Download this sermon (right click and save)
Finish the Race
(2Ti4:5-8)
God has a will.
His will does not change (He6:17-18) and
What He speaks He does (Nu23:19).
Faith is believing Him and fearing Him, and
The life of this faith is completing the task one has been given.
The characteristic of those who are successful in the world are that
In the face of adversity they are consistent with their words and actions,
While the common traits of those who do not do well in anything are that
They make excuses and complaints, and do not finish what they had set out to do initially
(“Dragon’s head, serpent’s tail”).
Nevertheless, there is no error in the Bible for it contains the infallible word of God.
During the creation, by His word, God created all things (Ge1):
“God said” and “there was” and “God saw that it was good.”
In spite of the fact that God said to Adam, “Do not eat…you will surely die” (Ge2:17),
Deceived by the devil who said, “you will not surely die,” Adam sinned (Ge3:4-6).
Thus, the living being died and the last Adam died fulfilling God’s word (Eph2:1; 1Co15:15).
The dispensation of the offspring of the woman coming and crushing the devil began (Ge3:15).
Noah and his family did everything as God commanded about building the ark (Ge6:13-22).
So they were saved from the judgement by the deluge that wiped out everything that breathes.
But Lot’s wife, though followed the angel’s warning and left Sodom to escape its destruction,
Ultimately disobeyed God’s word and looked back, turning into a pillar of salt (Ge19:1, 13-17, 26).
By doing everything God commanded him of
Giving his “only son” as a “burnt offering” “on a mountain [God] will show” him,
Abraham received the covenant of blessing regarding a seed (Ge22:2, 16-18).
The exodus of Israel the event that was fulfilled for
Moses did everything that God had commanded (Ex3:10, 4:12).
To remind this for generations God instructed them to build the sanctuary and
Moses did it just as God commanded and wrote it down accordingly (Ex25:9, 40:17-35).
Israel’s conquer of Jericho (Jos6:2-20) was
The result of following God’s command of putting the ark ahead of them to the end.
However, they were cursed repeatedly for
They neglected and disobeyed the LORD’s commands, decrees and laws (Neh1:3-7).
Yeshua appeared and said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,”
Because through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-21)
He would speak and do, not the words delivered through angel in Jehovah’s name (He2:2),
But the Father’s words spoken by the Son in Yeshua’s name (Jn5:43) for
He is the Word who was in the Father’s bosom before the creation who became flesh (Jn1:1, 14),
To do the will of the Father who sent Him (Jn6:38, 12:49, 14:24).
Before He died, He said, “I am thirsty” and “It is finished” (Jn19:28-30), for
Every part of the Scripture to be fulfilled through Him had to be applied (Jn5:39):
1) The will that was in the Father’s bosom in the beginning was fulfilled in His body and He became the righteousness (Ge2:17; Mt26:42; Jn10:18);
2) Condemned the devil who denied the word of God (Ge:3:4; 1Jn3:8); and
3) Redeemed the sins of men who sinned because of the weakness of flesh and shed His
blood giving them a second chance (Mt20:28; Eph1:7).
He resurrected and ascended to heaven as the righteous Judge (2Ti4:8) and
The Holy Spirit who came in the name Yeshua
Reminds believers the words of Christ (Mt28:19; Jn14:26; Ac1:8).
To receive eternal life, the Christian takes up his cross and follows Yeshua and
He has prepared in advance for the cost (Lk14:25-35).
Therefore, he cuts off any lust for the world (1Jn2:5-17),
Does the work of an evangelist, discharges all duties of the ministry edifying the church (1Ti4:5-7).
Beating his body to make it his slave (1Co9:24-27)
To not be abandoned like those who stopped along the way,
He presses on to fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith
Until receiving the promised crown of righteousness when the righteous Judge returns.
O Lord,
Because of what we see with our eyes, because of what we feel with our flesh
We have failed and fallen countless times this past year…
Cover our past days with the blood of Yeshua and
Let the Holy Spirit guide us like blind runners so we may finish the race…
Til we can finally see Your face! Amen.
Download this sermon (right click and save)
Born In Bethlehem
(Mi5:2; Mt2:1-12)
God is the great King (Ps47:2; Mal1:14; Mt5:35).
He rules over kings and reigns forever as the King, and
He brings those who welcome Him as their King and worship Him on earth into His kingdom in
Heaven to worship Him there forever (Rev4:10, 21:24).
Faith is knowing and welcoming Him.
The life of this faith is laying down precious gifts and prostrating before Him and worshipping Him.
Though Bethlehem is a small town on the west bank of the Jordan
It is not the smallest of all Judea (Mi5:2) for
According to the plan decided before the creation
Christ the Ruler would be born there (Mt2:1-4; Eph1:4) and
It would become the center of the world, the center of history.
On the night He was born, stars moved, wise men moved, Jerusalem was disturbed,
Herod was furious and killed countless children and thus there was wailing (Mt2:1-12).
As such that night was not silent or peaceful, but rather the start of something great.
In the beginning God created the universe, Hades, and
Contained the angels who sinned (Is14:12-15; 2Pe2:4).
This was to let Satan who opposed God to become the devil
Until the great day of judgment (Jude1:6).
Deceived by the devil, Adam sinned (Ge2:17, 3:4-6) and
The showdown between the devil and Christ who would come as the offspring of the woman and
The victory of Christ was decided (Ge3:15).
Abraham became the father of many nations (Ge17:5-6) for
Many nations and great kings would come from his offspring.
The moment the baby Moses was drawn out of the water (Ex2:10),
God’s providence of drawing Israel out of the sea was set in motion.
The wailing on the land of Egypt because of the death of firstborns on the night of the Passover was
The preview of the appearance of the king promised to come from Abraham (Ge15:13, 22:17).
The sanctuary God instructed them to build in the wilderness (Ex25:8)
Reminded them that Jehovah is the great King who struck down great kings (Ps136:17).
Those who believed this crossed the Jordan and built the Temple in Jerusalem,
In the city of the Great King (Ps48:1-2; Mt5:35), the epicenter of history, the epicenter of the world.
Though He was born in Bethlehem, a nameless small town, in a lowly stable, as a feeble baby,
Yeshua is the Son of God who was decided in eternity to come as Christ following God’s strategy,
The Word from the beginning (Jn1:1), from ancient times (Mi5:2).
He said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-21),
He would reveal that He is the King greater than Solomon and
A temple greater than the temple Solomon built (Mt12:42).
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Willingly laid down His life and submitted to the Father’s command (Jn10:17-18; Php2:6-9);
2) Through His death destroyed the greatest ruler of death (He2:14; 1Jn3:8; Rev12:7-9); and
3) Freed all men from their slavery to the devil, saving them from sin and death (He2:15).
He broke through the grave and resurrected (1Co15:54-57) and
Sat on the heavenly throne reigning forever as the King of kings (Rev17:14).
The Holy Spirit was sent from there
To those who welcome and receive the name Yeshua, the name of the Great King, and
Spreads the gospel to repentance (Lk24:47; Ac2:38, 5:31).
The Christian sincerely welcomes the birth of Christ and
Willingly bows down before the name Yeshua who came to the nameless, the lowly, the little, and
Lays down his precious treasure before Him.
He knows that through the name Yeshua
He himself has now become the center of the world, the center of history and
Before the coming of the Great King, his own life, his problems are nothing.
Therefore he follows the King’s highway on which He walked (Ps84:5)
To preach the gospel to all nations and tribes and tongues (Mt28:19-20),
As he longs to see His kingdom come (Rev11:15).
O Lord,
How could I with this small mouth speak of such a great thing?
Before the great King who brought the events that tore through the universe
Let our lives be changed and
Let us redraw the map of the kingdom where Yeshua is the Christ, the world map! Amen.
Download this sermon (right click and save)
Persevere Under Trial
(Ps18:24; Jas1:12)
God is just and right (Dt32:4).
He saves the humble people from the wicked (Ps17:13, 18:27) and
To those who persevere under trial and are approved He gives the crown of life (Ps18:20; Jas1:12).
Faith is believing Him and
The life of this faith is not falling into temptation or to the evil one (Mt6:13).
The Bible is the history that reveals God’s justice (Ps50:6).
God established the match between the spiritual beings in flesh and angels.
For angels were made not to be sons or heirs of God (He1:5, 13)
But to minister those who will inherit salvation (He1:14),
God does not forgive their sins, but rather judges and punishes them (Is14:12-15; 2Pe2:4).
Man, on the other hand, though sins because of the flesh (He2:6-7)
God predestined redemption and salvation for him (Ge3:4-6, 21) so that
Those who overcome tests will be made heirs of righteousness.
The devil took away the word from Adam and led him to sin (Ge2:17; Lk8:12)
To accompany him to hell (Ge3:4-6; Mt25:41) for
He is the separator (between God and man, between men, between the flesh and the spirit),
The tempter (Mt4:3), the evil one (1Jn3:12).
Because of the flesh, no man can avoid tests —
Whether economic, physical, of family, social or spiritual.
However, when they endure the test and are approved (Jas1:12),
Angels will be made subject to them in the world to come (He2:5).
Job’s life is an example of the process and the result of test (Job1-42).
Almost all of the two million people of Israel who miraculously left Egypt could
Not step into the promised land for
They could not pass the test of the wilderness (Nu14:22-23; Dt8:16).
Yeshua said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-21),
Not in the name Jehovah but in the Father’s name Yeshua (Jn5:43),
He would save not the physically afflicted people but the souls of all men
Through the test persevered by the Son of Man, the incarnate Word (Jn1:1, 14).
Led by the Spirit Yeshua fasted 40 days in the desert after which
In the worst physical conditions He was tempted by the devil
But by the written word defeated him (Mt4:1-11).
He warned the disciples to not fall into temptation or the evil one (Mt6:13; Lk22:46).
