Learning To Have The Faith To Wait
I. Live every day as though it is the day Jesus may return.
35 "Be dressed in readiness, and [keep] your lamps lit. 36 "Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open [the door] to him when he comes and knocks. 37 "Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself [to serve,] and have them recline [at the table,] and will come up and wait on them. 38 "Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds [them] so, blessed are those [slaves.] 39 "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 40 "You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect." [Luk 12:35-40 NASB95]
II. Wait to do God’s will in God’s way relying on God’s power
We are to wait to do God’s will in God’s power. Wait to be filled with the Holy Spirit and then act by doing what God wills
49 "Listen carefully: I am sending the Promise of My Father [the Holy Spirit] upon you; but you are to remain in the city [of Jerusalem] until you are clothed (fully equipped) with power from on high." [Luk 24:49 AMP] 31 But those who wait for the LORD [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired. [Isa 40:31 AMP]
Active Trust and Hope (Qavah): The primary Hebrew word for "wait" in key verses like Isaiah 40:31 is qavah, which is related to the word for "cord" or "rope". This implies a tight, stretched-out feeling of anticipation and expectation, or "twisting" oneself to the Lord, in which a person binds themselves to God in reliance on His promises and character. It is an active posture of faith, not passive resignation.
Patience and Endurance: Waiting involves enduring difficult seasons and not trying to force things to happen in one's own strength or timing. It means aligning one's will with God's perfect plan, even when it is a test of faith.
Renewal of Strength: The scripture promises that this active waiting results in renewed spiritual, emotional, and even physical strength, enabling believers to rise above life's challenges.
Deepening Relationship: The period of waiting is an opportunity to seek God more diligently through prayer and His Word, which deepens trust and reliance on Him.
III. Be humble to wait for God’s power in Christ to give you victory rather than try to do it on your own
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, 7 casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. 8 Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack--rooted, established, immovable], knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.] 10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace [who imparts His blessing and favor], who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you [making you what you ought to be]. 11 To Him be dominion (power, authority, sovereignty) forever and ever. Amen. [1Pe 5:6-11 AMP]
Application
9 The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish with a [mighty and thunderous] roar, and the [material] elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and the works that are on it will be burned up. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be [in the meantime] in holy behavior [that is, in a pattern of daily life that sets you apart as a believer] and in godliness [displaying profound reverence toward our awesome God], 12 [while you earnestly] look for, hasten, and await the coming of the day of God. For on this day the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the [material] elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But in accordance with His promise we expectantly await new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 14 So, beloved, since you are looking forward to these things, be diligent and make every effort to be found by Him [at His return] spotless and blameless, in peace [that is, inwardly calm with a sense of spiritual well-being and confidence, having lived a life of obedience to Him]. 15 And consider the patience of our Lord [His delay in judging and avenging wrongs] as salvation [that is, allowing time for more to be saved]; just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him [by God] [2Pe 3:9-15 AMP]
In what area of your life is God asking you to wait on him to bring his solution?
What do you do in your personal private worship that shows your waiting on the Lord?
When are you tempted to just act and not wait on the Lord?
Abiding Discipleship: Dead to Sin
How do you overcome temptation? How do you get set free of habitual sin?
Review
Abiding Discipleship Series
Abiding in Jesus
Abide in His Life
Abide in His Death
Abide in His Resurrection
“Romans 1 through 5 tells us we are dead in sin. Chapters 6 through 8 tell us we are dead to sin. Chapters 1 through 5 tell us we are free from the penalty of sin. Chapters 6 through 8 tell us we are free from the power of sin.” - Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 920.
“All too often, Christians try to fight sin by preaching, “No, no, no.” Paul’s method was to teach, “Know, know, know.” He said, “Know you have a new identification with Jesus Christ (verses 3–5); know you have liberation through Jesus’ Cross (verses 6–15); and know some things about Jesus’ cause” (verses 16–23).” - Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 920.
Romans 6:1–4 (ESV)
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans is like an amazing steak dinner, yet most Christians don’t have the tools or utensils to cut it up and chew it.
1. Now that we have been saved by grace, can we continue to sin so that we receive more grace? NO WAY!
1 John 3:4-6; 9 (ESV)
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him… 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Practice sin – we practice to get better; get better at being bad. IF A BELIEVER, WE CAN’T!
SEED ILLUSTRATION - v. 9
If born of God, then God’s seed has been planted and will continue to grow until it takes over.
VIRUS ILLUSTRATION: We are all infected with the sin sickness; the GOSPEL is God’s antibiotic. Initially taking the antibiotic, the sickness is still in control of the body; but over time, the antibiotic begins to kill the infection until the sickness is gone.
1 John 3:9 (ESV)
9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
“There is therefore simply no such thing as justification without sanctification. There is no such thing as divine life without divine living.”– John F. MacArthur Jr., Romans, vol. 1, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1991), 318.
Romans 6:1–4 (ESV)
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Dead to Sin; Alive to God
1. A believer can’t live in sin.
2. We were buried with Christ in baptism - Buried means dead! (not buried alive)
3. We are dead to sin
Dead to sin.
If sin comes knocking, no one is home. I don’t answer the door – in fact, I don’t hear sin knocking because dead people can’t hear, can’t respond
Romans 6:5-7 (ESV)
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
Dead to Sin; Alive to God
1. A believer can’t live in sin.
2. We were buried with Christ in baptism
3. We are dead to sin
4. We are no longer slaves to sin.
Romans 6:6 (CSB)
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,
ESV – brought to nothing; NKJV done away with
“the old man” – the “old you” still has a desire to sin, but it is no longer in control.
PICTURE – woman enslaved with painted gold chains
The chains have been unlocked, but we are comfortable in them and choose to stay in them (or think that we can’t get out of them).
We have come to identify with our chains.
Sometimes we think we can’t live without them.
Yet in Christ we have a new identity.
