Scott LaPierre Ministries

Jesus faced the power of darkness at Gethsemane—Judas’s betrayal, the arrest, and the cosmic clash of light vs. darkness—while showing that the power of darkness is limited to an “hour” under God’s sovereign plan. https://youtu.be/6cCpZlgUQIg Table of contentsLight and Darkness Are Metaphors for Good and EvilJudas Went Out When “It Was Night”Jesus Knew the Hour of Darkness Was ComingA High Priest Who Sympathizes with BetrayalJesus’s Kindness to His BetrayerChoosing the Physical Over the SpiritualActing Hastily Often Causes ProblemsMisdirected Zeal with Peter, Josiah, and Maybe UsJesus’s ComposureJesus’s Rebuke to the Religious LeadersThe Power of Darkness Is When Satan “Bruises Jesus’s Heel”The Power of Darkness Is Limited to One Hour Growing up, I read The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. If you asked most people about popular fiction books with Christian themes, they would likely point to these stories. They are classic tales of good versus evil. One thing I appreciate about them is that good always looks good, and evil always looks evil. You never have to guess who the good guys and bad guys are. Even when a good character like Boromir, in a moment of weakness, tries to take the ring from Frodo, or when Edmund denies Narnia’s existence to Peter and Susan to hide his relationship with the White Witch, their actions seem wrong. But I don’t think most media portrays this well, with sins like fornication and violence often being celebrated. When Judas betrayed Jesus, there was no mistaking the distinction between good and evil. Ultimately, Jesus describes the people’s actions as "the power of darkness.” Light and Darkness Are Metaphors for Good and Evil Many verses in the Bible teach that light and darkness are metaphors for good and evil. Here are a few examples: Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness! Darkness is associated with evil, while light is associated with good. John 3:19 The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. People don’t reject Jesus because they don’t believe in Him. They reject Him, the light of the world, because they love darkness, referring to their sins, more than Him. Acts 26:18 Open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.’ Paul associated salvation with turning from darkness to light. Romans 13:12 Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Again, darkness is used as a metaphor for evil, and light is employed as a metaphor for righteousness.1 I could provide more examples, but you get the picture. Judas Went Out When “It Was Night” This is the Last Supper, just hours before Jesus' arrest. There’s a detail that’s only found in John’s Gospel: John 13:27 Then after he (referring to Judas) had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”...30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he (Judas) immediately went out. And it was night. There are seven instances of demon possession in the Gospels, but this is the only instance of Satan entering someone. The phrase “It was night” isn’t just a description of when this happened physically. It is a description of what is happened spiritually: darkness has come. Many commentaries make this point. Here are a few: The Moody Bible Commentary: “Darkness had descended both literally and symbolically.”2 John MacArthur: “It was the hour for Judas to be handed over completely to the power of darkness.”3 The Berean Study Bible: “The mention of 'night' is not merely a time indicator but carries deep symbolic meaning…night represents spiritual darkness and evil. Judas's departure into the night underscores his alignment with darkness.” Before Judas left the Last Supper, he had already agreed with the chief priests to turn Jesus over to them for 30 pieces of silver. Jesus Knew the Hour of Darkness Was Coming Jesus has been praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, but as we know from the last sermon, the three disciples He brought with Him—Peter, James, and John—kept falling asleep: Luke 22:45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” Jesus was not talking about a literal hour. The hour represents the time from Jesus’s betrayal through His crucifixion, when literal darkness, representing spiritual darkness, covered the land: Luke 23:44 There was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, This hour of darkness has been a recurring theme in the Gospels: John 7:30 They were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. John 8:20 He taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. Mark 14:35 [

Jesus as the Last Adam is one of the most powerful truths in Scripture, as Christ came to save us from the consequences of Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden. Unpack Jesus as the Last Adam from 1 Corinthians 15:45, Romans 5:12-20, and Luke 22:42–43, learning how the obedience of Christ brought redemption where the first Adam brought sin and death. https://youtu.be/Tyi-1PlNKgE Table of contentsJesus Is the Last AdamThe Last Adam Had to Resist the DevilGod’s Wrath Builds Up Against UsThe Last Adam’s Agony in the Garden of GethsemaneThe Last Adam Had to Consume God’s WrathThe Last Adam Wanted Us to Know There’s No Other Way for Man to Be SavedJesus Drinks the Cup of God's Wrath for Us or We Drink It We forget things, so it’s good to be reminded. That’s why, throughout the New Testament, we are reminded of spiritual truths. Here are two examples of many I could give you: 1 Corinthians 15:1 I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand. Paul wanted to remind us of the gospel, which I don’t think we could be reminded of too many times. 2 Peter 1:12 I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. Peter’s referring to the qualities he mentioned earlier: virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. Then he says: 2 Peter 1:13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder. As long as Peter’s alive, he’s going to keep reminding believers. So, when I preach, I like reminding people of truths that they’ve heard many times before. It is a joy for me to be reminded of truths in my studying, and then to remind people of them when I preach. But I also hope to help people see new things they haven’t seen before. This is one of my other joys when studying. Helping people see new things in the Gospels can be difficult because they are the most familiar area of Scripture. And beyond that, Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane is one of the most familiar accounts in the Gospels. But there is something deep and powerful in this account that I hope prevents people from reading this account the same way. It requires looking past Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane to the first Adam in the garden of Eden. That’s where this account truly begins. Jesus Is the Last Adam Jesus has over 200 names in Scripture. We know Him as the Son of God, Son of Man, Lamb of God, and Prince of Peace. But a lesser-known title is the Last Adam: 1 Corinthians 15:45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam (referring to Jesus) became a life-giving spirit…47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man (referring to Jesus) is from heaven. The clearest passage contrasting Jesus and Adam is in Romans 5: Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. Adam is a type of Jesus. For something to serve as a type of Christ, it must look like Christ. You might be quick to say, “Then how could Adam serve as a type of Christ because Adam looks like the opposite of Christ?” But there are many ways Adam serves as a dramatic type of Christ: Adam and Jesus were the only two people in all of human history created without a sinful nature; they are the only ones to enter the world sinlessly. Adam is the head of all humanity, and Jesus, as the head of the church, is the head of all redeemed humanity. They both affected humanity more than everyone else – past, present, and future – combined: Adam brought death into the world for all people descended from him, and Jesus brought eternal life into the world for all people who believe in Him. Jesus's salvation is contrasted with Adam's sin: Romans 5:15 But the free gift (Jesus’s free gift of salvation) is not like the trespass (Adam’s sin). For if many died through one man's trespass (Adam’s sin), much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift (eternal salvation) is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass (Adam’s sin) brought condemnation, but the free gift (of salvation) following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass (Adam’s sin), death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. The word free was repeated five times, revealing another similarity between Adam and Jesus: Adam gave us death fo

Spiritual warfare is not just a concept—it’s a daily reality for every believer. Unpack why Jesus instructed His disciples to carry swords, revealing deep biblical truths about preparing for spiritual warfare in a hostile world. Through Luke 22:37-38, we learn that spiritual warfare requires discernment, courage, and readiness—not physical weapons, but the armor of God. Spiritual warfare is not about attacking people but standing firm against the enemy’s schemes with the right weapons, such as prayer, God’s Word, and fellowship. https://youtu.be/DBkrSarLOck Table of contentsThe Context for Jesus’s Words about Spiritual WarfareNew Testament Authors Don’t Ignore Old Testament ContextJesus’s Followers Must Expect To Be Treated Like HimJesus’s Listeners Often Mistook The Spiritual For The PhysicalThe Disciples Mistook Spiritual Preparation for Physical PreparationThe Disciples' Problems Caused by Misunderstanding Jesus’s Words about Spiritual WarfareThe Irony with Peter and UsJesus Wants His Disciples To Prepare For Spiritual Warfare.Two Questions We Should Ask Ourselves The saying, “Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight,” originated in the American West during the late 19th century, when people carried guns for protection, and disputes were often settled with duels. Today, the phrase has become a figure of speech to describe someone being ill-equipped or unprepared to handle a difficult challenge or task. We could adapt the saying for the disciples: “Don’t bring a physical sword to a spiritual fight.” They misunderstood Jesus’s words. He wanted them to prepare for spiritual warfare, but they thought He wanted them to prepare for physical combat. The Context for Jesus’s Words about Spiritual Warfare Jesus just celebrated the Last Supper with the disciples. He’s about to leave the upper room and head to the Garden of Gethsemane, where He will pray and be arrested, and He wants them to know that after that happens, things will change for them dramatically: Luke 22:35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” This refers to when Jesus earlier sent out the disciples to preach the kingdom of God when Jesus was at the height of His popularity. The disciples were His royal ambassadors preaching the kingdom for the King of Kings. Everyone loved them because everyone loved Jesus. Things were going to go so well for the disciples that they didn’t need to bring a moneybag, knapsack, or sandals. They could rely on people’s generosity and hospitality. But after the cross, things were going to be very different: Luke 22:36 He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. This is a radical shift. The kindness and generosity the disciples knew would be replaced with cold looks, opposition, and persecution. They were previously welcomed into people’s homes, but now they would be pilgrims traveling in a hostile world. The obvious question is, why such a dramatic change in the disciples’ treatment? Jesus tells us in the following verse: Luke 22:37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” This is a quote from Isaiah 53:12. New Testament Authors Don’t Ignore Old Testament Context There is a tendency to think that when an Old Testament verse is quoted in the New Testament, the context doesn’t matter. The New Testament author quoted the Old Testament verse simply because it captured what he was trying to say. The problem with this is that it would mean the New Testament author is violating one of the primary rules of Bible interpretation: consider the context. The truth is that God quotes Old Testament verses because of their context. So, why would Jesus quote Isaiah 53:12 to the disciples at this moment? We can answer this by thinking of the context for Isaiah 53:12. The chapter is primarily about the Messiah’s rejection and suffering: Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Verses 4-6 are about His substitutionary atonement. Then we read: Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. There are verses in Isaiah 53 about God the Father afflicting Jesus, but this verse is about Him being afflicted by man; specifically, His trials are in view. And here’s the part that Jesus quoted: Isaiah 53:12b He [referring to Himself] was numbered with the transgressors; Why did Jesus choose this specific phrase? The answer is contained in the word transgressors. Jesus was viewed as a criminal, so much so that He experienced criminals’ trials, a criminal&#039

Unpack some of Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples to live as pilgrims in hostile environments. As the world grows increasingly resistant to the Gospel, Christians today must understand their true citizenship and mission. From being royal ambassadors during Christ’s ministry to becoming pilgrims in hostile environments after His crucifixion, the disciples’ journey mirrors our own. https://youtu.be/WDss9AeVwik Table of contentsFrom Genesis to Malachi, the Gospel was, “The Messiah is coming!”From Matthew to John, the Gospel was, “The Kingdom has come!”From Matthew to John, Jesus’ Disciples Were Royal Ambassadors In Welcoming EnvironmentsFrom Acts on the Gospel is Christ CrucifiedFrom Acts On Jesus’ Disciples Are Pilgrims In Hostile EnvironmentsOur Heavenly CitizenshipWhat Is Commendable About the Faith of Those in Hebrews 11?We Must Be Born Again When I was growing up, my parents made me feel thankful to be an American. It usually took place at the dinner table when they wanted me to finish my food. They would encourage me to eat by telling me how children in other countries didn’t have the same blessings, and I guess at that moment, the blessings I was supposed to be thankful for were peas, broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus. There are few people who, if asked where they would want to live, would say a country other than the United States. But no matter how good American citizenship is, we will see in some of Jesus’s last words to His disciples that He didn’t want any of His followers to see themselves as citizens of any earthly country. Instead, we’re to see ourselves as pilgrims. To fully understand some of Jesus’s final words to the disciples, we must understand the mission of God’s people throughout human history. From Genesis to Malachi, the Gospel was, “The Messiah is coming!” Sometimes people mistakenly believe the Gospel is a New Testament invention; something Paul invented during the Church Age. The even worse situation is when people think man was saved differently in the Old Testament than in the New Testament. But man has always been saved the same: by grace through faith. In the Old Testament, people were saved by believing God would send a Messiah. People looked forward in faith to the Messiah coming, like we look backward in faith, believing the Messiah has come: Galatians 3:8 God…preached the gospel…to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” This shows that the gospel was preached in the Old Testament, as it was preached to Abraham. But it begs the question: How could the words “in you shall all the nations be blessed” be a gospel presentation? This is a prophecy that the Messiah will come as a descendant of Abraham. That’s how all the nations would be blessed in or through Abraham. As people believed this prophecy that the Messiah would come, they would be saved. That’s what happened with Abraham, the father of faith: Genesis 15:6 [Abraham] believed the Lord, and [the Lord] counted it to [Abraham] as righteousness. This is justification: Abraham believed and was justified, or declared righteous, by his faith. (NKJV) Hebrews 4:2 The gospel was preached to…[the Israelites in the wilderness]. We aren’t told exactly what this Gospel presentation looked like, but there was some way for the Israelites to look forward in faith to Jesus so they could be saved. I think they could look forward to Christ in faith through the fantastic types and shadows in the wilderness: They saw Christ through the Bronze Serpent: John 3:14 “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” They saw Christ through the manna: John 6:32-33 “Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, My Father gives you the true bread from heaven (referring to Himself). For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 1 Corinthians 10:4 says Jesus was the rock in the wilderness that provided Israel with water, so they definitely saw Christ through the Rock. When Israel saw these types and shadows of Christ, they were able to believe in Him. So this was the Gospel message in the Old Testament: the Messiah is coming. But what did they preach when He came? From Matthew to John, the Gospel was, “The Kingdom has come!” God became a Man in the Person of Jesus Christ, came from heaven to earth, and brought the Kingdom of God with Him. This was the primary message in the Gospels. People were invited to enter this kingdom by grace through faith in the King of this kingdom. John the Baptist came on the scene and said: Matthew 3:2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He knew Jesus was bringing the kingdom of God with Him. When Jesus’s public ministry began, His first words: Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The ESV and NKJV translate this as "at hand," but they include footnotes indicating that it could also be rendered as "the kingdom of God has co

Naaman’s pride nearly cost him everything – don’t let it happen to you! In 2 Kings 5:1–14, we witness a powerful story of how Naaman’s pride nearly prevented him from receiving God’s healing and salvation. We, too, can be blinded by our own expectations. The story of Naaman’s pride is a warning for all of us: don’t let ego or expectations block the work God wants to do in your life. Recognize the signs of pride and discover how obedience and humility lead to transformation. https://youtu.be/sIs9T1l8crA Table of contentsNaaman Almost Missed Out On Salvation Because It Seemed Foolish to HimNaaman Almost Missed Out on Salvation Because It’s Not How He Wanted to Be SavedNaaman Almost Missed Out On Salvation Because It Wasn’t Glamorous Enough for HimNaaman Almost Missed Out On Salvation Because He Wasn’t Required to Do EnoughNaaman Almost Missed Out On Salvation Because of His PrideNew Humility ShownWhat the People of Nazareth Could Learn from a Gentile Consider this familiar story: A storm descends on a small town, and the downpour soon turns into a flood. As the waters rise, the local preacher kneels in prayer on the church porch, surrounded by water. One of the townsfolk comes up the street in a canoe.“Better get in, Preacher. The waters are rising fast.""No," says the preacher. "I have faith the Lord will save me."Still, the waters rise. Now the preacher is up on the balcony, when another guy arrives in a motorboat."Come on, Preacher. We need to get you out of here."Once again, the preacher is unmoved. "I shall remain. The Lord will see me through."After a while the flood rushes over the church until only the steeple remains above water. The preacher is clinging to the cross when a helicopter descends out of the clouds, and a state trooper calls down to him through a megaphone."Grab the ladder, Preacher. This is your last chance."Once again, the preacher insists the Lord will save him.Predictably, he drowns, but goes to heaven. He asks God, "Why didn't you save me?"God says, “ I sent you two boats and a helicopter." The story is about a man who misses out on the ways God provided for him to be saved. I want to replace it with the better one found in God’s Word. God provided a way for Naaman to be saved, but he almost missed out on it, like the fictional preacher who drowned. The reasons Naaman almost missed out on being cleansed of physical leprosy are the same reasons we miss out on being cleansed of spiritual leprosy, or sin. 2 Kings 5:1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. He probably wore an impressive, well-decorated uniform, but beneath that uniform was a body being consumed by leprosy. This is one of the most impressive descriptions of an individual in Scripture. He’s the commander of the Syrian army. He’s called a mighty man of valor, a title given to only four other people in Scripture, including men like Gideon and David. However, it’s unique here because Naaman is a Gentile. His master, referring to the king of Syria, holds him in high regard. God has used him to secure military victories for Syria. But we also read something that nullifies everything else: he’s a leper. He probably wore an impressive, well-decorated uniform, but beneath that uniform was a body being consumed by leprosy. But God graciously put someone in Naaman’s life who was going to help him in ways he never imagined: 2 Kings 5:2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids (against Israel) had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife. 3 She (the young Israelite girl) said to her mistress (Naaman’s wife), "Would that my lord (referring to Naaman) were with the prophet (Elisha) who is in Samaria! He (Elisha) would cure him of his leprosy." During one of Syria’s victories over the Israelites, they took an Israelite girl captive, and she became Naaman’s wife’s servant. Elisha is famous because of his miracles. By this time, he has performed nine miracles recorded in Scripture and possibly others that aren’t recorded. Being from Israel, the young girl has heard about Elisha, and she tells Naaman’s wife that Elisha can help Naaman. But she is wrong about one thing you need to notice: she thought Elisha was in Samaria. Samaria is the capital of Israel, and Israel is apostate. The only prophets in Samaria are false prophets. Israel’s king is Jehoram, the son of Ahab and Jezebel. One of the reasons there are no prophets of Yahweh in Samaria is that Jezebel murdered all of them. If Elisha were near Samaria, he would have to be afraid for his life. But because the servant girl told Naaman’s wife that Elisha was in Samaria, that’s where they’re going to look for him: 2 Kings 5:4 So Naaman went in and told his lord (the king of Syria), &q

What truly led to the fall of Gehazi? Dive into 2 Kings 5:15-27, unveiling the deeper spiritual truths behind Gehazi’s fall and how his actions became a tragic example of hypocrisy, greed, and divine judgment. Just like leprosy spreads through the body, Gehazi’s sin spread from the heart, leading to devastating consequences. Discover how Gehazi’s fall also serves as a poignant illustration of the dangers of spiritual compromise and the urgent need for repentance. Read this material from Being Content God’s Way or watch the accompanying sermon to learn from Gehazi's tragic example. https://youtu.be/zbC01GX3EUc Table of contentsGehazi Was a Religious HypocriteGod Faithfully WarnsWhen God Warned DavidGod Faithfully Warns UsWe Escape and EndureGehazi’s DeceptionsSin Often Leads to More SinElisha Saw What Gehazi Did as God Sees What We DoElisha Had a Heart for Elisha as God Has a Heart for UsGehazi Already Had Spiritual LeprosyWe Must Be Cleansed of Our Spiritual LeprosyGehazi Ruined a Picture of the GospelLeprosy Must Be Cleansed On the fifteenth anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, the record industry honored him as the best-selling singer of all time. He seemed to have many of the most common things people seek: wealth, fame, and success. But on August 16, 1977, at only forty-two years old, his fiancée, Ginger Alden, found him unresponsive on the bathroom floor of his Graceland mansion. Attempts to revive him failed, and he was pronounced dead. Photos and videos of him at the end of his life show a bloated man with distorted features. Most people will say the years of drug use and careless living took their toll. But I would say the biggest cause of his death was covetousness. Here’s what I mean: even as his health deteriorated, he continued to tour intensively because he desired even more fame and success. In 1973, only a few years before his death, he had his busiest schedule with 168 concerts.1 The day he died, he was scheduled to fly out of Memphis to Portland, Maine, to begin another tour. No matter how successful and famous he became, he always wanted more. We would be hard-pressed to find someone whose health was damaged by covetousness more than Elvis's. But we do with Elisha’s servant, Gehazi. His covetousness caused him to get leprosy! Here’s the background to the account. The prophet Elisha told the Syrian general, Naaman, how to be cleansed of leprosy. After Naaman was cleansed: 2 Kings 5:15 Then [Naaman] returned to the man of God (Elisha), he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.” Naaman was incredibly grateful and tried to repay Elisha: 2 Kings 5:16 But [Elisha] said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. Naaman attributed his cleansing to God, and Elisha wanted to keep it that way, so he refused the gift. 2 Kings 5:19 [Elisha] said to [Naaman], “Go in peace.” But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” Gehazi was Elisha’s servant, and he knew that Naaman had tons of wealth. Briefly look back at 2 Kings 5:5: 2 Kings 5:5 And the king of Syria said [to Naaman], “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So [Naaman] went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. Naaman travels with more changes of clothing than most of us. When Gehazi watches Naaman walk off without giving anything, he thinks he’s missing out on a fortune. Gehazi Was a Religious Hypocrite Gehazi said, “As the Lord lives.” He likely heard his master, Elisha, use this phrase frequently. This is a classic illustration of religious hypocrisy. Gehazi spoke the right words, but the spiritual reality was far from his heart. He would have feared God if he thought He was alive. Why did Gehazi mention God? He couldn’t just say, “I want all Naaman’s money,” so he brought the Lord into it to legitimize his actions. He wanted to sound spiritual and justify his disobedience. Sometimes, we put on religious fronts for the same reason. We do something we should not be doing, and someone confronts us about it, so we say something like, “God knows my heart,” “God opened this door for me,” or “God told me to do this.” Then nobody can argue with us because they would be arguing with God. But if we bring God into our plans when it isn’t His will, that’s blasphemy. There didn’t seem to be many sins in the Old Testament that upset God more than using His name to act as if something was His will when it wasn’t. God Faithfully Warns When Naaman saw Gehazi: 2 Kings 5:21 “So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after hi

