Thursday, July 31, 2008

1 John 2

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. - 1 John 2:15

This is such a challenging verse for me. The proof the the love of the Father is in me is that I do not love anything in the world. This is certainly more true now then when I first believed, but there is no way it is entirely true. I can say that I love Christ more than anything the world has to offer and would never leave Him for any comfort of the world, but I also still like some worldly things. I still watch (A little) TV, I still see (A few) movies. I don't listen to secular music and rarely read secular books (for entertainment). But even with all this I know there is a love for the world in my heart. My fleshly appetites get the best of me, my eyes wonder, my mind dwells on things it shouldn't. I read of the great men of God and long for God to use me like that but in my heart I know I'm not willing to give up what they gave up, to sacrifice what the sacrificed. Lord I believe, help me with my unbelief. I love you, help me increase in love. I can do nothing without you giving me strength. Keep my heart and mind on You and You alone.

Monday, July 28, 2008

1 John 1

We write this to make our joy complete - 1 John 1:4

In all the years I spent as a Youth Pastor and now Senior Pastor I have known this sentiment several times. There is something special one someone listens to what you teach and then puts it into practice. You work hard to make the Word of God come alive and be relevant, you pray and seek God for anointing and that He would use what you are saying, but that is no guarantee that anyone will really listen. As soon as it comes out of your mouth it's in the Lord's hands and totally His decision about what to do with it. Will it make any impact? Will it take root? Who knows? But when it does, when someone tells you how they are making commitments to dig deeper in the Word, or spending more time in prayer, or sharing their faith every time they get the opportunity, it increases my joy. It is a thrill to be able to be used by God to further His Kingdom and I love to delight in the fruit God brings to my ministry. Let me encourage you, if any minister has increased your love for the Lord, let them know that their joy may be made complete.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

John 18

XVIII Jesus arrested, Tried, and Denied
A. vs 1-11 Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested
B. vs 12-14 Jesus is taken to Annas
C. vs 15-18 Peter denies Christ for the first time
D. vs 19-24 Jesus is questioned by the High Priest
E. vs 25-27 Peter denies Christ for the second and third time
F. vs 28-40 Jesus is interrogated by Pilate and the crowd wants Barabbas released instead of Jesus

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

John 17

XVII Jesus' Prayer
A. vs 1-5 Jesus prays that the Father would glorify Him so He can glorify the Father
B. vs 6-19 Jesus prays for the Disciples
1. vs 6-12 Jesus asks the Father to protect the disciples
2. vs 13-19 Jesus asks the Father to sanctify the disciple by His Word
C. vs 20-26 Jesus prays for all believers
1. vs 20-23 May all believers be brought into complete unity in Christ
2. vs 24 Jesus wants all believers to see His glory
3. vs 25-26 Jesus will continue to make the Father known so all may be in Him

Monday, July 21, 2008

John 16

XVI What the Holy Spirit will do when He Comes
A. vs 1-16 The Work of the Holy Spirit
1. vs 1-4 Soon anyone who kills a disciple will think he is doing God's will
2. vs 5-11 If Jesus goes away, the Counselor will come
3. vs 12-16 The Spirit will come and guide in all truth
B. vs 17-33 Grief will turn to Joy
1. vs 17-18 The disciples were not sure what He meant
2. vs 19-24 Soon grief will turn to joy and the disciples will be able to ask anything in Jesus' name
3. vs 25-28 Jesus says He is leaving to go back to the Father
4. vs 29-32 The disciples finally believe what Jesus is saying
5. vs 33 He has overcome the world

John 15

XV The Vine and Branches
A. vs 1-17 The Vine and The Branches
1. vs 1-4 Jesus is the vine and His Father is the gardener
2. vs 5-8 We are the branches and must bear fruit
3. vs 9-17 Jesus commands us to love each other
B. vs 18-27 The Disciples will be hated
1. vs 18-25 Those that persecuted Jesus will also persecute His followers
2. vs 26-27 The Counselor will testify of Jesus

Sunday, July 20, 2008

John 14

XIV Jesus Teaches His Disciples
A. vs 1-14 Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life
1. vs 1-4 Jesus teaches about the mansions He will prepare for us
2. vs 5-7 Jesus is the Way to heaven, the Truth and the Life
3. vs 8-14 Anyone who has seen Jesus has seen the Father
B. vs 15-31 Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
1. vs 15-21 Jesus will send the Counselor
2. vs 22-24 Jesus will come and live with anyone who loves Him
3. vs 25-27 The Holy Spirit will teach us all things
4. vs 28-31 Be glad that Jesus is going back to Father because the Father is greater than the Son

