Verses for Mar 2022

List of Bible Verses
In Order of Use

Mar 6, 2022 - Will You Go To Heaven

Sermon Summary

The purpose of Barefoot Ministry is to Spread the word of God to any and all that will listen. I will try very hard to plant the seed of God in your hearts, provide you with the knowledge to nurture that seed thru prayer, Bible Study and fellowship so that it can grow, so that in time that seed will mature and you will be saved and re-born so that you can have the greatest gift of God’s Love, Everlasting Life.

Let Us Pray

Lord, in Heaven, the creator of all Each and every day is a struggle against sin and temptation.

Give us the strength to overcome cruelty with grace and hatered with love.

God remind us that our actions matter.

We do not fight a physical battle, but a spiritual one and with each act of compassion

We build your kingdom.

Help us be kingdom builders today.

Thru Jesus Christ we pray

AMEN

Todays sermon is a message on the conditions Jesus gave for going to heaven.

The question we must ask ourselves is Will I Go To Heaven?

Luke 13:22-35

²²And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

²³Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them,

²⁴“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

²⁵When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’

²⁶then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’

²⁷But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’

²⁸There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.

²⁹They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.

³⁰And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

^{31 [}^a^]On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.”

³²And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’

³³Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.

³⁴“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!

³⁵See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

A certain lady died stood at the Gates of Heaven. She could look and see a beautiful banquet table set, with all her family members who had died before sitting and enjoying the feast. They all saw her and started waving and motioning her to come in. A saint appeared and said, “Hello. We’ve been waiting for you.” And she said, "This is such a wonderful place, how do I get in?" The gatekeeper smiled and said, “All you have to do is correctly spell one word.” “What is it?” She anxiously asked. “Spell love,” he said. The woman smiled and spelled “l.o.v.e.” and she was welcomed into heaven. About a year later, the same woman was on gate duty when her husband arrived unexpectedly. She said, “I am surprised to see you! How have you been doing?” He said, “Actually, I’ve been doing really well since you died. Do you remember that pretty nurse that took care of you? We fell in love and married a few weeks after you died. Then I won the lottery so we sold our little house and moved into a huge mansion. My new wife and I have been very happy and have been traveling all over the world. In fact we were just on a skiing trip to the Swiss Alps when I was caught in an avalanche, and that’s why I’m here. By the way, how do I get in?” His ex-wife said, “All you have to do is spell one word correctly and you can enter heaven.” He said, “OK, what’s the word?” She smiled wryly and said, “Czechoslovakia.”

I think all of us realize that this is not the way to get into heaven when we die, which is probably good news for all of us who depend on spell check! This humorous story does bring up a most serious question. How does a person get into heaven? Who will be there and who will not? Perhaps it would be best to ask this question in a more personal manner-not wondering who else or how many will go to heaven, but rather asking ourselves, “Will you go to heaven?” “Will I go to Heaven?”

I do not believe there is a more important issue than this one. It is important because it affects everyone. According to the Bible, everyone will either go to heaven forever or go to hell forever. Such an important issue as one dealing with our eternal destiny should not be taken lightly. We do not want to be ignorant, deceived or wrong about our future beyond the grave. You and I don’t have to be uncertain or wrong about going to heaven because in this passage is primarily about heaven and how to gain entrance into it. In this passage Jesus gives us the conditions for going to heaven.

I want you to understand that this passage is about entering into heaven. When the man in this story asks about people being “saved”, he is asking, “How many people will go to heaven?” When Jesus talks about entering through a “narrow door” and a door being shut, he is figuratively speaking of the entrance door to heaven. Even the reference to the “feast” in verse 29 was a well-known metaphor for eternal fellowship at God’s table in heaven. Having established that the subject matter of this passage of the Bible is heaven; let us now look at this passage verse by verse.

Verses 22,23

²²And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

²³Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them,

Luke once again notes that Jesus was on his “way to Jerusalem.” This was not just literary “filler” but was rather intentionally noted by Luke with the purpose of showing us that Jesus always kept focused and intent on following God’s will for his life, which was suffering and dying for our sins in Jerusalem. Jesus serves as an example to us who are his followers, in that above all things he pursued God’s will purposely and resolutely. We are to do the same. That determination to do the Father’s will, despite the personal cost, is also reflected in verses 31 through 35 where Jesus refuses to be dissuaded by fear or intimidation from following the Father’s will.

As Jesus travels, he also teaches and this presents an opportunity for someone to bring up a much-discussed question of the day. “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” In other words the man is asking, "Are only a small number of people going to heaven?" We do not know what prompted this person to ask this question; perhaps he wanted Jesus to join the current theological debate?

Jesus does not actually get drawn into this inconsequential debate. Rather than answer the man’s question directly about how many will go to heaven, Jesus puts the focus on the individual. Jesus’ response in the next few verses would make the questioner and all the people present think about their own destiny. In essence, Jesus response infers that instead of focusing on theological questions that pertain to the destiny of other people, you and I need to focus on our own entrance into heaven.

The people present and the person who asked the question were probably Jewish and therefore assumed that they were going to heaven. The average Jew took heaven for granted because most Jewish people of the day had a very broad understanding of who went into heaven when it came to their own race. Jesus wants them and us to rethink that assumption. He wants them to know that they might be wrong because there are conditions to going to heaven. Conditions that they were not meeting. Jesus speaks of these conditions in verse 24.

Verse 24 ²⁴“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

Rather than taking heaven for granted, we should be “making every effort to enter in.” (Verse 24) This is a message we in America need to take to heart. According to recent polls, between 80-95% of all people expect to go to heaven. Is that expectation realistic and justified? Isn’t it more likely that some people are just taking heaven for granted? In my opinion, it does seem that many people are taking heaven for granted and without any biblical reason for doing so. Jesus implied that such an attitude was seriously wrong and dangerous because “many will try to enter heaven and will not be able to.” Because this is true, Jesus tells people to “make every effort to enter...”

People should not take heaven for granted; they should rather “strive” for heaven. The word that is translated as “make every effort” (NIV) or “strive” (KJV, NASB) is a word that was usually used to describe the mindset of an athlete in a contest or a soldier in a war. Each, whether soldier our athlete, must lay aside or sacrifice anything that hinders victory. Jesus is saying to us that we must be willing to sacrifice anything and to give anything to enter into heaven. Rather than taking heaven for granted, people should strive to enter into heaven’s door.

