Luke 9:23

Luke 9:23 KJV And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Three points:

If any one wants to come following me, then he must

1. Deny himself.

The word "will" is not indicating a future event. It is the word for making a decision to do something. In this case it is to follow Jesus. Deny according to Thayer is:

1) to deny

1a) to affirm that one has no acquaintance or connection with someone

1b) to forget one's self, lose sight of one's self and one's own interests

The same word is used in John 13:38. Jesus is speaking to Peter. It is a total denial of knowing or identifying with Jesus and His teaching. Thus God's will is the upmost importance. It comes before our will or want. God is kind and knows what is best, so we can be safe with Him. Psalms 100:3 ESV Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

2. Take up his cross daily.

The cross represents all that is difficult and burdensome because we identify with Jesus Christ. Matthew 10:38 ESV And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

3. Follow me.

Follow me. Jesus knows the way. He is our protection, when we are assaulted by spiritual enemies. He is our physician, when we are spiritually sick. He is our hope, when the way is hopeless. He is our light, when the way is dark. He is our supply, when we are needy.

If we love Him, we will obey Him. There are over 1,000 laws in the New Testament for Christians to obey.

Ephesians 6:12

Ephesians 6:12 KJV 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.

Three points:

1. Wrestle

"We do not wrestle against." The foe is not flesh and blood--humans or animals, but this fight is against spiritual beings. This makes it clear that it is not a physical battle but a spiritual battle. We are not to use the sword of war but the Scriptures. The word "wrestle" comes from the idea of to "swing" an opponent down and hold him down.

2. Principalities, powers, rulers of darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places.

These are these types of spirits. They are described in these terms by the Holy Spirit to help us understand the real war we Christians face. Principalities comes from the Greek word for an authority of the first, highest rank. Powers refers to the strength these evil beings have. Rulers of the darkness of this world: the word rulers is a term for satan (kosmokrator), darkness is the opposite of light (the light that is of God), and this world is the one we are living in--the earth. These spirit beings (unclean spirits) cause people to continue in their rebellion against God and His laws. Spiritual wickedness in high places refers to the spiritual wickedness these beings bring about in false religions, philosophies, and sects.

3. The war

It is a spiritual war. It is fought with spiritual weapons. We need protection with spiritual armor. This is mentioned in the verses following. Barnes writes in his commentary on the passage:

Yet the apostle says that it was on that kingdom they were to make war. Against that, the kingdom of the Redeemer was to be set up; and that was to be overcome by the spiritual weapons which he specifies. When he speaks of the Christian warfare here, he refers to the contest with the powers of this dark kingdom. He regards each and every Christian as a soldier to wage war on it in whatever way he could, and wherever he could attack it. The contest therefore was not primarily with people, or with the internal corrupt propensities of the soul; it was with this vast and dark kingdom that had been set up over mankind. I do not regard this passage, therefore, as having a primary reference to the struggle which a Christian maintains with his own corrupt propensities. It is a warfare on a large scale with the entire kingdom of darkness over the world. Yet in maintaining the warfare, the struggle will be with such portions of that kingdom as we come in contact with and will actually relate:

(1) to our own sinful propensities - which are a part of the kingdom of darkness;

(2) with the evil passions of others - their pride, ambition, and spirit of revenge - which are also a part of that kingdom;

(3) with the evil customs, laws, opinions, employments, pleasures of the world - which are also a part of that dark kingdom;

(4) with error, superstition, false doctrine - which are also a part of that kingdom; and,

(5) with the wickedness of the pagan world - the sins of benighted nations - also a part of that kingdom. Wherever we come in contact with evil - whether in our own hearts or elsewhere - there we are to make war.

Joshua 4:14

On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life. Joshua 4:14

Three points:

1. Lord magnified Joshua

Magnify has the idea of elevating someone or something to a position of honor, greater than another. God himself exalted Joshua. There are those who exalt themselves: Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at my hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify themselves against me. (Psalms 35:26, AKJV). Then those who exalt themselves over God: Make you him drunken: for he magnified himself against the LORD: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision. (Jeremiah 48:26, AKJV). We need to exalt God: Let all those that seek you rejoice and be glad in you: and let such as love your salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. (Psalms 70:4, AKJV). When God exalts us, there is a blessing; when we exalt ourselves, there is a curse.

