Wednesday, September 16, 2026

 

There

"And the word of the LORD came unto him (Elijah), saying, Get thee hence and turn thee

eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that

thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee THERE . . .

"Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell THERE: behold, I have

commanded a widow woman THERE to sustain thee. So he arose and went to Zarephath.

And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was THERE. . ." (I

Kings 17:2-4, 9, 10).

DO not believe that the ravens would have fed Elijah anywhere else, nor would the widow

woman have appeared anywhere else except "THERE." GOD did not say, "Elijah, ramble around

as you please and I will provide for you."

"THERE" was the place of GOD's will for Elijah-the place of His Purpose, the place of His

Power and the place of His Provision.

"THERE" WAS THE PLACE OF GOD'S PURPOSE. GOD has a "THERE" for you, somewhere

He wants you to be, something He wants you to do. You can never be truly happy elsewhere, nor

can you please GOD anywhere but "there." You may do lovely things and become a "success,"

but always there will be the haunting sense of having chosen life's second best.


"THERE" is the place of blessing. When Jacob wandered from Bethel and trouble descended

upon him at Shalem, GOD commanded him, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell THERE" (Gen.

35:1). Sometimes we go back to Bethel during the revival but we do not dwell there.

"THERE" is not a particular emotional experience; it is simply the place of GOD's will. David

"served his own generation by the will of God" (Acts 13:36), and in so doing he proved that he

was "THERE." Epaphras prayed that the saints might "stand perfect and complete in all the

will of GOD" (Colossians 4:12), in other words, that they might be "THERE." Our Lord could

say to the Father, "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou

gavest me to do" (John 17:4). He was always "THERE!"

GOD has a Cherith and a Zarephath for you. It may be across the street, it may be across the sea.

Some sing, "I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord," but they are not willing to stay where

He wants them to stay. A radio preacher tells of receiving a letter from a young lady who was

sure that she could do great things for the Lord if she could move to Pittsburgh, but was sure she

could do nothing in the small town where she was. It developed that she refused to work in the

small tasks in her home church because she felt too big for it. We have plenty of "Pittsburgh

Christians," or eagles on hummingbird nests, always too big for where they are.

In the account of the Great Commission, we overlook the setting: "Then the eleven disciples

went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them" (Matthew 28:16).

They were in the place of the Divine appointing, therefore they received the Divine appointment.

Some of us have had no commission because we are not "there," at the place of His appointing.

In the second place, "THERE" WAS THE PLACE OF GOD'S POWER. I do not believe that the

miracle of the ravens and the meal barrel would have occurred anywhere but "THERE." Men

wonder why they never feel GOD's power or see any evidences of His working. It is because

they are out of His purpose, not in His will. We say, "What power Elijah had!" but he had no

power in himself, he was simply" THERE," in the place of power. We might say, "What power

that radio has!" "What power that electric light has!" But they are very frail contraptions, they

are simply in the place of power, connected with the source.


Finally, "THERE" WAS THE PLACE OF GOD'S PROVISION. There would have been no

bread, no flesh, no meal, for Elijah anywhere but "THERE." "Where GOD guides, He provides"

is a well-worn proverb but gloriously true. Notice that GOD said, "I have commanded the

ravens to feed thee THERE"; "I have commanded a widow woman THERE to sustain

thee." Elijah had gone on ahead and made arrangements. Strange arrangements they were - I

doubt that stranger arrangements ever were made for boarding a preacher! But the plan worked,

as it always does when GOD is in it. He is responsible for our upkeep when we follow His

directions, but He is not responsible for any expenses not included in His schedule.

