Week of 24 Pentecost C (Variable)
This is a 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://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/ (Please bookmark this link).
Journalspace.com, my former 'blog host is being reorganized under new ownership. I no longer publish there. I have also lost mypodcast.com, my podcast host. This 'blog is mirrored at:
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.mp3 Podcasts via Linux Festival text-to-speech and Panopreter Basic text-to-speech are available at:
http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/#AUDIO_.MP3_PODCASTS:
Please Note:
To get the most from these studies, it is suggested that you first read the scripture texts for the entry, and then the paraphrase and commentary. It is also recommended that you look up the scripture references, unless you recognize and recall them from memory.
I will post weekly by Saturday, noon, (God willing), 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.
Podcast Download: Week of 24 Pentecost C (Variable)
Sunday 24 Pentecost C (Variable)
First Posted November 7, 2010;
Podcast: Sunday 24 Pentecost C (Variable)
Exodus 34:5-9 – God Revealed to Moses;
Psalm 145 – Extolling God's Character;
2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12 – Glorify God;
Luke 19:1-10 – Zacchaeus;
Exodus Background:
The Israelites had broken the covenant with God by reverting to idolatry while Moses was with God on the mountain (Horeb; Sinai) for forty days (Exodus 31:18-32:6). Moses interceded for the Israelites to be forgiven and to renew the covenant with God (Exodus 32:7-20). Moses asked God to reveal himself to Moses (Exodus 33:13-23). Then Moses returned to Mt. Sinai with two new stone tablets to renew the covenant (Exodus 34:1-4).
Exodus Paraphrase:
The Lord descended in a cloud and stood with Moses on the mountaintop and proclaimed the name (the whole person and character) of the Lord: a gracious and merciful God, slow to get angry, whose overflowing love and faithfulness are steady and unwavering, willing to forgive sin (disobedience of God's Word), transgression (violation of God's Law), and iniquity (injustice). Nevertheless, God will not leave the guilty unpunished; he will punish the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.
Moses bowed his head and worshiped the Lord, and asked, if Moses had found favor with the Lord, that the Lord come among his people, the Israelites, although they were a stubborn and prideful people. Moses asked the Lord to forgive the injustice and disobedience of God's people and make them the heritage of the Lord.
Psalm 145 Paraphrase:
Let us exalt the Lord our God and King; let us bless and praise his name every day. The Lord is great, even beyond our understanding, and is worthy of great praise.
Let one generation declare and praise God's works to another. Let us remember and meditate on the majestic splendor and wondrous acts of the Lord. Let the people declare the power of the Lord's awesome works; let us praise his greatness. God's people should loudly proclaim his reputation of his abundant goodness and righteousness.
The steadfast love, mercy and grace of the Lord is abundant and overflowing; the Lord is good and compassionate to all that he has created.
All whom the Lord has made will give him thanks, and all those who are consecrated to his service (i.e., his saints) shall bless him. They will testify to his power and the glory of his kingdom, so that all humans may know his mighty acts and his splendorous kingdom. His kingdom is eternal, and he will reign eternally throughout all generations.
Faithful and gracious are the words and acts of the Lord, and will be glorified by all those who are dedicated to serving him. Those who stumble, the Lord will uphold, and he will lift up the spirits of those who are discouraged. All depend on the Lord to provide their food at the appropriate time. The Lord satisfies the needs of every living thing. All of the Lord's ways and deeds are just and kind. “The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth” (Psalm 145:18). The longings of all who fear (have appropriate awe and respect for the authority and power of) the Lord, he will fulfill. He will hear their cries and save them. The Lord will preserve all who love him; but he will destroy the wicked (those who are evil in principle or practice).
“My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever” (Psalm 145:21).
2 Thessalonians Paraphrase:
Silvanus (Silas) and Timothy had been colleagues in Paul's second missionary journey, during which they founded the church at Thessalonica, the capital of Macedonia. It was one of the first three churches planted in Europe.
