eat—the meat and bread you take in your hand to eat—is evidence of the divine presence of God? That’s why it is so serious to talk back to God because in doing so, you offend His grace. So, I urge you, don’t talk back to God.
Thanks, J. Mark, for this teaching from Exodus. The Bible is incredible, and each generation can learn from all that is written in this wonderful book. For example, people everywhere want to be free. In Exodus, the children of Israel were enslaved by the Egyptians. You know the story Moses led them to “freedom.” But were they really free? Why did they want to go back to Egypt? What does it mean to actually be free?
The common answer to that question is doing what I want to do when I want to do it. This is a nice thought, but is this what it means to be free? We have the freedom to make many choices, despite the fact that there are many people who are not living freely. They are not slaves to the government or to other people, but they are slaves.
Thankfully this does not have to be the end of the story. Jesus tells us that if “He sets us free, then we will be free indeed.” This, my friend, is real freedom. Praise Jesus, this freedom knows no boundaries, it does not matter which country you are in, or who you are working for, this freedom is for everyone.
If you would like today’s program or if you have any questions, here are a few ways you can contact us. One of the best ways is email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, no problem, our mailing address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please click on the listen tab and listen to our other teaching. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org.
This brings us to the end of today’s program, thanks again for being with us. We look forward to being with you next week. I will leave you with the words of Jesus from John 8. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Go and live in that freedom.
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 16:1-12* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 15:22-27 Have you ever experienced the provision of the LORD in the ordinary things of life like clothing, food, and water? Some people never think about thanking the LORD for these ordinary things. Yet life is made up of common things. Most of us do not have spectacular happenings in our lives. We are not where the great things happen. We are just where the routine, ordinary, mundane things of life happen.
But we know that God cares about the ordinary things of life. The Bible tells us that in God, we live and move and have our being. In other words, if God withdrew His hand of blessing, everything would go to pieces. So, we can say with confidence, GOD LEADS IN THE COMMON THINGS. One very good illustration of God meeting the common needs of His people is found in Exodus 15:22-27.
22. So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.
23. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink from the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore, the name of it was called Marah.
24. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”
25. And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
26. And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
27. And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
From this text, I will show you the WAYS in which God leads in the common things of life. They are just little phrases taken right out of the Scripture.
First, Moses Brought Israel from the Red Sea.
The people of Israel were moving from Egypt to Canaan. They were on the way, and God was leading them. God couldn’t have led them if they weren’t moving. Moses was God’s man for that hour and for this move. God had put Moses in charge. So, Moses was leading the people of Israel as they moved from Egypt to Canaan.
They went on a three-day journey into the wilderness. Remember how Moses had asked Pharaoh to let them go three days journey into the wilderness to worship God? They had gone on a three-day journey into the wilderness, and they faced a predicament; they were not able to find any water to drink. That’s pretty serious. You are traveling through an arid, semi-desert area, and there is no water that is suitable for drinking.
The route they were taking was unknown to them. They had never gone this way before. They didn’t know where the wells or the oases were. Yet God was leading them as He had promised He would. The pillar of cloud was guiding them in the daytime, and the pillar of fire at night was a light to them. God was keeping His promises that He made to them for this journey.
So, the LORD led them from the Red Sea three days into the wilderness, and there was no water. That must have been distressing because water is the second element for survival. The elements of survival are air, water, and then food. Under normal conditions, you can survive about 3 days without water. But without water, they wouldn’t survive very long in the heat of the Sinai Desert, especially if it were summertime.
I have found that God leads in the common things of life in this 22nd verse. He leads when you are ready and moving, not before. God never forces anyone to follow His will. But if you are moving, God will lead you. There is no way He can lead you if you are standing still. So, Moses brought the children of Israel from the Red Sea. They were on the move from Egypt to Canaan; therefore, God could lead them, using the common things of life like water.
The second way in which the LORD leads in the common things in life is told in verse 25,
Moses Cried unto the Lord
Here’s the point I want you to remember: God was close enough to hear. Moses could cry unto the LORD, and the LORD heard him. Well, I don’t know how loud Moses cried. Maybe he didn’t cry very loud at all. I believe the Hebrew word chahal means to speak, to call, but not necessarily to shout. But Moses cried to the LORD.
I remember the words of a song that speak of God’s ability to hear. The songwriter wrote, “He’s as close as the mention of His name.” You don’t have to shout or scream to get God’s attention. He’s not sleeping, or hard of hearing, He’s not inattentive to your needs. You don’t even have to speak aloud. You can just call out to Him in your heart and mind. He’ll hear you!
Because the water was bitter, the people complained. They had walked three days into the wilderness and hadn’t found any water. Now the water they found was bitter. It was water they couldn’t drink. So, they said, “What shall we drink?” I’m sure that when they tasted that water and realized it was undrinkable, that was extremely frustrating to them.
God provided an answer for Moses. When Moses cried to the LORD, the LORD led him to a tree. He told Moses to cut down that tree and put it into the water. Miraculously, the tree sweetened the water and made it drinkable.
Many times, the answer to our prayers is close by, even though we may not see it. Many times, right beside us is the way God is leading. He doesn’t necessarily lead us in spectacular ways. He just leads us by using the common, everyday things of life.
So, Moses cried unto the LORD, the LORD heard him and showed him the tree. He put the tree in the water, and the water became sweet. Then the LORD made a proposal to the people of Israel with a special relationship. I want you to pay very close attention to what He said in verse 26: “If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD your God and will do that which is right in his sight and will listen to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon you which I have brought upon the Egyptians.”
Here is a proposal, here is a covenant that God is entering into with the people of Israel. He is simply asking them to listen, to pay attention, to do, and to keep. To keep His statutes, to observe to do them. To walk in love before Him in loving obedience. In response, God would show His love by keeping them healthy. “I am the LORD that heals you.
Well, He had healed the water, and He said I am the One Who heals you. That is beautiful, isn’t it? The healing ministry of the LORD. Because we live in a world that is affected by sin, even those who follow the true God get sick. But when we live life in obedience to God’s commands, we are spared some of the diseases that come to those who violate His commands. For example, I don’t worry about getting sexually transmitted diseases because I understand that God’s commands regarding moral purity are for my protection. There is safety in obedience.
I want you to notice something more. God’s love flows out when we respond in love to Him, in loving obedience to Him. You see, we can’t expect to experience the LORD to lead or direct us if we are rebellious, if we do not want to listen; if we do not want to follow; if we do not want to walk in the way where He leads.
So, when Moses cried unto the LORD, the LORD heard him and then said, “I am going to talk with you, and I want you to listen to me.” It’s that kind of mutual relationship that makes life so meaningful when you are walking with the LORD, when you know Him as your own personal God. This experience illustrates the way God leads in the common things of life. Moses brought the children of Israel from the Red Sea, and Moses cried unto the LORD, and the LORD heard him.
Then in verse 27, there are these three common but interesting words:
And They Came
They were led by the LORD, and so we would expect them to go from one place to another. This is exactly what happened. They first of all went three days journey into the wilderness and came to Marah, where the water was bitter. First, there was no water, and then there was bitter water. Now they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and three score and ten palm trees. Here was good water. So, no water, bitter water, and then, plenty of water.
You know, the LORD often deals like that with us. He takes us to the place of extremity so that He might be able to provide for our needs. This is what He did with the people of Israel. No water, bitter water, and then plenty of water. Now if they had not followed the LORD, they would never have come to the place of abundant water.
So, God leads in the common things of life, providing you will follow Him. That is the important part you must catch. I can say all I want to about God’s leading, but then if He doesn’t have any followers, He can’t be a leader, can He?
God will lead you in the common things, but you must be willing to follow Him. You must be willing to acknowledge Him that He is leading and directing. Thank God, He does lead in the common ordinary things of life. God does lead and provide when we cry unto Him. He is close enough to hear us, and He will answer. He will show us what to do like He showed Moses.
Thanks, J. Mark, for this teaching from Exodus. The Bible is incredible, and each generation can learn from all that is written in this wonderful book. For example, people everywhere want to be free. In Exodus, the children of Israel were enslaved by the Egyptians. You know the story Moses led them to “freedom.” But were they really free? Why did they want to go back to Egypt? What does it mean to actually be free?
The common answer to that question is doing what I want to do when I want to do it. This is a nice thought, but is this what it means to be free? We have the freedom to make many choices, despite the fact that there are many people who are not living freely. They are not slaves to the government or to other people, but they are slaves.
II Peter 2:19 calls us slaves to what has mastered us. You see, instead of being in slavery like the children of Israel, many people are slaves to their own desires. With their free choice, a small choice was made. That one small choice grew into an addiction.
Thankfully this does not have to be the end of the story. Jesus tells us that if “He sets us free, then we will be free indeed.” This, my friend, is real freedom.
If you would like today’s program or if you have any questions, here are a few ways you can contact us. One of the best ways is email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, no problem, our mailing address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please click on the listen tab and listen to our other teaching. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org.
This brings us to the end of today’s program, thanks again for being with us. We look forward to being with you next week. I will leave you with the words of Jesus from John 8. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Go and live in that freedom.
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 15:22-27* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 15:1-19 Various people groups around the world worship different gods. Which one is the right one, which one is the true God? Is your God personal? Does He love you and help you? There are many religions in the world. I was just reading in the encyclopedia about some of them. Each claims to be superior in one way or another. So how can we know which is the right one with so many different religions? I believe there is only one true God. I believe He can be known.
The most outstanding facts in Christianity are the claims the Bible makes about God. The Bible says He is above all other gods. He has revealed Himself to us by a written record which we call the Bible. Although the acts in which He engaged are recorded as historical acts, they are, at the same time, acts of revelation. And in those acts of history, He tells us who He is and what His person is like. This teaching will answer the question, WHO IS LIKE GOD?
In Exodus 15:1-19 we have a song of victory. It is probably the first recorded song. In it, we will find the answer to our question, who is like God?
1. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spoke, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
2. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name
4. Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.
5. The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.
6. Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
7. And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
8. And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
9. The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
10. Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
11. Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful praises, doing wonders?
12. Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.
13. Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.
14. The people shall hear and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestine.
15. Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
16. Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.
17. Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.
18. The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.
19. For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.
Moses and the children of Israel sang this song at the time of their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt. In it, I have discovered several basic QUALITIES about God which set Him apart as the one above all others.
My first discovery reveals a basic quality of God in
His Glorious Triumph
In the very beginning of the song, they said, “I will sing unto the LORD for he has triumphed gloriously.” What the LORD did for the children of Israel at the Red Sea was a tremendous victory. It looked as though they were going to be captured by Pharaoh and his army. They were trapped between the mountains and the Red Sea, but God opened the sea, and His people went through. The water stood up on either side, and the people went through between the walls of water.
When Pharaoh attempted to follow them with his army, he was caught in the middle by a triumphant, glorious act of God. The song brings this to our attention: “The horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.”
In their song, there are more ideas regarding the glorious triumph of the LORD: “He is my strength and my song, and he is become my salvation,” Ye-ho-shua, the Hebrew for my salvation. He has become my strength and my song. Because of this, they said, “I will prepare him a habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” Because of His glorious triumph, He is worthy of exaltation.
Imagine being one of the people of Israel at this time when it seemed as though they would need to give up and go back into the bondage of slavery, and then the LORD delivered them in such a glorious, triumphant fashion. No wonder they would say, “He triumphed gloriously.” This is the God Who transcends all others. I am sure that Pharaoh and his army expected to be successful in their pursuit of Israel. Most likely, they had invoked the blessing of their gods. The God, Who is above all other gods, triumphed gloriously by throwing the horse and his rider into the sea.
The second quality which I discover in this song is found in verse 6, “Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power.” Let us meditate on
His Glorious Power
Six different expressions are listed in the next few verses that show us how God exercises His power against the enemy. He is described as a man of war. “The LORD is a man of war” against Pharaoh, for the LORD dashed in pieces the enemy. He overthrew them. They became as stubble burned with the consuming fire of His wrath. He consumed them as stubble.
He gathered the waters together with the blast of His nostrils. The wind blew, and the waters returning covered those who were pursuing after them. They sank as lead to the bottom of the waters.
God’s glorious power had control of the elements: the wind and the water, as expressed in these various descriptive words. God’s glorious power has control of men. God, in His power, always opposes evil: He never sides with evil. This is important for us to remember. He is glorious in power, but His power is always against evil, and in this particular case, it was against Pharaoh and his army. God’s glorious power puts Him above all other gods.
Then the third quality I discover in this song is found in verse 11, “Who is like thee, glorious in holiness.”
His Glorious Holiness
That thought is difficult for us to understand because we have so little with which we can compare holiness. The Bible makes it very clear that no man is holy. No, we are all polluted by sin and unclean, and our righteous acts are as filthy rags said the Prophet Isaiah.
But the glorious holiness of God is expressed in two different ways and revealed in two different areas. In the first area of mercy, the song describes how God redeemed His people. “In mercy you led forth the people which you have redeemed.” They further say He is going to plant them in the mountain of His inheritance: “In the place, O LORD, which you made for you to dwell in, in the Sanctuary.” They conclude that God the LORD shall reign forever and ever. His glorious holiness expresses itself in the area of mercy toward them whom He has redeemed.
It also expresses itself in the area of justice to those who do not respond to the LORD. They will fear, but it will be different. Fear and dread will fall upon those who do not know the LORD. Particular geographical areas are named: Palestine, Edom, Moab, and the inhabitants of Canaan. Fear shall grip those who do not know the God of holiness and mercy. They will have no strength left in them. They will be as still as a stone. They will not be able to move until the LORD’s own people are passed by - the ones whom He purchased.
Egypt was greatly distressed because the horses of Pharaoh went down in the sea while the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. God’s glorious holiness expresses itself on the one hand in mercy and on the other hand in justice. None of us can escape this glorious holiness, for we are either in one area or the other. We need to respect the mercy and justice of our gloriously holy God. We dare not override or presume upon His mercy, for then the only result can be His justice.
These qualities place God above all other gods, and we may rightly ask the question, who is like God? The answer is no one is like God. There is no other god like Him. This is so beautifully expressed in this song.
The personal question comes like this to you, do you know Him as that superior God? Do you know Him in a personal way? Can you speak with Him? Do you understand when He speaks to you by His Word? You can know Him in a personal way. He is seeking to show in and through you His glorious triumph, power, and holiness to answer the question, “who is like God?”
Thanks, J. Mark, for this teaching from Exodus. The Bible is incredible, and each generation can learn from all that is written in this wonderful book. For example, people everywhere want to be free. In Exodus, the children of Israel were enslaved by the Egyptians. You know the story Moses led them to “freedom.” But were they really free? Why did they want to go back to Egypt? What does it mean to actually be free?
Jesus tells us that if “He sets us free, then we will be free indeed.” This, my friend, is real freedom. Praise Jesus, this freedom knows no boundaries, it does not matter which country you are in, or who you are working for, this freedom is for everyone.
If you would like today’s program or if you have any questions, here are a few ways you can contact us. One of the best ways is email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, no problem, our mailing address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please click on the listen tab and listen to our other teaching. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org.
This brings us to the end of today’s program, thanks again for being with us. We look forward to being with you next week. I will leave you with the words of Jesus from John 8. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Go and live in that freedom.
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 15:1-19* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 14:13-31 Thanks for joining us on Hope for Today. This program is brought to you by Heralds of Hope; we are a small radio ministry serving a great big God. Let’s go with Bible teacher J. Mark to Exodus for today’s teaching.
In the difficult experiences of life, we sometimes wonder, is there any way out? For those who trust only in themselves, the situation is hopeless because mankind does not have enough inner strength to get himself out of trouble. But for those who trust in the Lord, there is hope and help because God can deliver, and He is faithful to those who call upon Him. His knowledge of the situation is total, and His resources to help are unlimited.
Sometimes you may face a situation where the future seems totally impossible. In fact, even the present seems so terribly difficult that there is no way out. I want to tell you GOD CAN DELIVER. He delights in doing the impossible and getting glory to Himself in the process. This assurance comes as we study the account of the deliverance of the children of Israel when they came out of the land of Egypt many, many years ago. The account is given in Exodus 14:13-31.
13. And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to-day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more forever.
14. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
15. And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
16. But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
17. And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
18. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honor upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
19. And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed, and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
20. And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
21. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
22. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
23. And the Egyptians pursued and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
24. And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
25. And took off their chariot wheels, that they drove them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
26. And the LORD said unto Moses, stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
27. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
28. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
29. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
30. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore.
31. And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.
From this experience of Israel, I want to lift out several brief statements which demonstrate the ACTIONS God employed to deliver His distressed people.
The first action statement is in verse 14: “The Lord shall fight for you.”
He Defended His Own
In their experience there was no other help available. There was no other way. They were hemmed in. The sea was ahead, the mountains on each side, and Pharaoh’s army was rapidly approaching them from behind. Their doom seemed certain. There wasn’t any help available except the LORD. And He defended His own.
Few people have such difficulties as Israel had in this experience, but no matter what kind of trouble you have, even as difficult as this, God can deliver you, for He will defend His own. This statement you can apply to your life. The LORD shall fight for you, providing you are one of His.
The second statement comes in verse 21: “the LORD caused the sea to go back.”
He Divided the Sea
The statement tells us the LORD was active with respect to His people. There was no other way for them except to go forward. In fact, that is what the LORD told them to do. He told Moses to tell them to go forward. But the sea was in front of them, so the LORD opened the way through the sea. Not over it but through it, so they could escape.
Now I believe this was a miracle of God. The LORD caused a strong east wind to blow all night. It divided the Red Sea, piled up the water on both sides, and the people of Israel walked through on dry land. It was a miracle. God performed this miracle to divide the sea. Some will scoff, claiming this is wishful thinking, a made-up fairy tale. But really, is it hard for the Creator to control His creation in ways that benefit His people? The answer is obvious.
It may easily be that in our difficult situations, we do not see the hand of God. Perhaps we don’t have eyes or faith to see Him, or we ignore Him. We too often don’t give God credit for helping us out of our difficult places, we wrongly take the credit for ourselves. But God can open a way for you, too. It may not be like the Red Sea, but whatever your difficulty is, the LORD can deliver. For Israel, He divided the sea.
A third action of God is in verse 24: “The LORD looked upon the host of the Egyptians.”
He Destroyed the Enemy
He did this from the pillar of fire and cloud. He looked upon the host of the Egyptians because He had designed to destroy them. Earlier in this record, the LORD announced He was going to harden Pharaoh’s heart and cause him to pursue after the children of Israel into the Red Sea so that He might teach Egypt that He is God.
The LORD must oppose the enemy of His people. If He does not, He is not God. In this case, it was Pharaoh and the Egyptians. He distressed them severely. He took the wheels off their chariots and made them drag heavily in the soft seabed. God looked upon the hosts of the Egyptians as His enemies because they had set themselves against Him.
It is a great comfort to know that the enemy is never greater than God. No matter how much he may bring together in terms of his army and resources, he is never bigger than God. So, the LORD looked upon the hosts of the Egyptians and destroyed the enemy.
The fourth action statement in this passage is in verse 30: “The LORD saved Israel.”
He Delivered His People
Once in a while, some listener will ask, “Why did the LORD treat the Jews like He did?” ‘Why did He choose the Jews?” Well, the answer is very simple. He chose the Jews because He wanted to use them to bring the Messiah into the world and to demonstrate to all people of the world what it means to be the people of God.
You must always remember that the LORD is not accountable to us. He does not need to tell us why He does things a certain way. He operates within the choice of His sovereignty. So, your understanding of why God chose the Jews instead of some other people is not that important. It is important to acknowledge that what He does is according to His own sovereign right. So, the LORD saved Israel.
After Pharaoh and his chariots and horsemen were all in the sea, Moses was instructed by the LORD to stretch out his hand over the waters, and they were completely destroyed, and God saved Israel. He acted on behalf of His people. He delivered His people.
If you are one of God’s children, it will be that way with you. But you can’t go against what God has said and expect Him to deliver you. You must do what He has said in full and honest obedience if you want the deliverance God has for you. I urge you to trust in the LORD at all times because GOD CAN DELIVER!
Thanks, J. Mark, for this teaching from Exodus. The Bible is incredible, and each generation can learn from all that is written in this wonderful book. For example, people everywhere want to be free. In Exodus, the children of Israel were enslaved by the Egyptians. You know the story Moses led them to “freedom.” But were they really free? What does it mean to actually be free?
The common answer to that question is, doing what I want to do when I want to do it. This is a nice thought, but is this what it means to be free? We have the freedom to make many choices, despite the fact that there are many people who are not living free. They are not slaves to the government or to other people, but they are slaves.
II Peter 2:19 calls us slaves to what has mastered us. You see, instead of being in slavery like the children of Israel, many people are slaves to their own desires. With their free choice, a small choice was made. That one small choice grew into an addiction. They would like to quit, and many try, but too many times, a life of freedom leads to a life of slavery.
Thankfully this does not have to be the end of the story. Jesus tells us that if “He sets us free, then we will be free indeed.” This, my friend, is real freedom. Praise Jesus, this freedom knows no boundaries, it does not matter which country you are in, or who you are working for, this freedom is for everyone.
If you would like today’s program or if you have any questions, here are a few ways you can contact us. One of the best ways is email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, no problem, our mailing address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please click on the listen tab and listen to our other teaching. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org.
This brings us to the end of today’s program, thanks again for being with us. We look forward to being with you next week. I will leave you with the words of Jesus from John 8. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Go and live in that freedom.
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 14:13-31* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 14:1-12 From our experiences in life, we know that we all need help to keep our hope alive and vibrant. And faith and hope are closely linked together.
The Bible puts it this way in I Corinthians 13, “Now these three remain, faith, hope, and love.” In life, faith is the foundation of hope; we rest our hope on our faith. All of us have uncertainties which put us into places similar to Israel’s situation, and at those times, we must work to KEEP FAITH IN GOD.
In Exodus 14:1-12 Israel faced a test of faith.
1. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,
2. Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.
3. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, they are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.
4. And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honored upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.
5. And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
6. And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:
7. And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.
8. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.
9. But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.
10. And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
11. And they said unto Moses, because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
12. Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
In this text, three WORDS stand out, which all of us need to keep our faith in God alive.
First is the word,
Precaution
A precaution is a warning beforehand. The LORD told Moses that certain things were going to happen. He based His precaution on His foreknowledge. The LORD knew what was going to happen before it happened. The information He gave Moses enabled him to prepare the people. We don’t know exactly how God spoke to Moses, but we see in this account that Moses understood God. He was instructed by the LORD exactly what to do. It was a precaution.
God wanted Moses and the people to know beforehand what was going to happen, so He instructed Moses where to camp, and He told them what to expect. He told them that Pharaoh was going to chase after them and try to overcome them. But the LORD said to Moses that He was going to be victorious over Pharaoh and over all his hosts. He was going to show His power over Pharaoh. Pharaoh did not know his plan was not going to work. He thought he had an easy victory ahead of him. But by this word of precaution from the LORD, Israel was prepared. Pharaoh’s actions did not come as a surprise.
There are four words at the end of verse 4 which are of highest importance: “And they did so.” What God told them to do, they did. God gave them a forewarning of what was going to happen. He told them how to get ready for it. They got ready exactly the way the LORD told them. This precaution came to them, and they accepted it. We know they accepted it because they acted upon God’s command. That’s how you know if someone really believes; it moves to action.
My friend, the LORD has told us also in His Word what is going to happen in time to come. He has warned us to look for certain signs that will signal the end of time as we know it. He has told us beforehand what is going to happen to alert us to prepare. You can keep your faith in God if you will accept that word of precaution.
The second word is,
Pursuit
Pharaoh did exactly what the LORD said he would do, even though his pursuit was based on false information. The people told the king that Israel had fled when in fact, as we can read earlier in Exodus, he and his people had told them to “get out!” They did not want them to stay any longer after the firstborn in all the Egyptian homes had met death. But now, apparently, the urgency of the moment had vanished. Pharaoh began to reflect upon what had happened. His servants came to him and said, “Why have we done this that we have let Israel go from serving us?” They questioned their wisdom in releasing their workforce.
So, Pharaoh gathered together his best men, six hundred chosen chariots, all the chariots of Egypt, and the captains over them. He gathered together his best army to overtake the children of Israel. I can see it in my mind. I can almost see Pharaoh’s army glisten with golden shields and the horses’ plumes waving in the wind while the charioteers crack their whips as they approach the children of Israel. It must have been a fearful and awe-inspiring sight.
How did these children look who were departing? Certainly not like an army. They were a large crowd. Carrying their dough troughs, walking along having perhaps a few wagons to carry the heavier goods. Men, women, and children of all ages were walking in an orderly march. But there wasn’t one weapon among them. And Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is pursuing them with a large well-ordered and well-equipped army.
In life, we all come to difficult places, too, when the future is unsure, and the opposition is closing in. The question is, what are we to do under those circumstances? The descriptive word is pursuit. Pharaoh was in pursuit of the enemy. The children of Israel were in pursuit of God’s promise. Through faith in God, we don’t need to fear the pursuit of the oppressor.
The third word is,
Protest
The protest was based on fear. When the children of Israel looked back and saw Pharaoh’s army approaching with the chariots, there was nothing they could do. They foresaw being captured and taken back to their slavery. So, they cried out to God. Well, that’s a good thing to do when you are in trouble. Cry out to the LORD. Lift your heart and voice in prayer to Him. He is there to hear and to help.
But then they complained to Moses. They cried to God and complained to Moses. They said, “Were there no graves in Egypt that you brought us out here to die in the wilderness? Why didn’t you let us alone that we could serve the Egyptians?” But you know, God had something else in mind for these people of Israel. He had another purpose for them. They said they would have served the Egyptians, but God wanted them to serve Him. So, this is the word of protest.
When times are hard, we are inclined to cry out to God and then blame someone else. It is part of our human nature to look for others to blame when we are in trouble. But the LORD is working out His purposes, His own purposes, and we can’t always see those purposes because we have made up our own minds. Well, the word is protest. It wasn’t all in vain. When they cried unto God, the LORD heard them.
Out of this very difficult condition, God was developing faith in Israel. Out of your very difficult condition, faith can develop. In fact, it will develop if you keep looking to God. I urge you to hold fast when there seems to be no way out. It’s ok to protest, but be assured, God knows what He’s doing.
You know, these three words we looked at can help keep your faith alive too. Precaution: God warns us that following His plan will not always be easy. Jesus told His disciples, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
Pursuit: if you pursue a relationship with God and learn to rely on Him, then you will have courage when you are facing pursuit by your enemies. You will have the assurance that God has some bigger plan in mind than you can see at the moment.
Protest: fear is a natural reaction to unexpected circumstances. But we must not let our fear control us. We can cry out to God in protest, He understands and will show us what to do.
All of these will help you keep your faith in God alive!
Thank you, J. Mark, for this teaching from Exodus, and we thank you for joining us. As Christians, it is a privilege to serve and trust our God. Our God, Who is above every nation. As His people, it is good for us to remember the important principle in Daniel 4:17. It says, “that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men, and gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.” This verse teaches our sovereign God is over the kingdoms on earth. What happens here among our leaders is known and directed by Him.
Our leaders may be powerful and important or minor and less known, but it is our God who has placed them there, and our God is using them to accomplish His will. I admit we don’t always know how this can be, and when I don’t, I usually tell God I don’t know why this is happening or why You are allowing this, but I trust You and pray that Your people stay faithful. Be encouraged from this story from Exodus, that our God was in control, and the same God who was in control back then is still in control now.
Do you have any thoughts from today’s teaching? If you want to share them with us, here are a few ways you can contact us. One of the best ways is via email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, no problem, our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please check out the listen tab and listen to other teaching. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org.
This brings us to the end of today’s program; thanks again for being there. Please join us next week for another lesson from Exodus. Go with God this week and know that He is big enough for your circumstance. Trust Him because “the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men.”
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 14:1-12* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 13:17-22 There are many voices in the world today, so many that we are sometimes confused. Maybe you feel that way. So many voices, and they all claim to be true. Let me assure you that there is only one source for truth. True truth is found in the Book of God. It is important that we pay attention to God. In order to get to our eternal home, the promised land of the soul, we must GO WHERE GOD LEADS.
Many years ago, the founder of Heralds of Hope, Dr. J. Otis Yoder, told me a story about when he was traveling through Turkey with his wife. They came to a place on their way to Isparta when they weren’t sure which way to go. They had been traveling through mountainous country when they came out to an intersection, and they did not know which way to turn. So, he said to his wife, Isabelle, “Let’s stop and pray.” So, they prayed and asked the LORD to give them some kind of direction. After they prayed, he said, “I believe we ought to go left.” They turned left and soon came to their Isparta. Then they praised the LORD for His guidance. They went the way He led them.
If you’ve ever been lost, you know it’s not a very pleasant experience. It is much nicer if you have directions that show you where you’re going. Directions are so helpful, and especially those mileposts and signposts along the road to guide you.
God knew His people would need someone to lead them. Several generations had never been out of Egypt. In Exodus 13:17-22, God begins to lead His people on an untried way.
17. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
18. But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.
19. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.
20. And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
21. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
22. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
In this text, I find certain DIRECTIVES to help them, and us, go where God leads.
The first directive, which is very important, is to
Follow in His Path
God knew His people needed to be led, and He knew the best way for them to go. He did not take them the closest way, the nearer way to the land He had promised them. The shortest route would’ve only been about 200 kilometers or 125 miles. Even with children and animals, that would’ve taken less than a month. But God had a different path.
He did not lead them through the land of the Philistines because He was sure that they would give up and go back to Egypt. He knew the Philistines were fierce warriors and the people of Israel had no experience in warfare. The sight of such an army would fill them with fear. So, He chose a different path, a different route.
It made a difference which way they went because only one way was God’s best way, and the other way would have been less than the best. It was very important for them to follow in His path because needed His help. They needed His directive. God determined the way. It was much farther to go by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea, but God knew that was the best way.
Sometimes, you and I think we know better than God knows. We want to choose our own way. I can tell you from experience, I’ve tried that. Perhaps you have too. But then we find out that our way isn’t as good as God’s way. That’s because we can’t see everything like He does. So, if we really want to arrive at the place God has promised to us, then we’ll need to follow in His path and let Him choose because He knows best.
Another important directive is to
Carry Out His Prophecy
This is reflected in Joseph’s faith because we are told here that Moses took the bones of Joseph with him. In Genesis 50:24 and 25, we see what kind of faith Joseph had when he was about to die. “And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am dying, and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.”
What faith Joseph had to be rewarded so many, many years later. Joseph’s faith had prophesied about the time when the people of Israel would be leaving Egypt, so they were charged under oath to take his bones with them to bury in this new land. Actually, it was the land of his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
God’s faithfulness is shown here, too, because Joseph had said, “God will surely visit you,” and He did. He had finally released them, emancipated them from the bondage of Egypt. He had brought them out, and so it was important that the faith of Joseph be honored by the faithfulness of God. Moses carried out the prophecy and took the bones of Joseph along. Today you can visit the tomb of Joseph in Israel near Shechem. Moses carried out the prophecy.
If you want to go where God leads, then you will need to carry out this directive. In other words, when you do what God wants you to do, you honor His promises.
The third directive brings joy and security,
Delight in His Presence
These are beautiful words. They set forth a beautiful symbol. “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.”
Those beautiful symbols assured them of the presence of God. His presence was their delight. He went before them. He did not thrust them out like Pharaoh did. Instead, He led them out, and He always does that. The Psalmist David said, “He leads me beside the still waters.”
Further, David wrote these words in Psalm 1. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law, he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”
A pillar of cloud and pillar of fire, so by day and night they could be assured of and delight in the presence of God. It was a constant presence because He never took away the pillar of cloud or the pillar of fire. They were always there, always reminding the people that the presence of God was right there with them. They could be confident in His presence because He was there by day and by night.
You, too, can delight in His presence. He will be with you. He will be by your side. He will go before you. Praise the LORD!
If you sincerely want to go where God leads, then here are the directives: follow in His path, He has a way for you to go; carry out His prophecy, what you know to be His Word and will; delight in His presence and make Him your chief joy.
If you really want to go where He leads, you will find His presence your delight.
Thank you, J. Mark, for this teaching from Exodus, and we thank you for joining us. As Christians, it is a privilege to serve and trust our God. Our God, Who is above every nation. As His people, it is good for us to remember the important principle in Daniel 4:17. It says, “that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men, and gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.” This verse teaches our sovereign God is over the kingdoms on earth. What happens here among our leaders is known and directed by Him.
Our leaders may be powerful and important or minor and less known, but it is our God who has placed them there, and our God is using them to accomplish His will. I admit we don’t always know how this can be, and when I don’t, I usually tell God I don’t know why this is happening or why You are allowing this, but I trust You and pray that Your people stay faithful. Be encouraged from this story from Exodus, that our God was in control, and the same God who was in control back then is still in control now.
Do you have any thoughts from today’s teaching? If you want to share them with us, here are a few ways you can contact us. One of the best ways is via email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, no problem, our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please check out the listen tab and listen to other teaching. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org.
This brings us to the end of today’s program; thanks again for being there. Please join us next week for another lesson from Exodus. Go with God this week and know that He is big enough for your circumstance. Trust Him because “the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men.”
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 13:17-22* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 13:1-16 Everyone has certain special days in their life: a birthday, a baptism, a graduation, a wedding, or perhaps some other day that has been marked on your calendar as a special day for you. Did you know that the practice of honoring special events on certain days comes from the Bible? Yes, it does. One such day to remember is recorded for us in Exodus 13:1-16.
1. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,
2. Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.
3. And Moses said unto the people, remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
4. This day came ye out in the month Abib.
5. And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.
6. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD.
7. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.
8. And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, this is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.
9. And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.
10. Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.
11. And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,
12. That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that opens the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’S.
13. And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the first born of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.
14. And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, what is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:
15. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore, I sacrifice to the LORD all that open the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.
16. And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.
In this Bible text, we have a word from the Lord regarding a very special day for the people of Israel, in the past and the present. In that special day, the Lord emphasized several REMEMBRANCES so they would never forget what He had done.
These remembrances can be helpful to us also, to remember our day, just as the children of Israel were instructed to REMEMBER YOUR DAY. So, let’s look at them.
Moses gave them this remembrance:
Remember the Day of Deliverance
He spoke of how they were brought out of the house of bondage. You can read about that bondage in the earlier chapters of this book of Exodus. They were very much oppressed and suppressed, held down. They were not even citizens of the country. They were slaves. They had no legal rights, no freedom. They were in bondage, and Moses said, “Remember the day of deliverance when the LORD brought you out of the house of bondage.” Moses reminded them that it was not their strength that brought them out of the house of bondage. No! It was the hand of the Lord, “For by strength of hand the LORD brought you out of this place.”
Yes, by all considerations, Israel needed to ascribe their deliverance to the Lord--the strength of the LORD God. He brought them out of bondage into freedom. He spoke about the new land to which they were going; land possessed by different nations: the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
A new land and a new relationship were to be theirs, for the LORD said it was to be a land flowing with milk and honey. Even so, they were to keep this remembrance in this month, seven days of eating unleavened bread instead of normal bread. It was to be a joyous, seven-day feast because it reminded them of that day of deliverance and symbolized a complete newness.
There can be a deliverance for everybody because the LORD’s hand is still strong enough to deliver. The prophet Isaiah speaking for God, once said, “The hand of the LORD is not shortened that it cannot save, nor the LORD’s ear heavy that it cannot hear.” The reason people are not saved and the reason the LORD doesn’t seem to hear them is their sin.
Yes, there can be a day of deliverance for everybody because God, in the strength of His hand, will deliver you as He delivered those people in ancient days.
Moses gave them a second remembrance:
Remember the Law of the LORD
I am so thankful that God has given us His Book, the Bible. How awful it would be if we did not have some word, some revelation from the LORD. But when you have a word from the LORD, you carry a certain responsibility. That responsibility is to remember the word of the LORD and tell it to your children and grandchildren.
I find in Moses’ counsel to the children of Israel a very important emphasis: family religion. You can never expect your son to be any more religious than you are. The LORD laid a responsibility on the father here in this message: remember the law of the LORD because when your son asks you, you are to tell him what happened. You are to relate what God did. You are to say, “The LORD did this unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.”
But there is more than just telling. There is also doing, setting an example. So, the LORD said, “This shall be a sign unto you upon your hand.” If you are so controlled by the Word of God as having it on your hand, then that will sanctify your daily toil. It will change the way you look at your work; it will set it apart, it will sanctify your labor, and give it greater purpose.
He also says you are to have this as a memorial between your eyes to screen your vision. The eye is a marvelous member of your body. And when you have the law of the LORD between your eyes, it will screen your vision. Look at the world and life through God’s Law. And the law of the LORD shall be in your mouth. If you have the law of the LORD in your mouth, it will affect your speech. It will make it better.
So, remember the law of the LORD, tell your son about it, and show him by having the law of the LORD prominent in your own life. Then He said, “This ordinance shall be to you from year to year. “An ordinance carries with it the idea of an inscription, something like an engraving in stone. This ordinance is to be inscribed in your heart: “Remember the law of the LORD.”
Moses expressed a third remembrance:
Remember the Saving of the Firstborn
In God’s program for Israel, the firstborn was sacred. He put it this way, “Sanctify unto me all the firstborn.” That means to set them apart. When you sanctify some object, you take it out of its ordinary setting, and you put it aside for holy use. You set it apart.
Notice in verse 12 that they were instructed by Moses, “You shalt set apart unto the LORD all that opens the womb.” The firstborn is not like the secondborn or the thirdborn. According to the word of the LORD, to remember the salvation of the firstborn means to acknowledge that the firstborn is sacred to God.
It is a sacred responsibility to communicate this to your son, to your family, because the prophet Moses said, “And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, what is this? that then you will tell him that the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt when we were about to come out. Therefore, the firstborn of beasts we must sacrifice and the firstborn of our children we shall redeem.”
To redeem them means that something else must die in their place. In fact, Moses instructed them to redeem an ass with a lamb. In other words, sacrifice a lamb that the ass might live. The saving of the firstborn: remember it, Moses instructed the people of Israel. There is saving for the firstborn. God has set him apart as special, separated for holy use.
The remembrances then may also come to you: the day of your deliverance, the law of the LORD, the saving of the firstborn. You can make all this real and meaningful in your life and family. God wants you to enter into this by faith in Him.
Thank you, J. Mark, for this teaching from Exodus, and we thank you for joining us. As Christians, it is a privilege to serve and trust our God. Our God, Who is above every nation. As His people, it is good for us to remember the important principle in Daniel 4:17. It says, “that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men, and gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.” This verse teaches our sovereign God is over the kingdoms on earth. What happens here among our leaders is known and directed by Him.
Our leaders may be powerful and important or minor and less known, but it is our God who has placed them there, and our God is using them to accomplish His will. I admit we don’t always know how this can be, and when I don’t, I usually tell God I don’t know why this is happening or why You are allowing this, but I trust You and pray that Your people stay faithful. Be encouraged from this story from Exodus, that our God was in control, and the same God who was in control back then is still in control now.
Do you have any thoughts from today’s teaching? If you want to share them with us, here are a few ways you can contact us. One of the best ways is via email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, no problem, our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please check out the listen tab and listen to other teaching. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org.
This brings us to the end of today’s program; thanks again for being there. Please join us next week for another lesson from Exodus. Go with God this week and know that He is big enough for your circumstance. Trust Him because “the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men.”
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 13:1-16* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 12:29-42 Hello and welcome; thanks for joining us as we continue our study in Exodus. It is encouraging to hear from God and learn more about Him in the Bible. This happens no matter which book of the Bible we are focusing on. This is an amazing aspect of the Bible, and it is one of the things that sets the Bible above all other books. This is not just a book. It is alive, and in every section of the Bible, there is more for us to learn.
Looking at the children of Israel, we can see how God directed and led them from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. And really, that is what God longs to do for each of us. He has provided the way for us to go from slavery to freedom. We can be free from the slavery of sin and experience true freedom by following Jesus and living according to the commands Christ gave.
And think about Pharoah. He is an example of someone who, despite all the evidence and proof for God, rejects God and continues in his own way. Time after time, God reveals His power, and each time Pharoah’s heart becomes harder and harder. This pattern has been repeated by many men down through the ages. God, in His mercy, shows Himself alive and real in many incredible ways. This turns some hard hearts even harder, which is exactly what Pharoah was doing.
We look forward to what J Mark Horst will teach us from Exodus and how these truths will teach us more about God and how we can live for Him. Let’s give him our attention now.
People all over the world long for freedom, for independence. They hope someday to throw off the yoke of bondage. They want to be free!
Bondage comes in various forms. Many people are bound by some physical illness. Many are bound by political situations. Others feel bound by economic conditions, and many are bound in their spirit; they are controlled by their selfish desires and appetites.
To be under the bondage of the spirit is the most serious. But I am happy to tell you that you can be like the people of ancient Israel: FREE AT LAST! Yes, there is freedom for you and me, but there is only one way to achieve it. God’s Word gives us the path to freedom.
Exodus 12:29-42 is the basis of our meditation on freedom.
29. And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
30. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
31. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.
32. Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.
33. And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, we be all dead men.
34. And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
35. And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:
36. And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
37. And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
38. And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very many cattle.
39. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.
40. Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
41. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.
42. It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
The STAGES to achieve freedom are demonstrated in this Scripture and are available to you. Let me point to them.
The first stage was for Egypt:
Judgment
In previous chapters of Exodus, we have emphasized the judgment of God upon the land of Egypt. Here it is again. The Bible tells us that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. That was total involvement. The firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, died, as did the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of cattle died. The judgment of Egypt was complete. It was total. A great cry went up throughout the land of Egypt because there was not a house where there was not one dead.
Freedom demands the judgment of the oppressor. In this case, Egypt was the oppressor. Because God was concerned about the oppressed, He judged the people of Egypt. The stages to achieve freedom are demonstrated in this experience.
In the first stage, there must be judgment of the oppressor, and God has done that. Judgment to achieve freedom is in the hand of God. It must come from the LORD. He has exercised judgment upon the oppressor of the spirit, that great archenemy of God, the devil. God has exercised a judgment against him, and you and I can be free if we accept the judgment God has made.
The second stage was for Israel:
Emancipation
Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and issued an emancipation proclamation for the people of Israel. It was Pharaoh’s command. Before, he always said, “No, I will not let you go.” Now in the middle of the night, he called these Israelite leaders, Moses, and Aaron, and issued a command to them. He said, “Rise up and get you forth. Go and serve the LORD. And take your flocks and your herds and be gone.” He issued this demand for departure, an emancipation of deliverance to freedom.
The Egyptians urged the people of Israel and said, “Go, for we are all dead men.” You can try to imagine what the conditions must have been like in the land where every house had at least one dead person and one dead among the beasts. No wonder they were insistent that the people of Israel get out.
Freedom demands emancipation of the oppressed. The people of Israel were the slaves, the oppressed. They were forced to serve with harshness. They were beaten by their taskmasters. But God brought them emancipation or freedom by this proclamation of Pharaoh.
Emancipation, true emancipation from the bondage of the spirit, must come from the LORD. He has promised you and me that He will free us from the bondage of the spirit. Only when the LORD takes over can you have emancipation and freedom from the bondage of the spirit.
When Jesus was here on this earth, He made this statement; “If youabide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.And you shall know thetruth, andthe truth shall make you free.” Satan wants to keep us in bondage, so he tells us lies, and he urges us to believe those lies. But Jesus wants you and me to be free to serve Him. We can do that when we embrace the truth.
In our text, the LORD moved Pharaoh, the oppressor, to issue a command of emancipation for these oppressed people of Israel. It is no secret what God can do. He can emancipate your soul and your spirit right now if you will follow Him.
There is a third stage which is:
Emigration
So, the children of Israel left Egypt. They left behind the land of bondage. There were 600,000 men on foot beside women, children, and a mixed multitude. It must have been quite a large number, well over a million people. Besides, they took all their flocks and herds along, and they had very many cattle. They took along the bowls or troughs in which they mixed the ingredients for their bread. They did not have time to properly mix the bread and wait for the dough to rise. So, they were prepared to eat unleavened bread as they were on the move.
That is what emigration means: get out, separate, move on, away from the land of bondage. There was a certain time element here. The Bible tells us that they had sojourned in Egypt 430 years. And then, on the very day that completed those 430 years, they came out.
But now they have been delivered. Freedom at last! And they are on their way. They are emigrating. They are moving out. Freedom demands emigration to separate from the former condition of slavery. But this freedom must be of the LORD because the separation from bondage and oppression must be complete.
The stages for freedom come in this way: judgment, emancipation, and emigration. The judgment must be brought by the LORD on the oppressor. The emancipation of the oppressed must be of the LORD. Emigration, and separation, must be under the direction of the LORD. Then there will be freedom at last.
We know from history that Egypt was a real country; in fact, it still exists today. But Egypt is also used as a symbol of sin or a symbol of the world. Those who live under the control of the world and sin are slaves, they are not free to do as they choose.
Listen to these words from Romans 6:16 to 18. “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”
Are you still a slave in Egypt? Are you still a slave of sin? Are you powerless to escape the bondage of sin? I have good news for you; Jesus Christ can set you free! He can and will change you from the inside out if you will only come to Him in believing and obedient faith.
Ancient Israel was delivered from physical slavery, and that was wonderful. But we discover quickly that they didn’t experience spiritual freedom. You can be different; you can experience complete deliverance through Jesus Christ. You can be FREE AT LAST.
Thank you, J. Mark, for this teaching from Exodus, and we thank you for joining us. As Christians, it is a privilege to serve and trust our God. Our God, Who is above every nation. As His people, it is good for us to remember the important principle in Daniel 4:17. It says, “that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men, and gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.” This verse teaches our sovereign God is over the kingdoms on earth. What happens here among our leaders is known and directed by Him.
Our leaders may be powerful and important or minor and less known, but it is our God who has placed them there, and our God is using them to accomplish His will. I admit we don’t always know how this can be, and when I don’t, I usually tell God I don’t know why this is happening or why You are allowing this, but I trust You and pray that Your people stay faithful. Be encouraged from this story from Exodus, that our God was in control, and the same God who was in control back then is still in control now.
Do you have any thoughts from today’s teaching? If you want to share them with us, here are a few ways you can contact us. One of the best ways is via email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, no problem, our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please check out the listen tab and listen to other teaching. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org.
This brings us to the end of today’s program; thanks again for being there. Please join us next week for another lesson from Exodus. Go with God this week and know that He is big enough for your circumstance. Trust Him because “the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men.”
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 12:29-42* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 12:1-14 With our modern electronic devices, we can keep watch constantly all over the world. The nations of the world have their satellites in low-earth orbit by which they scan the earth’s surface constantly. Video and facial recognition technology can track us almost anywhere we go. We know more fully the meaning of the saying, “you can run, but you can’t hide.”
We sometimes wonder, with modern electronic devices and all the progress in communication of the last several decades, how can there be any place of safety? It seems as though an ever-watchful eye is over us constantly. I am glad to say that God watches over us but with a quite different intention. God watches over us in love when we turn our hearts to Him.
While there are various means of protection, this Scripture in Exodus 12:1-14, sets forth PROTECTION UNDER THE BLOOD. This protection is vital to your eternal well-being.
1. And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
2. This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
3. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for a house:
4. And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
5. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
6. And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
7. And they shall take of the blood and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
8. And they shall eat the flesh that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
9. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
10. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remains of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
11. And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S Passover.
12. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
13. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
14. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.
From this scene in the Bible, I find several ENCOURAGEMENTS to seek protection under the blood. These encouragements, which came first to Israel speak to us today as well.
The first encouragement is:
The Careful Outline of Details.
Moses told the people of Israel that this time in their history would be the beginning of months to them. In other words, it was to be the new year, the time when everything else started, “the first month of the year to you.” He explained how they were to select a lamb from the flock on the tenth day of this first month. Every detail was carefully outlined. It was to be a lamb for a household. This was to be done by the size of the family. If the family was too small to eat all of the meat from the lamb, then two families, neighbors, should join together.
The lamb was to be without blemish, a male of the first year. It could be a sheep or a goat. Then from the tenth day of the month until the fourteenth day, the lamb was to be kept separate from the flock. All the families of the congregation were to kill them at the same time. All the details were carefully outlined for a mass observance.
The blood of the lamb was to be caught in a basin. Then they were to take the blood and strike it on the two side posts and lintel of their doors. They were to roast the flesh of the lamb--never to boil it or eat it raw--but to roast it and eat it with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs. If anything was left until the morning, it was to be burned with fire.
Even the clothing they wore for this event is specified. They were to have their clothes on, ready to move. They were to have their shoes on and a staff in their hands. They were to eat in haste because it is the LORD’S Passover. The LORD outlined the details very carefully, to come out right. The encouragement comes that in the carefully outlined details for the people of Israel, God brought them under the protection of the blood.
Another encouragement I find is:
The Complete Outcome of Deliverance.
In verse 12, the LORD executed a final judgment. He said, “I will pass through the land of Egypt this night and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment.” This was the final judgment.
In the earlier chapters of Exodus, God had spoken to Moses that He was going to exercise judgment against all the gods of Egypt. The various plagues, the water to blood, the frogs, the boils, the flies, the darkness, the sickness of cattle, and so on, were actually God’s judgments on the various gods of Egypt.
In this final judgment, the LORD said He was going to smite all Egypt. All the firstborn in the land of Egypt were to be affected, from Pharaoh the king to the slave. In this final judgment, there would be no exclusions; even the beasts, the cattle, would be affected similarly.
At the same time, there was a complete outcome of deliverance. To Israel, the LORD said, “The blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” There was full protection, absolutely full protection when the blood was properly applied on the two side posts and the lintels of the houses according to the detailed instructions. The LORD said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.”
And He said, “because the blood is on your doorposts the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” There was full protection. It was complete outcome of deliverance as a final judgment on the people of Egypt and a full protection for the people of Israel. What was? The blood on the doorposts.
Yes, God does what He promises to do. When those come to Him in full trust, do what He has said there is protection. But you must understand that the protection is only possible when you follow through with the details that God has outlined. In this experience, He said it was the blood on the doorposts that made the difference.
In the third place, we find encouragement in:
The Commemorative Outset of Directives.
The last verse is a short verse but so full of meaning. “And this day shall be unto you for a memorial.” What is a memorial? A memorial is a day which is set aside to remember. It is a day to be kept in mind. It is a particular day. I suspect in every country, in your country, you have certain memorial days. We have certain days in the country where I live. We have days that we have set aside to keep alive the memories of special events. So, the LORD said to the people of Israel that this day, this Passover day, was to be kept in mind as a memorial, a day of memory.
Further, He said it was to be kept as “a feast to the LORD throughout your generations.” It was not the kind of memory day that would pass with the years and be forgotten with time. It was to be an annual feast. It was to be a feast that was to be kept throughout all their generations. That means that the parents would tell the children, and the children would tell their children, and those children would tell their children, and so on.
The final instruction from the LORD was, “you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.” I was especially impressed by this word ordinance. In the Hebrew Bible, it comes from the Hebrew word chaqaq, which means to inscribe or engrave. This was to be a never-to-be-forgotten experience, somehow laid down so that it would never pass from memory. It was to be a commemorative memorial, the kind of memorial that would never be forgotten. It was engraved forever. The people of Israel keep it today.
We do well to remember the goodness of God. This day was to tell the people of Israel to remember the goodness of God. For He had brought them complete deliverance from judgment and protected them under the blood.
These encouragements I bring to you from the experience of Israel in ancient days. God still acts the very same way. He has given careful details to complete your deliverance so you might remember His mercy forever. Every heart covered by the blood of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is safe from death. Make sure the blood of Jesus is applied by faith to your heart and life today.
Thank you, J. Mark, for this teaching from Exodus, and we thank you for joining us. As Christians, it is a privilege to serve and trust our God. Our God who is above every nation. As His people, it is good for us to remember the important principle in Daniel 4:17. It says, “that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men, and gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.” This verse teaches our sovereign God is over the kingdoms on earth. What happens here among our leaders is known and directed by Him.
