By now the man who had been blind had heard the same questions over and over. He did not know he was healed, but he knew that his life had been miraculously changed, and he was not afraid to tell the truth. You don't need to know all the answers in order to share Christ with others. It is important to tell others how Jesus has changed your life. Then trust that God will use your words.
The man's new faith was severely tested. He was cursed and evicted from the Temple. Persecution may come when you follow Jesus. You may lose friends, you may even lose your life. But no one can ever take away the Eternal Life that Jesus give you.
The longer this man experienced his new life through Christ, the more confident he became in the one who had healed him. He gained not only physical sight but Spiritual sight as he recognized Jesus first as a Prophet than as his Lord. When you turn to Christ, you begin to see him differently. Peter tells us to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." If you want to know more about Jesus, keep walking with Him.
Again the Pharisees called the man who had been blind to come to them. Give glory to God by telling the truth! they said. "We know that the man who healed is a sinner.
He replied, "I don't know if he is a sinner or not. I do know one thing, I was blind, but now I can see!"
Then they asked him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"
He answered, "I have already told you. But you didn't listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become His disciples too?"
Then they began to attack him with their words. They said we are disciples of Moses!
We know that God spoke to Moses. But we don't even know where this follow come from.
The man answered, That is really surprising! You don't know where he come from, and yet He opened my eyes.
We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does what He wants them to do.
Nobody has ever heard of anyone opening the eyes of a person born blind.
If this man had not come from God, He could do nothing.
Then the Pharisees replied, "When you were born, you were already deep in sin. How dare you talk like that to us!" And they threw him out of the synagogue.
Jesus heard that the Pharisees had thrown the man out of the synagogue. When Jesus found him, he said, do you believe in the Son of Man?
Who is He, Sir? The man asked, tell me so I can believe in Him.
Jesus said, You have now seen Him. In fact, He is the one speaking with you.
The the man said, "Lord I believe." And he worshiped Him.
They called the man back a second time - the man who had been blind - and told him. Give credit to God. We know this man is an impostor.
He replied, "I know nothing about that one way or the other. But I know one thing for sure: I was blind ... I now see."
They said, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"
"I've told you over and over and you haven't listened. Why do you want to hear it again? Are you so eager to become His disciples?"
With that they jumped all over him. "You might be a disciple of that man, but we're disciples of Moses. We know for sure that God spoke to Moses. But we have no idea where this man even come from."
The man replied, "This is amazing! You claim to know nothing about Him, but the fact is He opened my eyes! It's well known that God isn't at the beck and call of sinners, but listens carefully to anyone who lives in reverence and does His will. That some one opened the eyes of a man born blind has never been heard of - ever. If this man didn't come from God, he wouldn't be able to do anything."
They said, "You're nothing but dirt! How dare you take that tone with us!" Then they threw him out in the street.
Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and went and found him. He asked him, "do you believe in the Son of Man?"
The man said, point him out to me, Sir, so that I can believe in Him.
Jesus said, "You're looking right at Him. don't you recognize my voice?"
"Master, I believe," the man said, and worshiped Him.
Scripture reference used from The Message Bible, NIrV Bible and Life Application Bible
Tuesday, April 10, 2018
Monday, April 9, 2018
Solomon Completes The Temple - 2 Chronicles 6:1-11 - Daily Sunday School Reading
As the people received Solomon's blessing, they stood; as Solomon prayed, he knelt. Both standing and kneeling are acts of reverence. Acts of reverence make is feel more worshipful, and they let others see that we are honoring God. When you stand and kneel om Church or at Prayer, let these actions become more than mere forms prescribed by tradition. Instead let them activate your love for God.
It was unusual for a king to kneel before someone else in front of his own people, because kneeling meant submitting to a higher authority. Solomon demonstrated his great love and respected for God by kneeling before him. His action showed that he acknowledged God as the ultimate King and authority, and it encouraged the people to do the same.
Then Solomon said, "Lord, you have said you would live in a dark cloud.
I've built a beautiful temple for you. You can live in it forever.
The whole community of Israel was standing there. The king turned around and gave them his blessing.
Then he said, ""I Praise the Lord. He is the God of Israel. With His mouth he made a promise to my Solomon's father David. With His powerful hands he made it come true, he said.
He brought his people out of Egypt. Since then, a temple for my name has not been built. He have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel for that purpose. And he have not chosen anyone to be ruler over my people Israel.
But now I have chosen Jerusalem. He will put Solomon name there. And He have chosen David to rule over His people Israel.
With all his heart his father David wanted to do it so the name of God of Israel.
But the LORD spoke to Solomon's father David. He said, with all your heart you wanted to build a temple for His name. His good that David wanted to do that.
But David will not build the temple. Instead, David son will built the temple for God's name. Solomon is David's own flesh and blood.
The LORD has kept the promise He made. Solomon has become the next king after his father David.
Now Solomon is sitting on the throne of Israel. That's exactly what the LORD promised would happen. Solomon built the temple for the Name of the LORD. He is the God of Israel.
The Lord have placed the Ark there. The tablets of the LORD's Covenant are inside it. He made that covenant with the people of Israel. Solomon prays to set the temple Apart to the LORD.
Then Solomon said, God said He would dwell in a cloud,
But Solomon built a temple most splendid, a place for you to live in forever.
The king then turned to face the congregation that had come together and blessed them:
Blessed be God, the God of Israel. Who spoke personally to Solomon's father. Now he has done what he promised when he said, from the day he brought his people Israel up from Israel, he haven't set apart one city among the tribes of Israel in which to build a temple to honor God's name, or chosen one person to be a leader. But now God have chosen both a city and person: Jerusalem for honoring my name and David to lead my people Israel.
