The Acts Church Hour: Recent Episodes
The Acts Church
High Theology Equals High Doxology! That Is The Purpose Of This Channel! The More We Know Of Who God Is And What His Word Teaches The More We Will Worship And Be In Awe Of Him! The Bible Is Better Than What We Have Made it!
The eternal household plan of God was for God’s household to be made up of Jews and Gentiles. Although veiled in the Old Testament this mystery has been revealed through Christ who is the One to which the eternal household planned has been summed up. Gentiles by God’s grace alone are no longer strangers, but fellow citizens of the household of God on which the foundation is the prophets and the apostles. However, the most important piece of this building that is being fitted together into a holy temple is the Cornerstone which is Christ. Gentiles, who were once restricted at the temple by the barrier of the dividing wall are now by God’s grace are being fitted together and growing into the holy temple in the Lord.
The difference between those in Heaven and those in hell is grace! The response to His grace is praise to the glory of His grace. The more we see have undeserving we are, the more we will understand how amazing is His grace!
Paul continues to pray that the saints of have a greater knowledge of Christ as this leads to greater assurance and hope of their inheritance. Another aspect of the knowledge of God is to understand the greatness of His power toward those who believe. The power, strength, and might of God are on full display toward those who are His in regeneration. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is the same power that was needed to raise the spiritually dead heart of all His elect to life. God raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the Heavenly places which is what happens in salvation. It took the same omnipotent power (and nothing less) that raised Jesus to raise our unregenerate dead heart to life in regeneration. How dare we ever think that faith ever precedes regeneration as we never have that power in and of ourselves. Christ has been exalted to the right hand of God the Father which is the seat of authority via the ascension. The believer who is "In Christ" can have assurance of their inheritance as a result of Christ's supreme reign over all things who has predestined the believer for that very inheritance and no force can thwart His will! Christ has all authority over all things including authority and rule as head of the Church. Christ is omnipresent as He fills everyplace at all times with His fullness. He is not lacking anything or in need of anything from anyone. However, Paul expresses what we would understand in our human understanding, that the head without a body is not full or complete. The Church is the called the fullness of Christ (not that He needs the Church), but that through the eternal household plan that is summed up in Christ.
No one can have spiritual understanding of God without the sovereign hand of God sending the Holy Spirit to give understanding and knowledge concerning the truth of God. Having knowledge of God both salvifically and in sanctification is an act of God's grace! The knowledge of God can be distinguished into two categories: Salvific knowledge of Him via regeneration and increasing knowledge of Him throughout the sanctification process. A characteristic of a Christian is growing in the knowledge of God as this leads to sanctification which is the will of God for the elect. Theology matters! Disciple (mathétés) means learner, student. The problem in not seeing God is not an eye problem, but a heart problem. This is why only the hearts that have been regenerated by the supernatural sovereign monergistic power of God can have any spiritual understanding of God. Paul prays for God to give them increased knowledge/understanding of the hope of His effectual call. The elect of God have a hope (meaning a guarantee) of an inheritance in Christ. The true believer has eternal life, will forever dwell with God, and will see God as He is! The greater the knowledge we have of Him the more assured we are of our salvation and inheritance.
The eternal household plan of God is summed up in Christ in whom we believe, have our hope, are in union with, and are eternally secure!
All things are from Him, through Him, and to Him including the salvation of His elect. If God had looked down the corridor of time to see who of His fallen creatures whose hearts were made of stone, who was hostile to God, who were enslaved to sin and the devil, and were dead in sin would choose Him, He would see no one! No unregenerate heart could ever choose Christ. Therefore, before the foundation of the world in love God, according to the kind intention of His will, and according to the counsel of His will God the Father chose a group of people who were unable to save themselves and showed His love, mercy, and grace upon them(elect). He chooses the elect not based on their works or merits but by His purpose and grace, to the praise of His glorious grace. Those who the Father chose before the foundation of the world had their names written in the Lamb's book of life before the foundation of the world. He gives those who He has chosen to the Son and when the fullness of time had come, the Son became flesh and entered His creation to live and die for those whom the Father had chosen. The Holy Spirit is sent to apply the work of Christ to the elect and seals them, promising them their inheritance. Many will question why God choses some and not others or why He doesn't He save everyone? The question is not why doesn't He save everyone, but rather why does He save one? If we truly knew the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man, the question would be why does He save anyone? The result and purpose of His election, predestination, redeeming, sealing, and granting an inheritance to His elect is for the praise of His glory and grace! God gets all the glory and praise!!!
God's eternal plan and will to redeem His people was fully realized in the incarnation of the Logos and His redemptive work. In Christ all the elect have obtained and inheritance which is eternal life dwelling with God forever through our union with Christ in sonship.
The elect of God (the sheep) are those who Christ, the Good Shepherd has laid His life down for and has redeemed through His blood on the cross. This also speaks on limited atonement/particular redemption. He redeemed His people according to the riches of His grace.
The result of God the Father choosing and predestining the elect on the basis of the kind intention of His will and not based on the grounds or our merits, works, and choice is that it brings about praise of the glory of His grace. He receives all the glory in His election. This grace is given freely as God is free in offering grace, salvation, and mercy to whoever He desires. This grace is freely bestowed upon the elect as a result of being in Christ who is the true Beloved of God.
Gideon and the defeat he had against the Midianites is a foreshadow of the victory that Christ will have on the Last Day when He defeats His enemies, brings judgment, and consummates His kingdom. Gideon had victory over the enemy after blowing a trumpet, breaking pitchers that had torches inside, letting the light from torches shine, and shouting "the sword for the Lord and for Gideon." When Christ returns it will be with a trumpet being blown, Him shattering all His enemies like earthenware, Him coming in fire, and Him defeating the enemy with the sharp sword out of His mouth. We also can see our salvation in this story as well. We are earthen vessels that are brought to brokenness and mourning over our sins by the power of the Holy Spirit. He shines the Light of Himself and the gospel into our hearts and as a result the Light of Christ shines out of us for the world to see. This was done by grace and mercy and not of ourselves, so our boasting is only found in Christ.
Although Peter had failed Jesus and was broken, he would be restored and would be instructed to shepherd and feed Christ’s sheep out of love for Christ. He is now restored and will strengthen the brethren because Christ had prayed for him (Luke 22:31-32). Peter was told of his future martyrdom which would be on a cross and still he picked up his cross and followed Christ. This is the call of every Christian as we are to pick up our cross and follow Christ even unto death. As the gospel according to John ends, John reminds his readers the purpose of the words written in this book. Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is [h]the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.(John 20:30-31).
Although Peter had failed Jesus and was broken, he would be restored and would be instructed to shepherd and feed Christ’s sheep out of love for Christ. He is now restored and will strengthen the brethren because Christ had prayed for him (Luke 22:31-32). Peter was told of his future martyrdom which would be on a cross and still he picked up his cross and followed Christ. This is the call of every Christian as we are to pick up our cross and follow Christ even unto death. As the gospel according to John ends, John reminds his readers the purpose of the words written in this book. Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is [h]the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.(John 20:30-31).
All who have believed have believed as a result of the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit in regeneration. Christ breathed on His disciples to signify that He and the Father are whom the Spirit is sent from, and they will soon receive the Spirit that is promised. God breathed into Adam, and he became a living soul. The breathing of the Holy Spirit into the lives of His elect by the hand of God the Father and God the Son brings eternal life as He is a life-giving Spirit. It is by the Holy Spirit one who has never seen Christ can believe in Him and love Him and are blessed. The Holy Spirit inspired the Word of God and illuminates the Bible to His elect. It is through the pages of Scripture that God speaks to His people and that the gospel is revealed. The purpose of the gospel according to John is clearly defined. The things written in this book were written so that one may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing one may have eternal life.
The world thought they had victory over Jesus and His followers as they watched Him die and His dead body was laid in a tomb. However, in three days Christ would be raised victoriously. It was in His resurrection that the Father had validated Him in His life and His sacrificial death. The resurrection declares that the sacrifice of Christ was accepted by the Father. His death and resurrection are personal to His elect as they are united with Him in both. All that the Father has given to Christ will be raised spiritually from death to life in regeneration by the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. They will also share in the likeness of His bodily resurrection as He is the firstfruits of those who are in Him. It was impossible for Him not to be resurrected and it is equally impossible for His elect to not be raised spiritually and on the Last Day physically. His resurrection is our living hope! He is not here, He is risen!
Someone who had died on a cross would not have been buried in a rich man’s tomb but would rather have had a relative come and take their body, have their lifeless body eaten by birds, or thrown into the garbage heap to burn and be eaten by worms. When Jesus declared “it is finished” He meant that all that the Father had sent Him to accomplish was complete. It also meant that His humiliation was finished, and it was now time for His exaltation to begin which would begin in His burial. The spices and the anointing of His body would not be needed as His body would not see decay (Acts 2:22-36). His body was placed in the tomb, but it was impossible for death to hold Him (Acts 2:24). As He had promised His disciples earlier:” A little while, and you will no longer see Me; an again a little while, and you will see me (John 16:16).
Jesus is the Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7) and the Last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45). His legs were not broken on the cross as He is the true Passover Lamb and His blood applied is what allows rescues from death. His side was pierced on the cross as Christ, the Last Adam would suffer wounds to bring to Him His bride. As Jesus arose (resurrection) from His deep sleep (death), He will forever bear the marks of wounding that brought about His bride. The first Adam’s sin and disobedience resulted in him, and his bride being kicked out of paradise. However, the Last Adam’s sinlessness, obedience, and taking upon Himself the sins of His bride results in Him welcoming His bride into paradise!
Many are looking for a red heifer to be sacrificed in a rebuilt temple but let all the looking for a red heifer cease immediately. The red heifer was a shadow pointing to Christ who entered into the greater and more perfect temple to offer Himself as a sacrifice that would cleanse from defilement and death brought about by our sin. To say there will be rebuilt temple while returning to animal sacrifices is to stomp underfoot the finished work of Christ and His sacrifice. God forbid!
When the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons (Gal 4:4-5). He lived a perfect life, He fulfilled all righteousness, and has now drunk the cup of wrath from the Father to be the atonement and propitiation for His sheep. He accomplished all He was sent to accomplish from the Father and as He is dying declares "it is finished." He is declaring that the debt that His sheep owed which was death and the wrath of the Father has been paid for by His substitutionary life and death. He is the Good Shepherd as He lies His life down for the sheep. The salvation of His elect was guaranteed when He declared "tetelestai, it is finished." Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed me white as snow. It was for this hour that He came!
Christ was sinless and innocent and not deserving of death on the cross. He was there on that cross not because of His sin or guilt, but rather because of the sin of His elect. Christ died a substitutionary death for His sheep on the cross and was numbered among the transgressors as He was hanging in between two criminals on the day of His crucifixion. The two criminals heard the same words from Christ that day and saw the same event unfolding in front of their eyes. So why did one criminal believe and the other did not? There was not alter call with soft music in the background, no raise your hand to accept Christ, and no sinner's prayer. His heart was brought from death to life by the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit. In the middle of the pain, agony, anguish, bleeding, and torture of the cross, God made His soul regenerated so the criminal would believe. As the criminal was first nailed to the cross, he was a lost sheep and before he died, he was a found sheep. Christ laid down His life for His sheep and He was dying for this criminal. Christ and His cross was in the middle of two people and their responses were completely different. The side of the cross you are on determines your eternal destination. Those on the unbelieving side will have eternal punishment in the lake of fire and those on the believing side of the cross have the promise given to the believing criminal on the cross: that one day we will be with Christ in Paradise.
