Finding the one true god

Finding the one true god

Key verses: “for a long time Israel was without the true god, without a priest to teach and without the law.  But in their distress they turned to the lord, the god of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them.” (2 Chronicle 15: 3-4)

In this series we are to consider some of the secrets of successful living.  Of course, no one can begin to live successfully without knowing god, and first of all we must understand how we can come to know him for ourselves.  The subject is brought before us in 2 chronicles 15:1-19, and it is pin-pointed in the above key verses.  There is only one true god, the god and father of our lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:3), and the greatest blessing which anyone can experience in this life is to find the true god, but the greatest tragedy is to pass through life without ever finding him.  In our key verses we have a brief description of one phase of Israel’s history, but it also describes thousands of people throughout the world.  Notice how this brief portion of scripture unfolds to give us a sequence of teaching.

1. they were without the true god

Verse 3 tells us that this had been true of them “for a long time”.  They were godless, less god – look up Ephesians 2:12.  This is a perfect description of multitudes of people today;  they are living without god.  He does not enter into their thoughts, except in times of emergency, and he has not been welcomed into their lives.  The Israelites still believed in the existence of god, and they experienced and benefited from his providences, but for all that they were “without the true god”.  We are not told they were without a god, for everyone worships a god of some kind – the god of self, money, pleasure or ambition.  These words in verse 3, therefore, are descriptive of many people – “for a long time…without the true god”.

2. they were without a teaching priest

A “teaching priest” was one whose duty was to teach the people the truth of god.  Who are the teaching priests today?  Every faithful preacher and teacher of the word of god is one of god’s teaching priests.  But the majority of people are outside the influence of these teachers and preachers; they do not attend church or listen to an exposition of the scriptures, and they do not read the bible or the kind of literature which would inform them about the truths of god.  In consequence of this, there is an appalling ignorance of the things of god, and the average person knows nothing of god’s way of salvation – look up Ephesians 2:8-10.  Many have experienced a taste of “churchianity” or “religiosity”, but very few know the way of salvation as it is revealed in the person of our lord and savior Jesus Christ – compare john 14:6; acts 4:12 and Romans 1:16.

3. they were without law

The priests were the guardians of the law, and to be without a priest meant, therefore, to be without the law.  If anyone wanted to know the law in those days he had to go to a priest; but today, thank god!  We have his law, his word, in the bible.  However, the majority of people do not read the bible, and therefore they are “without (the) law”.  The law is god’s standard of what is right and wrong, but the vast majority of people take their standard from the media:  (1) the newspaper; (2) the radio; (3) the television; (4) the cinema; (5) social media.  Therefore, because god’s standard has been rejected and the world’s, or man’s or the devil’s standard has been substituted, our civilization has become increasingly corrupted.  The great need today is to get back to the bible, the true standard, the only book which contains the authentic revelation of god and of his love, his grace, his son and of his way of saving men and women.

4. When trouble came they turned to the lord

The Israelites were in trouble because they had left god out of their reckoning and out of their lives.  Trouble will always come to nations and to individuals if they reject the lord.  Notice that it was the lord who sent the trouble;  it was his judgment on sin and his loving method of causing them to turn back to him.

Does god work like this today?  He does!  He often sends trouble into a man’s life in order that that man, who for many years has lived only for himself, might turn back to the lord and find him.  The prodigal had to come to himself before he was ready to come to his father (Luke 15:11-24).but when these people had been severely chastened they turned to the lord.  Then what happened?

5. they found the true god

In verse 4 there are three words which tell us how to find god, or, more correctly, how to be found of him.  We must:

(1) Turn from sin and from self (1 Thessalonians 1:9);
(2) Seek the lord and his pardon (Isaiah 55:6-7); and
(3) find the true god (2 chronicles 15:2, 4 and 15).
How wonderfully this little bit of ancient history ends – “he was found by them” (2 Chronicle 15:4 and 15)!  Have you found him?  –  Look up proverbs 8:17.

THE MASTER OVER DARKNESS

 John 7:7-11

The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.’ After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee. However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, ‘Where is he?’ (NIVUK)

Jesus knew that He was in a conflict.  That is why He had come – to confront the Evil One and his wicked work – to conquer sin and death (1 John 3:8).  He was also a threat to the religious leaders who had been manipulated by the devil.  They loved the status of their position but did not want the Messiah to upset their power-games.  Initially they were suspicious of Him, but then became increasingly hostile to Jesus (John 8:44) .  He did not hate anyone, but His light exposed their dark secrets (John 3:19-20).  His human half-brothers were also sinners (unlike Jesus the Son of God).  

That is why they posed no holy threat to the fake righteousness of the religious leaders.  So, it was safe for them to go with the crowd from Galilee to the Festival of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, but Jesus chose not to be ambushed along the road because God’s time for His crucifixion had not yet come (John 7:30).  Instead, He travelled alone and unrecognised.

The focus of the Festival should have been to praise God, who wonderfully provided for His people during wilderness wanderings 1,500 years previously.  Instead, the religious leaders were looking out for Jesus - not to worship Him but to locate Him and kill Him (John 5:16-18).  Their zeal for God had been replaced by a jealous love of themselves, guarding their dark hearts against the light of God's truth.  Their worship was self-centred and, although they read God's Word at the Festival, they refused to submit to what He said (John 5:39-40) .  Indeed, their ambition was to destroy Jesus (the Word of God) so that they could eliminate true holiness from their horizon, and live in the delusion of their self-created 'righteousness'.

