MS Winter Camp 2014

Men’s Steak and Study – HD Weddell – July 30th @6p

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House of Charis, Calvary’s college girl’s discipleship house on the OSU campus has a few openings for Fall 2018.  Applications and more info are available at houseofcharis.com

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The Word & The Wheel

John 8:31-32

John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 

John 8:29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” 30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. 

many believed… that He was the Son of God. The promised Messiah. The Light of the World. I Am!

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. (truly My disciples)

My disciples

A disciple is a TRUE follower of Jesus. 

Q. Are you a TRUE follower of Jesus?

Jesus often spoke of The Cost of Discipleship.

Luke 9:23 “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself & take up his cross daily & follow Me. 

Luke 14:25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not HATE his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 

27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it – 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build & was not able to finish’? 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake ALL that he has cannot be My disciple.

Matthew 10:37  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. 

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. (truly My disciples)

abide– (Continue in, remain in, live in, dwell in, stand firm in)

A true believer.  A true disciple will abide in Jesus Word.

My word

Jesus is God. Therefore a reference to His Word is a reference to Gods Word. Jesus put His Word on the same level as God’s Word.

Matthew 5:27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old,  ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 

John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 

• Know the truth (John 8:32)
• Make us free (John 8:32)
• Prosperous  (Joshua 1:8)
• Fruitful (Psalm 1)
• Perfect, converting the soul (Psalm 19:7)
• Wise to salvation (2 Tim 3:15)
• Keeps us from sin (Ps.119:11)
• Revives us (Ps.119 )
• Directs us (Ps.119:105)
• Sanctifies us (John 17:17)
• Cleanses us (John 15:3)
• Wisdom (Colossians 3:16)
• Strong (1 John 2:14 )
• Victorious over evil one (1Jn 214)
• Builds us up (Acts 20:32 )
• Corrects us ( 2 Timothy 3:16)
• Instructs us ( 2 Timothy 3:16)
• Makes the Man of God complete  ( 2 Timothy 3:17)
• Thoroughly equipped for every good work ( 2 Timothy 3:17)

Rough ride!

I want to challenge you to be in the Word in 2019!   

https://youtu.be/3fJDvknWoU0

Are you a TRUE follower of Jesus?

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Luke 10:38-42
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was DISTRACTED with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But ONE THING is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” 

Let’s point out the good things about Martha.. She welcomed Jesus into their house… serving…
The only problem was that Martha was DISTRACTED
We live in a very distracted culture 

Microsoft published a study a couple years ago…The study revealed that Goldfish have an attention span of nine seconds, and the study revealed that our attention span as humans is now an average of eight seconds
This is directly linked to the mobile revolution in the early 2000’s 

The first iPhone only came out in 2007 and we were never the same again Smartphone’s are a blessing but they can be very distracting
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that texting and driving is 6 times more dangerous than drunk driving.
One of many distractions 

It might not just be sin that is distracting you from God… Here’s the scary thing… It might even be good things that are distracting us from God
Everyone is so “busy”
Many of us are so busy that we’re too busy for God. God can’t get a word in edgewise! And many times we are distracted by many things. 

Sometimes we just need to stop everything and Be still and know that He is God If we just do do do then your soul starts to feel like do do 

The one thing that is needed is often times the one thing missing for many of us

One Thing? = Sitting at Jesus’s feet and HEARING Him 

Last week we talked about reading the written word of God and this week we’re talking about hearing Jesus
Many Scriptures about hearing the Lord 

John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” 

Hebrews 3:15 “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts”
Isaiah 30:21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it” 

God has spoke to people in the Bible in so many different ways..
He spoke to people in dreams, he spoke to people through Angels, he spoke to people through prophets, he spoke to people by thundering from the heavens, he spoke through a burning bush, and he even spoke through a donkey
If I told you that God spoke to me through a donkey yesterday… You would say Ryan you’ve been watching too much Shrek
My point is is that God speaks in 100 different ways… I can’t tell you exactly how God will speak to you, but I know that he will if you’re willing to listen 

Story of God speaking to Elijah
1 Kings 19:11-13 11 God said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him.. 

Elijah and the still small voice Still small voice = low whisper Whisper = 20 dB 

When someone whispers you have to get quiet and get close to the person whispering in order to hear them
We hear God speak the loudest when we are the quietest.
This is often how God speaks to me… It’s not like the clouds part and a holy sunbeam hits my face and Angels are singing hallelujah… no, often times God speaks to me with a still small voice 

And I need to quiet myself and draw near to Him in order to hear what he is whispering 

Young Samuel learning how to recognize God’s voice…
1 Samuel 3:9-10 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” 

I was studying electrical engineering at OSU and I was 2 1/2 years into it, already well into the pro school program. But I got into that major in the first place because I knew that the salary would be good. I had went down that path with the wrong motives. It was more motivated by money.
But at that time I started asking God a dangerous question: What are you calling me to Lord? 

“Speak Lord for your servant hears” 

Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,”declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope”
I hear a God who is on the edge of his seat excited to share his plan for us
God is so for you! 

Some people don’t want to hear from God because they think he’s just going to point out everything they’re doing wrong.. yes he may convict us on some things because he loves this, but more than that he wants to speak to us about our calling in life. He wants to share with us his thoughts about us so we can prosper.
He is for you! 

There are 7 billion people on the planet but God has a unique plan for your life. You have a unique calling. He doesn’t want you to be someone else. He doesn’t want you to be a cookie-cutter copycat Christian.
God wants to fully unleash the person he made you to be. 

I turn 40 this year… I’ve been asking, am I on track with Where I thought I’d be in life..Am I successful? 

It doesn’t matter if we are successful, but we are called to be faithful.. To be faithful with what God gives, to be faithful with the path he puts in front of us
“Well done good and faithful servant” 

The story of Namaan… Namaan has leprosy, and he visits Elisha the prophet in order to be healed. Elisha tells him to dip in the Jordan river 7 times. And Namaan gets angry, complains that there are other rivers that are better than the Jordan river, and the whole thing just seemed silly to him… 

2 Kings 5:13-14
Namaan’s servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So Naaman went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 

Being willing to do big things but not willing to do small things God is asking of us

Giving up wine for a month
Taking rocks and throwing them into the river to cast my cares upon God… A small act of obedience 

If we say we are willing to do big things for God, are we not willing to do the small things for God?
We might say “God I’ll go wherever you send me! Even to the ends of the earth!” ….What about also doing the small things asks us to do?

Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 

This was written to the church
In 1853, William Holman Hunt painted “light of the world”..
No door handle on the outside, only a door handle on the inside 

I encourage you to pray this daily… Lord I let you into my heart today”
Some of us may even let Jesus into the front door of our heart and give them access to the living room.. for many of us in our house is the living room is the most clean and tidy room because that’s the room that guests see first.. 

We tend to close the doors to the rooms that are messy because we don’t want people to see our mess
Picture Jesus coming in to the front door walking past the living room and going straight to a room in the back of house that is the most messy and knocking on that door.. 

He wants 100% of our heart.

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I AM The Resurrection & The Life

John 11:23-27

Review… John 11:1-45

Last week we learned…in our story.

Jesus referred to death for the believer as sleep.

This is such a WONDERFUL truth… For the believer death is just like going to sleep & waking up in the presence of the Lord.

To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord! 

Tragically… for the unbeliever…  (We learn in Luke 16) 

To be absent from the body is to awake in HELL in torment.

________________

God is a God who lets BAD things happen to GOOD people.

God NEVER allows His people to suffer needlessly!

20 Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went & met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house.

21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 

Jesus had a different plan… that involved different timing… that would bring Him greater Glory!

