DENIAL OR FAITH

 

18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned[a] against me.’  - In vs 18 – Jesus knows whom He has chosen.  He knows who belong to Him and those who do not.  Also, the sheep their shepherds and master’s voice.  Jesus also clears up that is not referring to all of them.  This verse makes it clear that following Jesus is a decision which brings assurance confidence.  Matt 28:20 says that the Lord will never leave or forsake us. Jesus also said at this moment is a fulfillment of Ps 41:9.

 

19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am, - In vs 19 – Jesus then shares that He is telling them this before it happens.  God often tells us before hand so we will not be caught off guard, you can some preparation, you can be pro-active instead of reactive, can be in prayer, be forewarn, watch, and do the right thing. 

     In this case Jesus said that they would know that as the great I am they would believe and know that He is the great I am.  The events that would follow shortly would verify and confirm what Jesus and Lord.  Jesus claim to be God, Savior, Redeemer, and Lord.  This is one of the themes of the book of John. 

 

20 “Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.” In vs 20, When someone accepts us and the message, we bring they accept Christ.  Now remember we are also the message by how we live.  We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.  The message we bring, and Christ are intertwined.  Part of our purpose, destiny, aim goal, and plan is to share the gospel. 

     Whoever accepts Jesus Christ accept the Father who sent Him.  You cannot separate them.  This is the stumbling block to the Jews and the foolishness go the Greeks and gentiles.  Jesus claim to be God.  C.S Lewis says you have three choices with Christ, He is a liar, lunatic, or God.  Jesus earlier said he came from the Father and was going back to the Father.

 

21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”  22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”  25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”  26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.  In Vs 21-26  Jesus was troubled because he knew that He was about to be betrayed and by whom.  Foreknowledge is not always a good thing.  It can create sadness, heartache, and sorrow.  Jesus knew but it didn’t stop Him from having his heart broken.  Jesus had invested three years in Judas, and it had not penetrated. 

     Jesus then reveals again that one of them was going to betray Him.  The reaction of the disciples is three-fold.  First, they can’t believe someone in their group would do this, Secondly, they look at each other in shock and suspicion.  Lastly, they did not understand at that moment what was happening. This often happens at the moment of the event where there is confusion and chaos.  Even when warned we don’t fully understand until after it happens.  That is where the four coping mechanisms. The word, prayer, Holy Spirit, and mature believers.

     Peter then motions to John which from the text is described as the disciple Jesus loved.  Ask Him who it is?  John then asks Jesus privately a good action because the room was already filled with tension and confusion.  This action can also deescalate a tense situation. Jesus does not answer.        

John directly but says, “The one whom I give this dipped bread too is the one who will betray me and then gives it to Judas.  Jesus often used illustrate lessons to get His point across.  This is the moment of decision for Judas.  John knows and Jesus knows.  Remember Satan had already prompted Judas into betrayal this moment would change the course of Judas life forever.  Remember one moment can do the same for us.  God’s way, our way or the enemies.  It is a choice.

 

27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.  So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.  In Vs 27-30   As soon as Jesus gave the bread to Judas satan entered him.  He was no longer doing his will but the will of the enemy.  Remember there are three wills you will do in your life.  Yours, God’s, or the enemies.  Judas was doing the will of the enemy.  He was satan’s pawn.  He was prompted, lured, and deceive by satan but when he took that bread it was decision time.  Jesus had revealed to the group that one of them was going to betray Him and Judas sat quiet he knew he was in the throws of a decision.  In that moment the decision was made.

     Jesus then told him to do what he had determined in his heart to do quickly.   No one there understood why Jesus said that.  It would only be later those things became clear.   The disciples at the time thought two things.   Jesus asked Judas to go out to get things that were need for the festival or to give money to the poor because he was their treasurer.

     Unfortunately, this Judas situation is played out repeatedly.  Someone is exposed to the truth, to salvation, love, redemption, and all it brings and still turn away, betray, neglect, and never have it penetrate their heart to bear fruit.  If you live long enough in the faith you see it repeatedly.  Please don’t let this be you.  Sadly, you can have the most anointed, loving, gracious and gifted leader and people will still reject and betray them. 