We are all guilty of sin and legally we stand before Christ condemned (Romans 3:19-20). God is the avenger who will bring about judgment and wrath on the Last Day. However, there is an escape for as there was for those fleeing to a city of refuge. Those who realize their sin and guilt which comes through regeneration run to Christ as He is the only escape as He is our only refuge. Those who run to Christ and take refuge in Him are set free by His death as He is the true anointed (the Christ) High Priest. His death is what pays our debt, allows us freedom, and results in no condemnation although we were guilty (simul Justus et peccator). Just as the cities of refuge were available to sojourns and aliens the gospel is extended to the Gentiles. All those who have not taken refuge in Christ will one day face the full wrath, fury, and vengeance of God. We as Christians have a refuge in our High Priest that we ran to for refuge, rescues, and atonement and have the privilege to run to every single second of the day in prayer and in His Word! This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, Christ is our refuge!
Jesus wore a crown of thorns that was to inflict pain and to mock Him. However, there is great depth, symbolism, and importance to Him wearing the crown of thorns. The curse placed on the ground after the fall in the garden was that it would produce thorns. Thorns were representative of the curse from the fall due to sin. Now Christ the King of Kings is wearing not a crown of gold, but rather a crown of thorns representing the curse as He Himself would become a curse on behalf of His people to redeem them and set them free from the curse of sin. He is King of Kings and every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. This King left His glory in Heaven to become a curse to set His people free! And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Jesus was innocent and without sin but was sentenced to death as was ordained in the eternal plan of redemption. He entered into His creation to testify to truth and everyone who is of the truth which are His sheep hears His voice. His sheep were guilty and deserved to die and suffer the wrath and judgment of the Father. However, Christ the eternal only begotten Son of God the Father died in place of His sheep as their substitute so they could become the adopted sons of the Father!
The wall of Jericho falling are a shadow pointing the Lord conquering the kingdom of the world on the last day to establish His eternal kingdom in the eternal promised land. All those who believe and are in union with the true Vine, the true Israel of God which is Christ will after their wilderness journey enter the eternal promised land on the new earth. Now as we live and walk on this earth we are living among the kingdoms of this world. However, on the last day when the wrath of God is poured out, the kingdom of the world will come the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He will reign forever. He will destroy the kingdom of the world on the last trumpet and with word coming out of His mouth which is the sharp sword as the walls will fall and He will establish His eternal kingdom. We like Rahab can enter and dwell in the promised land by faith. When the Israelites came to conquer the city, they looked for the scarlet cord in the window of Rahab and by her faith her life was spared, and she could dwell in the land. When the true Israel of God comes on the last day, He will be looking not for a scarlet cord tied in faith, but rather the scarlet blood of the Passover Lamb applied in faith. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
The examination and questioning of Jesus has begun as they will look to find a way to bring Him to death. There are no credible witnesses against Jesus because He is the spotless, unblemished Lamb of God who is without sin. As Jesus stands before the high priest for questioning, what the high priest does not realize is that the One who they are questioning is God in flesh, the true eternal High Priest who intercedes for His people forever. He was perfect and innocent and God sovereignly hardened their hearts and blinded their eyes for if they understood they would not have not crucified the Lord of glory (1 Cor 2:8) and we would have no hope of salvation. We see Peter denied Christ three times even after walking with Him closely, see countless miracles, hearing His teaching, and professing He would never deny Him. So let us pray for boldness and courage in the time of testing and witnessing around friends, family, co-workers, etc so that at no time we deny Christ by our actions or words and hear the rooster crow. However, Peter would be restored because Jesus had prayed for Him (Luke 22:31-32). Beloved take heart, if you are numbered among the elect, He prays for you as well.
The place and timing of the arrest of Christ was ordained before the foundation of the world as this was part of the eternal plan of redemption. With the sound of His voice all those who came to arrest Him could have been struck dead as the breath that He gives could have been taken away by His sovereign hand. All the soldiers and officers who came to seize Him did not overpower Him and arrest Him against His will. The men who thought they were strong in might and number as they came to arrest Him were knocked to the ground by the power of the proclamation from Jesus that He was Yahweh. Just as He willingly will lay down His life for the sheep, He willingly allows them to bind Him and lead Him away as this would lead to cross. It was for this hour that He came to drink the cup that the Father had given Him. As He was arrested and led away, He was the Lamb who was being led to the slaughter.
The nation of Israel was led out of Egypt, passed through the water, led into the wilderness to be tempted, failed in their temptation and testing, and failed to keep the law perfectly. Christ, the true Israel of God came of Egypt, was baptized in the Jordan river, tempted in the wilderness but did not sin, and then succeeded in keeping the Law perfectly. As a result of our union with the true Israel of God, the true Servant of God, the true Vine which is Christ we are regarded as spiritual Israel and will inherit the true promised land forever!
John 17 is a unique chapter in the Bible as we see an intertrinitatian prayer from God the Son to God the Father. The hour has come and the cross is in sight. As He is nearing the final moment of His life, the eternal Son lifts His eyes to Heaven and prays to the eternal Father. And what is on His mind? What is of importance in these movements before His arrest in the garden? The Father is on His mind, the disciples are on His mind, and all that the Father had given Him are on His mind. Before the world was the Father was loving His only begotten Son. It is that same love to which the Father loves the elect and gives them to the Son before the foundation of the world by mercy and grace. The Son has lived a perfect life fulfilling all righteousness for the all the Father had given Him and now is moments away from being the substitutionary death for them. It is all that the Father had given Him that are on His mind as well as finishing the work He was sent to accomplish to glorify His Father. He is interceding for them in this prayer, He will intercede for them on the cross, and will continue to intercede for them for all eternity. This prayer is personal as salvation is personal. Christ was thinking about and praying for all believers in the hours before His death as it was for them He was sent. He had prayed that all that the Father had given Him would see His glory and be with Him. Because of His work, that prayer will be completely fulfilled when one day we see Him as He is and be with Him where He is forever just as He prayed to His Father in His High Priestly prayer!
The Ark of the Covenant is pointing to Christ. The manna speaks of Him being the Bread of Life. Aaron’s rod speaks to Christ being our High Priest. The 10 commandments represent the holy Law of God that no one could keep perfectly except Christ. He would meet the perfect requirement of the Law so that requirement of the Law and His perfect righteousness would be imputed to all who believe. The mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant had two angels, one on each end of the mercy seat. The mercy seat was the place where the blood of the sacrifice would be sprinkled to atone for the sins of the people by the high priest. It would be between the mercy seat and the angels on the Ark of the Covenant that God would meet them there. Christ is both our High Priest and our mercy seat and His death upon the cross is where God meets His people.
After Christ our Passover Lamb's blood is applied in faith, believers are set free from slavery to sin, death, and the devil. We are baptized into Christ and begin our journey with Him. Our spiritual thirst and hunger are satisfied in Christ as we travel in this life as His gives living water and is the Bread of Life. Our bodies, which are our earthly tents that we travel and dwell in as we journey in this wilderness are temporary as they will one give way to our immortal bodies in the eternal Promised Land. Unbelief will keep one out of the Promised Land, but belief in Christ brings the promise of eternal life and dwelling with God forever. As we journey throughout this life those who are adopted sons of God and believe in Christ are being led and guided by the Holy Spirit until we reach the Promised Land to where we will find our eternal home and find our eternal rest, the true Promised Land for Spiritual Israel!
Christ is hours away from His death and as He is approaching the Garden of Gethsemane with His disciples He begins to pray to God the Father. The curtains of this prayer are pulled back and we have the transcripts of this inter-trinitarian prayer between the eternal Father and the eternal Son. In this prayer we see the heart of Christ and what is of the most importance to Him as His hour has come and the cross is in view. Jesus’ desire is that His Father is glorified in His obedience and finishing the work He was sent by the Father to accomplish. He is also desiring and praying to return to His Father and to the glory He had with Him before the world was. His heart and mind were on His disciples and for all that the Father had given Him (the elect) as the cross is at hand. If you are a Christian, on the night of His betrayal and arrest with the cross just hours away, Christ prayed for you as it would be for His elect that He would soon die for and declare “it is finished!” The life Christ lived is personal, this prayer of Christ is personal, the cross is personal, the resurrection is personal, the ascension is personal, and salvation is personal! How unworthy we are and how unimaginable it is that the eternal Logos, the Creator, the Son of Man, the Son of God, God Himself would pray for and intercede for His people as His hour had come. He continues to intercede for His people as their High Priest for as long as He lives which is forever!
Christ is hours away from His death and as He is approaching the Garden of Gethsemane with His disciples He begins to pray to God the Father. The curtains of this prayer are pulled back and we have the transcripts of this inter-trinitarian prayer between the eternal Father and the eternal Son. In this prayer we see the heart of Christ and what is of the most importance to Him as His hour has come and the cross is in view. Jesus’ desire is that His Father is glorified in His obedience and finishing the work He was sent by the Father to accomplish. He is also desiring and praying to return to His Father and to the glory He had with Him before the world was. His heart and mind were on His disciples and for all that the Father had given Him (the elect) as the cross is at hand. If you are a Christian, on the night of His betrayal and arrest with the cross just hours away, Christ prayed for you as it would be for His elect that He would soon die for and declare “it is finished!” The life Christ lived is personal, this prayer of Christ is personal, the cross is personal, the resurrection is personal, the ascension is personal, and salvation is personal! How unworthy we are and how unimaginable it is that the eternal Logos, the Creator, the Son of Man, the Son of God, God Himself would pray for and intercede for His people as His hour had come. He continues to intercede for His people as their High Priest for as long as He lives which is forever!
When the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption as sons. The exact time for Christ to take on flesh and to enter His creation was ordained and determined before the foundation of the world. The exact date and time that the eternal Son of God would be slain on a cross as the true sacrifice for the sins of His people was also set before the foundation of the world. The date and the hour of His death were not random but were rather perfect and precise. The day of His death was Passover as He is the true Passover Lamb who was slain to redeem and lead spiritual Israel out of slavery. The Lamb was inspected, not the person in the house! The worthiness of the Lamb and the blood of the Lamb applied in faith saved the firstborn, not the worthiness of the people themselves. Christ the Passover Lamb was inspected and found worthy to be the true Passover Lamb. He the Passover Lamb who is holy and unblemished and so are the people to whom His blood covers as they are declared holy and with spot or blemish by faith in the Lamb. The unblemished spotless blood of Christ our Passover Lamb applied is what rescues, covers, and saves all the firstborn who have entered through Him as He is the Door. The Lamb was examined and was innocent and so are all who believe in Him as they have been declared holy and innocent by the imputed righteousness of the Passover Lamb and escape death and eternal judgment. We are spared because God did not spare His only begotten Son, the true Passover Lamb!
