Matthew 8

End of the Sermon on the Mount verse 1

When HE was come down from the mountain

great multitudes followed HIM

Leper meets Jesus verse 2

AND BEHOLD – there came a leper – and worshiped HIM

saying

Lord – if YOU will – YOU can make me clean

Jesus heals the leper verse 3- 4

AND Jesus put forth HIS hand – and touched him – saying

I will – Be you clean

AND immediately his leprosy was cleansed

AND Jesus said unto him – See you tell no man

BUT go your way – show yourself to the priest

and offer the gift that Moses commanded

for a testimony unto them

Centurion request Jesus heal his servant verse 5- 6

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum

there came unto HIM a centurion

beseeching HIM

and saying

Lord – my servant lies at home sick of the palsy

grievously tormented

Jesus says HE will go verse 7

Jesus says unto him – I will come and heal him

Centurion feels unworthy for Jesus to enter home verse 8- 9

The centurion answered

and said

Lord – I am not worthy that YOU should come under my roof

BUT speak the word only – AND my servant shall be healed

FOR I am a man under authority – having soldiers under me

AND I say to this man – Go – and he goes

AND to another – Come – and he comes

AND to my servant – Do this – and he does it

Jesus compliments faith of centurion verse 10- 12

WHEN Jesus heard it – HE marveled – and said to them that followed

Verily I say unto you – I have not found so GREAT FAITH

no – not in Israel

AND I say to you

That many shall come from the east and west

and shall sit down with Abraham – Isaac – Jacob

in the kingdom of heaven

BUT the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness

there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth

Jesus heals servant verse 13

AND Jesus said unto the centurion – Go your way

and as you have BELIEVED – so be it done unto you

AND his servant was healed in the selfsame hour

Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law verse 14- 15

And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house

HE saw his wife’s mother laid

and sick with a fever

AND HE touched her hand – and the fever left her –

and she arose and ministered to them

Jesus healings fulfill Scripture verse 16- 17

When the even was come

they brought unto HIM many that were possessed with devils

and HE cast out the spirits with HIS word

and healed all that were sick

THAT it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet

saying

HIMSELF took our infirmities – and bare our sicknesses

Jesus tells disciples to cross the lake verse 18

Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about HIM

HE gave commandment to depart unto the other side

Scribe asks Jesus if he can follow HIM verse 19

AND a certain scribe came – and said unto HIM

Master – I will follow YOU whithersoever YOU go

Jesus replies verse 20

AND Jesus said unto him – The foxes have holes

and the birds of the air have nests

BUT the Son of man has not where to lay HIS head

Another person asks if he can bury his father first verse 21

AND another of HIS disciples said unto HIM

Lord – suffer me first to go and bury my father

Jesus replies verse 22

BUT Jesus said unto him – Follow ME

AND let the dead bury their dead

Jesus calms storm at sea verse 23- 26

And when HE was entered into a ship – HIS disciples followed HIM

AND BEHOLD – there arose a GREAT TEMPEST in the sea

insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves

BUT HE was asleep

AND HIS disciples came to HIM – and awoke HIM – saying

Lord – SAVE US – we perish

AND HE said to them

Why are you fearful – O you of LITTLE FAITH?

THEN HE arose – and rebuked the winds and the seas

AND there was a GREAT CALM

Disciples response to storm being calm verse 27

BUT the men marveled – saying

What manner of MAN is this

that even the winds and the sea OBEY HIM

Jesus met by two demon-possessed men verse 28

AND when HE was come to the other side

into the country of the Gergesenes

there met HIM two possessed with devils

coming out of the tombs

exceeding fierce

so that no man might pass by that way

Demon’s request verse 29- 32

AND BEHOLD – they cried out

saying

What have we to do with YOU – Jesus

YOU Son of God?

Are you come hither to torment us

before THE TIME?

AND there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding

SO the devils besought HIM

saying

IF YOU cast us out – suffer us to go away into the herd of swine

AND HE said unto them

AND when they were come out – they went into the herd of swine

AND BEHOLD the whole herd of swine ran violently down

a steep place into the sea and perished in the waters

Herdsmen respond verse 33- 34

And they that kept them fled – and went their ways into the city

and told everything and what was befallen

to the possessed of the devils

AND BEHOLD – the whole city came out to meet Jesus

AND when they saw HIM

they besought HIM that

HE would DEPART out of their coasts

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 4 And Jesus said to him, See you tell no man; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded for a testimony to them. (1435 “gift” [doron] means offering, present, of sacrifices and other gifts offered to God, an offering to a deity, offering box, sacrifice or contributed.)