Romans 6:8-10 (ESV)
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
Dead to Sin; Alive to God
1. A believer can’t live in sin.
2. We were buried with Christ in baptism
3. We are dead to sin
4. We are no longer slaves to sin.
5. We will be resurrected with Christ (we have resurrection power through the Spirit)
Romans 6:5,8 (ESV)
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his… 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
Romans 8:11 (ESV)
11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 6:11 (ESV)
11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER!
A. consider yourselves dead to sin
B. consider yourselves alive to God in Christ Jesus
“consider” – reckon, count, accounting
What does it mean to “consider yourselves dead to sin”????
As child, told not to put my toy into the power outlet. I remember playing with my toy and looking at the outlet. After a few moments of looking at the outlet, I finally stuck my toy into the outlet and… I BECAME A BELIEVER!
I NO LONGER WAS TEMPTED TO STICK ANYTHING IN THE OUTLET. I WAS DEAD TO THAT TEMPTATION/SIN.
Sadly, when in middle school, lived on a ranch and had an electric fence. Eventually, you know what happened.
We “struggle with sin” because we don’t REALLY believe it will bring death. We know it is bad, but not that bad.
Lori’s gluten allergy – the pain and discomfort from gluten made her say no to wheat.
IF WE BELIEVE GOD’S WORD ABOUT SIN (FAITH), THEN WE WON’T GIVE IN.
We sin to win.
Romans 6:11 (ESV)
11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
APPLICATION: WHAT DO YOU NEED TO CONSIDER YOURSELF DEAD TO?
Struggle with lust – see it as death, pain, suffering
Greed
Food
Drugs/Alcohol/Cigarettes – DEATH
Anger? – anger is a secondary emotion. Need to go beneath to find what is really going on.
Secondary emotion meaning –
Sadness
Shame
Fear – of losing control? Of being exposed?
Temperature check – what emotion am I experiencing? Why am I experiencing it?
Resolve in your heart; purpose in your
“I’m never going to do that again.” – WRONG! Considering yourself dead to sin, means believing the Gospel, that you can’t do anything on your own; Christ does it for you!
Romans 6:11 (ESV)
11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Consider yourselves alive to God in Christ Jesus!
NEW MASTER – before, I did what I wanted, but didn’t realize I was a slave to sin, so the enemy made me think that I was in control, but instead I was ruled by my selfish desires.
James 1:14–15 (NLT)
14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
ALIVE TO GOD – new master, Lord what do you want?
Open communication with God.
Phone on silent? Vibration? Or in sleep mode – silencing notifications?
Chime on every hour – to remind to connect with God.
Romans 6:12-14
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Sin used to be your master and reign in your body.
NO LONGER! But you must choose.
Who are you presenting your body to? Sin or God?
Present body to sin? Am I giving myself to sin? Am I feeding the flesh or the Spirit?
Whatever you feed grows.
Galatians 5:16 (ESV)
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Romans 7:1–6 (ESV)
1 Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? 2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. 3 Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.
4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
Romans 7:7–11 (ESV)
7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.
Romans 7:13–20 (NLT)
13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.
14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
Romans 7:21–25 (NLT)
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
ILLUSTRATION FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT
Israel was in slavery in Egypt. God delivered them out of Egypt, yet it took 40 years for the Egypt to get out of them. Then they underwent a 2nd baptism, crossing the Jordan with Joshua (similar to Spirit baptism), and entered the promised land. Were they done fighting? No! Now they had to take possession of their inheritance. When they relied on their own strength (against a little town called Ai) they lost. So we must continually rely upon the Lord in our battle with sin and the old man.
1 Corinthians 10:1–4 (ESV)
1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:5–6 (ESV)
5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
1 Corinthians 10:7–13 (ESV)
7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
1 Corinthians 10:12–13 (ESV)
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
CONCLUSION
Crucified with Christ
Galatians 2:19–20 (ESV)
19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
We are in a battle to the death. The one who dies to self wins!
Luke 22:14–19 (ESV)
14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
CUP FIRST – REPRESENTING His blood and death
Bread, representing his body –
John 6:51 (ESV)
51 “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
“When Jesus Christ was crucified on the Cross two thousand years ago, not only was His blood shed for your salvation, but His body was broken for your liberation. Thus, there are two elements in Communion. His blood brings about forgiveness of our sin, while His broken body provides freedom from our sin.” - Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 924.
Matthew 4:12-25 - The Cost to follow
Review
Baptized by John, led by the Spirit into the Wilderness for testing/temptation,
Matthew 4:12–25 (NKJV)
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles:
16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,
And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death
Light has dawned.”
Fascinating start to Jesus ministry.
His cousin, John the Baptist, is arrested so instead of going to Jerusalem to begin his ministry he goes to Galilee – the region of Herod
Led by the Spirit
Grew up in Nazareth, but leaves Nazareth – Luke tells us, but Matthew doesn’t – “Prophet is without honor in his home town” – they try to kill him.
INSTEAD goes to Capernaum – basically Jesus’ headquarters for most of his 3.5 years of ministry.
Matthew 4:14–16 (CSB)
14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
15 Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
along the road by the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles.
16 The people who live in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those living in the land of the shadow of death,
a light has dawned.
Quoting Isaiah 9:1-2 – Matthew wants to show at every opportunity that Jesus is the promised Messiah and he is fulfilling prophecy.
“The people who live in darkness” – speaking of the Gentiles – seeing Jesus works and hearing his message.
“land of the shadow of death” – like “valley of the shadow of death”
Some people live in that constant shadow of death, haunted, depressed, discouraged, fearful.
A LIGHT HAS DAWNED –
APPLICATION: Many people today still walk in darkness even though the Light of Christ has come. True also for Christians, walking in fear, walking in the past, not walking in faith.
“WE DON’T WANT TO LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH”
“WALKING THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH” IS DIFFERENT.