22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” 

Deep Faith-Jesus I know that whatever You ask of God…

Suffering draws out of us a DEEPER FAITH.

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 

The resurrection Jesus is talking about here is… Lazarus coming back to life!  Jesus is about to raise Lazarus from the dead! Proving that He is Son of God / Messiah.

24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” ( Day of Reckoning )

Job 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, & He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 After my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! 

Daniel 12:2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.(disregard, disrespect)

John 5:28 The hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, & those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 

This is Jesus’ 5th I Am statement..

• John 6:35 I AM the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall NEVER hunger, & he who believes in Me shall NEVER thirst.

• John 8:12 I AM the light of the world. He who FOLLOWS Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.

• John 10:9  “Most assuredly, I say to you, I AM…THE door of the sheep. If anyone enters by Me, he will be SAVED. 

• Liar 
• Lunatic
• Lord

• John 10:11 “I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 27 My sheep … hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life

• John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

John 11:26 And whoever… lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?” 

Whoever 

(John 3:16, Romans 10:13, Matthew 10:32)

Whoever… lives and believes in Me shall never die.

Time frame 

We learn time and again in the N.T. that… Once YOU die your eternal state is SET and can NEVER be changed!

John 11:26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?” 

The GOSPEL of Jesus always brings us to a DECISION!

Have you made a DECISION for Jesus?

Has that decision for Jesus CHANGED your life?

27 She said to Him, Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.

It’s not BELIEVING that saves us… 

It’s WHAT you BELIEVE in…  that can SAVE you? (Chair)

John 11:27 She said to Him, Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.

In Matthew 16:15…  Who do YOU say that I am?” 

Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 

Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter (petros), and on this rock (Petra) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 

Matthew 21:44 And whoever falls on this STONE will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.

Have you had a spiritual revelation of who Jesus is?

Have you said YES to Jesus? Yes Lord!

It’s while your living… that you have to make a decision?

It’s while you have breath in your lungs .. that you have to make a decision about Jesus …

Daniel 5:23 The God who holds your breath in His hands, & owns all your ways, YOU have not GLORIFIED.

Romans 10:9 If you CONFESS with your mouth the Lord Jesus and BELIEVE in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be SAVED.

The Word is near to you… it’s in your mouth…

Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 

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The Revelation of Jesus Christ 

by Tibor Lak (May 2019)

It is so good to be here again with you. I have prepared a study that I know will be a blessing to you. I will talk about the Lord Jesus Christ as He is revealed in the Bible. This is not a study of the Book of Revelation, written by the Apostle John, which primarily focuses on the history of the Church and future events that are to transpire. In it we see the righteous judgment of God on the Christ rejecting world, the end of the kingdom of men, and the beginning of the kingdom of God and Christ. 

The emphasis of this study is to look at who Jesus Christ is. Paul prayed to the church at Ephesus “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Ephesians 1:17, NKJV). I like the amplified Living Bible translation; “to give you wisdom to see clearly and really understand who Christ is and all He has done for you. 

Last year I talked about what Jesus has done for us when I spoke on the topic of the “Manifold Wisdom of God”. In that presentation I was showing that the redemption of men had only one solution. Although God is infinite there was only one solution to redeem men. God could only redeem fallen men, through His son Jesus Christ. We read in Acts 4:12;

“Nor is there salvation in other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12, NKJV)

The “no other name under heaven” includes the angelic hosts, principalities, powers in heaven, and men on the Earth. God does not recognize any other name “under heaven” but the name of Jesus His Son. Mary is not recognized by God as a savior of men, even though many pray to her for salvation. The prayer, “Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death” as sincere as it is, it cannot save. I shudder to think that people on their deathbed pray to Mary and not Jesus for forgiveness. What a sad way to depart from this life and enter into eternity.  Mary cannot save us, only Jesus can. Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (John 11:25, NKJV)

Mohammed, Buddha, Krishna, are not recognized by God as savior of men. No man, or angel could save men. God is infinitely holy, righteous, and just. Men’s rebellion against God had to be paid for by a perfect and just person who was a mediator between God and men. 

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1 Timothy 2:5, NKJV)

The only solution to redeem men was for the infinite God, the Son of God, to become finite man, and to suffer and die a substitutionary death in place of men. That is why Jesus is the only one who could fulfill this requirement. He was both God and man. 

This morning I would like to talk about the second part of the message I gave on July 30, 2017; who “Jesus Christ is”. It is so important that we have a proper view of who Jesus Christ is. I believe that our relationship, our faith and thrust in Jesus Christ are a direct reflection of who we see Jesus as. 

Jesus is the most important person that ever lived in history, more significant than Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, or any of the rulers of Egypt, or Rome, or any of the kings and dictators of history. His appearance divides history before His birth (before Christ) and after His birth (Anno Domino) the year of our Lord. Even the secular world accepts His mark on history.

Jesus asked His disciples the question “who do men say that I am”? I believe Jesus knew what people thought about Him, because the Bible says that “He knew all, and … He knew what was in man” (John 2:24 , 25, NKJV). The question was really a preparation for the disciples because later He asks them “but who do you say that I am?” (Matt 16:15, NKJV).  It is interesting that the disciples did not answer that question. Only Peter answered it; “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16, NKJV). Jesus response to Peter’s declaration was, “blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is heaven” (Matthew 16:17, NKJV). The other disciples all saw the miracles that Jesus did, healing the blind, the lame, raising the dead, casting out demons, walking on water, calming the raging storm and waves, feeding thousands with only a handful of fish and bread, with lots of leftover, yet only Peter recognized who Jesus was and that is because of the revelation of the Holy Spirit. It is interesting that we can see miracles, get answers to prayers but it is God who reveals who Jesus is to us.  

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,” (Ephesians 2:8, NKJV)

We are saved through faith and even the faith we have is a gift of God.

Ironically, the demons and unclean spirits were the ones who knew who Jesus was. We read that “and the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, ‘You are the Son of God’” (Mark 3:11, NKJV); “and the demons also came out of many, crying and saying, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of God!” And He rebuking them did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ” (Luke 4:41, NKJV) Of course they knew Jesus because it was He who created them. 

Today there are many different views of who Jesus was and is. The Mormons teach that Jesus was the spirit brother of Lucifer who later became Satan. Jesus and Lucifer were equal before Lucifer sinned. The Jehovah Witnesses teach that Jesus is the archangel Michael. They don’t accept Him as the Son of God, as God in the flesh. The Muslims teach that Jesus was a prophet but not the Son of God. The Jews saw Jesus as a teacher sent by God. 

Nicodemus, a Pharisee recognized that Jesus was a teacher come from God. We read in John 3:2;

“Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him” (John 3:2, NKJV). 

Nicodemus was speaking for the other Pharisees as well when he said, “we know that you are a teacher come from God”. Nicodemus didn’t say, we think you are a teacher come from God, but we know, are sure that You came from God. I find the choice of words here very interesting. No one in the Bible ever said that they came from God. The prophets could only say that they were sent by God. Jesus in the Bible is the only one that came from God. For Jesus to come from God means He came from heaven, and not earth. 

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,”   (John 13:3, NKJV)

Although the Pharisees recognized that Jesus came from God, yet they persecuted Him, and rejected Him. They rejected Him because they could not reconcile the humanity and the deity of Jesus. They studied the Scriptures but missed the main point. Jesus said to the Jews 

“you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” (John 5:38, 39, NKJV) 

Even today the religious Jews will only refer to Jesus as “that man”. They won’t even pronounce His name. In a sense the theology of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Muslims, and the Jews are very similar on Jesus. They accept Jesus as a good teacher, prophet, but do not accept Him as divine, the Son of God. 

