8 Epiphany Odd

8 Epiphany - Sunday

Deuteronomy 4:1-9, Moses’ appeal for obedience

2 Timothy 4:1-8, Fight the good fight

John 12:1-8, Jesus’ anointing in Bethany

Moses warned the people of God to heed (hear, remember and obey) God’s word. Israel must apply God’s word daily in their lives to receive the fulfillment of God’s promise of long life in the Promised Land. They were admonished to keep God’s word faithfully and accurately, neither adding to it nor taking away from it. Obedience to God’s word is the requirement for life in the Promised Land. God’s people are to remember what happened to those who disobey God’s word, and the punishment and death of the disobedient at Baal-peor is just one example (Numbers 25:1-9).

Moses had faithfully taught God’s people God’s word. It was the responsibility of Israel to keep God’s word, to demonstrate to the native people of Canaan (the land of Israel) that God’s word is wisdom, and that those who obey him are wise. God’s people were to honor and glorify the Lord by living in obedience and demonstrating in their lives God’s power, love and faithfulness. The people and the nation were to be examples of righteousness and justice in living according to God’s word. Moses warned God’s people to be careful not to forget God’s word, and to diligently teach their children to know and obey God’s word.

Paul taught Timothy to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. He exhorted Timothy to proclaim the Gospel, in season and out of season (whether popular or unpopular); to convince, rebuke, and exhort; to be patient and unfailing in teaching. “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own liking, and will turn away from listening to the truth and will wander into myths (2 Timothy 4:3-4). He taught Timothy by word and example to be unshakable by circumstances but instead to endure suffering, to be an evangelist and fulfill his ministry.

Paul is an example of a faithful disciple and apostle (a messenger of the Gospel; a missionary) and evangelist who had “fought the good fight, …finished the race [and] …kept the faith.” He and all faithful disciples who have loved Jesus’ manifestation and Jesus’ return will receive the reward of righteousness in the Day of Judgment.

Jesus, knowing that he would be crucified, came to Bethany (on the Mount of Olives) outside Jerusalem with his disciples six days before the Passover, the night Jesus would be betrayed. Jesus visited the home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from death, and Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha. Jesus was their guest at dinner; Martha served, and Lazarus was at the table. Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with an expensive fragrant ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair.

Judas Iscariot (Jesus’ betrayer) criticized her extravagance, saying that the ointment could have been sold for three hundred denarii (a denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer) and given to the poor. Judas didn’t really care about the poor; he used to steal money from the money box. Jesus told him to let her alone; the anointing would serve as preparation of his body for burial. Jesus declared that there would always be poor to give money to, if that was his inclination, but Jesus would not remain forever in human flesh, if one wanted to do something nice for him.

Moses is the forerunner who prefigures the Christ, and his historical role is intentionally intended by God to be understood also as a metaphor, a parable (an example of common earthly experience to teach spiritual truth). Jesus leads the people of God out of the “Egypt” of bondage of sin and death, through the wilderness of this temporal life, and into the Promised Land.

Moses was the human spiritual leader who was discipling God’s people to trust and obey God’s word. He was teaching them to live in accordance with God’s word, and to teach it faithfully, accurately and fully to their children and their grandchildren. Obedient trust in God’s word was the requirement for long life in the earthly Promised Land, and it is the requirement for eternal life in the eternal “Promised Land” of God’s heavenly kingdom.

God intended for his people and his nation to live according to God’s word, as an example and a testimony to the goodness of God’s word to the people of this world. Moses faithfully taught God’s word; it was up to God’s people and nation to remember, trust and obey God’s word.

Paul is the prototype of the modern, “post-resurrection,” born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ Acts 9:1-20). Paul was fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) which Jesus gave to his disciples after they had been “born-again” by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:45-49; Acts 1:4-5, 8) to make (born-again) disciples and teach them to obey all that Jesus teaches.

Timothy is an example of Paul’s discipling in obedience to the Great Commission. Paul discipled Timothy through the fulfillment of the promise of Timothy’s spiritual rebirth by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 1:6-7). Paul continued to disciple Timothy to testify to the Gospel (2 Timothy 4:2) in the world, and to make born-again disciples who would continue the cycle to be born-again and then disciple others (2 Timothy 2:2).

Paul warned that the day would come when people would not tolerate sound (Biblical, Apostolic; i.e., taught by the original apostles, including Paul, and recorded in the New Testament) teaching, but would “tickle their ears” with teachers willing to teach whatever they wanted to hear, and would turn from listening to the Truth, and instead believe in myths. That time has come! The evidence is all around us, but we have to know what the Bible says (and doesn’t say) in order to recognize and distinguish truth from error.

Paul is the example of a faithful disciple of Jesus, who persevered through suffering and persecution, faithfully, accurately and fully preserving and transmitting the Gospel to other disciples to the end of his life. Paul was assured that he would receive the eternal reward God’s word promises.

Judas is the example of an unfaithful disciple, who was only with Jesus “for the money;” for what he could gain from it in a material and worldly sense. Modern examples are people who choose ministry as a career choice, or who choose church ministry or leadership in order to manipulate and have power over people; people who think ministry as a one-day a week job. Modern examples of Judas are in church pews as well as pulpits.

They’re people who think a Christian is a member or attender of a church; who think it’s a one-hour a week commitment (or even once a year), and they can live like the devil the rest of the week (or year), or people who use church membership to “network” to enhance their secular career, or who bring secular philosophies and behavior into the church.

Judas gained thirty pieces of silver for betraying Jesus (plus whatever he stole from the money-box), but later returned the price of his betrayal, and killed himself (Matthew 27:3-10). He had been at table with Lazarus and the Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ who had raised Lazarus from physical death and had come to give us salvation from eternal death, and Judas sold his immortal soul to Satan for thirty pieces of silver.

