SHOWERS

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Matthew 4:12 – Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.

There is a gap of time between verses 11 and 12 of about a year.  What happened during that time?  The book of John gives us some of the details.  Jesus was very busy ministering to people. He preached in the synagogues, attended Passover in Jerusalem (John 2), had a discussion with Nicodemus (John 3), spoke to the woman at the well (John 4), performed a miracle at the wedding at Cana and much more.

So we see that for a time, the ministries of Jesus and John overlapped.  Both of them were both calling people to repent in light of the coming Kingdom of Heaven.   God was allowing time for John to fully complete his ministry of preparing the way for Christ.  Once that was done, John's ministry needed to decrease while Jesus' ministry increased.  Otherwise, people would be divided with some following John and some following Jesus.

Matthew 4:13-16 – And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 'The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.'

'By the sea' refers to the sea of Tiberias also called the lake of Gennesaret.  This place was in the ancient territory of the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun.  Isaiah prophesied about this land back in chapter 9 of his book.  He declared that a great light would dawn on this region, which had been dwelling in the shadow of death.

Back in the era of 2 Kings 15 this was literally the case because that region was the first to be attacked by the Assyrians.  There can be no doubt that those people were indeed living in the shadow of death.

However, there was more than one kind of death going on.  There was physical death from the Assyrians, but there was also spiritual death for those Jews who had rejected the covenant with God.  In other words, dwelling in the shadow of death was the same as living in sin, because the final outcome of sin is always death.

To those who are living in sin (spiritual death), the preaching of Jesus were a great light, which led them to salvation and eternal life.

 So it is for us.  We were in the darkness of sin and under the influence of spiritual death.  We could not rid ourselves of the stain and bondage of sin.  What we can do is embrace the light of the gospel when it is shined on our lives.  In so doing, Christ cleanses us and sets us free from death, through his blood sacrifice.

What a blessing it is to read that Christ's message reached far and wide, extending even to Galilee of the Gentiles.  Thus, we see yet another hint of God's great plan to offer salvation to the Gentiles.

Matthew 4:17 – From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

After John's imprisonment, Jesus continued to preach the message of repentance.  Repentance is always the starting point of spiritual life.  We must first repent before we can obtain salvation.  We must obtain salvation before we can reach great heights of faith and spiritual maturity.

Matthew 4:18 – While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

The time had come for Jesus to gather his disciples to himself.  These men would be witnesses – witnesses of miracles, witnesses of healing, witnesses of the power of God over the enemy and witnesses of the gospel message.  In fact, after the death and resurrection of Jesus they would be preaching of the gospel after being baptized in the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.  God would then work similar miracles through these men, just as he had through Jesus.

Matthew 4:19-20 – And he said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."  And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

We can't help but notice that Jesus did not go to Jerusalem to find his disciples.  He did not choose anyone from among the chief priests, the elders, the Pharisees, Saducees or Essenes.  He did not choose men who were refined or noble.  Rather, he choose the humble of this world.  Galilee was a remote part of the nation and its inhabitants were not cultivated or refined as those of Jerusalem.  In fact, they were considered 'coarse'.  Yet, these were the people God chose.

1 Corinthians 1:27 - But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty�

This shows that you can be used by God no matter what your station in life.  You can be rich or poor, smart or simple, educated or uneducated; God can (and will) work through any person who yields themselves to his will.  Get into alignment with what God is doing, and watch him work through you!

Matthew 4:21-22 –And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.  Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

The men that Jesus chose were uniquely qualified to fulfill their purpose.  They were laborers.  They were used to hard work and long hours.  They were content without luxurious clothing and food.  They were used to being wet, cold and uncomfortable.  They were no strangers to peril.

Similarly, we remember that David and Moses were both shepherds before rising to positions of prominence in God's kingdom.  Their early training helped prepare them for future ministry.

Just like David, Moses and the disciples, you are uniquely qualified to serve God.  Your talents and experiences make you different from everyone around you.  So let me ask you this - are you actively seeking the good works that God has prepared for you to do?  Are you advancing the kingdom here on earth?

If not, look around you and find a place to begin ministering.  Once you have begun, other doors of opportunity will open for you.  Just like the disciples, you may be surprised where God takes you!

Matthew 4:23 –And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

Here we have a great example of how to spread the gospel.  People came to Jesus with physical needs; he met those needs then introduced spiritual healing as well.  People know when they have physical needs, but they don't always understand that they are spiritually sick as well.  Therefore, the physical need opens the door to preaching of the gospel, which heals the soul.

This example still works today.  The church should not be a closed community of righteous people.  Rather, sinners should feel welcome there.  This does not mean that we embrace and love their sin; it means we love them as they repent.

This also means that all of us need to support our local churches financially so that the church can reach out to the needs of the community around them, bringing both physical and spiritual hope and healing.

Jesus also gives us hope for the future.  By atoning for sin, he has broken the curse of sickness and death.  One day, these will be totally destroyed!

Matthew 4:24-25 – So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

Wherever Jesus went he confirmed his divine mission with miracles performed by the influence and power of the Holy Spirit.  No sickness, disease or torment was powerful enough to stand against him.  He healed them all.  But he also brought an even greater miracle – healing of the soul by becoming a sacrifice for our sin.

Let me give you some encouragement, relief and strength: There is no one on planet earth like you! Don't try to imitate others; be yourself. You can do things for God that no one else can - step out in faith and begin to minister for Jesus. There's no telling where you might end up!

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Matthew 4:1 – Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

We should not be surprised that Jesus was tempted to sin because Satan tempts all people, however, this was no ordinary temptation.  The outcome of all that God had pledged to do for mankind hung upon this encounter.  If Jesus failed/sinned, he was no longer fit to be the Messiah. The eternal outcome of all mankind was on the line that day in the wilderness.

The problem of sin started back in the Garden of Eden.  As you recall, Adam was in perfect relationship with Father God.  He lived in a place of beauty.  He had all he wanted to eat. There was no such thing as sickness or death.  In this state of perfection, Satan came to tempt him.

The temptation of Adam contained the three principle classes of sin:  the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.  Adam failed in all three categories, bringing sin and death upon all men.

1 John 2:16 –For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life – is not from the Father, but is from the world.

The temptation of Jesus must also include the three classes of sin.  He must also face temptation as a man, but he must overcome it, so that he can be the perfect blood sacrifice for sin.  Praise be to God, Jesus was victorious over Satan!  Because of this victory, we can be justified by faith in the sight of God.

Romans 5:19 – For as by the one man's disobedience (Adam) the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience (Jesus) the many will be made righteous.

While Jesus' victory over sin allowed him to be our savior, it also had another benefit.  The temptation allowed Jesus to experience and understand what it is like for you and I to be tempted.  Since he knows what it is like to be tempted, he can help us in our times of temptation.

Hebrews 2:18 – Because he [Jesus] himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Not only does he sympathize with us, he also makes a way of escape for us!

1 Corinthians 10:13 - There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Think about that for a minute� when we are tempted, we are not doomed to fail, rather we are set up to win!  Jesus has made it possible for us to resist sin and send the devil away empty handed.  How can we accomplish this?  Let's take a look at how Jesus did it.

Matthew 4:2-3 – And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.  And the tempter cam and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread."

Interestingly, Moses fasted 40 days up on Mount Sinai, before God gave him the old covenant/law (see Exodus 24).  Now Jesus fasts 40 days before embarking on the ministry that would bring us the new covenant.

Jesus' baptism marked the beginning of his public ministry, which would end in his sacrifice on the cross.  It makes sense that immediately after his baptism, he separated himself for a time, in order to prepare himself for the three year ministry that he was about to perform.  In preparation, he spends 40 days in fasting and prayer.

It is during this time of weakness that Satan tempts Jesus with the first temptation, the lust of the flesh.  And the temptation is very tricky, isn't it?  Jesus has just recently been declared the Son of God.  He has power and authority.  He is very hungry.  What could be easier than turning the stones into bread?  What could be sinful about using his power to satisfy his own needs?  After all, it wasn't God's will for him to starve to death, was it?

By telling Jesus to turn the stones into bread, Satan implies that God is not a good Father; that he does not care about Jesus or his needs and that he cannot be trusted.  If that is the case, then the logical thing is for Jesus to use his power to take care of himself in the way that seems best to him; Jesus should rely on himself and not the wisdom and provision of his heavenly Father.  Essentially, this is rebellion against God.

Notice how closely this mimics the fall of Adam and Eve!  Satan came to them in the Garden of Eden and got Eve to point out that there was a single tree they were not permitted to eat from.  He tells Eve that they would not die if they ate its fruit, in fact, they would become as gods, knowing good from evil.

Satan implied to Eve that God was not a good Father.  He was holding out on her – he had wisdom and knowledge that she needed but he would not allow her to have it.  Therefore, she should take matters into her own hands.  She should use her power to pick the fruit and eat it.  Thus, she and Adam were both convinced to rebel against God and sin entered the world.

Jesus, however, was not so easily fooled.  Jesus was fully convinced that his Father cared for him and would not refuse to give him any gift or provision that would be good for him.   He also knew that God would deliver those provisions at the perfect time; to use his own power to make it happen sooner would be to short circuit the plan of God and it would be tantamount to rebellion.  Also, Jesus was not taking council or orders from Satan.  He consulted God, he waited for God and he would receive all that God had for him at the perfect time, including bread.

Hint:  Satan tempts us in the same way.  For example, maybe you are looking for a spouse to share your life with.  There is nothing wrong with that desire, in fact the Bible says it is a good thing.  But maybe, even though you have prayed about it, the right person has not come along.

At that point, Satan is likely to come and whisper things in your ear like these:  God isn't very good to you, is he?  It's God's fault that you are lonely.  He could give you the perfect spouse right now but he won't because he is keeping all the good stuff from you.  Or maybe he hasn't given you a spouse because he forgot to make one for you!  How careless of him!  Since God does doesn't care about your and isn't stepping up for you, why don't you just take matters into your own hands?  Why not relax your standards a bit and find a fun exciting new mate on your own!  You can be married by the end of the year, if you want!

Sometimes the thing Satan tempts you with is not an evil thing. 

Sometimes it is a good thing (like bread or a spouse), but if you try to obtain it in a sinful way or through sinful means, it becomes a sin and a snare to you.

Matthew 4:4 - But he answered, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Jesus shows us how to recognize and repel this attack of Satan.  We do it through the word of God.  Notice that in all the temptations of Satan, Jesus uses the word to defeat him.

Interestingly, Jesus himself was the word of God incarnate, yet he does not quote himself to defeat Satan.  Instead, Jesus quotes the Old Testament law, which was the current covenant during his temptation.  There were no secret unattainable documents - he used a resource that was available to everyone.

In the same way, we can use the word of God, the Bible, to repel the attacks of Satan.  The truth of the word will give us that 'escape hatch' whenever we are faced with temptation.

The key is that you have to know it!  You can't wait until the time of the temptation and then wonder what the scripture has to say.  You have to read it now and hide it in your heart as a weapon to be used in combat.

Psalms 119:11 – They word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.

Why not begin today?  Pick up your Bible and read it consistently, even if it's only 15 minutes a day.  You have 15 minutes don't you?  You can access the bible on your tablet, cell phone, computer or you can use an old fashioned paper copy.  No matter how you access it, make the time to read it on a daily basis.  Use it to fill up your arsenal of weapons against the enemy.

Matthew 4:5-7 – Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle o the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, "He will command his angels concerning you," and, "On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone."   Jesus said unto him, "Again it is written, you shall not put the Lord your God to the test."

This second temptation involves the sins of pride and presumption.  Satan and Jesus are at the tallest point of the temple, a holy building which was revered and admired by all people.  Satan is encouraging Jesus to do as he wishes or to do what he 'feels like' doing (in this case, jump off the pinnacle) regardless of what God's will was for him.  Presumably, if Jesus jumped, it would force God to come to his rescue because of the promise of protection in Psalms 91.

Satan correctly states that God has ministering angels which protect the saints of God.  However, he leaves out a key phrase in the promise of Psalms 91 which is "to guard you in all your ways'.  In other words, the promise of protection is for children of God who are walking in the ways or paths of righteousness that God has laid out for them.  It does not apply when we are intentionally sinning and going against what we know to be God's will.  We cannot manipulate God into performing for us by twisting his word.  If we could, it would be like blackmailing God.  Therefore, since it was not God's will for Jesus to jump off the pinnacle of the temple, the promise would not apply and Jesus may have jumped to his death.