2. Feared

Many define "fear" as respect; they don't fear God, they respect Him. They is much more though. Do we fear authority? Consider when you look in your rear view mirror and see flashing red, white, and blue lights; do you fear? You think, "Was I speeding? Did I go through a stop sign?" You fear the authority, not just respect him/her. Some day we have to give an account of ourselves before God. I fear Him. Here they feared Joshua because of the honor God gave to him. Let us fear God.

3. Days of his life

There are conditions to God's blessings. He doesn't just give if we are disobedient or deny Him. Joshua feared and obeyed God all the days of his life. What about us? Are we our own authority? There are rules in the New Testament that the Lord Jesus wants us to obey. We might as well start obeying here, because if our name is in the Lamb's Book of Life and when we are in heaven, we will have to obey His laws. We need to learn this today.

John 8:31-32

John 8:31-32: Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”.

Three points:

1. Continue in my word.

Continue = no stopping point, no side tracts, no going backwards. It is to continue; it is without change. If we change it, we are not continuing in His word. According to Thayer the word has three ideas: in reference to place (not to leave), to time (endure), and to a state or condition (no change, no change into something else). What Jesus taught and lived, these teachings, doctrines, are not to be forgotten, changed, reinterpreted for today, be take allegorically, or wrested. What are we to continue in? It is His word. His word is recorded in the Bible.

2. Truly my disciples

If we leave this teaching, then what are we?

3. Know truth and be set free.

Know has the ideas of knowing by experience as “I know what dandelion ice cream tastes like.” Know also has the idea of knowledge. This would indicate not a repeating of facts but to be able to explain the facts, and how they work together. Know in this verse has the idea of knowing truth, what it is, how it works, recognizing error, and experience. This truth will set us free--free from lies, ignorance, harm, foolishness, and stupidity. Bad things may happen to us beyond our control, but we will know the truth.

So do we continue in all the words of Jesus? Do we know them? Can we defend them from liars and false teachers?

Jude 1:3 KJV Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Three points:

1. Two important things: first--important to write about the common salvation (the salvation we have in common); second--important to write about the faith (our doctrine, and all that it teaches).

2. Needful, exhort, and earnestly contend. Needful means necessary; "I had to do write about this; it is so important." Exhort means encourage to do something. Earnestly contend means put up a vigorous fight. It is used only one time in the New Testament. It is not just fight, but to put up a vigorous fight. The ISV version translates it as "...urge you to continue your vigorous defense of the faith...". Some examples of vigorous: a vigorous work out, a vigorous battle. It is the full effort and not wimping out, a standing for the faith. Remember Stephen's defense before the Sanhedrin. It was vigorous enough that the members of the Sanhedrin were angry enough to kill Stephen. Imagine the guts to say to them, "...you do always resist the Holy Spirit." Acts 7:51 KJV Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. People today do not want to hurt anybody's feelings, so they say little or nothing, but sometimes it is necessary to speak plainly. A physician needs to speak plainly to someone about their diagnosis or the patient might not understand the seriousness of their disease. As one wrote online: "Running away from the situation, trying to avoid the situation...being a LOSER ABOUT IT...Yeah all of that! (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=wimping). This fight is NOT physical like it is in some religions; it is a spiritual fight using logic, reason, illustrations, and appeals. Apologetics is the word.

3. Faith once delivered to the saints.

It is a faith once for all (as most understand it) given to God's people. This is the Christian faith. The 5 basic doctrines are

1. The Trinity: God is one "What" and three "Who's" with each "Who" possessing all the attributes of Deity and personality.

2. The Person of Jesus Christ: Jesus is 100% God and 100% man for all eternity.

3. The Second Coming: Jesus Christ is coming bodily to earth to rule and judge.

4. Salvation: It is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

5. The Scripture: It is entirely inerrant and sufficient for all Christian life.

For more information about these see http://deceptioninthechurch.com/5doctrines.html.

christian-with-a-view: ACCESS TO GRACE

christian-with-a-view: ACCESS TO GRACE: "God has made salvation available to all men by His grace. The question is how do men access that grace? ACCESS TO GRACE! King James ..."

