When Jesus was dying he was speaking God's word

 I've had the opportunity to learn about unanswered prayer at my work these past few months. Our last session was called Holy Saturday: Where?

I learned that when Jesus was heard saying "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" and "It is finished." This is the first part of Psalm 22 and the last part:

Like an electrical cord, we need the positive and negative to flow. By holding together the hurt and the hope, power can flow through our pain. 

Jesus was meticulously quoting scripture that spoke to his hurt and hope.

Despair: (Psalm 22:1-2)

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46) Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.

Hope: (Psalm 22:3-4)

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

Despair (Psalm 22:11,16-18)

Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help...they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.

Hope (Psalm 22:27-28,30-31)

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations...Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it! (John 19:30)

Matthew 27:45-46;Psalm 22:1,31;John 19:28-30;Psalm 22

Read More ->>

King Jesus fulfills prophecy of salvation on the cross and is buried (Matt 27:32-66, Psalm 22)

 Matt 27:32-66 mirrors the gospel in Psalm 22

All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—    those who cannot keep themselves alive. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it! - Psalm 22:29-31

A) King Jesus dies at Golgotha on the Cross

32-35) Simon Cyrene carries the cross to Golgotha, Jesus refuses wine - crucified, divided clothes

 - Years ago I noticed this connection: Then David took the Philistine’s head (Goliath) and brought it to Jerusalem. (Speculation: Buried head at the place of the skull, Golgotha is Hebrew, Calvary is Greek. 1 Samuel 17:54). Genesis 3:15, Matthew 27:33, this account is in all four gospels making it meaningfully important (see Mark 15:22, Luke 23:33, John 19:17) - David chosen by God, brings victory against Goliath (1 Samuel 16-17)

36-37) Charge: "This is Jesus, The King of the Jews"

 - First recognized at his birth in Matthew 1:6, 2:1,2,3

 - Also, the city of the great king (Matthew 5:35)

 - Jesus teaching about kings: Matthew 10:18,11:8,14:9,17:25,18:23,21:5,22:2,22:7,11,13,25:34,40

 - Jesus admitted he was the King of the Jews: Matthew 27:11,12,13 and was mocked for it Matthew 27:42

38-40) two rebels one mocks of 3-day prophecy "if you are the Son of God come down"

41-42) priest, teachers, elders, "saved others, not himself, king of Israel! come down and we'll believe

43-44) "He trust God, Let God rescue 'I am the Son of God'"

 - "in the same way...heaped insults on him" (Matthew 27:41,44), For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: "The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me." (Romans 15:3)

 - Penitent robber is found only in Luke 23:39-42, we too are like him: "Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him" James 1:5

45-46) noon to 3 darkness came over all the land - "My God, My God why have you forsaken me" Psalm 22:1

47-49) "Elijah?", wine vinegar on sponge but others said no - see if Elijah comes to save him

50) Jesus cried out loud voice and gave up his spirit

 - 51-53) curtain of temple torn in two, top to bottom, earthquake, tombs opened, holy people raised to life - came out of tombs after Jesus resurrection and appeared to many

 - Centurions: "surely he was the Son of God!"

 - 55-56) Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James and Joseph and mother of Zebedee's sons. (John was there as well)

B) Jesus is buried and the tomb is secured 

57-61) Joseph Arimathea, a disciple asked Pilate for the body, a new tomb cut from rock - big stone. Mary and Mary witnessed.

62-63) next day, one after Preparation Day, Chief priests, Pharisees Pilate, remember after 3 days I will rise again

 - Jesus on the minds of unbelievers still happens today. 

64) Ordered tomb secure until third day, so disciples can't steal body - last deception worse than first

65-66) Take a guard, secure as you know how to - putting a seal on stone and posting guard.

Read More ->>

Jesus Son of man, Son of God "Lord said to my Lord" (Mark 12:36,14:62,16:19, Psalm 110:1)

Matthew 22:41-42) Jesus asked Pharisees, "what do you think about the Messiah, Whose son is he?", David

43-46) If David speaking by the Spirit calls him Lord how can he be his son? No one could answer

 - Jesus refers to Psalm 110:1, concluding the idea at the Olivet discourse (Matthew 26:64). I'd like to see Mark's account putting it all together: Mark 12:36,14:62,16:19

Mark 12:36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:

    “Sit at my right hand

until I put your enemies

    under your feet.”’

