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Luke 1:17
What is the condition of many people's spiritual hearts today? How many need to be cleansed, repaired, or even replaced? Luke 1:5-25 clarifies how Elizabeth discovers that she will bring forth a prophet. She was the wife to Zacharias the priest. This youngster will ultimately be known as John the Baptist. Zacharias obtains this information from a holy messenger yet questions because of his old age. Because of his doubt, he is made mute and unable to speak (Luke 1:62). As anticipated, he and Elizabeth consider and anticipate the introduction of their child. This happens a while before a relative of Elizabeth, Mary, receives some significantly serious astonishing news from a holy messenger as well. One of the more famous predictions of the Old Testament was the case that Elijah would return, preceding the appearance of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5). This was attached to the expectation that a prophet would go about as an envoy for the Promised One.
Zacharias, who has recently discovered that he and his wife’s soon to be child will satisfy this job (Luke 1:11-16). After the youngster, later known as John the Baptist, is conceived, Zacharias will refer to this present messenger’s job (Luke 1:76). Strangely enough, Jesus will bring about that this job as Elijah has a contingent perspective. John the Baptist will not in a real sense be Elijah, as in some type of resurrection (John 1:19-21), yet his job was to be practically indistinguishable from that of Elijah, which was to urge the people to repent from wrongdoing and return back to God. Had the people of Israel completely acknowledged John’s message, he would have satisfied this very purpose.
All things being equal, a great many people would turn from the total truth of the gospel. John 6:66-67, From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? He prepared the people for the Messiah’s arrival, and he would perform “heart transplants.” John would take the hearts of stone and replace it with a soft heart. He would remove the rigid heart and replace it with a pliable heart. He would take the skeptical heart and replace it for a trusting heart. He would take a closed heart and exchange it for an open heart (Ezekiel 11:18-20; 36:25-29). Given the circumstances, John’s service would be strong and powerful. His proclaiming would set others up to comprehend the messages that Jesus would teach (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:2-3). Indeed, even after his own death, burial, resurrection, and ascension into heaven (Mark 6:17, 27; Acts 1:8-9), John’s proclaiming would be essential for the early church’s course of evangelism (Acts 13:24-25).
John was to be the extension to the age gap of that time. Our concern today is not so much a large amount of a hole between the grown-ups and the children, however that there is a hole between God and the grown-ups. If the grown-ups had been having an appropriate relationship with God, then there would not be an issue with the children of today. Christians have failed in passing on Christ’s values to the next generation. Due to the ongoing issue of political correctness, Christians have allowed the world (sin) to filter in and contaminate the future generations. Now, let us take a look at Ezekiel 11:18-20 and 36:25-29. “One heart” demonstrates a consistent singleness of direction. Never again will God's people look for some divine beings, yet they will be happy with the God. The new heart is an extreme transfer of the hard, blocked, undaunted heart for a delicate, open, and responsive heart.
The Holy Spirit is the only one that can craft this new life. It is God’s work, yet we should perceive our wrongdoing and abandon it. At the point when we do, God gives us new thought processes, new rules, and a new objective. Have we really accepted our new heart?
God guaranteed the Israelites that He would reestablish them, physically as well as in spiritually also. To achieve this, He would give them another heart for following Him and He would put His Spirit inside them (Ezekiel 11:19-20; Psalm 51:7-11) to change them and to enable them to do His will. Again, He promises another covenant (Ezekiel 16:61-63, 34:23-25), that will eventually to be satisfied in Christ. Regardless of how sullied our life is at this moment, God offers us a new beginning. We can have our transgressions washed away, get another heart for God, and encapsulate His Spirit assuming that we acknowledge his promise. If we can have a new life, why would we want to try to just attempt to fix up our previous lifestyle? Are we truly open to God as we ought to be? Do we need our heart changed? We are to remember and proclaim that Christ is the true heart surgeon.
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Mark 10:35-45
In this passage of Scripture, Mark is telling us what Jesus teaches about serving others. This concurs with the story in Matthew 20:20-28. Mark records that John and James went to Jesus with their appeal; in Matthew, their mother likewise made the petition. There is no logical inconsistency in the records, the mother and her sons were in arrangement in mentioning respected positions in Christ's Kingdom. In verses 35-37: The apostles, as most Jews of that day, had the incorrect thought of the Messiah's Kingdom as anticipated by the Old Testament prophets. They believed that Jesus would set up a natural realm that would liberate Israel from Rome's persecution, and James and John wanted regarded places in it. However, Jesus' Kingdom is not of this world; it is not fixated in royal residences or on high pedestals, yet in the hearts and lives of his supporters. The disciples did not comprehend this until sometime after Jesus' restoration. In verses 38-40: James and John said that they were able to confront any trial or tribulation for Christ. Both would indeed suffer: James suffered martyrdom (Acts 12:2), and John was banished, forced to live someplace far off (Revelation 1:9). It is not difficult to say that we will languish anything over Christ, but a large portion of us grumble over the most minor disturbances. Assuming that we would say that we will endure suffering largely for Christ, we should likewise expect to experience the small disturbances that accompany serving others. Jesus did not criticize James and John for asking, however he denied their petition. We can go ahead and ask God for anything, yet our prayer might be denied. God wants to give us what is best for us, not just what we want. He denies a few supplications for our benefit. In verses 41-45: James and John wanted the most noteworthy positions in Jesus' Kingdom. However, Jesus let them know that genuine significance comes from serving others. Peter, who was one of the disciples, had heard this message, and he expounded on it in 1 Peter 