Seasonal Note: This is Three-Year Lectionary based on the Lutheran Book of Worship 3-year lectionary (for public worship), "Prayers of the Day..." (Propers), p. 13-41, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978. It is based, with only minor variations, on the Revised Common Lectionary, used by many denominations, including the Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches:
http://www.commontexts.org/
and:
http://www.commontexts.org/rcl/usage.html
The daily readings are the Propers (Lections) for the following Sunday, so that the daily devotions can prepare us for worship. Additional lections are from Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, "Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers," United Lutheran Church of America, General Rubrics VIII. Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers, p. 299 - 304, Philadelphia, 1918.
The previous 2- year Bible Study based on the Lutheran Book of Worship, Daily Lectionary for personal devotions p.179-192, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978, is available at:
http://shepboy.snow.prohosting.com
Please Note: I will post weekly by Saturday, noon, (with God's help), Pacific time (UTC-8:00) for the week of the Church Season which begins on Sunday. Please scroll down for the desired day, or save the week to your desktop/hard drive.
22 Pentecost – Sunday
First Posted October 12, 2008
Isaiah 45:1-7 -- The Commission of Cyrus;
Psalm 96 -- Call to Worship;
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5a -- Spiritual Growth;
Matthew 22:15-21 -- Paying Taxes;
Isaiah:
Isaiah prophesied that Cyrus was God's "anointed" (i.e. Messiah; Christ; both words mean "anointed" in Hebrew and Greek, respectively). The Lord had given Cyrus the power to subdue nations and kings, to open doors and gates which won't be closed. The Lord promises to go before Cyrus to level mountains, break bronze doors, and cut through bars of iron.
The Lord will give Cyrus the treasures of darkness and secret hoards, so that Cyrus may know that it is the Lord, the God of Israel, who called him by name. The Lord had called Cyrus and had given him his title for the sake of Jacob (Israel, the father of the heads of the twelve tribes), although Cyrus did not know or acknowledge God. God wants all people everywhere to know that he alone is the one true God; there is no other. He is the Creator of everything; of light and darkness, of well-being and woe.
Psalm:
Those who have accepted and experienced the Lord's salvation (of us; from eternal destruction), have a new song to sing to the Lord, to bless his name. We are called to declare his glory and his wonderful deeds to all people.
The Lord is awesome and great, above every thing or person in Creation, and his power and authority are to be respected. All other so-called "gods" are idols, the creation of human imagination and craftsmanship. But the Lord is the Creator of this entire universe! He is worthy of honor and majesty, and strength and beauty are his nature and presence. Acknowledge his glory and strength, everyone!
1 Thessalonians:
On his second missionary journey Paul took with him his protégé, Timothy, a young Christian whom Paul had met and "discipled" on Paul’s first missionary journey, in Lystra in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey) and Silas (Silvanus), whom Paul had met in Jerusalem. Silus had returned with Paul to Antioch, after the Church Council ruling on the matter of the "Judaisers" (the "circumcision party," who insisted that Christians must be obedient to the Law of Moses; see False Teachings, sidebar, top right).
During the second missionary trip with Timothy and Silas, Paul preached the Gospel for three weeks at Thessalonica in Macedonia north of Greece, and founded the first Christian Church on the European continent. The Jewish leaders were angry that Paul was converting some of the Jews and many Gentile proselytes (new converts to Judaism), and they persecuted and drove Paul out of the area.
Paul was concerned for the new Christians at Thessalonica and sent Timothy to encourage and strengthen the congregation. When Timothy returned with a good report of their steadfast faith, Paul wrote this letter to encourage and “disciple" them.
He greeted them on behalf of his fellow missionaries who had accompanied Paul on the first missionary visit, and prayed that they might have the grace and peace of God (which are only through Jesus Christ).
Paul wanted them to know that he and his co-workers were praying constantly with thanksgiving to God for the Thessalonians’ perseverance in faith, their commitment to love, and their steadfast hope that we have in Jesus Christ. They had the assurance that God had chosen them, because they had received the Gospel not only in words but in power and the Holy Spirit, with full assurance.
