King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Saturday, October 26, 2024
Chapters: Luke Chapters 12-13
Message: The Coming Day of Christ
Hello My Friend,
The other day I was trying out this gluten free brownie mix that I was attempting to make egg and dairy free, so I followed the directions on the package and instead of butter I used vegetable oil and instead of eggs I used carbonated water. Well, it did not turn out so good, I ended up with a gooey deflated mess, but I was not about to give up, I took that gooey mess, compacted it into a small pan, turned up the heat, and baked it a little bit longer and the result was a little brownie loaf that tasted better than those made with the regular ingredients. The moral of the story, never give up on the ones you love finding Jesus, keep preaching the Gospel, but before you do that, make sure you understand what the Gospel is yourself, [Luke 13:20-21 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.]
The Gospel, is the sinless death, burial, and resurrection of the Son of God, the Lord, Jesus Christ, Himself. Because death and hell to the soul is the payment for sin, Jesus, gave His life as ransom for the souls of man so that those who believe in Him do not end up in hell when their souls leave their body. Now, while leaven, is often associated with sin, in the case, it is used to show that those receive the Gospel are likely the spread to others, helping to increase the population of those fortunate to escape death and hell to their soul, [Romans 15:20-21 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: 21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.]
With that said, we need to make sure that we are preaching the Gospel as it is, Jesus, could not stress enough the importance of knowing the Gospel. Jesus, often repeated Himself because He wanted to make sure that His true believers understood the Gospel, and distancing themselves from the false doctrines and hypocrisy that stems from religion. As we continue in the reading of the Gospels, through Luke, we learn that the largest crowd that had ever assembled showed up, and things were getting so bad that people were trampling over each other. Seeing this, Jesus, thought it best to repeat some things.
[Luke 12:1-4 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. 4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.]
[the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.] Hypocrisy, is like yeast used for making baked goods rise, but has been left sitting too long and has gotten out of control. In other words, false religion takes a little bit of the Gospel and creates another form of it, then expands its influence to those around them. If it continues it will get out of control and by then there is no fixing of the mess they made, [Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.]
[Be not afraid of them that kill the body,] Why did Jesus say that? He knew that the time was coming that the Pharisees would be the influence that would lead to His crucifixion. In other words, the death of the body is not what we need to worry about, it is what will happen to us when our souls leave our body. Jesus, goes on to explain who we need to fear.
[Luke 12:5-9 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. 8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.]
[which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell;] There are some who will interpret this as Jesus saying that we need to fear God, who has the power to kill and cast a soul into hell while others say that we need to fear Satan, who is the impediment of death and hell. Well, while we can look at it both ways and see where they draw their conclusion, but think about it, who is the one with the key to death and hell? Jesus, said it Himself, [Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.]
It certainly is not man that we need to fear in this life, if we are saved, then we have nothing to fear at all, but we do need to fear God, and that means that we need to love, honor, and respect Him enough to admit that there is only one way to Him and that is through His Son, Jesus Christ. Now, as Jesus was speaking, someone pops up and asks Him to convince his brother to divide his inheritance.
[Luke 12:13-18 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.]
[for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things] There is absolutely nothing physical that we can take with us when we leave this earth, the only thing that leaves this earth is our soul and it will end up in one of two destinations, heaven or hell. This is why Jesus goes on to tell them and all of us to stop being concerned about stuff and start being concerned about our soul.
[Luke 12:19-23 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. 22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.]
[Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:] Does God want to send people to hell? No!!!!! God created man for His purpose, they belong to Him, and are His most precious creation, but sin is what separates us from Him. It does not matter how good or bad we are, we still sin, and the punishment for sin is hell. That is His rule, and He will bend it for no one, that is unless we admit that we are sinners, believe that God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, came here in the flesh, lived a sinless life so that He can take the punishment that we deserve in order to save our soul from hell, and accept Christ as our Saviour. This is why He goes on to tell them to sell everything they have.
[Luke 12:29-34 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.]
[neither be ye of doubtful mind.] This is why so many Christians struggle to pay their bills and put off on the table, they are doubtful of receiving them. I have heard of families with no food sitting at tables praying for God to provide when they receive a knock on the door. Just like our Father, and since they are one in the same, Jesus, responds to our faith in Him. Now, is Jesus really telling us to sell everything that we have? No. What He is telling us is that our lives and souls are more important than our greatest earthly treasures. If those are what we value more than Him, then we do need to sell them and put that money to good use. He just wants us to understand that there is nothing more important that our soul. There will come a day when He will return for He people, known as His bride, and it does not matter if our bodies are in the grave or still here, we need to be prepared for that. Jesus, goes on to explain this.