John 13

XIII Jesus Washes the Disciple's Feet
A. vs 1-17 Jesus washes His disciple's feet
1. vs 1-5 After the meal Jesus prepares to wash His disciple's feet
2. vs 6-9 Jesus washes Peter's feet
3. vs 10-11 When a person has had a bath only the dirty feet need to be cleaned
4. vs 12-17 Jesus commands that we wash each other's feet
B. vs 18-30 Jesus predicts His betrayal
1. vs 18-20 Jesus predicts His betrayal so when it happens His disciples would know that He already knew it was going to happen
2. vs 21-25 The disciples want to know who will betray Him
3. vs 26-27 Satan entered into Judas
4. vs 28-30 Judas went out to betray Jesus
C. vs 31-38 Jesus predicts Peter's Denial
1. vs 31-32 Jesus is glorified by the Father and glorifies the Father
2. vs 33-35 Jesus gives a new command, Love one another
3. vs 36-38 Peter says He will follow Jesus and Jesus says he deny Christ 3 times

John 12

XII Jesus Anointed, Triumphal Entry
A. vs 1-11 Mary anoints Jesus
1. vs 1-3 Mary pours perfume on Jesus
2. vs 4-6 Judas complains that the perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor
3. vs 7-8 Jesus says that the perfume was to prepare Him for His burial
4. vs 9-11 The chief priests plan to kill Jesus and Lazarus
B. vs 12-19 The Triumphal Entry
1. vs 12-15 The crowd greets Jesus as He rides on a donkey into Jerusalem
2. vs 16-19 The Pharisees are upset to see such a large crowd praising Jesus
C. vs 20-36 Jesus predicts His Death
1. vs 20-22 Greeks come to see Jesus
2. vs 23-26 Jesus says to love life is to lose it and to hate your life is to keep it eternally
3. vs 27-29 The Father speaks and says that His name will be glorified
4. vs 30-33 Jesus says the voice was heard for the benefit of those around Him
5. vs 34-36 Trust in the light will the light is around
D. vs 37-50 Jews continue in Unbelief
1. vs 37-40 The Jews could still not believe because their eyes had been shut
2. vs 41-43 Some refused to follow Him because they loved the praise of men
3. vs 44-46 When we believe in Christ we also believe in the Father
4. vs 47-50 Jesus says what the Father tells Him to do

Thursday, July 17, 2008

John 11

XI Lazarus
A. vs 1-16 Death of Lazarus
1. vs 1-3 Mary and Marthe send word to Jesus that Lazarus is sick
2. vs 4-6 Jesus stayed for two more days to fully glorify God
3. vs 7-10 Jesus tells His disciples they are going back to Judea
4. vs 11-16 Jesus tells His disciples that Lazarus has died
B. vs 17-37 Jesus and Lazarus' sisters
1. vs 17-20 Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been dead of 4 days and Martha comes to greet Jesus
2. vs 21-23 Jesus tells Martha that her brother will rise again
3. vs 24-27 Jesus says He is the resurrection and the life and Martha acknowledges Him as Christ
4. vs 28-31 Mary goes to Jesus and a crowd follows her
5. vs 32-37 Jesus weeps with the crowd
C. vs 38-44 Resurrection of Lazarus
1. vs 38-39 Jesus tells them to roll away the stone
2. vs 40-42 Jesus prays to the Father
3. vs 43-44 Jesus commands Lazarus to come out of the tomb
D. vs 45-57 The Jews plot against Jesus
1. vs 45-48 The Sanhedrin fear that Jesus will cause a revolt and bring the Romans down upon them
2. vs 49-53 The chief priest prophecies about Jesus' death
3. vs 54-57 The chief priests give orders to have Jesus arrested

Monday, July 14, 2008

John 10

X The Good Shepherd, The Unbelieving Jews

A. vs 1-21 The Good Shepherd

1. vs 1-6 Jesus compares His followers to sheep that He shepherds

2. vs 7-10 Sheep will find life in Him but the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy

3. vs 11-13 Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep

4. vs 14-18 Jesus has the authority to not only lay down His life but to pick it back up also

