The Tabernacle Today

I Am Third - Matthew 19:16-30The “I am third” attitude that Coach Bill Easton impressed on Gayle Sayers and that John Ferrier also lived life by is exactly the attitude that Jesus wanted to impress on the ‘man like us’ we meet in today’s passage.Many of those who have ‘accepted Jesus’ don’t expect God to have much input in their lives. On some Sundays they will give Jesus a little of their ‘spare’ time and resources. They are first in their own lives; Jesus is just in the background for a little emotional support and hell insurance.Matthew 19:16-30A man trusting his own goodness asks Jesus how to go to Heaven - V. 16-17aJesus knew the first thing a good person has to be confronted with is that they are not good people in Heaven’s eyes, they are sinners in need of the Savior (Matthew 7:11; Romans 3:23-24; Romans 6:23).If we could hear Jesus’ tone in verse 17, we’d understand that Jesus was communicating 2 things – the man wasn’t as good as he thought he was, and the God who is by definition good was standing before Him!Jesus exposes the man’s “I am first” attitude - V. 17b-26The commands Jesus includes are all the horizontal commands on human relationships, called the second table of the Ten Commands (decalogue), with the summary statement to “love your neighbor as yourself.”The commands Jesus leaves out are the vertical commands on relationship with God, called the first table of the Ten Commands, with the summary statement to “Love God with all your heart.”God is supposed to be first, others second, and ourselves third. Jesus showed the man from the second table of the Ten Commands that this man didn’t put others before himself, let alone God first. Jesus’ statement in verse 21 merely exposes that the man is unwilling to put God first.Do you grasp how what Jesus says to this man in verse 21 is what He says to every person here? Will you now by faith change your mindset from “I am first” to “I am third,” with Jesus truly being the Lord of all in your life.For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul? - Matthew 16:26Verse 25 lets us know the disciples were astonished at Jesus’ words that outward prosperity doesn’t necessarily mean someone is right with God.When the great reversal comes, putting Jesus first will have been worth it! - V. 27-30Here as elsewhere (Matt. 6:20) Jesus promises that those who live with “I am third” faith will be richly rewarded in the ages to come (1 Cor. 3:11-15).The word for “new world” in verse 28 is palingenesia (new genesis!). It could be a reference to either the coming 1,000 year reign of Christ (Rev. 20) or the new earth (Rev. 21-22) or BOTH. Jesus’ point is that any sacrifices we make now as “we are third” will be more than compensated on the other side of this present age.Repent, therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom Heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets long ago. - Acts 3:19-21

The Purpose of Marriage - Matthew 19:1-15The practice of the father of the bride ‘giving away’ the bride goes all the way back to the first 2 chapters of the Bible, Genesis 1-2. We will see Jesus talk about it in today’s passage!Where is one of the biggest places we get to practice giving and receiving forgiveness? Within our marriages!As we look at Jesus’ response to the Pharisees, we are going to see Jesus model for us how to respond to all the “What about this issue,” or “what about that issue” questions that people ask us to weigh in on.Jesus teaches on the purpose of marriage - V. 4-6I love Jesus’ question, “Have you not read?” He’s saying, “Let’s go back to the Bible, and before talking about what’s a sin against God’s design, let’s clarify God’s design and purpose for marriage and sexuality!”In ‘incorporating’ the first marriage in Genesis 1-2, God gave us the purpose of marriage and family. Every marriage starts a new family that is intended to help each other and any children they might have flourish and become responsible contributors to God’s world.Jesus teaches on divorce - V. 7-9In verse 7 they were referring to Deut. 21:1-4, where Moses instructed a man determined to divorce his wife to write out a certificate saying the divorce was not her fault. This was to protect her in those ancient times. This is one of the times in the Law of Israel God regulated what he didn’t condone (see Mal. 2:13-17) to protect those who were most vulnerable.Jesus’ words in verse 9 mean that the two spouses