Category: Bible Study – Sermon

Reprint: Election Message – Who To Vote For

October 27th, 2020
I’ve published this before so let me give you the Highlights

Psalm 20:7

Who To Vote For

“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote… that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.” – Samuel Adams

I Particularly like this next quote from the greatest president:

“Elections belong to the people. It is their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.” – Abraham Lincoln

Psalm 20:7(NIV84) says: Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God

Psalm 20:1–9 (CSB)

¹ May the Lord answer you in a day of trouble; may the name of Jacob’s God protect you. ² May he send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion. ³ May he remember all your offerings and accept your burnt offering. Selah ⁴ May he give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose. ⁵ Let us shout for joy at your victory and lift the banner in the name of our God. May the Lord fulfill all your requests. ⁶ Now I know that the Lord gives victory to his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories from his right hand. ⁷ Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of the Lord our God. ⁸ They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand firm. ⁹ Lord, give victory to the king! May he answer us on the day that we call.

1. Some Trust in Chariots

Some Trust in War Machines

Some Trust in a Vehicle

How will you Vote?

Some … Trust in Chariots

2. Some Trust In Horses

But David says,

“some trust in chariots and some trust in horses …”

Interestingly Some trust in ONE party the “Chariot Party”, and Some Trust in Another Party the “Horse Party” …

David said “some trust in Chariots, others in Horses but WE WILL TRUST …”

3. In the Name of the Lord Our God

We Will Trust in a NAME … authority and power.

Oh, Gabriel came to Mary and Joseph and said that Mary was going to conceive, and bear and child and his name would be “JESUS”, because he will save his people from their sins

Peter preached in Acts 4:12 that, Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

THERE is a Name

Philippians 2:10–11 (CSB)

¹⁰ at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— ¹¹ and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Romans 13:1b says “there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.”

So that begs an interesting question.

How Would Jesus Vote?

I am NOT speaking for Jesus! I am telling you what I believe are some things that scripture teaches us about God that we can see in the issues we face. I believe he would be:
- Pro-Life — Jesus Created all life, he sustains life, he is the giver of life, and is the only one who can take it away. Job 1:21 said, the Lord gives and the lord takes away blessed be the name of the Lord. Oh my but that means ALL life.
- Pro Morality — we live in a world where the distinguishing marks between right and wrong has been removed in most cases. Perversion and Greed seem to run unchecked in the name of freedom and capitalism. Right is RIGHT … and Wrong on Top of Wrong doesn’t equal a right.
- Pro Family – the oldest ceremony in the history of humans is the ceremony of marriage. Marriage is a sacred thing. Marriage is also a picture of Christ and the Church. When we distort the family we distort a picture of Christ and the Church, God and his Children. Distortion like that confuses and distorts the very Gospel of Jesus Christ. We can vote that value, but remember we live in an ungodly world, and we are a church. Vote your values but don’t expect everyone to agree. But we are the Church and We can Live our Beliefs
- Pro God – We do not know what the future holds. It seems that we are closer every day to the end of all things. However, we don’t know that, and the only thing that we know to do is call our nation to repentance and turning toward God. Jesus came with a message “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Jesus would call us to the Father
But you know folks those four things are not the only things that are important to Jesus. So, let me add that Jesus would also be:
- Pro Poor
- Pro Prisoner
- Pro Hungry
- Pro Thirsty
Matthew 25:35-36 “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat … thirsty and you gave me … drink … stranger … invited me in … needed clothes … you clothed me … sick and you looked after me … in prison … came to visit me … whatever you did for one of the least of these … you did for me”
- Pro Education – Proverbs 22:6 train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it
How Should I Vote?

“Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.” William Penn

“The only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Edmund Burke,

Never be afraid to stand with the minority which is right, for the minority which is right will one day be the majority; always be afraid to stand with the majority which is wrong, for the majority which is wrong will one day be the minority. – William Jennings Bryan

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
John Quincy Adams

How should I Vote?
- Prayerfully – before you are shaped by political pundits or religious leaders, I need to Seek God’s Face. Our answers must come from the throne room before we make a decision …
- Carefully – don’t just go in and vote carelessly or without purpose. I personally never vote straight ticket … I vote what I know to be true and important to me. It takes longer, but if your vote matters, you should vote carefully
- Conscientiously – that is to vote with a consciousness of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one’s own conduct, intentions or character with a feeling of obligation
- Faithfully – VOTE, it is your right and your DUTY
Who Will I Trust?

“Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the world. I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; and such alone will overthrow the kingdom of Satan and build up the Kingdom of God on earth.” John Wesley

Our Hope is in God Alone. If you know him personally as your own Lord and God, then you need not Fear anything. If you have never given your heart to him, I offer you Jesus, he is our ONLY Hope. He is our ONLY Answer.

Where is our Hope?

If you counted all the verses and found the Center Verse of Scripture in the Bible, it would be Psalm 118:9 …

It is Better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man

Are you afraid? – Psalm 56:3 when I am afraid, I will trust in you

These are principles for voting. But I did Promise to tell you who to vote for. Well let me see if I can break it down to the important things, the things that we talk about and introduce you to the right candidate:
- Executive Experience?
Well … as an Entrepreneur, Creator, and Inventor, he left a lucrative position to begin a new venture. He handpicked a dozen leaders whom he developed and set them loose. They have transformed a regional venture into a multi-national organization servicing and including millions of employees and ambassadors, and this endeavor has continued for nearly 2000 years. Today he continues in the tri-unified Board of Directors of every facet of the Universe
- Economics?
Well it is said he owns the cattle on a thousand years, but more than that he developed, understands and implements the principles of planting, nurturing, and harvest. He can turn a sack lunch into a meal for thousands, so I think he can make sure you have enough to eat. He went fishing one day and came up with the tax money needed for he and his disciples.
- Social Programs?
He has taught his followers to Feed the Hungry, Visit the Prisoner, Give water to the Thirsty, Clothes to the Naked. His followers have been known to sell their goods and give to those in need. They have been known to meet the needs of strangers and friends alike
- Retirement Plan?
In his Father’s House are many Mansions, and He has gone to prepare a place for me so that where He is I can be as well.
- Suffering and Sacrifice?
The word is Expiation, it means atonement. He went into the teeth of the storm of accusation. He went through an illegal trial. He withstood a horrific beating. Then he was sentenced to die on a cross and suffered in dignity, grace, forgiveness, love, never uttering a word in his own defense. He sacrificed himself that those who would come after him would not have to die, and even if they do would be resurrected to live forever.
- Provision?
His Divine Power has Given us EVERYTHING we Need for Life and Godliness

So then,

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce to you the ONLY Candidate you ever Need, worthy of your pride, worthy of your trust, his is the banner we should fly …

Please Join me and Vote for the Lord Jesus Christ!

Place your Trust in Him

Vote Jesus

Vote with your Heart, give it to him. Vote with your Head, Surrender to him. Vote with your Feet, live in Obedience to Him. Love Him with Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength

He is the Same, Yesterday, Today, and Forever. He Is God. He IS Lord

You might as well follow all the rest of Creation; Vote Jesus Christ this Year and for Life.

Remember he said,

I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me John 15:5
Making Everything New – A Sermon

June 16th, 2020
I don’t often post my sermon manuscripts on here … but I thought some might be encouraged by these words

Making Everything New

Revelation 21:1-7

Everything Changes

But Jesus does not change

Oh, you look at the beauty of the world, mighty mountains, spectacular sunrises and sunsets, roaring rivers, serene streams, yet they all had a beginning. One day Jesus said, “let there be …” and it came into being.

Psalm 102:25–26 (CSB)

²⁵ Long ago you established the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. ²⁶ They will perish, but you will endure; all of them will wear out like clothing. You will change them like a garment, and they will pass away.

Oh, my heart is burdened today, as I am sure yours is.

What are we going to do Lord? Where is this all going?

I have had tears in my eyes too often in these last days.

Lord, can you make it stop spinning?

And then I was reading our text as I return to our study in The Revelation of Jesus Christ, I’m still crying and looking for answers, wanting to inspire, wanting to be an agent for change, and longing have hope and give hope.

And I heard a voice in my head saying, “Behold I make all things new, write for these words are true and faithful”

In a world calling for change, we need to stop trying to keep EVERYTHING the SAME, and LISTEN to the One who is Faithful and True, and hear Him say, Look – idou = Pay Attention, Look, Behold, See, Listen – I am making everything new.

Then I laughed to myself. Why? Because I got this image of us coming into Heaven. And I think that sometimes our image of Heaven is whatever we consider to be traditional, and “churchy”, and we come into heaven, all ready for that Traditional view … all ready for things to finally be “the way they should be”, the “way they have been”, the “way they used to be”. And then we hear the voice of God, seated on the throne say, “Look, I am making EVERYTHING NEW”

Idou – Look

Poieo = do, make, (present, active, indicative)

i.e. right now, I am actively, in reality, fashioning something

Pas = all, every, the whole

Kainos = new, fresh, strange, unknown

And why I laughed was because I think we might be tempted to say, “New? Seriously? I don’t want new, I want what I want, what I know, what I’m comfortable with.

But we are crying …

Psalm 102:1–2 (CSB)

¹ Lord, hear my prayer; let my cry for help come before you. ² Do not hide your face from me in my day of trouble. Listen closely to me; answer me quickly when I call.

And v4 says My heart is suffering, withered like grass …

Psalm 102:12–13 (CSB)

¹² But you, Lord, are enthroned forever; your fame endures to all generations. ¹³ You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her— the appointed time has come.

Oh, that’s what we want … we want God to Rise … but mark it down … every time God Rises, in this sin stained world, there will be CHANGE

V16 – the Lord will rebuild

V17 – he will pay attention to the prayer of the destitute

V20 – to hear the prisoner’s groaning, to set free those condemned to die

SO THAT – v21

There is always a SO THAT … in the move of God. He is not a “so what God”, but a “so that God”

Psalm 102:21 (CSB)

²¹ so that they might declare the name of the Lord in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem

And then v25 … Long Ago you established the heart … the heavens

But v26 … they will perish, but YOU will endure …

We want to hold onto THINGS that are Familiar … but EVERYTHING changes

But the Lord Endures

Psalm 102:26–27 (CSB)

²⁶ … all of them will wear out like clothing. You will change them like a garment, and they will pass away. ²⁷ But you are the same, and your years will never end.

So … IF we are to be the people of God … Let us HANG On to God, he does not change

But also let us be INSTRUMENTS of CHANGE

In these days of upheaval and unrest

Let us be Instruments of Peace … and that means CHANGE …

Peace doesn’t mean STILLNESS

Peace doesn’t mean Stagnation

Peace means we CHANGE to a Station of Peace

And so then, when I look at this 21^st chapter in John’s Revelation of Jesus Christ. The ONLY thing that is the SAME is JESUS … EVERYTHING Else Changes

And I am reminded that Everything we do on earth is meant to be a shadow, a foreshadow of what is in Heaven. Hebrews 8:5 says that has always been the way.

So, we must be Heavenly People of Change

Oh I don’t know when this day will come … but it IS coming!!

READ Revelation 21:1-7

Then The ONE seated on the throne said …

Look … Behold … Pay Attention

Wherever your mind is today, hear our Lord God Almighty say … “Look HERE” …

But then he says … “I Am Making Everything NEW”

There is a lot of good news in this statement … but it also might be the scariest of words … New isn’t always safe …

We should make the most of this life, but in Christ, this Life is Heaven practice.

Look … I am making all things new …

This is NOT a wishful statement … God never says, “don’t quote me on this” … No he says, “WRITE IT DOWN”

“These words are Faithful” – pistos – reliable, trustworthy, dependable, and “TRUE” – alethinos – real, genuine, consistent with truth

And then he said,

“IT IS DONE!”

– ginomai – It has Become – it has come to pass – it has taken center stage.

My goodness … can you hear God say,

“This is What I’ve been talking about, this is what I made you for, everything in Your Story has led to THIS place in MY Story … and it is becoming OUR Story.”

“It is DONE” … This has Come to Pass … this is where I was going …

Forget the Past

Isaiah 43:18–19, 21 (CSB)

¹⁸ “Do not remember the past events; pay no attention to things of old. ¹⁹ Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.

²¹ The people I formed for myself will declare my praise.

Let’s be visionary people

Let’s be transformational people

Let’s be instruments of peace

It is Done … and it will be DONE …

Because God is bringing things to …
1. Completion
- I am the Alpha and Omega
The first and the last letter of the Greek Alphabet

Vincent points out that the Hebrew first letter is Aleph and the last is Tav, and that Rabbinical writers said that Adam transgressed ALL of the law “from Aleph to Tav” … But Jesus our First and Last is Faithful and True and the Hebrew word for Truth is Emet which contains the First, Middle, and Last letters of the Alphabet. He is Truth

V2 says,

Then I heard a loud voice from the throne. Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them, they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God

There is an END … not just a FINISH but an objective. We are not just looking for it all to end but it all to come to COMPLETION … Culmination …
- The Beginning and End
Isaiah 41:4 (CSB)

⁴ Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I am the Lord, the first and with the last—I am he.”

John said, “in the beginning was the Word … all things were made by him … the word became flesh and dwelt among us … and we beheld his glory”

And now we have been taken into his presence and we will dwell with him

The is First and He is Last … Beginning all things.

