John 6
Feeding of the five thousand verse 1- 13
After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee
which is the sea of Tiberias
and a great multitude followed HIM
BECAUSE they saw HIS miracles
which HE did on them that
were diseased
AND Jesus went up into the mountain
and there HE sat with HIS disciples
and the Passover – a feast of the Jews was nigh
When Jesus then lifted up HIS eyes
and saw a great company come to HIM
HE said unto Philip
Whence shall we buy bread – that these may eat?
AND this HE said to prove him
FOR HE HIMSELF knew what HE would do
Philip answered HIM
Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them
that every one of them may take a little
One of HIS disciples – Andrew – Simon Peter’s brother
said to HIM
There is a lad here – which has five barley loaves
and two small fishes
BUT what are they among so many?
And Jesus said – Make the men sit down
NOW there was much grass in the place
SO the men sat down
in number about five thousand
And Jesus took the loaves
and when HE had given thanks
HE distributed to the disciples
and the disciples to them that were set down
and likewise of the fishes as much as they would
When they were filled – HE said unto HIS disciples
Gather up the fragments that remain – that nothing be lost
THEREFORE they gathered them together
and filled twelve baskets with the fragments
of the five barley loaves
which remained over and above
to them that had eaten
People wanted Jesus to be king verse 14- 15
Then those men
when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did said
This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world
When Jesus therefore perceived
that they would come and take HIM by force
to make HIM a king
HE departed again into a mountain HIMSELF alone
Jesus walked on water verse 16- 21
When even was now come
HIS disciples went down unto the sea
and entered into a ship
and went over the sea toward Capernaum
And it was now dark – and Jesus was not come to them
and the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew
SO when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs
they see Jesus walking on the sea
and drawing nigh to the ship
and they were afraid
BUT HE said unto them – It is I
Be not afraid
THEN they willingly received HIM into the ship
and immediately the ship was
at the land whither they went
Crowd questioned travel of Christ verse 22- 25
The day following – when the people
which stood on the other side of the sea
saw that there was none other boat there
save that one where into
HIS disciples were entered
and that Jesus went not with HIS disciples into the boat
BUT that HIS disciples were gone away alone
(howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh to the place
where they did eat bread – after that the Lord had given thanks)
When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there
neither HIS disciples – they also took shipping
and came to Capernaum
seeking for Jesus
AND when they had found HIM on the other side of the sea
they said unto HIM
Rabbi – when came YOU hither?
Crowd wants sign verse 26- 31
Jesus answered them and said – Verily – verily I say to you
You seek ME – not because eye saw the miracles
BUT because you did eat of the loaves
and were filled
Labor not for the meat which perishes
BUT for the meat which endured to everlasting life
which the Son of man shall give to you
FOR HIM has God the Father sealed
THEN said they to HIM
What shall we do – that we might work the works of God?
Jesus answered and said to them
This is the work of God that you believe on HIM
whom HE has sent
THEY said therefore to HIM
What sign show YOU then
that we may see – and believe YOU?
What does YOU work?
Our fathers did eat manna in the desert
as it is written – HE gave them bread from heaven to eat
Jesus the “Bread of Life” verse 32- 40
THEN Jesus said to them
Verily – verily I say to you
Moses gave you not that bread from heaven
BUT MY Father gave you the true bread from heaven
FOR the bread of God is HE
which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world
THEN said they unto HIM
Lord – evermore give us this bread
Jesus said unto them
I am the bread of life
he that comes to ME shall never hunger
he that believes on ME shall never thirst
BUT I said to you – That you also have seen ME
and believed not
all that the Father gives ME
shall come to ME
and him that comes to ME
I will in no wise cast out
FOR I came down from heaven
not to do MINE OWN will
BUT the will of HIM that sent ME
AND this is the Father’s will which has sent ME
that of all which HE has given ME I should lose nothing
BUT should raise it up again at the last day
Crowd murmured verse 41- 42
The Jews then murmured at HIM – because HE said
I am the bread which came down from heaven
And they said – Is not this Jesus – the son of Joseph
whose father and mother we know?