Once people understand who Jesus is, He challenges everything we cherish.  Those who seek their own glory, or worship idols, do not want Jesus as their Master.  Those who want to control their life and the lives of others do not want Jesus to be their Lord.  Yes, they are content for Him to be a spiritual advisor, good teacher and moral example.  But they do not want to submit to Him as God the Son, the Creator, the Life-giver, Saviour and Judge of all.  So, to worship Him as King of kings and Lord of lords would require a miracle.  That miracle starts when people are willing to hear how the Bible describes Jesus and then respond to His call (Romans 10:9-13).

But how will they hear the gospel story, or desire to read the Bible? (Romans 10:14)   If you are a believer, then your task is to tell the truth about Jesus to people who are living in the darkness of their own deluded ego, or the darkness of confusion or oppression.  

Only Jesus can illuminate their hearts and minds with His love and truth.  As workers in God’s family business (every believer is a working part of the kingdom of heaven) we need to share the Jesus-story and walk with our friends and colleagues in reading the Gospels in their own language.  

Then pray that they will cooperate with God's Holy Spirit, and be saved.  Whatever they have done, they can be forgiven and welcomed into His kingdom.  He can still deal with their darkness because He is the Light of the World.

Holy God. I am glad that You do not play religious games, but You expose darkness in order that people will be convicted of their sin, repent and come into Your Light. I am sorry when I have not been serious about holiness and have been more interested in being recognised and applauded than for Your righteousness to be in my heart. And if there is hidden wickedness in my heart, please show me and give me grace to repent. Please help me to reset my focus on Jesus, so that I may worship Him truly and serve Him wholeheartedly. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

SECRET OPINIONS

 John 7:12-13

Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, ‘He is a good man.’ Others replied, ‘No, he deceives the people.’ But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders. (NIVUK)

Jesus could not be ignored.  What He said and did was so authoritative and memorable that the crowds tried to understand who He was and what motivated Him.  Their opinions were divided.  Some thought He was good, but others concluded He was bad, deceiving the people.  However, the possibility that He might be God in a human body, the Messiah, never occurred to them. Even the trainee apostles did not understand fully until the Holy Spirit came (John 16:12-15).

Fear and whispering tend to go together.  Although everybody had opinions about Jesus, they were afraid of what the religious leaders might do to them if they spoke openly. In fact, the only time when they were encouraged to do so, the crowd shouted, "Crucify, crucify!" (John 19:6)

The history of the church shows that whenever people are afraid to speak what is true about Jesus, Satan works in the whispering and the church withers.  But whenever God's people proclaim Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, the church grows with new believers.  

The lesson is not to be silent about the truth of Jesus.  It may be difficult or even dangerous to speak the truth about Jesus Christ, but as we do, some will be saved: if we do not, then Satan's lies about Jesus will keep people in their darkness.  So, practise using the name of Jesus, speaking of your relationship with Him, every day.

Dear Lord God. Thank You for Jesus. I am sorry for the times when I have not spoken about Jesus because I have been shy or frightened. Please help me to speak about Him and the relationship I have with Him, so that others might be stirred to seek Him and find Him. In His Name. Amen.

THE SOURCE OF WISDOM

 John 7:14-19

Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. The Jews there were amazed and asked, ‘How did this man get such learning without having been taught?’ Jesus answered, ‘My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?’ (NIVUK)

Jesus arrived in Jerusalem half-way through the Festival.  He did not want to travel with his half-brothers lest He be ambushed on the road (John 7:6-9) .  But once in Jerusalem, instead of hiding and keeping His identity concealed, He went to the Temple courts and began teaching publicly.  The religious leaders could not stone Him there or arrest Him for fear of the crowds (Matthew 21:46).  Instead, they all listened and were amazed by His teaching from the Law of Moses.  It had such a ring of truth.  But how could He have so much knowledge as He was only a carpenter who had never been to any Rabbinic school?

They should have asked the question, ‘Where does the truth come from?’  Truth does not come from human invention but by revelation from God (Luke 10:21) .  Although there are many clues to truth, which human beings can piece together and share with others (that is the art of science), the whole truth can only come from the One who knows everything.  Although He was the Son of God, Jesus did not claim to be independent from Father God; He said that He had submitted to the Father, and gave Him the glory for all the teaching (John 12:49).  Of course, there is more to godly teaching than merely transmitting information; it has to be acted upon.  People who want to obey God will also realise that it is God who is speaking to them.

There are others who claim to speak the truth, but the information they give out does not have God’s authority nor do the speakers want to give God the glory.  They use their human skills to project their own thoughts so that they will be considered great.  Their hearers will not hear the voice of God, and will be manipulated into thinking that what appeals to them is right; whereas they will be led in darkness by blind guides to destruction (Luke 6:39).

