Qualities of A Sound Church

In our last study through Titus 1:10-15, Paul warned Titus about false teachers who were deceiving people and leading believers away from the truth. Though they claimed to know God, their actions revealed sinful hearts and corrupt doctrine. Paul instructed Titus to rebuke them sharply so the church would remain sound in the faith. As chapter 2 begins, Paul shifts from exposing false living to teaching what godly living should look like in the lives of believers.

“1. But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.” 

Titus 2:1 NKJV

Paul begins by reminding Titus that truth must be taught boldly and correctly. The word “sound” means healthy or pure. Biblical doctrine produces spiritual maturity and holy living. This connects with 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV, which says, “16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17. that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” God’s Word is meant to shape every area of life. Christians are not called to follow the culture, but to follow the truth of Scripture.

“2. that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience:”

Titus 2:2 NKJV

Paul first addresses older men in verse 2, saying they are to be “temperate, reverent, sober-minded, sound in faith, in love, in patience.” Older men were to be examples of spiritual maturity and steadiness. Their lives should display wisdom, self-control, and endurance. Proverbs 20:29 NKJV  says, “29. The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head.” showing that age should bring wisdom and godly character. Older believers are called to guide younger generations by their example and testimony.

“3. the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—4. that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5. to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”

Titus 2:3-5 NKJV

Next, Paul speaks to older women in verses 3-5. They are to live reverently, avoid gossip and addiction, and teach what is good. Older women were to mentor younger women in loving their husbands and children, being pure, kind, and devoted to their homes. This teaching emphasizes the importance of discipleship within the church. Mature believers are responsible for encouraging and teaching younger Christians. Proverbs 31 gives a picture of a virtuous woman whose life honors God through faithfulness, wisdom, and diligence. Paul explains that godly behavior is important “that the word of God may not be blasphemed” (Titus 2:5). When Christians live contrary to God’s Word, it damages the testimony of the Gospel before the world.

“6. Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7. in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8. sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.”

Titus 2:6-8 NKJV

In verses 6-8, Paul instructs younger men to be sober-minded and self-controlled. Titus himself was to be an example through good works, integrity, reverence, and pure speech. Paul teaches that leadership is not only about words, but also about example. 1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV echoes this truth: “Be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” A godly example strengthens the church and silences criticism from unbelievers. Paul says that opponents would “have nothing evil to say” when believers walk uprightly.

“9. Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, 10. not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.”

Titus 2:9-10 NKJV

Finally, Paul addresses bondservants in verses 9-10, teaching them to be obedient, trustworthy, and respectful. Even servants were called to honor God through their work ethic and attitude. Paul explains that faithful living “adorns the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” This means believers make the Gospel attractive when they live with integrity and faithfulness. Colossians 3:23 NKJV says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” Every task and responsibility can become an act of worship when done for God’s glory.

‍ ‍Titus 2:1-10teaches that the Gospel changes how people live. Christianity is not simply about knowledge, but about transformation. Each believer, regardless of age or position, has a role in displaying Christ through godly conduct. The church is strongest when older believers disciple younger believers, when leaders live by example, and when Christians reflect Christ in everyday life. Through sound doctrine and holy living, the church becomes a witness to the world of God’s saving grace and transforming power.

Stay the course for the Kingdom

-Austin

Nothing is Minor

When studying God’s Word, we need to recognize that the minor details are, in fact treasure. Today, I want to share one such treasure that I am still personally processing. As Christians, we have the inherent Spirit of God within us. This means that while our flesh is still sinful, our Spirit is alive, and there is a battle for control. The war was won on the cross, but the daily struggle continues until our salvation at the Rapture, or until the Lord calls us home. This daily battle is best fought when we dig into God’s Word and examine all things, including the minor aspects. I would argue that when we study God’s Word and come across the minor aspects, we indeed might stumble upon a treasure. Today I want to share with you a treasure I recently uncovered. I am calling it, The Five Principles of the Mouth.

Let’s dive right in and start. Please go to Psalm chapter 40, where we will see something rather remarkable.

Psalm 40:9-10“I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O LORD, You Yourself know. 10 I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth From the great assembly.”

We see five principles that the mouth is designed to do. Let’s break these down. We have “proclaimed,” “do not restrain,” “not hidden,” “declared,” and finally, “not concealed.” These five principles provide a baseline that all believers in the Messiah should know and understand. I would encourage you to dig deeper into each of these words and see the richness here.

The word “proclaimed” in Hebrew means “to bear news, bear tidings, publish, preach, and show forth.”

The word “not restrain” means the opposite of the Hebrew word. “This means to not to restrict, or withold or shut up or keep back, or forbid.”

The word “not hidden” means in Hebrew, “to not cover, coneal or hide.”

The word “declared” means in Hebrew, “to say, speak or utter.”

The word not “concealed” means in Hebrew, “to hide, conceal, cut off, cut down, make desolate, kick.”

Examine these words, examine the definitions and principles, and see how the mouth was designed to bring glory to God and proclaim to the world who He is. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and in His might and actions, we can be found saved.

However, we are not done. There are five principles. The number five in Hebrew has significance that when looked through the lens of the five principles, we can see a remarkable truth.

