Epaggelia

Jesus came to give us an abundant life, John 10:10. We should all be wanting to grow His fruit, especially in view of John The Immersionist’s warning, God says through John, “And now also the axe is laid to the root of the trees: therefore every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Matthew 3:10) God wants to grow the best in us, from the very beginning, mankind has been too keen on an alternative fruit, which is seen in Adam & Eve eating the forbidden fruit. We certainly do not want to live lives that make other people think we have grown fruit, but inwardly, we know we are empty. We need to take this seriously because of the way Jesus treated the fig tree. One “day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. (Mark 11:12), later on “When evening came, they went out of the city. In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered! “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered., Mark 11:19-22. If we have faith that God will provide fruit in our lives and quit trying to give ourselves or other people the false impression that we are fruitful spiritually, then God will bless us, strengthen us and help us enjoy being a Christian, so that others may become Christians too. Jesus hates hypocrisy, and He killed the fig tree which gave a false impression. It was “in leaf” but it was the wrong time of year to be “in leaf” and ready to pick fruit from, so when Jesus cursed it, he cursed it for it’s false hypocritical impression. Since this is the only record of Jesus killing something, we should make every effort to be honest with ourselves, God and others, when it comes to showing and using the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.So let us choose to give God everything we need as He wants to grow the fruit of the Spirit which can only be found in Christ. There are five passages in the New Testament which describe His fruit, they are Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 5:9, Hebrews 12:11, and James 3:18, herein we find 12 words God uses to describe His singular fruit.. It is interesting to note that in Revelation, upon seeing all the glory of the end product of Christians in Heaven, the Tree of Life reappears and behold it continually bears 12 different kinds of fruit.. We may suggest that as we are born in Christ, we bear His fruit which is described as singular in several passages of the New Testament, but after we have been transformed and fully delivered in Heaven, we will see all these characteristics of Christ’s fruit, in their full glory, perhaps this is what the fruit on the Tree of Life in Revelation 22:2, represents. So let us learn all about the different parts of the Holy Spirit’s fruit to grow in our heart in this abundant life Jesus wants to give us here and now.

1. Love, Gal. 5:22
2. Joy, Gal. 5:22
3. Peace, Gal. 5:22
4. Patience, Gal. 5:22
5. Goodness, Gal. 5:22, Eph. 5:9.
6. Faithfulness, Gal. 5:22
7. Kindness, Gal. 5:22
8. Gentleness, Gal. 5:23
9. Self-control, Gal. 5:23
10. Holiness, Romans 6:22
11. Righteousness, Ephesians 5:9, Hebrews 12:11, James 3:18
12. Truthfulness, Ephesians 5:9

In the field of Reproduction and Botany, scientists have learnt that fruit is distinguished from vegetables as any flowering growth from the plant that has it’s seeds inside. This is why tomatoes as well as apples are often classed as fruit. Botanists have given fruit 12 different general characteristics or parts.
The following parts are around the seed.
1. Exocarp (outer skin)
2. Mesocarp (flesh of fruit)
3. Pericarp (flesh around seed, usually higher in fructose)
4. Endocarp (material around seed) in peaches it is the stone.
5. Pedical (part of stem which goes inside the fruit)
The following parts are all inside the seed
6. Endosperm
7. Scutellum
8. Cotyledon
9. Plumule
10. Hypocotyl
11. Radicle
12. Coleorhiza

There are over 300,000 species of flowering plants that bear fruit, the majority have these 12 parts in them. This is the result of a Designer. We believe Our God, who made physical fruit also grows spiritual fruit. He designs both kinds with 12 parts and so desires each Christian be benefited with growing His spiritual fruit which contains all 12 parts described in the New Testament. Let us put our full faith in God as Creator and powerful enough to create His characteristics in our lifestyle, as we read His word and pray about His will to be worked out in our life. It is no coincidence that Jesus portrayed the word of God as the seed of the Kingdom. Notice how many parts of the fruit is inside the physical seed of fruit and how complex and necessary it is for the fruit’s existence and reproduction. This benefits everyone who enjoys the fruit. Are you growing and enjoying the fruit of the Spirit, which God wants to grow in your life?