Mary, Martha and Lazarus were motivated by love, but Judas’ behavior was motivated by greed. They glorified Jesus by that love, but Judas’ behavior earned himself eternal condemnation and disgrace. Which kind of “Christian” will we choose to be?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

8 Epiphany - Monday

Deuteronomy 4:9-14, Remember to reverence the Lord

2 Corinthians 10:1-18, Paul’s defense of his ministry

Matthew 6:7-15, The Lord’s Prayer

Take heed and guard your soul with diligence, so that you do not forget what the Lord has done for his people; pass them on to your children and their children. Remember how at Mt. Horeb (Mt. Sinai) the Lord told Moses to gather the people to hear God’s word, so that they would learn to fear (honor and respect) the Lord all the days of their earthly lives, and would teach their children to do so also. In the day of God’s manifestation at Horeb in fire, darkness, cloud and gloom, Israel heard God’s word but saw no form, hearing only his voice. (God is spirit; Israel is warned not to worship idols which have forms created by the imagination of humans.) God established a covenant with his people, a covenant based on the obligation to obey the Ten Commandments (the Covenant of Law, written on two tablets of stone). At that time God commanded Moses to teach Israel, the people of God, to obey God’s statutes and ordinances, so that they could possess the land which God had promised them.

Paul had apparently been accused of having boldness in his letters which he did not possess in person. Paul was replying that he was humbly imploring the Corinthians by letter so that he would not have to demonstrate his boldness in person to the Corinthians, as he was confident that he would demonstrate to those who had accused him of living according to worldly ways. Paul taught that although we are living in the world, we are not fighting a worldly war but a spiritual war, and our weapons are spiritual weapons with divine power to destroy spiritual opposition. The Christian "soldier" destroys every obstacle of human pride and every argument and resistance to the knowledge of God; we “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5b).

The Church will punish the disobedient when the Church is spiritually mature and obedient to Christ. Let those who can recognize spiritual truth see; anyone who thinks he is in Christ should remember that the Apostles are in Christ and have been given authority so that the Church would be strengthened and built up, rather than wasting away and coming to destruction. The Apostles will be not be put to shame (on the Day of Judgment).

Paul doesn’t want to intimidate the Corinthians by letters, which he cannot accomplish with his personal presence, as his critics have accused. Paul’s conduct in person is no different than what he proclaims by letter. Paul does not want to be categorized by those who commend themselves; the fact that they compare themselves against human rather than divine standards reveals that they have no true (spiritual) understanding.

Paul was committed to accept God’s judgment of his ministry. Paul was confident that he was not exaggerating his ministry as the first to reach the Corinthians with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he did not take unfair credit for the ministry of others (as Paul’s critics apparently did). Paul’s hope was that the spiritual growth of the Corinthian congregation might enlarge Paul’s opportunity for evangelism among other Corinthians and Gentiles beyond them, without interfering with the work of other, and without conflict over who deserved the credit. It is not what humans think of themselves that counts, but what is approved by God.

Jesus taught his disciples how they ought to pray. God knows our hearts and our needs. We can’t fool or impress God with our words. Sincerity is vastly more important than eloquence. When we pray we should acknowledge and reverence God’s glory and pray for his glory to be acknowledged throughout this world. Believers are to be committed to work and pray for the coming of God’s kingdom (even unto ourselves), and to pray that God’s will would be done on earth (even by ourselves) as it is in heaven, completely and gladly. We acknowledge that all that we need for daily life comes from him, and ask him, with gratefulness, to provide for our needs today. We acknowledge that we are sinful and in need of forgiveness that he alone can provide, and we recognize our obligation to forgive others as we have been forgiven. We ask God to help us avoid temptation and, through Jesus, to be victorious over temptation. We ask God to save us from every evil and bring us to his eternal kingdom. Jesus warns us that unless we are willing to forgive others who sin against us, God will not forgive us our sins.

God’s people are to remember what God has done for us, and to pass on that remembrance to our children. When we first hear the Gospel and believe, we believe what God has done for us through Jesus’ death and resurrection on the Cross. From that point we are to grow to spiritual maturity.

As we read the Bible, we see what God has done for us through his dealings with Israel to bring us the Savior, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, we learn to discern right from wrong according to God’s judgment, and we learn that God rewards obedient trust in his word, and punishes disobedience and evil (sin).

As Christian disciples grow in obedience to Jesus’ teachings they are “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). As disciples grow in personal fellowship and guidance by the Holy Spirit within us, we will learn personally the power and faithfulness of the Lord, and will experience what the Lord has done for us individually and personally, which we can remember and teach to our children.

As Moses taught the Israelites that they must keep God’s Laws in order to possess the Promised Land, Christians must learn to trust and obey Jesus’ word, his teachings, in order to enter the eternal Promised Land.

Paul had learned not to seek worldly approval, but God’s approval. Paul is the example of a modern, “post-resurrection” “born-again” Christian disciple, like all of us can be. Paul faithfully preserved and passed on the Gospel, and made “born-again” disciples (like Timothy), teaching them to obey all that Jesus teaches. Paul had opposition inside and outside the church. He didn’t alter his message to win worldly approval.

The Church is called by the Lord to grow to spiritual maturity, to be led by spiritually mature, “born-again” disciples who have personally experienced the risen Jesus within them by the Holy Spirit, have experienced personally the power and faithfulness of the Lord, and who share that testimony with others and lead them to “rebirth” by the Holy Spirit. When the Church is spiritually mature, it will discipline the disobedient, and reject false teachers and false doctrines.

