Forgiveness In the Church

The Ministry of Forgiveness

 Book of 2 Corinthians Chapter 2

 

 Only God can forgive sin!

We are to forgive those who sin against us, but only God can forgive that sin against Him!

 Isa 43:25  I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

 Mat 9:6  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,

 God could not forgive sin without a proper payment for that sin.

 How do we explain God's forgiveness? Forgiveness is a legal act of God where He removes the charges against us because the atonement for those sins has been made.

 We each have a book of our life written in Heaven, and God will open that book in our name and blot out the sin in that book because the Lord Jesus Christ has made the atonement for the sin we committed against our Heavenly Father.

 The Lord Jesus paid our sin debt! Our debts were nailed to His cross!

 Col 2:13  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 

Col 2:14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

 Forgiveness means we have been set free from the burdens of our sin because of the "Grace" of God the Father.

 Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 

Eph 1:8  Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 

Eph 1:9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 

 Forgiveness means we have a daily forgiveness of sin as we serve the Lord.

 1Jn 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

1Jn 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

1Jn 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 

The Book of John says: Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

Joh 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 

 We will never have fellowship with God until we deal with our sin debt! We can only deal with our sin debt through the Lord Jesus Christ, The Word.

 We should understand that God's forgiveness is linked to God's "Grace"; there is nothing we as humans can do; the Lord Jesus has done all that was needed for us to be forgiven.

 Our chains of bondage are broken.

Our debt is cancelled.

We have received a pardon.

Our punishment has been cancelled.

We will not see the wrath of God come upon us.

 Because of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Father has canceled the debt of sin that we could have never paid except by dying and spending eternity in Hell!

Rom_3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

 This is what forgiveness means to God!

 What does forgiveness mean to each believer?

 *****2Co 2:1  But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. 

2Co 2:2  For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? 

2Co 2:3  And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 

 We should not doubt that the Apostle Paul loved the people in every church he had planted. Christianity brings Godly love!

 We all know the problems in the church at Corinth if we have read 1 Corinthians.

 Paul longed to go to minister again to this church but not with controversies and sin surrounding them.

 Paul had written to this church urging them to put the Lord Jesus Christ first and end their controversies.

 No church will stand very long that does not put the Lord Jesus Christ first; He is the foundation of the Church, of every true church.

In fact, no group that gathers can be a church unless they have accepted the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 No Pastor or Preacher can reach God's people if the message he preaches causes controversy in that church.

 That church would first have to recognize sin, address the problem of sinners, and return to the truth of God; then they would be ready to receive the meat of the Gospel and grow in Christ.

 1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 

1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

 A true Pastor will bring joy to his flock because the Gospel is a message of peace to the soul.

 Joh 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

 *****2Co 2:4  For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. 

 The letter Paul wrote, which is called the Book of 1 Corinthians, was a painful letter for him to write.

 Paul did not write to them to cause pain; Paul wrote to them in love, his heart broken for the sin in that church.

 Every church needs to understand that God is full of "Grace," but God has rules that must be followed.

 Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 

Heb 12:12  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 

Heb 12:13  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 

 1Pe 1:16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 

 Tit 3:10  A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 

Tit 3:11  Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. 

When we reject the truth of the Gospel, we have condemned ourselves, and we can only blame ourselves.

 Then once the sin problem is solved, the next step is forgiveness and restoration of those who had committed such sin.

 Our forgiveness must be led by the example of forgiveness given to us by God Himself.

 We have not forgiven anyone unless that forgiveness comes from the heart!

 *****2Co 2:5  But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. 

 We have not forgiven unless that forgiveness comes from the heart!

 Certain offenders had caused grief for the whole church in Corinth.

 It could be that man who had taken his father’s wife, or it could be some Jewish ringleader who was trying to destroy the Church and destroy the Apostle Paul's ministry, or both of them.

 It could be this Jew because Paul does not mention immorality in these verses.

 Act_14:2  But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

 Act_17:5  But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

 There were some of these wicked men at Corinth who were attacking the Apostle Paul and stirring up controversy, causing disturbance, and hurting the whole church, and they needed to be run off.

 There are times when there must be church discipline.

 1Ti_3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

 This church had done so to those who were full of immorality.

To run those wicked Jews off, they had to cling to the Word of God they had gotten from Paul, Timothy, and Apollos.

The Church must stand its ground against any and all those who reject the truth of the Scriptures.

 *****2Co 2:6  Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

We do not know what punishment was given to this man, but we do know that Paul had said to excommunicate that man.

To hand that man over to Satan!

This was done, not to just keep this man out of the church, but to awaken him to repentance and to secure his salvation.

1Co 5:4  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

1Co 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

All actions in the Church should be done with the desire to bring salvation to all!

We should note that those who voted to punish this man were only a majority and not unanimous because we see that word many and not the word all.

If I am not mistaken in my church, we require a vote of at least eighty percent before such action as this could be taken.

We never want to divide the church and make matters worse.

There will always be differences of opinion when it comes to church discipline, but there will be times when it must take place.

We see today that major denominations have split, and many of those decisions were made when the vote was a simple majority rather than a high percentage such as eighty percent or at least seventy percent. Fifty-one percent would mean the church is divided, and that church should just make sure to obey the Word of God. Those who reject the Word of God should not be counted.

Church discipline should come without destruction.

Our discipline should come with thought of forgiveness after repentance takes place because this is the way of God.

Any soul that has been disciplined should be welcomed back with open arms once the fruit of repentance is seen in them.

We must repent of our sin and turn toward the ways of God before He will forgive us!

This is the example we are to always follow!

Notice also that the name of this man is not mentioned by the Apostle Paul.

Discipline in the Church should remain in the Church.

We cannot allow the world to dictate the work of the Church.

*****2Co 2:7  So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 

2Co 2:8  Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

What appears here is that the "many" of this church in Corinth wanted discipline to a lesser degree than the rest of the church members.

Again, all things must be done in accordance with the Word of God!

Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 

Col 3:12  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 

Col 3:13  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 

Col 3:14  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 

If at all possible, we are to use great effort not to make this person an enemy of the Church.

2Th 3:14  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 

2Th 3:15  Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 

We should understand that if we do not follow the Word of God in Church discipline, Satan is waiting at the door to receive that person who needs Church discipline. 

This is the time to show great love to that person and try to lead them to repentance and show that person we are being obedient to the Word of God, the same Word of God that he should be obedient to.

1) The entire church must forgive this person.

Mar 11:25  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 

Mar 11:26  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. 

2) The entire church must be an encouragement to this person.

1Th 5:11  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 

1Th 5:12  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 

1Th 5:13  And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 

1Th 5:14  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 

3) This person must repent and turn back to the truth of God.

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 

4) There must be assurance demonstrated by the love of the church.

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

Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 

Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

We must do everything that we can to keep the Holy Spirit working in our churches!

Dead churches are places of misery!

We must accept all the Word of God and not take away from it nor add to it!

*****2Co 2:9  For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 

There is another purpose of Church discipline.

It shows the Lord that we are obedient to the mission of the Church.

As long as we allow the world to work inside the Church, then the Church cannot focus upon the mission that the Lord has given to us.

We cannot allow controversy and division to rule the Church as it is doing today in many denominations.

If we are to obey the Lord Jesus Christ, then there must be Church discipline!

If the Church is not concerned with obeying Jesus Christ, then it is not a Church to begin with.