The Hebrew letter “Hey” has a numerical value that is the number five. The pictographic meaning in Hebrew tradition and understanding is for breath, air, and spirit. Rather remarkable that there are five principles of the mouth, and the number five has such meaning. Nevertheless, we are not done. Jesus used five loaves of bread to feed five thousand. When a believer tells someone about Jesus, they are literally bringing the bread of life to that person, just as Jesus did. When Christians are using their mouths correctly, leaning on the Holy Spirit, there will be cohesion in the body of Christ like nothing else in mankind. In fact, we can see a subtle hint of this in creation. On day five, God made birds and sea life. When they are moving in a group, it is in sync, fish are a school, and birds are a flock.

Psalm’s, which is the most musical book of the Bible, is in fact divided into five groups. There are five books of the Torah.

Now, the next two aspects of the number five, I believe, bring about a unique perspective on the principles of the mouth that we need to understand if we are to truly and holistically capture the design of the Body of Christ. The fifth Spirit of God is the Spirit of Might. Examine, Isaiah 11:2“The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” We see seven spirits within God. These seven are: 1) The Spirit of the Lord, 2) Spirit of Wisdom, 3) Spirit of Understanding, 4) Spirit of Counsel, 5) Spirit of Might, 6) Spirit of Knowledge, and finally, 7) The Spirit of the Fear for the Lord. Each is unique, and if you want to see more of them, come back next week.

Nevertheless, we see that the number five is the Spirit of Might. Christians are strongest when we are being what we are called to be; we are to be what Jesus commanded us to be.

Matthew 28:15-20“So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age.” Amen.”

2 Corinthians 5:20“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore [you] on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”

These principles are the embodiment of this command, and it is strengthened in the power of God in ways that only He knows. This is why Jesus gave guidance to not worry about what we would say in times of tribulation, but rather that it would be given to us. Matthew 10:19-20“But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 “for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”

Finally, we come to the last aspect I want to encourage us to examine within the principles of the mouth. It is a common understanding that if a trumpet is to be used, there must be a mouth which has breath to blow. How ironic that the fifth feast given by God is the Feast of Trumpets, see Leviticus 23 for more details on the Feast. It is here that we have a shout and a declaration of God. I stand before you today, wondering if this is yet another analytical discovery that leads us to better understand the Feast and the Rapture, and if there is a connection. For when the Rapture happens, God proclaims to the world His Bride (the Bride of Christ) is His, he will not restrain His lips any further, and Jacob’s trouble will begin, the evidence of Him will no longer be ignored or hidden, for mankind will hide themselves from the wrath of God. The Lamb’s wrath will be declared, and Jesus Christ’s work and Himself will no longer be concealed to the World as in the Age of Grace.

If any of this interests you, I would encourage you to dig into God’s Word and ask Him for answers. When we study God’s Word, we need to understand that nothing is minor and everything should be dug into deeper. Next week, we will do one last little dig and see what exactly the Seven Spirits of God are like and where else we see them in God’s Word.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

A Study in Genesis

As we have said before, Genesis is a book answering the “why.” Today, we are going over something many people fail to see. Today, we are going over something rather fundamental for families. The weakness of a father can lead to monumental problems that cascade further into turmoil for literal nations. Last time we were in Genesis, we were going over how God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Now we examine how Lot’s weakness to lead caused his daughters to err and make a disastrous decision.

Genesis 19:30-38“Then Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains, and his two daughters were with him; for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and his two daughters dwelt in a cave. 31 Now the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father [is] old, and [there is] no man on the earth to come in to us as is the custom of all the earth. 32 “Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father.” 33 So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. 34 It happened on the next day that the firstborn said to the younger, “Indeed I lay with my father last night; let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you go in [and] lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father.” 35 Then they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. 36 Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab; he [is] the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Ben-Ammi; he [is] the father of the people of Ammon to this day.”

Right at the beginning, we see that Lot is making decisions based on fear, “for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar.” Whenever we base decisions on fear, we fail to recognize who is there for us. We fail to recognize that Christ Himself is our intercessor and is closer than anyone could ever be. Proverbs 18:24 “A man [who has] friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend [who] sticks closer than a brother.” When we make decisions, we need to be resolved to seek the Lord in those decisions and be in His word. Because Lot was making decisions based on fear rather than sound counsel from the Lord, his daughters took matters into their own hands. Before we continue, I want to emphasize a familiar structure that happens in families that parents should be aware of. The oldest children will naturally guide the younger ones. This can be good or bad depending on the oldest. If they are following the Lord, it can be like James following the Lord and his brother John with him. However, if the oldest is not following the Lord, their guidance can be devastating. This is why parents need to be working individually with each child, to train and build them up in the way they should go. By doing this, when the oldest or youngest has an idea that is not Biblical, the other may help guide/correct them accordingly.

For Lot’s oldest, she has an idea that is based on a lack of faith. She believes that God cannot provide a husband for her and her sister. Lot could have immediately gone and stayed with Abraham, and yet he hid in a cave. Instead of seeking the Lord, he drank. This caused his children to panic and make rash decisions. The end result is the Moabites and the Ammonites. One must only read the accounts of Israel’s issues with these two nations to realize what a travesty Lot’s weakness caused. His daughter’s decisions would only exacerbate this issue.