Our leaders may be powerful and important or minor and less known, but it is our God who has placed them there, and our God is using them to accomplish His will. I admit we don’t always know how this can be, and when I don’t, I usually tell God I don’t know what this happening or why you are allowing this, but I trust you and pray that your people stay faithful. Be encouraged from this story from Exodus, that our God was in control, and the same God who was in control back then is still in control now.
Do you have any thoughts from today’s teaching? If you want to share them with us, here are a few ways you can contact us. One of the best ways is via email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, no problem, our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please check out the listen tab and listen to other teaching. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org.
This brings us to the end of today’s program. Thanks again for being there. Please join us next week for another lesson from Exodus. Go with God this week and know that He is big enough for your circumstance. Trust Him because “The Most High rules in the kingdoms of men.”
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 12:1-14* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 11:1-10 In the beginning of the Creation, God made Adam with a will. He was given the ability and the freedom to choose. From the very beginning, man was able to exercise that will. God knew when He made man with a free will that man would be able to exercise that will against his Creator. But because mankind was made in the image of God, he had to be able to have the capacity to choose, to make moral distinctions. He was not a preprogrammed robot.
To be a creature of choice is a wonderful privilege because we have the whole area of good from which we can choose. It is beautiful. There is so much in our world that is good and beautiful, so much that is fulfilling and satisfying. God has created so much for our enjoyment and for our blessing.
But we can also choose evil. We can choose to serve ourselves and our desires. That’s what makes the exercise of our will so very, very serious.
I have regrets about the times I have made wrong choices: times when I allowed my desires to control me instead of my will. Times when I was selfish instead of serving others. Times when I was harsh and unloving. When I think back on those experiences, I feel sorry, and I have regrets. I am so grateful for God’s willingness to forgive me and to restore my joy.
But I also have joyful moments when I think of my good choices. I chose the right way, and those right choices still bring me joy today. I hope you have joy in your choices too.
Self-will is the result of the abuse of freedom of choice. Self-will is when you and I set up our own will against the will of God. THE HIGH-PRICE OF SELF-WILL stands out clearly when we do not choose right. In Exodus 11:1-10, this high price of self-will is clearly shown.
1. And the LORD said unto Moses, yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.
2. Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.
3. And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.
4. And Moses said, thus saith the LORD, about midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:
5. And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sits upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.
6. And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it anymore.
7. But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.
8. And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in great anger.
9. And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.
10. And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.
In these verses from Exodus, I bring you three EVIDENCES of that high price of self-will.
The first evidence is:
The Last Plague.
God said, “This is the last time I am going to deal with Pharaoh. I will come once more. Just one more plague upon Pharaoh. That’s all. It will be the last time that I deal this way with him.” I am thinking what a tremendous price that was to Pharaoh. Moses was instructed by the LORD to tell the people of Israel to ask of their neighbors for silver and gold. This was a part of the last plague, the last time God would deal with Pharaoh.
I notice also that God’s man, Moses, stood very high in the eyes of the Egyptians. This is not at all surprising. Think of all that Moses did in the eyes of the people as God instructed him. Through all these judgments, God showed He was superior to the pagan gods of the Egyptians. And so, when the people of God asked their Egyptian neighbors for their gold and silver, they readily gave it to them.
But self-will must meet its decisive moment. There is a time when the battle is finally joined between God’s will and self-will. Try to grasp the awfulness of this word from God: “Yet will I bring one more plague upon Pharaoh.” Think of what it means to come to the end of dealing with God. When it is all over, what is the cost? That is the high price of self-will, the last plague, the last word from God.
There is a second evidence of the high price of self-will:
The First-Born.
Moses went on to tell Pharaoh how this last plague was going to happen. It would be aimed at the first-born. All other judgments had dealt with things: the cattle, the elements, the vegetation. There were boils, lice, flies, the water turned to blood, sickness upon the cattle, hail, and darkness. This one was to be different. This one was to affect the first-born of every Egyptian household, from Pharaoh upon the throne to the maid servant behind the mill. And Moses further added, it also would affect the beasts of the field.
This was a very extensive judgment. There was no mercy. All would be affected. I learn a rather striking lesson from this. Self-will leads to decisions that affect our most treasured possessions. And the consequences of our choices are not restricted to us personally. Once our choices are made and the consequences set in motion, they cannot be changed.
Pharaoh insisted upon having his own way, and it led to the destruction of his most treasured possession—his first-born son. This was his heir, the one who was to follow him on the throne of Egypt. But his self-will affected his entire country, all of his people. Do you follow me? Evidence of the high price of self-will is found in that God leveled His judgment against the first-born of man and beast. This man on the throne, Pharaoh, was responsible for judgment throughout his kingdom by his self-will. Those under your authority will be affected by your choices – for good or for ill.
The third evidence of the high price of self-will is:
The Final Difference.
Moses said that the children of Israel would not be affected by this last plague. He said not so much as the tongue of a dog would be moved against them and their cattle. In other words, not even a dog would bark against the children of Israel. In previous occasions, God protected and preserved His people at the time of these plagues. But this one Moses said would be final, “That you may know how that the LORD has put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.”
This difference had nothing to do with the ethnic background of the people. It wasn’t because some were Egyptians, and some were Israelites. God is the Creator of all, and He shows no partiality based on nationality or ethnicity. He loves all people equally.
The difference was that the Israelites worshipped the true God, and the Egyptians worshipped idols. This would be a great humbling of the Egyptians and their gods because God would magnify His name in all the earth by these acts. We are told that the wonders of God would be multiplied in the land of Egypt. God did all this to vindicate His High and Holy Name.
But there was a real difference between Israel and Egypt. The reason why this difference was so sharp and so broad was that the Egyptians refused to hear God, especially Pharaoh, their king. They would not listen to the voice of the LORD as it came from the prophet Moses. And now they would suffer the consequences of not listening to God.
God has made us free moral agents. We can make our own choices. We have both the ability and the privilege. But He has also made us that we must live with the consequences of those choices, and that’s where the price often becomes rather high. That’s what happened with Pharaoh. He made his own choice, but he paid the high price of living with the consequences he had not figured on. He didn’t think carefully enough about the consequences of his choices. And there are many people just like him today. I hope you are not one of them.
Here are the evidences which we gather from Pharaoh to show how high a price one pays for self-will: the last plague showed that God was not going to deal with this man again in any measure of mercy. Pharaoh had made his choices, and now there was no turning away from the consequences of those choices.
Then, the first-born of every family all across the land would be slain. From the first-born of the king to the first-born of the slave, to the first-born of the cattle and other beasts. And that final difference between the Egyptians and the Israelites could never be erased. Those who reject God will face His divine wrath.
My friend, I want you to consider where you are. Turn to God, the God who holds your life and breath in His hands. Don’t hold out against Him, or you will learn to your regret, the high price of self-will.
Thank you, J. Mark, for this teaching from Exodus, and we thank you for joining us. As Christians, it is a privilege to serve and trust our God. Our God who is above every nation. As His people, it is good for us to remember the important principle in Daniel 4:17. It says, “that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men, and gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.” This verse teaches our sovereign God is over the kingdoms on earth. What happens here among our leaders is known and directed by Him.
Our leaders may be powerful and important or minor and less known, but it is our God who has placed them there, and our God is using them to accomplish His will. I admit we don’t always know how this can be, and when I don’t, I usually tell God I don’t know what this happening or why you are allowing this, but I trust you and pray that your people stay faithful. Be encouraged from this story from Exodus, that our God was in control, and the same God who was in control back then is still in control now.
Do you have any thoughts from today’s teaching? If you want to share them with us, here are a few ways you can contact us. One of the best ways is via email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, no problem, our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please check out the listen tab and listen to other teaching. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org.
This brings us to the end of today’s program. Thanks again for being there. Please join us next week for another lesson from Exodus. Go with God this week and know that He is big enough for your circumstance. Trust Him because “The Most High rules in the kingdoms of men.”
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 11:1-10* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 10:21-29The Niagara River in the United States joins two of the five Great Lakes in the northern part of the country. I’ve seen the water pouring over these huge falls, millions of gallons of water every minute! I’m told that on the Niagara River, there is a certain point above the waterfall that marks the point of no return. If you are in the water or on it and you get beyond that point, there is no hope of escape. You will go over the falls. But as long as you stay above that point, there is still a possibility of returning. Very few people have gone over the falls and survived.
In a sense, life is like that; there is also a point of no return. After you have gone beyond that point, it is impossible to return. The choices you have made cannot be changed. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, demonstrates that for us. His repeated refusal to let God’s people go and the continual hardening of his heart led him unwaveringly to that point of no return. Eventually, it would cost him his family, his armies, and his kingdom.
In the contest between Moses and Pharaoh, the battle of the gods is about over. It is the battle between the true God, Jehovah, and the idols of Egypt. Moses was speaking for the true God, and Pharaoh was speaking for the idols. We’ve been tracing these events from the book of Exodus, and it has been thrilling to see how the hand of God was upon this pagan king and his people. We must learn the lessons recorded, or we are doomed to make the same mistakes.
Pharaoh learned that THERE IS A POINT OF NO RETURN. There is a point beyond which change is impossible. Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get away from me, take heed to yourself, see my face no more; for if you see my face, you shall die.” This was the outcome of a continual refusal on Pharaoh’s part found in Exodus 10:21-29.
- And the LORD said unto Moses, stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.
22. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:
23. They saw not one another neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
24. And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let you little ones also go with you.
25. And Moses said, thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God.
26. Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not a hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither.
27. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.
28. And Pharaoh said unto him, get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.
29. And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.
In this text, we find the INDICATORS which should help us locate that point of no return.
The first indicator was:
The Darkness in the Land.
The Lord told Moses to stretch out his hand toward heaven, and a deep darkness would cover the land of Egypt. It would be so dense it could be felt. I have never been in that kind of darkness. Years ago, I visited an old coal mine with my family. We went down hundreds of meters into the mine. At one point, the tour guide turned out all the lights, and it was dark. It was so dark that when I put my finger on my nose, I still couldn't see my hand. We would say it was “pitch black.” But that darkness was nothing like this.
Here was a dense darkness which the Bible says could be felt, and the oppressive darkness spread over the land of Egypt. Nothing like it had ever happened like this before. This thick darkness over the land of Egypt lasted for three days. The Bible tells us that for 72 hours, nobody was able to move. No one rose from his place. This was not natural darkness. No way. This was an act of God. This was an indicator that Pharaoh was approaching the point of no return.
Notice that this darkness engulfed the Egyptians but that the Israelites had light in their dwellings. There was a clear division between the people of Egypt and the people of God. This division shouldn’t surprise us. Remember, at creation, God separated the light from the darkness. So, there’s no reason why He couldn’t do it again; and He did.
God’s miracle of darkness for Egypt must have been symbolic. I have been impressed in my travels in various parts of the world to feel the spiritual darkness, not physical darkness. It is oppressive; it is very uncomfortable. This was real physical darkness by a miracle of God, but it was also a symbolic darkness. The land of the rebellious ones was covered with darkness. Rejection of the truth always leads to spiritual darkness, so God brought this physical darkness to cover the land of Egypt as an indicator that there is a point of no return.
The next indicator was:
The Darkness of the Mind.
So, this intense darkness came. After it had lifted, Pharaoh said to Moses, “All of you can go now, but you leave your flocks behind.” He had offered several previous compromises, which Moses refused to accept. So, this is now the darkness of his mind showing again. ‘Do a partial obedience.’ This is often the counsel of a darkened mind. “All the people may go,” Pharaoh said, “just leave your flocks behind.” Don’t go quite all the way in obeying your God.
But Moses’ response was this: he said, “Our cattle shall go with us; there shall not a hoof be left behind.” All of us will go, and we will go all the way; we will obey God’s command completely. Moses said we are not going to leave anything behind. Furthermore, we are going because we must go.
Pharaoh couldn’t understand that because there was darkness in his mind. Pharaoh’s mind lacked spiritual understanding. The Bible tells us in First Corinthians 2:14, “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” The fleshly mind cannot understand the things of God. The proud mind is shrouded or veiled in darkness. Pharaoh’s mind simply couldn’t see the light because his mind was clouded with darkness.
It is the same today. Some very intelligent people in positions of leadership and responsibility are in spiritual darkness. Many of them are highly educated, but they are not wise. They reject the reality of God, His Word, and His authority. They think they know better than God does. Pharaoh is an indicator of this. His response to Moses is an indicator that you can get to the place where it is impossible for you to think clearly.
The final indicator was:
The Darkness of the Heart.
That is an awful truth, an unyielding truth. Pharaoh’s constant refusal left him with only darkness. He kept hardening his heart. He kept saying, “No, I don’t know the Lord, and I will not listen to Him,” until the time came when God hardened his heart. You read it in verse 27, “But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.
Oh, the darkness of the heart. There is a point of no return, and Pharaoh spoke it out when he said, “Get away from me, take heed to yourself, see my face no more; for if you see my face you shall die.” He said, “I am through with you, and I will not let the people go.” Moses said, “As you say, I will never come back to you.” Mark it. Mark it well. Pharaoh sealed his fate by his own decision. God left it up to him and he made the decision. The darkness of his heart brought him to the point of no return. He sealed the door of his return.
Many a person has turned away at a time which affected his future most seriously and sealed the door of return.
In Romans chapter one, we read these words; “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 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, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting…” They reach a point of no return.
As I have told you, there is a point of no return. How different life would have been for Pharaoh and the Egyptians if had he listened to the Lord. But he refused to hear God. We can talk about Pharaoh all we want. That’s been centuries ago. But how is it with you? Have you listened to God in the past? Are you still listening to Him today? Or have you turned a deaf ear to His voice? Learn the lesson from Pharaoh. Listen to the Lord now, or I assure you, you will one day regret your refusal to listen.
These are the indicators we find in Pharaoh’s experience. God made it plain. There was the darkness of the land, the darkness of the mind, and the darkness of the heart, which led to the point of no return. My friend, I am speaking to you right there where you are. Refuse the LORD no longer. It is time now for you to listen to God. Don’t pass the point of no return.
Thank you, J. Mark, for this teaching from Exodus, and we thank you for joining us. As Christians, it is a privilege to serve and trust our God. Our God who is above every nation. As His people, it is good for us to remember the important principle in Daniel 4:17. It says, “that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men, and gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.” This verse teaches our sovereign God is over the kingdoms on earth. What happens here among our leaders is known and directed by Him.
Our leaders may be powerful and important or minor and less known, but it is our God who has placed them there, and our God is using them to accomplish His will. I admit we don’t always know how this can be, and when I don’t, I usually tell God I don’t know what this happening or why you are allowing this, but I trust you and pray that your people stay faithful. Be encouraged from this story from Exodus, that our God was in control, and the same God who was in control back then is still in control now.
Do you have any thoughts from today’s teaching? If you want to share them with us, here are a few ways you can contact us. One of the best ways is via email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, no problem, our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please check out the listen tab and listen to other teaching. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org.
This brings us to the end of today’s program. Thanks again for being there. Please join us next week for another lesson from Exodus. Go with God this week and know that He is big enough for your circumstance. Trust Him because “The Most High rules in the kingdoms of men.”
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 10:21-29* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 10:1-10Some people think you can deal with God. They believe that if you do an evil deed, then you can do a good deed to offset it. They reason like this: at least make sure that the good you do outweighs the evil you do. Make sure that your life balance is tilted at least a little toward the good side. No, no. That won’t work. It never has worked, and it never will work.
YOU CAN’T BARGAIN WITH GOD. When you begin dealing with God, you are not in the marketplace. You are not in the place to negotiate with God. He has set the terms. Yet many think they can change those terms. They think they will be able to bargain with God. We are considering the Scripture in Exodus 10:1-20 to understand this great principle.
1. And the LORD said unto Moses, go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:
2. And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.
3. And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.
4. Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast:
5. And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remains unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which grows for you out of the field.
6. And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians, which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself and went out from Pharaoh.
7. And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, how long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?
8. And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the LORD your God: but who are they that shall go?
9. And Moses said, we will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the LORD.
10. And he said unto them, Let the LORD be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you.
11. Not so: go now ye that are men and serve the LORD; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.
12. And the LORD said unto Moses, stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.
13. And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.
14. And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.
15. For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
16. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.
17. Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and entreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this death only.
18. And he went out from Pharaoh and entreated the LORD.
19. And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red Sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.
20. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.
It is of first importance that we learn this great truth: you can’t bargain with God. He has set the terms. This Scripture contains three great and sober QUESTIONS, which we shall examine to see that you can’t bargain with God.
The first question is found in verse three,
I. How Long Will You Refuse to Humble Yourself Before Me?
This question tells us that there is an absolute God. When any man faces Him, he better remember this great truth: you can’t bargain with God. This question probes where it hurts because it strikes at the pride of the heart. God stands over and above all men. He stood over and above Pharaoh, but Pharaoh refused to humble himself before God.
The question comes to you and me today, “How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?” That’s the question God asks of you this very moment. That’s the question He asks of every man because He stands over and above every man in the world. Those who raise themselves up against God face this question and its awful consequences. How long will you refuse to humble yourself before God?
There is only one true God. Some people think there are many gods, and you can choose which ever one you want. But I tell you, there is only one true God, and He is asking you the question He asked Pharaoh many years ago: “How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?’ Yes, it is a very important question, and it tells us clearly that you cannot bargain with God.
There comes then the second question which is found in verse seven.
II. How Long Shall This Man Be a Snare unto Us?
There is a truth imbedded in this question as well. It comes out very sharply. Evil men often blame the wrong persons. Moses was being blamed for all the problems of Egypt. Pharaoh’s servants said, “He is a snare unto us.” Moses was the target of their question. They did not realize or would not admit that Moses was not to blame at all. Moses was only trying to help them recognize the God of heaven, but they refused to recognize Him.
Instead of laying the responsibility where it belonged, they laid the responsibility on the man who was not to blame. Even today there are people who blame the wrong person. Evil men today often blame good people for the trials and troubles and conflicts of life. Really, they ought to be searching within themselves.
So, these servants of Pharaoh came to him and said, “How long will this man be a snare unto us?” They should have said, “How long are you going to resist the LORD?” But they did not place the responsibility where it should have been. They laid it on Moses. They thought they would be able, somehow, to make a bargain here.
But listen, you can’t bargain with God. There is no point in blaming the good man or your neighbor for your ills and troubles. You had better examine yourself and carry the responsibility which really is yours. You are, after all, responsible for your own troubles. When you turn your heart to God, you will find that out.
There is a third question located in verse eight.
III. How Many Will Go?
The Bible puts it in these words, “who are they that shall go?” And Moses said we’ll all go! “We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go.” Moses was no compromiser. He stood right there and told Pharaoh exactly what he was going to do. He didn’t shift positions. He said, “We are all going.” Pharaoh said, “How many will go?” and Moses said, “We are all going. Everything we have is going along because we are going to hold a feast unto the LORD. We are not making any compromises at all. We are not in a bargaining position, sir.”
Then Pharaoh became angry and retorted, “You are not all going. Only the men will go. That’s all. I’ll let the men go, but I will not let the rest of you go.” And he drove them out of his presence. What a fearful price he paid for his arrogance! He thought he could bargain with the LORD, but he couldn’t. Immediately after his angry response, the locusts came as predicted. Moses went out and stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt. A strong east wind came, and it blew all day and all night, and by morning those locusts had covered the entire land of Egypt and devoured every green shoot that was left.
Wasn’t that an awful price to pay because Pharaoh thought he could bargain with God? When he saw his awful mistake, he called in Moses and Aaron and confessed that he had sinned. But it didn’t last. No, it didn’t last because just as soon as the LORD took those locusts away, Pharaoh turned his heart against God again.
You see, you can’t bargain with God. It is far better not to try. It is far better to humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and acknowledge Him as the true God and the only God. When you do, He will be merciful.
He will be merciful right now if you humble yourself. Don’t blame your good neighbor for your problems. Look into your own heart and see your own needs, and don’t try for any compromises. Just come right straight to the LORD God, the God of Israel, the God of Moses, the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ.
Thank you, J. Mark, for this teaching from Exodus, and we thank you for joining us. As Christians, it is a privilege to serve and trust our God. Our God who is above every nation. As His people, it is good for us to remember the important principle in Daniel 4:17. It says, “that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men, and gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.” This verse teaches our sovereign God is over the kingdoms on earth. What happens here among our leaders is known and directed by Him.
Our leaders may be powerful and important or minor and less known, but it is our God who has placed them there, and our God is using them to accomplish His will. I admit we don’t always know how this can be, and when I don’t, I usually tell God I don’t know what this happening or why you are allowing this, but I trust you and pray that your people stay faithful. Be encouraged from this story from Exodus, that our God was in control, and the same God who was in control back then is still in control now.
Do you have any thoughts from today’s teaching? If you want to share them with us, here are a few ways you can contact us. One of the best ways is via email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, no problem, our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please check out the listen tab and listen to other teaching. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org.
This brings us to the end of today’s program. Thanks again for being there. Please join us next week for another lesson from Exodus. Go with God this week and know that He is big enough for your circumstance. Trust Him because “The Most High rules in the kingdoms of men.”
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 10:1-20* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 9:13-35How many gods do you think there are in the world? One, fifty, one hundred, or more? Every religion has its own god, and some have many gods. My friend from Nepal told me that Hinduism has millions of gods and goddesses. The Bible also tells us there are many gods, but more importantly, it tells us there is only ONE true God. The rest are the creations of men.
How does the true God operate? Does He do anything in the world today? Is He concerned about what is going on? Does it make any difference to God what happens here on earth, or can men just go on their own way fashioning their own lives, forging history according to their own whims and fancy, or does God have something to do with the world and its history?
Do you have a problem with the way evil is spreading in the world? Have you ever pondered why this is? Have you wondered why God lets it go on and on? Some people say, “Why doesn’t God do something?”
The subject of my teaching is - GOD USES THE WICKED TO GLORIFY HIM. Do you believe that? Is there any question in your mind about that? A most exciting and interesting portion of God’s Word is Exodus 9:13-35 where we find that God used wicked men to glorify Him.
13. And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
14. For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.
15. For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.
16. And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
17. As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?
18. Behold, to-morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.
19. Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
20. He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:
21. And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.
22. And the LORD said unto Moses, stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.
23. And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.
24. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
25. And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field and brake every tree of the field.
26. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.
27. And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
28. Entreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.
29. And Moses said unto him, as soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD’S.
30. But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God.
31. And the flax and the barley were smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.
32. But the wheat and the rye were not smitten: for they were not grown up.
33. And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunder and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.
34. And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he, and his servants.
35. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.
From this text from the Bible, we discover the CONTROLS God placed upon wicked men to bring out His glory. God uses wicked men to glorify Him.
In the First CONTROL you Find
The Intent of God
Notice in verse fourteen what God said. “For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart...that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.” God’s intention was that Pharaoh would be forced to confess that there was no one like God. Many people in the world today believe that they can go on their own way without paying any attention at all to God. But this text tells us that God has a certain intent, and He is working it out.
God said to Pharaoh that He had raised him up so that His power and Name would be declared throughout all the earth. Now that may seem a bit strange to you, but God is in such complete control that even a wicked man like Pharaoh a tool for God’s Name to be declared throughout all the earth. Some people think that God doesn’t know what’s going on. But every person, in some sense, is God’s showcase. God demonstrates His power and glory to and through every person in some way. It may not be clear to us at the moment, but God said that He had raised up Pharaoh in order to declare His Name in all the earth. This teaches us that God is in control, and He has a certain intent that He is working out.
The Second CONTROL I have Called,
The Extent of the Plague
We call this a plague because the Lord said He was going to bring a pestilence upon the people, and it would be worse than any other had been. He said it was going to rain grievous hail - worse than it had ever been before. He said, “such as has not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.”
There is something else in this text which I believe is very important to our understanding of God’s control—He controls the elements. The God who made the world and separated the earth from the sea and the cloud from the dry land is still in charge. In this particular case, He said He was going to make it rain grievous hail. So, God controls the elements. Certainly, He does!
God warned them to take special precautions because this was going to be worse than it had ever been. This hail would kill people and the cattle in the field. So, God urged them to bring the cattle in. Those who feared the LORD did it, and those who did not fear the LORD didn’t do it. Those who obeyed saved their servants and their cattle, and those who didn’t obey lost them.
Then Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and the hail came. The description is rather awesome. “The LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt...very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.” We are also told, “And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field and brake every tree of the field.”
Now it would certainly appear that God goes to the full extent to lead men to Himself so that they might voluntarily glorify Him. It is their free choice whether they want to glorify Him, or not. And here you have the extent of the plague as another control that God has in the affairs of men.
The Final CONTROL I have Called,
The Contempt of Pharaoh
When Pharaoh saw what had happened, he called for Moses and Aaron and acted as though he had repented. I mean, he mocked it. He said, “I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.” And so, he pled that somehow the hail might cease. He said he would let them go, but we have learned that he didn’t mean it.
Moses gave him a futile warning. He said, “Look, I’ll do what you asked me to do. I’ll go out and spread out my hands before heaven, and God will stop the thunder and the rain and the hail. But I know you. I know that you will not yet fear the LORD God. You will not let the people go.” Moses knew that this was really contempt and not really the intention of Pharaoh.
And he made that fearful reversal. Once the hail ceased, the Bible tells us that he sinned yet more and hardened his heart, he, and his servants. Oh, that is very, very serious. But in it all, God was in control. Even this contempt of Pharaoh God would turn to His glory.
Pharaoh had the freedom to stand against God and not accept Him as the true God. He had the right and freedom to do that. But, oh, the result is frightening.
Wicked men glorify God because God is in control. All men someday will acknowledge Him. Every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess to the glory of God. Some refuse now. Some have refused. Some keep on refusing until terrible judgments are poured out, and others keep on their rebellious way.
I urge you to turn to the true God now. Acknowledge His authority and rule. Don’t be rebellious like Pharaoh. Worship and serve the God of Moses. He is my God and wants to be your God too.
Thank you, J. Mark, for this teaching, and thank you for joining us today; we trust that you have been blessed. It is a blessing to serve a God who is personal and with us; He is Emmanuel.
It reminds me of a line of poetry by Elizabeth Browning. She said, “Earth is crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God, but only he who sees takes off his shoes; the rest sit round and pluck blackberries.” Do we look for and see God? Can you see Him in normal routine life? He certainly is present, but not everyone sees Him; we must have eyes for Him. Let’s be like Moses and see God. When we do, we will worship Him and share this good news with others, so others see our great God.
As I mentioned before, we would love to hear from you; here are some ways you can connect with us. One of the best ways is via email. Our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, our mailing address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. If you are there, please check out the listen tab and listen to other teaching from Heralds of Hope. On our website, you will also find other resources, and we hope you find these beneficial. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org.
This brings us to the end of today’s program; thanks for being there. Please join us next week as we continue our journey through Exodus. Go with God this week, and we hope you will see Him and respond like the cherubim in Isaiah. “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.” May we Praise His great Name.
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 9:13-35* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 9:1-12With conditions as they are in the world, we often wish for assurances. Will things continue as they have in the past, or are there major changes coming? Sometimes when you and I look around us and see all the wars and violence and famines and pestilence, we feel greatly exposed and insecure. Many people all over the world felt that way during the time of the Covid-19 pandemic.
But I am glad to tell you that GOD PRESERVES HIS PEOPLE. Perhaps it does not always appear that way, but it is really true. The Bible gives us this great consolation and truth.
God has not chosen to always keep His people from harm. Some have gone through much suffering for their faith or suffering from some terrible disease. Even now, you may be going through great distress and physical hardship. We believe that God’s love and goodness motivate Him to preserve His own. Even though we may pass through the valley of the shadow of death, we can walk without fear because God is with us. He promised to never leave or forsake us! And He promised to accomplish His work in us through our suffering. That makes the difference, because God will go with you and me through all of our trials and troubles as we trust Him.
The reality of God preserving His people is well demonstrated in the experiences of ancient Israel and ancient Egypt. We are following through the Book of Exodus in these meditations. This message is based on Exodus 9:1-12.
1. Then the LORD said unto Moses, go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, let my people go, that they may serve me.
2. For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,
3. Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.
4. And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children of Israel’s.
5. And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, Tomorrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.
6. And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.
7. And Pharaoh sent, and behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
8. And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, take to yourself handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.
9. And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.
10. And they took ashes of the furnace and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.
11. And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.
12. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.
In this Scripture, we see the ACTIONS God took to preserve His people in the land of Egypt.
The First ACTION God Took Was,
The Description of the Coming Event
He sent Moses to Pharaoh to tell him exactly what was going to happen. Once again, Pharaoh was given a chance to choose the way he wanted to go and what he wanted to do. The description is very clear. The LORD said, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. For if you refuse to let them go, and hold them still, Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon your cattle.”
When Pharaoh was given the choice, he was also told the outcome. God gave Pharaoh the opportunity to choose. He described for him what was going to happen. If he chose properly, he would have the blessing of God. If he chose improperly, he would have the judgment of God. The outcome was clearly set forth.
He was also told there would be a distinction between the children of Israel and the people of Egypt. God laid it out carefully. Pharaoh could not mistake what God was going to do because it was clearly stated. God was going to make a separation between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt. No cattle that belonged to the children of Israel would die.
Isn’t God gracious? He took the time to make a description so clear to this ancient ruler, Pharaoh. But you know, God does that today in His Book, the Bible. I keep reading from the Bible each week. Yes, God has given a careful description of how we ought to live, and if we don’t live that way, we’ll have to suffer the consequences just like Pharaoh did. He has told us how we can escape the coming judgment, how we can be preserved unto eternal life. So, there is a description here of a coming event. God acts this way to preserve His people.
The Next ACTION God Took Was,
The Infliction of the Promised Event
This action came with exact timing because the LORD appointed a set time, saying, “Tomorrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.” God doesn’t have to say, “sometimes I’ll do this, and for certain areas, I’ll do this.” No, He controls all time, so He said exactly the time - tomorrow. Then the LORD did that thing on the next day. The infliction of the promised event came to pass exactly like it was described, exactly like it was predicted. There it was.
The exact territory was stated too. He said He was going to save the cattle of the Israelites from getting the same kind of sickness as the Egyptian cattle. We know that disease under normal conditions does not bother with geographic or political borders. It goes wherever it wants to. But God said He was going to make a distinction. He was going to make a difference. He was going to inflict the promised event upon the people of Egypt but not the children of Israel. Pharaoh didn’t really believe God until he had sent and checked that none of the cattle of the Israelites died.
Be sure you understand that God carries out with exact timing and exact territory the promised event which He said would come to pass. This is the action of God - the infliction of the promised event.
The Final ACTION God Took Was,
The Affliction Upon the Particular People
God had made a specific promise in connection with the disease that was going to strike the cattle. Following that, God made the same promise regarding the people. So, you have an affliction upon the particular people. What was that affliction?
Moses was told to go and get some handfuls of ashes from the furnace and sprinkle them toward heaven, causing boils and ulcers to break out upon man and beast all over the land of Egypt. That is exactly what happened. If you know anything about boils or ulcers, they are extremely painful. They are not something you want to experience.
When Moses did what God had asked him to do, the LORD brought the affliction upon the particular people whom He said would suffer that affliction. Notice that the magicians of Pharaoh’s court were singled out in their particular way, and the boils were upon them and upon all the Egyptians. The magicians and counselors apparently tried to persuade Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go, but Pharaoh would not do it. He would not listen to the LORD. He would not listen to his counselors. Instead, he only hardened his heart more.
Apparently, the affliction should have been worse in order for him to be persuaded. He saw the action of God in the preservation of His people, but Pharaoh still refused to let them go. He would not hearken unto his own men of faith, those whom he had gathered around him for counsel. When they gave him their counsel, he rejected it; he refused to listen.
Pharaoh’s rejection of God’s demands reminds me of the words of Solomon in Proverbs 29:1. “He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Pharaoh’s arrogance and pride were going to end in personal tragedy for him and national tragedy for his people. God will humble those who walk in pride!
Throughout the millennia of time, God has always preserved His people, those who truly trust in Him. Today, He does that through their acceptance of the shed blood of Jesus as the only acceptable payment for their sin. By virtue of that faith transaction, they are adopted into His family and become His sons and daughters. By virtue of that same faith, they are kept by the power of God until they ultimately enter His presence and see Him face to face.
Are you one of God’s children? Do you know Him, and does He know you? If so, you can be fully confident in His ability to preserve you to the very end. But what is the key to preservation? The key to preservation is listening carefully to what God says and walking in obedience to His commands. God will demonstrate His power through you to a skeptical and an unbelieving world.
Thank you, Pastor J. Mark, for sharing this with us. Isn’t our God incredible? I like how Isaiah put it, “Behold, the nations are like a drop in the bucket, and are counted as dust on the scales.” In our eyes, nations and politics look big and very important, but to God, kingdoms and nations are very small. And if we look at the big picture, we can understand this.
What happened to Pharoah? Where is Babylon? What about the Greeks and the Romans? Governments come and go; they are “a drop in the bucket.” God’s plan is not threatened by them; He actually uses each of them to accomplish His purposes, He did it with Pharoah, and He does it today. He is the great one, and we humble ourselves in worship before His greatness.
Blessings to you as you walk with our great God. If you have any questions or if you would like today’s teaching, just ask for it by title or passage. We also have a study guide available designed to help you learn more from each of these lessons in Exodus. It is called the Hope Herald, and if you would like one, we would be happy to send you one.
If you want to contact us for this or for any other reason, here are a few ways you can reach us. Email is a quick and easy way to contact us; our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, feel free to send us a letter. You can send it to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Another way you can contact us is on our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please check out our website for this teaching and other similar teaching. There you will also find other resources we hope you will find helpful. Again, the website is heraldsofhope.org.
Thank you for staying with us till the end; we look forward to being with you again next week as we continue this study in Exodus. Till next time as Paul told the Philippians, “May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.”
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 9:1-12* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 8:16-32We are honored to be with you today. Each moment we have is a gift from God, and we trust He will bless you as you spend these moments with us. We are Heralds of Hope, and our goal is to use media, like literature, radio, and internet, to make disciples of Jesus Christ to accomplish the great commission in our lifetime. We know this is a big goal, but we believe if God’s people will stay focused, we can do this.
A listener recently shared this testimony with us. “Your teachings are all inspiring, but this week was very inspiring. Since my wife and I have decided to follow Jesus, we have had to give up our house and job. We are in the process of moving for the second time in four months. Your teachings have helped us to see Jesus as He is in this time of great deception.”
Praise God, Jesus is with this couple, and they are growing in their understanding of Him; this is our goal for every listener. If you would like to share your testimony with us, we would love to hear it. We will share a few ways you can contact us at the end of the program.
Now turn to Exodus, and we will continue our journey through this wonderful book. We hope you will be blessed by this teaching; now, here is Bible teacher J. Mark Horst.
Can you tell the difference between a cow and a horse? What about the difference between a sheep and a goat, or between a camel and a donkey? You say those are stupid questions; of course, there is a difference between a cow and a horse, a sheep and a goat, and a camel and a donkey. Anybody should know that.
People from around the world contact us at Heralds of Hope. They ask questions like these: Tell me how to believe; Tell me more about God; I want you to help me because I am searching for God. Well, if you are searching for God, I want to help you see the difference between the people of God and other people.
Do you think there are no differences in religions? Some people think that. Hopefully, you are not one of them. There are very marked differences in religions, and I want to talk with you about that. From Exodus 8:16-32, we will see THERE IS A DIFFERENCE in religions.
16. And the LORD said unto Moses, say unto Aaron, stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
17. And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
18. And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.
19. Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, this is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them as the LORD had said.
20. And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh: lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, thus saith the LORD, let my people go, that they may serve me.
21. Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.
22. And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.
23. And I will put a division between my people and thy people: tomorrow shall this sign be.
24. And the LORD did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.
25. And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.
26. And Moses said, it is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?
27. We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, as he shall command us.
28. And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me.
29. And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will entreat the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.
30. And Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated the LORD.
31. And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.
32. And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.
This Scripture shows us there are certain PROOFS of difference among religions. This proof may help to answer some of your questions.
The First Proof is,
The Verdict of the Magician’s Power
The power of the magicians was limited. Up to this point, the magicians of Egypt were able to imitate the things that Moses had done when changing water into blood and bringing up frogs from the river. But this time, when Aaron struck the dust of the earth with his rod, it became crawling lice, and they could not do it. They soberly said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” They admitted that this was beyond their abilities.
Mankind can go only so far with his enchantments or with his sleight of hand tricks. This was beyond the power of the magicians. They were not able to do what Aaron had done in smiting the dust of the earth with his rod and turning it all into crawling lice.
So, they confessed they were not able to go any further. Their verdict was that this was beyond their power. There was a difference between their false religion and the true religion of Jehovah God. It was demonstrated there. Here was proof enough that there was a difference because they could not duplicate God’s power.
Here is the second proof:
The Vindication of God’s People
We learn that God sets His people apart. God does not treat His own people like He treats the wicked. God deals differently with those who trust in Him than He does with others. Here it is so clear that it is difficult for me to see how anybody could be mistaken about it, because He said, “I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell...And I will put a division between my people and thy people: tomorrow shall this sign be.”
I believe that God still operates that way. There is a difference between those who trust in the Lord and those who do not. I sometimes explain it like this: there is a certain area where the justice of God must operate because in order to be righteous, He must also be just.
Then there is another area where the mercy of God operates because God is merciful and gracious. He could not be just if He were not merciful, you see. He could not be merciful if He were not just. The difference comes in this consideration: you make the choice into which area you come. The people of God were trusting in Him, and He said, “I am going to make a division.” He had purpose in the proof. He said furthermore, “This is the reason I am doing this to the end, that thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.”
Some people think of God as being way out there, unreachable. He is the God out there. But we know He is also the God who is present with His people. Moses showed Pharaoh that God makes a difference between His people and other people because He is in the midst of the earth.
Now you have the third proof that there is a difference:
The Violation of Pharaoh’s Promise
He said, “I will let you go...entreat the Lord for me that these flies leave.” Imagine! All the horrid swarms of flies just simply crawling all over. Now the Bible says the land was corrupted by reason of these swarms of flies everywhere. Flies are filthy disease carriers. So, when the situation got intolerable, then Pharaoh said, “Entreat the LORD, and I will let you go.”
But he did not follow through; he didn’t keep his promise. He hardened his heart again and would not let the people go. I’ve met people like that; they make promises to the Lord when life is difficult and when the situation is hard, but as soon as it is relieved, they forget. Men cannot be trusted. Like Pharaoh, they’re prone to change their mind. But God can be trusted.
There is a difference between unfaithful men and the faithful God. There is a difference, I tell you. There is a difference between the power of the magicians and the power of God. There is a difference between the people of God and the people who are not.
So, the proof is here for you. There is a difference. Human power has its limitations. Man can go so far and no farther. There is a difference between the power of God and the power of men. This is well demonstrated and proven in this text by the magicians who said, “This is the finger of God.” They could go no farther.
Further proof is that God makes a difference between those who belong to Him and those who do not. He put a distinct line between His people and Pharaoh’s people. It reminds me of the words of Abraham when he was pleading for the Lord to spare Sodom. He said, “Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
Remember, too, there is a difference between the unfaithfulness of men and the faithfulness of God. Pharaoh demonstrated and proved it beyond doubt. At one time, he said, “Yes, I’ll let you go,” and as soon as the situation was relieved, he refused to keep his promise. But God doesn’t operate that way. When God makes a promise, He keeps it. Yes, He keeps all of His promises. God can be trusted.
Yes, there is a difference. All religions are not the same. The proof is here for you. Check it out for yourself. Trust in the God who makes the difference.
Thank you, J. Mark, for this teaching, and thank you for joining us today; we trust that you have been blessed. If you have been, we would love to hear how. Our contact information is coming. If you have any questions or comments, we would also love to hear from you.
It is a blessing to serve a God who is personal and with us; He is Emmanuel. It reminds me of a line of poetry by Elizabeth Browning. She said, “Earth is crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God, but only he who sees takes off his shoes; the rest sit round and pluck blackberries.” Do we look for and see God? Can you see Him in normal routine life? He certainly is present, but not everyone sees Him; we must have eyes for Him. Let’s be like Moses and see God. When we do, we will worship Him and share this good news with others, so others see our great God.
As I mentioned before, we would love to hear from you; here are some ways you can connect with us. One of the best ways is via email. Our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, our mailing address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. If you are there, please check out the listen tab and listen to other teaching from Heralds of Hope. On our website, you will also find other resources, and we hope you find these beneficial. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org.
This brings us to the end of today’s program; thanks for being there. Please join us next week as we continue our journey through Exodus. Go with God this week, and we hope you will see Him and respond like the cherubim in Isaiah. “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.” May we Praise His great Name.
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 8:16-32* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 8:1-15It is good to have you join us for today’s teaching from Exodus. We hope our study in Exodus will remind you that there is no God like our God. Our God is at work during every time period. I am sure the Hebrew slaves at the beginning of Exodus were wondering, “Where are you, God? Can you hear us? Do our prayers make a difference?” We ask the same questions. “God, do you see? Do my prayers matter?”
The answer for the Israelites is the same as God’s answer to you, which is the answer He always gives His children. It’s a resounding YES. God knows, and God sees. He is involved in the details of His creation. He doesn’t sleep, He’s never on vacation, and His people are special to Him; He cares about us and is with us. It might not seem like it, but the story isn’t over. Just like God showed up for the Israelites in Egypt, we trust Him with our story. We don’t know how it’s going to end, but He does, so we trust Him.
Thanks again for joining us on Hope for Today. This program is brought to you by Heralds of Hope. We are a small radio ministry serving a great big God. Let’s go with Bible teacher J. Mark to Exodus for today’s teaching.
There are many religions in the world. Are they all the same? The obvious answer is NO. They are too different in their beliefs and practices to be the same or even to originate from the same God.
I believe God has revealed Himself in His Holy Book. I believe there is, in fact, only one Holy Book: the Bible of the Old and New Testaments. And I believe that there is only one true God: the God of the Bible. He is the One who has revealed Himself in His Holy Book.
Do you know God? Have you had any conversation or communion with Him? I want to show you that there is NONE LIKE GOD. That truth is clearly set forth in Exodus 8:1-15.
1. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, thus saith the LORD, let my people go, that they may serve me.
2. And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:
3. And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneading troughs:
4. And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.
5. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, say unto Aaron, stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.
6. And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.
7. And the magicians did so with their enchantments and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
8. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.
9. And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?
10. And he said, tomorrow. And he said, be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.
11. And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.
12. And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the LORD because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh.
13. And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields.
14. And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank.
15. But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them as the LORD had said.
In this text, we see how God provided OPPORTUNITIES to demonstrate the fact that there is none like God. You can’t find any other religion quite like this in the world. Christianity stands in a unique position among all religions. God provides us in this brief Scripture the opportunities to see how He demonstrated that He is the only true God.
In the first opportunity He gave Pharaoh
The Choice of Obedience
Moses went to Pharaoh and said, “The Lord has said, let my people go that they may serve me.” Then Moses went a bit further and added, “And if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your borders with frogs,” God put before Pharaoh the opportunity to make the choice of obedience. His free will was not violated. This way, God proves that He is the only true God.
Moses set before Pharaoh the choice of obedience: you can let God’s people go that they may serve me; or, if you do not let them go, then I will bring frogs upon your land. They will come out of the river in such abundance that they will be in your house; they will be in your bedroom; they will be on your bed; they will be in the house of your servants; they will be in your ovens; they will be in the troughs where you knead your bread dough. They will be everywhere.
The Nile River was normally a source of blessing to the Egyptian people. But if Pharaoh refused to make the choice of obedience, this river would become a curse to them.
God operates that way even today. He provides the choice of obedience to every person because God has made us with the free will to choose. In this message, you are being presented with a choice: the choice of obeying the God who is the true God. No other god is like Him. Just as Pharaoh faced this opportunity with the choice of obedience many years ago, so you are facing that choice now.
Another opportunity that is demonstrated in this Scripture is
The Desire of Entreaty
The frogs came because Moses instructed Aaron to stretch out the rod of God over the streams, rivers, and ponds. Try to imagine how this must have been because frogs are cold-blooded and slimy. Picture throwing back the covers to get into bed, and there are several frogs. You walk out into the next room, and there are frogs. Frogs everywhere. They were in the house, in the bedchamber, in the bed, in the house of his servants and upon the people, in the ovens, and in the kneading troughs.
Suppose you are mixing up bread dough and PLUNK! here comes a frog right in the middle of it. Or you are ready to put the bread in the oven, and OOPS! there goes a frog right into your oven. What a disgusting time it must have been!
It is not surprising that after this, Pharaoh called for Moses and said, “Intreat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.”
Then Moses made a bargain with Pharaoh. He said, “You choose the time.” Notice, the magicians were able to bring up frogs unto the land of Egypt, but they were not able to make them go away. The magicians imitated the miracle, but they could not control the frogs. So, when Pharaoh wanted relief from the frogs, he asked Moses to entreat the LORD.
Moses replied, “Well, when do you want this to happen? You choose the time.” And Pharaoh said, “Tomorrow.” You would have thought he would have said, “Immediately!” But, no, he was willing to wait overnight, so he said, “Tomorrow is the time.”
Moses answered, “It will be exactly as you have said. The LORD will hear and do exactly like you have spoken. Then you will know that there is none like the Lord our God.” God is able to act within a split second of the exact time which has been set. And He will. Now you have the first two opportunities - the choice of obedience and the desire of entreaty.
The third opportunity is seen in
The Prayer of Moses
“Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the Lord because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh.” There was a beautiful opportunity for prayer by the man of God. God hears the prayers of His servants. If you want answers to your prayers, then you must first be in touch and communion with God and serve Him like Moses served Him.
Notice that Moses cried “And the Lord did according to the word of Moses.” I can bear testimony to the fact that when you cry unto the Lord, if you are in touch with Him, He does answer your prayers.
Is there another God like Jehovah God? No, there is not. There is none like Him. That is the point and purpose of this entire experience because Moses said, “You are going to know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.” There are plenty of gods who claim deity and supernatural powers, but they do not perform. They make their proclamations, but they cannot carry them out. So let us praise the Lord that we have the opportunity of praying to a God who hears when we pray in sincerity and in truth.
The incident closes with the picture of what happened when God acted to control the frogs. The frogs died out of the houses and out of the villages and out of the fields, and they gathered them into heaps, and the land really stank. There must have been thousands, perhaps millions, of these frogs everywhere.
Unfortunately, when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, when there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to Moses and Aaron, as the Lord had said he would do. But this experience was to demonstrate that there is no God like the Lord God of the Bible. God gave them opportunities to prove that there is none like Him.
Let me remind you that today you have the choice of obedience, the desire of entreaty, and the opportunity of prayer. These opportunities should convince you to trust in the God of the Bible. He is the God who is above all. There is none like God.
Thank you, Pastor J. Mark, for sharing this with us. Isn’t our God incredible? I like how Isaiah put it, “Behold, the nations are like a drop in the bucket, and are counted as dust on the scales.” In our eyes, nations and politics look big and very important, but to God, kingdoms and nations are very small. And if we look at the big picture, we can understand this.
What happened to Pharoah? Where is Babylon? What about the Greeks and the Romans? Governments come and go; they are “a drop in the bucket.” God’s plan is not threatened by them; He actually uses each of them to accomplish His purposes, He did it with Pharoah, and He does it today. He is the great one, and we humble ourselves in worship before His greatness.
Blessings to you as you walk with our great God. If you have any questions or if you would like today’s teaching, just ask for it by title or passage. We also have a study guide available designed to help you learn more from each of these lessons in Exodus. It is called the Hope Herald, and if you would like one, we would be happy to send you one.
If you want to contact us for this or for any other reason, here are a few ways you can reach us. Email is a quick and easy way to contact us; our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, feel free to send us a letter. You can send it to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Another way you can contact us is on our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please check out our website for this teaching and other similar teaching. There you will also find other resources we hope you will find helpful. Again, the website is heraldsofhope.org.
Thank you for staying with us till the end; we look forward to being with you again next week as we continue this study in Exodus. Till next time as Paul told the Philippians, “May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.”
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 8:1-15* by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
**Read more about The Plague of Frogs.
Exodus 7:14-25One great truth of our times we need to keep before us is this, there will be a time of judgment. God has promised and predicted a definite time of judgment. We must remember this as we see the events in our world today. Let me help you grasp this truth as we review an event in the life of the children of Israel. When they were in the land of Egypt many, many years ago, God was preparing to bring them out.
Let us turn to Exodus 7:14-25 to learn some valuable truths regarding the judgment of God when water turned to blood.
14. And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.
15. Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river’s brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.
16. And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.
17. Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.
18. And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water of the river.
19. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.
20. And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
21. And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
22. And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.
23. And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.
24. And all the Egyptians digged round a bout the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
25. And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.
This is a very interesting and informative Scripture. I want you to see that the Lord said that Pharaoh was to learn ‘who is God’ by what He was going to do. This account should teach us several valuable TRUTHS regarding the judgment of God when water turned to blood.
First there is,
The Prediction of Judgment.
When God gave us the Bible, He departed from what all other religions do. He spoke to us about impending judgment but also showed us the way to secure mercy. Because God is not willing that any should perish, He always gives a warning. In this case, He was very specific when He sent Moses to Pharaoh and told him exactly what would happen if he did not listen and obey Him. The Bible has many other passages in which this same truth is brought forth.
God sent Moses to Pharaoh to tell him precisely what He was going to do and why. In this way, God is just and also merciful because He does not pour out judgment without first warning people. Here you have the prediction of judgment. And notice the LORD always works toward the goal of all men knowing that He is God. The Bible tells us in other places that the world of nature around us is constantly witnessing to the fact of God. David, in Psalm 19, said that the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament makes manifest (shows forth) His creativity. In other words, everywhere we look, there is evidence of God.
Here He is moving to bring Pharaoh to the point where he would confess that the LORD is God. That is the purpose of God in the revelation He has given us in nature and in His Word. That’s why the LORD sent Moses to Pharaoh with a word: a word which He gave him. It is the prediction of judgment. We can take comfort from this because God has told us also of other times of judgment yet to come. For example, “It is appointed unto man once to die; and after that the judgment.” But He has also told us how to escape that coming judgment.
There is another truth which we gather from this text:
The Execution of Judgment.
When God predicts that judgment will come, He carries it out. He does not waver or hesitate. He carries out what He has predicted and what He has assured men He will do. The LORD spoke to Moses and told him that Aaron was to take the rod in his hand and to stretch it out upon the waters of Egypt. God told him what the result would be, and it came to pass. All the waters that were in the river were turned to blood, so the fish that were in the river died, and the river stank. The Egyptians could not drink of the water because it was blood. That would have been an awful experience indeed.
The Nile River normally flows its peaceful way from the south to the north and empties into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile River is vital to the life in Egypt today, just as it was in the time of Moses. Farmers irrigate their fields from the waters of the Nile, and ships transport their goods from place to place along its banks.
The Nile was likewise very important in ancient times. We are informed by historians that since the Egyptians in ancient times did not know the source of the Nile, they had felt it was sacred and made it a god. It overflowed its banks every spring. Every time the snows began to melt, and the heavy rains of the wintertime came, the overflow of the Nile provided food and sustenance for the people of Egypt as indeed it does today.
However, God executed judgment upon the people of Egypt, and He turned the water of the Nile into blood. The fish in the river died, and the river stank. The fish were a source of food for them, but God was executing a judgment upon that which they had placed above Him. They had made the Nile a god when only God has the right to occupy a sacred place in the thoughts and hearts of people.
Pharaoh’s response to the prediction of divine judgment forced God to carry it out. Pharaoh would not listen and, therefore, God must do what He said He would do. And He did.
There is a third truth we get from this tremendous experience:
The Imitation of Judgment.