Mat_18:20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

A church is a place where people gather in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

All other places are places of Devil worship!

We must prove to the Lord Jesus Christ that we are faithful to Him and faithful to the Holy Trinity.

Nothing in this world is more important than our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!

We are to be just as forgiving as He is forgiving!

Php 1:27  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 

Php 1:28  And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 

*****2Co 2:10  To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 

2Co 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 

The Apostle Paul had given instructions on how to manage this incident that happened at the Church of Corinth, and we know there was more than one incident.

This church was tearing itself apart.

What Paul is saying is that he would stand by the discipline this church had come to because the majority of the church had chosen what they would do, even if they had not followed his exact words.

The important thing was this church had come together and acted in accordance with the Word of God.

By being united around the Word of God, Satan could not claim any victory at this church.

This man had repented and had been restored to the Church.

Satan will use any discord in the Church to get his foot in the door.

In fact, at least one of Satan's followers attends every church service just waiting for a chance to create havoc.

Satan uses many devices in his attempt to turn God's children and cause harm to the church.

Everything concerning the Church must be in accordance with the Word of God.

There is a spiritual battle going on around us at all times.

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

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. 

We must not give Satan easy access to cause chaos in the Church.

We must beware that He is already causing havoc in many places of worship today.

If we are not willing to forgive a repentant sinner, then what does that say about the Church that is full of repentant sinners that the Lord Jesus Christ has forgiven?

Mat 6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 

 Mat 6:14  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 

Mat 6:15  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

Satan will do his very best to stop the work of the Church, and we do not need to provide him with opportunities to do so.

Satan hates the Gospel, and Satan hates the Lord Jesus Christ!

Only the Holy Ghost-filled Church can hinder the work of Satan, and we make it far too easy for him.

Only saved souls and changed lives show that Satan the Devil is a defeated foe.

The Lord Jesus Christ defeated Satan on the cross and we can't allow him to have the smallest victory.

The loving, forgiving Church that is obedient to the Word of God cannot be overcome by the devices of Satan!

Amen

The Triune God Has Requirements

 The Requirements of God

 Book of Micah Chapters 6 and 7

 

A requirement is a demand that must be met to receive some reward.

 The truth is people in every nation, and every generation have turned away from the Lord.

 Some of those returned to the Lord, and the rest are in Hell wishing they had returned to the Lord.

 We are not whole until we are in a personal relationship with our Creator.

 We cannot follow our own path and think it will lead us to Heaven, for it will not.

 To live without God is to live a meaningless life!

 Israel had God's Word, God laws, and God's commandments.

 God's laws are always for guidance and protection.

 The greatest thing we can give back to God for all His benefits is our Love and our commitment to His Son.

 God does not ever offer something that He cannot provide!

 What did Israel do? They ignored the Word of God and made poor choices.

What does the Church do today? The Church ignores the Word of God and makes bad choices.

 *****Mic 6:1  Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. 

Mic 6:2  Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel. 

 God is telling Micah he is to be an intermediary between Israel and God.

 God told Micah to preach the Word of God so even the mountains could hear his voice.

 God has a reason for every command He gives us, and we need to realize it.

 We must listen to what God has to say.

 What's wrong with the Church today? The Church quit listening to what God has to say and listens to what some man says or in some cases some woman, of this secular world.

 The words of man can never be as important as the Word of God!

 We can plead our case, but our words will never be as important as the Word of God.

There is a big difference between speaking and preaching.

 2Ti_4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 The command of God to preachers is to preach the Word, and it is used 47 times in the New Testament.

 For those who want to speak, God says to speak the wisdom of God and not the so-called wisdom of this world.

 1Co_2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

1Co_2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

 No wisdom of the world can help us get to Heaven; it is only the Word of God where we find such wisdom.

 We may not always listen to what God has to say, but that thing we call nature is always listening to hear God's next command.

 Isa 1:2  Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. 

Isa 1:3  The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. 

Isa 1:4  Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. 

 Humans and the Devil and his demons are the only things upon this earth that rebel against God!

Those demons still tremble when you mention the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 What had God done to cause this rebellion?

 *****Mic 6:3  O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me. 

Mic 6:4  For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 

Mic 6:5  O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD. 

 Why do we accuse God of so many things when God is righteous in everything, He does?

 God does not make accusations against Israel at this time; He just defends Himself against what the people accuse Him of.

 Notice God still says they are His people.

 It is an absolute honor to be a child of God!

 Does God make our lives miserable?

Does God place terrible demands on us?

Does God make excessive requests of us?

 God deserves an answer to these things!

 Why do we always complain about what God is doing in the world when we do not do what He asks us to do?

 To say yes to any of these things is to have the same attitude as the secular world.

 What had God done to Israel that caused such rebellion?

 1) He delivered them from the bondage of slavery from the Egyptians. They had been servants, and slaves, and God had given them freedom.

2) God had given them great leaders.

 Moses

 Moses was a faithful servant in the House of the Lord.

 Heb 3:2  Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. 

 Moses delivered to Israel the laws of God.

 It was Moses who led Israel out of Egypt, and Moses was led by the Great "I Am" of the Bible.

 Moses was more than a Prophet of God.

 Num 12:5  And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. 

Num 12:6  And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. 

Num 12:7  My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 

Num 12:8  With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? 

 Deu 34:10  And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 

Deu 34:11  In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, 

Deu 34:12  And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel. 

 Aaron

 Aaron was Moses' elder brother and the first High Priest of Israel.

 Both Moses and Aaron together were a type of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Heb 3:1  Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 

 Miriam

 Miriam was the oldest of the children of Jochebed.

 Miriam was a prophetess, but only in Music and Song.

 Exo 15:20  And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 

Exo 15:21  And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

 Balaam

 Balaam was a prophet, but he was a secular prophet, he was not a prophet of God.

 God would not allow Balaam to place a curse on Israel but only a blessing.

 Balaam did tell King Balak that the weakness of Israel was those men of Israel, who could be tempted by strange women.

 This is a weakness in almost all men, so it did not take some great prophet to tell this thing.

 God took the life of Balaam when King Balak went to war with Israel.

 God is love, but God is also faithful, and Israel could not deny this truth.

 So, what does the Lord require of us all?

 *****Mic 6:6  Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? 

Mic 6:7  Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 

Mic 6:8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? 

These are part of the requirements of God.

 God may be in Heaven, but God is everywhere. God is never very far away from us.

 God is not impressed with gifts, or the sacrifices of animals, or of offerings.

 If we want to get closer to God, we must meet God at His house with prayer.

 Isa 57:15  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 

 We must be humble when we walk with God.

 We must do justly, which means to cause no one to be hurt in any way.

 Mic 2:1  Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. 

Mic 2:2  And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. 

  Isa 2:11  The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. 

Isa 2:12  For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:

 Some say it is hard to be a Christian, but with the knowledge of God, I find it is harder not to be a Christian.

 How does God describe the world in the day of Micah and the world we live in today?

 Mic 6:10  Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable? 

Mic 6:11  Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights? 

Mic 6:12  For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

 *****Mic 6:13  Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins. 

Mic 6:14  Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword. 

Mic 6:15  Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine. 

Mic 6:16  For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore, ye shall bear the reproach of my people.

 The word "therefore" means because of these things He would bring His discipline to them.

 God will not tolerate this sort of behavior for very long from those who are His children or say they are His children.

 There is a sickness called sin-sickness, and God describes it here.

