A tartalmat a Woodland Hills Church of Christ biztosítja. Az összes podcast-tartalmat, beleértve az epizódokat, grafikákat és podcast-leírásokat, közvetlenül a Woodland Hills Church of Christ vagy a podcast platform partnere tölti fel és biztosítja. Ha úgy gondolja, hogy valaki az Ön engedélye nélkül használja fel a szerzői joggal védett művét, kövesse az itt leírt folyamatot https://hu.player.fm/legal.
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At the dawn of the social media era, Belle Gibson became a pioneering wellness influencer - telling the world how she beat cancer with an alternative diet. Her bestselling cookbook and online app provided her success, respect, and a connection to the cancer-battling influencer she admired the most. But a curious journalist with a sick wife began asking questions that even those closest to Belle began to wonder. Was the online star faking her cancer and fooling the world? Kaitlyn Dever stars in the Netflix hit series Apple Cider Vinegar . Inspired by true events, the dramatized story follows Belle’s journey from self-styled wellness thought leader to disgraced con artist. It also explores themes of hope and acceptance - and how far we’ll go to maintain it. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews executive producer Samantha Strauss. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Apple Cider Vinegar yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts .…
Woodland Hills Church of Christ
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A tartalmat a Woodland Hills Church of Christ biztosítja. Az összes podcast-tartalmat, beleértve az epizódokat, grafikákat és podcast-leírásokat, közvetlenül a Woodland Hills Church of Christ vagy a podcast platform partnere tölti fel és biztosítja. Ha úgy gondolja, hogy valaki az Ön engedélye nélkül használja fel a szerzői joggal védett művét, kövesse az itt leírt folyamatot https://hu.player.fm/legal.
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203 epizódok
Mind megjelölése nem lejátszottként
Manage series 2529757
A tartalmat a Woodland Hills Church of Christ biztosítja. Az összes podcast-tartalmat, beleértve az epizódokat, grafikákat és podcast-leírásokat, közvetlenül a Woodland Hills Church of Christ vagy a podcast platform partnere tölti fel és biztosítja. Ha úgy gondolja, hogy valaki az Ön engedélye nélkül használja fel a szerzői joggal védett művét, kövesse az itt leírt folyamatot https://hu.player.fm/legal.
a Church of Christ in Nashville, TN
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203 epizódok
Minden epizód
×Acts 17:16-34 The post Which Athenian Are You? appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ .
Revelation 21:1-8 The post New Heaven and New Earth appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ .
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Final Judgment: The Great White Throne Revelation 20:11-15 Introduction: Judgment Day! We typically do not give it too much thought primarily because it is surreal , kind of like dying. We know it is coming, but since we have never experienced it, we can’t imagine it. It seems distant, almost fantasy like. But as Peter said (2 Peter 3), Judgment Day is as sure as the destruction of the world in the days of the Flood. Every second the clock ticks brings us closer to that fateful day. Jesus and all the writers of the NT warn us of it. It is what everything in our life should be about, and yet it is so easy to live with almost casual disinterest . Summing Up the Text “Judgments” began in chapters 17-19 with the judgment of the prostitute, and then of the beast and the false prophet. Then in chapter 20 the dragon himself is judged. The only judgment left is that of mankind . That this is the final judgment is evident. God appears on a great white throne, causing the earth and sky to flee with no place found for them. In other words, the present heavens and earth are no longer needed nor are they in God’s plans for the future. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” ( Matthew 24:35 ). The main point of this context is not so much the righteous on the day of judgment, but the outcome of the wicked . That has been the focus since chapter 17. God is bringing justice to the wicked. As Paul said, “God is just. He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels” ( 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 . Vs. 12 : “The dead, great and small, stand before the throne.” No one is left out. No one is exempt. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” ( 2 Corinthians 5:10 ) Vs. 12 : “…books were opened…and the dead were judged by what was written in the books.” Evidently, the books represent the deeds of each person, “whether they are good or evil.” Vs. 13 : “The sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them.” The “sea” is where the dragon had raised up the beast in chapter 13 and from which all the previous beasts had come in Daniel 7 . A few verses later in 21:1 , there is a new heaven and new earth and the sea is no more. “Death,” the perpetual enemy of mankind, takes the body so that it is left to decay. “Hades” claims the spirit. The main point is that all the dead are raised for the great Day of Judgment. No one can hide from the judgment of the Lamb. Vs. 14 : With all the dead raised, both death and Hades are now destroyed by being thrown into the lake of fire. According to Jesus’ Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19ff , Hades is the unseen realm of the dead. In that realm, the wicked are “tormented” and the righteous are “comforted.” In each case they are waiting for the day of judgment when the final rewards for the righteous are given and the final sentences for the wicked are given. Jesus himself “descended to Hades” ( Acts 2:27 ). He also told the thief on the cross, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.” Therefore, “paradise” is part of Hades. The word simply means “the unseen.” It is the unseen realm of the dead. Paul refers to Paradise as the “third heaven” ( 2 Cor. 12:2-3 ) where he “heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.” Paul also referred to his departure in death as “departing and being with Christ” ( Phil. 1:23 ). Conclusion : the “two parts of Hades” is being comforted with the Lord and being tormented without the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:21-28 describes this as the end . Everyone has been raised, all enemies are put under Christ’s feet, with death, the last enemy, being destroyed. Thus when Jesus has fulfilled his purpose in subjugating all things under God’s authority, he delivers the kingdom to God and subjects himself to the him, “that God may be all in all.” Considerations and Applications Judgment is according to our works . Romans 2:4-11 “He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality , he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury…” Our “works” communicate our desires for God and his kingdom and express our thankfulness for the salvation he has given us. We prove ourselves as those who are either