On the day of His resurrection as He was hanging in agony, the world thought they had won. When Jesus took His final breath, the world thought they had won. When they carried Jesus lifeless body from the cross and was placed in the tomb, the world thought they had won. What the world did not realize was the very act that they believed was the moment of weakness and defeat for Christ was the very act in which the greatest show of love, power, victory, and triumph was on display. Through His death in the cross, Christ had overcome the world, sin, and the enemy which was validated in the resurrection and ascension. The fact that Christ has overcome the world would be the peace and comfort that the disciples would have as they faced tribulation in the world and is to be the same for all believers who face tribulation in this world. In this world you will have tribulation, but take courage, Christ has overcome the world!
The sorrow, weeping, and lamenting of the disciples as a result of the death of Christ was for a little while and then they were made to rejoice with great joy in what Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension meant and accomplished. They rejoiced and had great joy in seeing Him after His resurrection and in His ascension as it demonstrated His victory, His authority, and validated all He had said and who He is. They would also see Him and as the Spirit of Christ would indwell them via the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and reveal Christ to them. The suffering, sorrow, and weeping we have in this world may not seem for a "little while" but in comparison to eternity it is a mist. Let the words of Christ bring true joy and comfort to us as we walk through this life filled with suffering and sorrows knowing this is only for a little while. All the lamenting and weeping we have in this world will one day cease as He will wipe away every tear from our eyes (Rev 21:1-4) and in His presence there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). We have never seen Him, but one day we will see Him as He is (Matthew 5:8) and that will happen in just a little while!
Moses is pointing to someone greater as he is a type and shadow pointing to Jesus. Jesus left His place of reign and glory to become a servant and a shepherd to set His people (spiritual Israel) free from slavery of the enemy and sin. As He is the Passover Lamb who was sacrificed to set His people free, Christ is the mediator of a better covenant and now intercedes for His people as they journey through the wilderness traveling to the true promised land. Moses sets the people of Israel free, but whom the Son sets free, they are free indeed!
The disciples were going to begin to spread the Gospel to the world. They were declaring the words of God with the help of the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. All the world is found guilty against the evidence of who we are in comparison to who God is as revealed in His word. Only through the power and the supernatural work of the God the Holy Spirit can the unregenerate fallen creature be convicted of sin, righteousness, and judgment. It is after this regeneration that our faith comes alive by the hearing of the word that points to Christ. It is the Word of God that we are to declare to the world that bring about conviction to the world. The disciples have just been told by Christ they will be hated by the world as a result of their union with Him and the message of Christ that brings conviction to the world. As we declare, convict, and prosecute the world by the preaching and teaching of Christ in His word, persecution and hated from the world is anticipated and expected. However, the Holy Spirit inspired scriptures are clear and let us be bold in our declaration of the truth and of the gospel. Faith and belief in Christ brings about imputed righteousness and the escape from the wrath of God. That is the message of the Word and that is the message we must spread to the world. Let us never undervalue and underestimate the power of Christ's words "It is to your advantage that I go away!"
God is Triune and His works are Triune in nature including our salvation. Without the ascension the life of Christ, the death of Christ, and the resurrection of Christ are of no benefit. It is in His ascension that He would take His seat of rule, reign, and power as King and as High Priest. It is through His going to the Father that He would send the Holy Spirit to apply the accomplishment of Christ to all the elect! Our hope, our salvation, and our redemption are dependent on the Son returning to the Father to bring about the ordained eternal plan of redemption of the Triune God! Let us understand the depth and beauty of the words Christ spoke to His disciples this evening which are applicable for believers today and are the words that our salvation is anchored: "I tell you the truth, it is for your advantage that I go away."
Joseph is a type and shadow of Christ as Jesus would be the greater Joseph. Joseph was in charge of supplying the physical bread to save the lives of many people. Jesus supplies us Himself as He is the Bread of Life who satisfies the spiritual hunger of all who come to Him (John 6:37) both Jew and Gentile and as a result gives them eternal life. Joseph's brothers in an attempt to destroy Joseph by their own evil actions, actually set up the conditions that would bring about the events that would eventually lead to the saving of many. They meant it for evil, but God meant it for good to save many lives (Genesis 50:20). This is pointing to the cross, whereby the evil actions of evil men to kill and destroy Jesus would set up the event that would ultimately lead to saving of many. Those who ate the bread given by Joseph would hunger again eventually and would all eventually die. However, whoever comes and eats of the Bread of Life, the greater Joseph will never hunger and never die. They meant the crucifixion for evil, but God meant it for good for the saving of His elect!
It is an unfathomable honor and privilege to be called a friend of God. There is no greater love than a man lay down His life for His friends and this greatest love was displayed by Christ on the cross as He was dying for His friends. There is however a price to pay for being a friend of God and the price is hatred and persecution from the world as they are enemies of God. The world and the unrighteous hate God and the things of God and as a result our union and friendship with Christ we will suffer for His name’s sake. It is an amazing honor and privilege to suffer for righteousness and for the name of Christ. Let us be bold, kind, and rejoice in these persecutions and sufferings in the world because we are the friends of God and our citizenship is not of this world, but our citizenship is in Heaven as He has chosen out of the world! Greater love no one than this, that He lay down His life for His friends which Christ has done for those who believe. Let us be willing to lay down our life for Him!
It is an unfathomable honor and privilege to be called a friend of God. There is no greater love than a man lay down His life for His friends and this greatest love was displayed by Christ on the cross as He was dying for His friends. There is however a price to pay for being a friend of God and the price is hatred and persecution from the world as they are enemies of God. The world and the unrighteous hate God and the things of God and as a result our union and friendship with Christ we will suffer for His name’s sake. It is an amazing honor and privilege to suffer for righteousness and for the name of Christ. Let us be bold, kind, and rejoice in these persecutions and sufferings in the world because we are the friends of God and our citizenship is not of this world, but our citizenship is in Heaven as He has chosen out of the world! Greater love no one than this, that He lay down His life for His friends which Christ has done for those who believe. Let us be willing to lay down our life for Him!
Jacob’s dream is pointing to the Messiah (the anointed one) who would be the rock and cornerstone upon which the house of God would be built and who access to Heaven would come through. Through His humiliation(descension) and exaltation(ascension), He is forever the mediator between Heaven and earth and between God and man. We were all at one time separated from God, but all who believe have been reconciled to Him and now rest in Him, His works, and His righteousness as living stones in God’s household. No one has ever ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
The only way we can ever choose God is because He chose us first before the foundation of the world. He chose the elect not based on any merit of ourselves, but rather according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace. All those who are chosen are called friends of God as Christ has laid down His life for them and revealed Himself to them. We are to follow Christ’s example and love others as He has loved us as love for the brethren is a sign of regeneration and abiding in the Vine. Those who have been chosen by the Vinedresser and planted into the True Vine have been appointed to bear fruit and that fruit will remain as our union with the Vine is eternal! How amazing it is that the reason we have eternal life is because of the grace, mercy, and the sovereign choice of the Vinedresser!
Those who are in Christ and producing fruit as a result of abiding in the true Vine are those whom the Father has loved with the same love as His Son. He is being glorified by the fruit they produce and in their obedience. Abiding in Christ and being obedient to God is where joy is found can never be found outside of Christ. Disobedience will never bring joy. Sin and disobedience will bring temporary pleasure, but never joy! In our sanctification and obedience, we prove to be His disciples, we abide in the love of God, the Father is glorified, and our joy is full. Many believe that we must choose between obedience and joy, but they are inseparable. The Father is glorified in our obedience and sanctification. Joy is found in obedience to God and obedience to God brings us joy!
God the Father has chosen a bride for His Son and appointed them before the foundation of the world. The Holy Spirit is sent by the Father to those chosen to be the bride of His Son to bring them to the Son. The Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, seals, and leads the bride though the wilderness journey and will guide us on this journey until one day our eyes behold our Bridegroom for the first time. On that wedding day we will not only see our Bridegroom for the first time, but we will see Him as He is!
By the mercy and grace of God the Father, the Vinedresser we have been joined to the true Vine, Jesus. It only through our union with Jesus, the true Vine that we can produce any fruit that is pleasing to God. For those who are not “in Christ” they produce no fruit pleasing to God and will be gathered one day to be burned in the lake of fire forever. The branches that are in the true Vine are being pruned to produce more fruit and will spend eternity with the true Vine, the Vinedresser, and the Holy Spirit forever. Let us never once boast in ourselves, but rather let us give glory to God and God alone because just as Jesus stated we can do nothing without Him!
The nation of Israel was led out of Egypt, passed through the water, led into the wilderness to be tempted, failed to keep the law perfectly, and because of their sin judgment and exile came. Christ, the true Israel of God came of Egypt, was baptized by John the Baptist, tempted in the wilderness and succeeded, and then succeeded in keeping the Law perfectly. Jesus the true Israel of God would be our merciful High Priest, the suffering Servant, and the true sacrifice at temple. He would have judgment brought upon Himself, but not for His sins, but rather for His elect who are spiritual Israel. As a result of our union with the true Israel, the true Vine which is Christ we are regarded as spiritual Israel and will inherit the true promised land forever! This only possible by abiding and being in union with Christ, the true Vine!
The story of Abraham and Isaac is about a father and son on a mountain but is a type and shadow pointing to what would occur nearly 2,000 later in this same area between the Eternal Father and the Eternal Son. God the Father would send His Son, His only begotten Son to fulfill the promise He made on Moriah that on the mount of the Lord a sacrifice would be provided. This would be fulfilled in Jesus who in this same area, like Isaac would carry the wood on His back to the place of sacrifice and would willingly lay down His life in trust His Father. Isaac was not the son that by his sacrifice would take away the sin of the world, but was pointing to the promised Son who could take away the sins of the who would be the true sacrifice of God, the Son of God. Jesus trusted the Father even unto death as He tasted the wrath of the Father as it pleased the Father to crush His Son in our behalf so that we could have peace with God. God promised He would provide a sacrifice in this area, and this was fulfilled 2,000 years later when the Son of God would die on Mount Calvary. Many read this story and ask how could Abraham be willing to sacrifice His son? The deeper question is how the eternal Father could send His eternal Son to be the sacrifice and suffer His wrath in the place of evil fallen. This is love that our finite minds can’t comprehend fully and should bring us to awe, reverence, and worship for His mercy, grace, and love for His people. He spared nothing as He sent His Son, His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
With the agony of the cross in view, knowing the separation from the Father awaits, knowing the wrath of the Father awaits as He hangs on behalf of His sinful sheep, and knowing the sting of death awaits, He says “Get up, let us go from here! The cup of wrath awaits and there is no other way to satisfy the wrath of God to leave the sheep peace than through His death on the cross! With that knowledge and to complete work He was sent to do by the Father, He declared “Get up, let us go” the cross awaits as the hour has come!
These men had left everything they had to follow Jesus and He would soon be leaving them as His hour is at hand. He would not leave them empty handed but would rather leave them something priceless: His peace. This peace is only possible by His death on the cross as His death would satisfy the wrath of the Father on behalf of His sheep as He would die in their place. He brings us peace with the Father and also gives us peace for our walk with Him throughout life. His peace is what relieves fears, anxiety, and worry. He gives us His peace as He is the Prince of Peace and the peace that He gives is a personal peace. He is returning to the Father and to the glory He had with Him before the world was and what better gift could He leave than His peace. It is His peace that allows Him to tell His disciples in the upper room and now us today “don’t let your hearts be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
One day God’s wrath will be revealed upon all ungodliness and those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. When He comes on the Last Day, He is looking for righteousness. Those who are unrighteous will face the immutable eternal wrath of God that will be poured out. All those who are descendants from Abraham by faith are covered in the righteousness of Christ and will be spared from the wrath of God because Christ satisfied the wrath of the Father upon the cross. It is faith in Him that we are declared righteous and will escape the wrath to come and enter into the consummation of the land that was promised to Abraham and his descendants where righteous dwells.
