John 10

Watch out for false teachers verse 1- 5

Verily – verily I say to you

He that enters not by the door into the sheepfold

but climb up some other way

the same is a thief and a robber

But he that enters in by the door is

the shepherd of the sheep

to him the porter opens

and the sheep hear his voice

and he calls his own sheep by name

and leads them out

And when he puts forth his own sheep

he goes before them and the sheep follow him

for they know his voice

and a stranger will they not follow

BUT will flee from him

FOR they know not the voice of strangers

Jesus is the door verse 6- 10

THIS parable spoke Jesus unto them

BUT they understood not what things they were which

HE spoke to them

THEN said Jesus unto them again – Verily – verily I say to you

I AM the door of the sheep

all that ever came before ME are thieves and robbers

BUT the sheep did not hear them

I AM the door – by ME if any man enter in

he shall be SAVED and shall go in and out

and find pasture

The thief comes not – but for to steal and to kill and to destroy

I AM come that they might have life

and that they might have it more abundantly

Jesus is a not hireling verse 11- 13

I AM the good shepherd

the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep

but he that is a hireling – and not the shepherd

whose own the sheep are not

seeing the wolf coming

and leaves the sheep and flees

and the wolf catches them

and scatters the sheep

The hireling flees BECAUSE he is a hireling

and cares not for the sheep

Jesus is the good shepherd verse 14- 15

I AM the good shepherd – and know MY sheep

and am known of MINE as the Father knows ME

even so know I the Father

and I lay down MY life for the sheep

Jesus has other sheep verse 16

And other sheep I have – which are not of this fold

them also I must bring – they shall hear MY voice

and there shall be one fold – and one shepherd

Jesus surrenders HIS life verse 17- 18

THEREFORE does MY Father love ME

BECAUSE I lay down MY life

that I might take it again

No man takes it from ME

BUT I lay it down of MYSELF

I have power to lay it down

I have power to take it again

This commandment have I received of MY Father

Confusion regarding identity of Jesus verse 19- 21

There was a division therefore again among the Jews

for these sayings

And many of them said – HE has a devil – and is mad

Why hear you HIM?

Other said – These are not the words of HIM that ha a devil

Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

Question given to Jesus verse 22- 24

And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication

and it was winter

and Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch

THEN came the Jews round about HIM – and said to HIM

How long does YOU make us to doubt?

IF YOU be the Christ – tell us plainly

Assurance for all believers verse 25- 30

Jesus answered them

I told you – and you believed not

the works that I do in MY Father’s name

they bear witness of ME

BUT you believe not

BECAUSE you are not of MY sheep

As I said to you – MY sheep hear MY voice

and I know them – and they follow ME

And I give to them eternal life – and they shall never perish

neither shall any man pluck them out of MY hand

MY Father which gave them ME – is greater than all

AND no man is able to pluck them

out of MY Father’s hand

I and the Father are one

Conversation around people wanting

to stone Jesus verse 31- 38

THEN the Jews took up stones

again to stone HIM

Jesus answered them

Many good works have I showed you from MY Father

FOR which of those works do you stone ME?

The Jews answered HIM – saying

For a good work we stone YOU not

BUT for blasphemy AND because that YOU

being a man – make YOURSELF God

Jesus answered them – Is it not written in your law

I said – You are gods?

IF he called them gods

unto whom the word of God came

and the scripture cannot be broken

Say you of HIM – whom the Father has sanctified

and sent into the world – YOU blaspheme

because I said – I am the Son of God?

IF I do not the works of MY Father – believe ME not

BUT if I do – though you believe not ME

believe the works that you may know

and believe that the Father is in ME

and I in HIM

Jesus leaves area with some following HIM verse 39- 42

THEREFORE they sought again to take HIM

BUT HE escaped out of their hand

and went away again beyond Jordan

into the place where John

at first baptized

and there HE abode

AND many resorted to HIM – and said

John did no miracle

BUT all things that John spoke of

this man were true

AND many believed on HIM there

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers. (245 “stranger”[allotrios] means another man, foreign, not of one’s own family, an enemy, a person who does not belong in the environment in which they are found, or one belonging to another, or unfavorably disposed)

DEVOTION: There is a unique relationship between a believer and Jesus Christ. There is a unique relationship between a father and his child. The child knows the voice of his father when he enters the house. Most children know the footsteps of their father. They also know if a stranger is calling them.

