Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

Galatians 3:24 "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." The Law. Strikes fear into many hearts. In today's verse, it is compared to a "schoolmaster." We might picture a harsh old man, looking down his nose and over his glasses with a disapproving frown on his face. Maybe slapping his ruler in his hand as a threat of your impending punishment. BUT, that's not the Law at all. A better translation of the original Greek word would be closer to "nanny." The Law is there to help raise us to maturity. Guide us to good habits. Make us functional and civil members of our community. Gets us to a point where we no longer need a nanny to guide us. As Jesus explains the breadth and depth of the Law, we begin to understand how woefully inadequate we are at doing God's will for our lives. We begin to understand the secondary purpose of the law, to show us our sin and make us realize we NEED a Savio...

Romans 3:20&21 "20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;" Moses was on the mountain with God for 40 days when he was given the 10 Commandments. This was a major life experience for everyone involved. It influenced and shaped the world going forward from this event. All people NEED laws. We need the basic foundation we learn in the 10 Commandments. There is no love in the laws. It's just DON'T kill or steal. The basics for living together as a community of people. How to be decent and civilized. Not a small point. When Jesus comes along and explains the breadth and depth of the Law, we begin to understand how woefully inadequate we are at doing God's will for our lives. We begin to understand the secondary purpose of the law, to show us our sin and make us realize we N...

Exodus 24:18 "And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights." We are used to watching Charlton Heston walk up the mountain and come back a few minutes later with the 10 Commandments. But, in real time, "Moses was in the mount 40 days and 40 nights!" That's a LONG time! Over a month! This was a major life experience for everyone involved. It influenced and shaped the world going forward from this event. While the Israelites needed laws coming out of slavery. Let's be honest, all people NEED laws. In the first three laws, leadership is established for GOD. With a very important law, to have No other gods. We need the basic foundation we learn in the remaining Commandments. Don't kill your neighbor. Notice there is no love in the laws. Don't steal from others. Basic foundation for living together as a community. If we keep these laws, we are good with God. It's not u...

Exodus 24:16&17 "16 And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day He called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel." Moses lead his people out of Egyptian slavery and into freedom! The Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians for 400 years! They were immersed in Egyptian religion and culture. Their day-to-day lives were ruled by slave masters. They forgot how to govern themselves, if they ever knew. When God gives them freedom, He also gives them LAWS. They need boundaries on who they will be. For themselves and each other. God invited Moses to the mountain top. Our culture is very accelerated, we want things to happen quickly. That's not the way things used to be. In today's verses we read that GOD was on the mountain top for 6 days before He invited Moses to join Him there. ...

Exodus 24:12&15 "12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to Me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. 15 And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount." Yesterday we read about God's COMMANDS to Joshua, when he was leading the Israelites after Moses. "Be STRONG and COURAGEOUS. Don't be AFRAID. Don't be DISMAYED. God is with you everywhere you go." Joshua had to take back the Promised Land! Joshua had millions of Israelites to lead. And he had armies to conquer and giants to defeat. Challenges abound and gave him COMMANDS. Before Joshua, there was Moses. Moses lead his people out of Egyptian slavery and into freedom! As Americans, we think of our country's founding in 1776 as a VERY LONG time ago. 248 years ago! A LOT has changed since then. Our founders would NOT recognize the country they made. The Israelites were enslav...

Joshua 1:9 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." God's COMMANDS! Be STRONG and COURAGEOUS. Don't be AFRAID. Don't be DISMAYED. God is with us everywhere we go. Words spoken to Joshua and edifying to you and me. Joshua had to take back the Promised Land! Joshua had millions of Israelites to lead. And he had armies to conquer and giants to defeat. What do you and I face??? Are our enemies any more fearsome than Joshua's??? Don't overlook the part about God being with us everywhere we go. God asks us to follow Him. He is following us! Like Joshua, we have to decide that we will follow the Lord. We will constantly read the Holy Scriptures. We will think about the Holy Scriptures and discuss them. We will focus on aligning with God's word. God's words will govern our private lives and our public activities. It is our own responsib...

Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." GOD asks Joshua to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS as he takes back their Promised Land! God also promised Joshua that He would be with him always! And, God emphatically urged Joshua to "observe the laws of Moses." (Which are God's laws.) God coached Joshua to walk the straight and narrow path. Today's verses emphasize GOD'S points. God wants His followers to constantly read the Holy Scriptures. God wants us to think about the Holy Scriptures and to discuss them. Our concern needs to focus on aligning with God's word. God wants His words to govern our private lives and our public activities. It is our own responsibility to read and study for ourselves. We should not blindly follow what oth...

