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Episodes
Saturday Oct 28, 2023
Saturday Oct 28, 2023
18. Jesus Teaches Religious Leaders 2
Welcome back to our series, AGOG – A Glimpse of God. We are on Day 18 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Mark 8:11-21 The Pharisees went to Jesus and began to argue with him. They tested him by demanding that he perform a miraculous sign from heaven. With a deep sigh he asked, "Why do these people demand a sign? I can guarantee this truth: If these people are given a sign, it will be far different than what they want!" Then he left them there.
Jesus faced constant opposition from the religious leaders. Normally there wasn't much love lost between Pharisees and Sadducees! They had mutual contempt and hatred for each other. But because both groups felt threatened by Jesus, they engaged in acts of unity against Jesus.
These religious leaders came to Jesus spoiling for an argument. They were unable to object any longer against the faultless teaching of Jesus, so they changed tactics. They came with a cunning scheme to test and tempt Jesus which was to ask for him to give and provide them with a miraculous sign from Heaven. However, they asked for a sign not because they wanted to see if Jesus was the Messiah. They had already decided that he wasn't. Their request was insincere, as they were actually wanting evidence that Jesus was not the Messiah.
Oh they had heard about and seen Jesus performing miracles. Things such as: feeding the multitudes, healing people and raising Lazarus from the dead. But these miracles to their minds was insufficient evidence that Jesus was God's Son - the anointed Messiah. We know from other parts of the Gospel, they thought Jesus did those things by the power of satan. These leaders wanted special proof that Jesus was who He claimed to be, that He was indeed the anointed one sent from God and not sent by satan.
Jesus groans deeply when faced with these ungrateful religious leaders. These men were not seeking to glorify God but to glorify themselves and fill their own vanity. This caused Jesus' great vexation, frustration and grief. Jesus was guided by the Holy Spirit and had great zeal to do the work His Father had sent Him to do. Jesus' frustration was because of the stubborn obstinacy of those who were the religious leaders to believe He was sent from God as the Messiah.
Also Jesus didn't want to give complete evidence that He was the Son of God the Messiah. Here Jesus does however reinforce his faith in His Father to bring him back from the dead. In Matthew's account of this incident, Jesus recalls Jonah, saying that just as Jonah was in the great fish for 3 days, so would the Christ be killed and be in the grave for 3 days and then rise again by the power of God. If Jesus had given complete evidence, then there would be no room for faith. Faith only exists where the object of faith is beyond the finite knowledge of humanity. Jesus wanted to find out who had faith and who did not.
In both the accounts by Matthew and Luke, Jesus reminded these religious leaders, that they could tell what the weather was going to be like, by looking at the sky and the direction of the wind. In other words, they had already had all the signs and miracles, but they refused to believe them! They were unable to see the forest for the trees! Their hearts were closed to the anointed Christ hence why in Luke's account of this event, Jesus calls the religious leaders hypocrites! They were hypocrites, because even if Jesus did give them a miraculous sign, they still would not believe that Jesus was sent from God as the anointed Messiah. No matter what signs Jesus gave, the religious leadership would never believe Jesus as their Christ.
What about you? Again, I ask, who do you say Jesus is? What are you waiting for? Are you like the Pharisees and Sadducees demanding a sign or are you prepared to take by faith, what Jesus Christ offers you! He is offering you free eternal salvation, by grace alone through faith alone! The choice is yours! Jesus loves you and because He loves you, He will not force you to love Him in return! But His love is compelling and He is calling you to come and take up His free offer of eternal life! It is not too late! Today can be the day of your salvation and new life! Are you going to acknowledge Him as your saviour or are you going to merely put him aside as a miracle worker or man of wisdom?
Come back tomorrow for Day 19 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look together at that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! See you soon!
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Friday Oct 27, 2023
Friday Oct 27, 2023
Psalm 124
A Song of Ascents. By David.
124:1 If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, let Israel now say,
124:2 if it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, when men rose up against us;
124:3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us;
124:4 then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul;
124:5 then the proud waters would have gone over our soul.
124:6 Blessed be Yahweh, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth.
124:7 Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare. The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
124:8 Our help is in the name of Yahweh, who made heaven and earth.
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Friday Oct 27, 2023
Friday Oct 27, 2023
17. Teaching the religious leaders 1
Welcome back to our series, AGOG - A Glimpse of God. We are on Day 17 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Today we look briefly at Jesus teaching the religious leaders!
