Bible Text: Luke 9:27-36 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: book study of Luke | Above are the
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August 6, 2023
“A Preview of the Kingdom of God ”
Luke 9:27-36

Read Luke 9:27-36…  Wow!  The narrative in this passage is rather fast paced, and we must not forget the context from last week, when Jesus (cf. Luke 9:22-24) challenged His followers to deny themselves and follow Him; telling them that He was going to be rejected by the religious leaders of Israel and He was going to be killed, but on the third day He would rise from the dead.

Now we read (Luke 9:27), where Jesus says some of those who are there at this time will not die before they see the kingdom of God; (Matthew 16:28) some of them standing there won’t die until they see, ”the Son of Man coming in His kingdom” [lit. royal splendor].

Both Mark 9 and Matthew 17 give accounts of the Transfiguration of Christ up on the mountain; and along with Luke, they place the promise of Luke 9:27 right before the Transfiguration, which occurs about a week later.

Jesus (Luke 9:28) takes Peter, James and John with Him up on a mountain.  It is possible that this is Mt. Hermon where the Transfiguration occurs, as it is the highest mountain in the Caesarea Philippi area (over 9,230 ft. high).  Peter, James and John were also singled out in the Garden of Gethsemane, to keep watch and pray with Jesus just before His arrest.

Luke says (9:29), “the appearance of [Jesus] face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming [Lit. flashing like lightening].”  Both Matthew (17:2) and Mark (9:2) use a Greek word that is translated “transfigured,” the word is metamorphoo, and from it we get our English word metamorphosis.  Jesus was miraculously changed before them (Matthew 17:2), “His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light,” (Mark 9:2), “His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.”

In some miraculous way, Jesus’ bodily form was changed or altered, so as to display the glory He willingly set aside in order to put on flesh (Philippians 2:5-7), “Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”

Here in Luke 9, Jesus was transformed in order to manifest some of His divine glory.  His clothes became radiantly white, whiter than any earthy laundry facility using chemical whiteners could ever hope to accomplish; for this is the white light that is associated with God’s visible presence, i.e., it is the radiant glory of God emanating from Jesus Himself, so that it shows through His clothing, giving the appearance of brilliant white light.

Hebrews 1:1-3, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature.” Revelation 21:22-23, “I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.”

Revelation 22:5, “And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.”

In Luke’s account (9:28), it says Jesus went up on the mountain to pray, and while He was praying (Luke 9:29), the appearance of His face changed or became different, and His clothing became the whitest white; and then Elijah and Moses appear (Luke 9:30-31) in glorious splendor (i.e., they are radiant) standing there talking with Jesus; conversing with Him about His departure at Jerusalem, i.e., His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension back to the Father.

Evidently (Luke 9:32), while this supernatural event is yet unfolding, Peter, James and John wake up from a deep sleep only to see this marvelous presentation of Jesus in His glorious splendor, visiting with Elijah and Moses.

Ii would appear (Luke 9:33) that Moses and Elijah are leaving, so Peter exclaims, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not realizing what he was saying”.

As if it isn’t marvelous enough to have Jesus there in His radiant glory, here they see Moses and Elijah also, who are glowing with Kingdom Light.

All of a sudden, as Peter is speaking (Luke 9:34-35) a divine cloud encompasses them all (Peter, James and John are afraid) and God the Father speaks, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; Listen to Him!”  And immediately (Matthew 17:6), “When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified.”

Luke 9:36 tells us that “when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they [Peter, James and John], kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.”      Matthew 17:9 tells us, “As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, ‘Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’”

Jesus had previously told the Twelve (cf. Luke 9:21) to tell no one that He was the Christ [Messiah, the Savior who had come to die for the sins of the world]; and yet, John the Baptizer had declared (John 1:29), “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Peter, James, and John, had just seen Moses and Elijah standing with Jesus, all of them glowing with radiant light of the glory of God present in Christ, and they aren’t to tell anyone?  Why?

The people were expecting a conquering king on a white stallion, not a humble servant who ride into town on a donkey’s colt; the people were waiting for a divine deliverer, one who would free them from Roman oppression, not from the penalty of sin; they expected the Messiah to bring prosperity and long life now, to initiate the Millennial Kingdom.

Neither the disciples nor the people of Israel understood Christ’s mission at His 1st coming to earth, nor did the understand God’s timeframe.  Yes, in the future after the rapture of all true believers and followers of Christ, followed by the rise of the Anti-christ and a period of seven years of tribulation, God the Son will return as a victorious warrior (Revelation 19:11-16); and He will destroy all of God’s enemies and sit on the throne of David for 1,000 years, during a time of unparalleled peace, prosperity, and long life.  But none of that can happen until Jesus goes to the cross as payment for all sin, and then rises from the dead to demonstrate eternal life.

Jesus had earlier told His disciples (Luke 9:22) that He would be put to death, and yet and on the third day He would be raised to life; but they didn’t really understand what it meant to be “raised from the dead,” (John 20:9), “For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.”

All Israel was confused about Jesus being the Messiah, the Savior, God in the flesh [Immanuel], the Holy One from God.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on a Sunday, during Passion Week, the people were praising Him, hailing Him, beseeching Him to save them (Matthew 21:9), “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!”  Five days later, on Friday, the people were crying out (Mark 15:13), “Crucify Him!”

In our narrative today, Peter, James, and John, have just witnessed Elijah and Moses with Jesus, all of them glowing with the radiant light of the glory of God.  This is a preview of the kingdom of God, when all things will be restored as they were before sin entered creation.

The Bible says two servants of God will appear during the 7 Year Tribulation Period [Time of Jacob’s Trouble, Great and Terrible Day of the Lord].  According to the Scriptures, about 3.5 years before the 2nd Coming of Christ, near the middle of the 7 year Tribulation (as recorded in the book of Revelation), when the Abomination that causes desolation

stands in the Holy of Holies and declares himself to be God, they will appear.

Revelation 11:3-6, “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.”

      The powers displayed by these two witnesses is reminiscent of Moses and Elijah who used miraculous powers to bring about repentance among the people (destroying their enemies with fire, withholding rain, turning water into blood, striking the earth with plagues).

According to the Old Testament narratives, after Moses died (cf. Deuteronomy 34:5-6) his body was taken by God and buried where no one knows but God; and Elijah went alive up into heaven to be with God (2Kings 2:11-12), “Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven… And Elisha saw him no more.”

Could the two witnesses in Revelation 11 be Elijah and Moses?  Maybe, nobody knows for sure, but it is very possible, considering the ministries both of these men had when they were on earth: Moses represents the Law of God; Elijah represents the Prophets of God.

Whether or not the two witnesses of Revelation 11 are Elijah and Moses, the Transfiguration of Jesus seems to be a supernatural preview of the Lord’s glorious return and of our life after death; for Moses  died 1500 BC, Elijah was taken up to heaven 800 BC, and yet they were very much “alive” at the Transfiguration.

What a great confirmation of Christ’s sovereign authority as Creator, Sustainer, Savior, and Judge; giving clear incontrovertible testimony as to why we can believe in and trust Him as Lord, now and forever!  This Jesus who was crucified, buried, resurrected, and is coming back again to take those who believe in Him to heaven.

 
Pastor Mike
>’(((><

Bible Text: Luke 9:23-26 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: book study of Luke | Above are the
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July 30, 2023
“True Believers and Followers of Christ”
Luke 9:23-26

     Read Luke 9:23-26…  Jesus speaks of the real costs of following Him; but what is He really saying to us?

A genuine believer of Christ will openly confess by his life and his words, Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus says (verse 23) “anyone,” (verses 24, 26) “whoever,” i.e., anyone and everyone who belongs to Him will proclaim that relationship openly.

Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”  All those who are unwilling to acknowledge Christ to their friends and family will not be affirmed by Christ before the Father.

1John 4:15, “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.”

True followers of Christ will openly identify themselves to other believers, but they should also acknowledge Christ as Lord to unbelievers, even hostile ones.

When hard times come the genuineness of our relationship with Christ can be exposed, even the most committed believer may become fearful or experience doubting faith, at times; as did Peter when he denied the Lord three times the morning of Jesus’ arrest; and yet later he would stand before Israel and proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (cf. Acts 2:21-24, 36-38).

We may deny Christ, at times, simply by not speaking up, or by trying to be incognito, hoping no one will ask us what we really believe.  Shame on us for not openly confessing Christ and being a witness of the forgiveness and new life we have received from God.  Our love for God should be demonstrated by the way we live.

