Luke Sermon Notes




 
 
11.11.2012                                         Luke 18: 1- 8
                           Don´t give up!
Open your Bible to the eighteenth chapter of the gospel of Luke chapter 18…… And here is a familiar and wonderful parable told by our Lord Jesus Christ…..   Luke chapter 18, we begin at verse 1…….
Luke 18 : 1-8                          NKJV
1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’
6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”


Luke 18 : 1-8                          Schlachter 2000
 1 Er sagte ihnen aber auch ein Gleichnis, um ihnen zu zeigen, daß es nötig ist, allezeit zu beten und nicht nachlässig zu werden;
2 und er sprach: Es war ein Richter in einer Stadt, der Gott nicht fürchtete und sich vor keinem Menschen scheute.
3 Es war aber eine Witwe in jener Stadt; die kam zu ihm und sprach: Schaffe mir Recht gegenüber meinem Widersacher!
4 Und er wollte lange nicht; danach aber sprach er bei sich selbst: Wenn ich auch Gott nicht fürchte und mich vor keinem Menschen scheue,
5 so will ich dennoch, weil mir diese Witwe Mühe macht, ihr Recht schaffen, damit sie nicht unaufhörlich kommt und mich plagt.
6 Und der Herr sprach: Hört, was der ungerechte Richter sagt!
7 Gott aber, wird er nicht seinen Auserwählten Recht schaffen, die Tag und Nacht zu ihm rufen, wenn er auch lange zuwartet mit ihnen?
8 Ich sage euch: Er wird ihnen schnell Recht schaffen! Doch wenn der Sohn des Menschen kommt, wird er auch den Glauben finden auf Erden?


Let´s look first at the parable itself….. verse2…..
Luke 18: 2          NKJV   Schlachter 2000
2. There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.
2 der Gott nicht fürchtete und sich vor keinem Menschen scheute.
This is a simple example….. one that is very  familiar to the people of Israel…….    Israel  had lots of  experience with widows and also with unjust judges…… And here we meet such a judge….. a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man……...
This kind of description is used to describe the most wicked person…… someone who has absolutely no reverence for God…… and no interest in people……
This man is ultimately and finally wicked……. There is no way to penetrate this man's wickedness either from the viewpoint of the Law of God or from the viewpoint of the need of man…… He is not moved by reverence or worship and he is not moved by compassion or sympathy……. He has no interest in the first commandment, loving God; no interest in the second commandment, loving his neighbor…...  

His wickedness   is even worse because he is in the role of a judge……. He does not care about the Law….. Crazy…. He has no compassion…… He is Godless…..  The word unrighteous would mean dishonest, corrupt, unjust……. Not only is he this evil but he knows it and he's comfortable with it……..

In verse 4 he said to himself….
Luke 18: 4b         NKJV   Schlachter 2000
4b "Even though I do not fear God nor respect men."
4b Wenn ich auch Gott nicht fürchte und mich vor keinem Menschen scheue,
 Here is the worst possible human being in a very  important position of responsibility…… His disregard for God and man has massive implications in regard to all the people who come into his court…….
The judge has a very serious responsibility before God……. He represents God and His law…… He is expected to keep it himself….. and to reflect God´s sympathy and compassion toward people…….. Any judge in Israel would be very familiar with Old Testament instructions regarding being a judge……. In Second Chronicles chapter 19, Jehoshaphat is the king of Judah…... He appointed judges in the land…… Turn to
2 Chronicles 19: 5-7                 NKJV
5 Then he set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, 6 and said to the judges, “Take heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. 7 Now therefore, let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes.”

2 Chronicles 19: 5-7               Schlachter 2000
5 Und er bestimmte Richter im Land, in allen festen Städten Judas, Stadt für Stadt.
6 Und er sprach zu den Richtern: Habt acht, was ihr tut! Denn ihr haltet das Gericht nicht für Menschen, sondern für den Herrn, und er ist mit euch beim Urteilsspruch.
7 So sei denn der Schrecken des Herrn über euch; nehmt euch in acht, was ihr tut! Denn bei dem Herrn, unserem Gott, gibt es weder Unrecht noch Ansehen der Person noch Bestechlichkeit.
 Everyone who was ever appointed to any judicial responsibility in Israel would know that passage well……. But even in the Old Testament….. in spite of the clear instruction of God, judges were corrupt…….  
This kind of judicial corruption was not limited just to the Old Testament…… It was also true in the time of our Lord Jesus….. Alfred Edersheim who has written the classic Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, the great history of that period of time, describes the judges in Jerusalem as being so corrupt that the people changed their title…... They were known as Dayyaney Gezeloth…… that was the term used to describe a judge and his responsibility to enforce the Law……. The people called them Dayyaney Gezeroth…… they changed one letter in the Hebrew which turned the expression a judge dealing with the law……. to a judge who is a robber...robber judges became their title because they were so corrupt…... They did just exactly  what God said not to do…… They showed partiality….. They were unjust and they took bribes…… This judge was dishonest and corrupt…… He is defining what everybody would know by the description in verse 2, that he didn't fear God and he didn't respect man…...
Dayyaney Gezeloth…… a judge dealing with the law
Dayyaney Gezeroth…….. a judge who is a robber
  The greek word translated respect could also be translated shameless….. This judge was shameless……. He had no sense of honor and  no sense of character….. was unreachable by normal methods…. It was impossible to touch his conscious or embarrass him…..Look in verse 3….

Luke 18: 3          NKJV   Schlachter 2000
3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’
3 Es war aber eine Witwe in jener Stadt; die kam zu ihm und sprach: Schaffe mir Recht gegenüber meinem Widersacher!
Someone has defrauded her……. She is destitute……  The only time a woman would come to court was when there was no family member to plead her case…… This woman is alone…..  she represents   the powerless, the helpless…… She is   desperate…..
Her case is clear…., as far as the Old Testament goes……    on the basis of mercy alone…… he should have done something to care for her…….. Exodus 22 verses 22 - 24 talks about the responsibility to show mercy to a widow….. Deuteronomy 24: 17,18…… Isaiah 1: 16 and 17, and many other places, Widows were to be cared for….. Their needs were to be met……. This judge is utterly indifferent to her….. He shows no compassion……
back to verse 3…. She comes,  and kept coming and kept saying, which means she's relentless….. she's there every day and she's saying, "Give me legal protection, give me what is mine…..  
verse 4 says,
Luke 18: 4          NKJV   Schlachter 2000
4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,
4 Und er wollte lange nicht; danach aber sprach er bei sich selbst: Wenn ich auch Gott nicht fürchte und mich vor keinem Menschen scheue,

He was   not willing to help her……. He is the worst judge imaginable....
Luke 18: 5          NKJV   Schlachter 2000
5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’
5 so will ich dennoch, weil mir diese Witwe Mühe macht, ihr Recht schaffen, damit sie nicht unaufhörlich kommt und mich plagt.
The Greek could be paraphrased…..  "She causes me trouble, she is irritating me……. Every day she's there……. Every day she's pleading her case……  She is plaguing me….. I will avenge her…… give her legal protection lest by continually coming..." The word continually in the greek…. is eistelos,
It is sometimes translated in the Bible forever…... She will keep coming forever if I don't get rid of her……..
He has no regard for God….. He has no regard for man….. But He has had enough….. That little phrase, "She will wear me out."…. she is beating me up……     So the powerful and wicked judge is defeated by the weak widow through her persistence……
 Women were really powerless……   But they were respected and  honored……. They would be allowed to cry and plead for help……. they could get away with things that men couldn't get away with...... Even today you see pictures in the Arabic world of women who are pleading their case by screaming and yelling…….
We´re talking about crying day and night……..   The crying day and night comes in the explanation in verse 7……. So she's driving this man to insanity….. He's got to get rid of her….. And so he rules in her favor……   So that's the parable…….
What's the meaning of this parable? We are told the meaning in verse 1……
Luke 18: 1                           NKJV      Schlachter 2000
1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
1 Er sagte ihnen aber auch ein Gleichnis, um ihnen zu zeigen, daß es nötig ist, allezeit zu beten und nicht nachlässig zu werden;
Don't lose heart........ keep praying…... That simply means through all theevil in this world…… and all the years that go by as we wait for the Lord to return….. we are to pray and not lose heart…….
…..And not lose heart
Often we stop praying because we lose heart…... We become discouraged….. and disappointed…. Here are 2 reasons that can happen to us….
1… It is easy to lose heart in prayer because we are not always convinced of the   power of prayer….. Too often, prayer becomes a last resort instead of a first resource……

2… It is easy to lose heart in prayer……. because prayer is hard work….. Work that we treat too lightly…..


In Colossians 4:12….. Paul praises a man named Epaphras because he was always laboring fervently . . . in prayer…... Paul knew that prayer was hard work that required fervent labor…..
Remember the context here…….. Jess has been talking to the Pharisees and to the disciples about the Kingdom…… He is on the way to the cross….. Jesus has told them that the establishment of His will be delayed….. He knows that it will be difficult for them as they learn to wait for Him…..
Waiting is hard…….
Peter wrote about the delay of Jesus coming in 2 Peter 3…..
2 Peter3: 3, 4            NKJV
3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
2 Peter3: 3, 4            Schlachter 2000
3 Dabei sollt ihr vor allem das erkennen, daß am Ende der Tage Spötter kommen werden, die nach ihren eigenen Lüsten1 wandeln
4 und sagen: Wo ist die Verheißung seiner Wiederkunft? Denn seitdem die Väter entschlafen sind, bleibt alles so, wie es von Anfang der Schöpfung an gewesen ist!
Peter says….. not only is Jesus´coming delayed…… It´s going to cause doubters who will make fun of us…. They will say    where is the promise of His coming? Where is he?
We will be ridiculed for saying Jesus is coming……. but Jesus is coming……. Here in our text today….. Jesus himself is saying to the disciples…. And to us…… Don't lose heart…… Don´t give up!
In Matthew 24 …. Jesus told His disciples to endure…. That´s another way of saying …. Don´t lose heart…. Don´t give up!.....
Matthew 24: 12-14                 NKJV
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24: 12-14                Schlachter 2000
12 Und weil die Gesetzlosigkeit überhand nimmt, wird die Liebe4 in vielen erkalten.
13 Wer aber ausharrt bis ans Ende, der wird gerettet werden.
14 Und dieses Evangelium vom Reich wird in der ganzen Welt5 verkündigt werden, zum Zeugnis für alle Heidenvölker, und dann wird das Ende kommen. 
This is important….
Jesus says…. It´s going to be tough….. and the wickedness and evil that surrounds us will cause us to be discouraged…. to want to give up……
At the very time when we  need to seek the LORD with our whole heart…… We will allow ourselves to seek comfort somewhere else…. we will allow our dedication to Him to grow cold…… It is dangerous to allow ourselves to be discouraged with the way that God is running our lives….. We become disappointed in the LORD Himself….. Jesus is also saying  that it is enduring faith that marks the true believer……..
In Matthew 24..….. Jesus says pray that the Lord will come…….. and pray for the strength to endure until He arrives…….  
There's a similar call by our Lord in the twenty-first chapter of Luke and verse 36 as well…….
Luke 21: 34-36      NKJV
34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy  to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21: 34-36      Schlachter 2000
34 Habt aber acht auf euch selbst, daß eure Herzen nicht beschwert werden durch Rausch und Trunkenheit und Sorgen des Lebens2, und jener Tag unversehens über euch kommt!
35 Denn wie ein Fallstrick wird er über alle kommen, die auf dem ganzen Erdboden wohnen.
36 Darum wacht jederzeit und bittet, daß ihr gewürdigt werdet, diesem allem zu entfliehen, was geschehen soll, und vor dem Sohn des Menschen zu stehen!
Here Jesus is saying to us……. Take heed! Watch out!  
WE need to pray that Christ will come…. We need to pray that we'll have the strength to endure to the end…… the end of our lives…… until the Lord Himself comes…. Pray always and Don´t give up! Don´t lose heart….  
Let´s go back to Luke Chapter 18…… Jesus asks a question in verse 8…..
Luke 18: 8                 NKJV  Schlachter 2000
8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
8 Ich sage euch: Er wird ihnen schnell Recht schaffen! Doch wenn der Sohn des Menschen kommt, wird er auch den Glauben finden auf Erden?
 It says at the end of verse 8, "However, when the Son of Man comes will He find faith on the earth?"
The widow in this parable was relentless…… She cried out again and again….. Jesus is saying…. When I, The Son of Man do come back…..Will I find this kind of persevering faith?
Will He find this kind of persevering prayer?
Will He find this kind of enduring confidence?
 No one knows the time of the Rapture……. We don't know when the events that are the Second Coming will be launched…...
We don't know when the Day of the Lord ”Tag des Herrn” is going to come…… but two thousand years have passed by….. believers have been waiting and waiting….. and suffering at the hand of sinners……. It is as it was in the days of Noah…..  evil men grow worse and worse and worse……
We see the pollution inside and outside of the Church too….. False teachers are everywhere……
We must endure……. We must stand true and faithful…..waiting patiently for our great King and redeemer……We must remember that Jesus delays His coming because of His great Mercy…….. The same mercy that he showed us when we first believed……..trusting in the Promises of God…….. Trusting in the Word of God……. We have been promised that He will come…….. We believe that He will come….. And in our text today….. Jesus says, "Keep praying……. Don´t lose heart…..
Jesus is coming to deliver us…… He will establish his eternal Kingdom……  He will bring judgment to the ungodly…….   He will reign in a Kingdom on earth and He will establish the new heaven and the new earth…… And that is what we are to pray for relentlessly…….. Like the widow in the story…..
We evangelize because we know the Lord is coming…... We're comforted because we know He's coming…... We're purified because we know He's coming……
Jesus coming has implications about how we view everything we own…..   what we do with our time….. what we do with our money…..
The way  we live our lives should  be influenced by The Second Coming of the LORD Jesus…..  Don´t lose heart…… I have not abandoned you…….. I am coming again…..
Let´s get back to the parable….. Look at verse 6…
Luke 18: 6- 7                           KNJV
6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?

Luke 18: 6- 7                        Schlachter 2000
 6 Und der Herr sprach: Hört, was der ungerechte Richter sagt!
7 Gott aber, wird er nicht seinen Auserwählten Recht schaffen, die Tag und Nacht zu ihm rufen, wenn er auch lange zuwartet mit ihnen?
Here is the Lord's interpretation of his parable……..
Hear what the unjust judge said.
Jesus says….. Think about the wicked judge in the story…..  . He did not care about God……. He did not care about people……. But he finally did what was right…..  He did what was right for a woman for whom he had no feeling at all…… That's what we're going to start with as we hear the interpretation of the Lord……
 let's look at verse 7 and see the contrast…
Luke 18: 7   NKJV    Schlachter 2000
7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
7 Gott aber, wird er nicht seinen Auserwählten Recht schaffen, die Tag und Nacht zu ihm rufen, wenn er auch lange zuwartet mit ihnen?
What´s the point here?
This is a very common expression….. Jesus is comparing from the lesser to the greater……. He is saying…… This wicked man  finally did what was right……. Because the widow would not give up……. How much more will your good and Gracious Father do everything that is right and good for you…… Don´t give up……..  Keep on praying….. Endure to the end…..
Jesus is comparing from the absolute worst to the absolute best……..
If a judge who is like that will do what is right for someone for whom he has no affection……  do you think God will not do what is right for those who are His eternal elect…… who are loved by Him…… Chosen by Him from before the foundation of the world?
His very own people who cry out to Him day and night……. pleading for His glory to come and for them to be glorified with Him?
We believers….. we are to elect of God…..
We are represented by the widow……. We are, in a sense, helpless….. Totally dependant on God….. We are, in a sense, at the mercy of our judge…… But this judge is not like God….. This judge is the opposite of God……
This wicked judge is as unlike God as you can get……
 God always does what is right….. God is always compassionate, merciful, gracious, tender-hearted and kind…….. This is God´s own description of Himself……. Exodus  34 verse 6 thru 8……  And God will do what He says He will do…….
Here even this wicked   judge will do what is right…… How much more will your heavenly father give you the Kingdom……  How much more….. will a righteous, loving, holy God do what is right?
First Peter 2:23 says, "God is the one who judges righteously." Romans 12:19 says that, "God has said vengeance is Mine, I will repay." Revelation 19:2, "True and righteous are His judgments." He will do what He has promised for His elect because He always keeps His word…..  He's faithful to His Word….. He's faithful to His Law….. because He's merciful….. because He's compassionate by his very nature…. and because He loves those whom He has eternally chosen……
And the key here is this, verse 7, "Who cry to Him day and night." That's us…… And that takes us back to Luke chapter 17. verse 22…..
Luke 17: 22                           NKJV     Schlachter 2000
22 Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.
22 Er sprach aber zu den Jüngern: Es werden Tage kommen, da ihr begehren werdet, einen einzigen der Tage des Menschensohnes zu sehen, und ihr werdet ihn nicht sehen.
That's us again….. We're longing for Christ to come……. We're living with the blessed hope…….. The glorious appearing of that great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ……..  
 We've got to live in the light of His coming……. It provides comfort…..   It provides purity…..  it provides stability……. It provides zeal in evangelism…... You have to live in the light of the Second Coming of Christ……

 Luke 18: 7,8                     NKJV    Schlachter 2000
7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
7 Gott aber, wird er nicht seinen Auserwählten Recht schaffen, die Tag und Nacht zu ihm rufen, wenn er auch lange zuwartet mit ihnen?   8 Ich sage euch: Er wird ihnen schnell Recht schaffen! Doch wenn der Sohn des Menschen kommt, wird er auch den Glauben finden auf Erden?
Look at v7b…..
  though He bears long with them?
You could also say…. "And be patient over them."
 Yes, is not God exercising patience?........ is what this means. How do you know that? Makrothumeois the word, it means to be patient.   We expect a delay in Jesus return because God is being patient over His people…… What does that mean?   The long interval between the first and the second coming of Jesus is a period in which God is exercising patience  over them……  He is holding His wrath and judgment at a distance for the sake of His elect…..
The greek word translated bears long with them….  is makrothumeor makrothumia……  The word makrothumiameans…… anger removed far, far away. And our Lord is saying He is coming……  He will vindicate (rechtfertigen) His own…… He will glorify Himself, He will judge sinners…... But He has removed to a far distance His wrath for a long, long time…... This describes what Exodus 34 says about God….. verses 6-8 that He is slow to anger……..
God has The absolute right to judge….. but He also has the absolute right to be merciful……. God will judge in His own time…….  But now…. He is holding His anger at a distance because He desires to show Mercy and unfailing Love….. His Chesed….…..   Peter tells us in
2 Peter 3:9              NKJV   Schlachter 2000
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,  not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
9 Der Herr zögert nicht die Verheißung hinaus, wie etliche es für ein Hinauszögern halten, sondern er ist langmütig gegen uns, weil er nicht will, daß jemand verlorengehe, sondern daß jedermann Raum zur Buße habe.
In 2 Peter 3:15 Peter says this,
2 Peter 3: 15              NKJV   Schlachter 2000
15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
15 Und seht die Langmut unseres Herrn als [eure] Rettung an, wie auch unser geliebter Bruder Paulus euch geschrieben hat nach der ihm gegebenen Weisheit,
"The longsuffering of The Father…… The makrothumia of God is salvation."
What's He waiting for? He's waiting for the salvation of His elect……. He's waiting until they're all gathered in…… .And when the last of the elect are gathered in…… then the end will come…….. Yes, He will satisfy his wrath…… but not until He has satisfied His grace…... This, by the way, is the meaning of makrothumia every time it is used with reference to God. It is used with reference to God in Romans 2:4, Romans 9:22, 1 Peter 3:20, 2 Peter 3:9 and 15, 1 Timothy 1:16. In each of those cases it means that God withholds His wrath….. He keeps it  at a distance……
So verse 8, "I tell you that He will bring about justice, He will vindicate  the elect……
You keep praying and don't lose heart because He's waiting to gather in all His elect."
Jesus  closes with a question, verse 8, "However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith in the earth?" What does that mean? Jesus is just pensively asking the question that when He does come….. remember   it's going to be a long time…… will there be anybody left who is persistent like this widow?
When He does come, and He will…… will He find people praying for His return?
"When He comes, will He find His people still crying day and night eagerly waiting for His return? Will we love His appearing? Will we be crying out Maranatha, 1 Corinthians 16:22, even come, Lord, come, Lord." Or will it be like in Noah's day with just a few, or Lot today with just a few?
Close
Alex Croissant story Pot holders…..
We live in hope…… We  have been given a tremendous promise…… This is how it's all going to end…… Jesus is Coming Again…. In the meantime we suffer…… and we're rejected and persecuted…… and the gospel is resisted….. Yes it's been two thousand years, but our hope stands….. and our love for Christ is strong….
Jesus is coming to establish His eternal Kingdom….. He will Reign as King of kings and Lord of lords…… It all going to be Ok…… The Father has promised to deliver us….. We should Live in that kind of anticipation until He comes…… Watch ing and praying……. Don´t give up…. Don´t be discouraged…. Hang on to JESUS…. And watch how it changes your life……
Philippians 4: 4-7                             NKJV
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4: 4-7                      Schlachter 2000
4 Freut euch im Herrn allezeit; abermals sage ich: Freut euch!
5 Eure Sanftmut laßt alle Menschen erfahren! Der Herr ist nahe!
6 Sorgt euch um nichts; sondern in allem laßt durch Gebet und Flehen mit Danksagung eure Anliegen vor Gott kundwerden.
7 Und der Friede Gottes, der allen Verstand übersteigt, wird eure Herzen und eure Gedanken bewahren in Christus Jesus!

Let's pray…..

About Me

Luke 9: 10- 26                             2.10.2011
Who is this man?  Why are we still here?
 Good morning everyone. It´s wonderful to see all of you here this morning. We thank God for everyone of you.
As most of you know…..at Calvary Chapel Wiesbaden….. We teach through the Bible verse by verse…… We are studying the Gospel….the Good news as recorded by Luke…… Today we are in Luke 9…..
As we're studying the scriptures   Again today……. I want to  point out the personal way that  Jesus reached out to   people………
First…. His message….. second….. his compassion
He came to seek and to save the lost…….. He went to the lost and broken… to the hopeless……
As Chapter 9 opens we see Jesus sending out the twelve…… Luke 9: 1-2….. let´s turn there for a moment…
Luke 9: 1- 2     NLT 
1 One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples[a] and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. 2 Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Luke 9: 1- 2     Neues Leben
1 Eines Tages rief Jesus seine zwölf Apostel zu sich und gab ihnen Vollmacht, Dämonen auszutreiben und Krankheiten zu heilen.
2 Dann sandte er sie mit dem Auftrag aus, allen Menschen vom Kommen des Reiches Gottes zu erzählen und die Kranken gesund zu machen.
Jesus sent out the twelve on a mission……… He gave them His authority and His power………..
1 preach proclaim the GOOD News……
2 heal the sick…..and cast out demons……
The Lord has decided to multiply Himself through people…… He didn't have to do it that way…… Obviously the God of creation who made the entire universe in six days could have done ministry any way He wanted…… He could have done it all by Himself and been successful at it, but He chose to do his ministry through people…… And certainly that is true in the case of Jesus as He delegated both the message and His power to His disciples……… here in chapter 9………….through the Twelve…… We gain some wonderful insights into this process which are directly transferable to us as leaders and those of us who do ministry together…… We're going to see that as this passage unfolds…… Today we will  continue to look at two very important elements to this message………..
1 the proclaiming of the Good news….. The Gospel message of repentance and redemption………. There is Hope……. His name is Jesus…….

2 The compassion of God for the lost and suffering in this world…. John 3: 16 For God so loved the world that He gave……..His only son………

Let´s continue in our text Luke 9….. beginning at verse 10…..
Luke 9: 10-11      NLT
10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida. 11 But the crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him. He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick.
Luke 9: 10- 11    Neues Leben
10 Als die Apostel zurückkehrten, berichteten sie Jesus über alles, was sie getan hatten. Danach zog er sich mit ihnen in die Nähe der Stadt Betsaida zurück.
11 Doch die Leute fanden heraus, wohin er gegangen war, und folgten ihm. Da wandte er sich ihnen zu, erzählte ihnen vom Reich Gottes und heilte die Kranken unter ihnen.

There are some important and practical lessons for us to learn here…….
V 10….. After the 12 returned from a time of ministering to the people…..  They were very excited about all that had happened….. Jesus took them away to a deserted place….. because they needed rest and time with Jesus…..
1 …. we need times of rest……. Time to spend with the Lord and talk to Him about ministry and life……..
V11…… the multitude knew where he was they followed Him and Jesus received them….. He proclaimed the Good News ……… He ministered to their spiritual needs…. and He healed them…… ministering to their physical needs……..
2 …. Jesus was never too busy to minister to the people…… Jesus came to seek and to save the Lost…….
All of this is OJT….. on the job training………
The disciples watched Jesus with the people…… teaching ……… preaching and healing …….

Let´s take the next section…… v 12…..

Luke 9: 12-17      NLT
12 Late in the afternoon the twelve disciples came to him and said, “Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place.”
13 But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?”
14 For there were about 5,000 men there. Jesus replied, “Tell them to sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 So the people all sat down. 16 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. 17 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers!

Luke 9: 12- 17    Neues Leben
12 Am späten Nachmittag kamen die zwölf Jünger zu ihm und sagten: »Schick die Leute fort in die nahe gelegenen Dörfer und Höfe, dann können sie etwas zu essen und eine Unterkunft für die Nacht finden. Denn hier, in dieser verlassenen Gegend, gibt es nichts zu essen.«
13 Doch Jesus sagte: »Gebt ihr ihnen zu essen.« »Unmöglich!«, protestierten sie. »Wir haben nur fünf Brote und zwei Fische. Oder erwartest du von uns, dass wir gehen und für diese vielen Menschen Essen kaufen?«
14 Es waren etwa fünftausend Männer. »Sie sollen sich in Gruppen zu je fünfzig niederlassen«, erwiderte Jesus.
15 Da setzten sie sich alle hin.
16 Jesus nahm die fünf Brote und die beiden Fische, blickte zum Himmel auf und erbat Gottes Segen für das Essen. Dann brach er die Brote in Stücke und reichte sie den Jüngern, damit sie alles an die Leute austeilten.
17 Alle aßen, so viel sie wollten, und am Schluss sammelten sie noch zwölf Körbe mit Resten ein!

V12- 17…… as the day was ending………
1….. the disciples saw the need
2…… they went to Jesus with the need
You feed them…… Impossible!
We often feel inadequate….. unable….. empty…… exhausted…..
3….. They ministered to the people themselves…….with the tools (the multiplied loaves and fishes) ……that Jesus gave them……..



Luke 9: 18- 26               NLT
18 One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

 19 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead.”
20 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah sent from God!”

 21 Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. 22 “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”

 23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.
Luke 9: 18- 26               Neues Leben
18 Als Jesus eines Tages allein war, fragte er sie: »Für wen halten die Leute mich?«
19 »Nun«, erwiderten sie, »manche sagen, du seist Johannes der Täufer, andere halten dich für Elia und wieder andere behaupten, du seist einer der alten Propheten, der von den Toten auferstanden ist.«
20 Da fragte er sie: »Und für wen haltet ihr mich?« Petrus erwiderte: »Du bist der von Gott gesandte Christus!«

21 Jesus schärfte ihnen ein, es niemandem zu sagen.
22 »Denn der Menschensohn muss viel Schlimmes erleiden«, sagte er. »Er wird von den führenden Männern des jüdischen Volkes, den obersten Priestern und den Schriftgelehrten verurteilt werden. Sie werden ihn töten, doch drei Tage später wird er von den Toten auferstehen.«
23 Dann sagte er zu der Menge: »Wenn einer von euch mit mir gehen will, muss er sich selbst verleugnen, jeden Tag aufs Neue sein Kreuz auf sich nehmen und mir nachfolgen.
24 Wer versucht, sein Leben zu retten, wird es verlieren. Aber wer sein Leben für mich aufgibt, wird es retten.
25 Was nützt es, die ganze Welt zu gewinnen, aber dabei an der eigenen Seele Schaden zu nehmen oder sie zu verlieren?
26 Wer sich meiner oder meiner Botschaft schämt, dessen wird sich der Menschensohn auch schämen, wenn er in seiner Herrlichkeit und in der Herrlichkeit seines Vaters und der heiligen Engel wiederkommt.
The heart of the passage is in verse 20, the question......
But who do you say that I am?  
Herod said it earlier in Luke….. Who is this man?
And with that question, Jesus asked His Apostles …… the most important question that ever faced them……. or ever faces any human being…….. the question of the identity of Jesus Christ………. Who is He?
 getting it right is critical to one's eternal destiny……..
 Heaven or hell is the result of the right answer and the right response to the answer to that question……… It's not just an issue that effects your belief……. It effects your life style……
 And it effects your eternal destiny…….. And all souls that live on this planet are accountable to God for their answer to that question…….
  The right answer opens the door to eternal life and joy……  Philosophers have offered answers…… Theologians have offered answers…… False religions have their answers, secularists have answers, atheists have answers, humanists have answers…….
Sadly their answers are wrong…….
This is one you don't want to get wrong, too much is at stake…….  
  You would think that it's difficult to answer…….  there are endless books ……… endless discussions   on the question of the identity of Jesus……….
Libraries are full of thousands………. if not millions of pages that have been written on the issue of the identity of Jesus Christ……..
  Millions and millions of pages exist giving testimony to what some would conclude as the utter impossibility of coming to the right conclusion…… But the fact of the matter is, it's a very easy question to answer…….. It's only hard if you reject the Bible…….
 So anybody who comes up with the wrong answer about who Jesus is………. has rejected the clear testimony of Scripture………
They reject creation…. they reject the miraculous….. they reject God´s law……. They reject the clear evidence of scripture because they will not let God rule their lives…..We see that clearly in Romans !....

They have instead used  their own rational thinking…… Miracles are impossible …….. I´ve never seen one…….
 Or…….. they have replaced the Bible´s authority with the writings of some other religious false prophet………
  Whatever it might be……. the answer to the question is  clear if you accept what the Bible says……… If you don't accept what the Bible says, then you are hopelessly lost in your search for the real Jesus……… In fact, all four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, unambiguously answer the question of who Jesus is……….
 John writes, the purpose really not only for his own gospel, but all the others, when he says,
"These have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing you may have life in His name." John 20
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God…….
 We are looking at the gospel of Luke, one of the four writers of the biography of Jesus…….. And there's no way to escape the identity of Jesus in Luke's gospel because it is repeated again and again……..


Here is the testimony of the Apostles………
Their spokesman is Peter……. he answers on behalf of all of them in verse 20 and says, "The Christ of God."

»Du bist der von Gott gesandte Christus!«
This isn't the first time Jesus has been so identified……. This is the first time, however, you have this final clear precise statement from the Apostles collectively that they affirm that He is in fact the Messiah. …….They have already affirmed that He is Lord…… They have already affirmed He is the healer, the miracle worker…. They have already affirmed that He had the words of life and there was no one else to go to…….
John 6:68-69……
They have called Him Lord…… They have called Him Master…… They have called Him teacher…… Here they give this singular affirmation, "You are God's Messiah." That's what the word "Christ" means…….
Jeus is basically ending the vast part of His Galilean ministry with this massive miracle of feeding   thousands of  people……  verses 10 to 17……. Showing His compassion in very practical ways…..
 This immense miracle of feeding this crowd is  the largest miracle Jesus ever did…….. At the same time on the same day He's teaching, He's healing people …….


  Luke says, "All the evidence is here.……… nothing more needs to be proved"
  Jesus   asks the Apostles, "Who do people say I am?" They tell Him what the people say…… and then He says, "Who do you say that I am?" And they come up with the right answer……..
They, in some sense, have completed their education…….. This is the final exam and they got it right……..     

 Luke asks the one big question…….
Who is this man…….?
 Remember all thru Luke Jesus favorite word for himself is……. The son of man…..
It appears over and over……. But Luke is moving His readers to the only possible conclusion………
 The Son of Man is the Messiah….. the anointed of God the long promised savior ….redeemer……….
 Over in chapter 9 it comes from Herod…….. Herod said, "I myself had John beheaded, but who is this man about whom I hear such things?"
So we're being  led………. to this question…..it has to be answered………
   He wants to come right to the answer to the question because in the ministry of Jesus……. that's the question that began to be asked by slaves and kings……..
.......... who is this man?
It is still the question that compels the cults and the liberals and even the Muslims and everybody else to come up with some answer about who Jesus is…….. Even though He's been gone into heaven ……. for two thousand years, it is still the great question in the world.......... who is Jesus Christ?
Who do you say He is?
 Is he your LORD? Really?
  Two and a half years had taken for Him to come to the question, the final exam question........... who do you say that I am?
It is now now only eight or nine months before His execution, before His death……… He's taught them……… He has demonstrated His love and compassion.,….. he has taught them……
He has proclaimed the Good News……. He has ….like every prophet that went before…… he has said Judgment is certain……repent the kingdom of heaven is at hand…..near…… I am the resurrection and the Life………
I am…… The bread of Life……
I am the way the truth and the Life……
And He's revealed and disclosed to them who He is by His teaching, by His power over demons, disease and death, power over nature…….. He has given evidence that He is God……. that He has divine power…… that He has divine knowledge and insight and gives divine revelation…… that He has all of the capabilities, the sovereign, supernatural capabilities to do what the Old Testament says Messiah will do when He sets up His kingdom……. And so it's final exam time……
And to emphasize just exactly how things have gone in His ministry, He asks two questions……. The first one gives us the answer of human opinion…….
 Let's look at that in verses 18 and 19. "He questioned them saying, 'Who do the multitudes say that I am?' They answered and said, 'John the Baptist, others say Elijah, but others that one of the prophets of old has risen again.'" It was very clear, and we saw this from earlier in the chapter……… that they recognized that no human could do what Jesus…….
 This was not human power…… Dominant power of demons, dominant power over disease, dominant power over dead people, power over nature, nobody had that power…….
The Power and compassion of God…… shown in a man……….

