Greetings members and friends and welcome to another commentary and preview to this Sunday’s study of the Word.  This Sunday’s study text is entitled “Jacob Called Israel” and it is based on Genesis 32:22-32. 

Much has happened in the life of Jacob since his brother Esau agreed to exchange his birthright for some of Jacob’s food.  He had fled his father’s house and gone to live with his mother’s brother.  He had married both of his first cousins and between them and their handmaids, he had fathered eleven sons. 

In that same time with the blessing of God, he had managed to become quite a wealthy and prosperous man by ancient near eastern standards.  He had also had an encounter with God where he pledged allegiance to Him in exchange for His protection and blessing and safe return to his home someday. 

In the study text today, Jacob has decided to return to the land of his birth.  As he nears the final approach, he is uncertain what he will find or what his brother will do or how he will react to his return.  He had sent ahead of himself several gifts for his brother Esau in an effort to smooth things over with him.  At last, he sent his family across the final stretch of land before encountering his brother. 

Before the break of day, Jacob found himself wrestling with someone who turned out to be someone with the power to bless him with what appears to be a divine blessing.  The blessing lied in the ability to change his name from Jacob to Israel.  I believe it was in response to the manner in which Jacob had witness a change in the way he saw himself, others and God. 

Jacob was not the same man he was when he left.  His new name reflected this new life and attitude and how God would use him to continue His covenant and promise to Abraham.  Jacob’s new name can be viewed as a new birth or new beginning that signals a new relationship. 

The same can be said of those who experience a new life and relationship with God by placing their trust and faith in Him. 

Well, be sure to look over the study again and come prepared to offer your comments, questions and perspective on the meaning of the study.  If you can’t attend your own Sunday School class this Sunday, you can join us live and online at 9:00 am at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link. 

You can also join us live by dialing 508 924-2890.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section or you can share them on Sunday.  So, let’s all have a great lesson and discussion this Sunday and remember to fear God and keep His commandments. 

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings members and friends and welcome to another commentary and preview to this Sunday’s study of the Word.  This Sunday’s study text is entitled “God Chooses the Younger Twin” and it is based on Genesis 25:19-34. 

Today’s study text tells us more about how God fulfilled His promise to Abram.  Abram, who God changed name to Abraham, had only one son by his wife Sarah whom he named Isaac. Isaac was the son of promise and the one God renewed His promise and covenant to Abraham with.

Just like his mother, Isaac’s wife was without child for a long time.  When she did conceive, she only conceived once to our knowledge and bare two twin boys.  These children were Abraham’s grandsons. 

The younger twin whose name was Jacob, proved to be more interested in heritage and inheritance than his older brother Esau.  It was with this younger brother God would renew and continue to fulfill His promise and plan He began with Abraham through.  Esau didn’t prove himself to be the person God could and would work His will through but Jacob did. 

There was something about desiring and having little regard for an ancient birthright that made a difference to God.  Today, the birthright that Esau swore to give to his brother is like the gift of eternal life God is offering and promised to give to humanity. 

Jacob saw the importance and value of the birthright, but Esau didn’t until it was too late to do anything about it.  True believers, like Jacob, recognize the value of life and God’s offer of eternal life to those who have faith and believe.  They are doing what they believe is required and necessary to receive God’s gift because they recognize the value of it and desire it like Jacob did of the ancient birthright. 

Everyone else fails to recognize the value of life and have exchanged or are exchanging their life and soul for the things of this world just as Esau did for some food to eat at that moment.  At and in the present moment, people who are and have sold or exchanged their life for the world value what the world has to offer more than the promise of life with God.  Some haven’t heard about or believe this promised life is possible or worth what it takes to receive it. 

Maybe Esau didn’t really believe he would lose his birthright to Jacob even though he swore to sell it to him at the time.  Maybe he though Jacob was just kidding.  Regardless of the reason, maybe he thought what he did would not result in the actual loss of his birthright.  What he found out too late is that we should never play or take chances or treat likely something that is important to us. 

What is more important than life?  This is what we do when we ignore God’s call to live by His commands.  We misjudge the consequences of ignoring and skirting with God commandments just like Esau did of agreeing to sell his birthright to Jacob. 

