The Serious, Certain and Soon, Word of the Lord, Ezekiel 12:17-28

 

Once again, the Lord asked Ezekiel to show and tell his prophetic warning. To act it out and speak it out.

Did it freak them out when Ezekiel’s eyes darted back and forth in fear, his face filled with dread as he broke the bread, his hands trembling as he lifted the cup to his lips?

Were they startled when he stopped, pointed, and shouted something like this:

Thus saith the Lord: “You shall eat bread with trembling and drink water with dread. For your land shall be laid waste and your cities left empty, because of your violence.

Then you shall know that I AM the Lord!”

What’s that proverb you keep repeating? You say: “I’ve heard it all before, all talk, no action. The visions, the prophecies, nothing ever comes to pass.”

Thus saith the Lord: “You will eat those words! The days of fulfilled prophecy are at hand. The Words I speak, I will perform, they will indeed come to pass!”

Now, why are you saying: “If anything does happen, it won’t happen for a long time, so don’t worry, eat, drink and be merry.” 

Thus saith the Lord, His Word will no longer be postponed, His Word will be done, in your lifetime, without delay.”

In those final hours before judgement, would they finally hear, and repent, and carry the message? Or did they just come to be entertained and gather more information?

Daniel 12:4

⁴ “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

We just witnessed an undeniable manifestation of this prophecy. Artemis II has gone where no man has gone before.

Traveling nearly 700,000 miles to the dark side of the moon and back in less than ten days, reaching record breaking speeds of around 25,000 miles per hour (33 times the speed of sound, 17 times faster than a speeding bullet—that’s faster than Superman).

Space capsule Orion gave new meaning to the phrase “coming in hot” as it hit the earth’s atmosphere at around 5,000 degrees.

NASA says the reentry was perfect, the performance of the spacecraft flawless, the transfer of the crew seamless.

But what the astronauts trusted most was the perfect, flawless, seamless, Word of God.

There are no atheists in spaceships.

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God...

Trusting the perfect, flawless, seamless Word of God, was exactly what Ezekiel was trying to get his people to do. But he might as well have been talking to the man in the moon.

However, God’s Word is timeless, therefore, ever timely.

So, if God recorded it, that means it’s relevant, for us today.

So, we must consider all of the Word of God, Serious, Certain and Soon.

 

OUTLINE:

Serious: 17-20

Certain: 21-25

Soon: 26-28

 

NOTE: God repeats words and phrases to spotlight His theme, so pay attention when it happens.

Notice the repetition in our short text:

The Word of the Lord came to me: 3 times

(Thus) says the Lord God: 5 times

Word: 7 times

Lord: 10 times

Say: 14 times

 

Serious 17-20

Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ¹⁸ “Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and anxiety. ¹⁹ And say to the people of the land, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the land of Israel: “They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink their water with dread, so that her land may be emptied of all who are in it, because of the violence of all those who dwell in it. ²⁰ Then the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall become desolate; and you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

This is serious.

Over and over Ezekiel had been showing and telling the serious Word of the Lord about the serious days that were coming.

Remember how the Lord exposed their sins, the image of jealousy, the worship of every creepy crawly idol, the women’s lewd worship of Tamuz, the priests turning their backs to the Lord and bowing to the east.

 All of which opened the door for crooked political leaders to take power and fill the street with violence and bloodshed.

Because of their own wickedness within a half-dozen years, they’d all be killed or captive.

This is serious.

Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

This serious message is not just a HIStory lesson about Israel, but for us here and now today.

Sow wickedness, reap corruption.

Sow, Engel v. Vitale (1962), the U.S. not so supreme court ruled 6-1 that voluntary, school-sponsored, non-denominational prayer in public schools is unconstitutional.

Check out the simply 22-word prayer the very un-supreme court thought so dangerous, so offensive, it had to be outlawed:

“Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our Country”.

Engel v. Vitale is recognized as a major turning point in a terrible way. After that moment, crime went up and grades went down. Bans on other activities in school followed; such as Bible readings, the Lord’s Prayer, and Ten Commandments.

When we slammed the door in God’s face, the gates of hell flung open, ushering in unthinkable evil.

It wasn’t long until January 22, 1973, the same stupid very un-supreme court ruled Roe v. Wade legalizing the slaughtering of multiplied millions of innocent babies.

 Once acknowledgement of God was officially rejected, our moral decline was drastic.

June 26, 2015, the morally bankrupt un-supreme court spit on God’s Divine Design and Command for marriage.