37 David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

Mark 14:60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”

They all condemned him as worthy of death. 

 Mark 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.

Read More ->>

Dying to Self, being made alive for God (Luke 9; Gal 2:20,5:24; Romans 6, 12; 1 Peter 4)

I don't know how long this website will be around so I've made a copy of this from here https://www.openbible.info/topics/dying_to_self 

Focus verse: 

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. - Romans 6:6 

How abundant eternal life starts now and lasts forever (John 4:14)

• I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20  
• And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. Luke 9:23-24
• And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. - Galatians 5:24
• Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. - John 12:24 
• Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. - 2 Corinthians 5:17 

And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. - Matthew 10:38

• What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. ... Romans 6:1-23 
• For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. - Mark 8:35 
• He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. - 1 Peter 2:24  
• So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. - Romans 6:11 

...by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. - Romans 12:1-2

• ...I die every day... Think carefully about what is right (Come back to your senses), and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all. - 1 Corinthians 15:29-34
• For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. - Philippians 1:21
• Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. - Romans 6:8 
• For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23 ESV
• He must increase, but I must decrease.” - John 3:30 
• So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ... - Philippians 2:1-30

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16 

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. - Colossians 3:3   

The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; - 2 Timothy 2:11

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. - Romans 6:11-14 

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ... 1 Peter 4:1-11 

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. - Matthew 16:24  

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? - Romans 6:3 

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. - Romans 8:12-13

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; - 2 Corinthians 4:8

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. - 1 Peter 4:1-2

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, - Revelation 1:1  

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. - Romans 6:4

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.- Galatians 6:14 

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. - Luke 14:26  

 - Side Note: People take a single verse and decide it's wrong (hate father and mother contradicts honor father and mother). We need a broader view and understand what was before it. Discovering the Light of listening and being Salt (Luke 8-14)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6 

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: ...1 John 2:1-29

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. - John 15:5 

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. - Matthew 6:33 

Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. ... - Romans 7:1-25

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ... -1 Peter 2:1-25

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. -Psalm 116:15

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. -Psalm 23:4

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” -Revelation 21:4

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 8:38-39

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. -2 Timothy 1:7

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. -Romans 8:13 

So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. -Luke 14:33

Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. - Romans 6:13

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” - John 3:3

So as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. - 1 Peter 4:2

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. -Luke 14:27

To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. - Ephesians 4:22-24

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ... -Psalm 23:1-6

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? - Luke 14:28

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” - John 11:25-26 

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12:2

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. -Colossians 3:5

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. - John 3:16-17

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. - John 15:8

For nothing will be impossible with God.” - Luke 1:37

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. - 2 Corinthians 12:9

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” -Revelation 14:13

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ... John 15:1-27

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. -1 John 2:2

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? - Luke 9:24-25

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. - Philippians 2:3-4

So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. - 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. - Ephesians 4:20-24

To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, - Ephesians 4:22

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. - Romans 6:5

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. - 1 John 2:15

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ - Philippians 3:8

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  - Romans 8:28 

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. - Revelation 12:11

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. - Matthew 22:39 

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. - Philippians 2:3

For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. - Romans 14:8 

And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. - Colossians 3:10 

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, - 1 Peter 3:15 

Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, - Titus 2:12 

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. - Philippians 2:13

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:10

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. - Matthew 22:37-39

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. - Matthew 16:25

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. - Galatians 5:16

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. - Matthew 5:7

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. - Philippians 2:8

What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! - Romans 6:15

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, - Colossians 1:24, Colossians 1:1-29

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. - Romans 6:6-7

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. - 1 John 5:4

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:9

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. - 2 Corinthians 4:16

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations. - Colossians 2:20

Read More ->>

Humble like children, poor in spirit get the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:13-29, 5:3,17)

Focus verse: 

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Big idea: Only humble people are blessed with God

Matthew 19:13-29

13-15) Jesus encouraged everyone to bring children to him, placed hands (and blessed them, Mark 10:16)

 - kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these

16-19) What good thing to get eternal life? Keep commandments regarding people. 

