The Return of Christ

 Confidence in the Coming of Jesus

Book of 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4

The Apostle Paul continues with these things of the coming of the Lord from Chapter three verse thirteen.

As Christians we must be encouraged to know that all saints who have gone before us are resting in the presence of the Lord and we are confident that we will see them again at the coming of the Lord.

There may be differences in the many denominations of Christianity, but the return of Jesus Christ is not one of them.

The return of our Lord Jesus is mentioned more than three hundred times in the New Testament.

There are entire chapters given to the discussion of the return of Christ.

In the Book of Matthew Chapters 13, 24 and 25.

In the Book of Mark Chapter 13

In the Book of Luke Chapter 21

In this Book of Thessalonians we are studying now, along with Book Two, the majority of these Scriptures deal with the return of the Lord.

Much of the Book of Revelation deals with the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ taught us that His return would be a literal, physical event.

Jesus said He would return just as His disciples seen Him depart.

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

Jesus Christ is returning to take those who love Him back home to His Father's house, which is now our home.

Our mortal bodies will be changed to glorified bodies just as His body.

1Jn_3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

The truth is, we must always be prepared for the coming of our Lord as it could happen at any moment now.

We are approaching the end of the Church Age which means the destruction of this world is very near.

There will be a New Heaven and a New earth because it is sin that has marred both places, both caused by that person known as Satan who is soon to be bound in Hell which is the place God has designed for him.

2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 

2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 

2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, "according to his promise", look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 

*****1Th 4:1  Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

1Th 4:2  For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 

This is what the Church calls today, "The Believer's Walk".

Once we are saved, we are to walk to please God!

We are to live as God tells us how to live by keeping God's commandments.

We are to walk in the will of God for our lives.

We are to walk to please God.

We cannot please God without faith in the truth of His Words.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

If we cannot believe God is who He says He is as described in the Word of God, then we cannot please Him.

If we cannot please Him then He cannot accept us!

*****1Th 4:3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 

1Th 4:4  That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 

1Th 4:5  Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 

Paul first mentions sanctification of the body.

What is sanctification? It is God's will that we give ourselves to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christianity is a walk with the Lord Jesus Christ!

To be a Christian is not an ornament that we wear, it is a life always progressing in the will of God for our lives.

The love of God is the mightiest power in the life of each Christian.

We know that God is holy and we must strive to be holy to be more like Him.

Sanctification means we are to resist the passion of lust.

Sanctification means that we know how to control our body.

When we begin to lust, then we will soon become enslaved to lust.

The passion of lust is the way of our world today.

This is why there is such a battle for abortion!

People cannot contain their lust so they need to be able to stop the consequences of that lust.

This is why there is such battle for LGBT movement because people cannot contain their lust.

This is not the way of God!

It is the lifestyle of those who do not know God!

Fornication is any sexual act outside the bonds of a marriage between one man and one woman!

1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

1Pe 4:3  For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 

Concupiscence is intense desire always in a bad sense, the passion for sexual lust.

*****1Th 4:6  That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 

1Th 4:7  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 

1Th 4:8  He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 

There are many reasons we are to live pure lives:

1) Immorality defrauds and cheats a brother or sister in Christ.

It either takes a wife from her husband or it takes a husband from his wife.

We know that most of the time that the trust and affection that were once in that marriage cannot be completely recovered.

That marriage and bond of trust is gone forever!

This same thing effects those who are unmarried when fornication takes place.

2) God shall revenge immorality.

Immorality is accepted and even encouraged in our society today.

How can we say it is encouraged? Look at television and films. Look at advertisements and promotions. Look at the way the world dresses. Listen to suggestive words and actions that are acceptable today.

God is going to judge immoral behavior and we have the example of Sodom and Gomorrah.

3) God did not call us to immorality, God called us to holiness!

God would never call a person to do such things. Immorality may be the greatest destructive force in our world today!

Immorality has destroyed the family model that makes societies prosper.

4) Immorality is a sin against God!

When God despises something, it means He rejects it.

The world says the commandments of God are old fashioned and unacceptable in an intellectual and enlightened society.

It is obvious that our societies have crumbled till they do not exist accept in the minds of the wicked.

The world may not be able to do anything to us if we break the commandments of God, but it is a fact unless we repent, we will receive the full vengeance of a Holy God!

Each true Christian is the home of the Holy Spirit and we must not defile the Holy Spirit, we must keep our bodies holy.

It must be our ambition to please God!

*****1Th 4:9  But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 

1Th 4:10  And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

As we arise every morning the first thought we should have is to please God in our actions each day.

The word used for brotherly love in the Greek is "Philadelphia".

We now that there is a city in America named Philadelphia which was at one time known as the city of "brotherly love".

But brotherly love is the love that is required in the Church just as it is in our families.

Brotherly love is that love of Christians to Christians all around this world.

We cannot allow this world to divide us and it cannot if we all have that same message that comes by the Word of God.

There is only "One Word of God" and it is not to be altered!

Brotherly love is that love that shows this wicked world the love we have within the Church of the Living God!

This is a love that cannot fail because it is a love that should be growing within each of us!

This love “Philadelphia” comes from God to each Christian but our preachers still need to remind us of this love because we need each other to make it through this life we have now before we go home to be with the Lord.

Heaven will be a place of brotherly love.

It is not always easy to show brotherly love in this corrupt world we live in where love is interpreted as "lust".

As Christians we need that strong bond of brotherly love in order to stand against the temptations and our walk through the sufferings of this life.

The greatest threat to the Church is the internal strife that comes as we allow the world to come into the Church and dictate a false narrative.

The Church is sinking today because of worldly philosophies that cause confusion.

Our world is not billions of years old.

Humans have not evolved from monkeys or any other species.

Our climate has been changing from day one.

Why will all these great scientist not tell you that if all pollution is removed from our atmosphere, it will be so hot that we will not be able to live outdoors?

There is always a need to grow increasingly in the Lord and grow more and more in His love for us that we can show to each other.

This great church of the Thessalonians were noted for the love they showed throughout all of Macedonia.

*****1Th 4:11  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 

1Th 4:12  That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. 

What is it to study to be quiet?

We are to put forth the effort to live quiet and peaceable lives.

At the same time, we inflict a real loss to society if we do not speak for the truth, but allow those to say too much who need to say very little or say nothing at all.

This is why there is so much filth in our world today because the Church has been too quiet.

The wicked voices of immorality are speaking the loudest today and they have bent the ears of our liberal government.

We must certainly put forth the effort to live quiet and peaceable lives, but there are times we must take a stand.

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. 

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, "that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day", and having done all, "to stand".

It is our duty to mind our own business, but it is also our duty to take care of our families.

We are not to be busybodies nor meddle in the affairs of others nor try to change the direction of this world.

Our job remains to be witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ and take a stand on the truth of God.

If we do this, the Holy Spirit will certainly do what He came upon this earth to do.

If we cannot keep our own affairs straight, then how could we ever change the affairs of others.

We must avoid looking like we are everybody's judge!

If we commit our lives to the truth of the Word of God, we will not have time to meddle in the affairs of others.

We need to work with our own hands to supply the needs of our families so we do not become a burden to the Church.

Very few people have any respect for those who are able to work, but refuse to do so, insisting that someone else should be providing for them.

God has no patience for those who will not work!