were supposed to be together “as long as they both shall live.” To jump to another relationship without clear biblical grounds is to sin against your marriage vows.In addition to adultery as grounds for divorce and presumably remarriage 1 Corinthians 7:15 allows divorce in cases where one spouse abandons their vows, and many pastors like me would include abuse under that.Jesus’ disciples understand how serious marriage is - V. 10-12In verse 11 Jesus makes clear he expects His disciples to apply God’s design in their lives – “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given” – Jesus’ disciples.In verse 12 Jesus is using eunuch as a euphemism for being celibate, the Christians commitment to only have sex within their own marriage between one man and one woman.In every age God’s plan for human sexuality has been mocked and ridiculed by those who reject it. But Christians know that obedience to God in this area will lead to greater fulfilment than giving in to sexual temptation. Some have learned that because of the consequences sin in this area has brought into their life and relationships.Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor people who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God. - 1 Cor. 6:9-11

Psalm 91 WorksheetPsalm 91 uses wonderful poetry for believers to express their confidence that the LORD sovereignly protects and delivers those who are His! We call a Psalm a Messianic psalm when in part or the whole it expresses something that only Israel’s coming Messiah Jesus could fulfill. What I am cautiously calling a “Millennial” Psalm contains aspirations that won’t be completely _____________________ until Jesus reigns on earth as described in Revelation 20.For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the LORD, they shall inherit the earth…But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. -Psalm 37:9, 11 The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years. YET THEIR BOAST IS ONLY LABOR AND SORROW; but it is soon cut off, and we fly away. -Psalm 90:10 After we read Psalm 91 you will love it and find yourself praying that your loved ones will be enveloped with “Psalm 91 protection.” We are invited to ask the Sovereign God to be _____________ us and protect us “in trouble” (verse 15).The eternal _________________________ we have in God our refuge V. 1-24 different names for God are given in verses 1-2: Most High (Elyon); Almighty (Shaddai); LORD (YHWH); God(Elohim). He is over all! He is All-powerful! He AM, and He enters into ______________ with His people. James 4:8 Matthew 11:28Make sure you _____________________ your trust in God like the Psalmist – He is “MY refuge,” “MY fortress,” I trust unreservedly in Him!Our specific hopes for God’s ___________________________ for God’s people V. 3-13The word for pestilence is deber (H1698), which occurs 49 times. Among other things this word would relate to plagues and ________________________. I like how he describes the refuge we have in God in such wonderful relational terms. Our refuge is as strong as the most fortified brick castle, yet as warm and ____________________ as being at “grandmom’s” house! What is the difference between a shield and a buckler?Many times the fear of something happening is as debilitating as the thing itself can be. A _______________ walk with the LORD can deliver us from the fear that keeps us from getting on with life. For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind. -2 Tim. 2:7Verses 7-8 must be understood in light of all the Psalms that have made clear that trouble does come to faithful believers (Psalm 90:10) yet God is in control and we will be with believers forever (Psalm 23). The very ________________________ Psalm speaks of the wicked flourishing now but being destroyed (92:7), and the righteous future flourishing (92:12-13). Verses 9-10 will reach their _________________________ fulfilment during Christ’s anticipated millennial kingdom (Isaiah 11:1-12).According to Psalm 91:11-12, God’s protection includes the activity of ministering ___________________!Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation. -Hebrews 1:14 God Himself gives eternal _________________________ V. 14-16How many times does the word “will” occur in verses 14-16?________ + 2 more times it is implied.If you set your love on God, what will He do for you according to verse 14?If you call on God, what will He do for you according to verses 15-16?

