URGENT: Encouragement and Prayer in a Time of Pandemic…See All of Our Coronavirus Resources Here Toggle navigation Search Browse The Bible Toggle Dropdown Find it! How to Beware of the “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” Bible / Bible Study / Topical Studies / How to Beware of the “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” Share Tweet Save Michael Jakes Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Wolf and sheep. These happen to be two of the most diametrically opposed creatures that you can find. Yet Jesus uses this complete contrast in nature to breach the subject of false prophets. In this article, we’ll take a look at a particular phrase that has been taken out of Matthew 7:15: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” From this verse is derived the familiar phrase, “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” What does it mean, and what was Jesus saying? As with all of Christ’s words, there is much that we can glean and apply to our lives from this verse, and from the phrase we will cover. Photo credit: Unsplash/Vincent Van Zalinge What Is the Book of Matthew About? The book of Matthew, where we find our verse, named for its author, was written to a specific audience. Matthew is filled with references to Old Testament Scripture, indicating that Matthew’s goal in writing was to reveal Jesus to his Jewish brethren and to prove that He was the promised Messiah. Matthew himself was a tax collector, who as a group, were despised by the people. This was because they were seen as allies and tools of the Roman government, in collecting sometimes exorbitant taxes from the people. Publicans, as they were known, had the freedom to set their own fees in addition to the taxes being collected, and were known to be unscrupulous in their dealings, hence gaining for themselves a terrible reputation. Whether or not Matthew himself was as unprincipled as his counterparts we are not told, but when we first encounter Matthew, we find him sitting at a table, doing his job. Matthew’s life would be dramatically altered with a simple, yet direct command from the Savior. We read from Matthew 9:9: “As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. In Luke’s telling of this momentous event, he adds that Matthew (also known as Levi) “left all” (Luke 5:28). This tells us the extent of his departure and his level of his commitment as he began his walk with the Lord. Matthew would then in turn invite Jesus to his home for a great feast. Here, Jesus would be surrounded by the only people Matthew knew intimately: other publicans and sinners. The Pharisees, who without a doubt disagreed with nearly everything Jesus did, questioned Jesus’ presence there. But Jesus made a statement that would silence them – at least temporarily. “And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard it, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners’” (Matthew 9:11-13). Photo credit: ©Getty Images/dvest What Is Happening in Chapter 7? As we enter into the seventh chapter of Matthew, we are stepping into the middle of one of the greatest, if not the greatest, recorded sermons of Christ. This celebrated discourse is known traditionally as the Sermon on the Mount. In it, Jesus unleashes a collection of teachings that have endured the test of time, and continue to be the standard for Christian life and living. In the chapters leading up to this one, Jesus has already covered the beatitudes, the Lord’s Prayer, and the issue of forgiveness. As Jesus spoke on marriage and divorce, prayer and fasting, forgiveness, and several other topics, the emotions of the people must have been varied. Some were excited, others were captivated, and still others may have been confused and doubting. But what a unique honor it must have been to be under the sound of Jesus’ teaching! His voice must have been powerful as it resounded through the crowd! I can see Jesus as He situated Himself on the mountain, as the multitudes began to gather; as he readied Himself to minister to the people He came to save. Not everyone would receive Him, or even believe Him; but that didn’t matter, because He loved them. Photo credit: Unsplash/Tim Bogdanov What Is a False Prophet? As Jesus continued to speak, he directly confronted and warned the people of a group of individuals that were prominent in his day, and continue to be prominent in ours. Let’s restate our verse from Matthew 7:15 here: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” How can we accurately define what a false prophet is? Simply put, a false prophet is one who professes to speak forth that which God has spoken, but actually does not. Before we pursue this subject further, let’s first make a statement about prophecy. For many, the immediate thought one has when hearing of or speaking of prophecy is the idea of “foretelling.” This is properly one of the aspects of prophecy; it is predictive. This side of prophecy has the unfortunate tendency to fascinate many. The other aspect of prophecy is that it is simply “forthtelling.” It is the man or woman of God being used to proclaim truth as the Lord has given it to them; though it may not be predictive in nature. False prophets are those who, for several reasons, have opted to deceive God’s people. Here are three powerful verses which speak decisively of false prophets: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction” (2 Peter 2:1). “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears” (2 Timothy 4:3). These verses not only reveal to us the jaded character of the false prophet, but also show us how dangerous it is to be swayed by such a person. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/SIphotography What Is a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing? As an expression alone, a wolf in sheep’s clothing denotes a person who appears harmless and kind, but this attitude only hides their devious and malicious intent. This type of person is easily trusted, and is able to gain the favor of those who are unsuspecting. It is hard sometimes to fathom that there are actually people who would purposely do this, but we must not be naïve. From a purely biblical context, we have been given a divine help that warns against those false in their ways, or in their proclamation. That divine help is the power of discernment. Discernment protects us from the false words and purposes of the false prophet. As we have read previously from 1 John 4:1, we are told to test the spirits to see whether they are of God or not. This has to do with the teachings and proclamations of those who claim to be speaking on behalf of God. What Does This Verse Mean for Believers Today? More than ever before, today’s Christian needs to be on guard against wolves in sheep’s clothing and the danger they bring. They cause instability in the child of God who is unprepared to deal with their wares. Who are the unprepared? It is those who are undiscerning. While every child of God has a measure of discernment, since we all are indwelt by the Spirit, our spiritual senses are sharpened by the amount of time we spend in God’s Word. The Christian who does not read Scripture, or devote ample time to the study of the same, leaves themselves open to false teachings and the like. The child of God need not be a scholar, surrounding themselves with degrees of every kind, but we do need to remain equipped and ready to stand against heresies and doctrines of demons. “While evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it” (2 Timothy 3:13-14). The seducers spoken of here refer to both false teachers and false prophets. But the encouragement here is that we continue to learn of those things which we are sure of because they have been divinely planted in us. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Gearstd Stay Vigilant! As long wolves in sheep’s clothing remain among us, we must keep our swords sharp. I speak of the Word of God which has the power to hold back the flood of false prophecies and teachings of the false prophet. While Satan himself is compared to a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), the false teacher is compared to a ravenous wolf. Because both are predatory in nature, they each seek victims. This is why we must stay vigilant and sober minded. Only then will be able to stem the tide of wolves in sheep’s clothing. “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere” (2 Corinthians 2:14). Our God always causes us to triumph! Amen! Photo credit: © Getty Images/nicoletaionescu Michael Jakes is an Associate Pastor, Bible teacher, and writer. He is co-founder of That’s The Word! Ministries, a distinctly Cross-centered outreach. He has also been active in youth ministry for over 30 years, and hosts two live weekly podcasts, “The Bible Speaks Live,” and “The Cutting It Right Bible Study.” Michael is the author of, The Lights In The Windows, a book concerned with the need for the Church to evangelize. Michael and his wife Eddye have been married for 40 years, and reside in New York. You can follow him on Youtube and listen to his podcasts on Spreaker. 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Truly Fulfilled
Today’s Scripture “…Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?…” (John 6:9, NIV) Truly Fulfilled In today’s Scripture, a little boy had a sack lunch—five loaves of bread and two fish. Nothing much. Yet when thousands of people were hungry, Jesus took his lunch, multiplied it, and fed the whole crowd. Think about the boy’s mother who made the lunch. She was a homemaker raising a child without a title or acclaim. But titles don’t bring fulfillment. Keeping up with your neighbors doesn’t bring happiness. Trying to impress your friends will make your life miserable, but understanding your assignment and being comfortable with who God made you to be are what bring true fulfillment. Don’t discount the gift God has given you. Are you secure enough to play the role that God has given you? Are you comfortable enough to not have to be number one, to have the title, to keep up with others? The beauty of our God is that He has given every one of us a specific gift and purpose. A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that the gifts You have given me are custom-made. Thank You that You have matched me for what You want me to do, and I have exactly what I need to fulfill Your plan for my life. I declare that I am content with my assignment. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” I AM FEARLESS Through these messages, you’ll be so blessed as you discover how to live in victory and with confidence in every situation. God will open doors and make things happen that you never thought possible. OUR THANKS FOR A GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT REQUEST YOURS NOW! ► Follow Us This email is intended for hopkinsanthony33@gmail.com. To unsubscribe from this email list, click remove. To ensure delivery to your mailbox, please add devotional@goto.joelosteen.com to your address book of approved senders. View this email online. Share this email © 2020 Joel Osteen Ministries | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF USE
Is Jesus Angry at the Rich in this Parable?