5. vs 19-21 This teaching again divided the Jews into believers and nonbelievers

B. vs 22-42 The Unbelieving Jews

1. vs 22-24 The Jews want Him to say clearly that He is the Christ

2. vs 25-30 No one can snatch Christ's sheep out of His hand

3. vs 31-33 The Jews threaten to stone Him for blasphemy

4. vs 34-39 He tells them to believe on Him and His miracles

5. vs 40-42 Many of John the Baptist's old followers believe in Jesus



My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. John 10: 27-28



Here is a truth that I was very unsure about for much of my Christian walk. I wasn't sure if salvation could be lost or not. If it couldn't be lost, what do we do with all the people who "asked Jesus in to their heart" but showed no sign of salvation? If it could be lost, what loses it? At what point is someone no longer saved? Thank God He allowed my questions to be answered by showing me His truth in His Word. Once we are saved we are always saved and the proof of salvation is we bear fruit until the end comes. If Jesus is my Lord, nothing can snatch me out of His hand. If I ever turn my back on Him and walk away, it is proof that I was never saved to begin with. Now I can rest safe in His arms, not trying to earn my salvation and work hard knowing that I am increasing His Glory.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

John 9

IX Jesus heals a Man born blind
A. vs 1-12 The Healing
1. vs 1-2 The disciples want to know why a man was born blind
2. vs 3-5 Jesus says it happened to shoe His glory when He heals Him
3. vs 6-7 Jesus puts mud in his eyes and tells him to go wash, the man was then healed
4. vs 8-10 People want to know how it happened
5. vs 11-12 He tells them that Jesus healed him
B. vs 13-34 The Pharisees investigate
1. vs 13-15 The Pharisees want to know how he was healed on a Sabbath
2. vs 16-17 The man says that He is a prophet
3. vs 18-19 The Pharisees ask his parents how he was healed
4. vs 20-23 In fear the parents tell the Pharisees to ask him their selves
5. vs 24-27 The Pharisees assume that Jesus is a sinner but the man says that he was once blind but know he sees
6. vs 28-34 The Pharisees throw him out of the synagogue
C. vs 35-41 Jesus gets the man
1. vs 35-37 Jesus tells the man that He is the Son of Man
2. vs 38-39 The man believes in Jesus as the Messiah
3. vs 40-41 Jesus says the Pharisees are blind and guilty

Friday, July 11, 2008

John 7 and 8

VII Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles
A. vs 1-13 Jesus goes to the Feast
1. vs 1-5 Jesus' brothers want Him to go to Judea where people want to kill Him and perform miracles because the did not believe that He was the Messiah
2. vs 6-9 Jesus says the world hates Him because He testifies to what is evil then sends His family ahead of Him to Judea
3. vs 11-13 Jesus goes to the feast in cogneto and hears what the people are saying about Him
B. vs 14-24 Jesus begins to teach
1. vs 14-15 Halfway through the Feast, Jesus begins to teach to the amazement of the crowd
2. vs 16-19 The Father has told the Son what to teach and the people are trying to kill Him for it
3. vs 20-24 If they could circumcise on the Sabbath, why were they upset when He healed on the Sabbath
C. vs 25-44 The people begin to ask if He is the Christ
1. vs 25-27 The people wonder if the authorities have concluded that He is the Christ because they are not stopping Him from teaching
2. vs 28-29 Jesus knows the Father and the Father sent Him to teach
3. vs 30-31 Many put their faith in Him
4. vs 32-36 Jesus says He will soon go back to the Father and the people will look for Him and not be able to find Him
5. vs 37-39 Jesus said that anyone who comes to Him and drinks will never thirst again
6. vs 40-44 The people were divided, some believed and some did not
D. vs 45-53 The Jewish Leaders do not believe
1. vs 45-46 The Pharisees asked the Temple Guards why they did not arrest Him
2. vs 47-49 The Pharisees say that no one who knows the Law believes Him
3. vs 50-53 Nicodemus tries to defend Him

VIII The Woman caught in Adultery, Jesus testimony about Himself
A. vs 1-11 The woman caught in Adultery
1. vs 1-5 The Pharisees bring a woman caught in adultery to Jesus and ask whether or not they should stone her as the Law demands
2. vs 6-8 Jesus said that the should stone her but the one without sin should start
3. vs 9-11 Jesus tells her He does not condemn her and to leave her life of sin
B. vs 12-30 Jesus defends the validity of His Testimony
1. vs 12-13 The Pharisees say that because He is testifying about Himself, His testimony is not valid
2. vs 14-18 The Father also testifies for the Son
3. vs 19-22 Jesus says if they really knew the Father they would know Him also
4. vs 23-26 Jesus says He is exactly who He has been saying He is all along
5. vs 27-30 They will find out who e is when He has been lifted up
C. vs 31-47 Children of Abraham or the Devil
1. vs 31-32 we are His disciples only if we hold to His teaching
2. vs 33-38 Everyone who sins is a slave to sin but who the Son sets free is truly free
3. vs 39-41 They say their only father is Abraham
4. vs 42-47 Jesus says their father is the Devil because they do what the Devil does
D. vs 48-59 Jesus speaks about Himself
1. vs 48-51 Anyone who keeps Christ's word will never see death
2. vs 52-56 Jesus says that Abraham looked to His day and was glad
3. vs 57-59 Jesus says that He existed before Abraham and the people picked up stones in order to kill Him

