Don’t let the the
Fast: tsom – a primitive root; to cover over (the mouth), i.e., to fast (Strong’s Analytical Lexicon)
But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. – 2 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV)
We are to when we pray even if the answer is not
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up (not become discouraged [NASB], not lose heart [ESV]) – Luke 18:1 (NIV)
God wants to see my
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you. My Father is honored (doxazo: glorified) by this, that you bear much fruit and show that you are my disciples.
– John 15:7-8 (NET)
There are of prayers
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. – Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)
The Prayer of and
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. …for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. – Hebrews 13:15-16 (ESV)
Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us… – Psalms 67:5-7 (CWSB)
The Prayer of
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. – Romans 8:14 (NIV)
The Prayer of Petition
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions (aitema) that we have asked of Him.
– 1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition (aitema), with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
Petition: aitema – ask, petition (CWSB), petition, request, required (OTESD)
Petition: a formal written request made to an authority or organized body (such as a court) (MW)
The single most important rule of the Prayer of Petition:
I have to the of God
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. – Genesis 2:18 (NIV)
God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it… – Genesis 1:28 (NASB 2020)
I can have “confidence” because God will say anything in His word and then
I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. – Psalms 89:34 (NIV)
Example: Acts 4:23-30
The Prayer of Petition requires
There is a time between: (so be it) and
…that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
– Hebrews 6:12 (NKJV)
In the middle time I
(while I let God work in the and in )
…and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore… – Ephesians 6:13-14 (NASB)
I God in for the
Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving… – Colossians 4:2 (ASV)
2 Chronicles 20
Jehoshaphat:
Is facing an (vv.1-2)
My impossible situation:
Decides to the Lord and proclaims a
Prays the not the (vv.5-9)
Turns the problem (v.12)
Notice: In the time of fasting and seeking the Lord, God speaks and gives:
Words of (v.15)
A and (v.16)
Promise of and (v.17)
instead of (v.25)
Their response: “Let’s just ” (vv.18-19)
Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against… (the impossible situation)
– 2 Chronicles 20:22 (NKJV)
God gave the in their impossible situation
In the Bible people who fasted had
Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit (v.1) …forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing… (v.2) And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding region. (v.14) – Luke 4 (NASB)
(Paul) (in) …labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
– 2 Corinthians 11:27 (ASV)
God speaks and gives when we fast
While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, (nesteia) the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, when they had fasted (nesteia) and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. – Acts 13:2-3 (NASB95)
We live at
We idle at
God speaks at
People fasted for , , and
the of their
Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. – Ezra 8:21 (NKJV)
(Ezra) The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. – Ezra 8:31 (NIV)
But mark this: There will be terrible (violent [GWT], perilous [KJV]) times in the last days. – 2 Timothy 3:1 (NIV)
Dieting is the of calories
Fasting is the of calories
Fasting is a key to building
…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema) of God. – Romans 10:17 (NKJV)
On a fast day…read the words of the LORD… – Jeremiah 36:6 (NAB)
Pray the not the
God uses fasting to change not
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, – 2 Peter 1:2-4 (NASB)
But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
– Matthew 6:17-18 (NKJV)
Joy is an of followers of Christ
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…
-Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB95)
Joy is our to what God has
שִׂמְחָה, śimḥâ – closely associated with victories over one’s enemies
Joy is through
Components of Worldly Happiness:
Happiness is
Happiness is on
Happiness is
Happiness is a
Happiness portrays , but it’s
Components of Biblical Joy:
Joy is
…In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore… – Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)
Joy is circumstances
Joy is
…rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory – 1 Peter 1:8
Joy is
Joy is because of our
Sorrow is our of no
Sorrow is the repentance
Anger joy
Happiness can
When there is a , we need to pause and
“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
– Luke 15:4-7 (NASB95)
was by God to lead us
Acknowledge His
Know of His
Draw in the
“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. – John 15:9-11 (NASB95)
Consider His
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
– Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; Behold, a virgin will be with child and Bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” – Isaiah 7:14 (NASB95)
Immanuel: With us is God Im: with El: God
(Chapter 1:31) Jesus: Jehovah the Saviour (Easton’s)
(Chapter 2:4)
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from old, From everlasting.” – Micah 5:2 (NKJV)
The Angel Announced the Gospel of Mega Joy
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news (euaggelizo) of great (megas) joy that will be for all the people.” – Luke 2:10 (NIV)
euaggelizo: to announce good news, especially the gospel
“And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.