5:1-4. Most organizations, associations, and establishments measure significance by personal accomplishments and achievements. In any case, in Christ's Kingdom serving others is the method for excelling. If we are longing to be on top, that will ruin us, not help. Rather than trying to have our requirements met, we should search for ways that we can serve the necessities of others. (Luke 22:25-26) A ransom was the value paid to deliver a slave. Jesus paid the ransom for us since we were unable to pay it ourselves. His passing set us all free from the bondage to sin. The disciples felt that Jesus' power and his life would save them from Rome; Jesus said that his passing would save them from their transgression, which was a considerably more prominent subjugation than Rome's. (1 Peter 1:18-19) So, what does this mean? Jesus portrayed leadership according to another viewpoint because the leadership system of the world is altogether different from the Kingdom's. Jesus' central goal was to serve others and to part with his life. Worldly leaders are regularly egotistical and presumptuous as they grapple their direction to the top. Yet, among Christians, a good leader is to be the person who serves best. Rather than utilizing individuals, we are to serve them. There are various styles of leadership. Some lead through speaking publicly, some through directing, and some through connections. However, all Christian leaders need a servant’s heart. A decent Christian leader respects and appreciates other peoples' worth and understands that he is not above them or doing any menial work. Assuming we see something that should be done, we ought not stand by and wait for someone to ask us to do it. We can step up to the plate and do it like a good and faithful servant. We can likewise ask individuals that we know how we can better serve them. Numerous Christians have squandered years attempting to no end to satisfy others when they might have been undeniably more useful living as God had planned them to live. This does not imply that we are to do something rash or without some kind of counsel. We really ought to put out our fleece and look for affirmation from God first. Servant Leadership requires a person to have compassion. A servant leader must have the desire to take care of those who follow him. There is a story in Mark 1:29-34, where Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14-17; Luke 4:38-41) and many other people. We notice that Jesus “came and took her by the hand and lifted her up.” Jesus could have told the disciples to help her up, but this was personal for him, he went to her himself. We will also notice that after Jesus healed her, “she ministered unto them.” Servant Leadership requires a person to be disciplined. Solitude was important for the Lord (Matthew 14:23). He made room in his clamoring day to be isolated from every other person and be with the Father. Putting energy with God in prayer and petition upholds a basic relationship and sets us up to address life's hardships and struggles. We need to cultivate the control of contributing energy alone with God. It will help us with growing in a profound way and become progressively more like Christ. Jesus even started early in the morning (Mark 1:35), and sometimes that is the best time of day because of the quietness. Servant Leadership requires a person to be faithful. Jesus tells the parable of the growing seed in Mark 4:26-29. This is a parable about the Kingdom of God, recorded distinctly in Mark, uncovers that spiritual development (growth) is a constant, slow cycle. Afterwards, the harvest of spiritual growth is at long last culminated. We can comprehend the course of spiritual development by contrasting it with the slow process of a growing plant. We may not see how the plans that God makes work; however, we do realize that God is dependable. We can realize that as we faithfully lead others, God will favor the endeavors of our initiative. We may not generally win as the world accepts how winning ought to be, yet as we plant the seed of goodness, the harvest will come. Servant Leaders are called to be unwavering and to faithfulness. (John 4:35; Matthew 9:37-38) Romans 2:17-29
Romans 2:17-29 depicts two groups of individuals, with an accentuation on the way in which their transgression connects with their insight into God's composed Law for the country of Israel. Here, the Gentiles are the individuals who sin, are separated from the law, while the Jews are the people who sin while under the law. Paul shows how, in these two cases, God will pass judgment on individuals dependent on whether they kept the law and were circumcised in their souls. Indeed, even Gentiles who observe the law out of honesty, would be viewed by God as being Jewish. In the meantime, God will limit the Jewishness and circumcision of somebody under the law who violates the law and does not have a truly sincere heart. Paul will show in the accompanying chapter that, in truth, nobody can keep the law. In verses 17-20: Paul keeps on contending that all individuals stand blameworthy before God. In the wake of portraying the destiny of the unbelieving, agnostic Gentiles, he moves to that of the privileged religious people, the Jews. In spite of their insight into God's will, they are blameworthy in light of the fact that they also have not live by their convictions. Those of us who have experienced childhood in Christian families are the privileged religious people of today. Paul's criticism concerns us if we do not live that to which we know. Paul is building a staggering “in the event of” assertion in this segment of verses. He is tending to the people who might call themselves Jews, who depend on the law, and who brag in God. In verse seventeen, Paul alluded to the individuals who recognized themselves as Jewish, contingent upon the law and assured about their relationship to God. Paul is tending to a delegate Jewish individual. He is showing every one of the advantages that that individual has gotten due to obtaining the law from God. This individual realizes God's will. By that, they can assess everything to see what is "brilliant," and what is not. He also adds that this individual can fill in as a manual for the visually impaired and a light to those in the dark. What he is saying is that God gave his law just to Israel. In this way, they had the amazing chance to show every other person what was valid, and what God’s identity was. They had the light of God's truth that others needed. However, Paul is driving all of this development to a negative. He is inquiring that, if this multitude of things are valid for Jewish individuals, for what reason do they not live as per the law? This is essential for Paul's transient objective of showing that even God's chosen (Deuteronomy 7:6) miss the mark regarding his principles of flawlessness.