Forgive From the Heart - Matthew 18:21-35When the child of God Looks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of God,They are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of God For the glory of God!-Warren WiersbeReceiving and giving forgiveness does for Christians what oil does for a car, it lubricates our relationships, reduces friction, prevents overheating by cooling us off, prevents harmful deposits from building up in us.Matthew 18:21-35Forgiveness goes beyond relational ‘score keeping’ - V. 21-22Peter had already learned that Rabbi Jesus was more loving than other rabbis. Peter probably thought he was being generous by suggesting the new number of 7 times!In saying forgive seventy-seven times, Jesus wants His followers to go beyond keeping track of offenses to cultivating a spirit of forgiveness based on the forgiveness they have received from God.Believers have been forgiven an incalculable sin debt - V. 23-27“On the Day I settle accounts, I will hold them accountable for their sin.” - Exodus 32:34Just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. - Hebrew 9:27A denarius (v. 28) was a coin worth a day’s pay; 100 denarii would be worth about 3 months pay; A talent was a huge sum of money, worth about 6,000 denarii; 10,000 talents would be worth about 60,000,000 denarii.“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” - Tim KellerThose who have been forgiven so much go on to forgive others - V. 28-35Jesus’ point is crystal clear: He expects those who have become Christians by receiving His forgiveness to forgive others from their heart.Practical Pastoral advice to those struggling to forgive others:Remember that there are two realms of forgiveness, the vertical (before God), and the Horizontal (before men). Before God forgiveness must always happen, readying us to act before men when asked (Luke 17:3-4).Forgiveness doesn’t mean you condone what they did.Forgiveness doesn’t mean there are no consequences for their actions.Forgiveness doesn’t always mean you will have ongoing relationship.Motivations for the Christian to forgive:Christians extend forgiveness because of how much God has forgiven us.Christians forgive as an act of obedience for the glory of God.Christians forgive to keep themselves from the effects of unforgiveness.

Psalm 90 WorksheetThis is the first Psalm in Book 4 of the Psalms (Psalm 90-Psalm 106). The title says this is “A Prayer of Moses the man of God.” That means this Psalm is the _____________________ Psalm in the Bible. Moses’ _____________________________ V. 1-11Verses 1-2 use beautiful _____________________ (chiastic structure) to state that the eternal God existed before the creation He made. Having established that the infinite God stands above time, in verses 3-4 Moses speaks of God’s sovereignty over finite man, whose earthly life is ___________________ by time and space. The words turn and return in verse 3 come from the same Hebrew word, a play on words that is complimented in verse 13. Because our _____________________ are finite and will ‘return’ to the ground, our only hope is God ‘returning’ to us! But beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but all come to repentance. -2 Peter 3:8 Verses 5-6 bear down on the _____________________________ nature of man’s earthly life. All of the ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ aspects of our lives are because of what happened in Genesis 3 – sin and death entering the world. Moses reminds us of the ‘___________________ of sin’ in verses 7-9. Scripture often presents the consequences and then reminds us of the ___________________. Until we are saved we are under God’s wrath because we are sinners by nature and by choice (John 3:36; Gen. 15:6).Verse 10 demonstrates the truthfulness of the Bible. Moses died at 120 years of age (Deuteronomy 34:7). But the Spirit led Him to accurately state the ______________________________ lifespan of humans in our post-flood world. In 2023 the average life expectancy worldwide was 73.33 years.What great hymn do we get from verse 10? ___________________________ He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, and He will remove the disgrace of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken. And it will be said on that day, Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. -Isaiah 25:8-9 (NASB 2020)Verse 11b could be literally translated Reverence due, wrath extracted. From that we gather that each of us has a ‘glory deficit’ before God. There is the glory our lives could have brought the Lord, and there is the actual amount we have brought Him, and there is a VAST ______________ between the two. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. -Romans 3:23Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. -Romas 3:24Romans 3:22 says the righteousness of God is only credited to us when we place our faith in Jesus, just like Genesis 15:6 said. Moses’ _______________________________ V. 12-17Verse 12 is a great verse about making sure we plan our days around God’s ________________ for our lives. Learning to number our days helps us say ‘yes’ to what God wants us to say ‘yes’ to and ‘no’ to what God wants us to say ‘no’ to.I love the verbs in verses 13-15, what Moses ask God to do to ‘________________________’ godly living – Return; Have compassion; Satisfy us; Make us glad! Don’t spend too much time regretting past inaction for the Lord. He has you in a place of faith and seeking Him now, and He is more than capable of replacing wasted days with days of _________________ and impact. I will restore to you the years that the swarming locusts have eaten. -Joel 2:25What a great prayer to end a great Psalm – As we prioritize godly living and choices in the time we have left we ask God to establish the work of our hands, really to establish what we do for Him for His glory!

