Training Week 6 Update

I've made it through most of training and have officially passed all my presentations and quizzes.  All I have left is the final which I'm currently studying for.  Been noticing a lot of sluggishness so I think it's about time I began to exercise again (both physically and spiritually).  I miss seeing a lot of people so if you have some free time in the next month or so... please let me know!  Let's hang out!

T-minus 2 months and counting till Selah arrives =)

Sorry

This has been a total blog fail because I've been too busy and have wanted to make my blog posts really exciting... with nice pictures.  Problem is, I don't have time for that.  Instead, I think it will work best if I spend 5 minutes on this each day and update consistently with mediocre posts =/.

I'll put pictures up when I can though!  In the meantime, an update!  I've gotten through report presentation #3 and have one more left to go.  I have found myself praying a lot less for God's grace and trusting in myself subtly more than I was earlier in the training.  This week has been a wake-up call.  I don't understand anything that is going on.  I guess this is what happens when I trust in myself... I learn how incapable I am on my own.  Please pray for my soul to be dependent on the Lord.  Also pray that I would learn quickly, work hard, and that I would pass my quiz tomorrow!

Selah is coming soon, exciting times ahead!  I can't wait for training to be over, I feel like my brain can't fit any more information in.  There's no more room.  I have like a 4 gigabyte hard-drive and it's got about 3.99 gb used up already.  Need an upgrade.

Lesson for today... the Lord is good, even when we are not.  Been reading this verse a lot.  Psalm 56:3.  Check it out next time you're afraid.

Update: Week 3

Hi Everybody,

Looks like I survived another week of work (2 weeks down), my first reports presentation (yes!), and another false prophet's prediction (was expecting this one).  All in all, I really enjoy my new job.  I especially like it because it's been such a serious reminder of the Lord's grace in my life.  He helped me to get the job, He's given me the energy to wake up and be on-time everyday (not used to waking up this early) and He's also helped me get through my first big hurdle, report presentation #1.  Time has been short as a result, but I hope to make the most of what little free time I have.  I've been reading a book (click here) right before I eat lunch to set my mind on eternal things.  I highly recommend it, check it out!  Anyways, I'm in the process of preparing for RP #2 (report presentation) and greatly welcome any of your prayers.  They are much appreciated, thanks so much to those of you who have lifted petitions on my behalf.  Hasta luego... until tomorrow =P

Tomorrow, I'm going to be hosting a nice quality picture tour of my workplace so stay tuned folks!

My Desk + Full Day Of Class

Here's the picture of my desk that I promised yesterday.

Sorry for the blurry picture, I had to take it with my camera phone because I left my legit one at home.  As you can see, I started to move in a little bit by taping some pictures here and there.  My team consists of 6 new recruits and we are going to be training until information is dripping out our ears.

Today was a full day of class.  Got in the office at 7, began class at 8 and went until 4 with a lunch break in between.  We covered financial industry fundamentals all day and now I'm trying to review before tomorrow's quiz.  I spent the my lunch break studying and eating a delicious lunch packed by wifey.  It was fried rice + sandwich + home-made cookies + oranges + baked onion rings.  There was a bit too much, but I ate it all while chilling with a co-worker. 

Tomorrow is our first quiz... MUST pass.  Going to study hard tonight (got 40+ pages of material to cover) and then get some rest, could use your prayers that I would pass.  How was your day?

First Day at Advent

I finally am home after spending the past 8.5 hours at Advent.  Though they say the strenuous training is yet to begin... I already feel severely inadequate for the job.  I guess if I make it through, it's truly by God's grace alone because it's very clear that this stuff will be over my head.  All the people were really nice though and I'm excited to see what'll happen and if I can survive the next 8 weeks.

The day started off with a bunch of orientation stuff and a tour of the floor.  Then we had a free lunch with a bunch of managers.  The menu was solid and the managers were friendly.  Afterward, we got some down time to familiarize ourselves with our desks and get logged into our computers.  Next was the benefits overview (I'll spare you the exciting details).  However, one cool thing is I can earn money for exercising and trying to be healthy!  That's pretty cool huh?  We ended with a session on training expectations.  Basically, I'll be eating, breathing, and dreaming Advent for the next 8 weeks.

I'll try to post pictures of my desk tomorrow and the building at least.  Will be bringing some pictures of precious people to place on my workstation so that I have nice stuff to look at =).  Really missed people today, especially my students, friends, and wife.  Wonder how CCS went today, hope I can figure out a way to visit with all the craziness of studying.