This brings up a couple of important points for our consideration.  First, you need to know the scriptures, because Satan knows them too and if you are not knowledgeable, you can be tricked by him.  There are even ministers and teachers who twist the word of God, so be on your guard against false teachings even when they come from a pulpit!  Make sure that everything you are being taught is lining up with the Bible.

Second, don't try to manipulate or blackmail God to do your bidding.  Do not presume to sin thinking that all will be well because you can run into grace.  The scriptures are very plain that as Christians, we are to lead lives of personal holiness, following God's plan for our lives. Only then can we lay claim to his many life-giving promises.

Matthew 4:8-9 – Again the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.  And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me."

We do not know exactly how Satan did this, but we can be sure it was done and that it was a very real and difficult temptation for Jesus.

Imagine the dazzling things that Satan showed him.  All the glory, splendor, adoration, power and pomp of the mighty kingdoms of earth.  All the food, entertainment, wealth and luxury imaginable.  How wonderful it all must have looked!

The 'lust of the eyes' is one of the three major categories of temptation that Satan uses (pride is also at work in this temptation as well).  Our eyes have a habit of being dazzled by vanity or empty promises while being blind to the sorrow and horrible consequences that come along with sin.

Such was the case here.  Satan's bait really contained three snares:

Satan was offering dominion of the earth.  However, that was a lie because he could only offer Jesus a temporary dominion over the earth, while Father God was going to grant Jesus an eternal kingdom that was spiritual and also physical.

Satan was offering immediate gratification – Jesus could be king right now presumably without any pain or work involved.  However, that was not God's plan.  Jesus would be the eternal, almighty King of Kings, but that honor and title came only through obedience to the cross.  It came with a price.

Satan did his best to tempt Jesus to worship him.  If Satan could get Jesus to gain a kingdom by bowing down to him, that would make Jesus a servant of Satan and all his rule and authority would come from Satan, not from God.  What a tiny, limited, futile kingdom that would be!

Satan offers us a similar deal.  We are willing to bow down to false idols of money, pleasure, entertainment and other things as well.  There is nothing wrong with these things, but we must acknowledge that all good things come from God, and they must be kept in their proper perspective – secondary to the will of God for our lives.  If they take precedence over God, they become an idol and worshipping an idol is the same as worshipping Satan.

Matthew 4:10-11 – Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve."  Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Jesus again uses the word to rebuke Satan.  You can almost hear the disgust in his voice as he strikes the winning blow and sends Satan away.  In this case, the scriptures he used were Deuteronomy 6:13 and 10:20.  These are scriptures that we should remind ourselves of daily!

Three times Satan had tempted Jesus and three times he was soundly defeated.  Victory over sin is ours, through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So let me offer you some encouragement, relief and strength:  Temptation does not have to be a losing battle.  Through the Word of God and the blood of Jesus, you can resist the devil and he will flee from you!

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Matthew 3:1 – In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea�

Matthew introduces John the Baptist rather abruptly in his narrative, but fortunately the gospel of Luke gives us a much fuller picture of this prophet.

John was the son of the priest Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth.  Interestingly, Elizabeth is a relative of Jesus' mother Mary, which makes John the Baptist a relative of Jesus; possibly a cousin.

Luke also reveals to us that John is 6 months older than Jesus.  Since we know that Jesus began his public ministry at around 30 years of age, we can surmise that there is a gap of about 25-28 years between Matthew chapter 2 and chapter 3.  John the Baptist and Jesus are both about 30 years old during the events of Matthew chapter 3.

John's ministry did not take place in the city of Jerusalem, but out in the 'wilderness'.  What do you picture in your mind when you hear that word?  Do you picture thick forests with wild animals where no one lives?  Or do you perhaps think of a barren desert plain? Both of those descriptions would fit our modern understanding of the word, but it meant something a bit different back in the time of Christ.

Back then, a wilderness was an area that was thinly populated and somewhat mountainous. Although it had trees, it was not an impenetrable forest.  It was better suited for pasture than growing crops.  For the most part, the land was unsettled.  Today, we would say that John ministered in the 'country' or 'countryside'.

Matthew 3:2-3 – �and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'

John was the last Old Testament prophet.  God used him as the transition between the old covenant of the law and the new covenant of grace.  He clearly proclaimed that the kingdom of heaven and the coming of the messianic age had arrived; as a result of that transition, people should repent.

First, we must remember that John was speaking exclusively to a Jewish audience.  Based on Old Testament scripture, [Daniel 7:13-14, Jeremiah 33:14-18, 1 Kings 2:4 and many others] the Jews expected that the Messiah would be the successor to the throne of David and that he would be a great national deliverer.  They believed that his coming would usher in judgment, that the dead would be raised to life, that the enemies of the Jews would be destroyed and that the Jews as a nation would be elevated to a place of great national honor.  They were expecting big changes here in the physical world.

In light of this, we can see why the Jews, who had long been under the rule of ruthless Gentile powers, were eagerly looking for the coming of this messianic age. 

But were the Jews correct in their views?  The answer is both 'yes' and 'no'.  Or perhaps a better answer is that they had a limited understanding of what God had planned to do. 

The bible does speak of the literal reign of Jesus on earth in many different passages, like these:  

Jeremiah 23:5 – Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

Revelation 20:4 - �I saw the souls of those who has been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus�they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

But the reign of the Messiah actually began in the spiritual realm.  We find evidence of this when Jesus spoke to Pilate just before his crucifixion:

John 18:36 – Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world.  If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews.  But my kingdom is not from the world."

So we see that God first establishes his spiritual kingdom, and when that comes to full fruition, he will establish his earthly kingdom where he will reign for a thousand years, as stated in Revelation chapter 20.

This explains why John preaches a message of repentance.  Instead of gathering an army and practicing military exercises, which would have been in line with the Jewish expectations, John called them to a change of life – repentance – which was in complete alignment with the spiritual kingdom of heaven coming to earth.

This is probably a good time to look at the concept of repentance.  What exactly is repentance?  It means that you acknowledge that you have sinned against a holy God and that you are sorry for the offences you committed.  It also means that you make a conscious effort to turn from your transgressions and seek to live a holy life.

In other words, repentance has two aspects or parts:  sorrow/regret that you have sinned and a change of your conduct.

Matthew 3:4 - Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

A lot can be said about John's manner of dress, his food and his lifestyle.  But all of these are secondary to the most important thing – fulfilling the task or purpose that God intended for his life.

What about you?  Do people judge you on your clothes or your weight or the car you drive?  Remember this:  other people don't determine your true value; God does and you are priceless to him!   Man can only look on the outward appearance, but God is looking at your heart.  He created you with a purpose in mind.  Are you seeking his direction in life?  If so, you can be sure you will find the awesome plan he has for you!

Matthew 3:5-6 – Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

These verses show that there was a constant stream of people coming out to the Jordan to be baptized by John.  What is baptism?

Baptism means to cleanse or wash by the application of water.  Did John invent the concept of baptism?  No; it was a rite already used by the Jews, especially after the Babylonian captivity.  The Jews would administer the rite of baptism or washing to any Gentile who became a convert (proselyte) to the Jewish religion.  The purpose of the baptism was to signify that they renounced their errors/sins and worship of pagan gods.  By being baptized, they were purifying and committing themselves for service to Jehovah.

So, the Jews used baptism to call the Gentiles into a new dispensation of religion, namely Judaism.

Likewise, John used baptism to call the Jews into a new dispensation of religion, namely the kingdom of heaven under Jesus the Messiah.

When John baptized people in the Jordan, it signified the repentance from their sins and the putting away of impurity.  It was a commitment to change the way they were living and to ready themselves for service to the Messiah.

Have you been baptized since confessing your sin and accepting Christ as your savior?  If not, please consult your local church.  God places a high priority on obedience and since Jesus was baptized we should follow that example.  If you were baptized as a child by your parents, you might want to consider being baptized a second time so that you can reaffirm the rite of baptism as a consenting adult.

Matthew 3:7-8 - But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bear fruit in keeping with repentance."

The Pharisees and the Sadducees were sects or subgroups of the Jewish religion (there were actually three subgroups, the two listed above and the Essenes who are not mentioned in the scriptures).

The Pharisees devoted themselves to strictness in the practice of their religious beliefs.  They not only adhered to the law but to many ancient traditions.  Unfortunately, this did not bring them closer to God.  Instead, it made them proud/haughty and self righteous.  They thought of themselves as better than ordinary Jews.  They were very big on external cleanliness and ceremonial washing.  They were also very 'showy' in their religious acts.  In other words, they would wait until a large crowd gathered before giving a big offering, or they would pray loud prayers while standing on street corners, so all the world could see.

Meanwhile, the Sadducees rejected all tradition and believed only in the law.  They were not as concerned with public displays of worship nor did they practice great amounts of ceremonial washing.  They are mostly remembered for their belief that the soul dies at the same time the body does, and there is no resurrection of the dead.  This sect was much, much smaller than the Pharisees, but it had a very great number of wealthy men. The Sadducees, like the Pharisees, believed that they were righteous before God because they were offspring of Abraham.

They were excited to think that the Messiah was coming and they were all about repenting and getting ready.  Therefore, we are not surprised when the Pharisees and Sadducees also come to see John, although their motivation may not have been to repent, but rather to see what all the fuss was about.  They were probably ready to pass judgment upon John and his message.

When they arrived, I don't think they received the welcome they were expecting!  Instead of addressing them with a title of respect like 'Rabbi', John addresses them as a generation or brood of snakes!  John recognized that they were full of the poison of self righteousness, pride and wickedness.  They loved to serve God on external matters, but their hearts were hard and full of sin.

John wasn't being mean; he was attempting to break through their hard hearts with a message of truth – they too needed to repent.  All of their external works were not enough to make them righteous before God.  They needed to comply with the two parts of repentance – sorrow over sin and a change of ways – just like everyone else.

Matthew 3:9 – And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

Here John 'touches a nerve' so to speak.  The Pharisees and Sadducees knew that they were descendants of Abraham, who was the father of the Jewish nation.  This was one of their main sources of pride.  They felt that because they were physical descendents, they would automatically inherit or obtain the kingdom of Heaven.

However, John is telling them that physical genealogy meant nothing.  God is looking for people who are spiritual descendants of Abraham, that is, people who will inherit the kingdom through faith in God and the blood of Jesus.

Matthew 3:10 – Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees.  Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

John is giving a word picture. The unrepentant religious leaders are like trees that bear bad fruit and as a result of that, they are about to be cut down/destroyed.  The meaning of the picture is that God is offering a chance for repentance and mercy, but you must accept his offer quickly and repent, or destruction will overtake you.

Matthew 3:11 – I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Here John is comparing his ministry to the ministry of the Messiah.  John baptized people with water, which was an external rite.  It was a symbol or pledge of repentance.

Jesus, however, would soon baptize people with the Holy Spirit which was an internal baptism.  This baptism was first bestowed on the followers of Jesus on the day of Pentecost.  You can read about that astonishing event in Acts chapter 2.   Through the blood of Jesus, people could repent and be truly cleansed from sin.

Matthew 3:12 – His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

Here is another word picture from John, which would have been easily understood by those who were listening.

  The worker would use the fork or shovel to throw the strands up in the air.  Since the stalk was light and useless, it would blow away in the wind while the grain would fall to the ground in a pile.  The grain was then gathered up and stored for use, while the stalk was lost.

John was using this agricultural illustration to demonstrate a spiritual truth.  Jesus was coming to preach the gospel.  The effects of the gospel would separate the spiritually worthless people from his true followers.  These saints would be 'stored up' or be admitted to his kingdom, but all those who practiced empty religion would be lost or burned up, meaning that they would be utterly destroyed.

Sadly, there are also people who hear the gospel and refuse to believe it.  What have you done with the gospel message?  Have you trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior?  If not, don't delay!  Stop right now and pray for Jesus to be Lord and Savior of your life!

Matthew 3:13-15 – Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.  John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.

Jesus was sinless and did not need to repent.  So why did he come to be baptized by John?  Jesus tells us the answer – he submitted to the rite of baptism to fulfill all righteousness.  Here are a couple things to consider:

The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is our perfect High Priest.  All of the things that pertained to the Old Testament priesthood were a foreshadowing of the perfect priesthood of Jesus.

Hebrews 2:17 – Therefore he (Jesus) had to be made like his brothers in every respect so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

When the Old Testament priesthood was established, the priests were washed before assuming their office:

Exodus 29:4 – You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water.

