The Tabernacle Today

Service and Sacrifice - Matthew 20:17-28‘Cursed by anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.' And the people shall say, ‘Amen.' - Deut. 27:19‘Accept atonement, O LORD, for your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, and do not set the guilt of innocent blood in the midst of your people Israel, so that their blood guilt be atoned for.' So you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from your midst, when you do what is right in the sight of the LORD. - Deut. 21:8-9Those who reject biblical truth have always promoted godless ideas that have very bad consequences in the real world. Now those ideas are more accessible than ever online and on social media. 1 in 3 college students say it's okay to use violence to stop speech you disagree with (FIRE).Jesus knows what awaits Him, but still goes - V. 17-191st statement of deathMatt. 16:21-22From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.2nd statement of deathMatt. 17:22-23As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.”3rd statement of deathMatt. 20:17-19And on the way said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and He will be raised on the third day.”Crucifixion was reserved for the worst of the worst criminals – those Rome wanted to make examples of. What neither the Jewish nor Roman officials understood was that they would be fulfilling prophecy.But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53:5-6The Disciples are more concerned about their glory than Christ's suffering - V. 20-24The sons of Zebedee were John and James, and Salome was their mother. It's possible she was Mary's sister, which meant she was Jesus' aunt (Draw your own conclusion by studying Matthew 20:20-28; 27:55-56; Mark 15:40-41; 16:1-8; John 19:25).Unfortunately, their faith was still very selfish and focused in on “what's in it for me” mentality. They also wanted to be viewed as greater than their fellow disciples. Far too often, we are just like them.The first cup Jesus refers to is the “cup of judgment” due wicked sinners (Psalm 11:6, 75:8; Isa. 51:17, 22; Jer. 25:15, 17, 28; Rev. 14:10, 18:16).The second cup Jesus refers to is the cup of salvation given to those whose faith is in God and sins forgiven by Christ (Psa. 116:13; Matt. 26:27).Greatness in God's eyes is gained through servant leadership - V. 25-28In response to the disciples pride, Jesus gave instructions in verse 26-27 that have changed not just true Christian practice but affected every leadership structure in cultures heavily influenced by Christianity – Jesus introduced to the world “servant leadership.”Notice Jesus doesn't criticize their ambition to be great – He channels it! By Jesus' definition every Christian can be great, no matter how simple their life position and natural talents. Everyone can do what Jesus did – serve others as He served the world.Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the church. - Col. 1:24Jesus Christ sacrificed to actualize salvation for all who repent and believe. We make sacrifices to give others access to that saving message!

Don't Begrudge God's Generosity to Others - Matthew 19:20-20:16In today's passage we will see Jesus start with the pride of the twelve and rebuke in advance any believer who would judge later believers for not being as much of an ‘OB'(‘original believer') as themselves.Matthew 19:20-20:16The context of the parable: Jesus' teaching on rewards - 19:27-30In the Bible “Fors” and “Therefores” connect the thought we just read with the thought coming.J-O-Y comes from putting Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself third.We might have expected Jesus to blast Peter for self-interest in 19:27. Instead Jesus stated in 19:28 that in the coming “New Genesis,” the Twelve will be uniquely rewarded for following Jesus.Here Jesus teaches that when He reigns on earth, the 12, all of whom were Jewish in background will have special roles judging, or leading, the restored 12 tribes of Israel. (Zecheriah 12-13; Acts 1:6-11; Rev. 19-20).What I love about Matthew 19:29 is that it teaches that anything we might consider to be sacrifices for faithfully serving Jesus are really investments that will be rewarded with a hundred-fold return-on-investment in the ages to come.On the one hand, all believers will be rewarded in ages to come for what they do for Jesus in the age they live in. On the other hand, we should never begrudge other believers for also being generously rewarded.The Master is always adding workers to His great work - 20:1-7Now remember that every parable doesn't teach every aspect of Christian truth. This parable is not telling us how to be saved like John 3:16 & Eph. 2:8-10. Here Jesus is teaching them not to be jealous of other believers.The key thing to notice in the first part of the parable is that God is always looking to add more workers to the work in His vineyard!God invites all believers to appreciate how wonderful grace is - V. 8-15Jesus gave His story this shock ending to rebuke in advance any believer who would judge later believers for not being as much of an ‘OB'(‘original believer') as themselves.Two great applications from the generosity of our Lord:1. Hell really will be awful for all that refuse to repent and turn to Jesus. In comparison, all who believe and go to Heaven will be astoundingly rewarded as they get to live with Jesus forever. Be excited for all who believe, no matter how late they ‘sign up.'2. All who began a work for Christ or become instrumental in part of that work must not treat as second class citizens all those the Lord incudes in the work as it continues on – we will all be in Heaven together.

I Am Third - Matthew 19:16-30The “I am third” attitude that Coach Bill Easton impressed on Gayle Sayers and that John Ferrier also lived life by is exactly the attitude that Jesus wanted to impress on the ‘man like us' we meet in today's passage.Many of those who have ‘accepted Jesus' don't expect God to have much input in their lives. On some Sundays they will give Jesus a little of their ‘spare' time and resources. They are first in their own lives; Jesus is just in the background for a little emotional support and hell insurance.Matthew 19:16-30A man trusting his own goodness asks Jesus how to go to Heaven - V. 16-17aJesus knew the first thing a good person has to be confronted with is that they are not good people in Heaven's eyes, they are sinners in need of the Savior (Matthew 7:11; Romans 3:23-24; Romans 6:23).If we could hear Jesus' tone in verse 17, we'd understand that Jesus was communicating 2 things – the man wasn't as good as he thought he was, and the God who is by definition good was standing before Him!Jesus exposes the man's “I am first” attitude - V. 17b-26The commands Jesus includes are all the horizontal commands on human relationships, called the second table of the Ten Commands (decalogue), with the summary statement to “love your neighbor as yourself.”The commands Jesus leaves out are the vertical commands on relationship with God, called the first table of the Ten Commands, with the summary statement to “Love God with all your heart.”God is supposed to be first, others second, and ourselves third. Jesus showed the man from the second table of the Ten Commands that this man didn't put others before himself, let alone God first. Jesus' statement in verse 21 merely exposes that the man is unwilling to put God first.Do you grasp how what Jesus says to this man in verse 21 is what He says to every person here? Will you now by faith change your mindset from “I am first” to “I am third,” with Jesus truly being the Lord of all in your life.For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul? - Matthew 16:26Verse 25 lets us know the disciples were astonished at Jesus' words that outward prosperity doesn't necessarily mean someone is right with God.When the great reversal comes, putting Jesus first will have been worth it! - V. 27-30Here as elsewhere (Matt. 6:20) Jesus promises that those who live with “I am third” faith will be richly rewarded in the ages to come (1 Cor. 3:11-15).The word for “new world” in verse 28 is palingenesia (new genesis!). It could be a reference to either the coming 1,000 year reign of Christ (Rev. 20) or the new earth (Rev. 21-22) or BOTH. Jesus' point is that any sacrifices we make now as “we are third” will be more than compensated on the other side of this present age.Repent, therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom Heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets long ago. - Acts 3:19-21

The Purpose of Marriage - Matthew 19:1-15The practice of the father of the bride ‘giving away' the bride goes all the way back to the first 2 chapters of the Bible, Genesis 1-2. We will see Jesus talk about it in today's passage!Where is one of the biggest places we get to practice giving and receiving forgiveness? Within our marriages!As we look at Jesus' response to the Pharisees, we are going to see Jesus model for us how to respond to all the “What about this issue,” or “what about that issue” questions that people ask us to weigh in on.Jesus teaches on the purpose of marriage - V. 4-6I love Jesus' question, “Have you not read?” He's saying, “Let's go back to the Bible, and before talking about what's a sin against God's design, let's clarify God's design and purpose for marriage and sexuality!”In ‘incorporating' the first marriage in Genesis 1-2, God gave us the purpose of marriage and family. Every marriage starts a new family that is intended to help each other and any children they might have flourish and become responsible contributors to God's world.Jesus teaches on divorce - V. 7-9In verse 7 they were referring to Deut. 21:1-4, where Moses instructed a man determined to divorce his wife to write out a certificate saying the divorce was not her fault. This was to protect her in those ancient times. This is one of the times in the Law of Israel God regulated what he didn't condone (see Mal. 2:13-17) to protect those who were most vulnerable.Jesus' words in verse 9 mean that the two spouses were supposed to be together “as long as they both shall live.” To jump to another relationship without clear biblical grounds is to sin against your marriage vows.In addition to adultery as grounds for divorce and presumably remarriage 1 Corinthians 7:15 allows divorce in cases where one spouse abandons their vows, and many pastors like me would include abuse under that.Jesus' disciples understand how serious marriage is - V. 10-12In verse 11 Jesus makes clear he expects His disciples to apply God's design in their lives – “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given” – Jesus' disciples.In verse 12 Jesus is using eunuch as a euphemism for being celibate, the Christians commitment to only have sex within their own marriage between one man and one woman.In every age God's plan for human sexuality has been mocked and ridiculed by those who reject it. But Christians know that obedience to God in this area will lead to greater fulfilment than giving in to sexual temptation. Some have learned that because of the consequences sin in this area has brought into their life and relationships.Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor people who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God. - 1 Cor. 6:9-11

Psalm 91 WorksheetPsalm 91 uses wonderful poetry for believers to express their confidence that the LORD sovereignly protects and delivers those who are His! We call a Psalm a Messianic psalm when in part or the whole it expresses something that only Israel's coming Messiah Jesus could fulfill. What I am cautiously calling a “Millennial” Psalm contains aspirations that won't be completely _____________________ until Jesus reigns on earth as described in Revelation 20.For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the LORD, they shall inherit the earth…But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. -Psalm 37:9, 11 The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years. YET THEIR BOAST IS ONLY LABOR AND SORROW; but it is soon cut off, and we fly away. -Psalm 90:10 After we read Psalm 91 you will love it and find yourself praying that your loved ones will be enveloped with “Psalm 91 protection.” We are invited to ask the Sovereign God to be _____________ us and protect us “in trouble” (verse 15).The eternal _________________________ we have in God our refuge V. 1-24 different names for God are given in verses 1-2: Most High (Elyon); Almighty (Shaddai); LORD (YHWH); God(Elohim). He is over all! He is All-powerful! He AM, and He enters into ______________ with His people. James 4:8 Matthew 11:28Make sure you _____________________ your trust in God like the Psalmist – He is “MY refuge,” “MY fortress,” I trust unreservedly in Him!Our specific hopes for God's ___________________________ for God's people V. 3-13The word for pestilence is deber (H1698), which occurs 49 times. Among other things this word would relate to plagues and ________________________. I like how he describes the refuge we have in God in such wonderful relational terms. Our refuge is as strong as the most fortified brick castle, yet as warm and ____________________ as being at “grandmom's” house! What is the difference between a shield and a buckler?Many times the fear of something happening is as debilitating as the thing itself can be. A _______________ walk with the LORD can deliver us from the fear that keeps us from getting on with life. For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind. -2 Tim. 2:7Verses 7-8 must be understood in light of all the Psalms that have made clear that trouble does come to faithful believers (Psalm 90:10) yet God is in control and we will be with believers forever (Psalm 23). The very ________________________ Psalm speaks of the wicked flourishing now but being destroyed (92:7), and the righteous future flourishing (92:12-13). Verses 9-10 will reach their _________________________ fulfilment during Christ's anticipated millennial kingdom (Isaiah 11:1-12).According to Psalm 91:11-12, God's protection includes the activity of ministering ___________________!Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation. -Hebrews 1:14 God Himself gives eternal _________________________ V. 14-16How many times does the word “will” occur in verses 14-16?________ + 2 more times it is implied.If you set your love on God, what will He do for you according to verse 14?If you call on God, what will He do for you according to verses 15-16?