Even in Christian churches the humanity of Jesus is emphasized more than His deity. Jesus is often portrayed as a small helpless child, sitting on the arm of Mary. 

Yes, Mary was a beautiful righteous woman who was chosen by God to bring Jesus into this world, but by no means is she superior to Jesus. The title “queen of heaven” or the “Mother of God” is not in the Bible. If someone who is not familiar with the gospel sees this image of Mary and baby Jesus what would they think? Who is superior, Mary or Jesus? Who deserves to be worshipped? We read in Luke 1:46 & 47 where Mary is worshipping Jesus, when she visits her cousin Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist.  Mary said;

“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!” (Luke 1:46,47, NLT)

The title Lord here refers to Jesus, not to God the Father. Jesus is her Savior, not God the Father. Also, Mary recognizes that her Savior is God.  

Biblical Revelation of Jesus Christ

This morning I would like to focus on the deity of Jesus as declared in the Bible. The Bible is clear about the deity of Jesus the Messiah. In Isaiah 7:14 Isaiah predicts the birth of Jesus and who He is:

“… Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14, KJV)

The angel that appears to Joseph tells him that the child that Mary is carrying is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah. In Matthew 1:23 we read;

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us”. (Matthew 1:23, KJV)

The angel quotes Isaiah 7:14 word for word, and also adds the meaning of the name Emmanuel. It means “God with us”. The name Emmanuel does not mean that God is for us or is on our side, but literally God is with us, God is in the child that is to be borne by Mary. This is so huge! The infinite God is present in finite man, even a child.  In Hebrews 10:5 we read 

“Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You (God the Father) did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me’”. (Hebrews 10:5)

 The Father prepared a body for the Son of God to dwell with men so that men could fellowship with the infinite God. Sinful men could not fellowship with the infinite Holy God because they could not stand to in His presence. 

Isaiah further clarifies that the child that is to be borne is the Son of God. We read in Isaiah 9:6;

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6, NKJV)

Isaiah gives His attributes; Wonderful, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. I wonder if Isaiah fully comprehended what he prophesize, that the Son of God will come down and be borne in a human body. By the way “Son”, referring to the Son of God, is also mentioned in Psalm 2:12 where we are instructed to respect and submit to the Son and to put our trust in the Son:

“Kiss the Son lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” (Psalm 2:12, NKJV)

The prophecy of Micah about the birth of the Messiah is also very clear. It not only gives the place of His birth but also that He existed from eternity, “from everlasting”. 

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)

When the wise men came from the East to search for the King of the Jews they go to Herod who was a king over Israel. 

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:1,2)

Herod asks “all the chief priests and scribes” to tell him where the King of the Jews is to be born. They answer unanimously that the “Ruler of Judah” is to be born in Bethlehem by quoting the prophecy of Micah:

“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.” (Matthew 2:6) 

They chief priests and scribes agree unanimously that Micah is prophesizing the birth of the coming Messiah. They quote Micah 5:2 but leave out the part “whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting”. This again shows that they could not reconcile the birth of the Messiah with the eternal God. The wise men came from the East to worship Jesus, but the religious rulers refused to worship Him. Bethlehem and Jerusalem was only ~ 6 miles apart. They could have walked to Bethlehem in a couple hours to see if the Messiah they were waiting for was here. But, they didn’t bother. 

Title of Jesus

The title of Jesus in the Bible is “Lord”. In the Old Testament Hebrew He is called “Adonay”, and in the New Testament Greek He is called “Kyrios”. The name of Jehovah or Yahweh is translated LORD in the English Bible, except it is written in all capital letters to distinguish between “Lord” and Jehovah (LORD), the name of God. A good example of the use of the Name of Jehovah and the title of Jesus as Lord is found in Psalm 110. The Jewish leaders believed that their Messiah was a physical descendent of King David. They saw their Messiah as a powerful man, like David who would restore the Kingdom to Israel. Jesus uses Psalm 110 to point out what David declares. 

They couldn’t answer Jesus. Jesus was pointing out to the Jews that although Christ was a descendent of David, He was also His Lord. A patriarch would never address his descendent as Lord. 

In the New Testament Jesus is also addressed as Lord. The name Jesus and Lord are synonymous. I suggest that next time you read the Bible, try substituting the name of Jesus in place of Lord. It will bring new meaning to the passage. 

The prayer of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist is a good example:

“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people. Who visited “His people”? It is Jesus, the Son of God. So, with Jesus substituted for Lord it reads, “Blessed is Jesus, God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people”. (Luke 1:68, NKJV). 

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, or, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of Jesus to prepare His ways,” (Luke 1:76, NKJV). Jesus is referred to as the Highest. 

Both of these examples fit very well and amplify the passages. 

The Birth of Jesus

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is the appearance of the angel and the multitude of heavenly host, announcing the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. We read in Luke 2:9;

“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger’. 

The Angel is declaring the birth of Jesus that it had just occurred, “this day”. Also, that He is a newborn “Babe” wrapped in swaddling clothes. 

The title “Lord” mentioned in the announcement of Jesus’ birth refers to none other than Jesus Christ. The title “Lord” does not refer to God the Father. God the Father is mentioned later in this verse when the “heavenly hosts are praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest”. 

The “Lord” that the angel refers to is the Lord Jesus. He later mentions specifically that the Savior, is Christ the Lord. This angel, the angel of the Lord, is the angel of Jesus, the Son of God. It is He who created this angel along with all the other heavenly hosts. The Bible says that Jesus created all things that are in heaven and earth for His own pleasure. 

“For by Him (Jesus) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16, NKJV)

“You are worthy, O Lord (Jesus), to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” (Revelations 4:11, NKJV)

This angel was an archangel of Jesus, probably Gabriel since he is associated with the birth of Jesus. They came to worship and serve their Lord.  

The “angel of the Lord” could be translated as “the angel of Jesus”. Also, the “glory of the Lord” could be translated “the glory of Jesus”. 

It was the glory of Jesus, the Son of God that the shepherds saw, not the glory of heaven, the glory of the angel, or the glory of the heavenly hosts. We have been conditioned by Christmas productions to think that the “glory of the Lord”, this radiating light that surrounded the shepherds, was coming from the angels. The angels do not have shining glory that we see here. We see the angels at the tomb of Jesus in white apparel. Matthew’s describes the angel’s clothes as “white as snow”. Mark describes the angel’s clothes as “long white robe”. Luke describes the angels wearing “shining garment”, and John describes the angels wearing “white”. The glory that was around the shepherds was the manifestation of the glory of Jesus. 

I believe that the time of the manifestation of the glory of Jesus was not random, but occurred at the moment when Jesus, the Son of God, was born; “there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”. His shining glory burst forth as the infinite God He entered into this world as a newborn baby, Immanuel, God with us.

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” (Luke 2:9-14, NKJV)

Try to imagine the scene. It is cold and quiet, dark with the sky full of stars. The sheep are resting and the shepherds are probably sleeping. Then suddenly an angel stands before the shepherds with bright light surrounding them. In addition there is a multitude of heavenly beings praising God. To say they were “greatly afraid” is probably a gross understatement. Imagine being waken out of sleep and having a bright light shine in your eyes, and to see a multitude surrounding you talking out loud. No wonder they couldn’t go back to sleep and went into town to tell the people of the angelic visitation.  

