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Main Points1. God does not want us to be deceived (Col. 2:4, 8).2. God wants us to be anchored to Him (Col. 2:5-7).3. Jesus Christ alone completes us (Col. 2:9-10).

Main Points1. God does not want us to be deceived (Col. 2:4, 8).2. God wants us to be anchored to Him (Col. 2:5-7).3. Jesus Christ alone completes us (Col. 2:9-10).

When I was a child, I remember the sense of security I had while Ronald Reagan served as our president. I also remember his farewell address to our nation and the great sense of loss that I felt knowing that he would no longer be serving as our nations president. John Winthrop preached in 1630 upon arriving in Massachusetts; in his sermon Winthrop declared his fellow pilgrims: For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. He also said of their future in Massachusetts: Beloved there is now set before us life and good, Death and evil, in that we are commanded this day to love the Lord our God, and to love one another, to walk in his ways and to keep his Commandments and his Ordinance and his laws, and the articles of our Covenant with him, that we may live and be multiplied, and that the Lord our God may bless us in the land we go to possess. John Winthrops sermon had a profound impact upon President Reagan for he placed that line about Winthrops hope and expectation that one day that land he and the pilgrims discovered, ...will be as a city upon a hill. I still remember President Reagans farewell address to our nation; I was in eighth grade at Neshaminy Junior High when I heard it. Reagans address is just over 20 minutes long, and although we do not have the time to listen to it, I would like to share with you his concluding remarks that I believe have affected our nation more than some of you may realize: I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it, and see it still. And how stands the city on this winter night?More prosperous, more secure, and happier than it was eight years ago.But more than that: After 200 years, two centuries, she still stands strong and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held steady no matter what storm. And she's still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness, toward home. We've done our part. And as I walk off into the city streets, a final word to the men and women of the Reagan revolution, the men and women across America who for eight years did the work that brought Americaback. My friends: We did it. We weren't just marking time. We made a difference. We made the city stronger, we made the city freer, and we left her in good hands.All in all, not bad, not bad at all. There is a phrase introduced to our nation from another campaign that I was going to use for the title of this sermon... a phrase I have heard many Christians say or embrace that I have chosen not to use. I know that when some use the phrase, it has been and continues to be used out of a hope and desire for Americas good. However, I have instead chosen the phrase: America is a shining city on hill used by a president I still admire and respect. Jesus is Eternally the Same (vv. 7-9) What I dislike about a sermon series like Christians Say the Darndest Things is that today you will receive an exposition on Hebrews 13:7-14 without the benefit of seeing the wounder of chapters 1:1-13:6. We are skipping right to the end without gazing at the Christ who is, the heir of all things, through whom God also made the world. Right out of the gate in the book of Hebrews, we discover a Jesus who is, the radiance of the glory of God and the exact representation of His nature. In Hebrews we discover a Jesus who, upholds all things by the word of His power. The Jesus of Hebrews 13:8 is the same Jesus who, When he had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb. 1:1-3). Because Jesus is, the radiance of the glory of God and the exact representation of His nature (1:3), He is the Ancient of Days (Dan. 7:9). Jesus is the great I AM (John 8:48-59) because He is equal with the Father as the eternal Son (John 5:15-23). Jesus is He who was and is the Light of mankind because He is the Word who was in the beginning with God through Whom All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being (John 1:1-4). This same Jesus became flesh through the miraculous conception in Marys womb while still a virgin, He was born and lived among mankind yet without sin, and He lived for the purpose of dying for sinners like you and me on a cross. This same Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb, and on the third day... He defeated sin and death by rising from the grave. For this reason, this same Jesus is highly exalted and upon Him is, the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:8-11). Jesus is the same yesterday in that when God the Father spoke creation into existence, it was Jesus the Son who completed it: for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:15-16). The reason why the earth remains in orbit and every atom and molecule remains in place is because the One who is also the same today is responsible for holding, all things together (Col. 1:17). Jesus is the same yesterday in that He was the One before Whom Abraham bowed (see Gen. 18:1-22). Jesus is the same yesterday in that He is the One who wrestled with Jacob (see Gen. 32:22-33). Jesus is the same yesterday in that He appeared before Joshua as the captain of the Lords army, and it was before Him that Joshua removed his sandals and worshiped (Josh. 5:13-15). Jesus is the same yesterday in that He was the One who was seen by King Nebuchadnezzar in the furnace as He kept Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from perishing in blazing fire of the furnace (see Dan. 3:8-30). Jesus is the same yesterday. Listen, the same Jesus who provided Peter, John, and James the miraculous catch of fish that compelled Peter to fall to his knees and respond: Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man (Luke 5:8), is still the same today! The same Jesus cured lepers, made the lame walk, the blind see, and the dead rise... is still the same today! The same Jesus who died for sinners and rose from the grave is still the same today! The same Jesus who commanded us to make disciples (Matt. 18:19-20) and promised, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judah, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth (Acts 1:8), is still the same today! And listen, the same Jesus who promised that He would come back in the same way that He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9), is the same Jesus yesterday, today, and forever! The point is that if you get Jesus wrong, or if you miss Him, or if you choose any person, thing, or ideology over Him... you will get everything else wrong! The message of Hebrews is that Jesus is a treasure that no other treasure can compare. This is why we are told in verse 8 to, Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their way of life, imitate their faith. Those who truly spoke the word of God to you are those who did not get Jesus wrong! Jesus is the same yesterday. Everything in this World is Consistently Unsatisfactory (vv. 10-11) Because Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever... His life, death, and resurrection provide for us a more permanent solution to our sin problem. What this means is that Jesus cross is a better altar unlike ones used under the Old Covenant. The carcasses of the animals slaughtered on the Day of Atonement during Passover were taken out of the city to be burned; if they were thrown into a pile with the city and burned, they would have defiled the city. Not so with Jesus, for while living, he was led outside of the city to become a curse for us on the cross we deserved (Gal. 3:10-14), and by dying for our sins outside the gate, His blood is what makes us holy. What is the point? Here is the point: There is no person, there is no religion outside of Christianity, and there is no government that can do (if you are not a Christian) or has done (if you are a Christian) what Jesus alone can do. Paul Washer put it this way in his sermon preached to pastors some time ago answering the question as to how Jesus death on a cross for a few hours on a tree to save a multitude of men from an eternity in hell: Because that one Man is worth more of them put together. You take mountains and mole hills, crickets and clouds. You take everything. Every planet, every star, every form of beauty. Everything that sings, everything that brings delight, and you put it all onthe scale, and you put Christ on the other side and HE outweighs them all, HE outweighs them ALL! Brethren, this is the one we chase after![1] Compared to Christ, everything in this world is not only temporary but unsatisfactory. Jesus is the living water, and all the promises of this world together cannot compare. They are all broken and cannot deliver what they promise to deliver! The Old Covenant only provided a temporary solution to the sin problem of the Hebrew people; the work of the priests required them to remain standing for the need of a sin covering was ongoing. This is why just three chapters prior, we are reminded in Hebrews 10:1 of the following: For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the form of those things itself, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, make those who approach perfect. Then in Hebrews 10:11-13, we are told of the only one qualified to address our sin problem: Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. (Heb. 10:1113) So, why is it that we are chasing after the shiny things of this world that cannot deliver what only Jesus is able to provide? Christian, if you have the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, why are you looking for something different? Why would you long for anything else when you have He who is the Bright Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)? Jesus is the same today. If You Have Jesus, You are Waiting for Something Greater (vv. 12-14) These next verses serve as the crescendo of the entire epistle, and they begin with the word Therefore and if the author of Hebrews was texting you Hebrews 13:7-14, you would see THEREFORE in all caps because it is a very big THEREFORE! In other words, in light of all that has been said from the very first sentence of this epistle to verse 11, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood (v. 12). What was accomplished on His cross for our sins outside the gate on Golgothas hill has done infinitely more than anything else you have chased after thinking that person, or thing, or ideology would bring you purpose, peace of mind, or pleasure. They cannot give you what only God is able to deliver! Dear Christian, Jesus sanctified you by dying for you, his corpse was in that tomb for three days, and the proof that Jesus sanctified you is in the fact that He marched out of that tomb three days later! Who or what can give you what Jesus has provided? If you are a Christian, Ephesians 1:7-8 is about you: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. What Jesus provided on the altar of the cross is only available for those who receive it, and those who receive it will never be the same because of Him. The evidence that you have received what Jesus has made available to you is a desire to follow Him. To any and all who wish to know Him, must follow Him, for Jesus said: If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul (Matt. 16:2426)? What we read in Hebrews 13:13 is no different: So then... So what? In light of the fact that Jesus is, the same yesterday and today, and forever (v. 7), and what has been provided on the altar of His cross for our sins (v. 10)... let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach (v. 13). The only reason anyone would do that is if they understood Jesus to be infinitely more precious and valuable than any person, any thing, any ideology, any city, or nation of this world. We chase after Jesus because in Him is life is and because He is life, He alone is the Light of mankind (John 1:4). We chase after Jesus because He is, the Light of the world and the one who chases after Him, will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life (John 8:12). Because we chase after Him and not the shiny trinkets of this world, He said of His Church: You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.... Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matt. 5:14, 16). If you are a Christian, you are the light of the world because you have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God! He is the Alpha and Omega and He is the first and the last (Rev. 1:8, 17). It is before Him that the nations will stand in judgment and a day is coming when it will be from Him that earth and heaven will recoil in response to His holy and majestic presence! If you are a Christian, you belong to Him and because you belong to Him, you have no reason to fear Him who the tribes of the earth will mourn when He comes again (see Matt. 24:30). This may shock some of you and it may offend others of you, but you really need to hear this: America is not a shinning city on a hill! Here is what the Bible says about America and the nations that surround her: Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales (Isa. 40:15). Because we follow Jesus, we chase after another shinning city, we chase after His city... a city, which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God (Heb. 11:10). Because Jesus is the same yesterday and today, and forever, we live as foreigners, aliens, and strangers even in the United States of America. America cannot be our shinning city on a hill because we are promised something infinitely greater: For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking a city which is to come (Heb. 13:14). Here is what Revelation 21:23-27 says about the city we really belong to: And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lambs book of life. If America is a shinning city on a hill, it is nothing more than a tiny piece of glitter in comparison to the city we really belong to, and what makes the city we are seeking, that is to come, infinitely more beautiful is the Jesus who outweighs them all. He is the same yesterday and today, and forever! [1] Shepherds Conference 2016 | General Session 9 - Paul Washer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkqVZm9-7jc)

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. Yesterday, we considered the amazing reality that the Word of God became flesh. First, let's be encouraged by the reality that Jesus is still full of grace and truth. He never changes. He is the same forever. If Jesus is full of grace, then God is full of grace. In Christ, we see the glory of God, full of grace. Isn't it encouraging to know that God is a God of grace? If Jesus is full of grace, then He has grace to spare, grace to give. Grace overflows. Second, let's consider that He's full of grace. Think of grace as the power of God to do what God requires. God's grace isn't blanket forgiveness or just positional righteousness, nor is it that God sets aside the Law or the righteous requirements of the Law. Quite the contrary, grace upholds or fulfills the law at the deepest level because it empowers the recipient of grace to not only love righteousness but to do it—in the power of the Spirit—for the glory of God. God the Father said of Jesus, “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness” (Heb. 1:9). We learn in Heb. 2:9 that Jesus received grace from God to taste death for us all. What was the grace He received? It was the power to do what God required of Him as our high priest and the propitiator for our sins. He is full of grace. He could expend that power to fulfill God's just requirements and still have infinitely more grace to give to us so we might believe in Him and live to love with Him, which God commands (1 John 3:23). We can live to love with Jesus because He is full of grace, the power to love both God and man. Third, let's consider that Jesus is full of truth. He's not full of a truth. He is full of THE Truth. Later John recorded Jesus saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), and “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:31-32). It helps me to think of truth in this way: Truth is what God does, says, and sees through Jesus Christ. It's not a feeling, it's not a perception, and it's not one's personal perspective. Jesus is full of reality. If we want to see the truth about God and everything that is happening in the world, we should look at Jesus. Truth is what He's doing. Therefore, truth is what He sees happening. Since He is writing His story, His narrative is the only thing that matters. We can't rewrite the narrative to fit what we feel, think, or would like for reality to be. There's no such thing as “my reality.” There's only one reality, and it's the truth in Jesus Christ. Truth is what He is, and He's full of it—full of what the Father is doing and saying. We, therefore, have something secure to base our lives on—the truth of God revealed in Jesus Christ, the living Word of God. If Jesus is full of grace and truth and He lives in us, then we have that fullness of grace and truth residing in our lives. When God gave us the Holy Spirit, He didn't give us parts of Jesus or only certain aspects of Jesus. Jesus became our fullness. We are complete in Him (Col. 2:10), lacking nothing. His grace and truth look like love because God is love. So as we live today to love with Jesus, our lives should be filled with grace and truth. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may be encouraged to turn their hearts to God and live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. We are encouraged again about the unshakable kingdom we have received, having believed in Jesus Christ. This letter began with what God spoke regarding His Son, Jesus. In 1:10-12 we read, And, You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end. Then remember what was written at the end of chapter 12. “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Then here again, the author anchored his readers and us into the greatness and majesty of Jesus Christ, which is the foundation of our faith. Jesus is the cornerstone of the unshakable kingdom of which we are registered citizens. As we live to love with Jesus today, our confidence is in Him. He has always been a Helper, will today be our Helper, and will always be available to help us through whatever we face. As John Piper loves to say, we have confidence in future grace because of God's faithfulness in the past and today. Consider how wonderful and secure it is to base our lives on the life of Jesus Christ. He is our life (Col. 3:4)! Our lives are in Him (Col. 3:3), and we can rest in His mercy and grace as we abide in Him. So draw near to Him with confidence and peace. If you have believed in Jesus, then your life is secure, unchangeable, and unshakable because Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

All people want to be happy. I have spent a lot of time with people as a pastor, and the majority of couples and individuals who met with me over the years did so because they longed to be happy. It is also true that the motivation for couples seeking marriage or divorce, the desire for a new job or the determination to quit a job, what led to substance abuse or a willingness to break an addiction is all the same: the desire to be happy. In fact, there have been people who claimed to be Christians who sought marriage, divorce, drugs, freedom from addiction, debt, and freedom from debt out of the belief that God wanted them to be happy. How about you? Do you believe God wants you to be happy? Do you believe that the ends justify the means to achieve and experience the happiness you believe God wants for you? Maybe you are asking any one of the following questions: I am unhappy where I live, if I have the means to do so, can I move so that I can be happier? I am tired of driving the same old car, should I buy a new one that will make me happier? I feel unfulfilled where I work, can I look for a new job that will fill my day with a little more joy? I feel ignored and taken for granted in my marriage, my spouse does not meet my needs, I am unhappy, our children are miserable because we are miserable... something needs to change so that we can be happy. So here is what I want to do with the time we have left. I want to show you from the Bible three things: God expects you to seek happiness. God commands you to pursue your joy. Finding your joy/happiness is possible. By answering the above three questions, I hope that you will have a clear and biblical understanding as to whether God wants you to be happy. God Expects You to Seek Happiness (vv. 1-5) Let me begin by stating that in Psalm 95 alone, the word joy is repeated three times in the first two verses: sing for joy..., shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation, shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments. But Psalm 95 is not the only place where such language is used; consider the language from the Bible: Delight yourself... (Ps. 37:4) Rejoice... (Phil. 4:4) Rejoice always... (1 Thess. 5:16) Let us rejoice and be glad... (Ps. 118:24) But where is it that God expects us to find our joy? Again, consider the same above verses: Delight yourself in the Lord... (Ps. 37:4) Rejoice in the Lord always... (Phil. 4:4) Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:16-18) This is the day which the Lord has made, lets us rejoice and be glad in it. (Ps. 118:24) Is our happiness only to be found in God? What about verses like Ecclesiastes 9:9, does it not tell us to enjoy life while we have it? Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your futile life which He has given you under the sun, all the days of your futility; for this is your reward in life and in your work which you have labored under the sun. Yes and no. Consider the first two verses of Psalm 19 and what it says about creation: The heavens tell of the glory of God; and their expanse declares the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. The heavens are what God created, and like your wife whom you love, like the life you enjoy, and everything else... it all points to the glory of the Creator! The reason why Psalm 95 begins with these words: Come, lets sing for joy to the Lord, lets shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Lets come before His presence with a song of thanksgiving, lets shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments is because He is the giver of all good things! Why should we worship Yahweh? Because Psalm 95:3-5 is true of only Him: For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods, in whose hand are the depths of the earth, the peaks of the mountains are also His. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land. This is why, of the Ten Commandments, Jesus summed up the first four: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (Matt. 22:37; see also Deut. 6:5; Exod. 20:1-11). Listen, God expects us to seek our joy, but not ultimately in His good gifts but in the giver who gave those good gifts... namely God Himself. In fact C.S. Lewis rightfully observed from reading his Bible that, Joy is the serious business of heaven.[1] God Commands You to Pursue Your Joy (vv. 6-7) Psalm 95 begins with an imperative, which is a command: Come, lets sing for joy... Why does He command us to pursue our joy? Because we exist for something greater than the good gifts of His creation. We exist because of Him and for Him! The second imperative in Psalm 95 begins with verse 6, Come, lets worship and bow down, lets kneel before the Lord our Maker. Why are we commanded to bow before God? Because He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand (v. 7). The command to pursue our joy is not that we find it in anything, but in the One who made all things. He is God, and by definition there is nothing and no one that is greater than He is. To look for or expect our happiness or joy to be primarily found in anything or anyone else will not only leave you empty and disappointed, but is to worship the gift over the Giver! To worship the gift over the Giver is to expect from the gift the thing that only the Giver, God, can provide. C.S. Lewis wrote in his book, Reflections on the Psalms, something that I have found helpful, so I will share it with you: I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed. It is frustrating to have discovered a new author and not to be able to tell anyone how good he is; to come suddenly, at the turn of the road, upon some mountain valley of unexpected grandeur and then to have to keep silent because the people with you care for it no more than for a tin can in the ditch; to hear a good joke and find no one to share it with. Do you hear what C.S. Lewis is saying? We praise what we value and care about and our delight is not complete until our delight is expressed. If it is true, that there is no greater beauty, reality, or person than the God who created all that is beautiful and good, true worship cannot be experienced unless it is directed at Him. This is why the Westminster Catechism is right to begin with these words: The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. But even on this point, C.S. Lewis made the following observation that helps us get a little closer to answering the question as to what kind of happiness God wants for us; here is what Lewis wrote: The Scotch catechism says that mans chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. But we shall then know that these are the same thing. To fully enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him. John Piper took it one step further by swapping out the word and in the Westminster Catechism of Faith with the word by: The chief end of man is to glorify God byenjoying Him forever. God does expect us to seek our happiness, and He does command us to pursue our joy, but a happiness and a joy that is rooted in Him. If our happiness and joy is sought in anything other than God, it will not satisfy. However, if the pursuit of our happiness and joy is sought in Him, there will be a joy and happiness that will be rooted in a contentment in Him. This is how and why James 1:2-3 is only true for those who find their joy in Jesus Christ: Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Finding Your Joy/Happiness is Possible (vv. 8-10) So, does God want you to be happy? Yes, He wants you to be happy in Him! Does that mean that He wants you to leave your marriage because it does not make you happy? No! Does that mean you should leave your job because it does not make you happy? No. Does that mean you should get a new car because it does not make you happy? No, not necessarily. Why? Because your happiness and joy cannot ultimately be found in anything or anyone except the God who is your Maker. When we come to Psalm 95:8, there is a shift from the command to find your joy in God to Israels rebellion while they were in the wilderness, and more specifically, the Psalm refers to something that happened in Exodus 17:1-7 not long after God saved Israel from Pharoh and his army by parting the Red Sea. While in Egypt, Israel witnessed their God and Maker do mighty deeds that should have left little room to doubt His goodness and love for His people. Even though they had no reason to doubt Gods faithfulness to them, they still struggled to believe His faithfulness to them, so they complained: So the people quarreled with Moses and said, Give us water so that we may drink (Exod. 17:2)! Moses response gives us a glimpse into 40 years of Israel in the wilderness: Moses said to them, Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord? Throughout Israels existence, they were known for complaining and faithlessness towards God. Even after 40 years in the wilderness, God said of His people: Be appalled at this, you heavens, And shudder, be very desolate, declares the Lord. For My people have committed two evils: They have abandoned Me, the fountain of living waters, to carve out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that do not hold water (Jer. 2:12-13). The great evil that Israel was guilty of was that She traded God for idols that could not satisfy. Consider another example from Isaiah 55:1-3 when God invited His people to turn away from the things that could not satisfy what they really needed: You there! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies shown to David. So what happened in Exodus 17? Moses immediately brought Israels complaint before God out of a fear that they might eventually stone him to death. Moses asked, What am I to do with this people? (v. 4). Listen to the way God responded to Israels lack of faith and sin: Then the Lord said to Moses, Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel (17:5-6). In other words, God said to Moses: Moses, take your staff that ought to be used to strike Israel for their sins, and take your rod and strike the rock I will be standing on so that Israel will not die of thirst. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, the apostle Paul said that the rock Moses struck was a picture and example of what God would do to satisfy the thirst of all who desire to be satisfied. The rod of Gods judgment for our sin came down upon Jesus as the rock of our salvation! Paul said of the rock Moses struck: for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ (v. 4). Now, listen to what Jesus said in John 7:37-38, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water. Psalm 95 begins with these words: Come, lets sing for joy to the Lord, lets shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Jesus is the rock of our salvation! Again, Psalm 95 continues, Come, lets worship and bow down, lets kneel before the Lord our Maker (v. 6). Of Jesus, the Bible testifies, ...for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). Because the rod of Gods holy wrath came upon Jesus in our place, we are told: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:8-11) The Psalmist then reminds us that not only is God our Maker, but that He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the wilderness... (v. 7). Can you not hear the words of Jesus in Psalm 95:7, did He not say: I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.... I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me.... And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd (John 10:11, 14, 16). Conclusion Is joy and happiness possible for you? The answer is Yes! But it will not come from your car, through your job, or from any other person, but your Maker and the Great Shepherd of His sheep... namely Jesus! If you are seeking your happiness and joy in anything other than Jesus, then C.S. Lewis words serve as a fitting conclusion to this sermon: It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. God wants you to be happy and He wants you to experience joy, but it is a happiness and a joy that can only be found in Him. The joy and happiness that can only be found in God is the kind of joy and happiness that does not dissolve through suffering but sustains the sufferer because of the One from Whom true happiness and joy comes from. Amen. [1] C.S. Lewis,Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer(San Diego: Harvest, 1964), p. 93.

All people want to be happy. I have spent a lot of time with people as a pastor, and the majority of couples and individuals who met with me over the years did so because they longed to be happy. It is also true that the motivation for couples seeking marriage or divorce, the desire for a new job or the determination to quit a job, what led to substance abuse or a willingness to break an addiction is all the same: the desire to be happy. In fact, there have been people who claimed to be Christians who sought marriage, divorce, drugs, freedom from addiction, debt, and freedom from debt out of the belief that God wanted them to be happy. How about you? Do you believe God wants you to be happy? Do you believe that the ends justify the means to achieve and experience the happiness you believe God wants for you? Maybe you are asking any one of the following questions: I am unhappy where I live, if I have the means to do so, can I move so that I can be happier? I am tired of driving the same old car, should I buy a new one that will make me happier? I feel unfulfilled where I work, can I look for a new job that will fill my day with a little more joy? I feel ignored and taken for granted in my marriage, my spouse does not meet my needs, I am unhappy, our children are miserable because we are miserable... something needs to change so that we can be happy. So here is what I want to do with the time we have left. I want to show you from the Bible three things: God expects you to seek happiness. God commands you to pursue your joy. Finding your joy/happiness is possible. By answering the above three questions, I hope that you will have a clear and biblical understanding as to whether God wants you to be happy. God Expects You to Seek Happiness (vv. 1-5) Let me begin by stating that in Psalm 95 alone, the word joy is repeated three times in the first two verses: sing for joy..., shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation, shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments. But Psalm 95 is not the only place where such language is used; consider the language from the Bible: Delight yourself... (Ps. 37:4) Rejoice... (Phil. 4:4) Rejoice always... (1 Thess. 5:16) Let us rejoice and be glad... (Ps. 118:24) But where is it that God expects us to find our joy? Again, consider the same above verses: Delight yourself in the Lord... (Ps. 37:4) Rejoice in the Lord always... (Phil. 4:4) Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:16-18) This is the day which the Lord has made, lets us rejoice and be glad in it. (Ps. 118:24) Is our happiness only to be found in God? What about verses like Ecclesiastes 9:9, does it not tell us to enjoy life while we have it? Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your futile life which He has given you under the sun, all the days of your futility; for this is your reward in life and in your work which you have labored under the sun. Yes and no. Consider the first two verses of Psalm 19 and what it says about creation: The heavens tell of the glory of God; and their expanse declares the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. The heavens are what God created, and like your wife whom you love, like the life you enjoy, and everything else... it all points to the glory of the Creator! The reason why Psalm 95 begins with these words: Come, lets sing for joy to the Lord, lets shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Lets come before His presence with a song of thanksgiving, lets shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments is because He is the giver of all good things! Why should we worship Yahweh? Because Psalm 95:3-5 is true of only Him: For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods, in whose hand are the depths of the earth, the peaks of the mountains are also His. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land. This is why, of the Ten Commandments, Jesus summed up the first four: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (Matt. 22:37; see also Deut. 6:5; Exod. 20:1-11). Listen, God expects us to seek our joy, but not ultimately in His good gifts but in the giver who gave those good gifts... namely God Himself. In fact C.S. Lewis rightfully observed from reading his Bible that, Joy is the serious business of heaven.[1] God Commands You to Pursue Your Joy (vv. 6-7) Psalm 95 begins with an imperative, which is a command: Come, lets sing for joy... Why does He command us to pursue our joy? Because we exist for something greater than the good gifts of His creation. We exist because of Him and for Him! The second imperative in Psalm 95 begins with verse 6, Come, lets worship and bow down, lets kneel before the Lord our Maker. Why are we commanded to bow before God? Because He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand (v. 7). The command to pursue our joy is not that we find it in anything, but in the One who made all things. He is God, and by definition there is nothing and no one that is greater than He is. To look for or expect our happiness or joy to be primarily found in anything or anyone else will not only leave you empty and disappointed, but is to worship the gift over the Giver! To worship the gift over the Giver is to expect from the gift the thing that only the Giver, God, can provide. C.S. Lewis wrote in his book, Reflections on the Psalms, something that I have found helpful, so I will share it with you: I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed. It is frustrating to have discovered a new author and not to be able to tell anyone how good he is; to come suddenly, at the turn of the road, upon some mountain valley of unexpected grandeur and then to have to keep silent because the people with you care for it no more than for a tin can in the ditch; to hear a good joke and find no one to share it with. Do you hear what C.S. Lewis is saying? We praise what we value and care about and our delight is not complete until our delight is expressed. If it is true, that there is no greater beauty, reality, or person than the God who created all that is beautiful and good, true worship cannot be experienced unless it is directed at Him. This is why the Westminster Catechism is right to begin with these words: The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. But even on this point, C.S. Lewis made the following observation that helps us get a little closer to answering the question as to what kind of happiness God wants for us; here is what Lewis wrote: The Scotch catechism says that mans chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. But we shall then know that these are the same thing. To fully enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him. John Piper took it one step further by swapping out the word and in the Westminster Catechism of Faith with the word by: The chief end of man is to glorify God byenjoying Him forever. God does expect us to seek our happiness, and He does command us to pursue our joy, but a happiness and a joy that is rooted in Him. If our happiness and joy is sought in anything other than God, it will not satisfy. However, if the pursuit of our happiness and joy is sought in Him, there will be a joy and happiness that will be rooted in a contentment in Him. This is how and why James 1:2-3 is only true for those who find their joy in Jesus Christ: Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Finding Your Joy/Happiness is Possible (vv. 8-10) So, does God want you to be happy? Yes, He wants you to be happy in Him! Does that mean that He wants you to leave your marriage because it does not make you happy? No! Does that mean you should leave your job because it does not make you happy? No. Does that mean you should get a new car because it does not make you happy? No, not necessarily. Why? Because your happiness and joy cannot ultimately be found in anything or anyone except the God who is your Maker. When we come to Psalm 95:8, there is a shift from the command to find your joy in God to Israels rebellion while they were in the wilderness, and more specifically, the Psalm refers to something that happened in Exodus 17:1-7 not long after God saved Israel from Pharoh and his army by parting the Red Sea. While in Egypt, Israel witnessed their God and Maker do mighty deeds that should have left little room to doubt His goodness and love for His people. Even though they had no reason to doubt Gods faithfulness to them, they still struggled to believe His faithfulness to them, so they complained: So the people quarreled with Moses and said, Give us water so that we may drink (Exod. 17:2)! Moses response gives us a glimpse into 40 years of Israel in the wilderness: Moses said to them, Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord? Throughout Israels existence, they were known for complaining and faithlessness towards God. Even after 40 years in the wilderness, God said of His people: Be appalled at this, you heavens, And shudder, be very desolate, declares the Lord. For My people have committed two evils: They have abandoned Me, the fountain of living waters, to carve out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that do not hold water (Jer. 2:12-13). The great evil that Israel was guilty of was that She traded God for idols that could not satisfy. Consider another example from Isaiah 55:1-3 when God invited His people to turn away from the things that could not satisfy what they really needed: You there! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies shown to David. So what happened in Exodus 17? Moses immediately brought Israels complaint before God out of a fear that they might eventually stone him to death. Moses asked, What am I to do with this people? (v. 4). Listen to the way God responded to Israels lack of faith and sin: Then the Lord said to Moses, Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel (17:5-6). In other words, God said to Moses: Moses, take your staff that ought to be used to strike Israel for their sins, and take your rod and strike the rock I will be standing on so that Israel will not die of thirst. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, the apostle Paul said that the rock Moses struck was a picture and example of what God would do to satisfy the thirst of all who desire to be satisfied. The rod of Gods judgment for our sin came down upon Jesus as the rock of our salvation! Paul said of the rock Moses struck: for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ (v. 4). Now, listen to what Jesus said in John 7:37-38, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water. Psalm 95 begins with these words: Come, lets sing for joy to the Lord, lets shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Jesus is the rock of our salvation! Again, Psalm 95 continues, Come, lets worship and bow down, lets kneel before the Lord our Maker (v. 6). Of Jesus, the Bible testifies, ...for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). Because the rod of Gods holy wrath came upon Jesus in our place, we are told: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:8-11) The Psalmist then reminds us that not only is God our Maker, but that He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the wilderness... (v. 7). Can you not hear the words of Jesus in Psalm 95:7, did He not say: I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.... I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me.... And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd (John 10:11, 14, 16). Conclusion Is joy and happiness possible for you? The answer is Yes! But it will not come from your car, through your job, or from any other person, but your Maker and the Great Shepherd of His sheep... namely Jesus! If you are seeking your happiness and joy in anything other than Jesus, then C.S. Lewis words serve as a fitting conclusion to this sermon: It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. God wants you to be happy and He wants you to experience joy, but it is a happiness and a joy that can only be found in Him. The joy and happiness that can only be found in God is the kind of joy and happiness that does not dissolve through suffering but sustains the sufferer because of the One from Whom true happiness and joy comes from. Amen. [1] C.S. Lewis,Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer(San Diego: Harvest, 1964), p. 93.