When we feel that God is not speaking to us, it is essential to ask, ‘Have I obeyed what God has told me previously?’  And, ‘Whose voice have I been listening to?’  When we obey the Lord, we also develop a hunger to hear more, and we grow in a deeper love for the Lord.  When we disobey and do not repent, our spiritual appetite is depressed as we gravitate to blind guides who teach us to love other things and people more than loving Him.  The ultimate blasphemy is to claim to honour God's Word and yet want the Son of God out of our lives.  The religious leaders of Jesus’ day made that mistake: we must not copy them.  So, ask the Lord to remind you of something He has already told you, but you have not yet obeyed.  As you choose to obey, your relationship with the Lord will become clear once again.

God of truth. Thank You that Jesus never claimed to be independent from You, but always pointed people to Your supreme authority and the need to submit to You. I am sorry for the times I have listened to the darkness, invented my own righteousness and despised what You have already revealed. Please help me to take Your Word seriously so that I choose to obey it and grow in my relationship with You. Please show me one area of disobedience which I need to address by doing what You say. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

THE INCONSISTENCE OF UNGODLINESS

 John 7:20-24

‘You are demon-possessed,’ the crowd answered. ‘Who is trying to kill you?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I did one miracle, and you are all amazed. Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.’ (NIVUK)

Godliness has integrity - everything holds together, because everything that is true is held together by God.  So those who fight against God in their hearts will always be inconsistent.  The crowds were amazed at Jesus, but could not work out who He was.  He was far better than a good rabbi.  He taught with authority in a way which made sense, and His miracles were extraordinary... but they could not see that He was the Son of God. When He rightly said that they were trying to kill Him, they assumed He was demonised with paranoid thoughts.

So, He exposed their inconsistency.  They protested that He did 'unlawful work' on the Sabbath when He healed a man, but they allowed circumcision on the Sabbath.  Using a knife was considered to be 'working', so by what logic could they allow circumcision and deny the healing of a grown man?  There was no logic or consistency because although they were religious, they were ungodly... fighting against the Son of God and hating Him so much that they wanted to kill Him. So Jesus told them to learn to make right judgements: at the end of time He will judge all people in total fairness and utter consistency (Psalm 98:9).

They were trying to kill Him, but deflected His straight accusation in John 7:19 by accusing Him of being demon-possessed.  It was to become a recurrent blasphemous slander (John 8:48; John 8:52; John 10:20) .  In their minds, as supposedly holy men of God, the only logical explanation for Jesus not conforming to them was that He was in the grip of Satan.  How blind they were and ensnared by evil – even though they were seen to be holy men of God (John 9:40-41).  In truth, Jesus was God in the flesh, filled with the Spirit of God and held in the grip of His Father God.  Attributing the work of God to the devil is the ultimate blasphemy and unforgivable sin (Matthew 12:31-32).      

Godliness brings a consistency to a person's character because their decisions are based on truth.  Those who refuse to submit to God cannot make consistently right judgements; their decisions will be crucially flawed.  The root problem is that self-centred decisions have a very limited horizon.  They do not take anything or anybody else or eternity into account, and they are unaffected by God's wisdom.  Only God knows how to fit everything together in a way that is right.  By making decisions to suit themselves they cannot make right judgements themselves, and are liable to God's judgement.  These verses may come closer to our own situation than we might like to think.  Let the Lord examine our hearts to reveal our motivation, who we listen to, and whose glory we seek.

All-knowing God. Thank You for bringing all things together under Christ's control one day. I am sorry when I have made decisions based on my own self-interest and forgotten how ungodliness spoils Your world and my character. Please help me to seek Your wisdom in all things and make right judgements so that I will be obedient to You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

GREATER THAN THE HUMAN EYE CAN SEE

 John 7:25-31

At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, ‘Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Messiah? But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.’ Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, ‘Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.’ At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. Still, many in the crowd believed in him. They said, ‘When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man?’ (NIVUK)

They did not know what to make of Jesus.  Nothing seemed to add up.  The religious leaders were known to have issued an arrest warrant for Him, but they did not dare to arrest Him in the temple or when He was preaching publicly (Mark 12:12) .  The people wondered if the authorities had changed their opinion about Jesus, allowing Him to speak openly to crowds who had come to the Festival of Tabernacles in Jerusalem.  They were awed by Jesus’ miracles, but they wrongly believed that the Messiah would be previously unknown and come in a surprising way: therefore Jesus could not be the Saviour from God.

Perhaps they had misinterpreted the ‘suddenly’ in Malachi 3:1, “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple …” .  However, the scholars knew that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:3-6), and Matthew understood that Jesus’ home in Galilee was prophesied in Isaiah 9:1-2.  However, because He was well-known to the people (Matthew 13:55-56) , they assumed that Jesus could not be the Messiah because His coming was not sudden and dramatic.  We will all have to await the complete fulfilment of the Malachi prophecy, when Jesus comes again (1 Thessalonians 4:16-5:4).

But when Jesus tried to tell the crowd about His intimate relationship with Father God (John 7:14-17) , and that they had no real relationship with Him, some of them became very angry and rushed to grab Him.  However, they were supernaturally restrained and could not even touch Him although He was so close.  Yet, at the same time, others believed in Him - His miracles were enough to prove that He was no ordinary man (John 14:11); He is the Holy Son of God (John 1:14-18).

Perhaps, if we had been there, we might also have been confused.  It is the same today.  Until the Holy Spirit opened our eyes, we were blind to the true identity and heavenly pre-existence of Jesus.  That is why it is essential that we share God’s Word about His Son - who Jesus is and where He came from.  Some will become angry or may ridicule us; but others will believe and put their trust in Him.  When we know we need more than ourselves - then He is the only answer.