Later on, at the time of their father Isaac’s death, when it was time to pass on the birthright to his oldest son, Esau desired the birthright he had sold to his brother regardless of what he thought at the time he sold it to Jacob.  Maybe he had even forgotten that he sold it.  But he did not and could not receive it because God had chosen Jacob to continue to fulfill His promise to Abraham.  

Some choices regardless of how we see them in the moment have unintended and irreversible consequences.  Likewise, people who distain eternal life now, when faced with the certainty and consequences of death will desire and seek life, even the life that God has promised.  Because at that moment we will realize that life, even life under God, is better than death.  But like Esau, we will not be able to receive it. 

Eternal life, like Esau’s birthright, is nothing to play with, take chances with or devalue at any time and for any reason.  God is granting us a right to the tree of life but unlike Esau we must not put it in jeopardy for any reason regardless how insignificant we may think the consequence for doing so. 

Well, be sure to look over the study again and come prepared to offer your comments, questions and perspective on the meaning of the study.  If you can’t attend your own Sunday School class this Sunday, you can join us live and online at 9:00 am at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link. 

You can also join us live by dialing 508 924-2890.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section or you can share them on Sunday.  So, let’s all have a great lesson and discussion this Sunday and remember to fear God and keep His commandments. 

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings members and friends and welcome to another commentary and preview to this Sunday’s study of the Word.  This Sunday’s study text is entitled “The Call Of Abram” and it is based on Genesis 12:1-5, 7; 15:1-7. 

Today’s study is the biblical text that reveals God’s call of a certain man to trust and obey Him.  That certain man’s name was initially Abram.  Abram lived in a city or place call Ur presumably in a part of the world which we now call Iraq.  

This call of Abram set in motion the means by which Jesus Christ would be born into the world and make possible salvation for all people.  The Old Testament, and especially the earlier books, have many instances where God is said to have spoken to others.  There are a few questions that naturally arise from reading that God spoke to anyone. 

First, in what manner did He speak or what was His method of communication?  The second question is how do those who wrote what was said have the context of the conversations?  While the answer to both of these questions is somewhat mysterious, those of us who have faith in God nevertheless don’t discount the accuracy or truth of them. 

Herein begins the journey of faith.  Abram is called the father of faith.  According to his call, God did not tell Him where he was going, but only to go where He shall send him.  Most people will want to know where they are going before committing to go anywhere. 

One of the key aspects of faith is not knowing what you believe.  Abram was told to leave everything and everyone he knew behind and trust and obey the voice of God.  The voice of God which Abram responded to promised to make him a great nation, to make his name great and to become a blessing to all people on the earth. 

Faith has no way of knowing this will come to pass or happen.  Faith believes it will.  So Abram packed up all his possessions, his family and household including his nephew Lot, and began moving in the direction the Lord commanded him to go. 

Abram ended up in Canaan where God spoke to him again.  This time He told him He was giving the land of Canaan to him and his descendants.  Even though there were people already living there, the land they were on didn’t belong to them.  For the earth belongs to the Lord and no person on it has any claim or right to any part of it. 

The second portion of the study text says the Lord appeared to Abram in a vision and told Him that He was his shield and exceedingly great reward.  This prompted Abram to ask about his heritage and descendants. 

Abram was getting older and did not have a biological son of his own.  He had many slaves and servants whom he loved and respected.  If he did not have a son or child of his own, they his property would be left to a cherished servant. 

But God took this opportunity to reassure him as he was aging that a slave or servant would not be his heir, but that he would have a biological child who would be his heir.  Not only that, but God asked him to look up and count the stars.  They were too numerous to count.  He told him his descendants shall also be just like that, too numerous to count.  Again, Abram believed what God said. 

Here again is our example of faith.  Not knowing how, but believing it will.  All of Abram descendants include those who have the faith of Abram.  God counts them righteous as He did Abram because of their faith. 

Jesus is the seed of Abram.  Through His works, words and sacrifice He has completed what God started with His call to Abram.  It was and is God’s intention to bless and save the world through grace and faith. 

There were others with faith before Abram like Abel and Noah just to mention a few.  But it was Abram that God put in motion His redemptive plan to save humanity whom He calls Abram’s descendants by faith and the grace bought by the blood of Jesus Christ. 