self-seeking or seeking for glory and honor and immortality. In other words, though salvation is by grace because there is nothing we can do to deserve the gift of God’s Son, God is not just saving us from sin, he is saving us for his glory . Paul said, “For by grace you have been saved through faith…for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” ( Ephesians 2:8, 10 ). To in any way suggest that we are the sons and daughters of God without fulfilling God’s purpose in us to glorify him in the world, is the essence of faith without works. Such faith is dead ( James 2:24 ). Why a final judgment? First, it reminds us that all God has done is far, far greater than what we have allowed ourselves to realize or accept. We grow up selfish, completely self-centered. Everything is about satisfying needs and pleasures and finding new things to explore and enjoy. God is not against us enjoying blessings he has provided ( 1 Timothy 6:17 ), but he does mind when his cause gets crowded out of our lives and is not our number one passion. Judgment reminds us why we are here! Judgment reminds us of the value of God’s creation and the seriousness of how our sins have destroyed all that God has done and planned. Judgment reminds us of how the world has despised the priceless sacrifice God made by submitting to the cross. The Hebrew writer explains, “How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?” ( 10:29 ). Judgment reminds us of an eternal joy and pleasure God planned with a relationship with him that is beyond imagination. God cannot allow those who rebel, refuse to trust in him, or refuse to obey him to be a part of that eternity. Judgment reminds us that we have a choice . This is not about God “sending us to the lake of fire.” It is about us choosing to live without God! Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:11 , “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.” Judgment reminds us of the vanity of all things earthly : Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 , “This is the end of the matter; all has been heard: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole [duty] of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (ASV) This is the conclusion after the Preacher explored every pursuit of man in life under the sun. Every one of these “life under the sun” pursuits was vanity – vapor, brief, short-lived and without eternal value. Therefore, “fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole of man.” Fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole purpose of man and it is what makes man whole. Conclusion : What if just one minute from now – just one minute – the last trumpet sounds and we are standing before the great white throne with the Lord God sitting on it. Now, what is this life about? One minute from now, what is it in your life that you kept saying you needed to change, but did not? One minute from now, how much will you wish you had made those changes? Berry Kercheville The post Revelation 20:11-15 Final Judgment: The Great White Throne appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ .…
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The Enemy of Love: Envy, Strife, Jealousy, Wrath Galatians 5:19-21 Introduction: I am excited about the direction the elders have led us as we start the new year. Hopefully and prayerfully this will help us be more thorough in our work together, better share the work so that no one person is overwhelmed, and fulfill needs that often get neglected. I loved what Adam said Wednesday evening: this is not so that deacons do all the needed work, but so that they can better identify the work needed and help us all find a way we can use our talents to help . That being said, and without taking away from the good possibilities ahead, I want to share with you what should be our greatest concern . In fact, it was the greatest concern of Jesus while on the earth. It is the greatest concern expressed by Paul , Peter , and John in all of their letters. That concern is that we do not allow the love we have to be destroyed . The Greatest Concern Ecclesiastes 9:18–10:1 , “Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.” It doesn’t take a group , it doesn’t take a faction , it just takes one person , and much good can be destroyed. Titus 3:8-11 “The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things , so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies , genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless . As for a person who stirs up division , after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned .” What kind of person is the above? Is he or she humble, following Paul admonition of submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ? – “valuing others above yourself”? What causes a foolish controversy? Is it not when a person insists on their way and can’t just back off, realizing that Paul commanded, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts , to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful” ( Col. 3:15 ). Why do these rivalries take place? I would suggest that the number one reason comes from what Jesus said when he rebuked the rivalries of the apostles: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” ( Matt. 20:25-28 ). We must stop thinking we are “somebody” and that we “deserve” something! We could multiply scriptures like the above, could we not? “ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” ( John 13:34-35 ). Please note: this is a “new commandment.” It is not the command to love is new, but the extent of the way we are to love is new because it has been defined by the way Jesus loved us. Galatians 5:19-21 Much has already been said about this text, but as a reminder, please note that we are very, very good at being aghast at the sins listed before and after the sins in verse 20. We certainly must recognize the dangers of the sensuality and sexual immoralities, but who would argue that the sins of verse 20 are not extremely dangerous and destructive? Further, these sins will just as easily keep us from inheriting the kingdom as murder, orgies, and sexual immorality. Enmity & Strife These words are complementary, and thus placed side by side. Enmity : the result of two or more parties setting themselves against another in mutual animosity, inclined to work against each other’s good in favor of each party’s own, competing good, rather than working together for the common good . It is also defined as, “Self-centered competition leading to the erosion of community .” When we define strife , it looks like this: “a quarrel, i.e. (by implication) wrangling: — contention, debate, strife, variance.” I have to tell you, by what I saw growing up and sometimes still see, I thought what I read in this definition was what Christians did during Bible class and during men’s business meetings . This Greek word [eris] is used ten times in nine verses in the NT. Notice a few of these: It is used in Romans 1:29 to describe the sins of the Gentiles: “They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness.” It