When parents fail to lean on the Lord, it provides an opportunity for the children to make an error that might have easily been circumvented with proper parental guidance. Nevertheless, it is each person’s responsibility to lean on the Lord, and when someone comes to you with an idea that does not reflect what God’s ordinances require, we should resist it. The younger daughter could have rebuked her sister and said let’s go to our relative Abraham and see what God will do. All it takes is one person to be the voice of truth, and it can stop the chaos within a family.

In our own lives, we need to be careful to see what family, friends, and those we trust give us as advice. It could be built on thinking that is out of fear and the idea that God is not in control. As parents, our lives need to be dedicated to the Lord, our actions and decisions need to reflect likewise, and whenever we have a chance, we need to be teaching this to our children so that they can make wise decisions and follow the Lord. All it took was Lot or one of his daughters to say, “Stop, let’s seek the Lord,” and it would have stopped a geopolitical nightmare for Israel. Children need to be seeking the Lord, so when our parents do fail, they can step up and be the voice of reason. God designed the family and the dynamics of the family institution, but do not forget that before the family was ever institutionalized, God had a personal relationship with Adam and Eve. This is why each person must come to know Jesus Christ personally. The family blossoms when each person has a saving faith in Christ and is living with the same goal of following Him according to His Word. Thousands of years have gone by, and yet this lesson is still relevant to this day!

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

A different look at motherhood. Read it HERE!

Orders and Direction For the Leaders

In Titus 1:5–9, the apostle Paul instructed Titus to appoint elders in Crete who were above reproach—men of strong character, grounded in sound doctrine, and capable of both encouraging believers and confronting error. These leaders were not simply to manage the church, but to protect it spiritually. As Paul transitions into Titus 1:10–16, he explains why such qualified leadership is essential. The churches in Crete were facing serious threats from false teachers whose influence was widespread and destructive, making it necessary for leaders to stand firmly in truth and correction.

Paul begins by describing the nature of these false teachers: 

“10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.”

 Titus 1:10–11 NKJV 

These individuals rejected authority, spoke empty and misleading words, and actively led others astray. Their impact was not isolated; entire families were being spiritually corrupted by their teachings. This reflects the broader biblical warning about false teachers. Jesus cautioned, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves”  Matthew 7:15 NKJV, and Paul similarly warned in Acts 20:29–30 that destructive voices would arise even from within the church. What makes these teachers especially dangerous is their motive: “for the sake of dishonest gain”‍ ‍Titus 1:11. Their teaching was not rooted in truth or love, but in personal profit.

Paul then highlights the cultural context of Crete, quoting one of their own prophets: 

“One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 

Titus 1:12 NKJV

While this statement may seem harsh, Paul affirms its accuracy and uses it to emphasize the spiritual condition Titus was dealing with. The culture itself was morally compromised, and this environment contributed to the spread of false teaching. Because of this, Paul instructs Titus, “This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,” Titus 1:13 NKJV.

  This command reveals that correction, though firm, has a redemptive purpose. It is not meant to condemn, but to restore people to a healthy and truthful faith. Scripture consistently supports this approach, as seen in 2 Timothy 4:2, which urges believers to “convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching.” 

“not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth” 

Titus 1:14 NKJV 

In verse 14, Paul warns against these false teachings likely involved. Legalistic traditions and man-made rules that distorted the simplicity of the gospel. By elevating human ideas above God’s Word, these teachers were leading people away from truth rather than toward it. This issue is echoed throughout Scripture. Jesus rebuked religious leaders for teaching, “7 And in vain they worship me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God,  hold the tradition of men the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”  Mark 7:7–8 NKJV.

  Paul warned in Colossians 2:8 against being deceived, “8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” When human tradition replaces divine truth, the result is confusion and spiritual error.

Paul then contrasts purity and corruption in Titus 1:15 (NKJV) “To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure”. This statement emphasizes that spiritual condition begins in the heart. Those who are made pure through faith in God are able to discern rightly, while those who are corrupted by sin view everything through a distorted lens. Their “mind and conscience are defiled,” meaning their moral compass has been compromised. Jesus similarly taught, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” Matthew 5:8 NKJV.  Further highlighting that inner purity shapes outward perception and behavior.

Finally, Paul concludes with a sobering description of these false teachers: “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him” Titus 1:16 NKJV. This reveals the ultimate issue—hypocrisy. Though they claimed to have a relationship with God, their actions proved otherwise. Paul describes them as “abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” This serves as a powerful warning that genuine faith is not merely verbal but is demonstrated through obedience and transformation. Jesus echoed this truth in Matthew 7:21, saying, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Likewise, James 1:22 calls believers to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

In summary, Titus 1:10–16 underscores the urgent need for strong, godly leadership in the church to confront false teaching and protect the truth. It reveals the destructive nature of deceptive doctrine, the influence of a corrupt culture, and the danger of an empty profession without genuine faith. Above all, this passage calls believers to examine their own lives, ensuring that their confession of faith is matched by a life of obedience, purity, and truth.

Stay the course for the Kingdom

Austin

Understanding the Twelve-James the Less

15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot;

Luke 6:15

Throughout this brief study into the twelve disciples, we have been able to pull multiple scripture verses in order to learn about the personalities behind those who followed Jesus the closest. However, the disciple that we are going to discuss today is only mentioned by his name. Today, we are going to discuss James the Less.