DEVOTION: Jesus wasn’t in this world to gain glory for HIMSELF. HE wants the people to understand that HE came to give glory to the Father. HE wanted the Israelites to understand that HE was come to fulfill the Law of Moses not to give another law for them to follow. HE commanded him to go to the priest for the official examination to see if the leprosy was gone and then to offer the sacrifice that God required through HIS instructions to Moses for him to offer.

HE wanted the man who was healed to give a public testimony to the truth that he had been cleansed by Jesus.

We are to give a public testimony to all that Jesus is doing for us today. During testimony times in many churches there are few that really realize all the LORD is doing for them on a daily basis. When asked to stand up and give a testimony many will just pick a hymn rather than make any statement to the work of God in their life.

We need to be willing to give a testimony in church each time we have an opportunity. I thought recently that after a time of testimony our family was going to go forward to dedicate our granddaughter that we would have a opportunity to give a testimony regarding the joy we had to see one of our grandchildren dedicated to the LORD. So I waited until after testimony time to give a testimony but was never given an opportunity to give one. I was wrong for waiting. We need to never wait to give a testimony for the LORD.

Once we are in the habit of giving a testimony in church we should feel free to give one in public. That means on an airplane or at work or anywhere we are together with another person who needs to know the LORD.

CHALLENGE: Are you giving testimonies on a regular basis to those around you?

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 10 When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.(2296 “marveled” [thaumazo] means amazed, wonder, have in admiration, be surprised, or have respect for)

DEVOTION: Jesus was impressed at the faith of the Centurion. As a Roman soldier he was a man of authority. He was used to people taking orders when he gave a command. He was a man of power. Here he finds himself in a position of a servant. He feels that he us unworthy of the LORD Jesus Christ even entering his home. He understands the power of faith. He understood the power that was available to Jesus.

He asked Jesus not to come to his home but to just say the word and his servant would be healed. It had “great faith” according to Jesus. HE had not seen this type of faith anywhere in the hearts of the children of Israel. It was not even in the hearts of HIS disciples yet. HE complimented this Roman soldier.

Jesus used this occasion to show the difference between those who were chosen and those who were not chosen. The children of the kingdom of Israel had many who were not obedient to the Word of God. They were not chosen, so they would spend eternity where there was outer darkness and weeping and gnashing of teeth. That only describes one place which is the lake of fire where all those who reject Jesus Christ will spend eternity with the devil and his angels.

Jesus was a teacher with no fear of what HE had to say to get the attention of those who pretended they wanted to follow HIM. HE wanted people to understand that there were only two locations for eternity. There was no middle ground where people could go to suffer for a little while and then enter heaven. It was either heaven or hell.

HE was the only way to enter heaven.

CHALLENGE: When the LORD looks at our faith what does HE see? Trust or doubt in HIS ability to work in our world.

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: 14 And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, HE saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick with a fever. (3994 “wife’s mother” [penthera] means mother-in-law, or the mother of a person’s spouse.)

DEVOTION: Healing is one part of the ministry of Jesus. HE preached the good news of the gospel to all those who would listen to HIS preaching. HE gave them a choice to make regarding where they would spend eternity. HE also taught the people. HE taught them the difference between the use of the Ten Commandments and what the Pharisees were teaching. HE wanted them to know the difference between being religious and being a true follower of HIM. It was more than just an outward appearance, it was a change of heart which affected the inner man to the point that he wanted to change to be more like Christ.

When we come to Christ HE accepts us just as we are but also wants us to realize that we are going to change over time if we are true followers. That change will be evident to us and to those around us. They will see a difference. We are not to be the same man or woman we were when we first became believers.

Now we face the issue of interpreting Scripture as a believer who wants to grow in the LORD. This passage helps us understand that first of all Peter was married. He had a mother-in-law that needed healing from the LORD.