Paul greeted the church with the conventional salutations of Greek and Hebrew respectively: “grace” and “peace,” which are only truly possible through God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul rejoiced and gave thanks to God for the Thessalonians' growing and abounding faith and love among their brethren. The Thessalonian congregation continued to experience severe persecution by the local Jewish synagogue (see Acts 17:1-11) who regarded the Christian Church as a heretical sect. So Paul “bragged” about the steadfastness and faith of the Thessalonian congregation amidst persecution and affliction.
Paul considered their tribulations evidence of God's righteous judgment, so that the Thessalonian Christians were being made worthy of God's eternal kingdom through their suffering (compare Hebrews 12:1-13). So Paul prayed for the Thessalonian Christians that God would make them worthy of his calling, that God would fulfill their good resolve and works of faith by his power (his Holy Spirit working within them by their spiritual rebirth; John 3:3, 5-8), to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that they would be glorified in the Lord by the grace (unmerited favor) of God and Jesus Christ.
Luke Paraphrase:
Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, where he knew that he was going to be crucified, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd. As he approached Jericho, east and slightly north of Jerusalem (perhaps thirteen miles, in a straight line). A chief tax collector in Jericho, named Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus as he passed by, but because Zacchaeus was short in stature, he could not see over the crowd, so he ran ahead and climbed into Sycamore tree (Sycamine; Mulberry) so that he could get a better look at Jesus as he went by.
When Jesus came by, he looked up into the tree and called Zacchaeus by name, saying that Jesus needed to be the guest at the home of Zacchaeus that day. Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Jesus. The people in the crowd were amazed that Jesus would have fellowship with a person they regarded as a sinner. Zacchaeus told Jesus that he would give half of his possessions to the poor and would repay four times the amount to anyone he had cheated. Jesus declared that salvation had come that day to Zacchaeus' household, since Zacchaeus was a son of Abraham, regardless of his former behavior, because Jesus had come to seek and save those who were spiritually “lost” and headed to eternal destruction because of their sin.
Themes: knowing God, praising and glorifying God; seeing God
Commentary:
I am convinced that the meaning and purpose of life is to seek and come to know and have a personal relationship with God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27). Then we will know by personal experience his character, power, faithfulness and saving acts. New believers and seekers, can first know the Lord through the testimony of others, recorded in the Bible, and by the testimony of truly 'born-again” Christians (John 3:3, 5-8).
Moses asked God to reveal himself to him. As we trust in God's Word in the Bible, the Lord will reveal himself to us personally, also. If we earnestly seek him with the commitment to trust and obey him, we will come to know the Lord personally. We will no longer have to rely on the testimony of others; we will know with certainty for ourselves.
I personally testify that the Lord has revealed himself to me through his Word in the Bible, in devotional meditation with prayer, and in daily personal experiences of his fulfillment of his promises (see Personal Testimonies, sidebar, top right, home). When I first began to seek the presence of the Lord I didn't know any Psalm by reference except the Twenty-Third. As the Lord began to reveal himself to me, he asked me to do something I considered risky in worldly terms. A thought came into my mind to look up Psalm 91, which contained great reassurance that the Lord was able and faithful to protect me from harm. I was like Ananias (Acts 9:10-17), and asked the Lord who it was who was leading me. The Lord replied, that it was the “Lord and Giver of Life,” (The Holy Spirit, as defined in the third article of the Nicene Creed), This identification was uniquely meaningful to me personally, because of my background in a “liturgical” (i.e. following a formal ritual of public worship) Church. The Lord can reveal himself to others in a way that is uniquely personally meaningful to them.
The Psalmist urges one generation to praise their personal experience of the Lord's faithfulness and powerful acts to another. One must first have a personal relationship with the Lord through the “baptism” 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 baptism of the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience (Acts 19:2). 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).
Unfortunately, the nominal Church is failing to make “born-again” disciples (students) and apostles (messengers; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ. Without born-again members, the Church will not have born-again leaders to choose from their membership. Church “members” ("nominal" Christians) are failing to, and cannot, pass on testimony and praise of God's works to their children or to older generations who have not been spiritually “reborn.”
With a personal relationship with the Lord through the baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit we will be able to recall, from personal experience, in times of trouble, the Lord's power and faithfulness. As the Lord demonstrates his power and faithfulness to us personally, our faith will grow from a tiny “mustard seed” (our “yes” to trust and obedience to the Lord) into the supernaturally large “tree” of mature faith (Matthew 13:31-32). We will be able to praise him to others so that they can trust in him and be saved.