Let us consider these twelve words from the Biblical list above:

1. LOVE: This is not the kind of love ‘rock stars’ sing about, but rather, it is a kind of love that multitudes have sung about over centuries and a love that will spring future generations into song for as long as time lingers into eternity. God is actually described as this kind of love. An eternal life giving love, which is patient and kind, never showing envy or boasting; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, (1st Corinthians 13:4-7). Actually this kind of love is not really human, it’s divine. We should praise God for making us in His image, an image that can taste His love and imitate it. God’s faithful children of centuries past did this and reflected it in the Psalms. All they could do was taste it and try to emulate it, but now, Christians get it poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, (Romans 5:5). His love is everflowing into our hearts and it is up to us, as to how it grows and shows. The old TV show, “love is a many splendored thïng” may be just a cliche for alot of us, but the truth is, the many splendored love of God yearns to be shown off from within our hearts. The nature of God’s love is to share and render service to people who don’t deserve it. This is done in many different and wonderous ways in our daily life, (or should be…).

Perhaps that is why Jesus calls his disciples to be lights in the world, having a love which shines brighter in all directions. Peter and Jesus had a discussion which highlights the aim of God’s love. John 21:15-17 records Jesus using the word ‘love’ in the divine sense (agape) as described above, in a question to Peter about his love for Jesus. Peter always uses a different word for love (phileo) in reply to the question Jesus asks over and over again. Peter ends up feeling frustrated that Jesus persists in talking about agape love, insinuating that Peter’s love is lacking something. The ingredient Peter lacked was a devoted decision to feed God’s sheep, pending any problem, Peter needed a courageous love in order to do the work Jesus had planned for him.

Feeding God’s sheep is sometimes a burden, and without our hearts obtaining the passionate commitment that is found in God’s love, we will fail. No matter how apathetic people are, we need to speak the truth in love. No matter how abusive people are, God needs us to lovingly turn the cheek. No matter how ignorant people are in the church, we need to patiently and humbly do what ever it takes to attract them to the grace and knowledge of Jesus. This is God’s agape love in action, from our hearts. God knows we cannot emulate His love in our daily life, all by ourself. It is part of the fruit of His Spirit, He must grow in us. What are you giving your heart, to make it good ground for healthy growth of God’s love in your heart?

Paul reminds us that our heart should be rooted in His love. He says, “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19). We can give our heart good food to grow His love by, in praying this prayer and learning more about it from His word. His love WILL show.

JOY, No one will deny that the world is a beautiful place, neither will anyone deny that it is easier to be miserable in this world than it is to be beautiful. Just because the world may be beautiful, doesn’t mean, we feel beautiful all the time, the fact is, most of the time, the world can be a very miserable place in which to live. Let’s look at some ways Christians can be happy! It is God’s will that we be happy! Philippians 4:4, Rejoice always! This may possibly be the tallest order in the Christian’s life. Part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is JOY, Gal, 5:22-23. God wants to grow this in every Christian’s daily life. He gives us His Spirit in our spirit to be with us and grow the joy of Jesus. What is the joy of Jesus? Jn 15:11, whatever it is, it is something He wants us to KEEP ON enjoying with one another, much like loving one another, Jn. 13:34. It is permanent and absolute. When you GET to do what your Parent wants you to do, you are happy to be around them and be with you, BUT? When you GOT to do what your Parents want you to do, it’s not easy to be happy about it.The Bible is your resource guide on how to live your life, experiencing real satisfaction and happiness. Let’s keep the following principles in the forefront of our minds and at the centre of our hearts.

a. “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them” – (Jn. 13:15-17. Learn a servant’s attitude, serving others, takes your mind off of your troubles.

b. “There is no temptation that has overtaken you, which is not common to man, but God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tempted above that which you are able to bear, but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1Cor. 10:13). Learn that you are not alone, millions & millions of people have and are suffering the same thing and that as a Christian, God will provide a way of escape, as well as help you to find others in the church to help bear your burden, (Gal. 6:1-3). This is worth being happy about.

c. “Now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Jesus Christ throughout all ages, world without end” (Eph. 3:20-21). Learn that prayer is a real channel of blessing for us to make contact with the power of God that works in us, to do things that we can’t even imagine or ask for. This is a means of communication we must be joyful about! Go through life with the power of God working through prayer in you.

d. “For he that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no deceit, let him turn from evil and do good, let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1Pet. 3:10-12). It doesn’t get any plainer than this. Speak and live the truth, obey God and you’ll be happy!

e. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18). Learn that the miserable part of life is very temporary in comparison to eternity. For the Christian an eternity of joy and bliss awaits those who abide faithful in this life.

f. “but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” – Jesus (Jn. 16:33). The Christian has a friend that is closer than a brother, He has experienced pain and misery, Jesus. We have a High Priest that can sympathise with our sin, because he took it on himself on the cross. We have more than fellow mankind to share our burden with, we have Jesus and His Spirit, the God of all comfort. Jesus has overcome the misery of this world and everything in it. Since we are more than conquerors, He wants to suffer with us, Col. 1:24, let us be happy about the love of God in our sufferings.

g. “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say rejoice” (Php. 4:4). Learn that this is more than just advice, rejoicing is a command. James tells us, if a man be happy, let him sing, (Jms. 5:16). If your happy, God wants you to sing about it! Let’s be happy. God wants it that way, we want it, let’s do it!