Perseverance of the saints is not just a theological idea—it’s a powerful reminder that true saving faith always endures. Learn what it means to persevere as a believer, even in the face of trials and failures. The perseverance of the saints is a work of Christ in us. Though we may stumble, true believers rise again and walk in repentance, proving the genuineness of their faith. https://youtu.be/6iMawZ59C7o Table of contentsJesus Is the Founder and Perfecter of Our FaithJesus Already Prayed for Our PerseveranceEncouraged When We DoubtJesus Doesn’t Pray Exactly Like UsA Saint’s Faith PerseveresEternal Security and Once Saved Always SavedTrials Reveal the Genuineness of Our FaithJob Is the Premier Example of a Persevering SaintPeter and Job Demonstrate That Perseverance Does Not Require PerfectionPeter and Job Demonstrate That Perseverance Does Involve Repentance A long-time friend of mine shared a testimony with me. He was one of my closest friends when we were in California, and I knew him to be a committed Christian. Around 2015, he relocated to Los Angeles and began working for a large, well-known company. He didn’t want me to mention the company’s name. I knew this friend as a responsible and hard worker, so I wasn’t surprised when he told me that he had advanced to upper management in the company. He said he regularly worked 12 to 20-hour days. When I asked how you work 20-hour days consistently, he said, and I quote, “That’s what I want to talk to you about. A select group of senior-level management chose to use cocaine, and I started using it too, and became addicted. I would use it throughout the day to keep going, and when I returned home, I would drink half a gallon of whiskey and take sleeping pills to come off the cocaine so I could fall asleep. Then I would wake up four or five hours later and use more cocaine to have the energy to make it through the day. This went on for years. I knew I was going to kill myself and leave my wife and children without a husband and father, so one night, God heavily convicted me, and I called a Christian rehab facility and said they had to come pick me up. My wife knew something was wrong with me, but she didn’t know what it was. She never gave up praying for me or loving me, and before I left the house, I confessed to her what was happening and informed her that she wouldn’t be able to communicate with me while I was in the facility. I also told her where she could find the stashes of cocaine around the house, because I didn’t want to stumble upon them when I returned home. When I left the facility, I went to work one more time, and that was to quit. I didn’t give them two weeks' notice because I didn’t want to create further temptation. I have been sober since then. I moved my family to Wyoming, where we found healing, and the Lord redeemed our family. We experienced this victory because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The cross can help us defeat anything.” End quote. It blessed me to hear this because I’m sure there were many sacrifices and much suffering on his part to see the positive changes in his life and family. Most of you know our familiarity with addiction: my brother died of a drug overdose, my dad was an alcoholic, and Katie’s mother died of alcoholism. Sadly, there are not many success stories in the addiction world. Some of you know this firsthand. But instead of looking at what he had done, he looked at what Christ had done for him. I don’t think my friend became a Christian during this time. I knew him from 2005 through 2010, and I was confident in his salvation. I believe Christ was with him through this season, praying for him and strengthening his faith, just as He described doing for Peter: Luke 22:32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Jesus said He would pray for Peter’s faith so that it would not fail. Just as He did so with Peter, I believe He did so with my friend, and He does so for us. Jesus Is the Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith Hebrews 12:2 says Jesus is the founder and perfecter of our faith in the ESV, or in the NKJV, the author and finisher of our faith. Regardless of the translation you’re using the point is the same: our faith begins with Christ and is maintained by Him. This brings up an obvious question: Jesus said He prayed for Peter’s faith not to fail. So, when other people’s faith fails, does that mean Jesus didn’t pray for them, or would their faith have survived if He had prayed a little more? No, that’s not it at all. Jesus prays for believers’ faith because believers have faith. That’s why He can pray for it. Unbelievers don’t have faith. Jesus can’t pray for, or strengthen faith that people don’t have. The point is that if you are a believer, Jesus prays for and maintains your faith. If you are not a believer, Jesus does not pray for and maintain your faith, because you don’t have any. Jesus Already Prayed for Our Perseverance Jesu

Work itself is not sinful—our relationship to work can become sinful when we make it an idol. Like other addictions, workaholism is characterized by an unhealthy obsession that crowds out relationships, rest, and spiritual life. Read or listen to this material from Work and Rest God’s Way to learn the best Bible verses for workaholics. Table of contentsThe Workaholic's Relationship to Work Becomes Sinful“Physician, Heal Thyself!”The Consequences for WorkaholicsPhysical ConsequencesEmotional ConsequencesRelationship ConsequencesPerformance ConsequencesSpiritual ConsequencesThe Danger of Burnout for WorkaholicsA Great Leader Who Was Also a WorkaholicWorkaholics Should Expect Negative ResponsesWorkaholics Should Repent The Workaholic's Relationship to Work Becomes Sinful Their land is also full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made (Isaiah 2:8). The people in Isaiah’s day worshiped their work, and we can worship our work too. Just as we can rest too much (laziness), we can work too much (workaholism). Work is moral. When we commit the sin of workaholism, work didn’t suddenly become immoral and sinful. Instead, our relationship to work became sinful. Workaholics have the same relationship to their work that addicts have to alcohol, drugs, or pornography. Everything else in their lives—family, friends, church, health, and rest—takes a backseat to their jobs. Time and energy committed to anyone and anything else are always rushed or neglected. In the past, people couldn’t begin working before the sun came up, and they stopped working when the sun went down. Now, electricity allows us to have our lights, computers, and cell phones on at any time. Our twenty-four-hour days seem restrictive because it’s harder to fit in everything we think we need to do. Since society promotes “bigger and better,” we feel the pressure to keep up, and we find ourselves busier than ever. Covetousness has never been a stronger temptation. The only solution seems to be more work. We can become like machines, moving from one task to the next. We end up overworked, under-rested, and spiritually undernourished. It’s not wise, kind, humble, or impressive when we take on more than we can handle. It demonstrates a lack of wisdom due to the problems it causes. We recognize that our relationship with work has become sinful when it overshadows the areas of our lives that the Lord wants us to prioritize, such as our spouse, parents, children, friends, and church. Answer these questions honestly to help determine whether you struggle with workaholism: When you’re supposed to be resting, does your mind return to work? Can you detach from your job, or do you bring your work home with you? Do you obsess about your job when you’re not working, thereby removing the distinction between work and rest? If you’re home, can you focus on your loved ones, or are you still preoccupied with your job? Can you name any of your hobbies, or are you unable to because work is your hobby? If you want honest answers to these questions, consider asking your spouse or children what they think you should answer! “Physician, Heal Thyself!” I have difficulty sitting around. Even when I’m tired, I still feel the need to be productive. Katie has asked me many times: “Why do you always have to be working?” On the spectrum with workaholism on one side and laziness on the other, you can probably guess where I land. In the last two weeks, I had an unexpected break from preaching. Whenever I don’t have a sermon to prepare, my workload is considerably lighter. I wanted to use the extra time to finish Work and Rest God's Way. While writing this (talk about God expecting me to walk the talk), Katie said, “You’ve been using so much of your free time to work on your book. I know you want to finish it, but why don’t I make lunch for you and the kids, and you can go down to the lake to spend time with them?” The workaholic in me wanted to say, “I only have a few days left. Everything picks up again next week.” The justifier in me wanted to say, “I can make up the time with the kids in the future. They’ll understand.” The spiritual hypocrite in me wanted to say, “I’m doing this for God. He wants me to get it done so I can help others and further His kingdom!” I took my kids to the lake and had a wonderful time with them, but sadly, these are the excuses I wanted to make. For me, pleasing God means resisting the temptation to put a book ahead of them. If we genuinely want to please the Lord, we must have our priorities in order. The Consequences for Workaholics Just as there are negative consequences to laziness, there are negative consequences to workaholism. Physical Consequences The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published “Stress…At Work,” and found that overworking increases the wear and tear on our bodies and contributes to headaches, back pain, and muscle pain. There’s an increase in blood pressure and t

Have you ever felt spiritually confident, only to be blindsided by weakness? Pastor Scott LaPierre unpacks the biblical warning in 1 Corinthians 10:12: “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” This is a wake-up call for every believer, illustrating how spiritual pride and overconfidence can render us vulnerable to temptation, as seen in Peter's case in Luke 22:31-34, who denied Jesus despite his bold declarations. https://youtu.be/A9BnHpeBV2I Table of contentsSpiritual Injuries Occur Like Weightlifting InjuriesTake Heed Lest You Fall, Peter!We Can’t Trust OurselvesWe Need New HeartsThe Way Godly Men Describe Disqualified LeadersTake Heed Lest You Fall, Because We Fail Regarding Our StrengthsWe Must Be Warned About Our StrengthsMany Men Failed Regarding Their StrengthsNoah Was UnrighteousAbraham Lacked FaithMoses Was ProudSolomon Was FoolishRepent and Then Help OthersTake Heed Lest You Fall I want to discuss weightlifting injuries. First, I will tell you how I wish they occurred. And then I will tell you how they occur. I wish they occurred very slowly, so you knew they were coming. I wish you were bench pressing and your rotator cuff said, “This is too heavy. I’m about to tear.” Or you’re squatting in your 20s and your lower back says, “You better not do this. You’re going to have lots of problems in your 40s.” Instead, weightlifting injuries take place in one of two ways: first, and most obviously, when you’re working out. If you’re interested, you can go to YouTube and search for videos of people tearing their biceps and chest muscles. I decided against showing you any videos because they are gruesome to watch. But here’s what you’ll see: a man bench pressing and he lowers the weight, probably a weight he’s lifted many times before. Suddenly, a large gap develops around his armpit where his chest muscle detached from his shoulder. Or someone is bent over a preacher bench curling, they lower the weight, and suddenly their biceps tears and rolls up their arm. The second way weightlifting injuries occur is when people are not working out. You shut the car door or drop something and quickly reach for it, and your shoulder tears. There’s only one time my lower back went out at the gym. Every other time I was at home, feeling fine, and I bent over or threw a kid in the air, and then suddenly felt the shoting pain. What you notice with these injuries is that there’s no warning sign. Instead, we feel strong. We are confident nothing bad will happen. We are doing something that we have done many times before. Next thing you know, we are severely injured. Spiritual Injuries Occur Like Weightlifting Injuries I think sin often occurs in this manner, too. There’s no warning sign that we are going to have trouble. We feel strong. We are confident about this particular area of our Christian lives. But then we fail. We are, spiritually speaking, severely injured. That’s what happened with Peter. He felt confident. He thought he was strong. So strong, in fact, he told Jesus he would die for him. But then he failed. Here’s the context. Jesus is celebrating the Last Supper with the disciples. The evening began with Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. You would think this would produce some humility in the disciples. But it didn’t. At least three recorded times earlier, Jesus told the disciples that He would die, but when He instituted the Lord's Supper, He told them that He would die for them. You would think that would produce some humility. But it didn’t. Then Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray Him. You would think they would respond, “That is horrible. We can’t believe this. What can we do to help? Please tell us what to do.” Instead, they started arguing about who’s the greatest. Jesus rebuked them, and you would think that would produce some humility. But it didn’t, at least not with Peter, who we will see demonstrate serious pride. That catches us up: Luke 22:31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, Jesus knew Peter’s faith was about to be tested, so He graciously warned him. He let him know that a spiritual battle was raging for his very soul. Jesus even reverted to using Peter’s former name, “Simon,” to remind him of his old nature, and He repeated it to ensure he was listening. Jesus continues: Luke 22:32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Take Heed Lest You Fall, Peter! Think about all Jesus has graciously said to Peter. You would think it would it would sober him to the danger he was in and cause him to be on guard and less self-assured. But it didn’t: Luke 22:33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Not the humble response we would hope for. Instead of acknowledging his weakness and expressing gratitude toward Jesus for warning him and praying on his behalf, he makes this declaration. He was overconfi

Are you working too much and still feeling spiritually empty? Discover what the Bible says about working too much and why God calls us to rest. Pastor Scott LaPierre explores how overworking can lead to spiritual burnout, strained relationships, and a failure to honor God’s rhythms of grace and Sabbath. The Bible doesn’t just warn against laziness—it also warns against working too much. God designed a balance, and this message dives deep into how you can realign your life with His perfect plan for work and rest. https://youtu.be/IVGmu3TEt_M Table of contentsWhen We Turn Blessings Into IdolsDo You Work Too Much?The Twelve Apostles Knew the Solution Isn’t Always Working HarderThree Lessons to Learn from the ApostlesGod Modeled Rest for UsShould We Rest on Saturday or Sunday?Our Need to Rest Should Remind Us to Depend on the LordPhysically Resting Is Often a Spiritual MatterWe Are Often Kept Awake for Spiritual ReasonsRepent of Working Too Much By Finding BalanceRepenting of Working Too Much Is Repenting Of Idolatry Imagine a young father named Mike, whose parents made him work hard during his upbringing. Although he didn’t like it at the time, now that he has a family of his own, he appreciates the way his parents raised him. To provide for his family, he’s been putting in more hours than ever before. Over time, he begins to prioritize his job over his family. What his boss thinks is more important than what his wife, children, or God think. He regularly feels exhausted, and his health is suffering. But he doesn’t slow down. He pursues every work message, project, deal, sale, and offer so he can continue to advance in the company. Church attendance has become infrequent because he’s convinced his paycheck can care for him better than God can. He invests the same passion in his job that he once invested in his relationship with Christ. He turned a good thing into a god thing. Work is a blessing, but, like Mike, we have the potential to ruin even the blessings God gives us because of our flesh. When We Turn Blessings Into Idols Consider this account from Israel’s history to illustrate what can happen. When Israel was in the wilderness, they complained, and as a judgment, God sent poisonous serpents into the camp that started biting the people: Numbers 21:7 The people [said] to Moses, “We have sinned…Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. When people looked at this bronze serpent, they were spared from the snakebites. But, tragically, over time, people began to worship the bronze serpent. When Hezekiah reformed the nation and destroyed the idolatry, he had to include the bronze serpent, which by then had developed its own name: 2 Kings 18:4 [Hezekiah] removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan.” The object that brought miraculous healing became an idol. Nehushtan serves as a reminder that we must be vigilant against taking any of God’s blessings—whether it’s marriage, children, homes, relationships, money, or jobs—and allowing them to become idols. Mike’s work, and our work, is no more sinful than the bronze serpent, but work becomes Nehushtan if it’s ever more important than God. When I returned from Africa, I preached a sermon on laziness because I believe the culture there breeds it. But what do you think the culture in America breeds? I think our competitive American culture can breed working too much, as Africa can breed laziness. Because our motto is “bigger and better,” we feel the pressure to keep up and find ourselves busier than ever. Covetousness has never been a stronger temptation. The only solution appears to be working harder. We can end up overworked, under-rested, and spiritually undernourished. In the past, people couldn’t begin working until the sun rose, and they stopped working when the sun set. Now electricity allows us to have our lights, computers, and cell phones on all the time. Consider this verse: Isaiah 2:8 Their land is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made. The people in Isaiah’s day worshiped their work, and we can worship our work too. When we work too much, work doesn’t suddenly become sinful or unrighteous. Instead, our relationship to work became sinful or unrighteous. Workaholics can have the same relationship to their work that addicts have to alcohol, drugs, or pornography. Everything else in their lives—family, friends, church, health, and rest—can take a backseat to their jobs. We should recognize that our relationship with

Are you struggling with procrastination, lack of motivation, or a sluggish spiritual walk? Discover what the Bible really says about laziness and how to overcome it biblically. Proverbs 6:6-11 and other scriptures provide a biblical warning against laziness, and how it impacts our work, witness, and walk with Christ. Whether you’re looking for bible verses about laziness, searching for answers on how to stop being lazy as a Christian, or seeking a solid Bible study on laziness in Proverbs, this sermon delivers the truth with love, clarity, and conviction. https://youtu.be/NCsbmBNQycw Table of contentsGod’s Work Brings Him GloryOur Work Should Bring God GloryFour Important Points About Serving Christ In Our JobsLaziness Is a Bad TestimonyAvoid laziness By Learning from the AntAvoid Laziness by Avoiding Oversleeping.Avoid Laziness By Avoiding ExcusesAvoid Laziness by Avoiding Lazy PeopleGiving to the Lazy Does More Harm than GoodLaziness Leads to Other SinsLaziness and BusybodiesThe Solution to Laziness In April 2025, approximately 7.2 million people in the United States were unemployed, representing a 4.2% unemployment rate. Additionally, nearly 20% of prime-age adults (25-54) were not working, with the vast majority (around 21 million) not seeking work. What could help these people? I think the Bible’s teaching on laziness, because it is incredibly convicting. God’s Work Brings Him Glory Let’s begin by understanding a little more about God’s work: Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows the work of His hands. God created the heavens and the earth, and they bring Him glory. Isaiah 6 contains the incredible vision of God sitting on His throne, high and lifted up, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Angels fly around Him giving Him praise: Isaiah 6:3 One cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” Of all the things the angels could say to praise God, they mention His holiness and the earth, His workmanship, giving Him glory. Think of it like this: We see a beautiful painting and praise the painter. We see an impressive building and praise the architect. Similarly, when we see creation, we should praise the Creator. The greatness of creation reveals the greatness of the Creator. The greatness of creation reveals the greatness of the Creator so well that people are condemned when they refuse to worship the Creator: Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. God reveals Himself to the world through His creation because work says something about the worker. Work reveals character, motivation, and skills. God’s work is of the highest quality because it expresses His character and majesty. Our Work Should Bring God Glory Genesis 1:27 God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him. God created us in His image; we should work because He works. Ephesians 5:1 commands us to “be imitators of God.” We imitate God by bringing Him glory through our work, as He does with His work. We might tend to think that only certain things bring God glory, such as praying, singing, worshiping, and serving, but anything we do can bring God glory if it honors Him: 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. This includes our work. Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” While we’re working, we aren’t even really serving man. We’re serving Christ. Ephesians 6:5-9 discusses bondservants or slaves obeying their earthly masters. This is more like an employee-employer relationship than what we think of as slavery. With that in mind, here are the verses: Ephesians 6:5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters (or bosses) with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, Paul says three times that we serve Christ as we serve our bosses. In the end, he even says we aren’t serving man. Four Important Points About Serving Christ In Our Jobs First, we may not like our boss, but we can tell ourselves that we are not primarily working for this person. Instead, we are working for Christ. How much easier is it to do a job when we are doing it for the Lord versus a boss we might dislike? Second, we might feel like we are doing something menial. I doubt anyone can say that every aspect of their job feels fulfilling and valuable. But if we find ourselves doing something that seems insignificant, we can tell ourselves that we are doing it for Christ, which makes it very signif

What does the bible say about work? This sermon explores a biblical view on labor, sharing insights from my recent mission trip to Malawi and Uganda. Through firsthand stories, scriptural analysis, and spiritual reflection, the message unpacks what the Bible says about work, the spiritual causes of poverty, and how God created us to work as a form of worship and obedience. From Genesis to Ecclesiastes, we see that work is not a curse, but a God-given gift. The sermon contrasts the productivity seen in Scripture with the cultural issues faced in parts of Africa, highlighting how laziness, unbiblical marriage roles, and entitlement contribute to poverty. Most importantly, this sermon is a wake-up call to view work as a spiritual calling and a platform for Gospel witness. Whether you're asking “What does the Bible say about work?” or wondering how to find purpose and fulfillment in your labor, this message will challenge and equip you with biblical truth. https://youtu.be/Tc1kco1Spxw Table of contentsThe Poverty Problem Is Spiritual Versus PhysicalThree Consequences of Disobeying the BibleUgandans Are Poor Because They Disobey What the Bible Says About WorkFirst, people have no concept of saving or planning for the futureSecond, socialism is destroying the countryThird, there’s no shame about not workingWhat Does the Bible Say About Work?The Bible Says God Is a WorkerThe Bible Says God Created Us to WorkOur Motivations with WorkThe Fall Brought a Curse on WorkWe Work After the Curse Is RemovedThe Bible Says Enjoying Our Work Is Good and Fitting I was a business major in college. I’ve always enjoyed finance and economics. In 2024, I took a mission trip to Malawi, Africa, to teach at a Bible College and a Pastor's Conference. In 2025, I went to Malawi and Uganda to put on marriage conferences. I was very interested in the countries' economies on both trips, particularly why they are so poor. This is Afghanistan. Out of almost 200 countries, Afghanistan is the 10th poorest, and Malawi is 20th. There are two reasons Afghanistan is poor. First, all the military conflicts that have occurred within their borders. Second, as you can tell from the picture, nothing grows there. There’s little farmable land. Malawi is a beautiful and lush country. We ate well there because of the bananas and the largest avocados I’ve ever seen. We broke down in front of this restaurant in Malawi. I have been trying to get Katie to come to Africa with me. She kept refusing, so I sent her this picture and told her I would make us reservations if she would come with me. She’s still thinking about it. What surprised me about Malawi and Uganda is how similar they are in terms of beliefs, marriage problems, environments, and economies. This is a picture of the Nile I took from our hotel in Uganda. Again, you see how lush and green it is. This furniture store is right outside our hotel and might reveal part of Uganda's economic problems. It was raining incredibly hard at times, but the store owner kept the tarp over his bricks but left his couches exposed to the weather. When Ricky, Johnny, and I visited Robert Wafula, our missionary, in Uganda, we had to take a ferry back and forth among the islands. This is a picture from when we approached the port. Again, you can see how lush and beautiful it is. Can you see why I wondered why Malawi and Uganda are so poor? I am not going to say that either country has the resources to be wealthy, but I believe they have the resources to be in much better situations than they are in. The Poverty Problem Is Spiritual Versus Physical The more I traveled and spoke with people, the more convinced I became that poverty seems like a physical problem. However, while some physical factors exist, the problem is primarily spiritual. Much of Africa's poverty can be attributed to disobeying God’s word. That’s why the best way to help the people in Uganda and Malawi is to help them spiritually rather than physically or financially. If the spiritual condition of the countries improved, the physical and financial conditions would improve. https://youtu.be/8-oQ-gehWGc This short clip shows us driving through a Ugandan village with Robert and two team members. Notice that the homes are of lower quality than the homes in Malawi. They are not even made of brick; they are made of mud. Toward the end of the video, you can see a few men fishing and a woman in the water. I would guess she was about seven or eight months pregnant. I asked Robert about her, and he said she would have the baby in the village. I don’t think she could do anything if she had any problems. After delivering, she would probably go right back to work. This identifies one of the main spiritual problems in both countries. The women work very hard, but the men do not. During one of my marriage conferences, one of the men raised his hand and said, “When I come home, I sit down, put my feet up, my wife goes to the other room to get a bo

Learn how Jesus redefines greatness through humility and service in this sermon on Luke 22:24–30. Explore the surprising moment when the disciples begin to argue over who is the greatest only moments after Jesus washed their feet and revealed His betrayal and coming death. Instead of rebuking them harshly, Jesus offers a life-changing teaching on true greatness, humility, and servant leadership. Instead of rebuking them harshly, Jesus offers a life-changing teaching on true greatness, humility, and servant leadership. https://youtu.be/uyI4wm01DZQ Table of contentsThe Importance of Foot WashingJesus’s Passover PreparationsJesus Washes the Disciples’ FeetJesus Was Teaching Service and HumilityThe Disciples Wouldn’t Wash Each Other’s Feet Because of PrideHumility Is Thinking of Ourselves Less Versus Less of OurselvesPhilippians 2: The Humility ChapterThe Disciples’ Sad Response to Jesus’s Statement About His Betrayal and DeathThree Things Making the Disciples’ Argument Even WorseHow Could This Argument Happen?Jesus Used the Moment to Teach The Disciples About LeadershipLeaders Should Be HumbleLeaders Should Be ServantsThe Greatest Are ServantsPursue Rewards in God’s Kingdom The Top Tens lists the top 10 of many things, such as songs, movies, albums, cell phones, workout programs, and mountain bikes. Here’s their list of the Top 10 Greatest People of All Time: Jesus Martin Luther King Jr. Albert Einstein Muhammad Buddha Gandhi Abraham Lincoln Moses Nelson Mandela Isaac Newton If the disciples read this list, they would be upset because they thought they should be on it! They argued about who was the greatest, not once but at least twice, first in Luke 9 and again in Luke 22. These are just the recorded instances; maybe it happened more than this! Context is always important, but sometimes it is especially important, and this is one of those instances. We will never fully appreciate this account without considering what occurred before it: Jesus washed their feet! The Importance of Foot Washing To understand Jesus washing the disciples' feet, let’s first look at a few verses in Luke 7. Beginning at Luke 7:36, we have the account of Jesus going to eat at the home of one of the Pharisees. During the meal, a woman, probably a prostitute, approached Jesus, wept, and washed His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. Then she anointed His feet with ointment. This would’ve been a dramatic and moving scene to witness. Unless you are the Pharisee, in which case it makes you mad: Luke 7:39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” The Pharisee only thought this to himself, but you must be careful around Jesus because He can read people’s thoughts. He rebukes the Pharisee and contrasts the woman’s actions toward Him after entering the Pharisee’s home with the Pharisee’s actions when Jesus entered his home. Consider what He said about the situation: Luke 7:44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Jesus commended the women for washing His feet and rebuked the Pharisees for failing to do so. This reveals how big of a deal it was in Jesus’s day to wash your feet before meals because dust, mud, and other filth accumulated on people’s feet as they walked on unpaved roads. Jesus’s Passover Preparations Notice Jesus’s attention to detail as He tells Peter and John how to prepare for the Last Supper: Luke 22:8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” 9 They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” 10 He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters 11 and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” Jesus went to great lengths to ensure everything was perfect for the most important meal in human history: His Last Supper with His disciples. But despite all Jesus’s preparation, one important detail is missing: someone to wash everyone’s feet. For a formal meal like this in a hired banquet room, you don’t just provide water and a bucket for people. Instead, you provide an attendant to wash everyone’s feet. Overlooking this detail was considered a gross discourtesy. Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet Picture the disciples entering the room and looking for someone to wash their feet. The servant isn’t there, so they take their seats.

