23 Pentecost

23 Pentecost - Sunday B (Variable)

First Posted November 8, 2009

Jeremiah 31:7-9 -- Restoration

Psalm 126 -- Bringing in the Sheaves

Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Our Great High Priest

Mark 10:46-52 -- Blind Bartimaeus

The Lord promised to save a remnant of his people, Israel, the greatest of nations (because of God’s favor). There will be great rejoicing and praise to God for what he has done for his people. The Lord promised to bring them back from the north country (Babylon; north of Israel), and gather them from the farthest corners of the earth, including the blind and lame. A large number will return to their Promised Land. They will come with weeping (for joy) and with the Lord’s consolation (the Holy Spirit; the “Comforter;” (John 14:16 KJV; Luke 2:25-26) he will lead them back.

The Lord will lead them to walk by brooks of water, in straight paths which will keep them from stumbling. The Lord is the father of the remnant of Israel, whom he regards as his first-born.

[The Songs of Ascents in the Psalms were to be sung by pilgrims coming to the Temple in Jerusalem, which was on a hill above surrounding valleys. This Psalm reflects the fulfillment of God’s promise to restore Judah, the remnant of Israel, from the exile in Babylon.]

The Lord fulfilled his promise and brought back the remnant to their Promised Land. For the people (who returned after seventy years in exile) it seemed like a dream. The Lord will restore the fortunes of his people like a river would restore the desert of the Negeb.

“May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy! He that goes forth bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5-6).

Human high priests (ministers) are to be mediators between the people and God, offering sacrifices and gifts to God on behalf of the people. Human priests can sympathize with the people because the priests share the same human nature and sins. Human priests must also offer sacrifices for their own sins. Priests must serve by God’s call, rather than their own will and authority.

Likewise, Jesus did not serve as our mediator before God by his own will but by the will and call of God, fulfilling the prophecy of Scripture, including Psalm 2:7 (compare Mark 1:11) and Psalm 110:4 (see Genesis 14:17-20).

During the years of Jesus’ physical ministry he cried out to God, who alone was able to save him from death, and his prayers were heard and answered by God, because of Jesus’ godly fear (appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority of God). Although Jesus was the Son of God, God allowed him to suffer in order for Jesus to learn to trust and obey God’s Word completely and to become spiritually mature. So Jesus has become the source of salvation to all those who trust and obey Jesus. Jesus has become our eternal high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Melchizedek was a priest of God, who came to Abram (Abraham) after Abram had supernaturally defeated the four worldly kings in the valley of the kings. Melchizedek came, bringing wine and bread, as a feast to God celebrating the victory of God’s people over the worldly kings (Genesis 14:17-20). Melchizedek symbolizes an eternal high priest and king, since he has no family lineage, and no birth or death is recorded in Scripture (Hebrews 7:1-3). The symbolism is apparent, to any Christian, in the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion; the Eucharist).

Jesus was heading toward Jerusalem, knowing that he was going to be crucified. As he passed through Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd following him, a blind man sitting at the side of the road and asked what was happening. When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he called out to Jesus, addressing him as the Son of David (the eternal heir to the throne of David; the Messiah).

The people told him to be quiet, but he kept calling out loudly. Jesus stopped and asked the people to call him. Bartimaeus jumped up and came to Jesus, who asked what the man wanted Jesus to do for him. Bartimaeus asked Jesus to restore his vision, and Jesus told him to receive his sight and resume his life, because the man’s faith had healed him. Immediately his sight was restored and Bartimaeus followed Jesus on the way.

The Lord had sent his prophets to warn Judah to turn from idolatry and disobedience and return to obedient trust in the Lord. Judah had seen the fall of the Northern Kingdom to the Assyrians because of their sins of idolatry and disobedience, but Judah did not act on the warnings by the prophets. The Lord declared through his prophets before the fall of Judah that they would be exiled to Babylon for seventy years, and then the Lord would lead a remnant back to the Promised Land.