Cleansing the temple
(John 2:13-25) The Jewish Passover was near, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. He found those who were selling cattle, sheep, and pigeons in the temple courtyard. He also found moneychangers sitting there. He made a whip from small ropes and threw everyone with their sheep and cattle out of the temple courtyard. He dumped the moneychangers' coins and knocked over their tables. He told those who sold pigeons, "Pick up this stuff, and get it out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!"
His disciples remembered that Scripture said, "Devotion for your house will consume me." The Jews reacted by asking Jesus, "What miracle can you show us to justify what you're doing?" Jesus replied, "Tear down this temple, and I'll rebuild it in three days." The Jews said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple. Do you really think you're going to rebuild it in three days?" But the temple Jesus spoke about was his own body. After he came back to life, his disciples remembered that he had said this. So they believed the Scripture and this statement that Jesus had made.
While Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover festival, many people believed in him because they saw the miracles that he performed. Jesus, however, was wary of these believers. He understood people and didn't need anyone to tell him about human nature. He knew what people were really like.
Jesus cleansed the temple twice! Our example here occurred about a year after His baptism and the second cleansing, occurred two years later. In the cleansing of the Temple, we see Jesus' indignation rise. The Temple was central to Jewish worship. This is not Jesus, meek and mild! This is Jesus the indignant and upset! Jesus is in Jerusalem with His disciples to celebrate the festival of Passover. When he arrived at the Temple, Jesus saw in the courtyard, traders selling sacrificial animals. He also saw money changers who were there exchanging normal money for the special currency used to pay the Temple tax.
So Jesus with righteous anger and indignation drove them out with a whip and upturning the tables. He was indignant that they were doing business and profiteering in the courtyard of His Father's house, the Temple. By cleansing the temple of such business, Jesus was making claim to being the Messiah, long foretold in the Old Testament. His disciples knew this to be a sign of Jesus being that Saviour Messiah figure. Psalm 69:9 predicted a zeal to protect the honour of God's Temple.
By behaving like this, Jesus was concerned for God's honour alone, for the Temple was for prayer and worship - not for the trading of merchandise, profiteering and banking. The religious leaders also knew it as a sign, hence they asked for a sign and a miracle to prove that Jesus did indeed have the authority to justify his actions. If Jesus did not give them a sign, He would merely be a lawbreaker, troublemaker and rabble-rouser. So Jesus offers them a sign "tear down this temple, and I'll rebuild it in three days."
Of course the religious leaders misunderstood Jesus' meaning. The temple was still not complete, so how could he tear it down? What Jesus actually meant is revealed by John, after the event! The temple Jesus was talking about was his own body. Throughout his public ministry, Jesus always had his crucifixion and his resurrection as his goal!
The sign Jesus would give to the religious authorities was his own resurrection, 3 days after his death! The resurrection which would be the final proof of Jesus being the Messiah they were waiting for! However, his own disciples were confused at this point and it was only after his resurrection that they would understand fully. It was then that they truly believe that Jesus was who He had always said He was. That Jesus was indeed the Son of God come to rescue the world from sin, death and decay.
Many people believed in Jesus because of his miracles but their faith was shallow. The remembered him as a great miracle worker, a leader and king - but certainly not their saviour and Messiah. Jesus didn't lean on them for support because He knew how fickle they could be. Jesus put his full trust on God the Father for support, because He knew how reliable and trustworthy He was!
Who do you say Jesus is? What are you waiting for? But further, what are you going to do with this Jesus? Are you going to acknowledge Him as your saviour or are you going to merely put him aside as a miracle worker or man of wisdom? It is not too late! Today can be the day of your salvation and new life!
Come back tomorrow for Day 18 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look together at that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! See you soon at Partakers!
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Thursday Oct 26, 2023
Thursday Oct 26, 2023
Psalm 126 to Psalm 130
Often we hear the Psalms one by one, but today we offer you the chance to hear a group of Psalms read as a collection!
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Psalm 126
1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
‘The LORD has done great things for them.’
3 The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
4 Restore our fortunes, LORD, like streams in the Negev.
5 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.
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Psalm 127
1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
the builders labour in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
2 In vain you rise early and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to those he loves.
3 Children are a heritage from the LORD,
offspring a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents in court.
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Psalm 128
1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
who walk in obedience to him.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labour;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots round your table.
4 Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the LORD.
5 May the LORD bless you from Zion;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children’s children – peace be on Israel.
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Psalm 129
1 ‘They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,’ let Israel say;
2 ‘they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained the victory over me.
3 Ploughmen have ploughed my back and made their furrows long.
4 But the LORD is righteous;
he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.’