URGENT: Encouragement and Prayer in a Time of Pandemic…See All of Our Coronavirus Resources Here Toggle navigation Search Browse The Bible Toggle Dropdown Find it! Is Jesus Angry at the Rich in This Parable? Bible / Bible Study / Topical Studies / Is Jesus Angry at the Rich in This Parable? Clarence L. Haynes Jr. | clarencehaynes.com Wednesday, April 29, 2020 Share Tweet Save When you study the parables of Jesus, you’ll notice that many times Jesus told the stories in response to a question or statement someone was making to him. After all, parables are simply earthly stories with heavenly meanings. The same is true of the parable of the rich fool. Here it is in Luke 12:13-21: “Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’ Jesus replied, ‘Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?’ Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’ And he told them this parable: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” When I read this, the first thought that popped into my head was “Ouch!” These were some harsh words. What is important however is to look at this in context. With that in mind, I want to divide this parable into 2 thought groups. What Jesus is not saying, and what Jesus is saying. What Jesus Is Not Saying 1. There is nothing sinful about acquiring wealth. Money or wealth alone is not sinful. In fact, there is nothing wrong if you have money. Money or wealth does not determine how holy you are, neither is it a sign that God is with you or for you. The amount of money or possessions you have is not an indicator of whether God is pleased with you or not. After all, the sun rises on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). 2. There is nothing wrong with saving for your future. We live in a day and age where in order to retire from working, you have to save and plan for your future. You work today and save some of what you earn so that one day you can retire from work. This is perfectly ok and Jesus is not saying don’t do that. 3. You must work until you die and can never stop to enjoy the fruits of your labor. This man had clearly done well for himself. He had an abundant crop which means he had to work hard to produce that crop. It is very rare to get great results from sloppy or lazy work. This man was probably diligent and disciplined and put in the time and effort required to get a harvest of that size. In fact, if I was an employer, I might want this type of worker. When you work hard God has no problem with you enjoying the fruits of your labor. Luke 10:7 reminds us that the worker deserves his wages. This man had every right to benefit from the work he had done. So do you. If you work hard there is nothing wrong with taking some time to enjoy the results of your hard work. Take a vacation. Enjoy a good meal. Go to a Broadway show. Do something fun. It’s ok and God is perfectly fine with that. With that being said, let’s now turn our attention to what Jesus is saying in this parable to bring some more truths to light. What Jesus Is Saying 1. Be careful about greed. As we stated earlier, Jesus had no problem with the man’s abundance. He had a problem with the man’s greed. Greed is one of those deceptive things because the man who has thinks he never has enough. Notice these two Scriptures: “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). The problem this man faced was one of idolatry. His greed led him to put his trust and his worship into the amount or abundance of his possessions. He worshipped his wealth and that was one of his problems. So be careful about greed. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/cherrybeans 2. Money is deceptive. One of the challenging things about having lots of money is that your wealth can create a false sense of security. It can blur the lines, giving you either a sense of entitlement or causing you not to recognize your need of God. This man thought he had everything he needed in this life. However, in his thinking he forgot that what we see is temporary, what is unseen is eternal. His money blinded him to the reality of preparing for eternity. In other words, don’t just plan for life on this earth, make sure you are planning for your eternity. 