In verses 21-27: These verses are a searing analysis of being hypocritical. It is a lot more straightforward to advise others on how to act than to act appropriately ourselves. It is simpler to say the right words than to permit them to flourish in our lives. Realizing God's will, notwithstanding, does not pardon us from making it happen. Do we encourage others to accomplish something that we are reluctant to do ourselves? We should ensure that our activities match our words. Paul had disclosed to the Jews that they needed to show themselves, not others, by their Law. They knew the Law, in such a way, that they had figured out how to pardon their own behavior while reprimanding others. Yet, the Law is more than the minimal legalistic prerequisites. It is a rule for living as per God's will. It additionally reminds us that we cannot satisfy God without a legitimate relationship with him. As Jesus called attention to, keeping what legitimately has a place with another person is stealing (Mark 7:9-13). In addition, looking on someone else with vulgar lustful expectation is considered infidelity (adultery) (Matthew 5:27-28). Before we blame others, we should check ourselves out fist to determine whether that wrongdoing, in any type, exists inside us. If we claim to be one of God's chosen people, our life ought to reflect God’s likeness. At the point when we defy God, we shame his name, and individuals might even talk evil of God as a result of us. What thoughts enter into people’s minds about God from watching our day-to-day existences? The word circumcision in this context, alludes to God's covenant with his people and it was a prerequisite for every single Jewish male (Genesis 17:9-14). As per Paul, being a Jew (being circumcised) amounted to nothing in the event that the individual did not comply with God's laws. Then again, the Gentiles (the uncircumcised) would acquire God's adoration and endorsement on the off chance that they complied with God's laws. Paul proceeds to clarify that a genuine Jew (one who satisfies God) is not somebody who has been circumcised (an outward Jew) yet somebody whose heart is right with God and submits to him (an inward Jew). The Religious Sinner does not do that which they instruct others to be doing. In verses 28-29: To be a Jew implied that you were in God's family, as a main successor to every one of his promises. However, Paul clarified that enrollment in God's family depends on inner, not outside, characteristics. All of those whose hearts are right with God are the genuine Jews, that is, essential for God's family (Galatians 3:7). Going to chapel, to church, being submersed, baptized, sprinkled, affirmed, confirmed, or accepted as members of, is not what it takes, similarly as circumcision was insufficient for the Jews. What God wants is our dedication and submission.
Is the Religious Sinner better than the others because they at least have the Word of God? But if the Religious Sinner does not come to Christ and believe in his heart, he will still die and go to hell. Man’s nature is to run from God. The Religious Sinner is unwilling to accept Christ and to be saved. Many know the truth, yet they deny the truth and do not know God personally. Hypocrisy is one that does not practice what he preaches.
Romans 1:18-32
This passage of Scripture discusses God’s anger at sin. It depicts why God legitimately censures humankind and some of what he has done with regards to it. Mankind's fall is imagined as a descending movement. It begins with dismissing God as the creator, declining to see the significant awareness of him by what he has made. Humans likewise rejected that he is the supplier and quit giving him the thanks that he is due. Humanity loves his creation rather than him. At long last, God acts by giving us over to the unchecked articulation of our degenerate sexual cravings and any remaining sorts of transgression. To some extent, he communicates his anger by giving us what we want and sentencing us to endure the excruciating fallouts. In verses 18-20: For what reason is God irate at corrupt individuals? Since they have switched the truth with regarding him with their very own creative minds (1:25). They have smothered the truth that God uncovers to all individuals to trust anything that upholds their narcissistic ways of life. God cannot sanction sin due to his perfectness. He cannot overlook or excuse such hardheaded defiance. He wants to eliminate the transgression and reestablish the heathen assuming that the delinquent does not misshape or renounce the truth. However, his outrage emits against the individuals who continue in sin. Does anybody have a reason for not putting their trust God? The Bible responses with a vehement no! God has uncovered his truth ("Godhead" or heavenly nature) in his creation. Hence, every individual either acknowledges or dismisses God. Individuals ought not to be tricked. At the point when the day comes for God to pass judgment on individuals' reaction to him, there will be no excuses. People should start today to give their dedication and love to him. In verses 21-25: The intellectual comes out. They believe that there is a God. They know of God, but they did not glorify him or give him thanks. They professed to be wise and intellectual, which often brings up intellectual problems. They believe in anything that supports their self-centered life. They have rejected God. They make up their own thoughts of how a divine being ought to be and what that divine being ought to do, then they fall into wrongdoing. How can these intellectual people result to worshiping idols? Idol worship starts when people reject what they think they know about God. Rather than looking to God as the maker and sustainer of life, they consider themselves to be the focal point of the universe. Before long, they imagine divine beings that are helpful projections of their own childish plans and declarations. These divine beings might be wooden figures; however, they may likewise be objectives like power, wealth, or things of comfort. They might even be deceptions of God himself, making God into our picture rather than the other way around. The shared factor is this, idolators love the things that God has made rather than God himself. Is it safe to say that there is anything that we might feel that we cannot live without? Is it safe to say that there is any need more prominent than God? Do we have a fantasy that we would forfeit anything to obtain? Is God first in our lives? Do we revere God, or do we revere the idols that we have made?