Well, be sure to look over the study again and come prepared to offer your comments, questions and perspective on the meaning of the study.  If you can’t attend your own Sunday School class this Sunday, you can join us live and online at 9:00 am at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link.  You can also join us live by dialing 508 924-2890.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section or you can share them on Sunday.  So, let’s all have a great lesson and discussion this Sunday and remember to fear God and keep His commandments. 

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings members and friends and welcome to another commentary and preview to this Sunday’s study of the Word.  This Sunday’s study text is entitled “Come And Enter” and it is based on Revelation 22:10-21. 

To “seal” something is to close it shut so that nothing can come in and nothing came venture out.  This prophesy contained in the entire book of Revelation is not to be sealed so that others do not have access to it.  But God wants His people to know what is contained in the prophesy. 

The reason that is given is because the fulfillment of the prophesy is near or close.  Nearness or closeness are words whose meaning are determined by how one measures time and distance.  We must remember time to God is nonexistent, yet for humanity a century or millennium can seem like a long time. 

Exactly when the fulfillment of the prophesy shall begin and how long it will take before it is fully complete is difficult for me to say.  Some scholars and theologians may say that the fulfillment of parts of it has already started.  That may or may not be true.  But one thing is certain, there are things and events prophesied that have not yet taken place or occurred. 

There is a declaration here in the text that affirms the irreversibility of the state a person enters judgement in.  In order words, our choices on how we lived our lives are final.  There are no make ups or second chances.  We shall be rewarded according to our works.  Works mean the things we have chosen to do in and with our bodies. 

Rewards can be good and pleasant or negative and unpleasant.  The one speaking declares Himself to be everything.  There is nothing before Him, after Him or outside Him.  Everything is contained within Him.  There is a blessing or pleasant reward for those who keep the words of the Eternal One. 

Among those rewards is granted the right to live in the eternal city alongside God Himself.  Those who refused to keep His commandments are seen as undesirable and are not permitted inside the gates of the eternal, holy city. 

Jesus testifies that He has sent His angels to John to reveal this prophesy.  He identifies Himself as the promised King who is sitting on the everlasting throne of David and the bright and morning light. 

He ends by again extending an invitation to all who are willing to be ruled and governed by God and who are thirsty for righteousness to come and enjoy the blessing of eternity all with Him and those who love Him and truth. 

A final warning is given against changing anything that John has revealed in the prophesy.  Absolutely nothing should be added or taken away.  We must do our best to understand what it all means and endure everything that shall come to pass. 

The one thing we can be confident of is that no matter how dire or bleak or confusing things may get we know everything is going to turn out more than all right for those who love and trust God.  Jesus ends by saying He is coming quickly which for Him is no time at all but for us may be many thousands of years. 

Well, be sure to look over the study again and come prepared to offer your comments, questions and perspective on the meaning of the study.  If you can’t attend your own Sunday School class this Sunday, you can join us live and online at 9:00 am at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link. 

You can also join us live by dialing 508 924-2890.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section or you can share them on Sunday.  So, let’s all have a great lesson and discussion this Sunday and remember to fear God and keep His commandments. 

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings members and friends and welcome to another commentary and preview to this Sunday’s study of the Word.  This Sunday’s study text is entitled “The River of Life” and it is based on Revelation 22:1-7. 

Today’s study text is a continuation of John’s prophesy concerning a new heaven and new earth.  He describes what he saw and heard as they were revealed to him.  Chapter 22 is the last chapter in the book.  John begins with the revelation of a river of water. 

Today we are accustomed to seeing and drinking water that looks clean and pure.  But even the cleanest looking water can be contaminated with substances unseen with the naked eye.  Be that as it may, we, as well as people in John’s day, understand, know and appreciate the value of clean water.  John said it appeared clear as crystal.  John is describing water everyone, especially when thirsty, would love to drink. 

The source of this water came running from the throne of God and of the Lamb.  This beautiful crystal, clear river of living water ran down the middle of a golden street.  Just try to imagine what this must look like.  

On both sides of the river was the famed tree of life which was first mention at the fall of man.  This tree bore twelve fruits each month.  The number 12 features prominently again.  The leaves of the tree served to heal those who were redeemed from mankind from any leftover effects from their ordeal and earthly trauma. 

Just like the description of the city and temple are intended as a memorial and symbol, but not necessary for God or His people, so is this river and tree of life.  For God nor His people will have need of water or of food or of healing or time.  This part of the prophesy is intended to demonstrate and symbolize the complete provision of all of the needs of those who are there. 