God’s Word of Judah’s exile to Babylon and return after seventy years was fulfilled. A remnant of Israel did return from Babylon, but it was a renewed people of Israel; for those who were adults at the time of the deportation, seventy years was a life sentence. God was able to fulfill his Word, to restore the remnant of his people so that his plan of salvation through Jesus Christ could be fulfilled through them.

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God’s promise to lead his people to the “Promised Land” of God’s eternal heavenly kingdom, by brooks of water and in straight paths so that they won’t stumble (compare Psalm 23:2-3) as we learn to trust and obey Jesus. In a sense Christians are the new remnant of God’s people, and we are “pilgrims” on the way to the heavenly “New Jerusalem.” Let us remember and rejoice in the great things the Lord has done in the past to deliver and restore his people.

God’s Word is eternal and fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. The Lord leads us back to the eternal “Promised Land” by his indwelling Holy Spirit. It is the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the Risen Jesus (Romans 8:9) within his people which is the “river of life” (John 7:37-38) that transforms our spiritual wilderness into the “green pastures” of Psalm 23:2).

Christians have received the seed of the Gospel and are to be sowers of that seed. Sowing the Gospel will only be accomplished with tears and suffering, because worldly people do not want to hear or receive the Gospel. We must be willing to accept suffering and self-denial with persistence if we are to receive the fulfillment of the promise of a fruitful spiritual harvest, and we must rely on the Holy Spirit to produce the fruit.

Jesus has been “anointed” (“Christ” and “Messiah” both mean “anointed” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively) by God to be the one and only acceptable mediator between God and his people. He is the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of our sin (disobedience of God’s Word). Jesus is the only one who can restore us from bondage and exile in “Babylon” and lead us back to the heavenly “Promised Land.” Jesus is both our eternal king and eternal priest.

Jesus came to teach us by word and example to trust and obey God’s Word. Jesus taught and demonstrated obedient trust in God’s will, to the point of an extremely painful physical death on the Cross, and he taught and demonstrated the reward for obedient trust in God, through his resurrection from physical death to eternal life.

Jesus suffered the same feelings and temptations that we have, but without sinning. He was tempted by his own disciples, though unintentional and unenlightened, to avoid God’s will (Mark 8:32-33), and he had to struggle with his own human nature to submit to God’s will in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-42). Not any number of humans could have overpowered Jesus, except that he laid aside his supernatural power and allowed himself to be crucified in obedient trust in God’s will and for our salvation. Jesus’ prayers in Gethsemane were heard and answered by God. Jesus was spiritually strengthened to be able to do God’s will, and he was raised from physical death to eternal life. He received the name which is above every name (Philippians 2:9), and all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). As we follow his example we will share in his reward.

Bartimaeus means “son of ‘defiled.’’’ “Son of defiled” (by sin) asked the “Son of Righteousness” for healing for his “blindness.” Bartimaeus was physically blind, but spiritually sighted enough to recognize his own spiritual need and Jesus as the Christ, the spiritual healer. Bartimaeus used his healing to follow Jesus, instead of pursuing worldly life.

We have all been born spiritually blind, deaf, mute, and terminally ill. Jesus came into the world to deliver and restore us to the destiny that God intentionally created us to have. We have all been consigned to sin, so that he can have mercy (undeserved forgiveness) on each of us, not by our merits, but as a gift (“grace;” unmerited favor; Ephesians 2:8-9).

In order for us to be spiritually healed, we must recognize our disability, recognize the one who is truly able to heal us, and seek healing in faith (obedient trust) in the healer. We must be willing to be persistent, and seek spiritual healing until we know that we have received it. We must be committed to using our spiritual healing to follow our healer, or our healing will have no eternal benefit.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

23 Pentecost - Monday B (Variable)

To be used only if there is a 24 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost

First Posted November 9, 2009

Psalm 119:1-16 -- The Law of God

Those who are blameless (in God’s judgment) are blessed. Blessed are those who live according to God’s Word, who obey his testimonies, and seek him with all their hearts; who do no wrong, and live according to his way. The Lord commands that his law be kept diligently. O, may we be steadfast in keeping his law; let us learn to obey his word so that we can praise him in righteousness. Let us commit ourselves to obey God’s Word so that he will not completely forsake us.