 - We should teach and follow these today (Deuteronomy 4:5,5:31,31:12)

20) Having done this, we still lack perfection

21) Perfection = selling possessions, giving to poor = treasure in heaven, "THEN come follow me"

 - Give up idols, keep commandments regarding God = Love the Lord your God

 - Like Caleb and Joshua (Numbers 14:24, Joshua 14:8,9), not like everyone else (Numbers 32:11)

 - Receives Jesus word with a noble and good heart (Luke 8:15), 10 types of people, those who understand binary and those who don't

 - Like the disciples (Matthew 4:19), like Matthew (Matthew 9:9–13, Mark 2:13–17, Luke 5:27–28) 

22) not like rich young ruler, sad because of great wealth (Matthew 13:22)

23-26) only small, humble people enter the kingdom of heaven, man can't be humble without God

27-29) everyone who leaves selfish life for Christ sake, receives 100 times and inherits eternal life

 - Prosperity gospel; now and forever, forever is always of greater concern. God first, then people, then work/things

 - Spiritual prosperity fulfills God's promise (Genesis 50:20)

 - Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity - no shortcuts (Proverbs 21:5)

 - Blessings of Moses, explained by Jesus (Deuteronomy 28:1-14;Matthew 5:1-19)

 - Ministry makes a difference ONLY when people follow Jesus Christ

Read More ->>

Marriage is God's idea showing us new life in Christ (Gen 2:24, Matt 19:3-12, Eph 5:21-33)

 Matthew 19

A) Marriage is God's idea between man and woman, together like Christ and the church

1-2) Galilee to Judea (about 6 hour walk), large crowd followed healed them there

3) Pharisees test him, "is divorce lawful for every reason?"

4-6) "Creator made them male and female, marriage makes them one flesh, what God joined let no one separate" Gen 2:24, Eph 5:31-32 

 - God joined us together in Christ (Eph 5:21-33)

7-9) Moses command about divorce was permitted because of hard hearts, anyone who divorces/remarries commits adultery. (Deuteronomy 24:1-4, Matthew 5:31) 

• Matthew 5:29-30) Cut out anything that causes sin in your life
• Matthew 5:31-33) divorce produces victims of adultery, don't break your oath fulfill to the Lord the vows you made
• Matthew 5:34-37) Don’t make conditional vows, simply say YES or NO

10-12) Marriage vow not acceptable? live like a eunuch for the kingdom of heaven, but if you can accept the vow.

Read More ->>

Jesus teaches about sin, its character and universality (Matthew 15:4,10-11, 16-20)

"For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’...things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them...” - Matthew 15:4,10-11, 16-20

Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, who ignored the sin that ruled their hearts while focusing closely on external religious rituals.

Sin is any word, thought, or action that does not meet the holy standards of God. Sin often starts in the eyes, how we see things. Eve saw the fruit was attractive. David watched Bathsheba, Jesus said if you look at a woman with lust. Notice Jesus is now teaching how evil thoughts lead to breaking the second half of the Ten Commandments, "honor your father and mother" "murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander"

• Sin wrecks people progressing from self to family to communities to the whole world. 
• Sin leads people to live for themselves. By nature, we are rebels against God - we omit from our priorities what he has prioritized. This leads to depression and getting stuck in sin that so easily entangles us. 
• Sin so pervades people’s hearts that without the work of the Holy Spirit to convict and deliver us, we would not understand the gospel. We would only resist God, not flee to Him.
• The depth of man’s depravity and the pervasiveness of sin makes God’s grace and Christ’s sacrifice more precious. 
• When I do not believe in the seriousness of sin, I excuse my “mistakes” and “weaknesses” but fail to see the root of my wrong thoughts and actions. Without knowing the sinful desires that permeate my inner being, I do not realize I need a Savior. I live for myself and believe I answer only to myself.
• When I believe that I have sinned and offended the Holy God, I realize that I need a Savior and cannot save myself. The blessedness of forgiveness and deliverance from the sin that entangles me is worth more than any pleasure sin affords. I welcome the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work to expose my sin and to bring me to repentance. I trust God to deliver me from slavery to sin.

It is easier to focus on the external manifestations of sin than the internal root of sin.