[Luke 12:36-39 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.]
[that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding;] Right now Jesus is gathering as many lost souls as He can, assisted by His faithful in preaching the Gospel. When He returns He is taking all of His people with Him before the judgment of the earth, so we must be prepared for the coming of Christ because the second He gets here He is only taking those who opened the door, [Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.]
When God gave the judgment of death to man over sin, He also gave that same judgment upon the earth as well. This is why the earth is going crazy right now with storms, earthquakes, and firestorms like we have seen before. Why? Everything that God made was good until it became defiled by sin. As Jesus is speaking these things, Peter, starts to feel a little uneasy, and wonders exactly who He is speaking to.
[Luke 12:41-46 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? 42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.]
[speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?] Oh, this message is for all. And what portion do the unsaved get? Hell, then the lake of fire. Their portion is the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, [Revelation 21:7-8 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.]
[lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him,] The religious and also the world that actually has knowledge of Christ loves to portray Him as this meek and mild person that does not want conflict and accepts any lifestyle we choose as long as we receive Him as our Saviour, also have no clue as to why He is the Saviour. Yes, Jesus is meek and mild, and will accept anyone who sincerely comes to Him with the acknowledgment that they are sinners, and need Him to save them. What they fail to accept is that Jesus is also just and does not mess around, He will send judgment upon them.
[Luke 12:50-53 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! 51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.]
[I have a baptism to be baptized with;] Jesus, is referring to is His passion and is saying that He must suffer first, before He can set up His kingdom and what He was asking them was the question that any faithful, saved, born again believer would ask, “Why would Jesus have had to die on the cross if it were not necessary for your salvation?” Both the world and religious need to understand that sin is what separates God from man, not to mention sends them to hell, they can deny it all they want, but that does not change the fact that it is true. The animals were only a temporary fix, Jesus made it permanent, [Hebrews 9:12-13 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:]
Another thing that religion does is change the doctrine of salvation by grace and replace it with salvation by works. There is an appointment for each and every one of us, that is the day that our soul separates from our body. We have no idea when our last breath will be, which is why it is so very important that we believe in and receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour right now. Through another parable, Jesus explains this.
[Luke 13:1-3,6-9 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.]
[whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.] So, the Galileans, were followers of Judas Gaulonitis, or Judas of Galilee, caused a stir when he affirmed that it was not lawful to give tribute to Caesar. Pilate, being enraged, sent a band of soldiers, and slew his followers. This is how corrupt they had become, they were offering their sacrifices for the Passover, mixed with the blood of these men. However, atrocious as that sounds, it does not matter the sin, who sins or what the sin is, Jesus, gave His life and saves all who come to Him, [Romans 3:22-24 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:]
All sin comes with consequence and since a saved person cannot lose their salvation, their judgment will be while they are here. While salvation has nothing to so with our works, it is the strait way, and we need to live that way if we want more than Jesus to grant us salvation.
[Luke 13:22-27 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.]
[Lord, are there few that be saved?] Do any of these new aged and contemporary religions understand that all sin comes with consequence? My goodness, you can certainly find yourself attracted to the same sex and marry someone as such when you are saved and not lose your salvation, but do you expect it to be without consequence? The same is true for an unmarried heterosexual couple who lives together or those who commit adultery. What a sad day it will be for the ones who hear Jesus say these very words.
[Luke 13:28-29 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.]
[and you yourselves thrust out.] There will come a time when the door to heaven will be shut and they will be able to get in. As for the us who are faithful, we can expect that we are going to face a lot of suffering for our faith and also be expected to pick up the slack the others leave behind. There is also something else to consider, since we are faithful and do know better, then God expects more from us as well. We do not know when Jesus will return, but we never want to be in a position where we find ourselves less than our very best, [James 4:13-17 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Luke 12:8-9 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. Luke 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for the great sacrifice You made for me, I do not deserve to enjoy eternal life with You, but I get to because of my faith and acceptance of You as my Saviour. With all that goes on in my life I know that I am truly blessed, but that does not stop be from losing sight of that at times when I am pressed with uncertainties. From the day that I You pulled me up out of that bed You were persuaded better things of me, and things that accompany my salvation. You are all that I need, and as long as I keep reminding myself of that You are the one who provides me with more than what I need. Lord, Give me Your strength and power to endure every suffering, and confessing every sin when I have not given You my very best. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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