 To smite sometimes means to kill, but it can also mean to conquer in a rout.

 To smite with the tongue is to cause injury and reproach, so they could reflect on why God brought these things to them.

 God does not want us to guess why we will see His wrath! God lets the sinner know to repent, turn back to the laws of God or face His wrath.

 It is hard to enjoy anything when we are sick!

 One thing was certain: they would not be able to continue their sinful activities.

 God would take away their wealth along with all their treasures and make them desolate.

God can also take away our health if He so chooses.

If God in anyway causes our sickness, then He may heal us from that sickness.

If we run from God to the world and that sickness come from the world, then He may or may not take away that sickness.

 I believe desolate here means God would desert them for a time and deprive them of comfort.

 I do not know about you, but when you are going through something terrible in your life, the comfort of God sure does feel good.

 God said He would bring hunger to the land.

 They would no longer be satisfied with their meals, meaning they would not have enough to eat.

They would have a constant feeling of hunger.

Their enemies would come in and take away anything they tried to hide.

They would not feel safe in their own homes or in their nation.

Why do so many have weapons in America, because we do not feel safe in our own homes and the politicians will not do anything about it but continue to allow terrorists and corruption into our nation and allow judges to put dangerous people back on the street.

 God had already told Israel what would happen if they rejected Him at any time.

 Deuteronomy Chapter 28, verses 15 through verse 45. God is serious about rejection from His people.

 Deu 28:48  Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. 

 God did surrender His people to cruel oppression!

 Much of Israel does not feel safe in their homes today.

They are always aware that a siren could go off at any minute and they could spend endless hours in bomb shelters.

No other nation would tolerate this thing yet Israel is expected to stay calm and not try to get revenge.

 God said these  things would be taken away by force, a force they could not stop.

 Their grain, their olive oil, and their grape juice would be consumed by their enemies.

 Deu 28:49  The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; 

Deu 28:50  A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young: 

Deu 28:51  And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee. 

 They rejected the laws of God so they could keep the laws of man.

 In reality, we see many of these things in the USA today.

 Our food is so high that we can barely afford it, and much of it is tainted We hear of food recalls almost every day.

I hate to think this way, but since we have turned to organic food, we find that some people will use anything for fertilizer, even human waste.

Our gas is getting so high that most of us stay home more.

People are moving from one place to another because they don't feel safe or secure where they once lived.

People are leaving the Church and rejecting God, the only hope we have and many local churches have closed their doors.

The Church is rejecting the laws of God to obey the laws of man, and the church is failing in its mission to reach the lost.

 Mic 7:2  The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. 

 Mic 7:6  For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. 

 And we wonder why so many bad things are happening in our own nation!

 *****Mic 7:7  Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. 

Mic 7:8  Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. 

Mic 7:9  I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. 

 Our only hope is in the Lord, and it is the same for Israel!

 Though Israel has gone and is still going through many of these things, there is a better day a coming.

 This time it is Micah who says "therefore".

 For the Church, as we see all these things going on in our own nation and what is going on in Israel, we must realize that surely our only hope lies in the Lord.

 We know it has been about 2000 years since the Lord Jesus went back to Heaven, but He promises to return, and He will.

That trumpet of the Lord could sound at any minute, and we would be out of this world in the blink of an eye.

 Most of us believe that the Lord Jesus will return to take His Church out of this world before God’s wrath takes place.

 Israel has the great promise that the Lord Jesus(the Messiah) will soon sit as King of Israel, and King of this world.

 Every day that passes gets us closer to these things.

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

 We are always to pray for others, but disobedient souls must also pray for themselves and not be dependent on others to pray for them.

 Micah pleaded with God on behalf of Israel and Judah.

 Israel's oppressors at that time were Assyria, and soon Babylon would be the oppressors of Judah.

 Today the oppressors of the Church are the worldly powers who reject the truth of God.

 The world had better not gloat over the fact that the Church is not growing, but we of the Church know that not all members were saved to begin with.

 God will guide His Church as He always has.

God will protect His Church as He always has.

God will preserve His Church as He always has.

 It is the same for Israel as they will soon see the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 Psa 27:1  The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 

Psa 27:2  When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 

 God's people will be vindicated in front of God’s enemies.

 The lost still say today, "Where is your God?" but they will one day bow before Him!

 Isa_45:23  I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

Isa 45:24  Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. 

Isa 45:25  In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

 The Bride of Christ is the seed of Israel through Jesus Christ.

 Rom_14:11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

 Php_2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

 There is only one God.

There is only one Messiah.

There is only one Jesus the Christ of God.

 *****Mic 7:18  Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. 

Mic 7:19  He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. 

Mic 7:20  Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old. 

 Who is a God like Yahweh?

 No one can hold God's people when He wants them set free!

 Exo 15:11  Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 

Exo 15:12  Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. 

Exo 15:13  Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. 

 God is never going to be angry with His true children forever!

 There are a lot of nations in the world who are sold out to false gods, but we do not see where any of those false gods can save or provide for them as individuals.

Black nasty dirty oil is the god of the Muslim just as gold and other valuable metals are the gods of most Gentiles.

To the terrorist their god is the bullet and homemade bombs.

 Only the Lord Jesus Christ can pardon iniquity. To bear iniquity is to endure the punishment for it and be happy to be forgiven for it.

 What is pardon? When God pardons, He has removed the guilt of that iniquity.

To be pardoned of God means "as if I had never sinned".

 Who is the One true God? Isa 43:25  I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. 

 God will one day stamp out all sin!

 God has already forgiven all sin. The Lord Jesus Christ was the payment for all our sin. We must recognize that this is the truth and go to Jesus Christ who died in our place and ask for forgiveness.

 It is mercy that drives God to forgive us, but God's punishment of those who reject Him will be without mercy.

 Jas 2:13  For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. 

 What is the truth of Jacob? God's promise, and God does not break His promises.

Gen 28:10  And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 

Gen 28:11  And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 

Gen 28:12  And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 

Gen 28:13  And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 

Gen 28:14  And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 

Gen 28:15  And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 

Gen 28:16  And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.

God gave the land of Palestine to Israel. God will make sure that this takes place. It is only a matter of time. All the Arab nations need to make peace with Israel!

It was Rome who change the name of that area to Palestine because they hated Israel.

What is the truth of Abraham? God's promise.

Gen 12:1  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 

Gen 12:2  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 

Gen 12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Again, it would be best that all the Arab nations become friends with Israel!

All families are blessed because the Lord Jesus Christ is that "blessing" that came from Abraham.

Rom_4:16  Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Gal 3:9  So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

All true blessings come from above: 

Jas_1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Eph_1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

God continues: Isa 41:8  But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. 

The seed of Abraham is the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Bride of Christ(The Church)goes everywhere that our Lord Jesus goes.

He will never leave us or forsake us!

Today the Church is espoused to the Lord Jesus, soon the Lord Jesus will present His wife(the Church) to His Heavenly Father.

Amen

Refusing to Walk with the Lord

 King Ahaz Walked Not After the Lord

 2 Chronicles 28;  2 Kings 16

 

 King Ahaz was the twelfth King of Judah and the son and successor of Jotham, king of Judah, who came to the throne about 734 B.C.

 The only notable event of his reign, so far as we know, was the invasion made by his northern neighbors, Pekah of Israel and Rezin of Damascus.

 Isa 7:1  And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.

