Category Archives: Articles

Articles, Bible, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

The Hard-Working Servant Messiah: Why Study the Gospel of Mark – Part 01

 

 INTRODUCTION TO THE 

     GOSPEL OF MARK 

It was the first of the four gospels to be written; it is also the shortest. Yet the Gospel of Mark is an indispensable account of the life, ministry, and death of Jesus the Messiah. It is very action packed; indeed, Jesus is rightly seen as a hard-working, active Messiah who preaches to the poor, heals the sick, casts out devils, raises the dead. As the Gospel of Matthew initially reached out to the Jewish people, with a great emphasis on fulfilled prophecy, Mark targeted the Romans – who respected power and action rather than Greek-style philosophising.

GREEK NAME OF MARK

Kata Markon – According to Mark. ‘

AUTHOR OF MARK

‘Mark’ may have been his Roman surname, since he was known as Yohannan or ‘John Mark.’ He was from Jerusalem and his mother Mary had a large house where believers met for prayer and fellowship. Mark may have been the young man in who followed Jesus to Gethsemane with a bed sheet wrapped around his body. Once discovered, he fled from the scene naked (Mark 14:51-52).

Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey, but deserted them and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). When the second missionary trip was being organised, Paul and Barnabas disagreed so vehemently over the inclusion of Mark that they split (Acts 15:36-40).

John Mark was blessed with high-profile mentors: first it was Paul (Acts 13:1-13), then Barnabas (Acts 15:39), and finally he found a father figure in the apostle Peter, who refers to him as his ‘son’ (1 Peter 5:13). Even Paul had a change of heart over John Mark; in his last recorded words, he wanted the very one he rejected for the second missionary journey … to be brought to him, since Mark was ‘profitable for the ministry ‘(2 Timothy 4:11).

Despite his set backs, John Mark persevered and became the true ‘comeback kid.’ His greatest contribution was writing the gospel that bears his name. Because of Mark’s very close association with Peter, who would have shared with him many things, his Gospel is considered ‘the gospel according to Peter’ – what Peter would have written if he wrote a gospel. Church tradition says that he became the great apostle to Egypt and Africa.

PORTRAIT OF CHRIST IN MARK

The four gospels have ‘metaphors:’ Matthew is a lion, representing the kingly Messiah;

Luke has the ‘perfect man,’ John is the eagle, emphasising the heavenly and spiritual of his Gospel. Mark is the ox, representing a strong, energetic, hardworking servant of the Lord.

THEME OF THE BOOK OF MARK

To present an active, robust, dedicated-to-duty Messiah; when Jesus comes into the picture, things get done quickly. The key word of Mark is eutheos (Greek), used 42 times, which means ‘immediately’ or ‘straightaway.’ Jesus is shown as a Man on-the-move in teaching, preaching, moving in spiritual gifts, and faithful to the end.

Because Mark is targeting the Romans, there is less emphasis on Jewish things like reference to the Law, holy days, fulfilled prophecy, and genealogies. The portrait of Christ in Mark is one to whom the Romans could relate to and respect.

KEY VERSES OF MARK

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? — Mark 8:34-37

But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many — Mark 10:43-45

 

TO BE CONTINUED

 

 

 

 

 

Articles, Bible, Education, Faith, Prophecy, Teaching

The Eighth Commandment: More Than Ever – Part 03

 

The Eighth Commandment is so central to living a God-honoring life. It simply tells not to steal. Yet, stealing is practiced more and more, by the poor, the powerful, and those in-between. Theft is now on an industrial scale and uses variety of methods.

Covetousness can lead to stealing (we will learn more about this in the Tenth Commandment); defrauding people of what is rightly their’s is also stealing. Stealing does not merely involve the tangible; theft of intellectual property is just as real as taking any three-dimensional object. Large governments can cast an envious eye on private property wondering how to extract more revenue to pay for pet projects or a growing bureaucracy. While the Bible does accept taxation as an accepted practice of human government (give unto Caesar what is Caesar, Christ said in Matthew 22:21), there is a reason tax-collectors were despised in His day; they took more than they required and kept the difference. That’s why a penitent Zacchaeus offered to restore foretold to anyone he defrauded (Luke 19:8).

Other things to consider in upholding or violating the Eighth Commandment include:

Failure to pay: Failing or refusing to pay what one owes is theft. It’s one thing to be unable to pay and work out a repayment plan; it’s another thing to refuse payment altogether. Psalm 37:21 tells us the wicked borrow and do not pay again.

Co-Signing, guarantor or suretyship: If there is one thing that the Book of Proverbs warns against is surety or co-signing a loan (Proverbs 6; 22:26). Never agree to take responsibility for someone else’s debt; the horror stories of what follows are endless.

Contentment: We are commanded to be content with what we have (Hebrews 13:5), for godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6). The lack of contentment leads to covetousness, theft, and sorrow.

Get a job: The New Testament tells us to steal no more, but do an honest day’s work and you will have something to give to the needy (Ephesians 4:28); stated more starkly, … if any would not work, neither should he eat’ — 2 Thessalonians 3:10. Imagine how much better off things would be if those who are able to work would do so.

Key to All Ten Commandments

How central is the prohibition against stealing? Does it really contain the other nine commandments? See for your self.

First Commandment: We are to worship and serve no other gods, except the Lord God Himself. Violating this steals the primacy that the Lord our God deserves in our lives; in other words, God should be Number One, period.

Second Commandment: The prohibition on idolatry. Worshipping the creation or a created thing steals the focus and glory which belongs to the invisible God.

Third Commandment: God’s Name is higher than any other and brings salvation (Acts 4:12). Using God’s Name in vain is stealing the reverence and awe it rightly deserves.

Fourth Commandment: Desecrating the sabbath steals the rest and refreshment intended for the individual. The focus on God, faith, and family, which should be our highest priority, is taken away, too.

Fifth Commandment: Dishonoring your parents, whom you can see, mirrors and amplifies dishonour of the Heavenly Father, whom you cannot see. Both the earthly and heavenly are denied the respect, gratitude and credit they rightly deserve.