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." - John 8:31-32

The proof is in the pudding. If I said I loved my wife and never spoke to her or thought about her you could safely call me a liar. If I say I loved Football and never watched any games, or read the sports page, or talked about my team, you could safely say I don't really love Football. In the same way, if I say I love Christ but have no interest in His teachings: learning them, applying them, loving them; then You can safely say I do not love Christ. It is by holding fast to the teachings of Christ that we prove our love. We must grow in holiness, show the fruit of the Spirit, learn our Bibles, spend time in prayer and so on. Not because those things save us but because when we love Christ we live to do those things. Our christian walk has become a joy because we are so grateful that He has saved us. In fact, if we are not saved, then the good works that God has called us to will become a burden on us and bring us death.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

John 6

Well, it finally happened. When God called my wife and me to start this church we knew that there was going to be resistance from some people. We knew that it wasn't going to be an easy thing but we also knew that what ever happened God would give us the ability to overcome. Well at least now I know where the first bit of trouble will be coming from. I am trusting that God is my shield and my buckler and will fight on my behalf and those whose confidence is in the Lord will not be put to shame. To God be all the Glory for great things He will do.

VI Jesus feeds the Five Thousand, Walks upon the Water, and says He is the Bread of Life
A. vs 1-15 Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
1. vs 1-4 Jesus sits on a mountainside with His disciples and a great crowd follows
2. vs 5-7 Jesus tells the disciples to feed the people and Philip says that 8 months wages would not be enough to buy all the food needed
3. vs 8-9 Andrew says there is a boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish
4. vs 10-11 Jesus sat the people down and passed out enough food to feed everyone
5. vs 12-13 Jesus had the disciples gather the leftovers
6. vs 14-15 Jesus withdrew to a mountain
B. vs 16-24 Jesus walks upon the water
1. vs 16-21 Jesus walked to the boat in the midst of a storm, upon the water
2.vs 22-24 The crowd gets into boats and begins to search for Jesus
C. vs 25-59 Jesus says He is the Bread of Life
1. vs 25-27 Jesus knows that the crowd is looking for Him just because He fed them
2. vs 28-29 Jesus tells them they must believe in Him
3. vs 30-31 The crowd wants to know what miraculous sign He will give them so they will believe in Him
4. vs 32-33 Jesus says the bread from Heaven did not come from Moses but God and He is that bread
5. vs 34-40 Jesus is the bread of Life and will never turn away any who come to Him
6. vs 41-42 Some do not believe because they knew His parents yet He says He came from Heaven
7. vs 43-51 No one comes to Him unless the Father draws Him and all who eat of Him will have everlasting life
8. vs 52-59 Jesus says you must eat His flesh and drink His blood in order to have everlasting life
D. vs 60-71 Some that follow him, depart
1. vs 60 What Jesus says is difficult to understand so some stop following Him
2. vs 61-65 Jesus confronts the grumbling disciples and reminds them that no one can come to Him unless the Father enables Him
3. vs 66-69 Jesus asks if His Twelve will leave Him also and Peter says they will not
4. vs 70-71 Jesus says that one of the Twelve will betray Him

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him - John 6:44

I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life - John 6:47

Here in just a few verses is one of the dichotomies in Scripture that has always boggled my mind. How are we saved? God draws us! How are we saved? We must believe! These two ideas are held in perfect tension in the mind of God. God is responsible for our salvation and we are responsible for believing. God commands all men everywhere to repent but only He can give us the ability to repent. Look at the other side of the coin and you see the problem. If we are not saved who is responsible for our damnation? Us and us alone. Though we are not saved because God did not draw us, we alone are held responsible for our sins. How can this be? Because we are but clay pots in the hands of our Master and He will do with us as He pleases. Some will go to everlasting Life and some to everlasting Death and God alone makes the decision on who to save and who to not save. Therefore, work out your salvation with fear and trembling and pray that you will endure to the end. Also pray that laborers by sent into the harvest so many will repent and the Lamb will receive the full reward for His sufferings.