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), for
The cross is the worst test for the flesh to persevere, but declared that He:
1) Endured the test according to His righteousness, committed His soul to the Father of
salvation (Ps17:3, 18:24; Jn10:18; He5:7, 12:2);
2) Judged the devil the ruler of death (He2:14); and
3) Sprinkled His redeeming blood on all men (Eph1:7; He12:24).
He resurrected and ascended to the heavenly throne s the Lamb (Rev5:9),
Bearing the marks of enduring the test and being approved and
Forever angels are subject to Him (He2:8).
The Holy Spirit lets those who are justified by their faith (Rm5:1)
Persevere under trials and be approved (Jas1:12) for
The principle of tests is that:
1)Tests are permitted by God (Job1:12); and
2)God does not give test that is beyond what one can bear (1Co10:13).
The Christian is he who knows this and is able to overcome whatever the test.
He prays to not fall into temptation (Lk22:46) and
He is not deceived by the separator to leave the church and his duty on his own (Jn15:4; Jude1:6).
He turns away from those in whose thoughts there is no room for God (Ps10:4),
Those with no hope of eternal life (Tit3:7),
Those who are earthly, unspiritual, worldly, fleshly and demonic (2Ti3:5; Jas3:15), and
The wicked, bad company (Ps1:1; 1Co15:33; 1Jn5:18).
O Lord,
This fragile life!
Let me overcome temptations and defeat the evil one and
Not let the devil sing a victory song.
“Fall down seven times, stand up eight” (nana korobi, ya oki)!
Let us all reveal the Father’s justice! Amen.
Download this sermon (right click and save)
Remain In Me
(Jn15:4-8)
God is the Lord of covenant.
By covenant He makes relationship and
He makes those who keep His commandments and remain in the covenant His people (He8:9-10).
Faith is establishing a relationship with God through the covenant and
The life of this faith is keeping His commandments and remaining in His covenant for
He promised that in due time He will take us to the Father’s house (Jn14:1-3).
While in religions there is no divine revelation, promise or commandment,
In Christianity there are divine revelation, promise and commandments, and
By keeping commandments one can sustain the relationship with God.
In desperate moments, it is extremely critical where one is, whether inside or outside.
Likewise, the history of the Bible shows the difference between being inside and being outside.
After he sinned and was driven out from the Garden, Adam had to toil to eat food (Ge3:17),
While Cain who sinned was driven out from the land and became a restless wanderer,
Suffering from fear and anxiety (Ge4:14).
After being warned of the deluge, Noah followed God’s covenant and built an ark where he remained
So he and his family and the living creatures were saved (Ge6:18, 22).
Following God’s command, Abraham was circumcised (Ge17:7-10),
Receiving the mark of the covenant: “Jehovah = their God,” “the land of Canaan = their inheritance.”
Being warned of the destruction, Lot and his family ran out of the city and arrived in Zoar, after which
Burning sulfur rained down from the heavens and Sodom was destroyed (Ge19:22-24).
On the night of the Passover, those who dwelled inside the homes with
Blood of lamb on the sides and the tops of the doorframe (Ex12:7-13) were
Spared of the death of firstborns, according to the covenant that
“When I see the blood, I will pass over.”
The Law was the same laws and regulations that applied to
Both the Israelites and the foreigners residing among them (Ex12:48-49; Nu15:15-16).
It was the law that promised that when they obeyed the commandment
They could live in the land God swore to them (Dt30:20), and
The law where anyone who killed accidentally can run inside a city of refuge and live (Nu35:15-28).
Towards the temple where the name Jehovah and the ark where the two stone tablets were (1Ki8:9),
Yeshua said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” and
Also said that He was in the Father and that the Father was in Him (Jn14:10-11), and
That He and the Father are one (Jn10:30), angering the chief priests and the Jews (Mt26:47, 61-65).
However, through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-21),
Not in the name Jehovah but in the Father’s name Yeshua (Jn5:43),
He would fulfill the first covenant and write a new covenant
Not on stone tablets but on the minds and the hearts (He8:9-10), and
Make all nations His people and dwell among them (Zec2:11) and
Let them remain in His love and have His peace (Jn15:9, 16:33).
On the other hand, He warned that
Those not dressed in wedding clothes, the wicked servants and the worthless servants would
Be thrown outside where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mt22:13, 24:51, 25:30).
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that:
1) The Word who was in the Father’s bosom in the beginning died according to the commandment (Jn1:1, 14, 18, 10:18);
2) Judged the devil the separator (Ge3:4-6); and
3) Sprinkled His redeeming blood on souls so they would remain in God (Jn17:21).
He resurrected and ascended to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit
So the Son is in the Father, the Holy Spirit is in the souls of believers,
The blood and the flesh of Yeshua is in the souls of believers (Jn6:56, 14:20).
The Holy Spirit lets those who believe
Become solid members of the body of Christ, the Church (Jn15:4; Rm12:5; Eph5:23, 30), and
Lets the words of Yeshua remain alive in them so they obey (Jn15:7; He4:12).
The Christian is he who
Remains in righteousness according to the promise on the day of the Lord
Looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth (2Pe3:8-13), and
Until that day he believes whatever he seeks he will receive (Jn15:7).
O Lord,
On this day, am I a solid member of the church?
Do I have peace, joy and victory?
O Lord, until the day You return and take us,
Let me and my family remain in the Lord. Amen! Amen!
Download this sermon (right click and save)
Called By Grace
(Gal1:11-17)
God exists for Himself.
For Himself He works (Ge22:8) and
He gives grace to whom He gives grace (Ex33:19) and
To those called according to His purpose He gives an eternal inheritance (Eph1:9; He9:15).
Faith is knowing the grace and the hope of God’s calling (Eph1:18; 1Pe1:3), and
The life of this faith is living worthy of His calling (Gal1:15; 2Pe1:10; 2Th1:11) for
Even human’s calling greatly influences one’s life.
The Bible contains stories of men who responded to God’s calling, heavenly calling (He5:4).
After he sinned, Adam hid but responded to God’s calling (Ge3:9-10) and
God clothed him in garment of skin, a sign for grace to be given later (Ge3:21).
After being called Abram obeyed and went to the land promised (He11:8), and
He gave his only son as a burnt offering and received the blessing of descendants (Ge22:1-5);
Jacob and his family migrated to Egypt without fear (Ge46:2-3);
Moses received the calling to lead Israel out of Egypt and carried it out (Ex3:4), by which
Israel was called to become the Lord’s (Is43:1).
The sanctuary reminded them for generations that
Jehovah summoned Israel by name (Is43:5) and
Even the young Samuel responded to Jehovah’s calling and
Became a prophet who spoke on God’s behalf (1Sa3:3-18).
However, though the LORD called them, they did not answer (Hos11:1; Jer35:17), for which
They brought on the declared calamity on themselves.
Yet there was a prophecy of God calling them back (Is54:5-7),
Sending a light for the Gentiles (Is42:6-7).
Yeshua said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-21),
He would call, not in the name Jehovah an exclusive people Israel through angel,
But in the Father’s name Yeshua the souls of all nations through the Son of God.
Yeshua called those whom He wanted as disciples so they would be with Him and
Be sent out to preach and drive out demons (Mk3:13-15),
While He rejected those who volunteered to follow without being called (Lk9:57).
He called not the righteous but sinners (Mt9:13) and
Even called the blind man who cried out to Him and gave him sight (Mk10:43-44).
With the parable of the banquet of heaven
He said, “many are called but few are chosen” (Mt22:2-14).
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Waited for the Father’s calling for His soul in Hades (Jn10:18; Lk23:46);
2) Judged the devil, the origin of sin (Is14:12-15; Ge3:4-6; 1Jn3:8); and
3) Sent out the invitation of His redeeming blood to all mankind (Eph1:7; He9:15).
He resurrected and ascended to heaven as the Lamb on the throne (Rev5:9).
The Holy Spirit whom He sent comes to those who believe.
He chooses those who would be invited to the imminent wedding banquet of the Lamb (Rev19:7-9),
In the gathering in the name Yeshua, the pure bride of Christ, the Church (Eph5:25-30).
The called are those who were once foreigners to the covenants of the promise,
Without hope and without God in the world (Eph2:12),
Those not wise, influential or noble (1Co1:26)
So that the calling itself is grace (Gal1:15; 2Ti1:9).
His calling to one body is to one hope (Eph4:4; Col3:15) so that
They may live worthy of His calling (2Th1:11),
For just as the One who called is holy, they are to be holy (1Pe1:15; 1Th5:7).
The calling is to belong to Christ, to live on Christ’s behalf (Ps100:3; Jer1:6; 2Co5:15),
To preach the gospel (Ac16:10) and
Not only to believe but also to suffer for Him (Rm8:17; Php1:29) so that
When the Lord returns, they would be called a second time and
Receive the prize for which the Lord called them heavenward (Php3:14).
O Lord,
The One who called me, who is He?
How could the sovereign God have called such a lowly life like me?
That was for the calling itself to be grace!
Before this sovereign grace, let my life just blow away.
As You do not regret calling me (Rm11:29)
Let me never regret being called to the cross. Amen.
Download this sermon (right click and save)
Always Give Thanks
(Ps100:4-5; Col3:15-17)
God is good.
He is good and His mercy endures forever (Ps136:1).
He opens the gates of heaven for those who come before Him with thanksgiving (Ps118:29) and
Lets them serve Him with thanksgiving forever (Ps100:4).
Faith is giving thanks for Yeshua being my God (Ps118:28; Jn20:28) and
The life of this faith is in whatever situation always giving thanks and sacrificing a thank offering
to be accepted (Lev22:29; Ps116:17).
When one receives someone’s giving, help, consolation, rescue, cooperation, a special favor etc
It is customary to express gratitude whether verbally, in writing or with a gift.
