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
Death
A King Who Would Not Hear the Word of the LORD
Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, “I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.” Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, “If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? And if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me?” So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, “As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life.” Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah,
“Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house: but if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.” And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.” But Jeremiah said, “They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live. But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me: and, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah’s house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, and those women shall say, ‘Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back.’ So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.”
Jeremiah 38:14-23
The word of God should be heard, believed, and practiced in and on any day that we live. Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings, and Governors need to hear and take heed to the word of the LORD, so that they can learn they are to be servants of the people, and do good to and for the people.
Zedekiah called Jeremiah asking counsel of what he was to do. The prophet told him to go out to the king of Babylon, and surrender to him. Had Zedekiah obeyed the LORD the king of Babylon would leave him alive, as well as his family and he would not destroy Jerusalem
Zedekiah does not hear and heed the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, and the word of God comes to pass just as He has spoken. O, how we the people of God need to take heed to the word of the LORD. The word of the LORD is good for living all of life; with it’s troubles and trials.
Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God is the Living Word of God, and God His Father, says to us “Hear Him” (Matthew 17:5) and the Father also says, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” You cannot get it any clearer than that. If God says He is well pleased by His Son we need to ask “Why?” and that is because the Father knew that He was the only perfect Propitiate for the sins of Adam kind. Jesus had no sin, and became sin in our place and took all the wrath of God on Himself on the cross, dying for our sins, being buried; carrying our sins away, and then on the third day He rose from that grave alive.
Today, there is a Man in heaven, seated at the right hand of God, and He is our Mediator with the Father (1 Timothy 2:5).
Repenting of your sins turn to Jesus believing Him, putting all your trust in Him. He will hear you when you call on His name.
She Prayed for a Child, and the LORD Heard Her Prayer
In chapter one of First Samuel we find a woman who is the a wife of a man named Elkanah. One wife has children; and Hannah has so far been without a child, but so yearns for a son from God. She has prayed, and vowed to the LORD, that when the child is weaned she will give him to the LORD.
Now she has conceived, and has a son she named Samuel. When Samuel is weaned she takes him to Eli, and to God, with sacrifices according to the word of God, and leaves Samuel, at that time a small boy, with Eli who has some wicked sons who are priests; whom Eli knows are wicked, yet does nothing about it.
After Hannah leaves her son she prays another prayer,
And Hannah prayed, and said,
“My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in Thy salvation. There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside Thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
“Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
“The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and He hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
“The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and He shall give strength unto His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed.”1 Samuel 2:1-10
Hannah shows a great heart of praise and worship to the LORD for the blessings which God has given her. She recognizes Him as being supreme in power. He is the One who brings death, and the One who gives life.
He breaks His adversaries, and He judges the end of the earth. He also exalts the one His anointed king.
O, may we as followers of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, be always faithful to pray for more of God’s children to come to Him. Then when they come to Him may we continue to pray and served the Lord. Amen.
Looking Back
The words, “Looking Back” sounds like two or three or four old farmers who are church goers talking about the past. It is a good thing to remember the past except for when God has said, “Do not look back.” That was the case with Lot, his wife, and his daughters.
And he said unto him, “See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; and He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Genesis 19:21-26
In verse 17 of Genesis 19 the messenger of the Lord had told Lot, “Escape for your life. Look not behind you.” Is not looking behind and looking back the same thing? It seems so to me. But who am I? What do I know? I do know this, and that is that Jesus said, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32).
Now Lot’s wife is now an example of how we are not to be. We are to obey the Lord in all things. We cannot expect the blessings of the Lord in disobedience.
Why did Lot’s wife look behind her? It could have been the “friends she had left behind, and the city was being destroyed along with all her friends. It could also have been she was leaving some married daughters, and their husbands behind. Whatever the reason it was not a good enough reason for disobedience. It would probably be called loving the world more than God.
Looking back is not good for a farmer plowing a field, if he wants a straight row. Jesus also tells us, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62), When it comes to life, sin and death, and the judgment of God is would do us good to hear God, obey Him, and do His bidding.
The Christian life should be looking forward; forward to souls being saved, sanctified, and secure in their faith. Also we should be looking forward to the return of Jesus Christ keeping ourselves ready for His appearing (1 John 3:1-3).
Lot’s wife became in her death what she had never been in her life. What is that? Salt.
