All posts by John (HFJ Director)

Jesus (hearing from God), Parables

What Is The Kingdom Of God Like?

Yeshua compares the kingdom of God to both a mustard seed and leaven. As with all parables, they are not to be taken too literally, but they make an important point.

Luke 13:18-21

Parables of Mustard Seed and Leaven

     18So He was saying, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? 19“It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and THE BIRDS OF THE AIR NESTED IN ITS BRANCHES.”

      20And again He said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21“It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”

The kingdom of God, when we first accept it, may be a very small part of our lives. However, once it takes root in our hearts and minds it grows large and is very significant part of our lives. It can not be “missed” if it truly lies within us. It is not a subtle or private part of our lives. It dominates our lives as the mustard tree would dominate a garden.

The comparison of leaven is similar, but quite ironic. Often leaven is used to represent sin, as in the Feast of Unleavened Bread. However, Yeshua here compares leaven to the kingdom of God. A little bit of leaven affects the whole loaf dramatically. Similarly, if the kingdom of God takes root in our hearts it has dramatic effect on all of our lives. We are changed wholly, not just in part. We can not compartmentalize the kingdom of God to one part of our lives and ignore it for other parts.

If we can live our lives as “silent” or “private” Christians, never revealing to anyone our faith so as to avoid conflict or “get along with everyone”, then we must really question if the kingdom of God is truly in our hearts and minds at all. If we truly follow Yeshua, then we submit to Him in all areas of our lives.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Healer, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Obeying God, Peace / Rest, Purposeful / Intentional, Seeking God

Healing On The Sabbath

We can so easily get confused and off track, even when we try to obey the instruction of YHWH. It is really important that we stay connected to our Lord with Bible study, prayer, worship, and quiet time with Him to listen. Luke 13 documents an example where man had so constricted the “day of rest” that they wanted even to avoid healing someone on Sabbath. Yeshua points out that this is absurd and misguided.

Luke 13:10-17

Healing on the Sabbath

     10And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all. 12When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.” 13And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she was made erect again and began glorifying God. 14But the synagogue official, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “There are six days in which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead him away to water him? 16“And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 17As He said this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.

We should, however take care. Those in the healthcare profession, or others such as firemen, could easily rationalize that they should work on the Sabbath all the time, but YHWH intends for us to take one day off out of every seven to rest and devote to Him. It is important.

Those of us who can easily make the choice should honor our Lord by observing the Sabbath regularly. If something comes up and we have opportunity to help or heal someone, then take the opportunity. However, avoid planning your busy list of helping people on the Sabbath each week so you can do whatever you want the other days. Keep in mind that the Sabbath was made for man, not the other way around. It exists to help us.

For those who have more difficult decisions around Sabbath, either by profession (e.g. medical, police, firemen) or requirements to work during the Sabbath, spend time in prayer seeking the Lord’s guidance. Do not simply wipe Sabbath away, but find a way to observe it when you can. It is a gift from God and ignoring it or dismissing it, even for good reasons, is harmful to us in the long run.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Consequences of Sin, Fear / Reverence for God, Grace / Forgiveness, Heaven and Hell, Loving / Kind, Merciful, Repenting from Sin, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Unless You Repent, You Will Perish

It is a simple message, but not always easy for us to accept. We are all sinners. We will all perish. Not only will we all perish physically, but also in eternity should we fail to repent before we die.  We should waste no time in turning away from our sin and toward our loving Father in repentance.

Luke 13:1-9

Call to Repent

     1Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? 3“I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4“Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 5“I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

      6And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7“And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ 8“And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Praise / Worship / Glorify God

Worship The Lord, The Righteous Judge

Psalm 96

A Call to Worship the LORD the Righteous Judge.

1Sing to the LORD a new song;
Sing to the LORD, all the earth.

      2Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.

      3Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

      4For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.

      5For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.

      6Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

      7Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

      8Ascribe to the LORD the glory of His name;
Bring an offering and come into His courts.

      9Worship the LORD in holy attire;
Tremble before Him, all the earth.