We are all guilty of breaking the law of God and needing someone to be our advocate before the eternal God. Jesus is our paraclete who when called upon, stands at our side and advocates in our behalf before the Father as He is the original Paraclete. When He left earth and ascended to the Father, He did not leave us alone, but rather sent another Paraclete to guide us, teach us, strengthen us, and sanctification which is God the Holy Spirit. As a result of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ, He has come to us and is always with us. We are not orphans, but rather sons of God and are awaiting the day Christ will come to all His children to forever dwell with them!
To see Jesus is to see the Father as Jesus was exegeting the Father. The love of the Father was being explained by the Son as He was dying on the cross to redeem all that the Father had given Him and loved before the foundation of the world. All those who are regenerated will love God and this is because He loved them first and in regeneration caused their heart to beat with affection for Him for the first time. All those who He loved first and now love Him are predestined to be conformed to the image of the Son and will be obedient and keep His commandments. How can one know they have their name written in the Lamb’s book of Life? If someone has honest and sincere affection for the Biblical Jesus, they can know they are numbered among the elect because love for Christ does not come from an unregenerate heart! The Father loves us with the same love in which He loved His only begotten Son as a result of our adoption as sons. The Son loves the Father and we who share in union with His sonship will now love the Father. How is this possible? He loved us first!
Melchizedek is noted to have no recorded genealogy or documentation of his birth or of his death. The Old Testament presents Melchizedek specifically and solely as a king and priest providing neither his genealogy that preceded him of his genealogy that succeeded him so that He would symbolize an “eternal king and priest” since he had no record of documentation of birth or death (Melchizedek did have parents, just not a genealogy record that could be found). This would be a type and shadow to point to Jesus, the only true eternal king and priest who is without beginning or without end. This speaks to His eternal nature as He has life in Himself (aseity).
To deny that Jesus is the only way to the Father is to deny God Himself as these words were spoken by the second person of the Godhead as He spoke what He was commanded by the first person of the Godhead. To deny that Jesus is not the only way to the Father is to declare God a liar. Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar. Who else was perfect? Who else could atone for sins? Who else has fulfilled all righteousness? Who else could redeem? Who else is the Son of Man, the eternal Son of God, the Monogenes? How could anyone ever look at Christ and who He is and what He has done and say that He is not enough and there has to be other ways to God. The exclusivity of Christ as the only way to the Father is not negotiable as it strikes at the heart of Christianity. All those who believe in Jesus as the only way will enter glory and live forever in a place that He has personally prepared for them. Because there is only one way to the Father and it’s through His only begotten Son as He is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life!
Jesus went to prepare a place for His elect and our place for eternal rest is guaranteed. Our inheritance is being reserved for us and we are being reserved for our inheritance. His sheep will not get to the front desk of our eternal home and hear “we can’t find your reservation,” “your reservation has been lost,” or “we don’t have enough rooms.” The reservations of all the elect were made before the foundation of the world when God wrote their names in the Lamb’s book of life and that reservation is eternally set. Our salvation and redemption is personal. Christ has personally prepared each room for all who the Father has given Him and will personally come to receive them on the Last Day. On that day we who are weary exiles will personally be welcomed home!
The wrath of God upon the wicked and ungodly came via the flood in the time of Noah. Only those who believed God and by faith entered the ark were saved from the coming wrath and death. The flood was a foreshadowing of the judgment on the Last Day and the ark was foreshadowing of Christ who saves us from the wrath to come. All those who by faith believe in the work of the cross, enter through the only door into the ark which is Christ, and are covered by His atonement will be rescued from the wrath to come and will step foot one day into a new Heaven and an new earth where the curse has been removed and where righteousness dwells.
As Jesus is nearing His departure from His disciples and from this world, He instructs them that the mark that will let the world know they are His disciples is their love toward one another. The same is true for Christians today as God’s word does not change. Christians should be the most merciful, gracious, forgiving, patient, and loving people as we have had the most mercy, grace, patience, and love shown upon us. Let us follow Christ and love as He has loved. Are we like Peter? Do we claim that we would be willing to lay our life down for Him, but at the first moment of opposition, difficulty, or persecution we run and deny Christ? Let us pray for boldness in our stand for Christ so that at no time do we hear what Peter heard: the rooster crow!
John was seated on Jesus’ right side which in our culture if the seat of honor. However, in their culture the one seated on the left was considered to have the seat of honor. It was custom that the host would give the guest of honor who would have been seated on their left the first of the bread that had been dipped which was known as the sop. As a result, many believe that Judas was seated on Jesus’ left the night of the betrayal which would have been the seat of honor. He was the honored guest. It would be Judas’ actions in leaving this supper to betray Jesus that would lead to the arrest, trial, and ultimately the death of Christ. He would have the most important role this evening as His betrayal which He meant for evil would be meant for good by God for the saving of many lives as Christ death would redeem and save His elect. Jesus was on His Father’s Heavenly timeline and the time for this betray was perfect as Jesus told Judas to do what He had to, do it quickly because Jesus’ hour is here!
Abel was a shepherd who offered a Lamb sacrifice to God which was accepted and pleasing to God. Abel’s “innocent” blood which poured into the ground still speaks. However, Abel was a type and shadow pointing to Christ who is the Good Shepherd and the Lamb of God who was innocent and killed by envious and evil men. His sacrifice was pleasing to God and His blood will speak forever for His sheep!
Christ has led by example as the Sovereign God humbled Himself and became a servant to ransom those who were His. If the Sovereign can be a servant, then who are we to think that having a servant’s heart in all humility is beneath us. Let us contemplate the depths of the humility that Jesus displayed and as His followers mirror Him. The greatest weapon in destroying our pride is the Holy Spirit bringing the Scriptures alive in our souls. For as we read of Christ, who He is, what He has done, and who we are then our pride will be broken, our praise will be sincere and God honoring, and our lives with be lived out with service and humility toward God and others. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45).
The Sovereign God left His glory in Heaven and humbled Himself by taking on the form of a servant. He humbled Himself unto death even death on a cross. It would be this death by this suffering servant that would cleanse all that were His. After He has completed His work, He put back on His garments of glory and returned to the Father to rule and reign forever. What can wash away our sins and cleanse us? Nothing, nothing, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Christ is referred to as the Last Adam. In the story of Adam and Eve we see a foreshadowing of Christ and His bride, The Church. As Adam was put to sleep (which can be used to describe death) to make his bride, Christ died on the cross to purchase His bride. Adam’s disobedience and sin resulted in him and his bride getting kicked out of paradise. However, the last Adam’s obedience and Him taking the sin of His bride, results in Him welcoming His bride into paradise.
Do we seek the approval of God or man more? If we please God, it doesn’t matter who we displease. If we don’t please God, it doesn’t matter who we please. Let us as Christians be bold and courageous in our witness for Christ. Let it be the desire of our hearts to seek His approval in all we do. Because as Isaiah saw Him and declared He is Holy, Holy, Holy!
God sovereignly hardened the hearts and blinded the eyes of the majority of the people of Israel. This was done in accordance with the ordained and predetermined redemptive plan set from the foundation of the world. If their hearts were not hardened and they had believed in Him, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory and there would be no salvation for anyone. Through this hardening and their hatred for Christ, they murdered the only innocent person ever to live! Their hearts were so hardened and their eyes so blinded, they committed first degree murder against the eternal God. It would be through their actions and the brutality of the cross that the Son of Man would atone for the sins of His people, redeem His elect, and lay His life down for His sheep for them to secure their salvation. The hardening was so that the Son could redeem those the Father had given Him on the cross and complete the redemptive mission that was planned from the foundation of the world.
Sitting on the side of a mountain, the greatest preacher ever, delivered the greatest sermon ever. The words that He spoke have all authority and are all truth. We have heard His words. Do we believe His words? Do we act on and obey His words? If so, we are standing on the rock of ages and can say with all sincerity, affection, and love: Lord, Lord!
Jesus knew that He could not be saved from this hour as it was for this hour that He came. He knew the anguish, horror, and pain that was to come, but for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross (Heb 12:2). He endured the cross so that He would see the fruit of His harvest. His harvest includes Jew and Gentile as Him being lifted up would result in Him drawing all men. This hour would result in a triumph over sin and the enemy. What looked like a victory for the world and for satan was rather a cosmic triumph over them, as God would be glorified. As Jesus said “Father, save Me from this hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Hallowed be Your name!
The Greeks who came to the Passover wanted to see Jesus and worship, but in their worship, they were kept at a distance by the dividing wall. However, the dividing wall would soon be destroyed when the Son of Man, who is the Bread of Life, like the wheat would fall into the earth and die. It would be in His suffering and His death that Christ would be glorified which would also result in the bringing forth of much fruit. This fruit is the salvation of the souls of the wheat harvest which is His elect from the Jew and the Gentile. Jesus carried His cross unto His death and in His suffering, He was glorified. Let us pick our cross daily and carry it even unto death and endure suffering so that we will be glorified with Him one day. The Godhead from eternity past had an exact time for the Lamb of God to be slain for the redemption and atonement of His elect. Jesus has lived a perfect life fulfilling all righteousness for His sheep and now His life is coming to an end. The time for Him to be glorified and to lay His life down for His sheep is at hand as He Himself spoke and proclaimed, “The hour has come for the Son on Man to be glorified.” The cross is coming, His suffering is coming, His death is coming, His burial is coming, His resurrection is coming, and His ascension is coming. As a result, the Holy Spirit would be coming to regenerate and bring in the fruit of His harvest. Let us forever feel the weight of the words “The hour has come.”
Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but those who do the will of the Father. A profession of faith does not save anyone, but a possession of faith does. “Lord, Lord” speaks of true affection for Jesus. However, those who are not true believers although they may declare they love the Lord in actuality do not love Him. How can one be sure that they are numbered among the elect? Do you love the Biblical Jesus? If we can honestly and sincerely from the depths of our souls answer that question “yes” then we must know that love for Him doesn’t come from an unregenerate heart. If we have true affection for Jesus, it is because He has removed our heart of stone and given us a new heart that beats with affection for Him via regeneration. If we love Him we will keep His commands which is the will of the Father. Only by the Spirit can we call Him Lord, Lord and mean it from the depths of our souls. One day He will not say depart, but rather will speak the most beautiful words a creature can hear which comes from Matthew 25:34:
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
The Magi were king makers in their land. Jesus did not need their approval, but rather they came to worship the King of Kings. The gifts that they brought speak to His kingship, His death, and His burial. However, following His resurrection He ascended to sit beside the Ancient of Days which He is currently reigning as King over all!