• This is not just society’s problem; it is also our own. Even as believers, we still struggle with sin that emerges from our hearts.
• Even when we deal with our sinful words and actions, we can fail to dig deeper and examine sinful appetites, motives, and desires lurking within us.
• What fear, unbelief, self-will, or pride is behind your sinful actions and thoughts?

God lovingly exposes our sin so that we can repent, find forgiveness, and rely on His power to overcome sin.

• God does not expose our sin to shame us but to deliver us. He reveals specific sin, not just our general sinfulness.
• How does daily life and interaction with God’s Word activate God’s purifying work in your sinful heart?
• Do you welcome the Holy Spirit’s cleansing work to expose your sin and lead you to Christ for forgiveness and deliverance?
• God loves sinners. Jesus died to set us free from the sin that holds human hearts captive. He made a way so we can enjoy unhindered fellowship with God.

Read More ->>

End of suffering (Isaiah 25-35, Rev 21:4)

 Reading the Basic Doctrines provided by BSF, preparing for OT role and training this weekend. I have a close friend who is Buddhist. A foundation of Buda is suffering caused by the ego interpreting nature as good or bad with the ultimate resolution of indifference leading to non-existence (Nirvana). This is counter the Christian understanding of the cause and destiny of suffering.  Here's an excerpt of the Christian doctrine of suffering:

Suffering is the experience of physical, mental, emotional or spiritual pain and/or distress. Suffering entered the world as a consequence of the fall of Adam and Eve and will be eternally abolished in the new heaven and new earth (Genesis 3; Revelation 21)....Some possible reasons for suffering include loving discipline, purification and/or an increased intimacy with Jesus Christ while other reasons for suffering remain mysteriously hidden (Proverbs 3:12; Romans 5:1-5; Philippians 3:7-10). Regardless of the type, purpose or reason of the suffering, no suffering is outside of God’s sovereign rule (Isaiah 45:7). Rather, God is able to use it for good (Genesis 50:15-21; Romans 8:28)...God has promised the suffering of His people will eventually end (Revelation 21:4). Until then, believers should expect to share in the suffering of Jesus Christ as a result of taking up their cross and following Him in a hostile world (Mark 8:34-35; Romans 8:17-18; Colossians 1:24).

I looked up Rev 21:4 and found references to Isaiah that made me want to understand the broader context between Isaiah 25 and 35.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Rev 21:4

He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken. - Isaiah 25:8

So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee. - Isaiah 35:10

So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee. - Isaiah 51:11

Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not wane; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will cease. - Isaiah 60:20

I will rejoice in Jerusalem and take delight in My people. The sounds of weeping and crying will no longer be heard in her. - Isaiah 65:19

Read More ->>

LORD answers the sky as it pleads for clouds, the sky answers the earth with rain (Hosea 2:21, 10:12, Luke 8:15,18)

 On three occasions today the Lord brought me to Hosea:

Hosea 10:12 I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. 

Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’

Hosea 2:21

21 “In that day, I will answer,” says the Lord.

“I will answer the sky as it pleads for clouds. And the sky will answer the earth with rain.

Luke 8:15,18

15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.

18 “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”

Isaiah 55:9-11

9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways

and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.

They cause the grain to grow, producing seed 

False prophets introduce destructive heresies, ignoring facts of wrath (2 Peter 2)

Read More ->>

Congress, electoral college, fear and the call the repent

 Reading This Is the Life!: Enjoying the Blessings and Privileges of Faith in Christ

My favorite author, Warren Wiersbe, links Job 23:10, 1 Peter 4:12-13, 3:10; Tested, refined as gold, partake in Christ suffering, exceeding joy and in my mind I continued the linking: Hebrews 12:1-3, in light of Faith (Heb 11),

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

The relevance to me is yesterday, our nation went into lockdown over a conspiracy theory that elections are not the people's will. Some Trump supporters want to overthrow the government and think that will preserve democracy. I had to flip through Fox and CNN to hear each senator speak on the topic and finally went to CSPAN, where I could listen to each side and not the pundits. Seems like our world is going crazy sometimes. 

In prayer and Bible study this morning, I realized that we live in a time where our natural instinct to lie is on steroids. Genesis 20:1-2 shows a truth about people; We go somewhere people don't know us and lie about our situation. The lie is generally partly true or previously true, but it's a defense mechanism that never works because God intervenes (Gen 20:3-7). God reveals the truth to people that help guide believers onto a righteous path, yet God's people are often slow to follow and defend themselves with wrong thinking (Gen 20:13). 

