Having established proper order and maintaining it in any area of life here on earth prevents confusion and even chaos.
Our God is a God of perfect order. When the world starts to change up what God has designed there is mass confusion. Our world does not function as it should because it is out of order of God’s original design. God has a specific design for men and women and the roles of each in our world today. We can see the chaos that has developed over recent years when God’s creation order is ignored. But more on that at a future date. Today, our concentration is on God’s design for men’s and women’s roles in the Christian church.
First of all, men and women are equal in the body of Christ. Paul, the apostle affirms this in the book of Galatians. (Gal.3:28) However, men and women have different roles in the church when it comes to the corporate worship service. God has designed men to be responsible for leading the church in worship. This results in a lot of push back in 2025. But God commanded it. Women are in no way inferior to men in spiritual matters. Both men and women learn equally from the preaching of the Word. It is by God’s orderly design.
Adhering to the truth of Scripture is vital for the Christian church in all its functions, activities, and mode of worship. God’s Word has not changed over time to meet the demands of a changing culture. Accepting any changes opens up the whole Bible to question what is for today and what is not. But more importantly, the way of salvation becomes subject to change. There is only one way of salvation (Jn.14:6) and it is in God’s unchanging Word along with His design for worship.
“Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.” 1 Corinthians 1:27 NLT
Do you ever consider yourself to be a hero, a mighty person of valor, a mighty and courageous warrior? If not, consider yourself to be one, because you are or at least you could be. All around us wherever we reside there is some kind of trouble. Some of us have quite a bit, others not so much, but we live in an imperfect world so there will be some. Trouble and chaos stem from sin in the world. Sinners do what comes naturally. At times it takes the form of violence, drug and alcohol abuse, along with many other vices that run through our neighborhoods.
Gideon had a different kind of trouble in his day. The children of Israel once again did evil against God who then put them under the hand of the Midianites. The Midianites would constantly attack, stealing their crops and their livestock. Israel was starving from lack of food. When Israel cried out to God, as in other times, God raised up a judge to deliver them. This time it was Gideon, whose family was the weakest tribe of Manasseh, and Gideon was the weakest in his family. Yet, God chose him to deliver Israel with His help.
The apostle Paul said God chose the weak and those the world considers foolish to shame those who think they are wise. That’s us. The Lord has chosen us, Christians, to tell the good news about Him and His salvation plan for everyone. The trouble in our world will be relieved only through the changed lives of men and women who trust in the Lord. That’s where we come in. Heroes live a life pleasing to God drawing others to accept Christ. He alone saves them but uses His heroes. Consider yourself one in God’s eyes.
True restoration is only realized when one is truly broken. Brokenness shows itself in various ways. The most common form of brokenness among all of us who breathe is in personal relationships. Here again, these show themselves through various means and circumstances. The longing for a relationship to be restored at times seems an impossibility, but when it occurs is a dream come true. Restorations do occur in accordance with God’s will and timing.
The nation Israel was restored to their land after seventy years of captivity in Babylon due to their gross sin against God. Although it was prophesized that they would return, it all seemed like a dream to them when it happened. They almost couldn’t believe it. Psalm 126 is a song of joy for the restoration of Israel to the land. The psalmist wrote that they were filled with laughter and sang for joy. The surrounding nations joined them in acknowledging the amazing things God had done for them. They asked the Lord to restore their fortunes by planting their seeds in tears, but they will rejoice in the harvest to come once again.
God is in the restoration business. No one is more broken than a sinner separated from God because of their sin. We were born with a sin nature, making us all broken and in need of restoration to God. With God being in the restoration business, He made it possible for each of us to be restored to Him through the blood of Christ on the cross of Calvary. There is nothing we could ever do to make things right with God. It is only through our acceptance of Christ as our savior. We can rejoice with the broken people of Isarel in their restoration to their land and our salvation through Christ’s sacrifice for us as we accept Him. A dream come true.
“As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘Take it, for this is my body.’” Mark 14:22 NLT
FreeBibleimages.org
Last week we started to work our way through the Last Supper. Jesus’ final meal with His disciples was the celebration of Passover. In this final meal Jesus gives new meaning to the Passover meal. Let’s begin.