The next three verses give an overview of daily life in the city and God’s relationship with His people.  People within the walled city have everything they will ever need and they live in the presence of God. 

The last two verses of the study text reaffirm the reason for the prophesy and the certainty that it shall come to pass.  The reason is so that God’s earthly people will know ahead of time what shall happen.  It is to warn them, prepare them and encourage them so they will not fear or become discouraged or dishearten in the face of the trials and tribulations they will encounter and be forced to endure. 

The concluding text uses the word “quickly” to describe how Jesus says He is coming.  Quickly can mean suddenly or without warning.  It can also mean not long or a short period of time.  I think we should take the word to mean both. 

Just when people have given up and have written Him off and are not looking for His return, this is when Jesus shall suddenly or quickly appear.  Though years and centuries seem long to us, we must remember that a thousand years is as one day with the Lord. 

The river of life and the tree of life will stand forever as a testimony of faith for those who are saved.  It serves as a motivator now for those of us who need both food and water to survive and as a place of peace, rest, beauty and tranquility.  

Well, be sure to look over the study again and come prepared to offer your comments, questions and perspective on the meaning of the study.  If you can’t attend your own Sunday School class this Sunday, you can join us live and online at 9:00 am at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link. 

You can also join us live by dialing 508 924-2890.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section or you can share them on Sunday.  So, let’s all have a great lesson and discussion this Sunday and remember to fear God and keep His commandments. 

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings members and friends and welcome to another commentary and preview to this Sunday’s study of the Word.  This Sunday’s study text is entitled “A New City” and it is based on Revelation 21:10-21. 

The Book of Revelation is and was given by Jesus to be given to His followers and believers so that they would know of things to come.  John, the apostle of Jesus Christ and author of the gospel which bears his name said he was instructed to write the things he saw and heard so that those who believed would know what was and is to come.  Revelation describes what shall and will happen in the end. 

Today’s study is a continuation of last week’s study of John’s prophesy concerning the new heaven and earth.  John is given a vision of God’s holy city which John calls new Jerusalem.  The old Jerusalem was and still is called the city of God.  It is the city and place where God is said to have said He would place His name. 

The following biblical references give context to God establishing His name in Jerusalem:  1 Kings 8:12-21, 9:3; 11:13, 2 Kings 20:6, and 2 Chronicles 7:16 among others. 

God chose to forever place, establish and associate His name with the city of Jerusalem even as it is today.  The three Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Islam and Christianity all revere and recognize Jerusalem with the God of Heaven.  Even people of other religions and nonreligions make this connection. 

Jerusalem represents the place on earth where God resides with His people.  Just as God makes the heaven and earth new, He makes His dwelling place with His people new.  John goes on to describe the physical characteristics of the holy city. 

However, I am inclined to believe that this vision of the holy city is a physical and spiritual representation of God’s presence with his people.  My main reason for this inclination is because God doesn’t dwell in nor have any need for buildings of any kind.  But the physical description is given for His people’s sake to provide context, a point of reference and provide a spiritual message. 

The dimensions of the city and names associated with parts of it are spiritually significant.  The number 12 is significant and is repeated over and over in parts of the city.  The number 144 has already been mentioned in the prophesy of this book. 

The construction materials of the city consist of some of the finest gems known to man.  Some of the gems like jasper known for peace and tranquility even have other associations other than their great beauty.  And then there is gold and crystal and pearls.  Gold for its unraveled value, crystal for its purity and clarity and pearls for their beauty and rarity. 

The description of the city is meant to send the message that there is nothing on earth to rival it and it is more expensive than anyone or nation or world could afford to build.  The physical description of the city is designed to say there is no greater place to be found or had. 

The city endures and appears in the new heaven and earth because God has placed His name there forever.  This description of the holy city inspires the children of God to want to see it and enter into it. 

And while God could and might actually construct such a place for His name’s sake and the glory thereof, because of the nature of God and His redeemed people, a physical structure such as this is not necessary or needed.  It might stand and exist as a testament to and reminder of the overcoming faith of all of God’s people redeemed from humanity. 

I don’t know about you, but I want to go.  I want to see this great city and be a part of it.  If it inspires you to want to do the same, then I believe it has served its purpose in this prophesy. 