All people want to be happy. I have spent a lot of time with people as a pastor, and the majority of couples and individuals who met with me over the years did so because they longed to be happy. It is also true that the motivation for couples seeking marriage or divorce, the desire for a new job or the determination to quit a job, what led to substance abuse or a willingness to break an addiction is all the same: the desire to be happy. In fact, there have been people who claimed to be Christians who sought marriage, divorce, drugs, freedom from addiction, debt, and freedom from debt out of the belief that God wanted them to be happy. How about you? Do you believe God wants you to be happy? Do you believe that the ends justify the means to achieve and experience the happiness you believe God wants for you? Maybe you are asking any one of the following questions: I am unhappy where I live, if I have the means to do so, can I move so that I can be happier? I am tired of driving the same old car, should I buy a new one that will make me happier? I feel unfulfilled where I work, can I look for a new job that will fill my day with a little more joy? I feel ignored and taken for granted in my marriage, my spouse does not meet my needs, I am unhappy, our children are miserable because we are miserable... something needs to change so that we can be happy. So here is what I want to do with the time we have left. I want to show you from the Bible three things: God expects you to seek happiness. God commands you to pursue your joy. Finding your joy/happiness is possible. By answering the above three questions, I hope that you will have a clear and biblical understanding as to whether God wants you to be happy. God Expects You to Seek Happiness (vv. 1-5) Let me begin by stating that in Psalm 95 alone, the word joy is repeated three times in the first two verses: sing for joy..., shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation, shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments. But Psalm 95 is not the only place where such language is used; consider the language from the Bible: Delight yourself... (Ps. 37:4) Rejoice... (Phil. 4:4) Rejoice always... (1 Thess. 5:16) Let us rejoice and be glad... (Ps. 118:24) But where is it that God expects us to find our joy? Again, consider the same above verses: Delight yourself in the Lord... (Ps. 37:4) Rejoice in the Lord always... (Phil. 4:4) Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:16-18) This is the day which the Lord has made, lets us rejoice and be glad in it. (Ps. 118:24) Is our happiness only to be found in God? What about verses like Ecclesiastes 9:9, does it not tell us to enjoy life while we have it? Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your futile life which He has given you under the sun, all the days of your futility; for this is your reward in life and in your work which you have labored under the sun. Yes and no. Consider the first two verses of Psalm 19 and what it says about creation: The heavens tell of the glory of God; and their expanse declares the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. The heavens are what God created, and like your wife whom you love, like the life you enjoy, and everything else... it all points to the glory of the Creator! The reason why Psalm 95 begins with these words: Come, lets sing for joy to the Lord, lets shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Lets come before His presence with a song of thanksgiving, lets shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments is because He is the giver of all good things! Why should we worship Yahweh? Because Psalm 95:3-5 is true of only Him: For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods, in whose hand are the depths of the earth, the peaks of the mountains are also His. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land. This is why, of the Ten Commandments, Jesus summed up the first four: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (Matt. 22:37; see also Deut. 6:5; Exod. 20:1-11). Listen, God expects us to seek our joy, but not ultimately in His good gifts but in the giver who gave those good gifts... namely God Himself. In fact C.S. Lewis rightfully observed from reading his Bible that, Joy is the serious business of heaven.[1] God Commands You to Pursue Your Joy (vv. 6-7) Psalm 95 begins with an imperative, which is a command: Come, lets sing for joy... Why does He command us to pursue our joy? Because we exist for something greater than the good gifts of His creation. We exist because of Him and for Him! The second imperative in Psalm 95 begins with verse 6, Come, lets worship and bow down, lets kneel before the Lord our Maker. Why are we commanded to bow before God? Because He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand (v. 7). The command to pursue our joy is not that we find it in anything, but in the One who made all things. He is God, and by definition there is nothing and no one that is greater than He is. To look for or expect our happiness or joy to be primarily found in anything or anyone else will not only leave you empty and disappointed, but is to worship the gift over the Giver! To worship the gift over the Giver is to expect from the gift the thing that only the Giver, God, can provide. C.S. Lewis wrote in his book, Reflections on the Psalms, something that I have found helpful, so I will share it with you: I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed. It is frustrating to have discovered a new author and not to be able to tell anyone how good he is; to come suddenly, at the turn of the road, upon some mountain valley of unexpected grandeur and then to have to keep silent because the people with you care for it no more than for a tin can in the ditch; to hear a good joke and find no one to share it with. Do you hear what C.S. Lewis is saying? We praise what we value and care about and our delight is not complete until our delight is expressed. If it is true, that there is no greater beauty, reality, or person than the God who created all that is beautiful and good, true worship cannot be experienced unless it is directed at Him. This is why the Westminster Catechism is right to begin with these words: The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. But even on this point, C.S. Lewis made the following observation that helps us get a little closer to answering the question as to what kind of happiness God wants for us; here is what Lewis wrote: The Scotch catechism says that mans chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. But we shall then know that these are the same thing. To fully enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him. John Piper took it one step further by swapping out the word and in the Westminster Catechism of Faith with the word by: The chief end of man is to glorify God byenjoying Him forever. God does expect us to seek our happiness, and He does command us to pursue our joy, but a happiness and a joy that is rooted in Him. If our happiness and joy is sought in anything other than God, it will not satisfy. However, if the pursuit of our happiness and joy is sought in Him, there will be a joy and happiness that will be rooted in a contentment in Him. This is how and why James 1:2-3 is only true for those who find their joy in Jesus Christ: Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Finding Your Joy/Happiness is Possible (vv. 8-10) So, does God want you to be happy? Yes, He wants you to be happy in Him! Does that mean that He wants you to leave your marriage because it does not make you happy? No! Does that mean you should leave your job because it does not make you happy? No. Does that mean you should get a new car because it does not make you happy? No, not necessarily. Why? Because your happiness and joy cannot ultimately be found in anything or anyone except the God who is your Maker. When we come to Psalm 95:8, there is a shift from the command to find your joy in God to Israels rebellion while they were in the wilderness, and more specifically, the Psalm refers to something that happened in Exodus 17:1-7 not long after God saved Israel from Pharoh and his army by parting the Red Sea. While in Egypt, Israel witnessed their God and Maker do mighty deeds that should have left little room to doubt His goodness and love for His people. Even though they had no reason to doubt Gods faithfulness to them, they still struggled to believe His faithfulness to them, so they complained: So the people quarreled with Moses and said, Give us water so that we may drink (Exod. 17:2)! Moses response gives us a glimpse into 40 years of Israel in the wilderness: Moses said to them, Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord? Throughout Israels existence, they were known for complaining and faithlessness towards God. Even after 40 years in the wilderness, God said of His people: Be appalled at this, you heavens, And shudder, be very desolate, declares the Lord. For My people have committed two evils: They have abandoned Me, the fountain of living waters, to carve out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that do not hold water (Jer. 2:12-13). The great evil that Israel was guilty of was that She traded God for idols that could not satisfy. Consider another example from Isaiah 55:1-3 when God invited His people to turn away from the things that could not satisfy what they really needed: You there! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies shown to David. So what happened in Exodus 17? Moses immediately brought Israels complaint before God out of a fear that they might eventually stone him to death. Moses asked, What am I to do with this people? (v. 4). Listen to the way God responded to Israels lack of faith and sin: Then the Lord said to Moses, Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel (17:5-6). In other words, God said to Moses: Moses, take your staff that ought to be used to strike Israel for their sins, and take your rod and strike the rock I will be standing on so that Israel will not die of thirst. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, the apostle Paul said that the rock Moses struck was a picture and example of what God would do to satisfy the thirst of all who desire to be satisfied. The rod of Gods judgment for our sin came down upon Jesus as the rock of our salvation! Paul said of the rock Moses struck: for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ (v. 4). Now, listen to what Jesus said in John 7:37-38, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water. Psalm 95 begins with these words: Come, lets sing for joy to the Lord, lets shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Jesus is the rock of our salvation! Again, Psalm 95 continues, Come, lets worship and bow down, lets kneel before the Lord our Maker (v. 6). Of Jesus, the Bible testifies, ...for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). Because the rod of Gods holy wrath came upon Jesus in our place, we are told: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:8-11) The Psalmist then reminds us that not only is God our Maker, but that He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the wilderness... (v. 7). Can you not hear the words of Jesus in Psalm 95:7, did He not say: I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.... I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me.... And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd (John 10:11, 14, 16). Conclusion Is joy and happiness possible for you? The answer is Yes! But it will not come from your car, through your job, or from any other person, but your Maker and the Great Shepherd of His sheep... namely Jesus! If you are seeking your happiness and joy in anything other than Jesus, then C.S. Lewis words serve as a fitting conclusion to this sermon: It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. God wants you to be happy and He wants you to experience joy, but it is a happiness and a joy that can only be found in Him. The joy and happiness that can only be found in God is the kind of joy and happiness that does not dissolve through suffering but sustains the sufferer because of the One from Whom true happiness and joy comes from. Amen. [1] C.S. Lewis,Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer(San Diego: Harvest, 1964), p. 93.

Text: Proverbs 15:25-27 (ESV)   25 The LORD tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow's boundaries. 26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but gracious words are pure. 27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.   THE DESTRUCTION OF THE PROUD   The proud, arrogant, or self-righteous person is guaranteed to face a day of reckoning. It is because he lifts himself up instead of humbling himself before the sight of the Lord. All he accumulates in life will come crashing down under the judgment of God (Prov 10:16, 25, 28). Justice may not be seen yet in this world but it will certainly come.   In contrast, the widow is an icon of weakness and vulnerabilities, is it not? A widow has nothing to be proud about. God's point is that He prefers the humble person. Solomon depicts God defending such a woman and her land against thieves. Unlike the house of the proud, her house would stand. The Lord would keep the boundaries of her land in place. The weak like a widow with God is secured than the proud without God.   Moreover, the evil or ungodly thoughts of those who reject the Lord are repulsive to Him. Evil thoughts give birth not only to wicked acts but also to wicked words (Mat 12:34; 15:18–19; Jas 1:14–15). Nothing is hidden from God, not even a person's thoughts (Heb 4:13). Thoughts themselves could be sinful and God knows them (Mat 5:21–22, 28). In the days before the flood in Noah's time, "the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Gen 6:5). He responded by destroying mankind, excepting Noah and Noah's family.   On the other hand, the Lord hears pleasant or gracious words and deems them pure (Prov 15:26). The Hebrew adjective translated here as "pure" means something "pure, clean even fair." Believers receive exhortations in Scripture to avoid using wicked words and to speak pleasant words instead. Paul admonishes us to put away "anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk" and lies.[Col 3:8–9] In the same passage later, he commands us to talk and act in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Col 3:17).   Lastly, he who engages in greed and other immoral attitudes does put his family at risk (v. 29). The person inclined towards honest gain and hates bribes does avoid those drawbacks. The example is Achan. God had forbidden Israel from taking anything from the conquered city of Jericho. But, Achan disobeyed. When Joshua confronted Achan what he had done, he replied: "I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath" (Jos 7:21). Achan's crime was such a serious breach of God's specific command that it cost him and his family members their lives (Jos 7:24–25). Listen and FOLLOW us on our podcast ------------------------- Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

On the first Christmas, an angel appeared to some shepherds who were keeping watch over their flocks at night. We are told that at the angels appearing, the shepherds were terribly frightened. The angel announced to the shepherds: And so the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger (Luke 2:1012). The Christmas story does not begin with the shepherds, or with the angels visit to Mary with the words: Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end (Luke 1:31-33). The story of Christmas began long before the promise made to Marys fianc, Joseph: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:20b-21). The story of Christmas begins in Genesis 1:1 with the words: In the beginning. It involves an antagonist (the devil), it is all about a hero (God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit), and it is about our need to be rescued (we have a sin problem). The story of Christmas is a story that transforms unlike any other story; it is a story identified by one word in the Bible, and that word is, Gospel which means, good news. Of this good news, the apostle Paul wrote: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16). The Christmas story is about the promised savior born to be kingthe Lion of the Tribe of Judah from whom, The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the rulers staff from between his feet (Gen. 29:10). Christmas is the ancient promise that the Son of David would be unlike any other king in that God would, establish the throne of his kingdom forever (2 Sam. 7:13). The coming King who would save His people from their sins would be Immanuel (Isa. 7:14)God with us. What is the Helmet of Salvation? Like the soldiers shield, the helmet could be taken of and put back on. The helmet of the Roman soldier was made of bronze and had cheek pieces to provide protection to his head. Like the breastplate of righteousness, Paul draws his language from Isaiah 59:17, He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; and He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped Himself with zeal as a cloak. If you recall from my sermon on the breastplate of righteousness, the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 who was, pierced for our offences, and was crushed for our wrongdoings is the Divine Warrior of Isaiah 59, which begins with these words: Behold, the Lords hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear (v. 1). The One who is able to save is the One to Whom righteousness and salvation truly belongs. When redemption and righteousness was beyond the reach of sinful humanity, Immanuel put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head and was born of a virgin to save us from our sins. But what does it mean to be saved from our sins, and is salvation something that can be taken up and put off like a helmet? To answer those questions we must answer what salvation is. Salvation literally means, preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss. In the strictest and most biblical sense, salvation is something that has happened in the past, but it is also happening in the present, and yes... it is also something that will happen in the future. In other words, Jesus came to save his people from their sins so that they can be saved from the past, the present, and in the future, from the full curse of sin. How so? Well, think about what was announced: Jesus came to save His people from their sins. When Adam and Eve sinned, all of creation was brought under a curse, and that curse includes not only our propensity to sin against God, but also death and the vandalizing of a peace with God all of humanity was intended to enjoy. Here is what the Bible says: Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned... (Rom. 5:12). So, when it comes to our salvation, Timothy Keller said, The Bible says every Christian stands in the middle of three tenses of their salvation. You cant understand the glory and the beauty of it unless you see it. In fact, you wont be able to understand the Scripture and you wont be able to understand whats happening to you if you dont understand.[1] We stand in the past tense of our salvation: You have been saved from the penalty of sin and pardoned from your guilt and now have been covered under the righteousness of Christ and are justified before a holy God (1 Pet. 3:18). We stand in the reality that we have been saved from the penalty of sin! We stand in the present tense of our salvation: You are being saved in the sense that God is changing you through the power of His Holy Spirit. The evidence of your nature to sin is still there and the struggle against your own sin is very real, but each moment that you move closer to death on this side of eternity is one step closer to Christlikeness. This is the fight I was talking about last week. In this present life you, Christian, fight the good fight of the faith and by doing so, we take hold of the eternal life to which you have been called (1 Tim. 6:12). We stand in the reality that we are being saved from the power of sin! We stand in the future tense of our salvation: Because we have been saved from the penalty of sin and we are being saved from the power of sin because Jesus, as the Divine Warrior of Isaiah 59, is able and will indeed rescue us from all sin. The third verse in the carol, Joy to the Word, rightly states: No more let sins and sorrows grow,Nor thorns infest the ground;He comes to make his blessings flowFar as the curse is found. Jesus came to save us from our sins in the sense that He will make his blessings flow as far as the curse is found, and on that day: Death will be swallowed up in victory (1 Cor. 15:54), what is mortal will be swallowed up by life (2 Cor. 5:4), sorrow and singing will flee away (Isa. 51:11), every tear will be wiped away (Rev. 21:1-4), and all things will be made new (Rev. 21:5). We stand in the reality that we will be saved from the presence of sin... forever and will receive a better and more glorious Eden! The salvation that Jesus came to deliver is not something we take off and put on again, so what then is the helmet of salvation? According to 1 Thessalonians 5:8, the helmet of salvation is the hope of our salvation: But since we are of the day, lets be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.Because we are saved, being saved, and will be saved... we live in the hope of our salvation no matter what the enemy launches at us or does to us, the night is almost gone, and the day is near (Rom. 13:12). How Do You Take Up the Helmet of Salvation? To take up the helmet of salvation is to live in the reality that this mortal life is not the end and that you are now, and forever will, remain a child of the living God! The helmet of salvation protects your head, it protects your mind, it protects your line of sight so that you can see the hope that is yours in Christ. When things in life seem to go south, when this life is shortened by disease, when this worlds resources are stripped away, when the proverbial rug is pulled from underneath, and when it seems that all in this world is lost... you can respond with gospel-centered hope: For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison... (2 Cor. 4:17). The helmet of salvation is the assurance of our salvation! Listen, there are two dangers that every person faces if they are a part of any Bible teaching and gospel centered church. The first danger is to believe that you are a Christian when you are not. If you believe that you can believe in Jesus with your mind for the salvation of your soul with little consequence to the way you are living your life today, then you may not be a genuine Christian. True saving faith is to believe and trust that Jesus life, death, and resurrection is enough for the salvation of your soul; the evidence that you genuinely believe and trust in Jesus as your savior will be evidenced in your standing in your past salvation, present salvation, and hope in your future salvation. Do not forget Ephesians 2:8-10! You were saved by grace through faith in Jesus, and the purpose for your salvation is stated in verse 10, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Genuine saving faith in Jesus will be evidenced by a changing life that looks more and more like Jesus life over the years. The second danger you face in the local church is that the enemy can get you to doubt your salvation. If the enemy can get you to doubt your salvation successfully, he will have a better chance of tempting you to live closer to your sin rather than closer to Jesus as your savior. When you take up the helmet of salvation, you stand in the shoes of the gospel of peace, with your identity in Christ firmly belted around your waist, the righteousness of Christ securely fastened over your chest, so that you can take up your biblically saturated faith. When the devil attempts to undermine your salvation, you can take up your helmet of salvation knowing that only because of Jesus, there is no condemnation for you (Rom. 8:1)! When you take up your helmet of salvation in the enemys presence, you do so with confidence, knowing: ...that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus (Phil. 1:6). When the attacks come and the devil or your flesh is all up in your face to tempt you to doubt the sufficiency of Christ, you take up your helmet of salvation with the assurance of 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed... (2 Cor. 4:79). How do you know that the salvation Jesus provided is enough? The One born to save His people from their sins is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace promised long ago (Isa. 9:6-7). He is the promised King whose, times of coming forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity (Micah 5:2). The One born King of the Jews is He who was declared long before His birth through the virgin Mary: I am the first and the last, and there is no God besides Me (Isa. 44:6; Rev. 1:17-18). Jesus can save because He is the righteous Branch of David who is called, Yahweh Our Righteousness (Jer. 23:5-6). He is Him who is, the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation... by Whom all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:15-16). The salvation Jesus provided is enough because, while He existed in the form of God as the Divine Son, He humbled Himself, by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross (see Phil. 2:1-11). This is why we can have every confidence that Ephesians 1:7-8 is all that we need for the hope of our salvation: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. So, in light of all that Jesus is and all that he did to secure your salvation, who are you, Chistian? You are chosen by God before the foundation of the world (1:4-6)! Who are you Christian? You are redeemed as a child of God by the blood of His own Son... namely Jesus (1:7-12)! Who are you Christian? You are sealed by the Holy Spirit as a child of the living God until the day when redemption is finally complete (1:13-14). You can have all the confidence that Jesus is enough because He alone is the Divine Warrior qualified to live the life you could not live for the purpose of dying a death you deserved! Jesus is your righteousness, and He is your salvation! On December 4th, I read something Thomas Watson wrote that Jonathan Gibsons O Come, O Come, Emmanuel included in his devotional. When it comes to what our salvation means, Watsons words seem to capture the beauty and magnitude of the Jesus who came to save his people from their sins: He was poor that he might make us rich. He was born of a virgin that we might be born of God. He took our flesh that he might give us his Spirit. He lay in the manger that we might lie in paradise. He came down from heaven that he might bring us to heaven... that the Ancient of Days should be born,--that he who thunders in the heavens should cry in the cradle,--that he who rules the stars should suck the breast,--that a virgin should conceive,--that Christ should be made of a woman which himself made,--that the branch should bear the vine,--that the mother should be younger than the child she bore, and the child in the womb bigger than the mother,--that the human nature should not be God, yet one with God: this was not only amazing but miraculous. If you a Christian, Jesus is the hope of your salvation for He is the helmet of your salvation. If you are not a Christian, you can receive Him as the Hope of your salvation by surrendering your life to Him as your Savior. [1] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).

On the first Christmas, an angel appeared to some shepherds who were keeping watch over their flocks at night. We are told that at the angels appearing, the shepherds were terribly frightened. The angel announced to the shepherds: And so the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger (Luke 2:1012). The Christmas story does not begin with the shepherds, or with the angels visit to Mary with the words: Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end (Luke 1:31-33). The story of Christmas began long before the promise made to Marys fianc, Joseph: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:20b-21). The story of Christmas begins in Genesis 1:1 with the words: In the beginning. It involves an antagonist (the devil), it is all about a hero (God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit), and it is about our need to be rescued (we have a sin problem). The story of Christmas is a story that transforms unlike any other story; it is a story identified by one word in the Bible, and that word is, Gospel which means, good news. Of this good news, the apostle Paul wrote: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16). The Christmas story is about the promised savior born to be kingthe Lion of the Tribe of Judah from whom, The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the rulers staff from between his feet (Gen. 29:10). Christmas is the ancient promise that the Son of David would be unlike any other king in that God would, establish the throne of his kingdom forever (2 Sam. 7:13). The coming King who would save His people from their sins would be Immanuel (Isa. 7:14)God with us. What is the Helmet of Salvation? Like the soldiers shield, the helmet could be taken of and put back on. The helmet of the Roman soldier was made of bronze and had cheek pieces to provide protection to his head. Like the breastplate of righteousness, Paul draws his language from Isaiah 59:17, He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; and He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped Himself with zeal as a cloak. If you recall from my sermon on the breastplate of righteousness, the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 who was, pierced for our offences, and was crushed for our wrongdoings is the Divine Warrior of Isaiah 59, which begins with these words: Behold, the Lords hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear (v. 1). The One who is able to save is the One to Whom righteousness and salvation truly belongs. When redemption and righteousness was beyond the reach of sinful humanity, Immanuel put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head and was born of a virgin to save us from our sins. But what does it mean to be saved from our sins, and is salvation something that can be taken up and put off like a helmet? To answer those questions we must answer what salvation is. Salvation literally means, preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss. In the strictest and most biblical sense, salvation is something that has happened in the past, but it is also happening in the present, and yes... it is also something that will happen in the future. In other words, Jesus came to save his people from their sins so that they can be saved from the past, the present, and in the future, from the full curse of sin. How so? Well, think about what was announced: Jesus came to save His people from their sins. When Adam and Eve sinned, all of creation was brought under a curse, and that curse includes not only our propensity to sin against God, but also death and the vandalizing of a peace with God all of humanity was intended to enjoy. Here is what the Bible says: Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned... (Rom. 5:12). So, when it comes to our salvation, Timothy Keller said, The Bible says every Christian stands in the middle of three tenses of their salvation. You cant understand the glory and the beauty of it unless you see it. In fact, you wont be able to understand the Scripture and you wont be able to understand whats happening to you if you dont understand.[1] We stand in the past tense of our salvation: You have been saved from the penalty of sin and pardoned from your guilt and now have been covered under the righteousness of Christ and are justified before a holy God (1 Pet. 3:18). We stand in the reality that we have been saved from the penalty of sin! We stand in the present tense of our salvation: You are being saved in the sense that God is changing you through the power of His Holy Spirit. The evidence of your nature to sin is still there and the struggle against your own sin is very real, but each moment that you move closer to death on this side of eternity is one step closer to Christlikeness. This is the fight I was talking about last week. In this present life you, Christian, fight the good fight of the faith and by doing so, we take hold of the eternal life to which you have been called (1 Tim. 6:12). We stand in the reality that we are being saved from the power of sin! We stand in the future tense of our salvation: Because we have been saved from the penalty of sin and we are being saved from the power of sin because Jesus, as the Divine Warrior of Isaiah 59, is able and will indeed rescue us from all sin. The third verse in the carol, Joy to the Word, rightly states: No more let sins and sorrows grow,Nor thorns infest the ground;He comes to make his blessings flowFar as the curse is found. Jesus came to save us from our sins in the sense that He will make his blessings flow as far as the curse is found, and on that day: Death will be swallowed up in victory (1 Cor. 15:54), what is mortal will be swallowed up by life (2 Cor. 5:4), sorrow and singing will flee away (Isa. 51:11), every tear will be wiped away (Rev. 21:1-4), and all things will be made new (Rev. 21:5). We stand in the reality that we will be saved from the presence of sin... forever and will receive a better and more glorious Eden! The salvation that Jesus came to deliver is not something we take off and put on again, so what then is the helmet of salvation? According to 1 Thessalonians 5:8, the helmet of salvation is the hope of our salvation: But since we are of the day, lets be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.Because we are saved, being saved, and will be saved... we live in the hope of our salvation no matter what the enemy launches at us or does to us, the night is almost gone, and the day is near (Rom. 13:12). How Do You Take Up the Helmet of Salvation? To take up the helmet of salvation is to live in the reality that this mortal life is not the end and that you are now, and forever will, remain a child of the living God! The helmet of salvation protects your head, it protects your mind, it protects your line of sight so that you can see the hope that is yours in Christ. When things in life seem to go south, when this life is shortened by disease, when this worlds resources are stripped away, when the proverbial rug is pulled from underneath, and when it seems that all in this world is lost... you can respond with gospel-centered hope: For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison... (2 Cor. 4:17). The helmet of salvation is the assurance of our salvation! Listen, there are two dangers that every person faces if they are a part of any Bible teaching and gospel centered church. The first danger is to believe that you are a Christian when you are not. If you believe that you can believe in Jesus with your mind for the salvation of your soul with little consequence to the way you are living your life today, then you may not be a genuine Christian. True saving faith is to believe and trust that Jesus life, death, and resurrection is enough for the salvation of your soul; the evidence that you genuinely believe and trust in Jesus as your savior will be evidenced in your standing in your past salvation, present salvation, and hope in your future salvation. Do not forget Ephesians 2:8-10! You were saved by grace through faith in Jesus, and the purpose for your salvation is stated in verse 10, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Genuine saving faith in Jesus will be evidenced by a changing life that looks more and more like Jesus life over the years. The second danger you face in the local church is that the enemy can get you to doubt your salvation. If the enemy can get you to doubt your salvation successfully, he will have a better chance of tempting you to live closer to your sin rather than closer to Jesus as your savior. When you take up the helmet of salvation, you stand in the shoes of the gospel of peace, with your identity in Christ firmly belted around your waist, the righteousness of Christ securely fastened over your chest, so that you can take up your biblically saturated faith. When the devil attempts to undermine your salvation, you can take up your helmet of salvation knowing that only because of Jesus, there is no condemnation for you (Rom. 8:1)! When you take up your helmet of salvation in the enemys presence, you do so with confidence, knowing: ...that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus (Phil. 1:6). When the attacks come and the devil or your flesh is all up in your face to tempt you to doubt the sufficiency of Christ, you take up your helmet of salvation with the assurance of 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed... (2 Cor. 4:79). How do you know that the salvation Jesus provided is enough? The One born to save His people from their sins is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace promised long ago (Isa. 9:6-7). He is the promised King whose, times of coming forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity (Micah 5:2). The One born King of the Jews is He who was declared long before His birth through the virgin Mary: I am the first and the last, and there is no God besides Me (Isa. 44:6; Rev. 1:17-18). Jesus can save because He is the righteous Branch of David who is called, Yahweh Our Righteousness (Jer. 23:5-6). He is Him who is, the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation... by Whom all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:15-16). The salvation Jesus provided is enough because, while He existed in the form of God as the Divine Son, He humbled Himself, by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross (see Phil. 2:1-11). This is why we can have every confidence that Ephesians 1:7-8 is all that we need for the hope of our salvation: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. So, in light of all that Jesus is and all that he did to secure your salvation, who are you, Chistian? You are chosen by God before the foundation of the world (1:4-6)! Who are you Christian? You are redeemed as a child of God by the blood of His own Son... namely Jesus (1:7-12)! Who are you Christian? You are sealed by the Holy Spirit as a child of the living God until the day when redemption is finally complete (1:13-14). You can have all the confidence that Jesus is enough because He alone is the Divine Warrior qualified to live the life you could not live for the purpose of dying a death you deserved! Jesus is your righteousness, and He is your salvation! On December 4th, I read something Thomas Watson wrote that Jonathan Gibsons O Come, O Come, Emmanuel included in his devotional. When it comes to what our salvation means, Watsons words seem to capture the beauty and magnitude of the Jesus who came to save his people from their sins: He was poor that he might make us rich. He was born of a virgin that we might be born of God. He took our flesh that he might give us his Spirit. He lay in the manger that we might lie in paradise. He came down from heaven that he might bring us to heaven... that the Ancient of Days should be born,--that he who thunders in the heavens should cry in the cradle,--that he who rules the stars should suck the breast,--that a virgin should conceive,--that Christ should be made of a woman which himself made,--that the branch should bear the vine,--that the mother should be younger than the child she bore, and the child in the womb bigger than the mother,--that the human nature should not be God, yet one with God: this was not only amazing but miraculous. If you a Christian, Jesus is the hope of your salvation for He is the helmet of your salvation. If you are not a Christian, you can receive Him as the Hope of your salvation by surrendering your life to Him as your Savior. [1] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).