Elijah began his interview with the widow by asking, like our Lord at the well of Samaria, for a

drink of water. You will observe that when Elijah found this woman, she was engaged at a

menial task, gathering sticks, but before he left she had seen the miraculous. From the menial to

the miraculous! So our Lord found Peter fishing for fish and made him a fisher of men; found

Matthew collecting taxes and made him a Gospel writer. If we are faithful in the least, GOD will

show us much. Fetching a drink of water does not cost much, although a cup of water given in

His Name shall not be unrewarded. But it does not test faith, so Elijah asked next for a morsel of

bread and the first cake at that. Now it looked as though there would be only one cake, so here

was a real test for the widow woman. Alas, we give GOD the crumbs, not the cake; the scraps

and fragments and leftovers of time and thought and talent and money. Malachi reproved the

Jews in his day who kept the good animals given them for sacrifice and gave the Lord the sick

and crippled. How he might thunder at us today who give GOD the crumbs from our tables and

eat the cake ourselves!

The widow woman was fearful, but Elijah reassured her: "Fear not. . . for thus saith the

LORD. . . "

GOD had promised to provide and that was enough.


Yes, when we are "THERE," in the place of GOD's purpose, we are in the place of His power

and provision. ARE YOU "THERE?"




# posted by Groseys messages @ 10:04 PM

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

 

What will it profit a man

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Your soul is the essential part of you. It is who you are. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a distinction between soul and spirit made here. Everyone has a soul. Only those whom God has made alive from spiritual death have spirit soul and body. Ephesians 2:1-6 ESV And you were dead in the trespasses and sins [2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience- [3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. [4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved- [6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, It is the eternal part of you. Your soul will live on for eternity. Where it will live on is either in heaven in the conscious presence of God’s grace and love, or in hell in the conscious presence of God’s justice righteousness and wrath. Luke 16:19-26 ESV "There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. [20] And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, [21] who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. [22] The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, [23] and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. [24] And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.' [25] But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. [26] And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' It is the Expensive part of you. The cost of your soul? The Lord Jesus, God the Son, poured out His blood at the cross to save your soul. It would be a terrible waste to lose your soul. It would be a tragic waste to lose your soul and for your family to know you had lost it. It would be a stupid waste of your soul when it is so easy for your soul to be saved. Ephesians 2:7-10 ESV so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Grace means God wants to give you eternal life. Faith is turning to the Lord Jesus to be your saviour. You cannot save yourself. You need a Saviour. And He has freely offered Himself to be that Saviour. Turn to Him trusting Him to be your saviour. Romans 10:9-13 ESV because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. [11] For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." [12] For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. [13] For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Ask Him to be that Saviour for you. It is that easy!!


# posted by Groseys messages @ 11:13 AM

Monday, September 14, 2026

 

Ecclesiastes

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# posted by Groseys messages @ 6:06 PM
 

Sermon introductions

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# posted by Groseys messages @ 1:26 PM

Saturday, September 12, 2026

 

Ecclesiastes by HB Charles

Early in his reign, the Lord visited Solomon and said, “Ask what I shall give you.” What would you do with a blank check signed by God? 1 Kings 3:9 says Solomon requested “an understanding mind” to discern between good and evil. Solomon's request for wisdom pleased the Lord because he did not ask for longevity, fame, strength, wealth, or success. The Lord granted Solomon surpassing wisdom and threw in incomparable riches and honor.
 
Solomon is the wisest man who ever lived. His God-given wisdom is recorded in God-breathed scripture. Solomon wrote Psalms 72 and 127. He wrote most of Proverbs, the Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes. This body of work reflects different seasons of Solomon's life.
  • He wrote Song of Solomon as a young man in love with life ahead of him.
  • He wrote Proverbs as a middle-aged man teaching his children wisdom.
  • He wrote Ecclesiastes as an old and weary man reflecting on a wasted life.
Ecclesiastes is the sad sequel to Proverbs. Proverbs teaches principles to practice for a long, wise, and blessedlife. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon looks back with regret that he did not take his own advice. It is the autobiography of a wise man who played the fool. 
 
