Hebrews 12:5-11  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Sanctifying grace

      Jesus prayed for us to be sanctified – He said, “Sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy word is truth”. God uses His word to sanctify us and uses various methods to

Romans 15:13  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

God’s provision for believers

          God provides for us far more than just our physical needs – although He does that also. These are seen in the seven titles given to Him in the NT.

The God of love

     We need love and so does the world just as the pop song said. One of the nine-fold products of the abiding Holy Spirit is love (Gal 5:22). We all need to be loved and that is the famous verse’s statement that God so loved. But more than that we need love within us in order to show God’s love to others who are also seeking to be loved (Ro 5:5). God’s love imparted to us by the Holy Spirit enables us to love the unlovely.

The God of all grace

      We are saved by grace thru faith; but we are also to grow in grace (2 Pet 3:18). God’s grace is freely given to us (Jn 1:16) to help us in our walk and life. When Paul asked for

Joshua 11:20  For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Complaints against God

          One of the most bitter complaints against God by critics opposed to the Bible is its portrayal of the severity of God, especially in His command to Moses to destroy all the Canaanites (Deut 7:2; 20:16-17). This seems even more severe upon reading of our text from Joshua 11:20 that God Himself hardened the hearts of the Canaanites against Israel so that they would come boldly to destroy Israel and Joshua would then destroy them.

False concepts of God

     The notion that God is merely a kindly grandfather figure is a self-serving figment of man’s sinful imagination. The attributes of God are innumerable but man tries to focus upon the kindness and mercy of God above all others so that man too ofte is emboldened in their sinful ways. If we take one attribute and place it above all others we get out of balance with proper doctrine and idea of

Mark 11:12-14  And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

Why did Jesus curse the fig tree?

      Mark tells us clearly that the time of figs was not yet – it was not the season of figs. Many look at this as a fit of petty anger on Jesus’ part even after He has instructed His disciples concerning quarreling and so on. Jesus has just entered Jerusalem the day before and allowed the people to proclaim Him as Son of David (Lu 19:39-40), He goes to the temple and looks around. After this He goes to Bethany and resides there for the night (probably with Lazarus, Mary and Martha). The next day He goes back into Jerusalem and upon this occasion sees the fig tree with leaves but finds no figs and thus curses the tree;

The fruit of love – 2  (The test of love)

1 John 3:11-18 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.   Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Love and hate

     The old song says, “Everybody loves somebody sometime.” And if that is true and

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

What is love?

      The word used in the NT is agapao and means “to love dearly, fond of, to welcome”. The Hebrew word is ‘ahab and carries the whole swing of love, affections and desires. (Deut 6:5). It carries all these meaning because the command is love God with all our being – even our emotions and feelings.

      The Bible gives more what love does than the emotional side of love. When it speaks of individuals loving another then the emotions and feelings are also involved. When God speaks of loving our enemy it speaks of our treatment of them – feed, give water, help them in a bad situation.

      The “Love chapter” is originally translated charity because that word carries the idea of action over feeling. In this chapter Paul tells us what love is and what it is not by telling what it does and what it does not.

      Love suffers long – long spirited; doesn’t lose heart; perseveres patiently, bravely, enduring misfortunes and troubles; patient in bearing offense and injuries

2 Peter 3:1  This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

BE mindful:

     Peter tells the Christians he is writing to that they should stir up their pure minds by way of remembering. One thing they are to remember is what God has said through the prophets of the Old Testament as well as the Apostles of the New Testament (2 Pet 3:1-2). God's word is of utmost importance for us today. In the days when Peter wrote they only had the Old Testament Scriptures and the spoken words of the Apostles and their letters to the Christiamns.Today, we have both recorded for us in the Bible. It is very important and we need to remember and take heed to it. Solomon tells about those who despise God' word (Prov. 13:13). A person's attitude toward the word determines God's attitude toward that person. When Adam and Eve despised God's commandment they brought sin and death into the world. The Hebrew word despise is from a root meaning "not to respect" and is very similar to the word meaning "be ashamed of". Again, Solomon tells us

(Job 23:10)  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

      As we enter another year of life we wonder “what does it hold for us?” We make plan and try to prepare for upcoming events and also to allow for the “unexpected”. But as we have found this last year and years prior to that one, things do not always go the way we want and the “unexpected” can knock us completely off coarse for a little while or even change our life radically.