Seven principles to happiness as a Christian.

Serve others.

Share your burden and look for your escape.

Pray for power to do good.

Put that power to good effect by SpeakingTruth.!

Believe that faith in eternal glory is better than temporary pain.

Remember Jesus has overcome the world for you, he sympathizes and wins the battle, don’t fight it alone.

Remember rejoicing is a command, sing it! Paul says in 2 Cor. 6:8-10 that the attitude we all have access to, even on a weary monday morning is.., “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing”. Paul said, “in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds”, 2Cor. 7:4. Why? Because it is God’s gift, not my own.

3. PEACE, Jesus Christ Himself is our peace. This is easily understood when we accept the definition of the Greek word for ‘peace’, eirene. In Gal. 5:22 & Eph. 2:14.

Peace is a part of Him, which He wants us to enjoy at all times and in every way we can enjoy it, 2Ths. 3;16. Peace is His ability to make friends, overcoming anxiety and conflict between Him and us individually and personally. If it were not for the loving self-sacrifice of Jesus, we would have no hope at all, of ever becoming friends with our Creator, God, the Father and Lord of Heaven and Earth. Because of our sinfulness, we are often enemies towards Him and maybe more often in frustration against His will, because of our own sinful selfishness. The whole passage of Ephesians 2:11-22 needs to be read for a real good grasp of God’s peace in your mind.

When His fruit grows in our heart, we find a friendship with God as Abraham himself had such a continual and growing relationship with Him. Abraham is called the Friend of God, James 2:23, so lets consider the faith of Abraham and make it our own so we can enjoy the same friendship Abraham had. A faith that obeyed God’s word, against all the odds, Abraham travelled on a journey not knowing exactly where he would be finished. When he got there, he found it was famine stricken, but still gave thanks for it, and offered a sacrifice of thanksgiving. For survival he fled to Eygpt and when strengthened he returned to the land God promised and showed to him, that is real faith! Abraham also was patient and waited on the promise of God for a son, for several long years and despite all the odds of old-age, he continued with his barren wife, not forsaking her, but in a normal marriage relationship, she conceived and successfully bore a son in old age, what faith! And then if that wasn’t enough faith, Abraham showed more, when God asked him to sacrifice his son, Abraham tried, but God’s angel stopped him. Can we faithfully obey God, even when it seems dangerous? Abraham did, so can we. Greater is He that is within us, than he that is in the world. 1John 4:4.

Friendship with God helps us overcome many problems. His peace growing in our hearts gives us strength to overcome anxiety and worry in our daily life. Stress is today’s modern day number one killer, and we Christians fall victim to it, all too often. Philippians 4:4-9 needs to be read, prayed about and memorized by every single modern day Christian on earth, especially in our race-crazed modern lifestyle of push-button work ethics. God did not make human beings to be pushed for every hour of the day in a production line. We need to take to heart God’s word in Philippians 4:4-9 seriously, read it now and don’t stop! Of course it is true, God made us with physical bodies which can work and work hard. Jesus knew hard work as a carpenter and He also worked so hard as a teacher, that one day he was so exhausted he fell asleep in a boat crossing across a 2 mile lake! The apostle Paul taught the Christians in Thessalonica to not be lazy but work, 2Ths. 3:7-9. However, we must ask ourselves the question, ‘what are we working for?’ This may help us balance our work and rest, setting priorities where Jesus would set them. His peace we experience with Him will insure we do not overwork ourselves too often, especially when it matters most, our mental and emotional state of well-being must be kept in good shape if we are to overcome evil with good in this earthly life. Our physical health will eventually be depleted as Paul reminds us, the outer person perishes, but the inner person is renewed by His Spirit. 2Cor. 4:16.