In the New Testament, there are several men with the name James. We have already discussed James, the son of Zebedee, and there is also James, the half-brother of Jesus. So what sets James the Less apart from others with his name is actually in how little he is mentioned. There is no mention of James asking Jesus any questions, no mention of him being rebuked at all by Jesus. In fact, the only thing that stands out about James the Less is that he does not stand out. He was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, and at the end, made it his mission to help share the gospel.

Based on what we have learned about the other disciples and what we don’t hear about James the Less, I believe we can infer a couple of things about him. He was not a hot-head wanting to call down fire like James and John, the Sons of Thunder. He didn’t question Jesus like Peter. He didn’t actively bring individuals to Jesus as Andrew did. James was more or less just there. However, this shows something about his character. James was there soaking in the words of Jesus. There is no mention of him questioning Jesus because James believed Jesus at His word. There is no mention of James bringing individuals to Jesus because, I believe, he wanted to ensure that he understood what Jesus was calling them to do. James was preparing to be sent out to share the gospel and knew that he needed as much information as possible in order to complete his mission.

James has contributed to an eastern expansion of the gospel. James went to Syria where there would have been three audiences for him. The first would be believers who would most likely have welcomed someone who walked with Jesus. Second, Jews who would have denied Jesus being the Son of God. Finally, a wider mixed culture on a trading route. This connection to the trading route connected Jerusalem and Damascus on the west to ancient Iraq on the east. This allowed the gospel to travel even farther into India.

Despite only being mentioned by his name, James had a lasting impact in sharing the gospel. He is a lesson to believers today that while we need to have knowledge of scripture, we cannot keep it to ourselves. I am sure that James had many deeds, questions, or remarks during his time with Jesus, but none of these are recorded. This is because for James, the focus is not on what he did for Christ, but what Christ used him for.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

Christians and Peace

By this time, most people have seen the footage at least a hundred times. Saturday night at the White House Correspondence Dinner, there was a man who attempted to harm others. What should be the Christian response to such violence?

Today, we are going to have a brief discussion on what the Christian response should be. First of all, God tells His children, the born-again believers, to live in peace and not to take matters into their own hands.

Romans 12:17-18“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” God tells us to live in peace if possible. God tells us not to repay evil with evil. This means to live in peace when possible and never to repay evil with evil. However, what it does not say is that we shouldn’t protect the innocent; it does not say we are to be the instrument that the Lord might use to repay evil with justice (never evil). This means that Christian’s should be vocal to call a wrong a wrong and what is righteous exactly that. We are the ambassadors of Christ on this earth. We have the ability through His teaching and the Holy Spirit to discern in ways that are impossible for non-born-again believers to be able to do.

Unfortunately, on Sunday morning, the pulpits were silent, when the world was looking for answers, many in the Church were silent or failing to have a Christian view. Now is the time for us to choose to rest in Jesus and on His understanding. Now is the time to take advantage of the world looking for answers and provide Christ to them. Paul says in Colossians 3:15, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Now is the time for us to be peacemakers, as Jesus in His own words said, Matthew 5:9“Blessed [are] the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”

No matter what happens in this world, Christians should be a voice of peace and wanting to help the innocent. I call all believers in Jesus to examine His words carefully and see that God wants us to bring peace. We must ask for a discerning heart from the Lord so that we can best know the route in which we can help promote that peace. At times, it might be telling the person cursing you that you love them in Christ, it might mean you listen and are an ear to those with whom you might disagree, or it could mean that God has called you to be the instrument of justice. No matter what, it needs to come in prayer and supplication. Before your week continues, let’s take a moment and remember what we are called to do: we are to be peacemakers, pointing people to Jesus Christ.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

How do we handle the moments when we don’t feel like God is with us? Find out HERE!

Establishing Order and Leadership

Last week we discussed the greeting and the good tidings to Titus from Paul. It was the beginning of a letter that showed encouragement and steadfastness. As Christians, we must understand that we have the obligation to be shepherds to other believers and to help and support them. As for this week, we will dive into the waters of what Paul was telling Titus to do and how to lead the Crete Church away from self and to what God meant for the body of Christ.

5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— 6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

 Titus 1:5–9 (NKJV)

In Titus 1:5–9, Paul clearly explains why Titus was left in Crete: to “set in order the things that are lacking” and to appoint elders in every city. This reveals that the churches in Crete were still immature and somewhat disorganized, needing strong, Godly leadership to guide them. The task was urgent because of the corrupt culture surrounding them, and without proper leadership, the believers could easily be led astray. Paul emphasizes that leadership in the church is not about status or power, but about character. The elder, (Greek word πρεσβύτερος - Presbuteros) also referred to as a bishop, (Greek word ἐπίσκοπος - episkopos) or overseer, is described as a “steward of God” (Titus 1:7), meaning he is entrusted with God’s work and must manage it faithfully. This aligns with other teachings of Paul where church leaders are called to live above reproach and serve as examples to the flock.

“1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach.”

 1 Timothy 3:1–2 (NKJV). 

Paul then outlines both the negative traits to avoid and the positive qualities to pursue. An elder must not be self-willed, quick-tempered, given to wine, violent, or greedy, but instead must be hospitable, self-controlled, just, and holy. These qualifications show that spiritual leadership is deeply tied to personal integrity and daily conduct. It is not enough to know the truth—leaders must live it out consistently. This reinforces the biblical principle that those who lead God’s people are held to a higher standard.