Like lucifer, they sought to raise their throne above the Most High. (Isaiah 14:13-14). As gods overruling God, they legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

But God is not mocked. Since they refused to acknowledge God, they were turned over to a corrupt, debased, reprobate, mind (Romans 1:21-32).

Deviating from God’s Divine Design for sex, led to the worldwide flood and the total destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

 

Sows to flesh, reap corruption.

To satisfy power lust, and worse, perverted politicians passionately promote child sex trafficking, through open border policies. For the same reasons they push vile trans-agendas that glorify mutilating innocent children and opens the door for mentally disturbed men to shower with our girls.

Wake up America! This is serious. 

Please pay attention and follow this carefully:

God allowed Babylon to conquer JerUSAlem, because of their sin.

Persia, (modern day Iran) conquered Babylon.

USA is a war with Iran.

God has an eternal covenant with Israel.

God does not have an eternal covenant with USA.

 

This is serious.

God is not mocked...

What should we do?

Take the Word of God seriously:

Galatians 6:9
 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

2 Chronicles 7:14
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Take the Word seriously and know beyond the shadow of any doubt that it is sure and certain.

 

Certain 21-25

21 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 22 “Son of man, what is this proverb that you people have about the land of Israel, which says, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’? 23 Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I will lay this proverb to rest, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.” ’ But say to them, ‘ “The days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision. 24 For no more shall there be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. 25 For I am the Lord. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and perform it,” says the Lord God.’ ”

False prophets then and now contradict God’s Word.

But the Truth, like crème, rises to the top.

Almost 1/3 of Scripture is prophecy and confirms the Word to be True with undeniable proofs.

Historians and theologians say there’s about 2,500 prophecies in the Bible, of which about 80% (around 2,000), have already been fulfilled.

God has preserved for us a mountain of undeniable evidence.

If just the ancient New Testament manuscripts were stacked one on top of the other, it would be a mile high. No other ancient writing, on any subject, or person, even comes close.

With each scientific discovery, each archeological uncovering, the Bible is proved absolutely True, every jot, every tittle.

Multiple scholars, scientists, archaeologists, historians, brilliant minds, have scoured the Scriptures, with an agenda to disprove it.

However, those who follow the undeniable proofs, come to the same conclusion, the secular, and Scriptural, data is overwhelmingly conclusive. Jesus died on a Roman cross, was raised to life on the third day and is indeed exactly who the Bible says He is.

Those who stay the course, find the Bible Old and New Testament, historically, archeologically, geographically, scientifically, medically… completely, accurate.

Which leads to knowing for sure and certain, Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

For more information see:

The Case for Christ, movie based on true story and book by, once atheist, journalist, Lee Strobel.

Evidence that Demands a Verdict, book by ex-skeptic, Josh McDowell.

For even greater, more certain, information see:

Jeremiah 1:12
The Lord watches over His Word to perform it.

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

Isaiah 55:11
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Psalm 119:89
Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.

God will perform His Word. Jer. 1:12.

He will return for His Church. John 14:2-3, 1 Thes. 4:17.

He will destroy the works of darkness. Revelation 19.

He will create a new heaven and a new earth.

He will wipe away every tear.

He will be our God, and we will be His people.

We will live happily ever after, forever and ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1-8.

And it will happen sooner than you think.

 

Soon 26-28

26 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 27 “Son of man, look, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ 28 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “None of My words will be postponed any more, but the word which I speak will be done,” says the Lord God.’ ”

Within a half-dozen years, everything the Lord said, through the prophet Ezekiel, happened just as said.

Revelation 22:12, Behold I am coming quickly.

Jesus compares the last days to labor pains. They don’t come soon, ask any mother, but once they start coming, they come quickly, more often, more intensely.

We just witnessed four people go where no man has gone before, breaking distance and speed records around the moon and back.

We have wars and rumors of wars around the globe.

We have a strong delusion sweeping the world.

We have an ever-growing demonic hatred for Israel.

We have the Ezekiel 38-39 coalition already aligned and ignited against Israel. Russia, Iran, Sudan, Turkey, Libya.

We have a world deceived and ripe to receive a false savior, an antichrist. (Is a seven year peace deal already written, just waiting for the right moment?).

We have God’s Word shouting, available everywhere on any phone around the world.

Ezekiel’s message of coming destruction wasn’t just for Jerusalem, but for US and the world, today.

God’s Word describes all of these things as signs of the end times.