Able To Save Him From Death
So also Christ glorified not Himself to be made an High Priest; but He that said unto Him, “Thou art My Son, to day have I begotten Thee.” As He saith also in another place, “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared; though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him; called of God an High Priest after the order of Melchisedec. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Hebrews 5:5-11
I have heard people say, “God did not hear the prayer Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane.” O really. Have you read these verses. God heard, God answered. God delivered His Son from death.
Now, because of His complete faithfulness to His Father is our High Priest not according to the first covenant, which is the law, but by the second covenant, in the death of Christ Jesus on the cross, His burial, and resurrection – His deliverance from death, and now the power of an endless life, “after the order of Melchisedec,” who seems to be a man without a mother or father, beginning or end.
God, the Father was listening to the Son, and was quite able to raise His Son up from the dead, delivering Him from death, by resurrecting Him from the grave, Now, because He is raised, we too (those who have confessed Him as Lord, and believe our hearts that God raised Him from the dead), have everlasting, that is eternal life.
Believe Him. He is able to save you from death. Not from dying in the flesh, but from an eternity without God.
The Resurrection’s Promise
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not only truth, it is historical truth, and the evidence is in those who witnessed the Person of the resurrected Christ. There were, in all more than 500 witnesses.
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by Man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming. Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For He hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
1 Corinthians 15:20-28
The Apostle Paul was one of those witnesses. He met Jesus on the road to Damascus with orders from the high priest of Judaism, to capture and even to torture and kill any who professed faith in the risen Lord. However, when he met Jesus he had his life completely turned around (Acts 9).
In these verses of Scripture is evidence also of a promise of God, of rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ. Paul gives us information that things are in order as it cannot be confusion. So here is the order of events that take place after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- Jesus Christ is raised first, and His ascension into the heavens;
- Then those who are His at the time of His coming for the purpose of getting His own;
- Then the end when He has delivered the kingdom of God, even the Father, and He puts down all rule, authority, and powers;
- He must reign till all enemies are put under His feet; the last enemy being death.
The Father will put everything under His feet, except Himself. When all other things are under His feet the Son will be subject to the wholeness of the God head. That God may be all in all. Then there will be universal peace, and no disagreement that God is sovereign over all.
There is a resurrection in type that take place when you come to faith in Jesus Christ. You are dead in sin, then when you receive Christ as your Lord and Savior you are no longer dead, but alive to God, and your will, and selfish desires are no longer important to you.
In Christ Jesus we have the promise of the resurrection to come. In that resurrection we shall forever be with the Lord. If you have not received that promise, all you need to do is call on His name confessing your sin, turn from it, believing in the work of Christ on the cross, His burial, and resurrection. You will receive salvation and have eternal life.
First Witnesses of the Resurrection
And the angel answered and said unto the women, “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him: lo, I have told you.” And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word.
Matthew 28:5-8
It would have been a wonderful thing to have walked with Jesus while He walked here on this planet He loved so strongly, that He was willing to give His life for all who would believe in Him.
O, what a sad, and grievous day. It was the day He was crucified, and died after going through such treacherous torture, and abuse at the hands of men who hated Him, despised and rejected Him. The One who had did no sin, having become sin for us died a brutal and cruel death, and the rejection of His Father to the extent that He cries out in the darkness, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me” (Matthew 27:45-46). He could have called ten thousand to His aid, but He did not. He was faithful to the Father through the abuse and the lies told about Him, and through the rejection of the Father; because He cannot “Look upon sin” (Habakkuk 1:13).
Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb given to Him by a wealthy man, thus fulfilling the Scriptures of Isaiah 53:9. In the life of Jesus, and in His death He fulfilled all the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the coming of the Messiah; even in His death.
Something happened three days following His death. It was a glorious event, a marvelous thing that happened. I personally would call it the greatest event in human history. Jesus came out of that tomb alive. He had gotten up off of that stone bed, and still wrapped in His burial wraps, took them off, and laid them aside with head wrap, folded and by itself laid aside.
Then women came to the tomb to see it, and to see about rolling the stone away from the door, so they could enter. This took place on the first day of the week [Sunday]. When they arrived at the sepulcher and the stone rolled away by an angel, and they begin to be afraid. This being, this angel tells them, “Fear not. You look for Jesus. He is not here, for He has risen just as He said.” O, the shock, and the awe of that moment when they see this man/angel, then hear him speak saying that Jesus is not here. He has risen just as He said.