is used in Romans 13:13 when Paul urges Christians to stay away from the sins of darkness: “Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.” Notice how easily Paul mentions the “big” sins in the same breath. It is mentioned three times in the Corinthian letters in the beginning of 1 Corinthians and at the end of 2 Corinthians as an indication of their divisiveness: “For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers” ( 1:11 ). “For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling , jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder” ( 2 Cor. 12:20 ). From the beginning of the first letter to the very end of the second, quarreling was Paul’s main concern. It is used again by Paul to Timothy in referring to some in the church who craved controversy: “He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension , slander, evil suspicions” ( 1 Tim. 6:4 ). Rule of thumb : enmity/strife/quarreling is all sinful . Practice it, and we lose our soul . Practice it, and we destroy God’s church. Instead, the fruit of the Spirit is gentleness . Jealousy and Envy The Greek word for jealousy (zelos) is used 16 times in the NT, but only half those times is it used in a bad sense. The word is also translated “zeal” and is used in a good sense as in zeal for God. Of course, in our text the word is used in a negative sense. As a sin, jealousy is having unfriendly feelings that are excited by another person’s possession of or enjoyment of something good. When compared with “envy” there is a similarity to a point, in that there are bad feelings toward another’s good fortune. But envy is always used in a bad sense and has the additional desire to take away what another has. Thus Saul was envious of David and wanted to kill him. The chief priests were envious of Jesus and later the apostles and sought to do them harm. Thus, envy is the inability to do what Paul commanded in Rom. 12:15 , “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” The envious person does not care about another’s pain or misfortune but is annoyed at their successes. Three things help to overcome this sin: Anything you see that others have will not satisfy them or you . Even if you owned what they have, it would not change your level of joy and that thing would disappoint you. Our treasure is in heaven. Our reward is not and will not be enjoyed in this life. When we are envious and jealous, we are acting like Israel in the wilderness, unthankful and discontent for the rich blessings God has given us. Without contentment, there is no joy. Desire what you already have and you will not be troubled with envy. If your greatest joy is found in God, it is impossible to be envious! How could I be? I already have the best. Wrath The Bible is filled with warnings about anger and how sinful it is. However, it is interesting how difficult it is for us to apply these passages to ourselves. Sinful anger is commonly justified because it is so commonly practiced. You will notice that in most of our modern translations we read, “fits of anger” or “outbursts of wrath.” However, the Greek simply has “wrath” or “anger.” There are numerous forms of anger all the way from a “fit of anger” to giving the “silent treatment” or withdrawing ourselves to someone with whom we are angry. We must remember that though this sin may happen more behind closed doors , it does not change the fact that we “will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Sinful anger may be one of the most rationalized sin because we have convinced ourselves that expressing our anger is the only way we can get a person not to act in a manner that is offensive to us. But that does not excuse the sin. We need to recognize anger for what it is – a means to punish a person for behavior we do not like. Who gave us the right to punish? Even when someone else’s actions or words and sinful, it does not give us the right to punish with our anger. The angry person does not believe they can calmly reason with the person with whom they are angry. In fact, it never crosses their mind. But here is what is critical . A raised voice, an agitated response, a disrespectful criticism, destroys love . Angry people think they are correcting bad behavior but the result is destroying love and respect . “A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.” ( Proverbs 18:19) . Thus, anger or offensive speech builds the bars of a castle, and makes it less likely that this person will respond to you in the future. Anger is also displayed in ways that we typically do not identify as sinful. For example, we may not have an anger fit, but withdrawing from a person with whom we are upset instead of talking out the difference is a way we punish a brother or sister. Matthew 5:45-46 Paul said in Romans 12:17,19 , “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to what is honorable in the sight of all…Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God…” So when someone hurts our feelings by how they spoke to us or how they treated us, what is a typical response? What reaction does our flesh want to take? Well that’s easy; I don’t want to be around that person any more. I withdraw from them. I avoid them. I may even leave the church because of them. Okay, now what have we done? Our withdrawal is a way to use an anger weapon . When a person does that to you, do you feel punished? Is it extremely hurtful? We have repaid evil for evil. Jesus identified this sin when he said if a brother sins against us seven times in a day and then repents, we are to forgive ( Luke 17 ). What if the first time you sinned against God, the first time you grieved the Spirit of God by your sinfulness, what if God just withdrew from you, and said, “That’s that! I warned you! I’m done with you!” Conclusion: The way we treat one another should always be a grave concern! These sins, along with all the other sins of the flesh have a devastating affect on us, on others, and on our relationship with God. But the worst thing we do is cease to be lights for God and we turn people away from the truth and increase the chances that they will live eternally without God – along with us! Berry Kercheville The post Galatians 5:20 The Enemy of Love: Envy, Strife, Jealousy, Wrath appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ .…