Jesus has ministered for over three years, but His time to enter Jerusalem in triumphal entry has arrived as His hour is drawing near and His gaze is fixed on the cross. In the incarnation, the eternal God humbled Himself, took on flesh, and entered His creation. His birth was of humble means, as He was born in a manger. We see this humility again as the eternal Logos rides in on a lowly donkey, as He enters Jerusalem. He will die on Passover in just a few short days. The Passover Lamb in the Old Testament was to be inspected for a set number of days to ensure the Lamb was without blemish and worthy to be sacrificed. Jesus the true Passover Lamb, as He rides into Jerusalem is beginning the Passover Lamb inspection. He will be inspected for several days, and Pilate will make the judgment that Jesus is worthy to be slain as He is unblemished, without sin and guilt. Hosanna, “save us now” is the shout as the King enters Jerusalem in His final days with His destination in view being the cross. The people wanted to be saved from the Romans, but that was not His mission. His mission was to save His elect as He, the Passover Lamb, will be slain to redeem them. The next time He arrives, He is not coming on a donkey in humility, but as a conquering King and on His robe and His thigh, He has a name written “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.”
The broad way is the easy way as this is the path all humanity’s feet hit running when we are born. Only through the mercy and grace of God and faith in Jesus who is the gate do our path and way change. We then begin walking on the narrow way which can difficult way full of testing, persecution, and cross carrying. This is the way least traveled. However, this way is worth traveling because it has the greatest destination a creature could ever arrive. The destination is our eternal home where we have eternal life. Only those who have entered by the small gate can one day enter the gates of glory! Keep walking, it’s worth it!
Mary loved Jesus and she poured out her love upon Him lavishly, knowing that He is more precious and valuable than anything she had. Let us be like Mary and not hold anything back from Him in loving Him, worshipping Him, and in our devotion to Him as there is nothing more precious and priceless than Him. He is worthy of all we have and then more. Let our worship and love for Him fill the air as a sweet fragrance everywhere we go as we worship and love Him unashamed. Mary broke the vial so that the sweet aroma filled the room. Upon the cross the body of Jesus was broken so that His precious blood could be shed as His sacrificial death and offering of Himself was a precious and fragrant aroma unto the Father. Mary did not spare her valuable possession or hold back her lavish love for Christ. The Father did not spare His only begotten Son as on the cross the lavish love of God was on full display. Mary anointed Jesus out of love and worship, but it was also done in preparation for His burial which is nearing as His hour is approaching. His death is certain, and He will placed in a tomb, but He will not stay there because He is the resurrection and the life!
Christ divides. You are either a child of God or a child of the devil. You are either a wheat or a tare. You are either a sheep or a goat. You are either saved or lost. You are either for God or against Him. You are either dead in sin or alive in Christ. The division is Christ and if you believe in Him. You either love Jesus or you hate Him. He brings division (Luke 12:49-53). All through the gospel according to John, we have seen the people are divided in regards to Christ. In these verses we see a group that hate Jesus and plot to kill Him. They are going to seize, arrest, and kill an innocent man. The order has been given and the people are aware of the plan to seize Him. They begin to gather at Passover anticipating and wondering whether or not He will come because they know if He comes, He will be arrested. The looming question is “will He attend Passover?” Not only will He attend Passover, He is the Passover Lamb. Caiphas was right even though he didn’t know the true meaning of what He said. It was better that One die so that the elect of Israel and the Gentiles be gathered together and not perish. Who is this One that dies so that this could be a reality? The Passover Lamb!
Do not judge, so that you will not be judged which can also be translated “do not condemn, so that you will not be condemned.” Let us not be people that walk around with a spirit of condemnation and self-righteous, hypocritical judgment upon others. Christ is the only one who can condemn as He demonstrated in the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-11 as He is the only One without sin as the perfect eternal judge. He would have been fully just to condemn everyone of us. However, to the believer He has extended mercy and forgiveness through justification. As a result of justification, we who stood to be condemned now have no condemnation through His imputed righteousness upon us. All who are saved have heard the words the woman caught in adultery heard, “I do not condemn you. Go. From now on sin no more.” There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1). As Christians who have escaped condemnation and have been forgiven of the most, let us reflect this in our attitudes and actions toward others as we seek to help them rather than destroy them. Let us examine ourselves first and remove the log from our eyes so that we can then with sincere motives help our brothers and sisters to grow in sanctification so they like the woman can strive to go and sin no more.
The miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead is one that should leave us in absolute awe of our God who has the power of life and the power over death. Christ would shortly after this story face the enemy of death when He would lay His life down for the sheep and suffer the wrath of His Father. He would then be placed in a tomb. The resurrection of Lazarus was amazing but would pale in comparison to the resurrection that is coming shortly when the Son on Man would be resurrected from the dead. The same one who raised Lazarus from the dead is the same One who raised Himself from the dead as He is the resurrection and the life! If we are a Christian and we look close at this story, we will find the story of our salvation. We were dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1) and were unable to bring ourselves to life. What can a dead man do? Dead men don’t reach, seek, or grasp for God. What can a dead man do? Be dead. Lazarus was unable to bring himself to life but was dependent of Christ coming to him. If Christ had never came to Him, he would have remained dead. The same is true for all those who believe as we all would be dead in our sins if Christ had never came seeking and finding us. One day while we were dead in sins an effectual call came to us. This call was a personal call. He called us by name as He calls His sheep by name (John 10:3). He calls the names of all that have been written in the Lamb’s book of life before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8, 17:8). His call is effectual as it brings forth the desired effect for which it was intended. When Jesus called Lazarus’ name and commanded him to come forth, he came. The same is true for us who were dead in sin when He called us personally and effectually from death to life and from darkness to light, we came! The Shepherd called our name and we followed. Lazarus was bound in grace linens when he came out of the grave but was set free. We are enslaved and held captive to sin and the enemy, until He brings us to life and sets us free. We were dead in sins until one day God came to the tomb of our souls that were spiritually dead. He called us by name effectually and personally and we were brought from spiritual death to spiritual life. All those who have been raised to spiritual life will one day be raised with Him in the resurrection on the last day. This is only possible through Christ. He is the resurrection and life!
Those who believe in Christ will never die as He Himself has given us eternal life as a gift. Eternal life has begun in those who believe in Christ and will be consummated in our bodily resurrection on the last day. It is through Christ than we are resurrected spiritually and one day resurrected bodily. Our spiritual and physical resurrections and eternal life are dependent on Christ as He declared “I am the resurrection and the life.”
If Jesus were to look us eye to eye and tell us not to worry about the current situation that we are worried about and that He is working everything out for good, would we stop worrying and believe Him? He is not physically speaking to our ears to tell us that, but He is speaking that very truth to our spiritual ears to our souls through His word. Do we know that He is working all things out together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose and that He does all things well? God has decreed all things that come to pass before the foundation of the world and our worry will never change His plan. Rather, let us remember who He is and trust Him in all things including in our daily provision. Let our minds not be consumed with worry, which is futile, but let our minds be consumed with seeking after His kingdom and His righteousness. The more we know Him and the more our faith grows, the less anxious and worry filled we should be. Why should we worry as plan A is running flawlessly full steam ahead as we speak! Jesus is telling us not to worry or be anxious. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
The Jews claimed that Jesus was a man claiming to be God. However, He was the eternal God who humbled Himself, took on flesh, and became truly man. In the incarnation, the invisible God became visible and exegeted the Father. What Jesus was exegeting is the personal love God has for His sheep!
Whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life? Who did the Father give to the Son? Who did the Son fulfill the righteousness requirement of the Law for? Who did the Shepherd lay His life down for? Who does the High Priest intercede for? Who does the Shepherd effectually call? Who hears the voice of the Shepherd? Who comes to the Shepherd? Who follows the Shepherd? Who does He give eternal life to? Who does the Shepherd hold in His hands with eternal security? The answer to all those questions is: the sheep, the elect of God. What confidence does the sheep have that they will one day be forever with their Shepherd? That confidence is not in ourselves, not in our own goodness, and not in our own abilities. Our confidence is in the Shepherd as He promises that He holds His sheep and He will never let go and nothing can remove us from His hands. We are secure because He is holding us. The same arms and hands that hold the universe, the same arms that were stretched out on a cross, the same hands that were nailed to the cross for His sheep are the same arms and hands that hold His sheep forever! He is the Good Shepherd!
Every Christian has the most precious and priceless treasures that any creature can ever have: salvation, eternal life, dwelling with God, and an inheritance in our eternal home. In a world that values and seeks after wealth and material things, let us keep our gaze fixed upon the Kingdom of Heaven where our treasures are being stored up. On treasure maps “x marks the spot” of where the treasure is found. The map we have is God’s Holy Word and we know exactly where our treasure is located. Our treasure is found in Christ and the Kingdom of God to where our treasures are being stored up and kept. So let us persevere following the map of God’s Word with our eyes fixed upon our eternal home. One day we will reap the bounty of these treasures as we dwell forever with God. We can be confident that our treasures and our inheritance will not rust, fade, or be stolen as they are being kept by God omnipotent. Not only is He keeping out inheritance for us, but He is keeping us for our inheritance and treasure! For where treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He has all authority to enter by the door as He is the true Shepherd over His sheep. His sheep are the elect whom the Father chose before the foundation of the world and gave to Him. All the Father gives to the Son they come to Him as His call is effectual. He calls His sheep by name as He knows His sheep personally. He calls them by name because the name of His sheep have been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world. The Good Shepherd loves His sheep and the love He has for His sheep was on display when on the cross, He willingly laid down His life for them. He laid His life down for His sheep so that they would be saved and have eternal life. Now, He leads His sheep and they will not follow another because they are His sheep as they belong to Him. Although we might face dangers, threats, and difficulties in this life, His sheep know that He is the Good Shepherd and will shepherd us all the way to our eternal home where we will find the most perfect pasture!
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He has all authority to enter by the door as He is the true Shepherd over His sheep. His sheep are the elect whom the Father chose before the foundation of the world and gave to Him. All the Father gives to the Son they come to Him as His call is effectual. He calls His sheep by name as He knows His sheep personally. He calls them by name because the name of His sheep have been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world. The Good Shepherd loves His sheep and the love He has for His sheep was on display when on the cross, He willingly laid down His life for them. He laid His life down for His sheep so that they would be saved and have eternal life. Now, He leads His sheep and they will not follow another because they are His sheep as they belong to Him. Although we might face dangers, threats, and difficulties in this life, His sheep know that He is the Good Shepherd and will shepherd us all the way to our eternal home where we will find the most perfect pasture!
We are commanded to pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17) yet prayer is something we all struggle with. His disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray and our desire should be the same. Here in the sermon on the mount we get to hear Jesus teach us how to pray as He gives us this model for prayer. Let us surrender our prayer life into conformity with His teaching. Let us understand the undeserved privilege to address the eternal God as Father. Let our petition be that the name of our Father continuously be holy in our words and actions. Let us pray that the kingdom of God and the things of will take priority in our lives as we seek the kingdom of God first and display that He is King over all including our lives. Let us pray that God we surrender and pray that the decretive will of God that we may not know to be done as we trust Him will all our souls. Let us also pray that sanctification which is the preceptive will of God be our will and be done in our lives every second of our lives. Let us then pray that God mercifully supply our daily needs. Let us pray that we understand the debt that we could not pay and be in continuous thanks for Christ paying our debt by His blood on the cross as He declared tetelestai. As Christ has forgiven us and no longer holds our sins against our account, let us pray that we would forgive as Christ has forgiven us. Let us pray that God would keep us from temptation and from the assault of the enemy lest we stumble. However, if we are tempted and tested let us pray that God deliver us as He is the only means of escape. As we reflect on this prayer and all that is teaches, let our souls and voices lift up doxology to our God to whom belongs all glory, majesty, dominion, and authority from before and now and forever. Let us remember the two rules for prayer: 1.) Remember to whom you are speaking. 2) Remember who you are. “Lord teach us to pray.” As Jesus said in this prayer “Pray then in this way.”