Unfortunately, many Churches and congregations today are failing to make disciples, fail to lead them to spiritual rebirth by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and thus have no pool of “born-again” disciples from which to choose leaders and preachers. Many Churches and congregations build “buildings” and make “members” instead of making disciples and building the kingdom of God. We cannot teach discipleship and spiritual growth to our children, unless we are willing to become “born-again” disciples ourselves. Unregenerate (un-reborn) “Christians,” have no personal experience and knowledge of Jesus to testify to or pass on.

Paul’s hope for the Corinthian Church was that they would grow spiritually to maturity and that their example and testimony in their area would enlarge the opportunity for evangelism, so that others would come to experience the truth of the Gospel in their lives also.

Christian discipleship started with Jesus; he taught us how, by word and example. The Church is to continue his ministry of offering forgiveness of sin, salvation from eternal condemnation and eternal death, and restoration to eternal life and fellowship with God through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit.

Jesus taught his disciples to pray. He taught his disciples that sincerity in prayer is what God desires and rewards. Praying to impress other hearers, for worldly approval, is worthless. Effective prayer must acknowledge God’s sovereign power and providence. The petitioner must ask for what is according to God’s will. When we ask God for something we must be willing to do what he asks us to do: to trust and obey him.

God is God, whether we acknowledge him or not, but God has no obligation to be our God, with all that a righteous, loving and powerful God implies, unless we are willing to be his people, and serve his will. We must recognize our need for God’s forgiveness, his free gift of forgiveness to us in Jesus Christ, and be willing to forgive others as we have been forgiven (see also Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right).

8 Epiphany - Tuesday

Deuteronomy 4:15-24,       Against image worship
2 Corinthians 11:1-21a,      Paul’s response to critics
Matthew 6:16-23,     Jesus’ teaching on piety

When God revealed himself to Israel at Mt. Horeb (Mt. Sinai), the people heard his voice but saw no form (God is Spirit; John 4:24). Israel is not to make any form or figure to worship as god; not human, animal, or celestial. God has allowed the people of earth to worship images but has brought Israel out of Egypt to be his own people. The Lord was angry with Moses (because when he brought water out of the rock in the wilderness Moses took personal credit, instead of glorifying God; Numbers 20:10-12) and forbade Moses to enter the Promised Land, so Moses was to die in the wilderness before Israel (under the leadership of Joshua) could cross the Jordan and enter Canaan. Moses warned the people not to forget the covenant of the Lord or worship any one or thing other than the Lord, because the Lord has the power to punish and destroy, and will not tolerate idolatry among his people.

Paul regards the Church as the bride of Christ, and himself as the friend of the groom who has arranged the betrothal, so he is naturally concerned for the bride’s purity and faithfulness. Paul is concerned that the Church not be led astray, like Eve was deceived by the serpent (Genesis 3:1-6), from sincere and faithful devotion to Christ. The Church must be careful not to be led astray by those preaching “another Jesus,” or a “different spirit,” or “another gospel” (compare Galatians 1:6-9) than the scriptural (recorded in the Bible) Apostolic (as taught by the Apostles, including Paul) Gospel of Jesus Christ (which the Apostles, including Paul, learned by personal discipleship to Jesus and were commissioned by Christ to proclaim). Paul had been criticized by others as unskilled in speaking, but Paul had demonstrated that his knowledge was not deficient.

Paul’s ministry was belittled by some because Paul had made his ministry free of cost to the Corinthians (Paul had supported himself as a tent-maker; Acts18:1-4; Thessalonians 3:7-12; Only the Philippian congregation had voluntarily contributed to his financial support: Philippians 4:14-17). Paul felt like a robber (an exaggeration to make a point) in taking money from the Philippian Christians in order to minister to the Corinthians.

Paul had been accompanied to Corinth by some Macedonian Christians (from Philippi, which was the capital of the province of Macedonia), who provided for Paul’s support in Corinth, so that the Corinthians would not be burdened, and Paul was pleased to let it be known throughout Achaia (a territory of Greece, of which Corinth was a city) that he had preached the gospel free of cost because Paul knew the truth of the Gospel of Christ and loved and cared for the spiritual welfare of the Corinthians.

Paul was determined to continue to preach the gospel without charge, so that it could be clearly seen that he was not doing it for money, in contrast to false apostles, who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. Satan attempts to deceive people by appearing to be an angel of light, so it isn’t surprising that the servants of Satan would disguise their real motives by adopting the outward appearance of righteousness. They will receive God’s judgment according to their deeds.

Paul was not really boastful and did not seek his own glory, but he wanted to make a point. He was willing to appear foolish to Corinthians who thought they were wise. Those “wise” Corinthians were being deceived by false apostles acting as though they possessed great wisdom in order to enslave and take advantage of the deceived. Paul was glad to acknowledge that he was too “weak” to indulge in that kind of “strength.”

Jesus taught his disciples that piety (religious devotion) is not to be practiced to be seen by men, but rather in unity with God’s will. If we fast, our fasting should not be an outward display for the approval of people, but an inward act of devotion to the Lord.

Jesus warns us not to desire or expend our efforts on accumulating material wealth, which offers no eternal security, but instead to pursue the spiritual goals, which do have eternal value. What we value will determine where our devotion lies. The eye is like a window which lets light into our bodies. Spiritual blindness is similar to physical blindness. If there is something wrong with the eye that causes it not to see the light, then the whole body is full of darkness, which represents sin). If we misperceive darkness (perhaps false religion) as light our spiritual vision is profoundly defective. If we deliberately indulge in darkness once we have been enlightened, our sinfulness is profound and without cure.

Satan is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). He lied to Eve in the Garden of Eden, telling her she would not die by disobeying God’s commandment Genesis 3:4), and she yielded to temptation and brought (eternal) death into Creation (Genesis 3:19, 22-23).

Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land, because he took the glory which belongs only to God for himself (Numbers 20:10-12). As Israel was about to enter the Promised Land, Moses, in his farewell address, warned them not to forget their covenant with the Lord, or worship any one or thing other than the Lord, because God has the power to punish and destroy those who disobey his word.

Paul considered Christ as the “bridegroom” of his “bride,” the Church, and Paul as Christ’s “best man.” Paul was thus concerned with the purity and faithfulness of the “bride,” the Church. Paul warned the Church not to be led astray by “false christs,” “false apostles,” “false gospels” or lying spirits. The Church, which had just been founded by Jesus’ death and resurrection, was already under attack, and those forces are still at work within and outside the Church today.

There are those, today, who want to teach “another gospel of Jesus Christ,” who claim to teach Jesus, but they really teach a “false christ.” Any spirit which denies that Jesus is God’s eternal Savior and King, the Son of God, is a lying spirit and ultimately Satan himself. Anyone who denies the deity of Jesus is a false apostle (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28).

This world is a spiritual battlefield. Satan has already been defeated at the Cross of Jesus Christ, but he has not yet been captured, and he wants to take as many eternal souls as possible with him to eternal punishment in Hell.

Satan will use whatever method will accomplish his purpose. He tempted Eve by suggesting the forbidden fruit would make her wise (Genesis 3:6), and that she would become “like God” (Genesis 3:5), and Eve yielded to temptation. That’s the problem humans have always had; we want to be God, instead of knowing, trusting, obeying and serving God. The Corinthians were being tempted to think they were wise in listening to false apostles and false doctrines, and that strategy is just as effective today.

God is true, and that truth is manifested in Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of God’s truth (John 1:1-5, 14; 14:6). Jesus taught his disciples that those who worship God must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Worship is not outward appearance or religious ritual, but inner truth and sincerity. What other people think of us doesn’t matter; God’s approval is the only eternally important issue.

Paul (formerly known as Saul of Tarsus) was a modern, “post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian disciple and apostle (messenger of the Gospel), like all of us can be (Acts 9:1-20). He hadn’t known Jesus during Jesus’ earthly ministry. Paul was discipled by Ananias, a born-again disciple (he had a personal relationship with the Lord; Acts 9:10) who led Paul to be born-again (Acts 9:17). Thereafter Paul was led by the indwelling Holy Spirit within him (Acts 9:19-20). He received the same Apostolic Gospel from the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9b) that the other Apostles had received during Jesus’ earthly ministry in his physical lifetime. Paul was fulfilling the Great Commission which Jesus gave to his born-again disciples (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 24:45-49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), to make born-again disciples, and to teach them to obey all Jesus’ words.

Jesus came to show us how to become children of God and to give us the power to do so (John 1:12-13 RSV), through his indwelling Holy Spirit within us. We have to claim that promise in order to receive it. Only Jesus gives the gift (“anointing,” “baptism”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Moses warned God’s people not to forget to obey their covenant with the Lord. As Christians, our covenant with God is to trust and obey Jesus and be guided by his Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-11). Moses also warned God’s people not to allow any one or any thing to become as, or more important than their obedient trust in the Lord. Any such behavior is idolatrous. Jesus gives us the same warning.

Many people today, even within the “Church,” expend most or all their effort “worshiping” the modern idols, such as wealth, success, career, family, youth, beauty, health, and pleasure. To many, material substance seems “real,” and spiritual things seem “imaginary,” or based on “feelings,” “emotions,” or a manner of thinking. Many give no thought or effort to their spiritual wellbeing. Many people would rather pay for some worldly “self-help” book or guru, than receive the Gospel for free; many think that if it is free it can’t be worth much.

We are all eternal (John 5:28-29). This physical lifetime is a brief moment, in comparison to eternity, but many people go through their entire physical lifetime with no thought or effort to prepare for their eternal future. Everything in this physical world will pass away; only what we do spiritually in this lifetime is eternal. What we value will be evident in what we do, and will determine where we will spend eternity.

We cannot secure eternal life by Church “membership,” or by religious ritual, or “good deeds.” Obedient trust in Jesus is the only way to receive forgiveness for sin (disobedience of God’s word), salvation from eternal condemnation and eternal death (Acts 4:12; John 14:6) and restoration to fellowship with God, through his indwelling Holy Spirit (see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

8 Epiphany - Wednesday

Deuteronomy 4:25-31,       Faithful and merciful God
2 Corinthians 11:21b-33,       Paul’s suffering
Matthew 6:24-34,       Seek first the Kingdom of God

Moses warned the people of Israel that after they entered the Promised Land and had dwelt there for several generations they would be tempted to turn to other “gods” and disobey God’s word. If they pursued idolatry and disobedience Moses warned them that they would not remain in the land but would be destroyed and driven from it, and scattered among the nations of the world. There they would be forced to serve idols created by the imagination of humans. But from there, when they sought God with all their heart and soul, they would find God. “When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the Lord your God and obey his voice, for the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not fail or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers which he swore to them” (Deuteronomy 4:30-31).

Paul (formerly called Saul of Tarsus) was not boastful or advocating boasting, but making the point that if he were inclined to boast he would have more reason for boasting than his critics, who had been boasting of themselves in comparison to Paul. Paul was as much a Jew by birth and by training as his adversaries, and had worked harder and suffered more to proclaim the Gospel than they had.

Paul had been imprisoned, beaten, whipped, and stoned. In his missionary travels, he had been in danger on rivers and had been shipwrecked on the sea. He had been in danger in the wilderness and also in cities. He had been persecuted by Jews, Gentiles, and false Christians. He had endured sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, cold and exposure. Added to this was the stress and worry for the churches under his supervision. When any believer under Paul’s responsibility stumbled (spiritually) Paul suffered because of his concern for them.

