Bible

Being A Disciple Of Jesus Christ

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And there went great multitudes with Him: and He turned, and said unto them,
“If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,  saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’  Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?  Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.”
Luke 14:25-33

Jesus left a place of wealth, glory, and power to come earth to become a lowly human baby.  To then grow into the Man who would give His life a sacrifice to pay our sin debt to God.

Since He did that for us then, we ought to give ourselves to Him, and be His disciple. There is something we must do to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, and that is surrender our wills to doing  His will.  Comparing our love for Jesus  Christ to our love for family should seem like hatred for family; we love Jesus so much, we lead our family to the saving grace  of God through faith in Him, and even being willing to die for Christ. Even to the point of watching a child die for the name of Christ because you will not deny or betray Him.

As I read  the text, and what I have written above I  am  writing to myself and asking myself the question;  Is there anything that I love more than Jesus?   Nothing comes to mind.

 

Building Barns

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And He spake a parable unto them, saying,
“The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:  and he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?’  And he said, ‘This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.’  But God said unto him, ‘Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:’ then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

Barns are built for the purpose of the storage of grain, hay for the cattle that is hauled in out of the field during the summer months, and they can be built as protection for their from the weather for their farm equipment.  Then there are milk barns where the Dairy farmer milks his milk cows.  There is nothing wrong with the building of barns.

Before the above verses Jesus has been asked by a brother of another to talk the other one to divide their inheritance.  Jesus uses the opportunity to teach us of covetousness.  Covetousness is wanting more and more of a thing, and when in receipt if one item desires another, then another; never content, neither do they thank God for the blessing.

The farmer in Jesus’s parable was so caught up in his wealth he had not considered that God was the giver of life, and he takes life.  He was laying up treasure  for his retirement years, thinking that he could have a life of comfort and ease without God.

We cannot continue living without God, and His Son Jesus Christ.  Do you not realize that every breath we breathe, every beat of your heart, and every step we are able to take comes from the Lord.

You can trust God with your when you surrender to do His will and follow Him.  Jesus Christ died on the cross, He was buried, and He rose again the third day so that we might come to God.  Trust Him and call on His name.  He will hear you, and give you eternal life, cleansing you  of every sin.

The Least Among Us

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Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.  And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by Him, and said unto them,
“Whosoever shall receive this child in My name receiveth Me: and whosoever shall receive Me receiveth Him that sent Me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.”
Luke 9:46-48

There were some of the disciples who thought Jesus was going to set  up His kingdom on earth.  In verses preceding our text today, tells us that Jesus had told them once again that He was going to die at the hands of men.  They refused to hear it, not understanding what He was saying.  How could these men miss what Jesus told them several times?

They had preconceived ideas about the Messiah.  The death of Messiah was unthinkable to these men.  Because of the way they believed about Jesus, and thinking Jesus was there to set  up the Messianic kingdom, they were asking where they were going to sit in that kingdom, seeking for greatness.

Jesus takes a young child and sets him by Himself, and explains who the greatest will be.  The child was young, and still trusting, and humble before  God and others  too.  He was not seeking for greatness.

Anyone desiring to be great will be last; and he that is last shall be first.  To be saved from our sins we must humble ourselves before  Christ seeking Him and a cleansed life.  Trust  in the Lord, believe Him.

The Fruit of the Heart

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“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  Either how canst thou say to thy brother, ‘Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye,’ when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.
For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
Luke 6:41-45

What is in your heart?  Is there an abundance of evil?  Is there an abundance of good.  If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ you still have a propensity toward sin and evil.

When you surrender your heart, soul, mind and body to the Lord Jesus your life desires will change, and you will have an abundance of good fruit.

Your choice.

The First Prophet In Five Hundred Years

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Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  And the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”  He answereth and saith unto them, “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.”  Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, “Master, what shall we do?”  And he said unto them, “Exact no more than that which is appointed you.”  And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, “And what shall we do?” And he said unto them, “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”   And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;  John answered, saying unto them all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: whose fan is in His hand, and He will throughly purge His floor, and will gather the wheat into His garner; but the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable.”  And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
Luke 3:7-18

It had been around 500 years since God’s Spirit had moved among the people of Israel, raising up a prophet to the people. It was not until Gabriel came to Zacharias and told him he was  going to have a son, and his name was John, the forerunner of the Christ, who was coming.

