ECCE

                   This week we have heard in the news of the murders of Jewish people in Australia who were celebrating Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, and murders at Brown University here in America. Jesus called us to be the light of the world. We are supposed to dispel the darkness. Are we shining that light into the darkness as we have been called and commanded to do?      Before a large crowd, Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount, which included the Beatitudes.  Speaking to this crowd, He also taught this: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Mt. 5:14-16). Are we afraid or ashamed to lift our light before men? Have we hidden ou...

          Advent means "the appearing, the coming."  Throughout scripture, both the first appearing and the second appearing of the Messiah/Christ Jesus are described. As we have been discussing comparing spiritual with spiritual these last few weeks, we will also compare scriptures that confirm both advents of Christ from the Old and New Testaments. Scripture says that the LORD does nothing without first telling His servants, the prophets, and that includes the two advents of Jesus.      Matthew Ch. 2 tells the first advent of the baby born in Bethlehem to Mary, and the divergent attitudes towards that miraculous event. The wise men from the east came to King Herod in Jerusalem, asking: "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have followed his star from the east, and are come to worship him.' When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him." (Mt. 2:1-3). Why was the birth of the Messiah tro...

      We are continuing in the Book of Ephesians as we learn to compare these verses with confirming scriptures. Ephesians 5:21-25 begins by comparing the relationship of marriage between a man and a woman with Jesus Christ and the Church of believers with the husband as a sacrificial head of the marriage, willing to give up his life for his wife, as Jesus was willing to do for the Church, and the wife as being submitted ( hypotasso - be subject to, to yield to one's admonition or advice, as a military term to arrange divisions under the command of a leader, an attitude of cooperating in carrying a burden) to her husband, as the Church is submitted to Christ: "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head ( kephale - the head, Christ as husband of the Church, the corner stone) of the church: and he is the saviour of the body...Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it."      The headship of Christ over the Church, as a h...

      The phrase "comparing spiritual (things) with spiritual," comes from 1 Corinthians 2:13, describing, not the teaching of man' words, but the teaching of the Holy Spirit. The message today will be from the Book of Ephesians, comparing the contents of that Book with other scriptures therefore comparing spiritual with spiritual. When studying scripture, it is good to begin with what scripture says about itself: "All scripture is given by inspiration ( theopneustos - divinely breathed in) of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof ( elegchos - a proof, evidence, that by which a thing is proved or tested), for correction ( epanorthosis - restoration to an upright or right state), for instruction ( paideia - instruction, training, nurturing, chastening, correction) in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished ( exartizo - equip fully [as a teacher], complete) unto all good works." (2 Tim. 3:16-17).      The Churc...

      There are two types of doctrines in the Church. True doctrine, based upon the Word of God and given to the Church through apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, equips the Church to do the work of the ministry, as Ephesians Ch. 4 tells us. False doctrines destroy the work and purpose of the Church and hinder the kingdom of God from being received.      Jesus called first His twelve disciples together and "gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases...And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere." Jesus also told them that if anyone does not receive them, they were to shake that city's dust from their feet when they left "for a testimony against them." ( Lk. 9:1-6 , excerpt).      This authority given by Christ was not limited to just the twelve disciples. Jesus also later appointed seventy to prepare the way for Him in every place to which He also ...

             The Pharisees and Sadducees, who represented the religious leadership, came to Jesus and demanded that He show them a sign from heaven. He had even recently fed thousands from a small amount of food, but still they demanded a sign. Jesus acknowledged that they were able to discern the day's weather from the meaning of a red sky at morning or night, but added: "...O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall be no sign given unto it, but the sign of Jonah." He later said to His disciples: "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." His disciples thought He was speaking of bread that they had not brought with them, but after His correction ("O ye of little faith..."), the disciples then "understood ...how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine ( ...