Jesus made it plain that those who are HIS followers know if someone is speaking the truth of the Word of God or not. As they listen they have discernment given to them by the Holy Spirit that tells them if the message is truly from the LORD.

While HE was on the earth there were people who genuinely understood HIS teachings and those who were confused. God doesn’t want us confused by the teachings of someone who is not a follower of HIS.

HE makes it plain to us that there are false teachers. They talk but what they say has no meaning to us. We are not fed. We are not growing.

We need to get to the point that we will only listen to those who stay true to the Word of God. The Word of God leads us to honor Christ. We are not worshiping the Bible. We are worshiping the God of the Bible. We are worshiping the Father, Son and Holy Spirit on a daily basis.

CHALLENGE: Pray for God to give you wisdom from above. Pray for discernment each time you listen to the radio, television, read a book or listen to a sermon at church.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (4982 “saved” [sozo] means make whole, keep safe and sound, rescue, preserve, cure, make well, or restore)

DEVOTION: Jesus uses everyday examples of what HE is trying to teach regarding HIS plan for making people whole in their relationship to God.

Here HE states that there is only one entrance into the kingdom of God. It is through a door. HE is that door. So HE is teaching that the only way to God is to enter a door that HE represents. HE is the only way to heaven.

Once a person has gone through the door he will be in proper relationship to the Father through the Son. With this new relationship the individual will find food that will help him grow spiritually.

Until he enters the door he will not understand or be fed by the words of Jesus. They will enter one ear and exit through the other ear. There will be no comprehension of the truth of the Word of God.

Today we find churches that will teach that there is more than one way to heaven. They are wrong but they still teach their false doctrine. We need to make sure that we teach the truth of the Word of God. Otherwise we will have and do have a group of people who think that they are heading to heaven with the false belief that they can get their by good works or by other means.

We have a tendency to not stay truth to the teachings of Jesus. HE taught in all areas of life and if we teach something other than what HE taught we lead people away from the LORD.

Sometimes people with PhD’s get the attention of people and they think that they must know what they are talking about and they follow them away from the truth of the Word of God.

There is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ. HE is the only door.

There are people listening to the teachings of Jesus who could not understand what HE was saying. The Holy Spirit and the message were rejected.

CHALLENGE: If we see people who are not willing to be fed the Word of God they have not entered through the proper DOOR.

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: 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (191 “hear’ [akouo] means listen to, pay close attention to, usually respond in conformity, consider what is or has been said, to understand, or to get by hearing learn)

DEVOTION: When Jesus came to this earth HIS mission was to reach the Jewish population. HE sent HIS disciples to preach to the children of Israel. When a Gentile woman approached HIM for healing HE stated that HE was not sent to her nation. She told HIM that she would accept the crumbs that fell from the table. HE admired her faith and healed her child.

HIS three and a half years were dedicated to help the Jewish nation understand that HE was the Messiah they were waiting for. They were not convinced. Some became believers but not most. They thought that the Messiah was going to become King and defeat the Romans. Jesus didn’t do this. They were disappointed.

This other fold that Jesus told HIS disciples about is thought to be the Gentile nations. Remember that Abraham was promised that through his seed all the nations of the world would be blessed.

When Jesus gave HIS final instructions to the disciples HE told them to go and make disciples of every nation. They were to start at Jerusalem then go to Judea, then to Samaria and finally to the uttermost part of the earth. The mission was plain. God was going to use HIS followers to bring people from every nation into obedience to HIM. Jesus will have a flock made up of people from every nation under heaven. The number is going to be amazing.

We are presently waiting for the last one to become a believer before the return of Christ to call the church to HIMSELF. You might be the one to reach the last one to become a believer in the Church Age of History.