This verse can certainly raise some questions and concerns. Some may wonder if Jesus is saying that we should make every effort to be a good person because only those who were good enough will get into heaven. Certainly Jesus is not implying this. The whole Bible, including Jesus’ teaching, make clear that no one can be good enough to deserve heaven and that salvation, going to heaven, is a free gift of God’s grace. If we could be good enough, Jesus would not have needed to die in our place.

What does this verse mean then? If heaven is a free gift, then what are we striving for? We have to strive to enter heaven because the door is “narrow.” The key to understanding this verse is to understand what is meant by the term “narrow.” The word "narrow" is a Greek word that meant restrictive. While a person cannot earn entrance into heaven, there are restrictions on who will go to heaven. Not everybody who wants to go to heaven will go but only those who come on God’s terms and those terms are narrow (restrictive), which means that many people are excluded.

What are God’s terms? Jesus mentions them in many passages, including earlier parts of Chapter 13. God’s terms for entering heaven are confession, repentance, and a genuine trust and commitment in Jesus alone. That commitment to Jesus will mean things like self–denial (taking up our cross), persecution, and humility. These are God’s terms for entering through heaven’s doors. In a sense, these terms are narrow because they do exclude a lot of people.

Many people want to go to heaven but are unwilling to do these things. Many people think they are going to heaven but they have not admitted they are sinners, turned from an ungodly life, trusted in Jesus alone for salvation and really put Jesus first in their lives. If this describes you, you need to rethink your assumption about going to heaven. You have a false hope! Jesus lovingly warns those with such false hopes that the door to heaven is narrow and that you cannot make it through without doing these things. Many people are offended by these restrictive and humbling terms.

Let me read a letter that was published in the Melbourne, Australia papers after a Billy Graham Crusade: "After hearing Dr. Billy Graham on the air, viewing him on television and reading reports and letters concerning him and his mission, I am heartily sick of the type of religion that insists my soul (and everyone else’s) needs saving--whatever that means. I have never felt that I was lost. Nor do I feel that I daily wallow in the mire of sin, although repetitive preaching insists that I do. Give me a practical religion that teaches gentleness and tolerance, that acknowledges no barriers of color or creed, that remembers the aged and teaches children of goodness and not sin. If in order to save my soul I must accept such a philosophy as I have recently heard preached, I prefer to remain forever damned".

You have the same choice as the writer of this letter. You can choose not to admit your sinful condition. You can choose not to leave your old way of living behind. You can choose not to trust and follow Jesus sincerely. You can make these choices but by doing so you are choosing to be forever damned! The choice is yours. Salvation or heaven is a free gift of God’s love, but you still must “make every effort to enter through the narrow door.”

Each year at the various parades in St. Lucie, candy is thrown out from the floats for anyone to take freely. It doesn’t matter that some of the kids grabbing the candy don’t deserve it, because it is a free, unmerited gift. All the kids understand that the candy is free, but they also understand that you can’t just sit and wait for the candy to land in your lap. They have to be willing to put down their sodas – leave them behind, sit on the edge of the hot pavement and act quickly when the free candy is tossed their way. It is the same with the offer of salvation. Heaven is free and unmerited but everyone must be willing to leave behind anything that keeps him or her from receiving this wonderful gift. This means leaving behind your pride, self-sufficiency, old life, and personal autonomy so you can take hold of heaven and eternal life.

The entrance to heaven is narrow. You must come through the one door, which is Jesus. These are God’s terms and his terms are the only ones that count. Being sincere in your belief is not enough. Being a good person is not enough. Being religious is not enough. Such restrictive ideas are considered narrow minded and they are, but keep in mind it is Jesus who said that you must come through the “narrow door.”

At the beginning of this message I asked the question, “Will you go to heaven?” The answer can be “yes” only if you come on God’s terms.

You will go to heaven only if you come on God’s terms and in God’s time.

Verse 25-27

²⁶then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’

²⁷But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’

In many commercials selling products you will hear the announcer say, “Act now-this is a limited time offer.” That, in essence, is what Jesus is saying to people today. You need to make a decision in your response to Jesus quickly because when that door to heaven is shut, it will not be reopened. There will be no more opportunities. You may knock and plead but it will be to no avail. The door is open now and now is the time to respond. One day that door to heaven will be closed. It may be closed by death. It may be closed by Jesus return. It may be closed by the hardening of your heart. We never know when the last opportunity to insure our entrance to heaven will be. What we do know is that today, March 6, 2022 the door is still open for you. Do not miss your opportunity! Do not procrastinate! Remember Tomorrow Will Never Come ACT NOW

The people who are left “outside” of heaven and longing to be inside are those who have not entered into a personal relationship with Jesus through trust and commitment to him. When Jesus says to those on the outside, “I do not know you or where you come from” he is speaking of relational knowledge, not intellectual knowledge. There are two different ways of knowing someone. For example, in a sense I know the President, but not in the sense that will gain me entrance to a White House banquet. If I were to hit the buzzer at the White House Gate and say “let me in!” I am quite confident that the answer would be “No!” I may claim to know the president by making reference to having seen him at a political rally or shaking hands on the street during campaigning but this kind of superficial knowledge is not sufficient to gain me entrance to the White House banquet. The same is true with gaining entrance into heaven. We must truly know Jesus through a personal relationship with him. In verses 26 and 27 the people claim to know Jesus because they ate with him and because he taught in their streets. But this superficial familiarity with Jesus is not enough, which is why Jesus repeats in verse 27, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’

Keep in mind that this is only a figurative story to illustrate a spiritual truth. The truth being that just going to church, reading the Bible, being religious and knowing about Jesus will not get you into heaven. You must enter into a personal relationship with him by trust and commitment!

Will you go to heaven? You will go to heaven only if you don’t miss your opportunity to come on God’s terms. If you do reject his terms or wait until it’s too late then the consequences are serious, as verse 28 makes clear.

"There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth...” for those who miss heaven. There will be an unending sorrow that cannot be described for everyone who misses the glories of Heaven and instead spends eternity in hell. Contrary to popular opinion, hell will not be a big sinful party with all the other sinful people. It will be a place where people are fully aware of what they have lost and will forever be in despair. Getting into heaven is vital; do not miss your opportunity.

These particular verses were spoken especially to the Jewish people. They were confident that they would be in heaven based on their heritage as descendants of the patriarchs, hence the mention of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jesus says that those who reject him will not be in the kingdom of God no matter the family relationships or the expectations. At the same time many others from many nations i.e. the Gentiles who were not expected to be in heaven will be in heaven. This is who is being referred to in verse 29 where Jesus says, “people will come from the east and west, and north and south to take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God."