Second we have to realize that the LORD didn’t heal everyone who was alive while HE walked this earth. HE healed all those who came to HIM for the purpose of showing that HE was the Son of God. Does this mean that God will heal everyone today that asks HIM? Is divine healing a part of the ministry today for all believers? We would like all those around us to be healed of whatever is happening in their life. Paul had a servant that almost died because he was so busy serving the LORD. Some people today are not healed. Does that mean that God has lost HIM power to heal? NO!! HE can still heal but James instructs us to call the elders and have them pray over the sick. We need to watch that we don’t think that because someone is not healed they have sinned and deserve what is happening to them. Sometimes God uses those who have an ailment to be a good witness for the LORD before HE takes them home to heaven.

We are presently praying for a healing of a fifteen year old girl that had a gymnastic accident that has left her paralyzed from the shoulders down. We want her healed. God is in control and HE might want to use her just the way she is for now. I wish all those who are paralyzed that are believers could be healed. It is not happening because that is not God’s plan for everyone.

Don’t let anyone tell you that because your faith is weak you are not healed. It is not Biblical. It usually hurts the faith of those who want to be healed.

CHALLENGE: Pray for healing but accept HIS answer.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, YOU Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? (928 “torment” [basanizo] means to question by applying torture, to vex with grievous pain, suffer, be in pain, harass, vex, experience anguish or to be harassed)

DEVOTION: Jesus is coming down out of the mountain from teaching HIS disciples. HE is met with a leper, a soldier, and Peter’s mother-in-law’s fever. HE heals them all. That evening HE is met with a large group that needs healing and HE does it. WOW! What a day to be around the LORD. However, the next verses have some of HIS disciples coming to HIM with excuses of why they didn’t want to follow HIM right away. Would we have done that after a great day of healing?

After a day like that, it would seem good to have a day of sleep. Jesus entered into a boat with the disciples and went to sleep. However, a storm came up and the disciples thought they were going to die. They woke up Jesus to have HIM do something about the storm. HE did and they were amazed. Now they had just witnessed HIM heal many people of sicknesses.

Now HE lands on the other side of the lake and two men greet HIM that are possessed of an evil spirit or a fallen angel. This happens today as well. Jesus tells the demons to leave the men alone. They are afraid of Jesus and ask if HE would ALLOW them to go into a herd of swine. HE does. The swine die. The swine keepers run to the city to tell the owners what has happened. The come out and tell Jesus to leave their town. What gratitude!!!

The evil demons are presented in this passage as those who know the LORD and the future. Remember that there is only ONE devil called Satan in Scripture. He has an army of fallen angels called demons. Some of the fallen angels want to possess human bodies. Some of the fallen angels are in chains. Some of the fallen angels have other responsibilities. None of the fallen angels, including the devil, are presently in hell or the lake of fire.

In this verse we find that the demons are possessing men in an area that Jesus was traveling. Jesus wants to cast the demons out. The demons don’t want to be cast out by Jesus. They know HIS proper name: Son of God. They know that there is going to be a future time when there is only going to be a place of grievous pain waiting for them. They don’t want to go to that place until they have too. Remember that they were causing grievous pain to these two men before the demons left them. They wanted to dish it out but they didn’t want to take it.

If the demons know that there is a future place of torture, should those outside of Christ realize it too? In the back of every human mind there is the thought of an afterlife. Some try to hide it but it is there. We need to share the truth of the Word of God with all that we meet. There is only ONE WAY to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ.

CHALLENGE: We have the message. Share it!!! Many books say that it takes over 80 Christians to win one to the LORD. Let’s be one of the eighty. One other stat that is out there is that only five (5) percent of those who claim to be Christians try to win someone to Christ.

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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)