Jesus gathered around the table with His disciples in an upper room prepared for the Passover meal. The celebration symbolizes God redeeming His people or slavery from the Egyptians. The meal would take most of the evening beginning at sunset and usually finishing by midnight. It was noted last week Jesus make a statement somewhere in the course of the meal, perhaps early on, “I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me here will betray me…… It is one of you twelve who is eating from this bowl with me.” (Mk.14:18, 20 nlt) The disciples thought this to be unimaginable and impossible, except Judas who already had the thirty pieces of silver in his pocket. Jesus went on to explain, “For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!” (Mk. 14:21 nlt)
As the meal continued, Judas gone at this point, “Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘Take it, for this is my body.’” (Mk.14:22 nlt) Scripture does not revealed at what part of the meal this took place, but it is thought to be right before eating the roasted lamb. The bread in the Passover meal represented Israel being separated from their old way of living under slavery in Egypt. As the bread was lifted up, the head of the meal would say, “This is the bread of affliction which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Let everyone who hungers come and eat; let everyone who is needy come and eat the Passover meal.” Jesus didn’t say that. He said, ‘Take it, for this is my body.’ Jesus brought new meaning to this meal. Jesus applied it to Himself and the suffering He will endure for the salvation of many. The unleavened bread represented His body which would be broken as He will be nailed to a cross.
Jesus then took the cup of wine giving thanks for it to God and gave it to His disciples to drink. “And he said to them, ‘This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many.’” (Mk.14:24 nlt) The prophet Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 53 of the ‘suffering servant.’ “Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many And interceded for the transgressors.” (Is.53:12 nasb) The wine represents Jesus’ blood that will be shed (poured out) for the remission of sins. Again, Jesus gives a new meaning here in establishing a new covenant. The shedding of blood in a sacrifice was required by God for an establishment of a covenant. Jesus’ blood needed to shed for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus said His blood was confirming the new covenant.
FreeBibleimages.org
Jesus confirms to His disciples this is the last time He will drink wine with them until He drinks new in the kingdom of God. In less than twelve hours Jesus will be put on a cross to suffer and die for our sins. His body will be broken and His blood shed. Mark writes after the meal they sung a hymn, the traditional Passover Hallel of Psalm 118, then they went to the Mount of Olives.
The disciples once again get some disturbing news from their Messiah as they are walking to the Mount of Olives. Jesus tells them, “All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’” (Mk.14:27 nlt) This was prophesied in the Old Testament book of Zechariah, and of course, all prophesies in Scripture come true. But the disciples themselves have a hard time with it. Jesus does tell them He will meet them in Galilee after He is resurrected, but it seems to go over their heads as they all claim they would never desert Jesus, especially Peter. Jesus gives it to Peter straight, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” (Mk.14:30 nlt) Peter let his pride get the best of him. We will continue to see prophecy unfold throughout the remainer of our study in the book of Mark fulfilling the gospel message that Jesus came to save sinners. Until next week………
“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 NLT
Photo AI Generated wordpress
In the book of 1 Timothy the apostle Paul is giving instructions to young Timothy, a pastor in the ancient city of Ephesus. Chapter 2 begins Paul’s teaching on church worship. He starts with prayer, urging Timothy as the pastor to set the example of praying for the salvation of all people, It is the duty of an evangelistic church to pray for the lost among us and that includes those who rule over us. Paul says to pray for all people interceding on their behalf for this pleases God who desires all to be saved and understand the truth of the gospel message.
Christians often fall short in prayer for our leaders by taking 1Timothy 2:2 as a prayer for an orderly and peaceful life only. That is certainly a part of it, but more important is the salvation of each leader in the world today. That indeed is needed most. Then they need wisdom to govern in a godly manner and in dignity.
What better place to start praying for our leaders than in our churches on a Sunday morning. Praying for our local leaders, state governments, and all those on the federal and national level of every country in the world is our responsibility. Christians are to pray for their salvation and wisdom in governing. This is what the apostle is instructing us to do. Let us not fall short of what God desires for us, for ‘this is good and pleases God our Savior.’
Aren’t you glad we have an unchangeable God? Just think how many times a day you change your mind. Sometimes when we change our minds it doesn’t work out so well. Ask yourself, have I ever changed my mind towards God? If you did, how did that work out, or are you still working it out? We never need to worry about God changing His mind towards us, because He never will. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and He doesn’t change His mind.
The Lord God was calling His people Israel to repentance through the prophet Malachi. They had sinned against Him countless times. Israel would repent and turn back to God. God would forgive them but they would again change their minds and go back to their old ways. Sounds a lot like us in our day. God did not give up on His people Israel and He doesn’t give up on us either. God’s forgiveness is always available when we confess our sins and repent, because our God doesn’t change His mind.
