Category: Gospels
Thankful for Prophetic Voices!
Scripture reading for October 12th: Malachi 3-4, Matthew 1-3:2
Key Scriptures: Malachi 4:5-6 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.” Matthew 3:1-2 “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
The Old Testament and the New Testament are separated by about 400 years as far as the writing of Malachi and the coming of Jesus Christ. Malachi’s last prophetic word was that the Lord would send Elijah back to warn the people before the coming of the day of judgment. Jesus Christ taught that John the Baptist, his cousin, was the fulfillment preparing the way for Christ. Prophetic voices prepare the way to help God’s people believe and receive the kingdom!
Thankful for Christ’s confirmation: “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:12-15)
“Do you love Me?”
Scripture reading for May 4th: John 21
Key Scriptures for over-comers: John 21:15-16 “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed My lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love Me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love You.” Jesus said, “Take care of My sheep.”
More than talent, gifts, or sacrifice, Jesus wanted to know if Peter really loved Him. Love is the key ingredient to being a disciple of Jesus. God is “Love” and Jesus knew that without love, Peter would not be able to perform his assigned ministry as an apostle. Peter was to feed the ‘lambs’ and care for the ‘sheep’ of Jesus! His job was that of an under-shepherd. Peter had denied Jesus three times and now Jesus asked Peter to affirm his love three times. Peter indeed did affirm his love and Jesus then gave him a word of knowledge about how he would eventually give his life for the cause of Christ! True love is willing to give all we have, including our life-blood, for the Master and those who need to know Him!
Observations for over-comers: Love and obedience go hand in hand! If we truly love Jesus, we will feed and care for His sheep and lambs and obey His call on our life! “Love the Lord, all His saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud He pays back in full.” (Psalm 31:23)
Blessed for believing without seeing!
Scripture reading for May 3rd: John 20
Key Scriptures for over-comers: John 20:29-31 “Then Jesus told him, “Because you (Thomas) have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”
Jesus showed Himself to the disciples the first day He arose and allowed them to touch Him and see the wounds. Thomas was not there the first time and consciously decided that he would not believe unless he also could touch the wounds and see for himself. A week later, Jesus came and went directly to Thomas and offered his wounds to be touched. He encouraged him not to be a doubter but to believe! Jesus then went on to state that those who would believe without seeing would be blessed as well. Jesus gave the rest of those who would follow Him the eye-witness accounts and also the written accounts of the many miraculous signs that Jesus did that they might have ample evidence to believe. Those who believe are blessed and will receive eternal life in His name!
Observations for over-comers: God always honors faith! It is the only way we can please Him! “Blessed are those You choose and bring near to live in Your courts! We are filled with the good things of Your house, of Your holy temple.” (Psalm 65:4)
“It is Finished!”
Scripture reading for May 2nd: John 19
Key Scriptures for over-comers: John 19:28-30 “Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
Jesus had been on the cross for about six hours, the last three in darkness that had come over the land. His body was dehydrated but He was fully conscious and knew that His work was done. He knew that nearly everything in Scripture had been fulfilled concerning His life and sacrificial death. The one thing remaining was the wine vinegar! (Psalm 69:21) He cried out that He was thirsty, and the drink was provided. One last bitter drink, and the cup of suffering for our sins was complete! Jesus last words, “It is finished!”, were a cry of victory in completing the suffering and death necessary for salvation!
Observations for over-comers: Because Jesus fulfilled Scripture and completed the work of salvation, over-comers can rest in that work and live a life of thankful service and look forward to the King’s return in power and glory! “Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! The Lord’s Right Hand is lifted high; the Lord’s Right Hand has done mighty things!” “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.” (Psalm 118:15-17) (Psalm that was likely sung as they left the upper room for the Garden of Gethsemane.)
King of Truth!
Scripture reading for April 29th: John 18
Key Scriptures for over-comers: John 18:36-37 “Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!”, said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king, in fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked.”
Jesus was questioned by Pilate as to if He was “King of the Jews.” Jesus responded that His kingdom was not of this world, but from another place. (Heaven) Jesus admitted that He was born a King! His purpose was to declare the kingdom of God and Heaven and to reveal the truth about God the Father’s love. This is the “Truth” that many, including Pilate, struggled to understand. Jesus plainly stated that anyone on the side of truth would listen to Him.