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to thy Word” (Psalm 119:9). Let us seek the Lord with all our hearts and not stray from obedience to his Word. “I have laid up thy word in my heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). May the Lord be blessed, and may he teach us his ways

I will proclaim his Word and delight in his ways as much as (even more than) great riches. I will meditate on his teachings and delight in his ways. I will remember and delight in his Word.

The Word of God is Law. God’s Word is his will for his people. God’s Word is the wisdom of God by which the world was created and is sustained. He has given us his Word to show us how to truly live as he created and intends for us to live. God has given us his Word for our benefit.

God’s Word has creative force; he spoke and the world came into existence by his Word (Genesis 1:3). God’s Word is always fulfilled; the test of God’s Word is its fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). His people (all of us; he is our creator) are the only members of this creation who have been given the freedom to choose whether to obey God’s Word or not; God has designed Creation to allow us to make that choice, so that we could learn by trial and error that God’s Word is completely good, acceptable by us to obey, and perfect (the very best thing for us; Romans 12:2). We choose to be God’s people by trusting and obeying God’s Word.

God’s Word contains precious promises, and also ominous warnings. We can either seek and claim the promises of God’s Word for our blessing, or we will disregard his Word and receive the dire consequences his warnings were intended to help us avoid.

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment, embodiment, and illustration of God’s Word, lived out in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24). The Bible, both the New and Old Testament, is the Word of God.

Obeying God’s Word is not just a matter of keeping the Old Testament Laws. Keeping the Jewish dietary laws, for example, won’t save anyone. Jesus opens the minds of his disciples to understand God’s Word (Luke 24:45). We need to seek and obey God’s Word through Jesus’ interpretation.

The Jews were never able to keep God’s Word by their own ability. They had to continually offer sacrifices to God for their sins (disobedience of God’s Word). Jesus came to make it possible for us to obey God’s will by the cleansing and enabling of the Holy Spirit within us, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). We are freed from the condemnation of God’s Law, provided that we are obedient to the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-8). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). It is possible for one to know for oneself with certainty whether one has received the gift of the Holy Spirit or not (Acts 19:2).

23 Pentecost - Tuesday B (Variable)

To be used only if there is a 24 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost

First Posted November 10, 2009

Deuteronomy 6:1-9 -- The First Commandment

As Israel was poised to enter the Promised Land, Moses reminded the people of their covenant with God and warned them to remember and do the commandments of God as a condition of possessing the land and living a long, good life in it. The Israelites were to fear God (have the appropriate awe and respect for God’s power and authority), and to teach their children and grandchildren to fear God and to obey God’s Word all their lifetimes. Obedience to God’s Word is the condition for the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel, through the patriarchs, of a great nation and a fertile land.

The first and greatest of God’s commandments is that the Lord is the one and only sovereign God. Israel is to love and serve the Lord above all else, with their complete being: their mind and will, their spiritual being, and all their physical ability and strength. Israel is to hear, learn, know, remember and obey God’s Word. Israel is to be constantly mindful of God’s Word during each day so that they can live in obedience to it. Israel is to teach their children God’s Word and to live accordingly.

The Lord God is the one and only true God. The Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, is not three Gods but one God in three expressions. God is Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). The Trinity is a unity: Jesus is in God and God in him and the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God.

The whole Bible is God’s Word and possesses unity. Jesus’ coming did not do away with God’s Commandments, but was to make it possible for us to fulfill them, not out of fear of punishment, but out of love for his goodness to us. We are freed from the bondage of the Law, provided that we are obedient to Jesus in the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-11).

Jesus came to die on the Cross as the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of our sins (disobedience of God’s Word; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Jesus also demonstrated complete obedience to God’s Word and, by his resurrection from physical death, the reward of long, eternal life in the paradise of God’s heavenly kingdom as the result of that obedience.