God’s forgiveness, grace, and mercy is the same as it was for Adam and Eve in the garden when they first sinned. His plan of salvation for sinners has not changed, and every one of us should be eternally grateful for that. God’s Son Jesus Christ is still the only way of salvation and eternal life with the Father. (Jn.14:6) The way of salvation is through Christ alone by faith alone. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.” (Ro.10:9-10 nlt) It’s still the same way today, no additions and no subtractions, for we have an unchangeable God.
Christians around the world anxiously await the return of Jesus Christ. As sin runs its course and persecution is on the rise the thought of Christ’s return is a blessed hope for all believers. The apostle Paul writing to the church at Thessalonica encourages them of that future day as they were beginning to face persecution. He also commends them for their faithfulness and endurance in their persecution. Paul says God will use this persecution to show His justice and to make the church ready for His kingdom. “In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.” (2Thess.1:6 nlt)
This brings us to the other side of the coin. While Christians look forward to the return of Christ and the blessings it brings, the unsaved in this world have no such hope or blessings that come with it. Paul lays out in graphic detail the fate of those without Christ when He returns. “And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.” (2Thess.1:7-9 nlt)
Ignoring God and refusing to recognize Him and His plan of salvation through His Son Jesus has fatal consequences. Should one be alive at the return of Christ and have not accepted Him, this will be your fate. If you pass into eternity before His return, your fate is the same, judgment with eternal destruction, not annihilation, but forever separated from God in hell. The return of Christ will be a glorious day to be sure, but not all will find it glorious. You don’t need to be one of those on that day. While there’s still time. accept Jesus as your personal savior before it’s too late.
Today we begin to look at an endearing passage of Scripture with a most recognized piece of artwork to describe it, the Last Supper. There are few people in our world today who can say they haven’t seen an artist’s work of the Last Supper. Some may not know what is represents, but they have seen it. During the last few weeks we have covered the events of Passion Week beginning with Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem. It is now Thursday and sunset is the beginning of Passover. It will be Jesus’ last Passover with His disciples and He is eager to share this last meal with them before His crucifixion.
Mark notes it is the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread with coincides with Passover. This sounds confusing and the names of both were used interchangeably due to their close association. The Feast of Unleavened Bread represented the removal of sin in one’s life and was celebrated for seven days beginning at the end of Passover which was one day. Passover celebrates God redeeming the children of Israel from death when they applied lambs blood on the door posts in Egypt on that first Passover before He miraculously led them out of slavery. “Jesus’ disciples asked him, ‘Where do you want us to go to prepare the Passover meal for you?’” (Mk.14:12 nlt)
Jesus displays His divine knowledge once again as He did when sending two of His disciples to gather a donkey for His ride into Jerusalem. Jesus sends two disciples into the city with instructions on where to prepare the Passover meal. We know from the gospel of Luke these men are Peter and John. Jesus told them to look for a man carrying a pitcher of water and follow him to his home. That is the place. Peter and John went into Jerusalem and spotted the man with the pitcher of water. He would have been easy to identify because carrying water in pitchers was a task reserved for women. Men usually carried water in animal skin containers. They followed him to his home and said to him, “The Teacher asks: ‘Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’” (Mk.14:14 nlt) It was customary in those days to offer a room to pilgrims who had come to Jerusalem for Passover. Jesus may have made prior arrangements with the man for the room. The man showed them a large upper room as Jesus told them, perhaps a roof chamber built on top of the roof. So, Peter and John prepared the Passover meal where Jesus instructed them to.
The preparation of the meal began with getting a lamb for sacrifice. Only two people were allowed to accompany the lamb for sacrifice which would be killed between 3-5 PM. The blood would be sprinkled on the altar and the lamb taken home to be prepared by roasting it whole for the evening meal. Other chores were providing other necessary foods for the meal; unleavened bread, bitter herbs, sauce made from crushed apples, dates, pomegranates, and nuts. And of course, wine. The meal would begin at sunset and was to be concluded by midnight.
Jesus and His disciples gather in the evening in the furnished upper room prepared for Passover. During the meal Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me here will betray me.” (Mk.14:18 nlt) Apparently a shock to eleven of the disciples as they each responds in disbelief, ‘Am I the one?’ Even Judas, number twelve, who knew he was the one. No doubt Judas wanted to avoid suspicion. The eleven were expressing the thought that this is an impossibility. This could not happen.