If you have the time, please pray for me.  I really need it.  Feel free to comment with how your day went, I'd really like to hear.  God has provided and there is much work to be done.  Exciting times ahead for the Woo family... till tomorrow readers!

will begin updating shortly on things happening in my life

Stay tuned folks

Little Faith In a Great Savior Saves

Overarching Theme from Matthew 8 is Power and Authority

1.       Jesus’ authority over nature (23-27)

2.       Jesus’ authority over demons (28-34)

Disciples get into a boat (23-24)

                Jesus gets into a boat and His disciples follow.  There is no specification as to who the “disciples” are that followed Jesus onto the boat… but in 1986, a first-century boat was recovered from the mud along the shore of the Lake of Galilee.  This boat was 8.2 by 2.35 meters wide.  If this is indicative of normal fishing boats at that time… it would seem to suggest that the boat would be overcrowded with more than 13 people, but this we cannot be certain of.  The Lake of Galilee is over 600 ft below sea-level and the hills surrounding it can be as high as 2000 ft.  At 2000 ft, the air gets pretty cold… however directly around the sea, it is semi-tropical with warm moist air.  This great change in height results in large temperature and pressure changes will lead to sudden violent storms when the different air masses meet.

Jesus was sleeping (24)

                Jesus is asleep.  What does that tell us?  That Jesus was tired, which means Jesus needs rest, which means… Jesus was exerting energy, which means… Jesus is a man.  He is actually man. 

                  John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us”

Philippians 2:7 – “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

                Let’s not lightly pass over this fact… if Jesus did not become man, then He would not die.  Everything else He could do as God… except for one thing, die.  If He could not die, then there would be no sacrifice on the cross for our sins.  Jesus had to become man to die for man… and this is  clear evidence that He did.  Not only is it clearly declared through Scripture in those verses I just read to you… it’s clearly demonstrated in the life He lived on earth.  He was asleep!  Thank You Jesus that You became man so that you could die on the cross for our sins.

Men of little faith (25)

                The disciples were afraid.  They woke Jesus and pleaded with Him to save them.  They recognized they were helpless… and pleaded with the only One in their estimation who could save them.  Their weak, little faith does not protect them in this storm.  They have forgotten about God’s sovereign care over them.  God always provides, yet in their moment of weakness… they react as if God has forgotten about them.  They panic.  They doubted. 

                James 1:6 – “the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.”

Are we like these disciples, like the immature described in Ephesians 4:14 who are “tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine.”  When something unexpected comes our way, when others try to convince us of something contrary to what Scripture says… are we shaken?  Those with little faith are.

Little faith is better than no faith

                However, at the same time… despite how small their faith was, their little faith was properly placed in the One who could save them.  “Save us Lord; we are perishing!”  They pleaded with Jesus, the only One who could save the perishing.  Though immature, though in doubt, though little in faith… the disciples recognized their helplessness and turned to, trusted in, pleaded with the One who was able to save them.  They turned to Jesus.  Save Lord, we are perishing!

Little faith leads to fear (26)

                Jesus quickly rebukes them.  “Why are you afraid?” He says.  What Jesus says here is similar to what He said in Matthew 6:30 to those who worried about their lives… what they would eat, drink, or wear.  Why worry?  God always provides.  That’s what happens when your faith is small… little faith leads to consuming concern for this present life.  However, greater faith seeks first God’s kingdom and His righteousness.  That is spiritual maturity… it is eternal kingdom perspective… not temporary world perspective.  That is what the people of God ought to strive for, growing in faith… concerning for God’s kingdom and His righteousness first… standing firm and trusting in God, rather than panicking and forgetting about God’s care.

Faith leads to salvation (27)

                Yet, Jesus also quickly saves them.  Little faith is completely different from no faith because with no faith, there is no hope… but little faith in a great Savior saves.  However small the disciples’ faith… they put all of it in Jesus and by His power, they are saved.  Let that be an encouragement to us who are weak… though our faith be small, our Savior is great and powerful to save.

Matthew 8:5-13 The Centurion (Part 2) – Confidence in Grace

The Centurion’s Great Faith

                The centurion thought so highly of Jesus’ authority that he considered Jesus was able to heal his servant from a distance, with simply just a command.  Upon assessing this man, Jesus concluded, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such a great faith with anyone in Israel.”  This man’s faith was one that we can be encouraged to mimic as he approached the Lord with humility, understood His unworthiness, and trusted fully in the grace of Jesus.  And He received favor from God.

Who does God favor?

                In Capernaum, it was clear to the people who God favored.  It was His people, the nation of Israel, the Jewish people who were the most blessed.  God had made a covenant with Abraham that he would be the father of many nations and kings… that the Jewish nation would have land, an existence, greatness, and that this covenant would continue through the lines of Isaac and Jacob.  And Jesus’ coming only reaffirmed this, because He was Jewish.  A Jewish Messiah for the Jewish people.  And there was a sense of entitlement among the Jewish people… God’s favor only rested upon them… they considered that because Abraham was their descendant, they would automatically have a place in God’s kingdom… but that could not be further from the truth.  Jesus said in Matthew 3:9, “do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.”  In context, don’t think just because you’re Jewish, you’re going to heaven.  The people had a faulty understanding of grace.  Grace is unmerited favor.  That means grace is unearned, undeserved, and certainly not something you can inherit by birth.  They thought simply by who they were racially, that they had a personal right to God’s grace and an automatic bid into God’s family.  God’s Word makes it clear that is not the case though.  In Romans 9:6-8, we learn that just because someone is descended from Abraham does not make that person a child of God.  And as we study the Jewish Messiah, Jesus, it becomes very clear that He came for the Jews… but also for the rest of the world as well.