Verse 30 is a reminder that there will be a lot of surprises in heaven. When we get to heaven we will say like Gomer Pyle would say in the old TV show, “surprise, surprise, surprise.” There will be surprises in heaven because many who were religious and who thought that they would be “first” into heaven will actually be “last”, which means excluded. Those that thought of themselves as a sure thing because of their religion, good works, Bible knowledge, or spiritual position might not be there at all. Many who were thought of as “last”, as having no chance of making it into heaven, will be first, they will be in heaven. “There are those who are last who will be first, and first, who will be last.”

Will you be there? Will you go to heaven? Or will you be surprised at being excluded? That depends on the choices you make today!

You will go to heaven only if you come on God’s terms and in God’s time.

I want to briefly cover vs. 31-35 because they are related to this section on going to heaven. They are related because they show us Jesus heart regarding judgment and blessing. This passage shows us that Jesus would much rather bless people but that people must make that decision. This passage shows us Jesus heart of love and desire for all people to come under his protection from judgment. These verses also illustrate for us and remind us that there is a price to pay for rejecting his offer of salvation.

In verse 31 Jesus is warned that he is in danger because Herod wants to kill him. Jesus uses this as an opportunity to point out who is in real danger. It is those who reject Him. In this case he is referring to the Jewish people who will experience judgment because they rejected his offer of blessings. In verse 35 he says "your house (land) is left to you desolate” referring to the judgment that was soon to come and result in the destruction of Jerusalem and the loss of many lives. Before speaking of judgment though, Jesus expresses his desire that it not be that way. In verse 34 he says that he wishes to protect the people in the same way as a mother hen would lovingly gather her chicks under her wings and protect them from danger. He willed or desired that to happen but they “were not willing.”

This is a message for people today also. Jesus does not will anyone to miss heaven and suffer hell but you must be willing to receive him by trusting and committing to him.

The last phrase in verse 35, “You will not see me again until you say ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of Lord’ ” refers to a future time near the end, when many of the Jewish people will no longer reject Jesus but receive him.

Will you go to heaven?

You will go to heaven only if you come on God’s terms and in God’s time.

If you have not yet repented, confessed your sins, and trusted in Christ to save you from God’s wrath, then you don’t know the full extent of Gods’ love yet. John 3:36 says that “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” because “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:18). I pray that is not you.

I encourage you to pray this prayer with me, but I caution you that saying words alone will not save you. Prayer alone doesn’t save. Only Christ can save. But prayer can be a means of reaching out to the Lord in true saving faith. If you pray these words in faith, Christ will save you. You can be sure of that.

Let Us Pray:

Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door of my heart when I hear you knocking. By faith I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your word and desire the Holy Spirit to come into my heart and give me guidance to walk your path to salvation and everlasting life. In Jesus Name I Pray Amen.

Mar 13, 2022 - Guess Who is Coming to Dinner

Sermon Summary

Let Us Pray

Dear Lord, in Heaven, The creator of all

We look forward to the joys of heaven.

Where there is no more pain, No suffering, No Sickness

God remind us that our actions matter here in this world.

Our actions here on this earth will pave our way to live in your house

Here on earth Each and every day is a struggle against sin and temptation. Give us the strength to overcome cruelty with grace

and hatred with love. Remind us Lord We do not fight a physical battle,

but a spiritual one and with each act of compassion here on earth

We build your kingdom.

Help to guide us to be kingdom builders today and everyday.

As a Kingdom builder we will try to plant your seed Lord in the hearts of any and all that will listen

Then we will help nourish that seed so it can grow and they too can receive your greatest gift of Love Everlasting Life

Soon We will be done with the troubles of the world

and will be walking down the path we paved with our actions

As Kingdom Builders To live in the house of the Lord forever

Thru Jesus Christ we pray

AMEN

Today we will continue our study of Luke

Todays Sermon is a message on how judgmentalism, pride and selfishness are unwelcome at God’s table.

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner

Read Luke 14:1-14

Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely.

²And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy.

³And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

⁴But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go.

⁵Then He answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?”

⁶And they could not answer Him regarding these things.

⁷So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them:

⁸“When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him;

⁹and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.

¹⁰But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you.

¹¹For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

¹²Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid.

¹³But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.

¹⁴And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

In the 1967 movie “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” a young woman named Joey Drayton brings home her fiancé, John Way Prentice to meet her parents. The parents had always thought of themselves as being without prejudice but are shocked to discover that their daughter’s fiancé is black, and that this disturbs them. This movie, which revolves around a dinner party, exposes the tendency to think that we are something that we are not. We often have flaws that go unnoticed until they are revealed in certain situations. This dinner reveals the parent’s character flaws and leads them to re-examine the condition and attitudes of their own hearts.

Something similar happens in our Bible text today. Jesus comes to dinner but instead of polite table talk, this dinner conversation probably causes those present to wish that they had brought more Rolaids.

Jesus actions, parable, and exhortation exposed the character flaws of those present. The Pharisees, who are what we would describe as “church-going people,” thought of themselves as spiritual and godly but like in the aforementioned movie, the truth will come out. Jesus exposed three serious character flaws at this dinner: judgmentalism, pride, and selfishness.

This incident was written down in the Bible so that Jesus followers today would be alert to the same faults in themselves. Speaking for myself, I found that as I thought on this passage of Scripture, that in many ways I am guilty of the very character traits that Jesus revealed as unacceptable at this dinner 2,000 years ago.

As I expound on this text verse by verse, I believe that some of you might find the same faults to be true of your own lives. If you have already determined that you are not guilty of these things, then you have overestimated yourself and are guilty of the second flaw, which is pride. What I have been diplomatically referring to as flaws, the Bible calls “sin.”

Before we look at the details of this text verse by verse, I need to explain the setting for this narrative. This is important because the setting or motif in which an event takes place is an essential part of the moral or spiritual truth being communicated. As I already noted, the setting for this teaching of Jesus was a formal dinner. The thematic element of a dinner is very prominent throughout the story. The healing takes place at dinner in verses 1-6, Jesus uses the parable of a wedding banquet or dinner in verses 7-11, and then Jesus talks about inviting others to a luncheon or dinner in verses 12-14. After this, in verses 15-24, which I will cover next week, Jesus gives the parable of the Great Banquet or dinner. This thematic element of a dinner is in itself important to the practical message that the story is communicating.