Solomon's father David very much wanted to build a temple honoring the name of God, the God of Israel, but God told him, It was good that you wanted to build a temple honoring in my honor - most commendable! But David was not the one to do it. David's son, Solomon will carry on the dynasty, he will build it for God.
And now you see the promise completed. God had done what He said He would do; Solomon had succeeded David his father and now rule Israel; Solomon have built a temple to honor God, the God of Israel, and have secured a place for the Chest that holds the Covenant of God, the Covenant he made with the people of Israel.
Scripture reference used from: The Message, NIrV & Life Application Bible
It was unusual for a king to kneel before someone else in front of his own people, because kneeling meant submitting to a higher authority. Solomon demonstrated his great love and respected for God by kneeling before him. His action showed that he acknowledged God as the ultimate King and authority, and it encouraged the people to do the same.
Then Solomon said, "Lord, you have said you would live in a dark cloud.
I've built a beautiful temple for you. You can live in it forever.
The whole community of Israel was standing there. The king turned around and gave them his blessing.
Then he said, ""I Praise the Lord. He is the God of Israel. With His mouth he made a promise to my Solomon's father David. With His powerful hands he made it come true, he said.
He brought his people out of Egypt. Since then, a temple for my name has not been built. He have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel for that purpose. And he have not chosen anyone to be ruler over my people Israel.
But now I have chosen Jerusalem. He will put Solomon name there. And He have chosen David to rule over His people Israel.
With all his heart his father David wanted to do it so the name of God of Israel.
But the LORD spoke to Solomon's father David. He said, with all your heart you wanted to build a temple for His name. His good that David wanted to do that.
But David will not build the temple. Instead, David son will built the temple for God's name. Solomon is David's own flesh and blood.
The LORD has kept the promise He made. Solomon has become the next king after his father David.
Now Solomon is sitting on the throne of Israel. That's exactly what the LORD promised would happen. Solomon built the temple for the Name of the LORD. He is the God of Israel.
The Lord have placed the Ark there. The tablets of the LORD's Covenant are inside it. He made that covenant with the people of Israel. Solomon prays to set the temple Apart to the LORD.
Then Solomon said, God said He would dwell in a cloud,
But Solomon built a temple most splendid, a place for you to live in forever.
The king then turned to face the congregation that had come together and blessed them:
Blessed be God, the God of Israel. Who spoke personally to Solomon's father. Now he has done what he promised when he said, from the day he brought his people Israel up from Israel, he haven't set apart one city among the tribes of Israel in which to build a temple to honor God's name, or chosen one person to be a leader. But now God have chosen both a city and person: Jerusalem for honoring my name and David to lead my people Israel.
Solomon's father David very much wanted to build a temple honoring the name of God, the God of Israel, but God told him, It was good that you wanted to build a temple honoring in my honor - most commendable! But David was not the one to do it. David's son, Solomon will carry on the dynasty, he will build it for God.
And now you see the promise completed. God had done what He said He would do; Solomon had succeeded David his father and now rule Israel; Solomon have built a temple to honor God, the God of Israel, and have secured a place for the Chest that holds the Covenant of God, the Covenant he made with the people of Israel.
Scripture reference used from: The Message, NIrV & Life Application Bible
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Jesus and Thomas - Children's Sunday School Lesson - John 20:19-29 - Sunday - 4/8/18
Thomas didn't believe that Jesus was alive. He wanted to see Jesus for himself before he would believe.
Instruct the children to find the missing letters in John 20:28 ... Thomas said to Him, "My _ _ _ _ and My _ _ _ !"
Instruct the children to place bandages on Jesus' sides and red markers to show where the wounds by the nails were in His wrists.
Thomas had to see Jesus before he could believe Jesus was alive. We can believe Jesus is alive even though we've never seen Him because the Bible tells us so.
We can believe Jesus came back to life even though we don't get to see Him like Thomas did.
Again Jesus said, "May peace be with you! The Father has sent me. So now I am sending you." He then breathed on them. He said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven.
Thomas was one of the 12 Disciples. He was also called Didymus. ?He was not with the other Disciples when Jesus came. So they told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "First I must see the nail marks in His hands. I must put my finger into His side. Only then will I believe."
A week later, Jesus' Disciples were in the house again. Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came in and stood among them. He said, "May peace be with you!"
Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here. Reach out your hand and put it in to my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas said to Him, "My Lord and My God!"
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen me but still have believed.
NIrV May the Faith Be With You Holy Bible @ Zondervan 2017
Instruct the children to find the missing letters in John 20:28 ... Thomas said to Him, "My _ _ _ _ and My _ _ _ !"
Instruct the children to place bandages on Jesus' sides and red markers to show where the wounds by the nails were in His wrists.
Thomas had to see Jesus before he could believe Jesus was alive. We can believe Jesus is alive even though we've never seen Him because the Bible tells us so.
We can believe Jesus came back to life even though we don't get to see Him like Thomas did.
Again Jesus said, "May peace be with you! The Father has sent me. So now I am sending you." He then breathed on them. He said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven.
Thomas was one of the 12 Disciples. He was also called Didymus. ?He was not with the other Disciples when Jesus came. So they told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "First I must see the nail marks in His hands. I must put my finger into His side. Only then will I believe."
A week later, Jesus' Disciples were in the house again. Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came in and stood among them. He said, "May peace be with you!"
Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here. Reach out your hand and put it in to my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas said to Him, "My Lord and My God!"
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen me but still have believed.