An excellent post to read. The ONLY source of 100% truth is the Bible. It is the only standard that we can and must judge all things--thoughts, desires, words, and deeds.

Deuteronomy 16:12

Deuteronomy 16:12 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.

Three points:

1. Moses was reviewing the entire history and laws from the past 40 years. He reminded them that they were slaves in Egypt. When things go well we sometimes forget what the past was. We need to remember the past sometimes, as the life of Jesus of Nazareth, his birth, death, resurrection, and ascension. We also need to remember what we were before we repented and trusted in the Lord Jesus for our salvation. We were slaves of sin. "Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed." (Romans 6:16-17, ESV)

2. Observe means to guard, protect, attend to, so has the idea of knowing, pay attention to, as in observing the speed limit, that is, we look at the speedometer to know our speed, then we can obey the speed limit. So we must read the Bible to know the rules, compare our lives to the standard, and obey. Today the Christian observes the rules in the New Testament.

3. Do. This means obey. If the Scriptures tell us not to lie, then we do not lie. We do not tell white lies, black lies, half-truths, whatever. A lie is a type of deceiving.

1 John 5:14

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us. (1 John 5:14, AKJV)

John has finished speaking about Jesus of Nazareth and now writes about prayer. Some have taken what the Lord Jesus said, "And whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13, AKJV)" to mean that whatever we pray must come to pass as we prayed for it. This view would have God as servant to praying people. This view, interpretation, is wrong writes John.

Confidence = has the idea of bluntness, plainly speaking and by extension has the idea of assurance, that is, what is said/written will happen. The idea here is that we can be bold to pray; we can speak freely to God himself of our needs and wants. "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him." (Ephesians 3:12, AKJV)

In him refers to the Lord Jesus, whom he has been writing about.

Note the condition. Whatever we pray/ask for must be according to His will. So what He approves of will be granted. That is why we pray, "If it is your will."

Some other conditions:

And whatever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (1 John 3:22, AKJV)

You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it on your lusts. (James 4:3, AKJV)

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16, AKJV)

Hear = not only hearing it but granting the petition.

And if we know that he hear us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. (1 John 5:15, AKJV)

Matthew 6:33

Matthew 6:33 EMTV But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Three points:

1. Seek first the Kingdom of God

Jesus was speaking to people who were seeking food and clothes. They probably had worries if there would be enough to live and clothe themselves, but Jesus says there is something more important--the Kingdom of God.

To seek is to look diligently for something. Consider the parable of the lost coin. Luke 15:8-9 EMTV "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? (9) And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I lost!'

The Kingdom of God is the place where God rules. His rules are followed, because people willingly submit to them. It is now in our hearts (Luke 17:21 KJV Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.) This is the internal, the spiritual kingdom. There is also an external kingdom; there are two ways of this also. A present one that is when Jesus was on earth and in the true church today, who is supposed to living by God's rules in the New Testament. There is a future kingdom also (Revelation 20:4-6 KJV And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (6) Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years).

2. His righteousness

This is God's standard. We are to believe by it, live in it, and die with it. It is to effect our thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. It is the standard that we will be judged by in the future when we will given an account of ourselves. Romans 14:12 KJV "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." And 2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

3. These things will be added to you.

The things necessary for living. God will take care of us when we are seeking what is most important.

2 Kings 17:33

7 October 2010

So they feared the LORD but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away. (2 Kings 17:33)

Three points:

1. Feared God

To fear God is to worship Him. It is to recognize His authority. It is to realize that someday there is our judgment.

2. Served their own gods

Not much different from today. People go to church and worship God on Sunday, but they do their own thing the rest of the week.

3. After the manner of the nations

Today most "Christians" look like the world, act like the world, talk like the world, treat people like the world, and think like the world. We need to start doing all this God's way. Do not be conformed to this world, but continually be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God's will is-what is proper, pleasing, and perfect.

(Romans 12:2)

Luke 23:2

And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. (Luke 23:2)

Three points:

1. Perverting the nation

A lie. Jesus wasn't into politics.

2. Forbidding to give tribute to Caesar

A lie. Jesus said, (Mark 12:17)

"And Jesus answering said to them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at him." Jesus believed in paying taxes.