All of this brought me back to Romans 1:18-32, Diagnostics of depraved psychology and consequences. We must remember this letter to the church and have that see our current national reality:

 - We are in a time of massive adultery. Jesus in Matthew 5:28 said, "anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart." and "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. (Matthew 15:19)"

 - We are in a time of massive murder of innocents. Good resource openbible.info/topics/abortion brought me to Acts 15:28-29, "For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

Read More ->>

Promise of restoration, freedom and adoption (Matthew 11:28-30, Exodus 6:6-7)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. Exodus 6:6-7

Don't go back:  

• Gal 5:1) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
• 2 Cor 6:14) Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

Acts 15:8-11) God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

Read More ->>

God's creative Spirit and Word prepares us for eternity (Genesis 1:1-5, Hebrews 11:1-3, 2 Cor 5:5-21)

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (Gen 1:1-5)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Heb 11:1-3)

Courage in Life in view of imminent death:

• He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. (2 Cor 5:5)
• So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor 5:6-7)
• Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.(2 Cor 5:8)
• So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Cor 5:9-10)

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. (2 Cor 5:11)

• From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. (2 Cor 5:16)
• Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Cor 5:17)
• All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Cor 5:18-19)

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 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 Cor 5:20-21)

Read More ->>

Trusted life is a righteous person living by faith (Hab 2:4)

“Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith." Hab 2:4 NKJV

Reading This is the Life! by Warren Wiersbe, chapter two starts with these vereses: Habakkuk 2:3-4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38

• Romans emphasis is on the just and how lost sinners can be justified (declared righteous) before God
• Galations is on how God's people live, free from the demands of the law, depending wholly on God's grace
• Hebrews emphasis is on words by faith, found at least nineteentime in the epistle

Habakkuk contrast two kinds of people in this world, unbelieving proud and self-sufficient people who think they don't need God, and the saved people who are justified because they have trusted Christ and expreienced God's saving grace. The true Christian is saved by faith (Eph 2:8-9) and lives by faith. "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor 5:7).

 - 10 types of people, those who understand binary and those who don't

 - what is faith?

Read More ->>

Spiritual blindness steals our understanding

Isaiah 42-43 talks about this principle. Jesus talks about this as the seed falling on problematic soils. Paul explains it in

Eyes that see, ears that hear and heart that understands

Enjoy: Pastor Robert Morris – Sight – More Than Words

Read More ->>

James affirms Jesus words on who we should live to become

Reading Be Mature by Wiersbe he shows how James was influenced by Jesus, Sermon on the Mount. Having read through this makes me clear on what life leads us to.

AIM: learn about blessing in opportunity, growth, simple relationship with God, listen then do, a mirror of your soul is desire, bonus: we can impact our own desires.
 - Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

Blessing in Trials, as an opportunity for righteousness James 1:2—Matthew 5:10–12 
Trials coming from outside are a joy, we are blessed by God when persecuted for righteousness in Jesus' Name.

Grow up, live your identity in Christ - BE PERFECT James 1:4—Matthew 5:48 
"Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you." MSG
 - perfect as your father in heaven is perfect, lacking nothing

Simply ask God for wisdom, help James 1:5—Matthew 7:7–12 
Don't know what to do? Ask God who gives generous wisdom when we ask. “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need...Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get."

Listen to God's word and do what is says James 1:22—Matthew 7:21–27
 24-25 “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.

26-27 “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”

See yourself in truthfully, live rightly and faithfully - not against others James 4:11–12—Matthew 7:1–5
Don’t speak evil against each other...your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy.

Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

What you put your life into, is where your desire is James 5:1–3—Matthew 6:19–21
...greedy luxuries are a cancer in your gut, destroying your life from within. You thought you were piling up wealth. What you’ve piled up is judgment.
Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Read More ->>

Trusting in God brings courage and freedom (Proverbs 29:25, Heb 13:5-6)

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

Proverbs 29:25 NIV

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Hebrews 13:5‭-‬6 NIV

How do we trust God more? Corporate worship, brings to memory God's greatness and superiority. 