NIrV May the Faith Be With You Holy Bible @ Zondervan 2017
Jesus Is Alive - Children's Sunday School Lesson - John 20:1-12 - Sunday - 4/1/18
The Tomb Is Empty. Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene. Jesus Appears To His Disciples.
Who went to Jesus grave? What did she find? Who spoke to her? What happened to Jesus?
Jesus was God's Son. The Bible says it was impossible for Jesus to stay dead.
Jesus really did die. But He had the power to come back to life because He was God's Son.
Jesus Is Alive.
Acts 2:24 ... But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.
Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. It was still dark. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the entrance. So she ran to Simon Peter and another disciple. She said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb! We don't know where they have put Him!"
So Peter and the other Disciple started out for the tomb. The other Disciple ran faster than Peter. He reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the stripes of linen lying there. But he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him. He also saw the funeral cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus' head. It was separate from the linen. The Disciples who had reached the tomb first also went inside. He saw and believed. They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
But Mary stood outside tomb crying. She saw two angels dressed in white. They were seated where Jesus' body had been. One of them was where Jesus' head had been laid. The other sat where His feet had been placed.
They asked her, Woman why are you crying? Who are you looking for?
Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward Him. Then she cried out in the Aramaic language, "Rabboni!" Rabboni means Teacher.
Jesus said, Do not hold on to me. I have not yet ascended to the Father. Instead go to those who believe in me. Tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'
Mary Magdalene went to the Disciples with the news. She said, "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that He had said these things to her.
On the evening of that first day of the week, the Disciples were together. They had locked the doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus came in and stood among them. He said, "May peace be with you!" Then He showed them His hands and His side. The Disciples were very happy when they saw the Lord.
Scripture reference used from: NIrV May the Faith Be With You Holy Bible @ Zondervan 2017
Who went to Jesus grave? What did she find? Who spoke to her? What happened to Jesus?
Jesus was God's Son. The Bible says it was impossible for Jesus to stay dead.
Jesus really did die. But He had the power to come back to life because He was God's Son.
Jesus Is Alive.
Acts 2:24 ... But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.
Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. It was still dark. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the entrance. So she ran to Simon Peter and another disciple. She said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb! We don't know where they have put Him!"
So Peter and the other Disciple started out for the tomb. The other Disciple ran faster than Peter. He reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the stripes of linen lying there. But he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him. He also saw the funeral cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus' head. It was separate from the linen. The Disciples who had reached the tomb first also went inside. He saw and believed. They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
But Mary stood outside tomb crying. She saw two angels dressed in white. They were seated where Jesus' body had been. One of them was where Jesus' head had been laid. The other sat where His feet had been placed.
They asked her, Woman why are you crying? Who are you looking for?
Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward Him. Then she cried out in the Aramaic language, "Rabboni!" Rabboni means Teacher.
Jesus said, Do not hold on to me. I have not yet ascended to the Father. Instead go to those who believe in me. Tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'
Mary Magdalene went to the Disciples with the news. She said, "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that He had said these things to her.
On the evening of that first day of the week, the Disciples were together. They had locked the doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus came in and stood among them. He said, "May peace be with you!" Then He showed them His hands and His side. The Disciples were very happy when they saw the Lord.
Scripture reference used from: NIrV May the Faith Be With You Holy Bible @ Zondervan 2017
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Jesus Tested in the Wilderness - Matthew 4:1-11 - Daily Reading from Sunday School Book
Jesus wasn't tempted in the Temple or at His baptism but in the wilderness where He was tired, alone, and hungry, and thus most vulnerable. Satan often tempts us where we are vulnerable when we are under physical or emotional stress (for example, lonely, tired, weighing big decisions, faced with uncertainly). But Satan also likes to tempt us through our strengths where we are suscepible to pride. We must guard at all times against his attacks.
Satan's temptations focused on three crucial areas: (1) physical desires, (2) possessions and power, and (3) pride. But Jesus did not give in. Hebrews 4:15 says that Jesus was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. "He knows firsthand what we are experiencing and he is willing and able to help us in our struggles. When you are tempted, turn to Him for strength.
Angels, like these who ministered to Jesus, have a significant role as God's messengers. These spiritual beings were involved in Jesus like on earth by (1) announcing his birth to Mary, (2) reassuring Joseph, (3) naming Jesus, (4) announcing His birth to the Shepherds, (5) protecting Jesus by sending His family to Egypt, (6) ministering to Him in Gethsemane.
Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the test. The devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left Him, of course, in a state of hunger, which the devil took advantage of in the first test: "Since you are God's Son, speak the Word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.
Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: "It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth.
For the second test the devil took Him to the Holy City. He sat Him on top of the Temple and said, "Since you are God's Son, jump." The devil goaded Him by quoting Psalm 91: "He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won't so much as stub your toe on a stone."
Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy: "Don't dare test the Lord your God."
For the third test, the devil took Him to the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth's kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, they're yours - lock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they're yours.
Jesus refusal was curt: "Beat it, Satan." He backed his rebuke his rebuke with a third quotation and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.
The test was over. The devil left. And in his place, angels! Angels came and took care of Jesus needs.
The Spirit led Jesus into the desert. There the devil tempted Him.
After 40 days and 40 nights of going without eating, Jesus was hungry.
The tempter came to Him. He said, "If you are the Son of God tell these stones to become bread.
Jesus answered, "It is written, 'Man must not live only on bread. He must also live by every Word that come from the mouth of God. (Deuteronomy 8:3)
Then the devil took Jesus to the Holy City. He had Him stand on the highest point of the Temple.