Nevertheless, there was one who never knew thanksgiving: Satan.
Made beautifully in the spiritual heaven, adorned with every precious stone (Eze28:12-17)
He became proud and attempted to ascend the throne, thus cast down to Hades (Is14:12-15).
As such, Hades was made as a gathering place of the ungrateful, the dissatisfied (Is38:18).
Tempted by the devil to become like God
Adam took the forbidden fruit and so was driven out of the Garden (Ge2:17, 3:4-6, 24) and
Mankind lost every special benefit, destined to groan in pain (Ge3:17-18).
The slavery of Israel materialized this reality and
God who heard their groaning in pain (Ex2:23-24)
Sent Moses and delivered them from Egypt with lightning speed and
It was for Jehovah to be their God (Lev29:33).
While the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks,
The Feast of Tabernacle etc (Ex12:11, 12:39, 34:22; Lev23:42-44) were
The year-round feasts of the LORD (Lev23:1-44),
The thank offering was always given in the tabernacle (Lev22:29) as a mechanism for
Israel to remember and always give thanks for
The Creator Jehovah is their God (Lev22:33),
He delivered them from their slavery (Ps136:10-15), led them through the wilderness (Ps136:16),
Gave their land as inheritance (Ps136:21-22), gave food for their flesh (Ps136:25) etc.
Likewise, even at the risk of losing his life, Daniel never lost thanksgiving (Da6:7-10).
Yeshua said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-20),
In not the name Jehovah but the Father’s name Yeshua (Jn5:43),
He would save not the flesh but the soul, and
Give food for not the flesh but the soul (Mt26:26-28; Jn6:53-55),
Give not land but heaven as inheritance.
Even in poor situations He always gave thanks for the Father always heard Him (Jn11:41-42).
At the culmination of suffering on the cross, “the belly of Sheol” (Hades) (Jnh2:2-6, 9),
He cried out, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) With shouts of grateful praise gave thanks to the Father who heard Him (Jnh2:9);
2) Judged the devil, the origin of never knowing gratitude (2Pe2:24; 1Jn3:8); and
3) Became a sacrifice on behalf of all mankind (Jn1:29).
He resurrected and entered the gates of heaven with thanksgiving and
Sat on the throne and serves the Father forever as
The Lamb, the sacrifice of thanksgiving (Rev7:10).
The Holy Spirit sent in the name Yeshua
Lets believers be watchful and thankful (Col4:2) by
Not abandoning gratitude, not losing thanksgiving for
The devil steals, among other things, thanksgiving from believers.
He lets the church overflow with thanksgiving (Col2:6-7).
The true Christian is he who
Never loses thanksgiving when faced with poverty, nakedness, trouble, or even death for
He gives thanks for: Yeshua is my God (Jn20:28), Yeshua is alive today and
Yeshua is my Mediator, my Friend, my Father…etc.
He longs to successfully leave the belly of Sheol (Jnh2:2) in that day and
Finally enter the gates of heaven with thanksgiving.
O Lord,
In sin, in pain, in shame, in sickness, in loneliness, in danger…
I called Your name and You heard my cry!
Thank You Yeshua for being my God.
Thank You for always hearing me.
Let my last words spoken with my tongue be, Thank You, Yeshua! Amen.
Download this sermon (right click and save)
The Surpassing Worth of Knowing Christ Jesus
(Php3:7-11)
God is the God of knowledge (1Sa2:3).
His knowledge is great, wonderful and lofty (Job11:6; Ps139:6) and
To those who rejoice over Him He gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness (Ecc2:26).
Faith is knowing and being delighted by the knowledge of the truth (Pr22:12).
The life of this faith is, because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, laying down
one’s knowledge (Php3:7-8), and living by and teaching the knowledge of the truth (Tit1:1).
While the modern world is inundated with knowledge (Da12:4) and
Every family prioritizes education for the children and
Scholars pride themselves as being the best intellectuals,
No one can solve life’s problem with their knowledge for no one knows what is coming (Ecc10:14).
The most intelligent in the Bible is he who hears the words of God (Nu24:16) for
There is no greater knowledge than the knowledge of God (Job21:22).
But the ancestor Adam rejected the fear of God, the beginning of knowledge (Ge3:4-6; Pr1:7),
So God also rejected him and all men became destined to be destroyed (Hos4:6).
The Law was the knowledge of the Holy One (Ps119:66; Pr30:3) and keeping it was knowledge.
As such, Israel was praised as a wise and understanding people (Dt4:6).
The sanctuary that reminded them that "Jehovah = the God of knowledge” was
To make Jehovah be known (Eze39:7) through
The miracle of the exodus (Ex8:22) and of the Red Sea (Ex14:4),
The decrees and laws (Dt4:8-9), 40 years in the wilderness (Dt29:5-6), the Sabbath (Ex31:13),
The covenant (Eze16:62), and people falling slain (Eze6:7).
But eventually Israel rejected the knowledge and so they were destroyed (Hos4:6).
The prophet spoke of one righteous servant coming from the stump of Jesse (Is11:1-3),
The earth to be filled with the knowledge of the LORD (Is11:9) for
With His knowledge He will teach many (Is53:11).
Yeshua said, “Destroy the temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-20),
He would tear down the knowledge of the name Jehovah,
The knowledge of earthly things (Jn3:12), elementary principles (Gal4:3; Col2:8), and
Make known the knowledge of the Father’s name Yeshua (Jn5:43),
The knowledge of heavenly things (Jn3:12), the greatest knowledge.
For He is the Word who was with the Father in the beginning (Jn1:1, 14, 18)
He knew Him and so obeyed Him (Jn8:55).
He spoke in parables to
Keep the teachers of the Law, the intellectuals of the time, from understanding
While allowing those like little children to understand (Mt13:14; Lk11:52).
Accused by the teachers of the Law, He was passed over to death but
As He died, Yeshua said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Feared the Father, the beginning of knowledge, and surrendered His life before Him (Is11:3; Jn10:18; Rm11:33);
2) Judged the devil the false teacher (Ge3:4-6; Jn8:44); and
3) With His blood redeemed all men who sinned because they did not know (Lk23:34).
He resurrected and ascended to heaven.
Now holding the scroll in His hand (Rev5:7), He is the God of knowledge on the throne.
The Spirit of truth comes to those who received the name Yeshua (Jn1:12, 14:17) and
Teaches them “Yeshua = the greatest knowledge” (1Co2:11),
In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col2:2-3).
The Christian experientially knows God who sent Yeshua as the Son (Jn11:7), and
Delights in the fear of the Lord and His word (2Co5:11).
He lays down like rubbish the knowledge gained from the world (Php3:7-11),
He does not argue with false knowledge of the world (1Ti6:20).
He goes out to the world and boldly testifies, not intimidated by intellectuals (Ac4:13, 16:30), and
Makes disciples by preaching and teaching the knowledge of the truth (Mt28:19; Tit1:1) for
He longs for the day when he can fully know Yeshua face to face (1Co13:12).
O Lord,
To ignorant, foolish little children like us
You revealed the greatest knowledge of Yeshua name!
While the knowledge of the world increases grief
The knowledge of Yeshua increases life and joy.
Let us understand and grasp this knowledge deeper and
Boldly preach and teach! Amen.
Download this sermon (right click and save)
Make Every Effort to Enter God’s Rest
(Ge2:1-2; He4:1-11)
God is the Lord of rest.
Rest is in Him and comes from Him.
He lets those who combine the word they heard with faith enter His rest (He4:2).
Faith is believing this and longing for God’s eternal, perfect rest, and
The life of this faith is in order to enter His rest, making every effort to obey His word (He3:18-19, 4:6).
While everyone seeks rest there is no true rest in the universe for it is where God Himself worked.
By the seventh day He finished the work of creating all things in six days entered rest (Ge2:2-3) and
The universe is Sheol, Hades that is:
Fallen from the spiritual heaven, the grave, the depths of the pit (1Sa2:6; Is14:15);
Where the dead are (Pr9:18);
Where agony and pain is (Lk16:22-24); “where the smoke of torment rises for ever and ever (Rev14:11);
Where one cannot leave on his own (Lk16:26); and
The place that will become the eternal lake of fire, hell (2Pe3:7-12; Rev10:14).
Even in the Garden of Eden there was no perfect rest for it is where
The serpent incited Adam and Eve to sin and (Ge2:17, 3:4) and thus
All men became destined to toil (Ge3:16-18) and finally follow the devil to hell (Mt25:41).
The Israelites who had been slaves for 400 years left Egypt overnight
Since the pharaoh who heard the message to let them go increased their toils (Ex3:6-10, 5:3-23).
Yet even greater toil awaited them in the wilderness, which was
The commandments, especially those regarding the Sabbath (Ex20:8-10):
Remember the Sabbath — Jehovah is the Creator who made all things in six days — rested on the seventh;
Keep the Sabbath day holy — set it apart from six days — do no work (Ex20:10),
Do not speak idle words, do not do as you please (Is58:13-14).
Anyone breaking it was to be put to death (Ex31:15).
But the sanctuary was an exterritorial space where
The priests served Jehovah day and night (Lev26:9; 1Ch9:32; 2Ch2:4).
It reminded them that He was their God and they were His people and
They were to keep the Sabbath as a sign of the covenant for rest (Jer31:2).
While they were to observe the Sabbath and have reverence for the sanctuary (Lev19:30), however,
They broke the Sabbath and desecrated the temple (Eze20:21), for which they faced repeated curse.
Yeshua said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19),
He would end the rest Jehovah commanded Israel and
He Himself would give His rest to the souls of all nations (Mt11:28-30), and
By keeping not the Sabbath day but another day (He4:8),
He would give not physical rest in the land of Canaan but eternal rest in the Father’s house (Jn14:2).