 These two kings had made an alliance against the Assyrians and were trying to compel Ahaz to join the coalition.

 When King Ahaz refused, they decided to war with Judah and defeat King Ahaz and then put a new king on the throne of Judah who would bring Judah's armies to battle with them against the Assyrians.

 God was not about to allow this to take place.

 Ahaz did not venture to take the field but shut himself up in Jerusalem and strengthened its fortifications.

 It was perhaps at this time of need that he sacrificed his son as a burnt offering to false gods.

 2Ki 16:2  Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. 

2Ki 16:3  But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. 

 We should clearly understand that God deals harshly with all those who sacrifice their children.

What did God teach them? Lev 20:2  Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. 

Lev 20:3  And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.

 God will never approve of abortion!

God will never approve of the destruction of babies or small children.

 It was at this time of his accession that Rezin, king of Damascus, and Pekah, king of Israel, had recently formed a league against Judah, and they proceeded to lay siege to Jerusalem, intending to place on the throne Ben-Tabeal, who was not a prince of the royal family of Judah, but probably a Syrian noble.

 *****2Ch 28:1  Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father: 

2Ch 28:2  For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. 

 The reign of King Ahaz was disgraceful and full of devastating evil.

 King Ahaz set loose a stream of wickedness that rushed Judah into total destruction under the hand of God's judgment.

 Those who choose to pursue the wrath of God do not know what they are seeking.

 To look at King Ahaz, you would think that he ruled Israel rather than Judah.

 King Ahaz did not have a righteous bone in his body.

 King Ahaz led Judah to worship Baal rather than Jehovah, the true God.

 Nothing good is written about King Ahaz.

 He does what is evil in the sight of the LORD, Yahweh, Jehovah.

 How wicked was King Ahaz?

 *****2Ch 28:3  Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. 

2Ch 28:4  He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 

 We should remember that the nation of Israel was to drive out or destroy the nations that occupied the Promised Land because those nations did the things that King Ahaz was doing.

 His idolatry is so general that he makes any place he considers suitable for it a place where he can sacrifice to the idols.

 King Jotham was far from perfect, but it was his godless son who revolted against God.

 Every child has their own responsibility in the choices he makes, and the parents of that child should not be held responsible unless they contributed to those choices that child makes.

 We know that God punishes everyone for their own sins.

 Deu 24:16  The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin. 

 As parents, we do have the responsibility to raise our children in a godly manner.

 Pro_22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

 What did God think of these things?

 Jer 7:30  For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the LORD: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it. 

Jer 7:31  And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart. 

Jer 7:32  Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter: for they shall bury in Tophet, till there be no place. 

Jer 7:33  And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray them away.

 What do we know of the human heart?

 Mar 7:20  And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 

Mar 7:21  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 

Mar 7:22  Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 

Mar 7:23  All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Jer_17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

 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. 

 There is only one way to change what is in our hearts: a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 

 1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

 King Ahaz could stop anywhere and worship his gods who traveled with him.

 What did God do? God did exactly what He said He would do!

 *****2Ch 28:5  Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter. 

2Ch 28:6  For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. 

 Syria and Israel had formed an alliance and then attacked the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

 This is known as the Syro-Ephraimite War.

 These are the things that happen when you face the judgment of God.

 We can say that the God of the Bible was not the God of Ahaz, but we should understand that God will never give up His rights to His land.

The world needs to understand this! God loves Jerusalem!

 Why does God judge His people, Israel? Amo 3:1  Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, 

Amo 3:2  You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. 

 God disciplined King Ahaz by giving him into the power of the King of Syria and the King of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

 A large group of prisoners is taken by the King of Syria and the King of Ephraim, and the Northern Tribes slaughter even more of them.

 King Ahaz wanted to be like the kings of the Northern Tribes, and he got a first-hand view of who they were.

 They were the enemies of God's people!

 When we connect ourselves to wicked people, we will experience wickedness, and wickedness is ugly and can be very brutal!

 King Pekah and the Northern Tribes were even more wicked than King Ahaz, but the Lord dwells in Jerusalem, so Judah has the greatest responsibility to remain with the Lord.

 When things get out of hand, God will step in.

 *****2Ch 28:8  And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. 

2Ch 28:9  But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.

2Ch 28:10  And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God? 

2Ch 28:11  Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you. 

 We see that God will punish even those whom He calls His children if they forsake Him.

 God will use severe methods if this is what it takes to get us back in line.

 God used King Pekah of the Northern Tribes to inflict severe punishment on Judah, but Pekah went a little too far when he attempted to make his own brothers, Judah, his slaves.

 We do not know much about this Oded, but we know that he stood bravely before King Pekah and his victorious army and issued a strong warning to them.

 1) King Pekah of Israel was guilty of brutality; he was excessive in his cruelty.

 They did not get the victory over Judah because of their military power.

They did not get the victory over Judah because they were better people; in fact, they were worse than Judah.

They did not get the victory over Judah because they were more favored by God.

They did not get the victory over Judah because they were more righteous, and the people of Judah were more wicked.

 They got the victory over Judah because the LORD was executing justice upon Judah.

 They had slaughtered the army of Judah in a rage that reached into Heaven, and God was not pleased.

 They had shown no mercy! If not for God’s mercy, we would all be headed for Hell!

 2) They were attempting to enslave these men and women, a serious violation of God's commandments.

 Lev 25:39  And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: 

Lev 25:40  But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile: 

Lev 25:41  And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return. 

Lev 25:42  For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen. 

Lev 25:43  Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God.

 This was a call for King Pekah and his army to repent or face serious judgment themselves.

 3) The Judean slaves must be freed immediately, for God was about to turn His wrath loose on the Northern Kingdom, and only if they released these people of Judah would He show mercy.

 We should understand that our merciful, loving God, who is full of compassion, does not play when His wrath is being exposed to reality.

 God means what He says, and God says what He means!

 It was time for some of the men of Ephraim to come to their senses.

 2Ch 28:12  Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war, 

2Ch 28:13  And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel. 

 We could say that even though there were wicked kings of Judah, only King Ahaz was as wicked as the Kings of the Northern Tribes.

 King Pekah and his army relented, and these two hundred thousand would be slaves were released, and the plunder that was taken from Jerusalem was released.

 These princes of Israel made sure that these captives were fed and clothed and then provided for those who were injured.

 They made arrangements for their transportation as far as Jericho and provided a military escort to keep them safe.

 It is not part of our lesson, but this is one of the times that the Edomites invaded Jerusalem while they were in a weakened state, and another reason the Edomites do not exist today.

 The Philistines also took advantage of the weakness of Judah and took over a large part of Judah.

 2Ch 28:19  For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.

 It was at this time that King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to come help him, and one of the kings did come, but not to help.

 *****2Ch 28:20  And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. 

2Ch 28:21  For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not. 

 The nation of Judah was in shambles, and the army had been diminished; Judah was helpless to defend itself.

 The nation of Judah was under constant attack from neighboring countries.

 Judah was suffering because of King Ahaz, but we do not read of King Ahaz ever repenting.

 God had humbled Judah because of their sin.

 Just because Judah's King was so wicked, it did not mean the people had to be like him, but many were.

 We must never think that God does not have a remnant of true believers because He always does.

 It is never easy for God's true people!

 This Assyrian king had no intention of helping King Ahaz, but just like the others, he took the time to get a part of the riches of Judah.

 This king attacked Syria and conquered them, but he did not do this to help Judah.