It seems strange to us, perhaps, that the Lord would permit the magicians, the wisemen, the astrologers of Egypt to do with their enchantments exactly as Aaron had done with the rod of God. But sometimes God permits wicked men certain liberties to carry out His purposes. In this case, it was for the express purpose that the final end might be accomplished. In other words, by letting the magicians carry out the same kind of action and turn water into blood, God prepared the heart of Pharaoh even more for His divine judgment.
Notice in this text in verse 25 that the LORD continued this judgment upon the River Nile for seven days so that the people nearly died of thirst because they couldn’t drink the water of the Nile. So they began digging along the banks of the river to find some water fit to drink.
Let us remember the particular reason behind this judgment. God was about to deliver His people, the people of Israel, from Egypt though they had been there for four hundred years. He had promised to the patriarch Abraham that He would do this in due time, and He was now carrying it out.
As we reflect upon this experience in the life of the Children of Israel, we learn some valuable truths regarding the judgment of God. When God predicts judgment, it is a fair warning. Second, God must execute judgment. He must carry out what He has promised in accordance with man’s response to Him. Third, God may permit men to imitate His judgments so that their judgment may be just. Remember, since God has spoken absolutely in His Holy Word, it is of utmost importance that you turn in simple faith and trust to Him and escape His judgment.
Thanks, J. Mark, for teaching us more from Exodus, and thank you for being there. If you would like this teaching or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us; I’ll give you our contact information shortly.
I love how Exodus teaches us that God is in control and He’s at work, He always has been, and He always will be. We can trust Him right now, no matter what we are experiencing. We won’t always understand Him, but we can trust Him. His timing might be different than ours; think about Moses. And He may not do what we think He should be doing; remember what happened to Joseph. However, we have the benefit of looking back at many years of history, and we can see God is Sovereign: His purposes will be accomplished. This is His story, and He is the author.
If you are interested, we have a study guide for Exodus available. It is a small booklet designed to help you learn more from each of these lessons. We call it the Hope Herald, and if you would like one, all you have to do is ask.
Here is how you can connect with us. One of the best ways is via email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please look around for more teaching like this. On our website, you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again, the website is www.Heraldsofhope.org.
Thanks again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as we continue our study in Exodus. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with a verse from I Corinthians 10, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, Do it all for the glory of God!” Blessings to you as you glorify Him.
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 7:14-25 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 7:1-13Hope does not mean we ignore the conditions around us. Hope means we rise above them. It means to trust in One who controls all the conditions. It was King David who once said, “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in thee.” That’s why I often say there is no hope except in God’s Word and through faith in God.
Moses, preparing to go before Pharaoh, received his final instructions from the Lord in this way, “Do what I tell you.” The Lord had spoken to Moses several times and said to him, “I am the Lord. Speak thou unto Pharoah, king of Egypt, all that I say unto thee.” The final instructions for Moses were to do what God told him.
Let me draw some lessons from that for you. When God has spoken, we have no other recourse than to do what He said, especially if we want the blessing of the LORD. Moses, it seems, needed to learn that truth over and over. Somehow, he was not only slow of speech and slow of tongue, but a bit slow of learning. So are we. It seems we are so slow in learning the great Bible truths, but God is patient. He keeps working with us as He did with Moses.
Exodus 7:1-13 is a very interesting Scripture. It demonstrates to us that YOU CAN’T STOP GOD.
1. And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
2. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he sends the children of Israel out of his land.
3. And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
4. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
5. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.
6. And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.
7. And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spoke unto Pharaoh.
8. And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
9. When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.
10. And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
11. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
12. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
13. And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them as the LORD had said.
In this text, we find several different VIEWPOINTS which must bring us to the absolute conclusion that you can’t stop God.
The first viewpoint we have is,
The Promise.
Observe how carefully God arranged everything. I am impressed that God does not leave anything to chance. He knew exactly how He was going to work this out, and so He laid out the arrangement. He said to Moses, “I have made thee a god, and Aaron thy brother is thy prophet. Now then, this is the way it is going to work. I will speak to you; you will speak to Aaron; Aaron will speak to Pharaoh.” Do you get the point? Very clearly and carefully, the Lord had set up what we call “the chain of command.” There could be no variation from this. It was: God Almighty, Moses, Aaron, Pharaoh.
I want you to notice in verse 2 that God said, “You will speak all that I command you. You’ll say everything I tell you to say.” That is so important. Many people today take exception to some of the things the Lord has said and reason around them. But Moses was instructed by the LORD that there was no way that he could leave anything out. “You shall speak all that I have spoken.”
Notice also that the LORD promised that He would harden Pharaoh’s heart so that He would be able to multiply His signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. We’ll see in a minute why God did that. But there is a promise. He had it all arranged for them so that there would be complete assurance that it would work. You can’t stop God. When He steps out to do this or that, He will do what He has promised. He will do it.
As we look further, we see,
The Plan.
First, He was going to harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he would not listen. He said He was going to do that so that He could lay His hand upon Egypt and bring forth His people. God outlined this very carefully so that there could be no question about what the purpose was. We must remember that God didn’t violate Pharaoh’s choices. God only hardened Pharaoh’s heart after Pharaoh had already done that by his own will.
God didn’t harden Pharaoh just for the sake of hardening his heart, but He hardened him so He could judge him, and finally, all the Egyptians would know who God is. Look at the first clause in verse 5, “And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD.” The actions of God always have Divine purpose undergirding them.
God’s purpose is to honor His Name and to display His glory so there can be no question about who He is and the extent of His power. He said, “They are going to know when I have stretched forth my hand and brought the children of Israel out of Egypt.” There will be no question as to who God is.
No, you can’t stop God when His promise is so clearly set forth and when His plan is so carefully laid out. Sadly, too many people have yet to learn this lesson. They think they can be successful in frustrating or defeating God’s plans. They will find out to their own hurt, just like Pharaoh did, that they are powerless before Almighty God.
This leads to the third viewpoint:
The Promotion.
How was God going to carry out His purpose? He made the promise; He laid out the plan; now, how is He going to promote this? God said to Moses and Aaron, “When you go to speak to Pharaoh, and he asks you to show a miracle, then you will take the rod and cast it down before Pharaoh.” Moses would use the rod of God as a tool in God’s promotion of His power.
Earlier in the book of Exodus, when God first came to Moses there in the desert of Mt. Sinai, He asked him, “What is in your hand?” It was a rod. The LORD had said, “You are going to do great and marvelous and wonderful things with this rod.” Then he was to say to Aaron, “Take this rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a snake.” He did what God said, and immediately, it became a snake.
So, Pharaoh called in all his magicians, and they duplicated the miracle. They threw their rods on the ground, and their rods became snakes, too. I’m not sure how helpful that was, but keep in mind that the LORD was hardening Pharaoh’s heart. In this way, God could stretch out His hand with many signs and wonders. The magicians most likely did not have this power in themselves, but God, in keeping with His plan, purpose, and promotion, permitted their rods to become snakes.
What happened? Aaron’s snake swallowed all the other snakes. That implied a greater power was at work in this unusual miracle. Now you would think in that situation, Pharaoh should have believed - but he refused.
There are similar evidences all about us. We can see the hand of God in history. Men have tried to stop God but to no avail. We also see the hand of God in the present. Just like He did with Pharaoh, He sometimes uses the vilest of leaders to accomplish His purposes. And they are now aware of what is happening. We sometimes wonder how much more proof God would have to bring in order for everybody everywhere to accept Him.
God said, “They shall know that I am the LORD.” Do you know Him? I know, it’s easy to think about your neighbor, or about some other person, but the question comes to you. Do you know the LORD? If you don’t, reach out to Him today! He wants you to know Him.
Thanks, J. Mark, for teaching us more from Exodus, and thank you for being there. If you would like this teaching or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us; I’ll give you our contact information shortly.
I love how Exodus teaches us that God is in control and He’s at work, He always has been, and He always will be. We can trust Him right now, no matter what we are experiencing. We won’t always understand Him, but we can trust Him. His timing might be different than ours; think about Moses. And He may not do what we think He should be doing; remember what happened to Joseph. However, we have the benefit of looking back at many years of history, and we can see God is Sovereign: His purposes will be accomplished. This is His story, and He is the author.
If you are interested, we have a study guide for Exodus available. It is a small booklet designed to help you learn more from each of these lessons. We call it the Hope Herald, and if you would like one, all you have to do is ask.
Here is how you can connect with us. One of the best ways is via email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please look around for more teaching like this. On our website, you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again, the website is www.Heraldsofhope.org.
Thanks again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as we continue our study in Exodus. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with a verse from I Corinthians 10, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, Do it all for the glory of God!” Blessings to you as you glorify Him.
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 7:1-13 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 6:1-13From our study of the history of God’s people, we can learn many foundational truths. But one of them is sure, GOD DOES NOT FORGET! Men may forget, but never God. When He seems to have forgotten, it is because it takes time to work out His purposes. He is surely working behind the scenes.
This truth is illustrated in the Scripture, Exodus 6:1-13. We base our thoughts on this text.
1. Then the LORD said unto Moses, now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.
2. And God spoke unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:
3. And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
4. And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.
5. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.
6. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched-out arm, and with great judgments:
7. And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
8. And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for a heritage: I am the LORD.
9. And Moses spoke so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.
10. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,
11. Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.
12. And Moses spoke before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?
13. And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.
Immediately before this reminder, Moses had complained to God that nothing was happening in the fulfillment of his call. No deliverance was in sight! Yet, in this text, we find several PROOFS which will surely convince us that God does not forget. When God makes a promise, He keeps it. His promises are not like papers to be disregarded or treaties to be broken.
In the first proof to Moses, God stated,
The Appeal to Remembrance.
God recalls the history of how He had come to the fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These are the patriarchal fathers, the progenitors, the fathers of the Hebrew people. They lived long before Moses’ time. God said, “I appeared unto them by the name of El Shaddai, God the Almighty,” but as the Redeemer God, He had not come to them. Here He is telling Moses that “this is how I am going to be known from now on.” Jehovah, as defined and described in this text, means that He is the Redeemer.
So, there was the appearance of God to the fathers and the appointment of the land. God said, “I have made my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan.” That was the land in which Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were strangers. Their pilgrimages took them across the land from one part to the other. They had no permanent dwelling place in the land that God said He was giving to them. Now to Moses, the Lord appeals to His remembrance. He has not forgotten this agreement He made with the people of Israel and, indeed, with their fathers that the land would belong to the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and to Jacob.
He further appeals to the covenant, “I have remembered my covenant.” The memory of the covenant grew out of the fact that the people of Israel were enduring great suffering. He said, “I have heard the groanings of the children of Israel, and I have come now to deliver them.” God never forgets.
Our redemption also grows out of God hearing our groanings under the burden of our sin. That’s why He sent Jesus to be our Deliverer. He rescued us from our bondage to the power of sin and set us free to worship and serve Him. We are the beneficiaries of the New Covenant, which was ratified by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
In the second proof God set forth,
The Proposal of Redemption.
The Lord referred to redemption as He was talking with Moses. Observe closely the various aspects of this redemption. He said, “I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians; I will rid you out of their bondage; I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.”
One aspect of redemption is very clearly demonstrated here; it is deliverance. God said He is going to take the children of Israel out of Egypt, deliver them from the bondage, and bring them out with an outstretched arm. Deliverance from sin is a very important part of our redemption through Jesus Christ. The deliverance from Egypt was a type or shadow of the deliverance we experience when we place our faith in Jesus for salvation.
Another part of redemption is the distinction that it brought to the people of Israel. God said He would take them to Himself for a people, and He would be to them a God. That is a particular distinctive role that no other people of the earth have ever been called to fill in quite the same way.
Today, all Believers, according to I Peter 2:9, are “a chosen people, a holy nation, proclaiming the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” The Bible makes it clear in many places. However, the distinctive role of the people of Israel throughout the generations is one to which no other people have been called.
Redemption also has in it a determination because God said He would do what He had sworn to Abraham to do. Redemption means that God is going to carry out that which He has determined to do. The Lord said, “I am going to fulfill that which I have sworn to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Then He said, “I will give it to you for a heritage, I am the LORD.”
So, we can depend upon this proposal of redemption because the Lord is who He is. If God were a man, then we couldn’t depend upon it. But since He is not a man, He does not forget what He has purposed to do.
There is a third proof which reveals,
The Progress of Reaction.
Moses spoke to the children of Israel in harmony with what God had said to him. But they would not listen to him because they had great anguish of spirit. They were under cruel bondage. God had spoken of a time to come, but the people could not hear that because the present was too difficult to bear.
Here is Moses’ reaction. He came to God and said, “I told you that would be the situation. I’ve gone in unto the children of Israel, and they have not listened to me. So, what can I do by going to Pharaoh?” Moses might have reminded the Lord that he had said that very thing when he was in the back side of the desert of Sinai. But God insisted; He would not take “no” for an answer. He would not permit Moses to evade his calling. Instead, the Lord said again, very emphatically, that He was surely going to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. He gave Moses and Aaron the charge to the children of Israel and to Pharaoh king that He was going to bring them out of Egypt so they could worship Him.
God always has the last word. It is clearly presented in the Bible. So, you now have the progress of reaction from the people to Moses to God. Once again, we see clearly that what God has promised He will surely do. There can be no doubt about that in our minds.
Here then, are the proofs that God does not forget: His appeal to remembrance, His proposal of redemption, and the progress of reaction. These truths are still valid today. You, too, can find in them proofs that God does not forget you.
Thanks, J. Mark, for teaching us more from Exodus, and thank you for being there. If you would like this teaching or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us; I’ll give you our information shortly.
I love how Exodus teaches us that God is in control and He’s at work, He always has been, and He always will be. We can trust Him right now, no matter what we are experiencing. We won’t always understand Him, but we can trust Him. His timing might be different than ours; think about Moses. And He may not do what we think He should be doing; remember what happened to Joseph. However, we have the benefit of looking back at many years of history, and we can see God is Sovereign: His purposes will be accomplished. This is His story, and He is the author.
If you are interested, we have a study guide for Exodus available. It is a small booklet designed to help you learn more from each of these lessons. We call it the Hope Herald, and if you would like one, all you have to do is ask.
Here is how you can connect with us. One of the best ways is via email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please look around for more teaching like this. On our website, you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again, the website is www.Heraldsofhope.org.
Thanks again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as we continue our study in Exodus. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with a verse from I Corinthians 10, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God!” Blessings to you as you glorify Him.
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 6:1-13 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 5:15-23The burdens of life come from different sources and take different shapes and forms. Do you feel sometimes like you are going to break down under the weight of your burdens? Have you just about exhausted your strength to endure? The title of this message is a question, HOW MUCH CAN YOU ENDURE?
I believe the cruelty some men practice must come straight from the pit of Hell, straight from the devil. We read about some of them in other times, like ancient Sodom and Gomorrah. In more modern times, we have the horrors of Stalinist Russia in the 1930’s led to nearly 4 million deaths. And not long after that, Nazi Germany, and the Holocaust. Some powerful leaders seem to be motivated by a demonic spirit.
The Scripture for this meditation is Exodus 5:15-23. It is an experience of great suffering that the people of Israel endured many years ago when they were slaves in the land of Egypt. We will find some deep lessons for us.
15. Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?
16. There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.
17. But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.
18. Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.
19. And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.
20. And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:
21. And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.
22. And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, LORD, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?
23. For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.
In this text, you can see the RESULTS when people are called to go through great trials. It will help you find answers to my question; how much can you endure? The experiences of the Bible characters are like ours, and we can take courage and gather hope from these results.
The first result was
I. The Impossible Demand
I observed something interesting about this experience. The officers of the children of Israel had access to the king’s court. They went to make their appeal before the highest person in the land. That is commendable. The people of the land had access to the ruler of the country, and these officers went to him to make their appeal.
First, they raised the question, “Why do you deal so with your servants?” In other words, “why do you treat us this way?” They tried to impress upon Pharaoh that they were faithful servants. They were not taking advantage of the king, they were not trying to get out of their work. They were trying to fulfill his demands, but he was making it impossible for them to do.
They continued, “What you have asked is completely impossible. You have made a very unreasonable demand. The requirement we cannot fulfill. You have taken away our resources and then expect us to do the same amount of work. That is impossible for us to do. We cannot continue as we have been because we do not have the materials necessary to do the job.”
Then they went on to analyze where the problem lay, “The fault is not with us. The fault is with your own people. They were making demands of us that we cannot fill under the circumstances. This is an impossible demand.”
Now let’s draw some comfort from this. When there is an impossible demand, let’s try to find a way to make an appeal to those who are responsible. That’s what the officers of the people of Israel did. They laid their case before the person who was responsible. They told him they wanted to accomplish his goals, but they couldn’t do that under the current circumstances.
That appeal showed their courage and should give us some hope.
The second result is
II. The Impatience of Pharaoh
Now even though the officers of Israel had access to the highest person of the land, the King of Egypt, he falsely accused them. He would not consider their case at all. Rather he immediately rendered a judgment that was wrong. He said, “You are idle; you have nothing to do, and that is the reason why the situation has developed as it has. That is why you want to go and sacrifice to the LORD because you have not enough to do.”
So, he refused to diminish their requirements. In fact, he sent them back to work by these words: “Go, therefore, now and work. You shall have nothing, but you shall produce that I have required of you.” That must have been very disappointing to these men. Now, they had to go back to their people and tell them what Pharaoh had said. I am sure those med dreaded the idea of having to go back to their people with such unwelcome news.
The officers who had presented their case to Pharaoh concluded that they were in a really serious situation. They were in an evil case, because there was no relaxation by the king of the requirements he had laid upon them. Rather, he expressed great impatience with them that they were not doing their job as they ought and sent them back to their heavy tasks. There would be no relief for them and no relief for those under their oversight. The king’s command placed them in an impossible position.
Sometimes we undergo great stress and trouble. We, too, are required to endure the impatience of our superiors, maybe even their verbal and physical abuse. Some of them may never have had any experience in the task that we are called to do. They don’t know what it’s like to work hard and get their hands dirty. But let’s gather some courage and hope so that we do not go down in defeat and despair during times of great distress and demand.
In the New Testament, in the book of First Peter, we read these words; “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
So, don’t be bitter but cast your anxieties on the Lord. He will sustain you.
I see a third result emerging out of this experience:
III. The Implication of the Officers
When officers left Pharaoh to return to their work, they met Moses and Aaron. Most likely, they were waiting for them as they came from the palace. These officers began to judge Moses and Aaron. They laid the blame for their burdens upon them. They said, “The LORD look upon you and judge because since you have come, the situation is much more difficult than before you came. You have made us hated before the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants. So, the end result is going to be that we will be killed.”
Moses took that immediately to heart. He went to the LORD because the LORD had sent him. He had not come on his own. In his complaint to God, Moses laid it right on the line, as we say. He said, “Here I am. I have come to bring out the people, and instead of bringing them out, you have dealt badly with them.” He reviewed before the LORD what the officers had said to him. Try to imagine the feelings Moses had after this denunciation by his fellow Israelites.
In suffering, we also are often beset by such results. In these historical situations, we see similarities to the things we face today. Human nature hasn’t changed in all these centuries. Men without God are still proud, arrogant, and vengeful in their dealings with others. Those in power still take advantage of the weak and powerless. But know this, my friend, someone is watching.
So, take courage. It may appear at the moment like God has forgotten you. You may go through all these trials and troubles: the impossible demands, the impatience of your superiors, and even the feeling that God may have forgotten you. But He has not. Take courage because God has a way. With Him, you will be able to endure much more than you ever thought possible. He is faithful; trust Him.
Thanks, J. Mark, for teaching us more from Exodus, and thank you for being there. If you would like this teaching or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us; I’ll give you our contact information shortly.
I love how Exodus teaches us that God is in control and He’s at work, He always has been, and He always will be. We can trust Him right now, no matter what we are experiencing. We won’t always understand Him, but we can trust Him. His timing might be different than ours; think about Moses. And He may not do what we think He should be doing; remember what happened to Joseph. However, we have the benefit of looking back at many years of history, and we can see God is Sovereign: His purposes will be accomplished. This is His story, and He is the author.
If you are interested, we have a study guide for Exodus available. It is a small booklet designed to help you learn more from each of these lessons. We call it the Hope Herald, and if you would like one, all you have to do is ask.
Here is how you can connect with us. One of the best ways is via email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please look around for more teaching like this. On our website, you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again, the website is www.Heraldsofhope.org.
Thanks again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as we continue our study in Exodus. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with a verse from I Corinthians 10, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, Do it all for the glory of God!” Blessings to you as you glorify Him.
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 5:15-23 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 5:1-14Words are important. Without words, it is hard to communicate. Words form commands. Words bring comfort, but they can also bring pain. When I was a child, we had a saying; “sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” But you know, that’s not quite true. Words may not hurt us physically, but they have the power to hurt us emotionally and spiritually. We really need to think carefully about the words we use; they’re powerful.
Because words are powerful, God chose to reveal Himself to us in words. In fact, Jesus is referred to as the Word, capital W. And He said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” So, words are important, and we must be careful how we use them. That’s why, in my teaching for today, I am giving a warning to you in this title: WATCH WHAT YOU SAY!
Pharaoh was a man who did not watch his words. He spoke out of his pride and human wisdom. He didn’t properly think about the consequences his words might have. What he did, though, prepared the way for God to deal very severely with him. That’s why it is so important for you and me to watch what we say. The Scripture text is found in Exodus 5:1-14.
1. And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.
2. And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
3. And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.
4. And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.
5. And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.
6. And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
7. Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8. And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
9. Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.
10. And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.
11. Go ye, get your straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.
12. So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.
13. And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.
14. And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as heretofore?
We see here several OUTCOMES in Pharaoh’s conversation, which ought to help us watch what we say.
The first outcome was,
I. The Challenge
When Moses and Aaron came before Pharaoh to make their request, they said, “The LORD God of Israel makes a request of you.” Now that sounds strange, doesn’t it, that the God of Israel would ask a favor of the King of Egypt. But that’s the way the words come to us. Moses and Aaron said to Pharaoh, “Let my people go...” and they said it in the name of the LORD. God wanted His people to go out into the wilderness and hold a feast unto Him.
Now, notice Pharaoh’s reply. He said, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice?” It is very possible that he did not know anything about the true God, the LORD God of Israel. He knew about the gods of Egypt, but Pharaoh confessed he did not know Israel’s God, and therefore refused to grant this request. He said, “I do not know the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.” Pharaoh didn’t know it, but God was setting him up in order that God would be glorified.
But Moses warned him, “The LORD will fall upon us with pestilence or with sword unless we do what He says.” Instead of Pharaoh agreeing with Moses, he refused completely to cooperate. He analyzed the situation like this: the people of Israel don’t have enough to do. That’s the problem. Let’s lay more work on them. In fact, he accused Moses and Aaron of creating the problem distracting them from their work so that they would not cooperate with the taskmasters; because of that, Pharaoh thought they did not have enough to do.
Well, there is the challenge: Who is the LORD that I should obey Him? Pharaoh should have been more careful with his words. That’s why I repeat, watch what you say.
We observe a second outcome which is,
II. The Charge
Pharaoh commanded his taskmasters to make it more difficult for those Hebrew slaves by withholding from them the straw they were using in the making of bricks. We do not know what all this involved, but experience tells us that wheat straw adds a certain quality in brickmaking. Pharaoh saw the opportunity of making things more difficult for the slaves of Israel by withholding straw from them and making them search for it.
So, he said, “Do not give them any more straw. Let them go and gather it wherever they can find it.” But he also added, “Do not reduce the number of bricks that must be made in a day’s time.” With less materials, they were to produce the same amount of product. He said, “Now that’s the way we’ll get rid of their request. We’ll make them work so hard they won’t have time to think of anything else.”
You would think he should have known his harsh response would simply aggravate their request. But he did not reason that way. He reasoned the other way: if we make them work really hard, they won’t have time to think about going and sacrificing to their God. So, he required them to produce as many bricks in the day without straw as they had produced with straw.
He said to the taskmasters, “Don’t take any excuses from them. Don’t pay attention to their complaints. Lay upon the men the labor that they had before and do not accept anything from them but their full number of bricks.” We could say to Pharaoh, “Watch what you say because you are preparing the way for something which you don’t really expect.”
We observe a third outcome, there was
Ill. The Choice.
The taskmasters of the people and the officers presented this charge to the people, “Let there be no straw provided.” That left the people with only one choice, and that was to search for this material wherever they could find it. The Bible tells us here that the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather the stubble instead of the straw. Even the materials that they could find were less desirable for their job than those that had been furnished to them before. They had no other choice than to do the best they could under the circumstances.
They labored now with more difficulty than before. It had been hard work, and now it was much harder work. They were unable to fulfill the requirements that Pharaoh had laid down for them. They were unable to make as many bricks as they had made before. As a result, the officers that had been placed over the people were beaten by the taskmasters. There was no other choice; there was no other way; there were no alternatives. So, there was greater affliction because Pharaoh, king of Egypt, did not watch what he said.
Yes, words are important. Words carry weight. By them, we convey commands. By them, we can offer comfort. God marks your words. Yes, He does. Jesus said in Matthew 12:36 and 37, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words, you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned.”
God marked Pharaoh’s words, and by the words that Pharaoh spoke, he set the stage for a battle with God. He should have been more careful with his words in the presence of the LORD God of Israel. That’s why I issue this warning to you: Watch what you say, because the LORD God is listening. He is keeping a record of what you say.
Beware, lest you talk proudly or foolishly in His presence. You may indeed be setting a stage for your own downfall as Pharaoh did. So, watch what you say!
Thanks, J. Mark, for teaching us more from Exodus, and thank you for being there. If you would like this teaching or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us; I’ll give you our information shortly.
I love how Exodus teaches us that God is in control and He’s at work, He always has been, and He always will be. We can trust Him right now, no matter what we are experiencing. We won’t always understand Him, but we can trust Him. His timing might be different than ours; think about Moses. And He may not do what we think He should be doing; remember what happened to Joseph. However, we have the benefit of looking back at many years of history, and we can see God is Sovereign: His purposes will be accomplished. This is His story, and He is the author.
If you are interested, we have a study guide for Exodus available. It is a small booklet designed to help you learn more from each of these lessons. We call it the Hope Herald, and if you would like one, all you have to do is ask.
Here is how you can connect with us. One of the best ways is via email. Our email is hope@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please look around for more teaching like this. On our website, you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again, the website is www.Heraldsofhope.org.
Thanks again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as we continue our study in Exodus. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with a verse from I Corinthians 10, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, Do it all for the glory of God!” Blessings to you as you glorify Him.
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 5:1-14 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 4:10-23We are happy to be here with you today, welcome and thank you for joining us. We are Heralds of Hope, and our goal is to use media, like radio, internet, and books, to make disciples of Jesus Christ to accomplish the great commission in our lifetime. Think about that, do you think it is possible to accomplish the great commission? Can we go everywhere and teach all nations? Do you think we have the resources necessary to accomplish this? Yes, absolutely, planes make it possible to travel anywhere in 1 day, our communication is instant, and it’s possible to have a conversation with anyone in the world, no matter where they are. Do we have the funds to accomplish this? If God’s people will align our hearts with His heart, funding will not be a problem. The hard part is keeping our hearts in line. As followers of Jesus, we must focus on going and teaching. Here at Heralds of Hope, we believe it is possible, and we plan to do our part as God leads us.
This belief leads us to teach the Bible via radio, like this. If you can, turn with us now to Exodus. We will continue our journey through this Old Testament book with our Bible Teacher, J. Mark Horst, and here he is to teach us today’s lesson.
Many religions of the world think the gods are always angry and must be appeased. They are seen as being present, waiting to make life miserable. In the history of religion, I have read about these gods and how they are worshipped.
The Bible tells us that while the true God, Jehovah, does get angry, He is merciful. He extends His hand of mercy to us. He wants us to have the best in life, not the worst. If we insist on going our own way, we will stir up the anger of God.
The grave condition which stirs up God’s anger is continual disobedience. That will do it. The disobedient are subject to God’s anger. So, I ask you, IS GOD ANGRY WITH YOU?
Exodus 4:10-23 informs us that God became angry with Moses because he did not want to do what the LORD asked him to do. Listen to the conversation from Exodus 4:10-23.
10. And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
11. And the LORD said unto him, who hath made man’s mouth? or who makes the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
12. Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.
13. And he said, O my LORD, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.
14. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he sees thee, he will be glad in his heart.
15. And thou shalt speak unto him and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.
16. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.
17. And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.
18. And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.
19. And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.
20. And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.
21. And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
22. And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
23. And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.
Even though God was angry with Moses, yet He proved His goodness by providing Moses with three definite HELPS to do the will of God.
The First was,
I. God Gave Moses His Mouth.
Notice Moses’ complaint. When the LORD spoke to him about going, he kept on arguing with the LORD. He complained like this: “Well, LORD, I'm not eloquent. I can’t speak well. I am slow of speech. I just don’t have good speaking ability, LORD.” Really? Think of how Moses was raised in Pharaoh’s court, trained in all the wisdom of the Egyptians.
It is strange, isn’t it, that he would come with this word to the LORD that he is not an eloquent speaker when he had all that training in Pharaoh’s palace? Was this a false humility that Moses was expressing? But he complained to the LORD and said, “No, I can’t do it. I can’t do it, LORD. I am not eloquent; I am slow of speech.”
Notice God’s reply. The LORD said, “I made your mouth. I can control your mouth. I will teach you.” The LORD really answered him by questions: “Who made man’s mouth, or who makes the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?” “You are fashioned by me, Moses,” God was telling him, “I have made you just like you are.”
But Moses would not listen, even though God said, “I will control your mouth, I will be your mouth, I will teach you what you shall say.” What more could he ask? This was a tremendous help to Moses.
But Moses refused. “He said, O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.” Send someone else. Don’t send me.
Now, look how God responded: “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses,” Moses needed to learn that God has the right to lay His hand on anyone whom He chooses. Moses had not learned that yet. Even though God gave Moses his mouth and promised to go with him and promised to teach him, Moses had to learn that God will lay His hand on whomever He chooses to use in His work.
The next help was,
II. God Gave Moses His Brother
God rebuked Moses for not responding to the promise that He would go with him and teach him and guide his mouth. God said, “Aaron, your brother, is coming. I know your brother, Aaron. I know that he can speak. So, I am going to provide him for you, and he will be for you what you are supposed to be for me. I will put words in his mouth. I will be with your mouth and will teach you what you should say.”
God’s order was: Moses will speak to Aaron, and Aaron will speak to the people. Aaron was to be Moses’ spokesman. God had it all arranged that Moses would not need to speak if, indeed, he was slow of speech, not eloquent.
God had Aaron, Moses’ brother, to do His work when Moses refused. I want to ask you a very personal question: Have you refused to do what God wants you to do? Moses provoked God to anger because he wouldn’t do what God asked him to do even though God had said, “I gave you your mouth.” So, the second help God gave to Moses was his brother.
The final help was,
III. God Gave Moses His Rod
Something very interesting is found here. The LORD said to him, “And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.” The rod of God was what Moses needed, and God provided this for him. It was the same rod God had used to confirm his call. Now it was to be his help and symbol of authority from God.
Upon the assurance of the rod of God, Moses went to Jethro, his father-in-law, with the request to return to Egypt and see how his brothers were faring. His father-in-law granted him the request and said, “Go in peace.” At last, Moses was moving as God wished him to move. At last, Moses was doing what God wanted him to do.
An added assurance came to Moses after God had given him his rod. God reassured him with these words, “All the men are dead who sought your life.”
Then Moses picked up the rod of God and started for Egypt. He was going to do wonders with that rod in Egypt and before Pharaoh. It was God’s command. But God said, “I will harden his heart because I am going to bring out My firstborn, and he is not going to let you bring them out. Before I get finished with him, I will need to slay his firstborn because he is not going to let My firstborn come out”.
God gave Moses his rod to do the wonders which would deliver His people. You see the beautiful way in which God provided for Moses even though Moses made God angry? God gave him his mouth. God gave him his brother. God gave him his rod.
Uncontrolled anger is awful. God’s anger is to be feared, for He can do what He must do. But I am pleased to tell you that God has provided helps so you need not suffer God’s anger. God made Himself available to Moses. He, in fact, went with Moses as his personal companion. Do you know God in such a personal way? Have you had any communication with God at all? He is a personal God, and He wants a relationship with you. You don’t need to make God angry if you’ll just listen and do what He’s asking you to do.
Thanks, J Mark, for teaching us more from Exodus, and thank you for being there. If you would like this teaching or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us; I’ll give you our contact information shortly.
I love how Exodus teaches us that God is in control and He’s at work, He always has been, and He always will be. We can trust Him right now, no matter what we are experiencing. We won’t always understand Him, but we can trust Him. His timing might be different than ours; think about Moses. And He may not do what we think He should be doing; remember what happened to Joseph. However, we have the benefit of looking back at many years of history, and we can see God is Sovereign: His purposes will be accomplished. This is His story, and He is the author.
If you are interested, we have a study guide for Exodus available. It is a small booklet designed to help you learn more from each of these lessons. We call it the Hope Herald, and if you would like one, all you have to do is ask.
Here is how you can connect with us. One of the best ways is via email. Our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please look around for more teaching like this. On our website you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again, the website is www.Heraldsofhope.org.
Thanks again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as we continue our study in Exodus. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with a verse from I Corinthians 10, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, Do it all for the glory of God!” Blessings to you as you glorify Him.
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 4:10-23 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 4:1-9The medical doctors of our world tell us that fear is a very basic emotional response. It may even be present in us from birth. However, many fears are learned.
As we grow and mature, some fears spring from our inability to cope with the situations around us. Other fears arise because we do not know what lies ahead of us. The future always has a sense of the unknown, and for many of us, that unknown creates a real fear.
Still other fears arise because of what has happened. The past seems to haunt us. It follows us like a shadow. We are constantly shadowed by it, it lurks in the background, and we wonder, can we ever be delivered from such fears?
I am sure most of us have fears. Some are deeply embedded; some may only be on the surface, but we have our fears. My message is about OVERCOMING FEARS. To understand how to overcome fear, we will meditate on the Scripture portion in Exodus 4:1-9.
1. And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.
2. And the LORD said unto him, what is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
3. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
4. And the LORD said unto Moses, put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:
5. That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.
6. And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.
7. And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.
8. And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
9. And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.
This experience that Moses had with the LORD should teach us how the ordinary NECESSITIES of life can be used by the LORD to overcome fear.
Let’s get the setting first. Moses had a nagging suspicion. God called him to go to Egypt and lead out His people, to bring them out of the land of bondage into the land that flows with milk and honey. But Moses said, “They will not believe me.” It may well have been true as far as Moses could see. I have learned that acceptance is important to every person. Moses said, “They won’t accept me.” That created in his heart a fear of failure. He said, furthermore, “They will say the LORD has not appeared unto thee.” They may have said, “You just thought the LORD came to you. He didn’t, really.” Because Moses felt they would not believe, he said, “I don’t want to.” He tried to protect himself from the rejection that he thought would come. Rejection is devastating to any person.
His suspicion was grounded upon his past experience. You find in Exodus 2 that Moses would have delivered the children of Israel forty years earlier. Apparently, he didn’t go about it the way the LORD had planned. When he tried to make peace between two Hebrews as they fought with each other, one said to him, “Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?”
The thing that happened in the past haunted him. Perhaps you, too, have a nagging suspicion that your plans will not work out right. Maybe you need support right now. Turn to the LORD; He can support you and deliver you. But make sure that your plans are truly His plans.
Moses learned after he made that confession to the LORD that God could use ordinary necessities of life in an extraordinary way to help him overcome his fear. God said to him, “What is that in your hand?”
And so, the LORD used the first Necessity.
I. The Shepherd’s Rod.
God used what Moses had. He had his rod in his hand; so, God used that. God said to him, “Throw it on the ground.” He threw it on the ground, and it changed into a serpent. It was a miracle. That nagging suspicion faded into the background, and he became afraid of the serpent as it slithered in the dust.
A new fear now suddenly faced him. But the LORD said to him, “Put forth your hand and take it by the tail.” Now watch; follow carefully. Moses stretched forth his hand and took it by the tail, and it became a rod in his hand.
I wonder if there is not a principle here that we ought to be sure to get. It took courage on the part of Moses to grab that serpent by the tail. In so doing, he overcame his fear. Courage will overcome fear. To face a terrifying situation and win takes away fear. Fear is haunting. It is destructive. But by conquering the object you fear, as Moses did with the shepherd’s rod, you, too, will find strength of spirit.
Then God moved from the rod to
II. The Working Hand.
God had other uses for the very hand that had held the rod. God said now to Moses, “Put your hand into your bosom.” So, he did, and when he pulled it out it was leprous. What good would a leprous hand do with a rod that can be turned into a snake? That hand became useless, perhaps even more than useless, a disability. As Moses looked at his hand, the LORD said to him, “Put your hand into your bosom again.” He did, and this time when he pulled it out, it was restored again like the other.
Is there some principle here that we ought to understand? Yes, there is. God showed Moses that he had no power within himself. It was first the rod and then the hand. Moses must realize that to overcome fear, he would need to face the reality of his own inability. The ability of God would need to be powerfully evident. Jesus reminds of that important truth in John 15:5, where He told His disciples, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
When it comes to this hand of Moses, he needed to realize that even the members of his body were controlled by the LORD. That will remove fear. That will remove fear from your heart when you know that God is in control so completely that He controls even the members of your body. Moses learned that. Moses understood that.
Then the LORD took yet another necessity of life to remove Moses’ fears:
III. The Quenching Water.
Moses understood the value of water. Water is very important in the life of a desert shepherd. This was the last resort. God said if they do not believe these two other signs, then you will take some water out of the river, and pour it on the dry land, and when it pours out on the dry land, it will become blood. Ugh, how disgusting! Think about drinking blood – it’s repulsive. Moses most likely knew what it was to quench his thirst by the cool springs of the desert, quite different from the water of the Nile, but most likely, he understood that. But turning water into blood? That was horrible to even think about.
You see, God was taking these common ordinary necessities in life and erasing, dispelling fear by them. Moses saw how God can overcome fear. God was building courage in Moses’ heart. Courage is the positive, fear is the negative. Courage overcomes fear.
Moses demonstrates the way to get rid of your fear: tell the LORD exactly what it is. Then God used the ordinary necessities of life in an extraordinary way to destroy Moses’ fears: his shepherd’s rod, his working hand, and the quenching water. With them, God was able to overcome Moses’ fear.
But God wants to remove your fear, too. Before He can do that, you must believe in Him; stake your faith in Him. Then, tell Him what your fears are. He won’t be shocked by them. He won’t ridicule you because of them. He won’t reject you because of them. He cares about you, and He loves you. Believe that He can help you overcome your fears, and He will.
Thanks, J. Mark, for teaching us more from Exodus, and thank you for being there. If you would like this teaching or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us; I’ll give you our contact information shortly.
I love how Exodus teaches us that God is in control and He’s at work, He always has been, and He always will be. We can trust Him right now, no matter what we are experiencing. We won’t always understand Him, but we can trust Him. His timing might be different than ours; think about Moses. And He may not do what we think He should be doing; remember what happened to Joseph. However, we have the benefit of looking back at many years of history, and we can see God is Sovereign: His purposes will be accomplished. This is His story, and He is the author.
If you are interested, we have a study guide for Exodus available. It is a small booklet designed to help you learn more from each of these lessons. We call it the Hope Herald, and if you would like one, all you have to do is ask.
Here is how you can connect with us. One of the best ways is via email. Our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please look around for more teaching like this. On our website, you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again, the website is www.Heraldsofhope.org.
Thanks again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as we continue our study in Exodus. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with a verse from I Corinthians 10, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, Do it all for the glory of God!” Blessings to you as you glorify Him.
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 4:1-9 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 3:16-22God is the only being in existence who is completely trustworthy. But even those of us who follow Him don’t always feel like we can trust Him. We have our questions, our doubts, and our stumbling attempts to fully trust Him. Sometimes, He seems absent, like He doesn’t care, and we question where He is in our times of trial.
Since we live in this world, we are constantly surrounded by actions, activities, and situations that would hinder us from trusting the Lord. But we must continually place our trust in Him. We must learn how to give our cares and concerns to Him, to put our faith into practice, because He has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. Because we have that promise, when feelings are absent, we can continue in faith.
Is the god you worship worthy of your trust? Can you carry him around and set him where you want him on a shelf? Can he do anything for you, or must you do everything for him? Can he calm your fears and give you peace deep in your heart, down in the depths of your being? If not, then WHY NOT TRUST HIM? That is, why not trust the true God?
As God prepared Moses to deliver the people of Israel out of Egypt, He presented Himself as the One who can be trusted. The answer to Why Not Trust Him is found in Exodus 3:16-22.
16. Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:
17. And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.
18. And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.
19. And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
20. And I will stretch out my hand and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.
21. And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:
22. But every woman shall borrow of her neighbor, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put [them] upon your sons , and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.
This text provides us with the FOUNDATIONS upon which we should firmly set our trust.
The first foundation for trust is
I. The Foundation of Revelation.
You notice how the LORD came to Moses; He made an announcement to him. He said, “Go, gather the elders of Israel together and say unto them, (now listen carefully to the revelation here contained) the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me...” There is an announcement which is a part of the revelation, and then He said, “I have surely visited you and I have seen that which is done to you in Egypt.”
You can hardly turn to a page in the Holy Scriptures without finding that God is relating Himself personally to somebody. Here He is relating Himself to Moses, and He is instructing him to go to the elders of Israel and how He, God Himself, is understanding their very deep needs.
But the foundation of the revelation is not only the announcement but also the promise because God said that He was going to bring the people out of their affliction of Egypt. If we were to go back in history to the time of Abraham and open the Bible to Genesis 15, we would find that God had predicted to Abraham that the people of Israel, Abraham’s descendants, would be going down into a land that was not theirs and they would be down there for 400 years. God remembered this promise, and He said, “I am going to bring you out now, and I’m going to bring you into the land that I’ve promised, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
There is quite a contrast between the land of Egypt and the Holy Land. The land of Egypt was very fertile along the Nile Valley. It is surprising how much food they can produce in that narrow strip. But much of the remainder of the country is barren. So God said, “I am going to take you out of this land, and I’m going to take you into a land that flows with milk and honey.” God laid this foundation for trust when He revealed Himself to Moses in this promise. God never asks anybody to trust Him without proof. Here is the proof in His revelation. He revealed that He understands what is going on. We can trust Him explicitly because of His revelation.
The next foundation for trust I have called
II. The Foundation of Evaluation.
God told Moses how to approach the situation. He said, “Go, bring the elders of Israel and go unto the king of Egypt.” I’m impressed with the way God orders things. He doesn’t let them happen; He causes them to happen. He arranges the affairs so that everything comes out the way He plans it. So, He told Moses exactly how to do this. First, the elders would listen to him, then they would go with him to the king, and they would deliver a message to the king of Egypt. I find it is very important to do things right. Some people pay little attention to details. They don’t mind if something isn’t quite right, but God is very concerned that everything be exactly right. So here you have the approach that God gave Moses to carry out.
God also gave Moses the appeal to the king of Egypt. They were to say, “The God of the Hebrews hath met with us and now let us go, we beseech thee three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God.” Or, to put it in our words, God has met with us, and now we want to go to meet with Him. He even specified it right down to a three-day journey. The reason was to sacrifice unto the LORD their God.
I am impressed with the way God works out His plan with precision. Some modern theologians talk about faith being a leap without knowing where you are going or whether you will ever land, but God never asks a man to trust without a plan. Here was the plan for Moses. God understood it, described it carefully, and told him exactly how and what to do. God’s instructions laid a valuable foundation for trust.
Do you know what God’s plan is for you? Have you evaluated God’s promises? What I mean by that is, have you tested them? Have you put them to work in your own life’s experience? I have tested God’s promises. It hasn’t always been easy, but I have found that God’s promises are trustworthy. You can rest your faith on God’s plan.
The final foundation for trust is
III. The Foundation of Authorization.
Further into the chapter, you find that the LORD said to Moses that He was going to chasten the king of Egypt because he would not let them go. God said, “I know he will not let you go, but I will stretch out my hand and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst of them. After that, he will let you go.” Sadly, some people resist God until He brings discipline. He has to chasten them. He has to bring them great distress before they even think about God. But then the LORD said. “After I have performed my wonders in Egypt, then he will let you go.”
I urge you, don’t be like that; don’t be like Pharaoh! Don’t resist God and His power. Proverbs 29:1 says, “He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Pharaoh had to learn the hard way that you don’t ignore God when He tells you what to do.
But the foundation of authorization carries another part, too. It is the collection of back pay. The people of Israel had worked many years as slaves. They worked hard. They had cruel taskmasters over them. Now the LORD said to Moses, “I authorize that they collect back pay. I’m going to give them favor in the eyes of the Egyptians. The women are going to ask their neighbors and those that dwell in their houses for jewels of gold and silver and clothes.” These were goods that most people strive for.
Later in Exodus, when we study the tabernacle, we will see that gold, silver, and precious stones were very important for the building of the tabernacle. God must have had in mind when He promised Moses that the people of Egypt would load them down with these kinds of treasures. So, God not only would display His power over Pharaoh and all the false gods of Egypt, but He would use the gifts of Pharaoh’s own people to be the materials to build His dwelling place among His people. Amazing!
God never asks anyone to trust Him without foundations. He provides the foundation of revelation, evaluation, and authorization. God understands and provides. Why not trust Him—the God of Moses?
Thanks, J. Mark, for teaching us more from Exodus, and thank you for being there. If you would like this teaching or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us; I’ll give you our information shortly.
I love how Exodus teaches us that God is in control and He’s at work, He always has been, and He always will be. We can trust Him right now, no matter what we are experiencing. We won’t always understand Him, but we can trust Him. His timing might be different than ours; think about Moses. And He may not do what we think He should be doing; remember what happened to Joseph. However, we have the benefit of looking back at many years of history, and we can see God is Sovereign: His purposes will be accomplished. This is His story, and He is the author.
If you are interested, we have a study guide for Exodus available. It is a small booklet designed to help you learn more from each of these lessons. We call it the Hope Herald, and if you would like one, all you have to do is ask.
Here is how you can connect with us. One of the best ways is via email. Our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please look around for more teaching like this. On our website, you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again, the website is www.Heraldsofhope.org.
Thanks again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as we continue our study in Exodus. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with a verse from I Corinthians 10, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, Do it all for the glory of God!” Blessings to you as you glorify Him.
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 3:16-22 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 3:7-15Thank you for joining us this week. We are happy you are here and trust you will be blessed by our study in Exodus 3; this is where God makes that remarkable statement about Himself. He says, “I AM THAT I AM.” And the title of today’s lesson is Go when God Commands. Bible teacher J. Mark is here, so let’s give him our attention.
Hope is an important ingredient of life. One secret of having hope is to hear God. An ancient philosopher once said, “Oh that someone would come, man or God, to show us God.” He understood that if we could just hear God, that would give us some hope. But we can hear God. We hear Him when we read from His Holy Book, the sacred Scriptures.
God also speaks to us personally. Not usually as an audible voice, but God can make Himself heard when we are listening. It may be that God will ask us to do something that we don’t want to do. I have learned that if a person really wants to know God’s will, he must lay everything else aside. He must make a full surrender to God. That is a very difficult thing to do. My message, GO WHEN GOD COMMANDS, requires us to listen and be ready to obey.
But the question also comes to us, how can we be sure we are hearing God? Moses was testing it out. Moses was measuring it. He had stopped by the burning bush to see why it was not burned, and God spoke to him there. The conversation is found in Exodus 3:7-15.
7. And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows.
8. And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
9. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
10. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
11. And Moses said unto God, who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
12. And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
13. And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, what is his name? What shall I say unto them?
14. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
15. And God said moreover unto Moses, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
This text teaches us how God makes PROMISES that help us to go when He commands.
The first promise is,
I. The Promise of Deliverance
The promise of deliverance was based on the conditions of the people. God looked down; He saw the conditions. He said, “I have seen the affliction of my people.” God knows all the conditions. He is able to survey all that is going on. He said, too, “I know their sorrows.” God entered into their experiences. He was there with them. His heart beat with their heart. He felt their pain. He understood their sorrow. Then God said, “I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians.”
The promise of deliverance is based on God’s understanding of the conditions of the people. He felt their sorrows, and He came to act on their behalf. The Lord said, “I have heard the cry of the children of Israel. It has come up to me.” That means God hears. That’s a wonderful consolation, isn’t it, to know that God hears. God said that He had heard the cry of the Israelites.
The promise of deliverance is based also upon the commission to Moses. God purposed to do something about the conditions He saw and heard. He commissioned Moses. He said, “Come therefore, and I will send you unto Pharaoh.” I see here the purpose of God in commissioning Moses to carry out the promise of His deliverance.
Do you know that in almost every situation, God depends upon a man? Yes, I have observed that in the Bible. I have observed that in life, too, that in almost every situation, God depends upon a man to accomplish His plans. In this case, He called Moses to deliver the children of Israel. I wonder, what does God want you to do? Can it be that God is speaking to you now, asking you to do something for Him? If so, I urge you to go when God commands.
The second promise is
II. The Promise of Assurance
Moses’ response was objection. He raised a very simple question, “Who am I?” Many people raise that question today: the identity question, who am I? Moses was a humble servant. One time, he had been the prince in Pharaoh’s court, but he ran away when they tried to kill him.
So, he said, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh? I’m not fit. I’ve been out here on the backside of the desert these forty years. I’ve lost all touch with the courts of the kings. I’m just a humble shepherd. I’m no match for Pharaoh; in fact, he tried to kill me when I was last there. Who am I that I should go unto Pharaoh? I am no leader. The people won’t have me. They didn’t have me before; they won’t have me now. Why should I go? Who am I?”
Yes, Moses had a very keen understanding. His objection was well placed, but the promise of assurance was not based on who he was. It was based on God’s presence, for the Lord had said to him, “Certainly I will be with you.” That was a very personal relationship. God said, “I am here asking you to go, but I will not expect you to go by yourself. I will go with you. I will be with you.”
To bolster that assurance, God gave Moses a token or a sign. He said, “When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will gather here at this mountain to serve me.” Proof of God’s presence was worship at this mountain. That gave Moses a brief insight into the road ahead.
God had a long-range program in mind. It wasn’t just a matter of bringing the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt. No, in fact, He had said that He was going to bring them out that He might take them to the land He had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses found the assurance of God’s presence really strengthening.
God never expects us to “go it alone” when He commands us to go. He always goes along. That’s a beautiful truth about the Lord. He never sends His man out to battle; He leads him out. He goes along with him; He goes before him. When the going is hard, the Lord is there, and that is the promise of assurance. Overriding Moses’ objection, God said, “I will be with you.” What a blessed promise, what a blessed assurance this must have been to Moses! You and I can have that same assurance as we follow God’s command.
There was also
III. The Promise of Identification
Moses replied to God, “Let us suppose I go, yes, and when I come to the children of Israel, they are going to ask me, ‘Who sent you?’ Ah, there is a possibility of a mistake, Lord, so I must know what your name is. What shall I say to them when they ask me, ‘Who sent you?”’ It must have been rather vivid in Moses’ memory how they rejected him when that one said to him, “Who made you a judge over us?” He didn’t want to make another mistake. He didn’t want to assume too much. He wanted to be sure this time that he had actually heard the word of the Lord. He wanted to be able to tell the people of Israel exactly who had sent him. So, he said, “What is your name? What shall I say to them?”
God gave him a very plain and simple answer. The Lord God said to him, “I AM THAT I AM. That is my name.” A great many people have tried to explain it; they’ve tried to pronounce it; they’ve tried to write it. But it is hardly within the scope of man to make a definition of who God is. By the fact that He said, “I AM THAT I AM,” suggests strongly to us that He’s a self-existent One. He is not dependent upon outside circumstances, outside forces for His existence. He is a self-sufficient One, the eternal One.
Then God said further to Moses, “The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you.” He said, “This is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” There is something striking about His identification as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There is no change. God’s eternal name, God’s unchanging purpose.
I keep thinking of the many religions in the world. They can’t all be right. They could all be wrong, and, indeed, they are. There is only one true God. He is the great I AM. This is the promise of the identification which God gave to Moses.
