Sermon Notes & Videos
2023-03-31 | Passover | PREPARATION DAY | Who are Legitimate Sons?
Asking questions is one of the most powerful ways to engage people on a deeper level. Paul used this rabbinic technique and has stirred the imagination of Christians for the past two thousand years. If we consider just his letter to the Romans, his greatest theological treatise of all, he asks at least 75 different questions!
Here are a few:
* “What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?
* “Do we then make void the law through faith?
* “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
* “How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
* “Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?”
* “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
Y’shua also used questions quite effectively. “Who do men say that I am?” challenged Peter to come to a Spirit-inspired conclusion. This was posed to Peter to bolster his understanding of sonship; “From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” However, what might be the most provocative question of all is one that Y’shua leaves the conclusion for you to discover. “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?” I want you to contemplate the answer to this question, but not before you consider His prior remarks earlier in the same sermon. “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
Here are a number of mysterious and challenging questions of my own to solve, while also pondering Y’shua’s riddle:
* “Who then is the faithful and wise servant?”
* “What is the gospel of the kingdom?”
* “What ends after the gospel of the kingdom has been witnessed by all nations?”
* “Whom does the Father chasten?
* “What does it mean to be a legitimate son?”
* “What does it mean to be a firstborn?”
* “Who was at risk of at the first Passover; what did it determine?”
These are not simple questions, so please don’t be too hasty to reply. I can, however, promise you this; if you make searching for the answers a priority on your devotional journey with the Lord, when you do discover the truth, it will change everything!
2023-03-24 | Matthew 18-19 | Legal Matters
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It’s a double entendre. Don’t you just love how that flows off your tongue? A double entendre is when something has a twofold or double meaning. That’s the simple explanation. Here it is used to describe when a single phrase is intended to amalgamate two ideas that seem to compete for precedence, into one unified concept. And as you contemplate what that means to you, and what is meant by “compete,” avoid the temptation to believe that those thoughts must “oppose” one another, and rather consider that they are two lofty ideas connected to one another, yet difficult to think about simultaneously.
Double entendres birth two independent thoughts in one moment, thoughts that require intense focus and concentration, demanding the expenditure of abundant mental energy. You must discipline your mind to instantly switch between two ideas again and again, until they blend. Maybe it’s the sentence structure that changes the potential meaning, depending on how you read it, necessitating a double-take like: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord…” or, “I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God…” or, “I say to you today you will be with Me in Paradise…”or, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God…” or, “If you’ve seen Me you’ve seen the Father because I and My Father are one, and you are one just as We are One.“
Think hard! Is the voice shouting in the wilderness or is the preparation in the wilderness? Is He drinking the wine and then waiting to drink again, or is He not drinking until? Is He telling the man today about paradise or will the man be with Him in paradise today? And, are they calling Him good because only God is good and He is God, or is it that only God is good so they should not call Him good? It must be because He is one with God which makes Him both the same as the Father, but also separate and equally yoked, and so are you! So much to think about—so many double meanings that it makes your brain hurt!
Or imagine a double entendre as a phrase that might be both a noun and a description, character trait, or directive of that noun at the same moment. Consider a noun phrase like “The Narrow Road.” Yes the road itself is narrow, plus the path traveled is less frequented because those on it are a rarer breed who must choose to do the less popular thing because the more popular thing is the wrong thing which is more attractive.
And then there is the double entendre that inspired this message…”Legal Matters.” Any matter of law is a legal matter and all matters of law really matter. As you will soon discover, Y’shua utilized the law to navigate the rough terrain of first-century legalism and to reveal just how to apply His Father’s commands in everyday life circumstances. In other words, He took the law out of the Book and used it to rule on specific legal matters, thereby turning law into case law. And He did that in two ways: the first was during actual events, like the woman accused of adultery. The second was by displaying in a fictional story how He would rule; we call those parables. Yes, parables are meant to establish case law. In both ways He operated as the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Heaven, thus setting precedent for all who would follow. Will you follow?
2023-03-17 | Matthew 17 | Climb Your Mountains
Caracas, Venezuela is nestled in a valley, surrounded by mountains. As a Boy Scout, I was involved in some physical training that included excursions in basic mountain climbing. At first, our adventures lasted a few hours and took us only up into the lower altitudes. That’s where we became acclimated to the terrain and to the lower oxygen concentration in the air. As we became stronger climbers, able to navigate more difficult landscapes and our bodies adapted to less oxygen, we were able to climb higher and higher. The summit on the coastal mountain range in Caracas, known as “The Avila,” is called “Pico de Naiguata,” and is situated on the border between the Venezuelan states of Miranda and Vargas.
