Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
Three points:
1. People do labor and are weighed down with heavy burdens.
This burdens are not always financial, emotional, physical, it is the spiritual burden that people carry that is the heaviest. Being created in God's image and yet being carrying the burden of rebellion.
2. Jesus' yoke.
A well made yoke makes the burden easier, because the fit is correct. The pressure of the pulling is even allowing no sores. Jesus is the best carpenter. Jesus is the best master.
3. Rest for our souls.
Nothing like going to bed at night after hard work. Finally, a time to rest. The rest that the Lord Jesus gives is like no other. It is complete, perfect, and timeless.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
2 Timothy 3:13
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13)
Three points:
1. Things are going to get worse
Remember that there will be difficult times in the last days. People will be selfish, greedy, boastful, and conceited; they will be insulting, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, and irreligious; they will be unkind, merciless, slanderers, violent, and fierce; they will hate the good; they will be treacherous, reckless, and swollen with pride; they will love pleasure rather than God; they will hold to the outward form of our religion, but reject its real power. Keep away from such people. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
2. People are going to get worse.
Specifically, evil men and impostors. Evil people we will probably spot pretty easily; impostors are harder to spot. We need a standard; we have one--the Bible. The Lord Jesus has given us all that we need to know right from wrong.
3. Impostors.
The word impostor means a "pretender". Someone who pretends to be a Christian, but he/she is not. They know the lingo; they know the Bible; they know how to be "Christian", but they are not. The word also means "seducer". A seducer is someone who tries to get people to follow their way, rather than getting people to follow the way of the Lord Jesus and the way He taught.
Three points:
1. Things are going to get worse
Remember that there will be difficult times in the last days. People will be selfish, greedy, boastful, and conceited; they will be insulting, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, and irreligious; they will be unkind, merciless, slanderers, violent, and fierce; they will hate the good; they will be treacherous, reckless, and swollen with pride; they will love pleasure rather than God; they will hold to the outward form of our religion, but reject its real power. Keep away from such people. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
2. People are going to get worse.
Specifically, evil men and impostors. Evil people we will probably spot pretty easily; impostors are harder to spot. We need a standard; we have one--the Bible. The Lord Jesus has given us all that we need to know right from wrong.
3. Impostors.
The word impostor means a "pretender". Someone who pretends to be a Christian, but he/she is not. They know the lingo; they know the Bible; they know how to be "Christian", but they are not. The word also means "seducer". A seducer is someone who tries to get people to follow their way, rather than getting people to follow the way of the Lord Jesus and the way He taught.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Job 20:5
That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment? (Job 20:5)
Three points:
1. The wicked triumph.
They win...for awhile. It seems like there is no hope. The Christians lose, society loses, families lose. Things just seem hopeless.
2. This triumph is short.
While the Christians wait, time goes slowly. eventually the tide turns, the winds start blowing from another direction, and God will win again.
3. The hypocrite has a short-lived joy.
Hypocrites are those who say one thing and do another. They have joy because people don't know their real self...for awhile. Eventually these, too, are exposed for what they are, and their joy is gone. Hopefully, it is gone to shame, then repentance, then forgiveness.
Three points:
1. The wicked triumph.
They win...for awhile. It seems like there is no hope. The Christians lose, society loses, families lose. Things just seem hopeless.
2. This triumph is short.
While the Christians wait, time goes slowly. eventually the tide turns, the winds start blowing from another direction, and God will win again.
3. The hypocrite has a short-lived joy.
Hypocrites are those who say one thing and do another. They have joy because people don't know their real self...for awhile. Eventually these, too, are exposed for what they are, and their joy is gone. Hopefully, it is gone to shame, then repentance, then forgiveness.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
James 5:8
You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
(James 5:8)
Three points:
1. Be patient.
Not much is harder is it? We CAN wait. Ask God to help, pray for one another, and remind ourselves that He WILL come. It is a matter of being content.