These individuals decided to dismiss God, and God permitted them to let it happen. For the most part, God does not prevent us from settling on decisions go against his will. He allows us to pronounce our alleged autonomy from him, despite the fact that he realizes that in time we will become captives to our own insubordinate decisions. In the long run, we lose our ability not to sin. Does existence without God look like real freedom? Assuming that we look more carefully, there could be no more terrible bondage than the subjection to sin. People will quite often accept lies that build up their own egotistical individual convictions. Today, like never before we should be cautious with regards to the information that we permit to shape our convictions. With TV, music, films, and the remainder of the media regularly introducing corrupt ways of life and unwholesome qualities, we end up continually assaulted by mentalities and convictions that are completely against the Bible. We ought to be cautious with regards to what we permit to shape our perspectives. God’s Word is the only source of truth. We ought to assess any perspectives in correlation with God's truth. In verses 26-32: Because of the intellectual’s mentality, this next section is about how sin began to fill the intellectual’s lives. It revolves around a topic that many find should not be discussed as it might be considered discriminatory. It is not about discrimination, but sexual sin as defined in God’s Word. God's arrangement for normal sexual connections is his ideal for his creation. Tragically, sin twists the normal utilization of God's gifts. Sin frequently implies denying God, yet additionally denying the manner in which we are made. At the point when our general public says that any sex act is OK inasmuch as no one gets injured, is foolish in itself. Over the long haul (and frequently in the short run), sin harms people, either individually, in families, or in the entire social setting. How pitiful it is that individuals who love the things that God made as opposed to loving the Creator, so frequently mutilate and obliterate the very things they claim to esteem. Homosexuality (to change the regular utilization of or leave the normal utilization of) is completely illegal in Scripture (Leviticus 18:22). Homosexuality is viewed as a satisfactory practice by numerous individuals in our world today, even in some houses of worship. However, society does not set the norm for God's law. Numerous gay people accept that their cravings are typical and that they reserve a privilege to communicate them. Yet, God does not commit nor urge us to satisfy our longings in general (even typical ones). Those longings that disregard his laws should be controlled. We should oppose following or acting upon our wicked longings. We should keep away from the places or actions and activities that will arouse wicked enticements. We ought not underrate the force of Satan to entice us nor the potential for genuine damage assuming that we give into those allurements. God can and will forgive sexual sins just as he forgives us of other sins. One sin is just as bad as another sin in the eyes of God. Romans 1:18-3:24
Romans 1:18 – 3:20 fosters Paul's contention that nobody can guarantee by their own work or legitimacy to be good in God's sight, not the majority, not the Romans, not even the Jews. All individuals wherever merit God's judgment for their wrongdoing. We know that there are a multiple of sins that can be committed, but is the classification of the sinner designated by the type of sin that he commits? Or are there different types of sinners? Are any of us one of those types of sinners and if so, which one? The Rational Sinner - Romans 1:18-32 This passage of Scripture discusses God’s anger at sin. It depicts why God legitimately censures humankind and some of what he has done with regards to it. Mankind's fall is imagined as a descending movement. It begins with dismissing God as the creator, declining to see the significant awareness of him by what he has made. Humans likewise rejected that he is the supplier and quit giving him the thanks that he is due. Humanity loves his creation rather than him. At long last, God acts by giving us over to the unchecked articulation of our degenerate sexual cravings and any remaining sorts of transgression. To some extent, he communicates his anger by giving us what we want and sentencing us to endure the excruciating fallouts.
The Reformed Sinner - Romans 2:1-16 Romans 2:1-16 springs a snare, of sorts, for each peruser who felt that Paul's overwhelming rundown of sins toward the end of Romans chapter 1 was about others. In truth, everybody is at fault for wrongdoing. The individuals who judge others are blameworthy, additionally, of being hypocritical. No one will get away from God's judgment for individual sin, including the religious Jews and Gentiles. God will totally pass judgment on every individual as per what the person has done. Assuming somebody has lived a sinless life, only doing good, he will get rewards and everlasting life. If not, he merits anger and rage. This point sets up Paul's clarification of the way that we can, indeed, get salvation: through faith by grace.
The Religious Sinner - Romans 2:17-29 Romans 2:12–29 depicts two gatherings of individuals, with an accentuation on the way in which their transgression connects with their insight into God's composed Law for the country of Israel. Here, ''Gentiles'' are the individuals who sin separated from the law, while ''Jews'' are the people who sin under the law. Paul shows how, in the two cases, God will pass judgment on individuals dependent on whether they kept the law and were circumcised in their souls. Indeed, even Gentiles who observe the law out of genuineness would be viewed by God as really Jewish. In the meantime, God will limit the Jewishness and circumcision of somebody under the law who violates the law and doesn't have a genuine heart. Paul will show in the accompanying part that, in truth, nobody can keep the law.
All are Sinners - Romans 3:9-24 Romans 3:9-23 contains a series of statements from the Old Testament Scriptures. Paul utilizes these to show that the Jews and Greeks are similar under transgression. Subsequent to setting up that “there is none that doeth good” from Psalm 14:1, Paul utilizes statements from Psalms and Isaiah to show ways we have consistently utilized our bodies, throats, tongues, lips, feet, and eyes, to verbalize our wrongdoing. Yet, he finishes the part with his most grounded articulation, that no individual will be exonerated by adhering to the works of the law in God’s sight. The law can show us our transgression, it cannot save us from it.
Mark 4:1-25