5 May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.
6 May they be like grass on the roof,
which withers before it can grow;
7 a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,
nor one who gathers fill his arms.
8 May those who pass by not say to them,
‘The blessing of the LORD be on you;
we bless you in the name of the LORD.’
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Psalm 130
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD;
2 Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
5 I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.
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Thursday Oct 26, 2023
Thursday Oct 26, 2023
16. Teaching the living!
Welcome back to our series, AGOG – A Glimpse of God. We are on Day 16 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
John 11:30-46 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?” Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen. But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
Resurrection and the Life - Jesus’ friend Lazarus was sick. His sisters, Mary and Martha, sent word to Jesus about this, hoping that Jesus would come and heal him. Jesus replies to this family he loves, that he wouldn’t come just yet and that the illness would not result in death! How could he be so sure, particularly from a distance? Though Jesus knew that Lazarus was dead, he still waited a further days before going there. He knew it didn't matter whether Lazarus was dead 2 days or 4 days - dead is dead!
Such was the eagerness of Martha to see Jesus when he eventually arrived she left the house of mourners and expressed some faith that God would hear Jesus' prayers. She uttered that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ, the Saviour Messiah spoken about in the Old Testament.
Jesus' humanity - The emotions of Jesus, love, feelings, weeping, sorrow and anger are revealed. They reflect his true humanity and his heart of compassion for people. Did you note that Jesus grew angry? Most people are surprised that Jesus gets angry and some people even deny it! As Jesus is the life, Jesus is angry with death and decay, as they are the end result of sin. Jesus is angry because death hurts people, even people close to him. This stirs Jesus deeply. Jesus is full of compassion, pity, sympathy, grief and care for this family. He shares their pain and shows it in his tears. He loves them and is determined to show this love in practise. He weeps.
Jesus' Divinity - Then the moment of truth arrives! Will Jesus be true to his word and raise Lazarus back to life again? Some doubted but Jesus knew that God would answer his prayers. First he thanks God that for hearing him and then issues the command for Lazarus to come out! Is this not one of the great moments of the Gospels? Jesus was true to his word! God heard his prayers and Lazarus was raised from the dead! He was dead but now back to physical life! One day Lazarus would die physically again but for now he had new life! This Jesus even had authority over death and life! Amazing! Yet, just after this event, the Jewish authorities, who were watching carefully, came up with a plot to kill Jesus.
This story is also true in a spiritual sense. When you allow Jesus to be your saviour and rely on him for your salvation, you become spiritually alive! Until then, you are spiritually dead. What are you waiting for? Again, I ask, who do you say Jesus is? But further, what are you going to do with this Jesus and let Him bring you to life spiritually? It is not too late! Today can be the day of your salvation and new life!
Come back tomorrow for Day 17 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look together at that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! We will see together, somebody rejecting Jesus because the price of following Him was too high a price to pay! See you soon at Partakers!
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Wednesday Oct 25, 2023
Wednesday Oct 25, 2023
Psalm 57
57:1 Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you.
Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has passed.
57:2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who accomplishes my requests for me.
57:3 He will send from heaven, and save me,
he rebukes the one who is pursuing me.
Selah.
God will send out his loving kindness and his truth.
57:4 My soul is among lions.
I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men,
whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
57:5 Be exalted, God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be above all the earth!
57:6 They have prepared a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down.
They dig a pit before me. They fall into its midst themselves.
Selah.
57:7 My heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast.
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises.
57:8 Wake up, my glory!
Wake up, psaltery and harp!
I will wake up the dawn.
57:9 I will give thanks to you, Lord, among the peoples.
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
57:10 For your great loving kindness reaches to the heavens, and your truth to the skies.
57:11 Be exalted, God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.
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Wednesday Oct 25, 2023
Wednesday Oct 25, 2023
15. Teaching the powerful!
Welcome back to our series, AGOG – A Glimpse of God. We are on Day 15 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
(Mark 10:17-22) As Jesus started on his way; a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honour your father and mother.'" "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
This story is in the three synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke. Luke describes him as a wealthy ruler (Luke 18:18-27). Matthew describes him as a young man (Matthew 19:16-26). In Mark’s account, he is simply a man (Mark 10:17-22). Put altogether that makes him a rich young ruler. He runs up to Jesus and falls on his knees before him. He wants eternal life, wants it now! When he calls Jesus a good teacher, Jesus responds “No one is good—except God alone.” This young man was also thinking that he was good, and that to have eternal life, he had to continue to be good. Hence his question, he wanted to make sure of it! Now Jesus could have been correcting the young man, but more likely Jesus was asking: “Do you know what you are saying and how close to the truth about me you are?”