Matthew 4:17 NKJV
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
This is the same message John the Baptist was preaching (God’s Word is consistent and doesn’t contradict itself)
“KINGDOM OF HEAVEN” is the primary phrase used by Matthew to describe God’s kingdom order (32x). Mark and Luke prefer “Kingdom of God” and John only uses “Kingdom of God” once – in John 3:3 “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Kingdom of Heaven a metonymy for God’s Kingdom (metonymy is substituting an attribute of something for the thing itself – use the “White House said…” for “the President said…”
Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand (near, coming)
We need to constantly be repenting.
Matthew 4:18-22 NKJV
18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
Matthew tells the summary story – gets right to the point and gives you the relevant information.
In Gospel of John we read that John the Baptist introduces one of his disciples (Andrew) to Jesus
John 1:35–42 (NKJV)
35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?”
They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?”
39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).
40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).
Luke 5:1–11 (NKJV)
1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
Jesus had spent time with them and they were getting to know him. Then comes a point:
Jesus approaches, says, “Come, follow me” and they leave everything to follow Jesus.
Matthew 19:16–30 (CSB)
16 Just then someone came up and asked him, “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?”
17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” he said to him. “There is only one who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” he asked him.
Jesus answered: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; 19 honor your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as yourself.
20 “I have kept all these,” the young man told him. “What do I still lack?”
21 “If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard that, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.
23 Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?”
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27 Then Peter responded to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you. So what will there be for us?”
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
TO FOLLOW JESUS, WE NEED TO RELEASE WHAT WE ARE HOLDING ON TO.
What are you holding on to? What dreams? What identity? What hurts? What offenses?
Matthew 4:19
19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
What does it mean to fish for men? Luke 10 – looking for a person of peace
Matthew 4:23 NKJV
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. 25 Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
Jesus ministry was teaching, preaching and healing. People tend to focus on the healing
v24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
25 Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
LOTS OF FOLLOWERS – but how many disciples?
Luke 14:25–28 (NLT)
25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?
WHAT TYPE OF FOLLOWER ARE YOU?
We have diluted what it means to be a follower; so, we have many deluded followers.
What is getting in the way of following Jesus?
Nicodemus – secret follower
Nets are easy to get caught in.
Hebrews 12:1–2 (CSB)
1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Despise: kataphroneo (καταφρονέω, 2706), lit., “to think down upon or against anyone” (kata, “down,” phren, “the mind”), hence signifies “to think slightly of, to despise,”[1]
[1] W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1996), 163.
SAVE ME
Psalm 20:1-2, 7-9 NKJV
“May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; May He send you help from the sanctuary, And strengthen you out Zion.”
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright. Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call.”
Psalm 69:1-3
“Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.”
Proverbs 30:8-9
Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
Matthew 6:25-34 NKJV
I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Genesis 1:28 NKJV
“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.””
Matthew 6:33 AMP
“But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”
Revelation 3:17-20 NKJV
“…you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
THRU THE BIG BIBLE MATTHEW 4:1-11 “Overcoming Temptation”
Matthew 4:1 NKJV
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
Luke 4:1 NKJV
“Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,”
Psalm 33:6 NKJV
“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.”
Genesis 1:1-4 NKJV
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.”
Matthew 7:29 NKJV
“the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Peter 1:20-21
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
I John 5:6-8 NKJV
“This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.”
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NIV
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
Revelation 12:10-11 NKJV
“…the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…”
Matthew 4:2 NKJV
“And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.”
Matthew 4:3 NKJV
Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
Matthew 4:4 NKJV
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
I John 2:15-17 NKJV
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
CORPORATE PRAYER
I resist and reject every dark force that would seek to distract me from the abundant life that is God's gift to me in my Savior Jesus.
I repent from all the lies that say sin will satisfy me.
I reject all compromise that leads me to see disobedience as desirable.
AMEN
Matthew 4:5 NKJV
“Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,”
Matthew 4:6 NKJV
…and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”
Psalm 91:11-12 NKJV
“For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Luke 10:18-20 NKJV
And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.””
Matthew 4:7 NKJV
Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”
Matthew 4:8-9 NKJV
“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
1.The Devil can take you places. (High,mountains)
2.The Devil can show you things. (Kingdoms,World,in a moment of time)John 14:30,12:31 (The god of this age 2Cor 4:4)
3.The Devil can talk to you. (Audibly, mentally, emotionally)
4.The Devil can you give you things. (Earthly authority)
5.The Devil can receive from you.(Worship)
JESUS ANSWERS.... (He said).
-Get Behind me.
-It is written.
-Worship the Lord your God.
-Serve God only
Matthew 4:10 NKJV
Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”
Matthew 4:11 NKJV
“Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”
Romans 5:19
“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”
THE TWO ADAMS OF THE BIBLE
(Rom 5:19)
The 1st Adam walked in the perfect Garden & ate whatever he wanted
The 2nd Adam walked in the wilderness and ate nothing for 40 days. (a picture of obedience to the law.)
The 1st Adam chose sin
The 2nd Adam chose sacrifice
The 1st Adam infected the world with sin
The 2nd Adam died for the sins of the world
The 1st Adam became a slave to sin
The 2nd Adam conquered sin, Hell & death
Luke 4:13-15 NKJV
“Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.”
Zechariah 4:6 NKJV
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.
ABIDING DISCIPLESHIP - “How To Be Led By The Spirit”
Matthew 4:1
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
John 16:12-15 NKJV
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”
I Corinthians 2:9-12 NKJV
But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”
Romans 8:14 NKJV
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Galatians 3:10-14 NKJV
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Deuteronomy 27:26 NKJV
“‘Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law by observing them.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
Romans 3:20
“For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.”
Romans 8:15-16 NKJV
“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,”
Galatians 5:16-23 NLT
“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are led by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
Romans 7:1-6
“Now, dear brothers and sisters—you who are familiar with the law—don’t you know that the law applies only while a person is living? For example, when a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive. But if he dies, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her. So while her husband is alive, she would be committing adultery if she married another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law and does not commit adultery when she remarries. So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God. When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.”