 King Ahaz was forced to pay the King of Assyria a large amount of riches, and it appears that it bankrupted Judah, and Ahaz had to rob the House of God and demand large sums from the princes of Judah.

 Judah was a conquered nation militarily and economically, and all these things were brought upon Judah because King Ahaz wanted to be like the Kings of Ephraim.

 No human savior would be able to help King Ahaz; he needed the God that he had rejected.

 There is no savior other than the LORD!

 King Ahaz had rejected the lessons of history and sought salvation in mortal men when only the Eternal Supernatural God could provide him any help.

 Sounds like another nation that has been in the news so much since April.

 *****2Ch 28:22  And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz. 

2Ch 28:23  For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.

2Ch 28:24  And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 

 When the false gods of the Edomites did not help him, Ahaz turned to the false gods of Syria.

 False gods cannot help anyone. King Ahaz was at the mercy and the power of the Devil.

 Psa 115:2  Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? 

Psa 115:3  But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. 

Psa 115:4  Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 

Psa 115:5  They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 

Psa 115:6  They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 

Psa 115:7  They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. 

Psa 115:8  They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. 

Psa 115:9  O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. 

 King Ahaz was not alone; this is a picture of all people, especially so-called religious people who do not allow themselves to be corrected in any way by the Living God.

 They run on the road to destruction just because they reject the only true God and refuse to believe anything He says in His book called the Bible.

 Everything that reminds this world of the Living God and our Creator is removed from their lives and their surroundings, and they continue to seek alternative ways of believing.

 Everything is good to them, as long as it is not from the God of the Bible.

Sounds just like the USA today.

Sounds just like the evolutionists.

Sounds just like the atheists.

Ahaz was such a person! Ahaz was finished with God, but God was not finished with him!

The God of the Bible is the Lord Jesus Christ!

The world thinks it is finished with Jesus, but it is not!

The world will soon meet Him as King Jesus!

The only good that came out of King Ahaz was King Hezekiah, his son.

King Ahaz lived in the way of the world we have today.

No one wants to hear what God has to say, and King Jesus will soon show up to put this world out of its misery.

Amen  

Rebellion Against God Has Consequences

 Chastisement Because of Rebellion

 Book of Hosea Chapters 4 through 9

 Chastisement is correction, punishment, or pain inflicted for punishment and correction.

 The truth is that God will only chastise those He loves.

God is much more about correction than He is about punishment!

 Heb 12:5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 

Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 

Heb 12:8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

 If we are full of sin and have not been chastened for it, then we had better ensure our salvation.

 Chastisement is not judgment! The Lord Jesus Christ took our judgment on the cross, and when we are saved, we have been justified and will not see judgment.

 Job 34:5  For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

 Chastening is to teach us obedience to the Word of God.

 Job 34:31  Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: 

Job 34:32  That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

 We have seen that God chastised Israel and Judah for rebellion, but it is still chastisement, not judgment, because He still loves them, even if it seems very harsh.

 We know that Hosea had firsthand experience with the hurt that is caused by unfaithfulness.

 *****Hos 4:1  Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. 

 This is God speaking by the Holy Spirit to make sure that Israel understands the sins they have committed against God.

 No matter our sin or who else may be involved in our sin, that sin is against our Holy God.

 If the Lord Himself is delivering these charges, then we know they are true.

 Israel is charged with a lack of truth, a lack of mercy, and a lack of knowledge of God.

 What is the truth?

 1) Truth and Love cannot be separated. When you love someone, you tell them the truth.

2) Truth cannot be sustained without "mercy," and mercy without “truth” will make us negligent. Truth and mercy must be mingled together.

3) When there is no knowledge of God, people will be willfully ignorant of how to treat others and will therefore attempt to dominate them.

 We live in this world today. A world without natural affection.

 Rom_1:31  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

 2Ti_3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

 It is in our politics, and it is in our everyday life. We have chosen hatred to rule our lives.

 We must keep hatred out of the Church!

 What were the specific charges against the Northern Kingdom?

 *****Hos 4:2  By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

 When faithfulness, kindness, and the knowledge of God are lacking it creates room for all kinds of sin.

 When there is no bond with God there will be no commitment to relationships with others.

 One of the greatest examples is Adam and Eve.

 Eve blamed the serpent, but Adam blamed God, who gave Eve to him as a helpmate.

 Then their children did not see God clearly, and Cain killed Abel.

 The Northern Tribes of Israel had trampled the Word of God under their feet, and they violated the Laws of God.

 1) Swearing to confirm a lie is a violation of the third commandment.

 Deu 5:11  Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

 We must be very careful that we do not misuse God's name.

 2) Lying is a violation of the ninth commandment.

 Deu 5:20  Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. 

 They deceived, twisted the truth, exaggerated the facts, and misled others to build themselves up. 

Sounds just like Washington, DC today. In fact, these things are happening in most nations' capitals, especially those that seem to be the most powerful nations.

 3) Murder is a violation of the Sixth Commandment.

 Deu 5:17  Thou shalt not kill. 

 These people filled the land with murder. Again, sounds just like America and many other nations.

 Someone is being murdered every day. 

It is said that the government of Iran has murdered over 42,000 people who are suffering from a terrible government. 

People are not really safe anywhere these days. Ride by shootings, schools, gatherings of people, none are truly safe.

 4) Stealing is a violation of the eighth commandment.

 Deu 5:19  Neither shalt thou steal. 

 Selfishness and covetousness cause people to take what they want from anybody they want to. They cheated wherever they could get away with it. Businesses overcharged customers, overpriced products, and used cheaper materials to make so-called quality products.

 5) Adultery is a violation of the seventh commandment.

 Deu 5:18  Neither shalt thou commit adultery.

 Sexual immorality had swept over the land. Few were faithful to their spouses. Even among priests.

 They committed adultery in their marriages, but worse than that, they committed adultery against God, their Creator and Savior.

 6) These people had broken all Godly restraints:

 Neither the Word of God, nor the people's consciences, nor any sort of reasoning remained with these wicked people.

 1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

 7) They had allowed violence to run wild.

 People in every walk of society were willing to do anything to fulfill their lust and their pride.

 1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

 You cannot make these things up because these same things are happening in our own nation today, along with many other sins against God.

 There is only one answer to our problems.

 1Co 6:9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 

1Co 6:10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 

1Co 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

 What did God say about all these, and God never changes?

 *****Hos 4:6  My people are destroyed, for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. 

Hos 4:7  As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.

 The Church needs to wake up, and the false church needs to wake up. We know God does not ever change, and this passage is clear language of who God holds to blame.

 God does not have to destroy this world; our world is so full of sin and foolishness that it will destroy itself if God does not stop it.

 The people were guilty of polluting the land that God had given to them to live on.

 Isa 24:3  The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word. 

Isa 24:4  The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. 

Isa 24:5  The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. 

Isa 24:6  Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

 King Jeroboam's first action was to corrupt the law of God from the very beginning. 

What Jeroboam started was a religion that mixed a little of the truth of God with the false religion of the world.

 Again, the same thing is happening today in the Church.

 He found his own priests from people who were disqualified to be priests by the Word of God, non-Levites.

 Jeroboam had set up a state religion, but the Word of God was not taught, and the people had allowed it to happen because most of them knew the truth of God.

 We already know that Hosea was the only prophet who resided in the Northern Kingdom through whom God spoke.