I had no idea that what I was learning at that time in my life would play such a significant role later on. It seemed then that I was simply enjoying myself learning about nature and hanging out with my friends away from the immediate grasp of my parents. That was good enough for me! Think about it; it was an easy way to get outdoors, while at the same time having very little parental oversight. There was no way for me to know back then, at eleven years old, that God would use those experiences in nature, climbing mountains, to help craft a message decades later about the skills needed to do essential spiritual mountain climbing. The parallels are astounding!
When we read Matthew 17, it’s easy to zero in on the amazing and magnificent “transformation” moment on the mountain. “And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light.” Beyond any doubt, what this represents, and the conversation that ensues during and immediately afterwards, is the most critical topic in the chapter. Yet, don’t get so transfixed that you miss something significant, the climb up the mountain itself.
How does the “climb” play out in your life as a Christian today? Is there anything significant about the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual effort it takes to climb the mountain with our Blessed Savior? At minimum, we must assume there is some effort required. And borrowing from the words that Christ Himself used so often to preface a statement, “Most assuredly I say to you,” a significant effort is demanded. How significant you might fear?
Allow me to use a bit of an “artistic license” to reword and combine certain pre-existing biblical concepts. Maybe in this case we will call it a “pastoral license!” “If anyone chooses to climb up the mountain with Me, he must deny his own desires and self-interests, and make significant sacrifices every day in order to follow Me.”
And let’s acknowledge that more often than not, it is easier to achieve things in the natural realm than in the spiritual. Climbing to the top of the mountains in your spiritual life is significantly (there’s that word again for the seventh time!) harder than strapping on a pair of boots, loading a backpack, and heading out on the trail. Let’s sort out what is so significant about what it will take for you to be victorious as you “Climb Your Mountains!”
2023-03-10 | Matthew 16 | Sign me up
We are a few months into the new calendar year, but it’s not so distant that you don’t remember that feeling. You know, that “New Year’s Resolution” feeling that so many of you had. Maybe the most common tingly inspiration was the one to get in shape. So, what did you do? You hopped in your car and went gym shopping.
Keep that sentiment in mind! Try to recall exactly what that felt like. You arrived at your first “test facility” where an eager staff member showed you the ropes. You were just as eager to look around the place because you wanted to see if it was the right fit for your fitness goals. After your tour, the way-to-enthusiastic staff member went right in for the close! And rightfully so, it’s not just their job; they believe in what they sell! “Are you ready to sign up?” At this point, there are only three main options on the table: yes, no, and maybe. You’ve had a little taste of the facility, seen the potential advantages and benefits, maybe even watched a few gym devotees in action and they were looking pretty good. And you eagerly respond to the pitch; “YES! SIGN ME UP!” Or maybe it’s a clear “no” for you. There is nothing about the place or the offer that inspires a bite or even a lick. Then there is the standard, “I think I need to think about it a little. It’s got some of what I am looking for, but I did not see exactly what I had in mind.” Welcome to modern day Christianity!
Many people in Christendom today view following Christ the same way they look for the perfect fitness facility. If they don’t see exactly what they are looking, everything that meets their expectations, they pass on the offer. Or, maybe the cost is a bit steep, or the people they encountered were not their “type,” so they just keep shopping around. If it’s not completely obvious this is for them, they will assuredly walk away to look for something else, just like they would in search of the perfect fitness facility, one to “fit their personal flavor and needs.”
In today’s study, Jesus calls those looking for a sign of their “perfect flavor Messiah” an“evil and adulterous generation.” This is precisely how so many modern believers either onboard and off-board their relationship with Christ. They are looking for a relationship flavor based on God’s performance in their lives, one that tastes more like a genie in a bottle. A gym membership with a holy and majestic God named Yahweh, well, that seems like way too much work with way too expensive membership dues! If they don’t see exactly what they are looking for, it’s okay to just bail, right? I want to challenge you today with these sentiments from Jesus; “Are you ready to deny yourself, lift up your cross and follow Him?” Are you ready to say, “Sign me up!”?
2023-03-03 | Matthew 14-15 | May I borrow Your Handkerchief
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First you listen and learn; then you watch what you’ve learned in action; then you do it with the person from whom you’ve learned it; then you do it alone while you are watched by the person who taught you; then you do it alone without being watched; then you teach while someone else listens and learns; then they watch you do what they learned from you; then they do what they learned with you; then they do alone what they learned while you watch; then they do alone what they learned without being watched; then they teach what they learned to the next person who will listen. Paul says it concisely: “The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” Wash, rinse, repeat—it should be that simple.
