What Do You Believe About the End: Pt. 2 The Elephant in the Room for a Pre-trib Rapture

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 (ESV)

1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

These two verses provide the context for this chapter. The context is related to the coming of the Lord, the gathering of His people together with Him and detailed information about the antichrist.

It is my personal belief that contained in this chapter is the biggest problem for the scriptural basis of a pre-tribulation rapture. There are many more, but verse 3 of this chapter is the most verifiable “one verse” place that concludes the argument for me.

Last week, we studied Daniel 9:24-27. From those verses, we learned that there is a last 7 year period, which will mark the end of this age. Many things will be occurring during this short period of time that will prepare the turning of the page from this age into the Millennial Reign of Christ.

Examples would be:

1. the signing of the covenant that starts this period (Daniel 9:27),

2. the successive opening of the seals (Revelation 5-6), (by seal 5 [Revelation 6:9]), the mark will have been instituted,

3. which means that the man of sin will have placed himself in the temple of God and demanded to be worshipped (Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4).

4. . The next event would be seal 6 (Revelation 6:12-8:1), which will cause great phenomena in the natural world. The sun will become black and the moon red and there will be a horrific earthquake.

5. . It will be between seal 6 and 7 that the rapture will occur in my opinion.

6. . The opening of seal 7 (Revelation 8:1) signals an angel to blow the first trumpet, which begins the pouring out of God’s wrath. The wrath of God is progressively intensified between the blowing of the trumpets and the pouring out of the vials. This time is culminated with the

7. Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19; Isaiah 63:2-6; Revelation 14:18-20), where a heavenly army made up of angels (Matt 25:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7) and glorified saints (Revelations 19:14, 15) will return with the Lord as He destroys the rebellious nations with the sword that protrudes from His mouth. This will mark the end of the age that we know as the church age, but even more significant, it will mark the end of the way that the world we live on has operated since the waters from the flood abated and God started anew.

In reference to the signing of the covenant, let’s dig a little deeper, since we have covered this in relative detail through Daniel 9:27. (In my opinion), the signing of the covenant will likely occur simultaneously with the opening of the first seal. I do not mean to get too wordy here, but these distinctions matter to me.

The first seal is the rider on the white horse. This rider is the antichrist. I would imagine all evangelical commentators who have any reputation would agree that the first rider on the white horse (Revelation 6:2) is the antichrist and is not to be confused with the rider on the white horse in Revelation 19, which is Jesus, the glorified King!

I have never heard another teacher say it this way, but to me this is how he will be revealed initially- through the signing of the covenant, and in my opinion, many will miss this clue. What I mean is that the signing of this covenant will be deceptive and most will not realize who he is yet; however, whether people realize what is happening or not, this will trigger the seals being opened, and once they are opened, there is no stopping the progression to the end. As the seals are opened, it will become painfully apparent that things have shifted. All nations will feel this impact, and while many Christians will still be deceived, others will begin to realize that catastrophe is at the door.

Pre-tribulation adherents do not concern themselves much with this Biblical information simply because they are told, and choose to believe, that they will not be here during this timeframe. In many cases, these proponents (teachers who believe this) teach the rapture will have either already occurred or that it will occur somewhat simultaneously with the signing of this agreement.

The most common or prevalent end time terminology refers to this last 7 year period as the “Great Tribulation.” In my opinion, it is important at this point to draw a distinction. For me, there is not a problem with referring to this last 7 year period as the proper name The Great Tribulation. However, it is extremely important that we clarify some details: 1) there is a difference between tribulation and wrath. Tribulation can be caused by man. For instance, men can stop the shipping of cargo, such as wheat or other commodities and cause famine. In addition, men can foment (instigate) war. Surely, you get the point.

However, The Wrath of God and the word tribulation used as an adjective are not the same. What I mean is that there will be [g]reat [t]ribulation throughout the entire 7 year period. [Jesus said these words in Matthew 24:21). This is likely where the proper name The Great Tribulation came from, but in this passage, it is in the lower case (little g and little t) meaning that He is simply describing the great turmoil throughout this 7 year period.

However, distinguishing the difference between tribulation (little t) and wrath is of utmost importance because pre-tribulation preachers lump it altogether, but there is a huge difference in technicality when it comes to the timing of the rapture.

The scripture says that we are not appointed to wrath (1Thessalonians 5:9), and the reason why is that Jesus took the wrath we deserved when our sin was placed on Him, and He died in our place. However, Jesus, Himself, told us that we will endure tribulation. It’s important to note that I’m not inferring that He is referring in (John) specifically to the Great Tribulation. Instead, He is saying that believers are not immune to the tribulations of life that befall this fallen earth (John 16:33)

Start teaching from here the above is lagniappe

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 (ESV)

1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

Verse 2 reveals that the church in Thessalonica were being told and had even possibly received a fraudulent letter with Paul’s name on it saying, “The Day of the Lord has come!”

But our focus is on verse 1. Notice how there is terminology referring to two thoughts: 1) the coming of our Lord and 2) our gathering together with Him. I placed a significant amount of information to help with understanding this thought in the notes above.

The last 7 year period will contain many moving parts that will culminate the end. When we use the terminology, last days, it encompasses what we are feeling now, but even more significantly refers to the last 7 years. In a similar fashion, when there is terminology related to the Day of the Lord, it is specifically related to the beginning of God’s wrath; however, one day to the Lord is like a thousand and a thousand like one day, so the scriptures often refer to the Day of the Lord in more general terminology relating to the last days.

Here, it is clear that the Holy Spirit through Paul is referring to the last days but specifically to the rapture of the church. This is verified by the terminology and our being gathered together to Him.

The word used for this whole phrase is ἐπισυναγωγή episyngoge. As usual, this is a compound word in the Greek and is broken down this way: epi— upon and synagoge- gather

The word synagoge is where the word English word synagogue is derived, which meant a gathering of people that had the same beliefs regarding the Jewish scriptures. The added word epi while most often used as a preposition meaning upon has additional meaning in the Greek language. Prepositions in Greek have additional uses and are often used to reveal deeper meaning. Specifically, the word epi (upon) can mean completeness in the sense of culmination or coming to an end.

So this verse is specifically referring to that part of the end of the age that relates to the final gathering together of those believers who were likeminded through the ages in God’s plan for mankind.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 (KJV)

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, [except there come a falling away first], [and that man of sin be revealed], the son of perdition;

That day refers to the rapture of the church. Let no one deceive you he says THAT day will not come except there is a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed. We will separate the thoughts [falling away] and [the man of sin] in a moment, but first, let’s dissect the falling away into two time frames:

The following two translations use two different words for the falling away. One uses rebellion and the other uses apostasy. In a sense, the word apostasy is likely the best choice, and I will explain that in a moment, but the terminology falling away and rebellion are helpful to distinguish the two thoughts that we are currently dealing with.

Examples showing the different word usage

3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, [unless the rebellion comes first], [and the man of lawlessness is revealed], the son of destruction, (2 Thessalonians 2:3 (ESV)

3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come [unless the apostasy comes first], [and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction],

2 (Thessalonians 2:3 (NASB)

1. The first aspect of the rebellious falling away that can also be called apostasy that I want to refer to has to do with a general falling away from the faith that we are warned will happen in the last days. These times will be filled with a love for self more than a love for God (2 Timothy 3:1-4).

These times will be filled with the twisting of truth that will be led by the doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1-2).

The love of self and the love for happiness of self will draw the hearer to find preachers that will make them happy. The truth convicts and conviction doesn’t feel good to a person who refuses to truly repent of their sin, so what they will do in the last days is search for themselves preachers that will tell them pleasant words that they want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3).

The scripture also warns us that men have always been known to deceitfully handle the word of God, causing confusion in people’s lives and turning their walk with God into the similar motions of a wave on the ocean that is tossed whichever way the wind blows (Ephesians 4:11-16).

These people won’t even know this is happening to them because Satan is deceiving them away from the simplicity of Christ— meaning a message focused on Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1-4).

2. The second falling away brings us to Jesus’ Olivet discourse in Matthew 24

Let’s review Matthew 24:1-14. The main verse that I wanted you to see was:

Matthew 24:10 (ESV)

10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

This is the specific falling away, also known as the rebellion or the apostasy that will take place once the Great Tribulation begins with the opening of the first seal.

Back to 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and the fact that the day of the rapture cannot take place unless two things happen:

1. There is a great falling away

2. The man of sin is revealed

2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NASB)

3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come [unless the apostasy comes first], [and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction],

I purposefully chose the NASB as the source for this verse because of the word apostasy. The specific Greek word here is apostasia—defection from truth, falling away, to forsake.

The pre-tribulation position is forced to take a position on this scripture that is not consistent with the Bible. Several pre-tribulation authors make the claim this phrase would have been better translated …that day will not come until the taking away and the man of sin is revealed. But the Greek word apostasia means to defect or to fall away not take take away, so they are saying that it’s referring to the Rapture itself. This makes even less sense when we think about it, because then it would be saying, “That day [ie the Rapture] will not take place until two things happen first 1. The taking away [the Rapture] and 2. The man of sin is revealed.