      10Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved;
He will judge the peoples with equity.”

      11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
Let the sea roar, and all it contains;

      12Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy

      13Before the LORD, for He is coming,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
And the peoples in His faithfulness.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Righteousness / Serving God, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Do Not Make Vows Thoughtlessly Unto The Lord

What we vow before the Lord we should fulfill. Take care, pray and consider carefully before you make any vow before the Lord. However, YHWH* in His grace makes a way such that it does not need to create strife within the family authority structure. If the father or husband hears the vows of a woman  whom they have authority over, then they may anull the vows.

Numbers 30

The Law of Vows

     1Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the sons of Israel, saying, “This is the word which the LORD has commanded. 2“If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

      3“Also if a woman makes a vow to the LORD, and binds herself by an obligation in her father’s house in her youth, 4and her father hears her vow and her obligation by which she has bound herself, and her father says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand and every obligation by which she has bound herself shall stand. 5“But if her father should forbid her on the day he hears of it, none of her vows or her obligations by which she has bound herself shall stand; and the LORD will forgive her because her father had forbidden her.

      6“However, if she should marry while under her vows or the rash statement of her lips by which she has bound herself, 7and her husband hears of it and says nothing to her on the day he hears it, then her vows shall stand and her obligations by which she has bound herself shall stand. 8“But if on the day her husband hears of it, he forbids her, then he shall annul her vow which she is under and the rash statement of her lips by which she has bound herself; and the LORD will forgive her.

      9“But the vow of a widow or of a divorced woman, everything by which she has bound herself, shall stand against her. 10“However, if she vowed in her husband’s house, or bound herself by an obligation with an oath, 11and her husband heard it, but said nothing to her and did not forbid her, then all her vows shall stand and every obligation by which she bound herself shall stand. 12“But if her husband indeed annuls them on the day he hears them, then whatever proceeds out of her lips concerning her vows or concerning the obligation of herself shall not stand; her husband has annulled them, and the LORD will forgive her.

      13“Every vow and every binding oath to humble herself, her husband may confirm it or her husband may annul it. 14“But if her husband indeed says nothing to her from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or all her obligations which are on her; he has confirmed them, because he said nothing to her on the day he heard them. 15“But if he indeed annuls them after he has heard them, then he shall bear her guilt.”

      16These are the statutes which the LORD commanded Moses, as between a man and his wife, and as between a father and his daughter, while she is in her youth in her father’s house.

*Note: YHWH is the four letter name of God in the Bible derived from the Hebrew. Because the Hebrew did not record vowel sounds, we no longer know how to pronounce it for sure. It is often pronounced Yehovah or Yahweh today. Interesting history if you want to study it. Try an internet search.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Consequences of Sin, Discerning / Judging, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Purposeful / Intentional, Repenting from Sin, Unteachable / Foolish, Wickedness / Evil, Worldliness

Why Do You Not Make An Effort To Settle With Him?

On the surface, in Luke 12, Yeshua seems to be speaking about settling our legal affairs without going before a magistrate. Paul speaks about lawsuits within the church in 1 Corinthians 6. We may be tempted to assume it is the same or similar  message.

Luke 12:57-59

      57“And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? 58“For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59“I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.”

It is not the same message. We must look to context of the preceding verses.

Luke 12:49-56

      49“I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! 50“But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! 51“Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; 52for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53“They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

      54And He was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. 55“And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way. 56“You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?

      57“And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? 58“For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59“I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.”

Looking a little earlier still in Luke 12 we see Yeshua teaching about readiness. He is speaking a parable about how important it is for us to be ready for the coming of the Lord. We should be actively prepared and looking for His return. Then He speaks about how He did not come to bring peace, but division. You can not have peace among the worldly and the wicked and stand firm on the righteous instruction of the Lord. They reject it and reject you for sharing it.

As He points out that He knows there will be division, He also criticizes the people who do not recognize who He is based on the signs. They know to predict the weather… they are smart enough to settle a case where they may be guilty before they come in front of a magistrate. They settle to avoid punishment that will be severe.