Jesus goes on to list some of the 10 commandments. The young man assured Jesus that he had kept each of them faithfully in his pursuit of eternal life, yet was lacking that he was assured of eternal life. But a problem was that the law had to be kept perfectly and he had not! He had not fulfilled the first commandment: “You shall have no other gods but me!” He had also broken the greatest commandment “Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Jesus looked on this man with love and said to him, that in order to follow Him, that this young man lacked one thing. He would have to give up everything in order to follow Jesus.
That was a step too far, as he wanted his riches and eternal life but Jesus said he couldn’t have both. The rich young ruler left disconsolate. He remains the only man who left Jesus’ presence sorrowful, and that due to putting his trust in his riches and wealth alone. Now riches are not necessarily wrong but they do make trusting fully in God very difficult (Mark 10:23). The rich young ruler had hoped to have his riches as well as eternal life – but the price to have that eternal life, was too much for him to pay.
The disciples then asked the obvious question “If not this man, then who can be saved?” Jesus replied that it was impossible for any person to gain eternal life in their own power! But with God, it is possible, because this eternal life is a gift offered not a gift earned! As my followers, you will gain eternal life and you will become members of a new family! Persecutions will come, if you follow me, says Jesus – but it will all be worth it! I promise! If you want to be great in my kingdom, seek only me as your Saviour – put me first over all! All too much for that rich young ruler! Is it too much for you in the 21st century?
Again, I ask, who do you say Jesus is? But further, what are you going to do with this Jesus and let Him do to you? Are you trying to gain salvation through your good and charitable acts, rather than depending fully on Jesus Christ? It is not too late! Today can be the day of your salvation!
Come back tomorrow for Day 16 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look together at that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! We will see together, somebody rejecting Jesus because the price of following Him was too high a price to pay! See you soon at Partakers!
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Tuesday Oct 24, 2023
Tuesday Oct 24, 2023
Psalm 21 to Psalm 25
Often we hear the Psalms one by one, but today we offer you the chance to hear a group of Psalms read as a collection!
Psalm 21
Joy in the Salvation of the LORD. To the Chief Musician.
1 The king shall have joy in Your strength, O LORD;
And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
2 You have given him his heart’s desire,
And have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
3 For You meet him with the blessings of goodness;
You set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
4 He asked life from You, and You gave it to him—
Length of days forever and ever.
5 His glory is great in Your salvation;
Honor and majesty You have placed upon him.
6 For You have made him most blessed forever;
You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence.
7 For the king trusts in the LORD,
And through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.
8 Your hand will find all Your enemies;
Your right hand will find those who hate You.
9 You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger;
The LORD shall swallow them up in His wrath,
And the fire shall devour them.
10 Their offspring You shall destroy from the earth,
And their descendants from among the sons of men.
11 For they intended evil against You;
They devised a plot which they are not able to perform.
12 Therefore You will make them turn their back;
You will make ready Your arrows on Your string toward their faces.
13 Be exalted, O LORD, in Your own strength!
We will sing and praise Your power.
Psalm 22
The Suffering, Praise, and Posterity of the Messiah
To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Deer of the Dawn.”
1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Why are You so far from helping Me,
And from the words of My groaning?
2 O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;
And in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But You are holy,
Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in You;
They trusted, and You delivered them.
5 They cried to You, and were delivered;
They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.
6 But I am a worm, and no man;
A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
7 All those who see Me ridicule Me;
They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 “He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him;
Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”
9 But You are He who took Me out of the womb;
You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon You from birth.
From My mother’s womb You have been My God.
11 Be not far from Me,
For trouble is near;
For there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have surrounded Me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.
13 They gape at Me with their mouths,
Like a raging and roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water,
And all My bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It has melted within Me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And My tongue clings to My jaws;
You have brought Me to the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded Me;
The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.
They pierced My hands and My feet;
17 I can count all My bones.
They look and stare at Me.
18 They divide My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.
19 But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me;
O My Strength, hasten to help Me!
20 Deliver Me from the sword,
My precious life from the power of the dog.
21 Save Me from the lion’s mouth
And from the horns of the wild oxen!
You have answered Me.
22 I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
23 You who fear the LORD, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from Him;
But when He cried to Him, He heard.
25 My praise shall be of You in the great assembly;
I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the LORD.
Let your heart live forever!
27 All the ends of the world
Shall remember and turn to the LORD,
And all the families of the nations
Shall worship before You.