      Job experienced the epitome of the “unexpected” and suffering. No one has suffered the way Job did during his days of trial. Oh, some may say they have, but I seriously doubt any have. In one day Job lost all his wealth and all his children, yet he retained his integrity and faith in God. Later he lost his health and sat upon an ash heap (probably a place for the diseased outside the city) and in his loneliness he scrapped his sores with a broken piece of pottery. He was probably forced to live outside the home because of his diseased body

Matthew 2:1-12   Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. {3}  When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. {4}  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. {5}  And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,{6}  And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. {7}  Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. {8}  And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Ten different forty days:

      There are ten forty day periods mentioned in Scripture. Looking at them, we sense that forty days is a time of testing or sorrow. One period is not necessarily a time of testing or sorrow but of joy accompanied by instruction and testing. Those forty day periods are: length of flood (Gen 7:17); sending forth of birds from ark (Gen. 8:6); Israel’s (Jacob) embalming and mourning (Gen 50:2,3): Moses on the Mount (Ex 24:18); spies in Canaan (Num 13:25); defiance of the Philistines (1 Sam 17:16); Elijah’s journey to Horeb (1 Ki 19:18);; Jonah’s preaching (Jonah 3:4); Christ’s temptation (Lu 4:1,2); Christ’s post resurrection ministry (Acts 1:3). Moses was in the mount two times to receive the law so you could say there are eleven forty day times of testing.

Different types of testing:

      Each period had its own particular type of testing – either for the individual or for others associated with that person.

      The flood brought destruction and judgment upon the earth and its wickedness. The testing would have been for Noah and His family as they waited the storm out in the ark. Their faith was tested – could they

Hebrews 10:16-17   This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; {17}  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

What is forgiveness?

      Forgiveness is the release of debt or penalty of the debt; release from bondage; letting go as if never committed. When we are forgiven, God releases us from the penalty of the sin that has brought us into criminal status with Him. The sentence of death upon us is placed upon Christ Who died for us in our place (Gal 3:13; Col 1:14; Matt 26:28).

      When we forgive another we do basically the same as God did for us. We release them from bondage to us and in most cases letting go of our part of the consequences. In cases involving extensive offense of the law of society, we only release our part. We are not able to pardon their guilty standing before the law. We send their offense away (Jn 20:23).

      Forgiveness on our part is really something that is beneficial to and for us more than for

Psalm 37:3  Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

God will feed us:

      Jesus taught that those who seek God’s kingdom and righteousness shall be fed (Matt 6:32-33). He fed Israel in the wilderness with manna and quail and He has promised to feed us as well (Psa 33:18-19; 34:9-10). We are more important than sparrows and lilies, so we may depend upon God’s care of us.

      However, in this verse the Psalmist is not speaking of physical food but spiritual. The Hebrew word verily means “truth”, so that the verse can be read, “. . . on truth thou shalt be fed.” The spiritual life of the one who trusts in Christ will be fed and sustained by truth.

Some feed on wind:

      The unbeliever feeds on that which is not true (Isa 44:10, 20); even foolishness (Prov 15:14). Those who trust in human deliverance will be like Israel depending upon Egypt and Assyria (Hos 12:1). God will feed false prophets accordingly -- Jeremiah 23:15   “Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and

1 Corinthians 15:57   But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

     Thanksgiving is a religious holiday born out of want, sorrow and deep need. Thoise early Pilgrims who braved this new world had a deep faith in God and from that faith came our Thanksgiving holiday. There are many things we can thank God for and should thank Him for – as the song writer says, It will surprise what the Lord has done. We are told to give thanks when we make requests in prayer (Phil 4:6) and also to render thanks in and for all things (Eph 5:20; 1 Thes 5:18). But there are three notable gifts mentioned by Paul in his letters to the Corinthians in which he was led to use the particular phrase, “Thanks be unto God”.