The Outsiders are welcomed in and the Insiders are left out

                Basically, to Jesus, this gentile centurion had no equal in faith within all of Israel.  Within the nation of Israel, even amongst all the Jewish scribes and Pharisees, the teachers of the Law… there was no one like this outsider.  And it seems the centurion is not the only gentile outsider to receive grace.  Jesus says that “many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”  This was startling news for the Jewish nation… people from the east and west… people not from the line of Abraham… people from outside of Israel to the east and west… would be reclining with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  Other people had a place in God’s kingdom.  We have a place in God’s kingdom.  Gentiles have a seat with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  To recline at the table is most likely to refer to a meal… this is a heavenly banquet with the Jewish forefathers… in the Jewish traditions, there is this great heavenly feast reserved for the Jewish people, in their minds it’s a Jewish gathering… but Jesus says that on the contrary, many Gentiles will be present and “the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness” many Jewish people will be left out.  The people whom God had given unique promises and privileges, the ”sons of the kingdom” the ones expecting to enter God’s kingdom because of their racial descent were cast out into the place where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  Expecting heaven, they will receive hell.  So how do you make it in?  And how did Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob make it in?  Cause to the Jews, they always thought it was because of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s Jewish bloodlines that they entered God’s kingdom.

What’s the key to grace?

                The centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant, and because of his faith, his servant was healed.  Because of his faith in Jesus, he received grace in proportion to his faith.  “It shall be done for you, as you have believed.”  The servant was healed that very moment.  His healing was complete… and so the centurion’s faith must have had complete faith in Jesus to accomplish this task.  Imagine how great his faith must have been after this incident.  The theme of this account is faith… we examine a man with unparalleled faith… and we see someone healed because of their faith.  How does this relate though to the picture of heaven’s feast… the kingdom of heaven filled with both Jews and Gentiles.  Here’s the relation, God’s people are not identified by their blood lines or by their practices or by circumstances… rather they are identified by a common faith in Jesus.  That is the only way that people like us, outsiders born not of the family of Israel… wretched sinners that can lay no claim upon God’s grace… can find ourselves welcomed into God’s family, it’s by grace you have been saved through faith. (Eph 2:8)

The Requirement to Enter the Kingdom of Heaven

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did not enter God’s kingdom because of their common Jewish descent… no, rather it was their common faith in the Lord that carried them through heaven’s doors.  On the other hand, the “sons of the kingdom” who were left out, the Jewish people who were leaning on their blood lines, rejected the only way into heaven… they rejected Jesus, the Jewish king, and so they disqualified themselves.  So in the kingdom of heaven, we find both Jews and Gentiles, and their commonality is simply their faith… Jesus came for not just the Jews, but the rest of the world as well.  Those outside in the outer darkness find their commonality in one thing… rejection of Jesus, and thus rejection of God’s righteousness, rejection of justification, rejection of life, and rejection of God’s grace and mercy.  Jesus is the key, faith in Him is the way, and so there is eternal hope for all those who would believe… yet eternal condemnation for all those who will not believe.

The same requirement exists today

                It is the same today, how can we find favor with God?  How do we gain for ourselves a place in heaven?  It’s not by being born into a Christian family, it’s not about the situations we are brought into.  The key is not memorizing the Bible or going to church, though good things… not the requirement for the kingdom of heaven.  It’s through faith, through complete trust in Jesus that one is saved.  There’s one way in, and if you reject that way… if you reject Jesus and try something else, you will find yourself in the place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, gehenna, hell.  With faith in Jesus, we can be confident in God’s grace, that we have received it, that we will continue to receive it, and that we’ll have a place at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The Centurion (Matthew 8:5-13) - Part 1

Matthew 8:5-13 And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.”  Jesus *said to him, "I will come and heal him."  But the centurion said, "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.  For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it."  Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.  I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed that very moment.

The Focus is on the Personal, Perfect, Powerful Savior

                Jesus’ act of healing the ailing leper tells us much about the nature in which He saves lost sinners.  He is the personal, perfect, and powerful Savior.  The leper was healed by Jesus’ healing touch.  The sinner is saved by Jesus’ saving cross.  We’ve taken a closer look at the great work that Jesus did, but what about the leper.  What can we learn from what he did, what was special about him?  What did he do to find himself to the point of receiving the grace that would free him from his leprosy?

He came with a humble spirit

                The leper approached Jesus with a humble spirit, the text said he prostrated himself before Jesus.  He bowed.  He came with a humble spirit.  What does it mean to be humble?  It simply means to see yourself as you really are.  You need to see yourself as you really are… not just simply say, “oh I’m so bad, I’m the worst person in the world” and on and on.  That’s just trying to draw attention to yourself and that’s not genuine humility.  Genuine humility is simply seeing things the way God sees things.  The leper saw himself as he really was before Jesus and could not help but fall to the ground.  You see, he was an unclean man… he was unworthy to come before Jesus, let alone speak to Him.  There was also no presumption.  He did not come before Jesus with a sense of entitlement as if Jesus had to heal him.  Sometimes, we come before God with that kind of attitude where it’s almost as if we’re saying, God has to do something for us.  Whenever we think something is going unfairly for ourselves, we’re basically saying that we believe we deserve better.  No, this leper was different, he said… “Lord, if You are willing.”  Lord, if You are willing… you don’t have to do this… I desperately need Your help… and I have zero right to ask this of You… but if You are willing.  He came with the right attitude.