How is it then that HE said
I came down from heaven?
Jesus response verse 43- 51
Jesus therefore answered
and said unto them
Murmur not among yourselves
No man can come to ME
except the Father which has sent ME draw him
and I will raise him up at the last day
It is written in the prophets
And they shall be all taught of God
Every man therefore that has heard – and has learned of the Father
comes to ME
Not that any man has seen the Father – save HE which is of God
HE has seen the Father
Verily – verily I say unto you
He that believes on ME has everlasting life
I am that bread of life
Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness – and are dead
This is the bread which come down from heaven
that a man may eat thereof – and not die
I am the living bread which came down from heaven
IF any man eat of this bread – he shall live for ever
and the bread that I will give is MY flesh
which I will give for the life of the world
Crowd confused verse 52
The Jews therefore strove among themselves – saying
How can this man give us HIS flesh to eat?
Jesus explains eating flesh and drinking blood verse 53- 58
THEN Jesus said to them – Verily – verily I say to you
Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man
and drink HIS blood
you have no life in you
Whoso eats MY flesh – and drinks MY blood
has eternal life
and I will raise him up at the last day
FOR MY flesh is meat indeed
and MY blood is drink indeed
He that eats MY flesh – and drinks MY blood
dwells in ME and I in him
As the living Father has sent ME
and I live by the Father
so he that eat ME
even he shall live by ME
This is that bread which came down from heaven
not as your fathers did eat manna – and are dead
he that eats of this bread shall live for ever
Location of Jesus confronted by crowd verse 59
These things said HE in the synagogue
as HE taught in Capernaum
Disciples murmured verse 60- 65
Many therefore of HIS disciples – when they had heard this
said
This is a hard saying – who can hear it?
When Jesus knew in HIMSELF that HIS disciples murmured at it
HE said to them – Does this offend you?
What and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where
HE was before?
It is the Spirit that quickens – the flesh profits nothing
the words that I speak to you – they are spirit
and they are life
BUT there are some of you that believe not
FOR Jesus knew from the beginning
who they were that believed not
and who should betray HIM
And HE said
Therefore said I to you – that no man can come unto ME
except it were given to him of MY Father
Jesus confronts disciples verse 66- 71
From that time many of HIS disciples went back
and walked no more with HIM
THEN said Jesus to the twelve
Will you also go away?
THEN Simon Peter answered HIM – Lord
to whom shall we go?
YOU have the words of eternal life
and we believe and are sure that
YOU are that Christ
the Son of the living God
Jesus answered them – Have not I chosen you twelve
and one of you is a devil?
HE spoke of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon
FOR he it was that should betray HIM
being one of the twelve
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. (3985 “prove” [peirazo] means tempt, try, assay, examine, to learn the true nature or character of, to attempt, endeavor, scrutinize, or discipline)
DEVOTION: Jesus chose twelve men to train for the ministry. HE only had three and a half years to train HIS disciples. One of them was going to betray HIM so HE really only would have eleven disciples at the end of the training period.
Each occasion was a training occasion in the life of the disciples while they were with Jesus. Here we have an occasion when there were about five thousand men with their wives and children following Jesus. They followed HIM into a where there wasn’t very much food. For them to travel someplace to buy food would have caused some of them to faint. Jesus didn’t want that happening.
So HE asked one of his disciples where they could get enough food to feed this large group. This disciples name was Philip. Why would HE ask such a question of one of HIS disciples?
The reason given is that it was a test to see if Philip really understood who Jesus was. It also was given as a way to help him to think through each situation to see what solution he could come up with in the presence of Jesus. Remember that they had not really learned of all the power that Jesus had to perform miracles.
Philip answered that they didn’t have enough money to buy enough food for the crowd. Andrew came with a solution. He had found someone who had five loaves of bread and two small fish in his packed lunch.
Now Philip was going to see what Jesus could do with a little amount of food. He was going to see what it meant to trust in Jesus to provide for his every need in the future.
