23 Pentecost – Sunday (variable)
Posted October 19, 2008
Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 -- Holiness;
Psalm 1 -- Rewards of Righteousness;
1 Thessalonians 1:5b-10 -- Testimony
by Example;
Matthew 22:34-40 (41-46) -- The Great
Commandment;
Leviticus:
God told Moses to tell the congregation of Israel that they must be
holy (perfect in goodness and righteousness) because God is holy (good,
righteous, and worthy of our devotion). God commanded his people to
practice justice, without partiality to the poor or rich, the weak or
the powerful. They are to judge one another by the standard of God’s
righteousness. They are not to participate in slander, nor to seek the
death of a neighbor. God is Lord.
God’s people are not to hate their brothers or argue with their
neighbors, or they will be accounted as sinful. They are not to take
vengeance or carry a grudge against their own people. They are to love
their neighbors just as much as they love themselves. God is Lord.
Psalm:
The person who does not follow the advice of the wicked or the example
of sinners or associate with scoffers will be blessed. The law of the
Lord will be his delight, and he will meditate on it day and night.
That person will be like a tree planted near water; it will produce its
fruit in the proper season and it will not wither in drought. He will
prosper in all that he does.
Not so of the wicked; they are like chaff blown away by the wind. They
will not be exonerated in the judgment; they will not be among the
congregation of the righteous. The Lord knows the reward of righteous
and the outcome of their deeds, but the wicked are on the path to eternal
destruction.
Thessalonians:
The Thessalonians (the congregation at Thessalonica in Macedonia, which
Paul had established) had received the Gospel through Paul’s preaching,
not just in words, but accompanied by the power and the Holy Spirit and
full assurance. Paul and his missionary co-workers (Silvanus, also
called Silas, and Timothy, Paul’s protégé), had set the example for the
Thessalonians to follow, and the Thessalonians had followed the
missionaries example, as the missionaries were following the example of
Jesus Christ.
They had received the Word with great joy, despite much
affliction (persecution from the Jews). So the Thessalonians had become
an example for all believers in Macedonia, and neighboring Greece
(Achaia). Their testimony to the Gospel and their faith was not only in
words, but by the testimony of their example, which made words
unnecessary. Everyone throughout the region had heard of the welcome
the Thessalonians had given Paul and his co-workers, and how the
Thessalonians had been converted from idolatry to serve the true,
living God, and to wait for the return, from heaven, of God’s Son
(Jesus Christ), who God raised from death, who delivers us from the
wrath of God’s coming Judgment.
Matthew:
The Pharisees and Sadducees, Jewish religious leaders, were angry and
jealous of Jesus, and were seeking a way to destroy him (Matthew
22:15). Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, a group of
Pharisees came to Jesus and a lawyer among them asked Jesus which is
the greatest commandment. Jesus replied that to love God with all one’s
heart, mind and soul is the greatest commandment, and the other great
commandment is to love one’s neighbor as oneself. Jesus declared that
these two commandments summed up the law and prophets (the Jewish
Bible).
While the Pharisees were gathered, Jesus asked them what they thought
of the Christ (the promised Messiah); whose son was the Christ? The
Pharisees answered that he was the son of David. So Jesus asked how, if
the Christ was David’s son, why David, by the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit called him Lord. Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1: “The Lord said to my
Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put thy enemies under thy feet.” If
he is David’s Lord, how is he David’s son. No one was able to answer,
and they were afraid to ask Jesus any more questions.
Commentary:
God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people
who willingly trust and obey God. This Creation allows us freedom to
choose whether or not to trust and obey God’s Word and the opportunity
to learn from trial and error that God’s way is good, possible, and our
very best interest. But this Creation and we ourselves have been
limited by time, because God is not willing to tolerate disobedience
and idolatry forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom.
God has been progressively revealing himself to the world. He first
began to reveal himself through his Creation. Then he began a personal
relationship with Abraham, continuing to reveal himself through his
dealings with Israel, recorded in the Bible.
Jesus is the fullest revelation of God to the world in human flesh
(Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit,
which only Jesus gives, (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust
and obey him (John 14:15-17), is God’s fullest revelation of himself to
us personally and individually.