So, by submitting to John's baptism, Jesus was fulfilling the Old Testament law by being 'washed' before he assumed his public ministry.

Another reason to be baptized is found in that same verse in Hebrews.  He was identifying with us, sinful man, and showing us that baptism (and repentance) were commanded for those who would be a part of the kingdom of God.

Also, baptism was a perfect bridge to his public ministry.  John had been recognized as a prophet of God with a single message – repent for the kingdom of Heaven was at hand; the long awaited Messiah was coming!  Therefore, it made sense for Jesus to be a part of John's ministry; it connected Jesus to the role of Messiah in the minds of the people.

Matthew 3:16-17 – And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

And here we see that God sanctioned all that Jesus did regarding baptism.  The appearance of the Holy Spirit and the voice of Father God were signs of his approval.  Jesus had started his Messianic work.

He entered into the work with the Holy Spirit upon him; the Spirit qualified and equipped him to perform his duties.  If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit, how much more do we need to be baptized by him?  Fortunately, on the day of Pentecost Jesus made the Holy Spirit available to all of us!  All we need to do is ask him for this great blessing to assist us in doing all that God has called us to do for him!

Let me give you some encouragement: If you have neglected to be baptized, why don't you just go ahead and submit to this act of righteousness?  God will be pleased by your obedience.

Let me give you some relief: You don't have to walk alone in this life!  God has given us the gift of his precious Holy Spirit.  The Spirit's work in our lives is invaluable.  He guides us, reveals the word to us, helps us pray and many, many other things.  You can talk to the Holy Spirit the same way you talk to Jesus or the Father.  Invite him in today and find out what a help he can be!

Let me give you some strength:  The kingdom of Heaven has come and if you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, you are a part of it!  So take heart – our king has overcome the world and through him, you are also an over-comer.  One day, Jesus will return to earth to establish his earthly kingdom, just like the Jews pictured.  It will be a glorious time for all who belong to Christ.  Lets vow to work for the master here on earth while we still can!

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Matthew 2:1-2 - 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 saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

Judea had been under Roman rule for about 63 years. Herod (or Herod the Great) was named 'king' or authority over that region by the Romans.  He was in his 34^th year of rule when the events of Matthew chapter two take place.

Because of the united Roman Empire, there was easy and free trade between the nations in the empire.  There were no travel restrictions between individual nations.  The laws were uniform throughout the empire.  There was a single, standard language – Greek.  All of these circumstances paved the way for the easy and rapid spread of the Gospel throughout the world. It is obvious that God arranged a set of circumstances that were perfect for the birth and ministry of the Savior!

Right now, God is also working behind the scenes in your life!  Even when it looks like nothing is happening in your situation, you can be sure God is moving!  Look back on some of the major events of your life – can you see where the hand of God was at work?

At the same time that God was miraculously arranging things in the political world, He was also awakening the minds and expectations of people (both Jews and Gentiles) for the coming of a new king.  Historians tell us that for many years there was a prevalent expectation regarding the coming of a great king who was to rise from among the Jews.  This expectation rested on the content and timing of ancient Messianic prophesies such as Isaiah 9-11 and Daniel 7.  Balaam also speaks of it in Numbers 24:17.

Numbers 24:17 – I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel� 

So here is a good question – If God was stirring up the hearts and minds of people to look for the Messiah, how did they miss him?  Specifically, how did the Jewish priests miss him?  They were the spiritual leaders of their generation, and it was their job to be diligently looking for the coming of the Messiah, so they could lead others to him. 

Well, here is at least part of the problem.  They had built up their own expectations of what the Messiah would do, and how he would do it.  They were looking for a Messiah King who would immediately reclaim the throne of David, oust the Romans and vindicate the Jewish people.  When Jesus came as a humble servant, proclaiming the spiritual kingdom of God, it was diametrically opposed to what they were expecting. Therefore, they had trouble accepting him. 

Let's not make the same mistake.  Our generation is looking for the return of Christ.  The events leading up to his return may not look like we feel they should.  We might be surprised by what God has planned.  However, let us be open to the Holy Spirit that we might see the signs of his coming, and lead sinners to his grace before it is too late.

Now, what about those wise men from the east?  They likely hailed from either Persia or Arabia.  The original Greek word for wise men is 'magoi', from which comes our word "magician".  That word had a negative connotation for us; it speaks of trickery or falseness, but that was not the original use of the word.  The wise men were men of great learning who devoted themselves to astronomy, religion and medicine.  They were highly revered and sought after in their own lands.

They had seen a 'star' or more likely a comet, which lead them to the King of the Jews.  They had rightly discerned the sign and had come to worship the new King.  This is a wonderful glimpse of God revealing himself to the Gentiles.  Also, we will see that the gifts they brought financially sustained the family during the coming turbulent times. Thus, God allowed the Gentiles to assist in the mission of the Jewish savior!

Matthew 2:3-4 - When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

Why do you think Herod was trouble by this news?  Well, he had obtained his power through cruelty, wickedness and the death of those who opposed him.  He had his own wife as well as some of his sons put to death because he considered them a threat to his throne.  Naturally, when he heard that a long awaited King of the Jews had been born, he was jealous and suspicious, because he felt his own throne was in danger.  He, like the Jewish priests, was looking for an earthy king, not realizing that Jesus' first coming was to establish his spiritual kingdom.

Here is the really bizarre part – he asked the religious leaders when God was sending his son to earth, so that he could thwart the plans of God with a deliberate act of hostility.  He thought he could fight against God and be victorious.  How incredible!  Clearly his anger and hatred were interfering with his common sense!

Matthew 2:5-6 - They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means the least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel'.

The religious leaders answer Herod with a direct quote from the Old Testament, namely Micah 5:2, which clearly revealed the place of Jesus' birth, almost 700 years before he was born.

Matthew 2:7-8 - Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him."

Having discovered where the child was, Herod now wishes to know how long ago he was born.  Naturally he believes that the star/comet appeared at the birth of the new king.  Therefore knowing the exact date of the star/comet would give him a good estimate of the child's age.  He then deceitfully requests that the wise men send him word of the exact location of the child when they find him.  As we know, his true motivation is to not to worship the child, but to kill him.

Matthew 2:9-10 - After listening to the king, they went on their way.  And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

Eventually, the wise men find the Messiah.  This is exactly as we would expect; hundreds of years before this, King David tells us that God reveals himself to those who seek him. 

I Chronicles 28:9 - �If you seek him (God), he will be found of you�

The Lord himself proclaims this fact through the prophet Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 29:13 – And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.

Keep in mind that these verses are still true.  Seek God.  Seek his wisdom, his peace, his guidance, his provision, his will and his healing.  You will find him!

The unexpected part of this verse is that the wise men went to Bethlehem alone.  None of the Jewish priests or scribes cared enough about this event to accompany the wise men on their trip.  The wise men had traveled a very great distance to honor the Messiah, but the Jewish people couldn't be bothered to go to the next town to seek him out.  How sad that the Jews would have so little value for the gift of God!

What about you?  Are you seeking deeper levels of fellowship with Christ?  Or, having obtained salvation, have you stopped seeking him?  There are Christians in other countries that go to great lengths to find God and worship him, even risking great persecution.  You and I live in a place where we may freely and publicly seek him.  Are we doing so?

Matthew 2:11-12 – And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.  Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.  And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

So what did they see?  A little child from a poor family living in relative obscurity.  Perhaps his face and hands are dirty from playing.  Perhaps his hair is a little too long.  Maybe he has a tear in his robe.  That is a king who is a little bit harder to worship, isn't it?

Many of us would have hesitated to worship that small child.  Our pride would have never allowed us to bow down before one so young.  Perhaps his situation was not what we might have expected, and as a result, we would have hesitated to worship.

Yet, this sight in the natural realm did not stop the wise men from seeing or believing that Jesus was divinely appointed to be a king.  They did not consider what he was at that point, but what he would one day be.  Because they were certain that he would one day be different from how he appeared in the present, they are not ashamed to bow before a mere infant and render to him honor fit for a king in the prime of life.

What kind of honor are you showing our King?  In a way, we are in the same circumstance as the wise men – we have not yet seen our King in all his power, splendor and glory. We have hints of it� we have glimpses of it, but no one has seen God in all his glory and lived to tell of it.  If God would ever choose to reveal his glory to humans (and we lived), we would have no choice but to fall down on our faces and worship.  It would be an automatic response to his glory and power.  Indeed, scripture tells us that one day "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:11).

Until that happens, we have the privilege to serve and worship our King in faith, right now.  We should do so with our whole hearts and entire beings.  Search the scriptures.  Read about God's honor, his power, his majesty, his mercy and his love.  Recall the times he has moved mightily on your behalf.  Then, worship him for who he is, for one day you will see it with your own eyes!

The wise men considered Jesus an earthly king and they brought him gifts from the earth – gold, frankincense and myrrh.

As a spiritual son or daughter of Christ, the proper gift for you to bring him is a spiritual one - yourself!

Romans 12:1 – I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Matthew 2:13-15 – Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you for Herod is about to search for the child to destroy him."  And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod.  This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt I called my son."

Egypt is about 60 miles from Bethlehem.  It too, was a Roman province; Joseph could take his family there without any special paperwork or restriction.  The Greek language was spoken there, as it was in all of Rome.  There was a big population of Jews in that place; there were temples and synagogues.  This meant that Jesus could be raised Jewish, among his own countrymen, yet be beyond the reach and authority of Herod.

Side Note:  Joseph reacted quickly to the dream that God gave him.  There is a lesson there – When our direction is clear or has been made plain by God, compliance needs to be speedy.  Don't hesitate and don't wait – immediately do as God has commanded you!

Matthew 2:16-18 – Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.  Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more."

Eventually, Herod figures out that the wise men are not going to return to him.  His cruelty and anger boil over, and he decides to kill all the male children in that area that are 2-years-old and under, so he can be sure to eliminate the new King of the Jews.

At that point, Herod was fighting against God himself, and that could only end in his destruction.

Psalms 2:2- The kings of the earth set themselves�against the Lord and against his Anointed � He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.  Then he will speak to them�"I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill."

Jesus was indeed going to die, but not by the hand of Herod!  Jesus was delivered from death on this occasion, so that his ultimate purpose could be fulfilled; namely that he might die for the salvation of all.  These innocent martyrs will one day receive justice from the Lord, as will all who give their lives for Christ.

Matthew 2:19-21 – But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Rise take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead."  And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.

Again, we find God's leading and direction given to Joseph.  Again we find Joseph immediately taking action to leave Egypt and return to Israel.

Matthew 2:22-23 – But when he heart that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee.  And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Joseph was a good God-fearing, obedient man.  Yet, we notice that God did not give Joseph all of his instructions at once.  God first told Joseph to return to Israel.  Once Joseph had been obedient to this word, then God revealed the next step – to leave the area of Judea and settle in Galilee, specifically in the city of Nazareth.

God often works this way in our lives too.  He may prompt you to start a new ministry or a good work, then wait for your obedience before he reveals your next step.  This keeps us dependent on God and ensures that we do not veer off course.

So, let me offer you some encouragement:  God knows what you will need, even before you know that you need it!  He also has the answer already lined up for you!  God knew about the threat of Herod before Joseph did.  God sent the wise men with gifts which provided the money needed for them to take the journey to Egypt.  The next time you find yourself in need, remember this:  God has your provision already planned out.  Keep your eyes and ears open so that you find it.

Let me offer you some relief:  You don't have to understand the entire plan of God for your life all at once.  You don't have to worry about working it out for yourself.  If you will step out in faith and take the first step, as Joseph did, God will then show you the next step to take.  While God does expect you to use wisdom and good judgment, he will work out your life and ministry as you look to him for guidance.

Let me offer you some strength: God is never going to leave you wondering what to do.  He will speak to you through his word, through prophetic words delivered by other Christians, through the Holy Spirit, through dreams, even through angels, if necessary.  You don't have to wonder what God's will is.  Look to him and he will be found by you!

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Let's examine some background information about the gospel of Matthew:

Who - The author of this book is Matthew, the son of Alphaeus.  His surname (last name) was Levi.  He was a tax collector.

What – Matthew wrote one of the four gospels – a narrative of the 'good news' of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

When - We know that Matthew wrote his book before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, but there is disagreement as to the exact date.  The most probable timeline was 50-60 AD, but some favor a later date between 65-70 AD.