Eph 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 

2Th_3:10  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

As Christians, we must set the example for working to provide our own needs being able then, to help others who are unable to provide for themselves, but not for those who have the ability to provide for themselves and refuse to do so.

We have far too many things to consider in our lives than to worry about our fellow brothers and sisters and family who have gone on before us.

*****1Th 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 

Paul continues with the subject of the return of Jesus Christ.

The same Bible that tells us how to be saved, also teaches us how live throughout eternity with our Savior.

This same Bible that teaches us how we are to live in this life and be good Christians.

This is also the same Bible that tells us of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus will return to this earth to claim all believers to Himself!

Most of the world rejects that there will be an afterlife upon our death, but the world is wrong again.

At the moment of our death, our soul returns to be with our Savior.

2Co_5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

How do we know this? 

2Co_4:14  Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

The Lord Jesus has resurrection power!

When that soul gets to Heaven there will also be given a temporary body.

Rev_6:11  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

You cannot put a robe upon a soul or a spirit.

We should understand that every Christian alive, and all those who have already gone to Heaven, will gather together with the Lord Jesus when we meet Him in the clouds.

We must not be ignorant of the power of the resurrection of Christ!

The fact of the Lord's return should arouse concern in us for our family members who are not saved, some friends that are not saved, and for the lost in general.

There is absolutely no hope for those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ, but for the believer, our hope is in the Lord.

*****1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 

1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 

No doubt that everyone who goes down by the graveyard a loved one will grieve for them because someone we love is no longer with us.

Our grief will be easier to take, when we know that we will see them again and we will live together throughout eternity in a place where even paradise is not a good enough word to describe it.

All our brothers and sisters in Christ will return with Him when He returns.

This passage is proof that all departed believers are already with Jesus in Heaven.

We do not have to wonder where they are!

To be asleep in Jesus, is not some semi-conscious state or some form of deep sleep as some believe.

Sleep is only a soft word used by believers to describe our departure from this world.

It could be said that while we are asleep in Jesus, then we are no longer suffering from the persecutions of this world.

Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 

Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

If we have trusted the Lord in our life time, we can certainly trust in the Lord when we leave this world behind!

We can never die because our Lord Jesus has already died in our place!

This is one of the reasons that there had to be cross in the life of Our Savior.

The body of each believer will first be raised before those who are alive and remain are called to meet the Lord in the air.

1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 

1Co 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

How can we have doubt in the return of Jesus Christ, when He has said so many times that He will certainly return to take us all home to be with Him in the New Heaven.

*****1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be "caught up together" with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

When we deny the return of Jesus Christ we are calling Him a liar.

The Lord Jesus Christ in all His glory will descend from Heaven in that same glorified human body that He ascended back to Heaven.

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

The Lord Jesus is not returning as a lowly shepherd, but in the Majesty and in Divine power that He alone possesses.

We need only remember that day when our Lord called Lazarus from his tomb.

Joh_11:43  And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

When the Lord shouts this time, He will just shout come forth "My" people.

Or if we remember the Hebrew weddings in that day and the parable of the ten virgins. "Mat 25:6  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 

We can be sure that every child of God will hear this shout even those in the grave.

There will be no unbeliever who will be resurrected at this time for that resurrection occurs on the day of "judgment".

This is what we know of as the White Throne Judgment.

Even the remnants of that believer that has been in the grave for many years will be reunited with that part that has been in Heaven for many years.

1Th 5:23  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Every believer will hear the shout of our Lord because He is the Captain of our salvation!

Those believers who are alive at the moment of His arrival will then be changed.

1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 

1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 

If we are to live with God in His realm, then we must have a body fashioned after His body as no flesh can live in the New Heaven.

2Co 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 

That phrase "caught up together" gives us the meaning of the Rapture.

That word "caught" implies, "seized, snatched up by an irresistible force" to be with our Savior amid the clouds such as happened on the day of the transfiguration of our Lord.

Mat 17:5  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 

So shall we ever be with the Lord!

It is on this wonderful day that we will finally reach perfection!

We will meet all the saints of God who had gone on before us.

We will be reunited with our loved ones and friends who have gone before us.

We will see the Lord Jesus face to face.

We will meet the God of all creation who had this masterful plan of our salvation.

Joh 8:51  Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 

We will never see death because the Lord Jesus Himself died in our place.

Amen

Grace For A Wicked World

 The Gospel of Grace for the Gentiles

Book of Romans Chapter 1

We should not have any problem believing that the Holy Ghost used the Apostle Paul as the vessel to author this Book of Romans. These things have been argued for years and the early Church decided this was true.

This Book to the Christians living in Rome was written before 60 AD which is within 30 years of the death of our Savior.

Rom 15:25  But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. 

Rom 15:26  For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. 

Rom 15:27  It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. 

The Apostle Paul had many reasons for authoring this great book the most obvious reason is because the Holy Spirit insisted on it and another reason was that Paul intended to go to Rome to be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ and he used this letter as an introduction to his ministry.

The Apostle Paul had a great desire to evangelize Rome and each city on the route from Jerusalem to Rome to ensure the spread of the Gospel.

We should clearly understand that if we are obedient to the Holy Ghost, we will find that it is His job to ensure the success of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Peter was not that Rock; the Lord Jesus Christ is the Rock of our salvation!

At this time, the Church in Rome was a strong Church.

This was a lay church! 

In other words this Church had been established solely by the work of the Holy Spirit without the help of the Apostles.

It is very possible that the early Church leaders in Rome had actually witnessed the resurrected Messiah.

They had certainly witnessed the moving of the Holy Spirit that day of Pentecost!

Act 2:1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 

Act 2:2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 

Act 2:3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 

Act 2:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

Act 2:5  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 

Act 2:6  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 

Act 2:7  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 

Act 2:8  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 

Act 2:9  Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 

Act 2:10  Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 

Act 2:11  Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 

The "faith" in the work of the Messiah was very strong in Rome at this time!

Rom 1:8  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 

Rom 1:9  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 

Rom 1:10  Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 

I should also mention that this was a Christian Church and had nothing to do with Catholicism which came much, much later.

Within seven years of this letter to the Roman Church, persecution came to this Church because of the Emperor Nero who in a fit of madness tried to burn the city of Rome and he blamed it upon the Christians.

The Book of Romans will show to us the great plan of salvation of Jehovah, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Like Paul we must never be ashamed of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Messiah, who has come and who will return to get His Church and then after a set time, show this world how it has failed.

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 

Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 

We are justified by our "faith" in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation!

Those who remain ignorant of the work of the Messiah will see the wrath of God!

*****Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 

Rom 1:19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

What was Paul's mission which is also the mission of every Christian?

Rom 1:5  By whom we have received grace and apostleship, "for obedience to the faith among all nations", for his name: 

Rom 1:6  Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 

Our mission is to be obedient to our faith and that faith in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation.

We are saved for two purposes which are to be the purposes for each and every true Church.

1) To obey Him!

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

2) To lead others to obey Him!

Joh 15:8  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

All other work for the Church comes after this work is established and is working according to the Words of Christ!

All those who reject this obedience will certainly see the wrath of God!

We are saved by the "Grace" of God, which we can understand as "God's Riches At Christ's Expense".

If the Lord is so willing to show us His "Grace", then we should understand that to reject that "Grace" will certainly have a penalty!

Because we all fall under the sin of Adam, which was disobedience, then we are all already subject to the wrath of God!