When I have shared with pastor friends my plan to preach Ecclesiastes, some cynically asked, “Why?” Others advised me to only preach selected passages. Few encouraged me to preach through Ecclesiastes. If pastors think or feelthis way, no wonder most Christians avoid Ecclesiastes. I'll take the pulpit libertyto say none of your favorite Bible passages are in Ecclesiastes. Admittedly, Ecclesiastes is a difficult book. It contains great treasures. But those treasures do not sit on the surface of the text. You must dig deep for them. If you encouraged someone to read the Bible, what book would you recommend?
  • What would you recommend a young person to read to shape their values?
  • What would you recommend a person to read to avoid a midlife crisis?
  • What would you recommend a godly person who wants to walk right to read?
  • What would you recommend a person who is deconstructing their faith to read?
  • What would you recommend a person who has strayed away from God to read?
Many Bible books may come to your mind. Is Ecclesiastes on that list? If not, it should be. Ecclesiastes is the most contemporary book in the Bible. It is as old as Solomon and as current as today's newspaper. Herman Melville called it “the truest of all books.” This ancient book has a relevant message: Life without God is meaningless. Why study Ecclesiastes? Ecclesiastes 1:1-3 presents three reasons to read and reflect on the message of Ecclesiastes.
 
I. The Double Author
 
Imagine the wisest philosopher, wealthiest mogul, shrewdest politician, highest-regarded executive, and most-followed social media influencer co-wrote a book. Would you read it? That book is Ecclesiastes. All of these noteworthy contributors are represented in one man, who published this masterwork for free. Consider the double author of Ecclesiastes.
 
A. The Human Author
 
Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes, even though he does not identify himself by name. Some Bible scholars question Solomon's authorship of Ecclesiastes. But the superscription in Ecclesiastes 1:1 reveals Solomon as the author definitively, though discreetly.
 
Solomon the Preacher. “Preacher” translates the Hebrew term Qoheleth. It refers to one who collects or gathers – “one who leads an assembly.” In the Greek New Testament, the word for church is ekklesia. It means “an assembly.” The Septuagint translates the Hebrew Qoheleth with the Greek “Ecclesiastes.” It is the title of the book. It is also the author of the book.
  • The ESV translates Qoheleth “the Preacher.”
  • The NIV translates Qoheleth “the Teacher.”
Ecclesiastes is a sermon. Solomon is the preacher who teaches the assembly of God's people about life, death, and eternity. 
 
Solomon the King. This preacher was not just a preacher. He was “the son of David, king in Jerusalem.” David was the giant-slayer, the sweet singer of Israel, the man after God's own heart. He had many sons. “Son of David”refers to his royal bloodline – the one who succeeded him. “Son of David” is ultimately a messianic title that points to the Lord Jesus Christ. That this reference points to Solomon is evidenced by the fact that this “son of David” was “king in Jerusalem.” Ecclesiastes 1:12 says, “I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.”
 
According to Ecclesiastes 12:12, Solomon wrote this book to or for his son. The king warns his prince not to make his mistakes. This wise fool also writes Ecclesiastes to the assembly of God's people and to all who would know and live the truth.
 
B. The Divine Author
 
Ecclesiastes is not just the wisdom of Solomon. It is divine revelation from God to us. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” To read Ecclesiastes profitably requires belief in the inspiration, inerrancy, and infallibility of scripture. You must believe the Bible is God's word.
 
Ray Stedman wrote, “The book of Ecclesiastes is unique in Scripture. No other book is like it because it is the only book in the Bible that reflects a human, rather than a divine, point of view.” Let me put that another way. Ecclesiastes records error, but it does not teach error. There are statements about life, death, and eternity in this book that are not true. These erroneous statements reflect Solomon's folly when he sought meaning in life without God. Yet atheists and agnostics seize upon these statements to bolster their false truth-claims. Cults use proof-texts from this book to twist the truth to their spiritual, theological, and eternal harm. 
 