It started with him … and it will end with him

But he IS the End … he is the purpose and us in his presence is our purpose. We beheld his glory and we shine his glory

Jesus was the FIRST WORD … and said “let there be”

In the Middle, Jesus said “It is Finished” on the cross

And at the end he will say “It is Done … I have kept my word … you are here.”

When Jesus was introduced in Revelation 1:8 – I am the Alpha and Omega … the one who was, and who is, and who is to come, the Almighty
- Was, Is, and Is to Come
Isaiah 44:6 (CSB)

⁶ This is what the Lord, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, the Lord of Armies, says: I am the first and I am the last. There is no God but me.

Lord, King, and Redeemer

Lord – I WAS here First … Colossians 1:17 – He is before all things and by him all things hold together

King – He IS … Ruler of all things right Now … Psalm 103:19 – the Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all

Redeemer – Is to Come – He has purchased us and he will claim us. Our Redeemer is coming to finish what he started and claim what he purchased … They sang in Revelation 5:9 – a new song: you are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seal, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.

I Make Everything New
- A New Heaven and a New Earth
… Oh a beautiful picture … we will gaze at its wonder next week … but this world is beautiful … but a new heaven and a new earth are coming …

Jesus was the first word and he will have the Last word, so don’t let your current word define you.

He is a Savior of Completion … and when it is Done … he will bring …
1. Satisfaction
Oh my … we are chasing, we are longing, we are searching … Jesus stood at a feast full of people who had been eating, and drinking and he said … If anyone is thirsty

There will be no one in Heaven that is not Satisfied … but today he is still asking, are you …
- Thirsty?
We run after many things looking to fill our thirst … but are still thirsty?

The Feast of Shelters celebrated their time traveling to the promised land.

For 7 days they celebrated, they ate and drank. But every morning, the priest led the people to Siloam’s fountain and filled a golden pitcher and brought it to the temple with music and shouting and they poured the pitcher from the “wells of salvation” … And so on the 8^th day … Jesus Loudly Asks … is anyone thirsty?

And he said, let him come to me, and drink …

And here in Revelation 21:6 … I will …
- Give – from the Spring of the water of Life
Oh yes, the Lord is my Shepherd … he leads me beside still waters … he restores my soul …

Remember Revelation 7:16-17 says we will no longer hunger … thirst … for the Lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them; he will guide them to springs of the waters of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes …

And so here v4 he keeps his promise – wiping away every tear … death will be no more … remember death is now in the lake of fire … no more grief, crying, pain

Jesus told the Samaritan woman, whoever drinks from the water I will give him will never be thirsty again …

“But I can’t afford that” … I’m sure that’s what that woman thought and often what we think …

But Jesus gives …
- Freely – dorean
without cost, without payment, without restriction

The great truth of scripture is that sin:
1. takes us where we don’t want to go,
2. keeps us longer than we want to stay,
3. and costs us more than we can pay.
They wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And if Jesus Gives freely, by grace, we can’t buy it, can’t earn it, then as God’s people, may we never make someone pay for what has been given to us freely.

Remember that’s the fight Paul fought with the establishment in the church in Acts 15. They were piling up extra things beside Jesus, and James said,

we should not make it difficult for those turning to God …

So, let us not make it hard for them to come to Christ – Jesus just says,

“come”

And the fullness of the freedom we will know that day …

we will finally experience all that God intended

Completed in Christ

Satisfied in Christ … Then we will have the fullness of our …
1. Inheritance
- For the one who Conquers
Do I need to fight my way to my inheritance? No …

1 John 5 takes us there …

1 John 5:4 (CSB)

⁴ because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.

Conquering is being born of God …

1 John 5:1 (CSB)

¹ Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God …

1 John 5:5 (CSB)

⁵ Who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

It isn’t complicated it is committing ourselves to the truth revealed.

Faith is based on the fact that Jesus was born physically, sent by the Father

That he Died Sacrificially for our Sins, shedding his blood to pay for our sin

And the he is revealed to us Spiritually by the Holy Spirit of God.

And when we believe the revelation … Ephesians 1:13 says when we hear the word of truth, the gospel of salvation and we believe that truth … we are given the Holy Spirit within as a down payment guaranteeing what is to come …

And here it is … God is paying in full what he made down payment on, at our moment of faith. Now comes the full inheritance. What is it?

That inheritance has

1)Possessions – These Things

Everything listed, and so much more … every promise of God is YES in Jesus (2Corinthians 1:20)

we will talk more next week … but look at them

New Heaven, New Earth – God created a thoroughly good earth, but we ruined it. He created a thoroughly good Heaven, but it too was stained by sin in the rebellion of satan.

2)Unity (the sea was no more),

3)The Holy City, New Jerusalem prepared, adorned,

4)Tearless face,

5)Griefless heart,

6)Painless body and mind

All the previous things are gone.

This too shall pass … and here all those things pass away … and our inheritance has a provision … Everything I listed above is wonderful, but those are things …

But our inheritance isn’t just things … LIFT Your EYES …
- Provision – I will be HIS GOD
Ultimately our inheritance is God – “these things” are the byproducts of the presence of God.
- Position – He will be my Son
I’ve told you before … in Christ, we are ALL SONS … Paul taught in Galatians 3 and 4 that in Christ we are not male or female, or any other distinction but we are all Adult Sons … we all have an equal share.

Romans 8 says that we have been adopted into the family and

if we are children, we are heirs, co-heirs with Christ … we may also share in his glory

And I would humbly, but gratefully say that, He is our Inheritance and unbelievably we are HIS inheritance – He created us, because he wanted us. We left him and he recreated us,

If anyone is in Christ he is a New Creation the old has passed, all things are new

And if we will come by faith to what is provided in Christ, he will have us.

He is Lord, King, Redeemer … was, is, is to come

Conclusion

In these days of hatred, distrust, discord, and despair

What is our purpose?

1 Peter 2:9–10 (CSB)

⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
- We are Casting a Vision of Heaven
Chosen, royal, holy, belonging to God … SO THAT … we can proclaim his praises …

Why just to boast?

No, we were once NOTHING … In Darkness … But now we are children of God, living in Marvelous Light … object of Mercy and Grace … and we are inviting others into what we have seen … Peace with God … We are Instruments of Peace
- Making Things New –
We don’t have to be satisfied with things as they are … we are people who are change agents in the world moving toward an unchanging God.
- Bring Jesus to Them
in witness, in action, in attitude, in service … and then
- Bring them to Jesus
Leading them to place their faith, hope, lives …

There is some argument over whether Francis of Assisi wrote the Peace Prayer as we have it, but the sentiments are definitely reflected in his known writings.

And so I say,

“Lord make me an instrument of thy peace.”

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offence, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Master, let me not seek as much
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,
it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.

And we then can say … Look … God is making Everything New
General Rules of a Sermon – Jean Claude

February 14th, 2020
Jean Claude was a mid-17th Century Protestant preacher in Nimes, France.

Charles Simeon lists his General Rules of a Sermon. If you’re a preacher you will hopefully enjoy the reminders.

1) Should be Clearly and Purely Explaining the Text – “it is impossible to edify them unless you are clear”
1. 2) Give the Entire sense of the Whole text – “a sermon cold and poor will do more mischief in an hour than a hundred rich sermons can do good”. Always maintain an esteem and eagerness for practical piety
3) The Preacher must be WISE, SOBER, and CHASTE – wise = don’t spend much time trying to be funny – sober = don’t spend your time on too many “what-ifs”, or “empty history”, or “meaningless investigations” – chaste = don’t be immodest in delivery or take listener’s minds to things that are not pure.

4) Be Simple and Grave – simple = good natural sense without metaphysical speculations – grave = avoid vulgar and proverbial sayings. “the pulpit is the seat of good natural sense”

5) The Understanding must be informed, but in a manner that Affects the HEART – either comfort or excite to acts of piety, repentance, or holiness

6) Avoid Excess – Ne Quid Nimis = don’t do too much
- must not be “too much genius” – too much brilliant, sparkling, and striking things point to yourself too much, and the Spirit isn’t evident. If the eye is dazzled too much, the mind is offended by the glare
- don’t be “overcharged” with doctrine – if the hearer’s memory can’t retain it all, in trying to retain it all they lose it all. A sermon should instruct, please, affect. So the instructive part should be done in an agreeable fashion
- Never strain any particular part – don’t exhaust or penetrate too far
- Figures must not be Overstrained – don’t stretch a metaphor to a allegory or carry a parallel to far. Know when to stop
- Reasoning must not be Carried too far – don’t stretch one chain to another to another to another. “a medium should be preserved” – before long the listener forgets what we were talking about
- As much as possible, Abstain from all sorts of observations Foreign to Theology – Like:
  - Grammatical observations not within basic knowledge will wear them out, keep it seldom and pertinently
  - Critical observations about different readings – USE them, but “spare the people”
  - Avoid Philosophical and Historical observations unless they Heighten the Beauty
  - Avoid use of quotes from Profane Authors, Rabbis, or Fathers. Use discreetly, properly, for good effect, not vain ostentation of learning
Then Charles Simeon Closes with 3 Things
1. Take for your subject what you believe is the Mind of God
2. Mark the Character of the Passage – where is the passage taking listeners (precept, promise, invitation, principle, etc)
3. Mark the Spirit of the Passage – (tender, compassionate, indignant, menacing) let that be the spirit of your sermon. As ambassadors, we should speak ALL God speaks and AS he speaks – “the meaning should be the warp … the words should be the woof”
He says On Conclusions – be lively and animating, full of great and beautiful figures. Conclusions delight, in inventions of a fine imagination, and not so chaste or regular as the body. “There is no danger when a preacher, in a conclusion, gives himself up to the fire of his genius”

Let me close by saying that when we enter the pulpit to Preach, we have a task that ONLY “Belongs” to us in that it is a responsibility given us by God. It is God’s Word, and all the glory is his. Our words may not be “inspired” like scripture but they better be inspiring. They may not be God-Breathed, but they should come from God’s Heart to ours, and to the congregation. God speaks to us, the Holy Spirit is our guide, but we must study, read, learn, pray, and seek to move people by God and for God. God uniquely fitted us to deliver the word to the people he places in front of us, so use all we have, deliver it with integrity and passion, and leave the results to the Lord.
I Seek the Profit

July 1st, 2019

Just a short word –

Paul says in Philippians 4:16-17(CSB) “…you sent gifts for my need several times. 17 Not that I seek the gift But I seek the profit that is increasing to your account”

Seems like I remember someone saying that we should not lay up treasures on earth, but lay up treasures in our heavenly account?

Are we just saving up for a rainy day? Is this “Christian Karma” living? No it doesn’t work that way.

When we are in need, God doesn’t go into our Heavenly Account and take care of us, no, he takes care of us from the wealth of interest in his OWN Account. V19 says “my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”. That’s because of his wealth not out of his wealth.

So I’m NOT trying to store up for a rainy day, spiritually or physically, I’m investing in Heaven, trying to increase the Kingdom, add to the population of the eternal.

And the result of our investment is We are Saints, and Others Become Saints. And the other result of the investment is that when all is said and done, what remains is GRACE.

Isaiah 55:10-11 “for just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, 11 so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”

The grace of God, the Gospel of God, always produces the intended result.

A life, given on purpose, is an eternal investment to the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

Under Oliver Cromwell’s government, they ran out of silver for coins. They looked all over for silver. The report came back that the only silver they could find was in the statues of saints in the churches. Cromwell is reported as saying “melt down the saints and put them into circulation!”

Melt down the saints and put them into circulation

Who’s in?

Everything of value save Christ, Melt it down

Everything that would keep us from laying down our lives, Melt it down

Pride, Self-Exaltation, Melt it Down

May we be lives given that Coins of Grace be minted in the hearts of those around us

In the furnace of persecution, melt us down and put us into circulation.

May our only currency be blood, sweat, and tears given to the glory of God

Pleasing, acceptable, sacrifices, Sweet Smelling to the Lord

— an excerpt from the sermon -“Life Together … On Purpose” from the sermon book “Yes … I Will Rejoice!” by James L Goforth Jr available at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0792KMPHM/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

Other titles available http://www.amazon.com/author/pastorgoforth
My Convention Sermon 2019

June 18th, 2019
I attended this last week’s Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting.

If you don’t know how SBC churches work, we do not have a hierarchy that directs local churches top down. But we are a bottom up fellowship of cooperating churches. We cooperate for Missions and Kingdom Advancement, as well as for training pastors and providing literature for church training.

We addressed some hard realities this week in an historic fashion. yes the SBC was initially formed in 1845 over two primary issues, Missions, and the right to support or allow slavery. One is great, one is not.

This week we addressed racial discrimination and sexual abuse in our churches that is often ignored, or swept under the carpet. While the Convention cannot control a church, now we have processes in place to not allow them to be a part of our fellowship and also beginning a better process to train and equip our churches to protect themselves and their community and provide a safe place for worship and advancement of the gospel.

As I returned from the convention last week, I prepared to Report to my church about our convention. I gave a detailed summary of our meeting, regarding missions, ministry, as well as these issues we faced. And then I gave MY Annual Convention Sermon. That is what I wanted to say to my church in light of what I had seen and heard during the week.