Where – Scholars are split as to the location where he wrote his book.  The opinion of the majority is that he wrote his gospel in Antioch of Syria, in the Greek language.  Others believe he wrote his gospel in Palestine, in Aramaic.

Why -  Matthew recorded selected events from the life and ministry of Jesus in order to confirm/prove to a Jewish audience that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.  He also shows how God's plan includes the Gentiles as well.  He emphasizes that the life of Jesus was not just another historical event, but the supreme, ultimate event of history, planned and prophesied by God centuries before it occurred.  Matthew shows how the life of Jesus fulfilled the words of ancient prophesy. 

Matthew 1:1-2 – The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.  Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers�

Matthew begins his book with a genealogy.  A really loooong genealogy that lasts for 16 verses and has more than 30 names in it.  Most of the names are people we do not know anything about.  If you were writing a book, would you start it with a long list of unknown dead people's names?

Probably not.  We would start a book with some amazing action scene or some astounding event that forever changes the characters of the book. 

Oddly enough, that is exactly what Matthew did! Consider this:

Was the birth of Jesus an astounding event that forever changed all of us?  Did his birth foreshadow significant events yet to come in the book?  Of course!

Was Matthew's genealogy attention grabbing?  In all fairness, it does seem unimportant and boring on first glance, but it isn't.  It establishes several important facts.

First of all, the genealogy places Jesus in a specific historical context.  Think about it this way – what is the first line in every fairytale?  Isn't it 'once upon a time there lived�'?  If the gospels did not include the genealogy, it would be just like saying 'once upon a time there lived a man named Jesus�'.  He would have no historical credibility.  People would write him off as a fairytale.  Matthew's genealogy places Jesus in time and space, proving that he was a real person who really lived.

Matthew clearly divides the genealogy into three separate sections.

Matthew 1:17 – So all the generations from Abraham to David were 14 generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon 14 generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ 14 generations.

The first section represents the rise of the Jewish nation to the monarchy, the second represents the failure of the monarchy and the third refers to the restoration of the kingdom under the Messiah.

Therefore, Jesus (the culmination of the genealogy) is the long awaited Messiah!  What began with Abraham was fulfilled in Jesus.  While this may not be an earth shattering fact to us, it was to the Jews.  If Matthew is correct, the Jews just rejected, tortured and murdered the Messiah they had been waiting thousands of years for!  Trust me, that conclusion would have grabbed the attention of every Jewish person back in that day!

Thirdly, the genealogy shows that God is no respecter of persons.  It includes Jewish men, Jewish women and even Gentiles.

It doesn't take long to discover that they are real people with very real spiritual failures. 

• David committed both adultery and murder. 
• Tamar and Bathsheba both had out of wedlock pregnancies.
• Rahab was a prostitute. 
• Manasseh desecrated the temple, filled Jerusalem with the blood of the innocent and worshiped false gods. 
• Judah had twin boys by his daughter-in-law. 
• Solomon allowed his wives to draw him into idol worship. 

Matthew shows us that God was willing to identify his Son with sinful humanity through the incarnation.

Finally, the genealogy proves that Jesus is the rightful heir to the throne of David.  Even though Joseph was not Jesus' biological father, he was his legal father here on earth.  Therefore, since Joseph was a descendant of David, Jesus had a legal right to the throne.

Starting with the genealogy, Matthew records selected events from Jesus' life and ministry in order to prove to the Jews that Jesus was indeed the long awaited Messiah.  He is going to show them God's plans for mankind in light of the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah.   Let's take a look at what Matthew has to say!

Matthew 1:18-19 – Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way.  When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.  And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

In order to understand what Matthew is telling us, we first need to understand some of the culture and customs of the Jews.  When a woman or maiden was 'betrothed' to a man there was a formal ceremony and the man typically gave the maiden a ring and/or other jewels. 

The betrothal period usually lasted a whole year.  During that year, the maiden would remain in her own home with her parents and family.  She did not see her future groom until he came to get her and take her to his own house! Can you imagine that?  Also, all communication between the two happened through a third-party, the 'friend of the bridegroom'. 

However, once a woman was betrothed, she was considered to be the man's legal wife, even though she still lived at home and the relationship was not consummated.

So, sometime during that year of betrothal, Joseph finds out that Mary is pregnant.  Because of the legality of the situation, he couldn't simply break off the engagement as we would do in our society.  He basically had three options.  He could go ahead and marry her, he could divorce her, or he could bring charges against her.  [Since Mary was legally bound to Joseph, any breach of that contract was considered adultery and could be punished according to law. Specifically, she could be stoned to death.  See Deuteronomy 22:22-23]. 

Matthew's account focuses on Joseph's point of view. (Mary's point of view is recorded in Luke).  Imagine for a moment the heartache and humiliation he experienced when this devastating news reaches him.  All the trust he placed in Mary, all the dreams he had of their life together have been dashed in an instant. 

In the midst of his anguish and sadness, Joseph must make a decision - what will he legally do with Mary?  I imagine that the decision was not an easy one.  I imagine that he spent a few sleepless nights considering the options.

The scripture gives us an insightful glance into the character of Joseph.  It says he was "a just man".  This tells us that he hated wickedness and loved justice.  That being the case, he would never choose to marry Mary; he believed she was a liar and an adulterer and he couldn't marry a person of that character.  At the same time, it seems that he was moved by kindness and compassion, because he decided against publicly humiliating her and seeking the death penalty.  Thus, he decides to quietly divorce her.

As a side note, Joseph is a good example of the principles of forgiveness that we discussed on our last few posts.  Notice that he did not allow his emotions to lead the way, but he looked to the truth/God's laws first.  He felt that he could not marry her because she was unrighteous, but neither did he seek death.  He chose to forgive her, and move on.

Matthew 1:20-21 - But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

As Joseph was considering the best way to carry out his plans, God spoke to him in a dream, changing his decision.  Dreams are a method of communication that God had employed extensively in the Old Testament, and he uses it many times during the critical infant years of Jesus.  God still uses dreams to speak to his people today; see Joel 2:28.

I believe that God wants to speak to all of us.  As we struggle with the different decisions we need to make in life, God wants to offer us council through his word, through the leading of the Holy Spirit and yes, through dreams.  If we seek God, we can be confident in the decisions we make, knowing that He guides our footsteps as we walk in this life.

In the dream, God reveals that Mary is innocent of sin, and he endorses the marriage.  What great news for Joseph!  He could now marry his bride and their relationship would never be tainted by mistrust or doubt.

Notice that the angel addresses Joseph as the son of David.  This greeting reminds Joseph that he is in the direct line of David, through whom the Messiah would come.  Joseph may have felt like he was just another Jewish man and a poor carpenter at that, but the truth is that his life was significant.  He was a child of David and his heritage made him important.

The same is true for YOU.  You may not consider yourself important or noteworthy, but you would be wrong!  Joseph was a child of David, but you are a child of the Most High God!  Your life is significant in every way.  God created you to live in a specific time period.  He gave you specific gifts and talents.  He designed a specific plan for your life.  You are significant and important in the kingdom of Heaven!  While pride has no place in the life of a Christian, you should be confident of who you are in Christ.  God has given you authority to be his representative here on earth.

The angel reveals to Joseph that the child of Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  This means that he was divine, yet human.  He was born in the flesh, but did not have a sinful or fleshly nature.  He is God, yet he can identify with humanity.  He is sinless, and therefore the ONLY BEING who can atone for sin.

The angel further reveals that the child's name will be Jesus (or in the Hebrew, Joshua), which means 'to save' or 'savior'.  This reveals the true purpose behind his birth – he is the long awaited Messiah, who will save mankind from sin and death!

Acts 4:11-12 – This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Jesus is also the ultimate fulfillment of a promise made to the Jewish nation.  Back in Genesis, God declared that through the Jews, all nations of the earth would be blessed.    This shows God's ultimate plan – salvation was not limited to only the Jews, but it would include the Gentiles as well.  Jesus would be the savior of all.

The virgin birth was an amazing event that had been predicted long, long ago by the ancient prophets:

Matthew 1:22-23 - all this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:  "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means God with us).

Here, Matthew is quoting from Isaiah 7:14.  When Jesus was born, it could truly be said that he was Immanuel - God incarnate was among mankind!

Matthew 1:24-25 - When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him:  he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son.  And he called his name Jesus.

And so, being fully convinced of the path he was to take, Joseph takes Mary as his wife without delay.  The marriage is legally finalized, though not yet consummated.  When the child is born, he is named Jesus.  He is the legal heir of Joseph; his true Father, God, will soon make him heir of all things.

Here in Matthew we find the perfect will of God occurring at the perfect timing of God for the prefect purposes of God.  This kind of perfection can happen in our lives as well, if we will allow God to direct our paths.  God cares about your life and its struggles just as much as he cared for Mary and Joseph.

So, let me give you some encouragement:  You are not a 'nobody'.  You are an important part of God's kingdom and his purposes.  Don't let the world convince you otherwise.

Let me give you some relief: You don't have to make all of life's decisions alone.  The Holy Spirit is present to assist you and guide you.  Seek him and he will be found by you!

Let me give you some strength:  Joseph (and Mary) went through some tough times, but God encouraged and strengthened them through those difficulties.  God will do the same for you!  Whatever you are walking through today, you will come out victorious in Christ!

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Luke 17:1

Last week, our post dealt with how to forgive and how to take authority over our emotions, bringing them into alignment with God's purposes. So, that takes care of past offences. But what about the future?

Going forward, how do we handle offences and conflicts?  Are we doomed to our prior cycles of getting offended, harboring a grudge and then becoming exhausted by it until we finally make it right?  Or, does God have something better in mind?

The answer is yes, he does!  This post will look at how God instructs us to handle offences/conflicts going forward. For many of us, that will be different from how we have handled them in the past.  It is not God's will for us to be trapped by offence; rather it is his will for us to handle the offences that come our way in a manner that brings glory to him and blessing to us. 

Luke 17:1 -Then said he unto the disciples, it is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

To be sure, offences are coming.  So what do you think – are offences a negative thing?  If you could make them disappear, would you?  I think most of us would eliminate them from life entirely, if we could.  Yet, God doesn't do that.  Why does he allow offences to come?

Before we get to that, let me make this significant point:  offences are a temptation for us to sin, and as such, God does not cause them. 

James 1:13-14 - When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

Offences do not come from God; they stem from our own evil desires.  However, God will use them as teaching and growing moments.

God has big plans for the offences/conflicts that come your way.

God uses the pressure of conflict/offence to help you grow and mature spiritually. God's highest purpose for you is not to make you comfortable, wealthy or happy in this life.  If you have put your faith in him, he as something far, far more incredible in mind for you – he is working to conform you to the image and likeness of Christ and offence is one of the tools God will use to accomplish his purpose for you.

If we are aware of that, if we are looking for it, we can quickly begin to manage offences/conflict instead of allowing it to managing us.  When conflict comes, take your eyes off yourself, and look to God.  Figure out what he is trying to change in you, and work with him, not against him!

Conflict/offence provides an opportunity to sin, but it also provides an opportunity to glorify God.  It gives us a chance to bring Him praise and honor by showing who He is, what He is like and what He is doing. We can glorify God in the midst of conflict by drawing attention to him - his undeserved love, mercy, forgiveness, strength and wisdom.  We can be an encouragement to our brothers and sisters, or a witness to the lost if we handle conflict correctly.

II Corinthians 6:19-20- (God)�has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us�

What an honor to be made Christ's ambassador; to represent him in the world!  The lost around us are in desperate need of the true savior, Jesus Christ.  Most likely, you will not get them to listen to a sermon. However, they can't help but pay attention when they see Christ reflected through you – through the way you think, the way you speak, the way you act, and the way you react to others, particularly when handling offences.  Actions speak louder than words. 

In the past, offences have been all about us� how we were wronged, how we suffered, how we were not treated fairly, etc.  All of our focus is directed toward me, me, me.  Here's a radical idea: Can we turn our thinking upside down? Rather than seeing ourselves as a victim in any given offence, let's begin to see ourselves as God's ambassador or God's steward in that offence.

Sometimes the steward manages good things like big harvests or profitable business deals or lavish parties.  But he also manages problems and difficulties like coyotes killing the cattle, or labor strikes, or 'we're out of wing sauce', or whatever the problem may be.

I dare say that if you are like me, there are areas of your life where you are the best steward on the planet.  You do certain things very well, every single time. They may not even be a challenge anymore.

