Scott LaPierre Ministries

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

Exodus 20:17 says, “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.” What does covet mean?” The Old Testament Hebrew word for “covet” is ḥāmaḏ, meaning “to lust after or long for with great desire.” The New Testament Greek word for “covetousness” is pleonexia, which comes from the two Greek words pleiōn, meaning “more,” and echō, meaning “to have.” Covetousness is a strong desire to have more. Read this material from Being Content God's Way, or watch the accompanying sermon, to learn what coveting means and how dangerous it is. https://youtu.be/mcXanxrQJVM Exodus 20:17 says, “You shall not covet your neighbor's house, wife, male servant, female servant, ox, or donkey.” What does covet mean?” Table of contentsJesus’s Warning About CovetousnessThe Danger of CovetousnessCovetousness Is A New Testament Command in the Old TestamentCovetousness Is a Sin Even Paul CommittedCovetousness Is a Heart IssueWhen Covetousness Takes RootThe Unhealthy Relationship Is the ProblemCovetousness Is Desiring Too Strongly Sometimes, when people are at sea without fresh water, they become so thirsty that they drink the saltwater. The one thing they desire more than anything else—water—surrounds them. They must look at it until the craving becomes uncontrollable. They are dehydrated when they give in and drink it, making them thirstier. They drink more, and the cycle continues. They are getting what they want while it is killing them. This illustrates what covetousness does. We desire something, and the craving seems uncontrollable. We give in and pursue what we covet, but satisfying covetousness only increases it. Coveters don’t need their covetousness satisfied any more than drug addicts need drugs or alcoholics need alcohol. Picture a family trying to have a nice dinner together. Their dog starts begging at the table. To get the dog to go away, they give it some food. But all they have done is increase the likelihood that the dog will return. This is covetousness. Giving into it only increases the likelihood it will keep coming back. Jesus’s Warning About Covetousness When Jesus was teaching, He encountered a covetous man. We can learn much from how Jesus responded to him. Hint: He didn’t give him what he wanted! But first, the account’s background. Luke 12:1 says, “In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, [Jesus] began to say to his disciples first, ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.’” Jesus was teaching “many thousands.” The crowd was so large people “were trampling one another” to hear Him. He taught about hypocrisy (verses 2-3), fearing God versus man (verses 4-7), and the danger of denying Him (verses 8-12). Jesus never taught anything unimportant, but these were particularly heavy topics. Right then, an interruption allowed him to teach on an equally important topic: covetousness! Luke 12:13 says, “Someone in the crowd said to [Jesus], ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’” Deuteronomy 21:17 says, “Acknowledge the firstborn…by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.” The firstborn received a double portion of the inheritance to care for the family in the father’s absence. The man was either the firstborn and wanted his inheritance, or he believed his older brother received too much. Jesus was a recognized rabbi, and it was common for them to settle disputes, but not in the middle of their teaching! Not only did he interrupt with something trivial compared to what Jesus was saying, he even told Jesus what to do! But the interruption didn’t surprise Jesus. He used it to speak to the man and then the crowd. We can learn from both addresses. Jesus said, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” (Luke 12:14). When I die and meet Jesus, I hope He calls me friend, brother, disciple, or—my personal preference—good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:21, 23). But I don’t want Him to call me “Man.” This term is used for a stranger, like “Mister.” There is no affection or acknowledgment of a relationship. Considering how gracious Jesus was, even to tax collectors and sinners, it is noteworthy that He responded this way. In answer to Jesus’s question, God the Father made Jesus a Judge: “The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22). Because Jesus was a judge and an injustice had been committed, why didn’t He help? Jesus is the judge over all the earth, but not over petty disputes. This was unrelated to His primary purpose, which was heavenly and spiritual rather than earthly and physical. Jesus is a good example of how we don’t need to get involved in every cause. Just because a wrong has been committed doesn’t mean it is our bu

God told Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe, "If you seek great things for yourself, seek them not" (Jeremiah 45:5). As we consider why God didn't want Baruch to seek great things, we can learn why God might not want us to seek great things. Read this material from Being Content God’s Way, or watch the accompanying sermon, to learn why God didn't want Baruch (and us!) to seek great things, and what He wanted him (and us!) to seek instead. https://youtu.be/WmIzUoHD0T4 God told Baruch, "If you seek great things for yourself, seek them not" (Jeremiah 45:5). Learn why God might not want us to seek great things. Table of contentsDiscontent Being Jeremiah’s ScribeWhy Didn’t God Want Baruch to Seek Great Things?God Might not Want Us to Seek Things Because We Seek Them for OurselvesGod Might not Want Us to Seek Things Because They Won’t LastGod Might not Want Us to Seek Things Because They Aren’t Part of His Plan“Great Things” Often Aren’t That GreatSeeking Great Things in God’s EyesMoses Sought Great Things in God’s EyesJonathan Sought Greatness in God’s EyesJohn the Baptist Sought Greatness in God’s EyesContent with Despised Roles that Please God Before doctors administer a shot, they say, “Try to relax as much as possible. This will be worse if you resist.” The doctor tells you to accept what will happen because resisting worsens it. Elizabeth Elliot said something similar: “There is joy in acceptance.” We can’t change certain circumstances, and resisting worsens them; therefore, it is best to trust that God wants to use them for our good and His glory. This is what it means to choose contentment, and it can bring great peace. Conversely, refusing to be content, which is to say choosing discontentment, can bring severe turmoil and suck the joy out of life. To some extent, all of us would say our lives are not exactly what we want. Maybe we wish we made more money, lived elsewhere, had a different job, or enjoyed a bigger house. If we are single, maybe we wish we were married. If we are married, maybe we wish our marriage was better. We all have something (or some things) we wish were different. There is a man in scripture, Baruch, who wished his life was different. He was Jeremiah’s faithful scribe, and we can learn much from him. Discontent Being Jeremiah’s Scribe Baruch is one of the unsung heroes of the Old Testament. Jeremiah was the most despised man of his day, and throughout much of his ministry, Baruch was his only friend. Jeremiah faced rejection and persecution from his countrymen. Being the closest person to Jeremiah meant that when Jeremiah suffered, Baruch often did too. At one point, Baruch wanted something different for himself. The Lord learned of his discontentment and had the following words for him: The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the dictation of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: You said, ‘Woe is me! For the Lord has added sorrow to my pain. I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.’ Thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord: Behold, what I have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up—that is, the whole land. And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go” (Jeremiah 45:1-5). Baruch was discouraged. The words “woe,” “pain,” “groaning,” and “find no rest” reveal that he suffered physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I hate to be critical of Baruch because I’m sure I would have been worse than him if I were in his situation, but he should have been content with his circumstances. The phrase “the Lord has added sorrow” reveals that he attributed his suffering to God. How did God respond? Did He feel sorry for Baruch or apologize to him? No. Instead, He criticized Baruch for “[seeking] great things for [himself]” and told him to “seek them not.” This is the opposite of the Prosperity Gospel, Health and Wealth Doctrine, or Name-It-and-Claim-It Movement, which teaches people to “seek great things for [themselves].” In Joel Osteen’s New York Times best-selling book, Your Best Life Now, he writes: God wants us to constantly be increasing, to be rising to new heights…God wants to increase you financially, by giving you promotions…God wants this to be the best time of your life. But if you are going to receive this favor, you must enlarge your vision. You can’t go around thinking negative, defeated, limiting thoughts. If you will keep the right attitude, God will take all your disappointments, broken dreams, the hurts and pains, and He will add up all the trouble and sorrow that’s been inflicted on you, and He will pay you back with twice as much peace, joy, happiness, and success…God wants t