Discover how God uses even betrayal for His glory. What do Ahithophel and Judas have in common? Both were trusted companions—both committed heartbreaking betrayals—and both served a purpose in God’s sovereign plan. Walk through the betrayal of King David by Ahithophel and how it foreshadows the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot. See God’s sovereignty over their betrayals and be encouraged God is sovereign over our betrayals. https://youtu.be/iQB0t3lO6W4 Table of contentsDavid Is a Type of ChristAhithophel Is a Type of JudasFirst, Ahithophel betrayed David, just as Judas betrayed Jesus.Second, Ahithophel plotted David’s death to Absalom, just as Judas plotted Jesus's death to the religious leaders.Third, Ahithophel hanged himself, just as Judas hanged himselfDavid wrote about Ahithophel’s Betrayal in the PsalmsIs This Old Testament Verse a Prophecy?Jesus’s Two Shocking StatementsGod Is Sovereign Over BetrayalIs Judas Still Responsible?God’s Sovereignty Over Our BetrayalThree Points About the Disciples Questioning ThemselvesTwo Reasons the Disciples Didn’t Know It Was JudasGod Uses Betrayal for GoodGod Uses Joseph’s Betrayal for GoodJesus Could Say Joseph’s Words Even Better The Sound of Music tells the story of the von Trapp family escaping the Nazi takeover of Austria before World War II. A young Austrian named Rolf, who had been pursuing the oldest von Trapp daughter, joined the Nazis. When the von Trapps were hiding from the Nazis, Rolf found them. While holding the family at gunpoint, he demanded that they surrender. Captain von Trapp, the father of the family, confronted Rolf, and gave him a choice: join the von Trapps while they flee to Switzerland or remain with the Nazis. Even though Rolf was conflicted, he chose to betray the von Trapps to the Nazis. At the Last Supper, Jesus declared that He would be betrayed by one of the disciples. We know Jesus was speaking of Judas. We might wonder if Judas was conflicted because he tried to return the money and then committed suicide. But he was an evil man, and we shouldn’t make any excuses for his actions. David Is a Type of Christ Jesus’s betrayal is so significant that God prefigured it or foreshadowed it in the Old Testament through another man’s betrayal, and that’s David’s. As far as types and shadows of Christ go, David is one of the most dramatic: David and Jesus were both born in Bethlehem David was a shepherd, and Jesus is the Good Shepherd David was anointed, and Jesus is the Messiah or Anointed One David was a king, and Jesus is the King of Kings David defeated Goliath, the greatest enemy in his day, and Jesus defeated the devil, the greatest enemy in our day: 1 Corinthians 15:57 Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. The list could go on, but you get the idea. Another way David is a picture or type of Christ is that they both experienced horrible betrayals. If I were David, I would have felt betrayed by my family when they left me out in the field to watch the sheep, rather than inviting me to the anointing of the next king of Israel. Think of how Saul betrayed David. David killed Goliath, something Saul should’ve done. David comforted Saul with music when the demonic spirit tormented him. Then, David faithfully served Saul as his greatest general. After all that, Saul spent 10 to 15 years trying to murder David, forcing him to flee from his friends and family and live in caves in the wilderness. David saved the city of Keilah from the Philistines, but then the people he saved were willing to turn him over to Saul. David’s son, Absalom, betrayed him, taking his wives, the throne, and the hearts of the people of Israel. At the end of David’s life, his son, Adonijah, betrayed him like Absalom did. Making the betrayal worse, Joab, David’s nephew and great general, and Abiathar the priest, David’s longtime friend, betrayed David and joined Adonijah in his rebellion. But, believe it or not, none of these betrayals might have been the worst! I say that because it seems like only one betrayal bothered David so much that he wrote about it in the Psalms. And it’s the only betrayal, out of all the betrayals in the Old Testament, that prefigures or foreshadows Judas betraying Jesus. Ahithophel Is a Type of Judas David had a close friend and trusted advisor named Ahithophel. I’ll spell out three ways he is a type of Judas. First, Ahithophel betrayed David, just as Judas betrayed Jesus. Consider this verse about Ahithophel’s wisdom: 2 Samuel 16:23 Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom. Ahithophel was so wise that when people sought counsel from him, they felt they were hearing from God. Ahithophel is also Bathsheba’s grandfather. When David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah murdered, Ahithophel began to despise David. When David’s son Absalom rebelled agains

Betrayed by someone you trusted? You're not alone. You do something for someone only to be met with ingratitude, thanklessness, or betrayal. Study David's example in 1 Samuel 23:1-13 when the citizens of Keilah betrayed him to Saul after he saved them from the Philistines. Learn how to respond to betrayal with faith, grace, and Christlike humility—no matter the hurt. https://youtu.be/6jqTSSKwedA Table of contentsWhen the People of Keilah Reached out to David for HelpDavid Heard from God Through the Urim and ThummimDavid Saved the People of KeilahRespond Well to Betrayal By Remembering the Lord Didn’t Promise Us GratefulnessRespond Well to Betrayal By Remembering We Were Doing It for the LordPractical Examples of Dealing with BetrayalWhen We Dealt with BetrayalRespond Well to Betrayal By Remembering the Lord Stands By Us John Anthony Walker was an American naval officer who spied for the Soviet Union from 1967 to 1985 during the Cold War. Motivated by financial gain, he sold highly classified information to which he had access as a communications specialist. The information Walker provided to the Soviet Union included details of the Navy's communication systems, jeopardizing the security of U.S. military operations and risking countless lives. How was Walker caught? After he and his wife divorced, she reported him to the FBI when he stopped providing her financial support. So she didn’t mind him serving as a spy, but when he wouldn’t give her money, that was going too far. Most betrayals aren’t this dramatic. They take place on much smaller scales. We do something for someone only to be met with ingratitude, thanklessness, or betrayal. In this morning’s passage, we’ll learn how to respond in these situations by studying David’s example. When the People of Keilah Reached out to David for Help Here’s the context: David became extremely popular among the people, which made Saul paranoid and jealous. Despite David’s loyalty and service, Saul began trying to murder him. David had to flee Jerusalem and spend years as a fugitive in the Judean wilderness. While David had plenty of his problems to worry about, such as staying alive and keeping his men alive, he received news of a city that needed his help: 1 Samuel 23:1 Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.” Keilah is located in the western foothills of Judah, about 18 miles southwest of Jerusalem. The threshing floors are where wheat is separated from the chaff. This is the final stage at which the harvest is prepared before becoming food. Looting the threshing floors meant the Israelites invested months of effort, while the Philistines waited until all the work was complete, then stole the crop. This is why Boaz slept at the threshing floor in the book of Ruth to protect his harvest! Stealing the people’s food was not the same as it would be in our day. The Israelites couldn’t drive to the local grocery store for more. For them, this meant starvation. Where would you expect the people of Keilah to go for help at this desperate moment? In the ancient world, where did you go for justice? You went to the king! It’s pretty unbelievable that David was informed about this instead of Saul. Saul is the one who should have been protecting his people from the Philistines, but he’s too busy mobilizing the nation’s army to murder David. Because the people knew they couldn’t count on Saul, they turned to David for help, even while he was a fugitive. Do you think it would have been very easy for David to justify not helping the people of Keilah? Yes: “I can barely keep myself and my men alive without keeping a city alive.” But he sought the Lord about it anyway: 1 Samuel 23:2 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” 3 But David's men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” David was a man of great faith. He already fought against Goliath. So, when God tells him to fight the Philistines, he’s ready to go, but his men object. They think, “We already have Saul and his men against us in Judah. Why would we go to Keilah and take on the Philistines, too?” Plus, they’re trying to remain unnoticed. That’s why they are living in caves. They know that fighting against the Philistines will bring them out into the open, where Saul will learn of their location and come after them. And that’s exactly what is going to happen. So, they say, “David, let’s just sit this one out.” Interestingly, David responded to his men’s objections by asking again: 1 Samuel 23:4 Then David inquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.” We know David is a great leader and man of faith, so we might expect him to tell his men, “We are go

Jesus instituted the New Covenant at the Last Supper, fulfilling God's promise in Jeremiah 31:31-34. Learn how Christ's words, "This is My body... This is the new covenant in My blood," revealed the redemptive purpose of His death and forever changed how we understand communion. From the blood of the Old Covenant in Exodus to Jesus's sacrifice on the cross, understand the deep spiritual meaning behind the bread and the cup and how they point to our salvation and eternal hope. If you're a believer, whether you’ve taken communion for years or are learning about it for the first time, I hope this helps you remember and rejoice in Christ’s love for you. https://youtu.be/KvxU2-A2Q2Q Table of contentsCovenants Must Be Instituted with BloodJesus Finally Revealed His Death Was RedemptiveCommunion Encourages Us to Look Back to Christ’s Work on the CrossCommunion Encourages Us to Look Inwardly at OurselvesWhen Should Children Partake in Communion?Communion Encourages Us to Look Forward to Christ’s Second ComingCommunion Encourages Us to Four Remember Christ died “For You” A man asked his wife why she always cut off the ends of her roast. She replied that she had learned this from her mother but didn’t know why her mother did it. So, she asked her grandmother, who said she didn’t know either; that’s just what her mother taught her to do. Then, she went to her great-grandmother, who didn’t know, saying it was also what her mother had taught her. Finally, she visited her great-great-grandmother, who explained that the ends of the roast were cut off so the meat would fit in the pan she had used seventy years ago. All these women followed a tradition passed down to them. They had always done it without understanding why they were doing it. This illustrates what happened with Passover. The Jews followed a tradition passed down to them. They went through the motions, doing everything they were supposed to do, without understanding it looked forward to Christ. When Jesus celebrated Passover with His disciples, He spelled it out for them. Covenants Must Be Instituted with Blood Some important verses in Exodus 24 help us understand Jesus’s words at the Last Supper. This chapter contains the institution of the Old Covenant. The people agreed to the terms of the Old Covenant, and Moses instituted them. Let’s start with verse three for context: Exodus 24:3 Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.” 4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. Moses told the people everything the covenant entailed, and they agreed to it, so it looked like it was ratified. But there’s still one more important step. Notice the emphasis on blood: Exodus 24:6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” The word blood occurs four times in three verses. Now the covenant is ratified. There’s no instituting a covenant without blood: Hebrews 9:18 Not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. If you want a covenant, you have to shed blood. God instituted a New Covenant because we couldn’t keep the old one. God could have condemned us to hell for eternity for failing to keep His law perfectly, but instead, He graciously created the New Covenant that doesn’t rely on us but, instead, is about what He would do. Hence, all the “I will statements”: Jeremiah 31:31a I will make a new covenant… Jeremiah 31:33a This is the covenant that I will make… Jeremiah 31:33b I will put my law within them… Jeremiah 31:33c I will write it on their hearts… Jeremiah 31:33d I will be their God… Jeremiah 31:34a I will forgive their iniquity… Jeremiah 31:34b I will remember their sin no more. What would be your main question if you lived in the Old Testament? “When do we get to live under this wonderful New Covenant?” Here’s the answer: Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Do you see the parallelism between Jesus’s words when He instituted the New Covenant and Moses’s words when he instituted the

Explore the identities of the two witnesses in Revelation, their mission during the Great Tribulation, and how they testify about Jesus.

📖 Old vs. New Covenant: Understanding God’s Redemption Plan The transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant is one of the most profound shifts in biblical history. Why was a New Covenant necessary? How does it transform our relationship with God? Let's unpack Jeremiah 31:31-34, exploring how Jesus's Last Supper fulfilled prophecy and established a better covenant for believers. https://youtu.be/04ZpwaZQnHI Table of contentsLasting Change Must Begin with the HeartThe Heart’s ImportanceThe Old Covenant Didn’t Change the HeartThe Old Covenant Reveals Our SinfulnessThe Most Important Verses in the Old TestamentSix Ways the New Covenant Is Not Like the Old CovenantUnlike the Old Covenant, Under the New Covenant, God Does the WorkSecond, Unlike the Old Covenant, Under the New Covenant, the Focus Is InwardThird, Unlike the Old Covenant, Under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit Teaches UsFourth, Unlike the Old Covenant, Under the New Covenant, Christ is the Only MediatorFifth, Unlike the Old Covenant, Under the New Covenant, We Become the Priests, Temple, and SacrificesSixth, Unlike the Old Covenant, Under the New Covenant, Sin Is ForgivenFootnotes The Brennan Center for Justice is a nonpartisan law and policy institute. They published an article titled Prison and Jail Reform. Here’s a surprising part of the second sentence of the article: “Prisons often provide little to no effective rehabilitation.” This is an astonishing admission from a secular research institute about the ineffectiveness of our prison system! Why don’t prisons work? There is a saying that the heart of every problem is the problem of the heart. Prisons don’t work because they don’t deal with people’s hearts. Lasting Change Must Begin with the Heart If punishment could change people’s hearts, we could provide prison sentences long enough for inmates to return to society as model citizens when released. The best example in Scripture of punishment not changing the heart: Genesis 6:5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. That is an incredible indictment. Things were so bad that God had to flood the earth. I can’t imagine a worse punishment than a global flood, which is to say that if a punishment could change man’s heart, a global flood should. The water subsided. Noah and his family got off the ark. Noah built an altar and offered burnt offerings to God. Then we read: Genesis 8:21 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. This is what God said in His heart, which means it isn’t my, Noah’s, or Abraham’s. Even this catastrophic punishment didn’t change man’s heart. Not long after the flood, what sins do you start seeing? Polygamy, incest, prostitution, and homosexuality. So you ask, “If the flood wouldn’t change man’s heart, what was the point?” God didn’t bring the Flood to change man. He brought the flood to remove the demonic influence in the world, and it worked. You don’t see demonic influence again until Christ’s First Coming, when the demonic realm flared up against the kingdom of God coming from heaven to earth. If punishment could change hearts, what parents wouldn’t keep spanking their children until their hearts changed? We hope punishment, whether prison systems or spanking, is a deterrent and provides outward change. But we would be foolish to think it provides any change inwardly. Only the Gospel can do that. The Heart’s Importance Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do (all outward behavior) flows from it. That is incredible. We are not told that some things we do, or even most, flow from our hearts. Everything we do flows from our hearts. All outward behavior originates inwardly. The way we talk, act, dress, you name it, if it is external, it came from the heart. Consider these two statements from Christ. First: Matthew 15:19 Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. This is a pretty exhaustive list of sins. I’m almost surprised Jesus mentioned so many. It seems to be His way of letting us know all sins come from the heart. If all sin comes from the heart, the only way to change what happens on the outside is to change what’s on the inside. The second statement from Christ: Matthew 12:34 Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. If we said it outwardly, it originated inwardly. I remember having my mouth washed out with soap. We can wash our kids’ mouths with soap, but we better ensure we do something for their hearts. The only way to truly clean up children’s dirty mouths is by cleaning their dirty hearts; soap can’t do that. Consider this teaching: Matthew 12:43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, bu

What is the true meaning of Jesus’s Last Supper and Passover? Luke 22:7-18 reveals the deep spiritual significance of the Last Supper, how it fulfilled the Passover, and what it means for believers today. Learn why Jesus earnestly desired to celebrate this meal with His disciples before becoming our Passover Lamb and how it foreshadows the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Heaven. https://youtu.be/NWk8lTM16GU Table of contentsJesus’s Passover Preparation Instructions to Peter and JohnBe Encouraged By Jesus’s Sovereignty and ComposurePassover's Comparison with the Triumphal EntryWhy Did Jesus Earnestly Desire to Celebrate Passover with the Disciples?Jesus Earnestly Desired to Celebrate Passover Because It Looked Back on Israel’s DeliveranceJesus Earnestly Desired to Celebrate Passover Because It Looked Forward to Jesus Becoming Our Passover LambJesus Earnestly Desired to Celebrate Passover Because It Looked Forward to the Marriage Supper of the LambThe Passover Will Be Fulfilled at the Marriage Supper of the LambWhy Draw Attention to Christ as the Lamb?Why Use the Word Marriage ?Aren’t All God’s Words True?Christ, Our Passover Lamb, Delivered in a True and Greater Way Leonardo da Vinci's painting, The Last Supper, is the clearest depiction many Christians have of Jesus's final meal with His disciples. While it is regarded as a masterpiece, da Vinci's painting is historically inaccurate, and the details are misleading. For instance, here are some mistakes: The painting shows daylight outside the window, but the Last Supper occurred at night. The painting shows Jesus and the disciples sitting on benches around one long rectangular table, but Jesus and His disciples reclined around a low table on pillows or couches. The painting shows thirteen Renaissance Italian men in oriental attire within a Florentine palace, but Jesus and the disciples were Jewish men in an upper room in Palestine. To complicate matters further, Dan Brown authored the best-selling fiction novel The Da Vinci Code, which also became a major Hollywood film. In it, he asserts that Christianity was built on a cover-up. He proposes that the church has conspired for centuries to conceal evidence that Jesus was a mere mortal, married to Mary Magdalene, and had children whose descendants reside in France. Da Vinci allegedly sought to reveal this cover-up, supposedly embedding clues in paintings like The Last Supper. In this artwork, Mary Magdalene is claimed to be the figure beside Jesus, rather than the apostle John. Amid the confusion generated by both da Vinci and Dan Brown, many of us have our ideas about the Last Supper. I was raised in the Catholic Church, which shaped my understanding of Jesus celebrating the Passover with His disciples. Even if you were raised in a Protestant church, you might misunderstand some details. We should set aside our preconceived notions and impressions about this meal to focus on the biblical account because it is the only reliable source of information regarding what transpired and why. With that in mind: Luke 22:7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Passover was the first of the spring feasts on Nisan 14, or March 30th. The feast of unleavened bread began the next day, Nisan 15, and lasted for one week until Nisan 22, from Friday to Friday. The Feast of Unleavened Bread began the day after Passover. When people prepared for Passover, they also prepared for the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Over time, these two feasts began to be viewed as one feast lasting eight days, with the people simply calling it Passover. Luke 22:8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” Luke 22:9 They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” From the previous chapter, we know that Jesus taught in the temple during the day and went to the Mount of Olives at night. But Passover couldn’t be celebrated as an informal picnic on the hillside. There had to be a suitable place for the formal meal. So Jesus sent Peter and John to make the necessary preparations. These preparations are the focus of the verses. The word “prepare” appears four times in verses 8, 9, 12, and 13. Preparing involved more than merely securing the location. They would have needed to gather the required elements, such as wine, unleavened bread, bitter herbs, and, most importantly, a suitable lamb. They would have sacrificed the lamb at the temple, roasted it, set up the room for the meal, and made various side dishes. Jesus’s Passover Preparation Instructions to Peter and John Luke 22:10 He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters Typically, women carried pitchers of water. Consider the Samaritan woman at the well. She was alone because of her promiscuous lifestyle, but generally, women gathered in groups to collect water, which they carried in