The nature of salvation requires a humbling of the self

                To find yourself to the place where you receive God’s grace… humility is a necessity.  You need the right attitude.  You need to see your dirtiness… your sin as it really is or else you will never come before God with the proper perspective of humility… and without humility, there is but pride and God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

The Gentile Officer Comes to the Jewish Healer

                We had been informed in Matthew 4:13 that Jesus had settled in Capernaum (not random) and now he was returning home after his trip from the mountain.  By this time, news about Jesus healing had spread and a Gentile, military officer comes to Jesus, the Jewish Healer, on behalf of his servant who is paralyzed.  The word, pais, used here is literally translated young child and in a parallel account (Luke 7), he is referred to as a slave which indicates that he was probably born into servant-hood.  This servant boy is in a lot of pain, he is fearfully tormented.  This centurion, this employee of the Roman army, is different from your typical Roman soldier.  He actually cares about his servants… most Roman soldiers did not consider their servants worth any more than animals.  He cared enough to search out the Jewish Healer, but he’s a gentile.  Three things to take note of… the centurion’s humility and faith… Jesus’ authority to heal… and the fact that the Jewish Messiah, the Jewish King, the Jewish Healer, the Jewish Savior… came for the Jews… but also for all peoples.

Are you expecting me to come?

                The centurion didn’t ask a question, but it was implied.  It’s like me saying, “Leeland, my back itches right here and I can’t reach it.”  Jesus responds with a question that goes something like this, “shall I come and heal him?” or “you want me to come and heal him?”  You see, the man was asking quite a lot.  Jesus was a Jew, this man was a Gentile and so there were complications.  Though the Pharisees and scribes constantly were amazed that Jesus would associate Himself with sinners and tax collectors… it was considered an even worse defilement to associate and interact with Gentiles.  Are you expecting me to come?  Jesus is not saying, “how dare you ask me?!”  He asks this question because He wants to see what kind of faith this centurion has… basically, “what exactly do you want from me?”

The Humility and Faith of the Centurion

                In light of such a probing question, the centurion responds with a remarkable reply.  He says, “of course not, I can’t expect you to come under my roof, all I’m asking for is a word of healing.”  “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof.”  This man did not consider it fitting for Jesus to associate with him.  Makes me think about how lightly we bear the name of Christ by calling ourselves Christians… claiming to be His representatives, claiming to be His people… yet this man can’t stand the thought of Jesus even entering his home because it wouldn’t be proper for Jesus.  What humility and what reverence for the One whom he calls Lord.  How quick are we to call Jesus Lord simply because we know His name and have entered His church… yet we forget far too often how unworthy we are to be in His presence.  The centurion recognizes this and he says, “just say the word and my servant will be healed.”  You don’t need to touch Him, you don’t need to come, I trust that you can heal Him from a distance with just a word.  What great faith in Jesus’ power.  The centurion didn’t believe that Jesus had to come to his home, see the servant boy, touch him… no… a word from a distance would be sufficient and it’s because he had great faith, he recognized who Jesus was and what kind of authority He had.

He Recognized Jesus’ Authority

                For the centurion was a man in authority, he had servants and he understood the power of a command.  “’Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” (v9)  He understood that an effective command given from one in authority would be sufficient to accomplish much.  Jesus had unquestioned authority in his eyes… authority to accomplish the impossible and to heal the un-healable.

Confidence in the Gospel

What an example for us to emulate as we go out with gospel that the lost would be saved.  Are we trusting in Jesus’ power or do we confine Him to a box?  By confine to a box, I mean… Jesus has authority to do this, but THAT is far too difficult.  Do we have such an attitude where we begin to think, it’s not enough just to share the good news of Jesus?  Do we find ourselves thinking, I need to have a great relationship with this person first?  Do we begin to think, this person won’t like hearing about God’s wrath, so I’m just going to talk to him about God’s love?  Or are we doubting Jesus’ gospel, His power, so much, that we don’t say anything at all?  Or, do we have great faith in Jesus’ power, that His gospel is the power of God for salvation and that it can accomplish the impossible… save the wretched, wicked, hardened sinner from an eternity in hell?  The centurion had great faith in Jesus’ power, he didn’t believe that Jesus had to come to his home, see the servant boy, touch him… no… a word from a distance would be enough. 

We’ll finish this account next week, but let this be an encouragement to us this week to humble ourselves before God, like the centurion and the leper before him, that we would see our unworthiness before a holy God.  And let this be a reminder to us of Jesus’ unquestioned authority… that we would be like the centurion, confident in the power of God to heal the sick and save the lost.

