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12/29/2024

Walking With God
Weekly Devotional Series

Week 51 2024

Why Jesus Came
Sermon #3
To Reveal the Father
John 14:1-10 (v. 9)

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
(John 14:5-9)

Previously, we have examined the fact that Jesus came to destroy the works of the Devil and that Jesus came to earth to take away our sins. I now turn to a third purpose for Jesus appearing to mankind: to reveal the Father.

In John 14:9 is a statement that is so simple yet so profound. There are only two parts to the statement: 1) Whoever has seen me, 2) has seen the Father. Its simplicity leaves no room for doubt as to what Jesus meant.

Jesus’ last hours were slipping away. He had some important things to say to his disciples. As he is speaking, the disciples interrupt him four times with questions / concerns.
1) Peter (John 13:36-37) – “Lord, where are you going?” “Lord, why can I not follow you now?”
2) Thomas (John 14:5) - “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
3) Phillip (John 14:8) – “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us”.
4) Jude/Judas (John 14:22) - “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?”

Phillip had spent enough time with Jesus to realize that there was a special connection between Jesus and God. Phillip had heard Jesus speak of God as “My Father.” Now, Phillip wanted to “see” God – Jesus’ Father.

Asking to see God was not an unrealistic question. After all, the disciples surely would have read of the appearances of God in the days gone by.
* Moses ascended a mountain and saw God. (Exodus 19-20)
* The prophet Isaiah declared “In the year Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1)
* Ezekiel declared that when he was by the river Chebar, he had seen God in fire, wheels, and in majesty and glory. (Ezekiel 1 and 2)

Asking to see God was definitely not out of the realm of possibilities.

Jesus usually spoke to his disciples or gave answers that were a little over their heads – causing them to think. But not this time. Jesus clearly states his purpose for being there – that they could “see” God, his father.
But – they had missed the obvious. So has mankind! And those who have seen, sometimes forget or lose sight of what they have seen or experienced.

Jesus came to reveal God to all of mankind. (John 3:16)

🎚 What concept of God did people have before Jesus came?
Mankind knew of God and his character – love, peace, power, justice, holiness, etc.
But mostly through physical things – miraculous acts like parting the Red Sea,
creation, the temple, prophets, and preaching.
They “saw” God at work – his handiwork – but not HIM.

🎚 Strangely, as man’s understanding of God progressed, man’s morality decreased.
Mankind created their own gods and elevated them above the one true God.
Why would such a big God be interested in their everyday life?
How could God be intimately involved with all of mankind – at once?

🎚 The greater the universe, the greater God is. And the greater God is, the less mankind has
been able to appreciate their relationship with Him. Do people think God is too big to bother?

🎚 But now, God has appeared to mankind. All of Mankind. And we must remember that!
This is the Gospel – the good news – that God has come to be with mankind. To be with us!
A big God has taken time for us.
We are important to Him. After all, he did create us!

🎚 Go anywhere in the world and you will find that there is a consciousness of God.
Mankind often seeks to express this awareness falsely. There are many religions.
Jesus Christ came to fulfill man’s religion. To satisfy man’s deepest need.
People have many needs and seek to fulfill them in many ways.

We often speak in terms of Jesus coming to save the world. And that is true. But he is doing it one person at a time. That is what we see in the Gospels. As the disciples spent time with Jesus, they learned about God. They learned more about God than certain characteristics. They got to know him personally. They came to know his will and his ways.

1) They learned through Jesus that God satisfies physical and spiritual hunger.
2) They learned through Jesus what it was like to have a true relationship with God.
3) They learned through Jesua to invite souls to come to God.
4) They learned and experienced through Jesus the power God had over sin, sickness, and death.
5) They learned through Jesus what it was like to be with God.

“Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough.”

Have you “seen” Jesus?
In the Bible?
In others?
In the church?
Have you met him personally?

If so, you have “seen” God!

The purpose of Jesus appearing to mankind was to:
1) To destroy the works of the Devil.
2) To take away sins.
3) To reveal His Father
4) To prepare for a second coming.

Keeping Christ in Christmas!

✝ Pastor Carl
All content in Walking with God Weekly Devotions are my own work except where noted.
Credit will always be given where credit is due.
Scripture quotations are obvious and translations are noted as in accordance with copyright laws and rules. Lengthy copyright notices are used only when required.
You may share all content of Walking with God Weekly Devotions unless I state otherwise.
Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights preserved.