Forgive From the Heart - Matthew 18:21-35When the child of God Looks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of God,They are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of God For the glory of God!-Warren WiersbeReceiving and giving forgiveness does for Christians what oil does for a car, it lubricates our relationships, reduces friction, prevents overheating by cooling us off, prevents harmful deposits from building up in us.Matthew 18:21-35Forgiveness goes beyond relational ‘score keeping' - V. 21-22Peter had already learned that Rabbi Jesus was more loving than other rabbis. Peter probably thought he was being generous by suggesting the new number of 7 times!In saying forgive seventy-seven times, Jesus wants His followers to go beyond keeping track of offenses to cultivating a spirit of forgiveness based on the forgiveness they have received from God.Believers have been forgiven an incalculable sin debt - V. 23-27“On the Day I settle accounts, I will hold them accountable for their sin.” - Exodus 32:34Just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. - Hebrew 9:27A denarius (v. 28) was a coin worth a day's pay; 100 denarii would be worth about 3 months pay; A talent was a huge sum of money, worth about 6,000 denarii; 10,000 talents would be worth about 60,000,000 denarii.“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” - Tim KellerThose who have been forgiven so much go on to forgive others - V. 28-35Jesus' point is crystal clear: He expects those who have become Christians by receiving His forgiveness to forgive others from their heart.Practical Pastoral advice to those struggling to forgive others:Remember that there are two realms of forgiveness, the vertical (before God), and the Horizontal (before men). Before God forgiveness must always happen, readying us to act before men when asked (Luke 17:3-4).Forgiveness doesn't mean you condone what they did.Forgiveness doesn't mean there are no consequences for their actions.Forgiveness doesn't always mean you will have ongoing relationship.Motivations for the Christian to forgive:Christians extend forgiveness because of how much God has forgiven us.Christians forgive as an act of obedience for the glory of God.Christians forgive to keep themselves from the effects of unforgiveness.

Psalm 90 WorksheetThis is the first Psalm in Book 4 of the Psalms (Psalm 90-Psalm 106). The title says this is “A Prayer of Moses the man of God.” That means this Psalm is the _____________________ Psalm in the Bible. Moses' _____________________________ V. 1-11Verses 1-2 use beautiful _____________________ (chiastic structure) to state that the eternal God existed before the creation He made. Having established that the infinite God stands above time, in verses 3-4 Moses speaks of God's sovereignty over finite man, whose earthly life is ___________________ by time and space. The words turn and return in verse 3 come from the same Hebrew word, a play on words that is complimented in verse 13. Because our _____________________ are finite and will ‘return' to the ground, our only hope is God ‘returning' to us! But beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but all come to repentance. -2 Peter 3:8 Verses 5-6 bear down on the _____________________________ nature of man's earthly life. All of the ‘here today, gone tomorrow' aspects of our lives are because of what happened in Genesis 3 – sin and death entering the world. Moses reminds us of the ‘___________________ of sin' in verses 7-9. Scripture often presents the consequences and then reminds us of the ___________________. Until we are saved we are under God's wrath because we are sinners by nature and by choice (John 3:36; Gen. 15:6).Verse 10 demonstrates the truthfulness of the Bible. Moses died at 120 years of age (Deuteronomy 34:7). But the Spirit led Him to accurately state the ______________________________ lifespan of humans in our post-flood world. In 2023 the average life expectancy worldwide was 73.33 years.What great hymn do we get from verse 10? ___________________________ He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, and He will remove the disgrace of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken. And it will be said on that day, Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. -Isaiah 25:8-9 (NASB 2020)Verse 11b could be literally translated Reverence due, wrath extracted. From that we gather that each of us has a ‘glory deficit' before God. There is the glory our lives could have brought the Lord, and there is the actual amount we have brought Him, and there is a VAST ______________ between the two. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. -Romans 3:23Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. -Romas 3:24Romans 3:22 says the righteousness of God is only credited to us when we place our faith in Jesus, just like Genesis 15:6 said. Moses' _______________________________ V. 12-17Verse 12 is a great verse about making sure we plan our days around God's ________________ for our lives. Learning to number our days helps us say ‘yes' to what God wants us to say ‘yes' to and ‘no' to what God wants us to say ‘no' to.I love the verbs in verses 13-15, what Moses ask God to do to ‘________________________' godly living – Return; Have compassion; Satisfy us; Make us glad! Don't spend too much time regretting past inaction for the Lord. He has you in a place of faith and seeking Him now, and He is more than capable of replacing wasted days with days of _________________ and impact. I will restore to you the years that the swarming locusts have eaten. -Joel 2:25What a great prayer to end a great Psalm – As we prioritize godly living and choices in the time we have left we ask God to establish the work of our hands, really to establish what we do for Him for His glory!

Helping Each Other Deal With Sin - Matthew 18:15-20God doesn't stop working in our lives when we first trust Jesus. He puts His Spirit inside believers at the moment of their conversion, helping them grow in Christ. And He also puts believers in local churches so we can help each other grow and be faithful and fruitful followers of Christ.Having dealt with the vertical realm of our sin before God, and having left the sin of non-Christians for God Himself to judge, Jesus now turns to the horizontal realm of relational sins between fellow Christians.Christians follow 3 steps in dealing with sin in the local church:Step 1: One person talks to another, face to face - V. 15“For whoever does the will of My Father in Heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” - Matthew 12:50So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. - Matthew 5:23-24Discipleship and discipline are 2 sides of a coin, both meant to help believers. Note from verse 15 the purpose is to help our brother or sister in their walk with Christ – “If he listens to you, you have won your brother.”Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:1-2The rebukes of the righteous should always be a precious ointment, sweet and gentle; never should they break the head. - Charles SpurgeonStep 2: The two talk with the help of another one or two - V. 16I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers? - 1 Cor. 6:5I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. - Philippians 4:2-3Many of the trials of our spiritual life are preventable; if we indulge a sin we invite a sorrow. - Charles SpurgeonStep 3: When sin is not repented of, go to the church and/or its leaders - V. 17‘Heathen…' represents those who rebel against God and therefore exclude themselves from Christian fellowship.' - David Jeremiah“You should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.” - 2 Corinthians 2:5-8Can step 3 be fulfilled by a congregation delegating to its spiritual leaders step 3? Yes, and our church does in its bylaws.As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is delf-condemned. -Titus 3:10-11Do some things go straight to step number 3 – yes, and sometimes even skip that one.Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. - Romans 13:1-2Jesus delegates authority to local churches (and their leaders) to act - V. 18-20Relationships in the church are governed by 3 submissions:Submission to God and His will as stated in His word (1 John 1:5-9)Mutual Submission to one another as each of us is committed to walking in the truth of God's word (Ephesians 5:21)Submission to our leaders as they lead us in biblically faithful ways (Hebrews 13:17).Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power in its working. - James 5:16

Be Like a Child Again - Matthew 18:1-14Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. - Ephesians 4:22-24Jesus begins this chapter on living in community with other believers by making sure we understand what is actually required for us to get into Heaven and His desire for us to bring others there with us.The importance of a childlike faith - V. 1-5Before we look at what Jesus said to them, note from verse 2 that when Jesus called the child, the humble child came to Jesus without hesitation, ready to do whatever Jesus asked.They were arguing about which of them would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus let them know that if they didn't change their attitude and become like a child, they wouldn't even be in Heaven.What do proud, self-promoting people need to do to make sure they are going to Heaven? They need to make a u-turn from self-focus and humbly trust Jesus the way a child trusts a reliable parent with total dependence.Remember that humility is not the opposite of pride, it is the u-turn you make from glorifying yourself to glorifying God. Christians are called to glorify God. Humility is the u-turn you make to get on with glorifying God. Humbles yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up! - James 4:10Don't cause believers to stumble (including yourself) - V. 5-9In verses 6-9 Jesus deals with the sin, offenses, and stumbling blocks that keep ourselves and others from coming fully to Christ. He uses some form of the Greek word scandalon 6 times in those 4 verses.Sin in our lives and toward other people must be dealt with so we don't scandalize the gospel of Jesus Christ!In a sinful world there are going to be stumbling blocks – but don't you add to them – inside these church walls, or in your home's walls, or anywhere.Cutting sinful things out of your life won't save you, but it will show your faith is real and help you be a faithful and fruitful follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus makes clear here that refusal to get serious about sin in your life may indeed mean you are bound for Hell.“The two great dangers of willful sin are the continual hardening of your heart and how it diminishes your sense of the Holy Spirit's presence.” - Thomas MantonSpiritually rescue as many children (and others) as possible - V. 10-14I believe verse 10 is teaching us that those who will believe have 1 or more guardian angels who God dispatches to minister to us as we move toward the day we become believers.Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? - Hebrews 1:14The question is not whether those in Heaven desire children and lost souls to be saved. The question is how committed God's believers on earth are to their salvation.I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents! - Luke 15:10Since Heaven is obviously so committed to reaching children, will you continue to help this Baptist Tabernacle reach children and youth and their families by praying, giving, and serving as able?

Entrusting Your Life to Jesus - Matthew 17:14-27All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. - 2 Tim. 3:16-17All the Scriptures were perfectly written between 1500 BC & 100 A.D. But the printing press wasn't created until A.D. 1455. That means every fragment and copy of the Bible was hand-copied before the printing press.Why we can fully trust that the Bible we have from copies is TRUE:Tens of thousands of copied manuscripts, unlike any ancient document.Remarkable consistency across 2 MILLION pages of biblical text.Understandable differences as copies were made over centuries.Earliest texts to help clarify what the original text said.In today's text we are going to see Jesus interact with people during some very frustrating moments in life. We will see Him exhort us all with words and deeds that show we can entrust our lives to Him.Matthew 17:14-27Disciples have to entrust family member's health to Jesus - V. 14-18Jesus' words in verse 17 seem harsh at first, but remember that He had just been up on the mountain and got to interact with ancient saints known for great faith and focused living for God. But now he's back with disciples caught up in unbelief and petty arguing.Mark 9:21-24 lets us know that Jesus can do anything we ask Him to do. We can approach Him with full confidence that if healing now is His will, it will happen. But if you struggle to believe that, use this father's words to voice your prayer to Jesus – “Lord I believe; help my unbelief.”Disciples have to entrust their frustrations to Jesus - V. 19-21When you are frustrated and ‘in the flesh' sin blocks you from focused prayers and successful ministry to others. You are blocked from trusting God and entrusting your situation to God.“If I regard iniquity (sin) in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” - Ps. 66:18The key to faith is not the amount of it but the object of it. What confidence our faith in Jesus brings! If it is His will for the mountain of our circumstance to move, He will say ‘Yes' to our prayer. If He says ‘No' or ‘Wait,' we can be confident the no will be for a greater ‘Yes.'“Even a small amount of faith can move a mountain, assuming that the move is in God's will.” - David JeremiahDisciples have to entrust what distresses them to Jesus - V. 22-23Suffering and death are not the worst things that will happen to a believer – failure to live by faith in the midst of our circumstances is. Prosperous circumstances and things going our way often keep us from growing faith.Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. - 1 Peter 4:1-2Disciples have to entrust their finances to Jesus - V. 24-27With all the travel and experiences Peter must have been physically and emotionally exhausted when he got home to Capernaum. And what does he encounter there? The tax man!This tax was the Temple tax going all the way back to Exodus 30. Men over 20 years of age were to pay this tax every year for the upkeep of God's house in Jerusalem.Knowing all things, including what Peter was feeling, verse 25 says Jesus spoke to him first. Jesus knew Peter needed encouragement in this time of distress, and He gave it to Peter. He knows you and I need it too!Jesus is saying He is the Son of God here. Prince's don't have to be taxes in their father's house. Since Jesus is the Son of God, He doesn't need to pay taxes to support His Father's house!A stader was worth 4 drachma, enough to pay off their tax bill and model good citizenship.