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers know Jesus as King of Kings and now through Him know God as their heavenly Father. They await their King, coming in power and majesty to bring them into the fullness of the kingdom. “Gird your sword upon your side, O Might One; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds.” (Psalm 45:3-4)
Unity with the Trinity!
Scripture reading for April 28th: John 17
Key Scriptures for over-comers: John 17:20-23 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.”
Jesus Christ prayed for Himself, His immediate disciples, and then for all who would believe on Him as a result of their preaching the message of Christ! He prayed for us and it is written down! The central focus of that prayer is that we would be in unity with the Father and Jesus and each other! This unity would be a witness to the world enabling many to believe that the Father sent Jesus Christ to save them. We must do our part to maintain the unity of the Spirit and bond of peace with our brothers and with the Lord and our Father!
Observations for over-comers: Disciples who over-come the world maintain a close bond with the Trinity and seek unity with the Body of Christ, His Church. “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! . . .It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore.” (Psalm 133, 1, 3)
The Spirit of Truth
Scripture reading for April 27th: John 16
Key Scriptures for over-comers: John 16: 12-14 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.”
We are born into a world of sin and lies. The first lie that we are under is that we can be god ourselves. We are born with that lie and the world seeks to keep us under that futile way of living. But Jesus came to bring abundant life! He would do it by new birth and a gift of eternal life to all who would repent and believe on Him. His resurrection would make available the “gift of the Father”, the Holy Spirit to live in each person. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. He would lead all Jesus’ followers into the truth by revealing Christ’s words to them and showing them what was to come by revelation. The Spirit would make Christ and His word known and understandable to them, bringing glory to Jesus!
Observations for over-comers: We must welcome the Holy Spirit into our daily life and conversation. He is the Spirit of Truth, making known Christ and His will to us personally. “I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27)
No Servant is Greater than His Master
Scripture reading for April 26th: John 15
Key Scriptures for over-comers: John 15:18-20 “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. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours also.”
Jesus chose His disciples out of the world system of religion and self-exaltation. He called them to follow His own example of servanthood. He went about doing good, casting out devils, and healing the sick and oppressed and calling men and women to repentance and a new life. For this, He was persecuted and ultimately crucified. Some obeyed His teaching and followed Him. Jesus emphasized the need for servant leadership and that persecution would follow those who followed Him. The world system and people in that system would hate them!
Observations for over-comers: We are called out of the world system into the kingdom of God. We no longer belong to that dead system and it will hate and persecute us. We must remember these words of our Master Jesus! “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.” (Psalm 2:1-2)
Ask Me for Anything!
Scripture reading for April 25th: John 14
Key scriptures for over-comers: John 14:11-14 “Believe Me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the father. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.”
Jesus gave His remaining disciples an amazing promise! He told them that they could ask Him for “anything in My name, and I will do it.” He also told them that because He was going to the Father, they would do even greater miracles than He had done! This was all received by faith that He was in the Father and the Father was in Him. These promises were not just for those disciples, but were written down to call all disciples to faith and action!
Observations for over-comers: Prayer is one of the greatest privileges of a disciple. We have an invitation and a promise of action as we ask for what we need in the name of Jesus Christ! “Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!” (Psalm 105:1-3)
Love one another!
Scripture reading for April 22nd: John 13
Key scriptures for over-comers: John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
Jesus had washed the feet of His disciples, demonstrating His love and servant’s heart for them. He also predicted that one of those He washed would betray Him and that Peter would deny Him three times! In the midst of this last meal, Jesus gave His disciples a new command: “Love one another!” This command was to be a sign to all men that His followers belonged to Jesus! Love does what is best for another. Love forgives. Love covers sins. Love never fails! The Father’s gift of the Holy Spirit would release a river of God’s love to flow from them! (Romans 5:5)
Observations for over-comers: Loving one another remains the greatest command of Jesus for those who will over-come the world, flesh, and the devil! A river of His love flows in our hearts by the Holy Spirit! “Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.” (Ezekiel 47:12)