Why is the dinner or banquet theme so prominent? What is being communicated by this setting? To answer these questions one must understand the significance of eating together in Jesus’ day.

Marcus Borg, the New Testament scholar explains that eating together in Jesus’ day was very significant. Not only were there rules about what to eat and how to prepare it, but also rules stating with whom one could eat. Eating together meant mutual acceptance. The Jewish leaders, Pharisees, would not eat with someone who was impure. No decent person would eat with an outcast.

Remember how people complained because Jesus “ate with sinners?” Why did they get upset? Because to eat with someone was indicative of friendship or a healthy relationship, so by eating with sinners Jesus was showing himself to be a “friend of sinners.” This association between eating with someone and a healthy relationship with that person was true also of a healthy relationship with God. This is why in many of the parables and metaphors of the Bible, those who are in or have returned to a healthy relationship with God are said to be invited to his table or participants in his banquets.

In some sense, we still associate having dinner with someone with friendship or a healthy relationship. In a recent Candid Camera episode they would seat a complete stranger, who happened to be the candid actor, with an unsuspecting family eating dinner at a restaurant. Of course the family was very uncomfortable and often unwilling to continue with the dinner. Why? We have no problem with a stranger sitting next to us on a plane or at a ballgame, but at dinner they will not be welcome because they are not in a healthy relationship.

So the dinner setting or motif is important because it conveys the theme of a healthy relationship, especially with God. The character flaws or sins, which Jesus confronts then, are those that hinder and obstruct a healthy relationship with God. What would make us feel unwelcome or at least uncomfortable at God’s table? What character traits would interfere with a healthy, blessed relationship with God?

I. First, a healthy relationship with God is hindered by judgmentalism.

Read verses 1-6

Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely.

²And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy.

³And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

⁴But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go.

⁵Then He answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?”

⁶And they could not answer Him regarding these things.

“Judgmentalism” is not a word you will find in a dictionary, though most people understand what is meant by the word. Judgmentalism is the act of judging others wrongly and self-righteously. In other words, condemning another without due cause, in an unloving manner, or when similar circumstances or situations exist in one’s own life. This is what was happening at the dinner that Jesus attended and one of the things that is most offensive to God.

The religious people (Pharisees) had invited Jesus to dinner but not with pure motives. They had chosen the Sabbath day (Saturday under Jewish law) and they had made sure that a very sick person suffering from Dropsy (swelling due to fluid retention typically from heart failure) was right in front of Jesus. We know that this was not coincidental because in verse 1 it says that Jesus was “being carefully watched.” They were carefully watching Jesus, looking for an opportunity to condemn or judge him for breaking one of their religious rules. Specifically they were waiting to see if Jesus would heal this man on the day that God has set aside as a day of rest.

The Sabbath was a day that was different from the other six days of the week in that it was primarily focused on spiritual rather than secular concerns. In their minds, if Jesus healed on the Sabbath day, he would have been working and thus they could condemn him for breaking the law of God. Jesus takes this opportunity to expose their judgmental attitudes as wrong and hypocritical. He does this by asking them two questions.

The first question is found in verse 3 in which Jesus asked, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” In other words the first question Jesus asks of those who would judge others is, “Do you have a genuine biblical basis for your judgment?” Jesus is talking to us who judge others for the clothes they wear, the music they listen to, the way they worship or pray, how they spend their money, the Bible translation they use, what they watch on television etc. Do we really have a biblical basis for our judgment? Is there any firm scriptural reason for considering that person less spiritual, disobedient, or sinful? Probably not in most cases! Since this is true we need to be alert to judgmentalism and repentant when we find it revealed in our own lives.

I. A healthy relationship with God is hindered by judgmentalism.

In verse 4 we are told that the religious people did not answer Jesus question but “remained silent.” They did not remain silent because they did not have a “proof text” to back up their claim that healing should not be done on the Sabbath. They had a Bible verse that they would use to back up their judgmental attitude, but they knew from experience that in 60 seconds Jesus could refute their questionable application of that verse to this situation. Our evaluation of others, which should always be done in love, should be based on strong biblical support, not questionable interpretations and applications.

As a man was driving to work one morning he noticed the car in front of him weaving back and forth. As he pulled up even with it, he could see the driver’s face was almost touching the windshield as she was attempting to apply mascara. This, of course, made the man furious. He thought how wrong it was of her to try and operate a motor vehicle while being so distracted with her make up. He became even angrier when her car suddenly veered in his direction. It scared him so badly he dropped his cell-phone right into his cup of coffee.

Like the man in this story, our judgmental attitude of others is hypocritical because we ourselves are in principle also guilty of similar faults. This is the next thing that Jesus exposes as wrong with the judgmental attitudes of those at this dinner. Not only was their judgment without firm biblical support, it was also hypocritical. In verse 5 Jesus asks them, “If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?” They did not answer Jesus because they knew that the answer was “yes.”

Jesus is basically saying that they are guilty of the very thing that they are condemning him for. They may not heal a person on the Sabbath, but they are willing to “work” on the Sabbath by rescuing their son or animal immediately. The principle is the same even though the particulars are different. Two questions Jesus asks and we need to ask ourselves before being judgmental of others. First, “Is there a genuine biblical basis for your judgment?” Second, “Do you condemn others for what you yourself practice in principle?”

I have been in many situations where people judged others in a wrongful and hypocritical way. I have heard Christian’s condemn Christian Rock music while they themselves listen to country music with songs about drinking and cheating. I’ve heard Christian’s condemn the way others spend their money on indulgence but their own checkbooks would reveal that they also are prone to spending on themselves. I myself used to think how wrong it was for certain Christians to drive aggressively on the roadways until I myself received a ticket for purposely running a red light when I was in a hurry.

This passage does not mean that we are never to make judgments. They are necessary sometimes and can be helpful if done in the right way. Judging in the right way means judging based on firm biblical basis, with a loving attitude, and a personal adherence to the principles involved. Be careful of the kind of judgmentalism exemplified in these six verses because those with this condemning spirit will not be warmly welcomed at God’s table.

I. A healthy relationship with God is hindered by judgmentalism.

Celebrities tend to misbehave in tiresome and predictable ways--tantrums, affairs, addictions--and we tend to think they’re spoiled. But one psychiatrist, Cornell’s Robert B. Millman, says they’re not spoiled, they’re sick. The affliction is Acquired Situational Narcissism.

ASN develops when once-ordinary people achieve extra-ordinary success, such as winning an Oscar or being named rookie of the year. This double-dose of adulation loosens people’s grip on reality and they become (according to Millman) “unbelievably self-involved because of the attention from us. We make it so.”