"If you are the Son of God," he said "throw yourself down. It is written, the Lord will command His angels to take good care of you. They will lift you up in their hands. Then you won't trip over a stone.
Jesus answered him, "It is also written, Do not test the Lord your God.
Finally, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain. He showed Him all the kingdom of the world and their glory.
"If you bow down and worship me," he said, "I will give you all this."
Jesus said to him, "Get away from me, satan! It is written, Worship the Lord your God. He is the only one you should serve." (Deuteronomy 6:13)
Then the devil left Jesus. Angels came and took care of Him.
May The Faith Be With You Holy Bible @ Zondervan 2017; The Message copyright @ 1993,1994,1995,1996,2000,2001,2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, IL 60188 & Life Application Bible @ 1986, 1988, 1989 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189
Satan's temptations focused on three crucial areas: (1) physical desires, (2) possessions and power, and (3) pride. But Jesus did not give in. Hebrews 4:15 says that Jesus was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. "He knows firsthand what we are experiencing and he is willing and able to help us in our struggles. When you are tempted, turn to Him for strength.
Angels, like these who ministered to Jesus, have a significant role as God's messengers. These spiritual beings were involved in Jesus like on earth by (1) announcing his birth to Mary, (2) reassuring Joseph, (3) naming Jesus, (4) announcing His birth to the Shepherds, (5) protecting Jesus by sending His family to Egypt, (6) ministering to Him in Gethsemane.
Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the test. The devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left Him, of course, in a state of hunger, which the devil took advantage of in the first test: "Since you are God's Son, speak the Word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.
Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: "It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth.
For the second test the devil took Him to the Holy City. He sat Him on top of the Temple and said, "Since you are God's Son, jump." The devil goaded Him by quoting Psalm 91: "He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won't so much as stub your toe on a stone."
Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy: "Don't dare test the Lord your God."
For the third test, the devil took Him to the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth's kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, they're yours - lock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they're yours.
Jesus refusal was curt: "Beat it, Satan." He backed his rebuke his rebuke with a third quotation and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.
The test was over. The devil left. And in his place, angels! Angels came and took care of Jesus needs.
The Spirit led Jesus into the desert. There the devil tempted Him.
After 40 days and 40 nights of going without eating, Jesus was hungry.
The tempter came to Him. He said, "If you are the Son of God tell these stones to become bread.
Jesus answered, "It is written, 'Man must not live only on bread. He must also live by every Word that come from the mouth of God. (Deuteronomy 8:3)
Then the devil took Jesus to the Holy City. He had Him stand on the highest point of the Temple.
"If you are the Son of God," he said "throw yourself down. It is written, the Lord will command His angels to take good care of you. They will lift you up in their hands. Then you won't trip over a stone.
Jesus answered him, "It is also written, Do not test the Lord your God.
Finally, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain. He showed Him all the kingdom of the world and their glory.
"If you bow down and worship me," he said, "I will give you all this."
Jesus said to him, "Get away from me, satan! It is written, Worship the Lord your God. He is the only one you should serve." (Deuteronomy 6:13)
Then the devil left Jesus. Angels came and took care of Him.
May The Faith Be With You Holy Bible @ Zondervan 2017; The Message copyright @ 1993,1994,1995,1996,2000,2001,2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, IL 60188 & Life Application Bible @ 1986, 1988, 1989 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Jesus Is Crucified - Children's Sunday School Lesson - Mark 15 - Sunday - 3/25/18
Jesus Is Brought to Pilate. The soldiers make fun of Jesus. Jesus is nailed to the Cross. Jesus dies. Jesus is buried.
This was a terrible, painful, and embarassing way for Jesus to die. Jesus could have rescued Himself. Jesus did not have to let those bad men take His life.
Who did Jesus die for? Why did Jesus die for you and me?
Jesus did not do anything wrong so He didn't deserve to die. Instead, Jesus decided to take the punishment all of us deserve for all the wrong things we have done. Jesus did it because he loves us.
The six hours (9am - 3pm) pm the cross Jesus touched a depth of suffering in body, mind and spirit beyond the stretch of our imagination. Jesus death paid in full the penalty for our sin. Jesus saved us from the death sentence, making possible the free gift of eternal life.
Jesus Words from the Cross:
Luke 23:34 ... Jesus said, "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they are doing." The soldiers divided up his clothes by casting lots.
Reference Scriptures: Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; John 19:23; Acts 3:17
Luke 23:43 ... (Jesus word to the thief on the cross beside Him who repented) Jesus answered him, "What I'm about to tell you is true. Today you will be with me in paradise.
John 19:26-27 ... (Jesus commending His mother to John's care) Jesus saw His mother there. Jesus also saw the disciple he loved standing nearby. Jesus said to His mother, "Dear woman, here is your son." From that time on, the disciple took her into his home.
Matthew 27:46 (Mark 15:34) ... About three o'clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice. He said, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachtani?" This means "My God, my God, why have you deserted me?"
Psalm 22:1 ...My God, my God, why have you deserted me?
Why do you seem so far away when I need you to save me?
Why do you seem so far away that you can't hear my groans?
John 19:28 ... Later, Jesus knew that everything had now been finished. He also knew that what Scripture said must come true. So he said, "I am thirsty."
Reference Scripture ... Psalm 69:21
John 19:30 ... After Jesus drank He said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and died.
Reference Scripture ... John 17:4
Luke 23:46 ... Jesus called out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my life." After Jesus said this, He took His last breath.