Harold Kushner called Ecclesiastes “the most dangerous book in the Bible.” There is a divine message in this dangerous book. Ecclesiastes 12:9-11 says, “Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.” Ecclesiastes is not a book of gloom and doom. These are “words of delight.” It is not the reflections of a bitter man. These words are given by “one Shepherd” to lead in paths of righteousness. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14concludes: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
 
II. The Timeless Message
 
Ecclesiastes 1:2 records the theme of the book: “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” This is the motto of Ecclesiastes. It is stated here at the beginning of the book. It is repeated at the end of the book. Ecclesiastes 12:8 says, “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.” These bookends emphatically declare the main idea of Ecclesiastes – an ultimate and absolute claim about life. 
 
A. An Ultimate Claim
 
“Vanity” is the keyword of Ecclesiastes, occurring thirty-eight times in the book. Derek Kidner called it “a desperate word.”We use the term for pride of face. The person fixated on their appearance, who can't stop looking in the mirror, constantly snapping selfies, is vain. That is not what Solomon means. “Vanity” translates hevel. It means a breath or vapor.
  • Like a breath, life is empty.
  • Like a vapor, life is elusive.
 
In Genesis 4:2, Adam and Eve named their second son “Abel.” We don't know why they named him this Hebrew word for “breath” or “vapor.” We do know that Abel was killed by his brother six verses later! That is a powerful illustration of what hevel conveys. It is that which is without substance or that which soon disappears. “Vanity of vanities” is superlative language.
  • The “Holy of holies” is the most holy place.
  • The “King of kings” is the greatest king.
  • The “Heaven of heavens” is the highest heaven.
“Vanity of vanities” is ultimate futility, perfect meaninglessness, complete absurdity. This is the Preacher's view of life: “Vanity of vanities!” He does not explain what this phrase means in verse 2. He will flesh it out throughout the book. For now, he simply repeats the phrase for emphasis. Throughout Ecclesiastes, Solomon will use another phrase to define and describe vanity: “striving after wind.” Life without God is meaningless.
 
B. An Absolute Claim
 
Solomon does not merely claim that some things or bad things or false things are vanity. Verse 2 says, “All is vanity.”The whole is vanity. James 4:14 says, “What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” Life in its totality is insubstantial and transitory. Let me be clear. Solomon was no pessimist.
  • An optimist sees an opportunity in every difficulty.
  • But a pessimist sees a difficulty in every opportunity.
 It has been said that a pessimist cannot wait for the future so he can look back with regret. That was not Solomon's perspective or philosophy. If anything, Solomon was a realist. He understood what it meant to live in a fallen world. Romans 8:20 says, “The creation was subjected to futility.” Sin separates man from God and renders life unsatisfying. Everyone seeks satisfaction – from the youngest of babies to the oldest of men. It's true of the person on the other side of the pew and the person on the other side of the world. Everyone wants to find satisfaction. Yet true satisfaction in life remains an elusive commodity, no matter the many and variouspromises of satisfaction guaranteed. If anyone had the time, skill, knowledge, power, and resources to find satisfaction, it was Solomon. Yet F.B. Meyer rightly calls Ecclesiastes “The Testimony of an Unsatisfied Soul.” He found no satisfaction in wisdom, work, wealth, wine, or women. Why? Life without God is meaningless.
 
III.  The Probing Question
 
In Greek Mythology, the craftiness, deceit, and treachery of Sisyphus invoked the wrath of Zeus. Hades punished Sisyphus by forcing him to spend eternity pushing a heavy boulder up a steep hill. When he neared the top of the hill, the boulder rolled away, causing Sisyphus to start again. 
 
Ecclesiastes asserts that life without God is a vicious cycle that is infinitely worse than the myth of Sisyphus. Verse 3 asks, “What does a man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” Ecclesiastes has been called “a book about labor.” The rhetorical question in verse 3 states the problem and perspective of Ecclesiastes.
 