Now remember this, they never questioned His miracle power……… They never  debated that……  
  The healed people…….  the resurrected people……. the people who had been freed from demons were everywhere and their testimonies were available to anybody who asked any questions………eeye witnesses…….  they followed because of the signs……. They followed because of the miracles which they never denied……. They followed because He made them food……. That's why they followed…… They never questioned that……
But they came up with conclusions that were short of reality. John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the prophets dead now risen again, that's what they said……..
go back to chapter 9 verse 7……. When Herod was dealing with that question……. he was confused……..  
But They did understand it had to be a supernatural person……
But most people  fell short of the right answer……
Matthew says
 Jesus asked the question in its fullness, who do the multitudes say that I the Son of Man am?
He loved to use that title for Himself because it identified Him not only as human, but it was a messianic title used by Daniel…….  So He's affirming who do the multitudes say that I, the promised Son of Man, Messiah, am?

Really, if you study the gospel of Luke and you heard what was said, it should be easy to answer the question…….
 In chapter 1 He is called the Son of the Most High, the King, the Son of God.
In chapter 2 He's called the Savior, Christ, God.
In chapter 4 He's called the Holy One of God, the Son of God, Christ. It goes all the way through....

In chapter 22, He's Christ, Son of Man, Son of God.
In chapter 23 He's Christ, chosen One, King of the Jews, and there's more in between those chapters…….
His titles were made clear….. they were made public all the time……. whether it was angels, saints or priests or apostles or Satan or demons or just the people, whoever it was, or Himself, it was clear who He claimed to be……. But most who heard and saw the miracles rejected the truth…...
Even today…..people come to the wrong answer about Jesus How ….Why?....


Well that's just the way it always is……… Ask yourself the same question today……. how can all these quote/unquote scholars dance around the Bible for their whole life…….. and come up with the wrong answer about who Jesus is?
They do it all the time…... The cultists do it all the time…… You go to your local cult, I don't care if it's Jehovah's Witnesses, or the Mormons, or whatever cult it might be and you're going to find they've got Bibles in there……
 Can't they read the gospels?
 Can't they read the book of Acts?
Can't they read the book of Romans or any of the other epistles of the New Testament?
 Or how about the book of Revelation which in no uncertain terms all identifies Jesus Christ to be the Christ, the Son of God, the Savior, the Messiah, what is it that they are missing here?
What is this problem?
One of the most popular books today on church growth...... says something like this…..
"If I can find the key to someone's heartfelt need, I can lead anybody to Christ."
Baloney!
Really?
 Why  couldn't Jesus lead everybody to Himself?
Don't you think He knew what the key to their heart was? Why is it that when Jesus was finished, they killed Him? Why is it that they rejected Him? AT least most of thtem did….

In our text today ….. They haven't rejected Him yet

they're going to follow all the way down to the week of His death……. and they're even going to get excited as He comes into Jerusalem……. they're going to throw palm branches down, they're going to say, "Hosanna to the son of David." They're going to declare that He's the Messiah……… But a few days later they're going to scream for His blood and they're going to say, "We won't have this man to reign over us, we want Him killed." And they're going to watch Him die……..

But the crowd hasn't   turned away from Jesus yet…………
for now, anyway, He's still popular…….

But for now, they still think He might be John the Baptist and that's significant to them…… Or He might be Elijah because in the Old Testament, the Old Testament ends with Malachi. …..Malachi 3 and 4 promise that before the Messiah, the Elijah will come. It might be Elijah…… It might be Jeremiah…...
in their mind a complement…… He's a prophet……
He's Jesus Christ Superstar in the religious sense……. That's the human answer…... It's just so pathetic and so sad that that is the way it still is…….
 You can teach the WORD……..
you can teach them everything that's in the New Testament……
 You can have them read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and they're going to come to the conclusion that He's something other than who He is and you ask the question why...why...why will they not acknowledge the truth?
Because It cost too much……. Most will not repent…..they will not admit their sins and cry out for mercy…..they will not let God rule over them……

Close
Turn to John chapter 12………. Verse 34…
John 12: 23- 36      NLT

23 Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man[l] to enter into his glory. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. 26 Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

 27 “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! 28 Father, bring glory to your name.”

   Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” 29 When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

 30 Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. 32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate how he was going to die.

 34 The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture[m] that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”

 35 Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. 36 Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”
John 12: 23- 36      Neues Leben 23 Jesus erwiderte: »Für den Menschensohn ist die Zeit gekommen, dass er verherrlicht wird.
24 Ich versichere euch: Ein Weizenkorn muss in die Erde ausgesät werden. Wenn es dort nicht stirbt, wird es allein bleiben - ein einzelnes Samenkorn. Sein Tod aber wird viele neue Samenkörner hervorbringen - eine reiche Ernte neuen Lebens.
25 Wer sein Leben in dieser Welt liebt, wird es verlieren. Wer sein Leben in dieser Welt gering achtet, wird es zum ewigen Leben bewahren.
26 Wer mein Jünger sein will, muss sich aufmachen und mir nachfolgen, denn mein Diener wird da sein, wo ich bin. Wer mir nachfolgt, den wird der Vater ehren.
27 Meine Seele ist in diesem Augenblick tief traurig. Soll ich beten: `Vater, bewahre mich vor dem, was vor mir liegt´? Doch eben deshalb bin ich ja gekommen!
28 Vater, verherrliche deinen Namen.« Da sprach eine Stimme aus dem Himmel: »Ich habe ihn schon verherrlicht und werde es wieder tun.«
29 Als die Menge die Stimme hörte, hielten einige sie für Donner, während andere erklärten, ein Engel habe zu ihm gesprochen.
30 Da sagte Jesus zu ihnen: »Die Stimme erklang euretwegen, nicht meinetwegen.
31 Für die Welt ist die Zeit des Gerichts gekommen, in der der Herrscher dieser Welt8 vertrieben wird.
32 Und wenn ich am Kreuz aufgerichtet bin,9 werde ich alle zu mir ziehen.«
33 Mit diesen Worten deutete er an, wie er sterben würde.
34 Da erwiderte die Menge: »Wir haben in der Schrift gelesen, dass der Christus ewig leben wird. Warum sagst du, der Menschensohn müsse am Kreuz aufgerichtet werden10? Wer ist dieser Menschensohn, von dem du sprichst?«
35 Jesus erwiderte: »Das Licht wird nur noch kurze Zeit für euch leuchten. Lebt darin, solange ihr es noch könnt, damit ihr nicht stolpert, wenn die Dunkelheit kommt. Wenn ihr im Dunkel lebt, könnt ihr nicht sehen, wohin ihr geht.
36 Glaubt an das Licht, solange noch Zeit dazu ist; dann werdet ihr Kinder des Lichts werden.« Nachdem er diese Dinge gesagt hatte, ging Jesus fort, und sie sahen ihn nicht mehr.

The message of these last days is here…….. Put your whole trust and faith in Jesus today….. now while you have time repent…….. tomorrow is promised to no man……..

                       
10.7.2011    Luke 7: 18-35   
            Are you the one?   Dealing with doubts
Good morning everyone. It´s wonderful to see all of you here this morning. We thank God for everyone of you.
As most of you know…..at Calvary Chapel Wiesbaden….. We teach through the Bible verse by verse…… We are studying the Gospel….the Good news as recorded by Luke…… Today we are in Luke 7…..
Remember last time we were together…..we saw Jesus raise the dead…….. We are in the part of Luke that shows us proof that the son of man is the Son of GOD…… Yes, Luke shows us that Jesus is God come in the flesh…..  to redeem us…..
Jesus raised the widow´s son from the dead…….. in the middle of the funeral procession…. The people were amazed and afraid….. let´s look at their response as we pick up again in Chapter 7….….. I´ll begin at verse 16……..
Luke 7: 16- 23    NLT
16 Great fear swept the crowd, and they praised God, saying, “A mighty prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people today.” 17 And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding countryside.
 18 The disciples of John the Baptist told John about everything Jesus was doing. So John called for two of his disciples, 19 and he sent them to the Lord to ask him, “Are you the ONE we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”
20 John’s two disciples found Jesus and said to him, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are you the ONE we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?’”
 21 At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind.
22 Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.
23 And tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.’”



Luke 7: 16 – 23      Neues Leben
16 Angst und Ehrfurcht erfassten die ganze Menge. Sie lobten Gott und sagten: »Ein mächtiger Prophet ist zu uns gekommen. Heute hat Gott sein Volk besucht.«
17 Berichte über diese Tat verbreiteten sich in ganz Judäa und bis über die Grenzen des Landes hinaus.
18 Johannes der Täufer erfuhr von seinen Jüngern alles, was Jesus tat. Er rief zwei seiner Jünger zu sich
19 und schickte sie zum Herrn, um ihn zu fragen: »Bist du wirklich der, der kommen soll, oder sollen wir auf einen anderen warten?«
20 Die beiden Jünger von Johannes fanden Jesus und sagten zu ihm: »Johannes der Täufer schickt uns, um zu fragen: `Bist du wirklich der, der kommen soll oder sollen wir auf einen anderen warten?´
21 Während sie bei ihm waren, heilte er viele Menschen von ihren Krankheiten, trieb böse Geister aus und gab Blinden ihr Augenlicht zurück.
22 Er gab den Jüngern des Johannes zu Antwort: »Kehrt zu Johannes zurück und berichtet ihm, was ihr gesehen und gehört habt: Blinde sehen, Gelähmte gehen, Aussätzige werden geheilt, Taube hören, Tote werden auferweckt und den Armen wird die gute Botschaft verkündet.
23 Und sagt ihm auch: `Gott segnet die, die keinen Anstoß an mir nehmen1.«

V16…. Great fear…..they knew that they were in the presence of  the Messiah of God! …. God had at long last visited his people…… the Good News spread all around……perhaps 50 0r 100 kilometers…….
V18…..the disciples of John came to him and told him………. They were trying to encourage him…… He had been thrown in prison……..
John was sitting there expecting the Lord to begin His Kingdom at any minute…….. to set him free!..... He waited…..and waited……Not only did Jesus not come to set him free….. He left town…..
V19…… John sent 2 disciples……Are you …… THE ONE? A messianic title……
John knew Jesus was the Messiah!..... yet now he doubts…. he is unsure…….

I´ve called the message for today……
ARE YOU THE ONE?
Dealing with doubts…..  Dealing with Uncertainty…..
Two things for us to see today
1. It´s normal to have doubts sometimes……
2 . We doubt because we look at our circumstances….. not at Jesus…… We look at our disappointment…..not at His unfailing Word….. His unfailing Love…..
First
1. It´s normal to have doubts sometimes…… Join the club……. All of us doubt sometimes……. I doubt ……The great men of the Bible doubted sometimes….
Moses…… Numbers 11: 11
Elijah…….. 1 kings 18….. a great victory….. great faith in the face of evil…..then 1 Kings 19……. He ran from Jezebel……. I´m the only one left……. No……… 7000 others……
Jeremiah…… Jeremiah 20…….
He prophesied of certain judgment….. it did not come immediately….. and the people hated him and made fun of him…..They wanted to be rid of him…… he doubted……. he tried to stop prophesying…. he tried to hold his tongue…. God´s word burned in his heart he had to speak…….
Paul……. 2 Cor 1: 8…….. Under great trials and struggles……. even Paul dispared of life…..…….
The problem is not that we doubt…….
The question is ….…. what do we do when we doubt……. John knew what to do…………
John went to Jesus…… Well he was in prison…… so……
John sent messengers to Jesus……. He was uncertain because of the very tough times…… He said…. maybe I missed something…… What a trial…….. Am I going to die here in this prison?......
Why the trials…… Why is the Christian life so hard……
Why do we doubt?
Because of unfulfilled expectations…….
We expect ……. The perfect life…..
I´m a Christian…..my life´s  going to be perfect now…….right?.....
Well that´s what the prosperity teachers say…… the perfect bank account…… the perfect wife…. the perfect husband…. the perfect job……
But, That´s not what the Bible says…….
There will be times when we struggle……. When we are going thru great times of testing and trials……. Times when we doubt…….. but we were never promised a perfect life……. We need times of difficulty …….. times when we don´t understand why we are going thru tough stuff…….. It´s for our good…… It makes us cry out to the Lord…….. to go to Him…. with our doubts and fears and needs…… It´s the story of the Children of Israel…….
Deut 8……. let´s look…..
Deut 8: 1-  18          NLT
“Be careful to obey all the commands I am giving you today. Then you will live and multiply, and you will enter and occupy the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors. 2 Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. 3 Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell. 5 Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.

 6 “So obey the commands of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills. 8 It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey. 9 It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills. 10 When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

 11 “But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. 12 For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, 13 and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! 14 Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. 15 Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! 16 He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. 17 He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ 18 Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.


Deut 8: 1-18   Neues Leben
1 Befolgt gewissenhaft alle Gebote, die ich euch heute gebe! Dann werdet ihr leben und viele Nachkommen haben und das Land erobern, das der Herr euren Vorfahren mit einem Eid versprochen hat.
2 Erinnert euch an den ganzen Weg, den der Herr, euer Gott, euch während dieser 40 Jahre durch die Wüste führte. Dadurch wollte er euch demütigen und auf die Probe stellen, um euren wahren Charakter ans Licht zu bringen und um zu sehen, ob ihr seine Gebote befolgen würdet oder nicht.
3 Ja, er ließ euch eure Abhängigkeit spüren, indem er euch hungern ließ. Dann gab er euch Manna zu essen, das ihr und eure Vorfahren bis dahin nicht kanntet. Dadurch wollte er euch zeigen, dass der Mensch mehr als nur Brot zum Leben braucht. Er lebt auch von jedem Wort, das aus dem Mund des Herrn kommt.
4 Denn während dieser 40 Jahre nutzten sich eure Kleider nicht ab und auch eure Füße schwollen nicht an.
5 Daran solltet ihr erkennen, dass der Herr, euer Gott, euch erzieht, so wie Eltern ihr Kind erziehen.
6 Lebt nach dem Willen des Herrn, eures Gottes, und habt Ehrfurcht vor ihm, indem ihr seine Gebote in eurem Leben umsetzt.
7 Denn der Herr, euer Gott, bringt euch in ein gutes Land. Dort gibt es Flüsse, Seen und Quellen, die in den Tälern und Bergen entspringen,
8 und Weizen und Gerste, Weinstöcke und Feigenbäume, Granatäpfel, Ölbäume und Honig.
9 Es ist ein Land, in dem ihr euch satt essen könnt und es euch an nichts fehlen wird. Ein Land, in dem die Steine Eisen enthalten und aus dessen Bergen du Kupfer abbauen kannst.
10 Wenn ihr dann gegessen habt und satt seid, sollt ihr den Herrn, euren Gott, für das gute Land, das er euch gegeben hat, loben.
11 Passt aber auf, dass ihr den Herrn, euren Gott nicht vergesst und dann seine Gebote, Vorschriften und Gesetze, die ich euch heute gebe, nicht mehr befolgt.
12 Wenn ihr genug zu essen habt und euch prächtige Häuser baut und darin wohnt,
13 und wenn eure Schaf-, Ziegen- und Rinderherden groß werden und ihr viel Gold, Silber und vieles andere besitzt,
14 dann werdet nicht überheblich und vergesst nicht den Herrn, euren Gott, der euch aus der Sklaverei in Ägypten befreit hat.
15 Er hat euch durch die große, schreckliche Wüste mit ihren wasserlosen Gegenden, ihren Giftschlangen und Skorpionen geführt. Er ließ euch Wasser aus dem Felsen sprudeln
16 und gab euch in der Wüste Manna zu essen, eine Speise, die eure Vorfahren bis dahin nicht kannten. Auf diese Weise wollte er euch demütig machen und auf die Probe stellen, um euch letztendlich mit Gutem zu beschenken.
17 Denkt nur nicht, ihr wärt aus eigener Kraft und Anstrengung reich geworden.
18 Erinnert euch vielmehr daran, dass es der Herr, euer Gott, ist, der euch die Kraft gibt, Reichtum zu erwerben. Denn er erfüllt den Bund, den er mit euren Vorfahren schloss und der jetzt noch gilt.

Tough times trials……times of doubting….. Why?.....
The LORD tells us that it will happen and that he has a reason for it……
Deut 8……
1. remember……. God led you in the wilderness for 40 years…… He did it……
God led them thru great trials and difficulties……on purpose…… It´s not like God forgot his GPS…….. They were exactly where He wanted them to be……WHY?
2. to humble you
3. to test you…. To show you what was in your heart….. maturing process……like melting gold in a fire….. it purifies the gold ….. makes it really useful and beautiful…..
That´s right folks all the garbage that you are going thru right now……. is to show you ( to show us) what´s our your hearts….. to make us useful and beautiful……
4. teach you to depend upon the Word of God….. God´s promises….His redemption…..His unfailing Love………
5. It´s for our good …….. It helps us to obey HIM…. it makes us more like Jesus….. Jesus learned obedience by the things that he suffered…. Hebrews 5: 8…….
6. So that when He blesses us we will remember that these wonderful blessings come to us because of our Great redeemer…… not because we are something great…. So that we will be thankful not proud……. OK back to LUKE………

V20- 23….. John sent his disciples…..
ARE YOU THE ONE?  In that same hour…… Jesus showed them With His miracles……that He is the ONE…..The Messiah…. Fulfilling many prophesies…….. He pointed to the Word of GOD…….. Here is truth……. I am….sent me…… He healed everyone who came to Him……. He raised the dead…….
John had seen Jesus…..he had seen the Holy Spirit descending from Heaven…. He heard the LORD GOD speak from heaven….This is my beloved son……. He had been filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother´s womb….. He had seen multitudes come to repent and believe the Good News of the coming Messiah…..
 But now…… there were things that John didn´t understand….. he was uncertain….he was expecting more…… he was expecting the immediate fulfillment of all that the Word said about the coming of the Messiah…… complete total deliverance from Rome…… the start of that Everlasting Messianic Kingdom……. these unfulfilled expectations….these things that we expect God to do…… can be a stumbling block to us …….because we expect our Christian life to be perfect now…..
John was in prison…..he didn´t understand…..he knew the Word but…… at this moment in his life there were things that were so hard…… so heavy….. so dark…. He was at a loss for an answer….. he was disappointed with his circumstances…… maybe he was wrong about Jesus …… He was disappointed in the LORD…..  Jesus showed them that he is the Messiah…the One…..He sent them back to John to encourage him……. Yes, I am the ONE……Look…….. I am fulfilling everything the Word says……..
Blessed is he who is not offended in ME…….
Luke 7: 24- 35    NLT
24 After John’s disciples left, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? 25 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people who wear beautiful clothes and live in luxury are found in palaces. 26 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. 27 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
      and he will prepare your way before you.’

 28 I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!”
29 When they heard this, all the people—even the tax collectors—agreed that God’s way was right,[e] for they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God’s plan for them, for they had refused John’s baptism.
31 “To what can I compare the people of this generation?” Jesus asked. “How can I describe them? 32 They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t weep.’
33 For John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ 35 But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.”

Luke 7: 24- 35    Neues Leben
24 Als sie gegangen waren, wandte Jesus sich an die Menge und sagte über Johannes: »Wer ist dieser Mann in der Wüste, den ihr unbedingt sehen wolltet? Kam er euch schwach vor wie ein Schilfrohr, das im Windhauch hin und her schwankt?
25 Oder habt ihr einen Mann erwartet, der in kostbare Gewänder gehüllt ist? Nein, Leute mit kostbaren Kleidern und verschwenderischer Lebensart wohnen in Palästen, nicht in der Wüste.
26 Oder habt ihr in ihm einen Propheten vermutet? Ja, das ist er, und er ist sogar noch mehr als das.
27 Johannes ist der Mann, von dem die Schrift sagt: `Ich sende meinen Boten vor dir her, er wird deine Ankunft vorbereiten.´2
28 Ich sage euch: Von allen Menschen, die jemals gelebt haben, war keiner größer als Johannes. Und doch ist noch der Geringste im Reich Gottes größer als er!«
29 Als sie das hörten, gaben alle - auch die Steuereinnehmer - zu, dass Gott es gut mit ihnen meinte3. Und sie ließen sich von Johannes taufen.
30 Die Pharisäer und die Schriftgelehrten dagegen lehnten den Plan, den Gott für sie hatte, ab, denn sie ließen sich nicht von Johannes taufen.
31 »Wie soll ich die Menschen dieser Generation beschreiben?«, fragte Jesus. »Womit soll ich sie vergleichen?
32 Sie sind wie Kinder, die auf der Straße spielen und sich bei ihren Freunden beklagen: `Wir haben lustige Lieder gespielt, und ihr wart nicht fröhlich; dann haben wir Klagelieder gespielt, aber ihr wart nicht traurig.´
33 Denn Johannes der Täufer trank keinen Wein und fastete oft, und von ihm sagt ihr: `Er ist von einem Dämon besessen.´
34 Der Menschensohn feiert und trinkt, und von ihm sagt ihr: `Er ist ein Schlemmer und Säufer, und die schlimmsten Leute sind seine Freunde!´
35 Doch die Weisheit erweist sich als richtig im Leben derer, die sie befolgen.


CLOSE
1 Peter 1: 1- 16       NLT
1 This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.
I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.[a] 2 God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace.
 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

 6 So be truly glad.[b] There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
10 This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11 They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.
12 They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

 13 So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
1 Peter1 : 1-16       Neues Leben
1 Dieser Brief ist von Petrus, einem Apostel von Jesus Christus. Ich schreibe an die Auserwählten Gottes, die als Fremde in Pontus, Galatien, Kappadozien, der Provinz Asien und Bithynien leben.
2 Gott, der Vater, hat euch vor langer Zeit erwählt, und der Geist hat euch geheiligt, sodass ihr nun Jesus Christus nachfolgt und durch seinen Tod am Kreuz gereinigt seid1. Ich wünsche euch, dass ihr immer mehr von der Gnade und dem Frieden Gottes erfüllt werdet.
3 Gelobt sei der Gott und Vater unseres Herrn Jesus Christus, denn er hat uns in seiner großen Barmherzigkeit das Vorrecht geschenkt, wiedergeboren zu werden. Jetzt haben wir eine lebendige Hoffnung, weil Jesus Christus von den Toten auferstanden ist.
4 Denn Gott hat für seine Kinder ein unvergängliches Erbe, das rein und unversehrt im Himmel für euch aufbewahrt wird.
5 Und in seiner großen Macht wird er euch durch den Glauben beschützen, bis ihr das ewige Leben empfangt. Es wird am Ende der Zeit für alle sichtbar offenbart werden.
6 Freut euch deshalb von Herzen! Vor euch liegt eine große Freude, auch wenn ihr für eine Weile viel2 erdulden müsst.
7 Dies dient nur dazu, euren Glauben zu prüfen, damit sich zeigt, ob er wirklich stark und rein ist. Er wird erprobt, so wie Gold im Feuer geprüft und geläutert wird - und euer Glaube ist Gott sehr viel kostbarer als bloßes Gold. Wenn euer Glaube also stark bleibt, nachdem er durch große Schwierigkeiten geprüft wurde, wird er euch viel Lob und Herrlichkeit und Ehre einbringen an dem Tag, an dem Jesus Christus der ganzen Welt offenbart werden wird.
8 Ihn liebt ihr, obwohl ihr ihn nie gesehen habt. Obwohl ihr ihn nicht seht, glaubt ihr an ihn; und schon jetzt seid ihr erfüllt von herrlicher, unaussprechlicher Freude.
9 Das Ziel eures Glaubens wird die Rettung eurer Seelen sein.
10 Schon die Propheten wollten über diese Rettung mehr wissen und sagten voraus, was Gott euch zugedacht hat.
11 Und der Geist wirkte in ihnen, und sie versuchten zu erkennen, auf welche Zeit er sie hinwies, als er ihnen die Leiden von Christus und seine Herrlichkeit bereits damals ankündigte.
12 Es wurde ihnen gesagt, dass sich das nicht zu ihrer Zeit ereignen würde, sondern viele Jahre später, in eurer Zeit. Und nun wurde euch diese Botschaft durch diejenigen verkündet, die in der Kraft des Heiligen Geistes, der vom Himmel gesandt wurde, zu euch gepredigt haben. Und sogar die Engel sehnen sich danach, etwas davon zu sehen
13 Bemüht euch daher um ein klares, nüchternes Denken und um Selbstbeherrschung. Setzt eure ganze Hoffnung auf die Gnade, die euch bei der Wiederkehr von Jesus Christus erwartet.
14 Gehorcht Gott, weil ihr seine Kinder seid. Fallt nicht in eure alten, schlechten Gewohnheiten zurück. Damals wusstet ihr es nicht besser.
15 Aber jetzt sollt ihr in allem, was ihr tut, heilig sein, genauso wie Gott, der euch berufen hat, heilig ist.
16 Denn er hat selbst gesagt: »Ihr sollt heilig sein, weil ich heilig bin!

New testament Christianity is the human response to the revelation of God the creator as full of unfailing love….
Out of love for us….. we who did not love him…..The father sent His Son……Out of love for us…..we who did not love him…..he gave his life….. for our sins….to redeem us….
Believing in and being overwhelmed by his divine……. Perfect love……..is what makes it possible to love our neighbor and even our enemies…..as the law requires…….. the Law of God is the law of love……
Our love for others…….. is how we show our thankfulness to God for His unfailing love for us……
We look to God the father and to the LORD Jesus as our perfect examples……

6.3.2011           Jesus calls the first Disciples                      
                            Luke 5:1-16  
Good morning everyone. It´s wonderful to see all of you here this morning. We thank God for everyone of you.
As most of you know…..at Calvary Chapel Wiesbaden….. We teach through the Bible verse by verse……
Why ?  I´m glad you asked …… It´s because in order to understand our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ….you need to see the big picture……
This book is true all of it…… every page points to Jesus….
1….the promises…..
2…..the prophesies…..
3…..the pictures…..We can believe it…..
Every bit of it shows us the Glory of God……every word of it….. points us to the perfect revelation of Jesus….…….It is the great need of the times……..

This morning…….As we continue in Luke 5……Luke continues to introduce us to Jesus Christ ……
Luke is introducing us to the real Jesus. …. Luke is introducing us to the Messiah……. the Savior…….. the Son of Man………….  A real person …..flesh and blood…..just like us……
Starting in chapter 4 verse 31 and going on through chapter 5…….. Luke directs us to the power of Jesus Christ……….. He has already told us lots about Jesus Christ….
JESUS  is  The true Messiah ….. proclaimed “ the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”…..by John the Baptist………. affirmed by the Father…….by the voice from Heaven …..we also saw the descending of the Holy Spirit as a dove……   
Everything that we have read …… including Jesus' conflict with Satan in the wilderness…….. affirms Him as the Messiah…… The son of man…..a real flesh and blood human just like us….  
Today…. We're going to see His power over every disease…… We're going to see His power over nature…….. We´re going to see that  fifth chapter of Luke ….
The central point of the section is that Jesus is God……He has power over everyone and everything…….
After the resurrection Jesus said….
Matt 28: 18…… All authority in heaven and earth is given to me…..But Jesus has always had this authority….. Now in these verses we see Jesus proving that His words are true…… …proving that the son of man is also the Son of God ….. Possessing absolute power ……..  absolute authority over everyone and everything…….  
Luke 5: 1-3              NLT
 1 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee,  great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.



Luke 5:1- 3       Neues Leben

1 Als Jesus eines Tages am See Genezareth predigte, drängten sich viele Menschen um ihn, die alle das Wort Gottes hören wollten.
2 Er bemerkte zwei leere Boote am Ufer. Die Fischer hatten sie liegen lassen und reinigten gerade ihre Netze.
3 Jesus stieg in eines der Boote und bat den Besitzer des Boots, Simon1, vom Ufer abzustoßen. Dann lehrte er die Menge vom Boot aus.

V1….. as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee,  great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God……..
 The proclaiming of the Gospel is the most important thing…….It was the very reason that Jesus was sent…..
And that's exactly what He was doing and consequently the crowd was exploding……… In verse 14 of chapter 4, "The news about Him was spreading throughout the surrounding district, and as the word went that He could heal and control not only disease but control the world of demons……….the crowds got larger and larger………
 if you track through the book of Luke, chapter 5 verse 19……. chapter 6 verse 19…….. chapter 8 verse 4…….chapter 8 verse 40…….. come into chapter 9 verse 11……..   in chapter 12 verse 1…….. Luke says the crowd was so big the people were stepping on each other………chapter 13 verses 14 and 17……. chapter 14 verse 25…….. you just march all the way through and the crowds get bigger and bigger…….. massive crowds of people…….. You begin to get the picture that when Jesus was teaching He drew huge crowds……… because of His power……It was supernatural….. and because of the clarity and the uniqueness and the power of His preaching…… it was the word of God………
v1….The Word of God…… the scriptures…….this is a technical term for the scriptures….used here for the 1st time by Luke…..it appears 48 times in the KJV……12 times in Acts…… The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to do His work …..
1….to cause the repentance that leads to salvation…..
2….to convince us of truth……
3….to show us what´s in our hearts………
4……and transform our lives…….

The Word of God is  supernatural…..it showed them what was in their hearts….
When The Word of God…….. shows us what´s in our hearts……. one of 2 things happens …..either
1……we repent……That’s very good….. or
2….we rebel…… and harden our hearts……

V3…… Simon…..

Luke is still calling Him Simon……Peter…..


Luke 5: 4- 7         NLT
 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”
 5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
Luke 5 : 4- 7        Neues Leben

4 Als er mit seiner Predigt fertig war, sagte er zu Simon: »Nun fahr weiter hinaus und wirf dort deine Netze aus, dann wirst du viele Fische fangen.«
5 »Meister«, entgegnete Simon, »wir haben die ganze letzte Nacht hart gearbeitet und gar nichts gefangen. Aber wenn du es sagst, werde ich es noch einmal versuchen.«
6 Diesmal waren ihre Netze so voll, dass sie zu reißen begannen!
7 Sie riefen nach ihren Gefährten in dem anderen Boot, und bald darauf waren beide Boote so voller Fische, dass sie unterzugehen drohten.


Luke 5: 8- 11        NLT
 8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.
   Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.
Luke 5: 8- 11         Neues Leben
8 Als Simon Petrus begriff, was da geschehen war, fiel er vor Jesus auf die Knie und sagte: »Herr, kümmere dich nicht weiter um mich - ich bin ein zu großer Sünder, um bei dir zu sein.«
9 Denn beim Anblick des überreichen Fangs hatte ihn Ehrfurcht erfasst, und den anderen ging es genauso.
10 Auch Jakobus und Johannes, die Söhne des Zebedäus, waren voller Staunen. Jesus sagte zu Simon: »Hab keine Angst! Von jetzt an wirst du Menschen fischen!«
11 Und sobald sie am Ufer angelegt hatten, ließen sie alles zurück und folgten Jesus
When you look at Jesus in this simple fishing incident …you see in Jesus Christ …… the very essential character of God……. You see divine truth. ……You see divine omniscience……. You see divine power or omnipotence…….. You see divine holiness. …….And you see divine mercy……… Here then is the manifest nature of God…….. visible in Jesus Christ……….  These verses alone are sufficient to indicate who Jesus really is…….He must be God because He is the source of truth, omniscience, omnipotence, holiness and mercy…….. All these characteristics are manifest in Christ……….


Luke 5: 12- 16   NLT
 
 12 In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”
 13 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. 14 Then Jesus instructed him not to tell anyone what had happened. He said, “Go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”
 15 But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.




12 In einem der Dörfer begegnete Jesus einem Aussätzigen, dessen Krankheit schon weit fortgeschritten war. Als der Mann Jesus sah, warf er sich mit dem Gesicht vor ihm in den Staub und flehte ihn an, ihn zu heilen. »Herr«, sagte er, »wenn du willst, kannst du mich gesund machen.«
13 Da streckte Jesus die Hand aus und berührte den Mann. »Ich will es tun«, sagte er, »sei gesund!« Und im gleichen Augenblick verschwand der Aussatz.
14 Jesus wies ihn an, niemandem zu erzählen, was geschehen war. Er sagte: »Geh zum Priester und lass dich von ihm untersuchen. Nimm das Opfer mit, das im Gesetz Moses für diejenigen vorgeschrieben wird, die von Aussatz geheilt sind. Das wird für alle ein Beweis deiner Heilung sein.«
15 Doch trotzdem verbreitete sich das, was er tat, noch schneller, und die Menschen strömten herbei, um ihn predigen zu hören und von ihren Krankheiten geheilt zu werden.
16 Jesus zog sich jedoch immer wieder zum Gebet in die Wüste zurück.