Then, the women follow the instructions given them my this heavenly messenger. They go and tell the disciples. As they were going to tell the disciples what the visitor had said, they met Jesus alive, fall down and worship Him, holding onto His feet, and He gives the women the same message the angel had given them, “Go into Galilee, and they shall see Me” (Matthew 28:8-9).
You may have trouble understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ, however it is the only means by which we can be saved unto Christ, and eternal life. You are not as good as you think you are. You are more evil than you believe yourself to be. You will become a hateful, negative, despiteful human being, full of sin, and hardened heart toward all that is holy and righteous, if you continue to reject Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.
Will you call on His name today?
The Servant To Restore Israel
Thus saith the LORD, “In an acceptable time have I heard Thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped Thee: and I will preserve Thee, and give Thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; that Thou mayest say to the prisoners, ‘Go forth;’ to them that are in darkness, ‘Shew yourselves.’
“They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for He that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall He guide them. And I will make all My mountains a way, and My highways shall be exalted.
“Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.
Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted His people, and will have mercy upon His afflicted.”
Isaiah 49:8-13
Chapter 49 is the beginning of the Servants song; a prophecy of the work of the Messiah known to most Christians as the Christ. So here we have a prophecy of the Savior of the world, and what He comes to do.
- He came at an acceptable time.
- He is helped by the LORD, who is His Father.
- He is promised to be preserved. Could that be a hint of His death, burial and resurrection? I believe so.
- He is the covenant with the people.
- He is given authority to set prisoners free.
- He is the light to those in darkness.
- He makes a way through the earth, and for life eternal.
- He is the source of sustenance, and strength.
- He calls people from all nations to Himself.
- He brings joy, and singing to the heavens and the earth.
Because the LORD has comforted His people, and will have mercy on the afflicted.
He is still alive, active and still calling the lost to Himself. His name is Jesus Christ, and He is the Son of God who left the glory of Heaven, to become a Man, to die for our sins on the old rugged cross. He was buried, and He rose again.
Dying and Living
If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer Thee: Thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
Job 14:14-15
People all over this planet earth have believed that there is life after we die. Is this true? If it is true how can we know for certain that we will live again.
Job was a godly man. He is declared as a just man, by God Himself. Yet God has given Satan permission to do harm to Job, to bring glory to the LORD Almighty. Now Job is wanting to have never been born, and to die rather than to continue suffering as he has been.
Job asked the question, “If a man die, shall he live again?” The best answer to this question is, “Not in this world as it is now.” In the Old and New Testaments we have a few examples of a few who died and were given life again, but then they died again. “It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment” Hebrews 9:27. Death is a certainty. It is even more certain than taxes. There is a one hundred percent chance that you and I will die. But what then?
Death came to us because of sin. Sin came to us because of the first man, Adam who did not obey the Creator concerning the trees in the middle of the Garden of Eden. So, because of one man, the first man, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. No one is born into this world without sin – with one exception.
“Not in this world, as it it is now” was the answer. However, the Creator made Adam and Eve with eternal souls, so we all have eternal souls. The Creator who is God is eternal, and He made us in His image, and after His likeness, so that includes being made for eternal living. So the answer to the question, “Is there life after death?” is Yes!
Eternal life is meant to be spent with God, always in His presence and glory, yet, because of our sin we would not be able to go spend eternity with Him except He make a way for us; and He did, and He does have a way, One way, and that is through the One who was the One who made all things (John 1:1-5), and all things were made by Him, and for Him. His name is Jesus. We can know that there is life after death, because Jesus Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He came out of the grave alive, and He lives forever more. He was seen by over five hundred witnesses who saw Him in His resurrection body.
Job said, “All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come” and that should answer the question of whether there is life after death. That change comes when we are raised when Jesus comes again. It does not answer the question of where you will spend it though.
There are two places that are eternal, Heaven or Hell. Heaven is the place of our Lord Jesus Christ who tell us that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Jesus will come again for those who are His – that is those who have given themselves to Him confessing that He is Lord, and believing that God has raised Him from the dead (John 14:1-4; Romans 10:9-10).