2. Establish your hearts.
Establish has the idea of "make up your minds", thus make up your minds that you will wait for the Lord's return patiently.
3. The Lord will return.
Don't know when, but He will. It is always close to happening, so we must always be ready.
(James 5:8)
Three points:
1. Be patient.
Not much is harder is it? We CAN wait. Ask God to help, pray for one another, and remind ourselves that He WILL come. It is a matter of being content.
2. Establish your hearts.
Establish has the idea of "make up your minds", thus make up your minds that you will wait for the Lord's return patiently.
3. The Lord will return.
Don't know when, but He will. It is always close to happening, so we must always be ready.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Job 42:6
Wherefore I abhor [myself], and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:6)
Three points:
1. We to take a good look at ourselves.
We think that all is good and right with us until we compare ourselves to God and His standards.
2. We need to be humble.
Yes, Lord, you are right and I am wrong. This is hard, isn't it?
3. We need to repent.
Repent is to change our attitude and actions. It is a work in our heart. We need to turn around and act, think, and talk as God wants. We have the Bible to tell us these things
Three points:
1. We to take a good look at ourselves.
We think that all is good and right with us until we compare ourselves to God and His standards.
2. We need to be humble.
Yes, Lord, you are right and I am wrong. This is hard, isn't it?
3. We need to repent.
Repent is to change our attitude and actions. It is a work in our heart. We need to turn around and act, think, and talk as God wants. We have the Bible to tell us these things
Monday, June 2, 2008
Psalms 148:13
All creation, come praise the name of the LORD. Praise his name alone. The glory of God is greater than heaven and earth. (Psalms 148:13)
Three points:
1. All Creation.
Think everything. This is all material things. Can mountains, trees, cats, cows, or ants praise God? That would be literalism. By the plain, normal reading of Scripture we would understand this to mean not by voice but literary device that everything in creation shows the greatness of God.
2. His name alone.
There is no other creator, God, Savior. His name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--Yahweh. Let us give no other our worship.
3. God's glory.
There is no words in human language to express God's glory. We see the glory of leaders, the rich, the powerful, sunsets, space, etc, but that in no way can even get close to have us understand God's glory.
Three points:
1. All Creation.
Think everything. This is all material things. Can mountains, trees, cats, cows, or ants praise God? That would be literalism. By the plain, normal reading of Scripture we would understand this to mean not by voice but literary device that everything in creation shows the greatness of God.
2. His name alone.
There is no other creator, God, Savior. His name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--Yahweh. Let us give no other our worship.
3. God's glory.
There is no words in human language to express God's glory. We see the glory of leaders, the rich, the powerful, sunsets, space, etc, but that in no way can even get close to have us understand God's glory.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
2 Timothy 4:4
And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:4)
Three points:
1. The Christians at some point in time will not want the truth.
It's hard to believe, but it is coming and maybe now is. You can talk to people and show them from the Bible "The Truth", but they might say, "Well, that was for Paul's day", or "Paul was a product of his time, and now we know better." Any excuse will do.
2. The truth will still be truth.
It doesn't change; people change. It is a matter of attitude, not of ignorance. Where are the preachers and teachers presenting the truth?
3. If truth is gone, then fables begin.
People have to believe something to guide their life. If the Bible is ignored, they will turn to something else. Everything else--doctrine, guidelines for living, and even the plain, normal reading of the Bible is turned aside.
Three points:
1. The Christians at some point in time will not want the truth.
It's hard to believe, but it is coming and maybe now is. You can talk to people and show them from the Bible "The Truth", but they might say, "Well, that was for Paul's day", or "Paul was a product of his time, and now we know better." Any excuse will do.
2. The truth will still be truth.
It doesn't change; people change. It is a matter of attitude, not of ignorance. Where are the preachers and teachers presenting the truth?
3. If truth is gone, then fables begin.
People have to believe something to guide their life. If the Bible is ignored, they will turn to something else. Everything else--doctrine, guidelines for living, and even the plain, normal reading of the Bible is turned aside.
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