Loving Father. Thank You for sending Jesus to be my Saviour. I am glad that He is so much greater than I can imagine; and His wisdom, power and authority exceed my understanding. I know that I am totally safe as I trust Him. But I repent of the times when I have rejected His wisdom and preferred my way to His. Please forgive me for such foolishness, choosing my own weakness rather than trusting in His strength. Please help me to learn to commit myself to Him even though I cannot imagine how great He is. Help me to explain to my family, friends and colleagues who Jesus is, where He has come from and why He came; praying that they will also want to trust Him. In His Name. Amen.

UNDERSTANDING JESUS

 John 7:32-36

The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him. Jesus said, ‘I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.’ The Jews said to one another, ‘Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? What did he mean when he said, “You will look for me, but you will not find me,” and “Where I am, you cannot come”?’ (NIVUK)

Jesus was speaking the truth, but the crowds could not understand who He was, where He came from or where He was going.  The apparent indulgence of the religious leaders to His public ministry at the Festival of Tabernacles confused the people in Jerusalem (John 7:25-27) .  Was He the Messiah or not?  His miracles and teaching clearly had divine power, but He was a carpenter (Mark 6:3) from Nazareth, which was not a respected religious town (John 1:46).  They did not know that He was born in Bethlehem (John 7:42), or understand that Jesus came from God, was going to God (John 13:3) , and that He is God (John 1:18).

The religious leaders did not want to give this Messianic speculation any more room to grow.  All they knew was that He was a threat to their authority over the people, a privilege granted by the Romans provided that they maintained civil order.  If the people rebelled publicly, the Romans would impose martial law.  John 11:48 describes their fearful dilemma: “If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”   So they sent guards to arrest Him quietly before He stirred up the crowd to riot (Matthew 26:3-5); but their consciences would not let them seize Him (John 7:45-49).

The words of Jesus were unforgettable.  But what did He mean about ‘going to the One who sent me’, ‘you will look for me’, and ‘you cannot come’ ?  Did He mean that He would leave Jerusalem and teach the Jewish diaspora scattered widely in countries around the Mediterranean Sea?  Would He go to teach the Gentiles as well?  He was simply predicting that in a short while (the next six months) He would die, be raised from the dead and then would ascend to the Father.  When that happened, they would not be able to find Him. In fact, nobody who resists Jesus, despises His cross and refuses to serve Him can go to heaven.  But the work of preaching the gospel to the rest of the world was delegated to the Apostles and those who have followed them, like us (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).

 

Many presume that after this life they will go to a 'better place', especially if they have been religiously active.  But Jesus taught that only those who submitted to Him in this life will be received into heaven. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Matthew 7:21-23).  The key to being welcomed by Jesus into His home one day is to make Him welcome in our hearts now.

Dear Lord. Thank You that You have a place in Your home for all who repent and receive Jesus. I am sorry for failing to make that clear to my friends and family, allowing them to assume that there is a 'better place' for them even though they resist the call of Jesus. Please help me to explain Your loving salvation so that they will understand and put their trust in Christ, while there is still time. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

LIVING WATER FROM JESUS

 John 7:37-39

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. (NIVUK)

Read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: in English, and many other languages

On the last day of the Festival of Tabernacles, a solemn procession of priests left the Temple to draw water from the Gihon Spring, just outside the Temple Mount.  This spring was the only immediate water supply for Jerusalem and was seen as the ‘life of the city’.  The water was ceremonially carried in a golden jar back to the Temple and then poured over the altar.  It was a symbolic reminder that God provided water out of a rock during the wilderness wanderings (Exodus 17:1-7) , to give life to His people.  All the people crowded the streets to see the spectacle which marked the climax of the Festival.  But Jesus stood up and spoke loudly, drawing attention to the words which had divine power.

 

He used the occasion to announce Himself as the God who satisfies.  The 'living water' He promised was not physical liquid drawn from a well or spring, but would be the life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit who would continue to satisfy and energise every believer.  It was the same promise Jesus had made personally to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:14), and it is a promise which He continues to fulfil.

Before Jesus returned to Father God in heaven, the Holy Spirit had only been given to particular individuals to enable them to work with God.  People like Mary (Luke 1:34-35), Elizabeth (Luke 1:41), Simeon (Luke 2:25), John the Baptist (Luke 1:13-16) were all imbued with the Holy Spirit.  After Jesus ascended to the Father, the Holy Spirit was given to all the apostles and every believer (Acts 2:38).  The Spirit brings the promised eternal life of God into the hearts of all who trust in Jesus.

 

Although many Christless religions encourage people into pious activity, Jesus asks that people believe in Him as their Saviour and submit to Him as Lord.  When they do, God's Holy Spirit is given to authorise them to be God's children and fill them with His powerful presence (Romans 8:16) .  That is grace: exchanging our sinfulness for His forgiveness and the indwelling presence of God.  If you are trusting in Jesus, wherever you are today the Holy Spirit is in you, longing to do His Divine work in you and through you - to satisfy you and to reveal the love of God to others.  You are not on your own; God lives in you. That is a great reason to praise and to pray, to worship and to work so that His kingdom may grow and the glory will go to Him.