However, He was accused by the Pharisees and passed over to death for doing
What was unlawful on the Sabbath, healing the sick (Mk3:2-4; Lk13:12-16; Jn5:5-17, 9:14-16).
But He is greater than the temple, the Lord of the Sabbath (Mt12:1-6; Mk2:28).
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Ended the toils of His flesh, the incarnate Word from the beginning (Jn1:1, 14), and
committed His soul to the Father the Lord of rest (Ps49:15, 116:3-4; Lk23:46);
2) Judged the devil who disrupted the resting environment (Ge2:17, 3:4-6; Is14:12-15); and
3) In place of all men carried the burden of their sins and shed His blood to give them rest (Ps68:19; Is53:4-5; 1Pe2:24).
Yeshua resurrected on the day after the Sabbath day, the eighth day,
Another day, the Lord’s Day (Ac20:7, 1Co16:2; He4:8; Rev1:10), and ascended to heaven:
The seventh day — the Creator finished His work — entered His rest;
The eight day/another day — the Redeemer finished His work — entered His rest.
The Holy Spirit comes to those who received the promise of entering God’s eternal rest and
On the Lord’s day gathers them in the name Yeshua as
Members of His body the church (Eph1:22; Col1:18) and lets them worship.
The Christian is he who knows that
All his burdens have been carried by Yeshua and has been set free in His name (Rm8:1-2).
Therefore he obeys the word he heard (He4:11) by
Praying (Col4:2), gathering (He10:25), preaching the word (2Ti4:2), serving (1Th4:10),
Carrying each other’s burdens (2Co4:10; Gal5:2) and doing the Lord’s work (2Co11:23-28).
He makes every effort lest he fails to enter that rest.
O Lord,
Being yoked with Yeshua we love is not hard or heavy. Rather it is easy and light!
Let us make greater effort to do Your work and
On the day we leave this world let us all enter eternal rest!
Oh I wanna go, oh I wanna go home~
Amen.
Download this sermon (right click and save)
The Blessing of Yeshua
(Mt5:3; 1Pe3:9)
God is the fount of blessing (1Ti6:15).
Blessings come from Him and
He gives blessing as inheritance (1Pe3:9) to those who make Him as their blessing (Ps144:15).
Faith is loving the blessing of Yeshua and
The life of this faith is emptying oneself and becoming an evangelist of blessing in order to
receive blessing as inheritance.
Blessing and happiness refer to the same idea of
Being in a state of contentment.
While such experience is subjective and relative and thus cannot be quantified.
In general people envy the happiness of those with wealth, health, beauty, fame, family etc.
Nevertheless the Bible testifies the perfect blessedness of God for
He is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and the Lord of lords who alone is
Immortal and lives in unapproachable light (1Ti6:15-16).
Solomon lamented the vanity of humans who endlessly search for happiness (Ecc1:1-2, 2:1, 11) and
That is because of their ancestor Adam was deceived by the devil and sinned (Ge3:4-6), and
All men became destined to toil all their lives,
Only to follow the devil to hell in afterlife (Ge3:16-19; Mt25:41).
God made Abraham a blessing for he followed the instructions and left his country (Ge12:1-2).
His offsprings, Isaac and Jacob became wealthy (Ge26:12, 32:10) and
As such, Israel became a people who yearn for blessing (Ge32:22-28).
Leaving their slavery of having no possession for 400 years
They took possession of the treasures of Egypt (Ex12:35-36).
God had them live 40 years in the wilderness where treasures were useless so that
They may receive the ability to produce wealth (Dt8:12-18).
The Law was given to them to obey to receive blessings
But because they disobeyed and served other gods, they became cursed (Dt28).
However, the temple where the name of blessing, Jehovah was
Remained as their hope to become God’s blessed people again
So they longed to draw near the temple (Ps73:28, 84:4).
But Yeshua said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-21),
He would end material blessing in the name Jehovah only for Israel and
Give spiritual blessing to the souls of all nations in the Father’s name Yeshua (Jn5:43; Eph1:3).
Even though His appearance might have caused men to stumble (Is53:2; Mt11:6),
He is the Word who blessed since the beginning (Ge1:22, 28; Jn1:1-3),
He is before Abraham was born, Melchizedek who blessed him (Ge14:18-20; Jn8:56-58; He7:1-3).
He came to give the kingdom of heaven to the poor in spirit (Mt5:3),
Those who have no righteousness, nothing of their own.
Blessing those who cursed Him as He died (Lk23:34), He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Became nothing and emptied His last breath to eternally possess the Father’s blessing (Jn10:18; Php2:6-11);
2) Condemned the devil who never knew satisfaction (Is14:12-15; Eze28:12-17); and
3) Sprinkled His blood on all men and commanded blessing for them (Ps133:3, 134:3).
He resurrected, received all authorities (Mt28:18).
He sat on the throne in the kingdom of happiness in heaven, the blessed and only Ruler (1Ti6:15).
The Holy Spirit whom He sent
Lets believers know that they are blessed and thus be content with the blessing of Yeshua.
The blessed in the spirit is he who
Has no righteousness of his own, thus only the blood of Yeshua his righteousness (Rm4:6-8), and
Emptied his dreams, desires, possessions etc, thus only the name Yeshua is his power to possess.
Therefore he longs for worship, the peak of his happiness (Ac2:42-47),
Perseveres under trial (Jas1:12),
Rejoices when persecuted because of Yeshua (Mt5:10-12) and
Keeps the words of the prophecy (Rev22:7) and
Scatters to preach the good news of happiness (Mt10:12-13; 1Pe3:9) for
He longs for the happiest day when he is called up
To the wedding banquet of the Lamb (Rev19:9; 20:6).
O Lord,
There is a part in all of us that cannot be satisfied by worldly, material things…
The true me, the spirit!
Only Yeshua can satisfy us and we are more than blessed!
Until our last breath we will be evangelists of happiness.
We love You, Lord Yeshua! Amen.
Download this sermon (right click and save)
The Lord’s Patience Means Salvation
(2Pe3:7-15)
God is faithful (Ex34:6).
The faithfulness of His word and His works is forever (Ps33:4, 117:2) and
Through His long suffering He testifies the faithfulness of His love (2Co8:8).
Faith is knowing that the Lord’s patience means salvation (2Pe3:15) and
The life of this faith is repenting in haste and being patient towards all.
Love is patient and to be patient there has to be sincerity.
Though being patient does not refer to eternity, it requires a great deal of endurance and
The most patient are parents for they are loving.
The Bible is written about the patience of God for
He does not want anyone to perish but be saved (2Pe3:9), that is
From Hades, the universe that will burn up (2Pe3:7) after
The Son comes to it, dies, resurrects and inherits the kingdom of heaven (He1:2).
Though God had decided to end the world during the time of Methuselah,
He waited for a thousand years (Ge5:25-26).
While Noah prepared the ark, God held back the judgment by deluge for 70 years (1Pe3:20).
Until Lot and his family arrived in refuge
The destruction of Sodom by brimstone fire was delayed (Ge19:15-22).
Though the Israelites grumbled against God during the 40 years in the wilderness and
They betrayed Him even after settling in Canaan for 1500 years, He did not destroy them (Jer15:15):
A testament to God’s long suffering for them.
The temple where the stone tablets which were inside the Testimony was
Reminded them of God’s patience and love for Israel.
In spite of it they questioned His love for them (Mal1:2-3).
Yeshua came and said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-21),
He would show His love for all mankind through His long suffering (Is42:14) and save their souls.
For such, God who is Spirit came in the flesh (Jn1:1, 14) in the last days (He1:2, 1Pe1:20).
He lived in the world that hated Him (Ps120:6),
Rebuked the disciples who were impatient (Lk9:53-55) and
Even to the last moment of His arrest He endured (Mt26:54).
Hung on a cross for six hours, He died a slow death,
Like a woman in childbirth He cried out, gasped and panted (Is42:14) and
He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Revealed the Father’s faithful love for the Son whose suffering He watched in silence,
fulfilling the Father’s will (Mk15:34; Eph1:3);
2) Condemned the devil the divider (Ge3:4-6; 1Jn3:8); and
3) Sprinkled His redeeming blood on all men through His long suffering showing His love (Jn3:16; Eph1:7; 1Jn4:9-10).
He resurrected and sat on the heavenly throne and
Though that marked the completion of the dispensation of God for the Son,
The heavens and the earth are preserved to this day (2Pe3:5-9).
The Holy Spirit was sent to those who repented and turned back to the Lord Yeshua (Ac2:38) and
He lets them believe the promise of His return.
The Christian is he who
Knows that the Lord’s patience is salvation (2Pe3:15) and
Moved by His love, repents in haste.
Therefore, he strives to mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Eph4:13)
By enduring persecution or suffering (1Co4:11-12; 2Co1:6; 1Ti1:16) and
Praying until answered waiting patiently (Lk11:7-8).
With great patience he admonishes brothers who are idle (1Th5:14; 2Ti4:2),
Comforts those who are weak-hearted and
Upholds the powerless (Eph4:2).
Being patient until the Lord’s coming (Jas5:7-9)
He becomes a companion in the suffering, the kingdom and the endurance of Christ (Rev1:9).
O Lord,
This life that would have been thrown into hellfire!
For Your patience became salvation for me
Let me also be patient towards all people.
Let not even one of those given to me
Remain in the burning universe! Amen.
Download this sermon (right click and save)
Be Filled with the Holy Spirit
(Eph5:15-22; 2Ti2:20-21)
God is the Potter (Is64:8).
According to His will He makes vessels (Rm9:19-24) and
He fills them with His attributes and character.
Depending on what it contains
A vessel is determined as one of honor or of dishonor.
It has a great value when it is cleaned and filled with something that does not change.
Faith is longing to become a vessel used by God and
The life of this faith is cleansing oneself to be filled with His things (2Ti2:20-21).
