Category Archives: Prophecy

Heaven and Hell, Hope, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Prophecy, Salvation

Find Hope In Christ Jesus

We will experience joy and suffering in this world. In the end, all of us will die. Many find this uncomfortable to think about because they do not really believe in life after death… not in the same way they believe in gravity or the wind. Even though we can not see gravity or the wind, we believe because we see evidence of it around us in daily life. It can be a bit harder to fully trust in salvation through Christ and life after death. It helps if we study the Bible, pray for God to open our eyes to His glory, and seek to apply His instructions in our lives. Then we can start to recognize the evidence of God at work in the world and our lives around us more easily.

We can trust completely in God in all things, including what He promises us about life after death for those who submit to and follow Christ… those who truly believe will reflect that belief in their actions.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

Those Who Died in Christ

      13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15For 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 not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Put your faith in God and trust Him in our hope of resurrection after death. Of course, we must submit to and follow Jesus in more than just words. We must do so wholeheartedly. But the faithful can take heart that no matter what this world holds for us, we will go to be with God after and when Jesus returns again, we will rise again physically to be with Him.

—-

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

His Timing Not Ours, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Promises, Prophecy, Prophecy, Study the Word

We Can Trust God To Do What He Says

We can trust God to do what He says He will do. It may not come in the timing we desire or in the way we desire, but He is always true to His word. God told Abraham in Genesis 15 that his descendants would be strangers in a land that is not theirs (Egypt), where they would be enslaved for 400 years (round number), but that they would come out of the land with many possessions.

A lot of time and generations of people came and went in between, but God is true to His word, even when we don’t understand or agree with how He is doing things. Even for the generation that saw the plagues on Egypt and were set free as foretold… few or none would have expected God to harden Pharaoh’s heart to make it seem even harder for the people to be set free. Most would just expect God to change Pharaoh’s mind and let them go or strike Pharaoh down. God instead hardened Pharaoh’s heart to make the opportunity for more signs and wonders.

Genesis 15:12-14

   12Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. 13God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. 14“But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions.

Exodus 12:33-41

Exodus of Israel

      33The Egyptians urged the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We will all be dead.” 34So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls bound up in the clothes on their shoulders.

      35Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; 36and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

      37Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children. 38A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock. 39They baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. For it had not become leavened, since they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.

      40Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. 41And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, to the very day, all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.

We do well to seek to understand what God has revealed in His word, the Bible. He will do what He says He will do. How well we understand what He has said and how we react to that in how we live our lives has great implications in this world and for what we will experience either in heaven or hell when we leave this world.  We can trust God to do what He says He will do. He will not change His mind because of the opinions of those who reject or dismiss Him or those who claim to follow Him in name, but rebel against Him in action and thought.

If you want to know more truth about God, do not just listen to what people say about God, not even religious “leaders”. Begin to learn to read and study God’s word for yourself. Test everything you are told or think you understand against God’s unchanging written word in the Bible.  Do not be overwhelmed thinking you must get it all right. Instead, focus on becoming a disciple of Christ as a way to know the Father. A disciple is quite simply “a learner”, not one who has all the answers. To be a disciple is to begin a journey that you will not finish in this life, but it will transform your life to be more like that of Christ along the way.

—-

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

Prophecy, Study the Word

HFJ News: Apocalypse Code by Hank Hanegraaff

We are continuing our weekly extra post on Fridays. We have now expanded from “HFJ News”, providing updates and information about our website and other online resources, to also include specific prayer requests for our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.

This week I am recommending a book I found very helpful in studying the book of Revelation.

The Apocalypse Code, by Hank Hanegraaff

Breaking the code of the book of Revelation has become an international obsession. The result, according to Hank Hanegraaff, has been rampant misreading of Scripture, bad theology, and even bad politics and foreign policy. Hanegraaff argues that the key to understanding the last book of the Bible is the other sixty-five books of the Bible—not current events or recent history and certainly no any complicated charts.

For those who are interested in studying and understanding the book of Revelation, even in a little more depth, in order to recognize what is true and what is false and how it affects our lives today… I truly encourage you to consider reading this book.

May the grace and peace of Jesus Christ be with all of you!