Nevertheless, there are a few diagnoses that describe why this does not happen nearly as often as it ought: “daft-disciple-disorder,” “self-serving-syndrome,” and “greedy-gain-gangrene.” These illnesses can be found on two sides of the same counterfeit coin. One side… they just don’t get it. The other side… they do get it, but want it just to serve their own selfish desires. Yes, they sit on either side of the same counterfeit coin, separated only by the thin margin that makes the coin’s edge. And in the end, they all point in the same direction; go back to square one—back to where you started, because clearly no progress has been made. As children, we played the game Red-Light-Green-Light 1-2-3. The objective of the game is to reach the finish line without any movement being detected. From the starting line, you move forward only when the arbiter over the participants is facing away. As he calls out the game’s name, you strategically advance and when the last “eeee” of the number “three” loses its audible sound, he whips his head around to catch all those trying to squeeze in one last step. If busted for moving while in his field of vision, you must go back to square one, back to the starting line, while everyone who has adhered to the rules of the game continues forward.
Paul tells us to imitate him as he imitates Christ. You imitate me as I imitate Him and others will imitate you: wash, rinse, repeat. Christ gave lesson after lesson, demonstration after demonstration. He was in the boat with them and calmed the storm; He asked them to feed thousands of hungry people and then showed them how. He sent them on the boat without Him, and then walked out on the sea to meet them, and again calmed the storm. He presented a second occasion to feed the multitudes and yet they still asked, “Where would we get enough food in this remote wilderness to feed such a huge crowd?” And throughout it all, He healed the masses of every imaginable disease and promised us we’d do greater things one day!
If you are flipping a coin and it keeps coming up: heads you lose—tails… you lose, then you are suffering from an undiagnosed disease. I suggest you take a look at Y’shua’s playbook and learn from Him. And start living on the edge of the coin. That is where, although narrow, the seas become calm, bread forms out of thin air, and the masses are healed by simply touching your garment or the handkerchief you once held, or maybe even because they passed through your shadow. It will happen as long as you lose your daftness and stop making it all about you!
2023-02-24 | Matthew 13 | All That Will Be Already Is
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Do you enjoy riddles? They can be both fun and frustrating, and most people find them entertaining, as long as the answer is forthcoming after sufficient effort is exerted. It may be that you solve the mystery yourself, or possibly the mystery-bearer rewards you with the meaning because of your honest effort. Either way, everyone involved can celebrate that what was once mysterious or misunderstood has now been made plain to see for all.
What is common in the riddle game, and because it is a game, is that the participants are all voluntary. Do you want to hear a riddle? If not, you are happily permitted to turn down the invitation. Maybe you are just not willing to invest the mental energy; perhaps you don’t have the time, or it could be that you’re just not interested —or not good at riddles. Some people find the challenge exhilarating—others irritating; no worries, it’s voluntary anyway.
But, what if the riddle-solving was mandatory, part of your job description? And what if you were never given full disclosure when you took the job? And what if quitting the job is literally impossible? Literally! Suddenly the game is no longer voluntary and not at all amusing. You are not a volunteer, but are instead being volunteered, or better said “voluntold!”
It looks something like this; “It has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.” What does that even mean? There are three parts to this riddle. First there’s a part that is very easy to miss, and quite contrary to how it looks. “It has been given…” This piece appears a bit like a gift, and isn’t accepting of a gift voluntary? Yes it is. But, this is NOT actually a gift; it’s a demand.
Read it this way; “You are required to…” Ah, the gift that keeps on giving, or should I say taking. Then there is “…to you…” Who is the “you” in the riddle? This is the obvious part that anyone can solve, even those not good at riddles. You might not like the obvious, but nonetheless, the you is you! And finally, the third part, which has all the makings of a classic, almost impossible-to-solve riddle; “…to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.” What is that? And where do you even begin? And why do you suddenly have a pit in your stomach?
Let me explain. The pit is because knowing the answer is not at all voluntary; it’s required of every Christian. When you took the job as a Christian, no one told you that this was part of the job description. There are two common reasons for that. First, you wouldn’t have understood, and God designed it as such. Then, it’s likely no one around could accurately explain anything intelligible about the mysteries of the kingdom anyway, even those who had been in your same job for many years. That part is sad, but true. So, let me help you out. You have been voluntold to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.
You must begin by defining the kingdom. And that is why Y’shua spoke in parables; and that is what you must learn. Let’s do a practice run before we begin. Parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like immortal fish that multiply in the ocean…” Think it through like this: If all the fish in the sea never died, would they eventually multiply so much that they raise the level of the ocean? The answer is no! Why? Because everything that makes a fish is ALREADY in the ocean! In other words, everything that will ever be, already is! That is what the kingdom of heaven is like. Meditate on that and then think about how Y’shua fed thousands of people with a few morsels of food, and had an excess left over. You won’t ever be relieved from your job requirement to know the mysteries of the kingdom; but, as you become skilled at unraveling those mysteries, you will get relief from that pit in your stomach.