Jesus received worship from a leper verse 2

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Moses commanded verse 4

Isaiah the prophet fulfilled verse 17

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

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

Jesus called Lord verse 2, 6, 8, 21, 25

Jesus called Master verse 19

Jesus calls HIMSELF – Son of Man verse 20

Jesus called man verse 25

Sea obeyed Jesus verse 27

Jesus called Son of God by demons verse 29

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

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

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

Evil angels called devils (demons) verse 16, 28, 31, 33

Evil angels called spirits verse 16

Evil angels talked with Jesus verse 29

Evil angels called Jesus – Son of God verse 29

Evil angels knew about FUTURE JUDGMENT verse 29

Evil angels ask Jesus to put them in swine verse 31

Evil angels can be cast out by Jesus verse 31

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

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

Possessed with demons verse 16, 22, 28

Infirmities verse 17

Sicknesses verse 17

Fearful verse 26

Little faith verse 26

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

Worship verse 2

Clean [healed] verse 2, 3, 7, 8, 13- 17

Gift verse 4

Testimony verse 4

Great faith verse 10

Believed verse 13

Follow Jesus verse 19, 22

Save (Deliver from storm) verse 25

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

Kingdom of heaven verse 11

Cast out into outer darkness (hell) verse 12

Weeping and gnashing of teeth (hell) verse 12

Torment angels verse 29

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QUOTES regarding passage

10 In Mark 6:6 Jesus is astonished at deeply rooted unbelief. Here he is astonished (same verb) at the faith of the centurion. “Though amazement is not appropriate for God, seeing it must arise from new and unexpected happenings, yet it could occur in Christ, inasmuch as he had taken on our human emotions, along with our flesh” (Calvin). Jesus spoke to those following him (not necessarily his disciples; cf. Mt 4:25; 8:1) with the prefatory notice (“I tell you”; cf. on 5:22) that warns of the solemn remark to follow.

Jesus commended the man’s faith (cf. also v. 13). The greatness of his faith did not rest in the mere fact that he believed Jesus could heal from a distance but in the degree to which he had penetrated the secret of Jesus’ authority. That faith was the more surprising since the centurion was a Gentile and lacked the heritage of OT revelation to help him understand Jesus. But this Gentile penetrated more deeply into the nature of Jesus’ person and authority than any Jew of his time. Matthew’s words stress even more than Luke’s the uniqueness of the centurion’s faith and underline the movement of the gospel from the Jews to the Gentiles, or rather from the Jews to all people regardless of race—a movement prophesied in the OT, developed in Jesus’ ministry (see on 1:1, 3–5; 2:1–12; 3:9–10; 4:15–16), and commanded by the Great Commission (28:18–20). “This incident is a preview of the great insight which came later through another centurion’s faith, ‘Then to the Gentiles God has granted repentance unto life’ (Acts 11:18)” (France, “Exegesis,” p. 260). (Carson, D. A. (1984). Matthew. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, p. 202). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

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So great faith (τοσαυτην πιστιν [tosautēn pistin]). In a Roman centurion and greater than in any of the Jews. In like manner Jesus marvelled at the great faith of the Canaanitish woman (Matt. 15:28) (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Mt 8:10). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)

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When Jesus said He would go and heal him, the centurion replied that would not be necessary. As a man who was used to giving orders, he understood the principle of authority. One with authority does not need to be present to accomplish a task. Orders may be carried out by others even at a distance. Jesus marveled at the centurion’s great faith (cf. Matt. 15:28), for this was the kind of faith He was vainly looking for in Israel. Faith such as this made entrance into His kingdom possible, regardless of national, racial, or geographical residence (the East and the West). (Eating at a banquet often pictured being in the kingdom; cf. Isa. 25:6; Matt. 22:1–14; Luke 14:15–24.) But those who thought they would automatically gain entrance because of their religious backgrounds (they considered themselves subjects [lit., “sons”] of the kingdom) would not find entrance (Matt. 8:12). Instead they would be cast into judgment (thrown outside, into the darkness; cf. 22:13). Regarding weeping and gnashing of teeth, see comments on 13:42. In light of this centurion’s faith, Jesus healed his servant at that very hour. (Barbieri, L. A., Jr. (1985). Matthew. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 37). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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Twice in the Gospels it is recorded that Jesus marveled: here, at the great faith of the Gentile centurion; and in Mark 6:6, at the great unbelief of the Jews. Matthew recorded two “Gentile” miracles: this one, and the healing of the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman (Matt. 15:21–28). In both cases, the Lord was impressed with their great faith. This is an early indication that the Jews would not believe, but the Gentiles would. Also, in both of these miracles, our Lord healed from a distance. This was a reminder of the spiritual position of the Gentiles “afar off” (Eph. 2:12). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 33). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)

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8:10–12 he was amazed. Since the officer was a Gentile, his astonishing faith (cf. 9:2, 22, 29; 15:28; 21:21 and contrast “little faith” in 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8) became the occasion of an even more astonishing teaching. Matthew 15:21–28 contains a very similar story.