—-

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

medium tile for posts

Consequences of Sin, False Prophets / Teachers, Grace / Patience, Justice / Judgment, Prophecy, Righteousness / Serving God

The Day of the Lord Is Coming… Prepare Now!

Many today mock the return of the Lord Jesus, claiming that if He has not yet come, two thousand years after He died on the cross then He is not coming. They further rationalize, incorrectly, that He will not come at all and certainly not come in judgment of the ungodly. They confidently pursue after their own lusts and sinful desires without regard for the word of God or for God Himself.

Even some genuine believers begin to doubt the flawless nature of the Bible when confronted by mockers about the amount of time that has passed without Jesus’ return.

Would it surprise you that Jesus and His disciples knew this would happen?  In fact, Peter wrote about it in 2 Peter 3.

Purpose of This Letter

      1This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.

The Coming Day of the Lord

      3Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 5For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

      8But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

A New Heaven and Earth

      10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

      11Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

      14Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Time from our perspective is different from that of God. We can not count time from our perspective and expect to fully anticipate God’s timing in fulfilling the prophecy. Further, God’s motives are higher than our motives. His delay is not because He forgot… it is not because He is just slow… it is because He is patient and loves us. I know personally that if God would have brought about the end of the age 15 years ago, I would be in Hell for all eternity. But now, through His grace, I have hope in the promise of Heaven with Him.

Many try to predict when the end of the age will come… to what purpose? God tells us we will not know when it comes… it will come like a thief in the night. We can not wait to predict it in order to prepare for it. As God’s righteous people, we must prepare now!

Through Jesus Christ we may be found in peace, spotless and blameless… prepared for His return. (Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.) Take heed of the warning from Peter that there will be many errors and wrong teaching about the word of God by unprincipled men. We are forewarned and should take action to prepare ourselves through prayer and consistent study of the scriptures. We must learn to discern truth from fiction in regards to God’s word. Laziness on our part to study the word is no excuse for living an unrighteous life.  Through prayer and study, we can grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we grow in knowledge, we must also apply it continually to our lives, to transform ourselves away from our selfish nature and to become more like Jesus Christ.

Even if you do not believe the end of the age is coming during your lifetime, you will be judged based on your relationship with Jesus (or lack of a relationship) when you reach the end of your life… and none of our tomorrow’s are promised. Studies show that 5 out of 5 people die… and they do not all know ahead of time when that will take place. Prepare now!

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

—-

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

the way with scripture - for posts, medium 2

Envy / Jealousy / Coveting, Family, Hearing from God, Parenting, Prophecy

Jacob’s Struggles As A Dad Hurt His Children

Jacob struggled as a husband, father, and leader of his family. He walked with God, but struggled in the area of family leadership. He had multiple wives, concubines, and even children through his wives’ maid servants. He mirrored the parenting mistakes of his parents by clearly identifying favorites within his wives and within his children. He created a fractured and broken family that was divided against itself rather than united together as a powerful force to support one another.

Genesis 37:1-11 records this leadership failure of Jacob and the impact it had on the next generation, his sons. Not only did Jacob magnify the problem of favoritism through things like Joseph’s special coat and putting Joseph in a position of responsibility over his older brothers, but the scripture gives no evidence of him helping coach or advise Joseph on how to handle this difficult and tricky situation. Joseph, as a youth, lacks wisdom of years and openly and enthusiastically shares his dreams with his brothers… fueling their jealousy even more.

      1Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan. 2These are the records of the generations of Jacob.  Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father. 3Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic. 4His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.

      5Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6He said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have had; 7for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8Then his brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

      9Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, “Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?” 11His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

Verse 11 indicates that Jacob put credibility in the possibility that the dreams were from God especially when the dream was repeated. Jacob knew that God speaks in this way. There is no indication however that Jacob discusses the dreams and the possibility that they are from God with Joseph’s brothers. Nor is there any indication that he coaches Joseph in how to communicate on this topic with already hostile and jealous brothers.

Joseph’s brothers, left on their own, clearly understand the dream and hate Joseph even more for it. Ultimately they will be moved toward selling Joseph into slavery in an attempt to be rid of him and lie to their father that he died.

God, however, in His majesty, will not be stopped by the deceitful plotting of men.  His promises and prophecy is always true. God even uses the wrongful actions of the jealous brothers to lead to the fulfillment of all He has planned for Joseph.