Sixth Commandment: Murder is the stealing the life of another person.

Seventh Commandment: Adultery is the theft of someone’s intimacy, trust, virtue, vow. It is the vile breaking of the holy covenant and commitment that was promised on the wedding day. Marital love is stolen and carnal lust is put in its place.

Ninth commandment: False witness is another form of lying, and a major form of betrayal, stealing one’s reputation, dignity, livelihood, and peace.

Tenth commandment: Covetousness is the down payment for possible theft, defrauding another and endangering one’s soul, as do the violations of any of the other commandments.

If we will remind ourselves that theft in all its forms is wrong, and teach others likewise, think how much better off this world would be.

 

NEXT TIME: We will learn about the Ninth Commandment – and how precious truth really is.

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

What’s Happening in Canada? Part 01

 

It is the second largest country in the world, land wise. Sprawling, spacious, well-endowed by nature, with the stunning Rockies, attractive city of Vancouver, the quaint provincial capital of Victoria, Niagara Falls, polar bears in Manitoba – the list goes on. It is a valued and trusted neighbor to the north for the United States. Like the US, Britain, Australia & New Zealand, it is a favored haven for multi-ethnic migrants from around the world. And let’s not forget their wonderful maple syrup.

This great nation, called Canada, is meant to be fully western and free. Its 1981 Charter of Rights and Freedom, signed by Pierre Trudeau, father of the current prime minister, has noble statements like:

•    Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law and

•    Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: (a) freedom of conscience and religion; (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;

•    These freedoms are subject only to ‘reasonable limits’ prescribed by as can demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.

Fine sounding words. Yet, if you see what has been happening in Canada, even from the beginning of 2021, should sound alarm bells. It is not just the putative violation of the Charter of Rights, but a head-on assault on religious freedom. In the Canadian province of Alberta, under the cover of Covid restrictions, three pastors have been arrested and jailed – one for a month – for the ‘crime’ of holding church services. Then there is the burning of churches across Canada that began after the discovery of unmarked graves in several locations. At least 23 churches have been vandalised, fire damaged, or destroyed.

What’s happening in Canada? You need to know.

The most high profile pastor is Artur Pawlowski, of The Fortress (Cave) of Adullam Church in Calgary. Pawlowski has been honoured for his community welfare projects, like feeding the homeless. Twice the police showed up at Artur’s church, including Easter Saturday service, only to have him personally expel them. ‘Where’s the warrant?’ he demanded. All of this was on video, which went viral. These ejections have brought embarrassment to the Alberta Health Service and the City of Calgary.

Artur was born and raised in Poland and has seen all this before. During the Cold War, the Polish people were particularly rebellious against communist rule; they were the ones who started the communist world’s first independent trade union called Solidarity; which was the beginning of the (peaceful) end of communism in Europe. Pawlowski says that the oppression he experienced in Poland has now come to Canada. He is no shrinking violet, nor diplomat, and called the authorities ‘Nazis’ and ‘Gestapo psychopaths’ to their face.

They decided to strike back. According to Rebel News, the government used a secret warrant with secret evidence, without providing notice to Pawlowski. It claimed power to enter the premises, even during church services, and if there is a refusal to cooperate, they can use ‘reasonable force as they consider appropriate’ to gain access to the church. In summary, it means the health inspector can come whenever he/she deems necessary and if there is resistance, the person can be arrested, even forcibly, taken to a judge, and jailed for contempt.

In another viral video, Artur and his brother David were arrested and handcuffed, not at the church, but on a busy highway. They were jailed in poor conditions for 53 hours. After being released, an arsonist tried to burn down his house. If that was not all, while in a supermarket car park, Pawlowski was attacked by a crazed elderly man. Though a martial arts expert, in this instance he showed pastoral restraint. The assailant was arrested. Other forms of harassment included loosening the lug nuts on Pawlowski’s truck and vandalising the church.

Currently Pastor Artur is awaiting trial at home, praying and preparing for it. He handed over the church to Peter Reicher, who, too, has been served by the police; though not jailed at this point.

Another Calgary pastor, Tim Stephens of Fairview Baptist Church, met with his church indoors, because Jesus is worthy. After the service, he was arrested and jailed, under a dubious injunction. He has since been released.

Then there is Pastor James Coates of GraceLife Church, near Edmonton. Pastor Coates was arrested and imprisoned for 31 days for holding indoor church meetings. The premises were fenced and locked up. The judge allowed Coates prosecutor to remain anonymous and no scientific evidence need be provided.

Supposedly in the cases of Coates and Stephens, they were given bail conditions that would have kept them out of jail. However, by signing it, they pledged to refrain from holding church services. For both pastors, this was something their consciences would not allow them to do (Acts 5:29).

For Canada, which is a card-carrying member of the liberal democratic world, these are disturbing developments. When it comes to Cultural Marxism, political correctness, hate speech laws, and other curbs on ‘freedom of speech,’ Canada is ahead of America. For years now Christians in Canada have been fined and prosecuted for not toeing the line on the ‘new normal’ of sexual politics and social justice.

Canadian MP Derek Sloan of Ontario, who has publicly supported the pastors in their battles with the Alberta government, criticised the Calgary Police for their conduct. He tweeted: ’They came for Pastor Artur Powlowski yesterday, just as they came for Pastor James Coates 3 months ago. He’s been charged with ‘inciting’ people to worship God. Who will they come for next? And when will they come for you?’

We need to ‘understand the times’ to know what we need to do. First of all, we can and should pray. But second, we need to remember that if there is no push back now against soft tyranny, the next time it will double down and the abuse harden.

The time to pray … and to act … is now.

NOTE: There are churches that are pushing back on tyrannical restrictions, and winning More about that and how we can positively respond in our next edition of Issachar.