Hell is the appointed place for Satan and his legions. It is a place of eternal fire and torment, and there will be no relief. It is also the eternal home of those who deny and reject the free gift of grace God gives us in His Son Jesus Christ. You have a choice – Heaven or Hell
The Word Of God Fulfilled
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
“Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and He hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all His people? His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (He is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”
Ezra 1:1-4
Second Chronicles ends with this same record of Cyrus’s declaration of building the house of the LORD God of Israel. This one has more details to it, however, chapter 36 and verse 21 tells us why the people of God were seventy years in captivity in this foreign land.
To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. 2 Chronicles 36:21
It could be that someone might be reading this and thinking, “I don’t believe in prophecy, so I don’t believe the bible is the truth.” You know what? It matters not at all what you think. It does matter what God says. If He said it; He will do it.
Jeremiah prophesied that Israel would be taken captive to Babylon, would be there seventy years, so that the land of Israel would make up the Sabbath days that were missed. The people of Israel and Judah were guilty of violating the Sabbaths of the LORD; because they had turned their backs to Him, and served other gods; which were no gods at all, but the works of men’s hands.
God’s word is true from Genesis 1 through Revelation 22, not including the apocrypha, which is not reliable, not inspired, and cannot be the word of God. If God said it, it will come to pass, just the way He said it.
It is true of every thing it says about Jesus Christ as well. Jesus is the main character of the Old Testament. In the Revelation it is written, “…For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” Revelation 19:10. That includes the Old Testament. Jesus existed before there was creation. He is seen many times in the Old Testament revealing Himself as the Angel of the LORD. He is the One who walked in the Garden of Eden with Adam. When Adam and Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit of the tree, and they hid themselves when they heard God calling out, “Adam, where are you?” That was Jesus, known as the Word of God (John 1:1-5).
If you deny what God says about His Son, then you also deny God. If you deny God, you deny His Son. If you deny God, and the Son of God you are still in your sins, and still need the cleansing and forgiveness of sin that only the death of Jesus Christ on the cross can give. He died, He was buried, and He rose again, coming out of the grave alive forever more.
Believe God. Trust in the finished work of Jesus, believing that only Jesus can deliver you from sin, death, hell and the grave.
The Death of a Stranger
And David said unto the young man that told him, “Whence art thou?” And he answered, “I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.” And David said unto him, “How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?” And David called one of the young men, and said, “Go near, and fall upon him.” And he smote him that he died. And David said unto him, “Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, ‘I have slain the LORD’S anointed.’ ”
2 Samuel 1:13-16
Some background for these verses. First of all David loved his king Saul, and Jonathan the king’s son. Even though Saul had tried to kill David or have him killed, David trusted the LORD with his life, and that of the king as well. Also, David had promised Jonathan and Saul that he would show favor to their family.
Now, David has been told by an Amalekite stranger that Saul, and Jonathan are dead. The stranger tells David a cock a maime story of how he killed Saul, when according to First Samuel 31:1-6 Saul fell on his own sword, thus killing himself, when he saw that the war was lost, and when Saul’s armor bearer saw that the king was dead he killed himself.
The stranger did not know David. It appears that he sought David out seeking some kind of reward for killing David’s enemy. Only he did not know that Saul was not David’s enemy; Saul was David’s king, and David would not lay a hand on him, neither permit anyone else to do so. David was king Saul’s enemy and all because of envy.
David had two opportunities to take Saul’s life, and he would not do it, because Saul was the LORD’S anointed king (1 Samuel 24:1-9ff; 26:1-16ff). So for this Amalekite stranger to come to David seeking a reward for killing his king was very foolish. Later on after David has become king another two men kill a son of Saul – Ishbosheth – whom Abner tries to set up as king. Ishbosheth was not God’s chosen, or anointed king of Israel. These two men, Rechab and Baanah kill Ishbosheth while he is lying in his bed in the middle of the day. They think they will get a reward from the king for killing an enemy. Their reward is death (2 Samuel 4).
King David remembers the covenants he had made with Jonathan, and he keeps them. That shows us that David is an honorable man of God. He keeps his word. He is faithful to the LORD God as well.
From David we learn how to trust the Lord, our God, and Savior. As David was a man of his word, so ought the Christian to be people who will speak the truth in love, and when we make a promise, or a covenant with someone we keep it. Also, just because someone takes a hit at you, and they consider you their enemy; they do not have to be our enemy.