When troubles come, it is hard to remember what the Lord has done for us in the past. I keep a personal log of blessings and answered prayer. When I'm experiencing troubles and discouragement, I can look back on other times that the Lord has delivered me and brought me through. I also review it annually before the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Lord is loving and forgiving to all who love, trust and obey him; but those who refuse or fail to accept his love and forgiveness which he has provided through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross will be eternally condemned and destroyed.
Worldly wisdom attributes success and wealth to God's favor, and tribulation to God's disfavor, but that is not so, as Paul testified. Christians can expected to be hated and persecuted by the world, as the world treated Jesus. Christians who don't experience persecution are failing to carry out their ministry of the Gospel. But the ministry of the Gospel cannot be carried out by our human strength and resources; we can only fulfill it by the power and resources provided by the baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6; Romans 8:15-17; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11-12). Jesus warns that we must be born-again before carrying the Gospel message to the world (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).
Jesus knew Zacchaeus completely before Zacchaeus met Jesus (compare John 1:47-50; 4:16-19). The Lord knows all about us, too. Zacchaeus was a sinner (disobedient of God's Word) even as are we all (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). Zacchaeus realized that Jesus was the promised Messiah (Christ), and repented of his sin (Luke 19:8). All who accept Jesus as Lord (the Messiah; Christ; God's chosen Savior and eternal King) are spiritual sons of Abraham, entitled to the inheritance of God's promise (Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 3:26-29). The Jews considered themselves children of Abraham, but didn't acknowledge Jesus as the Christ, and Jesus called them children of the devil (John 8:42-44).
Jesus came to bring forgiveness and eternal salvation to all who acknowledge their sin and spiritual “lostness” to eternal condemnation and destruction. Jesus cannot help those who consider themselves righteous (doing what is right, good, and true according to God's Word). There is a Day of Judgment coming when everyone who has ever lived in this world will be accountable to the Lord for what they have done in their lifetime. Those who have accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, and have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been spiritually reborn in this lifetime, and will enter paradise and eternal life in heaven with all believers. Those who have rejected Jesus as Lord and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal death and destruction in Hell with all evil (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
Monday 24 Pentecost C (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 25 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
First Posted November 8, 2010;
Podcast: Monday 24 Pentecost C (Variable)
Psalm 148 – All Creation: Praise the Lord!
Paraphrase:
Praise the Lord! Let all things in heaven praise him: all angels, all his host (a large army); praise him from the mountain tops!
Praise the Lord, sun, moon, all stars; the highest heavens, and the storehouses of rain. Let all praise the name (character and person) of the Lord. They were created by his command; they were established forever and their boundaries are fixed by his command.
Let all the earth praise the Lord, all monsters and creatures of the depths. All fire, frost, snow, hail and stormy wind obey his command.
Let all creation praise the Lord: all hills, and trees, beasts and cattle, crawling things and soaring birds!
Praise the Lord, all people: princes and rulers of the earth, children, young and old people, join in the praise of the Lord.
The name of the Lord is worthy of praise; his name alone is worthy of exaltation. High above earth and heaven is his glory.
The Lord has raised up a horn (of salvation) for his people, his saints (those consecrated to the Lord's service), the people of Israel who are near to him.
Commentary:
Jesus is the “horn of salvation” which God has raised up for his people. God instructed the Israelites to build altars with upraised triangular corners which were called “horns” (Exodus 27:2; 30:10). A person who was in danger of being killed could take hold of the horns of the altar and be spared (1 Kings 1:50).
Jesus is God's “anointed” (designated) eternal savior who has been built into the very structure of this world (John 1:1-5). Those who come and lay hold of Jesus in faith (obedient trust) will be spared from eternal death, which is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23).
We are all sinners who fall short of God's standard of righteousness (doing what is good, right, and true according to God's Word in the Bible and in the teaching and example of Jesus, the “living Word,” fulfilled, embodied and exemplified -John 1:14). Jesus' blood-sacrifice on the cross is God's only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6), to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus.