Victory:

      The first one is in the text which says that God has given us the victory thru Jesus Christ. There are many victories we could attach to this verse, but since it uses the definite article: the” victory, he is probably thinking of one thing in particular. The context of the verse also tells us that Paul is

Acts 2:1-4   And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. {2}  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. {3}  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. {4}  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Key number in Scripture:

     Numbers are important in Scripture and seven may be a key one regarding prophetic events. There are seven feast of the Lord -- Passover, Unleavened Bread, Feast of First Fruits, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Feast of Tabernacles. The Sabbath is the seventh day; every seventh year is a rest for the land; there are seven sevens (year of Jubilee); and seventy sevens (Dan 9:24).  The Book of Revelation has seven churches, seven seals, seven trumpets and seven vial judgments. The golden candle stick has seven lights on it, God's word is purified seven times (Psa 13:6) and numerous other occasions of seven throughout Scripture.

2 Timothy 2:2 }  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

      The Bible warns us about many who say they are faithful but their life shows differently (Prov 20:6). They talk a good talk but their walk is very weak.

      Paul tells Timothy that he is not only to be faithful himself but to commit what he has learned and heard from him to others who will in turn teach others and continue the work God desires to be accomplished through His people. What are the qualifications of faithful men and women that Timothy should look for in others?

Alert and aware:

      They are to be alert and aware of God’s master plan (Matt 28:19-20) and understand the reason for God’s longsuffering with the wickedness of man (2 Pet 3:8-10). He must always keep in mind and work towards Christ’s return.

Industrious and committed:

      Such people must be industrious in their work (whether it is their worldly endeavors or spiritual) and committed to God’s work. They must be conscious of the ultimate spiritual evaluation (Matt 25:14-23).

James 2:22-24 {Jas 22}  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? {23}  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. {24}  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

One passage, two apostles:

      Paul and James both used Gen 15:6 for their defense of faith without works and faith with works. Both deal with justification and both are in agreement with each other, but on the surface they appear to be opposite. James appeals to Abraham’s willingness and actions in offering his son, Isaac, to God. Although the one passage is removed from each other by several chapters and a number of years, yet they go together in showing works and faith.

      Paul uses Gen 15:6 in Gal 3:6 and Ro4:22 to show that we are not justified by works. Paul says that it is only through faith that we are justified before God (Ro 5:1). Were James and Paul at odds in their teachings?

Scripture fulfilled:

      James speaks of Scripture being fulfilled

1 Thessalonians 1:1-3   Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. {2}  We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; {3}  Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

Paul’s interest in the church:

          After establishing the church in Thessalonica, Paul was forced to leave due to problems by the Jews who did not believe. This did not prevent Paul from his concern for the believers there and he wrote two letters to them to encourage and teach them and us truths for Christian life. In this first letter and our text, Paul is commending the believers for their example of being Christian and we can apply that to our churches today as we endeavor to apply Scripture and our belief to everyday living.

Their faith:

     Faith must be taken in two ways – one is our trust in God,

Ephesians 5:18  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Contradiction today:

      There are many Christians and even ministers that think that it not against Scripture to drink alcoholic drinks as a “social” drinker. They will use this verse as proof that it is okay to drink as long as you do not become drunken – excess. In reality, medical science tells us that the alcohol in even one glass of beverage alcohol (beer) cannot be completely utilized by the body and the body places the unused portion in the body until it can be eliminated from the system, thus making it impossible for anyone to drink a little and not have the “slightest” effect upon them. So, then there is evidence of being filled with the effects of just a little alcohol.

      In the verse Paul counters the cult of “social” drinking by the words that follow – but be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. One cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit (which implies complete control by the Holy Spirit), if he/she has come to even the slightest degree under the control of alcohol (or anything else that