The Way of the Truth of God

 Repentance, False Religion, and the True Way

 Book of Luke Chapter 13

 

The Lord Jesus Christ was preaching about the signs of the times, or we could say the sins of the times.

 These are the same sins we have today, only they are getting worse.

 If we analyze the present time according to the Word of God that we have, we should be able to see that time is running out to make a decisive choice about the truth of Jesus Christ.

 Jesus said to the crowd: Luk 12:54  And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. 

Luk 12:55  And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. 

Luk 12:56  Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? 

 The Lord Jesus called them hypocrites because they could look at the patterns of the weather to see what was coming next, but they kept their eyes closed when it came to their spiritual condition.

 Most of the time we think much too much of ourselves!

 They knew the laws of nature and how to apply them, but they were ignoring the Law of God, and they lived according to their own thoughts and the ways of the world.

 God had explained that judgment was coming, but the Word of God was ignored.

 They did not think about the time in which they lived because they did not want to repent and place their lives in the hands of God.

 Their greatest mistake they made was not considering that our lives are already in the hands of God!

 If we know only one thing, it is that we are responsible for knowing right from wrong!

 Normally, this is the first lesson we try to teach our children.

 If we have a personal relationship with God, then we can be where God wants us to be, and God can save us.

 The Lord Jesus always seeks the salvation of each of us so He can show us mercy.

 Mercy means we will not get what we deserve, which is eternal death.

 Num 14:18  The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression,

 Psa 103:8  The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 

 The next question would then be, "Why do good people suffer"?

 One answer would be that we do not suffer more because we are far worse than others, so we can remove this from our thought process.

 *****Luk 13:1  There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 

Luk 13:2  And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 

Luk 13:3  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 

Luk 13:4  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 

Luk 13:5  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 

 Rome considered the Galileans the most turbulent and seditious people under their control.

 They were always ready to cause problems for Roman authority.

 The Apostles that Jesus had selected were all Galileans, either by birth or by where they lived.

 Act 1:11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 

 Most of the Jews could tell if you were a Galilean by the way that you talked. Just ask Peter.

 Mat 26:73  And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 

 It would be sort of like the speech of us Southerners and those who live in the North of our own nation.

 Many would actually call Jesus Christ the Galilean God.

 This was used many times to keep from using the title Christian during the time of the early Church.

 The truth was, Pilate hated the Galileans so much that his army surrounded a group of Galileans at the Temple, where they had gone to worship, and murdered them and poured their blood on the sacrifices that were being made to God.

 By doing this, Pilate also showed his contempt for the sacrificial services of the Jews.

 The question to the Lord Jesus Christ was that these Galileans must have been sinners far greater than other men.

 They suggested that it was not so much the cruelty of Pilate as it was the judgment of God.

 The Lord Jesus said: "It is not up to any of us to decide whose sins are worse than others".

 Jesus's answer to these Jews was "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish".

 We know that there were not many of the Jews who did repent, and they were all slaughtered by the Romans in 70 A D.

 The Romans did to the Jews what Pilate had done to these Galileans.

 The answer is that we do not suffer more in this world just because we are greater sinners than most others.

 We are all sinners in need of repentance!

Every sin has the same "judgment" from God, eternal death without God.

 In fact, totally innocent people suffer, and we do not know any reason beyond the providence of God.

 We do know this verse we see so much: Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

 Then the Lord Jesus adds another incident.

 There was a great tragedy in Jerusalem when eighteen men were killed because a guard tower at the pool of Siloam fell and killed them all.

 Some commentaries say it was eighteen construction workers who were killed.

 Some say that Pilate used the Temple money to construct an aqueduct into Jerusalem, and some of the Jews said this was the reason these men were killed, again by God Himself, but it was merely an accident that happened to men trying to make a living for their families.

 Were these eighteen greater sinners than others in Jerusalem?

 Did they deserve to die more than others who live?

 We might ask ourselves, why are we allowed to live and others are not?

 The Lord Jesus said it was not because they had greater sin than others.

 There again Jesus said: "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish".

 It is not up to us to raise the question of the guilt of others.

 Do I believe there may be different levels of suffering in Hell? Yes, I do.

 Most suffering of the sinner upon this earth is caused by themselves.

 Go to the hospitals and see if you can tell who is good and who is bad.

 Much of our suffering as we get older is because of the way we lived our lives when we were younger.

 No one suffers upon this earth because we think they are greater sinners than others.

 These things are all in the hands of God!

 The greatest thing we can do is to repent and be saved, so we know we will not suffer in Hell.

 Heaven is going to be so wonderful. Why would anybody not want to spend eternity there?

 We cannot afford to die without Jesus Christ!

 Again, the Lord Jesus teaches us with a parable.

 *****Luk 13:6  He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 

Luk 13:7  Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 

Luk 13:8  And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 

Luk 13:9  And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. 

 Israel is God's people.

 The Church is God's people.

 God expects us all who love Him to bear fruit.

 The fruit God expects from all His people is the Fruit of the Spirit!

 Isa 44:3  For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: 

Isa 44:4  And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses. 

 Joh 7:37  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 

Joh 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 

Joh 7:39  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

 Israel thought they were safe because they were the seed of Abraham under the promises of God.

 Israel did not even realize the precarious state in which they were in.

 (By the way, the Church is sinking so fast that the Church does not realize the precarious state it is in).

 It was totally inappropriate to speculate about the Galileans, and it was foolish to forget the people of Jerusalem.

 We could understand this parable as showing these Jews their own history that hangs over their heads.

 But without a doubt, it should also wake up the Church, which lives by the Grace of God.

 There will come a time when God elects to cut down fruitless trees.

 We must understand the need for repentance: Mat 21:28  But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 

Mat 21:29  He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 

Mat 21:30  And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 

Mat 21:31  Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 

 Repentance is a change of mind that brings a complete change in the heart. It is a heartfelt sorrow for sin and a confession of that sin, turning to God and righteousness.