In Philippians 4:11, Paul wrote, “I have learned in all things to be content.” Sometimes, we look at people and think, “It must be nice to be them. They are so content. I wish I were like that. Sadly, God made me a miserable, discontent person.” However, contentment is not something fortunate people are born with, while others are not. Instead, content must be learned. https://youtu.be/0IIL_tpWI4U Philippians 4:11 reads, “I have learned in all things to be content.” Contentment is not something people are born with. It must be learned. Table of contentsPhilippians 4:13 Is a Wildly Popular and Wildly Misinterpreted VerseThe Background to Paul Writing, "I Have Learned in All Things to Be Content"Paul's Credibility to Write "I Have Learned in All Things to Be Content"First, Contentment Is LearnedSecond, Contentment Is a Choice Versus a FeelingThird, Contentment Is not the Absence of TrialsFourth, Contentment Is not the Same as Happiness"I Have Learned in All Things to Be Content" Even When ProsperingDon’t Give Me… Riches ?Christ Strengthens Us to Do “All Things” He Wants Us to DoA Tale of Two InterviewsA Better Time to Quote Philippians 4:13The “Secret” to Being Able to Say, "Writing, "I Have Learned in All Things to Be Content"Roots that Go Down Deep into ChristHow Good is Christ?Footnotes On January 12, 2013, the number 4-seeded Baltimore Ravens (10-6) played on the road against the number 1-seeded Denver Broncos (13-3) during the NFL Divisional Playoffs. The Broncos, who had defeated the Ravens earlier in the season, were heavily favored to win this meeting. However, the game went into double overtime before the Ravens upset the Broncos in what came to be known as “The Mile-High Miracle.” After the game, a very emotional Ray Lewis, the Ravens' Hall-of-Fame linebacker, attributed their victory to his faith, saying, “No weapon formed against us shall prosper. No weapon. No weapon. No weapon. God is amazing. And when you believe in Him...Man believes in the possible, but God believes in the impossible.” Ray loosely quoted Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” This is one of the best-sounding verses in the Bible. Who doesn’t want to believe every weapon and accusation against them will fail? The context of the verse is God's promise to destroy the nation of Israel’s enemies in the future. Ray Lewis, in a metaphorical sense, made his team into Israel and the Denver Broncos into Israel’s enemies. Perhaps “every weapon” referred to the Broncos’ offensive and defensive weapons, such as Pro Bowl selections quarterback Peyton Manning, offensive tackle Ryan Clady, cornerback Champ Bailey, and linebacker Von Miller. Maybe “every tongue” referred to the Broncos’ offensive and defensive coordinators’ coaching during the game. Although Ray meant well, instead of God vindicating Israel against their enemies so that His promises to His covenant people are maintained, Ray told the nationally televised audience that God wanted to give the Ravens victory over the Broncos. Philippians 4:13 Is a Wildly Popular and Wildly Misinterpreted Verse Ray Lewis quoted Isaiah 54:17, but the most popular verse among athletes is Philippians 4:13, which reads, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Well-meaning athletes are interviewed after winning a big game. They are excited and want to give God credit, so they quote Philippians 4:13. When all-star running back Adrian Peterson tore his ACL, he said, "This is a blessing in disguise. I’ll come back stronger and better than I was before…I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” You can find Philippians 4:13 on posters and other inspirational art, keychains, rings, buttons, t-shirts, stickers, postcards, bracelets, and handbags. Like Isaiah 54:17, the verse is popular because it sounds wonderful. On the surface, you will be able to do anything you’ve ever wanted to do. The verse is a blank check for whatever you want: a slogan of personal empowerment, a declaration of self-achievement, ambition, and accomplishment, and a motivating motto for prosperity, advancement, and success. I know I sound critical of people misusing this verse. You might say, “They are trying to give God glory. How can you give them a hard time?” Whenever people misinterpret Scripture—even well-meaningly—it is problematic. Those listening are left with nagging questions, such as “Did God care who won the game? Did the winning team have more faith or commit more time to prayer? Did the losing team have more heathens or atheists?” Picture a young man watching his favorite athlete on television, and he thinks, “This is wonderful. I can also do all things through Christ who strengthens me! As long as I have enough faith, I will win at

We experience biblical contentment primarily through our relationships with Christ. Secondarily, it comes from simple things like eating, drinking, and finding joy in our labor. But biblical contentment does not come from riches and possessions. Read this material from Being Content God’s Way, or watch the accompanying sermon, to learn how to develop biblical contentment. https://youtu.be/qh8iveH2m1o Table of contentsHoarding Is a Threat to ContentmentThe Importance of Remembering We Take Nothing With UsLearning from Malcolm Forbes and No FearGodliness with ContentmentHow Can We Experience Biblical Contentment?Biblical Contentment Does not Come from Wealth and PossessionsBiblical Contentment Does Come from Simple ThingsFootnotes I covered Ecclesiastes 5:11-12 in Being Content from a Missionary Trip to Malawi, Africa. I'm picking up at verse 13. Hoarding Is a Threat to Contentment Ecclesiastes 5:13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners. If I had to write down a list of grievous evils, I’d probably say murder, adultery, hurting children, stealing from the less fortunate. But hoarding probably wouldn’t even make the list. But that’s the grievous evil Solomon had in mind. Hoarding is so devastating that a reality show fittingly called Hoarders depicts people suffering from a “compulsive hoarding disorder.” The show is a record of people whose lives are ruined by their possessions. Even if we aren’t hoarders, our possessions can still cause problems because of the time they consume and the choices they create. We have to figure out what to buy, where to get it, how to make the trip to get it, where to store it, where to put the old stuff that the new stuff replaces, and how to use it when we buy it. We bought it; we will make sure we use it to feel like we got our money’s worth. These choices can consume us, so our possessions start possessing us. We become consumers consumed by our consumption. They don’t have these problems in Malawi. Most people’s homes don’t have furniture. The floors are dirt. There’s no electricity; say nothing about televisions or the Internet. In Third World countries, the problem is not having enough. But in First World countries like ours, the problem is having too much. Mark Twain once defined civilization as “a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities.” 43 Self-storage is one of our biggest industries. An article titled “The Hottest Industry Right Now Is Storing All Your Stuff” reads: “A day hardly passes without the U.S. retail industry sustaining fresh wounds as malls and outlets shut their doors. Americans are still shopping, though online, in their pajamas and physics dictates that their new stuff, and old stuff, go somewhere. Welcome to the renaissance of self-storage.” Another article, “Self-storage: How Warehouses for Personal Junk Became a $38 Billion Industry,” reads: “Despite recessions and demographic shifts, few building types have boomed like self-storage lockers. The self-storage industry made $32.7 billion in 2016, nearly three times Hollywood’s box office gross. Self-storage has seen 7.7 percent annual growth since 2012, and now employs 144,000 nationwide. One in eleven Americans pays an average of $91.14 monthly to use self-storage. The United States has over fifty thousand facilities and roughly 2.31 billion square feet of rentable space. To give that perspective, the volume of self-storage units in the country could “fill the Hoover Dam twenty-six times with old clothing, skis, and keepsakes.” Our lives are filled to overflowing with possessions. When I drive down the road and pass storage facilities, I wonder, “What’s in the units people don’t need and can’t easily access but still pay money to keep? How many owners are still paying off the credit cards that bought the stuff in the first place?” The Importance of Remembering We Take Nothing With Us Ecclesiastes 5:14 and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. Wealth can disappear! Even though he’s a hardworking father, he has nothing to give to his son because he lost everything. People lose wealth through bad business decisions or other misfortunes, such as accidents, fires, or medical bills. Even if we don’t lose riches in this life, we lose them when we die, which is Solomon’s next point: Ecclesiastes 5:15 As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. 16 This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? My dad, John LaPierre, passed away in 2021. He choked on some food. My associate pastor and I took turns administering CPR until the paramedics arrived, and then they worked on him for over an hour. So, it was hard to know when he passed. The paramedics might say it was when he stopped breathing, his heart stopped beating, or