V12……Leprosy…….
1 ….symbol for sin…….
2…..…. curse of God…..
3…..hopeless……a death sentence….. Married? ….Children
4…… no human touch…..
NO human touch?.... we need to be touched…… babies die……
A hopeless death sentence……just like our hopelessness because of sin……
God had Moses put in the law….. a picture of forgiveness and healing from sin….and cleansing in the Law…..
Only Miriam and Naaman the Syrian…..had ever been healed…… I think these laws are here for a testimony to the religious leaders………so that when Jesus came showing that he was the Messiah…….they would be amazed and finally understand the the power and mercy of God to even
The least….most foul….. most sinful people that they could imagine….. Remember these people were believed to be outside of the mercy of God….cursed by God ……without hope….. They in their pride thought of sinners that way…… but they….they were special…… not like those sinners……
The truth?...... God´s grace is available to all…… that was the message of the healing of their mortal enemy….Naaman……
Jesus said…..whosoever will….let him come…….

Lev 14……… law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…….
Lev 14: 1-7    NLT
1 And the Lord said to Moses, 2 “The following instructions are for those seeking ceremonial purification from leprosy. Those who have been healed must be brought to the priest, 3 who will examine them at a place outside the camp. If the priest finds that someone has been healed of a serious skin disease, 4 he will perform a purification ceremony, using two live birds that are ceremonially clean, a stick of cedar, some scarlet yarn, and a hyssop branch. 5 The priest will order that one bird be slaughtered over a clay pot filled with fresh water. 6 He will take the live bird, the cedar stick, the scarlet yarn, and the hyssop branch, and dip them into the blood of the bird that was slaughtered over the fresh water. 7 The priest will then sprinkle the blood of the dead bird seven times on the person being purified of the skin disease. When the priest has purified the person, he will release the live bird in the open field to fly away.

Lev 14: 1-7      Neues Leben
1 Und der Herr sprach zu Mose:
2 »Die folgenden Anweisungen gelten für einen Kranken, der unter einer ansteckenden Hautkrankheit     gelitten hat und wieder für rein erklärt werden will: Er muss zum Priester gebracht werden,
3 der ihn außerhalb des Lagers untersuchen soll. Stellt der Priester fest, dass die ansteckende Hautkrankheit abgeheilt ist,
4 soll er für die Reinigung des Geheilten zwei reine, lebende Vögel, ein Stück Zedernholz, karmesinfarbene Wolle und einen Büschel Ysop holen lassen.
5 Dann soll der Priester einen der Vögel über einem Tongefäß, das mit lebendigem Wasser2 gefüllt ist, ausbluten lassen.
6 Den lebenden Vogel soll er dann mit dem Zedernholz, der karmesinfarbenen Wolle und dem Ysop in das mit dem lebendigen Wasser vermischte Blut des geschlachteten Vogels tauchen.
7 Anschließend soll er den Geheilten, der gereinigt werden soll, siebenmal mit dem Blut des Vogels besprengen und ihn dann für rein erklären. Den lebenden Vogel soll er fliegen lassen.

Blood and water…….scarlett representing the stain of Sin……washing of Water……..

He went out to a solitary place to pray…….He went out to be alone…… to spend time with the Father….to fill up His bucket…..
We need to pour out ourselves in Ministry just like Jesus did…. He is our example…..
We   need time to be alone with the Lord……to spend time with the Lord …….we need to fill up our buckets too……
That´s one reason why we want lots of  ministry volunteers’….
we don´t anyone to try to minister on empty…..we want all of you to get refreshed and blessed…..to fill up your buckets….so that you have something to give when it´s your turn to pour yourself out again …… that´s why I encourage you to have a personal quiet time….to study the Bible…..It helps you and it helps your ministry to others……I´m only here to teach you and equip you to minister…..I can´t do it all …..and even if could….. it would not be good for you….
We are blessed when we minister to others…..we grow when we minister to others…..we enjoy our Christian life……. when we love and serve and help each other….When we pray for others….the Lord fills up our buckets….. we minister joyfully….. we give joyfully….. we enjoy our Christian life….we stop being such a bunch of sad and sour people…..we love spending time with the Lord….and spending time with His people…..
CLOSE
Eph 5: 15- 21    NLT
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Eph 5:15- 21   Neues Leben
15 Achtet sorgfältig darauf, wie ihr lebt; handelt nicht unklug, sondern bemüht euch, weise zu sein.
16 Nutzt jede Gelegenheit, in diesen üblen Zeiten Gutes zu tun.
17 Handelt nicht gedankenlos, sondern versucht zu begreifen, was der Herr von euch will.
18 Betrinkt euch nicht mit Wein; sonst ruiniert ihr damit euer Leben. Lasst euch stattdessen vom Heiligen Geist erfüllen.
19 Singt miteinander Psalmen und Lobgesänge und geistliche Lieder, und in euren Herzen wird Musik sein zum Lob Gottes.
20 Und dankt Gott, dem Vater, zu jeder Zeit für alles im Namen unseres Herrn Jesus Christus.
21 Ordnet euch aus Achtung vor dem Herrn2 bereitwillig einander unter.

   
The Son of Man is the Son of God
                    Part 2  20.2.2011
                        Luke 4:38- 44

Good morning everyone. It´s wonderful to see all of you here this morning. We thank God for everyone of you.
As most of you know…..at Calvary Chapel Wiesbaden….. We teach through the Bible verse by verse……
Why ?  I´m glad you asked …… It´s because in order to understand our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ….you need to see the big picture……
This book is true all of it…… every page points to Jesus….
1….the promises…..
2…..the prophesies…..
3…..the pictures…..We can believe it…..
Every bit of it shows us the Glory of God……every word of it….. points us to the perfect revelation of Jesus….…….It is the great need of the times……..

Remember……Jesus said that living water would flow out of us….. Let´s get to know and love this book…..a lost and dying world needs to know about Jesus…..
The revelation of Jesus is in the pages of Scripture….. We're going verse by verse thru Luke……You can find Jesus on every page of it……. Even if all you had was this piece of the Gospel of Luke….. Luke 4 and 5……..You would see Jesus…….. a real man …..and truly God…..
This morning…….As we continue in Luke 4……Luke continues to introduce us to Jesus Christ ……
Luke is introducing us to the real Jesus. …. Luke is introducing us to the Messiah……. the Savior…….. the Son of Man………….  A real person …..flesh and blood…..just like us……
Starting in chapter 4 verse 31 and going on through chapter 5…….. Luke directs us to the power of Jesus Christ……….. He has already told us lots about Jesus Christ….
JESUS  is  The true Messiah ….. proclaimed “ the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”…..by John the Baptist………. affirmed by the Father…….by the voice from Heaven …..we also saw the descending of the Holy Spirit as a dove……   
Everything that we have read …… including Jesus' conflict with Satan in the wilderness…….. affirms Him as the Messiah…… The son of man…..a real flesh and blood human just like us….  
Even the occasion in Nazareth which we  studied 2 weeks ago…. Is focused on the person of Jesus as the Messiah……..  
Jesus  read from the book of Isaiah……Declaring himself to be the anointed one….
 He was the one on whom the “Spirit of the Lord” had come to preach the gospel…….. the Good News…Last week ……… In verse 31 we began to see Jesus' power…….The Son of Man is The Son of God….

Now We're seeing  His power everywhere……  we're going to see His power over all religious teachers…… His authority over all other religious teaching…..Full of grace and truth……John 1: 14 …….
 We have already seen His power over demons……
Today…. We're going to see His power over every disease…… We're going to see His power over nature…….. We´re going to see all of that in the fourth and fifth chapters of Luke ….
The central point of the section is that Jesus is God……He has power over everyone and everything……. After the resurrection Jesus said….
Matt 28: 18…… All authority in heaven and earth is given to me…..But Jesus has always had this authority….. Now in these verses we see Jesus proving that His words are true…… …proving that the son of man is also the Son of God ….. Possessing absolute power ……..  absolute authority over everyone and everything…….  
He is the Messiah …….He fulfilled every Old Testament prophecy……… He is the Messiah by virtue of His defeat of Satan……. 
All of these things we know because of the Word of God……  
Last week we saw Jesus' power over demons……
He had just taught in the Synagogue…..and delivered a man from demons ……Now He´s going to Heal Simon
Peter´s mother in–law ……. this is a fascinating account…….Luke 4: 38……
Luke 4: 38-39                NLT
38 Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. 39 So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.

Luke 4: 38-39       Neues Leben

38 Er machte sich aber auf von der Synagoge und kam in das Haus Simons. Die Schwiegermutter des Simon aber war von einem starken Fieber befallen, und sie baten ihn für sie.
39 Und er beugte sich über sie, bedrohte das Fieber, und es verließ sie; sie aber stand sogleich auf und diente ihnen.
v38…..It was customary to go home after the Sabbath service for a big meal ……. Luke the Doctor….describes the circumstances in detail…..she had a high fever….
There was no aspirin in those days….. not much understanding of disease……. A high fever was a sign of serious sickness…..They would have naturally feared for her life…….they told Jesus……..
v39…….. she was healed immediately….instantly……she was totally fit…..she got up and served them……. Total instant complete healing…..Miraculous proof that the son of man is ……… the Son of God!.......

Luke 4: 40-41               NLT
 
40 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.



   Luke 4: 40-41        Neues Leben
40 Als aber die Sonne unterging, brachten alle, die an mancherlei Krankheiten Leidende hatten, sie zu ihm; er aber legte jedem von ihnen die Hände auf und heilte sie.
41 Und auch Dämonen fuhren von vielen aus, indem sie schrien und sprachen: Du bist der Sohn Gottes. Und er bedrohte sie und ließ sie nicht reden, weil sie wussten, dass er der Christus war.
v40……I´m sure they had a wonderful time celebrating God´s goodness and enjoying the presence of Jesus in their home…….
My friends….we can enjoy the presence of Jesus in our home…..we can spend time worshipping ……..and reading the Word of God…… Jesus presence is way better than Wetten Das?..... or anything else on the T.V. …..
But now………. it´s going to get very busy…… the sun is setting …..Sabbath is over…….. The news of the miracles was spreading everywhere……Jesus was beginning to collect massive crowds….
Could this be the Messiah……the demons obey him……he is healing people….instantly…..no partial healings….Mark tells us that the whole town was standing at the door…….Jesus healed everyone…… This is not like the healing lines that we see today…..this was instant ………total………. supernatural healing and deliverance……and it proved that the son of man is the SON of GOD!
 v41…..He cast out many demons…..no faith was required on the part of these possessed people …… Jesus set them free with a word…..Matthew recorded this event too…..it´s in Matt8: 16- 17….Let´s turn there for a minute…..
Matt 8: 16-17               NLT
16 That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. 17 This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said,“He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.”
Matt 8: 16-17           Neues Leben
16 An diesem Abend wurden viele Menschen zu Jesus gebracht, die von Dämonen besessen waren. Auf sein Wort hin verschwanden alle Geister, und er heilte auch alle Kranken.
17 Damit erfüllte sich das Wort Gottes, das der Prophet Jesaja gesprochen hatte: »Er nahm unsere Leiden auf sich und trug unsere Krankheiten.«
I want us to notice 2 things …..
1……this was in fulfillment of prophesy….
Isaiah 53: 4…..
2…..This was miraculous on a never before seen scale……. In the entire OT there are only a few instances of Divine healing……
Now We see Jesus……He is casting out demons with a Word ….and healing everyone  from every disease………… not some with enough faith ……
Some people came to Jesus to see a show…… to see the magician….They didn´t all believe ……
One of the terrible things that happens today……We need to talk about it……..it´s very sad and very wicked……
Some of these so called faith healers …. These false prophets……tell the people who are not healed …..  that the problem is their faith …….
Think of this…… I bring my dying friend to the healing service…….. He will soon die without a miracle …..
the “ man of God “ ….. I say that loosely….says…… God told me that someone in the audience has cancer…….That´s a very easy thing to say…..Today they will be healed by the power of God…… ..
Wow…. I bring my friend up…… the great preacher says…..God told me that I am going to heal you now……He is prayed for ….. He feel´s something……But sadly…
He is not healed…..he dies 6 months later….I am then told that either I or my friend didn´t have enough faith….
Something´s very wrong here………..If God had really revealed to that Minister……tat the sick would be healed……  he would have been healed……We must be very carefull about saying….”Thus sayeth the Lord “…… God does heal today…..He does speak today…….
It can happen today….. But let´s be sure that we are hearing from the LORD……before we say “The Lord told me………”
Mark´s account tells us that the whole town was there at Simon Peter´s door…….. they had heard that Jesus was there….doing miracles……
We know that these people in Capernaum didn´t all believe…..How do we know
?....
Because…..They didn´t all repent of their sins and believe the Gospel …… So it seems ….. some of them were healed without even really believing ….. We will see this time and time again in the Gospels….. ….. turn with me to Luke 10…. There were many people who saw Jesus´ miracles and power…..they experienced the power of God …but were not persuaded to repent……
Capernaum was such a place……after Jesus moved to Capernaum……they saw lots of miracles…they heard the Gospel…….They were not repentant…they did not really believe…..We´re going to take a quick look at Jesus´ sending   of the 72 disciples   …. Luke 10: 8- 15…….
Luke 10: 8- 15      NLT
8 “If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you. 9 Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ 10 But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this—the Kingdom of God is near!’ 12 I assure you, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on judgment day.

 13 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 14 Yes, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. 15 And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead.”
Luke 10: 8- 15      Neues Leben
8 Wenn eine Stadt euch willkommen heißt, dann esst, was euch vorgesetzt wird,
9 heilt die Kranken und sagt dabei: `Das Reich Gottes ist nahe bei euch.´
10 Doch wenn eine Stadt euch nicht willkommen heißen will, dann geht hinaus auf die Straße und sagt:
11 `Wir schütteln als Zeichen eures Verderbens den Staub eurer Stadt von unseren Füßen. Vergesst nicht, dass das Reich Gottes nahe ist!´
12 Ich sage euch, selbst der Stadt Sodom wird es am Tag des Gerichts noch besser ergehen als einer solchen Stadt.
13 Welche Schrecken erwarten euch, Chorazin und Betsaida! Denn wenn die Wunder, die ich bei euch getan habe, in Tyrus und Sidon geschehen wären, hätten ihre Einwohner schon längst ihre Schuld bekannt und sich zum Zeichen ihrer Reue in Säcke gehüllt und Asche auf ihre Häupter gestreut.
14 Ja, Tyrus und Sidon werden am Tag des Gerichts immer noch besser dastehen als ihr.
15 Und ihr Bewohner von Kapernaum, ob ihr wohl an diesem Tag in den Himmel gehoben werdet? Ganz sicher nicht. Ihr werdet vielmehr hinunter ins Reich der Toten2 geworfen.«

I want us to notice 2 things….first….
1…..healing was to be a Sign of the Coming of the Messiah….. the point was the Advent of the kingdom of Heaven…..the Messiah is here…… These miracles have never happened before….
v9 Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’
9 heilt die Kranken und sagt dabei: `Das Reich Gottes ist nahe bei euch.´
and again in v 11……..
v11 And know this—the Kingdom of God is near!’  

v11Vergesst nicht, dass das Reich Gottes nahe ist!´
2 …. Some that were healed….some that saw the miracles….. didn´t believe….
Luke 10: 13- 15           NLT
v13 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 14 Yes, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. 15 And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead.”



Luke 10: 13- 15      Neues Leben
13 Welche Schrecken erwarten euch, Chorazin und Betsaida! Denn wenn die Wunder, die ich bei euch getan habe, in Tyrus und Sidon geschehen wären, hätten ihre Einwohner schon längst ihre Schuld bekannt und sich zum Zeichen ihrer Reue in Säcke gehüllt und Asche auf ihre Häupter gestreut.
14 Ja, Tyrus und Sidon werden am Tag des Gerichts immer noch besser dastehen als ihr.
15 Und ihr Bewohner von Kapernaum, ob ihr wohl an diesem Tag in den Himmel gehoben werdet? Ganz sicher nicht. Ihr werdet vielmehr hinunter ins Reich der Toten geworfen.«

Not everyone who saw the Miracles of Jesus ….. had saving faith……But that is the purpose of the miracles….Do you remember what John the Apostle gave a the reason that he reported the Miracles of Jesus?....John 20: 30-31……




John 20: 30- 31    NLT
30 The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
John 20: 30 -31        Neues Leben
30 Die Jünger sahen, wie Jesus noch viele andere Wunder tat, die nicht in diesem Buch aufgezeichnet sind.
31 Diese aber wurden aufgeschrieben, damit ihr glaubt2, dass Jesus der Christus ist, der Sohn Gottes, und damit ihr durch den Glauben an ihn in seinem Namen das ewige Leben habt.
The people saw the Miracles….they were amazed…..but……They didn´t all repent of their sins and believe the Gospel ……
They were happy for a healing touch…..but that is totally different than repenting for your sins and being redeemed…… Even a divine healing doesn´t prove a changed heart…….. Just like baptism doesn´t prove a changed heart….. many a dirty sinner went down in baptism and come up out of the water a wet sinner….. The Pharisees practiced all sorts of ritual and symbolic washings……but only genuine repentance ……and sorrow for sin brings changes in the heart…….
When we hear the Word of God ……. and the Holy Spirit uses it to touch our heart…..we repent and believe….. then Jesus   takes away our sins…. And we are born again…..

Do you remember the story of the 10 lepers? ......Luke 17: 11- 19…….Jesus healed 10…but only 1 came back to Worship Jesus……  only 1…. Jesus said to him…..v19…. your faith has  made you whole…..
Sozo greek….93 times in the NT it is translated   save…..
it means…. to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction  
The ultimate healing….Salvation…..the healing of a heart of stone….. Jesus gives us a heart of flesh…..Jesus transforms lives….He changes peoples forever…… not just here and now……. Now and forever…..
Jesus healed everyone who came to him……not some sort of partial healing…… not a progressive healing……total…. Complete……. instant……permanent….
God´s miraculous Power…..
proving the son of man……. God in the flesh….. is truly God……. These miraculous signs proved that Jesus is the Son of God !....
This was a very long day …… Jesus poured Himself out to the point of exhaustion ……..He emptied his bucket……He poured out grace and mercy …… forgiveness and healing to everyone….…remember …..
He healed them all…… instantly and with a word….back to verse 41…….
Luke 4: 40-41               NLT
  40 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.

 Luke 4: 40-41        Neues Leben
40 Als aber die Sonne unterging, brachten alle, die an mancherlei Krankheiten Leidende hatten, sie zu ihm; er aber legte jedem von ihnen die Hände auf und heilte sie.
41 Und auch Dämonen fuhren von vielen aus, indem sie schrien und sprachen: Du bist der Sohn Gottes. Und er bedrohte sie und ließ sie nicht reden, weil sie wussten, dass er der Christus war.

v41…… the demons knew that Jesus is the Messiah….they knew Him…….but He didn´t let him speak……Jesus didn´t want demons to testify of Him….He didn´t need their help…… They would soon accuse Jesus……of being possessed….. The scribes and Pharisees said that Jesus cast out demons by the Devil himself…..  turn to Mark 3: 22 …..
Mark 3: 22   NLT
22 But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons.”
Mark 3: 22   Neues Leben
22 Doch die Schriftgelehrten, die aus Jerusalem gekommen waren, erklärten: »Er ist von Satan, dem Obersten der Dämonen, besessen. Daher hat er die Macht, Dämonen auszutreiben.«
Jesus let The miracles and the teaching of the Word….testify of Him ….he didn´t need orwant a word from a demon…..
let´s continue now in Luke 4:42- 44…..
Luke 4: 42-44               NLT
42 Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; 43 but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” 44 And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.





Luke 4: 42-44         Neues Leben
42 Als es aber Tag geworden war, ging er hinaus und begab sich an einen einsamen Ort; und die Volksmengen suchten ihn auf und kamen bis zu ihm, und sie hielten ihn auf, dass er nicht von ihnen ginge.
43 Er aber sprach zu ihnen: Ich muss auch den anderen Städten die gute Botschaft vom Reich Gottes verkündigen, denn dazu bin ich gesandt worden.
44 Und er predigte in den Synagogen von Galiläa.
v42….. when it was day……. Early in the morning Jesus went to a deserted place……….
in the Gospel of Mark1: 35 ….. we can see why…. He went out to a solitary place to pray…….He went out to be alone…… to spend time with the Father….to fill up His bucket…..
We need to pour out ourselves in Ministry just like Jesus did…. He is our example…..
We   need time to be alone with the Lord……to spend time with the Lord …….we need to fill up our buckets too……
That´s one reason why we want lots of  ministry volunteers’….
we don´t anyone to try to minister on empty…..we want all of you to get refreshed and blessed…..to fill up your buckets….so that you have something to give when it´s your turn to pour yourself out again …… that´s why I encourage you to have a personal quiet time….to study the Bible…..It helps you and it helps your ministry to others……
I´m only here to teach you and equip you to minister…..I can´t do it all …..and even if could….. it would not be good for you….
We are blessed when we minister to others…..we grow when we minister to others…..we enjoy our Christian life……. when we love and serve and help each other….When we pray for others….the Lord fills up our buckets….. we minister joyfully….. we give joyfully….. we enjoy our Christian life….we stop being such a bunch of sad and sour people…..we love spending time with the Lord….and spending time with His people…..
Back to verse 42……
v 42-43…..they didn´t want Jesus to leave them……. But Jesus said….I must preach…… he didn´t say …I must heal….or I must cast out demons…..he said …I must teach…..preach the good news…….that´s why I have been sent…
v44….he was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee…… The proclaiming of the Gospel is the most important thing…….It was the very reason that Jesus was sent….. It is why we are still here…..
We have been sent……out to the lost and dying world….. just like the 72 disciples that we read about……
We have been called to minister to each other…….









Close
Col 3: 12- 17    NLT
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

 16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.


Col 3: 12- 17        Neues Leben
12 Da Gott euch erwählt hat, zu seinen Heiligen und Geliebten zu gehören, seid voll Mitleid und Erbarmen, Freundlichkeit, Demut, Sanftheit und Geduld.
13 Seid nachsichtig mit den Fehlern der anderen und vergebt denen, die euch gekränkt haben. Vergesst nicht, dass der Herr euch vergeben hat und dass ihr deshalb auch anderen vergeben müsst.
14 Das Wichtigste aber ist die Liebe. Sie ist das Band, das uns alle in vollkommener Einheit verbindet.
15 Euren Herzen wünschen wir den Frieden, der von Christus kommt. Denn als Glieder des einen Leibes seid ihr alle berufen, im Frieden miteinander zu leben. Und seid immer dankbar!
16 Gebt den Worten von Christus viel Raum3 in euren Herzen. Gebraucht seine Worte weise, um einander zu lehren und zu ermahnen. Singt Gott aus ganzem Herzen Psalmen, Lobgesänge und geistliche Lieder.
17 Doch alles, was auch immer ihr tut oder sagt, soll im Namen von Jesus, dem Herrn, geschehen, durch den ihr Gott, dem Vater, danken sollt!

   Luke 4:31- 44                       13.2.20
The Son of Man is the Son of God

Good morning everyone. It´s wonderful to see all of you here this morning. We thank God for everyone of you.
As most of you know…..at Calvary Chapel Wiesbaden….. We teach through the Bible verse by verse……
Why ? I´m glad you asked……It´s because in order to understand our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ….you need to see the big picture……
This book is true all of it…… every page points to Jesus….
1….the promises…..
2…..the prophesies…..
3…..the pictures…..We can believe it…..
Every bit of it shows us the Glory of God……every word of it….. points us to the perfect revelation of Jesus….…….It is the great need of the times……..

Amos 8: 11- 13     NLT
 11 “The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the LORD.
 12 People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from border to border searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.
 13 Beautiful girls and strong young men will grow faint in that day, thirsting for the LORD’s word.
Amos 8: 11- 13    Neues  Leben
11 Die Zeit wird kommen«, spricht Gott, der Herr, »da ich eine Hungersnot ins Land schicke - aber nicht Hunger nach Brot und Durst nach Wasser, sondern den Hunger nach dem Wort des Herrn.
12 Die Menschen werden in alle Himmelsrichtungen aufbrechen und das Wort des Herrn suchen; sie werden hierhin und dorthin laufen, doch sie werden es nicht finden.
13 Schöne Mädchen und attraktive junge Männer werden an jenem Tag vor Durst nach dem Wort des Herrn zusammenbrechen.
Remember……Jesus said that living water would flow out of us….. Let´s get to know and love this book…..a lost and dying world needs to know about Jesus…..

There is a program orchestrated by Satan to confuse people about the reality of Jesus Christ…. Since the garden of Eden…..He has been trying to cast doubts on the Word of God…..Did God really say?…… He really meant ….
He wants people to look for God in creation …. Or to find the god within themselves …… He does not want them to find the real Jesus!
There's only one place where you can find the real Jesus……. on the pages of Scripture……. Here in this book…… The real Jesus is in Scripture……..
The gospel ….. The Good News of the life and ministry of Jesus is right here.........
 If you reject this book …… if you reject any part of it…… then you cannot find Jesus ……. People who look out there…..people who look in here……. don't find Him…… they never will find Him……… till they look in the Bible and believe every word written about Him……


We gather  this morning…… and we're not searching for the real Jesus…… we know exactly where to find Him…..we know where to look to learn about Him….. He's here in the pages of Scripture ….
I don't expect unregenerate people to know the true Christ ....... I don't expect people who deny the Bible to find Him…….. But I what really saddens me is how many Christians are ignorant of the riches knowing and serving  Jesus Christ…………
You, if you come here week after week after week….. hear me teaching from the gospel of Luke….. . And I know I have a reputation for going slowly. …….
I can improve on that…….. but there's only one way I can improve   that…….. I can go slower. …..That would be an improvement…….. Because the faster I go…… the less you're going to learn about the depth of Scripture……… Slower is better......Faster is not better. …. Slower is better so that you can learn the fullness of the riches of the glory of Jesus Christ….. You know the real Jesus….. You've seen Him in the Scriptures…… and you're going to keep seeing Him week after week after week as His majesty unfolds on the pages of the New Testament….. the only source for knowing Jesus…..When someone rejects this book as the infallible inspired Word of God…..they lose Jesus in the process…..
Liberal theologians reject the Inspired Word of God….. they reject miracles…. They will never find Jesus……. they can never show Him to anyone…..
Cults will never find Jesus…. They reject the scriptures as the Word of God…..because They reject Jesus as  the Son of God …. Romans 1….. They manipulate and twist the scriptures to invent a different Jesus……. A plastic Jesus if you will….one that is more like they want Him to be…..
Then you have the spiritual seekers…..they claim to have experienced God …. They say….It doesn´t matter what you think about the scriptures…. You don´t need the Bible…..…..you can find God everywhere….…… What do you need Jesus to be?..... we cannot learn about the real Jesus from any place other than this book…..He has revealed himself……here!....


 You can't invent Jesus out of your own experience…... …. You find Jesus revealed in an absolute historical record on the pages of Scripture…….. You can experience His salvation…… but you cannot define Him by your feelings……experiences can deceive us…...we are so quick to believe whatever we want to… ….
I want to start a movement somehow to get back to the teaching of the Word of God…… not for its own sake ………..but because that is the only way people will ever see the glory of God in Christ. ……
You can't know Jesus any other way……You can't just expect people to wander around in a fog looking for Jesus….or looking for God…. ……trying to experience their way   to truth….
The creator of the Universe sent Jesus…..as a true accurate….real revelation of Himself…….We can see God….. in the face of Jesus Christ as he is shown to us in the scriptures…….
Jesus said…. I am the way…the truth….and the Life….no man comes to the Father but by me……..John 14: 6…….
 The revelation of Jesus is in the pages of Scripture….. We're going verse by verse thru Luke….. sometimes we're going to go slower........ even slower than when we studied Matthew……because there is no where else to look for truth…..there is no other way to find Jesus….
This morning…….As we continue in Luke 4……Luke continues to introduce us to Jesus Christ ……
Luke is introducing us to the real Jesus. …. The search is over, folks, it's over…….. Here He is…….. Luke is introducing us to the Messiah……. the Savior…….. the Son of Man………….  A real person …..flesh and blood…..just like us……
Starting in chapter 4 verse 31 and going on through chapter 5…….. Luke directs us to the power of Jesus Christ……….. He has told us lots about Jesus Christ….His coming as a man……  His birth was promised in the Garden….It was announced by the angelic messenger……   He was born of a virgin named Mary with no earthly father…….   in the line of David………as promised…… The true Messiah ….. proclaimed “ the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”…..by John the Baptist………. affirmed by the Father…….   
Everything that we have read …… including Jesus' conflict with Satan in the wilderness…….. affirms Him as the Messiah…… The son of man…..a real flesh and blood human just like us….   
Even the occasion in Nazareth which we  studied last week …. Is focused on the person of Jesus as the Messiah…….. He read from the book of Isaiah……Declaring himself to be the anointed one….
 He was the one on whom the “Spirit of the Lord” had come to preach the gospel…….. So everything up to this point has been Jesus as a real person ……… In verse 31 we begin to see Jesus' power…….The Son of God….

We're going to see  His power……   we're going to see His power over all religious teachers…… His authority over all other religious teaching…..Full of grace and truth……John 1: 14 …….
 We're going to see His power over demons…… We're going to see His power over every disease…… We're going to see His power over nature…….. We´re going to see all of that in the fourth and fifth chapters of Luke ….
The central point of the section is that Jesus has power over everyone and everything……. After the resurrection Jesus said….Matt 28: 18…… All authority in heaven and earth is given to me…..But Jesus has always had this authority….. He begins to prove it now……
 He is the Messiah by virtue of angelic announcement…..He is the Messiah by virtue of virgin birth……. He is the Messiah by virtue of the promises fulfilled …..promises made to Abraham and to David……
 He is the Messiah by virtue of the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy………He is the Messiah by virtue of the proclamation of the forerunner of the Messiah……. John the Baptist……. He is the Messiah by virtue of His defeat of Satan…….  
All of these things we know because of the Word of God……   
Now we begin to see His power…… We have met the real Jesus as to His person…….son of man….. Now we meet   Jesus as    God the Son…….
Possessing absolute power ……..  absolute authority over everyone and everything…….  
First of all, he deals with Jesus' power over demons……
When Jesus stood up and read the prophesy from Isaiah ….He said he had come to set captives free in the second part of Isaiah 61: 1…..