28 For the kingdom is the LORD’s,
And He rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth
Shall eat and worship;
All those who go down to the dust
Shall bow before Him,
Even he who cannot keep himself alive.
30 A posterity shall serve Him.
It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,
31 They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born,
That He has done this.
Psalm 23
The LORD the Shepherd of His People
1 The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Psalm 24
The King of Glory and His Kingdom
1 The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive blessing from the LORD,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face. Selah
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
The LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah
Psalm 25
A Plea for Deliverance and Forgiveness
1 To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, I trust in You;
Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies triumph over me.
3 Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed;
Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.
4 Show me Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths.
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your loving kindnesses,
For they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions;
According to Your mercy remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD.
8 Good and upright is the LORD;
Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.
9 The humble He guides in justice,
And the humble He teaches His way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth,
To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
11 For Your name’s sake, O LORD,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12 Who is the man that fears the LORD?
Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.
13 He himself shall dwell in prosperity,
And his descendants shall inherit the earth.
14 The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him,
And He will show them His covenant.
15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me,
For I am desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart have enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses!
18 Look on my affliction and my pain,
And forgive all my sins.
19 Consider my enemies, for they are many;
And they hate me with cruel hatred.
20 Keep my soul, and deliver me;
Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for You.
22 Redeem Israel, O God,
Out of all their troubles!
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Tuesday Oct 24, 2023
Tuesday Oct 24, 2023
14. Teaching the Penitent!
Welcome back to AGOG – A Glimpse of God. We are on Day 14 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
John 8:1–11 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
Jesus, as all Rabbis and teachers did, was at the temple teaching and talking with people. It was also part of the role of the rabbi/teachers to ascertain what to do in certain difficult moral and legal situations. As part of this role, the Pharisees dragged in an unknown woman charged with adultery. The Pharisees, the Jewish religious teachers and elite have been watching Jesus. They had heard what he was doing, and knew that he was increasing in popularity and gaining more and more followers. The Pharisees here are plotting to lay a trap for Jesus. If Jesus said to stone the woman, then the Romans could arrest Jesus, for it was Roman law that any death must be conducted by them and not by others. If Jesus says to release the woman, then the Pharisees would say that Jesus is contravening Scripture and the Law of Moses. So what does Jesus do? He writes in the dirt (John 8:6).
We don’t know what He wrote, but from the Greek word for 'write', we understand that He was seemingly writing a report and that when in he says in John 8:7 “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”, He is in fact saying “If any one of you is without this sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Jesus was testing the motives of the Pharisees to see if their attitudes and purpose were pure and upright, in bringing this woman before him. Jesus also turned the trap upon them. If any of the Pharisees had not committed adultery, whether in the mind or the actual physical act, then they could have stoned her. As it was, they left one by one, the oldest first (John 8:9). He must have also been indignant at the way the Pharisees who were hypocrites were quick to condemn others, so maybe Jesus was reminding them of Jeremiah 17:13: “O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living water.”
So instead of passing judgement on the woman and also by eluding the trap of the Pharisees, Jesus passed judgement on the judges. Jesus having forgiven the woman of her sin, then charges her to leave her life of sin (John 8:11). Jesus condemned the sin, but forgave the woman.This reminds us that with the forgiveness of sin, comes a responsibility to live a life worthy of Jesus and to pursue righteousness. It is easily forgotten part of repentance. Jesus showed His compassion and forgiveness on the outcasts of their society. Jesus showed mercy and forgiveness and loved them.
There is no room in Christianity for actions and attitudes that defy Jesus’ ever-reaching and all-encompassing forgiveness and love. His Gospel, as he always shows, is for all people everywhere, regardless of gender, race, age, culture or social status. I ask, who do you say Jesus is? But further, what are you going to do with this Jesus and let Him do to you? Have you acknowledged your sin before him and trusting in Jesus for your salvation? It is not too late! Today can be the day of your salvation!
Come back tomorrow for Day 15 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look together at that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! We will see together, somebody rejecting Jesus because the price of following Him was too high a price to pay! See you soon at Partakers!
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Monday Oct 23, 2023
Monday Oct 23, 2023
Psalm 13
13:1 How long, Yahweh?
Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
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13:2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
having sorrow in my heart every day?
How long shall my enemy triumph over me?
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13:3 Behold, and answer me, Yahweh, my God.
Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;
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13:4 Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”;
Lest my adversaries rejoice when I fall.
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13:5 But I trust in your loving kindness.
My heart rejoices in your salvation.
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13:6 I will sing to Yahweh,
because he has been good to me.
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