Reference Scripture ... Psalm 31:5; Matthew 27:50; Mark 15:37; John 19:30
Scripture reference used from the New International Readers Version (NIRV May The Faith Be With You Holy Bible) Copyright @ 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. & The New Analytical Bible Dictionary of the Bible, Authorized King James Version, World Bible Publishers, Iowa Falls, Iowa
This was a terrible, painful, and embarassing way for Jesus to die. Jesus could have rescued Himself. Jesus did not have to let those bad men take His life.
Who did Jesus die for? Why did Jesus die for you and me?
Jesus did not do anything wrong so He didn't deserve to die. Instead, Jesus decided to take the punishment all of us deserve for all the wrong things we have done. Jesus did it because he loves us.
The six hours (9am - 3pm) pm the cross Jesus touched a depth of suffering in body, mind and spirit beyond the stretch of our imagination. Jesus death paid in full the penalty for our sin. Jesus saved us from the death sentence, making possible the free gift of eternal life.
Jesus Words from the Cross:
Luke 23:34 ... Jesus said, "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they are doing." The soldiers divided up his clothes by casting lots.
Reference Scriptures: Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; John 19:23; Acts 3:17
Luke 23:43 ... (Jesus word to the thief on the cross beside Him who repented) Jesus answered him, "What I'm about to tell you is true. Today you will be with me in paradise.
John 19:26-27 ... (Jesus commending His mother to John's care) Jesus saw His mother there. Jesus also saw the disciple he loved standing nearby. Jesus said to His mother, "Dear woman, here is your son." From that time on, the disciple took her into his home.
Matthew 27:46 (Mark 15:34) ... About three o'clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice. He said, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachtani?" This means "My God, my God, why have you deserted me?"
Psalm 22:1 ...My God, my God, why have you deserted me?
Why do you seem so far away when I need you to save me?
Why do you seem so far away that you can't hear my groans?
John 19:28 ... Later, Jesus knew that everything had now been finished. He also knew that what Scripture said must come true. So he said, "I am thirsty."
Reference Scripture ... Psalm 69:21
John 19:30 ... After Jesus drank He said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and died.
Reference Scripture ... John 17:4
Luke 23:46 ... Jesus called out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my life." After Jesus said this, He took His last breath.
Reference Scripture ... Psalm 31:5; Matthew 27:50; Mark 15:37; John 19:30
Scripture reference used from the New International Readers Version (NIRV May The Faith Be With You Holy Bible) Copyright @ 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. & The New Analytical Bible Dictionary of the Bible, Authorized King James Version, World Bible Publishers, Iowa Falls, Iowa
Sunday, January 21, 2018
Pile of Masks: Exposing Christian Hypocrisy ... Book Review
Dustin Renz (the author), was recently introduced at a speaking engagement as - a graduate of Teen Challenge, Southeastern University and Pure Life Ministries. Both Teen Challenge and Pure Life Ministries are residential Christian programs that assist in setting people free from addictions and bondage. The seasons the author spent in those two programs serve as book - ends for nearly ten years of running from God, much like the biblical prophet, Jonah. But like Jonah, the author too realized the desperate situation he was in and cried out to God for mercy.
The author grew up in a middle - class home. He had parents who loved him and they lived a comfortable life. The greatest attacks came not from inside his home, but outside. They moved to Florida from New York when he was in the second grade. It was that year - at age seven - he was first exposed to pornography. All throughout his childhood, pornography continued to be readily available to him, which became a deeply - rooted stronghold in his life.
He became friends with another young boy and frequently spent time at his house. It was there where he was first exposed to satanic music, Ouija boards, horror movies, violent games, hypnotism and even sexual experimentation.
He went to church as a child. He claimed to be a Christian, but he had not been born again.
When he was eleven years old, his parents announced to his siblings and him that they had decided to get a divorce.
He had always been a deeply emotional person and most of his friends were female. He still attended church, but he despised Christians and hated God.
He discovered that he had the talent to rap and began rapping at parties and writing songs.
He spent all weekend partying and all week getting high or drunk before and after school.
He graduated high school, left home and began living with friends so that he could do as he pleased. It became necessary to live in his car to live in his car after having burned all bridges with family and friends.
His father allowed him to stay with him for a couple of weeks to try to help him get straightened out. After a near overdose, he realized he was out of control, and agreed to go to a program called Teen Challenge.
In July of 2002, he found himself in the intake office of Teen Challenge in Tarpon Springs, Florida. He had told his dad on the way to the program that he was not going to let them "brainwash him with all of that Jesus stuff." It soon became evident that God had a different plan!
He experienced what Scripture promises to those who surrender their lives to the Lord: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" He fell in love with Jesus. For the next year, he could not get enough of the Bible. He spent hours in prayer and worship. There was no doubt he had a real encounter was with Jesus Christ!
After graduating from Teen Challenge, he once again enjoyed freedom to do as he pleased - something he soon discovered he was not prepared for. Before he knew it, an addiction to pornography head once again taken control of his life. It was then that he met a girl named Brittany at the Christian college he was attending, and they fell in love. When he confessed to her about the pornography, she made it clear that unless he got victory over that area, there was no future for them.
They got married in May 2005. He justified his secret life. He cried out to God over and over again: repenting, apologizing and promising to do better. Clearly, he was only giving the Lord lip service and empty promises.
Over the coming months, he fell further from God. Soon, he was drinking liquor and abusing prescription pills whenever he had the chance.
He began to visualize becoming famous in the music industry and he was confident that his career would take off soon.
Brittany and he got involved in youth ministry, and he became the Assistant Pastor of their church. Lust grew in his heart, and whenever he was depressed, he would still go back to satanic music in his head for comfort.