Isaiah 61: 1b     KNKJV
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
      And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

Is 61: 1b     Elberfelder
Freilassung auszurufen den Gefangenen und Öffnung des Kerkers den Gebundenen,
 Let's look at Luke 4 …….. I will begin at verse 31…… this is a fascinating account……. He´s going to set a man free…..
Luke 4: 31-  37             NLT
31 Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. 32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. 33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, 34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. 36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” 37 And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.
Luke 4:31-37     Neues Leben
31 Und er kam nach Kapernaum hinab, einer Stadt in Galiläa, und lehrte sie an den Sabbaten.
32 Und sie erstaunten sehr über seine Lehre, denn sein Wort war mit Vollmacht.
33 Und es war in der Synagoge ein Mensch, der einen Geist eines unreinen Dämons hatte, und er schrie auf mit lauter Stimme
34 und sprach: Ach, was haben wir mit dir zu schaffen, Jesus, Nazarener? Bist du gekommen, uns zu verderben? Ich kenne dich, wer du bist: der Heilige Gottes.
35 Und Jesus bedrohte ihn und sprach: Verstumme und fahre aus von ihm! Und als der Dämon ihn mitten unter sie geworfen hatte, fuhr er von ihm aus, ohne ihm Schaden zu tun.
36 Und Entsetzen kam über alle, und sie redeten untereinander und sprachen: Was ist dies für ein Wort? Denn mit Vollmacht und Kraft gebietet er den unreinen Geistern, und sie fahren aus.
37 Und die Kunde von ihm ging hinaus in jeden Ort der Umgegend.
v31 …..   you remember from last week…… Jesus was rejected at Nazareth…… now he moves to Capernaum and continues his ministry…….Jesus ministry is to teach…..the teaching of the Word of God…. teaching them on the Sabbaths………
v32…… Jesus teaches and once again the people are astonished…… ( Greek…..  ekplēssō ) it could be translated…”to strike with panic, shock, astonish,
to be struck with amazement, astonished, amazed” so it´s like “wow+ fear….who is this guy”…..
because …. His word was with authority….. The teaching that they usually heard had little authority…. the Pharisees quoted other teachers and rabbi´s….saying well ……so and so said….. but so and so said …… they focused on the opinions of men ….…not the Word of God…..
The Sadducees did not speak the truth at all…..they rejected most of the scriptures …. They rejected the supernatural….Exactly like the theologians for more recent times…… And because they rejected the supernatural completely…..
No miracles no resurrection of the dead…..no eternal life….. no real hope …….. all they had was religion and the here and now….heute ist alles…. their religion was only  a tool for power …… They used their spiritual authority to dominate and control others ……. To get all that they could get…..
It was a source of wealth….. mmmmmmm……religion as a source of wealth?..... Sounds familiar……. I read something about that in the scriptures …. oh yes …. turn with me to …… 1 Timothy 6: 4- 8 ….
1 Timothy 6: 4- 10     NLT
4 Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. 5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.
6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

1 Timothy 6: 4- 10      Neues Leben
4 der ist verblendet und unwissend. Ein solcher Mensch hat einen ungesunden Hang zu Streitereien und Wortgefechten, die zu Neid, Auseinandersetzungen, lästerlichen Reden und bösen Verdächtigungen führen
5 und in dauerhaftem Streit enden. Solche Menschen haben ein verdorbenes Denken und kennen die Wahrheit nicht. Für sie ist das Leben mit Gott nur ein Mittel, sich zu bereichern.
6 Wahrer Glaube und die Fähigkeit, mit wenigem zufrieden zu sein, sind tatsächlich ein großer Reichtum.
7 Schließlich haben wir bei unserer Geburt nichts in die Welt mitgebracht und wir können auch nichts mitnehmen, wenn wir sterben.
8 Deshalb wollen wir zufrieden sein, solange wir nur genug Nahrung und Kleidung haben.
9 Menschen, die reich werden wollen, geraten nur in Versuchung und verstricken sich in so viele dumme und schädliche Wünsche, dass sie letztlich ins Verderben und in ihren eigenen Untergang stürzen.
10 Denn die Liebe zum Geld ist die Wurzel aller möglichen Übel; so sind manche Menschen aus Geldgier vom Glauben abgewichen und haben sich selbst viele Schmerzen zugefügt.
v5 and 6…….. These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.
Back to Luke 4…..
v33……. once when He was in the synagogue …… don´t lose sight of Jesus mission……Jesus came to teach …..The Holy Spirit of God…….. uses the Word of God to convert sinners….. to bring them to repentance…..2 Tim 3: 16……
2 Tim 3: 16    NLT und Neues Leben
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
16 Die ganze Schrift ist von Gottes Geist eingegeben und kann uns lehren, was wahr ist, und uns erkennen lassen, wo Schuld in unserem Leben ist. Sie weist uns zurecht und erzieht uns dazu, Gottes Willen zu tun.
That´s what Jesus uses the perfect Word of God…..in the Synagogue is a man possessed by a Demon….. shouting at Jesus……
v34….. ( Greek …. ea… It´s expressive of indignation, or of wonder mixed with fear, ha! ah! ) go away….leave me alone…… the demons are not  confused about who Jesus is….. and they are afraid…..
My friends….we do not need to be afraid of demons ….Since we belong to Jesus….and Jesus  came to destroy the works of Satan….. 1 John 3…v 8b
1 John 3: 8b         NLT und Neues Leben
the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.
Doch der Sohn Gottes kam, um die Taten des Teufels zu vernichten.
I love the German translation there….. vernichten…….Amen……We have nothing to fear….in Fact….the devils are afraid of Jesus….. They screamed…..leave us alone…..They knew why He appeared….1 John3: 8 b…… is translated like this in the ESV….. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
Jesus destroyed  the works of Satan……exactly as was prophesied by Isaiah….. It is a necessary part of our redemption…….
Beloved……We are safe in His arms…. He has all authority in Heaven and on the Earth…..
By the way Christians cannot be possessed…..although It´s a popular idea in some circles…..it´s impossible….. it´s silly…. it´s a very unbiblical notion……. There is no case of it in the Bible……. Turn to 1 Cor 6: 15,16…
2 Cor 6: 15, 16        NLT
15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
2 Cor 6: 15, 16        Neues Leben
15 Welche Übereinstimmung kann es zwischen Christus und dem Teufel geben? Wie kann ein Gläubiger der Partner eines Ungläubigen sein?
16 Und welche Gemeinschaft kann zwischen dem Tempel Gottes und Götzenbildern bestehen? Denn wir sind der Tempel des lebendigen Gottes, wie Gott gesagt hat: »Ich will mitten unter ihnen sein und mitten unter ihnen leben. Ich will ihr Gott sein, und sie sollen mein Volk sein.
Here´s a few more…..for note takers……Col 1: 13…..1 John 2: 13….1 John 4: 4…..


v35…… be quiet …… come out of the man….. Jesus spoke ….. and the demon obeyed…….
This devil knew who Jesus was …. He obeyed…..
Why don´t we obey Jesus….Is it possible that we don´t know who Jesus is? .... Or Is it possible that we just refuse to obey Him because of our rebellion….….. Jesus said….Why do you call me LORD but refuse to do what I say………
v36…… amazed……… ( Greek ……..thambos) it could also be translated…”to strike with panic, shock, astonish,
to be struck with amazement, astonished, amazed” so it´s like “wow plus  fear…. who is this guy”…..paralyzed…..unable to speak…..struck dumb….
Not only does he teach with authority…..He is able to cast out demons…..even the demons obey….and flee
James 2: 19 says that the demons believe and tremble……

Our text for today mentions His authority twice…… It mentions His authority in verse 32……..
v32….He taught with authority…. it mentions it again in
verse 36…..Jesus displayed His authority and power in His words….The power of God in the Words of Jesus…..………
We already know that Jesus has engaged in a conflict with Satan…… He was led in to the wilderness to be tempted to disobey the Father…..to be  tested…..He won…..He used two things……
First….. He used His trust in the Fathers unfailing love and care….
Second….He used the Word of God……
We must use the Word of God….to help us when we are tested and tempted… and in our ministry to others…… turn to 2 Cor 10: 3-5……
2 Cor 10: 3-5          NLT
3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

2 Cor 10: 3-5          Neues Leben
3 Wir sind zwar Menschen, doch wir kämpfen nicht mit menschlichen Mitteln.
4 Wir setzen die mächtigen Waffen Gottes und keine weltlichen Waffen ein, um menschliche Gedankengebäude zu zerstören.
5 Mit diesen Waffen zerschlagen wir all die hochtrabenden Argumente, die die Menschen davon abhalten, Gott zu erkennen. Mit diesen Waffen bezwingen wir ihre widerstrebenden Gedanken und lehren sie, Christus zu gehorchen.

We are in a war….a spiritual Battle…… Our weapons…. The shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit….which is the Word of God ….We can use the Word of God to beat back the darkness……..
We can do that! ..... For ourselves and for others…..we have nothing to fear…….
Does that mean that some of us should have a deliverance ministry…..casting out demons as our focus……?
I do not think so ….. teaching the Word and making disciples must be our focus….It was Jesus´ focus….He said “ go and make disciples”…..
and as Paul wrote …….in the last part of verse 5……
v 5… …. teach them to obey Christ….. Our job is to tell the Good news…..to teach the Word…..to show the lost the  real Jesus ….. the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world……
v37…… The news spread everywhere…….
 Jesus was a preacher…… Above all He was a preacher….. He spoke the Word of God…… That's all He ever spoke…… He never spoke anything but the Word of God. ……Every time He opened His mouth….. the truth of God came out ……
 He was a preacher, always preaching……and    teaching…….. That  is what those who follow in Jesus' footsteps do………
The Word of God is what the world needs……..The proclaiming…. The teaching of the Word…. Making disciples…….that´s what we are about…..The world is desperate for the truth…… God´s word is truth….  ..Amos 8: 11-13

Amos 8: 11- 13     NLT
 11 “The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign LORD,“when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.
 12 People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from border to border searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.
 13 Beautiful girls and strong young men will grow faint in that day, thirsting for the LORD’s word.
Amos 8: 11- 13    Neues  Leben
11 Die Zeit wird kommen«, spricht Gott, der Herr, »da ich eine Hungersnot ins Land schicke - aber nicht Hunger nach Brot und Durst nach Wasser, sondern den Hunger nach dem Wort des Herrn.
12 Die Menschen werden in alle Himmelsrichtungen aufbrechen und das Wort des Herrn suchen; sie werden hierhin und dorthin laufen, doch sie werden es nicht finden.
13 Schöne Mädchen und attraktive junge Männer werden an jenem Tag vor Durst nach dem Wort des Herrn zusammenbrechen.

CLOSE
2 Tim 3: 14-17         NLT
14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.





2 Tim 3: 14-17         Neues Leben
14 Du aber sollst dich treu an das halten, was ich dich gelehrt habe und was du gelernt und im Glauben angenommen hast, denn du weißt, wer dich unterrichtet hat.
15 Von Kindheit an bist du in der heiligen Schrift unterwiesen worden, und sie kann dich weise machen, die Rettung anzunehmen, die der Glaube an Christus Jesus schenkt!
16 Die ganze Schrift ist von Gottes Geist eingegeben und kann uns lehren, was wahr ist, und uns erkennen lassen, wo Schuld in unserem Leben ist. Sie weist uns zurecht und erzieht uns dazu, Gottes Willen zu tun.2
17 Durch die Schrift bereitet Gott uns umfassend vor und rüstet uns aus für alles, was wir nach seinem Willen tun sollen.
Jesus is rejected at Nazareth     Luke 4: 14- 44
                             6.2.2011
Good Morning everyone….It´s great to see all of you here this morning…. We are studying the Word of God verse by verse…….
We are going through the Gospel of Luke….and today we will pick up where we left off last week….
Last week we saw Jesus….The Son of Man……. resisting temptation and defeating the Devil…..the tools that He used were not supernatural……they are tools that are available to each of us…… all who have come to know the Lord Jesus….
1…..His faith in God and His unfailing love……a love that always has our good and His Glory in view…. And the second tool…the second weapon that JESUS used in this spiritual battle….
2…The word of God….

As the Son of man…..Jesus was relating to us….showing himself to be one of us……showing solidarity with His creation…….
He was showing us that we too can resist temptation by trusting God and hiding His word in our hearts….A wonderful example……

Remember that after 40 days Jesus was hungry……He was at the limit of human survivability……He needed to eat or He would die……
That devil always attacks us at our weakest…..he always seeks to cause us to doubt God´s unfailing love and care…….. to doubt His word…….The Children of Israel failed the test…… time after time when they were in the desert those 40 years…….they doubted God…… they failed to trust Him….they rebelled….they sinned…… Jesus did not doubt God …..And God met His real needs supernaturally….Do you remember what happened? .... Turn with me to Matt 4: 11-17……
    Matt 4: 11- 17    NLT
11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
 12 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
13 He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:
15 “In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live,
16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”
17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

Matt 4: 11-17      Neues Leben
11 Da verließ ihn der Teufel, und Engel kamen und sorgten für Jesus. 12 Als Jesus hörte, dass Johannes verhaftet worden war, verließ er Judäa und kehrte nach Galiläa zurück. 13 Doch er ging nicht nach Nazareth, sondern nach Kapernaum am See Genezareth, im Gebiet von Sebulon und Naftali. 14 Auf diese Weise erfüllte sich die Prophezeiung Jesajas: 15 »Im Lande Sebulon und Naftali, am See, jenseits des Jordan, in Galiläa, leben so viele Menschen, die Gott nicht kennen.
16 Dort hat das Volk, das im Dunkel lebt, ein helles Licht gesehen. Und über den Menschen in einem vom Tode überschatteten Land ist ein strahlendes Licht aufgegangen.«
17 Von da an begann Jesus zu predigen: »Hört auf zu sündigen und kehrt um zu Gott, denn das Himmelreich ist nahe.«

v11…..angels came and took care of Jesus….they served Him……in the greek…. Diakoneō….deacon….. servant….like a waiter in a restaurant…..
God knows what we need….. even before we ask…. the question is….. will we trust him to meet our real needs…… in His own perfect time and way?.....
v 12…. Jesus went to Galilee……this is a direct fulfillment of Isaiah´s prophesy ……
v13…. He went first to Nazareth….this is where we will pick up the story in Luke….but first note……
v14-16…. here Matthew quotes  Messianic prophesy….. showing the Children of Israel that the Messiah is coming to bring light and life to the gentiles…..……It´s from Is 9: 1- 2……. the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”
v17….“Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”…. the exact same message as every prophet that had gone before…..

Now let´s pick up the events…..Jesus goes to Nazareth…..back to Luke 4: 14-16 …….


Luke 4: 14- 16            NLT
14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. 15 He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
16 When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures.




Lukas 4: 14- 16      Neues Leben
14 Danach kehrte Jesus, von der Kraft des Heiligen Geistes erfüllt, nach Galiläa zurück. Schnell wurde er in der ganzen Gegend bekannt.
15 Er lehrte in ihren Synagogen und wurde von allen verehrt.
16 Als er nach Nazareth kam, wo er seine Kindheit verbracht hatte, ging er wie gewohnt am Sabbat in die Synagoge und stand auf, um aus der Schrift vorzulesen.
v14…… filled with the Holy Spirit´s power…..when we are willing to trust the Lord completely…..when we hide His word in our hearts….we are also well prepared to be filled with the Holy Spirit´s power…..as Jesus….filled with the Holy Spirit´s power ministered in Galilee….His fame spread everywhere……..everyone was talking about Him…….was He really the Messiah?......
v15……..He taught regularly in their synagogues….
Jesus focus was teaching….. He went to the normal places of worship and He taught the people….. every town had a synagogue if there were enough Jews there…..It was the focus of worship for the people in the small towns….it was the center of spiritual life for the people…..they didn´t go to the temple everyday…..He taught in the synagogues and the Temple…. He taught the people the scriptures…..
It is very popular at the moment to say…..I don´t need to go to church…..I don´t need corporate worship…… I don´t need to listen to the word of God being taught…..
Listen…… for thousands of years…the people of God have been gathering together to worship…..to love and serve and care for each other….. and to hear the teaching of the Word of God …..
v16….…as usual……it was his custom to go to the Synagogue…
Jesus didn´t need to go to the synagogue……..Jesus didn´t need the fellowship and teaching….. He is our example…..we need the fellowship and the teaching….we need each other………
There may come a day when we will not be able to gather to worship and care for each other……it has already happened in many parts of the world……but…..

 the Bible is clear…….getting together to worship and study the Word……to pray for each other and hold each other up……is very important….we are part of the same body….we need each other……..That´s what we learned when we studied Ephesians turn with me to Eph 4:11 -16….



Ephesians 4: 11-16    NLT
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.



Ephesians 4: 11 – 16   Neues Leben
11 Er hat die einen als Apostel, die anderen als Propheten, wieder andere als Prediger und schließlich einige als Hirten und Lehrer eingesetzt.
12 Ihre Aufgabe ist es, die Gläubigen für ihren Dienst vorzubereiten und die Gemeinde - den Leib Christi - zu stärken.
13 Auf diese Weise sollen wir alle im Glauben eins werden und den Sohn Gottes immer besser kennen lernen, sodass unser Glaube zur vollen Reife gelangt und wir ganz von Christus erfüllt sind.
14 Dann werden wir nicht länger wie Kinder sein und uns ständig von jeder fremden Meinung beeinflussen oder verunsichern lassen, nur weil geschickte Betrüger uns eine Lüge als Wahrheit hinstellen.
15 Stattdessen lasst uns in Liebe an der Wahrheit festhalten und in jeder Hinsicht Christus ähnlicher werden, der das Haupt seines Leibes - der Gemeinde - ist.
16 Durch ihn wird der ganze Leib zu einer Einheit. Und jeder Teil erfüllt seine besondere Aufgabe und trägt zum Wachstum der anderen bei, sodass der ganze Leib gesund ist und wächst und von Liebe erfüllt ist.
Look at verse 11….the gift´s that God gave are people…..apostles, prophets……evangelists….. and pastor teachers ……..
Look at verse 12…..our job is to equip you…… God´s people to do His work……to minister to each other …..
We are here in the body of Christ ……to learn how to serve……. and love and pray for each other…to do God´s work….
This will continue until we are all perfect……that means until Jesus comes back….because it says….
 v13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ……
v15…… we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. …….
v16….. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
until we are perfect…..that´s how long God intends for us to gather together…..and even in places where there is severe persecution….God´s people get together to love and encourage each other…..even in Saudi Arabia…… believers gather together to worship and pray ….loving and caring for each other…. Back to Luke 4….v15……..
v15……..Jesus was praised by everyone…..Jesus´ fame was spreading all over the area….just like John the Baptist´s was……. Even more so because John had pointed to Jesus as The Lamb of God……. And He  performed miracles everywhere He went….they were not used to that…….
Jesus was praised by everyone….have you ever been praised by someone only to have them become your biggest critic …. Or even an enemy? ...... the text says….Jesus was praised by everyone….but that will soon change …….luke 4: 16…..
v16…… he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures…… Nazareth………. Jesus as usual was in church …..He stood up to read ….….. the order of service in the Synagogue is basically the same as in Jesus´ time….
1… prayer for God´s blessing…
2…the saying of the Shema…. "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One" ….it begins at Deut 6:4 …..
3….reading from the Law…the Pentateuch….a set passage….
4…reading from the prophets….usually a set passage….…..
5…a short sermon on the text….back to Luke 4…..

Luke 4: 17- 22           NLT
17 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” 20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. 21 Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” 22 Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

Lukas 4: 17- 22      Neues Leben
17 Man reichte ihm die Schriftrolle des Propheten Jesaja, und als er sie aufrollte, fand er die Stelle, an der steht:
18 »Der Geist des Herrn ruht auf mir, denn er hat mich gesalbt, um den Armen die gute Botschaft zu verkünden. Er hat mich gesandt, Gefangenen zu verkünden, dass sie freigelassen werden, Blinden, dass sie sehen werden, Unterdrückten, dass sie befreit werden
19 und dass die Zeit der Gnade des Herrn gekommen ist.6«
20 Er rollte die Schriftrolle zusammen, gab sie dem Synagogen diener zurück und setzte sich. Alle in der Synagoge sahen ihn an.
21 Und er sagte: »Heute ist dieses Wort vor euren Augen und Ohren Wirklichkeit geworden!«
22 Alle Anwesenden äußerten sich anerkennend über ihn und wunderten sich zugleich über seine Worte. »Wie kann das sein? « , fragten sie. »Ist das nicht Josefs Sohn?«

v17….he found the place where it was written…..remember there are no chapter and verse markings in the old Hebrew texts….
v18….Isaiah 61: 1, 2…..Isaiah 58: 6……the 5th gospel….. the Gospels quote more from Isaiah’s writings than from any of the Old Testament prophets. …….

Anointed Me……. The word "anoint" means to rub or sprinkle on; apply an ointment, or oily liquid ……. Persons in the Old Testament were often literally anointed with oil……
For example……. priests were anointed for their special service to the Lord (Exodus 28:41)………. oil would be poured on their heads….. as a sign of the Holy Spirit upon their lives and service……… The oil  was only the sign of the real……..spiritual work going on inside them……God´s blessing and anointing…….. setting them aside for ministry……..
“In this prophecy……. the Messiah announces that He is here to heal the damage that sin causes”……… Sin has done great damage…It destroys lives…..
 Jesus brings the great work of redemption to every heart that repents……Let´s look at the phrases…..in the prophesy…..
 To preach the gospel to the poor …..
          1 Sin makes people poor….drugs and alcohol rob children of food and care……sometimes they loose their parents……in ancient times….poverty was everywhere….it was considered a curse by the Pharisees…..just like today… the poor were taken advantage of and considered to be of no value….  the Messiah will bring good news to the poor…..redemption and salvation to even the least the poorest…….
To heal the broken hearted……
          2 Sin breaks hearts…….. the Messiah has good news for brokenhearted…….Jesus restores lives……
 To proclaim liberty to the captives …..
          3 Sin makes people captive and enslaves them…… the Messiah has come to set them free…..
Recovery of sight to the blind……
          4 Sin blinds us……….. the Messiah has come to heal our spiritual and moral blindness….
To set at liberty those who are oppressed……
           5 Sin oppresses its victims…..  the Messiah comes to bring liberty to the oppressed…..
 Thankfully, Jesus didn’t come to only preach deliverance…….. or even to only bring deliverance…….Jesus came to be deliverance for us………..”
David Guzik (commentary on Luke BLB.org)

v19….. To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD….. Jesus was graciously offering himself….the Son of Man as the Messiah…. Offering himself……As the Lamb of God who takes way the sins of the whole world….
v20…. Jesus stopped reading in the middle of a sentence…..the place where he paused is a sign to us… in our modern texts we see a comma….a pause…….this pause it teaches us something about prophesy…..even though certain prophesies may be next to each other in the text…. it doesn´t necessarily mean that they follow each other prophetically…….
The place where Jesus stopped reading from Isaiah helps show us the nature of prophecy…… and its relation to time ……Jesus stopped at the part of the text that pointed to His first advent….. His coming to redeem us…..
The text continues ……and the day of vengeance of our God…….. Then the passage goes on to describe what Jesus would do at His second coming…… this is a 2,000 year old pause in the text that Jesus has made….it separates the two phases of His coming…..first as the Lamb of God….. to redeem mankind……. Second…….at the end of the age…..He will come again to Judge the Whole earth…. the day of vengeance of our God…… God is Holy and He will judge and condemn all who refuse to repent ….. all who refuse the salvation and redemption that Jesus came to die for……
then Jesus sat down……today it would be a sign that Jesus was finished speaking…… but in those days…… it was a sign that he was ready to begin His sermon….his commentary on the text……it says that they looked on Him intently…..
v21…..Jesus spoke…. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”
a very short and direct commentary……a one sentence sermon…..simply….. He said I am the Messiah…..
v22……. Jesus word´s were full of grace…..they knew him…..it was very puzzling….. yes He was full of grace…. And they had heard of miracles that he had done ….many of them are recorded in the Gospel of John…….it didn´t add up…..but…..isn´t this Joseph´s son? ...
Luke 4: 23- 30        NLT
23 Then he said, “You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: ‘Physician, heal yourself’—meaning, ‘Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.’ 24 But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.

 25 “Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent instead to a foreigner—a widow of Zarephath in the land of Sidon. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, but the only one healed was Naaman, a Syrian.”

 28 When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. 29 Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, 30 but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.

Luke 4: 23-30           Neues Leben
23 Da sagte er: »Bestimmt werdet ihr mir das Sprichwort vorhalten: `Arzt, hilf dir selbst´ - und damit meinen: `Warum tust du hier in deiner Heimatstadt keine Wunder wie in Kapernaum?´
24 Wahrhaftig, kein Prophet gilt etwas in seiner Heimatstadt.
25 Zur Zeit Elias gab es in Israel bestimmt viele hilfsbedürftige Witwen, als es dreieinhalb Jahre lang nicht regnete und Hunger im Land herrschte.
26 Dennoch wurde Elia zu keiner von ihnen geschickt, sondern nur zu einer Witwe aus Sarepta - einer Fremden im Gebiet von Sidon.
27 Oder denkt an den Propheten Elisa, der den Syrer Naaman heilte und nicht die vielen Aussätzigen in Israel.«
28 Als die Leute in der Synagoge das hörten, wurden sie zornig.
29 Sie sprangen auf und trieben ihn hinaus an einen steilen Abhang des Berges, auf dem die Stadt erbaut war. Sie wollten ihn hinunterstürzen,
30 doch er schritt mitten durch sie hindurch und ging fort.

v23….. Physician heal yourself…….by saying this….. Jesus answers two questions at the same time….……
1….. "Who did Isaiah write of?"……. Jesus answered that question…… "Isaiah wrote of Me."
2….."When will this come to pass?" Jesus also said…. "Isaiah wrote of now." …..I am the Messiah….I am here….. now is the time of the Lord´s favor……
They were saying prove it …. prove that you are the Messiah….. do the miracles here in your home town…… we heard about all of the miracles in Capernaum…
v24- 27….the truth is …… no prophet is accepted in his own town …. Jesus is not going to be accepted in His home town either……
Jesus he tells of the experiences of the prophets of Old …. The greatest miracle workers in the Old Testament …. Elijah and Elisha……
God sent them to bless Gentiles……. because of the rebellion and unbelief of the Children of Israel……
v28….. They knew exactly what Jesus was saying…… He saw into their hearts …… It freaked them out…..He was unwilling to show them a sign just to prove himself…..
Jesus did miracles for a purpose…..always…. never for a show….. there is something terribly wrong when we try to make a show out of the work of the Holy Spirit……
God´s power is not meant to be put on display like some magic show…..
These supposed friends of Jesus …….admirers… who had recently marveled at Him were now furious….they had become his enemies…..one minute his word´s were full of grace…..that Jesus…..what a great guy…….the next…… why how dare He ….he deserves to die…….
v29….they mobbed Him……. tried to kill Him….
This is quite a response to a sermon……. These people were angry….. there was something wrong with them….. they were so angry that their request for a miracle was denied …… and that Jesus implied that God loved the Gentiles too…….
Jesus is not being seeker-sensitive here…… church growth experts would say…….. He needs help changing His message so that it´s more enjoyable to hear………. Less offensive …….we don´t want to offend anybody…..
That´s only half right….. it must not be our purpose to offend….. we don´t want to offend…… Jesus was full of grace and truth….Jesus was gracious….but He also told them the truth….
Because He told them the truth…..
They wanted to throw Him off the cliff…… Pushing someone off a small cliff was often the first step in the process of stoning……. After the victim fell down…..they were pelted with rocks until dead…… they wanted Jesus dead….because He told the truth …. He showed them their hearts …… Matt 10…..

v30…..but he passed right through the crowd ..……. They wanted a miracle……. and Jesus did an unexpected one right in front of them……he got away….. escaping miraculously……..
Close
1 Peter 3: 8-17     NLT
8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters.[a] Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it. 10 For the Scriptures say,

   “If you want to enjoy life
      and see many happy days,
   keep your tongue from speaking evil
      and your lips from telling lies.
 11 Turn away from evil and do good.
      Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
 12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
      and his ears are open to their prayers.
   But the Lord turns his face
      against those who do evil.”
 13 Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way.[c] Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 17 Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!
1 Peter 3: 8-17        Neues Leben
8 Schließlich sollt ihr alle einig sein, voller Mitgefühl und gegenseitiger Liebe. Seid barmherzig zueinander und demütig.
9 Vergeltet Böses nicht mit Bösem. Werdet nicht zornig, wenn die Leute unfreundlich über euch reden, sondern wünscht ihnen Gutes und segnet sie. Denn genau das verlangt Gott von euch, und er wird euch dafür segnen!
10 Denn in der Schrift heißt es: »Wenn du ein glückliches Leben führen und gute Tage erleben willst, dann hüte deine Zunge vor bösen Worten und verbreite keine Lügen.
11 Wende dich ab vom Bösen und tue Gutes. Bemüht euch, mit anderen in Frieden zu leben.
12 Der Herr beschützt die, die das Rechte tun, und er wird ihre Gebete hören. Der Herr wendet sich gegen die, die Böses tun.«
13 Wer würde euch schaden wollen, wenn ihr euch bemüht, Gutes zu tun?
14 Doch selbst wenn ihr dafür leidet, dass ihr das Richtige tut2: Gott wird euch dafür belohnen. Also habt keine Angst und seid unbesorgt.
15 Macht Christus zum Herrn eures Lebens. Und wenn man euch nach eurer Hoffnung fragt, dann seid immer bereit, darüber Auskunft zu geben,
16 aber freundlich und mit Achtung für die anderen. Bewahrt euch ein reines Gewissen. Wenn dann jemand etwas Böses über euch sagt, wird er beschämt werden, weil euer vorbildliches Leben mit Christus ihn Lügen straft.
17 Denkt daran, dass es besser ist, für gute Taten zu leiden, falls Gott es so will, als zu leiden, weil ihr Unrecht getan habt!

30.1.2011
Jesus begins his ministry
Luke 4: 1- 13
Part 2
Good morning.....it’s great to see you.....who was  not here last Sunday.....today we will continue with the sermon from last week.........before we begin part2..........let’s review a little from part1 ....  turn to luke 4: 1-2.........
Luke 4: 1- 2               NLT
1 Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry

Luke 4: 1- 2               Neues Leben
1 Vom Heiligen Geist erfüllt, verließ Jesus den Jordan. Der Geist brachte ihn in die Wüste,
2 wo der Teufel ihn vierzig Tage lang in Versuchung führte. Während dieser ganzen Zeit aß er nichts, sodass er schließlich sehr hungrig war.
Chapter 4
v1……..Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the wilderness….
The Devil tempted Him 40 days…..  Jesus is identifying with us…..The Son of Man……
He is being tempted….. tested…..The Children of Israel were tested in the desert for 40 years…..I used to live in the desert…..I had modern technology…the Children of Israel had very little….
Times of testing and trials are often used By the LORD GOD….. Jesus knew this very well…….He knew that everything God does is for a GOOD reason….turn with me to …..
Deut 8: 1- 5                   NLT
   “Be careful to obey all the commands I am giving you today. Then you will live and multiply, and you will enter and occupy the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors. 2 Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. 3 Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell. 5 Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.

Deut 8: 1- 5                   Neues Leben
1 Befolgt gewissenhaft alle Gebote, die ich euch heute gebe! Dann werdet ihr leben und viele Nachkommen haben und das Land erobern, das der Herr euren Vorfahren mit einem Eid versprochen hat.
2 Erinnert euch an den ganzen Weg, den der Herr, euer Gott, euch während dieser 40 Jahre durch die Wüste führte. Dadurch wollte er euch demütigen und auf die Probe stellen, um euren wahren Charakter ans Licht zu bringen und um zu sehen, ob ihr seine Gebote befolgen würdet oder nicht.
3 Ja, er ließ euch eure Abhängigkeit spüren, indem er euch hungern ließ. Dann gab er euch Manna zu essen, das ihr und eure Vorfahren bis dahin nicht kanntet. Dadurch wollte er euch zeigen, dass der Mensch mehr als nur Brot zum Leben braucht. Er lebt auch von jedem Wort, das aus dem Mund des Herrn kommt.
4 Denn während dieser 40 Jahre nutzten sich eure Kleider nicht ab und auch eure Füße schwollen nicht an.
5 Daran solltet ihr erkennen, dass der Herr, euer Gott, euch erzieht, so wie Eltern ihr Kind erziehen.
v2….remember ….remember the lessons taught by our experiences…..the stuff that we have gone thru…..those things were not pointless…….notice here 4 things…..4 answers to the question……. why do I have these trials…and why must I face these very difficult temptations…….
reason number 1……… verse 2…..
1…testing us to prove our Character…… to see if we would really obey….…….
2…humbling us……
v3…..humbled you by letting you go hungry….I´ve been there ….I talked about my pumpkin days….it´s tough….

3…He did it to teach you…….”man shall not live by bread alone but by every word from GOD”…..
He quotes from this experience of the Children of Israel when he responds to the Devil…..
What are we taught ?   Is this just about food….or our bodily needs…….no here we are taught to trust The LORD GOD completely….. in every part of our life…….we don´t need to complain or be anxious……we need to hang on to what we know about God´s unfailing love…..to hang on to his promises…..like ….
I will never leave you…I will never forsake you…..We trust God and His unfailing love even when circumstances seem to say that the Lord isn´t there….. remember all during this time that they were suffering these difficult times….. Lord was leading them …. A pillar of cloud by day….a pillar of fire by night…..He also showed His presence in the Tabernacle in the wilderness….. and Moses face glowed from his time spent with the LORD there…..

What do we learn…… That GOD is faithful….even when we are unfaithful……
All things work together for good for those who love God….
Romans 8: 28    NLT
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 8: 28       Neues Leben
28 Und wir wissen, dass für die, die Gott lieben und nach seinem Willen zu ihm gehören, alles zum Guten führt.
v5……Deut 8:5……the 4th point……..
4….disciplining us…..
 God plans and purpose for us are always good and we will understand….some day….even when He disciplines us…..everything will be clear sooner or later…..

…… think about it….God disciplines us just like a parent….for our own good….a perfect always loving and all wise Heavenly Father……
Let´s continue now with Jesus temptation in the wilderness….Luke 4: 3-4……

Luke 4: 3- 4              NLT
3 Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.”
Luke 4: 3- 4              Neues Leben
3 Und der Teufel sprach zu ihm: Wenn du Gottes Sohn bist, so sprich zu diesem Stein, daß er Brot werde! 4 Und Jesus antwortete ihm und sprach: Es steht geschrieben: »Der Mensch lebt nicht vom Brot allein, sondern von einem jeglichen Wort Gottes«.

v3……. “If you are”……This is better translated as…..       ” since you are the Son of God” ….. the Devil knew that Jesus is the Son of God…..he wanted Jesus to misuse his power and authority…. because of his very real need for food…..
After a few days the hunger goes away when you fast…… but eventually the body uses up every possible resource in our bodies….. then we are very hungry and very weak and even sick…… if we do not eat soon ….we will die……

Jesus needed to eat…it was a legitimate need…..but…. the Devil wanted him to fill this real need …… in a wrong way……
We often have legitimate needs….. we are tempted to say…..I need this…..I deserve this……. I will have this…. now…… Instead of waiting on the LORD GOD to provide for us…..we try to satisfy ourselves…..Jesus did not give in….He waited on the LORD`´s good timing and on His unfailing love……His “Hesed”….. Jesus did not sin….