Joshua 1:7 "7 Only be thou STRONG and very COURAGEOUS, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest." Joshua has a HUGE task ahead of him; take back their Promised Land! God also promised Joshua that He would be with him always! God also reminded Joshua that "I swore to your forefathers" that I would give them the Promised Land. Now, Joshua just needs to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS! STRONG and COURAGEOUS are emphasized again in today's verse. Along with the emphatic urging "observe the laws of Moses." (Which are God's laws.) God coached Joshua to walk the straight and narrow path. It's his calling. It's God's plan for his life.

Joshua 1:6 "Be STRONG and of a good COURAGE: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them." Joshua has a HUGE task ahead of him; take back their Promised Land! In yesterday's verse, God told him, "I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." WOW! That's great encouragement! Joshua needs it for the formidable challenge ahead. The people that are in the Promised Land now have armies and some of them are GIANTS! The Promised Land doesn't belong to the people squatting there, it belongs to the Israelites. It is GOD speaking in today's verse, "which I SWARE unto their fathers to give them." God first promised the land to Abram (Abraham) in Genesis 12. God told him that he would be the father of many nations. And he was. Next, God reaffirmed His promise to Abraham’s son Isaac (Genesis 26:3) and then to Isaac’s son Jacob (Genesis 28:13). Next, God saved His chose...

Joshua 1:5 "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." Imagine GOD telling you this! Joshua has a HUGE task ahead of him, take back their Promised Land! The Israelites had begun settling this land. But then famine forced them to seek refuge with the Egyptians. In time the Egyptians subjugated and enslaved the Israelites. They were held captive for about 400 years! While they were in slavery, squatters came in and took what GOD had given them. Now, the Israelites need to take their land back. It's a formidable challenge. The people there have armies and some of them are GIANTS! With God on the side of the Israelites nothing can stop them!  Read the last verse of the Gospel of Matthew... chapter 28, verse 20, "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am WITH YOU ALWAY, even unto the end of the world. Amen....

Joshua 1:3&4 "3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast." This Lenten season we will be studying The Grand Plan. This week we begin with Patriarchs Lead - Promises Proceed. At this time in history, Moses passed away. His successor, Joshua, will pick up where he left off and lead the people into their destiny. God directs Joshua to cross the river Jordan and take back their Promised Land! In today's verses we hear words very similar to words we hear on the world news, "from the river to the sea..." However, in the Holy Scriptures this is GOD talking.  The Israelites had begun settling this land. But then famine forced them to seek refuge with the Egyptians. In time the Egyptians subjugated and enslaved ...

Joshua 1:1&2 "1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, 2 Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel." We have moved from the season of Epiphany into the season of Lent. We just studied Holy Communion and how Jesus cares for each of us. With the occasion of Ash Wednesday, entered Lent. On Ash Wednesday we reflect on our own mortality. This Lenten season we will be studying The Grand Plan. God's plan. This week we begin with Patriarchs Lead - Promises Proceed.  The Grand Plan is always at work in this world. In today's verses we see Moses's mortality. Moses led his people out of slavery, but he didn't make it to the Promised Land. His successor will pick up where he left off and lead the people into their destiny. The Grand Plan has...

Matthew 26:28 "For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Holy Communion is a wonderful gift from God. We get to look, smell, touch and taste the forgiveness of Jesus. Through the work of Jesus, God forgives you! This is the heart of the Gospel message preached by Jesus to great crowds and single individuals. Importantly, Jesus makes the connection between the shedding of His blood and forgiveness for us. It seems too good to be true. We think "You don't know what I did or how often I have done it." It's the devil that gets us thinking like that. Jesus cares. We receive personal forgiveness from GOD. FOR YOU.  "Take, eat; this is My body." And, "Drink YE all of it;" Let us come together and proclaim the Lord's death and resurrection until He returns. He has won victory over death and the devil! FOR YOU.

Matthew 26:27 "And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;" Holy Communion is a wonderful gift from God. We have turned to the Gospel of Matthew for Jesus's words of institution. Yesterday, "Take, eat; this is My body." Implied are the words FOR YOU. And today, "Drink YE all of it;" Try to think of how later, when Jesus is no longer bodily present with them, they will experience His presence in the bread and wine. Proclaim the Lord's death and resurrection until He returns. They will have this moment, this night, to remember. They will see Jesus die on the cross. They will see Him buried. And they will see Him alive again!!! He will teach them a little more before returning to His seat at the right hand of the Father. After all these incredible events, they can, and we can, break a little bread and drink a little wine, remembering Jesus. Remembering His death on the cross that was our death. Payment for ou...