There is a Day of Judgment coming for everyone who has ever lived in this world. Jesus has promised to return to judge the living (“quickened”) and the dead (1 Peter 4:5; John 5:28-29) Those who accept Jesus as their Lord (One who has power and authority; a master; a ruler; a governor; a prince; a proprietor) and Savior, and trust and obey his teachings will be spiritually “reborn” to eternal life in this lifetime, and will enter eternal life in paradise restore in God's kingdom in heaven. Those who have rejected Jesus and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be spiritually “unborn” and will receive eternal condemnation and destruction in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
On the Day of Judgment every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God (Philippians 2:9-11). In that Day it will be too late to change one's eternal destiny.
Spiritual rebirth and eternal life are only by the “baptism” 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 “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience (Acts 19:2). 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 (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
Tuesday 24 Pentecost C (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 25 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
First Posted November 9, 2010;
Podcast: Tuesday 24 Pentecost C (Variable)
1 Chronicles 29:10-13 – David's Prayer;
(On the occasion of the succession of Solomon, the son of David, to his father's throne), David offered a prayer, blessing the Lord for ever. David acknowledged that greatness, power, glory, victory, and majesty belong to the Lord, since everything in this world belongs to God. The Lord is the true king of the kingdom, exalted above all others. All riches and honor come from the Lord and he reigns over all. Power and might, greatness and strength all come from God. Therefore David, and all God's people give thanks to the Lord our God, and praise his glorious name (his person and character).
Commentary:
David was the shepherd boy who became the great human king of Israel. David was deliberately intended by God to be the forerunner and illustration of the promised Messiah (Christ). Solomon was the physical son of David who ascended to the throne. Jesus was the ultimate heir (son of David; Matthew 1:1; 21:9) to the eternal throne of David, through Jesus' earthly father, Joseph (Matthew 1:20-21), according to the promise God had given (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29).
God is the Creator and ruler of everything in this world. The Lord is the true and rightful king of the universe. The authority of human rulers has been delegated by God (Romans 13:3-7). David recognized God's power and authority over Creation and that David's power and authority were by God's delegation.
God is the source of every good and necessary thing. All riches, honor, strength, greatness, power, glory, victory and majesty belong to the Lord. Worldly people haven't discovered this; they think that this world is all there is, and there is no purpose in life but to satisfy their own physical desires and accumulate material things. They don't realize that their achievements aren't by their own abilities and efforts, but are the gift of God. God allows times of trial, want and need to happen to us in hope that we will realize our dependence on his providence.
When we understand our relationship to and dependence upon the Lord and the blessings he's given us, we will rejoice in him and gladly give him thanks and praise. As we praise and thank the Lord he blesses us with his loving presence and touch.
This world was intentionally created by God to provide us with the freedom and opportunity to seek, find and have fellowship with God, our Creator. This is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus, who alone gives the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). Through the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit we are spiritually “reborn” (John 3:3, 5-8) to true eternal life (John 14:6). The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience (Acts 19:2). 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 world has been created to allow us the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God or not, but God is not willing to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom, so this creation and we ourselves are limited by time. This world and we ourselves will pass away.
We will all die physically once, and then will face the Lord's judgment (Hebrews 9:27), and the judge and standard of judgment will be Jesus Christ. Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, and have trusted and obeyed his teachings and example will have been spiritually “born-again” in this lifetime and will enter eternal life. Those who have rejected Jesus as Lord and Savior, and have refused or failed to trust and obey him will be condemned to eternal death and destruction in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). At the moment of our physical death (or mental impairment by stroke, dementia, or other disability), or at the Day of Christ's Second Coming, our eternal destinies will be fixed and unalterable.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
Wednesday 24 Pentecost C (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 25 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
First Posted November 10, 2010;
Podcast: Wednesday 24 Pentecost C (Variable)
2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 – Thanks and Praise to the Lord;
Paraphrase:
Paul constantly thanked God for the Christians at Thessalonica (in Macedonia; on the European Continent), who were beloved by God, and were chosen by God to be saved through sanctification [the process of bringing to spiritual maturity, by work of the Holy Spirit through faith (obedient trust) in the truth (the Gospel of Jesus Christ), those who have been “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8), filled with the anointing of the indwelling Holy Spirit]. God had called them (and all believers) through the Gospel [the “Good News” of forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word) and salvation from eternal condemnation, which is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home)]. Believers are called through the Gospel to attain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we must be steadfast in faith to the teachings which Paul and his fellow missionaries, Silas (Silvanus) and Timothy had made known to them by by word (and example) in person, and by letter.