 

 

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

The Eighth Commandment: Now More than Ever – Part 02

 

The eighth commandment: You shall not steal. Sounds simple and straightforward, yet as you look at it closely, it becomes a deep well with almost no bottom. Dennis Prager convincingly argues that all the other nine commandments are contained in it. In other words, if you could only remember and keep one of the ten commandments, this would be it.

Stealing does not just involve tangible things like money, jewels, and other valuables. It is possible to steal a person; we call this kidnapping. Or steal data; known as hacking. Or stealing a person’s virtue, it is called rape. Or steal a person’s identity; known as ‘identity theft.’ It involves equally, if not more, valuable intangibles like dignity, reputation, and/or trust.

Intellectual Property: One of the great crimes of our time is the theft of intellectual property where words, ideas, music is obtained without compensation to the owner. The unpardonable sin of academia is a flagrant form of theft called plagiarism: stealing people’s words and ideas without citation or giving them credit, therefore passing them on as if they were your own. If plagiarism is discovered, it will cost the student dearly; they can fail the class, or worse. The vice-chancellor of a university had to resign from his position because of proven multiple acts of plagiarism committed years earlier.

Private property:It’s considered a foundation of a free and prosperous society. Totalitarian regimes steal private property in the nebulous name of ‘the people.’ As history shows, when private property is taken, freedom follows, and then life itself is at risk.

Any sensible individual can agree that stealing is wrong. It is a crime and a sin, as we learned last time. But what motivates people to steal?

Covetousness: This is the subject of the tenth commandment. It means to eagerly crave that which belongs to another; Paul calls it ‘idolatry’ (Colossians 3:15). One of the most egregious examples of covetousness was Ahab and Jezebel in 1 Kings 21. Though endowed with luxury and plenty, the king and queen lusted for more. Ahab cast a covetous eye on the nearby vineyard of Naboth and desired it for his own. When Naboth refused to cooperate, he, with Jezebel’s help, had him killed and stole his vineyard. This crime received a well-deserved prophetic rebuke from the prophet Elijah and their final end was inglorious.

Another example of covetousness was Achan, who coveted the riches of the accursed and destroyed city of Jericho (Joshua 7:21). It brought on him, his family, and his nation, great judgment.

With the increasing ‘entitlement mindset’ in our world today, covetousness is being stoked in a roaring fire. God’s people must lead the way out of this jungle.

Unbelief: When you don’t believe God can provide for your needs (Psalm 78:19), and you neither have the time or money to obtain want you want legitimately, you may be tempted to go ahead and steal it. Don’t fall for it.

Defrauding: Taking by stealth or brazenly that which belongs to another. In Jesus’ day tax-collectors were especially despised because they represented the hated Roman occupation and also collected more than required, thus pocketing the rest. That’s why Zacchaeus the Jericho tax collector announced in front of Jesus that if he had taken anything from any man by false accusation, he would restore it to him fourfold. The Lord wisely perceived that he demonstrated the fruit of repentance and proclaimed that salvation had come to his house. Zacchaeus showed himself to be a son of Abraham (Luke 19:8-9).

To Be Continued

Articles, Education, Faith, Prayer, Prophecy, Teaching, Worship

Overcoming Trials and Temptations

 

 It is not a popular subject but it is oh so common. We live in a fallen world where bad things can happen to good people. While the limitations, indignities, and challenges of this flawed situation affect everyone, we can face each situation with faith and confidence. Psalm 91:5 promises the Godly person that the Lord will be with them in trouble, not necessarily keep them from trouble. There’s more: He will deliver and honor them.

That is the kind of outcome we all want.

Here are a few practical tips of coping with and overcoming trials and temptations.

1.        Grace Milepost: In the trial, God may give early on and periodically along the way ‘grace milepost,’ which are a reminder of God’s presence, mercy, and care for you. It is an immediate ray of hope in the midst of enveloping darkness. Like Rahab’s scarlet cord, this grace milepost will be your lifeline to which you hold onto until victory.

2.        Past Victories: It is always good to remember how God was faithful in the past. Since He never changes, God will be faithful today, tomorrow and forever. The same God who delivered you yesterday is there to deliver you again and again.

3.        Present Biblical promises: There are numerous Scriptural promises of answered prayer, deliverance, and victory. Identify these promises, write them down, confess and meditate on them. They deliver.

4.        Keep going: Don’t let the trial knock you off track. Keep doing what you are called to do. Nehemiah did. Galatians 6:9 says that at the right time you will reap, if you do not give up. The enemy would dearly like to stop you from exercising your call and give up; don’t let him succeed!

5.        Prayer unto peace: You should pray and it will deliver peace. So pray until you receive the peace; come boldly to the throne of grace (Philippians 4:6-7; John 14:27).

6.        Meditate on the Word: This is a powerful practice that guarantees success (Joshua 1; Psalm 1). While you’re doing that, confess the Word aloud, again and again. It is a real faith-builder and victory-snatcher.

7.        Faith instead of sight (2 Corinthians 5:7 – For we walk by faith, not by sight): Don’t be moved by what you see; respond to what you believe. What you see is temporal and what you don’t is eternal — 2 Corinthians 4:18

8.        Distress brings enlargement: Like labor pains before the birth and tribulation before a Millennium, trials are allowed by God to help the righteous grow. David knew all about it: Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer — Psalm 4:1; Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer — Psalm 18:18-19 (emphasis mine).

9.        Be strong: This is not just a good idea – it’s a divine command. Three times, God told Joshua to ‘be strong and of a good courage’ (Joshua 1:6,7,9). It’s not just a ‘good idea’ – it’s a ‘God-idea.’ The Lord will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:12-17: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. If you’re trial is strong, it means you are also strong … strong enough to handle it by God’s grace.

10.   Face it now: John Loeffler says deal with the situation now or it gets harder. Sam Sorbo says the second crime scene is worse than the first. It is understandable to run and hide from the challenge, but often God wants us to face it with Him. Jehoshaphat was victim of an unprovoked attack by three nations, but God wanted him to go to the wilderness and personally witness His miraculous hand at work – 2 Chronicles 20:16-17: God will fight for you but he wants you to see the victory. Psalm 91:7-8: A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

11.   Power of faith: 2 Chronicles 20:20: The trial is the gymnasium of faith. Just like resisting heavy weights causes you to grow stronger, so does standing with God in faith makes you an overcome. When you believe in God and His prophetic word, you are established and prosper.