CHALLENGE: Each believer need to reach those in their world for the LORD. It is the commandment Jesus Christ has left us.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 28 And I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (726 “pluck” [harpazo] means gain control over, to seize, to carry off by force, to snatch out or away, take away or pull)

DEVOTION: This chapter is teaching that Jesus came as the only way to get into heaven. HE is the door. There is no other way to enter except through the door. HE is also the good shepherd. HE knows HIS sheep and they know HIS voice. HIS sheep will not listen to the voice of a stranger.

Jesus uses this time of teaching to tell those who believe in HIM that they are part of HIS flock. Those in HIS flock are called by name. HE promises HIS flock eternal life. HE promises that HIS followers will never perish. HE promises that no one can carry off by force any of HIS flock. HE promises those who follow HIM that they will have an abundant life. HE promises that their joy would be full.

HE continues by saying that God the Father is greater than all and HE was the one who gave each individual to Jesus. No one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand. So our verse for today informs us that no one can gain control over HIS sheep. No one can snatch them out of HIS hand. The next verse informs us that no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Some have tried to teach that we can snatch ourselves out of the Father’s hand. Our sin will take us out of the Father’s hand. That means that we can take ourselves out of the Father and the Son’s hands. Does that sound right? Are we stronger than God’s hands? The doctrine of eternal security teaches that those who genuinely become followers of Christ will never lose their salvation. They are saved for eternity. If they sin, they can confess their sins and be restored to fellowship with the Father. Those who don’t confess are chastened of the LORD. HE uses weakness, sickness and pre-mature death as forms of chastening.

Can those who are part of the flock take themselves out of the Father’s hands? Can those who were chosen from before the foundation of the earth take themselves out of the Father’s hands? Can those who are written in the book of life be taken out of the book of life? Those who don’t receive the promises found in this verse are those who were never part of the flock that the Father gave the Son. God never breaks a promise.

One other warning in this passage is that there are hirelings. Hirelings don’t care for the flock as much as the Good Shepherd. If there are people who are responsible to take care of the flock or under shepherds, we need to watch to be sure that they care for the flock and will not run when the wolf comes calling.

CHALLENGE: Don’t doubt the LORD’S ability to keep you once you are one of HIS. Satan likes Christians to doubt their salvation.

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

Feast of Dedication verse 22

Temple verse 23

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Commandment verse 18

Law verse 34

Word of God verse 35

Scripture verse 35

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

Father verse 15, 17, 18, 25, 29, 30, 32, 36,, 37 38

Father knows Son verse 15

Father loves Son verse 17

Commandment of Father verse 18

Father’s name verse 25

Father gives Jesus sheep verse 29

Father greater than all verse 29

Son and Father are one verse 30

Father sanctified Son verse 36

Father sent Son verse 36

Father in Son verse 38

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

Calls HIS own sheep verse 3

Leads sheep verse 3

Parable verse 6

Jesus verse 6, 7, 23, 25, 32, 34

I AM the door verse 7, 9

I AM the good shepherd verse 11, 14

I know Father verse 15

Gives life for sheep verse 11, 15

Other sheep verse 16

One fold verse 16

One shepherd verse 16

Lay down live for sheep verse 17, 18

Christ verse 24

Works done in Father’s name verse 25, 37

Jesus knows HIS own sheep verse 27

Holds HIS sheep in HIS hand verse 28

I and Father are one verse 30, 38

Man verse 33

Make himself God verse 33

Son of God verse 36

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

God verse 33, 35

Word of God verse 35

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Devil or demon verse 20, 21

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Stranger verse 5

Hireling verse 12, 13

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Thief verse 1, 8, 10

Robber verse 1, 8

No understanding of Jesus verse 6

Steal verse 10

Kill verse 10

Destroy verse 10

Division verse 19

Doubt verse 24

Believed not verse 25, 26, 37

Stone Jesus verse 31

Blasphemy verse 33, 36

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Called verse 3

Know by our name verse 3

Know voice of the LORD verse 3, 4

Understand verse 6

Saved verse 9

Find pasture verse 9

Abundant life verse 10

Gives life verse 11

Shepherd lay down life verse 15

Hear – other sheep verse 16, 27

Believe verse 25, 26, 37, 38, 42

Witness verse 25

Follow Christ verse 27

Eternal life verse 28

In Christ’s hand – assurance verse 28

In Father’s hand – assurance verse 29

Good works verse 32

Sanctified verse 36

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Shepherd verse 2

Porter verse 3

Jews verse 19, 24, 31, 33

Jerusalem verse 22

Solomon’s porch verse 23

Jordon verse 40

John the Baptist verse 40, 41

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

Eternal life verse 28

Perish verse 28

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DONATIONS:

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QUOTES regarding passage

16 The sheep “not of this sheep pen” probably refers to the Gentiles whom Jesus sent his disciples to (Matt 28:19) and whom he wished to include in his salvation. He stresses this idea of unity later in his farewell prayer (17:20). (Tenney, M. C. (1981). John. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: John and Acts (Vol. 9, p. 109). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

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10:16. I have other sheep is tied to the previous two verses by the assumption that, however many sheep Jesus has, they are known to Jesus and ultimately respond to his voice. At the same time, this verse refers back to vv. 1–5. There the sheep pen represents Judaism. Jesus calls his own sheep out of that fold, thereby constituting his own flock; the sheep that remain in that pen are, presumably, the unbelieving Jews. If Jesus has other sheep that are not of this sheep pen, the reference must be to Gentiles. When he calls them, they, too, will respond to his voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd (cf. Additional Note). Thus, salvation which is ‘from the Jews’ (4:22) must first be announced to the Jews, but opens to enlist Gentiles as well (cf. Rom. 1:16). Jesus’ death was not only ‘for the Jewish nation’ but also ‘for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one’ (11:51–52). This is the fulfillment of messianic prophecy, and the ground of the Gentile mission. Indeed, if it is Jesus himself who must gather these sheep from other pens, it is assumed that it is Jesus himself who is operative in the Gentile mission (cf. the closing words of Mt. 28:18–20). The vision of unity in the words one flock and one shepherd not only prepares the reader for the dominant theme of ch. 17, but receives major treatment in other New Testament books (e.g. 1 Cor. 12; 2 Cor. 5:14–21; Gal. 3:28; Eph. 2:11–22; 4:3–6). (Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (p. 388). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.)

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10:16. The other sheep … not of this flock refers to Gentiles who would believe. His coming death would bring them also to the Father. They too will listen to My voice. Jesus continues to save people as they hear His voice in the Scriptures. Acts 18:9–11 illustrates how this works out in the history of the church. “I have many people in this city” (i.e., Corinth), the Lord told Paul. One flock and one Shepherd speaks of the church with believers from Jewish and Gentile “sheep pens” in one body with Christ as Head (cf. Eph. 2:11–22; 3:6). (Blum, E. A. (1985). John. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 310). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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The Good Shepherd brings other sheep into the flock (v. 16). The “fold” is Judaism (John 10:1), but there is another fold—the Gentiles who are outside the covenants of Israel (Eph. 2:11ff). In our Lord’s early ministry, He concentrated on the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:5–6; 15:24–27). The people converted at Pentecost were Jews and Jewish proselytes (Acts 2:5, 14), but the church was not to remain a “Jewish flock.” Peter took the Gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10–11), and Paul carried the message to the Gentiles in the far reaches of the Roman Empire (Acts 13:1ff).

The phrase “one fold” should read “one flock.” There is but one flock, the people of God who belong to the Good Shepherd. God has His people all over this world (see Acts 18:1–11), and He will call them and gather them together.