Helping Each Other Deal With Sin - Matthew 18:15-20God doesn’t stop working in our lives when we first trust Jesus. He puts His Spirit inside believers at the moment of their conversion, helping them grow in Christ. And He also puts believers in local churches so we can help each other grow and be faithful and fruitful followers of Christ.Having dealt with the vertical realm of our sin before God, and having left the sin of non-Christians for God Himself to judge, Jesus now turns to the horizontal realm of relational sins between fellow Christians.Christians follow 3 steps in dealing with sin in the local church:Step 1: One person talks to another, face to face - V. 15“For whoever does the will of My Father in Heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” - Matthew 12:50So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. - Matthew 5:23-24Discipleship and discipline are 2 sides of a coin, both meant to help believers. Note from verse 15 the purpose is to help our brother or sister in their walk with Christ – “If he listens to you, you have won your brother.”Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:1-2The rebukes of the righteous should always be a precious ointment, sweet and gentle; never should they break the head. - Charles SpurgeonStep 2: The two talk with the help of another one or two - V. 16I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers? - 1 Cor. 6:5I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. - Philippians 4:2-3Many of the trials of our spiritual life are preventable; if we indulge a sin we invite a sorrow. - Charles SpurgeonStep 3: When sin is not repented of, go to the church and/or its leaders - V. 17‘Heathen…’ represents those who rebel against God and therefore exclude themselves from Christian fellowship.’ - David Jeremiah“You should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.” - 2 Corinthians 2:5-8Can step 3 be fulfilled by a congregation delegating to its spiritual leaders step 3? Yes, and our church does in its bylaws.As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is delf-condemned. -Titus 3:10-11Do some things go straight to step number 3 – yes, and sometimes even skip that one.Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. - Romans 13:1-2Jesus delegates authority to local churches (and their leaders) to act - V. 18-20Relationships in the church are governed by 3 submissions:Submission to God and His will as stated in His word (1 John 1:5-9)Mutual Submission to one another as each of us is committed to walking in the truth of God’s word (Ephesians 5:21)Submission to our leaders as they lead us in biblically faithful ways (Hebrews 13:17).Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power in its working. - James 5:16

Be Like a Child Again - Matthew 18:1-14Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. - Ephesians 4:22-24Jesus begins this chapter on living in community with other believers by making sure we understand what is actually required for us to get into Heaven and His desire for us to bring others there with us.The importance of a childlike faith - V. 1-5Before we look at what Jesus said to them, note from verse 2 that when Jesus called the child, the humble child came to Jesus without hesitation, ready to do whatever Jesus asked.They were arguing about which of them would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus let them know that if they didn’t change their attitude and become like a child, they wouldn’t even be in Heaven.What do proud, self-promoting people need to do to make sure they are going to Heaven? They need to make a u-turn from self-focus and humbly trust Jesus the way a child trusts a reliable parent with total dependence.Remember that humility is not the opposite of pride, it is the u-turn you make from glorifying yourself to glorifying God. Christians are called to glorify God. Humility is the u-turn you make to get on with glorifying God. Humbles yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up! - James 4:10Don’t cause believers to stumble (including yourself) - V. 5-9In verses 6-9 Jesus deals with the sin, offenses, and stumbling blocks that keep ourselves and others from coming fully to Christ. He uses some form of the Greek word scandalon 6 times in those 4 verses.Sin in our lives and toward other people must be dealt with so we don’t scandalize the gospel of Jesus Christ!In a sinful world there are going to be stumbling blocks – but don’t you add to them – inside these church walls, or in your home’s walls, or anywhere.Cutting sinful things out of your life won’t save you, but it will show your faith is real and help you be a faithful and fruitful follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus makes clear here that refusal to get serious about sin in your life may indeed mean you are bound for Hell.“The two great dangers of willful sin are the continual hardening of your heart and how it diminishes your sense of the Holy Spirit’s presence.” - Thomas MantonSpiritually rescue as many children (and others) as possible - V. 10-14I believe verse 10 is teaching us that those who will believe have 1 or more guardian angels who God dispatches to minister to us as we move toward the day we become believers.Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? - Hebrews 1:14The question is not whether those in Heaven desire children and lost souls to be saved. The question is how committed God’s believers on earth are to their salvation.I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents! - Luke 15:10Since Heaven is obviously so committed to reaching children, will you continue to help this Baptist Tabernacle reach children and youth and their families by praying, giving, and serving as able?