While I won’t give you my full report, I will give you the basics of the message I closed with. The reality of racial discrimination in our culture, and sexual abuse in society that creeps into the church as well is evidence of the ongoing spiritual battle in which we live. So, I took us to a passage we know, but often not in context. Let’s look at it quickly.

1 Peter 5:6-11

Jesus said that satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10)

So, here Peter says, in this world we must:

1. Be Vigilant and Alert v8

Your Adversary, the devil …

It literally means one who opposes in court with slanderous accusations.

We ARE under attack. satan loves only himself. He hates man because we are the Image-Bearers of God, and he attacks.

A. How?

Prowling, Roaring, Looking, Devouring

Oh, don’t miss something, satan is a counterfeit. He wanted to be a god and was kicked out of Heaven. He is NOT THE LION … Jesus is The LION, but satan prowls, roars, looks to devour, LIKE a lion.

“Prowl” is a picture of the Greek philosophers of Peter’s day. satan walks about, seems to have the answers. But he hides with intent to destroy.

He “roars”. Why? To frighten the flock, to run them, and then to attack the young, the old, and the weak.

But we do not believe in the “survival of the fittest”. We believe in the strong protecting the weak, standing with them, for them. We believe the wise will be ready and aware and protect those who the counterfeit lion seeks to devour.

   B. Who?

Who then is he attacking, and who must we protect?

The Church – The bride of Christ, the light of the world

The Pastor – God’s messenger, the stars in Christ’s hand

The People – the sheep of his pasture, the apple of his eye, the object of his sacrifice.

All of these have received the redemption. satan cannot get their soul but will ruin their lives if he can.

But also …

The LOST – they are condemned already, and destined for Hell and he wants to destroy their souls.

He wants to abuse the young so they will turn their backs on God.

He wants to attack the fringe, the minorities, image-bearers, and make them feel marginalized by the church, and so then believe that they are marginalized by God.

He is on the prowl, So, we must …

2. Be Resilient and Resistant v9

So, as satan attacks … we … the strong … need to NOT be distracted

Be “sober-minded” or “self-controlled”.

The idea is not to allow our emotions or desires to be out of control. i.e. “take captive every thought and make it obedience to truth”

Be vigilant, alert, awake, we cannot fall asleep church, because evil does not sleep.

RESIST HIM – This is in the Imperative, meaning we are commanded to because we MIGHT NOT, yet we must.

A. How?

–       Humble Yourself

Only two ways pride takes over here. 1) I’m too good for this or 2) I’m too strong to get attacked … Both of those thought are prideful lies.

I have news for us … Humility IS Coming either under the “counterfeit lion”, or The Lion of Judah’s Tribe”.

v6 Humble yourself under God’s mighty hand

Humble yourself under God’s hand, patient for HIS Exaltation, or Humbled under satan’s attack and swallowed or devoured.

Then

–       Cast Your Cares on Judah’s Lion.

The roaring counterfeit lion makes us fearful, and falsely placed fear causes bad decisions that destroy lives. So, take your concerns, to Jesus. Give them to him. Let go of them. CAST Them.

If you haven’t been on your knees with your “concerns”, then you shouldn’t be sharing them with somebody else. If you start a conversation with a hushed “I’m afraid that …” you are fearful, Cast your cares on HIM, dont gossip, don’t Post it on Facebook, don’t Tweet it, Cast it on Jesus.

Resist satan – Because God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

My goodness what would happen if we never posted anything that wasn’t full of love and sound judgment?

Then

–       Firm in the Faith

James 4:7 says submit to God, Resist the Devil, he will flee
- Fake Lions flee when the Real Lion shows up
ROAR, LION of Judah, ROAR

What is the Faith in which we stand firm? It is NOT FAITH in “faith”.

No. It is faith in the Grace of God made possible at the cross, which enables a condemned sinner to be a Justified, Sanctified, Glorified SAINT.

Firm, Solid, Unshakable

Psalm 9:9 (CSB)

⁹ The Lord is a refuge for the persecuted, a refuge in times of trouble.

Isaiah 28:16 (CSB)

¹⁶ Therefore the Lord God said: “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.

Unshakable in the Faith

B. Why?

Knowing the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world

The Whole Church is suffering.

We looked the other way on Slavery.

We look the other way on injustice.

We mock other parts of the church when they had allowed abuse, and then are guilty of the same.

But the whole earth is hurting, the whole church is hurting, and that hurts the Cause of Christ.

We must stand and fight for the helpless, hopeless.

… on a firm foundation, humble under our Lion …

3. Be Encouraged and Strengthened

Satan IS Attacking

Psalm 10:8–9 (CSB)

⁸ He waits in ambush near settlements; he kills the innocent in secret places. His eyes are on the lookout for the helpless; ⁹ he lurks in secret like a lion in a thicket. He lurks in order to seize a victim; he seizes a victim and drags him in his net.

But v12 says RISE UP OH LORD

The Lord Fights for the Victim

Psalm 10:16–18 (CSB)

¹⁶ The Lord is King forever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. ¹⁷ Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble; you will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully, ¹⁸ doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed so that mere humans from the earth may terrify them no more.

And you know what? The Lord Will Rise Up for the Helpless, the humble, the oppressed

Be Encouraged …

A. By Who God Is – the God of All Grace

All grace is from him, and he hasn’t run out of Grace.
- Be Strengthened
B. By What He Has Done – he has called you to Eternal Glory in Christ

From the cross, the Love of God cries out and said “I know sin, I know justice, I know injustice. I have a plan, I have a way, and it is enough for you!”

But don’t forget, the Cross isn’t the end of the story
- Be Encouraged
C. By What He Will Do … Restore … Establish … Strengthen … Support

If you are a victim of abuse, discrimination, the attacks of evil … this is not the end of the story … LOOK at the cross and see the Love and Justice of God, but Look at the Empty Tomb and see the Victory, The Life, Resurrection. See the Possibility – Resurrection Power, and Resurrection Posterity.
- Be Strengthened
D. With Eyes On Eternity – for a little while … To him be dominion FOREVER

God is a Finisher. God is a Winner …

our Lion Is the Alpha but He is the Omega.

He is the Beginning and HE is the End … and He Is Coming Soon.

In Just A Little While.

The Point of all of this is that we get caught up often fighting the wrong fights.

So, we must ask …

“If I WIN this fight, who will be in Charge, and who will get the Glory?”

If the answer is NOT God … then Let it Go, you are fighting the wrong fight.

v11 to Him be Dominion (glory) forever AMEN

1 Timothy 6:12–16 (CSB)

¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ In the presence of God, who gives life to all, and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you ¹⁴ to keep this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ God will bring this about in his own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal power. Amen.

And then I challenged our People with a Conclusion of Commitments, and I challenge you in your church to do the same, in society to do the same

Conclusion
1. I Will Be One LESS Obstacle – I will not be a hindrance. I will be a peacemaker not a troublemaker, a Hope-Builder, not a Dream-Killer
2. I Will Be One MORE Servant, Warrior, Witness, Intercessor
3. I Will Seek to Win One MORE
4. Then we will be a Unified One – If we focus on The One True Enemy, the One Worthy of Glory, and the One who is Lost, we will be unified. 1 x 1 x 1=oneness
And that:

Starts Parties in Heaven

Protects the Helpless

Prevents Division

Prepares us to hear “well done”

and Propels us to a “Mission Accomplished” – “may they be one as we are one”
Dead In The Garden

March 28th, 2018
This is a little more lengthy, a sermon, but a good read on the battlefield that is Prayer

Dead In The Garden

Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:39-49

The Garden of Gethsemane. What a beautiful and poetic place in our minds, literature, songs, and all these last 2000 years.

The name “Gethsemane” comes from the root Aramaic word for “oil press”. It is filled with Olive Trees. Having been to Israel, and spent time in multiple Spanish locals, Lisa and I learned to love Olive Trees. They are such interesting trees. They go down into the ground and come back up, from the roots, over and over, year after year, which creates very gnarly interesting looking trunks. They produce beautiful wood, and of course the olive, and the oil.

The Garden of Gethsemane contains trees that have connections of 2000 years old or more. The oldest trees can only be dated to about 1000 years. However, recent tests say that they are all familial and appear to be cuttings from much older trees. They could be the very trees, or offshoots from the roots of the trees under which Jesus would have prayed.

It is under these trees, that Jesus was anguished out like Oil in a press. We know it as the place where he prayed, and the place where he was arrested.

Look at this painting by the artist, Caravaggio.

The Garden of Gethsemane was not just the place that Jesus was betrayed, or the place where he was finally caught. The Garden of Gethsemane gives us the picture, and example, of HOW to deal with the battles of Life. How do we prepare for the battles? Where do we FIGHT the Battle?

Notice something that jumps out at me from this painting …

Judas, center, has just kissed Jesus on the cheek, the signal to arrest our Savior. John is on the left, running from the scene, but being held back by a guard.

Caravaggio, the artist, has placed himself on the far right, holding a lantern, relating to our culpability in the death of Christ. It was OUR sin, that captured him, and sent him to the cross.

There, center left is Jesus.

What I want you to see about Jesus is his posture.

Facing arrest in innocence. Facing a death sentence. Before the lies, before the accusations, before the injustice, the beating, the plucking of the beard. Before the nails, the spear …

He is passive.

He is not fighting, he is not fleeing.

Then notice, the light is falling on his hands.

His hands are clasped, fingers intertwined, I see a resoluteness in his hands.

He is committed to the task.

He is dead to himself

He is dead to death

He is already dead!

How do we fight the battles of obedience to complete the tasks of God?

How do we seek God’s face and come out victorious?

How do Face even the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and find the strength and courage to go into it resolutely?

The Battle is In the GARDEN …

The Battle is ON Our Knees.

The Garden of Gethsemane was, in my opinion, the final battle that Christ faced on this earth. The fake trial, the beatings, the mocking, the taunting, the cross, were NOT a battle for Christ. Of course, they were Physically demanding and painful, but there was NO doubt that he would continue and finish what he set out to do.

Look at his hands …

The key to that Resolve, was the Victory, that was won in The Garden.

Christ had shared the Passover meal with his disciples. Then he made the late evening walk with his disciples, giving them his final teachings on The Vine and the Branches, and the coming of the Holy Spirit. He prayed in their presence for Unity of his people. Then he cross the Kidron Valley on the East Side of Jerusalem, and goes to The Garden.

READ Matthew 26:36-46 and Luke 22:39-

What is the Battle that you face Today?

The Garden is the Place to fight the battle.

Our time with the Lord gives us the power for the battles of life.

The battles are NOT won on the playing field, on the contrary, they are won as we wrestle with ourselves, and with God, and gain the victory and resolution to go on in obedience to his will.

When we’ve surrendered to his will, we will not give in to defeat, discouragement, or the devil.

Jesus and his disciples were BOTH in the Garden. They were BOTH to be praying …

But the disciples SLEPT …

What was the difference?
- Understanding God’s Plan – Jesus didn’t go into the garden wondering what to do. He knew because he had been in the garden before. He knew the plan. So, in the garden, now, he was praying for strength and certainty, NOT deliverance. Oh, the flesh wanted deliverance, “Father If …” but the other difference, Jesus had …
- A Strong Spirit and a Strong Flesh – We want to cop out and say, “oh, I’m just not strong enough … but the strength of the flesh comes from strengthening and committing the spirit to the God-revealed plans. The disciples were weak because they had NOT spent the time in the Garden BEFORE. They were driven by selfish desires and felt needs. They were driven by what THEY wanted, an earthly kingdom, notoriety, etc. They didn’t know the plans and purposes of God.
What is the Garden?

The Garden is a Place of Passion

“fell face down” / “sweat drops of blood”

The Garden is a Common Place

Luke 22:39 – “He went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives … ⁴⁰ When he reached the place …”

This was NOT a just because he knew that he was going to die tomorrow.

This was common action, common place, common practice for Christ.

It was common when he faced critical decisions, it was common when he had a battle to face, it was common for him to relate to the Father, through passionate prayer and surrender.

With God, in prayer, is not the last resort, it is the first and common place for us.

The Posture of the Garden is one of Surrender

– for Jesus, we know that he knelt, we also know that he ended up on his face.

Those are postures of humility and surrender to a Sovereign.

They are postures of great anguish, and deep desire for gracious favor of our Sovereign.

– For the disciples, he told them to pray, but in the lateness of the night, and their exhaustion, they fell asleep and so he told them to “get up and pray“.

– if the posture you are in is causing you to struggle in prayer, find another position, it’s not as much about the posture, but it is about surrender.

– if kneeling or being on your face causes you to surrender to sleep, then stand, walk, pray out loud, but take a position where you can surrender to God.

Hebrews 5:7 says Jesus – “offered prayers … with loud cries and tears … and he was heard because of his reverence (submission)”.

He wasn’t heard because of position, but because of passionate surrender

The Garden is a Place –

– where we Recognize His Power – “… all things are possible”

– Where we Recognize His Position – “Abba, Father” –

Not My Will But Yours,

You Are Boss, You Are Leading, I Am Following.

Abba – (Aramaic) was the personal intimate way to relate to Father, i.e. “daddy”

Father – (Greek – pater) The formal address to the parent, ancestor, source of being, prototype, priest

We could amplify this phrase more Fully here,

“My Dearest Daddy, Father from whom I have my physical life, my spiritual being, whom I recognize as the source of everything I know, and the final authority on all matters, …”

When you Come to the Garden, bring Your Desires, but Be Prepared to Surrender to HIS

“Ok, this is nice inspirational stuff, pastor, but …”

So, What Do WE do in the Garden? How is the battle one in the Garden?

