The True Prophet, Priest And King

The bright morning star will return with the royal scepter to rule the nations.

Numbers 24:15-19 This is the message Balaam delivered: "This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly, 16 the message of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:

17 I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. It will crush the heads of Moab's people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth.

18 Edom will be taken over, and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered, while Israel marches on in triumph. 19 A ruler will rise in Jacob who will destroy the survivors of Ir."

We have seen in the past few post about Balaam and King Balak that a false prophet, a false priest and an evil king cannot stand against the will of God. They were sure that God's people didn't deserve the promises after the way they have been behaving in the wilderness so they tried but failed to change God's mind.

There are a lot of images of Jesus seen in the Old Testament, types of Christ, but this is the only opposite type of Christ that I am aware of. Balaam and King Balak have formed an unholy alliance against God's people that looks similar to the unholy trinity that the Bible shows us in Revelation.

The Unholy Trinity

As a prophet and priest, Balaam is:

• A false prophet that is an unwilling messenger for God, he wants to prophecy that God's people are cursed in order to please the king but God is in control so he is forced to bless
• An unholy priest that used excessive sacrifices multiple times in high places the way the pagans did to manipulate their "gods" to try and get different outcomes

As a king, Balak is:

• Trying to be in control against God's will in order to protect his own interest
• Furious that his money, military threat, and religious activity are powerless (Numbers 24:10-11)

It is easy to see how Satan is using these men to imitate what is holy, these men give us a clear preview of what is going to be seen in the end times. Satan, the Anti-Christ and the False Prophet will be defeated as God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit win the ultimate battle with a permanent outcome. (Revelation 16:13)

The True Prophet, Priest And King Comes With Blessings

Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the LORD's favor has come."

Jesus came to earth on a mission to bless, he makes it obvious at the beginning of his ministry by applying the verses in Isaiah 61:1-2 to himself in Luke 4:18-19. It is interesting that Jesus stopped reading in Isaiah mid-sentence to omit the next phrase that talks about his second coming as the king that will judge the nations.

Jesus came to be Emmanuel, God with us, to be a blessing to us. Because of God's great love he came to redeem his people from slavery to the kingdom of darkness where we live still today. Scripture gave us a picture of this when God took his people out of Egypt and made them into a holy nation that would bless the world.

Jesus told us that he came to seek and save the lost to save us from the day of judgment that has been postponed until after the church age when grace and salvation will be replaced by judgment and wrath. (John 3:16-17, Luke 19:10)

Jesus is our:

• Prophet, Jesus spoke only what the Father gave Him, blessings instead of curses (John 7:16; 8:28; 12:49–50)
• Priest, Jesus blessed us by offering himself as the true sacrifice that became cursed for our sins (Galatians 3:13-14)
• King, Jesus established a new, eternal kingdom that is not of this world and he transferred our citizenship there (John 18:36, Colossians 1:13-14, Revelation 11:15)

Thankfully the prophet and priest came first, we need the true high priest to forgive us of our sins and the true prophet to help us know God so we can prepare ourselves for the arrival of the king. The same Jesus who came as the gentle shepherd to care for his sheep in this life as he prepares us will take care of us eternally as he prepares a place for us to live with him. (Revelation 19:9 21:4–5; 22:3)

The Bright Morning Star

Revelation 22:14-16 Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. 15 Outside the city are the dogs-the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie. 16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star."

The end of the story, way back in the end of our Bible in Revelation, assures us that the star that was to come from Jacob really did come! When Jesus was with us the first time he told us that he is the light of the world (John 8:12, 9:5, 12:46) and at the end of our Bible he makes it clear that he is the bright morning star.

The Bright Morning Star will return but this time he will arrive with the Royal Scepter to rule the nations. When the king returns to reign he will allow those who have washed their robes to enter the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. We will dwell with him in his kingdom where no sun or moon is needed as Jesus himself will be our everlasting light (Revelation 21:23; 22:5).

The same King who gently calls, "Come to me, all who are weary and I will give you rest" will one day say to the unrepentant, "Depart from me" (Matthew 11:28, 25:41).

This Christmas, as we celebrate the Star that rose over Bethlehem, the question remains: Will the King invite you in? 

Come to him today willing to accept him as your High Priest so that you can live with the King for eternity.

The Rule Of God With Us

God's people are longing for an eternal kingdom with a righteous ruler.

Isaiah 9:6-7 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven's Armies will make this happen!

God with us should be a glorious thought that is too wonderful to describe, in the past couple of post we saw The Hope of God With Us and The Peace of God With Us, It is amazing that God would come to be with us and give us hope and peace. But God's story doesn't end there, he is going to bless his people even more when he returns to reign on earth.

We all long for a better country that is ruled by a better king, but for most of us that is just a crazy dream, it may be crazy for the rest of the world but it is reality for God's people. The day is coming when God will setup his kingdom and tear down the kingdoms of this world that stand in opposition to him.

God's people are always waiting for God's timing.

