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Monday Mar 03, 2025
Monday Mar 03, 2025
Episode 68
Title: The Pivotal Beatitude
Text: Matthew 5:6
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” – Matthew 5:6
Introduction:
“Social change is a term used to describe variations in, or modifications of, any aspect of social processes, social patterns, social interaction or social organization” (Sociology discussion)
Social change, in any time period, is important regardless which side a person takes. Some examples would include: Education, women rights, poverty, civil rights, pay gaps, etc. Some social changes happen over time, others happen immediately, depending on circumstances. One thing to keep in mind though, is that society is made up of individuals, and real change comes from within.
“Everybody thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing himself” – Leo Tolstoy
We now come to what is known as “the pivotal Beatitude”. Jesus said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
There is an old saying, “you are what you eat”, it implies that if you eat healthy you will lead a better life, and that bad food choices can have bad outcomes. This is also true in the spiritual sense.
“How can we elevate our hunger for kingdom priorities, a longing for the good, the true, and the beautiful? In other words, a longing for God? How do we avoid the mental and emotional gluttony of this world—the malnourishment of soul that craves the next high, a spirituality du jour, a moral framework and lifestyle that makes sin appear normal and righteousness look strange?4 Such questions need careful attention.” - Castaldo, Chris. The Upside Down Kingdom: Wisdom for Life from the Beatitudes (pp. 56-57).
A. Malnourishment from Sin
When we attempt to satisfy the hunger of the flesh, we will be left famished. If we consume a steady diet of greed, lust, and pride… those things will eventually become our identity. Those things will also prevent us from proper spiritual health and growth, and leave us spiritually malnourished.
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
“For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.” – Hebrews 5:13
“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” – Matthew 4:4
B. Manna from the Savior
Notice, Jesus said those who hunger and thirst after righteousness… “they shall be filled”.
John 6:35 – “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
Psalms 107:9 – “For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”
“Manna is the miraculous "bread of heaven" (Psalm 78:24) that God provided for the Israelites while he led them through the Red Sea on dry ground and into the Wilderness of Sin (Exod. 16).” (crosswalk)
Spiritually speaking, we must truly understand that only manna (bread from heaven) will satisfy our hunger and shape our identity to be like Christ.
Illustration of the difference between longing and liking an idea. Many people, like the idea of being like Christ, but they don’t yearn for it. When I was younger I used to always hear that one way you know a Christian is out of God’s will is because they are miserable. This is not always true. A Christian who hungers and thirsts after righteousness, but feeds on the world, is miserable. But a Christian who hungers after sin is not.
C. Menu for the Saints
The longer you stick to a diet, the more it will impact your health. The key to good health is exercise and diet, not just one or the other. There are some Christians who do neither, some who only pick one, but the key is to hunger and thirst after righteousness, and put our faith into practice. Think about physical exercise for a moment. There comes a time in any persons life when they realize that physical exercise does not work without a healthy diet. Some folks can eat anything they want and still look great, but it does not mean that they are healthy.
Christians must put our faith into practice, but we must also be fed spiritually.
Philippians 4:9: “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Faith is best put into practice when hunger and thirst after righteousness. Going through the motions is not only empty, but it’s also exhausting and dangerous. Just because a person looks the part, doesn’t mean that he is. A man can look tough, but not know how to fight. A person can look in shape, but gas out on a hike very quickly. The best illustration for this would be a runner. Runners must not only train, but carefully watch their sleep and diet. They need exercise, rest, and nutrition. It’s a balance.
Notice what Paul said, “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me…do”. “learned, received, heard”
Submitting to the Lordship of Christ; Yielding to the Spirit; Repentance; Obedience; Forgiveness…
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” – Psalm 1:1,2
Outline: How do we?
I. Re-habituate our Desires
Indeed, in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus extols such hunger as “blessed.” “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matt 5:6). And Jesus offers himself as the only satisfaction of such hunger: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35). If the heart is like a stomach . . . we could render Augustine’s prayer in line with the metaphor: “You have made us for yourself, and our gut will rumble until we feed on you.” – James K.A. Smith
Jeremiah 31:31-34 “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:” – Psalm 139:23
To re-habituate means to re-accustom, or re-familiarize. Not to be redeemed or re-born. That is the work of the Holy Spirit at the time of Salvation. Only through Christ can we be born again. For the Christian who is carnal and hungers and thirst after the world, they need to be re-accustomed. There is a new man within. We need repentance, restoration, and refreshment. To hunger and thirst after righteousness is there. It is apart of the new birth. At times, there needs to be a purge and a re-dedication of ones life.
II. Refine our Diet
“Just; accordant to the divine law. Purity of heart and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life to the divine law. Integrity, virtue, and purity of life.” (AV 1611)
What we consume becomes our identity. Again, if we are on a steady diet of materialism, satisfaction, and strife that will be our identity. We become what we consume, who we are around, and what we desire.
“And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” – Job 1:8
Yes, we must spend time in the Word, in prayer, and at Church, but it’s more than just doing. Philippians 4:9: “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Obedience; Repentance; Confession; Faithfulness; Fellowship. Spiritual disciplines can keep us here.
III. Restore our Devotion
To be devoted means to be very loving or loyal. How we truly love and be loyal to God above all is by hungering and thirsting after righteousness. I believe this is why this is called the pivotal beatitude. This truly defines a persons motives and desires.
“But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.” – Samuel 13:14
Conclusion:
- What do you truly desire? What is it that your hungering and thirsting over?
- If we are what we eat, who are you?