What two groups will see the wrath of Jehovah?

1) The ungodly!

The ungodly are all those who fail to love Jehovah who also fail to be obedient to Him.

These are all those who put forth no effort to developing a Godly nature.

2) The unrighteous!

The unrighteous are all those who fail to love others. If righteousness is doing all things according to the Word of God, then unrighteousness is doing things that go against the Word of God.

And you cannot be like our President or Ms. Pelosi who use the copout, "I know right from wrong, but I cannot tell others how to live".

All they are saying is, that they are not going to obey the Word of God.

Jesus used these words:

Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 

Mat 22:38  This is the first and great commandment. 

Mat 22:39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

Mat 22:40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 

This is the mission of the Church!

Obedience; is the key to our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. 

How does the Holy Spirit answer our corrupt government?

They know better than to try to make this sort of excuses and everyone else does also!

It is true that there are so many things that we do not know about our Savior and our God.

It is just as true that we know a lot about what He expects of us and much about Him!

Ignorance of our Holy God will never be an excuse!

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

If we seek to know about our Creator, He will show us!

If we do not seek to know about our Creator, He will still show us!

If we choose to not know our Creator, then we have made a conscience determination to reject His truth!

God says that He has planted that information within each of us! 

I believe Him!

You will never convince our Creator that you do not know anything about Him!

*****Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 

It is a fact that, that the heavens, the earth, and the great oceans and seas reveal that there had to be a Creator.

This world did not happen by some accident and people are foolish to even think we evolved from some accident.

The heavens declare the "Glory" of God!

Our world has become so tuned in to sin, that people will believe anything that goes against the Word of God.

This ignorance of Jehovah has sent far too many to Hell, because they simply accept what a few foolish men present as the truth.

How can we expect a Holy God to extend His hand of "Mercy" and "Grace" to this ignorant world, yet this is exactly what He does!

This "Mercy" will not be extended for very much longer because it is also true, if there is such a Creator, then how can we not expect Him to show His "Wrath" to those who reject the truth.

This is the battle that goes on today, the "Truth of a Holy God" versus the intentional ignorance of a few wicked men who have had their way in the circles of what is no longer even considered true science.

These evolutionists keep presenting the same old debunked fallacies refusing to even correct their lies and they get away with it because to admit they are wrong means there must be a Creator!

What will God do to them? What is God already doing today?

2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 

2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 

You see it is the invisible things of God from the creation of this world that are clearly seen!

Our Creator has revealed enough to us make us realize we did not come about by some gigantic accident.

In fact, most every person alive today cannot tell us one thing good that ever came by accident!

An accident is said to be the results that proceed from an unknown cause or the unusual effect of a known cause.

Accidents are things considered to happen without a design in mind.

To believe in accidents is to reject a Creator whose plan is so great and is so awesome that our pea brains just cannot fathom it!

Yes, it is easy to see that there has to be a Supreme Being behind what we think of as our created world.

There must a "Force" that not only put His creation in place but also Who keeps things working at His own whim!

It takes a vast knowledge of life to create life, life does not happen by accident!

There is a purpose and a meaning to everything our Creator has made, and that purpose is extended to His creatures!

There is a beauty and a majesty in all the things we see!

We do not have to imagine a Creator; we can see the results of His creation!

Psa 97:1  The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. 

Psa 97:2  Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. 

Psa 97:3  A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. 

Psa 97:4  His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. 

Psa 97:5  The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 

Psa 97:6  The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. 

And the Lord God of all creation says even know these things are so easy to see, most people would rather just believe a lie.

You see, if you acknowledge a Creator then you have to acknowledge His Words and His record, He has given to us about His creation!

*****Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 

Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 

If there is one place in the Word of God that tells us what God thinks of all those who have rejected Him, then this is the place.

We should be truly clear, all those who reject the Word of God and the God of the Bible the Lord Jesus Christ, do so because they have chosen for themselves an idol!

They begin with a failure to praise Him and to thank Him "because they are conscious of their own guilt"!

Those who have ever taken the time to study our vast universe have no doubt that there must be a Creator.

They reject our Creator because our Creator points out their sin.

They even claim to be wiser than our Creator!

This has carried over into our pulpits today where many now claim to be wiser than our Savior.

Why would we be so foolish?

We must realize that when we push God away, He will go away!

When He goes away, we are filled with emptiness and the craving to fill that void is where most every lost person gets into trouble.

They will search the world over to find something to fill this emptiness and it cannot be found!

They will sin with, false gods, idols, drugs, and Satan is ready to receive them into his fold. The Lord Jesus said:

Joh 8:42  Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 

Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 

Our world has become a place based upon lies and people hate the truth so much that they will reject any and all truth!

What are imaginations? Thoughts, reasonings, deliberations, conclusions, speculations.

That word "vain" means empty, futile, unsuccessful, worthless, senseless.

They become foolish and foolish hearts grow darker daily!

They sometimes become so occupied with trying to pry out the mysteries God existence and reject those things that can be so easily known.

The Word of God teaches us all we need to know to be productive in the eyes of our Creator and He does not try to hide anything so important as our salvation from us!

What more do we need to know to make that choice?

We are all bound for Hell! 

God offers us a place called Heaven! 

It is not such a hard choice!

We should glorify our Creator relentlessly and surely; we can thank Him for what He has already done!

If we are breathing, we are breathing God's air!

We do not have a clue of what tomorrow may bring, but the Lord Jesus Christ does!

Jas 4:14  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 

Jas 4:15  For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 

Jas 4:16  But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 

Jas 4:17  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. 

When we know better and just follow that denying crowd, we only harm ourselves. It does not change what God will do!

God has already taken great pains to explain these things to us!

We do ourselves no justice by becoming fools!

*****Rom 1:23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 

Rom 1:24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

If we take a hard look at our world, we can truly see the evidence of what God is saying here.

There is a prophesy of the last days that we can readily see today if, you have been around the true Church for any length of time.

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Many will tell you that so many of our foolish governments taking advantage of this plague of Covid 19 and shutting down the Church as they have, while having no power to do so have in fact influenced this falling away.

Many who were denied the opportunity to worship have never returned to the Church!

We can say what we want about their salvation, but the fact remains they were in Church and now many are still afraid to return and some just do not return.

There is a "falling away" of those who were at one time were regular to the Church!

My point is our world just gets darker and darker every day.

If any nation rejects all the sinful movements of these liberal minded governments, then they are pushed aside as wicked and evil when it is these liberal governments who are wicked and immoral according to the Word of God.

What is happening? Evilness and wickedness are called good, and God's children are called evil. Just as the Bible says will happen in the last days!

We may not see all the idols today because they are in false houses of worship, but just as this Book of Romans has said, all those that have rejected the Lord and the Word of God, have made themselves to be idols.

And what has our Creator done? He has given them over to uncleanness!

Isa 42:8  I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. 

We should ask ourselves, just what is the true reality of our dealings with our Heavenly Father?

Our Creator wants to remove from us our "uncleanness".

The Apostle John said:

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.

John was describing a world that had rejected our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Messiah that came down from Heaven.

If you give up or reject the soul saving power of Jehovah, then He will allow you to continue to dishonor your created bodies.

We live in this time called "Grace" but it will not last very much longer.

It is in this period of time that we have been given the opportunity to make a choice!

Joshua said it like this:

Jos 24:15  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

In verse eighteen we read that God has already shown us what He will do at the end of the Church Age which is what the Apostle Paul is speaking of.