Matthew 5:20, “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus told a parable illustrating the self righteousness that condemns, and God’s righteousness that commends (Luke 18:9-14), “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

You can’t get to heaven by your own righteousness, or through religious rituals, or by living a pious life that expects justification by keeping the Laws of God.

Romans 3:19-24, “Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”

Salvation comes through confession of sin and belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

See Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow [stenos] gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Jesus said all who belong to Him, are those who enter the small gate and walk on the narrow road that leads to eternal life; in contrast to unbelievers, all who enter the wide gate onto the broad road that leads to destruction.

Those who come to Christ repenting of their sin and believing in Him for forgiveness, will demonstrate through their life that they belong to Him, for their desire will be to do that which pleases God.  True believers and followers of Christ will live by God’s Word; we will do that which is pleasing to the God, according to His Word.

See Matthew 7:15-23, “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

     True disciples of Christ will confess Him and exemplify the character and nature of God (Ephesians 5:1-2), “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

Many may profess Christ, but genuine believers will confess Him by living in a manner that agrees with and seeks to obey God’s Word.

See Luke 9:23-26 again…  Every true believer of Jesus Christ will seek to deny himself, and take up his/her cross and follow Christ.  Anyone living in Palestine at the time of Christ would have understood the “cross” to symbolize death, i.e., following Christ here on earth could bring dire consequences, because the world hates Him.

There were over 30,000 crucified Jews during the life of Christ; the condemned person walked to the site of execution with their own cross on their back, one way only, there was no going back (Matthew 7:13 “stenos”).

Picking up your cross does not mean some burden you must bear, or some trial you might experience on this earth, e.g., a natural disaster, terminal illness, rebellious children, or unfaithful spouse; none of these experiences are “crosses” to bear; your cross is the willful sacrifice of everything you have, for the sake of believing and honoring Christ; it is the persecution brought upon you by the godless world because of your love for God’s Son, who is both Savior and Lord, when you willfully give up, for the sake of Christ, what the world offers.

The natural, carnal, sinful, rebellious, unredeemed self of every person born since Adam and Eve gave birth to their first son Cain, must be convinced that there is nothing in our flesh worthy of salvation!

Romans 3:10-12, “There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one.”

Romans 3:23-24, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 7:18-19, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.” 24-25, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Romans 8:1-2, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Jesus is our example of how we should live.  He lived in submission to the Father, we live in submission to Him, to God’s glory.

1John 2:4-6, “The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”

The world hated and killed Jesus. His Disciples were martyred because they believed in and followed Him.  Obedient Christians today will be in conflict with the godless beliefs and behaviors that are all around them.

Living as a Christian is tough!  Paul wrote (2Timothy 3:12), “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Whoever lives only to gratify his earthly, physical desires, seeking acceptance from the world system, thinking he is good enough, will forfeit his own soul and the opportunity to have eternal life.

1John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

John 6:28-29, The crowd said to Jesus, “‘What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent. 40, “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

John 8:24, “I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.”

John 14:6-7, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

        In John 16:8-9, Jesus declared that when the Holy Spirit “comes, [He] will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; …because they do not believe in Me.”

        Have you made the decision in your heart to believe in Jesus, or do you still reject Him?  You either believe or you reject!  There is no third option!

Romans 10:9-10, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” 13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

John 3:18, “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” 36, ”He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, [for] the wrath of God [remains] on him.”

God’s Word declares and God’s Spirit convicts us that Jesus is God the Son, Creator, Sustainer, Judge and Ruler over All, He is Lord and Savior; the only Way to, the only Truth of, and the only Life with God, comes through Him.

Do you believe this in your heart?  Do you must confess it with your mouth.  Are you a true believer and follower of Jesus Christ: crucified, resurrected, and coming again to take all who believe in Him to heaven, forever!

Do not walk away from here today without knowing for sure that you belong to God the Father, through God the Son, confirmed by God the Holy Spirit living in you, as God’s Word declares (Ephesians 1:13-14), “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

1John 5:11-13, “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

 
Pastor Mike
>’(((><

Bible Text: Luke 9:18-22 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: book study of Luke | Above are the
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July 9, 2023
“Who Do You Say Jesus Is?”
Luke 9:18-22

Our last time in the Book of Luke (9:12-17), we studied the supernatural feeding of some 5,000 men (plus 10-15,000 women and children).  Jesus, using one boy’s lunch (five loaves of bread and two dried fish), after having the people sit down (cf. Luke 9:14) in groups of 50 men (along with their wives and children).

Jesus then began to break the bread and fish to be distributed to the groups by the Twelve.  We are told that the people broke off some bread and fish for themselves, passing the bread and fish to the next person, but it never ran out.

In fact, when everyone had eaten until they were full and could eat no more, the Twelve collected the leftovers, amounting to twelve baskets full of fish and bread (cf. Luke 9:17).  This event, the feeding of the 5,000 men (mostly Jews), and the resurrection narrative, are the only miracles recorded in all four gospels (cf. Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:31–44; Luke 9:12–17; John 6:1–14).

Read Luke 9:18-22…  The incident that is recorded here by Luke actually takes place near Caesarea Philippi (cf. Matthew 16:13; Mark 8:27), a mostly Gentile territory.  Jesus goes there to withdraw from the Jewish Religious leaders (Matthew 16:1) and the crowds, in order to instruct His apostles, who have been with Him now over two years.

Both Matthew and Mark place this event after the feeding of the 4,000 men (mostly Gentiles, cf. Matthew 15:32-38; Mark 8:1-9); and in fact, are the only two gospel writers to record the feeding of the 4,000 men.

By this time in the biblical narrative of Jesus’ ministry, many have witnessed His power over demons, diseases, death, and nature itself; and so, the crowds who have followed Jesus to see His miracles, and the Twelve who have been with Him from the beginning, have all drawn different conclusions about who they think or believe Jesus to be.

We are told in Luke 9:18 that Jesus is praying alone (to the Father), although the disciples (the Twelve) are there with Him.  Jesus then asks them, “Who do the people say that I am?”  The “people” refers to the crowds of people who followed Him everywhere to see what He was going to do, and to hear what He said.

Luke 4:31-36, “And He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and He was teaching them on the Sabbath; and they were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority. In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be quiet and come out of him!’ And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, he came out of him without doing him any harm. And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another saying, ‘What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out.’”

When we were studying Luke 9:7-9, a few weeks ago, we read how Herod wasn’t sure of who Jesus was, lets take a look at that again.

Read Luke 9:7-9…  Herod had heard reports, and he was very distraught about all that was going on throughout the region, that repentance was being preached, people were being healed, and demons were being cast out, and that some were saying it was John the Baptizer who had risen from the dead; or Elijah or another great prophet who had power like the prophets in Israel’s past. Herod kept trying to see who was performing these supernatural signs and miracles.

Back to Luke 9:18-19…  Jesus asks who the people say He is, and the Twelve answer Him saying, “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again.”

Let us think back through what the writers of the Gospels have already told us concerning who Jesus is:

When the angel Gabriel came to Joseph in a dream (Matthew 1:20-21) he said to him, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

When the angel Gabriel came to Mary (Luke 1:32-33) he spoke to her concerning the One to be conceived in her womb, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. ”

At Jesus’ birth the angel told the shepherds (Luke 2:10-11), “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

There is the testimony of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35), “And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, ‘Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.’ And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.’”

There is the testimony of Anna declaring Jesus to be the Messiah who had been foretold by the Old Testament prophets (Luke 2:36-38), “And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.”

John the Baptizer was the forerunner of Christ, the Messiah, and John’s father, Zacharias, when filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied concerning John (Luke 1:76-80), “‘And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways; To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’ And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.”

     When John came to the Jordan River calling people to repent and baptizing them as they confessed they were sinners in need of God’s forgiveness, the Religious Leaders came to ask him who he was to do this.

John 1:19-23, “This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ. They asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ And he said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the Prophet?’ And he answered, ‘No.’ Then they said to him, ‘Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” 29-34, “The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.

I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.’ John testified saying, ‘I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

When Jesus was 12 years old and his family went up to Jerusalem for Passover, he went to the Temple to sit with the religious leaders; and his family began their journey home thinking Jesus was with other family members in their caravan, but then discovered He wasn’t with them, and so they returned to search for Him.

Luke 2:46-52, “Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.’ And He said to them, ‘Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?’ But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them. And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

At Jesus’ baptism, when He was 30 years old, God the Father declared (Luke 3:22), “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”  And when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a mountain and showed them some of His glory, they were enveloped in a cloud, and God the Father spoke from the cloud (Luke 9:35) saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!”