A special thank you to my Pastor, Mike Barnette, for the song “All Things New.” Please support his podcasts by clicking and sharing the links below.
The C.O.D.E. of Man Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Oglxqy35Wg4m4YMfU8Q28?si=074063174e334747
The Way of Holiness Podcast
https://open.spotify.com/show/08UgdbUrBDZoWWnfiCYxbO?si=oG-EaQzfQMC5GN-N7NaxvA
Daybreak Devotions Podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2Z25hqT5DNOZcwBLBXc67I?si=1f1c8f24a3e24618
Also, a very special thank you to my dear friend, Dave Compton, for the opening remarks.
Saturday Jan 25, 2025
Saturday Jan 25, 2025
Episode 67
Title: “The Combination of Gentleness and Strength”
Text: Matthew 5:5; Psalm 37
Key Verse: “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” – Matthew 5:5
Introduction:
What does it mean to be meek? The word meek is define as “mild, moderate, humble, or submissive quality.” (Webster) The Hebrew word, “anav” means “a state of being humble, lowly, or oppressed.” The Greek word, “praus” means “gentle or mild; kind, humble and patient; even under provocation.” To be meek, means to be “mild of temper; soft, gentle; not easily provoked or irritated; yielded; given to forbearance under injuries (AV 1611).
Meekness is truly a trait of a Godly person and evidence of one who is filled with the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22,23 says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
What are some other scriptures on meekness?
- “Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” – Proverbs 16:19
- “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” – 1 Peter 3:4
- “For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” – Isaiah 66:2
- “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” – Psalm 37:11
We see that Jesus is quoting Psalm 37:11 in Matthew 5:5.
“The Meek shall inherit the earth.” Let’s look at the context of Psalm 37 to help better understand this teaching.
Outline: Psalm 37
This Psalm deals with the adversity of Righteous people and prosperity of the Wicked. It was written by David in his last days on earth during the events of 2 Kings chapter 2, right before Solomon takes the throne. This Psalm clearly teaches us how we are to behave amongst the wicked, that we use the power we have been given to serve others, and that Divine Justice is inevitable.
Note four things about Psalm 37…
I. The Righteous and his Conduct (Psalm 37:1-11)
David was very troubled over the wicked and their prosperity. If the spiritual warfare that takes place inside the Believer is not enough, the prosperity of the wicked can be very depleting and devastating to us if we are not careful. David is encouraged to know that not only the wicked will one day be judged, but also that “The Meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” The first thing we learn in Psalm 37 is how we are to conduct ourselves despite the wickedness that surround us. David gives us several commands that we should all heed to:
- Don’t worry or be envious of the wicked.
The Child of God, the one who’s new nature is to be gentle, kind, slow to anger, and humble will one day inherit the earth and live in peace.
- Trust and Delight in the Lord.
One of the best ways to be intimate with anyone, is to trust them. With intimacy, trust is key. The more we trust in God, the closer we are to Him, and the more we can rest and delight in His Word. When the wicked distract us, trust in God and be thankful for His Mercy and Grace. Remember what Paul said, in 1 Corinthians 6:11, that “such were some of you.”
- Commit your ways unto to the Lord.
The word commit means to devote yourself, pledge, and to carry out. As we discovered in our last lesson, that Joy is not the opposite of suffering, but that life with Christ is that we can find joy in suffering. As citizens of the Kingdom, we can experience the benefits of God’s Kingdom here and now. Not only is there Joy in the life of one who lives in Christ, but there is also Peace. Devoting our life to God and His commands, results in a life of peace. The peace that Paul says in Philippians 4:7, “Passes all understanding”.
- Rest in the Lord and wait patiently on Him.
The word patience is one that many in the Church shy away from. You may have heard someone say something like, “Don’t pray for God to teach you patience–you won’t like what he’ll put you through to learn it!” Not only does this make God look like an awful Master, but it also undermines the fruit of the spirit we mentioned earlier from Galatians. (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance). All 9 of these are evidences that the believer is filled with the Holy Spirit of God. A Christian who finds rest in God, and can wait patiently, is a Christian who has truly yielded their heart to God and forsaken their flesh.
- Don’t give in to anger.
Another evidence of a life with God is to be longsuffering. This means to not lose our temper and not be easily provoked. There is a fine line of compromising with wickedness and tolerating it while still maintaining a good witness. There is a reason that Paul told Timothy to “Fight the good Fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12). This means the believer is to persevere despite the wickedness that surrounds them and ultimately lay hold on eternal life.
David ends this section with how the meek will one day inherit the earth. Before we explore this more, let’s look at the remainder of the chapter which goes hand in hand with our study.
II. The Wicked and their Consequence (Psalm 37: 12-20)
Verse 12-20 show that God not only see’s the present of who is wicked and who is righteous, but He also see’s the future. For the wicked, evil will come back to them like a boomerang and they will be judged. Of course, it is not God’s will that any should perish, but all that should come to repentance. This is the only hope for a wicked world. To repent and trust in Christ. As mentioned in our previous lessons, the Beatitudes are not just things we do, but they are our identity in Christ. Because of Christ, we are new creatures. Our old nature, the wicked man, only wants to please itself. Our new nature, is a pure and clean heart that has been declared Righteous by the Blood of Jesus Christ. How can such a filthy sinner naturally become gentle, kind, humble and patient… even when they are provoked and suffer persecution? How can a person so wicked, who may respond in anger or selfishness, eventually feel great remorse and conviction over their actions and want to repent? It is all because of Christ. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17. Wickedness has a price, a price which Jesus paid on the cross for us. He became sin for us and became the propitiation for our sins, which means His sacrifice on the cross appeased the wrath of God. The wicked man who rejects the Grace of God and refuses to put their Faith in Christ as Savior will suffer God’s wrath for all eternity.
