Introduction

• Colossians 2:18
• Acts 23:8
• Angels are different than humans.
  • Mark 12:25
  • Luke 16:22

Jesus was God on Earth (Luke 1:26-38)

• Philippians 2:7-8

Jesus accepted worship (without sinning)

• Matthew 14:33
• Acts 10:25-26 – Peter refused to accept worship.
• Acts 12:21-23 – Herod accepted worship and was struck dead.

Jesus forgave sins while He was on earth.

• Mark 2:5-12 – Jesus could heal physical problems and forgive sins.

Jesus worked miracles by His own power.

• Acts 2:22-24
• Hebrews 1:1-2 – Jesus had full power at the time of creation. This phrasing just shows how Jesus and God the Father worked together.
• John 1:1
• Luke 10:1, 17
• John 2:11 – Jesus showed His own glory.
• Acts 3:6, 16
• John 20:30-31

Jesus is the Savior (Luke 2:8-14)

• Mark 16:15-16
• John 3:5
• Acts 5:18; 8:26, 35; 10:22, 48
• Angels said Jesus was the Savior and helped that message to spread.

Jesus rose from the dead (Matthew 28:1-8)

• Matthew 28:11-5 – The soldiers participated in a cover-up.

Justin Martyr (c. 165 AD):

“A godless and lawless heresy had sprung from one Jesus, a Galilean deceiver, whom we crucified, but his disciples stole him by night from the tomb where he was laid when unfastened from the cross, and now deceive men by asserting that he has risen from the dead and ascended to heaven.”

Tertullian (c. 160-225 AD):

“The grave was found empty of all but the clothes of the buried one. But, nevertheless, the leaders of the Jews, whom it nearly concerned both to spread abroad a lie, and keep back a people tributary and submissive to them from the faith, gave it out that the body of Christ had been stolen by his followers.”

The historian Josephus (c. 37-100 AD):

“And when Pilate had condemned him to the cross, upon his impeachment by the principal man among us, those who had loved him from the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive on the third day, the divine prophets having spoken these and thousands of other wonderful things about him.”

• I Corinthians 15:3-8
• Acts 25:19

Jesus will come again (Acts 1:9-11)

• Matthew 16:27
• II Thessalonians 1:7-8

Matthew 11

• Matthew 11:1-5
  • John clearly already knew who Jesus was, having baptized him. But why did he send his disciples to ask this?
    • Possibly, John’s faith was shaken, having been put in prison.
    • He could have sent the disciples for their own benefit to reinforce their faith.
  • See Isaiah 35:5-10. Note the context. This is referencing the coming of the kingdom of God. Jesus gave them an answer that required them to think.
• Matthew 11:6 – People in Jesus’ hometown took offense at Him.
  • John 6:54-56
  • John 16:1 – Jesus’ disciples would be persecuted.
  • Jesus was offensive to those for whom He did not:
    • Meet their expectations
    • Bring peace on earth
• Matthew 11:7-11 – John the Baptist also offended them. See Malachi 3:1-5.
• Matthew 11:12 – Compare Mark 10:35. Some people thought Jesus’ kingdom was one that would rule by force. This could also be saying that to be in the kingdom took effort (Luke 16:16). This could also mean that the kingdom of heaven was advancing and those who wanted to be in it were seizing it.
  • “take it by force” – See Matthew 12:29; John 6:15
• Matthew 11:13-14 – See Colossians 4:6; Jude 1:22-23. If the listener does not accept the message, it is possible they would have refused it no matter how it was presented.
• Matthew 11:20-24 – Those who had seen more would have more required of them (Luke 12:47-48). God has blessed us greatly and He expects a lot out of us.
• Matthew 11:25-26 – The gospel is for the ordinary man.
• Matthew 11:28-30 – See Jeremiah 6:16.

God’s communication through history

At first, He just talked directly to people.

• Genesis 1:28; 2:16; 4:6; 6:13; 9:1; 12:1

Sometimes, God would use vision or a dream.

• Genesis 15:1; 20:3, 6; 41:25, 28
• I Samuel 3:1

Sometimes, God would manifest Himself in some form and appear to people.

• Genesis 18:1-2, 22-33 – Abraham was even able to have a conversation with God.
• Job 13:22 – Job wished for this kind of dialog!
• Exodus 3:2-4 – Moses and the burning bush.
• Exodus 19:18-19; 31:18
• Exodus 33:11 – God spoke to Moses face-to-face.

God brought punishments or blessings on some people.

• Amos 4:6-8 – You should have noticed the punishments! This doesn’t mean any bad things is a sign from God.

Creation itself teaches us about God.

• Psalm 19:1-2

Many times, God used prophets.

• II Kings 20:1-7
• Nehemiah 9:30
• II Peter 1:21

God’s FINAL communication

• Hebrews 1:1-2
• Mark 1:22; 9:2-7; 16:15 – Jesus’ teaching was different. His messengers carried the message to the world.

Practical takeaways

• We need to get good at reading and understanding the Bible. John 12:48-50
• Defend the Scripture!
  • Hebrews 2:1-4 -This is God’s law from now on for everyone!
  • Deuteronomy 13:1-5
• On a very personal level, don’t rebel against the Bible when it hits you where it hurts.
  • Acts 2:37

Galatians 4, continued

Galatians 4:12-20 – “So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?”

• Galatians 4:13 – Whatever this illness was, it gave Paul the occasion to preach to them the first time. See Philippians 1:12. We need to adjust to God’s plan. Remember the lesson of Jonah.

Galatians 4:21-31 – Allegory of Abraham’s two sons

• Galatians 4:21 – See Genesis 12:1-3; 13:16; 15:1-6; 16:1-11, 15-16. After ten years, Sarai decided to use Hagar, which was not God’s plan. See Genesis 17:1-5, 15-21; 18:10-15; 21:1-5, 9-15. Abraham had been waiting 25 years for Isaac. Ishmael was already 14 years old!
• Galatians 4:23 – Isaac was not a natural birth – both Abraham and Sarah were well past child-bearing age. God did the same thing with Gideon in Judges 7:2. He made it clear that it happened purely because God promised it.

• Galatians 4:25 – See Hebrews 12:18.
• Galatians 4:27 – The quote is from Isaiah 54:1.
• Galatians 4:28 – We are only children of God because of God fulfilling His promise. We can’t do it on our own!
• Galatians 4:29 – See Genesis 21:9.

Introduction

• There are Christians all over the world worshiping God today!

The Philippines

• The population is 106 million people, but the country is only 120,000 square miles. A third the population of the US, but only a thirtieth of the land. Population density is much higher.
• Our work
  • There 2 weeks
  • 16 congregations
  • About 22 sermons – all translated except 1
  • 9 Q & A sessions
  • One radio program
  • One debate / discussion – 7th Day Adventist
  • Countless Bible studies with preachers
  • Lindsay
    • 5 ladies’ classes
    • 5 children’s classes

Things you will learn if you go on these trips:

• Realize your Bible knowledge is lacking.
• You must get out of your comfort zone.
• The perspective you will gain.

Mexico

Nicaragua

Peru

Chile

Challenges in Central / South America

• The mentality that men are too good or too macho for spirituality.
• The definition of marriage.

Involvement

• Already involved
• If you would like to go sometime
• Balikbayan boxes
• Individual financial help
• Ongoing Bible studies via Zoom

Luke 5

• Luke 5:8 – Peter realized his condition!