Matthew:
Jesus had come to Jerusalem the week before his betrayal and execution, knowing that he would be crucified (Matthew 20:17-19). The Jewish religious leaders hated Jesus because of his popularity with the people, and his teachings threatened the religious leaders’ status and authority. The Pharisees (a strict, legalistic faction of Judaism) plotted to find a way to get Jesus to say something they could use to destroy him.
The religious leaders sent their disciples and the Herodians (Jews who supported the Roman Empire and the dynasty of the Herods who governed the region) to Jesus. They addressed him as “teacher,” and said that they knew that Jesus is true, was teaching God’s ways truthfully, and regarded all people impartially, without regard for their status or position. They asked Jesus to tell them whether it was legal to pay taxes to Caesar or not. Jesus knew their evil intention and asked why they were putting Jesus to this test, and he called them hypocrites (people who pretend to be pious (devoted and religious or morally virtuous).
Jesus asked them to show him the coin used to pay the tax and they handed him a denarius. Jesus asked them whose likeness and inscription it bore and they said it was Caesar's. Then Jesus told them to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God, what belongs to God.
Commentary:
Cyrus was chosen by God to be a forerunner and illustration of the Christ. Cyrus was called and empowered to accomplish God’s purpose. Even though Cyrus did not know or acknowledge God, God knew him.
God had punished Judah, the remnant of Israel, by exiling them in Babylon for seventy years, for their disobedience of God’s Word and their idolatry. They could have avoided the punishment if they had repented and returned to obedient trust in God’s Word, but they had refused to heed God’s prophets, up to the moment of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the army of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon.
God promised beforehand to bring Judah back to the Promised Land after seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11-12), and he fulfilled that promise through Cyrus, King of Persia. Cyrus allowed the exiles to leave and return to their land, he returned to them the treasures that had been looted from their temple and he gave them authorization and money to rebuild their temple.
God intentionally chose Cyrus to prefigure the Christ. Jesus is the victorious king who defeats the worldly king, Satan, and releases the exiles Satan holds in bondage. Jesus leads them back to the Promised Land of Gods eternal kingdom.
Seventy years is a virtual life sentence for those who were adult at the time of the deportation. The Israelites who returned were not the same ones who went into exile. The Israelites were to learn to return to obedient trust in God’s Word during the time of their exile.
Likewise we are in exile in the “Babylon” of this world; we must learn to trust and obey God’s Word during our earthly “exile, and must be spiritually “reborn” and renewed by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit in order to be able to come to the Promised Land in heaven.
This is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Only Jesus gives the gift of eternal life (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). The presence of the Holy Spirit confirms our faith (obedient trust) and assures us of our salvation and eternal life. Though the indwelling Holy Spirit we experience the power of God working in and through us.
God wants us to seek, find and know God (Acts 17:26-27), which is only possible through Jesus Christ, by the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). Those who accept God’s offer of forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God’s Word) and salvation (from eternal condemnation and destruction in hell) through faith in Jesus will experience a personal relationship with the Lord. We will learn that the Lord is the one true, all-powerful God, who hears and answerers the prayers of those who trust and obey him.
The Lord will give us a new song of joy and thanksgiving. We will experience his ability and faithfulness to save and restore us, and we will gladly testify to what he as done personally for us. When we realize that all Creation and we ourselves belong to God we will give him thanksgiving and praise, and use our lives to serve him, because he is worthy.
God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey him. This lifetime is our opportunity to learn by trial and error to trust and obey God’s Word. He has designed this Creation to allow for the possibility of sin, so that we will have the freedom to choose whether to obey his Word or not. This is our opportunity to choose where we will spend eternity. God loves us and doesn’t want any one to perish eternally (John 3:16-17), but he won’t force us.
Jesus came humbly and gently and gave his life as the only sacrifice acceptable of God for our forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). How we respond to Jesus will determine our eternal destiny. There are many enemies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this world today. They hated Jesus and plotted to destroy him then, and they do so today.