      Judas then take the bread and leaves.  The last statement John makes here that it was night, In Jewish imagery it means a time of sin, evil and darkness.  Judas was about to commit the most horrid, heinous, and despicable crime in history.  It was his moment of darkness.  Man loves darkness because their deeds are evil.  This passage is a warning to all of us that we are all a decision away from evil or good.  Also, a warning of whose will we are going to do.  Ours, satan’s, or God’s.

 

 

QUOTES FOR MARCH 1, 2026

 

What is Christmas

Dec 23, 2018 – What is Christmas  - Isaiah 9:6

 

Intro:  Christmas is observed by billions around the world.  For many Santa will be the central figure, giving gifts will be the main activity and good will to all will be the primary meaning.  But what does Christmas reason mean?  For some it is anticipation, preparation, recreation, frustration, prostration and recuperation.

 

1.  For Isaiah looking at it 700 years before the event it looked like this. 

 

a.  For unto us a child born, unto us a son is given.  Isaiah saw this child as a gift, for himself and all mankind.  Do you view Jesus and the salvation as a gift?  A gift you did not deserve and could never have earned.  You know what the best Christmas gift is, “it is being in the presence of a family all wrapped up with one another.”   He saw Jesus as the Son.  Matthew saw Jesus as the Son of God.  Luke and John Saw Him as the Son of Man.  The Father saw Him as a beloved Son in whom He was well pleased, which He testified at Jesus’ water baptism, transfiguration and in the temple just before Jesus died.

b.  Christmas is a testimonial.  It testifies of man’s need, that we have a sinful condition

and our need for a saviour.  We could not save ourselves so Jesus became our substitute.

c.  Christmas is a testimonial to God’s love.  John 3:16 is the succinct statement of what Christmas means. 

d.  Christmas is God’s love responding to man’s need. 

c.  It is a testimonial to the obedience of Jesus Christ. 

 

2.  Isaiah saw the future as a time when, the government will be on His shoulders.  When Christ is truly Saviour and Lord.  There is a new King on the throne of our hearts.  A new sheriff in Dodge, a new potentate in our world.   Who sits on your throne?  It will be shown by how you think, speak, act and live.  What is real exciting that not to far in the distance future this government will be here on earth.

 

a.  Christmas it a tribute of the saving power of Jesus Christ, 

 

1.  People of every generation have celebrated Christmas. 

2.  People of countries around the world celebrated Christmas.   

3.  People of every generation and country have been saved, because Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.  Heb 13:8

 

b.  It is a tribute to the keeping power of Jesus Christ.  This is my 44th Christmas. 

 

1.  We can trust Jesus to face us.  John 1:12.

2.  We can trust Jesus to keep us.  John 6:38-40 and 1 Pet 1:4-5

Christmas was the time where God shock the world with a babe and not a bomb.

 

3.  Isaiah saw this person as the Wonderful Counselor.  We can go to Jesus with anything and He can guide through the Holy Spirit.  James says if we lack wisdom we can ask of God who gives it to us liberally.  He will help us.

 

a.  Jesus is the Mighty God.   Mark presented the deity of Jesus Christ and proving by what He did.  John presented His deity and then explained it as Jesus being God with a face.  Jesus being 100% God and man.  The perfect mixture and balance of humanity and deity. 

b.  Everlasting Father. Jesus is the author of salvation.  He is integrally connected with the Father.  When you see the Father you see Jesus and vice versa.  The trinity is a mystery.  Yet there are so many illustrations for it, water as a gas, liquid and solid.  Body, soul and spirit, earth, water sky, past, present and future.  He is the Head of the Church, First Born among the Resurrected, Father of Salvation.

c.  Lastly, Isaiah saw Him as the Prince of Peace.  One who gives peace that the world can’t give and the world cannot take away.  E.C. Mckenzie wrote.  “Christmas carollers sing about Peace on Earth, but they don’t tell where to find it.”  My response to that statement is in the arms of the Prince of Peace.  He is the giver and administrator of peace.  Jesus is also known as the Prince of Life.  The irony of  Christmas can be that it is a time to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace by giving our children replicas of bombs, guns, rockets, machine guns, video games that glorify killing and tanks.