This man was born blind and there was nothing he himself or anyone else could do to give him sight and heal his blindness until Jesus came to find him. Jesus touched him and mercifully gave him his sight. After Jesus has healed his eyes, the man then believed that Jesus was the Son of Man and worshipped Him. This man had never seen any light until this day and now was standing eye to eye with the eternal God, the Light of World. We can see the story of salvation unfold in this event. We too are born spiritually blind, and we are unable to see the truth of God or the things of God. We can’t give ourselves sight and neither can anyone else. We are completely hopeless to ever see the truth of God unless God the Holy Spirit comes to us and by His power through regeneration opens our eyes to the truths of God. He removes the scales from our eyes, and we now see the beauty of the gospel and of God. Jesus answered Nicodemus and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” We can only see the things of the kingdom of God after we are born again which is from God and God alone. We too like this man, after our eyes have been opened, then we believe in Christ. It is this belief that brings about our justification. This believe does not and can not occur before our eyes are open when we are born again as regeneration proceeds faith. One day those who He has healed their spiritual blindness will enter the kingdom of God and we will have the highest blessing any creature can have: We will see Him as He is!
This man was born blind and there was nothing he himself or anyone else could do to give him sight and heal his blindness until Jesus came to find him. Jesus touched him and mercifully gave him his sight. After Jesus has healed his eyes, the man then believed that Jesus was the Son of Man and worshipped Him. This man had never seen any light until this day and now was standing eye to eye with the eternal God, the Light of World. We can see the story of salvation unfold in this event. We too are born spiritually blind, and we are unable to see the truth of God or the things of God. We can’t give ourselves sight and neither can anyone else. We are completely hopeless to ever see the truth of God unless God the Holy Spirit comes to us and by His power through regeneration opens our eyes to the truths of God. He removes the scales from our eyes, and we now see the beauty of the gospel and of God. Jesus answered Nicodemus and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” We can only see the things of the kingdom of God after we are born again which is from God and God alone. We too like this man, after our eyes have been opened, then we believe in Christ. It is this belief that brings about our justification. This believe does not and can not occur before our eyes are open when we are born again as regeneration proceeds faith. One day those who He has healed their spiritual blindness will enter the kingdom of God and we will have the highest blessing any creature can have: We will see Him as He is!
We see God showing He is the provider in Genesis 22:14 when Abraham called the place on Mount Moriah “the Lord will provide” speaking of the true sacrifice God would provide in this area many years later in the way of Christ His only begotten Son. We are to petition for God to mercifully provide for our daily needs as we are daily dependent upon Him for everything. Give us this day our daily bread should be our daily petition as He is our provider. Above all He provided His Son who is the true bread of Life and we need Him not just daily, but every second of the day! All whom the Father has mercy given the Bread of Life to will not hunger this day or for all eternity!
Jesus was before Abraham. He was also before Moses and Adam. He was before the sun, the moon, the stars, the earth, the angels, and the universe. He is before all things and in Him all things are held together (Colossians 1:17). Abraham looked forward to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ and believed which resulted in righteousness being credited to Him. We now are to look back to the life, death, and the resurrection and believe which credits righteousness to us. Unless we believe Jesus is Ego Eimi (Yahweh) we will die in our sins (John 8:24). How incomprehensible is it that the one who lived a perfect life for you, laid down His life for you, was raised from the dead for you, covered you with His righteousness, and intercedes for you is the one who was before Abraham, the great I AM!
We were once slaves to sin doing the will of the devil. We were running from God with our ears unable to hear, our eyes unable to see, and our hearts unable to love and believe the truths of God. Our father was the devil, and we were doing the desires of him. Until one day, God the Holy Spirit, sovereignly came to our dead stone hearts and by His power, brought us to life and gave us a new heart that beats with love and affection for God. It would be those whose hearts were changed and were born again that would receive another act of absolute mercy and grace as He would give us ears to hear. The elect of God are given ears to hear, in their regeneration, to which for the first time can hear their shepherd calling to them. His sheep hear His voice and they come, and He never loses one of them. As our ears are open to His effectual call and we believe, we are adopted as sons of God in union with the sonship of the only begotten Son of God and now call God “Abba Father!” We have gone from slaves of sin and the devil, who don’t belong in His house, to sons who will be in His house forever. What an indescribable act of love, mercy, and compassion to have God remove the scales from our eyes, change our minds, bring our hearts to life to have affection for Him, and open our ears to hear Him! He who has ears, let him hear.
We see how the model of prayer that Jesus is teaching builds on itself. We must first realize whom we are praying to and the privilege it is to call the eternal God our Father. We are then to pray that we reverence His name as holy in our mouths and also in our actions. As the desire to make His name hallowed in our lives grows, we will then desire and pray that His kingdom and rule will be in every aspect of our lives. Him being in complete rule and kingship in all aspects of our lives will result in a desire and growth in our obedience to His will that is revealed in His Word which is sanctification. Jesus is teaching a model for prayer in this verse, but He also showed us by example when in the garden He prayed “your will be done” as Christ was desiring the eternal will of the Father be accomplished as He lived a life of full obedience to the Law and to the Father. Christ inaugurated the kingdom at His first coming and is reigning now, waiting for the day He returns to consummate the kingdom. While we are on earth let us our lives reflect His kingship in all aspects of our lives. Let our lives also reflect our surrender to His efficacious and preceptive wills as we trust His will eternal decrees and long for sanctification in our lives. Let our petition be as instructed by our Lord in His sermon on the mount “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Notes:
https://www.theactschurch.online/_files/ugd/bc8b4a_9459cb13263345b1a0950b5f3786d729.pdf
He is the Light of the world. The Light shined bright when darkness fell upon all the land when He was lifted up on the cross to lay His life down for His Sheep. We were once children of darkness walking in the dark and hating the Light. At the time of our regeneration God came to our hearts that were full of darkness and declared that there be light as He did into the darkness at creation. Now we are new creations and are to walk in the Light as we now love the Light. There will be no need for the dull light of the sun in our eternal home because the true Light will illumine it forever!
Notes:
https://www.theactschurch.online/_files/ugd/bc8b4a_6f7ec0268549406abee11c3a09f21d2e.pdf
As Christians we were like this woman as we came before Christ naked, guilty, and deserving of death. He would have been perfect not just to stone us, but much worse by sending us to the lake of fire for all eternity. Although we were guilty and deserving of justice, He had compassion and showed us mercy. Those who have forgiven and by faith alone been justified have been clothed in the righteousness of the Righteous judge of the world. And we like this woman heard the most beautiful and life changing words that could ever be spoken by Jesus “I do not condemn you, from now on sin no more!”Notes:
https://www.theactschurch.online/_files/ugd/bc8b4a_20bc74cf443043bfa94563cf8036314f.pdf
Let the petition spoken by Jesus that the name of God be holy arise from the depths of our souls and find its place on our lips, in our minds, and in all aspects of our lives. His name is holy for He is holy. We must remember to whom we are speaking to when we pray and how holy His name is. What we think of His name and how we treat His name reveals what we think of Him. One cannot truly worship God in spirit and truth with awe and reverence when they don’t reverence His holy name. How important is God’s name to us? Does honoring, reverencing, and making His name holy in our lives rise to the top of our prayer requests? It is of the utmost importance to God Himself. Let us also come to prayer holding to this petition that our lives would declare the holiness of God and His name as we ascribe glory due His holy and awesome name. As we come to prayer, let us remember what a privilege it is to be able to call God Abba, Father, just as Christ did. Let us also see the weight and focus on God’s name being reverenced and being made holy in our lives. May our prayers begin with the same focus and as Jesus instructs us “Our Father who is in Heaven, hallowed be your name!”
The tension, hatred, and drama surrounding Jesus in Jerusalem is brewing and will continue to escalate as Jesus is nearing His death. The Jews want to kill Him and even though they think now is the right time the hour set from all eternity has not yet come. Jesus will be more hated, more despised, more condemned as He draws closer to His death. It is His words that will continue to offend people and will eventually lead Him to the cross to die. In the wilderness the rock was struck to provide physical water. It would be on the cross that Jesus the true rock would be struck and from Him living water would flow to all who believe. The invitation still goes out today just as Jesus cried out on the Last Day of Feast of Booths “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” If you realize you are thirsty and come to Him to drink, He will satisfy and quench your thirst and you will never thirst again.
Notes:
https://367406a6-7a4f-4a85-bbb2-2c83a4cf8ed7.filesusr.com/ugd/bc8b4a_f33554e98b44441d9d9e8207b2591ce9.pdf?index=true
Why do we listen to the words and teaching of Jesus? What credentials does Jesus have for us to listen to Him and believe His words? Jesus was not taught at the most prestigious biblical institutions on this earth or by the most recognized teachers of the time such as Gamaliel. Throughout His earthy ministry many tried to question Him and trip Him up in matters of the Law, but He gave the right answer always. Jesus has the highest credentials of anyone as to why we listen to His words and His teaching: He is sent from the Father and His teaching is from the Father. So, as we read the Bible and hear the truths that Christ declared let us listen and believe because we are hearing the words of the Father as they are being exegeted by the Son. He who has hears let him hear!
What a privilege it is to come to prayer and as unworthy rebel creature that was made from the dust and call the eternal holy God “Father.” This is not brought about by any merit of ourselves, but by our adoptions as sons via the union with His only begotten Son. The eternal Son was with the Father before the world was and before the world was the Father was loving His Son. It is that same love the Father has upon His Son that He shows to His elect as he adopts them as sons in union with His eternal Son. As Jesus cried out in the Garden “Abba, Father” now we to can cry out the same thing to God the Father as a result of our sonship with God. We can prayer “Father” because He cried “my God, my God” as He was dying for us. So let us never come to prayer casually or irreverently, but rather let us understand the incomprehensible privilege to pray “our Father who is in Heaven.”
What are your thoughts about the words and teachings of God? The world hates God and the words of God and as a result will hate us. However, the believer should love and cling to every word of God that we find in His sacred scriptures as His words are spirit and life. You must believe the words of God to have eternal life. There are no other words that give us life everlasting as Peter had declared, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.”
There are hard truths in the Bible that offend people. God is not apologizing for His hard truths or giving us permission to ignore them or deny them just because we don’t like them. We are required to believe, teach, and preach what the Bible says, not what we want it to say. Many hear His truth and keep walking away looking for something else they think will fulfill them and give them life. However, no one will ever find life outside of Christ. Let us be like Peter and answer from the depths of our soul “where could I go, but to you and where would I want to go but to you because you have the words of eternal life!”
Prayer is vital and essential in the life of a Christian. Being able to come before the throne of the Living God in prayer is anincomprehensible privilege that should never be taken flippantly or irreverently. When we pray, we must alwaysremember to whom we are speaking to and then in return remember who we are. When we do these things, the prayerof the heart, with more and more frequency, will in reverence, trust, and worship cry out “not my will, but yours be done.”
Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. This is the standard of God and this is immutable. This is impossible for us to achieve as fallen creatures, which is the bad news. It is only when one understands the bad news can one truly understand and be in awe of the good news found in Christ alone. The righteousness that merits our entrance into Heaven is not our own, but rather the imputed righteousness and perfection of Jesus upon us. This is the good news of the gospel. We can’t, Christ did! The death of Christ (passive obedience) is vital to the gospel and our salvation. As equally as importance is the perfect life He lived fulfilling all righteousness (active obedience) on behalf of all the Father had given Him. Without the righteousness of Christ imputed to us through faith alone we have no hope. Let us never be idolatrous and arrogant to think we can achieve the righteousness that is required on our own. Justification in which we are declared righteous by faith alone (sola fide) strikes at the heart of the gospel. Justification by faith alone is non-negotiable and to preach anything else is to preach another gospel (Galatians 1:6-10). This is a hill worth dying on because on a hill 2,00 years ago the one who lived a perfect life and fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law became sin and died so I could become the righteousness of God in Him!
Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. This is the standard of God and this is immutable. This is impossible for us to achieve as fallen creatures, which is the bad news. It is only when one understands the bad news can one truly understand and be in awe of the good news found in Christ alone. The righteousness that merits our entrance into Heaven is not our own, but rather the imputed righteousness and perfection of Jesus upon us. This is the good news of the gospel. We can’t, Christ did! The death of Christ (passive obedience) is vital to the gospel and our salvation. As equally as importance is the perfect life He lived fulfilling all righteousness (active obedience) on behalf of all the Father had given Him. Without the righteousness of Christ imputed to us through faith alone we have no hope. Let us never be idolatrous and arrogant to think we can achieve the righteousness that is required on our own. Justification in which we are declared righteous by faith alone (sola fide) strikes at the heart of the gospel. Justification by faith alone is non-negotiable and to preach anything else is to preach another gospel (Galatians 1:6-10). This is a hill worth dying on because on a hill 2,00 years ago the one who lived a perfect life and fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law became sin and died so I could become the righteousness of God in Him!
Repentance is a necessity to be a Christian, repentance is a necessity to be preached in church, and repentance is a necessity in our sanctification and to be conformed to the image of the Son. Let us contemplate and reflect on the Holiness of God and in return on the sin that we commit in idolatrous rebellion against His commands. The more we understand how holy and pure He is, the more we will detest sin, mourn over our sin (Matthew 5:4), and will with all urgency and weight repent! Repentance is a gift granted by God that leads to faith in Christ and salvation. However, repentance is ongoing as we grow in sanctification and holiness and will continue until we are pure in heart and free from the presence of sin for the first time in His presence in our eternal home. Until then let us mourn over our sin which leads us to godly repentance and sanctification which is the will of God.
Notes:
https://www.theactschurch.online/_files/ugd/bc8b4a_258aa84d4c0b4ae896dc75a87e3a476f.pdf
Website:
https://www.theactschurch.online/
Those who are predestined, called, justified, drawn by the Father, granted the ability to come to the son, appointed to eternal life, born again, come to Christ, believe in Christ, raised on the last day, and are glorified are those who the Father has given to the Son. We are hopeless on our own to come to Him, believe in Him, and be born again as our flesh counts for nothing. To believe that there is still a little something in man to come and believe on our own is to reduce the awe that should be accompanied in response to the sovereign working of the Holy God upon a fallen creature in salvation. The more you know how unable we are to come to Him outside of Him is to then give to Him the glory that is due Him! Why are you born again? Why did you come to Him? Why did you believe? Why will you be raised on the Last Day? Why will you glory God and enjoy Him forever? The answer is God! Therefore, to Him be all the glory forever! Amen!
Those who are predestined, called, justified, drawn by the Father, granted the ability to come to the son, appointed to eternal life, born again, come to Christ, believe in Christ, raised on the last day, and are glorified are those who the Father has given to the Son. We are hopeless on our own to come to Him, believe in Him, and be born again as our flesh counts for nothing. To believe that there is still a little something in man to come and believe on our own is to reduce the awe that should be accompanied in response to the sovereign working of the Holy God upon a fallen creature in salvation. The more you know how unable we are to come to Him outside of Him is to then give to Him the glory that is due Him! Why are you born again? Why did you come to Him? Why did you believe? Why will you be raised on the Last Day? Why will you glory God and enjoy Him forever? The answer is God! Therefore, to Him be all the glory forever! Amen!
Christians are not to return slap for slap but are rather instructed to turn the other cheek. There is a small detail in thisverse that gives insight into the meaning of this verse. Since most people are right hand dominant, to be slapped on theright cheek would mean that one would be slapped with the back of the hand. Being slapped with the back of the handis insulting, degrading, and showing disdain for someone. We see this in our own culture today with the phrase “that wasa slap in the face” to indicate something that is hurtful, insulting, and ever slanderous. Jesus is teaching to avoid personalretaliation which would result in sin just as the one who slaps you, but rather we are show the love of God and be saltand light. We often want to get one up and get more than revenge on people that wrong us, but we are to let God takecare of the vengeance. What is implied by turning the other cheek is that being in this world that hates God and thethings of God, those who bear His name and live for Him can expect continued persecution, slander, and difficulty. Jesusis speaking in this context to personal matters and not to matters of self-defense, government/law enforcement tomaintain law, or necessary military defense.
God has shown sovereign omnipotence, sovereign love, sovereign grace, and sovereign mercy upon those who He draws as no one can come to Christ without the drawing of the Father! Those who the Father draws are the same people who He chose and gave to the Son in eternity past in election and predestination. Our salvation and redemption is intimate and personal as the Father has set His love and affection on His elect, gave His elect to the Son, and then draws them to His Son! We have a seal upon us by way of the Holy Spirit guaranteeing our inheritance and being raised up on the last day. What started in eternity past with our election will be complete in eternity future in our glorification which speaks to the chain that doesn’t ever rust, doesn’t ever have a weak link, or will ever break: the golden chain of redemption (Romans 8:29-30).
So often we think of our salvation as the moment in time and space where we believe and place faith in Christ. That is a part of our salvation, but that is a cheap and shallow view on salvation. The words “to save” are in every tense of the Greek. We were in a sense saved from the foundation of the world through God foreknowing us, we were saved at the time of our regeneration and justification, we are saved and being saved throughout our Christian life, but ultimately the total fulfillment of our salvation will be with God in Heaven when we see Him as He is. The depth and magnitude of our salvation is amazing and can never be truly comprehended. However, let us know that our salvation started and was guaranteed before the world was when the Father chose His elect, wrote their names in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and gave them to the Son. The Son would then die for the those whom the Father had given Him, and the Holy Spirit would regenerate and seal the same people, guaranteeing their inheritance. The chief of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever which is the end result of those who come to Christ. If you have come to Christ, it is because before the world was, the Father loved you with same love in which He loved His Son (John 17:24) and gave you to His only begotten Son! Jesus who came to do the will of the Father would complete His work on the cross as He cried out on behalf of those who had been given to Him as He laid His life down for them and cried “It is finished!”
God swore by nothing greater that Himself when making the promise to Abram in Genesis 15. In swearing by Himself, Hewas saying if He doesn’t come through on His promise of the Abrahamic covenant, then He will die and cease being Godwhich means we have no hope of heaven. However, the good news is that He cannot die or lie, and we know His promiseis eternal as all His promises are yes. As children of God let us be like Him and let our yes be yes and our no be no.
The Father sent the Son and the Son descended from Heaven via the incarnation. In the incarnation Jesus humbled Himself, took on flesh, and was born of a woman in Bethlehem. Jesus’ beginning however was not in Bethlehem as He has no beginning for, He has aseity which is life in Himself as He is eternal. The place He was born in the flesh is of significance as Bethlehem means “house of bread.” At the Last Supper Jesus took bread (unleavened bread-represents without sin as Jesus was sinless) and broke it and after giving blessing it said, “this is My body which is given for you” and this was fulfilled on the cross. It is out of the “house of bread” that the Bread of Life had His body broken and His blood shed so that we may have eternal life though Him. All that come to Him have this promise: they will never thirst or hunger and will have eternal life!
We see that throughout the New Testament being sealed involved the Holy Spirit. Jesus had the seal of the Father upon Him which can be seen by the Holy Spirit descending and lighting on Him at His baptism. The Father declares “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” We as believers are also sealed by the same Holy Spirit of promise when we are saved. We are not His only begotten Son who He is well-pleased with, but we are His adopted Sons whom He has loved before the world was. The Father set His seal upon Jesus to have authority to give the bread that leads to eternal life. Those who are regenerated and sealed by the Holy Spirit have a promise that they will dwell with the Bread of Life forever. The promise that we will have eternal life and dwell with Him forever is the most certain promise we can have because it has been made and sealed not but an earthly king, but by the King of Kings!
In the beginning the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. The One who spoke all things into existence is now not just hovering but walking on the waters He created. He has all power in heaven and on earth. With the sound of His voice physical waves and storms are calmed and with that same voice the storms in our lives can be calmed. He is telling us the same thing He told His disciples in the boat when are faced with anything in this world “Do not be afraid, Ego Eimi.”
Jesus told the woman at the well that whoever comes to Him will never thirst again as He is the Living Water. Not only is He the Living Water, He is also the Bread of Life and whoever comes to Him will never hunger. God is our provider and our sustainer. He has blessed us not just a little, but with abundance. Not only do our cups run over, but our baskets are full!
God looks at the heart. As in water face reflects face, so the heart reflects man (Proverbs 27:19). From the heart comes the inclination, motives, and desire of a man. Jesus is teaching that murder is not just in an outward action, but from within the heart. As believers we are to love as Christ loved and this is only done by a heart that has been regenerated by the power of God. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves, but this can only be accomplished by loving the Lord our God. We only love Him because He first loved us!
There is another witness to who Jesus is……..His resurrection! Those who are believers are united with Him in His resurrection. His elect are resurrected spiritually and having a living hope of a physical resurrection on the Last Day! This is the promise to the children of God. The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God! (Romans 8:16).
Those who have been born again have had a spiritual resurrection by the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and will one day be resurrected bodily with Him by that same power to eternal life. The resurrection of Christ is our living hope!
God is concerned about who you really are as opposed to what you appear to be. God knows what is in man as He looks at the heart. Those whose righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees are those whose heart have been born again.
Despite what the Pharisees and many others my believe, Jesus is God. He has the power to give life to whom He pleases both physically and spiritually. Physical healing is miraculous, but pales in comparison to the miracle that a Holy, Sovereign, Eternal God would have mercy on one sinner and rescue them. The pharisees did not know they were standing before the judge of the world in the flesh and would one day stand Him before Him again in the final judgement. We too, will all stand before the judge of the world one day as He will judge in righteousness. Those who He has chosen to given life by sovereignly raising from them from spiritual death to spiritual life and who believe will have and eternal life as they will stand before the judge of all the world and be declared righteous because they are clothed in the righteous garment of the Judge. He whoever has ears, let them hear!
Jesus has power over sickness, disease, sin, and death. With the sound of His voice, He accomplishes all He desires according to His will as He is the omnipotent, sovereign God. He never stops working as He holds all things together by the power of His mighty word. The Pharisees persecute and want to kill Him because of His claims of deity. However, Jesus can claim deity because in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jesus is Ego Eimi, the great I AM!