God's people have a long history of waiting, a lot of God's promises seem like they will never happen, don't forget that there are more prophecies of Jesus second coming than there were of the first so we can be sure that The King Is Coming (music video). 

When Jesus finally arrived to be God with us the first time, there was nothing to fear, as a baby he was defenseless, as an adult he was gentle and kind. Jesus had power over everyone he met but he only used his power to reveal his deity in a gracious and merciful way for our benefit so that we would believe. (Philippians 2:5-9) 

Jesus second advent will not be the same, anyone that wasn't prepared for the first advent could either carry on business as usual or they could have their life radically changed, either way there wasn't any devastating consequences. When he comes again it will be totally different.

The Eternal King And His Kingdom: 

 

The characteristics of the king:

• Wonderful Counselor - Every other counselor will be gone as the supernatural wisdom of this counselor will be far superior. We exaggerate and overuse "wonderful" so we need to pause and consider it's true meaning. Jesus is wonderful in a way that is truly boggling to the mind. (Jeremiah 23:5, Romans 11:33, Colossians 2:3)
• Mighty God - Powerful enough to return after 3 days in the grave and powerful enough to defeat every evil and restore his kingdom to the state it was in before it became marred by sin. (Deuteronomy 10:17, Nehemiah 9:32, Psalm 50:1-6)
• Everlasting Father - The only source of compassion and care that God's people will ever need. They have a peace treaty with the mighty God so they can enjoy being in his presence for eternity without fear. (Isaiah 63:16, John 10:28-30)
• Prince of Peace - God's people should strive to live at peace with each other but as Jesus told his disciples his first advent wasn't about bringing peace. The conflict that we see in the New Testament continues, Jesus is a polarizing figure, the spiritual battle is not over yet. (Matthew 10:24 and 2 Corinthians 6:14-16) Some day the peace that God's people have with him will finally be enjoyed with each other and with all of God's creation. (Romans 12:18, Ephesians 4:1-3, Philippians 4:6-7, Hebrews 12:14)

The characteristics of the kingdom:

Isaiah 11:3-5 He will delight in obeying the LORD. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. 4 He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. 5 He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment.

Isaiah 11:10 In that day the heir to David's throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.

The kingdom of God will be the true creation of the "holy land" where love, justice, peace and joy are the norm. The prayer of Jesus for "thy kingdom come, thy will be done" is a summary of God's kingdom. When the kingdom comes it will be God's will done on Earth as perfectly as it is in Heaven.

The new Heaven and new Earth will not have the destructive influence of sin, man's rebellion will be overthrown and Satan will be bound. The whole story of the Bible is about our rebellion against the king and his work to bring us back under his reign.

When Jesus returns as king: 

• The new kingdom will be known for God, his presence will be all that we will ever need for eternity.
• The new king will obviously be the promised heir of King David's throne. Nobody will question who he is or why he is reigning.
• The old king of this world will be dethroned and the devastating consequences of his evil empire will be reversed and the earth will be restored.
• The promises made to Israel and all of God's people through the prophets will finally be realized and the people of every nation will be blessed. Every covenant God has made with man will be 100% fulfilled.
• The Promised Land will finally belong to Israel, all of it, the boundaries of the nation in Bible times and today do not include all of the land God promised.
• The scattered people will return to Jerusalem to live completely submitted to the rule of their amazing king. 
• The world peace that everyone says they long for, but does little to achieve, will finally be real and eternal. More than peace it will be shalom, Greater than just the absence of conflict, everything will work together in perfect harmony as creation is made whole.

Our king has gone on a long journey, before he left he gave us resources to be used to help others find their way in, when he returns we need to be prepared to give an account for how we used our blessings, our skills and our time for his pleasure. (Matthew 25:14-30)

God has made it clear that we must submit to his son, we must see our need for Jesus before we die or before his return, don't discount the opportunity to transfer your citizenship to the kingdom of God. 

Will you remain in the kingdom of darkness that leads to destruction or will you renounce your citizenship there and move to the kingdom of God that will last for eternity? (Luke 13:22-30, Colossians 1:13-14)

RELATED ARTICLES

What Is the Kingdom of God? (desiringgod.org)

What Is The Millennial Kingdom? (gotquestions.org)

The Millennial Reign of Christ (ligonier.org)

The Kingdom Of God (thegospelcoalition.org)

Don't Toss The Gift

We need to appreciate how valuable the gift is.

Galatians 4:4-7  But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

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Most people would agree that children and Christmas go together, it is probably the perfect combination, after-all the main person in the Christmas story is a baby. But not just any baby, this is the best baby ever, this baby is the Son of God.

A lot of times when Christmas gets out of control it involves the kids, there are plenty of opportunities for disagreements, from what to get the kids to how much to spend, we do a lot this time of year to provide great presents for our kids.

It is too bad that we don't learn from our past experiences, we see it happen over and over again, we know in the back of our head that they are going to toss the gift aside way too soon, and yet we still put so much energy and emotions into buying their happiness.