When I was in Malawi, Africa, I spent one week teaching at a Bible college and the following week at a pastor's conference. I was exposed to the common false teaching among the students and pastors. We see much of this false teaching in the church today, including in the United States, versus only in Africa. https://youtu.be/ptozRMIOQRE Table of contents1. There Is False Teaching in the Church Today Because the Descriptive Is Confused with the PrescriptiveWhat If People Don't Hear Audibly from God?2. There Is False Teaching in the Church Today Because of Belief in Modern-Day Apostles and Prophets3. There Is False Teaching in the Church Today Because Wealth Is Considered a Sign of GodlinessThe False Prophet, Bushiri4. There Is False Teaching in the Church Today Because People Are Elevated Above ScriptureTeaching Under the New Covenant5. There Is False Teaching in the Church Today Because Theatrics Are Elevated Above UnderstandingEzra Wanted the People to UnderstandOur Accountability Is High in the United States In Malawi, Africa, I kept notes about things I felt burdened to share with the congregation when I returned. Many of my notes were about the false teaching I observed. I attended a Bible college the first week and a pastor’s conference the second week, which gave me insight into church leaders' beliefs. The title is “Five Reaons for False Teaching in the Church Today” rather than “Five Reaons for False Teaching in Malawi,” because much of the false teaching is prevalent in our country, too. So, I’ve chosen reasons that apply anywhere. 1. There Is False Teaching in the Church Today Because the Descriptive Is Confused with the Prescriptive Malawi is a very charismatic country. There’s a strong belief in the supernatural, but not in a good way. I don’t mean believing the supernatural events in Scripture. I mean believing the same supernatural events are happening today. One of the most common mistakes people make when reading Scripture is turning a descriptive passage (or one that merely describes what happened) into a prescriptive passage (or one that prescribes). In Malawi, this is a huge problem! For example: Acts 5:12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that AS PETER CAME BY AT LEAST HIS SHADOW MIGHT FALL ON SOME OF THEM. Do you see the problem with making descriptive language prescriptive? You could be led to believe that you can healed by a false teacher’s shadow falling on you. Acts 8:26 Now AN ANGEL OF THE LORD SAID TO PHILIP, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And THE SPIRIT SAID TO PHILIP, “Go over and join this chariot.” Should we expect the angel of the Lord or the Holy Spirit to speak audibly to us? No. That wasn’t my point with these verses last week. My point was that we step out in faith – like Philip – and walk in obedience, and God’s plan tends to unfold. Usually, we don’t get to see the second step until we take the first step. That’s part of the application of these verses. But if we looked at this account and thought that the angel of the Lord or the Holy Spirit would speak audibly because He did with Philip, we would be in trouble. What If People Don't Hear Audibly from God? When we don’t hear audibly from God, there will be four possible outcomes, and all are bad: We’ll doubt our salvation because God isn’t speaking to us like He supposedly speaks to others Or we’ll doubt God loves us because He doesn’t speak to us like He supposedly speaks to others Or we’ll conclude we’re not spiritual enough Or we’ll conclude the Bible is untrue Consider this account: Acts 19:11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. If you take this account prescriptively rather than descriptively, you will believe false teachers who claim that their handkerchiefs and aprons can heal the sick. I know that’s the case in Malawi because this account was mentioned to me to defend people being healed this way. One of the other big problems with taking descriptive accounts and making them prescriptive is that you believe the teaching of the people who claim to be able to perform miracles. If you believe t