In spite of the fact that the living being Adam was made with the flesh for containing food and
The spirit for the dwelling of the Holy Spirit (Ge2:7),
Deceived by the devil, he sinned (Ge2:17, 3:4-6) and
The spirit became unclean and hell-bound with the devil (Mt25:41).
The exodus of Israel was the Potter shattering the old pot and
Forming another pot to use according to His purpose (Jer18:4-6).
The Law instructed them to cleanse their vessels and
While all the vessels in the sanctuary were made with pure gold (Ex37:22)
They had to be sprinkled with blood to be cleansed (Is66:20; He9:21-22).
If anything dead touches a pot or if its lid is left open next to a human corpse,
Then such pot was considered unclean so it was to be broken (Lev11:31-33; Nu19:15).
The fall of Israel came for they had become a pot that held impure things (Is65:4-5).
For once it would be smashed and not be repaired (Jer19:11),
God prophesied of forming another pot (Jer18:4-6).
Yeshua said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-21),
He would shatter the old pot and form a new pot for
New wine must be poured into new wineskins (Mt9:17).
As He died, He drank the wine vinegar and said, “It is finished” (Jn19:28-30), declaring that He: 1) Poured old wine, that is, sin, into His body (2Co5:21), and bursted the new wineskin,
His body, the incarnate Word (Jn1:1, 14), a vessel for honor (2Ti2:20), fulfilling
the Father’s will (Mt26:39);
2) Judged the devil who changed (Is14:12-15; 1Jn3:8); and
3) Through His burst open flesh, full of grace and truth (Jn1:14), poured out His blood
and cleansed all men so that they may serve the living God (He9:13-14).
He resurrected and ascended to a new heaven sprinkled with His blood (He9:12, 24).
The Holy Spirit whom He sent came
Into the souls cleansed by the blood of Yeshua,
For new wine to be contained in new wineskin, and
He lets them be full of new wine (Ac2:13; Eph5:18).
The man of the Spirit is
A vessel of mercy made through the righteousness by faith (Rm9:19-24, 30),
A jar of clay containing the greatest treasure, the blood of Yeshua (2Co4:7).
Like the sign of water turning into wine during the wedding banquet in Cana
When the water was filled to the brim of the jars (Jn2:7-10),
Though only a lump of clay he strives to be like Yeshua (Gal5:22-25).
To be used as a vessel of honor (2Ti2:20-21)
He empties and cleanses himself of
Worldliness (1Jn2:15-17), self-righteousness, knowledge, experiences (Php2:7-11).
By the fullness of the Spirit,
He speaks the word boldly (Ac4:3, 31), receives praise for his changed life (Ac6:3, 11:24),
Not wasting time (Ps90:12; Eph5:15-21)
Willingly fills up in the clay Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His church (Col1:24) for
He longs to be full of the Spirit even at the site of death (Ac7:55).
O Lord,
Though I am just a weak, rough and unsightly jar of clay,
Fill me up with the Spirit and
Mold me to be like Yeshua!
Let me save time, my greatest asset, and spend more time for my soul! Amen.
Download this sermon (right click and save)
Speak the Truth In Christ
(Jn3:31-34; Rm9:1)
God is the true God (Jer10:10).
For He is true His will does not change (He6:17) and
He only speaks the truth (He6:18).
Faith is believing Him and that His word alone is true (2Sa7:28).
The life of this faith is, to receive the true life and enter the true heaven (1Ti6:19; He9:24),
not being deceived (Jas1:16), only listening to the truth and living the truth one speaks (Rm9:1; Jas1:22).
Human society is a language society.
Through language humans convey their ideology and intentions, and foster actions.
Furthermore, a man’s life is determined by whose words he listens to and
The worth of a man is determined by whether he speaks truth or lies.
The Bible highlights that God alone speaks the truth for every man is a liar (Ps116:11; Rm3:4) and
This is due to their ancestor Adam who was deceived by the father of lies (Ge3:4; Jn8:44) and
Sinned, destined to follow the devil to hell (Mt25:41) for
Folly = pride = being deceived = deceiving = wickedness = madness (Ecc7:25; Is28:15).
The Bible is God’s credit score demonstrating that it is impossible for Him to lie (He6:18):
As He prophesied to Noah, the world was wiped out by a deluge (Ge7:4-10);
As He promised, a year later Abraham received a son at the age of 100 (Ge18:10);
As He warned Lot, Sodom was destroyed by a brimstone fire (Ge19:24-25);
According to His covenant with Abraham 400 years before (Ge15:13),
The children of Israel were delivered from their slavery (Ex12:41).
The commandments given to them treated lying as a grave sin (Ex20:6; Lev19:11) and
The stone tablets inscribing them were inside the ark of the covenant law (Ex25:22) of
The sanctuary which reminded them Jehovah the only true God speaks the truth (1Sa15:29).
In spite of this, however, destruction came to Israel for their priests cheated God (Mal1:14),
The people were rebellious, deceitful and unwilling to listen to God (Is50:9-10; Jer6:10) and
The false prophets lied to them who listened to lies (Jer14:14; Eze13:19).
Yeshua appeared and said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,”
Because through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-21),
He would tear down the shadow of the true image (He9:24) and
Not in the name Jehovah but in the Father’s name Yeshua (Jn5:43)
Speak the truth as the Son sent by the Father (Jn3:31-34, 7:28-29, 8:13-18)
Revealing that He is the One who speaks the truth (Jn5:31-32).
For He is the Word in the beginning, the true God who came in the flesh (Jn1:1, 14, 18)
His words are true for they are the words of the Father (Jn8:26, 10:24, 14:24) and
They give life to the spirit (Jn6:63).
The Jews considered Him a liar, however, for saying that
He was the Christ, God (Jn7:26-27, 10:30-33), so they passed Him over to death.
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Through His death as the last Adam, testified that the Father’s word that commanded the
first Adam that he would surely die was true (Ge2:17; Jn10:18; 1Co15:45);
2) Judged the devil, the liar (Ge3:4-6; Jn8:44), for the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil was a trap for both deceived and deceiver (Job12:16); and
3) Sprinkled His redeeming blood on souls so they could become true sons (He12:8).
His resurrection testified that His word is true (Mt16:21; Ac3:15) and
He entered the true heaven (He9:24).
The Spirit of truth (Jn14:17, 15:26, 16:13) whom He sent
Declares to the church only the true words, the words of Yeshua (Jn14:24-26).
He warns believers to not be deceived by Satan (2Co2:11).
The Christian is he who was
Once deceived and foolish but is now no longer deceived or deceiving (Tit3:3).
He gathers into the church, the only place on earth where only true words are accepted, and
Only listens to the true words,
Rejecting false teachings, secular theology, the so-called “prosperity gospel” etc (2Co11:3-4).
He puts every effort to not lie (Pr30:6), to speak only the true words (Rm9:1; 1Ti2:7) and
To do according to them (Jas1:22)
For he knows that those who lie will be thrown into the fire, the second death (Rev21:8, 27).
O Lord,
We do not want to say, “Lord, Lord,” and have you say, “I do not know you” in that day.
So let us not deceive ourselves.
Let us choose the narrow gate (Mt7:13-14).
Let no lie reign over our homes (Ac5:3).
Let us only speak true words at home, at work or wherever! Amen.
Download this sermon (right click and save)
Faith Is Boldness
(Eph3:12-13)
God is the God of strength and defense (Ex15:2; Is12:2).
To those who take refuge in Him He becomes their defense of salvation (Ps31:1-2) and
He lets those who have boldness through faith approach Him (Eph3:12).
Faith is to make God one’s defense and gaining boldness.
The life of this faith is living by great boldness in Christ to confidently go before His throne (1Ti3:13; 1Jn4:17).
Because of their worries, anxieties and fears of war, terrorism, diseases, hardship, aging etc
People seek ways to be reassured by all types of insurances.
While at times there are fearless people such as adventurers, daredevils, police officers,
They rely on their weapons, defense equipment, body armor etc for protection.
Nevertheless, the Bible highlights that there will come a time for all
To die once and after that face judgment (He9:27) where no material protection can help.
Deceived by the devil, the ancestor of mankind, Adam, sinned and death entered all (Rm5:12) and
The devil became the ruler of death and fear came to all men (He2:14; 2Pe2:19),
Destined to follow him to the eternal fire (Mt25:41).
Yet the Bible records those who made God their defense and lived boldly:
Fearing for his life after killing his brother, Cain pleaded with God and
Received a mark of salvation (Ge4:14-15);
Though he initially hesitated, after receiving the divine authority
Moses did not fear the king’s anger and carried out the exodus of Israel (Ex6:20-7:1; He11:27);
Even though the pharaoh pursued them, Israel marched out of Egypt boldly (Ex14:8);
Not losing their courage even after seeing the land and its giants,
Joshua and Caleb conquered Canaan (Nu13:18-20, 14:9; Jos1:1-9),
While all who saw themselves as grasshoppers and feared died in the desert (Nu13:31-33, 14:23).
Young David who beheaded the giant Goliath who was in full armor (1Ki17:1-51);
Esther who risked her life to break the law and went before the king (Est4:16); and
Daniel and those who quenched the fury of the flames and
Shut the mouths of lions (Da3:26-27, 6:22; He11:34).
Despite this history of boldness, Israel looked to Egypt’s shade for refuge and
Tried to become strong on their own and consequently faced a lasting curse (Is30:1-3).
The only thing they had to look to was the temple where the name Jehovah was (Ps27:14).
Yeshua appeared and said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days” and
Angered the Jews but through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-21),
He would not in the name Jehovah but in the Father’s name Yeshua (Jn5:43),
Become the defense of salvation for not only the flesh but both the soul and the flesh (Mt10:28-31).
As such, He became a shield for the adulterous woman (Jn8:2-11),
While His boldness intimidated Pilate a man of great power and faced death boldly (Jn16:33, 19:11).