12.   Power of praise and worship: Continuous, not just seasonal, praise and worship in the Spirit reconfigures the heavenliness, which brings down blessing to the earth. In addition to honoring the Name of the Lord, it is a potent spiritual weapon –  2 Chronicles 20:21-22.

In the midst of the trial, when you continue to seek the Lord and stand strong, make no mistake about it: you are honouring Him more than in normal times. By His grace, you will pull through and end up on the mountain top.

The season of trial will pass … and better days lie ahead … but you will be a bigger, stronger, and more victorious person as a result.

Then go, help others in their affliction. You’ll have much to offer.

 

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching, Temptation

Why Study the Gospel of Matthew Part 03 – The Kingly Messiah

Personal bible study, alone or in a group – big or small – is a sure and steady way to grow spiritually. In The Kingly Messiah: Why Study the Gospel of Matthew Parts 01 & 02, we have provided background information you help you go deeper.

 

In this third and final part, we offer an outline of Matthew to help you on your way to study and personal enrichment. 

OUTLINE OF MATTHEW

Part One: Birth and Growth of the King (1:1-4:11)

I.          The Birth of the King …………….. 1:1 – 2:23

A.  Genealogy of Christ ….. 1:1-17

B.  Birth of Christ …..  1:18-25

C.  Visit of the Wise Men ….. 2:1-12

D.  Flight into Egypt ….. 2:13-15

E.  Herod Kills the Children ….. 2:16-18

F.  Jesus Returns to Nazareth ….. 2:19-23

II.  The Forerunner of the King ……………… 3:1-12

A.  Introduction of John the Baptist ….. 3:1-6

B.  Preaching of John the Baptist ….. 3:7-12

III.  Preparation of the King….. 3:13-4:11

A.  Baptism of Jesus ….. 3:13-17

B.  Temptation of Jesus ….. 4:1-11

                                     Part Two: Sermon on the Mount (4:12-7:29)

I.          Background to the Sermon………………. 4:12-25

A.  Jesus Begins His Ministry ….. 4:12-17

B.  Jesus Calls His First Disciples ….. 4:18-22

C.  Jesus Ministers in Galilee ….. 4:23-25

II.  Sermon on the Mount …..5:1-7:29

A.  Subjects of the Kingdom ….. 5:1-16

B.  Jesus and the Law ….. 5:17-7:6

C.  How to Enter the Kingdom ….. 7:7-27

D.  Aftermath of the Sermon ….. 7:28-29

                       Part Three: Authority and Anointing of the King (8:1-11:1)

I.  The King’s Power Encounters ….. 8:1-9:34

A.  Healings ….. 8:1-17

B.  Call of Discipleship ….. 8:18-22

C.  Miracles of Power 8:23-9:8

D.  Disciples of Jesus are Different

E.  Miracles of Restoration of life, sight, speech.

II.  The Distribution of the King’s Power ….. 9:35 – 11:1

A.  The Need for Delegation ….. 9:35-38

B.  12 Apostles are Dispatched ….. 10:1-4

C.  12 Apostles Are Instructed ….. 10:5-11:1

                                Part Four: The Rejection of the King (11:2-16:12)

I.          The Commencement of Rejection …………….. 11:2-30

A.  Rejection of John the Baptist ….. 11:2-15

B.  Rejection by Jesus’ Generation ….. 11:16-19

C.  Rejection of 3 Galilean cities …. 11:20;24

D.  Come to Jesus ….. 11:25-30

II.  Rejection by the Pharisees (12:1-50)

A.  Dispute over Sabbath Work ….. 12:1-8

B.  Dispute over Sabbath Healing ….. 12:9-13

C.  Plan to Destroy Jesus ….. 12:14-21

D.  Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit …. 12:22-30

E.  The Unpardonable Sin ….. 12:31-37

F.  Demand for a Sign ……. 12:38-45

G.  The True Brethren of Jesus ….. 12:46-50

III.  Aftermath of the Rejection ….. 13:1-53

A.  Parables for the Multitude 13:1-35

B.  Parables for the Disciples 13:36-53

IV.  More Rejection of the King ….. 13:54-16:12

A.  Rejection at Nazareth ….. 13:54-58

B.  Rejection by Herod ….. 14:1-36

C.  Rejection by Scribes & Pharisees … 15:1-39

D.  Rejection by Pharisees and Sadducees … 16:1-12

                          Part Five: Instructing The King’s Disciples (16:13-20:28)

I.          The Revelation in View of Rejection ….. 16:13-17:13

A.  Revelation of the King ….. 16:13-17

B.  Revelation of the Program … 16:18-17:13

II.  Teaching In Light of the Rejection … 17:14-20:28

A.  Teaching about Faith 17:14-21

B.  Teaching about Jesus’ Death .. 17:22-23

C.  Teaching about Taxes … 17:24-27

D.  Teaching about Humility 18:1-5

E.  Teaching about Causing Offence … 18:6-20

F.  Teaching about Forgiveness …. 18:21-35

G.  Teaching about Divorce …. 19:1-15

H.  Teaching about Wealth 19:16-20:16

I.  Teaching about Jesus’ Death … 20:17-19

J.  Teaching about Ambition … 20:20-28

                           Part Six: The King Welcomed & Rejected (20:29-27:66)