 The other true prophets who prophesied in the Northern Kingdom resided in the Southern Kingdom.

 This tells us there were no other men in the Northern Kingdom whom God trusted to give them the truth.

Most all the Levites had escaped to Judah.

 These people still had no excuse because they knew the truth of God.

 They did not wander astray because they did not know the way of God, but because they had no desire to go God's ways, and the religion of Jeroboam gave them an excuse.

 Job 21:14  Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 

Job 21:15  What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? 

 Today, most people do not want to hear what God has to say because it will bring them under conviction.

 The truth is that not knowing God and His Word will not save them from the judgment of God because they are already judged.

 Joh 12:48  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 

 The priests chosen by Jeroboam were leading the people further away from God and not closer to Him.

 This is the same problem of false preachers today. They lead the people further away from God and not closer to Him.

 The result is that the people of God will lack the true knowledge of God, and it is showing up in the modern Church today.

 We can know all the facts of the Bible, but we still must have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and He must be Lord of our lives.

 God cannot break any promises He has made; "judgment" had to come to the Northern Tribes of Israel.

 Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 Eze 18:20  The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. 

 What we find is that if we look at the history of mankind, it appears time and time again that acquired greatness has been abused by mankind to self-exaltation, while God is forgotten.

 Judgment would begin as God would no longer provide their needs.

 *****Hos 4:10  For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD. 

Hos 4:11  Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. 

 Why do some people believe that sin brings benefits?

 Oh, they may win a small amount from the lottery, but that big pot is just an enticement to most people.

 I do not know of many people out in the world who are satisfied, especially as they approach their elder years. I know I wasn’t.

 Most of them are so greedy that they will never be satisfied, and the rest know they are missing out on something, but they do not know what it is.

 Their insatiable thirst for sin will remain with them because the Devil will not let them go and may even cause them an early death.

 What do we know about the heart? Pro 4:23  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 

 These priests had lost their understanding of the Word of God.

 When every action we take is to benefit ourselves, we are living in harlotry.

 When we do not think about worshiping the Lord, we are living in harlotry.

 When we quit praying, we are living in harlotry.

 We have lost our understanding of the Word of God.

 Wine! I do not believe that the Lord Jesus authorized the use of alcoholic wine.

 Pro 23:20  Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:

 Pro 23:29  Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 

Pro 23:30  They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 

Pro 23:31  Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 

Pro 23:32  At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

God will never contradict Himself! 

The word "wine" is used many times in the Word of God.

 The most common Hebrew word is "yayen". Yayen could be fermented wine, but it could also mean to tread out, which is grape juice.

 Another Hebrew word used is “Ashishah”, and it is not wine but basically means raisins.

 Another Hebrew word used is "Asis" which is grape juice no older than one year.

 Another Hebrew word used is "Hometz" which is vinegar.

 Another word used is "Hemer" and it means the blood of the grape and or grape juice just beginning the process of fermentation.

 Another word used is "enabh" which is cakes of raisins.

 Another word used is "Mesekh," which is mixed with yayen, water, and spices. Mixed wine.

 Another word used is "Tirosh" which is wine that is intoxicating and is said to take possession of the brain.

 There is still "Sobhe" which means drunkard.

 "Shekar" which is intoxication liquor.

 "Yekebh" which fresh pressed juice.

 "Shemarim" which is old juice.

 "Mesek" mixed juice and spice, but not diluted with water, boiled down to a syrup.

 The wine the Lord Jesus made is described as "oinos". Fresh-squeezed juice mixed with water.

 This same Greek word is used to describe the wrath of God.

 Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 

 All other grape juices were mixed with water.

 Our Lord miraculously supplied wine at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee (Jhn_2:1-11). 

The Rechabites were forbidden the use of wine (Jer. 35). 

Nazarites also were to abstain from its use during the period of their vow (Num_6:1-4); and those who were dedicated as Nazarites from their birth were perpetually to abstain from it (Jdg_13:4, Jdg_13:5; Luk_1:15; Luk_7:33). 

The priests, too, were forbidden the use of wine and strong drink when engaged in their sacred functions (Lev_10:1, Lev_10:9-11). 

“Wine is little used now in the East, from the fact that Mohammedans are not allowed to taste it, and very few of other creeds touch it. 

When it is drunk, water is generally mixed with it, and this was the custom in the days of Christ also. 

The people indeed are everywhere very sober in hot climates; a drunken person, in fact, is never seen”.

 We should be very careful to look closely at the word “wine” used in English-speaking Bibles.

The Lord Jesus Christ did not drink alcoholic wine and it should not be used in the Church.

Some people are told to drink a little wine for medical purposes when grape juice will do the same thing that the wine will do in medicine.

 *****Hos 4:12  My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.

 Even though these are the people of the Northern Kingdom the LORD still required the people themselves to be accountable for their own sins.

 We can be sure that there will be a great accounting to God by those who were the leaders of God's people it still does not diminish the fact that these people will endure God's chastisement for their sins.

 We know that God does not change, so this should be a great lesson for the Church today.

 The Church cannot allow what God calls abominations to continue in the Church!

 The people of the Northern Kingdom ceased seeking the only One who could give them proper counsel, Jehovah.

 *****Hos 4:16  For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. 

 An acceptance of physical and spiritual adultery had gripped that society.

 The priests and the people played the harlot, enticing people away from God.

 These people began to worship sex as well as idols and false gods. This is what fertility worship leads to!

 I have already said it, but I will say it again: we see these same things here in the USA and throughout the world, and people wonder why our world is so messed up.

 They had rejected the covenants that bound them to a Holy God!

 Jer 3:3  Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed. 

 What was happening in Israel was affecting what was happening in Judah.

 Jer 3:9  And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. 

Jer 3:10  And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD. 

 Isa 1:21  How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. 

 We have to wonder sometimes why our Heavenly Father even puts up with any of us as long as He has.

 *****Hos 8:5  Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency? 

Hos 8:6  For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

Hos 8:7  For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

What does God think of the idols we worship? They will be broken in pieces.

What did God say about choosing our leaders or presidents? We are to choose them according to whether they are following the Word of God.

We are to choose those who remain close to Israel.

We are to choose them if they are into truth and not lies.

We are to choose those who are close to God in their lives.

We are to choose only after we have spent some time in prayer.

We are never to choose them for political reasons.

We are never to choose those who deny Jesus Christ or the Bible.

God was going to allow the Assyrian army to judge Israel.

What country or what nation is God going to allow to judge our nation? He could still do this.

God hates idol worship!

We are to be a righteous nation and not the Great Satan.

God has a desire for us to return to being a godly nation.

The only thing saving our nation today is the patience of God.

2Pe_3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

We had better get our hearts right with God very soon!

The Northern Tribes, called Israel, had:

1) They had broken their covenant with God and rebelled against the Word of God.

2) The people had made a false confession. They pretended to still be God's people.

3) The people rejected what was good. Truly seeking and believing in the Lord. Doing deeds of righteousness in the spirit of justice, mercy, and humility.

4) They had chosen corrupt leaders without consulting God's guidance or His consent. They had chosen according to charisma and political reasons. They had chosen with their dreams of having greater power and wealth.

5) They used their own imagination to create idols for themselves and provided silver and gold to build false worship centers.

We see these same things today in our own nation and most every other nation, including Israel.

No idol can do what our powerful God can do!

No idol can cleanse you of your sin.

No idol can bleed and die for you.