This must have been the talk of the town for a long time with the Jewish leadership also hearing about this heavenly visitation. God was giving witness that the Messiah was born in Bethlehem the city of David. Unfortunately it seems to have fallen on deaf ears. This must have been a great disappointment to the heavenly hosts. They were all pumped up “hey the Creator of the Universe is here”, “we bring you good tidings of great joy”, “we came to visit Him and wish Him a happy birthday”. The last time the angel and the heavenly hosts saw their Lord was in heaven He was glorious, surrounded by angelic hosts, radiant, shining as the sun. Now He is here as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, laying in a manger. They knew it was their Lord. He laid aside His glory to become man. In Hebrews 2:14 we read;

“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14,15, NKJV)

God did it! The infinite, eternal God, became finite mortal man, confined to the body of a small child. They must have been at awe of this sight. Immanuel, God is present with men.

We again see the glory of Jesus shining as a bright light after His resurrection when Jesus appears to Saul on the road to Damascus

The apostle John mentions that Jesus was glorified after Pentecost, after the Holy Spirit was given. Between the time of the resurrection and when Jesus ascended to Heaven, ~ one week before Pentecost, Jesus appeared as a man. He walked, and ate with the disciples. After Pentecost Jesus appears in His shining glory, and not as a man. The next time Jesus appears after Pentecost is when He appears to Paul. 

“As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting...” (Acts 9:3-5, NKJV)

This light blinded Paul when he encountered the glory of Jesus. He later describes this light to Timothy 

“who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:16, NKJV)

The testimony of the Father from Heaven

Besides the angels declaring the appearance of Jesus to Earth, the Father also testifies from Heaven about His Son. At the start of the ministry of Jesus, when He is baptized, God speaks from heaven to the people declaring that Jesus is His beloved Son, in whom He is well pleased:

“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:16,17, NKJV)

God also speaks to the disciples on the mount of transfiguration. 

“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:1-5, NKJV)

Finally, towards the end of the ministry of Jesus, before His crucifixion, God the Father spoke publicly to Jesus again from heaven. We read in John 12:27;

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.’ Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to Him.’ Jesus answered and said, ‘This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake’”. (John 12: 27-30, NKJV)

The Start of The Ministry of Jesus

from the movie “Dumb and Dumber”.) There is no other place in the visible Universe from where one could see a total solar eclipse. So don’t be surprised if “little aliens” show up to wonder at this spectacular event. LOL

There does not appear to be any logical reason for a total solar eclipse to occur, other than God is demonstrating His infinite control over His creation. Besides giving us a spectacular light show, God also uses solar eclipses as prophetic signs. Did you realize that there was a total solar eclipse over Israel when Jesus was baptized, filled with the Holy Spirit and started His earthly ministry? 

Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and filled with the Holy Spirit in the year 29 AD. We know this date because Luke mentions that the baptism of Jesus occurred on the 15^th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Luke also mentions that Jesus was “about” 30 years old when He began his public ministry.

“Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,… he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Luke 3:1-3)

”And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him (Jesus), and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, …” (Luke 3:22-23)

According to secular history the reign of Tiberius began on September 18, 14 AD. The 15^th year of Tiberius’s reign, when Jesus was baptized and started his ministry, was therefore 29 AD. His ministry lasted about three and a half years when Jesus was crucified. The date of His crucifixion was during the Passover celebration on Friday April 3, 33 AD. 

Total solar eclipses are rare. Earth is the only place in our solar system that a total solar eclipse can be seen. Mercury, and Venus do not have a moon; Mars has two small asteroid size moons. Everywhere in our Solar System the planets are either at the wrong distance or the wrong size to have a total solar eclipse of the Sun. 

To have a total eclipse where the Sun is completely covered by the moon, the size of the Sun (our Sun is a Yellow Dwarf star representing ~ 1% of the stars), the size of the Moon, the distance from the Moon to the planet, and the distance from the Sun has to be just “right”. The chance of these dimensions coming together through random evolutionary processes has been estimated to be 10³⁴ power. To put this in perspective the number of grains of sand in all the beaches of the world, or the number of stars in the Universe is estimated to be ~ 10²³. This number is much less than the probability that the conditions for a total eclipse would just happen by chance. That means that the chance of finding another planet where a total solar eclipse can occur would require billions of Universes like ours. (“Are you saying that there is a chance”?, to quote the famous line from the movie “Dumb and Dumber”.) There is no other place in the visible Universe from where one could see a total solar eclipse.

NASA astronomical data shows that there was a total solar eclipse on November 24, 29 AD and a partial Lunar eclipse over Israel on Friday April 3, 33 AD. (See Figure 1) The “Sun was darkened” during the total solar eclipse, and the Moon “turned to blood”, during the partial lunar eclipse. The people in Jerusalem witnessed both of these rare astronomical events of November 24, 29 AD and April 3, 33 AD. 

Although the total solar eclipse was only visible over Israel, the partial eclipse of the Sun, and the partial eclipse of the Moon could be seen over the entire known civilized world from the central Europe, Africa, Middle East, India, to the coasts of China. It seems that God heralded these two events to the whole world, just like He heralded the birth of Jesus Christ through signs in the heavens.

To have a total solar eclipse over Israel when Jesus began His ministry, and than to have a “blood Moon” on the day of crucifixion, is not a rare coincidence but is divinely appointed. God is able to set in motion the Moon, and the Earth thousands of years before to create a solar and lunar eclipse on a specific day. Because His wisdom and power is limitless he can define the right orbital distance from the Sun, the orbital plane, the spin of the Earth around its axis, and the orbit of the Moon around the Earth. 

After His baptism of “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1) 

“Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and seen the things Jesus did, believed on Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, ‘what shall we do? For this Man works many signs.’” (John 11:45-47)

The chief priests plotted to Kill Jesus and “to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus” (John 12:10,11)

There should not have been any question in the mind of the Jewish leadership that Jesus was the Son of God, the promised Messiah. The prophecies were telling where Jesus was to be born, the angels announced His birth, wise men from the East came looking for the King of the Jews, God spoke from Heaven declaring that Jesus was His Beloved Son that they should hear Him, the demons proclaimed that Jesus was the Son of God, Jewish leaders saw the miracles of healing the blind and the lame, feeding of thousands, raising the dead. Yet they refused to accept Him as the promised Messiah. It is amazing how blind sin is. It is totally irrational, and goes against “irrefutable evidence”. 

In addition to the witness of the angels and God speaking from Heaven, Jesus spoke plainly to the Jews that He came from Heaven from another dimension. In John 8:23 we read;  

“And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” (John 8:23, NKJV)

Jesus makes reference to the manna that the children of Israel ate in the wilderness. The manna they ate nourished them for 40 years. It was sweet, and came from heaven. The feeding of the children of Israel with manna was a miracle! The manna was a picture of the true bread of God, Jesus, that came from heaven and gives life to the world. 

 “For the bread of God is He (Jesus) who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” … “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. (John 6:33-35, NKJV)

Jesus plainly said that He was divine, equal to God the Father. God the Father declared that Jesus was His Beloved Son, and that they should listen to Him. 

Jesus continued to state that He was God. He said, 

“He who has seen Me has seen the Father;” (John 14:9, NKJV), 

“I and the Father are one” (John 10:30, NKJV). 

The Jewish leaders got really upset at Jesus when He made Himself equal with God. They wanted to stone him. When Jesus asked them why “The Jews answered Him, saying, 

“For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.” (John 10:23, NKJV). 

If Jesus was not Immanuel, God in the flesh, He would have corrected the Jews saying “no no, you misunderstood me, I am not God, but an angel, or a prophet”. But He didn’t. Yes, He was a man but was also God. The Jewish leaders did not understand this even though the Bible prophesized the divinity of the Messiah. They only saw His humanity and not His divinity. They were blind and could not believe even though He performed so many signs and miracles. 

