Acts 26:28–32

The less involvement that government has in the Church the more effective we are.

Even then God will take what was meant to destroy us and turn it for our good and the good of the Church.

Acts 26:28–32

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

29 And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

30 When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; 31 and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”

32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Roman citizens had the right to appeal to Caesar for judgment. Apparently this appeal could not be overturned or ignored by local governors, likely so that citizens could be tried in official courts for their own protection. Faithlife Bible.

Agrippa realized that Paul was doing more than just defending his faith; he was actually trying to persuade Agrippa to become a follower of Jesus Christ. If Agrippa had told those gathered that he did not believe the prophets, he would have angered the Jews. If he had acknowledged that he did believe the prophets, he would have had to give weight to Paul’s words. Agrippa avoided being maneuvered into an embarrassing corner by sidestepping the issue. The interview was becoming too personal for Agrippa’s comfort, so he ended the dialogue. NKJ Bible.

It becomes us, on all occasions, to speak the words of truth and soberness, and then we need not be troubled at the unjust censures of men. Active and laborious followers of the gospel often have been despised as dreamers or madmen, for believing such doctrines and such wonderful facts; and for attesting that the same faith and diligence, and an experience like their own, are necessary to all men, whatever their rank, in order to their salvation. But apostles and prophets, and the Son of God himself, were exposed to this charge; and none need be moved thereby, when Divine grace has made them wise unto salvation. Agrippa saw a great deal of reason for Christianity. His understanding and judgment were for the time convinced, but his heart was not changed. And his conduct and temper were widely different from the humility and spirituality of the gospel. Many are almost persuaded to be religious, who are not quite persuaded; they are under strong convictions of their duty, and of the excellence of the ways of God, yet do not pursue their convictions. Paul urged that it was the concern of every one to become a true Christian; that there is grace enough in Christ for all. He expressed his full conviction of the truth of the gospel, the absolute necessity of faith in Christ in order to salvation. Such salvation from such bondage, the gospel of Christ offers to the Gentiles; to a lost world. Yet it is with much difficulty that any person can be persuaded he needs a work of grace on his heart, like that which was needful for the conversion of the Gentiles. Let us beware of fatal hesitation in our own conduct; and recollect how far the being almost persuaded to be a Christian, is from being altogether such a one as every true believer is. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Acts 25:11 For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”

1 Corinthians 7:7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

Hosea 9:7-9

The God of creation will not tolerate placing your idols before Him.

Pray for restoration and the guidance of Holy Spirit for the days are evil! 

Lamentations 2:14 Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not uncovered your iniquity, to bring back your captives, but have envisioned for you false prophecies and delusions.

Hosea 9:7-9

7 The days of punishment have come;

The days of recompense have come.

Israel knows!

The prophet is a fool,

The spiritual man is insane,

Because of the greatness of your iniquity and great enmity.

8 The watchman of Ephraim is with my God;

But the prophet is a fowler’s snare in all his ways—

Enmity in the house of his God.

9 They are deeply corrupted,

As in the days of Gibeah.

He will remember their iniquity;

He will punish their sins.

The man of the spirit refers to the prophet who experienced God’s revelation through His spirit. These lines about the prophet being a fool and a madman likely reflect Israel’s reaction to the prophet’s preaching. Israel never repented from iniquity, making the prophet’s conditional message of restoration appear foolish. A prophet, like a watchman, was responsible for giving warnings about danger. Faithlife Bible.

Sinful Israel disdained God’s true prophets, regarding them as raving maniacs. The Hebrew word translated insane is used in 1 Samuel of David when he pretended to be a madman before the Philistine king. Enmity refers to strong resentment that can give rise to violent behavior.

A watchman would look for approaching armies and then warn the people so that they could secure the city and prepare for battle. The prophets were like watchmen because they were sent by God to warn the people of judgment and urge them to repent.

As in the days of Gibeah is a reference to the rape and murder of a young woman by men of Gibeah, an event that started a civil war.  Those who witnessed this violent deed remarked that it was the worst crime committed in Israel’s history until that time. However, the sins of Hosea’s generation rivaled the infamous Gibeah murder. NKJ Bible.

Time had been when the spiritual watchmen of Israel were with the Lord, but now they were like the snare of a fowler to entangle persons to their ruin. The people were become as corrupt as those of Gibeah and their crimes should be visited in like manner. At first God had found Israel pleasing to Him, as grapes to the traveller in the wilderness. He saw them with pleasure as the first ripe figs. This shows the delight God took in them; yet they followed after idolatry. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Isaiah 10:3 What will you do in the day of punishment, and in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your glory?