The disciples of Jesus Christ cannot expect any better treatment than Jesus received in this world. Paul preached the Gospel (meaning “Good News”) of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ as a free gift of God to be receive by faith (obedient trust), and he was hated and persecuted for it.
How do you respond to Jesus? Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
22 Pentecost – Monday (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 23 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
First Posted October 13, 2008.
Psalm 1 -- Blessings of Righteousness;
The person who does not heed the counsel of the wicked, or follow the example of sinners, or associate with scoffers will be blessed. He will delight in the Word of God and will meditate on it day and night. He will be like a tree planted near a stream. He will produce fruit in the proper season, his leaves will not wither, and he will be successful in all that he does.
Not so, the wicked; they will be blown away like chaff. They will be swept away in the day of judgment; sinners will not be included among the congregation of the righteous. The way of the righteous is known to the Lord but the destiny of the wicked is eternal destruction.
Commentary:
God has alway intended from the very beginning of Creation to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and come to know God (Acts 17:26-27), and to learn, by trial and error, to live according to God's Word.
This world was created good (perfect; a paradise; Genesis 1:31). God has given us the freedom to disobey God's Word (which is the definition of sin). We have corrupted this paradise by sin. God is not going to tolerate disobedience and rebellion forever, nor at all in his eternal kingdom, or it wouldn't be paradise, so this world and we ourselves are limited by time.
God has given us his Word in the Bible and in the teaching and example of Jesus Christ, the fulfillment, embodiment, and example of God's Word, lived in human flesh in this world (John 1:1-5, 14). We are all guilty of sin (disobedience of God's Word) and fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8-10), and the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). God doesn't want anyone to perish, but for all to have eternal life with him in his kingdom in paradise (John 3:16-17; Romans 5:8). Jesus Christ is God's only provision for forgiveness of our sin and salvation from eternal death and destruction in hell (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation sidebar, top right).
We are all born physically alive but spiritually "unborn." This lifetime is our opportunity to be "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8) spiritually to eternal life by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34) only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
This lifetime is not all there is! Jesus' miracles of resurrection and his own resurrection from the dead demonstrates that there is existence after physical death. Every "born-again" Christian disciple of Jesus Christ testifies to the reality of Jesus' resurrection and eternal life, by personal experience.
We are all created as eternal beings in temporal bodies. Every thing we have in this world in this lifetime has been given to us by God. We will either learn to live according to God's will and Word, now in this lifetime, or we will live to pursue our own worldly human goals and desires, and spend eternity in misery and torment, knowing that we are eternally separated from the love and providence of God. If everything God has provided in this Creation were removed, what would we be left with? Nothing but sin and evil would remain!
We must choose whether to follow the counsel of God's Word, or what the world falsely calls "wisdom" (1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 2:1-8). It is not true that we can't know for sure whether there is a heaven and a hell, or whether there is life after physical death. When we begin to trust and obey Jesus we will experience and come to know with certainty the reality of God's kingdom and eternal life, now, in this world and in our lives (John 6:68-69). The only ones who don't know where they're going to spend eternity are those who are spiritually lost and perishing eternally.
There is a Day of Judgment coming for all of us within the span of our lifetime. We will all be accountable for what we have done in this lifetime (John 5:28-29). Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been "born-again" and will enter eternal life in the presence of the Lord in a new creation restored to paradise. Those who have rejected and refused to trust and obey Jesus will receive eternal condemnation and destruction in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
22 Pentecost – Tuesday (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 23 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
Frst posted October 14, 2008.
Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 -- Holiness;
The Lord commanded Moses to tell the congregation of Israel that they must be holy because they are the people of the holy God. They are to be just in all their affairs, not partial to either rich or poor. They are not to slander others or seek the death of a neighbor.
They are not to hate their brothers, nor quarrel with their neighbors; they are to forgive their neighbors if they have sinned against them. They are not to bear grudges against their own people. They are to love their neighbors as they love themselves.