Matthew 3:13-17 NKJV
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
II Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
“…He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
ABIDING DISCIPLESHIP: “The Place of Peace”
John 16:32-33 NKJV
“Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
John 14:27 NKJV
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
I Thessalonians 5:1-11 NKJV
“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”
JESUS SAID:
THE HOUR HAS COME
WE WILL HAVE TRIBULATION
WERE NOT ALONE
BE OF GOOD CHEER
HE HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD
THE TRUMP PEACE AGREEMENT
“We commit ourselves to a future of enduring peace.”
Donald J. Trump
President of the United States of America
Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani
Emir of the State of Qatar
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
President of the Republic of Türkiye
“We believe this (treaty) will bring an everlasting peace to the Middle East”
President, Donald J Trump
"We're saving Christianity. We're saving God.
We're saving the family unit. We're saving this nation."
Eric Trump
IS PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP THE ANTICHRIST?
5 KEY BIBLICAL SIGNS TO RECOGNIZE THE COMING WORLD LEADER - THE ANTICHRIST
THE ANTICHRIST WILL:
1. Sign a peace treaty with Israel. - Daniel 9:27
2. Arrive on the world's political stage suddenly. - Daniel 7:8
3. Perform false signs and miracles. - Revelation 13:13-14
4. Exalt himself as God and require the world to worship him. - 2 Thessalonians 2:4
5. Establish a one world economic system. - Revelation 13:16-18
HISTORY OF PEACE COVENANTS
Arab and Israeli war 1948 ended hostilities signed agreement
Israel and Egypt (1949): The first agreement was signed on February 24, 1949
Israel and Lebanon (1949): An armistice was signed on March 23, 1949
Israel and Jordan (1949): The armistice with Jordan was signed on April 3, 1949
Israel and Syria (1949): The final armistice agreement was signed on July 20, 1949
Egypt–Israel peace treaty (1979)
Israel–Jordan peace treaty (1994)
On October 26, 1994
Abraham Accords (2020)
Israel
United States
Bahrain
The United Arab Emirates
THE TRUMP PEACE TREATY 2025 (Israel & Hamas)
20-point peace plan (Gaza)
Countries that mediated the process
1. United States
2. Egypt
3. Qatar
4. Turkey
Daniel 9:27 NKJV
“Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”
II Thessalonians 2:1-4 NKJV
“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”
Temple Institute pic
BIBLICAL CRITERIA IDENTIFYING THE ANTICHRIST'S TREATY
1. The Antichrist's Treaty will be focused on the nation of Israel and the Jewish people.
2. The Antichrist's Treaty will have a 7 year term.
3. The 3rd Jewish Temple will be either in the agreement and or ground broken within 1 year of covenant (1-2 year project)
4. The Antichrist's Treaty is marked by his sudden rise to political power and global fame.
5. The Antichrist's Treaty will fail after 3 ½ years, ushering in the worst tribulation the world will ever experience.
John 14:27 NKJV
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 20:19-20 NKJV
“Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.”
Mark 4:35-41 NKJV
On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
God has not called us to a mindset of escapism, but activism.
Matthew 10:11-13 NKJV
“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.”
1 Samuel 16:23 NLT
“And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.”
THE PLACE OF PEACE
Psalm 23:1-6 NKJV
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.”
ABIDING DISCIPLESHIP 101: “The School of Prayer”
Psalm 100:1-4 NKJV
“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.”
CELEBRATION
SUPPLICATION
INTERCESSION
I Timothy 2:1-4 NKJV
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
A. THE DISCIPLES’ PRAYER
1. OUR FATHER
2. IN HEAVEN
3. HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME
4. YOUR KINGDOM COME - YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN
5. GIVE US ARE DAILY BREAD
6. FORGIVE OUR SINS - FOR WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE SINNED AGAINST US
7. LEAD US & DELIVER US FROM EVIL
B. THE PRAYERS OF JESUS
Luke 3:21 NKJV
“When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.”
Luke 6:12-13 NKJV
“Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself…”
Matthew 14:23 NKJV
“And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.”
Hebrews 5:7-8 NKJV
“…in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.”
Luke 10:21 NKJV
“…Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.”
John 6:11 NKJV
“And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples…”
Luke 9:28 NKJV
“Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.”
Luke 22:31-32 NKJV
“And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
John 17:4 NKJV
“I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”
Matthew 26:39 NKJV
“He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Luke 23:34
“Father, forgive them they know not what they do”
Luke 23:46
“Father, into Your hands, I commit My Spirit”
James 5:13-16 NKJV
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE WEEK
ABIDING DISCIPLESHIP: “Teach us to pray”
Luke 11:1 NKJV
Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
James 5:13-16 NKJV
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
James 4:1-3 NKJV
“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
John 15:7-8 NKJV
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
ABIDING: to remain steadfast
Resting in him, depending on him, drawing life from him
John 15:1-2 NKJV
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.”
THE DISCIPLES’ PRAYER
Luke 11:2-4 NKJV
So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.”
1. OUR FATHER
2. IN HEAVEN
3. HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME
4. YOUR KINGDOM COME
YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN
5. GIVE US OUR DAILY BREAD
6. FORGIVE OUR SINS
FOR WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE SINNED AGAINST US
Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 5:44-48 NKJV
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
7. LEAD US & DELIVER US FROM EVIL
Romans 8:14-15 NKJV
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
Luke 11:5-10 NKJV
And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
Luke 11:11-13 NKJV
“If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Luke 3:21-22 NKJV
When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
MATTHEW 2:1-23 - “The Royal Rejection”
Isaiah 53:3 NKJV
“He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”
Matthew 2:1-2 NKJV
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
Numbers 24:17 NKJV
“I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel…”
Matthew 2:3 NKJV
“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”
Matthew 20:20-21, 24-28 NKJV
“…the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.””
Matthew 2:4-6 NKJV
“And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
Matthew 2:7-8 NKJV
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
Matthew 2:9-10 NKJV
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
Matthew 2:11 NKJV
And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
Isaiah 60:6
“A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.”