How can we live like that? How can we love a neighbor who hates us, and does whatever they can to destroy us? We need to first know the LORD, and His Son Jesus Christ. We must have a different heart than that the world has. Do not strike back. Difficult? Most certainly, but remember David’s refusal to strike king Saul.
Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. He died on the cross for our sins – your sins and mine – He was buried, and He rose again. We have a risen Savior who is forever living and He intercedes for us continually. Call on His name. He will hear you and He will deliver you (Romans 10:13).
Life and Death
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: that thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20
These final words of Deuteronomy 30 are written for the people of Israel when they are getting ready to enter the land of Canaan – the Promise Land. God has given to them His law, statutes, commandments, and He calls for their obedience to every one of them. They will have life if they obey Him. They will choose death if they disobey Him.
Which do you choose today? Will you choose life, or will you choose death? That is right this is the message for today. The Apostle Paul has written what the Lord says, “For He saith, “I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee:” behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Now is the day for your salvation.
When Jesus Christ came into the world, He came to fulfill the demands of the law, and He did. All the sacrifices, all the blood shed from bullocks, rams, lambs, goats were telling us about an ultimate sacrifice; that sacrifice of a perfect Lamb of God, His own Son who would be that Ultimate sacrifice for the sins of Adam kind – for me and for you.
Now, today you have a choice. You are already in the way of death if you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You do not have to, you do not need to stay in death. When you call on the Lord Jesus for salvation, forgiveness and cleansing of all your sins, He will hear you, and through Him You will have eternal life.
I have chosen life over death. I want you to join me, so I can meet you in our eternal home with Jesus.
To Be Alive
But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.
Numbers 33:55-56
As I was thinking about these verses I was reminded of Colossians 3:5, where the Apostle said, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry…” The word “Mortify” means “to put to death,” and that is what a Christian is to do. Put the evil desires of the flesh to death.
In our text for today we have a warning from the LORD God through Moses, His faithful servant to drive out the inhabitants of the land. Now, remember God had promised this land, the land of Canaan to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For four hundred plus years the children of Israel who is Jacob, were held captive as slaves to the Egyptians. Mean while the Canaanites were growing more and more vile and wicked refusing the love, mercy, and grace of the one true God who created the heavens and the earth, and everything therein.
The children of Israel are nearing the time of going into this land that flowed with milk and honey. I can understand why some people think God is cruel, mean, and offensive. He is not though. He tells His people to cleanse the land. God is holy, and cannot look upon iniquity, and He was going to bless Israel for their obedience in purifying His land.
Now the comparison of Colossians 3:5; as Christians we are to die daily to self, and selfish interest. The Apostle even said, “I am crucified with Christ… “Galatians 2:20), and for the Christian that means we were as well if we are in Christ Jesus. Though we are Christians we still must fight the enemy. Our enemy is not people. Our enemy is the devil, and our own sin within. So the Christian life is a battle.
We are to drive out these lustful, selfish, covetous, rowdy desires, so that we might be better witnesses of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Even though we are saved from the penalty of sin, in our continued fighting against sin and evil within – which is our sanctification – we are being saved from the power of sin; and one day, when Jesus comes again we will be saved from the presence of sin – which is our glorification with Christ.
As long as we are living in this world, let us ever be faithful to drive out the enemy, and not let any of it remain within us.
All Things Under His Feet
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming. Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For He hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
1 Corinthians 15:20-28
Gimme’ That Ole Time Religion
The following is a post I shared in September of 2007, and we need to realize; even more so today; that there is only one way to God, and that is through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ
What I am writing here today is something which has been on my heart. There are hoards and hoards of religious people and religion. I have been told that I am religious. I take offense to that, unless someone is using it to correct me in my attitude and/or heart.
A hundred years ago, and not so long ago, we heard the term, “Give me that ole time religion”, and we know what is meant by that; at least, most Christians of 40 and above do. That “Ole time religion” was speaking of faith in Jesus Christ, and nothing more. That meant a life that had been changed by the power of the death, burial, and resurrection, with future promise of Jesus returning. Faith in Jesus is what was meant by that “Ole time religion”.
Now religion means anything. Anything you want to believe is okay to hear many tell it. We even have some professing Christians telling us that it does not matter what you believe as long as you believe something. Can religion in the meaning of our day really mean anything?