IN THE GARDEN …

1. The Armor of God is Put On

Ephesians 6:10–18 (CSB) ¹⁰ Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. ¹³ For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. ¹⁴ Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, ¹⁵ and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. ¹⁸ Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

You have the Armor of God at your disposal, but you MUST put it ON. When the battle starts you will be vulnerable if you don’t already have your armor on. It’s tough getting dressed into armor while you are being attacked.

What’s the Armor?

– Breastplate of Righteousness

– Belt of Truth

– Shoes Preparation of the Gospel

– Shield of Faith

– Helmet of Salvation

– Sword of the Spirit

How do you put it on?

Prayer

Ephesians 6:18 says, Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request … i.e. “about everything”

“Pray On” each Piece of the Armor, and its Characteristics of Protection and Offense. Something like this …

Lord, I take up the Breastplate of Righteousness, may the righteousness of Christ protect my heart, and vital organs.

I put on the belt of Truth. May the truth of God be the buckling point that keeps my armor in place and guards my deep-set places and passions in check and protected.

I stand on a grounding in the word of God and a commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I hold up faith as my shield.

I will hide behind the victorious Cross of Christ that has won every victory for me, and allow him to lead me in a triumphal procession of Victory.

I take up the Word of God as my only weapon of offense. I will not use it recklessly or selfishly. I will not make it say what I want, but will allow it to speak for itself and defend me.

Over all, I put on the helmet of Salvation, the mind of Christ. May his attitude of selfless service, humility, and commitment, be my attitude and mind. Lord, today I am prepared for the battles that will come and I walk with you, for you, and live toward your glory, Amen

Also, IN THE GARDEN …

2. Discouragement Is Banished and Strength is Imparted

A. Discouragement is banished

Why do we get discouraged?

We feel like we are not appreciated

We feel like we are not accomplishing or living up to our potential.

We feel no one notices or cares.

We feel like God doesn’t see us or realize what we are going through.

In the Garden, we come into the presence of God, and feel his embrace, his praise, his pleasure.

The greatest thing that God wants from us is for us to commune with him.

So, you can be sure that when we come into his presence in the Garden, he is pleased, we have his attention, we experience his approval.

In his presence, we better understand his purpose, we can get a better perspective on what we might call failure or success.

Discouragement is banished in the garden

And …

B. Strength is Imparted in the Garden

Luke 22:43,44 – Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him … he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling …

The Olive Press

“Oh, I don’t know if I will have the strength to pray as I should …”

Strength is imparted AS you pray, not just before you pray.

IN THE GARDEN …

3. Obedience is Determined

Obedience hasn’t been physically carried out, but the die is already cast.

– Those of you who are dating, you do NOT DECIDE to be PURE while you are ON the Date. That Battle is won in your heart and mind, before you ever get on the date.

– you might win a few minor skirmishes by fighting that way, but the difficult all-out battles are won as you determine, in the garden, before God, to be obedient.

– if you have a habit that you are trying to “kick” because you feel a conviction from the Lord to stop. That decision has to be made before him daily on your knees, NOT when the urge or craving hits. If you have already died to it, and decided what you will do, then when the thought or urge hits, you will get the Victory, because you are already dead.

IN THE GARDEN …

4. God is the Focus

A. Focus

Now, the “model prayer” Jesus taught his disciples, is NOT what he prayed here in the garden, but the WAY to pray in the Garden is revealed in that model prayer.

It is the focus Christ gave us in prayer … How was it we are to pray? To whom are we to pray? For whose glory?

Our Father – Who? –

He is God, He is Father, we are NOT. Oh, we need a fresh reminder do we not?

In Heaven – Where? –

He is in heaven, he is not limited to our limitations, he made it all. He is with us, but he is above us, he is over us.

Hallowed be Your Name – Why?

– All is for his glorification. It is not our glory we seek. As we pray for his name, anything that is for our glory will fade away.

Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done – What? –

We seek to accomplish his purposes.

Adam and Eve failed in the First Garden, because they took their focus off God and put it on themselves. They should have been getting ready for their daily walk through the Garden with God, they instead surrendered to the prompting of Satan.

Yet in this Garden, Jesus took the focus OFF of Himself … “not my will” and put the focus on God “… but your will be done, Father”

In the Garden our Appetite is set on God …

B. Hunger

What you hunger for is evident in the garden.

Is your Passion/Hunger for God or for other things; your plans, or the will of God

Psalm 63:1; 3-5 (CSB)¹ God, you are my God; I eagerly seek you. I thirst for you; my body faints for you in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water … ³ My lips will glorify you because your faithful love is better than life. ⁴ So I will bless you as long as I live; at your name, I will lift up my hands. ⁵ You satisfy me as with rich food; my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.

C.S. Lewis says this about Hunger: “[If] we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, 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.?” (CS LEWIS)

ILLUSTRATION “what if you … were invited to a friend’s house for dinner. You knew that your friend was a gourmet cook of nouvelle cuisine. You thought, her food is great but it’s usually not enough for you.

You are so hungry after missing lunch that day. You are on your way to their new house and there was something missing in the directions and you have a hard time finding her house. As you drive around, hungry and lost, you start driving by a string of fast food restaurants. You keep driving by a hot-dog place. You stop at the light and the aroma from the drive-thru is crying out and calling your name. You don’t want a hot dog, you need a hot dog.

There won’t be enough food anyway. I’ll just have a snack you decide while I find her house. You stopped to order a snack. But what to order? You settle on a regular hot dog, a Chicago dog, and a chili dog. The hot dogs really aren’t very big. And what’s a hot dog without French fries? So you ordered a large fries to cover the demands of the three hot dogs. Fries are salty and hot dogs are spicy, so you added a large soft drink to wash it down. You feel better now.

When you finally found her house, she had prepared a the most amazing and wonderful meal you’ve ever seen. However, you can’t enjoy it, you are miserable as you try to be polite and force a little food down. You don’t enjoy because you are FULL. You was so full, you even leave food on the plate.

This is a parable of prayerlessness.

Why don’t we pray? We don’t pray for the same reason you couldn’t enjoy that gourmet meal;

We’re stuffed in our spirits, full, over-loaded, packed, soul-crammed, not with the Bread of Life, but with spiritual junk food.

One writer said lack of prayer is a lack of hunger for God.

How do we regain our hunger for God?

– praise

– worship

– recount his deeds

– read the prayers of others

– memorize scripture

– pray the scriptures

– Fast – fasting requires you to fill your hunger with God. As you do this, you will begin to hunger for Him more than the things this world has to offer

We focus on God and regain our hunger for him in the Garden

IN THE GARDEN …

5. Self is Sacrificed

If you die in the garden, you will Live in Victory on the Battlefield.

If you don’t die in the garden, then Defeat crouches at the door”

Unless a seed goes into the ground and dies, it cannot produce the fruit it was intended to produce.

Jesus Christ “Died” in the Garden.

He left behind HIS will and Embraced the Will of the Father.

When he left the Garden, he was a “dead man walking”.

Remember those hands. He was set.

He was born to die, he lived to die, and that night in the garden he prayed and died.

That’s why he didn’t defend himself, that’s why he didn’t fight back, that’s why he went willingly to the cross.

That’s how he was the seed which sprouted into the beautiful planting of God that is you and me, the church of Jesus Christ which will be preserved and presented blameless before the Father in Eternity.

Beautiful Things grow in a garden, but …

Before Spring must come Winter,

Before planting must come plowing,

Before reaping must come planting,

Before fruitful life, must come the death of the seed, planted in the barren garden.

Jesus calls you to Tarry with him in the Garden.

Jesus calls you to follow him into the lonely place that is the Garden,

To Die to Self, allow the Spirit of God to plow deep the Hardness of Your Heart, and Break up the Dry, Fallow Ground.

Let him plow deep, and pull up the fertile soil below that he might plant his desires, his will in your life.

Dead in the Garden, means Life in the Garden.

Death in the Garden, means fruitfulness in your Life.

You will Get Up and Leave the Garden determined to do God’s will

Will You Tarry in the Garden?

Will you Surrender to him?

Let me just say, that there are some of you here today who LONG for the Garden, but you’ve never surrendered your life to Christ and you feel that when you pray there is a disconnect, that is simply because you need to give your heart to him.

Psalm 66:18 – if I had been aware of malice in my heart, the Lord would not have listened

You cannot have intimacy if you are separated from him by sin.

Accept Christ, receive him into your heart and you will know the Joy, Intimacy, and Victory of the Garden.

Dear child of God … go to the Garden

Church of Jesus Christ … seeking God’s direction, intervention, protection … Go to the Garden.
Whatever Happens – A Good Word for the New Year

January 1st, 2017

I preached this sermon a few years ago. My mind went there today so I am sharing it. Feel free to pass it alongPhilippians 1:27-30

Whatever Happens

Not a Blast of Hurry

Missionary J. O. Fraser who worked among the Lisu peoples of China, once commented about the necessity of waiting on the Lord to do His work without the frantic, panicked rushing about that characterizes much of our labor. He said:

In the biography of our Lord nothing is more noticeable than the quiet, even poise of His life. Never flustered whatever happened, never taken off His guard, however assailed by men or demons in the midst of fickle people, hostile rulers, faithless disciples—always calm, always collected. Christ the hard worker indeed—but doing no more, and no less, than God had appointed Him, and with no restlessness, no hurry, no worry. Was ever such a peaceful life lived, under conditions so perturbing?*

So, there are certain verses in scripture that are “the bar” for us to look as a standard.

Elsewhere in scripture, we are told to “love as I have loved you.” We are told to “forgive as God in Christ forgave us.”

Those are bars by which we decide if we are tall enough to ride this ride.

So, Paul remember is speaking “To All The Saints” … so he is speaking to Christians … This is not a “bar” in order to receive salvation … but because we have heard God’s voice, because we have responded in faith, because we have received his grace …. Because of all of that, there is a BAR for us … a standard

Look at it, read with me the end of the chapter, 1:27-30 – READ it

Who is he talking to? You Together … “Conduct yourselves” … Again, I said last week that WE are a WE … so for FBC, a group of saints working together, we have something that we are striving for as we go forward rejoicing together.

So … Look at somebody right now and say “Pay attention, this is FOR US” …

So Paul says “Whatever Happens” here in the NIV84

NASB and ESV says “only” – HCSB has “Just one thing”, and the NLT “Above all”

It is the word – monos = only, alone, throughout

It is an adverb describing the verb “conduct” .

As you conduct yourselves, church … Conduct yourselves singularly throughout, every time, regardless of the circumstance

Every season, every circumstance, every challenge, every triumph, tragedy, trip, in Everything, Every Time, in every way …

These are certainly conditional instructions, “if … then …” but there are certain things … And Paul seems to be laser focused in this letter on the things that do not change regardless … i.e. Rejoice always

So, here are some things then … Whatever Happens …

1. Conduct Yourselves

Remember Paul said “for to me …” life is Christ

So, he says that means that I must conduct myself in a certain manner. This is a certain manner …

This word is interesting …

Politeuomai = system of government, behave, live, lead one’s life

So, what will be the governing force for us? What will legislate our actions toward one another, toward the world, toward the image of Christ in the dark, in the light?

He says …

A. A Manner Worthy

This “conduct yourselves in a manner”, pertains to a member of a body, a person with a title has a responsibility. We hear criticism of a President saying “that is just not presidential” … I’m sure you have been told to live like the uniform you wear … “You are a Soldier”, “You are an Airman”, you “represent the United States of America.”

Paul uses this word in Acts 23:1 “I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”

Paul was a man with a sense of duty … Paul was saying that every day, at the end of the day, I can lay my head down and know I have done my full duty. Kenneth Wurst quotes John’s pupil, Polycarp, “if we perform our duties (same word) as simple citizens, he will promote us to a share in his Sovereignty”

So … Citizens of Heaven … members of the Family of God … Often when the boys would leave the house, just as they got to the door, I would say “hey wait, come here … don’t forget you are a Goforth …”

Paul says, “you are a member of the body of Christ, you are a citizen of heaven … Live like it”

There is a pattern we should follow, there is an obligation for us to fulfill, a manner worthy …

B. Of the Gospel of Christ

Where does the ability to rejoice come from? The Gospel.

You know, I don’t understand some Christians …

– I don’t understand ANGRY Christians. You know they walk around like someone took the last lollipop. They act like they are angry that they have to be good or something.

Angry Christians … is that worthy of the Gospel?

– I also don’t understand SAD Christians either, the slightest thing doesn’t go their way, and they are sad. It’s like they were just told that they weren’t God’s favorite. It’s like they opened a box of cracker jacks and no ring. It’s like you just came down to breakfast and found their little sister got the toy from the box of Cereal. Their bottom lip is out over a 4 cent toy, while they live in the greatest house and are members of the greatest family.

Sad Christians are not living in a manner worthy of the gospel.

– I also don’t understand Frightened Christians. They live like they aren’t sure if God will work it out. They aren’t sure he is Sovereign.

Scared Christians aren’t living in a manner worthy of the Gospel.

What is the Gospel? What is the Good News of Christ?