When him and his wife was accepted to go overseas to assist missionaries for two years, everything escalated. They began the process of raising the necessary funds to go. He had definite fears about relocating to a foreign country, but instead of taking those concerns to God, he returned with great fervor to the old empty cisterns of this world.
He persuaded himself that when he got overseas, the struggle would end.
Their first daughter, Abigail, was born in May of 2010. This drastic change in their lives caused him to panic. He knew he was not ready to be a father, and the weight of that responsibility was more than he could take.
His wife began sensing that something was not right in his life. He told her that he had been lying and carrying on a secret life during the entire seven years of their relationship. She was devastated and immediately told their superiors. They were flown back to the U.S. and asked to resign.
You would think this would have been enough to bring him to repentance, but instead he grew bitter. His wife took control of their finances and watched his every moment.
When he arrived at Pure Life Ministries in April of 2011, one of the counselors said he looked like a dead man. He only agreed to enter the program in the hopes of saving his marriage, which at that point was almost certainly going to end in divorce.
There was no network television in any of their homes. They were not consumed with the latest technologies like smart phones and video games.
This was the turning point and the Lord began to restore him.
Dustin now have an abundant life in Christ and he has truly become an overcomer.
But the Lord has opened his eyes to the reality that there is freedom for the addict, purity for the lustful, and righteousness for the wicked.
Adam and Eve's oldest son provides for us the earliest example of hypocrisy.
A lifestyle of hypocrisy was at the root of Jehovah's chosen nation, Israel. This can be seen throughout the Old Testament, from the time Moses led Israel out of Egypt, to the time of the Babylonian and Assyrian captivities. It was the people's unwillingness to be fully devoted to the Lord that resulted in countless trial and judgments.
Hypocrisy is the reason that the Israelites were called to make a decision throughout the Old Testament. Perhaps the most popular Scripture where a line is drawn in the sand occurs in the book of Joshua. At this point in history, the Israelites were just setting foot into the Promised Land, but they had already shown their divided hearts on several occasions.
They had absolutely no faith to believe that the God who rescued them from Egypt could provide for their needs.
Jehovah had been good to them and provided for them the whole way.
The Israelites have the choice to either serve the Lord or to worship other gods. There is no middle ground.
Scripture says in 1 John 4:8 that God is love. Our relationship with Him is born out of a response to His love for us. Continually in Scripture, the relationship of God and man is compared to a marital relationship.
Song of Solomon paints a beautiful picture of the intimacy enjoyed between a husband and wife (and, allegorically, of God and man). We are called the Bride of Christ and Jesus the Bridegroom in several places in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit could have used any metaphor to describe our relationship with Him, but He chose to relate it to a marriage.
Listen to the sound of a heartbroken God calling out to His people through the prophet Micah:
My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
Jeremiah 2:19 sums up a truth he had found to be absolutely certain: "Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me ...
When it came to fighting against idolatry and syncretism in the Old Testament, there was one King who stood out above the rest. His name was King Josiah, and he took the throne of Judah when he was eight years old. He lived in a time when the land of Israel was divided into a northern and southern kingdom. The country was in a mess. Jehovah repeatedly sent prophets to the nation to try to get their attention and cause them to repent and turn back to Him. As we have discovered, Israel remained entrenched in idolatry and the worship of false gods.
Josiah became king a few years after Manasseh, who was one of the most wicked kings to ever rule in Israel.
During his reign, many people made idols for a living. There were full-time priests who served at the altars and temples of the false gods. Many in the land were enjoying the 'benefits' afforded to them by sacred prostitution. But Josiah did not fear men, he only feared the Lord and his actions proved it.
Josiah launches an all - out attack on idolatry.
Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did - with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.
Pharisaic:
1. adjective. emphasizing or observing the letter but not the spirit of religious law; self-righteous; sanctimonious
2. pretending to be highly moral or virtuous without actually being so; hypocritical
By The Close Of The Lord The Old Testament period, the nation of Israel had returned to their homeland after being held in captivity. Jehovah had allowed northern Israel to be exiled by Assyria in 721 B.C. Eventually, Judah was taken into exile by the Babylonians for 70 years. The period between the Old and New Testaments is a duration of four hundred years of prophetic silence. There was no Word from God to His people during this time.
Then John the Baptist appears on the scene and breaks the silence. Israel was ruled by the Roman Empire at this time and Rome stayed in power throughout the life of Jesus.
The Jewish community that Jesus was born into was not the same Israel He would have encountered had He been born one thousand years earlier. A person could cease visiting temple prostitutes and still be completely driven by lust inside. Remember, hypocrisy is always a heart issue.
The Pharisees were a very influential Jew party during Jesus' time on the Earth.
Historically, the people of Israel had broken even the most basic commandments by serving idols and foreign gods. It is important to understand that the sect of the Pharisees had good intentions. It is not fair to assume that every Pharisee was wicked, despite the descriptions given in the New Testament.
We also need to realize that there were some Pharisees who were on the right track. Some did love the Lord and honored Jesus, like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea.
Hypocrite:
1. noun. a person who pretends to be what he or she is not; one who pretends to be what he or she is not; one who pretends to be better than they really are so; or to be pious, virtuous, etc. without really being so.
We Have Looked In-Depth At Hypocrisy in the lives of the Israelites in the Old Testament, and we have also encountered the double-minded Pharisees of Jesus' time. Neither the Israelites nor the Pharisees were born again believers, or even had a full knowledge of the New Covenant.