Who is this Man? (Matthew 7:28-29)

28-29:    When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

The Importance of the Preacher

                The goal of teachers everywhere is to help their students to see the importance of what they are teaching.  A teacher is made relevant by the content of his or her teaching.  With all other teachers that the world has ever known, the important thing is the teaching; but in the gospels is a case in which the Teacher is more important… even than what He taught.  In the past couple of chapters, we have been confronted with the high standards and requirements of the sermon on the mount.  God’s standard is perfection and He does not just demand an exterior adherence to His commands, but an inward obedience of the heart.  It’s not enough just to not murder, you mustn’t get angry.  He also doesn’t just demand that we know Him, He must know us.  His standards are so high that no one is justified by keeping His law, and so we must turn to something else... we need to have faith in Jesus.  However, all that this Teacher has to say, is of secondary importance compared to who He is.  Who is this man who speaks with such authority?  Who is this man?  We’ve studied the teachings of the Preacher… but we’ve missed the point if we don’t know the Person of the Preacher.

The Context of the Teachers of the Law

                The established teachers of the Law were the scribes and Pharisees.  They were known as the experts of the Law and their teachings were heavily drenched in tradition.  They were the separated ones and were viewed as the loyal ones to God.  They were extremists, devoted to certain parts of the Law who emphasized strict interpretation of the Law and emphasized even stricter observance of it.  If anyone was righteous in God’s sight, it was them.  They set the standard with their religious activities, praying in public, giving to the poor in public, fasting publicly.  But this man was different.  The scribes received their authority from the Law.  It was not their own, however this man was speaking with authority.  He was not merely someone who copied and translated the Law… He actually clarified and in a sense, added to the Law.  He spoke as authoritatively as God’s Law.  He taught as if He was God Himself.  Who is this man?

Instead of Being Amazed, the Crowds Needed to Believe

The people were amazed.  They were struck with astonishment at His teaching, but unlike the disciples… they missed the person of the preacher.  They listened to His every word in the hopes of finding some flaw… what He was teaching and doing was the focus.  However, they should’ve been asking this question instead, who is this Man?  They came to hear Jesus’ teachings and followed Him as He accomplished miracles… but they did not hear Jesus’ point and did not follow Him as Savior.  It’s not enough just to be amazed… just after preaching this sermon, Jesus came down from the mountain and large crowds followed Him.  They were miracle seekers, but not Jesus followers and they eventually found their way to destruction.  They needed to believe in the Lord Jesus to be saved (Acts 16:31) but they were just amazed spectators.

The Focus of His Teaching

                All along, the attention of the people needed to be on Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the One with all authority, the Savior.  It was the same with His teaching.  Let’s glance back to the beatitudes for a second.  The key to God’s kingdom ultimately did not lie in simply being poor in spirit… the poor in spirit inherit the kingdom of heaven because in realizing one’s spiritual inadequacy, one must turn to Jesus to find genuine righteousness.  Those who mourn are only truly comforted when they find their comfort in Jesus.  As you skim throughout the sermon on the Mount and throughout the whole of Scripture… you will miss the point if it does not point you to Christ. 

Who Are You Following?

                The people of the region of Capernaum were following a miracle worker.  That was who Jesus was to them.  Who is this man to you?  Scripture speaks of Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)… the Christ – the Messiah, the Anointed One of God (Matthew 16:16) who fulfills the roles of prophet priest and king… He’s the Word who was there from the very beginning and through which all things came into being (John 1:30)… He’s the only name under heaven that has been given by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12)… He’s the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)… He’s God Himself.  The reason He taught as One having authority was because He was God Himself.  He was much more than a miracle worker.  Who is this man to you?  Are you simply amazed at the great things He did and the great truths He taught?  The crowds missed the point, they missed the Person of the Preacher…

Jesus said this.

John 5:39 – “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.” 

There is no life apart from Jesus Christ.  There is no righteousness apart from Jesus Christ.  There is no goodness apart from Jesus Christ.  There is no kingdom of heaven apart from Jesus Christ.  Make sure you know and follow Jesus Christ.

Living for Jesus (Matthew 7:21-23)

21-23:    Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

Entering the Church Does not Guarantee Entrance Into Heaven

                There is a misconception among young people everywhere and it is this… that if you go to church, you’re safe.  If you go to church, that makes you a Christian and that means you’re going to heaven.  However, there’s a problem with thinking that way because here’s the reality… it is a lot easier to enter into church than it is to enter heaven.  Not everyone who calls Jesus Lord makes it into heaven.  Jesus tells us about religious people, those in the church.  They do lots of deeds in the name of God, they know who Jesus is, they even know enough to call Him “Lord.”  These are the people who have made it into the church, but they don’t make it into heaven.  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The Requirement is Faith in Jesus

                Ephesians 2:8-9 says that “for by grace you have been saved through faith, that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works.”  In Acts 16, Paul and Silas’s jailer pleaded to them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  They said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”  The requirement into heaven is faith in Jesus.  But in a world where everyone who goes to church thinks they have faith, how can you examine yourself in the church?  How can you, in the church today, really tell if you’re a believer or just a self-deceiver?