Jesus condemned worry, in Matthew 6:25-34. But we all fall into that type of sinfulness all too often. Why? Maybe we should ask, Why should we avoid it? Firstly, it’s no good for us whatsoever! Secondly, it’s a complete waste of time. Thirdly, if we are worrying, we are not trying to find God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. Therefore, we are lost, without His rule and with out His goodness in our lives. His peace can help us rest on Him for answers and solutions coming at the right time after we have fulfilled His righteousness in our lives and done what is good to the best of our ability. There comes a time in every problem we approach, when we must stop and pray, casting our cares upon Him because He cares for us, 1Peter 5:7. Or do we really believe He cares for us. This may be why we worry too much, because we don’t REALLY believe God does care. If we do believe this, then we are walking in His friendship and are at peace with Him.

Reading Psalm 46, is a great source for understanding peace by God’s definition. The Psalmist makes clear that the mere presence of God can be used as a source of peace. The Psalmist also goes on about finding security for the future is such a reality, he can’t help but praise God in song about it, read Psalm 91:1-16. But no matter how much peace you may experience with God in your own mind, body and spirit, there is always that problem with the neighbors which will not go away. God understands that peace should be practical, and not just beneficial to yourself. Romans 12:17-21 was God’s way of showing us all that He understands what it takes to pursue peace with other people around us and that it is necessary to pursue it for our own satisfaction and other people’s eventual salvation. To implement what Paul teaches about pursuing peace with my neighbour, it helps immensely to have an understanding of a few proverbs God gave us through Solomon. Read Prv. 25:21-22 and remember the reasoning behind the law in Dueteronomy 32:35. Whatever the problem, trying to imitate Jesus is our source for showing what real peace means. Whether we battle with National pride, ethnic superiority, class distinctions, religious bigotry, sexism or ageism, we all have a right to know what God wants us to aim for and pray to obtain it. Are you growing this part of the fruit of His Spirit?

4. PATIENCE: When we seem least inclined to be patient, that is when we need it moreso than ever, to be patient at the time. We can be encouraged to grow in patience if we look at its benefits in the book of Proverbs. Read Proverbs: 14:29, 15:18, & 19:11. Patience is often called perseverance because of the need to keep going with the truth. Often times we find that patience is best shown, when we are keeping our thoughts focused on the underlying truth, instead of letting our thoughts rush forward on to things that don’t really matter during the moment our patience is being tested. James chapter 5 is an important chapter for us to understand if we are going to grow in persevering patience. Sometimes, the reason we are not as patient as we should be is because we are NOT focused on the right motivating truth, or the correct reason for doing something. If our motives are wrong, we will lose patience and get frustrated in our task, whatever it is. But if we keep an attitude or motive for doing something because we are trying to imitate Jesus in the task, then we will find the patience to keep on going and persevere to the end, tasting personal satisfaction and achievements. Sometimes the need for speed, works against us, when we really should be falling in love with the virtue of slowness. This is real obvious when a driver is on a road that is strange to him, or when his car is not working properly. The driver is struggling to navigate, or keep the car running, and all the other drivers just don’t understand, they get frustrated and disgusted, sometimes causing a wreck and always scaring other drivers. All because of two truths: 1) The other drivers do not know the truth. 2).The other drivers are not patient enough to slow down and value safety as more important than a few minutes extra driving time.

James 1:19-27 has three paragraphs in it, which at first glance may not seem to be connected in theme, but read them slowly and you will see: A-working righteousness. B-doing the word and doing the work. C-practicing pure religion. All of these necessitate patience on our part. One of the best ways to show patience is in the act of forgiveness. Matthew 18:15-35, it takes persevering patience to practice what Jesus demands of us, when we wrong someone, or when we ourselves are wronged by someone else. It is not easy to approach someone who has offended you, and neither is it easy to approach someone you have offended. It is hard for both people to confront eachother in a painful issue, but Jesus says we must do it! Why? Because without one of us finding the strength to go and talk, the weaker person will fester in the pain and even worse things happen in the future. But if the hurt person is patient with the wrongdoer, or if the wrongdoer is patient with the hurt person, then the strength or courage is found to make a confrontation in a way that recognizes the presence of Christ’s Spirit and the process of forgiveness takes place, starts to take place, Matthew 18:19-20.Patience is also needed between us and God. All of us are at loggerheads with God at one point in our life or sometimes quite often. It is usually because of our impatience with any given situation, that causes most humans to get very frustrated with God. Psalm 40:1-5 is a good text to learn why we should wait on the Lord. Waiting on things like a phone call from a friend is just an inconvenience, compared to a childless couple waiting for a child, or a single person for marriage, or a chronically ill person for health or death, or people in dead-end careers for a breakthrough, or people in unhappy marriages for a solution. These kinds of “waitings” often get people on their knees begging for the answer to such a painful question: “How long, O Lord?”. Understanding what kind of hope God puts in our heart is important. Without a real faith in the promises and rewards of God, our hope gets weak and we get confused about our aim in life. Without a real faith in the past blessings and wonderful works of God in the past, and we forget that God is a rewarder and lose patience. Remember Hebrews 11:6 is true for people in the past as well as ourself in the present and we look forward with hope to see how it comes true in our future, no matter what difficult and painful situation we find ourself in. The very end of Romans chapter 8, helps many Christians to keep hoping and waiting and going to the very end! Romans 8:18-28. The ultimate goal and reward is yet to come for each Christian that tries to let God grow patience in our life. We can not grow it ourself, we must wait on the Lord to grow it. This means we must pray for His timing and wisdom, keeping our mind focused on our need for more patience and God will work everything in our life out, for our good. The glory to come and the rewards within this part of life, are worth waiting for, no matter what pain we suffer. Because His glory and rewards we share in, are greater and better and more glorious than any hardship we could suffer here on earth.