After Jesus rose from the grave on that first Sunday, He came to the Disciples who were hiding in a room in Jerusalem (Thomas was not there).  But the next Sunday Thomas was present when the Lord came to them (John 20:26-28), “After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”

Even the demons spoke out concerning who Jesus was (Luke 4:34), “Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” (Luke 4:41), “Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!”

Read again Luke 9:18-20…  Jesus had asked the Twelve who the crowds said He was, and they answered, “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again.”  Then Jesus asked the Twelve, “But who do you say that I am?”  Peter answered, “The Christ [Messiah, Chosen One] of God.”

In Matthew’s account of the discourse, after Peter’s response in Luke 9:20, Jesus says to Peter (Matthew 16:17), “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona [son of Jonah], because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

Clearly, God’s Spirit revealed this to Peter, as human reasoning alone cannot comprehend the thougts of God.

1Corinthians 2:14-15, “A natural man [unbeliever]does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual [born-again by God’s Spirit] appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one [according to human wisdom].”

Matthew 11:27, “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

Read again Luke 9:21-22…  This is interesting, the Twelve have just, through Peter their spokesman, told Jesus they believe Him to be the Messiah, the Son of God, the Anointed One.  Now Jesus tells them not to tell anyone?  Why wouldn’t Jesus want them to spread the news that He is the Savior who was to come?

The Jews were waiting for the Messiah to come, believing that He would immediately free them from Roman oppression and usher in a kingdom of prosperity and long life; but that is not what He had come to do (Luke 9:22; pp. Matthew 16:20-22; Mark 8:30-33), “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.”

That was not what the people anticipated, although God had foretold through the prophets, e.g., Moses, Jeremiah, Daniel, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Micah, (cf. Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 52:13-53:12). Messiah would be God in the flesh, to take our punishment, for all our sins. and He would be put to death, but He wouldn’t stay dead, in fact, He would rise from the grave alive.

Some say Jesus was just a good man, a good teacher, one of the many incarnations of God, a powerful prophet, a priest, even a miracle worker.

The question today is, who do you say He is?

The undeniable truth of God is that Jesus came to die for our sins, being delivered over to death by the very plan of God; He was then buried, and on the third day He rose from the dead, just like He had said that He would, demonstrating victory over sin, death, and judgement; providing forgiveness for sin and eternal life to everyone who will believe in Him.

It is this Jesus, the Jesus of the Bible, whose birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, post-resurrection appearances, and ascension back into heaven to be with the Father are all recorded in God’s Word.

It is He who said (John 14:6), “I am the only Way to God, the only Truth from God, and the only Life with God, and no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Make sure it is Jesus Christ you believe in: God’s Son, Lord and Savior, who was crucified, resurrected, and is coming again, to take all those who believe in Him to be with Him in heaven forever!

 
Pastor Mike
>’(((><
 

Bible Text: Luke 9:10-17 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: book study of Luke | Above are the
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June 25, 2023
“The Compassion of God in Christ”
Luke 9:10-17

Throughout the ministry of Jesus, the compassion, kindness, and all-sufficiency of God for humanity was made clear, as Jesus proclaimed the gospel of God from one end of Galilee to the other, an area that is twenty-five miles wide by fifty miles long, as He proclaimed the message of salvation, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life.

But it is a small group really, who have repented and believed.  Prior to today’s passage, in Luke 9:1-9, Jesus sent out the twelve to preach the message of the kingdom, and had given them power over demons and diseases. In this way, He multiplied Himself by twelve in order to bring God’s message throughout Galilee for the last time, before He goes to the cross.

See Luke 9:10-17 …

Luke 9:10a says, “the apostles returned,” from their first mission of preaching and healing and casting out demons.  They were no doubt very tired after weeks of ministry, so they returned to Capernaum, where there was a very large crowd.  They give an account to Jesus of all they had done.

Luke 9:10b says, “Taking them with Him, He withdrew by Himself to a city called Bethsaida.”  Mark 6:31 “Jesus said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.’ (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)”

Luke tells us He took them to a city called Bethsaida, on the northeast shore of the lake.  Most likely they got into a boat in order to remove themselves from the crowd of people, who it appears followed along the shoreline to see where Jesus and the twelve would go.

John’s Gospel tells us (John 6:1-2), “Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick.”

Luke 9:11a says, the crowds followed them to Bethsaida, which was about eight miles by shoreline, maybe four miles or less by boat. No doubt, the boat ride gave Jesus and the twelve a reprieve from the crowd.

Mark’s Gospel tells us ( Mark 6:34 ), “When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.”

John 6:3 tells us, “Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples.

Luke 9:11b says, Jesus welcomes the large crowd and begins speaking to them about the kingdom of God.  The other writers tell us He saw them like sheep without a shepherd, lost and unprotected.  He began giving them the wonderful message of forgiveness for sin and eternal life through belief in Him.

Luke 9:11c says, “He was curing those who had need of healing.”  Human suffering caused pain to the Lord, He knows we need spiritual rest, and He wants to provide that rest for each of us.  In Matthew 14:14 it says, “When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.”

God is not only be concerned about physical rest and physical healing, but He is more concerned about spiritual rest and spiritual healing.  Jesus shows that He has the power to do all that.  He can bring the kingdom of God, He can heal the people physically, and more importantly, spiritually.

The actual miracle of this passage begins to take place in Luke 9:12.  The twelve recognize that the day is nearing its end, and they urge Jesus to send the people away to surrounding villages to find food and lodging, because the palace where they are is desolate.  Jesus responds to the twelve (Luke 9:13a), “You give them something to eat.”

The twelve had just come back from their mission of several weeks, casting out demons, healing sick people, preaching the gospel.  Jesus  basically says, “Why don’t you feed them?  You provide their food.” So what happened? They said (Luke 9:13b), “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.”

Clearly, someone had already anticipated the problem and had gone through the crowd to find out if people had brought their own food.  John’s Gospel gives us some more (John 6:5-9), It says that Jesus said to Philip, “’Where are we going to buy bread that these may eat?’ This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. Philip answered Him, ‘Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.’ One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, ‘There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?’”

Jesus was testing Philip who basically said, “We went through the crowd and we checked, all we found was five loaves and two fish.”

Wow, lets go back to Luke 9:14a, “(There were about five thousand men.) And He said to His disciples, ‘Have them sit down to eat in groups of about fifty each.’”  John 6:10 tells us, “Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.”    Matthew 14:21 tells us, “There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children.”  So when you add the women and at least two children per family, you’ve got perhaps twenty thousand people.  And by the way, the lunch they found was in the hands of a child, proving there were children, and no doubt, their mothers.

So there’s a massive crowd of people needing to be fed and in Luke 9:14b-15 we read, “Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Have them sit down to eat in groups of about fifty each.’ They did so, and had them all sit down.”  So there were groups of fifty men and their families, perhaps aisles in-between groups so they could be served, and everybody was ready to eat.

See Luke 9:16, “Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving [the fish and bread] to the disciples to set before the people. And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full.”

Wow! Jesus kept multiplying the food from the boy’s lunch.  Jesus is the One by whom all things were made and without whom nothing was made that has been made.  What Jesus did here is similar to what happens when He heals someone, i.e., when a person was blind, Jesus gave them new eyes, when they were paralyzed He gave them new legs, etc., etc.

But this time it was more visible than anything else because it just kept coming out of His hands; the fish and bread was never fully consumed, it never ran out; in fact (Luke 9:17), “And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full.

Jesus gave to His disciples food that was continually multiplying, to be set before the multitude. They went down the aisles, serving dried fish and barley bread to the people.  Let’s say there were 100 groups of fifty men and their families; they all ate until they were full, all of 20,000 of them.

This was a staggering miracle, bread and fish created already prepared for eating without any of the process.  And everybody had all they wanted till they couldn’t eat anymore.  When the twelve collected all that wasn’t eaten, there were exactly twelve baskets full; for the Lord in His grace had provided for these guys just what they needed.

The Lord creates exactly what it takes to feed every single person, then have twelve baskets left over to feed His apostles.  Jesus demonstrated His deity in an unmistakable way, for nobody could do this but God.  He is the Messiah, the Son of God.  He is the Lord and Savior. The crowd that had experienced this, but they failed to worship the Lord; they left without even a thank you!

John gives us the postscript on this event (John 6), the next day the multitude realized that Jesus and HIs disciples had gone away in a boat. So they came to Capernaum seeking Jesus, and they finally found Him and basically were looking for more free food.  In John 6:26-29, Jesus says, “‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.’ Therefore they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.’”