Your kids are so much like God's kids. 

Jesus came a long way to give us the most awesome gift that has ever been given and God watches us as we quickly toss the gift to the side and enjoy the box. Instead of being thankful for and treasuring the gift we settle for the worldly idea of Christmas and become fascinated with the wrapping paper and the lights.

Maybe we think that we deserve the gift because we think we aren't that bad or maybe we discount the gift and try to minimize the cost. The Bible makes it clear that I am way too bad to deserve any kindness from God and it also tells us that the price tag for this gift was outrageous.

Nobody should ever spend that much on me but even if it was less expensive I still would not deserve to have the gift. My goodness won't get me very far and neither will yours. There has to be a different way or else nobody will ever get the gift of eternal life with God.

John 1:12  But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Romans 5:17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one Man, Jesus Christ.

The gift has been provided to all of us that are willing to accept it. I have been adopted into the family based on Jesus goodness, because I believe and accept that he lived a sinless life and died as my passover lamb, I have become God's child.

I need to remember that I do not deserve anything good from God yet he spent so much on me to give me the best gift ever. I need to see the value of this gift and treasure it so that I won't toss it aside and settle for lesser joy that can never satisfy. (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9)

The Cause Of The Eternal City

How exciting does being with God for eternity sound to you?

Revelation 22:1-5 Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.

3 No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and His servants will worship Him. 4 And they will see His face, and His name will be written on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no night there--no need for lamps or sun--for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

Psalms 68:3-4 But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God's presence. Let them be filled with joy. 4 Sing praises to God and to His name! Sing loud praises to Him who rides the clouds. His name is the LORD--rejoice in His presence!

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There are many reasons to take comfort in knowing that you are going to Heaven when you die. Most of us would list reasons such as seeing a loved one, getting a new body that isn't worn out and everybody's favorite, escaping Hell.

Heaven is going to be amazing. The eternal city won't have a temple, no more night (yet there won't be any lighting from the sun and no light bulbs) no disease or death and no more closed gates to keep our enemies out. Paradise lost has been restored!

But it is wise to see Heaven as more than just our destination. If you are just looking for a better place to live with a prosperous lifestyle then you are missing the point of going to heaven. My desire to go to Heaven should be much more than escaping Hell, enjoying the abundant life or desiring to be rid of the troubles that we have here on earth.

Jesus promised us that the pure in heart will be blessed to see God but how much do we really long to see God? I see how much some of the characters in the Bible desired to see God and be with him and I see a huge difference in my life. The lack of passion for him on my part is embarrassing to admit. (Matthew 5:8, Romans 8:18-30)

Exodus 33:16-18 How will anyone know that You look favorably on me--on me and on Your people--if You don't go with us? For Your presence among us sets Your people and me apart from all other people on the earth."

17 The LORD replied to Moses, "I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name." 18 Moses responded, "Then show me Your glorious presence."

God has promised Moses that he would be with him and take his people to an awesome land full of many wonderful things but that isn't what Moses longs for the most. Moses used to live in the household of the richest man around but he already gave up all of that stuff. Moses wasn't looking for the abundant life here on earth.

All of this stuff excites most of us more than spending time in God's presence and knowing him intimately. It is so wrong that the idea of spending eternity with God doesn't excite me as much as it should.

We don't really appreciate what we have! In our sin filled minds we cannot love him, worship him or desire to be with him as much as we should. This song by Natalie Grant comes to mind and helps me question my motivation for desiring Heaven:

More Than Anything - Natalie Grant
Help me want the Healer more than the healing Help me want the Savior more than the saving Help me want the Giver more than the giving Help me want you Jesus more than anything

If I desire the things that Jesus can do for me more than I desire to know him then something is wrong with my desires. Jesus doesn't want to be accepted because of all of the things that he can do for me.

There are a lot of perks that come with going to Heaven but being with God and enjoying his presence for eternity should be our ultimate goal and our greatest satisfaction. It is absurd that we don't react to this awesome news and desire God more than we do.

My desires need to be checked regularly. It is too easy to begin to lose my first love and become more passionate for the things of this world. None of those other things are going to satisfy my deepest longings.

Lord help me to long for and keep my focus on you!

Jesus Calling

This is a call that you do not want to miss.

Revelation 4:1-2 Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this." 2 And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it.

Revelation 6:15-17 Then everyone--the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person--all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?"

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We all get calls everyday that we do not want, we screen our calls, we use caller ID and even use call blocking, but there is one call that we will certainly not want to miss. The day is coming when the Lord of the church will call us home.

That trumpet like voice called John up to visit Heaven for a short time so that he could share the glorious experience with us. Jesus gives us this look into Heaven to encourage us as we continue to live in this sinful world.

The first time John saw his Savior he was in the midst of the churches mercifully letting them know how to please him. Thankfully we have seven church profiles in the Book of Revelation that are still relevant to us today if we are interested in doing church correctly.

