Matthew 24:32-35

Father help me to keep my eyes solely on You. As the happenings in this world resemble more and more the prophesy of the Bible I pray for the safety of my family and Church and the salvation of many who do not know Your Son, Jesus Christ. 

Let Your light shine through Your servant.

Jesus presents a brief parable to demonstrate how the disciples should discern the signs of the times. Just as a fig tree gives clear indications as to when summer will arrive, so too will the events of this chapter indicate the arrival of the Son of Man. Faithlife Bible.

Generation may mean “race,” indicating that Israel as a people will not cease to exist before God fulfills His promises to them. Another possibility is that the word describes a particular era in which people will see the end times. That is, the events will occur so rapidly that all will happen within one generation. Perhaps both interpretations are true. All these things includes the Antichrist, the tribulation, and most importantly the appearance of Christ in glory. NKJ Bible.

Matthew 24:32–35 (NKJV)

³² “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! ³⁴ Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Isaiah 51:6 (NKJV)

⁶ Lift up your eyes to the heavens,

And look on the earth beneath.

For the heavens will vanish away like smoke,

The earth will grow old like a garment,

And those who dwell in it will die in like manner;

But My salvation will be forever,

And My righteousness will not be abolished.

Galatians 1:6-10

There is no other way to salvation except through Jesus. Anointed to come into this world to suffer and die that through His blood mankind would be offered the gift of being made right with God. We who choose this gift are resurrected in Him, through Him and with Him to eternal life. 

Praise and thanksgiving to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Faith manifests in good works. Because God loves His creation enough to allow Jesus to go through all that He did for us…out of a changed heart we love them also. We can love others because He first loved us!

Merry CHRISTmas!

At this point in his letters, Paul typically offers a prayer of thanksgiving for his audience. But with the Galatians, there is no cause for thanksgiving; they have turned to a different gospel. Faithlife Bible.

To please men was neither Paul’s motivation nor the source of his authority. Paul continually sought the approval of God. He did not base his decisions on the opinions of other people. Instead he single-mindedly aimed at pleasing God. As an apostle Paul was a leader, but he was always a bondservant of Christ. NKJ Bible.

Those troubling the Galatians were saying, “You need Christ; you need to be on that team. But what really makes the whole thing work is how hard you yank on your bootstraps. It’s what you do for God that counts.” And if we’re honest, we probably speak this way (to ourselves and others) far more than we’d like to admit. Do you see how distorted this picture of the gospel is? Because from this view, there’s no true end to the boot tightening. Where do you find hope that your laces won’t become untied as you walk? When do you know that you’ve done enough work? How do you know you’ve prayed enough, said the right prayers, used the right words, had the right motive, prayed out of a pure enough heart? And, worse still, because it is a gospel of self-effort—with you and your commitment at the center, rather than Christ—it can never lead to true adoration, only to self-righteousness. It spawns pride, not doxology.

Grace undercuts all human pride, so we don’t really want it. We want reward and glory—and grace doesn’t give us these. So we functionally oppose Christ because our hearts will not allow us to be totally, radically, and completely wrong. We still want an island—even a little one—on which we can plant our flag and recommend ourselves to God and each other. Who gets the glory if we follow a legalistic, self-justifying path? We do. Yet Paul is adamant: The glory belongs to “God the Father … forever and ever”.

Don’t we need to obey the law, do some righteous things? Ah, that’s the stealth of it. Legalism gains its power by appealing to the Christian’s passion to obey God, to fulfill the law. But it also appeals to the sinful passion within us that wants to earn our acceptance before God. There is a place for active righteousness, but it’s got nothing to do with your standing before God. If you drive down Interstate 75 at 88 miles an hour, you won’t end up Back to the Future in 2025—but you will have a red light in your rearview mirror. Though you cry out, “I’m righteous in Christ,” the state trooper will still give you a ticket. But your obedience to the law in any of its forms isn’t what saves you, nor does it keep God loving you. He loved you even before you knew the obedience of faith. Obedience is only ever a thankful response to being saved, and if anything—even obedience—is added to the equation of grace, it’s no longer grace. We can’t get the gospel a little bit wrong; to distort its freedom results in losing it entirely.

Only Christianity places grace at the center of salvation; every other worldview places obedience to the law at the center. Jesus nipped a “law versus grace” question in the bud when he was asked: “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” He responded, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent” (John 6:28–29). Justification is based on faith in Christ’s work, not faith in yours. Bush, D., & Due, N. (2015). Live in Liberty: The Spiritual Message of Galatians (pp. 18–19). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Galatians 1:6–10 (NKJV)

⁶ I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, ⁷ which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

¹⁰ For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

Acts 15:1 (NKJV)

15 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Psalm 15

How easy it is to fall into the ways of the world. It takes daily diligence to walk in the ways of the Lord. Within ourselves this is impossible. 

By carefully following the soft spoken words of the Holy Spirit within us…all things are possible!