For all of us that now have or came from broken families, take heart… be encouraged… God can heal the brokenness and even use it to His glory! As we continue through the life of Joseph documented in Genesis we will see Joseph living a righteous life according to God’s values and see him overcome hurt and pain without bitterness. God uses him in a glorious way and even restores the family despite all the brokenness they have experienced!

All things are possible when we seek after the kingdom of God. Pray for wisdom in your family relationships, pray that God would help all involved forgive one another as we wish to be forgiven by Him. Pray above all for God’s will to be done in your life and that of your family!

—-

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

the way with scripture - for posts, medium 2

Evidence in Scripture, Hearing from God, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Prophecy, Share the Good News, Wickedness / Evil

Jesus Is Risen!

Jesus is risen! What wonderful news for those of us who submit to Him as Lord of our lives. We do not serve a dead Christ, but a living Christ… one who has overcome death and the grave! Let us rejoice in the glory of God’s plans and trust in Him.

In Matthew 28:1- 15 we experience the resurrection of Christ… the fulfillment of prophecy that Jesus told His disciples before His crucifixion. As we take a few moments to read and celebrate this wonderful event.

Jesus Is Risen!

      1Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. 2And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 7“Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”

      8And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. 9And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

      11Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. 12And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ 14“And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.” 15And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.

 

Let’s break this scripture down and look closely at it to see more detail that God is communicating to us in addition to the bigger message filled with joy that Jesus has risen.

1Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.

Jesus was crucified on Friday. He died early enough for His body to be put in the grave before Sabbath started Friday at sundown. Then nothing happened until after Sabbath was over on Saturday night at sundown. In fact, the next event occurs on Sunday morning… the first day of the week. God honored the framework of the Sabbath even in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ… as He also did following Creation of the universe when He rested on the seventh day. (Learn more about Sabbath.)

Jesus first reveals Himself after resurrection to women. Considering the context of the culture at the time, this is a strong argument toward the accuracy of the Biblical text. Men writing this scripture or telling the story of resurrection would have a strong tendency to depict men, Jesus’ disciples, as the ones to whom Jesus first revealed Himself if they were just making up this story. As it is, Jesus revealed Himself first to Mary and Mary and the scriptures record it accurately… as they do everything else.

 2And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 7“Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”

What an amazing site… an angel at once so intimidating that the well trained Roman guards shook for fear and yet the women who loved Jesus could be reassured to calmly converse with him. God’s messenger gave the women instructions and to their credit… they followed at once. He showed them the empty tomb as evidence.

  8And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. 9And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Consider the great joy with which they reacted upon hearing about Jesus. They ran to report it. Jesus met them along the way and they worshipped Him. Once again He had to reassure them not to be afraid and affirmed the instructions from the angel to take word to His disciples.

Each of us should consider… do we act with joy like that? Are we so excited to tell others that our Lord Jesus has risen from the grave that we run? Or do we take it for granted, thinking of it rarely and not letting it move us to share the good news of the gospel with others? Pray that God would help each of us to feel that joy and urgency to share the good news.

  11Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. 12And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ 14“And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.” 15And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.

Again we see that when confronted with clear evidence of Jesus as Messiah… as the Christ… the chief priests act in the flesh and immediately plot and scheme to cover it up and maintain control through deception. They do not even seek God in prayer for the truth or hold out the possibility that Jesus is the Christ… the Messiah… God Himself in the flesh fulfilling the prophecy of scripture. They are filled with wickedness and led by hardened  hearts.

Even in their wickedness, they could not deny that tomb of Jesus had been opened and that Jesus was no longer there. The evidence was so strong that they could not even claim that it was the wrong tomb or that Jesus was not buried there or that Jesus was still in the tomb. Stronger evidence could not be provided for the fact that the tomb which held Jesus’ body had been opened and Jesus’ body was no longer there.

The best lie they could come up with was that well trained Roman guards were bested by the same disciples of Jesus Christ that ran and hid when they came to arrest Jesus at the garden of Gethsemane. The logic required is impossible to accept. The same disciples who fled when Jesus was alive, are now to be supposed to have confronted Roman guards when they believed Jesus to be dead? Impossible.

