Scripture - Matthew 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Observation - Kingdom is the Greek word for the authority of a King, and heaven was the word they tried to use to describe where God and the Angels resided. The authority of the creator of the universe is coming to earth, and we need to change our hearts to prepare for him. This scripture was spoken prior to the ministry of Jesus Christ, that authority of the universe is reigning now on earth. Jesus is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Application - How now should we live? Knowing that the ruler of the universe is here, amongst us? We need to change our minds, change our hearts, change our lives to acknowledge him in everything we do.
Prayer - Dear Jesus, help us to honor you. Help us to be worthy of the honor you gave us when you sacrificed yourself for us so that we could spend eternity, starting right now, with you. I pray that we would love you, and honor you in everything we do.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
The Kingdom of Heaven
Scripture: Matthew 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Observation: What did John mean by the "Kingdom of Heaven"? some Bible scholars believe he was referring to the prophecy in the book of Daniel 2:40 "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed:". In Daniel 2, the Lord accurately prophesies the four kingdoms that would rule the world for the next centuries: The Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman Empires. However, in verse 40 he identifies the final kingdom which will never end. Once could argue the Christianity ended the Roman Empire as it was know. Jesus Christ changed peoples hearts, and souls, one by one. His kingdom was not like the other kingdoms made by men. He rules over each of us in our spirit; and his kingdom cannot be broken like the kingdoms made by man.
Application: The Lords Prayer says "May your Kingdom come, may your will be done... on earth as it is in heaven" We need the Kingdom of Jesus Christ to rule in our lives. We need to power of God to be manifiest in our souls. We need to turn over the leadership of our lives to him, and concentrate not on what we want, but on what he wants. Then we will see the fruit of the spirit of God in our life: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, and Self Control. That is what we need in our troubled lives.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, may your kingdom come in my life. May your will be done in My Life. Not my will, but yours be done. Precious Jesus, take me and make me what you will. Thank You Jesus
Observation: What did John mean by the "Kingdom of Heaven"? some Bible scholars believe he was referring to the prophecy in the book of Daniel 2:40 "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed:". In Daniel 2, the Lord accurately prophesies the four kingdoms that would rule the world for the next centuries: The Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman Empires. However, in verse 40 he identifies the final kingdom which will never end. Once could argue the Christianity ended the Roman Empire as it was know. Jesus Christ changed peoples hearts, and souls, one by one. His kingdom was not like the other kingdoms made by men. He rules over each of us in our spirit; and his kingdom cannot be broken like the kingdoms made by man.
Application: The Lords Prayer says "May your Kingdom come, may your will be done... on earth as it is in heaven" We need the Kingdom of Jesus Christ to rule in our lives. We need to power of God to be manifiest in our souls. We need to turn over the leadership of our lives to him, and concentrate not on what we want, but on what he wants. Then we will see the fruit of the spirit of God in our life: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, and Self Control. That is what we need in our troubled lives.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, may your kingdom come in my life. May your will be done in My Life. Not my will, but yours be done. Precious Jesus, take me and make me what you will. Thank You Jesus
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Save the children
Scripture: Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
Observation: Satan loves to attack the defenseless little children. He used the same tactic to try to take out Moses. You see it throughout the lineage of Jesus Christ where he tried through attacks on the family, fertility, and newborn children.
Application: As men and women of God, we need to protect the unborn and the family. Still today, millions of our children do not make it to adulthood; either through abortion, infertility, family breakups, poverty, disease, or accidents.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, help us to protect the little children. We know that they are precious in your sight. Give us the mind of Christ, help us to see your perspective. Give us divine abilities to stop the attacks on our children. I pray angels charge over all of the little children in my life. In Jesus Name.
Observation: Satan loves to attack the defenseless little children. He used the same tactic to try to take out Moses. You see it throughout the lineage of Jesus Christ where he tried through attacks on the family, fertility, and newborn children.