3. Don’t be a hoarder. Part of this man’s problem was that he had more than enough. He had so much that he ran out of room to store all that he had. At this point you might think he would say, I have more than I will ever need, who can I help with my abundance. Nope that’s not what he said. His answer was to build bigger barns. His answer showed the selfish nature of his heart. He was only interested in his own blessing. It is important to recognize that when God blesses you, it’s not so you can keep it all to yourself. He blesses you so you can bless others. This man clearly forgot that. 4. Recognize your source. This man thought that his abundance was simply a result of the work of his hands. He was blessed because he did the work. While the truth of him doing the work may be evident, he forgot that the one who gave him the ability to do the work was God. Remember, no matter how great you become at doing anything, your ability to accomplish did not come from you, it came from your creator. Your wisdom, talents, abilities and everything comes from him. He is your source. 5. There’s more to life. The fascinating words of Jesus reminds us that there is more to this life than how much we have. In this season of life we are in, we are constantly reminded of this. Possessions can be gone in an instant. The tragedy of this man’s life was that he spent it acquiring possessions. He never got to fully enjoy those possessions because his life ended before he could enjoy them. As you consider life, recognize that how much you have does not determine the quality or enjoyment you will experience in this life. I remember hearing this quote: A man was praying and asked God to give him all things so he could enjoy life. God said I will give you life so you can enjoy all things. Understand there is more to this life. To sum up this parable I think it is fitting to use Jesus’ own words from Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” I pray today that we would all be rich towards God and store up much treasure in heaven – treasure that you will be able to enjoy for all eternity. Photo credit: Unsplash/jp valery Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a rising speaker, teacher, author and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. He has spent more than 30 years serving the body of Christ in various capacities and has just released his first book called The Pursuit of Purpose. If you have ever struggled trying to find God’s will, this book will help you discover the different ways God leads you into his perfect will. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com. 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A Sure Thing
Living Light Daily Devotional A Sure Thing By Touching Lives with Dr. James Merritt “…But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will surely die.” – Genesis 2:17 “If you do the crime you should pay the time.” “An evil deed must be punished.” “Bad people should get what they deserve.” Most of us would wholeheartedly agree with these three statements. People who do wrong should be punished. That is why we have judges, courtrooms, and jails. Without consequences for wrongdoing, we would have anarchy in the streets. Society as we know it would disappear. Regardless of what one believes about the death penalty, deep down we all think there are certain crimes that are so heinous they deserve the death penalty…but not every criminal gets it. Some do and some do not. There is one statistic, however, that has been true since the beginning of time and will always hold true. One out of one people die. Everybody dies. We are all under the death penalty. Bad dictators die and good doctors die. Murderers die and ministers die. In a way, this seems unfair. One would expect evil people to die. We don’t shed a tear when a terrorist is killed. Why? Because deep down we think, “Well he deserved to die.” But what about the rest of us? What about those of us who try to live decent, moral, upstanding lives? We die, too; and here is the startling truth…we also deserve to die. Why? The Bible says in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death.” That means all who have sinned have earned death…and who has not sinned? Praise be to God that our story does not end there! The Bible also says that at just the right time, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Our sin earned death, but God redeemed us with the life of His Son. He died so that we might live. Application: Have you accepted Christ’s sacrifice for your sins and placed your faith in Him? That is the only way to gain eternal life. Read in browser » Recent Articles: Apply God’s Guidance Listen Admit Guided Steps GPS Prayer Request Email TL Staff Donate Now Share Tweet Forward This email was sent to hopkinsanthony33@gmail.com why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences Touching Lives, Inc. · 1800 Satellite Blvd · Duluth, GA 30097 · USA