Conclusion

Daniel 12:7-11

In these verses, the angel describes a time on earth when Israel’s power will be shattered and the prophecy of Daniel 9 will come to an end.

During these last days many will heed truth and purify themselves while the wicked will continue in their sin. Only the wise will understand.

Daniel 12:12 (ESV)

12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days.

This verse says that the person who makes it to the 1335 days is blessed. 1335-1260=75

I believe that once antichrist breaks covenant and reveals who he really is to the world, there will be a 75 day period before the rapture. This coincides with the words of the Lord:

Matthew 24:22 (ESV)

22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

What Do You Believe About the End: Part 1 Daniel's Prophecy of Weeks

Purpose of this series

A challenge to the heart’s of believers to be awakened out of sleep and shaken out of complacency. Paul’s letters to Timothy (1 and 2 Timothy) repeatedly warn that the last days will be filled with deception. Also, believers are charged to study God’s word like a workman so that that they will not be ashamed. This passage also describes a workman as one who is approved by God (2 Timothy 2:15). My prayer is that this series will challenge believers to study the scriptures for themselves and not just believe what they may have been told in the past while never rightly dividing the word themselves.

Workman— one who toils, a laborer, a teacher

Approved— tried, put to the test and examined

Objectives

1. To help people be ready

2. To help people be not deceived

3. To challenge people to know what they believe

4. To challenge people to study the scriptures themselves

5. To teach what the scriptures say about the end? More specifically the rapture.

Don’t be deceived!

2 Thessalonians 2:3 (ESV)

3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

Ephesians 5:6 (ESV)

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Matthew 24:4 (KJV)

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

As a side note, before we dig into today’s main topic, consideration of the Millennial Reign of Christ is important (Revelation 20). Whether a person realizes it or not, views related to the 1,000 year period known as the Millennial Reign of Christ have an impact on last days belief in several ways. My point right here, for the purpose of this series, is very brief. Some people believe in an amillennial view. Meaning, there is no literal 1,000 year reign of Jesus on earth.

The way they would describe this is by saying that 1,000 years isn’t a literal 1,000 year period. Rather, it is symbolic terminology describing a long period of time where God is working on earth. Specifically, it would describe the time that we are in now. The way this would be viewed is that Satan is bound to some extent now because he cannot stop the preaching of the gospel.

One of the main co-texts they would use is Colossians 2:15, which explains in the KJV that Jesus defeated the powers of darkness through His cross [it], and the powers of darkness are currently bound in the sense that they cannot stop the kingdom from advancing. This is a common last days interpretation held by many denominations including: Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Presbyterianism, Lutheranism and some Baptists.

Most people that attend churches like ours: Bible studying, Spirit filled churches believe in a premillennial view. This means that we believe in a literal interpretation of Revelation 20. And that the current age we are living in now (the church age) will end with the rapture of the church. Afterwards, the Lord will return to finalize the wrath of God against unrepentant humanity through the Battle of Armageddon. Once this is completed, Jesus will rule on earth in His glorified body. All the nations will bring their glory to Him, and those who served Him on earth, will rule and reign with Him then. This timeframe is a time of peace on earth that is described by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 11:1-12).

Information about the Millennial Reign was a side note. Daniel chapter 9 is our true starting point today. The main emphasis of this first concept is to introduce the learner to the prophecy of weeks that was given to Daniel through an angel. A very important thought related to this prophecy and end times understanding is the fact that this is the only place in scripture where a 7 year last days timeframe is mentioned. To explain more thoroughly, there are multiple places in scripture that speak of a 3.5 year period. The terminology of: 42 months, 1260 days, 3.5 years and “time, times and half a time” are all used to describe a last days 3.5 year period according to a Jewish reckoning of time based on a lunar calendar. But only Daniel 9 points to a last days period totaling 7 years.

Read Daniel 9 while considering the context. He is in prayer remembering Jeremiah’s prophecy of 70 years of captivity. The prophecy of these 70 years given to Jeremiah by God was related to their rebellion against Him (Jeremiah 25:1-12). This is very significant in many ways. Here are just a couple considerations:

1. Daniel is very concerned about this timing because all of these things are happening in his lifetime. The prophecy given to Jeremiah occurred in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, which coincides with Daniel being taken captive as a teenage boy. Now the predicted 70 years is coming to an end, so he cries out, as an old man, asking God for understanding.

What we can learn from Daniel’s prayer:

• he discerned the times and realized that something very serious was on the horizon. We must do the same.

• The content in his prayer is very sobering and reveals that he realizes that God has been transgressed by His own people. This transgression goes all the way back to the blessings and curses commanded by God for Israel to speak from Ebal and Gerizim in Deuteronomy 28 before they entered the Promised Land after the Exodus.

• Furthermore, Daniel uses the plural pronoun [we] when he addresses God. This means that he includes himself in the failures of God’s people to live properly before Him, and he is aware that the captivity was directly related to their rebellion (their) meaning God’s people— not the world.

• It seems to me that if we did a better job discerning the times we live in, like Daniel discerned the times that he lived in, that we would also realize that we have all transgressed the Lord and have treated His word at times with negligence. A proper understanding of this should result in a brokenhearted posture that results in a cry of repentance and asks for revelation from God to understand the times, so we could be better prepared.

• I say all this to make a specific point. Many adherents (those that believe) in a pre-tribulation rapture make the point from Daniel 9:24 “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people…” to mean the last 7 years spoken of in this passage proves that this doesn’t refer to the church, only Israel. Two concerns with this thought: a) the rebellious condition of much of the church today is very similar to that of Israel then. God’s allowing Israel’s captivity can be seen as chastisement, mercy and kindness in His correction towards a rebellious people. Therefore, why couldn’t trial and tribulation be seen as chastisement, mercy and kindness towards a rebellious, unprepared church? b) the church age is not mentioned in Daniel’s prophecy. There are many times the Bible is silent on a topic. It is important to understand that silence does not bring finality to a point it just means silence. God’s word to Daniel did not directly relate to the church, but Israel; however, that doesn’t automatically exclude the church from the entirety of this last 7 year period. While I do believe that his references to the saints, scattered within the book of Daniel refer to New Testament believers and not Jews (as the pre-trib position would take), the mention of saints does not reflect the whole body of Christ, instead, it describes individual believers. This will be an important point later in this series with reference to the thought that the church isn’t mentioned in the book of Revelation after chapter 4; however, the word saints is used repeatedly. This should be expected. I would expect that after the first seal is opened, there would be widespread persecution towards the church, causing it to go underground again. Therefore, the absence/ silence of the word church is not surprising and the repeated presence of the word saints is sobering.

2. Daniel is informed that it’s not just 70 years but 70 x 7 years. Interpretation of Daniel 9:24-27 requires an understanding of the translation of the Hebrew word sabua or shabuan. This word is closely related to the word shabbat which describes the end of a 7 day week. All this is extremely important when considering this prophecy because to seventh something describes completion. God “seventhed” creation. When He was done, it was complete. The word weeks translated in this prophecy in the original language can mean a week of days or a week of years. A week of years would be known as a heptad. We use deca [10] to group years as a decade. They used heptad [7].

So this prophecy describes 7 units of 70 years. 70x7=490. This 490 year prophecy is not only related to God’s people Israel, these 490 years are the prophetic time clock of the last days, and he who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Now, that we have established a critical point related to interpreting this passage, let’s  approach it verse by verse.

Daniel 9:24 (NASB)

24 “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.

Daniel 9:24 (KJV)

24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Daniel 9:24 (NIV 1984)

24 “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.

Daniel 9:24 (NLT)

24 “A period of seventy sets of seven has been decreed for your people and your holy city to finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.

A few points to make regarding this verse:

1. There obviously seems to be references specifically towards Israel, but there are others that can only relate to the closing of this age and moving to the next.

2. The NLT seems to do a great job of delineating the thoughts that refer specifically to Israel versus those that relate to the change of the age. Some of these spots are: a) the pronoun their is used to describe Israel’s rebellion (transgression), sin and an atonement for their guilt. What this would refer to is that a part of this prophecy is related to God finalizing His chastisement towards Israel for their rebellion against Him. Also, the thoughts surrounding prophecy being sealed, The word sealed would mean closed up or brought to an end. There is coming a day when prophecy will cease and when the perfect completion comes, we will see clearly (1 Corinthians 13:8) and there will be no more need for prophecy. Or as the NLT says confirmed. All this prophecy will be confirmed in the very end when the last 7 years is finalized because the remnant of Israel will have recognized Messiah (Zechariah 12) and the dragon will be placed in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years.