those who were following him. This phrase implies discipleship at some level, and it likely includes both the inner circle and the crowd that was less committed to Jesus (cf. 8:1).

many Gentiles will come from all over the world. After contrasting the Gentile officer’s faith with the lack of faith shown by many Jews, Jesus spoke of the future Kingdom as a time when “many Gentiles” (“Gentiles” is not in the Gr. text but is a correct interpretation) from all over the world (cf. Ps 107:3; Isa 2:2–3) would sit with Abraham and the patriarchs, enjoying the great eschatological feast (cf. Isa 25:6–9; Matt 22:1–14; 25:10; Luke 14:15–16; Rev 19:9), while many Israelites would be excluded. Thus, the officer became a forerunner or harbinger of future Gentile salvation, a theme related to Matthew’s stress on the universal mission of the church (28:20).

The presence of many Gentiles at the feast signals a reversal in which many Israelites, “those for whom the Kingdom was prepared” (NLT; lit. “the sons of the Kingdom”; cf. the metaphor in 9:15; 23:15), will not experience its glories. Instead of being the privileged companions of the patriarchs at a banquet where they would sink their teeth into a sumptuous meal, they will be thrown into a horrible place of darkness (the opposite of Christ’s light in 4:16; cf. 22:13; 25:30), where they will grind their teeth in pain (cf. 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30). This frightening imagery achieves for the reader one of the most sobering moments of Matthew’s story of Jesus and his teaching. Yet one must note that Matthew’s reversal and “universalism” must be qualified by the word “many,” which describes both the included Gentiles and the excluded Jews. The reversal is not as “absolute” as some indicate (e.g., Hagner 1993:206). For the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s plan, see also 1:1, 3–5; 2:1–12; 3:9–10; 4:15–16; 15:21–28. For the exclusion of unbelieving Jews, see 3:9–10; 21:43. (Turner, D., & Bock, D. L. (2005). Cornerstone biblical commentary, Vol 11: Matthew and Mark (p. 125). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.)

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Ver. 10. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, &c.] Which must be understood of him as man; for as God, nothing could present itself unto him at unawares, unthought of, and not known before; and so could not raise admiration in him, and which cannot properly fall on a divine person: or he behaved, both by words and gesture, as persons do when they are astonished at anything; and this he might do, to raise the attention and wonder of those that were with him: and said to them that followed. This agrees perfectly with the account that Luke gives, that Christ was set out, with the messengers the centurion sent unto him, in order to come to his house, and heal his servant, and these that followed him were his disciples, and so some copies read, and others that were following him thither to see the miracle. Verily, I say unto you; a strong asseveration, and which Christ used, when he was about to deliver anything of considerable importance, and required attention: I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel; that is, among the people of Israel: so the Arabic version reads it, in any of Israel; and the Persic, among the children of Israel; and is to be understood, not of the patriarchs and prophets, and other eminent believers, which were in Israel formerly; but of the men of the then present generation, his mother and his apostles being excepted: though it may be questioned, whether the apostles themselves as yet, had expressed such a strong faith in him, as this man: or it may have a particular respect to them in Israel, who had applied to him for healing, and had been healed by him; that he had not met with and observed any such expression of faith, in his divine power from them, as this centurion had delivered. And it was the more remarkable, that it came from a Gentile, and from a soldier too: but as great as it was, he did not exceed it; he did not ascribe more to Christ than was proper, and which, by the way, is a clear proof of our Lord’s divinity: for had he not been truly God, he would have rebuked, and not have commended this man’s faith in him: who ascribed that power to him, which is peculiar to God: he is so far from finding fault with him, for thinking or speaking so highly of him, that he praises him for it, and prefers his faith in him, to any instance of it he had met with among the Israelites; who yet had far greater advantages of knowing him, and believing in him. There is a phrase in the Talmud somewhat like this, only used of a person of a different character; where a certain Jew, observing another called by some of his neighbours Rabbi, thus expressed himself; “If this be a Rabbi, אל ירבו כמותו בישראל, let there not be many such as he in Israel.” And it is said of Nadab and Abihu, “that two such were not found כוותייהו בישראל, as they in Israel.” (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 79). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

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FROM MY READING:

Romans 1
Paul emphasizes the importance of the gospel message.
INSIGHT

According to Romans 1:18-20, all people have two avenues for beginning to learn about God. First, all human beings have an inner awareness of God or conscience (v. 19). Second, they can look at nature and learn several truths about God: (1) His invisible attributes—beauty, intelligence, etc.; (2) His eternal power—what awesome power it takes to put the stars in place!; (3) His divine nature—that there is a God who is higher than man and nature. Whenever anyone looks at nature and honestly searches his own heart, he can know that there is a God. (Quiet Walk)

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PROCLAMATION
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you. 1 John 1:3
The lack of proclamation in the preaching of the church accounts for so much of the present state of the church and the present state of the world and of society. A man standing in a Christian pulpit has no business in saying, “I suggest to you” or “Shall I put it to you” or “On the whole, I think” or “I am almost persuaded” or “The results of research and knowledge and speculation all seem to point in this direction.” No! “These things declare we unto you.”
The old charge that has so often been brought up against the Church and her preachers is that we are dogmatic; but the preacher who is not dogmatic is not a preacher in the New Testament sense. We should be modest about our own opinions and careful as to how we voice our own speculations. But here, thank God, we are not in such a realm; we are not concerned about such things. We do not put forward a theory that commends itself to us as a possible explanation of the world and what we can do about it; the whole basis of the New Testament is that here is an announcement, a proclamation–those are New Testament words.
The Gospel, according to the New Testament, is a herald; it is like a man with a trumpet who is calling people to listen. There is nothing tentative about what he has to say; something has been delivered to him, and his business is to repeat it. It is not the business of the messenger, first and foremost, to examine the credentials of the message”he is to deliver it. We are ambassadors, and the business of the ambassador is not to say to the foreign country what he thinks or believes; it is to deliver the message that has been delivered to him by his home government. That is the position of these New Testament preachers, and that is how John puts it here. “I have an amazing thing to reveal,” he says in essence.
A Thought to Ponder: The gospel is like a man with a trumpet who is calling people to listen. (From Fellowship with God, pp. 46-47, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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I will try to show you this in terms of this second chapter of Hebrews, for it is all there. The first thing it does is this. The way of salvation in Jesus Christ shows us the character of God as the supreme governor of the universe. “For it became him,” said the writer, “for whom are all things, and by whom are all things….” (2:10). God is not only maker and Creator and sustainer of everything that is, he is the supreme governor of the universe in every respect. Everything is balanced, as it were, by Him; nothing happens apart from him. He keeps it all going. God is to be obeyed and worshiped and glorified. The whole meaning and purpose of creation is to manifest the glory of God, and that is especially the great purpose of mankind, “Man’s chief end” as the Westminister Catechism puts it,”is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” The heavens declare his glory; everything is meant to glorify God, the great governor of the cosmos. (p.105-6, A Merciful and Faithful High Priest)

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Daily Hope

Today’s Scripture Ecclesiastes 4: 9-16

There is an adage that states “there is no ‘I’ in team”. While that is very true, the writer of Ecclesiastes would have also agreed that teamwork is essential in every area of life. Where one can accomplish a task in perhaps a short time, two working in unison can accomplish the task in half the time.

Whether it is labor or getting up off the ground after falling, it is easier when there is assistance. The work, accident, staying warm or defense of a position is always accomplished more thoroughly with aid. Ronald Reagan stated, “By working together, pooling our resources and building on our strengths, we can accomplish great things.” Solomon, after working on experiments and observing the nature of man, concluded that there is power in being unified and working together as a team.

He further warns that those who work together must be flexible and attentive to people around their sphere of influence. The aged king, who refuses to listen to counsel is replaceable with a younger king because of the youth’s ability to gain the popular opinion regardless of his past activities or financial status (vv.13-15).

The value of having a team around you to encourage, strengthen and assist in leadership is vital. Solomon’s warning was life is fleeting and relationships are important no matter what our occupation or responsibilities.

Our greatest relationship is with the Lord Jesus Christ, if you have not been cultivating that connection recently, I would urge you to take a moment and spend some time in reading and praying before moving on to your next task of the day. A.W. Tozer realized this and said, “God is looking for those with whom He can do the impossible – what a pity that we plan only the things that we can do by ourselves.” Two are better than one especially if One is the Lord! Christ is our greatest Team Member!

With an Expectant hope, Pastor Miller

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