He will reveal His wrath to all those who serve false gods and idols!

We live in a world where we can see this taking place right before our eyes!

You see God's wrath is revealed from Heaven every day to all those He has given up on.

Now He will never turn down any true request for forgiveness, but our All-knowing God knows those who will choose righteousness and sadly, He also knows all those who never will!

These are things that our Savior does every day!

He gives up on those He knows will never return to Him.

This is why our world gets darker every day!

He has been doing this since the beginning of time!

So Jehovah just says, if you want to do things your way, then so be it, but know that your ending will be an eternity of His wrath.

You see though the world denies the truth of the Word of God, it does not make it any less true!

God rejected all the wicked world in the days of Noah, and He has promised He will do it again.

At the death of everyone who has rejected our Savior, they begin their days of eternal damnation which is what they said they wanted.

Notice how many today believe that Hell is nothing more than a big party place for those who reject Jesus.

Everyone in Hell is now a full believer, but it was too late for them!

When you make sin your god, you will see increased sin until you are engulfed into pure wickedness which is what Satan is, "Pure Wickedness"!

When sin looks good, feels good and taste good, then you are hooked on sin!

The sad part of this is that we are not islands. Our sin affects others!

What happens in the mind of those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ?

*****Rom 1:25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 

So what does uncleanness really mean?

Uncleanness means impurity, filthiness, immorality, defilement, pollution, infection, contamination!

These are things we see at the beginning of everyday in the news and at every evening before we go to bed, and we can be sure these things do not stop just because we are asleep.

People serve themselves at the expense of all other people!

This is what idolatry means!

Worshiping a false god is like being in a heavy truck going downhill with no brakes.

There is no way to stop yourself once God gives up on you!

You see sin can only be curtailed by the Holy Spirit!

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

So, we can just imagine, no, we cannot imagine what this world will be like once the Church is taken out of this world.

You see, every believer is home to the Holy Spirit, and He promised to never leave us so, when God calls out His Church, there will not be anyone left behind who is a home to the Holy Spirit.

Those who have rejected the Messiah have made themselves gods!

Just look toward Washington if you want to see a many of these fools.

Everyone who has rejected Jesus think that they can fulfill their own needs.

Everyone who has rejected the Lord Jesus believe that the Messiah will just continue to allow them to live in any fashion they so choose.

Everyone who has rejected the Messiah believe they can choose their own god.

Everyone who has rejected the Messiah, think they can remake Him into something more perfect according to their own minds.

These are all those who allow their loose morals to control their thoughts of what a God should be!

Again we see, God will not tolerate this type of behavior and we see God will allow you to live the way you so choose in this life.

*****Rom 1:26  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 

So why would God give them up?

They have chosen to reject the truth of the Word of God and live-in uncleanness!

This is a conscious choice! They blame the truth of God for the reason they have made this decision!

Here we see that God did not cause this to happen.

It is that thing called "choice"!

God is not speaking of harlotry or adultery, here.

God is speaking of the unnatural appetite for wickedness in which all normal instincts are left behind.

Eph 4:18  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 

Eph 4:19  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 

This takes place not only with women, but for the life of me I will never understand why, but men also!

*****Rom 1:27  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 

Men who reject the marriage.

Men who reject ordinary lusts towards women which is bad enough.

Men who plunge headfirst into total depravity with other men.

Eph 5:12  For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 

Eph 5:13  But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

These things which have taken place throughout time are paraded down Main Street today, unashamedly!

All these things began with idolatry.

All these things come about because of the rejection of the truth!

All Jehovah told Moses, "they have corrupted themselves"!

The Lord simply says this is the judgment upon all those who do these things.

They have made a spectacle of themselves, so they take advantage of it in a depraved world!

Jud 1:7  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 

What is our world?

A lost people plunging deeper into their own desires having always someone trying to be pure to blame it on!

The only answer to this depravity is to be "Born Again" into the family of God before you go as far as to be given up on by the Savior Himself!

Jehovah said: 

Gen 6:3  And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man,

The Holy Spirit will only come calling until He gives up on you!

And we already know that many diseases are transmitted in this fashion, but we never hear of these plagues anymore.

So what is a reprobate mind?

*****Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 

Rom 1:29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 

Rom 1:30  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 

Rom 1:31  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 

How can we explain the reprobate mind?

First God did not cause this reprobate mind. 

These people have reached this point of sinfulness by themselves and their own choices! 

God just simply leaves them in this condition!

They have abandoned their lives to sin and God knowing they will never change, removes any opportunity for "Grace"!

Think of it in terms of a piece of metal that has proved to be worthless by the refiner's fire.

Jer 6:29  The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away. 

Jer 6:30  Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them. 

Isa 1:22  Thy silver is become dross,

You see these people did not approve to have God in their knowledge, their mind was depraved and perverted by vile passions.

This is the movement that is taking over our world today!

We also call this a sign of the very last days:

Luk 17:28  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 

Luk 17:29  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 

Luk 17:30  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 

They are full of unrighteousness! 

We can understand righteousness as doing things according to the Word of God, they were unrighteous going against all the Word of God!

It was not just fornication it was abnormal sexual activity.

It was not just wickedness it was depravity.

It was not just a craving it for possessions, it was the craving to possess power, fame, and pleasure.

It was not just maliciousness it was with malice and viciousness.

It was not just envy; this word goes far beyond jealousy.

It was not just murder, but a craving to end the life of those who opposed them.

It was not just debate, but was in a dishonest and evil way.

It was not just malignity; it was a complete evil and wicked disposition.

It was not just whisperers but slanderers.

It was not just back biting; it was a loud broadcasting to a lie as the truth.

It was not just haters of God, but the craving to be a living god themself.

It was not being despiteful is was insulting, the spirit of spite.

It was not just pride; it was self-exaltation and arrogance.

It was not just boasting; it was braggarts and boasters.

It was not just inventors of evil, it was inventors of a new depravity.

It was not just being disobedient to parents it is a total disrespect of parental instruction.

It was not just being without understanding, it was senseless, and foolish.

It was not just covenant breakers, it was faithless and treacherous.

It was not just without natural affection; it was heartless without human emotion.

It was not just implacable; it was but an unwillingness to even condone peace.

It was not just unmerciful; it was a craving to satisfy one's own pleasure at the expense of all others.

What do all these things bring?

The "Judgment of God" and they knew it!

*****Rom 1:32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. 

All those who mention the Lord Jesus Christ, know that there is a "Judgment" coming according to the Word of God.

What are the facts? All those who sin without repentance and all those who just take pleasure in others who do those sins, will be left without the Lord  throughout eternity.

They will be "judged" because they have no excuse for their actions claiming to know the truth just will make things worse.

God will not be mocked.

1) They have a complete inner knowledge of Jehovah and admit this is true.

2) They continue in depravity even knowing that this is true.

3) They are in a fellowship with Satan and all other evil doers!

All these who do such things are in league with each other and in league with the Devil!

These things describe our world today and they can be seen in every modern-day nation!

Amen!

Marriage Must Begin With the Love of God

 Finding A Wife for Isaac

Book of Genesis Chapters 24 Through 26

The one thing Abraham realized and we to are to realize is, that it is just a great thing to be involved in the plan of God.

It is a great thing to be in the family of God and being left upon this earth to do the work He has assigned to us.