The Gospel

While we were Still Sinners, separated from God, hopelessly lost and headed to hell, Jesus Christ was appalled and wrought salvation with his own hand. He left Heaven, born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, demonstrated his divinity with miracles, counted the cost of our sins, and paid the debt fully with his death on the cross. He forgave our sin, removed the guilt. He imputed righteousness to our account, he was resurrected on the 3rd day proving his power over death, and promising me resurrection as well. He has made us rightly related to God, his Children now by right given, receiving full inheritance, and an eternal place in his home, and right now he is at the right hand of the Father, and one day will return to take his own to where he has prepared a place for them.

That is the Gospel … Live in a manner, conduct yourselves, like that is a REALITY to You …? And so Conducting in a manner worthy, we are living

2. Confirmed In The Faith

Paul says if you live this way … if you act like you belong, He will know that you …

Stand Firm

I have to say that Angry Christians, Sad Christians, Frightened Christians, sometimes make me wonder about their Faith …

Oh yes, we all get angry, we all get sad, we all get frightened, that is our humanity showing. But the angry one, you know all the time angry, may not know the Joy of the Lord which is our strength.

The Always Sad one, may not understand that Christ leads us in Triumph, that I can taste and see that he is Good. They may not know the Satisfaction of God as my portion.

The always scared one may not know The One who says “be not afraid, I will never leave you or forsake you.”

If you know him, Stand Firm in the Faith

If following him brings suffering your way,

Stand Firm

Philippians 1:29 (NIV84) says

29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,

Did you hear that “it has been granted to you … on behalf of Christ, not only to BELIEVE on him but also to SUFFER FOR him.

*Hey honey, we just got an invitation in the mail. The return address says “The Lord Almighty, Heaven” …

“Well, Open it”

“it says, Greetings Jim Goforth, it has been granted to you, on behalf of Christ, to Believe on him, and to SUFFER FOR him”

“Amazing … wait what?

Yes Two Gifts of Grace

– Salvation in Christ

AND

– Suffering for Christ

SO …

Stand Firm

Not stand firm UNTIL things don’t go my way … No … Whatever Happens I will Stand Firm

When things aren’t how I like, when I’m mad, I’m sad, I’m scared … stand firm …

Exodus 14:13 (NIV84)

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today…”

2 Chronicles 20:17 (NIV84)

17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’ ”

Psalm 20:7–8 (NIV84)

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

Psalm 40:2 (NIV84)

2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

Proverbs 10:25 (NIV84)

25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.

That’s the manner of living, whatever happens for the saints

That’s the vision for the saints at FBC

It is the “bar of gratitude” for the Grace, for the Gospel, willing to stand in any circumstance

Whatever Happens – Stand Firm

You can’t stand firm and proclaim if you aren’t convinced,

but I stand because I know …

You can’t stand firm unless you are Convinced

I Know …

Psalm 20:6 (NIV84)

6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed …

Psalm 139:14 (NIV84)

14 … your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 140:12 (NIV84)

12 I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.

Ecclesiastes 3:14 (NIV84)

14 I know that everything God does will endure forever…

Romans 7:18 (NIV84)

18 I know that nothing good lives in me…

2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV84)

12 … Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

So, FBC Saints, Whatever happens …

Every time, throughout, Conduct yourselves like citizens of Heaven, Convinced of your faith and Every Time … We the Church in Ktown, fellowshipping in a Diverse Family of Christ Followers, Faithful to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, we MUST …

3. Contend for the Faith

When, “whatever” happens to us … we need a rally point …

Israel was battling against Amalek in Exodus 17. God told Moses to keep his hands raised up and God would give them Victory as long as Moses hands were raised.

After Victory, Moses built an altar and named it “Jehovah Nissi”, the “Lord My Banner” the place around which we rally when we are under attack

Whatever Happens, we will rally together to contend for the Faith …

A. United Battling Together

– Around the Gospel

Oh too often the Saints have a pet project, and sometimes it is honorable, sometimes it is not, but it must be Gospel Centric. If what we fight for doesn’t have the Gospel as its message and salvation as its ultimate end is just wasted time, spiritually speaking. So when whatever happens, we rally around the Gospel … we may not agree on style, we may not agree on methods, but we can agree on the Gospel, can’t we?

“contending as one man” NIV84

“striving side by side”

This word is

– Synathleo = struggle along with.

Robertson says this is “ striving as in an athletic contest”

“struggle along with” – Rallying togetheraround the advancement of the Gospel, together … when we are not unified we stand like a one or two legged chair.

Psalm 133 says How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.

Nehemiah 8:1 says the people gathered unified in purpose and called for the Word of the Lord.

We gather here every week to hear God’s word and leave here unified around the gospel so that we can Strive Together, contending as one man, struggleing alongside

Whatever happens, if we are the graced of God, we are going to suffer the attacks of the evil one, because we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but rulers, authorities, powers, and forces of this dark world. If there is no struggle, then we aren’t going against the flow of evil. If we aren’t experiencing the struggle then maybe we aren’t on the narrow way.

V30 “You are going through the same struggle you saw I had and now hear I still have”

So, we strap on the Armor of God: Rally to the Banner of the Gospel and we can do so …

B. Unafraid of Opponents

v28 ”without being frightened”

pytro = to be intimidated, scared, frightened, afraid ..

Come on … this is most dangerous church in the World … I know there is no one afraid here

Hebrews 10:38–39 (NIV84)

38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

1 Corinthians 15:57–58 (NIV84)

57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Whatever Happens

1 Corinthians 9:12 – “… we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel”

Whatever Happens … we are ready for whatever

We will serve through whatever

1 Corinthians 9:12 says we can put up with anything

How could Paul say he could put up with anything?

Because we have our eyes, hearts, mind, hands, knees focused on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

When we become Mad, Scared, Angry, it’s because we have shifted our gaze.

If I am supremely focused on the Cross of Christ, the promulgation of the Gospel, I can survive whatever happens, I can put up with anything …

1 Corinthians 9:19–24 (NIV84)

19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

I have a part in the presentation of the gospel, so do you in example, in word, in deed, we are part of portraying the Gospel and I don’t care how High Profile it is. I don’t care how clean it is, I care not about difficulty or Ease of service … I am focused on the end …

An unknown farmer plants his wheat seed. He nurtures it, waters it, and prays a lot. It sprouts, stalk grows, it flowers, it matures, it is harvested, sold, processed, purchased again. Then the flour from the seed is sifted, mixed with ingredients, made lovingly into bread, sold at the market, someone buys it and takes it home, they smile, take a bite and say “wow that is delicious”.

Somewhere, the unknown Farmer Smiles

Waiting for the Smile, Heart Set on the Smile, is how the Farmer makes it through Whatever … and that governs his life for the glory of God
The Persecuted Saint

August 2nd, 2016
I don’t usually post my weekly sermon manuscript here, though it is posted weekly on our website along with the video. I felt that perhaps this week’s sermon in our “Gospel of John” series might be timely and encourage someone who ends up randomly finding it in the blogesphere. So … here it is

That You May Believe – John #47 –

The Persecuted Saint – John 15:18-25

Growing up, we would hear stories of the persecuted church in communist countries. I read and was inspired by such stories, but they were far away in those oppressed countries, or in isolated regions where the gospel had never been proclaimed.

The Persecuted Church is a reality as much today as ever. Whether in the subtlety of a politically correct work environment; which defends the “right to believe” for the unbeliever or certain lifestyles, while squelching the “right to believe” of the Christian. Often it is an overt attack on life, liberty, and the pursuit of Christ by the atheist, the terrorist, the radical, and so the Church remains under attack.

More Christians have died for their faith in the last 100 years than 1900 years before. According to www.persecution.org, 384 Christians have been killed already in 2016 in Nigeria, more than all of 2015. The same website reports that 100,000 Christians have fled Iraq alone. Father Jacque Hamel was murdered in his church in Normandy this week. I was reading last week of nearly 2000 crosses removed from churches all over China. There is no place on the earth that is immune from the potential of persecution, because evil, like the sin which causes it, is like leaven that permeates an entire loaf of bread. But there is a geographical center if you will. 2/3^rd of the world’s population lives in 1/3^rd of the land mass, between 10`N and 40`N latitude. It is called the “1040 window”. It is the poorest, hungriest, most unchurched, and most hostile region to Christianity worldwide. And then, I remember the words of Jesus, “if you only knew today what would bring you peace”. Jesus IS the answer today for those bent on wiping away all mention of his name.

According to www.opendoorsusa.org, 322 Christians are killed every month, 214 churches and Christian properties are destroyed, and 772 acts of violence are committed against Christians.

The Pew Research Center says 75% of the world’s population lives in areas with severe religious restrictions. The U.S. State Department says that in more than 60 countries, Christians are persecuted by government or neighbors because they believe in Jesus Christ.

And the words of Jesus ring out across 2000 years, his words to his disciples the night before his death, “If the world hates you …”. In the next chapter he will say, “… in this world you will have trouble …”

READ 15:18-25

Persecution is the norm for those who follow Christ. I don’t know what you have experienced. Perhaps the ceiling at work seems to be shrinking. Perhaps the atmospheres around you is one of harassment for your faith. We may never know that we consider terrible persecution. Or, perhaps the terrorist’s hatred, even a jail cell, or funeral for your faith. Yet, no matter how it comes, it will come. So, how do we live in a world of persecution?

There are 3 realities Jesus gives … 3 things to “keep in mind”
1. You Do Not Belong To This World
If the world hates you … keep in mind …

You

A. Do Not Belong

– to this World

Our concerns are often over acceptance, adoration, love from those around us. And Jesus says “they don’t love you because you are not of, do not belong, to them.”

“not belong” “are not of” – it is a variation of eimi = “to have existence, to have an inheritance in”

Your existence is not in this world. This is not the place of your citizenship. You do not have your inheritance in this place. If we do not experience hatred, persecution, are we of the world? A.T. Robertson asks “has the world become more Christian, or the Christian more worldly?”

You do not BELONG to this world. Hebrews 11:9 says that Abraham lived in the Promised Land “in tents” v10 “for he was looking forward to the city … whose architect and builder is God”. V8 says that he was called “to a place he would LATER receive as an inheritance”. Abraham was living looking forward. Listen folks … this world IS part of your inheritance in Christ, but NOT now, a New Heaven and a New Earth … live like a resident looking forward.

You don’t belong to this world nor …

– To Your Persecutor

the terrorist, the harasser, the racist, the hatemonger is NOT your master. You do not belong to them. They can only do what God allows. Remember Job’s story. satan tormented and tested him, but he was only allowed to do what God permitted.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV84)

¹³ No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Every temptation is Common, God will provide a way, because God is Faithful. He is in charge. He allows what he decides is best and you are able to handle through him.

B. You Belong

– To Christ

He made you, he chose you, he bought you. You are his creation. You are his choice. You are his costly treasured possession. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. He told them, “you did not choose me, but I have chosen you”. You are a pearl of great price that Christ gave all he had to purchase. You belong to Christ and …

– To Heaven

Philippians 3:20–21 (NIV84)

²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

The tormentor can have anything of this world because it doesn’t belong to me. Everything of this world will be burned up and recreated. Nothing in this world is worth the effort of your grip. Remember 1 Corinthians 10:13, God is the One to whom we belong and the One to whom all tormentors must bow. So then, 1 Corinthians 10:14 says “therefore … flee idolatry”. When we bow to our persecutor … to our suffering … through fear, decision-making, acquiescence to their will … then we are turning our persecutor into an idol, a god in our lives to be worshiped.

But we do not belong to this earth, nor to our persecutor. We belong to Heaven, to Christ, but we have temporarily been transplanted in this world, in this place in the world. So, we are but branches of the True Vine of Heaven, for now, planted on earth. We are here so that the earth might “taste test” Heaven and say “we have never tasted anything like this.”

Keep in mind that you belong to Christ and
1. They Will Persecute You
“If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also …”

Dioko = persecute, pursue, chase, strive for

The question here is not “IF” but “WHEN”. The only “if” is “if they persecuted me” and just hours later Christ was being arrested, falsely accused, beaten, and crucified. “if they persecute …”. The YLT says “if they DID Persecute”. Did they? Yes. Then, “they WILL persecute”, future indicative … that is, this is a coming reality, they WILL persecute you

A. Because Of My Name

“they will treat you this way”

Poieo = to do, practice, perform, These are not accidents but actions with intent.

Dia = because of, through, on account of

My onoma = name, person, reputation, title, authority

Jesus speaking about the evil times to come says

Luke 21:12 (NIV84)

¹² “But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.

“on account” – heneka = the marker of a participant constituting the event

Yes, as a Christian, you have a target on your back. It is the name, the person, Jesus, and his title as Lord, his reputation as the Darling of Heaven. That is what satan wanted and he hates all who have the name of Christ.

You will be persecuted intentionally because you claim Christ, or unintentionally because of the stand you take, and the values you have which are contrary to the values of this world. It is because Christ is in you.

2 Corinthians 2:14–16 (NIV84)

¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. ¹⁵ For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?

When you have Christ leading, affecting your decisions and actions, to those from this world, apart from Christ, opposed to Christ, they will hate what you do like a pungent odor that fills a room.

Jesus says “they have no excuse for their sin”. Don’t buy into the argument “they didn’t know”. Romans 1 and 2 say that creation and conscience testify to the truth and all men, deep down, know, they know they truth, they have heard in a witness, seen it in a sunrise, heard it in the first cry of a newborn.