WOW Jesus Fully God Today we are looking at Jesus being fully God! You may remember that in our previous study, we looked at Jesus being fully human. This is also part of what we celebrate at Christmas. As Christians, we believe God inhabited a human body, thereby still being God, but also being fully human. Throughout the Bible, Jesus is acknowledged as God. The apostle John, as we discussed in a previous study in this series, expressly called Jesus, the Word or God. Later on in his life, John expressly stated that Jesus was “the true God and eternal life”. Jesus himself claimed equality with God and when He stated “your sins are forgiven”, some of the Jewish rulers attributed this as a “God alone” action and thereby accused Him, at least in their minds, of blasphemy against God! When He was on trial for blasphemy, during the questioning again Jesus equated himself with being God. That Jesus is both human and divine is what makes Christianity unique amongst the world’s religions. It is why Jesus’ claims to be the only way to God are true and make sense, and it is why millions of people today worship Him and acknowledge Him as their Lord and their God. Let’s now look at some of the claims in the Bible, revealing the deity of Jesus Christ! In these examples from the New Testament, the deity of Jesus Christ is revealed. Jesus is expressly called God - (John 1v1) The Word was God; (John 1v14) The Word became flesh; (John 1v18) The only begotten God; (John 20v28) My Lord and my God as declared by Thomas; (Titus 2v13) Our great God and Saviour, Jesus; (Romans 9v 5) Christ who is God overall; (Hebrews 1v 8) About the Son, He says 'Your throne O God is forever and ever...’; (1 John 5v20) Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Old Testament description of God was applied to Jesus. (Matthew 3v3) 'Prepare ye the way of Jehovah' Jesus possessed the very attributes of God - (John 14v6) Life; (John 8v58) Eternal; (John 14v6) Truth The very works of God were ascribed to Him - (Col 1v16) Creation; (John 20v28; 5v23) Receives honour worship and glory belonging to God. Jesus had equality with God - (John 10v30, 33) I and the Father are One; John 5v18) Making Himself equal with God; (Philippians 2v6) In His very nature God; (1 Timothy 6v15) King of Kings and Lord of Lords - God; (Revelations 19v16) King of Kings and Lord of Lords - Christ; (Isaiah 44v6; Revelations 1v8) - Alpha and Omega - God; (Revelations 22v13-16) - Alpha and Omega - Christ; (John 8v58) Before Abraham was I AM Jesus- fully human and fully God. But a further question needs to be answered. Why would Jesus be fully man and fully God and so what? Right Mouse click or tap here to save this as an audio mp3 file

Two Thursdays ago, my wife and I left our home around 8AM for a doctors appointment in Colorado. Every time I get into our Subaru Outback, I plug my phone into our car so that I can use my maps app and listen to my favorite playlist during my drive, our drive down to Colorado on Thursday was no exception until about 15 minutes into our drive the radio let out a irritating high pitched sound prohibiting me from listening to my newly downloaded navigation voice from one of my favorite movies of all time: Po, from Kung Fu Panda. We have a 2021 Subaru Outback, there was no reason for the audio to have abruptly stop working, but it did. However, nearly an hour later, after stopping for a pit stop, the audio mysteriously was fixed as soon as I started the car to continue our trip to our doctors appointment. After we reached our destination, I immediately google searched on my phone to see if anything weird happened that would cause the audio in our car to do what it did. Here is what popped up in my search: Two outbursts from the sun occurred as widespread cellphone outages were reported throughout the United States on Thursday morning (Feb. 22). I am not sure it is related, but on Sunday we learned that all but four of our brand-new pagers stopped working over the weekend, our live stream audio stopped working properly, and a sim card in one of our Elders phones weirdly got fried.Thats not all, on Monday while checking out from Albertsons, I was told that they were having trouble with their computers. Now, I dont know if any of this is related or if it has anything to do with Solar flares or the mysterious balloon that happened to be floating 43,000 feet above, the mountainous Western United States. Here is what did come to mind though: Our electrical grid is fragile, and it is vulnerable. With all our military might and power as a nation, we are not in control! I dont know what happened on Thursday, but here is what was reported in New Delhi, India just this past Wednesday (2.28.2024) on WION with the news caption: Massive sunspot wider than Earth is now aiming directly at us. Is it cause for worry? Recently, scientists noticed that a hyperactive sunspot, first detected on February 18, is now swelling at a faster rate and is pointed right towards Earth. In 2024, the biggest sunspot named AR3590 first appeared on February 18, on the Suns Earth-facing side. It quickly started swelling into a dark patch, much wider than our planet. On February 21, AR3950 spit out a pair of X-class solar flares, which are known as the most powerful type of solar flare, with magnitudes of X1.7 and X1.8. On February 22, the same sunspot released a massive X6.3 flare, the most powerful solar explosion recorded in over six years. All three flares caused temporary radio blackouts on Earth, but none of them launched coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are clouds of magnetized plasma that can ram into Earth's magnetic shield as they fly through space.[1] We are fragile and we are not in control! You, dear friend, are fragile and have little to say over whether or not you will survive the next 24 hours. Consider that reality against the backdrop of the fragility of your faith and determination to live a life pleasing to the One who made the sun, and billions like it, that has the power to wipe out all of Earths power grid in seconds. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, Let there be light; and there was light (Gen. 1:1-3). Christian, the same God who spoke into existence more than 300 billion suns like ours, is the One of whom we are told in Holy Scripture, has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Cor. 4:6). This is the God who called you, redeemed you, and sealed you. This is the God who is keeping you because He will receive His inheritance! The question before us and the one that Ephesians 1:19-23 answers for us is this: How can I know that I can rest in the hope of that same Gods calling upon my life; that I can stand on the reality that I am His inheritance because of all that Jesus has done, and experience the greatness of His power through the indwelling and sealing of the Holy Spirit? Let us turn our attention to Ephesians 1:19-23 to find out! The Christians Salvation is Held by Resurrection Power The power Paul described in Ephesians, among other places in his epistles, is a power that enables those of us who are redeemed by Christ to fight against sin, doubt, worry, and any other adversary that threatens to undo those of us who have been called by God, are the inheritance of God, and have been raised to new life by God. To have the eyes of our hearts enlightened in such a way that we know the hope of our calling, the riches of His inheritance, and boundless power toward us who believe, is the kind of knowing involving the mind, heart, and will. After all, Jesus did say that the greatest commandment is, You shall love the Lord Your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (see Matt. 22:35-40). But it is also more than that. James Montgomery Boice said, Christianity is knowledge, yes. But it is also power, power from beginning to end. Without the power of God not one individual would ever become a Christian. The salvation of the soul is a resurrection, the recovery of a person from the dead. Without Gods power not one individual would ever triumph over sin, live a godly life, or come at last to the reward God has for all his own in heaven.[2] The word Paul used for power is the Greek word dynamis, from which we get the word dynamite; it is used over 100 times in the New Testament, Acts 1:8 being one of them. He used it to describe a raw and supernatural power that comes from God. This power is available to the Christian, and it is described as boundless and great. The word Paul used for great is the Greek word megathos, and the word he used for boundless literally means, to surpass, go beyond, to outdo, or to exceed. This is why almost every trustworthy English translation of the Bible reaches for words to capture the kind of power available to the Christian. Here are some of the ways these words are translated: surpassing greatness (NASB 95), incomparably great (NIV), exceeding greatness (KJV), immeasurable greatness (ESV), and incredible greatness (NLT). It is the boundless, surpassing, incomparable, exceeding, immeasurable, and incredible greatness of Gods power that is available to the Christian. Paul then describes that this power, along with the hope of His calling and the riches of the glory of His inheritance that he wants us to see with the eyes of our hearts, is, in accordance with the working of the strength of His might (v. 19b). The boundless power is working in you Christian, it is producing a strength to resist the devil and your flesh, and the might is what is required for you to persevere to the end without throwing in the towel of your faith in Jesus. Notice how we get this power from what Paul states next: which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and all of it is from the God who, raised Jesus from the dead (v. 20a). In other words, the Power is Gods, and the victory is yours in Jesus. What is it that will keep you when everything seems to have been pulled out from beneath your proverbial feet? What is it that will keep you when nothing you treasured on earth remains within your grasp? Who will be keeping who in your weakest and most fragile moments in life? The Christians Identity is Guarded by a Preeminent Christ So, how is the boundless, surpassing, incomparable, exceeding, immeasurable, and incredible greatness of Gods power available to the Christian? Paul tells us in the next verse: It is a power available to the Christian, which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places (v. 20). Before I go any further, you need to understand that what I mean by preeminent is what the Airbus A380 is to a paper airplane. The Airbus A380 can seat between 525 and 853 passengers on its two full-length passenger decks: the Airbus A380 is preeminent to the paper airplane. There is a reason why Paul emphasizes the phrase, In Christ repeatedly in his epistle to the Ephesians. Your identity as one who has been called by God and who is now the inheritance of God, is solely because of the redeeming work of Christ: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us (vv. 7-8). What did our redemption cost? It cost Jesus His life! He was the suffering servant of Isaiah 53 who was, pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; the punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed (v. 5). Jesus was crushed because He became our curse: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for usfor it is written: Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (Gal. 3:13). Jesus, the Son of God, humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. Christian, all of your sin was laid upon Jesus for all of your redemption. Isaiah 53:10 states that, the Lord desired to crush Him, causing Him grief and the reason why God crushed the Son was not only for our redemption, but was to redeem a Bride for His Son! This was always the plan and was never plan B! The Lamb of God was slaughtered because of your sin, was then buried, and was raised! How come Jesus didnt stay dead? In his sermon, the apostle Peter explained: God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power (Acts 2:24). The reason why death had no power over Jesus is because He is the author of life! So, Paul wrote to the Ephesians that all of the blessings that now belong to the Christian are, in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places (v. 20). Listen, just as the cross of Christ is the display of Gods immeasurable love for you Christian, the resurrection is the display of a power that no other power manufactured by or through creation can compare not even the power of 300 billion suns have the ability to do what God did, when He raised Jesus from the dead. This is why Isaiah 53 does not end with the Suffering Servants affliction for our sin, but continues with verse 10, But the Lord desired to crush Him, causing Him grief. The Hebrew word for desired (חפץ) can also be translated take pleasure or delight in. This is the way Isaiah 53:10 should be translated: But the Lord delighted to crush Him, causing Him grief. Why? Is it because God the Father is some cosmic child abuser? No! We are told in the last verse why the Father delighted to crush the Son: Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the plunder with the strong, Because He poured out His life unto death, and was counted with wrongdoers; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the wrongdoers (Isa. 53:12). Do you hear Isaiah 53:12 in Ephesians 20-23? Listen to it again! He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Eph. 1:1923) To be clear, Jesus was not exalted because He lacked something before He took on human flesh. There was nothing lacking in Him at all because He is not a part of creation but the agent of creation! This is why Paul wrote to the Colossian Church of Jesus: for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). God the Father exalted the Son at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named (v. 21) not because Jesus wasnt exalted before He took on flesh. God the Father exalted the Son because, He emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross (Phil. 2:7-8). In other words, God the Son became human to accomplish all that was needed to make the redemption of a sin-cursed and lost humanity possible. Jesus is exalted as our Kinsmen-redeemer! What is a kinsmen-redeemer? He is a person that had to meet three requirements to redeem property lost due to a debt; the three requirements were that he had to be related to the family who suffered the loss because of a debt, he had to be willing to redeem what was lost, and he had to have the means to redeem what was lost. Because of Adam and Eves sin, creation is under a curse and every single human being since Adam, have been born into sin. Jesus took on flesh to become our kinsmen redeemer, and as our Kinsmen Redeemer, God, put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Why did Jesus willingly take on human flesh to become our Kinsmen Redeemer? He did it for a Bride! He did it for His Church! Our sun is capable of producing a flare big enough to completely wipe out all of the earths power grid, and yet 300 billion suns cannot do what God did through His Son for your salvation Christian! The reason why Jesus could say to His disciples, they will put some of you to death. And yet not a hair of your head will perish (Luke 21:16-18). The reason Jesus could promise the Christian: My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand. I and the Father are one (John 10:2730). And, the reason Jesus has assured us: I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it (Matt. 16:18), is because of His cross and the empty tomb, Jesus has double headship. What do I mean by double headship? I mean that as Kinsmen Redeemer, Jesus is head over Creation by dominion and He is head over the Church by union. What this means for you, Christian, is that you are His Church, and because you are His Church, you now share in His triumph because He has joined Himself to you as your Groom! What this means Christian is that you are the apple of His eye and not even the power of 300 billion suns can ever change that! Now wrap the eyes of your heart around that! Amen. [1] Riya Teotia, WION: Massive Sunspot wider than Earth is now aiming directly at us. Is it cause for worry (New Delhi, India: WION; February 28, 2024) [2] James Montgomery Boice, Ephesians: An Expositional Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Ministry Resources Library, 1988), 40.

Two Thursdays ago, my wife and I left our home around 8AM for a doctors appointment in Colorado. Every time I get into our Subaru Outback, I plug my phone into our car so that I can use my maps app and listen to my favorite playlist during my drive, our drive down to Colorado on Thursday was no exception until about 15 minutes into our drive the radio let out a irritating high pitched sound prohibiting me from listening to my newly downloaded navigation voice from one of my favorite movies of all time: Po, from Kung Fu Panda. We have a 2021 Subaru Outback, there was no reason for the audio to have abruptly stop working, but it did. However, nearly an hour later, after stopping for a pit stop, the audio mysteriously was fixed as soon as I started the car to continue our trip to our doctors appointment. After we reached our destination, I immediately google searched on my phone to see if anything weird happened that would cause the audio in our car to do what it did. Here is what popped up in my search: Two outbursts from the sun occurred as widespread cellphone outages were reported throughout the United States on Thursday morning (Feb. 22). I am not sure it is related, but on Sunday we learned that all but four of our brand-new pagers stopped working over the weekend, our live stream audio stopped working properly, and a sim card in one of our Elders phones weirdly got fried.Thats not all, on Monday while checking out from Albertsons, I was told that they were having trouble with their computers. Now, I dont know if any of this is related or if it has anything to do with Solar flares or the mysterious balloon that happened to be floating 43,000 feet above, the mountainous Western United States. Here is what did come to mind though: Our electrical grid is fragile, and it is vulnerable. With all our military might and power as a nation, we are not in control! I dont know what happened on Thursday, but here is what was reported in New Delhi, India just this past Wednesday (2.28.2024) on WION with the news caption: Massive sunspot wider than Earth is now aiming directly at us. Is it cause for worry? Recently, scientists noticed that a hyperactive sunspot, first detected on February 18, is now swelling at a faster rate and is pointed right towards Earth. In 2024, the biggest sunspot named AR3590 first appeared on February 18, on the Suns Earth-facing side. It quickly started swelling into a dark patch, much wider than our planet. On February 21, AR3950 spit out a pair of X-class solar flares, which are known as the most powerful type of solar flare, with magnitudes of X1.7 and X1.8. On February 22, the same sunspot released a massive X6.3 flare, the most powerful solar explosion recorded in over six years. All three flares caused temporary radio blackouts on Earth, but none of them launched coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are clouds of magnetized plasma that can ram into Earth's magnetic shield as they fly through space.[1] We are fragile and we are not in control! You, dear friend, are fragile and have little to say over whether or not you will survive the next 24 hours. Consider that reality against the backdrop of the fragility of your faith and determination to live a life pleasing to the One who made the sun, and billions like it, that has the power to wipe out all of Earths power grid in seconds. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, Let there be light; and there was light (Gen. 1:1-3). Christian, the same God who spoke into existence more than 300 billion suns like ours, is the One of whom we are told in Holy Scripture, has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Cor. 4:6). This is the God who called you, redeemed you, and sealed you. This is the God who is keeping you because He will receive His inheritance! The question before us and the one that Ephesians 1:19-23 answers for us is this: How can I know that I can rest in the hope of that same Gods calling upon my life; that I can stand on the reality that I am His inheritance because of all that Jesus has done, and experience the greatness of His power through the indwelling and sealing of the Holy Spirit? Let us turn our attention to Ephesians 1:19-23 to find out! The Christians Salvation is Held by Resurrection Power The power Paul described in Ephesians, among other places in his epistles, is a power that enables those of us who are redeemed by Christ to fight against sin, doubt, worry, and any other adversary that threatens to undo those of us who have been called by God, are the inheritance of God, and have been raised to new life by God. To have the eyes of our hearts enlightened in such a way that we know the hope of our calling, the riches of His inheritance, and boundless power toward us who believe, is the kind of knowing involving the mind, heart, and will. After all, Jesus did say that the greatest commandment is, You shall love the Lord Your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (see Matt. 22:35-40). But it is also more than that. James Montgomery Boice said, Christianity is knowledge, yes. But it is also power, power from beginning to end. Without the power of God not one individual would ever become a Christian. The salvation of the soul is a resurrection, the recovery of a person from the dead. Without Gods power not one individual would ever triumph over sin, live a godly life, or come at last to the reward God has for all his own in heaven.[2] The word Paul used for power is the Greek word dynamis, from which we get the word dynamite; it is used over 100 times in the New Testament, Acts 1:8 being one of them. He used it to describe a raw and supernatural power that comes from God. This power is available to the Christian, and it is described as boundless and great. The word Paul used for great is the Greek word megathos, and the word he used for boundless literally means, to surpass, go beyond, to outdo, or to exceed. This is why almost every trustworthy English translation of the Bible reaches for words to capture the kind of power available to the Christian. Here are some of the ways these words are translated: surpassing greatness (NASB 95), incomparably great (NIV), exceeding greatness (KJV), immeasurable greatness (ESV), and incredible greatness (NLT). It is the boundless, surpassing, incomparable, exceeding, immeasurable, and incredible greatness of Gods power that is available to the Christian. Paul then describes that this power, along with the hope of His calling and the riches of the glory of His inheritance that he wants us to see with the eyes of our hearts, is, in accordance with the working of the strength of His might (v. 19b). The boundless power is working in you Christian, it is producing a strength to resist the devil and your flesh, and the might is what is required for you to persevere to the end without throwing in the towel of your faith in Jesus. Notice how we get this power from what Paul states next: which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and all of it is from the God who, raised Jesus from the dead (v. 20a). In other words, the Power is Gods, and the victory is yours in Jesus. What is it that will keep you when everything seems to have been pulled out from beneath your proverbial feet? What is it that will keep you when nothing you treasured on earth remains within your grasp? Who will be keeping who in your weakest and most fragile moments in life? The Christians Identity is Guarded by a Preeminent Christ So, how is the boundless, surpassing, incomparable, exceeding, immeasurable, and incredible greatness of Gods power available to the Christian? Paul tells us in the next verse: It is a power available to the Christian, which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places (v. 20). Before I go any further, you need to understand that what I mean by preeminent is what the Airbus A380 is to a paper airplane. The Airbus A380 can seat between 525 and 853 passengers on its two full-length passenger decks: the Airbus A380 is preeminent to the paper airplane. There is a reason why Paul emphasizes the phrase, In Christ repeatedly in his epistle to the Ephesians. Your identity as one who has been called by God and who is now the inheritance of God, is solely because of the redeeming work of Christ: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us (vv. 7-8). What did our redemption cost? It cost Jesus His life! He was the suffering servant of Isaiah 53 who was, pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; the punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed (v. 5). Jesus was crushed because He became our curse: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for usfor it is written: Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (Gal. 3:13). Jesus, the Son of God, humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. Christian, all of your sin was laid upon Jesus for all of your redemption. Isaiah 53:10 states that, the Lord desired to crush Him, causing Him grief and the reason why God crushed the Son was not only for our redemption, but was to redeem a Bride for His Son! This was always the plan and was never plan B! The Lamb of God was slaughtered because of your sin, was then buried, and was raised! How come Jesus didnt stay dead? In his sermon, the apostle Peter explained: God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power (Acts 2:24). The reason why death had no power over Jesus is because He is the author of life! So, Paul wrote to the Ephesians that all of the blessings that now belong to the Christian are, in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places (v. 20). Listen, just as the cross of Christ is the display of Gods immeasurable love for you Christian, the resurrection is the display of a power that no other power manufactured by or through creation can compare not even the power of 300 billion suns have the ability to do what God did, when He raised Jesus from the dead. This is why Isaiah 53 does not end with the Suffering Servants affliction for our sin, but continues with verse 10, But the Lord desired to crush Him, causing Him grief. The Hebrew word for desired (חפץ) can also be translated take pleasure or delight in. This is the way Isaiah 53:10 should be translated: But the Lord delighted to crush Him, causing Him grief. Why? Is it because God the Father is some cosmic child abuser? No! We are told in the last verse why the Father delighted to crush the Son: Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the plunder with the strong, Because He poured out His life unto death, and was counted with wrongdoers; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the wrongdoers (Isa. 53:12). Do you hear Isaiah 53:12 in Ephesians 20-23? Listen to it again! He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Eph. 1:1923) To be clear, Jesus was not exalted because He lacked something before He took on human flesh. There was nothing lacking in Him at all because He is not a part of creation but the agent of creation! This is why Paul wrote to the Colossian Church of Jesus: for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). God the Father exalted the Son at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named (v. 21) not because Jesus wasnt exalted before He took on flesh. God the Father exalted the Son because, He emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross (Phil. 2:7-8). In other words, God the Son became human to accomplish all that was needed to make the redemption of a sin-cursed and lost humanity possible. Jesus is exalted as our Kinsmen-redeemer! What is a kinsmen-redeemer? He is a person that had to meet three requirements to redeem property lost due to a debt; the three requirements were that he had to be related to the family who suffered the loss because of a debt, he had to be willing to redeem what was lost, and he had to have the means to redeem what was lost. Because of Adam and Eves sin, creation is under a curse and every single human being since Adam, have been born into sin. Jesus took on flesh to become our kinsmen redeemer, and as our Kinsmen Redeemer, God, put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Why did Jesus willingly take on human flesh to become our Kinsmen Redeemer? He did it for a Bride! He did it for His Church! Our sun is capable of producing a flare big enough to completely wipe out all of the earths power grid, and yet 300 billion suns cannot do what God did through His Son for your salvation Christian! The reason why Jesus could say to His disciples, they will put some of you to death. And yet not a hair of your head will perish (Luke 21:16-18). The reason Jesus could promise the Christian: My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand. I and the Father are one (John 10:2730). And, the reason Jesus has assured us: I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it (Matt. 16:18), is because of His cross and the empty tomb, Jesus has double headship. What do I mean by double headship? I mean that as Kinsmen Redeemer, Jesus is head over Creation by dominion and He is head over the Church by union. What this means for you, Christian, is that you are His Church, and because you are His Church, you now share in His triumph because He has joined Himself to you as your Groom! What this means Christian is that you are the apple of His eye and not even the power of 300 billion suns can ever change that! Now wrap the eyes of your heart around that! Amen. [1] Riya Teotia, WION: Massive Sunspot wider than Earth is now aiming directly at us. Is it cause for worry (New Delhi, India: WION; February 28, 2024) [2] James Montgomery Boice, Ephesians: An Expositional Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Ministry Resources Library, 1988), 40.