In this passage of scripture, Jesus tells the parable of the four soils in Mark 4:1-9. Then in Mark 4:10-25, Jesus gives an explanation about the parable of the four soils. Jesus used parables to instruct the people. Parables are brief tales utilizing recognizable scenes to clarify spiritual truth. This technique for educating urges the audience to think. It disguises the truth from the individuals who are excessively obstinate or biased to hear what is being instructed. Most parables have one central matter, so we should be mindful so as not to go past what Jesus planned to instruct. The seed was planted the hard way. As the farmer strolled across the field, he would toss modest bunches of seed onto the ground from a huge sack that was thrown across his shoulders. The plants did not fill in flawless lines similarly as with the present machine planting. Regardless of how capable, no farmer could hold a portion of his seed back from dropping off the radar, from being dispersed among the stones and thistles, or from being taken away by the breeze. Notwithstanding, he tossed the seed generously and enough fell on good ground to guarantee the harvest. We hear with our ears, however there is a more profound sort of tuning in with the heart and mind that is important to acquire spiritual comprehension from Jesus' words. Certain individuals in the group were searching for proof to use against Jesus. Others really wanted to learn and develop. Jesus' words were for the legitimate searchers. Some individuals do not comprehend God's truth because they are not prepared for it. God uncovers the truth to individuals who will follow up on it and who will make it clear in their lives. We should know that when we talk with people about God, they may not comprehend it if they are not yet prepared for it. While taking whatever chance that presents itself to share the truth about God with people, we need to be patient and pray that the Holy Spirit will open their hearts and minds. Thereby, preparing them to be open to the truth and follow up on it. The four soils address four distinct ways that individuals react to God's Word. Typically, we imagine that Jesus was discussing four several types of individuals. However, he might have likewise been discussing the various stages or times in an individual's life, or the way that we readily accept God's message in certain parts of our lives and oppose it in others. For instance, we might be available to God about our future, yet shut concerning how we spend our cash. We might react like the good soil to God's command for worship, yet like stony ground to his command to provide for those who are in need. We should consistently endeavor to resemble the good soil in each aspect of our lives. Common worldly cares, deceptive wealth, and the longing for things tormented the Roman disciples as they do to us today. How simple it is for our day-by-day schedules to become packed with stuff that is not important. A stuffed existence of materialistic pursuits stuns our ears to God's Word. We really need to remain liberated from these obstacles with the goal that we can hear God when he addresses us. In the event that a light does not assist individuals with seeing, it is futile. Does our life tell others the best way to find God and how to live for him? If not, we ought to ask what “bushels” have closed out our light. Carelessness, disdain, determination of heart, or rebellion can keep God's light from radiating through us to other people. The radiance of Jesus' truth is uncovered to us, not covered up. Yet, we will be unable to see or to utilize all of that truth at this moment. We will comprehend and see a greater amount of truth if we put God’s instructions into practice. Our capacity to comprehend is flawed, but the truth is clear. Our spiritual vision will be sharpened, and our understanding will grow when we obey (James 1:22-25). We are accountable to utilize what we have in the right manner. It does not make any difference the amount that we have however how we manage it. The Tiller: Isaiah 28:24, “Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? Doth he open and break the clods of his ground?” What do tillers do? They break the ground, stir up the soil, prepare ground for planting, or do they bring confusion? They are to use their tools wisely. It could be a verbal testimony, a song, how people see their life and witness. They are to use their tools carefully so as not to destroy the plants. What may work on one may not work on another, and some may respond quicker, The Sower: Luke 8:11, “Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God.” Do we plant the seed and lay the foundation? Some seeds must be laid in mass; the objective is to get as much seed out as possible. Not all of the seeds may grow so do not worry if it does not grow. The Lord instructed us to sow, the growing depends on the condition of the heart. The Waterer: John 4:14, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.” Do we nurture, feed, and take care of what or where the seed is planted? (Could be older Christians tending to younger Christians). Too much water and the seed drown, not enough and it dries up. Do not deprive the soil of what it needs, food and water. If the soil is receptive to what we have planted and we see it growing, we need to tend to it. The Reaper: Matthew 9:37-38, “Then saith he unto his disciples, the harvest is truly plenteous, but the labourers are few: Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Do we gather the harvest or cut it down before it has had time to grow? Have we waited too long, and it has dried up and died? Many are searching for the Word, looking for answers to their lives. We are to show them Jesus, bring them to him. Do not act hastily and overpower it, give it time to grow but do not wait too long and let it die. Who is the Sower? We are. What is the seed? The Word of God. What is the soil? The world. There are plenty of people waiting to hear the Word. Do not make excuses, look around, and we will find someone eager to listen to the Word of God. God will use us in one way or another, or maybe in all aspects of farming. Be prepared to work. We could be the one to lead someone to Christ. Do our part, till the soil, plant the seed, water it (nurture), then help gather them in. Do not worry if the crop fails, go plant a garden somewhere else. Never give up, Christ did not give up on us. All who proclaim Christ as their personal Savior are to plant the good seed every day. What type of spiritual Farmer are we? We all hold a Farmer position. Some of us may even hold more than one position. Whatever the case, we are to find out what our position is and go to work. Christ has called us to service. No matter where we are, we should be working and not just sitting on the pew taking what the minister gives. We should be working in some capacity to fulfil the call. Matthew 6:25-34
Matthew 6:25-34 closes this piece of the Sermon on the Mount with Jesus teaching about worrying. Indeed, even to the extremely poor, Jesus says not to stress over food or garments. God takes care of the birds and garments the lilies in a beautiful manner, and God’s children are definitely more important than the birds. Restless worrying cannot add even an hour to an individual's life. Jesus advises the listeners to trust God to give them what they genuinely need. Nonetheless, the setting of what we really need is the desire of God which could appear to be exceptionally unique from what we would like (Matthew 5:3-12). In light of the ill impacts of worry on our lives, Jesus tells us to “take no thought” concerning those needs that God has promised to supply. Worry might harm our wellbeing, make the object of stress consume our thoughts, upset our efficiency, contrarily influence the way that we treat others, and diminish our capacity to confide in God. What number of ill impacts of worry would we say that we are encountering? The distinction among worry and certifiable concern is that worry brings us to a standstill yet having a concern for others directs us toward activity. Jesus is not advising the people to stop working. Nor is he advising them to just sit inactively by in anticipation for God to extraordinarily give. He is not recommending that it is inappropriate to earn a living in order to support their families. He is not telling the believers that they ought not shrewdly put something aside for future necessities. With regards to the remainder of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is telling his audience members to assume responsibility for what is in their hearts and minds. Christ says that believers should not live in tension with regards to these essential necessities of life. Life is about something beyond clothing and food. There is significance and reason regardless of whether we have these things. To live in stress over wealth that we do not have is living heavily influenced by wealth, rather than the control of God. Living to serve God incorporates confiding in him to give us what is required without