Key Text: Luke 13:22-35.

No matter what the enquirer meant by the word, “Saved”, v23, Jesus replied in terms of entrance into the Kingdom of God. Jesus tells us to, “make every effort”, v24, in our search for eternal life. Why? Entrance into His Kingdom is only for those who love Him and can submit to His authority. What stops people from making every effort? Two things:
Firstly, pride in our own life, 1Peter 5:6, instead of God’s life.
Secondly, procrastination towards godliness, 2Cor. 6:2, instead of submitting now, as in today.

Procrastination is dangerous because no one knows when the master of the house will shut the door, v25. This is like the absence of the virgins, when the groom arrives. Mt. 25:10. Our entrance into His Kingdom rests on two principles. Firstly for God to know us and secondly for Him to know where we are from, v27.

Our efforts should prove to God that in the past, we originated from Him and that because of our sin, we are now needing His redemption to become redeemed sinners. If our lifestyle reflects our own pride, and will not recognize our sin, then we will have a lifestyle that works unrighteousness. We cannot do what is right, if we are continually telling our self two lies. Firstly that we think we are independent of God and don’t need Him, and secondly that we do what is right because of our own wit and strength, when in fact, we are entirely dependent on His goodness, His strength and His word wherein lay His wisdom. People have always erred and wasted their lives before God, because of our own ignorance of God’s word and power, Mt. 22:29. Jesus proclaimed to Jews that foreigners, “from the north, south, east and west” v29 will be in the Kingdom, and they would not. Why? Because they thought that their origin and position with God made them better than any one else. This attitude and lifestyle was disgusting to God, and He promised them bitter weeping and tormenting regret, for the day was coming when they would see their Jewish fathers of the faith in His Kingdom and be cut off from them.

The Pharisees wouldn’t stand for these ideas and told Jesus to leave. They would not admit Jesus was correct and used the excuse of Herod’s anger, instead of their own for telling him to leave. Jesus knew Herod was not angry with Him, but that Herod was merely curious and would lie to get an audience with Jesus. Herod Antipas only killed John the Immersionist because he was trapped in a foolish promise, not out of anger towards the truth of who He was or what He preached. Why Jesus called Herod a fox is to show us that Jesus refuses the trickery of Herod to use the Pharisees in his ploy to get him into Jerusalem. Herod’s only interest in Jesus was to make a show of His miracles, Luke 23:8. Jesus wanted him to know that His miracles were for those who needed them, not for the rich and influential. The final destination of Jesus was Jerusalem, but He wouldn’t come at any one’s request or dare. Only on the timescale of Jesus would God want our ultimate sacrifice to be made. Through His death, He would be glorified, not through any so-called King’s show of a miracle.

All of God’s efforts throughout history in using the prophets, seemed to result in Jerusalem’s rejection, 1Kg. 19:10, 2Ch. 24:20. The very thought of Jerusalem, made Jesus sad. Two facts He teaches us about Jerusalem, firstly, the majority in the city were not willing to accept the love of God, and secondly God’s house in Jerusalem (the Temple) was empty of God’s presence, v34-35. Actually the only way for Jerusalem to see Jesus was when he entered with a crowd heralding his authority, Mk. 11:8-11. Only at that time, would God’s efforts rule supreme from Golgotha near Jerusalem, and He’s been saving people ever since!