Commentary:
God calls his people to holiness as God himself is holy (perfect in goodness and righteousness). Like a good father raises his children to have the same values, the Lord wants us to learn and practice his values and standards.
The people of the world around us don't know the Lord. What we do in daily life influences their perception of our Lord.
Jesus is the fullness and revelation of God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9). Those who have seen Jesus have seen God the Father also (John 14:7). Jesus summed up the Ten Commandments which God gave to Moses into two: to love God, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Mark 12:29-31). If we love the Lord we will keep his commandments (John 14:15).
Jesus asks how people can claim him as their Lord and not do what he says (Luke 6:46). Obedient trust in the Lord is the foundation of eternal life (Matthew 7:21-27).
Those who trust and obey Jesus, who practice his commandments and teachings will have personal fellowship with the Lord, through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17, 21). We experience his goodness, his steadfast love and faithfulness. through his Spirit within us. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
22 Pentecost – Wednesday (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 23 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
First published October 15, 2008.
1 Thessalonians 1:5b-10 -- Christian Example;
Paul and his missionary co-workers, Silvanus (Silas) and Timothy (Paul’s protégé) were examples of Christian disciples as they proclaimed the Gospel and “discipled” the believers at Thessalonica in Macedonia. And the Thessalonian Christians copied the example as the missionaries had copied the example of the Lord Jesus Christ, so the Thessalonians were copying the example set by the Lord.
The Thessalonians had received the Gospel (gospel means “good news”) “with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:6), although amidst much affliction. So the Thessalonian Christians were an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in neighboring Greece as well. So the Thessalonian Christians had not only proclaimed the Gospel in word but also by the example of their faith, and so speaks for itself. The other Christians in the region report the great welcome Paul and his co-workers received from the Thessalonians, and how they turned from idolatry to serve the true, living God; how they wait for God’s Son, whom God raised from the dead, to return from heaven to deliver us from the wrath to come.
Commentary:
Paul (Saul of Tarsus) is the prototype and example of a “modern,” “post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8), disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ, as all of us can be. Paul came to a personal relationship with Jesus after Jesus had ascended into heaven, by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). Paul was following the teaching and example of Jesus Christ which Jesus taught during his physical lifetime, as recorded in the New Testament Gospels, and personally to Paul by his indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9).
Paul was radically changed by his Damascus-road conversion (Acts 9:1-21). He went from persecutor of Christians to foremost apostle to the Gentiles. Note that Paul was “discipled” by a “born-again” disciple, Ananias, who led Paul to spiritual “rebirth” (Acts 9:10-18). Paul was then repeating the process of discipleship which Jesus had demonstrated during Jesus’ earthly ministry. Paul had “discipled” Timothy until Timothy had been “reborn” (2 Timothy 1:6), and was teaching Timothy to do the same with other disciples (2 Timothy 2:2), such as the Thessalonians, for example.
Note that Paul was not making disciples of himself, but of the Lord Jesus Christ. The goal of discipleship is to lead the “seeker” unto spiritual “rebirth” by obedient trust in Jesus Christ. Thereafter, the “born-again” disciple is guided to spiritual maturity by the indwelling Holy Spirit within him.
Paul had proclaimed the Gospel in the synagogue in Thessalonica, and some Jews were converted, with many Gentile proselytes of Judaism. This made the Jewish religious leaders jealous and angry (Acts 17:1-10). They forced Paul out of town, and they were troubling the new believers with attacks on the Gospel and on the character and motives of Paul (1 Thessalonians 2:3-6).
The Thessalonian converts had received the Gospel with great joy although it was attended with persecution from the Jews. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit the Lord comforts us and we experience his love and power to deliver us from every trial.
The example of the Thessalonian Christians was testimony, to the Gospel and their faith, among the people around them. The way they were changed was apparent and more effective than words.
