Sunday, January 30, 2022

What Records does God Keep

 What Records does God Keep                       January 29, 2022

 ·      God knows all things at all times. 

·      God keeps a record of our every act, good and bad.

·      We might be thinking that nobody ever notices for we do, but

·      God has noticed and has seen everything you’ve ever done.

·      God saw it when we smile at somebody who was hurting and

·      When we give encouragement to others.

·      Just a brief overview we will cover 

Scripture tells us of a number of records that God keeps, records that reflect His power, faithfulness, and love.  Small things Lord Jesus keeps His eye on. 

Jesus counts the Hairs on Our Heads, what about birds 

Matthew 10:29-30 "Two sparrows are sold for a penny, aren't they? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's permission.  (30)  Indeed, even the hairs on your head have all been counted! 

·      God is concern about and watches over all the details about each of us. 

·      Jesus does not think it beneath him to determine how few or how many they shall be.

·      He will therefore take care of you

·      These verses show that an Loving God is concerned about and watches over an infinite number of details. 

Jesus keeps all of Our Tears 

Psalms 56:8 You have kept count of my wanderings. Put my tears in your bottle, have not you recorded them in your book? 

·      Jesus is interest in our every pain, even our every tear.

·      Jesus stores the tears of His Saints.

·      Remember, the Jewish custom of bottling tears of mourners as memorial for the family. 

Jesus keeps all of Our Prayers 

Revelation 8:3-4 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God's people, on the golden altar in front of the throne.  (4)  The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God from the angel's hand. 

Jesus knows the Physical Features of Every Person 

Psalms 139:16 Your eyes saw me before I was born; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 

·      God is telling us that the work of God in our lives was development when we were in our mothers womb. 

·      God has an ideal plan of life marked out for each one of us.

·      God knew us before I was composed of either flesh or bone, 

Jesus knows the Number and all the Names of Stars 

Psalms 147:4 He keeps track of the number of stars, assigning names to all of them. 

Isaiah 40:26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. 

Genesis 15:5 He took him outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars, if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 

Jesus knows everything that goes on in our lives, even the things we hide from others. 

Psalms 33:13-14 From heaven the LORD looks down and sees every human being; (14) from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth 

Jeremiah 23:24 Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD. 

God tells us that all things are governed by God's the protective care and not by chance or luck.  

Jesus records Every Spoken Word 

Matthew 12:36-37 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.  (37)  "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." 

What a person says, is but outward evidence of the inward attitude of the heart good or bad, showing their character. 

Jesus knows every Godly Work we do 

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not so unjust as to forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have ministered to the saints and continue to minister to them. 

Our acts of love to the saints were done for Jesus name’s sake and encouraging the Saints to continue to the very the end. 

Mark 9:41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. 

The smallest service given to encourage a Christian to receives God’s blessing. It is not the size of the work, but loving faithfulness in Jesus Name that counts with God 

A record of each person’s choices especially whether they have chosen to love and trust God or not.  A record of each person’s {Saints} acts not for the purpose of deciding fate (salvation or not) as that is determined by their decisions but to determine rewards:  Rewards are distinct from the gift of eternal life. One must receive the free gift in order to be changed to Spirit Being to get the rewards 

As we relate to non-Christians, God knows how we react to others. 

We are to respond in love to our persecutors 

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 

To live at peace with unbelievers 

Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 

To do good even to those who treat us badly 

Romans 12:20 But "if your enemy is hungry, feed him. For if he is thirsty, give him a drink. If you do this, you will pile burning coals on his head." 

A record of each person’s character particularly how it was at the end of their life 

James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you are involved in various trials, (3) because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 

Romans 5:3-4 Not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, (4) endurance produces character, and character produces hope. 

2 Peter 1:5 For this very reason, you must make every effort to supplement your faith with moral character, your moral character with knowledge, 

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens a friend's character. 

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 

Investments Made in God’s Kingdom 

Matthew 6:19-21 "Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.  (20)  But keep on storing up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal,  (21)  because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." 