3. However, the thoughts about bringing in everlasting righteousness and anointing a most Holy or most holy place cannot refer solely to Israel. Here is the reasoning:

    A. Everlasting righteousness is Jesus and His kingdom to come

    B. Anointing a most Holy (KJV) or most holy place cannot be directly related to         Israel.

The word holy in the Hebrew is qodes a holy place or thing. The KJV and NIV do not add the word place. Whereas, the NASB, ESV and NLT do. I say add because the word place is obviously not in the manuscript because the NASB  The options, in my opinion are: 1) At the end of the age, the most Holy, refers to Jesus being anointed as the KING of glory when He finally receives His Kingdom or 2) if the proper interpretation is most holy place, it refers to the anointing of a millennial temple. It cannot refer to the next temple to come because,  as we will soon see, the next temple will be used by the antichrist to exalt himself and demand to be worshipped as God and that is the true abomination that causes desolation, and it’s far from holy or anointed.

Daniel 9:25 (NASB)

25 So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.

This is prophecy has an internal prophetic stopwatch. The decree to rebuild started it, Messiah crucified stopped it, the church age isn’t seen in this prophecy.

1. This verse divides the 490 years into 2 increments: a 7 week period and a 62 week period, which results in 69 weeks. 69 x 7=483 years. At this point in the prophecy, there remains a 7 year period left. It says that after a decree to restore Jerusalem, there will be a 483 year period until Messiah the prince.

2. There were many decrees given by Persian kings while Israel was in captivity. However, most conservative Christian scholars believe that the decree spoken of here refers to the decree by Artaxerxes to Nehemiah which occurred Nisan 444/445 BC

3. Also, they believe that March 30 AD 33 OR Nissan 10 (Jewish calendar) AD 33 was the day of the Lord’s triumphal entry.

4. 483 years x 360 days (the amount of days in a lunar year, which is most consistent with a prophetic Jewish calendar as opposed to a solar calendar) = 173,880 days. If Artaxerxe’s decree to Nehemiah is dated Nisan 1, 445 BC, which would also be March 14th, 445 BC according to the Gregorian calendar and 173,880 days are counted from there, it perfectly lands on March 30, AD 33 the date that many believe was the triumphal entry.

The main point to this verse related to our understanding the prophecy is that: 1) a decree went forth and it was prophetically predicted that 483 years after this, Messiah would arrive.

Daniel 9:26 (NASB)

26 Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.

There are several important parts to this verse:

I. In the previous verse, the first 483 years were divided into first (7 weeks) and then (62 weeks). This verse says that after the second part, the 62 weeks, Messiah would be cut off. One week after Jesus’ Triumphal Entry, He was crucified [ie cutoff].

II. … the people of the prince who is to come… This is a crucial point to this verse and the most crucial point to this prophecy. This part of the verse is introducing several thoughts. The most important thought is the introduction of a different Prince.

   A. He is a Prince who is to come…

   B. He is a Prince of a people who will come

   C. The people that are His, will destroy the city (Jerusalem) and the temple.

There are varying opinions regarding this prince. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that this prince refers to Jesus. I have recently watched at least two different evangelical preachers that have also claimed that this prince is Jesus.

Most conservative scholars would not agree with that interpretation. To the contrary, most would interpret the introduction of this prince as describing the opposite of Jesus. The person introduced is the antichrist. And one big clue would be the destruction of the city and the sanctuary. Jesus’ people did not destroy the city of Jerusalem or the temple.

The temple was destroyed in AD 70 by General Titus of the Roman Empire. Another interesting caveat is that there were specific Roman legions that were responsible for the destruction of the city and the temple under Titus’ command. Some of these legions came from areas like Macedonia and Cappadocia, but several of them came from the area of Syria. This is interesting for people who like this kind of information because this could theoretically narrow down the location from which the antichrist would arise even more than just the Roman Empire.

So the main thoughts of verse 26 are that after the 483 years, Messiah would be cut off (crucified) and in the future another Prince would arise who is connected to the people that would one day destroy the city and temple. Within all of this, the verse also speaks of wars and desolations that are occurring.

Daniel 9:27 (NASB)

27 And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

Lastly, I need you to understand that it’s not the rapture that restarts the stopwatch. The restart button is hit when the agreement is signed.

This verse picks up the last week or 7 year period that was left unmentioned by verses 25 and 26. This last period is believed to be the last 7 years before the battle of Armageddon and the ushering in of the Millennial Reign of Christ. This is the period known by many as the Great Tribulation. At some point in this series, we will make a hard dissection between what is tribulation and what is wrath to distinguish the important reality that there is a difference. But for now, let it be known that after all of this information, you have now been introduced to the one place in the Bible that speaks of a last days 7 year period.

The verse says that the antichrist prince makes a covenant with many. The thought is that this is a peace treaty that is brokered between him and Israel and includes many other nations. The idea of peace comes from the word related to covenant, which means agreement, but can also be defined as an alliance or confederacy. In addition, this thought is introduced directly after the words of the previous verse related to wars and desolations.

The text says that the covenant is made for a 7 year period and in the middle of the 7 year period he breaks it by causing sacrifices and grain offerings to cease. It should be noted that while the NASB says a firm covenant, other translations say a strong covenant and the KJV says that he will confirm a covenant. All these thoughts are in the Strong’s definition. The thoughts of a firm/ strong covenant or he will confirm a covenant, meaning, he will make stronger a covenant that was already in place.

It would be negligent not to point out that when Israel was made a nation in 1948, a covenant between Lord Balfour and Lord deRothschild was signed in 1917. Through the years, there have been many attempts to strengthen this agreement. But what is most intriguing is the recent developments that have transpired during the Trump administrations. First, Jerusalem was made the capitol city of Israel. Then the Abrahamic accords were arranged by his son in law Jared Kushner, who is a Jew. These two occurrences took place during his first administration.

More recently, Kushner has been negotiating with other Arab nations in an attempt to strengthen or what could be considered confirming a preexisting agreement. This is important because last October I did a teaching where I showed you a CBS news clip of an interview of a Hamas leader who claimed that one of the main reasons for the October 7th massacre was related to the red cows.

What these red cows from Texas have to do with war and peace in the Middle East

By Chris Livesay

March 5, 2024 / 10:48 AM EST / CBS News

Jerusalem — When Hamas spokesman Abu Ubaida began a speech marking the 100th day of the war in Gaza, one confounding yet eye-opening proclamation escaped the headlines. Listing the motives for the Palestinian militant group's Oct. 7 massacre in Israel, he accused Jews of "bringing red cows" to the Holy Land.

This is so significant because the verse that we are studying says that [he] the prince that makes a 7 year covenant and he will break it in the middle by stopping the sacrifices and also by causing an abomination on the wing. The word wing here could be referring to a bird’s wing, but it can also be used to describe an edge of a place. In a moment, we will try to make some scriptural connections, but let’s review what we have so far:

1. This prince who we believe to be the antichrist has made a 7 year covenant between Israel and other nations.

2. This covenant has obviously allowed another temple to be built because the temple has been destroyed and in this futuristic prophecy, sacrifices are resumed, so at the very least, there is a rebuilt altar and sacrifices are resumed.

3. The sacrifices are stopped and then the word abominations is used in connection with the word wing: …and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate…

4. Actually the word abominations is used several times throughout Daniel chapter 9.

5. Ultimately, the verse tells us that the one who caused the desolation, will be made desolate… even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” And ultimately, antichrist will be destroyed.

In reference to the use of the specific word desolate, there was an occurrence that took place in 167 BC. After Alexander the Great died, his kingdom was split into 4 parts under the leadership of four of his generals and one the four dynasties was known as the Seleucids.

Through the years, an offspring of the Seleucid dynasty, one of the four, named Antiochus IV Epiphanes put a statue of Zeus that looked like him in the Jewish temple and sacrificed swine flesh on the altar of God. This became known by the Jews as “The abomination of desolation.” Furthermore, this led to the Maccabean Revolt and the Feast of Hanukkah, which celebrates the defeat of the Seleucids by the Maccabees.

All this is very important because Jesus was aware of the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel. He was aware of what Antiochus did because there is evidence in scripture that He went to the Feast of Hanukkah, also known as the Feast of Dedication:

John 10:22-23 (NASB)

22 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; 23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.

With all that said, Jesus makes an amazing statement in Matthew 24:

Matthew 24:15 (NASB)

15 “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

Are you catching this? Jesus knew Daniel prophesied about an abomination that would cause desolation. Jesus knew that His Jewish forefathers equated the atrocity of Antiochus to the fulfillment of that prophecy, but Jesus says, “…when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of by the prophet Daniel standing in the holy place, let the reader understand…” That means Jesus is saying what you thought was it, wasn’t it. There is more to come.

We can infer that the fulfillment of the antichrist’s breaking of the covenant in Daniel 9:27 will be similar to what Antiochus did. He will create a seven year agreement that will permit the Jews to rebuild the temple, allowing them to resume animal sacrifices. In the middle of the 7 years, he will break the covenant by stopping the sacrifices and demanding that he alone be worshipped as he both stands (Matt 24:15) and seats himself in the temple displaying himself as God (2 Thessalonians 2:3,4).