Only Jesus - Matthew 17:1-13When the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren WiersbeJesus said some of them would get to see Him as the glorified Son of Man - 16:27-28Today's passage fulfills what Jesus spoke of in 16:28 – Jesus' transfiguration was a preview of His coming Kingdom spoken of in Dan. 7!Jesus' ‘inner circle' got to see Him as the glorified Son of Man - 17:1-2The word for transfigured is the word metamorpoo (G 3339), which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. It means to change from one form into another, to transform (see Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18).Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we KNOW that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure. - 1 John 3:2-3Jesus brings together saints from different ages - 17:3Moses was the great lawgiver and Elijah was the great prophet. Together they represented the Law and the Prophets (the entire O.T.) that testified that the Messiah was coming to deal with sins and rule on earth.And behold, two men were talking with Him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. - Luke 9:30Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure – for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. - Rev. 19:7 (see also Dan. 12:3)God the Father sets Peter straight! - 17:4-6For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. - Mark 9:6Peter's problem was that he was elevating Moses and Elijah to equal status with Jesus, and diminishing the glory due Jesus alone!You may remember that when Moses met with God on Mount Sinai clouds of thick darkness surrounded him (Ex. 20:21; Deut. 4:11); but here it is a bright cloud that envelopes them (The dark cloud represented the imposing Law, while this bright cloud represented the hope of the gospel).Jesus alone raises His disciples up - 17:7-8Jesus keeps teaching His disciples - 17:9-13We were eyewitnesses of His Majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, and the Voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My Beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very Voice borne from Heaven, for we were with Him on the holy mountain. - 2 Peter 1:16b-18And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14 (see also 1 John 1:1-3)What should our response to Jesus' transfiguration be?When the Lord Jesus is revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. - 2 Thessalonians 1:7b-8Jesus doesn't want to save you by just scaring you to death at the thought of judgment. He wants you to respond to His lovingkindness!Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? - Romans 2:4Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing. - 2 Tim. 4:8

The Cross Centered Life - Matthew 16:21-28“The chief danger that confronts the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, heaven without hell.” - William Booth (1878-1912)In today's passage we will see Jesus rebuke Peter for ‘Satan-like' thinking, and clarify that before the Messiah rules the world from Jerusalem He first must die on the cross for the sins of the world. Jesus also makes clear that all believers also have a cross to bear before they go to Heaven.Matthew 16:21-28In the next chapters we will see Jesus make a “bee-line” for the cross. But first He needed His disciples to understand 2 things – Who He is, and what He is going to do in this ‘first coming.'Jesus emphatically declares His coming death and resurrection - V. 21All Israel was obsessed with the prophetic passages about the Messiah being the King who would rule righteously from Jerusalem. They had minimized passages about Him dying for sinners and being pierced.Jesus states verse 21 about 6 months before it happened. Now that they knew He was the Messiah, they needed to understand what that meant. This is the first of 5 times Jesus explicitly states His coming ‘passion.'“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:28And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on Me, on Him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps for a firstborn. - Zechariah 12:10Peter rebukes Jesus, which is never a good idea! - V. 22-23Like so many of us, Peter could not see anything good come from suffering and death, and he was going to do everything he could to keep Jesus from dying. In a way he was doing what Satan had done in chapter 4 – tempting Jesus to avoid the cross He was predestined to die on.Peter had just been congratulated for being a model witness to the truth of who Jesus is, but almost instantly had to be rebuked for putting what he wanted before God's will. Let this be a challenge to you: Don't rest on past laurels if you are presently out of God's will!Jesus emphatically declares that believers also have a cross - V. 24-27What does it mean to deny yourself?It means to say ‘no' to your agenda cancelling God's agenda for you.What does it mean to take up your cross?It means to say yes to God's Kingdom agenda aligning your agenda for you.What does it mean to follow Jesus?It means to live every area of your life with relational faith in Jesus.I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. - Galatians 2:20Christians embrace the “Cross-centered” life. They evaluate everything in light of God's word and will. They put what God wants for their life ahead of what they want for it. Ironically, they experience more peace, joy and purpose than those who constantly put themselves first.If you don't really love Jesus and the things of Jesus, Heaven would be Hell for you. Jesus is what makes Heaven Heaven, and if its not Him you want, you don't want to go to Heaven. If what you really love is the things related to sin, Hell is where you belong, with the Devil and his demons.“Until sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet.” - Thomas Watson

Confessing Your Faith in Jesus - Matt. 16:13-20“Worry is misuse of your imagination.” - Mark GregstonIn the next chapters we will see Jesus make a “bee-line” for the cross. But first He needs His disciples to understand 2 things – Who He is, and what He is going to do in this ‘first coming.'Christ enters Caesar's city, “the gates of Hell” - V. 13aThis city was built to honor Caesar Augustus, who had died in AD 14. There was a Temple there to worship him. They had coins with his face on them: Some said “Caesar is Lord,” others proclaimed him the Son of God.The crowds don't really understand who Jesus is - V. 13b-14The Son of God, the Creator of mankind had become a man, and He liked calling Himself the Son of Man. That He is referring to Himself is clear from verse 15 when He says, “But who do you say that I am?”Jesus wants to make sure His disciples do understand - V. 15-16You in verse 15 is in the plural. Jesus is addressing all twelve of the disciples before Him!In contrast to the dead and impotent gods and idols around them in Caesarea Philippi and the world, Peter declared that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the LIVING God!Unless you believe that I AM, you will die in your sins. - John 8:24If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:9Three things that are true of all believers - V. 17-20True believers have been blessed by God - V. 17No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him. And I will raise him up at the last day. - John 6:44True believers are part of God's great church - V. 18Jesus was probably smiling as He made a play on words in verse 18. Peter is Petros, one small rock. Petra is a rock mass. Peter the rock would be part of a larger Petra rock, the foundation of which is Jesus Himself. True believers have authority to represent Christ - V. 19Verse 19 is in the singular, specifically referring to Peter as a key leader in the early church. But in Matthew 18 in the second reference to the church Jesus makes clear this kind of authority is for churches full of believers. Believers possess delegated authority to act as Christ would if He was physically here (Matt. 28:18-20). Rabbis used the terms binding and loosing to speak of what was permissible according to the law. Christians now have the authority to evaluate all things by the Word of God alone, not the words of popes or preachers who aren't speaking biblical truth.“It is the church on earth carrying out Heaven's decisions, not Heaven ratifying the church's decision.” - Albright and Mann

Beware of Fungus Among UsWhen the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren WiersbeCriswell looked at the older man and said, “Yes, brother, I agree. I think we as Christians should confess our shortcomings and sins to one another. Could we start with you?”Today we are going to see Jesus warn His disciples to avoid the false teaching and false lifestyle of both extremes – legalism and liberalism.Matthew 16:1-12The folly of asking THE sign for a sign - V. 1They disagreed fiercely with each other, but something had brought these fierce rivals together – hatred for Jesus. It still happens today!In their rejection of Jesus, they made the same mistake proud and unbelieving sinners still make – they put Jesus on trial, not realizing He is the very Judge we must all give an account to. If they didn't repent, there would remain on the path to Hell.The foolishness of rejecting THE sign all other signs point to - V. 2-4Red sky at night, sailor's delight; red sky in morning, sailor's take warning!Jesus' life, teaching and miracles were convincing signs of the times - that God's Kingdom had come among them, just as John the Baptist and He had proclaimed. Yet they would not repent and turn to Him in faith.Jesus saying they were adulterers means they were spiritual adulterers, they were not faithful to the very God who had said He would send the Messiah. Messiah was walking among them, and they rejected Him, preferring the idols they had set up. Idolatry is spiritual adultery.Jesus Himself was the only sign they needed, and the proof would be His resurrection from the dead. To gain eternal life, we need to embrace Jesus by faith and the miracle of His resurrection. “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” - Luke 16:30The importance of thinking about the right kind of food - V. 5-12Jesus wanted them to think of spiritual things first instead of just focusing on where their next meal would come from.Leaven usually represents evil in the Bible. A little evil mixed into teaching will bring a whole lump of problems! The Pharisees leaven brought about a whole lot of legalistic attitudes and actions. The Sadducees leaven brought about a whole lot of liberal attitudes and actions.Jesus was switching them from thinking about physical needs to thinking about spiritual truths. But they did what some of us are doing right now – they tuned spiritual matters out and focused on lunch.They wanted to have their physical needs met, which Jesus had shown was no problem for Him. But first He wanted them to focus on spiritual things! They had the same lack of understanding and hard hearts we often do today. So stop focusing on physical lunch and get your spiritual meal!Don't add unnecessary commands & expectations to God's people like the Pharisees did with their legalism. But also don't reject God's word like the Sadducees did, leading them to compromise and live carnally. “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” - John 4:24If we worship in spirit without truth we can wind up sinning by ‘loose living' like so many today who refuse to call anything sin. If we worship in truth without spirit we can wind up sinning with a ‘legalism' like so many today who show little love as they judge others harshly.He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? - Micah 6:8

The Ultimate ProviderWhen the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren WiersbeBiblical Traits for Fathers to Pursue:PATTERN PARTICIPATOR PROVIDER PREPARERFor to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6In a very real sense Jesus is the Everlasting Father of all who are born again. Isaiah 9 tells us when the Messiah comes we will be ‘full of wonder' at Him; we will view Him as the best Counselor; as the Mighty God in human flesh; as the perfect Father figure; and the Prince of our peace.Matthew 15:29-39Jesus the Great Participator - V. 29-31You can't spell the word gospel without the words “GO” and “SPELL.” God uses us as we ‘go' and ‘spell' out the ‘good news' to others in word & deed.But we can be like Jesus and walk beside our children, and sit down with them. We can meet all the needs we can, and trust all-powerful Jesus to do for them what we cannot.Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. - 2 Timothy 1:13Jesus is the Great Preparer - V. 32-36As dads we often rightfully have compassion on our own kids, but not others. Jesus had compassion on the crowds before Him, despite all their problems. He was calling His disciples to follow His pattern.As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. - Psalm 103:13Somebody here who was listening when I preached through Matthew 14 tell me what the problem was with their statement in Matthew 15:33.Daddies need to remember that they need Daddies too – and in Jesus we have the one Isaiah called “our everlasting Father,” and through Jesus we now have an eternal relationship with God our Father. And when we are in our latest moment of not knowing what to do we have a God who has provided what we need over and over again. So let's trust Him!Jesus is the Ultimate Provider - V. 37-39The 4,000 daddies who couldn't provide for their families that day were able to see Jesus provide for themselves and their wives and children. And godly men and women and children have seen Jesus provide for them ever since.

Feel free to like, share, and comment on this post - how has the Lord been working in your life this week? If you do not have a church home, we would love to welcome you to the Tabernacle family. Please connect with us via our website (link below). We hope to see you next Sunday!_________To learn more about The Tabernacle, check out our website and follow us on our social media platforms!Visit our website: www.thetabernaclefamily.orgConnect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thetabernaclefamilyCheck out our YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/@tabdanva

Wash Your Heart First - Matthew 15:1-20When the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren Wiersbe“And when the one with a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, then he shall count for himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes. And he shall bathe his body in fresh water and shall be clean.” - Lev. 15:13In today's passage Jesus criticizes those who put external man-made rules like ritual hand-washing on an equal level with biblical commands. Ironically, they often rationalized disobeying God's clear commands, showing they had clean hands but not clean hearts.Matthew 15:1-20When man-made traditions crowd out simple faith and obedience - V. 1-9There were 2 big problems with the Pharisees approach:First, all that focus on the external non-essential ‘fencing' of the law became so important to them that it crowded out matters of simple faith and obedience, loving God and loving others.The second problem was that their love for their external ‘fences' became more important than dealing with their own sinful hearts that needed attention before their holy God.The biblical command to honor your parents includes fully grown children ensuring that their parents needs are well taken care of as they age.They insisted they loved God because they had washed their hands down to their elbows. Jesus said “If you loved God you would take care of your momma!”But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. - 1 Timothy 5:8The word for hypocrites (G5273) appears 17 times in the Bible, 13 in Matthew's gospel. It's a compound word, “An interpreter from underneath.” Actors in ancient Greek theater wore large masks, playing their part from underneath the masks.Jesus again addresses the heart of the matter - V. 10-20How did Jesus respond to the concern that the Pharisees were offended by Jesus? He basically said, “Of course they are offended – they are lost and going to Hell unless they repent!”Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte (convert), and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.” - Matthew 23:15What you put in your mouth goes through your stomach and is then expelled when you go potty. None of that natural process makes you spiritually unclean in God's eyes, or eating with unclean hands. Spiritual uncleanness comes when sin goes undealt with in the heart.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. - Matthew 23:25-26Victory in the Christian Life comes from FOCUS:F is for Faith – Faith is the Victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).O is for Obedience – We have 100% commitment to obey the Scriptures and the Spirit.C is for Confession - When we do sin, we confess our sin, receive God's forgiveness, and get on with faith and obedience. U is for Unite My Heart – bringing all spiritual resources to bear on loving God and hating sin.Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. - Psalm 86:11“You must always be a-killing sin, or sin will always be a-killing you.” - John OwenS is for Serve God by serving others.

When God Walked on Earth and Water - Matt. 14:22-36“Here the royal army was again stopped by a sudden rise of the waters, which had only just fallen (almost miraculously) to let the enemy over, who could not else have eluded Lord Cornwallis' grasp, so close was he upon their rear.” - British General Henry Clinton“We have…abundant reasons to thank Providence for its many favorable interpositions in our behalf. It has at times been my only dependence, for all other resources seemed to have failed us.” - Gen. George WashingtonMatt. 14:22-36Unless you believe that I AM, you will die in your sins. - John 8:24And now, Father, glorify Me in Your own presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed. - John 17:5The Old Testament records around 85 miracles over 4,000 years of history. Jesus worked 42 recorded miracles in just over 3 years. The N.T. after Jesus records about 25 miracles over the next 30 years. Clearly the frequency and type of miracles Jesus did during His 3 years of public ministry demonstrate that God was actually with us on earth (Immanuel).Jesus does knowingly send His disciples into storms - V. 22-24John's gospel lets us know that after Jesus fed the 5,000 the crowds declared that He was the great Prophet that Moses had spoken of (Dt. 18) and that they were about to forcibly make Him King (Jn. 6:14-15).What would you have been thinking if you were one of the disciples?Obeying Jesus got us into this mess – where is He now when we need Him?Prov. 3:5-6 often gets put to the test in our lives. But Proverbs 3:5-6 does not mean that troubles won't come (John 16:33; 2 Tim. 3:12).When we are in a ‘storm' because we have obeyed Jesus and it doesn't make sense, we need to remember how much He cares for us and the previous times God has worked in our lives. Jesus shows Himself strong in the middle of our storms - V. 25-33The presence of Jesus in your life doesn't guarantee the ‘storm' will go away, but the strength of Jesus helps you cope with whatever you face.Even when God is doing something amazing in our life, when we take our eyes off Jesus and put them on our circumstances, we can be quickly overwhelmed. But Jesus is just a prayer away. “Courage is being scared to death – but saddling up anyway.” - John WayneOur most committed workers here at the Tabernacle need to hear in Jesus' message to Peter a word for yourself: like a Coach that expects more from his best players, Jesus expects more of you – get used to it!Now I don't want any disciple in this room to give up on accepting Jesus' vision for what you can become and by faith move toward it. The secret of victory in the Christian life is saying “Yes” to God the Holy Spirit, one decision at a time.