Why did Judas betray Jesus? Understand one of the most tragic and evil acts in history. Drawing on Luke 22:1-6 and other scriptural insights, we learn Judas’s betrayal was not simply an act of greed but resulted from a complex interplay of unbelief, Satan’s influence, bitterness in the hearts of the religious leaders, and disillusionment. https://youtu.be/8YGeaWHt_rg Table of contentsJesus Modeled Faith and WisdomJudas: The Religious Leaders’ Solution to Their DilemmaSatan Entered Judas Because He Was an UnbelieverThe Religious Leaders’ WickednessThe Leaven of Bitterness Grew in the Religious Leaders’ HeartsJudas Betrayed Jesus Because of Satan’s InfluenceJudas Betrayed Jesus Because of GreedJudas Betrayed Jesus Because He Was Disillusioned with HimJudas (Might Have) Betrayed Jesus to Get Him to ActJudas Committed the Evilest Act in HistoryReligious and UnsavedThe Application for Us Capt. Scott O’Grady was an American fighter pilot who was shot down over Bosnia in 1995 during the Bosnian War. When he ejected, he realized the Bosnians would be searching for him since they had witnessed his plane explode. Rubbing dirt on his face, he hid face-down as enemies approached his parachute, shooting mere feet from his hiding spot multiple times to try to flush him out or kill him. He had only his essential survival gear: a radio, a pistol, a map, a compass, and a survival kit containing food and water-purifying tablets. Knowing that moving during the day was too risky, he traveled at night and concealed himself during daylight. He ate leaves, grass, and bugs and collected the little rainwater he could with a sponge in plastic bags. He used his radio sparingly to avoid detection, sending brief signals in hopes that NATO forces would pick them up. The dense forest and mountainous terrain made it extremely challenging to locate him. A NATO aircraft detected his radio signals, leading to his rescue after six grueling days. Capt. O’Grady’s story garnered national attention, and the 2001 film Behind Enemy Lines is loosely based on it. I’m not minimizing the danger Capt. O’Grady was in, but when Jesus entered Jerusalem, He was behind enemy lines, and I would argue that the danger He was in was even worse: Luke 19:47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words. The religious leaders have wanted to murder Jesus since early in His ministry, but they couldn’t because of the people. A public arrest would risk backlash from those who think so highly of Christ. In Luke 20:9-18, Jesus preached the parable of the vineyard owner and said the vineyard owner, representing God the Father, would destroy the tenants or religious leaders for murdering His Son. We can only imagine how much this would further upset the religious leaders. Look how they responded in Luke 20:19: Luke 20:19 The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. Again, we see why they couldn’t do anything to Jesus yet. It is shocking to think about: the religious leaders had no fear of murdering the Son of God, but they were terrified of the people. Jesus Modeled Faith and Wisdom Consider how Jesus responds to the opposition: Luke 21:37 And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him. Luke added this at the end of the chapter to inform us of how Jesus handled the situation He was in. Although Jesus’s teachings in the temple were popular, they only increased the opposition against Him. He was safe during the day because of the crowds, but when the crowds went home in the evening, He found it necessary to retire to the safety of the Mount of Olives. This is why Judas knew where to take the religious leaders to arrest Jesus. He knew where Jesus went at night. Jesus modeled many things for us, including combining faith and wisdom. Notice what Jesus did and didn’t do: He didn’t say, “I have enough faith that My Father will protect Me that even when the crowds go home, and I am left alone, I don’t concern myself with whether anyone would harm Me.” Instead, He took reasonable steps to avoid being arrested. He combined faith and wisdom. Let’s talk about what this looks like for us. We take risks each day. We get in a car and risk getting in an accident. We have faith that God will protect us, but we apply wisdom by putting on our seatbelts. If we met people who said, “I don’t wear a seatbelt because I have faith that the Lord will protect me,” we would think those people had faith but not wisdom. It would be a combination of faith and foolishness. Imagine parents who say, “We let our children play in the road, because we have fait

Daniel 9:24 says, "Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, make an end of sins, make atonement for iniquity, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy, and anoint the most holy place." The six things listed are divided into two groups: the first group of three is negative and relates to sin. It's important to understand each! Table of contentsThe First Group of ThreeFinish the TransgressionMake an End of SinsMake Atonement for IniquityThe Second Group of ThreeBring in Everlasting RighteousnessSeal Up Vision and ProphecyAnoint the Most Holy Place Daniel 9:24 says, "Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, make an end of sins, make atonement for iniquity, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy, and anoint the most holy place." The Hebrew word for weeks is šāḇûaʿ and it means seven like our word dozen means 12, so it’s saying 70 sevens, or 490. Daniel’s people would be the Jews and Daniel’s holy city would be Jerusalem. So this is not a prophecy primarily for Gentiles or the church. The only way Bible prophecy makes sense is by understanding God has a separate and distinct plan for the Jews and the church. The second half of the verse lists six things that will mostly be accomplished during the 70th week, which is discussed in Daniel 9:27. The six are broken up into two groups. The First Group of Three The first group of three is negative and relates to sin. Finish the Transgression Daniel 9:24b to finish the transgression Notice two things. First, it says transgression, a type of sin where people sin willfully when they should know better; it’s like people see the line but step over it anyway. Second, transgression is singular because it refers to one specific transgression of the Jews. No matter how many sins the Jews have committed, there’s one transgression that trumps all others combined and that’s their rejection of Jesus. And it’s the same today: if someone isn’t a believer, no matter how many sins are in that person’s life, there’s only one sin that matters at that moment, and it’s that person’s rejection of Christ…because that is the sin that determines where they spend eternity. Consider: John 16:9 [Jesus said], “When the Holy Spirit has come, He will convict the world of sin, because they do not believe in Me.” That doesn’t sound like it makes much sense. Still, Jesus says it because even though there are tons of different sins, the one sin that matters is whether we believe in Jesus, and that’s why that’s the sin the Holy Spirit is going to convict the world of because if you believe in Jesus, I don’t want to say your other sins don’t matter. Still, IN A WAY, they don’t matter because they’re forgiven and paid for by Christ. And if you don’t believe in Jesus, your other sins don’t matter in a way because you’re going to be condemned for not believing in Jesus anyway: John 3:18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him This is why the Unpardonable or Unforgivable Sin is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. It refers to people deliberately, willfully rejecting the Holy Spirit’s work in pointing them to believe in Christ. That’s the sin they can never be forgiven for because they will have rejected the one way God has chosen to give us salvation. This means that by the end of the 70th week, the Jews will have received their Messiah. Make an End of Sins Daniel 9:24c to put an end to sin, There will also be an end to the Jews’ other sins because coming to Christ, or conversion, produces sanctification. Make Atonement for Iniquity Daniel 9:24d and to atone for iniquity, By the end of the 490 years, the iniquity of the Jews will be atoned for, and that will bring reconciliation between them and God. The Second Group of Three Having dealt with all the negative (transgression, sin, and iniquity), three positive things can be accomplished. Bring in Everlasting Righteousness Daniel 9:24e to bring in everlasting righteousness, There can be righteousness with all the transgression, sin, and iniquity out of the way. So this is saying before the end of the 70th Week, righteousness will be brought in and everlasting. This refers to Jesus's reign, which is characterized by righteousness. Now, the verse mentions everlasting righteousness because the righteousness begins at Jesus’ Second Coming at the end of Daniel’s 70th Week, carries on into the Millennium, and then into eternity. Jesus’ Second Coming occurs at the end of the 70th Week or Tribulation. At Jesus’ Second Coming, the Battle of Armageddon takes place, and He destroys all His enemies. You can imagine how muc

Do you know what truly shapes our obedience? Our actions are governed by what we fear. Drawing from the timeless examples of Abraham, the Hebrew midwives, Pharaoh, Saul, and even the religious leaders, we learn that obedience to God flows from a genuine fear of Him—and not from our fear of man. Why? because we obey what we fear. https://youtu.be/qGrBmyob1o8 Table of contentsAbraham Obeyed God Because He Feared HimThe Midwives Obeyed God Because They Feared HimPharaoh Disobeyed God Because He Didn’t Fear HimThe Israelites Would Obey God If They Feared HimSaul Disobeyed God Because He Didn’t Fear HimThe Religious Leaders' Hatred for JesusThe Religious Leaders Obeyed the People Because They Feared ThemWe Obey God If We Fear HimThe Whole of Duty of Man Let me share four of the strangest fears I read about and observe how they affect people’s lives. Nomophobia is the fear of being without your cell phone. People with nomophobia experience excessive anxiety about not having their phone, their battery running low, or their phone being out of service. They have difficulty going anywhere or doing anything without frequently checking their phones. I wish Katie had this fear so I could reach her more easily. One of her most common statements is, “I can’t find my phone.” Arithmophobia, derived from arithmetic, refers to an intense fear of math. Individuals with this phobia experience anxiety when doing math or interacting with numbers. Katie often sends the kids to my office for help with math, and a few seem to have this fear. Arithmophobia can significantly affect a person’s life because many tasks and jobs require dealing with numbers. Xanthophobia is the fear of the color yellow. Individuals with this phobia fear yellow objects like school buses and flowers. These people avoid the color at all costs and find yellow foods distressing. Xanthophobia can disrupt daily life because yellow items are found everywhere. Ablutophobia is the fear of bathing. We can imagine how this fear impacts the lives of those who have it and those around them. We have a child, and I’m not going to tell you whether it’s our oldest, who claims to be afraid of holes. Because I love this child and don’t want her to live in fear of something absurd, I told her there’s no such thing as a fear of holes. Unfortunately, we live in a world where anything can be labeled as a phobia. So when I took out my phone to search the Internet, prove to my daughter that she has nothing to worry about, and help her overcome this irrational belief, I discovered trypophobia. Trypophobia is the fear of irregular patterns with numerous holes, such as those found in sunflowers, honeycombs, sponges, and seedy fruits. If fears did not affect our lives, they wouldn’t matter. But because fears shape our decisions, they matter greatly. The Bible doesn’t mention any of the fears I just discussed, but it does teach that what we fear controls us. I want to show you some examples and discuss their application to our lives. Abraham Obeyed God Because He Feared Him Genesis 22:2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” Because God commanded Abraham to sacrifice the son he loved, we would be led to believe that Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac because he loved God so much. He loved God even more than he loved Isaac. But look at Genesis 22:11 to see what the Angel said when he stopped Abraham: Genesis 22:11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that YOU FEAR GOD, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” James 2:23 calls Abraham the friend of God. This leads me to believe that Abraham loved God. That’s not a question in my mind. But Abraham obeyed God because he feared God. The Midwives Obeyed God Because They Feared Him When the Israelites multiplied in Egypt, Pharaoh began to fear them. He commanded the Hebrew midwives to murder all the baby boys: Exodus 1:16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. What’s fascinating about this account is that, on the surface, it says that the midwives only feared God. Do you think the Hebrew midwives feared Pharaoh, too? Of course. If a man is evil enough to enslave a whole race of people and murder their babies, then you live in fear that if you disobey him, he will murder you, too. So it’s not just that they feared God. It’s that they feared God more than they feared Pharaoh. This greater fear of God is often what’s required to obey. For example, imagine these situations: We believe God wants

Discover the powerful call to vigilance. Jesus commands us to "stay awake and be watchful" so that we are always ready for His return. In this message, learn how being alert—watching rather than merely predicting—produces obedience and prevents disobedience. Drawing on teachings from Luke 21 and other prophetic scriptures, this sermon challenges us to live each day in anticipation of Christ’s imminent return. Learn how spiritual watchfulness can transform your life and prepare your heart for the blessed hope of His coming. https://youtu.be/Pg3hPQBSasg Table of contentsJesus Said We Can Tell When His Return Is NearBe Watchful Versus PredictingAvoiding Being Weighed Down By Dissipation, Drunkenness, and the Cares of this LifeBeing Watchful for Christ’s Return Produces ObedienceIgnoring Christ’s Return Leads to DisobediencePray (Stay Awake) to Escape TemptationChrist Expects Us to Stay Awake SpirituallyThe Relationship Between Staying Awake and PrayingEvery Generation Is Supposed to Believe They’re the LastChrist Returns Soon or Quickly?Regardless of When Jesus Returns I was always happy to see my students read C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when I taught elementary school. I loved the allusions to Christianity, and Aslan remains one of my favorite fictional pictures or types of Christ. Consider this exchange between Susan and Mr. Beaver about Aslan: “Who is Aslan?” asked Susan.“Aslan?” said Mr. Beaver, “Why don’t you know? He’s the King. It is he, not you, that will save Mr. Tumnus.”“Isis he a man?” asked Lucy.“Aslan a man!” said Mr. Beaver sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lionthe Lion, the great Lion.”“Ooh!” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is hequite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver, “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”“I’m longing to see him,” said Peter, “even if I do feel frightened when it comes to the point.”1 I like how Mr. Beaver describes Aslan: not safe but good. I also like how Susan describes seeing Aslan as frightened but still longing to see him. As we come to the end of the Olivet Discourse and think about Christ’s return, maybe this is how we feel about seeing Him, too. Later in the book, I believe C.S. Lewis was trying to convey a lesson about readiness when Peter faces his first battle against a monstrous wolf that threatens all the creatures and the children. Peter is afraid, yet he charges at the monster anyway and kills it after a fierce struggle. Out of breath but relieved, Peter turns and sees Aslan “close at hand.” Aslan immediately says, “You have forgotten to clean your sword.” Blushing, Peter notices that the sword is “smeared with the wolf's hair and blood,” so he bends to wipe it clean. After this, Aslan knights Peter and says, “Rise up, Sir Peter Wolf’s-Bane. And whatever happens, never forget to wipe your sword.” I believe Aslan was trying to teach Peter a lesson about being prepared. Jesus does the same in this morning’s verses. Of all the ways Jesus could conclude the Olivet Discourse, He tells us to do two things: stay awake and be watchful. Jesus Said We Can Tell When His Return Is Near Consider this theme that sets up this morning’s verses. In Luke 21:8-11 Jesus looked to the far future and described the birth pains that precede His Second Coming, or precede the birth. He said there would be false christs, wars, and tumults. Then, in Luke 21:25-27 He described more signs associated with His Second Coming: Luke 21:25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. These are called signs because, like our signs, they point to something, in this case, Christ’s return. They help us identify when the Second Coming is close. Jesus is so intent on us looking for His return that in the following verses, He preached the parable of the fig tree, which is all about looking for His return. Toward the end of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus made two statements about knowing when His return is near: Luke 21:28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. So, Jesus told us we can tell when He will be returning. How do we reconcile this with Jesus also saying:

Are we in the End Times? The Parable of the Fig Tree in Luke 21:29-33 serves as a warning and guide for recognizing the signs of Christ’s Second Coming. Jesus rebuked people in His day for failing to discern His First Coming, and He expects our generation to recognize the signs leading to His return. In this message, Pastor Scott LaPierre explains how this parable is misinterpreted, what generation Jesus referred to, and why His words are more certain than creation itself. https://youtu.be/AjvvztD2qNM Table of contentsJesus Expected the People in His Day to Recognize His First ComingJesus Expects Us to Recognize His Second ComingIs the Parable of the Fig Tree About the Generation that Sees Israel Become a Nation in 1948?Is the Parable of the Fig Tree Promoting Full Preterism?Which Generation Did Jesus Refer to in the Parable of the Fig Tree?The Parable of the Fig Tree Might Refer to the Race of the JewsThe Parable of the Fig Tree Likely Refers to the Generation that Sees the Signs OccurJesus Spiritually Established the Kingdom at His First ComingJesus Will Physically Establish the Kingdom at His Second ComingJesus’s Words Are More Certain than Creation ItselfJesus’s Return Completes Our Redemption Edgar C. Whisenant was a NASA engineer and Bible scholar who predicted that the rapture would occur between September 11 and 13, 1988, during the Feast of Trumpets, also known as Rosh Hashanah. He authored the book 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988. Three hundred thousand copies were distributed to pastors nationwide, and 4.5 million copies were sold in bookstores and other outlets. The book climbed to number two on the Christian Bookseller Association's list. Whisenant said, “Only if the Bible is in error am I wrong; and I say that to every preacher in town…[I]f there were a king in this country and I could gamble with my life, I would stake my life on Rosh Hashana 88.” When September 13 came and went, Whisenant claimed that the event would still occur, revising his prediction to October 3. After October 3 passed, he stated his calculations were off by one year because he hadn’t accounted for the absence of a year zero. Following this, he published The Final Shout on September 1, 1989. Whisenant’s conclusion was primarily drawn from the parable of the fig tree. Before we jump into the parable, let's consider some related verses Jesus preached earlier. Jesus Expected the People in His Day to Recognize His First Coming Luke 12:54 He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? In the first century, there was no Weather Channel. Predictions were based on cloud formations and wind direction. Jesus’ listeners understood. Rain would come if a cloud formed in the west over the Mediterranean Sea. A heat wave was approaching if a warm wind blew south from the Arabian desert. Jesus applauded their ability to discern the weather but rebuked them for being unable to discern the present time. Notice that it says present time—singular. The NKJV says, “This time.” The NIV, Amplified, and NASB say, “This present time.” Jesus isn’t discussing discerning various times or seasons. He’s referring to His day and those who failed to recognize His First Coming. The irony is that they could tell whether it would be hot outside, recognize when the weather would change, predict a storm, and identify good days for planting and harvesting, but they couldn’t tell when the Messiah had come. When our kids can’t do something, we don’t typically criticize them. Instead, we teach them how to do it. For example, if our kids don’t know how to run the lawnmower, we don’t criticize them when the lawn isn’t mowed. Instead, we teach them how to mow the lawn. If our kids don’t know how to run the dishwasher, we don’t criticize them when the dishes aren’t done. Instead, we teach them how to do so. We only criticize our children when they haven’t done something they should have done. Similarly, Jesus does not criticize them for being unable to discern the time. He criticizes them for not discerning the time, since they should have. Just as children are taught to use the lawnmower and dishwasher, the Jews were taught Scripture. They should have discerned that the Messiah had come because of all the fulfilled prophecies. And that sets us up for the parable of the fig tree. Jesus Expects Us to Recognize His Second Coming Here's the context for the parable of the fig tree. In the Olivet Discourse: In Luke 21:5- 6, Jesus prophecies about the temple's destruction in 70 A.D. In Luke 21:7 the disciples ask about the temple’s destruction. In Luke 21:8-11 Jesus looks to the far future and describes the birth pains that prece

What does the return of Christ really look like? Unpack the powerful prophecies in Luke 21:25-27 and Daniel 7:9-14, illuminating the Son of Man’s coming, the Great White Throne Judgment, and the kingdom that will replace all earthly rule. Learn the cosmic disturbances that will accompany Jesus’s second coming, the symbolism of the cloud as God’s presence, and how repentance prepares us for His arrival. https://youtu.be/eVMI3ssvKUI Table of contentsDaniel Prophesies of the Great White Throne JudgmentWhat Happens to the Little Horn?Do the Kingdoms End or Continue?Daniel Prophesies of the Son of Man’s ComingDaniel Prophesies of the Son of Man’s Kingdom Replacing Earthly KingdomsNebuchadnezzar's Dream of the Son of Man's Kingdom Replacing Earthly KingdomsCosmic Disturbances Accompany the Son of Man’s CominAssociate the Cloud with the Father’s PresencePrepare for the Son of Man’s Coming by RepentingWhy People Don't Repent Jesus is the God-Man: He is fully God and fully man. In the Gospels, we see verses that reveal Jesus’s deity and humanity. Think about whether these verses describe the Son of God or the Son of Man: Matthew 4:2 says Jesus was hungry. Son of Man Matthew 4:3-9 says He was tempted. Son of Man Matthew 8:24 says Jesus slept in a boat during a storm. Son of Man Matthew 17:2 says He was transfigured, His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. Son of God Matthew 24:36 says He didn’t know the day or hour of His return. Son of Man Matthew 27:50 says He died. Son of Man Mark 6:3 says Jesus had brothers and sisters. Son of Man In Luke 5:20, Jesus told the paralytic, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” Son of God John 1:14 says He showed us the glory of the Father, full of grace and truth. Son of God John 1:18 says nobody has seen God the Father, but Jesus has made Him known. Son of God John 4:6 says He was weary from his journey and had to sit down. Son of Man In John 8:58, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” Son of God In John 10:30, Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” Son of God In John 17:21, Jesus said the Father is in Him, and He is in the Father. Son of God In John 19:28, Jesus said He was thirsty. Son of Man John 20:19 describes Jesus as being able to pass through walls. Son of God Now for this morning’s verses: In Luke 21:27, Jesus said He would come in a cloud with power and great glory. Son of God or Son of Man? I would think the Son of God! But we read: Luke 21:27 [people of the earth] will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. So, what is this all about? How is this the Son of Man versus the Son of God? The answer is in Daniel 7. Daniel Prophesies of the Great White Throne Judgment Daniel 7 and Revelation 20 describe the Great White Throne Judgment. Daniel 7:1-8 record Daniel’s vision of the four beasts, which represent four kingdoms: The first beast is a lion that represents Babylon The second beast is a bear that represents Medo-Persia The third beast is a leopard that represents Greece The fourth beast, Rome, the antichrist’s kingdom, combines the previous kingdoms and has ten horns. The Antichrist has many names in Scripture, including the little horn: Daniel 7:8 I considered the horns (on the fourth beast), and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one (the Antichrist), before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man (so we know the horn is a man, versus another kingdom), and a mouth speaking great things (he’s proud and boastful). 9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days (this is a fascinating Old Testament title for God the Father) took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. The thrones being placed are meant for us because we rule and reign with Christ. They are empty because we aren’t ruling with Christ yet. We see the same thrones in Revelation 20:4: Revelation 20:4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. These are saints ruling with Christ. Daniel 7:9 describes God the Father’s throne as having wheels. In ancient times, thrones commonly had wheels so kings could move around without standing up. They were more like chariots than what we think of as thrones. Here's the parallel description in Revelation 20:11: Revelation 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. This is how terrifying the throne is: even the earth and the sky wa

Daniel 9:27 is the first prophecy of the abomination of desolation. Jesus referred to Daniel's prophecy in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:15). Paul described the abomination of desolation in 2 Thessalonians 2:4, and John in Revelation 13:14. Putting all these passages together helps us answer the question: What is the abomination of desolation? Table of contentsDaniel's Description of the Abomination of DesolationThe Jews' Temple Worship Will EndThe Jews Will Realize They Embraced the Antichrist Instead of the ChristJesus's Description of the Abomination of DesolationPaul's Description of the Abomination of DesolationWhy the Antichrist Let the Jews Rebuild Their TempleJohn's Description of the Abomination of DesolationIs the False Prophet's Image Alive?Old Testament Idols Foreshadowed the False Prophet's ImageThe False Prophet's Image Can KillSo, What Is the Abomination of Desolation? Daniel's Description of the Abomination of Desolation At the midpoint of Daniel's 70th Week (the Tribulation), the Antichrist commits the abomination of desolation: Daniel 9:27 Then [the Antichrist] shall confirm a covenant with [the Jews] for one week (refferring to Daniel's 70th Week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate. The phrase "shall be one who makes desolate” refers to the Antichrist ushering in terrible desolation. Desolate means barren, laid waste, or devastated. The Hebrew word for desolation is šāmēm. This is the same word used at the end of Daniel 9:26 to describe the Romans' destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD: Daniel 9:26b And the people (Romans) of the prince (the Antichrist) who is to come shall destroy the city (Jerusalem) and the sanctuary (temple). The end of it shall be with a flood (of soldiers, not water), And till the end of the war desolations (šāmēm). This are determined. The desolation the Romans brought in 70AD prefigures or foreshadows (dual fulfillment) the desolation the Antichrist will bring when this abomination occurs. The Jews' Temple Worship Will End Revelation 11:1-2 describes the rebuilt temple. Daniel 9:27 says the abomination of desolation "shall bring an end to the sacrifices and offerings" that had been reinstituted when the temple was rebuilt. This will be Satan’s way of ending the Jews' religion to have people worship him alone. The Jews Will Realize They Embraced the Antichrist Instead of the Christ The abomination of desolation is when the Antichrist’s true colors are revealed. He’ll turn on the Jews and attack them: Revelation 12:4 His (the devil’s) tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon (the devil) stood before the woman (Israel) who was about to give birth (Jesus), so that when she bore her child he might devour it. This played out on Earth when Herod tried to destroy all the male babies. Revelation12:5 She (Israel) gave birth to a male child (Jesus), one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne (Jesus’s ascension), 6 and the woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. The 1,260 days are the last 3.5 years of Daniel's 70th Week: the Great Tribulation. It has been Satan’s desire throughout history to destroy the Jews and this will be his greatest attempt. Jesus's Description of the Abomination of Desolation Jesus explained abomination of desolation like this in the Olivet Discourse: Matthew 24:15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel (referring to Daniel 9:27), standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains (because of how terrible it will be in the city). 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. Jesus said, “Then there will be Great Tribulation” because this is when the Tribulation becomes the Great Tribulation. The abomination brings such desolation that it takes a terrible time and makes it even worse. Jesus said, “standing in the holy place” of the temple. Someone (the Antichrist) or something (an image or idol) is going to be standing in the holy place of the temple. Paul's Description of the Abomination of Desolation Paul wrote: 2 Thessalonians 2:4 the antichrist who opposes and exa