Now Paul prayed for the believers, that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ would comfort and establish their hearts in good words and deeds. The Lord loved us and gave us eternal comfort and hope by grace (his unmerited favor; a free gift).
Paul asked the Thessalonian church to pray for Paul's ministry, that the Lord would hurry and complete his ministry of the Word of God through Paul, and that Paul and fellow missionaries would be delivered from wicked and evil people, because not everyone accepts the Gospel truth. The Lord is entirely faithful, and will deliver believers from all evil. Paul was confident that believers were doing and would do as Paul had taught them. So Paul asked that the Lord would guide their hearts “to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:5b).
Commentary:
By the preaching of the Gospel by Paul, the Church at Thessalonica was one of the first churches founded on European soil. Paul's ministry was very successful among Gentiles (non-Jews), and received much opposition from the local synagogue (because the Jews had hoped to convert them to Judaism, and regarded Christianity as a heretical sect).
We are all beloved by God, and his love is revealed by his sending of his only “begotten” son, begotten by the Holy Spirit, to die on the cross as the only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of our sin and our salvation from eternal condemnation and death, which is the penalty for sin.
The blood of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is intended to cleanse us from all sin by faith, so that we are able to receive the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit, through whom we are spiritually “born-again” to eternal life. Only Jesus baptizes with the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience (Acts 19:2). 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).
Jesus' death and resurrection make it possible for us to have a personal relationship with God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ by the “infilling” of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7), the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). By the indwelling Holy Spirit we are led in spiritual growth to spiritual maturity at the Day of Christ's Second Coming (Philippians 1:6: “fulfill;” “perfect”). Spiritual growth requires the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the knowledge of, and obedient trust in God's Word, in the Bible and in Jesus Christ, the “living Word,” fulfilled, embodied and exemplified (John 1:1-5, 14).
Through the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we are called to follow Jesus' example and teaching, so that we can attain the glory (the blessings and honor, the moral attributes of God's own righteousness, the bliss of eternal life in heaven) which Jesus has received. Jesus is God's only begotten son, but we can become God's “adopted” sons and daughters through faith in Jesus.
This world has been designed to allow the possibility of sin (disobedience of God's Word, so that we have the freedom to choose for ourselves whether to trust and obey God or not. But this world and we ourselves have been limited by time, because God is not willing to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom, or it wouldn't be “Heaven.” This lifetime is our opportunity to seek, find and have fellowship with God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and to be spiritually reborn, by the baptism of the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus. Those who have been truly born-again will demonstrate their spiritual rebirth (regeneration) by their words and deeds.
The indwelling Holy Spirit comforts believers in times of suffering and persecutions. In his Gospel, John uses the Greek word “parakletos,” from which we get “Paraclete,” meaning intercessor, consoler, advocate, comforter. The KJV translates it as “Comforter;” the RSV translates it as “Counselor.”
Christians should pray for the ministry of the Gospel through missionary evangelists like, Paul, and through ourselves. We have personally experienced the truth of the Gospel and are enabled to proclaim it by the Holy Spirit working in and through us. We must learn to step out in faith. But the ministry of the Gospel can only be carried out by the Holy Spirit, not by our own human abilities and efforts (Zechariah 4:6; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).
Christians can expect the same opposition to the Gospel that Jesus, Paul, and the Thessalonian Christians experienced from worldly people. We must respond with love and steadfastness which are only possible through Jesus.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
Thursday 24 Pentecost C (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 25 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
First Posted November 11, 2010;
Podcast: Thursday 24 Pentecost C (Variable)
Luke 20:27-38 – Questions about Resurrection;
The Sadducees were a faction of Judaism who did not believe in resurrection. They came to Jesus and asked him a question to challenge Jesus' teaching on resurrection. Hypothetically, if a man's brother died, leaving a wife but no children, the man was obligated to take the widow as his own wife, in order to raise up children for his brother. Suppose that there were seven brothers, and each in turn assumed the obligation for their brother, but none produced children. These brothers all died, and so also did the woman. So, in the resurrection, whose wife will the woman be, for she was the wife of all seven.