They are happening quickly, like labor pains after the water breaks, often and intense.

Awake, oh sleeper!

Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light. Eph. 5:14.

Dear Saint, we must consider the Word of God, Serious, Certain and Soon.

Don’t ignore, doubt, or delay.

Let’s pray.

Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our Country.

Here we are in this eleventh hour, Your Words echoing from Gethsemane, “Watch and pray, for the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Oh Lord, please shake US and wake US, and drive US to repentance. So, that You may shine once more upon US, making US that shining city on a hill, to show the world what You will do for a nation whose God is the Lord.

We trust You, and love You, forever.

Amen.

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The Sin of Partiality, James 2:1-13

Thomas Jefferson was a founding father, primary author of the Declaration of Independence, second Vice President, and third President, of the U.S. 

Once as Vice President, he was traveling through Baltimore, covered in trail dust he stepped into a hotel seeking a room. The manager thought he was just a dirty poor farmer and turned him away.

After the Vice President left, one of the guests informed the manager who he had turned away. The manager sent messengers to Jefferson begging forgiveness and requesting his return.

Thomas Jefferson graciously accepted the apology but said, “If he has no room for a dirty farmer he shall have none for the Vice President.” 

Partiality yields a harvest of regret.

My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Brethren; the familial word, found in every chapter of James, fifteen times total. Twice in our text, three times in this chapter. In context it refers to the entire family of God, regardless of gender, race, or social status.

Do not hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus, do not declare your faith in Christ, do not go about claiming to be a Christian...

With partiality. With favoritism, with prejudice, judging one and favoring another.

Don’t be like the foolish hotel manager to Thomas Jefferson.

Maybe Jefferson should’ve handed that hotel manager a little something he wrote. You may have heard of it.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness".

Those words are not Scripture but certainly founded upon Scripture and inspired by the Holy Spirit.

All people, no matter their race, gender or social status, are created in the image of God, loved by God, with rights given by God, without partiality.

That’s the heart of God.

No hypocrisy, no double standard.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son the whosoever, believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting Life. John 3:16.

Mahatma Gandhi read the gospels, was convinced, and convicted and with the intention of becoming a Christian he went to a Christian Church.

Regrettably, he was offered no seat, but only a suggestion that he go worship with his own kind.  

He left never to return.

Think of the worldwide impact Gandhi made. Einstein admired him. The Hindu religion was promoted and influenced greatly around the world because of him. It might’ve been, it should’ve been, for the cause of Christ, had it not been for the sin of partiality.

Romans 2:11, Ephesians 6:9, Colossians 3:25, tell us, there is no partiality with God.

James 2:9 makes it clear, if you show partiality, you commit sin.

The sin of partiality isn’t in the spotlight like adultery and murder. It’s more subtle, like the serpent, more deadly, and spreads like wildfire.

From way back in the Old Testament, to the days of Jesus and James, to Thomas Jefferson, to us today, people have problems with partiality.  

The sin of partiality triggered, Sarah casting out Hagar, Jacob fleeing Esau, Pharoah, Haman, David’s boys’ battles for the throne... Christ’s crucifixion (religious leaders’ jealous pride and prejudice). Hitler, the Holocaust, Hamas, Islamic terrorists that given the chance would murder every one of us.

The sinister sin of partiality poured gas and lit the match of BLM riots. It funds the No Kings nonsense.

Isaiah 59 speaks of this day.

Isaiah 59:14-15
Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. ¹⁵ So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.

But praise the Lord the story doesn’t end there, no more than Jesus on the cross, or in the tomb.

That was just the beginning.

Isaiah 59:16-21 fills in the gaps for the rest of HIStory, telling how He came the first time to reconcile relationship; and He’s coming a second time to recompense vengeance on the wicked and redeem the remnant of Israel and restore righteousness to the planet. Forever and ever, amen.

Leviticus 19:15
You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly.

This is why lady justice is blindfolded. To not pervert justice, to not show partiality or favoritism, to judge fairly.

Today, the blindfold has fallen.

Rogue judges from the Supreme Court to the lowest court, pervert justice with rulings outside the law, outside their jurisdiction, outside their mind.

Promoting things, they would never otherwise stand for, until they yielded to the poisonous, hate-laced, sin of partiality.

For example: They demand inclusion, based on race, ethnicity, and or, sexual orientation. Not merit. It’s called Diversity Equity and Inclusion. DEI.

No one in their right mind would ever choose a surgeon, or a pilot, or air traffic controller, or...  simply based on race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Unless blinded by the sin of partiality.