Matthew 26:26 "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body." Holy Communion is a wonderful gift from God. Today we turn to the Gospel of Matthew for Jesus's words of institution. "Take, eat; this is My body." Implied here are the words FOR YOU. Notice Jesus did not offer them choice. He commands the Disciples "Take, eat." They will come to know this is His broken body and His shed blood, and their belief of that fact CHANGES them. Later, when He is no longer bodily present with them, they will experience His presence in the bread and wine. Proclaim the Lord's death and resurrection until He returns.

1 Corinthians 11:26 "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come." Holy Communion is a wonderful gift from God.  Through this ritual GOD is reaching out to all of us. We all learn differently. Some by hearing. Some by seeing. Some by touching. Holy Communion engages all the senses and reaches us. Whoever we are and however we learn. FOR YOU. Jesus cares. Jesus came and died FOR YOU. Everything. Incarnation, Transfiguration, death and resurrection. He did it all FOR YOU! Your knowledge of his broken body and shed blood, and your belief of the fact that he died, CHANGES YOU. Participation in Holy Communion is a demonstration of your belief and faith. Your faith should be visible to everyone you encounter. From today until Jesus returns to judge the world.

1 Corinthians 11:25 "After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me." We get to experience Jesus in a number of ways! One is Holy Communion, the focus of our studies this week. We are in Paul's letter to the Corinthians. The quality and character of his writing demonstrates he was not only taught by Jesus, he was also an excellent student! Paul is taking us back to the night Jesus was arrested. Before the stress and drama of betrayal, Jesus was alone with His Disciples commemorating the Passover. But, then Jesus departed from the usual rituals of the special night. He took bread, broke it and said, "Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken FOR YOU: this do in remembrance of Me." We need to hear these words. All of these words. And especially “FOR YOU.” We have trouble understanding this. The world is repeatedly telling us one thing, main...

1 Corinthians 11:24 "And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me." This week we wrap up our Epiphany season study of close encounters with God. On this side of heaven, we are not likely to experience Jesus the same way the Disciples did. BUT, we do experience Jesus! One of the ways we experience Jesus is the focus of our studies this week. We are in Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Paul lets his readers know that he is NOT making up what he is writing, he is sharing what he was taught by Jesus. We can tell by the quality and character of his writing. He was not only taught by Jesus, he was also an excellent student! Paul is taking us back to the night Jesus was arrested. Before the stress and drama of betrayal, Jesus was alone with His Disciples commemorating the Passover. But, then Jesus departed from the usual rituals of the special night. He took bread, "And when He had giv...

1 Corinthians 11:23 "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:" This week we wrap up our Epiphany season study of close encounters with God. The Holy Bible is a written record of people's interactions with God. Last week we read about Jesus calling His Disciples and the briefest conversation He had with Nathaniel. That convinced Nathaniel that Jesus was the Messiah. Like Nathaniel we should all look for the REAL Jesus and open our minds to follow Him and learn from His teaching. Nathaniel and the other Disciples got to walk and talk with Jesus. They knew Him as a teacher and a friend. They looked Him in the eyes and shook hands. On this side of heaven, we are not likely to experience Jesus the same way the Disciples did. BUT, we do experience Jesus! One of the ways we experience Jesus is the focus of our studies this week. We turn to Paul's letter to the Corinthians. ...

John 1:51 "And He saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." Through the briefest conversation, Jesus convinces Nathaniel. Nathaniel was caught up in the enthusiasm for Jesus being the Messiah! Nathaniel began with negative thoughts about Nazareth. But, he went past that to learn about the real Jesus. Never underestimate the power of God. And, in today's verse, Jesus blessed Nathaniel. "And He saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter YE SHALL SEE heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." This is a figurative expression, "heaven open," saying that GOD will answer prayers. AND, calling on the images from Genesis 28:12, Jacob's Ladder. A image of angels ascending and descending on it was familiar to Nathaniel. Jesus is the ladder between heaven and earth. Because of Jesus, we are welcome...

John 1:49&50 "49 Nathanael answered and saith unto Him, Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel. 50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these." Possibly, the fig tree had been a mountain top experience for Nathaniel, where he was alone with GOD. And it was very memorable for him. The only way Jesus could know about it, is if He was there too! If He was GOD! Jesus was able to let Nathaniel know this through the briefest of conversation. In today's verses, Nathaniel has caught the enthusiasm for the Messiah! "...Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these." Nathaniel had negative thoughts about Nazareth. But, he went past that to learn about the real Jesus. Now, he is convin...

John 1:47&48 "47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48 Nathanael saith unto Him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee." We are in the Gospel of John, where Jesus is calling His Disciples. Philip was beaming with enthusiasm. He is eager and ready to accept the invitation "FOLLOW ME." Enthusiasm is contagious. And, Philip tells his friend Nathaniel about Jesus. But, Nathaniel is not convinced. "Can there ANY GOOD thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, COME and SEE." Nathaniel is more introspective. He has questions and wants answers. In today's verses Nathaniel connects with GOD! "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is NO GUILE! Nathanael saith unto Him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before ...