 One day God's patience will run out with this world: 2Pe 3:15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 

2Pe 3:16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 

2Pe 3:17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

 Israel is the fig tree of the Lord. Israel must stand before God in its righteousness.

 Adam and Eve, after falling into sin, tried to cover themselves with the leaves of a fig tree.

 Gen 3:7  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 

 This man-made apron could not cover their nakedness, so God made them garments of skin.

 They then stood before God covered by a sacrificial lamb, which we know now as Jesus Christ.

 This is the only way every single sinner can stand before our Holy God.

 We know of another Scripture that says the Lord Jesus sought fruit again from the fig tree and could not find it, and the fig tree withered away and died after the Lord Jesus cursed it.

 It is the Lord Jesus Christ who spent three years trying to convince the Jews to repent, but they would not.

 Jhn_1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

 The Church also needs to repent and get busy for the Lord!

 It is God Himself who is looking for fruit!

 All those places of worship producing no fruit are just wasting space!

 Mat 3:10  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 

Mat 3:11  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 

Mat 3:12  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

 *****Luk 13:10  And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

Luk 13:11  And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 

Luk 13:12  And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 

Luk 13:13  And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.  

 This is possibly the last time that the Lord Jesus got to teach in a synagogue of the Jews.

 This healing took place on a Sabbath, and we see that healing was not allowed on the Sabbath because it was considered to be work and not a movement of God.

 The Lord Jesus was doing exactly what He came to do.

 Luk_19:10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 Heb 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

 We can see that the Jewish synagogues were places where women could also worship along with religionists.

 That phrase "spirit of infirmity" probably means that this illness she had was because of a demon.

 So, we see that the devil and his demons try to be present in every worship service, and he still does this today.

 This woman had reached a point where she could no longer lift herself, but if she had not been committed to worship, she would have missed this opportunity when the Lord Jesus showed up at the worship service.

 Worship at church reaches another level when the Lord Jesus shows up to worship with us!

 We already know that God sings with us when we sing in our worship service.

 Zep 3:17  The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. 

 When we rejoice in the Lord, we can have the Holy Spirit with us, the Almighty God singing, and the presence of the Lord Jesus to heal us.

 This illness this woman suffered with was for eighteen years, and she may not have been able to make it to another worship service if not for Christ also being there on that day.

 This type of illness is, in typology, a spiritual weakness in those who are weighed down by the Laws of Moses.

 This is what the Law does: it requires those who follow it to meet certain conditions before they can claim righteousness and escape the judgment of God.

Today, we call this legalism!

 The Law cannot make anyone righteous!

 Gal 3:11  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 

Gal 3:12  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 

 This woman had a true Spiritual need!

 The Lord Jesus laid His wonderful healing hands upon her.

 This woman had not asked for anything; the Lord Jesus just knows our needs.

 She was no longer bowed over but was straightened.

 Such wonderful things are overlooked by traditionalists.

 *****Luk 13:14  And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. 

Luk 13:15  The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 

Luk 13:16  And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? 

Luk 13:17  And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him. 

 The Lord stepped into a synagogue and just ruined the service for all those religionists, and they would not allow Him into another synagogue during the time He had left.

 Much of the Church would not allow the Lord Jesus to preach in any service today.

 Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 

Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 

Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 

This man worshipped God, but he did not worship the same God as this woman who was healed.

 The ruler of this synagogue was an arrogant man who was self-righteous because he followed the traditions of men rather than the Word of God.

 This woman sought God to meet her needs.

 This synagogue leader sought God through form and rituals, ceremony and rules.

 This is not what the worship of God is to be about.

 This man lost his temper with the Lord Jesus Christ, and this is not a good thing in any worship service.

 The Lord Jesus said he was a hypocrite and he was.

 He had already taken care of his animals before he came to worship, all these things done on the same Sabbath.

 He was a leader who put his own animals and his own rules above the people and above the Word of God.

 There are church leaders who do this same thing today!

 The Jewish people had allowed their religious leaders to corrupt the Word of God.

 The people inside this synagogue began to see the truth and rejoiced to hear the truth from the Lord Jesus.

 The Lord Jesus continued to travel and teach through the cities and villages that were between Him and Jerusalem.

 *****Luk 13:22  And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 

Luk 13:23  Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

 Just who are the saved?

 Will many of the world be saved?

 Jesus will answer these questions Himself.

 The Lord Jesus Christ knew exactly what was going to happen to Him in Jerusalem!

 This did not alter His message.

 The Lord Jesus would be killed by the hands of the Jewish people.

 Mat_27:25  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

 The Lord Jesus just kept doing what His Father sent Him to do as He traveled to His death.

 Then someone asked Him: Lord, are there few that be saved?

 Notice the Lord Jesus is not so much concerned by the question as He is by that person who asked the question.

 This is still one of the biggest questions asked by those who are religious.

 Many religions, including some Christians, still try to find some way to deny those whom they do not like the opportunity to get to God's Heaven.

 It is only the Lord Jesus Christ who can set the boundaries of getting to Heaven.

 It is only the Lord Jesus Christ who can separate the sheep from the goats.

 Only God can open the door to Heaven, and it is by His Grace through His Son Jesus!

 This doorway is narrow, and the Lord is the door!

 Jhn_10:7  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

Jhn_10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

 There is a great price to be paid to get the Lord Jesus to open the door to Heaven.

 No halfhearted people can get through the door!

 The Apostle Paul wrote: 1Co 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 

1Co 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 

1Co 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 

1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

 It is by repentance and by renouncing our self-righteousness, our arrogance, and our own self-will.

 It is difficult to enter this door when it is open and impossible once it is closed!

 We must be doers of the Word of God!

 Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 

Jas 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 

Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 The Lord Jesus continues:

 *****Luk 13:24  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 

 The way to salvation is specific, very specific!

 1) There are not many ways to salvation; there is only one way to salvation.

 Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

 2) The way to salvation is straight, very straight!