DEI dictates people be treated differently due to outward appearance or social status. That is, by definition, partiality. Exactly what James just warned us about.

If you show partiality, you commit sin. James 1:9.

DEI demands partiality. DEI is a doctrine of demons demanding sin. It claims to be a vehicle to rid racism, instead it creates it, inflames it.

It does the opposite of what it claims to do, which is a telltale sign of the devil’s handiwork.

DEI does the opposite of what the Bible teaches. Which is characteristic of antichrist.

The Bible says:  

Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

1 Samuel 16:7
Man sees the outward appearance, but the Lord sees the heart.

DEI is the devil’s counterfeit to the Lord’s unity and equality.

Jesus shared His heart in John 17 when He prayed repeatedly that His family would be one as He and His Father are one.

Dear Family of God, the only Way to discern a counterfeit is to intimately know, the Truth.

Jesus tells us: I AM the Way, the Truth, the Life, no one comes to the Father except by Me. John 14:6.

In these last days, to not be deceived, the Church must know the Lord and the Word of the Lord.

Hebrews 4:12
For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Living Word reveals Truth without partiality rightly dividing and exposing the heart of the matter from fleshly desires and motives.

Which brings us to:

Cherry Picking Passage Partiality.

Partiality is not only a problem with people against people, but also people against passages of Scripture.

Look at 10-13 again.

¹⁰ For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. ¹¹ For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. ¹² So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. ¹³ For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

If you show partiality to people, you may also be cherry picking Scripture.

Which we’re warned not to do.

“Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4.

We’re called to be faithful in everything, every page, every Word, every day every way.

Well Doug, I agree with most of it, but that whole turn the other cheek thing. Nope, not doing that.

You’re showing cherry pickin’ passage partiality.  

What was James 2:9? “...if you show partiality, you commit sin.”

Oh. So are you saying that if I’m faithful to my wife 9 out of 10 days, that ain’t that good enough?

Mark 12:30-31
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Just to be clear.

Ephesians 5:25
Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her.

That sums it up.

The law of love is the perfect law of liberty.

Without partiality.

A command without chains.

A call to maturity.

To do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.

 Let’s pray.

Thank You Lord Jesus for helping us to walk in purity without partiality. Please give us a yearning for Your Presence, an understanding of Your Word, and wisdom to apply it. So, we can be fruitful soul winners and disciple makers, that none are lost of all those You’ve given us.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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Remember the Resurrection

 

John 20:1-17

Resurrection morning, Mary Magdalene, was up and out the door before dawn, headed to the tomb. She who has been forgiven much, loves much.  

A woman had no credibility as a witness according to the customs of that day, yet Mary from Magdala, the hamlet known for harlots, from whom Jesus cast out seven demons, is the one, Jesus chose as the first eyewitness to the Resurrection.

The Resurrection is for everyone, from the least to the greatest.

Happy Easter.

Easter, that’s the English word.

It was the fourth century Church’s way of using the Light of the world to extinguish the darkness of a pagan world holiday, associated with the false goddess of fertility, Eostre.

That is the great commission of the Church. To take the Light of the world into all the world. Without becoming of the world.

To do that, we must always remember our Source. 

Our Source is the Word.

The Source of the Resurrection is the Word became flesh.

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God... The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1, 14).

Until we rejected Him, spit on Him, whipped and ripped His flesh to ribbons. We cast Him out and nailed Him up on an old wooden cross, where He bled and said things like, Father forgive them...Today you will be with Me in Paradise... My God My God why have You forsaken Me?!?... Tetelestai! It is finished... Into Thy hands I commit My Spirit.

The Word bowed His head, and His flesh, died.

But the Word never died.

The moment His flesh breathed its last, the Word exploded to Life.

The earth shook, the rocks broke, the veil in the temple, that wretched divorce decree between God and man, ripped asunder from top to bottom, opening the door to whosoever will enter the Holy of Holies and become a blessed, forgiven, child of God.

Within a matter of weeks on the Feast of Weeks, (Pentecost) folks in Jerusalem from every tribe and tongue and nation heard, by way of the Holy Spirit, the wonderous Word of God, preached in their own dialect and language.

The Word still echoes around the world from that day to this. 

Easter, was the springboard. Resurrection Day, the most awesome day in human HIStory.

So far.

The best is yet to come, but that’s a story for another day.

The modern Hebrew word for Easter is, Pascha. It’s the Greek name for Passover. Which makes sense, since it’s tied to Passover.