Jesus called John up to Heaven for information but the next time he calls it will be for all of us to go for transformation. John only had a brief visit so that he could share with us what eternity is going to be like.

Sorry Sarah Young but your books "Jesus Calling" are not about Jesus calling anybody. The Bible has made it clear that Jesus next call will be his last and the call will be to the entire church.

The Next Time Jesus Calls

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.

The Bible lets us know that Jesus will call the church out of this world before justice is served to those that remain. The Bible's teaching on the rapture should give us peace and comfort, Jesus doesn't want his children to have troubled hearts. (John 14:1-3 / 1 Thessalonians 4:18, Titus 2:13)

Revelation chapter six is the beginning of the wrath of God being unleashed on the earth, the events that are to follow are unsettling but this isn't going to be our fate. Thankfully in Revelation chapter four we are out of here.

John 14:1-3 "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me. 2 There is more than enough room in My Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am.

Suddenly this world and the burden of sin that is on us all will be gone and we will see Jesus face to face! One moment you are trapped in this world with the heartache and brokenness of sin all around and then the next moment that burden is lifted forever as we are suddenly in God's presence!

I need to live like I really believe that I am leaving, my choices and my actions should be influenced by these facts, I need to be motivated to serve him and be purified so that he can use me for his glory.

RELATED ARTICLES

Jesus Calling By Sarah Young: A False Jesus? (ses.edu)
Ten Serious Problems With Jesus Calling (challies.com)

I Am The Way, The Truth And The Life

Jesus answers important questions that have eternal consequences.

 

John 14:3-9  When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am.  4  And you know the way to where I am going."

5  "No, we don't know, Lord," Thomas said. "We have no idea where You are going, so how can we know the way?"

6  Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.  7  If you had really known Me, you would know who My Father is. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him!"

8  Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied."

9  Jesus replied, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don't know who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father! So why are you asking Me to show Him to you?

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This post jumps right into Jesus' classroom, he has been teaching his disciples their final lessons before his death, these lessons will have to sustain these guys through the dark days ahead. The disciples have already had their world turned sideways and their perspective on the Messiah has been challenged, they have more questions and doubts than ever.

The beginning of John 14 is a very popular portion of scripture and with good reason. this may be the climax of everything that Jesus has taught them in the past three years, some of life's most important questions are answered here.

Jesus told them in the previous verses to not doubt him and don't be upset by what is about to happen. If they trust in God the Father then they can trust in the Son as well and then Jesus tells them that they have very good reasons to do so. (John 14:1-2)

I Am The Only Way To God

Jesus is going ahead of the disciples to get a place ready for them and he promises that when everything is ready he will come and get them. Thomas had to speak up and ask how they would know the way to where he is going, Thomas wants to get there so logic says that he needed to know more information.

Thomas didn't realize that the journey is a spiritual one, Jesus wasn't going to a physical location so getting there wasn't something that Thomas needed to do for himself, he didn't know that Jesus would come back and personally escort him there when it is time.

I Am The Only Source Of Truth

What is truth? The question that Pilate asked during Jesus' trial is an important one for each of us to answer. Some say truth is a power trip used by some to control the masses, to some, truth is subjective and based on preference or opinion, others believe truth is a popular consensus created by the culture.

Truth is far more than facts. It’s not just something we act upon. It acts upon us. We can’t change the truth, but the truth can change us. It sanctifies (sets us apart) from the falsehoods woven into our sin natures.

-Randy Alcorn

Absolute truth is unpopular and inconvenient, absolute truth is demanding, you don't get to decide what is right. If something is absolutely wrong then your only decision is whether you are going to do right or do wrong. I don't get to redefine what absolute truth is going to be. Our society and the church has distorted the truth of scripture and adopted new teachings on social issues but God hasn't changed his mind.

I Am The Only Giver Of Eternal Life 

Death has been defeated and my faith gives me peace and joy! If the only thing you did was believe on Jesus so that you won’t go to hell, then you are missing out on the everlasting life the Lord wants to have with you right now. Eternal life is not just a destination to go to after you leave this world, it is also a relationship to be enjoyed now, it is a relationship that begins in this world that keeps on growing until we experience it eternally in heaven.

My relationship with God should grow closer and closer while I am here even though it can never become what it will be when I am in his presence without my sin nature and the cares of this world getting in the way.

The Promise From God

Galatians 3:16-17, 29  God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn't say "to his children, " as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says "to His child"--and that, of course, means Christ. 17  This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking His promise. 29  And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to you.

God's promise to Abraham is still in the process of being fully realized, the promise that through the Messiah all of the true descendants of Abraham would be blessed, Jesus has begun the work that will be completed in each of us when we cheat the grave and arrive in the presence of God the Father.

I am so unworthy and completely undeserving of the promise that God made to Abraham, just as Abraham didn't do anything to gain the approval of God, I am at least as bad as he was. 