But there are other areas that we are not really managing at all.  Those situations are managing us. For many, forgiveness/handling offence is one of those areas.  What do we need to learn about managing offences?  A good first step is to see if the offence is a door for you to serve and help others.

You can be offended and unforgiving in this situation, if you choose.  You can replay the offence in your mind, dwelling on how unfair it is to you.  You can retaliate or gossip about your neighbor, making a mountain out of the mole hill. Satan would love it if you handled your conflict this way.

Or, you can approach your neighbor and ask about the situation, face to face, neighbor to neighbor, in a nonjudgmental way.  You may be surprised by the situation your neighbor is experiencing.  Maybe a health problem is preventing him from raking the leaves.  Maybe he is emotionally distraught by a family tragedy and he needs a Christian to offer him hope and salvation. 

You see, God may give you an opportunity to carry your opponent's burdens whether spiritual, emotional or material. I understand that is contrary to the world's view of "look out for number one", but God's ways are not our ways.

What if you offer to help rake the leaves and that simple act of loving your neighbor opens the door to share the love of Christ? 

My point is this: God has plans for the offences in our lives. Let's start stewarding/managing those offences in a way that brings glory to God and blessing to us.

You should know that offences fall into one of two categories:

Material – this category involves property, money, rights and responsibilities. (Should we build a new church?  How much money does Lancelot owe me? Did Sally breach the contract?)

Personal – this category relates to what goes on inside or between persons. (You are trying to cheat me. I don't like the way you are criticizing me.  You are unreasonable and stubborn, you're treating me badly because you're jealous.)

It would be nice if these two were always clearly separated, but in many offences or conflicts, they will both be present.

Luke 12:13-15 - And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.

In this case, both types of offence or conflict are present.  The material conflict is how the family inheritance should be divided.  The personal conflict is the brother's greed and estrangement over the inheritance.

In our biblical example, each brother is being stubborn and greedy.  Until they forgive each other and reconcile, they won't be able to settle the estate.  If they fail to reconcile, they may end up in court which will probably permanently sever their relationship and cost them a bunch of the inheritance anyway.

So, step one is finding the point of personal offence.  The next step is to decide if the offence is a minor one that can be overlooked, or a major one that cannot.

Overlooking minor offences

Proverbs 19:11- A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offence.

Proverbs 12:16 - A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

It's Biblical to overlook or let go of a minor offence. How do we determine if it is minor?

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Is this really worth fighting for?
2. Is this sin bringing significant dishonor to God?
3. Is it damaging your relationship (does it happen repeatedly,as opposed to a one time/pushed-over-the-edge scenario)?
4. Is it resulting in significant harm to others?
5. Is the sin causing significant harm to the offender?

Based on these criteria, decide if you can overlook the offence or if you need to pursue resolution.

In our biblical example of the two brothers, is the personal offense a minor one?  No, it is not.  The brothers are both greedy and they are fighting over the family money.  Their relationship with each other is broken.  Is that bringing dishonor to God – Yes.  Is it damaging their relationship – yes.  Is their relationship as brothers worth fighting for – yes.  So, they should not let this offence go.  They should work to resolve it and once this offence is ironed out, they can proceed to divide the estate.

In our example of the neighbors, is the personal offence a minor one?  Yes, it is.  One neighbor is allowing his leaves to blow into another neighbor's lawn.  Is this an issue that is really worth fighting for – no.  Is this sin bringing significant dishonor to God – no.  Is it resulting in significant harm to others – no.   It is a minor offence.  The neighbor should let this go, and move on to seeing how he can use this as an opportunity to exemplify the love of Christ.  

If you decide to overlook the offence, do you suppose you can just put it behind you and that will be that? The answer is yes, especially after some practice.  But be aware that you also may find the enemy knocking at the door of your emotions trying to upset you.

And what do you do when Satan comes and tries to trick you into going back to old habits? The solution is pretty much the same thing that we looked at last week for letting go of old offences which was found in Philippians:

Philippians 4:2-3 - I entreat Euodias, and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.  Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women who have labored side by side with me in the gospel�

These two women are having some kind of offence/conflict which does not appear to be major.  Perhaps they are trying to overlook it, but Satan is hindering them.  What does Paul tell them to do?

Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

Tell the Lord that you want to overlook the office, then begin to praise God for the good in your life.  When you begin to praise God, those negative feelings disappear because they can't hang out with thanksgiving. 

Let's suppose that some dead leaves blow into your yard on Monday.  You overlook that and move on.  But by Tuesday morning, there are more.  And there are more on Thursday and Friday.  Each time, it gets harder to put the offence behind you.  You can gain victory by praising God for all the good in your life, like your home, your health, your job, etc.  Once you begin to praise God, the leaves will once again be reduced to the minor offence that they really are and you can put them aside.

So again, if it is a minor offence and you decide to let go, give it to God and then turn to praise.  Any resistance to forgiving will disappear because delving into prayer and praise puts you in God's presence.  Your anger and hurt will soon disappear, and the peace of God will descend on you.

That's how we overlook an offence.  However, there will be cases where you cannot overlook.  Sometimes an offence has to be addressed. If that is the case, how do we biblically handle that?

Pursuing resolution for offences that are not minor.

First of all, pursing resolution is clearly biblical.

Matthew 18:15-16 – If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.  But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

When pursing resolution, speak with your adversary first.  In other words, go directly to your brother.  Do not pass 'GO'.  Do not stop at "Gossip Corner" or "Revenge Ave" or "Mocking Lane".

Keep your mouth shut, unless you are speaking directly to the person involved in the matter.  Tell the person that you are offended by something they did.  Try to clear the air with them.  The best case scenario is that the two of you will resolve the situation on your own, just between you.

However, if they are unwilling to resolve the matter, take the next step and bring in an impartial Christian to help facilitate the healing process.  A church pastor or elder is a good choice. The general principle here is to involve as few people as possible for as long as possible.

What is the role of the mediator?  His primary role will be to help you and your opponent make the decisions needed to restore peace. They may simple facilitate communication, they may examine the facts themselves and gather additional information. They may give advice or offer biblically based solutions to the problem. They may encourage repentance and confession on both sides of the dispute.

If the situation is still not resolved, they become witnesses and should report the situation to the church, according to Matthew 18. That does not mean standing up on Sunday morning and airing all your grievances in the Sunday service.  It means telling the leadership of the church about the problem, so they can assist in promoting justice and peace.

Keep this in mind:  According to Matthew, the church's decision is intended to be binding on its members, whether they like it or not, so do all you can not to arrive at this point.

The issue of forgiveness is one that touches us all, and will continue to impact our lives until the day we are called home to be with Christ.  In the past, we may have responded to offences and conflict on an emotional basis, which often results in unforgiveness, gossip, bitterness, broken relationships and loss of peace and material possessions. It will destroy those closest to us and it can even render us unusable by God.

Let me give you some relief:  You no longer have to be burdened or bound by offenses.  Following the principles outlined in the bible, we can be set free from offences and live in peace.

Let me offer you some encouragement:  You are an over comer! You can manage your offences, instead of your offences and emotions managing you.  What was once a weakness in your life can be turned into a strength.

Let me give you some strength:  It is time to begin dealing with offence and conflict biblically.  In so doing, our conflicts, those things which used to destroy us, can actually become opportunities to minister to others and to show the world the love of Christ. They can also be used by God to make us mature and aid in the growth of fruit in our lives.  What an amazing turn around that will be!

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Colossians 3:12-14

Colossians 3:12-14 – Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.   And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

We determined last week that God commands us to forgive others, mainly for our own benefit.  We understand it with our minds, and yet, if we are honest, we will admit that we have trouble doing that.  Often times that is because there is a huge emotional response that goes along with being offended.  We can't forgive because we literally cannot let go or get past our emotions.

Some of you have been consumed by unforgiveness and bitterness for so long, you don't remember what life was like before that situation.  For some of you, the offence, the rejection or the betrayal you experienced is so deep and so painful, that you see no chance of ever letting it go.  You figure that you will have to carry it until eternity.  You may think your situation is hopeless.  You may think you have been permanently and irreparably scarred.

But let me give you some good news.  Let me offer you a sure word of hope and victory, from God our Savior:

Isaiah 53:3-5 – He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  Surely, he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Did you see it?  "He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows" and "by his wounds we are healed."  Where did we ever get the ridiculous idea that this healing is only for our physical bodies?  Does God only care about the physical body that you have for maybe 75 years or so?  Does he want you to have a healthy body so you can carry around the sorrow and pain of damaged emotions for your entire lifetime?  No, of course not!  His stripes provide healing for the body, the spirit, the mind and the emotions.  God's healing is for all parts of you.  The price for your emotional healing has already been paid!!  Your savior is waiting to set you free from the captivity of unforgiveness and emotional pain.  

Luke 4:18 - The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised�

Do you have a broken heart/broken emotions? Jesus came to heal you.  Are you being held captive in the prison of unforgiveness?  Jesus came to deliver you.  Are your emotions battered and bruised? Jesus has come to set you at liberty.

The question is not "can" we be healed and set free from the cycle of unforgiveness, but rather "how" does it happen? How do we appropriate or apply the healing that Jesus has provided for us? How do we break the cycle of unforgiveness and get rid of all that extra baggage we are carrying around?  How do we take control of our emotions and force them into line with God's will?

Let's begin by examining the way God has created us in a broad sense; this is stuff you probably already know.

God has created us with a mind, a will and emotions.  When used properly (according to the pattern set by God himself), this combination of factors will allow us to experience God's best for us.  Improper use of these factors, or using them in a pattern other than the one God set up, opens us up to the bondage and destruction of Satan.

Here is how it works:

• GOD = MIND...WILL...EMOTIONS
• SATAN = EMOTIONS...WILL...MIND

God's way is the mind/understanding first, the will second in support of the mind/truth, emotions fall into place behind the mind and will.

God wants us to make our decisions and base our actions on truth, not emotion.

Instantly, you know that you will not touch that money, but you will return it to its owner and you decide to walk it down to the police station and turn it in.

What just happened? In the blink of an eye, almost without conscious thought, your mind knew the truth (thou shalt not steal/love your neighbor).

You will was already committed to allowing the mind to dictate your actions. Therefore, you instantly decided to return the money; you never even considered taking it.

What's going on with your emotions as you continue walking down the street to the police station?  You are probably joyful about helping someone in a meaningful way.  You are happy to do the right thing.  Why?  Because a righteous man is joyful when he does the right thing. Doing the right thing results in peace and joy because you are exhibiting the character of his savior.

We just saw that God wants you to operate with the mind/truth first, your will second in support of the truth and the emotions last. 

Satan wants the opposite.  He wants you to react with your emotions, put your will in full support of your feelings and ignore the mind/truth. 

Instantly, you know you are going to keep the money.  You quickly put it in your pocket and head to the police station to turn in the wallet.  You are probably joyful.  Why?  Because you are busy thinking about all the plans you are making for your unexpected wind fall.

What just happened? In the blink of an eye, almost without conscious thought, your emotions took over.  Your emotions became so excited, they just bubbled over.  You think:  Wow! This is my lucky day! My ship has finally come in! This is just what I need�.

Your will was already committed to allowing your emotions to dictate your actions.  Therefore, you instantly decided to keep the money.

Catch this:  If your will is supporting your emotions, your mind has no choice but to justify your behavior (This guy won't miss that $1K.  After all, he owes me a reward for returning those credit cards.  Think how bad it would have been to cancel those. I deserve this money.  I need this money more than he does).

Do you see the difference? God wants us to put our will behind his truth, and when we do our emotions will fall into place.  Our emotions will rejoice when we do right.  Satan wants the opposite.  He wants us to put our will behind or emotions, and ignore the truth.  In so doing, we will destroy ourselves because our emotions were never designed to lead the way in our lives.  

Now, apply what we just learned to forgiveness:

Your cousin does you wrong.  You fold your arms over your chest and adamantly declare "I cannot forgive Lancelot! No way � it's not going to happen after the way he hurt me!"  In this instance, whose life pattern are you following?  [HINT: You are putting your will behind your emotions, ignoring the truth.]

That's right� you are following Satan.  And what do you reap? Based on what we learned in the last blog post, you get God's discipline as well as the destruction of your relationships.  You kill the work of the Holy Spirit in your life and you become unusable in God's kingdom.  Eventually you become angry and bitter. Even your physical health is affected.  In short, you reap bondage and destruction.  Sadly, this is the situation some of you find yourself in today.  However, there is hope, if you are willing to change.