The missionary message of the Gospel of John is obvious: “For God so loved the world” (John 3:16). Jesus Himself defied custom and witnessed to a Samaritan woman. He refused to defend the exclusivist approach of the Jewish religious leaders. He died for a lost world, and His desire is that His people reach a lost world with the message of eternal life. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 331). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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Ver. 16. And other sheep I have, &c.] Not distinct from those for whom he laid down his life, but from those who were under the Old-Testament dispensation, and who heard not the thieves and robbers that were before Christ, ver. 8 others besides the lost sheep of the house of Israel, or the elect among the Jews, to whom Christ was sent; and by whom are meant the chosen of God among the Gentiles, who were sheep, though not called and folded, for the reasons given in the note on ver. 3. These, though uncalled, belonged to Christ; he had an interest in them, they were given him by his father; he had them in his hands, and upon his heart; his eye was upon them, and they were under his notice, inspection, and care: which are not of this fold, of the Jewish nation and church, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise; were as sheep going astray, and were scattered about in the several parts of the world; and were to be redeemed out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation: them also I must bring; out of the wilderness of the world, from among the men of it, their former sinful companions, from the folds of sin and Satan, and the pastures of their own righteousness; to himself, and into his father’s presence, to his house and ordinances, to a good fold and green pastures, and at last to his heavenly kingdom and glory: and there was a necessity of doing all this, partly on account of his father’s will and pleasure, his purposes and decrees, who had resolved upon it; and partly on account of his own engagements, who had obliged himself to do it; as well as because of the case and condition of these sheep, who otherwise must have eternally perished: and they shall hear my voice; in the Gospel, not only externally, but internally; which is owing to his powerful and efficacious grace, who quickens them, and causes them to hear and live; unstops their deaf ears, and gives them ears to hear; and opens their hearts, to attend to his word, and gives them an understanding of it. The Arabic version reads this in connexion with the preceding clause, thus, and I must bring them also to hear my voice; as well as the rest of the sheep among the Jews, and therefore the Gospel was sent among them: and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd; one church-state, consisting both of Jews and Gentiles; the middle wall of partition being broke down, these two coalesce in one, become one new man, and members of one and the same body; for though there may be several visible Gospel churches, yet there is but one kind of church-state, and one general assembly and church of the first-born, one family to which they all belong; for what reasons a church is comparable to a fold, see the note on ver. 1. And over this fold, or flock, there is but one shepherd, Jesus Christ; who is the rightful proprietor, and whose own the sheep are; and who knows how to feed them, and does take care of them; though there are many under-shepherds, whom he employs in feeding them; in the original text the copulative and is wanting, and the words stand thus, one fold, one shepherd; which not only expresses a peculiar elegance, but answers the proverb delivered in the same form; and to which agree the Arabic and Ethiopic versions, which render them, and there, or they shall be one fold of one shepherd; or one flock which belongs to one shepherd only; see

Ezek.34:23, and 37:24. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 15). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

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FROM MY READING:

Five Commands
“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13)
In our text and the succeeding two verses, five commands are given to the believer striving to live a godly life. Let us look briefly at each one.
Gird up the loins of your mind: Using the long, flowing robes worn by most people in Greek societies as a word picture, Peter commands us to gird up our minds just as such a robe needed to be gathered up in preparation for strenuous activity. We need to discipline our minds for action.
Be sober: A drunken person has a disoriented mind, lacks self-control, and is not alert to his surroundings. We are commanded to maintain a calm and thoughtful state of mind, in full control of all our actions.
Hope to the end, or “patiently fix your hope”: We must recognize that He is in control and patiently wait for Him. The focus of our expectation is His grace, which we presently experience but which will be fully granted us at His return.
Not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance (v. 14): This phrase is translated “be not conformed” in Romans 12:2 and commands us not to adopt the world’s lifestyle and thought patterns, especially our “former lusts,” that enslaved us before our conversion.
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy (v. 15): God is first and foremost a holy God, and we are called to “fashion” ourselves after Him. Complete holiness is out of our reach this side of glory, but it should be our goal.
All five are commands indeed, but commands three and five are in an emphatic position in the Greek, and these two hold the key to success in the others. Only by patiently fixing our hope on Him and His grace can we successfully strive for His holiness.