 It is not crooked in direction, it is not crooked in purpose, it is not crooked in morals.

 There is nothing in salvation that will make us great, so we must become small.

 We must be in the right relationship with God!

 Joh 14:7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

 We must diligently seek God!

 Most of those in our world are not willing to pay the price.

 The Lord knows it so, therefore the gate is narrow.

 *****Luk 13:25  When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 

 We must understand that God is long-suffering and truly patient, but there will come a moment when God puts an end to entering the Door of Jesus Christ!

 In the Bible, we have a great example in Noah.

 Gen 7:15  And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. 

Gen 7:16  And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: "and the LORD shut him in". 

 The salvation of God is now, today, that door may be closed tomorrow.

 If your name is not written in the Lamb's Book of Life, then the Lord Jesus will say that He does not know you, and if He does not know you, then the God of Heaven does not know you.

 Luk_10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

 It will be too late to call for the "Mercy of God," and He will cut off the flow of "Grace" from His throne.

 *****Luk 13:26  Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 

 Then those who have had one foot in the Church and the other foot in the world will be rejected.

 They were friends of true Christians.

They listened to the preacher, and they may have even attended Sunday School.

They had witnessed great movements of the Holy Spirit and had seen souls who were truly saved.

 They were citizens of so-called Christian nations.

They even allowed their streets to be used for evangelism.

 However, they professed a relationship with Jesus Christ that they did not have.

 Tit 1:15  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 

Tit 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. 

 We should understand that the Lord Jesus was outside the doors of the Church at one time, knocking, almost begging for them to let Him back in.

 Now we see just the opposite. We see those who were playing Church on the outside of the door of salvation begging the Lord Jesus Christ to let them in.

 What will the Lord Jesus say to them?

 *****Luk 13:27  But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 

Luk 13:28  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

 We see that the saved shall be separated from the lost, and it appears that those who are lost will get to see those who are saved enter into the Kingdom of God.

 Mat 18:3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat 18:4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

 On the day of the Rapture, many will look around and wonder why they were left behind.

 They will be upset with themselves and with God's saints who are no longer on this planet.

 They will see godly parents, friends, children, and neighbors enter the Kingdom of God and see themselves shut out.

 They had not denied themselves: Luk 9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

 *****Luk 13:29  And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 

Luk 13:30  And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last. 

Those who were saved are mainly Gentiles, and the Lord will do a new work on the Jews after and during the seven years of Tribulation.

There is a revival of sorts today in many nations, though not in the USA.

We need to be praying for a revival while there may still be time to have one.

I have never seen so much sin and corruption in our nation as I see today, and no one seems to care.

Our politicians have allowed these things to go on for far too long.

Those who are lost have their conscience seared with a hot iron and do not see the sin and corruption in our land today.

Those who are corrupt accuse everyone else of being corrupt to hide their own corruption.

They have it in their minds that we are all fools when they are not fooling anybody.

The great "Marriage Supper" of the Lamb of God is closer than we think, and we must know that we know we are saved.

There will be no classes of people in Heaven. Race will not be considered, nor riches, nor classes of people.

Only Christians will be there, those who love the Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart.

Act 10:34  Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 

Act 10:35  But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 

Amen

Teaching From the Master

 Jesus Teaches on Important Issues

 Book of Luke Chapter 12

 

Our lesson today spends some time on "fear".

 In the Scriptures, there is but one creature of God that is said to be void of fear.

 Job 41:33  Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.

Job 41:34  He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride. 

 This is the Leviathan, king of the sinners, and He only fears the God of Heaven and Earth.

 God is very blunt here when He says that if no man will approach the Leviathan, which is a creation of God, how is it that any man can say they have no fear of God?

 Psa 76:7  Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? 

 There is Natural Fear, there is Sinful Fear, and there is Holy Fear.

 Every person upon this earth has to deal with natural fear and sinful fear.

 Only the “Born Again” child of God deals with Holy Fear!

 Natural fear entered our world with the fall of Adam when Adam tried to hide himself from the presence of the Lord.

 Gen 3:8  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

 Once Adam felt the fear of sin and the death of sin, he began to understand that perfect love casts out that fear!

 1Jn_4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

 Rom 8:15  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. 

 Our greatest blessing comes when the Love of God rids us of the fears of this world.

 Luk 1:70  As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: 

Luk 1:71  That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 

Luk 1:72  To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 

Luk 1:73  The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 

Luk 1:74  That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 

Luk 1:75  In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

 *****Luk 12:8  Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 

Luk 12:9  But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

 We should not forget that God is "omniscient".

 God knows every little detail of everything that is happening in our lives.

 God is also "omnipotent".

 God can control any event that is happening to each believer, no matter how large or how small.

 This is why there are normally good things that come out of every bad thing that happens to every believer.

 Every characteristic of God is so wonderful that we have doubts about the reality of them until we come to know God in a personal way.

 It is the love of God that brings us to reality.

 Nothing can separate us from the love of God: Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

 When we are not loyal to our loving God as He is to us, the Lord Jesus reminds us of the consequences.

 1) We will be judged before angels. The angels who are totally loyal to their Creator will witness our acceptance or our rejection by God.

2) This judgment will come from the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, so the door of Heaven is opened for us. In all His time upon this earth, the Lord Jesus never sinned. He is the only One who can judge our actions of disloyalty or our steadfastness as a Christian.

 Mat 25:31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 

Mat 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 

Mat 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

 God has given His Son, Jesus, the right to judge us because He died in our place.

 Joh 5:22  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 

Joh 5:23  That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

 The basis of our judgment is our attitude toward our Savior!

 Have we confessed our love and our loyalty to Jesus Christ before the world?

 This does not mean every time we stumble, we can be forgiven, but it does mean do we love the Lord enough to be loyal to Him.

 Jesus will confess us before Heaven's Angels and tell all angels that we belong to Him and are true witnesses of Him.

 If we deny Jesus Christ, we shall be denied before our Holy God and the Angels of God.