Friday. Feast of Passover. We call it Good Friday.

Saturday. Feast of Unleavened Bread. Today, it’s called Holy Saturday. I call it Sadder Day, since there’s never been a sadder day.

Sunday. Feast of Firstfruits. The day we call, Easter.

Our words are feeble reminders.

God’s Word tells the Truth of HIStory.

Feast of Passover. Jesus died. Death passes over, those under, the blood of the Passover Lamb, from the doorpost on that first Passover in Egypt, to the cross post on Calvary when Jesus became the Perfect Passover Lamb.

Feast of Unleavened Bread. Jesus’ sinless body lay in the tomb. Leavenless bread lay in the home. Leaven represents sin. All leaven (yeast) was completely removed from every home.

Feast of Firstfruits. Easter’s real name. The firstfruit was offered to the Lord. The firstfruit was a sign of the harvest to follow. Lev. 23:9-14.

1 Corinthians 15:20
 “But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

Because Christ is risen, those in Christ shall also rise.

Only God could’ve established those feasts 1,500 years in advance to land exactly on the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

GOD’S SEVEN FEASTS REFLECT THE TIMELINE OF HUMANITY:

FULFILLED:

1. Passover: Christ’s death as the Lamb of God.

2. Unleavened Bread: Burial of Jesus' sinless flesh.

3. First Fruits: Resurrection of Christ.

4. Pentecost (Weeks): Coming of the Holy Spirit.

TO BE FULFILLED:

5. Trumpets: Rapture of the Church.

6. Atonement (Yom Kippur): Second Coming of Christ.

7. Tabernacles (Sukkot): The 1,000-year Millennial Kingdom

 As the first four were perfectly fulfilled, so shall be the final three.

Only God could tell us, 173,880 days in advance, the exact day, the Messiah, Jesus, would ride a donkey into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday. Daniel 9:25.

Only God could tell us hundreds of years in advance that He would come, and suffer, and die, but not for Himself. Psalm 22, 34:20, Isaiah 53, Daniel 9:26, Zechariah 12:10.

Only God could preserve for us thousands of undeniable, documentable proofs of His death, burial and resurrection, and provide and ever growing mountain of archeological evidence verifying the Truth of His Word.

Investigative journalist, atheist, Lee Strobel, spared no expense in his quest to disprove the Bible.

Today he’s a world renown minister of the Gospel.

Two minute and nineteen second video of Lee sharing: 4 Proofs of the Resurrection - Lee Strobel from The Case for Christ

 

Okay Doug, that’s amazingly hard to believe but even if all that stuff happened it doesn’t make any sense. 

Why would God do it if He knew we were going to screw everything up?

Even bigger question. How does His death, burial and resurrection, fix anything? Especially me?

Great Questions.

Why would God do it?

Short answer: Love.

In the beginning, knowing everything that would happen, He still said, “Let us make man in Our image...” (Gen. 1:26).

That same love from that day to this, flows from the whispering lips of couples in love saying, “Let’s make a baby.”

Even though, they know that baby’s gonna poop and pee and cry and be a brat and talk back and break the rules and their hearts and screw everything up.

Yet, love says, it’ll be worth it. We’ll be a family.

God is love.

Love wins.

How does His death burial and resurrection fix anything? Especially, me?

Once again. In the beginning everything was awesome. It is good, it is good... it is very good.

Then, man got a dirty diaper. He messed up. Broke the rules. Well, the rule. There was only one.

Don’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the day that you do, you shall surely die. Genesis 2:17.

There are things one should not know, places you should not go, things you ought not see, or hear, once that line of regret is crossed there’s no going back to that innocence lost.

However, hope is not lost. 

God does restore.

But sin is not ignored.

God is just. God is love.

Consequences come.

God doesn’t go back on His Word. 

He said to Adam and Eve, the day you disobey you shall surely die.

They did. In that moment they were separated from God.

They felt in a small way what Jesus felt in a great way, when He cried from the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

According to the Divine Justice of God, for the first time in forever, Jesus was separated from His Father as the sins of humanity were placed on Him.

Originally, Adam and Eve were clothed from the inside out with the Purity and Presence of God.

The moment they disobeyed, as Light cannot dwell with darkness, the Presence of God left, and they were naked and ashamed and dead.

God is Life. Separation from God is death.

But God is Love and Love doesn’t quit, never gives up, never fails.

God showed up with a new wardrobe, an eviction notice, and a plan.