III. The Righteous and their Claim (Psalm 37:21-31)
God’s law should determine not only the conduct of how we live, but impact our overall view of the world and our eternity. We must remind ourselves that because of Christ, we wil one day inherit the earth.
“The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.” – Psalm 37:29;
“But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” – Psalm 37:11
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” – Matthew 5:5
Right now, it is easy to get discouraged because it is obvious that the meek are not inheriting the earth in this time period. “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”( Ephesians 2:2-4) But when Christ comes back and will one day reign, the meek will inherit the earth. This is our claim, our inheritance. We are heirs with God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. We are God’s adopted children, and what is now Christ’s, will also be ours. Our claim is to one day inherit the earth and live in peace.
IV. The Contrast between the Righteous and the Wicked (Psalm 37:32-40)
It is often that the wicked may seem to succeed and the righteous may be in trouble. But we must understand that this is not permanent. Not only is their contrast with the behavior between the Wicked and the Righteous, there is also contrast with our natures, and our eternities. Remember, the Wicked (the natural man) have not yet come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Their nature is to sin and live in disobedience to God, under the influence of Satan. The heart of the believer has been changed. We are declared Righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion:
So, we conclude by asking ourselves, how do we become meek?
Jesus was meek and lowly and we know that He will inherit all things. We also know that we are joint-heirs with Him, and we will one day inherit the earth also.
To become meek, we must understand that we cannot do it with our own effort. A very important scripture that must be used with the beatitudes is Luke 9:23, “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Only by denying ourselves, yielding to the spirit of God, and allowing Christ to live through us, can we be meek.
“The Beatitudes present goals which the child of God wants to realize in his own life, but he can’t do it on his own.” – J. Vernon McGee
So, what are some things we can do?
1. Understand the true source of meekness.
We have driven this point home, but something we must truly understand is that if we could attain meekness on our own, it would produce pride.
Every believer is indwelt with the Holy Spirit of God (But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.” – Romans 8:9) but not every believer is filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Jesus said to take up our cross… daily. Paul said that he himself died to the flesh…daily. Denying our flesh and yielding to God is a daily thing that we must do. This is something we must ask in Faith. One of the evidences of being filled with the Holy Spirit is meekness.
2. Understand the true definition of meekness.
Meekness is not weakness. To be meek, means to be Humble, gentle, and submissive to the Lord. None of those things have anything to do with feebleness. To be meek, does not mean to lack strength, but it means to have strength under control. Don’t confuse a person who is easily offended and very timid as meek.
3. Understand what meekness looks like.
“To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.” – Titus 3:2
How can we cultivate meekness into every day life? We understand what it means and where it comes from. Here are some examples of what meekness looks like in every day life…
- Be Gentle (“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1)
- Be Humble (“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” – Philippians 2:3-9)
- Be Kind (“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:32)
- Be patient. Jesus was constantly being interrupted. During His solitude, His teaching, His Sabbath, His travels, etc. Jesus saw interruptions as opportunities. Jesus was also provoked, tempted, falsely accused. The list goes on and on and on. One of the first excuses we give for reactive sinful behavior is that we were interrupted, or provoked, or tempted, etc. We must understand that meekness is strength under control. During those times of being interrupted, provoked, and falsely accused, can also be times where we can be the best witness for Christ. Remember, just about anyone can be kind on a Sunday morning during fellowship time. But what about when we get a flat tire, are bullied, or suffer trials.
- Be sober and vigilant. There are many practices we can put into place, but this one needs to be at the top of the list. Remember what Paul told the believers at Corinth about Satan, that we are not “ignorant of his devices.” We must be watchful and alert because our sinful nature is to be the opposite of meek. Remember what Paul said, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus..”. To live in constant obedience of Christ, means we must be watchful and recognize the attacks of the enemy. Jesus wasn’t taken aback by the Pharisees. He wasn’t shocked when Satan tempted Him in the desert. He was well equipped and prepared after spending time with the Father.
Thursday Jan 16, 2025
Thursday Jan 16, 2025
Episode 66
Title: Finding Comfort in our Sorrow
Text: Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” -Matthew 5:4
Introduction:
Misery is defined as “a state or feeling of great distress or discomfort of mind or body” (oxford).
“Suffering keeps its face hid from each while making itself known to all… we are one in suffering. Some are wealthy, some are bright; some athletic, some admired. But we all suffer. For we all prize and love; and in this present existence of ours, prizing and loving yields suffering.” - Nicholas Wolterstorff
Suffering is inevitable in the human experience. No one is immune to it and we all experience it in one way or another. Job said in Job 14:1, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.” Job is one of the best examples to use for someone who suffered, as a series of events saw him losing his wealth & possession, children, and then eventually his health. Other examples of suffering in the Bible:
- Joseph was lied on by his own brothers and sold into slavery because his father loved him. When he prospered in the house of Potiphar he was lied on once again by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison.
- Jonah was swallowed by a whale after refusing to go to Ninevah.
- Samson had his eyes gauged out and was made sport of in front of the Philistines after giving his heart to a strange woman.
- The blind man in Jerusalem in John chapter 9 was introduced as being blind since his birth.
All of these situations are different in that some of them the individual did absolutely nothing wrong, in other situations the individual put themselves in the positions they were in. Regardless, they all experienced suffering. A good question to ask ourselves then, is why do we suffer? The best way to answer that is by going to the beginning of our story to the Garden of Eden. Paul said in Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” That one man of course was Adam, and this verse is referring to the story found in Genesis 3. The moment Adam disobeyed God is the moment suffering was brought on our world. This suffering was physical, psychological, and social.