On a recent mission trip to Malawi, Africa, I learned three lessons about God’s plan for our lives. Things didn’t go how I expected at times, but God’s agenda was better than mine. I hope these lessons encourage you when God’s plan seems different than yours. https://youtu.be/EG7D-ivgWLY On a recent mission trip to Malawi, Africa, I learned three lessons about God’s plan for our lives. God’s agenda was better than mine. Table of contentsGod’s Plan for Our Lives Is Better than OursGod’s Plan Often Involves Wondering What’s NextOur Tuesday Night GroupStepping Out in Faith Isn't License to Be FoolishSharing the Gospel with Another SchoolGod’s Plan Requires Staying MarriedDave and Naida's Gomes's TestimonyAndy and Lisa Langdon's Testimony When we went to Malawi, there were two teams. I was on the teaching team that spoke at the Sola Scriptura Bible College in the first week and at the pastor's conference in the second week. One particular day began very frustratingly. I am not one to blame everything on spiritual warfare or see the devil or a demon behind everything bad that happens. Sometimes, things happen simply because we live in a fallen world. But one morning, it seemed like we had difficulty getting to the Bible college on time. I joked with the teaching team that maybe we had a few Billy Grahams in the Bible college class that the devil didn’t want us to reach. First, we got pulled over: https://youtu.be/Kqj3cgEIxx4 Then we got pulled over again: https://youtu.be/56pqTpsupRU Then we got a flat tire: https://youtu.be/aKqBCTOYPSc We broke down on the side of the road and had to wait for someone from the nursery to bring us tools to change the tire. Because we went to the Bible college each day from early morning until late evening, I hadn’t seen much of Malawi, so I decided to walk around. There were some buildings nearby, and I went to check them out. God’s Plan for Our Lives Is Better than Ours It turned out to be a school, but all the classes were canceled because it was a holiday. I was walking past the classrooms, expecting them to be empty, but one teacher, Mr. Moya, who you will meet in a moment, decided to have a class that day. I have no idea why he wanted to have class on a holiday, and I have no idea how he got his students to come to class on a holiday, but that’s what happened. When I walked past his classroom, the students were excited because they saw a white person. I kept walking because I didn’t want to interrupt his class, but then I decided to walk back and see what would happen. The teacher, Mr. Moya, seemed like a serious man who wasn’t easy to read. So, I couldn’t tell how he felt about me at first, but I did get him to smile, which made me happy: https://youtu.be/GgF2ujFyS9Y I wanted to stay longer with the class, but I didn’t know if they had the tire changed, and I didn’t want them to wait for me. So, I returned to the truck, but they still didn’t have the tools. So I asked Eddie if he wanted to return to the classroom with me, and he was glad to do so: https://youtu.be/qwOXPME6MyA Now, there’s more to the story, but I can only show you so many videos, so let me briefly tell you what happened. Eddie told the class we would return the next day and bring them gospel tracts. When we returned the next day, Andrew and Andrey came with us because they wanted to spend one day at the Bible college. The school was in session, so we had to check in at the principal’s office. When we went to the principal’s office, she seemed glad that we were there and told us we could preach the gospel to other classrooms: https://youtu.be/Epg7omXz-lc I couldn’t help thinking that day about how much better God’s plan for our lives is than ours. God orchestrated many things for us. For example, if we didn’t have the flat tire: I wouldn’t have visited the school. Eddie wouldn’t have shared the gospel with the class We wouldn’t have returned the following day to share the gospel again I wouldn’t have had the idea to visit another school the following week because it went so well the first time. I'll share more about this in a moment. And, of course, I have no idea why one teacher happened to be having class on a holiday. God’s plan for our lives was much better than ours! God’s Plan Often Involves Wondering What’s Next When Eddie and I returned to the school, I liked how he said, “If the Lord provides an opportunity, let’s do it.” This summarizes what ministry often feels like: we don’t know what will happen next. We simply step out in faith and hope that God will provide an opportunity. It reminds me of Jonathan attacking the Philistines with his armor bearer. Listen to what he said: 1 Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. IT MAY BE THAT THE LORD WILL WORK FOR US, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” This is a great example of what we say in ministry: maybe the L

From April 26, 2024, to May 11, 2024, I went to Malawi, Africa, to teach at a Bible college and preach at a pastor's conference. On the mission trip, God burdened me with a sermon about being content, which I preached when I arrived home. Table of contentsThinking About Those with Less Should Help Us Being ContentComplaining in the Book of NumbersWealth in the United StatesWealth Doesn’t Produce ContentmentBeing Content Isn't Easier in a Large, Fancy HouseDiscouraged for the People in MalawiSolomon: A Rich Man with CredibilityWe Often Think We Need MorePossessions Can Cause ProblemsBeing Content Through ChristBeing Content Because the Lord Said, "I Will Never Leave You Nor Forsake You"Footnotes https://youtu.be/IQ0xjm91z5k God burdened me with a sermon about being content during a mission trip to Malawi to speak at a Bible college and pastor's conference. This video will give you an idea of the poverty in Africa: https://youtu.be/cG5PgCh-yiI The poverty driving in Malawi, Africa Mike is our Malawian driver who works at the nursery. Andy asked him if the mouse on a stick was in season. That’s one of the common things people eat during certain times of the year. A little background: There were two teams when we took the trip to Africa. I was on the teaching team with Andy Langdon, Andy’s Pastor, Mark Hoeffner, and Eddie Brzezinski, who had accompanied them on many trips before. Andrew shared in Sunday school about the other team traveling during the day to evangelize and visit people’s houses. For my team, we spent the first week, Monday through Friday, teaching at the Sola Scriptura Bible College, about an hour away. I spoke two hours away the second week at a pastor's conference. Here is a video of the Bible college: https://youtu.be/aHuBqx9YMPg Sola Scriptura Bible College in Malawi, Africa Thinking About Those with Less Should Help Us Being Content The morning Johnny and I left for Africa, the kids cooked on the stove. One left a can of Pam cooking spray on a hot burner. The can exploded. The bottom shot out and destroyed the burner, and the can shot up into the microwave and destroyed it, too. Shards of glass and metal flew out as far as the dining area, so we did two things. First, we prayed and thanked God that nobody was injured. Second, we had a physics lesson about gases expanding when they heat up. I began a claim and left for the airport. When I got to Malawi, I started getting messages from my insurance company that they couldn’t reach me. I would email them back in the evening, but they said they needed to talk to me on the phone. I couldn’t get the claim moving, so Katie couldn’t get a new microwave or stove. I apologized to Katie because I knew this was inconvenient. I sent lots of photos to Katie, and here’s one of them: These wonderful women volunteered to cook our lunch at the Bible college each day. When I apologized to Katie that she had to cook without a microwave and stove, she wrote back, “I won’t be complaining after seeing those women cooking over an open fire.” I hope that’s what these sermons do. I will be transparent with you about something that has happened to me. When I first came back from Malawi, guess how I felt? I was super content. I was super grateful for our house, stores, water, Wi-Fi, electricity, and roads that don’t make me feel like I’m throwing out my back while driving on them. But then, over time, I’m no longer grateful. It is human nature to gradually forget our blessings and take things for granted gradually. Complaining in the Book of Numbers Think about the location of the Book of Numbers. Numbers was originally called “The Book of Murmurings,” you know why if you’ve ever read it. It is about the Israelites complaining in the wilderness. The location of this book is so shocking because it is one month after Israel was delivered from Egypt, when you think they would be super thankful for all God had done for them. Instead, they constantly complained. Wealth in the United States We have probably all heard before about how wealthy the United States is compared to the rest of the world. Let me provide some statistics that make this clear. Disposable income is the amount of money households have for spending and saving after income taxes have been accounted for. Visualizing Countries with the Highest Household Wealth reveals: Russia’s disposable income is less than $17,000. France's disposable income is $60,000. The United Kingdom’s disposable income is $83,000. Canada’s disposable income is $86,000. The nation in second place is Switzerland, with $128,000. The United States is in first place with a disposable income of $176,00, which is almost 40% more than the nation in second place. There are 7.5 billion people in the world. China is the world’s most populous nation, with 1.4 billion people, or 18.6%, and 10.5% of the world’s wealth. The United States has 327 million people, or a little more than 4% of the world’s population,