Jesus came to give us forgiveness of sin, salvation from God’s eternal condemnation, and eternal life, and this is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12, John 14:6). Through obedient trust Jesus’ disciples receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Jesus is the “living” Word of God. Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God’s Word lived in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus’ Word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24). Jesus is Emmanuel; God with us (Matthew 1:23; in this world), and the gift of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of the promise of God with us, personally and individually.

Every truly “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian disciple personally testifies to the truth that Jesus is eternally alive and with us through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus and God the Father are one with the Holy Spirit (John 14:8-11, 18-24; Colossians 2:8-9).

In a sense, America (and other “Christian” nations) and the Church, particularly in America, are each the New Israel, the People of God, and the Promised Land on earth. America was founded by Christians, on Biblical faith in Jesus Christ, and Christian principles. The conditions for possessing freedom, fruitfulness and blessing are still obedience to God’s Word.

Not only have Americans and American “Christians” failed to teach their children God’s Word and obedient trust in God, many haven’t made an effort to know and obey it themselves. The evidence is all around us, in people who have no regard for life or morality. What was once a fertile land is now suffering pollution and dwindling resources.

People think they can provide their own security through material provisions, and prolong their lives by eating well, getting exercise and modern medical care. People are out jogging on Sunday morning, trying to keep themselves physically healthy, without any awareness or concern for their spiritual health.

The Word of God is a word of warning of the consequences of disobedience of God’s Word, and of idolatry, which is the love of any thing or person as much as or more than God. Over and over Israel strayed from obedience to God and into idolatry, and the result was that God lifted his protection and providence from them and allowed them to experience the consequences of their sin. The consequences apply both in this present life and also in eternity. Do we think it can’t happen to us? How much worse does it have to get before we notice our spiritual sickness?

23 Pentecost - Wednesday B (Variable)

To be used only if there is a 24 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost

First Posted November 11, 2009

Hebrews 7:23-28 -- Our Great High Priest

Under the Old Covenant of Law, many human priests were appointed, because their term was limited by death, but Jesus’ priesthood is eternal (like that of Melchizedek) because Jesus is eternal, having been raised from physical death. So he is able forever to save all those who come to God through him, because he lives forever to intercede for them to God.

He is the ideal high priest because he is totally dedicated to serve God, completely sinless, and exalted above the heavens (Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9-11; Matthew 28:18). He doesn’t need to offer daily sacrifices for his own and his people’s sins, since he himself is sinless, and he offered the sacrifice of himself once for all time and all people for their sins. Really, the Old Covenant of Law appoints human high priests in their human weakness, but the oath (the promise; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:21), which came later, “appoints a (divine) Son who has been made perfect for ever” (Hebrews 7:28).

Jesus Christ is the end of the Old Covenant of Law. He initiated a New Covenant (Matthew 26:26-28 RSV note “g;” Hebrews 8:6-13) of Grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus is the end of the old sacrificial system of the temple. He has become the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God, for all time and all people, for the forgiveness of our sins, for all those who trust and obey Jesus.

At Jesus’ crucifixion, the veil of the temple, separating the presence of God in the Holy-of-Holies from the people, was torn in two, from top to bottom (Mark 15:38), symbolizing that Jesus had opened a new way into the presence of God through Jesus. Under the Old Covenant, only the high priest could enter into God’s presence and only once a year, offering a sacrifice for the sins of himself and the people. Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross made it possible for his disciples be cleansed once for all of their sins and to receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 16:5-7), through whom we have personal, individual, daily fellowship with the Lord.

The Jewish religious leaders justified crucifying Jesus because they were afraid that the Romans would otherwise destroy their temple and nation because of Jesus (John 11:47-48), but instead they precipitated the destruction of their temple, religion, and nation themselves by rejecting the Messiah, Jesus Christ. False witnesses testified that Jesus had said that he would destroy the temple and would rebuild it again in three days (Mark 14:57-58), misunderstanding and misquoting what Jesus was saying. Actually it was they who destroyed the temple by rejecting Jesus, and in effect Jesus did establish a “New Temple,” the Christian Church, by his resurrection on the third day.