living in dread and uneasiness. Presently Jesus speaks about the natural world by giving an illustration. Birds do not plant, reap, or store crops. They have no coordinated framework for accommodating themselves past the second they are in. Yet Jesus says, they do eat since God takes care of them. Jesus poses a sharp inquiry to the people: Are they not more important than the birds? The inferred answer is obviously yes, they are more significant than the birds. Now if God takes care of the birds, he will likewise take care of the people who are worth more than birds. Rather than living in tension with regards to these fundamental necessities, Jesus asks his followers to trust God to give them what is required in his timely manner and with the amount that is needed. Philippians 4:19 Here Jesus mentions one more issue with uneasiness, dread, and stress: that they are pointless. They do not help, nor do they work. Those feelings are undoubtedly feeble regarding the concern for actual needs. Uneasiness is a characteristic human reaction, particularly while we are considering how to take care of our loved ones. Given the circumstances, it is obviously true that worry all by itself cannot add a solitary hour to anybody's life. Stress is incapable of doing anything. Obviously, many know that uneasiness is not just something we can eliminate. God knows this and sees that it can be hard to place trust in God when times are troublesome. Truth be told, for this reason Scripture is here to remind us of this. If being a Christian made every one of our feelings of trepidation and questions vanish, then there would not be an obvious explanation for God to remind us not to stress. Clothing and food are a fundamental human need. In many parts of the world, even those that society considers poor, seldom have genuine worries concerning where to get garments or food. That was difficult for the poor in Jesus' day, and it remains so in many areas of today’s world. It is normal to anticipate that somebody in that position will encounter nervousness. It is something we will more often than not identify with. Lilies sit idle, in contrast with how individuals obtain food and shelter. The lilies of the field develop without accomplishing any work or creating any garments for themselves. In any case, as Jesus will say, they are clothed with extraordinary magnificence. They are dressed precisely as God wants them to be. Jesus' Jewish audience members would have known about Solomon's incredible and luxurious abundance from Israel's days of glory (2 Chronicles 9:3-4). In addition to the fact that Solomon was dressed in the best clothes of the world, his realm likewise streamed with gold and silver. He lived in extraordinary extravagance. Jesus affirms that the quality of the lilies' magnificence outperforms even Solomon's although they never do anything. Jesus brings the point home in the accompanying verse, God can and will give what is needed. That may not particularly be what we want (Matthew 5:3-12), however it is enough for us to achieve God’s will. God cares more profoundly about his people than he does about the birds or blossoms. The wild lilies are viewed as if it were grass. They spring up, blossom in quality, and die, prior to being raked up and consumed. If God gives clothing for the flowers, Jesus says, would we not say that God will dress us? Christ has as of now called attention that God's favoring does not constantly mean common solace (Matthew 5:3-12), so his providing can oftentimes include doing without the things that we consider as needs. We see the statement “O ye of little faith.” Christians too often go to the altar with a problem but get up still holding onto the problem, as if the problem were attached to them with a bungee cord (Matthew 8:26; Matthew 16:8; Psalm 23:1). We need to learn to let go and let God manage it. It is critical to see two things about what Jesus is teaching here. In the first place, he is not promising that God will give luxurious ways of life on this side of paradise, but that God will address their issues. That need is with regards to God's will for our lives, which is not always simple (Matthew 5:3-12). God will provide us what we need, in respect to his plans, which probably will not be what we want to be secure or at ease. Reliance on God's providing includes an extreme rethinking of what needs are. Second, Jesus is not advising the people to quit working or planning for the future. His instructing here does not mean we ought to sit idly by and trust that the world (government) will take care of us. God regularly gives work and insight to address our issues. What people ought not do is fixate on riches, either by storing it or living in dread over neediness. God feeds and garments his people precisely as they really ought to be. To “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” means that we should first go to God for help, to fill our thoughts with his longings, to take upon us his character as an example to live by, and to serve and submit to him in all things. What is essential to us? Material items, various individuals, objectives, and different cravings all compete against each other for first place in our lives. Any of these can rapidly knock God out of the lead position if we do not effectively decide to give God the lead of all aspects of our lives (Psalm 34:9). Making plans for the future is time that is utilized well. However, agonizing over tomorrow is time squandered. Once in a while it is hard to differentiate between the two. Planning cautiously is preparing about any issues and trusting in God's direction. If we make plans in a correct manner, it can assist with reducing stress. On the other hand, the one who worries is consumed by dread and finds it challenging to confide in God. The worrier allows his plans to disrupt his relationship with God. We are not to let stresses over tomorrow influence our relationship with God today. We need to learn to turn our worries into prayers (Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2). While we are in prayer and with thanks in our hearts, give it to God (1 Peter 5:7). Worry less and pray more! God will answer in his time. Do our duty while we wait upon the Lord (Psalms 27:14; Luke 11:9). Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34
What is salt used for and for what is it good for? In Matthew 5:13, assuming a seasoning has no flavor, it has no worth. On the off chance that Christians put forth no attempt to influence their general surroundings, they are of little worth to God. If we are like the world in an excessive amount, then we have become useless. Christians ought not mix in with every other person. However, we should influence them in a positive manner, similarly as a seasoning draws out the best flavor in food. In Mark 9:50, Jesus utilized salt to represent three characteristics that ought to be found in Christians. In the first place, we ought to recollect God's faithfulness, similarly as salt when utilized with a sacrifice reviewed God's covenant (Leviticus 2:13). Second, we should have an effect in the flavor of the world that we live in, similarly as salt changes meat's flavor (Matthew 5:13). Furthermore, we ought to counteract the ethical rottenness that is in the public eye, similarly as salt preserves food from going bad. At the point when we lose this longing to salt the earth with the adoration and message of God, we become futile to him. In Luke 14:34, salt can lose its flavor. At the point when it gets wet and afterward dries, nothing remains except for a boring buildup. Numerous Christians mix into the world and stay away from the expense of defending Christ. However, Jesus says that if Christians lose their unmistakable saltiness, they become useless. Similarly, just as salt flavors food and can preserve it, we are to save the positive qualities on the earth, assist with