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The Passover
(Exo 12:1)
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,
(Exo 12:2)
"This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you.
(Exo 12:3)
Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household.
(Exo 12:4)
And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb.
(Exo 12:5)
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats,
(Exo 12:6)
and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.
(Exo 12:7)
"Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.
(Exo 12:8)
They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it.
(Exo 12:9)
Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts.
(Exo 12:10)
And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn.
(Exo 12:11)
In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD's Passover.
(Exo 12:12)
For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.
(Exo 12:13)
The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.
(Exo 12:14)
"This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.
(Exo 12:15)
Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.
(Exo 12:16)
On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you.
(Exo 12:17)
And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever.
(Exo 12:18)
In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening.
(Exo 12:19)
For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land.
(Exo 12:20)
You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread."
(Exo 12:21)
Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb.
(Exo 12:22)
Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning.
(Exo 12:23)
For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.
(Exo 12:24)
You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever.
(Exo 12:25)
And when you come to the land that the LORD will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service.
(Exo 12:26)
And when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?'
(Exo 12:27)
you shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of the LORD's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.'" And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.
(Exo 12:28)
Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.
(Exo 12:29)
At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock.
(Exo 12:30)
And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead.
(Exo 12:31)
Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, "Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as you have said.
The Correlation between the Passover Lamb and the Ministry of Jesus
(Luk 4:18)
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
(Joh 11:25)
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
(Joh 11:26)
and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
(Luk 24:1)
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.
(Luk 24:2)
And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
(Luk 24:3)
but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
(Luk 24:4)
While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.
(Luk 24:5)
And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?
(Luk 24:6)
He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,
(Luk 24:7)
that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise."
(Luk 24:8)
And they remembered his words,
(Luk 24:9)
and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
(Luk 24:10)
Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles,
(Luk 24:11)
but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
(Luk 24:12)
But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
(Luk 24:13)
That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,
(Luk 24:14)
and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
(Luk 24:15)
While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.
(Luk 24:16)
But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
(Luk 24:17)
And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad.
(Luk 24:18)
Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
(Luk 24:19)
And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
(Luk 24:20)
and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
(Luk 24:21)
But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
(Luk 24:22)
Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning,
(Luk 24:23)
and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.
(Luk 24:24)
Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
(Luk 24:25)
And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
(Luk 24:26)
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?"
(Luk 24:27)
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
(Luk 24:28)
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther,
(Luk 24:29)
but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them.
(Luk 24:30)
When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.
(Luk 24:31)
And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.
(Luk 24:32)
They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?"
(Luk 24:33)
And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
(Luk 24:34)
saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"
(Luk 24:35)
Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
(Luk 24:36)
As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!"
(Luk 24:37)
But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.
(Luk 24:38)
And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
(Luk 24:39)
See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."
(Luk 24:40)
And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
(Luk 24:41)
And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?"
(Luk 24:42)
They gave him a piece of broiled fish,
(Luk 24:43)
and he took it and ate before them.
(Luk 24:44)
Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."
(Luk 24:45)
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
(Luk 24:46)
and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,
(Luk 24:47)
and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
(Luk 24:48)
You are witnesses of these things.
(Luk 24:49)
And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."
(Luk 24:50)
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.
(Luk 24:51)
While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
(Luk 24:52)
And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
(Luk 24:53)
and were continually in the temple blessing God.
(Act 2:22)
"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know--
(Act 2:23)
this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
(Act 2:24)
God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
(1Co 6:14)
And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.
(Joh 6:37)
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
(Joh 6:38)
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
(Joh 6:39)
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
(Joh 6:40)
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."
The Ministry of Reconciliation through Jesus Christ
(Luk 5:32)
I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."
(Rom 3:10)
as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;
(Rom 3:11)
no one understands; no one seeks for God.
(Rom 3:12)
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."
(Rom 3:13)
"Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips."
(Rom 3:14)
"Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."
(Rom 3:15)
"Their feet are swift to shed blood;
(Rom 3:16)
in their paths are ruin and misery,
(Rom 3:17)
and the way of peace they have not known."
(Rom 3:18)
"There is no fear of God before their eyes."
(Isa 6:5)
And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"
(Joh 3:16)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
(Joh 3:17)
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
(Joh 3:18)
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
(Joh 3:19)
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
(Act 2:38)
And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
(Act 2:39)
For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."
