Lev.3:1 "If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.
Eph.2:12-14
12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostilityGod is the giver of all good things! The peace offering, in essence, allowed God and His people to feast together in friendship. God offers mercy and man is in need of mercy. Christ is our peace offering, for through Him alone can we obtain peace! In Leviticus, the Israelites offered peace offerings for mercy they were in need of or for thanksgiving for mercy received. Christ is our everlasting peace offering and we shall praise His name forever!
1Cor.1:17-18
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Christ is coming! The signs are now with us! We know not if it is soon or if He will wait! We must rest in Him when the world is in turmoil! Our mission is to preach the gospel good news to the ends of the Earth!The ones who are Christ own souls are waiting for us to preach the good news.
Matt.24:30-31
30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Matt.24:36-39
36 "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son,but the Father only.
37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,
39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Precious Lord, when I see the evil that is in this word, I know You see it too. Our hearts can not believe some of the things we witness here. If we did not have faith in You, it would be unbearable! Lord, we long for You to take us home. Lord, quicken hearts to receive Your mercy. Open our mouths with boldness. Amen
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Not Brownie Points but God's Mercy
With God there are no brownie points! You can not earn the salvation that Christ gives! Our salvation was purchased, on the cross, through misery and suffering that was due us, but that punishment was taken by another! The dept of this, we can never understand! Our shame and His pain, Jesus endured, all the while being not guilty! But, we are guilty before a holy God!
Father, use Your Word to convict the lost. Help me to teach Your love and forgiveness so that others may know the depth of You. Help me teach Your Word so that they may have confidence before Your throne of grace and mercy. Amen
You can not earn salvation, it is by faith in Christ!!
Eph.2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Not anyone can offer salvation except Christ!
Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Mercy and compassion are offered by God alone! The fact being, we can not earn salvation so it belongs to God who gives according to His will.
Romans 9:14-16
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!
15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
Father, use Your Word to convict the lost. Help me to teach Your love and forgiveness so that others may know the depth of You. Help me teach Your Word so that they may have confidence before Your throne of grace and mercy. Amen
You can not earn salvation, it is by faith in Christ!!
Eph.2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Not anyone can offer salvation except Christ!
Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Mercy and compassion are offered by God alone! The fact being, we can not earn salvation so it belongs to God who gives according to His will.
Romans 9:14-16
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!
15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Damning Sin of the World
The world is full of souls who perish everyday without Christ! Why? They deny Him! My heart aches to think Satan has blinded people from receiving our glorious Lord's salvation. If you seek Him, He will be found. He has been given all authority, by the Father, over sin and death. By His blood, you will receive pardon! Christ died, in obedience to His Father, to save the sinner! He was the only acceptable sacrifice! By His blood and Spirit, you are sanctified!
1 Thess.5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thess.2:13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
Definition of sanctify: saved from sin, purify
Luke 13:5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
1Ch.28:
9 "And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
1John 2:23-25
23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise that he made to us--eternal life.
Judgement!
Heb.10:26-29
26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
Now is the time for salvation! You may not be here with the next breath or heartbeat!
Lord, I humbly beg for sinners across the world to hear Your word today so that they may have life everlasting. Open hearts to the good news, Jesus saves souls from hell. Amen
1 Thess.5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thess.2:13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
Definition of sanctify: saved from sin, purify
Luke 13:5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
1Ch.28:
9 "And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
1John 2:23-25
23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise that he made to us--eternal life.
Judgement!
Heb.10:26-29
26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
Now is the time for salvation! You may not be here with the next breath or heartbeat!
Lord, I humbly beg for sinners across the world to hear Your word today so that they may have life everlasting. Open hearts to the good news, Jesus saves souls from hell. Amen
Thursday, February 2, 2012
A Continual Offering
Christ is our continual offering to God. He offered Himself once but by His power he intercedes for us as a continual offering. Not as in the old covenant where animal sacrifice was done strictly and repeatedly as God had commanded and was very involved but as a glorious miracle.
Christ offered Himself in suffering!
Heb.2:10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.
By His blood!
Rev.1:5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
Making us priests!
Rev.1:6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen
All believers are spiritual priests!
1 Peter 2:5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
The True Sanctifying Blood!
Heb.10:10-18
10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds," 17 then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." 18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.Precious Lord, how great is Your name in all the earth. Lord, fill us with Your power and might so that we can take You to the nations. Amen
Christ offered Himself in suffering!
Heb.2:10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.
By His blood!
Rev.1:5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
Making us priests!
Rev.1:6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen
All believers are spiritual priests!
1 Peter 2:5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
The True Sanctifying Blood!
Heb.10:10-18
10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds," 17 then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." 18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.Precious Lord, how great is Your name in all the earth. Lord, fill us with Your power and might so that we can take You to the nations. Amen
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The Most Holy Place
Have you ever read in Exodus about the Tabernacle that God told the Israelites to build? God went into very specific details about the design and decoration of the Tabernacle. It may have been a tent but it was the most holy place where God would dwell.
Old Testament Tent Tabernacle
Ex.25:8-9
8And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.
9 Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.
Ex.26:33-34 33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. 34 You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place.