God's Promises - Psalm 12:6, 71:22, 91:4, 119:140, 145:13

Eternal Life In John's Gospel - John 1:29, 36, 3:14-16, 5:25-25, 10:9, 10:17–18, 11:25, 14:9, 19

I have a place in my Father's house that he is preparing for me. I don't have to figure out how to get there because he will personally escort me there! Thank you Lord for your amazing love that has prompted you to do so much for me. 

Right Question, Wrong Motives

Unbelief eliminates all of the evidence that Jesus is God.

 

John 10:24-33  The people surrounded Him and asked, "How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly."

25  Jesus replied, "I have already told you, and you don't believe Me. The proof is the work I do in My Father's name.  26  But you don't believe Me because you are not My sheep.  27  My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.  28  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from Me,  29  for My Father has given them to Me, and He is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand.  30  The Father and I are one."

31  Once again the people picked up stones to kill Him.  32  Jesus said, "At My Father's direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone Me?"  33  They replied, "We're stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God."

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Where will your questions lead you? Many times we ask the right question but our mind is already made up so we don't really consider the answer to the question. That's how the leaders in the temple approached Jesus, they had their minds made up, they could not consider the overwhelming evidence that Jesus is who he claimed to be. They were tired of Jesus claims and the threat he was to their power.

The religious leaders make it sound like it is Jesus fault that they don't believe. So they ask him to make it more clear this time, clarity isn't the problem, they just don't like his answer. How sad it is to be so blind that you have an closeup personal encounter with Jesus and you fail to see who he really is. It reminds me of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus, fell on his knees and asked the right question, got the right answer but he left without ever knowing Jesus.

Jesus Said:

✔  He Existed Before Abraham - John 8:56-59
✔  He is Equal with God - John 5:19-20
✔  He is the one that scripture foretold -John 5:39-40
✔  To See Him is the Same as Seeing God -John 12:44-50, 14:6-9
✔  He Could Forgive Sins -Matthew 9:6-8, John 8:23,24
✔  He Is the Judge -John 5:21-23
✔  He Can Grant Eternal Life -John 6:40, 11:25, 10:27-28
✔  He Was the Same as God -John 10:30-33
✔  His "I Am" statements say he is God -John 6:35-39, John 7:37-38, John 8:12, 58

Jesus was asked who he is many times and he answered them plainly each time. The prophets in the Old Testament all pointed to Jesus, John the Baptist said it, Jesus miracles said it and Jesus words said it "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

Jesus lets them know that they will never be pleased with his answer because they are not his sheep. Jesus sheep know his voice, they listen to him and follow him. His sheep hear the answer to the question "who is Jesus?" It makes sense to them, they have no problem believing that he is the Good Shepherd that they should follow.

John 7:17  Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether My teaching is from God or is merely My own.

Unbelieving hardened hearts will always produce ignorance. Jesus tells us that anyone that has the desire to know God will understand Jesus claims to be God. Unbelief eliminates all possibility of the evidence being considered.

Jesus doesn't back down or flinch the least little bit, he continues with a question that is going to make them more determined to get him on the cross, "Which of these good works has caused you to stone Me?” I remember that Peter asked these same leaders a similar question, "are we being questioned today because we've done a good deed for a crippled man?" (Acts 4:9)

Matthew 16:15-17  Then He asked them, "But who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because My Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.

Are you asking the right question? Are you asking objectively with honest intentions? Is your mind made up against Jesus before you ask?

The religious leaders could not answer the question the way that Peter did. His answer was the same when he was being questioned about the healing of the crippled man at the temple. (Acts 4:8-14)

Do you know the shepherd? He gives eternal life to his sheep. You are his sheep if he is your shepherd, do you hear his voice, do you recognize it and follow it, is he in control of your life?

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The Forever Kingdom

God promises that a king greater than David will reign forever.

2 Samuel 7:8-17  "Now go and say to My servant David, 'This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of My people Israel.  9  I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes.

Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!  10  And I will provide a homeland for My people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won't oppress them as they've done in the past,  11  starting from the time I appointed judges to rule My people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. "

'Furthermore, the LORD declares that He will make a house for you--a dynasty of kings!  12  For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong.  13  He is the one who will build a house--a temple--for My name. And I will secure his royal throne forever.

14  I will be his father, and He will be My son. If He sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do.  15  But My favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight.  16  Your house and your kingdom will continue before Me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.'"

17  So Nathan went back to David and told him everything the LORD had said in this vision.

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When God's people were in Egypt he made a lot of promises to them that were accomplished by the time of today's scripture. God used Moses to lead his people out of Egypt and successfully take them across the desert, he used Joshua to help take most of the promised land and now he has brought peace to the land through David.

God brought David up from nothing, he was from a small town, he was the least of his brothers and he was always out in the field with the smelly sheep, God took this small boy that nobody valued out of the field and blessed him as king and conquerer.

King David loved God and was thankful for the beautiful palace that he had but it didn't seem respectful to God that his palace was so much nicer than the old tent that had represented God's presence as they moved across the dessert. David wasn't living in a tent anymore and it didn't make sense to him that God's house was not a magnificent palace.