The Vision of Jesus5 G Living:Do everything you do for the Glory of GodDo everything you do for the Good of your fellow manDo everything you do for the Growth of your fellow believers in ChristDo everything you do to get the Gospel to unbelieversDo everything you do with a grateful heartMatthew 14:13-21The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. - Moses in Deut. 29:29Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. - Shlomo (Solomon) in Proverbs 3:5-6The compassionate vision of Jesus - V. 13-14May it be said of us that we saw, we had compassion, we acted to help meet physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs – just like Jesus.The creative envisioning of Jesus - V. 15-18What the disciples said about sending the people away made common sense and fit conventional wisdom, but Jesus often challenges what makes common sense and what fits conventional wisdom!The word envision means “to picture something in your mind.” They could not envision meeting the crowd's needs – they only saw what they lacked. They forgot that Jesus was with them, and He can do anything!When a faithful follower of Jesus devotes 100% of themselves and their resources to Jesus, He multiplies their little into enough. Of course He can do it without us, but He loves to include us in what He's doing!The miraculous provision of Jesus - V. 19-21Here we read of Jesus doing by far the greatest food miracle in the Bible. You might object about the time Moses gave the people manna. But Moses didn't give the people Manna, God did (John 6:32)!Elisha took 20 barley loaves and fed 100 men, with some left (a miraculous fivefold increase). Jesus took 5 barley loaves and fed 5,000 men, with enough left over to feed the 100 men Elisha fed (a miraculous thousandfold increase). It was truly a miracle worthy of Immanuel.

Bad Mom Good Mom - Matthew 14:1-12Welcome to Real Housewives of the Roman Empire. I changed the names a little, but that's the background for today's Bible passage in which we will sadly read of the death of John the Baptist.Matthew 14:1-12As Matthew 1-13 relate to John the Baptist, he was like a booster that helps launch a rocket into space. Once the rocket gets up, the booster has done its job and falls back to earth. One stage is over and another begins.Bad moms are offended by preaching that calls them to repentance.Herodias was offended by the preacher because he called out her sin. I sure wish she had done what I have seen many guilty sinners do over the years -Repent of their sin, receive God's forgiveness, and rebuild their lives around God's truth, as David and Bathsheba did in their generation.Bad moms fail to protect their children and instead influence them to sin.Now before looking at the good mom, let me state clearly that we are all sinners who need to turn to Christ for salvation and forgiveness. All sin deserves judgment, and God can forgive any sin except refusing to repent and turn to him. So repent, receive forgiveness, and rebuild by faith.Good moms seek Jesus and pray for their children.Canaanites were the peoples Israel had been commanded to dispossess when they entered the Promised Land. But even though they were enemies of Israel, God still worked among them. Rahab was a Canaanite woman, so Jesus the Jew had a smidge of Canaanite blood in Him.I believe Jesus was testing this woman to see how she will respond. Will she be offended like Herodias, or will her faith overcome offense and discouragement.Good moms worship Jesus and model for their children perseverance.I want to guarantee you that if you humble yourself before Jesus and pray, “Lord, help me” Jesus will hear that prayer and do what's best for you.She is acknowledging that Jesus is her Lord and Master, and she is staying where Jesus is, even if all she gets is crumbs. Better to eats crumbs on the way to Heaven's throne than have a feast in Herod's hell-bound palace.

Psalm 89 WorksheetPsalm 89 is the ___________________ Psalm of Book 3 of the Psalms.Only 4 Psalms have 50 or more verses. Psalm 89 is the ____________________ longest.Which Psalm has the most verses? Psalm 119, with 176 verses. Then comes Ps. 78, with 72 verses. Then Ps. 89, with 52 verses. Ps. 18 has 50 verses.Psalm 89 remembers the LORD's unconditional ________________________ with David that because of God's mercy (hesed) and faithfulness (emuna and emet) David's descendant the Messiah will rule Israel forever, even though it doesn't seem possible to Israel's exiles when the Psalm was written.As we read Psalm 89, look for the occurrences of mercy (or steadfast love) and faithfulness.There are _____ occurrences each of Hesed and Emuna in Psalm 89, and they are together in 5 verses. Hesed and Emet occur together in verse 14.

The Why the What and the HowThis is the annual time when I get to urge our Tabernacle Family to live by the collective purpose that God has given us in God's word.The why our church does what it does is the same why every individual Christian is to do what they do – for the glory of God – to seek to bring God the love and praise He so richly deserves.The Mission of the Tabernacle is to reproduce faithful and fruitful followers of Jesus Christ.The How is our TABERNACLE AcronymTeaching of ScriptureAdoration and PrayerThe 8-week prayer challenge: For the next 8 weeks (until VBS), fast through at least 1 meal a week as you pray for many people to be saved in church and at Vacation Bible School).Baptist PrinciplesEvangelism and MissionsEven with the Pandemic stall, we have baptized 113 people since 2017; In the comparable time before I came the Tabernacle baptized 101 people. I baptized 216 people in my first 8 years at my previous church.We budget roughly $8,250 a month for our church ministries; $6,500 a month for missions we support within a 2-hour drive; $3,600 a month for missions in North America; $6,500 a month for global missions.Including our Christmas Offerings, we have given over $2,250,000 to missions since 2017 and taken 137 mission trips; In the comparable time at my previous church it was $750,000 and 119 trips.Radical GenerosityHere's where our giving stands after the 1st quarter:1st quarter 2025 budgeted: $280, 2511st quarter 2025 received: $280,0871st quarter 2025 spent: $265,528Tabernacle Board: Richard Chivvis, Chair; Duane Adams, Dan Harper, Stacy Morris, David Thompson, J.J. Vogltanz.Nurtured PartnershipsWe mean two things by “Nurtured partnerships.” We mean the sense of partnership we have with each other in the church family. But we also mean the sense of partnership we have with the ministries we support.Age-Appropriate Ministries42 Babies dedicated since 2017/ 40 in comparable time at previous church.Congregational Love and EncouragementWe have had 120 deaths since 2017/ it was 44 in the comparable time in my previous church.Leadership DevelopmentExcellence and FunLet me urge you to join me in being grateful for our past; sober-minded about our present challenges; and looking forward in faith to all God has for us!

The Passion Prayers of Jesus“Our technologies permit us to manipulate time and space. They leave distance annihilated, cause things to grow and improve productivity.” - Michael KratsiosIf you are a born again believer, there are two ways that you have already experienced spiritual time travel.The first way is that the Bible teaches that if you are a believer, you were crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20), died with Christ (Rom. 6:8), buried with Christ (Col. 2:12), raised with Christ (Col. 2:12), made alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:5), raised up with Christ to heavenly places (Eph. 2:6), fellow heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17), are one spirit with Christ (1 Cor. 6:17), will be with Christ after death (Phil. 1:21, 23), will return with Christ when He returns to earth (Rev. 17:14, 2 Tim. 2:12).The second way is that in the last 72 hours of Jesus' passion week, He prayed many specific prayer requests that still get answered today 2,000 years after He prayed them!The prayer of restoration for believers.“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” - Luke 22:31-32The prayer of thanks despite an impending ordeal (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26)The prayer for basic discipleship commitments of followers (Jn. 17:1-26). -That Christians will grow in their relationship with God (v. 3, 5)-That Christians will be good stewards of God's words (v. 8) -That Christians will know their eternal security in Christ. (v. 9-10)_-That Christians will experience unity (v. 11, 22-23)-That Christians will experience the fulfilling joy of Jesus (v. 13)-That as Christians live in the world they will be protected from the Evil one (v. 15)-That Christians will ‘bathe' regularly by obeying the Bible's truths (v. 17)-That Christians will reproduce as they go out into the world (v. 18, 20).-That Christians will be with Jesus and behold His Heavenly glory (v. 24)-That Christians will be known for having the love of Jesus within (v. 26)The prayer of surrender despite personal anguish (Mark 14:36)He was pierced for our transgressions. - Isa. 53:5aWhen they look on Me, on Him whom they pierced. - Zech. 9:10bIt was the most unusual trial outcome ever – Jesus was proclaimed innocent, yet executed as if He was guilty.The prayer of forgiveness (Luke 23:34)The prayer that our sin caused (Matthew 27:46)The prayer of completion (Luke 23:46; John 19:30)The prayer of blessing over a meal (Luke 24:30-31, 35)The prayer of blessing (Luke 24:50-52)Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. - Heb. 7:25

Psalm 88 WorksheetOne of the most interesting things about this Psalm and the next is that they are written by 2 men named Heman the Ezrahite and Ethan the Ezrahite. Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were each descendants of Levi's sons Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Asaph was from Gershon; Heman from the line of Kohath; Ethan from Merari (1 Chr. 6:31-48). Heman has the added distinction of being the grandson of _______________________ (1 Chr. 6:33).Asaph wrote 12 Psalms, 11 here in book 3 of the Psalms; Heman wrote Psalm 88 and Ethan wrote Psalm 89. So 13 of the 17 Psalms of Book 3 are attributed to David's key music leaders from the tribe of Levi. The tone of Psalm 88 is very much one of _____________________________. It appears the Psalmist is facing suffering and death is very discouraged. It is not regarded as a Messianic Psalm, but several verses remind me of the suffering Jesus endured. As I read Psalm 88, look for the different ways death is referred to. Also look for the 3 times he speaks of calling out or crying out to the LORD. A man _______________________ death cries out to the LORD V. 1-9This man is despondent, but at least he is __________________________. Be honest with God in your prayers like in Psalm 88, and then go on to the kind of perspective that Psalm ____________ gives! The first reference to death is in verse 3, the word grave or Sheol. Sheol occurs 64 times in the Old Testament. The second reference to death is in verse 4, the word pit or bor. Bor occurs 61 times in the Old Testament. The third reference to death is in verse 5, “adrift among the dead.” The word for dead is mut, which occurs 693 times in the Old Testament. The sixth and seventh references to death are the words darkness and depths in verse 6.The word “wrath” in verse 7 reminds me of when Jesus was bearing our sin on the cross and cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me” (2 Cor. 5:21; John 3:36). Verse 8 reminds me of Jesus “shut up” on the cross, with so many of His followers not there to support Him. Jesus can identify with the Psalmist and any of us who feels neglected or forsaken by _____________. Verses 1 and 9 begin and end the first section by crying out to the LORD in the midst of this man facing death. A man ______________________ death cries out to the LORD V. 11-18Verses 10-12 feature 6 questions that it appears the Psalmist fears the answer is no but Christians now know the answer is ________________ in Christ!Let's not forget our count of references to death – verses 10-12 have the eighth through ________________ references to death! Verse 13 gives the one note of hope that after death, the “___________________________” will come. We borrow that hope from this being near to Psalm 86 by David.“I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.” -Psalm 86:11-12Back in Psalm 88, the Psalmist wants to know, he wants to feel what David feels and __________________ in Psalm 86, but he is on the struggle bus. Verses 15 to the end make that struggle clear.Verse 15 gives us at least the 14th reference to death. With other references to being “cut off”, “wrath” and “terrors,” we may get all the way to ________________ references to death. Why is this discouraging Psalm in the Psalter, meant to be sung by the people? Sometimes getting the way we feel out there begins the ___________________________. Psalm 88 is like parts of the book of Ecclesiastes, that really describe the emptiness in life without God. Ecclesiastes brings to despair to then drive to faith in God (Ecc. 12:13-14). Psalm 89 does that for book 3 of of the Psalms. After the discouraging note of Psalm 88, Psalm 89 includes this thought to God's people when they feel discouraged:Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, nor allow My faithfulness to fail. -Psalm 89:33