Now, there’s a unique twist: It’s OUR fault celebrities act that way! Even though most of us will never be at risk of getting Acquired Situational Narcissism--our lives are far too ordinary--we all struggle with the temptation of becoming overly self-focused.

We all tend to overestimate our own self-importance and to think too highly of ourselves. This pride, as the Bible calls it, often leads to subtle and overt self-promotion. It is this attitude that Jesus exposes as unacceptable at God’s table in the next few verses.

Read Verses 7-11

⁷So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them:

⁸“When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him;

⁹and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.

¹¹For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

II. Second, a healthy relationship with God is hindered by pride.

In Jesus time people were seated according to their prominence or importance. Those who were considered most important would be seated closest to the host of the dinner party, while those considered least important would be seated furthest from the host. Since most people thought highly of themselves, they sought the best seats.

Jesus uses the parable of a wedding feast to illustrate how foolish such pride is. He uses this imagery because a wedding feast or supper was often associated with God’s kingdom. He is telling us how to behave as members of God’s kingdom. Jesus is not giving us some advice on wise and good table manners. He is revealing the prideful tendency to promote and exalt ourselves, and what the results will be. He is telling us how we should act as people of the kingdom of God. We should seek the lowest seat; that is we should be humble in every aspect of our lives. Why?

II. A healthy relationship with God is hindered by pride.

Failure to be humble can be humiliating. When I was a young man, I went to a concert with some friends at a local fair. Seating was not assigned at this concert so you could decide where you would sit on a first-come, first-serve basis with the exception of the first ten rows, where no one was sitting at the time, but which were labeled “VIP only seating.” My friends decided that they qualified as VIPs so they just removed the signs and sat down. I decided not to do the same, not because I was humble, but because I was chicken! You can probably predict what happened next. About one minute before the concert started an official came onto the stage and over the speaker system told my friends that they were not VIPs and would have to leave their seats. How humiliating! They had to leave their seats in front of everybody, which was about 2,000 people, and worse yet there were now no seats available, so they had to stand in the rain outside the tent and listen to the concert. They would have been much better off to have humbled themselves!

Jesus used the seating at a wedding feast to express the same point. Let the host of the feast, who represents God, do the exalting rather than engaging in self-promotion.

In verse 11 Jesus summarizes the point he is making. “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” This is one of the most repeated principles of Scripture, indicating that it is one we need to hear often and apply to our lives. Pride is a serious hindrance to our most important relationship. In Isaiah 57:15 God says that he will be with him who is “contrite and lowly in spirit.” In 1 Peter 5:5 it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

We must be alert because we can be very blind to pride.

Sometimes I have included stories or jokes in my sermons, not because they were necessary or helpful to the sermon, but because they were the type of stories or jokes that would go over well. That is pride! The Lord also reminded me of times that I’ve been angered by people disagreeing with my idea or my way of doing things. That is pride!

Before you are too quick to condemn me for pride, you need to remember that the first thing that Jesus said hinders a healthy relationship with God is judgmentalism.

It is not just me who is subject to pride. Each of us needs to look at our own lives. We each need to ask ourselves, “Do I have an exalted image of my own self-importance?” If you have a pride problem it will be revealed by your attitude, thinking, and actions. For instance, if you become angry or hurt when you are overlooked for recognition, it is because of pride. If you’re thinking in your mind how much better a job you could do than another person, it is because of pride. If you were unwilling to admit your faults because they make you look bad, it is because of pride. If you are hurt or offended when others disagree with you, it is because of pride. If you desire to display your talents, your appearance, or the sacrifices you make, it is because of pride. If your desires and your agenda are first and foremost, it is because of pride.

So far, we have seen two things that will hinder a healthy relationship with God. The first is judgmentalism, and the second is pride.

III. Third, a healthy relationship with God is hindered by selfishness.

Read Verses 12-14

¹³But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.

¹⁴And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

We all give of ourselves in one way or the other. We all made sacrifices in blessing others, serving others, and meeting others needs. We do this with our ministries, free time, money, talents, jobs, etc. How often do we do these things for those that cannot reward us or repay us in some way? That is the issue that Jesus is confronting here. He is concerned with the attitude of selfishness. Selfishness, in this case, refers to those times when we only serve or share with those that can return the favor or repay us in some fashion. He is not just talking about sharing your food. Jesus is talking about how we are to share our lives in giving to others.

We all give of our selves and resources, but it is often exclusively to the people like our friends, our families, and those who may help us in return. It is mutually beneficial for us to share and serve in this way and there’s nothing wrong with helping in this respect, unless these are the only people we usually help. If that is the case we are not really giving at all, but are rather self-seeking and selfish. I say this because when we give to our friends and families, we are usually repaid, whether through accolades, recognition, or a return favor.

In response to this, Jesus says in verses 13,14, “When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” This group of people was used literally, but also in a figurative sense to represent those who were outcast. This list represents those who are spiritually, financially, and physically unable to reward or repay you. Today this list would include people like: AID’s patients, homeless people, strangers, and people from other churches. God sees such selfless giving and will reward those who give in this manner at the “resurrection of the righteous.”

III. A healthy relationship with God is hindered by selfishness.

When I would go to the beach as a teenager, someone would inevitably warn me: Watch out for sharks! I’ve been warned to watch out for sharks, but no one has ever said to me, “Watch out for the jellyfish.” The fact is jellyfish are far more dangerous. Each year they kill more people than sharks do.

Sometimes we spend so much of our time watching for the big sharks of the Christian Life that we miss the more abundant and dangerous jellyfish. We watch out for the big sins of sexual immorality, idolatry, drug-abuse, occultism, hatred, etc. which can harm the Christians relationship with God, while we usually ignore the seemingly smaller issues of judgmentalism, pride, and selfishness which have harmed far more Christian’s relationships with God than the so-called big sins.

I hope this message from God’s word will make us all alert to the perils of judgmentalism, pride and selfishness.

I know as I prepared this sermon throughout last week I had to stop to think about the times I am Judgmental, prideful and selfish. I stopped so many times to contemplate this that I almost didn’t finish preparing this weeks message.

I hope you will receive as much from this sermon I as have. If you have thought about how these three things judgmentalism, pride and selfishness have hindered your relationship with God it is time repent and confess your sins.

Let Us Pray:

Mar 20, 2022 - End Time

Sermon Summary

Good Morning I am Pastor Bobby of Barefoot Ministries and I want to thank you all for giving me the opportunity to spread the word of God with you.