We must make the will of God for us to be our own will!

We should understand that God takes these little things that are so important in life and with them, teaches us the great mysteries of the Bible and the truth of His Word.

A marriage is of great concern to our Heavenly Father. 

A marriage that follows the Biblical design will be a lasting marriage and also teaches us the relationship of the Lord Jesus Christ to His Church.

Yes, the Church belongs to Jesus Christ. 

It astounds me that so many so-called churches have removed the Lord Jesus Christ and are no longer a part of God's Church and no longer married to the Lord Jesus Christ though they still claim to be and their members who have rejected the Word of God.

They reject the truth of Jesus.

They reject that Jesus is the only way to Heaven.

They reject the truth of the Scriptures allowing man's law to take priority.

They reject the Virgin birth.

They reject the Cross.

Yet they claim to know the way to Heaven.

God cares who we marry and to marry is one of the great decisions we make in our lifetime.

A good marriage will be filled with love, joy, and peace just as our relationship with our Savior will be.

A marriage will be between one man and one woman and God decided their sex at birth.

A marriage to the wrong person will only bring heartache!

It was time for Isaac to get married.

*****Gen 24:1  And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. 

Gen 24:2  And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: 

Gen 24:3  And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: 

Gen 24:4  But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

In the day of Abraham it was common for the parents to arrange the marriage of their children.

Abraham was 140 years old and Isaac was now 40 years old and mature.

Sarah, Isaac's mother had been dead for 3 years and Isaac still mourned for his mother.

We should understand that God has a time for us to think about marriage!

God is not involved but only in part, in the marriage of unbelievers.

Remember unbelievers do not know the Word of God nor do they respect the Word of God.

They are best described as those people who lived in the day of Noah before the flood destroyed them.

No doubt that Abraham had discussed these things of marriage with his son Isaac.

Abraham was insisting that Isaac would not marry a maid of the Canaanites.

We already know the Canaanites worshiped false gods and had wicked and immoral beliefs.

God had already destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and three more cities of the plain, and there had been no survivors.

It is probable that the remaining Canaanites did not realize why such a thing would happen and brushed it off as something natural.

This still happens today!

The world does not see the acts of God nor the miracles of God and brush them off as accidents or blame them on nature or other people, such as this Climate Change hoax that is blamed on humanity rather than the promises of God.

Certainly, the climate is changing and if people are worried about heat, they had better learn how to avoid Hell!

God has said things will get worse and we see it in plagues, in the climate, in wickedness, corruption, and immorality and the wickedness in high places.

We know Jehovah is righteous and it is the right thing to do to destroy unrighteousness, but only God has this knowledge to do so.

The Canaanites were a cursed people.

Gen 9:25  And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. 

Abraham would never have chosen a daughter of the Canaanites!

To Abraham there was only one choice for Isaac this wife was to be chosen from Abraham's home country, the descendants of Noah's son Shem.

We used to have a tradition to swear an oath by laying our hand on the Holy Bible.

In the day of Abraham and oath was sworn by a hand upon the thigh.

It was a sacred thing and was not to be broken.

In our father’s day a handshake was as good as an oath!

Today you have to sign your name a hundred times just to get a loan.

As we follow the journey of this eldest servant, we will see another lesson in typology.

We will see this eldest servant as the Holy Spirit.

Isaac as the Messiah.

Abraham as Jehovah.

Rebekah as the Church, the gentile bride of Christ.

Abraham said to his servant that Jehovah would send His angel to guide him.

Abraham knew if his son was in the lineage to the Messiah, then Jehovah would be involved in his marriage!

One thing we should clearly understand, it is better not to marry than to enter into a bad marriage!

As Abraham instructed his servant, if the woman does not come willingly then Isaac will not marry her.

2Co 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Remember to be saved we must willingly give ourselves to the truth of God and repent from the ways of the world.

Believers should marry true believers or not marry at all!

*****Gen 24:10  And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. 

Notice just as the Holy Spirit is God, just as God the Father and God the Son, this eldest servant had control of all the goods of Abraham.

The journey to Mesopotamia was as much as a 500-mile trip and it would take a lot of supplies to go and return from such a trip. 

It is the will of God that we marry a true believer, and we may have trouble finding one. It may take some time and we must be prepared for the journey.

If we are to find our soul mate, we must trust the Word of God and the Will of God and that He will lead us to that person who He has chosen for us.

In reality, it would be wise to not even date someone who does not meet these qualifications given by the Lord.

This servant came to the end of his journey, and he prayed for guidance.

*****Gen 24:11  And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. 

Gen 24:12  And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. 

We must always pray for the guidance of the Lord!

I fail in this myself and usually just dart off on my own.

What is God's promise?

Psa 32:8  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 

What is our prayer?

Psa 119:133  Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. 

Psa 25:4  Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 

What should I clearly understand? The promises of God.

Psa 23:1  The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

Psa 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 

Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 

Psa 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 

Psa 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

And why not pray for good speed, remembering we must understand that God's timing is the best timing!

And why not pray before for specific things before we meet anyone who might be that perfect mate!

*****Gen 24:14  And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master. 

This servant prayed to God for a sign.

We make huge mistakes when we do not pray before we choose a mate.

If God is not involved with us before our marriage, how do we expect to have a good marriage?

Notice how specific this prayer was.

This precious lady would be the one God had chosen for Isaac.

This precious lady would approach this servant of Abraham and ask him if he wanted a drink of water.

This precious lady would then draw water for his camels. This was in itself no easy task. A camel can easily drink 20 to 30 of more gallons of water and there were 10 camels.

It would be almost impossible to find a precious soul willing to do these things for a stranger, but nothing is too hard for God.

Her name was Rebekah, which means "she could ensnare you with her beauty".

*****Gen 24:15  And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

Rebekah was one who, when she walked into the room, you could not take your eyes off of her.

Not just her beauty but her work ethic and friendliness.

Even before this servant said Amen, his prayer was answered!

Rebekah was God's choice to be the bride of Isaac!

I believe when we are men of sincere prayer, God will provide that soul mate for life.

It is not our custom today to send someone else to find us a wife, we must do this ourselves, but God must be involved!

We should still listen to our parents if they are godly parents.

We still need God and we still need prayer and God does not mind providing a wife for godly men!

Gen 2:18  And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 

Pro 18:22  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. 

Ecc 4:9  Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 

Ecc 4:10  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 

Ecc 4:11  Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 

Ecc 4:12  And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

1Pe 3:7  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 

And Rebekah was certainly beautiful.

*****Gen 24:16  And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. 

What is a virgin according to the Bible, a lady that has never been with a man in a sexual encounter!

Even though Rebekah was very fair to look upon, she did not stand still and allow this man she had just met to just gaze upon her.

Many today blessed with beauty take advantage of it in not so godly ways.

It is also very true, that beauty is only skin deep, and inner beauty is more important than outer beauty.

Being humble, courteous, with a charitable disposition will make us more pleasant to the eyes of those watching us and there is always someone watching us including the Lord.

These are the things that bring a reward from our Heavenly Father.

Mat 10:41  He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 

Mat 10:42  And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Not part of our lesson but verse 21

Gen 24:21  And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not. 

Notice this servant was amazed at the things he was seeing as he had prayed.

As this servant questioned Rebekah, he found that she was from the family that Abraham had sent him seeking a wife for Isaac.