Go when God commands on the basis of the promise of deliverance, the promise of assurance, and the promise of identification. God has His man or woman for every situation. Are you His person for your situation? God calls His man and goes along with him. Do you know what it is to have God’s presence with you? God is the great Eternal One, never changing. Moses knew Him personally. Many others have known Him personally. Do you know Him personally? You can.
Thanks, J. Mark, for this teaching from Exodus, and thank you for joining us. It is a privilege to study God’s Word and grow in our understanding together. Now let’s take what we’ve heard and allow it to affect our lives. As James tells us, we are to be “doers of the word and not hearers only.” If we just hear the Word, it’s like seeing ourselves in a mirror, then going away, and forgetting what we just saw. Don’t let that happen; allow God’s Word to change you from the inside out.
We bless you as you walk with Jesus and put His teaching into practice. If you have any questions or if you would like today’s teaching, please contact us, and ask for it by title or passage. We also have a study guide available designed to help you learn more from each of these lessons in Exodus. It is called the Hope Herald, and if you would like one, we would be happy to send one to you.
Here are a few ways you can reach us. The quickest and easiest way is through email. Our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, send it to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Another way you can contact us is through our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please look on our website for this teaching and other similar teaching. There you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org.
We thank you again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as we continue our journey through Exodus. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with this thought from II Thessalonians 3:16, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 3:7-15 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 2:23-3:6It is good to be with you this week; thanks for joining us on our journey through Exodus. Exodus is the 2nd book in the Bible, and it follows the children of Israel for most of the book. Since it is God’s Word, there is truth for us on every page. Each part of the Bible is relevant; let’s listen to the Spirit and see what God has for us from Exodus today.
Psalm 19 tells us the Heavens declare the glory of God; verse 3 says there is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. God’s creation is constantly telling everyone of God’s greatness. Some people hear it and worship Him; others go on with life as usual. They miss God’s voice.
Our title for today’s lesson is Listen When God Speaks. Moses clearly heard God speaking to him. What has our attention? What are we listening to? Let’s go with Pastor J. Mark as he teaches us from Exodus 2 and 3.
This world would be an entirely different place if everybody would listen to God when He speaks. It would be wonderful if everybody were concerned enough to pay attention to what God is doing when He appears to men. But so many are pressing on and pursuing the worthless things of earth. They don’t have time to stop and listen when God speaks.
Have you ever wished you could hear God, that He would speak audibly to you? Well, He doesn’t do that very often today, perhaps once in a while. But His Word is His voice to us now. In this message, we will meet this challenge: LISTEN WHEN GOD SPEAKS. The Bible portion for this exposition is Exodus 2:23-25 and 3:1-6.
23. And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
24. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
25. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
3:1. Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
2. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
3. And Moses said, “I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
4. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, here am I.
5. And he said, draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
6. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
This is a beautiful Scripture portion because here we can see the WAYS God used to speak to Moses. In the same ways, we also may hear God speak.
I. God Showed Mercy
The children of Israel cried to God in their bondage, and their cry came up to God. They were under extreme bondage in the land of Egypt. God heard their groanings.
Something more God did: He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That’s a beautiful thought because, you see, it had been 400 years earlier that God had made this covenant. God looked upon the conditions of the children of Israel. He knew exactly what they were undergoing. And He also knew His plans for them.
You see, this time of hardship they were experiencing was really an act of God’s mercy too. I’m sure they didn’t see it that way. But God knew how difficult it was going to be for the children of Israel when they left Egypt and traveled through the desert to the Promised Land. So, He mercifully put them through a rigorous physical training plan to prepare them for that journey! Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to endure those hardships along the way.
I’m so glad we have these verses in the Bible because they assure me that God is mindful of your needs and mine. Maybe you are going through some trial of affliction. Maybe you are crying out to God. If you are, God hears you, and He is remembering His mercy toward you. He understands all of your needs just like He understood their needs so many years ago. God will show mercy to you if you cry out to Him in your need. Like the Hebrew slaves, you might need to go through some hard training, but God’s mercy is there to sustain you.
II. God Used a Method
God had a way, a method, to get Moses to listen to what He had to say. See how the Lord met Moses right where he was--that’s the location. He was on the west side of the desert and near the mount of God which is called Horeb. In the normal processes of life, the life of a shepherd, Moses was taking care of the flock of sheep that his father-in-law Jethro had. God met him right there, you might say, at the crossroads of everyday living.
That’s a very important truth to keep in mind. Some people think that you have to make a pilgrimage to this place or that place where some great prophet may have lived. Or maybe they think you need to bathe in some holy river. But no, God met Moses right where he lived in the normal, everyday experiences of life. God still uses that method of meeting people today.
He used a certain method to attract Moses’ attention. He appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush. There is a bush that grows in the Sinai Desert. It has flame-like seed pods which get red and gold as they dry, which the natives have called “the burning bush.” But according to the Bible record here, that would not have been what Moses saw. God came to him in a flame of fire in the midst of that bush, and the bush was not burnt. In our minds, it might seem like a strange way to come to Moses. But God used that method to get Moses’ attention. And it worked! Yes, it worked because the Bible tells us that Moses said he would turn aside and examine this unusual sight.
So, he turned aside to see what was going on; God had his attention. Moses’ curiosity was aroused, and he turned aside to see what was going on. He made an examination of what was happening. God used a common method of coming to Moses in the location where he was. By an uncommon method, He caught his attention, so that Moses made the examination.
God can come to you in a similar way. He wants to meet you right where you are. It may not be quite so spectacular as a bush burning, yet not being consumed, but it will be just as real. Perhaps all God wants you to do is just look around you and see what is going on in ordinary experiences of life. Be assured, He has a method to gain your attention.
III. God Showed Himself
When Moses turned aside to see what was happening to this bush that was burning, but not burning up, God called him. God called him by name, twice, “Moses, Moses.” Believe me, God knows your name. Yes, He knows you personally. That surprised Moses when God called him by name and he responded in Hebrew, “Hineni! Here I am.”
Moses’ response is a good example for us. The first thing we must do when God speaks is to say, “Here I am; I’m listening.” Remember, that’s what the boy, Samuel, did in First Samuel chapter three. You can read it for yourself. After he awakened Eli the prophet a couple of times, Eli realized that the Lord was calling Samuel. So, he told him, when God calls again, you say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” When Samuel responded that way, God had a special message for him. I urge you to listen carefully and give God your full attention when He speaks.
Then the Lord cautioned Moses how to respond because he was on holy ground. God said, “Don’t come any closer. Take your shoes off because the ground that you are on is holy ground.” There is a certain respect and reverence which we must show towards God if we are going to hear Him. If He reveals Himself to us, then we must exercise a certain caution and reverence for Him, for God, for His person. We cannot take His Name in vain. We cannot be casual or rude in our approach to Him, but we must be cautious and reverent.
God then explained to Moses that He was the same God He had always been, the God of his father. He said, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Now Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had lived some 400 years before Moses, but God identified Himself and said, “I am the same God.” His continuity was assured.
Some teachers of the Bible think that Moses just had a daydream. He just thought he saw this. He didn’t know what was going on until God said, “I am the God of your father the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.
I can’t tell you how God may show Himself to you. I know how He has spoken to me from the Bible, from circumstances in life, and through other people. I can’t tell you exactly how He is going to show Himself to you, but I know He will, if you will simply take time to stop and listen. He wants you to hear what He has to say to you, and you can hear Him in His Word.
By these ways, God spoke to Moses: by showing him mercy to those Moses cared about, by using a method that Moses couldn’t ignore, the burning bush, and by showing Himself personally to Moses in the flame of fire.
Like Moses, we, too, need to listen when God speaks to us. Today, He speaks primarily to us by His Holy Spirit through the Word, the Holy Scriptures. If we want to experience God’s blessing on our lives and to fulfill His plans for us, we must listen when God speaks.
Thanks, J. Mark, for this teaching from Exodus, and thank you for joining us. It is a privilege to study God’s Word and grow in our understanding together. Now let’s take what we’ve heard and allow it to affect our lives. As James tells us, we are to be “doers of the word and not hearers only.” If we just hear the Word, it’s like seeing ourselves in a mirror, then going away, and forgetting what we just saw. Don’t let that happen; allow God’s Word to change you from the inside out.
We bless you as you walk with Jesus and put His teaching into practice. If you have any questions or if you would like today’s teaching, please contact us, and ask for it by title or passage. We also have a study guide available designed to help you learn more from each of these lessons in Exodus. It is called the Hope Herald, and if you would like one, we would be happy to send one to you.
Here are a few ways you can reach us. The quickest and easiest way is through email. Our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, send it to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Another way you can contact us is through our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please look on our website for this teaching and other similar teaching. There you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org.
We thank you again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as we continue our journey through Exodus. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with this thought from II Thessalonians 3:16, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 2:23 - 3:6 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 2:11-22Hello friend, it is good to have you with us today. We are Heralds of Hope, and we believe every book in the Bible is inspired by God and will give us a better understanding of Him and His plan for us. This belief leads us to prioritize Scripture in all we do. This starts inside at a personal level; then, it works its way out in many of our day-to-day choices. We thank God for His Word and the influence it has in our lives, and we want to see that influence become bigger and bigger.
Today I would like to share with you two testimonies from our listeners. We love to hear how people are affected by our program. And we would love to hear what you think of our program as well. If you want to contact us, our contact info will be at the end of today’s program.
Boadi in Ghana shared with us, “I am writing to say a big thank you for educating me regularly through Hope for Today all these long years on our Station. I really don’t know what to say, but may God Almighty continue to bless you as you continue to bring us such life-changing messages.”
Andrew from Kasoa told us, “This wonderful program on our station has been a blessing in my life in an incredible way. It also stirs up my life to seek God more with all that I have, and it encourages me to press forward in conquering the land God has promised to me. Thanks so much.”
And we say thank you, Boadi, and thank you, Pastor Andrew, for writing us these encouraging notes. We are blessed to hear this program is a blessing. If you have a chance to let us know what you think, we would love to hear from you.
Let’s go now to our study in Exodus, where today’s lesson is, Don’t Assume Too Much, and it is taken from Exodus 2. We are challenged from the life of Moses to not get ahead of God. Allow God to accomplish His will in His time. This is certainly easier said than done, especially when God’s ways don’t line up with what looks obvious to us. We must be patient and let Him work. Let’s give our attention to Pastor J. Mark for the rest of today’s teaching.
Sometimes in our zeal, we may go beyond what we should. I imagine that all of us are guilty at that point. We get so zealous, so in earnest about the thing we’re doing, that we sometimes go beyond what is right and proper. How can we know where to draw the line? How do we know where to stop? Do we sometimes assume too much?
My caution is, DON’T ASSUME TOO MUCH! That’s what we learn from Exodus 2:11-22.
11. And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren.
12. And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
13. And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?
14. And he said, who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killest the Egyptian? and Moses feared, and said, surely this thing is known.
15. Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.
16. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
17. And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock.
18. And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, how is it that ye are come so soon today?
19. And they said., An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.
20. And he said unto his daughters, and where is he? Why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.
21. And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
Moses assumed too much, and I will point out to you the RESULTS that came to him because of that. From this, we can learn a very important lesson in life: Don’t assume too much!
When Moses went out to visit his brethren, he assumed too much. Thus, the first result was
I. Premature Action
Remember, Moses had been raised in the court of Pharaoh. He had become Pharaoh’s grandson. He was, in fact, heir to the throne. He had been raised in the court of Pharaoh and educated as part of the royal family. But one day, he went out to visit his blood brothers, the Hebrews. Because he was born of Hebrew parents, both from the tribe of Levi, he identified himself with his brethren.
He went out, we are told, to look upon their burdens. Remember, the Hebrews were the slaves of the Egyptians. So, when Moses saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave, he couldn’t stand it. He thought this was wrong, and probably it was. But because he assumed too much, he engaged in premature action: he killed the offending Egyptian and buried him in the sand.
He misunderstood really what his role should be, what he should be doing. He assumed too much. He thought he could take justice in his hands and correct the injustice he witnessed.
I’ve seen people in minor roles assuming too much and acting prematurely, just like Moses. Moses was not yet the king of Egypt. He could not pass this kind of judgment. He may well have been heir to the throne, but he assumed too much, and he acted beyond his proper role. It was premature action. The Bible tells us in other places that Moses assumed that he was ready to do the job that God had called him to do. He must have had some deep feelings about the needs of the Hebrew people in their distress, but he acted prematurely because he assumed too much.
Moses may have had a clear sense of God’s call on his life as the deliverer of his people, but his timing was off. He made a snap decision without waiting for God’s direction. His premature action only made the situation worse.
You and I must be very careful that we don’t assume we know what God’s plans are before he reveals them to us. In Scripture, most people who were called to positions of leadership often experienced a significant time lapse between their call and the fulfillment of that call. Moses was no exception; neither are you and me.
Another result that came out of assuming too much was
II. Polarizing Reaction
Because Moses assumed too much and took justice in his own hands, and acted prematurely, Pharaoh reacted too, and his anger was aroused against him. Even though he was an heir to the throne, he would not have this young man assuming a role which wasn’t his. Pharaoh was so incensed by this event that he would have killed Moses.
We agree that to kill the Egyptian was not right. When Moses realized his crime was known and that it had come to Pharaoh’s ears, Moses decided to disappear. He thought that was the only way to save his life. He needed to flee for his life because there was a polarizing reaction to his premature action. Maybe you have experienced this sequence personally.
I have seen people in deep trouble today because they assumed too much, and it aroused a polarizing reaction. Taking authority that is not ours, like Moses did, usually does not end well, nor does it accomplish God’s purposes. It is important for us to find our particular place in life and realize the joy of being right where we are supposed to be without assuming too much or too little. Then, if and when God wants to expand our sphere of authority and influence, He will let us know when the time is right.
Two results from Moses assuming too much were his premature action and the polarizing reaction of the king.
This further led to a
III. Primitive Satisfaction
Moses fled for his life. He left Egypt. He went down to the land of Midian and lived there. By that time, he had learned a better way. Instead of killing the opposition, he helped these young women to water their flocks. This time he didn’t assume too much. He knew he wasn’t there as a judge but a helper. It turned out much better. So, he became a shepherd for the priest of Midian and lived there in that land for forty years. Can you imagine this man who had grown up in the luxury and wisdom of the court of Egypt exchanging that for the life of a shepherd out in the bleaching, burning desert, on the backside of Mt. Sinai?
It was quite a comedown from the court life of Egypt to be a shepherd on the backside of the desert. But that was the result of Moses’ premature action. He had to accept a primitive satisfaction. I’ve known some people who have assumed too much and needed to be satisfied with much less than they might have had.
It never pays to assume too much, even though, in this case, God provided some benefit to Moses. We are informed in the Bible that Moses acted prematurely because he thought that his people would understand that God was going to deliver them from the bondage of Egypt by his hand. He must have had some idea of God’s purpose, but he was ahead of his time because he assumed too much.
We like people who know their limitations and gladly fill the roles for which God has chosen them. One of our biggest challenges is to be people who do not assume too much but work right where we ought to be. Let’s ask the Lord to help us be that kind of people.
Thanks, J. Mark, for this teaching from Exodus, and thank you for joining us. It is a privilege to study God’s Word and grow in our understanding together. Now let’s take what we’ve heard and allow it to affect our lives. As James tells us, we are to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. If we just hear the Word, it’s like seeing ourselves in a mirror then going away and forgetting what we just saw. Don’t let that happen; allow God’s Word to change you from the inside out.
We bless you as you walk with Jesus and put His teaching into practice. If you have any questions or if you would like today’s teaching, please contact us, and ask for it by title or passage. We also have a study guide available designed to help you learn more from each of these lessons in Exodus. It is called the Hope Herald, and if you would like one, we would be happy to send you one.
Here are a few ways you can reach us. The quickest and easiest way is through email. Our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, send it to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Another way you can contact us is through our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please look on our website for this teaching and other similar teaching. There you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org.
We thank you again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as we continue our journey through Exodus. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with this thought from II Thessalonians 3:16, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 2:11-22 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 2:1-10Hello Friend, it is good to have you here with us today. We are Heralds of Hope, and we believe every book in the Bible is inspired by God and will give us a better understanding of Him and His plan for us. This belief leads us to prioritize Scripture in all we do. This starts inside at a personal level; then it works its way out in many of our day-to-day choices. We thank God for His Word and the influence it has in our lives, and we want to see that influence become bigger and bigger.
Let’s give our attention to Pastor J. Mark for today’s teaching.
Some people are like chameleons; these reptiles have the ability to change their color to blend in with their surroundings no matter where they are. If they are sitting on the bark of the tree, they are almost invisible on the bark of the tree. If they are sitting on a rock, they look like part of that rock. Some people are like that. They change their appearance or their beliefs to blend in with their surroundings, with the people around them. They don’t want to be noticed or called out for their positions. We call them compromisers.
Others DARE TO DO RIGHT! No matter what it may cost them, they take a stand for truth and righteousness, and they don’t back down. Most people admire a person who knows what to do and does it regardless of the cost.
Exodus 2:1-10 is a beautiful Scripture portion, because it tells us about a godly couple who dared to do right, even in the face of great personal cost. The threats of the ungodly king of Egypt could not turn aside this Hebrew couple. The man was of the tribe of Levi, and so was his wife. That was the priestly tribe, the tribe from which God later chose the high priest of His people.
1. And there went a man of the house of Levi and took to wife a daughter of Levi.
2. And the woman conceived and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
3. And when she could no longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.
4. And his sister stood far off, to see what would be done to him.
5. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along, by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.
6. And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and behold, the baby wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, this is one of the Hebrews’ children.
7. Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?
8. And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother.
9. And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee wages. And the woman took the child and nursed it.
10. And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.”
In these verses, we see how this mother laid her PLANS to do what she knew was right. I am impressed with the great courage of some women. This mother of Moses is a wonderful example. Her plans were laid out very well.
There was first: The Secret
In the previous chapter, we learned that the king of Egypt, the Pharaoh, had issued a decree that all of the baby boys born to the Hebrew families were to be thrown into the Nile River. He was afraid that the Hebrew people would become too numerous and threaten his kingdom.
Our text introduces us to a godly couple who were both of the tribe of Levi. This tribe later became the priestly tribe of the people of Israel. The wife, Jochebed, gave birth to a son after this decree of the king to cast all of the baby boys into the river. When she gave birth to this baby, she saw that he was a very lovely child. God had blessed them with a beautiful baby. Like any godly mother, she did not listen to the king. She did not throw her baby boy into the river for the crocodiles. She dared to do what was right.
So, she hid him. That must have been quite a challenge. If you have children or grandchildren, you know how hard it can be to keep an infant quiet! Crying is the only way he knows to express his needs. But somehow, Moses’ mother managed to keep him quiet and hidden until he was three months old. She would not do what she knew was wrong. She had a sense of morality, a sense of what was right and proper, and she would not go against that moral sensibility.
I admire her, don’t you? I admire her for being concerned for her baby boy, even at the risk of her own life. She could not know what God was going to do with this baby boy when he grew up. She could not see down those many years that he would be the one to whom God could give His law—the Torah. But she dared to do right no matter what it might cost her personally, and she saved her boy baby alive. The secret was - she hid him from the king and his enforcers.
Another part of her plan was: The Scheme
She decided to obey the king but to do it in a way that would save her boy. You read that she prepared for him an ark, or a little basket, of bulrushes. She wove this little basket boat very carefully with her own hands. She coated it with some waterproof material so that it was a river-worthy little craft. She fixed it comfortably for her three-month-old baby boy.
Imagine her laboring with her own hands to make this boat, knowing full well that she could not be sure of the outcome. I imagine many prayers ascended to God as she wove those rushes into that little basket. A fragile ark of bulrushes could be crushed by one snap of a crocodile’s jaws. But she had full faith in God’s ability because she dared to do right. So, she completed her project with diligence and made every possible preparation for his survival.
Then she took this baby boy of hers and put him in the river, as the king said she was supposed to do. Well, not quite like the king said. But nonetheless, she did put him into the river in this little boat. As part of the plan, she set her daughter, Miriam, by the river to watch so that nothing would harm him. She gave her daughter clear instructions about how to carry out her plans when the baby was ultimately discovered. Because she dared to do right, she was willing to risk her own life to fulfill her plan.
I am quite confident that, even though she couldn’t see down through the years to what God was going to do with her little boy, she trusted him to God. She had it all laid out well so that she could commit what she did to God. That is a pattern for every godly mother today.
When you do right, you can commit the outcome to God. She did, and you can. When you do right, you can commit the outcome to God, and He will see that His purposes will come to pass.
Now let’s look at the third part of the plan: The System
She put this ark of bulrushes containing the baby in the reeds along the river’s edge. She knew where Pharaoh’s daughter came to bathe. So, she put the basket where it could not be missed when this princess came to take her daily bath. And it was not missed! As the princess and her maidens walked along the riverside, she saw the little boat among the reeds and sent one of her maidens to retrieve it. That was all that was needed.
The little boy’s sister was on hand at the right time. When they opened the ark, Pharaoh’s daughter’s heart was moved with compassion and pity because the baby was crying. Immediately recognized that this was one of the Hebrew’s sons. Then the little boy’s sister knew exactly what to say. She asked Pharaoh’s daughter if she would like her to find a nurse among the Hebrew women. Nothing could be more logical than that this sister would go and get the child’s mother, which she did. Pharaoh’s daughter most likely did not know that this was the baby’s own mother.
When you dare to do right, God often sees to it that it comes out right. But even if it doesn’t turn out right according to our plans, God always rewards those who do what is right. So, Moses’ sister took him home to his mother. Now he was no longer illegal, and no one needed to be afraid of his discovery.
His mother nursed him until he was weaned. Then she took him to Pharaoh’s court, and he became the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. You might think that she would be quite heartbroken in giving up her son. But had she not planned it this way, she would have given him up in the jaws of the crocodiles in the Nile River. Now he was the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and would get an Egyptian education at no expense to the family.
I am sure that her mother-heart was quite satisfied because God had intervened and helped her. She had dared to do right. Would not God now protect her son in the presence of the Pharaoh and all the learning of the Egyptians? Yes, you see, these parents trusted God and dared to do right. You never lose by doing right; you can trust God.
When you and I dare to do what is right, we never know what the outcome will be. Sometimes, God spares life like he did here and with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace. Other times, physical life is lost, like John the Baptist and James, who were killed by King Herod.
What we learn here is the importance of doing what is right regardless of the outcome. When Jochebed made her plans, she was only doing what any mother would do; giving her best to make sure her son would survive and thrive. She used her skills and her motherly intellect to make the best possible plans to ensure that her son would have a chance. She was willing and ready to sacrifice her own life so that her son could live.
We face similar situations today. We can’t control the outcome of our plans, but we can do our best with the intellect and the resources God has given us. Moses’ mother could have thrown up her hands and said, “what’s the use?” She could’ve given into despair, but she didn’t do that. And neither should you and me.
Whatever difficulty you and I may be facing, God has a plan. But that plan will never come to fruition if you and I refuse to do what is right. Like Jochebed, we can’t control the outcome, but we can control our choices and our commitment to what is right and true. So, let’s be like Jochebed and dare to do right!
Thanks, J. Mark, for this teaching from Exodus, and thank you for joining us. It is a privilege to study God’s Word and grow in our understanding together. Now let’s take what we’ve heard and allow it to affect our lives. As James tells us, we are to be “doers of the word and not hearers only.” If we just hear the Word, it’s like seeing ourselves in a mirror, then going away, and forgetting what we just saw. Don’t let that happen; allow God’s Word to change you from the inside out.
We bless you as you walk with Jesus and put His teaching into practice. If you have any questions or if you would like today’s teaching, please contact us, and ask for it by title or passage. We also have a study guide available designed to help you learn more from each of these lessons in Exodus. It is called the Hope Herald, and if you would like one, we would be happy to send one to you.
Here are a few ways you can reach us. The quickest and easiest way is through email. Our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, send it to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Another way you can contact us is through our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please look on our website for this teaching and other similar teaching. There you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org. We thank you again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as we continue our journey through Exodus. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with this thought from II Thessalonians 3:16, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 2:1-10 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
Exodus 1:8-22It is good to be with you today. Thanks for joining us as we begin our study in Exodus. This is our first lesson from this OT book and as God led the children of Israel day by day, we also look for God’s guidance each day and trust Him for it. We are Heralds of Hope, and we believe every book in the Bible is inspired by God and will give us a better understanding of Him and His plan for us. This belief leads us to prioritize Scripture in all we do. This starts inside on a personal level, then it works its way out in many of our day-to-day choices. Teaching His Word and sharing it via radio is one result of our view of Scripture.
Today we begin in Exodus 1, and the title is, Dealing with Threatening Conditions. It is a closer look at Pharaoh and what made him respond like he did to the children of Israel. We thank God that He is over all people and events, no matter what happens here His purposes will not be derailed His plan will prevail.
Turn to Exodus 1, if you can, and give your attention to Pastor J Mark as we begin our study in the book of Exodus.
What do people in authority do when they are faced with threatening conditions? Presidents, Prime Ministers, dictators, and petty tyrants use all kinds of means to protect themselves. They give money to powerful people in business or government; they hope the money they give will protect them and buy loyalty. Others become very brutal and slaughter people by the hundreds of thousands to protect themselves.
Why do leaders act that way? It’s because they are filled with fear, fear deep in their spirits. They are afraid someone will overpower them and take their place. Then they will lose all their power and privilege. So, anyone who is in their way they will treat with contempt. In Exodus 1:8-22 we have the account of how one king responded when conditions threatened him.
8. Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.
9. And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.
10. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them; lest they multiply, and it happen, that, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies, and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.
11. Therefore they set task masters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses.
12. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel.
13. So the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor:
14. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service, in which they made them serve, was with rigor.
15. Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:
16. And he said, “When ye do the duties of a midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstools; if it is a son, then you shall kill him: but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.
17. But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them but saved the male children alive.
18. So the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, “Why have you done this thing, and have saved the male children alive?
19. And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women: for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them.
20. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied and grew very mighty.
21. And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them.
22. So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”
From this Scripture, we learn the two basic TACTICS men of power will use, so be forewarned, and take hope.
Look at the text again and you will see quickly that King Pharaoh responded like kings do.
Their first TACTIC is, They Use Oppression
Pharaoh wanted to keep the children of Israel in the land because they were performing a valuable service as his slaves. So, he counseled his people and said, “Let us deal wisely with them.” He wanted to keep them because he said if war should happen to break out, they might indeed join our enemies and fight against us and escape out of the land. He aimed to build some kind of restraint around these people to keep them in the land.
Pharaoh wanted to use the skills of the Hebrew workforce, so he set over them taskmasters, and had them build two important treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. He wanted their building skills to make a monument for himself. So, he ordered these cities built. I am told there are still some ruins in Egypt which look very much as though they had been these two cities.
Today some, like North Korea and China, use slave labor to extract the skills of the people they oppress. People are herded into camps or factories and are made to labor long and hard. Often, their food supplies and housing are substandard. These politicians, like Pharaoh, don’t want to lose the skills of the people so they use oppression.
Pharaoh made life bitter for these Hebrew slaves. They served with rigor. The Hebrew word means ruthlessness, brutality, and violence. Their supervisors were extremely cruel. And verse 14 tells us the Egyptians “made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field.” They made them work extremely hard. They denied them the comforts of life. They had barely enough to exist, no doubt.
There are those today who use the same tactics. It is an effort to make people submit.
You know, Satan is also a leader who uses oppression. But he’s a deceiver. He makes things look pleasurable, even inviting, on the surface. But he does it to bring people into bondage. He is a cruel taskmaster. He wants people to keep on serving him and helping to build his kingdom. And if you try to escape his kingdom, he will do all he can to make your life hard and bitter.
In this Scripture text, oppression didn’t really work, because the Scripture tells us, the more Pharaoh afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. There is a part of man which rises up when hardships come when oppression is brought. There is a part of man which rises up and will not be put down. It is his spirit. But those in power use oppression in similar ways as king Pharaoh used it against the Hebrews.
It is a pity that some, looking into those conditions, do not really see the truth. Pharaoh went beyond oppression and used a second tactic which is,
II. They Use Suppression
If oppression will not work, then suppression must be employed. Pharaoh commanded the midwives to kill all the boy babies. He said to them, “When you do the office of midwife to the Hebrews and see that a son is born, you are to kill him.” In other words, do away with him. Don’t let the mother know. Just kill him. He wanted to suppress the growth of the male population.
There are leaders today who decree the murder of their opposition. Just wipe them out, do away with them, and get rid of them in any way possible. Reports are coming from certain countries where this is practiced today—the use of suppression. One way is through forced abortions. Certain genders or ethnicities are aborted to preserve the power of a particular race.
We have global leaders today in government, academia, and big business who insist that our world is overpopulated. They see people as the problem. So, they embrace abortion on demand under the euphemism of “family planning” and export that ideology to the developing countries of the world. But their real goal is simply to preserve the power they have and to continue their lavish lifestyles. Ultimately, like Pharaoh, they will face the judgment of God!
God will not be mocked. You cannot disobey His commandments and hope to escape the consequences. There are numerous passages of Scripture that warn humanity of trying to escape God’s judgment on their disobedience. Pharaoh had to learn this the hard way.
Pharaoh commanded the midwives to kill all the boy babies or to drown them in the Nile River to get rid of them. There was no thought of pity or mercy. His only thought was to preserve his position, so he was willing to use this extreme kind of violence to destroy the baby boys. He thought he had figured out a foolproof way to get what he wanted.
But his plan didn’t work because the midwives feared God, they obeyed His laws. They risked their lives to defy the order of the king! They refused to do what the king of Egypt commanded them. Instead, they saved the male children alive. They understood where the source of real power is. And because they feared God like that, He rewarded them. The text tells us that God gave them families. He honored their faithfulness to Him by giving them children of their own.
It is encouraging to know that even today some refuse to cooperate with this kind of suppression in various countries around the world. They refuse because they understand that God’s law is the highest authority. They care for children who survive abortion or are abandoned at birth. They hide Christ-followers from godless authorities seeking to arrest them. They care for the disabled and the disadvantaged. They see all human beings, regardless of race or ethnicity, as valuable because they are made in God’s image.
When the godless powers face threatening conditions, there is no limit to their evil actions as they try to preserve that power. But those who look to God will risk their lives to be honest and true to Him and to all people. So, take heart, the schemes of men and Satan will not succeed. God will deliver the righteous either from threatening conditions or through them. Amen!
Thanks, J Mark, for this teaching from Exodus and thank you for joining us. It is a privilege to study God’s Word and grow in our walk with Jesus. Now let’s take what we’ve heard and allow it to affect our lives. Jesus tells us about a wise man and a foolish man, the difference between these two was the wise man put what he heard into practice. The foolish man did not change his ways. Let’s be like the wise man don’t be foolish.
We bless you as you follow Jesus and put His teaching into practice. If you have any questions or if you would like today’s teaching, please contact us and ask for it by title or passage. We also have a study guide available designed to help you learn more from each of these lessons in Exodus. It is called the Hope Herald and if you would like one, we would be happy to send you one.
Here are a few ways you can reach us. The quickest and easiest way is through email. Our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, send it to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Another way you can contact us is through our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. While you are there, please look on our website for this teaching and other similar teaching. There you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again, the website is www.heraldsofhope.org.
We thank you again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as we continue our journey through Exodus. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with this thought from I Tim, “But you, child of God, pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith.”
This episode is an exposition of Exodus 1:8-22 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
John 21:15-25Thank you for joining us; we are glad to be with you today to finish our study in the Gospel of John. We are Heralds of Hope, and our mission is to use media to make disciples of Jesus Christ to accomplish the great commission in our lifetime. Teaching through the Bible is one way we are working toward this goal of making disciples, and radio is one of the mediums we use. We are thankful to God for His people who share our goal of making disciples, and support Heralds of Hope so we can continue sharing the Word of God with you.
Yes, you heard that right, this will be our last lesson from the book of John. This lesson is called “The Final Test,” and like a real test, there are some questions for us to seriously consider. Listen for the questions Jesus asks Peter and think about your answers to these questions as well. After all, the test is not only for Peter; we also must give an answer.
J Mark is here and ready to lead us in a closer look at this story. Let’s give him our attention.
Life is somewhat like a school. When we are in school, we are given tests. Teachers need to know what the pupils have learned, so they administer tests.
Quite frequently, we get a letter from some listener asking that we pray because that listener will be taking an examination, a test, and wants to make sure that he is going to pass it. He wants to progress in his education.
We often face tests. Sometimes they are hard tests. There comes the final test, and the final question, what do you think of Jesus?
If you have been with me throughout the studies of the Gospel of John, you have noticed that we have seen Jesus in many different situations. We’ve seen Him with the crowds. We’ve seen Him feed five thousand with five loaves and two fish. We have seen Him before the Roman Governor, before the religious court, and finally crucified. Then John shows us Jesus as He showed Himself to His disciples on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (also known as Tiberias) after He arose.
Our studies in John’s Gospel have brought us face to face with the evidence again and again that He is the Son of God, our Saviour. But there is that final test: what do you think of Him? We will find the answer to this test in John 21:15-25, the last part of John’s Gospel.
15. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
20. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21. Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22. Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me.
23. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
24. This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. 25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
Amen! There is a final test. Peter’s experience demonstrates for us the AREAS where we also face THE FINAL TEST.
First is: In The Area Of Loving.
Peter had vowed before Jesus was crucified that he would go even to death with Jesus. Then when the test came, he denied Jesus. He said, “I do not know him.”
Now Jesus was testing his love again. Jesus used the word for love which is of the highest order. In Greek, it is the word agape. When Peter responded to Jesus, he used the lesser word, phileo. He said, “I like you,” with a different kind of love. He was more careful. Peter had learned his lesson, probably, that it’s best not to boast when you are putting on the armor. It’s better to boast when you are taking it off! (That’s a reference to First Kings 20, where the king of Israel refused the demands of the king of Syria.)
Then Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.” If you love me, then serve me. Do My work. Peter was grieved because Jesus, for the third time, used the same word that he did, meaning, “Are you sure that you really love me with the kind of love that you are expressing?”
Ah, my friend, that is a final test, the area of loving. Do you really love Jesus with that high divine love? Or do you only have a regard for Him? Do you only like Him?
I remember speaking with a man once who told me, “Yes, I believe in Jesus.” I said, “If you really believe in Jesus, then you will do what He says.” That’s the way with us. Yes, we’re facing that final test, the test of loving.
Second is: In The Area Of Living.
Peter often spoke out when it would have been better if he had listened. He was a committed man, though, to do what he thought was right. Remember him in the garden of Gethsemane when the soldiers came to take Jesus. Peter drew his sword to defend the Lord right there. He did, in fact, cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest. Peter was a strong man, but he was impulsive, though, and he needed to be subdued. He was subdued when he realized that all his words didn’t really add up when the test came.
So, Jesus said to him, and I put it in my words, “When you were young, you did what you wanted to do, and you went where you wanted to go. But when you will be old, somebody else is going to take you where you don’t want to go. You will be led away against your will; you will be subdued. And when you are, the most important thing for you to remember is to follow me. No matter what happens to you, Peter, follow me.” That’s what I call the test of living.
We are facing that final test, too. Yes, we are, my friend. The area of living, not doing simply what we want to do, but doing what Jesus wants us to do. That is the important thing. That is why those two words Jesus gave to Peter are so important for you and me, “Follow me.” That’s what I call the test of living, to follow Jesus.
Third is: In The Area Of Listening.
John’s Gospel closes with the important test in which Jesus met Peter: Jesus said, “don’t bother yourself so much about John. Do what I tell you, have your ear tuned to me. Do what I tell you to do.” That was important for Peter. He needed to learn that.
You and I need to learn that, too. There are many people who are very concerned about somebody else when they ought to be concerned about doing what Jesus has said to them. What Jesus has said to you and me is very important. Don’t bother yourself so much about John, don’t bother yourself about Peter, bother yourself about yourself, yes?
Can you pass the final test? In reality, Jesus must be first in these three vital areas of life: in the area of loving, do you really love Jesus? In the area of living, are you living for Jesus? And in the area of listening, are you listening to Jesus? That is the final test.
Thank you, J Mark, for sharing this teaching from the end of John; those are important questions you have left us with. We want all of you to pass the test and hear those wonderful words from God Himself, “Well done, thou Good and faithful servant.” At that point, you will have passed the test! It will be heaven with Jesus forever, and it will be worth it. That is our focus; that is our goal.
This brings us to the end of John, and we are finished with this study. Thanks for being here with us, and we trust you have been encouraged throughout the year. As I mentioned previously, all these lessons have been compiled into one book titled The Word. If you would like a copy, please let us know. I’ll be giving you our contact info in a moment.
Next week we will begin studying in the Old Testament book of Exodus. We believe you will enjoy going with the children of Israel on their journey toward the promised land. There are valuable lessons to be learned in every book of the Bible, and as we go to Exodus, we are sure you will be encouraged.
Don’t forget the big picture. The Israelites leave Egypt, and at Mt. Sinai, Moses receives God’s law from God. This is a new nation. The rest of the Old Testament is centered around these people.
We know how the Israelites walk away from God, and they are punished for their sin. It looks like God’s plan isn’t working, but God’s ways will not be thwarted. He is bringing all things together for the grand entrance of His Son, Jesus Christ. You know History is His story, and the book Exodus plays an important part in the formation of the Jews, God’s chosen people.
Once again, our study guide, The Hope Herald, will be available. You can follow our programs through Exodus in the Hope Herald. If you are interested, just contact us and ask us for your copy; we’d be happy to send you one.
Here are a few ways you can reach us. The quickest and easiest way is through email. Our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, send it to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. And you can always contact us through our website. Go to heraldsofhope.org, click on “Connect,” which is at the top in the middle; scroll down till you see “Contact Us,” then you will need to fill in your information. While you are on our website, please look around and use the resources which are available there. We hope it will be a blessing for you. Again, the website is heraldsofhope.org
Thank you for being with us for this last lesson in John. Lord willing, we will be with you again next week to begin our study in Exodus. Till then, stay faithful, Love Jesus, and show His love everywhere you go.
This episode is an exposition of John 21:15-25 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
John 21:1-14We are honored to be with you again today. It is a privilege to study God’s Word with you; thanks for joining us. We are Heralds of Hope, and this program is one way we fulfill Jesus’ last command. He told us in Matt 28 to Go and teach. The program is going on radio waves; please pray with us that God would use these programs to reach people. And through this program, we want to teach everyone about Jesus and the things we have learned from Him. We pray Jesus’ Kingdom would be strengthened and you would be encouraged in your walk with Him.
Today we begin the last chapter of John, chapter 21. Actually, next week will be our last lesson from the Gospel of John. Our study through John started about one year ago, and now we are coming to the end of this wonderful book. We hope this study has been a blessing for you. If you are interested, all these lessons have been compiled into one book titled The Word. Please contact us for your copy of “The Word” I will give you our contact information at the end of this program.
The title for our lesson is How Jesus Showed Himself. This is another story of the disciples interacting with the risen Jesus Christ. Jesus was alive then, and He is alive now. We know this because He’s changed us, and He is still showing Himself strong to those who need Him. Let’s go now to John 21 with Bible teacher J Mark Horst.
The museums of the world contain monuments to the great men of earth, the British museum in London, the museum in Cairo, and the museums of other countries of the Bible’s history. But the greatest man that ever lived has an empty tomb as His monument. That empty tomb bears witness to Him. No one else has that kind of monument.
When the Romans crucified Jesus, and His friends buried Him, everyone then thought there would be nothing more. But there was more. There is more because He arose from the dead. The last two chapters of John’s Gospel give us the record how He arose from the dead and HOW JESUS SHOWED HIMSELF to His disciples. This meditation is based on John 21:1-14.
1. After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
2. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
3. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, we also go with thee. They went forth and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10. Jesus saith unto them, bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
12. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
As we meditate upon these verses, we notice the WAYS Jesus showed Himself to His disciples.
The first Way: By His Unexpected Coming.
Did you notice that Peter was the one who said, “I am going fishing?” This is really not surprising because Peter was a fisherman before Jesus ever called him to follow Him. He and Andrew, James, and John were fishermen. On this fishing project, Peter’s companions were Thomas, Nathaniel, James, John, and two others of Jesus’ disciples. It’s not surprising that they would go fishing.
Sometimes, when we face traumatic situations, going back to what is familiar to us is like a therapy. We can immerse ourselves in our work and forget about our troubles for a brief time. Or conversely, when our hands are busy with work that is familiar, our minds can think more clearly. I suspect this may be at least part of the reason why these disciples went fishing.
They spent the night, however, without catching anything. Maybe that is not really surprising, either. If the fish are not running, like they say, then there is not much chance of catching fish. But the surprising part is that Jesus unexpectedly was standing there on the shore as the morning began to dawn. They saw Jesus on the shore and did not even know it was Jesus. They were not expecting Him. No, they were not expecting Him.
That’s how He showed Himself to them, by His unexpected coming. I would like to draw a lesson from that for you and me. Is it not true that sometimes Jesus comes to us at unexpected times in unexpected ways? At times when your hopes and dreams have been dashed, and you feel all alone?
Well, I’m glad to tell you that Jesus will be right by your side, even though you don’t expect Him.
The second Way: By His Unqualified Command.
He first asked them this question, “Do you have any food?” They answered by saying, “No.” They had been fishing all night and hadn’t caught anything, so, of course, they wouldn’t have any fish. Probably, by the way He asked the question and the way they answered it, they didn’t have any bread either; they had no food.
Then Jesus gave them an unqualified command, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you shall find.” That’s remarkable. Here was a man standing on shore commanding the fishermen who were 100 meters from shore, more than 300 feet. For somebody to stand on the shore and be able to instruct the fishermen where the fish are is surprising, but He did. He told them which side to cast their net. They did, and they caught a great multitude of fish, so that they struggled getting the net into the boat.
Then the reality of who it was came to the disciple whom Jesus loved—we believe it was John. He said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” John said that because he knew nobody else would have been able to tell them from a hundred meters away where the fish were.
Here’s the lesson I get from this way Jesus showed Himself: the disciples did exactly what Jesus commanded them to do. Think about this, here was a stranger, for they did not know Him, commanding the fishermen, experienced as they were, to cast their net on the opposite side of the boat, on the right side. They could’ve said, “what do you know about fishing that we don’t know? We’ve been doing this all our lives!” But they didn’t say that. They just obeyed the unqualified command of Jesus.
Let us ponder that they did exactly what Jesus told them to do. I get a lesson from that for you and me: we also ought to do exactly what Jesus tells us to do. He tells us what to do in God’s Word.
The third Way: By His Unselfish Care.
When Peter dragged the net to shore, they found they had 153 fish in the net. But Jesus was prepared for them and had already made a fire, and He had laid some fish and bread on the coals.
After they had pulled in the net bursting with fish, Jesus said to them, “Bring of the fish that ye have now caught.” That must have been a wonderful breakfast. Yes, a wonderful meal on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Then He said to them, “Come and eat.” Everything was ready. Jesus had prepared a tasty, early morning meal for the disciples. When they gathered around, the seven of them with Jesus, He took bread and gave some to them and gave them some fish also. But nobody dared to ask Him who He was because they all knew that it was Jesus. Unselfishly He met their need. He had everything prepared for them, all that they needed.
Now, my friend, I want to draw a third lesson for you and me from this. Jesus unselfishly cares for us too. He provides for our needs as well.
What enriching lessons we learn from how Jesus showed Himself to the disciples. Often in our lives, Jesus is there at unexpected times. Sometimes we may not know it at first. Often, He commands us, and blessings come when we do what He says. Often His care is shown by how He provides for us.
Do you know Him? Do you know Jesus? Let Him show Himself to you, that He can really meet your need.
Thank you, J Mark, for this teaching from God’s Word, and thank you for joining us. It is a privilege for us to study God’s Word and learn from it. Now take what we’ve heard and put it into practice. The teaching and instruction in the Bible are for us, and it is supposed to change the way we live.
Don’t be like the man in James 1 who sees himself in a mirror then goes away and forgets what he looks like; instead, be like the man in verse 25 who looks intently into the Word and is a doer of the work. God says, “that man will be Blessed in what he does.”
As you noticed, we are coming to the end of the book of John. We hope you have enjoyed the time we have spent in John, and you are probably wondering what is next. We have one more lesson in John, and after that, we will go to the Old Testament Book of Exodus. We will go with the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt and into the desert toward the promised land. But it is more than just a story about the Israelites. It is God accomplishing His plan on this planet. We know how the Israelites received God’s law and became His chosen people, and many years later, out of the children of Israel, from the tribe of Judah, another Lamb came. This lamb was sacrificed for the sin of the whole world.
There is a lot we can learn from every book of the Bible, and we hope you will continue to join us as we begin studying in the book of Exodus.
Once again, our study guide, The Hope Herald, will be available. Each program here is another lesson in this study guide. If you are interested, please contact us; we’d be happy to send you one.
Here are a few ways you can reach us. The quickest and easiest way is through email. Our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, send it to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. And you can always contact us through our website. Go to heraldsofhope.org, click on “Connect,” which is at the top in the middle; scroll down till you see “contact us,” then you will need to fill in your information. While you are on our website, please look around and use the resources which are available there. We hope it will be a blessing for you. Again, the website is Heraldsofhope.org
We thank you for joining us for today’s program. Please join us again next week for one more lesson from John. Till then, remember this promise from Isaiah 41. “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
This episode is an exposition of John 21:1-14 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
John 20:24-31Hello and thank you for joining us; we are privileged to be here with you. This program is produced by Heralds of Hope, we are a gospel media ministry, and our main focus is the Bible. We are committed to teaching the Bible and distributing the Bible. Each week this teaching is broadcast around the world via radio, and so far this year we are on track to distribute 100,000 copies of the Bible. Psalm 19 says God’s words are to be desired more than gold. This shows us God’s Word is one of the most valuable possessions someone could ever have. Here at Heralds of Hope, we are thrilled to partner with many of God’s people as we teach and distribute the Bible.
Our lesson today from John 20 is called Rewarding Faith. It is the story of Thomas, the disciple who did not believe Jesus had risen from the dead. In this account we know he no longer doubted; he saw Jesus and believed. Jesus encouraged him, “Touch my hands and put your hand in my side, stop doubting and believe.” It doesn’t seem like Thomas needed to do that because his response was immediate, “My Lord and my God.” Today allow your response to Jesus to be exactly the same as this.
Before we get into today’s teaching, let’s spend a little time thinking about faith. If you look at how faith is defined, it is obvious that people everywhere have faith. The definition is, “complete trust or confidence in someone or something.” What sets the faith of a Christian apart from all other faith is the object of our faith.
Faith is not unusual, humans everywhere have it, but we want more and more people to make Jesus the object of their faith. Think about the people who deny any god and say they have no faith. What are they putting their faith in? It seems to me the faith of that person lies directly in themselves. They put a lot of trust in the fact that they are right and know what they are talking about. This is a choice all of us need to make, but I for one am not comfortable with having myself as the object of my faith.
There are some who believe Earth has started from a big bang, everyone looks at the same evidence, and many different conclusions are reached. It is my opinion that the conclusion you reach has a direct connection to where you have placed your faith. There is much more that could be said on this; however, what I want to make clear is - faith is not uncommon; most people have faith. The biggest question is what or who do you have faith in? Christians have Jesus as the object of our faith, and as far as I know, this is the best place you could ever place your faith.
One more thought about faith from verse 29. Trying to describe what it is can be kind of hard to put into words. I like what Jesus says at the end of verse 29, I would say this is a great way to describe faith. Jesus tells Thomas, “Blessed are they what have not seen, and yet have believed.” This isn’t a definition of faith, but it’s a good description for some of our faith. Many of us believe even though we have not seen Him.
This idea is also taught in Hebrews 11:1. One translation has it like this, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Again, there is the certainty of something we believe but have not seen. So, while most of us may not have seen with eyes, like Thomas, we still believe. Some will think this is ridiculous and make fun of your blind faith. But it’s not blind faith because we have seen Jesus change lives, we feel His presence in ours, and we know the change He’s made in us. The object of our faith is very dependable, and we trust Him.
So, the question today is not, do you have faith? The question is, what do you have your faith in? Let’s give our attention to Pastor J Mark as he teaches us more from John 20 and the story of Thomas.
Faith is a very important part of our human existence. We exercise faith every day. We have been made to believe. The Bible tells us that God has given to everyone a measure of faith. Everyone believes in something. Even those who say there is no God believe in something. To be honest, they should say, “I believe there is no God.” They must express some faith.
Now, I would much rather say, I believe there is God. The Bible informs us that even demons believe and tremble. There is put within our being the ability to believe. But not all faith is REWARDING FAITH. When I speak of faith, I am talking about believing. To be rewarding faith, there must be a proper object to faith.
The story in John 20:24-31 demonstrates what rewarding faith is. The disciples were staying together, awaiting direction for the future after the resurrection of Jesus.
24. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25. The other disciples therefore said unto him, we have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name
As there were several EVENTS in the experience of Thomas which led him to rewarding faith, so it may be with us.
The first Event toward rewarding faith: His Refusal.
When Jesus first came to the disciples after His resurrection, Thomas was absent. We do not know why he was absent. Perhaps fear had gripped his heart so much that he refused to be identified with the disciples. Or he may have had other interests or some duty that kept him from meeting with them on that first day of the week.
So, he was told what had happened; they had seen the Lord. But he was cautious, “I must see before I believe.”
We can sympathize with Thomas. We believe it is proper to require evidence so as not to be led into error. It is important that we are cautious about the claims that people make. His refusal to believe without evidence was the proper thing to do.
A second Event toward rewarding faith: His Rebuke.
Eight days later, Thomas was with the other disciples. Perhaps he had learned his lesson and gathered with the disciples in anticipation of what might be a repeat of what happened before.
And it was. Jesus came into the room, into their midst, and the doors were shut, just like before. There was no ready entrance, but Jesus came and stood in the midst and greeted them just like He had before. It was a word of assurance, “Peace be unto you.”
Then Thomas was invited to examine the evidence. Jesus said, “Reach here, your finger, and behold my hands. Reach here your hand and thrust it into my side. And do not be faithless but believe.” This was a rebuke for Thomas from Jesus.
Jesus must have known about Thomas’ refusal to believe until he had seen. So, after the evidence was there, the nail prints and the spear scar, faith was commanded of Thomas, “Do not be faithless, but believe.”
And the third Event toward rewarding faith: His Response.
His confession was immediate and complete. It did not take Thomas long at all. He cried out, “My Lord and my God.” He is to be commended for making a clear and immediate and complete confession right there. He did not falter or hesitate, but his response and confession came at once.
Now notice the commendation that Jesus gave him. He said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. All who do not see and yet believe are blessed.”
My friend, we are among those who have not seen and yet have believed. Thomas saw Him, and the Apostle John recorded it for us. Jesus pronounced a blessing on you and me because we have not seen His nail prints or His spear scar. But when we believe, Jesus said, we would be blessed.
We ought not criticize Thomas until we have believed on Jesus ourselves without any doubt or question. Nor can we hide behind Thomas, for when he was presented with the evidence, he believed and confessed that Jesus was his Lord and his God.
Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ? Listen, “These are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing you might have life through his name.” I invite you; I urge you to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and you can have a rewarding faith too.
Thank you, J Mark, for this teaching from God’s Word, and thank you for joining us. It is a privilege for us to study God’s Word and learn from it. Now take what we’ve heard and put it into practice. The teaching and instruction in the Bible are for us, and it is supposed to change the way we live.
Don’t be like the man in James 1 who sees himself in a mirror then goes away and forgets what he looks like; instead be like the man in verse 25 who looks intently into the Word and is a doer of the work. God says, “that man will be Blessed in what he does.”
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or a digital audio file of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on a digital audio file. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus; He’ll give you hope for today!