Jesus says “if they hate you …”

B. They Hated Me First

Psalm 2:1-2 asks “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather against The Lord, and against his Anointed One.”

The hatred of God and his people is as old as time as we know it.

satan wanted to overthrow God’s loving rule and reign. He deceived 1/3^rd of the Angels to follow him, and they were banished from Heaven.

God created this earth and a beautiful garden, and placed his image, Adam and Eve, there. satan deceived and the result was death where God created life.

God claimed a people for Himself through which would come salvation and break sin’s hold. God took them to Egypt to deliver from famine. satan took the blessing of the people and the hatred of God’s people turned from blessing into slavery.

God set them free, led them to the Land of Promise but satan convinced them that they couldn’t succeed and they wandered for 40 years.

Haman tried to get the Persian King, Xerxes, to annihilate God’s people in exile, but God had positioned Esther to save his people.

Pharaoh, Antiochus, Herod the Great, Titus, Nero, The Ottomon Empire, Hitler, and today ISIS/ISIL and so many others have all tried to stop the plans of God through his people. They have attacked his name, his authority, his reputation, his title. Chosen People Ministries point out that perhaps one of the greatest deceptions of satan was when he has used Christians to persecute Israel, sealing for many, their hearts from seeing Jesus as Messiah.

satan hates God. satan attacked Jesus from the moment of his birth. He dogged him thoughout his life. He tried to kill him as a baby. He encouraged a suicide attempt in his great temptation. He attempted to discourage, defeat, and destroy, that is always his way.

So Jesus says … if the world hates you, keep in mind, it hated me first”

Then 70 years later, John has experienced it firsthand. All of his fellow disciples died for their faith. He had been imprisoned for his faith. And he said, in 1 John 3:13, “do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.”

That use of miseo = to hate, to detest is in the indicative tense meaning it is a real state of being. It is not something that is possible, it is just the way it is. “The world hates me”, Jesus says, “that’s just the way it is, so they hate you as well because I am in you, and you are in me, and I am in the Father.”

– Expect Nothing Better

– Desire Nothing Different

Paul says “I want to know Christ … fellowshipping in his suffering.” We can’t know the power of the resurrection without fellowship of suffering and conforming to his death.

We don’t really know life if we don’t know the Valley of the Shadow of Death. We don’t know what it is to be well, if we have not been sick. We cannot know the victory of overcoming, if we don’t know the struggles.

So, finally, what of the Oppressor, the Tormentor, Persecutor? What do we need to keep in mind?
1. They Do Not Know God
“They do not know the One who sent me”

The Persecutor does not know God. And we don’t say this as an indictment but mournfully, they do not know God.

– Not in salvation

– Not in a Relationship Walking with Him

A. Understand Their Station

It wasn’t that they hadn’t seen, heard, but they refused to know him instinctively, intuitively, they didn’t know God within. They knew about God, but if God walked into the room, they wouldn’t perceive it. So Jesus did and they didn’t know him as God.

Those who persecute you, do not know him in truth, or they have left the experiential knowledge of him, as he is never leading them in this torment, though he allows it.

Yet in all of this, we need to remember that …

– Jesus died for them

The context in 1 John 3:13 and the hatred of the world for us … is that we should LOVE. It is the evidence that we are alive in Christ, that we have LOVE for those who do not know him. So v16 says “this is how we know what love is, Jesus laid down his life for us …

– They don’t KNOW God, so they NEED God

Understanding that; then comes the hard part for some

B. Pray For Their Salvation

The response, of one bought by Christ, in the face of persecution, is to LOVE; and Love defends, but also prays for the deliverance, and salvation of the persecutor. Yes as a society, we have a duty and a right to protect the persecuted, to defend them. But as individuals we should show love and grace.

So, let me try and bring this to a close.

At www.opendoorsusa.org, there are resources on how to connect to those in persecution. They also give a list for “Standing Strong in the Storms”

a “Theology of Persecution”

… Let me give you their list

ii. Build Yourself a Cell

Psalm 46:10 (NIV84)

¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

A Chinese Church Leader after 23 years in prison said this to Christians who have not been persecuted

“I was pushed into a cell … you have to put yourself into one. You have not time to know God. You need to do for yourself, what persecution did for me. Simplify yourself and know God”

ii. God Keeps Secrets

Isaiah 55:8–9 (NIV84)

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. ⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

You may never know what God is doing, but our labor is not in vain in the Lord

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV84)

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

iii. Weakness is a Direct Path to God’s Power

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (NIV84)

⁹ … my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

An Egyptian Christian Persecuted for his Conversion said “in great suffering you discover a different Jesus than you do in normal life. Pain and suffering bring up to the surface all the weak points of your personality. In my weakest state, I had an incredible realization that Jesus loved me even right then.”

iv. Overcoming Is Better Than Deliverance

Romans 12:21 (NIV84)

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Opendoorsusa says “persecuted Christians all over the world never ask us to pray that it would end, but that they would be strong through it”

v. Extreme Hurt Requires Extreme Forgiveness

Luke 23:34 (NIV84)

³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” …

A Christian Iranian widow said “I only had hatred in my heart for my enemies who had murdered my husband. But one day a miracle happened, God taught me how I could love my enemies. I had been praying for this, even though on the deepest level, I didn’t want it to happen. Gradually through a process of ups and downs, God answered that prayer”

Love is the most Christ-like response to hatred and persecution

vi. Prayer Is the Ultimate Fellowship With Persecuted Christians

Hebrews 13:3 (NIV84)

³ Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

1 Corinthians 12:26 (NIV84)

²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Every part of the body hurts when any part of the body hurts

How do we pray for the persecuted?

www.cru.com gives us some ways to pray for persecuted Christians

– Pray they would know the Hope God Gives – Ephesians 1:18

– Pray the Holy Spirit strengthen them – Ephesians 3:16

– Pray they would know how much God Loves them – Ephesians 3:17

– Pray for them to know how to share the Gospel – Ephesians 6:19

– Pray for them to fearlessly tell others about Jesus – Ephesians 6:20

– Pray for access to the Bible

– Pray for Courage to Remain

– Pray for support and family for those rejected

– Pray for God’s advocacy for women and children

– Pray for jobs and a safe place to live

Conclusion

Surviving and Thriving In Persecution …

… Is about Dying Before The Threat of Death before Persecution

Jesus survived the cross because he was slain from the foundation of the earth. He continued because his eyes were on the finish. He died in the garden. He died to self, “not my will but yours be done”

… Is about Lifting our Gaze

Psalm 121 (NIV84)

¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? ² My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. ³ He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; ⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. ⁵ The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; ⁶ the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. ⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; ⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

I must Fix My Eyes on Jesus

– Consider what he has DONE for you

– Consider the depth of his LOVE

– Consider the level of his SACRIFICE

Pray for those facing Persecution

Pray with Compassion for your Tormentor

When my eyes are on Jesus, my eyes are off suffering

When my heart is praying for others in persecution, I am not hurt by my trials

When I am praying for the perpetrator of my persecution, I will have the right perspective on what is the greatest priority, and away from my pain.
A Picture of Christ in the Old Testament – Chapter Eight – The Minor Prophets

May 27th, 2016

This is a New Study I developed at Faith Baptist Church on Wednesday night. I would love to hear from you.

Chapter Eight – The Minor Prophets

The Same, yesterday, today, and forever

That’s what Hebrews says about Jesus. As the writer of Hebrews wrote to the Jewish Community, dispersed, perhaps to Rome or to Alexandria, he wanted them to fully understand Jesus. And so, he used many “types” of Christ for them to see: God’s Word, Angels, The Sacrifices, The Law, The Prophets, The Promises, were all pointing us to Jesus. Jesus was in it all, he was the fulfillment of it all, and so he is greater than it all. So, as he closes his teaching he says in Hebrews 13:6 “so we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” And what is this confidence? V8 “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.

Don’t believe those who try and paint a divergent picture of God, of Christ, in the Old Testament, New Testament, and Today. He is, he has been, will be the same. That is not to say that he does always for us what he has done for someone else, but his character does not change. His glory doesn’t change. So when we look at the Old Testament and find Jesus, then we have a better understanding of God in the Flesh, Immanuel, who we see in the Gospels. We then better understand the Christian Living enjoined in the writings of the Apostles. Through it all we can understand what he has said, how to apply the promises, carry out his commands, and live in expectation, Today.

So, one section still to walk through – The Minor Prophets, or the less recorded prophets. They are NOT minor. God’s word is never minor; it is always major. Some of the greatest prophesies are in these minor works. We only have time for a few, but let’s see.

Hosea

Oh what an amazing and wonderful thing it is when the Lord speaks. It is truly an amazing thing when he speaks to us, calls us by name. But as we have seen already that the Word of God given to his preacher is not always something pleasant. I had preachers counsel me, “don’t be a preacher, unless God will not let you do anything else.” Because when the word of God comes it is not all flowers and fluffy clouds. But I guess if God’s people were always following him, and in communion with him there wouldn’t be a reason for preachers.

And so God’s Word comes to Hosea …

In 1:2 – … the Lord said to him, “Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord.”

“I’m sorry Lord, what was that?”

Israel was always seen as the wife of God. So unfaithfulness to him and his commands was equal to adultery. The Church is the promised bride of Christ, being prepared for a beautiful wedding in Heaven.

So he obeys God, then Hosea and his wife Gomer have a son, and name him Jezreel = God sows, because God was about to do some plowing under in Israel. Then a daughter was born, Lo-Ruhamah = Not loved, because God’s love for Israel was not going to be shown. And then they had another son, Lo- Ammi = not my people for v8 you are not my people and I am not your God

Wow …see a pattern developing … where is the good news? V10 YET …

Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘you are not my people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ 11 The people of Judah and the people of Israel will be reunited, and they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel

Where is Jesus? In this adulterous generation where do we find Jesus? He is the seeker of the Sinner to be his Bride. The same lover who seeks his beloved in the Song of Solomon. The same one who seeks the one who wants to be loved and loving, seeks the one who is rebellious. The same one also calls the fickle follower back to himself as Hosea would have to do when Gomer left him to return to her old ways. And so Romans 5:8 God demonstrated his love toward us in that WHILE we were STILL SINNERS Christ died for us

The beginning of this fulfillment came in the ministry of Christ and the provision of the Cross

1 Peter 2:10 (NIV84) Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

But as all his promises, it won’t only come true in theory, and in allegory, but in reality in the end times. Revelation 7:4-9; Galatians 4:27

3:1 Go show your love to your wife again though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods …

V2 so I bought her for 15 shekels of silver, and about a homer and a lethek of barley. This price btw … the silver with the barley equal 30 shekels of silver … which Exodus 21:32 says in the cost of a lost slave.

So too, while we had sold ourselves to slavery, Jesus bought us … he was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver but the price was DEATH … and he counted and paid it to the full

So, 14:1 Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall! 2 Take words with you and return to him. Say to him: Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.””

Oh Listen, all we have to take with us to Christ are words … “Lord forgive … receive” with intent to worship him with our lives. Anything else we bring comes up short … but everything we need is in Christ

Joel

The Lord is prominent in … The Day of the Lord this is a concept that will be throughout the minor prophets.

2:1 Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming.

1:3 tell it to your children and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation

The Day of the Lord was the day Jesus was born and lived, died, and rose. It will be the day / season of judgment, and restoration. It will be eternity in his presence. And it was the day he became MY Savior, Lord, and Friend

Amos

Jesus is the Judge of Nations in Amos

1:2 The Lord roars from Zion, and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up, and the top of Carmel withers

His judgment is always Just and he gives legal reasons for his indictments in chapter 1.

5:23-24 away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream

6:1 Woe to you who are complacent in Zion

9:11 in that day I will restore David’s fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be …

Then in those days … prosperity will flow

Jonah

What a wonderful little story to be included in these prophets’ writing.

The word of the Lord came to Jonah … 2 go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me

It is a proclamation of Judgment. Not on God’s people but on a wicked people. Jonah didn’t want to go. There is no promise of anything gracious here, just a promise of judgment. On one hand Jonah would expect to be HAPPY to deliver a message like this to a place so wicked. Nineveh was as wicked as they came. This is a people that always tried to top God and bring him down. The city was founded by Nimrod. He was grandson of Noah’s son, Ham. Outside of scripture, sources and tradition say this is where Babel was built when the people began to move east … They were wicked, cruel. They would build with the skulls of their defeated and cover their walls in the skins of defeated foes. So perhaps Jonah was scared to go preach. But though understandable, that was NOT why Jonah didn’t want to go … We know more at the end of the story about the encounter with God. Although God never promised to relent if they repented … Jonah knew God … and when the people responded to the proclamation of judgment with repentance, sack cloth and ashes, fasting … 3:10 when God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.

And Jonah got angry … and then we find out why he ran … what he had said to God in the first place …

4:2 O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? This is why I was quick to flee … I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity

Jonah knew the glory of God Exodus 34:6-7 … and he wasn’t afraid of Nineveh, he was afraid Nineveh might get SAVED! Greatest Revival in history … and he was mad about it.

What do we see of Jesus?

… that he is CONCERNED about the Lostness of the Worst Sinners.