Give All to Gain All - Matthew 13:44-58When the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God- Warren WiersbeWhen King Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, He was offering Himself up as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.Zechariah 9:9 (ESV)9Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!Behold, your king is coming to you;righteous and having salvation is he,humble and mounted on a donkey,on a colt, the foal of a donkey.Jesus came into Jerusalem on the very day the sacrificial lambs that would become the Passover lambs were brought into Jerusalem from Bethlehem. Jesus is the Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7) who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).Psalm 118:25-26a (ESV)25Save us, we pray, O Lord!O Lord, we pray, give us success!26Blessed is he who comes in the name [authority] of the Lord!Let's do the math: 10 sins a day x 365 days = 3,650 sins per person per year; Multiplying that by 30 years per person equals 109,500 sins per person in a lifetime. Multiplying that by the 117 billion people who have lived in history = 12 quadrillion, 811 trillion, 500 billion sins.- Jim Denison2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.Matthew 27:46 (ESV)46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”John 19:30 (ESV)30When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished [Tetelestai]," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.Two little parables about the Kingdom's inestimable value - V. 44-46What is the point to us of the parables in verses 44-46? To get the greater treasure the man had to first give up everything he previously treasured. And for us to really get Jesus we have to do the same. But when we give our all to get Jesus, two things happen: we gain more than we could ever imagine, and we also gain what was ours back better than before.Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small. Love so amazing, so Divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. - Isaac Watts, Verse 4 of When I Survey the Wondrous CrossLearn to know Christ and Him crucified. Learn to sing to Him and say, “Lord Jesus, you are my righteousness, I am your sin. You have taken upon Yourself what is mine and given me what is Yours. You have become what You were not so that I might become what I was not." - Martin LutherAnother parable about the great ‘sorting' to come - V. 47-50Are you ready for the ‘great sorting' to come after Christ returns?Hebrews 9:27-28 (ESV)27And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.Remember from Matthew 13 that we are called to be sowers not sorters! Catch all the people you can for Jesus – He will sort out whether they were truly saved or not. True Disciples will bring forth Scripture treasure - V. 51-52In chapter 13 Jesus spoke of making what was a mystery in the past known now. Those who love Jesus will be able to explain how New Testament truth comes out of Old Testament truth.If you don't take who Jesus is, what He has taught, and what He has done for you seriously, you won't see God do much either. But if you recognize how valuable this faith is, you will give up everything to gain Jesus!

The Certain Growth of Both True and False Christianity - Matthew 13:24-43The different branches of Christianity are like that air-conditioner unit – great when working biblically, but troubled by holes that arise in the unit. Some sin and false teaching problems are like bigger holes that reveal problems quicker, but even little problems cause eventual trouble. In today's parables Jesus warns us to expect this troublesome reality.Matthew 13:24-43In Matthew 13's parables of the Kingdom, Jesus reveals that His spiritual kingdom will grow between His first coming and His return to set up a physical kingdom. In the ‘church age' we are now in local churches become spiritual ‘embassies' of the coming Kingdom.Last week we studied the Parable of the Sower. The Parable of the Sower shows 4 different responses to the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the Parable Jesus urges us to make sure we truly understand repentance and faith as we crown Jesus the King of our life and go on to bear fruit as His subject.The Parable of the weeds in the field - V. 24-30, 36-43So far we have learned that God is actively working in the world to bring people to Himself, and Satan is actively working to keep people lost.Here we read that Satan has another strategy to keep people lost – outward forms of religion without the true new birth in Jesus experience. Verse 38 says the Devil is the one who sows the weeds among the wheat.The Greek word for weeds/tares is zizanium. Scholars believe Jesus was referring to darnel (lolium temulentum), a poisonous weed that bears a close resemblance to wheat right up until the ears of grain appear. It is actually called “false wheat” by those who have had to deal with it.The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy, but I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10These verses do not mean there is not a place for church discipline – in Matthew 18 we will see that there is. But it should serve as a rebuke to the growing number of zealous Christians who spend more time ‘weed-eating' then they spend sowing, planting, and watering wheat.Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” - Matt. 19:28In the parable of the weeds, Jesus makes clear that outward forms of Christianity will include both true and false Christians. Make sure that Jesus really is your Lord and Savior. The Parables of the mustard seed & the leaven - V. 31-33Some take both parables to illustrate the phenomenal growth of true Christianity; Some take both parables to illustrate the phenomenal growth of false Christianity; And many, like me, take the first to illustrate the phenomenal growth of outward forms of Christianity in churches and denominations, and the second to illustrate the pervasive inward growth of false teaching in those churches and denominations.What Jesus said in the parable of the mustard seed has become true – the few dozen people gathered around him as He gave the great commission in Matthew 28 have grown to over 2.4 billion people on earth.In the parable of the leaven, Jesus is warning about how false teaching will also be a formidable problem as outward Christianity grows.Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” - Matthew 16:6Evangelical beliefs include those who testify of the new birth in Jesus and who believe the Bible is totally trustworthy and is our final authority.Jesus told us that false believers and false teaching would proliferate even as true Christianity grew. So don't be surprised and don't be Barney Fife as you interact with others. But do keep personally growing in grace and truth, and speak the truth in love to others.

The Sower the Seed and the SoilWhen the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren WiersbeEvery one of the seeds in the pack I gave you can become the flower it was meant to be if it finds receptive soil as it is planted. In today's passage we see Jesus tell a little story about the different responses there will be to His gospel during the church age we now find ourselves in.Matthew 13:1-23 Introducing the parables of the Kingdom - V. 1-3, 10-17But Matthew 13 features the first occurrence of the word parable(s) in the New Testament, and the most occurrences of the word in the Bible. The word Parable(s) occurs 48 times in the Bible, 12 in this chapter alone.The 35 Parables that Jesus told in the New Testament are little stories with big meaning comparing God's activity in the present age to everyday matters we can relate to. Jesus' parables often paint a picture of a wrong response from His critics and a right response by His followers.In the 7 parables of the Kingdom in Matthew 13, Jesus for the first time reveals the secret (the mysterion) of the spiritual kingdom that will grow between His first coming and His return to set up a physical kingdom. The secret includes the church age we are now in where local churches become spiritual ‘embassies' of the coming Kingdom.The word for secret is the Greek word musterion (G3466-27x); it means that which is known to the ‘initiated' (mustos). That which was not fully revealed to O.T. saints has now been revealed to Jesus' followers.Matthew 13:13-17 uses the Hebrew poetry device of chiastic structure, where the first and last points echo each other and so on toward the big point in the middle.Jesus explains the parable of the Sower - V. 3b-9,18-23The 4 different responses to the gospel:The Not-now response (rejection) - V. 19The Shallow response (belief without repentance) - V. 20-21The double-minded response (distraction) - V. 22The Devil got the wayside folk, the flesh took care of the rocky-ground folk, but the world chokes out the word for the thorny ground folk.” - J. Vernon McGeeThe fruit-bearing response (this one understands) - V. 23The Jewish poetic device of chiastic structure in Matthew 13:13-17:

Psalm 86 Worksheet After the majority of Psalms being by David in Books 1 (Psalms 1-41) and 2 (Psalms 42-72), this is the _________________ Psalm by David in Book 3 (Psalm 73-89).This Psalm is very personal and touching, with _____________% of the verses being directly spoken to God. The Psalm is filled with 15 verbs in which David is asking God to act in his life.As we read the Psalm, look for a change around verse 7 in the way David approaches God.The earnest pleas of God's man trying to do God's ____________ V. 1-5Notice in these first five verses David makes 8 pleas to God while citing 5 present needs and/or commitments to the Lord.Since David has just said he is poor and needy, David saying he is holy in verse 2 should not be viewed as a claim to being without sin, but “set apart” for God. David trusts God and views himself as God's ___________________.The word for merciful in verse 3 is the Hebrew word Hanan (H2603a), which occurs 72 times in the Old Testament, 41 of which are in the wisdom books. It means to show favor, be gracious, even pity. In Philippians 4:4 Paul commands believers to “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice!” That's hard to accept when the circumstances of life weigh on us. I love the poetic way David asks for God's ___________________ in this as he says “Rejoice the soul of your servant.” I have found the only way to really let that happen is to what the second part of verse 4 says, look away from our circumstances and “lift up” our souls.David ______________________ to himself in verse 5 – He knows God is good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in Hesed. David knows God will hear and act for the best not so much because of who David is but because of who God is! The earnest pledge of God's man who wants God to be ____________________ V. 6-13What is different in David's approach in verse 7?He now says “I will,” pledging to continue to serve God. Verses 1-5 contained 5 things David presently does, whereas verses 6-13 have 4 things David “_______________ do.”David gushes with praise and __________________________ in God in verse s 8-10I WILL pray to you because you are the greatest; You WILL answer because there is none like You; the nations WILL come and worship You! David ________________________ the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20 and the Great Multitude of Revelation 5:9-10 and 7:9-10!Verse 11 is a wonderful mixture of prayer and pledge. And what a _________________________ phrase – unite my heart to revere your name. O God, unite the Tabernacle's heart to revere Your name in 100% of what we say and do! Again, David finishes the section by grounding His requests more in who God is than who he is. What group of Jews take their name from a sister word of the word Hesed?_____________________ Jews, expressing their love for God and His commands. David's final pleas are based on the upholding of God's _____________ V. 14-17Like the first section (that had 8 requests in 5 verses), this last section has 5 requests in 4 verses. Verse 14 reminds us we are to pray to God to _______________________ against the counsels and actions of the wicked. Verse 15 again goes over some of the great truths about God. David is praying back what God taught ______________________ about His name in Exodus 34, and what Solomon will later use in his prayer dedicating the Temple in 2 Chr. 6.David ends by gently asking God to give him a good sign that God is still at work in his life. David isn't asking this of God to help him believe and trust (like the unbelieving Pharisees in Matthew 12:38), but just for a little _________________________. Perhaps we could pray it this way, “God, today in some way please remind me of why I trust you and love you so much!”

The Greatest Sign - Matthew 12:38-50The Greatest SignWhen the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren WiersbeSigns are important because they give us the information we need to make right choices. When the meaning of the sign is obvious, we don't need another sign, we need to act on the information the sign conveys. - Matthew 12:38-50The Sign that saves - V. 38-42They asked for a sign, Jesus gave them a sermon – about the greatest sign to come – His resurrection.Matthew's first audience was his fellow Jews, and only he repeats the Jewish idiom Jesus used, “three days and three nights.” The other gospels use the other way Jesus said it, speaking of rising on the “third day.” The accounts complement one another.It must have irked these Pharisees to hear Jesus preach that God had justified pagans from what is now Iraq and Arabia because they had repented and believed, yet they would be condemned for their unbelief!Crucifixes emphasize a perpetually suffering savior; but empty crosses emphasize our victorious risen Lord!“My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me!” - Matthew 27:46“It is finished!” (Tetelestai) - John 19:30Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. - Hebrews 7:25The Situation that doesn't save - V. 43-45The key to understanding verses 43-45 is that last statement – so also will it be with this evil generation. Jesus is saying this situation adequately describes that generation in Israel who rejected Jesus.To their credit, the Jews had rejected pagan idolatry when they came back from the Babylonian captivity hundreds of years before. That idolatry had been fueled by the kind of demonic spirit that had left the house. Like the house in the story, they had put in order matters of external worship, but still had not filled the house with true internal worship of God. When the spirit of idolatry came back, it brought different demonic spirits with it: pride, unbelief, ingratitude, self-righteousness, a judgmental spirit, contempt of others, and lack of love. Their condition was worse than the days of overt idolatry.Changes you make on your outside will not help you in the long run if Jesus is not on your inside!The Sibling that sticks closest - V. 46-50John 7:5 says that Jesus' brothers did not believe in Him. Mark 6:3 tells us some of Jesus' brothers' names – James, Joses, Judas (Jude) and Simon, and also tells us he had sisters. Just before Mark tells us the same thing Matthew 12 does, it says, “When his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind” (Mark 3:21).As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” - Luke 11:27-28Jesus is not telling us here not to take care of family priorities, but He is making clear that believing in Him and doing what He says is every believer's highest priority.If you part of God's family through faith in Jesus, begin regularly praying “Yes, Lord,” in every area that is clear in the Bible.