 Angels do exactly what God says for them to do.

 *****Luk 12:10  And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. 

 Because the Lord Jesus is so full of "GRACE," He will forgive anyone who has spoken against Him. He knows we are born with a rebellious spirit. If we repent, Jesus will forgive us.

 Look at the Apostle Paul as an example.

 1Ti 1:13  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 

 BUT if we blaspheme the Holy Spirit will not receive forgiveness!

 We cannot attribute the work of Jesus Christ to Satan.

 When we deny the Lord Jesus over and over again till the day we die, we are showing hatred for the work the Lord Jesus Christ did for our salvation. Remembering that Our Lord Jesus worked with the power of the Holy Spirit.

 Act 7:51  Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 

 It is the Holy Spirit from which we draw our strength as Christians.

 Our prayer life depends on the Holy Spirit.

Our relationship with God depends on the Holy Spirit.

Our strength to be a usable servant to the Lord depends on the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the One who called us.

The Holy Spirit is the One who convicts us.

The Holy Spirit is the One who guides us through life.

The Holy Spirit will teach us what to say when we do not know what to say.

 The Lord Jesus is not saying all these things to cause us to fear. He is telling us all these things to give us encouragement.

 We will suffer persecution as Christians, and we need to be encouraged.

 *****Luk 12:11  And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: 

Luk 12:12  For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. 

 When we are called out for our faith in Jesus Christ, we should not be concerned.

 In fact, we should be proud that someone can see Jesus in us.

 The Lord Jesus would not include this in the Scriptures if it was not going to happen.

 This includes all persecution, mild or just ridicule, or just physical abuse, but it also includes becoming a martyr.

 The greatest power on this earth, the Holy Spirit, will decide then how we should answer our accusers.

 He will give us the strength to bear and the words to speak, and even then, He will not allow us to deny the Lord.

 We need to just trust God because we know that He is in charge, and He knows what is best for us at all times.

 The fear of any man is a terrible thing.

 Fear can cost a person their eternal destiny even if they claim the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.

 Jesus was preaching to His disciples, friends, and those who followed Him.

 Fear is the opposite of peace with God.

Fear means we are not as committed as we say we are.

Fear can take us out of the Will of God.

 2Ti 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

2Ti 1:8  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,

 We must understand that some people just do not want to be reached with the salvation of God!

 This is sad but also very true!

 These are the same ones who will be our persecutors.

 They still need to be told or at least warned of the truth of God.

 Persecution is not such a high cost for being a servant of God.

 Jas 5:20  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. 

 Our fear of God should be enough to convince us not to fear what mankind can do to us.

 God's terror is forever!

 1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 

1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 

 If we know the Lord Jesus as our Savior, then we should realize the effort God is making to bring us to our final goal.

 In the midst of all our trials, He continues His work in us.

 He guards against our falling away and from sliding back into the world.

 He purifies our faith, so that we can continue to respond to Who He is.

 God will not make judicial decisions in our lives; He has given us the tools to make those decisions ourselves when He said to live righteously before Him.

 There is a great danger in seeking God to help us with materialism!

 *****Luk 12:13  And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 

Luk 12:14  And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 

 We should understand that this sermon that the Lord Jesus Christ had just preached was a serious lesson about the teaching of the Pharisees, the committing of the unforgivable sin, and the persecution of His followers.

 It was a foolish thought that the Lord Jesus would interfere in a family dispute.

 He expects us to act like Christians in any dispute.

 No telling how many people have prayed for God to help them win the lottery when He will never do this.

 Salvation is not about material things!

 These things may have been stolen from the man.

These things may have rightfully been his to begin with.

This could even be seen as an act of justice by those who followed Christ.

 The Lord Jesus treats this man as if he were not a believer.

 The Lord Jesus preached trusting God for our necessities, not our riches, except for the riches of Heaven.

 This man, like many others, was not paying attention to what the Lord had said.

 Just listening to the Word of God preached does not mean we hear what God says.

 Just hearing what God says does not mean we will apply it to our lives.

 Spiritual maturity is not about a worldly life!

 The Lord Jesus did not die on Calvary's Cross to give us property.

The Lord Jesus died on Calvary's Cross to give us life, and that life eternal!

 *****Luk 12:15  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 

 The world hates the Ten Commandments of God when they are things that are good to live by.

 Exo 20:17  Thou shalt not covet

 Covetousness is a crime.

 Covetousness ranks right next to murder, adultery, theft, and slander.

 Every time we see this word in the Old Testament, it is connected with a prohibition or a curse.

 In the New Testament, we usually see covetousness classed together with adultery.

 We should get a feeling for what God thinks about covetousness.

 Eph 5:5  For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 

Eph 5:6  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

 Covetousness is a craving or a desire for more.

 It is greediness, a dissatisfaction with what is enough.

It is a craving as much for material things as fleshy indulgence.

 Then the Lord Jesus gives us an example.

 *****Luk 12:16  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 

Luk 12:17  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 

Luk 12:18  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 

Luk 12:19  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 

Luk 12:20  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 

 There is great danger in worldliness.

There is great danger in greediness.

 Jas 4:1  From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 

Jas 4:2  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 

Jas 4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 

Jas 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 

 Covetousness has been the start of many wars.

No matter what we think about this war with Iran, Iran was coveting the destruction of God’s people. To Iran, America is the Great Satan, and this is not far from the truth because of the wickedness we see in our own nation. 

When our happiness is more about our possessions rather than God, we are in serious trouble.

 In reality, our possessions cannot bring us true power. Only God can do this.

 Mat 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

 This rich man was greatly blessed, but he did not thank God for such a blessing.

 Those were his fruits and his goods, and he was not about to share them.

 Notice he also said his soul, when all souls belong to God, to do as He so chooses.

 His pride in his possessions made him think of bigger and better things.

 Our greatest mistakes stem from selfishness, self-indulgence, and extravagant living.

 We are always trying to keep up with the Joneses.