Entrusting Your Life to Jesus - Matthew 17:14-27All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. - 2 Tim. 3:16-17All the Scriptures were perfectly written between 1500 BC & 100 A.D. But the printing press wasn’t created until A.D. 1455. That means every fragment and copy of the Bible was hand-copied before the printing press.Why we can fully trust that the Bible we have from copies is TRUE:Tens of thousands of copied manuscripts, unlike any ancient document.Remarkable consistency across 2 MILLION pages of biblical text.Understandable differences as copies were made over centuries.Earliest texts to help clarify what the original text said.In today’s text we are going to see Jesus interact with people during some very frustrating moments in life. We will see Him exhort us all with words and deeds that show we can entrust our lives to Him.Matthew 17:14-27Disciples have to entrust family member’s health to Jesus - V. 14-18Jesus’ words in verse 17 seem harsh at first, but remember that He had just been up on the mountain and got to interact with ancient saints known for great faith and focused living for God. But now he’s back with disciples caught up in unbelief and petty arguing.Mark 9:21-24 lets us know that Jesus can do anything we ask Him to do. We can approach Him with full confidence that if healing now is His will, it will happen. But if you struggle to believe that, use this father’s words to voice your prayer to Jesus – “Lord I believe; help my unbelief.”Disciples have to entrust their frustrations to Jesus - V. 19-21When you are frustrated and ‘in the flesh’ sin blocks you from focused prayers and successful ministry to others. You are blocked from trusting God and entrusting your situation to God.“If I regard iniquity (sin) in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” - Ps. 66:18The key to faith is not the amount of it but the object of it. What confidence our faith in Jesus brings! If it is His will for the mountain of our circumstance to move, He will say ‘Yes’ to our prayer. If He says ‘No’ or ‘Wait,’ we can be confident the no will be for a greater ‘Yes.’“Even a small amount of faith can move a mountain, assuming that the move is in God’s will.” - David JeremiahDisciples have to entrust what distresses them to Jesus - V. 22-23Suffering and death are not the worst things that will happen to a believer – failure to live by faith in the midst of our circumstances is. Prosperous circumstances and things going our way often keep us from growing faith.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 4:1-2Disciples have to entrust their finances to Jesus - V. 24-27With all the travel and experiences Peter must have been physically and emotionally exhausted when he got home to Capernaum. And what does he encounter there? The tax man!This tax was the Temple tax going all the way back to Exodus 30. Men over 20 years of age were to pay this tax every year for the upkeep of God’s house in Jerusalem.Knowing all things, including what Peter was feeling, verse 25 says Jesus spoke to him first. Jesus knew Peter needed encouragement in this time of distress, and He gave it to Peter. He knows you and I need it too!Jesus is saying He is the Son of God here. Prince’s don’t have to be taxes in their father’s house. Since Jesus is the Son of God, He doesn’t need to pay taxes to support His Father’s house!A stader was worth 4 drachma, enough to pay off their tax bill and model good citizenship.