Matthew 2:12 NKJV
Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
Matthew 2:13-15 NKJV
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”
(Hosea 11:1)
Matthew 2:16-18 NKJV
Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.”
Matthew 10:34-39
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Jeremiah 31:16-17 NKJV
Thus says the Lord: “Refrain your voice from weeping, And your eyes from tears; For your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, And they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future, says the Lord, That your children shall come back to their own border.”
Matthew 2:19-20 NKJV
Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.”
Matthew 2:21 NKJV
“Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.”
Matthew 2:22-23 NKJV
But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
Matthew 5:11-12 NKJV
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Isaiah 53:1-5 NKJV
“Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”
ABIDING DISCIPLESHIP 101
John 15:8
“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; showing yourselves to be My disciples.”
PREACHERS’ CHECKLIST
1. Don't mention hell
2. Don't challenge their sin
3. Don't offend them
4. Don't go too deep
5. Get them to come back
ABIDING: to remain steadfast
Resting in him, depending on him, drawing life from him
John 15:1-2 NKJV
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.”
John 14:31 NKJV
“…Arise, let us go from here.”
Isaiah 5:1-2
“I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.”
John 15:2 NKJV
“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away...”
TAKE AWAYS: ARIO
1. lifting up
2. raising up
3. pulling up
4. take away
John 15:2b
“…and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
John 13:34-35 NKJV
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
PRUNE: to cleanse Kathario (catharsis)
To cleanse
John 15:3 NKJV
“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.”
John 13:7-11 NKJV
Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
ABIDING DISCIPLES
1. READ & FEED
2. GO & GROW
3. LOVE UNTIL THE END
John 13:1 NKJV
“…Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”
John 15:4-5 NKJV
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
John 15:6 NKJV
“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”
Matthew 5:13-16 NKJV
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Galatians 5:18-23
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control
John 15:7-8 NKJV
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
Colossians 3:16-17 NKJV
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
John 8:31-32 NKJV
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
MATTHEW 1:18-25 - “Our New Identity”
II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Matthew 1:18-25 NKJV
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows:
John 1:1-4 NKJV
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
Genesis 1:1 NKJV
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:26 NKJV
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…”
John 1:14 NKJV
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 14:7-9 NKJV
“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”
1 John 1:1-4 NLT
“We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.”
Divine disruption gives birth to new identity.
Matthew 1:18 NKJV
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 1:19 NKJV
“Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.”
Micah 6:8 NKJV
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”
Matthew 5:31-32 KJV
“It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: but I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.”
Luke 16:18 NKJV
“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.”
Matthew 1:20 NKJV
“But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 1:21 NKJV
“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:22 NKJV
“So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:”
Matthew 1:23 NKJV
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
Matthew 1:24 -25 NKJV
“Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife,”
and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.”
THE DIVINE SEPARATION
Matthew 13:10-11
The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.”
Matthew 13:24-30
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”
“I want to try and get to heaven if possible. I hear I’m not doing well.”
- President Donald Trump
“Charlie knew we were all children of God”
Vice President J.D. Vance
Constantine
1. A Sign (The Cross)
2. A Promise (Golden Age)
Genesis 2:8-9 NKJV
“The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
Genesis 2:16-17 NKJV
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Genesis 3:1-9 NKJV
“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
I Timothy 4:16 NKJV
“Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”
Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Matthew 18:8
“If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.”
Matthew 10:34-39 NKJV
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”
Matthew 10:34 AMP
Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword of division between belief and unbelief
Revelation 20:11-15
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Matthew 25:31-33
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.”
Matthew 25:41-46
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
2 Corinthians 6:11-13 NLT
“Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!”
II Corinthians 6:14-18 NKJV
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.”
John 15:5-8
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
THE MYSTERY OF DEATH
“We should not fear death if we know the Lord. For death is merely the homecoming”
Billy Graham
THE MYSTERY OF DEATH
1. THE TRANSFORMATION
2. THE HOPE OF HEAVEN
3. THE TRAGEDY OF HELL
4. THE TIME OF FAVOR
1. THE TRANSFORMATION
Genesis 2:7
“Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.”
Ecclesiastes 12:7 NKJV
“Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.”
James 2:26 NKJV
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
I Corinthians 15:51
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—”
Psalm 116:15 NKJV
“Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints.”
I John 3:2-3 NKJV
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
Luke 23:43 NKJV
“And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
1 Corinthians 15:52-55
“It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address.
Billy Graham
II Corinthians 5:6-8 NKJV
“So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”
Psalm 23:4 NKJV
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
John 11:17-26 NKJV
“So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
2. THE HOPE OF HEAVEN
I Corinthians 2:9-10 NKJV
“But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”
Revelation 1:10 NKJV
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,”
Revelation 5:8-10 NKJV
“Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.””
Revelation 7:9-10 NKJV
“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!””
Matthew 22:30
“For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.”
I Corinthians 13:11-12 NKJV
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”
Revelation 14:13 NKJV
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
3. THE TRAGEDY OF HELL
Matthew 7:13-14
“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”
Matthew 25:41
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Luke 16:19-31
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’
Revelation 21:6-8
“It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
2 Thessalonians 1:9
“They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might”
2 Peter 3:9
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say ‘thy will be done’ and those God will say at the end, ‘your will be done.’ ”
C.S. Lewis
John 5:28-29
“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.”
Revelation 20:12-15
“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Hebrews 9:27 NKJV
“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,”
4. THE TIME OF FAVOR
2 Corinthians 6:1-2
“As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
How to Study the Bible
The Bible is the number one best selling book of all time. 6-7 Billion copies
100 million bible printed each year
66 books written by over 40 authors over 1000 years – yet a unified message
Psalm 119:162 (NKJV)
“I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure.”
WHY DO YOU WANT TO STUDY THE BIBLE?
Are you coming to grow your heart in love for God, or coming to grow your mind to be smarter?
We read novels to be drawn into the story.
We read non-fiction books to learn about a topic.
We read biographies to learn about famous people.
We read auto-biographies to hear famous people tell their own story and hear in their own words.