God called Israel to be his particular people, of all the people of the
earth, and taught them his law, his standard of righteousness, by which
they were to live. Israel was to demonstrate to the world that God’s
law is good and that God is righteous, good and loving (Deuteronomy
4:6-8).
Jesus has been God’s plan from the very beginning of Creation, and has
been designed into it. Jesus is the illustration of God’s nature and
the example of God’s Word fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in human
flesh in this world (John 1:1-5, 14).
Jesus is the manifestation of God’s plan for this Creation (see God’s
Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right), which he accomplished through
Israel even though Israel was disobedient and idolatrous. Jesus’
crucifixion is the center of history. The people of Israel had fallen
away until Jesus was the last faithful person in Israel. From then on
Jesus was the beginning of the new people of God, the Church of Jesus
Christ.
Jesus is the only door (John 10:7) though which all must pass to have
eternal life and fellowship with God our Creator. Jesus is the only way
to know divine truth, to be restored to fellowship with God which was broken by
our sin (disobedience of God’s Word), and to have true, eternal life
now and forever (John 14:6).
Those who accept, trust and obey Jesus will be blessed, and those who
reject and refuse to trust and obey Jesus will be eternally destroyed
on the Day of Judgment at the end of our lives. We have the freedom to
choose, but the choice has eternal consequences.
The Thessalonian Christians had heard the Gospel, and received it not
just as words; not just with intellectual assent, but with application;
with obedient trust. As they began to apply the Gospel in their daily
lives they experienced to power, joy and assurance of the indwelling
Holy Spirit. They had believed and had then come to know with certainty
for themselves (John 6:68-69) the reality of Jesus’ resurrection. The
Thessalonians’ changed lives testified more eloquently than words.
Jesus had taught his disciples by word and example, and had modeled the
method of making disciples. Then he had commanded them to go and make
disciples, not of themselves but of Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20), after
they had received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49;
Acts 1:4-5, 8).
Paul (Saul of Tarsus) is the prototype and example of a “modern,”
post-resurrection,” “born-again (John 3:3, 5-8), disciple and apostle
of Jesus as we all can be. He hadn’t known Jesus during Jesus’ earthly
ministry. He came to a personal revelation on the road to Damascus as
he intended to persecute Christians (Acts 9:1-22). Paul was discipled
by a “born-again” disciple, Ananias, until Paul received the gift of
the indwelling Holy Spirit, and then Holy Spirit “discipled,” guided
and empowered Paul.
Paul began carrying out the same Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)
given to the Twelve of Jesus’ original disciples. Paul was a
“born-again” disciple making “born-again” disciples of Jesus and
teaching them to obey all that Jesus taught. Timothy was a disciple who
Paul discipled until Timothy received the gift of the indwelling Holy
Spirit (2 Timothy 1:6), and then Paul told Timothy to follow Paul’s
example and make other disciples (2 Timothy 2:2).
Paul was following the example of the risen and ascended Jesus through
the indwelling Holy Spirit, and so was Timothy. They “discipled” the
Thessalonians, who were spiritually reborn as they followed the example
of Jesus Christ through Paul and Timothy.
The Church is to be a disciple-making organization. A Christian is by
definition a disciple of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who has been
spiritually reborn by the gift of the 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).
In Jesus’ day, Judaism had ceased to be a relationship with God and had
become a “religion,” a means to manipulate God’s favor, and other
people. The religious leaders had lost sight of the fact that they were
to be stewards of God’s family and shepherds of God’s sheep. They cared
more for their worldly status and position than the spiritual condition
of their people (Matthew 27:3-5).
The religious leaders thought they knew all about God, but they
didn’t know God personally. They were willing to acknowledge the
earthly parentage of the Messiah, theoretically, but failed to
recognize that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah, the son of David and
the Son of God (Matthew 1:1-17; 21:15-17). They thought they were
righteous because they thought they obeyed the Law of Moses, but didn’t
love God or their fellow humans as much as they loved themselves.
So how are we doing, Church? Are we making disciples or
“fair-weather members?” Are we learning and applying Jesus’ teachings
in our daily
lives so that the worldly people around us will see our changed lives?