We need to learn this lesson too. We need to trust the LORD for HIS provision each time we have a need. If we can learn this lesson, then we can teach others through our faith in the LORD’S provision, so that, they can teach others also. We need a generation of people who trust the LORD for their daily bread without doubt.
CHALLENGE: Do we have a generation of believers who genuinely trust the LORD for their daily bread? Do we have a generation of believers in our churches that believe that the LORD can provide for all the ministry HE wants them to perform? The LORD is proving you today!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 27 Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give you: for him hath God the Father sealed. (4972 “sealed” [sphragizo] means set a mark, give in secure manner, turn over, deliver safely, certify, authenticated, attest or make known)
DEVOTION: Jesus presents a message that the Jews did not want to hear or understand. He claimed to be the “bread of life.” HE claimed to have come down from heaven. HE claimed to be a better bread than what the children of Israel ate in the wilderness. HE told them that they had to eat HIM. HE told them that they had to drink HIS blood. They were confused. They didn’t understand.
HE explained what HIS Father did in the wilderness to the children of Israel. HE explained what the Father was doing in relationship to HIMSELF. HE explained that HE had a job to do here on the earth. In his training of the disciples HE gave this verse. HE was instructing them and us that we need to be working for “meat” that endures unto everlasting life. What is our work? It is belief in HIM. We need to trust HIM.
The crowd was having a hard time understanding HIS statements. One of their problems was that they knew HIS family. They knew HIS mother and Joseph. They knew about the other children of Mary. They just couldn’t get a grip on the fact that HE was different from the rest of HIS family.
Jesus made it clear to them that only those that the Father drew to HIM would believe. The rest of the world would not believe in HIM. In fact, many of the disciples left Jesus after this message. Jesus even asked the twelve if they were going to leave too. Peter made a statement that they had no place else to go because HE was the Christ the Son of the living God.
Our labor has to be sharing the Word of God with others. We are to be busy serving the LORD. Sometimes we can get occupied with feeding people physical food and forget to feed them spiritual food. HE wants them and us to realize that spiritual food is more important than physical food.
We are supposed to help those who need physical food but not at the expense of spiritual food. Jesus was going to give his body to die, so that, the disciples could share the death, burial and resurrection with all they met. They were to talk about his body as meat for the soul. We are supposed to talk about the death, burial and resurrection to all who will listen. Jesus is a certified Savior. Jesus has the mark of God on him. The Father sent him to save the world. Spread the word!!!
CHALLENGE: Accept the fact that not everyone we talk with will become a follower of Christ. Not everyone in this world is going to heaven. Only a small group that the Father draws to Jesus will become followers. We don’t know who they are so we need to share the Gospel with all the LORD gives us an opportunity.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 35 And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on ME shall never thirst. (740“bread” [aptos] means shewbread, food composed of flour mixed with water and baked, food of any kind, loaf of bread, or cake)
DEVOTION: The disciples were taught how to pray by Jesus. HE included in the prayer our daily bread. This is a basic need for all of us. If we are to continue to live we need water and food. If we go longer than forty days without drink we can die. If we go even longer without food we can die.
Jesus is making a statement that we can rely on HIM for our provision. But in this instance, HE is not talking about physical food and water. HE is talking about spiritual food and water.
If we are daily in the Word of God we will be fed by HIM to provide us with the support we need to live a life that is pleasing to the HIM. This can only happen as we look to HIM for our provision of daily instruction.
In the Old Testament we are told that there was a famine of God communicating with HIS people because of their sin. The only way the communication could be restored was for confession of sin and a turning toward the LORD.
This is a principle that is true today. If you are feeling dry, it might be because there is a lack of confession of sin. If you feel hungry it might be that you have not been in the Word of God enough to be fed.
CHALLENGE: Search the Scriptures for daily nourishment. HE will feed you well.