Only Jesus - Matthew 17:1-13When the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren WiersbeJesus said some of them would get to see Him as the glorified Son of Man - 16:27-28Today’s passage fulfills what Jesus spoke of in 16:28 – Jesus’ transfiguration was a preview of His coming Kingdom spoken of in Dan. 7!Jesus’ ‘inner circle’ got to see Him as the glorified Son of Man - 17:1-2The word for transfigured is the word metamorpoo (G 3339), which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. It means to change from one form into another, to transform (see Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18).Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we KNOW that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure. - 1 John 3:2-3Jesus brings together saints from different ages - 17:3Moses was the great lawgiver and Elijah was the great prophet. Together they represented the Law and the Prophets (the entire O.T.) that testified that the Messiah was coming to deal with sins and rule on earth.And behold, two men were talking with Him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. - Luke 9:30Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure – for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. - Rev. 19:7 (see also Dan. 12:3)God the Father sets Peter straight! - 17:4-6For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. - Mark 9:6Peter’s problem was that he was elevating Moses and Elijah to equal status with Jesus, and diminishing the glory due Jesus alone!You may remember that when Moses met with God on Mount Sinai clouds of thick darkness surrounded him (Ex. 20:21; Deut. 4:11); but here it is a bright cloud that envelopes them (The dark cloud represented the imposing Law, while this bright cloud represented the hope of the gospel).Jesus alone raises His disciples up - 17:7-8Jesus keeps teaching His disciples - 17:9-13We were eyewitnesses of His Majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, and the Voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My Beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very Voice borne from Heaven, for we were with Him on the holy mountain. - 2 Peter 1:16b-18And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14 (see also 1 John 1:1-3)What should our response to Jesus’ transfiguration be?When the Lord Jesus is revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. - 2 Thessalonians 1:7b-8Jesus doesn’t want to save you by just scaring you to death at the thought of judgment. He wants you to respond to His lovingkindness!Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? - Romans 2:4Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing. - 2 Tim. 4:8

The Cross Centered Life - Matthew 16:21-28“The chief danger that confronts the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, heaven without hell.” - William Booth (1878-1912)In today’s passage we will see Jesus rebuke Peter for ‘Satan-like’ thinking, and clarify that before the Messiah rules the world from Jerusalem He first must die on the cross for the sins of the world. Jesus also makes clear that all believers also have a cross to bear before they go to Heaven.Matthew 16:21-28In the next chapters we will see Jesus make a “bee-line” for the cross. But first He needed His disciples to understand 2 things – Who He is, and what He is going to do in this ‘first coming.’Jesus emphatically declares His coming death and resurrection - V. 21All Israel was obsessed with the prophetic passages about the Messiah being the King who would rule righteously from Jerusalem. They had minimized passages about Him dying for sinners and being pierced.Jesus states verse 21 about 6 months before it happened. Now that they knew He was the Messiah, they needed to understand what that meant. This is the first of 5 times Jesus explicitly states His coming ‘passion.’“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:28And 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 for a firstborn. - Zechariah 12:10Peter rebukes Jesus, which is never a good idea! - V. 22-23Like so many of us, Peter could not see anything good come from suffering and death, and he was going to do everything he could to keep Jesus from dying. In a way he was doing what Satan had done in chapter 4 – tempting Jesus to avoid the cross He was predestined to die on.Peter had just been congratulated for being a model witness to the truth of who Jesus is, but almost instantly had to be rebuked for putting what he wanted before God’s will. Let this be a challenge to you: Don’t rest on past laurels if you are presently out of God’s will!Jesus emphatically declares that believers also have a cross - V. 24-27What does it mean to deny yourself?It means to say ‘no’ to your agenda cancelling God’s agenda for you.What does it mean to take up your cross?It means to say yes to God’s Kingdom agenda aligning your agenda for you.What does it mean to follow Jesus?It means to live every area of your life with relational faith in Jesus.I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ 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 2:20Christians embrace the “Cross-centered” life. They evaluate everything in light of God’s word and will. They put what God wants for their life ahead of what they want for it. Ironically, they experience more peace, joy and purpose than those who constantly put themselves first.If you don’t really love Jesus and the things of Jesus, Heaven would be Hell for you. Jesus is what makes Heaven Heaven, and if its not Him you want, you don’t want to go to Heaven. If what you really love is the things related to sin, Hell is where you belong, with the Devil and his demons.“Until sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet.” - Thomas Watson