We read the Bible to know the author and understand Him, but also to better understand ourselves.
We read a love letter to know better the one who loves us.
1 Corinthians 8:1–3 (ESV)
1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
DON’T COME IN EVALUATION MODE.
COME AS A DATE WITH THE LOVER OF YOUR SOUL, WHO WANTS TO SPEAK TO YOU.
COME EXPECTANT.
WHAT TO STUDY?
The Bible!
Not your Study Bible, not Watchtower literature (average Jehovah’s witness reads 10 pages of watchtower literature/propaganda daily but only a few pages of the bible each week.
Not: a devotional, a commentary, a YouTuber, AI assistants
NO LUCKYDIPPING
Ezekiel 4:12 (ESV)
12 And you shall eat it as a barley cake, baking it in their sight on human dung.”
Going THROUGH the Bible – daily diet
What happens if you eat dessert all the time?
Many people often just read their favorite passages or study their favorite topics.
Love cults and apologetics – outsmarting
Red letters? – words of Jesus
Psalms and proverbs?
2 Timothy 3:14–17 (ESV)
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
WHEN TO STUDY?
Deuteronomy 6:4–9 (ESV)
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Phylacteries
ALL THE TIME!
Principle of Manna – gather in the desert – DAILY!
Go get the Word daily; your daily “bread”
Where and when is your daily place?
HOW TO STUDY
Joshua 1:8 (ESV)
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Psalm 1:1–2 (ESV)
1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
Inductive method
Observation
Interpretation
Application
Observation:
Read the passage carefully and ask "What does the text say?" Note key words, main themes, and repeated elements.
Interpretation:
Ask "What does the text mean?" Consider the historical and literary context to understand the message.
Application:
Ask "How do I live out the message?" Connect the interpretation to your life and determine how to apply the teachings.
OBSERVATION
Read the passage carefully and ask "What does the text say?" Note key words, main themes, and repeated elements.
Who wrote it?
To whom is it written?
When was it written? What’s it about?
What does it say about God?
What does it say about me?
SPECK
Is there a Sin to be avoided?
Is there a Promise to be claimed?
Is there an Example to follow?
Is there a Command to obey?
Is there something to Know about God?
Philippians 4:10–20 (ESV)
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
OBSERVATION
Philippians 4:13 (ESV)
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
2. INTERPRETATION –
Hermeneutics - The study and methodology of interpretation, particularly of texts; originating from the Greek word “hermeneuein,” meaning “to interpret.”
Ask "What does the text mean?" Consider the historical and literary context to understand the message.
Strangest interpretations
Exodus 34:26 (ESV)
26 The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring to the house of the Lord your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”
Ecclesiastes 10:2
“A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left” (
GODISNOWHERE
GOD IS NOW HERE GOD IS NOWHERE
2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
CONTEXT! CONTEXT! CONTEXT!
Psalm 14:1b (ESV)
“There is no God.”
Psalm 14:1b (ESV)
1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
there is none who does good.
Philippians 4:10-15
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.
2 Peter 1:20–21 (ESV)
20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 2:1–3 (ESV)
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
Observation:
Read the passage carefully and ask "What does the text say?" Note key words, main themes, and repeated elements.
Interpretation:
Ask "What does the text mean?" Consider the historical and literary context to understand the message.
Application:
Ask "How do I live out the message?" Connect the interpretation to your life and determine how to apply the teachings.
APPLICATION –
What Bible truth applies to my life? What do I learn about God and my situation?
SOAP method (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer)
TOOLS
A BIBLE – several actually
BIBLE TRANSLATION CHART
The best commentary on the Bible is another translation of the Bible
A BIBLE – (NKJV, ESV, CSB, NLT)
A Notebook
Notebook – or way to record your observations, insights.
IT’S OK TO WRITE IN YOUR BIBLE! UNDERLINE! ASK QUESTIONS!
A Prayer closet
Concordance – a listing of every word in the Bible with the verses that use it
Logos Bible Software -
Study Bible – good place to start (Life Application Study Bible – better, has questions to think about)
Commentaries – verse by verse explanation or deep dive into the scriptures
Bible Handbook – more general overview of books, people and events, timelines,
Bible Dictionary – dictionary defining terms/people/places in the Bible
Topical Bible – topics in the Bible with verse references to study further
The Bible Project – videos
Gotquestions.org
Pastors and Bible Teachers
WORST PLACES TO GO FOR BIBLE ANSWERS
GOOGLE
YouTube
APPLICATION –
Most Christians are educated far beyond their level of obedience.
How do we apply the Bible??
What can you do to best be prepared for Wednesday night?
4 soils – 4 heart attitudes
Matthew 13:1–23 (ESV)
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Jeremiah 29:11–14a (ESV)
11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord…”
Chew on God’s Word – meditate on
Be a Berean –
Acts 17:11 (ESV)
11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
TURNING POINT EKKLESIA
Ephesians 6:12
“…we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Matthew 3:1, 3 NKJV
“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’
Matthew 14:3-4 NKJV
“..Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
Matthew 14:10-13 NKJV
“So (Herod) he sent and had John beheaded in prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.”
Revelation 6:9 NKJV
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
Acts 7:54-60 NKJV
When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
Revelation 5:6 NKJV
“And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain…”
Charlie Kirk in Heaven (A.I.)
“First I want you to know, I’m fine. Not because my body is fine, but because my soul is secure in Christ.
Death is not the end, it’s a promotion.
Don’t waste one second morning me.
I knew the risks of standing up in this cultural moment and I would do it all over again.
Second, do not let this violence divide us further. The enemy wants chaos fear and retaliation. Don’t give it to them. Instead, double down on truth. Double down on courage. Double down on your faith.”
Acts 8:1-2 NKJV
“Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.”
Acts 8:3 NKJV
“As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.”
Acts 8:4 NKJV
“Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.”
Acts 1:8 NKJV
“…you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Psalm 81:10-13 NKJV
“I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. “But My people would not heed My voice, And Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, To walk in their own counsels. “Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways!”