The purpose of Barefoot Ministries is to spread the word of God to any and all that will listen. I will try very hard to plant the seed of God in your hearts, provide you with the knowledge to nurture that seed thru prayer, Bible Study and fellowship so that it can grow, so that in time that seed will mature and you will be saved and re-born so that you can have the greatest gift of God’s Love, Everlasting Life.

Let Us Pray

Dear Lord, in Heaven, The creator of all

We look forward to the joys of heaven.

Where there is no more pain, No suffering, No Sickness

God remind us that our actions matter here in this world.

Our actions here on this earth will pave our way to live in your house

Here on earth Each and every day is a struggle against sin and temptation. Give us the strength to overcome cruelty with grace and hatred with love. Remind us Lord We do not fight a physical battle, but a spiritual one and with each act of compassion here on earth We build your kingdom.

Help to guide us to be Kingdom Builders today and every day.

As a Kingdom Builder we will try to plant your seed Lord in the hearts of any and all that will listen

Then we will help nourish that seed so it can grow and they too can receive your greatest gift of Love Everlasting Life

Soon We will be done with the troubles of the world and will be walking down the path we paved with our actions as Kingdom Builders to live in the house of the Lord forever

Thru Jesus Christ we pray

AMEN

Today’s Message is on responding to God’s invitation to an abundant life with Him.

Title: Don’t Miss God’s Party!

Today we will continue in Chapter 14 of the Book of Luke in our verse-by-verse teaching series out of that book.

Luke 14:15-24 The Parable of the Great Supper

¹⁵Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat ^[^a^]bread in the kingdom of God!”

¹⁶Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many,

¹⁷and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’

¹⁸But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’

¹⁹And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’

²⁰Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’

²¹So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’

²²And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’

²³Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

²⁴For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”

Probably everyone here today enjoys and looks forward to celebrations. Celebrations are a significant part of our lives. We celebrate growing another year older with birthday parties. We celebrate pregnancies and new births with baby showers. We celebrate wedding anniversaries, home purchases, New Year’s Day, Super Bowl contest, etc. We even celebrate good friends moving away by having a “going away party.”

Nearly everyone loves to celebrate; we all enjoy a good party. Since that is the case, every one of us should be interested in today’s Bible passage because it is about the greatest celebration or party of all. The banquet being referred to in this parable is figurative for what we would call a celebration or a party. In this illustrative story, Jesus gives us some insight into this greatest of all celebrations. We learn things such as the nature of the celebration, who is invited, who will be there and who won’t be there, and why this is the case.

There is much of the importance that I will discuss as I cover this passage verse by verse, but a summary of the main message of this parable to us would be:

1. You’re Invited to God’s Party, Don’t Miss it!

Verse 15 Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat ^[^a^]bread in the kingdom of God!”

Last week in verses 1-14 we saw how Jesus was giving some serious instructions on attitudes that were unacceptable at God’s table. These were spiritual “bad manners” that were offensive to God and hindered a blessed relationship with him. At the conclusion of this tense segment, Jesus in verse 14 spoke about how the selfless person would be “blessed” by being “repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

The reference to being blessed, future resurrection, and inviting people to a banquet (vs. 12) caused one of those present to think about and publicly comment on the blessing of those who are invited to what is sometimes called “The Great Supper” or “The Messianic Banquet of God.” He was referring to a God ordained celebration that the Old Testament often spoke of and figuratively describes as a feast or banquet.

One reference is in Isaiah 25:6 which says, “On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine – the best of meats and the finest of wines.”

Jesus takes advantage of this opportunity to enlighten those present then and us today about this celebration. He uses a parable to do this; what we learn is exciting and encouraging, but also cautionary and serious. As I use the terms “party,” “celebration,” or “banquet” today I am figuratively referring to the present and future aspects of being one of God’s people. Let’s now take a look at Jesus’ words in verse 16

Verses 16-17

¹⁶Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many,

¹⁷and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’

The “certain man” in this story represents God. This much is obvious and not usually debated. What is interesting and instructive is that this man, who represents God, is “preparing a great banquet. . .” In other words, God is preparing for a celebration or a party.

This is a rather shocking picture of God for many people today. God is usually perceived as the Heavenly Sheriff who’s ready to give you a ticket for the slightest infraction, or he is perceived like a miserly boss at work who you hope to please by enough hard work and sacrifice. Rarely is God perceived as one who would throw a party, yet in the Bible this is a regular theme and presentation.

For instance, in the story of the Prodigal Son, the father who represents God in the story throws a party for the son upon his return. In the Book of Revelation the Bible refers to God’s people participating in a great party known as the “Great Wedding Supper or Banquet of the Lamb.” In Isaiah 55 God invites everyone to freely come and share at his table where there is “wine and milk” and you can “eat what is good and delight in the richest of fare.” Even the religious life for the ancient Israelites revolved around seven feast or celebrations. Considering all these things it is very evident that God isn’t what some people perceive Him to be. He loves to celebrate and prepares for his people to experience his joyous celebrations.

I want you to understand what God is truly like! People constantly think that God wants to take something away from them. People think that following God means a joyless existence because God is stern and demanding. This understanding of God is a caricature of religion and not the reality of God’s character. This picture is a distortion from Satan who has from the beginning tried to malign the goodness of God!

You may be wondering to yourself, “Doesn’t being a Christian and following God’s ways mean giving up some of the pleasures of this world? Doesn’t it mean making sacrifices and living by a new standard?” The answer is “yes,” as Jesus said; we must take up our cross to follow him. These necessary sacrifices do not change the fact that God is a good God and that responding to his invitation results in a life of celebration. This does not change the fact or lessen the joy of life in the Kingdom of God anymore than the long lines at Disney world. He has invited us to a party, not a prison!!!

Life in the kingdom is like a party, even with the sacrifices. It is a life of joy, peace, purpose, fulfillment, and eternal life. This party is certainly a lot better than the parties of this world, which only end with hangovers, regrets, shameful conduct, and ultimately death.

Now some of the celebrations we have in our society are very lame and hardly worth considering or getting excited about. For instance, I knew a man who worked at Publix, he worked in the frozen food department. Believe it or not, every March is officially “National Frozen Food Month.” Under instructions from the boss, he would actually put up streamers, celebration signs, and have sales in “celebration” of this event. It is very difficult to get excited about frozen food - it’s just lame, but the same lack of enthusiasm shouldn’t be true for God’s Party. We should get very excited about it because Jesus describes it as a “great banquet.” Literally he is saying that this is a mega-party. This is not Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix dip, hot dogs and chips type party, but this is a mega-party with all that is the best. This is a party you do not want to miss and that is Jesus’ main point.