 What is our duty?

 Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 

Ecc 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. 

 As Christians, we may live with peace in our hearts, but we may never live at ease in this world.

 This rich man thought only of himself and never gave a thought to helping those who did not have.

 He forgot that he was living in a wicked world that was slowly dying.

 Instead of helping others, he decided to build new storage for his abundance.

 He worked hard to get the things he wanted and was not about to share them.

 We will see that this man only got to think about his greed, his new barns, and his great excess because he did not live long enough to do these things.

 Deu 8:11  Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: 

Deu 8:12  Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 

Deu 8:13  And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; 

Deu 8:14  Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God,

 An intense appetite for gain and more gain is just a passion for pleasure that we may never see.

 When we focus so much on this life, we begin not to focus on eternal life.

 We forget about the rewards of Heaven. In fact, we forget to work for those rewards.

 Pro 23:4  Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. 

Pro 23:5  Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. 

 In our world today, the richer we are, the greater the chance that there will be people who will take away those riches.

 For example, California will vote soon on a measure to just reach in and grab five percent away from those who are rich.

 Our government cannot face the fact that they continuously spend more than they take in and robs the people who support it.

 This is government greed!

 All such people are no more than fools.

 They build and build up riches only to give those riches to someone who may not even appreciate the hard work they did.

 Ecc 2:18  Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. 

Ecc 2:19  And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

 Why would we even want to live a vain life, a life that meant nothing?

 While this man could only think of his riches, he received a message from God that his time was over on this earth.

 God knows exactly when our time is over, and He is the only one who knows this.

 Eze 18:23  Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? 

Eze 18:24  But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. 

 *****Luk 12:21  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. 

Wealth is not a permanent possession!

There is always someone else who will get your wealth after your death.

In fact, the greedy government you support will reach in to try to get a share of your wealth.

When we die, the only portion of our life that lives is our spirit, and spirits cannot have any material possessions.

That spirit will live somewhere forever.

Wealth cannot buy off death.

It is a fool who lives simply and only for the sake of accumulation.

Rom_8:10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

God requires our souls to return to Him when our life is over, but it is the way we lived that life that determines what God will do with that soul.

Amen

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

 Instructions and Indictments

 Book of Luke Chapter 11 Verses 17-28

 

 The first part of Chapter 11 deals with prayer, and it is a great day when we finally realize the power of prayer.

 The Lord Jesus prayed often, and it was another fulfillment of prophecy.

 Psa 109:4  For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. 

 We all need the Lord's help to pray properly.

 The Lord Jesus taught that prayer is one of the greatest needs we have in our Christian life.

 I know I do not pray enough, and there is power in prayer.

 Our lesson does not go into prayer, but we need to read what the Lord says here in this chapter.

 What is the truth that we need to deal with? Our Lord Jesus has been rejected, denied, and cursed by most of this world, and this is not going to change.

 There is a lot of evidence that proves that Jesus was exactly who He said He was.

 There has been a lot of archaeology that has proven the Bible is accurate.

 Old underground churches have been found in Israel that state that they were part of the Church that Jesus planted.

 King David has been proven to have existed.

 Jeremiah, Baruch his scribe, Isaiah, King Solomon, the Temple that Solomon built, and when it was rebuilt, King Cyrus and his directive to allow the Jews to go home have all been proven. The Moab stone proved of war with Israel, many things in Egypt, and much more has been proven that shows the Bible is full of the truth.

 The Bible is accurate, and the Lord Jesus did really come to this earth just as the Bible says.

 The information we read in the Book of Luke came from eyewitnesses to the life and death of Jesus Christ.

 The Lord Jesus cast out the devil from a deaf and dumb man, and the wicked rulers of Israel said the power of Jesus came from the prince of devils, Beelzebub.

 This is just another name given to Satan.

 We must understand how the wicked work in our world.

 When evil and wicked men cannot deny a good man's deeds, they will do their best to destroy his reputation.

 In fact, this is what is driving the wickedness in our nation today, and why we cannot get good people to run for office.

There are no perfect people in this world. Almost all of us have something in our past that we are not proud of.

The Lord Jesus, who took on the flesh of a human, is the only one who walked this earth as a perfect man and is the perfect God.

 To say these things about the Lord Jesus Christ, whose power comes by the Holy Spirit, is the unforgivable sin.

 The Scriptures speak of sins against the Holy Spirit called quenching: 1Th 5:19  Quench not the Spirit. 

 There is the sin of grieving the Holy Spirit: Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 

 We only think of blaspheming the Holy Spirit when we think of sins against the Holy Spirit, but these others are also sins against the Holy Spirit; He will forgive, but not blasphemy against Him; He will not forgive.

 We should understand that the Lord Jesus had made Himself known to Israel throughout the Gospels, but look into the Book of Matthew, Chapters five through seven.

 The Lord Jesus had done many miracles also in Matthew Chapters 8 through 10.

 The Lord Jesus had fulfilled many of the Messianic signs, and the Jews had witnessed all these things and knew they were true.

Many of these same things are written about in the Book of Luke.

 Now the religious leaders came who had witnessed all these other things, and they decided that the power of the man Jesus came from Satan.

 Mat 12:22  Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. 

Mat 12:23  And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? 

Mat 12:24  But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. 

 God had already said: Mat 12:18  Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. 

 We should not doubt that every sin committed is a sin against the Lord Jesus Christ.

 The world of that day should have recognized that the Lord Jesus is indeed the Messiah.

 The religious people could not deny the work of Christ or the miracles; they just denied that He was the promised Messiah and pointed to the Devil as the source of His power.

 This is the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit!

 This sin is final, and it is unforgivable because they had witnessed these great works of the Lord Jesus, themselves.

 Mat 12:32  And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. 

 There will be no opportunity for repentance for this sin!

There will be no opportunity for a pardon!

There will be no opportunity for forgiveness!

 Where does the power of every Christian come from? It comes from the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us.