Matthew 28:18-19 NKJV
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. GO therefore….”
Matthew 28:19 NKJV
“…and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”
“They killed Charlie because he preached a message of patriotism and faith in God‘s merciful love. They should all know this, you thought my husband‘s mission was powerful before, you have no idea what you have unleashed across this entire country and this world. You have no idea the fire that you have ignited within this wife. The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry”
- Erika Kirk
Acts 8:5-8 NKJV
“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city.”
THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS
Revelation 6:9-11 NKJV
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
Psalm 79:5-10 NKJV
“How long, Lord? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire? Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You, And on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name. For they have devoured Jacob, And laid waste his dwelling place. Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us! Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us, For we have been brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, For the glory of Your name; And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, For Your name’s sake! Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let there be known among the nations in our sight The avenging of the blood of Your servants which has been shed.”
Psalm 2:1-6 NKJV
“Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.”
Matthew 24:6-13 NKJV
“….you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
I John 4:17-19 NKJV
“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.”
I Thessalonians 4:13-18 NKJV
“…I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
PRAYER & FASTING part 6: “The Purpose of Power”
Luke 4:14-15 NKJV
“Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.”
Luke 4:1 NKJV
Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness
FILLED with Spirit
EMPTIED of your will
TEMPTED by Satan & TESTED by God
FAITHFUL to the Word of God
POWER to glorify God
Psalm 35:13 NKJV
“…I humbled myself with fasting”
James 4:10
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
The Prayer of Apostle Paul
Ephesians 1:19-20
“(I pray) that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.”
Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Luke 4:16-19 NKJV
“So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
THE PURPOSE OF POWER
1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR
2. TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED
3. TO PROCLAIM FREEDOM FOR THE CAPTIVES
4. TO RELEASE THE PRISONERS FROM DARKNESS
5. TO PROCLAIM THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD
Luke 7:18-23 NKJV
“…the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ ” And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
Ephesians 4:7-16 NKJV
“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
HAVE YOU BEEN:
FILLED with Spirit
EMPTIED of your will
TEMPTED & TESTED
FAITHFUL to the Word of God
POWER to glorify God
🔥The power of God is to equip us to advance the kingdom by preaching the acceptable year of the Lord to those who are in prison🔥
Isaiah 58:6-12,14 NKJV
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
The mouth of the Lord has spoken”
Isaiah 61:1-3 NKJV
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
HOW FAITH GROWS
“…it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.”
Luke 18:8b NKJV
“…when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Luke 17:19 NKJV
And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
-FAITH is a confidence grounded in reality
-FAITH contrary to popular belief is not a blind leap into the dark
-FAITH is not believing in something that there’s no evidence but believing the evidence before you
-FAITH is not a feeling, though it does have emotional components to it
-FAITH is an action. It is something that you do.
- FAITH is not belief without proof but trust without reservations
-FAITH IS PROGRESSIVE
Hebrews 11:1 NLT
“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”
Romans 10:17 NKJV
“…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
MATTHEW 17:14-21 MARK 9:14-29
Matthew 17:14-16 NKJV
And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
Mark 9:17-18 NKJV
Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”
Luke 9:38 NKJV
“…Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child.”
PIC
Matthew 17:17 NKJV
Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”
Mark 9:20-24 NKJV
Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
Matthew 17:18 NKJV
And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
Mark 9:25-27 NKJV
When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
Matthew 17:19 NKJV
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”
Matthew 17:20 NKJV
So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:21 NKJV
“However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
PRAYER & FASTING
Prayer attaches us to the heart of God
Fasting detaches us from the flesh of man
James 5:13-16 NKJV
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
Romans 10:10-13 NKJV
“…with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Nehemiah 9 – But God…
Nehemiah 8:17–18 (ESV)
17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. 18 And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.
Feast of Tabernacles – 8 day festival beginning on the 15th of the month
Nehemiah 9:1-3 (ESV)
1 Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. 2 And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God.
Nehemiah 9:36-37
36 Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. 37 And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress.
24th day –
Repentance, mourning over sin – but “the joy of the Lord is your strength” – Tabernacles is time to rejoice, but now there is a time to mourn and weep.
Sackcloth and ashes – purpose? Often made of coarse black goat hair (wear black as sign of mourning)
GOT QUESTIONS -”Very simply, sackcloth and ashes were used as an outward sign of one’s inward condition. Such a symbol made one’s change of heart visible and demonstrated the sincerity of one’s grief and/or repentance. It was not the act of putting on sackcloth and ashes itself that moved God to intervene, but the humility that such an action demonstrated (see 1 Samuel 16:7). God’s forgiveness in response to genuine repentance is celebrated by David’s words: “You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy” (Psalm 30:11).[1]
Sackcloth – uncomfortable reminder to oneself and outward expression to the world.
SACKCLOTH is the opposite of numbing or escaping
Must enter into the mourning to process it – so yes, enter, don’t run from it.
Matthew 5:3–4 (NLT)
3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Poor in spirit – not just poor –
Mourning – mourning over their sin.
Nehemiah 9:2 (ESV)
2 And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.
Separate from all foreigners – read the law and realized they had broken God’s law about intermarrying, embracing the customs and gods of the lands
Confessed – THEIR SINS
INIQUITIES OF THEIR FATHERS
Multiple people confess sins of their fathers –
Nehemiah 1, Daniel 9, others
Context is “our fathers disobeyed and we followed…”
Is this them breaking a generational curse?
Exodus 20:5–6 (CSB)
5 Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, 6 but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands.
Monkey see, monkey do. Chip off the old block -
Generational curse – if grandparents were masons or in the occult, you need to repent of that and some of your hangups may be because of blood oaths or curses they brought on themselves – THAT IS THE BELIEF
Ezekiel 18:1–2 (ESV)
1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
Ezekiel 18:1–2 (NLT)
1 Then another message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Why do you quote this proverb concerning the land of Israel: ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste’?