(Act 2:40)
And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."
(Eph 2:8)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
(Eph 2:9)
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
(Eph 2:10)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
(Gen 15:6)
And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
(Rev 5:1)
Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
(Rev 5:2)
And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?"
(Rev 5:3)
And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it,
(Rev 5:4)
and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
(Rev 5:5)
And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals."
(Rev 5:6)
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
(Rev 5:7)
And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.
(Rev 5:8)
And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
(Rev 5:9)
And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,
(Rev 5:10)
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."
(Rev 5:11)
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,
(Rev 5:12)
saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"
(Rev 5:13)
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"
(Rev 5:14)
And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped.
(Rev 21:1)
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
(Rev 21:2)
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
(Rev 21:3)
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
(Rev 21:4)
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
(Rev 21:5)
And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
(Rev 21:6)
And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
(Exo 12:1)
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,
(Exo 12:2)
"This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you.
(Exo 12:3)
Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household.
(Exo 12:4)
And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb.
(Exo 12:5)
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats,
(Exo 12:6)
and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.
(Exo 12:7)
"Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.
(Exo 12:8)
They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it.
(Exo 12:9)
Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts.
(Exo 12:10)
And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn.
(Exo 12:11)
In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD's Passover.
(Exo 12:12)
For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.
(Exo 12:13)
The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.
(Exo 12:14)
"This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.
(Exo 12:15)
Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.
(Exo 12:16)
On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you.
(Exo 12:17)
And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever.
(Exo 12:18)
In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening.
(Exo 12:19)
For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land.
(Exo 12:20)
You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread."
(Exo 12:21)
Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb.
(Exo 12:22)
Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning.
(Exo 12:23)
For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.
(Exo 12:24)
You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever.
(Exo 12:25)
And when you come to the land that the LORD will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service.
(Exo 12:26)
And when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?'
(Exo 12:27)
you shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of the LORD's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.'" And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.
(Exo 12:28)
Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.
(Exo 12:29)
At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock.
(Exo 12:30)
And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead.
(Exo 12:31)
Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, "Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as you have said.
The Correlation between the Passover Lamb and the Ministry of Jesus
(Luk 4:18)
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
(Joh 11:25)
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
(Joh 11:26)
and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
(Luk 24:1)
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.
(Luk 24:2)
And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
(Luk 24:3)
but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
(Luk 24:4)
While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.
(Luk 24:5)
And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?
(Luk 24:6)
He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,
(Luk 24:7)
that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise."
(Luk 24:8)
And they remembered his words,
(Luk 24:9)
and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
(Luk 24:10)
Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles,
(Luk 24:11)
but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
(Luk 24:12)
But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
(Luk 24:13)
That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,
(Luk 24:14)
and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
(Luk 24:15)
While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.
(Luk 24:16)
But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
(Luk 24:17)
And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad.
(Luk 24:18)
Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
(Luk 24:19)
And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
(Luk 24:20)
and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
(Luk 24:21)
But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
(Luk 24:22)
Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning,
(Luk 24:23)
and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.
(Luk 24:24)
Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
(Luk 24:25)
And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
(Luk 24:26)
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?"
(Luk 24:27)
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
(Luk 24:28)
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther,
(Luk 24:29)
but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them.
(Luk 24:30)
When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.
(Luk 24:31)
And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.
(Luk 24:32)
They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?"
(Luk 24:33)
And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
(Luk 24:34)
saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"
(Luk 24:35)
Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
(Luk 24:36)
As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!"
(Luk 24:37)
But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.
(Luk 24:38)
And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
(Luk 24:39)
See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."
(Luk 24:40)
And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
(Luk 24:41)
And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?"
(Luk 24:42)
They gave him a piece of broiled fish,
(Luk 24:43)
and he took it and ate before them.
(Luk 24:44)
Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."
(Luk 24:45)
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
(Luk 24:46)
and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,
(Luk 24:47)
and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
(Luk 24:48)
You are witnesses of these things.
(Luk 24:49)
And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."
(Luk 24:50)
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.
(Luk 24:51)
While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
(Luk 24:52)
And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
(Luk 24:53)
and were continually in the temple blessing God.