God Desires to Save You! - John 3:16-18... Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. - 1 Timothy 2:4For God – the greatest loverSo loved – the greatest degreeThe world – the greatest companyThat He gave – the greatest actHis only begotten Son – the greatest giftThat whoever – the greatest opportunityBelieves – the greatest simplicityIn Him – the greatest attractionShall not perish – the greatest promiseBut – the greatest differenceHave – the greatest certaintyEverlasting life – the greatest possessionJesus loves me this I knowFor the Bible tells me soLittle ones to Him belongThey are weak but He is strongYes, Jesus loves meYes, Jesus loves meYes, Jesus loves meThe Bible tells me so!Now to best understand John 3:16, we need to see how it ***fits*** in the great chapter that is John 3. John 3 shows not only that God is love (1 Jn. 4:16), but also that God is holy (Psa. 99:9) and that God is good (1 Pet. 2:3).“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” - Jesus in John 3:3For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. - Romans 3:23-24Because God is holy, He must ***judge*** our sin. Had Jesus never come to deal with our sin, 100% of us would be going to Hell because of our sin.As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.Because God is holy, God must judge sin. Because God is good, Jesus was ***able*** to take our sin upon Himself.Because God is love, He offers salvation to all who ***turn*** to Him and believe.Now when someone gives you an awesome gift, what do you want to do for them in return?“He must increase, but I must decrease.” - JTB in John 3:30Dakota's mom said, “I have always been prepared to answer your questions – I was simply waiting for you to ask!”“Son, I am proud of what you have become. I am going to love you well.”To all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. - John 1:12

Psalm 85 WorksheetOf the sons of KorahPraise to God for ________________________ of the people to the land V. 1-3How many “you have” statements are in verses 1-3?There are _____________ “you have” statements of what God has done in verses 1-3. Verse 1 lets us know this Psalm comes after the time of captivity when the Jews were allowed to return to Israel.Far better for the people is to have their sins ______________________ and atoned for, reminding us of David's words in Psalm 32. 2 Corinthians 5:21 John 3:36Prayer to God for _______________________ among the people of the land V. 4-7The last thing the people who returned post-exile needed to do was take God for granted, return to sinning against God and bring ______________________ judgment on themselves and their fellow Israelites. 1 John 1:9How many prayerful questions does the Psalmist ask in verses 5-6?__________________. These are of course rhetorical questions as much for the people as for God. Any well trained Jew would know that God _______________________ mercy to them if they would confess their sin, repent and turn to God. “Various uses of the root “turn” occur throughout this Psalm. It describes the return from captivity (v. 1); God's change of attitude (v. 3); our conversion (v. 4); our revival (v. 6); and our possible backsliding (v. 8).” -Bob AldenProclamation of what God __________________ to do for His people V. 8-13 Notice the beautiful way he puts great images in our heads in verses 9-11.What is the best example of God's attributes coming together?The ___________________. Romans 3:23-27 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Hesed, truth, righteousness, peace – these things will all _____________________ the future millennium when Jesus reigns from Israel. Acts 3:19-21Many passages speak of an increase in the Holy Lands fertility and productivity in Messiah's future kingdom (Is. 30: 23-26; Jeremiah 31:12; Amos 9:13-15; Zecheriah 8:11-12).John 14:6 1 Cor. 11:1 John 13:34-35Let's be like the Psalmist and desire to walk in the imprinted footsteps of our Lord! May His steps be ________________ steps!

The Upper FixerWhen the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren WiersbeIn today's passage we will see that Jesus loves to fix “fixer uppers” who know they need Him. Instead of rejecting and blaspheming Him, we need to turn to Him as the ultimate “Upper Fixer.”Matthew 12:15-37Jesus came to fix people, not to argue with them - V. 15-23Verse 15 tells us that Jesus was aware of what they were thinking about Him. Jesus is also aware of what you and I are thinking, because He knows all things (John 2:25).In instructing them not to make Him known (we might add ‘yet') Jesus was buying Himself more time to meet needs and teach His disciples what they needed to know to serve Him.The word for justice in verses 18 and 20 is krisis (G 2920). It the word used to describe the judgment (Heb. 9:27) and judgment to come (Jn. 16:8). In other words, Messiah will proclaim the need for sinners to be ready for the coming judgment (v. 18) and gives victory over judgment (v. 20).Jesus wants you if you are broken – He won't break you any more – with Him the healing will begin!He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. - Heb. 7:25The one who comes to Me, I will by no means cast out. - John 6:37bThe Pharisees hated Jesus and blasphemed Him - V. 24-30God was on earth, lovingly working restorative miracles right in front of them, bringing joy to the multitudes. But they had the nerve to say, “The Devil made Him do it!” In other words, they were attributing the very work of God to Satan. Their hatred of Jesus made them guilty of blasphemy.Judgment day is coming for those who continue to reject Jesus - V. 31-37Do you see God's grace in verse 31? God would much rather save you from your sins than judge you for your sins rooted in pride and unbelief.To understand what the unforgiveable sin is, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, we first have to understand God the Holy Spirit's main role now.To blaspheme the Spirt is to remain an unbeliever despite all the ways the Spirit has convicted you of your sinful rebellion against God and your need to turn to Jesus for salvation. Every other sin is forgivable, but the sin of unbelief is unpardonable.Though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. - 1 Timothy 1:13-14When sinful words come out of your mouth it shows the sinful stuff in your heart. Get it forgiven through Jesus and let Him keep changing what comes out of your mouth!So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father who is in Heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father who is in Heaven. - Matthew 10:32-33

Psalm 84 WorksheetWhat is different in the heading of Psalm 84 from others we have read so far in Book 3 of the Psalms (Psalms 72-89)?4 of the last 6 Psalms in Book 3 of the Psalms will be by the Sons of Korah. They had written 7 of the Psalms that appeared in Book 2. Some of them were the ______________________________ for the Temple (1 Chronicles 26:1). Psalm 84 reads like the Psalms of _______________________ we will come to (Psalms 120-134). Perhaps it too was sung on the way to worship at Jerusalem! Psalm 84 easily divides into three 4-verse stanzas marked by the Selah divisions. As I read the Psalm look for a name of God that occurs 4 times in the Psalm. Also look for another word that occurs in each of the 3 stanzas.The word for ______________________ opens Psalm 1 and closes Psalm 2, another “call-back” to those foundational Psalms! __________________________ devotion for God and His house V. 1-4Heartcheck time: Do verses 1-2 come anywhere close to expressing the feeling you have when you think about coming to church? The Psalmist didn't go to the Temple with a sense of “have-to,” but “____________________ to”!And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. -John 17:3I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD!” -Psalm 122:1Perhaps in verse 3 the Psalmist is reflecting on getting to see birds flying and in their nests with their young as they walked to Jerusalem. They are saying that their home is with God! Verse 4 makes you wonder if the priests and the singers and the gatekeepers often heard _______________ exclaim how fortunate they were to get to live and minister at the Temple complex. Psalm 134, the final Psalm of Ascent. ___________________________ to worship God at His house V. 5-8What does he have in mind by pilgrimage?Going from wherever he lived to the Feasts in Jerusalem, or any other time he was able to go “________” to worship there. Spiritually speaking, Jerusalem is “up” above every other place, so it was called going “up.”Baca means “weeping” or also balsam trees. Coming into Jerusalem from the west you'd see some balsam trees. Perhaps the Psalmist had passed through rain as he went to Jerusalem. Weeping also makes us think of the many times we are going to church after it has been a ____________________ week. Verse 7 contains some irony – the longer walk the more weak and weary you become. But when you greatly anticipate what _____________________ you when you arrive, you actually feel stronger as you get close to arriving. In this case, arrival means getting to appear before God in the place He is worshipped in a special way!But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of God. -2 Cor. 3:18 Verse 8 ends this stanza with a personal prayer for this strength that comes from God! More gushy ____________________ to God V. 9-12Verse 9 is a corporate prayer that celebrates the _________________________, the one who will cause us to go from strength to strength, from glory to glory! Verse 10 should be all of our heart's cry – that we would be found ministering in God's house and for Him _______________________ than found in sinful places pleasing Satan. God gives us grace now – common grace as we live, saving grace to have faith in Jesus. One day we will be with Him in glory!But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. -1 Peter 5:10This delightful Psalm ends the same way Psalm 2 does – Blessed is the person who _______________ in God!

Welcome to our Sunday Service! Feel free to like, share, and comment on this post - how has the Lord been working in your life this week? If you do not have a church home, we would love to welcome you to the Tabernacle family. Please connect with us via our website (link below). We hope to see you next Sunday!Join us as we welcome guest speaker Jon Baker!_____________________________To learn more about The Tabernacle, check out our website and follow us on our social media platforms!Visit our website: www.thetabernaclefamily.orgConnect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thetabernaclefamilyCheck out our YouTube channel at: youtube.com/@tabdanva  

Psalm 83 WorksheetA Psalm of AsaphIsrael's ___________________________ against her enemies V. 1-8Asaph does not use any high language as he begins this Psalm, he goes right into asking God to act against the enemies of His people.God's enemies are often consumed with ______________________, lifting up their heads (and shaking their fist) at God's people. I love that phrase in verse 3, that calls Israel God's ‘sheltered ones.' The nations around them then (and now) often make craft counsel against them, and ‘team up' to hurt them. I think of how often the United Nation passes evil resolutions against Israel. But God shelters His people.When a person or nation plans evil toward Israel, God takes notice and puts that nation on notice that they will be ________________________ unless they repent. Genesis 12:1-3For the Day of the LORD upon all nations is near; As you have done (to Israel), it shall be done to you. -Obadiah 15Beginning in verse 6, Asaph gives a kind of “Hall of ______________________” for Israel's enemies, beginning with Edom. What person do the Edomites go back to?Gen. 36:12 1 Samuel 15:8 Esther 3:1So Amalek also goes under Esau, You may remember that the Amalekites attacked Israel on the way to the Promised Land, and were under a pronouncement of God's impending judgment (Exodus 17:8-15). Who was the mother of Abraham's son Ishmael? God does give notes of _________________ in the midst of hurtful circumstances – both Isaac and Ishmael were present to bury Abraham (Genesis 25:9), and both Jacob and Esau were present to bury Isaac (Genesis 35:29). Which two listed here were the incestuous children of Lot?Genesis 19:36-38. Genesis 11:31-32Hagrites is probably a reference to the descendants of Hagar, who lived among the Moabites (1 Chr. 5:10). That makes them an _______________________ or Aramean tribe living east of Gilead. Gebal is a city north of Tyre on the Mediterranean coast. Tyre's King Hiram had been a friend of David and Solomon, but they and Gebal later cheered when _______________ took over Israel (Ezekiel 27; Amos 1:9).The Philistines of course were ancient enemies of Israel (think of _______________________). Israel asks God to deal with current enemies like ______________________ ones V. 9-18Can you remember what happened to Midian?Judges 7Who killed Sisera and what did she use? Judges 4What happened to Jabin at the Brook Kishon?Judges 4Who were Oreb and Zeeb, Zebah and Zalmunna?Judges 7-8 What are the kinds of judgments called for in verses 13-17?Verse 18 ends by a prayer that one way or another God will be ________________________ and that these enemies might know He is God over all the earth – either in judgment, or salvation!God is glorified when repentant sinners turn to Him in salvation; but He will also be glorified by judging unrepentant sinners.

Making the Most of SONdays - Matthew 12:1-14When the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren WiersbeMatthew 12:1-14Jesus gets hassled on the way to worship - V. 1-2If you go into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor's standing grain. - Deut. 23:25You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; but it is they that bear witness about Me. - John 5:39The Old Testament said the Sabbath was to be a day of solemn rest. No work or gathering was to be done on that day. (Ex. 16:25-26). It was to be kept holy, or set apart for worship of God (Ex. 20:8-11).Jesus answers their criticism from Scripture - V. 3-5For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. - Romans 15:4There was no common bread available for David and his men to eat, but there was the holy showbread that only the priests could consume. The priest recognized this was a time for an exception to the rule based on necessity, and let David and his men eat the holy bread, as long as they were not currently sexually impure (1 Samuel 21).Jesus states that the priests on duty work every Sabbath they serve. They labor by removing the showbread, preparing fire for the sacrifices, and performing all their Temple service. The point Jesus is making here is that the Law ordains labor for some on the Sabbath as a duty.Jesus makes 3 key statements about worship day - V. 6-81. From verse 6 we see that God is greater than the buildings He is worshipped in during our SONday gatherings!For I desire steadfast love (HESED) and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. - Hosea 6:62. From verse 7 we see that loving God and others must be prioritized in our SONday gatherings!And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” - Mark 2:273. From verse 8 we learn that Jesus is also the Lord over the realm of time – He is Lord over the rhythm in our lives involving cycles of work and rest. The misuse of the Sabbath by the Pharisees should not keep us from honoring God's seventh day rest principle.Note that God commemorated a day of rest and worship to bless mankind BEFORE He gave Israel the Law. The Sabbath was the way Israel was commanded to observe the 7th day principle; Most Christians observe it on Sundays, the day Jesus rose from the dead!Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. - Matt. 28:1On the first day of the week, when we were gathered to break bread, Paul talked with them… - Acts 20:7aNow concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you are also to do. On the first day of EVERY week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I arrive. - 1 Cor. 16:1-2Jesus makes the most of His SONday - V. 9-14I love Jesus' statement in verse 12 – Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So then it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” People then and far too many people now treat their animals and their possessions as more important than people God calls them to minister to. But Jesus places the highest value on seeing people get ministered to. “When it came to his own glory, Liddell would surrender it all rather than run on Sunday. But when it came to the good of children in a prison camp, he would referee on Sunday. Liddell would sacrifice a gold medal for himself in the name of truth but would bend over backward for others in the name of grace.” - Randy Alcorn, page 79, The Grace and Truth Paradox