1. You’re Invited to God’s Party, Don’t Miss it!

In New Testament times, two invitations were usually given to a party or banquet. The first was given well in advance so that people could RSVP and then when everything was ready for the party to begin a second invitation was sent by servants to tell everybody to “come, for everything is now ready.” You’d think that receiving such a wonderful invitation and news would cause people to stop whatever they were engaged in and go to the party, but that is not what happened as we will see in verses 18-20. Of course even today people have been invited into a wonderful, joyous relationship with God but they often reject that invitation also.

Verses 18-20

¹⁸But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’

¹⁹And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’

²⁰Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’

“They all alike began to make excuses. . .” The excuses were not completely illegitimate, though they seem so from our cultural perspective. Buying a field or plot of land in that day often required a post purchase inspection of the land before the deal was final, similar to the final inspection homeowners have today before the closing on a mortgage loan. The same was true of the major purchase of five teams of oxen. In ancient times a deal was agreed upon and then the oxen would have been tested or tried out to complete the purchase. The person who just got married also has a seemingly legitimate excuse for not coming to the party since a newly married couple was expected to have their own party and there were marital obligations to meet.

This invitation just came at a bad time. It would interfere with their business, possessions, relationships, and other concerns. They had other priorities. In each case the excuses were legitimate but not sufficient. They each expected to be excused but as we will see shortly they were not.

The point Jesus is making here is not that God will not accept lame excuses for rejecting his offer of celebration and abundant life. The point is that God will not accept any excuses, no matter how seemingly legitimate, for not accepting his invitation. He must have the priority in your life. This is a message for those who are not responding to his invitation to enter into a real relationship with him because doing so would interfere with their other interests. A choice must be made between worldly concerns and God’s party. If you miss God’s party it isn’t because you weren’t invited. It’s because you chose to make other things a priority over responding to his invitation.

1. You’re Invited to God’s Party, Don’t Miss it!

Verses 21-23

²²And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’

²³Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

“The owner of the house (who represents God) became angry. . .” This tells how God feels about our excuses for rejecting his wonderful and costly offer of life. Hebrews 2:3 says “How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?” God is wonderful, patient, and merciful. He will forgive every sin. He is amazingly patient and kind even when we keep messing up as Christians. But God will be angry with those who reject his offer of the real “good life.” I once saw a bumper sticker which all those who reject Jesus need to remember. The bumper sticker read like this: Jesus is coming back soon (and boy is he mad.)

As a teenager in high school, I didn’t seem to fit in with any group. I quit playing sports so I did not fit in with the jocks. I wasn’t rich so I did not fit in with the preppies. I wasn’t popular so I did not fit in with that group. I was a bad boy but didn’t fit in with the “bad boys” group. Because I did not fit into any of these groups I never was and never expected to be invited to any of their parties.

A similar feeling or attitude is sometimes held by people concerning God’s Party. They do not feel that they are invited or that they will fit in as far as a real relationship with God is concerned. Usually this is because of their lifestyle which may have been and still is sinful. The feeling among many is that they are not invited or welcome in a relationship with God because they’re not well-behaved enough, not religious enough, or not spiritually acceptable for one reason or another.

The good news is that you are on the guest list! No matter what you have done, where you have done it or how many times you have failed. You are invited to God’s party even though you may not consider yourself acceptable. This is the message of verses 21-23. The “poor, crippled, blind, and lame” were metaphors for those who were totally spiritually unworthy to come to God’s table but are invited and welcome anyways. The reference in verse 23 to those people in the “roads and country lanes. . .” could have been a reference to the Gentiles or to those who were so wicked they were even unwelcome in town. In either case the point is the same; everybody is welcome, everybody is invited to God’s Party! As was pointed out in the parable- “there is still room for more!” (vs. 22)

1. You’re Invited to God’s Party, Don’t Miss it!

Before moving on to verse 24, I want to point out two characteristics of the servant’s mission of bringing others in to the party, since we are now the servants of God who are inviting others to God’s Party. First, they are told to go “quickly into the street” (vs. 21) and invite others, which reminds us of the urgency of getting the message of the gospel out. Second, they’re also told to “make them come in. . .” (vs. 23) which does not mean to use physical force or threats but rather to an attitude that will not take “no” for answer. Keep asking, keep pleading, and keep encouraging people to respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is not a party God wants anyone to miss, but as verse 24 points out, some will.

Verse 24 For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”

The message is clear; if you reject God’s invitation, you will be rejected. If you refuse it, you will lose it. Don’t miss the limited opportunities you have in this life to respond to God’s invitation.

1. You’re Invited to God’s Party, Don’t Miss it!

Tony Campolla tells the story of a trip which he took to Hawaii. Jet lag kept him awake late into night and he went for a walk on the streets of Honolulu. At 2 in the morning, he found himself in a doughnut shop. Sitting at the counter, he overheard several prostitutes who were sharing a booth. One of the girls whose name was Agnes mentioned that it was her birthday.

After she had left, Tony turned to the cook and the other prostitutes and said, “Let’s throw a party for Agnes.” The other girls agreed to bring decorations and the cook said that he would bake a cake.

The next night, they all gathered at the shop and when Agnes walked in, they brought out the cake and began to sing, “Happy Birthday.” Tears streamed down Agnes’s face and, when it came time to cut the cake, she just stood there. Finally, she said, “Could I buy another cake and we eat that one? I want to take this one home and show it to my mother.”

With that, she took the cake and left. In the sudden silence that filled the shop after she left, Tony bowed his head and began to pray. “Lord, we thank you for Agnes and for your love for her. You loved her enough to send Your Son to die for her on the cross. We thank you for the best present of all - the present of your own Son. Amen.” When he raised his head, he saw that all of the prostitutes had their heads bowed and had been praying with him.

The cook looked at him and said, “You’re a preacher!” When Tony admitted that he was, the cook asked, “What kind of church do you have?” In a sudden flash of insight, Tony replied, “The kind that throws parties for prostitutes and gives invitations to sinners.”

This is the kind of Church we need to have. A church that always invites sinners to attend.

Let Us Pray: Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door of my heart when I hear you knocking. By faith I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your word and desire the Holy Spirit to come into my heart and give me guidance to walk your path to salvation and everlasting life.