A. The Problem of Ecclesiastes
 
Verse 3 holds two terms in tension to address the problem Ecclesiastes addresses. 
 
Toil. “Toil” is hard work. It may refer to the process or result of one's labor.
  • The process of toil is strenuous.
  • The result of toil is exhaustion.
This is an apt description of life in a fallen world. In Genesis 3:19, “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” This was not just Adam's dilemma. It is true of everyone who is born of a woman. Psalm 90:10 says, “The years of our lives are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” Only Jesus offers true rest from life's toil. Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  
 
Gain. “Gain”is a commercial term. It means “something leftover.” It's the reward, payoff, dividend, surplus, or return-on-investment.
  • What does one gain from all his toil?
  • Will my hard work show a net profit?
  • Is my life really worth living after all?
           
The answer to his question is not absolute. Ecclesiastes 2:13 says, “There is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness.” Yet none of this is of any benefit without God. Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” How do you sleep at night? Without the Lord, you will spend your days and nights eating the bread of anxious toil without true or lasting satisfaction. Matthew 16:26 asks, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”
 
B. The Perspective of Ecclesiastes
 
Verse 3 asks, “What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” “Under the sun” is a key phrase in Ecclesiastes. Solomon uses it twenty-nine times in the book. It is the perspective through which Ecclesiastes sees life. “Under the sun”is not a secular view of life in contrast to a spiritual view of life. It is the sphere and scope of the human experience in a fallen world that is in rebellion against its Creator. 
 
Many years ago, I flew home to Los Angeles after a preaching engagement. As we approached LAX, I looked out the window at the lights of the city and thought, “What a beautiful city!” Then, on the ride home from the airport, I saw the damage from the Rodney King riots and thought, “This is terrible.” It was the same city. What changed was my perspective. 
 
There are two ways to view life.
  • There is vanity under the sun.
  • There is victory in the Son.
We are not wiser than Solomon. However, through progressive revelation, we get the rest of the story that Solomon did not know. God sent his only begotten Son into the world. Jesus was born of a virgin. He lived a righteous life. He died on the cross for our sins. He was buried in Joseph's new tomb. On the third day, he rose from the dead. He ascended to glory and is seated at the Father's right hand. And he will soon return to judge the wicked, reward the righteous, and consummate the kingdom. 1 Corinthians 15:19 says, “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” That's not our story. Jesus lives! 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

# posted by Groseys messages @ 10:27 AM

Thursday, September 10, 2026

 

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Matthew 18

Matthew 18:1-14 A Parable About True Greatness

Matthew 18:1-14 ESV
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" [2] And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them [3] and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. [4] Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. [5] "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, [6] but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. [7] "Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! [8] And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. [9] And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire. [10-11] "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. [12] What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? [13] And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. [14] So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.