(Act 2:22)
"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know--
(Act 2:23)
this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
(Act 2:24)
God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
(1Co 6:14)
And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.
(Joh 6:37)
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
(Joh 6:38)
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
(Joh 6:39)
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
(Joh 6:40)
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."
The Ministry of Reconciliation through Jesus Christ
(Luk 5:32)
I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."
(Rom 3:10)
as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;
(Rom 3:11)
no one understands; no one seeks for God.
(Rom 3:12)
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."
(Rom 3:13)
"Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips."
(Rom 3:14)
"Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."
(Rom 3:15)
"Their feet are swift to shed blood;
(Rom 3:16)
in their paths are ruin and misery,
(Rom 3:17)
and the way of peace they have not known."
(Rom 3:18)
"There is no fear of God before their eyes."
(Isa 6:5)
And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"
(Joh 3:16)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
(Joh 3:17)
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
(Joh 3:18)
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
(Joh 3:19)
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
(Act 2:38)
And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
(Act 2:39)
For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."
(Act 2:40)
And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."
(Eph 2:8)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
(Eph 2:9)
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
(Eph 2:10)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
(Gen 15:6)
And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
(Rev 5:1)
Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
(Rev 5:2)
And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?"
(Rev 5:3)
And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it,
(Rev 5:4)
and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
(Rev 5:5)
And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals."
(Rev 5:6)
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
(Rev 5:7)
And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.
(Rev 5:8)
And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
(Rev 5:9)
And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,
(Rev 5:10)
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."
(Rev 5:11)
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,
(Rev 5:12)
saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"
(Rev 5:13)
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"
(Rev 5:14)
And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped.
(Rev 21:1)
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
(Rev 21:2)
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
(Rev 21:3)
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
(Rev 21:4)
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
(Rev 21:5)
And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
(Rev 21:6)
And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
| acts_16_sermon_notes.pdf |
Acts 16 Sermon Notes
Sermon Notes
Acts 16
10/19/2016
(Act 16:1) Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.
(Act 16:2) He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.
(Act 16:3) Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
(Act 16:4) As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.
(Act 16:5) So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
(Act 16:6) And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
(Act 16:7) And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.
(Act 16:8) So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.
(Act 16:9) And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
(Act 16:10) And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
(Act 16:11) So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis,
(Act 16:12) and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.
(Act 16:13) And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.
(Act 16:14) One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
(Luk 24:45) Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
(1Jn 5:20) And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
(Act 16:15) And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.
(Act 16:16) As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.
(Act 16:17) She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation."
(Act 16:18) And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.
(Act 16:19) But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
(Act 16:20) And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city.
(Act 16:21) They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice."
(Act 16:22) The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.
(Act 16:23) And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.
Count the cost…they have been beaten viciously, Paul already had been beaten unto death…What is Jesus worth to you? Look at what Jesus himself said…
Luk 14:26-34 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. (27) Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. (28) For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? (29) Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, (30) saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' (31) Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? (32) And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. (33) So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (34) "Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?
This is why Paul can say these words…
Php 3:1-21 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. (2) Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. (3) For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh-- (4) though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: (5) circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; (6) as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. (7) But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. (8) Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (9) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- (10) that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (11) that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (12) Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (13) Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (14) I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (15) Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. (16) Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (17) Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. (18) For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. (19) Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. (20) But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (21) who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
(Act 16:24) Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
(Act 16:25) About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
(Act 16:26) and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.
(Act 16:27) When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
(Act 16:28) But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here."
(Act 16:29) And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.
(Act 16:30) Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
(Act 16:31) And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
(Act 16:32) And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
(Joh 17:3) And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
(Php 3:8) Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (Php 3:9) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--(Php 3:10) that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
(Act 16:33) And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.
(Act 16:34) Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
(Act 16:35) But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, "Let those men go."
(Act 16:36) And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace."
(Act 16:37) But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out."
(Act 16:38) The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens.
(Act 16:39) So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city.
(Act 16:40) So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.
Sermon Notes
Acts 16
10/19/2016
(Act 16:1) Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.
(Act 16:2) He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.
(Act 16:3) Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
(Act 16:4) As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.
(Act 16:5) So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
(Act 16:6) And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
(Act 16:7) And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.
(Act 16:8) So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.
(Act 16:9) And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
(Act 16:10) And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
(Act 16:11) So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis,
(Act 16:12) and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.