Now when John is a young man and he is in the wilderness wearing camel skin clothing, and eating grasshoppers; and preaching of the One who was on the way.  Jesus, later tells the disciples that the Baptist – as John was called – was the greatest  of the  prophets.

This greatest of the prophets felt himself to be unworthy to even loose the latches of His shoes.

We are blessed people today.  The Christian who has been born again by the work of the Holy Spirit has God living  in them.  We have the Holy Spirit who is Jesus Christ in us.  The Spirit of God in us is like a down payment that will be completed when Jesus comes again.

God, our Father cares for us daily, and never forsakes us.  The only hope for a wicked world is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  begin a personal relationship with  Him today, by calling on His name, the name of Jesus.

The First Shall Be Last

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And He came to Capernaum: and being in the house He asked them,
“What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?”
But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.  And He sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them,
“If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
And He took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when He had taken him in His arms, He said unto them,
“Whosoever shall receive one of such children in My name, receiveth Me: and whosoever shall receive Me, receiveth not Me, but him that sent Me.”
Mark 9:33-37

More Tolerable…

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And He said unto them,
“In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.  And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.”
Mark 6:10-11

Just before sending out His followers to preach the gospel of the kingdom, and heal sicknesses, cause the crippled one to walk, heal lepers He gives them these final words.

In those days if you stayed as a guest the host would wash your feet if you were welcomed in.  If they did not wash your feet that meant you were not welcome there.

So when one of His disciples came to such a home, or city, and their feet were not washed, they were to shake the dust off their feet as they were leaving that city.  That means if they gave no respect to disciples whom the Messiah had sent out, they had no respect or reverence for Him.

Jesus says that it will be more tolerable for Sodom and  Gomorrha than for that city which had rejected them.  Because such a city that refused to hear, refused hospitality to His own, rejects Him.  Sodom and Gomorrha had no witness of God’s love, grace, and mercy.  Judgment awaits any nation, province, island, and/or any government that refuses to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

If the people of the United States of America do not turn from their sins  to Jesus Christ our nation is headed for judgment, even more than we are seeing now.

The word we need to heed is, REPENT.  Turn from your sin to Jesus, the One who gave His life to pay our sin debt by dying on the cross, and was buried, and three days later He rose again, and He lives forever more.

Seeking To Destroy Him

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And He entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.  And they watched Him, whether He would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse Him.  And He saith unto the man which had the withered hand,
“Stand forth.”
And He saith unto them,
“Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill?”
But they held their peace.  And when He had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He saith unto the man,
“Stretch forth thine hand.”
And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.  And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.
Mark 3:1-6

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were keeping their eyes on Jesus, just waiting like a hungry lion to pounce on their prey, and devour Him.  Jesus was going about ministering to the people – preaching and teaching of the kingdom of heaven, healing the sick, the lame walked, and the dead were raised to life again.

The world has not changed much.  The enemy is out to destroy Jesus and all those who love Him.  Millions of dollars maybe billions is spent on decorating for remembering the birth of Jesus, and for giving gifts to one another.

Christmas is a fun time for most children, and some adults, and it should be; I know it is with my wife and I, and the rest of our family.  Yet, there are others who are hurting, because they have lost a loved one to death; or they have lost a job and are currently unemployed; and maybe sickness in the family that takes the joy from their heart and life.

No matter what your situation is in life there is someone who cares about you and the circumstances of your life.  He loves you.  You can have joy again by trusting in Jesus who is the Christ of God, or you can choose to be one of those who are seeking to destroy Christ and all who follow Him.  If you choose not to follow Him then you have chosen the other, and you are God’s enemy and in desperate trouble.

Choose to follow Jesus who died on the cross for you; He was buried, and He rose again.

It Was Not A Little Baby Who Died On The Cross

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And they that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save Thyself. If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Likewise also the chief priests mocking Him, with the scribes and elders, said,  “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.  He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him: for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”  The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Matthew 27:39-44

At this time of year all Christendom remembers the birth of a baby boy.  He was certainly a very special little boy.  This baby boy came with one intention, and that was to glorify His Father, through obedience and going to the cross to die for our sins,

It is seen in Luke chapter two that the religious leaders respected His wisdom for that age of twelve years, and He was teaching them (Luke 2:31-52).  The young Man Jesus was respected, but when Jesus grew to His fullness the religious leaders grew in hatred of Him.  Jesus was exposing their sin, hypocrisy, and greed, and there lust for power over the people.