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (NASB)

3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (NASB)

9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

This man of sin will be allowed to perform miracles that will defy anything anyone has ever seen. In addition to that, God will send upon people a deluding influence that will cause them to believe his lies. Why God, why would you do that? It’s because He sent truth, they refused to believe His truth and instead took pleasure in wickedness.

Now, more than ever before, we must cling to the truth!

Ephesians 6:14 (NASB)

14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH…

John 16:13

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

John 8:32

and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

John 17:17

Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

1 John 1:6

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;

A Servant Son

John 13:4

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

John 13:12-16

12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

In John’s version of the night Jesus was betrayed, this scene is included where Jesus washes the feet of His disciples. Without doubt, He clothed Himself in servant hood. He removed His outer garment and girded Himself with a towel.

Gird— to bind tightly

Somehow He tied this towel tightly to Himself. Just as He had clothed Himself as a servant in human form (Phil) He

Philippians 2:7

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

girds Himself in servant hood to teach His disciples truth about their service to the kingdom of God.

There is a lot of talk in the church nowadays about authority and sonship, but there isn’t a lot of talk about servanthood. The reality is that most people don’t even really serve God—they serve self. I’m not saying that you specifically don’t serve God. That’s between you and the Lord and that’s for you to figure out. I’m saying that most people aren’t serving the Lord. Instead, they’re serving themselves and what they do, they do to be seen by men.

We all have it—ego centric. It’s part of the Adamic nature, “Look at my good, look at my goods, look at me, ‘I am good!’”

It is important that we recognize this, so we can let the Lord kill it, because a servant isn’t working for himself, a servant is working for his Lord.

That’s the message today

A Servant Son

Servant—1. Literally, a slave either willingly or unwillingly 2. One who gives himself up to another's will

Jesus, the eternal Son served the Father with absolute devotion. He served not to gain sonship. He served because He is the Son, and the Son serves His Father’s will.

The Father is looking for sons that will serve. It’s not our kingdom. It’s His kingdom, but the problem that humans have is that we are all very aware of self and very consumed with the prospect of serving and preserving self. Self preservation is a very telling symptom that connects our fallen nature to the actions of the serpent.

We are serving Him and His Kingdom and that does not automatically equate to the local house of God, but at the same time, what about the local house of God?

Jesus was able to see these traits in the lives of certain humans. How offensive would it be if someone told you, “You are of your father the devil?”

I think that I would be offended by that. Yet, Jesus told that to the religious leaders. My point to this line of reasoning is that the message is a servant son, that was Jesus, and that’s supposed to be us. And a servant doesn’t live for himself or his own will—he lives for the will of his master. Therefore, if a believer is a servant son, like His Lord, he will desire to live the will of the Father and not his own will.

There is a direct contrast that takes place in the scripture between Jesus and the Pharisees. I keep thinking of the prodigal son and how I want so badly for that brother to get over himself and go seek and save his little brother, but then I’m constantly reminded that the older brother represents the religious leaders and they don’t love. They hate and when the elder brother sees his younger brother all he can think about is how he is about to lose part of his possessions and inheritance as he sees his father clothe his brother in the robe and put the ring on his finger [identity].

The brother

You know it’s really important that we start paying attention to the thoughts in our minds and the feelings in our hearts. It’s really important that we start coming clean with the Lord and stop ignoring those symptoms of envy and jealousy and anger and disgust that are in us, because those are signs that our heart is not like Jesus.

This is the difference about the servanthood of Jesus vs the superiority of the Pharisees. God said Israel was His firstborn too in Exodus 4, but Israel as a son is operating in superiority and Jesus as a Son is a servant. The Pharisees are all about protecting their lives and their position. Jesus is all about laying down His life to please His Father and further His Father’s kingdom.

One of the most profound passages of scripture that I have seen through the years showing this thought of self preservation is a passage out of John, but before we go there, let’s gain an insight into the motives of the religious mind.

Matthew 23:5-7 KJV

5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

                        the place of honor at feasts ESV                            Preeminence

6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets,  and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

This is them—they/we want people to know what they/we did, and if you try to take this adulation away from them/us, they will want to hurt you. In the real world today, they may not try to nail you to a literal cross, but in their hearts, it’s brewing.

We

The further away you get, the easier it is to recognize when it’s abnormal.

Rehab toilet

John 11:46-53 ESV.                       KJV miracles

46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to  do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.

JN 9:22

What amazing audacity! By this time people are recognizing that Jesus is messiah and He is performing miracles and instead of embracing Him as the long awaited Messiah, they plot His death so they can preserve their position.

How often do these symptoms show up in our own lives? On the job, in our businesses, in our friendships and family relationships? The preservation of self instead of trusting God and allowing the dying of self? How often do the thoughts of our heart plot and the words of our mouth speak malice and slander and harm onto people’s lives?

In the real life comparison/ contrast between Jesus and the Pharisees, we see the battle for us between the fallen nature received from Adam in the fall and the Divine nature received from Jesus in the new birth.

The Pharisees Father was the devil—they’re trying to protect their position. They don’t want Jesus to have His place, “what will happen to us?” They say.

The struggle of the Spirit and the flesh. His winnowing fan is in His hand. He will bring the wheat into the storage house and burn away the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Jesus reveals the paternity test is in the word.

John 8:28-47

28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30 As he spake these words,  many believed on him. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

Mismo

Continue/Abide

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them,  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

Commiteth

Present tense active

Factory

to produce, construct, form, fashion, etc.to be the authors of, the cause

Abraham: father of faith. Abraham believed God and His word

Man: Jesus… how are you going to build a church like that?

Jesus: My definition of church building and your definition of church building are not the same

35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth  ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me,  because my word hath no place in you. 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your  father. 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, [IF] ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his  own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ,

the Son of the living God

Process

Galatians 4:1-7

1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts,

crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Romans 6:16-18

16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Romans 6:14

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

No longer a slave but a son because you’re no longer under law but under grace. In this kingdom, it’s not you trying. In this kingdom, it’s you dying, in other words getting out of the way.

Man Making an Image of God

V1 Servant

δοῦλος doulos; from 1210; a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency): — bond(-man), servant

V2 He has an earthly lineage. He is the Son of David.

V4 …declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead

He is the Son of God for He is God born of God. He is the Son of man for He is God born of man. He is the only way that man can know God.

Declared- to define to mark out the boundaries or limits (of any place or thing) 1b to determine, appoint

We have to understand that it’s not His death on the cross that declares Him to be the Son of God. All men die:

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Instead, it’s His resurrection from the dead that declares Him to be the Son of God. It proves that His Spirit is the Spirit of holiness.

Boundaries have been determined. He alone is the Son of God. He alone is the one proven to be without sin. While two men walked on earth w out sin, only one man died without sin and robbed the grave of its victory:

1 Corinthians 15:54-55

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

V 12 …comforted together

Robertson suggests, "Instead of saying that he had a spiritual gift for them, he wishes to add that they also have one for him." He translates, "That I with you may be comforted," and adds, "My being comforted in you with you, a mutual blessing to each party (you and me)." The word "comfort" usually carries with it the idea of consolation which is not Paul's thought here. The word is sumparakaleo, "to strengthen with others." It is a mutual strengthening, brought about by Paul's ministry among them and their association with him, that the apostle is speaking of. The fellowship of the saints.

V 14  debtor

1 Corinthians 9:16

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

V 15 preach the gospel εὐαγγελίζω euaggelizō; from 2095 and 32; to announce good news

V 16 …for it is the power of God unto salvation

1 Corinthians 1:18.                                  2 Corinthians 4:3 lost

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

V 17 in it the righteousness of God ESV

Ch 3 Jesus is God’s righteousness manifested on earth

Ch 4:3 faith allows man to receive God’s righteousness

Imputed

It is like the proffered hand of a drowning man that makes it possible for the life guard to save him. There is nothing meritorious in the act of a drowning man in stretching out his hand in order to be saved. It is the efficient medium through which he is saved. Thus, the act of faith on the sinner's part is not meritorious but only the efficient medium through which God is able save him. The "it" therefore refers to the outstretched hand of faith of a sinner reaching out for salvation that God grasps in His own to lift him out of the mire of sin and place him upon the Rock, Christ Jesus

Ch 5 righteousness give access to grace and is a free gift given by God to man based on faith and made available through the cross

Ch 6 you’re no longer a slave to unrighteousness but a slave of righteousness

Titus 3:5

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Isaiah 64:6

6 But we are all as an unclean thing,

and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;

and we all do fade as a leaf;

and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

V18 … For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against…

Suppress

to hold back, detain, retain

The idea is there are men who suppress the truth of God’s word. There is an attempt by the powers that be to stop the progress of God’s word and kingdom message.

V 21 …neither were thankful

Obscure: to cover with darkness, to darken

Vain- empty

Imaginations- thinking, reasoning, discussions

God is removed from their thoughts the word thankful is eucharisteo specifically used often to describe a prayer of thanks before a meal. Thankfulness and acknowledgment towards God is a really big deal. Illustration of a farmer and his meat and piece of bread.