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Used His life as His authority and boldly entrusted His spirit to the Father (Lk23:46;
Jn10:17-18), for the Word in the beginning became flesh (Jn1:1, 14) that is weak and
without defense so the Father alone is the strength and defense to save (Is12:2; He5:7);
2) Through His death judged the devil, the ruler of death (He2:14); and
3) Delivered all men who were held in slavery by their fear of death (He2:15) and with His
redeeming blood cleansed their sins making a way for them to confidently approach His throne (He10:19-20).
He resurrected and ascended to heaven and boldly went before God (Jer30:21; He9:24).
The Holy Spirit whom He sent came in the name Yeshua
To those who gained confidence through His blood (He10:19-20) and
Gives those who believe the name Yeshua boldness through faith (Eph3:12).
As such, Peter once a coward testified His resurrection fearlessly (Lk22:61; Ac4:20), and
Even in danger the early church gathered, prayed and preached the gospel boldly (Ac4:28-31).
Not bowing to tribulation or bondage, Paul testified Yeshua Christ
To the synagogues, the kings and even the Roman emperor (Ac22:1, 25:25).
The Christian is he who has the boldness by faith:
1) Even if he sins, by the blood of Yeshua he gains the confidence to go before the temple, the
church, to worship (He10:19; 1Jn2:1) and no matter what never gives up on his spiritual life;
2) Prays in the name Yeshua and the Father hears him (He4:16; 1Jn5:14); and
3) Casts out demons in the name Yeshua and drives away any sickness or curse (Mk16:17; He13:6); and
4) Boldly speaks the word of God (Ac4:31),
For when his soul leaves the flesh,
The place to go to, the Father’s house, is secured for him (Lk23:46).
O Lord,
When I consider what I’ve done, I cannot dare to go before God.
But by the blood of Yeshua I’ve gained the boldness to go before Him.
If I face the reality I cannot live a day without worrying and
If I think about the future it only brings on fear.
Though we are like grasshoppers before them all,
Let us have the faith that never fears death — if I perish, I perish!
The boldness by faith! Let us call on the name Yeshua alone! Amen.
Download this sermon (right click and save)
Faith Is To Not Miss the Chance
(Mk10:46-52)
God is the God of foreknowledge (Ac2:23; 1Pe1:2).
Before the creation He determined His will, His works and their times (Eph1:11) and
Without fail He proceeds according to His purpose (Eph3:11).
He rewards those who do not miss their chance with eternity (Ecc3:11).
Faith is knowing and believing Him.
The life of this faith is not missing time and chance (Ecc9:11) for
In all things such as academics, farming, business, warfare, athletic games etc
Seizing the opportunity is extremely important.
The Bible highlights this importance of time and chance that come to all.
For their ancestor Adam was deceived by the devil and sinned (Ge2:17, 3:4-6),
No man can know his time and unexpectedly the day of disaster would fall upon him (Ecc9:12).
Yet the Bible illustrates the men of faith who did not miss their chance:
Abraham, when blessed by Melchizedek the high priest of God (Ge14:18-20),
Gave a tenth of his plunder and received blessing down to three generations (He7:9-10);
Jacob, who at birth came out grasping his brother’s heel (Ge25:26),
Did not miss his chance and grasped the birthright (Ge25:33, 27:29-30), and
While praying grabbed on to the angel and received the name Israel (Ge32:28; Hos12:4).
But his godless brother, Esau, could not even find a chance to repent (He12:16-17).
While the hands of Moses were raised, the Israelites defeated the Amalekites (Ex17:10-13);
While the sun stopped in the middle of the sky, they defeated the Amorites (Jos10:12-13).
While they ran from Goliath out of fear, the young David risked his life and fought to defeat him,
Becoming the king’s son-in-law and even a king later (1Ki17).
After the farmer Elisha took possession of the cloak of Elijah, he burned up his yoke of oxen and
Gave the meat to the people, becoming a great prophet (1Ki19:19-21).
The sanctuary where the name Jehovah was reminded them of such a history and
The feasts of the LORD reminded them of their time and chance which
They eventually neglected, for which the curse on them continued (Jer8:7; Mal2:3).
Yeshua said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-21),
Not in the name of Jehovah but in the Father’s name Yeshua (Jn5:43),
He would seize His chance not in the feasts of the LORD
But in the hour of the Son of Man (Lk17:26; Jn12:27).
For that, the Word in the beginning came as man (Jn1:1, 14) and
The time when the dead will hear His voice and live had come (Jn5:25).
Those who immediately followed His calling became His disciples (Mk1:17-20)
While those who hesitated became irrelevant to him (Lk9:59-62).
Bartimaeus, the poor blind man, who did not miss the golden opportunity upon hearing His calling,
Received sight and followed Yeshua (Mk10:46-52).
Yeshua warned to stay awake and be ready for that day and time.
Those who seize their chance will participate in the banquet of the Lamb (Mt25:1-13) but
Those who miss their chance will eternally regret (Mt24:48-55).
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Laid down His life according to the Father’s command and completed His time (Jn10:18, 12:27);
2) Judged the origin of sin the devil (Is14:12-15; 1Jn3:8); and
3) Sprinkled the redeeming blood on all men giving them a second chance.
He resurrected and ascended to the heavenly throne and sent the Holy Spirit.
Among the 500 witnesses of His resurrection, only 120 received the promised Spirit 10 days later.
The Holy Spirit lets believers become spiritual and
Discern spiritual opportunities (1Co2:13-14).
The Christian knows worship, bible study, gathering, duties, services as spiritual opportunities, and
Considers sickness, poverty, hardship as all chances for repentance and prayer.
Therefore, he prepares for the day of the Lord that will come like a thief in the night because
While people are saying, “peace and safety,” destruction will come suddenly (1Th5:1-10).
O Lord,
Now that we look back,
We have lost countless opportunities You gave us.
At least from now on until Your return,
Lest we become those to whom You say “I do not know you,”
Let us use our time in the flesh as our chance to work and prepare for that day.
Let us surpass seasons, weather and all else, and live the days of my soul! Amen.
Download this sermon (right click and save)
Living Hope
(Jer29:11; 1Pe1:3-4)
God is the God of hope (Rm15:13).
He gives good hope and a future as grace (Jer29:11; 2Th2:16), and
He makes those who put their hope in Him as His heirs (Tit3:7).
Faith is putting hope in the living God (1Ti4:10) and
The life of this faith is to hold onto the blessed hope to the end in order to become heirs according
to the hope of eternal life (Tit2:13, 3:7).
Hope is a unique quality that only humans have.
While the young have many dreams and wishes
As he grows old his wish becomes simplified to just having a long life in health.
In reality, however, they are rarely fulfilled and even if they were, satisfaction is difficult to be found.
This is due to the fact that the ancestor of mankind, Adam, was
Deceived by the false hope of becoming like God and sinned (Ge3:4-6).
All men were to toil in vain and ultimately follow the devil to hell (Ge3:16-19; Mt25:41).
The Bible is the story of the God of hope (Rm15:13).
While false theology deceives men to put their hope in success and prosperity in this life
God wants to be their hope and put their hope in Him (1Ti4:10) and for that,
He created all things, the angels, the universe, man, things in the present or the future (Rm8:38-39).
Against all hope Abraham believed and became the father of many nations (Rm4:18; He11:12).
Moses regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than treasures for
He was looking ahead to his reward (He11:26).
After the exodus, Israel arrived in not a land flowing with milk and honey (Ex3:8) but the wilderness.
All those who grumbled and wanted to go back to Egypt fell and died there (Nu14:4-23),
Without entering the promised land for they were despaired by what was seen and
Did not put their hope in God who gives hope and a future (Ps146:4; Jer29:11).
The sanctuary reminded them that Jehovah was the hope of Israel, of their ancestors (Jer14:8, 50:7).
But because they sinned, breaking the Law, they were destroyed, their hope uprooted (Job19:10).
This was, however, for a better hope by which they would draw near God (He7:19) —
That is, for those condemned under the Law to be led to Christ (Rm7:12-13; Gal3:24).
Yeshua said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-21),
Not in the name Jehovah the hope only for the chosen people Israel
But in the Father’s name Yeshua the hope for all nations (Jn5:43; Rm15:12)
He would become the hope for not the righteous but the sinners (Job4:6; La3:18-22).
Since He disappointed the Jews who longed for the Messiah to rule over the kingdoms on earth
He was passed over to death (Jn6:15).
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that:
1) He died according to the Father’s command revealing that even in death
the righteous has hope (Pr14:32; Ps119:49, 116; Jn10:18);
2) The hope of the wicked, the devil, ends in wrath (Pr11:23; 1Jn3:8); and
3) He sprinkled His redeeming blood on all men to give them a living hope (1Pe1:3), as
In the beginning was the Word, the God of hope, who came as man (Jn1:1, 14):
•His flesh — even in death the righteous has hope — His resurrection
•His blood — does not perish, spoil or fade — a living hope.
The resurrection of Christ became a new hope for all mankind, and
The Holy Spirit makes known the hope to which He has called the believers (Eph1:18) and
Lets them put hope in Christ, to die and resurrect with Him and enter eternal life (Rm6:4-5; 1Co15:23).
The Christian is he who in the past was without God, without hope in the world (Eph2:12) but
Now has the hope of the resurrection of the dead (Ac23:6; Eph1:18).
Whatever adversary he faces, he does not lose heart (2Co4:16-18) and
Even if struck down without despair he gets back up again (1Co4:8-9) for
Even if everything is taken away this hope can never be taken away.
Therefore he seeks in prayer (Rm5:5), does not hope in uncertain wealth in the world (1Ti6:7),
Lives a sanctified life (Rm6:22) and builds up the church, the anchor of his soul on earth (He6:19).