These verses does not mean that it is sinful to have such assets as insurance, retirement plans, and savings accounts. After all, parents are to save for their grandchildren. 

2 Corinthians 12:14 Now I'm ready to visit you for a third time, and I will not bother you for help. I do not want your things, but rather you yourselves. Children should not have to support their parents, but parents their children

Proverbs 13:22 A good person leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren, but the wealth of the wicked is reserved for the righteous. 

For yourself makes it clear that the desire for reward in the kingdom is not sinful or. The contrast is between the now and then. We cannot have it both here and there. We cannot take it with us, but we can invest it now in the future.  

1 Peter 1:4 and to an inheritance kept in heaven for you that can't be destroyed, corrupted, or changed. 

Jesus said those Who Fear God, in a Book of Remembrance 

Malachi 3:16 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other. The LORD listened and took note, and a scroll of remembrance was written in his presence about those who fear the LORD and honor His name. 

When we discuss these things in services, we talked with each other about the Scriptures.  That is one positive using Duo each week.  We can spend 2 hours each week. 

God does not ignore those who were faithful to Him. A Book of Remembrance: God never forgets His promises. God teaches us to remember and value the good that people do 

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.     {when we do these things, we are sending it forward} 

Romans 14:11-12 For it is written, "As certainly as I live, declares the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will praise God."  (12)  Consequently, each of us will give an account of himself to God. 

We have bow our knees to Lord Jesus as Saints and our tongue does praise God 

The Works of All People – God is Keeping a record 

Revelation 20:12 I saw the dead, both unimportant and important, standing in front of the throne, and books were open. Another book was opened; the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to their actions, as recorded in the books. 

Revelation 20:15 I Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire. 

There will be some, a tragedy that this will happen.  We know God wants all to be saved. 

Revelation 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.  {New Jerusalem} 

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.  

What we do in this flesh, is very important to each of us for our rewards. 

The Names of Christians, this is the most important things for us 

It is true that God does not keep a record of the Saints sins But not the same for non-Saints. 

If we have God Holy Spirit in us, we are part of the Saints and the Bride of our Lord Jesus.  Remember, Jesus died for each of us.  Jesus blood covers our sins. 

Apostle Paul wrote something incredible, even unbelievable for each of us: 

Romans 4:7-8 "Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. (8) Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them." 

That is the Gospel (Good News) of the Cross is that God does not keep a record of our sin. No record can be held against us. The Father does not see us personally, but the Lord Jesus living in us.  This is what grace is all about. 

Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful regarding their wrong deeds, and I will never again remember their sins." 

Hebrews 10:10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 

Hebrews 10:11-13 Day after day every priest stands and repeatedly offers the same sacrifices that can never take away sins.  (12)  But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, "he sat down at the right hand of God."  (13)  Since that time, he has been waiting for his enemies to be made a footstool for his feet.

Hebrews 10:14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 

Hebrews 10:15-16 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: (16) "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." 

Hebrews 10:17 Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." 

Hebrews 10:18 Now where there is forgiveness of these sins, there is no longer any offering for sin. 

Hebrews 10:19-20 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, (20) by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,

We can go to the Father through prayer, through Jesus Body 

Hebrews 10:21 and since we have a great high priest over the household of God, 

Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water

Hebrews 10:23 Let us continue to hold firmly to the hope that we confess without wavering, for the one who made the promise is faithful. 

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, (25) not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 

We are also told that sins are removed far from us: 

Psalms 103:12 As distant as the east is from the west, that is how far he has removed our sins from us. 

Isaiah 38:17 Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back. 

Micah 7:19 You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. 

Revelation 3:5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 

This is what we have to look forward to in our future as a Saint 

We know God does not keep records of the Saints sins. 

Daniel 7:18 But the Saints of the Highest will receive the kingdom forever, inheriting it forever and ever.'

 

 

Monday, January 24, 2022

Book of John 12:31-50

 Book of John 12:31-50                 January 22, 2022

 The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up on the Cross, Lord Jesus 

John 12:31 Now is the time for the judgment of this world to begin. Now will the ruler of this world be thrown out. 