Fear of man traps us, holds us back from being authentic and true. 

What does a snare look like? Dominating others, speaking to only people who believe as you do. Staying quiet at the expense of others who would benefit from your viewpoint. 

Trusting God is going to high ground. Speaking truth in love and humility. Jesus is our example. 

Matthew 10:28, don't fear man who kill the body, God's authority and power is unlimited. 

Acts 5:29, courage to obey even when your scared. Deuteronomy 31:6, God is with you. Joshua 1:9, Heb 13:5,6, the Lord is my helper.

Read More ->>

Jesus in heaven mediates for people, making salvation and sanctification possible (Heb 8-10:18)

Focus Verses:

 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant. Heb 9:14-15

For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,

1“This is the new covenant I will make

    with my people on that day, says the Lord:

I will put my laws in their hearts,

    and I will write them on their minds.” - Heb 10:14-16, Jer 31:33

Read More ->>

Trust God to grow as we water and sow (Hebrews 6:4-12, 1 Cor 3:5-9))

It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God’s field in which we are working. Or, to put it another way, you are God’s house. Using the gift God gave me as a good architect, I designed blueprints; Apollos is putting up the walls. Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation! Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 The Message (MSG)

AIM: Salvation is certain for all you put their trust in Jesus Christ Heb 6:4-12
A) Five Tests of true faith
B) Evidence of True faith
C) Confidence of True faith

Read More ->>

Faithfulness in Bible study and teaching (Isaiah 28)

Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken. - Isaiah 28:16

Jesus is this cornerstone, Matthew 21:42, Psalm 118:22, Ephesians 2:20
Jesus explains it in Luke 20:17, It appears Luke 20 and Isaiah 28 are linked in theme.
Peter filled with the Holy Spirit explains it in Acts 4:11 and 1 Peter 2:4-7

I will test you with the measuring line of justice and the plumb line of righteousness. Since your refuge is made of lies, a hailstorm will knock it down. Since it is made of deception, a flood will sweep it away. - Isaiah 28:17

When you take up your Bible to read or teach, remind yourself that true and faithful learning from God is not merely “line upon line” or “precept upon precept” — those phrases describe the hollow learning of a people under judgment. True learning is plowing the rows, sowing the seeds, and bringing in the harvest as one whose ears have been opened to truly hear the instruction of the Lord. - Precept Upon Precept A Common (and Serious) Problem in Bible Study

...
Does a farmer always plow and never sow?
    Is he forever cultivating the soil and never planting? ...
The farmer knows just what to do,
    for God has given him understanding...
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is a wonderful teacher,
    and he gives the farmer great wisdom. (Isaiah 28:23-29)

Read More ->>

Three Days, recurring theme in the Bible for changing your heart

In my study of Acts, I found it interesting the Saul was blind for three days. Previously in Acts 8:20-23 we saw another worldly man like Saul who didn't take his experience with Jesus seriously. He believed and was baptized (Acts 8:13), but when it came time to repent (Acts 8:22), that his money would perish (Acts 8:20), he didn't want the Holy Spirit as he originally asked (Acts 8:19,24). Bitterness and captivation with sin are thoughts in the heart that keep people from God (Acts 8:23, 22b), yet God gives us other people to confess our sins and repent and be reconciled (Proverbs 28:13, 1 John 1:9, . This is what Saul does as he waits three days for Ananias.

For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. Acts 9:9

 - Three Days; blessing Gen 40:12-13, or curse Gen 40:18-19
 - Three days; darkness covered Egypt, yet Israelites had light Ex 10:21-23
 - Three days belly of the fish (Jonah 1:17), obeyed the word of the lord for three days (Jonah 3:3)
 - Son of man in the earth (Matt 12:40)
 - Feeding of 4,000  who fasted 3 days (Matt 15:32)
 - Jesus mocked for saying 3 days, Matt 26:61, 27:40, 27:63
 - This is first of seven, "three days" in Acts

When do I spend time with God to listen? What distracts me from being alone with God? How does harboring bitterness and sin or wanting fame and fortune keep me from God's presence? What wisdom can I apply from Saul's life, to spend three days fasting and remember God's word and work in my life and the live's of others?

and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]. James 5:15-16 AMP

Read More ->>