 

4.  Lastly Christmas is a time of thanksgiving. 

 

a.  We should be thankful for God’s provision.  Christ came to save sinners.  1 Tim 1:15 

 

1.  The Holy Spirit came to reprove sinners.  Jn 16:8

2.  The gospel is given to direct sinners.  Rom 1:16

3.  The church is called out to call sinners to Christ.  Matt 28:19-20

 

b.  We should also be thankful for the freedom.

 

1.  To preach the gospel.  There are dozens of countries around the world that do not allow this.  In many in fact it means deportation, imprisonment and even death. 

2.  To respond to the gospel.  In many countries and cultures to become a Christian is an offence punishable by imprisonment, seizure of property, loss of family and again death.

3.  So let us thankful today.  Remember showing good will towards all men is the spice of Christmas.  Also remember how you spend Christmas is more important than how much you spend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAYS OF NOAH

 

1 Peter 3:18-22

Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey,

 

 

 

1.      Peter in this passage gives a clear picture of salvation or redemption.  First, he explains that Jesus suffered for the sins of all once and for all.  His sacrifice was more than enough to free all mankind from sin.  No other sacrifice is needed.  It is by grace you are saved and not of yourself.  Jesus’ broken body, shed blood, death, burial and resurrection was once and for all.  As it says here a righteous man for the unrighteous.  All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.   This explains why Jesus suffered.  The universality of his sacrifice and why a righteous man had to suffer on our behalf. 

2.      Peter says that this happens in order to bring us to God.  Sin is an eternal problem and manmade problem.  So only an eternal man could solve it.  He came from glory to earth, was incarnated as a man, then suffered, died, was buried and lastly rose from the dead.  This is so you and I could come to God.  Jesus is the bridge over troubled waters.  He made a way where there was no way.

3.       He was put to death in the flesh.  Jesus died.  The Roman authorities certified him dead.   He was put into a borrowed tomb but he was alive in his spirit.  Jesus in Luke 16:19-31, gives us a picture of hell.  There was a righteous and unrighteous compartment.  There was a gulf between them.  Old Testament saints were on one side the unrighteous dead on the other.  Both were transported there, Lazarus by an angel.  Both were conscious, alive and both knew why they were there. 

4.      When Jesus died he went to the righteous compartment he stayed there for three days then he went to the edge of the gulf and made a proclamation to the unrighteous dead.  He told them they would stay there until the Day of Judgment.  Then he lead as Paul states captivity captive and took all the righteous dead out of hell to heaven.  The righteous compartment is now empty.  Now when a person dies they go right to the presence of the Lord.  The lost still go to hell

 

When God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.

 

1.      Peter reveals the patience of God during the time of Noah.  It took Noah a hundred years to build the ark.  During that time we know he preached for people to come in the ark.  The people had a visible warning that judgment was coming.  Unfortunately only eight people were saved.  They were saved through water. 

2.      Here are some facts about the time of Noah.  Everyone followed every evil in their heart.  There was no standard for morality no one was blameless.  There was intermarriage between the Sons of Seth and the daughters of Enoch and this caused  compromise, then acceptance, and finally participation. 

3.      The earth was corrupt and full of violence.  People were married and given in marriage.  We can learn some lessons from Lot.  First, he chose to settle near Sodom, then he moved into Sodom, next he became an elder of the community.  Then he had to be prayed for, rescued and the end result was he ended up in an incestuous relationship with his daughter.

4.       Today evil has become good and good become evil.  If you stand for righteousness you will be cursed, shamed, mocked, labelled as a bigot, racist, narrow minded, not up with the times.  You will be intimidated, legislated, fined, arrested, prosecuted and eventually jailed.  People are losing everything for righteousness. 