– 2 Corinthians 6:18 (NASB)
For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23 (ASV)
And they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby (brephos) as He lay in the manger. – Luke 2:16 (NASB)
As Matthew 2 begins Jesus is about
The Magi were considered the (vv.1-3)
It’s three , not three
Magi: a magus – the name given by the Babylonians (Chaldaeans), Medes, Persians, and others, to the wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, augurs, soothsayers, sorcerers etc. (Thayer’s)
(About 530 BC) Now listen! It will be 49 years plus 434 years from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One (Mashiach Nagid: Messiah the Prince [KJV]) comes! Jerusalem’s streets and walls will be rebuilt despite the perilous times. “After this period of 434 years, the Anointed One (mashiach) will be killed… – Daniel 9:25-26 (TLB)
Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him. – Revelation 9:1-2 (NASB95)
When the Magi show up Jesus is a living in not a
On coming to the house (oikia), they saw the child (paydion) with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. – Matthew 2:11 (NIV)
Child: paydion – a young child, a little boy, a little girl (Thayer’s)
Their gifts acknowledge who Jesus is: (v.11)
Gold – For a
Frank-incense – For a
Myrrh – embalming spice – For His
Mary and Joseph become (v.11)
Treasure: thesaurus – wealth (Strong’s)
(vv.12-13)
God speaks to those who Him for is
God speaks to the of the family
And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man – Matthew 1:19 (NASB95)
God speaks for
God speaks to those who will He says
God spoke to give the
Acting on what God says will mean of what is known and stepping into the
God’s plan usually involves leaving our
…but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. – Matthew 1:25 (NASB95)
“Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? “And His sisters, are they not all with us? – Matthew 13:55-56 (NASB95)
Doing what God says isn’t always , but it’s always
When not hearing, ask what was the God said
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God – Romans 8:14 (NASB)
(vv.1-5) Jesus’ Point: One decision or
(Jesus) …unless you repent (metanoeō), you will all likewise perish (apollumi). (vv.3&5) (NASB)
Repent: metanoeō – to undergo a change in frame of mind and feeling, to repent, (Luke 17:3, 4); to make a change of principle and practice, to reform (MCED)
Perish: apollumi – to destroy fully, perish, die (OTESD)
Repented??? There should be (vv.6-9)
Point: If there is no change
God’s heart revealed: (vv.8-9)
Healing on the Sabbath (vv.10-17)
Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. – 1 John 4:4 (ASV)
THE GREAT DIVIDE (Two Warnings)
Warning: The Parable of the Mustard Seed (vv.18-19)
…as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up…”These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them…It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is the smallest of all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants, and forms large branches, with the result that THE BIRDS OF THE SKY can NEST UNDER its shade.”
– Mark 4:4, 14-15 & 31-32 (NASB)
Birds are within the Church
…impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. – 2 Timothy 3:13 (NASB)
Warning: Parable of the Leaven (vv. 20-21)
(Jesus) Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. – Luke 12:1 (NASB)
Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened… – 1 Corinthians 5:6-7 (NASB77)
Leaven is always a symbol of
The Woman: Three measures equaled a
Jesus asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God with? It is like this. A woman takes some yeast and mixes it with a bushel of flour until the whole batch of dough rises.” – Luke 13:20-21 (GN)
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. – 2 Peter 2:1 (NASB)
When a church embraces some “Bird’s Nest” it loses its focus on
(Jesus) …unless you repent, you will all likewise perish… (v.3) (NASB)
Where does it lead? (vv.22-24)
Question: So who will be saved? (vv.22-30)
The real question is not will be saved but whether or not be saved (v.24)
Jesus never for the of the door
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
– John 14:6 (NASB95)
Jesus speaks to as the listens in (v.1)
(vv.36-38)
His
(v.41) Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” – Luke 12:41 (NIV)
Jesus is speaking to those who to be stewards
This pertains to those who understand that they are simply
of what to the
And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise steward (oikonomos) whom the Lord will set over his house servants (therapeia), to give the portion of food in season? – Luke 12:42 (LITV)
Steward: oikonomos – one put in charge of a household or estate, a community official in charge of public funds and properties treasurer (Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament)
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God – Romans 8:14 (NASB)
A steward is one who brings to those that
House servants: therapeía – to heal, serve. Voluntary service, ministry, healing (CWSBD)
I am a steward of His when He gets the
(v.43)
The “doing” is what to the
The “doing” is (therapia) to those
The Broader Context: The “doing” is for His (vv.37,38,40)
Point: I manage what is
determines I manage returns
Inappropriate behavior is linked to
that (v.45)
Possibly Jesus uses to make a point (v.46)
Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus – Romans 8:1 (NASU)
Point: Knowledge brings (vv.47-48)
(vv.49-53)
The fire of the (v.49)
First Jesus will go through a baptism of (v.50)
For Disciples: Knowing Jesus brings (v.51)
Now Jesus speaks to the (vv. 54-56)
(vv.58-59)
We are going to before a
… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, – Romans 3:23 (NASB)
There is a case against me
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23 (NASB95)
I need to before I get to the judge
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household.” – Acts 16:30-32 (NIV)
Intro:
God loves human beings. God loves the world. Not an ideal human, but human beings as they are; not an ideal world, but the real world. What we find repulsive in their opposition to God, what we shrink back from with pain and hostility… this is for God the ground of unfathomable love.” – Deitrich Bonhoeffer
The heart of Jesus is to…
Offer a (v.9)
He welcomes the and the
“For if you love those that love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”
– Matthew 5:46 (NASB95)
He a but opportunity
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” – Romans 10:13-15 (ESV)
The heart of Jesus is to…
Give a amount of to who Him (v.10)
In the ancient world generally a shared meal was a clear sign of identification, and for a Jewish religious teacher to share a meal with such people was scandalous, let alone to do so in an unclean house of a tax collector.