Psalm 82 WorksheetAnother psalm of Asaph.God is the ______________________ judge over all other so called ‘gods' V. 1-2Verse 1 is so intriguing, and made more so in the Hebrew language, where the same Hebrew word Elohim (H430) is translated ‘God' at the beginning of the verse and ‘gods' at the end, with the word El (H410) in the middle translated ‘mighty.' It is a great reminder that the ______________________ a word appears in often forces our interpretive options. Anyone want to guess what the 4 interpretive options for “gods” at the end of verse 1might be?Whatever is meant by “gods” in verse 1, the point is clear – God is the Ultimate Judge over all of those who are put forward as rulers and judges over others. In the end those ________________________ ‘judges' will be judged by Him! God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day. -Ps. 7:11The one true God does not side with the wicked the way these bad rulers do; no, He will judge the unrepentant wicked and unrepentant evil rulers who let the wicked prosper under their wicked rule.What God ______________________ of ‘god-like' rulers V. 3-4God expects ‘godly' rulers to defend and deliver the most vulnerable among the people they rule. Who are among the most vulnerable according to verses 3-4?What are the 4 commands in verses 3-4?In the beautiful Torah of the first 5 books of the Bible, Genesis through Deuteronomy, caring for the most vulnerable among them was a consistent expectation of God's people. The message of the prophets was often a _________________________ of leaders and people alike for failing to lead well. Isaiah 1:16-20 In Psalm 82 God is kind of sarcastically rebuking those who fashion themselves god-like leaders of others! It's as if He says, “Some kind of ‘gods' you are! You judge unjustly, you favor the wicked, but you don't defend, deliver, and do justly toward those who need you to do those things the most!” God states the truth about ‘_______________________' gods V. 5-7In v. 5 God _____________ all godless idols, people, and the demons backing them as being truly ignorant, foolishly walking in darkness and destabilizing the earth the way Satan did in the Garden of Eden. Who do you think God is going after in verses 6-7?The true problem behind all false ‘gods' is _______________________!Isaiah 14:12-21 Ezekiel 28:11-19Note what verse 7 teaches – the Real God will _______________________ fall or die, but false rulers, false prophets, false gods, and false angels (demons) all will! John 10:31-39In John 10:34 Jesus cites Psalm 82:7 as He chastises the Pharisees for their pride and acting as the religious judges of Him. They were acting like ‘gods' and were even trying to ____________________ to death Jesus their true God. That's what pride does – misses worship of the one true God, and sets up god substitutes that allow all manner of sin to follow. The Psalmist ends with a prayer for God to rule on earth V. 8Verse 8 is a “a call back” to Psalm 2! Remember that Psalms 1-2 set the _____________________ for every Psalm that follows. Psalm 2 Questions?

Choose Rest not Wrath - Matthew 11:20-30When the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren WiersbeI brought up Warner Sallman's “Head of Christ” to point out that our image of Christ needs to be shaped by what we read of Jesus in the Bible, not in popular images of Jesus. In today's passage we find images that remind us that the Bible speaks of Him as being like BOTH a Lamb and a Lion.“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him (the Messiah) the iniquity of us all.” - Isaiah 53:6Jesus speaks stern words to those who won't repent - V. 20-24The people of this triangle of cities had seen Jesus work many mighty miracles, but Jesus denounced them because they did not repent and turn to Him. They wanted physical blessings, not Jesus' rule in their life.Woe is a judgment word making us think of how unbelievers will fare on the Day of Judgment. In Matthew 23 Jesus “ROARS” woe to the hard-hearted Pharisees – but here it is used of people who had more exposure to His teaching and miracles than anyone else during His earthly ministry. His ROAR still needs to be heard by those who have often heard the gospel but refused to believe in Jesus and follow Him.The day that is coming to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper that remains. - Jer. 47:4 (see also Ezekiel 26).Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and all surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. - Jude 1:7Earlier in Matthew we saw that God promises degrees of reward for Christians who love and serve God now. Remember Matthew 6:20, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven.” Now we see that there will be degrees of punishment in Hell for those who never repent based on how much teaching they rejected (Revelation 20:11-15).Jesus speaks comforting words to those who come to Him - V. 25-30God would rather save people than judge them. God has to judge unrepentant rebels, but He would rather transfer their sins to the cross and forgive them.

Psalm 81 WorksheetAs we read Psalm 81, look for clues about what this Psalm was written for. Also look for the place the Psalm switches to God being the one speaking.Asaph's call to Festival worship V. 1-3The opening 3 verses have ______ commands calling the people to the praise of the Festival, making this a Praise psalm.When Jacob is used for Israel instead of Israel, it is often a not so subtle _________________________ of where they came from – sinful Jacob became Israel because of what God had done in his life.Jacob's name can mean to be behind or supplanter. It was given to him at birth when he grabbed his twin brother's heel in the womb as they came out; That's a great name for one who later wrestled with God and had his name changed to Israel, which means “one who struggles with God.” The root consonant of ‘struggle' in Hebrew is SYR; For Israel it is ‘YSR.'Israel's lunar calendar meant their festivals coincided with moon ________________. The new moon was by definition the first of the month.Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifice of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God. -Numbers 10:10Yahweh's _________________________ of His deliverance V. 4-7Verses 4-5 seem to confirm the statute referred to is the ______________________ Festival, since it was actually commanded before they actually left Egypt (Exodus 12). That would mean “He” going throughout the land of Egypt would be a reference to the LORD's judgment in the tenth plague.The reference to Joseph in verse 5 seems to be a reference to Joseph's role in preserving Jacob's sons/ Joseph's brothers in Egypt during the famine described at the end of Joseph. Alternatively, it could mean this Psalm was written with the Northern tribes in mind during the time of the divided kingdom (922-722 B.C.) That would mean the Psalm is urging the north not to reject God's design for the entire country.Verse 7 covers the time that Israel wandered for 40 years in the wilderness. God led them, even though they were often stubborn and ungrateful. Time after time He delivered them and answered them “thunderously.” They tested Him and He proved Himself faithful and holy. He tested them and they showed themselves ______________________ and sinful.These are the waters of Meribah, where the people quarreled with the LORD, and through them He showed Himself holy. -Numbers 20:13Yahweh's ___________________________ to His people V. 8-16In verses 8-9 God reminds Israel of the call in the 10 commands to worship Him alone, not ________________________.In verse 10 God is telling them that He delivered them in the past, and provided for their needs – He is the _________________________ God who did that!Verse 11 has to be among the saddest statements in the Bible. No doubt they wanted God's protection and blessing, but they didn't want God _______________________. I wonder how many professing Christians that is also true about.Where in the New Testament do we read the words, “God gave them over?”___________________________God's judgment of sin begins by letting people do the sinful things they are bound and determined to do, and experience the built-in ___________________________ of those sins.Proverbs 14:12God makes clear in verse 14 that if they return to Him He will take care of their ___________________.Verse 15 is a good Old Testament verse for the _______________________ punishment of the those who don't turn to God.The Psalm ends with an additional blessing promised – If people listen to God, turn back to Him, and walk in His ways, He won't just take care of their troubles but He will provide for their needs, fully _________________________ them.

Do Everything You Do with a Grateful Heart - Psalm 107:1-3I am speaking of course about GRACE vision goggles! Those who have received God's grace through faith in Jesus are able to have a constant perspective that will help them serve God with clarity and confidence.5 G Living: Do Everything you do:For the Glory of GodFor the Good of your fellow manTo get the Gospel to non-believersTo help your fellow Christians GrowWith a Grateful HeartThe Hebrew word for Give Thanks is yada (H3034), which occurs 114 times in the Old Testament. It literally means “to throw” or “to cast.” Used toward God, it means “to praise” or “to give thanks.” But it is also used toward ourselves to confess our sins to God (Psalm 32:5).I acknowledged (H3034) my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess (H3034) my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.” - Psalm 32:5The word benefit in Luke 6, verses 32-33, and credit in verse 34 is actually the great word charis, the word for grace and favor but also a word translated benefit, credit, thanks and gratitude in the New Testament.The word for steadfast love in Psalm 107:1 is the great word Hesed (H2617), which occurs 251 times in the Old Testament. It is translated steadfast love in the ESV, Faithful love in the HCSB, Lovingkindness and Mercy in the KJV. It is used of God's covenant love toward Israel. The closest New Testament word to it may very well be grace.For it is all for your sake, so that as grace (G5485) extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving (G2169), to the glory of God. - Romans 4:15Being grateful is all about recognizing God's blessing in your life, from His common grace to His saving grace. A grateful heart becomes the “Night vision goggles” of 5 G Living.I give thanks (G2168) to my God always for you because of the grace (G5485) of God that was given you in in Christ Jesus. - 1 Cor. 1:4Thanks (G5485) be to God for His inexpressible gift. - 2 Cor. 9:15Note that the word for grace is translated thanks in 2 Corinthians 9:15. A Grateful heart is a grace-filled heart!As each one has received a gift (G5486), use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace (G5485). - 1 Peter 4:10For this is a gracious (G5485) thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows for while suffering unjustly. - 1 Pet. 2:19The benefits of gratitude go beyond the spiritual to the physical, psychological, and social.

Psalm 80 Worksheet The Heading reads “To the Chief Musician” – The Hebrew is Nasah (H5329). It occurs 65 times in the Old Testament, _____________ in Psalm Headings, reminding us the Psalms were written to be sung! The Greek Septuagint Old Testament added to the title the words, “Concerning Assyria,” which may place it as written after the Northern Tribes of Israel fell to Assyria in 722 B.C. (2 Kings 17:6). As I read Psalm 80, look for one repeated verse that will help outline this Psalm. The Hebrew word for “Restore” in verses 3, 7, and 19 is the word “Sub” (H7725). It occurs 952 times in the Hebrew O.T. It can also be translated return or turn back. It actually occurs as “____________________” in verse 14, helping us outline Psalm 80. First Verse and Chorus: God, please _________________ our country V. 1-3 “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” -John 10:11 What is Joseph often a reference to? When the United Kingdom under Saul, David, and Solomon became the _______________ Kingdom, there was Judah in the South and Israel in the North. Who did Ephraim and Manasseh descend from? In the Old Testament, sometimes the Northern Tribes are referred to by the names Joseph or Ephraim. Where does the reference to Benjamin come in here? Second Verse and Chorus: God, please turn Your anger away V. 4-7 What a picture verse 5 paints! __________________ over the consequences of our sins. 2 Cor. 7:9-10 Psalm 56:8 What is a big thing believers are to shed tears for? Psalm 125:5-6 Verse 6 has been true many times throughout world history as antisemitism rears its ugly head. Third verse and “Restore” word: Reminder that Israel is God's ‘___________________' V. 8-14a What two great events are referred to in verse 8? Isaiah 5:1-7 “You don't support the root, but the root supports you!” -Romans 11:18b What sea is he writing about? What river is he talking about in the context of the northern tribes? Fourth verse and chorus: Look down from Heaven and send Your __________________ man to save us V. 14b-19 One thing about God's great victories over bigger foes in the past is that it gives _____________________ that if you get right with God bigger foes can be defeated now! And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. -Luke 21:24b The times of the Gentiles are from the Fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Could have been the First Coming if Jesus Christ had been fully received when He came). Even now God isn't done with Israel yet! Acts 1:6-8 Romans 9-11 Verse 17 is a clear reference to _______________________________. Daniel 7:13-14 Daniel 7:21-27

Do Everything for the Growth of Fellow Christians The Normal Christian Life The reality is that the person right next to you in church is also struggling as they grow in their faith. And God's plan has always been for you to know you are not alone, but to grow up in the faith with other Christians in the body of Christ. 5 G Living – Do everything you do… For the Glory of God For the Good of your fellow man To get the Gospel to non-believers For the Growth of your fellow Christians With a Grateful heart Ephesians 4:11-16 We each have our part to play in the body of Christ According to Eph. 4:12, who does the work of the ministry in the church? Not just the leaders – the saints do the work of the ministry. According to Ephesians 4:16, what causes the growth of the body? When every part is working properly, when every part does its share. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies – in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. - I Peter 4:10-11 We are called to build each other up in the body of Christ So the Pastor is to build us as a church with God's truth, but church members are also called to lovingly build up themselves and each other with God's truth. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. - Hebrews 10:24-25 We are called to grow in our faith as individuals and together “The Bible is alive, it speaks to me, it has feet, it runs after me, it has hands, it lays hold on me.” - Martin Luther But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all our sin. - 1 Jn. 1:7 GROW UP – Godliness Ruling Over Worldliness Under Pressure Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. - James 5:16