3. Is Christ a King

This was true, but since the first two were lies, people will assume the last statement is a lie, too. A fancy way of lying sometimes has the liar telling a few lies, then a truth. Because the first things are lies, the other person will think the last statement is a lie also. Let us be beware and check out what people are telling us.

Mark 11:26

Mark 11:26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings.

Three points:

1. Forgive

Forgiveness is not a forgetting and no punishment. Forgiveness is giving the whole thing over to God himself. If God punishes, it will be the perfect punishment, and who wants to fall into the hand of the living God? But perhaps, God will wait until the offender repents. This would be the best of all. A great deal of anxiety can be thrown away by turning the situation over to God. A person might have to do it many times, because of flash backs, etc. Give the whole mess over to God and find peace; the offender usually bothered by what they did.

2. Don't forgive

If we don't forgive, neither will God forgive us. This is for those who repent and humble themselves coming to us and asking forgiveness. We like to be forgiven don't we, so also they want forgiveness. Humility is needed by both parties.

3. Our sin

We have many offenses, too. We need to humble ourselves to ask God's forgiveness as all sin, lawbreaking, is against Him. If we have offended others, causing them to sin, then we need to humble ourselves and ask for their forgiveness.

Jeremiah 1:16

Jeremiah 1:16
And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.

1. When people forsake God, it is to do wickedness, that is, break God's Law.

D1 People forsake God.
because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:21)
D2 God forsakes people.
And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you. (2 Chronicles 24:20)
D3 They forsake Him for sin.

E1 Serve their own laws and their own "god"--themselves and their sin.
E2 Chose the devil's way, thoughts, desires, and deeds.

2. Idolatry

Idolatry is worshipping anything but the true God. It is worshipping self or deciding which "god" they want to serve. They want a "god" that is comfortable and allows them to do what they want; all without guilt.

3. Worship what they choose, rather than what is--only one God, Yahweh.

At one time they knew God but refused to worship and be thankful. This has consequences. The LORD has spoken: "Those who rule Judah are doomed because they rebel against me. They follow plans that I did not make, and sign treaties against my will, piling one sin on another. (Isaiah 30:1). and evil persons and impostors will keep on going from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves. (2 Timothy 3:13).

Jeremiah 1:5

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Three Points:

1.God knows us before birth

Foreknowledge - knowledge of an event before it occurs (WordNet). God knows, not decrees, the future. It is one of those amazing things about God. This is the basis of prophecy. This is why God's prophecies and prophets are 100% accurate. We can take comfort in God's many promises and prophecies, for they will happen.

2. God knows what our response to Him will be, so God sanctified, that is, separated Jeremiah to be a prophet.

When God sanctifies someone, He sets that person apart to be a servant for His purpose. Exodus 28:41 And you shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. Our prayer should be that we are sanctified wholly. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3. A prophet to the nations, not just Israel.

God has concern for all people, not just a certain group. The Lord Jesus came to die for all nations. Revelation 7:9 After these things, I looked and lo, a great multitude, which none could number, out of every nation, and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palms in their hands. He cares for you.

Jeremiah 1:16

Jeremiah 1:16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.

Their sins

1. Forsaken me.

That is, they have known but turned away. Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

2. Burned incense

This is to please the gods. There is only one God. We should seek to please Him. Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

3. Worshipped the work of their own hands.

Basically we worship what we want to worship--ourselves. We choose what to worship--what is comfortable, pleasing, appealing, and serves us well. It will leave us without guilt, sorrow, or troubles.

This is all false. We will a slave to this type of god. We will still have guilt, sorrow, and troubles, for "(Isaiah 57:21) There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."

Will we turn away, be unthankful, and worship idols?

Hebrews 7:25

Hebrews 7:25

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He lives forever to make intercession for them.

Three points:

1. He is also able

The "He" here is the Lord Jesus. The word "able" refers to the ability, power, and strength to do something. I am able to walk; I am not able to fly. Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.

2. Save to the uttermost

Uttermost is the farthest reach possible. Save is to deliver. He is able to deliver us from evil, from falling, from denying Christ. Thank you Lord Jesus for your ability to do this. It is spiritual things that He saves us from. There may be a deliverance from things in this life, but mainly it is talking about spiritual things as our salvation.