The Evidence of Faith is Works

                A real, born-again Christian is someone who has faith concealed in an inward trust of Jesus and faith revealed in an outward obedience to the Father.  It’s the one who does the will of the Father who is in heaven, that’s the one who is really saved.  James 1:22 says “but prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”  The reason is because works is the evidence of faith.  Without good deeds to accompany a profession of faith… that profession of faith is most likely false.  A faith without works is dead (James 2:26).

How does one work for the Lord?

                So the question becomes, how does one work for the Lord?  The religious people of this time understood that it wasn’t enough just to claim that you followed God, many of them actually tried to live their lives a certain way to try to be holy.  They served in the temples, they taught God’s Word to others, they shared messages in the name of God, cast out demons, and even perform many other miracles.  However, it wasn’t enough.  But when those people stand before God on the day of judgment… Jesus will declare to them, “I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.”  This is a reference to psalm 6:8 where those who are called to depart are those who will suddenly be ashamed of the sin they have committed.  These very people pining about their “good deeds” for the Lord will one day be ashamed of the wicked lives they have lived.  Will that be you on that day?  Proud of the good things you’ve done only to, when it’s too late; realize that you really did nothing good at all.  They were missing something that all of us need if we are to be right with God… it’s a relationship with Jesus.  You have to know Jesus and He has to know you.

It All Begins with a Relationship with Jesus

                You can’t do anything for the Lord if you don’t have a relationship with Him.  Entrance into the kingdom of heaven isn’t dependent on the number of times you pray, or how many verses you’ve memorized, or how much you read your Bible, or how many people you’ve shared the gospel with.  It’s dependent on your relationship with Jesus first.  All those things only go to show what your relationship with Him actually is.  Is He your Savior?  Are you the wicked sinner?  Is He your King?  Are you His servant?  Is He your Master?  Are you His slave?  What is your relationship with Jesus?  That’s where it begins, and what you do with your life here and now determines where you go for the rest of eternity… because it is a reflection of your relationship with Jesus.  Without a relationship… without a dependence on Him as your Savior… without a reverence of Him as your King… without a submission to Him as your Master… it is useless to go to church, it is worthless to read the Bible, it is profit-less to pray… and it is certainly hopeless to do good deeds.  You can’t live for Jesus until you have a relationship with Him.  He won’t know you.  It doesn’t matter what if you know about Jesus and who He is if He doesn’t know you. 

Matthew 7:23 - “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”

Before You Get Caught Up in Living for Jesus, Make Sure You Have a Relationship With Him

                Does He know you?  Without a relationship with Jesus, you can do nothing but sin.  You can only serve God when He’s empowered you through the Spirit and that only comes by a relationship with Jesus.  You can’t serve Him if you don’t love Him.  That’s how you get to be known by God.  1 Cor 8:3 tells us that “if anyone loves God, he is known by God.”  Jesus has given us the test of faith for those in the church… that faith is shown in works.  Watch out though, don’t be like the self-deceivers of those times… you’re not living for Jesus unless you’re first loving Jesus.

updating in the near future

right after I finish with teacher responsibilities

Prayer's Fuel

 “… for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion.” – Daniel 9:18b

We look to the wrong place when we point to our merits to receive God’s grace.  It is not the good we do that stirs the Lord to act in our favor.  It is not even our obedience that spurs Him to forgive us our sins.  No, it is simply on account of His great compassion that the Lord answers our prayers.  As Spurgeon puts it, “nothing but your sin and misery can ever stir His mercy.”  There’s a lesson to be learned here.  When we go before the Lord in prayer, let’s not boast upon the work that we have done or pride ourselves on the steps we’ve taken.  Reflect upon His deep love.  Thank the Lord for His abounding kindness and look for more.  And when we forget the Father’s great love, all we need but to do is look to the cross and be reminded.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

Ask with confidence and persistence, not because we have earned the right to be heard, rather ask because the Father delights in giving the best to His children (Matthew 7:7-11).  If the effectiveness of prayer was dependent upon our own righteousness, nothing would be accomplished.  However, since it is founded on the ocean of God’s mercy, there is an overwhelming flood of power in prayer.  Prayer’s fuel is the love of God and nothing else… it will never be exhausted and will never cease to amaze.

The Vision of the Returning King

“I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him.  And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.” – Daniel 7:13-14

What a vision.  This is the glorious return of the Lord Jesus that all the world will see after the tribulation period (Matthew 24:29-31).  This is the hope that Christians look to when our Savior finally returns to rule powerfully, visibly, and totally as King.  His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom filled with glorious riches where moth and rust do not destroy (Matthew 6).  But how do we enter into His service in the eternal heaven?  How do we become citizens of His kingdom?  We follow Jesus. 

We follow Him until the end of days with undivided devotion and we give our whole lives to serving Him.  “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12:26)  If we follow Jesus in this world that is to end, we will surely be with Him in that world that is to never end.  And though serving Jesus is a task that is too great for us to accomplish on our own, we who have faith will see it through till the end because the Lord keeps us.  We have been united with Jesus and His death to sin marks our death to sin, while His life to God marks our new life to God. (Romans 6:1-11)  Surely we will live because surely the Lord has conquered the grave. 