I was thinking the other day that the manger that Jesus was laid in was dirty compared to our standards today. It is estimated that Jesus was most likely born in March or April. We are not entirely sure what kind of room he was born in, but the fact that there was a manger (feeding trough) gives us some idea that it was where the animals were kept. So, what was in the stable Jesus was most likely born in? If there were donkeys, cattle, sheep, or chickens, there was also the smell of manure and urine, cattle-biting lice, a whole bunch of annoying species of flies common in the middle east known as the Bazaar Rly (known to spread trachoma an irritating eye disease). Do not forget the common Stable Fly that would have been feeding on the blood of the livestock surrounding Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. By the way the Stable Flies Mary and Joseph shooed away from Jesus may have carried anthrax. My guess is, there were most likely rats and mice along with all the diseases they carry. The manger was a feeding trough and before they prepared it to lay Jesus in, there was no Clorox to disinfect it from it being used for animals to eat from, drool into, and maybe even sneeze out an occasional maggot that crawled up into the snouts of certain animals to live in their throats. I am sure Joseph did his best to clean out the manger, but then you have the bedding to consider, which would have been straw infested with straw itch mites. So the first group of people invited to see the Christ-Child are dirty shepherds? My point is simply this: The One born King of the Jews made His grand entrance into our world through the mess of a stable. But why that way? It was of Jesus that the ancient prophets declared: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel. (Isa. 7:14) For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa. 9:6) But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity. (Mic. 5:2) Why a stable? Before I answer that question, I want us to reflect on Hebrews 1:1-3 briefly. In only three verses, we are given nine reasons for why there is a good reason for the shepherds, a stable, and a manger. Jesus is the Only Way to Know God. The best and greatest revelation of who God is according to the author of Hebrews, is Jesus. According to the prophet Micah, Jesus did not become the Son of God at Marys miraculous conception as a virgin or at His birth; no Jesus was always God the Son long before His birth, for His times of coming forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity (Mic. 5:2). What did happen when Mary was told that she would have a child, is that Jesus took on human flesh, and He did so to live a life while remaining fully divine and fully human, and the life He lived was the life we could not live for the purpose of dying a death he did not deserve on a cross for the sins of mankind. Jesus said of Himself: For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). Jesus is the heir of all things. The One laid in the manger, was and remains the heir of all things. All of creation belongs to Him; it was His from the beginning, but it is especially His now! The Bible says that all of us are sinners from the moment of conception in that we are all born sinful. When Jesus took on human flesh by way of the miraculous conception that did not include a human biological father, he was born without a nature to sin. Jesus was fully God while remaining fully human. For sinful humanity and a cursed creation to be liberated from sin, a kinsmen redeemer was needed. If a family member lost their inheritance and property for any reason, a kinsmen redeemer was needed who met three requirements: He must be related to the person who suffered lost, he must have the ability to purchase back what was lost, and he must be willing to make the sacrifice necessary to restore what was lost. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned against God, the curse of sin has been passed down from one generation to the next. The child that was laid in a manger is the kinsmen redeemer qualified to restore what was lost through Adams sin. Jesus is the Creator of the world. Jesus not only existed before His birth on the first Christmas, but we are also told that it was through Him that God made the world. The Bible says of Jesus: for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). The one who was laid in the manger, was responsible for the material that human hands used to fashion it, which also shows us that only is Jesus a qualified redeemer, but He is also an able redeemer. Jesus radiates the glory of God. Jesus does not reflect the image of God like the moon reflects the Suns light. No, Jesus radiates the glory of God like the Sun radiates light. Jesus was not created by God but is God. There was never a time when Jesus was created because there was never a time when He was not the Son. The God of the Bible is unlike any other god that people have created to worship, for the God we learn of in the Bible is Yahweh as One God in three persons: Father, Son, and Spirit. Jesus is exact representation of Gods nature. I have two sons; they share my DNA but they are not me nor are they the exact representation of me. There is a Son who shares the exact representation of Gods nature, and that Son is Jesus, for the God the Son and the God the Father are of the same divine essence; this is how Jesus is the climax of Gods revelation of Himself to lost humanity. When one of his disciples asked Jesus, Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. To which Jesus answered: The one who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? (John 14:8-9). When Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds saw the face of Jesus, the saw the face of God. Jesus is the sustainer of creation. The mystery of the incarnation and miracle of Christmas is that the one who was laid in a manger, is the One who sustains and keeps creation, by the word of His power. What the author of Hebrews is trying to say here is that the Son of God is not only responsible for creation, but actively preserves creation! This is why Jesus could walk on water, cure diseases, raise the dead, and quiet storms with the word of His mouth. Jesus is a qualified and willing redeemer. The One who was laid in the manger was born to make purification of sins, and the way that he did it was through a cross of wood for sins we committed and are guilty of. This is why, when John the Baptist saw Jesus, he said: Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)! Hundreds of years before Christmas happened, the prophet Isaiah wrote of Jesus: But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; the punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed (Isa. 53:5). The Christ-Child was born to become a curse for us so that we could be pardoned, redeemed, and made the children of God (Gal. 3:13-14); or as the Bible states: He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus is the only one who can save. After Jesus died upon the cross for our sins for our redemption, we are told that Jesus, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high What this means is that because of who He is and why He took on human flesh, after He died, Jesus rose from the grave because how can death keep the Author of Life? After Jesus rose, He ascended to heaven, and He sat down! He sat down because his sacrifice for sin only had to be offered once and for all! This is why Jesus said of Himself: I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6). Besides Jesus, there is salvation found in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved (Acts. 4:12). Jesus is to be worshiped because of who He is. The child born on the first Christmas and laid in a dirty manger surrounded by dirty creatures, of which Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, and every other human is the dirtiest; He was born to save sinners. Of Jesus the scriptures testify: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Phil. 2:810). The question for you my dear friend, is what will you do with Jesus today, on this Christmas Eve? The reality of Christmas is simply this: Jesus was really born. Jesus really did live, Jesus really did die on a Roman cross, and Jesus really did rise from the grave. J.R. Tolken, who wrote The Lord of the Rings, once said of the story of Jesus: The Gospels contain a fairy-story, or a story of a larger kind, which embraces all the essence of fairy-stories. But this story is supreme, and it is true. Art has been verified. God is the Lord, of angels, and of menand of elves. Legend and History have met and fused.[1] The reason Jesus made His grand entrance into our world through the mess of a stable is because He was born to enter into the mess of sin-cursed humanity. The message of the manger is simply this: If you were a hundred times worse than you are, your sins would be no match for His mercy.[2] Jesus came to save us! [1] J. R. R. Tolkien. On Fairy Stories, (1939). [2] Tim Keller.

I was thinking the other day that the manger that Jesus was laid in was dirty compared to our standards today. It is estimated that Jesus was most likely born in March or April. We are not entirely sure what kind of room he was born in, but the fact that there was a manger (feeding trough) gives us some idea that it was where the animals were kept. So, what was in the stable Jesus was most likely born in? If there were donkeys, cattle, sheep, or chickens, there was also the smell of manure and urine, cattle-biting lice, a whole bunch of annoying species of flies common in the middle east known as the Bazaar Rly (known to spread trachoma an irritating eye disease). Do not forget the common Stable Fly that would have been feeding on the blood of the livestock surrounding Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. By the way the Stable Flies Mary and Joseph shooed away from Jesus may have carried anthrax. My guess is, there were most likely rats and mice along with all the diseases they carry. The manger was a feeding trough and before they prepared it to lay Jesus in, there was no Clorox to disinfect it from it being used for animals to eat from, drool into, and maybe even sneeze out an occasional maggot that crawled up into the snouts of certain animals to live in their throats. I am sure Joseph did his best to clean out the manger, but then you have the bedding to consider, which would have been straw infested with straw itch mites. So the first group of people invited to see the Christ-Child are dirty shepherds? My point is simply this: The One born King of the Jews made His grand entrance into our world through the mess of a stable. But why that way? It was of Jesus that the ancient prophets declared: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel. (Isa. 7:14) For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa. 9:6) But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity. (Mic. 5:2) Why a stable? Before I answer that question, I want us to reflect on Hebrews 1:1-3 briefly. In only three verses, we are given nine reasons for why there is a good reason for the shepherds, a stable, and a manger. Jesus is the Only Way to Know God. The best and greatest revelation of who God is according to the author of Hebrews, is Jesus. According to the prophet Micah, Jesus did not become the Son of God at Marys miraculous conception as a virgin or at His birth; no Jesus was always God the Son long before His birth, for His times of coming forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity (Mic. 5:2). What did happen when Mary was told that she would have a child, is that Jesus took on human flesh, and He did so to live a life while remaining fully divine and fully human, and the life He lived was the life we could not live for the purpose of dying a death he did not deserve on a cross for the sins of mankind. Jesus said of Himself: For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). Jesus is the heir of all things. The One laid in the manger, was and remains the heir of all things. All of creation belongs to Him; it was His from the beginning, but it is especially His now! The Bible says that all of us are sinners from the moment of conception in that we are all born sinful. When Jesus took on human flesh by way of the miraculous conception that did not include a human biological father, he was born without a nature to sin. Jesus was fully God while remaining fully human. For sinful humanity and a cursed creation to be liberated from sin, a kinsmen redeemer was needed. If a family member lost their inheritance and property for any reason, a kinsmen redeemer was needed who met three requirements: He must be related to the person who suffered lost, he must have the ability to purchase back what was lost, and he must be willing to make the sacrifice necessary to restore what was lost. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned against God, the curse of sin has been passed down from one generation to the next. The child that was laid in a manger is the kinsmen redeemer qualified to restore what was lost through Adams sin. Jesus is the Creator of the world. Jesus not only existed before His birth on the first Christmas, but we are also told that it was through Him that God made the world. The Bible says of Jesus: for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). The one who was laid in the manger, was responsible for the material that human hands used to fashion it, which also shows us that only is Jesus a qualified redeemer, but He is also an able redeemer. Jesus radiates the glory of God. Jesus does not reflect the image of God like the moon reflects the Suns light. No, Jesus radiates the glory of God like the Sun radiates light. Jesus was not created by God but is God. There was never a time when Jesus was created because there was never a time when He was not the Son. The God of the Bible is unlike any other god that people have created to worship, for the God we learn of in the Bible is Yahweh as One God in three persons: Father, Son, and Spirit. Jesus is exact representation of Gods nature. I have two sons; they share my DNA but they are not me nor are they the exact representation of me. There is a Son who shares the exact representation of Gods nature, and that Son is Jesus, for the God the Son and the God the Father are of the same divine essence; this is how Jesus is the climax of Gods revelation of Himself to lost humanity. When one of his disciples asked Jesus, Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. To which Jesus answered: The one who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? (John 14:8-9). When Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds saw the face of Jesus, the saw the face of God. Jesus is the sustainer of creation. The mystery of the incarnation and miracle of Christmas is that the one who was laid in a manger, is the One who sustains and keeps creation, by the word of His power. What the author of Hebrews is trying to say here is that the Son of God is not only responsible for creation, but actively preserves creation! This is why Jesus could walk on water, cure diseases, raise the dead, and quiet storms with the word of His mouth. Jesus is a qualified and willing redeemer. The One who was laid in the manger was born to make purification of sins, and the way that he did it was through a cross of wood for sins we committed and are guilty of. This is why, when John the Baptist saw Jesus, he said: Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)! Hundreds of years before Christmas happened, the prophet Isaiah wrote of Jesus: But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; the punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed (Isa. 53:5). The Christ-Child was born to become a curse for us so that we could be pardoned, redeemed, and made the children of God (Gal. 3:13-14); or as the Bible states: He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus is the only one who can save. After Jesus died upon the cross for our sins for our redemption, we are told that Jesus, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high What this means is that because of who He is and why He took on human flesh, after He died, Jesus rose from the grave because how can death keep the Author of Life? After Jesus rose, He ascended to heaven, and He sat down! He sat down because his sacrifice for sin only had to be offered once and for all! This is why Jesus said of Himself: I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6). Besides Jesus, there is salvation found in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved (Acts. 4:12). Jesus is to be worshiped because of who He is. The child born on the first Christmas and laid in a dirty manger surrounded by dirty creatures, of which Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, and every other human is the dirtiest; He was born to save sinners. Of Jesus the scriptures testify: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Phil. 2:810). The question for you my dear friend, is what will you do with Jesus today, on this Christmas Eve? The reality of Christmas is simply this: Jesus was really born. Jesus really did live, Jesus really did die on a Roman cross, and Jesus really did rise from the grave. J.R. Tolken, who wrote The Lord of the Rings, once said of the story of Jesus: The Gospels contain a fairy-story, or a story of a larger kind, which embraces all the essence of fairy-stories. But this story is supreme, and it is true. Art has been verified. God is the Lord, of angels, and of menand of elves. Legend and History have met and fused.[1] The reason Jesus made His grand entrance into our world through the mess of a stable is because He was born to enter into the mess of sin-cursed humanity. The message of the manger is simply this: If you were a hundred times worse than you are, your sins would be no match for His mercy.[2] Jesus came to save us! [1] J. R. R. Tolkien. On Fairy Stories, (1939). [2] Tim Keller.

There was an ancient prophesy given to one of Jacobs sons by the name of Judah, but I share it with you, I want to tell you something about Judah. Judah grew up under the faith of his father Jacob. No doubt that he heard the stories of how God met him and wrestled with him all night and how afterwards changed his birth name to Israel. My guess is that when Judah was a child, he may have asked: Daddy, where did you get that limp? What we know of Judah, was that the faith of his mother and father was not enough; Judah needed his own encounter with God. What you need to know about Judah was that even though he was warned by his father that God forbade His people from marrying Canaanite women because they would turn his heart away from God, Judah married a Canaanite woman anyway (Gen. 38:1-2). Judah fathered three sons with his Canaanite wife who all grew up to be evil men. The oldest of Judahs sons was Er for whom Judah found a wife for by the name of Tamar. However, before Er and Tamar could begin a family together, God killed Er because of how wicked he had become; the same thing happened to Judahs second son. Tamar was without a husband and therefore in her mind, was without any hope; in the culture and time Tamar lived, to be childless and a widow essentially was to be left vulnerable with only two options: prostitution or death (read Genesis 38 for the full story). After Judahs wife died and Tamar heard that he was going up to Timnah to shear sheep, she dressed the part of a prostitute and sat in a place Judah would see her (v. 14). Tamars plan worked out as she hoped; Judah saw her and paid her for sex (vv. 15-16). What is even more disturbing about the whole encounter Judah had with Tamar was that she was believed to be a cult prostitute which gives us some sense for Judahs religious convictions. The result was that Tamar got pregnant by her father-in-law and gave birth to twins. To be fair, there is much more to Judah and Tamars story, and Judah eventually does the right thing after he found out that it was his daughter-in-law that was pregnant with his children, but what led up to the twins that were born to Tamar was one big mess! Yet, it was to Judah that God promised the following: As for you, Judah, your brothers shall praise you; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your fathers sons shall bow down to you. Judah is a lions cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouches, he lies down as a lion, and as a lion, who dares to stir him up? The scepter will not depart from Judah, Nor the rulers staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. (Genesis 49:810) Guess who is included in Jesus family tree? Perez, one of the twins born to Tamar. Seven generations after Perez, Boaz was born who would marry Ruth, and together they would have a son (Obed), whose grandson would be named David. If you examine Jesus family tree carefully, what you will discover are highly dysfunctional people who made a mess of their lives. If you think you made a mess of your life, you will find great company in the Bible of people who have done the same who experience a God who entered into their mess. The Type of House David Wanted to Build Of all of Israels kings mentioned in the Bible, David is the one king by whom all other kings are compared. David is the one king of whom God identified as, A man after My heart, who will do all My will (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22). Some of the highlights of Davids life include the courage to face the giant called Goliath when all of Israels army, including Saul as their king, were afraid to fight him; David fought the giant with a sling shot, five smooth stones, without any armor, and with one of the greatest lines in scriptures: You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a saber, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I will strike you and remove your head from you. Then I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that this entire assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lords, and He will hand you over to us! (1 Sam. 17:45-47) David was just a teenager when he defeated Goliath; it would not be for another 10-15 years before he would officially be installed as king. As king, David made Jerusalem the capital of Israel, he brought back the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, and through war brought peace to his nation. The one thing that David longed to do but was not permitted to do was to build the temple that his son Solomon would eventually build in his stead. In 2 Samuel 7:1-16 we are shown that although David was a good king, he was not the king Israel, or the world, needs. It is Davids desire to build a house for God that sets up what is known as the Davidic Covenant. To see the significance of how 2 Samuel 7:8-16 helps us understand the point of Advent, we need to be aware of verses 1-7, Now it came about, when the king lived in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, that the king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I live in a house of cedar, but the ark of God remains within the tent. Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you. But in the same night, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, Go and say to My servant David, This is what the Lord says: Should you build Me a house for My dwelling? For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; rather, I have been moving about in a tent, that is, in a dwelling place. Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, Why have you not built Me a house of cedar? Do you know what David is really requesting permission to do? In these verses, David is doing what all the other kings were known for doing. The kings of the nations believed that if they built a house for their god(s) then their god(s) would bless them by establishing the kings power, reign, and successes. Gods response to David shows us that Yahweh is not like the other gods of the nations. In fact, the God of Israel is very different! Every god of every other religion demands something of its worshipers that the worshiper has no power to achieve because for every other religion, divine blessing is conditional. This is the evidence that the gods of such religions are really not gods at all. The reason why God told David that he was not permitted to build a house for Him is ultimately because with Yahweh, divine blessing can only be unconditional. In other words, the blessing is entirely dependent upon Him because we have no power to do it ourselves. Timothy Keller in a sermon on this passage, pointed out something Eugene Peterson said about Davids request that makes sense of the unconditional promise of God that follows Davids request: I think David was just about to cross over a line from being full of God to being full of himself. If any of us develops an identity in which God and Gods grace is less important to who we are than our own action and performance, our ability to represent Gods kingdom is utterly ruined.[1] So, God said no to Davids request to build a house for good reason! God doesnt need a house like the other gods because Yahweh is the one true God! So, instead of building a house for God, God would instead build a different kind of house for David, and the building would not be a literal building but a dynasty where God will pour out His grace upon Davids descendants unconditionally. Timothy Keller said it this way: He says: I promise to make your descendants a dynastic kingship, and I will so graciously and unconditionally commit myself to them, regardless of their merit, regardless of their pedigree. I will so graciously and unconditionally commit myself to them that neither death, sin, nor time will break my commitment.[2] Do know how God will do it? According to 2 Samuel 7:1-16, God will do it through two principles that Timothy Keller called the Incarnation Principle and the Grace Principle. The Incarnation Principle: God does not need a building because He intends to dwell with His people. The Grace Principle: God will do what only God is capable of doing apart from any help from any other person. Thank God that He operates on these two principles and in such an unconditional way! Everything seemed to be going great for David up to 2 Samuel 7, but just four short chapters later he will commit a sin so horrible that had Gods covenant with David been conditional, all hope for an everlasting Kingdom would be lost (see 2 Samuel 11:1-12:31). David is only a shadow of the kind of king that would come, for the One to sit on Davids throne would indeed be the One to Whom belongs the obedience of the nations (Gen. 49:8-10), and He would come to reign forever (2 Sam. 7:14-16). The Type of House God Would Build The King promised to, and through, David, would not come for at least another 1,000 years. The mess David made of his life would be overshadowed by the greater mess Solomon made of his life. Within the years between Davids life and the news of Jesus birth were centuries of idolatry, exile, and the oppression of empires. About 500 years of silence would follow the last Hebrew prophet until a certain poor couple engaged to be married. Through it all, God was unconditionally committed to His promise of a King through the line of Judah and He was moving empires, cultures, and structures in His time, through our mess, to accomplish His purposes for our good and His glory! The news would first come to a virgin and then to her fianc, both were descendants of David. Gods principle of incarnation and grace would come together in one Person in a way only the true God was capable of doing, and the news would be delivered by an angel: And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. But Mary said to the angel, How will this be, since I am a virgin? The angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God. There are seven qualities about the child who Mary would miraculously give birth to: He will be the Son of David. (v. 31) He will be the Savior of sinners. (v. 31) He will be great. (v. 32) He will be divinely the Son of God. (v. 32) He will be the King of kings. (v. 32) He will reign sovereignly over the nations. (v. 33) He will reign forever. (v. 33) So, what does advent mean for you? What does advent mean for the world? How is any of this the great news the Bible says that it is? Here are seven reasons why this is good news wrapped up in the news delivered to Mary by the angel: As the Son of David, Jesus is fully human. The mess that makes up His family tree serves as reminder of the kinds of people He was born to redeem. Jesus was born to enter into your mess not to leave you there but to deliver you from your sin. As the Savior for sinners, Jesus, a qualified and able savior to remedy the problem of mankind. Because Jesus is the Son of David, He qualifies to be the kinsmen redeemer as a member of the family that is the human race. Jesus, as the fully human savior, understands you more than you can ever know. Jesus is great because He is no ordinary king. He is the One of Whom the prophets spoke about long ago! He is the One of Whom Jeremiah wrote about: Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will live securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, The Lord Our Righteousness. (Jer. 23:5-6). Jesus brings to the table of your sin a grace greater than all of your offences combined. Jesus is divine because He is truly the Son of the Most High, not in the way you are a son or daughter, but because He proceeds from God the Father. Jesus is divine because before he took on flesh in Marys womb, He was for all eternity always the Son. The apostle Paul put it this way: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:15-16). Jesus as the fully divine Son of God is not only willing to save you from your sins, but he is able to save you from your sins. Jesus is the King of kings in that He is truly the Son of David and at the same time the Son of God. He is the King of Israel and the redeemer because He is, the first and the last (Isa. 44:6-8). Jesus as the King of kings, calls those He saves to follow Him as the King over your life. Jesus will reign sovereignly over the nations; His Kingdom will not be limited to the twelve tribes of Israel, for it was prophesied long ago: There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace on the throne of David and over his kingdom (Isa. 9:7). Jesus, as the Sovereign One, is the only One who brings the kind of peace you were made for. Finally, Jesus kingdom will have no end in that He will reign forever and ever. As King over the nations, there will never be a moment when peace will recede, abate, or climax, for it will always increase as will the joy of His people. We are told that on that Day, the redeemed of the Lord will return and come to Zion with joyful shouting, and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away (Isa. 51:11). Jesus, who was born to redeem as far as the curse of sin is found, it the only One who can give you rest for your soul. Marys response to this news is understandable: But Mary said to the angel, How will this be, since I am a virgin (v. 34)? It is in the angels answer that we again see the principles of incarnation and grace at work: The angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God (v. 35). What is the incarnational principle? It would not be a temple God would build, but instead He would tabernacle among His people through and in the person of His own Son, which was the plan all along! God would enter into the mess of sinful humanity. What is the grace principle? There was nothing Mary brought to the table that obligated God to bless her with the Child promised long ago to Whom belonged the obedience of the nations. It was all unconditional grace through the powerful work of God the Father and the Holy Spirit in the person of Jesus Christ. [1] Keller, T. J. (2013). The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive. Redeemer Presbyterian Church. [2] Ibid.

There was an ancient prophesy given to one of Jacobs sons by the name of Judah, but I share it with you, I want to tell you something about Judah. Judah grew up under the faith of his father Jacob. No doubt that he heard the stories of how God met him and wrestled with him all night and how afterwards changed his birth name to Israel. My guess is that when Judah was a child, he may have asked: Daddy, where did you get that limp? What we know of Judah, was that the faith of his mother and father was not enough; Judah needed his own encounter with God. What you need to know about Judah was that even though he was warned by his father that God forbade His people from marrying Canaanite women because they would turn his heart away from God, Judah married a Canaanite woman anyway (Gen. 38:1-2). Judah fathered three sons with his Canaanite wife who all grew up to be evil men. The oldest of Judahs sons was Er for whom Judah found a wife for by the name of Tamar. However, before Er and Tamar could begin a family together, God killed Er because of how wicked he had become; the same thing happened to Judahs second son. Tamar was without a husband and therefore in her mind, was without any hope; in the culture and time Tamar lived, to be childless and a widow essentially was to be left vulnerable with only two options: prostitution or death (read Genesis 38 for the full story). After Judahs wife died and Tamar heard that he was going up to Timnah to shear sheep, she dressed the part of a prostitute and sat in a place Judah would see her (v. 14). Tamars plan worked out as she hoped; Judah saw her and paid her for sex (vv. 15-16). What is even more disturbing about the whole encounter Judah had with Tamar was that she was believed to be a cult prostitute which gives us some sense for Judahs religious convictions. The result was that Tamar got pregnant by her father-in-law and gave birth to twins. To be fair, there is much more to Judah and Tamars story, and Judah eventually does the right thing after he found out that it was his daughter-in-law that was pregnant with his children, but what led up to the twins that were born to Tamar was one big mess! Yet, it was to Judah that God promised the following: As for you, Judah, your brothers shall praise you; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your fathers sons shall bow down to you. Judah is a lions cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouches, he lies down as a lion, and as a lion, who dares to stir him up? The scepter will not depart from Judah, Nor the rulers staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. (Genesis 49:810) Guess who is included in Jesus family tree? Perez, one of the twins born to Tamar. Seven generations after Perez, Boaz was born who would marry Ruth, and together they would have a son (Obed), whose grandson would be named David. If you examine Jesus family tree carefully, what you will discover are highly dysfunctional people who made a mess of their lives. If you think you made a mess of your life, you will find great company in the Bible of people who have done the same who experience a God who entered into their mess. The Type of House David Wanted to Build Of all of Israels kings mentioned in the Bible, David is the one king by whom all other kings are compared. David is the one king of whom God identified as, A man after My heart, who will do all My will (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22). Some of the highlights of Davids life include the courage to face the giant called Goliath when all of Israels army, including Saul as their king, were afraid to fight him; David fought the giant with a sling shot, five smooth stones, without any armor, and with one of the greatest lines in scriptures: You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a saber, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I will strike you and remove your head from you. Then I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that this entire assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lords, and He will hand you over to us! (1 Sam. 17:45-47) David was just a teenager when he defeated Goliath; it would not be for another 10-15 years before he would officially be installed as king. As king, David made Jerusalem the capital of Israel, he brought back the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, and through war brought peace to his nation. The one thing that David longed to do but was not permitted to do was to build the temple that his son Solomon would eventually build in his stead. In 2 Samuel 7:1-16 we are shown that although David was a good king, he was not the king Israel, or the world, needs. It is Davids desire to build a house for God that sets up what is known as the Davidic Covenant. To see the significance of how 2 Samuel 7:8-16 helps us understand the point of Advent, we need to be aware of verses 1-7, Now it came about, when the king lived in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, that the king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I live in a house of cedar, but the ark of God remains within the tent. Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you. But in the same night, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, Go and say to My servant David, This is what the Lord says: Should you build Me a house for My dwelling? For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; rather, I have been moving about in a tent, that is, in a dwelling place. Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, Why have you not built Me a house of cedar? Do you know what David is really requesting permission to do? In these verses, David is doing what all the other kings were known for doing. The kings of the nations believed that if they built a house for their god(s) then their god(s) would bless them by establishing the kings power, reign, and successes. Gods response to David shows us that Yahweh is not like the other gods of the nations. In fact, the God of Israel is very different! Every god of every other religion demands something of its worshipers that the worshiper has no power to achieve because for every other religion, divine blessing is conditional. This is the evidence that the gods of such religions are really not gods at all. The reason why God told David that he was not permitted to build a house for Him is ultimately because with Yahweh, divine blessing can only be unconditional. In other words, the blessing is entirely dependent upon Him because we have no power to do it ourselves. Timothy Keller in a sermon on this passage, pointed out something Eugene Peterson said about Davids request that makes sense of the unconditional promise of God that follows Davids request: I think David was just about to cross over a line from being full of God to being full of himself. If any of us develops an identity in which God and Gods grace is less important to who we are than our own action and performance, our ability to represent Gods kingdom is utterly ruined.[1] So, God said no to Davids request to build a house for good reason! God doesnt need a house like the other gods because Yahweh is the one true God! So, instead of building a house for God, God would instead build a different kind of house for David, and the building would not be a literal building but a dynasty where God will pour out His grace upon Davids descendants unconditionally. Timothy Keller said it this way: He says: I promise to make your descendants a dynastic kingship, and I will so graciously and unconditionally commit myself to them, regardless of their merit, regardless of their pedigree. I will so graciously and unconditionally commit myself to them that neither death, sin, nor time will break my commitment.[2] Do know how God will do it? According to 2 Samuel 7:1-16, God will do it through two principles that Timothy Keller called the Incarnation Principle and the Grace Principle. The Incarnation Principle: God does not need a building because He intends to dwell with His people. The Grace Principle: God will do what only God is capable of doing apart from any help from any other person. Thank God that He operates on these two principles and in such an unconditional way! Everything seemed to be going great for David up to 2 Samuel 7, but just four short chapters later he will commit a sin so horrible that had Gods covenant with David been conditional, all hope for an everlasting Kingdom would be lost (see 2 Samuel 11:1-12:31). David is only a shadow of the kind of king that would come, for the One to sit on Davids throne would indeed be the One to Whom belongs the obedience of the nations (Gen. 49:8-10), and He would come to reign forever (2 Sam. 7:14-16). The Type of House God Would Build The King promised to, and through, David, would not come for at least another 1,000 years. The mess David made of his life would be overshadowed by the greater mess Solomon made of his life. Within the years between Davids life and the news of Jesus birth were centuries of idolatry, exile, and the oppression of empires. About 500 years of silence would follow the last Hebrew prophet until a certain poor couple engaged to be married. Through it all, God was unconditionally committed to His promise of a King through the line of Judah and He was moving empires, cultures, and structures in His time, through our mess, to accomplish His purposes for our good and His glory! The news would first come to a virgin and then to her fianc, both were descendants of David. Gods principle of incarnation and grace would come together in one Person in a way only the true God was capable of doing, and the news would be delivered by an angel: And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. But Mary said to the angel, How will this be, since I am a virgin? The angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God. There are seven qualities about the child who Mary would miraculously give birth to: He will be the Son of David. (v. 31) He will be the Savior of sinners. (v. 31) He will be great. (v. 32) He will be divinely the Son of God. (v. 32) He will be the King of kings. (v. 32) He will reign sovereignly over the nations. (v. 33) He will reign forever. (v. 33) So, what does advent mean for you? What does advent mean for the world? How is any of this the great news the Bible says that it is? Here are seven reasons why this is good news wrapped up in the news delivered to Mary by the angel: As the Son of David, Jesus is fully human. The mess that makes up His family tree serves as reminder of the kinds of people He was born to redeem. Jesus was born to enter into your mess not to leave you there but to deliver you from your sin. As the Savior for sinners, Jesus, a qualified and able savior to remedy the problem of mankind. Because Jesus is the Son of David, He qualifies to be the kinsmen redeemer as a member of the family that is the human race. Jesus, as the fully human savior, understands you more than you can ever know. Jesus is great because He is no ordinary king. He is the One of Whom the prophets spoke about long ago! He is the One of Whom Jeremiah wrote about: Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will live securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, The Lord Our Righteousness. (Jer. 23:5-6). Jesus brings to the table of your sin a grace greater than all of your offences combined. Jesus is divine because He is truly the Son of the Most High, not in the way you are a son or daughter, but because He proceeds from God the Father. Jesus is divine because before he took on flesh in Marys womb, He was for all eternity always the Son. The apostle Paul put it this way: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:15-16). Jesus as the fully divine Son of God is not only willing to save you from your sins, but he is able to save you from your sins. Jesus is the King of kings in that He is truly the Son of David and at the same time the Son of God. He is the King of Israel and the redeemer because He is, the first and the last (Isa. 44:6-8). Jesus as the King of kings, calls those He saves to follow Him as the King over your life. Jesus will reign sovereignly over the nations; His Kingdom will not be limited to the twelve tribes of Israel, for it was prophesied long ago: There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace on the throne of David and over his kingdom (Isa. 9:7). Jesus, as the Sovereign One, is the only One who brings the kind of peace you were made for. Finally, Jesus kingdom will have no end in that He will reign forever and ever. As King over the nations, there will never be a moment when peace will recede, abate, or climax, for it will always increase as will the joy of His people. We are told that on that Day, the redeemed of the Lord will return and come to Zion with joyful shouting, and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away (Isa. 51:11). Jesus, who was born to redeem as far as the curse of sin is found, it the only One who can give you rest for your soul. Marys response to this news is understandable: But Mary said to the angel, How will this be, since I am a virgin (v. 34)? It is in the angels answer that we again see the principles of incarnation and grace at work: The angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God (v. 35). What is the incarnational principle? It would not be a temple God would build, but instead He would tabernacle among His people through and in the person of His own Son, which was the plan all along! God would enter into the mess of sinful humanity. What is the grace principle? There was nothing Mary brought to the table that obligated God to bless her with the Child promised long ago to Whom belonged the obedience of the nations. It was all unconditional grace through the powerful work of God the Father and the Holy Spirit in the person of Jesus Christ. [1] Keller, T. J. (2013). The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive. Redeemer Presbyterian Church. [2] Ibid.