… that if he can save Me, he can save anybody

… that if he can save anybody, he can save me

Was Jonah real? The Fish real? Jesus said “As Jonah was 3 days in the belly of the huge fish so the son of man will be 3 days in the earth” …. Jesus believed he was real, and Jesus was buried for 3 days … if 1 isn’t true, is the other?

Micah

He was a contemporary of Isaiah, beginning with Uzziah’s son Jotham through Ahaz and Hezekiah.

1:3 Look! The Lord is coming from his dwelling place; he comes down and treads the high places of the earth

“high places” refers to pagan worship sites.

Where do we see Jesus?

4:2 Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths. The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 3 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide …

Then it gives us a picture of the Millennium and Jesus ruling from Jerusalem

Swords into plowshares … spears into pruning hooks

4:5 all the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.

Then we move into the passage that instructed the Magi …

4:8 As for you, O Watchtower of the flock … that is Migdal Eder – the watchtower between Bethlehem and Jerusalem where they watched the flocks destined to be sacrificial lambs. It was there where most likely the shepherds were that were called to Bethlehem that late winter, early spring night.

5:2 – But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler of Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times

Oh Jesus was born in Bethlehem but he didn’t start in Bethlehem … his origins are from of old … In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and was God. He was with God in the beginning

5:4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.

Still we see his coming, and then still he is coming. He provided peace, and yet peace is still to come. Peace has come to our hearts and yet peace is still to come to our lives in a physical present way.

And finally in this book the most beautiful picture of Jesus

7:18-19 who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl our iniquities into the depts. of the sea. You will be true to Jacob, and show mercy to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our fathers in days long ago

He is a promise keeper

Nahum

Remember that the glory of God is Gracious, Compassionate, slow to anger, forgiving the guilt of our sin … but he will not let the guilty go unpunished …

So Nineveh, forgiven under the preaching of Jonah because of the repentance of the people.

Now 100 years later they have returned to their old ways, they are not repentant, and God brings their destruction and disappearance forever from history.

The other side of his glory … God will never send anyone to judgment, but a Just God must do what justice demands …

Nahum 1:2–8 (NIV84) The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies. ³ The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. ⁴ He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither and the blossoms of Lebanon fade. ⁵ The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it. ⁶ Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him. ⁷ The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, ⁸ but with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of Nineveh; he will pursue his foes into darkness.

Habbakuk

Don’t ever think that God’s silence in trials means he doesn’t hear and won’t bring justice …

1:2 How long, O Lord must I call for help but you do not listen?

1:5 Look at the nations and watch – and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.

What we see in Habbakuk is a God who hears and answers prayer

Zechariah

Well we won’t look at every book. But you may know I LOVE Zechariah. You can go online to our website and watch my 17 sermons from this book.

1:8 – A man riding a red horse! … standing among the myrtle trees … 10 the man standing among the myrtle explained … they report to the Angel of the Lord, who was standing among the myrtle … Lord Almighty how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem … the Lord spoke kind and comforting words … I am Jealous for Jerusalem … I will return to Jerusalem with mercy

God keeps his promise … 70 years has passed … God keeps his promise

He is a God who is jealous for his own, and for his glory

He does get angry in Justice

He will return with Mercy – Ezekiel 10:18-19; 11:22-23

I will Bring Prosperity and Blessing

Isaiah 40:1-11 – Comfort my people … speak tenderly … every valley shall be raised, every mountain and hill made low … he tends his flock like a shepherd. He gathers the lambs in the arms and carries them close to his heart …

A Picture of what Happens Spiritually when we Turn to God is in – 3:1-10 – I Believe it is a picture of the supernatural in our salvation and anytime we repent and turn to God.

V1 – satan standing at his right side to accuse him … Oh the devil doesn’t want you to repent even less than Jonah wanted Nineveh to hear the message of God. who do you think directed Jonah’s thoughts? Why do you think some of your biggest fusses happen in the car on the way to church? How many headaches, cares, concerns, come to a peak during or before service

1. satan will accuse you, before God, before men, before yourself

2. Christ comes to your defense

V2 the Lord said to satan, “the Lord rebuke you, satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”

Oh God is FOR you … you are never so far away as when you are turned from him, but you are never so close as when you turn your head, turn your heart, turn your steps back to him, he is right there … to snatch you from the fire …

Romans 8:33-34 – who will bring a charge against those whom God has chosen? Who is he that condemns? … Christ Jesus … died … raised … is also interceding for us

3. Christ Transforms Us

V3 Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes … 4 the angel said to those who were standing before him, “take off his filthy clothes”… see I have taken away your sin, and I put rich garments on you” … put a clean turban on his head (Crown)

M. Henry – now that he looks clean … let him look Great

Oh he doesn’t just take from us he replaces with so much greater … richer … eternal

4. He Commissions Us

If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here

Oh he saves us in the heavenlies to bring us to the heavenlies … Hallelujah

Oh I wish I could preach you the whole book, because I just love it … but one more

12:7 the Lord will save the dwellings of Judah first … 8 on that day the Lord will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the Lord … 9 on that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem 10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. 11 … in the plain of Megiddo …

They will look on Him … given because God so Loved … he lived among us in perfection … called us to repentance … showed us God’s glory, gave a sacrifice …

And they will mourn …

Many mourned when he died … but until we mourn our sin … we don’t really understand his death. His death was more than a waste, it was a sacrifice for ME …

When we mourn our sin … and recognize his sacrifice … we are ready to receive … Grace and Supplication – God’s grace follows our repentance … Jonah knew it … it IS the Glory of God … slow to anger, gracious and compassionate, forgiving our sin …

John 6:37 whoever comes to me I will never drive away

From his wounds … God’s grace flows over us

Pierced, he presents himself for us …

Pierced he brings us in to God’s grace

Pierced he will remain … John 20:27 – see my hands … reach out your hand and put it in my side … stop doubting and believe

Oh we will have no problem recognizing Jesus in Heaven. The scars will still be there. And some day we will be in Heaven and Revelation 4 and 5 says God will be on the Throne arrayed in splendor. All of the church, the priesthood of God will be there. We will be dressed in white with crowns of gold on our heads. Flashes of lightning and peals of thunder will come from the throne and the Holy Spirit will be ablaze before God. There will be Heavenly Beings before the throne leading worship saying

“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come”

And every time they say that, we, the church will fall down in worship and lay our crowns down saying,

“you are worthy … to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Then it says that God will have in his hand a scroll sealed up with seven seals. And a call will go out across the multitudes of people, angels, and creatures asking “who is worthy to break the seal and open the scroll or even look inside?” And no one in heaven or earth or under the earth will be worthy … Then one of those church folk, the 24 elders, maybe you, will say “do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has triumphed. He is Able to open the scroll …”

And Then we will see a LAMB, looking as if it had been slain standing in the center of the throne … and He will take the scroll from the right hand of God and as we look on Jesus, the one they pierced, Still bearing the scars of our sacrifice, we will sing a new song

You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals

Because you were slain

And with your blood you purchased men for God

From every tribe and language and people and nation …

And all of Heaven will Declare

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

To receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

And honor and glory and praise!

To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

Be praise and honor and glory and power

For ever and ever!

They will look on Him, The One Who Was Pierced …

Oh will YOU Look?

Pierced we see his love

Pierced we see the price has been paid

Pierced our sins are forgiven

Pierced we can be his children

Look and Believe

Look and Receive

Look and Live

And so … chapter 13 says on that day a fountain will be opened … Oh what a Glorious Day … Idols banished …

Oh see him in 13:7 strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered …

Oh what a glorious day …

14:8 on that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem … 9 the Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name

V20 – Holy to the Lord will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the Lord’s house will be like sacred bowls in front of the altar …

Oh God … on the day of Christ … the every day is amazing … the common place is supernatural and the supernatural common place …

Because Jesus Is Lord

If you have read through the Great Testament to God’s promises called the Old Testament you understand that you can’t fully understand the Testament to the Fulfillment of the promises called the New Testament, if you haven’t found Jesus in the previous testament.

May the Lord bless us as we see him in the fullest way we can … through his complete revelation in his word. Old and New, exciting and mundane, Beginnings, Law, History, Poetry, and Prophesy … it is all by Jesus, it is all for Jesus, it is all to Jesus

Romans 11:33–36 (NIV84) Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! ³⁴ “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” ³⁵ “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” ³⁶ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Oh Who … Who … who? It is Jesus … that’s who knows God, counsels with God, and reveals God … to him be glory forever and ever.
A Picture of Christ in the Old Testament

May 24th, 2016

This is Chapter Seven of a New Study I developed at Faith Baptist Church on Wednesday Nights. I’d love to hear what you think.

Session Seven: In the Major Prophets

—-

Well … through the beginnings, through the Law, through the History books, Through the Poetry and Wisdom … Jesus. Jesus has always been there. He is the Image of the invisible God. He is God with us, God to us, God for us.

So we turn to the Major Prophets. They are not major because they are better, but because they are bigger.

Isaiah, the son of Amoz wrote the book of Isaiah to Judah and Jerusalem, during the reign of the kings, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Those bookend of Kings would have both been heroes for Israel and for Isaiah.

His prophesy begins by saying “Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the Lord has spoken ‘I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows his master, the donkey his owners manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.’ Ah sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord: They have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.”

So … the people had been unfaithful … they had forsaken God … Jesus told the Pharisees once that they search the scripture thinking that by their knowledge they would have life, but they refuse to come to HIM … the One the scriptures testify about … to HAVE Life.

So, when Isaiah was called by God, Uzziah was King. Uzziah was a king for 52 years. Mostly he was a good King. He was faithful to God. But one day he got out of order, tried to do the work of a priest. He was corrected but did it anyway. He went into the temple and tried to offer incense. Remember to obey is better than sacrifice. So he was struck with leprosy. Most commentators say that Isaiah was related as a nephew or cousin to Uzziah. He was the country’s hero, but he was a special hero to Isaiah. He died in the separation and shame and shame of leprosy. And in that year when he died, no longer having glory, no longer having rule, no longer having majesty, Isaiah saw The Lord

Isaiah 6:1-10

Who did Isaiah see? The Lord – Adonai – Remember we have said that 1 Timothy 6:16 says no one has or can see God. So who did he see?

John says about Isaiah, John 12:41 “… he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.”

Isaiah saw JESUS …

How did he See the Lord?

On a Throne …

Psalm 146:3–4 (NIV84) Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. ⁴ When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Psalm 146:10 (NIV84) The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord.

Uzziah no longer sat on a throne, he was already buried in the place where every King goes … the ground. But there was Jesus … ON the THRONE …

High and Lifted Up – this was not the essence of God – that is Father, but the dominion of God, his authority given to the son. John’s connection of Jesus to this vision is clearly the proclamation of his divinity, his eternity, and his superiority.

Train filled the temple – interestingly, Isaiah doesn’t have a description of Jesus’ appearance because this was a vision to show his Immensity, his Expanse, his Glory, which is beyond description. All he really saw was the hem of his garment … oh but the power of that hem. Do you remember the woman with the “issue of blood” in her stomach? She had sought doctors for years, she had spent all she had, but she saw Jesus was coming through town. She pushed her way through the crowd, and threw herself at his feet touching the HEM of his garment. She was like the Canaanite woman that asked Jesus for crumbs from the table. Isaiah saw Jesus, filling the universe and his robe hem came down and filled the temple. Similarly, there is a very mysterious encounter between Aaron and the Elders of Israel on Mt. Sinai. Before Moses received the law from God’s hand they had been consecrated and God gave them a little taste …

Exodus 24:9–10 (NIV84) Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up ¹⁰ and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself.

They “saw the God of Israel” … but the only thing they “saw” was the pavement under his feet. It was sapphire … clear as the sky … What was it fully? Don’t know but it sounds like God’s Glory was shining out everything else, and all then could see was what was under his feet. Oh it was beautiful … but it was all they could see …

What was Around Him?

PRAISE – Don’t get a small picture here. Everything about this vision is HUGE. So don’t just see two seraphs. It just says “… seraphs, each with six wings: with two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another …” If your mind is too focused you might only see a pair of angels. But I see innumerable pairs of angels calling to each other … surrounding our Jesus with Words of Praise … calling to one another … Oh I believe when we get to heaven we will be in awe and there will be a lot of this going on … “Do you see him, Do you see Him? He is amazing, he is wonderful, he is majestic, he is like no other, like no other, mighty, mighty, mighty, the whole earth is just FULL of his GLORY.”

And so these Angels cried …

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, the whole earth is full of his glory”

And the doorposts shook at their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke …

Smoke comes from the prayers of the Altar of Incense …

Smoke comes from the fires of the Altar of Sacrifice …

Jesus is the Answer to our prayers

Jesus is the Answer to our sin

He is the Deliverance we seek

He is the Forgiveness Provider for our Sin

Oh Holy, Holy, Holy, like no other, is our God. Who else so wronged by rejection, stubbornness, so just, so righteous, and so able to judge; would himself become our Way-maker? Who would himself become the vehicle for grace?

What did he do?

He saw himself as he was.

Oh when Peter realized it was Jesus he said “Lord I am sinful”. Another time he realized it was Jesus on the shore and he covered himself up. Why? Because Jesus in front of us shows us how we are. Just like Uzziah was leprous, when he thought he was an untouchable King, so Isaiah saw himself as he was … “WOE to ME!” – owy – woe, alas … oh he said “I am a dead man” … I am ruined (NIV) I am undone (KJV) I am lost (ESV) = damah = destroyed

Remember when Samson’s Father realized he had seen God and he said “we are going to die”?