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Victory of King Jesus! Revelation 19 Introduction: When I try to conceive of what God has done in his creation of both the heavenly and earthly realm, I am only left with the words of David in Psalm 8 , “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” It seems that God first created a heavenly realm with ten thousand times ten thousand heavenly beings. But this heavenly creation was in preparation for his crowning glory, the creation of the material realm and that of humanity. Is that an unimaginable, foreign idea to you? Is it nearly beyond your ability to comprehend? To which of the angels did he say he had “crowned them with glory and honor and put all things under their feet?” To which of the angels did he ever say, “he gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor…” ? ( Ephesians 5:26 ) That is where we are in Revelation 19 . Note the words of verses 6-9! “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come , and his Bride has made herself ready…” The words are the culmination of “hallelujahs” that are being shouted from those in heaven to those on the earth. The Call to Praise God (1-10) Verse 1 : There first the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven. We were introduced to this multitude in 7:9 . They were those who had come through the great tribulation, had their robes washed in the blood of the Lamb, and were now before the throne of God. Verse 3 : “Once more” this multitude in heaven shouted, “ Hallelujah .” Verse 4 : Now those around the throne, that we saw in the very beginning of John’s vision, fell down and worshiped God saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” Verse 5 : Then there is a call from the throne to all of God’s servants both small and great, to praise God. “Hallelujah” is a combination of Hebrew and Greek transliterated into English, which means “praise Yahweh” or “praise the Lord.” Therefore, from the multitude who had been redeemed and now reside in heaven, to those before the throne, to God’s servants still on the earth, everyone is giving praise and honor to God . Now notice the reasons God is praised and should continue to be praised: “ He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality [NET: “sexual immorality” NIV: “adulteries” ]. The Greek for “corrupted” is also translated “destroy” ( 11:18 ), as in “the destroyers of the earth.” We need to see this immorality for what it really is, that which destroys and corrupts God’s creation . It takes away peace and joy and destroys lives. The wicked of the earth mourned over the judgment of the prostitute, but the righteous shout hallelujah, praise God . We are given relief by the true and just judgments of the Lord. “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” This is praise to God because her destruction is complete and permanent and a everlasting sign to all nations who follow her immorality. “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.” It is not that the Lord was not reigning before this, but his conquering of the great prostitute signals that the prophecy of Psalm 2 and the reigning of the Son of God has now been proven in spite of the conspiracy of the rulers of the earth to overthrow God’s Messiah. Finally, “Hallelujah, rejoice and exult and give him glory because the marriage of the Lamb has come.” This is God’s end goal. Everything Satan has done was to defeat God’s plan for the moment he would present us to himself in splendor. Hallelujah! Glory be to God! Do you also notice that the the Bride’s wedding garment, has been granted by God and is the righteous deeds of the saints ? Every bride has always had strong motivation to be stunningly beautiful on her wedding day. Will we be any different? Verse 10: Suddenly John appears in the scene. He is so overwhelmed by what he has seen that he falls down and worships the angel who has been delivering the message. But the angel immediately rebuked him. Angels are “fellow servants.” The only one to be worshiped is God and the Lamb. This is appropriate considering warnings of idolatry throughout the vision. Let’s stop and make sure we understand why there is such an emphasis on praising God . We saw it at the beginning of the vision and now we are seeing it at the end. Praising God should be what goes on every day by every Christian. The reason and purpose of praise is not artificial. It is not simple singing a song that says, “Praise him.” True praise comes naturally and spontaneously out of what we enjoy and what we value . If we do not praise, we admit we have found little value. Do we realize that the number one reason we come together is because we want to enjoy God together? We sing because we are so moved by what he has and is doing for us, we must sing about his goodness. It is the reason we pray, the reason we study together, and the reason we must share it with others. It is simply too good to keep quiet . And those who do not participate and find other things of more value, obviously do not give much value to what the Lord has done! The Warrior–King’s Final Judgment of the Beast & False Prophet There is no doubt that the one riding on the white horse is the Christ. He is called “faithful and true” and he judges in righteousness and makes war with the enemies of the earth. His picture is similar to the scene of chapter one, but in this case his clothing is dipped (sprinkled, ASV) in blood . The armies of heaven are also following him on white horses. The idea of white horses is a picture of victory. Then out of the mouth of the King is a sharp sword which he uses to strike down the nations and rule them with a rod of iron. This again has been a repeated picture of Psalm 2 and the battle of God and his Christ against the rulers and nations who refused to submit to God’s king . Verse 15 : Notice the picture of our King treading the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God with the name on his robe: “King of kings and Lord of lords.” This picture is borrowed from Isaiah 63:1-6 when the Lord returned from the defeat of Edom (who represented the rebel kings/nations of the earth. Verse 17 : Then John saw an angel standing in the sun and calling all the birds flying overhead to “Come, gather for the great supper of God to eat the flesh of kings, captains, mighty men, horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, free and slave, both small and great.” This is obviously a picture of vultures gathering to clean up the kill. Note that everyone from kings to slaves are being consumed by these birds . The picture comes from Ezekiel 39:17-21 . Verse 19 : The beast and the kings of the earth gather in one last effort to conquer the Lamb. But we are not even told of the battle. Instead, the two allies of Satan, the beast and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire – utter, final destruction – and all the rest are killed with their bodies left to be gorged upon by the birds . With the beast and false prophet now thrown into the lake of fire, there is only one enemy left: the dragon! Conclusion : All that God has done since before time began has led up to this moment. Are we living in such a way that we reflect the worth and value of what the Lord has done to make us his bride? Berry Kercheville The post Revelation 19: The Victory of King Jesus appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ .…