My Lord and my God. Thank You for giving me the opportunity to hear about Jesus and for the faith to believe in Him, receiving the Holy Spirit. It is wonderful to know that You are with me always. I am sorry when I have pushed Your Spirit to the corners of my life, thinking that I do not need You. I repent and declare that I want to welcome the Spirit into every part of my life, to satisfy me and give me the wisdom and power to work with You in helping to build Your kingdom. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

WHERE DOES JESUS COME FROM?

 John 7:40-44

On hearing his words, some of the people said, ‘Surely this man is the Prophet.’ Others said, ‘He is the Messiah.’ Still others asked, ‘How can the Messiah come from Galilee? Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?’ Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him. (NIVUK)

Read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: in English, and many other languages

As the crowds started to wonder if Jesus was the Messiah, they rightly asked if He had come from King David's family tribe (Judah).  As far as they knew, Jesus was from Nazareth (Matthew 21:10-11), but David’s family had come from Bethlehem.  Their question was prompted by Micah 5:2 which says, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

 

They were right in checking the Scripture, but they were wrong in assuming Jesus was born into a Galilean family from the tribe of Naphtali (Luke 2:4-7) , because He was brought up in Nazareth.  They assumed that He could not be 'the Holy One of God', because they got their facts wrong.  Others looked at the evidence of His life and concluded that He must be the Christ (Messiah).  How could such different opinions arise?  Was it just that some saw evidence and others did not?  Or was it that those who did not want to believe in Jesus were using the Scripture to support their lack of faith?

 

It seems strange that people should quote from the Bible but not believe.  However, that was exactly what Satan did when tempting Jesus (Matthew 4:6) .  It is a cheap way to discredit truth, and yet millions are seduced away from faith in Jesus by false teachers who manipulate Scripture to their own wicked advantage.  Others ignore the Scripture, often because they do not know what it says about Jesus, constructing their own ideas about Him – making Him in their image, and forgetting that He made them in His image (Colossians 1:15-20).

But the Apostles refused to do that.  Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:2, "Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God."  So, if you are a teacher, parent or grandparent, make sure that what you say about Jesus is clearly in line with the Scripture.  And when you hear teaching, use the Scripture to check that it is true, and never twist it to support your unwillingness to submit to the truth.

God of truth. Thank You for giving us the Holy Scripture so that we can understand what is true. I am sorry when I have been selective in choosing sentences from the Bible which support my unbelief or disobedience, or when I have allowed such teaching to go unchallenged. Please help me to be open-hearted to embrace Your Word and willing to obey what it says, so that I may get to know Jesus better and learn to live like Him. In His Name. Amen.

WHO KNOWS THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS?

 John 7:45-53

Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, ‘Why didn’t you bring him in?’ ‘No one ever spoke the way this man does,’ the guards replied. ‘You mean he has deceived you also?’ the Pharisees retorted. ‘Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law – there is a curse on them.’ Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, ‘Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?’ They replied, ‘Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.’ Then they all went home. (NIVUK)

Read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: in English, and many other languages

The security guards in the temple had been ordered to arrest Jesus (John 7:32) , but they refused.  Pragmatically, they had no appetite for starting a riot in the temple because the people were starting to trust what Jesus said, and would have supported Him.  But, also, the guards were listening to His teaching; they were so impressed with what He said that their consciences would not allow them to seize Him.

Although Jesus’ miracles were amazing, it was His words which struck deep down in their hearts.  What Jesus said carried God’s authority (Matthew 7:28-29) .  His teaching was radically different to the instructions of religious lawyers who set rules, which people could not keep, and could never bring peace to sinful hearts.  But the religious leaders, envious of the popular attention Jesus received, believed that the crowd were deluded, cursed by Satan and held in his evil grip.  In fact, it was they who were being used as the devil's toys (John 8:44).

One of those leaders was Nicodemus, who earlier came to Jesus under cover of darkness (John 3:1-15) .  Nicodemus had personal experience of Jesus and his conscience was also troubled by the warlike attitude of the other leaders.  At the very least, he said, Jesus should have a proper fair trial.  But they would not listen to Nicodemus either, accusing him of being ignorant of the Scriptures: no prophet ever came from Galilee, they said.  But they ignored the fact that Jonah came from Gath Hepher, close to Nazareth in the same northern area of Zebulun (2 Kings 14:25).

 

People who fight against the truth will also hate those who want to know the truth.  Those with seared consciences despise people who struggle to keep their conscience clear.  It is particularly true when the 'truth' is all about Jesus.  He told His disciples, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." (John 15:18-19).  So, if you love Him, do not think that you are in the wrong when other people speak badly of Him or are hostile to you when you stand up for Jesus.  Just rejoice that you know the truth about Jesus and are confident that He understands and stands by your side.

Dear Lord God. Thank You that Jesus fully understands the way some people think about me and treat me. I am sorry when I feel sad for myself or angry with them, and do not realise that they treat me badly, because they are resisting Your love and grace. Please help me to forgive those who ill-treat me and love those who despise me, and please help me to continue to publicly affirm my faith in Jesus. In His Name. Amen.

BREAKING FINANCIAL CURSES

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How to stop Spam Emails

How to stop Spam Emails: Keywords,Tutorials,Tools,Marketing,Affiliates

How can be done to stop emails entering the spam folder?