When people accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ and begin trusting and obeying Jesus they receive the indwelling Holy Spirit which is spiritual rebirth. They experience a personal relationship with the risen and ascended Jesus Christ. They personally testify that Jesus is risen from death to eternal life.
Jesus has promised to return on the Day of Judgment at the end of our lifetime. He will judge the living and the dead, in both the physical and spiritual senses (1 Peter 4:5; John 5:28-29). Jesus is the standard by which all will be judged. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been spiritually “reborn” to eternal life by his indwelling Holy Spirit, and will enter God’s eternal kingdom in paradise. Those who have rejected Jesus, who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction in hell with all evil, eternally separated from the love and providence of the Lord (Matthew 25:31-46).
The Lord’s return will be welcomed by his disciples, but it will be bad news for those who have refused to be his disciples. This is the wrath that is going to come upon this Creation on the Day of Judgment (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). Only Jesus can deliver us from that wrath and eternal destruction.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
22 Pentecost – Thursday (Variable).
To be used only if there is a 23 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
First posted October 16, 2008.
Matthew 22:34-40 (41-46) -- The Great Commandment;
The Jewish religious leaders were trying to entrap Jesus in his teaching. The Pharisees sent their disciples to try to get Jesus to say something against the Roman government (Matthew 22:15-22). The Sadducees challenged Jesus regarding the resurrection (Matthew 22:23-33).
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they went together to Jesus, and a lawyer among them asked Jesus which Commandment was the greatest. Jesus replied that one should love God with all one’s heart, soul and mind. This is the first and greatest Commandment. And a second is like it; one should love one’s neighbor as oneself. Jesus declared that these two summed up all the law and prophets (the entire scriptures; the Bible).
While the Pharisees were gathered around, Jesus he asked them what they believed about the Christ (Messiah); whose son was he? They answered that he was the son of David. Then Jesus asked them how David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, called him Lord (quoting Psalm 110:1): “The Lord (God) said to my Lord (the Messiah), sit at my right hand until I put thy enemies under thy feet.” Jesus asked them to explain, if David calls the Messiah Lord, how is the Messiah David’s son? The religious leaders were unable to answer, and from that day on they no longer dared ask Jesus any questions.
Commentary:
Jesus is the son of David, through his earthly father, Joseph (Matthew 1:1-17), and also Son of God, through his heavenly father (Matthew 1:19-21; Luke 1:30-35). He is fully God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9).
The Sadducees and Pharisees thought they were righteous because they knew the law; but they didn’t keep it. They didn’t love God or their neighbor, or they would not have had Jesus crucified. They thought they were wise, but their wisdom was worldly, not the divine, eternal wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:17:25; 2:1-8). They didn’t know God or they would have recognized that Jesus was God’s son.
In many ways America and the Church, at least in America, are in much the same situation as Israel and Judaism at the time of Christ’s first advent (coming), in human flesh. We’re being led by leaders who think they’re righteous and wise, who profess to serve the Lord, but don’t have a personal relationship with him. They think they know God because they know a lot about God, but they don’t know God personally.
In too many instances the nominal “Church” is being run for the benefit of its leaders; it has become their personal empires. Christianity has become a “religion,” an attempt by mankind to manipulate God’s favor, and a way for its leaders to manipulate people.
The result is that our Churches are filled with “members” who are spiritually "unregenerate" (spiritually "unreborn") and have no expectation of discipleship upon them. It takes “born-again” disciples to make “born-again” disciples. Without “born-again” disciples to recruit from, there won’t be any “born-again” leaders.
Judaism effectively ended at the Cross of Jesus Christ, when the veil of the temple, separating the people from the presence of God, was supernaturally torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). This was a sign that Jesus has opened a new and better way into God’s presence. That way is through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus, his disciples are spiritually “reborn” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Only by the indwelling Holy Spirit can we have a personal fellowship with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:23-24). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9) within us. Jesus is the only way to know divine, eternal truth, to be forgiven of sin (disobedience of God’s Word) and restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin. Jesus is the only way to have true, eternal life, beginning now in this world, and continuing eternally in God’s heavenly kingdom (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).