The reference to Samaria has no connection to the places where those two calf idols were located; it was just the capital city used by the Northern Tribes.

A handmade god is not a god nor can it ever be. It is foolish, and full of nonsense, but also a terrible sin.

Listen how Isaiah describes such things: Isa 44:13  The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. 

Isa 44:14  He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. 

Isa 44:15  Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. 

Isa 44:16  He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: 

Isa 44:17  And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. 

Everything we do has consequences. Good deeds have good consequences; bad deeds have bad consequences.

Even nature proves this to be true.

When Israel sowed wind, which is  “nothingness," they reaped the "whirlwind," which is God's judgment!

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 

Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 

Israel was supposed to be the nation that blessed all the other nations, but they had failed miserably, and they became a vessel that the Gentile nations had no pleasure in and still are today.

*****Hos 9:17  My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations. 

What happened to the Northern Tribes of Israel?

This same thing was happening in Judah!

Hos 8:14  For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof. 

The bitter harvest was coming to the nation of Israel, and no matter what those who are lost think, the Lord God was justified in this severe judgment!

He had called for repentance many times, but His calls were ignored.

Israel had been warned. Deu 6:12  Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

The prophets of God were ignored or silenced.

Today, the Church is traveling the same road as Israel traveled, and Christians have forgotten who made them and saved them from the consequences of sin.

Much of the Word of God has been rewritten and left out God's judgment and God's laws.

Why would the Church think that God will respond any differently today when He says He never changes?

Mal 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 

Jas 1:16  Do not err, my beloved brethren. 

Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 

We are to meditate on the Word of God and this is a good place to start!

Amen

My Savior Lives

 Jesus Is Alive

 Book of Luke Chapter 24

 People sometimes ask, what is the greatest discovery that has ever been made throughout the history of our world?

Immediately, they think about material things or certain medicines.

 That answer should be simple. The greatest discovery that has ever been made in this world is the empty tomb of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 His tomb is still empty today because it was a borrowed tomb; the Lord Jesus only needed it for three days.

 Much of this world does not know this, and most of the world does not believe this is true to their loss.

We should be very clear: if the Lord Jesus Christ had not risen from the dead, there would be no such thing as Christianity.

Christianity would be just another religion serving a false god.

 The empty tomb and our risen Savior have to become a personal discovery for each individual on this earth.

 If my God cannot do the impossible, then He cannot be my God!

If my God is not alive, then I am no more than a fool and bound for Hell with no means of salvation.

 The Passover is past. The Lord Jesus was buried just before six PM on the day of the Passover.

The first day following Passover was to be a holy convocation treated as a special Sabbath, and it did not matter what day of the week it was; it could well have been on a Friday.

Lev 23:5  In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover. 

Lev 23:6  And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. 

Lev 23:7  In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 

It was on Tuesday when the Lord Jesus had these words.

Mat 26:2  Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. 

Two days after Tuesday would be Thursday. The words of Jesus are more reliable than calendars; this Passover was on a Thursday. 

The day after the preparation day, which was Passover, would be the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which was treated as a Sabbath, a High Day. Then, in this particular year, the true Sabbath would follow that day, meaning that when Sunday came, Jesus would have been in the ground for three days and three nights. 

The Lord Jesus had been in the grave three days and three nights just as He had said.

At least this is where my Bible study leads me.

Mat_12:40  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so, shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Jhn_19:31  The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

 Luk 23:54  And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 

Luk 23:55  And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 

Luk 23:56  And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. 

 *****Luk 24:1  Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 

Luk 24:2  And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 

Luk 24:3  And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 

 It was the death of the Lord Jesus Christ that would bring the history of this world and eternity to their fulfillment according to God's plan.

 God plans that every living soul be provided with the opportunity for atonement.

The day of atonement was the only day of the year in which the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, but not without blood, which he offered for himself.

On this day, he wore none of his colorful clothes to enter behind the Veil but wore white linen clothes.

On this Passover, the Lord Jesus offered His own blood for the atonement.

When the High Priest fulfilled his purpose, he left those clothes in the Holy of Holies just as the Lord Jesus left His white linen clothes behind, and He is not only our Mediator, but He is our true High Priest.

 Rom 5:11  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 

 The meaning of the word is at-one-ment, and it means the state of being at one or being reconciled to God.

Until you are washed in the blood of Jesus, you cannot be reconciled to God! 

Atonement is reconciliation. It signifies the truth of the Gospel which flows from the death of Jesus Christ.

 The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place! The Lord Jesus Christ took our punishment, which we were rightly due for the sins we committed against our Heavenly Father, our Creator.

 Our guilt was imputed to Him, and this is why He came at the First Coming.

 2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

 1Pe 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 

 Heb 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 

 This was God's plan, and it was executed by His only begotten Son.

 The Old Covenant is over, and the New Covenant has begun.

 These women were not aware of these things, yet all they knew was that the body of the Lord Jesus Christ had not been properly cared for, and it had been three days.

At four days, the body of Jesus would be corrupted.

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had rushed to get the body of Christ into a grave on the day of Passover.

 The Lord Jesus had been dead three days, just as He had said.

 Mat_12:40  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

 The Lord Jesus Christ arose on the first day of the week, which is Sunday on the Jewish calendar.

 We now look at Monday as the first day of the week and Sunday as our Sabbath.

 Act 20:7  And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

 This Sunday would have had its beginning at six o’clock the previous day, and these ladies came to the Tomb of Christ early that next morning.

 Because His resurrection had occurred just as He had said, another order of things had occurred.

 It was love that brought these ladies to the tomb of Jesus, and it is love and truth that should bring us all to the cross of Jesus.

 Death reigns no more in our earthly flesh if you are reconciled to God.

The curse of Adam has ended for you.

 The rules of death have been broken by the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Why? Because His tomb was empty, but that was not all.

 1) The Scriptures were opened: Luk 24:27  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 

 2) Eyes were opened: Luk 24:31  And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 

 3) The mind is opened: Luk 24:45  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

 4) Heaven was opened: Luk 24:51  And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 

 That stone was not rolled away to let the Lord out of that grave. He was already out before the angels rolled away that stone.

 That stone was rolled away to allow these women who loved Him so much to go inside and look at an empty tomb.

 This was the first victory of God's amazing grace.

 Now, mercy and grace are the rules God will use toward all mankind.

 These ladies were perplexed about what they had seen.

 *****Luk 24:4  And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 

 One of the best proofs of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the testimony of these ladies.

They witnessed the body of the Lord Jesus being placed into that tomb, and they now see that the tomb is empty.

 They knew He was dead, and they knew where He had been laid, and the door had been sealed.

It was the penalty of death to remove this seal unauthorized.

 None of those who came to the tomb of Christ had believed Him when He said He would be three days in it and then He would arise from that death until it took place.

 As they arrive, they see the stone rolled away, and no one man could do such a thing, and they knew that they could not do it themselves.

 Mar 16:3  And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 

Mar 16:4  And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.  

It was the angels who rolled away the stone.

 Mat 28:2  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 

 An angel of the Lord cannot lie; they are only messengers.

 The body of Jesus Christ was not in the tomb.

 These angels had taken on the form of humans.

 They looked like men, but their clothing was not of this world but shining garments.

One angel was on each end of the slab where the Lord Jesus had lain, which gives us the vision that the mercy seat was no longer in the Holy of Holies.