John Calvin was a follower of Christ with a great understanding of Scripture. He understood what the Bible teaches about looking for spiritual fruit. What he actually taught was that if you are genuinely converted, there has to be evidence of it in your life. He taught that true conversion was an irreversible decision on the Lord's part. He taught that the moment you are converted, your salvation is eternally secure. There would be no way for a true Christian to ever go back into habitual sin and fall away. That is not an option in Calvin's teaching.
Joseph Arminius was also a godly man who studied the Word of God. He agreed with Calvin that if you were truly saved, your life would have spiritual fruit as evidence. The major point they differed on - in regards to the permanence of salvation - is that Arminius believed that a person could fall so far away from God that they could 'lose' or 'reject' their salvation. He believed that humans had more free will in cooperating with God in salvation than Calvin did.
According to Calvin's interpretation of Scripture, the lack of fruit is in itself proof that the person was never truly converted. The Arminians would say to the same person that the lack of fruit is evidence that they either were never saved in the first place, or they are backslidden and in danger of losing (or rejecting) their salvation. Either that person needs to repent (and either return to Christ or be saved) or they are in danger of Hell.
The kind of fruit that we should be looking for is in our character and walk with the Lord.
Hypocrites need to examine whether or not their beliefs actually line up with the whole teaching of the Bible.
In the Kingdom, we humble ourselves and the Lord gives promotion to us. When Jesus gave the parable of the feast in Luke 14, He said:
But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, "Friend, move up to a better place." Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Dustin Renz is a minister with a passion to see the Body of Christ become all that God has created it to be. He is the founder of Make Way Ministries, which exists to see the Body of Christ awaken, mature and arise to its responsibility in these last days.
The author grew up in a middle - class home. He had parents who loved him and they lived a comfortable life. The greatest attacks came not from inside his home, but outside. They moved to Florida from New York when he was in the second grade. It was that year - at age seven - he was first exposed to pornography. All throughout his childhood, pornography continued to be readily available to him, which became a deeply - rooted stronghold in his life.
He became friends with another young boy and frequently spent time at his house. It was there where he was first exposed to satanic music, Ouija boards, horror movies, violent games, hypnotism and even sexual experimentation.
He went to church as a child. He claimed to be a Christian, but he had not been born again.
When he was eleven years old, his parents announced to his siblings and him that they had decided to get a divorce.
He had always been a deeply emotional person and most of his friends were female. He still attended church, but he despised Christians and hated God.
He discovered that he had the talent to rap and began rapping at parties and writing songs.
He spent all weekend partying and all week getting high or drunk before and after school.
He graduated high school, left home and began living with friends so that he could do as he pleased. It became necessary to live in his car to live in his car after having burned all bridges with family and friends.
His father allowed him to stay with him for a couple of weeks to try to help him get straightened out. After a near overdose, he realized he was out of control, and agreed to go to a program called Teen Challenge.
In July of 2002, he found himself in the intake office of Teen Challenge in Tarpon Springs, Florida. He had told his dad on the way to the program that he was not going to let them "brainwash him with all of that Jesus stuff." It soon became evident that God had a different plan!
He experienced what Scripture promises to those who surrender their lives to the Lord: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" He fell in love with Jesus. For the next year, he could not get enough of the Bible. He spent hours in prayer and worship. There was no doubt he had a real encounter was with Jesus Christ!
After graduating from Teen Challenge, he once again enjoyed freedom to do as he pleased - something he soon discovered he was not prepared for. Before he knew it, an addiction to pornography head once again taken control of his life. It was then that he met a girl named Brittany at the Christian college he was attending, and they fell in love. When he confessed to her about the pornography, she made it clear that unless he got victory over that area, there was no future for them.
They got married in May 2005. He justified his secret life. He cried out to God over and over again: repenting, apologizing and promising to do better. Clearly, he was only giving the Lord lip service and empty promises.
Over the coming months, he fell further from God. Soon, he was drinking liquor and abusing prescription pills whenever he had the chance.
He began to visualize becoming famous in the music industry and he was confident that his career would take off soon.
Brittany and he got involved in youth ministry, and he became the Assistant Pastor of their church. Lust grew in his heart, and whenever he was depressed, he would still go back to satanic music in his head for comfort.
When him and his wife was accepted to go overseas to assist missionaries for two years, everything escalated. They began the process of raising the necessary funds to go. He had definite fears about relocating to a foreign country, but instead of taking those concerns to God, he returned with great fervor to the old empty cisterns of this world.
He persuaded himself that when he got overseas, the struggle would end.
Their first daughter, Abigail, was born in May of 2010. This drastic change in their lives caused him to panic. He knew he was not ready to be a father, and the weight of that responsibility was more than he could take.
His wife began sensing that something was not right in his life. He told her that he had been lying and carrying on a secret life during the entire seven years of their relationship. She was devastated and immediately told their superiors. They were flown back to the U.S. and asked to resign.
You would think this would have been enough to bring him to repentance, but instead he grew bitter. His wife took control of their finances and watched his every moment.
When he arrived at Pure Life Ministries in April of 2011, one of the counselors said he looked like a dead man. He only agreed to enter the program in the hopes of saving his marriage, which at that point was almost certainly going to end in divorce.
There was no network television in any of their homes. They were not consumed with the latest technologies like smart phones and video games.
This was the turning point and the Lord began to restore him.
Dustin now have an abundant life in Christ and he has truly become an overcomer.
But the Lord has opened his eyes to the reality that there is freedom for the addict, purity for the lustful, and righteousness for the wicked.
Adam and Eve's oldest son provides for us the earliest example of hypocrisy.