Psalm 79 Worksheet Psalm 79 is a ________________________ lament after an enemy incursion along with imprecatory prayers for the enemy to get what's coming to them. Lament over ___________________________ in Jerusalem V. 1-4 This sure seems to fit with what Babylon did to Jerusalem in 586 B.C. 2 Kings 25:8-21 What prophet wrote a book to describe his anguish after Babylon destroyed Jerusalem? And what's the name of the book? In verse 4, the Psalm begins to turn toward imprecatory prayer. Obadiah For the day of the LORD upon all the nations is near; As you have done, so it will be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head. -Obadiah 15 The Psalmist prays the ____________________ will get what's coming to them V. 5-7 Verse 5 is one of _____________ times in the Psalms the Psalmists cries out to God, asking “How long?” The Hebrew words are Ma Ad, which looks like our English word ‘mad.' God allows the Psalmist to cry out to Him in anguish about perplexing circumstances in their lives, even ones brought on by their own sin. Can you think of a place in the book of Revelation the words “How long?” appear? Revelation 6:10 Revelation 18:19-20 The Psalmist asks for forgiveness for God's _______________________ people V. 8-9 On what 4 grounds does the Psalmist ask for forgiveness in verses 8-9? 1 John 1:9 The Psalmist mixes the prayers for judgment to the unrepentant and mercy to the repentant V. 10-12 Verse 11 is a great verse for those of us trying to save unborn babies from ______________________. The Psalmist ends with ____________________ to praise God V. 13 The Psalmist declares in verse 13 that God's ____________________ people will once again give thanks and praise God. Habakkuk 3 :17-19 Lamentations 3:19-40

Do Everything to get the Gospel to Non-Believers 5 G Living – Do everything you do… For the Glory of God For the Good of your fellow man To get the Gospel to non-believers For the Growth of your fellow Christians With a Grateful heart Luke 24:44-53 Our message: We present Christ as the focal point of the Bible's message - V. 44-45 All we like sheep have gone astray, but the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53:6 We present Christ's saving work for sinners - V. 46 For God so loved the world that He gave His one-of-a-kind Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16 The gospel IS Jesus Christ – Who He is and what He has done to save repentant sinners! Run John run the law demands – but gives him neither feet nor hands. Far better news the gospel brings – it bids him fly, and gives him wings! - John Bunyan To become a Christian you must: 1. Repent – to repent is to change your mind. Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. - Acts 3:19 2. Believe in Jesus Christ. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other Name written under given among men by which we must be saved. - Acts 4:12 3. Receive Jesus Christ by calling out to Him. As many as received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become a child of God. - John 1:12 For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. - Rom. 10:13 4. Commit to follow Jesus as your Lord and Savior from now on. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand (or My Father's hand). - John 10:27-29 We challenge sinners to turn to Christ for forgiveness of sins - V. 47-48 “This generation of Christians is responsible to reach this generation of lost souls around the world!” - Keith Green We are together to take the gospel to the whole world - V. 47-48 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. - Acts 1:8 We rely on the power and presence of God's Holy Spirit - V. 49-53 Engel Scale of ‘Steps to Christ.' “When we bring someone to a decision to trust Christ in the course of a conversation or two, we can be sure of one thing: considerable preparation and laboring has already occurred in that life before we arrived on the scene.” - Jim Peterson But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the Word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. - Matthew 13:23 Some thoughts on you personally reaching out: Some thoughts on your Personal Missions Strategy

Psalm 78 Worksheet The Hebrew word for contemplation is Maschil (H4905). It is used in the titles of _____ of the Psalms. With 72 verses, Psalm 78 is the second longest of the Psalms. It still only has ______________% as many verses as the longest, Psalm 119 (176 verses). Two more things we know about Asaph: He liked his worship ___________________ (cymbals and trumpets) He influenced _______________________ after him to worship God! Psalm 78:1-8 is like 2 Timothy 2:1-2. There are at least ___________ generations of believers pictured in both passages. Why are we to rise and tell our children the things of the Lord? So they may put their __________________ in God (v. 7) Psalm 78:9-55 is a wonderfully poetic retelling of the Exodus and Conquest of Canaan. God took His people out of Egypt and ___________________________ them to the Promised Land. In these verses we see both God's ____________________________ and Israel's failures and fickleness emphasized. Psalm 78:56-72 celebrate the emergence of __________________________ as foremost of the tribes. Verse 59 speaks of the rejection of Israel, and abandonment of the Tabernacle at Shiloh. What tribe is Shiloh in? _______________________ Genesis 37-50 tells the story of the 12 tribes, and why the Messiah will be from the tribe of Judah not Joseph. In the rest of the Old Testament those 2 tribes _________________________ the others. Even before the Kingdon of Israel divided the basic division of Israel was Judah in the South and Joseph and the other tribes in the North. In the Old Testament, sometimes the _________________________ North is referred to as Joseph or Ephraim, as happens here in Psalm 78. Psalm 78 could also be a rationale around the time of the dedication of the Temple for why the ruling tribe is now Judah and why the Temple is ______________ Judah's borders in Jerusalem, not Ephraim's at Shiloh. Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not something to be waited for, it is something to be achieved. -William Jennings Bryan

Do Everything for the Good of Others - Matthew 5:13-16 5 G Living – Do everything you do… For the Glory of God For the Good of your fellow man To get the Gospel to non-believers For the Growth of your fellow Christians With a Grateful heart The power for 5 G living comes from the power of the triune God, accessed through the outlet of God's grace when we place our faith in Christ! When we are saved by God's grace through our faith, we get power for 5 G living. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your doing; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:8-10 “Common grace includes earthly blessings all people enjoy but that are distinct from the spiritual blessings that only believers enjoy. When we speak of common grace, we are speaking of God's kindness to all people during their time on earth, regardless of their present status with Him.” -Derek J. Brown Three Principles of doing good for others 1. We are to act for the good of others By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. - John 15:8 A phrase I love is the phrase, “Add value!” And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. - Titus 3:14 2. We are to do good for others as able in in concentric circles And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Gal. 6:9-10 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. - I Timothy 5:8 Husbands, your first neighbor is your wife. Wives, your first neighbor is your husband. The first neighbor you are to show love and respect for is your spouse. Marriage expert Dr. John Gottman says the first key to making marriage work is to “embrace each other's needs.” When we experience God's saving grace, we gain the spiritual power to partake in Jesus Christ's Great Commission given in Matthew 28 to take the gospel to all peoples. But we also gain the spiritual power to partake in God's ‘cultural commission' given in Genesis 1 to be stewards of the earth's resources for God's glory, and be agents of common grace for the good of our fellow man. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” - Genesis 1:27-28 3. We are to view all we do for others as done for God And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. -Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of an inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. - Colossians 3:23-24 There was another phrase that came out of the Reformation – all of life is to be lived Coram Deo – before the face of God! The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is their gray head. - Proverbs 20:29 “Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.” -John Wesley

Do Everything for God's Glory 5 G Living – Do everything you do… For the Glory of God For the Good of your fellow man To get the Gospel to non-believers For the Growth of your fellow Christians With a Grateful heart Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. - 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whatever you do, from the simplest things to the most important, in private and public, at home, work, school, church, and in your spare time, do it all for the glory of God! The primary O.T. Hebrew word for glory is Kabod (Strong's 3519). It is best translated as glory, honor, or splendor. Some scholars have noted it includes the idea of weightiness, of importance worthy of reverence (a big deal!). The primary New Testament word is Doxa (Strong's 1391), from which we get our word doxology. It is also best translated as glory, honor, splendor, with the clear idea of praise included. In His temple everyone says, “Glory!” -Psalm 28:9 “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” - Isaiah 6:3 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. - Psalm 19:1-2 The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory. - Psalm 97:6 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. - Habakkuk 2:14 The nations shall bless themselves in Him, And in Him they shall glory. - Jeremiah 4:2 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. - Isaiah 60:1-3 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14 Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive to receive…glory! - Rev. 5:12 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. - Rev. 19:7 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light! - Rev. 21:23-24 Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight." - Jeremiah 9:23-24 What does it mean to give God glory? Acknowledge God as the source of what has been entrusted to you Adore Him for who He is and what He has done in your life Applaud Him in thought, word, and deed Then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.' And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth…” - Deuteronomy 8:17-18 So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not a man!” Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God grew and multiplied. - Acts 12:21-24 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.- 1 Corinthians 10:31 To seek one's own glory is not glory! - Proverbs 25:27 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth. - Proverbs 27:2 God gives grace to the humble so they can turn from pride, in which a person glorifies themselves, to the real opposite of pride, which is glorifying God!

A warm welcome to Dr. Paul Weaver as he preaches from the Gospel of John, reminding us of the uniqueness of Christianity as compared to all world religions and faiths. We serve a risen Savior! Welcome to our Sunday Service! Feel free to like, share, and comment on this post - how has the Lord been working in your life this week? If you do not have a church home, we would love to welcome you to the Tabernacle family. Please connect with us via our website (link below). We hope to see you next Sunday! _____________________________ To learn more about The Tabernacle, check out our website and follow us on our social media platforms! Visit our website: www.thetabernaclefamily.org Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thetabernaclefamily Check out our YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/@tabdanva

Welcome to our Sunday Service! We pray that this is a blessing for you. Feel free to like, share, and comment on this post - how has the Lord been working in your life this week? Here are Pastor Eddie's sermon notes. Feel free to follow along! _____________________________ Don't you wish everyone used it? - Genesis 35:1-12 Reroute to the beginning (v.1) Rid yourself of idols (v.2a, 4) Robe yourself anew (v.2b) Reaffirm your commitment to the Lord (v.3,5-8) Recall the Lord's promises (v.9-12) _____________________________ To learn more about The Tabernacle, check out our website and follow us on our social media platforms! Visit our website: www.thetabernaclefamily.org Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thetabernaclefamily Check out our YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/@tabdanva

Christmas Means God Sent Salvation When you put together the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah the only person who could ever fulfill them all is Jesus Christ – out of trillions of beings who ever existed, only Jesus fulfills them all! In the gospels we then find the breathtaking material about the first Christmas when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us!” The eternal Creator (John 1:1-3) became part of His creation to redeem us. One thing we don't cover as much at Christmas time is what the Apostles' letters tell us about Christmas in the decades after Jesus came. This morning we will look at Christmas according to the Apostle Paul. Galatians 4:1-7 Verses 1-3 show our need as sinners. Israel was under the Law of Moses the way a child was under their guardian's authority. The rest of us as Gentiles were under the moral law God put within us (Romans 1). Both laws convicted us all as guilty sinners before God who needed saving. “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins.” -Ephesians 2:1 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 6:23 Jesus came at just the right time! One advantage to Jesus being born when He was is that the world was still under 1 billion people. As the world grew in population, the influence of the gospel grew with it. Jesus came with just the right motivation! Two of the sweetest words in the English language have to be “God sent!” The concept that God the Father sent God the Son to earth occur at least 47 times in the New Testament reminding us of the best Christmas gift! For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not SEND His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. -John 3:16-17 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By SENDING His own Son in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us. -Romans 8:3-4a And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. -John 17:3 Jesus Christ came in just the right way! Sin came into the world through the first woman and the first Adam. Now salvation came into the world through a young virgin woman and this “Second Adam.” Jesus was born without sin and never sinned so He could save us from our sins. “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” -Genesis 3:15 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. -1 Tim. 3:16 Jesus came to buy the most expensive gift! The Law of Moses let Israel know what God expected of them to bring Him the glory He deserves. It also revealed how Israel sinned and failed to bring Him that glory. According to Romans 1-3, the internal moral law does the same for Gentiles. I am not okay, and you are not okay – we are blaspheming liars, worshipers of idols, filled with disrespect for authority, consumed with lust, theft, and coveting – and God would be right to send judgment – Instead He sent Jesus to save us! Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift! -2 Cor. 9:15 Those who receive Jesus receive more gifts as well! When you receive Jesus you receive the gift of adoption into God's family! When you receive Jesus you receive the indwelling Holy Spirit. When you receive Jesus, you now have relationship with God the Father. When you receive Jesus, you have a heavenly inheritance coming!

Welcome to our Sunday Service! We pray that this is a blessing for you. Feel free to like, share, and comment on this post - how has the Lord been working in your life this week? _____________________________ To learn more about The Tabernacle, check out our website and follow us on our social media platforms!Visit our website:www.thetabernaclefamily.orgConnect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thetabernaclefamilyCheck out our YouTube channel at:  www.youtube.com/@tabdanva