Paul had empathy for those who are weak, because Paul knew and acknowledged his own weakness. If Paul boasted of anything he would boast of his weakness (so that the Lord’s power might be evident in him). The fact that Paul escaped all these perils illustrates the Lord’s power to deliver him, like the time he escaped from the power of the government at Damascus by being lowered in a basket from and window in the city wall (2 Corinthians 11:32-33; compare Acts 9:23-25).

Jesus taught that we should not be preoccupied with our need for food and clothing. God our Father cares for us more than any anything else in Creation, and is able to provide for us as illustrated by his Creation. God’s Creation contains everything necessary for life. Worrying is unproductive; we cannot solve our problems by worrying about them.

A better way to live is to trust in God who loves us and who will provide for our needs. If we will seek first God’s kingdom in our lives, he will provide for all our daily needs, but if we do not trust God to provide for our needs and feel that we must first provide for our needs ourselves, we will never get around to seeking God’s kingdom, and it will be impossible for us to find, because it requires trust in God and obedience to his word. Therefore Jesus counsels us not to worry about tomorrow; we should just live one day at a time (compare Matthew 6:11) in obedient trust in the Lord.

God’s dealing with Israel is not just history, but is deliberately intended by God to be a parable (a common life experience used to illustrate spiritual truth), and a metaphor for the meaning of life in this world. In one sense the Church is the “New Israel,” the “New people of God,” and in another sense America (and other “Christian” nations) is the “New (nation of) Israel,” and the “New Promised Land.”

Moses’ warning to Israel is also a particularly relevant warning to the nominal “Church” and to nominal “Christian” nations, particularly America, today. We’ve been so blessed with prosperity and success that we’ve forgotten God, who is the source of those blessings; we’ve come to believe that we’ve created those blessings ourselves.

Israel did turn, repeatedly, from obedience to God’s word and to idolatry, refusing to hear the many warnings by God’s prophets, and eventually God lifted his providence and protection, from his people and his nation, and allowed them to be deported and scattered among the Gentile nations. The northern kingdom of the divided monarchy, Israel, the kingdom of the ten tribes, was conquered by the Assyrians in 720 B.C., and ceased to exist. Yet the southern kingdom, Judah, the remnant of Israel, refused to learn from the example of the northern kingdom and repeated warnings by God’s prophets. The result was that God lifted his providence and protection from Judah, and they were carried off into Babylonian exile in 587 B.C. for seventy years, as God had declared by his prophet (Jeremiah 25:12). The remnant of Israel in Babylonian exile fulfilled Moses’ prophecy that they would be restored to the Promised Land when they learned in tribulation to seek God with all their heart and soul, and return from idolatry and disobedience to obedient trust in God’s word.

A remnant of Israel did return from Babylonian exile, and dedicated the rebuilt temple in 517 B.C., (as the seventy years is accounted) but it was a renewed people who returned; for the people who were adults at the time of the deportation, seventy years was a virtual life sentence.

The Babylonian Exile is a metaphor for life in this temporal world, in which we are to learn to trust and obey God above any other person or thing (“idolatry”), so that the Lord will lead us into the eternal Promised Land of his heavenly kingdom. The Exile is also a metaphor for eternal exile in the “Babylon” of Hell, for those who refuse to trust and obey God’s word, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 14), God’s only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Paul is the prototype and example of a modern, “post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8), disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ, as all of us can be. Paul had not known Jesus, during Jesus’ physical lifetime. Paul thought he was serving God while persecuting Christians. On the road to Damascus, intending to do that very thing, Jesus confronted Paul and struck him physically blind so that Paul could realize his spiritual blindness. Then the Lord sent a “born-again” (Acts 9:10) disciple, Ananias, living in Damascus, to come to Paul to disciple Paul and lead him to receive the gift (“anointing,” “baptism”) of the Holy Spirit.

From that point, Paul was a different person. He immediately began to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 9:20). He spent many days in Damascus preaching Jesus Christ, and began to be persecuted for the Gospel, leading to his escape through the window of the city wall in a basket (Acts 9:23-25). Throughout the rest of his ministry he was constantly in danger and suffering hardship, but he learned that the Lord could and faithfully would provide for Paul and protect him in every circumstance (Philippians 4:11-13), even from physical death.

Paul learned from personal experience in discipleship and fellowship with the risen Jesus, that the meaning of this temporal lifetime is our only chance to seek the Lord, and that if we truly seek the Lord, the Lord will allow us to find and come to know him personally. This was Paul’s testimony to the Greeks at Athens (Acts 17:26-27), and the fulfillment of Moses’ prophecy (Deuteronomy 4:29).

Jesus wants us to trust and obey him so that we, too, can have a personal fellowship with Jesus, and can learn that he is able and faithful to provide for and preserve us in any circumstance, even physical death (see Hebrews 2:14-15). Think how much time, energy, and resources people in this world spend trying to protect themselves from every difficulty. Those who seek worldly security before considering their spiritual security will never find either. We can’t learn that the Lord is faithful and abundantly able to protect and provide for us unless we’re willing to be confronted by God’s word when we’re wrong (Acts 9:4) and willing to submit to the Lord’s correction (Acts 9:5), like Paul was, and begin to trust and obey the Lord’s commands (Acts 9:6, 17).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

8 Epiphany - Thursday

Deuteronomy 4:32-40, The Lord is the only true God

2 Corinthians 12:1-10, Strength in weakness

Matthew 7:1-12, Practical application of Jesus’ message

Consider the entire history of the world from the day of creation. Never before has any nation and people heard God’s voice or experienced God’s intervention except Israel. Never before has any nation been delivered from the power of another by miraculous powers and signs as the Lord delivered Israel from Egypt. The Lord revealed his powerful intervention so that we might know that the Lord alone is God. The Lord let his voice be heard so that he might discipline us.