Jeremiah 10:15 They are futile, a work of errors; in the time of their punishment they shall perish.

Hosea 10:9 “O Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah; there they stood.The battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.

Micah 2:1-4

God protects those who place their trust fully in Him.

I do not handle stress well. A big stressor for me is politics. American politics disregards Scripture to care for the poor, the oppressed and the foreigner. They care more about half baked conspiracy theories instead of the truth of Jesus and the fruit that should be evident in the live of those who follow His lead.

Amos 5:13 Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time.

God’s love is the one thing that covers a multitude of our sins…Thank you Jesus! Without it and the conviction of Holy Spirit we would be without hope.

Micah 2:1-4

2 Woe to those who devise iniquity,

And work out evil on their beds!

At morning light they practice it,

Because it is in the power of their hand.

2 They covet fields and take them by violence,

Also houses, and seize them.

So they oppress a man and his house,

A man and his inheritance.

3 Therefore thus says the Lord:

“Behold, against this family I am devising disaster,

From which you cannot remove your necks;

Nor shall you walk haughtily,

For this is an evil time.

4 In that day one shall take up a proverb against you,

And lament with a bitter lamentation, saying:

‘We are utterly destroyed!

He has changed the heritage of my people;

How He has removed it from me!

To a turncoat He has divided our fields.’ ”

These wicked individuals lay on their beds at night thinking of evil plots. They cannot sleep because they are consumed with wickedness. These evildoers were powerful, wealthy people with the ability to carry out their schemes and profit by them. The mistreatment of others has given these evildoers the impression that they are better than those upon whom they prey.

The “Day of Yahweh,” is a day of divine judgment. The land of Israel will be given to a foreign nation that does not worship Yahweh. Faithlife Bible.

The ethical teaching of the prophets regularly included oracles of judgment against greed, theft, and oppression, actions of the powerful in attacking the weak. To covet is not just to have a passing thought; it is a determination to seize what is not one’s own. While the wicked devised iniquity, God made some plans of His own. The idea here is that the disaster of God would be inescapable. God would take the property rights from those who had seized them illegally and give them to people who were even more reprobate than they were. NKJ Bible.

Woe to the people that devise evil during the night, and rise early to carry it into execution! It is bad to do mischief on a sudden thought, much worse to do it with design and forethought. It is of great moment to improve and employ hours of retirement and solitude in a proper manner. If covetousness reigns in the heart, compassion is banished; and when the heart is thus engaged, violence and fraud commonly occupy the hands. The most haughty and secure in prosperity, are commonly most ready to despair in adversity. Woe to those from whom God turns away! Those are the sorest calamities which cut us off from the congregation of the Lord, or cut us short in the enjoyment of its privileges. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Isaiah 5:8 Woe to those who join house to house; they add field to field, till there is no place where they may dwell alone in the midst of the land!

Jeremiah 8:3 Then death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of those who remain of this evil family, who remain in all the places where I have driven them,” says the LORD of hosts.

Hosea 7:6 They prepare their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait; their baker sleeps all night; in the morning it burns like a flaming fire.

Hosea 7:7 They are all hot, like an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings have fallen. None among them calls upon Me.

Job 13:9-11

 Holy Spirit searches the heart and exposes our humanity from our spirituality. Because Gods’ ways are beyond our understanding it is  only through Him that we can comprehend them. This knowledge of God is the beginning of understanding. 

Sometimes silence is golden!

Psalm 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Job 13:9-11

9 Will it be well when He searches you out?

Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?

10 He will surely rebuke you

If you secretly show partiality.

11 Will not His excellence make you afraid,

And the dread of Him fall upon you?

Job believes God will rebuke his friends for their false comfort. Eventually, God does rebuke them. Job later expresses his fear at facing God’s majesty. Faithlife Bible.

Job wants them to hear and pay attention to his words. He urges them to listen diligently to his words instead of trying to defend God. Their pious platitudes are as worthless as proverbs composed of ashes. NKJ Bible.

To broken hearts and wounded consciences, all creatures, without Christ, are physicians of no value. Job evidently speaks with a very angry spirit against his friends. They had advanced some truths which nearly concerned Job, but the heart unhumbled before God, never meekly receives the reproofs of men. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Job 31:23 For destruction from God is a terror to me, and because of His magnificence I cannot endure.

Psalm 44:21 Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.

Proverbs 18:17 The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him.