3. Intercession

Intercession is prayer; it is asking for God to help another. The Lord Jesus prays for us. He is praying for you now. He prays for our faith to be strong. He is a High Priest that never dies, never gets tired, never gets discouraged. Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yes rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you in order that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.

1 John 4:8

7 July 10

1 John 4:8
He who doesn't love, doesn't know not God; for God is love.

Three Points

1. We all need love.

Some animals need group/pack acceptance. People need love. We need tenderness, compassion, gentleness, time, and a feeling of being special, having more attention and priority than others. Love is a choice. There may be an emotional part, but it is not always there. Love is more about giving then getting. God is the ultimate example. 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.


2. Where will we get love?

All need love. In desperation they often seek it in wrong places and wrong people. Many manipulators will lie to get what they want. For the first step we need to repent (turn from our sins) and trust in Jesus Christ alone. Then we are reconciled to God and will have God's love and care instead of wrath. It doesn't mean everything will be smooth and easy, for often it means rejection and troubles. If people showed love like God does, the world would be better, but people will not because we are born narcissists.

3. God is love.

Seeing the many disasters and wars in the world, most have a hard time believing this. The disasters and wars are from people seeking their own, rather than God's will. James 4:1-3 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Do not they come from your pleasures that war in your members? You lust, and do not have. You kill, covet, and cannot obtain. You fight and make war. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask, and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.

Philippians 2:19

Philippians 2:19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Three points:

1. Salvation

This is not salvation from sin. It may be deliverance from prison, but the basic idea is that whatever happens, God is able to deliver. (Matthew 10:28) "And fear not them who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." And )1 Peter 3:14) "But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear, neither be troubled." There is safety in God's care. Things may be terrible and terrifying, but God can bring peace to our souls as well as deliverance.

2. Through prayer

We are to (Galatians 6:2) "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ," which is based on (John 13:34) "A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." We need to pray for one another. Prayer may be work, even boring, but we need one another. If we love one another, we will pray for each other.

3. Supply

God gives the help that is needed. He may use humans (think of the widow that Elisha was sent), situations (as when Paul was in prison and there was an earthquake), even an angel (remember Peter in prison and the doors opening of themselves?). We may have to wait and learn patience, (James 1:4) "But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing." We have an example, so (James 5:10) "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience."

2 Thessalonians 1:9

2 Thessalonians 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.

Three points:

1. Everlasting destruction

Everlasting, never ending, going on forever and forever. Imagine walking on and on, never is there time for rest, food, water; just walking. Never stopping destruction. Destruction means destroyed. We think of destruction as being done then over with, but this destruction just goes on and on. Pain that never ends, sorrow that never ends, no hope, no encouragement, no pleasure, no one to care about you--it is too late.

2. Presence of the Lord

They will be far away from God. We were created for fellowship with God, to be with Him. Instead of being with Him, they are far away never to be close to His blessing, comfort, or glory. To be always in the presence of a king meant to be able to have your petition heard by him, to work with him, to have him bless you.

3. Glory of His power

To never see His glory and feats of healing strength for you and others. The destruction that is going to happen to those who sin will come from God's glorious power. He wants all to repent. He warns all of the punishment for breaking the Ten Commandments. Finally, punishment comes.

1 Corinthians 3:21

1 Corinthians 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's

Three points:

1. People are put on a pedestal.

In this chapter, Paul, Apollos, Cephas (Peter) are thought of as important people. You can sense the meaning, "Cephas lead me to Christ and baptized me, but you only had Joe the janitor." So thoughts of pride enter our hearts. God wants us to understand that we are not to do this. Truly Godly people do not want this attention.

2. Glory

To give glory and receive glory; to feel proud to be a part of a group of people who have been helped, preached to, baptized by, and taught by. We should give our glory from the Messiah--Jesus. Psalms 39:6 "Surely every man walks about like a shadow! Surely they are stirred up in vain. He heaps up the produce, and does not know who shall gather it." Our boasting...Jeremiah 9:24 "...but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am Jehovah, doing kindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, says Jehovah."

3. All things are your's

Romans 8:28 "And we know, that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose." Even if things are difficult and uncomfortable, God has His ways to bring good in and from that situation. The greatest that God has given is His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus. Romans 8:32 "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"