Judaism continues as a “religion,” but God has departed from it. In the same way, the Holy Spirit has departed from many nominal “Churches” today and his absence is not noted or missed.
The place to begin to revive our Churches is to make a personal commitment to be Jesus’ obedient and trusting disciples, and to begin to learn and obey his teachings. We need to read the entire Bible so that we can discern false teachings (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right), and we need to read it daily with prayer and meditation, so that the Lord can guide us, one day at a time.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
22 Pentecost – Friday (Variable).
To be used only if there is a 23 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
First posted October 17, 2008.
Deuteronomy 7:9-11 -- Faithful God;
Ephesians 4:30-32 -- Christian Conduct;
Deuteronomy:
We must understand that the Lord our God is God! He is faithful, and he keeps his covenant and steadfast love for a thousand generations for those who love him and keep his commandments, but those who hate him he will repay with destruction. He will be diligent in retaliation, openly, to their face, against those who hate him. So we must be careful to obey the commandments, statutes and ordinances which he has given us.
Ephesians:
Christians are urged not to grieve the Holy Spirit, by whom we were “sealed for the day of redemption.” So let us put aside anger, bitterness, wrath, clamor and slander, and instead be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving of one another as God has forgiven us.
Commentary:
God is God whether we acknowledge him as God and our Lord or not. We are all God’s people because he is our Creator. God has given us his Word in the Bible (and in Jesus Christ, the “living Word;” John 1:14) so that we could live long and well now in this lifetime, and eternally in the Promised Land of his heavenly kingdom. Obedient trust in God’s Word is the condition for long, eternal life in God’s heavenly kingdom.
God has made an eternal covenant with us. He has promised to keep his promises contained in his Word, and to love us with steadfast love, but the condition of his covenant is that we respond to that love with love and obedient trust in his Word.
“The fear (awe and respect for the power and authority) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10). Any one who doesn’t fear God doesn’t understand the meaning of the words “God” and “Lord.” We are not God’s equals. God is a good and loving God. He doesn’t want any one to perish eternally, but he has the power and authority of eternal life or death over us (John 3:16-17).
How would we feel if we gave a small child a lavish gift and he grabbed it and then cursed and defied us? This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and come to a relationship with our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and this is only possible through Jesus Christ, by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
The indwelling Holy Spirit is the Lord’s “mark” upon us, identifying us as belonging to him, and guaranteeing us eternal life in his heavenly kingdom. As we abide in the Holy Spirit he protects and preserves us. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we experience the steadfast love and faithfulness of God for us personally. We don’t want to do things that will grieve the Holy Spirit; we want to respond to his love and faithfulness in kind, with love and obedient trust. If we love the Lord we will do what he commands (John 14:21).
There is a Day of Judgment coming, within our individual lifetimes, when we will be accountable to the Lord for what we have done in this lifetime. Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. For us it will be the day of our redemption, when we will be freed from the lusts and weaknesses of our physical bodies and will enter paradise restored to perfection. There will be no more sorrow, sickness or death (Revelation 21:4).
For those who have rejected and hated the Lord, and have refused or failed to trust and obey him it will be the day of their condemnation and eternal destruction. In that day everyone will bow and acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and everyone will do what he commands because he will not allow any choice. Everyone will see the fulfillment of the heavenly kingdom, and the destiny of those who have hated the Lord (Deuteronomy 7:10; Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
22 Pentecost – Saturday (Variable),
To be used only if there is a 23 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
First Posted October 18, 2008.
Matthew 18:1-20 Humility and Forgiveness;
Jesus’ disciples asked him who is greatest in God’s heavenly kingdom, and Jesus called a child to him and said that unless his disciples become like the child they would never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus said that whoever receives a child in Jesus’ name receives Jesus, but whoever causes a little one, who believes in Jesus, to sin would be better off to thrown into the ocean with a great millstone tied to his neck and drowned.