Jesus told them that He was outside of time. He was not constrained to time and that He always existed, even before Abraham who lived 2,000 years before His birth.

We read in John 8:56; 

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:56-58, NKJV)

It is interesting that Jesus does not refer to Abraham as His father. He says “your father Abraham”. Jesus was a descendent of the lineage of Abraham, but Abraham was not His father. God is His Father. Jesus uses the name of God, I AM that God gave to Moses, to show that He was there with Moses also in Horeb, the mount of God. 

Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” “And God said to Moses, ‘I AM Who IAM” and He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM; has sent me to you.’ ” (Exodus 3:13,14, KJV)

The name I AM means always existing, eternal. Jesus is the eternal God, “whose going forth is from everlasting” (Micah 5:2) 

Jesus uses the name I AM two other times in John chapter 8:

“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I AM (“ego eimi”), you will die in your sins” (John 8:24)

“When you lift up the Son of Man, than you will know that I AM (“ego eimi”)

In both of these verses the word “He” is not there. It was added by the  English translators. 

Jesus makes it clear that there is salvation in no one else but in Him. This is not an ego trip, but a reality that only Jesus can pay for the penalty of sin. Satan would like us to believe that there are many roads to God. His plan it to destroy us. “There is no other name in heaven given among men whereby we must be saved”. 

Even when Jesus is arrested He shows His divinity and control over the situation.  

“Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 

“Now when He said to them, “I AM (ego eimi),” they drew back and fell to the ground.” (John 18:4-6, NKJV) – (The word “He” after “I am” is not in the original. The translators added it.) 

The Gospel of Matthew records that it was a “great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.” (Matthew 26:47) I think this must have been quite a sight. When Jesus said I AM, the “great multitude” drew back and fell to the ground. Jesus is standing and the army of soldiers is lying scattered on the ground. This had to be both embarrassing and comical at the same time. Imagine this great multitude, with their spears, and swords drawn, their armor in place all falling to the ground, making a loud clinking, and clattering noise at the mention of the name of Jesus, I AM. Asking themselves “what just happened”? Than, trying to pick themselves up and regroup. I believe this happened to show to the multitude that they had no power to arrest Jesus unless He was willing to be arrested. Jesus was showing His divinity by using the name I AM. 

Sometime later that night Peter pulls out his sword and starts swinging at the solders that came to arrest Jesus. He whacks of the ear of one of the servants. We read in John 18:10;

“Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high  priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.”

Jesus tells Peter to put away his sword and says, “…do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legion of angels?  How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” (Matthew 26:53,54, NKJV). The angles watching this must have been eager to step in and take care of this multitude. They showed great restraint form rescuing their Lord. 

Jesus than bends down picks up the ear of the servant from the ground and puts it back in the servants head, healing him. Here again, Jesus is showing to the solders that He is divine. He is in total control over the whole situation. 

At the trial of Jesus the high priest questioned Jesus under oath by the living God. The High Priest asked Jesus if He was the Christ (Messiah) the Son of God:

“And the high priest answered and said to Him, ‘I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!” (Matthew 26:63-65, NKJV)

Sitting on the right hand of God is a position of honor reserved for Jesus Christ, far above all principalities and power. The Jews recognized this. In Psalm 110 that the position of the Messiah (Lord) is at the right hand of Yehovah (LORD): 

“The LORD said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool” (Psalm 110:1, NKJV)

Jesus under oath could not lie. He had to tell the truth. Jesus confirms under oath that He is the Christ, the Son of God. He also makes reference to Psalm 110 that, as Christ He will sit at the right hand of Yehovah, and will come with clouds of heaven. This is a prophecy that has to be fulfilled. The trial of Jesus had to be quite a sight, Jesus standing in front of the Jewish leaders declaring that He is their promised Savior, the Son of God. But instead of questioning Jesus further they condemned Him to death. Jesus told them at the beginning of the trial that they would not believe Him.  

“If You are the Christ, tell us. But He said to them, ‘If I tell you, you will by no means believe. and if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go.’” (Luke 22:67,68, NKJV)

Whatever He would say they would not believe Him or let Him go. He knew what they were thinking. They were determined to crucify Him. Jesus told His disciples many times that He would be killed and on the third day rise again. He knew what awaited Him because Jesus, the “Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8, NKJV)

After His resurrection Jesus “was received up into heaven, and sat at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19) as He said He would. When Stephen is stoned he “being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (Acts 7:55,56)

The position of Jesus on the right hand of God should bring us comfort that God has accepted His sacrifice for our sins forever. 

“But this Man (Jesus), after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:12-14, NKJV)

It was His offering for sin that has perfected us who are in Christ forever. It is all Him!  

Jesus, “who is now at the right hand of God, makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:34). Jesus, “who has gone into heaven and is now at the right hand of God,  angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.” (1Peter 1:19-21) “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” (Ephesians 1:19-21) 

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-7) 

Paul is the only one who mentions that we are seated together in heaven in Christ Jesus. I believe that this is what Paul heard when he refers to what he experienced after he was stoned in the city of Lystra.

“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago, whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows, such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man, whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows, how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. (2 Corinthians 12:2-4, NKJV)

The Vision of Isaiah 

In the year that King Uzziah died Isaiah had a vision In this vision he saw the Lord (Adonay) sitting on a throne, exalted with cherubim flying above, crying ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts; The earth is full of His glory’” (Isaiah 6:3). 

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord (Adonay) sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1, NKJV

This rejection of the Messiah by the Jewish nation was prophesized by Isaiah ~ 740 years before the birth of Jesus, the year king Uzziah died. John makes reference to this prophecy in Isaiah 6 and also mentions that Isaiah saw Jesus in His glory. 

These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him. (John 12:41, NKJV)

What!!! Isaiah saw Jesus 740 years before His birth and spoke of Him? This is truly amazing. 

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord (Adonay) sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1, NKJV)

This wasn’t just a prophecy that the Lord (Adonay) would be born, but Isaiah actually saw Jesus sitting on the throne in heaven in His glory surrounded by angels. This is an amazing picture of Jesus in Heaven sitting on His throne.  We don’t know if this was before He came to Earth, or after He was glorified. 

The Jews kept rejecting the witness of God, of the angels, the miracles that Jesus performed, signs that were given to them, the proof of the prophetic fulfillment, until their hearths were so hardened that they could not believe. Even after Jesus was resurrected and came back from the dead, they would not believe but persecuted the church. I think this is still a problem with some people today. They only see the humanity of Jesus and not His divinity. They don’t understand the tremendous price that was paid to redeem us to God. That is why they are disrespectful and blaspheme His name. 

Jesus is coming back soon with power and great glory. This is the next greatest event in history. 

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” (Revelation 4:11, NKJV)

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“Serve”

John 13:1-17

John 13-17 We enter the last day of Jesus earthly life before He was crucified.

1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father…

His hour (Cross)

Jesus lived according to the… Fathers timing.

That’s how we want to live too!  “Timing is everything!”

1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 

Love is CENTRAL to the message of Jesus!

“Love Love Love… All we need is LOVE!”  It’s true! 

BUT…The love were searching for is… the love of Jesus!

• Jesus loves the world. Cross! (height, depth, width, breath) 

No greater love! (John 15:3)

• Jesus loves his own (those who have received Him) 

Not a different love… but it is a different dynamic! 

(Reciprocal love)

2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him,

We will spend more time taking about Judas next week.

3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands…

Jesus was not a victim but but He’s the Victor! 

The Father gave ALL things into His hands… Understand at the cross…Jesus WILLINGLY gave his hands (ALL)  for you!