John 16:8-9, Jesus said to them, “When He [the Holy Spirit] comes, [He] will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me.”

In our lesson from Luke 9:10-17 today, you will want to remember that in the chronology of Jesus’ ministry, He is about 12-18 months from going to the cross.  This is His last time He will be in the area of Galilee prior to His death and resurrection.  He has been pouring out His love and compassion upon the residents of Galilee, urging them to believe in and receive Him Lord and Savior; and yet, as we read today, even after the supernatural feeding of the 5,000 men, and most likely, another 15,000 women and children; the people left unimpressed by the Son of God who had come to save them.

There is no record that any of those who were there that day actually got saved.  What a deep grievous time that must have been for our Lord, who had such compassion for the people of Galilee: healing their diseases, casting out demons, raising the dead back to life, proclaiming the message of forgiveness for sins and eternal life with God, only to be rejected.

John 6:36-40, “But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

What about you?

Do you believe Jesus Christ to be God’s Son, Lord and Savior: crucified, resurrected, and coming again?

If so, praise the Lord!  But if you are not sure, please, earnestly consider in your heart what God’s Word clearly says.

Romans 10:9-10, “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” 13, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord [for the forgiveness of their sins] will be saved.”

1John 5:11-13, “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

 
Pastor Mike
>’(((><

Bible Text: Luke 9:10 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: book study of Luke | Above are the
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June 18, 2023 – (full sermon notes)
“Judas Loved Money More Than He Loved Jesus”
Luke 9:10

The last time we were together we studied Luke 9:1-9, where Jesus sends out of the Twelve, after giving them authority over demons and diseases, in order for them to bring healing to the people while proclaiming the kingdom of God.

Judas Iscariot was one of the Twelve who was sent out, and even though we know from the Gospel narratives that he was not a true believer and follower of Jesus Christ, he would have been able to cast out demons and heal diseases.

Two questions come to mind:               Did Jesus know that Judas was an unbeliever and that he would betray Him? And if so, why would Jesus choose Judas as one of the original Twelve Disciples?

I believe the answer might be found in a prophecy which speaks of Christ’s betrayal (Psalm 41:9), “Even My close friend in whom I trusted, who ate My bread, has lifted up his heel against Me.” (turn against, become an enemy)

How do we know Psalm 41:9 is speaking of Jesus and His betrayer Judas?

Let us look to the Scriptures for God’s answers.

Please turn to Matthew 26:14-25…

       Please turn to John 13:1-30…

In Luke 6:12-15, we are told of the time when Jesus chose twelve men from among all of His followers, who would be named as apostles.

In Luke 9:1-9, Jesus gives the Twelve Apostles power and authority to cast out demons and heal the sick.  Judas was one of the Twelve and they were all sent out with power and authority from God.  But did Judas cast out demons?

Luke’s narrative doesn’t specifically tell us what Judas or any of the other Twelve did when they went out, only that (Luke 9:10), “When the apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done. Taking them with Him, He withdrew by Himself to a city called Bethsaida.”

According to the Scriptures (Matthew 10:1; Mark 6:7; Luke 9:1), Jesus gave authority to all of the Twelve, including Judas, and they went out under the power of the Holy Spirit, performing signs and wonders, while preaching the gospel.

But, if Judas wasn’t a true believer how could he do these supernatural things like casting out demons and healing people of diseases?  Did the Holy Spirit come upon people who were not believers?

Scripture does record an incident when the Spirit of God came upon an unbeliever who was then empowered for a specific purpose. In Numbers 24:2 we are told that Balaam, “lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.”  He was enabled to prophesy by the Spirit of God, even though he was a false prophet, as the Scriptures indicate.
 
2Peter 2:1, “False prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.” 15, “forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.” [cf. Jude 1-13, Revelation 2:1-14).

But, can an unbeliever cast out demons and perfume miracles?

Please turn to Matthew 7:15-23…  Jesus chose Judas, knowing he would betray Him.  And as we read earlier in John 13:18, Jesus says to His apostles, “I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled.” And then He quotes David in Psalm 41:9: “He who ate My bread has lifted his heel against Me.”

Peter, on the day of Pentecost, affirmed Judas’s betrayal as fulfilling Scripture.                         See Acts 1:6-26… Every detail had been foretold concerning the Messiah’s betrayal, death, burial, and resurrection.

1Corinthians 15:3-5, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.”

All these events were fulfilled, just as the Scriptures said they would be, because (2Timothy 3:16) “All Scripture is inspired by God” [lit. God-breathed, i.e., from God Himself].  And that is why Scripture speaks without error concerning the past, the present, the future, the seen and the unseen world, because only God is Omniscient, which literally means all-knowing, and the Bible was written by God through 40 men, over 1500 years, on three continents in three languages.

2Peter 1:20-21, “Know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

John 6:64 says, “Jesus knew from the beginning who it was who would betray Him.”  Jesus chose Judas knowing what he was going to do; in fact, Jesus exposed how the most detestable and heinous act of treachery in the history of the world, the betrayal and subsequent murder of God’s Son, was clearly the sovereign plan of God to save us.

Even the most horrible sins in the world can be used by God for His divine purposes to save those who will but believe in Him (See Acts 2:21-24, 36-38).  Jesus sovereignly chose a man who was destined for hell and damnation, including him among the Twelve, and giving him power over unclean spirits and diseases.

Listen! Religious associations, rituals, ceremonies and even miracle-working power are not necessarily evidence of genuine salvation.

Judas walked alongside Jesus for three years, and he was one of only twelve men, out of all of Israel, who was personally selected to hear, see, touch, and experience God’s Son up close and personal; yet, Judas died in his sins, apart from the saving grace that comes through faith in Christ, to all those who believe in Him.

In John 5:39-40, Jesus was talking to some Scribes who thought that just by having scrolls of the Old Testament prophets could somehow save them, to which Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”

Judas is an example of those referenced in Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

What a vivid illustration demonstrating the hard truth that just knowing what is in the Bible won’t save you; for you must spiritually hear, believe, and obey what God’s Word says concerning Jesus Christ, in order to be saved.

No wonder Peter proclaimed (Acts 4:12), “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” [only that of Jesus Christ: crucified, resurrected, coming again].

Romans 10:9-10, “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” 13, “for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Jesus said He kept all of the Twelve from apostasy [rejecting or turning away from Him] except Judas (John 17:12), “and not one of them perished but the son of perdition [hell, damnation, condemnation], so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.”  In John 13:18, Jesus says, I know the ones I have chosen but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled,” And then he quotes Psalm 41:9, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’”

Thirty pieces of silver is all it took for Judas to sellout the Son of God who loved him and had come to save him.  Judas traded eternity with God for an eternity in hell, because he loved money more than he loved Jesus.

Judas said in Matthew 27:4, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” Judas acknowledged that Jesus was innocent; but Judas never repented of his sins, nor did he believe in Jesus as his Savior; and so, he remained guilty for his own sins.

Jesus said (John 8:24), “Therefore you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He [God the Son, the Savior], you will die in your sins.”

See Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 8:1.

Let us all be very clear that it is Jesus Christ who saves us, we can do nothing to obtain righteousness, and therefore we must believe in Him as Savior and confess Him as Lord, if we are to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Please turn to Matthew 13:44…  Palestine had been a battleground for hundreds of years, families buried their valuables so their enemies couldn’t take or destroy them. There were no banks or depositories and so, the practice of hiding valuables in a storage box or jar, buried in the ground, was common.

Sometimes the owners of the valuables were killed or perhaps deported to another land, and their valuables would be all but lost or forgotten, until someone came across the hiding place, perhaps a tenant farmer working the field, or someone just passing through the area.

The man in this parable finds a treasure, he then goes and sells everything he has in order to purchase the field, so that he can have the treasure it contains.

Notice, the man doesn’t steal the treasure, but instead he buys the field it is in, using all of his resources to obtain it.  He gives up everything in order to have the treasure that has been hidden until now, like the kingdom of heaven.

When lost, lonely, confused and spiritually ill people come upon God’s loving gift of forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus, they will either value it above everything else in the world or they will continue to reject it .

Matthew 13:45-46…  This merchant was a wholesale buyer and reseller of merchandise, specifically this merchant bought and sold pearls (the diamonds of the ancient world, great wealth in a small package, that could be carried in a pocket inside your clothing, transported unnoticed, or easily hidden).

This man is searching for the most valuable pearl and when he finds it, he is willing to sell everything he has in order to obtain it.

Jesus Christ, God’s Son, gave His life for us, so we might eventually and eternally live in heaven with Him; but during our time on earth we are to live for Him by His power and provision, through the riches of His Grace.
 