The Collection for the Saints, v1-12

God wants every Christian in every congregation to participate on Sunday. The amount the individual Christian contributes should be based on the amount he/she has prospered. How we understand our prosperity should be one of the factors that determines how much we give. This principle God shows through Paul, actually does demand our honesty before God, because no one wants to be ignorant of their profit or loss. Other factors God mandates in our contribution is firstly our Purpose and secondly our Cheerfulness, 2 Cor. 9:7.  What is our purpose in our heart when we give? Whatever your reason for giving, should be a motivating force behind the amount. Intentional giving is a necessity for us, we should  never give to God in a lackadaisical or apathetic way. Lets do the math and pay attention to our profit or loss in our bank account and purpose in our heart a certain amount! When we do this, it can help us feel good about our giving. We are not addressing tithing a particular percentage, but we are teaching that we should commit to a particular amount. Cheerfulness is a strong word. In the Greek it is Hilaros, the origin of our English, hilarious. Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than receive, Acts 20:35. God wants us to be happy with the amount we give. Do we give to the extent that it makes our hearts feel joyful? If we do, that is called liberal and gracious giving, 1^st Cor. 16:3, 2^nd Cor. 8:1-5, 9:13.

Devotion means to be in… v13-18

Constant vigilance. For what are we to look for? Each other’s welfare.

Remain firmly planted. In what? The truth, 2Ths. 2:15.

Be brave. Why? For the Devil hunts us as prey. Be a Barnabas, Ac. 11:24.

Be strengthened. By who? The comfort of God, 2Cor. 1:4-7.

Be as addicted as the family of Stephanas. Follow your leaders in service.

Submit to each other in Teamwork. Why? To give God the glory.

Acknowledge your leaders to the extent that you get to know them well.

Love, v19-24

Greetings between Christians in the church should be warm and sincere. Everyone has barriers and reservations in revealing themselves to each other, but those fears should not stop us from genuinely greeting one another, especially as we assemble to worship as a congregation. Why should our greeting be so intense? Because it is “in the Lord”, v19. God has given us a relationship in His Spirit, our tie together is holy and spiritual, therefore when we physically meet each other, we should truly recognize this unity in a sincere way. What is this way? In Corinth during the 1 century, it was actually kissing on the cheek, but not in Corinth today. Modern Greece is different now, and everyone recognizes warm and sincere greetings as hugs. However, in France today, they still do kiss each other’s cheeks. There may be variations in cultures around the world, but whatever our societies acceptance of genuine sincerity is, is exactly what we should be showing in the context of God’s holiness that we share in, Rom. 16:16. When Paul wrote letters to Christians and met with Christians, he always invoked emotions! 1Cor. 16:24, Titus 3:15,  2Pet. 1:7-8, 22, Heb. 13:1, Rom. 12:10. Cold austerity is not Christian. We should have more in our greeting, then just frank friendliness. If a handshake is a genuinely warm and sincere greeting, then make it loving, holy and firm! Maranatha is a word used to show our faith in the fact that all wrongs will be made right when Jesus comes again. Lovers win, the unloving lose!

Key Texts: Mt. 18:1-5, Mk. 9:33-37, Lk. 9:46-48

After Jesus had described his ultimate sacrifice and was glorified in the transfiguration, something very childish takes place. The disciples asked him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” In the context of Christ’s absence, they are already planning on leadership! They had a fleshly attitude about the nature of God’s kingdom. Many of our problems stem from this attitude of worldly ambition. Jesus called a little child and sat the child by Himself, between his disciples and then took the child in his arms (Mk. 9:36, 10:16)  and said that if we want to be true Christians, we must turn, repent, change and become like little children in order to even enter the kingdom of heaven, much less be considered great in God’s kingdom. This child’s placement by Jesus may show the progression of each of us in the change that we must undergo. Then the person who humbles himself like a little child is the greatest in the kingdom of God! This is likened to the statement made of John the Immersionist, Mt. 11:11.  Rather than greatness, it is truly equality that Jesus aspires us to. Memory verses like, Luke 9:48, 22:26, Matthew 20:26, 23:11, Mark 10:43 will help the most prideful of people to grow into the “little child” which represents the humble and childlike disciple that will submit and accept God’s love. What is God’s love? Agape, the dedicated decision to show someone else that their needs are more important than our own. Who was it that showed Jesus, that He was loved? Whoever gave Him a hug or a pat on the back? When Jesus took the child in his arms, what would any child do? Hug Him back! Jesus emptied himself of heaven’s glory and humbled himself even to death, Php 2:5-8. Those who would be like Jesus must share that type of humility. It is not the kind of humility that says, I’m not good enough to serve, but rather, it’s the kind of humility that says it’s a privilege to serve under some one else. Why? Because this is truly the only way forgiveness can be felt and experienced between us and God, Eph. 4:32, it’s the Way God accomplished our forgiveness. So if we practice it with each other, why wouldn’t God honor it? He will, because Jesus is the Way, Jn. 14:6.  Even on the most personal of sins against each other which would not affect a third person, God is concerned and provides His presence to help us, Mt. 18:20. The offended is obligated to show humility in initiating forgiveness, Mt 18:15‑17. The offender is obligated to show humility in initiating forgiveness, Mt 5:23‑24.  God expects all of us to do this.

