Category: Gospels
Zeal for His House!
Scripture reading for April 7th: John 2
Key scriptures for over-comers: John 2:14-17 “In the temple courts He found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and over-turned their tables. To those who sold doves He said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written, “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.”
At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus was angry at finding His Father’s house turned into a market! He quickly took cords and made a whip and drove the animals and money-changers from the temple. The disciples later remembered this event and the Scripture “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.” They applied it to Jesus and his strong actions to cleanse Father’s House so that His people and the nations could be gathered there. Are we who follow our Lord as zealous for His house today?
Observations for over-comers: We listen to this story and ponder its application for us. Ask the Lord to give you new zeal and understanding of the purpose of His house. We are that ‘house’ today! “How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? If you had responded to My rebuke, I would have poured out My heart to you and made My thoughts known to you.” (Proverbs 1:22-23)
Spending time with Jesus!
Scripture reading for April 6th: John 1
Key scriptures for over-comers: John 1:36-39 “When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” “Come,” He replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where He was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour.”
John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by calling people to repentance and warning them of God’s wrath against sin. As he saw Jesus, John identified Jesus as “The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) Two of John’s disciples left him to follow Jesus. Jesus asked them what they wanted from Him and they simply asked where Jesus was staying. Jesus invited them to come with Him and spend the day! What an amazing opportunity given to simple fishermen who were hungry to learn about Jesus! Jesus is calling us to spend time with Him today!
Key observations for over-comers: Relationships take time. Spending time with Jesus is the best way to hear His words, know His ways, and catch His heart! “Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you.” (Proverbs 22:17-19)
Blessing and promise!
Scripture reading for April 5th: Luke 24
Key scriptures for over-comers: Luke 24:49-52 “”I am going to send you what My Father promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” When He had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple praising God.”
Jesus spent forty days ministering to His disciples and strengthening their faith for the mission He had chosen and prepared them for. His final emphasis was to remind them to wait for the “Promise of the Father”. This was the gift of the Holy Spirit that would empower them to be effective witnesses in the hostile world. (Acts 1:8) Christ’s final words as He ascended to Heaven was to bless those faithful followers. He was now their new permanent High Priest and gave them the blessing! (Numbers 6:22-27) God was smiling on His people! They returned with great joy and continual worship as they faithfully waited!
Observations for over-comers: The blessing and the promise are both vital to our over-coming the world, flesh, and the devil. We must have all God freely gives us and receive it by faith! “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you in His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
The simplicity of faith!
Scripture reading for April 4th: Luke 23
Key scriptures for over-comers: Luke 23:39-43 “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him: “Aren’t You the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise.”
Two criminals were crucified with Jesus. A sign had been placed over Jesus’ head which read, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” One criminal mocked Jesus in unbelief: “Aren’t You the Christ?” He mockingly asked Jesus to save himself and them, never believing that anything would result. The other criminal rebuked him for not fearing God. He acknowledged his guilt and the just punishment that they were receiving and recognized that Jesus was innocent. Out of that humble spirit, he simply asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom. What comforting ‘Truth’ Jesus spoke in return! A great reversal would take place that very day by faith!
Observations for over-comers: The fear of the Lord and a humble heart that simply believes brings life, salvation, and eternal reward. “Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil.” (Proverbs 16:6)
Standing with Jesus is rewarded!
Scripture reading for April 1st: Luke 22
Key scriptures for over-comers: Luke 22:28-31 “You are those who have stood by Me in My trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as My Father conferred one on Me, so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
The disciples had stood by Jesus in his many trials and He promised them great reward! They would receive a ‘kingdom’! They would join Jesus at His table in His kingdom, eating and drinking with Him as His trusted friends! But Simon also received a warning concerning an attack on his faith! Satan would come to sift him and wheat is sifted to separate the grain from the chaff. Jesus promised Simon (Peter) that He personally had prayed for him that his faith would not fail but would hold up in the sifting. He even told him that he would be restored and then he must strengthen his other brothers. This is what is called a ‘word of knowledge’ used by Jesus to strengthen their faith.