From now on, making a living or birthing a life, will be painful, hard, labor.

However, one day, from the Seed of the woman, will come One, to crush, the serpent’s head that tempted you to cross that line. Genesis 3:15.

Then, to cover their nakedness, which represents their sin, God gave them animal skins.

Thus, setting the precedent that the shedding of blood could cover sin. Eventually that precedent was codified into the Law.

Then, for thousands of years, rivers of animal blood flowed to temporarily cover sin.

But, like the clothes, it was only temporary. For the blood of bulls and goats and animals could never wash away the sin of mankind, God’s crown of creation. (Heb. 10:4).

Only a Perfect Sacrifice could meet the Divine Justice of God.

Galatians 4:4-7
So, in the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” ⁷ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

That’s why Jesus came.

To be the Perfect Passover Lamb.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for coming willingly, living sinlessly, dying blamelessly, rising victoriously, so we could be, one big, noisy, messy, happy, family.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

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With one week to live, this is what Jesus did

If you knew you were going to die in a week, how would you invest your time?

This is what Jesus did...

Luke 9:51
 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.

Where He knew He would be rejected, falsely accused, beat, whipped, crucified... resurrected, received up.

About a third of the gospels (30 out of 89 chapters), are dedicated the final week of Christ, Passion Week, Holy Week.  Almost half of John 48.5% (9.5 out of 21 chapters); Matt. 37.5% (8 out of 28); Mark 28.5% (6 out of 16); Luke 25% (6 out of 24).

Jesus invested His time teaching in the temple by day, and nights on the Mount of Olives, praying, or at Bethany with His friends, Martha, Mary and Lazarus, just 2-3 miles from Jerusalem.

Luke 21:37-38 
And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. ³⁸ Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

Luke 22:53
When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

His passion week itinerary from Parade to Paradise:

Sunday       

Palm Sunday.

Jesus headed from Bethany on the Mount of Olives, to Jerusalem, on a donkey.

The DAY He did it was perfect. The sinless, spotless Lamb of God came to them, on the very day in which each family chose their spotless Passover Lamb. Exodus 12:1-14.

The WAY He did it couldn’t be missed. Exactly as prophesied their Messiah came riding on the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9.

The TIMING provided undeniable proof beyond the shadow of a doubt, of Who He was and what He was doing...

About 500 years prior the angel Gabriel told Daniel, that Messiah would come “sixty-nine weeks” after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. Daniel 9:25. (69 sevens, or 483 years, or 173,880 days)

The decree came, March 14, 445 BC by Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 2).

Exactly, to the day, 173,880 days later to the day, on April 6 32 AD Jesus, rode into Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt.

The crowd hailed Him as Messiah and King, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!” Psalm 118:25-26.

The crowds cheered.

Jesus teared.

Jesus sobbed as He looked out over Jerusalem because:

1. He knew they would not accept Him as the Passover Lamb.

2. They would be destroyed because they did not know the time of their visitation (Luke 19:44). 

3. In less than a week the cheers would turn to jeers; from Hosanna to Crucify Him. 

KNOWING ALL THAT, HE DIDN'T TURN, HE DIDN'T RUN, He dried His eyes and made His way into Jerusalem and into the temple and looked around and because it was already late, He returned to lodge at Bethany. Mark 11:11.

Mad Monday

Faith Forgiveness Fakeness

On the way from Bethany back to Jerusalem Jesus was hungry and stopped by a fig tree full of leaves, but it had no figs, it looked good on the outside but had no fruit.

Have you ever had one of those Mondays?

So, for the hypocrisy of the fruitless fig, He said, “May no one eat fruit from you again.” 

It withered on the spot. Matt. 21:18-19, Mark 11:12-14, 22-26.

The disciples were amazed. Wow, how’d the tree wither so fast?

Jesus wouldn’t miss this moment to minister a multipurpose object lesson in FAITH, FORGIVENESS AND FAKENESS. 

1) FAITH. Mark 11:22-24. “Have faith in God. ²³ For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. ²⁴ Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

2) FORGIVENESS AND PRAYER. Mark 11:25-26. “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. ²⁶ But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

3). FAKENESS (HYPOCRISY). He showed His disdain for hypocrisy, by doing to the fig tree what would happen to Jerusalem because of their hypocrisy.

Speaking of hypocrisy, once in Jerusalem, Jesus made a whip and went DOGE on the waste, fraud and abuse, in the temple and drove out the den of thieves. Matt. 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17, Luke 19:45-46. 