Until Christ appears a second time to those who are waiting for Him (He9:28),
Despite the hardship, he becomes an evangelist of the gospel of hope (1Ti1:1; 2Ti1:8; Col1:23).
O Lord,
Into this darkness, a place of despair
You came…and died…
To plant the seed of living hope!
Now, no matter what happens, I shall never be despaired
For I have this hope —
On that day when You return,
To join in the resurrection and stand before You face to face and live with You forever!
Amen.
Download this sermon (right click and save)
So Great A Salvation
(He2:1-4)
God is the great God (Ps95:3).
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed (Job9:10) and
He does great things and makes known greater things (1Ch17:19; 2Pe1:6).
Faith is knowing that the greatest thing is the salvation of soul and
The life of this faith is prioritizing the salvation of souls, my own soul and the souls given to me.
The greatest people in history are
Those who made contributions to humanity through discovery and inventions,
Those who influenced the human life through ideology, religion, politics etc and
Those who through their own sacrifice rescued their neighbors in danger.
The Bible speaks about so great a salvation (He2:3) that is
Not a physical, mental or environmental salvation
But the salvation of the soul from the eternal punishment in hell, that is,
From the burning universe, the present heavens and earth reserved for fire (2Pe3:7-13),
An unquenchable brimstone fire, the lake of fire (Mk9:48; Rev19:20, 20:14).
Since Adam, the ancestor of mankind, was deceived by the serpent, the devil, who
As an archangel sinned in the spiritual heaven and was cast down to Hades (Is14:12-15),
Contained until the great day of judgment (Jude1:6).
As a result, Adam sinned and all men became destined for hell (Mt25:41).
The Bible demonstrates those who did great things.
By building an ark, while all men drowned Noah saved his household (He11:7).
With a single staff Moses delivered the people of Israel from their slavery of 400 years in Egypt.
Still, it was not by their own strength they did
But rather it was the LORD God who did great things (Ex14:3-31).
The temple was where the great name of Jehovah was (2Ch6:32) and
It reminded for generations that Israel’s own eyes saw the great things that the LORD did (Dt11:7).
However, they eventually forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things (Ps106:21).
Thus, they remained cursed and were eventually destroyed.
Yeshua said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days” for
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-20),
He would raise a temple greater than the temple made by hands (Mt12:6; He9:11) and
In the name greater than the name Jehovah delivered by angel (Ex3:2, 15), that is,
In the Father’s name Yeshua that the Son brought (Jn5:43),
He would save not the flesh from the slavery in Egypt but
Souls from the slavery of the devil (2Pe2:9).
As such, He healed those with various sicknesses and raised the dead,
Performing great wonders and signs (Mk3:8; Lk8:36-39) for
The day was coming when even greater things would be revealed (Jn1:50, 5:20).
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Laid down His life so the Father would do the greatest thing, and dying according to the
command saved Himself (Ps71:3; Jn10:18; He5:7);
2) Through His own death judged the devil the ruler of death (He2:14); and
3) Became a ransom for all men (Mt20:28), doing the greatest thing in history.
The resurrection of Yeshua is the greatest thing the Father God did for
He raised Him from the dead so the spiritual body can live forever.
The Holy Spirit, by signs, wonders and various miracles (He2:1-4),
Testifies in believers that the greatest thing is the salvation of souls and
Lets them fear the retribution for sin of those who ignore so a great salvation.
The Christian is he who knows that there is nothing greater than the salvation of souls.
Therefore he never does anything that harms his soul from being saved and
He prioritizes the work of saving the souls given to him.
Risking all kinds of suffering, danger and sacrifice
He is not ashamed of preaching the gospel (Rm1:15-16; 1Co9:16) for
He knows that the work that he is doing is
The greatest work of snatching souls from the fire (Jude1:23).
O Lord,
Those firefighters on 9/11 who
Well knowing that they would die still went into the buildings to rescue one more person…
Let us all go out to save one more soul!
Though we may not be remembered in history by the world
Let us be proud for this work of saving souls is the greatest work! Amen
Download this sermon (right click and save)
Yeshua the Perfecter of Faith
(He12:1-4)
God is living (He10:31).
His existence is living and
His word is living (He4:12; 1Pe1:23).
Faith is believing Him and
The life of this faith is keeping in step with faith (Gal5:16, 25), living by faith to the end.
No one in the world is without faith.
While there is self-confidence which originates from men, there is faith that came from God.
The Christian faith is called the faith by revelation for
Its basis is the Bible (the Old Testament and the New Testament)
Written by the inspiration of God (2Ti3:16), and
Its contents are prophecies and promises (32,500).
The Bible is the story of the people testified for their faith:
Noah, when warned about things not yet seen (Ge6:5-7),
In holy fear built an ark and was saved from the deluge (He11:7);
Abraham, trusting that God is able to fulfill His promise (Ge15:1, 5-6)
Left his home country, gave birth to a son at 100 and
Gave his only son as a burnt sacrifice (He11:17; Rm4:17-21);
Moses, who chose to be mistreated along with the people of God
Rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin (He11:24-25) etc.
Israel was a people surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (He12:1) for
The sanctuary where the ark of the testimony has testified this (Ex25:22).
Yeshua said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19),
He would reveal that He is the Lord of faith, the perfecter of faith (He12:2).
He let those who believe in God also believe in Him (Jn14:1) so
He healed the sick and saved those who acted according to their faith (Mk2:5; Jn5:5-7).
He performed signs by commanding them to obey (Mt4:18-20; Lk5:1-11).
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
For the joy set before Him submitted to the Father’s command and became the Lord of faith (Jn10:17-18; Php2:8; He12:2);
Judged the devil the origin of sin (Ge3:4-6; Jn8:44); and
Redeemed men from the curse of the Law (Gal3:13) and gave a chance to live under the law of faith (Rm3:27).
He resurrected and sat on the heavenly throne for
The Father perfected His faith (He12:2).
The Holy Spirit whom He sent gives faith as gift (1Co12:9) and
Seals the faith of those who believe (2Co1:22).
He lets those who believe the blood of Yeshua to all the more believe (Jn16:8-9; Rm5:9) that: Yeshua is the only innocent Son of God (Mt27:4);
The works of Yeshua — His death to redeem and resurrection, that He lives (Mt20:28; Jn1:14); and
The words of Yeshua — His prophecies and promises.
The rewards for those who believe Him are:
Faith as righteousness (Rm1:17, 3:22-31);
The Holy Spirit as gift (Jn7:39; Ac2:38);
The name Yeshua — answers to prayers and signs that follow (Mk9:23, 16:17; Jn14:12); and
The resurrection to life, the first resurrection (Jn5:29, 11:25; Rev20:4-6).
The Christian is he who
Has the heart that decided to believe and not only by confessing with lips (Rm10:10)
But acts according to the faith for
Faith and action work together and by action faith is made perfect (Jas2:14-26).
Therefore, staring with simple obedience (Mt4:19-20; Lk5:4-11)
His faith is raised to the faith that simply believes (1Co1:9).
He trusts Yeshua no matter what the situation, enduring hardship (2Co13:5; He12:5-10; 1Pe1:7) for
He longs to be saved by faith in the end (1Pe1:9).
O Lord,
Let us all
Start with simple obedience and
Show our faith in action and
By the help of the Spirit
Grow to the faith that simply believes! Amen.
Download this sermon (right click and save)
Yeshua the Good Shepherd
(Ps23; Jn10:11-18)
God is good (2Ch7:3).
Through His sacrifice He opens a good way and
For His name’s sake He leads to the path of righteousness (Ps23:3).
Faith is knowing who the Shepherd of my soul is and
The life of this faith is being led and watched over by Him satisfyingly (Ps23) and following His way even if it is difficult.
The sheep and the shepherd are distinct from each other but have an indivisible relationship.
The sheep is a herbivore with an acute sense of hearing so
It only listens to its shepherd and follows him to survive.
Consequently, the fate of a sheep is determined by which shepherd it meets.
All mankind became lost (Ge4:14) since
Their ancestor Adam did not listen to the voice of God but listened to the devil (Ge2:17. 3:4-6).
Abram heard the voice of God and followed,
Leaving everything behind though not knowing where he was going (Ge12:1-4; He11:8) and
His offspring became nomads (Ge47:3).
While tending sheep, Moses heard the voice of God (Ex3:1,4) and
He led the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt.
Called to be a kingdom of priests (Ex19:6) with no inheritance of land (Eze44:28),
The people of Israel were led to the Red Sea and the wilderness (Ex13:18),
By a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire (Ex13:21), and by the ark (Nu10:33).
All those who grumbled against God and Moses (Nu21:5) and
Chose a leader to go back to Egypt (Nu14:4) fell on their faces in the desert and died.
The sanctuary reminded them that
Jehovah (Roi Yahweh) was the Shepherd of Israel (Ps23:1, 80:1) who
1) Led them out of Egypt and made them His people (Dt4:20);
2) Led them through the vast and dreadful wilderness for 40 years (Dt8:15-16, 29:5); and
3) Drove out nations greater and stronger and led them into the Promised Land (Dt4:38).
Yet because they listened to the words of the false prophets (Jer23:1-2)
Their downfall was inevitable and they became lost sheep (Jer50:6).
According to the prophecy, He who will shepherd God’s people came (Mi5:4; Mt2:6), Yeshua,
He said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-22),
He would become the Shepherd who leads not only Israel but all mankind
Not in the name Jehovah but in the Father’s name Yeshua (Jn5:43),
To the eternal path of life (Is49:10; Jn10:9-11).
For that, God became man (Mt20:28; Jn1:1, 14) and
He was passed over to death by the blind guides (Mt23:16-17).