Light it UP pt.2      My 5:14-15   “The mark of the gospel impacting a person's life is literally - not conforming” Bill Johnson    1) How do we purposely shine? - We live in the light    “In order to change a culture, we need to have a different culture in us” Leif Hetland   Isa 69:1-2    2) How do we live in the light? - We choose to walk in bold relationship with Him    Eph 5:8-11   Mt 16:24-25     3) How do we walk in bold relationship with Him? - We come up higher   Isa 55:9 Ps 121:1-2 Col 3:1-3 Eph 1:20-21     4) How do we come up higher? - We live a life that is hidden in Him   Col 3:3   Eph 2:1-9   COMPROMISE kills the fire - COMMUNION stokes it!    Set your mind on things above - Col 3:2   Call upon the Lord - Jer 33:3   Seek the Lord - Jer 29:13   Praise Him. Live in gratitude and worship - Ps 100:4   Live Righteously - Eph 5:8-11   Choose your attitude - Phil 2:14-15 

LIGHT IT UP   Jn 1:1-5 NIV Jn1:12-14 NKJV   Back to Jn 1:5     The darkness cannot shut out the light of Christ - but it tries!    Mt 5:14   1) How do we purposely shine? We live in the light   Isa 60:1-2    2) How do we live in the light? We choose to walk in bold relationship with Him   Eph 5:8-11   3) How do we walk in bold relationship with Him? We come up higher   Isa 55:9   Ps 121:1-2    Col 3:1-3   4) How do we come up higher? We live the life that is hidden with Him   Col 3;3   Call upon the Lord  Jer 33:3   Seek the Lord  Jer 29:13   Praise Him  Isa 61:3, Ps 100:4    Live Righteously  Ps 24:3-4   Choose our attitude Phil 2:13-15   Fear the Lord Ps 25:14

At this men's gathering Pastor Keith addressed the problem of passivity and halfheartedness among men. He explained that God has designed us to live fully by seeking Him and loving Him with our whole heart (Deut. 6:5), and by working heartily for Him (Col. 3:23) with all our might (Ecc. 9:10).

At this men's gathering Pastor Keith addressed the problem of passivity and halfheartedness among men. He explained that God has designed us to live fully by seeking Him and loving Him with our whole heart (Deut. 6:5), and by working heartily for Him (Col. 3:23) with all our might (Ecc. 9:10).

2023.07.09 As You Received Christ, So Walk in Him | Col. 2:6-23 | John Wood by EP Church Annapolis

What does the Bible say about the deity of Christ? For centuries, as affirmed at the Council of Nicea, Christians have used a wonderful list of verses to demonstrate from God's Word the deity of Jesus Christ. Here is another very different approach to show the same truth. (This is similar to the "Big Picture" approach used in the overview of the Bible called The Plot.) Thus Saith the Lord: If we count how many times the Old Testament prophets said, "Thus says the Lord" we find them using that phrase, in the New King James Version of the Bible, about 420 times. The New Testament on the other hand, never once records that phrase. Jesus Christ, with all the red ink devoted to recording His words, never once used that ubiquitous phrase, "Thus saith the Lord." Rather, Jesus proclaims, "I say to you," in the Gospels! Not a single "Thus says the Lord," but rather, "I say to you," 135 times. The following chart demonstrates biblically that these two phrases, Thus saith the Lord, and I say unto you, indicate the same thing, that God is speaking. For Jesus Christ made it clear that He Himself was at the heart of His message. Unlike the righteous priests and kings, prophets and the apostles, the Lord came to teach us about Himself: Christ's Self-focus: "Follow Me" 19x Mt. 4:19; 8:22; 10:38; 16:24; 19:21; Mk. 1:17; 2:14; 8:34; 10:21; Lk. 5:27; 9:59; 18:22; Jn. 1:43; 8:12; 10:27; 12:26; 13:36; 21:19, 22 Pray and act "in My name" 18x Mt. 7:22; 18:5; 18:20; [24:5]; Mk. 9:37, 39, 41; [13:6]; Lk. 9:48; [21:8]; 24:47; Jn. 14:13-14; 15:16; 16:23-24, 26; Acts 9:15 "the Holy Spirit" comes "in My name" Jn. 14:26 "for My name's sake" leave family and property Mt. 19:29; or even be killed 5x Mt. 24:9; [Lk. 21:12, 17;] Jn. 15:21; Acts 9:16 Believe in the "name of the… Son" and "in the Son" 3x Jn.  3:18, 36; 9:35 and "in Him [Jesus]" 4x Jn. 3:18; 6:29, 40; 8:31 "believe in Me" 14x Mt. 18:6; Mk. 9:42; Jn. 3:15-16, 18; 6:35, 47; 7:38; 11:25, 26; 12:44, 46; 14:1, 12; 16:8; 17:20 You "are sanctified by faith in Me" Acts 26:18 Live "in Me" Jn. 11:26 "come after Me" Mk. 8:34; Lk. 14:27 Abide "in Me" Jn. 15:2, 4:5, 7 "abide in Me" or else Jn. 15:6 "abide in My love" Jn. 15:9-10 "where two or three are gathered" Jesus is "there in the midst of them" Mt. 18:20 So too: "I [Jesus, will abide] in you" Jn. 15:4-5 "know that I am He" Jn. 8:28 or "if you do not believe that I am He you will die in your sins" Jn. 8:24 Do things "for My sake" Mt. 10:22, 39; even lose your life "for My sake" 4x Mt. 16:25; Mk. 8:35; 10:29; Lk. 6:22 "I never knew you, depart from Me" Mt. 7:23 "I am willing; be cleansed" Mt. 8:3; Mk.. 1:41 "confess Me" Mt. 10:32; Lk. 12:8 Do not deny "Me" 7x Mt. 10:33; 26:34; Mk. 14:30, 72; Lk. 12:9; 22:34; Jn. 13:38 Do not be "ashamed of Me" Mk. 8:38; Lk. 9:26 nor "My words" "love Me" 5x Jn. 14:15, 21, 23-24, 28 Do not reject "Me" Lk. 10:16; Jn. 12:48 "He who is not with Me is against Me" Lk. 11:23 Love Me "more than" your family members Mt. 10:37; [Lk. 14:26] Bob Enyart presents this material on a BEL radio program, in a secretly recorded meeting with Jehovah's Witnesses, and in his Gospel of John Bible Study which is downloadable or available on MP3 CD. "I… have loved you" Jn. 15:9, 12 Be "worthy of Me" Mt. 10:37-38 "Come to Me" 5x Mt. 11:28; Lk. 6:47; Jn. 5:40; 6:35; 7:37 "I will give you rest" Mt. 11:28 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" Mt. 11:30 I am "greater than the temple" "than Jonah" "than Solomon" Mt. 12:6, 41-42 I am "Lord even of the Sabbath" Mt. 12:8; Mk. 2:28; Lk. 6:5 [Lord of God's Ten Commandments] Thus He says keep "My commandments" 4x Jn. 14:15, 21; 15:10, 12 "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you" Jn. 15:14 "keep My word" Jn. 14:23-24 "He who is not with Me is against Me" Mt. 12:30 The angels are "His angels" Mt. 13:41; 16:27 and He commands "His angels" Mt. 24:31; Mk. 13:27 The kingdom is "His kingdom" Mt. 13:41 and He calls it "My kingdom" Lk. 22:30 Jesus called it "My church" Mt. 16:18 and believers are "My sheep" Jn. 10:14, 27 and they are "His elect" Mt. 24:31; Mk. 13:27 Paul is a "vessel of Mine to bear My name" Acts 9:15 "all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine" Jn. 17:10 "My peace I give" Jn. 14:27 "in Me you may have peace" Jn. 16:33 "My joy" should fill you Jn. 15:11 "Who do men say that I am?" Mt. 16:13; Mk. 8:27 "who do you say that I am?" Mt. 16:15 Receive "Me" Mt. 18:5; Mk. 9:37; Lk. 9:48 Heaven and earth will pass away but "My words" will never Mt. [5:18] 24:35; Mk. 13:31; Lk. 21:33 Tell others about Jesus Mk. 5:19 "you belong to Christ" Mk. 9:41 Hear "My sayings" and do them Lk. 6:47 Jesus has "His own glory" Lk. 9:26; [Jn. 2:11; 16:14] The Son is "glorified" 8x Jn. 11:4; 12:23; 13:31-32; [17:1, 5, 10 24] "He who hears you hears Me" Lk. 10:16 Jesus expects praise, from stones if necessary Lk. 19:37-40 Return "to Me" Lk. 22:32 Be "My disciple" Lk. 14:27; Jn. 8:31; 15:8 Forsake all to "be My disciple" Lk. 14:33 "you are My disciples" Jn. 13:35 "I shall send… the [Holy] Spirit" Jn. 15:26; 16:7 The Holy Spirit "will testify of Me" Jn. 15:26 We read in John 5 and Luke 24 that "the Scriptures… testify of Me" Jn. 5:39; [Lk. 24:44] "You [Apostles] also will bear witness [of Me] because you have been with Me" Jn. 15:27 Paul gives "testimony concerning Me" Acts 22:18; 23:11 "the Son gives life to whom He will" Jn. 5:21 "seek Me" Jn. 6:26 Serve "Me" Jn. 12:26 "all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father" Jn. 5:23 "I am the bread of life," "of heaven," "of God" Jn. 6: 32-33, 35, 41, [48,] 51 Just seeing Christ is reason enough to believe in Him Jn. 6:36 [56] Drink "My blood" and eat "My flesh" Jn. 6:53-54, 56 "I will raise him up at the last day" Jn. 6:40 for He is the resurrection "The world… hates Me" Jn. 7:7 "I am the light of the world" Jn. 8:12; 9:5; 12:46 "I bear witness of Myself" Jn. 8:13-14, 18 "know… Jesus Christ" for "eternal life" Jn. 17:3; [8:19; 10:10, 14] "the Son makes you free" Jn. 8:36 "Abraham rejoiced to see My day" Jn. 8:56; "Before Abraham was, I AM" Jn. 8:58 Of believers, Christ said, "I know them" Jn. 10:27 "I give them eternal life" Jn. 10:28 "I am the resurrection and the life" Jn. 11:25 I "will draw all peoples to Myself" Jn. 12:32 "I will… receive you to Myself" Jn. 14:3 Be "Mine" Jn. 14:24 "I am the vine" Jn. 15:5 "without Me you can do nothing" Jn. 15:5 "Because I live, you will live also." Jn. 14:19 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you" Jn. 15:16 Those who oppress Christians are "persecuting Me" Acts 9:4-5; 22:7-8; 26:14-15 "because they have not known… Me" Jn. 16:3 The Spirit "will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it" Jn. 16:14 "All things that the Father has are Mine" Jn. 16:15 "Whatever He [the Father] does, the Son does" Jn. 5:19 "the Father… loves you, because you have loved Me" Jn. 16:27 "If I will that he remain" Jn. 21:22 "I have overcome the world" Jn. 16:33 "I am the way" Jn. 14:6 "I am… the truth" Jn. 14:6 "I am… the life" Jn. 14:6 "I will… manifest Myself" Jn. 14:21 Scores of times Jesus uses the personal pronoun My with words like commandments, sake, words, lambs, sheep, peace, love, joy, voice, name, sayings, kingdom, angels, and church. Three examples powerfully illustrate the point. First, "Abraham rejoiced to see My day..." Secondly, "I know My sheep, and am known by My own." And thirdly, "Assuredly, I say to you... Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." The prophets and John were the messengers; Jesus is the Message, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and put Himself at the center of His message, because He is God. Hear all this on a BEL program, in a secretly recorded meeting with Jehovah's Witnesses, and in Bob Enyart's Gospel of John Bible Study which is downloadable or available on MP3 CD. The Forest for the Trees: A simple overview of Christ's message shows overwhelmingly that He is the Message. To paraphrase Greg Koukl from The John 10:10 Project, "You can take Buddha out and still have Buddhism, or take the prophet out and still have Allah, but if you take Jesus out you don't have Christianity any more." Jesus is either a blasphemer or God Himself. The above list comes from His words. We could make a similar list of Christ as the message using the remainder of the New Testament. And additionally, strong individual verses also show the Deity of Christ. The powerful and traditional proof texts show His deity even more effectively when presented alongside the big picture above of the ministry and message of Jesus Christ. The Traditional Passages Showing Christ's Deity: Most of the primary verses with a sampling of the many others showing that, like the Father, Jesus is... - Called God: John 1:1 with v. 14; 20:28; Rom. 9:5; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:8; 2 Pet. 1:1; Luke 1:16-17 - From Everlasting: Ps. 90:2 with Micah 5:2 - Receiving worship: Mat. 2:11; 14:33; 28:9; John 9:38; Heb. 1:6 (etc., 10x) with Ex. 34:14; Acts 10:25-26 & Rev. 19:10 - Forgiving/Delegating Power to Forgive: Mat. 6:9, 12 with Jn. 20:23; Luke 5:20; Mark 2:5-11 & 1 Jn. 1:7-9 - Omniscient: John 10:15; 2:24-25 21:17 - Omnipresent: Ps. 139:7-10 with Mat. 18:20 & 28:20 - Omnipotent: Rev. 1:8 with 11-13, 17; 2:8; 5:11-6:1, 21:22-23; & 22:13 - Immutable: Mal. 3:6 with Hebrews 13:8 - The exact equivalent     in nature: Heb. 1:3; Phil 2:6 doesn't rob the Father to see Christ as His equal     in fullness: Col. 2:9 (in Christ "dwells all the fullness of the Godhead")     in glory: Isa. 45:25 with Gal. 6:14 and John 1:14; etc.     to whom every knee shalll bow: Isa. 45:23 with Phil. 2:10     to whom every tongue shall confess: Isa. 45:23 with Phil. 2:11 and Rom. 14:10-11     as the Almighty: Rev. 1:8 with 11-13, 17; 2:8; 5:11-6:1, 21:22-23; & 22:13     as Creator: Isa. 45:5-7, 18 with John 1:3 and Col. 1:16-17     as Savior: Isa. 45:21 and Luke 1:47 with Titus 3:6; 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:11; 1 John 4:14     as searcher of hearts: Ps. 139:23-24 with John 2:24-25 & Rev. 2:18-19, 23     as possessor of the everlasting kingdom: Dan. 7:13-14     as King of Kings: Rev. 19:16 with Dan. 2:47 and Isa. 33:22     as Lawgiver: James 4:12     as Judge: Ps. 9:7-8; 50:6 & 75:7; Isa. 33:22; 66:16; Heb. 12:23 with John 5:22; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Rom. 2:16; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Tim. 4:1, 8     as Jehovah: Isa. 40:3 with Mat. 3:3; and Isa. 8:13-14 with 1 Pet. 2:7-8; Mat. 21:42; Mk. 12:10. The Deity of Christ and Eternal Separation: Two doctrines, the afterlife of eternal separation from God in hell, and that of the deity of Christ, are inextricably linked. Therefore many of those who deny the deity of Christ, including Jehovah's Witnesses, Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church, Ronald Hubbard's Scientology, and Christian Science, also deny an afterlife of eternal separation from God. Why? God put eternity in our hearts (Eccl. 3:11; Ps. 148:5-6) and so only a payment of infinite worth, something greater than the eternal futures of billions of human beings, could suffice to pay the price for our combined sin. When false teachers dismiss eternal punishment in Hades, they then fail to see the necessity of a Sacrifice of infinite worth. Jesus Is God: The dramatic contrast in the above chart shows Christ's self-presentation compared to the angels and prophets who present God to the world. These other messengers elevated not themselves, but God. They focused attention not on themselves but on Him. Godly priests, kings, and apostles presented God as their motivating message, of course, and not themselves. Jesus, on the other hand, came speaking about Himself. His most oft used, favorite title for Himself, undoubtedly selected also to communicate His mission, is not the "Son of God", but the "Son of Man". For, eternally He was the Son of God, but being the Son of Man was new to Him and uniquely cherished. God the Son submits Himself to the Father, willingly, not as a sign of a lesser God, but of His greatness. For as He lowers Himself, He is exalted to the central truth of Creation! (See the above chart.) Thus His "I say unto you" is the Scripture's "Thus Saith the Lord"! Three in the Bible: God exists as three persons in one Godhead, whom we refer to as the Trinity. Thus human beings made in His image also have a triune nature, and the cosmos itself is understood in threes, in the most fantastic ways. Before considering this, first see the Bible's extraordinary use of this number. Christ was three days in the tomb, which Jonah's three days foreshadowed, as did Abraham's three days of thinking that he would sacrifice his son Isaac on that same hill called Golgotha and Mt. Moriah (Gen. 22:14; 2 Chron. 3:1). Israel's three patriarchs are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The priestly tribe of Levi is from Jacob's third child (Gen. 29:34), as Leviticus is the third book of the Bible. And the day the law was given, the sons of Levi killed "about three thousand men" (Ex. 32:28), whereas the day the Spirit was given, "that day about three thousand souls were [saved]" (Acts 2:41; and see 2 Cor. 3:6). The Hebrew Scriptures comprise three sections, the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings (Luke 24:44), and God created three archangels. The most noteworthy women are Eve, Sarah, and Mary. The magi brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. Three persons (one being the Son) started their public service at thirty years of age: Joseph (Gen. 41:46), a deliverer of his people; David (2 Sam. 5:4) seated on the messianic throne (2 Sam. 7:12-13); and "Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age" (Luke 3:23). God could have led Esther to fast for two days, or four; and He could have kept Jonah in the whale for one day, or a week, but three days and three nights prefigures God's plan of salvation for Christ's time in the grave. For Jesus "rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:4). And thus, the triune Christian God, the mystery of the Trinity, Three Persons in One God, is the one God whose testimony we can trust (answering both the philosophical problem of the origin of the one and the many, and Euthyphro's Dilemma by Socrates), having imprinted our world and even ourselves with His triune nature. Threes Everywhere: The number three manifested in Scripture turns the Christian's attention outward to see space existing in three dimensions, height, width, and length, as does time in past, present and future. The electromagnetic force operates in positive, negative, and neutral, and in pigment the three primary colors are red, yellow, and blue whereas in light they are red, green, and blue which three blend into the hues of the rainbow. We human beings on this third planet from the Sun experience matter primarily in three states, solid, liquid, and gas. The strongest shape for building is the triangle. Writers often give three examples and artists group in threes as in interior design, sculpting, and even movie directors, as they have the word trilogy (1, 2, 3) but no word for any other number of films. Photographers use the rule of thirds and the language of DNA uses only three-letter words. Everything reinforces the triune aspect of all of existence, a reflection of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. See more at kgov.com/3. Tripartite Man: And so we humans are body, soul, and spirit (1 Thes. 5:23). For God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…" (Gen. 1:26). So mankind is made in God's image and likeness, image referring to our form, and likeness to our essence as sentient, morally-responsible persons. And unlike animals which look to the ground, men and women stand upright with a heavenly gaze. God's Image: God created a form, that is, an image, for the eternal Son to indwell. The verses Jehovah's Witnesses assume undermine Christ's deity are actually verses describing this aspect of Him at the creation. For the very first thing that God created was this form for His Son to indwell! (See Gen. 1:26 along with Col. 1:15; Rev. 3:14: Heb. 1:3; 5:5; 10:5; 2 Cor. 4:4; John 1:14; Phil. 2:5-6; 1 Tim. 2:5; and Rev. 1:13-18. When a son is "born" isn't the beginning of his existence anymore than when by taking up an image the Son became the "firstborn" of creation, was the beginning of His existence.) And in that image, "He made man" (Gen. 9:6), and not in the image of apes. "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them (Gen. 1:27). The Plurality in God: The very first verse of Genesis presents the plurality of God, with Genesis 1:1 using a plural subject and a singular verb, that is, In the beginning gods He created the heavens and the earth. Elohim is the plural of the typical Hebrew word for God, which is El (cherub and seraph for example become plural as cherubim and seraphim, with Elah likely being the dual form, and Elohim being a plurality, in this case, three for the triune God). So, did Moses make a grammatical error in the first sentence of the first book of Scripture, in what has become not only the world's best-selling book, but in the most well-known sentence in the history of the world by using a singular verb with a plural subject? Of course not. For this was intentional. The Hebrew Scriptures in the most solemn texts presents God as a unified plurality. What grammarians refer to as the "royal we" comes from God's references to Himself using the plural: "Let Us make man in Our image," (Gen. 1:26). The solemn Hebrew prayer, called the Shema Yisroel, to the "one God" uses another plurality. For "The Lord our God, the Lord is One (of plurality)" at Deuteronomy 6:4 uses neither of the expected terms, yachad or even bad, words meaning a singularity, but God's Word uses the word echad, which is one in plurality as used by God at the Tower of Babel, "the people are one," and by Joseph "the dreams of Pharaoh are one," and by Moses, "the people answered with one voice," and back again to the beginning of Genesis at the institution of marriage when God says, "and they shall become one flesh." So this foundation prayer to God does not the use the Hebrew words for one, which mean a singularity (which words are never used in the Bible referring to God), but God describes Himself in the Bible using the One of plurality. So the Shema says: the Jehovah (who is the one God) our Elohim (plural) Jehovah is a Plural Unity! And Deuteronomy 6:4 is the central passage to all theology of God. Then the Scriptures go on to teach that the three Persons of the Trinity are God the Father (Isa. 63:16; Mal. 2:10), God the Son (Ps. 2:12; Zech. 12:10 and as in the chart above), and God the Spirit (Gen. 1:2; Isa. 48:16; Isa. 6:3; Rom. 5:5). See also Mat. 28:19; Acts 5:3-4, 9; 2 Cor. 13:14, and Psalm 110:1 with Matthew 22:41-46, and verses that show the personhood of the Spirit including Heb. 10:15-17. The Mystery in the Godhead: How can one God exist in three persons? Christian theologians have long described this as a mystery, but it is an expected mystery. Virtually everything, deep down, is a mystery. What is light (with its wave-particle duality)? What is life (with modern biology unable to agree on a definition)? What is matter (that it leaves modern physics bewildered)? What is space? What is energy? What is time? What is movement? (Is it a series of discrete stationary states?) How can the Creator bring the universe into existence from nothing? How can your non-physical spirit be attached to your physical body? How can God exist from the beginningless past? How can creatures procreate and bring everlasting beings into existence? In humility we acknowledge that virtually everything in the creation is a deep, almost unfathomable mystery. How much more mysterious would be the God who made us? If Christianity taught that there are three Gods in One God, that would be a contradiction, and by the laws of logic, therefore false. For 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 and each 1 would be 1/3rd of the whole, which is anathema to trinitarian theology. But by analogizing God with math we see that the number line lacks sufficient multidimensionality and points us to the 3-dimensionality of space and an appropriate anaology wherein 1 x 1 x 1 = 1. And likewise, if Christianity taught that there are three Persons in One Person, that also would be false. But Christianity teaches that there are three Persons in One God, and while being a deep mystery (what isn't?), that is no contradiction. And finally, denial of Christ's deity is a central teaching of many of today's cults, including for example the Jehovah's Witnesses. This denial goes hand-in-glove with the rejection of eternality of hell. Also, not understanding the plurality of the Godhead creates philosophical dilemmas such as the problem of the one and the many. And Socrates' pre-Christian argument against God called Euthyphro's Dilemma is resolved by none of the world's religions except for the Christian Answer to Euthyphro in the eternal corroborating testimony of the three Witnesses of the Trinity. -Bob Enyart, KGOV.com Pastor, Denver Bible Church Bible Resources: If you enjoyed the above study and you would like to learn more from the wealth of biblical resources available from Bob Enyart Live, then please consider getting our series on the Gospel of John, or at least starting with Volume I, titled, Is this Man God? And for more fun and to enrich yourself spiritually, consider reading The Plot, an overview of the Bible which is Pastor Bob's life's work. Also, we invite you to browse the Bible Study Department at our KGOV store. And you can call us at 1-800-8Enyart (836-9278) to tell Bob or a BEL staffer which topics of study you are most interested in, and we'll figure out which of our resources, if any, address your area of concern. Postscript -- Is the Father-Son Relationship Eternal? The Scriptures help us see the errors in two claims about the Son that are held by a minority of believers, many of whom, thankfully, do assent to the Trinity and the deity of Jesus Christ. One false teaching is against the eternality of the Trinity (immediately below, The Claim: No Past Trinity) and the other acknowledges the eternal Trinity but denies that ithe Second Person was always the "Son" (below, The Claim: No Past Son). The Claim: No Past Trinity: The first claim, that no triunity existed in God until He decided to express Himself in that way, is offered to defend monotheism, that there is only one God. Christianity teaches that there is one God in three persons.  can be falsified in three ways. 1) Because the "Father" is eternal His "Son" must also have been eternal. For by positing "no Trinity" through an eternity prior to the manifestation of such, a Christian is claiming the existence of a non-relational "Being". Theoretically, if such a Being could exist, it could not be a "Father" and may be non-binary. We estimate however that more than a thousand Bible verses present God as relational. Thus we teach that the five primary biblical attributes of our eternal God are that, "He is living, personal, relational, good, and loving." Not being "relational" has serious consequences including Euthyphro's, as linked to just below. And for those who may claim that "Father" could have been merely an eternal figure of speech, please see below on metaphor. 2) The Scripture asserts the existence of "the eternal Spirit" (Heb. 9:14). The Holy Spirit did not come to exist. If a defense of monotheism requires that mankind needs to know that God in the past was a unitarian Being who only later manifest Himself into three persons, it is surprising that the Bible would not teach this. Further, if there were a logical contradiction in three persons being One God, positing that One God manifest Himself into three persons does not make that apparent contradiction go away. That is not the answer to such a challenge. Rather, as shown above in The Mystery in the Godhead section, one God existing in three persons is not and never has been a contradiction. But like mostly everything else, it is a deep mystery. (Some claim that John 15:26 teaches an origin for the Holy Spirit, who "proceeds from the Father". However, context is king. If that was the Lord's teaching, it would have been quite a jump out of His context. You can wreak havoc anywhere and especially in John 15 by ignoring the contextual. Jesus there assures His disciples that "the world hates you... because you are not of the world." The disciples were not extraterrestrials and were not eternal aliens at that, even though Jesus said, "you have been with Me from the beginning." And about unbelievers, the Lord said, "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin". By taking that out of context one would assume unbelievers were sinless until just three years earlier. And "when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me." Context is king. Jesus did not bounce out of His context to drop a theological bomb. Rather, He was assuring them that although in "a little while" He will be with them no longer, He is sending the Holy Spirit who comes not from this world, but from the Father in heaven.) 3) Above, this article mentions our Christian Answer to Euthyphro's Dilemma. That writing makes a defense of the eternal corroborating testimony of the Trinity's three Witnesses. This also rebuts the first claim here that no Trinity existed in eternity past. The Claim: No Past Son: The second related erroneous claim, as written about by Zeller and Showers, admits that the Persons of the Trinity have existed eternally, but that the Second Person did not become the "Son" until the Incarnation. This teaching at least has a proof text, which however appears to have been misapplied. One form of this second error is that through eternity past the second Person of the Trinity was the "Word" but not the "Son". This position claims that it was not until the Incarnation, or thereabouts, when the Father's prophecy was fulfilled, "This day have I begotten Thee", that the Word became the Son. The claim here is that the First Person of the Trinity sent the Second Person, the Word, to the world, who thereby became the Son. Let's look at four rebuttals to this claim. First, the Bible never says that God sent the Word to the Earth who then became the Son. Among His many titles (the Christ, the Alpha and Omega, the Lamb of God, the Prince of Peace, the Son of Man, the Bridegroom, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, etc.), the Second Person of the Trinity is also referred to as the Word (John 1:1, 14) and He was of course sent to the Earth. However, when the Bible addresses the topic of WHO was sent to Earth, WHO came, WHO was given to the world, we don't read that the Word was sent and He became the Son, but rather, each time we read that: - "He loved us and sent His Son" (1 John 4:10) - "the Son of God has come" (1 John 5:20) - "God gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16; and 3:17) - "Unto us a Son is given" (Isaiah 9:6) - "God sent forth His Son, born of a woman" (Gal. 4:4) - "the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world" (1 John 4:14) - "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world" (1 John 4:9). Again, God did not send the Word into the world who became the Son through the Incarnation when He got here. Rather, God sent His "Son into the world". Even in the parable, "Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son'" (Mat. 21:37), "having one son, his beloved, he also sent him" (Mark 12:6). A second way of recognizing from Scripture that the Son is eternal is that the "Father" is eternal. Without a Son, the First Person of the Trinity would not have been the Father. Further, with all the Old Testament passages referring to God as Father notwithstanding, He would not have become the Father until about 2,000 years ago with the Incarnation. However, while the famous messianic prophecy of Isaiah 9 raises the deep mystery of the separateness within, yet also the oneness of, God, its description of Him as "Everlasting Father" has long been held by Christians to teach that throughout eternity past, the Father has been the Father. As the Apostle Paul wrote, "there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things" (1 Cor. 8:6), such that everything that has flowed from Him has flowed from Him as "the Father". Likewise, to the Ephesians, the Hebrew poetry places in proximity the "one Spirit" with the "Father of all", reinforcing that as the Holy Spirit has been eternally the Spirit, so too with the Father, as likewise when Luke recorded, "Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, 'I thank You, Father'" (Luke 10:21) and Matthew, "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Mat. 28:19). Of course also, in the Hebrew Scriptures, prior to the Incarnation, God was referred to as Father. "Have we not all one Father? Has not God created us?" (Mal. 2:10; see also Deut. 32:6; Ps. 68:5; Isa. 63:16; 64:8; [43:10]; John 8:41; 5:21 [evidently referring to the three Old Testament resurrections]). Yes, of course, "Father" could be used as a metaphor, like the Father of our Country or the Father of Creation. However, that metaphor does not hang on nothing. It is "Our Father who art in heaven" that gives rise to the use of the Father metaphor. Also, the parallel passages to those above, regarding that the "Son" was sent, are those that teach us that the "Father" is the one who sent Him, such as Jesus' own frequently repeated statements about "the Father who sent Me" (John 5:30, 36-37; 6:39, 44, 57; 8:16, 18, 29, 42; 12:49; 14:24) and "I have come in My Father's name" (John 5:43). That is, the First Person who sent the Second Person to Earth, at the time of the sending, was already the Father. So to be the everlasting Father, of necessity, eternally, He has had a Son. Thirdly, the burden of proof for such a new doctrine is on the person claiming that the Godhead's relationships were different prior to the creation, or prior to the Incarnation, than they are today. However, with its one proof text, the scriptural evidence will fail to make the case if that passage is not making a claim about the past relationship of the First and Second persons, but rather, is referencing the future Incarnation when God the Son will be begotten to become the Son of Man. For Psalm 2:7 is a messianic Incarnation prophecy. "You are My Son, today I have begotten You." The immediate context, and the three times that this passage is quoted, shows that this relates to the messianic plan for the Second Person rather than to the First Person's past relationship with the Second Person. In context, this is about Jesus as God's "King on My holy hill of Zion" [i.e., Jerusalem] (Ps. 2:6). That description applies because of and sometime after the Holy Spirit overshadows Mary, for "that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit" (Mat. 1:20). So too, each of the three quotes of Psalm 2:7 refer explicitly to its fulfillment in the First Advent of Jesus Christ (Acts 13:33; Heb. 1:5; 5:5). "And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm..." (Acts 13:32-33). Thus while some see Psalm 2 as claiming no past Father-Son relationship, the alternative traditional understanding is that it is referring to when God the Son becomes the Son of Man taking upon Himself the messianic role, with the Godhead as the Progenitor, so to speak, begetting Jesus' earthly existence. The writer of Hebrews quotes Psalm 2 and then explicitly connects it to a prophecy of the Incarnation, for Mary, Jesus' true earthly mother, descended from the line of David. "I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom... I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son" (1 Sam. 7:12-14). This messianic Incarnation prophecy is then quoted in Hebrews 1:5, again reinforcing that Psalm 2:7 refers to the Incarnation. Likewise, when quoted in Hebrews 5, the passage is associated with the prophecy that Christ would "become High Priest", another reference to His role through the Incarnation. Thus, the New Testament interprets Psalm 2:7 not as referring to some past spiritual begetting of the Son by the Father, but to God's begetting of His eternal Son through the virgin Mary whereby He became "the Son of Man", His favorite title for Himself. Finally, Scripture teaches about the Second Person of the Trinity that, "All things were created through Him" (Col. 1:16) and "without Him nothing was made that was made" (John 1:3). If these are literal and comprehensive, that means that the Second Person of the Trinity is the one who actually created everything. The things created explicitly include all the created positions of authority, "whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers" (Col. 1:16). That leaves this false teaching in the awkward position of claiming that while the Second Person was eternally existing, the "Sonship" was a created position. Yet, if it were, one would expect that the Son Himself would have created that position, which seems untenable. The Son wouldn't create His own "Sonship". Yet He indeed created every position of authority. That again suggests, as with the above three extensive observations and natural readings from Scripture, that the Father-Son relationship was not brought into existence but that it eternally emanated from the Godhead and that therefore God the Son is eternally the only begotten Son of the Father.