The Psalm records a liturgical scrutiny at the entrance to the Temple court. The Israelite wishing to be admitted had to ask the Temple official what conduct was appropriate to God’s precincts. Note the emphasis on virtues relating to one’s neighbor. Catholic Bible.

This short temple entry psalm—a psalm used when a worshiper would enter the temple—explains Yahweh’s requirements of those who worship Him. It shows characteristics of wisdom psalms in prescribing a proper way of living. It can be divided into two main sections: the initial questions asking who can dwell on Yahweh’s holy hill, and the remainder, which answers by describing the required characteristics). The requirements are moral conditions that involve the conscience. Faithlife Bible.

The righteous hate what God hates. The point is not so much the emotion of hatred as the deliberate rejection of wicked ways. When a righteous person takes an oath, it must be honored even if it requires suffering. NKJ Bible.

Psalm 15 (NKJV)

A Psalm of David.

¹ Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?

Who may dwell in Your holy hill?

² He who walks uprightly,

And works righteousness,

And speaks the truth in his heart;

³ He who does not backbite with his tongue,

Nor does evil to his neighbor,

Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;

⁴ In whose eyes a vile person is despised,

But he honors those who fear the Lord;

He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

⁵ He who does not put out his money at usury,

Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things shall never be moved.

Leviticus 5:4 (NKJV)

⁴ ‘Or if a person swears, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips to do evil or to do good, whatever it is that a man may pronounce by an oath, and he is unaware of it—when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty in any of these matters.

Leviticus 19:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ ‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.

2 Chronicles 12:2-8

December 5th, 2018

What does God require of us to lead a life that pleases Him?

Be Fair

Forgive Others

Remain Humble

Micah 6:8

By abandoning God’s law, Rehoboam abandoned God Himself. Because of this, God abandoned Rehoboam. This result is in line with David’s warning to Solomon. Faithlife Bible.

In order that the Judeans might understand how privileged they were to serve God, He would allow them to become servants to the Egyptians. Only then would they appreciate again the joy of being God’s servant people. NKJ Bible.

2 Chronicles 12:2–8 (NKJV): 

and it happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the Lord, with twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand horsemen, and people without number who came with him out of Egypt—the Lubim and the Sukkiim and the Ethiopians. And he took the fortified cities of Judah and came to Jerusalem.Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah, who were gathered together in Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord: ‘You have forsaken Me, and therefore I also have left you in the hand of Shishak.’ ”So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, “The Lord is righteous.”Now when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may distinguish My service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations.”

Deuteronomy 28:47–48 (NKJV): 

“Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies, 

Ephesians 4:25-32

Lord help me to be the person that you created me to be and to rest in Your love and mercy. Help me to show that love and mercy to everyone you have placed in my life and especially to those who have caused me the deepest pain. 

What I cannot do, I know without a shadow of doubt, that You can.

Paul seems to acknowledge that anger can be unavoidable, but he also recognizes that it can quickly develop into an occasion for sin. Paul seems to be indicating that poor treatment of others can constrain the work of the Spirit—essentially denying or resisting God’s indwelling presence.

The Greek word used here, charizomai, implies not only forgiving, but doing so with a gracious attitude. Paul uses this same word elsewhere to describe God’s forgiveness. Faithlife Bible.

Paul calls for believers to speak the truth to each other, because all believers are united in Christ.

Not all wrath is sinful. However, anger should not be allowed to fester or continue for long. Christians may respond in controlled anger to injustice and sin, but they should never be consumed by this anger. Instead they should seek opportunities to express Christ’s love to everyone.

The Holy Spirit of God should never be pushed away, ignored, or rejected. If we would remember that the One who lives in us is God’s own Spirit, we would be much more selective about what we think, read, watch, say, and do. Paul acknowledges that evil thoughts and actions are temptations even for those who are sealed by the Holy Spirit. MKJ Bible.

Ephesians 4:25–32 (NKJV)

²⁵ Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. ²⁶ “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ²⁷ nor give place to the devil. ²⁸ Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. ²⁹ Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Colossians 3:12 (NKJV)

¹² Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

Colossians 3:13 (NKJV)

¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Luke 3:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”

Amos 8:1-10

Wake up Christians…God is against those who do not take care of the poor and oppressed people of the world. He will not tolerate injustice carried out in His name! 

Only by the grace of God, in Christ Jesus, is there any hope for mankind.

The father shows no partiality.

So greedy are they of unjust gain that they cannot spare a single day, however sacred, from pursuing it. They are strangers to God and enemies to themselves, who love market days better than sabbath days; and they who have lost piety will not long keep honesty. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). 

The merchants have no respect for the sacred day. They only want it to end so they can return to their unjust business practices. God reveals how the merchants’ thoughts revolve around greed and fraud. They cheated the people into giving more money for less grain by using weights skewed in the merchants’ favor. Faithlife Bible.