Jesus used His trust in the loving purposes of His Heavenly Father….. and the Word of God …. as His weapons of defense…..He stood up against the attack with the Word!...... we could do that too…. We could resist the tests and temptations that we experience in our lives by doing these two things…….
1….. remembering God´s unfailing love…..and that everything that happens is part of God´s plan….His purposes in our lives….….
2… by repeating scripture to ourselves….. do you remember what David said……
Psalm 119: 11    KJV   und Neues Leben
Thy word have I hid in my heart so that I do not sin against you……
11 Ich habe dein Wort in meinem Herzen bewahrt, damit ich nicht gegen dich sündige.

Temptation
3 issues ……
1…What is temptation exactly
2…How do we resist temptation 
3…What do we do when we fail

1…What is temptation exactly
The word or idea of temptation or testing……is used in different senses in the Bible.

          1 Temptation sometimes is a  solicitation to evil (1 Corinthians 7:5 and James 1:13-14).
 Satan, working through our own lusts, tempts us to perform evil acts – Look at James 1……
James 1: 12-15    NLT
12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
James 1: 12- 14     Neues Leben
12 Gott segnet denjenigen, der die Prüfungen des Glaubens geduldig erträgt. Wenn er sich bewährt hat, wird er das ewige Leben3 empfangen, das Gott denen versprochen hat, die ihn lieben.
13 Wer der Versuchung erliegt, sollte niemals sagen: »Diese Versuchung kommt von Gott.« Gott lässt sich nicht zum Bösen verführen, und er verleitet auch niemanden zur Sünde.
14 Jeder Mensch wird durch seine eigenen Begierden dazu verleitet, Böses zu tun. 15 Wer seinen Begierden nachgibt, sündigt, und die vollzogene Sünde führt zum Tod.
A second way temptation is spoken about…..

         2 We may tempt (wrongly put to the test) God (Acts 5:9 and 1 Corinthians 10:9-13).
1 Cor 10: 9        NLT
9 Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites

1 Cor 10: 9      Neues Leben
9 Auch dürfen wir Christus nicht herausfordern, wie manche von ihnen es taten und dann an Schlangenbissen starben.

Remember….. Jesus used Scripture to battle Satan’s temptation,  …… not some elaborate spiritual power inaccessible to us…… Jesus fought this battle as a man……., and He drew on no "special resources" unavailable to us…..
We have the Holy Spirit in our lives….. we can memorize scripture….. and use the Word of God to help us…..
 We can effectively resist temptation in the same way Jesus did……. by attacking Satan’s seductive lies ….with the shining the light of God’s truth upon them……. If we are ignorant of God’s truth, we are poorly armed in the fight against temptation.” resource David Guzik Luke 3 BLB.org

Luke 4: 5-8          NLT
5 Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. 7 I will give it all to you if you will worship me.” 8 Jesus replied,  Get me hind me Satan!“The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”
Luke 4: 5-8          Neues Leben
5 Da führte der Teufel ihn auf einen hohen Berg und zeigte ihm alle Reiche der Welt3 in einem Augenblick.
6 Und der Teufel sprach zu ihm: Dir will ich alle diese Macht und ihre Herrlichkeit geben; denn sie ist mir übergeben, und ich gebe sie, wem ich will.
7 Wenn du nun vor mir anbetest, so soll alles dir gehören!
8 Und Jesus antwortete ihm und sprach: Weiche von mir, Satan! Denn es steht geschrieben: »Du sollst den Herrn, deinen Gott, anbeten und ihm allein dienen«.

v5…….The kingdoms of the world….. The devil gained some authority over the world as a result of the fall……He knew that his time was short….he knew that Jesus had come to reclaim….to redeem the earth…..he just didn´t know how Jesus would do it….. so he tried to get Jesus to disobey the Father…. To disobey the Scripture….disobey God´s revealed will…..

v8….. Get behind me Satan!.....
Jesus resisted the devil….. Jesus´ brother James gives us good advice in His letter…..
James 4: 6-7    NLT
6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” 7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4: 6-7       Neues Leben
6 um so reicher aber ist die Gnade, die er gibt. Darum spricht er: »Gott widersteht den Hochmütigen; den Demütigen aber gibt er Gnade«. 7 So unterwerft euch nun Gott! Widersteht dem Teufel, so flieht er von euch;
Humble yourselves……and resist the devil….
V8….You must worship the LORD your GOD….. and him alone shall you serve…..
Bob Dylan…..your gonna have to serve somebody…..
Luke 4: 9- 13             NLT
9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! 10 For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. 11 And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” 12 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” 13 When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.
Luke 4: 9- 13             Neues Leben
9 Und er führte ihn nach Jerusalem und stellte ihn auf die Zinne des Tempels und sprach zu ihm: Wenn du der Sohn Gottes bist, so stürze dich von hier hinab; 10 denn es steht geschrieben: »Er wird seinen Engeln deinetwegen Befehl geben, daß sie dich behüten, 11 und sie werden dich auf den Händen tragen, damit du deinen Fuß nicht an einen Stein stößt.« 12 Und Jesus antwortete und sprach zu ihm: Es ist gesagt: »Du sollst den Herrn, deinen Gott, nicht versuchen!« 13 Und nachdem der Teufel alle Versuchung vollendet hatte, wich er von ihm eine Zeitlang.

v10…… Satan misuses this verse….. he gives half of the verse…..half of the truth….
it´s from Ps 91….. he leaves out the phrase…..
keep thee in all thy ways….( keep on the path)God´s path….God´s purpose is to protect us…..to keep us on the right path….. not to protect us so that we can do whatever we want……God´s purpose…..God´s plan….our good….His Glory…… Jesus quotes scripture again
v12…. …..Deut again…..the Law of Moses…the Pentateuch….Jesus says…..‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” Jesus quotes Deut…more than any other book……….this is from Deut 6: 16…..turn with me to 1 Cor 9: 9-13…..
1 Cor 10: 9-13        NLT
9 Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. 10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. 11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.
12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
1 Cor 10: 9 -13     Neues Leben
9 Auch dürfen wir Christus  nicht herausfordern, wie manche von ihnen es taten und dann an Schlangenbissen starben. 10 Und murrt nicht wie einige von ihnen, denn daraufhin schickte Gott seinen Engel des Todes, um sie zu vernichten. 11 All diese Ereignisse, die ihnen widerfuhren, dienen uns als Beispiel. Sie wurden für uns, die wir am Ende der Zeiten leben, als Warnung aufgeschrieben. 12 Wer sich für standhaft hält, soll aufpassen, dass er nicht auf die gleiche Weise sündige. 13 Vergesst nicht, dass die Prüfungen, die ihr erlebt, die gleichen sind, vor denen alle Menschen stehen. Doch Gott ist treu. Er wird die Prüfung nicht so stark werden lassen, dass ihr nicht mehr widerstehen könnt. Wenn ihr auf die Probe gestellt werdet, wird er euch eine Möglichkeit zeigen, trotzdem standzuhalten.
 God will help us…..we have the Holy Spirit in our lives….just like Jesus….. the Son of Man….…..
We have the Word of God ….. we can hide it in our hearts…..we can resist the devil the very same way that Jesus did……
However…. we fail… we give in to temptation we sin……
Close
 3 What do we do when we fail….when we give in to temptation and sin…. It´s going to happen from time to time…..I just wish that it wasn´t almost everyday……
We can repent…we can find forgiveness at the foot of the cross……
God called David a man after his own heart…..even though….David was a sinner….. murder and adultery…..he tried to hide his sin…..I have done that…..
David experienced the consequences of hiding his sin……David understood three things very well….
1…the pain and weight of sin….
and 
2….a terrible guilty conscience….
and
3….finally….the joy of repentence…..
turn with me to Psalms 32: 1…..

 Psalms 32: 1- 11   NLT
1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!
 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
 3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.
 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.
5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
   6 Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
 7 For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.
8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.
 9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”
10 Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
 11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!




Psalms 32: 1- 11    Neues Leben
1 Ein Psalm Davids. Glücklich ist der, dessen Sünde vergeben ist und dessen Schuld zugedeckt ist.
2 Glücklich ist der, dem der Herr die Sünden nicht anrechnet und der ein vorbildliches Leben führt!
3 Als ich mich weigerte, meine Schuld zu bekennen, war ich schwach und elend, dass ich den ganzen Tag nur noch stöhnte und jammerte.
4 Tag und Nacht bedrückte mich dein Zorn, meine Kraft vertrocknete wie Wasser in der Sommerhitze.
5 Doch endlich gestand ich dir meine Sünde und gab es auf, sie zu verbergen. Ich sagte: »Ich will dem Herrn meine Auflehnung bekennen.« Und du hast mir vergeben und meine Schuld weggenommen!
6 Deshalb sollen die, die dich lieben, dir ihre Verfehlungen bekennen, solange noch Zeit ist, damit sie nicht in den Fluten des Gerichts ertrinken.
7 Denn du bist mein Schutz und bewahrst mich vor Angst und Sorgen. Du lässt mich über meine Rettung jubeln.
8 Der Herr spricht zu mir: »Ich will dir den Weg zeigen, den du gehen sollst. Ich will dir raten und dich behüten.
9 Sei nicht wie ein unvernünftiges Pferd oder ein Maultier, das Gebiss und Zaumzeug braucht, damit es folgt.
10 Die Gottlosen haben viele Sorgen, aber die auf den Herrn vertrauen, sind von Gottes Güte umgeben.
11 Deshalb freut euch im Herrn und seid froh, die ihr ihm gehorsam seid! Jubelt alle vor Freude, deren Herzen aufrichtig sind!
David experienced the consequences of hiding his sin……I have experienced the consequences of hiding my sin……It´s a burden that we don´t have to bare…..Jesus said come to me all you who are heavy burdened….I will give you rest….

Communion
Communion is a perfect opportunity for all of us to repent of the rotten stuff…… the garbage that is in our lives…….. robbing of the peace and Joy that we want and need…..
We don´t have to hide our sin…..The LORD knows all about it anyway…. We can confess it……

James…. the brother of Jesus said ….if we confess our sins….he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us….This morning as we celebrate communion we have a perfect opportunity to examine our own hearts and to confess and  repent…..

I will pass out the elements…..then let´s examine our hearts before the LORD while Maggie plays….. after a few minutes we will take communion together….
1 Corinthians 11: 23- 26      NLT
23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

1Corinthians 11: 23- 26      Neues Leben
23 Das Folgende hat der Herr selbst gesagt, und ich gebe es euch so weiter, wie ich es empfangen habe: In der Nacht, als er verraten wurde, nahm Jesus, der Herr, einen Laib Brot,
24 und nachdem er Dank gesagt hatte, brach er ihn und sprach: »Das ist mein Leib, der für euch hingegeben wird. Tut das zur Erinnerung an mich.
25 Ebenso nahm er nach dem Abendmahl den Weinkelch und sprach: Dieser Kelch ist der neue Bund zwischen Gott und euch, besiegelt durch mein Blut. Wann immer ihr daraus trinkt, tut es zur Erinnerung an mich.
26 Denn jedes Mal, wenn ihr dieses Brot esst und aus diesem Kelch trinkt, verkündet ihr den Tod des Herrn, bis er wiederkommt.
Luke 3:21-38       Luke 4:1-2         23.1.2011

Jesus begins his ministry
Part 1



Good Morning everyone……We are studying the Bible together verse by verse….today we continue in the Gospel of Luke…..
Last Sunday we saw the beginning of the Ministry of John the Baptist in Luke Chapter 3….

There are 4 Gospels in the New Testament….each tells a part of the Ministry of Jesus……..  His work … His life of teaching and healing……His crucifixion and resurrection…..

The Gospels fit together as pieces of the whole….. they complement each other….. they add details to the other accounts……each was written to answer the needs of a particular part of Humanity….

Matthew was written for the Jews….it was written in Aramaic…..and it was focused on the coming Kingdom of the great king ……The Messiah….
Luke is written to a broader group of people…..the Greeks and really all gentiles…we can get a fuller picture of the Life of Jesus by looking at all of them as a whole…. So we will go back and forth from time to time….in our studies….

Last week for example we looked at texts from Matthew 3…..as a part of studying Luke 3: 1- 23….

It showed us the connection between John the Baptist and Jesus……. and every OT prophet…… they all had the same message….. a message of genuine repentance……
Genuine repentance is an absolutely necessary step toward the Lord Jesus….

In Luke 3: 3-…..

John the Baptist begins preaching the message of repentance….. calling  for Baptism as a symbol of that genuine repentance….many…many people came out to see and hear this wild man….. this Lion in the wüste …….

As powerful as John´s ministry was…. It was also very short …….. he was filled with the Holy Spirit and his words hit home….. they struck the people to their very being…… they either repented or they rejected the message……last week we saw examples of both….. He made enemies in high places…….

But he did fulfill his mission….. his mission as a forerunner….to point to the messiah and to prepare the way …..not by breaking down barriers like mountains and valleys….. but by showing them htier hearts…..  their hypocricy….……

He warned of coming judgement….. he said that the ax was already laid at the roots of the tree….. repent….

He prepared the way  by pointing  out the mountains of pride …… and the desert of false religious practices……

He showed them all of the things that were standing in the way of true repentance……..they were trusting in the fact that they were son´s of Abraham…. Son´s of the covenant ….

They were proud that they were not sinners… that´s how they described everyone that was not Jewish….. sinners….. gentiles …..all of them were outsiders ….outside of the covenant….. As far as they were concerned… they had no hope of forgiveness….….

They were filled with pride and hate and lust ….. but pretending to be righteous….God used John´s preaching to show their sin….. to cut them to the heart…..Some were truly sorry for their sin and rebellion…. They said what shall we do?..... v10…..v12…..v14…..





Sorrow for sin comes first…..

then repentance…. And real repentance produces changes in the way we think and  live….. they changed both…today…..the message of the Gospel is the same ….repent …..the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand….

John´s Baptism was a baptism of repentance…… a recommitment to the LORD GOD….. a reconfirming of their commitment …..
 to Love the Lord with all of their heart and all their strength….

Then comes God´s unfailing love and forgiveness….. and true reconciliation …. John gave them very practical advice….ways to show a changed heart

While John´s ministry was at it´s peak…….. Jesus went out to John to be Baptised….Luke 3: 21……that´s where we left off last week….. these very important events are written about in greater detail in the Gospel of John……Let´s turn now to John 1: 29- 39 and take a look….


John 1: 29- 39 NLT

 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
 32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.[l]

 35 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.
 38 Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them.
   They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
 39 “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.


John 1: 29- 39        Neues Leben
29 Am nächsten Tag, als Johannes Jesus auf sich zukommen sah, sagte er: »Seht her! Da ist das Lamm Gottes, das die Sünde der Welt wegnimmt!
30 Er ist es, von dem ich sagte: `Bald nach mir kommt ein Mann, der größer ist als ich, denn er war da, lange bevor es mich gab.´
31 Ich kannte ihn nicht. Aber um Israel die Augen für ihn zu öffnen, bin ich gekommen und habe mit Wasser getauft.«
32 Und er fuhr fort: »Ich sah den Heiligen Geist wie eine Taube vom Himmel herabkommen und sich auf ihm niederlassen.
33 Ich kannte ihn nicht, doch Gott, der mir den Auftrag gegeben hat, mit Wasser zu taufen, sagte zu mir: `Der, auf den du den Heiligen Geist herabkommen und sich niederlassen siehst, ist der, den du suchst. Er ist es, der mit dem Heiligen Geist tauft.´
34 Das habe ich nun gesehen und deshalb bezeuge ich, dass dieser Mann der Sohn Gottes ist.9«
35 Am nächsten Tag stand Johannes an der gleichen Stelle und zwei seiner Jünger waren bei ihm.
36 Als Jesus vorüberging, blickte Johannes ihn an und rief aus: »Seht hin! Dieser ist das Lamm Gottes!«
37 Da wandten sich seine beiden Jünger um und folgten Jesus.
38 Jesus schaute sich um und sah, dass sie ihm folgten. »Was wollt ihr?«, fragte er sie. Sie antworteten: »Rabbi« (das bedeutet: Meister), »wo wohnst du?«
39 »Kommt mit, dann werdet ihr es sehen«, sagte er. Es war etwa vier Uhr nachmittags, als sie mit ihm dorthin gingen, und sie blieben für den Rest des Tages dort.
V 29…..the next day…..
 behold….look…….. there He is …. The Lamb of God….. The Holy Spirit has shown him the Messiah….. he has …..John put it all together….the ultimate sacrifice….. The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world….WOW!...
John who had been filled with the Holy Spirit from his birth……. He has spent most of his life in the Desert…… he connects all of the pictures of redemption and deliverance in the OT……
The skins that God used to cover Adam and eve´s shame in Genesis….the promise of the seed of a woman…… The promises to Abraham….Isaac….Jacob….. the Passover lamb…..the scapegoat on the day of attonement….. the daily sacrifices in the temple…..all of it ……
Jesus….he is the Lamb of God……he will take away the sins of the world…..
According to many Bible scholars…..Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world….. is the greatest proclamation of Gospel truth ever uttered…..
V29….takes away the sin…. The word used in both Greek and Hebrew for the phrase…..that taketh away—means both…..takes up and takes away.

Exactly like the Scapegoat on the day of atonement….. Check out……Lev 16…..a great queit time Bible study
 “takes up and takes away”
Greek (airō)
“The word signifies both, as does the corresponding Hebrew word…. Hebrew (nasa') . Applied to sin, it means to be chargeable with the guilt of it ( Exd 28:38 Lev 5:1 Eze 18:20 ), and to bear it away (as often). In the Levitical victims both ideas met, as they do in Christ, the people's guilt being viewed as transferred to them, avenged in their death, and so borne away by them ( Lev 4:15 16:15, 21, 22 ; and compare Isa 53:6-12 2Cr 5:21 ).
      the sin--The singular number being used to mark the collective burden and all-embracing efficacy.
      of the world--not of Israel only, for whom the typical victims were exclusively offered. Wherever there shall live a sinner throughout the wide world, sinking under that burden too heavy for him to bear, he shall find in this "Lamb of God," a shoulder equal to the weight. The right note was struck at the first--balm, doubtless, to Christ's own spirit; nor was ever after, or ever will be, a more glorious utterance.”
Jamison, Fauset, Brown…..commentary on John

v31….. that He should be revealed…… That was his mission to point to Jesus….. That´s our mission……. To point to Jesus….. not ourselves…… Jesus….
v32 God testifies of Jesus….. Holy Spirit the voice from heaven…..
v35…… the next day……… again….The Lamb of God……2 of  John´s disciples followed Jesus…..
Andrew….and John (the apostle)himself…..John never directly mentions himself….. he was a humble man …..

v37…..what do you want?

V39…..come and see….. an invitation to spend time with Jesus….how cool is that?......
We have the same invitation…..here in God´s Word…. We find Jesus…. We can spend time with Him…. We can listen to His voice…… Hear His teaching…. Witness His unfailing Love….. and ….
Receive his calling….. we are called just like they were….. the question is will we follow……
Let´s continue now in Luke….. ch 3:21- 23
LUKE 3: 21- 23             NLT 

21 One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
 23 Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry. Jesus was known as the son of Joseph.
   Joseph was the son of Heli.

LUKE 3: 21- 23             Neues Leben 

21 Als Johannes wieder einmal viele Menschen taufte, ließ sich auch Jesus taufen. Als er betete, öffnete sich der Himmel,
22 und der Heilige Geist kam in Gestalt einer Taube auf ihn herab. Und eine Stimme vom Himmel sprach: »Du bist mein geliebter Sohn, an dir habe ich große Freude.«
23 Jesus war etwa dreißig Jahre alt, als er öffentlich zu wirken begann. Jesus war bekannt als der Sohn Josefs. Josef war der Sohn von Eli.
As we look at Luke´s account…we see some very important things  here…… v 21
 v21…….as Jesus was praying…..the HOLY SPIRIT came down as a dove….Luke places great emphasis on Prayer in his Gospel….. he is the only one who tells us that the Holy Spirit  came down while Jesus was praying…..
We have in this verse all three persons of the trinity at once….Jesus ….the Holy Spirit… and the voice of the Father…..

Jesus favorite description of himself is the “Son of Man”….. Jesus identified himself with us ….He humbled himself…. And became obedient …..turn with me to Phil 2: 5-

Philippians 2: 5- 8           NLT
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Philippians 2: 5- 8           NLT
5 Geht so miteinander um, wie Christus es euch vorgelebt hat.
6 Obwohl er Gott war, bestand er nicht auf seinen göttlichen Rechten. 7 Er verzichtete auf alles;  er nahm die niedrige Stellung eines Dieners an und wurde als Mensch geboren und als solcher erkannt. 8 Er erniedrigte sich selbst und war gehorsam bis zum Tod, indem er wie ein Verbrecher am Kreuz starb.
Look here at what Paul says……
v 5……have the same attitude as Jesus…..
v6……although he was ( is )God…..
v7…..He took the humble position as a slave….a slave…..
v8….further …He humbled Himself to die for us….for me….a worm……
Here in our text….like the jews who had to humble themselves to be baptized like the Gentiles……Jesus ….the one sinless Man……. Humbled Himself to Baptism…..Jesus indentified Himself with us in baptism……he didn´t need it …..but he showed himself to truly be the “son of Man”

But God …. at the very same time….said….. “This is My Beloved Son…. And I am pleased…..

Jesus begins His ministry with the Blessing of the Father…. And the Physical presence of the Holy Spirit….
v23…. 30 years old…  This was exactly when a Levite or priest would begin his ministry…… Numbers 3….
v23……Joseph was the son in-law of Heli…..the rabbinical writings tell us this…. The genealogy of Mary is recorded here…….Both Joseph and Mary were from the line of David…..

v23- 38….
Being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph: According to ancient custom, genealogies were almost always traced through the father, not the mother. This was a problem in the unique situation of a virgin birth.
 Luke differs in the account of Matthew from David onward, but they both end their genealogies with Joseph. Why? Luke follows Mary’s line (Jesus’ actual lineage) while Matthew follows Joseph’s line (His legal lineage by adoption). This is Luke’s who point in his important phrase being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph.
 Luke ends with Joseph because he is following proper form and including no women in his genealogy
The fact that Luke can give Jesus’ genealogical history is not unusual. Josephus traced his own genealogy from "the public records" (Autobiography, paragraph 1). It was also well known that the famous Rabbi Hillel could prove his descent from King David with reference from the public registers.
The son of Adam, the son of God: Luke traces his genealogy all the way back to Adam, to show that Jesus belongs to all mankind, not just to the Jewish people.
 A genealogy may not seem like much, but it exactly establishes Jesus’ credentials as a member of the human race. A Bible translator to a distant tribe saved the genealogies for last, because he thought them the least important part of the gospels. But when he finally finished them last of all, the tribesmen were astounded - they told the translator, "You mean to tell us that this Jesus was a real person, with real ancestors? We had no idea!" ©2000 David Guzik Luke 3

Then after Jesus was baptized…… Luke 4….

Luke 4: 1- 2               NLT
1 Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.
         Luke 4: 1- 2               Neues Leben
1 Vom Heiligen Geist erfüllt, verließ Jesus den Jordan. Der Geist brachte ihn in die Wüste,
2 wo der Teufel ihn vierzig Tage lang in Versuchung führte. Während dieser ganzen Zeit aß er nichts, sodass er schließlich sehr hungrig war.
Chapter 4
v1……..Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the wilderness….
The Devil tempted Him 40 days…..  Jesus is identifying with us…..The Son of Man……
He is being tempted….. tested…..The Children of Israel were tested in the desert for 40 years…..I used to live in the desert…..I had modern technology…the Children of Israel had very little….
Times of testing and trials are often used By the LORD GOD….. Jesus knew this very well…….He knew that everything God does is for a GOOD reason….turn with me to …..
Deut 8: 1- 5                   NLT
   “Be careful to obey all the commands I am giving you today. Then you will live and multiply, and you will enter and occupy the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors. 2 Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. 3 Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell. 5 Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.

Deut 8: 1- 5                   Neues Leben
1 Befolgt gewissenhaft alle Gebote, die ich euch heute gebe! Dann werdet ihr leben und viele Nachkommen haben und das Land erobern, das der Herr euren Vorfahren mit einem Eid versprochen hat.
2 Erinnert euch an den ganzen Weg, den der Herr, euer Gott, euch während dieser 40 Jahre durch die Wüste führte. Dadurch wollte er euch demütigen und auf die Probe stellen, um euren wahren Charakter ans Licht zu bringen und um zu sehen, ob ihr seine Gebote befolgen würdet oder nicht.
3 Ja, er ließ euch eure Abhängigkeit spüren, indem er euch hungern ließ. Dann gab er euch Manna zu essen, das ihr und eure Vorfahren bis dahin nicht kanntet. Dadurch wollte er euch zeigen, dass der Mensch mehr als nur Brot zum Leben braucht. Er lebt auch von jedem Wort, das aus dem Mund des Herrn kommt.
4 Denn während dieser 40 Jahre nutzten sich eure Kleider nicht ab und auch eure Füße schwollen nicht an.
5 Daran solltet ihr erkennen, dass der Herr, euer Gott, euch erzieht, so wie Eltern ihr Kind erziehen.
v2….remember…….humbling….testing us to prove our Character…… to see if we would really obey….
v3…..humbled you by letting you go hungry….I´ve been there ….it´s tough….

He did it to teach you…….”man shall not live by bread alone but by every word from GOD”…..
He quotes from this experience of the Children of Israel When he responds to the Devil…..

v5…… think about it….just like a parent….for your own good….I got a lot of discipline for my own good….I believe that  I should have gotten more than I did …..

Luke 4: 3- 4              NLT
3 Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.”
Luke 4: 3- 4              Neues Leben
3 Und der Teufel sprach zu ihm: Wenn du Gottes Sohn bist, so sprich zu diesem Stein, daß er Brot werde! 4 Und Jesus antwortete ihm und sprach: Es steht geschrieben: »Der Mensch lebt nicht vom Brot allein, sondern von einem jeglichen Wort Gottes«.

v3……. “If you are”……This is better translated as…..       ” since you are the Son of God” ….. the Devil knew that Jesus is the Son of God…..he wanted Jesus to misuse his power and authority…. because of his very real need for food…..
After a few days the hunger goes away when you fast…… but eventually the body uses up every possible resource in our bodies….. then we are very hungry and very weak and even sick…… if we do not eat soon ….we will die……

Jesus needed to eat…it was a legitimate need….. the Devil wanted him to fill it in a wrong way……
We often have legitimate needs….. we are tempted to say…..I need this…..I deserve this……. I will have this…. now…… Instead of waiting on the LORD GOD to provide…..Jesus did not give in…. Jesus did not sin….

Jesus used His trust in the loving purposes of His Heavenly Father….. and the Word of God …. as His weapons of defense…..He stood up against the attack with the Word!...... we could do that too…. We could resist the tests and temptations that we experience in our lives by
1….. remembering God´s unfailing love…..and that everything that happens is part of God´s plan….His purposes in our lives….….
2… by repeating scripture to ourselves….. do you remember what David said……
Psalm 119: 11 KJV   und Neues Leben
Thy word have I hid in my heart so that I do not sin against you……
11 Ich habe dein Wort in meinem Herzen bewahrt, damit ich nicht gegen dich sündige.
Temptation
The word or idea of temptation is used in three different senses in the Bible.

          1 Satan, working through our own lusts, tempts us to perform evil acts - a solicitation to evil (1 Corinthians 7:5 and James 1:13-14). Look at James 1……
James 1: 12-14    NLT
12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
James 1: 12- 14     Neues Leben
12 Gott segnet denjenigen, der die Prüfungen des Glaubens geduldig erträgt. Wenn er sich bewährt hat, wird er das ewige Leben3 empfangen, das Gott denen versprochen hat, die ihn lieben.
13 Wer der Versuchung erliegt, sollte niemals sagen: »Diese Versuchung kommt von Gott.« Gott lässt sich nicht zum Bösen verführen, und er verleitet auch niemanden zur Sünde.
14 Jeder Mensch wird durch seine eigenen Begierden dazu verleitet, Böses zu tun.


          2 We may tempt (wrongly put to the test) God (Acts 5:9 and 1 Corinthians 10:9- 13).
1 Cor 10: 9-13        NLT
9 Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. 10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. 11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.

 12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
1 Cor 10: 9 -13     Neues Leben
 9 Auch dürfen wir Christus  nicht herausfordern, wie manche von ihnen es taten und dann an Schlangenbissen starben. 10 Und murrt nicht wie einige von ihnen, denn daraufhin schickte Gott seinen Engel des Todes, um sie zu vernichten. 11 All diese Ereignisse, die ihnen widerfuhren, dienen uns als Beispiel. Sie wurden für uns, die wir am Ende der Zeiten leben, als Warnung aufgeschrieben. 12 Wer sich für standhaft hält, soll aufpassen, dass er nicht auf die gleiche Weise sündige. 13 Vergesst nicht, dass die Prüfungen, die ihr erlebt, die gleichen sind, vor denen alle Menschen stehen. Doch Gott ist treu. Er wird die Prüfung nicht so stark werden lassen, dass ihr nicht mehr widerstehen könnt. Wenn ihr auf die Probe gestellt werdet, wird er euch eine Möglichkeit zeigen, trotzdem standzuhalten.
          3 God may test us, but never with a solicitation to evil (Hebrews 11:17….Deut 8).

v3 “Command this stone to become bread: Satan entices Jesus to use the power of God for selfish purposes. The temptation to eat something inappropriate worked well with the first sinless man (Genesis 3:6), so why not try it on the second sinless man?
 By this, we also see how temptation often works….
1 Satan appeals to a legitimate desire within Jesus (the desire to eat and survive).
2     Satan suggests that Jesus fulfill this legitimate desire in an illegitimate way.
Often, this is the essence of temptation.
 v4 But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’" Jesus countered Satan’s suggestion with Scripture (Deuteronomy 8:3). What Satan said made sense - "Why starve yourself to death?" But what is written makes even more sense. Jesus reminded Satan of Biblical truth, that every word of God trusting and relying on HIM……is more important than the very bread we eat…..
Remember….. Jesus used Scripture to battle Satan’s temptation,  …… not some elaborate spiritual power inaccessible to us…… Jesus fought this battle as a man……., and He drew on no "special resources" unavailable to us…..
We have the Holy Spirit in our lives….. we can memorize scripture….. and use the Word of God to help us…..
 We can effectively resist temptation in the same way Jesus did……. by attacking Satan’s seductive lies ….with the shining the light of God’s truth upon them……. If we are ignorant of God’s truth, we are poorly armed in the fight against temptation.” resource David Guzik Luke 3 BLB.org


Luke 4: 5-8          NLT
5 Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. 7 I will give it all to you if you will worship me.” 8 Jesus replied, 2 Get me hind me Satan!“The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”
Luke 4: 5-8          Neues Leben
5 Da führte der Teufel ihn auf einen hohen Berg und zeigte ihm alle Reiche der Welt3 in einem Augenblick.
6 Und der Teufel sprach zu ihm: Dir will ich alle diese Macht und ihre Herrlichkeit geben; denn sie ist mir übergeben, und ich gebe sie, wem ich will.
7 Wenn du nun vor mir anbetest, so soll alles dir gehören!
8 Und Jesus antwortete ihm und sprach: Weiche von mir, Satan! Denn es steht geschrieben: »Du sollst den Herrn, deinen Gott, anbeten und ihm allein dienen«.

v5…….The kingdoms of the world….. The devil gained
v8….. Get behind me Satan!.....
Jesus resisted the devil….. Jesus´ brother James gives us good advice in His letter…..
James 4: 6-7    NLT
6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” 7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4: 6-7       Neues Leben
6 um so reicher aber ist die Gnade, die er gibt. Darum spricht er: »Gott widersteht den Hochmütigen; den Demütigen aber gibt er Gnade«. 7 So unterwerft euch nun Gott! Widersteht dem Teufel, so flieht er von euch;

You must worship the LORD your GOD….. and him alone shall you serve…..
Luke 4: 9- 13             NLT
9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! 10 For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. 11 And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” 12 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” 13 When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.
Luke 4: 9- 13             Neues Leben
9 Und er führte ihn nach Jerusalem und stellte ihn auf die Zinne des Tempels und sprach zu ihm: Wenn du der Sohn Gottes bist, so stürze dich von hier hinab; 10 denn es steht geschrieben: »Er wird seinen Engeln deinetwegen Befehl geben, daß sie dich behüten, 11 und sie werden dich auf den Händen tragen, damit du deinen Fuß nicht an einen Stein stößt.« 12 Und Jesus antwortete und sprach zu ihm: Es ist gesagt: »Du sollst den Herrn, deinen Gott, nicht versuchen!« 13 Und nachdem der Teufel alle Versuchung vollendet hatte, wich er von ihm eine Zeitlang.

v10…… Satan miss uses this verse…..it´s from Ps 91….. he leaves out the phrase…..keep thee in all thy ways….( keep on the path)God´s path….God´s plan….
v12….Jesus quotes scripture again…..Deut again…..the Law of Moses…the Pentateuch…..Deut 6: 16…..
Close
1 Cor 10: 9-13        NLT
9 Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. 10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. 11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.