By Jesus was killed on the cross, resurrected back to life and now sits on a Throne in Heaven at the right hand of the Fathers Throne.  All judgment was given to Jesus to make. When Jesus returns to the earth, Satan and the demons are replaced by Jesus and the Saints to take care of the earth and the Kingdom of God. 

John 5:22-23 The Father judges no one, but has given all authority to judge to the Son, (23) so that everyone may honor the Son as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 

We know that Satan, ruler of this world will be thrown out as Jesus returns to the earth at start of the millennium.   

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 splendor.  (9)  "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 

John 12:32 As for me, when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself." 

When: There is no doubt in Jesus’ mind that He will be crucified. 

First Lifted up, to the cross by violent death; second, lifted up from the grave; third, lifted up to heaven and to Jesus Throne in Heaven 

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. 

The Father will draw all people to Jesus through the apostles and all the Saints that follows 

John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 

John 12:33 He said this to indicate the kind of death he was about to die. 

He just told the disciples again that being lifted up on the cross is how He is going to die.  It seems the men did not understand but the women did. 

Beginning of the end of Satan’s dominion

The beginning of the triumph over the hearts of men

 Will Jesus live forever? 

John 12:34 Then the crowd answered him, "We have learned from the Law that the Messiah remains forever. So how can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?" 

·      The Jewish Leadership understood that lifted up meant removal from the earth by death. 

·      They argued that Scripture teaches that the Messiah would abide forever (Psa_110:4; Isa_9:7; Eze_37:25).

·      To them, the Messiah would not have to die.

·      They did not understand that He would be raised 

Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. 

Their idea of the Messiah was an eternal king. Now he spoke of death. 

John 12:35 Jesus replied to the crowd, "The light is among you only for a short time. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. The person who walks in the darkness is in the darkness and does not know where he is going. 

Jesus just gave the Jewish people a strong warning, As the light of the world, Jesus exposes sin and now begins explaining to the people there. 

John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." 

Jesus just told them to seek Him now while they have the opportunity because it will pass away and the darkness come.  

The Unbelief of the People 

John 12:36 As long as you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light." After Jesus had said this, he went away and hid from them.

Jesus said you must believe on him.  He went away from the Jewish Leadership who wanted to kill Him.  Did He go to Bethany to spend the last few hours of His life? 

1 John 1:5 This is the message that we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness; none at all! 

John 12:37 Although he had performed numerous signs in their presence, they did not believe in him, 

Their unbelief is startling, that they did not believe Jesus and rejected Him. 

Paul tells us: 

1 Corinthians 2:14 A person who isn't spiritual doesn't accept the things of God's Spirit, for they are nonsense to him. He can't understand them because they are spiritually evaluated. 

Interesting side, scholars believe there were more than one Isaiah.

The Apostle John quotes from two different parts of the Book of Isaiah. 

John 12:38 so that what the prophet Isaiah spoke might be fulfilled when he said: "Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the Lord's power been revealed?" 

A quote from Isaiah 53 

Isaiah 53:1 "Who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 

·      John quotes Isaiah 53:1 to prove that their unbelief is predictable and would happen and be fulfilled.

·      If someone believes, it is because the Father has revealed Himself and His truth to them through Jesus because He had revealed Himself to them through the many signs and through His teaching. 

The arm of the Lord - The gospel, power, strength, and miracles of Christ and is not revealed to those whose hearts the Lord has not opened. 

John 12:39 This is why they could not believe: Isaiah also said, 

Isaiah taught that some could not believe because God hardened their hearts after they repeatedly rejected the truth, only then. 

Isaiah 6:9 "Go!" he responded. "Tell this people: "'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' 

John 12:40 "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they might not perceive with their eyes, and understand with their mind and turn, and I would heal them." 

Parts of this is taken from Isa 6:9, also Mark 4 quotes the verse 

Mark 4:12 so that 'they may see clearly but not perceive, and they may hear clearly but not understand, otherwise they might turn around and be forgiven.'" 