12/26/2024

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12/15/2024

Walking With God
Weekly Devotional Series

Week 50 2024

Why Jesus Came
Sermon #2
To Take Away Our Sin
1 John 3:1-10 (v. 5)

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. 1 John 3:1-10 (v. 5)

The first in this series deals with a verse in this same chapter; "Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil." (verse 8) If the works of the devil are death, darkness, hatred, and lawlessness – then the word “sin” expresses all of these things for us.

Sin results in death – death is separation from the life of God. This separation of mankind from God occurred with Adam and Eve and remains to this day. This separation will continue to move one further away from God until a final and permanent separation at death.

Sin results in darkness – the carnal (in or of the flesh) mind which cannot see the things of God. One will continue to go deeper into darkness.

Sin results in hatred – the person continuing in sin continues as a carnal person, not knowing God, and is at enmity (extreme ill will or hatred) towards God.

Sin results in lawlessness – not wanting to obey God or follow his will. One can only become more lawless.

If we understand these things, we come closer to understanding why Jesus came. The coming of Jesus touches our human need.
John states the purpose of Jesus appearing, “You know that he appeared in order to take away sins…” (verse 8)

But what is intended by the word ‘sins”? It is the total sum of all sinless acts. Whether through deliberate acts or through ignorance, “sin” / “sins” is “missing the mark”. The word “sins” includes all thoughts and deeds in which we have missed the Divine purpose and the Divine ideal.

Sins are the things that stand between God and man so that man becomes afraid of God. One recognizes that their sins have violated the Divine purpose and broken the Divine law.

Sins are the things that stand between man and his fellow man so that man becomes afraid of their fellow man – knowing that he has wronged him / her in some way.
Sins are the things that stand between a person and their own success.

When John the Baptist looked at Jesus and said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world..” (John 1:29) he used a word that includes all sin. All the sins of everyone. To “take away” (or to bear sins) is a phrase that the people of that day perhaps understood better than we do today. The Hebrew equivalent of the word “take away” is found in the familiar story of the scapegoat. An animal was driven away into the wilderness as a symbol of their sins being carried away – completely removed from their life and memory. Their sins were said to be lifted from one place to another. (Leviticus 16)

Jesus came into the world to lift sins.
Jesus appeared in order that he might come into a relationship with human life and pass underneath the load of human sins and to lift them and take them away.

Either this is the most glorious gospel that man has ever heard of or the greatest delusion to which man has ever listened!

There are many different opinions about sin and salvation, life and death, heaven and hell. That is because there is within the heart of every person a consciousness of sin, death, and eternity. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart,… (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
Not one of us would be prepared to say “I have never done something I should not have done.”
That is the consciousness of sin.
We may try to excuse it!
We may say it does not matter!
Wes may say that it is the result of some infirmity of our body!
We may say that we are still in the process of learning not to do it!
We may say it was someone else’s fault!
We may try to hide it or cover it up!

If only we could somehow make it “not be”! But we cannot!

That is why Jesus came! To lift the burden of sin from the souls that are in agony!

Some are careless about the matter of sin.
But others are in agony over their sin.
They are conscious of their sin and loath it.
They carry the consciousness of the wrongs they have done in the past as a perpetual burden upon their souls.
There are many who have never confessed their burden of sin and never spoken to another person about it. But nevertheless, hate the memory of their own sin.

Are you that person?

Jesus came to lift sins and carry them away. Past and present!
Jesus wants to get beneath our sins, our hurt, our pain, and lift them up and carry them away!

Jesus came so that He might take away our sins!

For God so loved the world....

Keeping Christ in Christmas!

✝ Pastor Carl
All content in Walking with God Weekly Devotions are my own work except where noted.
Credit will always be given where credit is due.
Scripture quotations are obvious and translations are noted as in accordance with copyright laws and rules. Lengthy copyright notices are used only when required.
You may share all content of Walking with God Weekly Devotions unless I state otherwise.
Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights preserved.

12/10/2024

Walking With God
Weekly Devotional Series

Week 49 2024

Why Jesus Came
Sermon #1
(For the four weeks in December called “Advent” or “Arrival”)
To Destroy the Works of the Devil
1 John 3:1-10 (v. 8)

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. 1 John 3:1-10

This portion of John’s epistle is one of the most controversial passages in all of the New Testament. A right understanding of this Scripture brings great assurance to the heart of the child of God. A wrong understanding leads to the acceptance of a system of doctrine which contradicts New Testament Teaching.