Jesus warned that those who cause temptation will be punished. Temptation cannot be avoided in this world, but those who cause temptation will come to disaster. If a part of our bodies caused us to sin, we would be better off cutting off that part and casting it from us. It would be better to enter eternal life maimed, lame or blind, than to be cast into the eternal fires of hell completely whole.
Jesus warns us not to despise “little ones,” who believe in Jesus because they have God’s favor in heaven. If a person has a hundred sheep and one goes astray, won’t he leave the others and seek the one which is lost? If he finds it he will rejoice more than over the ninety-nine which didn’t go astray. It is not God’s will that any of the least of people should perish.
Jesus taught his disciples how do deal with Church discipline. If a member sins against a brother or sister member, the one who is wronged should go to his brother and tell him his sin. If the fellow member heeds the complaint the brotherhood is restored. If the sinner does not listen, the victim should take one or two other members with him so that everything which is said can be attested to by the witnesses. If the sinner refuses to listen to the delegation, the victim should tell the matter to the whole congregation. If the sinner refuses to heed even the church, he is to be regarded as a Gentile and a tax collector.
We should restrain in the Church what we do not want to tolerate in eternity, and allow and promote what we do want in heaven. If two believers are in agreement about anything on earth, God the Father in heaven will do it for them. Wherever two or three believers are gathered in Jesus’ name, Jesus will be present among them.
In order to enter God’s eternal kingdom in heaven, one must become innocent and trusting like a small child. We cannot return to child-like innocence and trust except through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Only the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-16), can cleanse us from all unrighteousness and restore us to child-like innocence.
In the kingdom of God worldly values are turned upside down. God the Father and Jesus Christ are the greatest. None can compare to them. But their concern is for the least. The Lord loves those who are humble; not those who think they’re great. We must learn to share the Lord’s concern for the least among us.
Physical death is not final. Jesus’ miracles of resurrection, and his own resurrection demonstrate that there is existence beyond physical death (consider Hebrews 2:14-15). The definition of sin is disobedience of God’s Word. All of us have sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (doing what is good, right and true, according to God’s Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is (eternal) death (Romans 6:23). Avoiding eternal destruction is worth any physical sacrifice.
The Lord takes more delight in one individual who is eternally saved than any number of souls who were never lost. But the truth is that we are all eternally lost, and no one can save us apart from faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Jesus is God’s only provision for the forgiveness of our sin and salvation from eternal destruction (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).
Jesus came to establish a New Covenant between God and his people, of salvation by grace (unmerited favor; a free gift), to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Church is the “New Israel,” the “New People of God,” the “New Jerusalem.” Jesus trained his disciples to carry on his ministry of forgiveness and salvation through the Church by the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Church is to be a disciple-making organization. Believers are to be “discipled” by “born-again (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples of Jesus Christ until they have been “born-again” and then they are to go into the world and make other “born-again” disciples (“students,” Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).
Sadly, in too many instances the (nominal) Church has failed to make disciples. They have failed to teach spiritual “rebirth” and to encourage members to seek the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit by obedient trust in Jesus Christ.
The (nominal) Church has failed to require discipleship and obedient trust in Jesus Christ. It has failed to restrain sins among its members which are blatant abominations in God’s judgment, like homosexuality* (and lesbianism) and co-habitation (John 4:16-18). Jesus taught his disciples, including Paul (1 Corinthians 5:1-5), to excommunicate congregation members who defied church discipline.
In too many instances the presence of Jesus, through his Holy Spirit, has departed from nominally “Christian” congregations, and no one has noticed.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
*Homosexuality: See 1 Timothy 1:10; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Romans 1:24-27; from two Greek words meaning “men bedding (or conceiving) with men” (Strong’s #730 & 2845; see Strong’s #733); i.e., “sodomites,” after the city of Sodom, destroyed by God for its homosexual practice (Genesis 19:4-5 (24-25); men who have unnatural sexual relations with men (and, by extension, women who have unnatural sexual relations with women). The KJV translates as: “men defiling themselves with men.”
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