This episode is an exposition of John 20:24-31 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
John 20:19-23Thank you for joining us; we are glad to be here with you today to continue learning from the Gospel of John. We are Heralds of Hope, and our mission is to use media to make disciples of Jesus Christ to accomplish the great commission in our lifetime. Teaching through the Bible is one way we are working toward this goal of making disciples. This teaching is broadcast around the world via radio. And we are thankful to God for His people who share our goal of making disciples and support Heralds of Hope so we can continue sharing the Word of God with you.
If you have thoughts or suggestions for us, we would love to hear from you; just send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. It’s encouraging to hear from people like you. Today’s lesson is Comforting Joy, and you will find it in John 20, verses 19-23. Now let’s give our attention to Pastor J Mark as he teaches us from this passage.
As I think back over the Bible account of God creating man, I am certain that God wants us to be joyful. If we go to the first book in the Bible, we find that when God created Adam, He placed him in a beautiful garden. Adam was provided with all that he needed. It makes me sure that God desires us to be joyful.
Sometimes, though, because of unfulfilled hopes, our joys may be dampened, and we’re not as joyful as God really wants us to be. Then when those hopes are revived, joy is restored.
We are not much different from the disciples in Jesus’ day. The disciples on the resurrection day had real reason to be full of joy because their hopes were revived. So we, too, may rejoice in the fact that Jesus is alive today! He conquered death and instilled joy in all believers because of this great fact.
COMFORTING JOY came to the disciples as reported in 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, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23. Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Comforting joy was experienced in the hearts of the disciples of Jesus by several ACTS which Jesus did when He appeared to them after His resurrection.
The first Act was: His Entrance.
I want you to note carefully, in the Bible, it is stated that the disciples were gathered in a room and the doors were shut. There was no ready entrance. They were there because they were afraid. They feared what might happen to them because the people knew they were followers of Jesus.
So far as they knew, and so far as the people knew, Jesus was still dead. Excepting, of course, that Mary Magdalene had told them, “He is alive!” They felt threatened by their opponents. Then Jesus came into the room where doors were closed. The first thing He said to them was a quieting, comforting word, “Peace be unto you.”
Here was the act of Jesus in coming into the room and speaking peace to the disciples. Yes, my friend, the presence of Jesus always brings joy to the believer. Sometimes He comes in unexpected ways into our lives. I can bear testimony to that.
The second Act was: His Evidence.
He didn’t wait. He immediately showed them His hands and His side. He knew the disciples would need clear proof that He was, indeed, the same person who had been crucified. So He showed them the marks in His hands and in His side the scars that had been made by the nails and by the spear.
Look what happened when He showed them the evidence: “Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” Comforting joy possessed their hearts when they saw Jesus and were sure that He was the same One whom they had last seen on the cross.
Now listen further to His words, “As my Father has sent me, even so I send you.” I want you to catch this because the mission that Jesus began, which the Father had sent Him to begin, now He was transferring to His disciples by that statement, “Even so, I send you.”
Comforting joy comes to us when we acknowledge the evidence that the same person who was crucified has risen from the dead and has also spoken to us by this word to the disciples.
The third Act was: His Endowment.
We read, “He breathed on them and said to them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit.” We know from the record that the Holy Spirit did not come until ten days after our Lord’s ascension to Glory. Therefore, I conclude that Jesus performed this act in anticipation of Pentecost. He prepared them for receiving the Holy Spirit at the proper time.
Then He went on to say, “Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” This should never be understood to be an arbitrary act of the disciples because it is very clear in the Bible that the only way for forgiveness of sins is by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It is only by that way that sins are forgiven. I am sure that Jesus did not overlook that when He made this statement to the disciples.
Comforting joy came to the disciples because they believed on Him. They were glad when they saw the Lord and He gave them this endowment of the Holy Spirit. All who believe on Jesus Christ receive the Holy Spirit.
Comforting joy can be yours, too, if you acknowledge His presence; accept His nail prints, the evidence of His resurrection; and receive His endowment of the Holy Spirit. Will you do so now?
We are thankful for the comforting joy we can have through God’s Spirit living in us, and we thank you, Brother J Mark, for sharing this teaching with us.
Did you hear verse 23? What did you think of it? At first, the verse sounds as if Jesus is telling the disciples that they can forgive sins or they can tell people their sins are not forgiven. This is what it sounds like, yet this does not hold true with the rest of Scripture.
This brings up an interesting question, what do you do when you read a verse, and if you take it for what it says, it seems like it is contradicting another scripture, and if it doesn’t directly contradict, what it seems to be saying sounds very unusual.
You know we all know what the verse says, it is written right there, and we can see it. The question is what does it mean? What did Jesus mean when He said, “Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them.” And in other passages, it’s easy to know what it says; the big question is, what does it mean? And this is a sobering question because how you interpret the Bible will affect the way you live, and how we live determines our destiny.
So, it matters, and we want to get it right. Here are three things to help you get it right. To get it right, we need the Bible. The Bible is the best place to turn if you don’t understand the Bible. Compare it with other passages; if it is in the Gospels, look in each of them to get more perspective. Charles Spurgeon said, “The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.” When the Bible seems confusing, use the Bible to clarify.
Secondly, to get it right, listen to God’s people. This can be people you know, or it can be through books or studying online. It is very likely someone else has had the same questions you have. So, look at what other Christians have taught. And God has given us Christian brothers and sisters so we can help each other, so when you have questions, discuss it with others who know you.
Lastly, stay humble if you ever get to the point where you think you have it all figured out. That is a good sign you don’t, and it’s a sure sign that you are not being humble. With humility comes the recognition that I have a lot to learn, and what I believe now may not be just perfect. All of us are on a journey, becoming more like Jesus; none of us are there yet. Just admit it and be willing to grow.
There you have it, three things to help answer your questions and get your Biblical interpretation right. Wait, you say, so what did Jesus mean in verse 23? Great question, we are out of time for today, but you can use the Bible and learn from other Christians to find out. While you are at it, stay humble, God will guide you, and you can understand this verse more than you ever have, but you can always learn more. The Bible is like that; it’s not an ordinary Book. Blessings as you study and experience the joy of learning from God’s Word.
Thank you, Pastor J Mark, for this teaching from God’s Word, and thank you for joining us. It is a privilege for us to study God’s Word and learn from it. Now take what we’ve heard and put it into practice. The teaching and instruction in the Bible is for us, and it is meant to be lived.
Don’t be like the man in James 1 who sees himself in a mirror then goes away and forgets what he looks like; instead, be like the man in v 25 who looks intently into the Word and is a doer of the work. God says, “that man will be Blessed in what he does.”
And we bless you as you follow Jesus and share Him with those around you. If you have any questions or if you would like today’s teaching, just contact us and ask for it by title or tell us the passage. We also have a study guide available designed to help you learn more from each lesson; it is called the Hope Herald. Please let us know if you are interested, and we would be happy to give you one.
Here are a few ways you can reach us. The quickest and easiest way is through email. Our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, send it to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Another way you can contact us is through our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. Please look on our website for this teaching and other similar teaching. There you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again, the website is heraldsofhope.org
We thank you again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as Pastor J. Mark continues teaching from the Gospel of John. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with this blessing from Number 6. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
This episode is an exposition of John 20:19-23 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
John 19:38-42
It is good to be here with you again today; thank you for being here. Heralds of Hope is honored to study and share God’s Word with you. We count it a privilege to teach from the Bible and Thank God for the opportunity to share this teaching around the world via radio. Along with Bible teaching, we also do Bible distribution, and I share this example from one of our partners in Uganda. We had purchased native-language Bibles for him, and he was distributing them in his area. One of the pastors was overjoyed to have a new Bible because the Bible he was currently using started with Numbers 16 and ended at I Cor. 11; the front and back of his Bible were missing. Again, we were thankful to God to be able to help this man with His Word. As you think of us, pray for Heralds of Hope and ask God to guide us as we share His Word.
Today we are looking at the last few verses in John 19. Before we go there, imagine with me. Put yourself in the shoes of the disciples. You just spent the last three years with Jesus. You saw Him calm the storm. You were there when He healed sick people. You even saw Him call Lazarus out of the grave. You are convinced this is the Messiah. This is the one God promised; generations have been waiting for Him. You are convinced that He can do anything; this is the Messiah who will conquer and rule the world.
Unfortunately, all your hopes and dreams have been killed, just like Jesus. He is lying in a tomb, and your vision for the future is there with Him; it’s over. How could you have been so wrong? How can God be so far away and so silent? Why is God not listening, does He even care? You remember one of Jesus’ last questions, “My God why have you forsaken me?” You feel the same thing. It is dark, it’s difficult, and it’s depressing. You question everything: why am I here? What is true? Who is God?
This was a very hard time for the disciples. I am guessing you also have been in a season where God has been silent and felt far away. This is the desert, and the desert is God’s place of preparation. It is not easy or fun, but we can see how God has shaped many people through hard times. James and Peter call this the “trying of your faith.” Many have experienced a season of this, and if you are there, take courage; you are in good company.
For example, look at Moses; he spent 40 years in the wilderness before God called him to lead the children of Israel. That is a long time. Remember Joseph; his journey had many ups and downs. Just when things seemed to be going well with Potiphar, he was soon back in prison. I am sure Joseph wondered Where is God? I was doing what God told me to do. Think about David and how he was anointed king as a young man. Then he spent many years running for his life as King Saul tried to kill him. Psalms show us he wrestled with many of these big questions. Even Jesus spent 40 days in the desert. It was after the desert when He began His public ministry.
These are just a few of God using very difficult circumstances to mold and shape His servants. There are others in the Bible, and I am sure you know some of these stories.
If you are in this place where life doesn’t make sense, I offer two thoughts of encouragement. One, you can do it, hold on, and continue trusting God; every promise He has made is true. The only basis I have for saying this is the second point. If I could go back to the disciples in today’s lesson, I would have told them this, the resurrection is coming. Jesus is dead, but He won’t stay dead. I offer the same encouragement to everyone who finds themselves in a desert. Jesus is alive! Because He is alive, we have hope in every situation. We know someday soon, He will conquer and rule the world, just like the disciples were expecting Him to do, way back then. That’s when it will make sense, save your big questions, for then, Jesus Himself will be able to answer them. Take courage, Jesus cares and sees, and His Word says, “In due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Don’t give up.
Now let’s give our attention to Pastor J Mark for today’s lesson, Where did they lay Him?
Some who read the records of the crucifixion of Jesus claim that Jesus never died. This is hardly possible if we are honest with the record. We can hardly say Jesus never died.
Then there are others who even claim that He was not crucified. But the record in the Bible leaves no doubt. When we take the words in their true sense, we are led to the conclusion: yes, He was crucified, and yes, He died. He died sooner than the thieves. His death was validated by the soldier.
Because it was a religious holiday, it was necessary to bury the bodies quickly. Two men who loved Jesus, unknown to His disciples, come upon the scene to fill that need, as recorded in John 19:38-42.
38. And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore and took the body of Jesus.
39. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight.
40. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is
to bury.
41. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid.
42. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulcher was nigh at hand.
As we watch the actions of these two men, certain DETAILS establish the fact of the burial of Jesus. They answer the question, WHERE DID THEY LAY HIM?
The first Detail: The Permission.
Joseph of Arimathaea was the spokesman. He went secretly to Pilate for fear of the Jews and asked him for the body. He obtained permission to take down the body of Jesus. Apparently, those who loved Him were much too frightened.
Mark’s Gospel reports that Pilate was not sure that Jesus was dead already, so he asked the centurion who was in command at the crucifixion. The captain of the soldiers verified that Jesus was dead.
To get this permission, Joseph was a bold man, even though he went secretly. The Jewish feast of the Passover was near. He must act quickly to take care of the body of Jesus so that he would be able to eat the Passover. He risked his reputation, indeed. But he was willing to do it. So, there was the detail of the permission.
The second Detail: The Preparation.
Another came to help Joseph. His name was Nicodemus. He had come to Jesus by night. We learn this in the early part of John’s Gospel. Jesus called him a master in Israel. And once after that, Nicodemus stood in defense of Jesus when the Sanhedrin would have condemned Him before they heard Him.
He must have been a believer; he must have been. He came to help Joseph take care of the body of Jesus. He was prepared. He came with a mixture of spices, myrrh, and aloes, about 100-pound weight (fifty kilograms). They took the body of Jesus down from the cross and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as was the practice of the Jews, to bury.
Nicodemus was a man of forethought. He came prepared with the spices and linen because they knew they must take care of this quickly. They did not have much time. These dedicated men with loving hands did what they could to the body of Jesus. This is a beautiful detail, the preparation that they made.
The third Detail: The Place.
I read, “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden.” It was near the hill of crucifixion. And there was a new tomb there, a tomb that had never been used. I have stood at the foot of Calvary, outside of Jerusalem’s old city wall. The garden and the tomb: I have seen them. There they laid Him.
They acted quickly because it was the Jewish day of preparation for the feast of the Passover. The sepulcher was near at hand. Matthew wrote that Joseph used his own new tomb. So they laid His body in the tomb.
These details leave no doubt that Jesus died and was buried: the centurion acknowledged that He was dead; Pilate gave permission to remove the body from the cross; these men prepared their spices and linen to take care of His dead body. They selected a place prepared for a dead body and entombed His body in the sepulcher in which no one had ever been laid.
Thank you, J Mark, for this teaching from God’s Word, and thank you for joining us. It is a privilege for us to study God’s Word and learn from it. Now take what we’ve heard and put it into practice. The teaching and instruction in the Bible is for us, and it is meant to be lived.
Don’t be like the man in James 1 who sees himself in a mirror then goes away and forgets what he looks like; instead, be like the man in v 25 who looks intently into the Word and is a doer of the work. God says, “that man will be Blessed in what he does.”
And we bless you as you follow Jesus and share Him with those around you. If you have any questions or if you would like today’s teaching, just contact us and ask for it by title or tell us the passage. We also have a study guide available designed to help you learn more from each lesson; it is called the Hope Herald. Please let us know if you are interested, and we would be happy to give you one.
Here are a few ways you can reach us. The quickest and easiest way is through email. Our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, send it to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Another way you can contact us is through our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. Please look on our website for this teaching and other similar teaching. There you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again, the website is heraldsofhope.org.
We thank you again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as Pastor J. Mark continues teaching from the Gospel of John. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with this blessing from Number 6. The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
This episode is an exposition of John 19:38-42 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
John 19:31-37
We are glad to be with you today. It’s an awesome privilege we have to study God’s word together, and we are honored to do that with you here on Hope for Today. This program is produced by Heralds of Hope. We focus on Bible teaching and Bible distribution. It’s incredible how the Bible and the truth from Scripture are not limited to a certain area or people. The truths in the Bible are for all people everywhere.
We are excited today to look at these truths with you from the next section of John 19; the title is The Wonder of it All. And we are continuing our look at the crucifixion. There is something that happens in this passage, verse 34, that is worth focusing on. This is where the soldier pierces the side of Jesus, and the blood and water gush out.
Keep this in mind and think with me back to the garden of Eden. Do you remember how God created Eve? God put Adam into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, He took a rib from Adam’s side and created Eve. As you know, she was the first woman, and this was the first marriage. God used the rib from Adam’s side and created Eve for Adam. Imagine their first meeting; it must have been quite amazing. And notice Adam had his side pierced, and shortly after this, he met his bride, Eve.
In today’s passage, what happened to Jesus on the cross is similar. The soldiers didn’t take a rib from Jesus’ side, but they did pierce His side with a spear. I understand the place they pierced to be between the ribs near the top of His ribcage close to His heart. By the way, I also imagine God taking a rib from Adam that was close to his heart, and that is where our spouses should be, close to our hearts. When the soldiers pierced His side, water and blood came out; both Matthew and John use words that imply it came out with force.
Think about water and blood; do you recognize the significance of these two? If you want to be the Bride of Christ, both are very important. Jesus had His side pierced, and we can be His bride if we accept His shed blood and receive baptism. Let’s think about the importance of blood and water to the church, Christ’s bride.
The crucifixion is a bloody story from start to finish—so many times where His blood was shed. Remember the crown of thorns? During a whipping, the victim’s back was typically turned to a bloody pulp. Then imagine the robe covering His back and beginning to adhere to the cuts. Only to be ripped off and reopen all the wounds. Then there are the nails through His hands and feet, more blood. Don’t forget the spear in His side, which we just mentioned. From beginning to end, Jesus’ blood is shed over and over.
It is hard to explain exactly how it works, but we believe through the shed blood of Jesus, we can be forgiven and have our relationship with God restored. Isaiah 53 says, by His stripes we are healed. To be part of the Bride of Christ, we must recognize our sinfulness, accept Christ’s shed blood for us, and turn from our sin. The Bible uses one word for this, repent.
Now think about the water. Soon after we repent and begin our walk with Christ, we declare publicly that we are a follower of Jesus. We believe this public declaration should be accompanied by water baptism. A baptism is a significant event, yes, for the individual making the commitment, and in the spirit world. This physical act is very powerful spiritually. Think back to the big baptism in Acts; right after that, we see Satan trying to wipe them out with persecution, and to this day, baptism still seems to have a similar effect.
The call to “repent and be baptized” is recognized by Christians everywhere, and it has been preached by many godly men since the cross. This is the blood and the water. This is how we become part of the bride of Christ. Think of all His followers from all time. These people all together make up the church, His bride.
Now imagine what a meeting that will be when Christ calls His bride home. This will be even more amazing than when Adam and Eve met. You will want to be there, don’t miss it. Repent and be baptized; recognize the importance of the blood and water.
I was amazed and worshiped God at the similarities between Adam and Christ. From their pierced sides, a bride was prepared and is being prepared.
Now keep your Bibles opened to John 19 as Bible Teacher, J. Mark Horst, shares more truths from this passage.
Some people in Jesus’ day thought they crucified a dangerous criminal. Some people thought He was a powerful rival. So, in some way, they knew they must get rid of Him. Few knew then what the crucifixion really meant. Even though Jesus had spoken about His crucifixion to His disciples, yet even they hardly knew what He was talking about.
The Gospel of John gives us insights beyond the event itself through a carefully written record. I affirm the death of Jesus is a momentous event. That is why it will be good for us to think together about THE WONDER OF IT ALL from John 19:31-37.
31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
37 And again another scripture saith, they shall look on him whom they pierced.
As we think about the death of Jesus, we ought to give special attention to certain serious CONSIDERATIONS regarding that momentous event. THE WONDER OF IT ALL!
Consider The Holy Sabbath.
The event of Jesus’ death took place at the time of one of the most holy religious days. The calendar said it was the time of the Passover. Its significance can hardly be overemphasized. It was a commemoration of the deliverance of the Jews from Egypt hundreds of years before. They were saved from death by the sacrifice of a lamb. The blood was very important, for they were instructed by Moses to catch the blood in a basin and sprinkle that blood on the doorposts and on the lintels of the houses in which they were to keep themselves.
Every faithful Jew in Jesus’ day kept the Passover. It was a high day. It was a great day. It was the solemn remembrance of God’s mercy back there in the time when they were brought out of the land of Egypt by the hand of Moses. It was for that reason that the Jews came to Pilate and wanted to be sure that these bodies were not left on the crosses during this high holy day. These bodies on the crosses would desecrate that holy sabbath. So, we must consider the holy sabbath.
Consider The Spear-Pierced Side.
There were two crucified with Jesus, one on one side and one on the other. They were thieves; they were malefactors. So, the soldiers were ordered by Pilate to break the legs of those who were crucified to hasten their death. What really happened was, they would have no further support, and they would die of suffocation because their lungs could not expand. So, the soldiers came, and with one blow of the mallet, broke each leg of the thieves.But when they came to Jesus, they discovered He was dead already, so they did not break His legs. Instead, one of the soldiers, with his spear, pierced the side of Jesus, and immediately, blood and water came forth.
Do you know what Moses said to the children of Israel many, many years before? He said, “The life is in the blood.” And Moses also said, “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission.” I want you to consider the spear-pierced side of Jesus on the cross.
Consider The Fulfilled Scripture.
I am deeply impressed as I read these records that soldiers, governors, and people were fulfilling Scriptures they hardly knew had even been spoken. These are to bring us to believe. So wrote the Apostle John. He said, “My record is true.” And it is true that you might believe. The truth of the Bible comes out clear, for it is further stated the Scripture was fulfilled, “A bone of Him shall not be broken.” Praise the Lord! Isn’t it wonderful that King David, one thousand years before Christ, would write that in Psalm 34:20? “He keepeth all his bones; not one of them is broken.”
The second Scripture that was fulfilled right there is from Zechariah 12:10, “They shall look on me whom they have pierced.” That tells me that Jesus bears the marks now. Yes. Isn’t this a great revelation of the plan of God, that King David and Zechariah would predict, and the Scriptures would be fulfilled, that very time when Jesus died on the cross? Oh, the wonder of it all!
My friend, give serious attention to these considerations: that holy sabbath, the spear-pierced side, those fulfilled Scriptures. They bear testimony to the truth so you can believe.
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or a digital audio file of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on a digital audio file. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and anytime at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus; He’ll give you hope for today!
This episode is an exposition of John 19:31-37 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
John 19:23-30
Hello friend, and welcome to Hope for Today. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other major languages. Tens of thousands tune in each week for spiritual nourishment and blessing.
But radio ministry is just one part of what we do at Heralds of Hope. We also distribute Bibles and literature. And our newest publication is called Hope Herald. It’s a study guide designed to complement the teaching you’ll hear on this broadcast. We would be happy to send a copy of this study guide to you if you just write and ask for it. Stay tuned, and I will give you the contact information at the end of the program.
Now, here’s Pastor J. Mark with today’s teaching.
I’m sure that you, like I, realize that our human existence is full of many uncertainties. Each day brings its changes, and many of them are unpredictable. Only one person knew how His days would end. Even during the last week of His life, Jesus explained to the disciples exactly what was going to happen. He lived with the end in view.
We are not blessed like that. The only certainty we have is the fact of the end. The time of the end is hidden from us. Not so with Jesus. The record contained in John’s Gospel shows us how Jesus came to His death. I want you to notice from John 19:23-30, that He clearly understood what was happening; He was aware of THE COMPLETED ACT.
23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
My friend, from the array of evidence, I have selected three remarkable PARTICULARS which should convince anyone that Jesus died. There will be no more room for doubt.
The first Particular: The Disposal Of His Clothes.
There were the soldiers, the ones who had crucified Him. It may well be that their each receiving a part of His clothing was a reward for their act. A reward for their act? Well, perhaps that was the only way they got paid for it, a little bonus, perhaps. At any rate, they made equal parts, then cast lots for the inner garment, the vestment, the seamless tunic. It was not the outer garment; it was the inner garment for which they cast lots because it was woven from the top to the bottom throughout.
Isn’t it striking that the disposal of His clothes had been predicted years before by King David in the 22nd Psalm? “They parted my raiment among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.” The soldiers did not know what they were doing. They were not aware that they were fulfilling Scripture. But they were. Isn’t that remarkable? The disposal of His clothes was a particular which cannot be ignored. It seems like a very insignificant act, and yet, the Bible predicted that this was exactly what they would do when they crucified Jesus.
The second Particular: The Disclosure Of His Concern.
We are informed that there were four women standing near the cross. It was His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. These four women, most likely, were very close to Him. More than likely, the other women were close friends of His mother’s. She was there. At the time of the birth of Jesus, Simeon, as a prophet, had said that a sword would pierce through her own heart. Here she was by the cross of Jesus, witnessing His death.
Besides these four women, there was the disciple whom Jesus loved. Most students of the Bible identify him as John the Apostle.
While they were there, Jesus from the cross disclosed His concern and said to His mother, “Woman, behold thy son.” Then to John, He said, “Behold thy mother.” Thus, His last earthly concern was to make sure that His mother was cared for by loving hands, John’s hands. Such a loving act is a particular that cannot be ignored. The disclosure of His concern is clear, is it not?
The third Particular: The Distinction Of His Cry.
Now read again verse 28, “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished.” I mentioned earlier that Jesus knew when the end would be. Here we are informed that He was completely knowledgeable. He knew the end was coming. So, He asked for something to drink by saying, “I thirst.” He had full knowledge of it. The Prophet David had predicted that His tongue would cleave to the roof of His mouth with thirst.
Then followed His final word, His final word. After He had taken the vinegar from the sponge, He declared as His final word, “It is finished.” Praise the Lord! It will never be altered; it cannot be changed. He said clearly, “It is finished,” then bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
My dear friend, no amount of reasoning can change the record. Our Lord’s distinctive cry settles that. Such a far-reaching act, such a word from the Savior is a particular which cannot be ignored.
From these remarkable particulars, we are brought to the unshakable conclusion: He died. He gave His innocent life, the innocent for the guilty. When I survey the wondrous cross, I see God’s great completed act!
Thanks, J Mark, for this teaching. We are so glad Jesus has completed the work, and His crucifixion is still saving people to this day. As we just heard, His last statement was, “It is finished.” In English, this is three words, but in the original language (Greek), it was one word, and the word was tetelestai. This is a unique word, and we struggle to get it exactly into English. The reason is in English, we don’t have this tense for our verbs. To say what He meant, in English, it would have sounded more like this, “It is finished and will continue to be finished.” This adds a depth to the word we don’t catch with our English tense.
And as I looked at the word and its many uses. I was encouraged with the meaning packed into this one Greek word, and I believe you will also be encouraged as we look at the various meanings packed into “It is Finished.”
First, Jesus said this on the cross, and His work on earth was completed. He had done all the Father gave Him to do. V. 28 uses the same word, tetelestai, and it is translated “all things were now accomplished.” So, It is Finished. Jesus has accomplished all the Father had given Him to do. This is only one aspect of “It is Finished,” let’s look at a few more.
Secondly, this is the word a priest would use while examining an animal before the sacrifice. If the animal was without blemish and passed the test, he would say tetelestai. In a similar way, it seems Jesus, as our priest, uttered this before He was sacrificed, knowing that the Sacrifice of Himself was and is acceptable to the Father. “It is Finished,” This sacrifice is perfect.
A third use of the word was in business. Many believe this is the word written on receipts from that period. It was when a debt was fully paid. Like now, back then, people had debt; when the last payment was made, “it is finished” is the word that was used to mark the end. After this, no more was owed. This is very encouraging when we remember what Christ has done on our behalf. We don’t owe any more, “It is Finished.” It is up to us to accept His sacrifice.
This word was also used in conflict. However, it was only used by the victor, and they only used it when they knew victory was certain. Then they would use the word tetelestai. I wonder if the Roman centurion saw Christ dying and then heard this cry of victory and realized this is no ordinary man. “Surely, he must be the son of God.” From our vantage point, 2000 years later, we know Christ has conquered! He has defeated sin. He has crushed death. He is victorious!
Lastly, it is also my understanding that the word was used to signify a turning point. If one time period ends and another one begins, tetelestai was used. We know from Matthew 27 how the curtain which separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple was ripped from top to bottom. This marked the end of the Old Testament era. Jesus has ushered in a new era. No need to sacrifice sheep to cover sin or go to Jerusalem for the Passover. This is a new era, and Jesus lives in us; we are now the temple.
“It is finished” is packed with so much truth, and these are a few of the things Jesus may have meant. It is exciting how you can dig into God’s word and never get to the bottom. Today we just looked at one word a little closer, and there is so much there. I was encouraged from this and hope you’ve been encouraged too. Now I will say, “It is Finished,” but all I mean is the teaching for today is finished.
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or a digital audio file of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on a digital audio file. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and anytime at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus; He’ll give you hope for today!
This episode is an exposition of John 19:23-30 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
John 19:16-22
Hello friend, and thank you for joining us for another week here on Hope for Today. This program is produced by Heralds of Hope, and we are honored to be teaching from God’s word and broadcasting the teaching around the world each week via radio. This program will be translated and broadcast in 23 different languages, and our goal is that your relationship with Christ will be strengthened through our time together.
Today, our study in John comes to the crucifixion of Christ. The crucifixion and resurrection of Christ are the most important events to ever take place on this planet. We will never completely grasp the impact of this event on this side of heaven, but let’s take some time to think about it and worship our Savior for this incredible story.
Before we turn to John 19 and read about the crucifixion there, let’s look at the verses in Isaiah 53. Remember Isaiah lived about 700 years before Jesus, yet these verses are precise, and they have been fulfilled perfectly in Jesus Christ. Let’s read verses 3 -9. Think about how incredible it is for a prophecy to be fulfilled so accurately 700 years after it was first written. I will point out a few phrases as I read that have been encouraging to me.
“He is despised and rejected of men, a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. And we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely, He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…” Here is a perspective of the crucifixion we must keep in mind. Jesus carried our griefs and sorrows. As humans, we have felt the brokenness of earth living. No matter what it is, you can take it to Jesus; He understands.
“…yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed.” These last phrases are huge for us; because of what Jesus went through, we can have peace, and we can be healed. Think about that: healing and peace—two things this world so desperately needs more of. It is found at the cross of Jesus. And there is enough healing there for all the sin in the universe, and the peace offered at the cross is big enough to calm all the chaos in the world. We must take his peace and healing everywhere we go!
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” This explains why the crucifixion is the focal point of all time. It solves the biggest disaster humanity has ever seen, the disaster of sin, and it’s even more personal; it deals with the problem of my sin. My iniquity has been put on Christ, and He has made it disappear!
Notice in the next three verses, that the smallest detail came true in the crucifixion. Isaiah wrote this long before Jesus, yet each phrase has happened. This is amazing and helps us trust God and believe His word.
“He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not his mouth; He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of My people was He stricken. And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death, because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.”
There was no sin in Jesus; this is why His sacrifice is so powerful; He was perfect. This account in Isaiah lines up exactly with the story as we hear it in the gospels. I am so thankful God has validated His Word with prophecy that is fulfilled perfectly.
We hope you will continue to be encouraged with the story of the crucifixion as we look at John 19 and give our attention to Bible teacher, J Mark Horst, for more teaching. Thank you again for being here and joining us for this lesson.
The most solemn event of human history recorded is the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. His life has challenged many men to live right all down through the centuries. Many have suffered death because of their faith in Him. The Bible records leave no room to doubt that He was actually crucified. It is to that solemn event we give attention in this meditation.
There are records outside of the Bible which also testify to THE CRUCIFIXION as a historical event. This is no idle tale or story. This is history, well-validated by the record in John 19:16-22.
16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led him away.
17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
18 Where they crucified him, and two others with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
19 And Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
When we study what happened when Jesus was crucified, we must examine the vital FACTS. Let us picture them in our minds so the Holy Spirit can give us understanding.
The first Fact is: The Character Of The Companions.
You read, “Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they led him away.” Undoubtedly, reference is made here by “they” to the soldiers and the people. Roman soldiers were framed in such heartless actions. They led Him to the common place of execution, Golgotha. That hill of the skull, my friend, is still visible today. Oh yes, I’ve stood at the foot of Calvary, and in my mind have pictured Him there on the cross.
What is the character of His companions that were crucified with Him? There were two others, we are told. Mark’s Gospel reports that they were thieves. Luke’s Gospel calls them malefactors. The Prophet Isaiah, 700 years before Christ, predicted, “He was numbered with the transgressors.” Yes, one, two, three. These two others, crucified with Him, were sinners, serious sinners, men upon whom the law had a claim, for they had broken it. His companions in crucifixion were sinners.
The second Fact is: The Intention Of The Title.
Pilate, we are told, wrote a title and put it on the cross of Jesus. This is what it read: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” I imagine that Pilate did that to humiliate Jesus. It would be a sorry end for a political aspirant, someone who wanted to rise on the political scale. To end up on the cross would be a humiliating experience. It would be a way for Pilate to dispose of a political enemy. It most likely was intended to give a blow to Jesus.
I suspect that the intention of the title was to humiliate the Jews. It was to remind them that they were securely under Rome. Here the King of the Jews was suspended between heaven and earth on thecross. He supposed all their hopes were dashed. Pilate hoped that he could humiliate the Jews this way.
He did not know, of course, that Jesus had told Peter in the garden that He could pray to the Father, and the Father would send Him twelve legions of angels that He might be delivered. But the Lord had added, “But how then shall the scripture be fulfilled?” “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” was written in three languages and put above Him on the cross. The languages were Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Everybody passing by could read it. The intention of the title must have been to put a stop to any idea that Jesus was a King.
The third Fact is: The Inflexibility Of The Verdict.
The leaders of the Jewish people came to Pilate and objected to the title. They said, “Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.” Jesus never said that. Really Pilate had tried to extract it from Him. They did not know that Gabriel, when he told Mary she would give birth to Jesus, promised her that God would give to Him the throne of His father David, and He would rule over the house of Jacob forever. This is what the angel said to Mary. But they did not know that.
Pilate, with a show of power, refused to change it. He said, “What I have written, I have written.” Could he have remembered that Jesus had told him shortly before that he had no power except that which was given to him? Beyond this title that Pilate gave to Jesus, the Bible refers to Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Yes, my friend, Pilate’s inflexibility regarding the verdict may have shown more power than he himself possessed.
It cannot be doubted that Jesus was crucified. All records agree. The facts support the truth: He was crucified. But before any benefit can come to you, you must acknowledge those facts associated with His crucifixion and receive Him as your sacrifice for sin.
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or a digital audio file of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on a digital audio file. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and anytime at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus; He’ll give you hope for today!
This episode is an exposition of John 19:16-22 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
John 19:8-15 We are honored to be with you again today. It is a privilege to study God’s word with you; thanks for joining us. We are Heralds of Hope, and this program is one way we can fulfill Jesus’ last command. Jesus told us in Matt 28 to “Go ye therefore and teach all nations.” Through this program, we want to teach everyone about Jesus and the things we have learned from Him. We pray for Jesus’ Kingdom to be strengthened through the things we share on our program, and we encourage you as you walk with Him and follow Him.
Our study today continues in John 19, where Jesus is being questioned by Pilate. The title is The Final Choice. It is a closer look at Pilate’s choice and what may have led him to make the decision he made. Before we get into today’s teaching, however, let’s think about the power of our choices and how our choices set a direction in our lives.
Romans 1 shows us the progression of choices for two people. The first is for someone who is following Him and walking by faith. The other is for someone who has rejected God and is walking away from Him.
First, let’s think about the choice to follow God and live for Him. This is summarized in v17, and it is a short summary describing how we can grow closer to God. It says, “God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith.” I understand this to be teaching that when you choose God’s way and walk with Him, it leads to more faith. Think about the times in your life when you needed God, He shows up, and your faith grows.
As you are faced with many choices and continually go toward God, your faith will continue to grow. “God’s righteousness is being revealed from faith to faith,” or as I like to think of it, “from faith to more faith.” This is God’s heart, and this is what He wants for each of us. In every choice, large or small, acknowledge Him and move toward Him.
The rest of the Romans 1 describes what happens when we reject God and walk away from Him. It is a much longer description, but as we look at it, I hope the warning can be taken seriously. Notice it starts by saying these are people who know God. We are not talking about those who don’t know; these people knew God.
The downward spiral starts when people know God, but don’t glorify Him or thank Him. This is the first bad choice. Remember, it’s God’s wish for the person to turn toward Him and choose right. However, God is a gentleman and doesn’t force Himself where He is not welcome.
So, people know God but don’t worship or thank Him. This leads right into the next bad choice. They begin to worship created things instead of the creator. The first choice led them away from God, a little. Then they are faced with another choice; again, they reject God and get further from Him. Notice the progression, each choice takes them farther away from God, and it happens little by little.
Time after time, they walk away from God and make the choice to reject Him. Understand this is not a single choice; it is reoccurring. Every day they should glorify God, but they don’t. They see a beautiful sunrise, but they don’t give God the glory He deserves. And these choices slowly lead them away from God, and they are becoming hardened to Him.
As this progression away from God continues, He lets them go. And they take their rejection of Him another step. They reject His ways and do whatever they please. And you know what? God lets them go. He allows them to live out their sinful desires. It is not pretty. Look at verses 29-31; it gives a summary of what life is like when you continually walk away from God and reject Him, and to add to their wickedness, they even approve of others who are doing as they are.
So here in Romans 1 are two very opposite paths; one leads to more faith, the other to wickedness. Each path is determined by my many small choices. This is why every day is important; each day, our choices lead us to God or away from Him. God is merciful, and in His amazing sovereignty, He continues to give us the freedom of choice. Our prayer is that you will choose Him and move in God’s direction. Don’t be like Pilate, who was not brave enough to stand for Christ. And don’t be like the mob who demanded that Christ be Crucified. Instead, make the right choice and move closer to God.
Now let’s give our attention to Pastor J Mark as he teaches us more about The Final Choice.
All of us face choices every day. Some choices are very serious. Some may be rather trivial. But each decision requires the will to carry it out. The serious choices can mean the difference between life and death. The most far-reaching choice I submit to you is the choice we make for or against Jesus Christ because that has to do with the destiny of this life.
At the time when our decision is focused upon Jesus Christ, we are subject to influences affecting our reasoning. There are several ways power can be used to influence that choice. In John 19:8-15, we get the setting for THE FINAL CHOICE.
8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid.
9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
When faced with the final choice, we should be aware of the USES of power in arriving at our decision.
The first use of power is: The Power of Silence.
Pilate was seized with fear when he heard that the Jews said Jesus made Himself the Son of God. Pilate realized then that he was dealing with more than an ordinary person. You can be quite sure that Pilate was not a believer in the God of the Jews. By no means! He was an idol worshipper. But, nonetheless, he was seized with fear and put the question to Jesus like this, “From where are you?”
There seemed to be a mystery about Jesus. Pilate realized that he was dealing with someone more than his equal. But I want you to notice how Jesus used the power of silence. He knew how to use it. He just kept quiet; He said nothing; He did not answer Pilate at all. Few people know how to use the power of silence, but Jesus knew how, so He was forcing Pilate to make a decision.
The second use of power is: The Power of Rulers.
When Jesus refused to speak, Pilate attempted to bring the power of Rome down on His head. He said, “Do you not know that I have power to crucify you and power to release you? My word can mean your life, or my word can mean your death.” He was at the mercy of the ruler. That is the kind of power Pilate had as a Roman ruler. That was Roman power, the power of rulers. With a whim and a word, they could pronounce life or death.
But Jesus answered him something like this, “You have no power at all. There is a divine power that you do not recognize.” Now here is exactly what He answered, “You would have no power at all against me except it were given you from above.” Roman power, Jesus informed Pilate, is subject to divine power. The power of the state is not absolute. Jesus made that very clear to Pilate.
There was that political power that the accusers of Jesus began to employ, the power of rulers. Rome allowed no rival. Therefore, the appeal was made to Pilate that unless He would crucify Jesus, he would get himself into trouble with the emperor, Caesar.
Now Jesus had set Pilate straight. But the accusers of Jesus threatened Him with political power. He had to make a choice. Pilate had to make a choice. Many rulers like Pilate do not realize their power is not absolute.
The third use of power is: The Power of The Public.
So, Pilate sat upon his judgment seat in the place called the Pavement. It was simply a mockery. He put on his Roman robes and sat, most likely looking very stern, upon the seat of judgment. He then announced the accusation, “Behold your king.” But the power of the public moved in. It was a mob movement. They passed sentence without law. They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him.” And thus, the innocent One was sentenced to death by the power of the public.
Mobs are seldom rational. They can be led. And that’s what we have here. Jesus became subject to the power of the public.
The final choice was between Caesar and Jesus. For Pilate, it meant his political future. And here, he failed to understand wherein true power lies. He was influenced by the power of the public.
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Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on a digital audio file. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
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Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus; He’ll give you hope for today!
This episode is an exposition of John 19:8-15 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
John 19:1-7
Hello, and thank you for joining us. This program is produced by Heralds of Hope, and we are honored to share this teaching with you. We believe the Word of God and are committed to teaching from it. The reason for this is because our experience has shown the Bible has the best answers to our big questions, and we have experienced its life-giving and life-changing truth. This is also why we count it a privilege each time we open the Bible and teach from it.
Today is no exception, and we will continue our study in the book of John. We just finished John 18, and now we will go with Jesus to His trial before Pilate in John 19. Today’s lesson is titled, Who is Guilty?
In every land, the government has some process by which to administer justice. There is surely in all countries a system of courts. They are not all the same, but there are processes to deal with lawbreakers. The tragedy is when innocent people are assumed to be guilty before evidence of guilt has been established.
In the trial of Jesus, we must raise the question, WHO IS GUILTY? His life was full of loving acts of kindness, healing the sick, and teaching the people. Yet, because He was misunderstood, He had to stand trial before the Roman court.
As John reports what happened during Jesus’ trial before the Roman ruler, we wonder really who was on trial. We will consider John 19:1-7 in this meditation.
1. Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged him.
2. And the soldiers braided a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,
3. And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they struck him with their hands.
4. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that you may know that I find no fault in him.
5. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
6. When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.
7. The Jews answered him, we have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
Heavenly Father, these words of Scripture fill our hearts with a mixture of sorrow and joy. Sorrow to see how unjustly Jesus was treated; joy because of His willingness to secure our eternal salvation. These words remind us again of a very important truth. God uses the free choices of men to accomplish His purposes but holds men accountable for their choices. History has judged Pilate harshly. If there is no repentance, eternity will judge him even more harshly.
And so, as my friend and I examine this portion of Scripture, help us to consider our choices as they relate to Jesus the Christ. I ask this in His name, Amen.
Who is guilty? To answer this question, we must carefully weigh several OBSERVATIONS.
We turn our faces away as we observe He was Scourged by the Soldiers.
Yes, He was beaten. Perhaps they beat Him to force a confession of wrong. That is a method often used to bring a forced confession: whip him, torment him, hurt him and perhaps he will say something that will give an occasion to pass sentence against him. It may well be that Pilate planned that kind of an approach. He was scourged, brutally beaten, by the soldiers.
It may also be that it was simply to humiliate the prisoner. We are told that in the time the Romans ruled, the soldiers had a game they played with the prisoner. They called it “the game of the king”. Even today in the city of Jerusalem under the Church of the Ecce Homo there’s the Pavement, the courtyard of Antonia, the Roman fortress paved with huge stones. The game is laid out on the pavement, cut in the stones, exactly where and what these soldiers did. It was “the game of the king”. They plaited a crown of thorns and put it on His head. They took off His own garment and put on Him a purple robe, to mock Him, to humiliate Him. With open hand they smote Tim. Others of the Gospels report that they spit upon Him.
I raise the question, “who is guilty”? This whipping, scourging by the soldiers, the mocking and humiliation, does this indicate who is guilty?
When we turn our eyes upon Jesus, we observe, He was Faultless before Pilate.
After the soldiers had done their awful work of beating Jesus, Pilate brought Him forth to the people. But Pilate had violated due process of the law, because he had punished a man before his guilt had been established. He had him beaten before there was any evidence of guilt. Every civil court should protect the innocent, instead of bringing punishment upon him. Pilate, I tell you, violated the due process of Roman law.
It may be that Pilate needed to satisfy the accusers of Jesus. By having Jesus beaten, he could bring Him out and show them that he had taken stern measures against Him. This might satisfy them. The evidence of His humiliation might satisfy the accusers.
I can almost see Jesus right now standing there beside the Roman governor: Jesus with His crown of thorns and purple robe. Pilate declared, “I find no fault in him.” He called their attention to Him standing there with the crown of thorns and purple robe by announcing, “Behold the man!” Did this answer the question, who is guilty? Pilate concluded, “I find no fault in him.” Who, then, is guilty? That is my question.
I’m making some observations, some searching observations from this account: He was scourged by the soldiers; He was faultless before Pilate.
Then the only other way to look is to the mob, and we observe He was Condemned by the Crowd.
When they saw Him crowned with thorns and decked with a purple robe, they cried out, saying, “Crucify him, crucify him.” A mob spirit prevailed. Justice could not be carried out, and seldom is when a mob spirit prevails.
Pilate responded by a most carefully stated proposition, “You take him and crucify him, because I find no fault in him.” I would think, and so would you, that an innocent person should not be punished. Twice we have heard Pilate declare he had found nothing in Jesus worthy of death: “I find no fault in him.”
They then responded by referring to one of their laws. Here before the civil court, these people bring up a religious law. They say, “Our law calls for his death because he made himself the Son of God.”
Yes, they were right. Anyone who blasphemed the Name of God, according to their law, was to be executed. But just suppose that this One who is on trial is, indeed, the Son of God.
Now our question of who is guilty begins to focus. Suppose they are wrong, that He is really the Son of God. How shall we answer the question, who is guilty?
I have answers. The soldiers are guilty for tormenting and beating an innocent person. Pilate is guilty of punishing before guilt was established; he did not live up to his oath of office as a Roman governor. The people are guilty of condemning when there was no conclusive evidence. Just suppose He is the Son of God. Then all the world is guilty. That means you and I are guilty, too.
Thank you, J. Mark, for this teaching from God’s Word. He has answered the question loud and clear, who is guilty? All of us are. This understanding is foundational to Christianity. We must understand and realize we are guilty before God. When our guilt is understood, it leads us to God’s solution for guilt, Jesus Christ. However, if we don’t see ourselves as guilty, there will be no need for Christ’s sacrifice.
Romans teaches us the law was given so that we become conscious of sin. In chapter 3, Paul quotes about seven Old Testament passages. His summary is in verse 19, and he says, “Now we know that whatsoever things the law saith, it saith to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God.” This describes all of us. We are guilty before God, just like the soldiers, Pilate, and the crowd who screamed for the crucifixion of Christ. If this were the end, it would be very disappointing, and we would all be doomed, hopelessly stuck in guilt.
Imagine Paul writing these words with tears in His eyes and a heavy heart. Guilty, all of us are guilty. It is important for every person to understand this truth. Many people tell themselves; I am not that bad; I am a good person. After all, God wouldn’t condemn me; He is a loving God.
Let’s think about these things; it’s true; if you compare yourself to others, you can always find someone who is more sinful than you. You shouldn’t feel safe because of this; it just means both of you are guilty. And it is true God is a loving God, however, don’t think in His love he will ignore your sin. Imagine you are on trial for bank robbery. Do you think you could convince the judge to let you go because you Read your Bible, go to church, and are a good person? No matter how many good deeds you do, it doesn’t cancel the fact that you are guilty, you robbed a bank, and justice will be served. So yes, God does love us, but we are still guilty; our sin needs to be dealt with.
Paul clearly explains and proves all humans are guilty. In today’s teaching, we heard again that we are guilty. Praise God, the story doesn’t end here, but our journey with Christ must start at this point. We must recognize our guilt before Him; then, we will be ready to accept His solution for being made right. This is what Paul switches to in the very next verses. Listen to Romans 3:21-22, but try to imagine the change in Paul, his demeanor changes and he becomes happier; he wipes away His tears and begins to smile as he writes verse 21. But now, God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses[a] and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
That’s incredible; that’s exactly what we are looking for to take care of our guilt problem. It is exciting to hear this wonderful news after we spent so much time thinking about guilt. We can be made right with God: no need to stay guilty. This is what we need; this is what the world needs. I don’t know about you, but this brief study on guilt has challenged me and renewed my appreciation for Jesus Christ.
Thank you for joining us. It is a privilege for us to study God’s word and learn from it. Now take what you heard and put it into practice. The teaching and instruction in the Bible are for us and are meant to be lived.
Don’t be like the man in James chapter one who sees himself in a mirror then goes away and forgets what he looks like. Instead, be like the man in verse twenty-five, who looks intently into the word and is a doer of the work. God says, “that man will be Blessed in what he does.”
And we want to bless you as you follow Jesus and share Him with those around you. If you have any questions or if you would like today’s teaching, just contact us and ask for it by title or tell us the passage. We also have a study guide available designed to help you learn more from each lesson; it is called the Hope Herald. Please let us know if you are interested, and we would be happy to give you one.
Here are several ways you can reach us. The quickest and easiest way is through email. Our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, send it to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. And the 3rd way you can contact us is through our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. Please look on our website for this teaching and other similar teachings. There you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again the website is heraldsofhope.org
We thank you again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as Pastor J. Mark continues teaching from the Gospel of John. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with this blessing from Number 6. The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
This episode is an exposition of John 19:1-7 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
John 18:28-40
Thank you for joining us; we are glad to be here and honored you are there. This is Hope for Today, and this program is produced by Heralds of Hope; our goal is to use media to make disciples of Jesus Christ to accomplish the Great Commission in our lifetime. While you are listening to today’s teaching, we hope you will be encouraged, and your relationship with Jesus will become deeper and more meaningful. This, after all, is what a disciple is, someone who is a follower or student of a teacher. Our teacher is Jesus, and we want to become more like him.
Turn to John 18 and for the account of Jesus before Pilate. We are so glad you joined us, and we are happy to tell you we know the answer to Pilate’s big question. He asked, “What is Truth?” And the truth was standing right in front of Him. Let’s listen to Pastor J Mark as he teaches us more about Jesus.
The first court before which Jesus stood trial was a religious court. It is proper that that happened. From the religious court, Jesus’ case was transferred to the civil court. This was headed by Pilate, the Procurator, or Governor. He had been appointed in the year 26 in the common era.
Rome had governors in various parts of the empire, but the governing of Palestine seemed to be so difficult that Pilate, the Governor, was responsible directly to the emperor in Rome. Years ago, a pillar was found in the ruins of Caesarea along the seacoast. In the inscription on that pillar was the name Pilatus, that is Latin for Pilate. So, there is no question, but that Pilate was a Roman Governor in Palestine. The Bible record states he was there at this time and was to render a judgment about Jesus. They brought Him to Pilate’s judgment hall early in the morning. The Governor expected to sit in judgment then.
John, the beloved disciple, in his report of that scene, pictures the captain and his soldiers, the religious leaders with the mob which had gathered and PILATE—THE ROMAN GOVERNOR. The text is found in John 18:28-40.
28. Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the Passover.
29. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, what accusation bring ye against this man?
30. They answered and said unto him, if he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
31. Then said Pilate unto them, take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jew therefore said unto him, it is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
32. That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying what death he should die.
33. Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jew?
34. Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
35. Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
36. Jesus answered, my kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37. Pilate therefore said unto him, Are you a king then? Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38. Pilate saith unto him, what is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
39. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the Passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
40. Then cried they all again, saying, not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
From this text, we obtain insights into the PROCEEDINGS employed by Pilate, the Roman Governor.
In this civil court scene, the first proceeding began promptly: The Accusation was Required.
It was early in the morning when they brought Jesus to Pilate. He had the right to ask His accusers to state their case, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” In reply, they simply said, “If He were not a malefactor, we would not have brought Him to you.” In other words, we do not bother you with the innocent, Governor. He is an evildoer. Malefactor means evildoer or a doer of evil. They answered, we brought Him here because He is an evildoer, and He must stand judgment before you.
But Pilate tried to turn the case back to them by saying, “You have a law; judge him by your law.” But they replied, “It is unlawful for us to execute a man.” Rome had denied them this right, and they were correct in saying it.
However, I want you to notice carefully verse 32. It reads like this: “That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying what death he should die.” You see, the Jewish system of execution was by stoning. The Roman system of execution was by crucifixion. Jesus had said (it is recorded in John 12:32), “And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me. He said that to signify what death He should die.” When Jesus had spoken to Nicodemus early in His ministry, He had said, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so, must the Son of man be lifted up.” So, their request that Pilate try Him and sentence Him was in harmony with the divine purpose.
So first, the accusation was required. Having heard that,
Pilate entered into conversation with the accused, and The Investigation Was Conducted.
Pilate asked Jesus four questions. The first one was right on target, “Are you the King of the Jews”? That was a very touchy question. It was basic to the trial. If Jesus had said, yes, He would immediately have run into the problem of the Roman authority. I would have you note, however, that Jesus did not deny it; He only raised the question, “Do you say this of yourself, or did somebody else tell you?” He did not deny it. At the moment, He did not admit it.
Pilate’s second question was logical, “What have you done?” He was searching for evidence: Pilate needed to know why the nation had delivered Him. But that was a loaded question. It was hardly a fair question because He would convict Himself. If, indeed, He was a malefactor, doer of evil, as they said He was, He would have convicted Himself. It was hardly a fair question.