They let their minds be empty of Him. He darkened their hearts towards Him

The text is focused on the wicked heart of man, but it would be foolish to forget who is the source of the wickedness that is in the heart of man and that the whole purpose of evil is to steal God’s glory.

V 23 two words in verse 23

1. Glory

2. Image

Glory

This verse is focused on pointing out that the deceitful heart of man is determined to refuse God of His glory, His worship, His honor, His acknowledgement that is due towards Him as the sovereign creator of the universe, the sovereign creator of humanity.

While Satan isn’t mentioned in the passage, we would not be acknowledging the full story if we did not acknowledge the created being that started this thought and placed it into the heart of man.

Isaiah 14:12-14

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!

how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven,

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:

I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Ezekiel 28:2

Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:

Ezekiel 28:15-17

15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

Image

Ezekiel 8:10

So I went in and saw. And there, engraved on the wall all around, was every form of creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel.

Exodus 32 golden calf both Egypt Apis and Canaan Baal rain-- crops

What did the god Apis do?

Apis brought fertility to crops, virility to Egyptian kings, and protection to the dead. As the Apis bull incarnate in Memphis Egypt, he lived in the temple of Ptah and participated in ceremonies, festivals, and acted as an oracle.

God gave humanity an image to worship

Colossians 1:15

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Colossians 1:19-20

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Colossians 2:9-10

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

V 24 Wherefore God gave them up

to give into the hands (of another)

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

V 25

…changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator

They worship the creation,  the earth, their humanity, Their identity, their sexuality, they form and fashion a God to their liking that meets the pleasures of their desires and their definition of love.

He is My Brother's Father

John 14:8-13 ESV

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Hebrews 2:9-12

9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying,

“I will tell of your name to my brothers;

in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”

Hebrews 5:9-10

9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 2:14

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

Hebrews 2:17

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

My Brother’s Father

My main thought: I can’t know the Father except through the Son, and I can’t know the Son, who is the living word, unless the Holy Spirit reveal Him through the written word.

Intimacy with God. The closest model that we have is family, and more specifically the family of God/ the church is supposed to be the fulfillment of that on earth. Looking at Israel as a nation of families that serve God together and separate from the world around them and this looks so different compared to American families and even ones in the church.

An understanding of how important family is to God, results in an understanding of how important it is to know the heart of Jesus, so that I can know my Father. Some cultures vary slightly, but for the most part there is identity in our connection to our families. We see ourselves in light of family. I’m of the Hebert clan. My name is Matt Hebert and I am Jimmy’s boy. Biblically, it would sound like this: I’m from the tribe of Judah, a son of Jesse, my name is David.

I used to have an uncle that would introduce me to family members: this is a Molaison your 2nd cousin once removed. What does that even mean?

Identity- the fact of being who or what a person or thing is. Who are you? What are you?

• People identify so many ways

• How do we identify?

I am a son of the creator of the universe. I am set apart from the created world which is fallen in Adam. I am a new creation in Christ. Through faith I identify with Jesus. I am one with Him in His death, burial and resurrection. I have been born again. I am a new creation. My original identity was dead to God and alive to sin. My new identity is alive to God and dead to sin. I am a son of God, because I have been made accepted in His beloved Son (Ephesians 1:6). I am part of the family of God.

Family is a beautiful thing on earth because it is a reflection of the Father’s plan from heaven: Bridegroom, bride, offspring…

But earthly family, like everything else can take on something it was never intended to be. Even in the lives of church goers, the concept of family can become bigger than Christ in our lives. I love my family. But I cannot let my family get between me and Jesus. And if they do, He says I am not worthy of Him (Matt 10:37; LK 14:26-30).

This is not God’s definition of Biblical family

• Mom’s—kids—soccer, swim, dance…

• Women—how they are accepted within a larger group of women

• Dad’s—provider—

• Men—work (ethic) Colossians and Ephesians not with eye service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God

• Kids—sports

Rudderless waves tossed on an ocean…

But let’s understand something our flesh, which is the remaining part of us that is still affected by the fall loves those things because they give us **recognition—and flesh will love a gospel that promotes these things.

In a world that is struggling with identity. Men that identify as women and vice versa. People that identify with the real Jesus are seen as weird, because it results in a denial of self while everyone else is being deceived to preserve self.

Everyone says, “I’m good with Him…” No, if our “old self” isn’t dying and Jesus isn’t being fashioned, we’re not okay with Him. The world is thrown into chaos, the church is thrown into chaos, families are thrown into chaos. Will the real Jesus please stand up. Could I please get a clear picture of the Lord, so I can know who I am, because I really need to know my Father?

John 1:18 KJV

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

John 1:18 NASB

No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

John 1:18 AMP

No man has ever seen God at any time; the only unique Son, or the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom [in the intimate presence] of the Father, He has declared Him [He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and He has made Him known].

John’s writings refer to God the Father over 110 times

Bosom— Deut 13:6 “The wife of your bosom”

Moses Numbers 11:12 Did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to give their fathers?

That is the best description, the intimacy of when a mother puts her baby to her bosom for feeding and nurture. The bosom is a place of closeness, intimacy and protection.

John 13:23

Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Through John, the Holy Spirit shows us something very important. Jesus was in the bosom of the Father and John made sure that he was in the bosom of Jesus.

John, through the Spirit, shows us that the only way to the bosom of the Father is to be close to the bosom of the Son. God reveals Himself to humanity through His Son. He is the Son of God for He is God born of God. He is the Son of man for He is God born of man. He is the only way that man can know God.

God is my Brother’s Father and because of the self denial of my brother God has become my Father too. I cannot know our Father except through my elder brother.

His Son is His beloved, and His beloved Son manifest the Father to a lost and dying world. He desires to see His Son..because His Son glorifies the Father. Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name [reputation/character] your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven….

John 17:4

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

John 17:6

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

John 17:5

And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

Now, He looks to His right and sees His only begotten unique Son. In ages past, He left that place of glory to become my brother, so that He could teach me about our Father…

Hebrews 2:14

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

Hebrews 2:17

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

He became like me in physical flesh, so I could become like Him, renewed in spirit, and a partaker of His divine nature.

His Son brings Him joy. His Son brought His glory to this earth. God said, “As surely as I live the glory of the Lord will fill the earth (Numbers 14:21).” Joshua [Jesus]— the purpose of Joshua and Israel was to get us to the place where the world receives the Son.

Joshua was a man who refused to allow wickedness to rule God’s earth and stop God’s plan.

Joshua 24:14-15

Choose Whom You Will Serve

14 “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

How He longs to look upon the earth and to see His sons bearing the image of His Son. How else will this earth be filled with His glory on this side of the Millennial reign unless His Sons bear the image of His only begotten Son?

What does He see when He is looking for His Son:

Isaiah 66:2

…but to this man will I look,

even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit,

and trembleth at my word.

Matt 5:3 …blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God

He looks upon the earth for to see His Son:

John 5:19

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

He listens to the conversations of men hoping to hear the voice of His Son

John 12:49

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

Paul said:

Galatians 4:19

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

1 John 3:2-3

2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18

17 Therefore go out from their midst,

and be separate from them, says the Lord,

and touch no unclean thing;

then I will welcome you,

18 and I will be a father to you,

and you shall be sons and daughters to me,

says the Lord Almighty.”

Colossians 1:13

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

Philippians 2:15                         Unmixed

that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Conclusion

In this relationship, my brother sits me down. I have not been able to shake this thought from my mind all week. You can’t get a better illustration to describe what I’m trying to say in this message than this. My elder brother is Jesus and I am an adopted son. 5 times in the New Testament the terminology adoption as sons is used. He [Jesus] is the natural born Son of God. He is the elder and I am the younger. He knows my Father, and I desperately need to know Him. He sees my struggles in the relationship that I am having with our Father.

So He sits me down and teaches me the things that I don’t know, but it’s those things that He has learned from His closeness to our Father. He speaks to me the words He heard from the bosom of His Father, and through His word, and the intimacy I have with the Spirit, through the cross, I learn what pleases my Father.

1. The Father is pleased with His beloved

2. Isaiah: it pleased the Father to bruise Him

Repent!

Luke 13:1-3 ESV

1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

The goodness and mercy of God waits for people to repent, and true repentance will produce the peaceable fruit of righteousness for the child of God and is a requirement in the conversion of sinners to saints.

Matthew 3:1-10

New Testament

Repent- to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction): — repent. AV (34) - repent 34; to change one's mind

Old Testament

Jeremiah 3:21-22

21 A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God. 22 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.

Return shuv- turn, restore, recover, converts

So the New Testament describes a change of mind and the Old Testament describes a change of direction, but in both cases, the person is moving away from where they are and moving towards God…

Without the ministry of the Holy Spirit, it is impossible for true repentance to take place.