Do we think we’re saved because we’re members of a church, or because
we’ve participated in some church ritual, or because we teach Sunday
School or sing in the choir?
In too many instances America and the nominal Church, at least in
America, are in the same spiritual condition as Israel and Judaism at
the time of Jesus’ first advent (coming). Are we ready for Christ’s
return?
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)?
23
Pentecost
– Monday (variable)
To
be used only if there is a 24 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27
Pentecost.
Posted October 20, 2008
Psalm
63:1-8 -- Spiritual Thirst;
My soul thirsts for the Lord my God. My body is faint for you as though
in a desert without water. So I have seen you in the sanctuary; I have
seen your power and glory. I will use my voice to constantly praise
you, because your steadfast love is better than life itself. As long as
I live I will bless you; I will lift up my hands to you and call upon
your name.
My soul is satisfied as one who is feasted on marrow and fat. I praise
you with a joyful heart when I meditate on you in my bed during the
night. You have helped me, and I sing with joy in the shelter of your
wings. My soul clings to you and your right hand upholds me.
Commentary:
I’m convinced that the meaning and purpose of life is to seek and come
to know and have fellowship with God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27). God
promises that when we seek him with our whole being he will allow
himself to be found by us (Deuteronomy 4:29). Now is the time to seek
him, while he is near and can be found by us (Isaiah 55:6).
Jesus is the only way to come to know divine eternal truth, to be
restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin (disobedience
of God’s Word) and to have true eternal life (John 14:6). Jesus is God
in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Only Jesus can reveal
God the Father to us (John 14:7; Matthew 11:27).
The only way to have personal knowledge of and fellowship with Jesus
and God the Father is 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). Jesus reveals himself and God the Father to
us through his indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:21, 23; Romans 8:9). 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).
We have been created as eternal beings (souls) in physical bodies (John
5:28-29). Jesus’ miracles of resurrection and his own resurrection
demonstrate that there is existence beyond physical death. We have been
born physically alive but spiritually dead. This lifetime is our only
chance to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life,
and this is only by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit within us.
This world is a spiritual wilderness. We are dying eternally of
spiritual thirst, and Jesus, by the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit
is the only source of spiritual “living water” (John 7:37-39). People
try to satisfy their spiritual thirst with worldly substitutes which
will never satisfy or save them from dying eternally of spiritual
thirst. Only those who recognize their spiritual thirst and come to
faith (obedient trust) in Jesus can be saved.
We can experience the Lord’s power, glory and steadfast love through
the indwelling Holy Spirit. We experience the joy of his presence
within us. His Holy Spirit inspires our praise of his name. As we live
in obedience to his Holy Spirit we experience his power and ability to
help us and to answer our prayers. He comforts us and upholds us by his
indwelling Holy Spirit. We are confident of his eternal protection upon
us by his indwelling Holy Spirit. He is able and faithful to bring us
through every situation in life.
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)?
23 Pentecost – Tuesday (variable)
To
be used only if there is a 24 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27
Pentecost.
Posted October 21, 2008
Woe to “God’s people” who long for the day of the Lord. Why would they desire the day of the Lord? It is not going to be a day of light, but of darkness. The people think they will have escaped a lion, but will find themselves confronted by a bear, or as though they were safe inside their house when instead they are bitten by a snake. The day of the Lord will be a day of gloom and darkness.
The Lord says to his people that he
hates their feasts and “solemn assemblies.” The Lord refuses to accept
their
sacrifices and offerings. The Lord tells them to stop the noise of
their songs.
The Lord refuses to listen to their instrumental music. “But let
justice roll
down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos
5:24).
Commentary:
Amos was a prophet to the Northern
Kingdom of Israel from about 760-750 B.C.,* during the reign of
Jeroboam II. It
was a time of peace and prosperity, and
The people of
The Lord doesn’t desire religious ritual, offerings and sacrifices. He doesn’t delight loud music and singing, without sincere intention of worshiping and serving the Lord, by obedient trust in his Word. What God wants is for his people to apply his Word in their daily lives, to work for social, economic and moral justice, and to do what is righteous in God’s judgment according to his Word.