– R.T. France NICNT
He is in the of
He is his to be the
The heart of Jesus is to…
Lead into a life of (vv.11-13)
Religious and do not bring about
The of working and His people is the key to transformation
Conclusion:
Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah – Psalms 3:8 (NKJV)
(vv.36-38)
The Master was
The Master has
The Master is
The servants are to be for His
Blessed are those servants, whom the lord (master [ESV]) when he cometh shall find watching (v.37) (CWSB)
Watching: grēgoreō – to be awake, to watch, to be watchful, vigilant (MCED)
The waiting is (v.36)
His Question: am I ?
Waiting: prosdechomai – to admit (to intercourse, hospitality, credence, or endurance); by implication, to await (with confidence or patience)
… but through love serve one another. – Galatians 5:13 (NASB95)
Who gets served when the Master returns? Those who are and for His return (v.37)
Doesn’t matter when He comes, (v.38)
In our story the servants apparently know the just not the (They know the )
Jesus tells us that this parable is about (v.40)
Jesus says we won’t know the hour:
Hour: hora – hour, a time, season (CWSB Dictionary)
In the last days Israel becomes a again
…you will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It shall come about in the last days that I will bring you against My land – Ezekiel 38:16 (NASB)
…whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate – Ezekiel 38:8 (NIV)
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. (37 [NIV]) It will be the same at the coming of the Son of Man. (39 [NET]) – Matthew 24:37-39
…and the earth was filled with violence (hamas) – Genesis 6:11 (NASB)
Violence: חָמַס – ḥâmas – a primitive root; to be violent (OTESD)
You must understand this: In the last days there will be violent (chalepos) periods of time. – 2 Timothy 3:1-2 (GWT)
Violent: chalepos – violent, fierce, difficult, grievous (CWSB)
Those in will not recognize the
For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety (security [ESV])!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; – 1 Thessalonians 5:2-7 (NASB95)
People in church believe that God creation into
Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue just as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water – 2 Peter 3:3-5 (NASB)
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned – Romans 5:12 (NIV)
“I the LORD do not change. – Malachi 3:6 (NIV)
The blessing involves (Genesis 13:2)
Genesis 17:6-9
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants (seed [NIV]), heirs according to promise. – Galatians 3:29 (NASB)
He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. – Galatians 3:14 (NIV)
What does the blessing of Abraham look like in his descendants (Us)?
in a (Genesis 26:1 & 12-13)
in a place (Genesis 30:43)
in the most circumstances (Genesis 39:2-3)
Jesus teaches as the listens in (v.1)
(vv.16-21)
He was by God, but toward God because he God from all that God had blessed him with (v.21)
God calls him (v.20)
He says, “don’t …” not “don’t …” (v.22)
(v.24)
Ravens are , they have no
They/We have never seen a raven
And…they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination…Every raven after his kind – Leviticus 11:13-15 (CWSB)
(vv.25-28)
Worry is doubting (v.25)
Some are not rich toward God because in their of God they believe that God take care of them as the lilies/grass
Jesus says God will take care of us
(vv. 29-30)
When I hold on to and (God’s blessing) to the point that I from God
He says, “I’m like the world”
and I’m like the world
And do not set your heart (strive for [CSB]) on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it (v.29) (NIV)
To “seek [God’s] kingdom” means to live as His (NIV COMM) (v.31)
(v.32)
, (v. 22) , (v.23) and (v. 28) are issues of
this
The context implies that He wants to give us His kingdom in this
Fear (phobeo) not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. – Luke 12:32 (CWSB)
Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, 30but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.” – Mark 10:29-31 (NASB)
(v.33-34)
My follows my
If my treasure isn’t in God’s kingdom, then my isn’t there either
If I want my to be in God’s kingdom, I will have to put my there