“Physical: With sweat on their brows, the first couple encountered fatigue, hunger, nakedness, exposure, sinus infections, cavities, and other maladies. Psychological: They would know the suffocation of loneliness, alienation, addiction, anxiety, shame, regret, depression, and despair…Social: Sin corrupted, undermined, and even destroyed their relationships. All manner of social conflict suddenly entered the picture: resentment, envy, animosity, impatience, bullying, one-upmanship, abuse, and rage. Such is the legacy we have inherited and now perpetuate in our worldy societies” - Castaldo, Chris. The Upside Down Kingdom: Wisdom for Life from the Beatitudes (pp. 25-26).
To “Mourn” means to “feel regret or sadness about” (Oxford). One of many responses to our physical, mental, and social suffering is to mourn. In our society, a person who is “in mourning” usually refers to a person who is grieving a loss of a loved one. Which of course, is a great reason to mourn. But there are other reasons for a person to feel sadness and regret.
Mourn about Physical Suffering: In addition to losing a loved one, there are other reasons to mourn physical suffering.
- Growing older is a blessing, but also brings pain. “Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.” (Ecclesiastes 12:6) Solomon was talking about the cord of life. He is speaking of aging and approaching death. There are many examples we can give. Some over time, others can be sudden. Regardless, we suffer physically.
- Death is inevitable. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27,28)
Mourn about Mental Suffering:
- The Psalmist said in Psalms 42:11, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?”
- Nearly 1 in 4 adults feel lonely (CNN)
- “Almost 21 million Americans have at least one addiction, yet only 10% of them receive treatment” (Addiction center)
Mourn about Social Suffering:
- In October of 2024, the CDC reports suicide as being one of the leading causes of death in the United States. (CDC)
- This year, it was reported that 309 million people in over 71 countries experience acute hunger. (WH Foods)
- From 2016 to 2020, over 5,000 children were separated from their parents at the United States borders.
- In 2023 alone, there were over 1 million abortions in the United States.
- In 2019, it was reported that 20% of students,(1 out of every 5) were bullied. (PACER)
So, we not only see that because of sin, there is suffering. But we also see, that because of suffering, there is a reason to mourn. In our key verse, Jesus said, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted”. To some, this may even sound like a contradiction. The word Blessed, is another word for happiness. Happy is the person that…mourns? Of course, the happiness comes from the comfort one finds in Christ. One of the best examples of one that finds comfort from God in mourning, was the Old Testament Prophet Micah. (Reference Micah chapter 7)
- “Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit.” – Micah 7:1
- “Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.” - Micah 7:5-8
- “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.” – Micah 7:18
We read earlier from Psalm 42:5. To finish this verse, it says “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” To live from the heart of God, means to find comfort in our sorrow.
Outline: What should we do with our Suffering?
I. Acknowledge it: Embrace our Suffering in a Healthy Way
One very unhealthy way of handling our suffering is to refuse to acknowledge it. Many people have tried to escape suffering by simply ignoring it. This is unfortunately true in Church life as suffering and sorrow are defined as the enemy of joy, and that we must carry a positive and encouraging attitude. How many times have you heard someone say “you’re in Church, you need to smile!” or show negative feelings or emotions to an individual that is cast down? Gloria Grahame, known for playing Violet Bick in “It’s a Wonderful Life” was diagnosed with Breast cancer in 1974. She was treated and went into remission, but in 1980 the cancer came back and Gloria refused to acknowledge it. She went on about her life without accepting or treating the cancer diagnosis resulting in a rapid decline of her health. She passed away the following year at the age of 57. The refusal to accept our pain can be devastating but also dangerous. The first step in mourning anything, is to acknowledge it. David, Micah, Joseph, and Job all acknowledged their pain. The healthy way of doing this, is to embrace it knowing that God will comfort us.
II. Admit it: Express our Suffering in a Healthy Way
The Psalms is full of suffering, because they expressed it. Life is a “Mere Breath” (Psalms 39:11); Our life is full of “toil and trouble” (Psalms 90:10). In fact, it has been said that 40% of the psalms are words of mourning. To some people, this may come across as whining and can be seen as very negative. We must understand, there is a big difference in complaining and mourning. To feel and show sorrow for pain and suffering is a normal part of life. Expressing our pain in suffering by complaining, is very unhealthy. Paul tells us in Philippians 2:14, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings”. We can express our suffering in a Godly way by being honest about it.
“Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.” – Psalms 25:18
“O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee” – Psalm 42:6
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” – Ephesians 4:29
III. Assign it: Ease our Suffering in a Healthy Way
There are many ways to ease our suffering, but they are not all healthy. Self-medicating, binging, complaining, bitterness, strife, the list goes on. But God wants to ease our suffering. Jesus said, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” It is scriptural to acknowledge and admit our suffering. It is scriptural to mourn over that suffering, and it is scriptural to take that and give it to God.
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
To assign our suffering, means to give it, project it, and to cast it all on Christ.
Thursday Jan 09, 2025
Thursday Jan 09, 2025
Episode 65
Title: "Where to Begin"
Text: Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Introduction:
What does it mean to be poor in Spirit? 2 Corinthians 6:10 says, "As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things." The Apostle Paul references the many riches available in Christ despite our poor condition. Christian people are poor in spirit, yet we possess something more valuable than money could ever buy.
"Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;" - Ephesians 3:8.