DAY 1   Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.  One of the encouraging truths about our Christian life is that we are never alone. We are not islands unto ourselves. We are neither independent nor dependent. We are interdependent in both helping one another and being self-empowered.  We have great riches in Christ! We are complete in Him (Col. 2:10), but we also have the blessing of impartation from others. God uses others who can share insights and wisdom with us. Leaders, such as our pastors, help us discover new dimensions of God's gifting within. Paul expressed his desire to spend time with believers to help them through instruction and training in God's grace. We need our pastors, spiritual mentors, and fellow believers in the same way. We spend time in personal study and prayer for direct impartation through the Holy Spirit.  We also benefit greatly from participating in Bible study and other gatherings of believers where we can receive the word and grow stronger in Christ. Reflection Question: Who does God use in your life to impart gifts and grace?  Key insight I gained today: Today's action item based on insight:   ____________________________   Order Your Copy of Romans Road on Amazon   PRINT EDITION KINDLE EDITION

Ministering Angels Through UBM (4) (Audio) David Eells - 8/21/22 Father Confirms the Angels Isaac Payne - 8/18/22 (Eve's notes in green | David's notes in Red) I just wanted to share a confirmation dream that I had prayed for. After listening to the first broadcast about angels and receiving the 8 day fast email, I asked Father to confirm all this to me and Father surely did! He gave me a dream that was "to the point" and exactly correlating to all the events taking place concerning the angels. After I woke up, I had to repent for any unbelief. I'm thankful for a Father who just wants us to believe and gave me such strong answers to rid me from any unbelief. I believe! In this dream I was with the local UBM body and a few from the UBM Outreach body. We were standing outside in the country and the sun was out and it was a very beautiful, bright day. There were large trees around with beautiful green foliage. Standing next to me was Eve Brast. In front of us was a white, four door car with some type of special painting on it. All over the car was what seemed like a lot of the “&" signs. (Meaning a constant addition of revelations and gifts of the Spirit through the angels.) The "&" sign was a beautiful turquoise color. (Turquoise is one of the stones in the high priests breastplate. The turquoise stone represents the tribe of Judah who had the headship in Jerusalem, the Bride.)  Eve said, "I really like this color." I responded, "So do I." After that, Eve and Missy Pollock grabbed a car cover and draped it over the car. (The cover represents a hiding of the vehicle; the angelic ministers.) However, this car cover had a key to it that could be unlocked or locked and Eve was the only one with the key. (I don't know what this means, but I remember, in the dream, this was a very wonderful and powerful ability that Eve had.) (This ability is the ability to see and converse with the angels for UBM ministry.)  Suddenly, the UBM local body, and some of the UBM Outreach, were in an antique store. (Representing the life of the early Church.) Again, standing next to me was Eve. All of the UBM local and some of the Outreach were huddled around conversing in the store. There was a counter and a cash register in front of all of us. And behind it was David Eells. It looked like a typical counter and cash register at a restaurant. (Representing those who will pay the price of denying themselves to draw close to the Lord and partake of HIs food.) I was still standing next to Eve and suddenly the Lord began to reveal to me, through supernatural knowledge, confirming my prayers. It wasn't as if I was hearing His voice audibly, but it was just this intense feeling. Father was explaining everything to me in my heart. It was all encompassing knowledge as Father's words entered my heart.  Father said, "Eve witnesses all such things because she is first born of the new creation.” (Meaning, Jerusalem, the Bride, of the last Adam, Jesus, is first in the kingdom including her head which is the Man-child David. This is the first fruits of the Body of Christ.) (Col. 1:15-16 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (After reading verse 15, I read on to verse 16 and it fits so perfectly with all this that it is truly remarkable.) 16 For in him were all things created: things in heaven and on earth, visible or invisible, whether throned or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.) I looked up this verse because He showed me she was firstborn of all creation. (Meaning, the new creation of Christ manifested in His Body.)   Still standing there, the Lord spoke to my heart again saying, "This is why I have named her Eve." (Biblically Eve was the first mother.) And I knew in the dream it represented this verse. Mar 3:34-35 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother.  I believe this means she is birthing Christ in her. John 16:21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her time has come: but when she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for the joy that a man is born into the world.) (Eve said, "When Father said in your dream, "This is why I have named her Eve.”  This is true because both of my parents had agreed to name me, “Nina”. Back when I was born the nurses came out to my Dad, who was in the waiting room, and asked him, “What are you going to name her?” (For the birth certificate)  He was about to tell them, “Nina”, but (he told me that) he heard an audible voice say, “You will name her Eve.” (He told me this is how I got my name; That God had named me and not them.) This was before my dad was saved, but he knew it was the voice of God that had spoken to him and he feared to tell them anything else so he told the nurses that my name was “Eve”. My mother was shocked when she found out that my dad had changed my name and that's what they had put on the birth certificate. He told her that God had spoken to him and that he had to obey. But she was happy because she thought it was a nice name too. :o) Back to Isaac: Still standing next to Eve, I looked around and saw arguing going on amongst some people. I did not recognize them. One was a man who was short, pudgy, and bald. I looked on past the bickering and saw Missy Pollock who was very happy and she said, "I want dreams and visions". I then said, "I too want dreams and visions." I looked at David as he was standing behind the counter and cash register and he said, "I too want visions." Then I woke up. I knew that we weren't talking about just dreams and visions, but visions into the spiritual world to see the angels as Eve does. Mat 13:31-32 Another parable set he before them, The kingdom of Heaven is like unto to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed into his field: 32.) which indeed is less than all seeds; but when it is full grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the heavens come in lodge in the branches thereof.  The Lord showed me that the birds that lodge in the full grown tree are the angels. Earlier in Matt 13 Jesus speaks about the parable of the sower and the birds devoured the seed which Jesus later explains are demonic angels. I believe the heavenly angels are ready for our maturity to dispatch them through the spoken word coupled with faith.)    Angels visit Shepherds and Man-child Comes David Eells Luk 2:8-21 And there were shepherds (this is the Greek word “poimen” which also is pastor.) in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. (Notice, that the angels visited the pastors and gave them instructions when the Man-child came.)  10 And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: 11 for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  12 And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased. (The angels have visited us and given us instructions and telling us that the Man-child's coming is close.) 15 And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.  16 And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18 And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them. (And we were instructed to worship and praise God in a fast with all of our hearts and on the 8th day we would assemble and He would visit us in worship with spiritual anointings, giftings, healings, and deliverances.) 21 And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And the angels also visited Jesus, the Man-child, after his fast and temptation in His personal wilderness and ministered unto him. Mar 1:13  And he was in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.   Confirmation of Jeruel's Word About the Fast and assemble on the 8th Day. Pat McKnight - 8/17/22 (David's notes in red) Just dropping you a note of the Lord confirming with me the message that the angel Jeruel gave us.  Upon receiving the email from you Sunday night 14th with Jeruel's message from the Lord and I immediately responded that I was in and started my fast. The message aligned up with the message David gave last Wednesday 10th on "Ministering Angels through UBM" where he described Jeruel as being the angel with the anointing jar.  The next morning I was in my prayer and study time I asked the Lord for a verse by faith at random for today and my finger landed on 2 Ch 7:6 (6-10 for context)  2      Ch 7:6  And the priests stood, according to their offices; the Levites also with instruments of music of Jehovah (Which we were also commanded to do.), which David the king had made to give thanks unto Jehovah, (for his lovingkindness endureth for ever,) when David praised by their ministry: and the priests sounded trumpets before them; and all Israel stood.  7  Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of Jehovah; for there he offered the burnt-offerings (and we also were commanded to fast by offering up all flesh and attending to the Lord in worship.), and the fat of the peace-offerings, because the brazen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt-offering, and the meal-offering, and the fat. 8  So Solomon held the feast at that time seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath unto the brook of Egypt. 9  And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly: (Like us) for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. 10  And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away unto their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the goodness that Jehovah had showed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people. This was great confirmation to me that the Lord is pouring out His spirit to meet the crisis of the present and coming environment and I want to be ready to receive it.  I believe that the writing is about to be written on the wall of the Babylonian Spirit Empire and great fear will follow when people wake up in the face of great destructions. This is where 2 Ch 7:11-16 comes into play where God's response is to sweep as many souls into His kingdom as a result of peoples hearts being turned, through the fear of God to the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you Father for your grace unto us to participate in your marvelous plan of redemption and salvation for your people.  God Bless and even so come Lord Jesus!    Behold your King Dirk Oelofsen - 8/15/22 (David's notes in red) Thank you for passing on this message for the 8 day fast.A month ago, the morning of 7/16/22 I was busy with quiet time before leaving for work. I was reading in John 19 and as I got to verse 14 which reads “Now it was the Preparation of the passover: it was about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews, Behold, your King!”  I paused there for a moment pondering the verse and as I looked up I noticed the clock was exactly on 06:00 am.I felt that the Lord is showing me now is the time of anointing, our King manifesting in His first fruits. I asked Father for the meaning of this and I received two verses; Isaiah 23:12 with my finger on “...arise, pass over to Kittim…” and 1 Chronicles 16:11 “Seek ye the LORD and his strength; seek his face evermore.” The following morning I began reading in Acts 1 and 2 and as I was reading of the disciple's anointing at Pentecost, I went to Father in prayer asking Him for His anointing, to pour out His Spirit on His people.  My eye then caught a small card sticking out of another part of my Bible. As I opened there it happen to be two cards each with two verses on them. The verses are as follow: Isaiah 65:24 “And it shall come to pass that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”1 John 5:14-15  And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: 15  and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.Proverbs 11:25  The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.I then looked in the Bible where the cards were placed and it was at 2 Corinthians 6:14 - 7:1 Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? (15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever? (16) And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  (17) Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, (18) And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 7:1  Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. I just wanted to share this with you as for me it fits in with the call for the sacrificial fast and the anointing that will follow. I praise and thank Father for this wondrous time. The cleansing, victory and anointing we are to have in Jesus  :)   Father Said, “Continue in Sacrificial Living Unto Him." Debbie Fenske - 8/17/22 (David's notes in red)  I prayed, and feel the Lord okayed me to share this.  I was meditating on Rom. 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. And during the night, The Lord led me in praying that we would have a “changed” sacrificial aroma unto Him even after these 8 days, as we continue daily in sacrificial living unto Him. And He said, “Be sure not to go back into old habits, but love Me and one another.” (Jeruel said that the new method of worship should also continue on after the 8 days.) After that, two times throughout the night, as I would finally start to drift off to sleep, I was awakened hearing a word spoken, very clearly.  The first time, I heard “Coronation”, and the 2nd time I heard, “Revival”. This morning the Lord said, “Be sure to not go back to your old habits, but loving, and serving Me and one another.” (So after the 8th day stay in close relationship to the Lord and the crucified life and then the crowning comes and the revival. Woo Hoo !! Eve said she had heard this very same message spoken to her the same morning of 8/17/22.)   The Bride has the Fear of the Lord and an Understanding Heart Marie Kelton - 8/12/22 (David's notes in red) (Marie is being used to represent the Bride in this revelation.) During the meeting, I had an open vision of the Lord and he put a gold necklace around my neck with a key on it. (Representing the Key of David which the Lord gave to the Bride Church of Philadelphia. Rev 3:7, And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth. (In the revelation below Anna Rountree explains this golden necklace. "A golden necklace (represents) the fear of the Lord. (12. In the Bible a golden necklace is an emblem of authority for a person who is under greater authority (Gen. 41:42; Eze. 16:11). An example is King “Belshazzar [who] gave orders and they…put a necklace of gold around his [Daniel's] neck giving him “authority as the third ruler in the kingdom” (Dan. 5:29). The neck represents the human will, either in yieldedness to authority or in being obstinate and stiff-necked (Pro. 1:8-9; Matt. 8:8-9; Acts 7:51).  The Father gave His son authority over all things (Matt. 28:18; John 3:35). However, the Lord Jesus humbled Himself always to the authority of the Father's will (John 5:30). Because of His love and respect for the Father, Jesus feared to ever act independently of Him, but found delight in obeying Him (Psa. 40:8; Isa. 11:3; John 5:19-20). Christians will find rest only in having the same yoke about their necks (Matt. 11:28-30).) Marie: He then put another gold necklace on me with a heart on it. (Anna was presented these two gifts and she explains this golden heart necklace. "The gifts these angels presented included a golden heart that hung on a chain over my own heart―understanding; (8. The human definition of understanding is insight or comprehension with the mind of the meaning or the significance of something. The golden heart hung on a chain over a disciple's heart represents the spiritual heart of Christ being reproduced in that person (Song of Sol. 8:6). King Solomon asked God for an understanding heart to administer justice in the natural realm (1 Kings 3:9, 11).  The Christian is given a spiritually-minded heart to understand things of God in the supernatural sphere (Eze. 11:19; 1 Cor. 2:14; Isa. 6:10). The renewed human spirit is to know intuitively in the conscience when some thought, word, or act is from God or not, but the heart is to understand its meaning. What the mind or the spirit cannot understand, the heart does because it is the seat of faith by which we understand spiritual things not seen" (Heb. 11:3; Rom. 10:9-10). The Priestly Bride - Published in 2001 by Anna Rountree  https://annarountree.com/?page_id=184 (We obtained this excerpt freely from the internet and believe we are not in any copyright violations. We give full credit and sources here.) Often men identify with the priesthood of Christ and women with the bride of Christ. But in reality, neither the priest nor the bride has anything to do with our own gender. Our heavenly Father is looking only for His Son in us. He is looking to see if we exhibit the holiness and righteousness that was to be displayed in the lives of His biblical priests.  He is looking to see if we exhibit that single- eyed devotion so apparent in a loving bride―the one who wishes nothing more than to live in perfect union with her husband―even as Christ lives in perfect union with His Father. Since only perfect union will satisfy our Father, He created us so that only perfect union will satisfy His children.   The Visitation The edges of the air were on fire. I raised my hand to shield my eyes from the searing light. The very molecules of the air within our apartment were burning white-hot from a central point. Swiftly the Holy Spirit spoke: “Rise, Anna.” At the time I was down on my knees in prayer asking for more of God. Now, however, I had stopped praying, for I was struck by the wonder materializing before my eyes. The air sizzled and curled. From the center of this phenomenon, the fiery glory of the Lord began to burn through the wall of our apartment. The Holy Spirit had to set me on my feet for I could not stand. Seeing the Lord's glory while on Earth and in one's body is very different from seeing Him above while in the spirit. His glory is almost more than the physical body can bear.  (1. The Lord Jesus visited the apostle John in a vision while he remained on the earth at the Island of Patmos (Rev. 1:9). He was so overcome that he “fell at His [Christ's] feet as a dead man” (v. 17; cf. Acts 9:3-5). But later John was taken up into heaven in spirit where he was able to look upon the Lord Jesus as well as the Father on His throne without being physically overcome (Rev. 4-5).   Angels of His Presence As I rose to my feet, stately angels of His Presence stepped through the center of the blazing light to enter the room. (2. The apostle John saw “seven [of the] angels who stand before God” to do His bidding (Rev. 8:2). We know that among the angels of His presence is Gabriel, who told Zacharias that he “stands in the presence of God” (Luke 1:19). These angels are chosen for this special responsibility (1 Tim. 5:21).  They came in pairs but separated as they touched the room's atmosphere. Four angels stood before me in a semicircle to my left, four angels in a semicircle to my right. They wore pale lavender robes embroidered with deep purple and gold on the sleeves and hem. Golden girdles bound these garments across their chests. (3. The colors of their robes signify that these angels stand in the presence of Christ the King (John 19:2-3). The golden girdles across their chests indicate their priestly service to God (Rev. 15:6). Each angel carried something in his hands in the manner of an emissary. Then four additional angels, similarly dressed, entered the room through the burning air. Each of these held one pole of a canopy, the sort one might see in a Jewish wedding. As they moved forward, the word LOVE could be seen at times in the canopy's fabric. (4. “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me,” Jesus said (John 6:37). The Father “gives” or betroths His children to His Son here on Earth at the time when each one is born again of the Spirit and enters the kingdom (John 3:3, 5-6). For the Christian, the chuppah is “in the bosom of the Father” Himself. The Lord calls this “My Father's house” where His own on Earth are to abide in spirit even now (John 1:18; 14:2-3; 17:24; Col. 3:3). The presence of the canopy symbolizes the fact that Jesus is coming from His Father's house in this instance. The chuppah itself represents the Father as signified by the word love.)   King Jesus The Holy Spirit stirred and swelled into a whirlwind in response to the One who now stepped beneath the canopy. King Jesus, brighter than the sun, entered the room.  Through the shock of unbelievable light, I could see faintly that He was wearing a rich purple cloak that opened in the front and hung in folds to the ground. It had long sleeves and was edged with a wide, gold brocaded border. Beneath this garment was a white robe that also reached to His feet. The robe was grappled across His chest with a golden girdle. On His head was a golden crown that was similar in some respects to the crowns used to cap Torah scrolls.  (5. Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High eternally (Gen 14:18; Heb. 7:1-3). The purple robe attests to Christ's royalty (John 19:2-3). The white robe with the golden girdle across His chest signifies His priesthood. Jesus appeared to the apostle John in the same white robe with the golden girdle. (Rev. 1:13). The crown He wears covers the top of His head in filigree work of gold. It is similar to the ornamental crowns placed on top of the Torah scrolls, the written Word of God in synagogues. The Lord Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1). He was terrible in majesty, awesome in holiness, splendid in beauty.  The Holy Spirit swirled around me to strengthen me, for the intense light and power emanating from the Lord made it difficult for me to stand.   The Gifts Then, as if by some silent command from Jesus, the nearest angel in the semicircle stepped toward me. In his hands he held a golden crown, which he carefully placed upon my head. “Wisdom,” he said, smiling slightly. (6. The dictionary gives the meaning of human wisdom as knowledge of what is true or right, coupled with just judgement in applying it to obtain the desired results. But “the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God,” for natural wisdom is hopelessly flawed by sin (1 Cor. 3:19; 1:20).  The wisdom of God the Father from the beginning has been encapsulated in the person of His son (1 Cor. 1:24; John 1:2). Those who receive Christ Jesus are put into Him by God, so that the Son becomes for them all things including divine wisdom (John 1:12; 1Cor. 1:30; Rom. 8:32). Then crossing his arms over his chest, he nodded respectfully and stepped back into the semicircle.) The angel opposite him in the semicircle stepped forward with the gift he was carrying. He placed golden earrings on my ears. “Knowledge,” he said. (7. The dictionary defines human knowledge as acquaintance with information learned from study or from experience. Golden earrings signify the divine knowledge from the Father that Jesus receives for the Christian. Christ said that “He [God] awakens My ear to listen as a disciple…and I was not disobedient” (Isa. 50:4-5).  The Holy Spirit reveals to the disciple the knowledge the Lord Jesus has received for that person (1 Cor. 2:10-11). One category of such knowledge is the spiritual gift called the word of knowledge (1 Cor. 12:8). It is a direct disclosure of knowledge that was not seen, heard, or thought by the Christian (1 Cor. 2:9). Another area of supernatural knowledge is the disciple's conscience where the Spirit reveals what is in accord or not in accord with the life of Christ in that person (Rom. 9:1). Then he too folded his arms over his chest and moved back to join the other angels.) One by one each of the remaining angels of His presence brought the gift that he held in his hands. After the physical gift was placed upon me, the angel named the spiritual gift it symbolized. The gifts these angels presented included a golden heart that hung on a chain over my own heart―understanding; (8. The human definition of understanding is insight or comprehension with the mind of the meaning or the significance of something.  The golden heart hung on a chain over a disciple's heart represents the spiritual heart of Christ being reproduced in that person (Song of Sol. 8:6). King Solomon asked God for an understanding heart to administer justice in the natural realm (1 Kings 3:9, 11). The Christian is given a spiritually-minded heart to understand things of God in the supernatural sphere (Eze. 11:19; 1 Co. 2:14; Isa. 6:10). The renewed human spirit is to know intuitively in the conscience when some thought, word, or act is from God or not, but the heart is to understand its meaning. What the mind or the spirit cannot understand, the heart does because it is the seat of faith by which we understand spiritual things not seen (Heb. 11:3; Rom. 10:9-10).) Golden bracelets on each wrist―discretion; (9. One of the meanings of human discretion is the capacity to act judiciously, being circumspect in exercising sensitivity regarding the effect of one's conduct. The main Hebrew word for bracelets is derived from a root word meaning “to bind or join”. Bracelets on the wrists of the Christian signify being bound or attached to The Lord Jesus (1 Cor. 6:15, 17).  In New Testament times, prisoners were bound to their guard by a chain around their wrists (Acts 12:6-7). Paul considered consecrated disciples to be willing prisoners of Christ Jesus (Rom 16:7). As such we are to be restrained by the Spirit in not being able to do or say what we please, but are to act as the Spirit leads (Gal. 5:17-18).) A golden nose ornament―discernment; (10. The dictionary defines discernment as the faculty to make distinctions accurately between things. The nose ornament is a symbol of spiritual discernment because the nose instantly recognizes the presence of an odor. It distinguishes between pleasant and offensive smells without reference to the mind or to sight (Eze. 16:12; 1 Sam. 3:9). Discernment is meant by the common expression, “Sniffing out a matter”.  The first thing to determine in spiritual discernment is whether the matter at hand is of God or not. If it is not of God, the next distinction is whether it is of the flesh (coming from the natural person) or of Satan (demonic). This spiritual gift can be a manifestation of the Holy Spirit called the distinguishing of spirits. It enables believers to identify the kind of spirit that is operating in a particular situation, group or person (1 Cor. 12:7, 10).) Golden rings on each finger―the ability to communicate; (11. In ancient Jewish betrothals, for the right to marry the girl, the groom's family gave gifts – called the bridal price (Gen. 24:53; 29:18, 26-27; 34:11-12). The giving of money or some other gift of value constituted the engagement to be married. In more recent Jewish betrothal ceremonies, the groom gives the bride a ring and says “Behold! You are consecrated to me with this ring according to the Law of Moses and Israel.”  When one is betrothed to the Lord Jesus, a spiritual ring on the finger is a constant reminder that one is consecrated (set apart) unto Him. It also represents His pledge of faithfulness to endow the person with spiritual gifts and grace needful to carry out the Father's calling upon that person.) A golden necklace―the fear of the Lord. (12. In the Bible a golden necklace is an emblem of authority for a person who is under greater authority (Gen. 41:42; Eze. 16:11). An example is King “Belshazzar [who] gave orders and they…put a necklace of gold around his [Daniel's] neck giving him “authority as the third ruler in the kingdom” (Dan. 5:29). The neck represents the human will, either in yieldedness to authority or in being obstinate and stiff-necked (Pro. 1:8-9; Matt. 8:8-9; Acts 7:51).  The Father gave His son authority over all things (Matt. 28:18; John 3:35). However, the Lord Jesus humbled Himself always to the authority of the Father's will (John 5:30). Because of His love and respect for the Father, Jesus feared to ever act independently of Him, but found delight in obeying Him (Psa. 40:8; Isa. 11:3; John 5:19-20). Christians will find rest only in having the same yoke about their necks (Matt. 11:28-30).) The eighth angel stepped forward and blew a mist of gold over me. It covered me like a veil from my head to my feet. “Favor,” he said as he smiled. (13. The betrothed, Rebekah, asked the servant, “Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “He [Isaac] is my master. Then she took her veil and uncovered herself” (Gen. 24:65). It was a custom in early times in the East for a future bride to be, set apart until she was married. A disciple of Christ accepts the spiritual veiling of one's whole being in consecration to Him (1 Cor. 6:19-20). The word for favor is usually translated as “grace” in the Bible. The veil of divine favor (grace) surrounds those who embrace their consecration to Jesus. Each can say (with David) “You surround [me] with favor as with a shield” (Psa. 5:12).) He too nodded and stepped back into the semicircle.   The Response I was stunned. I had never received such an immediate and extravagant answer to prayer. I looked down at the gifts that I was able to see. They were princely―gifts of my Father from my Father. (14. Through his servant, Abraham gave gifts to Rebekah, the betrothed of his son Isaac (Gen. 24-53). Our Father God gives gifts of His splendor through His Son to those who welcome their betrothal to Christ Jesus (James 1:17). These presents cause the bride to be “exceedingly beautiful” in God's eyes. He said that the “Beauty [is] perfect because of My splendor which I bestow on you” (Eze. 16:13-14). But why the canopy? “Lord,” I said, “let all of these gifts be within for Your pleasure.” (15. The author of the Book of Hebrews says that Psalm 45 is about God's son (Heb. 1:8-9). It is a wedding song of the marriage of Christ the King and His bride. In Psalm 45:13 the bride is described as “all glorious within”. This refers to the “hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God” (1 Pet. 3:4).) He smiled at me. “Because you have asked that these be for My pleasure, they will be [for My pleasure] and will also be experienced by others. (16. King Solomon asked God to “give Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people to discern between good and evil.” God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked [things] for yourself…I have done according to your words… [and] I have also given you what you have not asked” (1 Kings 3:9, 11-13).) These gifts will unlock My heart to you and to My body. All mysteries are bound up, locked away in Me, Anna. But the mystery of My love is the greatest revelation of all.” (17. The supreme mystery of God is Christ who incorporates all other divine mysteries within Him (Col. 2:2-3). The mystery of the ever-expanding love that is manifested in Christ is the greatest mystery of God. It can never be fully known (Eph. 3:17-19; Luke 10:22).) Moving toward me, He said, “My chosen one, My love, a fruitful bough, an orchard of fruitfulness.” “Lord,” I replied, “I am barren.” (I had never borne physical children.) He smiled again as He answered, “You will bear and be more fruitful than if you had borne physical children. I have withheld your bearing. But now I place My hands upon you that you might bring forth good fruit―many children, all heirs, kings and priests to their Father.” (18. “Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear; Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; For more numerous are the children of the desolate, than of the one who has a husband” (Gal. 4:27; cf. Isa. 54:1).) He placed His hands upon me. Fire and power surged through me. He continued to speak, “No longer will you bear shame because of unfruitfulness.”   Ratification of Betrothal “Cleave to Me,” He said. “I am your Husband. (19. Adam was “a type of Him [Christ] who was to come” (Rom. 5:14; cf. Gen. 2:24). Husbands and wives on earth are to become “one flesh,” meaning that the two think and act as one. In full union with Christ, the betrothed one becomes one heart, one soul and one spirit with Him (Eze. 11:19; Acts 4:32; 1 Cor. 6:17). The Bible calls Joseph the “husband” of Mary. After their betrothal they were considered married but without the physical consummation (Matt. 1:19). This is also true with the betrothal to the Lord Jesus. (2 Cor. 11:2).) Let My covering be on your head.” (20. In two instances of betrothal in Scripture, the groom places his garment over the intended bride. (a) God spread His skirt over His people of Jerusalem that His love might cover their nakedness (the exposure of their sinful nature) (Eze. 16:8; 1 Pet. 4:8). (b) The widow Ruth asked her relative Boaz to spread his covering over her as a sign of his willingness to be her protector as redeemer (Ruth 3:9, 12-13; Deu. 25:5-7). Jesus as our head covering in betrothal means that we walk under His favor, protection and authority. This is so that our “minds should [not] be lead astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3). His eyes burned into me as He continued, “I am the Lord your God, and none is like Me. I am the beginning and the end. I am your health, your protection and your fruitfulness. Thousands upon thousands of heirs will you bear, those who will walk right into My kingdom, those who will be at home in My chambers. “Anna,” He said in a more intimate tone, “you are more beautiful now than earlier. My heart is turned toward you. My desire is for you. You have captured My heart. Lock this away in your heart, for My promises are true and sure.” (21. The passionate heart of Christ for His betrothed ones is represented by the ardor of the shepherd for the maiden in Song of Solomon 4:9. “You have made my heart beat faster, my sister, my bride. You have made my heart beat faster with a single glance of your eyes.”) I could hardly breathe. “Lord,” I whispered, “let it be soon.” “It is already accomplished,” He said. “Bear fruit for the kingdom. Shun pride. (22. “…the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father but is from the world [system ruled by Satan]” (1 John 2:16). Pride is claiming for oneself glory that belongs to God (John 5:44). All glory belongs to God. He has said, “I will not give My glory to another” (Isa. 42:8). The Son of God “is the radiance of His [Father's] glory,” but He did not claim that glory as His own (Heb. 1:3). It remains the Father's alone. The light of God's glory shines within the hearts of disciples, but it is not their possession (2 Cor. 4:6). They are “reflecting” it, as in 2 Corinthians 3:18, where “reflecting” is the better meaning of the Greek word usually translated “beholding”.) Point not the finger.” (23. Isaiah spoke of abstaining from the pointing of the finger,” which means passing judgement on other people (Isa. 58:9).)   The Departure He bowed at the waist as a sign of His departure and stepped back under the canopy. Once under the canopy, He turned and walked through the burning opening in the wall of the apartment. The four angels holding the poles of the canopy also bowed and walked out with Him, holding the canopy over His head as He disappeared. The angels of His presence also signified their departure, and two by two they followed the Lord. Then the Holy Spirit swirled before me again, this time gathering up all of the remaining fire and light. He too passed through the apartment wall. Instantly, the gifts became internal and no longer adorned me externally. The wall closed. Silence. (I encourage everyone listening to click the free download link here and read and acquaint yourselves with the heavenly wisdom and revelations of who the Bride is and what qualities she possesses.)   Angel Messages From the 8th Day Anointing Eve Brast (David's notes in red) Last night when David asked if the angels had anything to say in our meeting, I was able to hear a few sentences and much more was inferred in my mind. This morning as I meditated on each one's message they each added more to complete them for us. I will incorporate it all for us below:  Jeruel spoke first, since he had the privilege of bringing us the message about the fast and the honor of pouring out the anointing  gifts, healings and deliverances upon us last night. He said, “Your Father is very pleased with your sacrifice of praise tonight. Many anointings have been poured out on the hungry saints of UBM who were faithful to humble and empty themselves and believe our message spoken unto you. This must become your new Way (of meeting and being.)  (Eve said, "While I was typing this message, I was given a vision of something else that Jeruel did once the anointings were finished being poured out upon us at our 8th day meeting. In the vision the scene was at dusk. I saw him grow very large, as tall as David's Son-shine Mountain. He no longer had the anointing jug. His sword was now drawn and he wore his black, velvet belt. I saw him elevated, 50 feet above the ground, in a large valley between two mountain ranges. He was violently swinging his golden sword back and forth with both hands and his face looked fierce. I saw many small, dark figures of people running and scattering for their lives, but they all fell because there was no hope of outrunning his sword.)  (This is confirmation that the factions have fallen. I asked Shemuel, who coordinates with the angels over the foreign missionaries, specifically, “Has their faction been conquered as well as ours?” Shemuel said, “The others who have charge of the missionaries overseas have put down their factions also. But they too will need to know and understand the conditions of continued protection and success.”) Back to Jeruel: From this night and onward, all the saints of UBM both near and far who hunger to be united with you (UBM local) in the worship and praise of our Great God shall be invited every Friday meeting to participate with you in one accord, to the reviving and restoration of their souls in greater Body ministry. This is the desire and the command of your Father and our sovereign General, Jesus, your Master and Savior." Baruch was then asked if he had anything to say and he said, “Your enemy has been defeated THIS NIGHT and has been placed under your feet. The power of your praise and worship to our God and your Savior Jesus has gone down to the very foundations of hell and has shaken it to its core. And they have risen to the throne room of our Great God and were incorporated with the praises of your brethren, the saints of Heaven, around His throne. Do not go back to the old ways. Be very vigilant not to fall backwards and lose the ground you've taken back from the enemy tonight or he will penetrate your ranks once more. Continue to walk in the Way and the re-dedication of yourselves in faithfulness to Jesus, your Master and Savior. You have put the enemy to flight this night. Do NOT cease from pursuing him and overtaking him. Do not give him time to re-group by relenting in the fight.  Our Great General and your Savior, Jesus, is ordering His soldier Bride to report for duty. The training for the greatest revival ever witnessed by man-kind is now beginning. Don't fail to show up." (Eve said, i.e. don't go “AWOL” (absent without leave). We've been chosen or “drafted” to report for basic training at Ft. Revival. The Lord will be our strength and faithful to get us all in shape with His “Drill Sergeant angels”.  I understood that they are all using military terms and imagery in order to stress the revelation of a soldier Bride to us, so that we can begin viewing ourselves in this way because the battle comes before the wedding. So we need to view the Bride as a warrior at the Man-child's side, fighting with the angels and not so much as the dainty, demure, passive figure in her wedding garments.) Then David invited Shemuel to say something and he said, “I have really enjoyed praising, worshipping, and lifting up our God and His Son, our Great General and King of all Kings with you all tonight. Many of the angels have joined in celebrating this event with you. I concur with Baruch's report to you all. Do not fall back. You all have orders to press forward.  Also, remember to never leave your fellow soldiers (brethren) behind, struggling to keep up or wounded on the battlefield. This is a disgrace and a blot among earthly soldiers. It would never happen within our own ranks in the heavenly realms. We all follow the Code of Honor (the Word of God) in battle, laid down by our Great General and yours, Jesus, the Word of our God made flesh.  Every one of you, from now on, will be on the “buddy system”. Choose a buddy or form a squad (a squad is a small group of 4 soldiers within a platoon of 30-35.) and make contingency plans for mutual help and support to strengthen your ranks. A platoon of soldiers is only as strong as its weakest member. Give of your time and gifts sacrificially in order to uphold one another in daily training and on the battlefield. Do not let any fall through the cracks. When the Holy Spirit of God places someone on your heart, get in touch with them as soon as possible. Don't hesitate to communicate with one another because, the enemy lurks and hides where the communications have broken down.  Don't forget to deploy me abroad to continue fighting the enemies of UBM and all God's elect “both foreign and domestic.” This is my charge concerning UBM and all that pertains to her. I am also assigned to coordinate the with the angels in charge of the UBM missionaries overseas and have been given permission to introduce their names and their functions for the benefit of your greater understanding and their edification and understanding.  David: We are no longer worried about the factions, but due to the fact that some of our missionaries are in countries that are strongly antichrist, we will hide their identity and nation in the following instructions from the angels. The angels who are over our missionaries in the Middle East are, Hananiah and Thaddeus. (Hananiah means, “Grace, Mercy, Gift of the Lord.” And Thaddeus means “God's gift”) Both of these are guardians as well as angels in charge of administering the gifts and provisions for the leadership and the saints in the Middle East.)  The Angels over our missionaries in Africa are Uriah, Mengari, and Abijah, who is especially in charge over the orphanage and the children. He is in charge of ministering to their individual needs and protecting them. (Abijah means, "My Father is YAH (or God)”. Uriah is over the main UBM ministry there as a guardian angel of preservation and oversees the safe distribution and provision for the materials. (His name means, "The Lord is my light or fire.”) Mengari is an angel who administers the teaching anointing over the Pastor/teacher and those who are being raised up by him to be teachers also.”   Select Language Afrikaans Albanian Amharic Arabic Armenian Assamese Aymara Azerbaijani Bambara Basque Belarusian Bengali Bhojpuri Bosnian Bulgarian Catalan Cebuano Chichewa Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Traditional) Corsican Croatian Czech Danish Dhivehi Dogri Dutch Esperanto Estonian Ewe Filipino Finnish French Frisian Galician Georgian German Greek Guarani Gujarati Haitian Creole Hausa Hawaiian Hebrew Hindi Hmong Hungarian Icelandic Igbo Ilocano Indonesian Irish Italian Japanese Javanese Kannada Kazakh Khmer Kinyarwanda Konkani Korean Krio Kurdish (Kurmanji) Kurdish (Sorani) Kyrgyz Lao Latin Latvian Lingala Lithuanian Luganda Luxembourgish Macedonian Maithili Malagasy Malay Malayalam Maltese Maori Marathi Meiteilon (Manipuri) Mizo Mongolian Myanmar (Burmese) Nepali Norwegian Odia (Oriya) Oromo Pashto Persian Polish Portuguese Punjabi Quechua Romanian Russian Samoan Sanskrit Scots Gaelic Sepedi Serbian Sesotho Shona Sindhi Sinhala Slovak Slovenian Somali Spanish Sundanese Swahili Swedish Tajik Tamil Tatar Telugu Thai Tigrinya Tsonga Turkish Turkmen Twi Ukrainian Urdu Uyghur Uzbek Vietnamese Welsh Xhosa Yiddish Yoruba Zulu Powered by Translate Printer-friendly version