3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 

Philippians 2

4 Jesus… rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 

Jesus.. began to do the job of the lowest servant in the household. He began to wash the disciples’ feet.

In Jesus day.. it was customary that the lowest servant of the house would wash the feet of the guests as they came into the house…especially for a formal meal like this.

For some reason… this didn’t happen when Jesus and the  disciples came into the room. So they ate their meal with dirty feet.

It was a dramatic scene… Luke 22:23 after eating,  the disciples began arguing about who was the greatest. 

By what Jesus did here ..He modeled for them…TRUE GREATNESS.

6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” 

7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” 

Jesus was modeling True leadership-  Servant Leadership!

Peter did understand…1 Peter 2 & 5

There may be a lot of things we don’t understand …

But CENTRAL to being a TRUE FOLLOWER of Jesus is SERVING OTHERS!

Marriage, Family, Church, “Others”

8 Peter said to Him, “You shall NEVER wash my feet!” 

Maybe… Peter thought he was supposed to protest… acknowledging who Jesus was!

8 Peter said to Him, “You shall NEVER wash my feet!” 

Jesus answered him, “If I do not WASH you, you have no part with Me.” 

Revelation 1:5 To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 

Titus 3:3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 having been justified by His grace…

9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” 

10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean…

Peter your completely clean! Through faith in Jesus we are completely clean, washed! Regenerated! Justified! Saved!

We don’t need to be saved over and over again!

But those us of us who are washed, justified, saved …. our “feet” get dirty living in this world…  and thus we need our feet cleansed regularly .. 

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean,  but not all of you.

True… this morning too!  (Washed?) (Feet washed?)

11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.” 

Judas’ faith was not a GENUINE faith.   He hadn’t yet believed in Jesus in such a way that he was cleansed of his sin.

It’s possible to be a follower of Jesus…leader in the church of Jesus and still NOT be cleansed of your sin!  

12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 

1. This was a PICTURE of His Great Condescension!

2. This was an EXAMPLE of Servant Leadership

13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet 

15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 

16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (Happy, Blessed, Satisfied, Favor)

Next time you feel depressed or distressed, discouraged ,  despondent; next time you feel like throwing in the towel… do what Jesus did instead!

Grab the towel, find some dirty feet to wash, start to serve somewhere & experience the happiness Jesus promised!

The world thinks that happiness is the result of OTHERS serving us… but REAL HAPPINESS comes when we serve OTHERS, following Jesus example!

The world asks us how many people work for you…?

But the Lord asks “how many people do you work for?”

Studying this… this morning can stir us… EMOTIONALLY.

It can enlighten us INTELLECTUALLY… 

But only DOING what Jesus taught us here… can lead to true happiness!

The post Serve/ John 13:1-17 appeared first on Calvary Corvallis.

Jesus Is Coming For Us! 

John 14:1-3

John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe (Trust) in God, believe (Trust) also in Me.

Proverbs 3:5-6

You believe (Trust) in God,  believe (Trust) also in Me!

When troubled…TRUST! Tell Jesus you TRUST Him!

Troubled & Trust are both… MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE!

You can’t do BOTH at the same time! 

(Fear & Faith / sidewalk)

You believe in God, believe also in Me.

 Claim of EQUALITY with the Father. Deity! (John 5:18)

2 In My Father’s house are many mansions;  if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  

Because they were troubled about His departure Jesus told them where He was going… My Fathers house

He told them this to comfort them.  This is who Jesus is He comforts us when we’re troubled!

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will  have tribulation; but be of good cheer (courageous), I have overcome the world.

2 In My Father’s house are many mansions;  if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  

Jesus has been preparing heaven for His bride now for over 2000 years. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

No matter how hard the journey is… we’re headed home!

Q. Are YOU included in the many here? (Think about that Q.)

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 

Our text…is a reference to The Rapture of the church!

The Rapture is Jesus coming for His church taking us to heaven to be with Him. 

UNDERSTAND (Handout)

The Rapture is a different event then The 2nd Coming.

The 2nd Coming of Jesus…takes place at the end of the Tribulation when Jesus comes with His church… to judge Christ rejecting planet earth & to establish His kingdom on the earth.

Revelation 19:11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had  a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,  followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp  sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 

2 Thessalonians 1:7 …when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not (1)know God, and on those who (2)do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints

Jude 1:14 Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” 

The Rapture…is NOT Jesus coming WITH His saints to establish His kingdom but it’s Jesus coming FOR His saints to take them home to heaven.

John 14:2 In My Father’s house are many mansions;  if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 

Isaiah 26:20 Come, my people, enter your chambers, 

And shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, Until the Lords wrath is past. 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-16

1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 

In His final hours Jesus taught us… CENTRAL truths… that we have to come back to over and over again…

• Serve
• Love
• He is coming again for us! (To take us to heaven to be with Him!)

WHY?  Because knowing that Jesus is coming for us… AFFECTS the way we live! 

• Priorities! 

We each have ONE life to live … soon be past..Only what we do for Jesus last.  Judgment Seat!  Ashamed.

Q. What would you do different if you knew that Jesus was coming this Dec 31?

• Urgency! Urgency to share the gospel!  Evolution is a lie!  (millions of years nothing changes )

• Purity– Our Blessed Hope  / 1 John 3:3

• Endurance

No matter how hard things get! We can endure!

Norwegian Warf Rats.

In 1957 by Professor Curt Richter , psychobiologist and geneticist at Johns Hopkins University  (15 min / 72 hours)

Luke 21:34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” 

Q. YOU…Are you going to Escape or be left behind?

Q. Is Jesus coming for YOU?   Many mansions? You?

Q. Are you part of the many?

The post Jesus Is Coming For Us/ John 14:1-3 appeared first on Calvary Corvallis.

John 16:25-32: “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”  His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech!  Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”  Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?  Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.” 

John 16:33: These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will  have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

We’re currently studying the last 24 hours of Jesus’ earthly life!  (On Christmas Eve we celebrate the first 24 hours.)

John 13-17 is called “The Upper Room Discourse”

 It’s so INSIGHTFUL to listen to the things that were MOST IMPORTANT for Jesus to impart to His followers this last night before He was crucified.

John 16:33 are the LAST RECORDED WORDS that Jesus spoke to his disciples before leaving the upper room the night before He was crucified! (John 17)

John 16:33: These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have PEACE. In the world you will  have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

One of the most beautiful things about being in Jesus is the PEACE we have! (Even in the most trying times!)

John 16:33: These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have PEACE.  In the world you will have tribulation (trials, trouble, affliction, anguish, distress and frustration) but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Tribulation (thlipsis): At the root of this Greek word it means to break, crush, press, compress, squeeze.

John 16:33: These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer [be courageous; be confident, be certain, be undaunted]  I have overcome the world.

1 John 5:4: Everyone born of God overcomes  the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 

Romans 8:18: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

I want to finish our morning talking about PEACE.

Isaiah 9:6: For to us a child is born,  to us a son is given. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  

John 16:33: These things I have spoken to you, that in Me YOU may have [perfect] PEACE.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

John 14:27: PEACE I leave with you, My PEACE I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not (Stop) your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 20:19: Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “PEACE be with you.”

John 20:21: So Jesus said to them again, “PEACE to you!” 

John 20:26: After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them.  Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “PEACE to you!” 

Mark 4:39: Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “PEACE, be still!”  And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

John 16:33: These things I have spoken to you, that in Me YOU may have [perfect] PEACE. In the world you will  have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

In Closing: I want to give you two of my LIFE VERSES!

Isaiah 26:3: You will keep him in PERFECT PEACE, whose mind is STAYED on You, because he trusts in You. 

Isaiah 26:4 (Amp): So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].