“Unsearchable” mean they are unfathomable. Paul is literally telling us that our riches in Christ are too deep to be measured. For a person to truly experience the riches of Christ, we must first become poor in spirit. Charles Spurgeon once said, “You will never know the fullness of Christ until you know the emptiness of everything but Christ.”
The Beatitudes begin with “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” The poor in spirit describe a person who is spiritually bankrupt. The Puritan preacher Robert Harris once said, "Such poverty of spirit is the starting point of life... God undoes a man before He saves him, mars him before He makes him, takes him all to pieces and then joins him together forever."
“Mike Vetrone was accustomed to luxury sports cars and beachside mansions during his years as a drug runner for the New York Mafia, a lifestyle that is now a distant memory. “With judges, court clerks, and casino officers on the payroll, I pranced through Atlantic City like the mayor,” he says now.1 Yet Mike soon began a descent into a heroin addiction that threatened his life. After a customer discovered that Mike had stolen some of his drugs, Mike packed a bag and fled to Florida. Menacing death threats followed him, intimidation that continued for months. “I remained alone,” he remembers, “bound by my addiction, facing a dismal future.” He began thinking of suicide. “I was now haunted by what was, in fact, a not altogether unpleasant idea of ending my misery with the click of a trigger,” Mike says. ‘My .22 caliber handgun, which was usually within arm’s reach, held a fresh cartridge. After two years, the moment of reckoning had come.’ On an uncharacteristically overcast morning in South Florida, Mike dropped by a favorite haunt, Big Apple Bagel, to pick up what he assumed would be his last meal. Back in his apartment, he flipped on the television, looking for company one last time as he ate. On came a television preacher. With a distinct southern accent, the man exclaimed, “Life has a way of grabbing you by the collar, forcing you down to your knees.” Mike turned up the volume. “There’s a chain that binds every soul,” the preacher exclaimed, “and that chain is sin—an addiction from which Jesus’s death and resurrection sets us free.” Suddenly, as the television evangelist invited viewers to embrace Christ, Mike felt energy pulsing through his veins and found himself shouting at the television, “Yes!” In that moment, he no longer felt alone but sensed an encircling presence. Mike was facing not the end of his life, but a new beginning.” - Castaldo, Chris. The Upside Down Kingdom: Wisdom for Life from the Beatitudes (pp. 7-8). Crossway. Kindle Edition.
The title of the lesson is “Where to begin”. No doubt, a life in Christ as a citizen of the kingdom begins with being poor in spirit .Something to note about the Beatitudes is that Jesus begins and closes them with the Kingdom of Heaven. As discussed in our previous lesson, the Beatitudes are not things that we necessarily do, but are our identities in Christ. As a Christian, we just do not up and decide that we are going to be merciful and hunger and thirst after righteousness. These are the laws of the kingdom that have become our identities on earth because of our new nature in Christ. Remember, Jesus is speaking indirectly to the crowd, but is speaking directly to His Disciples… His followers. For a person to be in Christ, to be “Poor in Spirit” is where to begin.
Outline: “Where to Begin”
What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Here are three things:
I. The Poor in Spirit Recognize Sin. Received Christ because we were Broken (2 Kings 5:1-14)
2 Kings 5 is a wonderful application of being poor in spirit. Naaman, a Captain of the Host of Syria, has developed Leprosy and is referred to Elisha by his wife’s servant girl, who was from the land of Israel. Naaman, instead of going directly to Elisha, went first to the King of Syria, who wrote a letter to the king of Israel and sent Naaman with money and riches to give. Already, this story shows the pride of man. Naaman was given “ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.” And went directly to the King of Israel to heal him of his leprosy. The focus was not on his condition of leprosy, but his riches and wealth in order to get what he wanted. The rest of the story shows that the King of Israel is terrified because of Naaman’s request, and Elisha eventually intervenes. In order for Naaman to be cured of his leprosy, Elisha commands him to dip into the Jordan river 7 times. Naaman is very upset and initially it seemed he was going to leave with his leprosy, but is eventually persuaded by one of his servants to listen to the man of God. How does this illustrate Salvation? In order for Naaman to be healed, he had to humble himself. He had to realize his condition, his sickness, his disease. He had to understand that there was nothing that he himself could do or give, and only through faith and Obedience in God could he be healed. Like leprosy, sin is a disease. It is the chain that binds mankind. In order for us to be freed, we must recognize (acknowledge) our sinful condition. We receive Christ as broken people. There is nothing great about the Jordan River. This is a wonderful illustration of how Calvary is a very dark place. To be poor in spirit means we understand our sinful condition. We see Christ dying for our sins and paying a debt we ourselves could never pay. This is a very dark and humble place.
II. The Poor in Spirit Relinquish Self. Rely on Christ because we are Bound (Luke 9:23)
The word bound means limited. Although Christians are new creatures in Christ, we are still limited to what we can do. Paul boldly said in Philippians 4:13, “ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Mankind, in our nature is very limited. Without Grace, we cannot be saved. Without Grace, we cannot serve. The Lord Jesus told his disciples that “without me, ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5) A key part of being poor in spirit is to truly understand that we have nothing to offer God, but ourselves. This is not only true in salvation, but in every aspect of our Christian life. The “self “ can really get in the way and cause us to sin. There are three main enemies that the Bible speaks of. 1.) The Devil. 2.) The World. 3.) Our Flesh.
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21
“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Romans 8:7-8
To relinquish means to “cease to keep or claim something, give up.” (Oxford) what did Jesus mean when he told us to deny ourselves?“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) This means we are to deny our ambitions, our comforts, our failures and follow Jesus. To relinquish self, and rely on Christ means that it is no longer us living, but Jesus that lives in us. These are the marks of a true citizen of the Kingdom.