John 16:8-9

8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;

But He also convicts believers

Convict- convince, tell a fault, rebuke, with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted, to call to account, show one his fault, demand an explanation

Conviction and repentance are intricately woven together. True repentance requires a moving of the Spirit on the heart of an individual in order for them to feel a compunction to repent.

compunction- a feeling of guilt following doing something wrong

There are actions of wrong, and we have all felt those moments. But what about a lifetime of wrong? I’m talking about all of us when we came to the realization that what we were doing wasn’t working for us anymore.

2 Corinthians 7:10 KJV

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Does a human have to realize the error of their ways in order to gain new life?

Not just that drugs and alcohol resulted in loss of time, jobs, money and relationships. Or sorrow that the mistakes made in a marriage resulted in loss of family, but what about sorrow over realizing that one had lived their lives in opposition against God.

Do people need to know that?  or does a person just need to ask Jesus into their heart. No need to focus on remorse over breaking God’s commandments or His heart, over sinning against His holiness or His word, just say a prayer that asks Jesus into your heart and everything is good.

Through the years, I have noticed how much effort we place on making it easy for people to get saved. Close your eyes and just raise your hand. Now, I’m going to ask you to take one more step. I’m not trying to embarrass you, but I’m going to ask you to come forward and pray a prayer. And then we get excited. Praise God 20 people made a decision for the Lord today, but there wasn’t one word of remorse uttered to God. Maybe, they repeated the word repent, but they didn’t even know what it meant. You can’t truly believe in your heart if you haven’t repented of your sin. We have to change both our mind and direction.

In order for a person to truly repent, the Holy Spirit has to move on their heart to convict them of sin. One of the problems that church folk can run into is what Jesus warned against religious hearts when He re-quoted Isaiah,

Matthew 15:7-9

7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Again, we try so hard not to embarrass people but maybe that’s exactly what us earthlings need is to be embarrassed. I don’t mean embarrassed in the eyes of the world or under the scrutiny of other believers. I’m talking about the conviction of the Holy Spirit that leads a person to repentance.

Jeremiah 6:10-16 KJV

10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it. 11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad…, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days. 12 And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD. 13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. 14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. 15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. 16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Romans 2:4-5 ESV

4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

He suffers long with us, He is patient, He is kind, and endures with us. The goodness of God spoken of here is directly related to His patience in waiting for us to repent. It’s saying that He is being merciful and giving us time. It’s not saying that He is being so sweet and soft spoken to us that we finally melt in His goodness and wake up one day loving Him.

Instead, it’s saying that His goodness is revealed in His patience. He waits and then when conviction comes and repentance results, the heart is awakened to His goodness and this often results in even more repentance— if nothing else a heart of thankfulness that realizes that it wasn’t worthy of this grace, but God, in His goodness poured it out.

Maybe it was embarrassing it must have been for the sinful woman who broke the alabaster box and wiped his feet with her tears and her hair. If there was embarrassment maybe it was when she pressed through the crowd and heard their whispers. The text doesn’t tell us, but if it was there, I don’t see embarrassment. I only see love and thankfulness that must be fueled by a heart of repentance. She had nothing to protect but her love for Jesus. She was not concerned about what people thought about her. (Luke 7:45-8:1). A truly repentant heart is a truly thankful heart, and it’s hard to embarrass a heart like that!

Sometimes I wonder about the way that we respond to people when we see the Lord touching them. We’re so quick to rush to their rescue. Whether it’s through financial help of some sort or helping them at the altar. I wonder if it’s us that feel uncomfortable and we feel like we have to stop them, so we will stop feeling uncomfortable. Is there any better place that a person could be other than truly broken in the presence of the Lord? Can we not trust people in the presence of the Lord? Can the clay not be trusted in the Potter’s hands?

I’ve seen people crying in the presence of the Lord and then someone comes to help them and say, “It’s okay He forgives you.”

Then I heard the person say, “I get what they were trying to do, and I appreciate it, but I wasn’t done.” We don’t know where they’ve been, what they’ve done. We don’t know what the Lord is saying to them or doing in them.

Somebody said the other day, “I’ve been repenting for 2 weeks over my sin. I didn’t even realize that I had been sinning against God like that” Our first inclination is to try to convince them that they don’t need to do that. Maybe we need to be convinced instead that’s what we all need to do.

I can remember Sister Toot telling me, “Son, you keep coming to this altar and as long as the Holy Spirit tells you to come to the altar keep coming, but if you’ve repented, you don’t have to keep coming up here.”

I don’t know what you feel when you get into the presence of the Lord, but I feel like I want to kneel, lay face first, lift my hands, cry, run around the church, tell Him that I love Him, thank Him for His faithfulness. Thank Him for saving someone like me, thank Him for not leaving me over there. You loved me Lord! You came and you got me Lord! I owe you everything!

Even after He was good to me and loved me, I still didn’t treat Him right. No, you leave me alone if I want to cry and sob in His presence, if I want to repent every week or every service, please let me.

Conviction of the Holy Spirit reveals to a person a need to repent. True repentance results in a broken and contrite heart:

Psalms 34:18 KJV

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart;

and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Broken- break 115, destroy 9, break in pieces 8, break down 4, hurt 3, torn 2, give birth 1, crush

Contrite-  to collapse (phys. or mentally): — break, to crush, be crushed, be contrite, be broken

Psalms 51:17

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:

a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Isaiah 57:15

For thus saith the high and lofty One

that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy;

I dwell in the high and holy place,

with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,

to revive the spirit of the humble,

and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Isaiah 66:2

For all those things hath mine hand made,

and all those things have been, saith the LORD:

but to this man will I look,

even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit,

and trembleth at my word.

I want to be careful how I say this, but we judge success in church based on numbers and signs and wonders. Let me say this clearly.

Holy Spirit we need you in our services. We earnestly desire Greek burn with zeal for your spiritual gifts. We welcome the healer in this place. The Healer’s in the room, let miracles break out across this place. Who is this king? His name is Jesus. His name is Jesus. He’s the light of the world. There’s freedom in His name”

And people seek after signs and wonders. They fill up auditoriums in anticipation that they will get to see a miracle. But signs and wonders and increase in numbers do not always equate to God’s purposes for man.

2 Peter 3:8-11 ESV

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,

Luke 16:19-31 Rich man and Lazarus

Luke 18:9-14 Pharisee and Tax collector

Are You Hearing Voices?

Differences in sheep and goat behaviour

Key behavioural differences centre around feeding behaviour, social behaviour and personality; these will be evaluated in the remainder of this article.

Feeding behaviours

Sheep are a grazing species, while goats are more of a browsing species (Gordon, 2003). These different foraging techniques have implications for husbandry and management. Understanding the differences in feeding ecology supports essential elements of daily care, such as pasture management for sheep and provision of browsing and grazing for goats.

Understanding the differences in feeding ecology supports essential elements of daily care, such as pasture management for sheep and provision of browsing and grazing for goats

As sheep graze, they prefer to consume short, tender grass of good nutritional quality. Sheep are also selective feeders, usually cropping grass short and close to the ground. Conversely, goats have a broader dietary preference because they have evolved to graze and browse across a wide range of plant species. Therefore, goats are termed “intermediate feeders” (capable of browsing and grazing), which means they show a wide dietary flexibility (Silanikove, 2000).

Goats are also able to forage on different spatial levels due to their adept climbing abilities and will readily consume both poor-quality and good-quality forage. Because goats possess a range of physiological adaptations to effectively process such forage (Silanikove, 1997), they will outcompete sheep in some areas, especially when only poorer-quality forage and grazing is available.

Socialisation

Sheep have a strong tendency to group or “flock” together. Within these flocks, sheep form stable subgroups and follow each other to maintain the flock structure – often copying the behaviour of those around them (Fisher and Matthews, 2001). This “collective intelligence” (Gómez-Nava et al., 2022) may have evolved as a flight mechanism to facilitate escape from danger. Therefore, an individual sheep is more likely to feel safe and secure when other sheep are around.

A key importance for husbandry is that a social group is essential for sheep to buffer against stress and improve their overall well-being

Goats, by contrast, are more independent and exhibit less of this collective flocking behaviour, preferring to move as smaller family units (Miranda-de la Lama and Mattiello, 2010). Goats are considered more curious, exploratory and agile than sheep (as demonstrated by their climbing skills), and although they like to be in groups, individuals will often wander further away from each other compared to foraging sheep.

A key importance for husbandry is that a social group is essential for sheep to buffer against stress and improve their overall well-being. In fact, companionship should be a constant consideration for sheep care. Goats also need companions, but because they are more independent, they require more space to promote exploration, climbing and wider interaction with different environmental features and structures (Figure 2). 

John 10:1-15 1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Voice- phone’ a sound, a tone, of a language, tongue

            1. a sound, a tone-of inanimate things, as musical instruments

Point- is that there is the ability to be able to distinguish sounds or voices

John 10:27

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Hear- give audience, to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf to, attend to, consider what is or has been said

1 John 2:19-21 ESV Some left [NLT] what is it that draws people to churches today?

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

1 Samuel 3:1-4

1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; 3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; 4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

This was a very pivotal time for God. The people had demanded their own king at the end of the timeframe of the Judges, resulting in problems for the kingdom. God had to rise up a prophet that would hear His voice, in order for the right King to be anointed. The times that we are living in are very pivotal. If there was ever a time when it was important to be able to properly hear the frequency of God, now, is that time!