Religion, in the vernacular of the day can be believing in trees, saving the earth from global warming, politics, finances, and thus we have conflict. Here is what religion does for us. Look back to the era of the “Crusades” when English kings were trying to take Jerusalem from the Muslims. They were doing it in the supposed name of “Christ”. It wasn’t in the name of Christ. It was in the name of king Richard or whatever king happened to be leading the charge. It was in the name of power grabbing. That was religion at work; not the name of Christ.
Now, there is another war going on, and it too is a war on religion. Terrorism in the name of Mohammad would cease if all became Muslim. We know that will not happen. No true follower of Christ is going to give up Jesus for Islam or any other religion. A Christian would die for Christ, but refuse to take a life in His name or for His name.
Religion has been the cause of many a war. Christ came to give us peace. The only way to peace is through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not through the “Jesus” of the crusades. It is through the Jesus of the cross of Calvary. The Jesus Christ who gave His life that all who would believe might be saved. The life of the Christian is life giving, not life taking. Life taking is the work of dead religion.
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” James 1:27 (ESV).
Kings; Loving Kindness; Death
Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD. And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites. For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD. For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “The good LORD pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.”
And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
2 Chronicles 30:15-20
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest.
Psalm 51:1-4
The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
Proverbs 11:18-19
No Harm In The Pot
And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, “Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.” And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not. So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, “O thou man of God, there is death in the pot.” And they could not eat thereof. But he said, “Then bring meal.” And he cast it into the pot; and he said, “Pour out for the people, that they may eat.” And there was no harm in the pot.
2 Kings 4:38-41
Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to every one that is to come.
Psalm 71:18
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Proverbs 15:33
…He shall rise again
And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And He took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto Him,
“Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles: and they shall mock Him, and shall scourge Him, and shall spit upon Him, and shall kill Him: and the third day He shall rise again.”
Mark 10:32-34
Because He Lives
Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:12-22
By the Righteousness of The One
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:18-21
The Eye Of The LORD
Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Psalm 33:18-19
It is very comforting, encouraging, and motivating to hear the above words of David. One of my favorite verses of the Old Testament is found in 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.” and I know in its text it is telling king Asa what he is missing out on due to his rebellious heart.
For those who have a perfect heart toward God; those who fear Him and hope in His mercy, He will deliver from horrible eternal death in eternal torment, and give them food to eat when things are hard.
Now, whose heart is perfect toward God? Those who look to God through His Son Jesus, who took our place on Calvary’s cross, dying for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again. When we realize our lost, and hopeless estate, and call on His name believing in His finished work we are delivered from death, and can know that His eye is ever upon us perfecting, protecting, and providing our every need.
The work God starts in us, He will finish (Philippians 1:6).
In Bad Circumstances
Then said his wife unto him, “Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die.” But he said unto her, “Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this did not Job sin with his lips. Job 2:9-10
In bad circumstances? Are you suffering from some sickness, disease, financial chaos, family issues that are tough? You are not alone.
Job was a man whom God proclaimed, that Job was “perfect and upright” and that he feared God, and shuns evil (Job 1:8; 2:3). Yet if we look at his life he suffered unlike any man or woman ever has, or ever will; with one exception being that of God’s only begotten Son who died on the cross for the sins of the world.
Let us look at the above two verses from Job two. It concerns his wife who is unnamed in the book. Her faith was evidently unlike that of Jobs. Job and his wife had lost their ten children, though they were evidently grown. They had died in a great wind storm (Job 1:18-19); and that would be quite sorrowful to any mother and father.
“Why don’t you just curse God and die”, was the wife’s response. That probably cut to the heart of Job, but in faith he responds, “You speak as one of the foolish women. Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord, and not hardship as well?”
It would hurt the heart of a man who loves his wife, and he seeing her as a woman of faith as well, to have her come to him and say what Job’s wife said.
The past two years have been very difficult for many people. Having lost loved ones that in our minds seems too soon. “They were so young. They didn’t deserve to die.” That is really one of those statements that come from pain of sorrow, but holds no authority.
Did Job’s children deserve to die? “It is appointed unto all people once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). So we are all going to die. It is not in our purview to know how or when anyone dies, including ourselves.
Some very somber thoughts, I know. Let us think about this for a moment. You do not know when you will die. You do not know when your spouse will die; or when a single one of your children will die. So what can we do?