He then bowed his head and worshiped again amazed at the ways of God.

The only thing he did not know then was "if she were willing".

Like the Holy Spirit this servant showed Rebekah some of the treasures of choosing the truth of God.

Gen 24:22  And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; 

We also see the secular side of this family.

Gen 24:30  And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well. 

It is the lust of the eyes that got the attention of Laban, Rebekah's brother.

This servant of Abraham knew God had prospered his journey and it was not time to linger. 

*****Gen 24:56  And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master. 

When our prayers our answered such as this one from Abraham's servant it was not time to linger with unbelievers.

It was very clear, that God was involved in the things going on with this marriage of Rebekah to Isaac.

When we accept the gift of salvation then we must understand this is a new life, a living life.

We live in a dyeing world, but Heaven is a place of Glory.

The servant showed Rebekah and her family the riches of Abraham.

Gen 24:53  And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. 

When we give our dead life to the Living Savior, we obtain a new life!

Heb 10:18  Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 

Heb 10:19  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 

Heb 10:20  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 

Heb 10:21  And having an high priest over the house of God; 

Heb 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 

We begin to prosper as we begin our journey with the Lord.

We must give ourselves willingly.

*****Gen 24:57  And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth. 

Gen 24:58  And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

What are some great lessons we can learn from this simple story of seeking a wife for Isaac?

We must saturate our work for the Lord with prayer.

We must wait on the Lord for direction.

We must praise our Heavenly Father.

If we see Rebekah as that lost soul, then we must imagine her as someone who hears the Gospel.

She had to realize there was a great father reaching out to her.

He had only one son, His only begotten son and He was well beloved.

He was in search of a Gentile Bride amongst all of the world.

She would be the bride of His dear Son, forever and forever.

She was not worthy of such blessings.

This in typology is the way God calls us all.

Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

*****Gen 24:59  And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. 

Gen 24:60  And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them. 

What we see is that the journey home has begun.

As Rebekah has willingly given herself to Isaac even at a distance, she has consented to be his wife.

Each of us who have given ourselves to the Lord are now on our journey home.

Rebekah, a Gentile Bride, espoused to God's chosen son Isaac.

From Isaac would one day come the Messiah.

Rebekah, thou art also our sister!

Now that she was going to be a wife they prayed along the lines of God's blessings.

She would certainly be the mother of millions as every "Born Again" child of God adds to this number.

Without a doubt many of her seed will possess the gate of those who hate them as Israel entered into Canaan Land and forward into the Millennial Kingdom.

What had God promised Abraham?

Gen 22:16  And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 

Gen 22:17  That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 

Gen 22:18  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

*****Gen 24:61  And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 

As the bride to be began her journey, the servant began his journey home.

You see as we are the Bride of Christ, the Holy Spirit will lead us to Jesus.

It may not always be a pleasant trip because we live in the world of our enemies, but we have no excuse for not enjoying it.

After all we are not going to Canaan Land, but we are going to Heaven, the true Promised Land.

The same land that Abraham was seeking and never found because he knew it was not of this earth.

Those who think Heaven will be upon this earth are wrong and foolish to believe that God would say He is giving us the best and then stop short of doing so.

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

As Rebekah rode upon a camel, we ride upon the "Grace" of God.

2Co_12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2Co_13:14  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

The Holy Spirit will only lead us to the Bridegroom!

Joh_15:26  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

*****Gen 24:62  And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country. 

Gen 24:63  And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. 

Lahairoi means "the well of the Living God".

Jesus said 

Joh_Psa_42:2  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

If we are not craving the water from the Living God, then we had better check our salvation.

Psa_84:2  My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

Psa_42:2  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

Isaac was dwelling near this well at this time waiting upon his wife to be and the Lord Jesus Christ is that well of "Living Water" and He will soon be coming to take us home to present His Bride to His heavenly Father.

Where is the best place to meditate? Near the well of Living Water.

What did Jesus teach the Samaritan woman?

Joh_4:10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Isaac could not have known the camels would be returning on this day.

Isaac was alone, still mourning the death of his mother who loved him so much. 

Isaac had been the only begotten son of Abraham and Sarah.

Isaac was the promised son!

Jesus said:

Mat_6:6  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

On this day, this field in the evening time, near the well of Living Water, was the place where Isaac felt closest to the Lord.

We all need a place where we can meditate on our relationship with our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

No doubt one of the thoughts of Isaac was this wife his father had sent for and we can be sure he prayed over this matter and lo and behold to Isaac his prayer was answered.

Rebekah knew this thing also.

*****Gen 24:64  And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. 

Gen 24:65  For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. 

In those days it would have been unmannerly for Rebekah to remain seated when she saw Isaac walking. There was no exception even made for a woman. 

Rebekah would not even wait until the camel she was riding came to rest, but she lighted off the camel. She simply jumped off the camel which is taller than a horse in her excitement.

She quickly recovered her composure and covered herself with a veil.

I ask myself what will I be like when I first see Jesus?

Will I lose my composure as did Rebekah?

Will I regain my composure and show respect?

Will I fall on my face before the glory of the Living God?

In reality, I believe I will be in great fear until the Lord says, "peace be with you".

To be honest I believe the Lord God of this Universe will be waiting with open arms.

If we cannot be excited about going to Heaven, then something is wrong with us!

If we cannot be excited about being saved, then maybe we are not thinking right.

When we recover, we will remember we stand before a Holy God, who has loved us into His Own Home, and we will forever be welcome in His House!

Heaven will be a happy place, not solemn and gloomy!

Isaac wanted to know all the details of the journey of his bride.

Jesus will want to hear us describe our journey to Him for He will be just as excited as we will be.

*****Gen 24:66  And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. 

Gen 24:67  And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. 

The Holy Spirit would not have saved all these details if they were not important!

It is love that filled the tent of Isaac.

It will be love that will fill the Temple of God in Heaven.

God will never love us less then He loves us now and he cannot love us more because He has that true love.

We are not lured into Heaven. Heaven is a place desired by both parties.

The Lord Jesus went back to Heaven to build us a mansion in His Father's House.

This is the truth of salvation!

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 

Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

Jesus has given us the instructions on how to get to Heaven.

Joh 14:4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 

With the love of his wife, Isaac was comforted from the death of his mother Sarah.

As we live upon this earth there may be many of our loved ones who have gone on before us.

When we see all those in Heaven it will be a great comfort to see them again and then knowing we will never be separated from them again.

There will also be some that we loved who will not be there and we will be comforted by our Savior for those we will never see again.

Those who are married in a Christian home have a little taste of the relationship of the Bride of Christ to the Bridegroom Christ Himself, but we that know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior will experience the greatest life that exist when we get to Heaven.

I love you Jesus!

It has been worth every mile of the trip.

Amen.

Jesus Christ the Payment for Our Sin

Jesus Paid For Our Sins

Book of John Chapter 19:1-37

Last week we saw the Jesus Christ give himself over to a mob that had come to capture Him.

Jesus first faced Annas in an illegal court.

Jesus next was taken to Caiaphas the High Priest the son-in-law to Annas.

Today the Lord Jesus stands before Pilate.

Before we proceed let's take a look at verse 11.

Joh 19:11  Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. 

If we cannot see anything else, it should be obvious that those who become the rulers of men are all given that power from God Himself!

What we see in our world is that many if not most all rulers think they hold the power for good or power for evil, but the truth is their power comes by God Himself.