The problem many people encounters when it comes email sending, is their email ends up in spam folder. Sometimes the recipient could not check his Spam folder. In some cases the software deletes in from the spam making it not available to the recipient. For the beginners it will discourage them from going further as they might give up that it is not working.

How can be done to stop emails entering the Spam folder?

Capitalized Email subject

The email can enter the spam folder when the subject is in Capital letters as the most of the spam email had their subject in Capital letter. This makes it possible for the spider to locate such as a spam

Provide an unsubscribe link

Every email messages that can repeat itself or to be sent several times can be offensive to the recipient and as such a case it might be regarded as spam. It might be that the recipient is not interested on the message. This is why the unsubscribe link must be provided in order to avoid the repetition of such email without the authorization of the recipient. The received might decide to stop such email coming to his email box by using the unsubscribe link to stop the email.

Set up email authentication

When an email is originated from an authenticated source it will be trusted. The email had trace back to the sender, so the sender can receive response from the receiver. The source of the email plays an important role in determining how the email will be treated. And in some cases such email can be verified if they are spam or not.

Do not send more than one attachment.

One message might be seen as a spam if it contains more than one attachment. When an email is containing more than one attachment it might likely be offensive to the receiver as such email might occupy big space when received. There are some emails that sent some attachment that contained spam emails or virus in order to deceive the receiver in this case the sever might detect this as a spam email thereby relocating it to the spam folder.

Use trusted email hosting

Some hosting company that does not always comply with the regulations of the spam prevention can be flagged and regarded as an un-trusted. Some server had be used to send several spam emails and deceptive emails. This hosting sever had not integrity with the email server so any email been sent from the server can be suspicions.

Spam tag words

Avoid words that are considered spam , such as cheap, free, limited offer, and others
Many words had reports attached to it, because it had been used several times to send a fraudulent emails, therefore using such word can land the email to spam folder.

Special server

You can use a special server such as VPS, Dedicated server. If the server is shared server it means that you have no control of what will be going out or coming in to the server. That is why it advisable to use the special server, where can be in control of some activities of the server. You can control the server in sending authentic emails. The most important thing you apply is to use a special server for your email marketing. Because email hosting usually provides extra security features for email marketing.

The subject of the email

The subject of the email is relevant to the content of the email. The subject of the email is not related to the body of the email. This is also can be regarded as a fraudulent email because the subject maybe attractive the recipient but the message will be saying a different thing from the subject. Some subject like How to become a millionaire, Free Offers etc. Some subject might be deceptive, when an email had such a word it will be regarded as a spam as well.

SAVE US!

Matthew 21:6-11  The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' 'Hosanna in the highest heaven!' When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, 'Who is this?' The crowds answered, 'This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.' (NIVUK)

You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages

The feast of Passover was one of the three great feasts of Israel. Every able bodied man was expected to be there. Many Jews who travelled from Galilee, in the north of the country, avoided Samaria by coming down the road to the east of the Jordan River and then crossing near Jericho. From there it was an uphill path for about 17 miles. The closer they got to Jerusalem, the more excited they became.

The crowds merged with the growing group of people around Jesus. It was a festival atmosphere and the sight of Jesus riding to the City on a donkey spurred them into chanting. Psalm 118 was a natural song to sing. Verses 25-26 say, "Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success, Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord ... from the house of the Lord we bless you"

It was a Holy Spirit inspired connection between the Psalm and Jesus. The crowd spoke the truth although they did not know it (and later denied it ... Matthew 27:20-26). Jesus was indeed the Saviour ('Hosanna' means 'save us now'). He was indeed the Son of David (the Jews understood that phrase to refer to the Messiah). Salvation was indeed planned in the highest heaven and would enable saved people to go to heaven. Entering Jerusalem the excitement of the travelling crowd spilled over to the other pilgrims. They asked, "Who is this man?" But the only answer was His human name and home address. They had not listened to the Scripture they had chanted.

God is heard when people listen for His voice. Even though Scripture is full of truth from God, its significance is often disregarded because people do not want to know what He is saying. It is easy to repeat prayers in church, sing songs and read what the Holy Spirit has inspired - but it is impossible to bow before the King of Heaven unless you want to (or, on the final day, have to ... Philippians 2:9-11). Going along with a religious crowd will not necessarily show you who Jesus is, unless you are open to hear and believe what the Holy Spirit is saying. Be willing to listen today when you read His Word.

Prayer:  Oh God who speaks. Thank You for Your Word which shows me what You are like, and what I am like ... and how I need Your help to become more like You. I am sorry when I do not want to know those realities, when I am determined to drive my agenda against Your will. Please help me to desire to hear Your Holy Spirit speaking to me as I read Your Word, and to be willing to obey what You say. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

PROFITING FROM RELIGION

Matthew 21:12-13  Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves. 'It is written,' he said to them, '"My house will be called a house of prayer," but you are making it "a den of robbers."' (NIVUK)

You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages

After Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, He went into the temple to see the market of stalls selling animals and birds; and the money changers. Why were they there, in the temple? Well, the temple authorities decreed that people could not use the common coinage to give to God or to buy sacrifices - because the Roman money was 'unclean'. So worshippers had to buy temple money from a money-changer who added a large commission. They also purchased (apparently ceremonially clean) doves or lambs for sacrifice (at an inflated price).