Key Text: Mt. 16:21-17:9, Mk. 8:34-9:13, Lk. 9:22-36

To strengthen the fleshly person of Jesus with the work of God’s divine person in Jesus, demands a special event to render the entire being of Jesus, able to voluntarily take hold of death and defeat it. That is the purpose of the event we call the transfiguration of Jesus.

After Peter had confessed his faith in Jesus as the Christ and Son of God. Jesus begins to foretell his own death & resurrection, Mt. 16:21, by teaching all his disciples that his death was laying down a principle we all must accept and apply to our daily life.  This principle is essential to experience, if we want to follow Him and see God, Mt. 16:24-28. What else do we need in order to see God? Read Hebrews 12:14.

Matthew, Mark & Luke were not eye-witnesses of the transfiguration but they were near and wrote of it.  John was an eyewitness, but he seems to avoid it, In the gospel of John, there are three occasions of Jesus speaking about his death, 3:14, 8:28 & 12:32.  The eye-witness experience of John in the transfiguration, to him, seems to be of no high priority for possibly three reasons. 1-He knew the earlier gospels already recorded it. 2-His personal credentials are of no real consequence since his gospel seems to be written to a future generation, Jn. 20:29-31, 21:24-25, putting an emphasis on the deity of Jesus, rather than his own additional details. Lastly, his theme of Jesus being the light of the world is unique to his account and His life or light was handled, Jn. 1:1-14, 8:12,  1^st Jn. 1:1-7, this is unique to John and may be his way of expounding on his personal experience of His glory in the transfiguration, it’s sort of his way of teaching on what the transfiguration meant, proof that God’s light is indeed shining in a dark world even today.

God is “well pleased” with Jesus, Mt. 17:5. We are godly when we find Jesus pleasing. God does not want us to be “ashamed” of Jesus, Mk. 8:38. The exact opposite is desired of God, and that is to confess Jesus before humanity in our daily lives, Mat. 10:32.  God wants “daily” living sacrifices from us, Lk. 9:23. This is the whole point of why Jesus told them and us of his death and went through it, so that our sacrifices can be acceptable to God in His blood. It is humbling to recognize that God can not accept the sacrifices of charities, soldiers or any individual, unless that sacrifice is holy and perfected by the blood of Jesus.

Moses & Elijah (Law & Prophecy) were both enforcing the fact of his crucifixion as the means by which the demands of God’s law (Moses) would be satisfied and His prophecy (Elijah) would be fulfilled as true. Lk. 9:28-30.If we will listen to Jesus, we will be learning about the law of faith in Christ, Gal. 6:1-2.If we will listen to Jesus, we will be a living fulfilment of prophecy, Jer. 31:31-33, 2Cor. 3:2-3.

“Glory” is sometimes understood in many different ways. We may glory in something, as in rejoicing or being glad about a person’s fame. That is using glory as a verb, in the Greek, that is Kauchema. But here in the transfiguration of Jesus, we see God’s glory as a noun, a different word in the Greek, it is Doxa. The noun is used in two different ways, to speak of His splendorous illumination from Heaven, and also to speak of His divine attributes which influence humanity. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, it was spoken of as God’s glory, Jn. 11:4, and also when Paul spoke God’s attributes in the earth as “glory”, Romans 1:19-23.

What do we ‘glory’ in? Do we desire to see His glory, here and in the future?