Nathan gave his consent, surely God would appreciate David's good intentions, but as he soon found out he was wrong. Many times man's good ideas are nothing compared to the best that God has in store for us. God told Nathan that what seemed wise to him wasn't really a word from the Lord. God could have sent another prophet to correct Nathan or he could have spoke directly to David but God allowed Nathan to correct himself so that the prophets honor was preserved.

God promised David an everlasting kingdom, a personal Father-son relationship that would include parental discipline, and that he would never turn his back on David as he had done with Saul. (2 Samuel 7:13-15)

Temples come and temples go but God was building a new house that cannot be destroyed. David's intention was to build a house for God but that building was only temporary. God was building a new house that will last forever.

Jesus Is King
Luke 1:31-33  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name Him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David. And He will reign over Israel forever; His Kingdom will never end!"

Just as God used a little shepherd boy that was out in the field he also used a very young lady from nowhere special and without any social status to be a part of his eternal plan. The promise that God made to David was about to take a step forward with the birth of Jesus.

In Jesus we have an eternal king, no other ruler has ever reigned forever, this is the first king that will defeat every revolt against him. Since the king will rule forever we know that we will have a secure place to live for eternity. (Isaiah 9:7, Daniel 7:14)

In Jesus we have a new temple, the place where God and man can meet, the place where God's wrath is satisfied through the perfect sacrifice. Jesus is the corner stone that was rejected by man but God is using him to build a new temple.

Ephesians 2:20-22  Together, we are His house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus Himself. We are carefully joined together in Him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through Him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by His Spirit.

In Jesus I am the new temple in which God dwells. The temple is no longer a physical building like the old Jewish temple. God lives in me so I need to keep this temple purified and just as sacred as the physical temple was back when it was originally built.
The forever kingdom needs to start now, it needs to be allowed to happen everyday in my own life. I need to acknowledge him as king and allow him to rule.

Light Of The World

The Bible proves that Jesus is the light that we need.

John 1:4-5  The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.  5  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 8:12  Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."

John 12:35-36  Jesus replied, "My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going.  36  Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light." After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.

John 12:46  I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in Me will no longer remain in the dark.

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There has been nothing but darkness in the land, the Bible and world history tell us that when Jesus came to our world it was a very dark time. The world was in turmoil as various conquering empires came and then they became the conquered.

After the Babylonian captivity the Jews had to deal with the Persians and the Greeks and finally the Romans came along. Each of these groups brought wars to Israel, changes in government and attempts to change their religious beliefs. On top of all of that the Bible shows us a four hundred year gap in between the Old Testament and the New Testament. The people of Israel had been through a lot of suffering, harassment and there was only one thing to hope for. May the Messiah would come.

The Bible tells us that at just the right time Jesus came into our world. (Romans 5:6, Galatians 4:4) I have to wonder if maybe part of it being the right time meant that the world was so dark that surely the people would take notice of the Light and come running to it. 

Man has an appetite for darkness and his passions will push him further and further into the dark as he continues to look for what he is missing. We keep looking for the good life where it cannot be found. Even if we say that we hate the dark and the lost, desperate situation we are in we still have a carnal desire to plunge deeper and deeper into the blackness to find our own answers.

Suddenly, in this dark world where immorality, injustice, and sin is glorified, where separation, death, sorrow, and hopelessness reign, the darkness is shattered and it happens just like the prophet Isaiah said that it would. (Isaiah 9:1-2)

Matthew 4:12-16 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, He left Judea and returned to Galilee. 13 He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:   15 "In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined."

The Great Light appears and it cannot be hidden, Jesus gave light to everyone, too bad that everyone didn't welcome the light. Some people are happy with Jesus as long as he keeps providing free lunch and healthcare. There are some that cannot stand to be around him and they run from the light just like the Pharisees that turned and left the adulterous woman at Jesus feet. (John 8:7-9)

Jesus is teaching in the Temple the day after the seven day long Feast of Tabernacles. During the Feast Jesus was the focus of a large commotion which grew when Jesus told the crowds that he is the source of living water. (John 7:37-38)

During the Feast of Tabernacles a priest went to the Pool of Siloam, drew water in a golden pitcher, and returned to the temple, and poured it out at the base of the altar. This part of the feast commemorated God’s provision of water from the rock that sustained Israel during their stay in the wilderness.

The people that heard Jesus offer to give them living water knew the symbolism. They knew that Jesus claim meant that he was declaring that he is the Messiah, that's why his statement caused such a stir, but wait there's more.

Another symbolic act that was a part of the Feast of Tabernacles was the lighting of huge candelabras in the Court of Women. This was to commemorate the pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night that led the Israelite's through the desert. The huge light from those candelabras was gone and they were probably smoldering as Jesus says to the crowd, "You remember the light last night in the temple here which made you remember the light that led Israel...I am the light of the world."

Malachi 4:2  "But for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.