It will be an end to sin.  It will be an end to death.  It will be an end to pain as we know it.  It will be worth it all.  We will live forever in the presence of the One to whom we must give an account because the account we give is perfection.  Though our sins were as scarlet, Jesus’ righteousness has made us white as snow.  Brothers and sisters, this Christmas season, let’s rejoice because we have a place in the kingdom of heaven.  Let’s look forward to the coming of the King who is to judge and rule… because He is also the Savior who already came to save and forgive.  What a vision, what a day to look forward to.

Faithfulness from the Book of Daniel

Decisions should never be made based upon perceived results.  That's called walking by sight.  Faithfulness is staying the course regardless of fluctuating circumstances.  It is following the Lord even when it seems like it'll hurt.

Faithfulness is sacrificing what may seem best to the world because honoring the Lord is best.  Despite being offered the king's choice food and wine, Daniel sought to avoid defilement by eating vegetables.  It says in Daniel 1:8-9 - "But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food or with the wine, which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.  Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials".  To any man (including the commander of the officials), it seemed obvious what would happen.  Daniel and his friends were going to be weaker than the others because they would only be eating vegetables.  However, Daniel remained faithful despite the circumstances.  He trusts the results to the Lord and "at the end of ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king's choice food." (Daniel 1:15)  It wasn't because of the vegetables that God blessed them, it was cause of their faithfulness.  Honoring the Lord is ultimately for your best, even if you can't see it.

Faithfulness is sacrificing yourself because God's glory is worth more than your life.  Later in Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were brought before Nebuchadnezzar because they refused to serve his gods or worship his golden image.  Their options were limited.  Fall down and worship the image... or die by furnace.  Here's how they replied... "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.  But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18, emphasis added)  They trusted themselves to the Lord and considered that His glory was worth more than their lives.  Even if God had decided not to save them (and yes, their lives were in God's hands, not Nebuchadnezzar's), they chose to follow the Lord and worship Him alone.

Faithfulness is trusting decisions to the Lord.  In both cases, faithfulness stemmed from a confidence of God's sovereignty over any and all circumstances.  Whether it be your health at stake, power, success, friends, or even your life... recognize that decisions ought not to be made based upon perceived results.  The world doesn't know what is best, God does.  Obey His Word, honor His glory, do what is best by walking by faith.

Sermon Notes - Examining False Teachers

Matthew 7:15-20:    Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruits.  Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?  So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruits, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  So then, you will know them by their fruits.

False Teachers are Camouflaged

                Verse 15 is the introduction.  It teaches us that false teachers can be difficult to spot, especially if you don’t know what to look for.  They come camouflaged, are hard to spot, and they’ll do whatever it takes to maintain their disguise before you.  If all you do is look at how they appear, you will be thoroughly tricked.  They will come to you in sheep’s clothing.  They’ll say all the right things about giving their life to Jesus.  You’ll find yourself saying amen to many of the things that they teach.  They’re going to be the most passionate speakers and they’ll talk the christian talk, go to church, be very kind.  They’ll come to you in sheep’s clothing.  However, watch out because inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  Don’t trust a false prophet, guard yourself from them because they’re like wolves.  They’re not going to physically bite you and chew you up,  but they will spiritually tear you to pieces… they will teach you false doctrine… point you away from the gospel.. and lead you to your destruction in hell.  That’s if you trust their teaching.  But they look like sheep… harmless… maybe even part of the flock.  So how can you tell?

A Genuine Teacher of the Word is a Consistent Doer of the Word

                   In verse 16, we learn that there is an easy way to spot them, especially if you know what to look for.  You will know them by their fruits.  The trees represent the person and the fruits represent how they live.  A Christian will live like Christ.  A non-christian will not live like Christ.  Put it another way, a teacher of the Word is a doer of the Word.  Just as it is impossible for grapes to be gathered from thorns, strawberries from weeds, and oranges from grass… a false teacher will not have good fruit… and the reverse is true as well… a genuine teacher will have good fruit.  That’s the logic of verses 17-18… you can’t get good fruit from a bad tree nor bad fruit from a good tree.  These false teachers that Jesus is talking about are not genuine, saved Christians.  That’s why in verse 19, we learn that the bad trees are cut down and thrown into the fire.  False teachers go to hell.  They say the right things, but because they have not experienced spiritual regeneration… they do not have a changed heart… and it is seen in their unchanged life.