Monday, July 7, 2008

John 5

V The Healing by the Pool, Jesus' Testimony
A. vs 1-15 The Healing by the Pool
1. vs 1-6 Jesus asks a man lying by a pool if he would like to be healed
2. vs 7 The man says he is trying to get healed but cannot get to the pool
3. vs 8-9 Jesus heals the man
4. vs 10 The man carries his mat away on the Sabbath which gets him in trouble
5. vs 11-12 The Jews want to know who told him to work on the Sabbath
6. vs 13-15 The man tells the Jews that Jesus healed hum
B. vs 16-47 Jesus testifies about Himself
1. vs 16-18 The Jews take offense at what Jesus is doing and teaching and begin to plot to kill Him
2. vs 19-23 The Son does what the Father tells Him to do and not honoring the Son means not honoring the Father
3. vs 24-27 The Father has given the Son authority to judge
4. vs 28-30 All will be judged and Christ judges as His Father tells Him to
5. vs 31-32 The Father testifies on behalf of His Son
6. vs 33-35 John the Baptist also testifies to the truth
7. vs 36-40 The Scriptures testify to Christ yet some still don't believe
8. vs 41-44 Make an effort to obtain the praise that comes from God
9. vs 45-47 Moses will accuse the Jews

Saturday, July 5, 2008

John 4

IV Jesus in Samaria, Jesus Heals an officials son
A vs 1-38 Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
1. vs 1-3 Jesus leaves Judea to return to Galilee when the Pharisees learn that His disciples are baptizing more people than John the Baptist
2. vs 4-6 Jesus travels through Samaria and rests near Jacob's well
3. vs 7-8 A Samaritan woman comes to the well and Jesus asks her for water
4. vs 9 The woman asks why He is talking to her because she is a Samaritan and a woman
5. vs 10 Jesus says that if she knew who He was she would be asking Him for water, Living Water
6. vs 11-12 She is unclear on how Jesus would get this Living Water
7. vs 13-14 Jesus says whoever drinks this water will never thirst again
8. vs 15-18 Jesus tells her to get her husband then tells her He knows she has had five husbands and is not married now
9. vs 19-24 Jesus tells her that where you worship is not important but how you worship is
10. vs 25-26 Jesus tells her that He is the Messiah
B. vs 27-38 The disciples show back up
1. vs 27-30 The disciples return and the woman goes back to town and tells people about Jesus
2. vs 31-33 The disciples want Jesus to eat and Jesus says He has food that they don't know about
3. vs 34-38 Jesus says the fields are ripe to be harvested
C. vs 39-42 The Samaritans come and believe that Jesus is the Messiah
D. vs 43-54 Jesus Heals an Official's Son
1. vs 43-45 Jesus returns to Galilee
2. vs 46-47 A royal official came to Jesus and asked if He would heal his son
3. vs 48-50 Jesus says the man's son will live
4. vs 51-54 The man finds out his son was healed exactly when Jesus said he would be so him and his entire house believe

Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:21-24

I have been going through something when it comes to worship. Obviously the point of this passage is that where you worship is not important but how. We must worship "in spirit and truth" but what does that mean? I think "spirit" is in contrast to the locations mentioned before. We no longer have to travel to a particular mountain to worship but it can be done anywhere at any time. It is the 'truth" that gives me pause. I know that this means our worship must be theologically accurate. Our chorus' should reflect who God is and who we are. Doctrine should be sung as well as taught. In fact our songs should reinforce the teaching from the pulpit. My problem is I have spent so long in small-minded, repetitive worship music I wonder if this music is even out there and how I can get my hands on some. I want music that makes God look Big and High and Holy and Majestic and causes our souls to worship by reminding us of His many attributes and characteristics. I want the old Hymns but at the same time I want the contemporary music. I like drums. And electric guitar. and bass guitar. Surely someone has taken these two worlds and mashed them together.