The Romans did destroy the temple and Jerusalem in 70 A.D., only five years after it was completed* and the Jews were scattered throughout the world. Israel ceased to exist as a nation until its reestablishment following World War II. The temple has never been rebuilt. Judaism effectively ended at the Cross of Jesus Christ. No other sacrifice is acceptable or efficacious.

The Jewish religious and national leaders were serving their own selfish interests in the ministry of their religion and government instead of serving God’s will on behalf of the people. [The Temple had been built as political patronage by Herod the Great, who had attempted to kill Jesus, the “King of the Jews,” as an infant (Matt. 2:16).] They were unprepared to recognize and receive the promised Messiah. Jesus has promised to return on the Day of Judgment. Are we any more prepared than Israel was, as the Church and nation, to welcome Christ’s return?

* Easton’s Bible Dictionary, “Temple, Herod’s,” digital edition, bibledatabase.org - http://bibledatabase.org/eastons.html

23 Pentecost - Thursday B (Variable)

To be used only if there is a 24 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost

First Posted November 12, 2009

Mark 12:28-34 (35-37) -- The Great Commandment

A scribe (a teacher of the Law of Moses; i.e. Scripture; the Word of God) heard Jesus debating with the Sadducees (a Jewish faction that denied resurrection), and noticing that Jesus answered well, asked Jesus which of the Ten Commandments is the greatest. Jesus replied that the first, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:29-30; Deuteronomy 6:4-5). Jesus added that the second great Commandment is to love one’s neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18b). No Commandments are greater than these two.

The scribe replied that Jesus was right, and acknowledging him as a “Teacher.” The scribe said that it is true that God is one; that there is no other god but he, and that to love God with all one’s heart, soul, mind and strength is more than any number of sacrifices and offerings. Jesus saw that the scribe answered wisely and told him that he was not far from the kingdom of heaven. No one else dared to ask Jesus anymore questions.

Jesus was teaching in the temple, and asked the crowd why the scribes say that the Christ (Messiah; both mean “anointed” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively) is the Son of David. Jesus recited Psalm 110:1, saying that David, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit called him Lord. How then can the Messiah be David’s son? The crowd was eager to hear Jesus’ teaching.

The scribe was a teacher of Scripture, the books of Law, the Pentateuch, which constituted the Jewish Bible, and with prophecy and Psalms constitute a major part of the Old Testament (with the books of wisdom and history). He recognized that Jesus was teaching God’s word accurately, and acknowledged Jesus as a “teacher.”

Jesus noticed that the scribe had a good understanding of the meaning of the First Commandment, and acknowledged the scribe as a “teacher” by saying that the scribe was not far from the kingdom of God. The scribe in fact was perhaps literally within arm’s reach of God’s kingdom; all he needed to do was to recognize that Jesus was not just a good teacher, but the Messiah, the Son of David, God’s anointed eternal Savior and King.

The scribe was right that God is the one and only true God, and that loving God with every aspect of one’s being is more important than any amount of religious ritual. Loving God means trusting and obeying God; trying to please and serve him in every aspect of our lives. Loving the Lord is demonstrated by obeying his commandments (John 14:21-24).

The First Commandment is to love God above all else. The other nine can be summarized in the Second Commandment, which is to love others as much as we love ourselves. If we truly love God we will make the effort to love others in obedience to the Lord’s command.

The problem is that no one is able to keep God’s Commandments because of our sinful nature (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The Law was given to show us what God desires, and to demonstrate our need for forgiveness and salvation. The Law was given to restrain sin until the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. We are freed from the condemnation of the Law, provided that we are obedient to the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-11)

Jesus has been God’s one and only plan, for our forgiveness and salvation from God’s eternal condemnation, from the very beginning of Creation, and Jesus has been built into the very nature of this Creation (John 1:1-5, 14; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Jesus is the only way to forgiveness, salvation, fellowship with God and eternal life in God’s kingdom (Acts 4:12; John 14:6).

Under the Law we are all condemned as sinners to eternal destruction (Romans 3:23). Sin is disobedience of God’s Word, and the penalty is eternal death (Romans 6:23). God offers the free gift of forgiveness of all our sin and salvation from eternal condemnation, through Jesus Christ, to all who are willing to receive it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8-9).