The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus did come to the planet to just upgrade our religious cage....but to be the incarnate voice of the likeness and image of God in human form! He came to reveal and redeem the image of God in us! His mission was to mirror the blueprint of our design, not as an example for us but of us! ( He is the image of the invisible God and you have been fullness in Him Col 1 and 3).

You have a destiny for your time on Earth and for eternity. The Bible tells us we are to live for, and be occupied with, the Lord Jesus Christ. The key for you to be the person God intends for you to be is to quit living for yourself and start living for Jesus Christ. “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21). "Who having not seen, you love. Though now you do not see Him and yet believing you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Pet 3:8). Do you love Christ? Do you live for Christ? You are to “put on Christ, " which requires humility and orientation to His authority. You must be dedicated to His interest. This life is not about us, it is about Him. “And do all that you do in word or in deed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col 3:17). Click for Full Transcript: https://rhem.pub/time-earth-7a7ff2 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rick-hughes/message

Series: Colossians: Supreme!Title: “How to resist deceptive cults, religions, and philosophies of this world and why”Scripture: Colossians 2:8-10(Commentary helps listed at the end)Bottom line this week: Resist instead of settling for the deceptive philosophies of this world by embracing the fullness of Christ Jesus himself in you.Opening story:People are easy to fool. P. 255“That little incident is a good illustration of all the earth-born religions. People talk about having faith; they tell you to look in a direction there is absolutely nothing. (Like look inside yourself) Some poeple are so desperately in need of seeing something that they will look till they are almost blind, yet they never catch a glimpse of anything real.” -Donald BarnhouseMany of us have heard of family members, church members and friends who've left and followed a cult leader or false religion deceived by a charismatic leader or deceptive lies. It happens. If it wasn't seductive, it wouldn't happen. If it didn't sound credible, no one would fall for it. But it is. And they do.Philosophy = love of wisdom“Everything that had to do with theories about God, the world, and the meaning of human life was called philosophy, both in the pagan and Jewish schools of the day. Both Judaism and Christianity are philosophical because they make holistic claims about the nature of reality and set values to guide life.” -Hughes“What Paul was warning against was a dangerous philosophy made up of both elements of Judaism and Greek Gnosticism. Greek Gnosticism taught that a person must work his or her way up a long series of lesser gods, called emanations, before reaching the ultimate god. Here false Jewish teachers combined Hebrew rites and ascetic regulations with their philosophy as a better way to move up the spiritual ladder. It was all very mysterious, complicated, astrological, and snooty. But worst of all, it was very deadly because it mixed some of the truth of Hebrew religion with the delectably enticing mysteries of Eastern mysticism and Greek philosophy. This was presented as “something more” that would elevate the ignorant Colossian Christian's from their crude baby-faith to the truly deep things of God. Evidently some succumbed.” -HughesTransition: Paul states his concern (shared with Epaphras) in 2:4. He then calls them to resist and gives them reasons to resist along with the power to resist. Spoiler alert: It centers on Jesus Christ.Outline: (based on Hughes)I. Charged to Resist. (2:8)Paul's warning notes 4 characteristics of this dangerously seductive philosophy:It (the Gnostic philosophy) was deceptive. It sounded great but was “empty deceit.” (8)It was purported to come from ancient and primal “human tradition.” (8) ex. If someone jumps off a cliff will you jump too?It was demon controlled, depending on the “elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (8b)Human traditionsElemental — stars, planets i.e. astrology, horoscopes, ouiji boardsThis was happening then. This happens today.It is enslaving. “See to it that no one takes your captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy.” (8) “Take you captive” means to carry off, as prisoners were led away by victorious armies. “Cultic teaching asserts a death-like group on its followers, and few come out of it. Paul is saying, stay away from false teaching if you value you life.” (Refer back to v. 4 and last week) -Hughes “How is it possible for one not to be sucked in by a philosophy that is subtly deceitful in its language, logically compelling within its system of reason, and enticingly moral? The only answer is the fullness of Christ.” -HughesII. Reasons to Resist. (2:9-10)Because Christ is full of deity.“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” (9)Re-read Colossians 1:15-20Umbrella = Covering that comes when I stay under his authority analogyWould you rather be full of Christ or full of yourself?Because we are full of Christ who is full of deity himself.Christ is more than merely Godlike. More than simply overflowing with the character of God.“This statement that ‘in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily' (9) forever blasts the Gnostics' idea that the fullness came through the emanations and angelic mediators. We can see the fullness of God in his work in the heavens and creation around us. But in Christ we see the face of God.” -Hughes“This out to steel us against being taken captive by deceitful, empty philosophies.” -HughesEven more breath-taking: “Christ, full of Deity, fills us.” (10)Illustration: “My wife and I once stood on the shore of the vast Pacific Ocean—two finite dots alongside a seemingly infinite expanse. As we stood there, we reflected that if I were to take a pint jar and allow the ocean to rush into it, in an instant my jar would be filled with the fullness of the Pacific (which is huge but finite). But I could never put the fullness of the Pacific Ocean into my jar! Thinking of Christ, we realize that because he is infinite, he can hold all the fullness of Deity. And whenever one of us finite creatures, dips the tiny vessel of our life into him, we instantly become full of his (infinite) fullness.”Our souls are elastic in this sense. Our capacity is infinite because he made us to be able to contain the infinite fullness of Christ. Wow!His fullness meets our individual needs. “He gives us what the moment requires: wisdom, strength, courage. We must remember too that as we experience the satisfaction of his fullness, a continual stream filling and overflowing our lives.”He is a path, if any be misled;He is a robe, if any naked be;If any chance to hunger, he is bread;If any be a bondsman, he is free;If any be but weak, how strong is he!To dead men, life he is, to sick men health,To blind men sight, and to the needy, wealth.-R.E.O. White“If you are full of Christ, and growing in that fullness, if you are overflowing with Christ, the Gnostic appeals of the empty philosophies of our age will bear little appeal to you. If you are full of him, how can you want anything else?” -HughesHow do we resist? See 2:6-7 againAnd embracing the fullness of Christ that is already in us.Alexander Maclauren put it this way:“Though all the earth were covered with helpers and lovers of my soul, ‘as the sand by the sea short unnumerable,' and all the heavens were sown with faces of angels who cared for me and succoured me, thick as the stars in the Milky Way—all could not do for me what I need. Yea, though all these were gathered into one mighty and loving creature, even he were no sufficient stay for one soul of man. We want more than creature help. We need the whole fulness of the Godhead to draw from. It is all there in Christ, for each of us. Whosoever will, let him draw freely. Why should we leave the fountain of living waters to hew out for ourselves, with infinite pains, broken cisterns that can hold no water? All we need is in Christ. Let us life our eyes from the low earth and all creatures, and behold ‘no man any more,' as Lord and Helper, ‘save Jesus only,' ‘that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.”“Let us covenant with God to invite more of his fulness.” -HughesBottom line this week: Resist instead of settling for the deceptive philosophies of this world by embracing the fullness of Christ Jesus himself in you.ConclusionWe need to learn to treat our Bibles like love letters from God. How did you treat your love letters?Why did I hold it, read it, re-read it, smell it? Because of what it said. Yes, in part. But mainly because of who sent it.PrayLord's Supper, 1 Corinthians 11:17-32OtherPace notesMain idea: “God calls us to grow in our walks with Christ in order to strengthen our faith and find our fulfillment in him.”I. We must deepen our intimacy with Christ. (2:6-7)II. We must denounce the insufficiency of Christ. (2:8-10A. False teaching 1) deceives us and 2) denies Christ. (8) (This is the fundamental flaw) “depends on” vs. “rooted and built up”False teachings about person of Jesus Christ. (Who he is)False teachings about works of Jesus Christ. (What he's done/doing)Our culture does this throughPersuasive philosophiesWorldly valuesTo combat, we must“Recognize the infinite worth of Christ” (person and work) “as the only source of truly fulfillment (being in the word) and “Denounce any teaching to the contrary.” (Based on the word)B. Faithful teaching 1) edifies us and 2) exalts Christ. (9-10)Intimacy with Christ + Sufficiency of Christ + Defining our identity in Christ = Strengthening of our faith in ChristFaith in Christ must be exclusive and singular. There's no room for Christ + anyone/anything.Person and work of Jesus Christ is at stake!False teaching —> Deceives us + Denies ChristFaithful teaching —> Edifies us + Exalts ChristQuite the contrast!Another contrast is the barren emptiness of deceptive teaching vs. the divine fullness of Christ.Cf. “God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him” (1:19)W.W.I. Keep making spiritual progress. (2:4-7)Colossians 2:6 (BEC): Paul had already encouraged his readers to “walk worthy of the Lord” (Col. 1:10), and later he used this image again (Col. 3:7; 4:5Colossians 2:7a (BEC): The tree (v. 7a). Rooted is an agricultural word. The tense of the Greek word means “once and for all having been rooted.” Christians are not to be tumbleweeds that have no roots and are blown about by “every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14)By reviewing these pictures of spiritual progress, we see how the growing Christian can easily defeat the enemy and not be led astray. If his spiritual roots are deep in Christ, he will not want any other soil. If Christ is his sure foundation, he has no need to move. If he is studying and growing in the Word, he will not be easily enticed by false doctrine. And if his heart is overflowing with thanksgiving, he will not even consider turning from the fullness he has in Christ. A grounded, growing, grateful believer will not be led astray.II. Watch out for spiritual perils. (2:8-10)Colossians 2:8–10 (BEC): Paul continued the military image with this warning: “Beware lest any man carry you off as a captive” (literal translation). The false teachers did not go out and win the lost, no more than the cultists do today. They “kidnapped” converts from churches!Colossians 2:8–10 (BEC): How is it possible for false teachers to capture people? The answer is simple: These “captives” are ignorant of the truths of the Word of God. They become fascinated by the philosophy and empty delusion of the false teachers. (This is not to say that all philosophy is wrong, because there is a Christian philosophy of life. The word simply means “to love wisdom.”) When a person does not know the doctrines of the Christian faith, he can easily be captured by false religionsColossians 2:8–10 (BEC): is a true Christian tradition (1 Cor. 15:3ff; 2 Thes. 2:15; 3:6; 2 Tim. 2:2). The important thing about any teaching is its origin: Did it come from God or from man? The religious leaders in our Lord's day had their traditions and were very zealous to obey them and protect them (Matt. 15:1–20). Even the Apostle Paul, before he met the Lord, was “exceedingly zealous of the traditions” (Gal. 1:14).Colossians 2:8–10 (BEC): But in ancient Greece, this word also meant “the elemental spirits of the universe, the angels that influenced the heavenly bodies.” It was one of the words in the vocabulary of the religious astrology of that day. PColossians 2:8–10 (BEC): The gnostics believed that the angels and the heavenly bodies influenced people's lives…The fact that this teaching is not after Christ is sufficient to warn us against horoscopes, astral charts, Ouija boards, and other spiritist practicesWhy follow empty philosophy when we have all fullness in Christ? This is like turning away from the satisfying river to drink at the dirty cisterns of the world (Jer. 2:13). Of course, the false teachers in Colossae did not ask the believers to forsake Christ. They asked them to make Christ a part of the new system. But this would only remove Him from His rightful place of preeminence.My thought:We all do this. We add idols to our worship of God making us double-minded in all that we do.Back to WW:So Paul gave the true and lasting antidote to all false teaching: “All fullness is in Christ, and you have been made full in Him. Why, then, would you need anything else?” (see Col. 2:9–10)We have seen the word “fullness” (pleroma) before (Col. 1:19). It means “the sum total of all that God is, all of His being and attributes.” This word was used by the gnostics, but they did not give it the same meaning as did Paul. To them, the pleroma was the source of all the “emanations” through which men could come to God. The highest point in gnostic religious experience was to share in the pleroma.Of course, there are no emanations from God. The gulf between heaven and earth was bridged in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. He is declared to be “Emmanuel, God with us” (Matt. 1:23). Jesus Christ is the fullness of God, and that fullness dwells continually and permanently in Him bodily. Once again, Paul refuted the gnostic doctrine that matter was evil and that Jesus did not have a human body.When Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, He went in a human body. It was a glorified body, to be sure, but it was real. After His resurrection, our Lord was careful to assure His disciples that He was the same Person in the same body; He was not a ghost or a spirit (see John 20:19–29). There is a glorified Man in heaven! The God-Man, Jesus Christ, embodies the fullness of God!Now, the remarkable thing is this: every believer shares that fullness! “And you are complete in Him” (Col. 2:10). The tense of the Greek verb indicates that this fullness is a permanent experience.When a person is born again into the family of God, he is born complete in Christ. His spiritual growth is not by addition, but by nutrition. He grows from the inside out. Nothing needs to be added to Christ because He already is the very fullness of God. As the believer draws on Christ's fullness, he is “filled unto all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:19). What more does he need?Indeed, there are spiritual perils that the Christian faces. The fundamental test of any religious teaching is, “Where does it put Jesus Christ—His person and His work?” Does it rob Him of His fullness? Does it deny either His deity or His humanity? Does it affirm that the believer must have some “new experience” to supplement his experience with Christ? If so, that teaching is wrong and dangerous.III. Draw on your own spiritual provisions. (2:11-15)WW outline for a message:In this chapter, Paul gets to the heart of the problem and denounces the false teachers. He asserts clearly the sufficiency of Christ for every need. He sounds three warnings, and these warnings are needed just as much today as in his dayColossians 2:1–10 (WEONT):I. Beware of Empty Philosophies (2:1–10)A. Walk in Christ (v. 6).As you were saved by faith, so walk by faith. As you were saved by the Word, so walk according to the Word. As you were saved through the work of the Spirit, so walk in the Spirit. The Christian life continues as it began, by faith in God.B. Grow up in Christ (v. 7).Have roots that dig down into the richness of the Word. Have foundations that are strong, laid upon Jesus Christ. How important it is to be taught the Word of God! Believers fall prey to religious philosophies unless they are rooted in Christ, grounded in the Word, and built up in Bible truth.C. Make Christ the test (v. 8).Test every high-sounding religious system by asking, “Does it give Christ the place of preeminence?” Almost every religious system today gives Christ an eminent place, but only true Bible Christianity gives Him the preeminent place.D. Draw on His fullness (vv. 9–10).Realize that there is no substitute for Christ and that in Him we have all that we need. When believers drift into worldly living, or are taken prey by man-made systems, it is usually because they feel they lack something that Jesus Christ cannot supply. “You are made full in Him!” What a wonderful position we have in Christ!OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS:Sacrifice happens inside the Temple“Sacrifice happens inside the temple.” -Chris KarpusIn the OT, sacrifice happened first inside the Tabernacle and later the Temple.In the NT, we Christ-followers—individually and collectively—are the temple in which the Spirit of Christ resides. Therefore, sacrifice happens inside of us as we gladly submit and surrender all to him.Fighting WolvesI recall a story about a pastor who was concerned about some unsavory businesses that had opened near a school. His protests finally led to a court case, and the defense attorney did all he could to embarrass the Gospel minister.“Are you not a pastor?” the lawyer asked. “And doesn't the word pastor mean ‘shepherd'?”To this definition the minister agreed.“Well, if you are a shepherd, why aren't you out taking care of the sheep?”“Because today I'm fighting the wolves!” was the pastor's quick reply, and a good answer it was.Knowing that there were enemies already attacking the church in Colossae, Paul offered encouragement. By heeding his admonitions, the Colossians would overcome their enemiesYou made converts, not disciplesThen there's the MS story. This middle eastern woman comes to Christ and immediately starts making disciples who make disciples. When her future husband meets her she's already started 25 house churches of about 250 people in 5 cities.When she moves to America with her new husband (Pastor X) she eventually finds herself depressed saying,“The western Church is under a satanic lullaby and I'm going to sleep. And every time I want to wake up the lullaby goes faster.”When they returned to this middle eastern country she was from, the movement then grew to 5,000.Leaders are “making a mess of the country and Jesus is just the cleanup crew.” -Pastor X1,300 leaders arrested that year—enemy #1 was the house church movement.Q. Why is persecution not growing the church? pastor x asked God.God answered, “You made converts, not disciples. Converts run away from persecution. Disciples will die for me.”“Because she encountered me she will die for me. You must give the word of God but it must be sealed by the power of God.”Now doing a disciple making movement (DMM).As some are running to the mountains for their lives and staying in caves, they are also starting up their zoom meetings so they can reach more people for Jesus. Wow.20:21 mark: “The only way to change a nation is through discipleship.” -Steve T. “…Through love.”As I reflect on Tim Keller's summary of Larry Hurtado's main points in his book, I see a lot of wisdom to help me lead our church going forward.I learned about this article while having lunch with Neal McGlohon. He summarized the o5 points in a slightly different order . Neal shared it this way:1. The early church was multi-racial and experienced a unity across ethnic boundaries that was startling. (Democrat, Progressive concerns)3. The early church was famous for its hospitality to the poor and the suffering. (Democrat, Progressive concerns)2. The early church was a community of forgiveness and reconciliation. (What both sides thinks it's doing when in fact what we see is fighting for power)4. It was a community committed to the sanctity of life. (Republican; conservative concerns)5. It was a sexual counterculture. (Republican; conservative concerns)MAIN COMMENTARY HELP:Exalting Jesus in Colossians by Scott PacePreaching the Word: Philippians, Colossians and Philemon commentary by R. Kent HughesESV Global Study BibleBible in One Year by Nicky GumbelBible Knowledge CommentaryThe Outline Bible, WilmingtonPaul for Everyone, The Prison Letters, NT Wright's commentary on Philippians and ColossiansGospel Transformation BibleNIV Study BibleThe Bible Exposition Commentary, Warren WiersbeBQ = Better Questions