I.  Two Blind Men Acknowledge the King … 20:29-34

II.  The King Welcomed in Jerusalem… 21:1-17

A.  The Triumphal Entry … 21:1-11

B.  The cleansing of Temple 21:12-17

III.  Israel Responds to the King ….. 21:18-22:46

A.  The Fig Tree Cursed …. 21:18-22

B.  Collision with Priests & Elders 21:23-22:14

C.  Collision with Pharisees & Herodians … 22:15-22

D.  Collision with Sadducees … 22:23-33

E.  Collision with Pharisees … 22:34-46

IV.  The King Reproves Israel …. 23:1-39

A.  Jesus Describes the Pharisees … 23:1-12

B.  Jesus Condemns the Pharisees … 23:13-36

C.  Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem …. 23:37-39

V.  The King’s Second Coming (Olivet Discourse)… 24:1-25:46

            A.  Herod’s Temple Will Be Destroyed … 24:1-2

B.  The Disciples Questions … 24:3

C.  What is the Second Coming … 24:4-31

D.  When is the Second Coming … 24:32-51

E.  Jesus Judges the Sheep and Goat Nations … 25:1-46

VI.  Passion of the King ….. 26:1-27:66

A.  Conspiracy to Kill Jesus … 26:1-5

B.  Anointing of Jesus for Burial … 26:6-13

C.  Judas Plans to Betray Jesus … 26:14-16

D.  Celebration of Passover – The Last Supper … 26:17-35

E.  Arrest at Gethsemane … 26:36-56

F.  Trial of Jesus … 26:57-27:25

G.  Crucifixion of Jesus … 27:26-56

H.  Burial of Jesus … 27:57-66

                              Part Seven: The Resurrection of the King (28:1-20)

I.  The Tomb is Empty ….. 28:1-8

II.  Jesus Appears to the Women ….. 28:9-10

III.  Jewish Leaders Bribe the Soldiers ….. 28:11-15

IV.  Jesus Appears to the Disciples … 28:16-17

V.  The Great Commission ….. 28:18-20

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

The Queen ‘Cancelled’ … At Oxford University?

It is considered the Number One, or Two, university in the world. She is the most well-known and respected leader on the earth today. They both live in the same country – indeed, they are within 1-2 hours distance from each other. Like horse and carriage, they are synonymous with the greatness of their nation.

Yet we are in a culture war with ‘political correctness,’ ’historical revision,’ ‘defund the police,’ with continuous attacks on national borders, traditions, and institutions. Part and parcel of cultural Marxism and the culture war is ‘cancel culture,’ which seeks to silence, de-platform, and, if possible, destroy, the object of its scorn. It doesn’t just target the little guy; even the rich and famous have been in its cross-hairs, like JK Rowlings, Donald Trump, and Franklin Graham (none of these have disappeared yet).

Did Queen Elizabeth II get ‘cancelled’ at Oxford University? It depends on how your perspective.

Perspective, Please

Here’s what actually happened. Magdalen College, one of the top schools of Oxford, has a ‘Middle Common Room’(MCR) for the graduate students. At a June 2021 meeting, 17 of the 250 MCR members, most of them international students, debated whether a 1952 portrait of the Queen should stay or be removed from the wall. The student president of MCR, Matthew Katzman, aged 25, from Maryland USA, led the charge for removal.

Katzman said the MCR should be a welcoming neutral place for all members regardless of background, demographics or views. The portrait of the Queen is ‘unwelcoming’ because its ‘depictions of the monarch and the British monarchy represent recent colonial history. Patriotism and colonialism are not really separable ….’ Being an American, Katzman would be unfamiliar with royal things and Magdalen, founded in1458, as well as the historical city of Oxford, are full of royal items, sculptures, and art.

It needs also to be noted the portrait has only been in the MCR since 2013; apparently, before that date there was no picture of the monarch. What the students were doing was simply exercising their democratic right to decorate their common room as they see fit. After all, if you can’t have freedom of speech in a university, what hope do we have for the rest of society (Note: Freedom of speech at university level is under threat … but that’s a separate matter).

The President of Magdalen, Dinah Rose QC, supported the students right to make that decision, in part because of the need to protect free speech in the face of cancel culture. Rose expressed personal admiration for the Monarch and the British values she upholds. These include debate and the right of freedom of expression, even if such is offensive and wrong. In conclusion, Rose said, ‘I strongly support the MCR’s exercise of that right, and their right to take democratic decision about their own affairs, including the decoration of their own space in college.’[1] Sounds reasonable.

So let’s not make this bigger than what it is — the portrait of the Queen will not be ‘hanging out’ with the Magdalen students. This is not Bastille Day.

Please Consider

Freedom of speech means the ability to speak your mind without censure; but it also means being ready to handle a response. Please consider the following:

RIGHT OF REPLY: In former times, public statements could be countered by opposing arguments. That’s part of the deal. Yet in today’s highly triggered, thin-skinned, prima donna snowflake world, you can’t have people exercising free speech, only to bubble wrap and whisk them to a ‘safe space’ so they can’t hear counter arguments. It doesn’t work like that.

Magdalen’s MCR decision did get some high-profile and negative responses.

UK Education Gavin Williamson called the decision ‘absurd’ and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed. Oxford Chancellor Lord Patten called the student vote ‘offensive and obnoxiously ignorant.’

Harry Mount, a graduate of Magdalen, wrote in The Daily Mail, that the student decision to remove the portrait was ‘the latest example of knee-jerk wokery’ (here’s a new word for you) and got him thinking how ‘how stupid very clever people can sometimes be.’

TIMING: Part of the outraged response has to do with timing and the monarch herself. Britain has just gone through a long lock-down, with all the trauma and stress it entailed. ‘Cancel culture’ has struck like a hand-grenade tossed into a crowd. The Queen had just lost her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, on 9 April 2021, two months shy of his 100th birthday. Then there are the continued actions and statements of Harry and Meghan, even from far away California. The Queen is a strong survivor but it is still a lot to bear on a 95 year old woman. British people are feeling extra protective of the Her Majesty at this time.

It’s one thing to protest and oppose an unpopular king like James II, who spawned the Glorious Revolution of 1688. It is another thing to show ‘seeming disrespect’ to the longest serving and most popular monarch in British history. While the MCR students may not have intended any kind of insult towards the Queen, the timing during all these events was unfortunate and can be easily misinterpreted.