“1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder… 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

 1 Peter 5:1–3 (NKJV)

Finally, Paul highlights the central role of God’s Word in leadership. An elder must be “holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught” (Titus 1:9), meaning he must be firmly grounded in sound doctrine. This is essential so that he can both encourage believers and confront false teaching. In a place like Crete, where deception and corruption were common, leaders needed to stand firm in truth and boldly defend it. This reflects the importance of rightly handling Scripture, as seen elsewhere in Paul’s writings.

“14  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints 

Ephesians 6:14-18 (NKJV)

“15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

 2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)

Altogether, these verses show that God’s plan for strengthening His church begins with establishing faithful, Godly leadership. Through men of strong character, sound doctrine, and unwavering commitment to truth, the Church can be brought into order and stand firm even in the midst of a corrupt and challenging world.

Stay the course for the Kingdom,

Austin

Understanding the Twelve-Matthew

“9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.”

Matthew 9:9

Out of the different men that we have studied, we have been able to use examples found in Scripture to identify their personalities. However, today we will be discussing a man whom we will learn more about based on the book that he wrote. Today, we will be discussing Matthew.

Matthew 9:9 depicts Jesus calling Matthew, also known as Levi, to follow Him. At the time, Matthew was a tax collector. Being a tax collector was often depicted as the lowest of the low, right alongside harlots. “32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.” Matthew 21:32. As a tax collector, Matthew was secure financially but despised socially. And yet, when Jesus called to him, he left his riches behind to follow Jesus alongside others who fit in more with society. I do want to point out here the redeeming qualities that following Jesus has. Despite being from a group that was hated, there is no record of any of the other disciples telling Jesus that Matthew should not follow Him. They saw what Jesus saw: a man who was a sinner just like them, who needed a savior just like them. Interestingly, there is no record of the other disciples questioning Jesus’ calling of Matthew, but when a rich man questions Jesus, the disciples point out that it is hard to believe that riches do not guarantee salvation (Matthew 19:23-28). When Matthew is called, the other disciples knew that he was willing to follow after God just as they were.

Now, to better understand Matthew, we need to look at his book. The beginning of the Gospel presents Jesus as the Davidic King who has come to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies. However, the Gospel moves on from there to discuss God's continuing work of salvation within Israel. This continues to extend towards all the peoples of the earth through the person and work of Christ. The Gospel continues into the minute details of Jesus’ relationship with Israel and also with individuals. This builds a foundation that would be seen in the other Gospels of Jesus as the focus. The Gospel ends with the great commission for evangelism and mission.

Through the topics discussed, we can see that Matthew knew the Old Testament very well and was perhaps one of the most well-versed of Jesus’s disciples. But despite all his knowledge, Matthew is a humble man who sought to keep the focus on Jesus. I think he emplifies Jesus saying “the first shall be last and the last first” (Matthew 20:16). Matthew knew that because of his background, many would be displeased about listening to him. But this does not stop him; he keeps the focus on Jesus and allows Jesus’s actions in Matthew’s own life to help direct individuals to God.

Matthew is an example for us today that, despite what our background is, we can be of use to God and to spread His word. Matthew also serves as a reminder that worldly riches will not provide the comfort that we seek; we need to listen, and when Jesus calls us, we need to be willing to lay aside everything to follow Him.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

A Study In Genesis

We come to one of the most well-known passages in the Bible. Today, we are talking about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. First, we need to understand the foundation of this passage. This did happen; some scholars like to say this was fictitious or that it was not at the level of what is described in Genesis. However, like the global flood discussed in Genesis 7, we can once again examine the evidence and see that God did do what His Word says He did.

Now, ironically, the most important verse is at the end of the account of the destruction. Genesis 19:29“And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.” God remembered Abraham! What does this mean? It means that even in the destruction, even in the judgment, God’s thoughts were on Abraham. This reveals a characteristic of God that many fail to recognize. God’s thoughts towards His own are good thoughts! Examine the following verses,

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

We are His delight, and He eagerly listens to us!

Psalm 16:3 “As for the saints who [are] on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” Psalm 4:3“But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him.”

If you want to know more about what He thinks about us, and His good nature towards us, examine the following: Psalm 56:3-4, Romans 8:28, and Isaiah 41:10.

Now you might be wondering at this point about where Sodom and Gomorrah come into play. The main point here is not that God did it, but what were His thoughts? He was thinking of Abraham, so God rescued Lot. There are two reasons why I believe the Lord did what He did. First, because God loved Abraham so much that Abraham’s family was also blessed. Second, it is because through Abraham, the Son of God would come and those who called upon the name of the Lord would be saved. We know that Lot was a righteous man; this righteousness only came about because of the future seed of Abraham, being Jesus Christ. So God’s loving favor through Abraham allowed Him to save Lot.

As for the destruction itself. Many have claimed that the city was doing “this” or “that,” but I believe the best answer is what the Lord gives us in Genesis 18:20‍, ‍“And the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave.” If you are wondering what the specific sin is, look at the verse again. It appears to be all the categories of sin. Their sin had accumulated to the point that they wanted to have sexual relations with the angels. If your mind does not go back to Genesis six, you should go read our study on it.