(Act 16:13) And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.
(Act 16:14) One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
(Luk 24:45) Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
(1Jn 5:20) And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
(Act 16:15) And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.
(Act 16:16) As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.
(Act 16:17) She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation."
(Act 16:18) And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.
(Act 16:19) But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
(Act 16:20) And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city.
(Act 16:21) They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice."
(Act 16:22) The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.
(Act 16:23) And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.
Count the cost…they have been beaten viciously, Paul already had been beaten unto death…What is Jesus worth to you? Look at what Jesus himself said…
Luk 14:26-34 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. (27) Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. (28) For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? (29) Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, (30) saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' (31) Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? (32) And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. (33) So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (34) "Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?
This is why Paul can say these words…
Php 3:1-21 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. (2) Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. (3) For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh-- (4) though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: (5) circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; (6) as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. (7) But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. (8) Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (9) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- (10) that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (11) that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (12) Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (13) Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (14) I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (15) Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. (16) Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (17) Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. (18) For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. (19) Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. (20) But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (21) who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
(Act 16:24) Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
(Act 16:25) About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
(Act 16:26) and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.
(Act 16:27) When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
(Act 16:28) But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here."
(Act 16:29) And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.
(Act 16:30) Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
(Act 16:31) And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
(Act 16:32) And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
(Joh 17:3) And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
(Php 3:8) Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (Php 3:9) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--(Php 3:10) that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
(Act 16:33) And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.
(Act 16:34) Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
(Act 16:35) But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, "Let those men go."
(Act 16:36) And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace."
(Act 16:37) But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out."
(Act 16:38) The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens.
(Act 16:39) So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city.
(Act 16:40) So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.
| acts_15_sermon_notes.pdf |
Acts 15 Sermon Notes
(Act 15:1) But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."
(Act 15:2) And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.
(Act 15:3) So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.
(Act 15:4) When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.
(Act 15:5) But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses."
(Act 15:6) The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
(Act 15:7) And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
(Act 15:8) And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,
(Act 15:9) and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
(Act 15:10) Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
Salvation by works vs. Salvation by grace
(Act 15:11) But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."
(Act 15:12) And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
(Act 15:13) After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me.
(Act 15:14) Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.
(Act 15:15) And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,
(Act 15:16) "'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it,
(Act 15:17) that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things
(Act 15:18) known from of old.'
(Act 15:19) Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,
(Act 15:20) but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
Before we consider these items that were the catalysts of great joy let’s consider the redemptive context of holiness…
(Jas 2:18) But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
(Rom 14:1) As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. (Rom 14:2) One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. (Rom 14:3) Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. (Rom 14:4) Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. (Rom 14:5) One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. (Rom 14:6) The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. (Rom 14:7) For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. (Rom 14:8) For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. (Rom 14:9) For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. (Rom 14:10) Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; (Rom 14:11) for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” (Rom 14:12) So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Rom 14:13) Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. (Rom 14:14) I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. (Rom 14:15) For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. (Rom 14:16) So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. (Rom 14:17) For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Rom 14:18) Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (Rom 14:19) So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. (Rom 14:20) Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. (Rom 14:21) It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. (Rom 14:22) The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. (Rom 14:23) But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (Act 15:21) For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues." (Act 15:22) Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,
(1Co 10:18) Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? (1Co 10:19) What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? (1Co 10:20) No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. (1Co 10:21) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. (1Co 10:22) Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? (1Co 10:23) "All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. (1Co 10:24) Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. (1Co 10:25) Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. (1Co 10:26) For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." (1Co 10:27) If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. (1Co 10:28) But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience-- (1Co 10:29) I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? (1Co 10:30) If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? (1Co 10:31) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1Co 10:32) Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, (1Co 10:33) just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
(Act 15:23) with the following letter: "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.
(Act 15:24) Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,
(Act 15:25) it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
(Act 15:26) men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Act 15:27) We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.
(Act 15:28) For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:
(Act 15:29) that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."
(Act 15:30) So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.
(Act 15:31) And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.
(Act 15:32) And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
(Act 15:33) And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.
(Act 15:35) But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
(Act 15:36) And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are."
(Act 15:37) Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.
(Act 15:38) But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.
(Act 15:39) And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
(Act 15:40) but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
(Act 15:41) And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
(Act 15:1) But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."