Start Thinking as a Son
Today’s Scripture “…Dear friends, now we are the children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is…” (1 John 3:2, NIV) Start Thinking as a Son It’s easy to have the wrong image of ourselves. The Scripture says, “Now we are the children of God,” but too many times, we live as though we don’t deserve to be blessed because we’ve made too many mistakes and had too many negative things come against us. We live with a slave mentality to mediocrity, to guilt, to lack, to addictions. Stop thinking as a slave and start thinking as a son. Stop thinking about what you’ve been through and the mistakes you’ve made, and start thinking about who you are. A son of the Most High God doesn’t live feeling guilty and condemned about past mistakes; he receives mercy and moves forward. A son or daughter has a boldness, a confidence. You’ll expect God’s favor. You’ll believe for doors to open for you that you don’t deserve. Why? Because you’re not a slave, or a hired worker, or a friend of the family. You’re a free child of Almighty God! A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that You have made me Your child, and I am no longer a slave. Thank You that You redeemed me, and You’re taking me forward into full freedom. I believe that I have Your favor, and the obstacles in my way will be overcome. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” I AM FEARLESS Through these messages, you’ll be so blessed as you discover how to live in victory and with confidence in every situation. God will open doors and make things happen that you never thought possible. OUR THANKS FOR A GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT REQUEST YOURS NOW! ► Follow Us This email is intended for hopkinsanthony33@gmail.com. To unsubscribe from this email list, click remove. To ensure delivery to your mailbox, please add devotional@goto.joelosteen.com to your address book of approved senders. View this email online. Share this email © 2020 Joel Osteen Ministries | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF USE
The Holy Spirit vs Mankind
The Holy Spirit vs Mankind The purpose of this blog is to try to help those who understand God, and who has the Holy Spirit inside of us. Mankind believes in the things of man. I know that it is not very easy for any of us to understand God. I want to inform all of you that this is a battle between good vs evil. I would like to tell everyone that Mankind only lives in the moment. Romans 8:9 says you, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not. This means that God dwells inside of us. There are those who do not believe that they have God inside of them. Do you know that every time I type a blog, I usually start crying because it is God who is inside of me convicts me of all of my sins and forms of unrighteousness? Romans 12:2 says do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. God is responsible for changing me for the better. I still have a long way to go when it comes to my character. I know that I have a problem with people who are sarcastic and rebellious. The Lord has forgiven me. It is Jesus who is doing for me, more than I am doing for myself. The dove represents peace. It also represents the Holy Spirit. Mankind thinks of doves as just birds. The Holy Spirit is our Helper. It guides us to the point where it gives us direction in advance. Mankind perceives the Helper as something that does not exist. I want to inform all of you that I am the type of person who loves God; a whole lot. If anyone gets sarcastic with me, I am prone to retaliate. The Lord is one who gives us grace and love in our personal lives. The Helper is located in the 14th Chapter in the 26th verse but the The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to. Glory means that you want your life to be like God. According to Mankind, man places more emphasis on holidays and other things rather than God. Mankind always makes decisions that goes against God. Mankind always does the things of the world for their own gratification. Man goes against God Isaiah 59:2. Man tends to make decisions to always stray away from God. The Holy Spirit grieves while inside of man. Romans 8:26 says we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. New Living Translation and the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. The Holy Spirit dwells inside of us for the rest of our lives. However, God will let you live all by yourself in a reprobate mind when it comes to Romans 1:28-32.
What Does 1st John 4:9 Mean?