Jesus told the Sadducees that marriage is the practice of this world (and marriage is terminated by physical death). But in the world to come, there is no marriage (the earthly marriage won't carry on in Heaven, since they can no longer die. Being children of the resurrection, they are like angels, and are children of God. But even Moses demonstrated the truth of the resurrection, in the passage of the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-12), where Moses calls the Lord the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (father, son, and grandson of the patriarch of Israel). God is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live by and for him.
Commentary:
Judaism was based partly on inheritance of property in the Promised Land, which points to spiritual inheritance in the eternal Promised Land of God's kingdom in Heaven. The husband who produced no children, had none to inherit his portion of the land, so brothers were to assume the responsibility of producing heirs for their dead brother.
In the eternal kingdom to come, there won't be any need to procreate physically. Each one will have inherited their place in the eternal Promised Land, and since they will never die, they have no need to produce heirs. We will know and recognize the members of our families who have been born-again by the “baptism” 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) during their earthly physical lifetime.
We can't take anything from this world into eternity except the eternal souls of our families and loved ones. We do that by passing on the Gospel testimony to them.
Too often, sadly, the nominal Church and nominal Christians are failing to pass on the Gospel to older as well as younger generations, both within families and among our acquaintances. We cannot pass on the Gospel to others without having personally experienced its truth (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8) and without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit within and through us (Zechariah 4:6; Luke 12:11-12; 21:14-15; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Romans 8:15-17).
God is not the God of those who are dead (un-reborn; in the spiritual sense). God is God, whether we acknowledge him or not, but God has designed this world to allow us to choose for ourselves whether to accept him as our God and Lord or not. Those who reject the Lord, may be physically alive for a time, but are spiritually dead. God is not their God because they do not trust and obey God.
On the Day of Judgment when Christ returns, Jesus will judge the living and the dead in both the physical and spiritual senses (1 Peter 4:5). Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord will have been spiritually born-again to eternal life in this world and will enter God's eternal heavenly kingdom. Those who are judged by Jesus to be spiritually dead will have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus. They will not have been spiritual “reborn” to eternal life, and will not enter life in God's heavenly kingdom. They will separated eternally from God and every good thing; they will die eternally in total misery.
Can one imagine how it will be to exist eternally separated from God's love and providence? In heaven there will be no more sickness, sorrow, tears, death, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4); In hell there will be nothing but sickness, sorrow, tears, death, crying and pain for all eternity.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
Friday 24 Pentecost C (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 25 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
First Posted November 12, 2010;
Podcast: Friday 24 Pentecost C (Variable)
Colossians 1:9-14 – Thanksgiving and Intercession;
Background:
Colossae was a small town near Ephesus, in the district of Phyrigia in western Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). Paul had sent Epaphras, a fellow missionary, native to Colossae and founder of the church there, to preach. Epaphras had reported to Paul the love in the Spirit within the congregation.
Paraphrase:
Since Epaphras' report, Paul had been praying for the congregation, that they would be filled with the knowledge of God's will, “in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9b), so that they could truly lead lives worthy and pleasing to the Lord, bearing spiritual fruit in good works, and growing in spiritual knowledge of God.
Paul prayed that the Colossian Christians would be strengthened by the full power of the Lord's great might (by the indwelling Holy Spirit), so that they could have the full necessary endurance and patience, with great joy, always giving thanks to God the Father, since he has given us the right to share in the eternal inheritance of the saints (those consecrated to God's service) of light (righteousness). Believers have been transferred from the power of darkness to the kingdom of God's beloved Son, through whom we have redemption (purchase) from eternal condemnation (the penalty for sin, which is disobedience of God's Word) and forgiveness.