Once we are justified and grow in sanctification we are to pursue, hunger, and thirst for righteousness. Unlike the pharisees who quest for righteousness was external, those who are born again worship in spirit and truth and desire God and His righteousness from the soul. We are to delight in the law of God (Psalm 1:1-2), meditate (Psalm 119:97) on His word, and strive for obedience down to the smallest letter and stroke because we love Him. We only love Him because He first loved us.
“So thankful for the active obedience of Christ no hope without it.” - J.G Machen
Our God is omnipotent as with just the sound of His words healing occurs, the universe comes into bring, the Earth is formed, planets are created, the sun and moon are birthed, light is declared into the darkness of the heart of His sheep, and we are declared righteous. He is omnipotent and compassionate. This is our God!
Let us hear the words of God being spoken to us through His word and let us, with unwavering belief, walk toward these truths and promises. When we do that, we will be like the royal official in this story as we declare like he did: God's Word and His promises never fail.
To Him Be The Glory!
There will be a harvest on the Last Day at the end of the age. Those who are not born again will be gathered and thrown into the furnace of fire where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. However, the righteous will shine forth as the sun into the kingdom of their Father.
To Him Be The Glory!
The Acts Church continues their new series: Sermon On The Mount. In this episode Pastor Shawn Owens continues preaching on (Matt 5:13-16)
13“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how [a]can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people.
14“You are the light of the world. A city set on a [b]hill cannot be hidden;
15nor do people light a lamp and put it under a [c]basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 4:16-24 using expository verse-by verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
The Acts Church continues their new series: Sermon On The Mount. In this episode Pastor Shawn Owens continues preaching on (Matt 5:10-12)
10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Pastor Shawn Owens covers Part 2 of John 4:1-15 using expository verse-by verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers Part 1 of John 4:1-15 using expository verse-by verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
The Acts Church continues their new series: Sermon On The Mount. In this episode Pastor Shawn Owens continues preaching on (Matt 5:9) "Blessed Are The Peacemakers, For They Shall Be Called Sons Of God.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 3:22-36 using expository verse-by verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
The Acts Church continues their new series: Sermon On The Mount. In this episode Pastor Shawn Owens continues preaching on (Matt 5:8) "Blessed Are The Pure In Heart, For They Will See God".
In this episode of the Acts Church Hour, Pastor Shawn Owens tells of the type and shadow of Christ in The Cities Of Refuge.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 3:17-21 using expository verse-by verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 3:16 using expository verse-by verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
The Acts Church continues their new series: Sermon On The Mount. In this episode Pastor Shawn Owens continues preaching on (Matt 5:7) "Blessed Are The Merciful, for they shall receive mercy".
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 3:9-15 using expository verse-by verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 3:1-8 using expository verse-by verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
The Acts Church continues their new series: Sermon On The Mount. In this episode Pastor Shawn Owens continues preaching on Blessed Are Those Who Hunger And Thirst For Righteousness.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 2:18-25 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 2:13-17 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
The Acts Church continues their new series: Sermon On The Mount. In this episode Pastor Shawn Owens continues preaching on Blessed Are The Gentle/Meek.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 2:1-12 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast. Pastor Shawn not only highlights the significance of the wine running out, and the importance of the waterpots, but also Jesus' sign of the new covenant in this story.
The Acts Church continues their new series: Sermon On The Mount. In this episode Pastor Shawn Owens preaches on Blessed Are The Gentle/Meek.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 1:51b using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 1:51a using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
The Acts Church continues their new series: Sermon On The Mount. In this episode Pastor Shawn Owens preaches on Those Who Mourn.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 1:43-50 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 1:35-42 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
The Acts Church start their new series: Sermon On The Mount. In this episode Pastor Shawn Owens preaches on the Poor In Spirit.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 1:27-34 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 1:19-26 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens continues his series on the Attributes of God. In this Episode, Pastor Owens preaches on the Truth Of God.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 1:14b-18 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 1:14 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens continues his series on the Attributes of God. In this Episode, Pastor Owens preaches on the Holiness Of God.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 1:10-13 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 1:6-9 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens continues his series on the Attributes of God. In this Episode, Pastor Owens preaches on the Holiness Of God.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 1:4-5 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 1:2-3 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens continues his series on the Attributes of God. In this Episode, Pastor Owens preaches on the Holiness Of God.
"Silenced by Holiness"
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 1:1 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers John 1:1 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens continues his series on the Attributes of God. In this Episode, Pastor Owens preaches on the Aseity Of God.
"What is Aseity?"
"Aseity comes from the Latin word "a se" which means "From Himself" or "of Himself." It speaks of God's independence and self-sufficiency. God has life in Himself. He has no other source than Himself. He exists of and from Himself. He exists by His own power. He does not "have" existence, (But rather) He is existence. He is not created, but rather the Creator of all things. Since He is the Creator of all things, He is (therefore) before all things, making Him eternal with no beginning and no end."
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 2 Peter 3:10-18 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 2 Peter 3:1-9 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens continues his series on the Attributes of God. In this Episode, Pastor Owens preaches on the Omnipotence Of God.
"We must remember that no matter what comes in our lives, no matter how bad things may seem, no matter how broken the world is, no matter how weak we are, we serve God Almighty who is omnipotent. That's how we go to sleep every night, wake up everyday, and walk through every day, by remembering that He is omnipotent."
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 2 Peter 2:18-22 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 2 Peter 2:12-17 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens continues his series on the Attributes of God. In this Episode, Pastor Owens preaches on the Omniscience Of God.
"To the Believer the Omniscience of God offers comfort and security as God knows all things that are going on in the world and our life. He is not searching for answers or looking for new information to solve our problems. There has never been a time where God didn't know everything. He cannot learn anything new, nor has He ever learned anything at all, but He rather knows all things. But to the Unbeliever, God's omniscience should be terrifying."
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 2 Peter 2:4-11 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 2 Peter 2:2-3 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens continues his series on the Attributes of God. In this Episode, Pastor Owens preaches on the Omnipresence Of God.
“He is always with his believers. He is with us in the good, the bad, the hard, the lonely, the mundane, etc. He will never leave us nor forsake us! There is great comfort to the believer in regard to God being omnipresent. There has never been a time when you have been alone. All through eternity, God is there, and we will be in His presence forever!”
Matthew 18:20
“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
Many Christians today say this verse is referring to how the Holy Spirit will appear, when two or three believers are gathered to worship, read scripture, etc. But within context, we see how this verse is referring to church discipline and the Holy Spirit's role in it.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 2 Peter 2:1c using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 2 Peter 2:1b using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens continues his series on the Attributes of God. In this Episode, Pastor Owens preaches on the Goodness Of God
“Knowing who God is, is vital. If we know that He is immutable and we know He is good and only good, then in the good times, devastating times, and painful times, we can trust and rejoice because He has never stopped and cannot stop being good."
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 2 Peter 2:1a using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 2 Peter 1:16-21 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens continues his series on the Attributes of God. In this Episode, Pastor Owens preaches on the Incomprehensibility Of God.
“There is comfort in the fact God is God, and we are not. We cannot even begin to understand or comprehend the depths, will, and decrees of God. For if we could understand all the things of God, then we would have no God at all!”
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 2 Peter 1:5-15 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
This Episode Of The Acts Church Hour Includes:
- If there was no resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:13-19)
- Since there is a resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20-26)
- Our Union with Christ's resurrection
- Mary and the Mercy Seat
Pastor Shawn Owens continues his series on the Attributes of God. In this Episode, Pastor Owens preaches on the Sovereignty Of God.
“God rules and reigns over the entire universe. He cannot be opposed. He is Lord of Heaven and Earth. He is enthroned, and His Throne is a symbol of His sovereignty. God’s Will Is Supreme.”
In this episode of the Acts Church Hour, Pastor Shawn Owens teaches of the type and shadow of Christ in the story of Ruth and Boaz.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 2 Peter 1:4 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 2 Peter 1:3 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens starts his new series on the Attributes of God. In this Episode he preaches on the Immutability Of God.
"There has never been a plan B. Plan A is running flawlessly full steam ahead as we speak!"
In this episode of the Acts Church Hour, Pastor Shawn Owens teaches of the type and shadow of Christ in The Red Heifer.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 2 Peter 1:2 using expository verse-by-verse preaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 2 Peter 1:1b using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 2 Peter 1:1a using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
In this episode of The Acts Church Hour Podcast, Attendees from the Acts Church ask Pastor Shawn Owens questions about "Which Spiritual Gifts Have Ceased?", "What About 2nd Peter 3:9?", "What Is The Purpose Of The Unsaved In Creation?", and "If Man Is Inherently Sinful Why Would God Give Them Over To A Depraved Mind?".
In this episode of the Acts Church Hour, Pastor Shawn Owens teaches of the type and shadow of Christ in The Feast Of Booths.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 5:8-14 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 5:5-7 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 5:1-4 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
In this episode of the Acts Church Hour, Pastor Shawn Owens teaches of the type and shadow of Christ in The Day Of Atonement.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 4:12-19 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 4:10-11 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 4:8-9 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
In this episode of the Acts Church Hour, Pastor Shawn Owens teaches of the type and shadow of Christ in The Feast Of Trumpets
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 4:7 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 4:1-6 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 3:19-22 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
In this episode of the Acts Church Hour, Pastor Shawn Owens teaches of the type and shadow of Christ in Pentecost/Feast Of Weeks.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 3:15b-18 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 3:13-15 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
In this episode of the Acts Church Hour, Pastor Shawn Owens tells of the type and shadow of Christ in The Feast Of First Fruits.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 3:11-12 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 3:8-10 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 3:1-7 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 2:25 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
In this episode of the Acts Church Hour, Pastor Shawn Owens tells of the type and shadow of Christ in The Feast Of Unleaven Bread.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 2:21-24 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 2:13-20 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens reads and teaches of the remarkable imagery between the Passover Lamb and The True Lamb Of God.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 2:7-12 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
Pastor Shawn Owens covers 1 Peter 2:2–6 using expository verse-by-verse teaching in this episode of the Acts Church Hour Podcast.
In this episode of The Acts Church Hour Podcast, Pastor Shawn Owens examines 1 Peter 2:1 in-depth.
In this sermon, Pastor Shawn Owens discusses how Abel is a type and shadow of Christ, and how Cain, in his rebellion, foreshadows our own rebellion against Christ.
Pastor Shawn Owens Reads and Teaches on the Types and Shadows in The Old Testament. In this episode, he shows how Christ is front and center in the Fiery Furnace.
Pastor Shawn Owens reads and teaches on Daniel and the Lions' Den. He shows us how the story is not only a story of showing God's Glory then, but also now.
The Fifth Episode Of "There Is More To The Story" Series. This Episode Will Take Us Into The Ark Of The Covenant.
The Fourth Episode Of "There Is More To The Story" Series. It Will Dive Deeper Into The Story Of Abraham And Isaac, And How It Points To The Cross.
The Third Episode Of "There Is More To The Story" Series. This Episode Will Take Us Deeper Into Job.
The Second Episode Of “There Is More To The Story” Series. This Episode Will Take Us Deeper Into Joseph.
The First Episode Of “There Is More To The Story” Series. This Episode Will Take Us Deeper Into David.