We are left then to accept the truth of God’s supernatural intervention by sending an angel to open the tomb and raising Jesus from the dead, as was prophesied by Jesus to His disciples and much earlier by Old Testament prophets of God.

Jesus Christ is risen! He died for our sins and has been raised from the dead. Praise God for His wise plans for redeeming us from our mistakes through His great love for us. May we never take this for granted, but rather may it always be on our hearts with thanksgiving and praise.

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

—-

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

the way with scripture - for posts, medium 2

Adultery / Sex Outside Marriage, Blessed, Can God Use Me?, Consequences of Sin, Family, Hearing from God, Obeying God, Prophecy

God Can Use Us Even Though We Make Many Mistakes

Are you living your life without making mistakes?  Do you have it all figured out? If you answered yes, than… quite frankly… you are wrong. None except Jesus Himself live the perfect life.  Even among those of us who wholeheartedly seek after and submit to God, we can only do our best and ask God for His help to live according to His commands. For those of you who answered “no”… the good news is that God can use us even though we make mistakes.

Let us explore two sides of Jacob’s life in Genesis 35:9-22. Jacob has such a personal relationship with God, that God continually appears to him and communicates important things and Jacob receives this instruction and follows it. God tells Jacob once again that he will now be called Israel and again reinforces the promise and prophecy that many nations shall come from him.

However we see also, that even this great moment for Jacob in the presence of God is experienced in the midst of his continuing family struggles for which he seems to be at a loss to be able to solve in order to more effectively lead his family.  We learned in Genesis 34 and earlier in Genesis 35 that Jacob settled and remained in an ungodly land. His daughter was raped, his sons used treachery and deceit to kill many as punishment to the one who mistreated their sister, and as his household packs up to leave, Jacob finds idols and foreign gods among them. They were not pure, not holy (set apart for God’s use), but rather had blended with the pagans around them to some extent.

Jacob Is Named Israel

      9Then God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and He blessed him.

10God said to him,
“Your name is Jacob;
You shall no longer be called Jacob,
But Israel shall be your name.”
Thus He called him Israel.

11God also said to him,
“I am God Almighty;
Be fruitful and multiply;
A nation and a company of nations shall come from you,
And kings shall come forth from you.

      12“The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac,
I will give it to you,
And I will give the land to your descendants after you.”

13Then God went up from him in the place where He had spoken with him. 14Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He had spoken with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. 15So Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel.

      16Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and she suffered severe labor. 17When she was in severe labor the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for now you have another son.” 18It came about as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20Jacob set up a pillar over her grave; that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. 21Then Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.

      22It came about while Israel was dwelling in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it.

We see Jacob again hit hard by family trouble in verse 22, when his eldest son has sex with Jacob’s concubine. This was a huge disgrace for all involved. I am sure Reuben thought “no one will know”… but that is rarely the case among people when we sin… and God always knows. Of course, we could also have quite a discussion on why Jacob even had concubines… this is not consistent with God’s plan for marriage. From the beginning, with Adam and Eve, God intended it to be one man and one woman in marriage… no extra wives, no concubines.

Studying earlier points in Jacob’s life, we see that leading his family to honor God in their daily lives and relationships is not a new struggle for Jacob. In fact his wives struggled badly when they married him, competing with one another rather than showing love within his household. Ultimately this jealousy resulted in his failure by sleeping with their maid servants all in pursuit of sons. Go back further and we see where he had to run away from home to get away from an angry brother who wanted to kill him, after Jacob deceived his aging father to receive a blessing which Isaac intended for Esau. It goes even further back… Isaac and Rebekah chose favorites in their family, each openly loving one son more than the other.

Suffice it to say, that Jacob did not have every aspect of his life together and going well. So what is my point? Why do I point this failure of Jacob’s out?

First, we can all take heart and be encouraged that God can use us, can have intimate relationship with us, even when our lives are not entirely in order. We must, however, be submitted to God, as Jacob was. We can not be in open rebellion to God, intentionally disregarding His commands in how we are to live.

Secondly, even when we are walking with God in our lives and hearing from Him, we should take heed to purify ourselves, our family, our household. Consciously choose to submit to God and to follow His ways. Study the Bible and apply what it teaches to your lives. Change your ways to be set apart for God rather than to blend with the ungodly around you. There are consequences to leaving sin in our lives. Consider the mess that Jacob’s family experienced. It was not “God punishing them”, but rather it was natural consequences for not living God’s way. God tells us how to live, but we must choose to do so or live with the consequences.