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: 70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil. (1721“chosen” mean to make a special choice, to pick out, select, prefer over another choice, elect, or to select for one’s own reasons or purposes from a number of alternatives)
Jesus only tried to train twelve men to follow HIM and serve HIM. These twelve men watched HIM for a time period. Then HE sent them out on mission’s trips to reach villages. Once they returned from their mission’s trips, HE asked them what happened and used those occasions to train them for future service.
HE explained to the people that followed HIM that HE was the “bread of life.” There is no life without HIM. There is no growth without HIM. There is no hope without HIM.
HE chose twelve men and yet of those one was going to betray HIM. Was HE surprised by this fact? NO!! HE knew it from before the foundation of the world that HE was going to be betrayed. Why would HE pick someone who was going to betray HIM? The reason might be to show that someone can look like a follower and act like a follower and sometimes even do what a normal follower would do but still be someone who is not a genuine follower.
We need to watch who we follow in the human realm. We have to check out those we are following to make sure they are teaching the Word of God correctly. I have stated that those who listen to me need to go into the Word of God to see if it is true. Any author you read on a regular basis needs to be checked out often. Our final authority always has to be the Word of God and prayer for discernment of the Holy Spirit to understand.
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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)
Jesus goes into the mountain alone verse 15
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Disciples gathered leftover food verse 12
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)
Jesus prays for the food verse 11, 23
Gave thanks verse 11, 23
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Passover verse 4
Feast of the Jews verse 4
Synagogue verse 59
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Prophet verse 14
As it is written verse 31
Moses verse 32
Written in the prophets verse 45
Words of eternal life verse 68
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Father verse 27, 32, 37, 39, 44- 65
God the Father seals verse 27
Works of God verse 28, 29
Father gives true bread of heaven verse 32, 33
Father gives believers to Son verse 37, 65
Father sent the Son verse 38, 39, 44
Will of God verse 40
Father draws believers verse 44
Living Father verse 57
Living God verse 69
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Jesus verse 1, 3, 5, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 22, 24, 26, 29, 32, 35, 42, 43, 53, 61, 64, 67, 70
Miracles verse 2, 14, 26
Prophet verse 14
Perceived verse 15
King verse 15
Walking on the sea verse 19- 21
Lord verse 23, 34, 68
Rabbi verse 25
Son of man verse 27, 53, 62
True bread from heaven verse 32, 33, 58
I am verse 35, 48, 51
Bread of life verse 35, 41, 48
Came down from heaven verse 38, 42
Son: sees and believes verse 40
Believers come to Jesus verse 45
Son of Joseph verse 42
Living bread verse 48- 51
Ascension verse 62
Christ verse 69
Son of the living God verse 69
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spirit gives life verse 63
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
God verse 27- 29, 33, 45, 46, 69
Works of God verse 28, 29
Bread of God verse 33
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Devil verse 70
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Afraid verse 19
Believe not verse 36, 64
Murmured verse 41, 43, 61
Betray verse 64, 71
Went back verse 66
Walked no more with Jesus verse 66
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Prove verse 6
Give thanks over food verse 11, 23
Truth verse 14
Labor verse 27
Sealed verse 27
Work the works of God verse 28
Believe verse 29, 30, 35, 40, 47, 69
Life verse 33, 63
Never hunger verse 35
Never thirst verse 35
Will of God to be done verse 38
Drawn by Christ verse 44
Taught verse 45, 59
Heard verse 45
Learned verse 45
Dwelling in Christ verse 56
Are sure verse 69
Chosen verse 70
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Sea of Galilee verse 1
Sea of Tiberias verse 1, 23
Jews verse 4, 41
Capernaum verse 17, 24, 59
Manna – bread from heaven verse 31, 32, 49, 58
Moses verse 32
Joseph verse 42
Fathers ate manna verse 49, 58
Judas Iscariot verse 71
Church (New Testament people of God)
Disciples verse 3, 11, 12, 16, 22, 24, 60, 61
Philip verse 5- 7
Andrew verse 8
Simon Peter verse 8, 68
Twelve verse 67, 70, 71
Last Things (Future Events)
Everlasting life verse 27, 40, 47
Heaven verse 32, 51, 58
Cast out verse 37
Resurrection in the last day verse 40, 44, 54
Last day verse 44, 54
Live for ever verse 51, 58
Eternal life verse 54, 68
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QUOTES regarding passage
5–6 John’s interest concentrates mainly on the relation of this occasion to the disciples. The crowd had come unbidden, prompted by curiosity and eagerness to share in Jesus’ teaching and healing power. As the day declined, Jesus recognized that they were hungry. Desirous of involving the disciples in the responsibility for ministry, Jesus turned to Philip, asking, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” Jesus was not at a loss for a solution to the problem; he wished to educate the disciples by calling their attention to their responsibilities and by leading them to propose some plan of action. (Tenney, M. C. (1981). John. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: John and Acts (Vol. 9, p. 71). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House)