James 1:15 says, "Desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." James 1:15 compares sin with pregnancy, pictured in Proverbs 7:24-27. When the foolish young man sinned with the harlot, the union's most obvious and natural result is pregnancy. The child produced from that pregnancy, or sin, is death! Table of contentsSin Begins in the HeartEven the Strong and Mighty Must Be on GuardThe Wages of Sin Is DeathSin Is Compared to Pregnancy Because It Gives Birth to DeathSin Is Compared to Pregnancy Because It Is a ProcessSin Is Compared to Pregnancy Because It GrowsBut What About When We Still Sin? https://youtu.be/RM8pfYAUiLs James 1:15 describes pregnancy: "Desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." Consider these people who were killed by, of all things, their pets: Sandra Piovesan had nine half-wolves, half-dogs that she raised, and after they grew, they killed her. Kelly Ann Walz raised a black bear from when it was a cub. When it reached 350 pounds, it killed her. Marius Els had a pet hippopotamus, which ended up killing him after it grew. We know many animals are deadly. There are lots of stories of people being killed by animals. These stories stand out because the people kept the animals as pets. All these people had one thing in common: they thought the animals didn’t threaten them. They thought the animals could be tamed and controlled. They thought they could have these animals in their lives without problems. Marius owned the hippopotamus, and the article reads, and I quote, that he was “[warned repeatedly] that it was a wild animal that could never be tamed.” But he said, “There’s a relationship between me and the hippo, and that’s what some people don’t understand. They think you can only have a relationship with dogs, cats, and domestic animals. But I have a relationship with the most dangerous animal in Africa.” This sounds crazy to us. Most of us agree that keeping wolves, bears, and hippopotamuses is a bad idea. These people thought the animals were safe because they got them when they were small and harmless. Over time, the animals grew and became deadly. This illustrates what can happen with sin. We tend to treat our sin like a pet. It starts small and seemingly harmless, but then it grows into something deadly and kills us as well. This is the main point of James 1:15: "Desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." And it is illustrated in Proverbs 7:24-27: Proverbs 7:24 And now, O SONS, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. 25 LET NOT YOUR HEART TURN ASIDE TO HER WAYS; DO NOT STRAY INTO HER PATHS, 26 for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. 27 Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death. Don’t you hear the father pleading with his son? Proverbs 1:8 Hear, MY SON, YOUR FATHER'S INSTRUCTION, and forsake not your mother's teaching… Proverbs 1:10 MY SON, if sinners entice you, do not consent… Proverbs 1:15 MY SON, do not walk in the way with them; Proverbs 2:1 MY SON, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you Proverbs 3:1 MY SON, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, Proverbs 4, 5, 6, and 7 begin the same way. The word “son” occurs almost 50 times because Proverbs is written as a father speaking to his son. Proverbs is indeed for everyone. It is the book of wisdom, and we all benefit from gaining wisdom; however, because Proverbs is written as a father talking to his son, young men receive a special benefit. So, young men can read these verses and hear me pleading to resist the harlot. Young men hear Solomon, the human author of Proverbs, pleading to resist the harlot. But I hope even more that you look past Solomon and me to the even greater Person pleading with you in these verses, and that is God the Father. We know from the previous verses that the foolish young man was killed by the harlot. So, the Father lovingly reaches out to his sons, trying to prevent them from experiencing the same. He says, “After seeing what happened to the foolish young man, listen to me, pay attention to my words, so you don’t end up like him.” Sin Begins in the Heart Proverbs 7:8 [He passed] along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house Now, I’m not trying to sound overly simple, but the foolish young man physically headed toward her house. Now look at what the Father says in verse 25: Proverbs 7:25 Let not YOUR HEART TURN ASIDE TO HER WAYS; do not stray into her paths, So, which is it? Did he turn aside toward the harlot, or did his heart turn aside toward her? Yes! In verse 25, the words “turn aside” suggest walking somewhere, but obviously, our hearts don’t walk anywhere. So why does it say this? The heart is being personified as someone with the potential t

What does sin do to us? The harlot in Proverbs 7 personifies sin. We can see how she acts toward the foolish young man to see what sin does to us. Table of contentsSin Lies to UsSin Says, “You Won’t Get Caught”God Won't Be MockedWhen It Looked Like David Wouldn't Get CaughtSin Makes Us More Like AnimalsSin Produces a Slow, Painful DeathSin Hunts the FoolishSin Is a Baited HookThe Way Joab Approached Abner and AmasaTurn to God from Sin https://youtu.be/-JeVOMo2fhY What does sin do to us? The harlot in Proverbs 7 personifies sin. We can see how she acts toward the foolish young man to see what sin does to us. Radio personality Paul Harvey shared about how Eskimos kill wolves: First, the Eskimo coats a knife blade with seal blood because seals are easy to trap. He allows the blood to freeze and then adds another layer of blood and another until the blade is completely concealed by frozen blood. Next, the hunter fixes his knife in the ground with the blade up.When a wolf follows its sensitive nose to the source of the scent and discovers the bait, it licks it, tasting the fresh, frozen blood. The wolf licks the blade more vigorously until the keen edge is bare. But the wolf doesn’t notice the razor-sharp sting of the blade because his tongue is numb from the cold, nor does it recognize that its insatiable thirst is being satisfied by its own warm blood. The wolf’s carnivorous appetite just craves moreuntil the dawn finds it dead in the snow. The account is grisly but illustrates sin's consuming, self-destructive nature. When we see people engaged in habitual sin, we can share this story with them and tell them to stop licking the knife. I looked at over ten websites to determine if Eskimoes do this because I don’t like when pastors use illustrations that aren’t true (something pastors are famous for doing). I found many websites with this story. But they were pastors’ websites or websites for sermon illustrations, so I’m not sure they can be trusted. I think an even better illustration of sin’s destructiveness is found in Proverbs 7 with the harlot. We can swap the wolf for the foolish young man. Like the wolf, he is killed because of his desires. If you want to see just how much the foolish young man looks like an animal being hunted, notice the theme of verses 22 and 23: "an ox to the slaughter...a stag caught in a trap...a bird stuck in a snare." Sin Lies to Us I will pick up at verse 18 with the harlot speaking to the foolish young man: Proverbs 7:18 Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love. In the same sentence, the harlot twice mentioned the word love. This is a lie: she’s known this young man for about five minutes, yet she talks to him about love. She would’ve said the same words to any young man. She is like a prostitute or woman on the Internet who has no concern for the men she entices. But this is what sin does. Take your mind back to the fall. God said: Genesis 2:17 Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” When the devil tempted Eve: Genesis 3:4 The serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. The devil told Eve the exact opposite of what God said. Sin does the same with us. Romans 7:11 Sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, DECEIVED ME and through it killed me. Paul said sin deceived him. Hebrews 3:13 Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by THE DECEITFULNESS OF SIN. We should exhort each other daily so we aren’t deceived by sin. What are some of the ways sin deceives us? What are some of the lies it tells us? This won’t ruin your family. This won’t hurt your friends and loved ones. This won’t become an addiction. You’ll be able to stop whenever you want. Sin Says, “You Won’t Get Caught” There is one lie in particular that sin always tells us, and it’s in verses 19 and 20: Proverbs 7:19 For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; 20 he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home.” Unbelievably, right after talking to the young man about love, she talks to him about her husband, whom she’s supposed to love. All the verses we read up to this point would have led us to believe the harlot was unmarried. But now we see she was some poor man’s wife. When he went out of town, she went out to hunt. The harlot said her husband is gone, but that’s not her point. She’s trying to tell the foolish young man he won’t get caught, which is one of the main lies sin tells us. If you think about it for a moment, there’s almost always one thing people must be convinced of before they sin, and it’s this lie the harlot was telling the foolish young man: "Nobody will know. You can get away with it." Who would have stolen, committed adultery, lied, or gossiped if they thought they would be caught? Proverbs 7:9 says he went out “in the twilight, in the