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How Does the Spirit Bear Fruit? Galatians 5:19-26 Introduction: For most of us Galatians 5:19-23 is a stand-alone text. We tend to simply use it as an independent admonition against following a sinful lifestyle. Further, taken as a stand-alone text typically causes us to think primarily in terms of getting better at each of the individual parts of the fruit. But this text has a context , and it is important to understand that context. If we don’t understand Paul’s purpose in the text and how if fits into letter, we will not get the message that he intended. Therefore, this lesson will help us prepare for our study of the fruit of the Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit in Context As most of us are aware of, there is an obvious contrast between the words of verse 19 and that of verse 22 . There are works of the flesh and fruit of the Spirit . There are two contrasting words. “Works” and “fruit” are not the same. Works is something we do. Fruit is a metaphor from the picture of what a tree does when properly cared for. The tree is what actually produces the fruit. It is not a “work” as in look what I produced . In the same way, “flesh” and “Spirit” are truly opposites. Flesh implies what is done by the strength and ingenuity of human mind and body . Spirit represents what only God can do . It is beyond human ability or human thought. Flesh represents that which leads to death . What is done by the Spirit represents that which leads to life . The flesh results in bondage . The Spirit results in freedom . Galatians 4:21-31 helps us see this contrast of flesh and Spirit. 22 : Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 : The son of the slave woman was born according to the flesh. The son of the free woman was born through promise. 24-27 : The two women and their sons represent two contrasting covenants . The one of the flesh represents Mt. Sinai and the Law of Moses. This also represents slavery because of the curse of the Law for anyone who does not abide by all things written therein. The one born of the free woman represents the Jerusalem above, the true heavenly Jerusalem. Those born of the heavenly Jerusalem are free . The curse of the Law, the curse of sin and death cannot touch them. 28 : “Now you brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.” The emphasis is on like Isaac . Isaac was not born from natural procreation. He was born from the power of God giving life from above . 29 : Notice the contrast between the one born of the flesh and the one born according to the Spirit . Therefore, please recognize that Paul is setting up a connection with our text and the phrases, “works of the flesh…fruit of the Spirit.” 30 : Just as Sarah said to Abraham, “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 : We are not children of the slave but of the free woman. That is, if we are not children of the slave, we are not children of the flesh. And if we are not children of the flesh, we do not live as children of the flesh and we do not live in slavery . Instead, we are children of the free woman, therefore of the Spirit, and if of the free and of the Spirit, we live by the power of life from above and not of the flesh! Now go back to 4:24 . Notice the words, “these women are two covenants .” Please do not be simplistic here and think merely of “the law of Moses” and the “law of Christ.” No, these are two different covenants . Each covenant has a unique and different basis upon which it was made. One was by law and one was by promise . The promise had nothing to do with the Law and the Law had nothing to do with the promise. You either follow a “law covenant” or you follow a “promise covenant.” You either follow the “flesh” or you follow the “Spirit.” If you follow the Spirit, you can obey the law and live . If you follow the flesh you cannot obey the law, and you will die. 5:1 “ For freedom Christ has set us free…” 5:4-5 Notice again the contrast. If you follow the “law covenant” you will lose grace. But if you follow the Spirit by faith, you will eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. The Effect of Following the Flesh and Not the Spirit Galatians 5:13-18 I have always thought Paul made an odd transition from not following the law and circumcision to a church “biting and devouring one another” and then the followup warning of the “works of the flesh.” It didn’t make sense until I understood that the two covenants result in two different ways of serving God and seeking salvation . There are two examples of this that we can use as a reminder: Luke 18:9-13 Just look at how Jesus begins the parable: “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt.” Isn’t that interesting? There is a relationship between how a person views their salvation and the way they treat others . That is exactly what was going on with the Galatian brethren. Jesus illustrates this view of the means of salvation and contempt for others by the prayer of the Pharisee. Notice that he boasts about his accomplishments, says absolutely nothing about his sins , and demeans a tax collector who is seeking mercy from God. You have heard of “identity politics” (a person is favored based on race, skin color, or even sexual orientation). This is “identity religion.” The Pharisee has favored himself before God by virtue signaling based a chosen few outward works that communicate how he is so much more special than others. Now put these two people, the Pharisee and the tax collector in the same church . What will be the result? Luke 7:36-51 You know this text. Consider: The Pharisee thinks he owes God very little and has little appreciation for God’s forgiveness. He sees his salvation on the basis of being a Jew faithful to the law. And note the connection between that view and how he sees the sinful woman . He is disgusted by her presence. He doesn’t care how moved she is by Jesus, how sorry she is for her sins, and how thankful she is for her forgiveness. The result is that he loves little – that is, he loves little both of God and his fellow man . Now, put these two in the same church . What do you have? Now back to Galatians 5. Look at verses 15, 20, and 26 . Now do you see what is going on among the Galatians? These “troublers” are saying, “I’m circumcised. I am connected to Abraham by birth. I keep the feast days. I observe the Sabbath. I eat clean foods!” That is my standing before God!! Lest we misunderstand: Paul is not condemning the keeping of God’s laws and he certainly is not condemning God’s command that we be careful to obey God’s commands (Ezekiel 36:27). He is condemning the idea that we think our assurance of salvation is based our obedience and good works (in spite of our sins) instead of in the mercy and grace given by what Christ has done. Philippians 3:9 , “…and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith …” 5:16-18 16 : “If you walk by the Spirit, you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Really? Why won’t you gratify the desires of the flesh if you are walking by the Spirit? 17 answers: “…the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh to keep you from doing the things you want to do .” Paul explains to us in Romans 7 that what a godly person wants to do is serve God. The frustration is, if you are living in the flesh, under law you cannot please God. Your tendency is to be “conceited, provoking and envying ” (26) because you rely on your superiority based on accomplishments. 