Paul quotes this verse Paul to explain the rejection of his preaching by the Jews in Rome. 

Acts 28:26 He said, 'Go to this people and say, "You will listen and listen but never understand, and you will look and look but never see! 

John 12:41 Isaiah said this when he saw his glory and spoke about him. 

In that verse, Isaiah was talking about God Himself. Therefore in this passage John is teaching that Jesus is God. 

A quote from Isaiah 6 

Isaiah 6:10 Dull the mind of this people, deafen their ears, and blind their eyes. By doing so, they won't see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed." 

Lord Jesus quotes from Isaiah many times, 23 passages from “Isaiah I” and

28 passages from “Isaiah II 

John 12:42 Yet many people, even some of the authorities, believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not admit it so they would not be thrown out of the synagogue. 

Many:  Nicodemus, Joseph, Sanhedrim, and other members of the council and many others believed in Him, they feared their leaders that they would be put out of the synagogue. Fear men more than God.  Remember the Sadducees had the High Priest position. 

John 9:22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 

John 12:43 For they loved the praise of human beings more than the praise of God. 

These men were genuine believers. Their problem was that they feared the opinions of their fellow leaders.

Such believers will be ashamed at Christ’s return. 

Matthew 10:32-33 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  (33)  But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. 

Jesus Came to Save the World, Final, passionate appeal to the people 

John 12:44 Then Jesus said loudly, "The one who believes in me does not believe in me only, but also in the one who sent me. 

Jesus insisted that anyone who believed in Him was at the same time exercising belief in God the Father. 

Luke 10:16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." 

John 12:45 The one who sees me sees the one who sent me. 

John 14:8-9 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."  (9)  Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 

John 12:46 I have come into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me will not remain in the darkness. 

When we have Jesus living in us, we are no longer in darkness or continue in sin, ignorance or in unbelief, but walk in the light of truth, faith and holiness until the day of our change 

The Apostle Paul tells us 

Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.' 

John 12:47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not condemn him, because I did not come to condemn the world but to save it. 

Jesus at His first coming to the earth, His purpose did not come to judge but to save.  At Jesus 2nd coming then He will judge the world. 

All shall be "judged by the things written in the books" 

Revelation 20:12 I saw the dead, both unimportant and important, standing in front of the throne, and books were open. Another book was opened—the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to their actions, as recorded in the books. 

A person must hear the words of Christ in order to believe them; and they must believe, in order to keep them; and they must keep them in order to their salvation. 

John 12:48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has something to judge him: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day, 

The person who rejects Jesus Words, then also rejects the Father’s Word.

Important:  The words a person leave in the world will decide the destiny of every person.

All shall be "judged by the things written in the books {Rev 12:12} 

Luke 10:16 The person who listens to you listens to me, and the person who rejects you rejects me. The person who rejects me rejects the one who sent me." 

The word “reject” means to despise, or to refuse to receive him 

John 12:49 because I have not spoken on my own authority. Instead, the Father who sent me has himself commanded me what to say and how to speak. 

John 8:28 So Jesus told them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own authority. Instead, I speak only what the Father has taught me.

 Because the Words Jesus spoke was the Divine Words proceeds from the Father, 

John 12:50 And I know that what he commands brings eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me."

 1 John 5:11-12 This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is found in his Son.  (12)  The person who has the Son has this life. The person who does not have the Son of God does not have this life. 

The results of obeying Jesus commands to show we Love Jesus and are life everlasting. 

·      This chapter of John 12; is the closure of the Jesus public preaching to the people.

·      The rest of Jesus ministry and time was in very private and personal talk and private instruction to his apostles, and in preparing them for his approaching death.

·      With this the first main division of Apostle John Gospel ends.

·      Jesus’s revels Himself to the world in His ministry is concluded.

·      The Apostle John has set before us the Testimony of Jesus, the Work of the Messiah, and the Judgment respecting the work, which has ended in a conflict, and the conflict has reached a climax. 

We have reached the beginning of the end, heading to the cross and resurrection.