These verses confront us with several underlying questions:
1) Do they teach that if a person sins, he or she is not a child of God?
2) Do they say that if a person is a Christian he or she does not and cannot sin?
2) Do they teach that everything a person does is somehow made right even if it is
Biblically Considered sin?

1. The Contrast (verses 4-6)
John makes a sharp distinction between the one who abides in Christ and a person who has not seen Him or known Him.
To practice sin is to break the law of God continually. The very heart of sin is
lawlessness.
The person who continues sinning refuses to be restrained and regulated by God’s
commands and His will.

2. The certainty (verses 7-8)
The person made righteous by Christ acts righteously. The person practicing sin has the Devil as their instigator.
The child of God will develop a patten of behavior that results from a right relationship with God.
The one who is truly born of God does not have a life of sinning.
The old sinful nature will be done away with as one yields to the new nature placed within them.

Not every bo***ge may have yet been broken.
Not every hurt may have been healed.
Not every flaw may have yet been perfected.

3. The Absolute Statement (verse 9)
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
This verse must be read in light of the preceding verse and in the context of the apostle’s entire discussion.
This verse does not say that a person born of God never commits an occasional act of sin.
But makes clear that a person born of God does not make it a practice or course of their life.

John tells us in 1:8 that: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

The new nature dwells within every Christian. It is God’s seed that remains in the believer. This seed is the new nature – the new man formed within the soul at salvation.

“To destroy” is to dissolve or loosen. Jesus came to dissolve and loosen mankind from the works of the devil.

Jesus came to destroy hatred by the gift of love.
Jesus came to destroy lawlessness by the gift of obedience.
Jesus came to destroy all the negative things which spoil by bringing something positive that remakes and uplifts.
Jesus came to bring assurance not condemnation.
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil concerning death by the gift of life.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

Keeping Christ in Christmas!

✝ Pastor Carl

All content in Walking with God Weekly Devotions are my own work except where noted.
Credit will always be given where credit is due.
Scripture quotations are obvious and translations are noted as in accordance with copyright laws and rules. Lengthy copyright notices are used only when required.
You may share all content of Walking with God Weekly Devotions unless I state otherwise.
Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights preserved.

12/01/2024

Walking With God
Weekly Devotional Series

Week 48 2024

The Season of Giving
2 Corinthians 8 & 9

Do you ever get tired of Giving?
Do you ever get tired of being asked to give?
Have you ever had a bad experience in giving?

Well, here we are in the season of giving once again. Thanksgiving is upon us. Christmas is only a few weeks away. And so many individuals, churches, ministries and organizations are asking us to give.

During his third missionary journey, Paul collected money for the struggling church in Jerusalem. The Churches in Macedonia, Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea had given money even though they were poor. In fact, they had given much more than Paul had expected.

Paul is writing from Macedonia in hopes that the news of the generosity of other churches would encourage the Corinthian believers to fulfill their plans to also contribute to the offering to be sent to Jerusalem. Paul clearly demonstrates that the point of giving is not how much we give but how and why we give.

The Corinthian believers excelled in many things – faith, speech, earnestness, and love. Paul wants them to also excel in giving. But not just for the sake of being better than anyone – but because the blessings he knew they would receive from giving with a right heart.

Giving is a natural response to love. Paul did not order the Corinthians to give. He encouraged them to prove that their love was sincere.

Four Principles of Giving (8:10-15)
1) Our willingness to give cheerfully is more important than the amount we give
2) We should do our best to fulfill our financial commitments
3) When we give to others in need, they will help us when we are in need
4) We should give as a response to our love for Jesus, not for what we can get out of it.

Four Principles Concerning How Much to Give
1) We need to follow through with our commitments and promises (8:10-11; 9:3)
2) We should give only as much as we are able too (8:12; 9:6)
3) We must make up our own minds as to how much to give (9:7)
4) We should give in proportion to what God has given us (9:10)

Paul instructs us to give of what we have, not what we do not have. Giving must be done responsibly. Sacrificial giving does not need to be to the extent that it hurts the lives of those who depend upon the giver (i.e. families). Our families must not go without having their basic needs met. Give until it hurts. But do not give so much that it hurts your family or relatives who need your financial support.

People may hesitate to give generously to God if they worry about having enough to meet their own needs. However – Paul assured the Corinthian believers that God was able to meet their needs (9:10-11; Eph. 4:19). The person who gives just a little will receive only a little in return. Please do not let a lack of faith keep you from giving generously.