18 is the remedy: “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law .” If you are led by the Spirit, you recognize your standing with God is based on what he has done, not on what you have done . This causes you to see others with humility, love and compassion . You even view them as having more value than yourself ( Phil. 2:3 ). Here then is the ultimate question. Have you ever considered in amazement how many times you have heard of churches splitting , or at the very least just having members who get disgruntled and leave. Maybe you have even experienced it firsthand. You know, it is those words in verse 20: “enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy.” If you grew up in a church where dissensions and strife were a regular part of the church’s culture, where people were not gentle, patient, and loving toward one another , it is a result of justification based on the flesh , that is, a law system just like the Jews, instead of “living by the Spirit and keeping in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25-26). Conclusion In other words, the problem with justification by law/works is that it lacks the inner experience of the love and mercy of God and therefore is unable to transfer that same love and mercy to both God and man. If you have not experienced the love of God like the sinful woman and like the tax collector, you cannot love God or your brother and sister as you should! So, how does the Spirit bear fruit in your life? You don’t bear the fruit, the Spirit does . That doesn’t mean you are inactive. It means that you do just what you would do to a fruit tree. You water it, fertilize it, trim it, weed around it, protect it from pests. Spiritually speaking, you nurture your knowledge of God so that you grow to love him for what he has done for you by the Spirit. With that, you will not “try” to be more loving and more patient, etc., you will become that person so that “you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Therefore, as we study the various parts of the fruit of the Spirit, remember, it is one thing to identify what true love is , but you will not be able to attain it by the flesh . You grow your tree in what God has done, and the Spirit will produce the fruit in you! Berry Kercheville The post Galatians 5:19-26 How Does The Spirit Produce Fruit? appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ .…
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The Pharisee and the Tax Collector – Luke 18:9-14 The Blind Man, Fruit Tree, & Builders – Luke 6:37-49 The post The Parables of Jesus – Lesson 13 appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ .
The Genealogy of Jesus Christ 1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, [ a ] 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, [ b ] 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, [ c ] and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, [ d ] and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. The Birth of Jesus Christ 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ [ e ] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed [ f ] to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. The post Matthew 1 – The Genealogy of Jesus Christ appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ .…
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Overcoming Emotional and Sexual Entanglements Introduction: This lesson is a followup to our Wednesday evening study on the sins of David and Amnon in 2 Samuel. Sexual sins and idolatry, which is usually a companion to sexual sins, are the most talked about and warned against sins in scripture. The Danger of Emotional and Sexual Entanglements Proverbs 2:16-19 “…none who go into her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life.” 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 The Corinthians argument: food for the stomach and the stomach for food – and the same is true with the body and sexual immorality. Paul’s argument is, no, not only is the body for the Lord, but something entirely different happens in sexual immorality as opposed to just eating food. First, your body is a member of Christ and you cannot take a member of Christ and connect it to a prostitute (immoral woman/man). Second, in joining with a prostitute, a person becomes “one flesh” with her. That is not saying they are married, but that “joining” with her is more than just a physical or biological incident. There are strong mental connections being made and it is a violation of oneness with the Lord. In other words, even if a person didn’t have a wife, this is still adultery against the Lord. Third, this sin is unique in that it is a sin against one’s own body. In other words, one’s body is violated. There are mental and physiological changes that take place that are very damaging and unlike other sins. Fourth, sexual immorality in any form does not glorify God and our bodies are to be used only to glorify God. Building a Wall or Always Vulnerable? When you are most vulnerable : God and his word are not your number 1 love . The key to overcoming any sin and lust is finding that what God has to offer tastes so much better and is so much more fulfilling. Whether you are single or married, this is the key! Ephesians 3:16-19 “…that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” When knowing God is not what “lights your eyes” and “fills your emptiness,” you are vulnerable to all types of sin, especially sexual sins. Why sexual sins? Because through those sins Satan promises to provide intimacy that satisfies desires to be loved and needed. If you are married, the second most powerful defense against “wandering eyes, ” lustful thoughts and desires, and acting out immorally, is a passionate marriage . Maintaining a strong romantic relationship means dedicating 15 hours a week in time alone with each other. Couples who disregard this rule lose that “loving feeling” and develop destructive marital habits. The above two principles keeps our passions directed on a godly path and does more to insulate us and enable us to overcome lustful temptations. These are the weapons God has given us to conquer! Just telling yourself that “I’d never do such a thing,” is naive! If King David did it, a man after God’s own heart, any of us can under the right circumstances. One more defense: giving in to sexual sin, whether through pornography or otherwise, will not “satisfy” desires, it will feed and multiply the desires . The Road to Immorality Is a Process When we Christians discuss sexual immorality, we tend to think of outsiders, people who do not live by a strong faith in God and following the whims of their consciences. Again, that is naive thinking. Just like it was naive for Peter to think he would never deny the Lord, so it is for any of us to think we would never commit this sin regardless of whether you are a preaching, elder, or committed Christian. Consider a few principles: People do not lead moral lives one day and have an affair the next. Though it may appear that way, it is actually a process that goes through