First, do you see the truth?  Do you understand that in the past, you placed your will behind your emotions, instead of behind the truth?  Do you want to change?

Are you ready to turn this pattern around and receive/apply the healing that God has for you?

THREE STEPS FOR HEALING YOUR EMOTIONS/FORGIVING YOUR ADVERSARY:

Renew your mind; reject the lie that you cannot forgive, instead come to the realization that you CAN forgive.

Romans 12:1-2  - Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

As we begin to meditate on the truth presented in the scriptures, it will transform us. It will allow us to change the pattern we are living by. What truth should we be meditating on?

The truth as found in Luke is this:

Luke 1:37 -  For nothing is impossible with God.

Or if you prefer, as Jesus says to the disciples in Matthew 19:26  With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

The truth is that with God's help, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO FORGIVE. It is possible for you to let go of the offence and emotions you are holding onto, and receive freedom from anger and bitterness.  

Hebrews 13:20-21 -  May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back to life from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,  equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen.

God doesn't just tell you to forgive and then shut the door in your face and leave you to it.  Rather the Holy Spirit has promised to equip you with whatever you need to get the job done and he further promises to work with you/in you until the work is accomplished.  That's his job – to bring the will of God into fruition in your life.  He will see it done.

Philippians 1:6 - Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Not only that, he promises to walk with you through the experience.

Psalms 23:3-4  - He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.

Isaiah 43:1-2 - �Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you�

Here's the bottom line:  In step one, the renewing of your mind, you start bringing your life into proper order/pattern by meditating on the truth and changing the way you think.  Satan will tell you that you can't change but that is a lie. Search the scriptures, find those that deal with forgiveness, and begin to recite them out loud several times a day. Memorizing them would be great.  Recite them in your car, listen to them on your phone.  

The truth is, forgiveness IS possible, regardless of how long you have been carrying that burden around. God promises to equip you with everything you need for doing what is pleasing to him, including forgiving others. He promises to walk through the process with you. He also promises to continue to work in you until the work is complete. He won't give up on you!  Will you commit your way to him?  

Step Two: Put you will behind the truth; release the person from the debt you think they owe.

Colossians 10:13 - Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

That is pretty straightforward and simple to understand, but what does that look like practically?

Charles Stanley in his book, "The Gift of Forgiveness", makes this suggestion: Make a specific list of wrongs that you recognize.  For instance, Lancelot, cheated me out of 10% of the profits from our widget company. Lancelot lied to me.  Lancelot gossiped about me.  Lancelot ruined my reputation, etc.  Then, take your list into your prayer closet and bring it before the Lord. Humble yourself before him.  Confess that you want to forgive Lancelot specifically, for each and every offence.  Confess any part that you had in the offence. (You might as well admit it.  During this conflict, you probably responded in anger or retaliated for the wrong, or caused an escalation of the situation.  Just confess it.  God knows about it anyway.)  Confess all the anger, bitterness and hate that you are carrying around because of those offences.

It's important for you to speak out loud (more on that in a minute).  When you speak it out loud, in essence you are casting it away from you, and at the same time giving it to God.

Psalms 55:22 - Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

What if you don't "feel" like forgiving Lancelot, and what if you don't "feel" delivered at the end of your prayer?

You may not feel like forgiving him at that moment, but you are planting a spiritual seed.  Joyce Meyer, in her book "Do Yourself a Favor – Forgive", instructs us to forgive with clenched teeth if we need to!  

When you do that, when you humble yourself before God and ask him to help you walk the path of righteousness and forgive, you are putting your emotions where they belong – in back of your will.  At first, they won't like it.  They don't want to give up power.  But eventually they will fall into place.  If you feel like you need to cast the offences to God a second time, go ahead. Remember: as you forgive and release your emotions to God, you must ask the Holy Spirit to give you the capacity to truly do it from your heart.  You cannot get through this by sheer willpower, but you can be victorious through the Holy Spirit.   

Zechariah 4:6 -  This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might, nor by power but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty.

What was true for Zerubbabel is true for us.  In order to reverse the pattern in your life, you must work with the Holy Spirit to forgive.  Corinthians 10:13 says to "forgive as the Lord forgave you".  If you are having trouble "feeling" like forgiving, remember some of the things you were forgiven for�

How long does the process take? Well, it will be different for each one of us, and different depending on how grievous the offence was.  Maybe the chains will fall off instantaneously, and you will be freed immediately. Other times, it will be a process over time.

How will you know when you have truly forgiven? Several things will occur when the forgiveness process is complete. 

1. You will feel a release of your burden. Once you finally let go of that all consuming unforgiving attitude, God's peace and joy can return to you.
2. Negative feelings about the other person will disappear.  You will not feel that instant anger or fear or bitterness you used to experience when you met them at the gas station or heard their name.
3. You will find it easier to accept people who have hurt you without feeling the need to change them.  You will be willing to take them as they are, faults and all.
4. Concern for the spiritual and physical needs of these people will outweigh your concerns about what they did to you. When you care about them and their needs as opposed to you and your feelings, you have truly forgiven.

Don't be surprised if Satan comes by at some random time and tries to bring that offence back to the forefront of your mind.  He will try his best to ignite those old emotions again.  When he does, reject it.  Cast it out from your mind.  Do not dwell on it.  Turn it back to God. 

II Corinthians 10:5 – We demolish arguments and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

When those thoughts try to come back, take them captive, then push them out of your mind. Tell Satan he is not going to bind you again.  Remind yourself that you have already handled that situation, and it is done.  Then, focus your mind on appropriate things, like praise and worship or other good things.

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

When you are thinking of those things, evil thoughts will flee because they can't stay in that environment.

When you truly feel that you have forgiven and you have been delivered from your bondage, you are ready for step three.

Step three: Reconciliation.

Matthew 5:23-24 - Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Unforgivness is a wall that hinders the relationship between us and someone else.  Many times when that wall has disappeared through forgiveness, we can become reconciled to our estranged friends and family.  Sometimes all it takes is a visit for a face to face talk.  Find your estranged cousin.  Say to him, 'Lancelot, I know we have had issues in our past, but I want to share something with you.  I forgive you for XYZ, and I apologize to you, for any part I had in our estrangement.  Can we be friends going forward?'  Sometimes it's that simple.

Other times, reconciliation is neither possible nor appropriate.  For example, when the actual physical distance between you is too great (perhaps Lancelot move to Italy), or the other person is dead, reconciliation is impossible.  Also, there are situations where the other person is hostile and will probably not receive what you are saying (like divorce.  You can forgive, but you can't control what your ex chooses to do).  There may be other situations when reconciliation is inappropriate, as in some cases of abuse.  

Let's talk about verbally speaking things out loud for a moment.  In step one (renewing your mind), step two (confession) and step three (reconciliation) we mentioned speaking the word out loud and confessing things out loud.  Why would we need to do that?   There is something about your verbal confession that makes a difference.

Mark 11:23 -  Truly, I [Jesus] say to you, whoever says to this mountain, "Be taken up and thrown into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

Is it fair to say that the burden of destructive emotions and unforgiveness that you are carrying around are like a mountain in your life?  Jesus says that part of casting that away from you and into the sea, is to speak out loud to it.

If that seems weird to you, then you must think Jesus is weird, because he did the same thing.

Mark 11:12-14, 20 - The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree "May no one ever eat fruit from you again". And his disciples heard him say it.  In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.

Spoken words can curse things, but they can also restore life – case in point: Lazarus.

John 11:43-44  - When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice "Lazarus, come out!".  The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Proverbs 18:20 - From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.

Do you want to eat and be satisfied with forgiveness and reconciliation and healed emotions? Do you want the word of the Lord to renew your life? Then speak out the words.

Joel Osteen, in his book "I Declare", says this: "�the moment you speak to your mountains, something happens. In the unseen realm the forces of heaven go to work. God moves, sending healing, sending breakthrough, sending victory. You may not see what God has done for some time. That mountain may look just as big and permanent and strong as it was before, but � one day, all of a sudden, you will see that the mountain has been removed".

So take a deep breath and speak out loud!

Now, this process brings up a further question.  How do I treat the people I have forgiven?  First off, we need to have wisdom in our future dealings. Just because we have forgiven someone, does NOT mean that we have to trust them unconditionally.

If I forgive Lancelot today and a month from now he comes and asks to partner with me on a new widget company, there better be giant red warning flags waving in my face, and I better pay attention.

Secondly, when you are in a situation where you have been wronged or offended, it is important to remember that forgiveness is for our benefit. The other person's behavior may NEVER change. It is up to God, not us, to change them. Our part is to forgive and trust in God.

So, we need to accept others as they are; recognize that they are essentially tools in our lives God is using to aid us in growth. 

 Joseph is a prime example.  His brothers had certainly wronged him.  He had the opportunity to be angry and bitter, but he did not fall into that trap. Later, when he was reconciled to his brothers, he did not try to change them.  Instead, he loved and accepted them as they were and acknowledged that God was using them to accomplish his purposes in Joseph's life.

Genesis 50: 20- You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

God is not the author or cause of sin or offence.  He does not command or even tempt someone to sin against someone else. Those are the tricks of Satan.  What God will do is use that circumstance to bring you closer to him, to develop your character, and to fulfill his ultimate plan for your life.  God will use the people you have forgiven to shape you into his image.  Satan has plans to destroy you, but God will turn that plan around and use it to bless you.

So, let me give you some encouragement:  Forgiveness is a process that can be painful and at times seem unending.  But whatever our pain, whatever our situation, we cannot afford to hold onto an unforgiving spirit for even on more minute.  Right now, we must begin to renew our minds with the truth of God, we must set our will to follow God's truth and we must force our emotions to be transformed by the Holy Spirit.  It may be difficult, but it will be worth it.

Let me give you some relief from that burden you are carrying around:  When we set ourselves to truly forgive as the Lord forgave us, we will experience complete healing/restoration of our emotions.

Let me offer you some strength:  You can break the cycle of unforgiveness in your life, if you partner with God to get it done.  Start the process today and see where God will take you.  Remember, God specializes in bringing the dead back to life and restoring what has been lost!  

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Luke 17:1-4

Luke 17:1-4 -  Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.  It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.  So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.  If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says 'I repent,' forgive him."

I want to acknowledge that forgiveness is a very emotional issue.  Just the mention of it will send some of us into fits of rage/anger, some will experience great sadness or tears, some feel fear or frustration and many will be tempted to run away or avoid this topic for any number of reasons.

Some of you might cross your arms and say, "Sure I'll forgive her�When Gehenna freezes over."  Or, "How dare you tell me to forgive? You have NO IDEA what heinous and evil offences someone else has perpetrated against me or my loved one."

I'm going to answer this:  "You're right� I don't.  If I did it would probably make me just as angry as you are.  It would probably make me sick to my stomach.  

I assure you, your heavenly father, your savior, your redeemer, your shelter, your rock, your king, is not oblivious to the emotional, financial or physical damage that has been done to you.  In fact, right now, he is waiting for you to turn to him. He desires to heal you, to restore you and to set you free.  

Hebrews 4:15-16 -  For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need.

My next post, 'Forgiveness Part II' will be dealing with all the emotions that go with forgiveness.  We will find out how to rule our emotions instead of them ruling us.  We will see that God has healing for our emotions.

In the meantime, let's begin to draw near to his throne.  Let's receive the grace and mercy we need to guide us through the sometimes difficult mandate of forgiving others.  

 This week, as hard as it may be, I want you to read this post with your intellect, not your emotions.

Let's start with this question:  Is it permissible for me as a Christian not to forgive?  Is that an option? Is there really a choice to forgive or not?

Matthew 6:14-15 -  For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.   

If we take Matthew 6:14-15 by itself, it may appear that there is no option. On the surface, it would seem that unforgiveness would send you to hell, but that is not the case.

Correct interpretation of scripture requires that all scriptures be interpreted in the context of the Bible as a whole. So let's look at forgiveness/salvation scriptures in general.

Mark 16:15-16 -  And he said unto them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Acts 16:30-31 – [The Phillipian jailer] brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?   And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

So we can see from these three scriptures (and others) that although there are many good reasons for you to forgive, your salvation is not dependent on forgiving others.

 Salvation comes by acknowledging/believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that his blood cleanses us from all sin. Notice the verses below, which remind us that God saved us by his great mercy and the power of Jesus, not by any work which we have done.