Temple of the Holy Spirit-New Testament Tabernacle
1 Cor.6:19-20
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.1 Cor.3:16-17 16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.2 Cor.6:16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.These scriptures are very humbling! God dwells in us, take care as we walk this earth, not to grieve His Spirit!Lord, I ask for forgiveness. Teach us the depth of Your Word as we show the world the hope we have found in You. Teach us how to worship You and make Your Word clear to us. Amen
Old Testament Tent Tabernacle
Ex.25:8-9
8And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.
9 Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.
Ex.26:33-34 33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. 34 You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place.
Temple of the Holy Spirit-New Testament Tabernacle
1 Cor.6:19-20
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.1 Cor.3:16-17 16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.2 Cor.6:16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.These scriptures are very humbling! God dwells in us, take care as we walk this earth, not to grieve His Spirit!Lord, I ask for forgiveness. Teach us the depth of Your Word as we show the world the hope we have found in You. Teach us how to worship You and make Your Word clear to us. Amen
Monday, January 30, 2012
The King's Sermon
Take from a sermon by Pastor Bart
In the NT book of Matthew, the beginning chapters calls attention to our sin. The ending chapters call attention to the death of God's Messiah. We must remember the context of the sermon in the history of redemption. Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah-Redeemer.
Deut.18:18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
Jesus and Moses
Moses had authority from God to lead the Israelites.
Jesus has more authority than Moses.
Moses, by God's power, delivered the Israelites from Pharaoh's bondage.
Jesus by His power, has brought us out of the bondage of sin.
His is the long-awaited kingdom.
What Christ demands:
Our righteousness exceeding the scribes and Pharisees.
Matt.5:17-20
Not more righteous deeds by human effort but more righteous hearts by divine grace!
Evidence of our exceeding righteousness:
Attitude: Matt.5:21-48
Anger- 21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.Lust- 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.Oaths- 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.Retaliation- 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.Love your enemies- 44 But I say to you, pray for those who persecute youGod alone creates a new heart!
Desires: Matt.6:1-18
Giving- 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Praying- 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Fasting- 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Ambitions: Matt.6:19-34
Treasures- 19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Anxious- 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Relationships: Matt.7:1-12
Judging- 1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.
5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
Trust- 7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Love- 12 "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Turn from trust in self to trust and rest in Christ.
Our options are limited.
Matt.7:13-14
13 "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Our fruit will be evident. It will be good or bad.
Matt.7:15-23
20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Eternal consequences
Matt.7:24-27
24 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
Lord, not by us but by Your power. Amen
In the NT book of Matthew, the beginning chapters calls attention to our sin. The ending chapters call attention to the death of God's Messiah. We must remember the context of the sermon in the history of redemption. Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah-Redeemer.
Deut.18:18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
Jesus and Moses
Moses had authority from God to lead the Israelites.
Jesus has more authority than Moses.
Moses, by God's power, delivered the Israelites from Pharaoh's bondage.
Jesus by His power, has brought us out of the bondage of sin.
His is the long-awaited kingdom.
What Christ demands:
Our righteousness exceeding the scribes and Pharisees.
Matt.5:17-20
Not more righteous deeds by human effort but more righteous hearts by divine grace!
Evidence of our exceeding righteousness:
Attitude: Matt.5:21-48
Anger- 21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.Lust- 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.Oaths- 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.Retaliation- 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.Love your enemies- 44 But I say to you, pray for those who persecute youGod alone creates a new heart!
Desires: Matt.6:1-18
Giving- 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Praying- 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Fasting- 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Ambitions: Matt.6:19-34
Treasures- 19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Anxious- 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Relationships: Matt.7:1-12
Judging- 1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.
5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
Trust- 7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Love- 12 "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Turn from trust in self to trust and rest in Christ.
Our options are limited.
Matt.7:13-14
13 "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Our fruit will be evident. It will be good or bad.
Matt.7:15-23
20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Eternal consequences
Matt.7:24-27
24 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
Lord, not by us but by Your power. Amen
The Nature of Envy
Matt.20:1-16
1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' 7 They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.' 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.' 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12 saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13 But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' 16 So the last will be first, and the first last." The Jews, as God's chosen people, were indeed the first to hear the good news. However, God meant for all men to hear the gospel.The Gentiles should be admitted to equal privileges and advantages with the Jews. God owes no one! Salvation is a gift. We stand before God in a sinful state, idle in our sorrow. Pray for mercy for yourself and others and do not be envious of others. God has called some in their early years while others have been called later in life. Now is the accepted time to accept Christ's salvation. Your life is a vapor! Here one minute, gone the next! Don't worry about the ones who labor less than you.We all have agreed to work for the kingdom, some more some less. Our salvation is not dependant upon what we do but what Christ has done!Lord, Your word is good! Amen
1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' 7 They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.' 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.' 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12 saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13 But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' 16 So the last will be first, and the first last." The Jews, as God's chosen people, were indeed the first to hear the good news. However, God meant for all men to hear the gospel.The Gentiles should be admitted to equal privileges and advantages with the Jews. God owes no one! Salvation is a gift. We stand before God in a sinful state, idle in our sorrow. Pray for mercy for yourself and others and do not be envious of others. God has called some in their early years while others have been called later in life. Now is the accepted time to accept Christ's salvation. Your life is a vapor! Here one minute, gone the next! Don't worry about the ones who labor less than you.We all have agreed to work for the kingdom, some more some less. Our salvation is not dependant upon what we do but what Christ has done!Lord, Your word is good! Amen
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