Light is a characteristic of God that the Messiah was predicted to have. (Isaiah 9:2, 49:6, 60:1) Everybody in the temple knew that Jesus was telling them that he is the Messiah, they know that the light of the Messiah is what their hopes have been longing for, but this guy doesn't look like a Messiah to them.

God's Light Came
John 3:19-21 And the judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.

God sent light into our world because we needed the light. He gave us the sun for physical life on this planet and he gave us the Son so that we could have spiritual life.There wasn't any way that we could get out of the dark on our own, out of God's love and mercy he gave us light so that we wouldn't have to live without hope in darkness, misery and death.

When salt is applied, it dissolves inward and disappears, the salt speaks of the inward part, the character of the Christian. Jesus also described His people as being like light, which is on the outside, the light speaks of the testimony of a follower of Christ, revealing and illuminating the truth.

-Adrian Rogers

I need to love the Light and allow it to expose the things that God wants to change in me. I need to allow the Light to shine through me so that the world can see the truth of the gospel and have the opportunity to see their sin, choose to repent and live in the light.

God's Children Defeat This Evil World

We have what it takes to be victorious.

1 John 5:4-5, 12-13, 18-20  For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.  5  And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

12  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God's Son does not have life.  13  I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

18  We know that God's children do not make a practice of sinning, for God's Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.  19  We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.   

20  And we know that the Son of God has come, and He has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and He is eternal life.

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An athlete is very focused on his goal and he works to achieve it everyday but he still knows that when he competes against other people with the same goal there is a chance that he isn't going to be victorious. He knows that in the world of sports there can only be one winner.

Unlike the athlete God's children don't have to worry about defeat and we know that Jesus victory makes all of his children winners. We all come in first place!

If you are living for God and pleasing him with your lifestyle then you are probably very aware that there is a battle going on in this world. The more you try and live right the more weird you will look to the rest of the world and the more Satan and his children will attack you.

The world doesn't like weird, it doesn't like what it can't understand, the world sees our peculiar lifestyle and makes fun of us or tempts us to live just like everybody else.The world likes everybody going the same direction and eliminating our differences. The problem is that the children of God are so different that it is difficult to ignore.

Jesus Christ’s victory is effective:
Over temptation - Hebrews 4:15 Over sin - Romans 5:20-21 Over Satan - John 12:31 Over evil spirits - Mark 1:23-27 Over all powers - Colossians 2:15 Over the world - John 16:33 Over death - Romans 6:9

We don't coexist very well when we claim that we are going to be with God for eternity and nobody else is. We don't coexist well when we claim that nobody else is pleasing God, that they are following Satan, living in sin, and the list goes on.

We have to know that it isn't possible to have vanity and selflessness, materialism and generosity or anger and grace living in harmony with each other. The opposite ends of the pendulum are not likely to get along.

John tells us that God's children are victorious over this evil world. We have victory over temptation and sin, over Satan and his demons and we conquer death all because of our faith in Jesus. (Revelation 12:11, Revelation 13:7,1 Corinthians 15:54-57)

Habitual sin is a state of defeat that we don't have to live with, we will blow it from time to time and Satan is happy to use that to accuse us but the ultimate victory has already been determined for God's children. (Romans 8:37)

God's People Are Winners
Daniel 7:27 Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey him.

Through Jesus we have the victory over Satan, over death and over this evil world, just the same as Christ overcame all of the of the forces of evil that were arrayed against him. Satan lost the battle! Jesus victory redefines everything!

I need to remember that believers are able to share in the victory that Jesus won for us through our faith. I will get to experience eternal life in God's presence in the perfect place that he is preparing for me.

Confession Is Good

Confession brings forgiveness, cleansing and eternal life.

1 John 1:8-10  If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.   

9 But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.   

10  If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that His word has no place in our hearts.

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We have all heard that confession is good for the soul, even modern psychology believes that confession is valuable, the problem is they don't know why confession is so valuable and they definitely don't know who it is that you need to confess to.

Sin gets in the way of our ability to have fellowship with God and confession is the way to make the relationship right again. It sounds like a great idea to live in fellowship with God but too many of us are content to live without fellowship because we are not willing to give up our selfish ways and our pride.

We only have a small glimpse of what the Garden of Eden was like before God closed it so it is difficult to understand what the world was like before sin broke everything. We cannot fully comprehend how bad sin is, to us sin is our normal routine and not sinning is the thing that we struggle with, it is difficult for us to see sin as God sees it. God sees sin as being so bad and so evil that it cost Jesus his life, there wasn't a quick and easy fix for sin, it took something as drastic as God on a cross to undo it's effects on us.

Proverbs 28:13  People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

Our attitude towards our sin determines whether we can enjoy fellowship with God. Some of the ways that we can deal with sin in our life:

✔  Pretend like you have never sinned

✔  Claim that you have stopped sinning
✔   Ignore your sin and refuse to deal with it

✔  Confess your sin

If we don't confess our sins then in essence we are disagreeing with God and telling him that he is wrong. It sounds pretty arrogant but sometimes we go to great lengths to avoid admitting that we blew it. The devil loves it when we behave like he does and exhibit the same characteristics that he has.