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6:5–6. Jesus’ question to Philip—Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?—was not for information but was part of His program of educating the disciples. Philip was from Bethsaida (1:44) which was the closest town, and he would know the local resources. The answer to Jesus’ question was that it was impossible, humanly speaking, for thousands of people to get bread late in the day from the little neighboring villages. John wrote, as he thought back on the incident, that Jesus was asking this to test Philip. God tests people to refine their faith, never to tempt them to do evil (cf. Gen. 22:1–18; James 1:2, 13–15; 1 Peter 1:7). (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. 293). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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6:5, 6 to test him: This was part of God’s educational program (James 1:3, 13–15; 1 Pet. 1:7). It is for refining Philip’s faith, not tempting him to do evil. (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 1327). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.)
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Thus it was that great throngs sought him (6:1–4). The Lord was still riding the crest of popularity in rural Galilee. The crowds also stirred him (6:5–9). We learn from parallel accounts in the other gospels that they stayed all day listening to his teaching. “The day began to wear away,” says Luke (Luke 9:12). “The day was now far spent,” says Mark (Mark 6:35). “When it was evening,” says Matthew (Matthew 14:15). The Lord’s heart went out in tenderness for this throng which comprised five thousand men besides women and children. The children were getting tired, the disciples impatient; all were hungry. Doubtless Jesus was hungry too, though he never performed a miracle to satisfy his own needs.
The Lord saw in this situation an ideal opportunity to put his disciples to the test. “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” he said, singling out Philip. Philip came from the neighboring town of Bethsaida (1:44). It would require a merchant of no small means with stock on hand sufficient to supply the needs of such a multitude on this short notice. The Lord, of course, was testing Philip, as John hastens to record. He already knew what he intended to do (6:6).
Instead of referring the problem back to Jesus in simple faith, Philip did some mental arithmetic in view of the scope of the problem (6:5b–7). He was staggered. “Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them,” he said, “that every one of them may take a little” (6:7). The crowd by this time was aware that the master had stopped teaching and was now talking to one of his disciples. Were they eagerly and expectantly looking for something to happen?
Since a working man was content with a penny as fair wages for a day’s work (Matthew 20:2), Philip estimated that it would take the best part of two-thirds of a laborer’s annual wages to buy the bare minimum of what would be required—and that would be by no means enough to give everyone a satisfactory meal. The entire idea of buying enough bread was ridiculous. (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Gospel of John: An Expository Commentary (Jn 6:1–7). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)
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Ver. 6. And this he said to prove him, &c.] Or tempting him, trying his faith, and not only his, but the rest of the disciples; not as ignorant of it himself, but in order to discover it to him and them, and to prepare them for the following miracle; and that it might appear the more illustrious and marvellous: for he himself knew what he would do; Christ had determined to work a miracle, and feed the large number of people that were with him, with that small provision they had among them; and being God omniscient, he knew that he was able to do it, and that he was determined to do it, and it would be done; but he was willing first to try the faith of his apostles. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 810). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
Is there anyone on the earth that will be thanking God throughout eternity that you ever lived? You skinned through by the grace of God, but no one will be sorry when you go except your own immediate loved ones – and that is an emotional attachment! Will there be anyone, anywhere, that will say, “I thank God that that man ever lived?” (p. 452, TozerSpeaks, A. W. Tozer)
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Almost four years ago, the Russian parliament approved by a vote of 388-1-1 a draft law outlawing the dissemination of “homosexual propaganda” to minors, prompting the Obama administration to pull out of “civil society” dialogue, WORLD News Service reports. The legislation, backed by the combined efforts of the Kremlin and the Russian Orthodox Church, would also ban public events promoting homosexual rights, charge fines of up to $16,000 for any public displays of “homosexual propaganda,” and block web content inappropriate for younger audiences. After two more readings, it goes to Russian president Vladimir Putin for his signature. The bill, designed to protect minors from the influence of “sodomy, lesbianism, bisexuality and transgenderism,” is part of a growing national trend towards promoting traditional Russian values over Western liberalism.