What? No! Not our meek and mild gentle Jesus.

Yes, this justice is rising, judgement is coming, peace through strength, Savior Jesus.

The temple merchants were taking advantage of travelers. Fleecing them over their fleece; saying their lamb was not good enough. “But no worries, we have just what you need in the temple corral. For a small fee, of course.”

Then, when trying to pay the outrageous, small fee. “Oh, I’m so sorry we can’t take foreign currency, but no worries we can exchange it for temple currency. For a small fee, of course.

The Good Shepherd protects His sheep.

The thief pretends to be a shepherd but comes only to steal, kill and destroy. John 10:10.

So, when the True Shepherd shows up and goes Epic Fury like a Roaring Lion, to protect the sheep, the wolves growl, their fangs show, they can't help exposing the wickedness of their hearts.

Anyone against driving out dens of thieves, and evil regimes, are not shepherds, are not protectors, are not representatives of we the people, but are wolves in sheep's clothing.

After Jesus drove out the hypocrites, then, the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. Matt. 21:14.

Teaching Tuesday

Taught in the temple and on the mount.

Jesus went to the temple again and taught, taught, taught, a lot, lot, lot. Matthew 21:23-23:39, Mark 11:27-12:44, Luke 20:1-21:4.

He told the parable of the two sons (Matt. 21:28-32), and the one about the wicked vinedressers (Matt. 21:33-45), and of course the parable of the wedding feast (Matt. 22:1-14) and He schooled the Pharisees about paying taxes (Matt. 22:15-22) and silenced the Sadducees with wisdom about the Resurrection (Matt. 22:23-33). He clearly revealed the Greatest Commandment (Matt. 22:34-40) and then He stumped them all when He asked, “If David calls Him Lord, how is He his Son?” Matt. 22:41-46. 

He was just getting warmed up, when He threw the scribes and Pharisees under the chariot with a long list of woes.

Matthew 23:13-33... But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 

...

¹⁵ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

...

²⁵ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 

 ...

²⁷ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. ²⁸ Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

...

³³ Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?

 

OLIVET DISCOURSE

Then, He went out of the temple and the city and traveled His familiar path back to the Mount of Olives.

The disciples followed, and He taught them even more.

We call this the Olivet Discourse, Matthew 24:1-25:46, Mark 13:1-37, Luke 21:5-36.

He taught about the destruction of the temple, the signs of the times, the great tribulation and the end of the age.

Jesus said and did so much that if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. John 21:25.

Some say this day, was His busiest day. When all is said and done, they figure He probably ministered about twenty hours or more, this Terrific Teaching Tuesday.

Watch & Pray Wednesday

Since there’s no Biblical record of this specific day, some say He took Wednesday off.

After all Tuesday was a long day. Plus, it compliments His teaching that we ought to work six days and rest one.

One thing’s for sure and certain, as per His custom, if He wasn’t teaching, He was praying.

Especially, knowing that His enemies were secretly scheming to take him by trickery and kill him. Matt. 26:3-5, Mark 14:1-2, Luke 22:1-2.

HE KNEW SOMETHING WAS BREWING SO HE WAS PREPRAYERING.

Jesus would tell Peter on Friday, “Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation.” Matthew 26:41.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; ⁵ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ

Ephesians 6:12-13
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Thursday

Last Supper

Matthew 26:20-35, Mark 14:17-26, Luke 22:14-30.

The Last Supper depicts all the sacrifices, all the shed blood, all pointing to this moment, when The Lamb of God takes away the sins of the world.

This is My body, broken for you, (Final, Perfect, Sacrifice—no more bloody bodies needed).

This is My blood of the New Covenant, shed for the remission of sins.

Do this in remembrance of Me.

This is why we take communion in honor and remembrance of Him.

Upper Room Discourse

John 13:1-17:26.

Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, even those of Judas. Jesus loved Judas to the end. He gave Judas the honor of sitting near Him and dipping bread with Him. He held the door of repentance open until Judas slammed it shut and walked away.

Jesus gave the New Commandment; love as I have loved. John 13:34-35.

He Predicted Peter's denial. Told him the devil desired to sift him like wheat, but I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Matthew 26:33-35, Mark 14:29-31, Luke 22:31-34, John 13:37-38).

He told them (and tells us):

I AM the Way, the Truth, the Life. John 14:6.

Peace, I leave with you; My peace I give you. John 14:27.

I AM the Vine you are the branches. John 15:5.