Ephesians 2:6-7, “God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” 31-33, “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’  Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; but your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Salvation through Jesus Christ and eternal life with God, is the most valuable thing in the universe, now and forever!  And so, our attitude about such things should be like Pauls (Philippians 4:12-13), “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”   19-20, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

 
    And to that, all God’s children can confidently say, Amen!
Pastor Mike
>’(((><
 

Bible Text: Luke 9:1-9 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: book study of Luke | Above are the
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June 4, 2023
“Jesus Sends Out the Twelve”
Luke 9:1-9

Read Luke 9:1-2…  It is important to be aware of the chronology of this next event in the life and ministry of Jesus.  Jesus is about 18 months away from being put to death on the cross in Jerusalem; and so, about half of His ministry is already over.  Up to this point, Jesus has been the only one preaching the gospel, teaching God’s Word, performing miracles of healing the sick, lame, blind, diseased, demon possessed, and even raising the dead, among the people of Israel.

Luke leaves out an important event that occurred between the time that Jesus’ healed a woman with an issue bleeding for 12 years, raised a 12 year old dead girl back to life (cf. Luke 8:41-55), and before He sent out the Twelve in Luke 9.

Mark’s Gospel fills in the gap by telling us that Jesus went to His own hometown (Nazareth) right after the events we studied last week.

See Mark 6:1-6…  Jesus took the apostles to His own hometown of Nazareth.  And on a Sabbath Day, Jesus went into the synagogue, which was His normal practice, and He began to teach.

Although the listeners were astonished and amazed at Jesus’ teaching, they question His authority and right to assume the position of teacher.  This is the synagogue Jesus would have attended growing up in Nazareth, where He was known as the son of Joseph, the carpenter.

The people acknowledge Jesus as one of their own, but He is no one special to them (cf. Mark 6:3), for He is simply a local boy trained as a carpenter, whose mother is Mary, whose brothers and sisters they knew.

The people of Nazareth refer to Jesus as the son of Mary, although, in Jewish culture, a man was normally called the son of his father even if the father was dead, unless the father was unknown to the people.

It may be that they are referencing the rumors that had gone around at the time of Jesus’ birth, about the illegitimacy of Mary’s conception, which was apart from any sexual relationship with Joseph.

The people of Nazareth failed to honor Jesus because of their own familiarity with Him, as just a kid from their village who had grown up and returned.

Instead of acknowledging His teachings and the miracles He had performed throughout the region, they rejected Jesus as Messiah; in fact it says, “they took offense at Him,” for He was not recognized by the local religious leaders as having any authority.

Jesus is fully aware of the people’s unwillingness to believe that He had come from God; and so, He states an old proverb (cf. Mark 6:4), that a prophet is without honor in His own town and in His own family.  This proverb is similar to one that we use today that says, “familiarity breeds contempt.”

Interestingly enough, Jesus had received a similar response from His town folks about a year before, the first time He went back to His hometown (cf. Luke 4:16-17), right after being baptized by John and ushered into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, where He spent 40 days being tempted by the devil.

Jesus then went to Nazareth (cf. Luke 4:18-19) where He entered the synagogue on a Sabbath and stood up to read from the scroll of Isaiah 61:1-2, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

When Jesus finished reading (cf. Luke 4:20) He gave the book back to the attendant and sat down, everyone’s eyes were upon Him.  He then said (Luke 4:21), “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”  Jesus was claiming to be the One this passage was speaking about, the Anointed One from God, the Messiah!

The residents in Nazareth had known Jesus as a boy, and as a young man who had grown up in an ordinary family, learning the trade of carpentry.  Now He comes teaching with authority in their own synagogue?

Although it appears that the people were amazed at His words, they seem to question His authority, (Luke 4:22), “‘Isn’t this Joseph’s son?’ they asked.”

The people were filled with rage at the audacity of Jesus to say they were spiritually poor, spiritually captive, spiritually blind, spiritually oppressed, that they needed to be healed, and that He had come to save them.

Luke 4:28-29 tells us they drove Him out of the synagogue, out of town, and up to the top of a hill where they intended to kill Him by throwing Him off; but (Luke 4:30), He miraculously walked right through the midst of them and escaped.

So, in our reading today in Luke 9, it is about a year after that first visit to Nazareth, as recorded in Luke 4, when the people would not acknowledge Him as their Messiah, in fact they were enraged by His insolence.

Mark 6:6 says that Jesus was “amazed” [completely astonished] at the people’s lack of faith [unbelief].  It is not that Jesus was caught off guard; but Jesus was extremely taken back by their response to Him.

According to the biblical record, very few from His own hometown believed in Him, and so, He left there and (verse 6) “went around teaching from village to village,” throughout other parts of Galilee where the people were more receptive.

Earlier today I mentioned how, in the chronology of Jesus’ ministry, He is about half way through the three plus years He had been given to proclaim the message of God’s Kingdom here on earth..

Up to this time Jesus was the only one who was teaching and preaching and healing; but time is getting short as He will soon be leaving the area of Galilee and be heading toward Jerusalem in Judea, where He will be put to death on a cross, placed in a tomb, and on the third day after His death He would rise from the grave and appear to hundreds of His followers over a 40 day period, after which He would ascend back into heaven to be with the Father.

According to Isaiah 61:1-2, Jesus came “to preach the gospel to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

See Luke 9:1-3…  Jesus is going to commission the Twelve, who had already been named apostles, but they had not yet been sent out (cf. Luke 8:12-16).  It is now time for the Lord to multiply Himself by 12, by giving these men the power to heal, cast out demons, and “to proclaim the kingdom of God.”

In Matthew’s narrative of this event, he lists the Twelve (Matthew 10:2-4), “Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.

The apostles had been living with Jesus for over a year, it was now time for them to apply what they had heard, witnessed, learned and received from their Master and Teacher, Jesus Christ!  These men would now have to trust the Lord like never before, to protect them, feed them, clothe them, and guide them.

Read Luke 9:4-5…  Jesus tells them to seek out a house where they will be accepted and to stay there until they are ready to leave that town or village.  He then tells them that if any house or town will not receive them, they are to shake the dust off their feet as a “testimony against” those who rejected them and their message.

The disciples were sent out to bring God’s message of reconciliation and healing to the lost, lonely, and hurting of society.  For someone to reject them or their message, was the same as rejecting God.

The Jews had a practice, when returning to Israel from a Gentile country: they would shake the dust from their feet and sandals, so as not to bring pagan soil into Israel.  By this same gesture, the apostles were saying that any house or village that rejected them was unacceptable to and alienated from God.

Read Luke 9:6…  The disciples were instructed to call people to repent of sin and believe in Jesus to save them, just as John the Baptizer had done (cf. Matthew 3:1-2, 5-6, 11; Mark 1:4-5, 7-11; John 1:19-23, 28-29, 34).

As the apostles called people to repentance, they were also casting out demons and healing the sick, just as Jesus had done throughout the region. They were exhibiting the authority He had given them in order to demonstrate, with power, the kingdom message they brought, that salvation has been provided through Christ alone; this must be heard, understood, believed, and obeyed before salvation can be received.

Read Luke 9:7-9…  Herod had heard reports, and he was very distraught about all that was going on throughout the region, that repentance was being preached, people were being healed, and demons were being cast out, and that some were saying it was John the Baptizer who had risen from the dead; or Elijah or another great prophet who had power like the prophets in Israel’s past.

Herod felt guilty for having had John beheaded at the demand of Herodias, his vengeful wife.  She hated John for confronting Herod about his immoral, unlawful and adulterous marriage to her. And so, the thought that John had come back to life totally unhinged Herod, who must of been thinking, what if it was John and he was seeking revenge?

If you don’t know the story, you can read it in Mark 6:14-28.

We aren’t told any specifics about the apostles’ ministry, but it appears that reports had come to Herod about what was going on; and although he was not sure if it was John the Baptizer back from the dead, according to Luke 9:9, Herod kept trying to see who it was that was doing these supernatural healings and casting out of demons; although he isn’t sure who it actually is.

Listen, John the Baptizer is dead, Jesus is in heaven with the Father, the Apostles are all dead; but those of us who believe in and follow Jesus Christ (crucified, resurrected, and coming again) are to continue what they started.

2Corinthians 5:17-21,

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

 
Pastor Mike
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Bible Text: Luke 8:40-56 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: book study of Luke | Above are the
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May 28, 2023
“Jesus Responds to Saving Faith”
Luke 8:40-56

        Please turn to Luke 8:40-56, and follow along as I read through it.