John 1:45&46 "45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found Him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph. 46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see." We could all learn from Samuel's example that we read earlier this week. Especially the attitude of "Speak; for Thy servant heareth." Next, we turned to the Gospel of John, where Jesus is calling His Disciples. Philip was beaming with enthusiasm. He is eager and ready to accept the invitation "FOLLOW ME." Enthusiasm is contagious. And, Philip tells his friend Nathaniel about Jesus. But, Nathaniel is not convinced. "Can there ANY GOOD thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, COME and SEE." Nathaniel is more introspective. He has questions and wants answers. He wants to connect with God. And he will. COME and SEE.

John 1:43&44 "43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow Me. 44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter." GOD has reached out to people again and again. That is what we are studying this Epiphany season. Yesterday we were reading about Samuel. He was called when he was a young boy. Eli, Samuel's Rabbi, helped him understand that it was GOD speaking to him. Samuel responded to God with "Speak; for Thy servant heareth." It is a GREAT response to God's calling. Like the classic hymn "Here I am Lord." Samuel grows up to be a prophet and judge over Israel. He was instrumental in the establishment of Israel's monarchy, anointing Israel’s kings Saul and David. Samuel is an example of obedience to GOD. We could all learn from his example. Especially the attitude of "Speak; for Thy servant heareth." Today we turn to the Gospel of John, chapter one, where Jesus is...

1 Samuel 3:9&10 "9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for Thy servant heareth."  We are studying events where God reveals Himself to people. God's was with the Israelites, "cloud by day," and "the pillar of fire by night" as they journeyed through the wilderness. God called Moses to lead the Israelites. God calls many people to their higher purpose. This week we will look at a couple of God's Invitation to Follow. The first being Samuel. He was called when he was a young boy. Samuel's mother was childless for many years. She prayed long and hard for God to give her a child. God heard her prayers and gave her Samuel. She was dedicated to God and gave her son to work in the temple for God. Eli...

1 Samuel 3:7&8 "7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. 8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child."  It's still a new year, a good time to make changes and improvements. We are in the season of Epiphany. We are studying events where God reveals Himself to people. Last week we read about God's presence being always visible and with the Israelites, "cloud by day," and "the pillar of fire by night" as they journeyed through the wilderness. God always provided. God is with us too. We don't see the clouds or the fire, but He is always here! God called Moses to lead the Israelites. God calls many people to their higher purpose. This week we will look at a couple of God's Invitation to Follow. The first being Samuel. He was called when he was a young boy...

Exodus 13:22 "He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people." We are in Exodus 13, which records the events of Moses leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt to the land of milk and honey. God is going to take them THROUGH the challenges of the WILDERNESS. God is going with them! God's presence was always visible and with the people, "cloud by day," and "the pillar of fire by night." 24/7. 365. Moses gets a lot of credit for the events of his life. He lived an incredible life with many amazing accomplishments. But, what did Moses do? His name appears 803 times in the Scriptures. But, everything he "did" was really GOD'S doing. It is always the Lord that is leading the way. It is always GOD making things happen. God will always provide. Like He did for the Israelites, manna from heaven and water from rocks and so much more! Moses was just a prefigure of Jesus, our real Savior...

Exodus 13:21 "And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:" Having an encounter with God, is going to be hard to understand. The Disciples did not understand when Jesus told them He was GOD. Moses had several close encounters and handled them well but did not fully describe them in his writing. We turned back to Exodus Chapter 13, which records the events of Moses leading the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt. Moses tells the Israelites that God would lead them to the land of milk and honey just like He had led them out of Egypt. God will not take them directly through the land of the Philistines, which is the direct route, God will take them the long way around. This way also postponed war with the Philistines which would have been unthinkable to the Israelites right out of slavery. God is going to take them THROUGH the WILDERNESS. It's going...

Exodus 13:20 "And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness." Having a Epiphany, an encounter with God, is going to be hard to wrap your mind around. Earlier we read how the Disciples did not understand when Jesus told them He was GOD. Jesus said "...the words that I speak unto you I speak NOT of MYSELF: but the FATHER THAT DWELLETH in Me, He doeth the works." GOD is doing what they see Jesus doing. It's all GOD'S work. Working through His beloved Son. This is not even a new idea in the Hebrew tradition! The Old Testament has events where God becomes manifest in our world. They would think of God "dwelled in" or "rested upon" those whom He favored. They even have a word for it, SHEKINAH. They would refer to the divine presence of God as the "Shekinah Glory." In today's verse, we turn back to Exodus Chapter 13, which records the events of Moses leading the children of Israel ou...