Daniel 9:27 says,"[the Antichrist] shall make a strong covenant with many for one week." The “week” refers to the 70th of the seventy weeks. It’s a week of years, so it’s 7 years long. It’s the last seven years of the 490 years. Daniel's 70th Week has many names, such as the Great Tribulation, "the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world” (Revelation 3:10), and "the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). Table of contentsGod Uses Daniel's 70th Week to Draw the Jews to HimselfGod Uses Daniel's 70th Week to Draw Gentiles to HimselfEvangelism During Daniel's 70th WeekThe Covenant the Antichrist Makes with the JewsTwo Things Accomplished by the Antichrist's CovenantThe Jews' Savior or Prince Daniel 9:27a And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, The “he” is the prince of the people to come in verse 26, or the antichrist. The “week” refers to the 70th of the seventy weeks. It’s a week of years so it’s 7 years in length. It’s the last seven years of the 490 years.These 7 years have many names and here are a few of them: Most commonly they’re called the Tribulation or Great Tribulation; if you wonder which name is correct, both are correct because the first 3.5 years are the Tribulation, but at the midpoint, at the 3.5 year mark, things get way worse and the Great Tribulation begins. Revelation 3:10 calls them “the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world” Joel 1:15, 2:1 and 1 Thessalonians 5:2 call them “the day of the Lord” Jeremiah 30:7 calls them “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” which is my favorite title because it emphasizes the 7 years are about Jacob, or Israel, or the Jews.Remember verse 24 said 70 weeks (or 70 sevens or 490 years) are determined for YOUR PEOPLE that’s the Jews…this is about them. Revelation 6 through 19 contains the most extended description of these seven years or the Tribulation. God Uses Daniel's 70th Week to Draw the Jews to Himself Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. The house of David refers to the Jews because David was from the tribe of Judah, and the Jews are the people from the tribe of Judah. They, the Jews, crucified Christ, but they’ll look on Him and mourn over what they did when they realize He’s their Messiah. The question is: what’s going to bring that about? The answer is Daniel’s 70th Week. It will serve as the furnace to prepare the Jews to receive their Messiah. Consider Romans 11:25. The context is the Jews being broken off the tree, and the Gentiles being grafted in: Romans 11:25a Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: The mystery is the mystery of the Church Age or the Time of the Gentiles, or the ‘gap’ between the 69th and 70th week. Romans 11:26b a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. The hardening is the Jews’ hardness, or some Bible say blindness, to Jesus being their Messiah. When “the fullness of the Gentiles has come in,” or all the Gentiles have been saved, the Church Age or times of the Gentiles is over. Then, the Church will be removed in the event we call the Rapture (because the church mostly consists of Gentiles), and God will put His focus back on the Jews for their 70th Week, as Paul goes on to say: Romans 11:26c And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; This is reminiscent of Daniel 9:24. In particular: “to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity.” Romans 11:27 “And this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” This refers to the New Covenant: Jeremiah 31:31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” God Uses Daniel's 70th Week to Draw Gentiles to Himself Even though Daniel's 70th Week Week is for the Jews, it’s not ONLY about them. Gentiles will suffe

Discover the profound mystery of dual fulfillment in Bible prophecy. Explore its layered meanings and relevance in Scripture. Examine key prophecies, including Samuel’s Son of David, Isaiah’s Virgin Birth, Joel’s Day of the Lord, and Jesus’s prediction of Jerusalem’s destruction. Learn how these prophecies reveal God’s plan and clarify Luke 21:20-24. https://youtu.be/gQvnG8huMz8 Table of contentsThere’s a Dual Fulfillment with Samuel’s Prophecy of the Son of DavidSolomon and Jesus Built the Houses of GodGod Is a Father to Solomon and JesusThere’s a Dual Fulfillment with Isaiah’s Prophecy of the Virgin BirthThere’s a Dual Fulfillment with Joel’s Prophecy of the Day of the LordThere’s a Dual Fulfillment with Jesus’s Prophecy of Jerusalem’s DestructionHow Does Jesus's Prophecy Look Beyond 70 A.D.?God Declares the End from the Beginning Economist Dan Ariely wrote a book called Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions. Here’s one example from his book. When people are offered a Hershey’s Kiss for one cent or a much higher-quality truffle for 15 cents, 73% choose the pricier truffle. But when the price of the Hershey’s Kiss is changed from one cent to free, 69% of people, almost the same percentage, now choose the Hershey’s Kiss. Why? All because of the attraction to the word “free.” I was a business major in college, and I took marketing. This is the logic behind a common marketing tactic: two-for-one deals. Convince people that they get something extra for free, and they’re much more interested. Some prophecies in Scripture are like two-for-one deals. They have dual fulfillment: a partial fulfillment in the near future and a complete fulfillment in the far future. I titled the sermon “Mystery of Dual Fulfillment” because it is a mystery that there’s two fulfillments. There’s a Dual Fulfillment with Samuel’s Prophecy of the Son of David Let me ask a simple question: Who is the Son of David? You could say Solomon or Jesus. Consider whether the verses describe Solomon or Jesus. God tells David: 2 Samuel 7:12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He (the Son of David) shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. One reason we know this looks past Solomon to Jesus is the use of the word “forever,” which occurs three times in the verses. Solomon didn’t live—or reign—“forever.” Here’s another question: which Son of David built a house for God? Solomon or David? Yes! Solomon built the earthly, physical temple, and Jesus built the true and greater heavenly, spiritual temple known as the church. Solomon and Jesus Built the Houses of God Zechariah was a prophet to the Jews when they were rebuilding the temple after they returned from exile… Zechariah 6:12 Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch (referring to Jesus): for he shall branch out from his place (referring to him branching out from heaven to earth), and he shall build the temple of the lord. The Branch, or Jesus, would build the temple. This doesn’t refer to the earthly temple because Zerubbabel would complete it. This refers to the spiritual temple, or house, Christ built. Think of Jesus’s words to Peter: Matthew 16:18b I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The beauty of this is that we are part of the house Christ built. Listen to how Paul describes us: Ephesians 2:19 You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into A HOLY TEMPLE IN THE LORD. 22 In him you also are being built together into A DWELLING PLACE FOR GOD by the Spirit. We are God’s house! God Is a Father to Solomon and Jesus 2 Samuel 7:14a I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. Is God saying He will be a Father to Solomon or Jesus? Yes! It looks like God is saying He would be a Father to Solomon, and that’s true, but this verse is quoted in Hebrews 1:5 and applied to Jesus: Hebrews 1:5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I WILL BE TO HIM A FATHER, AND HE SHALL BE TO ME A SON”? God was a father to Solomon, but He’s a Father to Jesus in a true and greater way. 2 Samuel 7:14b When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, We understand how this applies to Solomon who sinned and was disciplined, but how does it apply to Jesus who never committed iniquity? The verse sounds like a combination of parts of Isaiah 53. Listen to parts of it: (NKJV) Isaiah 53:5 He was BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES…by HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED. 6…the Lord has laid on Him THE INIQUITY

Dive deep into the topic of Christian persecution from a biblical perspective. Using Luke 21:12-19 to shed light on the reality that every Christian will face persecution in the future when they stand firm in faith. Learn how persecution can serve as an opportunity for witnessing, the importance of remaining steadfast when facing opposition, and how God’s sovereignty covers us through trials. https://youtu.be/3CWlqoBvZfc Dive deep into Christian persecution from a biblical perspective using Luke 21:12-19 to show every Christian will face persecution. Table of contentsChristian Persecution Is an Opportunity to WitnessPeter and Stephen's ExamplesWilliam Tyndale and John Huss's ExamplesBlessings from Paul's ImprisonmentA Positive ConnotationWe Don’t Have to Worry About What to Say When PersecutedFear of Public SpeakingGod's Grace Will Be Sufficient for UsChristian Persecution Will Come from Family and FriendsSuffering Persecution for Christ Is a PrivilegeGod Is Sovereign Over Our Christian PersecutionEnduring Christian Persecution Is Evidence of SalvationPerseverance of the SaintsBlessings of Christian PersecutionFootnotes Open Doors is a ministry serving persecuted Christians in over 70 countries. The World Watch List is their annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. Here are some statistics from their 2024 report: More than 365 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith 4,998 Christians were killed for their faith, which is almost 14 per day. About every one and a half hours, a Christian is killed One in seven Christians are persecuted worldwide One in five Christians are persecuted in Africa Two in five Christians are persecuted in Asia 14,766 churches and Christian properties were attacked 4,125 Christians were detained without trial, arrested, sentenced, or imprisoned 3,906 Christians were abducted More than 3,200 Christians were raped, sexually harassed, or forced to marry non-Christians Almost 300,000 Christians were forced to leave their homes, go into hiding, or flee their country of origin. Preaching a sermon about Christian persecution wouldn’t be difficult in any countries Open Doors supports. They would be glad for the encouragement. But it’s a tough sermon to preach in the United States, where most of us have never been persecuted for our faith, and saying otherwise is insulting to Christians experiencing genuine persecution. But based on Jesus’s prophesies in these verses, persecution is coming, perhaps in our lifetimes or the lifetimes of our children or their children. So, we need to be prepared to experience persecution ourselves or equip our children to do so. And we have reached one of the most instructive passages to do so. We are at Luke 21:12, in the middle of the Olivet Discourse. Here's the context. In Luke 21:8-11, Jesus describes the judgments at the beginning of Daniel's 70th Week (the Tribulation), known as the birth pains that precede His Second Coming. We also looked at these birth pains in Revelation 6, where the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse picture them. The verse introducing Christian persecution: Luke 21:12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. The phrase “But before all this…” means Jesus is describing events before the birth pains, or before the Tribulation, in the previous verses What’s before the Tribulation? The church age. Jesus will be teaching us much about persecution during the church age. Christian Persecution Is an Opportunity to Witness Luke 21:13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. What a refreshing way to view persecution! We should all desire opportunities to testify about Christ, and that’s exactly what persecution provides. The Greek word for “witness,” or in some translations “testimony,” is martyrion, a derivative of the Greek word martys, related to our word martyr. The word martyr means witness. Peter and Stephen's Examples In the Book of Acts, apostles become witnesses and give testimony of Christ when they were persecuted. Here are two examples. First, with Peter: Acts 4:3 [The religious leaders] arrested [Peter and John] and put them in custody…7 When [the religious leaders brought them out and] set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders…10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead…11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Talk abo

Dive deep into the prophetic meaning of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse as described in Revelation 6:1-8. Discover how each horseman represents key events and truths in God's sovereign plan. https://youtu.be/tGxjka0Yfa4 Table of contentsThe First Horsemen of the Apocalypse Is the AntichristThe "Instead of Christ"First, who comes riding on a white horse to make war?Second question: who is part of a Trinity?Third question: who is given power, authority, and a throne from his father?Fourth question: who dies and comes back to life?Fifth question: who is worshiped because of his holiness or set-apartness?Sixth question: who puts a mark on his people’s foreheads?Seventh question: Who is called a prince?Eighth question: Who makes a covenant with the Jews?Would the Jews Embrace the Antichrist?The Second Horsemen of the Apocalypse Removes PeaceThe Third Horsemen of the Apocalypse Is FamineThe Fourth Horsemen of the Apocalypse Is DeathGod Is Sovereign When Things Look the WorstGod's Sovereignty with JobGod's Sovereignty Over Death and Hades Famous horses seem to fall into three categories. The first category is racehorses: Seabiscuit was made more famous by the 2003 film showing his underdog story. Secretariat won the Triple Crown —the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes—and still holds the fastest time records in all three races. He also received his film in 2010. Frankel is also known as “The Unbeatable Wonder Horse” because he was unbeaten in his fourteen-year career. The second category is famous television horses: Silver, the Lone Ranger’s horse. Trigger was the horse of singer, actor, and performer Roy Rogers. For any cartoon fans: Quick Draw McGraw, the anthropomorphic white horse, wearing a red Stetson cowboy hat, a red holster belt, a light blue bandana, and occasionally spurs. As a Lord of the Rings fan, I hoped Shadowfax, Gandalf’s horse, would make the list, but he didn’t. The third category is warhorses: Sergeant Reckless achieved the military rank of sergeant for her bravery and service during the Korean War. Comanche was Captain Miles Keogh’s (pronounced key-oh) horse. Part of Comanche’s fame comes from being the lone survivor of The Battle of Little Bighorn. Marengo was Napoleon’s horse. He fought in battles such as Austerlitz and Waterloo. Interestingly, Marengo’s skeleton is displayed at the National Army Museum in London. If I asked for the most famous horses in Scripture, I think most people would say the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The beginning of the Olivet Discourse describes the birth pains. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse also describe birth pains, paralleling what Jesus preached in the Olivet Discourse. When Jesus described the birth pains in the Olivet Discourse, you could say that He was prophesying about the Four Horsemen. As we look at each of the four horsemen, I will give you the parallel prophecy from the Olivet Discourse so you can see how they mirror each other. Because we are jumping into the book of Revelation, let me give you some context. In Revelation 4, John finds himself caught up in heaven. The chapter describes God's throne room. Revelation 5 transitions from focusing on the throne room to focusing on the scroll in God's hand. The scroll is given to Jesus, and Revelation 6 begins with Him opening its seven seals. Each seal releases a new judgment on the earth. The first four seals contain the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The First Horsemen of the Apocalypse Is the Antichrist Revelation 6:1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. The four living creatures are exalted angelic beings or cherubim. They appear repeatedly in Revelation, and one is associated with each of the four horsemen. Whenever one of the seals is opened, one of the four living creatures invites John to “Come and see.” The rider of this horse is almost universally recognized as the antichrist. This follows the way Jesus began the Olivet Discourse, prophesying the first birth pain would be false Christs: Luke 21:8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. The "Instead of Christ" People often think wrongly about the antichrist. They think of him as the opposite of Jesus: the way Jesus went around doing good, the antichrist will do evil; the way Jesus went around teaching good, the antichrist will go around teaching evil. The problem is that the Bible teaches that he will come as a man of peace. We should think of him more as the counterfeit Christ. The prefix “anti” can mean “instead of,” and it’s better to see the antichrist as the “instead of” Christ. He will be the christ chosen by many i

What was Jesus' divine mission? In this sermon, discover the profound reasons why Jesus came into the world as outlined in Isaiah 61:1-2 and 1 Timothy 1:15. From preaching to the spiritually poor to saving sinners, this message unveils the heart of Christ's purpose. https://youtu.be/-XSpsBOI3c0 Table of contentsJesus is the Anointed OneJesus Came Into the World to Preach to the Spiritually PoorEverything Flows from the GospelJesus Came Into the World to Heal Broken HeartsJesus Came Into the World to Provide Spiritual FreedomThe Two People on the Road to Emmaus Misunderstood Jesus's First ComingJohn the Baptist Misunderstood Jesus's First ComingThe Worst Slavery Is Spiritually to SinJesus Came Into the World to Give Us GraceJesus Came Into the World to Save SinnersThe Day of Vengeance of Our GodWe Receive God’s Favor or VengeanceThe Favor of Jesus's First ComingNo Mention of Jesus Being a King Scott Adams, the creator of the Dilbert comic strip, asked people to describe their job in one sentence. Here are the top six responses he received: A pilot said, “My job is to spend most of the day looking out the window.” A security guard said, “My job is to run away and call the police.” A university professor said, “My job is to talk in other people’s sleep.” A photographer said, “My job is to shoot couples on their wedding day!” A flight attendant said, “My job is to ‘Be so fly!’” A real estate agent said, “My job is to house people in.” Isaiah 61:1 describes Jesus’s job in one sentence: Isaiah 61:1b bring good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, [open] the prison to those who are bound, [and] proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. Jesus was anointed to do these five things. We’ll look at each one to appreciate why Jesus came into the world. Let’s back up to the beginning of Isaiah 61:1 to get the context: Isaiah 61:1a “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, These verses are in the first person. The prophet Isaiah wrote them, but we are to read them as though Jesus is saying them through Isaiah. Jesus is the Anointed One These first few words are fascinating because the Trinity, or God’s triune nature, wasn’t as evident in the Old Testament as the New. But this is verse shows all three Persons of the Godhead: The Spirit is God the Holy Spirit, the Lord God is God the Father, and "Me" is God the Son. Then Jesus says: Isaiah 61:1b Because the Lord has anointed Me The Hebrew word for anointed is māšaḥ, from which we get our English word “Messiah.” The Greek word for anointed is christos, from which we get our English word “Christ.” Christ and Messiah both mean anointed, but one is in Hebrew and one is Greek. Saying Jesus is the Christ or Messiah is saying He’s the Anointed One. People were anointed to be set apart for a special ministry or purpose. Even though many people were anointed, Jesus is thee Anointed One. He was set apart for a special ministry or purpose, which is beautifully described in the rest of the verse. Jesus Came Into the World to Preach to the Spiritually Poor The first thing Jesus came into the world to do: Isaiah 61:1c to bring good news to the poor Gospel means good news. Jesus was anointed to preach the gospel to the poor. This might surprise you because you think, “Didn’t Jesus preach the gospel to everyone? Why only the poor? Did He have a problem with the rich?” The verse is not financial. It is spiritual. This doesn’t mean Jesus preached the gospel to the spiritually poor as though some were spiritually rich. It would be better to understand this as Jesus came to preach the gospel to those who recognized they were spiritually poor. We are all spiritually poor, but we don’t all recognize it. People who recognize their spiritual poverty know they are sinners. They know they have nothing valuable to buy or earn their way into heaven. But people who think they are spiritually rich (I didn’t say they are spiritually rich because nobody is) think they have what’s necessary to earn or buy their way into heaven. They are proud. They think they are good. So, when the gospel is preached to them, they don’t think they need it. Consider the first beatitude: Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The poor in spirit recognize they’re spiritually poor, and the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Why? They embrace the gospel when it’s preached to them. They rejoice over what Jesus did for them because they know they need it. They put faith in the Savior because they know they need saving. Everything Flows from the Gospel It’s tempting to read the words "bring good news to the poor" and think this is first because it’s the most important thing Jesus came into the world to do. But that almost undermines the gospel's importance because it gives the impression that the other things are a close second, third, fourth, and fifth. Instead, it’s better to understand that the go

Discover the signs of the end times as explained through Jesus’ prophecy in Matthew 24:7 and Mark 13:8. Delve into the meaning of "The Beginning of Birth Pains," revealing what these events signify and how they prepare us for Christ’s return. Learn how the disciples misunderstood the timeline of Jesus' kingdom and the temple's destruction, and explore how these prophecies unfold in our world today. This sermon provides deep insights into biblical prophecy, helping you grow in faith and understanding. https://youtu.be/v0NRBRV6Ifg Table of contentsThe Disciples Mistakenly Thought Jesus Would Set Up His kingdom SoonThe Disciples Mistakenly Thought the Temple’s Destruction Meant the End of the WorldThe Disciples Asked Two Separate QuestionsThe Disciples' Questions Were Separated By Thousands of YearsJesus Didn't Answer the Questions In OrderThe Confusion Over the Olivet DiscourseThe Beginning of Birth PainsBirth Pains Reveal We Are Getting CloserWhy Birth Pains Are a Fitting MetaphorBirth Pains Will Be SupernaturalThe Beginning of Birth Pains Is Sudden and Unescapable Let’s go back 17 ½ years to May or June 2007, when Katie and I lived in Lemoore, California. This was exciting because we were close to meeting our first child, Rhea Grace. Katie started having contractions, and that meant one thing to me: “She’s having the baby!” But Katie had lots of contractions without having a baby. This is when I remember hearing for the first time a name that has come up ten times and will more than likely come up again in about six more months: Braxton Hicks. Braxton Hicks are the contractions named after the English physician John Braxton Hicks who first wrote about contractions women feel without being near birth. Even though there were many times I wrongly thought Katie was going into labor, it became obvious when she did. We were having Bible study together in our living room. She bent down to get a cup of water, and her water broke. That’s probably all the details you want, so I will stop there. The Bible uses pregnancy as one of the most common metaphors for Jesus’s Second Coming: Jesus’s Second Coming is the birth, and the events leading up to His coming are the beginning of birth pains. As obvious as it was when Katie went into labor, it will be even more obvious when Jesus returns. The Disciples Mistakenly Thought Jesus Would Set Up His kingdom Soon The disciples didn't think there would be a Second Coming because they didn’t think Jesus was going away: Luke 19:11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. I can’t overemphasize the importance of this verse in capturing the view of Jesus. Notice it says, “They supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.” The disciples don’t think Jesus is going to be killed. They don’t think Jesus will leave them. They don’t think Jesus will return later to set up His kingdom. Here’s a simple way to say it: They don’t think the end times are thousands of years in the future. They think the end times are later that week. Jesus “was near Jerusalem.” He’s about to make His triumphal entry. He’s entering Jerusalem to be rejected and crucified, but the people think He will sit on the throne of David and rule and reign over an earthly, physical kingdom. The sentiment was stronger than ever. Jesus prevented people from making Him King: John 6:15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. He followed the divine timeline set by Daniel’s Seventy Weeks, which identified the day Jesus would make His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and be received as King. So, He couldn’t be made King before that. The Triumphal Entry was His coronation. He allowed the people to identify Him as King: Luke 19:38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” So, it’s like, “This is it! Our Messiah, the King, has arrived to deliver us from Rome.” The idea that He would be rejected and killed was the furthest thing from their minds. Plus, Passover was only a few days away, and it was always an emotionally charged time for the Jews because it reminded them of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt and made them even more excited about their deliverance from Rome. They think Jesus is coming to Jerusalem to deliver them like Moses delivered the Hebrews. They don’t know Jesus is coming to Jerusalem to become the true and greater Passover Lamb. Because of this confusion, Luke 19:11 says, “[Jesus] proceeded to tell a parable.” Luke 19:12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. The nobleman is Jesus, and the far country is heaven. This is Jesus’s way of saying, “I am not setting up my kingdom on earth right now. I mu