I am a sinner not just in the general, universal situation, I am a sinner in a specific fashion. When we see God, see Jesus, there is no more pretending, beating around the bush, we come clean. “I am unclean … in my lips” … specifics don’t matter, but he knew and God knew.

Why did he know he was unclean? Because he saw the Lord of Hosts – Jehovah Tsaba – the Commander of the Hosts of Heaven … Oh that’s who Joshua saw overlooking Jericho

What did God do?

He did NOT leave him that way

“A seraph flew to me with a live coal … from the altar … touched my mouth … SEE … your guilt is taken away and you sin atoned for”

Oh hallelujah … God didn’t look the other way. He didn’t just clean him up but leave him with the guilt. He didn’t reform him, he pardoned him. But Pardon is not without a price. Your sin is atoned for – kaphar = purged, atoned for, annulled, blotted out, forgiven – those are the words used in the English by different translations to translate this beautiful action of God. Oh my sin is so great that one word cannot even describe all that God has done to take it away. I have been purged, removed of the root, I have been atoned for, paid in full, annulled and blotted out, like it was never there, that’s justification. I am forgiven, as he has borne the weight of my sin.

What God Said

Whom shall I send, who will go for US – who is the US? Father, Son, and Spirit. This is not simply the hosts of Heaven. Because the hosts of Heaven serve God, they are not part of God’s dominion. God always has a mission. He always has a plan. As he reconciles us to himself, he then gives us the ministry of reconciliation. You have been saved to tell, saved to share, saved to minister him to others. 1 Corinthians 1 says that we comfort others with the comfort we have received. 2 Corinthians 5 says we have that same ministry of reconciliation that came to us. You were always called to call. We will never fail to hear the voice of God to go, if we hear the voice of God to come.

How Isaiah Responded

HERE I AM – Literally BEHOLD or SEE ME … he was there with hand raised, voice lifted, “Lord pick me, pick me, I’ll go, send me!”

Have you seen him? Have you worshiped him? Have you been Cleansed? Have you gone for him? If answer to question #4 is NO … then you better go back to #1-3 because you missed something.

Prophesies in Isaiah

Isaiah 7:10 “Ask the Lord for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights”

Now this is God speaking to an ungodly king. And offering to him an opportunity to prove himself. Listen, when God says “Tell me what you want and I will do it” … you should take him up on the offer. It is rude not to, but more than that you miss a chance to see God’s Glory right in front of you. And Ahaz says I will not put the Lord to the test … that sounds spiritual, and that’s a scripture answer, but if God offers a test take it. But he didn’t want a test because he didn’t want to be accountable to the proof. If the proof of the pudding is in the tasting, we have to taste to have the proof. Once we taste then we have to be willing to consume it if it proves good. Oh taste and see that the Lord is good. But we often say
“NO, I don’t want to taste, I don’t want to be accountable to the taste.”

7:14 – the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel

The Promised One, The Christ, had been promised since Genesis 3:15 … and Isaiah affirms that he WILL come … but just to make sure you understand and do not confuse him with any other … he will be born of a virgin. He will be born Supernaturally.

He will be called Immanuel – His name would not be Immanuel, but his call, his duty, his purpose will be to be God with Us …

Matthew 1:21–25 (NIV84) She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.” ²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵ But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

But Israel was experiencing gloom and defeat because of people that followed the way of Ahaz … what was God’s word for them?

Isaiah 9:1-7

We like to go straight for verse 6 and then only at Christmas – FOR … to us

FOR … ki = because, as, surely, verily, indeed – For what?

Isaiah 9:1–7 (NIV84) Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan— ² The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. ³ You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. ⁴ For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. ⁵ Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. ⁶ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

To Us … To those who will see him and know him … The Angel in Luke 2 said this was good news of great joy for ALL people

A child is born … he is LIKE us … a child, and born of us, in our condition

A son is given … a son has the authority of his Father, a son has the blessing of his Father, a son has the inheritance of his Father … and his Authority, Blessing, and Inheritance is GIVEN to us …

Government upon his shoulders – Oh rule is his because he is the only one good enough, mighty enough, loving enough, to bear the weight of rule.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor – Wonderful – pele’ = Oh do you remember that God told Samson’s parents that his name was too wonderful to say? That is this same word. Counselor – yoes – counselor, advisor … where are you looking for the plan? He has it

Mighty God – Gibbor – Manly, vigorous, hero, CHAMPION – Oh stick with a winner

Everlasting Father – Abi = chief, father, ancestor, progenitor – oh he is the beginner of all things … In the Beginning God … He started, the First, and he will finish, the Last …

Prince of Peace – shalom = peace, prosperity, success, welfare, state of health, friendliness, deliverance, salvation – Yes Please … I need it all, I need health, I need peace from my war with God, I need a friend of God, I need deliverance from this judgment of death … Save me Prince … Save me

Of the Increase … there will be no end … His Rule, His Peace is without end. Listen, God made us to live for eternity. Eternity is the destiny of ALL … the question is what address will we take up? If we let him rule us … he will rule us in peace and we will know that peace for eternity. If we choose to be at war with him, reject him, his government will still never end, but we will place ourselves outside the borders of Peace.

On the throne of David to establish and uphold it

Psalm 89:4 (NIV84) ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’ ” Selah

With Justice and Righteousness … again … there are two sides to his glory, compassion and judgment … which side we are on depends on our obedience to the call … Exodus 34:6-7

Oh but how can we pull this off? You don’t have to …

The Zeal of the Lord of Hosts will DO THIS …

Isaiah 11:1

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesus … Olive trees grow in a funny way. They go down into the ground and come up and come up and come up. So they have these funny looking trunks when they grow a long time. But also if you cut a tree down, if the roots still have nutrients, the shoot will go underground and come up another place, another time.

So … remember Rahab, she believed the word of God. She feared the Lord, she obeyed the instruction of God, and God saved her through a scarlet cord out of her window in Jericho. And she became part of God’s people. And she married Salmon and they had a son named Boaz. Boaz, took in another woman from outside Israel who was committed “your people my people, your God my God” … and They had a son, Obed. And he had a son Jesse, and he had a son David. David had a son Solomon, but Solomon’s son Rehoboam splintered the Kingdom. Eventually Judah lost their Rule over their own land, but God keeps his promise. It would seem that the tree of Jesse, was cut down … but God was still at work …

From his roots a Branch will bear fruit

What is the picture of Jesus? One indwelt by the Spirit of God … v2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him …

Here is a picture of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit really? Yes the Holy Spirit living in and dwelling, working, empowering Jesus

When Jesus was baptized, God gave a visual of it. The Holy Spirit descended like a dove and landed on him.

So, this is the Holy Spirit? Certainly

Revelation 1:4–5 (NIV84)

⁴ John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,

John sees this vision and writes to the 7 churches of Asia … and who is this Message from? God.

V4 God the Father – Him who is, and who was, and who is to come

V5 God the Son – from Jesus Christ … faithful witness, firstborn from the dead, ruler … who loves and has freed us from our sins by his blood

So … where’s the Holy Spirit

V4 God the Holy Spirit is – from the seven spirits before the throne

Revelation 4 … God the Father is seen on the Throne … God the Son will appear taking the scroll, a Lamb who was slain … but there also is the Holy Spirit

Revelation 4:5 (NIV84) From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.

So back to Isaiah 11:2

Isaiah 11:2 (NIV84) The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord—

Did you count them? The Spirit of …

1… of the Lord

2… wisdom

3… understanding

4… counsel

5… power

6… knowledge

7… fear

Jesus will delight in the fear of the Lord

John 17:4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do

V3 `He will not judge by what he sees … or decide by what he hears …

V4 but with righteousness he will judge

V5 righteousness his belt … faithfulness the sash … sounds sort of like the Armor of God we are to take up … Ephesians 6

V10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious

V12 he will raise a banner for this nations and gather exiles …

Isaiah 12:1–2 (NIV84)

¹ In that day you will say: “I will praise you, O Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. ² Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”

Ok … we need to move on …

Isaiah 53 – Suffering Savior

Psalm 98:1 (NIV84) Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

Isaiah 59:16 (NIV84) He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.

Isaiah 63:5 (NIV84) I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm worked salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me.

So this arm is seen not as a Mighty Arm, but as an outstretched arm on a cross

Isaiah 52:10 (NIV84) The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:13 begins the discourse

Isaiah 52:13–15 (NIV84) See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. ¹⁴ Just as there were many who were appalled at him— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness— ¹⁵ so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.

Jesus was lifted up … it was appalling … after beating, spat upon, beard plucked, crown of thorns, blood stained face … grotesquely forced onto a cross … and like the blood of the sacrifice sprinkled on the altar and on the mercy seat … so he will sprinkle many nations … and kings will shut their mouths … Whether they close their mouths in disbelief or in repentance, there was nothing else to say.

Peter boldly proclaimed Christ at Pentecost and before the priests in Acts 2 and 4 … but they could not make any statement against the truth he proclaimed … that Jesus was this one …

Who has believed our message?

V2 a tender shoot … (Isaiah 11:1, 10)

V2 no beauty, majesty, to attract – Moses was described as “no ordinary child” – he must have been a beautiful baby to catch the heart of the Pharaoh’s daughter (Acts 7:20, Hebrews 11:23). David was a handsome young man, obviously a leader to come when he was anointed. 1 Samuel 16:12 … but Jesus was ordinary, nothing to attract us to him. We draw these beautiful pictures … but he was simply ordinary.

V3 he was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering, like one from whom men hide their faces … What a powerful image of Jesus. I think we think Jesus had a great, easy, carefree life … even ministry, and then a rough final few months, a terrible last week, and then death, then resurrection. “Oh I could do that, we might dare to think.” NO … it was a life of misery with joys scattered within. But he was never focused on personal happiness but in the joy that is fulfilling the plan of God, joy that comes from setting captives free. So like a Hero, who lays down his life to set captives free and is bruised, bloodied, destroyed in his efforts, so Jesus was … the only beauty is the beauty of the task completed.

V4 Surely he took up our infirmities

The God who made everything with his word, the God who had all power, laid that down. Oh he may have walked on water, and healed sickness, but he lived in the confines of our fallen world in its fullness. He took it up … borne … nasa – to carry, to lift, to raise, to take away …

He carried our sorrows – Yet we just thought he was hated by God … “what bad luck this guy has, how misguided he is he must be sinful to be afflicted such by God …”

But he was Pierced for our transgressions

He was Crushed for our iniquities

The Punishment that brought US peace … was upon him …

Atonement … Break that word apart … we are separated from God by our sin …but the death of Christ in our place has brought … At ONE ment – between us and God. Jesus came because we were already condemned and enables us to be at one with God again.

We … like Sheep … have gone astray … like stupid, wandering, meandering sheep …

We have turned to our own way … And the wages of sin is death

V6 and the Lord has LAID on him the iniquity of us all. So what is our sickness?

Transgressions – the actions of the flesh

Iniquity – actions of the heart

And v5 by his wounds … we are healed … not of physical but of sin and iniquity.

This is NOT a verse to use talking about any physical healing … because it is Not the nature or purpose of the prophesy.

He was oppressed and afflicted

Yet he did not open his mouth

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter – And as sheep before the shearers is silent So he did not open his mouth

He was cut off from the land of the living …

For the transgression of my people he was stricken

He was assigned a grave with the wicked … with the rich …

And they buried him in Joseph’s Tomb … and New Tomb

YET … Oh I live the contractions of Scripture

But God … here … Yet …

It was the Lord’s will to crush him … to suffer … make his life a guilt offering …

V11 after the suffering of his soul … he will see the light of life and be satisfied

Oh on the cross the light at the end of the tunnel was LIFE Eternal for you and for me

He will justify many

He will bear their iniquities

V12 THEREFORE … I will give him a portion among the great … because he poured out his life unto death … for he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors …

Tonight we must stop there … Read the Rabbi’s Dilemma on Jews for Jesus website

http://jewsforjesus.org/publications/issues/v02-n05/isaiah53

No time for Isaiah 37:36; 2 Kings 19:35 where The Angel of the Lord strikes their enemies from Assyria

Jeremiah 7:11; Matthew 21:13

Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:8-12

Jeremiah 31:31–35 (NIV84) “The time is coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. ³² It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. ³³ “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. ³⁴ No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” ³⁵ This is what the Lord says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the Lord Almighty is his name:

Oh Daniel is also full of Jesus

From the 4^th man in the Fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo … one who Nebuchadnezzar said looks like the Son of God

Daniel 3:35 – a Rock that became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth … v45 a rock cut not by human hands … that will endure v44

Daniel 7:13; Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62

Daniel 7:9,13; Revelation 1:13-14 – thrones set in place and the Ancient of Days took his seat, clothed in White, hair like what wool, flaming fire, wheels ablaze – thousands upon thousands, ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him … books opened …

Daniel 9:26 accurately predicts when he will come and when he will be cut off

Daniel 12 – The Ancient of Days, is the Man Dressed in Linen, righteousness telling Daniel that the mystery yet unfolding is too wonderful for him to see.

Jesus is there open your eyes and see him come alive

One more chapter next week.