The above verses show us how He was treated for being who He said that He is.  They reviled Him in blasphemy, and mockery, and saying things like, “He saved others, but cannot save Himself.”  They also said, “If You are the Son of God, deliver Yourself.

Jesus came and gave His life for the sins of Adam kind.  That Baby in the manger followed His Father’s pathway walking with Him wherever He walked doing all that the Father did.  Even going to His death  on the cross for the remission of our sins.  He was buried, and He rose again, and is alive forever more.  Since He has been raised we will be raised  up from the  grave also; because He lives.

It was not a little baby who died on that  cross; it was the full grown Son  of Man the Son of God who died.  Believe Him.

How Many Times Shall I Forgive?

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Then came Peter to Him, and said, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?”  Jesus saith unto him,
“I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.   Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.’   Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me that thou owest.’  And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.’  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.   So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.   Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, ‘O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?’  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.  So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
Matthew 18:21-35

From The Heart

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And Jesus said, “Are ye also yet without understanding?  Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:  these are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.”
Matthew 15:16-20

Where does evil come from?  There is only one correct answer to that question, and that answer is from the hearts of mankind.  It started with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, but the one who led them into evil was the serpent which yielded itself to the fallen angel known as Lucifer;  he had rebelled against God.  He hated and still does, the people of this world.

We are all born spiritually dead, in sin, and separated from our God; who is our Creator.  Notice that Jesus that it was not what enters the mouth that defiles a man (and He means man or woman), but what comes from the heart. Jesus gives us a list of things that come from the heart – evil thoughts, murders, adultery, fornication (all kinds of sexual sin), thefts, false witness, and blasphemies.  Many, and maybe all these sins are approved of by a majority of people.  God through His Son tells us they come from an evil heart.

Since we are all born into the wickedness of this world we would all stand before God guilty of sin, condemned (damned) to eternal  torment.  But Jesus, the Son of Man, the Son of God came into the world to save all who believe in Him.  Believing in Him He gives you a changed; a new heart; and new mind with different thinking.

We are nearing the day in the year that remember the coming of the Savior of the world.  The Baby Jesus.  Every body loves a baby and the story of the baby in a manger.  Let us not forget though why this Baby came.  He came to die and pay their/our sin debt, by becoming sin for us.  He died on that old rugged cross in a shameful way – stripped naked, after being beaten with a mean and horrendous whip with glass, and metal pieces in the ends  of the whip, which tore His flesh away from His body.  He was dead on that cross, they took Him down, and laid Him in a borrowed tomb, and three days later He walked out alive forever more.

Christian we do not believe in a dead Savior, but in the living Lord Jesus Christ.  Yes we believe He died for us, but  He did not stay dead.  He arose showing us that He is the Victor over sin and evil.

Will you come to Him today?

The Lord Rebukes Cities That Reject Him

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Then began He to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, because they repented not:
“Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.  And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”
Matthew 11:2024

Pilate and Jesus Have a Conversation

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Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto Him, “Art Thou the King of the Jews?”  Jesus answered him,
“Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of Me?”
Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee unto me: what hast Thou done?”  Jesus answered,
“My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My kingdom not from hence.”
Pilate therefore said unto Him, “Art thou a king then?” Jesus answered,
“Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.”
Pilate saith unto him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, “I find in him no fault at all.”
John 18:33-38

Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  Pilate was looking straight at the Truth when he asked “What is truth?”

Someone has written, “Without the way there is no going; without the truth there is no knowing; without the life there is no living.”  That would be because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life of us all.  There is none apart from Him.

My Sheep Hear My Voice

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Then came the Jews round about Him, and said unto Him, “How long dost Thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them,
“I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.  But ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand.  I and My Father are one.”
John 10:24-30

The greatest thing to be thankful for is the salvation that is available only through the love, mercy, and grace of God.  On this Thanksgiving Day thank God for sending His Son Jesus, who died for our sins on the cross, was buried, and rose again.

The Father and the Son are One.

Then thank Him every day for His many Blessings.

In the United States of America have a great and blessed Thanksgiving Day.