Going back to our three main enemies. The devil attacks our spirit. He did this with Peter during the denial at the crucifixion. We cannot defeat the devil on our own power, but our told what to do when we are attacked by him. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4:7-8 ) The world attacks our soul. To overcome the world, we must use Faith. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4) Just like these, only through Christ, can we get victory over the flesh. “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 7:24-Romans 8:1) The poor in spirit, relinquish their self and rely on Christ.
III. The Poor in Spirit Relish Salvation. Rest in Christ as Beloved people
“Who can even begin to appreciate this royal marriage? What can comprehend the riches of this glorious grace? Here, this rich, upstanding bridegroom, Christ, marries this poor, disloyal little prostitute, redeems her from all her evil and adorns her with all his goodness. For now it is impossible for her sins to destroy her, because they have been laid upon Christ and devoured by him. In Christ, her bridegroom, she has her righteousness, which she can enjoy as her very own property.” -Martin Luther
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9 )
To relish in something means to take “great enjoyment” (Oxford) The poor in spirit truly understand their brokenness without Christ and their total need for dependence on him. Not only is there great joy in the free gift of salvation, but there is also great joy in a life of abiding in Him.
“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” (Romans 5:10-11 )
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 )
Conclusion:
What does it mean to be poor in spirit? To be poor in spirit is to be spiritually bankrupt. To understand the inadequacy and helplessness of the human condition. To come to Jesus in our broken state, and fully accept Him as our Lord and Savior by grace through faith. To relinquish our self by following him and allowing him to live through us.
A special thank you to my Pastor, Mike Barnette, for the song “All Things New.” Please support his podcasts by clicking and sharing the links below.
The C.O.D.E. of Man Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Oglxqy35Wg4m4YMfU8Q28?si=074063174e334747
The Way of Holiness Podcast
https://open.spotify.com/show/08UgdbUrBDZoWWnfiCYxbO?si=oG-EaQzfQMC5GN-N7NaxvA
Daybreak Devotions Podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2Z25hqT5DNOZcwBLBXc67I?si=1f1c8f24a3e24618
Also, thank you to my dear friend, Dave Compton, for the opening remarks.
Thursday Jan 02, 2025
Thursday Jan 02, 2025
Episode 64
Title: “Kingdom Living”
Text: Matthew 5:1,2
Introduction: (Read Matthew 5:3-12)
The word "Beatitude" is defined as “supreme blessedness”. The “Beatitudes of Jesus” were given as part of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 through 7. In verses 1 and 2, it is worth noting that Jesus did not give the Sermon on the Mount to the multitudes directly, but indirectly. He gave the discourse to the Disciples after seeing the multitude and their needs. This is extremely important and a key to understanding the passage. We must come to Christ first, then learn how to live.
One mishandling of the Sermon on the Mount is that it is the Gospel of Salvation. What is the Gospel of Salvation? Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
Another way the Sermon on the Mount is mishandled is by totally ignoring it. Some people single it out as the Gospel of Salvation and present it to an unsaved person as a standard of living, while others avoid it. Go back to the key of not only the Beatitudes, but the sermon on the mount. Jesus spoke indirectly to the multitudes, but directly to His Disciples, His Followers, and those who believed in Him. This teaching is not to be ignored or avoided...but to be upheld and obeyed.
We must note that the Beatitudes are not contrary to the life a Christian is supposed to lead. First and foremost, we must grasp that this is a way of life, and this way of life is shaped by the mind of Christ, which should be the mind of Christians also.
Philippians 2:5 says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”. We must also understand that Bible teaching shows us that when we are saved, not only are we new creatures and Children of God, but we are citizens of another country. “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;” - Ephesians 2:19
A common theme in the Book of Matthew is the Kingdom. The King, the Lord Jesus Christ, has presented himself. Matthew 3:2, "And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."; Matthew 6:10, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” The Sermon on the Mount is to set before us the laws of the Kingdom. As believers, we are citizens of that Kingdom.
Mark 12:17: “And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.”
1 Timothy 2:2 “For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
This is a study to help believers in Christ understand that:
1. We belong to God’s Kingdom
2. How we are to Live according to God’s Heart (“Let this mind be in you…”)
Outline: “Kingdom Living”
I. Our Residency
We often pray the Lord’s prayer as if the Kingdom is far away, not applicable, or in another timeframe. Jesus instructed us to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” in Matthew 6:10. Paul tells us our citizenship is in Heaven. “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:” – Philippians 3:20.
Our current Residency is here on earth, but our official residency, our permanent home, is in Heaven.
“In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” – John 14:2
Paul tells us in Colossians 3:2 to “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” This means our hearts must be in Heaven. The things of this earth are temporal, but the Kingdom, our true residence, is eternal.
II. Our Rules
The Beatitudes have been presented to us before as, “be-attitudes”, ways to make us happy and live a good life. Although there is some truth with this teaching, we must be careful about using them as rules for happiness, and see them as what they are... commands for present living and rules of the kingdom.
Not only could seeing the Beatitudes as rules for happiness take away the importance of them as commands, but it could also lead someone to see them more as just references or allegories. The Beatitudes are not just a checklist of things we should do to be happy and find joy, but they have become our identity as new creatures in Christ and are evidence of our residency in the Kingdom.
As mentioned earlier, we are to render to Caesar the things that are his, be law-abiding citizens, and lead a quiet and peaceful life.