See Luke 8:40…  Unlike the inhabitants of Gerasa, on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, the people of Capernaum on the north western shore had been waitng for Jesus to return.

Mark 5:21 tells us there was a large crowd of people, no doubt, there were many who were hoping to be healed of their diseases, illnesses and infirmities.  Jesus was popular in Capernaum and He loved to be with the common people, to teach them God’s Word and to show them God’s compassion.

        See Luke 8:41…  A man named Jairus, a ruler in the local synagogue, falls at Jesus’ feet, pleading with Him to come to his house, as his one and only daughter, who is 12 years of age, is dying.  Mark’s narrative tells us (5:23) that Jairus said to Jesus, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.”

        See Luke 42-44…  As they begin to leave for Jairus’s house, a woman, who has suffered from an incurable bleeding affliction for 12 years, comes and touches Jesus’ outer clothing; and according to (Mark 5:28) “saying to herself, ‘If I can just touch His clothing, I’ll be healed.’”

Amazing faith, this woman believed she could be cured by simply touching Jesus’ clothing [lit. the fringe of His outer garment].  Note: A tassel fringe with a blue cord was a reminder to obey God’s commandments (Numbers 15:38), “Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue.”

Upon touching one of the tassels, the woman with the issue of blood was healed immediately (Luke 8:44) and her bleeding stopped.

Mark 5:26 tells us more about her condition, “she had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse.”  This poor woman had suffered greatly at the hands of many so-called doctors, they had taken all her money, but instead of getting better she had actually gotten worse.

        See Luke 8:45-48…  Jesus realized that power had gone out from Him, He turns around to the crowd and asks, “Who is the one who touched Me?”  Mark 5:30 records Jesus saying, “Who touched my garments?”

Peter answers, stating the obvious, saying that all these people are crowding in around the Lord, it could have been anybody.  To which Jesus says, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me.”

Jesus looks around, waits, and the woman comes to Him, falls at his feet, and tells Him what she has done; and at this point Jesus tells her she is healed and she can go in peace.  The Greek (Luke 8:48; Matthew 9:22; Mark 5:34) literally says, “your faith has “saved” you. “Go in peace?”

        See Luke 8:49-50…   We are told that while Jesus was speaking to the woman, some men came from Jarius’ house to tell him that it is too late, his daughter has died, and he should no longer bother the Teacher [Jesus]; but Jesus says to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid any longer; only believe and she will be made well [lit. saved].”

        See Luke 8:51…  Jesus only allowed Peter, James, John, and the girl’s parents, to go with Him into see Jarius’ daughter.

Matthew 9:23 tells us that Jesus entered Jairus’ home amidst a bunch of commotion, as musicians and mourners were making much noise. .

See Luke 8:52-53…  Jesus silences the crowd saying, “the girl is not dead, but is only sleeping.”  The people laugh at Jesus [lit. laugh in His face] with repeated outbursts about the girl not being dead.  Jesus sends them away and only the girl’s parents and Jesus’ 3 disciples go in to her.

        See Luke 8:54-55…   Jesus takes the girl by the hand and says, “Child arise!”  Mark 5:41, “Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”..Immediately, the girl gets up (Mark 5:42) and walks around the room, and those who are there marvel at this!

Luke 8:56…  Jesus gives strict orders for them not to tell anyone about what has happened.  Not that it was going to be kept quiet, I mean, the musicians, mourners, other family members, and friends, they were definitely going to find out and when they did, they would most likely spread the word about this miracle.

In fact, Matthew tells us (9:26), that after Jesus raises the girl back to life, “news of this spread throughout the region.”

Jesus already had a reputation for His supernatural power: healing diseases, casting out demons, feeding multitudes with a few scraps of bread and fish, calming the winds and the sea, and now, raising the dead!

Jesus’ main purpose was not to heal diseases and feed hungry people, but whenever the crowds found Him, He had compassion on them.

Jesus came to bring the Good News of Salvation, to heal sick hearts, souls, and minds, to cast out fear and unbelief. Mark 1:38, “Let us go… so I can preach… that is why I have come.” Romans 1:16, ”The good news is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”

When Jesus came, there was extensive disease, poverty and hunger among the people; He was forever reaching out to care for and love them.

According to Mark 5:43 Jesus said to Jarius’ family, “give the girl something to eat.”  Jesus had just brought this girl back to life, and she needed sustenance to regain her strength.

The Scriptures are full of examples of Jesus showing compassion to hurting people, no matter what nation, tribe, culture, or level of society they came from.

In today’s narrative, Jesus showed compassion to an outcast woman who had suffered for 12 years with an incurable disease; He then showed compassion to a synagogue official whose 12 year old daughter had become sick and died.

In both cases, there was a need that couldn’t be fulfilled by anyone else.  The truth is, it is our greatest need that brings us to God our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord, so that by believing in Him we have forgiveness for all our sins and we are eternally saved from any condemnation

Romans 3:10-12, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.  All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one”

Romans 3:22-24, “The righteousness of God [comes] through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 5:8, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 8:1-2, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

Jesus said (Luke 5:31-32) “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Whether we admit it or not, we all have a fatal disease, it is called sin, it separates us from a relationship with God and puts us at enmity with Him; and best the only cure for this fatal disease is Jesus Christ!

Jesus came to save those who are lost and separated from life with God because of sin, spiritually dead, having been taken captive by the darkness.

2Corinthians 4:4, “The god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 6, “For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

In John 10:30 Jesus said, “I and the Father are One,” (John 14:7), “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

See John 1:1-5, 9, 14, 18…

John 14:19-21, “After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” 23, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our [home] with him.”

Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”

In Jesus Christ we have the Light of God, and Life with God. 

John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me” (cf. Acts 2:21; 4:12).

Mark 1:14-15, “Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe [trust, have faith] in the gospel.’”

 
What is the Gospel?
 

1Corinthians 15:1-4, “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

God loves us so much He sent His Son to take our punishment for sin by dying on the cross; so that anyone/everyone who repents of sin and believes in Jesus Christ as Savior receives forgiveness and eternal life.

        God responds to faith that believes (1John 5:5), “Jesus is the Son of God,” He alone can save us. 11-13, “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Do you know for sure that you have received forgiveness for your sins and that you have eternal life from God?  If you are not sure, you can clear that up with God right now, right here.

2Corinthians 6:2, “For [God] says, ‘At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.’ Behold, now is ‘the acceptable time,’ behold, now is ‘the day of salvation.’”

 
Pastor Mike Hale
 

Bible Text: Luke 8:26-39 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: book study of Luke | Above are the
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May 21, 2023
“Demoniac Turned Missionary”
Luke 8:26-39

        Read Luke 8:26-39…  We left off last week with Jesus calming a storm; then rebuking the disciples for their lack of faith.  After this occurred, Jesus and His disciples continued across the lake to an area known as Gerasenes, named for the small town of Gerasa nearby, just off the shore to the east of the Sea of Galilee.

As soon as Jesus steps out of the boat (Luke 8:27) a man possessed by demons, who has come from the tombs, is there to meet Him.  In Luke 8:29 we are told that this man has an “unclean spirit”.  Note: Unclean refers to a demonic spirit that can attack a person spiritually, mentally, and physically, even indwelling an unbeliever; it can also promote false religions, false worship, and false doctrines, resulting in immorality, insanity, masochism, and all kinds of godlessness.

This demon-possessed man was frightful: living out in the tombs, the place of the dead, these tombs were cut out of the hillsides and cliffs just outside the city.  This man is insane, naked, possessed by demons. No one was able to keep him bound, no matter what was used to restrain him, for he continually broke the ropes and chains used to bind his feet and hands.

This man was in constant torment (Mark 5:5), “Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones” [he cut himself with sharp jagged rocks, probably made of flint].

Running up to Jesus (Luke 8:28) he bowed down, shouting with a loud voice, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg [implore] You, do not torment [torture] me.”

The demons know who Jesus is, in fact, Mark records an earlier encounter that Jesus had with demons (Mark. 1:16-24), “As [Jesus] was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him. They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach. They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, ‘What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!’”

Note: The Holy One of God, the ”Most High God” is an ancient title used to identify the One, True, and Living God of Israel – distinguishing Him from all false gods.

The demons recognized Jesus’ authority to do with them as He pleases, for they are fallen angels who joined Satan’s rebellion long ago.

At one time, Satan was a highly ranked angel in God’s throne room, but he rebelled against God, wanting the glory that God was receiving to be given to him also.  He was cast out of heaven (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Luke 10:18) and 1/3 of the heavenly hosts [angels] rebelled and were cast out with him (Revelation 12:4).  These angels are called demons.