 12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
1 Cor 10: 9 -13     Neues Leben
 9 Auch dürfen wir Christus  nicht herausfordern, wie manche von ihnen es taten und dann an Schlangenbissen starben. 10 Und murrt nicht wie einige von ihnen, denn daraufhin schickte Gott seinen Engel des Todes, um sie zu vernichten. 11 All diese Ereignisse, die ihnen widerfuhren, dienen uns als Beispiel. Sie wurden für uns, die wir am Ende der Zeiten leben, als Warnung aufgeschrieben. 12 Wer sich für standhaft hält, soll aufpassen, dass er nicht auf die gleiche Weise sündige. 13 Vergesst nicht, dass die Prüfungen, die ihr erlebt, die gleichen sind, vor denen alle Menschen stehen. Doch Gott ist treu. Er wird die Prüfung nicht so stark werden lassen, dass ihr nicht mehr widerstehen könnt. Wenn ihr auf die Probe gestellt werdet, wird er euch eine Möglichkeit zeigen, trotzdem standzuhalten.

Repent the Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand
16.1.2011
Luke3: 2-38

Luke 3: 2- 3   NLT

2 Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness. 3 Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.


Luke 3: 2 -3      Neues Leben
2 Hannas und Kaiphas waren Hohe Priester. In dieser Zeit erhielt Johannes, der Sohn des Zacharias, draußen in der Wildnis eine Botschaft von Gott.
3 Daraufhin zog Johannes in der Gegend des Jordan von Ort zu Ort und predigte den Menschen: Sie sollten sich taufen lassen als Zeichen dafür, dass sie sich von ihren Sünden abgekehrt und Gott zugewandt hatten, um Vergebung zu erhalten.


The message of every true man of God….. every prophet of God has been the same……Repent the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand……

It is used 41 times in the New Testament….. everytime  in the Gospel of Matthew….The Advent of the Kingdom of Heaven is the message of Matthew…..

It is how John the Baptist began his ministry….

Matthew 3: 1-2       KJV
1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 3: 1-2      Elberfelder
1 In jenen Tagen aber kommt Johannes der Täufer und predigt in der Wüste von Judäa
2 und spricht: Tut Buße! Denn das Reich1 der Himmel ist nahe gekommen.

It is how Jesus began his ministry…..

 Matthew 4: 17      KJV
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 4: 17      Elberfelder
17 Von da an begann Jesus zu predigen und zu sagen: Tut Buße, denn das Reich3 der Himmel ist nahe gekommen!
The Kingdom of Heaven is also called the Kingdom of God in the commentaries on the OT……. They were used interchangeably…..

According to the Rabbinic views of the time, the terms 'Kingdom,' 'Kingdom of heaven,'53 and 'Kingdom of God' (in the Targum on Micah iv. 7 'Kingdom of Jehovah'), were equivalent. In fact, the word 'heaven' was very often used instead of 'God,' so as to avoid unduly familiarising the ear with the Sacred Name.54 This, probably, accounts for the exclusive use of the expression 'Kingdom of Heaven' in the Gospel by St. Matthew. LTJM Alfred Edersheim Book 2….

The Advent of the Kingdom of Heaven…. The Advent of the Messiah was the sincere desire of every Godly man and woman in Israel…..

John the baptist´s  parents…. Zechariah and Elizabeth……..Simeon and Anna…. Mary and Joseph……they all looked for the real and everlasting coming of the Messiah and His reign…

Taking on the Yoke of the Kingdom was symbolized in every thing the Jews did…
Shema…. Here Oh Israel the lord is One….

Circumcision….. becoming a son of the covenant

Bar Mitsvah…..becoming a son of the Law as an adult

Ritual washings….everytime they went to the temple….read the bible….were healed of a sickness…… offered a sacrifice….

they washed as a symbolic ritual……cleansing themselves…..to show that they were holy and obedient to the King

The idea of symbolic cleansing was very familiar…. They did it every day….but John was saying something much more and they were very upset ….
He was calling them to genuine repentance…..not just a symbolic thing….

He was telling the son´s of the covenant….to repent and be Baptized as if they were Gentiles…… Only proselytes….converts to Judaism were baptized…..

“ John preached a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. The idea behind remission is not only forgiveness, but liberty and deliverance (as in to preach deliverance . . . to set at liberty in Luke 4:18).

Baptism of repentance: There was nothing strange in the ceremony of baptism (a ceremonial immersion) itself. The strange thing was that Jews submitted to baptism. This was a common ritual for Gentiles who wanted to become Jews. For a Jew to submit to baptism was to say, "I’m as bad as a heathen Gentile." This was a true mark of humble repentance, a radical rededication to the Lord.” David Guzik
Guzik, David. "Study Guide for Luke 3." Enduring Word. Blue Letter Bible. 7 Jul 2006. 2011. 16 Jan 2011.

Many were shocked….John had come exactly as had been prophesied by Isaiah…..……to prepare the way for the Kingdom of God ….the Advent of the Messiah……Back to Luke 3: 4….

Luke 3: 4- 6   NLT
4 Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,
   “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
   ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
      Clear the road for him!
 5 The valleys will be filled,
      and the mountains and hills made level.
   The curves will be straightened,
      and the rough places made smooth.
 6 And then all people will see
      the salvation sent from God.’”
Luke 3: 4-6     Neues Leben
4 So erfüllte sich, was im Propheten Jesaja steht: »Er ist eine Stimme, die in der Wüste ruft: `Schafft Raum für das Kommen des Herrn! Ebnet ihm den Weg!
5 Die Täler sollen aufgeschüttet, die Berge und Hügel eingeebnet werden! Das Krumme soll gerade und das Raue glatt werden!
6 Dann werden alle Menschen Gottes Heil sehen.´«
Just like every King´s coming….. everything needed to be ready….
The obstacle to the King Messiah was in their rebellious hearts….and John called for genuine repentance….
John was dressed as if he was mourning and fasting…… not heralding the King…He had been living in the desert…..a perfect picture for Israel….
The spiritual landscape in Israel was a desert……the land was full of hypocrites….liars……external rituals that symbolized nothing…..because there was no sign of genuine faith…. No sign of changed lives….. only pretending…….loud prayers….big parades of giving….hypocrites.…really just big parades of look at me ….I´m Holy…….
It seemed that the whole land was coming out to see and here this strange man…. But why were they there ?... some merely curious some were sincere…..without wax ….. Look at Luke 3: 7-
Luke 3: 7- 14      NLT
7 When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, “You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? 8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 9 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”
 10 The crowds asked, “What should we do?”
 11 John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.”
 12 Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?”
 13 He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.”
 14 “What should we do?” asked some soldiers.
   John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.”
Luke 3: 7- 14  Neues Leben
 7 Und so sprach Johannes zu den Menschen, die zahlreich zu ihm kamen, um sich taufen zu lassen: »Ihr Schlangenbrut! Wer hat euch eingeredet, ihr könntet dem bevorstehenden Gericht Gottes entgehen?
8 Beweist durch euren Lebenswandel, dass ihr euch wirklich von euren Sünden abgekehrt und Gott zugewandt habt. Es genügt nicht zu sagen: `Wir sind die Nachkommen Abrahams. Uns kann nichts geschehen.´ Das beweist gar nichts. Wenn Gott wollte, könnte er aus diesen Steinen Kinder Abrahams machen.
9 Die Axt wird schon durch die Luft geschwungen, bereit, eure Wurzeln abzuhacken; denn jeder Baum, der keine guten Früchte bringt, wird umgehauen und ins Feuer geworfen.«
10 Die Menge fragte: »Und was sollen wir tun?«
11 Johannes erwiderte: »Wenn ihr zwei Mäntel habt, gebt einen den Armen. Wenn ihr zu essen habt, teilt es mit denen, die hungrig sind.«
12 Auch Steuereinnehmer kamen zu ihm, um sich taufen zu lassen. Und auch sie fragten: »Meister, was sollen wir tun?«
13 »Beweist, dass ihr ehrlich seid«, erwiderte er, »treibt nicht mehr Steuern ein, als die römische Regierung euch vorschreibt.«
14 »Und was sollen wir tun?«, fragten einige Soldaten. Johannes antwortete: »Seid keine Räuber und Erpresser. Gebt euch mit eurem Sold zufrieden.«
True Repentance comes first
It changes the way we think….. we know that we don´t deserve to be forgiven…. We cry out to God for mercy….just like to publican in Luke 18…. Let´s turn there and take a look…. Luke 18: 9-14….
LUKE 18: 9- 14   NLT

9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer : ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Luke 18: 9-14     Neues Leben

9 Dann erzählte Jesus ein paar Leuten, die sehr selbstgerecht waren und alle anderen mit Geringschätzung behandelten, folgendes Gleichnis:
10 »Zwei Männer gingen in den Tempel, um zu beten. Der eine war ein Pharisäer, der andere ein Steuereintreiber.
11 Der stolze Pharisäer stand da und betete: `Ich danke dir, Gott, dass ich kein Sünder bin wie die anderen Menschen, wie die Räuber und die Ungerechten, die Ehebrecher oder besonders wie dieser Steuereintreiber da! Denn ich betrüge niemanden, ich begehe keinen Ehebruch,
12 ich faste zwei Mal in der Woche und gebe dir regelmäßig den zehnten Teil von meinem Einkommen.´
13 Der Steuereintreiber dagegen blieb in einigem Abstand stehen und wagte nicht einmal den Blick zu heben, während er betete: `O Gott, sei mir gnädig, denn ich bin ein Sünder.´
14 Ich sage euch, dieser Sünder - und nicht der Pharisäer - kehrte heim als ein vor Gott Gerechtfertigter. Denn die Stolzen werden gedemütigt, die Demütigen aber werden geehrt werden.2« When we know that we are sinners saved by grace…..we are humble not proud….. we are forgiving of others….not critical and judgemental…..
 It changes the way we treat others…… genuine salvation is shown in the way we treat others…..that is always true……
And so….. here in this text…v 11…. John gives his hearers very practical advice…… Like Micah of old…..
Micah 6:8    KJV
He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8   Neues Leben
8 Es wurde dir, Mensch, doch schon längst gesagt, was gut ist und wie Gott möchte, dass du leben sollst. Er fordert von euch nichts anderes, als dass ihr euch an das Recht haltet, liebevoll und barmherzig miteinander umgeht und demütig vor Gott euer Leben führt.
Simple things  showing  real  changes in the heart…. Not rituals…a changed heart….
No longer a heart of stone….. a heart of flesh….…..


Let´s continue in Luke 3….verse 15….
Luke 3: 15- 23      NLT
15 Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah. 16 John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.17 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.” 18 John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people.
 19 John also publicly criticized Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, for marrying Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for many other wrongs he had done. 20 So Herod put John in prison, adding this sin to his many others.
 21 One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
 23 Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry.


Luke 3: 15- 23    Neues Leben

15 Alle warteten sehr auf das Kommen des Christus und wollten unbedingt wissen, ob Johannes der Christus sei.
16 Auf diese Frage antwortete Johannes: »Ich taufe mit5 Wasser, aber bald kommt einer, der stärker ist als ich - so viel gewaltiger, dass ich nicht einmal wert bin, sein Diener zu sein. Er wird euch mit dem Heiligen Geist und mit Feuer taufen.
17 Er wird mit seiner Schaufel die Spreu vom Weizen trennen, den Dreschplatz aufräumen und den Weizen in die Scheune bringen; die Spreu aber wird er im ewigen Feuer verbrennen.«
18 Und noch viele solche Warnungen sprach Johannes aus, als er dem Volk die Botschaft Gottes verkündete.
19 Selbst den Fürsten Herodes Antipas wies Johannes offen zurecht, weil er Herodias, die Frau seines Bruders, geheiratet und noch viel anderes Unrecht begangen hatte.
20 Und die Schuld des Herodes wurde noch größer, als er Johannes ins Gefängnis werfen ließ.
21 Als Johannes wieder einmal viele Menschen taufte, ließ sich auch Jesus taufen. Als er betete, öffnete sich der Himmel,
22 und der Heilige Geist kam in Gestalt einer Taube auf ihn herab. Und eine Stimme vom Himmel sprach: »Du bist mein geliebter Sohn, an dir habe ich große Freude.«
23 Jesus war etwa dreißig Jahre alt, als er öffentlich zu wirken begann. Jesus war bekannt als der Sohn Josefs. Josef war der Sohn von Eli.

V 15…. The forerunner…..Isaiah
V 16- 18….. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit…..

1.  “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire: John says that the Messiah is coming with a different baptism. The Holy Spirit’s outpouring was promised as part of the New Covenant. We are promised an immersion, an overflowing of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This was often experienced as people were prayed for with hands laid on them (Acts 6:6; 8:17; 9:17; 13:3-4, and 19:6).
a call to genuine repentance because the consequences were and are ….judgement….

2.  …. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor: The Messiah would also bring a baptism of fire, fire that would will both purify and destroy what is lacking, like fire burns up the worthless chaff. God’s power is always a transforming power, a purifying power.

….. The Messiah will also be the one to divide the true from the false, to separate the wheat from the chaff; the winnowing fan is in His hand. ”
David Guzik: commentary on Luke





Close
Eph 2: 1- 10    NLT
1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.[a] He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

2.1.2011   It´s  2011 Wake up! Time is short !

 Romans 13: 11-12            NLT
 11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.
Romans 13: 11-12            Neues Leben
 11 Führt euer Leben auf diese Weise, weil ihr wisst, dass die Zeit begrenzt ist. Wacht auf, denn wir sind unserer Rettung jetzt näher als zu Beginn unseres Glaubens.
12 Die Nacht ist fast vorüber; der Tag der Erlösung kommt bald. Deshalb lebt nicht in der Finsternis mit ihren bösen Taten, sondern greift zu den Waffen des Lichts!

Good morning.......
today is our first time together in 2011......time is flying by so fast it´s almost unbelieveable.....

I am becoming more aware everyday how short my life is ....... look with me at Romans 13: 11-12

v 11......time is running out....wake up!
v 12... Night is almost gone.....put on your armor!.....the shining armor of right living!

I do not know what will happen this year......But I know that I......that we….. need help .........We need to put on the armor ....as children of light...... we are not helpless....we have help.....Our help comes from the LORD the maker of heaven and earth....Psalm 121

We are so blessed..... we can gather here without fear....others are not so fortunate......

Coptic christians....Alexandria....21 dead....97 injured

We hurt for our persecuted brothers and sisters....More people have suffered for the sake of the Gospel in the 20th century than in all of the centuries before.....

We are here in the body for a purpose...... we are members of one another...we belong to each other.... we are here in the church so that we can love and encourage each other....pray for each other...... cover each others sins with love..... and mercy and forgiveness...... we have the blessing of bearing one anothers burdens...... we can lighten each others load.....Even though we are ordinary people..... sinners saved by Grace..... because of His unfailing LOVE......we have a savior.....

We are celebrating the birth of the Savior....Jesus the Messiah!!!
but we must remember ..... The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the Whole world was born to die.....Jesus was on a mission.....


To die....... to redeem us.....He came to die so that we could live with Him forever......What unfailing LOVE..... What Mercy......

Jesus.... He often called himself the "Son of Man" ......It´s a Messianic title....... he used to describe himself the most.....  79 times in Luke.........

As we study the Gospel we see Immanuel...... 100 %God.... and 100% man....

Luke focuses on Jesus´humanity.... he tells us the most about his early years.... he reminds us that he laid aside his Power as God and suffered and died for us.....The son of man.....



Luke 2: 41 - 47       NLT

 41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. 43 After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, 44 because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.
45 When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. 46 Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

Luke 2: 41 - 47       Neues Leben

41 Jedes Jahr zum Passahfest zogen seine Eltern nach Jerusalem hinauf.
42 Als Jesus zwölf Jahre alt war, nahmen sie auch wieder am Fest teil.
43 Nach den Feierlichkeiten machten sie sich auf den Heimweg nach Nazareth, doch Jesus blieb in Jerusalem zurück. Zuerst vermissten seine Eltern ihn nicht,
44 weil sie annahmen, dass er sich bei Freunden unter den anderen Reisenden befand. Doch als er am Abend immer noch nicht erschien, begannen sie, bei ihren Verwandten und Freunden nach ihm zu fragen.
45 Da sie ihn nirgends finden konnten, kehrten sie nach Jerusalem zurück, um dort nach ihm zu suchen.
46 Nach drei Tagen endlich entdeckten sie ihn. Er saß im Tempel inmitten der Lehrer, hörte ihnen zu und stellte Fragen.
47 Alle, die ihn hörten, staunten über sein Verständnis und seine klugen Antworten.

v41.....Passover......One of the most important feasts in the life of Israel......The picture of the Lamb.... the blood sprinkled on the door posts..... the unleavened bread.....Everything about this feast points to the Messiah.....

 Participation was required.... We can see here that Joseph and Mary were devout....they obeyed the Law.....

It was a joyful time........ and very exciting.....They would travel as a large group.... singing the songs of ascent.......talking and fellowshipping as they traveled... the young men hoped to meet the girl of their dreams.... a daughter of Jerusalem......

v42......Jesus was 12....This is the time that every young man became an Adult...... he was "Bar mitsvahed".... he became a son of the law.... personally accountable to obey the Law......

v43- 45...... they lost Jesus!...... they were not bad here.... they traveled as an extended family..... taking care of relatives...... the women and children ahead and slowere than the men..... Jesus was now a young adult..... Mary thought the Lord was with the men....... no longer hanging out with the kids....... but when it was time to set up camp.....he was nowhere to be found.....panic.....

v46 -47.....after three days......can you imagine this? Three minutes  and I start to worry.....

sitting with the doctors....The sanhedren....the chief teachers of the law would come down to the people and teach on the holidays........I wonder if Nicodemas was there....

astonished....this is the same Greek word used to describe the astonishment that happened everytime there was a miracle....like the Daughter of Jarius....

When Jesus raised her from the dead.... his parents were astonished....same greek word..... existēmi

Luke 2: 48 - 52       NLT

 48 His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”

 49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant.

 51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.

 52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

Luke 2: 48 - 52       Neues Leben

48 Seine Eltern wussten nicht, was sie davon halten sollten. »Kind!«, sagte seine Mutter zu ihm. »Wie konntest du uns das antun? Dein Vater und ich waren in schrecklicher Sorge. Wir haben dich überall gesucht.«
49 »Warum habt ihr mich gesucht?«, fragte er. »Ihr hättet doch wissen müssen, dass ich im Haus meines Vaters bin.«5
50 Doch sie verstanden nicht, was er damit meinte.
51 Daraufhin kehrte er mit ihnen nach Nazareth zurück und war ihnen ein gehorsamer Sohn. Seine Mutter bewahrte all diese Dinge in ihrem Herzen.
52 So wuchs Jesus heran und gewann an Weisheit. Gott liebte ihn, und alle, die ihn kannten, schätzten ihn sehr.

v 48- 52....my fathers business......time to take on a trade.....to begin his apprenticeship....... Jesus started to prepare for His ministry and he went back to Nazareth to become a carpenter.....

Levites were requiered to learn a trade as well as ministry.....

Mary stored these things in her heart....Scolars believe that Luke talked to Mary.... and from her learned many of the things that he recorded for us.....

Luke 3: 1-3   NLT

 1 It was now the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, the Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea; Herod Antipas was ruler over Galilee; his brother Philip was ruler over Iturea and Traconitis; Lysanias was ruler over Abilene. 2 Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness. 3 Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

Luke 3: 1-3        Neues Leben

1 Es war im fünfzehnten Regierungsjahr des römischen Kaisers Tiberius. Pilatus war Statthalter in Judäa; Herodes Antipas herrschte über Galiläa, sein Bruder Philippus regierte in Ituräa und Trachonitis, und Lysanias war Herrscher in Abilene.
2 Hannas und Kaiphas waren Hohe Priester. In dieser Zeit erhielt Johannes, der Sohn des Zacharias, draußen in der Wildnis eine Botschaft von Gott.
3 Daraufhin zog Johannes in der Gegend des Jordan von Ort zu Ort und predigte den Menschen: Sie sollten sich taufen lassen als Zeichen dafür, dass sie sich von ihren Sünden abgekehrt und Gott zugewandt hatten, um Vergebung zu erhalten.

v1....real history accurately and faithfully recorded....1800´s no proof....not true....

Pilate.... Aswan Dam....sand and silt stopped flowing.... ampitheater.....Caserea Philipai.... Pontius Pilate.....

Annas and Ciahpas......2 high priests? a dynasty.....
Annas a son of Aaron....

Ciaphas.... not really qualified...appointed.....


Close

The son on man born in a manger... born to die for us.....

Luke 9: 22         NLT

"For I, the Son of Man, must suffer many terrible things," he said. "I will be rejected by the leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. I will be killed, but three days later I will be raised from the dead."
22 »Denn der Menschensohn muss viel Schlimmes erleiden«, sagte er. »Er wird von den führenden Männern des jüdischen Volkes, den obersten Priestern und den Schriftgelehrten verurteilt werden. Sie werden ihn töten, doch drei Tage später wird er von den Toten auferstehen.«


Psalm 121
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
 1 I look up to the mountains—
      does my help come from there?
 2 My help comes from the Lord,
      who made heaven and earth!

 3 He will not let you stumble;
      the one who watches over you will not slumber.
 4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
      never slumbers or sleeps.

 5 The Lord himself watches over you!
      The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
 6 The sun will not harm you by day,
      nor the moon at night.

 7 The Lord keeps you from all harm
      and watches over your life.
 8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
      both now and forever.


Psalm 121
1 Ein Lied für die Pilgerfahrt nach Jerusalem. Ich schaue hinauf zu den Bergen - woher wird meine Hilfe kommen?
2 Meine Hilfe kommt vom Herrn, der Himmel und Erde gemacht hat.
3 Er wird nicht zulassen, dass du stolperst und fällst; der dich behütet, schläft nicht.
4 Siehe, der Israel behütet, wird nicht müde und schläft nicht.
5 Der Herr selbst behütet dich! Der Herr ist dein schützender Schatten über deiner rechten Hand.
6 Die Sonne wird dir am Tag nichts anhaben noch der Mond bei Nacht.
7 Der Herr behütet dich vor allem Unheil und bewahrt dein Leben.
8 Der Herr behütet dich, wenn du kommst und wenn du wieder gehst, von nun an bis in Ewigkeit.

We have seen and heard Jesus......we have been redeemed.....We can lift up our eyes to the LORD….. He is our hope he is our help…..

We should tell everyone the Good News.......We should be constantly praising and glorifing God in everything that we say and do......

We are here on Earth for a purpose.....Jesus said all authority in Heaven and Earth is given to me.....Go into all the World.....make disciples......
there is hope....there is help....His name is Jesus!


Let´s pray......

26.12.2010         Christmas

Luke 2: 10-11    NLT
Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Matt 12: 21   NLT
And his name will be the hope of all the world."

Good Morning and Merry Christmas.... We want you to know that we thank the LORD for everyone of you. I hope that you have had a good time celebrating with family and friends.....We spent Heilige Abend at Uli´s parents House....We have been coming to Germany for the holidays for many years.....and it is a wonderful time of good food and remembering God´s great mercy and unfailing Love.....

but... on the 23rd of December ... I spent the afternoon teaching English at Berlitz..... There were 11 of us... and I turned the discussion to Christmas.....Usually I get a favorable response from students wwhen they retell Christmas memories..... but this year...it was very painful ...I asked each person a question and I got 9 very negative answers...... At best there was a little bit of nostalga as they remembered Christmas´s from the past .....Not one of them was looking forward to the Holidays...... pain and disapointment was on every face ..... They had rejected the Babe in a manger....He wasn´t a Savior to them..... there was no hope...... no feelings of joy or anticipation....nothing........  Only darkness and depression...it was horrible....They are unemployed and living in the land of the shadow of death....I was a powerful reminder of the Biblical truth......  there are many who have rejected the LORD JESUS...... they have not had a blessed Christmas.....they do not know anything of the Peace and joy that one finds at the foot of the Cross.....

Last week we continued our study in Luke.... we met some more of the ordinary people that God revealed the Messiah to.....

We find Simeon ...lead to the Temple by the Holy Spirit at exactly the right time to see His long awaited Deliverer...the Baby Jesus....tradition says that he was very old......about 110....Let´s pick up where we left off..... Luke 2: 36....


Luke 2: 36 - 38              NLT


 36 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. 37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38 She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.


Luke 2: 36 - 38          Neues Leben

36 Im Tempel befand sich auch Hanna, eine Prophetin. Sie war eine Tochter Phanuëls aus dem Stamm Asser und schon sehr alt. Hanna war Witwe. Ihr Mann war nach nur sieben Jahren Ehe gestorben.
37 Jetzt war sie vierundachtzig Jahre alt und verließ den Tempel nie mehr, sondern diente Gott dort Tag und Nacht mit Fasten und Beten.
38 Als Simeon mit Maria und Josef sprach, ging sie vorbei und begann, Gott zu loben. Allen, die auf die verheißene Erlösung Israels warteten, erzählte sie von Jesus.

v 36........Anna....she was very old.... 84...and a widow..... she was probably childless.... a curse to the jews way of thinking....she was very ordinary......not royalty....

and yet she get´s to meet the KING OF KINGS and LORD of LORD`S

She was not related to the High Priestly family.... the fact that she was a widowed a such a young age was not considered to be a blessing....but she was not bitter..... she was a great example to those around her.... she devoted herself to serving and worshipping the LORD....

v37....KJV......who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.....

Anna  was an active participant in the life of the temple.....a godly woman..... a true worshiper.... she was not bitter..... she looked for the redeemer...The LORD was her whole life.... she was not missing something in her life....

her life was full and blessed...... She was totally focused on the only thing that mattered .... The LORD GOD.....At long last she as she trusted the LORD.... she got to see the Messiah......

Prophesy.....there are two ways to prophesy

1. foretelling.....saying what will happen in the future

2. forthtelling..... proclaiming the truth of scripture... preaching is also a form of prophesy...

Anna´s devotion to the LORD...proved by.....

1. her love for Jesus.............worshipping
2. her desire to tell others about him.........witnessing

that´s the way to age gracefully..... the W´s

1.....waiting for the redemption of Israel.....waiting for God to redeem and restore her life
2....worshipping God night and day......
3.....witnessing to others......

"a. Anna, a prophetess: We don’t know in what capacity Anna was a prophetess. Perhaps it was in the way that she brought forth this specific word about Jesus.

b. Who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day: This godly woman served God with total devotion. Anna’s close walk with God is shown by her love for Jesus, and her desire to tell others about Jesus (spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption)." Guzik, David. "Study Guide for Luke 2." Enduring Word. Blue Letter Bible. 7 Jul 2006. 2010.



Luke 2: 39 - 40                  NLT


39 When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. 40 There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.

Luke 2: 39 - 40               Neues Leben

39 Als Maria und Josef alles erfüllt hatten, was nach dem Gesetz des Herrn vorgeschrieben ist, kehrten sie nach Nazareth in Galiläa zurück.
40 Dort wuchs Jesus heran und wurde groß und kräftig. Er war mit Weisheit erfüllt, und Gottes besondere Gnade ruhte auf ihm.

v39.....requirements of the Law

1....Jesus´circumcision

2.....Jesus´ dedication to the LORD

first born....
perfect.... no defects...... fit for the Priesthood

3... Mary´s purification after childbirth....

Nazareth.....

One of the Bible names for the Messiah is ....

The Branch..... The Netzer...... The Nazarene....

Jesus had to be born in Bethlehem...... he fulfilled prophesy by being born there......it had to be so....

but he also fulfilled prophesy by growing up in Nazareth.....Isaiah Identified the Messiah by that name in Isaiah 4: 2

Zechariah also tells us something wonderful about the LORD in Zech 6: 12- 13..... let´s take a look.....

Zech 6: 12- 13         NLT

12 Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Here is the man called the Branch. He will branch out from where he is and build the Temple of the Lord. 13 Yes, he will build the Temple of the Lord. Then he will receive royal honor and will rule as king from his throne. He will also serve as priest from his throne, and there will be perfect harmony between his two roles.’

Zech 6: 12- 13         Neues Leben

12 Sag ihm: `So spricht der Herr, der Allmächtige: Da ist ein Mann, der Spross4 genannt wird, denn unter ihm wird es sprießen und er wird den Tempel des Herrn bauen.
13 Ja, er wird den Tempel des Herrn bauen; er wird königliche Ehren empfangen, seinen Thron einnehmen und dort herrschen. An seinem Thron wird ein Priester dienen5, und zwischen beiden wird vollkommene Eintracht sein.´

This is the prophesy that tells us about JESUS role as great High Priest and KING of KINGS.....

The Branch.... the Netzer...the Nazarene.....
our great high priest and King forever.....



Luke 2: 41  - 52       NLT

 41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. 43 After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, 44 because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.

 45 When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. 46 Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

 48 His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”

 49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant.

 51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.

 52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

Luke 2: 41  - 52       Neues Leben

Jesus spricht mit den Gelehrten

41 Jedes Jahr zum Passahfest zogen seine Eltern nach Jerusalem hinauf.
42 Als Jesus zwölf Jahre alt war, nahmen sie auch wieder am Fest teil.
43 Nach den Feierlichkeiten machten sie sich auf den Heimweg nach Nazareth, doch Jesus blieb in Jerusalem zurück. Zuerst vermissten seine Eltern ihn nicht,
44 weil sie annahmen, dass er sich bei Freunden unter den anderen Reisenden befand. Doch als er am Abend immer noch nicht erschien, begannen sie, bei ihren Verwandten und Freunden nach ihm zu fragen.
45 Da sie ihn nirgends finden konnten, kehrten sie nach Jerusalem zurück, um dort nach ihm zu suchen.
46 Nach drei Tagen endlich entdeckten sie ihn. Er saß im Tempel inmitten der Lehrer, hörte ihnen zu und stellte Fragen.
47 Alle, die ihn hörten, staunten über sein Verständnis und seine klugen Antworten.
48 Seine Eltern wussten nicht, was sie davon halten sollten. »Kind!«, sagte seine Mutter zu ihm. »Wie konntest du uns das antun? Dein Vater und ich waren in schrecklicher Sorge. Wir haben dich überall gesucht.«
49 »Warum habt ihr mich gesucht?«, fragte er. »Ihr hättet doch wissen müssen, dass ich im Haus meines Vaters bin.«5
50 Doch sie verstanden nicht, was er damit meinte.
51 Daraufhin kehrte er mit ihnen nach Nazareth zurück und war ihnen ein gehorsamer Sohn. Seine Mutter bewahrte all diese Dinge in ihrem Herzen.
52 So wuchs Jesus heran und gewann an Weisheit. Gott liebte ihn, und alle, die ihn kannten, schätzten ihn sehr.

Close

We have seen and heard Jesus......we have been redeemed.....

We should tell everyone the Good News.......We should be constantly praising and glorifing God in everything that we say and do......

We are here on Earth for a purpose.....Jesus said all authority in Heaven and Earth is given to me.....Go into all the World.....make disciples......

We are here in the body for a purpose...... we are members of one another...we belong to each other.... we are here in the church so that we can love and encourage each other....pray for each other...... cover each others sins with love..... and mercy and forgiveness...... we have the blessing of bearing one anothers burdens...... we can lighten each others load.....Even though we are ordinary people..... sinners saved by Grace..... because of His unfailing LOVE......we have a savior.....

We are celebrating the birth of the Savior....Jesus the Messiah!!!
but we must remember ..... The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the Whole world was born to die.....


To die....... to redeem us.....He came to die so that we could live with Him forever......What unfailing LOVE..... What Mercy......

David understood this so very well..... He was a real person ordinary .....not perfect... a sinner saved by grace....As we celebrate communion together....let´s remember this babe in a manger came for us...... to take the punishment for our sins.... to die for our sins....so that we could be forgiven.... He came to Redeem us and to give us everlasting peace and Joy..... to wash us white as snow....

 Here´s what David wrote.....


Psalms 51: 7- 12        NLT

7 Purify me from my sins,  and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me-
now let me rejoice.
9 Don't keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a right spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
and don't take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me again the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.

Psalms 51: 7 -12       Neues Leben

7 Denn ich war ein Sünder - von dem Augenblick an, da meine Mutter mich empfing.
8 Dir gefällt ein Herz, das wahrhaftig ist; und im Verborgenen lehrst du mich deine Weisheit.
9 Wasche von mir ab meine Sünden1, und ich werde ganz rein werden; wasche mich, und ich werde weißer sein als Schnee.
10 Gib mir meine Freude zurück und lass mich wieder fröhlich werden, denn du hast mich zerbrochen.
11 Sieh meine Sünde nicht mehr an und vergib mir meine Schuld.
12 Gott, erschaffe in mir ein reines Herz und gib mir einen neuen, aufrichtigen Geist.

1 Cor 11: 23- 26   NLT

 23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you.[f] Do this to remember me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

1 Cor 11: 23- 26         Neues Leben

23 Das Folgende hat der Herr selbst gesagt, und ich gebe es euch so weiter, wie ich es empfangen habe: In der Nacht, als er verraten wurde, nahm Jesus, der Herr, einen Laib Brot,
24 und nachdem er Dank gesagt hatte, brach er ihn und sprach: »Das ist mein Leib, der für euch hingegeben wird6. Tut das zur Erinnerung an mich.«
25 Ebenso nahm er nach dem Abendmahl den Weinkelch und sprach: »Dieser Kelch ist der neue Bund zwischen Gott und euch, besiegelt durch mein Blut. Wann immer ihr daraus trinkt, tut es zur Erinnerung an mich.«
26 Denn jedes Mal, wenn ihr dieses Brot esst und aus diesem Kelch trinkt, verkündet ihr den Tod des Herrn, bis er wiederkommt.