stages that are not always obvious, which makes it seem like “it was just a one-night stand” or brief misstep. Impossible, impossible! For example, it is fair to ask, “What was going on in David’s life that led up to him committing adultery with Bathsheba?” The first thing that comes to mind is, why was he “collecting wives?” What is going on in his mind that causes him to not be satisfied with one woman? It may be difficult to get an exact count, but he collected over twenty wives and concubines. Second, as has often been noted, David did not go out to battle as was common for kings to do. But what should we learn about David from that? I would suggest he has become restless and bored . He has had success after success after success. Instead of staying the course and finding his fulfillment in God or calling one of his wives to be with him, he falls into a moment of weakness in which he is looking for something new to bring fulfillment to his life. And when that happens, Satan is glad to provide and answer! The Process Those “innocent” thoughts: Ephesians 4:17–24 alludes to what is going on in our minds at least 10 times. Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” Satan quickly and easily borrows illicit thoughts and sins we have committed in the past to incorporate them into a present temptation. They begin without sensing much danger. Our minds can tend to ask questions about couples we see or know. A woman can think, “I wonder what it would be like to be married to him? His wife is so lucky.” Or a man can think, “She is just so beautiful and so nice. It would be amazing to be married to her.” Whether daydreaming about someone we have no right to or seeing it played out in movies, these thoughts generate pathways in our minds so that Satan has an advantage and puts us in a situation where there is opportunity. Emotional involvement A person who is naive or immature can mistakenly feel “safe” as long as nothing physical is going on. But that misses the point that something sexual is going on long before anything physical is happening. Therefore, opposite sexes must adhere to certain restrictions: Behave in such a way that if you must at times be alone with the opposite sex, maintain a “professional distance” and always be aware of any “vibe” that is going on between you. Do not have long conversations, especially on a regular basis, other than what is necessary. Never have conversations about intimate matters. Never become a “counselor” to a married person of the opposite sex. Never complain about your spouse to the opposite sex. Complimenting the opposite sex must be restricted to hair or clothing, but never on how physically good looking they are. If you feel “electricity” with the opposite sex, never express it. Instead, keep your distance. Flee; runaway. Never be flirty or tease in a sensual way. Never think you can be “close friends” of the opposite sex. If you grow close emotionally with the opposite sex, the next step becomes easy – an “innocent” kiss or hug can become deadly. An Innocent Kiss Becomes Deadly “Oh, we just got a little carried away. It will never happen again,” each person says to themselves. “Sorry, that was stupid,” one of them embarrassingly comments. But the line has been crossed, and it does happen again, and again . Then come the lies and the coverup . Soon there are planned meetings and rationalizations about how each other spouse is not providing what each needs in a relationship. The only way out! These two should have never gotten this far, but they ignored the little warnings in the back of their head because it felt so good to be around someone who was so caring and attentive. Couples who get this far often think they can “backtrack” by stopping the physical relationship and going back to just friends . Impossible. The friendship has been ruined. The only course to take now is complete separation. There can never again being any more contact. If it means quitting your job, moving out of state, or moving to a different church. No more phone calls; no more anything! Distance and repentance is the only solution. Oh but that is so difficult for a couple who has gone this far. Conclusion: Do not be deceived about how deep into corruption a person’s mind has gone when he or she commits this sin! A person who has an affair takes a magic carpet ride that is different than anything he or she has ever experienced. Proverbs 9:27 “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.” This leads to a period of “ambivalence,” where he or she does not want to give up their spouse because of the consequences of losing their whole family, but neither do they want to give up the super-charged pleasure they have enjoyed with the illicit affair. Even if the person completely repents, there is a long period time that goes by before they are able to rid themselves of the thoughts and desires of what they had. And if a person who is caught in such a relationship responds with, “I’m sorry, I just got caught up in the moment. I’m really sorry. Now can we put this behind us and get on with our marriage?” That person is deceived and has not understood the gravity of his or her sin. That is a King Saul repentance. Berry Kercheville The post Overcoming Sexual Entanglements appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ .…
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Fallen, Fallen is Babylon the Great Revelation 18 Introduction: If there is any chapter to which we Americans should relate, it would be this one. The United States has repeatedly been compared to the Roman Empire, not only for its power, but for its dangerous slide into corruption. This chapter shouts a warning to all such nations who give themselves to the fulfillment of earthly lusts. Psalm 2:10-12 , “Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth, Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” Too often we think of a nation and rulers only in terms of their politics. But the Lord gives a clear message: respect for the King of kings is the key to success . Before all else, these governments and rulers serve at the mercy of Jesus who rules all . That is the ultimate message. The chapter is divided into four sections: Vs. 1-3 Another angel’s mighty voice Vs. 4-8 Another voice from heaven Vs. 9-19 The lament over Babylon Vs. 20-24 A mighty angel casts Babylon into her tomb The Angel with the Mighty Voice (1-3) 17:18 has already identified the harlot-Babylon as the Roman Empire. She is the symbol of lust and seduction, filled with every kind of wickedness. In 18:2 Her judgment is pronounced and the result of her wickedness is described. This comes from Isaiah 21:9 , “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the carved images of her gods he has shattered to the ground.” 