5.      This is the exhortation and description given by Paul to Timothy in 1 Tim 3, “You must understand that in the last days there will come times of much trouble. 2 People will love themselves and money. They will have pride and tell of all the things they have done. They will speak against God. Children and young people will not obey their parents. People will not be thankful and they will not be holy. 3 They will not love each other. No one can get along with them. They will tell lies about others. They will not be able to keep from doing things they know they should not do. They will be wild and want to beat and hurt those who are good. 4 They will not stay true to their friends. They will act without thinking. They will think too much of themselves. They will love fun instead of loving God. 5 They will do things to make it look as if they are Christians. But they will not receive the power that is for a Christian. Keep away from such people.

6.      Our Response!

a.      Keep away from such people. 

b.     You are to watch and pray.  You are to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of your testimony and not love your life until death. 

c.      Pick up your cross and follow Jesus.  Keep yourself from being polluted by the world. 

d.     Walk in love acceptance and forgiveness. 

e.      Be a light.  Live ready.  Remember Jesus can come back at any time.  Get ready. 

 

QUOTES FOR FEB 28, 2026

 

OUTLINE OF DANIEL

 

In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes,  (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

 

     These first three verses are the background for the prayer of Daniel.  These three verses establish the time, place and reason why Daniel prayed.   It was the first year of Darius son of Xerxes.  Darius was crown prince of the Persian Empire. He was the eldest son of the Persian king Xerxes I and his wife Amestris, the daughter of Onophas. His younger brothers were Hystaspes and Artaxerxes, and his younger sisters were Rhodogyne and Amytis.  He was a Mede by descent.  So this is the time of the Medo Persian empire.  He was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom.  The Medo Persian empire at the time was the largest empire at the time.  It ran from the Mediterranean to India and 127 provinces.  Daniel was in charge of the Babylonian portion. 

 

     So here is Daniel in the first year of Darius’ reign, looking over the scriptures and the word of God.  He is reading the scroll and writings of Jeremiah.  He was reading Jeremiah 25:11, where God tells Jeremiah that Jerusalem would be empty, uninhabited and desolate for 70 years.  You see God had Spent 400 years telling Israel and Judah to repent, turn from idols, being immoral and unjust.  He sent prophet after prophet and in time they refused and judgment came.  Daniel had been part of that judgment.  Nebuchadnezzer was that hand of judgment.  Daniel was among the Jewish nobles who had been transported to Babylon with Jehoiakim,  Scholars put Daniel at 15-18 when he was taken the Babylon.  In Daniel 9, he is in his late eighties or nineties. 

 

     Daniel was pouring over the Jeremiah 25:11, meditating, seeking the meaning, wanting to understand how  and why it could happen.  Daniel does 6 things which are at characteristics of intercessory prayer. 

 

1.            He turned or sought the Lord. 

2.            Pleaded with him

3.            Daniel was in prayer

4.            He petition God

 

5.            Daniel fasted.  There are four types of fasting. 

 

a.            The Normal Fast which is a short fast for one or two day.  Going without food

b.            The Absolute Fast which can be from 3 days to 40.  Usually just water or liquids

c.            The Partial Fast.  Going without some type of food for a period of time.

d.            The Rotational Fast.  Skipping meals one or two a day for a period of time to prayer.

 

We do not know which one Daniel did.  But here are ten benefits to fasting

 

Benefits of Fasting and Prayer

2.1 1 – Deeper Intimacy with God

2.2 2 – Answers to Fervent Prayer

2.3 3 – Develop Humility before God

2.4 4 – Gain Wisdom and Understanding

2.5 5 – Authority over Demonic Strongholds

2.6 6 – Repentance and Salvation

2.7 7 – Personal Victories in Your Life

2.8 8 – Gaining Heaven’s Perspective

2.9 9 – God’s Protection and Help

2.10 10 – Commissioned to Ministry

 

6.    He put on sackcloth and ashes. 

 

      We need to have that same experience.  Our nation is turning from God.  We are seeing this right now.  This is urgent church.  We are on a knife edge.  Our nation is on a rapid descent to destruction.  If we do nothing God will hold us accountable.  This is our moment.  I know I cannot stand idly by.  We must pray.  God revive the church, bring revival heal and restore our land.  Next, week we will start looking at the first of five part of the prayer of Daniel.   I encourage you to join me over the next five weeks to pray for ourselves, family, church, city, province and nation. 