Proverbs 28:11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes, but the poor who has understanding searches him out.

Ezekiel 34:25-31

 Jesus, in the New Covenant, gave us His peace. Not the peace that the world gives but an everlasting peace with God. In Him and in the power of Holy Spirit, we produce His fruit to share with a dying world.

Through Jesus we have peace with God and become His children born of the free woman and no longer in bondage. 

If Christ has set us free, we are free indeed!

Ezekiel 34:25–31

25 “I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26 I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing. 27 Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28 And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid. 29 I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore. 30 Thus they shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people,” says the Lord God.’ ”

31 “You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord God.

Restoration of Israel’s relationship with Yahweh brings the covenant blessings promised in Leviticus. Ezekiel has skillfully reworked the blessings f into a future picture of hope for Israel. A reversal of Yahweh’s prior judgment ties the oracle of blessing and restoration back to the metaphor of the sheep and shepherd. Faithlife Bible.

The exiles were encouraged through this promise of a covenant of peace characterized by these promises: (1) security from foreign aggressor nations, the wild beasts; (2) showers of blessing, meaning productivity and prosperity; and (3) the certainty that the Lord is Israel’s God and desires reunion with His people and a lasting relationship built on a new covenant. NKJ  Bible.

The latter verses prophesy of Christ, and of the most glorious times of his church on earth. Under Him, as the good Shepherd, the church would be a blessing to all around. Christ, though excellent in himself, was as a tender plant out of a dry ground. Being the Tree of life, bearing all the fruits of salvation, he yields spiritual food to the souls of his people. Our constant desire and prayer should be, that there may be showers of blessings in every place where the truth of Christ is preached; and that all who profess the gospel may be filled with fruits of righteousness. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Genesis 12:2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.

Leviticus 26:4 then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Leviticus 26:13 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright.

Psalm 100:3 Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Isaiah 11:6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

Mark 4:35-41

 We allow our lives to be orchestrated by God when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. I had just listened to Matthew’s account of this with Beth Moore. What a wonderful God we serve!

Do not doubt His power in your life…just believe!

Jesus’ answer to the disciples reveals much about the purpose of His teaching. He quoted Isaiah 6:9, 10 to demonstrate that those with physical sight and hearing may still not be able to perceive the truths presented to them. For Isaiah, the “dullness” or hardness of the human heart directly affects spiritual insight and understanding. People need to soften their hearts, humble themselves before God, and honestly seek the truth in order to find it.

Jesus’ stories are like wrapped gifts. The packaging of the story can either distract or captivate. But unless the package is opened, the gift itself remains unseen. Likewise unless one seeks the core of the parable—its truth and application—the lessons will remain hidden. Yet when discovered, these lessons prove extremely valuable. The testimony of millions of changed lives over two thousand years attests to this fact. NKJ Bible.

Mark 4:35–41

35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Jews considered day to begin at sundown. Decapolis was a federation of cities east of the Sea of Galilee. Although Jewish communities existed in these cities, Mark depicts this region as Gentile (non-Jewish) territory. 

Jesus’ words mirror His response to the unclean spirit at Capernaum. Jesus shows Himself to have power over both spiritual and elemental forces, demonstrating His divinity. Jesus has made clear that He is God’s chosen agent. He expects the disciples to recognize this and have faith in His ability to act with divine power. Jesus’ command of the raging sea demonstrates His unique authority and power. In the old testament, God alone is able to control the sea. Faithlife Bible.

To cross over the Sea of Galilee, a lake only eight miles wide, would not seem difficult at first glance. Yet its unique geography produces a greatly varying climate. The lake is situated seven hundred feet below sea level and is surrounded by mountains that rise three to four thousand feet above sea level on the west, north, and east. Tropical conditions prevail around the lake’s surface, where even bananas are grown today. Yet the higher elevations can produce chilling night air. It is not unusual even today for a sudden great windstorm to appear on the Sea of Galilee during the evening hours. The warm tropical air from the lake’s surface rises and meets the colder air from the nearby hills. The resulting turbulence stirs up great waves which make boating extremely treacherous.

The mention of Jesus being asleep on a pillow shows His true humanity. He was fully human and needed food and rest just as all people do. Jesus’ command over the wind and the sea demonstrates His full and complete deity. Only God the Creator can calm wind and sea. Mark uses the disciples’ question “Who can this be?” to evoke a similar response in the minds of his readers. Mark relates the works and words of the one he calls “Jesus Christ, the Son of God”. NKJ Bible.