1 Corinthians 10:19-20 , Paul explains the seriousness of idolatry: “What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.” Demons are the originator and supporters of idolatry . All the lusts humans pursue and to which they sacrifice themselves are urged by what Paul calls the “elemental spirits.” To call Rome the dwelling place for demons and every unclean and detestable beast indicates empire was filled with everything that was demonic. It is critical that we see beyond a simplistic statement of sinful things and recognize the gods of wickedness that are present . The idols of America are obvious; they are not hidden. If demons in the first century were behind the promotion of sensual idolatry of lewd temple worship, those same demons are certainly what is behind sensuality portrayed in our television and media. Is the addiction to these 21st century temple gods any different than the offerings to the temple gods that were in every city of the Roman Empire? Therefore, Babylon’s fall strips away her luxurious facade and reveals the skeletons of her evil. Listen again to Paul’s words describing idolatry: “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!” ( Romans 1:24-25 ). From those words, can you tell any difference from then until now? Nothing has changed . Vs. 3: Notice the words at the end of the verse: luxurious living . “Luxurious” is not just wealth, but carries the idea of sensuality. After all, idolatry is the creation of gods that represent the desires of the human wil l. The nations readily joined Rome’s wickedness by using it to grow their wealth. As Hailey states , “Such connections and associations are seen all over the world today as men seek to gain wealth by immoral, avaricious, and unscrupulous means…Internal corruption of a nation is expressed in pornographic movies, magazines, and lewd entertainment, which prey on the depravity of human beings. Prostitution, gambling, and narcotics make up only a portion of the world of corrupt, anti-God, destructive forces, which thrive on lust.” Another Voice from Heaven, (4-8) “Come out from her lest you share in her plagues…” John does not say this voice is from an angel, making us wonder, is this the voice of God? God has certainly given this warning before. If you share in her sins, you will also share in her plagues! Paul said, “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them” (Ephesians 5:5–7) Paul is talking to Christians! Be not deceived! We cannot enter the kingdom of Christ without coming out from the midst of the present age . Paul added to this in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 . “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers…Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?…Therefore, go out from their midst and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing…” Paul is not commanding to stay away from unbelievers, but to not be influenced by them and partner in their sins. “Her sins are heaped as high as heaven” Any doubt that these idolatrous sins in America has reached as high as heaven? God remembers these iniquities and does not forget them. Note God’s promised punishments: “Repay double for her deeds” – God will balance the scales, rendering justice. “As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her like measure of torment and mourning.” That has always been the problem with mankind. God gives wonderful gifts to bless us, and it is used to glorify ourselves instead of God . “I sit as queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.” What arrogance! All the great nations said them same: Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, all said that they could not fall and boasted their superiority. Indeed, so has our country. Thus, note God’s words: “For this reason her plagues will come in a single day.” That is, it will be sudden, just like all judgments do. But notice what is coming: “death and mourning and famine.” It isn’t necessarily the attack of another country, it is just a nation so corrupted it rots from the inside out. The Lament Over Babylon (9-19) Notice the effect that fall of Rome has on the rest of the world. All the nations had depended on her and gotten their wealth by participating in her sensuous idolatry, glorifying her instead of God. Thus, when Rome fell, all their source of food and luxury was taken away. I read a book years ago warning America and the world what happens when we live on debt and the economy finally crumples under its own weight. The author’s statement was, “When America sneezes, the world gets pneumonia.” Indeed, the world depends on our luxury. But will we depend on and glorify God? Verses 11-19 Notice all the people who are now affected! How quickly the tables have turned. All of those merchants and those who enjoyed the delicacies had no idea how quickly their economy could crumble. The same is true with us. We just go to the store, and it is there – anything we desire, ready made, it is there! A Mighty Angel Casting Babylon into Her Tomb First, look at 21-23 . Like a great millstone, Babylon is cast into the sea. It is thrown down “with violence.” No more joy and laughter in this great city. No more sounds of music. No more merchants from which to buy your luxuries. Verse 24 : And when the autopsy is done , “there is found in her the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth. ” Look again at verse 24 . You may have noticed something odd. Rome is blamed for all who have been slain on earth ? No, in this case we see the importance of Rome being compared to Babylon. Babylon was called the mother of harlots . She is not the only harlot . She was the original and she has produced so many more. Babylon is the world city God promised to destroy in Isaiah 24 . That world city still exists in all nations who follow her sensuous idolatry. Rome fell, but the world city has not yet been fully judged! Therefore, as we have pointed out previously, this great letter from Jesus to the churches includes us. The final judgment of Babylon the great is still to come, and we need to open our eyes, living soberly and righteously. Come out from her midst lest you share in her plagues! Verse 20 : “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints…” That may seem hard and harsh. How could we rejoice over the fall of our country? We need to think differently. If our country or any country turns away from God, practicing its immorality, giving glory to itself as it feeds its lusts, and then even persecutes those who live for God and will not support their wicked culture, that’s when we will rejoice over its fall! Conclusion : What should we do about this? Neither Paul or Peter or John told Christians to respond by moaning and mourning about the condition of the worldly culture around us. No, as Paul said while he was imprisoned in Rome: “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” ( Colossians 4:2–6 ). That is our answer to Babylon! Berry Kercheville The post Revelation 18: Fallen, Fallen Is Babylon The Great appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ .…
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Colossians 4 : 2 – 6 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. The post Leading Others Into His Marvelous Love appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ .…
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