Finish His Work (John 4:31-38)
Jesus has just had His encounter with the Samaritan woman by the well. His disciples now return with food for Him to eat. Jesus says that He is not hungry, and what follows is Jesus’ teaching on faithfulness to the task God has given you. Jesus is satisfied by finishing God’s task for Him Just as the woman at the well was satisfied by Jesus, so Jesus is satisfied with doing the Father’s Will. He is no longer hungry because…
Femininity
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:27 Although man was created first, both man and woman bear the image of God. Male and female are of equal value and worth in the eyes of God. And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground…
Wanted by God and His People
This week marks the 42nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade which legalized abortion in the United States. Since then, approximately 56 million babies have been murdered in this country, making the American abortion problem roughly five times worse than the Nazi Holocaust. Unfortunately when abortion comes up, most believers believe that their only duty is to vote for prolife candidates at election times. However, law does not change human hearts. Grace does. We must show the incarnational love and grace…
Masculinity
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:26-27 God made man in His image and…
Why Did God Create?
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1 God existed before anything else ever was. The beginning of time was when God created the earth on which we now dwell. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by…
Surrendered for Service
Isaiah hears God speak We do not know if God was speaking before this, but we do know that Isaiah never heard the Lord’s voice until he was purged from sin. Many times our sin interferes with us hearing God’s voice. This is why confession of sin and cleansing from sin is so vital to the Christian life: we want to hear God’s voice clearly. Isaiah surrenders for service Upon hearing God speak, Isaiah volunteers. His statement is one of…
Jesus is All That Matters (John 3:35-36)
John the Baptist here concludes his discussion with his disciples about following Jesus. God loves Jesus With all of our talk about God’s love for mankind and God’s love for the world we often times forget the love of God for His Son. God loves His Son more the He has ever loved anything else. God delights in His Son so much that He has publically spoken from heaven concerning His pleasure in His Son. God has loved Jesus since…
Man-made Religion or Divine Revelation? (John 3:31-34)
John the Baptist here continues what he has been saying to his disciples concerning Jesus. John is a man, Jesus is Divine John is from the earth; he is a mere man. Jesus is from heaven; He is divine. John is here showing his followers that Jesus is Who they should follow. Jesus surpasses everything and is above all people including John the Baptist. John speaks with human understanding, Jesus speaks from firsthand knowledge Even though John was a great…
Decrease So That He Might Increase (John 3:25-30)
John the Baptist’s followers have expressed concern that Jesus is now getting all of John’s followers. John’s ministry is fading as Jesus’ ministry skyrockets. John has told them that this is of the Lord. He now addresses their concerns by expressing what is on his own heart. John is not the Christ John emphasizes that he has always maintained that he is not the Christ. He is not the person they are supposed to follow. John was sent to make…
God Must Move First (John 3:22-27)
Jesus’ disciples are baptizing many people near where John the Baptist is preaching and baptizing people. This is before John is imprisoned. While this is going on, John’s followers get into a debate with the Jews about religious washing and purification. They then come to John with the complaint that more people are now following Jesus than John. John replies, “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” What John means is: Men are unable to…
Step into the Light (John 3:19-21)
Jesus has just finished telling Nicodemus that all those who do not believe in Him are already condemned. Jesus now explains why men are condemned and how men escape the condemnation through Him. Men are condemned because they reject light and love darkness Jesus comes as the Light of the world. Jesus is light in that He exposes sin and reveals the true nature of men. Men are condemned because they reject the truth and run from Jesus. Men are…
Already Condemned (John 3:17-18)
Jesus did not come to bring condemnation Nicodemus believes that the Messiah will come to destroy the Gentiles and sinners. Jesus declares that God has sent not sent Him to condemn and destroy the world. Nicodemus is expecting the Messiah to remove the Roman rule and establish law-abiding Jews, like himself, as rulers of the world. Jesus came to bring salvation Jesus was sent by God to save the world. God did not send Jesus to establish the law-abiding Jews…