holding it back from ruining, and rejuvenate new flavor. This requires us to plan, to be a willing sacrifice, and have an unswerving obligation to Christ's Kingdom. Being salty is difficult, however on the off chance that Christians fall through in their work, they neglect to present Christ to the world. Salt Seasons: To treat or to prepare for use, to give more flavor. Spiritual saltiness - Do not blend in. You add salt to enhance the flavor of food. We are the salt that God uses to lead a hungry people to food. But if we are not ‘salty’ enough we are of no-good use. We have become worthless. If we begin to become unsalted then we need to get back in the Word. If a person has an injury or an illness, it may require intravenous (IV) fluids of sodium chloride to aid in his recovery. If Christians suffer a similar spiritual ordeal, they may need a spiritual IV. 1 Peter 3:15, But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Salt Purifies: To clean from imperfection. Salt is used to clean from imperfection. Just as medical professionals use normal saline (salt water) to clean out a wound, we are to be that salt to the world. We cannot clean the world, but the world should see Christ in us which leads to cleaning. It will and does sting, but it is necessary. Sometimes we Christians need a little cleaning to remove the impurities that we have allowed to come in our lives. In some cases, salt is added to water to make it able to drink. James 4:8, Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Salt Preserves: To reserve for exclusive use, to save from harm. Preserves are good on a nice hot buttered biscuit, especially homemade preserves. Have you ever opened up a jar and found that wax ring on the top? That was placed there to preserve the fruit. With that thought in mind, Christ puts that salt or wax around us to preserve us for an exclusive use, to reach the world. Unfortunately, some Christians ‘wax’ are a little thin and the preserves do not last. Meat that is hung in a smokehouse has a layer of salt on it as a preservative. It acts as a barrier. God always places that barrier of saltiness around us to preserve us now and for future service. However, like the meat in a smokehouse, that barrier can wear thin if we do not continually apply the salt (keep in the Word). Isaiah 49:8, Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; Salt Irritates: To provoke displeasure, impatience. Put salt in a wound and what happens? Salty Christians always sing, worship & praise the Lord wherever they are or regardless of circumstances. Salty Christians study the Word, and they witness. Sinners do not like that; it irritates their lifestyle. That means the Holy Spirit is convicting their hearts. Some churches and Christians have lost their saltiness, they soothe rather than irritate. Their saltiness has become watered down. They have turned the church into a social club, a place for people to network. Instead of winning souls, Christians have become politically correct. Christians have set aside their differences form the world (their Christian life) and they do not want to offend anyone or hurt anyone’s feelings. They want to get together and do good works, show how good they are, and increase their societal standing. 2 Timothy 4:2, Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. (Whether it is convenient or not.) Types of salt: Salt may come in different forms, but it is still salt. Rock salt melts ice (cold heart). Table salt is used in food preparation (prepared heart). Epsom salt, although not a true salt, is used for health reasons (condition of the heart). Substitute salt is not healthy because it contains chemicals that can cause other health problems. Seasoned salt is a blend of salt, herbs, and spices. What does it mean to be good for nothing? Are we of little worth? Are we useless? If I am not doing good, then I must be doing wrong, I must be counterproductive. If I am not drawing people to Christ, I must be pushing them away. If I am not showing the right way, then I must be showing them the wrong way. How will we stand before God with nothing to show for our salvation? We do not work for our salvation. It is a free gift from God; but we must work after receiving the gift. Has our spiritual saltiness gotten wet? How salty are we? Matthew 4:18-22
Today’s sermon is about Jesus calling four fishermen to follow him. We can find this story also in Mark 1:16-20. Jesus advised Peter and Andrew to leave their fishing business and become “fishers of men.” That means they were to help other people to find God. Jesus was calling them from their useful business to be spiritually useful. How many of us have heard the call and answered? We as a whole need to be fishing for lost souls. Assuming that we are practicing the teachings of Christ's and offering the Gospel with others, the Holy Spirit will actually be able to attract everyone around us to Christ, similar to an angler who uses nets to maneuver fish into his boat. These men definitely knew Jesus. He had conversed with Peter and Andrew already (John 1:40-42) and had been preaching in the area nearby. At the point when Jesus called them, they realized what sort of man he was, and they were motivated to follow him. They were not in a mesmerizing daze (hypnotized) when they followed Jesus, yet they were completely persuaded that their lives would change for all eternity when they started to follow after him. James and his sibling John, alongside Peter and Andrew, were the disciples that Jesus called to work with him first. Jesus' call inspired these men to get up and relinquish their jobs right away. They did not concoct any reasons or excuses concerning why it was anything but a suitable time to do as he called. They left immediately and followed him. Jesus calls every one of us to follow him. When Jesus calls to us serve him, we should do as the disciples did and do it without a moment's delay. Look at what they did when they were called. Did they ask permission from anyone to go? Did they stop to ask their spouses if they could go? That is if they had wives. Did they ask the local rabbi at the synagogue for permission to go into the ministry? Then again, why did they go? These guys undoubtedly had good paying jobs, or their work was enough to keep them comfortable. I doubt that they had a union to deal with. So, as a Christian, we should ask ourselves a couple of questions. First, what type of fisherman are we? Secondly, we could ask ourselves, what type of fish are we fishing for? Any fisherman can tell us that fishing takes practice. We have to learn the style of fishing that we want to do and learn the type of fish that we want to go after. Types of Fishing: The following are a few types of fishing. There is Fly fishing. This type of fishing uses a lightweight lure. It is called an artificial fly. It acts like the real thing, but it is fake. Fly fishing skims surface. Then there is Bass fishing. You can see a lot of people out on a lake in their boats. They cast their lines and then they sit there and wait around for something to happen. Many bass fishermen may use a bobber, a floating device that is attached to the line. It sits on top of the water so the fisherman can just watch and see if anything bites. Next there is Trout fishing. Now this type of fishing looks exciting. The fishermen may get out into the water and hunt for fish. They can look really busy. There is Spearfishing. This involves impaling the fish with a straight pointed object. These fishermen are jabbing at the fish trying to catch one. Or there is a Casting Net type of fishing. Here the fishermen use a net that they throw out into the water and try to catch fish. Sometimes the load is too heavy, and the fishermen cannot pull the net in. If the net is broken, the fish will get away. Types of Fish: Now let us look at some diverse types of fish. Are some Christians like this?