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Apply God’s Guidance
Living Light Daily Devotional Apply God’s Guidance By Touching Lives with Dr. James Merritt “Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching.” – John 14:23 Whenever you are trying to find out what God wants you to do, there are always two questions involved. One is your question and the other is God’s question. Your question is simple, “God, what do You want me to do?” God’s question is: “Are you already doing what you know I want you to do now? If so, will you do what I want you to do if I tell you?” God is not obligated to guide you if you are not going to follow His guidance. He is not obligated to direct you if you are not going to follow His directions. Many of us need to just get honest with ourselves and realize that the real problem is not in finding God’s will in a situation, but doing it. We will only know God’s will for tomorrow if we are doing what we know is God’s will today. If you are robbing God with your finances, living in sexual sin, neglecting God’s Word, or rejecting a command of God in your life, why should God guide you? You will never know the unknown will of God for your life until you are doing the known will of God for your life. If you are not a Christian, God wants you to give your heart and your life to Him today so that He can guide you forever. If you are a Christian, God desires obedience in every area of your life. This is how we show our love to God…by obeying Him. Application: Are you living in obedience to God right now? Read in browser » Recent Articles: Listen Admit Guided Steps GPS Affirming His Promise Share Your Faith Boldly Learn a simple, straight-forward method for effectively sharing the Good News of Jesus with others. This three-week online course features a downloadable workbook along with training videos from Dr. James Merritt. Enroll today and learn how to effectively and confidently share your faith! ENROLL NOW Prayer Request Email TL Staff Donate Now Share Tweet Forward This email was sent to hopkinsanthony33@gmail.com why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences Touching Lives, Inc. · 1800 Satellite Blvd · Duluth, GA 30097 · USA
What Does 1st Corinthians 10:11 Mean?
Verse of the Day ▼ Devotions ▼ Home Verse Of The Day 1 Corinthians 10:11 ◄ What Does 1 Corinthians 10:11 Mean? ► Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 1 Corinthians 10:11(NASB) –– ADVERTISEMENT –– Verse Thoughts Throughout his epistles, Paul wanted his readers to be aware of pitfalls in the Christian life as well as the principles and practices that direct us towards Christlikeness. He not only delivered Church-age doctrine to believers and taught Church-age principles when he visited their cities or wrote his epistles. Paul also used Israel’s past failures to illustrate Christian truth, teachings, principles, and practices. “Now these things (things that happened to Israel) these things happened to them as an example. They were written for our instruction – upon whom the ends of the ages have come. The things that happened in Israel’s past, were not intriguing little stories or made-up tales or legends. They are historical events. They are factual happenings. Old Testament Scriptures are an authentic, verifiable chronicle of Israel’s past history. However, they were written for a very important reason – to teach the Christian Church some important lessons. The things that happened to Israel were written for OUR learning. They were written so we would see their faults and failure and avoid them in our lives. They were recorded in the inerrant Word of God as a warning to US – so that we would not make the same foolish mistakes that they made. At the start of Chapter 10, Paul gave some specific examples of Israel’s wonderful spiritual benefits. They ‘passed through the cloud’ as the Shekinah glory of God overshadowed them; cared for them and lead them out of slavery. They were ‘baptised into Moses’, who was the instrument God used to redeem His people from Egypt. And because they were baptised into Moses – i.e. identified with God’s servant, they experience supernatural deliverance as they crossed the Red Sea in safety – yet Israel failed to honour the Lord. Every one of them ate of spiritual food, when manna fell from heaven and the ALL drank spiritual drink as refreshing water gushed from the side of the Rock, which was identified as Jesus – the Rock of their salvation and