In Jesus Name I Pray Amen.

Mar 27, 2022 - End Time

Sermon Summary

I have been trying to learn what the bible says about the end times. I have learned one thing for sure, it is very confusing as to the chronologic order of the events that have been prophesied in the Bible. I have learned that the End Times are found not only in Revelations, but in 159 different verses throughout the Bible.

I have also learned that the word Rapture does not exist in the Bible, but what we know as the Rapture is described in the Bible.

I also learned that there are at least 3 different views concerning the Rapture. There are the Pre-Tribulation folks, There are the 3 & ½ year Tribulation folks, and there are the Post Tribulation folks. There are also 4 different views concerning the End Times in general (See Different Views on the End Times at the end of this document)

Each of these different groups have and can use scripture to back up their beliefs (selected Scriptures). But when you read each and every scripture concerning the Rapture and Second Coming it gets very confusing. At least for me. After all, I am just a simple minded type of person.

I found all of this on the internet and have copied it for you all to read. The purpose of this message is to get you all to do your own research concerning this so you will not be fooled by false teachings.

Will the Rapture happen before or after the Tribulation? That is one of the major topics that separate each of the different groups.

Whatever you think or believe the main thing to always remember is to be prepared each and every minute of every day by being saved, and by surrendering yourself to the Lord. By doing that it really doesn’t matter the sequence of events

I really would like to sit down with you all so we can have a discussion about this topic.

***Jesus’s disciples asked, “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

For the longest time I believed as the majority of Christians, that the rapture was to take place before the tribulation based on verses in various parts of the bible. But now I am not so sure. I believe it could still go either way. It is important to look at all the scriptures to see what the bible says about when Jesus is returning. I think it’s important to test everything, not just automatically agree with the verses we like to hear and assume they mean what everyone else say they mean. The bible is the ultimate test of truth. John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

Will the Rapture happen before or after the Tribulation?

Depending on what you have read or heard about the rapture or the tribulation. You may agree there are four views or opinions. One is pre-tribulation. That is before the seven year tribulation period. One is mid-tribulation. Which is the three and a half year mark of the tribulation. Post-trib is at the end of the seven year period after the tribulation. Then there is the pan theory. And that is, it will all pan out in the end. 😀 Little humor…..

My concern about the Pre-tribulation Rapture teaching

When it comes to the rapture, believing it will happen one way or another, does not affect ones salvation. The key to salvation is remaining in Christ. My concern is about the pre tribulation rapture teaching among the people of the world, including many in the church and may cause some who are on the fence to fall away from the faith. Because they thought the rapture will happen first and instead we find ourselves in tribulation. Some people have a “wait and see attitude”. They say ‘well if it happens then I will just accept Jesus at that time.’ How sad! The truth is they want to live in sin. I don’t think they will have the option to repent when it comes down to the wire.

What does Jesus say about the Rapture?

The first scripture I wanted to point out refers to the response Jesus gave to his disciples. (Notice the underlined words). He said, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, 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. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:29-31

Is it possible there will be two raptures?

First, Jesus says Immediately after the tribulation. Then he mentions the sound of a trumpet and lastly a gathering of the elect. Doesn’t a gathering sound to you like the rapture? How many raptures are there going to be? These are the signs for the end of the age.

Who is the elect in the bible?

The bible verse mentioned the gathering together of God’s elect. Many say the word elect refers to the Jewish people. Elect means to choose. God’s chosen people. Let’s look at a couple verses that talk about the elect in the bible. In Romans 8:33 it says, “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” This verse is addressed to the Christians in the church at Rome. Christians are called the elect. Again in the book of Colossians 3:12 it says, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering;” This verse is addressing the Christians at the church at Colosse not the Jews. Lastly Paul in Romans 11:7 says, “What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.” Making it clear that the church is the elect not the Jewish people.

The fact is the bible refers to the elect as the believers. The Jews will believe in Jesus when they look upon him and will be saved. The bible says that all Israel will be saved when that happens. So it is possible the elect refers to the Jews in Matthew 24.

The First Resurrection

Revelation 20:4-5 “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.” So here we have, our Jewish brothers that are beheaded during the tribulation period and then they are resurrected. What is significant about this passage is the very last sentence. It says this is the first resurrection. Does this mean there will not be a rapture before this. That’s significant.

Again in the next verse, Revelation 20:6 says, “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” Since this is the first resurrection after the tribulation, wouldn’t it mean there wasn’t one seven years earlier before the tribulation? I don’t know!

The man of sin is revealed

Paul appears to have had some concerns 2000 years ago about falsehoods circulating throughout the church of Thessalonica. The Apostle Paul found out that people were teaching that Christ had already come back. So Paul wrote to the church of the Thessalonians to correct them. He said this, “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1

Paul warns that Jesus will not come until after a falling away and after the man of sin is revealed.

The dead in Christ shall rise first

Here is one of the most popular passages on the rapture of the church.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” Doesn’t this verse sound a lot like Matthew 24, describing Jesus’s return and the gathering together?

At the Last Trumpet Sound

1 Corinthians 15:50-54 says “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” Again, this verse appears to indicate that Jesus will come, “At the last trumpet.” At the end of the tribulation.

The Prophets and the Saints

Here is a look at what happens at the last trumpet. Revelation 11:18 points out that God has plans for us and for the dead. It says, “The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.” Quite a lot happens here. Christ returns, punishes the wicked, rewards the saints. But one thing happens for sure. There is a resurrection of God’s people that takes place. As the previous mentioned verses makes clear.

The Parable of the Wheat and Tares

This parable I think sums it all up. Jesus taught this parable in

Matthew 13:24 about the wheat and the tares. “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” Again we see in this passage that God is allowing us to grow along with the tares until the harvest. We don’t know when the rapture will happen

Conclusion

So is it set in stone? Absolutely not. Will we be raptured after the tribulation? I honestly don’t know, but there will be a resurrection after the tribulation. God knows I want to be raptured next week. But God has a plan. God owns the entire world and He made it for his good purpose. He holds all the cards. We just have to trust him. Jesus mentions in

Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” When God is ready He will come for His church. I am glad to know that it can go either way and not just at the end of the tribulation. But at least we won’t be surprised if the tribulation begins and we are still here. If that happens, many people will be caught off guard. We need to prepare for the coming of the Lord and serve Him with all our hearts now!

159 Bible Verses about the End Times

Here are 159 Bible verses about the end times from the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible, King James Version, sorted from the most relevant to the least relevant.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 KJV

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.