2 Timothy 1:8-9  - Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord� who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

Titus 3:4-6 - But after the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  whom He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior�

Think of it this way - If you had to forgive every single person who ever wronged you, or if you had to let go of every single grudge you ever held in order to be saved, then your salvation would in part be determined by your own works.  And that is not possible, is it?

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace have you been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory.

You may find this shocking, but unforgiveness is not an unpardonable sin that will cast you into hell or cause you to forfeit your salvation. Rather, unforgiveness falls under the category of any other sin we commit, such as adultery, theft, gossip, envy, etc. Like any other sin, it needs to be confessed, dealt with and overcome.

So, you can harbor unforgiveness in your heart and still be saved.  There really is a choice to forgive or not.  BUT (notice the capital letters.  It's a BIG but)� Just as with any other sin, there will be consequences. There will be a price to pay.  What will unforgiveness cost me? What can I expect if I choose not to forgive?

I want to make you aware of five consequences of unforgiveness:

Matthew 18:21-22 - Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?  Jesus said unto him, I say not unto you, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Here's the deal: Jesus commands us to forgive. If we don't, we are disobedient. Disobedience is sin.  Sin is not an action against an impersonal set of rules; it is rebellion against God's personal desires and requirements. Because God loves you, disobedience will always bring correction.

Hebrews 12:5-8 - And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."  Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?  If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

You consider yourself a child of God, right?  Then at some point you can expect to be disciplined if you do not forgive.  That is not to say that God is up in heaven with a whip giving you 10 seconds to forgive.  The path to forgiveness is sometimes very short and uneventful, but at other times it is a twisting and crooked road that takes a long time to navigate. 

Revelation 3:19 -  Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

Do you want to dwell under the rod of God's correction? Do you enjoy hardship? Do you want to be permanently grounded? That is where you will live, if you choose not to forgive.

Alternatively, you can choose to walk in God's ways.  You can choose forgive and live under God's blessing.  

Psalms 128:1-2 - Blessed are all who fear the Lord; who walk in his ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.

Don't suffer because you won't forgive.  It isn't worth it.  Choose to actively seek and participate in forgiving others.  God will walk with you and bless you for it.

Matthew 5:25-26  - Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be put in prison.  Truly I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

Instead of forgiving one another and trying to work it out, they choose to allow prison to severe their relationship. But here's the thing� not all prisons are brick and mortar.

Unforgiveness or unresolved conflict can lead to many types of prisons, and can exact penalties you never imagined in your worst nightmares.

Think about the last time someone offended you for any reason. It's like a wall between you and them, isn't it?  It damages the relationship.  If you are determined not to forgive, you will go to any lengths not to ask him/her for help. You would rather die than do one nice thing for them. You don't want to be generous or share with them. You will do anything possible to avoid that person; possibly you will go out of your way to cause them grief. You'll bad mouth them. You'll stab them in the back. If we are honest, we cannot deny that an unforgiven offence hinders or even kills our relationship with the one we hold a grudge against.

That is no way to live!  Don't let your relationships with friends and family be damaged or severed because of unforgiveness. 

Think about that wall of unforgiveness. What is that wall made of? The number one building block is anger.  If you have been wronged by another person, or even think you have been wronged by them, 99% of the time, you are angry.  It's not the only building block in the wall. Anger is never a lone wolf.  It always hangs out in packs with its friends like gossip, deceit, revenge, resentment, envy, rage, hate, hypocrisy, bitterness, even murder.

Remind yourself of the fruit of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:25 - If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.

Think back to the last time you were wronged by another person. Did you feel like loving that person? Did you have an overwhelming desire to show them kindness or goodness? How was your self-control that day, especially your tongue? Were you experiencing joy and peace? [I doubt it!] 

The truth (which will set you free) is this: unforgiveness prevents you from consistently walking in the Spirit.  Therefore, the only choice open to you is to walk according to the flesh.

Galatians 5:16-17  - So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

Again, the choice is yours.  You can choose to forgive and walk in the Spirit, or you can choose not to forgive and walk according to the flesh. You can do one or the other, but not both.  If you choose the flesh, be aware that:

Galatians 6:7-8  - Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption�.

Corruption is a departure from what is pure or correct.  It is synonymous with depravity, decay, rot, spoilage.

Does a rotten, depraved, fruitless, frustrating life sound good to you?  Do you want to infect not only your relationships but your own self with decay, depravity and evil?  No problem. Walk according to the flesh. Walk in unforgiveness; it will take you there.

Or, do you desire satisfaction and fruitfulness and fulfillment in all of your life?  If so, it's best to follow Paul's advice in Ephesians:

Ephesians 4:31-32 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.

Here's the kicker:  If you are harboring unforgiveness, it will eat you up on the inside, and will eventually spill out and touch your loved ones. The people you love the most will suffer right along with yourself and your perceived enemy.  Your spouse, your kids, your siblings, your boss, your coworkers, your church family, will all suffer to some degree from the unforgiveness you are harboring towards another.  You can't stop it. You can't control it.

Luke 6:45  - The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

Charles Stanley in his book "The gift of forgiveness" says this: "The destructive nature of an unforgiving Spirit is such that it is not limited to one relationship. Resentment and other negative feelings spill over into other relationships. Unfortunately, people are rarely aware when hostility from one relationship affects their ability to get along with others. Eventually� they hurt people they love the most."

You may not want to hurt those you love, but that is one of the consequences of unforgiveness.  What will you choose to do?

This should be obvious, based on what we already examined. If you are walking according to the flesh, by default you are not walking with the Spirit. You are out of intimate fellowship with God. You are putting a wall between you and God. You are blocked from his blessing and he is blocked from using you to your fullest extent in his kingdom.

Remember the parable of the sower? Some seed falls on the wayside, some on the rocky soil, some among the thorns, some on good soil. 

Mark 4:7 - And other fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

Jesus interprets the parable this way:

Mark 4:18-19 - Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word;  but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

We most often consider the desire for other things to mean material possessions, but that is not its only interpretation.

Your desire to hold on to unforgiveness will choke the word in your life, rendering you unfruitful in the kingdom of Christ.  You can deny it all you want, but God himself says it is so.  I don't care how busy or involved you are in the church. If you are walking the road of unforgiveness, at best you are spinning your wheels. At worst, you are creating strife and division in the church.   

How can we convincingly talk to others about the forgiveness of God when we refuse to forgive those who have wronged us? We can't!

Joyce Meyer in her book "Do yourself a favor – Forgive" concludes this:  Unforgiveness "renders you unusable by God."

Is that a place you want to be? Unusable by God?  Then hold onto unforgiveness.

Or would you prefer to be used of God?

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Want to do those good works?  They are on the path or forgiveness.

Consider the words of Christ:

Matthew 5:23-24 -  Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.  First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

• What are gifts? In essence, they are a form of fellowship. 
• Do we give gifts to strangers? No, we give them to friends and family. 
• In what context?  Let's get together for your birthday, or Christmas, or a graduation party. 
• What happens when we get together? We visit and communicate and find out what is going on with each other.  We laugh and eat and make new memories. 
• We give gifts to each other. In short, we fellowship.  

Gifts are also a form of fellowship in our relationship with God (money, worship, praise, time spent in his presence). God desires our fellowship more than we realize. He died in order to attain it.  It is precious to him and important to him.  In fact, it's the culmination of this age.

Revelation 21:2-4  - I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Fellowship with man is one of God's ultimate plans. It was his plan in the garden of Eden. It's his plan at the end of this present age.  And yet, as much as God wants and desires fellowship with us, what did he say back in Matthew 5?  God says: I choose to defer fellowship with you until you are in right standing with other people.  Then and only then, can we have intimacy with him and experience his manifest presence.

When you have been offended or wronged, it hurts you or makes you angry.  God does not always wave his hand and immediately change your painful circumstances. But what he does always do, is sustain us through them. Sometimes you still have to pass through the water or fire, but God promises to be with us.  

Job lost all he had� children, livestock, money, home, health, all of it.  Then his wife encourages him to curse God and die, and his friends accuse him of sin.  But as we know, Job was innocent. If anybody had an opportunity to be offended, it was him. He had an opportunity to be mad at God, mad at his wife and made at his friends. But at the end of Job's trials, he makes a very interesting statement about God.

Job 42:5 - My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.

In other words, before this trial, before these offences and hurts slapped me in the face, I knew about God.  But now that I have walked through this experience, now I truly know you in a more personal intimate kind of way. You will experience the same intimacy with God if you choose to walk the path of forgiveness.

Based on the facts presented here today (not on emotion but on fact), are you ready to choose to forgive those who have wronged you?

Let me give you some encouragement:  All things are possible with God.  Eventually, with his help, you will be able to forgive and move on in life.  It may be a long road, but God is with you every step of the way.  Who knows more about forgiveness than he does? 

Let me give you some relief: Forgiveness is often a process. It takes time to release the feelings of anger, hurt and betrayal you may be feeling.  That's okay.  Lean on God.  Confess to him that you desire or choose to forgive, and the Holy Spirit will guide you.

Let me give you some strength:  Despite what others have done to you, God has a perfect plan for you.  It is his desire to use forgiveness to set you free. He wants you to have life and have it more abundantly. He wants to give you peace that passes all understanding. His yoke is easy and his burden is light.  Healing, blessing, reward and abundant life are waiting for you on the road of forgiveness.

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Lesson #1

Ephesians 5:1-2 - Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

These first two verses of chapter 5 should have been at the tail end of chapter 4.  In 4:32 the apostle ends by admonishing the Ephesians to "be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you". 

He then goes on in 5:1-2 to say therefore or because God has been so exceedingly good and merciful in pardoning your sin, you should imitate him and forgive others showing kindness and love at all times.  Christ is to be our example and we are to imitate him, just as any small child will imitate what she sees her earthly father doing. 

The word 'sacrifice' implies the shedding of blood.  The life of every living creature is in its blood.  By spilling the blood of the animal during sacrifice, the sinner recognized and acknowledged that he was the one who deserved to die, but a substitution was being made on his behalf.

An offering is simply a gift given to God and the implication is that the gift is bloodless.

Here in Ephesians, Jesus is described as both.  His life was an offering to God because he was in perfect obedience, saying and doing only what the Father directed. He offered his own will and his own desires as an offering to the heavenly father.  As you are already aware, his life was a bloody sacrifice as he died on the cross. 

Jesus' offering and sacrifice were a sweet smelling savor to God.  This phrase is found in the Old Testament and refers to a smell of satisfaction; a gift well pleasing to God not only because of what was given, but also because of the attitude or spirit in which it was offered.

I like that last bit� the offering is pleasing to God because of the attitude or spirit in which it was offered.  In second Corinthians Paul says that God loves a cheerful giver.  If you give something grudgingly, it taints or ruins the gift.  Have you ever given a tainted gift?

What kind of sacrifices have you made to God recently?  Have you considered surrendering your will and your desires to him?

Ephesians 5:3-4 - But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.  Let there be no filthiness, nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Have you ever been driving down the road in your car, just enjoying the day, listening to the radio when all of a sudden a horrible smell hits you?  Then you try to decide what they smell is; maybe farm animal excrement or a skunk or a dead deer. You might even check to see if it is the one of the passengers in your car!  You keep driving hoping the awful fumes will soon dissipate!    

(Sexual impurity and greed seem like two entirely different things but in reality they are not.  Both vices exhibit dissatisfaction for what God says is proper and an unnatural craving for more than what you should have).

Verse four is a warning against unseemly talk.  The Bible has an awful lot to say about our speech.  We could do a whole study on it, but we won't.  James sums it up nicely when he says in 3:10, "From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.  My brothers, these things ought not to be so".  This is the same point Paul is making.  As saints of God, we are to avoid any manner of speech that is not encouraging, edifying or thankful. 

Ephesians 5:5-6 - For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure or who is covetous (that is an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

In the next few verses the apostle gives us reason and motivation to choose what is holy and reject that which is evil. 

He begins in verse five by warning that idolaters of any kind have no inheritance in the kingdom of God.  An idol is anything that we put in the place of God. In our generation, it could be money, our kids, TV, our job, sports, electronics, the pursuit of a hobby, etc.  Since idolatry can keep us from entering heaven, we must anxiously examine our own lives and make sure we are free of the sin of idolatry.

Others will tell you that idolatry is harmless and God will overlook it. Don't fall into that trap!  God's mercy will allow the sinner multiple opportunities for repentance.  Do not mistake His delay of judgment as an approval of sin, for in due course his wrath will come upon those who are disobedient.  If you find that you have an idol in your life, repent right away.  Then begin to take steps to get rid of it without delay!