Then Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world order.” Pilate immediately caught the note and asked Him the third question, “Are you a king then”? Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. I really came to bear witness to the truth. And everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.
Then Pilate asked the fourth question, “What is truth”? It was an easy way to avoid a responsibility. Pilate hadn’t heard Jesus once declare, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” What is truth? Jesus is truth. Pilate missed the truth in investigating the case.
Upon a warped accusation and an inconclusive investigation, The Summation was Offered.
Pilate’s first statement to the Jews was courageous, “I find no fault in Him.” That is a clear statement, a clear summation of the case, “I find no fault.” But instead of carrying through with that, he responded, “I am willing to honor your custom that at Passover I release some prisoner to you. Now, will you, therefore, that I release unto you the King of the Jews?”
That must have been an insult to them. They immediately responded by rejecting his proposal in these words, “Not this man, but Barabbas.” The comment is that Barabbas was a robber. He was an insurrectionist, a criminal, but they chose a criminal for release rather than an innocent man. Pilate offered the summation, but they rejected it.
The trial before Pilate was not based on facts but on feeling. They chose to free a wicked man and crucify an innocent one. But, my friend, only an innocent one could die for us. Pilate verified His innocence. He said, “I find no fault in Him.”
Again, I raise the question, “Why?” God knew only in that way would it be possible for us to be forgiven. Peace with God is possible only by His way. Your way or my way will not bring peace.
O God, righteous Heavenly Father, we bow in your awesome presence. We acknowledge that you are sovereign over all things. In today’s lesson, we saw how you arranged the circumstances of history to accomplish your plan for our salvation.
Pilate had freedom to make choices, and he did, but you used his choices to fulfill your plans and purposes. And so, our innocent Savior, Jesus Christ, was delivered to death, unjustly, for our sake. And yet, through this clear miscarriage of justice, we have obtained peace with you through Jesus, in whose name we pray, Amen.
Thank you, J. Mark, for this teaching from God’s Word, and thank you for joining us. It is a privilege for us to study God’s word and learn from it. Now take what you heard and put it into practice. The teaching and instruction in the Bible is for us and it is meant to be lived.
Don’t be like the man in James 1 who sees himself in a mirror then goes away and forgets what he looks like; instead, be like the man in v 25 who looks intently into the word and is a doer of the work. God says, “that man will be Blessed in what he does.”
And we want to bless you as you follow Jesus and share Him with those around you. If you have any questions or if you would like today’s teaching just contact us and ask for it by title or tell us the passage. We also have a study guide available designed to help you learn more from each lesson; it is called the Hope Herald. Please let us know if you are interested, and we would be happy to give you one.
Here are several ways you can reach us. The quickest and easiest way is through email. Our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, send it to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. And the 3rd way you can contact us is through our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. Please look on our website for this teaching and other similar teachings. There you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again, the website is heraldsofhope.org
We thank you again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as Pastor J. Mark continues teaching from the Gospel of John. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with this blessing from Number 6. The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
This episode is an exposition of John 18:28-40 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
John 18:12-24
Blessings of Grace and Peace from the Lord Jesus Christ, He is our risen Savior, and it’s Him we magnify and glorify with our lives. We are glad to be with you again this week; thank you for joining us. We are Heralds of Hope, and every week our Bible teaching is broadcast around the world via radio. This is one way we are achieving our vision of using media to make disciples of Jesus Christ, and we believe Christians working together can accomplish the Great Commission in our lifetime.
Another way Heralds of Hope is accomplishing our vision of making disciples is through Bible and literature distribution. Working with partners throughout the world, we distribute the Bibles in areas where the Bible is not easily accessible.
Our lesson today is from John 18, and the title is “The High Priest.” This is the story of Jesus before Annas; then Annas sends Jesus to Caiaphas. We have the High Priest of the new covenant standing before the High Priest of the Old Covenant. The Priests and many of the OT Jews did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. They were waiting and looking for the Messiah, yet when he was right in front of them, they missed him. How did this happen? How could they have been so blind?
There are two verses in Thessalonians which help us understand this kind of blindness. The verses are II Thessalonians 2:10-11, and I would summarize them by saying, they perished because they refused to love the truth and be saved. To guard against this kind of blindness and to protect ourselves from deception, we must love the truth. The priests who missed Jesus loved power and influence more than they loved the truth. When the truth was right in front of them, they missed it. This is very sad, but we must recognize that we have similar tendencies. We won’t be deceived if we continue to love the truth and walk with Him.
Again, we are so glad you joined us, and we pray you will be encouraged in your walk with the truth today!
In examining the circumstances of Jesus’ death, I take the records in the Bible as reliable. I believe those records are a true report of what happened. He was arrested by the security guard and first brought before the religious court headed by the high priest.
Some of Jesus’ teachings clashed with the interpretation of the religious leadership. He had encountered them on different occasions. It is not surprising, then, that after His arrest, He would be brought first before the religious court. The recorder was careful to give the essential details in each of the events which led up to Jesus’ death. The death of Jesus is the most important event of history.
In John 18, the role of THE HIGH PRIEST in the trial of Jesus comes plainly into view.
12. Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
13. And led him away to Annas first; for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
14. Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
15. The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
16. Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.
17. Why do you ask me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
18. And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Do you answer the high priest so?
19. Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why do you strike me?
20. Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
From this record, we underscore the several PROCEDURES that were undertaken in this religious court headed by the high priest.
We will first scan the historical background as The Court Is Examined.
Going back into the history of the high priesthood, I find that the first high priest in the days of Moses was his brother, Aaron. God had established this priestly line by selecting the tribe of Levi to be the priestly tribe. Both Moses and Aaron were of that priestly tribe, Levi. God had said to Moses that the sons of Aaron should follow him in the office of high priest.
Some years before the Christian era, however, the appointment of the high priest was made by the Roman government, instead of being selected and anointed by the religious leaders in Israel. This man, Annas, was appointed in his thirty-seventh year to be high priest by the Roman government.
Caiaphas, his son-in-law, however, was the functional high priest. From other records, we learn that his name was Joseph Caiaphas. He was the one who had spoken like this: “It is expedient that one man dies for the people and that the whole nation perish not.” He had said this after Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. He said it because he feared the revenge of Rome, as he saw how everybody was following after Jesus. He was really afraid that Rome would come and destroy the nation. But he said more than he knew when he said, “It is expedient that one man dies for the people”. The court then was a religious court with the high priest in charge.
They gathered to investigate the problem of Jesus. So, The Problem Is Explained.
First of all, the problem needed to be stated. The high priest asked Jesus of His disciples and of His doctrine. Reading through the Gospel of John, we have learned that Jesus had many disciples. They came to Him from many different areas. People enjoyed His teaching. We are told on one occasion that even the officers of the temple had said, “No one ever spoke like this man.” Others had said about Him that He taught with authority. So, this high priest’s court wanted to know about Jesus’ disciples.
They also wanted to know about His doctrine. You recall some of Jesus’ teachings were opposite to the interpretation of the religious leaders of His day. Jesus simply reminded them that He had never taught in secret; His teaching had always been in the open. He had taught in the synagogues and the temple where the Jews always gathered. If they wanted to know what He had taught, the most practical thing to do would be to call in those who had heard Him. He assured them, “They know what I said.”
Here is a very important consideration: the result of the teaching. I have observed even today that what happens to people who accept the teaching of Jesus is something to observe, to watch, to analyze. Jesus faced the problem very well, “Ask those who heard me; they can tell you what I taught.” So the problem is explained.
The third procedure in this trial shows up the weakness of man: The Criticism Is Exposed.
That officer standing by drew a conclusion which was not valid. Instead of listening, he quickly struck Jesus because he interpreted what Jesus said to be an insult to the high priest. But he violated the very law he wanted to defend, for Moses’ law declared a man innocent until convicted. The trial was not over. He took justice in his own hands, and it didn’t turn out so well.
Jesus exposed him very quickly, saying, “If I have spoken evil, then bear witness of the evil.” In other words, tell me where I was wrong. If I answered incorrectly, I will accept the justice, but if I have answered well, you have struck me illegally. Justice was the purpose of the trial, and Jesus exposed this officer’s violation. It is important that we catch that truth.
The religious court had its hearing. I would say, it was proper that they did. One fault comes to the surface, though: the sentence was implied before the trial was completed. We now know that Jesus was destined to die. Yet, it must be clear: justice was not carried out with respect to Him in this trial. Why? Because, to bring about peace with God for us, for you and me, the death of Jesus was the only way.
Men still bring Jesus to their court of judgment to be examined; they still have a problem explaining Jesus; and He can expose unjust criticism today as He did then, by His Word. Remember, He came to die and accept His gift of eternal life.
Gracious God, our Heavenly Father, how grateful we are for the opportunity you gave us today to look into your word together. We know that Jesus was unjustly tried and condemned; He was totally innocent of any wrongdoing. And yet, He came to earth with a mission to fulfill, and that mission was to die for the sins of humanity. And just like back then, many today still reject Him. Oh Father, have mercy upon them!
I pray for each person listening to this teaching today, that you will help them to understand that, just like the High Priest in our text, they will need to give an answer to you for what they do with Jesus. Help them, in that day, to be able to answer you with joy; “I am your child by faith in Jesus.” I pray in His name, Amen.
Thank you, J. Mark, for this teaching from God’s Word, and thank you for joining us. It is a privilege for us to study God’s word and learn from it. Now take what you heard and put it into practice. The teaching and instruction in the Bible are for us, and they are meant to be lived.
Don’t be like the man in James 1 who sees himself in a mirror then goes away and forgets what he looks like, instead, be like the man in v.25 who looks intently into the word and is a doer of the work. God says, “that man will be Blessed in what he does.”
And we want to bless you as you follow Jesus and share Him with those around you. If you have any questions or if you would like today’s teaching just contact us and ask for it by title or tell us the passage. We also have a study guide available designed to help you learn more from each lesson; it is called the Hope Herald. Please let us know if you are interested, and we would be happy to give you one.
Here are several ways you can reach us. The quickest and easiest way is through email. Our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, send it to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Another way you can contact us is through our website. Our website is heraldsofhope.org. Please look on our website for this teaching and other similar teachings. There you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again, the website is heraldsofhope.org
We thank you again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as Pastor J. Mark continues teaching from the Gospel of John. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with this blessing from Number 6. The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
This episode is an exposition of John 18:12-24 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
John 18:10,11; 15-18; 25-27
We greet you in the powerful name of Jesus, this Jesus who has defeated death and conquered the grave. He is the one we exalt and worship as the true God. We are Heralds of Hope, and we are so glad you have chosen to join us for today’s teaching from the book of John. We are a small organization with a big goal of using media to make disciples of Jesus Christ to accomplish the great commission in our lifetime. With God’s help and the help of God’s people, we magnify the name of Jesus through Bible teaching and Bible distribution.
In today’s lesson, we will look at Peter and Peter’s failure. It can be easy to look at Peter and think, how could he deny Jesus 3 times? He knew Jesus and spent time with Him. Why would he act like he never knew Him? I am sure it was hard to be where Peter was, and I don’t know how I would have responded in that situation, but have you ever wondered why Jesus would welcome Him back? Would you trust Him if he had just denied you? Jesus could have said, “That’s it, Peter; we’re done. You denied me three times, so don’t ever try to tell me you are sorry; it’s over.”
Jesus didn’t do that, not with Peter or anyone else. Matthew and Luke tell us Peter went out and wept bitterly. I believe Peter was forgiven. Jesus’ offer of forgiveness is always available, and it is life-changing. Peter learned from His mistake and lived a remarkable life for Christ after this.
This reminds me of a small phrase in Psalm 18:35; it says, “thy gentleness hath made me great.” Someone who has not experienced Christ’s forgiveness might think, just go do whatever you want and ask for forgiveness later. It’s a license to do anything.
However, Peter and all who have experienced Christ’s forgiveness can understand the truth in this verse. The gentleness and forgiveness of Jesus do not cause us to live recklessly. No way; instead, we consider our actions and make every effort to live a holy life following all His teaching; because he has forgiven us and still offers us His love, we are motivated to do all we can for Him. His gentleness really does make us great.
Forgiveness is truly unique to Christianity, and this is one aspect of Jesus' teaching worth thinking more about. Today as we look at Peter’s failure, we hope you will be reminded of Christ’s forgiveness to you. Now let’s give our attention to Pastor J Mark for today’s teaching from John.
The very heart of the Gospel comes into focus in the study of these chapters in the Gospel of John. The word Gospel means “good news.” At the same time, the events which we’re studying are surrounded with sorrow. Some great aspirations or hopes end in sorrow.
Peter, a disciple of Jesus, once told Jesus he would lay down his life for Him. When Peter made that boast, Jesus replied he would instead deny Him even before the rooster would crow. But Peter insisted he would never deny his Lord.
I admire Peter for his good intentions. Good intentions are noble and right. But to have any real value, they must be backed by loyal actions. That is what we are now going to consider from John 18:10,11; 15-18; 25-27; PETER—HIS FAILURE.
10. Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
11 . Then said Jesus unto Peter, put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
15. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.
16. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spoke unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
17. Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not.
18. And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them and warmed himself.
25. And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.
26. One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman, whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?
27. Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
Heavenly Father, we are grateful for the access we have to your word. As we read this text, we are grieved by the failure of the apostle Peter to identify with you. However, we know our own weaknesses and how often we, too, have failed you. So as my friend and I reflect on these scenes from the closing hours of Jesus’ earthly life, help us to learn from Peter’s failure. May my friend and I grow in our loyalty and devotion to Jesus. I pray this in His precious name, Amen.
Good intentions are noble and right. To have any real value, they must be backed up with loyal actions. From these verses, we can understand the WAYS Peter was led into failure.
First was Peter’s Futile Defense.
In the Garden, faced by a military guard, Peter drew his sword. Peter meant to carry out his boast to lay down his life for Jesus. He was ready to take his sword and defend his Lord. He must have meant to cut Malchus down, to cut off his head. Apparently, the servant ducked, and Peter simply sliced off his ear.
Now listen to Jesus rebuke Peter, “Put up your sword, Peter.” This was not the way to defend his Lord. Peter had it wrong. Jesus gave him a reason, saying His Father has a plan which He will carry out. Peter misunderstood what this was all about. He failed because his defense was entirely futile.
The second Way: Peter’s First Denial.
As Jesus was led off to be tried, Peter was following all right. That in itself is worthy. He could not get inside the courtyard because he did not know the right people. So, another disciple brought him in. We conclude it must have been John, the disciple of our Lord. He was known by the high priest and could go to the doorkeeper and request the maid to let Peter in, which she did.
But then, when this girl looked upon Peter, she asked him a burning question. “You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” That is exactly the way she asked the question so as to anticipate Peter saying, “No”. We have ways to anticipate answers when we ask questions, and this girl asked the question in such a way that it was easy for Peter to say no. “You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” And Peter said, “I am not.” In that answer, he was denying his Lord just as Jesus said he would.
Then Peter stepped up to the fire which the servants and officers had made and warmed himself. It appears that Peter was trying to be unknown. He was trying to hide there among those officers and servants so as to be undetected. That was his first denial.
The third Way: Peter’s Final Denial.
Those servants and officers were not friends of Jesus. But Peter stood there with them anyway. That means Peter identified himself with the enemies of Jesus. That was the wrong thing to do, but there he was. They asked him the same question in the same way that girl had asked, which meant they were expecting Peter to say no. It made it easier, I suppose. Anyway, Peter did say, “I am not.”
Now notice what happened next. A kinsman of the servant whose ear Peter had cut off was also warming himself by the fire. We may be sure this kinsman had looked very carefully when Peter cut off that ear. So, he said, “I saw you in the garden with him, did I not?” It’s a different kind of question this time. This man expected yes as an answer, and a good reason. Most likely, he had watched Peter very carefully, and now here he was, facing him. “I saw you in the garden with him, didn’t I?” expecting yes as an answer.
But since Peter had already denied the Lord twice, he found he could do nothing else, and Peter denied again. But then, the cock crowed. Peter did exactly what Jesus predicted he would do. He denied Jesus before the cock crowed. We feel deeply for Peter because we know what failure means. Our high aspirations often lie shattered when we face testing.
Now, my friend, has Jesus been calling you to a loyal walk with Him? Remember, His sacrifice was the greatest event of history. Guard against a futile defense of Jesus, a first step in denying your Lord, and hiding among His enemies. Back your devotion to Jesus by loyal actions, and failure will not be yours.
Thank you, J Mark, for this teaching from God’s Word, and thank you for joining us. It is a privilege for us to study God’s word and learn from it. Now take what you heard and put it into practice. The teaching and instruction in the Bible are for us, and it is meant to be lived.
Don’t be like the man in James 1 who sees himself in a mirror then goes away and forgets what he looks like; instead, be like the man in v 25 who looks intently into the word and is a doer of the work. God says, “that man will be Blessed in what he does.”
And we want to bless you as you follow Jesus and share Him with those around you. If you have any questions or if you would like today's teaching just contact us and ask for it by title or tell us the passage. We also have a study guide available designed to help you learn more from each lesson; it is called the Hope Herald. Please let us know if you are interested, and we would be happy to give you one.
Here are several ways you can reach us. The quickest and easiest way is through email. Our email is mail@heraldsofhope.org. If you don’t have email, you could send us a letter, send it to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. And the 3rd way you can contact us is through our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. Please look on our website for this teaching and other similar teachings. There you will also find other resources available from Heralds of Hope. Again, the website is Heraldsofhope.org
We thank you again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as Pastor J. Mark continues teaching from the Gospel of John. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with this blessing from Number 6. The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
This episode is an exposition of John 18:10,11; 15-18; 25-27 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
John 18:1-9
Thank you for joining us as we continue our study in the Gospel of John. We are honored to be here and look forward to learning from God’s word with you. This broadcast is sponsored by Heralds of Hope. We are an organization dedicated to using media to make disciples of Jesus Christ to accomplish the great commission in our lifetime. We focus on Bible teaching and Bible distribution. We thank God the Bible is not limited to a certain area or people. It is relevant for all people, no matter who you are.
The title for today’s lesson is Judas – the Betrayer, and we will be looking at the first nine verses of John 18. You may be asking, what can we learn from Judas? I encourage you to stay tuned and find out. Before we start that, I remind you the deeds of Judas were predicted in the OT, and it is incredible how the prophecy was fulfilled to the smallest detail. The actions of Judas were not a surprise to Jesus; He knew it was going to happen.
I’d like to take a moment and look at this aspect of the Bible. It is encouraging for every Christian to look at the Old Testament and see all the prophecies which were fulfilled in Christ. These prophecies were written hundreds of years before Christ, yet all of them, to the smallest detail, have come to pass. There is no other book which has been as accurate at predicting the future as the Bible.
This is solid evidence the Bible can be trusted, and it is encouraging for us to be reminded that God is in control, and He is never surprised or taken off guard by what happens on the earth.
Look at the prophecy in Zechariah 11:12- 13. 12 And I said unto them, “If ye think it be good, give me my price; and if not, forbear.” So, they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the Lord said unto me, “Cast it unto the potter.
In this verse, without much study, I see three things which came true in the New Testament. 1) Jesus was betrayed for silver, and 2) it was exactly thirty pieces, and 3) is the connection to the potter, because as you remember, Judas gave the money back, and it was used to buy the potter’s field.
This is just one passage, and a very short one at that, yet we see these details lining up exactly with the events that are recorded in the Gospels. In the Old Testament, there are many writers from different centuries who predict various events in Jesus’ life. I love how God validates the Bible and Jesus over and over as every prophecy is fulfilled to the smallest detail. It really is very incredible, and it builds my faith.
My faith is strengthened in two areas. First, if all of those prophecies about Jesus came true exactly as they were written, then we have good reason to believe all the prophecies about future events and the end of the world will also happen. It is only a matter of time. Till then, you can believe what is prophesied and live like it will happen, because someday it will. The second area my faith grows is in knowing God knows. NO events happen without Him knowing about it. He is not surprised or threatened by anything happening on earth. He knows, and I find comfort in knowing that He is over all things and His plan and purposes will win.
We don’t claim to understand how He will do it, but we trust Him. And we can depend on Scripture because it has been proven. Now let’s listen to Bible teacher J Mark as we look into John 18 and learn from the life of Judas.
One of the most outstanding events in all of history is the death of Jesus of Nazareth. The records in the Bible clearly report His birth and report His death in even more detail. We must pay close attention to what the record says.
Certain Bible passages predicted His death many centuries before He was born. There was King David, for example, when he wrote Psalm 22. In it, he describes a kind of death that is most clearly a death by crucifixion. The Prophet Isaiah, in chapter 53 of his book, 700 years before Christ, spoke also about One who would bear the sins of many in His death.
The writers of the New Testament Gospels give us the actual account of the events that surrounded Jesus’ death. In this meditation, I choose to focus attention on the betrayal of Jesus by one of His disciples called Judas in John 18:1-9.
- When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.
- And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus off times resorted thither with his disciples
- Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
- Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
- They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
- As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
- Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
- Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way.
- That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spoke, of them which thou gayest me have I lost none.
I said one of the most outstanding events in history is the death of Jesus. Our text explains the FACTS of how Judas betrayed Jesus.
Fact number one There Was the Secret.
We are told that Jesus and His disciples crossed over the brook Kidron. The Kidron Valley separates Mt. Moriah, the temple area, and the Mt. of Olives to the east of the city. In those days, a path led from the Eastern Gate through the valley across the brook and into the garden called Gethsemane.
I understand that the word Gethsemane actually Implies an oil press. There were olive trees on the slopes of the mount, which gave it the name, Mount of Olives. They most likely had an olive press in a nearby place. You can still see the remains of an ancient olive press on the eastern slope of the Mt. of Olives in Bethany.
Well, Judas knew the place in this Garden because Jesus had often gone there with His disciples. It must have been a kind of secret place where He could spend time alone with His disciples. There was then the secret garden.
Fact number two There Was the Security Guard.
We noted as we read that Judas had received a band of men and officers. By examining the English word, band, in the Greek New Testament, we find that it is pronounced “speira,” which means a Roman cohort of as many as 600 men. Now whether he had the whole battalion or not, we do not know. But the word actually implies that he had 600 men plus the officers or temple guards.
Why would he bring that many soldiers to take one man? Most likely, they expected some resistance, and they prepared to overcome any resistance that His disciples might offer. They came with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
Jesus was very popular. Only a few days before this, large crowds had escorted Him into Jerusalem and had shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” Just in case He might be surrounded by these crowds, Judas came with this great band of soldiers and officers with their lanterns, torches, and weapons.
But Jesus, unafraid, stepped forward and asked, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Immediately Jesus identified Himself by saying, “I am he.” I want you to observe a very clear statement in verse 5. It reads like this, “And Judas also, who betrayed him, stood with them.” Get that clear from this record. Judas was with them, not with Jesus.
And then, There Was the Shocking Discovery.
They surely did not expect Him to step out and identify Himself like He did. When He did identify Himself, fear seized them, and they fell backward to the ground. It was an unexpected easy capture. They had come with a large band of soldiers and their weapons to make what they imagined to be a difficult capture. But He stepped out and gave Himself over to them.
When they had somewhat revived from this shocking discovery, He asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” He said, “I told you I am he, and since you are seeking me, let these go their way.” In other words, Jesus said the disciples are not prepared, nor do they intend to offer any resistance. He said, “Take me and let them go.”
I want you to refer to verse 9. Jesus asked that His disciples be permitted to go their way and not share in His arrest so that the statement He had made earlier would be fulfilled. In His prayer, He had prayed that He had kept all of them except the son of perdition. So, He was asking these officers to let His disciples go, and the Scripture was fulfilled which He spoke, “Of them whom thou gayest me I have lost none.” That was part of His prayer which He prayed before He went to the garden.
Thus, we see how Judas carried out His evil intent: first, by invading the secret garden where Jesus had gone with His disciples; second, by involving the security guards with a great band of soldiers; and then, to their amazement, they made a shocking discovery which they were hardly prepared for when Jesus volunteered to be arrested.
Do you see that Jesus did not resist arrest even though He knew what the outcome would be? He said one time, referring to His life, “No man takes it from me; I lay it down of myself; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” Do you understand? He willingly died for us, for you and me.
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Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember; you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
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Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus; He’ll give you hope for today!
This episode is an exposition of John 18:1-9 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
John 17:18-26
We greet you with Grace and Peace from Jesus Christ. We are honored to be teaching His word via radio, and we are very thankful you have joined us. This is Hope for Today, and this program is produced by Heralds of Hope. Heralds of Hope began back in 1967 with the goal of broadcasting expository Bible teaching on American radio stations. Five years later, the international broadcast was started, and to this day, we continue to broadcast expository Bible teaching. By God’s grace, the ministry has grown since then, and we are currently broadcasting in about 20 different languages. We continue to seek God for direction and pray that He will use us to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
As you remember, we are studying through the Gospel of John, and today we will finish up the high priestly prayer from John 17. This last section is titled the High Calling, and Jesus makes some very amazing statements in this passage. Before we begin today’s teaching, I’d like for us to think some more about a phrase from verse 21.
In this verse, Jesus says, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee…” In this verse, Jesus declares His oneness with the Father. This is a big deal because when He said He is one with God, He means He is God.
How can this be? There are so many questions that pop into our minds when we try to grasp the idea that Jesus was God. Questions like, why would God limit Himself to a body? How could Jesus have been both God and human? Or if He was human, could He have sinned? But He was God, and God cannot sin., How can we explain that? We won’t be able to answer all the questions, but we know enough to have faith and trust Him and believe He is God.
For me, it is helpful to think about some other possibilities. So, Jesus declared His oneness with the Father. If I would hear someone say this today, I would be very skeptical and think it’s a lie. Could Jesus have been lying about this? If Jesus said this, and it is not true, then it disqualifies the rest of what he said. If you have ever been lied to, you know how that person’s credibility is totally ruined with you, and rightly so. If they lie once, you can’t be sure when or if they are telling the truth. “*When I look at the record of Jesus’ life and see its effect on the world in the last 2000 years, I can’t convince myself that all His teaching was good,” but this statement*** was a lie. The possibility that Jesus was lying does not line up with reality.
You may think Jesus was crazy; only crazy people think they are God. Again, I would say look at the rest of what we know about Him. The world He came to was crazy, and the way He was treated was crazy. But this word does not describe Him; in fact, His teachings were very accurate and full of truth. It does not line up to say, some of His teaching is good; some of it is crazy. Possibly one or the other, but not both. So, Jesus was not lying, and He sure is not crazy.
Let’s imagine that He was telling the truth, and He actually is God. Then His life should have been incredible; history should revolve around Him. If He were God, I’d expect Him to be alive and stronger than death. If Jesus were God, surely there would be lots of people today who know Him. I am sure you realize Jesus has done each of these. His life has changed the world like no other, and there are millions who love Him and would give their life for Him, and I have found Him to be very alive.
I don’t think we will ever be able to answer all the questions or totally explain how God came in the flesh. If we could completely understand it, that means He would have to be small and finite, because that’s what we are. I am thankful God is bigger than our comprehension, and we won’t ever figure it all out. We know enough to live by faith and trust him knowing He is God.
For the rest of today’s teaching, let’s give our attention to J Mark Horst, as He explains the rest of the statements from John 17 that call us to a higher way of living.
Very few, if any, people live up to their full potential. We are doing less than we are capable of doing. That’s true in many respects. Our minds are capable of much more than we engage them with. Bodily, physically we probably could do much more than we are doing if we were, in fact, doing all we could. The real sin is when we are satisfied with less than the possible. To be the best we can be, we should reach for more every day. We need to know then what is expected of us.
In the two preceding messages, we meditated together in the prayer of Jesus just before He was arrested and crucified. Jesus prayed other prayers, but the ones that were recorded in the Gospels are mostly short prayers. We do know, though, from the Gospel records that Jesus spent whole nights in prayer at times, and on one occasion, He fasted for forty days. Jesus was a person of prayer. But not many of His prayers are recorded. This one in John 17 is what some people call the high priestly prayer.
Let us think about THE HIGH CALLING OF BEING A DISCIPLE from the prayer of Jesus in John 17:18-26.
17. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19. And for their sake I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22. And the glory which thou gayest me I7 have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one
23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where 17 am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
25. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but 17 have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
26. And I have declare4 unto them thy name and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
In this final part of Jesus’ prayer, He set forth the distinctive RIGHTS His disciples are to enjoy.
The disciples facing their high calling were To be Sent Like Jesus.
He prayed, “As thou hast sent me, even so I have sent them.” That is a distinct mission. What a calling we have to be in the world like Jesus was in the world. This is a right which many disciples have missed, I fear. The purpose is so that others will believe. That is what we are existing for as disciples, to tell others so that there will be more disciples, that the world may know. Jesus’ prayer, “That the world may know thou hast sent me,’ that the Father sent the Son.
Yes, this is a very high calling, a right that too few disciples even care to think about. The world will know who Jesus is when we disciples take our places, understanding that we have been sent into the world like Jesus was sent into the world. Nothing turned Him aside.
My friend, let me challenge you with this. If you are a believer, then understand that Jesus said that we are in this world like He was in this world. May the Lord help us to understand this.
The disciples following Jesus in their high calling can expect To be Glorified with Jesus.
I rejoice in this! Jesus prayed that He had taken the glory which God had given Him and had showed it unto them or given it unto them. He had expressed His desire to have His disciples enjoy the kind of oneness that He and the Father experienced. Several times in this prayer He said, “That they may be one as we are one.” That is a beautiful idea, and one that we certainly should rise to. It is a right, a high calling of our discipleship.
But it is to me, I would say, even more wonderful, to share Jesus’ glory. He said He wants them whom the Father has given to Him to share His glory, “I want them to be with me where I am that they may behold my glory.”
Right now, our eyes are not equipped to see glory. Some day when we have our new bodies, our resurrected bodies, we are going to be able to see glory. At that fulfilling time we are going to have the wonderful experience of sharing the glory of Jesus. That is our high calling, that is our right, to be glorified with Jesus. Praise the Lord!
Uniquely related to the rights of calling and glory is the right To be Taught by Jesus.
He prayed, “I have declared Thy name to them and will declare it.” Jesus was a wonderful teacher, the best teacher. Many people look at the teachings of Jesus and say, this is outstanding, this is better than any teaching we have seen anywhere. The disciples knew that God had sent Jesus. They could understand from His teachings that He was more than an ordinary teacher. He is, and He always has been. Jesus taught them about God. He could pray, “I have told them, so that the love which thou hast loved me with, may be in them, and I in them.” There is a kind of personal instruction here. Yes, Jesus taught them, and to be taught by Jesus is a right, a distinct right of disciples.
I’m glad to testify to the fact that Jesus does teach the believer, the disciple who is willing to be really a disciple. Many believers do not live up to their rights. What a high calling we have, to be sent like Jesus into the world, to be glorified with Jesus in the future, and now to be taught by Jesus.
I appeal to you if you are a believer attain to your rights.
Was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or a digital audio file of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember; you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on a digital audio file. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus; He’ll give you hope for today!
This episode is an exposition of John 17:18-26 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
John 17:9-17
We are honored to be with you again this week, and we thank you for joining us. We greet you in the precious name of Jesus, and it is Him we exalt and praise. You are listening to Hope for Today, and this program is produced by Heralds of Hope. Each week, this Bible teaching is broadcast in many countries via radio. We thank God for this technology, and it’s our goal to use this medium to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
Last week, we looked at the first eight verses of the High Priestly prayer in John 17, and this week, we continue our study by looking at the next nine verses. Today’s lesson is called Jesus’ Goals for Disciples, and the teaching is divided into three goals. The goals of Identification, Unification, and Sanctification. I’d like for us to think more about Sanctification. It’s one of those words we use and hear many times, and for some of us, we forget what it actually means.
The word Sanctify and the word Holy have the same Greek root word. In English, these two words don’t look or sound related; however, their definitions are similar. Sanctify means to set apart as or declare holy; consecrate and Holy means dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred. As you can hear from the definition, “sanctify” is basically the same as being made holy.
I Peter 1:16 tells us to be Holy as He is Holy, but how do we become more Holy? What exactly is sanctification? To be Holy is to be more like God. Sanctification is the continuing action of being separated unto God. It may seem daunting to realize there is always room for improvement, and as long as we are alive, we are not finished. Being free from sin and letting go of the world, so we are separated to God is a big task. To some people, it is so overwhelming they don’t ever bother to start.
I understand this hesitation, but this is the wrong view of Holiness and sanctification. Zac Poonen said, “Holiness is like health.” Would you say you don’t want to be healthy? Of course not; in fact, we take many measures to retain our health and make it better. We think about what we eat and how it will affect our health, and some people are very disciplined to exercise so their health doesn’t deteriorate. None of us are worried about getting healthier. No, we desire that we want more health. We would love to find the cure for cancer, and I wouldn’t care if I would never hear about COVID again. I am guessing you feel the same way. All that to say, health is good! We welcome it and want more of it.
Being sanctified is becoming healthier. Let’s free our lives from sin and any entanglement with sin. It may be hard, but so is consistently exercising to keep our physical health; we do it because of the benefits. As sin is confessed and we purify ourselves, we become more like Christ and have a deeper relationship with Him; this is sanctification, or spiritual health.
Think about it; normally, we don’t knowingly compromise our physical health. Imagine having a broken arm and saying, I could get it fixed, but that would take so much time and money. I think I will just learn to live with it. Yet this can be our attitude spiritually. Take unforgiveness or jealousy, we know it is wrong, yet we continue to live with it. We tell ourselves; I can’t forgive till… or I won’t be satisfied till I have blank like so and so…. Living like this is choosing to live with a broken arm, don’t do it, be sanctified. Just like we normally get treated for our physical problems, we must also seek healing for our sin problems.
I am saying all this so we are not discouraged by sanctification. Don’t look at it and think, “Why bother? It is such a huge task, and I will never be finished.” This is health; this is what is good for us. God wants us to become more like Him.
Thank you for thinking with me about sanctification. I encourage you to listen to God’s still small voice as He puts His finger on areas of your life that need sanctified. Just like you are not afraid of getting healthier, don’t be afraid of being sanctified. At this time, I will turn it over the Pastor J Mark Horst for more teaching on the goals of Identification, Unification, and Sanctification.
In life, we achieve the most when we set goals for ourselves. It is usually best to set a goal that isn’t reached too easily, so we must stretch, as it were, and try just a little bit harder to reach that goal. Of course, we need to know our limits so as to do our best, but not to become discouraged when we cannot reach the goal.
In the spiritual life, there are also goals to be achieved. Sometimes other people set goals for us, and that may be good. God has set goals for us. In Romans 3:23, we read, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” You see, God has certain goals for us, and in this prayer of Jesus, I want you to notice some of the goals He set for His disciples.
This is the second of three messages based on the longest recorded prayer of Jesus. Some people call it the high priestly prayer. The other prayers we have on record are all shorter. We do know, though, that Jesus spent whole nights in prayer on different occasions. At the beginning of His ministry, He fasted forty days and forty nights. So, Jesus was a person of prayer.
We go again to the prayer room in John 17:9-17 to meditate about JESUS’ GOALS FOR DISCIPLES.
9. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10. And all mine are thine and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them
11. And now lam no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gayest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
In this part of Jesus’ prayer, He defined those certain GOALS for His disciples.
The first is: The Goal of Unification.
Those whom the Father had given to Him were certain ones. He prayed that those who belonged to the Father, the Father had given to Him. There was complete unity between Him and the Father as they shared together.
Notice that Jesus expressed the desire for them to be one. In what way? He prayed, “So that they may be one, as we are.” This is very important, my friend. It’s not just to be one, but to be one like God and Jesus are one, like the Father and the Son are one. That is the goal of unification that Jesus set up for His disciples. They belonged to the Father, and the Father gave them to Jesus, and now Jesus is asking the Father that they may be one as He and God are one.
I have learned that all true believers all over the world have a sense of belonging together. That’s what Jesus was talking about. He set forth this goal of unification for His disciples.
Next is, The Goal of Identification.
He prayed, “I have kept them in Thy name.” They belonged to Jesus, and Jesus said, “I have kept them in Thy name.” This, too, is a very important idea because the people of God belong together because they are the people of God, and they have this identification.
We don’t necessarily wear anything which identifies us, and yet we do. Because we are not of this world, we have the joy of Jesus. He said, “I speak these things in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” So, there is that joy of the Lord that is something of a badge of identity.
But then, Jesus said, “They are not of this world, even as I am not of this world.” Because they were not of this world, the world hated them. You see, there is a kind of identification, a kind of separation, you might say, that Jesus has set as a goal for His disciples. You can’t be both, my friend. You cannot be a disciple of Jesus and a friend of the world. Jesus made that very clear here, didn’t He? The goal of identification for the Lord’s disciples is separation from the world, like He was not of this world.
Unity and identity prepare the disciple to attain
The Goal of Sanctification
Here Jesus prayed that God would keep them from the evil: not take them out of the world, but keep them from the evil. They were in the world; they lived in a certain location in the world. Jesus prayed to the Father that they might be kept from the evil that is in the world, and that they might follow Him as being not of the world. I believe you can call that a process and a position, to be kept from the evil and to be like Jesus, not a part of the world.
But Jesus further prayed for the special means by which this sanctification might be effected in the lives of the disciples. He asked the Father, “Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.” My dear friend, how thankful I am that we have God’s word, the Holy Bible. Do you see what Jesus says it will do? It will sanctify His disciples because God’s word is truth.
We praise God for these goals that Jesus desired for His disciples. They are possible because Jesus prayed to God the Father with specific requests. Let me repeat them for you: the goal of unification, that we might be one as He and the Father are one; the goal of identification, that we might truly understand that we belong to God and not to the world; and the goal of sanctification, that we might apply the word of truth to our hearts which will sanctify us unto God.
As believers, we have unique goals to reach. Because Jesus prayed, we can reach them. For this, we give thanks unto the Lord.
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember; you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus; He’ll give you hope for today!
This episode is an exposition of John 17:9-17 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
John 17:1-8
Blessings of Grace and Peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. We are honored to share with you today from God’s Word, and we are thankful you choose to join us. We are Heralds of Hope, and every week our Bible teaching is broadcast around the world via radio. This is one way we are achieving our vision of using media to make disciples of Jesus Christ, and we believe Christians working together can accomplish the great commission in our lifetime.
Another way Heralds of Hope is working to accomplish our vision is through Bible and literature distribution. Working with partners throughout the world, we distribute the Bibles in areas where the Bible is not easily accessible. We do this because Jesus has saved us, and we want to serve Him and build His kingdom while we are on earth.
Today we will continue learning from the book of John, and we are starting chapter 17. When you heard John 17, some of you immediately recognized this as the High priestly prayer. You are correct, and Lord willing, we will be taking the next 3 weeks to look at this prayer and learn from it. Our title for today’s lesson is The Difference in Jesus.
In verse 3 Jesus tells us what eternal life is; He said, and this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. You and I know we will not be on this earth forever. Death is something we all have in common, and we may ask. What happens after I die? Or exactly what is death? These are good questions and our answer to these questions has a huge impact on how we live. It is worth your while to seriously think through the questions of life and death. Let’s do that before we get into today’s teaching.
To really understand eternal life, it is helpful to understand death. Think of death as separation. When someone dies physically, their soul is separated from their body. Scripture promises this death is temporary; someday, every soul will be reunited with its body. Right now, there are many people who are dead. This is not permanent; all will be resurrected, some to eternal life and some to everlasting death. But now they are physically dead; their soul is separated from their body.
Another separation is when a person’s soul is separated from God. This first happened when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, and they lost the connection they had with God. They were still physically alive, but they were spiritually separated from God, or dead. Jesus came so no one would not have to stay in this separation. He has provided a way to regain the connection with God which was broken by sin. So, while we all are separated from God spiritually, we don’t have to stay there. Through Christ, we can have spiritual life.
There is a third type of death, and this is often called the second death or eternal death. This is separation from God forever, and Rev 20:13-14 says, “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Jesus has also come to rescue us from this death, and He wants all humanity to experience life with Him forever. The only way to avoid the eternal death is to know Jesus.
And Jesus tells us eternal life is knowing God and knowing Him. People that know Christ do experience physical death, but remember this is only temporary; in the resurrection, their soul will be reunited with their body, their eternal body. This is taught in I Cor 15. And the other 2 types of death, spiritual death, and the 2nd death, will not affect a Christian. Because of Jesus, our souls are no longer separated from God, both now and in eternity. This, my friend, is true life; knowing Christ and knowing eternal life is ours is the most important thing you can do in this life.
I thank you for thinking with me about life and death. It is our prayer that you will know Christ and never know spiritual or eternal death. Now, let’s give our attention to Bible teacher J Mark for some more thoughts from John 17.
There are no two people who are exactly alike. Sometimes we may see someone who reminds us of a friend, but we are all a little different. Yet, we can say Jesus has no one nearly like Him. No, the Bible calls Him the only one of God. That may be a little hard to grasp, to really understand, but the Bible calls Jesus the only one of His kind.
The mystery of God in the flesh cannot be simplified. We must say that it is a miracle, and miracles cannot be simplified. But our hope lies in the fact that He is different.
That Jesus is different is well shown in His prayers. In our study of the Gospel of John, we come to one of the Prayers Jesus prayed. John 17 is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus. The others we have in the record are quite short, although we know from the Gospels that Jesus sometimes spent whole nights in prayer. On one occasion, He fasted for forty days and surely spent much of that time in prayer.
THE DIFFERENCE IN JESUS can be understood from the first part of this prayer in John 17:1-8
- These words spoke Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
- As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
- And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
- I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gayest me to do
- And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
- I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
- Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
- For I have given unto them the words which thou gayest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
We are in the prayer room of Jesus. From this part of Jesus’ prayer, we are shown that He had certain outstanding POSSESSIONS which made Him different.
In a unique way, He Possessed Eternal Life.
He had received as a gift from the Father the power to give that life to others. “Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” Eternal life, my dear friend, is a gift; it is not earned. There would be no way that you or I could earn eternal life. We do not receive it for wages, for work done. No, Jesus possessed eternal life to give to those whom the Father had given Him, to those whom the Father knew. To them, Jesus gave eternal life. I can add: to them, Jesus now gives eternal life.
Well, what is eternal life? Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” That is eternal life. Now that is not so difficult. No, not when we have the Bible and when I can come to you like I am and explain to you that Jesus gives eternal life because He possessed eternal life and the Father gave Him the right to give it to those whom God had given Him. Oh, praise the Lord for that!
Along with that eternal life, He Possessed the Eternal Glory.
Here in His prayer, He asked the Father to glorify Him with the same glory that He had before the world was. He said He had finished the work that God gave Him to do. In that, He glorified the Father. His work was assigned to Him. It was outlined beforehand. During His lifetime, He finished that work. Surely that brought glory to God, His Father, to have finished His work exactly like the Father had planned it.
So, He asked for that pre-world glory. Let me explain. He said, “Glorify me with thy own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” Say, that’s a wonderful thought, isn’t it? Jesus was with the Father before the world was ever made. That shows us that He is eternal; it shows us that He shared the Father’s glory.
Jesus possessed the eternal glory, and He was asking the Father to restore to Him that same glory which He had had before the world was.
Jesus not only possessed eternal life and glory, but He possessed the Eternal Word.
The Words of Jesus are the Words of God. He prayed, “I gave them the words which thou hast given me; and they have kept thy word.” The Word was given to Jesus to give to the disciples, and they kept or observed to do what the Words told them to do.
It is important to note that this is the eternal Word because it comes from the eternal God. You see? To receive the eternal Word from the eternal God is an enlightening experience. Revelation is light; it pierces the darkness; it throws back our ignorance, and we come into the light of understanding. So Jesus gave what He had received, and they received it from Him. And the result was, they believed that God had sent Jesus.
It still works that way. Jesus possessed the eternal Word, and when we receive His Word, we receive the Word of God. It will generate or create in us, faith, or belief.
These possessions that Jesus had set Him apart from all others. No one else can make such claims as He made: to give eternal life, to share eternal glory, or to teach the eternal Word. He invites you to believe on Him, strengthen your faith in Him, and fasten your hope upon Him.
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember; you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and anytime at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus; He’ll give you hope for today!
This episode is an exposition of John 17:1-8 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
John 16:28-33
Hello and welcome to Hope for Today. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other languages. We are honored the be here with you today, and thanks for joining us. We will continue our study from the book of John in just a bit; before we do that, I’d like to share a few things with you.
You know as well as I do that we can’t rely on the words of men because men change. Think of all the unkept promises people make, maybe even specific promises to you personally. But God is unchanging; He keeps His promises. The Psalmist, David, said in Psalm 119:89, “Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven.” You and I can depend on God’s Word.
Because God’s Word is unchanging and reliable, we share His teaching with as many people as possible. Our ministry focuses on radio teaching and Bible distribution, and we love hearing testimonies of lives that have been touched by the Gospel.
For example, Isaac from Ghana writes, “I don’t know how to thank you for your inspirational messages, you have really helped me spiritually, and I will continue to listen for spiritual growth.” If you are touched by this program, we’d love to hear from you. Stay tuned, and I’ll give you our contact information at the end of the program.
During today’s teaching, we will be finishing John 16, and we will look closely at three statements Jesus made. These statements a very clear and understandable. Now, let’s hear from Bible Teacher J Mark as he tells us about Plain Speech.
For the disciples, Jesus’ words were often above their understanding. They puzzled over them. There are people today who still puzzle over the words of Jesus. They are unsure as to what they mean.
Well, we all want PLAIN SPEECH. We say, make it simple; take it out of the complex and make it simple. That’s what I try to do when I come to you each week; I try to make it simple. It is more important to be understood by people than to baffle them.
We learn from the Gospel records that the common people in Jesus’ day heard Him gladly, and it is amazing how simple many of His teachings were. Let’s see once what happens in John 16:28-33, where we have the disciples saying, “He now speaks plainly.”
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I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
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His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
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Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
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Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
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Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Fat her is with me.
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These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
In this talk, Jesus made several STATEMENTS which the disciples could understand. Let’s talk about this plain speech.
His first statement: “I Leave the World.”
I have often been impressed how Jesus lived with a sense of purpose. He lived with the end in view. He knew why He was here. He knew where He was going. So, He could say to the disciples, “I came from the Father, and now I go to the Father; I leave the world.”
His disciples then seemed to understand, and they confessed their faith in Jesus. They said, “Now we know, now we know, now we believe.”
The Bible clearly tells us that Jesus, the Son of God, came into the world and went back to heaven. He said here to the disciples, “I leave the world, and I go back to the Father.” There is some mystery about this. In some respects, it is difficult, but still, when Jesus made that statement, the disciples said, “Now we understand clearly, and we believe that thou art from God.”
I would like to tell you that this is a very important position to come to: to understand what Jesus meant when He said, “I leave the world, and go to the Father,” because going back to the Father meant that His work was being finished.
His second statement: “I Am Not Alone.”
He said, “You are going to leave me, you are going to run away, you are going to be scattered, you are going to your own homes, but I will not be alone, I am not alone.” In distress, many often desert. The records of history show many people who have turned traitor at the most difficult moment. Jesus predicted that the disciples would run away and leave Him. And they did. Yes, they did. But He said God would not leave Him. He said, “I am not alone, because the Father is with me.”
God never forsakes the trusting soul. Jesus expressed His assurance that God would not leave Him, even though everybody else would leave Him. That comes to me as a great comfort. I hope it comes to you as a great comfort. This is what I call plain talking. Jesus said, “I am not alone, because the Father is with me.”
You and I can have a similar experience with Jesus. God will not forsake the trusting soul. This can come to us as a great comfort. I hope you understand this plain speech.
The third statement: “I Have Overcome the World.”
That’s the last sentence in the text which I read. The world is not friendly toward people who believe in God. We all have our oppositions. It seems that there’s always somebody to stand in our way, to make it hard for us.
Jesus said to His disciples, “I am going to give you peace. I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in me.” Then He added, “I have overcome the world.” I want to make sure you understand that peace in your heart is a gift from Jesus. He said it is a gift, “I give you peace.”
His victory assures us of victory. He said, “I have overcome the world.” So, we can be of good cheer. The opposition has been put down. We no longer have the force of the opposition because Jesus has overcome the world. We can find great hope in His victory. My friend, I want to make sure that you understand the plain speech of Jesus when He said, “I have overcome the world.”
These statements arrest our attention because they tell us Jesus must be more than an ordinary man: He said, “I have overcome the world;” “I am not alone;” and “I leave the world.” These statements tell us of His purpose, His assurance, and His victory. He can encourage you, but He cannot help you until you believe on Him.
Thank you, J. Mark, for this teaching from God’s word. It’s true these statements of Jesus are very clear, and J Mark ended with a statement that is also very clear. Here it is again, “Jesus cannot help you until you believe on Him.” This is worth thinking about, especially the word, believe. Our understanding of this word is crucial, and what we think it means will affect how we act.
We use the word believe in several ways; for example, we might say, “I believe I’ll be done around 3 pm.” Here I mean I might, or I think maybe. We also use “believe” like this, “I have known my neighbor for years, and you can believe him.” Here I am saying my neighbor has good character and what he says is acceptable and true. Neither of these is the “believe” J Mark meant when he said, “we need to believe on Jesus.”
“Believe,” as he used it, requires action; this is not passive knowledge. Here is the crucial part, just because you heard the story of Jesus, and you agree with it and think it’s true does not mean you “believe.” Believing Jesus and knowing about Jesus are not the same thing. Believing on Jesus requires a response on our part. If you believe on Jesus, then you will repent of your sin, trust Him for salvation, and live for Him and with Him.
Believing is not a once-and-done event; it’s continuing action; we are believing on Jesus. If you are not believing on Him, we encourage you, believe, trust Him for your salvation; He alone can save you from Hell.
What do you think? Was today’s teaching helpful? Feel free to share your thoughts with us from today’s program. Or if you’d like to hear it again, just let us know. Here are several ways to contact us.
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or you could write to us our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. If you would like today’s teaching, just ask for it by title or by the passage. We would be happy to give you a printed copy or a digital copy; just tell us your preference.
When you contact us, feel free to request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and has questions from today’s teaching so we can better apply it to our lives. All you have to do is ask for a copy of Hope Herald.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Or, if you forget this, just go to our website, heraldsofhope.org. There you will find all our information, and our Bible teaching programs are available. Of course, you can access the website whenever and wherever you have internet; again, our website is heraldsofhope.org.
We thank you again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as Pastor J. Mark continues teaching from the Gospel of John. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with these verses from Jude, “now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion, and power, both now and ever. Amen.”
John 16:16-27
Greetings in Jesus’ precious name; we are glad to be here with you again today. Thank you for joining us on Hope for Today. This program that is produced by Heralds of Hope. We are an organization dedicated to using media to make disciples of Jesus Christ to accomplish the great commission in our lifetime. We focus on Bible teaching and Bible distribution. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other major languages.
And why so much focus on the Bible you might ask? It’s like this: when you want to know how to fix a broken machine, you try to talk with the people who made it. They are the ones who know everything about it. So, if it’s broken, the maker will know how to fix it. In the same way, God is the one who made us. He knows what we need and what is best for us. If something is broken or not working right, go to Him and see what He recommends. We focus on the Bible because this is God’s recommendation for us, and living His way is the best way.
Today we will be continuing our study from the Gospel of John. We are looking at chapter 16, and the title is How to Cure Worry. Wait, how to cure worry? A cure is “a complete or permanent solution,” and we know what it means to be cured of cancer or another disease. But how can we be cured of worry? I mean, think about the last two years. Just look at what has happened in our world, and who knows what will happen next? Things seem to be getting worse and worse. How can anyone expect to cure worry?
Great question. Thankfully God as our Maker knows us very well, and His Word has the answers. God doesn’t want us to be consumed with worry; why would He? It is not good for us. Prov 4:21-22 says His Word is “life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t want to be healthy. Actually, many people who are obsessed with their health and go to extreme measures to improve. So, if God’s ways bring health and worry is not good for us, how can we look at our circumstances and not have worry?