Again to their shock Jesus says, “It is one of you twelve who is eating from this bowl with me.” (Mk.14:20 nlt) During the meal bread or meat was dipped in the sauce that was prepared for the occasion. There were probably several bowls of sauce on the table as there were thirteen people gathered around. This would indicate that Judas would have been seated close to Jesus to be able to dip in the same bowl. This betrayal was deep and personal as it broke the table fellowship of a close friend. Bible commentator David Guzik notes, “In Middle Eastern culture, betraying a friend after eating a meal with him was and is regarded as the worst kind of treachery.”
FreeBibleimages.org
Jesus then remarks, “For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!” (Mk.14:21 nlt) Jesus notes two truths in this verse. First, the Scriptures declared the Son of Man must die. Isaiah, the prophet writes in Isaiah 53 known as the ‘Suffering Servant’ chapter, “But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in his hands.” (Is.53:10 nlt) Christ’s death on the cross provided a way of salvation for us by shedding His blood, for He is our Passover lamb. (1Cor.5:7) Second, Judas will not escape the torment of eternal punishment in hell by rejecting Jesus and His way of salvation. It would have been better if he had never been born. This horrible tragedy is still true today for those who reject Jesus. It would have been better if they had never been born. How about you? Acceptance or rejection? The choice is yours. Judas made the wrong choice. Next week part 2 of the Last Supper………
“O Zion, messenger of good news, shout from the mountaintops! Shout it louder, O Jerusalem. Shout, and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah, ‘Your God is coming!’ Yes, the Sovereign LORD is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm.” Isaiah 40:9-10 NLT
Two years today, October 7, 2023, the nation of Israel was savagely attacked by the terrorist group Hamas. 1,195 people were brutally murdered and 251 innocent victims were taken hostage by heavily armed and trained killers. 45 of the hostages have died during their captivity and as of this date 48 remain held in Gaza by Hamas. The world is closer today of seeing this tragedy end than any time during the last two years. But the problem with negotiating an end to the war is Hamas continues to push their ultimate goal of getting rid of every Jewish person in the land of Israel, even though they won’t admit it. It’s hard to reach a compromise when one party won’t be satisfied until you’re dead.
The day is coming when there will be total peace in Israel, all of the Middle East, and the entire world. The prophet Isaiah spoke to the Jewish people of that future day. He specifically said, ‘Your God is coming!’ Jesus, the Messiah, came the first time to save His people from their sins, and He is returning a second time to rule on the earth from Jerusalem restoring all of Israel’s land to its full God ordained boundaries. All of Isarel today wants peace and will negotiate in the spirit of achieving it and we pray to that end. But the day is coming when Hamas and those who hate Israel will be eliminated. Christ will rule and Israel will have their entire land and the peace to go with it.
So, in the meantime, what should Bible believing Christians be doing. First of all, we should always be praying for the peace of Jerusalem. (Ps.122:6) Second, we should be praying for the salvation of the Jewish people by recognizing and accepting Jesus Christ as their Messiah who has come to save them. And third, we should live godly lives before the entire world as we wait for our Lord’s return, because we do not know when that day is coming!
“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” 1 Tim.1:15 nasb
Photo AI Generated wordpress
What makes a statement trustworthy? Well, for one thing, consider the source. Our modern-day news sources have us searching across the internet to a verify a breaking news story. When news outlets are trustworthy, this is unnecessary. It would nice to have the assurance the news we consume every day is trustworthy.
Having accurate information is important in our day-to-day lives- but crucially important for our souls after this life. The church in Ephesus had trustworthy statements they could count on through previous teaching from Paul establishing sound doctrine. These statements were common knowledge to the people if they had paid attention to the apostle’s teaching. Paul uses the term, ‘a trustworthy statement’ in his letter to Timothy. In fact Paul uses it five times in his Pastoral Epistles, and it is found in no other place in the New Testament.
The trustworthy statement is, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1Tim.1:15 nasb) Just eight simple words to explain the most vital life-or-death breaking news story ever, and we can count on it. It comes from the most reliable trusted news source in history, the Holy Spirit speaking through the apostle Paul. No need to fact check or search other sources. The Lord God can be trusted.
So, what have you done with this breaking news? Don’t put it off another day. This news story will not be updated. It will not change. Don’t look for an updated version of this news. You have all the information you need to make your decision. So, what will it be? It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.
Word for the Soul 