Friday, July 4, 2008

John 3

III Nicodemus and John
A. vs 1-21 Nicodemus meets and questions Jesus
1. vs 1-2 Nicodemus acknowledges that Jesus is at least a great teacher
2. vs 3-4 Nicodemus wants to know what it means to be "Born Again"
3. vs 5-8 The Spirit gives birth to life in the spirits of men
4. vs 9-15 Jesus is using earthly examples to illustrate a heavenly concept
5. vs 16-21 God sent His Son in the world to save the world and all who believe on Him will have eternal life
B. vs 22-36 John the Baptist Testifies about Jesus
1. vs 22-26 John's disciples are starting to get upset because more people are going to Jesus
2. vs 27-30 John is joyful that people are going to Jesus
3. vs 31-36 John testifies that Jesus is the Messiah

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him. John 3:36

This really messes with the whole "God hates Sin but Loves Sinners" Theology. We see in many places in scripture that the wrath of God "abides" or remains, or hovers over sinners like a black cloud. God absolutely is angry with sinners and demands that all sinners everywhere repent. But the problem is that it is the very wrath of God and our own innate sinfulness that makes it impossible to repent in our own power. This is why it is necessary for God to first intervene. God must first move on our hearts and drop the scales from our eyes in order that we may see His Son as glorious, then we see our own sinfulness in the light of His Holiness and that causes us to repent. Salvation is entirely a work of God from beginning to end and one we took no part in without God's irresistible grace compelling us. Therefore, our freedom from the wrath that used to abide on us is something we can give God all the glory for and take none of the credit for.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

John 2

II Jesus does first miracle; Clears Temple
A. vs 1-11 Jesus changes the Water into Wine
1. vs 1-3 Jesus and his disciples are invited to a wedding in Cana that runs out of wine
2. vs 4-5 Mary asks here son to do something about the wine
3. vs 6-8 Jesus gives servants instructions to fill six large stone jars with water
4. vs 9-11 When the Water is ladled out, it has turned to wine that is better than the wine already served
B. vs 12-25 Jesus clears the temple
1. Vs 12 Jesus travels to Capernaum to stay with His family
2. vs 13-16 Jesus went to the Temple in Jerusalem, saw the money changers, and began to throw them out
3. vs 17 This reminds the disciples of an Old Testament verse that speaks of the Messiah
4. vs 18-19 The Jews ask for a miraculous sign that gives Him the authority to do this and He says that if they tear down the Temple He will build it again in three days
5. vs 20-22 The Temple He spoke of was His own body
6. vs 23-25 Many believed on Him but He did not entrust Himself to them

John 2:24-25 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

Again we see here a benefit of having a clear direction and purpose. Jesus knew exactly who He was and therefore did not need any outside affirmation. It's always nice to get a pat on the back or an "Attaboy" but the presence or absence of those should not effect the course of our life. In fact when that happens we betray that we are living for the praise of men instead of the praise of The Man, our Lord Jesus. There is a calling on each of our lives to do something great for the Kingdom of God and if you are doing it right you probably won't have too many friends. Holiness and sanctification is not something the world really appreciates and they certainly won't like it if you call them to the standard that God demands, but do it anyway. Be bold for the Lord and watch how God moves to confirm His Word.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

John 1

I The Beginning of Christ's Ministry
A. vs 1-18 The Incarnation
1. vs 1-2 The Word was pre-existent with God, not created
2. vs 3-5 The Word created all things and is Light
3. vs 6-9 John the Baptist came as a witness to the Light
4. vs 10-13 The world did not receive Him, only those who believed on His name
5. vs 14 The Word was made flesh and shares the same Glory as the Father
6. vs 15-18 John testifies of Christ
B. vs 19-28 John denies being the Christ
1. vs 19-21 Some Jews ask if John the Baptist was the Messiah, Elijah or a prophet and he tells them no
2. vs 22-23 John says he is the voice of one crying out in the wilderness
3. vs 24-25 Some Pharisees want to know why he baptizes
4. vs 26-28 John says the Messiah is coming
C. vs 29-34 John testifies that Jesus is the Lamb of God
D. vs 35-42 Jesus calls His first three disciples, John, Andrew, and Peter
E. vs 43-51 Jesus calls Philip and Nathaniel to be His Disciples.

John 1:23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'

How much simpler life is when you know exactly what your purpose is. To be able to look the world in the face and say who you are and what you are here for. And if we are being honest, our purpose is no different that John's. We also should be the ones "calling in the desert", telling the world that Christ will soon be here. We should be the ones telling the world of the Holiness of our God and what will happen if anyone stands before Him in their sins. It should be such a burden that even if it takes us out into the wilderness with nothing to eat but locusts and honey, we are still honored to take the message of our King to the people that need it. My prayer for me lately is that I would have the kind of singular focus that is needed to be able to clearly proclaim Christ and His gospel. I would encourage you to do the same.