If we do confess then there is a promise from God that he will forgive. How much easier could God make it?  But don't think that you can keep it shallow and get any results, God wants us to be real, it's easy to say, "I am a sinner," but if confession is to be real it must mention exactly what you did wrong.

The first confession
Romans 10:9-10  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  10  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

If Jesus is not your Savior then there isn't any forgiveness from God for you. Before we can expect to receive forgiveness there is another confession that must come first. We must confess that Jesus is God's son that was crucified to pay the penalty of sin for us, he was raised from the dead to offer a guarantee that we would be raised as well.

I want to have fellowship with God because of the incredible gift of salvation that he gave to me. I need to live for him so that the fellowship will not be broken.

Living With Eternity In Sight

How to get through this world while you wait for Jesus return.

1 Peter 5:6-11  So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor.

7  Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 8  Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9  Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

10 In His kindness God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation. 11  All power to Him forever! Amen.

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As Peter comes to the close of his letter to the churches in Asia Minor he gives them a summary of how to live and what their attitude should be as they wait for Christ return. It is a message that is just as relevant to us today.

Humility

One of the biggest struggles that we have is with humility, God knew that we would have a challenge in this area, so the importance of humility is taught throughout the Bible. Humility is required for salvation, we need it in order to see ourselves the way that God sees us, without humility we will not turn to God and ask for help. From that point on our lives should be known for humility, once we see ourselves the way that God sees us, we should find it difficult to view ourselves as much without him.

Isaiah 57:15  The high and lofty One who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: "I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.

It can be difficult to yield to God's plan and humbly allow his power to work in your life, he may bring calamity and difficulty for a season in order to bring glory to himself or the hard times may be there for your spiritual growth, sometimes it might look easier to take the controls and do things our way.

Here is a statement that I found in a commentary on these verses: "If we do not humble ourselves under God’s grace then he will humble us under his judgments." Either we will humble ourselves voluntarily or the day will come when we will be humbled by God.

Trust

It is difficult to trust in this world that is full of selfishness and pride, we all try and get our way and look out for ourselves but there is a place and a person that you can put your trust, a place where we can unload without fear. We can go to the cross where we are completely accepted by God and we can trust him to lighten our load.

Psalms 55:22  Give your burdens to the LORD, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

What more can anyone wish for than to know that the great and merciful God of the universe thinks about you? Not only does he think about you but he also cares! Amazing thought isn't it?

Stay Alert and Stand Firm

Watch out! Satan will try to use any opportunity to make our lives useless for God. Initially he is out to destroy you by making you a prisoner to death but once you are a child of God and you are no longer under the curse of death his next plan is to make you useless for God.

James 4:7-8  So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Satan will try to make you fearful and ineffective but we can stand our ground if we stay alert to his schemes. Our best defense against that "roaring lion" is to stay close to God. It seems to me that the devil must hate God and be repulsed by him and the last thing that he wants to do is hangout close to him. So if I am staying close to God then the devil won't want to come close to me.

Perspective

It is best to live with your long term goal in site. Do you have a long term goal? Every child of God has one but too often the stuff of this world will try and take our focus from the eternal glory that we will share with Jesus and get our focus on the short term problems around us.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18  For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!   So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

God has called me to greater things than I can imagine! God will take care of every need for this life and he will provide for my eternal destination. The devil will use the pain and trouble of this world to try and get me off track but I will choose to "fix my gaze on things that cannot be seen."

Thank you Lord for teaching me how to get through this world, thank you for loving me and giving me a new perspective on how to live, help me to keep my eyes on the eternal.

Related articles

• Satanic Schemes (wisdomhunters.com)
• The Church Needs Good Shepherds (diggingtheword.blogspot.com)
• He's Alive! Now I'm Alive! (diggingtheword.blogspot.com)

Keep Your Life For Eternity

scripture

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John 12:23  Jesus replied, "Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.

24  I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.

25  Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.

26  Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

observation

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This must be the only time that Jesus and the religious leaders agreed on anything. The High Priest told the priests and Pharisees that "it is better for one man to die for all the people" (John 11:49-50) and now Jesus is telling the crowd that his death will produce a harvest of new life.

The High Priest was looking out for himself and was interested in the lifestyle that he had grown to love.

The Savior was looking out for the best interest of others, he was the ultimate example of serving others and he showed us that if we give up our life we will have our life returned to us for eternity.

Which one do you want to be like? Jesus said that if you want to be like him then you must follow his example, it may seem difficult sometimes but God "will honor anyone who serves Jesus."

application

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I need to be careful not to follow the example of this world, it is easier for all of us to look out for our own interest, but Jesus gave us the ultimate example of giving our lives away and he told me to do the same.

prayer

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Help me to always look out for ways to serve others. My life is not my own, it was bought at a high price!