IGNORANCE: Though the graduate students at Magdalen can do what they want with their common room, at least offer a proper reason. To say that Elizabeth II represents ‘recent colonial history’ truly is absurd (Note: Cultural Marxist often throw around the word ‘colonial’ to make it synonymous with ‘racism’).

In her long reign, the Queen has presided over the peaceful decolonisation of the British Empire, from which emerged the Commonwealth of Nations. Many of these former colonies are enthusiastic participants in the Commonwealth, which consists of fifty-four sovereign nations, 2.4 billion people, of which 60% are under the age of 30. It is a big global multinational, multiracial family. The Queen is the titular head of the Commonwealth and greatly loved by its members; it is perhaps her finest individual achievement. To the students of MCR, you are free to do what you want in your common room, but come up with a better reason.

TREND: The MCR controversy is just a blip on the radar compared to a much bigger civil war brewing at Oxford University. Cancel culture includes toppling of statues, which has happened in the USA and UK. Historical figures are being ‘cancelled’ because of alleged links to slavery, however tenuous they may be. The National Trust, caretaker of historic homes and mansions throughout the UK, have 93 of their sites blacklisted because of supposed links to slavery by the original owners.

One reviled figure is Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902), whose statue is displayed prominently high up at Oriel College, a school he helped fund. Rhodes scholarship comes from him. The Left see Rhodes as an oppressive coloniser, while the other side said he is a historical figure; toppling his statue would ‘erase history’ and ‘censor the past.’ A head of one college at Oxford is boycotting cooperation with Oriel and tutoring its students until the statue is removed (Honest question: How does removing a statue help oppressed people?).

BIGGER THREAT: The monarchy faces a bigger threat than the removal of a portrait from a common room or Cecil Rhodes statue. Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have gone on record saying publicly ‘racism’ and ‘deception’ are found in the monarchy, the Commonwealth, the British press, and other unsubstantiated claims. These pronouncements may die down and be forgotten, which is the preferred outcome, or they could flare up again, either by the Sussexes or someone else who picks up the torch.

From a Biblical perspective, God is not in the business of cancelling out people, but of redeeming them from sin, giving them an abundant life in this world, and hope for the world to come. The things that gets cancelled include ‘sin, shame, and death.’

That’s the glory of the Gospel.

 

 

 

 

 


[1] ‘Now PM hits out over students’ outrageous attack on the Queen, by Josh White and Glen Keogh, The Daily Mail, June 10, 2021, page 6.

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

The end of an era? Israel’s New Government

He has been a towering figure in Israeli and even global politics for fifteen non-consecutive years (1996-1999; 2009-2021). Many younger Israelis have known no other leader than him. It is reported that, apart from the American President, he received more world leaders than anyone else. While increasingly a polarising figure at home, he was received with great honor in places like Washington, Moscow, and Beijing.

Our course the man in question is Benjamin ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu, who is Israel’s longest serving Prime Minister. On Sunday, 13 June 2021, Netanyahu ceded, most reluctantly, the prime ministership to a new Change government.

Assessing Netanyahu

From an objective point of view, Netanyahu has been an effective leader. As Finance Minister and Prime Minister, he presided over the growth of the economy, helping to make  Israel a start-up capital and Middle Eastern Silicon Valley. When it comes to issues of national security and counter-terrorism, Israelis trust him most. More than any other person Netanyahu has been sounding the alarm over Iran’s nuclear program.

On the diplomatic front, he quietly built relations with Arab world, particularly Saudi Arabia and some of the Gulf Countries, something that was unthinkable a few years ago. Evolving from a ‘no recognition of Israel’ to a cautious embrace, they have been attracted to its technology and also as a serious counterweight to Iran. Eventually, under the supervision of US President Trump, came the Abraham Accords in October 2020, where the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco, have all agreed to make peace with the Jewish state. Others Arab nations are expected to follow. Netanyahu’s eloquence – in English and Hebrew – is unrivalled.

Yet, there is always the challenge when a person has been in power for a long time, namely the threat of corruption. Netanyahu is currently being tried for that very thing. Of course, he should be presumed innocent until proven guilty, but it is a drag on the entire country. There has been the political stalemate with four elections in two years, and being the powerful person he is, it is fair to say that he is the epicentre of it. Then, his attacks on the incoming government have been described as unfair and virulent.

Introducing Naftali Bennett

Who is the man who replaced Netanyahu as Prime Minister of Israel? His name is Naftali Bennett, leader of the New Right Party (Yamina). Bennett was born in March 1972 in Haifa, the son of Jewish migrants from the United States. A very successful business owner and multi-millionaire, he is an observant Orthodox Jew. Bennett is married to a professional pastry chef named Gilat and they have four children.

Politically, he is right of Netanyahu and described as an ‘ultra-nationalist.’ He is against a Palestinian state ‘in the tiny land of Israel,’ believes in cutting taxes, reducing regulation, and encouraging small business. While he affirms homosexuals have the same human rights as anyone else, he is against same-sex marriage or the advancement of the gay agenda. Many of his coalition partners, and even Netanyahu, are far more ‘gay-friendly’ than Bennett.

Israel’s proportional representation democracy means that every election results in a hung parliament; thus rendering all Israeli governments a coalition. Under Netanyahu, there were right-wing and religious parties in his coalition. Under Bennett, the religious and right-wing parties are gone and secular, centrist, leftist have replaced it. For the first time ever, the Arab parties, called Joint List, are part of an Israeli coalition government. 

The Challenges Ahead

Bennett’s main partner is Yesh Atid (there is a future) secular centrist party, led by Yair Lapid. They have a revolving agreement: Bennett will serve as Prime Minister from June 13, 2021- to 27 August, 2023. On the latter date, Lapid will become Prime Minister until November 2025.

That’s if the coalition last that long, and it is a big ‘IF.’ Prospects are not good. Bennett’s Change Government has 61 Knesset (Israel’s parliament) seats and Netanyahu has 59. If just one member of Bennett’s coalition defects, the whole government will come crashing down, triggering a new election.