Do not be complacent just because you have a relationship with God but rather use that relationship as a strong foundation to transform your life and that of your family to reflect God’s values and God’s will in every aspect of your life. Seeking to change our lives to live according to God’s instructions is not a one time adjustment, but rather a difficult and intentional journey that will last the rest of our lives.

—-

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

the way with scripture - for posts, medium 2

Can God Use Me?, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Obeying God, Prophecy, Righteousness / Serving God, Share the Good News

Truly I Say To You That One Of You Will Betray Me

We continue with Jesus in the final days of His earthly ministry before crucifixion in Matthew 26:26-35. Earlier in Matthew 26, chief priests are plotting against Jesus, a woman honored Him with expensive perfume, Judas plans to betray Him… the pace of activity is very quick. Jesus knows all of it, including what awaits Him in suffering and dying and being resurrected over the next few days. Still, Jesus focuses on celebrating the Passover, as God has commanded.

The Last Passover

      20Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. 21As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” 22Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. 24“The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” 25And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.”

The Lord’s Supper Instituted

      26While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29“But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

      30After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

      31Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.’ 32“But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” 34Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.

First, let us note that Jesus indicates only one will betray Him. Clearly He is indicating Judas as the betrayer. Thus, Peter’s denial is recognized by Jesus as a failure on Peter’s part, but not a betrayal. Judas had intentional plans to betray Jesus for profit. Peter’s heart was true, but his flesh was weak. Give Peter his due… he followed along with Jesus further than the others. It was in doing so that he ultimately denies Jesus. Likewise, the failure of the other disciples to stand with Jesus due to their fear was not counted as betrayal… though it appears they fell short of a perfect standard in their response to Jesus’ being taken into custody by the Romans.

We will also, through our continued reading of Matthew, confirm that Jesus knows what is going to happen before it does. Several examples… Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s denial, and Jesus’ death and resurrection. All these examples continue to point to Jesus as God.

Jesus gives us a symbolic example through which we can remember His death for our sins. The wine and bread, properly considered and presented, can be a powerful reminder of the suffering and sacrifice… of the love of our savior, Jesus Christ. Do not let it become empty repetition with no meaning, but rather prayerfully consider each time you partake, reminding yourself what it represents.

I find it worth noting that Jesus and His disciples sung a hymn before they went to the Mount of Olives. We, too, can honor God in praising Him through song. Music and song can help us connect with God emotionally, in a way that perhaps studying the word of God does not. Both are good and complement one another.

Peter and the other disciples meant well, insisting they would stand with Jesus even unto death, but in the end they were not prepared. This can be very motivating and encouraging for those of us who know that we, too, have failed to stand with Christ at times in our lives. We, like the disciples, can seek forgiveness for our mistakes, and re-dedicate ourselves to God, asking the Holy Spirit for help. Look at what the disciples accomplished despite this early failure… after the Holy Spirit was in them (after the death and resurrection of Christ), they all were willing to boldly proclaim Jesus as Lord despite persecution to the point of death. They spread the good news of the gospel very effectively.

We can do that also if we prepare through Bible study and prayer and submission to Jesus… turning away from our past lives of selfishness and sin. Give your life to Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Start (or continue) a bold life of service to Jesus Christ.

For those who have not yet submitted your life to Jesus Christ, learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

For those who have submitted to Christ, but do not know where to begin to practically change your life to one of submission to Him, please review the following teachings:

—-

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

the way with scripture - for posts, medium 2

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Prophecy

Jesus And His Disciples Prepare For Passover

The events leading up to Jesus’ being taken into custody by the Romans to be crucified begin to move rather quickly. We continue in Matthew 26:17-35 following a strong contrast of events in which a woman honored Jesus with an expensive perfume and then Judas sought out the chief priests to betray Jesus.

   17Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” 18And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’” 19The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

We take only a few verses of scripture to ensure we do not miss some of the important information God is sharing with us. There is a surprising amount of information in these few verses. We will take them one at a time.

17Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

The writer of the gospel, which is written after Jesus’ death and resurrection, finds it important to highlight the timing of events by noting the first day of the feast of unleavened bread. Even after the death and resurrection of Christ, this feast is still significant and worth highlighting when documenting the history of events.

Jesus celebrated Passover and His disciples knew it. They came to Him to ask where they should celebrate. Passover was important to Jesus.

The feasts celebrated by God’s people in the Old Testament are often too easily discarded by Christians, who are influenced by the early church history in which men decided they needed to stop celebrating some of these or celebrate differently just to show they are different from the Jewish people. None the less, it is still our God and the history of His relationship with His people that these feasts represent and they were important to Jesus and His disciples. It is still God who commanded His people to celebrate these feasts “as a permanent ordinance”. Permanent does not mean … “until Messiah comes” or “until Messiah rises from the dead”… it means permanent.

Genesis 12:14  14‘Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread and Passover serve as reminders of God fulfilling His promise and setting His people free from slavery in Egypt. After 400 years of slavery, God’s people would be set free so quickly that the yeast in their breads would not have time to work… resulting in unleavened bread.  Similarly, Passover reminds us of how God’s power ultimately convinced Pharaoh to set free God’s people from bondage… inflicting a severe plague on Egypt, killing their firstborn sons, but passing over those households who publically proclaimed allegiance to God. (For more information on Feast of Unleavened Breads and Passover, refer to Exodus 12.)

18And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’”

We can find more detail in Luke 22:8-13.

8And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.” 9They said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?” 10And He said to them, “When you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters. 11“And you shall say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ 12“And he will show you a large, furnished upper room; prepare it there.” 13And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

Jesus demonstrates prophetic detail about he situation to come, time, place, the person carrying water… and even the response the man will give to the request. Jesus knows what each of us are thinking and what decisions we will make to serve or reject Him. There is no doubt He is indeed God!

19The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

The disciples followed the directions they received from Jesus. We should all do likewise, even in “small” daily decisions. Things will work out best when we do.

We can pause and reflect that during this whole time, He knew about His betrayal and impending torture and death and resurrection. Jesus did not mope or moan or complain. He did not fall to the ground and hide, feeling sorry for Himself. No! Jesus went about God’s work, even showing us the importance of celebrating God’s feasts, as commanded, even when times are difficult and we suffer loss or hardship. There could not be a better time to focus on God’s power and Lordship over all things!

—-

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

the way with scripture - for posts, medium 2

Consequences of Sin, Discerning / Judging, False Prophets / Teachers, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Hypocrisy, Prophecy, Traditions / Holidays

Hypocritical Religious Leaders Shut Off The Kingdom Of Heaven From People

Anyone who thinks they can just choose a pastor or church and follow them because they appear to have some authority or are backed by a large bureaucratic religious organization should take care to heed Jesus’ rebukes of the established religious authorities of the time of His earthly ministry. Clearly we are to seek out the word of God recorded in holy scripture, in the Bible, and use that to validate any teacher or pastor whom we follow. Many with appearance of legitimate authority lead themselves and others astray.  God’s instructions are too important not to study them for ourselves to confirm any meaning or application of scripture in our lives.

Matthew 23:13-34

     13“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14[“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.]

      15“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

      16“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.’ 17“You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? 18“And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.’ 19“You blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? 20“Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it. 21“And whoever swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells within it. 22“And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

      23“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

      25“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. 26“You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.

      27“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28“So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

      29“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31“So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32“Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. 33“You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?

      34“Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, 35so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36“Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation

At the beginning of Matthew 23, Jesus rebukes the religious leaders of the time and tells the people that they are all brothers with one Father, God. We are not to blindly follow other men, calling them father or rabbi. Beware of “organized religion” with layers of bureaucracy as it tends to incorporate doctrine and traditions of men and place them in higher importance or in distraction to the commands of God. God has already provided His instruction and we are each as individuals to study it and come to personal relationship with God through prayer. No man needs stand between us and God.

Will you follow traditions of men or commands of God? Will you study God’s word consistently and pray daily to grow in relationship with God so you can know the difference? Make the commitment today to study the Bible and pray daily as a starting point to your walk with Jesus as Lord.

We encourage you to review these core teachings as you get started or recommit yourself:

—-

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

the way with scripture - for posts, medium 2