A lifestyle of hypocrisy was at the root of Jehovah's chosen nation, Israel. This can be seen throughout the Old Testament, from the time Moses led Israel out of Egypt, to the time of the Babylonian and Assyrian captivities. It was the people's unwillingness to be fully devoted to the Lord that resulted in countless trial and judgments.
Hypocrisy is the reason that the Israelites were called to make a decision throughout the Old Testament. Perhaps the most popular Scripture where a line is drawn in the sand occurs in the book of Joshua. At this point in history, the Israelites were just setting foot into the Promised Land, but they had already shown their divided hearts on several occasions.
They had absolutely no faith to believe that the God who rescued them from Egypt could provide for their needs.
Jehovah had been good to them and provided for them the whole way.
The Israelites have the choice to either serve the Lord or to worship other gods. There is no middle ground.
Scripture says in 1 John 4:8 that God is love. Our relationship with Him is born out of a response to His love for us. Continually in Scripture, the relationship of God and man is compared to a marital relationship.
Song of Solomon paints a beautiful picture of the intimacy enjoyed between a husband and wife (and, allegorically, of God and man). We are called the Bride of Christ and Jesus the Bridegroom in several places in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit could have used any metaphor to describe our relationship with Him, but He chose to relate it to a marriage.
Listen to the sound of a heartbroken God calling out to His people through the prophet Micah:
My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
Jeremiah 2:19 sums up a truth he had found to be absolutely certain: "Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me ...
When it came to fighting against idolatry and syncretism in the Old Testament, there was one King who stood out above the rest. His name was King Josiah, and he took the throne of Judah when he was eight years old. He lived in a time when the land of Israel was divided into a northern and southern kingdom. The country was in a mess. Jehovah repeatedly sent prophets to the nation to try to get their attention and cause them to repent and turn back to Him. As we have discovered, Israel remained entrenched in idolatry and the worship of false gods.
Josiah became king a few years after Manasseh, who was one of the most wicked kings to ever rule in Israel.
During his reign, many people made idols for a living. There were full-time priests who served at the altars and temples of the false gods. Many in the land were enjoying the 'benefits' afforded to them by sacred prostitution. But Josiah did not fear men, he only feared the Lord and his actions proved it.
Josiah launches an all - out attack on idolatry.
Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did - with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.
Pharisaic:
1. adjective. emphasizing or observing the letter but not the spirit of religious law; self-righteous; sanctimonious
2. pretending to be highly moral or virtuous without actually being so; hypocritical
By The Close Of The Lord The Old Testament period, the nation of Israel had returned to their homeland after being held in captivity. Jehovah had allowed northern Israel to be exiled by Assyria in 721 B.C. Eventually, Judah was taken into exile by the Babylonians for 70 years. The period between the Old and New Testaments is a duration of four hundred years of prophetic silence. There was no Word from God to His people during this time.
Then John the Baptist appears on the scene and breaks the silence. Israel was ruled by the Roman Empire at this time and Rome stayed in power throughout the life of Jesus.
The Jewish community that Jesus was born into was not the same Israel He would have encountered had He been born one thousand years earlier. A person could cease visiting temple prostitutes and still be completely driven by lust inside. Remember, hypocrisy is always a heart issue.
The Pharisees were a very influential Jew party during Jesus' time on the Earth.
Historically, the people of Israel had broken even the most basic commandments by serving idols and foreign gods. It is important to understand that the sect of the Pharisees had good intentions. It is not fair to assume that every Pharisee was wicked, despite the descriptions given in the New Testament.
We also need to realize that there were some Pharisees who were on the right track. Some did love the Lord and honored Jesus, like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea.
Hypocrite:
1. noun. a person who pretends to be what he or she is not; one who pretends to be what he or she is not; one who pretends to be better than they really are so; or to be pious, virtuous, etc. without really being so.
We Have Looked In-Depth At Hypocrisy in the lives of the Israelites in the Old Testament, and we have also encountered the double-minded Pharisees of Jesus' time. Neither the Israelites nor the Pharisees were born again believers, or even had a full knowledge of the New Covenant.
John Calvin was a follower of Christ with a great understanding of Scripture. He understood what the Bible teaches about looking for spiritual fruit. What he actually taught was that if you are genuinely converted, there has to be evidence of it in your life. He taught that true conversion was an irreversible decision on the Lord's part. He taught that the moment you are converted, your salvation is eternally secure. There would be no way for a true Christian to ever go back into habitual sin and fall away. That is not an option in Calvin's teaching.
Joseph Arminius was also a godly man who studied the Word of God. He agreed with Calvin that if you were truly saved, your life would have spiritual fruit as evidence. The major point they differed on - in regards to the permanence of salvation - is that Arminius believed that a person could fall so far away from God that they could 'lose' or 'reject' their salvation. He believed that humans had more free will in cooperating with God in salvation than Calvin did.
According to Calvin's interpretation of Scripture, the lack of fruit is in itself proof that the person was never truly converted. The Arminians would say to the same person that the lack of fruit is evidence that they either were never saved in the first place, or they are backslidden and in danger of losing (or rejecting) their salvation. Either that person needs to repent (and either return to Christ or be saved) or they are in danger of Hell.
The kind of fruit that we should be looking for is in our character and walk with the Lord.
Hypocrites need to examine whether or not their beliefs actually line up with the whole teaching of the Bible.
In the Kingdom, we humble ourselves and the Lord gives promotion to us. When Jesus gave the parable of the feast in Luke 14, He said:
But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, "Friend, move up to a better place." Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Dustin Renz is a minister with a passion to see the Body of Christ become all that God has created it to be. He is the founder of Make Way Ministries, which exists to see the Body of Christ awaken, mature and arise to its responsibility in these last days.
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