(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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Hebrews 13
We are to live righteously before our fellow man and to offer God the sacrifice of praise.
INSIGHT

Praise is good for the soul and pleasing to God. The writer of Hebrews says,” let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (v. 15). Again, in Psalm 33:1, we read: “Praise from the upright is beautiful.” If you want to do something that pleases the Lord, praise Him. In addition, however, our actions must follow: “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (v. 16). The praise of our lips must be followed with the godly pattern of our lives. Note that both praise and doing good are sacrifices with which God is well pleased. (Quiet Walk)

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TEN TESTS: TESTS 7-10

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16
Seventh, there is a desire to please God and to live a good life because of what He has done for us. The realization of His love should make us not only hate sin, but also desire to live a holy, godly life. If you do desire this, you love God, because our Lord said, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me” (John 14:21).
Eighth, we have a desire to know Him better and to draw closer to Him. Do you want to know God better? Is it one of the greatest ambitions of your life to draw closer to Him, that your relationship to Him may be more intimate? If you have within you the faintest desire to know God better and are doing something about it, I say you love God.
I will put the ninth point negatively, and yet it may be the most important of all. I am referring to a conscious regret that our love to Him is so poor, along with a desire to love Him more. If you are unhappy at the thought that you do not love God as you ought to, that is a wonderful proof that you love Him.
My last test is that we have a delight in hearing these things and in hearing about Him. That is one of the best tests. There are certain people in the world—alas, there are many—who find all that we have been saying utterly boring; all that we have been saying would be strange to them. Such people are spiritually dead; they know nothing about this. So whatever the state of your emotions may be, if you can tell me quite honestly that you enjoy listening to these things and hearing about them, if you can say that there is something about them that makes things different, then I say that you know the love that God has for you.
A Thought to Ponder: Is it one of the greatest ambitions of your life to draw closer to Him? (From The Love of God, pp. 152-153, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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A father before he died said to his son: “this is a watch your grandfather gave me, and is more than 200 years old. But before I give it to you, go to the watch shop on the first street, and tell him I want to sell it, and see how much he offers you”.

He went, and then came back to his father, and said, “the watchmaker offered 5 dollars because it’s old”.

He said to him : “go to the coffee shop”.

He went and then came back, and said: “He offered $5 father”.

“Go to the museum and show that watch”.

He went then came back, and said to his father “They offered me a million dollars for this piece”.

The father said: “I wanted to let you know that the right place values you in right way.

Don’t find yourself in the wrong place and get angry if you are not valued.

Those that know your value are those who appreciate you, don’t stay in a place where nobody sees your value”.

Know your worth. (Santhosh Samuel) [Don’t know anything about him but his story is good]

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Daily Hope

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 145

Weekend: Psalm 146

As a person who enjoys music, I will often wake up with a song on my mind and many times that song will go with me throughout the day. I will find myself humming the tune or singing the song as I go about my daily activities. The words of a worship song can allow us to meditate and praise the Lord throughout the day.

This is David’s final psalm and it is a fitting one to conclude David’s portion of the psalms. David was a gifted musician and worshipper who loved to play and sing to the Lord. Here, David brings a psalm of praise and devotion to the congregation! It is a psalm that calls for God’s people to praise Him each day and for that praise to continue generation after generation. God is worthy of that praise, and David extols the people to remind each new generation of His mighty acts and attentive care.

A unique feature of this psalm is the acrostic usage of the Hebrew alphabet. Each verse begins with a letter of the alphabet yet, there is one twist that puzzles scholars. There are twenty-two letters in the Hebrew alphabet and only twenty-one verses! The letter Nun is left out of this psalm and is therefore incomplete. Some say the verse is lost and others say it was intentionally omitted. I appreciate J. Vernon McGee’s quote, “I cannot but conclude that the gap is meant to remind us that in fact the fullness of praise is not complete without other voices, which are not found here, and that these missing voices are those of the Church and the heavenly saints in general.”

My singular voice may praise the Lord but it is so much better when it is joined with others united in worship to give praise to the Lord! That will be multiplied yet again, when together in heaven, all the saints proclaim their worship before the Lord in the throne room of heaven (Rev. 5:8-13).

The psalmist begins and ends this psalm with blessing the Lord’s name. Initially David himself praises the Lord but ends the psalm with all flesh praising His holy name! May we join the saints in adoration to the One that is worthy of all praise this day and everyday by lifting our songs to His listening ear! Looking forward to worshipping together this Sunday and hearing our united voices exalt the Lord!

With an Expectant hope, Pastor Miller

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