*LIVING SEEDS DEVOTIONALS* (Life Transforming Words) Day:161|Thursday|June 10th| 21 ************************************** *FULLNESS OF LIFE IN CHRIST* _For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power_ : Colossians 2:9-10(KJV) The fullness of the Godhead gives its complete expression of the divine nature in Christ. Since Jesus is the exact image of God and His fullness dwells in Him (Col 1:15), this should trump everything. Many things try to dethrone Jesus, one of the most subtle ways is through ideas, traditions and philosophies that are seemingly harmless. However we must evaluate in light of what is revealed about God through Christ. Paul faced this issue regularly and this was his remedy in (2Cor. 10:5). Secondly, *we also have been brought into the fullness in Christ.* The scripture speaking and said And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Spirit and reach full spiritual stature] (Colossians 1:10Amp) This is an amazing statement; it almost seems impossible. We are made full in Christ; filled with Him living in us and we will continue to experience this saturation. Paul said this was one of the glorious mystery revealed which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27) If we have been given completeness and fullness in Christ then philosophies and traditions that are counter to this should have no power to deceive. Lastly, Christ is the head over every power and authority ( Matt 28:18-20); why not let the source of life dictate worldviews. Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:31 -32).To be free you have to know and remain in the truth. This comes through the transformation of renewing your mind to God's word and knowing His will concerning you. Paul gives the key to figuring this out in (Rom 12:1-2). Beloved, *we need to be thankful to God that we know this amazing truth; I have been given fullness in Christ.* I pray that these issues penetrate your thoughts so you think deeply about them. I hope it helps to both priorities what you face today as well as encourages you to continue in Christ, built on His foundation and strengthened in faith (Col 2:6-7). Shalom!!! *SHALL WE PRAY* Father in the name of Jesus, thank you for the privilege to be brought into your Fullness. *THE BIBLE THROUGH* Nehemiah 11-12 *MEDITATION* : Phil 2: 1-7 *SURE PROPHECY* : I prophecy into your life and destiny, your angel of success and progress will search for you in Jesus name.

Find notes and discussion at https://hughesvillefriends.org/sermon-notes.  Memory Verse: For it was the Fathers good pleasure that all the fullness to dwell in Him Col 1:19 Recorded live Sunday, May 2, 2021.

A SOUNDTRACK OF TRUTH We are His Friends (John 15:15) We are God's Children (John 1:12) We are citizens of Heaven (Phil 3:20) We have an Inheritance that Can never perish Spoil or Fade (1 Peter 1:4) We have been Justified (Rom 5:1) We have been purified (1 John 1:7) We have been cleansed by His blood (Heb 9:14) We have Peace with God (Rom 5:1) We are no longer Slaves to sin (Gal 4:7) We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13) We are One with Him In Spirit (1 Cor 6:17) We are members of Jesus Body (Eph 5:30) We are Saints (Eph 1:1, 2:19) We are Holy and Blameless (Col 1:22) We are more than Conquerors (Rom 8:37) We are kept in the Fathers hand (John 10:29) We are Redeemed and Forgiven (Col 1:14) We have been Washed and Sanctified (1 Cor 6:11, Heb 10:10) We are Filled with all of the Fullness of God (Eph 3:19) We cannot be separated from God's love (Rom 8:31-34) We are Dearly Loved (Eph2:4) We are Complete in Him (Col 2:10) We are Free from Condemnation (Rom 8:1) We are God's Workmanship (Eph 2:10) We Have Eternal Life (John 3:16, Titus 3:7)

     This pericope presents Israel with a theology of warfare, both physical and spiritual. The main point of this passage is that Moses promises defeat of the many nations before them, who are greater and more numerous than Israel (Deut 7:17-24), and then calls them to destroy the images of idolatry that brought God’s judgment upon Canaan, warning them not to bring the idols into their homes, lest they be defeated spiritually and destroyed (Deut 7:25-26).      Moses opens this section by addressing the mental concerns of his audience, saying, “If you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’” (Deut 7:17). Here, Moses addresses the humanistic self-talk of the Israelites, knowing they are mentally evaluating the Canaanites as numerically superior, and are concerned about how, by their own resources, they can defeat their enemy. Moses addresses their fear by injecting divine viewpoint into the stream of their consciousness, saying, “you shall not be afraid of them; you shall well remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt” (Deut 7:18). As their godly leader, Moses provided a faith-strengthening technique intended to prevent the crippling effects of fear. Moses called God’s people to bring their thoughts into captivity and redirected them to think on God and His past faithfulness; specifically, His defeat of their greatest foe, which was Pharaoh and Egypt. This past victory included “the great trials which your eyes saw and the signs and the wonders and the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which the LORD your God brought you out” (Deut 7:19a). God’s past faithfulness and deliverances were to strengthen their thinking regarding their present situation, as Moses said, “So shall the LORD your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid” (Deut 7:19b). As God had done before, so He promised to do again. And Israel would not be fighting alone, as Moses revealed, “Moreover, the LORD your God will send the hornet against them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you perish” (Deut 7:20). The truth was, the residents of Canaan were afraid of Israel, and God would affect their destruction, even using hornets to attack them in hiding places too small for others. Warren Wiersbe writes: "Bible students don’t agree on what is meant by “the hornet” in Deuteronomy 7:20 (Ex. 23:27–30; Josh. 24:12), but it’s likely that it was the familiar stinging insect that swarmed into the land and attacked the people. The Canaanites were a superstitious people who saw omens in every unusual happening and they may have interpreted this strange occurrence as an announcement of defeat. Insects are sometimes used as metaphors for nations (Isa. 7:18), and some students understand “hornets” to refer to invading nations that God sent into Canaan prior to Israel’s arrival. These local wars would weaken the Canaanite military defenses and prepare the way for Israel’s invasion. Whatever the interpretation, and the literal one makes good sense, two facts are clear: God goes before His people and opens the way for victory, and He can use even small insects to accomplish His purposes."[1]      For a second time, Moses tells his audience, “You shall not dread them” (Deut 7:21a). Unwarranted fear can cripple God’s people from doing His will and advancing forward to receive His blessings. And again, Moses inserts divine viewpoint into their thinking, saying, “for the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God” (Deut 7:21b). The God who was in their midst, who has power to accomplish His word, would Himself guarantee the defeat of Israel’s enemies. However, God’s strategy of removing Israel’s enemy would not occur all at once, but rather in stages, little by little. Moses said, “The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, for the wild beasts would grow too numerous for you” (Deut 7:22). There was practical wisdom to God’s plan of defeating Israel’s enemies gradually, as sudden depopulation would result in a secondary problem of wild animals—such as lions and bears—that would hinder their settling the land (a reading of the book of Joshua reveals it took about seven years to gain control of the land of Canaan). Though gradual, Israel’s enemies would surely be destroyed, as Moses wrote, “But the LORD your God will deliver them before you, and will throw them into great confusion until they are destroyed” (Deut 7:23). Part of God’s defeat of Israel’s enemies included disrupting their cognitive processes so that they would be confused. Clarity of thought is necessary for any endeavor, and that includes military campaigns. But God would cause Israel’s enemies to be confused, and this would help bring about their destruction. And the defeat of Canaan was a collaboration between God—the Divine Warrior—and the people of Israel. The battle started and ended with God, but He included Israel in the fight. From the divine side, God “will deliver their kings into your hand” (Deut 7:24a). From the human side, “you will make their name perish from under heaven” (Deut 7:24b). The end result would be, “no man will be able to stand before you until you have destroyed them” (Deut 7:24c).      Israel faced a primary enemy in the Canaanites, but then a secondary, and more dangerous enemy, regarding idols. After Israel defeated their enemies, they were to purge the land of the pagan idols, lest they fall into the trap of idolatry, which is seductive, contagious, and destructive of one’s relationship with God. Even the precious metals used for constructing the idols was to be regarded as unclean and destroyed. Moses wrote, “The graven images of their gods you are to burn with fire; you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, or you will be snared by it, for it is an abomination to the LORD your God” (Deut 7:25). God understands the human heart and knows our sinful weaknesses. The greater threat to Israel—greater than the Canaanites themselves—was idolatry, and the immorality associated with it. The greater battle was spiritual, not physical. Moses concluded the pericope, saying, “You shall not bring an abomination into your house, and like it come under the ban; you shall utterly detest it and you shall utterly abhor it, for it is something banned” (Deut 7:26). Eugene Merrill comments: "So reprehensible are these objects that they contaminate those who use them or who even bring them into their homes (v. 26). Indeed, they render them to the same judgment as was appropriate to the objects themselves, namely, total eradication. This was illustrated most tragically but clearly in the episode of Achan; following Jericho’s destruction, he seized some of the detestable goods of that city, brought them into his tent, and subsequently perished along with them (Josh 7:16–26)."[2]      As Christians, we face ongoing battles in the devil’s world. Constant troubles can dominate our thoughts and lead to crippling fear if we don’t learn to operate from the divine perspective. Like Israel, God calls us to take control of our thoughts (2 Cor 10:5), to set our minds on Him (Col 3:1-2), and to let His Word saturate our thinking (Col 3:16). We are to live by faith (Heb 10:38; 11:6), as this allows us to gain victories that could not be won by any other means. Furthermore, we live in the present reality that “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Jesus said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20). And God Himself said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” and “the Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me? (Heb 13:5-6). As Christians, we must not fall into the trap of loving the world (1 John 2:15), but rather, “like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘you shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Pet 1:15-16). Warren Wiersbe states: "Like Israel of old, the church today must move forward by faith, conquer the enemy, and claim new territory for the Lord (Eph 6:10–18; 2 Cor 2:14–17). But unlike Israel, we use spiritual weapons, not human weapons, as by faith we overcome the walls of resistance that Satan has put into the minds of sinners (John 18:36; 2 Cor 10:1–6; Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12). The apostolic church had no buildings, budgets (Acts 3:6), academic degrees (Acts 4:13), or political influence, but depended on the Word of God and prayer (Acts 6:4); and God gave them great victory. Can He not do the same for His people today? Jesus has overcome the world and the devil (John 12:31; 16:33; Eph 1:19–21; Col 1:13; 2:15); therefore, we fight from victory and not just for victory. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31)."[3]   [1] Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Equipped, “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub., 1999), 55. [2] Eugene H. Merrill, Deuteronomy, vol. 4, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 184. [3] Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Equipped, “Be” Commentary Series, 58.

     The main point of this pericope is that God would bless His people when they entered the promised land, but He warns them to keep their priorities, remember His great deliverance from Egypt, and stay faithful to Him. Moses opens this section by informing Israel that God was about to bring them into the Promised Land and suddenly bless them with wealth they did not work for. Moses wrote, “Then it shall come about when the LORD your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you” (Deut 6:10a). Clearly this was something God was going to bring to pass, as the word bring translates the Hebrew verb בּוֹא bo, which is in the causative stem (hiphil). This means God would cause Israel to come into the Promised Land; however, this did not exclude Israel’s participation, for He’d previously given instruction concerning the importance of learning His commands and teaching them to their children that blessing might follow from one generation to the next (Deut 6:1-9). God’s blessing of the land was based on a previous pledge He’d made to Israel’s patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and to their descendants (Gen 17:7-8; 26:24; 28:13-14). Here, the Israelites would know sudden wealth, as God would give it to them.      And Moses specified what they were about to receive, namely, “great and splendid cities which you did not build, and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied” (Deut 6:10b-11). Up to this time, Israel had been living in tents and moving from one location to the next as they advanced toward the Promised Land. But things would change for them once they took the land, as they would instantly acquire cities, homes with fine possessions, wells that provided water for them and their animals, and orchards of olive trees and other plants producing fruit so they could eat and be satisfied. Moses made clear that Israel did not build, fill, dig, nor plant any of the things they were suddenly to possess. But there was a real danger Israel was about to face, and it would be in the land of prosperity, where God would bless them greatly. The danger was that Israel would become satisfied and forget the One who blessed them. To prevent them from forgetting the God who delivered them, Moses prescribed the following, saying, “then watch yourself, that you do not forget the LORD who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name” (Deut 6:12-13). To watch (שָׁמַר shamar) connotes mental activity in which the Israelites were to guard their own thoughts and not let the blessings influence them to forget (שָׁכַח shakach) it was the Lord who delivered them from Egypt and slavery. For Israel to forget God was a danger Moses mentioned several times (cf. Deut 4:9, 23; 8:11-14, 19-20). To fear God meant having a holy reverence for the Lord. To worship God meant having an attitude of thankfulness and praise for His goodness. To swear by God’s name meant to vow loyalty to the Lord and no others (cf. Deut 10:20).      Moses then gave the negative command, saying, “You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you” (Deut 6:14). To follow other gods meant to walk in devotion to them, thus breaking loyalty with God. This has been a real danger for believers in every dispensation; for though we are in the world, we are not to love the world or its ways. John wrote, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world” (1 John 2:15-16). Moses concludes this pericope with a serious warning, saying, “for the LORD your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; otherwise, the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth” (Deut 6:15). God was constantly in their midst, securing their blessings and protecting them from harm. And He is a jealous God, which means he is zealous to protect His relationship with them, for their good. A mother who rightly protects her children from harm understands this kind of jealousy. Sinful jealousy is when we seek to protect was it not rightfully ours. God wanted to bless, but according to the covenant relationship, Israel needed to obey. If Israel turned away from the Lord, they would forfeit their blessings and incur God’s anger. And, if they persisted in turning away from Him and following other gods, He would eventually bring about their destruction. Daniel Block writes, “If Yahweh’s people behave like Canaanites, they may expect the fate of the Canaanites. The God in their midst prefers to act for their good, but by the terms of the covenant he is not obligated to those whose devotion is compromised.”[1] Warren Wiersbe writes: "With privilege always comes responsibility, and Israel’s responsibility was to fear Jehovah and obey Him (Deut 6:13), the verse that Jesus quoted when He replied to Satan’s third temptation (Matt 4:10). When we cultivate a reverent and submissive heart, we will have an obedient will and won’t even want to mention the names of false gods. Israel needed to remember that the Lord owned the land (Lev 25:23) and that they were merely His “tenants.” Their inheritance in the land was God’s gift to His people, but if they disobeyed His covenant, they would forfeit the land and its blessings. The Lord is jealous over His people and will not share their love and worship with any false god (Deut 5:8–10; 32:16–26)."[2]      As Christians, God wants us to walk with Him and enjoy His love and blessings. Our obedience is driven by love, as a response to His goodness, for “we love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Love is not an emotion, but a commitment to the One who has saved and blessed us, a commitment that is necessary for our wellbeing and marked by expressions of reverence, praise, and service to Him (Col 3:23-24; 1 Th 5:16-18; Heb 12:28). And, it is vitally important to our walk with God that we keep His Word flowing in the stream of our consciousness, as this helps us guard and maintain the health of our relationship with Him.   [1] Daniel I. Block, The NIV Application Commentary: Deuteronomy, ed. Terry Muck (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012), 193. [2] Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Equipped, “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub., 1999), 48–49.

Through the new birth, all that God has is ours. We can’t get what has already been given through works (Eph 1:18, begging, or force (Matt 11:12). The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus obtained and secured it for us, thereby ensuring it is always active and available. Our only qualification is to be in Him (Col. 1:12), and our ability to share in that inheritance comes from being one with Him. You can only experience what is yours in Christ to the degree you believe it in your heart and walk it out in faith with God. Ask yourself: when I’m pursuing the promises of God, is my faith based on my works or on the fact that Jesus already obtained it for me? Find out how to look to Jesus who obtained it for you and how to trust in Him to live it.

The Fire House Chronicles w/ Matt and Katie Spinks A Revelatory Nuggets Episode BIBLE PASSAGES THAT POINT TO THE LOVE-DRUNK GRACIOUS FINISHED WORK MESSAGE OF OUR GOOD GOD! Matt starts a new series on scriptures that seem to disagree with the Finished Work, Grace, & the Goodness of God. In this episode we begin with, "What scriptures DO seem to point to these realities?" Starting from the Bible, "Is God really hyper gracious to us in Jesus Christ?" Questions or comments? Email: info@thefirehouseprojects.com Want to go deeper in this kind of revelation? Check out our Glory Foundations Class at: www.gloryfoundationsclass.com Visit our website at: www.thefirehouseprojects.com Been blessed by this ministry? Partner with us financially to spread this GOOD NEWS! Click here TO DONATE: www.thefirehouseprojects.com/donate List of Bible passages from this video: FINISHED WORKS It is finished - John 19-28-30 Perfected for all time those who are sanctified - Heb. 10:14 Holy and blameless in Him. and all of Ephesians ch. 1 You are complete in Him - Col. 2:10 Justified, sanctified, glorified romans 8 By His stripes you were healed - 1 Peter 2:24 All of 2 Corinthians 5... out of our minds... THE OLD IS GONE, BEHOLD THE NEW HAS COME Rom. 5:1 we have peace with God... Romans chapter 6 - Can He who died to sin live in it any longer? 1 cor. 1:5-7 - Enriched in every way, not lacking in any gift... GAL. 2:20 - UNION INCLUSION/ULTIMATE RECONCILIATION Savior of all men - 1 Timothy 4:10 As in Adam all died, so in Christ all are made alive - 1 cor. 15:22 One died for all - 2 cor. 5:14 Rom 5:18-19 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. (19) For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Once and for all scriptures - Romans 6:10-11, etc. 1 John 2:2 - also for the sins of the whole world. Romans 11 - all israel saved, fulness of gentiles come in Acts 3 - Restoration of All things Every knee will bow and tongue confess - Philippians 2:10 (in many translations) Rev. 21:25- at the end of revelation the spirit and bride say come, and her gates will never be shut Col. 1:20 - Reconcile to Himself all things Col. 1:27-28 - read the entire verse!! Col. 3:11 - Christ is all and in all Eph. 4:6 - God and Father of all... who is in all Gal. 1:16 - Jesus was revealed in Paul, NOT to Paul... interesting... DRUNKENNESS Zech. 9:15 Song of solomon 5:1 Is. 55: all who are thirsty buy wine and buy milk Song of solomon the whole book IN MY BOOK, High on God by: Matt Spinks, I LIST SEVERAL DOZEN DRUNKENNESS ENCOURAGING SCRIPTURES GOOD GOSPEL!!! The kingdom of heaven is at hand - Matt. 4:17, Mark 1:15 You have come to the heavenly jerusalem - Hebrews 12:22, Eph. 2:6 Nothing can separate us, Romans 8 Union scriptures - 1 cor. 6:17, John 15, Gal. 2:20

I. Christ the Eternal. (John 1)a. He pre-existed creation. (John 1:1)b. He was the agent of creation (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16).c. He is the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8, 22:13). II. Christ the God-Man. (John 1:1, 14).A. What doesn't this mean?1. He was NOT half-man and half-God.2. He was NOT just a man.3. He was NOT just divine.4. He did not “become” divine.B. What DOES this mean?1. He has two eternal and distinct natures (Colossians 2:9).2. He became flesh during the incarnation (Matthew 1:18-24).3. God has literally walked in your shoes (Hebrews 4:15) | GOD | MAN | He is worshiped (Matt. 2:2, 11; 14:33) | He worshiped the Father (John 17) | He was called God (John 20:28; Heb. 1:8) | He was called man (Mark 15:39; John 19:5) | He was called Son of God (Mark 1:1) | He was called Son of Man (John 9:35-37) | He is prayed to (Acts 7:59) | He prayed to the Father (John 17) | He is sinless (1 Pet. 2:22; Heb. 4:15) | He was tempted (Matt. 4:1) | He knows all things (John 21:17) | He grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52) | He gives eternal life (John 10:28) | He died (Rom. 5:8) | All the fullness of deity dwells in Him (Col. 2:9) | He has a body of flesh and bones (Luke 24:39)

Scripture Reading: Colossians 2:8-15 The way that Paul combats false teaching in Colossae is to exalt the nature of Christ and to emphasize His work.  In Colossians 2:11-15 we have a description of what Christ has done in us (Col 2:11-13) and what Christ has done for us (Col 2:14,15).  We have taken these sections in the order they appear, but logically what Christ has done for us has happened first and is the foundation of what He has done in us.  In Christ, God has broken the dominion of sin's power ("putting off the body of the flesh" - Col 2:11) … and God has made us alive with Him (Col 2:13).  What is put away in a spiritual circumcision is the old unbelieving, blind, rebellious self.  We are given new affections … love for God and a hatred for our sin. This is God's merciful work in those who trust in Jesus.  The basis for this wondrous work is what is described in Colossians 2:14,15.  We cannot experience this glorious work in us without Christ's work for us.  In Christ God has canceled "the record of debt that stood against us … nailing it to the cross" (Col 2:14).  God has removed the penalty of sin from us because He laid this penalty on His Son.  Second, the devil and his evil forces ("rulers and authorities" - Col 2:15) have been defeated by Christ.  It is true that we must still struggle against these "rulers and authorities" (cf. Eph 6:12), but we 'wrestle' with confidence in the power of Christ and in His triumph.  These demonic forces are as good as defeated because the blow Christ struck was lethal. Beloved, we have no reason for despair because the divine condemnation we deserve has been taken away and the unseen enemies of our soul have been defeated.  There is every reason for joy and hope … all the days of our lives. 

Season 2: Ep 2 - “Don’t Label Me” We put labels on life all the time. ‘Right,’ ‘wrong’, ‘success’, ‘failure’, ‘lucky’, ‘unlucky’ may be as limiting a way of seeing things as ‘diabetic’, ‘epileptic’, manic-depressive’, or even ‘invalid’. What is labeling? A verb meaning assign or attach to a category, especially inaccurate or restrictive Ways in which we are labeled? Our job Our physical appearance Our material possessions Our religion Our race Our social media persona Our social status Why do people label? Is it because going beneath the surface may take us to uncomfortable places? That going deeper into the core of our own or someone’s being may threaten our beliefs or challenge our expectations? What are some of the labels I have been given? Bad liar adulter thief stupid selfish narcissist   Good Honest Open Faithful Giving Genius Selfless Strong   How do labels make me feel or affected me? Negative Hurt Depressed Reduced self-esteem Abnormal Stolen identity Oppressed Boxed in Limited Positive Reinforcement Encouragement (Gideon) Enhanced self-esteem Positive outlook Identified Empowered In both cases, labels can create a self-fulfilling prophecy If I am not a label or a “brand” what I am I? You are an original creation! I am a new creation in Christ (2 Cor 5:17) I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps 139:14) I am God’s workmanship (Eph 2:10) I am alive with Christ (Eph 2:10) I am complete in Him (Col 2:10) I am holy and without blame before Him (Eph 1:4) I am greatly loved by God (John 3:16) I have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16) I am chosen by God (1 Peter 1:23) My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit; I belong to Him (1 Cor 6:19) Thanks for listening! Please leave us a 5-star rating if you enjoyed this episode! Please visit our sponsor's page and check out their products at www.fitculturecrew.idlife.com If you have any questions regarding today's message, desire prayer or have a suggestion for an upcoming podcast please contact us at info@nspirelifeministries.org and visit our website at www.NspireLifeMinistries.org #BreakThrough #Label #lies #DontLabelMe #Godslove #Identity #truth #patience #Muscle #MuscleModel #Model #Fitness #Fear #MeToo #SpiritualMuscle #StayingPower #Gym #Thrive #Marriage #Winning #Bikini #Bodybuilding #Identity #SelfMade #GodMade #BeTheLight #Salvation #Kingdom #KingJesus #NspireLife #Podcast #Walk #Faith #Freedom

SEEING INTO SUPERNATURAL REALMS The eye can only see a fraction of things going on because the supernatural is invisible to the human eye.   God is real and yet, we cannot see Him (Col. 1:14-16) that God is an invisible Being Who created everything.  Daniel 10 gives us a glimpse into the spirit realms, and a better understanding of the spiritual warfare that is occurring every single day concerning supernatural warfare happening in outer space and in the air surrounding earth.   Daniel prayed asking for understanding when his people would be released from enslavement from the Babylonians. Daniel prayed and fasted partially at the 21st day an angel appeared and told Daniel that God had sent him from Heaven with His answer. He said that God heard his on the first day that he had prayed this angel was delayed for three week because God's first angel   with the answer had been attacked by the fallen angel Principality is identified as the "Hostile spiritual Prince of Persia" This was the Principality demon was personally responsible to Satan to keep the country under the ruler-ship of Satan.  God sent the Archangel Michael, Israel's personal protector, to defeat the Prince of Persia.  Then, after he had finished with Daniel, this angel stated that he would have to go help holy angels fight against demons for the control of Greece.  From this Scripture, we see that Satan assigns his most powerful demons to personally attend to the leadership of the various nations of the world.   The average Christian does not understand the reality of spiritual warfare, agents of Satan understand it very well.  In fact, they are specifically trained to carry out this type of spiritual warfare daily upon the Church, we must be trained for perilous times that are coming upon the world.

It seems that one of the greatest blessings in the Christian life is found in being "in Him" (Col. 1:15-18).  After all, Jesus has "raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6).  "Where and when did this take place?" we ask.  Look at the last few words.  We are "raised up together, and made to sit together in the heavenly places— in Christ Jesus"  How?  In Christ Jesus.How can we know we are in Christ?How can we experience being in Christ?And how can we celebrate being in Christ?To find out more, keep listening.The following is a study on being "in Christ".

  Episode #014 Recorded Friday, March 29, 2013 “Complete in Christ” HOST: Robert Hatfield       Video of this episode:   Show Notes: Christ makes us complete; we do not need to seek to find spiritual sustenance anywhere else (Col. 2:10) Jesus has made us complete by … Making us alive together with Him (Col. […]