Ephesians 5:7-10 - Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

At one time, the Ephesian believers were slaves to sin.  They were ignorant of the ways of God and practiced the abominations that are being discussed here.  But, now that they have been enlightened [redeemed] by Christ and been made aware of the evil of idolatry, evil speaking, etc, they are expected to forsake these practices and live [walk] as true children of God. 

Those who are redeemed have the Holy Spirit living in them.  The working of the Holy Spirit produces spiritual fruit in the life of the believer.  This fruit is listed in Galatians:

Galatians 5:22-23 -  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control: against such there is no law.

Every believer, who lives by the gospel and has the indwelling Holy Spirit, should be well able to please the Lord.  This includes you and I.  Each of us should be able to examine ourselves and see if we have the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.  We should pray for him to reveal to us areas in which we are prone to idolatry.  The Holy Spirit is our teacher, our comforter and our guide in this life.  Let's willingly partner with him.  

Ephesians 5:11-12 -  Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.  For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 

The Ephesians were greatly involved in the practices of magic and sorcery which included secret rites and incantations.  The initiates of these rites were obliged to keep the group's secrets, on pain of death (see Acts 19:17-19).  This is probably what Paul is referring to when he speaks of shameful things they do in secret.  Obviously, these works of darkness are unfruitful because they are devoid of any true wisdom or power.  They do not draw men closer to God, but drive them further away.  Paul implies that by concealing or ignoring these practices, we too are sinning. He maintains that it is the duty of the true Christian to expose or testify against these practices and stand for the truth of the gospel. 

How do you feel about that?  Do you think you are sinning if you say nothing in the face of such evil as abortion, gay marriage, and other sins of our society?   

Ephesians 5:13-14 -  But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.  Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you".

The overall meaning of these verses is that when you shed the light of truth [expose or testify against] on the works of darkness, their true nature is demonstrated or made known.  This is what the gospel does – expose sin for what it really is. 

A spiritual sleeper is someone who allows sin to live in the dark places of their lives.  They do not expose those sins to the light of the gospel so that they can be dealt with. 

How do you know if you are a spiritual 'sleeper'? 

• If you engage in things you know to be sin (sexual sins, unforgiveness, fraud, drunkenness, anger, etc) without your conscience bothering you, you are asleep.
• If you never feel any conflict with temptation, you are asleep.
• If you are too busy to pray, you are asleep. 
• If you never feel convicted by reading the word of God, you are asleep.
• If you have no compassion for others, you are asleep.
• If you never hear God speaking to you, you are asleep.
• If your life looks exactly like the life of unbelievers, you are asleep.

If you find yourself in any of these situations, WAKE UP!  Repent and call upon God to enlighten you.  He specializes in bringing the dead to life, and he will restore you spiritually.

 

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Chapter 4, Lesson 1

Ephesians 4:1-3  - I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,

In the first three chapters of this letter, Paul shared numerous high and lofty truths with the Ephesian church concerning their admission into the body of Christ and the spiritual blessings that God has given them. The remaining three chapters consist of practical applications of these truths.

First of all, they are to live their daily lives (walk) in a manner that reflects the grace of God. They are also to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  While that sounds simple, I doubt it was.  Remember, the Ephesian church was composed of both Gentiles and converted Jews. Based on the history between the two groups, we might expect frequent differences that were more likely to produce argument and division rather than peace and harmony.

Paul wants to stop that from happening, so he admonishes them to "eagerly" work for peace and unity.  The Greek word for 'eager' means intense, diligent or industrious.  The clear indication is that this peace and unity will not happen naturally or magically.  They are going to have to work at it.  It is going to take some effort on their part. So it is for the church of today.  We should allow the Holy Spirit to direct the way we think, speak and act towards our fellow believers.  We would do well to focus on those points on which we agree, not so much on our points of difference.

The bond of peace is an outward manifestation that is visible to the lost world around us.  Why would the world want to be part of an organization that has infighting and quarreling?  They have enough of that already! It is peace and love that will show them we are different.       

 So, practically speaking, how is the church to keep unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace?

Paul says it begins with humility or lowliness, which is the opposite of pride and arrogance.  It means to have a modest estimation of our own worth; it means we are willing to waive our rights and take a place or station that might be lower than what we are due.  Jesus gives us an excellent example of humility in the book of John.

John 13:3-5 - Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper.  He laid aside his outer garments and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.  Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet�

If we are willing to keep an attitude of humility, it will go a long way to creating a bond of peace in the church.  

Gentleness or meekness is also needed in forming the unity of Spirit and bond of peace.  My favorite definition of meekness is "power under control".  It relates to the manner in which we respond when someone else injures or insults or attacks us.  We are to bear that injury patiently, without retaliating or seeking revenge.  Best example?  Jesus on the cross.  He had the power to obliterate those who were crucifying and humiliating him, yet he had perfect control of that power and he did not retaliate.     

Lastly, Paul says we are going to need longsuffering (with patience).  It is defined as 'bearing injuries or provocation for a long time; patient endurance'.  Example?  You guessed it – God.  God is longsuffering towards sinners.  He patiently waits until we acknowledge him and accept salvation.

2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Obviously, we cannot control the actions of others (Bummer! That would really come in handy sometimes).  The Christian traits of humility, meekness and long suffering do not mean that we will all become like identical robots with the same sentiments, the same opinions and the same decisions.  Rather, it means that we should strive to interact with others without giving offence or taking offence.  We should avoid contention when we don't get our way.  If we can do this, our different personalities and intellects will bond us together in peace. The world needs to see that peace and unity in the church.

Ephesians 4:4-6  - There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is overall and through all and in all.

I have been accused of beating a dead horse on more than one occasion, but obviously, I am not the only one!  Here Paul stresses the need for unity by pointing out that the church is one body, with one head (Jesus).  We are all quickened by one and the same Holy Spirit.  All of us are called to one hope, which is eternal life in heaven.  We have one faith which is the gospel message.  We have one baptism, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  We have one Father who has ultimate dominion over all things.  In light of this, we clearly need to conduct ourselves in unity.  Given this list, there should be more to unite us than to divide us.

Ephesians 4:7 - But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 

No one person has it all, therefore, the members of the church must pool their gifts together so that everyone can have what is sufficient for maintaining their place in the body.  For example, we need worship leaders, but not everyone can lead worship or play an instrument or sing.  We need pastors, but not everyone is called to pastor.  We need teachers, administrators, sound technicians, carpenters and electricians, grass cutters, janitors, ushers, etc.  Notice that regardless of how big or how small a person's gift may be, it is still a gift.  We did not manufacture it on our own, it was gifted to us by God.  In God's infinite wisdom, he made us dependent upon each other, which promotes unity, strength and harmony in the church.

Ephesians 4:8-10 - Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men".  (In saying, "he ascended", what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?  He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens that he might fill all things).

In verse 8, Paul is referencing Psalms 68:18.  He is not actually quoting it.  The 68^th Psalm is considered a Psalm of triumph, written by David to celebrate the time when the ark was brought up to Jerusalem.  It also has Messianic overtones which we are not going to examine at length in this study.  For our purposes we only need to know that the bringing of the ark up to Jerusalem was a picture or shadow of the triumph of Christ's victory over Satan in Jerusalem.  

They would chain or bind the most prominent captives from the battle and force them to walk behind the victor's chariot in shame.  Everyone would see and mock the captives.  At the same time, the commander would throw spoils/money/coins out into the crowd of people who came to celebrate his victorious return. 

Colossians 2:14-15 – [Jesus cancelling] the record of the debt that stood against us with its legal demands.  This he set aside, mailing it to the cross.  He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him [the cross].

So, what we see in verse 8-10 is Paul comparing Jesus to Psalm 18 and the victorious commander.  Jesus descended first to earth, then to hell, defeated Satan, took the keys of death, hell and the grave, then rose victorious.  He paraded Satan around as a defeated foe and gave gifts to the church. This ties in with the subject in Ephesians, which is the victorious Christ giving gifts to his people the church.  In fact, the victorious Jesus is the fountain of all blessings to the church.  He dispenses his blessings to whom he wills, in the measure he wills, to the different members of his body, both Jews and Gentiles.  The greatest gift of all, obviously, is the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:11-13  - And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.    

Having established that Jesus has given gifts to the church and that the church must function in unity to be fully equipped, Paul goes on to discuss specific offices in the church.   It seems odd that Paul would discuss offices of the church instead of gifts, but the obvious answer is that when God calls you to an office, he equips you with the gifts necessary to fulfill that office.  If you are a true pastor, then God has given you the gifts and abilities necessary for that office.  The same is true of all the offices. 

Scholars agree that the powers exercised by the leaders of the early church were not as well defined and systematically arranged as they are in today's church.  Their duties varied depending on the circumstances and the people who exercised them.  Therefore, rather than dissecting the differences between the offices listed, we are going to focus on the ultimate purpose of these offices in the body of Christ.

We want to begin by noting that HE gave� in other words, the office of true Christian leadership in ministry is based on divine authority.

We further note that the appointment of apostles, pastors, etc, is given for specific purposes.

The first of these purposes is "to equip the saints for the work of ministry" (your translation may say 'for perfecting of the saints').  The word for equip or perfect means to restore to its place/putting in order; making complete or completing what is unfinished.  The meaning is that apostles, pastors, etc have been ordained by Christ to bring individual members of the body to maturity, thus making the whole church complete or perfect.  Maturity includes instruction, purification, holiness, etc.  

The second purpose of church leadership is "for building up the body of Christ" (your translation may say '(for the edifying of the body of Christ).  This phrase refers to the growth or maturity of the church body as a whole, in contrast to the individual members as mentioned above.  We note that the church belongs to Jesus.  He could have edified it any way he wanted; he chose to do it by the outward preaching of the word by people.  When individuals claim that they do not need to attend church or be part of a body, they are saying that they know better than God! 

Jesus has decided to use leaders to help bring the individual members of the body to maturity, but they cannot do this alone.  The believer must desire to come to maturity and work in conjunction with the leadership and the Holy Spirit.  Are you doing your part?  Are you meditating on the word, spending time in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to identify the parts of your life that need to be perfected, working towards a more holy life?  Or are you just coming to church every week waiting for the pastor to spoon feed you like a baby?

No person is excluded from this hierarchy.  A person who claims that they do not need to be planted in a body of believers is really in a form of rebellion to Christ.  If any person feels they have arrived at maturity, then they should be an active part of the body by helping those who are still immature believers.  There is plenty of work to be done – who will rise up to mentor or disciple the new believers?

Mistakes will be made.  Despite the calling and gifts they have been given, spiritual leaders are themselves fallen humans who are not perfect.  In addition, as each individual member increases in maturity, they will begin to take a bigger role in the church.  They too, will make mistakes.  If we react with criticism and strife, division will result; this is the opposite of unity.  However, the body should have enough love for one another to work through these difficulties.  The only perfect workers are the ones who do nothing but warm the seats!

Speaking of workers, keep in mind that all the members of the body are essential.  What is your call, your gift, your ministry?  If you don't know, I suggest you start by filling a need you see in the body.  If that is not where you belong, God will move you towards something else.  Just get started!

Ephesians 4:14-15 -  so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ�

Paul goes on to illustrate another reason for spiritual leaders. The leaders guard against childish behavior or mistakes in the ignorant and inexperienced of the faith.  Until the believer becomes firmly rooted in truth, they are in danger of being led into false doctrine or beliefs by any crafty or deceitful person who professes to be a Christian teacher.  The spiritual leaders are to oversee the flock as they grow from babes to mature believers. 

Romans 16:17-18 – I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.  For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na�ve.

Speaking the truth in love – in this instance, truth is the whole gospel doctrine.  They are to teach and preach the truth as opposed to the false doctrine as noted above. Truth is the element in which the Christian is to live at all times.  But, truth should be inseparable from love.  While God is certainly a just judge, he is not to be portrayed as harsh task master, waiting for his subjects to fail so he can bring punishment.

Ephesians 4:16 – from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Just as the physical human body is formed by a union of all its parts, with the head in charge, so the church is formed by the union of its members with Jesus in charge.  Both the physical body and the spiritual body (the church) arrive at maturity when each individual part begins to function as it should. 

What is your place in the body of Christ?  Are you rooted in a local church? If not, why?  Are you diligently working for unity in the body?  Have you prayed and asked the Holy Spirit to help you mature in Christ?  How much to you think you have grown spiritually in the last three months?  In the last six months?