Paul wrote that “Christ died for our sins [and] was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The Old Testament doesn’t just prophesy that Jesus would die and be raised; it also prophesies that he would be raised on the third day. Where is the Old Testament prophecy of Jesus' death and resurrection on the third day? There are four possibilities. https://youtu.be/o0HdYqct2pU Where is the Old Testament prophecy of Jesus' death and resurrection on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:4)? Four possibilities exist. Table of contentsThe Gospel's Two Essential ElementsFirst, Jesus Died for Our SinsPsalm 22 Prophecies of Jesus' DeathIsaiah 53 Prophecies of Jesus' DeathSecond, Jesus Was Raised from the DeadWhere Is the Old Testament Prophecy of Jesus' Resurrection on the Third Day?The Feast of Firstfruits Is an Old Testament Prophecy of Jesus' Resurrection on the Third DayHosea Contains an Old Testament Prophecy of Jesus' Resurrection on the Third DayIsrael as a Type of ChristThe Veil and Jesus’ Body TornJonah Is an Old Testament Prophecy (or Sign) of Jesus' Resurrection on the Third DayJonah's "Death" and BurialJonah Was "Raised" on the Third DayIsaac Is an Old Testament Prophecy of Jesus' Resurrection on the Third DayDon't Try not to BelieveFootnotes Growing up we had a handful of movies on VHS tapes. I feel old knowing some of you don’t even know what VHS tapes are. One of the movies we had was Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. I don’t know how often I watched this movie, but it was a lot. Let me tell you how it ended. The dying Khan activated a bomb that would blow up his ship and the nearby Starship Enterprise, finally delivering his revenge against Captain Kirk. The Enterprise’s engine was damaged, so it couldn’t enter warp speed and escape the explosion. With the lives of all the crew in jeopardy, Spock entered the nuclear reactor to restore power to the warp drive so the ship could escape. In the process, he was exposed to a lethal dose of radiation. When Kirk realized Spock was missing, he ran to the engine room, where he saw his friend within minutes of death. Spock used his last words to ask Kirk if the ship was out of danger. Then he said, “The needs of the many outweigh…” Kirk interrupted to say: “the needs of the few,” showing he learned from his logical friend. And then Spock added, “Or the one. I have been and always shall be your friend.” Spock made the Vulcan salute, which Kirk mirrored, uttered, “Live long and prosper,” and then died. Spock died for his friends, and our minds could even go to Jesus’s words: John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You don’t have to worry about Spock, though, because he only stayed dead until the beginning of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. Spock rose from the dead, and the filmmakers wanted to make him look so much like Jesus there was even an empty coffin complete with nearby burial clothes paralleling Jesus’ empty tomb and burial clothes. Resurrections are common in fiction. J.R.R. Tolkien has a clear resurrection in The Lord of the Rings. The wizard, Gandalf the Grey, dies only to return to life as the more powerful Gandalf the White. Tolkien’s friend and fellow author, C.S. Lewis, has a clear resurrection in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Aslan the Lion, a picture of Jesus, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, sacrificed himself to save Edmund. Then, Aslan returned to life and defeated his enemy, the White Witch, I suspect picturing the way Jesus’s death and resurrection defeated the devil. The Gospel's Two Essential Elements I might sound like a fan of resurrections in fiction, but I wouldn’t say that’s the case. My biggest problem is that, with only a few exceptions, people are borrowing from Christianity without being Christian. There are allusions to Christ, but there’s no Christ. Nobody will be saved from these portrayals because they lack the essential elements of the gospel. Paul presents the essential elements in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. If you want to remember different chapters in the Bible, this is the Resurrection Chapter. We’ll focus on verses 3 and 4, but let’s start at verse one for context: 1 Corinthians 15:1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to youunless you believed in vain. 3a For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: Notice Paul said he delivered the gospel he received. Or you could say he delivered what was delivered to him. Paul did not come up with the gospel. Instead, he is a link in the long chain of people who have been preaching the gospel since its inception back in the Garden of Eden at the fall.49 Also, notice Paul said the gospel is “of first importance.” There are many important thi

What is temptation? The harlot in Proverbs 7 personifies temptation. The harlot pursues the foolish young man like temptation pursues us. The foolish young man should have resisted the harlot like we should resist temptation. Studying her helps us understand how temptation works and better equips us to resist. Table of contentsFoolish People Are Outmatched Against TemptationThe Harlot in Proverbs 7 Personifies TemptationTemptation Is AggressiveTemptation Makes Itself Sound GoodJustifying Giving InTemptation Appeals to Our PrideBalak Appealed to Balam's PrideWhy Would Temptation Want to Appeal to Our Pride?Temptation Appeals to Our SensesTemptation Appeals Most Often to Our SightLook to the Great High Priest https://youtu.be/p8pRdQz8afA What is temptation? The harlot in Proverbs 7 personifies temptation. The harlot pursues the foolish young man like temptation pursues us. The foolish young man should have resisted the harlot like we should resist temptation. Studying her helps us understand how temptation works and better equips us to resist. We like showdowns. When I say the word, our minds probably go to Westerns with two cowboys staring each other down while they stand on a dirt road in the middle of a small town with a saloon on one side, a bank on the other, and a few other buildings scattered about. A tumbleweed rolls by, and we hear the familiar whistling sound while we wait to see who draws first. There are many famous showdowns in fiction outside of Westerns. For example, Achilles and Hector’s fight in the Illiad. My favorite showdown is Gandalf’s fight with the Balrog in the Lord of the Rings. There are also famous showdowns in Scripture. The first few chapters of 2 Samuel record the conflict between the House of Saul and the House of David. Saul’s forces, led by Abner, ran into David’s forces, led by Joab: 2 Samuel 2:12 Abner and the servants of Saul and Joab and the servants of David met by the pool of Gibeon…one on one side…and the other on the other side. Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.” 15 Then they arose…16 And each caught HIS OPPONENT BY THE HEAD AND THRUST HIS SWORD IN HIS OPPONENT'S SIDE, SO THEY FELL DOWN TOGETHER…17 And the battle was very fierce that day. And Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David. Some other showdowns in Scripture are David and Goliath, Elijah and the prophets of Baal, and Jesus in the wilderness with the devil. I could go one step further and say Jesus’ earthly ministry was a showdown between the kingdom of God that Jesus rules over and the kingdom of darkness that Satan rules over. Foolish People Are Outmatched Against Temptation Proverbs 7 contains another showdown: the foolish young man against the harlot. The foolish young man’s description: Proverbs 7:7 and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense The young man is “Simple” and “Lacking sense,” which are both ways of saying he is foolish and lacking wisdom. The NKJV says he’s "devoid of understanding," the NASB says he’s "naïve," and the Amplified says he’s "gullible." His opponent: Proverbs 7:10 And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. The showdown is about to begin, but let me make one point about the foolish young man. It says the harlot “meets him.” He had to reach this point. He wouldn't be in this situation if he hadn’t taken all the previous compromising steps: going to her corner, taking the road to her house, and doing this at night when he thought nobody would see. We can’t help being tempted. Even Jesus was tempted. But we can avoid putting ourselves in tempting situations: Don’t grab your phone or look at your computer at the wrong time. Don’t be alone with that person of the opposite sex. Don’t go to that bar or club. We saw how the foolish young man is described. The harlot is described as “wily of heart.” The NIV says, “with crafty intent,” the NASB says, “cunning of heart,” and the HCSB says, “having a hidden agenda.” So, here’s the showdown: a foolish young man lacking sense, wandering around aimlessly and naïve, versus a crafty harlot, who is cunning of heart, aggressive, and on a mission. It isn’t tough to figure out who is going to win. The foolish young man has about as much of a chance as Goliath had against David, the prophets of Baal had against Elijah, and Satan against Jesus The Harlot in Proverbs 7 Personifies Temptation James 1:14 Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. “When he is lured” is one word in Greek, exelkō, a metaphor for a harlot’s seduction. In other words, when James wants to describe temptation enticing us, he uses the imagery of a harlot. When we see this harlot tempt the foolish young man, we are witnessing temptation in action: The harlot pursues the foolish young man like temptation pursues us. The foolish youn