These rulers are responsible for the way they use this power.

These rulers are foolish to believe that they can overrule Jehovah God!

These rulers are foolish if they believe God will not hold them accountable for the bad things they do.

For those who do not understand the hatred for our President have forgotten what Jesus said.

All those who claim the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior will be hated by the world.

Joh_15:18  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

Our President has put the Bible back in the White House, where it belongs!

Why has the nation of Israel had so many problems since the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70AD?

Because it was the Jews who had rejected the Lord when He first came.

When Pilate symbolically washed his hands for the death of Jesus, these Jews made their biggest mistake of all their days.

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

When these things are said to the Lord there will be repercussions and the tiny nation of Israel has suffered since that day and this will continue until the Lord returns.

The rebirth of Israel and then Jerusalem means that God has not forgotten these He has made such great promises to.

Let's begin with verse 13

*****Joh 19:13  When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

Gabbatha, the Pavement was a place on the Temple Mount outside the walls of the Praetorium which was the "Judgment Hall".

This place was paved with stones and Pilate would sit in his judgment seat high above this pavement.

This pavement was a walk way of stones laid in a mosaic pattern outside of Antonio Fortress.

In fact Josephus mentioned that the entire Temple Mount was paved with this type of mosaic work.

Psa 94:20  Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
Psa 94:21  They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
Psa 94:22  But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
Psa 94:23  And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.

The main thing we will see about Pilate was that he was a coward who feared Caesar more than he feared Jehovah a mistake so many rulers make today. Afraid of the loss of power, which is given by God, rather than fear Jehovah God.

This is the way of the world.

These things took place on the day the Passover Lambs were slaughtered!

*****Joh 19:14  And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

By the time we reach this point in the Book of John, Jesus has already been judged by Annas, Caiaphas, and what few of the Sanhedrin Court that good gather. All these had sentenced Jesus to death without any evidence of wrong doing, but they had to have the charge of insurrection for Jesus to be crucified.

This also the second time before Pilate, as Pilate had first sent Jesus to Herod.

We should understand that "preparation day" was the day that the Passover Lamb was killed, and the Passover meal was prepared!

This would be the day before Passover Day, whether it be the Sabbath, or a day treated as the Sabbath.

This sixth hour would be the noon hour though some would say it was 6 AM.

None of these things deserve any argument because they have nothing to do with salvation.

What we need to understand is that Jesus Christ was our Passover and we are washed in the Blood of the Lamb.

What we do know is that about 3 PM Jesus gave up His own life so that we can live for an eternity.

And before 6 PM Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb!

The only way for Pilate to use Roman Law was that Jesus had claimed to be King of the Jews, which He had not done at this time.

Jesus was innocent of all charges brought against Him!

Mat 27:62  Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 

Mat 27:63  Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

Mar 15:42  And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

One of the things many people forget is on Passover the Blood of the Lamb was caught and that blood had to be applied to the doorpost of  the place where they would eat the Passover meal.

Exo 12:7  And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

If we consider the way that this blood was applied, it was in the shape of the cross.

It was not enough that the Passover Lamb be killed, and the blood captured in some vessel. The Blood of Christ must be applied to our lives as it was to those door post.

The cleansing power of the Lord comes only by "faith"

Exo 12:13  And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

The Jews of that day were blinded by their Jewish leaders who wanted only one thing and it was the death of Jesus Christ!

*****Joh 19:15  But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. 

Joh 19:16  Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

These evil men were determined that they would settle for nothing less than the death of Jesus!

Act_2:23  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Israel did not need a king that day, they needed a Savior.

It is the same today, Israel does not need a king they still need a Savior.

They will get the opportunity to make that decision after the Church is removed and they see where they have been wrong, all these many years!

There is much difference in the Lord of Glory and that false lord of Rome!

Act 3:14  But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; Act 3:15  And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 

Act 3:16  And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

The Jews who claimed Caesar as there king would soon see Caesar destroy their nation.

This is not much different as all those today who have chosen to make some idol their king.

Some choose the king of money, others choose the king of power, others the king of pleasure or the king of fashion.

There those who choose the king of drugs and the king of alcohol but in the end their king will destroy them all!

There is only one Savior, who is also the King of all Kings, the Lord of all Lords and He will not let another take His place!

Before Jesus will be King, He would first be the Prince of Life!

Jesus would carry His own wood to a place called Golgotha.

*****Joh 19:17  And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: 

Joh 19:18  Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the

midst. 

The physical body of Jesus was beaten beyond recognition.

Psa 22:13  They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
Psa 22:14  I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
Psa 22:15  My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

Isa 52:14  As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

When we sit at the foot of the cross on Calvary, we will see our Redeemer after he had been beaten, and crowned with thorns, and smitten, and scourged, and crucified, when his face was covered with bruises and with gore, and his frame and features distorted with agony.

This is our Savior who with the help of Simon of Cyrene made His way to Calvary, the place called Golgotha. Both of these words mean "Skull".

This is the same Savior that Peter wrote about.

1Pe 2:19  For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Pe 2:20  For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
1Pe 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

One of these days soon, these Jews are going to open their eyes to the truth of Jesus Christ!

There were two more, one on each side that were also crucified on the day!

The Holy Spirit had made sure to prophesy of these things.

Isa_53:12  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

When Jesus arrived at Golgotha even more pain was inflicted upon Him.

Psa 22:15  My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

Psa 22:16  For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Psa 22:17  I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
Psa 22:18  They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Psa 22:19  But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
Psa 22:20  Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

Again we see that the Holy Spirit had told of all these things!

And Pilate just added to the misery of that day.

*****Joh 19:19  And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Joh 19:20  This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.

There should be very little doubt that this place of Golgotha was a place where many people would pass as they entered and left Jerusalem.

This capital punishment was used to each law breakers not to test the Roman government which was a cruel government.

Another proof is the fact that this title was written in 3 languages so any one who passed by or witnessed this event could know what it said, Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews.

In the flesh, He was Jesus of Nazareth.

In the flesh, He was the son of David, the true King of the Jews.

In reality He was God in the flesh, Emmanuel, the sovereign Lord of His entire creation, God!

The Hebrew language was the national language of Israel

The Latin language was the official language of Rome.

The Greek language was the language most used in the world at that time.

The Jews were indifferent to these words. These words had no effect upon them. There was no remorse over an innocent man who truly was in the line of Kings from King David.

There were only a handful of Jews who knew the truth and none of them were certain at this time.

What is the truth?

Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
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;
Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This is the most important thing that we need to know!

The only concern that the High Priest and his followers wanted was that Pilate change the wording to say that this was something that Jesus had said which would have been another lie.

*****Joh 19:21  Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.

Joh 19:22  Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

Jesus will never just be King of the Jews because He will always be King of this entire universe!

There has been many a Church, more today than ever, that have replaced King Jesus with some man.

The Catholic refuse to take the Lord off that cross and think they need some pope as a go between.

Jesus Christ is the Foundation and the Head of the Church, King of kings, and Lord of lords and the church needs to wake up to that fact instead of giving in to the world who will have many kings until they accept the Antichrist.

Jesus Christ has given us His Words and His Words will never change.

When we look at the throne in Heaven it is still the Lamb of God who sits upon that throne!

1Ti 6:13  I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 

1Ti 6:14  That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1Ti 6:15  Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
1Ti 6:16  Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Even though all these things had happened, the world is never through taking away from the righteous!