Jesus Christ had come to earth to bring people back to worshipping the true God. He found that the worship-place had become a market-place where traders conspired together to defraud the worshippers of their money and God of His honour. Jesus knew what He would see and what needed to be done. He had to expose greed dressed up in religious clothing and demonstrate that the traders were worshipping a false god, Money (Matthew 6:24).

The Lord quoted from Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11 as He pushed over the trading tables, spilling their corrupt earnings onto the floor; then releasing the live animals and making the dealers run out in fear. He spoke the truth about their activities and nobody denied it. He spoke the truth about God's house which had been consecrated to the honour of God, and not the greed of humanity. Although they thought that sacrifice was to make them rich, Jesus on the cross would show that true sacrifice is a willingness to lose everything (Matthew 16:24). His vigorous display of indignation was a small foretaste of God's wrath on all who seek their own greatness at the expense of His glory(Colossians 3:5-6).

Greedy Christians are a disgrace to the gospel (which is rooted in the grace of giving). This ranges from theft of money, fraudulent requests for charitable giving, to unfair trading and pricing. This thought may not be well received by those who make money from their involvement with spiritual ministries; but neither was Jesus well received by the temple traders. The key questions for all ministries are, 'how does it honour God, give to God and serve the purposes of God?' God does supply the needs of His servants, but when people serve Him for what they can get, they are in the wrong job. This is a sobering passage which demands careful personal consideration, however well you have previously justified your financial activities.

Prayer:  Gracious and giving God. Thank You for giving Jesus Christ for my sins and with Him, everything that I need. Forgive me when I have worshipped the gods of this world, particularly money. Give me a new mind to understand how a wrong relationship with money can wreck my relationship with You. Please speak to me by Your Holy Spirit so that I can honestly reflect on my attitude to giving and getting. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

THE CURSE HAD ITS EFFECT

Matthew 21:18-19  Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig-tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, 'May you never bear fruit again!' Immediately the tree withered. (NIVUK)

You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages

We do not usually think that Jesus would do anything destructive; we think of His healings, the power over the storm, and turning water into wine. On all those occasions He was demonstrating His divine power to create and recreate, to undo the ravages of evil and bring new joy. But this passage is different. Jesus sees an unproductive fig tree and curses it so that it would never again bear fruit. His words had an even greater effect because it was subsequently found to be dead with withered leaves.

Israel had been planted by God. Over many centuries, God's people had largely rejected Him; and soon the Son of God would also be rejected, as prophesied in Isaiah 53:3. How long should God be patient with His people (Genesis 6:3)? Jesus used this useless fig tree to demonstrate that God would not indefinitely tolerate spiritual fruitlessness. The curse to remain barren also deprived the tree of its purpose, to bear figs, and so it withered and died.

Israel had not chosen to love the Lord their God: if they had, they would have been fruitful, but they were not. The religious leaders who represented the people before God did not did not recognise the character of God in Jesus Christ, nor did they attribute His wonderful miracles to the power of God. Instead they said he was demonised; they cursed Him and wanted Him dead. In this acted parable with the fig tree, Jesus said that He would have the last word: He had the right to issue the final curse.

Despite the apparent 'success' of some religious people today, God is looking for spiritual fruit. He is seeking new believers, discipled believers, serving believers; believers who are transformed in their minds and hearts ... and who lead the people around them to seek Christ and His kingdom. He is not looking for more religious activity but for the transforming results of Christ's life in repentant sinners, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Many will appeal to Him on the basis of what they have done for Him, but He will judge on how much they have let Him do in them and through them (Matthew 7:21-22). It is a sobering wake-up call to religious people who are spiritually unfruitful.

Prayer:  All-powerful God. Thank You for Your ability to achieve anything You desire by speaking. I am sorry for the times when I have resisted Your Word, thinking that it did not matter to You. Please help me to let Your Word grow within me so that I can bear fruit which pleases You and enable others to become fruitful for You also. In Jesus' Name. Amen. 

CAREFUL OR CARELESS WITH THE LIGHT

Matthew 25:1-9  At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: "Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!" Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out." "No," they replied, "there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves." (NIVUK)

You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages

The prospect of a wedding is exciting; joy is about to be unleashed on the happy couple, their families and all around them. Jesus used this picture to describe the Day when He will come again with His Bride, the church (Revelation 21:1-2). The scene is set at the bride's home. In those days the bridegroom would come from his home to collect his bride and they would then be escorted back to his home by bridesmaids. As is the way in some cultures today, timing can be variable - as the man would be celebrating first with his friends before the wedding.

The bridesmaids would then be kept waiting. They were all alert at first but then darkness fell. Maybe they expected the bridal procession to be deferred until the following day. Anyway, in Jesus' story, half of the young ladies had not even considered that it might be a night-time procession, and had not bothered to bring any extra oil with them; but the other five had brought oil in case it was needed.

All the bridesmaids fell asleep, only to be woken at midnight by the joyful noise of the bridegroom and his friends. The wise girls got their lamps ready, but the foolish ones did not have enough oil for the procession. Although they begged some oil from their friends the answer was, 'No, go and buy your own; there is not enough'. It was not selfish but wise, as otherwise all the lamps would go out before reaching the man's house. They could not risk their bride stumbling along in the dark.