Confessing Your Faith in Jesus - Matt. 16:13-20“Worry is misuse of your imagination.” - Mark GregstonIn the next chapters we will see Jesus make a “bee-line” for the cross. But first He needs His disciples to understand 2 things – Who He is, and what He is going to do in this ‘first coming.’Christ enters Caesar’s city, “the gates of Hell” - V. 13aThis city was built to honor Caesar Augustus, who had died in AD 14. There was a Temple there to worship him. They had coins with his face on them: Some said “Caesar is Lord,” others proclaimed him the Son of God.The crowds don’t really understand who Jesus is - V. 13b-14The Son of God, the Creator of mankind had become a man, and He liked calling Himself the Son of Man. That He is referring to Himself is clear from verse 15 when He says, “But who do you say that I am?”Jesus wants to make sure His disciples do understand - V. 15-16You in verse 15 is in the plural. Jesus is addressing all twelve of the disciples before Him!In contrast to the dead and impotent gods and idols around them in Caesarea Philippi and the world, Peter declared that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the LIVING God!Unless you believe that I AM, you will die in your sins. - John 8:24If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:9Three things that are true of all believers - V. 17-20True believers have been blessed by God - V. 17No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him. And I will raise him up at the last day. - John 6:44True believers are part of God’s great church - V. 18Jesus was probably smiling as He made a play on words in verse 18. Peter is Petros, one small rock. Petra is a rock mass. Peter the rock would be part of a larger Petra rock, the foundation of which is Jesus Himself. True believers have authority to represent Christ - V. 19Verse 19 is in the singular, specifically referring to Peter as a key leader in the early church. But in Matthew 18 in the second reference to the church Jesus makes clear this kind of authority is for churches full of believers. Believers possess delegated authority to act as Christ would if He was physically here (Matt. 28:18-20). Rabbis used the terms binding and loosing to speak of what was permissible according to the law. Christians now have the authority to evaluate all things by the Word of God alone, not the words of popes or preachers who aren’t speaking biblical truth.“It is the church on earth carrying out Heaven’s decisions, not Heaven ratifying the church’s decision.” - Albright and Mann

Beware of Fungus Among UsWhen the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren WiersbeCriswell looked at the older man and said, “Yes, brother, I agree. I think we as Christians should confess our shortcomings and sins to one another. Could we start with you?”Today we are going to see Jesus warn His disciples to avoid the false teaching and false lifestyle of both extremes – legalism and liberalism.Matthew 16:1-12The folly of asking THE sign for a sign - V. 1They disagreed fiercely with each other, but something had brought these fierce rivals together – hatred for Jesus. It still happens today!In their rejection of Jesus, they made the same mistake proud and unbelieving sinners still make – they put Jesus on trial, not realizing He is the very Judge we must all give an account to. If they didn’t repent, there would remain on the path to Hell.The foolishness of rejecting THE sign all other signs point to - V. 2-4Red sky at night, sailor’s delight; red sky in morning, sailor’s take warning!Jesus’ life, teaching and miracles were convincing signs of the times - that God’s Kingdom had come among them, just as John the Baptist and He had proclaimed. Yet they would not repent and turn to Him in faith.Jesus saying they were adulterers means they were spiritual adulterers, they were not faithful to the very God who had said He would send the Messiah. Messiah was walking among them, and they rejected Him, preferring the idols they had set up. Idolatry is spiritual adultery.Jesus Himself was the only sign they needed, and the proof would be His resurrection from the dead. To gain eternal life, we need to embrace Jesus by faith and the miracle of His resurrection. “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” - Luke 16:30The importance of thinking about the right kind of food - V. 5-12Jesus wanted them to think of spiritual things first instead of just focusing on where their next meal would come from.Leaven usually represents evil in the Bible. A little evil mixed into teaching will bring a whole lump of problems! The Pharisees leaven brought about a whole lot of legalistic attitudes and actions. The Sadducees leaven brought about a whole lot of liberal attitudes and actions.Jesus was switching them from thinking about physical needs to thinking about spiritual truths. But they did what some of us are doing right now – they tuned spiritual matters out and focused on lunch.They wanted to have their physical needs met, which Jesus had shown was no problem for Him. But first He wanted them to focus on spiritual things! They had the same lack of understanding and hard hearts we often do today. So stop focusing on physical lunch and get your spiritual meal!Don’t add unnecessary commands & expectations to God’s people like the Pharisees did with their legalism. But also don’t reject God’s word like the Sadducees did, leading them to compromise and live carnally. “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” - John 4:24If we worship in spirit without truth we can wind up sinning by ‘loose living’ like so many today who refuse to call anything sin. If we worship in truth without spirit we can wind up sinning with a ‘legalism’ like so many today who show little love as they judge others harshly.He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? - Micah 6:8