Are we on the same frequency of God? In other words, do we hear His tone? He speaks the frequency of His written word.

In variations, the warning phrase, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” occurs 15 times in the New Testament, and each time it is spoken by Jesus

Deception

Genesis 27:22

So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”

Her voice was saying something different than what the voice of truth had said

Genesis 3:17

And to Adam he said,

“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife

and have eaten of the tree

of which I commanded you,

‘You shall not eat of it,’

cursed is the ground because of you;

in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;

Hope for a deceived world

Genesis 22:18

and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

Exodus 19:5-6

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

1 Peter 2:8-10

8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

2 Timothy 4:1-5

1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

I charge you young pastor, you want to do these things because the Lord is coming back to judge those that are alive and dead and the things that you speak and the things that they hear will make a difference.

1. Reprove- to confute, admonish: — convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke

        confute- to prove a person or an assertion to be wrong

        admonish- warn or reprimand someone firmly

2. Rebuke- to warn, reprimand or forbid

        Censure- to express severe disapproval in a formal statement

3. Exhort- parakaleo— to call near. When we call people to come near to the truth, the work of the Holy Spirit will console, encourage and strengthen and comfort

Romans 1:18-21 plans of the enemy to distort the voice/ prevent the truth

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Jude 1:3-4.       Delivered- to give into the hands of another— to take care of—Phoebe/Paul

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Did God say?

Turn stones into bread

Matthew 4:2-4

2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Lyrics from “We Are the World”

There comes a time

When we heed a certain call

When the world must come together as one

There are people dying

Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life

The greatest gift of all

11x

We are the world

We are the children

11x

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

We're all a part of God's great big family

And the truth, you know, love is all we need

As God has shown us by turning stones to bread

And so we all must lend a helping hand

What a Father! What a Son!

Psalms 2 Rebellion

The Reign of the LORD'S Anointed

1 Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers take counsel together,

against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,

3 “Let us burst their bonds apart

and cast away their cords from us.”

God’s remedy to rebellion

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;

the Lord holds them in derision.

5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,

and terrify them in his fury, saying,

6 “As for me, I have set my King

on Zion, my holy hill.”

His King is Messiah/ His King is His Son

7 I will tell of the decree:

The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;

today I have begotten you.

8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,

and the ends of the earth your possession.

9 You shall break them with a rod of iron

and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

be warned, O rulers of the earth.

11 Serve the LORD with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son,

lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,

for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

In this Psalm, I see war and restoration. I see rebellion in man and obedience in the Son. Messiah the King, who is the Son of God, will restore the will of His Father!

1-3 The rulers of the nations are in rebellion against Yahweh and His Messiah

4-6 Yahweh sits above them and their plans. In the heavens, He laughs and promises to put them in terror—judgment is coming… and the promise of its coming is this truth… “I have set my King on Zion my holy hill.”

7-9 This is the ordinance [decree] by which Yahweh will accomplish this judgment upon these nations that are in rebellion against Him. He says, “I will give birth to a Son” I will give Him the nations as His heritage/inheritance (the first man Adam was not faithful and allowed in the rebellion). Through MY SON, I will judge the rebellion.

10-12 The way to please the Father is to kiss the Son, bow down in reverence to Him. Anything else will result in the release of His fury.

This Psalm allows humans a glimpse into the mind of God, His plans for the earth and His  quashing of the rebellion against Him. The heathen nations and their leaders rage against God and His anointed one. But we learn from the scriptures that humans are not alone in this rebellion: Daniel 10…Prince of Persia, Prince of Grecia, Michael Prince of Israel. NASB Ephesians 6:12.                   

Rebellion

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

In our minds this morning, I ask that we keep these thoughts surrounding the big plan of God and that we remind ourselves about the rebellion against God, because we are seeing it openly manifesting all around us in our nation and all around this world, and I can promise you this…it’s only going to worsen. So I’m asking that we tuck away in our minds these truths as we consider the idea of the Son and the Father.

I don’t think that He ever left, but the Father has lovingly reinserted Himself into this fallen earth in an intimate way through Jesus. The rebellion of His creation in Adam had distanced itself from His presence, but He is committed and has His eyes on an eternal kingdom that is comprised of an eternal family that was all made possible by His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. In His word, He uses familial terminology: Father, son, and brother, Bridegroom, bride, offspring, children.

John’s explanation about who are the children of God vs who aren’t is this…

1 John 3:10.   Seed of the Son- train of His Robe                                      Rebellion                                                         

By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

1 Peter 2:9-11 war against the soul- keep your mind and heart connected to the earth- vision

The word "peculiar" here is used in a way not often seen today. The Greek word means literally "to make around," that is, to make something and then to surround it with a circle, thus indicating ownership. The same verb is used in the Septuagint translation of Isaiah 43:21

the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise." The word "peculiar" today usually means "odd, strange." But it is not so used here. The Greek word speaks of the unique, private, personal ownership of the saints by God__ Wuest

God’s family

This family of God is a special kind of people. It is a family of Sons. Sons because this family is created in and through the Son. It is a family of sons that are king-priests. They rule with Him and for Him because that’s what kings do. They intercede with Him and for Him because that’s what priests do. And the more they die, the more the image of His glorious Son is formed in them, resulting in their yielding to their Father’s will, because the Son always does the will of His Father. He only does what He sees His Father do, and He only says what He hears His Father say.

Satan’s plan is to rob from man his opportunity to be a son and to rob from God His opportunities to have sons through His Son.

In a non-rebellious son is the desire to please a father. And a good Father wants to be with His Son, and during that time he teaches his son the important things of life. I have heard stories of men who said that their fathers taught them how to work on engines by telling them to tear them apart and put them back together again, and it better work and there better not be extra parts when you’re done. I’ve heard other men tell me that their father did the same but was by their side and coached them every step of the way until they were ready to do it on their own, and I’ve heard men tell stories of how they had no father, or if they did, their father didn’t really want them around.

One concept of fathers and sons that intrigues me is when there is a family owned company that has been passed down through the generations. The father taught the son the “bidness” Jesus said why are you looking for me. I must be about my Father’s business (Luke 2:49) and so it is with us. Our Father wants to teach us His business. He wants a family of sons that will submit to His will, allowing their own personal flesh and desires to be crucified, so that His Spirit and WILL can be produced in them.

There has been an ongoing thought in my heart over the last couple weeks, and this is it. The Father said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17.”

I am realizing that the more I listen, to the words of my Father, the more I hear that the fallen fleshly part of me must be done away with, so that Jesus can be formed in me. In order for this to happen, it means that I must be crucified with his Son, so that a new creature can be resurrected in His Son, and the more that I submit to the will of the Father, the more my original man that was born of the earthy man (Adam) dies and the more that the heavenly man born in Jesus is formed, and when this happens, the Father starts to see a reflection of His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased instead of a reflection of a rebellious son that was born in the image of his earthly father Adam.

Romans 8:29-30

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified

Romans 8:13-16

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Son or sons= 10

The fall turned Adam into a fearful slave. The Son made a way that we can become sons through the Son.

Spirit= 16

Flesh= 8

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Hebrews 2:11-14 it’s not okay for rebellion to be allowed into the house

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Hebrews 2:16-18

16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Brethren/prodigal

And so we have the struggle of the Spirit and the flesh and the struggle of the sons of God vs the sons of the devil.

JN 8:32-47

Satan’s sin results in slaves— the Son’s obedience produces sons

Denney explains; "It was not the spirit proper to slaves, leading them again to shrink from God in fear as they had done when under the law of sin and death__ Wuest

In the fall (Law of sin and death, they shrank from God in fear. In Christ, we have not received that spirit of slavery.

Galatians 3:26

for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Galatians 4:1-7

1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. He has an inheritance for His Son!- the nations

John 1:12-13

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Hebrews 10:19-25

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

1 John 3:1

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

1 John 3:2-3

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

1 John 3:6-10

6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

I Reverence Your Presence

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Psalms 69:6-12

6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. 7 For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face. 8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons. 9 For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. 10 When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, [IT] became my reproach. 11 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. 12 I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.

And this is the verse that was quoted in reference to Jesus turning tables and driving out the money changers. They were treating God’s house and the things of God as though it were an everyday, ordinary common thing.

Reverence- a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe

Awe- an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, produced by that which is grand, or extremely powerful:

Genesis 3:6-18

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

14 The LORD God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this,

cursed are you above all livestock

and above all beasts of the field;

on your belly you shall go,

and dust you shall eat

all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” 16 To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” 17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.

There are always different angles to view the scripture from. Personally, I have always viewed this incident from the perspective of how Adam and Eve’s act of disobedience changed their relationship with God, and at the heart of that truth, is this truth— God is holy and now they are sinful. While we can’t prove it, we can infer a lot of things from this text and the main one that I want to point out right now is how all of the creation changed when they changed. But also how they were uncomfortable with the presence of God after the fall and felt comfortable in the surroundings of the fallen world around them.