Matthew 8:18 And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.

Matthew 8:23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.

Matthew 8:26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

Luke 8:22 Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out.

Luke 8:25 But He said to them, “Where is your faith?”And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”

Without Him we can do nothing. The Father corrects those He loves. Christ within, our dear Holy Spirit, is our hope. He will take the Words of Jesus and life them to us. He will guide us home. In Him all things are possible.

John 15:1-4

15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

Jesus is the center of the Christian faith—He is the source of life and the way to eternal life. 

Grapevines are more plentiful if pruned. The pruning may refer to hardship that (eventually) produces faithfulness and closer relationship with God, such as the disciples are about to experience. Jesus also could be referring to the pruning of dead branches, which would entail removing what is undesirable. Faithlife Bible.

In this phrase the word true is emphatic. With such a vinedresser, the branches can experience complete confidence and security.

Every branch is said to be in Christ. Paul uses the phrase “in Christ” to speak of a Christian’s legal and family position as a result of God’s grace. The emphasis of in Me in this passage, however, is on deep, abiding fellowship. Jesus’ purpose was to move His disciples from servants to friends. This would involve a process of discipline in regard to His commandments. 

No plant produces fruit instantaneously; fruit is the result of a process. Such is also the case with believers. Prunes means “cleanses. Once the fruit is on the vine, the vinedresser cleanses the fruit of bugs and diseases. The spiritual counterpart is cleansing which is done through the Word. For the branch to produce more fruit, it must abide, which means to dwell, to stay, to settle in, to sink deeper. The way to abide in Christ is to obey. The believer who lovingly obeys the Word of God produces much fruit. NKJ Bible.

Jesus Christ is the Vine, the true Vine. The union of the human and Divine natures, and the fulness of the Spirit that is in him, resemble the root of the vine made fruitful by the moisture from a rich soil. Believers are branches of this Vine. The root is unseen, and our life is hid with Christ; the root bears the tree, diffuses sap to it, and in Christ are all supports and supplies. The branches of the vine are many, yet, meeting in the root, are all but one vine; thus all true Christians, though in place and opinion distant from each other, meet in Christ. Believers, like the branches of the vine, are weak, and unable to stand but as they are borne up. The Father is the Husbandman. Never was any husbandman so wise, so watchful, about his vineyard, as God is about his church, which therefore must prosper. We must be fruitful. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Matthew 3:10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matthew 15:13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.

Luke 2:8-14

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to die for it. John 3:16.

God loves all of His creation. To enable His love, forgiveness and direction in our lives we must acknowledge Him as our Father and accept His Spirit who abides in us through the salvation gift given in Jesus! Through Him we can enter Gods’ rest. To God be all the glory!

Hebrews 11:6: "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

Without faith, we try to work for our own salvation, leaving us in a constant state of striving. When we place our trust in the finished work of Christ, (John 19:30) we can lay our burdens at His feet and receive the precious gift of God's rest. First5.

Luke 2:8–14

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

It is noted that the announcement comes to lowly shepherds rather than to the religious elite.

The Greek word used here, euangelion, commonly refers in Luke’s Gospel to the saving message that the savior of humanity has come into the world.

The good news is not just for Jewish people, but also for non-Jewish people.

In Mary’s song of praise, this title refers to Yahweh, now it is aptly applied to Jesus. The angels employ two titles: “Christ” or “Messiah” emphasizes Jesus’ anointing as God’s promised Servant; “Lord” emphasizes His sovereign authority. 

Mangers—though quite familiar to the shepherds—were unusual beds for babies. This oddity would serve as a sign to the shepherds that they had found the Messiah. The angels’ reference to glory in the highest heaven is complemented by their message of peace of earth. The Greek word used here, eirēnē, is similar in meaning to the Hebrew word shalom (which means “peace,” “wholeness,” or “completeness”); it carries connotations of well-being, harmony, and security. Peace is a major theme of Luke’s Gospel. Faithlife Bible.

The night watch was kept to protect sheep from robbers and wild animals. (Satan seeks to kill, steal and destroy the Body of Christ.)

Glory refers to evidence of God’s majestic presence, later associated with Jesus. In this scene, the glory is the appearance of light in the midst of darkness. The city of David here refers to Bethlehem. 

Savior … Christ … Lord: These three titles together summarize the saving work of Jesus and His sovereign position. What God was called in 1:47, Savior, Jesus is called here. The word Christ means “Anointed,” referring to Jesus’ royal, messianic position. The word Lord was the title of a ruler. Jesus is destined to sit and distribute salvation’s benefits from God’s side, ruling with the Father.