The Ultimate ProviderWhen the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren WiersbeBiblical Traits for Fathers to Pursue:PATTERN PARTICIPATOR PROVIDER PREPARERFor to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6In a very real sense Jesus is the Everlasting Father of all who are born again. Isaiah 9 tells us when the Messiah comes we will be ‘full of wonder’ at Him; we will view Him as the best Counselor; as the Mighty God in human flesh; as the perfect Father figure; and the Prince of our peace.Matthew 15:29-39Jesus the Great Participator - V. 29-31You can’t spell the word gospel without the words “GO” and “SPELL.” God uses us as we ‘go’ and ‘spell’ out the ‘good news’ to others in word & deed.But we can be like Jesus and walk beside our children, and sit down with them. We can meet all the needs we can, and trust all-powerful Jesus to do for them what we cannot.Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. - 2 Timothy 1:13Jesus is the Great Preparer - V. 32-36As dads we often rightfully have compassion on our own kids, but not others. Jesus had compassion on the crowds before Him, despite all their problems. He was calling His disciples to follow His pattern.As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. - Psalm 103:13Somebody here who was listening when I preached through Matthew 14 tell me what the problem was with their statement in Matthew 15:33.Daddies need to remember that they need Daddies too – and in Jesus we have the one Isaiah called “our everlasting Father,” and through Jesus we now have an eternal relationship with God our Father. And when we are in our latest moment of not knowing what to do we have a God who has provided what we need over and over again. So let’s trust Him!Jesus is the Ultimate Provider - V. 37-39The 4,000 daddies who couldn’t provide for their families that day were able to see Jesus provide for themselves and their wives and children. And godly men and women and children have seen Jesus provide for them ever since.

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Wash Your Heart First - Matthew 15:1-20When the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren Wiersbe“And when the one with a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, then he shall count for himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes. And he shall bathe his body in fresh water and shall be clean.” - Lev. 15:13In today’s passage Jesus criticizes those who put external man-made rules like ritual hand-washing on an equal level with biblical commands. Ironically, they often rationalized disobeying God’s clear commands, showing they had clean hands but not clean hearts.Matthew 15:1-20When man-made traditions crowd out simple faith and obedience - V. 1-9There were 2 big problems with the Pharisees approach:First, all that focus on the external non-essential ‘fencing’ of the law became so important to them that it crowded out matters of simple faith and obedience, loving God and loving others.The second problem was that their love for their external ‘fences’ became more important than dealing with their own sinful hearts that needed attention before their holy God.The biblical command to honor your parents includes fully grown children ensuring that their parents needs are well taken care of as they age.They insisted they loved God because they had washed their hands down to their elbows. Jesus said “If you loved God you would take care of your momma!”But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. - 1 Timothy 5:8The word for hypocrites (G5273) appears 17 times in the Bible, 13 in Matthew’s gospel. It’s a compound word, “An interpreter from underneath.” Actors in ancient Greek theater wore large masks, playing their part from underneath the masks.Jesus again addresses the heart of the matter - V. 10-20How did Jesus respond to the concern that the Pharisees were offended by Jesus? He basically said, “Of course they are offended – they are lost and going to Hell unless they repent!”Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte (convert), and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.” - Matthew 23:15What you put in your mouth goes through your stomach and is then expelled when you go potty. None of that natural process makes you spiritually unclean in God’s eyes, or eating with unclean hands. Spiritual uncleanness comes when sin goes undealt with in the heart.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. - Matthew 23:25-26Victory in the Christian Life comes from FOCUS:F is for Faith – Faith is the Victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).O is for Obedience – We have 100% commitment to obey the Scriptures and the Spirit.C is for Confession - When we do sin, we confess our sin, receive God’s forgiveness, and get on with faith and obedience. U is for Unite My Heart – bringing all spiritual resources to bear on loving God and hating sin.Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. - Psalm 86:11“You must always be a-killing sin, or sin will always be a-killing you.” - John OwenS is for Serve God by serving others.