Jesus came to be the ultimate sacrifice, on the Cross, for all sin for all time and all people. The sacrifice that God requires of us is obedient trust of his Word, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in Jesus Christ.

Jesus came to give us eternal life. Jesus’ blood shed on the Cross cleanses us from sin and makes it possible for us to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8), through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34) only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9), and those who have received the Holy Spirit have the assurance of eternal life (1 John 5:11-13). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Jesus didn’t need the scribe’s approval of his teaching; the scribe needed Jesus’ approval. The scribe needed to recognize and acknowledge that Jesus was the Christ; not just a good teacher. Jesus has God’s approval, as his anointed Savior and eternal King, and that approval was demonstrated in the miracles Jesus did and ultimately in his own resurrection.

Jesus is the Son of David through his human (adoptive) father Joseph (Matthew 1:1-17), but the “begotten” Son of God, by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20-21). We are the “begotten” sons (and daughters) of our earthly fathers, but “adopted” sons of our Creator, God, our heavenly Father, by the Holy Spirit, through faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise to David to establish an eternal king on the throne of David, through David’s descendant (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29). David was able to call his “son” Lord by faith in God’s Word.

23 Pentecost - Friday B (Variable)

To be used only if there is a 24 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.

First Posted November 13, 2009

Proverbs 8:11-22 -- Divine Wisdom

Philippians3:17-21 -- Christian Living

Wisdom is better than riches, and nothing in this world is more desirable. Wisdom dwells in prudence, and through wisdom one finds knowledge and discretion. Those who truly fear the Lord (have the proper respect and awe for his power and authority) hate what is evil. Pride, arrogance, evil and lying are despicable and contrary to wisdom.

Wisdom is required by worldly leaders to govern justly. Wisdom rewards those who seek wisdom; those who seek wisdom will find it. Wisdom is the true wealth and honor, and the fruit of wisdom is greater than vast material possessions. The way of wisdom is righteousness and justice. Wisdom prospers those who treasure wisdom. Wisdom was with the Lord at the beginning of his work, before his acts of old (Proverbs 8:22; author’s own interpretation; compare MKJV).

Paul, the Apostle, was continuing to disciple the Philippian Christians by letter from imprisonment. He urged them to copy the lifestyle of Paul and other disciples of Jesus Christ who were living according to the Gospel. Paul had warned them before and now reminded them of his warning that many (worldly people, including professing “Christians”) were living according to worldly ways and were thus enemies of the Cross of Christ, taking pleasure in what is shameful, with their minds focused on worldly things. Those who do such things are idolaters; their “god” is their worldly appetite and their end is eternal destruction.

Christians are citizens of the heavenly kingdom, and we await the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come forth from heaven. He will change our feeble earthly bodies to be like his glorious eternal body, by divine supernatural power by which all things are subject to his authority and will.

True wisdom is the divine wisdom by which God created the universe, not what the world falsely calls “wisdom”

[see 1 Corinthians 1:17-25 (26-29); 2:1-8]. God gives divine wisdom freely and abundantly to those who seek his wisdom and ask him for it (James 1:5). God reveals his wisdom in his Word, the Bible, and in the “living Word,” Jesus Christ, the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God’s Word in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14).

The meaning and purpose of this temporal lifetime is the opportunity to seek and come to personally know the Lord (Acts 17:26-27). Jesus is the wisdom and power of God (1 Corinthians 1:24), who has been designed into the structure of Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5; 14; Proverbs 8:22). Jesus is the one and only eternal Savior and King, anointed (designated) by God (Christ and Messiah each mean “anointed” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively; Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10). Divine wisdom is the one true treasure we can obtain in this lifetime which will provide benefit now, and give us life in eternity. The risen Jesus is the only one who can open our minds to understand Scripture (Luke 24:45). Jesus is the only one who gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ within us (Romans 8:9), who will guide us into all truth (John 16:13) teach us all things, and bring to our remembrance all Jesus’ teachings (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Paul (Saul of Tarsus) is the example of a modern, “post-resurrection,” “Born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ. Paul had not known Jesus Christ during Jesus’ physical lifetime. Paul was converted on the Damascus Road by the risen and ascended Jesus, “discipled” by Ananias until he had received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 9:1-20), and then was guided by the Holy Spirit to make “born-again” disciples; not disciples of himself, but of Jesus Christ. Paul was fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), given by Jesus to his disciples, to be carried out after they had been filled with the Holy Spirit [Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8; 2:1-13, (14-42)].