 Joh 7:37  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 

Joh 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 

Joh 7:39  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) 

 It is believed that this sin cannot be committed today because it requires the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ and the work that He does Himself.

 Thank goodness that most all sinners get more than one chance to accept the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 If saved, it meant we finally repented and turned to Christ.

 Those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ before their death cannot be forgiven.

 Those elders and religionist that claimed that the power of Christ came from the Devil, knowing better, are now burning in the hottest part of Hell reserved for Satan Himself.

 The Lord Jesus always knows the thoughts that are in our heads.

 *****Luk 11:14  And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. 

Luk 11:15  But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. 

Luk 11:16  And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. 

Luk 11:17  But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. 

Luk 11:18  If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 

Luk 11:19  And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 

 The Lord Jesus claimed to be of another house and another kingdom than that of Satan.

 The Lord Jesus set before these people a logical example, that a divided kingdom or house will surely fall.

 They understood what the Lord was saying because they knew it was the truth.

 We had better be careful here in America because we are more divided than we ever have been, at least this is the message our government is sending along with most news sources.

 These things make us really weak, and it is all because of sin.

 When the Lord Jesus spoke these things, He acknowledged the existence of Satan and his kingdom, both of whom struggle against righteousness and good.

 Satan is not divided, and you will never hear of him doing good or being righteous, but he is deceiving.

 Satan wants his own kingdom, and he does not want any of God's people to be in it.

 Satan wants to be worshipped as God, even though he is just a created being like the rest of us.

 Satan is certainly not going to cast out the wickedness and evil in this world because he then would have no power at all.

 Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

 There were, at that time, Jewish exorcists who were of the Jewish nation who tried to cast out devils and demons in the name of Jehovah God, and they were not accused of using powers from Hell.

 The Lord Jesus deserved far more respect than these exorcists.

 One of the biggest mistakes of the Jews was that they exalted priests and religion above God and the Holy Scriptures.

 We still see this today in many denominations!

 We know these people honored God and the Holy Spirit, but they rejected the Son of God, who was also the Son of Man.

 Without the Son of God, there is no payment for sin!

 Without the Holy Trinity, there is no salvation!

 What the Lord says next is interesting.

 *****Luk 11:20  But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. 

 All the acts of the Lord Jesus Christ were through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God.

 Every action the Lord Jesus took on earth was in obedience to His Heavenly Father, God the Father.

 Since the Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He has been busy establishing the Kingdom of God.

 The Holy Trinity, the Triune God who is One God, cannot be divided.

 Jesus said He had enough power in one finger to cast out the house of the Devil.

 I believe Him!

 *****Luk 11:21  When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 

Luk 11:22  But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. 

 When the Lord Jesus Christ died on Mount Calvary, He went into the house of the strong man (Satan)(the Devil) and robbed him of his household goods (all the people he had in his power)( the keys to hell).

 He then bound the strong man (the Devil) when Jesus defeated him in the wilderness.

 Then Jesus went through all the land doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil.

He is still doing this through the Church today!

 Jesus gave old Satan a swift kick in the head on the cross, and Satan is still dizzy from that today.

 Wherever the power of God is located, this is the Kingdom of God.

 The only thing lacking is accepting what the Lord Jesus has done for us!

 1Jn 3:8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 

 Eph 4:8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 

Eph 4:9  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 

Eph 4:10  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

 *****Luk 11:23  He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 

 The Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest gift this world has ever seen because He is our Creator, but He is also our Great Shepherd.

 Where we choose to stand in relationship with Jesus Christ will determine the impact we make in this life!

 It is the Lord Jesus Christ who determines our destiny!

 There is no neutrality with Jesus Christ: we are either with Him or we are against Him.

 We either fight against evil or fight against righteousness.

 We either fight for the Kingdom of God, or we fight for the kingdom of evil.

 Standing still is fighting against the Kingdom of God by doing nothing for God.

 Standing still is allowing evil to continue in our homes, our nation, and this world.

 A voice of silence is a voice for evil!

 1Co 10:21  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 

 *****Luk 11:24  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 

Luk 11:25  And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 

Luk 11:26  Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. 

 Many in our world claim they do not need the Lord Jesus to clean up their lives.

 Deliverance from wickedness and evil is not the same as being set free and living for the Lord Jesus.

 Maybe someone can get the unclean spirit to leave him.

Maybe someone can let go of a wrong religion or religion itself.

Maybe someone can stop worshiping material things in this world.

 These things will not make someone a new man, though some may say that.

 All that emptiness in that person must be filled with something, and the only thing that will work is the presence of God and the possession of a New Nature.

 Without this, that person will just feel empty with no purpose.

 Unless that emptiness is filled with the Holy Spirit, some new evils far worse than the first will return, and the last state of that person will be far worse than he was at first.

 Many make a confession of Christ, but they remain an empty house, and they fail.

 It is unlikely that this man would ever clean his house again.

 2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 

2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 

 *****Luk 11:27  And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 

Luk 11:28  But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. 

All mothers want to see their children do well, and this woman was saying how blessed the mother who had raised such a son as Jesus.

We do not know if this woman even knew Mary, the mother of Jesus.

We do know that Mary was blessed by God.

This woman does not go beyond the natural feeling of the Lord's good deeds.

The Roman-Catholic church has gone much further by introducing the worship of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and God does not honor this.

Mat_4:10  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Luk_4:8  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

How did the Lord Jesus respond to this?

The Word of God is not about being impressed by the goodness of the Lord Jesus.

It is certainly not about His mother Mary, who had to be a wonderful, godly person.

If we want true blessings, then we need to hear God's Word and do our best to follow the Word of God all our days.

A personal relationship with Jesus Christ is far better than any relationship one can have here on earth.

No book on this earth has the importance of the Word of God!

There is nothing on this earth that should come between us and the Word of God!