Those who are familiar with the instruction of the Lord should similarly have enough knowledge to recognize the coming of Messiah. They should be rushing to settle accounts with Him before they are judged before YHWH* where there may be severe punishment. They should be repenting, not plotting to kill Messiah.

It is easy to dismiss the Pharisees and Sadducees, callously assuming we would do better. But truly reflect on your life and ask the Spirit to convict you of sin and rebellion in your life. We each should take care to judge our lives based upon the Father’s word and not our cultural norms.

Are we repentant and submitted to the Lord, standing proudly and loudly for Him even in conflict? or are we blending with society and culture of the worldly and wicked in order to have peace?

Do we justify that we are “better than most” or “good enough”? or do we humbly and desperately throw ourselves upon the mercy of YHWH offered us through Christ our Savior?

It is important that we recognize and discern the reality of our situation and ask forgiveness before our Lord before we face judgment. Take time now in prayer before the Lord to evaluate your life and ask for Him to show you areas where He wants you to change and ask for His grace and power to enable you to change. It is through His grace and power, not our own effort, that we will ultimately succeed in becoming more like Yeshua.

*Note: YHWH is the four letter name of God in the Bible derived from the Hebrew. Because the Hebrew did not record vowel sounds, we no longer know how to pronounce it for sure. It is often pronounced Yehovah or Yahweh today. Interesting history if you want to study it. Try an internet search.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Am I on the path?, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Guide, Heaven and Hell, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Jesus (hearing from God), Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Loving / Kind, Peace / Rest, Rebuke Wrong Behavior, Repenting from Sin, Satan, Share the Good News, Unteachable / Foolish, Wickedness / Evil, Worldliness

Do You Suppose Jesus Came To Grant Peace On Earth?

We are often overconfident in ourselves and our ability to understand and predict what will happen. We think we are wise in predicting the weather or who will win the Super Bowl or the NCAA basketball tournament. Yet how dramatically we fall short in our understanding of important concerns. Often we do not even put as much time toward trying to get the bigger concerns right… such as who is Christ and why did He come.

Yes, as Christians, I hope we can all answer with an appropriate high level answer such as “He came to provide forgiveness for our sins”.  But how often we get off track on how to apply the details in our lives. Satan is a tricky foe. He is the father of lies. If he can not convince us to reject God entirely, he tries to trick us into redefining God.

God is love. Satan would convince us that this means that God wants for us to accept everyone as they are, in all their sin with no need to change or repent. But God is also holy and just. If we encourage people to remain in their sin, unrepentant, they will be separated from God now and for eternity. If we take Satan’s deception, we neglect and abandon those who need our help and guidance. To love them is to lead them to repentance. They must admit they are sinners in need of a savior, submit to Jesus as savior, and repent of their sin.

Similarly, Satan would have us believe that Jesus came to bring peace and that we as His followers should value peace above all things as a way of demonstrating our Christ like nature. Again, Satan tells us that means accepting everyone how they with no repentance from sin or admission that they are sinners… because peace is the goal… right?

What did Jesus say? Did He come to bring peace?

Luke 12:49-56

Christ Divides Men

     49“I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! 50“But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! 51“Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; 52for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53“They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

      54And He was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. 55“And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way. 56“You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?

Jesus came to cause division. We must separate from the world and its ways in order to serve and follow Him. We can not serve both man and God. When we stand up for Christ and His ways, His values, we often find ourselves standing apart from the world. Others will come against us. We must stand up for what is right and wrong if we are to serve Him.  Silence is not service to Christ. Tolerance of sin in our culture or normalizing it as acceptable “choices” is not service to Christ. We do no one a favor by helping them feel comfortable in their unrepentant sin.

Jesus came to save the world. He did so by being comfortable standing and presenting what is right and what is wrong. He did not come to “make friends”. He created and was comfortable in stressful conflict situations. He did so with a purpose, strategy, and willful intent.  If He came and faded in the background to avoid making waves and focused on peace as His mission… would more people be saved? or more be separated from God for eternity? He showed love by creating conflict to help guide people to repentance and submission to God.