In John 2:3, 7:6, and 7:8 why did Jesus say, “My hour has not yet come”? Jesus followed a divine timeline because His Father ordained every event in His life. This is why we see Him saying He "must" do certain things, why He avoided being killed and arrested at certain times, and even why He avoided becoming King before the triumphal entry. Table of contentsThe Times Jesus Said He Must Do ThingsThe Times Jesus Said, "My Hour Has Not Yet Come"The Times Jesus Avoided Being KilledThe Times Jesus Avoided Being ArrestedThe Times Jesus Said He Told People to Be Silent About Their HealingThe Times Jesus Said He People to Be Silent About His MessiahshipWhen Jesus Said His Hour Had ComeWhen Jesus Presented Himself as KingJesus Fulfilled Daniel's Seventy Weeks Jesus followed a divine timeline because His Father ordained every event in His life. This is why we see Him saying He "must" do certain things, why He avoided being killed and arrested at certain times, and even why He avoided becoming King before the triumphal entry. The Times Jesus Said He Must Do Things When Jesus was left behind at the temple: Luke 2:48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” Notice Jesus’s use of the word “must.” He didn’t use “should” or “wants to,” but must. There’s urgency about the things He’s doing. Just in Luke’s Gospel, consider the time Jesus said He “must” do other things: Luke 13:33 I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following Luke 19:5 Jesus told Zacchaeus, “I must stay at your house.” Luke 24:7 I must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again He also said He must fulfill Scripture: Luke 22:37 [What] is written about Me must be accomplished Luke 24:44 All things must be fulfilled which were written…concerning Me.” The Times Jesus Said, "My Hour Has Not Yet Come" This is the wedding at Cana. They ran out of wine… John 2:3 When the wine ran out, [Mary said], “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” Mary wanted Jesus to perform a miracle. Jesus was going to perform miracles, so why not now? Because this meant getting the events out of order. This had him performing a miracle before it was time. John 7:6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. John 7:8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” The Times Jesus Avoided Being Killed Think of the times people tried to seize Jesus, but He always escaped. Jesus returned to Nazareth. The people expected him to perform the same miracles in his hometown that they heard about him performing elsewhere… Luke 4:23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘“Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” When Jesus told the people he wouldn’t be performing miracles in Nazareth, because of their unbelief, they were not happy about it… Luke 4:28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30 But passing through their midst, he went away. For a moment, picture what this looked like. They brought Jesus to the top of a hill so they could throw him down. He has a cliff on one side and the crowd on the other. But somehow he was able to maneuver through the people to avoid a premature death. Here are two other examples… John 8:59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. I can’t imagine how angry you must be to want to throw people off a cliff or stone them, but that’s how angry people were with Jesus. They were in the temple, and I can’t imagine there were many places to hide, but Jesus was able to escape. John 10:31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him…39 Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. Jesus escaped each time for two reasons. First, his time had not yet come to die. He hadn’t reached that obstacle on the course yet. Second, this is not how the Father determined he would die. He would die on a cross, not falling off a cliff or stoned in the temple. Jesus was busy with his ministry when he was warned of a death threat… Luke 13:31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” There are lots of Herods in the Gospels. This is Herod Antipas, the king of Judea, who killed Jesus’s cousin, John the Baptist. In other words, Jesus knew he was more than capable of murder.

Daniel’s Seventy Weeks prophesied the destruction of the second temple: “The people (Romans) of the prince (antichrist) who is to come shall destroy the city (Jerusalem) and the sanctuary (temple)” (Daniel 9:26). At the Triumphal Entry Jesus prophesied through tears that Jerusalem would be destroyed, but the disciples thought the temple would never be destroyed (again). Then, Jesus began the Olivet Discourse with this astounding statement: “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down” (Luke 21:6). https://youtu.be/vUUr4weFwdc Table of contentsDaniel Prophesied the Messiah Would Die as a CriminalDaniel Prophesied the Messiah Would Lose EverythingThe People of the Prince Who Is to ComeDaniel Prophesied the Destruction of the Second TempleThe Two DecreesJeremiah’s Weeping for the Jews Prefigured Jesus’s Weeping for the JewsJesus's Response After the Triumphal EntryJesus Prophesied that the Romans Would Destroy JerusalemThe Context for the Olivet DiscourseJesus Prophesied the Destruction of the Second Temple I read an article from Popular Mechanics titled, The World's 10 Toughest Buildings. I’ll share the top three with you. Number three is One World Trade Center in New York, the main building of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex. At 1,776 feet, it is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and can withstand powerful winds. Number two is Torre Mayor in Mexico City, a 738-foot-tall office tower that can withstand an earthquake of 8.5 on the Richter Scale. In 2003, when a 7.6 earthquake hit, the workers inside didn’t feel the tremors. Number one is Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan, a 1,667-foot tower 660 feet from a major fault line. The design incorporates many features that enable the structure to withstand the Pacific Ring of Fire's earthquakes and tropical storms. If the Jews in the Old Testament wrote this Popular Mechanics article, Solomon’s Temple might have topped the list of the world’s toughest buildings. If the Jews in the New Testament wrote this Popular Mechanics article, Herod’s Temple might have topped the list. But both of these temples were destroyed. The destruction of the second temple was prophesied in Daniel 9:26 and Luke 21:6. Daniel Prophesied the Messiah Would Die as a Criminal Daniel 9:26a And after the sixty-two weeks, an Anointed One shall be cut off After 62 weeks, Jesus made His Triumphal Entry, and five days later, He was crucified ("cut off"). It unfolded precisely as Daniel prophesied. The words “cut off” mean more than just that Jesus would die. The Hebrew word for killed or died, mûṯ, occurs 835 times in the Old Testament. But the Hebrew word for "cut off" is kāraṯ, and it refers to a guilty person being cut off or killed because of his sin: Genesis 9:11 [God said], “I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off (kāraṯ) by the waters of the flood.” Proverbs 2:22 the wicked will be cut off (kāraṯ) from the earth. Psalm 37:9 evildoers shall be cut off (kāraṯ). The word for “cut off” is used 20 times in Leviticus to describe people who have to be executed or cut off because of their sin. Daniel didn’t prophesy that Jesus would die a natural death. Instead, he prophesied that He would die as a guilty criminal. And this wasn’t the only Old Testament verse making this prophecy. Isaiah 53:12 says, "He was numbered with the transgressors." Daniel prophesied that Jesus would die for His sin. You might cringe when I say that because we know Jesus was sinless, but when our sins were imputed to Christ, they became His sins: "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). When our sins were put to Jesus’ account, He became the guiltiest Person in history. And Daniel prophesied He would die a guilty criminal’s death. Daniel Prophesied the Messiah Would Lose Everything Daniel 9:26c and shall have nothing. We know Jesus had little during His earthly life. He said, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Luke 9:58). Daniel looked beyond this to all Jesus would lose at His death. He lost all His friends, followers, and disciples (except John). Even His clothes were gambled away. Crucifixion was the most shameful, humiliating death imaginable, so He also lost all human dignity and honor. He cried, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” showing He even briefly lost His relationship with the Father. Finally, He lost His life. Think about the reciprocation. Jesus came to this world and gave the world everything He could give, including His own life. He gave until He had nothing left. In return, He received nothing: "He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him" (

Daniel 9:24-25 loosely reads, “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and your holy city…from the going forth of the command to rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be sixty-nine weeks” or 483 years. The seventy weeks of Daniel contain one of the most remarkable prophecies in Scripture, identifying the day Jesus made His triumphal entry: April 6, 32AD. Read the notes or listen to the teaching! Table of contentsWhy Seventy Years in Exile?Background to the Seventy Weeks of DanielThe Bible Is Meant to Be Taken Literally When AppropriateThe Bible Is Meant to Be UnderstoodThe Importance of the Seventy Weeks of DanielUnderstanding the Seventy Weeks of DanielSix Things Accomplished By the End of the Seventy Weeks of DanielRestoring and Building JerusalemMessiah the Prince Comes after Sixty-Nine WeeksFour Possible Dates of the Decree to Restore and Build JerusalemThe First Possible Decree in 538 BCThe Second Possible Decree in 517 BCThe Third Possible DecreeThe Fourth (and Correct) Decree on March 14, 445 BCWhy Seven Weeks and Sixty-Two Weeks Versus Sixty-Nine Weeks?Why Add, "A Prince”?Why Can't We Add 483 Years to March 14, 445 BC?The Seventy Weeks of Daniel Is a Time-Sensitive Prophecy The prophet Jeremiah warned the Jews that the Babylonians would conquer them if they didn’t repent. The Jews didn’t repent, so Babylon conquered the Jews and brought them into exile in Babylon. Jeremiah 25:11 This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 12 Then after seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, declares the Lord, making the land an everlasting waste. The land is Judah. After God used the Babylonians to punish the Jews for their wickedness, He punished the Babylonians for their wickedness when the Medes and Persians conquered them under King Cyrus, who then allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem in three waves. We read about this in Ezra and Nehemiah. Jeremiah 29:10 “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. Jeremiah was writing from Jerusalem, so “this place” is Jerusalem. Why Seventy Years in Exile? We get the answer in 2 Chronicles 36. Here's the context: The Jews were supposed to let the land rest every seventh year. In other words, the land was supposed to receive its own Sabbath. The Jews were supposed to walk by faith and trust God to provide enough in the sixth year to last them through the seventh year. But there’s no record of the Jews ever doing this once in 490 years. For 490 years, the land missed seventy Sabbath years. So, God removed the Jews from the land for seventy years so it could experience the rest it was supposed to have: 2 Chronicles 36:20 He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, 21 to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years. This refers to Jeremiah’s prophecy, which we read in Jeremiah 25:11-12 and Jeremiah 29:10, that the Jews would be in exile for seventy years. Background to the Seventy Weeks of Daniel Daniel is one of the Jewish exiles in Babylon. He read the prophet Jeremiah’s writings and learned the Jews were going to be in exile for 70 years. The authors of the Scriptures set an excellent example for us by reading each other’s writings. We also have an example in the New Testament when Peter read Paul’s writings and said they could be hard to understand: 2 Peter 3:16 There are some things in [Pauls’ writings] that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. Daniel was reading the Book of Jeremiah: Daniel 9:2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. The NIV uses “Scriptures” instead of “books” when referring to Jeremiah’s writings, which are part of the Scriptures. Daniel understood from Jeremiah’s writings that the Jews would be in exile in Babylon for seventy years, allowing Jerusalem to be desolate during that time. The Bible Is Meant to Be Taken Literally When Appropriate We can learn an essential lesson from Daniel's understanding of Jeremiah’s writings: the Bible is meant to be taken literally when appropriate. Daniel interpreted Jeremiah’s writings literally. He understood seventy years as seventy years. I’m pointing this out to lay the groundwork for how we will interpret Daniel’s Seventy Weeks. We will view them as literal years. Daniel is thinking abou

In Luke 21:24, Jesus said, “[The Jews] will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” The times of the Jews ended in 70 AD when Jerusalem was conquered, the Jews were dispersed, and the times of the Gentiles began. Romans 11:25 says, “Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in (or until the times of the Gentiles is fulfilled).” The Jews’ rejection of Christ lasts until the full number of Gentiles are saved. https://youtu.be/INu5ZQln-i4 Table of contentsThe Times of the Gentiles is the Church AgeThe Gospel Went to the Jews FirstThe Gospel Went to the Gentiles When the Jews Rejected ItGod Used the Gentiles to Make the Jews JealousThe Times of the Gentiles Should Make Us Feel HumbleThe Times of the Gentiles Should Make Us Feel FearfulDoes Romans 11 Teach We Can Lose Our Salvation?"Until the Fullness of the Gentiles Has Come In” Means “Until the Times of the Gentiles Is Fulfilled.”God's Ultimate Demonstration of Kindness and Severity There are two different times. First, there was the time of the Jews. Then, there was the times of the Gentiles. In Luke 21:24, Jesus said, "[The Jews] will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." Jesus prophesied that the times of the Jews would end in 70 AD when Jerusalem was conquered, the Jews were dispersed, and the times of the Gentiles began. The times of the Gentiles would last until the end of the church age, and then the times of the Jews would resume for Daniel’s 70th week or seven more years. The Times of the Gentiles is the Church Age The fourth feast, Pentecost, looked forward to the church's “harvest.” This feast is described in Leviticus 23:15-22, and verse 17 says, "You shall bring from your dwelling places two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven, as firstfruits to the Lord. During the feast of Pentecost, people would bring out two loaves of bread that they would wave. These two loaves represent the harvest. Surprisingly, the two loaves were baked with leaven! Weeks earlier, when the Jews celebrated the Feast of Unleavened, they were told that if they ate leaven, they would be killed: "Whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel" (Exodus 12:15 and Exodus 12:19). Can you imagine how shocking it was for the Jews to move from the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they would be killed for eating leaven, to the feast of Pentecost, when they were supposed to bake two loaves with leaven? How do we explain that? It makes perfect sense if we understand what each feast looked forward to. Leaven is a picture or type of sin. The Feast of Unleavened Bread looked forward to Jesus’s sinless or unleavened body in the grave. But Pentecost looked forward to the spiritual harvest when Jews and Gentiles were coming into the church, and we are filled with leaven or sin. Why two loaves versus one loaf or three loaves? Many scholars believe that because the two leaves represent the harvest, they also likely represent the two groups that make up the harvest: Jews and Gentilesone loaf for each. The Gospel Went to the Jews First We start to see the harvest that Pentecost looked forward to beginning on Pentecost and continuing through the book of Acts. After Peter’s sermon on Pentecost, Acts 2:41 says, "Those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls." Then, a little while later, Acts 4:4, says, "Many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand." In a matter of a few days, 8,000 Jews were saved. That’s a great harvest! These 8,000 believers were Jews versus Gentiles. The early church was entirely Jewish because the Gospel was supposed to go to the Jews first and then the Gentiles: Romans 1:16 The gospel…is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, TO THE JEW FIRST AND [THEN] TO THE GREEK (or Gentile). Matthew 10:5 Jesus sent out the twelve, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 BUT GO RATHER TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. You could read this and think, “What does Jesus have against Gentiles? Why does He only want the gospel to go to the Jews? Doesn’t He want Gentiles to be saved, too?” Yes, but the gospel was was supposed to go to the Jews first! A Gentile woman came to Jesus and wanted Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. In Matthew 15:24 Jesus said to her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the hou

As a pastor, I have often been asked if Christians should celebrate the seven biblical feasts in Leviticus 23. The common answer is that we don’t celebrate the feasts because Jesus fulfilled them. But in Leviticus 23:14, 21, 31, and 41, God said the feasts should be celebrated forever, and in 1 Corinthians 5:8, Paul wrote, “Therefore let us keep the feast by...” referring to the Feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread. If God wanted people to stop celebrating the feasts when Jesus fulfilled them, why would He command people to celebrate them forever, and why would Paul say to celebrate them? Read on, watch, or listen to find out! https://youtu.be/nsAhfHLo2H8 Table of contentsCelebrating Spiritually Versus PhysicallyKeep the Feast of Passover By Believing Jesus Is the Lamb of GodKeep the Feast of Unleavened Bread By Removing SinRemoving Sin Corporately and PersonallyMust Be Passover Followed By the Feast of Unleavened BreadKeep the Feast of Firstfruits By Believing in the ResurrectionKeep the Feast of Pentecost with a Circumcised HeartWhen the Jews Finally Experienced Spiritual Circumcision of the HeartNo Guarantee Spiritual Circumcision Will OccurWhy Such Different Responses to Similar Sermons?Celebrating in the True and Greaqter Way As a pastor, I have often been asked, "Do we celebrate the seven Old Testament feasts today?" The simple, quick answer is no, because Jesus fulfilled them for us. Orthodox Jews who don’t recognize Jesus as the Messiah keep celebrating the feasts because they don’t see Jesus as the fulfillment of them. Let me briefly review the ways the feasts find their fulfillment in Christ. Jesus fulfilled the first four spring feasts in His first coming: Passover began the first month of the Hebrew calendar and looked forward to Jesus’s crucifixion on Passover as our Passover Lamb. The second feast, Unleavened Bread began the following day, and looked forward to Jesus’s burial when His sinless or unleavened body was in the grave. The third feast, Firstfruits, occurred on Sunday in the middle of Unleavened Bread and looked forward to Jesus’s resurrection. This is why Jesus is called the firstfruits of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23. The space of seven weeks, or 49 days, between the third and fourth feasts looked forward to the seven weeks between Jesus’s resurrection and ascension when He revealed Himself to over 500 witnesses. The fourth feast, Pentecost, is also called the Feast of Weeks because it was seven weeks after Firstfruits. It looked forward to the church's birth when Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit. We look forward to Jesus fulfilling the three fall feasts in His Second Coming: He will fulfill the Feast of Trumpets at the rapture when He meets the church in the air. He will fulfill The Day of Atonement during the tribulation when He pours out his wrath on a world that rejected him, which is why in Revelation 6:16 people cry out to be hidden from “the wrath of the Lamb.” He will fulfill the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths when He returns, establishes His millennial kingdom on earth, and dwells or Tabernacles among us. But let me share something interesting with you. Consider these verses in Leviticus 23, the chapter describing the seven feasts: Leviticus 23:14 And you shall eat neither bread nor grain parched or fresh until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God: IT IS A STATUTE FOREVER THROUGHOUT YOUR GENERATIONS IN ALL YOUR DWELLINGS. God told the Israelites to celebrate Firstfruits forever. Leviticus 23:21 And you shall make a proclamation on the same day. You shall hold a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. IT IS A STATUTE FOREVER in all your dwelling places throughout your generations. God told the Israelites to celebrate the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost forever. Leviticus 23:31 You shall not do any work. IT IS A STATUTE FOREVER throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. God told the Israelites to celebrate the Day of Atonement forever! Leviticus 23:41 You shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. IT IS A STATUTE FOREVER throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. God told the Israelites to celebrate the Feast of Booths forever. God is repetitive when He wants to ensure we don’t miss something, and He told the Israelites four times to celebrate the feasts forever. So, now, the statement that we don’t celebrate the feasts because Jesus fulfilled them doesn’t seem as convincing and brings up an obvious question: "If God wanted people to stop celebrating the feasts when Jesus fulfilled them, why would He command people to celebrate them FOREVER? Why didn’t He say to celebrate the feasts UNTIL the Messiah came?" Let me answer this by showing you what the New Testament says, and it might surprise you: 1 Corinthians 5:7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, h

The four spring feasts point to Jesus's first coming and are covered in this post. The three fall feasts, described in Leviticus 23:23-44, look forward to His Second Coming. This video explores the profound significance of these three feasts. The Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) symbolizes the Rapture, where Jesus gathers His church; the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) looks ahead to the Tribulation and "the Wrath of the Lamb"; and the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths (Succoth) signifies the Millennium when Jesus will "tabernacle" among us. https://youtu.be/syg27sqJXP0 Table of contentsThe Spring Feasts Reveal the Lamb of God, and the Fall Feasts Reveal the Lion of the Tribe of JudahThe Six-Month “Gap” Between the Spring and Fall Feasts Represents the Church AgeThe First Fall Feast of the Lord, Trumpets, Looks Forward to the Rapture When Jesus Gathers His ChurchDoes the Feast of Trumpets Give Us the Date of the Rapture?The Second Fall Feast of the Lord, the Day of Atonement, Looks Forward to the Tribulation and “Wrath of the Lamb”The Third Fall Feast of the Lord, Tabernacles, Looks Forward to the Millennium When Jesus “Tabernacles” Among UsThe Connection Between the Feast of Tabernacles and the MillenniumDid the Feast of Trumpets Look Back on Christ Dwelling with Israel in the Wilderness?The Fall Feasts of the Lord Demonstrate God's Love My last post examined the first four spring feasts, and in this post, I will examine the last three fall feasts. I want to capture the transition between the spring and fall feasts. The Spring Feasts Reveal the Lamb of God, and the Fall Feasts Reveal the Lion of the Tribe of Judah If I worded this heading differently, it would be, “The spring feasts reveal the Suffering Servant, and the fall feasts reveal the Coming King.” God often uses animals to picture kingdoms. For example: In Jeremiah 5 and 49, a lion and eagle represent Babylon. In Ezekiel 17 and 19, an eagle and crocodile represent Egypt. Probably most famously, in Daniel 7: A lion represents Babylon A bear represents Medo-Persia A leopard represents Greece And a fourth, monstrous beast represents Rome God also uses animals two animals to represent Christ’s Kingdom, and we see them in the seven feasts: The four spring feasts looked forward to Jesus’s First Coming as the Lamb of God. The three fall feasts look forward to Jesus’s Second Coming as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Just as the first four feasts go together and looked forward to Jesus’s First Coming, the three fall feasts go together and look forward to Jesus’s Second Coming. They all occur within about 20 days of each other: Tishri 1 to Tishri 21 or September 21 to October 11. The Six-Month “Gap” Between the Spring and Fall Feasts Represents the Church Age Leviticus 23:5 IN THE FIRST MONTH, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the Lord's Passover. Passover occurred in the first month. Leviticus 23:23 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, IN THE SEVENTH MONTH, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. This is the fifth feast, Trumpets, which occurred “in the seventh month.” So, there is a six-month gap between the spring and fall feasts of the Lord. They are separated by as much time as possible. If the feasts were any further apart, they would be closer together on the other end of the calendar. This six-month gap represents the church age or “gap” between Jesus’s two comings. I use the word “gap” because if you’re familiar with Daniel’s Seventy Weeks, this gap should make you think of the “gap” between Daniel’s 69th and 70th weeks. The First Fall Feast of the Lord, Trumpets, Looks Forward to the Rapture When Jesus Gathers His Church Leviticus 23:23 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. 25 You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall present a food offering to the Lord.” Briefly consider the “gap” or the Church Age between the fourth and fifth feasts. Last post I wrote that the third feast, Firstfruits, looked forward to a great harvest. That harvest began at Pentecost and continued throughout the Church Age, or “gap” between the fourth and fifth feasts: Acts 2:41 Those who received [Peter’s] word (following his great speech) were baptized, and there were added that day ABOUT THREE THOUSAND SOULS. Then, a little while later: Acts 4:4 many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND. In a matter of a few days, 8,000 Jews were saved. That’s a great harvest! In the Old Testament, the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) commemorated the end of the physical harvest. In the future, it will commemorate the end of the spiritual harvest