Then there is the Netanyahu factor: He will not go away nor will he be cancelled. He continues to serve as leader of the Likud Party and Opposition Leader. It is no secret that he aims to do what he can to undermine the new government, and considering its ultra-thin majority, that won’t be hard to do.

And it won’t be necessarily just Netanyahu who will put the new Change government to the test. Two days after Bennett took office, Hamas deployed fire balloons from Gaza, which have started 30 fires in Israeli areas near the border. 

When it comes to the Middle East, especially Israel, expect the unexpected. In the meantime, there is something you can do: pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6). Jew and Arab, Christian and Muslim, will all be better off because of it.

#yamina #naftalibennett #netanyahu #psalm122 #psalm122v6 #teachallnations #

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Covid-19 & Fauci Emails: A Smoking Gun?

 

During the height of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, he was the face of America’s national response. His name became a household word. Many considered him ‘America’s Doctor,’ having served as the chief medical advisor to every US President since Ronald Reagan.

The man: Anthony Fauci, scientist, physician, and immunologist. He is the Director of the American National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). He was the lead member of President Trump’s White House Coronavirus Task Force. An anxious nation looked to his voice of reason, calm, and knowledge to get through the scourge of the pandemic. Fauci enjoyed great favour with the mainstream media.

Is that image changing? With the release of 3,200 pages of emails through Buzzfeed thanks to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), it appears there is another side to this ‘respected and trusted’ face of Fauci. Though there is still much to sort through and the emails are redacted, yet things look questionable, if not ominous

Remember at the outbreak of the pandemic? The world was told that Covid-19 came from bats in the Wuhan wet market. Yet, this explanation did not satisfy. Reports came that the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) may have been the source. Fauci denied it and the mainstream media criticised anyone advocating this position as a ‘conspiracy theory.’ Of course, since Donald Trump was the biggest proponent of the ‘lab leak,’ the media was even more insistent that it was wrong.

Then Wall Street Journal reported that in November 2019, just before the outbreak of the pandemic, three researchers at WIV had been infected with Covid like symptoms. This put more credence into the theory. This report may have lit the fuse.

Attitudes began to change when a delegation from the World Health Organisation (WHO) went to WIV in January 2021 to inspect the facility. They were only allowed three hours in the facility by their Chinese hosts and faced other limitations. This visit breathed new life into the ‘lab leak’ theory. Then, in May 2021, eighteen prominent scientists signed an open letter asking for a full investigation of the WIV.

Dr. Fauci denied there was a lab leak for the longest time. Only recently he said that he is ‘not convinced’ that Covid-19 developed naturally (meaning, through bats at the wet market). It is beyond the scope of this article to go into all the details – they are massive, being processed, and redacted – but please consider: Fauci’s NIAID, via the Ecohealth Alliance, gave money (in the millions) to WIV and deny the virus leaked from the lab. Why the donations to WIV and why the denial?

Fauci finally admitted to doing the funding but said it was to avoid an outbreak on American soil. Since this was the case, if the lab leak theory is true, then America basically helped fund a pandemic!

One of the main issues is ‘gain-of-function’ (GOF), where you juice up a virus and make it potent, either to develop a vaccine to counter it or weaponise it for bio-terror. We may never know the true motivation since much documentation was destroyed. However, the emails appear to show that Fauci knew about the GOF at WIV and approved it.

In summary, what have we learned about Fauci and the emails?

1.       He knew that school age children were not at risk; yet, he advocated the closure of American schools;

2.       He went from saying masks obtained in the store do not work, yet he then became a zealous masker;

3.       He ignored the sound and common sense advice from his own scientific colleagues (isolate the vulnerable, let the healthy develop herd immunity, get back to normal) and appeared to prefer the fear and drama of locking up healthy people nationwide.

4.       Contrary to his public denials, Fauci probably knew early on the virus started from a lab leak at WIV.

5.       The USA under Fauci funded dangerous research which was banned at WIV – in essence, creating viruses that never existed.

6.       In 2012, USA wanted to ban ‘GAF’ research (it later did), Fauci said such research should continue and was ‘worth the risk of a pandemic.’

7.       Fauci was warned that Wuhan was not telling the truth regarding the data and virus- and ignored the warnings.

8.       According to the Daily Telegraph, Dr Fauci knew that Covid-19 was potentially engineered – yet he said nothing in the early months of the pandemic. Others had to bring this to light.

9.       Could his knowledge, indeed, complicity in dangerous ‘GAF’ research in Wuhan make him liable to civil lawsuits or criminal penalty? Only time will tell.

He knew about the uselessness of masks and of the lab leak, but he was prepared to tell the supportive media keep the myth of masks and Covid’s ‘natural wet-market origin’ for months. They were his 

rockweiler to anyone who strayed from this narrative.

THE BIG QUESTION: However, there is a really big question that has nothing to do with the emails. Just days before Donald Trump was inaugurated US President in January 2017, Anthony Fauci predicted that the incoming administration would face a major public health challenge in the area of infectious disease and there would be ‘a surprise outbreak.’ In essence, he predicted the 2020 pandemic three years before it happened.

How did he know for sure it would happen?

Why was he so confident it would happen?

Most telling, why did he not use his knowledge and good office to fight this thing? According Sky News Australia’s Sharri Markson: quote ‘Fauci is the man solely responsible for lifting the US ban on this risky research in 2017.’

What were the results of it all?

The United States (and the world) was locked up, masked up, with a wounded once-healthy economy. People lost income, jobs, businesses and their health. Lives were turned upside down, school children were kept from the classroom – the price was enormous. And Anthony Fauci was a key influence behind these decisions.

What does all this mean?

Former (US) Center of Disease Control (CDC) Director Robert Redfield: I was threatened and ostracised because I proposed another hypothesis (to the origin of Covid) … I expected it from politicians, I did not expect it from science.’