Application: As men and women of God, we need to protect the unborn and the family. Still today, millions of our children do not make it to adulthood; either through abortion, infertility, family breakups, poverty, disease, or accidents.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, help us to protect the little children. We know that they are precious in your sight. Give us the mind of Christ, help us to see your perspective. Give us divine abilities to stop the attacks on our children. I pray angels charge over all of the little children in my life. In Jesus Name.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
The Tapestry
Scripture: Matt 2:4-6 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, [in] the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Observation: When we see a beautiful thread, together with another beautiful thread we admire it; the color, the texture, the lay of the yard... but often the picture of the tapestry itself is difficult to understand when we are examining thread. So it is with the Word of God. From the beginning to the end, God paints us a picture of our birth, our failure, our rebirth through his redemption, and reconciliation with God. This picture is painted over and over throughout time in what is described as labor pains. We see waves of effort to bring the birth and rebirth to pass, often ending with a period of rest before the waves of birthing begins again. Here in Matthew 2, we see the birth coming to pass. The pains are coming one on top of another, and soon, just as man was born in the Garden of Eden, man will be reborn at Jerusalem on the Holy Mountain, and ultimately there will be another birth of God in the Spirit on that same Mountain. Micah 5, quoted here by Matthew, ties these threads together.
Application: How now should we live? Knowing that our first birth was not sufficient. We must be born again to see Heaven, so says God. Our birth in the flesh must be replaced by a birth in the spirit, which will ultimately lead us to a final birth of our eternal spirit in heaven. This second birth happens by dedicating your life to serving Jesus Christ. You must love him with all of your heart, soul, and strength.... the way that he loves you. He will fill you with his love, and give you new life.
Prayer: Thank you Jesus that you died for my salvation. Thank you that you paid the price of my wrong doing, so that I can live forever with you. I give you everything that I am, all that I have is yours. Come and live in me. I turn away from my old life, and I turn to you. Fill me with your Holy Spirit.
Observation: When we see a beautiful thread, together with another beautiful thread we admire it; the color, the texture, the lay of the yard... but often the picture of the tapestry itself is difficult to understand when we are examining thread. So it is with the Word of God. From the beginning to the end, God paints us a picture of our birth, our failure, our rebirth through his redemption, and reconciliation with God. This picture is painted over and over throughout time in what is described as labor pains. We see waves of effort to bring the birth and rebirth to pass, often ending with a period of rest before the waves of birthing begins again. Here in Matthew 2, we see the birth coming to pass. The pains are coming one on top of another, and soon, just as man was born in the Garden of Eden, man will be reborn at Jerusalem on the Holy Mountain, and ultimately there will be another birth of God in the Spirit on that same Mountain. Micah 5, quoted here by Matthew, ties these threads together.
Application: How now should we live? Knowing that our first birth was not sufficient. We must be born again to see Heaven, so says God. Our birth in the flesh must be replaced by a birth in the spirit, which will ultimately lead us to a final birth of our eternal spirit in heaven. This second birth happens by dedicating your life to serving Jesus Christ. You must love him with all of your heart, soul, and strength.... the way that he loves you. He will fill you with his love, and give you new life.
Prayer: Thank you Jesus that you died for my salvation. Thank you that you paid the price of my wrong doing, so that I can live forever with you. I give you everything that I am, all that I have is yours. Come and live in me. I turn away from my old life, and I turn to you. Fill me with your Holy Spirit.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Be Strong and Courageous
Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Observation: When you are on God's side, you should have no fear, but rather courage! In the proceeding five verses, we see the reason Moses told Is real to be strong and courageous. First, they were following God, Second, they had a History ... they had seen what God would do if they followed his direction. And Third, they had Joshua to lead them.
Application: Jesus is our Joshua, he leads us and directs us. We need to follow God, see God work in our lives, and then follow him with every confidence.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, Lead me and guide me. I will follow you. I pray that your courage would fill my life as I follow you and that fear would be gone in your precious name. Praise the name of Jesus.
Observation: When you are on God's side, you should have no fear, but rather courage! In the proceeding five verses, we see the reason Moses told Is real to be strong and courageous. First, they were following God, Second, they had a History ... they had seen what God would do if they followed his direction. And Third, they had Joshua to lead them.
Application: Jesus is our Joshua, he leads us and directs us. We need to follow God, see God work in our lives, and then follow him with every confidence.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, Lead me and guide me. I will follow you. I pray that your courage would fill my life as I follow you and that fear would be gone in your precious name. Praise the name of Jesus.
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