Sustainer of their soul. They were the people of God, and He was with them every step of the journey. But they failed, they rebelled, they sinned, and they murmured, and Paul exhorts us not to make the same mistakes. We have the same spiritual benefits. We passed from darkness to light, when we were rescued from the slave-market of sin. We were baptised INTO Christ and identified with Him. Like Israel, we have been supernaturally delivered from sin, Satan, death, and hell. We eat of Christ – our Bread of Life and drink from the Living Water of life – for unless we eat of His Body and drink His Blood, through faith in Him, we will remain dead in our sins. He is the Rock of our salvation and the Sustainer of our soul – and Jesus is with us every step of this journey through life. But because of Israel’s ungodly behaviour, wrong attitudes, rebellious ways, and spiritual apostasy, the nation failed to carry out God’s plans and purposes They were the people called by God and chosen as His witnesses on earth. But they disqualified themselves, and were set aside, for a season – and we are warned not to make the same mistakes that they did. Israel was set aside and their promised kingdom was postponed, but God’s plans were not abandoned. God continued His work through a different channel. The Church was born at Pentecost, so that the good news of the gospel of Christ would continue to be shared through a new group of people – the Body of Christ, which is the Church. We are to carry out God’s plans, obey His word and apply the principles and practices that we have been given in the Word, and Paul cited Israel’s failures as an example to us – lest we fail in the work that God has given us to do. The Age of Israel ended at the cross, when they were set aside for a season, and the Age of the Grace (or the Church Age) began – the Church was born. So far it has lasted 2000 years, and we are the ones “upon whom the ends of the ages have come”. The current dispensation will usher in ‘the consummation of all things. This Church Age will bring the world to the climatic end of the ages. The current Dispensation of Grace will bring mankind up to its concluding, climatic period – the Day of the Lord and the return of the Lord Jesus to earth. His return will usher in Christ’s Millennial kingdom – following Daniel’s 70th Week – the 7-year tribulation period. God was not pleased with Israel. They were saved by grace but they were overthrown in the wilderness because they did not LIVE by faith. The lives they lived and the choices they made are an example to us all. They were written for our example so that we would make wiser choices. May we, who have been saved by grace, be careful to LIVE as God would have us live. May we grow in grace, walk in spirit and truth, live in humble dependence on God, and be faithful servants unto our life’s end – for HIS greater praise and glory. My Prayer Heavenly Father, it is easy to criticise the nation of Israel for their ungodly behaviour, wrong attitudes, rebellious ways, spiritual apostasy, and national failure, and yet I see that I could easily make the same mistakes, live a defeated life and fail You in word and deed. I pray that the indwelling Spirit of Christ. would direct my behaviour and my attitudes. Keep me low at the cross, broken before you, trusting Your word and looking to Jesus. I pray that I may grow in grace day by day and I ask that You change me into the person You want me to be – for without You I can do nothing right. Thank You in Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN. ◄ Previous: 1 Corinthians 9:25 Next: 1-Corinthians 10:12 ► Choose a Verse from 1 Corinthians 10 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233 John 8:21 Titus 2:4 2 Thessalonians 2:1 Psalm 13:5 Follow us 1 Corinthians 10:11 Further Study 1 Corinthians 10:11 in the Parallel Bible 1 Corinthians 10:11 in the Thematic Bible 1 Corinthians 10:11 Cross References 1 Corinthians 10:11 Treasury of Scripture Knowing 1 Corinthians 10:11 Sermons 1 Corinthians 10:11 Prayers 1 Corinthians 10:11 Images Choose Chapter Subscribe to the Verse of the day Today’s Devotionals Exploits for God John 1:29 Psalm 71:14 The Oneness Of Prayer What You Will Get Two Tried Ways – Growing In Grace (20) His Guiding Hand Doctrinal Statement / Privacy Policy / Use of Pictures / Donate / Contact Us Copyright Knowing-Jesus.com – All Rights Reserved
Are We Like The Unmerciful Servant that Jesus was Talking About?