The One I spoke of earlier who suffered worse than Job, is the One who loves Job and you and me. We can be ready to meet death without fear. Without fear of when or where it will take place, and without fear of where we will spend eternity.
When you receive God’s free gift of grace in salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ death is defeated, and you will have everlasting life.
Are you in bad circumstances? Call on the name of the Lord.
Letter from a Prophet
And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, “Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, but hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father’s house, which were better than thyself: Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods: and thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day. 2 Chronicles 21:12-15
Asa was a king of Judah who did right in the eyes of the LORD, but his life ended as being a selfish tyrant. His son Jehoshaphat also had done right in the eyes of the LORD though he aligned himself with Ahab, the evil king of the northern kingdom of Israel. Then along comes Jehoram, and he does wickedness in the eyes of the LORD.
The letter is from Elijah who is the prophet who warned Ahab of his wicked ways, challenged the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, and ended their lives with their heads being removed.
Why would Elijah send a letter to the king of Judah? Probably because he had a word from the LORD for Jehoram to know his plight and the tragedy coming on his family and himself. Jehoram was going to die a horrible death because of his sin and the evil of his heart.
Death is the result of sin. Sin came into the world by the first man, Adam. Because Adam sinned, every one who has been born into this world is a sinner there is no escaping sin. There is, however, One who was born of woman who never sinned. His name is Jesus the Christ, Son of the Living God.
Jesus, being sinless, without any guilt, shame or remorse died on the cross becoming sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), being buried, and rising again from the grave alive forever more. Sin, death, Hell and the grave are defeated, and hold no power over those who come to God through Jesus Christ. In Jesus we have everlasting, that is eternal life.
They Fell On Their Faces
And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces. Leviticus 9:23-24
Leviticus is probably not my favorite book of the Bible, and not of the five books of the Law. It does clearly show us the need of a blood sacrifice for the redemption of us all. It is also clear that the blood, of lambs, goats, rams, and bullocks are not adequate for the taking away of sin. These sacrifices are a foreshadowing of the coming of Jesus Christ to once and for all, and all time, put away our sin.
What Leviticus declares to us is the sinfulness of Adamkind, and our need for a Redeemer. We do know today, that the only redemption for sin is the blood of Jesus Christ poured out at Calvary’s cross where the wrath of the Almighty was put on His Son, and He was judged on our behalf; so that all who come to Him through faith would receive eternal life.
As the people in the days of Moses, and Aaron and his sons fell on their faces when they saw the glory of GOD; we have an even greater reason and privilege to fall on our faces before the Living Son of God, Jesus Christ who died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. Fall down before Him in repentance and faith; call on His name.
A Coffin and a Promise
And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years. And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees. And Joseph said unto his brethren, “I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.”
So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. Genesis 50:22-26
After the creation of Adam and Eve, and their placement in the Garden of Eden we find out about sin and death coming through them due to their disobedience to God who made them. We hear of a global flood, where all air breathing animals, except for those God brought to the ark, drowned in the flood, along with every man, woman, and child, except for Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives.
God is gracious and full of mercy. Because of our disobedience sin, trouble, sickness and sorrow plagues this world. He has given us a way of deliverance.
This book, “Genesis” the book of beginnings, begins in a garden, and ends at a grave. The grave is that of Joseph. He had served as an Egyptian ruler for about 80 years.
Joseph was hated and sold by his brothers at about the age of seventeen, sold to Potiphar in Egypt and served him for about 13 years including the time he spent imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. At the age of thirty he was brought out of the prison to interpret the dream of Pharaoh, which he did and doing so was appointed as a ruler, just under Pharaoh himself, and delivered his people who had sold him, and Egypt and the world. At the age of one hundred ten years Joseph died.
God does not leave us at the grave alone though. There is a promise given by Joseph from God. “God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.” It was a promise that originally given to Abraham, “And He said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.” Genesis 15:13-14.
God’s promises written in His word, not some that are contrived by human imagination, are always fulfilled. When we read Exodus which takes place about four hundred years later that is what we see; God keeping His promise to His people.
God’s great promise to people today is believe My Son, and you believe me. His Son, Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again. If you do not know Him, call on His name today and be delivered from the condemnation of sin.
The Fire and Hammer 