Greatness! The Pursuit of Power. Fame Fortune Power and Pleasure… Chuck Swindoll summarised these four attitudes as that which constitutes life for most people.  This is the source of the problems in our world.  
What's wrong with the world?  I am!   Said G K Chesterton! "Pride is the mother of all sins, and there is a bit of her DNA in all of us."
What a question! Had they forgotten the first beatitude—"Blessed are the poor in spirit" (5:3)? Had they forgotten the faith-filled Roman centurion's humility—"Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed" (8:8)? Had they forgotten that father's mustard-seed faith—"a man came up to him [Jesus] and, kneeling before him, said, 'Lord, have mercy on my son'" (17:14, 15)? Yes. Yes. Yes. It seems they had forgotten.2
In 18:4 Jesus tells us that the motive behind his disciples' question was pride, for he begins that verse, "Whoever humbles himself . . ."
  1. You Need To Be Converted
"The kingdom of heaven, a phrase Matthew uses some 32 times, is synonymous with the kingdom of God.
The phrase "enter the kingdom of heaven" is used three times in the book of Matthew (see also 7:21; 19:23-24) and in each case refers to personal salvation. It is the same experience as entering into life (18:8) and entering into the joy of the Lord (25:21).
The fact that a person must enter the kingdom assumes he is born outside of it under the rule of Satan and that he is not naturally a heavenly citizen under the rule of God. The purpose of the gospel is to show men how they may enter the kingdom and become its citizens, moving from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God's beloved Son (Col. 1:13). The central focus of Matthew's gospel is to draw men and women into the kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ, and that is doubtlessly one of the reasons the Holy Spirit placed this book at the beginning of the New Testament. Throughout his gospel, Matthew carefully and systematically presents the components of genuine belief.
The phrase are converted translates an aorist passive of strepho which elsewhere in the New Testament is always translated with an idea of "turning" or "turning around." It means to make an about face and go in the opposite direction.
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (3:2) "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted (Strepho  turn) and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven." "turn to God from idols to serve a living and true God" (1 Thess. 1:9).
God raised up His Servant, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways" (Acts 3:19, 26).19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities." NKJV  turn, return. ESV NASB
The term is used repeatedly in the book of Acts to speak of conversion (11:21; 15:19; 26:18, 20).
David Wells describes conversion with this statement: Christianity without conversion is no loner Christian, because conversion means turning to God. It involves forsaking sin, with its self-deifying attitudes and self-serving conduct, and turning to Christ, whose death on the cross is the basis for God's offer of mercy and forgiveness. Jesus was judged in our place so that God could extend his righteousness to us. Conversion occurs when we turn from our waywardness and accept Christ's death on our behalf.
Sensitivity:  Be Tender about Sin  4 Whoever humbles himself … unaware of the need for power, self assertion, competition, aware of sin.
D. A. Carson says, "The child is a model, in this context, not of innocence, faith, or purity, but of humility and unconcern for social status. Jesus assumed that people are not naturally like that; they must  change to become like little children."
Sincerity:  Be Turning from Sin To the Saviour
Simplicity:   Be Trusting In the Saviour
Wells "Conversion is not an isolated event but is related to the entire life of faith that follows from it. It is the moment of birth into a new life. It is like a doorway into a room. A person is born to live, not to linger on the edge of the womb in a time of limbo. A person opens a door not for the pleasure of standing forever on the threshold but to enter the room. The evangelical world has strangely perverted this truth. Evangelicals often make the test of spiritual life one's willingness to testify about the moment of birth. Describing one's sensations in passing through the doorway is considered proof that one is in the room! . . . The only real proof of our conversion is an obedient and fruitful life. P.43.
The point about conversion, though, is that it is the way into Christian faith; it is not the entirety of Christian faith. Conversion is only the threshold to the building of salvation. (p.22.) Christianity is inescapably preoccupied with changed lives. (p. 45.)
Conversion denotes a transformation from self-dedication to dedication to God. (p.45.)
Conversion results in a religion that becomes socially tangible. (p. 47.) Above all, conversion implies a movement from theory to practice. (p. 47) The reality of conversion witnesses to God's lordship . . . and is not just a figment of metaphysics. (p, 48.)
In the Christian world today, however, what we have all too often is an aberration–spiritual birth that is not followed by an obvious spiritual life. (p. 23.) When Jesus issued the Great Commission, he did not tell his followers to go into all the world and ask people to raise their hands or to fill out a decision card. Rather, he enjoined them to make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything he had commanded. (p10.) Just as there is no discipleship without conversion, so there also can be no conversion without discipleship. The two belong together. (p. 23.)