Let´s pray......

     19.12.2010               Fourth  Advent

             Luke 2: 21- end

Isaiah 9: 1                NLT

2 The people who walk in darkness
      will see a great light.
   For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
      a light will shine.

Isaiah 9: 1                Neues Leben

1 Denn das Volk, das in der Dunkelheit lebt, sieht ein helles Licht. Und über den Menschen in einem vom Tode überschatteten Land strahlt ein heller Schein.

......those who live in a land of deep darkness,
 a light will shine.... His name is Jesus!



The Bible is full of real ...ordinary people.....people like us....people like you and me ...... sinners saved by Grace......I love the fact that Our Heavenly father sent the Good news to ordinary people.....even to sinners.......even to the lowest parts of society......Today we continue to look at  the birth of Jesus......

JESUS  was not born in a palace..... ......He was not born in the presense of the wealthy and powerful...rather he was born in a  place very familiar to shepherds..........He was born in a stable.......a strange place for the KING OF KINGS and the LORD of LORDS to be born........ animals and shepherds were His first visitors....Shepherds.....

Let´s read the news of the birth of Jesus again !......




Luke 2: 8-20                NLT

 8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”



Luke 2: 8-12        Neues Leben


8 In jener Nacht hatten ein paar Hirten auf den Feldern vor dem Dorf ihr Lager aufgeschlagen, um ihre Schafe zu hüten.
9 Plötzlich erschien ein Engel des Herrn in ihrer Mitte. Der Glanz des Herrn umstrahlte sie. Die Hirten erschraken,
10 aber der Engel beruhigte sie. Habt keine Angst!, sagte er. Ich bringe eine gute Botschaft für alle Menschen!
11 Der Retter - ja, Christus, der Herr - ist heute Nacht in Bethlehem, der Stadt Davids, geboren worden!
12 Und daran könnt ihr ihn erkennen: Ihr werdet ein Kind finden, das in Windeln gewickelt in einer Futterkrippe liegt!





Luke 2: 13-20                NLT

 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
      and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Luke 2: 13-20        Neues Leben

13 Auf einmal war der Engel von den himmlischen Heerscharen umgeben, und sie alle priesen Gott mit den Worten:
14 Ehre sei Gott im höchsten Himmel und Frieden auf Erden für alle Menschen, an denen Gott Gefallen hat.
15 Als die Engel in den Himmel zurückgekehrt waren, sagten die Hirten zueinander: Kommt, gehen wir nach Bethlehem! Wir wollen das Wunder, von dem der Herr uns erzählen ließ, mit eigenen Augen sehen.
16 Sie liefen so schnell sie konnten ins Dorf und fanden Maria und Josef und das Kind in der Futterkrippe.
17 Da erzählten die Hirten allen, was geschehen war und was der Engel ihnen über dieses Kind gesagt hatte.
18 Alle Leute, die den Bericht der Hirten hörten, waren voller Staunen.
19 Maria aber bewahrte alle diese Dinge in ihrem Herzen und dachte oft darüber nach.
20 Die Hirten kehrten zu ihren Herden auf den Feldern zurück; sie priesen und lobten Gott für das, was der Engel ihnen gesagt hatte und was sie gesehen hatten. Alles war so, wie es ihnen angekündigt worden war.

v13.....the armies of heaven......a Heavenly army of mighty warriors..... no wonder that most people who saw an Angel were afraid..... they are not fat little cherubs...... They brought the GOOD NEWS.....they were proclaiming Peace on Earth ........ good will to men From  God our Father ....our creator ..... Praising and worshipping God for His unfailing love..... at long last.... the Good news.....The Messiah....the redeemer is come......


v20......glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen........


Let´s continue on in the Text....beginning at Luke 2: 21.........


Luke 2: 21- 24               NLT

Jesus Is Presented in the Temple

 21 Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.

 22 Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23 The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.” 24 So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

Luke 2: 21- 24      Neues Leben

Jesus wird im Tempel geweiht

21 Als das Kind acht Tage später beschnitten wurde, gab man ihm den Namen Jesus - so wie der Engel ihn schon genannt hatte, bevor Maria schwanger wurde.
22 Dann kam die Zeit des Reinigungsopfers, das im Gesetz Moses nach der Geburt eines Kindes vorgeschrieben ist. Maria und Josef gingen mit ihm nach Jerusalem, um ihn dem Herrn zu weihen.
23 Denn im Gesetz des Herrn steht: Alle erstgeborenen Söhne müssen dem Herrn geweiht werden.
24 Sie brachten das Reinigungsopfer dar, wie es das Gesetz vorschrieb: »Ein Paar Turteltauben oder zwei junge Tauben.

v21.... 8 days later.......The exact day that the blood parts that help stop bleeding are ready to work.......

circumcised the 8th day.....

Leviticus 12: 2- 3   NLT

2 If a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son, she will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her menstrual period. 3 On the eighth day the boy’s foreskin must be circumcised.

Leviticus 12: 2- 3      Neues Leben

2 »Gib den Israeliten folgende Anweisungen: `Eine Frau ist nach der Geburt eines Jungen sieben Tage lang unrein, genauso wie bei ihrer Monatsblutung.
3 Am achten Tag soll der Junge beschnitten werden.

so Jesus might fulfill every requirement of the law .....

Named JESUS.....

 v22.....purification offering....These offerings are also found in Lev 12......

"The circumcision and purification ceremonies were necessary.....They serve as a reminder that we are all born in sin.......Psalm 51...King David

Psalm 51: 5         NLT

5 For I was born a sinner-
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

Psalm 51: 7         Neues Leben

7 Denn ich war ein Sünder - von dem Augenblick an, da meine Mutter mich empfing.

"Jesus could have been excused because He was not born in sin....... Yet, we see Him even as a baby,....... identifying with sinners,.....( like you and me)...... as He did at His baptism and on the cross.........

The correct reading of Luke 2:22 is "now when the days of their purification . . . were completed." Jesus was identified with sinners even as a baby"
Guzik, David. "Study Guide for Luke 2." Enduring Word. Blue Letter Bible. 7 Jul 2006. 2010. 18 Dec 2010.

"Let us now speak first of the purification. Luke makes it apply both to Mary and to Christ: for the pronoun of them, can have no reference whatever to Joseph." (Calvin)
Required sacrifice for purification

Leviticus 12:8   NLT

8 “If a woman cannot afford to bring a lamb, she must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons. One will be for the burnt offering and the other for the purification offering. The priest will sacrifice them to purify her, and she will be ceremonially clean.”

Leviticus 12:8   Neues Leben

8 Wenn eine Frau sich das erforderliche Lamm jedoch nicht leisten kann, soll sie stattdessen zwei Turteltauben oder zwei junge Tauben nehmen; die eine für das Brandopfer, die andere für das Sündopfer. Wenn der Priester auf diese Weise Wiedergutmachung für die Frau geschaffen hat, wird sie wieder rein sein.´« 


2 doves were sacrificed.... they were poor..... not rich....... Jesus was not rich  during his life on earth.....he became poor....for us......

2 Cor 8: 9    KJV    
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

2 Cor 8: 9       Neues Leben
 9 Ihr kennt ja die große Liebe und Gnade von Jesus Christus, unserem Herrn. Obwohl er reich war, wurde er um euretwillen arm, um euch durch seine Armut reich zu machen.  


v23- 24..... Dedicate the first born.....


Redeem every first born....they are the LORD`S

tithe....

Exodus 13: 11-16   NLT

 11 “This is what you must do when the Lord fulfills the promise he swore to you and to your ancestors. When he gives you the land where the Canaanites now live, 12 you must present all firstborn sons and firstborn male animals to the Lord, for they belong to him. 13 A firstborn donkey may be bought back from the Lord by presenting a lamb or young goat in its place. But if you do not buy it back, you must break its neck. However, you must buy back every firstborn son.

 14 “And in the future, your children will ask you, ‘What does all this mean?’ Then you will tell them, ‘With the power of his mighty hand, the Lord brought us out of Egypt, the place of our slavery. 15 Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, so the Lord killed all the firstborn males throughout the land of Egypt, both people and animals. That is why I now sacrifice all the firstborn males to the Lord—except that the firstborn sons are always bought back.’ 16 This ceremony will be like a mark branded on your hand or your forehead. It is a reminder that the power of the Lord’s mighty hand brought us out of Egypt.”

Exodus 13: 11-16      Neues Leben

11 Wenn der Herr euch in das Land der Kanaaniter bringt, wie er es euch und euren Vorfahren mit einem Eid versprochen hat, und es euch gibt,
12 dann sollt ihr dem Herrn eure erstgeborenen Söhne weihen. Jedes erstgeborene männliche Tier sollt ihr außerdem dem Herrn opfern.
13 Jeden erstgeborenen männlichen Esel sollt ihr mit einem Lamm loskaufen. Wenn ihr ihn jedoch nicht loskaufen wollt, müsst ihr ihm das Genick brechen. Eure erstgeborenen Söhne dagegen müsst ihr loskaufen.
14 Wenn eure Söhne euch später fragen werden: `Was bedeutet dieser Brauch?´ Dann sollt ihr ihnen antworten: `Mit großer Macht hat der Herr uns damals aus der Sklaverei in Ägypten geführt.
15 Der Pharao wollte uns nicht ziehen lassen. Deshalb tötete der Herr alle männlichen Erstgeburten der Ägypter und ihrer Tiere. Darum opfern wir jetzt alle erstgeborenen männlichen Tiere dem Herrn, und die erstgeborenen Söhne kaufen wir los.´
16 Dieser Brauch soll euch - wie ein Zeichen auf eurer Hand oder an eurer Stirn - daran erinnern. Denn der Herr hat uns mit großer Macht aus Ägypten geführt.«


Luke 2: 25 - 27               NLT

The Prophecy of Simeon

 25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel( Consolation of Israel). The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required,

Luke 2: 25 - 27          Neues Leben

Die Prophezeiung Simeons

25 In Jerusalem lebte ein Mann namens Simeon. Er war gerecht und gottesfürchtig. Simeon war vom Heiligen Geist erfüllt und wartete sehnsüchtig auf die Ankunft des Christus, der Israel Trost und Rettung bringen sollte.( "gottesfürchtig und wartete auf den Trost Israels(The Consolation of Israel)" Luther 1984)
26 Der Heilige Geist hatte ihm offenbart, dass er nicht sterben würde, bevor er den vom Herrn gesandten Christus gesehen hätte.
27 An diesem Tag führte der Heilige Geist ihn in den Tempel. Als Maria und Josef kamen, um das Kind dem Herrn zu weihen, wie es im Gesetz vorgeschrieben ist,

v25.... God fearer.....
Consolation of Israel.....Trost Israels......

Comforter and deliverer....redeemer


Luke 2: 28 - 35               NLT

28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,

 29 “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,
      as you have promised.
 30 I have seen your salvation,
    31 which you have prepared for all people.
 32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
      and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

 33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”


Luke 2: 28 - 35          Neues Leben

28 war Simeon dort. Er nahm das Kind auf seine Arme und lobte Gott und sagte:
29 »Herr, nun kann ich in Frieden sterben! Wie du es mir versprochen hast,
30 habe ich den Retter gesehen,
31 den du allen Menschen geschenkt hast.
32 Er ist ein Licht, das den Völkern Gott offenbaren wird, und er ist die Herrlichkeit deines Volkes Israel!«
33 Josef und Maria staunten, als sie hörten, was Simeon über Jesus sagte.
34 Simeon aber segnete sie und sagte zu Maria: »Dieses Kind wird von vielen in Israel abgelehnt werden, und das wird ihren Untergang bedeuten. Für viele andere Menschen aber wird er die höchste Freude sein.
35 Auf diese Weise wird an den Tag kommen, was viele im Innersten bewegt. Doch auch durch deine Seele wird ein Schwert dringen.«

We have seen His Salvation....we have been comforted..... we are sent into the World to tell the Good News..... there is hope ....! there is forgiveness there is comfort and redemption....

Luke 2: 36 - 40               NLT

The Prophecy of Anna

 36 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. 37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38 She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.

 39 When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. 40 There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.

Luke 2: 36 - 40          Neues Leben

Die Prophezeiung Hannas

36 Im Tempel befand sich auch Hanna, eine Prophetin. Sie war eine Tochter Phanuëls aus dem Stamm Asser und schon sehr alt. Hanna war Witwe. Ihr Mann war nach nur sieben Jahren Ehe gestorben.
37 Jetzt war sie vierundachtzig Jahre alt und verließ den Tempel nie mehr, sondern diente Gott dort Tag und Nacht mit Fasten und Beten.
38 Als Simeon mit Maria und Josef sprach, ging sie vorbei und begann, Gott zu loben. Allen, die auf die verheißene Erlösung Israels warteten, erzählte sie von Jesus.
39 Als Maria und Josef alles erfüllt hatten, was nach dem Gesetz des Herrn vorgeschrieben ist, kehrten sie nach Nazareth in Galiläa zurück.
40 Dort wuchs Jesus heran und wurde groß und kräftig. Er war mit Weisheit erfüllt, und Gottes besondere Gnade ruhte auf ihm.

Luke 2: 41  - 52       NLT

Jesus Speaks with the Teachers of the Law

 41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. 43 After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, 44 because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.

 45 When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. 46 Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

 48 His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”

 49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant.

 51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.

 52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

Luke 2: 41  - 52       Neues Leben

Jesus spricht mit den Gelehrten

41 Jedes Jahr zum Passahfest zogen seine Eltern nach Jerusalem hinauf.
42 Als Jesus zwölf Jahre alt war, nahmen sie auch wieder am Fest teil.
43 Nach den Feierlichkeiten machten sie sich auf den Heimweg nach Nazareth, doch Jesus blieb in Jerusalem zurück. Zuerst vermissten seine Eltern ihn nicht,
44 weil sie annahmen, dass er sich bei Freunden unter den anderen Reisenden befand. Doch als er am Abend immer noch nicht erschien, begannen sie, bei ihren Verwandten und Freunden nach ihm zu fragen.
45 Da sie ihn nirgends finden konnten, kehrten sie nach Jerusalem zurück, um dort nach ihm zu suchen.
46 Nach drei Tagen endlich entdeckten sie ihn. Er saß im Tempel inmitten der Lehrer, hörte ihnen zu und stellte Fragen.
47 Alle, die ihn hörten, staunten über sein Verständnis und seine klugen Antworten.
48 Seine Eltern wussten nicht, was sie davon halten sollten. »Kind!«, sagte seine Mutter zu ihm. »Wie konntest du uns das antun? Dein Vater und ich waren in schrecklicher Sorge. Wir haben dich überall gesucht.«
49 »Warum habt ihr mich gesucht?«, fragte er. »Ihr hättet doch wissen müssen, dass ich im Haus meines Vaters bin.«5
50 Doch sie verstanden nicht, was er damit meinte.
51 Daraufhin kehrte er mit ihnen nach Nazareth zurück und war ihnen ein gehorsamer Sohn. Seine Mutter bewahrte all diese Dinge in ihrem Herzen.
52 So wuchs Jesus heran und gewann an Weisheit. Gott liebte ihn, und alle, die ihn kannten, schätzten ihn sehr.

Close

We have seen and heard Jesus......we have been redeemed.....

We should tell everyone the Good News.......We should be constantly praising and glorifing God in everything that we say and do......

We are here on Earth for a purpose.....Jesus said all authority in Heaven and Earth is given to me.....Go into all the World.....make disciples......

We are here in the body for a purpose...... we are members of one another...we belong to each other.... we are here in the church so that we can love and encourage each other....pray for each other...... cover each others sins with love..... and mercy and forgiveness...... we have the blessing of bearing one anothers burdens...... we can lighten each others load.....Even though we are ordinary people..... sinners saved by Grace..... because of His unfailing LOVE......we have a savior.....

We are celebrating the birth of the Savior....Jesus the Messiah!!!
but we must remember ..... The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the Whole world was born to die.....
we need to look forward to the Cross to understand what Simeon said to Mary......Our redeemer came to suffer and to die.....as Isaiah prophesied so long ago......

To die to redeem us.....He came to die so that we could live with Him forever......What unfailing LOVE..... What Mercy......

David understood this so very well..... He was a real person ordinary .....not perfect... a sinner saved by grace.... Do you remember another of Jesus´great.... great.....great.... great..... grandmother´s..... Bathsheba.....He cried out to God for forgiveness..... He remembered God´s Unfailing Love and Mercy.....

 Here´s what David wrote.....


Psalms 51: 1- 19        NLT

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
3 For I recognize my shameful deeds-
they haunt me day and night.
4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just.
5 For I was born a sinner-
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
6 But you desire honesty from the heart,
so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.
7 Purify me from my sins,  and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me-
now let me rejoice.
9 Don't keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a right spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
and don't take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me again the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
13 Then I will teach your ways to sinners,
and they will return to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,
that I may praise you.
16 You would not be pleased with sacrifices,
or I would bring them. If I brought you a burnt offering,
you would not accept it.
17 The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit.
A broken and repentant heart, O God,
you will not despise.
18 Look with favor on Zion and help her;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will be pleased with worthy sacrifices
and with our whole burnt offerings;
and bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.



Psalms 51: 1 -19       Neues Leben

1 Für den Chorleiter: Ein Psalm Davids aus der Zeit,
2 als der Prophet Nathan zu ihm kam, nachdem David mit Batseba Ehebruch begangen hatte.
3 Gott, sei mir gnädig um deiner Gnade willen und vergib mir meine Sünden nach deiner großen Barmherzigkeit.
4 Wasche mich rein von meiner Schuld und reinige mich von meiner Sünde.
5 Denn ich bekenne meine Sünde, die mich Tag und Nacht verfolgt.
6 Gegen dich allein habe ich gesündigt und getan, was in deinen Augen böse ist. Darum wirst du Recht behalten mit dem, was du sagst, und dein Urteil über mich ist gerecht.
7 Denn ich war ein Sünder - von dem Augenblick an, da meine Mutter mich empfing.
8 Dir gefällt ein Herz, das wahrhaftig ist; und im Verborgenen lehrst du mich deine Weisheit.
9 Wasche von mir ab meine Sünden1, und ich werde ganz rein werden; wasche mich, und ich werde weißer sein als Schnee.
10 Gib mir meine Freude zurück und lass mich wieder fröhlich werden, denn du hast mich zerbrochen.
11 Sieh meine Sünde nicht mehr an und vergib mir meine Schuld.
12 Gott, erschaffe in mir ein reines Herz und gib mir einen neuen, aufrichtigen Geist.
13 Verstoße mich nicht aus deiner Gegenwart und nimm deinen Heiligen Geist nicht von mir.
14 Lass mich durch deine Hilfe wieder Freude erfahren und mach mich bereit, dir zu gehorchen.
15 Dann will ich die Gottlosen2 deine Wege lehren, damit die Sünder zu dir zurückkehren.
16 Vergib mir, dass ich Blut vergossen habe, Gott, mein Retter, dann werde ich singen und jubeln über deine Vergebung.
17 Herr, öffne meine Lippen, damit ich dich lobe.
18 Mit Schlachtopfern bist du nicht zufrieden, sonst hätte ich sie dir gebracht und auch Brandopfer würdest du nicht annehmen.
19 Das Opfer, das dir gefällt, ist ein zerbrochener Geist. Ein zerknirschtes, reumütiges Herz wirst du, Gott, nicht ablehnen.
20 Hilf und erbarme dich über Zion, baue die Mauern Jerusalems wieder auf.
21 Dann wirst du an unseren Opfern wieder Gefallen finden und mit unseren Brandopfern zufrieden sein. Dann werden wir wieder Stiere auf deinem Altar opfern.

Let´s pray......


     12.12.2010               Third Advent

             Luke 2: 1-20

Isaiah 9: 1                NLT

2 The people who walk in darkness
      will see a great light.
   For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
      a light will shine.

Isaiah 9: 1                Neues Leben

1 Denn das Volk, das in der Dunkelheit lebt, sieht ein helles Licht. Und über den Menschen in einem vom Tode überschatteten Land strahlt ein heller Schein.

......those who live in a land of deep darkness,
 a light will shine.... His name is Jesus!


Isaiah 9: 6-7      NLT              

6 For a child is born to us,
      a son is given to us.
   The government will rest on his shoulders.
      And he will be called:
   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
      Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
 7 His government and its peace
      will never end.
   He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
      for all eternity.
   The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
      will make this happen!

Isaiah 9: 5-6          Neues Leben              

5 Denn uns wurde ein Kind geboren, uns wurde ein Sohn geschenkt. Auf seinen Schultern ruht die Herrschaft. Er heißt: wunderbarer Ratgeber, starker Gott, ewiger Vater, Friedensfürst.
6 Seine Herrschaft ist groß und der Frieden auf dem Thron Davids und in seinem Reich wird endlos sein. Er festigt und stützt es für alle Zeiten durch Recht und Gerechtigkeit. Dafür wird sich der Herr, der Allmächtige, nachhaltig einsetzen.

The Bible is full of real ...ordinary people.....people like us....like me....sinners saved by Grace......I love the fact that Our Heavenly father sent the Good news to ordinary people.....even to sinners.......even to the lowest parts of society......Today we will see the birth of Jesus......He was not born in a palace..... ......He was not born in the presense of the wealthy and powerful...rather he was born in a  place very familiar to shepherds..........He was born in a stable.......a strange place for the KING OF KINGS and the LORD of LORDS to be born........ animals and shepherds were His first visitors....Shepherds.....

Let´s continue to read the account of the miracles surrounding the birth of Jesus!......Immanuel is born.....



Luke 2: 1-20                NLT

 1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant. (KJV ...great with child)

 6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth (swaddling clothes) and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

Luke 2: 1-7            Neues Leben

1 Zu jener Zeit ordnete der römische Kaiser Augustus eine Volkszählung im ganzen Römischen Reich an.
2 Dies war die erste Volkszählung; sie wurde durchgeführt, als Quirinius Statthalter von Syrien war.
3 Alle Menschen kehrten in ihre Heimatstadt zurück, um sich für die Zählung eintragen zu lassen.
4 Weil Josef ein Nachkomme Davids war, musste er nach Bethlehem in Judäa, in die Stadt Davids, reisen. Von Nazareth in Galiläa aus machte er sich auf den Weg
5 und nahm seine Verlobte Maria mit, die hochschwanger war.
6 Als sie in Bethlehem waren, kam die Zeit der Geburt heran.
7 Maria gebar ihr erstes Kind, einen Sohn. Sie wickelte ihn in Windeln und legte ihn in eine Futterkrippe, weil es im Gasthaus keinen Platz für sie gab.

v1-2 Caesar Augustus.........

" Jesus’ birth happened during the reign of one of the most remarkable men of ancient history.

 He was born with the name Octavian, named after his father. His grandmother was the sister of Julius Caesar, and being a talented young man, Octavian came to the attention of his great uncle. Julius Caesar came to adopt Octavian as his son, and he was made his official heir in 45 b.c. Within a year Caesar was murdered, and Octavian joined with two others – Mark Antony and Lepidus in splitting the domination of Rome three ways. For decades, the whole Mediterranean world was filled with wars and violence; now, under the Triumverate, it became far worse. There were years of bloody, brutal fighting for power and money in Rome and the provinces.

 Octavian and Antony soon pushed Lepidus out of the picture. Even though his sister married Antony, for thirteen years Octavian and Antony existed together as rivals, until 31 b.c. For a year, the huge armies of Octavian and Antony assembled and positioned themselves. Antony, with the help of Cleopatra, brought 500 warships, 100,000 foot soldiers, and 12,000 cavalry. Octavian answered with 400 warships, 80,000 infantry and 12,000 horsemen. But Octavian had the better strategy and the more mobile ships, and he defeated the combined forces of Antony and Queen Cleopatra of Egypt at the battle of Actium. Now Octavius was the sole ruler of the Roman world.
" Guzik, David. "Study Guide for Luke 2." Enduring Word. Blue Letter Bible. 7 Jul 2006. 2010. 11 Dec 2010.

He was given the title of Augustus by the Roman Senate......prior to that time it was a title reserved for their False Gods.....

For decades, the world Augustus lived in and Jesus would be born into, the world of the Mediterranean basin, was wracked by wars, destruction, brutality, and immorality.

 "The lusty peninsula was worn out with twenty years of civil war. Its farms had been neglected, its towns had been sacked or besieged, much of its wealth had been stolen or destroyed. Administration and protection had broken down; robbers made every street unsafe at night; highwaymen roamed the roads, kidnapped travelers, and sold them into slavery. Trade diminished, investment stood still, interest rates soared, property values fell. Morals, which had been loosened by riches and luxury, had not been improved by destitution and chaos, for few conditions are more demoralizing than poverty that comes after wealth. Rome was full of men who had lost their economic footing and then their moral stability: soldiers who had tasted adventure and had learned to kill; citizens who had seen their savings consumed in the taxes and inflation of war and waited vacuously for some returning tide to life them back to affluence; women dizzy with freedom, multiplying divorces, abortions, and adulteries." (Will Durant)

v3-4....Ancestral home of Joseph...... and Mary....... and King David...... Bethlehem.....fulfilled prophecy......

Micah 5: 2        NKJV

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting."

Micah 5: 1    Neues Leben

1 Du, Bethlehem Efrata, bist zwar zu klein, um unter die großen Städte Judas gerechnet zu werden. Dennoch wird aus dir einer kommen, der über Israel herrschen soll.1 Seine Herkunft reicht in ferne Vergangenheit zurück, ja bis in die Urzeit.

Bethlehem...... the city of David..... the prophesied birth place of the Messiah.....do a Bible study on this city....
Benjamin was born there .....
Rachel is buried nearby....
Boaz was from Bethlehem........that great type of Chirst as  kinsman redeemer  was from there .....Remember his His wife? Ruth....... a gentile woman  grafted into the Royal line of David...... Jesus´great great great..... grandmother......ordinary people....Good News......

One of the Ancient names for the area is the" tower of the flock....Migdal Eder."......on the road to Jerusalem just out side of Jerusalem proper....

 Migdal Eder, the tower of the
   flock.' It was a watch tower for protecting the flocks......on the groung floor.....was a place where the ewes that were about to give birth were sheltered........


v 4-5.....from Nazareth to Bethlehem......about 165 kilometers....not a short walk.....It would have taken at least three days.......Both Joseph and Mary are descentants of David.....The Messiah had to be a descendant of David....And yet Joseph was not the father of Jesus.....

In Isaiah ther is a familiar passage that I want us to take a closer look at.....

Isaiah 9: 6-7   NLT

 6 For a child is born to us,
      a son is given to us.
   The government will rest on his shoulders.
      And he will be called:
   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
      Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
 7 His government and its peace
      will never end.
   He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
      for all eternity.
   The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
      will make this happen!

notice verse 6.... a son is born..... a son is given.......

In ancient times.... the Bible scolars were puzzled about a problem in the line of David.....In Jeremiah chapter 22..... One of Solomon´s descendants recieved a prophesy..... the Royal line through Solomon was cursed by God because of sin and rebellion.....the scholars were at a loss to understand how The Messiah could be born..........so they thought that there would be 2 messiahs..... one suffering and dying to pay for the sins of the nation( the son of Joseph)....so that the other could become the true heir and king Messiah( son of David).........It was how they tried to reconcile the passages in Isaiah 52 and 53, and Daniel 9...etc. As well as this curse problem....

Joseph and Mary were both  independently related to David through separate lines of descent—one (Joseph) through Solomon, and the other (Mary) through Nathan, thus uniting in themselves the royal rights of David’s house, which passed both by law and blood to their wonderful Son......

Jesus was a blood descendant thru Mary..... and as an Adopted son.......legal heir to the throne of David by his adopted father Joseph a descendant of Solomon....

v 6......Swaddling clothes......baby lambs were very well cared for..... they can barely walk at first.... It is said that theshepherds wrapped the baby lambs in swaddling clothes to protect them until they got their strength and were able to move around without getting hurt.... these were destined for the Temple...they were to be flawless. ...perfect....

2002 study....Still in use in many cultures today.... and in most hospitals in to whole world.....

in a manger..... nothing like animal slobber all over your bed.....

no room for them....all of Bethlehem was too crowded.....
What was the reason that there was no room?...... Surely Joseph and Mary both had realitives in the town...... Were they not welcome?....I don´t know.....But for sure the place was full of people and animals.... Bethlehem was too crowded........

There was no room for Jesus.....

2 thousand years later there is still no room for Jesus in many places.....
even we as believers can let our lives become so full of other things..... that we don´t have room for Jesus.... we let our lives become crowded with the things of this world...... and slowly at first.........other things occupy our time and energy and affection and resources....

We become too busy for Jesus...to busy to be bothered....cold and lukewarm to the needs of others.....not seeing their pain.... not remembering that call of Jesus to be the Light of the World......let´s continue in the text.....



Luke 2: 8-20                NLT

 8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”



Luke 2: 8-12        Neues Leben


8 In jener Nacht hatten ein paar Hirten auf den Feldern vor dem Dorf ihr Lager aufgeschlagen, um ihre Schafe zu hüten.
9 Plötzlich erschien ein Engel des Herrn in ihrer Mitte. Der Glanz des Herrn umstrahlte sie. Die Hirten erschraken,
10 aber der Engel beruhigte sie. Habt keine Angst!, sagte er. Ich bringe eine gute Botschaft für alle Menschen!
11 Der Retter - ja, Christus, der Herr - ist heute Nacht in Bethlehem, der Stadt Davids, geboren worden!
12 Und daran könnt ihr ihn erkennen: Ihr werdet ein Kind finden, das in Windeln gewickelt in einer Futterkrippe liegt!




v8....Shepherds


A passage in the Mishnah ..... a commentary on the OT.... leads to the conclusion, that the flocks, which pastured there, were the very lambs that were destined for Temple-sacrifices..... that the shepherds in these fields..... who watched over them, were not ordinary shepherds....

They worked for the Temple  and the priesthood.....even so they were outcasts...... their very work rendered them unclean...... unable to take part in the Spiritual life of the Children of Israel....they were  unable to set foot in the temple.......they were defiled.....ordinary people...... people like you and me..... defiled..... unholy.....They were perfect people to reveal the Messiah to...... no chance for pride to well uo in these..... they understood that they deserved nothing....they saw the miracle for what it was..... God pouring out his grace and mercy on them........they were to be the first to greet the Messiah......



"That the Messiah was to be
   born in Bethlehem, [949] was a settled conviction. Equally so was the
   belief, that He was to be revealed from Migdal Eder, the tower of the
   flock.' [950] This Migdal Eder was not the watchtower for the ordinary
   flocks which pastured on the barren sheepground beyond Bethlehem, but
   lay close to the town, on the road to Jerusalem. A passage in the
   Mishnah [951] leads to the conclusion, that the flocks, which pastured
   there, were destined for Temple-sacrifices, [952] and, accordingly,
   that the shepherds, who watched over them, were not ordinary shepherds.
   The latter were under the ban of Rabbinism, [953] on account of their
   necessary isolation from religious ordinances, and their manner of
   life, which rendered strict legal observance unlikely, if not
   absolutely impossible. The same Mishnic passage also leads us to infer,
   that these flocks lay out all the year round, since they are spoken of
   as in the fields thirty days before the Passover - that is, in the
   month of February, when in Palestine the average rainfall is nearly
   greatest. [954] Thus, Jewish tradition in some dim manner apprehended
   the first revelation of the Messiah from that Migdal Eder, where
   shepherds watched the Temple-flocks all the year round. Of the deep
   symbolic significance of such a coincidence, it is needless to speak.

   It was, then, on that wintry night' of the 25th of December, [955] that
   shepherds watched the flocks destined for sacrificial services, in the
   very place consecrated by tradition as that where the Messiah was to be
   first revealed. Of a sudden came the long-delayed, unthought-of
   announcement. Heaven and earth seemed to mingle, as suddenly an Angel
   stood before their dazzled eyes, while the outstreaming glory of the
   Lord seemed to enwrap them, as in a mantle of light. [956] Surprise,
   awe, fear would be hushed into calm and expectancy, as from the Angel
   they heard, that what they saw boded not judgment, but ushered in to
   waiting Israel the great joy of those good tidings which he brought:
   that the long-promised Saviour, Messiah, Lord, was born in the City of
   David, and that they themselves might go and see, and recognize Him by
   the humbleness of the circumstances surrounding His Nativity.
 Alfred Edersheim; The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.

v 9-11....they were all greatly afraid....... Don´t be afraid....
"Good News for your great joy"......
to all people........

The Savior...... deliverer.........preserver...........keeping alive and safe....
the Messiah.....the promised redeemer.....
the Lord......God in the flesh the perfect representation of The Father....

The Good News..... proclaimed to lowly shepherds in the middle of the night....... good news to the poor and despised....

Jesus began his ministry by reading a prophesy about himself from Isaiah..... turn with me to Isaiah 61......