Commentary:
The meaning and purpose of life in this temporal world is to seek, find, and have fellowship with God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27). God has plans for each believer, and he wants to reveal them to us, if we are willing to seriously commit ourselves to do his will. God won't reveal his will to those who are just “window-shopping; those who want to know God's will first, and then decide if they'd prefer to do God's will or their own.
Christians are, by definition, spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26). Christian discipleship is a spiritual growth process. The “mustard seed” of faith (Matthew 13:31-32; 17:20) is our “yes” to trust and obey God's Word, in the Bible, and in Jesus Christ, the “living Word,” fulfilled, embodied, and exemplified in human flesh in this world (John 1:1-5, 14).
The Lord wants us to trust and obey his promises in his Word and Holy Spirit, so that we can personally experience his power and faithfulness to fulfill his Word. Each such experience causes our faith to grow, ultimately to spiritual maturity.
We cannot accomplish God's will in our own human strength (Zechariah 4:6), but only by the power of the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit within us, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience (Acts 19:2). 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 teaches us all things, recalls to us all Jesus' teachings (John 14:26), and gives us what to say at the moment it is needed (Luke 12:11-12; 21:14-15). By the Holy Spirit we are given the encouragement to wait patiently for the fulfillment of God's promises, the consolation to endure persecution and affliction, and the great experience of the love and joy that are only possible through the Holy Spirit within us.
We have all sinned and fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is condemnation to eternal death and destruction in Hell with all evil, separated forever from the love and providence of God (Romans 6:23). Jesus has redeemed us (paid the ultimate consequence) from our sins by his sacrificial death on cross so that we wouldn't have to die for them eternally ourselves (Romans 5:8). Jesus' blood sacrifice is the only sacrifice acceptable to God for our forgiveness and salvation, which we must receive by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-10; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually born-again to eternal life by the baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Today is the Day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come. At the moment of our death (or at some mental impairment), it will be too late to change our eternal destinies.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
Saturday 24 Pentecost C (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 25 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
First Posted November 13, 2010;
Podcast: Saturday 24_Pentecost C ( variable)
Matthew 9:18-26 – Healing and Resurrection;
Paraphrase:
A leader of the synagogue (Jairus, according to Mark 5:22; Luke 8:41) came to Jesus as he was teaching, and knelt at Jesus' feet. Jairus told Jesus that Jairus' daughter had just died, and asked Jesus to come and lay hands on her, declaring his faith that by Jesus' touch, Jairus' daughter would live again. Jesus and his disciples got up and followed Jairus home.
On the way, a woman who had suffered for twelve years with a hemorrhage, came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of Jesus' robe, believing that she would be healed just by touching it. Jesus turned and looked at the woman and declared that her faith had made her well, and she was healed instantly.
Arriving at Jairus' house, Jesus saw professional mourners bewailing the girl's death, as was the custom. Jesus told them to leave, because the girl was not dead; merely sleeping. The crowd laughed because they did not believe Jesus. When the mourners were sent away, Jesus went in and took the girl by her hand, and she arose. News of this event traveled throughout the region.
Commentary:
Jesus' miracles of physical healing and resurrection were intended to show us that he is also, more importantly, able to heal us spiritually and raise us from physical death to eternal life. Many people were attracted to Jesus for only his physical miracles, and without faith in his power to perform spiritual healing and resurrection, missed the opportunity to receive spiritual benefits only Jesus can provide. Physical healing and resurrection results are only temporary; the healed will get sick again or die physically again. Spiritual healing and resurrection are for eternity.
For those who are seeking miracles in order to believe in Jesus, there are none. But those who believe in Jesus will personally experience many miracles.
Jesus' power is not limited by what worldly people consider possible. Jesus' miracles of resurrection of the dead, and his own resurrection, demonstrated that there is existence after physical death. Physical death is not “nothingness,” and there is no such thing as “reincarnation” (Hebrews 9:27). The issue is where we will spend eternity.
Jesus told Nicodemus that one must be spiritually “born-again” during this earthly lifetime in order to see God's eternal kingdom all around us now, and to enter it in eternity (John 3:3, 5-8). We are spiritually born-again to eternal life by the “baptism” 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 baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience (Acts 19:2). 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 (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
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