(Act 15:2) And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.
(Act 15:3) So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.
(Act 15:4) When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.
(Act 15:5) But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses."
(Act 15:6) The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
(Act 15:7) And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
(Act 15:8) And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,
(Act 15:9) and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
(Act 15:10) Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
Salvation by works vs. Salvation by grace
(Act 15:11) But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."
(Act 15:12) And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
(Act 15:13) After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me.
(Act 15:14) Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.
(Act 15:15) And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,
(Act 15:16) "'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it,
(Act 15:17) that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things
(Act 15:18) known from of old.'
(Act 15:19) Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,
(Act 15:20) but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
Before we consider these items that were the catalysts of great joy let’s consider the redemptive context of holiness…
(Jas 2:18) But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
(Rom 14:1) As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. (Rom 14:2) One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. (Rom 14:3) Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. (Rom 14:4) Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. (Rom 14:5) One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. (Rom 14:6) The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. (Rom 14:7) For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. (Rom 14:8) For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. (Rom 14:9) For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. (Rom 14:10) Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; (Rom 14:11) for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” (Rom 14:12) So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Rom 14:13) Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. (Rom 14:14) I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. (Rom 14:15) For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. (Rom 14:16) So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. (Rom 14:17) For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Rom 14:18) Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (Rom 14:19) So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. (Rom 14:20) Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. (Rom 14:21) It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. (Rom 14:22) The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. (Rom 14:23) But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (Act 15:21) For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues." (Act 15:22) Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,
(1Co 10:18) Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? (1Co 10:19) What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? (1Co 10:20) No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. (1Co 10:21) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. (1Co 10:22) Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? (1Co 10:23) "All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. (1Co 10:24) Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. (1Co 10:25) Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. (1Co 10:26) For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." (1Co 10:27) If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. (1Co 10:28) But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience-- (1Co 10:29) I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? (1Co 10:30) If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? (1Co 10:31) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1Co 10:32) Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, (1Co 10:33) just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
- Things Polluted by Idols
- Concerning this exact theme Paul writes about in 1 Corinthians 8. (1Co 8:6) yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. (1Co 8:7) However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. (1Co 8:8) Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. (1Co 8:9) But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. (1Co 8:10) For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? (1Co 8:11) And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. (1Co 8:12) Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. (1Co 8:13) Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
- Our natural inclination is to drift and give credit to something or someone else for the favor we receive from him, either to ourselves, a program, a strategy, education, upbringing, luck, coincidence, superstition, etc. (Isa 2:8) Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made.
- Remember in Egypt they praised the golden calf as their savior…(Exo 32:8) They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!'"
- Why is this an issue? Because ONLY …. (Col 1:15) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Col 1:16) For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. (Col 1:17) And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Col 1:18) And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (Col 1:19) For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, (Col 1:20) and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Col 1:21) And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, (Col 1:22) he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, There is no other Gospel than the Gospel of Jesus Christ, there is no other means to which people can be saved, there is no other instrument in which you have been rescued. You have not been rescued by good intentions of others, you have not been rescued by fancy speech or good moral living, you have not been brought to the Lord by someone’s obedient life or good manners.
- Sexual Immorality
- (Isa 62:5) For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
- (Hos 2:9) Therefore I will take back my grain in its time, and my wine in its season, and I will take away my wool and my flax, which were to cover her nakedness.
- (2Co 11:2) For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
- (Eph 5:25) Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. (Eph 5:26) that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, (Eph 5:27) so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
- (Hos 4:11) whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding. (Hos 4:12) My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore. (Hos 4:13) They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the whore, and your brides commit adultery.
- What has been strangled
- πνικτός, πνικτη, πνικτόν (πνίγω), suffocated, strangled: τό πνικτόν (what is strangled, i. e.) an animal deprived of life without shedding its blood,
- (Heb 9:22) Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
- This was how God had determined to cleanse us of our sin. The soul that sins shall surely die, and to redeem us from that death sentence, a life needed to be offered in it’s place.
- (Joh 6:53) So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. (Joh 6:54) Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. (Joh 6:55) For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. (Joh 6:56) Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
- (Exo 12:7) "Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. (Exo 12:8) They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. (Exo 12:9) Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. (Exo 12:10) And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. (Exo 12:11) In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD's Passover.