There are some questions that we need to ask ourselves as we go about our daily Christian life. Have we examined our spiritual “boats” and our spiritual “tackle boxes?” Are we using the right line, bait, etc.? And as the title of this sermon suggests, have we become keepers of aquariums? That means are we swiping fish from other fishbowls (other churches), and not reaching out for lost souls? Are souls not being saved because our nets are torn? We may not have ability to “fish” in the natural sense, but the question is, are we willing to go fishing for lost souls? Do we have a willingness to serve in whatever capacity that God calls us to do? What have we been called to do? We are to let our light shine, the light of Jesus, before everyone that we come in contact with (Matthew 5:16). We are to be separate (2 Corinthians 6:17). We are told in Matthew 28:19 to go and teach. We are to go into the world and preach the gospel (Mark 16:15). 2 John 1:1-13
The emphasis of Second John chapter 2 is on the basics of following Christ, of truth and love, and to warn against false teachers. We are not to just read the Word of God, but we are to obey it as well. When a believer knows how to walk in the truth, he or she should know how to act, should know what to do, is willing to learn, and is determined to do so. The “elder” is John, one of twelve disciples. He also is the author of the Gospel of John, the three epistles, and the book of Revelation. This letter was composed soon after First John to caution about the false teachers. The welcome, “unto the elect lady and her children” could allude to a particular lady, or to a church congregation whose. Whichever is the case, the identity is not generally known. The fact of the matter is, is that the truth is regarding Jesus Christ, and not the lies of the false teachers.
When we have accepted the truth, we have accepted Jesus and then we know that Christ abides in us (John 8:32, 14:16-17; 2 Corinthians 4:7-10; 1 John 1:8, 3:18). Grace is the unmerited favor of God. Mercy is the kindness of God. Peace is what binds us together, it is the church body’s well-being, and it is the stability within the body of Christ. The level of love that believers ought to have for each other is a common New Testament theme (John 13:34, 15:12; Ephesians 5:2; 1 Peter 1:22). However, love for one's neighbor is an old order that initially showed up in the third book of Moses (Leviticus 19:18).
We can show love in numerous ways: by staying away from bias and segregation, by tolerating individuals, by listening to others, by providing aid to others, by giving and serving others, and by declining to pass judgment on others (John 14:15, 15:10, 15:14; Romans 13:8; 1 John 2:7, 4:7-12). Yet, simply realizing God’s order is not sufficient. We should incorporate it into our lives.
Does the church walk in truth? Does the church keep God’s commandments? Is the church “daily walking close to thee?”
John saw the church in harmony, spirit, and in truth. Do we? How many of us have had these thoughts pop into our minds: Her hair looks different; He did not shave, the nerve of him; He is in jeans, her dress is cut too low, or her dress is way too short; why are those grownups wearing shorts to a church service. we are to keep our eyes on Christ. “I beseech thee.” – This is John saying that we need to pay attention. We need to listen and hear closely. We had this commandment from the beginning. (Leviticus 19:18; John 13:34) It is one thing to say that we love our neighbor, but do we really do it, and do we show it? In John's time, numerous bogus instructors instructed that the matter was abhorrent and that the spirit was good. Along these lines, they contemplated that Jesus could not have been both God and man (1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 2:18, 26). Therefore, John cautioned against this sort of instruction. There are many false teachers who advance a comprehension of Jesus that is not scriptural. This is erroneous teaching that they contort the truth and subvert the establishments of the Christian faith. They might utilize the right words yet change the implications. The manner in which our instructors live today depict much regarding what they hold to be true with respect to Christ.
The “full reward” to which John alludes to is not that of salvation but the prizes of faithful servitude (Philippians 3:14, 4:1). All who esteem truth and relentlessly fortify themselves to it win their "full award." The people who live only for themselves and legitimize it by showing bogus principles will lose that prize.
Since the fall of man, Satan has been set on deceiving as many people as possible. He has led countless people astray, pretending to be something that he is not. John was warning that not only would false teachers come from outside the church but could come from inside the church as well. (1 John 4:1) False teachers twist the truth, they make it sound good, but then they deny the power of the Holy Spirit. Unbelievers are led further away from the Truth by false teachers, and they may refuse God outrightly. We are to examine ourselves (Matthew 7:3). How have we served God? Have we done what we should do? False teachers say, “look at me, look at me,” when they should be saying “look to Jesus, look to Jesus,” (Matthew 7:21-23). Do we abide in the doctrine of Christ? (John 8:31, 15:7; 1 John 2:23-24) Some refuse to accept the virgin birth, the resurrection, and the ascension. They add to or take away from the scriptures. John trained the believers not to give accommodation to any false teachers. They were to not do anything that would support the blasphemers in their proliferation of lies. Also, assuming that any believers welcomed them in, it would show that they were endorsing what the false teachers said and did (Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 5:11; Titus 3:10). It might appear to be inconsiderate to dismiss individuals, regardless of whether they are showing sin, yet how much better to be dedicated to God than to simply be polite to individuals. John is not sentencing neighborliness to unbelievers, but instead the supporting of the people who are devoted to contradicting the genuine lessons of God. John adds that an individual who upholds a false teacher in any capacity shares that educators' mischievous work. False instruction is serious, and we dare not ignore it. It is significant to the point that John composed this letter particularly to caution against it. There are such countless false teachers in our present day that we may be enticed to trifle with them. We ought to understand the perils they present and effectively decline to give apostasies any traction.
We are to work to win them to Christ but remain ever vigilant and watchful for the devil’s traps. |
AuthorGod called me into the ministry over 20 years ago and I have had the blessed opportunity to preach for a church radio broadcast, served as a Sunday School teacher, served as a youth director along with my wife, as a music director, as an Associate Pastor, and as an Interim Pastor. ArchivesCategories
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