The Lord loved the patriarchs of Israel and chose to bless their descendants in fulfilling his promise to their ancestors. He brought them out of Egypt with his own presence and power and gave them the Promised Land as an inheritance, driving out larger nations and more powerful people before Israel. Realize and remember that the Lord alone is God of heaven and earth; there is no other god. Know, remember and obey God’s word and his commandments so that all will be well with you and with your descendants and that you may live long in the land God promised to give you forever.

Paul was not boastful nor was he advocating boasting, but was responding to critics who had been building themselves up by criticizing Paul. Paul described a vision of highest heaven which he had fourteen years prior (although he shared it “anonymously”). In that vision Paul heard (secret) things he either could not or was forbidden to share. Paul chose to boast of nothing of himself except his weaknesses, although he had plenty of reasons to boast if he chose. He was content to let people form their own opinion of him from what he said and did.

Paul mentioned a “thorn in the flesh” (a physical or emotional irritant) given him to keep him from becoming too proud of the revelations he had been given. Paul had prayed three times for its removal, but the Lord had told him that the Lord’s grace would help Paul endure it and that the Lord’s power is revealed through human weakness. So Paul would gladly admit his weaknesses so that he could experience and reveal Christ’s power in himself. For the sake of Christ Paul was able to be “content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities” (2 Corinthians 12:10). When Paul was weak he experienced and learned to rely on Christ’s strength.

Here is the practical application of Jesus’ message. We’re not to be condemning of others, but let us be honest with ourselves. Let us not use the shortcomings of others to overlook or excuse our own shortcomings. Let’s change ourselves, over whom we do have control, instead of trying to change others. Don’t expect unbelievers to value spiritual truth; understand that they cannot appreciate spiritual truth any more than a pig can value fine jewelry. Forcing spiritual truth on unbelievers can prompt a vicious response.

If we earnestly seek the things of God we will find them. If we ask God in faith for what we truly need we will receive it. God loves us as a good father loves his children. God wants to give us good things; he doesn’t give evil when we ask for what is good. So we should treat others the way we would like to be treated. If we do that we will have satisfied all God’s commandments.

God is the one and only God. He is God, whether we acknowledge him or not. God has always intended from the beginning of Creation, to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey him.

God made this Creation so that we would have free choice whether to trust and obey God or not, knowing that we would have to learn to do so by “trial and error.” Disobedience of God’s word is sin, and we have all sinned (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God’s only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Jesus Christ is not an afterthought; he has been “built in” to the structure of Creation (John 1:1-5, 14).

This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek and come to a personal knowledge and fellowship with our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), to learn to trust and obey God, and to receive eternal life through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, by the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). Only Jesus gives the gift (“anointing;” “baptism”) of the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).

God has revealed himself to the world through his dealings with Israel. God revealed himself to Abraham (Abram), who was willing to trust and obey God’s word, and God founded the nation of Israel through Abraham. He promised to make a great nation of Abraham’s descendants, and to give them the Promised Land.

Moses’ leading the people of God out of bondage to sin and death in Egypt, through the Sea, through the wilderness and into the Promised Land prefigures and illustrates the saving work of Christ, who frees us from sin and death, leads us through the waters of baptism, through the wilderness of this lifetime, through the river of physical death, and into the eternal Promised Land, by the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit, prefigured in the pillar of fire leading Israel in the night (spiritual darkness; Exodus 13:21) in the wilderness.

God wants to reveal himself to us individually and personally. God manifested himself to the world in human flesh in the physical lifetime of Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:8-9). God has given us his Word, in the Bible, and in Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God’s Word in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). God’s ultimate revelation of himself to us individually and personally is through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit. If we seek God, he will allow us to find him. To receive the promises in God’s Word, we must trust and obey God’s Word revealed in Jesus Christ. God gives us his Word, his example, and his Holy Spirit to discipline us like a good father disciplines his children, so that we will grow up to spiritual maturity and fulfill the life he wants us to have.

Paul was living by the guidance of the Holy Spirit within him, and he is the prototype and example of a modern, “post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and apostle (messenger of the Gospel) as we all can be. Paul knew that it was only by the grace (unmerited favor) of God through Jesus Christ by his indwelling Holy Spirit that Paul could accomplish anything for God’s eternal kingdom. Paul didn’t try to use his ministry to build up his personal worldly status and reputation. Paul wanted to give all the glory to the Lord, in love and appreciation for what the Lord had done for Paul.

Paul experienced the peace and assurance only the Lord can give by his indwelling presence, and was willing to endure persecution and hardship for the Gospel as a result. Paul was fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) to make born-again disciples of Jesus Christ, and teaching them, by word and example, to trust and obey Jesus’ commandments But some of the Corinthian “Christians” were unwilling to submit to spiritual discipline, and were not growing in spiritual maturity, preferring to gain worldly approval and status for themselves by criticizing Christian disciples like Paul. These critics of Paul were overlooking their own shortcomings by disparaging Paul to make themselves look better. This condition still exists in the Church today.

Jesus taught his disciples to encourage and strengthen our brethren, but to be honest in self-evaluation. The Lord wants us to grow to spiritual maturity, and he will help us do so, if we are willing guided and disciplined by the Lord. The Lord wants to give us good things, and he will, if we ask for them, but we have to learn to distinguish what is good in God’s judgment.

God reveals through his Holy Spirit the good things he has planned for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9-10, but unspiritual people do not receive the gifts of Holy Spirit and are unable to understand spiritual things, because those things are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14) by those who possess the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We can share the Gospel with others, and we can live according to Jesus’ teachings, so that others may see the truth of the Gospel in us, but we cannot expect others to respond to the Gospel in faith. Their response is their free choice. If we treat others as we would like to be treated, we will have fulfilled God’s commandments.