It is extremely important to note, that we can live from God's heart and achieve Kingdom living here on earth while being law-abiding citizens.
III. Our Role (Way of Life - Identity “Blessed”)
“This is the vision of the Beatitudes—a vision that invites us from the shadows of alienation into the purpose and joy of Christ’s kingdom. But, as we shall see, this blessedness is both counterintuitive and countercultural. The Beatitudes pour gasoline on our contemporary ideals—and then light a match. To satisfy our hunger for wealth, Jesus offers poverty. He extols meekness over hostility. Rather than personal pleasure and fame, he proposes patience and a commitment to justice. Instead of lust and greed, he commends purity of heart. For the soul riddled with anxiety and fear, he offers peace. Rather than vanity and pride, he bestows security and inner strength. The Beatitudes dig beneath the surface, exposing what we really need to value and practice.”
- Chris Castaldo, "The upside-down kingdom: Wisdom for life from the Beatitudes"
So, what is our role? What should we do with the Beatitudes now?
1. Learn them, memorize them, and know them. Remember it starts with identity, then community, and then ministry.
2. Live them. We must put them into practice. They eventually become our habits and instincts.
"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:31,32
Tuesday Dec 24, 2024
Tuesday Dec 24, 2024
Episode 63
Title: What We Can Learn from Herod the Great
Text: Matthew 2:1-20
Introduction:
A. His Rise
"Herod" was the name used for a number of Palestinian Rulers most famously used for "Herod the Great - King of Juda" (the Herod of this story)
History tells us the Romans conquered Jerusalem around 60 B.C.
Herod the Great's Father, Antipater the Idumean, (a descendent of Esau) was made the procurator of Rome by Caesar in B.C 47 after Pompey invaded Palestine. The same year, young Herod the Great would be made Governor of Galilee. (Around 15 at the time)
In B.C. 40, the Roman Senate would make him king of Judea.
Procurator-an officer of the Roman empire entrusted with the management of the financial affairs of a province and often having administrative powers as an agent of the emperor.
B. His Reign
Herod is famously known for erecting the Temple during his reign.
It was finished around 62 AD only to be destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans.
His reign was from around 40 B.C. to the time of Christ's Birth (Matt 2:19)
The Tabernacle (mobile Temple) about 1444 B.C.- Detailed plan received by Moses from the Lord
Solomon's Temple - 966-586 B.C. Envisioned by Zerubbabel Constructed by Zerubbabel and the elders of the Jews. Desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes
Herod's temple
C. His Reputation
He is also known for his cruel and determined ways
History tells us that Herod would kill his own sons due to fear he would lose his throne. When he heard that the King of the Jews was born he ordered the killing of all infant boys in an attempt to kill Christ. (Matthew 2:16)
Outline: What we can learn from Herod
I. The Announcement Distressed Him- Matt 2:1-6
v.3 "…When Herod the King heard these things he was troubled"
The King of Judah heard that the King of the Jews had come, and he was troubled. He was troubled by the coming of Jesus because his throne was in danger. The question of the hour is, what does the coming of Jesus do to you?
This of course was the first coming of Jesus. What about the Second? (The next one)
Think of this, what if Jesus were to return for His Church tonight? What does that do to you?
Does it make you trouble you? ( I wish I had more time to… serve God, spend with family, do the things you like, enjoy life.) We learn from Herod that the news of Jesus coming troubled him.
The news of the coming Jesus will trouble you if…
-You like to be in charge, power, in control
- You love your material things, life, country, possessions
II. His Actions Displayed Him Matt 2:7-16
v.7,8. He was upset, He lied, he wanted to trick them, and ended up murdering innocent babies in an attempt to kill the very one who came to save Him. (Think about it… Jesus came to die for Herod.)
The real Herod came out. He asked about the events of Jesus Birth, and then lied about wanting to Worship the real King, King Jesus. Why?
“… for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” – Matthew 12:34
The Wise men knew he was lying (They were wise men) they were praying men, who could discern
“What’s in the well, comes up in the bucket” Coburn Dean Carmichael, Sr, aka Grumps, aka Horsebite Jack
Not only do we learn from Herod that the News of Jesus coming reveals who we are, we also learn that our actions in light of His coming reveal who we are.
Have you ever asked yourself, why do you say the things you say, or do the things you do?
(Christmas) A season of Hope, but we are troubled, angry, jealous, and envious. What is it?
(Our Behavior to others) “it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it”…. Actually, “it’s not what you say, it’s who says it.”
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. The same mouth that said he wanted to worship the Lord Jesus was the same mouth that ordered babies to be murdered.
(The same mouths that say Jesus is Lord are the same mouths that lie, gossip, and slander)
III. His Aggression Destroyed Him v.17-20
Herod acted in aggression and hate.
He took lives to ensure his position. The coming of the Lord Jesus distressed him and put his evil actions on display.
This is the legacy of Herod the Great.
His Son, Herod Antipas would be the one who mistreated Christ during the trial of His crucifixion. His Grandson, Herod Agrippa the First, would go on to persecute the Church.
Shortly after the killing of the infants, Herod the Great met his demise..
Notice in verses 17 and 18. All the crying and great distress caused by Herod. Then the next verse, “But when Herod was dead”
We learn from Herod that a life without Jesus is a life of destruction.
IV. His Arrogance Defined Him
When Herod heard of Christ, he saw competition. He was envious and jealous and had a sense of urgency to do something about it. He saw those things because he wanted to. We will see what we want when we look for it. A definition of Herod the Great’s life is that he was Envious, jealous, hateful, and cruel.