Are you willing to cause division for the sake of Christ? Or is peace and conflict avoidance more important to you than our Savior and His message? Will you put even your family above Christ? or Christ above all others? Only one can be the top priority. Only one can be Lord.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross

Am I on the path?, Consequences of Sin, Discerning / Judging, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Faith / Trusting God, Purposeful / Intentional, Unteachable / Foolish, Wickedness / Evil, Wise, Worldliness, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Live Prepared to Meet The Master At Any Time

Those of us who know and commit to serving the Lord must do so as if He may return at any moment. Recognize that whether He returns literally or not during our lifetime, He knows all about how we live our lives and we will each stand before Him when we die for judgement. Those who lived faithfully will be rewarded. Those who lived unfaithfully will be punished.

The more we knew and understood His will, the “higher the stakes”. If we know Him, His expectations are even higher for us.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. (Luke 12:48b)

 

Luke 12:35-48

Be in Readiness

     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.”

      41Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?” 42And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? 43“Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. 44“Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45“But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; 46the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47“And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, 48but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Envy / Jealousy / Coveting, Faithful, Grace / Forgiveness, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Loving / Kind, Money / Finances / Wealth, Purposeful / Intentional, Seeking God

Seek First The Kingdom Of God

A simple but revolutionary instruction. Yeshua tells us not to focus on money but on our relationship with the Father. Do not covet what others have or put your faith in large sums of money. Trust in the Lord and He will meet your needs. Set your finances aside to honor God and store up treasure in heaven and your heart will follow.

Luke 12:13-34

Covetousness Denounced

     13Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” 16And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. 17“And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18“Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ 21“So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

      22And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. 23“For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24“Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! 25“And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? 26“If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? 27“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 28“But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! 29“And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. 30“For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. 31“But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 32“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.

      33“Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. 34“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Pray the Lord helps you with this as it truly is against what we are taught growing up in this world. We are taught that money, not God, represents security and self reliance. We should not seek to be self reliant but rather dependent on the Father. Whether or not we realize it, we are dependent on the Father already… as with the man in the parable starting in verse 16, above.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Knowing, All Powerful / King of All, Faith / Trusting God, Fear / Reverence for God, Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Loving / Kind, Purposeful / Intentional, Salvation, Share the Good News, Study the Word

Those Who Confess Jesus Before Men, He Will Confess Before God

There is nothing we do which is hidden from God. In the end we will face Him for judgment and be held to account for our choices in life. If you are to fear someone, do not fear those who may mock you or hurt you body or even take your life, but instead fear God who has power to cast you in to eternal hell. Yet, do not fear, you are valuable to Him.

Luke 12:1-12

God Knows and Cares

     1Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2“But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 3“Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.

      4“I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. 5“But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! 6“Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. 7“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

      8“And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; 9but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10“And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him. 11“When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; 12for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Lord, may we never be ashamed or reluctant to speak of you to others. Let us not deny you before men. Let us not fear men and seek to avoid upsetting them, but rather hold you in great reverence and confess you before men no matter the consequence. Let us seek to please you. May we not be worried about how we speak in our defense but trust in you to teach us what we should say when the time comes.

There are two verses I encourage you to dwell on in prayer. Do not skip over them, as they are important. The first is self explanatory.

8“And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; 9but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

The second is a bit more tricky. What does it mean to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit? If there is a sin which will not be forgiven, then we must certainly want to know what that is!

10“And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him.

This verse is worthy of additional time for you to study on your own and pray for the Lord to show you. There is a lot of material out there on it. As I understand it, it is best explained something like the following.

The Holy Spirit calls to us to draw us to God before we choose to submit to God and follow Him as Lord. To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to continually reject this call as if it is not of God. Thus you remain separate from the Lord by your own ongoing choice.  You can turn toward the Lord and submit to Him and be forgiven at any time.  Don’t take my word for something so important… go forth in prayer and study. Just remember, whatever opinions you hear, test them against the whole of scripture to ensure they are right.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.