Scripture References, Word & Phrase descriptions: the “Logos Reftagger” scripture links are hover pop-up active, meaning the scripture reference will just pop-up if you hover your cursor over it (don’t click on the link, just hover your cursor over it), when finished reading, hover your cursor off the scripture reference link. If the Reftagger pop-up doesn’t show all the verses, left click on the “More” button in the Reftagger pop-up window and it will take you to the online bible. If RefTagger pop-ups don’t work on your computer, that’s OK, try right clicking the link then open in new tab or window; or if that doesn’t work, you can always use your Bible to look up the verses. Word or Phrase definition links may not have a website that opens.
Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!
Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge (confess) your known unconfessed sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father).
1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (known sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unknown or forgotten sins] ." NKJV (New King James Version) [italics added]; we call this REBOUND, read the full doctrine as to “why” we need to use 1 John 1:9 to grow spiritually. REBOUND
If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to simply exercise faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life; when you do, you will instantly receive Eternal Life: John 3:16, 5:24, 6:47, 20:30, 31.
John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me [Jesus Christ] has everlasting life." NKJV [italics added]
Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.
John 3:14-15, 16, 17, 18, says: "14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV
Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:
Study to show yourself approved to God!
Grace Bible Church
Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
God’s Word is taught Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
STUDY TITLE:
Implacability
I want to focus on implacability. Many believers today lack gratitude inwardly or thankfulness overtly, and, in many cases, they lack both. One of the many words that I like to use that are not directly quoted from the original language of the Bible, including the Hebrew, nor the Aramaic, nor the Koine (Common) Greek has a word like the English word implacability. I like to use this English word because it truly does get the point across to my congregation, students, listeners or viewers.
And what point is that?
It is the point that comes from the Latin word — implacabilis; meaning implacable, impossible to appease, impossible to satisfy, no matter what you think, say, or do, it means to be stubborn-minded, or to be in a constant state of friction. In fact, David warned his playboy son Solomon to be careful of those individuals who, no matter what you say or do, they have no desire to forgive you whatsoever. It doesn’t matter how many times you have asked them for forgiveness, they are filled with anger, wrath, bitterness, jealousy, but most of all, their one desire is to hurt you many, many, times.
In fact, these are the type of individuals that David describes in Proverbs 6 to Solomon, his son. And, believe or not, I am going to describe implacability for you directly from a passage in the Word of God.
Normally, when we go to Prov 6, we begin with Prov 6:16 which says that There are six things which the Lord hates, and the seventh thing is in Prov 6:19, A false witness {who} utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.
I have always been intrigued or fascinated by the seventh thing mentioned in verse 19 which is that the Lord hates the sins of the tongue and the spreading of strife and lies. Throughout the word of God, the number 7 refers to a seeker of the truth, and therefore the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross because He said Tetelestai meaning that His work on the Cross is finished.
John 17:4, “I glorified Thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which Thou hast given Me to do.”
John 19:30, When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit.
Now, look at one more passage that uses water as a teaching aid; Isa 12:1-6, Then you will say on that day, “I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord; For although Thou wast angry with me, Thine anger is turned away, And Thou dost comfort me.
Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. Therefore, you will joyously draw water From the springs of salvation.
And in that day you will say, “Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that His name is exalted.
Praise the Lord in song, for He has done excellent things; Let this be known throughout the earth. Cry aloud and shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, For great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”
As our Lord was starting to give some very important warnings to the disciples concerning HOW they listen. in Luk 8:18, “Therefore take care or be careful how you listen;”
Notice the words, “Take Care” for example, in Mark 4:24 to WHAT you listen to; “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it shall be measured to you; and more shall be given you besides.”
What about the appearance? Shouldn’t all believers wear their best clothes to church and then brag about how great they are?
John 7:24, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
What about presuming against others?
Psa 19:13, Keep back Thy servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
We are also told that when it comes to “passing judgment” that in 1Co 4:5, Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.
Then, of course, Matt 7:1-5, is our final passage especially when it says such things like “Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
Finally, remember what our Lord said in the OT to the prophet Isaiah; Isa 11:3, And He will delight in the fear of the Lord, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;
Now, how about if I show you something that should get you excited because it tells us some very important doctrinal truths about our future state – which, of course, is heaven as we know so little about. And, that my friend is how most believers go through life with fear, anger, envy, jealousy, hatred, but most of all, “revenge motivation” and they have no desire for reconciliation. It other words, it’s impossible to satisfy some people when no matter what you say or do, they find fault.
However, remember, Jud 1:16, These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their {own} lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of {gaining an} advantage.
Especially when it comes to certain types of sins like mental attitude sins, and lack of appreciation. And there’s a statement that all of us should be aware of and guard our hearts against – and that statement is a warning to the arrogant believer who is never content and always envying or lurking after that which others have.
No Contentment = No Humility!
Now, let’s begin with my main passage which reveals one of the saddest responses to the grace of God.
First of all, let’s read the passage, Luk 17:7-19, “But which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? “But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me until I have eaten and drunk; and afterward you will eat and drink’?
“He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.”
And it came about while He was on the way to Jerusalem, that He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. And as He entered a certain village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
And when He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And it came about that as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine where are they? Was no one found who turned back to give glory to God, except this foreigner? And He said to him, “Rise, and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
So, our Lord entered into a certain village of Lepers who had heard that Jesus, the miracle man was coming to town. Also, scores and scores of people who had leprosy met him including the Ten Lepers who were reminded of their disease every time they looked into the reflection of themselves in the water.
As many of you know, the word “water” is used in the Bible for the “water of the Word; Eph 5:26, Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
Isa 55:1, “Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance.”
Here is an amazing miracle that is not magic or trickery but the simultaneous instant healing of ten men with leprosy. Healing just one would have glorified the Lord, but our Lord healed ten at once and interestingly enough under the doctrine of numerology ten represents the number of Divine Perfection. For example: Ten represents the number of Divine Perfection: There are 10 commandments (Exo 20)
There were 10 plagues on Egypt (Exo 9:14)
There are 10 “I AM”’s spoken by Jesus in John.
1. I am the Bread of Life
2. I am He.
3. I am from above.
4. I am the Light of the world.
5. I am One that bears witness of Myself
6. I am the Door of the sheep.
7. I am the Good Shepherd.
8. I am the Resurrection and the Life.
9. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
10. I am the True Vine.
Now, there was absolutely no way that anyone could ever deny how compassionate and sympathetic our Lord was toward those who suffered, especially when it came to lepers.
The miracles Jesus did were not for self-exaltation or for money but because of mercy on people who suffered. Now, believe or not, it is a tribute to modern medicine that most of us know very little about the disease called leprosy.
Why?
Most of us have never seen a leper. We only know what we read in the Bible. If we had lived in those days, we would have known a great deal more. In Bible times, like cancer today, it was the most feared disease in the world. It was deadly, incurable and hopeless. So much so did the ancients fear it that anyone suspected of having the disease was banished from society.
The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life: Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.
No comments:
Post a Comment