Heavenly host refers to an entourage of angels. Glory here refers to praise given to God. The phrase ”goodwill toward men” means that people are the objects of God’s goodwill. In ancient Judaism, this phrase described a limited group of people who were the objects of God’s special grace. 

The promise of peace and goodwill would come to those who welcome God’s only Son. NKJ Bible.

God’s good-will to men, manifested in sending the Messiah, redounds to his praise. Other works of God are for his glory, but the redemption of the world is for his glory in the highest. God’s goodwill in sending the Messiah, brought peace into this lower world. Peace is here put for all that good which flows to us from Christ’s taking our nature upon him. This is a faithful saying, attested by an innumerable company of angels, and well worthy of all acceptation, that the good-will of God toward men, is glory to God in the highest, and peace on the earth. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born,Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Matthew 1:16 And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.

Matthew 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Acts 5:31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Nahum 3:12–13

Without the fruit of the Spirit in our Churches we are just making noise.

The Body of Christ should be a place of rest for believers. Our faith removes the strongholds that we so desperately cling too. It allows us to do good works with the guidance of Holy Spirit. With Christ and in His Body nothing is impossible. Without Him we can do nothing of lasting value.

Faith alone pleases God. Trust in Him enables Him to turn all things used against us for our good and the good of His Church.

Nahum 3:12–13

12 All your strongholds are fig trees with ripened figs:

If they are shaken,

They fall into the mouth of the eater.

13 Surely, your people in your midst are women!

The gates of your land are wide open for your enemies;

Fire shall devour the bars of your gates.

A fig tree is a fruit tree bearing pear-like fruit. It provides abundant shade with its large, palm-shaped leaves. The first figs produced by fig trees often fall to the ground before becoming fully ripe.

The Hebrew term used here plays on gender stereotypes to convey the idea of weakness or fright. Faithlife Bible.

Nahum satirically describes the strongholds of Nineveh as being so easily defeated that they would be like fruit trees that drop their figs into waiting mouths. NKJ Bible.

Strong-holds, even the strongest, are no defense against the judgments of God. They shall be unable to do any thing for themselves. The Chaldeans and Medes would devour the land like canker-worms. The Assyrians also would be eaten up by their own numerous hired troops, which seem to be meant by the word rendered “merchants.” Those that have done evil to their neighbours, will find it come home to them. Nineveh, and many other cities, states, and empires, have been ruined, and should be a warning to us. Are we better, except as there are some true Christians amongst us, who are a greater security, and a stronger defense, than all the advantages of situation or strength? When the Lord shows himself against a people, every thing they trust in must fail, or prove a disadvantage; but he continues good to Israel. He is a strong-hold for every believer in time of trouble, that cannot be stormed or taken; and he knoweth those that trust in Him. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Psalm 147:13 For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within you.

Isaiah 19:16 In that day Egypt will be like women, and will be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which He waves over it.

Jeremiah 51:30 The mighty men of Babylon have ceased fighting,They have remained in their strongholds; their might has failed, they became like women; they have burned her dwelling places,The bars of her gate are broken.

Revelation 6:12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.

Matthew 20:15–16

God chooses whom He wills. 

He shows no partiality and all who believe in the gift of salvation given in Jesus Christ, will be saved.

Matthew 20:15–16

15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

The parable of the vineyard workers portrays God’s gracious generosity. Faithlife Bible.

The first workers complained that their wages were the same as those who had been hired late in the day. However, the owner had not cheated them; everyone received the agreed-upon sum for his work. The early workers grumbled because they were evil in their outlook; their master, however, was sovereignly generous.

In the context of Matthew, the workers with the contract represent Israel; they had the promises and the covenants. Those without an agreement represent the Gentiles, who would be made equal with the Jewish people when salvation became available to all through faith in Jesus Christ. NKJ Bible.

The direct object of this parable seems to be, to show that though the Jews were first called into the vineyard, at length the gospel should be preached to the Gentiles, and they should be admitted to equal privileges and advantages with the Jews. The parable may also be applied more generally, and shows, 1. That God is debtor to no man. 2. That many who begin last, and promise little in religion, sometimes, by the blessing of God, arrive at a great deal of knowledge, grace, and usefulness. 3. That the recompense of reward will be given to the saints, but not according to the time of their conversion. It describes the state of the visible church, and explains the declaration that the last shall be first, and the first last, in its various references. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Matthew 19:30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Luke 4:38-39

There is healing for believers, physically, mentally and emotionally, in the powerful name of Jesus.