Philippians 4:6-7: Be ANXIOUS for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the PEACE OF GOD, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Romans 5:1-2: Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have  PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and REJOICE in hope of the glory of God.

If you look to the world, you will be DISTRESSED!
If you look to your self, you will be DEPRESSED!
If you look to Jesus, you will find REST!

2 Thessalonians 3:16: Now may the LORD OF PEACE Himself give you HIS PEACE at all times and in every situation.  The Lord be with you all.

The post Finding Peace / John 16:25-33 appeared first on Calvary Corvallis.

• John 17:1-5  Jesus Prays For Himself
• John 17:6-19  Jesus Prays For The Eleven Apostles
• John 17:20-26  Jesus prays for ALL of His Church (us)

John 17:6  I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world.  They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 

Church(Ekklesia)- called out ones 

John 17:7-8  Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.  For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. 

Jesus here affirms the GENUINE saving faith of His disciples.

John 17:9  I pray for them.  I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 

John 17:10  And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 

If you GENUINELY belong to Jesus, then your life is going to bring glory to Jesus!

John 17:11  Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You.  Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me.

Jesus references the world 18 times in this prayer.  

The world we live in is trying to SEDUCE us to be like the world.  The world is trying to CONFORM us!

Romans 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world.

Romans 12:2 (J.B. Phillips)  Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold.

1 John 2:15, 17  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 

This is our Lord’s Prayer for us!

John 17:11  Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me that they may be one as We are. 

John 17:12  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name.  Those whom You gave Me I have kept;  and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 

Psalm 41:9  Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, lifted up his heel against me. 

John 17:13  But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 

1. Keep them (17:11)
2. They may be one as We are (17:11)
3. They may have My joy fulfilled in themselves (17:13)

Jesus talked frequently about US having His joy!

John 15:11  These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

There is a DIFFERENCE between Happiness and Joyfulness.

HAPPINESS is dependent upon circumstances. 

JOYFULNESS is dependent upon abiding in Jesus! 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

The joy of Jesus is NOTICEABLY present in the abiding believer! 

John 17:14  I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 

John 15:18-19  If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own.  Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

John 17:15  I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 

1. Keep them (17:11)
2. They may be one as We are (17:11)
3. They may have My joy fulfilled in themselves (17:13)
4. Keep them from the evil one (17:15)

1 Peter 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 

Luke 22:31-32  The Lord said,  “Simon, Simon!  Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.   But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” 

John 17:15  I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.

John 17:16  They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 

John 17:17-19  Sanctify them by Your truth.  Your word is truth.  As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.  And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. 

1. Keep them. (17:11)
2. They may be one as We are. (17:11)
3. They may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. (17:13)
4. Keep them from the evil one. (17:14)
5. Sanctify them by Your truth (17:17)

John 17:11 Holy Father

God is LOVE 

John 3:16  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 

• God is LOVE 
• God is LIGHT

1 John 1:5  This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is LIGHT and in Him is no darkness at all.

The post John 17:6-19 / The Greatest Prayer Every Prayed 3 appeared first on Calvary Corvallis.

We’re celebrating The Week That Changed The World!
Today is Good Friday

Our text tonight:
John 1:29: Behold(Look)! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John’s ministry was to point people to Jesus! (Look to Jesus!)  That’s my heart too, that we would behold Jesus this evening; that we would look to Jesus!

John 1:29: Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

What does that mean?

In the Old Testament we first see the establishing of sacrifices in Genesis 3. 

Genesis 3:21: For Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. 

A sacrifice for a couple!

In the book of Exodus 12:3, a sacrifice for a family!

Leviticus 16 describes The Day Of Atonement
Leviticus 16  A SACRIFICE for the nation.

• A SACRIFICE for a couple
• A SACRIFICE for a family
• A SACRIFICE for the nation
• A SACRIFICE for the whole world

John 1:29: Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Jesus died for the sins of the whole world!

Does that mean the whole world is saved?

What Jesus accomplished is only yours when you:

• Turn
• Trust 
• Believe
• Receive 

Jesus’ blood is sufficient to pay for the sins of the world.

But Jesus’ blood is only efficient for those have truly believed in Him!

John 1:29: Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

ONCE FOR ALL 

Our Response is ALL FOR YOU

The post Good Friday 2020 / John 1:29 appeared first on Calvary Corvallis.

When the outlook is bleak, the uplook is glorious!

Revelation 4:1:  After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

Revelation 4:2:  Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

Revelation 4:3:  And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

Revelation 4:4:  Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns  of gold on their heads.

Revelation 4:5:  And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.  In front of the throne seven blazing torches burned. This is the sevenfold Spirit  of God.

Revelation 4:6:  Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

Revelation 4:8:  The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:
“Holy, Holy, Holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”

Revelation 4:9:  Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

Revelation 4:10:  the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

Revelation 4:11:  “You are worthy, Oh Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.”
In contrast to glorious light in Heaven, the situation on earth was dark and bleak and hopeless.

In Revelation 5 John is weeping!

Revelation 5:4 “John wept much!”

Revelation 5:5:  But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”

Revelation 5:6:  And I looked, and behold, in the midst (center) of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst (center) of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain.

Revelation 5:8:  Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Revelation 5:9:  And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals;
for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,”

Revelation 5:10:  “And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:11:  Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.

Revelation 5:12:  Saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

Revelation 5:13:  And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth, “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

Revelation 5:6:  And I looked, and behold, in the midst (center) of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst (center) of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain.

John 11:25-26:  “I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

The post Heaven / Revelation 4-5 appeared first on Calvary Corvallis.

Daniel 3:1  King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 

Daniel 3:2  And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 

Daniel 3:3  So all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 

Daniel 3:4  Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, Oh peoples, nations, and languages,

Daniel 3:5  that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; 

Daniel 3:6  and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” 

Daniel 3:7  So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 

Daniel 3:8  Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. 

Daniel 3:9  They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Oh king, live forever! 

Daniel 3:10  You, Oh king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 

Daniel 3:11  and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 

Daniel 3:12  There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, Oh king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.” 

Romans 13:1 and 1 Peter 2:13  As believers the Bible teaches us that we are to obey the governing authorities.

Romans 13:1  Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 

The only reason we are NOT to obey the governing authorities is if the governing authorities are asking us to violate Gods Word. As is the case here! 

Daniel 3:13  Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. 

Daniel 3:14  Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 

Daniel 3:15  Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” 

Daniel 3:16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “Oh Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 

Daniel 3:17  If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, Oh king. 

This is faith, not only is God able!  But He will deliver us!

Daniel 3:18  But even if He doesn’t, let it be known to you, Oh king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

So often God’s ways are not our ways! 

Isaiah 55:8-9  “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” 

Romans 11:33  Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 

So often we are asking God in faith to keep us from the fiery furnaces of life (trials)!

But so often God’s way is to take us through the fiery furnaces, the trial!  Hard things we would never chose!

Daniel 3:19  Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 

We all face fiery trials, but then there are trials that are hotter than normal.

This fiery trial was not a normal trial – seven times hotter.

We also are in a trial as a nation – seven times hotter.

Daniel 3:20  And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind (ropes) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

Matthew 10:28  And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 

Daniel 3:21  Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 

Daniel 3:22  Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 

In contrast to these mighty men of valor who served idols and obeyed the king of this world and were burned to death in the fire are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego mighty men of God, who served the TRUE God and lived!

Daniel 3:23  And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 

Daniel 3:24  Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, Oh king.”

Daniel 3:25  “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”  

This fourth Man is Jesus!  This is an Old Testament appearance of Jesus the Son of God.

This is the message of scripture!

Look!  The Son of God!  Look to Jesus and live!

