Friday December 25^th-Matthew 23

Merry CHRISTmas!  Emmanuel –God with us!

Today we celebrate the birth of Christ.

The festival of the Christian church observed annually on the 25th day of December, in memory of the birth of Christ,                                                               

Matthew 23 ,  is full of warnings  to those with rigid observance of external forms of religion without genuine piety; hypocrisy in religion-Pharisaism. [1828 Webster’s Dictionary]   They do not practice what they preach.  There are 8 woes [judgment is coming] in this chapter.

This being the celebration of the birth of Christ I want to focus on verses 8-12.   There is only one God, one Jesus, one Holy Spirit!

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Vs.8

rabbi (rab´i). A term that originally meant “my master” and that came to be used as a title by the Jews after the OT period in designation of their religious teachers. [Essential Bible Dictionary]

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.  John 14:26

This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.   I John 2: 25-27

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.                    John 16:13-16

Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Vs. 9

Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven. Matt.6

Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Gal. 4:6

Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.  Vs. 10                                                                            In one instance, “teacher” translates the word kathegetes, which Jesus uses to emphasize that only he, the Christ, is the true teacher (Matt. 23:10) [olive tree names of God dictionary]

Jesus was called teacher many times in the bible.

These are just a few references-Jesus was called Teacher by many.  The Scribes and Pharisees, His disciples and people called Him by that name and looked to Him to lead them. 

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” Matt. 12:38

Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they *woke Him and *said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Mark 4:38

John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us. Mark 9:38

And a man from the crowd shouted, saying, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only boy, Luke 9:38

As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ let us always remember that there is only One God, One Jesus and One Holy Spirit! 

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.  Is. 9:6-7

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 

 II Cor. 13:14

Lyn

Friday November 27^th- Matthew 3-Baptism

Baptism is an outward sign of repenting, changing your old way of thinking, regretting your past sins and living your life in a way that proves repentance; seeking God’s purpose for your life. 

John the Baptist-John was not just an ordinary man….His parents were both righteous.  His father was of the division of Abijah and his mother was a descendant of Aaron.  He was filled with the Holy Spirit while in his mother’s womb.  His purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus. 

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:13-17

 John lived his life to introduce others to Jesus Christ; he was focused on the mission God had given him. John also knew the importance of repenting of one’s sins in order to live a holy and righteous life. And as a servant of God, he also was unafraid of speaking truth, even when it meant calling out people such as the Pharisees and Saducces for their sinful behavior. John was very well aware that the Messiah was coming and that he was preparing the way for Him.

He knew that his baptism was limited but He also knew that Jesus’ baptism was complete. 

As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”  Matt. 3:11-12

There were two prominent groups in Judaism at the time of Christ.  Pharisees and Sadduces

Pharisees- based their beliefs on the law of Moses, but also on oral tradition.  They were devout, zealous, and concerned with outward righteousness.

Sadduces- held primarily to the first five books of Moses.  They did not believe in the resurrection of the dead and did not adhere to the detailed laws of the Pharisees.

John saw right through them.  They were self righteous and thought that because of their inheritance they thought they were saved.  What more did they need?

Don’t people today say the same things?  I am a good person and I live a good life what more do I need?

:7-10-But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

:11-As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Jesus’ baptism is of the Holy Spirit-true repentance,  and fire- judgment.

Jesus’ baptism is of the Holy Spirit-a true repentance, a willingness to change our old way of thinking, regret for our sins and live a changed life.

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

…with fire-judgment-unwillingness to repent

:12-His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Even though He had no sin, He was willing to be baptized by John to fulfill all righteousness.

Vs:14-17-Then Jesus *arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he *permitted Him. After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and  he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

Titus 3:6-7 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,  whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

I would have liked to be present when Jesus was baptized…Can you imagine hearing the Father’s voice?  It must have been life changing for many who were there. I do not want to be like the Pharisees and Sadducees, thinking I do not need the Lord in my life.  I need Him every moment of everyday.  As we are getting closer to the end of this crazy, turned upside down year, let’s make sure we are His. 

Col. 2:12-14-See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 

 II Cor. 13:14

Lyn