*****Joh 19:23  Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
Joh 19:24  They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

Jesus Christ had come to die and at this moment it looked as if death would have her complete victory.

The world did its best to try to eliminate any knowledge of our Savior, but this world can only do what God allows!
The body of Jesus Christ was torn in pieces yet not one bone would be broken.

The flesh of Jesus would taste death, but it could not have come unless the Lord gave His own life, because this world will never be able to take it from Him.

The only things the Lord had in His personal possession was the clothes on His back and the world would even take these things away.

Soldiers gambled for His possessions!

Psa 22:18  They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

All His life Jesus had gone about doing good. He had never done one bad thing!

Yet at His death no one showed compassion.

The Mother of the Lord was standing as close as she was allowed to the cross of her Son, yet these soldiers did not care or even offer to her the things that Jesus had with Him!

Jesus had not yet given up the Ghost because there was one more thing He needed to do.

*****Joh 19:25  Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 

Joh 19:26  When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

Joh 19:27  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

No matter how Mary the mother of Jesus is treated by religionist, the fact remains that the Virgin Mary was the birth Mother of Jesus the God-Man Emmanuel, the Messiah, the Christ.

Isa 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel.

Jesus would not give up the ghost until He made sure His mother was taken care of.

We may ask ourselves, why John the Apostle, but history proves that John was the only apostle that died of old age.

John was the only choice because of this.

It is believed that Mary the Virgin mother of Christ is buried in Ephesus where John preached for so many years and Caesar did not make the many attempts on John's life until after the death of Mary.

We could also say that John knew so much about the Lord Jesus because he learned those things from His mother!

Just before the pain and agony Jesus suffered in His body when He was ready to give up, He looked down at His mother and knew that she was suffering along with Him.

Mary was never to be an object of worship, but she was certainly a righteous young maiden when the Holy Spirit selected her to be the birth mother of the Messiah.

No matter where we see Jesus, we had better understand that He was always thinking of others much more than He thought upon Himself!

Anytime we are feeling uppity in this world we need to go back to the cross of the Lord Jesus and feel the love He has for us!

Isa 45:22  Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
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.

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

What did Abraham tell Isaac?

Gen 22:8  And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

God had certainly provided Himself as the Lamb who died for all His Creation!

It was after John knew he was to take care of the Mother of Jesus and Mary knew this also, that it was time for Jesus to give up the Ghost.

*****Joh 19:28  After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 

We should understand that there were many words that Jesus said just for the purpose of fulfilling prophesy.

Psa 69:21  They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

We should understand that at the site of a crucifixion there would always be a mixture of Gaul a natural growing pain reliever mixed with wine, which made this a drug.

It was given to those who were crucified to ease their pain.

This sounds great, but all it did was prolong their suffering.

To some this would seem to be a good thing but actually it would only prolong the agony of that one who was crucified.

When this was offered to Jesus, He rejected it.

Mar 15:23  And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

We should also understand that because the Roman soldiers traveled from one land to another and had to be ready at all times to be in defense of Rome, they would only drink water that contained the last product of fermented wine was is vinegar that has no alcoholic content, but it would make water safe to drink and also still provide a little nourishment from the grape.

In Vietnam we used iodine tablets if we had to drink the water in that land not water that had been treated by the Army.

This vinegar is what was offered to Jesus at the time He said, "I Thirst" and he did take this.

Jesus could be on twenty crosses and He would never drink anything that was of alcohol or any drug mixture that contained alcohol.

Jesus would never have gone against His word and He told us not to even look at true wine!

*****Joh 19:29  Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
Joh 19:30  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

The Jews used hyssop somewhat like a paint brush.

For instance: Exo 12:22  And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.

If we go back and look at the first Passover, we will see why the Lord Jesus Christ was our Passover.

Psa 69:21  They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

We know vinegar is very bitter. The work Jesus had done for our salvation was finished.

This where we get that Phrase, "it leaves a bitter taste in your mouth".

Jesus had been obedient to His Father.

Jesus had freely given Himself for us.

Jesus had been diligent in the work God the Father had given to His Son.

Whatever the law had demanded was perfectly paid.

Whatever each sinner needed was perfectly obtained.

It was perfect blood that flowed through the veins of Jesus.

Heb 10:12  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 

Heb 10:13  From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

Heb 10:14  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

That perfect blood must be applied for our lives to be like Jesus!

*****Joh 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.

Joh 19:32  Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
Joh 19:33  But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

These same men who insisted that an innocent man be murdered, could not think of letting His dead hang upon that cross on a Sabbath day.

What hypocrites!

Crucifixion is death by suffocation. There was a step near to where the feet were nailed to the cross and those upon the cross could support their weight in order that they could breath, which was also there to prolong their misery.

By breaking the legs they could no longer support themselves and they would soon die for lake of air.

Deu 21:22  And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: 

Deu 21:23  His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. 

Just so we know these were soldiers of the Roman Guard who had been in many battles they knew what death looked like and they knew how to cause such a death.

*****Joh 19:34  But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 

Joh 19:35  And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

Joh 19:36  For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

Joh 19:37  And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

We can be sure that this soldier new that Jesus was already dead, or he would have just broken the legs of Jesus as had done to the other two.

We also know that he had heard the rumors that Jesus might rise from the dead.

If we look at the picture of Jesus on the cross, we know that a bunch of hyssop with a sponge could reach His lips.

This spear, a Roman battle sword would have pass under the rib cage directly into the lungs and then the heart of our Savior.

This was a death blow that no man could recover from.

This was intentional and done with malice. Just one more indignity inflicted upon the body of our Savior.

Of course Jesus knew these things would happen!

Isa_53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Rev_1:7  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Jesus came to die and there must be no doubt in our minds that He did die in that flesh.

If the flesh of Jesus had not died, then there would be no sacrifice for our sins, and we would still be guilty of our sins and that penalty would be the death of our being and a complete separation from God for an eternity.

The piercing of that sword through the lungs into the heart is undeniable proof that Jesus died, but of course God cannot die.

We must believe that Jesus died and then rose again from that death!

John makes sure that we understand that Jesus had given up the Ghost before this piercing occurred.

Jesus had already said that no man could take His life from Him only then could He take His life back up!

In typology we know that God had opened the side of Adam and had taken his bride Eve.

In the case of our Savior, the side of Jesus was opened so the Church, washed in the blood and purified with pure water, could begin its life.

Heb 10:19  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Heb 10:20  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21  And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

1Jn 5:6  This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

John says if you want to know the truth, then this is the truth of Mount Calvary.

John along with others were an eyewitness to these events!

Not one bone of the Lord Jesus Christ was broken, according to the Scriptures just as Paul had written.

We should understand that after the Spirit of Christ had departed from His body, it was up to His Heavenly Father who was to take care of that body that was left behind!

The body of Jesus would see no corruption for those three days He had said He would be in that borrowed tomb!

John remembered the words of the Prophet Zechariah.

Zec 12:10  And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

It was only after these things that Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus came to prepare the body of Jesus for his own tomb!

We know that when the Lord returns to this earth the entire world will see the Lord but even these who had brought the false trial and these who had damaged the body of Jesus, those who had driven the nails and even this soldier who had pierced the body of Jesus will stand before the Lord at the White Throne Judgment and they too will look upon Him!

Amen 

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