These things I have spoken, that My joy may remain in you and your joy may be full. John 15:11.

In the world will have tribulation but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33.

He told them He would not leave them orphans, but would send the Helper, Comforter, Teacher, His Holy Spirit. John 14:26.

Jesus wrapped up the Upper Room Discourse with the Powerful Passionate Prayer, that also includes us today. John 17.

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, John 17:20. (That’s us!)

Father, make them one, as we are One. Keep them from the evil one.

In this prayer He left us an example and a challenge to be able to say: “Of all those You’ve given us, none are lost.”

Garden of Gethsemane

Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46.

Gethsemane means oil press. Olives were pressed until oil “bled” out of them.

The pressure against Jesus so intense, His pray so earnest, He sweat great drops of blood.

He asked for help from His friends, telling them to watch and pray. But He prayed alone...They slept.

Nevertheless, He won the battle of the cross before Him, by yielding to His Father, “Not My will but Thine be done” Luke 22:42.

The first Adam sinned in a garden, bringing death.

The last Adam suffered in a garden, bringing Life.

Friday

Betrayed with a kiss,

Matthew 26:47-56, Mark 14:43-52, Luke 22:47-53, John 18:2-12.

While the disciples were sleeping and Jesus was praying, sweating, great drops of blood, in marched a band of soldiers, led by Judas.

With the ultimate picture of hypocrisy and betrayal, Judas planted, the kiss of death, on the One who loved him best.

Jesus knew what he was doing and said, “You betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:48.

Sleepy Peter swung his sword and chopped off Malchus' ear (servant of high priest).

Jesus told Peter to put it away, for he who lives by the sword dies by the sword.

Don't you know I could pray and My Father would provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? Matt. 26:51-53.

Then, Jesus touched and healed Malchus' ear. Luke 22:50-51.

Then, He allowed the soldiers to bind Him and lead Him, like He was a criminal.

Sham trials  

Matthew 26:57-68, 27:1-2, Mark 14:53-65, 15:1, Luke 22:54-23:25, John 18:13-19:16.

Jesus stood before the Jewish religious leaders, Annas, Caiaphas, the Sanhedrin.

Then He stood before the Roman political leaders, Pilate, Herod and then Pilate again.

The religious leaders only sought a way to destroy Him.

Herod only wanted a show.

Only Pilate was looking for Truth, and found it, saying, I find no fault in this man. Luke 23:4.

But the mob cried for crucifixion.

Pilate, washed his hands, saying I am innocent of the blood of this just Man. Matt. 27:24.

The Cross  

Matthew 27:27-54, Mark 15:16-39, Luke 23:26-49, John 19:16-37.

Jesus the Creator, willingly allowed His creation, to crucify Him.

Like six days of creation, and then, rest; He hung on the cross enduring the pain for six hours, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Seven times He spoke from the cross, delivering an eternal message each time:

Forgiveness. Father, forgive them, they know not what they do. Luke 23:34.

Salvation. I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise. Luke 23:39-43.

House in order. “Woman, behold, your son.” Then, to John, “Behold, your mother.” From that hour John took her into his home. John 19:25-27.

Even in humanity, He fulfilled prophecy. “I thirst.” John 19:28-29. To fulfill Scripture, Psalm 69:21. “...in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”

Our sin on Him. “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which is translated, My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me? Mark 15:33-34.

Paid in full. “It is finished (Tetelestai)!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. John 19:30.

Finish Well. “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit” and when He had said this, He breathed his last. Luke 23:44-46. He gave His life, like a soldier, He took the bullet, to save the world. He stayed the course until the mission was complete, then, He went Home.

Burial

Matthew 27:57-61, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-54, John 19:38-42.

Even His burial was a fulfillment of prophecy.

Isaiah 53:9
And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Matthew 27:57-60
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸ He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. ⁵⁹ So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, ⁶⁰ and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut into the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away.

That was Friday... Sonday's coming!

If you knew you were going to die in a week, how would you invest your time?

That is what Jesus did.

Let's pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for teaching, and healing, and serving, and preprayering, saying, “not My will but Yours be done.” Thank You, for staying the course, paying in full, finishing well, able to say, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” So, today, we can pray, knowing You’ll help us be able to say, “Of all those You’ve given us, none are lost.”

Thank You Victorious Lord.

We’re overjoyed and honored to love You, forever.

Amen.  

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

Watch online:

Facebook: With one week to live, this is what Jesus did

You Tube: With one week to live, this is what Jesus did

This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.