Explanation of Good Fruit vs. Bad Fruit

                But it’s important to know how to tell if the fruit is good or if the fruit is bad.  What are some things to look for so that you aren’t deceived by a false prophet.  There’s a couple of things.  Examine how they live, what they teach, and who is around them.  A person’s character –his motives, standards, loyalties, ands ambitions—will eventually show in what he does and how he acts.  Example of this is in Luke 3:8 when John the Baptist is baptizing people and tells the Pharisees and Sadducees who come to bear fruits in keeping with repentance.  This was because they claimed to love God but they did not live like it.  They questioned John asking him, “then what shall we do?”  In other words, how do we bear fruit?  He replied, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” (v11)  John was not telling them that they could save themselves by doing good works… he was pointing out to them that how they lived revealed who they really were.  Christians are not saved by good works, but they are saved for good works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

                The content of someone’s teaching also reveals the quality of the prophet.  They may sound great, get you excited, pumped into, and motivate you to live a better life… but if someone is not teaching you God’s Word from God’s Word… separate from them, you have a false prophet.  When judging whether a teaching comes from God, Isaiah teaches in Isaiah 8:20, “to the law and to the testimony!  (to God’s Word)  If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have now dawn (or light).”  Look to see that the teaching is coming from the Bible… and that it actually is consistent with what the Bible teaches.

                Lastly, when examining fruit, look at who is around this person.  The false prophets will have false crowds around them.  They will attract to themselves people who have the same kind of false, religious beliefs.  They take pleasure in wickedness and have departed from God’s Word.  A disobedient, rebellious crowd points to a disobedient, rebellious teacher.

Explanation of Genuine Teachers vs. False Teachers

A genuine teacher of the Word delights in the laws of the Word because the genuine teacher delights in Jesus whom the Law reflects.  A genuine teacher of the Word delights in the laws of the Word and is one who demonstrates faith in Jesus by living out God’s commands.  What sets apart a true teacher from a false teacher is his devotion and obedience to God’s commands.  What marks someone as a false teacher is both their lack of obedience to the Word and also their natural rebellion to God’s commands.

Check Who You Are Trusting Yourself To

                Check who is teaching you.  Check who you are trusting yourself to.  Check if I’m a false teacher.  If my life is not lived in such a way that I have not earned the right to be heard… don’t listen to me.  If all I have is bad fruit, if I live in a lifestyle of sin… don’t listen to me.  Separate yourself from me.  This is very important… those who teach must earn the right to be heard.  Those of who you desire to teach must earn the right to be heard.  This applies to all of you as both the hearers who are being taught… and also because you might be teachers cause it’s the same when sharing the gospel with others.  You must earn the right to be heard, your life can potentially disqualify you from being heard by the others.  Faith in Christ leads to life in Christ.  Without a life in Christ, you may really have no faith… and you might be a false prophet.  Verse 20, “so then, you will know them by their fruits.”  So watch out for preachers who do not live out what they teach.  False teachers can talk the talk… but they cannot walk the walk.  Bad trees will bear bad fruit.

The Love of Christ

                Take this passage and reflect upon how much Jesus loves His flock.  This is the love of Christ, that He would watch out for His sheep that they would not be led astray.  This is the caring, compassionate, concerned Shepherd who protects His sheep from dangerous wolves. 

John 10:11-15 – “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.  He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.  He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.  I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.”

                Watch out for false teachers, listen to the shepherd who cares deeply for your soul and entrust yourself to His teaching.  This is the love of Christ.  If you are His sheep, listen to your Good Shepherd.

God did not spare His only Son

At the moment when Abraham was to offer his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice... a substitute ram was provided. (Genesis 22)  Isaac was saved by God's grace.

At the moment when the Father was to offer His only Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice... the Son was not spared.  (Matthew 27:33-56)  We are saved by God's grace.

What a love (1 John 4:10)

Make Yourselves a New Heart and a New Spirit

Ezekiel 18:30-31 - Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct," declares the Lord GOD. "Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! 


I deserve to die for the sin I have committed.  My iniquity had tethered my soul on a one-way trip to eternal condemnation and punishment.  My heart was callused to every way but my own... and my spirit was pursuing the things of this world with an insatiable appetite for self-righteousness and immorality.  I needed a new heart and new spirit.  However, what I needed most was what I could not gain.  Yet, it was this wretched sinner that the Lord saw fit to purchase with His blood shed on my behalf.  He has given to me His Spirit and a new heart.  I shall live because of His grace.  I will live by His grace.

I want this book

First saw it at a book fair and it looked interesting.  Now, it has me thinking about preparation for fatherhood.

What He Must Be: ...If He Wants to Marry My Daughter

Thankful

This Thanksgiving... I am thankful for

1.  Jesus - I am His and He is mine, praise the Lord!
2. Wifey - The most precious person to me in the whole world, she is the best!
3. My mother - I never knew how blessed I was by having her as my mom
4. Brother - Easy to overlook this one, but a great source of encouragement
5. God's grace in the lives of specific people - this is so encouraging to see
6. My accountability partners - Proverbs 27:17, 'nuff said
7. Church - You are the family I always needed
8. CCS students - God has been so good to you and I'm thankful to be involved in your lives.  Some of you are deeply involved in my life as well!
9. CM servants - I love serving with you
10. Youth group - Thankful that God has used this ministry to teach youth about His glory
11. Scripture - Psalm 119:105, 'nuff said.
12. Prayer - I get to commune with God, entrust people to the Lord's care, and be carried to the Lord by the prayers of others
13. Learning to play the piano - Still not very good at it, but I find it very relaxing
14. ET class - People actually want to learn how to share the gospel at a young age?  Amazing
15. Books - I have many, now I need to read them