That’s another good question. Stay right here, and we will listen to Pastor J Mark as he answers that question from John 16 with 3 “secrets” for how to cure worry. Before He comes, let’s ask God to guide our time together. Lord, thank you so much for your Word, and I pray that you’d give J Mark wisdom and clarity as he explains your Word to us. I ask that your Spirit guide us and show us how we can be more like Christ today. I especially ask that you help us surrender our fears and worries to you. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
All of us are alike. We wonder what is going to happen tomorrow. We make our plans, but we cannot always carry out our plans. They do not always work. And then, because they do not work, we tend to worry. That is, we get distressed; we are unsure what the end will be. Sometimes in our worry, we really get quite upset, don’t we?
I will show you HOW TO CURE WORRY from Jesus’ teaching to the disciples in John 16:16—27.
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A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
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Then said some of his disciples among themselves, what is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
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They said therefore, what is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
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Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?
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Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
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A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
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And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
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And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
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Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
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These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
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At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
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For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
In this text, Jesus tells us the real SECRETS of how to cure worry. Would you like to know what those secrets are? These secrets do not need to be whispered.
I tell you boldly about the first one: Trust the Promise.
Jesus said, “I am going to the Father.” That was very important. But the disciples got worried. They could not understand what Jesus meant. Because they could not understand what He meant, it gave them much trouble in their hearts. They did not yet know His purpose and work.
Some people are like those disciples. When they can’t understand something, they let it trouble them, creating great moments of distress, unrest, and worry. They do not trust the promise of Jesus. Jesus made a promise, but they did not believe that promise because they couldn’t understand it.
Our failure to understand is no call for worry. Perhaps our worry should rather be when we fail to believe or trust the promise. That should give us cause to worry. So, the first secret to cure worry is to trust the promise.
The second secret is a blessed continuation of the first: Enjoy the Presence.
Each experience in life must be kept in its place. God desires good for us. He doesn’t want us to go through distressing moments. He wants us to have joy, real joy. Jesus used the illustration of a woman giving birth to a child: when the time comes, she has much sorrow because of the pain of delivery; but once the child is born, she forgets about the pain, and she rejoices that her son is born. Oh yes, if you are a mother, you know what Jesus was talking about.
Jesus is surely right; after the moment of sorrow, joy comes. So, He told the disciples that sorrow is only passing, only passing because of the situation at the moment. He said, now you are sorrowful, but you will rejoice. When you see me again, your heart will rejoice. I recommend this secret of enjoying the presence of Jesus.
Now quite certainly, you and I do not experience the presence of Jesus like those early disciples did. He is not here with us in bodily form. But by faith, we can experience the presence of Jesus. That is an effective secret to cure worry. I wish I could explain it better for you. But I’ll tell you what you can do. You can experience it if you follow on the way with Jesus.
When the first and second secret are brought together, worry is cured as you Learn to Pray.
Sometimes I get a request from a listener to send him or her a prayer book. From this counsel of Jesus, it should be clear to us that we don’t need a prayer book. What we need is to make our prayers to God the Father in the Name of Jesus.
And my dear friend, you can talk to God, our Father, just like you talk to your neighbor. He can be just as real as that to you. So, learn to pray. Jesus said, “You ask in my Name, and the Father knows exactly what your needs are.” Be very simple, be straightforward. Tell God, the Father, what your needs are, and ask in the Name of Jesus. That is what He said we should do. He said, “I do not say that I am going to pray to the Father, because the Father loves you because you love me.” For that reason, He will answer you, and joy will come when answers come.
So, learn to pray. That is a wonderful way to cure worry. Prayer is simply talking to our heavenly Father. Jesus said, when we ask, we make our requests in Jesus’ Name: “Whatever ye shall ask the Father in my name He will give it to you. Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name…At that day, you shall ask in my name.”
God desires that we have joy. Jesus used the illustration of a woman to illustrate how joy can come to us. He has made us that way, to have joy. You can cure worry by using these secrets that Jesus gave us: trust the promise, enjoy the presence, and learn to pray.
Thank you, J Mark, for this teaching from God’s word. What do you think? Was today’s teaching helpful? Feel free to share with us your thoughts from today’s program. Or if you’d like to hear it again just let us know. Here are several ways you can contact us.
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or you could write to us our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. If you would like today’s teaching, just ask for it by title or by the passage. We would be happy to give you a printed copy or a digital copy; just tell us your preference.
When you contact us, feel free to request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and has questions from today’s teaching so we can better apply it to our lives. All you have to do is ask for a copy of Hope Herald.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Or, if you forget this, just go to our website, heraldsofhope.org. There you will find all our information, and our Bible teaching programs are available. Of course, you can access the website whenever and wherever you have internet, again, our website is heraldsofhope.org.
We thank you again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as Pastor J. Mark continues teaching from the Gospel of John. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with these verses from Jude, “now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion, and power, both now and ever. Amen.”
John 16:12-15
Hello, thank you for joining us; welcome to Hope for Today. This program is produced by Heralds of Hope. Every week our Bible teaching circles the globe in English and 22 other languages. We thank God the Bible is not limited to a certain area or people; it is relevant for all people no matter where you are.
Radio ministry is just one part of what we do at Heralds of Hope. We also distribute Bibles and literature. And our newest publication is called Hope Herald. It’s a study guide designed to complement the teaching you are listening to on this broadcast. We would be happy to send a copy of this study guide to you; just let us know if you would like one. At the end of the program, I will give you the contact information for Heralds of Hope. We look forward to hearing from you if you are interested.
In today’s program, we will continue our study from John 16. The title is The Spirit of Truth, and we will be looking at verses 12 to 15. Today’s teaching ties in very nicely with last week’s teaching about the Comforter, and today, we want to continue growing in our understanding of the Holy Spirit.
Before we begin the teaching from Pastor J Mark, let’s take some time and think about truth. Since our title is, “The Spirit of Truth,” it is very likely someone is thinking: Truth, how do you know it’s true? or, Truth, what kind of truth? and who says it true? These questions point to a bigger question, Does truth even exist? These questions are common, and people have been asking them for a long time. The answers aren’t easy, but there are answers. Let’s think about a few aspects of truth.
You may have heard someone say, “There is no such thing as absolute truth.” What they are saying is nothing is true for everyone, everywhere, all the time. Now think about what they just said; did they think that statement was true? Yes, said seriously and with conviction, and they have just proved exactly what they were trying to deny. If you ever hear a statement like that, ask them if their statement is absolutely true. They will usually get the point.
This is how truth works; when you deny it and try to argue against it, it will hit you on the head with its obvious existence. And the louder you deny it, the more you proclaim it. This sounds a lot like the verse in II Corinthians 13:8, “For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.” Truth is inescapable; when you deny it, you prove its existence.
Taking the next step, we can be sure truth is not bound by time, place, or circumstance. The truth we are referring to is not limited; it is absolute. Some things may apply to certain people from a specific area; this is not the truth we are referring to. This truth does not change and is true for every person who was ever on the earth. Since truth is absolute, it leads right into the next point.
Truth is discovered. We don’t create truth; it is beyond us. We are not the ones who set the standard; history has shown us over and over what happens when humans define truth. I have not seen an example where this ended well. Typically, it shows how selfish and sinful we really are. But if the truth is beyond us and something we discover, where can we find it? Personally, I believe the best answer to this question is found in Christianity. Jesus says, “I am the truth.” He gives us timeless instruction, and his principles work regardless of our culture.
Here is absolute truth we can discover. And it is this truth we promote in this program. We promote Jesus and lift Him up as the answer to these difficult questions about truth. We also trust the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. Now let’s give our attention to Bible Teacher J Mark as he teaches us more about The Spirit of Truth.
We all know there are two areas of thought: the area of the true and the area of the false. It is not always easy to decide between these two. Sometimes the false may sound, oh, so nearly true. Then sometimes, the true may be mixed with the false. But actually, when the true is mixed with the false, it is not true; it is false. So it is sometimes rather difficult to be able to see the line between the false and the true. For that reason, we all need help to draw the lines clearly.
God is always faithful to fulfill the needs of mankind. We need to know truth to order our lives for His glory. We do not need to grope around to find it. Jesus said He was the truth. He prayed the Father to sanctify the disciples by His Word, which is truth.
Let’s praise the Lord that in wisdom He sent THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, as Jesus promised the disciples, in order that we might be able to see that line between the true and the false. John 16:12-15 brings us the words of Jesus talking to His disciples.
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I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
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Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
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He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you.
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All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Here Jesus tells us the RELATIONSHIPS the Spirit of Truth will have with His disciples. While Jesus spoke these words to the disciples, we follow them. He spoke of the relationships the Spirit of Truth would have with them.
The first relationship is He Will Guide Them.
There was more to tell, more than He could tell them then. He said, “You cannot bear them now.” They would need to wait until the final acts of redemption were completed to be able to understand the things that they were to know. He said, “You can’t stand it now, but when the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you.” That will help very much! The relationship will be that the Spirit of Truth will guide the disciple.
Now notice He will do more than just guide. He will guide into all truth. We do need help to see the fine line between the true and the false. We will find that the Spirit of Truth will guide the disciples into all truth.
And He will not speak of Himself, but rather He will speak whatever He hears. That means to me that the Spirit will be a transmitter; He will only tell the disciples what He has heard. He will not be the source of information, but rather He will be a bearer of information. So He will not speak of Himself at all.
The Spirit of truth, Jesus promised to His disciples, will guide them by taking the words of Jesus and showing those words of the disciples. Then He also will show them things yet to come.
Disciples can be sure that the Spirit of truth will come because Jesus promised. He will come, He will guide them, and He will show them things to come.
The second relationship is, He Will Glorify Jesus.
How will He glorify Jesus? He will receive from Jesus and will give to the disciples. The disciples’ experience after Pentecost was exactly what Jesus said it would be. They received the things from the Spirit and were able to give them to others. Because the Spirit had received them and had given them to the disciples, you see. In that way, He was glorifying Jesus.
He would further show them that everything that Jesus had, came from the Father. Because Jesus told them that, “All things that the Father hath, are mine.” Therefore, the Spirit would take the things of Jesus and show them to the disciples. In doing so, He was taking the things of the Father, you see, and showing them to the disciples.
Here is a kind of central abiding truth. It is not easy sometimes to understand the relationships between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Jesus clarified this for us and pointed out that there is a very close relationship between them.
I know when I speak like this, some people think that I am talking about three Gods. But no, I am talking about the mystery of the person of God. Jesus said the Spirit of truth is going to take the things of the Father, which also belong to the Son, and show them to His disciples.
I must freely say to you that this is not easy to understand. It becomes easier as we believe and accept what Jesus said. We know that Jesus never lied to anyone; God has never lied to anyone. So, there is complete unity here in the Father, Son, and Spirit because the Spirit of Truth is going to glorify Jesus by showing the disciples what the Father has.
I am so glad the Bible is the Book for all people everywhere. God means that you and I shall receive help from the experience of the disciples. Jesus’ teachings are for us today. That is why God gave us the Bible, and that is the reason He kept it for us until this very day.
These words were spoken not only to the disciples right there with Jesus. But as disciples today, we are followers of Jesus, so this truth comes to us, too. The Spirit guides us into truth. The Spirit glorifies Jesus to us. Oh yes, that still works today. I’m glad to tell you; you too can experience it.
Thank you, J. Mark, for this teaching from God’s word. What do you think? Was today’s teaching helpful? Feel free to share with us your thoughts from today’s program. Or if you’d like to hear it again, just let us know. Here are several ways you can contact us.
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or you could write to us our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. If you would like today’s teaching, just ask for it by title or by the passage. We would be happy to give you a printed copy or a digital copy; just tell us your preference.
When you contact us, feel free to request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and has questions from today’s teaching so we can better apply it to our lives. All you have to do is ask for a copy of Hope Herald.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Or if you forget any of this, just go to our website, heraldsofhope.org. There you will find all our information, and our Bible teaching programs are available. Of course, you can access the website whenever and wherever you have internet; again, our website is heraldsofhope.org
We thank you again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as Pastor J. Mark continues teaching from the Gospel of John. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with these verses from Jude, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion, and power, both now and ever. Amen.”
John 16:7-11
Hello and welcome to Hope for Today. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other languages. We are honored the be here with you today. Thank you for joining us. We will continue our study from the book of John in just a bit; before we do that, I’d like to share a few things with you.
Here are a few testimonies from other listeners. The first one is from Edwin in Kenya; he writes, “Thank you for keeping us in the word of God through radio and for helping us to keep on looking to the Lord in all things.” Amoah from Ghana shares, “I started listening to Hope for Today in my youthful day, over 20 years ago, and I am still listening due to the Spiritual contents.”
We appreciate hearing from you, and if you’d like to share how this program has impacted you, we would love to hear about it. Just keep listening; I’ll give you our contact info at the end of J Mark’s teaching. Today he will be teaching from John 16 verses 7-11; the title is The Comforter.
In these verses, Jesus tells us He is leaving, but the Comforter is coming, and Jesus tells us what the Spirit will do when He comes. As he describes what the Spirit will do, it is obvious these are things only God is capable of. We believe God has shown himself to exist as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is not an easy concept for us to understand. However, if our God is infinite and we are finite, we should not be surprised that we can’t understand Him or figure Him all out. I am actually thankful God is beyond comprehension and we will never be able to completely understand Him.
Here are 2 verses which point to the doctrine of the trinity. John 10:30 Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.” Jesus calls Himself one with the Father, the Jews at the time understood him to be saying He was equal with God. So, they immediately took up stones to stone Him because of His blasphemy, and this statement is blasphemous for anyone except Jesus. He alone is able to claim equality with God because He is God.
Second, consider Genesis 1:26, “God said, let us make man in our image” Notice God refers to Himself using plural pronouns; we use these words to refer to more than one. What happened? Did God get the wrong word? Absolutely not; God knew exactly what he was doing, and when we are confused by God’s word choice, there is a good chance there is a great lesson there for us. This verse points to the plurality of God’s nature. We will never completely understand this or be able to explain it, but we believe and trust Him, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Now let’s give our attention to J Mark for more teaching on the Holy Spirit.
God made us so we can think. He made us with minds, and we can, in a large measure, think like He thinks. But even though we can think, and in some measure think like God thinks, we will never know everything. Especially not just by thinking.
Because we cannot know everything, it is necessary for us to have somebody to help us, somebody to guide us. Now the Lord knew that; yes, God knew our need. So in His plan, He sent a helper whom He called THE COMFORTER; somebody who could guide and help us. Jesus told His disciples about that part of God’s plan in John 16:7-11.
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Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
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And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
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Of sin, because they believe not on me;
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Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
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Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
The Comforter: that is what Jesus called Him in the first verse of this text. Jesus gives us two CLARIFICATIONS regarding this Comforter.
He wanted the disciples to clearly understand The Promise of His Coming.
Comforter will work. He will reprove the world of sin; Jesus is speaking to the disciples in one of those last discourses before His leaving them. Jesus said, “For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come to you.” It was, therefore, necessary for Jesus to go back to the One who sent Him, even as He earlier had told them, in order for the Comforter to come. He said if He did go back, then He would send the Comforter unto them.
The Comforter is the name of the One who was to come to follow Jesus, to be with the disciples, and to do the work that Jesus had begun.
When Jesus went back to the Father, the Father sent the Comforter just like He promised Jesus He would do. Jesus spoke of the close connection between the Comforter and Him. While we may not understand all that Jesus intended by this statement, we can understand that He said, “The Comforter will come when I go away.” That surely is a clarification regarding the Comforter.
In close relation to the promise of the coming of the Comforter, Jesus wanted His disciples to understand The Purpose of His Coming.
We want to think about this and try to follow exactly what Jesus said, “When he (that is the Comforter) has come, he will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.”
Let us examine first this word reprove. It means He will convict; He will accuse; He will stand in judgment over the world because of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. Make a careful note of the relation; Jesus is referring to the Comforter’s relationship to the world. Jesus always made a difference between the world and the disciples, you see. So, He was saying to the disciples that when the Comforter has come, then He will have a work to do with respect to the world.
What is the purpose of His coming? To convict, accuse the world. There are three particular areas in which Jesus said. Now notice in verse 9 why He will do that. He will reprove the world of sin because they do not believe on Jesus. That is very important. A lack of faith in Jesus will bring the accusing of the Comforter to the world and His reproving in the world.
People make up the world, and the Comforter will convict and accuse them because they do not believe on Jesus.
One time Jesus said to those around Him, “You will not come to me that you might have life.” They did not come because they did not believe on Jesus. The Comforter is going to reprove and bring an accusation against those people who do not believe in Jesus. Do you believe in Jesus? What do you believe about Him?
Then He will also accuse the world because of righteousness. “Of righteousness,” Jesus said, “because I go to my Father, and you see me no more.” What righteousness do you suppose Jesus had reference to? Well, certainly not our righteousness, because the Prophet Isaiah 700 years before said that our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. So it must be that the Comforter is going to accuse the world of the righteousness of Jesus. That seems to be exactly what He meant, because He said, “Because I go to my Father and you see me no more.
Believe me, my friend, every record we can find about the life of Jesus tells us that He lived without sinning. He did not have any sin. He was absolutely righteous. That is the reason why He could go to the Father without anybody ushering Him into His presence. That is not true of us; that is not true of anybody else except Jesus. So, the Comforter is going to accuse the world of righteousness to show how we need help.
Then the third area where He is going to work is to accuse the world of judgment.
The reason is the prince of this world is judged. Who is the prince of the world? The devil, Satan, is the prince of this world. Yes, Jesus said so, and so did the Apostle Paul. Jesus said that the Comforter is going to accuse the people of the world that are not disciples of Jesus. He is going to accuse them of judgment because the prince of this world already stands under the judgment of God. It is not a question of having a trial. The trial has already been held, and Satan is under the judgment of God. That would mean, of course, that anyone who follows Satan would also be under the judgment of God; the decision, the sentence has already been passed.
Now, you see how important an understanding of the Comforter is for us. Jesus was gracious to give us these two clarifications about the Comforter: the promise that He will come and the purpose of His coming. He came to convict and accuse the world: of sin, because they believe not on Jesus; of righteousness, because Jesus is the only righteous one and He has gone to the Father; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
There you have the truth from Jesus about the Comforter. He has come, my friend. Yes, and He is working. He is doing exactly what Jesus said He would do. Has He spoken to you in any way about your sin, about the righteousness of Jesus, about the judgment of the prince of this world?
Thank you, J. Mark, for this teaching about the Holy Spirit, and thank you for sharing with us from God’s word. What do you think? Was today’s teaching helpful? Feel free to share with us your thoughts from today’s program. Or if you’d like to hear it again, just let us know. Here are several ways you can contact us.
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or you could write to us our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. If you would like today’s teaching, just ask for it by title; today’s title was The Comforter. We can give you a printed copy or a digital copy; just tell us your preference, and we’d be happy to help.
When you contact us, feel free to request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and has questions from today’s teaching so we can better apply it to our lives. All you have to do is ask for a copy of Hope Herald.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Or if you forget any of this, just go to our website, heraldsofhope.org. There you will find all our information, and our Bible teaching programs are available. Of course, you can access the website whenever and wherever you have internet; again, our website is heraldsofhope.org
Now, I encourage you to join us next week as Pastor J. Mark continues teaching from John’s Gospel. We look forward to being with you again next week. Until then, keep walking with Jesus, He’s our hope for today.
John 16:1-6
Hello, and thank you for joining us; welcome to Hope for Today. This program is produced by Heralds of Hope. Every week our Bible teaching circles the globe in English and 22 other languages. We thank God the Bible is not limited to a certain area or people; it is relevant for all people no matter where you are. We have been studying from the book of John, and today we will be starting chapter 16. Today’s title is Think Right; we pray you will be blessed by our time together, and may our look into His Word help our thoughts line up with His thoughts.
So many of our actions are a result of how we think. Have you ever thought about what makes you think the way you think? This requires introspection; you need to look within yourself. This can be hard, but it usually is very worthwhile.
There is a story from the building of the Panama Canal which illustrates the importance of thinking right. The French began construction of the Panama Canal during the late 18 hundreds. The work was strenuous and hard, but the challenges were far more than construction and engineering. The deadly diseases of yellow fever and malaria were taking a toll on the French work crews.
So, the French built hospitals to combat these diseases. Unfortunately, the hospitals were largely ineffective because they were not thinking right. Around 75% of those hospitalized died. The hospitals did not have screens in the windows, and the people were divided by nationality, not disease type. Then even went so far as to put water dishes under the posts of each bed so ants could not crawl on the patients.
They did not know yellow fever and malaria were being spread by mosquitoes. Instead of closing off rooms, mosquitoes could fly in and out and go from one space to the next. Even worse were two bowls of water under each bed; this gave the mosquitoes many places to lay their eggs and fill the hospital with more mosquitoes. If only they would have known, if only they would have corrected their thinking, then the lives of many workers would have been spared.
As it was, the French were defeated and left before the canal was completed. The Americans came a few years later and faced the same challenges. However, William Crawford Gorgas came and fought the diseases by going after the common mosquito. With time and lots of effort, the results proved he was right. There was a major shift in everyone’s thinking, and the effect of yellow fever and malaria was minimized.
In this example, you can see the importance of thinking right. The French did not understand the cause of yellow fever and how it is spread. They were destined to failure unless their thinking would change. In the same way, we want our thinking to be in line with what actually is; we want our thinking to be true. Jesus said He is the Truth.
Let’s listen to Bible teacher J Mark as he teaches us more about right thinking.
Isn’t it wonderful that God has made us so that we can think? Oh, how thankful we should be that we are not like the animals that can’t think. They have only one way that they can do anything. They are programmed by nature to do certain things which they cannot change by thinking.
But God has given us the right and ability to think. He has never violated that right and ability. It, therefore, becomes a high privilege to be able to think. And I should add, our thinking may well be like God’s thinking. It can be as we think God’s thoughts after Him. The Bible tells us that God made us in His image and after His likeness, which includes the ability to think and the power to choose. But then for us, there is a right way and a wrong way to think. Since God has given us the ability to think, He surely wants us to THINK RIGHT, to think the right way.
Jesus was concerned about His disciples and about us. This concern is expressed as He spoke to the disciples in John 16:1-6.
- These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
- They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
- And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
- But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
- But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
- But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow bath filled your heart.
From Jesus’ words to His disciples, we should find two DIRECTIVES for how we think.
There are several aspects to The Directive Of Preparation.
He said, “I have spoken these things unto you, that you should not be offended.” To think right, we need the preparation against offenses. What does that mean? To be offended means to be shocked or to be scandalized, to be greatly distressed, troubled, worried, or hurt. But to know beforehand what is going to happen will be a great help when that time comes. So Jesus gave these words to the disciples to prepare them so that they would not be shocked and would be able to understand better.
There is also the preparation against mistreatment because He said, “They will separate you, they will put you out of their worship places, their synagogues. And, in fact, they will think that when they kill you, they are doing God service.”
I have learned through my study of religions that religion is a mighty force. That is why it is so important, my friend, for you to be sure that you are right in the kind of religion that you have. Because Jesus said, it could even get to the place that when people kill you, they will think they are doing God service. It surely seems that that would be a seriously distorted conclusion, wouldn’t it?
Then He said also we need preparation against partial knowledge. When He was commenting about these people who would think they were doing God service when they killed believers, He said, “They do that because they do not know the Father, and they do not know me.” That means they have only partial knowledge, not enough knowledge, just some knowledge. They don’t know the Father, because the Father would not tell them to take life, you see.
So, to think right, we must take seriously this matter of preparation, so we know what is coming and will not be shocked, but will be able to understand more clearly.
We get very close to the heart of Jesus as we consider The Directive of Consolation.
Jesus said to the disciples that He was telling them about these things beforehand so that they could remember them later. They were to remember Jesus’ words, and they were to think of the good things that had happened. He said, “I couldn’t tell you this in the beginning, because I myself was with you. But since I’m going away, I’m telling you these things so that you will be able to remember them.” They could not remember what they had not known.
All of us, I’m sure, have some very precious memories. We like to remember the good things in life. These words from Jesus to the disciples would surely be good things to remember. It would bring consolation to their hearts to remember these words of Jesus.
In addition, there is a consolation in separation because Jesus said, “I am going away to the One who sent me, and I want this to be a consolation to you. Many of you ask me, ‘where are you going?” So, it would seem to me that there would be consolation in separation if you knew where Jesus was going. That’s why He was telling the disciples that He was going back to the One who had sent Him.
They also had Jesus’ consolation in sorrow because He said sorrow had filled their hearts because He had told them these things. I was trying to imagine how the disciples must have felt when all of this was going on. It must have been a real consolation to them to know that they could have the words of Jesus to think about after He had gone. And so, Jesus told them that the sorrow would be only for a short while. They would then be able to rejoice and be glad.
To think right, read this consolation from Jesus. I believe that thinking right is surely connected with Jesus and our relationship to Him. His Words give us helpful guidance. We should be prepared so we will not be shocked when some of these experiences come. And we can be consoled because we can remember the words of Jesus.
But how we relate to Him, ah, that is the key. How we relate to Him is the key to think right.
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and anytime at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus. He’ll give you hope for every day!
John 14:18-27
Hello friend, and welcome to Hope for Today. We are so glad you joined us. This program is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 23 other languages. And why do we teach from the Bible? Because the Bible has the answers. It is the amazing Word of God.
Thank you for joining us today. The topic of today’s teaching is a question most of us have wrestled with. It’s a hard question but an important one. The question is, why do I suffer. Before we hear the teaching from Pastor J Mark, let’s think about this question.
This question is common because if you are human, you have most likely suffered. We ask, Why me? What have I done to deserve this? If God is so strong and so good, why doesn’t He do something? These questions are huge and very important. Personally, I believe the answers found in Christianity are the best answers to these hard questions.
However, I don’t plan to answer these questions, but I want to point out a deeper question buried in each question. Smuggled in with every question about suffering, there is the bigger question of purpose. Why am I here? Is this what I am supposed to experience? You see God created us, and He made us for much more than life on a sin-cursed earth. When sufferings hit us, something deep within us stirs. We know there must be more; surely, this is not all that we were made for.
Romans 8 says, “the whole creation has been groaning,” and you and I also groan, waiting, longing for the redemption Christ will bring. Till he comes, we will have to deal with disease, death, and suffering; however, we know this is not what we were made for. We long for the day when Jesus will make all things new, the curse will be reversed. Even death will be defeated. Imagine, nothing will die or be dead, Death will be no more.
What an exciting time that will be. So, when the suffering comes, when it feels like life is too much. When big questions are going through your mind day and night, remember God is still on the throne; His plan and purposes WILL happen. Sin and its consequences affect us now, but a time is coming when there will be no effects of sin. This truth helps us through our suffering and keeps us going when life is hard.
Thank you once again for joining us. Before we hear more from our Bible teacher, let’s ask God to guide our moments together. Lord, thanks so much for the truth in your word. Thank you for the guidance of your Holy Spirit, and we look to you for wisdom as we discuss the topic of your children suffering; speak to us by your Holy Spirit and guide us. Thank you so much for the hope we have in Jesus Christ, hope for our current situation, and hope after this life. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now let’s give our attention to Pastor J Mark Horst as he teaches us more about the question of why Christians suffer.
Do you have any hardships that really bother you? Are they puzzling to you? Are there days when you don’t know why things happen as they do? Let me help you. I bring you hope based on God’s word, the Bible. I believe the Bible is the only real foundation for hope. In it we can find the answers to our most puzzling questions. One of those questions is, why do good people suffer? Or WHY CHRISTIANS SUFFER?
The problem of suffering is common to mankind. Even people who do not believe in God have sufferings. We all face hardships, difficulties in life. I’m sure it has affected you. Sometimes Christians suffer greatly. I know there are places where that is happening. The conditions are far from favorable, and we sometimes wonder what can we do? We raise the question, why? And sometimes, we may be inclined to put the blame on God.
My friend, I want to share with you from John 15:18-Z7 where Jesus takes up this problem: why Christians suffer.
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If the world hates you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
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If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
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Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
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But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake because they know not him that sent me.
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If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their in.
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He that hated me hated my Father also
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If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both my Father and me.
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But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, they hated me without a cause.
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But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeded from the Father, he shall testify of me:
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And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
In this text, Jesus gives us answers to the question of suffering by several decisive INSIGHTS.
He begins by comparing our suffering with His: Suffering Compared.
Suffering is not new. He suffered before us. He said, “Don’t be surprised if you have problems because I have had problems before you have.” It is not unusual, He said, to get this kind of response from the world. It is not really avoidable; you cannot avoid it. “What they did to me, they will do to you.”
So, my friend, this matter of suffering is of long standing. Jesus said it should not be surprising to us if His followers suffer like He suffered. That is what people do not understand; they can’t really follow; they don’t know why, in some cases, that the sufferings come from others. But they do. So, in some ways, as He suffered, we suffer. He said, “I have chosen you out of the world, therefore, the world hates you.”
You see, as Christians we are different from people who do not believe and follow Jesus. It is that way, my dear friend. It is important for us to remember that.
Then Jesus proceeds to further define: Suffering Laid Bare.
He said, in a very straightforward statement, the reason why people inflict suffering on the good is they do not know God. It’s a very straightforward statement, but that’s what He said, “They do not know Him who sent me.” That’s why they act like they do. His words had revealed their sin. Instead of changing them, they lashed out against Him.
Now let’s put it back there in the setting where Jesus was talking. He came and told people what their problems were, and He told them how to solve those problems by coming to God and really following His words. Jesus’ words left them with no covering. He said, “I did a work among them that nobody else ever did. And because I did this work among them, they now have no covering for their sin.” Because they had no covering for their sin, they lashed out against Him.
From this statement of Jesus, I must conclude that it still works the same way. I say this very guardedly, my friend, but I believe Jesus is teaching us that persecutors of good are ignorant of God.
Jesus went on to assure the twelve of His provision Suffering Shared.
He says innocence is vindicated. He quotes from the Old Testament and says, “They hated me without a cause.” I am sure it is very difficult for people today to accept: to be hated, to suffer without a reason is very oppressive. It hits us, without a cause.
But I want to comfort you because Jesus said, “When the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, He shall testify of me, and you also shall bear witness.” I like this word from Jesus because the word Comforter is such a blessed truth. When the Spirit of truth has come, He will be right there alongside of us. Church history is full of examples of great suffering by Christians who remained faithful in suffering for the Holy Spirit held them up and enabled them.
I want to comfort you with these words from Jesus, “The Comforter will come, and He will be right there beside you to sustain you and witness to you so you will be able to witness as well.”
These insights do not remove suffering, but they tell us why. Unbelievers do not know God. That is why they inflict suffering. If they knew God, they would not inflict suffering. If you are undergoing suffering, be encouraged. Jesus knows your need, and He wants to help you in that need.
Remember, He suffered before we suffer. And I shall add, He suffers when we suffer. Praise the Lord for this great truth!
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus. He’ll give you hope for today!
John 15:9-17
Hello friend, and welcome to Hope for Today. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other major languages. Tens of thousands tune in each week for spiritual nourishment and blessing.
But radio ministry is just one part of what we do at Heralds of Hope. We also distribute Bibles and literature. And our newest publication is called Hope Herald. It’s a study guide designed to complement the teaching you’ll hear on this broadcast. We would be happy to send a copy of this study guide to you if you just write and ask for it. I will give you the contact information at the end of the program.
It is good to be here with you again as we continue learning from the teachings of Jesus. In John 15 today, Jesus calls us friends, not servants. This truth is amazing. Jesus Christ, the focal point of history, the Son of God, the most powerful force in the universe, He calls us friends! Wow, words fall short when you try to describe the majesty of our Savior.
Have you thought about the difference between a servant and a friend? Their ways of thinking are totally different, and it shows itself in all they do. Jesus calls us friends, not servants. Think back to the Old Testament, Exodus 21 to be exact. This passage gives us the rules and expectations for servants during the Old Testament period. However, there were some servants who chose to be a servant for the rest of their life. Instead of being set free, they would continue serving their master. The servant who made this choice would be radically different than the servant who was waiting for his freedom. They were a still a servant, but it was much deeper than that.
So, in the Old Testament, the Israelites were allowed to have other Israelites as their servants. However, God instructed the Israelites to let them go free in the seventh year. Their servants would serve them for six years; then in the seventh year, they were required to let them go free. And when they were freed, they were not allowed to let them go with nothing. They were required to give them some of the flock and some of their harvest. This was not a cruel form of slavery. God wanted His children to remember they had been slaves in Egypt and God redeemed them. As God had blessed them, they were to bless others, especially their servants.
However, if the servant liked His master and wanted to stay with Him and continue serving Him, he could do that. They would take the servant to the door and put an awl through his ear into the door. This would signify the servant will be a servant for life. Imagine the difference between a servant who had his ear pierced and one who was going to be free in a few years. I am guessing all they did was affected by the changed mindset.
As Christians serving Christ, we have similar changes in outlook. We are like the servant whose ear has been pierced. We have chosen to serve Christ, and we want to serve Him the rest of our lives. Serving Him is where we want to be; this is what we want to do. We are not working for our own freedom, just longing for the day when we can walk away. We are here, and we are His. He is our King, we are honored to serve Him, and incredibly through all this, Christ calls us friends. He doesn’t look down on us as servants; instead, we are friends. Romans 8 even calls us joint-heirs with Christ. That’s Incredible! So we gladly serve Him, but we are so much more than servants. Here is Pastor J Mark Horst to tell us more.
The Lord wants us to be better people. He longs for us to have a higher life, a better life. Man was made in the image of God, for fellowship with God, and for His pleasure. Then came sin bringing suffering and separation from a holy God. So, God moved in redemption and sent Jesus to restore us to the Father.
But too many people are satisfied where they are. For some reason, they believe that everything is locked in. Some religions claim there is nothing you and I can do. The Christian faith holds out the possibility of rising, of doing better, of being MORE THAN SERVANTS.
The Bible says that to be a Christian will put a totally new outlook in your mind. In John 15:9-17, Jesus explained to His disciples about being more than servants.
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As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
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If ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
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These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
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This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.
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Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
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Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
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Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant does not know what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
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Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
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These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Oh yes, more than servants, that’s what Jesus said: “You are no longer servants, you are my friends.” Jesus’ words to the disciples contain some encouraging STATEMENTS for us to attain to the level of being more than servants.
Let us begin where Jesus began: Obedience Brings Love.
Jesus said, “Continue in my commandments, keep my commandments and then you will abide in my love.” Then He suggested how, “That’s the way I did; I kept my Father’s commandments, and so I am abiding in His love. And if you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love.”
So, continue in love. It’s the Father, it’s Jesus, and you. His commandments are a way of life. They get right there on the inside where attitudes are made. It’s the basic heart attitude of following in the commandments of Jesus. He said, “That’s the way your joy is going to be full.” Joy comes from such obedience. No one can love the loving Savior without obeying Him.
Jesus, at another time, asked this question, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say?” Ah yes, obedience brings love. He encouraged them, “Continue in my commandments, keep on doing them, and then you will continue to abide or live in my love.” So, obedience brings love.
Jesus then defined the commandment and explained how Love Brings Friendship.
What is His commandment? He said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” That is a very high standard. To love one another as Jesus loved us is, I say, a very high standard. He said, “No greater love has anyone than this, that a man would lay down his life for his friends.” That is love’s greatest act, a self-sacrificing act.
To be a friend of Jesus is to follow Him without any question or argument. If you want to be above a servant, then your friendship must respond to Jesus in unqualified, unquestioning following of what He said. He said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” That kind of love brings friendship. Listen to Him, “I do not call you servants anymore; I call you friends.” I call you friends.
My dear friend, I would like to introduce you to the most wonderful friend there is, even Jesus. Love for Him brings friendship.
Loving obedience grows into blessed friendship, and Friendship Brings Fellowship.
A new kind of relation, a very close relationship. Jesus spoke to the twelve, “I don’t call you servants anymore because I have shared with you everything my Father has made known to me.” Just ponder that, “Everything I have heard from my Father, I have made known unto you.
Then He went on to say, “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.” Oh my friend, that is a most wonderful relationship, to realize that Jesus is so much interested in you that He chose you. Yes, I think we can make that application. I know He’s talking to the disciples here, but I believe we can apply that to you and me. Jesus has chosen you.
The question, of course, is how have you responded to that choice? Have you found that friendship brings fellowship? That kind of fellowship is very real and close and intimate.
Then there’s a new result. He said, “You are going to bear fruit, and your fruit is going to remain because I have chosen you and ordained you and sent you out to bear fruit.” My friend, I would like to help you be more than a servant. I want you to be a friend of Jesus.
These statements can help so much: obedience brings love, and love brings friendship, and friendship brings fellowship.
Now, Jesus wants us to be His friends. For that reason, He tells us what He did. Do you know Him as your own very intimate friend? To add this new dimension to your life, these statements are highly important. You can be more than a servant, but what have you done about becoming Jesus’ friend?
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus. He’ll give you hope for today.
John 15:1-8
Hello and welcome to Hope for Today. We are privileged to be here with you, and we are so glad you have joined us. The program you're listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We're an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 23 other major languages, and each week many people like you tune in for spiritual encouragement and blessing.
Today we will be learning from John 15. It is a well-known passage about Jesus as the Vine and his people the branches. Jesus' teaching on the vine and the branches is simple yet very profound. Before we get into today's lesson, let's think about a few aspects of a vine and the branches.
The first thing we should notice is how this illustration connected with His audience. The Jewish culture was very familiar with vineyards and growing grapes. There are many passages in scripture which refer to wine, vineyards, or the winepress. As we grow in our understanding of their culture, we will see things that may not be obvious the first time we read the Bible. When He used the vine as an illustration, they connected and understood what he was saying. Imagine walking with Jesus and the disciples through a vineyard and Jesus holding the branches and pointing to the vine as he talks about them. Our culture may not be as familiar with grapes and vineyards but there are still many things we can learn from this passage.
For example, in verse 2, Jesus tells us he takes away the branches that bear no fruit and prunes the others so they can bring forth more fruit. There are just 2 options here, getting cut off or getting trimmed. At first glance, neither of these is very appealing. We sure don't want to be cut off because we are not bearing fruit, but neither does the process of being pruned sound very appealing. Thankfully we can trust the gardener, the husbandman knows what is best, and He knows how to take care of His vineyard. His goal is that we would bring forth more fruit. There may be something He is pruning in us, and it may be very hard and difficult, but take comfort in the fact that He knows what He is doing, and His goal is for us to be more fruitful. He knows how to do the pruning, so our growth will be maximized. We may not enjoy the pruning, but we trust Him and know that His ways are best.
Then in verse 4, he tells us to abide in Him. A branch cannot bear fruit on its own, it must be connected to the vine. Neither can we unless we are abiding in Christ. Think about that word abiding. Another translation uses the word "remain." This is more than a loose connection or a casual relationship; it has the idea of staying and remaining. This is not something we do if it's convenient or just when it is popular. We are there, and we abide in Christ, even when it's difficult and even if it's unpopular. Abiding is not only when it's convenient for us; we remain or stay with Christ as much as we possibly can.
To abide or remain is continuing action. It is not going to church, and now you are finished for the week. Neither is it spending personal time with Him than being done for the day. Instead, we go to church, and we have our devotions, then we go throughout our day with Him. Thinking about Him and living our lives to please Him. We abide with Him and live in such a way that brings glory to Him.
This brings us to the title for today's lesson. The title is How to Live Right. You see, right living is not just knowing what is right. Some people seem to think knowing about Jesus is the same as knowing Jesus. This is far from truth. Living Right begins with knowing about Jesus and salvation through Him. But just knowing about the story is not enough. Just knowing the Bible and its stories does not mean you are good. We must believe and know Jesus personally.
Right living comes out of knowing Jesus and remaining in Him. You must do life with Him. The times of pruning will come and may be hard, but we know Jesus and trust Him. We have a great privilege to remain in Christ and be connected to the source of true life. Now let's give our attention to J Mark for the rest of today's teaching from John 15
Everybody has the same problem. The thrust of this message is of universal interest. It is absolutely true: we know there is a right way and there is a wrong way. But the problem is how to find out which is the right way, and which is the wrong way, HOW TO LIVE RIGHT.
All of us want to do better. We try, but we often fail. New Year's reminds us of the need to amend our ways. Whether in your calendar it is a new year or not, it is good to think about what we have done in the past year and how we can improve in the year to come.
Jesus knew we would have the problem of finding the right way, so He taught us in John 15:1-8.
- I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
- Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
- Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
- Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
- I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
- If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
- If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
- Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so, shall ye be my disciples.
From these words of Jesus, we can learn how to live right. In this text, He presented several HELPS that will lead us to a life that is right.
Here, let me share with you help number one: Allow the Father's Pruning.
Jesus framed the setting, "I am the vine, my Father is the husbandman." In other words, God, the Father, is the caretaker. He looks over the vine and the branches. He prunes back this one and helps that one. He inspects and cultivates as the caretaker. "Everyone in me," Jesus explained, "that does not bear fruit he takes away: and everyone that does bear fruit, he prunes it so that it will bring forth much fruit and more fruit."
Pruning is a simple act that God does, for Jesus further explained that we are made clean by the word which He has spoken unto us. Be reminded that the Bible says of itself in Hebrews 4:12 that "The word of God is quick, and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, dividing the thoughts and intents of a man's heart." No wonder Jesus could say, "You are clean through the word that I have spoken to you."
So, one help in living right is to allow the Father's pruning through the Word. He knows very well how that should be done.
As you yield to the Father's caretaking, you find you must Admit Your Inability.
Jesus expressed an evident truth when He told His disciples a branch cannot bear fruit unless it is attached or abides in the vine. Anybody who has observed the growth of vines or trees knows that to be true. It is impossible for a branch that is broken off to bear any kind of fruit because the nourishment comes from the vine, not from the branch.
Jesus made the analogy: like the branch must abide in the vine, so you and I must abide in Him if we are going to bear fruit. There is no fruit without Him. He said, "Without me, you can do nothing." So, my friend, there's no room really for self-effort. Admit your own inability. That's a help to live right because it makes you alert and aware of the help He supplies.
Then there's a third help suggested here: Aspire to Glorify God.
Jesus stated, "In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit." He spoke of bearing fruit, then more fruit, and finally much fruit, all the result of abiding.
But He also said that if one does not abide in Him, he is taken away like a branch that doesn't bear fruit, and that branch is gathered and thrown into the fire. You see, Jesus is talking here; I'm only telling you what He said, and He said, "If anyone does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered. And men gather them and cast them into the fire." Fruitlessness means the fire.
Abiding in Jesus and doing His commandments means the glory of God; it means receiving. He said, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you." That way, the Father is glorified.
Much fruit is to God's glory. So, aspire to glorify God. Fix your mind on God. Abide in Him. Admit your own inability and aspire to glorify God. My friend, it will make a difference, a big difference.
I challenge you to accept these three helps which Jesus offered His disciples. They are all important for you if you are going to live right: allow the Father's pruning; admit your own inability; then aspire to glorify God. I urge you to use these helps offered by Jesus. They will enable you to live right.
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you'd like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching. We'd be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we're studying from John's Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here's the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a free copy of this teaching. It's available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don't forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and anytime at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John's Gospel. You won't want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus. He'll give you hope for every day!
John 14:27-31
Hello friend, and welcome to Hope for Today. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other major languages. And why do we teach from the Bible? Because the Bible is the only source of lasting hope. It is God’s Holy Word.
You know as well as I do that we can’t rely on the words of men because men change. Think of all the unkept promises people make, maybe even specific promises to you personally. But God is unchanging; He keeps His promises. The Psalmist, David, said in Psalm 119:89, “Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven.” You and I can depend on God’s Word.
Because God’s Word is unchanging and reliable, we share this teaching with many people around the world in different languages in both audio and print. And we receive many testimonies of lives that have been transformed by the power of the Gospel. If this program touches your heart and life, we’d love to hear from you. Stay tuned, and I’ll give you our contact information at the close of the program.
Now, here’s Pastor J. Mark with today’s teaching.
I have observed that the longing for peace is expressed today in many ways. It seems strange to me that some people act as though the only way to get peace is to fight. Does that not seem to you to be a contradiction? It does to me. The Prophet Isaiah, 700 years before Christ, wrote these words, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee” Isaiah 26:3.
In another place in the prophecy of Isaiah, he called Jesus the Prince of Peace. He said that a son would be given, a child would be born, and one of His names would be the Prince of Peace.
Because there has been very little peace since Jesus was born in Bethlehem, some people do not think He is really the Prince of Peace. But He is. This teaching is about true peace as Jesus spoke about it.
Men of our world are searching for peace, peace between nations. That is a worthy goal, a worthy objective. I hope they will be able to establish peace.
But even more important than peace between nations is the peace in your heart. Could it be that inner peace must come first before outer peace can be attained? Well, I know this one thing: if you have inner peace, peace in your heart, at least your problem is solved. I’m sure that is what you want.
To see what Jesus had to say about true peace, we are going to John 14:27-31.
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Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart he troubled, neither let it be afraid.
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Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye love me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
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And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
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Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
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But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
From these words of Jesus, I aim to set forth those certain ELEMENTS found in true peace.
My friend, there is so much in the world today that is not really true peace. What Jesus spoke about is true peace. I want to show you what those elements are so that you can find true peace.
Jesus spoke about an element of peace as being The Special Type.
His peace is a special type. There is more than one type of peace. There is the world peace. Jesus spoke about that. But that is fleeting. It is gone tomorrow. World peace does not last. His peace lasts. His peace is secure.
His peace is a gift. He said He is going to give us His peace. That means there is no point in struggling for it. There is no point in working so hard for it because His is a special type of peace that He gives. It is inner peace. He said, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Inner peace is not affected so much by the outside. It is in the heart, right there where all the thought processes are. Peace of the heart the world knows nothing about, nothing at all.
I know, my friend, that you are craving that inner peace. Maybe you don’t know where to find it or how to get it. Just open your heart and receive it. It is the type of peace that Jesus gives. It is the kind of peace that I secure, that lasts, that doesn’t pass away like world peace does. He said He is going to give it. So, you have to receive it because it is a special type of peace.
Jesus spoke about another element of His true peace: The Special Time.
The peace He spoke about depended upon His departure. He said, “I am going away”. What did He mean by that? He meant that He was going to die on the cross. He was not going to be with them anymore like He had been those three- and one-half years of His ministry. By His departure, He meant the death on the cross and more.
He was referring to His return to His Father in heaven when He would leave earth for His heavenly glory. That time was very important because He said to them, “And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, you might believe.”
For us, this is now a reality. He has been crucified, He did rise from the dead, and He has ascended to glory. So, the time for us to receive the peace is now. But when He was talking to the disciples, it was a special time to which He referred. It had to do with His crucifixion and return to God.
He said He was going to the Father, and they should really rejoice over that because the Father was greater than He. This special time has come. So now, now, my friend, ‘you and I can receive that true peace, the type that Jesus spoke about, because the time has come for you and me to receive that peace.
Jesus spoke about another element of peace which is very important: The Special Tension.
He said, “The prince of this world is coming, and has nothing in me.” The prince of this world, Jesus said, had nothing in Him.
Here is an important truth. There are two princes: the prince of this world and the prince of both worlds. Jesus certainly stands over the prince of this world. He is much, much more than the prince of this world. With Jesus, he has no common ground. The prince of this world is the devil, Satan. Jesus and Satan have no agreement.
Jesus emphasized that He had a particular purpose. What He was doing was to show the world God’s love. “That the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do,” were His words. I see immediately the tension between the prince of this world and Jesus. They have no agreement. They agree on nothing. But Jesus and the Father do agree. Peace only comes through Jesus. Peace does not come by the prince of this world. Remember that, my friend: Jesus gives the true peace.
These certain elements of true peace call you and me to faith in Jesus because His peace is a special type; it has a special time and creates a special tension. To receive true peace, then, we must believe in Jesus. That’s my word to you, my friend. To get true peace in your heart, you must believe in Jesus, then, you can receive the gift of true peace from Him.
Thank you, J Mark, for this teaching on Peace; we thank God for this peace through Jesus.
We are living in a time when our peace is being tested. The things we have experienced the last few years have tested all of us. As your peace endured? Or is your heart troubled and afraid?
Listen, if your heart is troubled or afraid, now is a great time to experience the peace Jesus offers. It is very worthwhile. You will not regret it. But how is this possible when the world is coming apart, and new bad things seem to happen each day? How can we experience peace? Good question.
I don’t know if you have ever seen the painting of a dove nesting between 2 rocks during a storm. The dove is protected by the rocks as the storm rages all around. This picture gives us a good idea of the peace Jesus gives to His people.
His peace is very different from the world’s. In this example, the world would attempt to stop the storm and establish a calm environment. Sometimes this works; the world may bring peace. However, it is always temporary. The world has yet to establish lasting peace.
As we just heard, the peace Jesus offers is unlike peace from the world. While things around us are unsettled and shaking, we can be at peace. We trust Him! We don’t claim to know what will happen, and we don’t know if things will get better. But we know He knows, and we know Jesus is in control! So, we choose to trust Him.
We don’t know everything, but we know enough. We understand there are going to be more difficult things coming on this earth, and it might involve us. If it does, we know Jesus, and we know he will be with us. We are looking for the kingdom of Jesus to come to this earth. And when it does, there will be lasting peace.
So, think of it this way. We are just getting a head start on kingdom living. We anticipate His kingdom and have started to live for him now. Even though many choose to fight and establish peace their way, we put our faith in Him and believe what he has said will happen. Until His kingdom is here, we will do what we can to share His peace and help others experience that peace.
Thanks for joining us. May the Lord Bless you and keep you. May the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus. He’ll give you hope for
John 14:16-26
Hello friend, and welcome to Hope for Today. We are so glad you joined us. This program is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 23 other languages. And why do we teach from the Bible? Because the Bible has the answers. It is the amazing Word of God.
The Bible is like a key. If a door is locked or if a gate is closed, usually you will not be able to enter, unless you have a key. If you have the right key, you can go almost anywhere. It is amazing how such a small piece of metal made just right gives you the ability to go almost anywhere.
In the same way, the Bible is the key for us. We turn to the Bible, and it unlocks the answers to our questions. And we ask big hard questions like, where did I come from? Who am I? Why am I here? And where am I going? For these big questions, the Bible has the best answers.
We also have many smaller questions. Again, the Bible is key. This is where we go to for help with our daily struggles. The principles taught in this Book are what we need. It is the key to living life like God intended, and He knows because He made us. As usual, if you want to know about a product, talk to the person who made, that person will know all about it. In the same way, God knows all about us. And he tells us what we need to know in His Word. You might say His Word is the key to our success.
It is our privilege to share this teaching with you and with many others just like you. Thanks again for joining us. We share not only through radio but also with literature and Bibles. We receive many testimonies of lives that have been changed by the power of the Gospel. And We love hearing these testimonies. If this program touches your heart and life, we’d love to hear from you. Stay tuned, and I’ll give you our contact information at the end of the program.
Now, let’s listen to Pastor J. Mark with today’s teaching.
Do you have questions about God? Have you been searching for answers, and for some reason you are not able to find those answers? I know many people struggle with unanswered questions about God until they begin to doubt the truth. Doubt is a tool of the devil. He used it successfully in his deception in the Garden of Eden. It has tormented men in every age. It is the exact opposite of trust and faith. Doubt is destroying not only to our inner peace, but also to our thought patterns and physical welfare.
To struggle with unanswered questions is not wrong if they are honest questions. It is no sign of great intelligence to ask unanswerable questions. It is a sign of greater intelligence to find answers. Unanswered questions need not nurture doubt, and when they do, it does not mean that you cannot be delivered.
John 14:16-26 provides help for DELIVERANCE FROM DOUBT.
- And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.
- Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you.
- I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
- Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
- At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
- He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
- Judas (not Iscariot) saith unto him Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thy-self unto us, and not unto the world?
- Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
- He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
- These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
- But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
In our text, Jesus tells us by what MEANS we can be delivered from doubt. Praise the Lord! You do not need to be whipped or tormented by doubt, because Jesus gives us the means by which we can be delivered from doubt.