How did Jesus fulfill the biblical feasts in Leviticus 23? The seven feasts are divided into two groups. This post examines the four spring feasts that look to Jesus's first coming. Here are the three fall feasts that look to Jesus's Second Coming. Each feast was fulfilled when celebrated: Jesus was crucified on Passover (Pesach), Jesus's sinless (unleavened body) was buried during Unleavened Bread (Hag Hamatzot), Jesus was resurrected on Firstfruits (Hag HaBikkurim), and the church was born on Pentecost or Weeks (Shavuot). https://youtu.be/RNeIGbVYcIA How did Jesus fulfill the biblical feasts? The fall feasts, Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, and Pentecost look to the First Coming. Table of contentsLooking to Jesus's First ComingThe First Biblical Feast, Passover (Pesach), Looked Forward to Jesus’s CrucifixionThe Second Biblical Feast, Unleavened Bread (Hag Hamatzot), Looked Forward to Jesus’s Unleavened Body in the GraveJesus's Unleavened Body Couldn't Remain in the GraveThe Third Biblical Feast, Firstfruits (Hag HaBikkurim), Looked Forward to Jesus’s ResurrectionWhat Are Firstfruits?The Fourth Biblical Feast, Pentecost or Weeks (Shavuot), Looked Forward to the Church's “Harvest”The Seven Weeks Between the Third and Fourth FeastsThe Sabbath Looked Forward to the Rest Christ OffersChrist's True and Greater RestWhat Did the Hebrews Understand? The seven biblical feasts are divided into two groups. The four spring feasts look to Jesus’s First Coming, and all were fulfilled when they were celebrated: Jesus was crucified on Passover Jesus’s sinless, or unleavened body, was buried during the Feast of Unleavened Bread Jesus was resurrected on Firstfruits The church began on Pentecost The three fall feasts, Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles, look to Jesus's Second Coming, and because the spring feasts were fulfilled when the feasts were celebrated, it is reasonable to expect the fall feasts to be fulfilled when they are celebrated. The first feast, Passover, began the first month of the Hebrew calendar, Nissan 14, our March 30.1 The feast of firstfruits is below the feast of unleavened bread, because firstfruits took place during unleavened bread. Seven weeks passed between the third and fourth feasts looking forward to the seven weeks between Jesus’s resurrection and ascension when He revealed himself to over 500 witnesses. There is a six-month gap between Nisan, when the spring feasts begin, and Tishri, the seventh month when the fall feasts begin. This six-month gap represents the church age or gap between Jesus’s two comings. Looking to Jesus's First Coming Leviticus 23:4 “These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them. The Hebrew word for feasts is môʿēḏ, which means “appointed times,” which is why many Bibles refer to the feasts as appointed feasts instead of only feasts. This is the first of four times in verses two through four that the word appointed is used. God wants us to know these feasts are appointed. Why the repetition? God carefully planned their timing and sequence to point toward Christ and the work He would accomplish in His First and Second Comings. The First Biblical Feast, Passover (Pesach), Looked Forward to Jesus’s Crucifixion Leviticus 23:5 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the Lord's Passover. 1 Corinthians 5:7b Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Every Passover looked forward to Christ, our Passover lamb, who was crucified on Passover: Matthew 26:2 the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” John 19:13 Pilate…brought Jesus out, and…14 it was the day of preparation of the Passover. At the same time the lambs were being prepared to be slaughtered for the Passover meal, Jesus was being prepared to be slaughtered for our sins. Exodus 12:13b [God said], “When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.” When the Jews were in Egypt, they took the blood of the Passover Lamb and covered their doorposts so the wrath of God would pass over them. The typology is that when the blood of Christ covers us, the wrath of God passes over us, too: Passover celebrated Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. With Christ as our Passover, we can celebrate the true and greater deliverance from slavery to sin and death. The Second Biblical Feast, Unleavened Bread (Hag Hamatzot), Looked Forward to Jesus’s Unleavened Body in the Grave Leviticus 23:6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month (so again, Nisan) is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. 7 On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. 8 But you shall present a food offering to the Lord for seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not

The nature of the thousand years, or millennium, in Revelation 20:1-8, is widely debated. The four views of the end times are postmillennialism, amillennialism, premillennialism, and preterism. Maybe you wonder what each view means. Hopefully, this answers that for you! https://youtu.be/llJDdYqts0U The four views of the end times are postmillennialism, amillennialism, premillennialism, and preterism. Learn what each view means. Table of contentsWhat Is the Millennium?The Four Views of the End TimesPostmillennialism's View of the End Times: Christ Returns After the Millennium and Rules in Believers’ HeartsAmillennialism's View of the End Times: The Church Age Is the Millennium, and Christ Rules Through the ChurchPostmillennialism and Amillennialism Avoid Literal InterpretationsSatan Is Not ImprisonedPremillennialism's View of the End Times: Christ Returns Before the Millennium and Physically Rules on the EarthPreterismFull Preterism: Christ Returned in 70 A.D., and all Prophecy Is FulfilledJesus's Second Coming Is Physically and BodilyFull Preterism Is HeresyPartial Preterism: Christ Will Return and Some Prophecy Is FulfilledHow Preterists Arrive at Their InterpretationAre We Ready for Jesus's Second Coming? If you have been in the church for long, you’ve heard people talk about being amill, post mill, and premill. You probably know these describe people’s eschatology or view of the end times. But maybe you wonder what each view means. Hopefully, this sermon will answer that for you! I'm a premillennialist, but I will do my best to present the opposing views respectfully and share the names of respected people who hold each view. What Is the Millennium? The suffix mill in each view is short for millennium. The most explicit passage describing the millennium is in Revelation 20. Look at verse one: Revelation 20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit (or abyss) and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, The pit, or abyss, is the temporary prison for demons who sinned by possessing people in Noah’s day and throughout history. You might remember when Jesus cast the demons out of the man in the country of the Gerasenes in Luke 8:31. They begged Jesus not to cast them into the abyss. Demons are locked up here until released as part of the 5th Trumpet Judgment in Revelation 9. The abyss also ends up being the prison for the devil during the millennium. The millennium is named from the repeated use of the phrase “thousand years” six times in verses 2 through 7. Revelation 20:3 and threw him into the pit (or abyss), and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. The devil is imprisoned in the abyss for one thousand years and then released. As we'll see, he isn’t cast straight into hell because God has one more task for him. There’s a real emphasis on the devil deceiving the world because it’s mentioned four times in Revelation 19:20, 20:3, 8, 10. It’s interesting that of all the devil’s evils, this is the reason he’s locked up. Revelation 12:9 says he’s the deceiver of the world. He shows up on the pages of Scripture deceiving Eve, and his final actions before being cast into hell also involve deceiving people. I’m convinced the world will be dramatically different when the devil is locked up and cannot deceive anyone. Please keep that in mind when we discuss each view. Revelation 20:7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. After the millennium, the devil is released and returns to deceiving people. His 1,000-year imprisonment didn’t change him at all. Notice that it says he’s released rather than escaped, showing God’s sovereignty in letting him out. It’s all part of God’s plan. The devil deceives all unbelievers into rebelling against God so they can be destroyed after the Millennium in the Battle of Gog and Magog and prevented from entering eternity. The Four Views of the End Times Now, we have a basic understanding of the millennium to discuss the end times. Postmillennialism's View of the End Times: Christ Returns After the Millennium and Rules in Believers’ Hearts The prefix post means after, so postmillennialists believe Jesus’s Second Coming occurs after the millennium. Postmillennialists do not see the millennium as a literal thousand years. Here are three things they don’t view literally: They don’t view Christ physically ruling and reigning on the earth over an earthly kingdom or millennium; instead, they view Him spiritually reigning in believers’ hearts. They don’t view Satan literally i

Galatians 6:7 says, "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." We have heard this quoted when people encourage us to give. So, do you reap what you sow when giving? Read or listen to this material from Your Finances God’s Way to learn the answer. Table of ContentsGod Gives to Us So We Can Give to OthersYou Reap What You SowIf We Give Enough, Will God Make Us Rich?Do We Reap What We Sow in This Life or the Next?God Gives Us Grace So We Can Give MoreFootnotes Our God is a giver. He “gives to all life, breath, and all things” (Acts 17:25). He gives us abundant life: “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). He gives us wisdom: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). He gives us gifts: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17). The greatest gift God gave us is His Son: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Romans 8:32 says, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with him freely give us all things?” Ephesians 5:1 commands us to “be imitators of God,” which means we should give too. Proverbs 21:26 says, “The righteous gives and does not spare.” Why is giving righteous? God’s actions define righteousness. Because God gives, giving is righteous and makes us imitators of Him. God Gives to Us So We Can Give to Others In the parable of the unforgiving servant, the master rebuked the man: “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?” (Matthew 18:32-33). The wicked servant was condemned because he wouldn’t forgive as God had forgiven him. This reveals an important principle in Scripture: We should do for others what God has done for us. For example, we should love others because God loved us: “As I have loved you… you also love one another” (John 13:34). We should forgive others because God forgave us: “Forgive one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). Regarding giving because God is a giver who has given so much to us, we should give to others. Some spiritual gifts, such as teaching and leadership, seem like gifts because they benefit the person receiving them. However, other gifts, such as mercy and serving, don’t seem like gifts because they help others more than those who received them. This gives us insight into why God gives us gifts, which we must consider because God’s reason for giving gifts can differ from our reason. We typically give gifts to bless the recipient, but God gives gifts to bless the recipient and so the recipient can bless others: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10). We can enjoy the gifts God has given us—for example, God has given me the gift of teaching, which I enjoy—but being good stewards of our gifts means using them for others’ benefit. This applies to all God has given us, including our wealth. Let’s consider two of the parables. First, in the parable of the talents, the third servant buried his talent (gift) in the ground and was severely punished in response (Matthew 25:18, 30). The financial application is that when we keep our wealth to ourselves, we act like the third servant—we take what God has given us and, in a sense, bury it in the ground. Second, the parable of the rich fool reveals that we aren’t given wealth to keep it for ourselves. When we hoard our wealth, we’re acting like the rich fool. In both parables, the men failed to use God’s generosity as intended: for others. God is generous with us so that we can be generous with others. You Reap What You Sow Many people, even those who have never opened the Bible, are familiar with the phrase, “You reap what you sow.” These words are taken from two passages in the New Testament. The first and most well-known is Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” The second is in Paul’s words about the Macedonian believers’ sacrificial giving, which served as an example to the Corinthians (and to us): “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). The amount of the harvest is directly proportionate to the amount sown. The farmer who sows much seed will harvest more than the farmer who sows sparingly. Paul leaned on this agricultural principle to encourage generosity. Although this can be applied to other areas of life—for example, we typically get out of relationships what we put into them—the context is giving. The blessing received for g

In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul wrote, “God loves a cheerful giver.” God loves everyone, but He has a unique love for cheerful givers. If for no other reason, we should strive to give cheerfully because we love the Lord and want to be people He loves. Read, listen, or watch this material from Your Finances God’s Way to learn six reasons we should be cheerful givers. https://youtu.be/1h01mek6B34 In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul wrote, “God loves a cheerful giver.” Learn six reasons we should be cheerful givers. Table of ContentsHow We Want to Receive Gifts1. Give Cheerfully Because God Loves a Cheerful Giver2. Give Cheerfully Because It Sends Wealth Ahead3. Give Cheerfully Because We Can’t Take Wealth with Us4. Give Cheerfully Because We Enjoy Wealth for a Short TimeIn Light of Eternity We Enjoy Wealth as Long As Daniel5. Give Cheerfully Because God Sees What’s in Our Hearts Versus Our Hands6. Give Cheerfully Because of All We’ve Been GivenThree Simple Recommendations If You Still Struggle GivingFootnotes I used to coach junior high wrestling. After one season, some of my wrestlers decided to buy me a gift. They pooled their money and purchased a nice plaque they planned to give me at the end-of-year banquet. While riding their bikes with the plaque to the banquet, one of them accidentally dropped it on the road and damaged it. They were so happy to give me the plaque that, at first, nobody told me why it was damaged. Finally, someone apologized and explained what had happened. But they didn’t need to apologize because I was blessed by how happy they were to give it to me. Regardless of what it is, a gift means so much more when given cheerfully. The opposite is also true: a gift means little when begrudged. Picture people who give through clenched teeth with the gift (figuratively speaking) having to be pried from their hands. Imagine they say: “I hope this makes you happy, but I bet you would never give me something like this.” “You better appreciate this because you wouldn’t believe how difficult it was for me to get it.” “I don’t want to give this to you, but I know it’s your birthday, so I hope you enjoy it.” Nobody wants gifts from stingy people, and the Bible even discourages us from accepting them: Proverbs 23:6 Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies, 7 for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. In other words, he doesn’t want to give you any of his stuff. How We Want to Receive Gifts If you’re a parent, think about a young child giving you a gift. If we’re honest, unless our child is very talented, the gift probably isn’t something we would purchase if we saw it in a store. Our children’s gifts are not valuable to us because of their quality. They are valuable because they are signs of their love for us. Another way to say it is children’s gifts are meaningful because of the heart behind them. Giving is much bigger than the gift. An analogy: the gift is an iceberg above the water, and everything that goes into the gift is below the surface. The last sermon focused on the sacrifice involved in giving or the sacrifice below the surface. This sermon will focus on the way we give, or our attitudes because like we want gifts given to us cheerfully, so does our heavenly Father: 2 Corinthians 9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. I shared this verse in a previous sermon but didn’t cover its conclusion: God loves a cheerful giver. The Greek word translated “reluctantly” is lypē, meaning “with grief, sorrow, or sadness.” God wants glad givers, not sad or mad givers. Robert Rodenmeyer said, “There are three kinds of giving: grudge giving, duty giving, and thanksgiving. Grudge giving says, ‘I have to’; duty giving says, ‘I ought to’; thanksgiving says, ‘I want to.’”10 God wants the third type of giving. The Greek word translated as cheerful is hilaros, which is related to our word hilarious. This is the only place it occurs in Scripture. God wants giving from hearts that find it enjoyable and entertaining. You might say: “In the previous sermon, you said to give sacrificially, and now you’re saying to give cheerfully. These don’t go together! I can give sacrificially or cheerfully, but I can’t do both! The more sacrifice that’s involved, the less cheerful I am. The less sacrifice involved, the more cheerful I am. I recognize the tension between giving sacrificially and cheerfully. But the Macedonians are an excellent example of doing both. Look at 2 Corinthians 8:1: 2 Corinthians 8:1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. Notice it says they gave with “an abundance of joy.” They didn’t merely have some joy when giving. They ha

Although the New Testament doesn’t command tithing, it gives us principles to determine the amount. Most of these principles for biblical giving are found in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. These chapters provide the richest, most detailed teaching on giving in the Bible. Read, listen, or watch this material from Your Finances God’s Way to learn more. https://youtu.be/sCmBIcmYGcg The New Testament doesn’t command tithing, but it gives us principles for biblical giving in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 to determine the amount. Table of contentsThe Macedonians' Example in GivingPrinciple One: Biblical Giving Is a Reflection of Our Relationships with the LordPrinciple Two: Biblical Giving Means Giving WillinglyPrinciple Three: Biblical Giving Requires Deciding How Much to GiveThe Old Testament Foreshadowed Giving WillinglyJacob Gave UnwillinglyAbraham Gave WillinglyGiving Willingly Produces More than Obligatory GivingWhy Do We Give? We wonder how much to give because the New Testament doesn’t command giving a tithe. Although the New Testament doesn’t tell us how much, it does give us principles to determine the amount. Most of these principles are found in two chapters: 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. These chapters provide the richest, most detailed teaching on giving in the Bible. The Macedonians' Example in Giving First, here’s the context for these chapters: One of the primary goals of Paul’s third missionary journey was to gather a special offering for the poor Christians in Jerusalem. The Corinthians said they would give, but they hadn’t given yet. It is much easier to talk about giving than give. So, Paul encouraged the Corinthians to give by telling them about the Macedonians who set a powerful example with their sacrificial giving. Just as Job is synonymous with suffering and Solomon is synonymous with wisdom, the Macedonians can be synonymous with giving. 2 Corinthians 8:1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. Notice in verse it says the Macedonians gave “in a severe test of affliction.” Macedonia was the northern region of Greece, where the Philippian, Thessalonican, and Berean churches were located. Many wars had ravaged this area, and Rome was still plundering it even at the time of Paul’s writing. In other words, living in Macedonia was difficult. During trials, who do we tend to think about? Ourselves. Who do we tend not to think about? Others. But not the Macedonians! Even while suffering, they still thought about and gave “a wealth of generosity” to the Jerusalem believers. Because the Macedonians gave so much, we would expect them to have been given much; in other words, we would expect them to be wealthy. But it was the opposite! Verse 2 also says they were in “extreme poverty.” The Greek word translated as “poverty” refers to a beggar with nothing and no hope of getting anything. When I think of first-century Christians, I think of people who were already poor. The Macedonians must have been among the lowest of the low, but they still found a way to give much. 2 Corinthians 8:3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord. 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints They gave “beyond their means,” which means they gave more than they could afford. They didn’t have the money, but they gave anyway. They resemble the widow who gave her last two mites. How many times have you heard of Christians begging to be able to give? They called being able to give a “favor,” or some Bibles say privilege. The Greek word for favor or privilege is charis, the same word translated as “grace” elsewhere in Scripture. Verse 1 says that “the grace of God” allowed them to give. It’s like they’re asking for more grace or more favor so that they can give more. The Greek word for “taking part” is koinonia, often translated as “fellowship.” The word means “strong association, community, or participation.” The Macedonians wanted such strong fellowship with the Jerusalem believers they “[took] part in [their] relief” and participated in their suffering through their giving. Whenever we give, we also associate with others and take part in “the relief” of their burdens or suffering. Principle One: Biblical Giving Is a Reflection of Our Relationships with the Lord 2 Corinthians 8:5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Because Paul is speaking, the words “not as we expected” mean the Macedonians gave even more than Paul and his companions anticipated. That’s incredible. They gave so much it surprised Paul. The word “first” doesn’t refer to time or chronology but priority. They gave themselves “first” to God, which led to their generosity. Their giving was related to thei

We can learn much about sacrificial giving from the account of the widow's mite in Luke 21:1-4 and Mark 12:41-44. The widow's mite teaches that giving is much bigger than the gift. The gift is an iceberg above the water, and below the surface is the sacrifice that went into it. The gift is a tree, and the roots in the ground are the sacrifice that went into it. Read or listen to this material from Your Finances God’s Way to learn more. https://youtu.be/nLCGb0opbIk We can learn about sacrificial giving from the account of the widow's mite in Luke 21:1-4 and Mark 12:41-44. Giving is bigger than the gift. Table of contentsThe Widow's Mite Shows Sacrifice Is More Important than the AmountThe Widow's Mite Is a Window Into Eternal RewardsOur Sacrificial Giving Is WorshipThe High Priest, Priesthood, Temple, and Sacrifices Under the New CovenantWe See Sacrificial Giving with AbrahamWe See Sacrificial Giving with Animal SacrificesWe See Sacrificial Giving with DavidGive According to Your IncomeWhat About American Christians' Giving?Give Because Our God Is a GiverFootnotes When Katie and I were part of a home fellowship early in our marriage, a couple joined the group soon after being released from prison. Even though they hadn’t been Christians for long, their affection for the Lord was evident. They were thankful that He had forgiven them, that He would want a relationship with them after their actions, and that He would allow them to begin new lives in Christ. Because of the decisions that led to their incarcerations and the burned bridges with most, if not all, family members and friends, it wouldn’t be too much to say that our home fellowship was just about all the relationships they had. They were part of our group when Katie was pregnant with Rhea. Everyone was excited for us, but perhaps because this couple had no children or grandchildren, they seemed more excited than anyone else. They desperately wanted to give Rhea a gift when she was born, but as you can guess, they didn’t have much. They settled on a dirty, smelly blanket, which they put in a torn plastic bag. They were smokers, so we had to put the blanket on the sanitary cycle on our washer quite a few times, but we still couldn’t get rid of the smell. While the blanket didn’t cost much and was never helpful to us, the gift was significant. Why? Because they had so little, we knew the sacrifice that went into the gift. Giving is much bigger than the gift. If I can use two analogies: The gift is an iceberg above the water, and below the surface is the sacrifice that went into the gift. The gift is a tree, and the roots in the ground are the sacrifice that went into the gift. Everything behind the giving is more important than the gift itself. The premier example of this in scripture is the account commonly called the widow’s mite: Luke 21:1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. There’s a lot in commentaries about how much – or how little – she put in. I could bore you with a discussion of the different coins of the day, but I don’t think it’s necessary. You get the point that she put in a tiny amount. The shocking part of the widow’s mite is that she had only two mites and gave them both. She might have kept one coin for herself, and no one would have blamed her if she had. Instead, she gave both with staggering generosity. Luke 21:3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. Jesus called His disciples to talk to them about what He saw. The parallel account in Mark 12:41 says, “Many rich people put in large sums.” Jesus wasn’t impressed with the large sums the rich people contributed. Instead, He drew their attention to the widow's mite. Although the ESV doesn’t include the word “how” in Mark 12:41, most other translations – such as the NASB, Amplified, NKJV, and KJV – say Jesus watched “how” people put money in the offering box. This is important because it reveals one of the main points of the account: Jesus wasn’t just watching what they gave. He was watching HOW they gave. He looked beyond the amount to the way it was given. 1 Samuel 16:7b The Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. The widow's mite is an excellent example of this verse because Jesus didn’t look at this woman’s giving as everyone else did. Man would see that the rich people put in the most money, but in verse 3, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all.” The Widow's Mite Shows Sacrifice Is More Important than the Amount If they put in large sums and she put in a tiny amount, how could Jesus say this? The answer is in verse 4: Luke 21:4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Jesus isn’t talking about the amount of money. He’s talking about the am