The city’s sin was so devastating that God had to act in a manner that was without question only from Him. This city was a place of sanctuary for sin and evil. However, this is not the worst city to ever be; in Jesus’ day, Capernaum was equated to being worse than Sodom and Gomorrah. Matthew 11:23-24 “And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 “But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” One day, Babylon will be rebuilt, and the city will reach its ultimate zenith of evil and will be dealt with by God.

Why are we talking about all of this? For two simple reasons. God loved Abraham, and God destroyed sin. God does not change and will not change. You are either with righteousness or evil, and on both sides, God is decisive and will act accordingly. Do not be hemmed up that God did what He did to the cities, but rather examine the good, loving nature of God to destroy such a wicked city, but not before He rescued Abraham’s family. God’s wrath is not for those who are of Abraham’s seed; there is only one way to be a part of that righteous family, which is to be born again in Jesus Christ. For the Church, it is clear, Galatians 3:29 “And if you [are] Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” The ultimate restoration is still coming, the nation of Israel, which is the world’s physical and living monument of God’s eternal promises to us all. He will not abandon Israel, thus He will not abandon you and I who are saved. Sodom and Gomorrah should be a simple but powerful reminder of why we need to be saved. God’s love for His own is more powerful than we can possibly imagine, and yet it is something we fail to grasp in the slightest. So next time someone attempts to get hemmed up on the destruction of the city, you can quickly tell them that it did happen and that there is a remarkable lesson for us to see.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

Taking a brief look at the book of Obadiah! Read it HERE!

An Encouraging Letter-The Book of Titus

As discussed last week, we are going to be doing a dive into the book of Titus! In order to understand this book, we need to first look into the demographics that Paul was encouraging Titus to preach to. Many of the issues that Titus faced, the church today is still battling against. However, just as Paul encouraged Titus, we can take encouragment in this book today. With that said, let’s dive into it!

Synopsis

Titus’s mission was in the city-state of Crete, a large island in the Mediterranean Sea known in the ancient world for its moral corruption and cultural instability. By the first century, during the time Titus was serving there, the people of Crete had developed such a negative reputation that even their own writers criticized them. Paul quotes one of their own prophets in Titus 1:12, saying, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons,” a statement he affirms as true. The phrase “to Cretanize” had even become a common expression, meaning to lie or deceive. This gives us a clear picture of what Crete was like—a society marked by dishonesty, excess, and a lack of self-control. The culture was heavily influenced by Greek paganism, including the worship of Zeus, whom they claimed was born on the island, further contributing to distorted views of truth and morality.

Titus was left in Crete by Paul sometime around A.D. 62–65, after Paul’s first Roman imprisonment, with the mission of organizing and strengthening the churches there (Titus 1:5). The reason Paul sent Titus was because the young churches were surrounded by false teaching, ungodly behavior, and a culture that opposed sound doctrine. Titus’s task was not easy—he had to appoint qualified elders, confront false teachers, and help believers live godly lives in the midst of a corrupt society. The “how” of the situation is seen in Paul’s instructions: the transformation of Crete would not come through culture change first, but through the preaching of truth, the establishment of strong leadership, and lives that reflected godliness. In a place known for its wickedness, the gospel was meant to stand in sharp contrast, showing that even in the darkest environments, God’s truth can produce changed lives.

Evaluation of the Word

1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, 3 but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior; 4 To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

Titus 1:1-4 NKJV

In Titus 1:1–4, Paul introduces himself with both humility and authority, identifying himself as a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. His calling is not self-appointed but divinely given, rooted in advancing “the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness” (Titus 1:1). This establishes a foundational truth for the Christian life: sound doctrine is never meant to remain intellectual, but is designed to produce godly living. Paul’s teaching here aligns with his words to Timothy, where Scripture is described as essential for shaping a believer’s life and character.

“16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NKJV

Paul continues by anchoring the believer’s faith in the hope of eternal life, a promise that originates not in time but in eternity past, declared by a God “who cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). This assurance highlights the unchanging and trustworthy nature of God’s character. Unlike man, whose words may fail, God’s promises are certain and secure, as affirmed in the Old Testament.

“19 God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

Numbers 23:19 NKJV

Paul then explains that this truth, once hidden in God’s eternal plan, has now been revealed “in due time” through the preaching of the Word (Titus 1:3). The gospel is not a human invention but a divine revelation entrusted to faithful messengers by the command of God. This emphasizes the central role of preaching in God’s redemptive plan, echoing elsewhere in Scripture that faith comes through hearing the Word of God. Finally, Paul addresses Titus as “a true son in our common faith” (Titus 1:4), revealing a deep spiritual relationship built through discipleship and shared belief. He closes his greeting with “grace, mercy, and peace,” blessings that flow from both God the Father and Jesus Christ our Savior, again affirming the unity and divinity within the Godhead. Altogether, these opening verses set the tone for the letter by emphasizing that truth leads to godliness, God’s promises are trustworthy, and the gospel message is central to both faith and life.

Stay the course for the Kingdom

Austin

Understanding the Twelve-Nathanael

“45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

John 1:45-46

We have been making our way through a review of the individual disciples. In this study, we have seen the different personalities that these ordinary men had; some were spoken of often, and we were able to use various scripture verses to dissect their personalities. Others, like the disciple that we are going to study today, are only mentioned a handful of times. In fact, the disciple that we are going to look at today is only identified by name twice. With that said, let us take a look at Nathanael.