Isaiah 61: 1- 3   NLT

 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
      for the Lord has anointed me
      to bring good news to the poor.
   He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
      and to proclaim that captives will be released
      and prisoners will be freed.
 2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn
      that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
      and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
 3 To all who mourn in Israel,
      he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
   a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
      festive praise instead of despair.
   In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
      that the Lord has planted for his own glory.

Isaiah 61: 1- 3           Neues Leben

1 Der Geist Gottes, des Herrn, ruht auf mir, denn der Herr hat mich gesalbt, um den Armen eine gute Botschaft zu verkünden. Er hat mich gesandt, um die zu heilen, die ein gebrochenes Herz haben und zu verkündigen, dass die Gefangenen freigelassen und die Gefesselten befreit werden.1
2 Er hat mich gesandt, um ein Gnadenjahr des Herrn und einen Tag der Rache unseres Gottes auszurufen und alle Trauernden zu trösten.
3 Er hat mich gesandt, um es den Trauernden zu ermöglichen, dass ihnen ein Kopfschmuck anstelle von Asche, Freudenöl anstelle von Trauerkleidern, und Lobgesang anstelle eines betrübten Geistes gegeben werde; und dass man sie »Eichen der Gerechtigkeit« und »Pflanzung zur Verherrlichung des Herrn« nennen kann.

Praise the Lord......

Luke 2: 13-20                NLT

 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
      and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.




Luke 2: 13-20        Neues Leben

13 Auf einmal war der Engel von den himmlischen Heerscharen umgeben, und sie alle priesen Gott mit den Worten:
14 Ehre sei Gott im höchsten Himmel und Frieden auf Erden für alle Menschen, an denen Gott Gefallen hat.
15 Als die Engel in den Himmel zurückgekehrt waren, sagten die Hirten zueinander: Kommt, gehen wir nach Bethlehem! Wir wollen das Wunder, von dem der Herr uns erzählen ließ, mit eigenen Augen sehen.
16 Sie liefen so schnell sie konnten ins Dorf und fanden Maria und Josef und das Kind in der Futterkrippe.
17 Da erzählten die Hirten allen, was geschehen war und was der Engel ihnen über dieses Kind gesagt hatte.
18 Alle Leute, die den Bericht der Hirten hörten, waren voller Staunen.
19 Maria aber bewahrte alle diese Dinge in ihrem Herzen und dachte oft darüber nach.
20 Die Hirten kehrten zu ihren Herden auf den Feldern zurück; sie priesen und lobten Gott für das, was der Engel ihnen gesagt hatte und was sie gesehen hatten. Alles war so, wie es ihnen angekündigt worden war.

v13.....the armies of heaven......a Heavenly army of mighty warriors.....proclaiming Peace on Earth ........ good will to men From  God our creator ..... Praising and worshipping God for His unfailing love..... at long last.... the Good news.....The Messiah....the redeemer is come......

v17.....they told everyone what had happened....they couldn´t keep their mouths shut..... we can´t even open ours.....

v18.....everyone who heard....was astonished....

v20......glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen........

Close

We have seen and heard Jesus......we have been redeemed.....

We should tell everyone the Good News.......We should be constantly praising and glorifing God in everything that we say and do......

We are here on Earth for a purpose.....Jesus said all authority in Heaven and Earth is given to me.....Go into all the World.....make desciples......

We are here in the body for a purpose...... we are members of one another...we belong to each other.... we are here in the church so that we can love and encourage each other....pray for each other...... cover each others sins with love..... and mercy and forgiveness...... we have the blessing of bearing one anothers burdens...... we can lighten each others load.....we have a savior..... with this wonderful good news comes responcibilites.........

Paul wrote about it .... turn with me to Col 3: 12- 17........


Colossians 3: 12-17      NLT

 12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

 16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3: 12-17          Neues Leben

12 Da Gott euch erwählt hat, zu seinen Heiligen und Geliebten zu gehören, seid voll Mitleid und Erbarmen, Freundlichkeit, Demut, Sanftheit und Geduld.
13 Seid nachsichtig mit den Fehlern der anderen und vergebt denen, die euch gekränkt haben. Vergesst nicht, dass der Herr euch vergeben hat und dass ihr deshalb auch anderen vergeben müsst.
14 Das Wichtigste aber ist die Liebe. Sie ist das Band, das uns alle in vollkommener Einheit verbindet.
15 Euren Herzen wünschen wir den Frieden, der von Christus kommt. Denn als Glieder des einen Leibes seid ihr alle berufen, im Frieden miteinander zu leben. Und seid immer dankbar!
16 Gebt den Worten von Christus viel Raum3 in euren Herzen. Gebraucht seine Worte weise, um einander zu lehren und zu ermahnen. Singt Gott aus ganzem Herzen Psalmen, Lobgesänge und geistliche Lieder.
17 Doch alles, was auch immer ihr tut oder sagt, soll im Namen von Jesus, dem Herrn, geschehen, durch den ihr Gott, dem Vater, danken sollt!

2nd Advent    5.12.2010

                         Immanuel


Isaiah 7:14               NLT

14 All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14              Neues Leben

14 Deshalb wird der Herr selbst das Zeichen geben. Seht! Die Jungfrau wird ein Kind erwarten! Sie wird einem Sohn das Leben schenken und er wird Immanuel genannt werden. Das heißt: Gott ist mit uns.



Virgin.....Hebrew (Alma).....Septuagent Greek (Parthenos)..... no doubt about it ...! Mary was a virgin!

Isaiah 9: 1                NLT

2 The people who walk in darkness
      will see a great light.
   For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
      a light will shine.

Isaiah 9: 1                Neues Leben

1 Denn das Volk, das in der Dunkelheit lebt, sieht ein helles Licht. Und über den Menschen in einem vom Tode überschatteten Land strahlt ein heller Schein.

......those who live in a land of deep darkness,
 a light will shine.... His name is Jesus!


Isaiah 9: 6-7      NLT               

6 For a child is born to us,
      a son is given to us.
   The government will rest on his shoulders.
      And he will be called:
   Wonderful Counselor,[d] Mighty God,
      Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
 7 His government and its peace
      will never end.
   He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
      for all eternity.
   The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
      will make this happen!

Isaiah 9: 5-6          Neues Leben               

5 Denn uns wurde ein Kind geboren, uns wurde ein Sohn geschenkt. Auf seinen Schultern ruht die Herrschaft. Er heißt: wunderbarer Ratgeber, starker Gott, ewiger Vater, Friedensfürst.
6 Seine Herrschaft ist groß und der Frieden auf dem Thron Davids und in seinem Reich wird endlos sein. Er festigt und stützt es für alle Zeiten durch Recht und Gerechtigkeit. Dafür wird sich der Herr, der Allmächtige, nachhaltig einsetzen.


The Bible is full of real ...ordinary people.....people like us....like me....sinners saved by Grace......I love the fact that Our Heavenly father sent the Good news to ordinary people.....even to sinners.......Like the most wicked king that Israel had ever had....

That wicked king Ahaz.....he´s the one who recieved the promise that a virgin would concieve and have a son.....Isaiah 7.......

Last week we saw the priest Zaccariah.... his type of priests were called the idiot priests....or the rustic priests....they were not educated in the best schools......they were not born into the best and wealthyiest of the priestly families..... they were plain simple folk......God has always chosen the least ....the poor....the weak to shower with mercy and favor...remember what Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 1 Cor 1...... few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you......I mean the .......

The Angel Gabriel could have appeared to the High Priest...... part of the wealthy and powerful religious leaders.....that would seem a better choice in a worldly sense........but Zaccariah  and his wife Elizabeth were part of the remnant that still truly Loved the Lord..... they prayed earnestly for the Messiah...the Consolation of Israel...

At long last the Lord sent them the answer to their prayers.....both private and personal ( at last a son!).....now many years did they cry out to God for help and for deliverance.....then at long last in an instant........ a miracle of grace and a demonstration of his unfailing love... a son.....and their son John the Baptizer to be ...... the forerunner of the Messiah!......Filled with the Holy Spirit from his mothers womb....

Beloved....the LORD will send you the answer to your prayers.....

He will answer the cries of your hearts.........hang on to Jesus........ trust in His unfailing love and mercy.....

Let´s continue to read the account of the miracles surrounding the birth of Jesus!......

Luke 1: 26-33           NLT

 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

 29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Luke 1: 26-33           Neues Leben

26 Als Elisabeth im sechsten Monat schwanger war, sandte Gott den Engel Gabriel nach Nazareth, in eine Stadt in Galiläa,
27 zu einem Mädchen, das noch Jungfrau war. Sie hieß Maria und war mit einem Mann namens Josef verlobt, einem Nachfahren von David.
28 Gabriel erschien ihr und sagte: »Sei gegrüßt! Du bist beschenkt mit großer Gnade! Der Herr ist mit dir!4«
29 Erschrocken überlegte Maria, was der Engel damit wohl meinte.
30 Da erklärte er ihr: »Hab keine Angst, Maria, denn du hast Gnade bei Gott gefunden.
31 Du wirst schwanger werden und einen Sohn zur Welt bringen, den du Jesus nennen sollst.
32 Er wird groß sein und Sohn des Allerhöchsten genannt werden. Gott, der Herr, wird ihn auf den Thron seines Vaters David setzen.
33 Er wird für immer über Israel5 herrschen, und sein Reich wird niemals untergehen!«

v26....Nazareth in Gallilee........
Galilee of the nations... a crossroad of commerce....

The branch.... Is 11...

 v27....virgin....... greek parthenos...a virgin...
house fo david....
Mary.... means ....in the hebrew.......Miriam = "rebellion"...
Joseph.... descendant of King David....they were both descended from King David...

v28.... greeting.....the first words....

“Greetings, (you highly) favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
Mary was a humble young girl......surly she knew of the prophesies about the Messiah.... every Godly young married woman who was a descendant of David.........prayed and hoped that she would be chosen to be the mother of the messiah..... but now she could hardly believe it!.... she was afraid...

v29...she was a virgin....not even married...how could it be?....

v30- 33..... the Long awaited fulfillment of hundreds of OT prophesies.....
Praise the LORD!!



Luke 1: 34- 38           NLT

 34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”

 38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

Luke 1: 34-38           Neues Leben

34 Maria fragte den Engel: »Aber wie kann ich ein Kind bekommen? Ich bin noch Jungfrau.«
35 Der Engel antwortete: »Der Heilige Geist wird über dich kommen, und die Macht des Allerhöchsten wird dich überschatten. Deshalb wird das Kind, das du gebären wirst, heilig und Sohn Gottes genannt werden.
36 Sieh doch: Deine Verwandte Elisabeth ist in ihrem hohen Alter noch schwanger geworden! Die Leute haben immer gesagt, sie sei unfruchtbar, und nun ist sie bereits im sechsten Monat.
37 Denn bei Gott ist nichts unmöglich.«
38 Maria antwortete: »Ich bin die Dienerin des Herrn und beuge mich seinem Willen. Möge alles, was du gesagt hast, wahr werden und mir geschehen.« Darauf verließ der Engel sie.

v 34......


v 37....with God nothing is impossible.....nothing....

v38.....Mary says.....“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” she trusted God with her whole heart.....she could not have fully known the path that lay ahead of her.....she surrendered to the will of God for her...



Luke 1: 39- 45           NLT

39 A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

 42 Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. 43 Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”


Luke 1: 39-45           Neues Leben

39 Einige Tage später beeilte sich Maria, ins Bergland von Judäa zu kommen, in die Stadt,
40 in der Zacharias lebte. Als sie das Haus betrat und Elisabeth begrüßte,
41 hüpfte Elisabeths Kind im Bauch seiner Mutter, und Elisabeth wurde vom Heiligen Geist erfüllt.
42 Sie rief Maria laut entgegen: »Du bist von Gott gesegnet vor allen anderen Frauen, und gesegnet ist auch dein Kind.
43 Welche Ehre, dass die Mutter meines Herrn mich besucht!
44 Als du das Haus betreten und mich begrüßt hast, hüpfte mein Kind beim Klang deiner Stimme vor Freude!
45 Gesegnet bist du, weil du geglaubt hast, dass der Herr tun wird, was er gesagt hat.«

 The life and times of Jesus...Alfred Edersheim Quote:
"the words which, filled with the Holy Ghost, Elizabeth spake, were the mother's utterance, to the mother, of the The long expected Messiah......was the worsahip and praise..... which her as yet unborn babe offered to his Lord;........ while the answering hymn of Mary was the offering of that worship and praise to God.....

 It was the beautiful morning worship song of the Messianic dawn as it broke......the keynote being that of favour......' grace'..... struck by the
Angel in his first salutation: favour' to the Virgin;....... favour,.....eternal favour' to all His humble and poor ones;....... and favour' to Israel....... stretching in golden line from the calling of Abraham to the
glorious future that now opened......A Redeemer....."

The Messiah.......... call him JESUS for he shall save His people from their sins...... listen to a thankful and worshipful heart as Mary praises the LORD........


Luke 1: 46- 56           NLT

  46 Mary responded,

   “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
    47 How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
 48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
      and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
 49 For the Mighty One is holy,
      and he has done great things for me.
 50 He shows mercy from generation to generation
      to all who fear him.
 51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
      He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
 52 He has brought down princes from their thrones
      and exalted the humble.
 53 He has filled the hungry with good things
      and sent the rich away with empty hands.
 54 He has helped his servant Israel
      and remembered to be merciful.
 55 For he made this promise to our ancestors,
      to Abraham and his children forever.”

 56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home.

Luke 1: 46- 56          Neues Leben

46 Maria erwiderte: »Gelobt sei der Herr!
47 Wie freue ich mich an Gott, meinem Retter!
48 Er hat seiner unbedeutenden Magd Beachtung geschenkt, darum werden mich die Menschen in alle Ewigkeit glücklich preisen.
49 Denn er, der Mächtige, ist heilig, und er hat Großes für mich getan.
50 Seine Barmherzigkeit gilt von Generation zu Generation allen, die ihn ehren.
51 Sein mächtiger Arm vollbringt Wunder! Wie er die Stolzen und Hochmütigen zerstreut!
52 Er hat Fürsten vom Thron gestürzt und niedrig Stehende erhöht.
53 Die Hungrigen hat er mit Gutem gesättigt und die Reichen mit leeren Händen fortgeschickt.
54 Und nun hat er seinem Diener Israel geholfen! Er hat seine Verheißung nicht vergessen, barmherzig zu sein,
55 wie er es unseren Vorfahren - Abraham und seinen Kindern - immer verheißen hat.«
56 Etwa drei Monate blieb Maria bei Elisabeth und kehrte dann nach Hause zurück.

v 49.......Mary rejoiced saying.... God....the Mighty God........ he has done great things for me......

Dear friends.....the LORD has done great things for all of us......




Luke 1: 57- 66           NLT

 57 When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son. 58 And when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her.

 59 When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!”

 61 “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” 62 So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him. 63 He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.

 65 Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. 66 Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.

Luke 1: 57- 66          Neues Leben

57 Als für Elisabeth die Zeit der Geburt kam, brachte sie einen Jungen zur Welt.
58 Schon bald hörten die Nachbarn und Freunde von der großen Barmherzigkeit, die der Herr ihr erwiesen hatte, und alle freuten sich von Herzen mit ihr.
59 Als das Kind acht Tage alt war, kamen die Verwandten und Freunde zur Beschneidungszeremonie. Sie wollten den Jungen nach seinem Vater Zacharias nennen.
60 Aber Elisabeth sagte: »Nein! Sein Name lautet Johannes!«
61 »Was?«, riefen sie aus. »In deiner ganzen Familie gibt es niemand, der diesen Namen trägt.«
62 Und sie wandten sich an den Vater des Kindes und befragten ihn mit Gesten.
63 Er ließ sich eine Schreibtafel bringen und schrieb zur Überraschung aller: »Sein Name ist Johannes!«
64 Im gleichen Augenblick konnte Zacharias wieder sprechen, und er fing an, Gott zu loben.
65 Ehrfürchtiges Staunen erfasste die Menschen in der ganzen Gegend. Die Nachricht von diesen Ereignissen verbreitete sich überall im Bergland von Judäa.
66 Alle, die davon erfuhren, dachten darüber nach und fragten sich: »Was wohl aus diesem Kind werden wird? Denn es war offensichtlich, dass die Hand des Herrn mit ihm war.«


Luke 1: 67- 80           NLT

 67 Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:

 68 “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
      because he has visited and redeemed his people.
 69 He has sent us a mighty Savior
      from the royal line of his servant David,
 70 just as he promised
      through his holy prophets long ago.
 71 Now we will be saved from our enemies
      and from all who hate us.
 72 He has been merciful to our ancestors
      by remembering his sacred covenant—
 73 the covenant he swore with an oath
      to our ancestor Abraham.
 74 We have been rescued from our enemies
      so we can serve God without fear,
 75 in holiness and righteousness
      for as long as we live.

 76 “And you, my little son,
      will be called the prophet of the Most High,
      because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
 77 You will tell his people how to find salvation
      through forgiveness of their sins.
 78 Because of God’s tender mercy,
      the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,[h]
 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
      and to guide us to the path of peace.”

 80 John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.

Luke 1: 67- 80          Neues Leben

67 Sein Vater Zacharias wurde mit dem Heiligen Geist erfüllt und weissagte:
68 »Gelobt sei der Herr, der Gott Israels, denn er ist zu seinem Volk gekommen und hat es erlöst.
69 Einen mächtigen Retter aus dem königlichen Geschlecht seines Knechtes David hat er uns gesandt,
70 wie er es vor langer Zeit durch seine heiligen Propheten versprochen hat.
71 Nun werden wir vor unseren Feinden und vor allen, die uns hassen, gerettet werden.
72 Er hat unseren Vorfahren Barmherzigkeit erwiesen, indem er seinen heiligen Bund mit ihnen nicht vergisst,
73 den Bund, den er mit unserem Stammvater Abraham schloss.
74 Wir wurden vor unseren Feinden gerettet,
75 damit wir Gott an jedem einzelnen Tag unseres Lebens ohne Furcht dienen können in Heiligkeit und Gerechtigkeit.
76 Und du, mein Kind, wirst Prophet des Allerhöchsten genannt werden, weil du dem Herrn den Weg ebnen wirst.
77 Du wirst seinem Volk verkünden, wie es Rettung finden kann durch die Vergebung seiner Sünden.
78 Durch die Güte und Barmherzigkeit Gottes wird nun das Licht des Himmels uns besuchen,
79 um die zu erleuchten, die in der Dunkelheit und im Schatten des Todes sitzen, und um uns auf den Weg des Friedens zu leiten.«
80 Johannes wuchs heran und wurde stark im Geist. Später lebte er draußen in der Wildnis, bis die Zeit seines öffentlichen Wirkens in Israel begann.

John.... means......The Lord YAHWEH ....is the gracious giver.....

Close

1 Cor 1 : 26-31      NLT

 26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

 30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

1 Cor 1 : 26-31      Neues Leben

26 Erinnert euch, liebe Brüder, dass nur wenige von euch in den Augen der Welt weise oder mächtig oder angesehen waren, als Gott euch berief.
27 Gott hat das auserwählt, was in den Augen der Welt gering ist, um so diejenigen zu beschämen, die sich selbst für weise halten. Er hat das Schwache erwählt, um das Starke zu erniedrigen.
28 Er hat das erwählt, was von der Welt verachtet und gering geschätzt wird, und es eingesetzt, um das zunichte zu machen, was in der Welt wichtig ist,
29 damit kein Mensch sich je vor Gott rühmen kann.
30 Gott allein hat es ermöglicht, dass ihr in Christus Jesus sein dürft. Er hat ihn zu unserer Weisheit gemacht. Durch ihn sind wir vor Gott gerecht gesprochen und unser Leben wird durch ihn geheiligt. Durch ihn sind wir erlöst.
31 In der Schrift heißt es: Wer stolz sein will, soll auf das stolz sein, was der Herr getan hat.




First Advent              28.11.2010



Isaiah 9:1-2              NLT

1 Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.

 2 The people who walk in darkness
      will see a great light.
   For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
      a light will shine.


Isaiah 8: 23 und 9:1          Neues Leben

8:23 Doch diese Zeit der Dunkelheit und Verzweiflung wird nicht für immer andauern. Wurden früher auch das Land Sebulon und das Land Naftali gedemütigt, so wird später das Gebiet der Völker, die Gott nicht kennen, die Straße am Meer jenseits des Jordan, zu Ehren kommen.

1 Denn das Volk, das in der Dunkelheit lebt, sieht ein helles Licht. Und über den Menschen in einem vom Tode überschatteten Land strahlt ein heller Schein.


 Introduction to the Gospel of Luke.

 About the author, Luke the physician.

a. Luke was a companion of Paul (Acts 16:10-11; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24) and Paul called him the beloved physician (Colossians 4:14). Because Luke was a doctor, he was a man of science and research, and this in reflected in his history of the life of Jesus.

b. By every indication, Luke was a Gentile. Colossians 4:10-11 and 4:14 show that he wasn’t Jewish, because he is not included in the group who are of the circumcision. This makes Luke unique in that he is the only New Testament writer who was a Gentile.

 Unique Features of the Gospel of Luke.

a. Luke is the most comprehensive gospel. He documents the story of Jesus’ all the way from the anouncement of John the Baptist birth.....to Jesus’ ascension into heaven.

b. Luke is the most universal gospel....... In Luke, Gentiles are often put in a favorable light.........He shows that salvation is for all who believe....

c. Luke’s gospel is the one most focused on the roles of women, children, and social outcasts.........

d. The gospel of Luke is the one most focused on  prayer...... He records seven different references to Jesus praying that are found in this gospel alone........

e. Luke’s gospel is the one with the most emphasis on the Holy Spirit and on joy......

f. Luke’s gospel is the one with the most emphasis on preaching the good news (the gospel)....... This term is used ten times in this Gospel (and only once in any other Gospel) as well as fifteen additional times in Acts.......

g. Unique Parables....evangelical parables... the lost sheep...the lost coin...the lost son....(also called the prodigal son)....

Let´s begin Luke chapter 1.....

Luke 1: 1-4     NLT

1 Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. 2 They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. 3 Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.

Luke 1: 1-4              Neues Leben


1 Verehrter Theophilus, viele haben schon über die Ereignisse geschrieben, die bei uns geschehen sind.
2 Dabei haben sie die Berichte der ersten Jünger zugrunde gelegt, die mit eigenen Augen gesehen haben, wie Gott seine Verheißungen erfüllt hat.
3 Ich habe alle diese Berichte von Anfang an sorgfältig studiert und beschlossen, dir eine genaue Zusammenfassung davon zu geben.
4 Auf diese Weise kannst du dich von der Zuverlässigkeit der Lehre überzeugen, in der du unterrichtet wurdest.

We can trust this book.....Ignore the so called scholars who from unbelief have tried to discredit the Word of God... They will be proved wrong...every one of them....

qumran....Isaiah scrolls.....

Recent (as of December, 1994) findings by German papyrus expert Carsten Thiede show that we may actually possess copies of Matthew that date close to the very time of Jesus.......about 50 or 60 AD........

Thiede’s findings are based on a careful analysis of the handwriting script used on the fragment..... He compared them with the same dead sea scrolls.....as well as other ancient documents.......we have copies of Matthew that were written before the temple was destroyed....we have similar evidence for Mark......

 v1-2......Luke writes about those things which are most surely believed among us....... He is writing about things already commonly known and believed among Christians....... When Luke wrote, most Christians already knew all about the life of Jesus, both from the oral accounts passed on by the original disciples....and from eyewitnesses.....

 Just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us: Luke tells us that he received his material for this book as any reliable historian would, from eyewitnesses........He talked to the eyewitnesses.....We think he even talked to  Mary...the mother of Jesus....he tells some things from her viewpoint.....



v3-4......Most excellent Theophilus: Luke addresses his gospel to a man named Theophilus.......

 By his title (most excellent), we gather that Theophilus was probably a Roman government official......

 The first four verses are one sentence in the original Greek. They are written in a  classical style........


But  the rest of the gospel..... uses the language  of the common man...... the language of the village and the street........ Luke ....the physian and historian....is saying to us, "This account has all the proper academic and scholarly credentials....... But it is written for the man on the street." So that you may know....for sure......the facts about what you have believed....


Luke 1: 5-7     NLT

5 When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. 6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.

Luke 1: 5-7     Neues Leben

5 Zu der Zeit, als Herodes König von Judäa war, lebte ein jüdischer Priester namens Zacharias. Er war Priester von der Ordnung des Abija, und auch seine Frau Elisabeth stammte aus dem Priestergeschlecht Aarons.
6 Zacharias und seine Frau führten ein gottesfürchtiges Leben und befolgten alle Gebote und Vorschriften des Herrn.
7 Sie hatten keine Kinder, weil Elisabeth unfruchtbar war, und jetzt waren sie beide schon sehr alt.

Dark times.....

1 no prophets....

2 ruled by foreigners ......Greeks and Romans for centuries..... Nehemiah was the last Jewish leader....

3 Herod.....

 This is the man known as Herod the Great, who was at the end of a long and terrible reign....... a wicked man.....

he was not a descendant of Israel........ but of Jacob’s brother Esau - and Edomite, or an Idumean........ He was politically connected.....He knew Ceasar.....He knew Cleopatra...He was elected the King of the Jews by the Roman senate....

He was known for his spectacular building programs, but even more so for his paranoid cruelty, which drove him to execute many, including members of his own family..... and religious rulers....even some that he had appointed....

v5..... It was believed to be a double blessing to be married to a daughter of AAron...

Of the division of Abijah: Priestly divisions (including the division of Abijah) are noted in 1 Chronicles 23-24.

v 6....God Fearers.....

Zacharias and Elizabeth, who were righteous and obedient.......Pharisees in the best sense....not at all hypocrites.... they were sincere...( without wax....)nothing to hide...
Sought and prayed for the consolation of Israel......the coming of the Messiah.....

Luke 1: 8-10   NLT

8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.

 Luke 1: 8-10       Neues Leben

8 Eines Tages, als Zacharias seinen Dienst im Tempel verrichtete, weil in dieser Woche seine Ordnung an der Reihe war,
9 wurde er nach priesterlichem Brauch durch das Los dazu ausgewählt, das Heiligtum zu betreten, um das Rauchopfer darzubringen.
10 Währenddessen stand draußen eine große Menschenmenge und betete.

Only certain priests  could serve in the temple...... Over the years the number of priests multiplied....... (there were said to be as many as 20,000 priests in the time of Jesus) casting the lot  determined which priests would serve when...... he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. ...... only once in his life........

To a godly man like Zacharias, this would be the biggest event of his life...... a tremendous privilege, a-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.......  Zacharias must have wondered what it would be like to enter the holy place.......

 It is also easy to imagine Zacharias asking the other priests who had already burned incense before the Lord what it was like...... asking them if they had any unique spiritual experience when they were ministering before the Lord...... This whole event was filled with enormous anticipation......

The idiot priest becomes rich......

It was the time of the Morning Sacrifice. ......For already
   the blush of dawn, for which the Priest on the highest pinnacle of the
   Temple had watched......  Within the Courts below all had long been busy......the superintending Priest had
   summoned to their sacred functions those who had washed..... according to
   the ordinance........ each day about fifty priests were on
   duty....... Such of them as were ready now divided into two parties, to
   make inspection of the Temple courts by torchlight........the lot'
   was to assign to each his function........ Four times the lot was cast.....

It was scarcely daybreak, when a
   second time they met for the lot,' which designated those who were to
   take part in the sacrifice itself, and who were to trim the golden
   candlestick, and make ready the altar of incense within the Holy Place......
 
While the sacrifice was prepared for the altar, the priests,
   whose lot it was, had made ready all within the Holy Place, where the
   most solemn part of the day's service was to take place - that of
   offering the incense, which symbolised Israel's accepted prayers.....

 the lot (the third) cast to indicate him, who was to be honoured
   with this highest mediatorial act....... Only once in a lifetime might any
   one enjoy that privilege......

Henceforth he was called rich......  the custom was, such lot
   should be preceded by prayer and confession of their faith on the
   part of the assembled priests.

  Zacharias must have been well known in the Temple...... For, each course was twice a year on ministry, and, unlike the Levites, the priests were not
   disqualified by age, but only by infirmity....... In many respects he seemed different from those around..... His home was not in either of the great priest-centres - the Ophel-quarter in Jerusalem, nor in Jericho -
   but in some small town in those uplands, south of Jerusalem: the
   historic hill-country of Judea.' And yet he might have claimed
   distinction. To be a priest, and married to the daughter of a priest,
   was supposed to convey twofold honour.....  
Now his time had come....... He was going to stand before the Lord .... Before the Holy of Holies and offer up the prayers of the Saints....

 Never, indeed, had even tradition reported such a vision to an
   ordinary Priest in the act of incensing.......

Luke 1: 11- 23          NLT

11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

 18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

 19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. 22 When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.

 23 When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. 24 Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. 25 “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”

Luke 1: 11- 23        Neues Leben

11 Als Zacharias im Heiligtum war, erschien ihm ein Engel des Herrn. Dieser stand rechts neben dem Altar für das Rauchopfer.
12 Zacharias erschrak bis ins Herz,
13 doch der Engel sagte: »Hab keine Angst, Zacharias! Gott hat dein Gebet erhört. Deine Frau Elisabeth wird dir einen Sohn schenken, und du sollst ihn Johannes nennen.
14 Du wirst überglücklich sein bei seiner Geburt, und viele Menschen werden sich mit dir freuen,
15 denn er wird in den Augen des Herrn groß sein. Er wird keinen Wein oder andere berauschenden Getränke anrühren und schon vor seiner Geburt2 mit dem Heiligen Geist erfüllt werden.
16 Und er wird viele Israeliten dazu bringen, sich wieder dem Herrn, ihrem Gott, zuzuwenden.
17 Er wird ein Mann mit dem Geist und der inneren Kraft des Propheten Elia sein, der dem Herrn vorausgeht und das Volk auf seine Ankunft vorbereitet. Er wird die Herzen der Väter ihren Kindern zuwenden und die Ungehorsamen dazu bewegen, sich der göttlichen Weisheit zu öffnen.3«
18 Zacharias fragte den Engel: »Wie kann ich sicher sein, dass das wirklich geschehen wird? Ich bin jetzt ein alter Mann, und auch meine Frau ist schon in fortgeschrittenem Alter.«
19 Da sagte der Engel: »Ich bin Gabriel. Ich habe meinen Platz in der Gegenwart Gottes. Er hat mich mit dieser frohen Botschaft zu dir gesandt!
20 Weil du meinen Worten nicht geglaubt hast, wirst du nicht mehr sprechen können, bis das Kind geboren ist. Denn meine Worte werden sich erfüllen, wenn die Zeit gekommen ist.«
21 Mittlerweile warteten die Menschen draußen auf Zacharias und wunderten sich, wo er so lang blieb.
22 Als er endlich heraustrat, konnte er nicht zu ihnen sprechen. An seinen Gesten erkannten sie jedoch, dass er im Heiligtum des Tempels eine Vision gehabt hatte.
23 Er blieb im Tempel, bis die Zeit seines Dienstes vorüber war, und ging dann nach Hause.

v11





Communion

1 Cor 11: 23- 33     NLT

23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you.[f] Do this to remember me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

 27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against[g] the body and blood of the Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ,[h] you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.

 31 But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. 32 Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

 33 So, my dear brothers and sisters,[i] when you gather for the Lord’s Supper, wait for each other.

1 Cor 11: 23- 33     Neues Leben

23 Das Folgende hat der Herr selbst gesagt, und ich gebe es euch so weiter, wie ich es empfangen habe: In der Nacht, als er verraten wurde, nahm Jesus, der Herr, einen Laib Brot,
24 und nachdem er Dank gesagt hatte, brach er ihn und sprach: »Das ist mein Leib, der für euch hingegeben wird6. Tut das zur Erinnerung an mich.«
25 Ebenso nahm er nach dem Abendmahl den Weinkelch und sprach: »Dieser Kelch ist der neue Bund zwischen Gott und euch, besiegelt durch mein Blut. Wann immer ihr daraus trinkt, tut es zur Erinnerung an mich.«
26 Denn jedes Mal, wenn ihr dieses Brot esst und aus diesem Kelch trinkt, verkündet ihr den Tod des Herrn, bis er wiederkommt.
27 Wer also unwürdig dieses Brot isst oder aus diesem Kelch des Herrn trinkt, der macht sich am Leib und am Blut des Herrn schuldig.
28 Deshalb solltet ihr euch prüfen, bevor ihr das Brot esst und aus dem Kelch trinkt.
29 Denn wenn ihr unwürdig das Brot esst und aus dem Kelch trinkt und damit den Leib Christi7 entehrt, dann esst und trinkt ihr euch zum Gericht Gottes.
30 Aus diesem Grund sind viele von euch schwach und krank, und einige sind sogar gestorben.
31 Würden wir uns jedoch selbst prüfen, dann würden wir nicht gerichtet werden.
32 Wenn wir aber vom Herrn geprüft und gerichtet werden, werden wir bestraft - und das geschieht, damit wir nicht zusammen mit der Welt verurteilt werden.
33 Deshalb wartet aufeinander, liebe Brüder, wenn ihr zum Abendmahl zusammenkommt.