1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 

Joh 14:21  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 

Rev 22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 

Amen

Is Your Name Written Down in Heaven

 

Rejoice Because Your Name is Written in Heaven

 Book of Luke Chapter 10

 Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 

Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 

 Many who deny the deity of Jesus Christ do so by referring to the term firstborn. They claim that if this term relates to Jesus, it must imply that He had a beginning in time, but they are wrong.

 In the Old Testament, the culture was all about the status of the oldest son.

 Deu 21:17  But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

 In reality, the word firstborn denotes priority or supremacy, and this is the way it is used of Jesus Christ.

 Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 

 Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church and preeminent in all His creation.

 Heb 1:6  And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. 

 Heaven's angels will not worship anyone but God!

 Psa 89:27  Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

 God's Messiah will be the firstborn who is resurrected to New Life to rule this entire earth.

 The firstborn of the Church, who are all those whose names are written down in Heaven. Born Again, Regenerated,

 Tit 3:4  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 

Tit 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; 

Tit 3:6  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 

Tit 3:7  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 Joh 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 

Joh 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: 

Joh 1:13  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

 These are those whose names are written down in Heaven.

 If we cannot rejoice because our names are written Heaven, then we need to question our salvation.

 *****Luk 10:1  After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 

 1) We should be able to tell that there are many disciples of the Lord Jesus, just as there are many more today.

 Most of these disciples would not meet the qualifications to become an Apostle, but many of them were still committed to the Lord Jesus Christ.

 These seventy disciples were so committed that the Lord Jesus could send them to preach and teach the Gospel.

 There may have been at least one hundred and twenty who met the qualifications to be an Apostle, but were not chosen by the Lord Jesus.

 Act 1:12  Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. 

Act 1:13  And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 

Act 1:14  These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 

Act 1:15  And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 

Act 1:16  Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. 

 2) The Lord Jesus also sent them out two by two.

 This does not mean we are not to go out alone to witness for Jesus Christ, but two together are much stronger against our enemy, Satan. With the two, there could be mutual encouragement and help when help was needed.

 3) There was a tremendous need for people to hear the truth of the Messiah and the truth of the Word of God.

If that need was great at that time, it is certainly much greater now.

 We know that the Lord had sentenced that generation to death, and Jerusalem and the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D.

 We now know that all those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ are sentenced to eternal death, and the Lord Jesus could return at any moment.

 There is certainly a greater need to spread the Gospel!

 4) These seventy were sent as forerunners. They were to prepare the people for His coming.

 Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 

Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 We have the same job today!

 Our time to serve the Lord grows short!

 *****Luk 10:2  Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

 1) The first thing they were to do was to pray!

 Who is this Lord of the Harvest? We know only one Lord and He is the Lord Jesus Christ!

 Every believer has a duty in this work for the Lord Jesus! 1Co 3:5  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 

1Co 3:7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 

1Co 3:8  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 

1Co 3:9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 

 2) What kind of people are in the world to be witnessed to?

 *****Luk 10:3  Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 

 Notice that the Lord Jesus Christ does not call them the "Lost Sheep of Israel”; He calls them wolves.

 We see a reversal of sorts; the disciples are now the lambs, and those who are lost are the wolves.

 Going out for the Lord is not a victory march, but it is a bit dangerous and is growing more so today.

 The lambs of God's House are defenseless against the wolves of this world unless they walk in faith and the purpose of the Holy Spirit.

 The key, they must still go out with "faith," but the Holy Spirit will be working on the hearts of those they witness to.

 There is still the danger of persecution.

 It is the wolves of this world who are trying to rid the world of the followers of God.

 So, the next time you see your politician going against the Word of God, remember they are wolves out to destroy your nation and allow sin to rule.

 The next time your preacher preaches against the Word of God, remember they are just wolves employed by Satan.

 The next time your News Source defends sin, remember they are just wolves trying to regain control of our nation.

 *****Luk 10:4  Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. 

 If we do not trust God, then we will never be of much use to Him!

 They were not to worry about money for food, housing, clothing, or an extra pair of sandals.

 If they had to pack and prepare all these things, they would not be able to cover as much ground.

 Friendliness is all good and well for things of this earth and the time we live in, but as witnesses for the Lord, we must think about our eternal salvation.

 Here we see that the Lord Jesus told them not to waste time on needless conversation.

 All their time was to be used on their ministry and prayer.

 The Lord intended to instill in them the urgency and the commitment to enter the Kingdom of God.

 2Co_6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

 As believers, we know that the Lord could return at any moment now, and those who are lost need to understand this.

 *****Luk 10:5  And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. 

Luk 10:6  And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. 

 We must clearly understand that the message of salvation is a message of peace with God, our Creator.

 The Lord Jesus said, Joh 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

 One of the greatest things I have realized as a believer is that I can rest each night knowing that I am at peace with God.

 Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 

Rom 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

 As witnesses for Jesus Christ, we are to proclaim peace in any household we enter.

 If the head of that household was a man of peace, then God's peace could be proclaimed.

 If the head of that household did not proclaim peace, then the message of God was not to be forced upon that house.

 God will never force anyone to accept His message of truth.

 Rev 22:11  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 

 Psa 81:15  The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. 

 *****Luk 10:7  And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. 

 We must understand that those who carry the message of the Kingdom of God in truth are worthy to be supported by those who receive the truth of God!

 1Ti 5:17  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 

 They were to seek compensation, but they were not to seek luxury.

 They were not to be embarrassed or self-conscious in receiving payment.

 There is certainly nothing wrong with living a simple life!

 Our Heavenly Father is already committed to providing our needs.

 They were to eat whatever food was placed before them without question, regardless of the Jewish food laws.

 *****Luk 10:8  And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: 

Luk 10:9  And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 

 The Apostle Paul wrote, guided by the Holy Spirit: 1Co 10:25  Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: 

1Co 10:26  For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. 

1Co 10:27  If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 

 We know that the number twelve has a particular significance in the Bible, and we can be sure that the number seventy also has significance to the Jews.

 Notice the Lord Jesus also gave these seventy disciples the power to heal the sick.