Key Text: Mark 8:22-26

Philip, Peter, Andrew, James and John were all from the fishing town of Bethsaida, it means “place of fish.”. It was one of the ten cities known as the “Decapolis.” Located on the Sea of Galilee near Capernaum. Bethsaida Galilee, is one that came under Christ’s contempt in Mt. 11:21, “Woe to you, Korazin!  Woe to you, Bethsaida!  If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”  Isaiah had foretold that the Messiah would give sight to the blind, physically and spiritually, Isaiah 29:18, And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. Many times Jesus healed the blind, see a few more examples , Mk 10:46-52, Mt 9:27-31, 15:29-31, Jon 9:1-7.  

Spit was used with a few miracles, Mk. 7:33, John 9:6. We are told that for us, oil is an acceptable way to approach God for healing via the prayers of Elders, James 5:14, Mark 6:13. But more prominent in meaning, may be the apparent difference in scripture between the use of God’s spit, and the way man’s spit is used. Mt. 26:67, 27:30, Mk. 10:34, 14:65, Luke 18:32. For us to spit on someone, is to show disgust and hate, this is true amongst the Jews in the Old Testament, Dt. 25:9. But Jesus emphasizes his compassion towards this man, so perhaps his spit is directed towards God’s disdain for disease. He showed the same compassion towards the deaf & mute man in Mk. 7:33-35. This miracle is full of signs of compassion, but yet hate for the pain & suffering caused by the ailment. Be gentle as doves and wise as serpents, Mt. 10:16.

1, Jesus takes the blind man out of town to lessen the spectacle & enigma.

2, Jesus leads him by the hand to help.

3, Jesus may be using spit to help heighten the mans expectation that he is about to be healed.

4, Jesus tells him to go home, instead of publicizing the event.Our work for the Lord should be sensitive to the concerns of the needy.

The only deductive reasons we can offer for the progressive nature of this miracle, is the fact Mark uniquely records about the blind man being brought by friends. It may be implied that the blind man had no faith in Jesus, or maybe Jesus knew the man would be sent into shock if he received his sight immediately, or maybe his blindness made him feel depressed and discouraged from having any hope? If this is true, perhaps Jesus is trying to be powerfully merciful to someone who is not altogether convinced of His mercy? How hard is it for us to do good and help someone who does not want our help? Practically impossible for us, but Jesus perseveres!

Key Text: Luke 1:5-79

How many couples have you heard about going through IVF to have a baby. They go through all the appointments and treatment, and sadly, no baby. Then after it’s all over, a month later, a pregnancy?  How many couples have adopted a baby in resignation that they can’t have one of their own, and then after the adoption, then all of a sudden, a pregnancy! Even though Zacharias is married, he can not bring himself to believe Gabriel’s promise is true. If we can see what seems to be impossible, made possible by natural means, then why couldn’t Zacharias see what seems to be impossible by supernatural means? His faith in God’s power is absent! He knew the law and obeyed it, but he did not know the power of God. Jesus grew up to rebuke people like this, Mk. 12:24.  After Elisabeth conceived and her pregnancy developed, Zacharias began to learn to accept God’s power, this motivated him to give Elisabeth a written explanation of the baby’s name. Elisabeth knew his name was to be John, v60-63.

When God’s grace was born to Elisabeth, then Zacharias blessed God. It is written in Greek, but in content, Luke  put it in the counterpart form like a Hebrew Psalm, the earliest it appeared outside the Bible was in Gaul by Caesarius of Arles, appx 529AD. His words are Praise (v64), Prophecy  (v67) and Adoration (v68) saying…

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he swore to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high has visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Lk 1:68-79.

This song is a celebration of God’s government of grace, the visitation of God in the form of a Savior, a Messiah, v68, 78. That is why God & Gabriel wanted the baby’s name to be John – meaning, the grace of the Lord. He wanted Zacharias to realize he didn’t deserve this baby, John was a special gift, reward and blessing. We should bless God for each one of our children, because God sees them ALL as rewards and blessings, Psalm 127:3 & Psalm 127:4-5.

This visitation was God honouring Zacharias & Elisabeth.

Spouses are taught to honor each other. 1^st Pt. 3:7 & Eph. 5:33
 

Parents who show each other honor, are helping their children to learn how to honor them. The root cause of disrespectful children, is the disrespectful way parents treat each other! Their hearts are wrapped in foolishness, (Prv. 22:15) and we must prevent our children from growing up to be fools, (Prv. 27:22). How do we as parents train and warn our children’s hearts? Eph. 6:4.  By explaining our actions of honor towards each other and by sincerely rebuking a child’s rebellion. Do we use God’s power to do this?