Wednesday Dec 18, 2024
Wednesday Dec 18, 2024
Episode 62
Title: What we can learn from The Shepherds
Text: Luke 2: 8-20
Tuesday Dec 17, 2024
Tuesday Dec 17, 2024
Episode 61
Title: What we can learn from the Wise Men
Text: Matthew 2:1-13
Introduction:
- Envy - days of Herod. One thing Herod did not want was competition
- Expedition - Wise men traveled to Jerusalem
- Excitement - Matthew is written to Religious people. It is written for the Jew to present Jesus as Messiah.
Outline:
- They gave Him their Time - v.1-10
- Their Desire - v.1-4
Wise men from the east traveled west following a Star. Illustration of hearing prophecy
They gave Him their time because they desired Him. Do you desire Him today? A lot of us do not give Him our time.
WE CAN COME UP WITH ALL OF THE EXCUSES IN THE WORLD AS TO WHY WE CANNOT SERVE GOD. AT THE END OF THE DAY, DO WE DESIRE HIM? A lot of us have time, we just don't use it wisely
- Their Destination - v.5-10
Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
They knew where to find him because they had read God's Word. Instead of listening to everyone else, read the Bible! (illustration of 3 wise men - we know more about Christmas from Christmas cards than we do the Bible)
- They gave Him their Treasure - v.11
- Their Devotions - v.11a
"devotions" simply means - object of Worship
Illustration of when they saw Jesus with Mary, they worshipped Jesus
- Their Dedication- v.11b
To set apart and consecrate to God, to give wholly or chiefly
Gold - His birth, He is born a king
Frankensense - The frangerence of His life
Myrrh- speaks of His death - - - - This was brought at His first coming
Isa 60:6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.
This speaks of His Second coming - no Myrrh, He will not comie to die the second time
III. They gave Him their Trust - v.12,13
- Their Dependence- v.12
- Their Departure - v.13
Conclusion:
1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Does He have your Time?
Does He have your Treasure?
Does He have your Trust?
Monday Dec 16, 2024
Sunday Oct 13, 2024
Sunday Oct 13, 2024
Episode 59
Title: “The Approachable Jesus”
Text: Hebrews 4:15
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” – Hebrews 4:15
Opening thought
Introduction:
- Approachable: “Friendly and easy to talk to” (Oxford)
- What makes a person approachable?
- Friendly, welcoming, and open (Initially)
- Genuine, Kind, Truthful (Consistently)
- The Opposite of Approachable…
- Unfriendly, out of place, or someone who is distracted/ preoccupied, someone who is upset, or people that are closed to a group, until they learn more (initial)
- Two faced, inconsistent, lack of trust (continual)
- (Initial vs continual: Time is the best truth teller…linked-in; dating; friendship, etc.)
- Being approachable shows the truth of a person. Essentially, it shows how do they care about others and what are their priorities? It reveals our character traits…
- Selfishness; Kindness; Intolerance/Prejudice; Truthfulness; Dishonesty; Compassionate; Cold; Gracious/Merciful; Judgmental
- When it comes to being approachable, the greatest example is Jesus
- “Jesus is the God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair.”— Blaise Pascal
- “In a sense the most approachable Person this world has ever seen was the Lord Jesus Christ.”— Martyn Lloyd-Jones
- Past examples:
- Luke 8:41-55
- Present Examples: Hebrews 4:15
- “In all points”; “Yet without sin”
- Jesus is just as approachable and available to sinners and sufferers now as he was when he was on earth.
- “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
Outline: “The Approachable Jesus”
- He’s Reachable: Find Him
- Go to Him, Seek Him, Pursue Him!
- The one thing about Jesus was that He was reachable in so many different places:
- At Work: Matthew 4:21,22 “And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.”
- At Home: Mark 1:29-31 “29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
- The Temple: John 2:18-22 “18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?21 But he spake of the temple of his body.22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.”
- Various locations throughout the city: Matthew 11: 19,20 “The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:”
- Reachable = Accessed
- Jesus was and is accessible
- A lot of the times He was introduced was by others:
- Matthew invited the tax collectors and other sinners ( 9:9-13)
- Philip told Nathanial (John 1:45-51)
- The Scribes brought the Adulterous Woman (John 8:1-11)
- In every one of those situations, Jesus was welcoming and spoke to the truth
- He’s Reasonable: Favor Him
- Prefer Him, Regard Him, Choose Him!
- He’s Reasonable, meaning He is not only Truthful, but He is also Practical
- Jesus understands what we go through and still offers a way to a Holy God
- “In every respect” (Heb 4:15)
- Temptations
- Trials
- Troubles
- “Yet Without sin”
- “In every respect” (Heb 4:15)
- We live in a world where it’s cool to relate. We must instead preach that Jesus understands
- He’s Reliable: Follow Him
- Follow Him, Obey Him, Practice His ways!
- Jesus is Reliable, meaning He is always the same and will give us more than we even bargain for.
- Hebrews 4:15,16 “1For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
A special thank you to my Pastor, Mike Barnette, for the song “All Things New.” Please support his podcasts by clicking and sharing the links below.
The C.O.D.E. of Man Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Oglxqy35Wg4m4YMfU8Q28?si=074063174e334747
The Way of Holiness Podcast
https://open.spotify.com/show/08UgdbUrBDZoWWnfiCYxbO?si=oG-EaQzfQMC5GN-N7NaxvA
Daybreak Devotions Podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2Z25hqT5DNOZcwBLBXc67I?si=1f1c8f24a3e24618
Also, a very special thank you to my dead friend, Dave Compton, for the opening remarks.