Also here in our text we find timeless truth!

When we are in a fiery trial we are not alone! 

Jesus was with them in the fire!

Whether they were aware or not, we don’t know!

Daniel 3:26  Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, Servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 

Daniel 3:27  And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. 

Q: The only thing burned up was what?   A: The ropes that bound them!

God never lets his people suffer needlessly!  He always has a purpose.

Daniel 3:28  Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, 

We never really know who God is touching through our faith and trust in Him when we’re in a fiery trial!

Our will is always that God would keep us from the fiery trial!

God’s will so often is to take us through the fiery trial!  

Delivering us from things that bind us! 

Reaching others through our faith and obedience!

His ways are higher than our ways!!! 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego could have never dreamed what would happen next!

Daniel 3:28  Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel (Messenger) and delivered (rescued, saved) His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 

Daniel 3:29  Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”

Nebuchadnezzar was transformed!

From an enraged idol worshipper to a worshipper of the Most High God, declaring to all the world that no other God can deliver, rescue, save like the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.

Daniel 3:30  Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.  

The post The Fourth Man / Daniel 3 appeared first on Calvary Corvallis.

Job 2:11
Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place – Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite.  For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him. 

Who are your three closest friends? 

It’s wisdom to be purposeful to invest in close friendships!

He who has friends is rich!

1 Samuel 23:16
And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.

Job 3:12
And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. 

Job 3:13
So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.

Job 6:14
“To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” 

Job 6:15, 17
My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook, like the streams of the brooks that pass away.  When it is warm, they cease to flow; when it is hot, they vanish from their place. 

Job 13:4-5
But you forgers of lies, you are all worthless physicians.  Oh, that you would be silent , and it would be your wisdom.

Job 16:2
Miserable comforters are you all! 

Job 19:14
My relatives have failed, and my close friends have forgotten me. 

Job 19:19
All my close friends abhor me, and those whom I love have turned against me. 

There is a Friend that’s even closer than a brother who will never fail you!

What a friend we have in Jesus!

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear.
And what a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer

Oh, what peace we often forfeit.
Oh, what needless pain we bear.
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Can we find a friend so faithful?
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness.
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms, He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear.
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.

Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

• • Saw Job’s horrible condition 
  • Came from his own place
  • Appointment with Job
  • Mourned
  • Comfort
  • Wept
  • Sat with Job
  • 7 days 
  • Misrepresented God
  • Failed to show kindness
  • Living water 
  • Miserable comforters and counselors
  • Worthless physicians
  • Failed and forgot him

Job 42:10
And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends.

The post Job’s Three Friends / Job 2:11-13 appeared first on Calvary Corvallis.

House Churches Guidelines:
HC Options: Zoom, Hybrid, In Person
Safety: CDC Guidelines, Spacing, Cleanliness
Food: No food
Masks: Optional, Not Prohibited, Not Mandated
Kids
The Vulnerable
Sickness
Summer Sessions: Optional

Summer Services at Calvary:

Sunday June 7th
A limited number in the amphitheater
Safety
Livestream

Sunday June 14th
A limited number in the amphitheater
Safety
FM radio drive-in for vulnerable and concerned
Livestream 

Sunday June 21st
A limited number in the amphitheater
Safety
FM radio drive-in for vulnerable and concerned
A limited number in the sanctuary
Livestream

Keys to Job’s Endurance
James 5:11

James 5:11:
Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance (endurance) of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

Hebrews 10:35-36:
Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance.

Hebrews 12:1:
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

God has a way of working: depth, character, maturity, strength, resilience. He has a way of conforming us into the image of Jesus as we endure in suffering and affliction.

James 5:11:
Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job .

• Wealth
• Children
• Health
• Marriage
• Friends and Family 

5 Keys to Job’s Endurance

1. Job worshipped in the midst of tragedy
Job 1:21:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

2. Job trusted in God
Job 13:15:
Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.

Come What May!
Trust, not Worry
Faith, not Doubt

Psalm 42:11:
Why are you downcast, Oh my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. 

3. Job kept his eyes on eternal things.
Job 19:25-27:
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
Romans 8:18:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
2 Corinthians 4:17:
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

4. Job understood that God was testing his faith
Job 23:10:
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

5. Job treasured God’s Word
Job 23:12:
I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the Words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
James 5:11:
Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord.

1. God was being glorified in the heavenly realm, by Job’s unwavering trust.
2. God was using Job in ways He could have never had imagined!
3. God took Job to a deeper place!

Job 42:5:
I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.

Job 42:12-13:
The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels and 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters.

James 5:11:
Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord – that the Lord is very compassionate (tender) and merciful.

The post Keys to Job’s Endurance / James 5:11 appeared first on Calvary Corvallis.

1 Peter 3:1-6:
Likewise, wives, be subject (submissive) to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external — the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear — but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

1 Peter 3:7:
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

1 Corinthians 11:3:
But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Proverbs 14:1:
The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

Genesis 2:24:
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Ephesians 5:25:
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.

Matthew 6:28:
So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow:they neither toil nor spin.

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

The post Blueprints for Marriage / 1 Peter 3:7 appeared first on Calvary Corvallis.

We are excited to welcome you back to our campus for Sunday Services starting June 14th! We have worked wisely with our county health officials and have created a service plan to gather together in the safest way possible. To ensure we keep our services safe, we require you to register for a ticket in advance for a Sunday Service. 

Please read the instructions below for guidance on registering for tickets, and our safety policies. 

Registration 

1. Please choose the service time you would like to attend. Our services are at 10:30am and 12:30pm.
2. Please list each member of your household or family that is attending the service. Each individual must have a ticket to attend the service. Due to CDC regulations, our numbers per service are limited.
3. Complete the registration prompts with your name and email.
4. You’ll receive a confirmation email with our safety guidelines and further instructions. 
5. We’ll see you on Sunday! Please print your ticket or have it ready on your phone when you enter the parking lot.

Tickets open Thursday at 1:00am

  Get Tickets for 10:30am Get Tickets for 12:30pm

Service Information

1. For Sunday, June 14th, we will be holding service in our Sanctuary. 
2. Please arrive no earlier than 45 minutes before your service time to allow time for our building to be disinfected.
3. We’ll check your ticket as you enter the parking lot, so please print each ticket or have it on your phone as you enter. 
4. Once you register for tickets, your family will be pre-assigned to seats in the sanctuary. Our services will be seated “family style,” with families and members from the same household seated together. Each person in your family or household must have a ticket to attend the service. 
5. We ask that you observe social distancing, keeping six feet between households, and refraining from any physical contact. 
6. Please follow signage, directions and guidance from our staff to keep you and your family safe as we attend service together.

Safety Guidelines   

The post Get Tickets for Sunday Service appeared first on Calvary Corvallis.

Watch at Home 
If you have symptoms of sickness, consider yourself at risk, or feel unsafe to attend service, please continue to livestream our services online through Livestream or Facebook Live.

Tickets
In order to attend a service, you must register for a ticket for each member of your household or family.

Families
Children and Youth will remain with their families during the service. Activities are available for children during service. The weekly Children’s Ministry curriculum will still be available via our app, and Calvary Kids’ social media. Find more information on weekly youth activities here.

Safety Together
We’ve set up a check in system, including taking your temperature. Hand sanitizer and gloves are available. Our building will be disinfected prior to each service. Masks are highly encouraged but not required. Single use masks are available upon check-in.

Social Distancing
Please remember to keep 6 ft between you and other households, and refrain from any physical contact. We are confident that we can continue to bless and lift each other up as a church community even with social distancing. 

The post Safety Information for Sunday Services appeared first on Calvary Corvallis.