 

The Equality of The Father and The Son

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But Jesus answered them,
“My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.”
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.  Then answered Jesus and said unto them,
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.  For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth Him all things that Himself doeth: and He will shew Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.  For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will.  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:  that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent Him.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
John 5:17-24

The Words of a Father for His Son

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And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began: that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; the oath which He sware to our father Abraham, that He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.
“And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:67-79

What Jesus Says About Marriage and Divorce

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And He answered and said unto them,
“What did Moses command you?”
And they said, “Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.”  And Jesus answered and said unto them,
“For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.  But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;  and they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
And in the house His disciples asked Him again of the same matter. And He saith unto them,
“Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.  And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
Mark 10:3-12

The Seed Of The Sower

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“Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:  and it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.  And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: but when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.  And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.”
And he said unto them,
“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Mark 4:3-9

And He said unto them, “Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
“The sower soweth the word.  And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.  And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,  and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Mark 4:13-20

Rejecting Jesus Christ, and His Work, and Words Has Eternal Consequences

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“But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,  ‘Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.’  But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.”
“Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.  But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.  And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
“He that heareth you heareth Me; and he that despiseth you despiseth Me; and he that despiseth Me despiseth Him that sent Me.”
Luke 10:10-16

These are the words of Jesus Christ.  Every one who is in need needs Jesus.  Every one needs to receive His words, believing His words, and trusting Him for eternal salvation.  We are all sinners.  Jesus came into the world to deliver us from our condemnation.

These words were spoken by Jesus to the seventy He sent out to all Judea, telling them of their responsibility if they are rejected; and also the destination of any city, nation, or people that rejected the word of the gospel.

Jesus goes on to say “He that hears you, hears Me; “ and “He that despises you despises Me.”  He went on and added this, “He that despises Me despises Him who sent Me.”

Will you call on Him for salvation and deliverance from your condemnation?

Be Ready, He Is Coming

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Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
“I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star.”
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let him that heareth say, “Come.” And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.  He which testifieth these things saith,
“Surely I come quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Revelation 22:14-21

Far too many pastors and too many people in the pew are afraid to read  The Revelation of Jesus Christ.  It is a book of encouragement, hope, and comfort for those who belong to our Lord.

This text begins with the seventh and final Beatitude of the Revelation.  The first “Blessed” is found in the first chapter verse three.

Note the words of Jesus.  “I am the Root, and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star.”  These words of the Revelation were probably written 20-40 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Jesus is still speaking, and we are not to add to or take anything away from this book.  The ones who add to it are trying to make themselves appear intelligent, or because they think it does not say enough.  The same can be said of those who take away or diminish though they try to say that it is lessor than it  really is.

Then Jesus said, “Surely I come quickly.”  “Well, it’s been two thousand years since He spoke these words. Where is the  promise of His coming?”  Be ready, because no one can know the time of His coming.  The word “Imminent” means “It could happen any time” and that is as God chooses.  So be ready.

If you are not ready for the coming of the Son of God in the  clouds then turn your life over the One who died on the cross, by calling on His name in faith and repentance,  believing that He died for your sins, He was buried, and He rose again, and you will be ready.

The heart of every Christian, the follower of Jesus Christ calls out, “Come Lord Jesus.”

The Lord Knows How To Deliver The Godly

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For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:  (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
2 Peter 2:4-10

Apostle Peter is writing in this second chapter about false teachers leading people astray from the truth of the gospel.  He tells of their fate, their end, their demise and eternal destruction.  He also tells us that in the historical past  that God did not spare angels that sinned against Him, He spared only eight people from the destruction of the world wide flood, and out of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha  He deliverd Lot, (that righteous  man dwelling among them.

The Lord knows His own.  He knows the ones He has redeemed unto Himself, and He will deliver us from the sins of this darkness.  It will not be without great distress, and chaos in this world.

The Lord knows how to deliver the godly, the righteous ones who have been made righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sins, He was buried, and buried He carried our sins far away,  and He rose again, and by rising from the dead He justified those who come to Him, and that is forever.

He knows how to deliver the godly.

You might want to read the Epistle of Jude along with this.

Reading, Exhortation, and Doctrine

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These things command and teach.  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.  Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
1 Timothy 4:11-16

It will be better explained as to what the apostle Paul is writing to Timothy about if you will read the whole chapter.  However, verses six through ten will help.

Timothy was a young pastor which Paul had trained, and taught many good and godly things.  Some of it is good reminders of how all Christians ought to live; but especially those who preach the word of God, and lead us in spiritual matters related to the cross of Jesus Christ.

Notice what Paul encourages Timothy to do:  Give attention to reading, probably of the Scriptures in the Church services, but also for one’s own personal growth and benefit; then attention to exhortation, or the explaining the text, then teaching  how that text applies to us; then to doctrine which is teaching or giving instruction of what to do and how to do it.  The Old Testament was all they had.  Some or all of the Gospel accounts may have been in scroll form by the time of Paul.  Paul did write many of the epistles (letters) to the churches he started, and personal ones like the Timothy, Titus, and Philemon Epistles.