This was yet another parable warning the disciples (and through them, the church) to be fully ready for the moment Jesus will return to claim His Bride. The task for the trainee apostles was to teach both Jews and Gentiles the importance of being prepared to welcome Jesus when He comes again. That call is still the apex of the gospel message. Having Christ's coming as a clear focus point also prevents the church from stumbling along in the darkness of their own self-interest. If you knew that Jesus will come today or tomorrow, how different will your repentance, praise and lifestyle be? He expects us to be ready with a lifestyle and worship which will welcome Him. It is time to repent and get ready for Jesus.

Prayer:  Loving God. Thank You for desiring that the Church shall be intimately and joyfully united with Jesus Christ. Even though I do not feel worthy, thank You that Jesus desires to include me. I repent of my lack of preparation, my distracted focus and my lack of expectation of His return. Please encourage me each day, and especially today, to live and worship in a way that pleases You, in eager anticipation of Jesus coming to take me home. In His Name. Amen. 

TOO LATE

Matthew 25:10-13  But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. "Lord, Lord," they said, "open the door for us!" But he replied, "Truly I tell you, I don’t know you." Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (NIVUK)

You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages

This is the second part of Jesus' parable about the wise and foolish bridesmaids. They had waited a long time for the bridegroom who surprised them by his unexpected arrival, in the middle of the night. The wise ladies had prepared themselves with extra oil to fuel their lamps, just in case it was necessary. The foolish ones had to go out to buy oil but when they got back, the lamp-lit procession from the bride's house to the home of her new husband was over. The doors were locked. They were too late.

It was a private family celebration, but would have attracted all sorts of people who wanted to join in. However the bridegroom did not know them and refused them entry. They had not been introduced to him by the bride; they had not accompanied the joyful procession through the darkness; they had not contributed any light to illuminate the road. They were unknown and unwelcome. Whatever their excuses, they were not prepared and not included.

Jesus said it was essential for His disciples (the apostles of the Early Church) to live expecting His return at any moment. Indeed, His return had to be the focus point of their ministry: otherwise the church would degenerate into a self-satisfying club preoccupied with meeting their own needs. Instead, each believer should learn to live as a temporary citizen of earth, pleasing the King of heaven and illuminating this dark world with the truth of His love. They were commanded to 'keep watch' – always be ready. Jesus could come at any moment. We do not know which day or what time.

If we love Jesus we should be eager to meet Him. Some people say that God loves everybody (which is true) and so He will not reject anybody from His eternal home (but that is not true). Jesus is clear that He will refuse to welcome anybody to His home who has not previously been part of the bridal party (the people who have asked to be made clean through the blood of Jesus). It is an eternally dangerous fantasy to think otherwise; and dangerous for others if we assume that we have no responsibility to urge them to repent and receive Jesus before He returns. So today is a good day to get real in our relationship with Jesus, and encourage our friends and colleagues to turn to Him before it is too late (see www.crosscheck.org.uk).

Prayer:  Loving God. Thank You that Jesus has already paid for my sins when He died on the cross. I am sorry that I have been so preoccupied with my own responsibilities and interests that I have forgotten that I am a temporary resident on earth because I am already a citizen of heaven. Please help me to refocus on Your priority for this world: the salvation of all who come to Jesus in repentance and faith, and who are looking forward to His return. In His Name. Amen.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

Matthew 25:14-18  Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. (NIVUK)

You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages

Jesus often used illustrations from business life. This one is about a man who gave money to trusted servants, expecting them to invest it profitably. He then went away but clearly expected a good return on his investment.

The parallel is obvious. Jesus came, made disciples and then gave them the gospel of salvation so that it could be invested into the lives of people and win souls for glory. He gave people, including the apostles, inspired by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:11-13) to equip the whole church to demonstrate and explain the character of God and His grace (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). Each believer is Christ's investment to bring His light to a dark world and multiply the light as people are converted and give more glory to Him.

Jesus was going away. The apostles would be left with the Holy Scriptures including the gospel and the Holy Spirit who would give spiritual gifts. That investment will 'mature' when Jesus comes back again. In the story, two of the servants made 100% profit but the third servant had no interest in putting his Master's investment to work. And so Jesus taught that there would be two kinds of people: those who were eager for the Master's capital to increase and those who had no interest in what the Master would get on his return (lazy, sulky, hating their Master or too busy with their own concerns to work for him).

Judas Iscariot went one step further and tried to get the value of the Master for himself – but he lost everything. Most of the others invested their lives and brought great profit to the Lord - much glory and many new believers into God's family. If you are in Christ then you have been given spiritual gifts with which to glorify God. What are you doing with them? They are not toys for your amusement but tools to use in the building of His kingdom. When He returns, what profit will you be able to show for all He has invested into you? Will He have been glorified; will there be new believers; will His kingdom have grown?

Prayer:  My Lord and Master. Thank You for having given to me some spiritual gifts, special abilities which You have inspired so that I can bring glory to You and work with You to build Your kingdom. Forgive me when I have not been interested in serving You or using Your gifts - through preoccupation with my own interests, laziness or indifference. Please help me to see in these verses that You have given gifts, and that You fully expect them to produce a return on investment. Give me a willing spirit to use Your gifts so that You get the glory. In Jesus' Name. Amen.