In Luke 12:16-21, Jesus taught the Parable of the Rich Fool. Ironically, the rich fool looked smart, accumulating wealth and succeeding as a farmer and businessman. Learn why God said he was a fool when his life ended. Read, listen, or watch this material from Your Finances God’s Way to learn from the parable of the rich fool. https://youtu.be/XlQwaVEw090 Jesus taught the Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:16-21. Learn why God called him a fool despite looking smart and successful. Table of ContentsEverything Comes From GodWise In the World’s Eyes, But Fools to GodThe Rich Man Was a Fool Because He Didn’t GiveThe Rich Man Was a Fool Because He Didn’t Plan for EternityThe Rich Man Was a Fool Because He Didn’t Know to Whom His Soul BelongedThe Rich Man Was a Fool Because He Wasn’t Rich Toward GodWhat Money Can’t DoWhat The Gospel Can Do Malcolm Forbes was an American entrepreneur who is most well-known as the publisher of Forbes magazine. He’s also remembered for several sayings, and one that he repeated is, “He who has the most toys wins.” As you would expect from someone who said this, he lived an extravagant, flamboyant lifestyle. He spent millions (or perhaps billions) on parties, traveling, and his collection of yachts, aircraft, art, motorcycles, castles, hot-air balloons, and Fabergé eggs, some of which cost over one million dollars each. Growing up, there was a popular line of clothing called No Fear. They had one shirt that corrected Malcom’s quote: “He who dies with the most toys still dies.” The people working for the secular clothing company were considerably more biblical than Mr. Forbes. They recognized that regardless of how much a man has, he can’t “add a single hour to his span of life,” as Jesus said (Matthew 6:27). The No Fear clothing company also recognized that we can’t take any of our toys or possessions with us because if we could, then the one who died with the most toys would be the winner. Malcolm Forbes makes me think of the parable of the rich fool. They both lived only for this life: The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?” And he said, “I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’” But God said to him, “Fool!This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God (Luke 12:16-21). The rich fool’s harvest was so great that he ran out of room to store it. As a farmer, because his crops are money, it’s like he has more money than he knows what to do with. How would you like to have this problem? Believe it or not, it was a big problem for him! He didn’t understand stewardship and that anything he had ultimately belonged to God and was meant to be used for His glory. Everything Comes From God Some things are more challenging to be viewed as coming from God. For example, if you study for a degree, it’s hard to say, “God gave this to me” because you feel like you earned it. The same can be said if you’re faithful at work and get promoted, practice an instrument and become an accomplished musician, or train for a race and win. But seeing God’s hand in them is easier with some other things. For example, we have nothing to do with where and when we are born. We are expecting our eleventh child, and we see God’s hand in each birth because we can’t create life. Only God can do that. One more thing we should view as coming from God is a good harvest, or “land [producing] plentifully.” Although I haven’t been a farmer, I know it’s a profession that greatly depends on circumstances outside our control. My father-in-law, Rick, is a farmer. Katie says she remembers growing up watching her father stand at the window, looking at the clouds with concern after he had cut the alfalfa because the rain would ruin his crop. One of the elders I serve with is a farmer. Over the years he has asked people to pray for his crops because he knew that ultimately, the crops were in God’s hands—He must provide and withhold the rain at the right times, as well as warm the earth and make the seed grow: “God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:7). Farmers can do all the right things, but if God doesn’t bless their efforts, the land won’t produce plentifully. The farmer asked, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?” This is a good question, and there are many good answers, such as, “Because God gave me such a great crop, I’ll give back to Him! I’ll donate to the temple, the synagogue, the poor, widows, or orphans.” But he didn’t come up with any good answers. Instead, he thought only about one person: himself. Wise In the World’s Eyes, Bu