The doctrine most precious to continue teaching is that all of Adam kind (mankind) has sinned, and separated from God.  That God in His loving kindness had and has the only way to have fellowship with Him.  That is through the shedding of innocent blood.  The blood of lambs, and bulls and goats was insufficient, requiring daily and annual sacrifice.  All these were pictures/types pointing to the coming of Messiah who would be the perfect blood sacrifice for  our sin.  Jesus Christ fulfills all the prophecies concerning the Lamb of God who came to take away our sin.  Jesus died on the cross for our sin, He was buried, and He rose again the third day proving every word He had spoken concerning Himself.

That is the hill I choose to stand on and fight for.  The cross of Jesus Christ and His coming again.

The Right Hand Man

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Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.
Ephesians 1:20-23

O, what a wonderful way to end a prayer for the Church at Ephesus.  Reminding God, even though He needs no reminder; but we do.  It is easy for we the people of Adam’s kind, to forget how grand and glorious God in Jesus Christ really is.

That prayer that is prayed by the apostle Paul is a prayer that needs to be prayed for today’s churches – the churches that believe the word of God, and follow Jesus Christ.

Notice in the above verses what God has done in Christ Jesus, showing His mighty power when He raised Jesus from the dead.  He then set Him at His own right hand, the right hand Man.  I say that for this reason; the Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:5, “There is one God, and one  Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” He is the right hand Man in Heaven.

Because Jesus has risen, He has also ascended into Glory, and is seated with His Father pleading, interceding for all those who are His.  In the verses above we are told that the Father has put all things under His feet.  That means that Jesus has power and authority over all things.  What does that mean for the Church?  That since all things are under His feet  we too have power over these things, or those things which often beset us.  Fear, which many times comes from the realm of darkness.  Relationships; loving our neighbors as we do ourselves.  Obedience to His commandments; we now have the power and authority to keep His commandments, and when we fail to do so we will be grieved by it, and the Holy Spirit who abides in all who know Jesus, He will direct us back to Him.

The Body of Christ, the Church who are the redeemed, the forgiven, the cleansed, believers of Christ Jesus, are His  fullness, and it all comes to us from His grace.  Jesus Christ is the Right Hand Man.

The Hope We Are Waiting For

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For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Romans 8:18-25

There are several things for us to consider in these verses of Scripture.  The first thing to think about is comparing any suffering we have had for our serving the Lord Jesus to the glory, the joy, we will have when we see Jesus when He comes for us.

Another thing is that it seems quite clear, that since the fall of Adam, the creation – the earth and the heavens, and everything therein has also suffered, and will rejoice in the sons of God getting their redeemed bodies.  There will be no more earthquakes, raging storms, tsunamis, and no more wars.  All of creation will quit its groaning.  All because the God of glory, the Creator of all that is, has by His love, mercy, and grace redeemed those who come to Him and believe.

This hope we have is not supported by wishful thinking.  It is supported by the promise of God.  As we continue in hope based on faith, we continue with the rest of creation to groan, yet rejoice in the waiting, by continuing to follow the Lord.

Worshiping In Prison

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And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.  And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.  But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.”  Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”  And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Acts 16:25-34

Paul and Silas found themselves to be prisoners in a Philippian jail.  While it happened that they were praying, they were also singing praises to the Lord, and it was midnight.What were they imprisoned for?  It wasn’t for murder.  It was not for thievery.  It was not even for jay walking. It was for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for delivering a girl from demon and human bondage.

Look at what happened.  God sent an earthquake which unlocked the chains they were bound with; all the prisoners were released, and the doors opened, but they stayed put right where they were.  The jailer was about to take his own life  because he thought the prisoners had all escaped.  Paul calls out to him, saving his life.

The jailer, then asks for a light, and he goes into the cell, and asks the question, that many need to ask; “What must I do to be saved?”

The answer to the Philippian jailer, and to all who are called to ask the question is, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house.”  Why does it say, “…And  your house?”  It was because this jailer and his family believed on the Lord Jesus, because of the events of the early morning hours.  The family head is saved, generally speaking when the man of the house follows Jesus Christ the rest of the family will also.

This Philippian jailers life was not only saved from killing himself, he was saved unto eternal life by faith in Jesus Christ, the crucified, buried, and risen Savior of the world.

Will you call on the name of Jesus today?