His flesh tore like a veil and He died but He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Committed His spirit to the Father (Lk23:46) who for His name’s sake led the Son to the path
of death and life, for He is truly the good Shepherd (Ps23:3; Jn10:18);
2) Judged the devil the false guide who stole, destroyed and killed souls (Ge3:4-6; 1Jn3:8); and
3) Tore down the wall of sin and opened the new and living way before all men (He10:19-20), the gate for the sheep (Jn10:7).
God pulled the Chief Shepherd out of death and
Led Him to the heavenly throne, to the river of water of life (He13:20; Rev7:17, 22:1-3).
The Holy Spirit who came in the name Yeshua
Leads the souls born-again in His blood to the path of righteousness and
Brings into the sheep pen, the Church (Jn10:16; 1Pe2:25) where
They are overseen and protected from the savage wolves (Ac20:28-31).
The Christian is he who was
Once lost sheep going astray but now has returned to the Shepherd of his soul (1Pe2:25).
Because he is a sheep he listens to the voice of the overseer of the church (Jn10:14-16).
He goes out to seek souls who are still lost and leads them into the sheep pen (Jn10:16), and
Protects and nurtures the souls entrusted to him (1Pe5:2).
At times on a smooth path, while at other times on a rough road (Ps23:4; Is40:11)
He strives to follow to the end
Passing through the valley of the shadow of death and
Waits for the Chief Shepherd to appear and
Finally be led to the river of the water of life (1Pe5:4; Rev7:17).
O Lord,
For we are foolish we still tend to go our way and get lost…
So even if You have to strike us with Your rod
Lead us and never leave us!
Even if this path is difficult, we will follow You to death.
Let us seek souls with the heart of the good Shepherd! Amen.
Download this sermon (right click and save)
Yeshua the Rock Eternal
(Ps31:1-3; 1Co10:4)
God is the God of truth without iniquities (Dt32:4).
He is perfect, just, righteous, and upright.
To those who trust Him He becomes the solid rock, the security of their salvation.
Faith is making God one’s rock eternal and trusting Him (Is26:4) and
The life of this faith is to not be shaken no matter what and always taking refuge in Him (Ps71:3).
While men have built on rocks and sought refuge between rocks for
Rocks are not easily shaken and thus safe,
The Bible says that there is no eternal safety zone on earth for
All heavens, earth, mountains, islands and the entire universe will be shaken
During the great tribulation (Rev6:13-17), after which
The first heaven and the first earth will pass away (2Pe3:7, 10-13; Rev21:1).
This is because Satan who fell from heaven and was contained in Hades (2Pe2:24; Jude1:6) will be
Thrown into the fire of hell (Mt25:41; Rev20:14).
Deceived by this Satan, the devil, the ancestor of all men Adam sinned and
Then was driven out of the Garden (Ge3:4-6, 24).
Consequently, all men became fugitives being chased by sin, death, and the devil (Ge4:14).
The Israelites who left Egypt went through the Red Sea on dry ground (Ex14:9, 1Co10:1)
While the Egyptians who chased them were swept into the Sea (Ex14:27-28).
After entering the wilderness, a safety zone where God left them,
Israel drank the water that sprang out of rock for 40 years (Dt8:15).
The sanctuary where the name Jehovah was reminded them that:
Jehovah = the God of Israel = the Rock of Israel (2Sa23:3), so that
They would trust only the name and live.
However, for they abandoned the rock of their salvation they were cursed (Dt32:15, 31, 37).
Then there was the prophecy regarding the appearance of a holy place or
A stone who would cause people to stumble (Is8:14-15).
Yeshua said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” for which
He became a stumbling stone for the Jews.
However, through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19),
Not in the name Jehovah but in the Father’s name Yeshua (Jn5:43)
He would reveal that He is the spiritual, eternal rock (1Co10:4),
The shelter for sinners pursued by sin and the Law to hide and live (Jn8:2-11).
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Put an end to the weak life of the Son of Man (Pr30:24, 26) and His spirit sought refuge in
the Father’s bosom, the eternal rock (Ps16:8-11, 31:5; Lk23:46);
2) Judged the devil the origin of sin (1Jn3:8); and
3) Gave His blood that sprang out from the rock His body to all men as spiritual drink (Jn4:14, 6:54; 1Co10:4).
He resurrected and sat on the heavenly throne as the Lamb whose scars are
Rock crevices for those who seek refuge in Him, so they will never be put to shame (Rm9:33).
The Holy Spirit comes to those who received the name Yeshua and
Drank the spiritual drink from their Rock.
The Spirit leads those pursued by sin, the Law, death and the devil and
To their hiding place, the church built in the name Yeshua,
An unbreakable rock that the gates of Hades will not prevail (Mt16:16-18, 18:20).
The Christian understands all signs in the world as the beginning of tribulation (Mt24:6-8; Lk21:11).
Therefore, all the more he puts effort to gather (He10:20) and
He distances himself from idolatry (greed), sexual immorality (befriending the world),
Testing the Lord (1Co10:5-10).
When tested, he stands firm on the rock (Rm5:1-5; Jas1:3-4) and runs to Yeshua and prays,
Trusting only in the name Yeshua and His word that stands forever (1Pe1:24-25) so that
On the last day, he would be lifted out of the burning universe (Ps40:1-2) and
Finally enter the eternal safety zone, the Father’s bosom.
O Lord,
Yeshua, my Rock eternal, my Refuge!
We are in the midst of this pandemic and seeing countless disasters around the world
We know that the end is near…
Let us be as wise as hyraxes that have little power, yet make their home in the crags (Pr30:26), and
Let us run into the church, our hiding place on earth, and
Gather, pray, and worship successfully.
And on the last day, let the rock of ages open before us! Amen.
Download this sermon (right click and save)
With A Sincere Heart
(He10:22-23)
God is faithful (Dt7:9).
He does not change like shifting shadows (Jas1:17) and
Lets those who remain true to Him with all their hearts enter the kingdom of heaven (Ac11:23, 14:22).
Faith is making God the strength of my heart, having a sincere heart of faith (Ps73:26), and
The life of this faith is holding unswervingly to the hope one professes to the end (He10:23).
Whether it is the character of a man or his success in life
It all depends on his heart.
But since it is constantly changing and difficult to control,
The heart is actually the problem.
The Bible indicates that God alone knows the hearts of men (1Ki8:39) for
He formed their hearts (Ps33:15).
In the composition of man (the spirit, the person and the flesh),
While the spirit and the flesh live or die for they are beings (He4:12),
The individual person (the heart) is a function that decides between
Man of the flesh or man of the spirit, and heaven or hell (Rm8:5-10).
All men became hellhound (Mt25:41) for their ancestor Adam listened to the devil,
Satan whose heart was changed and fell from heaven (Is14:12-15; Eze28:2, 17), and
Took the forbidden fruit (Ge2:17, 3:4-6).
During the time of Noah all men were destroyed in the judgment by flood for
Every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time (Ge6:5).
To Abraham whose heart was faithful to God
God gave descendants and the land of Canaan according to His promise (Neh9:8), and
To Moses who was more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth (Nu12:3),
God entrusted the work of the exodus of Israel and leading them in the desert for 40 years.
Egypt was devastated by the ten plagues during the exodus of Israel since
The pharaoh’s heart was hardened (Ex7:3), for
God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy and
He hardens whom He wants to harden (Rm9:17-18).
The Law was given to be on their hearts (Dt6:6; Pr7:3) and
Commanded them to not harbor any wicked thought (Dt15:9), guard their hearts (Pr4:23).
The sanctuary where the name Jehovah and the stone tablets were reminded them (Dt4:9) that
They walked the wilderness for 40 years for
God to humble and test them in order to know what was in their hearts (Dt8:2).
For their hearts went astray, they could not enter the promised land (Nu14:23-24; Ps95:10-11) and
For their hearts were not loyal to God, curse continued (Ps78:37).
Nevertheless, there was prophecy that God would remove from them
Their heart of stone and give them a new heart of flesh (Eze11:9, 36:26).
Yeshua said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-21),
Not in the name Jehovah but in the Father’s name Yeshua (Jn5:43)
He came to do the Father’s will with His heart steadfast since the beginning (Ps57:7; Jn1:1).
He rebuked the Pharisees whose hearts were full of evil (Mt12:34-35, 15:29),
While urging Judas into whose heart the devil had already put the thought to betray Yeshua
To do what he was about to do quickly (Jn13:2, 27).
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) According to His steadfast heart, trusted the Father and gave His life (Ps57:7; Jn10:17-18);
2) Judged the devil who changed (Is14:12-15; 1Jn3:8); and
3) Took up all men’s sin, pains and suffering on to His body (Is53:4-5), and poured out His
blood to give them a new heart of flesh (Eze11:9, 36:6).
He resurrected and sat on the heavenly throne.
The Holy Spirit whom He sent comes to those who believed in their hearts (Rm10:9-10), that is,
Received the sprinkling of His blood into their hearts (Gal4:6).
He lets them have a sincere heart of faith, the mind of Christ (1Co2:16; He10:22).
Therefore, the Christian has:
1) A positive heart — hearing the word understands in the heart (Mt13:19; Lk8:15; Ac17:11-12);
2) A humble heart — simple-minded like a child (Mt18:4), not stubborn, not a sinful, unbelieving heart (Rm2:5; He3:8-12);
3) A pure heart — the heart towards the Lord that does not go astray (Mt5:8; 2Co11:3);
4) Not double-minded — only loves the Lord (Mt6:24; Jas1:7-8); and
5) A steadfast heart — to the end holds on unswervingly as a member of the body the church whose head is Christ (He10:23).
O Lord,
Though the world says, “follow your heart,”
The heart is deceitful and desperately sick (Jer17:9)!
Once Yeshua came into my heart, I was changed.
So I no longer follow my heart for it is not my leader.
Now I follow Yeshua my King, and His word!
Nothing can take away the joy and the peace in my heart now! Amen.