Ezekiel 18:3–4 (ESV)
3 As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4 Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.
STOP IT!!!
Ezekiel 18:20 (ESV)
20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
John 9:1–2 (ESV)
1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
John 9:3 (ESV)
3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Galatians 3:10–13 (ESV)
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
YES – prior to coming to Jesus we were all under the curse of the Law, but in Jesus we have been set from - set free from the curse of the Law!
Generational Curse theology then is really an attack on the GOSPEL!
It is saying you are not really free in Jesus until you say this special prayer or renounce the sins of your ancestors.
The GOSPEL says YOU ARE FREE!
Practically… you can still be influenced by your family of origin.
Alcoholism – if you grow up with it, you see it and unless you fight against it you may embrace it as the escape for your problems.
It only affects you in as so far as you AGREE with it – make covenant with it.
Whether your great grandmother was a witch is irrelevant. HAVE YOU MADE COVENANT WITH THE OCCULT?
Exodus 20:5–6 (CSB)
5 Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, 6 but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands.
Nehemiah 9:3-5 (ESV)
3 And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God. 4 On the stairs of the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani; and they cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God. 5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.
Public repentance, national revival often accompanied by worship!
Longest prayer in the Bible recounting 1000+ years of Bible history
Nehemiah 9:6-8 (ESV)
6 “You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. 7 You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful before you, and made with him the covenant to give to his offspring the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite. And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous.
BEGIN RECOUNTING THE PROMISES AND BLESSINGS OF GOD – HIS FAITHFULNESS.
Recite, rehearse, remember God’s promises
Do you have a promises or answered prayer book?
Ebenezer stone – 1 Samuel 7:12 – stone of help
Write the miracle/answered prayer, and date
Nehemiah 9:9-11 (ESV)
9 “And you saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea, 10 and performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land, for you knew that they acted arrogantly against our fathers. And you made a name for yourself, as it is to this day. 11 And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry land, and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into mighty waters.
Rehearsing God’s miracles
God saw their affliction, God performed signs and wonders, made a name for yourself.
V> 11 – verse is the basis of the chorus for the song, “No Longer Slaves”
You split the sea so I could walk right through it; my fears were drown in perfect love.”
Song writers – spend time soaking up the word and let it be your inspiration
Nehemiah 9:10b
And you made a name for yourself, as it is to this day.
Nehemiah 9:12-15 (ESV)
12 By a pillar of cloud you led them in the day, and by a pillar of fire in the night to light for them the way in which they should go. 13 You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules and true laws, good statutes and commandments, 14 and you made known to them your holy Sabbath and commanded them commandments and statutes and a law by Moses your servant. 15 You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and you told them to go in to possess the land that you had sworn to give them.
SO MUCH – God’s faithfulness, providing for their every need (and even some wants).
Manna
Water from the rock
The Law, commandments, sabbath
Told to go in possess the land
Nehemiah 9:16-17 (ESV)
16 “But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments. 17 They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.
Stiffened their neck – they had seen the miracles, but they didn’t trust
Remember the 12 spies – and 10 gave bad report – giants, can’t overcome,
Only 2 good report (Joshua and Caleb) –
Stiff necked – I’m not going to look where you want me to look
I’m not going to humble myself before You
Nehemiah 9:17b
But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.
RECOUNTING THE CHARACTER OF THE LORD!
Nehemiah 9:18-21 (ESV)
18 Even when they had made for themselves a golden calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies, 19 you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go. 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. 21 Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.
2nd time mentioning the cloud by day, pillar of fire by night and manna and water –
God still provides, even when we walk in disobedience,
Even when we are unfaithful, GOD REMAINS FAITHFUL,
The Goodness of God!
Nehemiah 9:22-25 (ESV)
22 “And you gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner. So they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan. 23 You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land that you had told their fathers to enter and possess. 24 So the descendants went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would. 25 And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
God’s goodness again – blessed in so many ways
Nehemiah 9:26- (ESV)
26 “Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies. 27 Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies.
Time of judges – constant back and forth
Killed the prophets who were sent to warn them!
Nehemiah 9:28- (ESV)
28 But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies. 29 And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey. 30 Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. 31 Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.
God still gracious – but He disciplines His kids –
Sent into captivity
Stubborn shoulder and stiffened neck –
Are we listening and dependent on the Lord?
Nehemiah 9:32-33 (ESV)
32 “Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. 33 Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly.
Recognize what we have done, our fathers, etc. – YOU HAVE BEEN RIGHTEOUS
One of the signs of NOT TRULY Repenting – is blaming others
Here they say:
Nehemiah 9:33 (ESV)
Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly.
Nehemiah 9:34-37 (ESV)
34 Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them. 35 Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. 36 Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. 37 And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress.
We are ONCE AGAIN – slaves – to the kings of this land, in bondage, through our own fault – in the land that you had given us.
Nehemiah 9:38 (ESV)
38 “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.
Next chapter goes on to outline their commitment and covenant with God.
EVER FELT LIKE YOU’VE SINNED AGAIN AND WONDERING IF GOD WILL FORGIVE… AGAIN?! HE WILL AND DOES IN JESUS!
What is God calling you to repent of?
Are there things in your past that you have not repented of?
Divorce
Abuse
Abortion
Drugs/alcohol
Gossip/slander
Are you showing repentance, showcasing repentance or ignoring repentance?
Do you need to rehearse and remember God’s faithfulness? Do you need to tell it to your kids?
Do you need to repent of marrying the world?
People struggle with repentance because they either don’t think they can change, don’t think it’s that big of a deal, or are unwilling to make complete sacrifice. Remember the four soils: only three bore fruit that last
“The self-sufficient do not pray. The self satisfied will not pray. The self righteous cannot pray.” - Leonard Ravenhill
Our failure is met by God‘s forgiveness and God‘s faithfulness
Romans 7:14–8:1 (NLT)
14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
[1] Got Questions Ministries, Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2002–2013).