The demons in Luke 8 ask Jesus not to torture them, in Matthew 8:29 they ask Jesus, “Have You come here to torment us before the time?”  They know there is an appointed time at which God will judge and send them to their eternal place of punishment in the Lake of Fire (Matthew 25:41), “the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Jesus asks the man (Luke 8:30), “What is your name?”  The demon responds out of the man’s mouth saying, “Legion, for we are many.”  [A Legion is a Roman military unit consisting of 6000 men.]

The demons beg Jesus (Luke 8:31) not to send them into the abyss [bottomless pit, Revelation 9:1-2; Satan is locked up there for 1000 years, Revelation 20:1-3]. The demons implore Jesus to let them go into the large herd of pigs feeding on the mountain [Mark 5:13 tells us there were about 2,000 swine]. Note: To an orthodox Jew, pigs are the most unclean of animals, unacceptable to be used as food. The owners of this herd of swine were either Gentiles or unorthodox Jews who didn’t follow the law.

Luke tells us (Luke 8:32-33) that Jesus gave the demons permission to enter the pigs and the herd ran down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

In Matthew 8:31-32, we read, “The demons began to entreat [Jesus], saying, ‘If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine. And He said to them, Go! [Begone!] And they came out of the man and went into the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea,” and drowned.

The men who were tending the herd (Luke 8:34), watched the pigs drown in the lake, then they ran into town and told the people all that had happened.  The people came out to see Jesus, and they found the demoniac (Luke 8:35) sitting at the feet of Jesus, totally calm, fully dressed, and in his right mind.

What a contrast to the way this man had been behaving, i.e., screaming out from the tombs, gashing himself with sharp rocks and running around naked.  Luke records that the people, when they saw the demoniac clothed, calmed and in his right mind, they became afraid!

At this point (Luke 8:36) the eyewitnesses [Jesus’ disciples and herdsman], tell the people about how the demons had gone out from the man and entered the pigs on Jesus’ command, then the large herd ran into the lake and drowned.

The people (Luke 8:37) in the region of Gerasenes, urge Jesus to leave, to go away from them!  Those people were in the presence of God’s Son, Savior and Lord, but they don’t ask Him to save them, instead they plead with Him to leave.

        Read Luke 5:1-11…  Notice, Simon Peter falls down at Jesus’ feet saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!”  Peter realizes that this miraculous catch of fish was not a coincidence; only God could do such a thing, which meant that he was in the very presence of God, Immanuel [God with us].

This was overwhelming to Peter, and no doubt to James and John as well; for this is the largest catch of fish anyone had ever seen, and it takes place in broad daylight, when the common practice on the Sea of Galilee was to fish at night.

Simon in the presence of God in Jesus, is very aware of his own sinfulness.  God in Christ is holy and righteous, to be in His presence is to be made aware of one’s sinfulness, to either seek forgiveness or to reject God’s offer of salvation.

Romans 3:10-12, “There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one.” Romans 3:23-24, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”   

God loves us so much, even though we deserve death (Romans 6:23a), “For the wages of sin is death.”  God grants us forgiveness and eternal life (Romans 6:23b), “For the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”                                Only Jesus can set us free from sin’s penalty, because He alone was able to take upon Himself our punishment for sin (Romans 5:8), “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

No wonder in John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the [only] way [to God], the [only] truth [of God], and the [only] life [from God]; [and therefore] no one comes to the Father [no one is made acceptable to God, no one goes to heaven] but through Me”

Jesus offered Himself as full payment for all sins, for all people, for all time

(Hebrews 10:12, 14, 16-18), “He [Jesus], having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,” “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: ‘I will put My laws upon their heart, and on their mind I will write them,’ He then says, ‘And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.’ Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.”

Romans 8:1-2, “Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

Back to Luke 8:38-39…  The people in the country of the Gerasenes were witnesses of Christ’s supernatural power that commanded the demons out of the man and into the pigs, also saving the demoniac’s soul and restoring his mind; but, instead of praising Jesus, the people implore Him to go away!  Luke says, “they were gripped with great fear,” and they begged Him to leave.

Jesus is rejected by them, He gets into the boat and goes back to Capernaum, and as far as we know from the biblical record, He never returned to the region of the Gerasenes.  But notice that the man who was healed implores Jesus to let him come along in the boat, he wants to be with Jesus.

The demoniac had been healed and delivered from his sin, and he wants to go with the Savior.  This man, previously possessed by a legion of demons, may be the only saved person in the whole region; Jesus tells the man to go home and to tell his family [to show them] all that God has done for him.  The man obeys and goes home, proclaiming the good news of God’s love, mercy, and power (Luke 8:39), “throughout the whole city” telling them all that “Jesus had done for him.”

The man who had been released from a Legion of demons has gone back to his people to testify to God’s mercy and grace.  God is forever extending His love to anyone who will believe in Him.

This story teaches us about the sovereign power of God, but also about the gracious, relentless, and unconditional love of God.  Even though the majority of the people in the country of the Gerasenes rejected God, God came to save one man, the demoniac, to release him from the penalty and curse of sin.

God went to great lengths to show His mercy to one lost tormented man living out in the tombs, in the region of the Gerasenes.  It is this same God, the One and Only True God, who desires that everyone come to a knowledge of the truth, confessing Jesus Christ as Lord, believing in and receiving Him as Savior.

God wants to save people, not condemn them.

1Timothy 2:3-4, “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

2Peter 3:9, “The Lord is… …patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

Romans 10:9-10, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

Romans 10:13, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”

        The healed demoniac was told to go back to his family as a witness of the salvation he had received from God.  He wasn’t discipled, neither did he sign-up for an evangelism course; instead, Jesus told him to go and tell others what God had done for him through Jesus Christ..

Near the end of Jesus’ time on earth, before ascending back into heaven, most likely on a mountain in Galilee, the resurrected Christ told a very large crowd of followers (Matthew 28:18-20), “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Do you understand what Jesus is saying?  Our purpose is simply to tell others about God’s Son, Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior.  Why do we do that?  So that they might know the truth and be set free from sin’s penalty, forever, as a child of God.

The demoniac was healed spiritually, eternally; he was then commissioned to go tell others what God had done for him.  Guess what, every genuine believer and follower of Christ, every Christian, is commissioned to do the very same thing.

2Corinthians 5:20-21,

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He [God the Father] made Him [God the Son] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [being indwelled by God the holy Spirit.

 
Pastor Mike
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Bible Text: Luke 8:16-18 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: book study of Luke | Above are the
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May 7, 2023
“Hear and Understand, Believe and Obey”
Luke 8:16-18

Six weeks ago, March 26, was the last time we were in Luke chapter 8, after which we spent several Sunday’s studying the events of Passion Week, followed by an extended study on the post-resurrection appearances of Christ.

As we open our Bibles today, let’s begin with a brief overview of Luke 8:4-15. As you may recall, this is a parable about a sower who sows seed on four different types of soil; but the seed is only able to grow and produce fruit in one of the soils.

After Jesus had told the parable of the sower (Luke 8:4-8), He called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”  His disciples didn’t understand so they

(9-10), “began questioning Him as to what this parable meant. And He said, ‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’”

Then Jesus (Luke 8:11-15) explained the parable to His disciples; revealing to them the spiritual truth it contained.  He is not just talking about a sower casting seed onto different types/conditions of soil, the seed is the gospel of Christ and the soil is the human heart, but only one of the heart conditions receives the seed, begins to grow, and produces fruit, i.e., only one of the hearts hears, understands, believes, and obeys the Word of God concerning Salvation.

Mark 1:14-15, “Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’”  17, Come, and follow Me.”  So, what exactly is the gospel?

1Corinthians 15:1-4, “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

1Peter 1:3-5, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 23, “For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.”

Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Romans 15:13, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Do you see?  At the moment of genuine belief in the death [payment for your sins] and resurrection [demonstration of eternal life] of Jesus Christ you are born-again by God’s Spirit, and you will indeed bear fruit, [do the things that please God], for you have been born of God’s Spirit, becoming a child of God, a believer and follower of Christ, a first person witness to the Salvation of God in Christ.

When you hear and understand, you either believe and obey the message of Christ, at which time all your sins are forgiven (past, present, future), or you continue to reject the message of Christ, remaining dead in your sins.
Read Luke 8:16…  In the Bible, light is often used as a metaphor for the spiritual truth and spiritual life that comes from God, referring to all things that reveal and exemplify God; whereas darkness usually refers to those things that are void of God’s person, presence, pleasure, and power.