Our attitude is far more important than the amount we give. We should never be embarrassed if we can give only a little. God is more concerned with how we give from the resources we have. (see Mark 12:41 the widow’ offering) compared to what the widow gave we would have a hard time matching it.

While the giving Paul speaks of seems to be strictly financial, his principles can also be applied to the giving of our time, talents, abilities and possessions. The kingdom of God is spread through believers concern for others and a willingness to help. In this instance, we see several churches joining together to help those beyond their normal circle of influence. By linking with churches and ministries outside our area, we can increase Christian unity and help the kingdom grow.

God gives us resources – financial, time, talents, abilities, and possessions – to use for him and to invest into his kingdom. Paul uses the illustration of seed to illustrate that what God gives us is to be used – planted! A seed sitting on a shelf will not produce a crop. A dollar sitting in our pocket will not do anything as well. But – when a seed is planted it produces a harvest – food and more seed. When we invest what God has given us in his work, he will provide us with even more.

How we give reflects our devotion to Christ.
God gives to us so that we can give to others.
Giving connects us to God and to others.
God will supply all of our needs.
It all belongs to God anyway.

Let us not forget the awesome gift God gave us – his Son!

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

✝ Pastor Carl

All content in Walking with God Weekly Devotions are my own work except where noted.
Credit will always be given where credit is due.
Scripture quotations are obvious and translations are noted as in accordance with copyright laws and rules. Lengthy copyright notices are used only when required.
You may share all content of Walking with God Weekly Devotions unless I state otherwise.
Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights preserved.

12/01/2024

Walking With God
Weekly Devotional Series

Week 47 2024

Be Glad and Rejoice
Zephaniah 3 (focus on verse 14)

Josiah, king of Judah, was attempting to reverse the evil trends set by the two previous kings of Judah - Manasseh and Amon. Josiah was able to extend his influence because there was no longer a strong super power dominating the world at that time. Assyria had been the dominating super power but was now in a very serious decline.

The book of the prophet Zephaniah is placed last among the minor prophets. He is the great-grandson of king Hezakiah (1:1). The name Zephaniah means “Yah has hidden” or “the Lord hides or protects.”

His message comes just prior to Israel being taken captive and relocated to Babylon and not long before Jeremiah comes on the scene.

There was a severe moral decline in that day and Zephaniah is allowed to see what is about to happen to Judah and Israel.

1) Zephaniah foretells the general destruction of Judah and Jerusalem by the Chaldeans and refers to it as “the day of the Lord.”

2) He sets their sins before them

3) Calls them to repentance

4) Threatens their neighboring nations with the same destruction
and gives encouraging promises of their joyful return out of captivity in due time.

5) He also looked forward to a time of judgment of the Gentiles.

6) And, he foresaw the restoration of Israel in the Messianic kingdom.

The message of doom in the beginning of the book becomes the message of hope by the end.

God’s people must rejoice over their salvation. However, such joy is not a natural response. It is a supernatural response resulting from God’s redemptive activity in our lives.

Let us look at some reasons (or conditions) for joy / rejoicing.

Joy comes to us because (conditions for joy):
1. We are forgiven and no longer punished for our sin.
God uses his grace and love to motivate us to obey him.

2. Our enemy has been defeated. We are set free from the bo***ge of
Satan and sin.
We are now able to choose which direction we will go.
3. God is with us giving us his fellowship, grace, and help throughout
our lives.
Zephaniah points out that gladness (or joy) results when we allow God to be with
us.

4. We are now objects of God’s great love and delight.
For the Lord’s own, His final word is not of anger as with unbelieving people - but
of love.

These conditions for joy exist now for those who have full knowledge of what God has done for us in his Son (Eph. 1:17-18; 3:16-20).

Our joy will reach its pinnacle in that day when God manifests his full glory and majesty on earth (Isa. 35:1-10).

As you read Zephaniah, listen carefully to the words of judgment. God does not take sin lightly.
But, be encouraged by the words of hope. Our God reigns and he will rescue and deliver his own.

Decide to be a part of that faithful remnant of souls who humbly worship and obey the living Lord!

Be glad and rejoice for the living Lord is with you!

✝ Pastor Carl

All content in Walking with God Weekly Devotions are my own work except where noted.
Credit will always be given where credit is due.
Scripture quotations are obvious and translations are noted as in accordance with copyright laws and rules. Lengthy copyright notices are used only when required.
You may share all content of Walking with God Weekly Devotions unless I state otherwise.
Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights preserved.