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Attention has also been given recently to the role of presuppositions, as well as personal and cultural predispositions. The process of engaging theses three aspects has been called the hermeneutical spiral – we spiral from our predispositions and hermeneutics to the exegesis of Scripture and developing our theolog, and then cycle through again, expecting that each cycle will help us grow into a better understanding of God’s Word.
(p. 90, Dispensationalism by Charles C Ryrie)
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Hebrews 8
The old covenant, being imperfect, was replaced by the new covenant based on grace.
INSIGHT
All the major features of the old covenant, which existed on a literal, physical level, are found in the new covenant on a spiritual, heavenly level. The old covenant had a physical sanctuary, a human high priest, and used real animals for sacrifices. This covenant was inadequate in that it could only deal with sins temporarily; it could not remove sins permanently (v. 7). In the new covenant there is a spiritual sanctuary, a heavenly High Priest, and a celestial Lamb whose death provides permanent forgiveness of sin for an infinite number of people. It is a ‘better covenant, which was established on better promises.’ (v. 6). (Quiet Walk)
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Pastor Watson Jones remembers learning to ride a bike. His father was walking alongside when little Watson saw some girls sitting on a porch. “Daddy, I got this!” he said. He didn’t. He realized too late he hadn’t learned to balance without his father’s steadying grip. He wasn’t as grown up as he thought.
Our heavenly Father longs for us to grow up and “become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). But spiritual maturity is different from natural maturity. Parents raise their children to become independent, to no longer need them. Our divine Father raises us to daily depend on Him more.
Peter begins his letter by promising “grace and peace . . . through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,” and he ends by urging us to “grow in” that same “grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18). Mature Christians never outgrow their need for Jesus.
Watson warns, “Some of us are busy slapping Jesus’s hands off the handlebars of our life.” As if we didn’t need His strong hands to hold us, to pick us up, and to hug us when we wobble and flop. We can’t grow beyond our dependence on Christ. We only grow by sinking our roots deeper in the grace and knowledge of Him.
By Mike Wittmer – Daily Bread)
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MYSTICISM
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
John has gone on repeatedly writing about the love of God, and you notice how he never tires of doing so. “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9). “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14). Now [verse 16] he repeats it again. This is because he knew that in his own day and age there were all those so-called mystery religions or curious cults that talked about the love of God; and they all tried to teach that you can know the love of God directly. That is always the characteristic of mysticism; what finally condemns mysticism is that it bypasses the Lord Jesus Christ. Anything that bypasses Christ is not Christian. I do not care what it is, however good, however uplifting or noble; it is Christ who is the manifestation of the love of God, says John.
I do not hesitate, therefore, to aver and to add strongly as follows: I must distrust any emotion that I may have within me with respect to God unless it is based solidly upon the Lord Jesus Christ. In Him God manifested His love. “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Therefore, I say that I must never attempt by any means or method to get to know God or to try to make myself love God except in and through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I must avoid every other direct approach to God, every direct dealing with God.
A Thought to Ponder: Anything that bypasses Christ is not Christian.