 We are never to take on the sin of that person we are witnessing to, but they must feel that we have compassion on them, and we may have to change our own customs and habits to reach these people.

 Those we witness to must see that they are accepted just as they are, and they should see that we care for their souls just as the Lord Jesus does.

 We must remember that the Lord Jesus died for us while we were still sinners.

 He could have just as easily said: "no Father, I do not want to have anything to do with that bunch of sinners".

 Thank you, Lord, for your precious love for us!

 When the Lord Jesus walked upon this earth, He was the Kingdom of God in the flesh.

 When we take the exact Word of God to others, we are taking the knowledge of the Kingdom of Heaven to them.

 One day soon, we will be witnesses to the actual Kingdom of God, and this should also be mentioned.

 We may not know what Heaven looks like, but we know it will be wonderful.

 1Co_2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

 We do know more of what the Kingdom of God will be like during the Lord's reign from Jerusalem for one thousand years.

 Zec 8:3  Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. 

 The "Good News" is for those who accept the truth of God's Messiah.

 Those who reject the "Good News" will be told of their coming "Judgment".

 *****Luk 10:10  But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, 

Luk 10:11  Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 

Luk 10:12  But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. 

Luk 10:13  Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 

Luk 10:14  But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. 

Luk 10:15  And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. 

 The Lord's disciples were told to walk away from all those who rejected the truth of God.

 We are not to argue with non-believers. We are never to create a bad situation that might reflect upon our character; we must just leave.

 We have the truth of God, and they can only offer the meaningless thoughts of the Devil.

 1) There would be cities that rejected the disciples of Christ.

 They symbolized God's rejection by shaking the dust off their feet as they left that city. This was a silent testimony that was clearly understood on that day.

 This was a symbol of serious judgment. It meant that not even the dust of that city was worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, much less the people.

 That city was to be left to itself just as they had wanted.

 The Lord Jesus will not force the truth upon anyone!

 2) There would be those who professed to be God's People. These were mostly Jews.

 These are people who only make a profession of faith but stick to their old lives, and there is no change.

 The truth is, you cannot claim to be God's people if you reject God's Son.

 The world needs to wake up to this fact!

 The judgment of God would be greater on those who claim to be God's people and reject Him than was God's judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah.

 These would include Chorazin and Bethsaida, and would be far worse than the judgment upon Tyre and Sidon.

 We know that Chorazin and Bethsaida do not exist as cities any longer, nor do Tyre or Sidon.

 3) There would be those who had a constant witness.

 Capernaum was the city where Jesus Christ was raised, and Jesus was the One who never committed even one sin.

 He was known as the Carpenter, which means He was a good carpenter.

 The Lord Jesus healed every sick person in this city. Things that only God could do, and they knew this to be true.

 He was accused of having worked these great works with the power of the Devil.

 This is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, which cannot be forgiven.

 The residents of Capernaum went straight to Hell because they rejected God's Son and the truth of the Gospel.

 These are the Scriptures that give us the thought that there are degrees of punishment even in Hell, but there is no joy in Hell at all!

 Mar 8:36  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 

Mar 8:37  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 

Mar 8:38  Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. 

 When the Lord Jesus Christ uses the word "woe", it is not a call for vengeance but is a call of deep regret and a warning to others.

 Jud 1:14  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 

Jud 1:15  To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

 When we hear the Word of God by God's called people, we are hearing from God Himself.

 *****Luk 10:16  He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. 

 We must understand that when we speak the Word of God, just as it is written by the Holy Spirit, we are speaking the words of our Savior and our God!

 2Ti_3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

 Rev 22:18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 

Rev 22:19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 

Rev 22:20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen.

 Every person who has lived and who will live upon this earth needs to know what God has said.

 1Jn_4:15  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

 Act_2:21  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 Rom_13:2  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

 Rev_20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

 As witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ, we provide the opportunity to know the truth of Jehovah God. Yeshua. Yahweh.

 Our lesson picks back up as these seventy witnesses sent out by the Lord Jesus Christ have returned.

 *****Luk 10:17  And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 

 The seventy have returned with great joy, but they do not speak a word about their preaching and teaching or the results.

 They could only talk about the authority they had over demons.

 They did not mention:

 1) How much they had done for Jesus Christ.

2) How hard the work had been.

3) How strongly the Devil fought back to keep his own.

 They could only talk about the power that is in the name of Jesus Christ.

 Any power we have as Christians comes from the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Act 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 

 There is great power in the rich red blood of Jesus Christ!

 1) Demons deceive people. 1 Thessalonians 3:5, Ehphesians 2:2

2) Demons inflict disease. Luke 13-16

3) Demons deceive nations. Revelation 16:14

4) Demons influence the mind. Gen 3:1-5

 Every victory over Satan and his demons should bring great joy!

 Satan is a defeated foe!

 *****Luk 10:18  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

 Satan has fallen from his position in Heaven and can no longer be there where he once had the power of angels.

 Col 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 

Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 

Col 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 

 Satan and his demons may still be able to cause many problems for a short time longer, but Satan is a loser, and we need to remind him of that at all times.

 Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 

Joh 16:8  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 

Joh 16:9  Of sin, because they believe not on me; 

Joh 16:10  Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 

Joh 16:11  Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

 The power of God given to each believer is for the purpose of defeating Satan!

 *****Luk 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 

 We should understand that if God has called us for some special mission, some special purpose, there is nothing on this earth that can cause us harm until that purpose has been fulfilled.

 Satan certainly has some power: Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

 The Lord's power is far greater: Rom 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 

 1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 

 The Lord Jesus will give His believers power over the enemy: Luk 9:1  Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

 Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 

 God's servants are perfectly safe against all enemies: Joh 17:11  And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 

 These are not the most important things in our lives as Christians.

 *****Luk 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. 

 We should rejoice far more in our salvation than in any power the Lord may have given to us.

 Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 

Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 

Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 

Gal 4:7  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 

 1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

1Pe 1:4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 

1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

 Amen