Paul was living in obedient trust in Jesus Christ by the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit within him, following the example and teachings of Jesus Christ. Paul was teaching the Philippian Christians to follow the example of Paul and other born-again Christians, to trust and obey Jesus, and to be guided and empowered by his Holy Spirit.

Christians are by definition disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26). Christians are to be discipled in the Church by mature born-again disciples until they have been born-again, and then they’re to be guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses and apostles of the Gospel according to the Lord’s individual will for them.

Sadly that is not what is happening in most “churches” today. Churches are settling for building “buildings” and making “members.” Paul warns that many, including those who profess to be Christian, are living contrary to and in opposition to the Gospel. Churches are “importing,” even into leadership, worldly people and worldly attitudes, instead of “exporting” Christian discipleship. Many people are serving the modern idols of wealth, success, power, fame, career, family, and pleasure.

Christians are to live according to the wisdom and standards of the eternal heavenly kingdom, not the wisdom and standards of this world. How are Christians to know God’s will for them personally and learn the wisdom and standards of God’s kingdom without reading the Bible thoroughly and daily? Paul warns that those who are not willing to be born-again disciples by obedient trust in Jesus, are not going to be saved from God’s eternal condemnation and destruction of them in Hell. Paul is repeating the warning Jesus gives, that it is not enough to call Jesus our Lord, without doing what he teaches and exemplifies (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46; Matthew 25:31-46).

23 Pentecost - Saturday B (Variable)

To be used only if there is a 24 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.

First Posted November 14, 2009

Matthew 22:15-22 -- Paying Taxes

The Pharisees (a faction of legalistic Jewish leaders) plotted how to entrap Jesus by his words. They sent their disciples and some Herodians (political supporters of the Roman governing family of Herods) to ask the question they thought would convict Jesus no matter which way he answered it.

The Pharisees started with false flattery, saying that they knew that Jesus was sincere, that he taught God’s Word accurately, and that he showed no partiality toward anyone. They asked him whether it was right for Jews to pay taxes to Caesar or not.

Jesus knew their evil intent, called them hypocrites, and asked them why they were testing him. Jesus asked them to show him the money for the tax, and they showed him a Roman coin. He asked them whose likeness and inscription were on the coin, and they replied that it was Caesar’s. Then Jesus said that one must give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what belongs to God. The Pharisees were amazed at his answer and left Jesus.

The Pharisees were not as subtle and smart as they thought they were. Their malice should have been obvious to anyone. Jesus answered them truthfully in a way that no one could criticize.

Even under Roman military government, it was possible for Jews to serve God while complying with civil authorities. It wasn’t an “either/or” question.

Christians are citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom who are away from their homeland and sojourning in this world. We are to live according to the Law of our kingdom, but to also comply with the local laws, so long as they do not oppose God’s Word.

If we are in a situation where the demands of the worldly government conflict with God’s Word, then we must obey God’s Word and be willing to suffer the consequences of disobedience of the worldly rulers. God is able to bring us through and deliver us from earthly troubles.

God’s Word is not unreasonable or impossible for us to obey. We are not to use God’s Word as an excuse not to comply with worldly authorities, nor to use our worldly circumstances as an excuse not to trust and obey God’s Word.

Christians have found themselves persecuted by worldly authorities throughout history and even today. We are blessed to have freedom of religion. Are we using that freedom to learn, know, trust and obey God’s Word so that we can serve and please the Lord? On the Day of Judgment we won’t be able to blame our ignorance and disobedience of God’s Word on the "Romans."