So light is a synonym for all things God, and darkness is a synonym for all things void of God, i.e., anything that is offensive toward or displeases God.

John 8:12, “Jesus spoke to them saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

1Peter 2:9-10, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 

Matthew provides a parallel passage to Luke 8:16 (Matthew 5:14-16), “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

     God’s Church is illustrated as a lighted city on a hill; while true believers are said to be the individual lamps in each of the homes of the lighted city on the hill.                                                                                           Believing in Christ brings you into God’s Kingdom where you receive eternal life from God, in fact, the very Light [or revelation] of God, in order that you will expose unbelievers to the marvelous revelation of God in the Person of Jesus Christ.

2Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

Our purpose as Christians, is to let God’s Light show through us, so that those who are living in darkness might be exposed to God’s love and forgiveness.

Read Luke 8:17-18…  The Spirit of God exposes everything, i.e., nothing is hidden from God (Hebrews 4:12-13), “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him [to whom we must give account].”

God knows all things, even what is in our hearts.  God’s forgiveness and eternal life is granted to all who hear the message of Christ, understand it, believe it, and demonstrate obedience to it; for we have come out of the darkness of unbelief, into God’s marvelous Light, by believing in God’s Son.

See Ephesians 5:8-13…  All of us, at one time, were guilty of sin, separated from the light [revelation of God] and the life [eternal life with God], we were living in darkness; but now we are children of light, seeking to do that which pleases God.  We are not to participate in the fruitless deeds of darkness; but instead we are to expose them for all to see; for everything exposed by the light is made known.

See Ephesians 5:14-17…  The truth of God’s Holy Word, through the work of God’s Spirit, exposes all sin, so that those who are spiritually dead can be made alive through repentance of sin and belief in the Savior.

Unbelievers are spiritually dead [asleep] living in sin’s darkness, unaware of their lost condition and the judgment of God’s Wrath to come.  God wants them to wake up and receive God’s forgiveness for sin and eternal life, through His Son.

Paul offers an invitation in verse 14, to all who are not children of God, so that they might come to the light of Christ and be saved, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Then Paul continues in verses 15-17 saying, “be careful how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,” “making the most of your time,” “do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”  What is God’s will, what does He desire?
1Timothy 2:3-4, “God our Savior, …desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

In John 14:6, Jesus declares that He is the only way to God, and the only truth from God, and the only life with God; and that no one comes to the Father but through Him, God the Son [i.e., no one is made right with God, no one is forgiven their sins, no one goes to heaven] apart from believing in Christ’s sacrificial death as full payment for our sins, and His sovereign resurrection from the dead as demonstration that He is the resurrection and the life.

1John 1: 5-7, “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

God’s Word, from beginning to end, demonstrates God’s plan to separate light from darkness, forever (cf. Genesis 1:1-4; Revelation 21:23-24; 22:3-5).

Speaking to those who believe in Him, Jesus said (Matthew 5:14) “You are the light of the world.”  16, ”Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Has anyone come up to you lately and asked you what the iight is that is shining through you?  Probably not!  But if you are a Christian (a believer and follower of Jesus Christ), you will desire for the light of God to be seen in and through your life, so that, when an unbeliever asks you why you are different from the rest of the world, you can tell them it is all because of God’s Son.

John 3:16-19, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.” 36, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, for the wrath of God abides [remains] on him.”

He who has ears, let him hear!

Jesus Christ, God the Son, took our punishment for sin upon Himself, dying in our place on the cross, according to the Scriptures, He was then placed in a tomb, but on the third day, He rose from the grave alive, according to the Scriptures, demonstrating His authority over sin, death and judgement.

But that is not all, He promised that He is coming back to take all those who believe in Him, to be with Him in heaven forever, where there will no longer be any darkness; and there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain, or death, for all those things have passed away and will never return.

Now to God our Father, to God the Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, and to God the Holy Spirit, be the glory forever and ever, Amen!

 
Pastor Mike
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Bible Text: Luke 8:16 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: book study of Luke | Above are the
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March 26, 2023
“Showing God’s Light”
Luke 8:16

Last week we studied the parable of a sower casting seed onto soil.  Jesus often used parables [analogous stories] to teach sovereign truth to those who could hear and understand what He was talking about.

Read Luke 8:16…  Here we have a parable about the proper use of a lamp.  You normally light a lamp in order to make use of the light given off by it.  Once you have lighted it, you wouldn’t think of covering it up; but you might raise it up and put it on a stand or a wall-mounted holder, in order for its light to cover a larger area of the room.

Our power goes out from time to time (here on the coast), so many of us have a few battery operated and/or oil filled lanterns available, and perhaps an assortment of long burning candles, so that we are prepared when the lights go out.  When that happens, I really like the smell of lamp oil burning, along with the ambiance created by a lighted wick under a glass globe [or chimney] as light radiates into the room.

But is Luke talking about something other than the proper use and benefit of a lamp? Yes he is!  Last week in Luke 8:8, after Jesus had told the parable of the sower, and before He explained it to His disciples, He called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” [or Listen! Hear!]. 9-10, “His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant. And He said, ‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’”

Then Jesus explained the parable to His disciples; revealing to them the spiritual truth it contained.

He was not just talking about a sower casting seeds onto soil, He was talking about how human hearts respond to the Word of God concerning the gospel.  The gospel is as Paul expressed it (1Corinthians 15:1-4),

“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

At the moment of genuine belief you are born-again by God’s Spirit, and you will indeed bear fruit, i.e., do the things that please God, for you have become a child of God, a believer and follower of Christ.

In the Bible, light is often used as a metaphor for the spiritual truth and spiritual life that comes from God, referring to all things that reveal and exemplify God; whereas darkness, in the Bible, is usually symbolic of those things that are void of God’s character, i.e., the revelation of His presence, pleasure, and power.

Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

John 8:12, “Jesus spoke to them saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

John 1:1-4, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.”

John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” 18, “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained [revealed or shown] Him.”

John 14:6-7, Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

1Peter 2:9-10, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 

When Paul stood before King Agrippa (Acts 26) making a defense for the charges brought against him by the Jews, he recounted what had happened on the road to Damascus (cf. Acts 9), when he was confronted by Jesus and fell to the ground and became blind (Acts 26:15-18), “The Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’”

Wow!  Paul was blind and Jesus is telling him that he will be sent to the Gentiles “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God.”  Do you see that?  Those who belong to God are Light in the Lord, those who reject Christ are darkness with the devil himself.

In Acts 9:8-9 we read, “Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”

See Acts 9:10-20…   Saul’s spiritual vision is healed completely, yes he regains his physical sight, but more importantly, he is granted spiritual life and his spiritual sight is clear, for (verse 20) “immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’”

2Corinthians 4:3-4, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 6, “For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

In Matthew (5:14-15) and Mark (4:21), we find parallel passages to the what read earlier today in Luke 8:16, but Matthew’s account is much more revealing, so let’s take a look and see what it reveals.

Read Matthew 5:14-16…  Jesus illustrates God’s Church as a lighted city on a hill; travelers in the valley below or on hills far away can see the lights of this city, it serves as a beacon to them.  Believers are like individual lamps in individual homes, providing light to the occupants, who would otherwise be in darkness.

Christians are to shine God’s light, for we were all, at one time, living in darkness, guilty of sin, separated from the light and life of God.  Believing in Christ brings you into the Light, where you receive Life from God.

John 12:46, “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.”

1John 1:5, “God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.”  “Light” = God’s righteousness and truth; “darkness” = all that is false, all that does not please nor honor nor reflect God.

Hebrews 1:3 declares God’s Son to be the “radiance of God’s glory,” the very “Light” of God; and if Christ is in you, His light will shine in and through your life.

God’s original plan included separating Light from Darkness; He will one day remove darkness forever.

Genesis 1:1-4, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.”

Revelation 21:1-4, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” 23, “And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.”

Revelation 22:5, “And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them.”

    Hear again Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

     Our purpose as Christians, is to let God’s Light shine through us, so that those living in darkness might find their way to God’s love and forgiveness.

1Peter 2:11-12, “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

1Peter 3:15, “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”

As God’s children, we are to live in such a way that unbelievers see the Light of God in us, for Christ is our example (1John 2:4-6), “The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”

Ephesians 5:1, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” 6-13, “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.”

Paul offers an invitation (Ephesians 5:14-17) to those who have not believed and received Jesus Christ, to those who do not have the light and life of God, “For this reason it says [Isaiah 60:1], ‘Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is,”

(Romans 12:2), “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

1John 1:5-7, “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

 
Pastor Mike
>’(((><