Amos could not have discerned the meaning of this vision until God’s pronouncement. Israel’s wickedness was about to result in a harvest of judgment. Most good harvests are times of rejoicing. But in this one, the songs of the temple—the songs of thanksgiving—would be turned to wailing because the harvest would be death.

The New Moon, the first day of the month on the Hebrew calendar, was a day of special sacrifices, a feast day, and a Sabbath day. Rather than observing the New Moon and the weekly Sabbath with worship, thanksgiving, and rest, these people were impatient to resume their cheating and oppression of the poor.

The rich and powerful of Amos’s day were making slaves of Israel’s poor, the people they had dispossessed of their lands. NKJ Bible.

Amos 8:1–10 (NKJV)

8 Thus the Lord God showed me: Behold, a basket of summer fruit. ² And He said, “Amos, what do you see?”

So I said, “A basket of summer fruit.”

Then the Lord said to me:

“The end has come upon My people Israel;

I will not pass by them anymore.

³ And the songs of the temple

Shall be wailing in that day,”

Says the Lord God—

“Many dead bodies everywhere,

They shall be thrown out in silence.”

⁴ Hear this, you who swallow up the needy,

And make the poor of the land fail,

⁵ Saying:

“When will the New Moon be past,

That we may sell grain?

And the Sabbath,

That we may trade wheat?

Making the ephah small and the shekel large,

Falsifying the scales by deceit,

⁶ That we may buy the poor for silver,

And the needy for a pair of sandals—

Even sell the bad wheat?”

⁷ The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob:

“Surely I will never forget any of their works.

⁸ Shall the land not tremble for this,

And everyone mourn who dwells in it?

All of it shall swell like the River,

Heave and subside

Like the River of Egypt.

⁹ “And it shall come to pass in that day,” says the Lord God,

“That I will make the sun go down at noon,

And I will darken the earth in broad daylight;

¹⁰ I will turn your feasts into mourning,

And all your songs into lamentation;

I will bring sackcloth on every waist,

And baldness on every head;

I will make it like mourning for an only son,

And its end like a bitter day.

Acts 11:12-18

Freely given. Freely give. God offered the life of His only begotten Son once and for all in exchange for ours. He has given us the key to living out this life here on earth…the Holy Spirit. He remains with us our whole life. He will guide us home!

We have been given all of Christ to share it with all of His creation.

The Jewish Christians of Jerusalem were scandalized to learn of Peter’s sojourn in the house of the Gentile Cornelius. Nonetheless, they had to accept the divine directions given to both Peter and Cornelius.  They concluded that the setting aside of the legal barriers between Jew and Gentile was an exceptional ordinance of God to indicate that the apostolic kerygma was also to be directed to the Gentiles. Only in Acts 15 at the “Council” in Jerusalem does the evangelization of the Gentiles become the official position of the church leadership in Jerusalem. Catholic Bible.

The ancient Christian kerygma as summarized by Dodd from Peter's speeches in the New Testament Book of Acts was:

1. The Age of Fulfillment has dawned, the "latter days" foretold by the prophets.
2. This has taken place through the birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
3. By virtue of the resurrection, Jesus has been exalted at the right hand of God as Messianic head of the new Israel.
4. The Holy Spirit in the church is the sign of Christ's present power and glory.
5. The Messianic Age will reach its consummation in the return of Christ.
6. An appeal is made for repentance with the offer of forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, and salvation.

Peter’s language and reasoning here seem to echo Gamaliel’s argument to the Sanhedrin that if God is indeed behind the Church’s message and mission, then no one will be able to stop it. Faithlife Bible.

Christ places believers in the care and safekeeping of the Holy Spirit until the day He returns.

Finally the Jewish Christians that made up the early church understood Jesus’ commission to them: they were to bring the gospel message to the Gentile too. NKJ Bible.

Acts 11:12–18 (NKJV)

¹² Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. ¹³ And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, ¹⁴ who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’ ¹⁵ And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. ¹⁶ Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ¹⁷ If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”

¹⁸ When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

Acts 15:8 (NKJV)

⁸ So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,

Acts 15:9 (NKJV)

⁹ and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Matthew 4:23-25

There is nothing impossible for our Lord, Jesus Christ…nothing. 

Just Believe!!  Jesus changes everything…

This summary of Jesus’ ministry concludes the narrative part of the first book of Matthew’s gospel. The activities of his ministry are teaching, proclaiming the gospel, and healing. Catholic Bible.

People during this time did not distinguish between physical diseases and the ill effects of unclean, evil spirits. Matthew makes no statement about these maladies in this verse beyond observing that Jesus cured them all, regardless of their cause. Faithlife Bible.

Teaching … preaching … healing summarizes Jesus’ earthly ministry. NKJ Bible.

Matthew 4:23–25 (NKJV)

²³ And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. ²⁴ Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. ²⁵ Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

Luke 4:40 (NKJV)

⁴⁰ When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.