(From The Love of God, pp. 145-146, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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They Shall Never Perish
“And I give unto 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.” (John 10:28-29)
What rich blessings Christ promises to those who “hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (v. 27). To think that the omnipotent Creator knows us and gives us eternal life! He is certainly powerful enough to see that this life is in no danger, either from our own weaknesses (“they shall never perish”) or from the enemy without (“pluck them out”). Temporary eternal life simply cannot be. The eternal life that He gives lasts for eternity.
Actually, the promise “they shall never perish” is very strong in the original Greek. A repeating negative precedes the word “perish,” and the specific form of the word “never” literally includes “eternally,” or “forever.” A more complete rendering would then be, “They shall not, in no wise perish, no, not for eternity.”
The word “man” is not in the original, and the word “any” is more properly translated “any one” or “any being.” This includes Satan—no match for the Savior. He is powerless to pluck or snatch us from either the Father’s or the Son’s hands. How could we be any more secure?
Note that the Father gave us to His beloved Son as gifts of His love. In turn, Christ values these precious gifts so much that He holds us securely in His hand, so tightly that no created being can snatch us away. The Father even assists in providing us this security, for we are also in the “Father’s hand,” and “I and my Father are one” (v. 30).
When we consider the size and strength of the Creator’s hand, we can understand why no one, not even Satan, can snatch us out of its protective care.
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Thankfulness depends on what is in your heart, not your hand. God’s will, that we give thanks in everything. Thanks Ernestine M.
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Don’t forget to look !!!
Public Service Announcement to all Residents and visitors.
According to our insider at Warren general hospital, an early morning spider bite was treated. This is believed to be the same species that has been documented in Chicago this past month. Fever, chills, and vomiting, followed by muscular collapse, paralysis, and even death if not treated promptly. There were signs of some unknown toxin in the blood. It was discovered the victim had been camping in The Allegheny National forest near Jakes rocks. After a thorough investigation of the rest area near the campground where the victim used the public restroom. The spider was captured and brought back to the lab, where it was determined to be the South American blush spider. This spider’s venom is extremely toxic, but can take several days to take effect. They live in cold, dark, damp climates, and toilet rims provide just the right atmosphere. The Warren County Health Board ordered an immediate inspection of the toilets in and around Kinzua damn and discovered the Blush spider’s nests on 4 different restrooms! It is now beleived that these spiders can be anywhere in the county. Please contact Nigel Thornberry for any further questions regarding this outbreak.
So please, before you use a public toilet, lift the seat to check for spiders.
It can save your life!
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Daily Hope
Today’s Scripture
Psalm 140
Weekend Scripture: Psalm 141
Early in my childhood my father and brothers taught me how to use a gun to hunt. We spent hours in the backyard learning how to handle and safely discharge the weapon we were handling. My father and older brothers were avid hunters and enjoyed the outdoors. They enjoyed the thrill of tracking and figuring out the habits of game they are hunting. But one cardinal rule was never to point a weapon in the direction of another hunter.
David again, is the author in this psalm. He emphasizes the need to be safe when people desire to do evil and begin to seek him harm. Throughout his life, David had been pursued by individuals who had sought to end his life. The men of King Saul sought him at the king’s command, the Philistines desired to end his life as he was a brilliant soldier of war. As king of Israel, he was a man with a bullseye on his back.
This knowledge of his malicious pursuers led him to cry out to the Lord for protection and deliverance from the evil people that continually planned for war and destruction. In verse 3, David speaks of the words that were used as weapons, verses 2 and 8 describe his enemies’ thoughts and plans for his destruction. His plea was for deliverance and preservation from all the wickedness that was present around him. His prayer was for his God to hear, cover and not grant the desires of the wicked.
While we today may not have people stalking, scheming and intentionally laying a trap to end our lives, we do live in a fallen world where sin abounds, and wickedness is real. People still ensnared by their sinful tendencies need to hear that Jesus’ death paid the penalty for this wickedness and by His resurrection we can be declared righteous before God. Proverbs 15:1-2 states, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly…” May God’s Spirit and His Word prepare us so that when we are confronted by harsh, condemning or untruthful accusations, we respond with the words of Christ!
With an Expectant hope, Pastor Miller
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