Nathanael is first mentioned in John 1:45-51, and it is Philip who informs Nathanael that the Messiah had come. This is where we can begin to see more about Nathanael’s character. When approached by Philip, he does not tell Nathanael that the Messiah is there. Instead, Philip states that the One whom Moses and the prophets wrote about was there. This implies that Nathanael studied the Old Testament seriously if he could identify what Philip was saying based on this vague greeting. However, we do also see Nathanael’s doubting spirit as he questions if anything good can come from Nazareth. Despite having the head knowledge, he hadn’t yet made the jump to truly knowing Jesus as his Lord.

And yet, Jesus offers a great insight into Nathanael. “47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” John 1:47. Jesus identifies Nathanael as a man whose word was exactly what it meant. Nathanael truly practiced “37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” Matthew 5:37. Nathanael held no deceit in his heart; he would not say or do something to try to get ahead or to push his own agenda. He merely followed the Scripture that he was so studious towards. I believe this is why it was so easy for Nathanael to make the jump from head knowledge of Scripture to truly knowing Jesus. Nathanael questions how Jesus knows him, to which Jesus tells him that He saw Nathanael under the fig tree. This simple statement proved to be all that Nathanael needed to identify Jesus as the King of Israel, and I believe it is because he believed that others were like him, without deceit.

This could also be why Jesus grants Nathanael a great reward. “50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” John 1:50-51. This is referencing Jacob’s ladder found in Genesis 28:12, in which Jacob had a dream given to him by God, and he saw angels of God ascending and descending on it. Now fast forward to Jesus and Nathanael, Jesus has just stated that this man would receive the same blessing as Jacob, the father of the Jewish nation. And this is all before Jesus began His ministry and miracles!

And yet, despite this promise, much of Nathaneal remains a mystery. Apart from John 1, he is only mentioned in John 21 when Jesus appears at the Sea of Galilee after His death and resurrection. Even then, he is mentioned almost as an afterthought, as we do not see his reaction to recognizing Jesus. Nathanael appears to be a quiet, straightforward man whose Church ministry was devoted to God. His quick acknowledgement of who Jesus was led to a wonderful promise. Nathanael serves to remind us that having a firm foundation in the faith leads to a great reward.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

A STUDY IN GENESIS

Today, we start our study in the book of Genesis again. We took a break for the holidays, but then had to postpone due to the prophetic events happening with Iran and Israel. Nevertheless, we now need to go back and finish reviewing our study of the why. We are going to go back to the origins of so much of what we currently see on the news and the questions we might be wondering about.

Today, I want to dive back in and examine one of the first glimpses of God’s restraint and His desire for justice. Genesis 18, verses 16 through 33, reveals how God cares for the righteous and will not tolerate them being hurt by God’s wrath. God will restrain Himself from acting against the wicked if the righteous are going to be collateral damage. I know there have been moments in my own life where I wondered why God did not bring the hammer down on a person. Later on, it was revealed that doing so would have hurt a righteous believer whom no one knew about at that time. As you read this event, examine three things. First, God initiates the conversation with Abraham. This is done so that the reader would see the interaction, and the event would take place. God already knew how many righteous were in the city, God already knew how He would deal with the city, God already knew what would be the final outcome. And yet, He asked, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?”

Second, we see God allow Abraham to work out his own understanding of God’s justice by asking the questions. You see, it was not Abraham wanting to save the city, but rather Abraham being worried about the righteous in the city. God allows the conversation to happen so that Abraham can learn about God’s patience and kindness. In our own lives, God will do this exact thing, allowing us the opportunity to talk to Him and ask Him questions. This helps build our own relationship with Him and grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Finally, the last lesson that I want to highlight is that God’s judgment still happened. Too many Christians forget that the cross was God’s justice being initiated. The target of that justice still happened. God brought justice, and saved individuals are spared from being the target. Jesus became sin and bore our penalty. As we will learn next week, Sodom was about to experience God’s justice. The righteous who would have been collateral damage were taken away to safety. God cared for completing the justice that needed to happen, but also God wanted to keep the righteous safe.

I would encourage you to read Genesis 18:16-33 and see how God used a moment to teach you and I, and Abraham needed lessons while also implementing His justice against a sinful city.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

A look back at Psalm 146. Read it HERE!

Introduction to Titus

The Epistle to Titus is one of the pastoral letters written by the Apostle Paul to his trusted brother-in-Christ Titus, a Gentile believer tasked with organizing and strengthening the churches on the island of Crete. Written around 63-65 AD, likely after Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, the letter addresses the urgent need for sound doctrine, godly leadership, and righteous living in a culture known for moral instability. Paul’s purpose is clear throughout: right belief must lead to right behavior. As he writes elsewhere, “But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.” 1 Corinthians 14:40, a principle that shapes the entire message of Titus.