The
The
In many ways
We think church membership will exempt us from the Day of Judgment, while all around us there is social, economic and moral injustice in our land. We’ve become so used to immorality that we cease to notice, and we tolerate it even within our “nominal” Churches, even among our clergy.
It is not those who call themselves God’s people, but those who trust and obey God’s Word who are the true people of God. It is not those who call themselves “Christian,” but those who trust and obey Jesus’ teaching and example, and do God’s will like Jesus did, who are authentic Christian disciples (Matthew 7:21-27).
Church membership and participation in church rituals is not “fire insurance” protecting us from Hell. Only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will save us from the wrath of God which is coming upon this world in the Day of Judgment. We must be spiritually “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). 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).
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)?
23 Pentecost –Wednesday (variable)
To
be used only if there is a 24 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27
Pentecost.
Posted October 22, 2008
1
Thessalonians 4:13-14 (15-18)
23 Pentecost – Thursday (variable)
To be used only if there is a 24 Pentecost Sunday
- Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
Posted October 23, 2008
23 Pentecost – Friday (variable)
To be used only if there is a 24 Pentecost Sunday
- Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
Posted October 24, 2008
Isaiah
32:1-8 -- Coming Age of
Justice;
23 Pentecost
– Saturday (variable)
Romans 13:1-7 -- Christian
and State;
Mark 12:41-44 -- The Widow’s Offering;
Romans:
Christians are to submit to the authority of government. There is no
other source of authority except what comes from God, and God has
instituted the authority of civil government. Those who resist civil
authorities are resisting what God has appointed, and will incur
judgment. If one does right, one need not fear civil authority since
civil authority is not a threat to good but to bad conduct. If we don’t
want to be afraid of civil authorities, we should do what is right, and
then we will have their approval, because they are servants of God for
our benefit. But if we do what is wrong we should be afraid, because
God has given the authorities the power to execute God’s wrath on
wrongdoers. So we must conform to civil authority not only from fear of
God’s wrath but for a clear conscience.
Christians are also to pay taxes, because civil authorities have God’s
authority to collect them. So we are to pay every authority what is due
them: taxes, revenue, respect, and honor to whom it is due.
Mark:
Jesus was in the temple and he watched people giving their tithes and
offerings in the treasury. Many of the wealthy were putting in large
sums. Then a poor widow came and put in two half-pennies. Jesus called
his disciples to him and told them that the poor widow had contributed
more than any of the other contributors, because they gave from their
abundance what they could spare, and she had given all that she had,
her entire livelihood.
Commentary:
Christians are to be disciples of Jesus Christ and to learn to live
according to Jesus’ teaching and example. If we are trusting and
obeying Jesus we will not need to fear the civil government. All civil
authority comes from God and those who are in authority are accountable
to God for their administration of his authority.
There are instances where the civil authorities are misusing their
power. When the civil government requires Christians to do what is
contrary to God’s Word, then Christians must resist, as in World War II
Nazi Germany.
The same things apply to Church authority. As long as the authorities
are governing according to God’s Word, we should submit to that
authority.
Unfortunately there are too many instances of abuse of civil and
religious authority in the world today. The Bible is the standard by
which we must measure both civil and religious authority. Too many
“nominal” Christians have never read the entire Bible and do not know
God’s standards of righteousness and justice.
The poor widow is an example of a believer who does the best that she
can to trust and obey God’s Word. She is obedient to more than just the
“letter” of the law, and she does so in love and gratitude to the Lord.
The Lord notices the motive as well as the act. If we love Jesus we
will do what he commands, gladly out of love and rather than grudgingly.
Everything we have is from God, including the free gift of forgiveness,
salvation and eternal life in paradise restored, if we’re willing to
accept it through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. If Christians
are to respect and obey civil authorities and church authority, we
should certainly respect and obey Jesus Christ’s (Matthew 28:18) and
God’s authority above all. God asks us to return a tithe (ten percent)
of what we have. Do we give the secular world their taxes, revenues,
respect and honor and not give the Lord what we owe and he deserves.
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)?