8 Epiphany - Friday

Deuteronomy 5:1-22, The giving of the law

2 Corinthians 12:11-21, Paul’s approaching visit

Matthew 7:13-21, The Narrow Gate

Moses proclaimed to Israel the Ten Commandments given to him by God at Mt. Horeb (Mt. Sinai). The covenant between God and his people was based on these commandments and the people were commanded to learn them and be careful to do them. Each generation was to renew the covenant. Moses was the mediator between God and the people; the people couldn’t approach God directly.

The Lord who brought Israel out of Egypt is God; we are to have no other god. We must not make any image or “likeness” to worship and serve. The Lord will not share his glory with any other thing or person. He will bless those who love and obey him and punish those who hate and disobey him. We must not use God’s name any other way than reverently, to give him worship and praise. We are to keep the sabbath as a day of rest for ourselves and those who serve us, remembering what the Lord has done to free us from bondage to sin and death (John 3:16-17). We must honor our fathers and mothers so that we may receive God’s blessings and live long in the Promised Land. We must not kill, commit adultery, steal, lie, or covet what belongs to others. These are the commandments of God which he wrote on tablets of stone and delivered to Moses on Mt. Horeb.

In all his words and actions Paul was worthy of commendation by the Corinthian church, but instead had been forced to defend his conduct. He had been criticized by (false) apostles within the congregation who were seeking their own glory. The fact that Paul wasn’t seeking personal recognition or using his ministry for financial gain didn’t make his ministry and divine commission inferior to his critics. In the congregation Paul had demonstrated his authentic apostleship and his “anointing” by the Holy Spirit. Paul had dealt no less fairly with the Corinthians than any other church. In fact he had been more generous with them because he had not required their financial support of his ministry.

Paul was prepared to visit the congregation again, and he was seeking their spiritual wellbeing rather than any material benefit for himself. Paul regarded them as his spiritual children and, like a good parent, wants to provide for them rather than expecting them to provide for him. Paul was happy to give himself and his resources for their spiritual nurture. Would the congregation love Paul less as Paul’s love for them increased? Was Paul’s generosity a crafty scheme to take advantage of them? When Paul sent Titus and his fellow missionary to them they had behaved exactly like Paul and no one was claiming that Titus and his co-worker had taken advantage of the Corinthians (as they apparently had done to Paul).

The purpose of Paul’s letter was not to defend himself to the Corinthians, but to help them grow spiritually. God’s judgment of Paul’s ministry is the only judgment that matters. Paul worried that when he came to Corinth he might find problems in the congregation and the congregation might be unhappy with Paul. Paul wanted to avoid quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit and disorder within the congregation. Paul didn’t want to be embarrassed in the presence of the congregation and be grieved “by many of those who sinned before and have not repented of the impurity, immorality and licentiousness which they have practiced” (2 Corinthians 12:21).

Jesus taught that the path to righteousness and eternal life requires self-discipline and discernment. Outward appearances can be deceiving. There will be a Day of Judgment when all people who have ever lived on earth will be held accountable for what they have done.

Discipline is required of believers. Jesus warned that the easy, undisciplined way leads to destruction. Jesus’ way requires effort and self-denial. Not everyone will be willing to make the effort, but the reward is true life now and eternally. Jesus warned his followers to beware of false prophets, who appear outwardly to be of God, but who are inwardly working against the best interests of God’s people. The test of a prophet is an examination of his works. Not everyone who claims Jesus as Lord will be saved. Those for whom Jesus is truly Lord will do what Jesus commanded and taught.

Moses prefigures and illustrates what the Christ will be like. Moses led the people through the wilderness and into the Promised Land. Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant of Law. The Law was given to restrain evil until the coming of Christ who is the mediator of the New Covenant of Grace (unmerited favor) through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus the Christ.

Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection made it possible for his disciples to be filled with and guided by Christ’s indwelling Holy Spirit. It is the indwelling Holy Spirit which leads Christian disciples through the spiritual wilderness of this world and into the eternal Promised Land of God’s kingdom in Heaven. Only Jesus gives the Holy Spirit (John 1:1-5, 14) only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).

God is God, whether we acknowledge, trust and obey him or not. God warns us not to worship and serve any other god, which is idolatry. Idolatry is the love of anyone or thing other than God. Examples of modern idols are power, wealth, success, career, family, home, and pleasure,

God has given us his commandments for our best interest. He gives us free will to choose whether to obey him or not, but God warns that those who obey his commands will be blessed now and eternally and those who disobey his commands will perish eternally. Under the Old Covenant of Law humans could never fulfill all God’s commands (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8-10), and God’s penalty for sin (disobedience of God’s Word) is eternal death. So blood sacrifices were constantly necessary for the forgiveness of sin.

Since Jesus’ death on the Cross, he has become once for all time and all people who will receive it, the only sacrifice acceptable to God for our forgiveness and salvation. His death made it possible for us to be filled with, guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit, who makes it possible for us to resist sin, and to live according to God’s will, which God’s Law was unable to do. Those who live according to the indwelling Holy Spirit are not under the condemnation of the Law (Romans 8:1-9).

Paul is the prototype and example of a modern, “post-resurrection” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and apostle (messenger of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, as all of us can be. Paul was filled with, led and empowered by the Holy Spirit of Christ within him (Romans 8:9). Paul was fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) the risen Jesus gave to his disciples to carry out after they had been “born-again” (Luke 24:45-49; Acts 1:4-5, 8; Acts 2:1-13), to make “born-again” disciples and teach them to obey all that Jesus commands.