Observations for over-comers: Strong faith is required for over-comers. Jesus prays for His disciples and we must strengthen and encourage each other to lay hold of the kingdom! “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.” (Proverbs 12:24)
Don’t worry!
Scripture reading for March 31st: Luke 21
Key scriptures for over-comers: Luke 21:12-15 “But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of My name. This will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.”
Jesus was very plain in instructing His disciples what would happen to them before the end of the age and His return. Things would get tough for His followers and they would suffer on account of bearing His name. This persecution would bring opportunity to be witnesses to some of the world’s most important people. Jesus emphasized that they should not worry about how to defend themselves. He would give them the words that they needed in their hour of need! This would not guarantee physical deliverance, however. Some would be hated and others put to death. but “not a hair of your head will perish.” (Luke 21:18)
Observations for over-comers: A daily walk of faith in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit will enable all God’s people to stand firm and be the witnesses Christ desires to the lost of this world. “For the Lord is just and will not forsake His faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.” (Psalms 37:28-29)
Show no partiality!
Scripture reading for March 30th: Luke 20
Key scriptures for over-comers: Luke 20: 21-25 “So the spies questioned Him: “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach what is right, and that You do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” He saw through their duplicity and said to them, “Show Me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription is on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Towards the end of Jesus’ ministry, the religious rulers were looking for a way to trap Jesus in order to eliminate Him from interfering with their little kingdom. Jesus was asked about paying taxes to Caesar. He masterfully took a coin and asked them whose inscription was on it. His answer showed no partiality nor played up to those who were looking for grounds to convict Him of wrong. Jesus taught submission to authority because all authority is in place because of God’s decree. (Romans 13:1) However, God is the ultimate authority and His people must honor Him as just that by giving the tithe and offerings. Both taxes and tithes are required of God’s people.
Observations for over-comers: Believers must guard their hearts against duplicity and partiality. We must rightly give honor to where honor is due. “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” (Leviticus 19:15)
Recognize God’s time!
Scripture reading for March 29th: Luke 19
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Luke 19:41-44 “As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, “if you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
Jesus approached the beloved city of Jerusalem for his last few days on earth. As He looked at the city, He wept over it. He had preached and plainly revealed that He was their Messiah but they had rejected Him. They would hail Him as their King, but call for His crucifixion before the week was over. How Jesus longed to bring peace to those people He knew and loved! But each person and each group of people has a time of visitation and a window of opportunity. When light is rejected, darkness descends on the soul and God gives you over to have what you have chosen. In Jesus’ day, Jerusalem and Israel did not recognize the time of God’s coming to them!
Observations for over-comers: Believers must remain alert and responsive to the Lord and the Holy Spirit in the last days. We know that the time is short and we must make the most of our time here. “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven:. . .” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
Persevere in prayer!
Scripture reading for March 28th: Luke 18
Key scriptures for over-comers: Luke 18:1, 6-7 “Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. . . . And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?””
Jesus wanted to encourage His disciples to persevere in prayer so He told them a story about an unjust judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. A widow came to him seeking justice and would not give up until finally the judge gave in because she was wearing him out. The point of the story was that God’s people should more persistently pray and seek out the Judge of all the Earth who always does right! Would Jesus find that kind of faith on earth when He comes again? Disciples know that their highest privilege is to seek help from a God who is just and answers prayer and they apply themselves by faith!
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers will always pray and never give up, knowing that Jesus will hear and answer! “O Lord, I call to You; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to You. May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” (Psalm 141:1-2)
Guard your heart!
Scripture reading for February 26th: Luke 17
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Luke 17:3-6 “So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea’ and it will obey you.”
Forgiveness is difficult for us. Pride often gets in the way and our desire to get even or to make the person who has wronged us feel our wrath. Jesus warned His disciples to watch themselves for this trap of offence. When He told them that they must forgive “seven times” in a single day if the offender repented, they shouted in exasperation: “Lord, increase our faith!” Jesus simple told them that they had sufficient faith to forgive and to move great mountains if they would only apply it! A very small amount of faith the size of a mustard seed could move a deeply rooted mulberry tree.
Observations for over-comers: As Christ has forgiven us great offence, we must forgive others quickly by faith. All vengeance belongs to God alone. “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)