First, By the Abiding Presence of the Spirit.
Observe that the Spirit comes from the Father and that He is going to be present with us forever! He is the Spirit of truth. How we search without finding! But when the Spirit of truth comes and abides with us, then we no longer need to search for truth because He ministers the truth to us. He is the Spirit of truth because He comes from the Father.
Now, I want you to notice that Jesus says He is going to send another Comforter. The Father is going to give us another Comforter. The word comforter has a great meaning in it. It means one who is called alongside, like an attorney or advocate. In one Scripture text, Jesus is called our Comforter or Advocate. We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ. So Jesus is our Advocate with the Father, and the Spirit of truth is our Advocate from the Father.
This, of course, is only true for believers. This is a fact that only believers can claim. The Spirit comes alongside of those who believe in Jesus, to be that divine abiding presence. Yes, He comes to abide. He comes to live. He lives with us and in us: very real but not visible. This need not trouble us because we work daily with elements that we cannot see. Here is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, whom we can experience even though we cannot touch or feel Him with our normal sense of touch.
I point out to you the first sure means by which you can be delivered from doubt: through the abiding presence of the Spirit.
The second means is By the Assuring Promise of Jesus.
Oh, this blesses my heart, my friend, because Jesus said, “Because I live, you shall live also.” Here before His crucifixion, He was anticipating the resurrection. He knew that the grave would not be able to hold Him, so He assured the disciples and us with this precious promise that because He lives, we also will live. This should surely help you overcome any doubt.
Then I noticed also the very beautiful union that Jesus talked about, a union with us, and not only with us but with the Father. He said, “I am in the Father and you are in me and I am in you.” I will very frankly tell you, don’t understand all this. But I’m going to accept what Jesus said, and I’m going to believe that He knew what He was talking about. I am going to claim the promise that Jesus made that He is in the Father, and I am in Him, and He is in me. You can claim that promise too, by faith.
In addition, He is going to manifest Himself to us, not to the world, but to us. Judas asked that question, “Why not to the world?” Jesus answered, “If a man loves me, he will keep my words: and then my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our dwelling place with him.” The world does not love and so cannot receive.
So, we now have the Father, the Son, and the Spirit living with us. Jesus said the Spirit would dwell with us. Then when we walk in His commandments and do those things that He has asked us to do, He and the Father will come also and live with us. They will be at home with us.
Here then is the second certain means by which you can be delivered from doubt. You can be delivered from your doubt by the assuring promise of Jesus.
And the third means is By the Exciting Possibility of Learning.
Jesus said, “My words are not mine, but they are the Father’s, who sent me.” This is very clear: the authority of Jesus goes back to God the Father.
He commented again about the Comforter coming. The Father is going to send Him. We will be receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. Now watch very carefully what this means to us. I discovered that the word spirit in the first part of our Bible, called the Old Testament, is the Hebrew word, “ruach.” It is first used in Genesis 1:3 when the “Ruach Elohim,” the Spirit of God, brooded upon the face of the deep in the creation of the world.
The New Testament word is “pneuma.” Both of these words are, in essence, non-material; that means we cannot feel and touch them. But the gift of the Spirit of God is our exciting possibility. He has a teaching position. Jesus said, “He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said unto you.” What an exciting possibility of learning! The Holy Spirit is going to teach us the things we ought to know.
I want you to notice, however, that Jesus said, “Whatever I have said unto you.” Some people, I’m sorry, claim to have such a special relationship with the Holy Spirit that they don’t need to give attention to the Bible. That is wrong. When Jesus said, “The things I have said unto you,” He meant the Spirit would teach us by the Word.
So here then is the third means by which you can be delivered from doubt, by the exciting possibility of learning. The Holy Spirit shall be the teacher.
By these means, we can be delivered from doubt: by the abiding presence of the Spirit, the assuring promise of Jesus, and the exciting possibility of learning.
I urge you to use these means which Jesus gave and meet your need to be delivered from doubt.
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus. He’ll give you hope for today!
John 14:13-15
Hello friend, and welcome to Hope for Today. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other major languages. Tens of thousands tune in each week for spiritual nourishment and blessing.
But radio ministry is just one part of what we do at Heralds of Hope. We also distribute Bibles and literature. And our newest publication is called Hope Herald. It’s a study guide designed to complement the teaching you’ll hear on this broadcast. We would be happy to send a copy of this study guide to you if you just write and ask for it. I will give you the contact information at the end of the program.
During today’s lesson, we will take a closer look at prayer from John 14. In this discussion, he tells us our goal in prayer is God’s glory. In other words, we want to glorify God through our prayers. This can be one of the phrases we hear so often; we don’t hear it anymore. It becomes cliché and casual. This is not good. God’s glory is very motivating and gives us great purpose.
When God’s people are motivated and doing what they do to bring Him glory, good things happen. This is the highest motivation we can have. Good things will happen when this is our motive is to see God glorified.
In Scripture, we see many people motivated by God’s glory. For example, David, as a young man, would not allow Goliath to insult the armies of the living God. He declared he would defeat Goliath so that the whole world will know there is a God in Israel. The Philistines were not giving God the glory He deserved, this motivated David, and he was filled with courage.
Another example is Solomon's prayer during the dedication of the new temple. Solomon prayed for God to hear from heaven and act, “so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you.” Solomon understood the glory of all people belongs to God. He deserves it! Are we motivated by God’s glory?
Here is another example of how being motivated by God’s glory can affect us. It is the story of Hezekiah. King Sennacherib and the Assyrians were destroying many people and many lands. They were coming for Jerusalem and King Hezekiah. Hezekiah begged God to deliver them so all the earth would know that He alone is God. Our God is not wood, or stone made by us; He is the living God.
God heard Hezekiah’s prayer and responded in a mighty way. In one night, 185,000 Assyrians were destroyed by the angel of God. God cares about His glory and is working to bring more glory to himself. He alone is worthy.
There are many more examples from the Bible of men and women doing great things because they were motivated by God’s glory. Jesus himself prayed, “Glorify thy Son, that your Son may glorify you.” His life was centered on bringing God glory.
In the same way, you and I also must live our lives for God’s glory. When He is not glorified, we should be a little irritated, like David, and fight for His glory. Wherever we are, we attempt to maximize our resources so more people can come to Him and bring Him the glory He deserves.
Being motivated by God’s glory is all through Scripture, and we also want to be people who increase that glory. In our prayer life is one of the ways we can make this happen. Here is Pastor J Mark Horst to tell us more about the Personal Possibilities in Prayer.
Have you wished you could contact God? Have you ever felt deserted by all your friends? Have you ever wished for help, and there seemed to be no one who could or would help you?
King David knew what it was to need help. Once, he wrote these words, “The sorrows of death surrounded me, and the pains of Sheol got hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul” Psalm 116:3,4. And David found help.
Do you know that help for you is as close as a prayer? We all have times of distress. We often need help. Where we go for help is very, very important. Jesus understood what our needs would be.
The disciples were expressing sorrow because Jesus had told them that He was going away. They were quite distressed because they were sure they would lose Him. Never again would they be able to contact Him. But they were wrong, for Jesus showed them a new way. It was the way of prayer. In this way, they could have immediate contact with Him. Listen to the words of Jesus from John 14:13-15.
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And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
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If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
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If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Here the Lord Jesus lays down certain necessary DIRECTIVES by which we may reach the highest possibilities in prayer. This holds great opportunities and challenges for you and me.
Jesus said we must Connect with God.
Notice the invitation in verse 13, “Whatever you ask.” This is a large invitation. Please notice that Jesus did not say, whatever you demand. He said, “Whatever you ask.” Asking assumes humility. This is very important if we are to reach the possibilities of prayer. The asking can be anytime, immediately, right now, without any delay. Whatever you ask. And we may add, whenever you wish to ask.
Notice the connection as Jesus said, “Whatever you ask in my name.” Our names do not really count very much in heaven. Our names are useless. We are sinners. We need first of all to come to the Savior, then we can ask in His name. No name but His name. Be very sure that you catch that in the words of Jesus. We don’t go any other route. We have no other name that we can use in prayer to get through to God. Jesus said, “Whatever you ask in my name.” It makes no difference how holy anyone else may have been—nobody’s name can take the place of Jesus’ name in this directive He gave us.
There is an object or goal in contacting God: His glory. Jesus said that He would answer the prayer in His name that the Father may be glorified. The glory of God is the object of prayer. So, when you connect with God, be sure that you pray for His glory.
I learned once of a lovely home high in the mountains in Europe where needy people could find help. It was built specially to care for missionaries and Christian workers. Some were broken in spirit and some broken in body. The testimony reported many wonderful answers to prayer because they prayed for the glory of God. When they prayed for the healing of the broken spirit or the broken body, they would simply ask the Lord to do what would be for His highest glory. Many of them were wonderfully healed.
“Whatever you ask in my name, “Jesus said, “that I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” So, connect with God, my friend, for your possibilities in prayer.
Then Jesus said we must Accept the Limit.
There is a restriction in verse 14, “If you ask anything in my name.” We found that phrase in verse 13, too, “in my name.” Let us think about that again. When Jesus prayed to God before He was crucified, He prayed, “Not my will, but thine be done.” I wonder whether this phrase, “in my name,” may not reflect something of that same attitude. When we ask according to our needs we must do so in the name of Jesus. That means that we will submit ourselves to whatever He knows is best.
I learned when I studied verse 14 that there is a condition attached to the asking, “If you shall ask anything.” Our dependence on the Lord is expressed that way. We do not order God around or issue commands. We make requests. We ask the Lord in His name. Then we get the answers to our prayers.
This directive means that in order to do business with God in the name of Jesus, our requests must be in harmony with His will. Be sure you understand this, my friend: accept the limit.
Jesus said also, we must Reflect His Love.
Again, there is a condition expressed, “If you love me.” The word love used in verse 15 is the word for divine love, called in Greek, “Agape.” It’s that love that does not really require response to be exercised. The expression of this kind of love simply pours itself out.
Jesus is here really saying, “If you keep on loving me,” as though the act was already in progress. The evidence of that love will be keeping His commandments. It will be love in action: the action of obedience. Listen, my friend, don’t pray what you don’t do. Obedience to the commandments of Jesus expresses our love, reflects His love, and relates to prayer.
These directives carefully followed will bring you great possibilities in prayer: first, connect with God; second, accept the limit; third, reflect Jesus’ love.
We all need the help of meaningful prayer. Here are great possibilities for you in your personal prayer life. What does prayer mean to you? I challenge you to operate on these directives so you will achieve real possibilities in personal prayer.
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus. He’ll give you hope for today!
John 14:7-12
Hello and welcome to Hope for Today. We are privileged to be here with you, and we are so glad you have joined us. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 23 other major languages, and each week many people like you tune in for spiritual encouragement and blessing.
If you’ve been listening regularly, you know that we are currently studying in the Gospel of John. Today the title is “How to Experience God” before we get into today’s lesson with J Mark, I want to share two verses with you as we think about Experiencing God.
The first verse is Hebrews 11:6; it says, But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. This verse tells us we must believe that He is. There are some who cannot get beyond this part. They say I can’t believe there is a God. This is unfortunate because then they never be able to know God and experience Him. I want to clarify: denying God’s existence is not the same as doubting His power or goodness; most people have gone through a hard time where we question God. This is not the same as declaring there is No God. Thankfully God is patient and merciful toward us in either situation.
The second verse is Ecclesiastes 3:11; it says, “God has put eternity in their hearts.” This verse applies to all people. I love how the Bible is not limited to a specific time or a certain culture. The truth from Scripture is for people everywhere all the time. Now this phrase “eternity in our hearts” explains a reality many of us have experienced. We long for things eternal. Life here on earth can be good, and we thank God for all we have. But at the same time, things can be very hard. We have diseases, and there is death. When we experience these things, we long for a better place. We want to live; we want to live where there is no death, where sin has not tarnished a thing.
You see, I think this is “eternity in our hearts” We were created for more than life on this earth. God put that in us, so we don’t become satisfied here. So, in the good times and the hard times, we are walking with God and worshipping Him, and this is how we can Experience God. We look forward to hearing from J Mark as he teaches us more about Experiencing God. Please turn with us to John 14. Thanks again for joining us; we’re so glad you’re here.
Many long for God. But where can He be found? Is God real, or is He only an idea—perhaps even an escape idea?
I’m glad to tell you God is real. We can see the facts about God all around us. The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans, told them, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” Romans 1:20.
That tells us God has not left Himself without evidence of the fact that He is real, so much so that the Apostle argued that the invisible things are understood by the things that one can see.
Now, let’s talk about HOW TO EXPERIENCE GOD. When God created the first man, Adam, the Bible tells us that He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and Adam became a living soul.
The Bible further tells us that when God created Adam, He created him in His image and likeness. That means that the first man, Adam, was fit for fellowship with God. That means something else too. It means that every child of Adam has been born with the capacity to fellowship with God. That is why every person has a longing for God. Even those people who claim to be atheists, by the very fact that they deny God, admit His existence. Every effort to get rid of the idea of God is proof that that person thinks God must, after all, be. He is there. He must be there, or there would be no need to get rid of Him.
That restlessness can be changed to an experience with God. A great African Bishop of the church many years ago made this statement, “Our souls are restless until they find their rest in Thee,” speaking of the true God.
From the words of Jesus in John 14:7-12, we can learn how to experience God.
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If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
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Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it suffices us.
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Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
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Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
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Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
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Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
If we desire to experience God, we must accept the CERTAINTIES which are set forth in this text.
We must first accept as certain The Universal Search.
Jesus made an affirmation when He said, “If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father.” Here is a direct route from Jesus to God. He made it positively clear that that is the route you must take if you want to experience God. Philip raised the question, the problem all of us face, when he said, “Lord, show us the Father, and it will satisfy us.” The very fact that Philip would make this statement proves there is what I have called a God-echo in the soul of every man. Because you and I are like Philip, we would like so much to see God. If somehow, He would only make His appearance.
I remember reading when Moses was up on the mountain with God, he had the same problem. He said to the Lord, “Show me thy face”. But God said, “No, you cannot see my face.”
There is that certainty of the universal search. It proves that there is a God-echo in the soul of every man. Don’t you agree: the real search is to experience God?
Then we must accept as certain The Unusual Statement.
Jesus, first of all, established a condition as He replied to Philip in these words, “Have I been so long
time with you, and you have not known me, Philip?” Philip had overlooked the evidence. It was right there. He was associated with the evidence. It should have been clear to him. So Jesus wondered why Philip had not been able to understand this. Jesus was there. Philip had seen Him. Then Jesus said clearly, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” That must have been a rather severe rebuke to Philip.
Jesus further instructed Philip, “You must recognize, Philip, that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” This brings me to the truth that belief goes beyond mere flesh. Philip saw a man in the flesh. He should have been able to see beyond that and see God in the flesh.
Jesus went on to say, “The works that I do and the words that I speak are the works and words of the Father who dwells in me.” Yes, there is another certainty here: God-unity is a necessary fact.
Now I will freely say, my friend, that this idea is very difficult to come by just in your mind. But Jesus made it clear to Philip: the way to experience God is to accept the unusual statement that Jesus made of the unity between Him and God.
Finally, we accept as certain The Unqualified Situation.
Jesus placed the foundation for this certainty in these words: “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me.” If that is more than you can do, He said, “believe me for the very works’ sake.”
My friend, to experience God, there is no escape from believing in Jesus. This is the unqualified situation. Many people would like to side-step this. But you can’t. If you want to experience God, then here is what Jesus said must be, “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me.”
The realization of this unqualified situation becomes clearer as we listen when Jesus also said, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” There is a God-connection here, a beautiful God-connection.
One who believes in Jesus will be doing the same kind of works that He did and even go beyond the works that He did. Well, right now, I am talking with you in a way that Jesus could not do when He was here on earth. I am coming to you by way of the radio, and you are listening. Praise God! We are having fellowship together in the words of God, the words of Jesus. Jesus said, “He that believes on me will do greater works than I do because I go to my Father.”
Yes, my friend, to experience God, you must realize there is that God-echo in the soul; there is that God-unity between Father and Son; there is that God-connection between God and us.
There is a longing in the human soul for God! To experience Him, you must consent to these certainties: the universal search, the unusual statement, the unqualified situation. These are certainties which are appropriated by faith. Take your step of faith now, my friend. Reach out and receive them. Know what that God-echo means in your soul, what that God-unity means between Father and Son, and what that God-connection can mean between God and you.
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and anytime at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus. He’ll give you hope for today!
Faith—The Cure for Fear
John 14:1-6
Hello friend, and welcome to Hope for Today. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other major languages. And why do we teach from the Bible? Because the Bible is the only source of lasting hope. It is God’s Holy Word.
You know as well as I do that we can’t rely on the words of men because men change. Think of all the unkept promises people make, maybe even specific promises to you personally. But God is unchanging; He keeps His promises. The Psalmist, David, said in Psalm 119:89, “Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven.” You and I can depend on God’s Word.
Because God’s Word is unchanging and reliable, we share this teaching with many people around the world in different languages in both audio and print. And we receive many testimonies of lives that have been transformed by the power of the Gospel. If this program touches your heart and life, we’d love to hear from you. Stay tuned, and I’ll give you our contact information at the close of the program.
Now, here’s Pastor J. Mark with today’s teaching.
It is certain we all have some fears. We are told by the doctors that we are born with this emotional response, fear. Then we have also developed some fears. Some are good fears, and some are not so good. The good fears protect us from accidents. The not-so-good fears keep us from enjoying life. Many of our fears are without foundation. Often, we are afraid of what will happen, which never happens.
I think one of our most basic fears is stated in this question: “What will happen to me when I die?” That is a good fear, a fear you ought to listen to. I am glad to tell you that fear can be cured. Jesus has a word for us about such fear. His word is found in John 14:1-6.
- Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
- In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
- And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also.
- And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
- Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
- Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Yes, my friend, faith can cure fear. In this text, Jesus defined the several QUALITIES of faith which will help to cure fear.
Let us look at the first one: The Reality of Faith.
Faith is a common reality to all of us. We all have faith: faith in something or somebody. It is a part of our person; we are made with the capability of believing. The Apostle Paul, when writing to the Romans, said, “God hath given to every man a measure of faith.”
So, faith is a fact. This reality is a part of our being. The important thing about it is that it needs direction. Just any kind of faith will not be the kind that can cure fear. Faith needs direction, and it is a common reality to all of us.
There must be then a certain reality. I am sure you will agree with me there is a Supreme Being. We all know this to be a fact, a reality. What we need further to accept is the fact of the True God. I don’t know what kind of god you worship. Some of my listeners write to me and ask, “Who is God? How can I know Him?”
I want to point out to you that faith needs direction and that a certain reality must come through to us. We must accept the fact of the True God.
Now, even though you may not know very much about God, perhaps you know very little at this point, I want to insist, my friend, that you must accept this fact, the reality of the True God. This is the first quality of faith to help you cure fear: the reality of faith.
But, beyond the fact of the true God there is a companion reality which is Jesus Christ. The words from John 14:1-6 are the words of Jesus. Here He said, “You believe in God, believe also in me.” We also need this fact: the reality of Jesus. My friend, that must be according to the Bible. You may have your thought or idea about Jesus, but if that does not agree with what the Bible says, it is of little value to you.
Very often, right at this point, we divide. We come to the parting of the way. The reality of faith, my friend, must take in a belief in God and a belief in Jesus to cure the fear of death. That reality can be experienced by believing these words of Jesus.
Faith that can cure fear must have a second quality: The Durability of Faith.
I note that Jesus referred to God’s dwelling place. Perhaps that sounds strange to you, but I want to make sure you understand that God is more than an idea. Some have argued for this. But Jesus speaks of God as having a dwelling place. He calls it “My Father’s house.” Jesus spoke of this. There is a sense in which God can be localized; that is, He has a dwelling place.
The Bible, in other places, refers to heaven being God’s throne and the earth His footstool. Please don’t take this only in a symbolic or poetic sense. Jesus referred to His Father’s house having many mansions. That means God is in a place, an eternal place.
Then there is the declared promise of Jesus, “I go to prepare a place for you.” That is His purpose to do for us. Oh, how precious this is to us! How wonderful to know an enduring faith in this declared promise of Jesus! He said, “I am going to prepare a place for you, and then I will come again and receive you unto myself.” Yes, my friend, that kind of faith can cure your fear.
The promise includes the desired presence of Jesus because He said, “Where I am, there ye may be also.” What a precious, precious promise that is to us. Oh, my friend, this kind of faith can cure your fear of that serious question, “Where shall I go when I die?”
The most effective quality of faith is third: The Personality of Faith.
Here we are getting right down there where it will indeed serve as the cure for fear. There is the sureness of the way, for Jesus said, “You know where I’m going, and you know the way.” That tells me, friend, that we are to follow Him. We cannot find our way. The only way we can know where we are going is when we are following Jesus.
But Thomas, one of His disciples, responded, “Lord, we know not where you are going, and how can we know the way?” Ah yes, Thomas expressed much of my thought, my thought before I came really to know Jesus. Perhaps Thomas expressed your thought, too.
How can we know the way? Now listen, and you will get the security that Jesus gives us by the personality of faith. He answered Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” There you have faith clothed in a person. That’s why I have called it the personality of faith.
The affirmation of Jesus is, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Nothing is more needed than this focus of faith on Jesus. He is the way to the Father’s house. Because He is one with the eternal Word, He is truth. We have real life only when we receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord. To cure fear, we need the personality of faith in Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life.
So, my friend, faith can cure fear when it knows these qualities: reality, durability, and personality. Does your faith have these qualities? In like measure it can cure your fear.
At the beginning of today’s teaching, he said, one of our most basic fears is stated in the question, “What will happen to me when I die?” This is a valid question, and we must seriously consider it. It comes down to two options. You can believe it is like the Bible teaches or you can believe the Bible is wrong. Let’s think about these two.
The Bibles says, “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” At the judgment we are told there are two groups. The ones on the right who will hear, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: and the ones on the left who will hear those awful words, depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Christ has given His life for you! Will you acknowledge your sin and accept His sacrifice? What happens when you die totally depends on what you have done with Jesus while you are alive. This is the Biblical perspective; remember, this was not the only option.
You could believe the Bible is wrong; there are many who have made this choice. Remember, the question is, what will happen to me when I die? If the Bible is rejected, there is no limit to the answers to this question. Some believe it’s over; we are buried, and that is it. Others have planned to meet the aliens in the tale of the comet Hale-Bopp. Still others believe in a Heaven-like place for everybody. When the truth of scripture is taken away, you are free to invent and believe whatever you want. This is the second option we have, and God in His sovereignty allows us to choose that option.
Think again about John 14:6; Jesus did not say He is a way or a truth. He said He is the way and the truth. He said No man comes to the Father but through me. He tells us all we need to know about what will happen to us when we die. Then we need to live by faith. We trust him in this life, and we believe what He tells us about the next.
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website, heraldsofhope.org.
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember; you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus; He’ll give you hope for today!
Love Clarified
John 13:31-38
Hello friend, and welcome to Hope for Today. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other major languages. Tens of thousands tune in each week for spiritual nourishment and blessing. Thousands are tuning in each week to receive spiritual nourishment and blessing. We receive many exciting testimonies of people who have come to faith in Jesus by listening to the programs.
If you’re tuning in for the first time today, we are currently being led through the Gospel of John by the teaching of our Radio Pastor, J. Mark Horst. In a few moments, he’ll be here to teach us, but before he does that, let’s pray.
Gracious God, our Heavenly Father, we come to you in the precious name of Jesus. It is alone through Him that we have access into your holy presence. His blood, shed on the cross at Calvary, is the only sacrifice that is acceptable to you to wash away our sin.
And now, Father, as Pastor J. Mark comes to teach us from the Word, open our hearts to receive your truth. This I ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.
In this relation of love, we all need to know more which calls for much more clarification. We need help to understand better the whole nature of love. In this John 13:31-38 text, there is much help in understanding how Jesus clarified love.
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Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
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If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
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Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
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A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
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By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
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Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
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Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
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Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
My friend, with these words, Jesus defined the several AREAS where love must be clarified.
The need arises in The Area of Conflict.
The opening words of this text are these: “Then, when he had left.” The reference is to Judas, who had gone to finish his negotiations with the high priest to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Satan had entered into him, and Judas became a tool of Satan.
On other occasions, Jesus had cast out demons and released the one who was in bondage to that demon or demons. This time Satan took so complete control of Judas that there seemed to be something of a release after he left, because then Jesus said, “Now, the Son of man is glorified. And God will glorify Him very shortly.” God will do it.
There is the area of conflict where love must be clarified. You see, it appears as though Jesus was distressed, oppressed, by the fact that Satan had taken over one of His disciples. It was not until he had gone that Jesus could say, “Now is the Son of man glorified.
Then He further said to the disciples, “I am going away, and you cannot come.” There was a kind of conflict as well, between where He was going and where the disciples would be. We must somehow respect that difference, “You cannot come”. But we must know what the conflict is, and we must keep our love clear. Conflict is one area calling for love to be clarified.
The need is found in The Area of Conformity.
Jesus said, “I am giving you a new commandment. I want you to love one another as I have loved you.” I am quite certain there must have been a difference. Jesus was presenting to them a much higher level of love than they had ever experienced among themselves. He had demonstrated it, exemplified it, and symbolized it in this chapter when He washed their feet and then said to them, “What I have done to you, you ought to do to each other.”
In the light of His actions, He said to them, “A new commandment I am giving you, that you love one another as I have loved you.” He then explained the result, that such love would create a new condition. All men would then know they were His disciples because of the love that they had for one another.
I apologize, I confess before God that too many Christian people have not lived up to the ideal that Jesus gave them. It has been a scandal that professed disciples have not loved each other like Jesus had loved us. Here is the area of conformity, conforming our love to be like His love. Our love needs to be clear. It is really not possible to have this kind of love until one is truly His disciple. That is the area of conformity, to be like Him because we belong to Him.
The proof of that love is expressed in The Area of Commitment.
Jesus said, “You can’t go now.” Peter said, “Well, why can I not go now? Where are you going?” Jesus answered, “You can’t come now, but you will come later on.” And then Peter had a tremendous aspiration. He said, “Why can’t I come now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.”
Oh, what an aspiration that was for Peter! But Jesus gave Him a sober, solemn revelation: “The cock shall not crow until you have denied me three times.” Peter had just said, “I will lay down my life for Thy sake.” Jesus responded, “You will? Here’s what you really will do: you will deny me three times.” Well, Peter had quite an aspiration, but his aspiration evaporated when Jesus told him what he would really be doing.
In the area of commitment, my friend, our love needs to be clear, absolutely clear. Our frailty often breaks out, and we find that we can’t do what we would like to. That was Peter’s problem in the area of commitment.
Thus, Jesus clarified love in three areas: conflict with the enemy, conformity to the Lord, and commitment to loyalty.
I urge you, my friend, to find such love in Jesus.
We have just finished our study from John chapter 13. The titles from this chapter have been Love Symbolized, Love Exemplified, Love Petrified, and today’s Love Clarified. Obviously, the theme has been love. This theme, more than any other, is what sets the teaching of Jesus apart.
Jesus is our example, and we strive to love like Jesus. More than any other single factor, His love is what sets Jesus apart, first how he taught us to love and second how he showed us love. Here we are about 2,000 years later, and there are literally millions who would die for him because His love has changed their life. I hope this love has also changed your life.
Today we learned that we should love each other like He loved us. When we love each other with love like this, those who don’t know Him will be drawn to Him. Sacrificial love is powerful, and all of us long for relationships where such love is practiced. Unfortunately, many times, we fail, and our love is imperfect. When our love is imperfect, we can depend on His perfect love for forgiveness. As we experience His forgiveness, it motivates us. We want to show others that love to others and love like He loved us. Through our imperfections and in our brokenness, His love shines through. This is the love that is so amazing and so attractive!
There is another aspect of His love worth thinking about. This teaching was and continues to be revolutionary. It is found in Matt 5, Jesus said, “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.” Imagine hearing this for the first time. How is this possible? Why would anyone do this? Jesus, are you serious? Yet this is exactly what Jesus did. He showed us clearly how to live like this. This is extreme. He did not say, don’t fight; instead, he asks us to fight with love. Put away the guns, put away the bombs, forget the fists and harsh words. Try loving your enemy. This is what Jesus taught. Talk about revolutionary!
We hope you have enjoyed these topics on love. Let’s make it our goal to become like Jesus in our love, in our love for God and in our love for each other. As you model His love, those around you will notice and want what you have. This is awesome, Love the lost into His church. God bless you as you model Jesus’ revolutionary teaching on love.
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website, heraldsofhope.org.
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember; you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus; He’ll give you hope for today!
Love Petrified
John 13:21-30
Hello friend, and welcome to Hope for Today. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other major languages. Tens of thousands tune in each week for spiritual nourishment and blessing.
But radio ministry is just one part of what we do at Heralds of Hope. We also distribute Bibles and literature. And our newest publication is called Hope Herald. It’s a study guide designed to complement the teaching you’ll hear on this broadcast. We would be happy to send a copy of this study guide to you if you just write and ask for it. Stay tuned and I will give you the contact information at the end of the program.
In today’s teaching from John 13, we see the cold heart of Judas Iscariot. We wonder how Judas could have been so close to Jesus and yet so far away. We ask the same question about the Pharisees; how could they see all Jesus did and want Him to kill him because of it? Unfortunately, Judas and the Pharisees were not the first ones to respond this way. Since the fall, we see people coming face to face with the truth and rejecting it. David shows us the opposite, a soft heart. Confronted with truth he said, “I have sinned.” May God help us have a heart that is soft and open to truth.
Picture a burning candle. When you hold a piece of bread above the flame, it becomes hard and brittle. Now picture holding another candle above the flame. It immediately begins to soften and drip. The flame is like the truth. The truth does not change; the basis of truth is the nature of God. Thankfully there is no chance that will ever change. The effect of the flame on one object is to harden, and another object is softened. Our hearts are similar.
Some people hear the truth and are convicted and repent; others will hear the truth and become bitter and cold. We wonder how Judas and the Pharisees could have missed Him, yet according to Romans 1, all of us are “without excuse.” We all can see God in His creation. No one has good reasons to reject God.
Yet there are still those who do. Some insist there is no God, and we are here by chance. They say we came from nothing, and we return to nothing. They hold to this line despite the mounting evidence to the contrary. Science is showing us incredible things about His intricate creation. The evidence points to a creator and a master plan. How can someone see and know this and still walk away from Him? This is like the bread in the flame; their hearts are hard and brittle.
This makes us ask, how can we make sure this is not us? What must we do to have a soft heart? How can we be like the candle and be soft toward truth? I believe II Thessalonians 2:10 gives us the answer. We must have a love for truth. Truth, in this case, is so much more than rules or written documents. To love the truth is to love Jesus; he said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Loving the truth is loving Jesus. Loving Jesus is saying yes to Him.
Those who are saying “Yes” to Jesus will not reject Him. You cannot love Him and ignore what He says. Saying “Yes” to Him is living for and with Him every day. If Judas and the Pharisees would have loved Jesus, the story could have been much different. Instead, their interaction with the truth caused their hearts to become cold. Today when you hear truth, don’t harden your heart. Instead, love the truth and grow in your relationship with Him.
Now, here’s Pastor J. Mark with today’s teaching.
Some substances, when they become cold, become very hard. To become pliable, they must be warmed. Certain precious metals, like gold and silver, have a low melting point compared to steel. We are told that a dead tree under proper conditions will petrify, become like rock. After that, it has no function, no particular use, except a museum piece.
Now, even in our human relations, sometimes love gets cold and hardens. It loses its warmth. Even love toward God can cool off and get somewhat hard. Here in John 13:21-30, we have demonstrated for us what happened when Love Petrified.
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When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
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Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
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Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
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Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spoke.
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He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
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Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
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And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
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Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spoke this unto him.
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For some of them thought because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
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He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
Our Lord gave several WORDS which show us how love can be petrified.
Love hardens under The Piercing Word.
I want you to reflect upon what Jesus said, “One of you shall betray me.” Can you create the picture in your mind? Can you see Jesus with His twelve disciples; those who had been closest to him; those who had heard all His teachings; those whose feet He had just washed to demonstrate His endless, matchless love? Those were the ones that were gathered with Him now at the table when He said, “One of you shall betray me.”
One of you, He said. They had not yet known what that meant. It must have pierced each one of them to the heart, “One of you shall betray me.” That is a piercing word; it is a word that cuts to the quick, cuts deep in the heart. That’s one word from Jesus to demonstrate how love can petrify.
When the piercing word revealed a betrayer, there had to follow The Identifying Word.
John, who was lying on Jesus’ bosom, asked the question, “Who is it, Lord?” Of course, they wanted to know. Jesus had made it specific enough that one of them was going to do this awful deed. And John said, “Who is it, Lord? Tell us who it is.”
Now watch how Jesus answered. He said, “He it is, to whom I will give the morsel when I have dipped it?” I understand from reading the Jewish encyclopedia that the observance of the Passover had in it the dipping of a morsel of bread, then eating it as some symbol of the deliverance from the land of Egypt.
Jesus, as the host of that Passover feast, took this morsel and dipped it, and gave it to Judas Iscariot. Now he was marked out by the identifying word, “He it is to whom I shall give the morsel when I have dipped it.”
I don’t see any other conclusion to draw but that the love Judas may have had suddenly hardened; it was petrified. Jesus’ identifying word brought it into the open when He gave the morsel to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son. That was the identifying word.
What followed was not a happenstance, for Jesus gave The Commanding Word.
We are informed in this text that as soon as Judas had received the morsel, Satan entered into his heart. Then Jesus said, “Whatever you do, do it quickly,” do not hesitate; the time has now come for you to act.
This may well have been brooding in Judas’ mind. Earlier in John’s Gospel, we learn that Judas was the one who said, “Why was not this sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor?” That was when Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with that precious box of ointment. You see, he must have been brooding over this for some time.
Now Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” It was not clear to the others. We would think that they should have now understood what Jesus was predicting, pointing out to them, and giving the command that it be accomplished. It was clear to Judas because the Bible tells us here that he went out immediately. He went out into the darkness of the night.
There is something rather foreboding about that. Here was a man whose love had petrified. When Jesus said, “Do it quickly,” he went out into the night. The darkness of the night surrounded him.
Thus, in this experience of Judas, love petrified. It hardened; it lost its warmth. Now Jesus’ words show us how that can be possible: it was the piercing word, “One of you”; it was the identifying word; “He it is to whom I will give the morsel when I have dipped it”; and it was the commanding word, “Do it quickly.”
My friend, love needs to be kept alive. Don’t let your love die or petrify. Even in this, Jesus loved him. And He loves you.
Was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title.
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember; you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, …. heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus; He’ll give you hope for today!
LOVE Exemplified
John 13:12-20
Hello friend, and welcome to Hope for Today. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other major languages. Tens of thousands tune in each week for spiritual nourishment and blessing.
If you’ve been listening regularly, you know that we are currently studying in the Gospel of John. So, here’s Pastor J. Mark to lead us in our continuing study.
Have you ever watched someone working, and it looked so simple and so easy? Every move seemed to count, and the material was easily brought together. Then did you ever try to do what they were doing and found that when you tried it, it wasn’t so easy? Because you did not actually know how. That’s the reason. If you had been shown how, it would have been much easier.
Usually, there are instructions for any job that you might undertake. There are certain ways to do certain jobs. It’s often much better though if you have someone to show you how, more than just looking at instructions or trying to find and figure out your own way.
Now Jesus’ love to the disciples was to the uttermost. But to show the disciples what He meant, He washed their feet. He symbolized love. The washing was the symbol of His forgiving, cleansing love freely offered to them all.
Now, let’s see how this portion, John 13:12-20, will illustrate for us LOVE EXEMPLIFIED.
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So, after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
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Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
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If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
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For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
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Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
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If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
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I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
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Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
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Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
We must follow closely the TEACHINGS of Jesus to see how love is exemplified.
Jesus gave them The Comforting Supposition.
He said, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord: and you say well; for so I am. He must have paused, then continued, “Since I am your Lord and Master, and I have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
That’s what I call a comforting supposition. You call me Master and Lord, and I have exemplified my love to you. So, you are to exemplify your love as I have done to you. I want you to catch the full impact of that word ought, as Jesus said it. “You ought also to wash one another’s feet. As I have done, so you ought to do.”
That is a powerful word, ought. Now don’t dilute it, my friend. Don’t dodge it! Just take it as Jesus gave it. “You call me Master and Lord: and you say well; for so I am. Since I am your Master and Lord, you ought to wash one another’s feet as I have washed ~yours.”
I am trying to point out to you that surpassing love goes beyond what seems to be reasonable. So, Jesus washed their feet and exemplified His love.
And then Jesus gave them The Careful Stipulation.
He is the model. He said, “As I have done, so you should do.” He led the way; He showed them. Now carefully notice the words of Jesus which followed. He said, “The servant is not greater than his master; nor the one who is sent greater than he who sent him.”
We ought to know something about that, surely. The master is always the responsible person. When the master gives instruction to the servant, the servant should do what he is asked to do. In some ways, we have much to learn of that these days, don’t we? But it is always true, and Jesus said it emphatically.
That’s what I call a careful stipulation. The one who follows the instructions of the master is going to be a happy person. He promised, “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.” This teaching is the careful stipulation to exemplify love, His kind of love.
Jesus climaxed His teaching about love with The Cutting Specification.
He tells them of an exception. He said, “I know all of you, and I know that not all of you are with me.” “Not all,” He said. I wonder how that betrayer must have felt when Jesus began to point him out. He said, “The one who has had his hand on the table to eat bread with me is going to lift up his heel against me.” I wonder how he must have felt. I call that a cutting specification.
Then Jesus gave them some hope with a prediction, “Now I tell you before it comes, so that, when it is come to pass, you will know that I am he.” I am constantly impressed with the foreknowledge of Jesus: how He was able to understand what was before. We often say that we can understand better when we look back than when we look ahead. So, Jesus made the prediction so they would understand clearly that He was the One.
But I want you to notice right at the end of our Scripture text how Jesus put it, “He who receives whomever I send receives me. And he who receives me receives him who sent me.” Isn’t that beautiful? That unification, that connection, so clearly set forth. But here is the teaching in a cutting specification to exemplify love. Jesus pointed it out beforehand to give hope and assurance.
Love is exemplified by Jesus’ comforting supposition, the disciple should be like his lord; the careful stipulation, the servant is not above his lord; and the cutting specification, the betrayer is responsible to his lord. Surely that is surpassing love.
Where do you find yourself in this situation?
Our teaching started by asking if we have ever seen someone doing a job and making it look easy? Then when we attempt to do the same work, it is much harder than it looks. Think about this question and our passage here in John 13. Many times, when we are called to lead, it is harder than it looks. Jesus shows us how to do it right; He shows us how to be a servant leader.
We may not all think we are leaders, but all of us have others who are looking up to us. You are being watched by somebody; they see you as a leader. So how are you leading? What is the example you are setting, and how can we lead like Jesus?
When we find ourselves in a leadership position, there are many ways to mess up and get it wrong. We become proud of our position, or we make demands that are not reasonable on those we are leading. Being a servant leader is harder than it looks. However, it is God’s way, and we know God’s way is always the best way.
Think about the attitude Jesus had toward His disciples. He was their Master, yet he served them, he washed their feet. What Jesus teaches us about leadership is the opposite of how the world looks at leaders. Many times, we see leaders as someone who is served. Every wish and desire of the leader is met by others. The leader is the one being served.
Jesus takes this idea and turns it upside down. He tells us in Matthew 20:26, “whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.” To Jesus being a big leader is being a big servant. Think about the difference it would make if all leaders would have this attitude? That would make a big difference in many areas. Now just imagine if all of us who know Jesus would begin leading like Jesus. This would be truly amazing!
We can’t control the way others are leading, but we can start with ourselves; actually, we must start with ourselves. Look at your attitude as a leader and ask Jesus to help you have His view of leadership. Instead of asking others to serve us, we need to look for ways to serve others. This goes against our flesh; we would rather be served than serve.
Yet this is what living for Jesus is all about. Instead of doing what we want and following the desires of our flesh, we surrender to His Lordship. When we are presented with a choice, we follow Him and do things His way! Following Jesus and leading like he leads means doing things His way every chance we have.
Leading well and doing it right is one of those things that is harder than it looks. Thankfully Jesus has modeled it for us, and with his help, we can get it right. In this passage, He shows us how to be a servant leader. So, as we walk with Him, he guides us: he helps us fight our flesh and lead like He would.
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title.
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember; you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, heraldsofhope.org
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. And until then, keep looking to Jesus; He’ll give you hope for today!
Hello friend, and welcome to Hope for Today. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other major languages. And why do we teach from the Bible? Because the Bible is the only source of lasting hope. It is God’s Holy Word.
You know as well as I do that we can’t rely on the words of men because men change. Think of all the unkept promises people make, maybe even specific promises to you personally. But God is unchanging, He keeps His promises. The Psalmist, David, said in Psalm 119:89, “Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven.” You and I can depend on God’s Word.
Because God’s Word is unchanging and reliable, we share this teaching with many people around the world in different languages in both audio and print. And we receive many testimonies of lives that have been transformed by the power of the Gospel. If this program touches your heart and life, we’d love to hear from you. Stay tuned, and I’ll give you our contact information at the close of the program.
Now, here’s Pastor J. Mark with today’s teaching.
Many years ago, an Englishman affirmed, “Love is the greatest force in the world.” But long before that, the Apostle Paul wrote what has been called the greatest dissertation on love. It is recorded in I Corinthians 13. Paul concluded his dissertation with these words, “And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
A listener once wrote to me to tell me he had discovered a whole new body of literature when he read the New Testament. As he read the Gospels, he saw that Jesus is the True Love. The great golden text of the Bible is still true, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
I want to talk to you about LOVE SYMBOLIZED from John 13:1-11. This is probably one of the most misunderstood acts of Jesus.
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Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
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And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him.
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Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God.
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He riseth from supper and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
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After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
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Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
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Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
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Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
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Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
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Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
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For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
From this text we shall see the several SITUATIONS in which Jesus symbolized love.
The first Situation Jesus used a perfect setting: The Occasion.
It was the feast of the Passover. It was an important feast given to Israel by the Lord when they came out of Egypt in the time of Moses. It commemorated their Exodus from Egypt. It was to be kept perpetually. Actually, the observance of the Passover commemorated the salvation of the first-born son. In every family that carefully obeyed the instructions, the first-born was delivered from death.
The Passover was observed in Jesus’ day. In fact, He first observed the Passover in Jerusalem when He was twelve years of age. We read in the Gospel of Luke that Jesus went with Joseph and Mary and others from Nazareth to Jerusalem to observe the Passover when He was twelve.
Now in John 13 Jesus is observing the Passover for the last time before He was crucified. As the occasion is introduced, John, by the Holy Spirit, states that Jesus loved His own which were in the world, and He loved them unto the end. I want to explain that for you. I noticed in my Greek New Testament that the phrase, to the end, is eis tetos. That means to the uttermost, to the end of love, as far as love could go.
So, He put water into a basin. It was a ceremonial washing when He would normally, as governor of the Passover, wash His hands. But He began to wash the disciples’ feet. The occasion was the celebrating of the saving of the first-born from death in the bondage of Egypt.
Jesus went from one to another of His disciples reclining about the Passover meal, coming last to Peter.
The second Situation: The Objection.
Peter made a strong objection. He said, “You are not going to wash my feet.” It was a washing procedure and Jesus was washing the disciples’ feet, but Peter objected very strenuously when He came to him.
I think Peter must have been the last of the twelve disciples as Jesus had washed their feet. He very emphatically said, “You are not going to wash my feet.” Then Jesus answered, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.
Now notice Peter’s response. When he understood that the washing was absolutely necessary, then he said, “Not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” Yes, Peter then was very anxious that he should have complete fellowship with Jesus.
The objection was overridden. He had first said you’ll never do it. Then he said to do it well, thoroughly, “Wash not only my feet, but also my head and my hands.”
Then Jesus gave the third Situation: The Orders.
Here’s the third situation. He said, “Once you have been bathed, or cleansed, all you need then is to wash the feet in order to be clean.” The symbolism of this, of course, can be taken to the times in which Jesus lived. They had the central bathhouse in the village or the town. To prepare for the Sabbath Day, for example, the Jewish men would go to the bathhouse and bathe. After they had walked home, they would wash their feet, and then they would be clean. Jesus said, “Once you have been cleansed, then all you need to do is wash the feet.”
I want you to notice that Jesus was here symbolizing real cleansing, the cleansing of His love. I just showed you from the first verse that Jesus loved His own unto the uttermost. And Jesus symbolized His love by washing their feet. Even the one who was not clean. He told Peter, “You are clean, but not all,” because He knew which one was going to betray Him. So, He said, “You are not all clean.”
This washing was not to cleanse the feet. It was to symbolize forgiving, cleansing love for them even to the uttermost. His love was enough to take them all in, forgive them all, varied as they were. Even the one who would betray Him, Jesus was willing to cleanse. Now that’s what I call surpassing love.
Can you imagine, Jesus, the Son of God, washing your feet? You might say like Peter, “NO, that’s not right, it’s backwards. He’s the Creator of all and He is washing the feet of His creation, a human! The creature, the human should be washing His feet.” And, in a sense, you’re right.
But let me tell you something; He did much more than wash the disciples’ feet. He literally laid down His life for them on the cross. He died so they might have eternal life. But it wasn’t just for them. He did it for you and me and all people, in the past, present, and future.
What Jesus was really demonstrating to us in this scene is how to serve those we love. And some Christ-followers today still follow the example Jesus gave in this text. When they commemorate the Lord’s Table, they also wash the feet of their brother or sister as a way of saying, “I am here to serve you in any way I can. I am willing to even lay down my life for you.”
And in doing this they remember the words of Jesus, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
But you will never be able to love others like that until you first learn to love Jesus. I urge you to accept His love today.
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or a digital file, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org.
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an e-mail to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That e-mail address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or a digital file of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember; you can request a free copy of this teaching in print or a digital file. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus, He’s our hope for today and for every day!
This series by Dr. J. Otis Yoder has been re-recorded by J. Mark Horst.
Hello friend, and welcome to Hope for Today. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other major languages. Tens of thousands tune in each week for spiritual nourishment and blessing. Thousands are tuning in each week to receive spiritual nourishment and blessing. We receive many exciting testimonies of people who have come to faith in Jesus by listening to the programs.
If you’re tuning in for the first time today, we are currently being led through the Gospel of John by the teaching of our Radio Pastor, J. Mark Horst. In a few moments, he’ll be here to teach us, but before he does that, let’s pray.
Gracious God our Heavenly Father, we come to you in the precious name of Jesus. It is alone through Him that we have access into your holy presence. His blood, shed on the cross at Calvary, is the only sacrifice that is acceptable to you to wash away our sin.
And now, Father, as Pastor J. Mark comes to teach us from the Word, open our hearts to receive your truth. This I ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.
A certain captain in the Roman Army once had a dear servant who was sick. When the captain heard that Jesus was coming to his town, he sent some of the Jewish leaders to ask Jesus to heal the sick servant. As the Lord came near the house the captain sent friends to tell Jesus how he felt completely unworthy that Jesus should come to his house. He said, “For I am also a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it” Luke 7:8.
Jesus was surprised at the captain’s words, and He said, “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” You see, the captain knew what it meant to be sent. He also knew what it meant to issue orders to his men. He expected each one to obey and do what he was told. Anyone who has been sent should do what he has been sent to do.
In the highest order of authority, we see JESUS - THE SENT ONE. His birth was not an accident of history. He was the Sent One. He knew He came for a reason. He spoke different times of His hour not being as yet. Then He spoke on other occasions that the hour had come. He spoke of being sent by the Father. From the Biblical record in the Gospels, we must conclude His life was under divine direction. God was directing His life. This becomes evident in the text of this message in the Gospel of John 12:44-50.
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Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
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And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
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And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
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He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
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For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
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And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
From these words of Jesus, I set forth several basic STATEMENTS for an understanding that Jesus is The Sent One.
The first Statement: There is the Light of Faith.
Some things cannot be reasoned out. Some experiences in life are beyond our reason. They must be believed. Jesus said, “He who believes on me does not believe only on me, but he also believes on him who sent me.”
We are not asked to abandon our thought. We are only asked to harness it, to bring it into proper focus so what we believe is what we ought to believe. And there is the light of faith. It is beyond reason. By faith, the Bible says, we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God.
Now, we cannot understand this in any other way. There’s only one way that we can understand the origin of the universe. By faith, we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God. You see, there is the light of faith.
The light of faith in Jesus is to connect with faith in God. Here then is a basic statement: there is the light of faith.
One of the great church fathers years ago by the name of Tertullian once said, “I believe because it is ridiculous.” He was saying, because I cannot reason it out I will, therefore, accept it by faith. There is the light of faith.
The second Statement: There is the Locus of Judgment.
Now, every judgment must rest upon some fact. The judge must know the law. He cannot create the law as he goes. He must relate his decision and judgment to existing law, what has been written and what has been practiced. There is the locus of judgment.
It is so in our courts of the land. It is so, also, in the courts of God. Divine judgment also rests upon fact. Jesus said, “It rests upon my words.” He said, “I did not come to judge, I came to save the world.” At the same time, He said, “The words that I have spoken, they will judge you in the last day.”
Surely it is true: His words are saving words. But His words are also judging words. So He said the locus of judgment rests on His words. There is a definite connection between His word and the final day of judgment, my friend. Isn’t it wonderful that He has told us beforehand so that we can understand how to prepare for that appearance in the court of God?
Here then is a basic statement. There is the locus of judgment: His Words.
There is then that third Statement: There is the Line of Authority.
Many claims have been made for final and divine authority. But there is only one that is absolutely true and sure. It is the claim of Jesus which He made here. He said, “I have what I have from the Father. I understand his commandment and his commandment is everlasting life. I am saying what I am saying because he has told me.”
You see, there is a direct connection, a direct line of authority. The claim that Jesus made is absolutely correct. He was God in the flesh. He was the Sent One. He did and said what He was to do and say. He came to bring everlasting life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
There is the line of authority. As God in the flesh, He was the Sent One. He had a direct connection with the Father. He understood what God the Father wanted Him to do. And He did it. Here then is another basic statement: there is the line of authority right to God the Father. Jesus is the Sent One.
You will have a fuller understanding of Jesus as the Sent One by accepting these statements. There is the light of faith, Praise God! There is the locus of judgment; we know His Word beforehand. There is the line of authority right to God the Father. Jesus is the Sent One.
Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, we are so thankful that you have sent your Son, Jesus, into the world to be our Savior. We know that when He came to earth, His own people didn’t receive Him. But to as many as did receive Him, to them He gave the right or privilege to become His very own children. How wonderful!
I pray right now for my friend who is listening to my voice, that he or she might come to a better understanding of Jesus as the sent One. He came to give us the light of faith, so we could believe in Him and in the Father. He came, as God in the flesh, to show us what You are like. So, bless my friend as he considers the claims of Jesus on his life. And help him to choose to follow Him and walk in His joy and peace. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
My friend, I remind you of Jesus’ words. He said, “He who believes on Me, believes not only on Me, but on Him who sent Me.” In other words, He was saying, “if you believe on Me then you also believe on My Father, God.” You see, God and Jesus are inseparable. You can’t say you believe in God and reject Jesus; that doesn’t work. If you reject Jesus, that’s proof that you really don’t believe in God. And the reverse is also true.
Now, perhaps you’re considering coming to Jesus, but you have some questions about Him. If you contact us with those questions, we would be happy to answer them from the Bible, God’s Holy Word. So, listen carefully now as Arlin gives you a variety of ways you can contact us.
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or a digital file, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org.
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an e-mail to mail@heraldsofhope.org. That e-mail address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or a digital file of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is mail@heraldsofhope.org. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember; you can request a free copy of this teaching in print or a digital file. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus, He’s our hope for today and for every day!
This series by Dr. J. Otis Yoder has been re-recorded by J. Mark Horst.