Paul was teaching by word and example. His conduct demonstrated his discipleship and apostleship. But already in the first-century Church there were false apostles, “wolves” among the “sheep.” There were also unrepentant members of the Corinthian Church living in disobedience of God’s word. Paul was forced to discipline them. The same struggle goes on today in the “Church” between genuine, “born-again” disciples and apostles, and “false apostles,” and over Church discipline of sin among its members.

Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment, and example of God’s Word lived out in human flesh. Jesus was perfectly obedient to God’s will, even to dying on the Cross. Jesus taught his disciples to trust and obey God’s will and to be filled with and guided by the Holy Spirit. Christian discipleship requires self-discipline and discernment.

A genuine Christian is a disciple by definition (Acts 11:26c); discipleship is not an optional category of “super-Christian.” It is necessary for a disciple to give up his personal self-interest in order to do God’s will, but his reward will be eternal life instead of eternal death which those who reject Jesus and disobey God’s word, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, will receive. A disciple must also be discerning; one must know God’s word in order to do it. A disciple needs to read the Bible completely, and to read it daily, seeking God’s guidance daily, one day at a time.

Jesus warned his disciples that there will be a Day of Judgment when all who have ever lived will be accountable to the Lord for what they have done in this lifetime. We have all been created with an immortal soul. What we have done in this lifetime will determine where we will spend eternity.

The Lord knows everything about us individually and personally, and he is not deceived by outward appearances. Life with the self-discipline of discipleship leads to eternal life, but those unwilling to be disciples will spend eternity in Hell with all evil.

Jesus warns us to watch out for false prophets and false apostles, who appear to be of God, but who are agents of Satan to lead God’s people astray. There are many false prophets and false prophets in the world and also within the “Church.” One example of false doctrine within the Church today is “Cheap Grace,”* which is the teaching that salvation is a free gift (true), to be received without the requirement of discipleship and obedience of God’s word (false). Another is “works-righteousness,” “legalism,” the “circumcision party (faction)” the doctrine that one can (and must) “earn” salvation by doing certain “good deeds.” Both existed in the first-century Church and both are refuted in the New Testament.

Jesus warns that not everyone who claims to be a “Christian” will be saved (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46). Those for whom Jesus is truly their Lord will do what Jesus commands and teaches (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

*See: The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Collier Books, Macmillan Publishing Co., NY 1963 ISBN 0-02-083850-6

8 Epiphany - Saturday

Deuteronomy 5:22-33, Moses the mediator

2 Corinthians 13:1-14, Paul’s impending visit

Matthew 7:22-29, Build on the Rock

God manifested himself in thick cloud and fire when he came down from heaven to the top of Mt. Horeb (Mt. Sinai) to give the Ten Commandments to Moses, written on stone tablets (Exodus 19:9-20:19). The people of Israel witnessed the manifestation from a distance, and heard the voice of the Lord, and were afraid of God’s greatness and power. The people delegated leaders from each of the twelve tribes to ask Moses to be their mediator between God and themselves so that God would not speak directly to the people for fear that they would be destroyed by his great power. They promised to hear and do what the Lord said to Moses. The Lord heard what the people said to Moses and he declared that it was reasonable and commendable for them to fear the Lord and obey his commandments so that they and their children would be blessed and prospered by the Lord forever. The Lord told Moses to release the people to return to their tents while the Lord gave the rest of his statutes and ordinances to Moses. Moses was to teach God’s law to the people so that they would live in obedience to all of God’s laws in the Promised Land. God’s blessings and long life in the Promised Land are conditional upon obedience to God’s word.

Paul was planning a third visit to the Corinthian church. Paul’s previous visit had been “painful” because he had to discipline members for sinful and unacceptable behavior (such as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12:20-21), and had warned them that he would deal harshly with members if he found them continuing such behavior. But accusations would have to meet the standards of God’s word (Deuteronomy 19:15), requiring two or three witnesses to substantiate the charges. Apparently some of the congregation had challenged Paul’s “anointing” (with the Holy Spirit) and authority that Christ was speaking through Paul. Christ died in weakness but rose in power, and Paul shared similar human weakness, but Christ worked with divine power through Paul.

Paul urged the Corinthian Christians to examine and test themselves to be certain that they are holding to the true faith (the Apostolic Gospel which Paul had taught them and is recorded in the New Testament). They should know with certainty if they have been “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which Jesus promised to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). If they have been “born-again” they should be able to recognize Paul’s “anointing.” Paul prayed that the Corinthian Christians would not do wrong, not so that Paul’s authority and reputation would be enhanced, but for their own spiritual welfare. Paul would be willing to sacrifice his own status if it would help the Corinthians grow to spiritual maturity. But Paul couldn’t sacrifice truth to make the Corinthians look good or feel good. God is truth and Christians can’t work against truth. Paul would be glad to be weak so that the Corinthians could become strong through Christ’s Spirit (the Holy Spirit; Romans 8:9) within them. Paul prayed for their spiritual growth. Paul hoped that, by writing in advance of his visit, he could avoid using his apostolic authority to severely discipline the congregation in person, hoping to use that authority to spiritually build up the congregation, as the Lord intended, rather than for tearing down. In closing Paul urged the congregation to do what Paul urged, to amend their ways and to live in peace with one another “and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11b). “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Jesus teaches that there will be a Day of Judgment, when everyone will be accountable before the Lord for what they have done. The judgment will not be based on superficial appearances, because The Lord knows everything we have done, and he sees the innermost motives and attitudes. It won’t matter that one has professed Jesus as Lord, if he has not done what Jesus taught, and Jesus taught obedience to the will of God. Those who hear Jesus’ teaching and apply them in their own lives are like a builder who builds upon a solid rock foundation. Those who do not take Jesus’ teaching to heart and apply it in their lives are like those who build on sand. The house may look great, but the first storm that comes along will destroy it, because it was not founded on a solid foundation.