Boice: "To enter the kingdom people must possess the humility of children, but to do so they need to be radically changed. People are not humble by nature. We are self-seeking, selfish, and driven by pride. What do we need if we are to become humble, trusting what God has done for our salvation and not what we can accomplish for ourselves? The answer is clear: We need to "turn" or "be converted," which is God's work. We need to pray the prayer of Jeremiah 31:18: "Turn me, and I shall be turned, for you are the LORD my God" (my translation). We "must be born again" (John 3:7). How do we know if we are converted? The evangelical bishop John Ryle said, "The surest mark of [any] true conversion is humility." It is when we humble ourselves and trust Jesus alone to save us that we can be sure we are converted."
  1. You Need To Be Concerned
Σκανδαλίσῃ   "he or she may stumble" sin 6,7 Don't Be A Stumbling Block To Kids
By Disenfranchising Them 5,6  receive or not?   
By Disillusioning Them  Skandalio 
By Despising Them 10 Why not Angels are witnesses,  God promises punishment if you do.
People have turned to this Bible verse above all others for the idea of guardian angels, though there is not much in the Bible elsewhere to support that idea. In Daniel the archangel Michael appears as a protector of the Jewish people (see Dan. 12:1). Hebrews 1:14 refers to "ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation."  Revelation 1-3 refer to the angels of the seven churches. The "angels" may be pastors of these churches.
God cares for each of us individually. When I see a hundred sheep in a meadow, I cannot begin to imagine how a shepherd can distinguish one sheep from another and miss one if it is caught by a predator or wanders off. All sheep look alike to me. But I am told that shepherds know their sheep. They know them individually, and, what is more, their sheep know them and respond to their voices. Jesus was building on this fact when he told the people of his day, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:14-15).  We know that God knows his people individually and cares for them individually because when he calls them to faith he calls them "by name" (John 10:3). God cares for His children individually.  Don't despise that which God loves.
God's pursues the lost.
God understands our weaknesses and their weaknesses. I have never taken care of sheep or even had anything to do with them, except for seeing them in fields from time to time. But I am told that sheep are stupid creatures, probably the most stupid animals on earth. One way they show their stupidity is by so easily wandering away. They can have a good shepherd who has brought them to the best grazing lands, near an abundant supply of water, but they will still wander off to where the fields are barren and the water undrinkable.
God seeks us when we stray. God seeks them when they stray.  Don't not seek what God seeks!  Make Seeking Children and Youth Your Priority 12, 13
God rejoices when they return to Him 13,14
Boice: "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? "Jesus answered the question, and we have been trying to understand Jesus' answer. But here I want to follow up by asking, Did the disciples get it? Were they actually turned and changed to become like little children?  We know they didn't get it right away, because they are still fighting for the top position two chapters later. On that occasion the mother of James and John came to Jesus asking that one of her sons be chosen to sit at his right hand and the other son be chosen to sit at his left hand when he came into his kingdom (Matt. 20:21). They had probably put her up to it. So when the other disciples heard what she had asked Jesus, "they were indignant with the two brothers" (v. 24). They wanted those positions themselves.
What did Jesus do? He got them together and went through it all again. "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (vv. 25-28).
As long as Jesus was with them, they didn't get it. But when he died, they did, for they understood at last that he had given himself for them and had bought their salvation at the cost of his own life. And they really were changed.
The disciples were all guilty of this self-advancing spirit, according to the Gospel. But among the many who were guilty, James and John stand out as the most guilty because of their compliance with the efforts of their mother to get them the first places. Yet think what happened to them! At one time Jesus called them "Sons of Thunder," no doubt because of their arrogant, boisterous attitudes (Mark 3:17). On another occasion they wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy a village of the Samaritans that did not receive them (Luke 9:54). They were changed when they finally got their minds off themselves and onto Jesus.
What were the disciples thinking about when Jesus told them about the lost sheep? They had been arguing about which of them should be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. With that in the immediate background, presumably they were thinking of themselves as among the ninety-nine who were still on the hillside and were wondering which of the ninety-nine would be the "top sheep." As long as they were thinking of such things, they would never be concerned for the one who was lost, and they would never do anything to help find him or her.  We are never more like God than when we exert ourselves to seek others. God rejoices over the one we help to bring home.  Are you on board with God's plan?

# posted by Groseys messages @ 9:11 AM

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