God personifies temptation as a harlot in Proverbs 7. The chapter gives us one of the greatest pictures of temptation in Scripture. The harlot pursues the young man the way temptation pursues us. The chapter also gives us one of the greatest pictures of the foolishness of giving in to temptation. The young man should have resisted the harlot like we should resist temptation. Here are three ways to resist temptation from Proverbs 7:6-9. Table of contentsTo Resist Temptation, Don’t Take the First StepSome Sins Don't Require Taking StepsThe Steps David Took to Commit Adultery with Bathsheba"When He Fell, He Didn't Fall Far"To Resist Temptation, Guard Your HeartCounsel for Parents Who Want to Help Their Children Guard Their HeartsCounsel for Young Men and Young Women Who Want to Guard Their HeartsCounsel for Children Who Have Parents Who Help Them Guard Their HeartsTo Resist Temptation, Stay in the LightWanting to Hide in Darkness Starts at a Young AgePursue the Light https://youtu.be/9BlInZgE7lQ Here are three ways to resist temptation from Proverbs 7:6-9. The young man should have resisted the harlot like we should resist temptation. God is a visual teacher. He wants us to have pictures in our minds. Think of how God had prophets use object lessons in the Old Testament so the people had images of the preached truths. Think of the poetic language used throughout the Bible, such as: Exodus 19:4 I bore you on eagles’ wings. God didn’t literally carry Israel with eagles, but this creates wonderful imagery of him swooping in to save his people from Egypt. Psalm 6:6 Every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. David wasn’t literally lying on a soggy bed of tears, but it creates the imagery of his sleeplessness and sorrow. Think of the way Jesus taught in parables, causing people to picture: A sower sowing seed A friend coming in the middle of the night A king throwing a wedding for his son A greedy farmer who kept building barns for his crops. This creates pictures that help us understand spiritual truths more easily. God does the same thing in Proverbs 7. He personifies temptation as a harlot. This chapter gives us three things: The harlot gives us one of the greatest pictures of temptation in Scripture. Because temptation can be so strong, God wants us to have an equally strong picture of how terrible it is. The harlot pursues the young man the way temptation pursues us. The foolish young man gives us one of the greatest pictures of the foolishness of giving in to temptation. The young man should have resisted the harlot like we should resist temptation. The end of the chapter gives us one of the most dramatic pictures of the danger of giving in to temptation. The harlot killed the young man like sin kills us. James 1:14 says, "Each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his own desire." "When he is lured" is one word in Greek, exelkō, which is a metaphor for the seduction of a harlot. In other words, when James wants to describe temptation enticing us, he uses the imagery of a harlot. We get to see what that looks like in this chapter. What is temptation? Some synonyms for ‘tempt’ are: allure, attract, entice, seduce, and tantalize. Each word generates an emotional picture. We are allured by the temptation. We are attracted to it, enticed by it, seduced by its seeming pleasure, tantalized by the fantasy of what it would be like. Dangers Men Face by Jerry White, 1997, p. 80 If you didn’t know better, you would think Jerry is describing a harlot enticing someone versus temptation enticing us. Because we are dealing with a harlot, there’s lots of application for young men, but because the harlot personifies temptation, and we all face temptation, there is application for all of us. That’s why the sermon title is “Three Ways to Resist Temptation” versus “Three Ways for Young Men to Resist Harlots.” When we are tempted, we should have this chapter's strong, sobering imagery to help us resist. To Resist Temptation, Don’t Take the First Step Proverbs 7:6 For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice, 7 and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, A YOUNG MAN lacking sense, Proverbs 7:8 passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house Proverbs 7:9 in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness. The young man is “Simple” and “Lacking sense,” which are both ways of saying he is foolish and lacking wisdom. He shows us what not to do. The harlot has a “corner” because harlots have corners. For most of today’s harlots, it is a corner of the Internet. “Her house” is where she lures her victims. This is the website she wants young men to click on. The young man ends up with the harlot, but his sin didn’t “just happen.” He wasn’t walking along, tripped and fell, and suddenly found himself with a harlot. He took numerous steps to sin: He went to her corner. He took

In 1 John 2:12-14 progressive sanctification is divided into three stages: children, young men, and fathers. Twice, the verses mention young men overcoming the evil one. They do so by being spiritually strong, being in God’s Word, being self-controlled, and resisting the harlot in Proverbs 7. Table of contentsYoung Men Overcome the Evil One By Being Spiritually StrongYoung Men Overcome the Evil One By Being in God’s WordYoung Men Overcome the Evil One By Being Self-ControlledYoung Men Are Fighting the Toughest BattleYoung Men Overcome the Evil One By Resisting the HarlotA Father's ResponsibilityYoung Men Wrongly Think Noone Sees God Sees the Good, TooFootnotes https://youtu.be/wOlsoFelGao Twice, 1 John 2:12-14 mentions young men overcoming the evil one. They must be spiritually strong and resist the harlot in Proverbs 7. Let me tell you about the different units in the Army. I will briefly break them down, starting at the brigade level: A brigade has 2-3 battalions and about 5,000 soldiers. A battalion has 4-6 companies and about 1,000 soldiers. A company has 3-4 platoons and about 200 soldiers. A platoon has 2-3 squads and about 36 soldiers. A squad has about 10 soldiers. Squads make up the platoons, companies, battalions, and brigades They are the building blocks of the Army, and they are filled with young men. We don’t send children, women, or old men to battle. We send young men. They are in the trenches and on the front lines. When a general decides to storm a beach, take a hill, or drop men behind enemy lines, he sends young men. They exert the greatest effort and make the greatest sacrifices. The greatest strength is required of them. First John 2:12-14 divides our progressive sanctification into three stages: children, fathers, and young men. It says to young men twice, "Young men have OVERCOME THE EVIL ONE." Young men are fighting the enemy. They are in the trenches and on the front line. They must exert the greatest effort and make the greatest sacrifices. The greatest strength is required of them. Maybe this is why they are listed last in the verses. Children are addressed first, then fathers, and THEN young men, versus children, young men, and fathers as expected. Maybe John addresses them last because the most is expected of them, and he wants to give them the most attention: 1 John 2:13b I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. 1 John 2:14b I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. Young men know more than the gospel basics of children, but they don’t yet have the deep knowledge and understanding fathers have.76 Three things are said to young men, but only one thing is said to them twice, once in verse 13 and again in verse 14: they “have overcome the evil one.” It seems that if you are wondering when you move from being a child to being a young man, it is when you have victory over temptation. And this could be why some people spiritually remain children: they don’t overcome sin. Now, there must be some balance because none of us stop sinning completely. I think the balance is young men have victory over life-dominating sin. They still sin, but not habitually, or it does not dominate them. Let’s talk about each thing said to young men so we can equip them to overcome the evil one. Young Men Overcome the Evil One By Being Spiritually Strong Because we are talking about young men, we immediately think of physical strength, and that’s probably part of it. Hopefully, you young men are using your strength and energy in positive, productive ways, not wasting your time on frivolous activities. But spiritual strength is even more in view. And there is a relationship between a young man’s spiritual strength and – as it says – “the Word of God abiding in [him].” God’s Word is the source of a young man’s spiritual strength. Young men can’t be spiritually strong if the Word of God does not abide in them. Notice the statement about young men overcoming evil; one follows the statement about the Word of God abiding in them. In other words, the Word of God allows them to overcome the evil one. Young Men Overcome the Evil One By Being in God’s Word Psalm 119:9 How can a YOUNG MAN keep his way pure? By guarding it ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from YOUR COMMANDMENTS! 11 I have stored up YOUR WORD in my heart, that I might not sin against you. We’re talking about young men. It doesn’t say, “How can a child, father, old woman, or young woman keep their way pure.” It’s not that these people don’t need God’s Word, but when we’re talking about being “keeping [our] way pure,” or say we’re talking about purity, God speaks right to young men. We see the importance of God’s Word for young men to be spiritually strong and pure. There are many reasons young men should abide in God’s Word, as 1 John 2:14 says: So they move from being children to young