Granted, they didn’t realize until the Lord spoke to them, “Because of what you’ve done, the earth will bear thorns and thistles…” but Paul says the creation was subjected to futility- pointlessness/ uselessness

Essentially, what the Romans text is saying is that all the creation lost its purpose in the fall. It’s become futile, pointless, it’s useless. It is scripturally logical to come to the conclusion that the intended purpose of earth’s creation including man, but also every tree, fish, bird, type of grass and flower was to bring God glory. It is not a stretch to declare that all creation declares the glory of God Psalm 19:1-6.

It is also interesting to me to note that it says, “The heaven’s declare the glory of God.

The main idea that I am trying to communicate right now is that the fall of man subjected the entirety of God’s creation to the curse and now there is a distinct line between that which is Holy and that which is unclean, between that which is common and that which is separated, sanctified or hallowed. And it’s important to understand that there is a difference between the righteousness of Christ given to you as a gift from God and the scripture that says, BE HOLY… 1 Peter 1:13-17

Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name… His name is so holy that the Jews wouldn’t even say it. They would say, “The name.” They wouldn’t even spell it instead of Yahweh, they would spell YHWH.

There is a separateness between God and this fallen creation, and now man, in the fall, is more comfortable amongst the trees of the garden, which are also fallen, than he is around the holy, hallowed, separated presence of God.

Romans 8:18-23

Future Glory

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Psalms 19:1-6

The Law of the LORD Is Perfect

TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, 5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. 6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

God is holy and this world is fallen, God is clean, this world is unclean, God is hallowed ground and this world is common ground and where God chooses to insert Himself into this fallen, common and unclean world, that place has now become sacred, holy, righteous and pure.

There are things on earth that are sacred: The Bible, this place, this day, the tithe, the sounds our ears hear, the sights our eyes see. These concepts went from being common to holy because they’re associated with God.

It’s not the wood on the walls or the carpet on the floor, it’s not even the oil in the bottle, it’s not the cover made of leather, the pages made of paper from trees. It’s not the ink made from carbon black that makes this book holy. All these things of which we speak are made uncommon or holy because they are associated with and appointed by God for His purposes of revealing Himself to this fallen world and for the purposes that the world would know that He is holy, He is hallowed and He is worthy of glory, honor and praise. And He deserves His reverence, He deserves that we, His people would reverence and treat not as common the things of God.

Genesis 8:20-21

God's Covenant with Noah

20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma…

Genesis 12:1-3

The Call of Abram “Get out”

1 Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Exodus 25:22

There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.

Exodus 31:13-17 [Galatians 4:10; Colossians 2:16]

13 “You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you. 14 You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. 16 Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. 17 It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”

Ezekiel 36:26-27 you are no longer common ground— Oh, Oh

26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Jeremiah 31:33

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Exodus 3:3-6

3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Matthew 6:9

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Luke 5:8

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

_________________________________________________

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 17:13-21

13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

• His word is sanctified—stand to read

• Prayer is sanctified— stand to pray, covered vs uncovered heads

• This house is sanctified—

• The songs we sing are sanctified— that’s why when worship starts, fellowship with man should stop, so fellowship w God can start

• The word we preach is sanctified— that’s why we shouldn’t be having ongoing text message conversations during the preaching of the word

• We are sanctified— He lives in us. This vessel belongs to Him, what do we invite in here with Him through our eyes and through our ears.

The Words of a King: Part 3 - Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-16

Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Jesus uses two metaphors: light and salt to describe the purposes of believers on earth. The characteristics of light are relatively easy to understand. In addition, the commentary He gave regarding light illuminates His meaning, because light and darkness are common themes in scripture and God’s Kingdom, but the commentary on the salt only referenced it losing its flavor and because of that losing its earthly purpose. I’m not trying to overdo this but does salt actually have flavor? So what is the meaning of the word for taste/savor in reference to salt?

μωραίνω mōrainō; from 3474; to become insipid; figuratively, to make (passively a simpleton): — become fool, make foolish, lose savour.

Insipidus

insipid- dilute, tasteless, bland weak, unappetizing, unpalatable, wishy washy.

Mark 9:49-50

49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

This verse is used to conclude a teaching where His disciples are being corrected after engaging in selfishness and jealousy. We know that Jesus said that the world will know that we are His disciples by the love that we have for one another (JN 13:35). Jealousy and selfish ambition are the opposite traits of Jesus’ nature. If He is the true light and the true salt and His glory has been given to us in order that we carry His hope to the world, if we don’t reflect Him, we don’t preserve God’s truth on earth.

He said, “everyone will be salted with fire” fire in some sense fire will touch everyone. [fiery trial 1 Peter 4:12; trial of your faith 1 Peter 1:7]. God’s covenant purposes for humanity will endure. He will see His work to completion. Salt and fire is the talk of refining and enduring. What remains will be purified. People who refuse the will of God will be salted by fire their own way and the people of God will be salted by fire another way, so that what is Christ will remain…be preserved and endure.

Salt as a preservative represents God’s enduring purposes.

The Old Testament sacrifices were seasoned with salt (Lev. 2:13; Ezek. 43:24; Num. 18:19 Aaron’s priesthood; [2 Chr. 13:5 David’s throne] ). Disciples, living sacrifices…the purpose of our presence is to be a reflection and reminder of Him. (cf. Rom. 12:1)

Genesis 18:19

For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

Galatians 3:16

Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.

1. Preservation

During ancient times, salt was used to cure or preserve meat. I do believe that one of the intended purposes of God’s people both Israel in a) OT (Deuteronomy nations 4:5-9; children 6:1-9; themselves 8:1-3) and the b) church since Pentecost has been to preserve His presence, His character and His plan in a lost and dying world. When God’s people follow Him and live for Him, they are the flavor of God and a constant reminder of His existence and reality. In this way, they preserve the things of God.

2. Distinction

This actually brings me to another aspect of salt, while it doesn’t really have its own flavor, it’s addition to food causes a distinction between the various flavors that are in the pot. Adding salt will help your tastebuds identify garlic and cumin, cilantro and onion. God’s people existing on earth according to His will (based on the instruction of His word) will distinguish between lies and truth who is the one true God, and it will distinguish between true believers and false believers. Listen, we are nearing the end and Satan is only going to become more angry, knowing his time is short. It’s already happening, but let’s understand that God’s plan for the church is distinction and Satan’s plan for true believers is extinction. Understand what I am saying… Satan will not just tolerate false Christianity, he will endorse and bless it, but he will do his best to destroy the real thing, and his first order of action is destroying you. His desire is to tear apart the church one lively stone at a time (1 Peter 2:5).

3. Defection

The last thing that I want to say about salt is that the Greek word μωραίνω mōrainō is used in…Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

God’s intended purpose for humanity as a reflection of His glory and image became— moraino. Through the fall that reflected image became perverted and left to itself, the image that was created inwardly began to pervert the image outwardly as it began to create the image outwardly after its own likeness… Romans 1:23

And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Light

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

A city on a hill

A light in a house

Travel through Israel was dangerous in ancient times. The topography alone made the task difficult rocky hills and valleys made for a slow and grueling journey. In addition, there were oftentimes bandits hidden within the rocky crags along the way. Travel at night would be even more difficult, and a city on a hill would be a welcome site, a beacon in the night, signaling a couple things:

1. You are nearing your destination—celestial city

2. And most importantly, you’re headed in the right direction

In addition, a light’s purpose is not to be obscured. You do not light a candle and hide its illumination, which would be unfruitful. Light in a house that would otherwise be dark allows the people that are in there to see what they are doing, to see where they are going, to see what needs to be accomplished, without light, the work that must be done cannot be completed.

Christians are the light of the world, and it requires light to find lost things: Luke 19:10

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Luke 15:8-10 ESV

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Matt 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

The plan of God is that He would send His light to earth in the form of His Son

John 1:1-9 ESV

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

Through the cross:

Colossians 1:12-14

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Through the cross, peace is made between man and God, God’s Spirit comes to live in man, and now, the light that has come into the world (Jesus) through faith, has come into man. And now true believer’s have become the light of the world, and as they allow the true works of God to flow through them, The Father is glorified, just as He was glorified in the Son

I give them the glory

John 17:1-5

The High Priestly Prayer

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

John 17:22-23

22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

John 1:12

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

I wanted to come back to John and use the KJV because the word sons is used instead of children. The point that is being made is that God sent His glory from heaven to earth in His Son. His son, who is the express image of His glory, which directly correlates with light.

Jesus is the light that  came into darkness, and through salvation, the glory and light of God is transferred into us, the “sons” of God, and we become the physical vessel in the earthly realm that releases the glory of God in earth, which allows those that are lost to see their lostness and allows the light to shine into their darkness, so that they can be found and heaven can rejoice.

“Hell lost another one and I am free, I am free!”