Luke 4:38-39

38 Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. 39 So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.

The fact that Simon’s mother-in-law served her guests immediately indicates that her recovery from fever was instantaneous. NKJ Bible.

These miracles showed Christ to be a controller and conqueror of Satan, a healer of diseases. Where Christ gives a new life, in recovery from sickness, it should be a new life, spent more than ever in his service, to his glory. Our business should be to spread abroad Christ’s fame in every place, to beseech him in behalf of those diseased in body or mind, and to use our influence in bringing sinners to him, that his hands may be laid upon them for their healing. 

We were not sent into this world to live to ourselves only, but to glorify God, and to do good in our generation.

The people sought him, and came unto him. A desert is no desert, if we are with Christ there. He will continue with us, by his word and Spirit, and extend the same blessings to other nations, to acknowledge him as the Christ, the Son of God, and to find redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Matthew 8:14 Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever.

Matthew 8:15 So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.

Mark 1:29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

Mark 1:30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.

Mark 1:31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

Zephaniah 2:1.2.3.

Unity is Gods’ desired result for believers. It is achievable only through the guidance of Holy Spirit.Seek and you will find Him. Ask and He will give you the answer. Knock and He will let you in.

Division is not from God. It is used by Satan as his weapon of destruction. We must fight against it.

Zephaniah 2:1.2.3.

2 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together,

O undesirable nation,

2 Before the decree is issued,

Or the day passes like chaff,

Before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you,

Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you!

3 Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth,

Who have upheld His justice.

Seek righteousness, seek humility.

It may be that you will be hidden

In the day of the Lord’s anger.

In the opening of this section, Zephaniah declares that the only hope for the children of Israel is repentance. He calls the nation to gather together and seek Yahweh before the announced decree takes effect. Zephaniah begs the inhabitants of Judah to humble themselves, obey Yahweh’s commands, and be filled with righteousness in the hope that they will then be hidden on the day of Yahweh’s anger. Having described the judgment of Juda), the prophet turns his attention to the nations surrounding Judah. 

He refers to those who are humble and obedient to Yahweh or possibly to those who are afflicted and poor. Faithlife Bible.

The people doomed for judgment in the day of the Lord were commanded to gather together, perhaps in repentance. Seek the Lord  is the language of true repentance, renewal, and regeneration. Zephaniah used a play on words with the meaning of his own name, “Hidden in the Lord.” Even in the midst of the most calamitous of judgment scenes, the mercy and grace of the Lord is still available to a repentant people. NKJ BIble.

The prophet calls to national repentance, as the only way to prevent national ruin. A nation not desiring, that has not desires toward God, is not desirous of his favour and grace, has no mind to repent and reform. Or, not desirable, not having any thing to recommend them to God; to whom God might justly say, Depart from me; but he says, Gather together to me that you may seek my face. We know what God’s decree will bring against impenitent sinners, therefore it highly concerns all to repent in the accepted time. How careful should we all be to seek peace with God, before the Holy Spirit withdraws from us, or ceases to strive with us; before the day of grace is over, or the day of life; before our everlasting state is determined! The chief hope of deliverance from national judgments rests upon prayer. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Numbers 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)

Psalm 76:9 When God arose to judgment,To deliver all the oppressed of the earth.Selah

Amos 5:14 Seek good and not evil, that you may live; so the LORD God of hosts will be with you, as you have spoken.

John 13:34-35

Love is the only emotion that transcends time.

We love others because He first loved us.

Help me Father to love as You love!!!

Without love we are just making noise.

“Love your neighbor as yourself” Leviticus. 19:18

John 13:34-35

 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus inserts this phrase into the commandment from Leviticus 19:18. The new part of the commandment is that Jesus’ disciples are instructed to love other people the way Jesus loved them—serving them like a slave would, as He does in this scene, even to the point of laying down their lives for others. The indicator of a Christian is the way they treat others. Faithlife Bible.

The command to love was new because Jesus gave it a new standard. Moses said, “Love your neighbor as yourself”. Jesus said the new standard was as I have loved you. Jesus gave His disciples the example of love that they were to follow.

Unbelievers recognize Jesus’ disciples not by their doctrinal distinctives, nor by dramatic miracles, nor even by their love for the lost. They recognize His disciples by their deeds of love for one another. NKJ Bible.

Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

1 Thessalonians 4:9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;