 Jesus is first called Lord Jesus in this passage after His resurrection, for He is now our risen Savior. 

 What was the message of the angels?

 *****Luk 24:5  And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 

Luk 24:6  He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 

Luk 24:7  Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 

Luk 24:8  And they remembered his words,

 They were not so much afraid of those angels as they were about the missing body of Christ.

 The truth is, God the Father has fully accepted the work of His Son for our atonement, and life has returned to Him.

 Joh 10:17  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 

Joh 10:18  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. 

 The Lord Jesus becomes the Living God because death cannot hold our Savior!

 Not many living will stay in a dead man's tomb for very long.

.These angels also reminded these women of what the Lord Jesus had said before His death.

 We had better be clear in our hearts, we do not honor a dead Savior, we honor the Living God!

 Because they now remembered the words that Jesus had spoken, they had conviction and boldness to witness to others this truth.

 The Lord Jesus had declared that the grave could not hold Him.

 Heb 7:8  And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

 Rom 1:4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

 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, 

Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,  

It is the power of His resurrection that removes any doubt that the Lord Jesus is the true Messiah, God in the Flesh.

 None of those who had followed the Lord Jesus had truly accepted that He would arise from His death.

 They had not accepted that He would die until it happened.

 It is an eye-opening event when we realize that we were wrong about God!

 God is who He says He is!

God does as He says He will do!

 *****Luk 24:9  And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 

Luk 24:10  It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 

Luk 24:11  And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 

 What is the greatest lesson we can learn from this passage? 

We need to pay attention to what the Lord Jesus Christ says!

 The Lord Jesus always speaks the truth!

 Not finding the Body of Jesus puzzled these women when it should have brought faith.

 Many will say that an empty tomb is not proof of a resurrection.

 Full belief required the appearance of Jesus Christ.

 Faith would know that He is alive!

 We should understand that the Holy Spirit did it this way so the Church would know that the grave was empty and it was the actual body of Jesus and not some ghost.

 Many commentators will say that those two angels are Moses and Elijah, but the Bible does not lead us in this direction.

 The angels quickly told these ladies that if they wanted to see the Risen Savior, they had come to the wrong place.

 We know our Savior cannot be bound by any tomb, and you will never find Him there again.

 The angels told these ladies to remind the eleven Apostles that He would meet them in Galilee.

 The angels also said, “Do you not remember what Jesus said?"

 Luk 18:31  Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 

Luk 18:32  For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 

Luk 18:33  And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 

 The body of Jesus Christ had not been removed; Jesus had walked out of that grave, going straight through the rock because it was the angels who rolled that heavy stone away.

 The enemies of Jesus were still rejoicing, but this rejoicing was about to end.

 It took a while for these women to believe that the Lord had risen from that grave, and the Apostles did not believe these women.

 The greatest sin in all the Bible is to not believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

 The Apostles had no excuse for rejecting the truth of the resurrection, for the Lord had told them He would arise on many occasions.

 They did go to Galilee, but they were quitting. They felt they had no one to serve after the death of Jesus.

 This is where they would witness the truth of the Lord Jesus.

 There is a lack of clear direction. They are no longer full of the Lord Jesus, and activities they previously abandoned for Him have a chance to creep back in.

 It is never a good time to quit on Jesus!

 Mar 16:14  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 

 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. 

 Peter was still suffering because he had denied Christ.

 *****Luk 24:12  Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. 

 Many say that those linen clothes lay in that grave just as they were wrapped, meaning that the body of Jesus had passed through those wrappings, leaving them in place.

 Jesus had folded the napkin that was over His face and laid it in another place, and we all know the meaning of this. "I will be back."

As I said earlier, the High Priests would always leave those white linen clothes in the Holy of Holies, so that the empty tomb had become the Holy of Holies, and that place in the Temple was no longer important. The Veil had been torn into two pieces.

 Peter came to the tomb of Jesus.

 Peter saw what manner His clothes were laid.

 Peter departed, wondering within himself what had actually happened.

 What we now know is that it is dangerous not to understand the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 We cannot spiritualize the Word of God because it will lead to unbelief and serious problems.

 All we need to do is be open to the evidence that the Holy Spirit gives us in the Gospels.

 1) The tomb is empty.

2) Jesus has risen just as He said.

3) The Holy Spirit will convince us of the truth if we listen to Him.

 Joh 8:23  And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 

Joh 8:24  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 

 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. 

 The risen Messiah was not some spirit, He was not some vision, not some phantom, not a hallucination or the figment of man's imagination, He was the risen Savior.

 One day, not so far into the future, we will have a glorified body just like the Lord has.

 *****Luk 24:44  And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Luk 24:45  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 

Luk 24:46  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 

Luk 24:47  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 

Luk 24:48  And ye are witnesses of these things. 

Luk 24:49  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. 

 The road to Emmaus is another great picture of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but our lesson goes to the teaching of the Lord Jesus to the Apostles after they knew that the resurrected Christ is the same Christ who had died for their sin and ours.

 Now that these Apostles know that Jesus is a risen Savior, they can better understand the lessons He had taught them.

 All prophecies up to the point of the Cross had been fulfilled just as they were written.

 Jesus makes a point to teach these men that every word of God would be fulfilled just as written.

 We can depend on the Word of God and a proper translation of the Word of God, such as the KJV.

 Many translations are nothing but trash and should be done away with.

 1) The death of Christ and the Resurrection had to take place just as they happened. Some of the brutalizing of our Savior was unnecessary, but foretold.

 None of these things should have been a surprise to these men, and certainly not to the Scribes and Pharisees who were supposedly Bible scholars.

 The Lord Jesus had preached these things Himself.

 2) It was necessary that the death of Christ and His resurrection take place. His death was imperative, or we would still be bound with our sin, unforgiven.

 His resurrection also had to take place, showing us the power of God and our own future resurrection of our bodies.

 The Lord Jesus gave us His own division of the Bible of that day.

 The Law

The Prophets

The Psalms

 Basically, the entire Old Testament.

 3) The Lord Jesus opened their eyes so they could understand:

 1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

1Co 2:15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 

1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 

 4) These prophecies had to be fulfilled.

 Christ had to suffer a terrible death and then rise from that death.

 Repentance and forgiveness must be preached.

 The Holy Spirit and the Power of Heavenly Father must be sent.

 Every believer was to be equipped for witnessing the truth of God.

 The source of the Holy Spirit and His Power can come from God the Father only.

 Jesus Christ was to send the promises of God the Father.

It was God the Father who made the promises.

We are to wait upon the Lord Jesus Christ to return while praying for the promises of God.

 God the Father is the source of all power.

 Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 His work finished, the Lord went home to be by His Father's side.

 *****Luk 24:50  And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 

Luke closes his Gospel with the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He had remained on earth for forty days since His resurrection.

The Lord Jesus came to this world on a mission to save the people of this world, and He provided a means of salvation and reconciliation with God to every individual who has lived since that time.

His ascension closes His earthly ministry, but it opens His Heavenly ministry, His mission of intercession for the world.

He now bears witness through the lives of those who believe Him.

He is now the propitiation for our sins.

1Jn 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 

1Jn 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 

1Jn 2:3  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 

God's Son returned to the right hand of God the Father.

His ascension proves that Heaven is a real place!

Php 3:20  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 

Php 3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. 

His ascension assures us that we have a very special Helper in Heaven who really loves and cares for us.

Amen