Beyond Anthony Fauci, what can we learn from this? By now we know that political correctness, spawned by cultural Marxism and postmodernism, has had a significant and adverse effect on society. However, if you think that it is only limited to politicians and mainstream media, think again. PC and playing politics is found in all areas of life, including Christendom and science.

While we have been led to believe that scientists are paragons of objectivity in research, the Fauci emails offer a different view. Scientists can have the same pre-conceived prejudices as anyone else. Even when they want to be unbiased, the pressure of obtaining funding for research projects is so great that they feel the need to ‘bow the knee’ to the PC party line.’ Remember that next time you are told there is ‘scientific consensus’ and ‘settled science’ vis a vis man-made global warming or evolution.

Solution? In the natural, we need to demand more transparency and accountability from public figures. A professional, impartial media based on true journalistic standards, would be a great place to start. Private citizens can exercise this prerogative and have more power that realised. Some of them, with a phone camera and healthy curiosity, are becoming ‘citizen journalists.’

More importantly – and effectively – is a widespread latter day outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:17). Wait on God and pray fervently, knowing that God’s best is worth the wait!

#fauciemails #politicalcorrectness #revivalnow #acts2v17 #originofcovid #originofpandemic #covid-19origin

 

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

The Eighth Commandment: More than Ever

 

 

It was a most unsettling thing. At the age of seventeen, I went on a visit to the stunningly beautiful Oregon coast in the United States for a short holiday break. There I caught up with two young ladies who attended my high school, Hudson’s Bay in Vancouver, Washington. One of them graduated with me. We went to visit the local convenience store; while one of them was having a friendly chat with the owner at the cash register, the other was piling foodstuffs into her purse. ‘We have to do it this way,’ she told me later. ‘We don’t have enough money and if we didn’t do this we would starve.’

My reaction? Horror! I had never seen someone brazenly steal first-hand. They didn’t seem to have a problem with it, either. As a new Christian, and even before becoming born again, I knew that stealing was wrong. What I didn’t realise at the time is that you don’t have to be Christian to know that stealing is not just wrong — it’s a crime. Most cultures understand this, but Western Civilisation was built on the ten commandments, so it is especially pertinent.

As we continue our series into the ten commandment, we now focus our attention on the eighth commandment, found in Exodus 20:15: You shall not steal! The Hebrew word for ‘steal’ is ganav, which means thief, steal, obtain something illegitimately, often (though not always) by stealth. We know stealing is wrong thanks to the eighth commandment.

While the eight commandment is short, the ramifications are large. You will be amazed how vast and complicated the network of stealing is today, and what we can do about it.

In North Wales, United Kingdom, is a charming (Irish) seaside town called Llandudno. Enjoy a walk on the pier or boardwalk; but beware, the seagulls of Llandudno are the most aggressive you will find anywhere in the world. My wife was eating a wrap for lunch. While she turned her head for just a moment, the seagull swopped down and took the entire wrap from her hand. Gone. As for me, the same thing happened except I managed to keep most of my wrap; the seagull managed to get a big bite.

Or, what about your adorable two year old granddaughter finding the cookie jar and helping herself to as much as she likes?

Question: Did the seagull ‘steal’ my wife’s wrap? Did the two-year old granddaughter steal the cookies? Most people would say, ‘No.’ The seagull was hungry and did what any seagull would do. Young children may not know any better, though you would be surprised how quickly they learn.

But what if it was a teenager or adult who grabbed my wife’s wrap, instead of a bird? What about the two high school friends in the Oregon Coast convenience store? Did they steal. No doubt about it, the answer is an unequivocal ‘Yes.’ What are the implications?

1.       Private property: Biblically speaking, people have a right to private property. Scripturally speaking, it all belongs to God and we are mere stewards, but legally and naturally, we are the owners. (Note: Part of the resistance to socialism is that the governing elite fights against private property: What is yours is actually ours; What is ours is ours (though usually invoking that everything they do is for ‘the people’ but in reality the ruling elite benefit from taking what belongs to others.’ No one should be denied their rightful property except by due process of law. Apart from that, it is theft and a denial of justice.

2.       Image of God: From the very beginning, it is understood that God created us in His image (Genesis 1:26). While the meaning of this label is subject to discussion, it clearly means moral responsibility and a clear conscience.

3.       Crime: It is universally recognised that theft is a crime and there are severe penalties if caught and convicted. We will learn that theft is not just the petty shoplifter: it can be a sophisticated work in the highest echelons of business, government, culture, and, sadly, sometimes in the church. All of these are crimes. Remember Bernie Madoff, an American financier who was once chairman of the NASDAQ stock exchange? He ran the largest Ponzi scheme in history, by ‘payment for order flow,’ a form of kickback. The scheme was worth around $65 billion and people lost life savings over it. Madoff was sentenced for 150 years and died in prison.

4.       Sin: Whatever form it may be, theft is not just a crime … it is a sin, too. Not every thief will be caught and tried in a human court, yet all will stand before the great white throne judgement of Revelation 20. The punishment here is far, far worse, than Madoff’s 150 years – it is for eternity.

As we continue to look at this important topic, realise that theft is far more extensive than merely shoplifting. It can happen electronically and online. During the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, scammers were raking in big money all by text messaging and internet. Underage carjackers, emboldened by the Left’s attacks on the police, bail reform which means ‘no bail,’ and leftist district attorneys who basically don’t enforce the law, are proliferating in American cities. Marxist activists are teaching how to take over an entire Walmart store with ‘only ten people,’ or how to block a highway ‘with only five people.’

Realise this: God’s King and Kingdom are coming. You will never have to worry about being a victim of theft in the kingdom. But in the meantime, we need to know more about the eighth commandment, why people steal, how to stop it, and begin to lay the foundations of an honourable life.

#eighthcommandment #8thcommandment #dontsteal #theft #stealing #tencommandments #10commandments #bible #lawofmoses #jesuschrist #revelation20 #greatwhitethronejudgment

TO BE CONTINUED>