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go," but as parents, we must ensure we go that way too. As Christian parents, we want our children to see the Gospel in us through our lives and parenting, which means we must strive to live it out before our kids. https://youtu.be/ZkX-q8H6YZ4 Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go," but as parents, we must ensure we go that way too. Table of contentsDavid's Sins in His SonsAmnon's Evil without David's DisciplineAbsalom's Evil without David's DisciplineAdonijah's Evil without David's DisciplineTrain Up a Child in the Way He Should Go to Avoid Seeing Your Sins in Your ChildrenWhy Didn't David Punish His Sons?Train Up a Child in the Way He Should Go Regardless of Past SinsThe Command to Train Up a Child in the Way He Should Go Is Not Conditional on Our PastsBut Isn't It Hypocritical To...Train Up a Child in the Way He Should Go By ExampleSin In Our Children's Lives Is Sin in Our LivesOur Children Act Like UsKatie's Best Friend Who Committed ApostasyModeling What We Want to SeeWhy Do Pastors' Kids Commit Apostasy?Tell your Children You're a SinnerThe Two Ways Children Find Out Their Parents Aren't PerfectModel Accepting ResponsibilityChoosing to Be Proud or Humble David's Sins in His Sons David suffered a lot in his lifetime: the rebellion of his sons, the many sons who were murdered, and the betrayal he experienced from friends. But I wonder if anything was worse for him than seeing his sins in his children. Amnon's Evil without David's Discipline David had a son named Amnon, who lusted after his half-sister Tamar. She resisted him, but he overtook her and had his way with her. Here's how David responded when he heard the news: 2 Samuel 13:21 But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. David got very angry, but that’s it. He didn’t do anything. Consider this happened to his daughter, but there’s no record of him punishing Amnon. According to God’s Law, David actually should’ve executed him. Tamar felt violated and alone. You would expect her to go to her father, David, for help and consolation, but instead, she went to live with her brother, Absalom. I suspect she knew David wouldn’t do anything. Absalom's Evil without David's Discipline While Tamar was with Absalom, you can guess how furious he became with Amnon because of what Amnon had done to his sister. I’m not making any excuses for Absalom, but because David didn’t punish Amnon, Absalom decided to take matters into his own hands. He got Amnon drunk and had him murdered. David learned what had happened, so Absalom ran away: 2 Samuel 13:38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And King David longed to go to Absalom. For he had been comforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead. After three years, the pain of Amnon’s murder subsided, and David wanted to be reconciled with his son, Absalom. There’s only one problem: guess what David doesn’t want to do? Punish him! David’s indulgent attitude toward Amnon is now being repeated with Absalom. David and Absalom are finally reunited: 2 Samuel 14:33 So Joab went to the king (this is David) and told him. And when he (this is David) had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king. Then the king kissed Absalom. This signified David’s reconciliation with his son, but there was no punishment. This failure caused terrible problems. Absalom is back in David’s good graces. He wanted this precisely because he had a plan he couldn’t fulfill while exiled from the land. So next, he steals the people's hearts and turns the nation against his father. David has to escape the land, and Absalom takes David’s wives for himself. Then, in one of the lowest moments of David’s life, his men had to battle against his son. Don't View Your Children Too Sentimentally This would’ve been unimaginably difficult, but by this point, David knows the consequences of not punishing Absalom. So he will command his men to execute him after everything he’s done, so no more harm comes to the nation. Right? Nope. When David's men were about to battle against Absalom: 2 Samuel 18:5 Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom. I read this and think, “Are you kidding me?” Consider for a moment everything Absalom has done: he’s a murderer and a rapist who stole the throne from his father, and now he’s trying to kill him. He divided the nation, and David says, “Go easy on him. He’s just a kid!” Viewing our children too sentimentally can be dangerous, and David is probably the best example in Scripture. Adonijah's Evil without David's Discipline David's son, Adonijah, d

Over the last few months, while a man in our congregation was dying of cancer, I developed a burden to equip the church to minister to those mourning. Job's friends set a great example in Job 2:11-13. Read on to learn six ways to provide biblical comfort for those who mourn. https://youtu.be/Z8p6MIINBTo Learn six ways to provide biblical comfort for those who mourn. In Job 2:11-13, Job's friends set a great example at first. Table of contentsFirst, Provide Biblical Comfort for Those Who Mourn By Being Like Job’s Friends (at the Beginning)Comforting without Saying Anything?Second, Provide Biblical Comfort for Those Who Mourn By Taking the InitiativeThird, Provide Biblical Comfort for Those Who Mourn By Dealing with Silence WiselyFourth, Provide Biblical Comfort for Those Who Mourn By Being EmpatheticDistinguishing Between Sympathy and EmpathyBeing Empathetic Is Incredibly DifficultFifth, Provide Biblical Comfort for Those Who Mourn By Recognizing Some Can Comfort Better than UsChildren Comforting ChildrenThose with Similar Experiences Comforting Each OtherA Woman Who Also Lost Her Brother to a Drug OverdoseThe Bauskas Comforting the OrdwaysFeeling Inadequate ComfortingWhy Everyone Must Be Involved in ComfortingSixth, Provide Biblical Comfort for Those Who Mourn By Making Yourself UncomfortableWedding, Births, and DeathsPerfect Comfort Is Not Until the Next Life The previous post, Learning to Weep With Those Who Weep, was about what we should not do when what we shouldn’t do when comforting those who mourn. This post is about what we should do. Here are six ways to provide biblical comfort for those who mourn. First, Provide Biblical Comfort for Those Who Mourn By Being Like Job’s Friends (at the Beginning) I know Job’s friends are the proverbial bad friends. When you want to tell people they are bad friends, you tell them they are like Job’s friends. So you might look at this lesson and wonder if I made a mistake. But Job’s friends started off well. Look at Job 2:11: Job 2:11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. Notice three things about Job's friends: Each man came from his own separate place. They didn’t live near each other. They made an appointment to meet to travel to see Job. This is the ancient world before people had cell phones or cars to drive. I don’t know how far they lived from each other and then how far it was to travel to Job, but I’m sure this was no small thing. They wanted to do two things. First, they wanted to show him sympathy, and second, they wanted to comfort him. We’ll talk about sympathy later. For now, let’s see how they comforted him: Job 2:12 And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. They wept with him. Romans 12:15 says, "Weep with those who weep." Job’s friends are a great example of this. First Corinthians 12:26 says, "If one member suffers, all suffer together." They suffered with him as well: Job 2:13 And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great. Job’s friends continue to impress! We tend to read verses quickly, but think about what this says because it is incredible: they sat on the ground for seven days and seven nights and didn’t say a word! Comforting without Saying Anything? Verse eleven says they were going to comfort him. If we were asked what it means to comfort someone, wouldn’t we think it involves saying something? But they comforted him without saying anything, and we’re told the reason why: because they saw that his suffering was great. Suffering and words are practically inversely related: the greater the suffering, the fewer the words. When people learn someone is going through something difficult, they want to visit but don’t know what to say. Most of the time, when you are with suffering people, the best thing you can do is be with them and listen. It is called the ministry of presence. You won’t probably won’t have to say much. Second, Provide Biblical Comfort for Those Who Mourn By Taking the Initiative Job’s friends made an appointment to meet and coordinate their travel to see him, but Job didn’t seek them out. When people are suffering, they don’t usually ask for help, a meal, or to be visited. Typically, we have to do these things without being asked. Social media is one of the greatest threats to comforting those who are mourning and to the Ministry of Presence. I’m not saying social media can’t be used in positive ways. However, social media makes people feel like sending a message is the same as visiting. I understand if we live on the other side of the cou

Every believer is expected to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15; see also 1 Corinthians 12:26). When we mourn with those who mourn, we should avoid certain things, such as trying to cheer people up, competing with them by sharing our own stories of grief, or being false prophets by telling them things will get better. https://youtu.be/vi8cWm5JMII Every believer is expected to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:1). When we mourn with those who mourn, we should avoid certain things. Table of contentsWe Must All Weep with Those Who WeepI Wasn't Equipped to Weep with Those Who WeepFirst, Don’t Try to Change the MoodAn Entire Book About WeepingSecond, Don’t “Pour Vinegar on Soda”Elkanah's Insensitivity to His Wife, HannahThird, Don’t Try to CompeteFourth, Don’t Be a False ProphetLearning from Job's FriendsPeople's Responses When My Brother Passed AwayWhy We Can Weep with HopeJob Wept with Hope If I had to choose one verse to summarize my ministry, it would be: Ephesians 4:12 [pastors are] to equip the saints for the work of ministry. We tend to think pastors are the only ones in ministry, but the Bible says pastors are supposed to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry. In John MacArthur's sermon, “The Foundation for Fifty-Five Years of Ministry,” he wrote about the need for everyone to minister: “I understood the church had to be a place of mutual ministry, fellowship, spiritual gifts in one another. We have gifts that we minister to others. I have a spiritual gift for you. My gift is not for me, it’s for you. You have spiritual giftsspeaking gifts, serving gifts…Every one of us fits into the body of Christ in a way that the Spirit of God has designed for us to have a ministry that is critical to the life of the church. Grace Church has always had that. In the early years, the first article ever written on Grace Church was…titled ‘The Church with 900 Ministers.’ We had 900 people at the time. And what struck him was these were not spectators; these people were really caring for each other. He picked that up on his own. That article got a lot of traction because people didn’t think of churches in that sense. But we were heavily on a bent on giving instruction on the mutual ministry of God’s people to each other in a church so that we’re not spectators. Things that go on around here, you could never ever imagine that I did them. When I come here, I’m as shocked as you are at everything. Who does all this? This church has always understood fellowship, mutual ministry, caring for each other.” I have the same desire for Woodland Christian Church. I’m thankful so many serve because each person plays a vital role in the church family. Part of the ministry you should be equipped for is visiting the hurting. I will cover this in two posts. This post covers what we shouldn’t do when weeping with those who are weeping, and the other post, Six Ways to Provide Biblical Comfort for Those Who Mourn, covers what we should do. We Must All Weep with Those Who Weep Scripture contains verses for specific people, such as husbands, wives, children, single people, widows, older people, and younger people. Scripture also contains verses for everyone regardless of their season of life. Romans 12 is one of those chapters written to anyone and everyone. The chapter begins with familiar verses appealing to us to present our bodies as living sacrifices. It is followed by the command not to be conformed to the world but to be transformed by renewing our minds. Then verses 3-8 encourage us to use God's gifts. Finally, in verses 9-21, Paul has a section titled “Behave like a Christian” or “Marks of the True Christian.” These verses are written to every Christian, and Romans 12:15 says: Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. If people have the gift of leadership but not the gift of service, they can’t say, “I’ll be in charge, but don’t expect me to serve.” Or if people have the gift of ministry but not the gift of encouragement, they can’t say, “I’ll minister, but I won’t encourage.” Or if people have the gift of teaching but not the gift of mercy, they can’t say, “I’ll teach, but I won’t be merciful.” While people with the gift of mercy, service, or encouragement might find it easier to weep with those weeping, Romans 12:15 says it is everyone’s responsibility. Similarly: 1 Corinthians 12:26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. I want to equip us to weep with those weeping and suffer with those suffering. I Wasn't Equipped to Weep with Those Who Weep I wasn’t equipped in this area. I think my first introduction to weeping with those who weep was in 2007; not long after I started pastoring, I went with another pastor to visit a young girl who was dying of a brain tumor. I thought we would visit with her, but she could only get out of bed for a few moments before she had to return. We mainly visited with h

Christ is whose Son? Jesus asked, "David says in the Book of Psalms, “‘The Lord said to my Lord.”’ David thus calls him Lord, so how is he his son?” (Luke 20:41-44; see also Matthew 22:41-46 and Mark 12:35-37). How can David call the Messiah “Lord” if the Messiah is also his Son? How can the Messiah be both David’s Lord and Son? https://youtu.be/ZFUfdbyV40Y Christ is whose Son? How can David call the Messiah “Lord” if the Messiah is also his Son? (Luke 20:41-44 and Matthew 22:41-46). Table of contentsThe Jehovah's Witnesses Deny that Jesus Is GodThe Jews Didn’t Think the Messiah Was GodThe Paradox of the Messiah Being the Root and Offspring of DavidThe Majority Knew the Messiah Is the Son of DavidHow Can Jesus Be David's Son and Lord?Jesus Showed the Messiah Is GodJesus Showed There Is a ResurrectionTruth Brings AccountabilityOur Accountability When I was an elementary school teacher, an aide in my classroom was a Jehovah’s Witness. She was a sweet old woman, and we enjoyed each other. We had many of the same values. She not only helped me when I taught academics, but she also tried to reinforce the lessons on character that I taught. We would have pleasant conversations about our theological differences. I would share my questions about Jehovah’s Witnesses. Sometimes, she would respond. Other times, she would tell me she had to look into it, and then she would return with a copy of The Watchtower, the Jehovah’s Witnesses magazine. She must have told her husband about me because he came to my house with another Jehovah’s Witness one day to talk to me. We jumped right to a discussion of who Jesus is. It resembled this morning’s passage. In the parallel account in Matthew 22:42, Jesus asked the religious leaders, “What do you think about the Christ?” In answer to the question of who Jesus is, the man opened his New World Translation, the Jehovah’s Witness translation of the Bible, pointed to a verse in Matthew and said, “Jesus is the Son of God. See right here?”I said, “But you don’t think He’s God, do you?He said, “No. It says right here he’s the Son of God.” The Jehovah's Witnesses Deny that Jesus Is God The Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that when Jesus said He was the of God, He wasn’t claiming to BE God. But the Jews in Jesus’s day understood that when Jesus claimed to be the Son of God or to have God as his father, He was claiming equality with God: John 5:17 Jesus [said], “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” 18 This was why the Jews were SEEKING ALL THE MORE TO KILL HIM, because…he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. They wanted to kill Him because they thought He was committing blasphemy, and this was the punishment for blasphemy: Leviticus 24:16 Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. Here’s another example: John 10:30 I and the Father are one.” 31 The Jews PICKED UP STONES AGAIN TO STONE HIM. 32 Jesus [said], “For which [good work] are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” Think about when Jesus healed the paralytic’s sins: Luke 5:20 [Jesus] said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 The scribes and the Pharisees [said], “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Because only God can forgive sins, to claim to forgive sins was to claim to be God, and that was blasphemous. John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him. Pastor Nathan has made fun of me for years for correcting people’s grammar. He even got me one of my favorite sweatshirts, identifying me as part of the grammar police. I correct my kids’ grammar all day, which they love. They always say to me, “Daddy, thank you so much for all you’re doing to help us speak and write good.” Then I say, “Speak and write well.” So, of course, being the grammar Nazi that I am, I caught Jesus’s grammar mistake. He said, “Before Abraham was, I am,” versus before Abraham was, I was.” The religious leaders wanted to stone Him because they were legalistic and bothered by lousy grammar even more than me. No, they wanted to stone Jesus because they understood He was declared that He was God. He used the “I AM” title God gave Himself in Exodus 3:14 when speaking to Moses at the burning bush. The Jews Didn’t Think the Messiah Was God Why did the religious leaders accuse Jesus of blasphemy when He claimed to be the Son of God but not when He claimed to be the Messiah? The answer is pretty simple: When Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, they thought it was blasphemous because it was claiming to be God. But when Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, they did not think it was blasphemous because they didn’t think claiming to be the Messiah was claiming equality with God. The Jews thought the Messiah wou

The Pharisees and Herodians tried to trap Jesus with this question: “Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” (Luke 20:22; see also Matthew 12:13-17). If Jesus said they should pay the tax, it looked like He supported Rome, but if he said they should not pay the tax, He would be considered a traitor to Rome and arrested. He responded, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what Is God's” (Luke 23:25). Just as the coins with Caesar’s image belong to Caesar, people with God’s image belong to God. https://youtu.be/hBa0C7r0pUw Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what Is God's; coins with Caesar’s image belong to him, and people with God’s image belong to Him. Table of contentsShould Christians Use American Currency?The Pharisees and Herodians Tried to Trap JesusBitterness Unites PeopleThe Pharisees' and Herodians' HypocrisyWhy the Jews Hated the Poll TaxChristians Give to Caesar What Is Caesar's Because We Have Earthly CitizenshipPaul (and Peter) Taught that We Should Submit to GovernmentWe Can Have Clear Consciences When We Give to Caesar What Is Caesar'sPaul Affirmed We Should Give to Caesar What Is Caesar'sChristians Give to God What Is God's Because We Have Heavenly CitizenshipGiving to Caesar What Is Caesar's Is not Disloyal to GodWhat It Means to Give to God What Is God'sFootnotes Our one-dollar bills contain many images. Some are easy to understand, such as the picture of George Washington or the capital B for the Federal Reserve Bank. Other images are more challenging to understand. For example, the Department of the Treasury's seal shows balancing scales. You can probably guess they don’t represent a balanced budget. Instead, they are supposed to represent justice. But I think some might argue that’s not an accurate representation either. Under the scales are thirteen stars, representing the original thirteen colonies. A key, signifying official authority, is under the thirteen stars. On the back of the bill, there is an eagle with the following: A shield in front of it with thirteen bars Thirteen stars above the shield One talon with a branch with thirteen leaves on it The other talon holds thirteen arrows There are three Latin phrases: Above the pyramid reads “annuit cœptis,” which means “God has favored our undertaking.” Under the pyramid is “novus ordo seclorum,” which means “a new order of the ages.” The eagle's banner reads “e pluribus unum,” which appears on most U.S. coins and means “out of many, one.” There is also the pyramid, and the more I studied it, the more obvious it became that there are many opinions about it. Here are a few: The missing top of the pyramid is a sign that the country wasn’t finished yet The Western face of the pyramid is in a shadow while the front is lit, indicating the nation hadn’t explored the west yet An eye above the pyramid looks like its top because it is in a triangle. Instead, the all-seeing eye encased in a triangle is an ancient symbol of divinity. Some believe the pyramid and the eye are cultic images reflecting the influence of Free Masonry on our early government because Benjamin Franklin, who helped design the seal with Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, claimed to be a Mason. To some, the eye above the pyramid is evidence of plans for a new world order. The Freemasons plan to take over themselves or work with European bankers and the Illuminati. Should Christians Use American Currency? As Christians who don’t want anything to do with Freemasonry because of its unbiblical teachings, should we refuse to use dollar bills? If we use currency that has unbiblical, or even worse, occultic imagery, are we being disloyal to God and perhaps even sinning? I have good news: we don’t have to worry about using our currency. The currency in Jesus’s day was downright blasphemous, but not only did Jesus NOT discourage people from using it, He even told them what to do with it, and it wasn’t throwing it away. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s back up and quickly review the parable of the vineyard owner in verses 9-18 because the following verses flow from it. In this parable, God the Father is the vineyard owner, and the vineyard represents Israel. The owner sends servants, representing Old Testament prophets, to the tenants, representing the religious leaders. The tenants beat the servants and threw them out of the vineyard. Finally, the owner sends his “beloved son.” Look at verse fourteen to see what the tenants do to him: Luke 20:14 But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15a And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. The tenants didn’t even talk about murdering the servants, but they murdered the son. They represent the religious leaders who murdered Jesus, so it’s a fitting prophecy. Luke 20:15b What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and

What do we think typically ruins relationships? Gossip? Anger? Lies? Unfortunately, we don’t often think of covetousness. But we should! God blames covetousness for our conflicts: "You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel" (James 4:2). We take it out on others when we don’t get what we want. “Desire and do not have” is synonymous with “covet and cannot obtain,” and “murder” is synonymous with “quarrels and…fights.” God repeats Himself to drive the point home: covetousness causes conflicts. Read this material from Being Content God’s Way, or watch the accompanying sermon, to learn how covetousness causes conflicts. https://youtu.be/GDyrgF_iQDM Covetousness causes conflict: "You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel" (James 4:2). Table of contentsWe “Fight and Quarrel” Because We "Covet and Cannot Obtain"A Covetous Older BrotherCovetous Vineyard WorkersA Covetous KingFirst, We Shouldn’t Let God’s Grace Cause Us to CovetSecond, We Shouldn’t Let God’s Grace Cause Us to Be DiscontentThird, We Shouldn’t Let God’s Grace Cause Us to Be Bitter Toward GodFourth, We Shouldn’t Let God’s Grace Cause Us to Be Bitter Toward OthersTwo Final Points About CovetousnessFirst, Covetousness Is FruitlessSecond, Covetousness Is a Spiritual Versus Physical Problem We had neighbors with four daughters. When we had our first child, Rhea, the two youngest daughters liked coming to see her. Katie became very close to them and watched them each morning, walked them to school, and then they returned to our house in the afternoon. Over time, it became apparent that one of their older sisters, whom we will call Jennifer, disliked Katie. She was rude to Katie, and when she came to our house to get her younger sisters, she would pound on the door. Katie put a note next to the door asking people to knock quietly and not ring the doorbell because the baby could be sleeping. Although the note was not addressed to anyone, it was intended for Jennifer. The day Katie put up the note, Jennifer came over to get her two younger sisters, pounded on the door even louder than usual, and repeatedly rang the doorbell. Instead of criticizing Jennifer for her behavior, Katie kindly asked her why she seemed to hate Katie so much. Jennifer broke down and shared that she coveted her little sisters’ relationships with Katie. We “Fight and Quarrel” Because We "Covet and Cannot Obtain" What do we think typically ruins relationships? Gossip? Anger? Lies? Unfortunately, we don’t often think of covetousness, but we should. Covetousness ruined Jennifer’s relationship with Katie, and God blames covetousness for our conflicts: What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel (James 4:1-2). We take it out on others when we don’t get what we want. In Jennifer’s case, she wasn’t getting the affection and attention she wanted from Katie, and she took it out on her. “Desire and do not have” is synonymous with “covet and cannot obtain,” and “murder” is synonymous with “quarrels and…fights.” God repeats Himself to drive the point home: covetousness causes conflicts. The same point is made elsewhere: “The greedy (or covetous) stir up conflict (Proverbs 28:25 NIV), and “the love of money (or covetousness) is a root of all kinds of evils” (1 Tiomthy 6:10). We will examine three biblical accounts that demonstrate this so we can learn from them. We will look at the accounts back-to-back and then discuss their application. A Covetous Older Brother The prodigal son repented, returned home, and their “father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate” (Luke 15:22-23). When the older brother learned what happened: He was angry and refused to go in [to the celebration for his brother]. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ (Luke 15:28-30). When God was upset with Israel for building the golden calf, He told Moses they were “Your people” (Exodus 32:7). When parents are upset with their children, they tell their spouse, “Your child did this.” The same thing happened here: “This son of yours” versus “my brother.” The older brother is furious about the fattened calf and the celebration. Wait until he learns about the robe, ring, and shoes! Covetous Vineyard Workers The second example of covetousness causing conflict is in the parable of t