 

JESUS IS THE CORNERSTONE

 

Isaiah 28:16-17

 

So, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.

 

1.      Today we are talking about of namesake.  A cornerstone is a stone laid at the corner to bind two walls together and to strengthen them. It is also a symbol of strength and prominence. In the Bible, the cornerstone is often applied to rulers or leaders, and especially to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the first and most important stone in the foundation of God's kingdom, and everything finds its meaning in him.

2.      Jesus is the anchor in the storms of life.  When we secure our lives in Him and trust in Him, he can calm the storm with just a word.

3.      We are encouraged by Jesus to build the house of our lives on Him so when the gales, winds and storm of life come which they will.  Our life, marriages, and home will stand strong.  Foundation is everything.  When you build something on the sand which shifts and moves with the elements it will not stand but fall. 

4.      Through the Bible the Lord is know as a strong tower, fortification, refuge, and place of safety.  We must anchor our lives on four realties to be strong in the societal, educational, educational, cultural, media, and political pressure everyone is facing.  We need to be like Billy Graham and say, “The Bible says.” 

5.      The promise, benefits, and blessing here is that because the Lord is a sure and firm foundation two things happen.  First, you rely, depend, lean, hinge, turn, hang, and rest upon it.  It is a promise and agreement given.  Secondly, you will never stricken, troubled, affected, afflicted, struck, hit, injured, wounded or deeply affected. 

6.      Instead of fear, you will have, love, power, and a sound mind.  This is solidified, hardened and completely in the Lord. 

 

17 I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place.

 

1.      This next verse is sobering and assuring at the same time.  For those who base their lives on the Lord through Jesus Christ in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit this is a powerful promise and assurance. 

2.      Justice shall become the measuring line.  A measuring line is a tool used to measure the length of an object or the distance between two points. It is commonly used in construction, engineering, and other fields that require precise measurements.  You can measure the Lord’s justice.  You can see it. 

3.      In the Bible justice means doing what is right, what should be done, and doing it consistently, without partiality or prejudice.  Holding individuals accountable for their own wrongdoing.

Acknowledging our culpability, accepting the consequences, and attempting to correct the damage.  Fairness.  This is something only God can do with perfection because He is pure, holy, all knowing, perfect and all powerful.  That is why He tells us to let Him fight our battles and let Him settle the scores. 

4.      Righteousness will be the plumbline.  What is Righteousness?  Righteousness is an attribute that belongs to God and is manifested in His laws. It is a God-given quality imputed to man upon believing in the Son of God. Righteousness is “rectitude of the divine nature by virtue of which God is infinitely righteous in Himself”. God acts righteously when he performs saving deeds for his people and thereby in delivering them places them in a right relation to himself.

5.      A plumb line is a tool used to determine the verticality of an upright surface or the depth of water. It consists of a line with a weight attached to it, known as a plumb bob 12. When the plumb bob is suspended from the line, it hangs vertically due to gravity, and the line indicates a straight vertical line. The plumb line is used in construction, carpentry, and other fields where verticality is important. 

6.      God will give to us the ability to think, talk and live ethically and morality according to His character, essence, and nature.  You will be able to measure it.  Righteousness and justice will be shown in our lives.  You will see it how it.  Jesus said it will give us fruit and this fruit shall remain. 

7.      In Gal 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 

8.      The last two statements are a warning.  Hail will sweep away you refuge.  The lie.  If you base your life on anything else but the Lord you are living a lie, untruth, deception, and fantasy.  It will not stand.  Everything will believe, rely, and stand on will be tested.  Sooner later your resources, abilities, power, wealth, status, and popularity will run out. 

9.      Water will overflow you hiding place.  Your go to place.  It could be a thing or person.  You will be swamped sometime.  Stress, anxiety, and fear.  That safe place.  It will be overflowed than what?

That us why the Lord gave this promise and warning.