In the next seven weeks, we will be exploring and diving into the book of Titus. This will be in depth in the translation and the five W’s (who, what, when, where, and why). This study is not for a quick understanding of what the book says, but a guide for furthering our relationship with Christ and how we can change our lives for God. In our last study, we went over and discussed how to study the Bible. I encourage my readers to use what we have learned and apply it to this study with me. One thing I have learned, we must always fact-check and research the scripture and not take MAN’s word as final, so please check my work in the Holy Word of God. I pray that in these blogs, God hides my opinion and speaks through me to His Bride, the church.

Until next week, when we will start in Titus 1,

Stay the course for the Kingdom,

Austin

Understanding the Twelve- Philip

“43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

John 1:43

The last three weeks we took a break from our study of the twelve disciples. However, today we pick up our study with a look at who Philip was.

This disciple is not mentioned much throughout the gospels, and in fact can only be found mentioned in the book of John. However, this does not mean that he holds less significance than any of the others. John 1:43-45 identifies a couple key points into who Philip was. This passage of scripture is where Jesus sought out Philip, but unlike Andrew and Peter, he didn’t need anyone to identify who Jesus was to him. “43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” A simple request and Philip’s knowledge of scripture was enough for him to see that Jesus was the One that Moses and the prophets wrote about. This shows that Philip had fantastic head knowledge of Scripture; but as we will see, he hadn’t yet made the jump to acknowledging Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

The next time that Philip is mentioned by name is in John 6, when Jesus poses a question to him. “5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” John 6:5-7 This passage of scripture presents a man who is focused on the practicalities of life. Keep in mind, Philip had already seen Jesus turn water into wine and preform miraculous healing at this point. Yet, he still didn’t see Jesus as the Son of God who is capable of creating miracles beyond what he has seen so far. He recognizes that Jesus is who the prophets wrote about (the head knowledge) but had not fully allowed himself to believe that Jesus was both man and God. I do not think it was a coincidence that Jesus asked his question to Philip and not anyone else, I believe that Jesus was using this moment to show his power. Not just to those who came to listen to him, but for those in His midst who may still have had doubts about who He was.

Our final scripture that Philip is mentioned comes from John 14:8-12. “8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. 12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” In this passage we see that Philip still had not made the connection that Jesus was his Lord and Savior. He was asking for further proof and for Jesus to show them the Father so that they may believe that He was sent by God. Despite traveling with Jesus throughout His ministry, Philip still required further proof that Jesus was who He said He was. Philip appears to be the type of man who will not believe anything until he sees it with his own eyes. This type of attitude is a detriment to believers, a fact that Jesus answers here by saying those who believe in His works will accomplish even greater works because Jesus is going to His Father.

However, Philip does not remain as someone who requires proof before believing. Like the other disciples, after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Philip went on to share the gospel. History tells us that he preached in Phrygia and was crucified in the time of Domitian. Philip remains a lesson for believers today the importance of taking the step of having knowledge of scripture, and truly living for Jesus Christ.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

Traditions of Passover

Now we come to a close examination of Jesus during this week. If you have not read our first post, please CLICK HERE. For those who have, let’s dive into what Jesus was doing. The rituals also provide us with information on why Jesus chose to do what He did during the days before the Passover. When He leaves Lazarus’ house on Nissan 10, He goes to Jerusalem. It is during this visit that Jesus is questioned by the Sadducees (Scribes) and the Pharisees. Both heretical groups had taken over the religious leadership in Israel. The Essenes had been virtually separated from leadership by this time. However, during Jesus’ ministry, each group would identify if He was worthy. The priests would examine the sacrificial lamb that would be used for passover; this was the time for the official religious experts to make sure the national passover lamb was sufficient. There were three groups, the Sadducees, Pharasees and the Essenes. Typically, we hear about the first two the most. As we discover more archeological evidence, we identify others in the Bible who were Essenes. The Essenes, through John the Baptist, identify that Jesus was the Lamb of God and worthy of our praise at the very start of Jesus’ ministry. John 1:29-34“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 “This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ 31 “I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.” 32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 “I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 “And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

The Sadducees and Pharisees examined the Lamb of God and found nothing. In fact, they marveled and dared not ask Him anything by the end of their examination.

Mark 12:17“And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.”

Mark 12:34“Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.”

Just like the lamb each family was preparing, four days would pass, and the family would have time to examine the sacrificial lamb. So the priests had time to examine the Lord’s sacrifice.

The lamb would be killed at 3 pm on Nissan 14. Jesus gave up His Spirit and died at Nissan 14 at 3 pm. By 6 pm, He was buried because the High Sabbath was approaching, and it was the preparation day.

Jesus was the perfect sacrificial lamb. Jesus was what you and I needed to be saved. To take away the sins of the world. Every person has the opportunity to be saved. Now is the time of salvation; do not wait. God was precise in what He did, He means what He says. Jesus talked more about Hell then Heaven, and the reason why was because it is a real and eternal thing that we must be saved from. He is the only person who can save us.

John 3:16-17“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” God wants you in His family; He wants to save you. However, that salvation came at a price, a price Jesus has already paid. We need not do anything. All we must do is say thank you and accept it in our place. Ask the Lord into your life now and see that He was the perfect Lamb of God as proclaimed by John the Baptist. Resurrection Sunday was yesterday. Start a new chapter in your life with Jesus today.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Some information was drawn upon the work of Ancient Messianic Festivals and the Prophecies They Reveal by Ken Johnson, TH.D.

Re-Post Friday

A brief look at the book of Amos! Read it HERE!