URGENT: Encouragement and Prayer in a Time of Pandemic…See All of Our Coronavirus Resources Here Toggle navigation Search Browse The Bible Toggle Dropdown Find it! Are We Like the Unmerciful Servant in Jesus’ Parable About Forgiven Debt? Bible / Bible Study / Topical Studies / Are We Like the Unmerciful Servant in Jesus’ Parable About Forgiven Debt? Clarence L. Haynes Jr. | clarencehaynes.com Monday, April 27, 2020 Share Tweet Save Have you ever struggled to forgive someone? I know I have. In fact, in one instance in my life it took me over twenty years to forgive someone who had hurt me. Jesus addresses this topic in Matthew 18:21-35 with the parable of the unmerciful servant. Let’s divide this story into three acts. Act 1: The Servant Is Forgiven Much Peter comes to Jesus and asks him a question about forgiveness, “how many times should I forgive someone who sins against me?” Peter was thinking he was being gracious by saying seven times. Jesus responded and said no, not seven times but seventy times that. With that answer, he then proceeded to tell this parable. To read it in full, turn to Matthew 18. The king in this story represents God and the servant is us. The servant owed the king ten thousand bags of gold – or talents as the King James Version states. To understand the amount of debt this servant owed, ten thousand bags of gold is the modern-day equivalent of seven billion dollars. The servant, not wanting to lose everything he had, makes an incredible statement – be patient with me, I will pay everything back. The reason this statement is not only incredible but incredibly ridiculous is because there was no possible way this servant could ever pay back this amount of debt. At the going rate of pay for a typical worker of that day, it would take about two hundred thousand years for this servant to pay off the debt. This was impossible. The king knew it. The servant knew it. The servant really had nothing to offer the king. Because of this, his only option was to appeal to one thing, the mercy of the king. The response of the king in this story is quite shocking too. He didn’t just reduce the debt or work out some type of payment plan, the king cancelled the entire debt. Seven billion dollars was cancelled. He told the servant you don’t owe me anything, your balance is paid in full. This is exactly the mercy God has shown to us. We were under a weight of sin that we could not repay. Though we made plenty of promises like this servant to do better and try harder, we couldn’t pay off the sin debt we owed. We were guilty. The sin debt we owed would literally take all eternity for us to pay back. We had only one choice to appeal to the patience and mercy of God. In that appeal, God forgave us and canceled the debt. Notice Colossians 2:13-14: “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” The king forgave the servant. God forgave you. If only the story ended there it would be happily ever after but there was a second act. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Andrey Popov Act 2: The Servant Demands Payment I can’t imagine the weight that was lifted from the shoulders of this servant after he was forgiven. His family was spared. His freedom was spared. He was truly given his life back. After this however, the roles reversed. The one who owed the debt became the one to whom a debt was owed. One of his fellow servants owed him one hundred silver coins, or denarii. A typical worker would earn about 300 denarii in a single year so this servant owed him about 4 months worth of salary. This was an amount that could have been paid back over time. He could have very easily created some type of arrangement to have this money paid back. It may have taken a little while, but it would have been able to be paid off in this servant’s lifetime. Upon finding this guy who owed him money, he became aggressive. The first servant grabbed the other and choked him, demanding his payment. He made the same appeal, please be patient with me and I will pay it all back, which we have just determined was entirely possible. However, the first servant refused to listen and had this man thrown in jail until he could pay it all back. What a short memory this man had. What is fascinating in this story is how I see myself, and maybe you see yourself too. Think of this. How desperate was your situation when God found you? How much sin did God forgive you? How many times has God forgiven you over and over, many times for the same sin? How can you not show mercy to someone else? The trouble with this servant is the same thing that troubles us from time to time. We forget. We forget what it’s like to need God’s forgiveness. We forget that God freely forgives. We forget that God’s forgiveness is not because of anything we have done but simply because of his grace and mercy shown to us through Jesus Christ. We love to be the receivers of forgiveness and mercy when we need it. The crux of the matter is how often are we willing to give it when it is required? This servant failed. Let’s not make the same mistake. The Final Act: The Servant Faces Punishment As with all things the word got back to the king. Remember the king in this story represents God and nothing you do will ever be hidden from his sight. When the king discovered what the servant had done here was his response: “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed” (Matthew 18:32-34). The lesson of this story is simple, pay it forward. The forgiveness God has extended to you must be extended to others. After all there is no amount of forgiveness you can give that will be greater than or even equal to the amount of forgiveness God has forgiven you. If that is not enough motivation, listen to how Jesus sums up this story: “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart” (Matthew 18:35). I ask you today, is there anyone you need to forgive? Is there anyone that you are harboring anger or bitterness towards today? I encourage you to forgive them. It won’t always be easy, but it is necessary. If you need help just remind yourself of how much God has forgiven you and you will discover that it becomes a lot easier to forgive someone else. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/jnemchinova Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a rising speaker, teacher, author and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. He has spent more than 30 years serving the body of Christ in various capacities and has just released his first book called The Pursuit of Purpose. If you have ever struggled trying to find God’s will, this book will help you discover the different ways God leads you into his perfect will. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com. 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