- From Blood
- (Lev 17:11) For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.
- (Mat 26:28) for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
(Act 15:23) with the following letter: "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.
(Act 15:24) Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,
(Act 15:25) it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
(Act 15:26) men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Act 15:27) We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.
(Act 15:28) For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:
(Act 15:29) that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."
(Act 15:30) So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.
(Act 15:31) And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.
(Act 15:32) And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
(Act 15:33) And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.
(Act 15:35) But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
(Act 15:36) And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are."
(Act 15:37) Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.
(Act 15:38) But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.
(Act 15:39) And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
(Act 15:40) but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
(Act 15:41) And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Sermon Acts 14
09/25/2016
09/25/2016
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Sermon Notes:
Sermon Notes:
Sept 25, 2016 (Act 14:1) Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. (Col 4:4) that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. But this isn’t a way that appeals to their intellect or their flesh. (1Co 2:14) The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (Act 14:2) But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. What does this poison look like? First what they are going to do is to make the preaching of the Truth, as if it were foolishness. (1Co 1:18) For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1Co 1:19) For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." (1Co 1:20) Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (1Co 1:21) For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. (1Co 1:22) For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, (1Co 1:23) but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, (1Co 1:24) but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1Co 1:25) For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Then they will tell you what you want to hear. (2Ti 4:2) preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (2Ti 4:3) For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, (2Ti 4:4) and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (Isa 30:10) who say to the seers, "Do not see," and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, Romans 16:18 For such as these are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 1 Kings 22:8 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah." But Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so." Jeremiah 6:14 "They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, 'Peace, peace,' But there is no peace. What is our response to this, what can the church do? Let’s go back to Acts 14… (Act 14:3) So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. We are to continue to speak boldly, and trust that God will bear witness of the things we say to be true, first by His own Word, and second by signs and wonders. (Act 14:4) But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. (Act 14:5) When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, (Act 14:6) they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, (Act 14:7) and there they continued to preach the gospel. (Act 14:8) Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. (Act 14:9) He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, (Act 14:10) said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he sprang up and began walking. However, let me ask you, what will be the greatest sign and the greatest wonder that a man can ever bear witness of? Would it not be the dead being raised to life? (Eph 2:1) And you were dead in the trespasses and sins (Eph 2:2) in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- (Eph 2:3) among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Eph 2:4) But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, (Eph 2:5) even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- (Eph 2:6) and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (Eph 2:7) so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Col 2:13) And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, The greatest sign that we can ever see as proof of our service to God is the redemption of someone’s soul. We know that men cannot save themselves, men cannot see their need for a Savior, but by the power of the Holy Spirit and the Gospel men are brought to life, without fancy words, or without giving them a guilt trip, emotional manipulation – but instead the Truth of His Word miraculously bringing the dead to life. God does physical healing, I have born proof of that, I’ve seen it with my own eyes, amazing miraculous works that God performs for the glory of His Son, but so can the devil. (Mat 7:22) On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' These signs and wonders can be facilitated by wickedness for the purposes of revealing the truth thoughts and intentions of the heart. But one thing that can never be done by demonic forces is the miracle of the new birth. This goes untouched by man, angels or Satan – only God has the power to cause someone to be authentically born again. (Act 14:11) And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!" (Act 14:12) Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. (Act 14:13) And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. (Act 14:14) But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, (Act 14:15) "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. (Act 14:16) In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. (Act 14:17) Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." (Act 14:18) Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them. (Act 14:19) But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. (Act 14:20) But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. (Act 14:21) When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, (Act 14:22) strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid. (Joh 16:33) I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 15:18 If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us22 2 2 Corinthians 4:7 Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 6:4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities; Revelation 3:21 To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (Act 14:23) And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (Act 14:24) Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. (Act 14:25) And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, (Act 14:26) and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. (Act 14:27) And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. (Act 14:28) And they remained no little time with the disciples. Know that God is victoriously making a way for His children to hear the Gospel, that they would be set free to know the True King who can Truly rescue. But how will they know if you do not share the Truth? (Isa 52:7) How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns." (Isa 52:8) The voice of your watchmen--they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion. God has revealed the beautiful One who has brought the message of Truth, the person Jesus Christ, and you have been commissioned as ambassadors to take this message out to that they too may taste and see that the Lord is good. | ||