Well, be sure to look over the study again and come prepared to offer your comments, questions and perspective on the meaning of the study.  If you can’t attend your own Sunday School class this Sunday, you can join us live and online at 9:00 am at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link. 

You can also join us live by dialing 508 924-2890.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section or you can share them on Sunday.  So, let’s all have a great lesson and discussion this Sunday and remember to fear God and keep His commandments. 

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings members and friends and welcome to another commentary and preview to this Sunday’s study of the Word.  This Sunday’s study text is entitled “A New Home” and it is based on Revelation 21:1-9. 

The Book of Revelation is a book of prophesy unlike any other.  According to the text itself, it was given by Jesus to be given to His followers and believers so that they would know of things to come. 

John, the apostle of Jesus Christ and author of the gospel which bears his name, is the messenger through which Jesus delivered the prophesy to the church.  John said he was instructed to write the things he saw and heard so that those who believed would know what was and is to come. 

Revelation describes what shall and will happen in the end.  The end in this sense means the end of physical and real world as we know and have known it.  It is analogous to tearing down an old building and putting a new one in its place.  The current reality as we know and have known it will be replaced with a new one. 

Old buildings are torn down and new ones erected in their place because the old building have lived out their usefulness and can no longer accommodate the needs of the future.  There is a time coming when the current earth and heavens will endure beyond their usefulness.  Both will have succeeded in doing what they were created and made to do. 

The purpose of the present heaven and earth was and is to produce a generation of living being made in the image of God who would and will become the sons and daughters of God Himself. 

This heaven and earth are like a crop someone planted in a field.  The crop came up and produced fruit until the all the fruit that could and would be produced had come forth and been harvested.  Once this happens, the field is plowed up and something new can be planted in its place. 

This is another way of seeing what is and shall happen to the heaven and earth we current know and have known.  There shall come a time when no more souls will be saved.  No one else will believe.  When this happens, the end of what we now know as heaven and earth will come to an end, be plowed up like the field or torn down like the old building, and God will take that which was good that came out of it and incorporate or bring it into a new version of heaven and earth. 

This is what the title of the lesson calls “A New Home”.  The current heaven and earth have been our home and the home of all human beings before and after us.  But their days are numbered.  They will endure beyond their usefulness and purpose.  When this happens, God will replace them with something new. 

This is the hope of believers everywhere and in all generations.  That they and we may be part of this renewal of heaven and earth.  That our life will remain and continue as we become part of this new heaven and earth that God will bring into existence for those He loves and those who love Him. 

These nine verses of this study describe the moment when this transition takes place.  It describes the passing away of the old and the coming in of the new.  It tells of the joy and relief of those who placed their faith and trust in God and the agony, despair and destruction of all those who didn’t. 

This world is a test.  It is a proving ground for those who shall be accounted worthy to be part of this new heaven and earth.  It rests on faith as the condition for passage.  Why faith?  Only God knows why He chose faith as the determining factor. 

Maybe we will understand it better or fully when the end comes and all this described in this prophesy comes to pass.  But for now, all we can do and must do if we want to live in this new heaven and earth is believe.  

Well, be sure to look over the study again and come prepared to offer your comments, questions and perspective on the meaning of the study.  If you can’t attend your own Sunday School class this Sunday, you can join us live and online at 9:00 am at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link. 

You can also join us live by dialing 508 924-2890.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section or you can share them on Sunday.  So, let’s all have a great lesson and discussion this Sunday and remember to fear God and keep His commandments. 

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings members and friends and welcome to another commentary and preview to this Sunday’s study of the Word.  This Sunday’s study text is entitled “The Word Gives Peace” and it is based on John 14:15-29. 

Jesus, the Creator in human flesh, is giving His disciples a departing address.  He came into the world to announce to the world that salvation is free and available to all who desire to have it. 

In the past, man had to rely on general revelation from nature and the inspiration of a select group of prophets and men God revealed Himself to.  But in these last days, when the time was right, God Himself in the person of Jesus of Nazareth came to speak to the world. 

Those men who were close to Him and later became His Apostles needed reassurance concerning life after Jesus returns to the Father.  There are several important things Jesus related to this close-knit group of men. 

He began by challenging them to keep His commandments if they truly loved Him.  To love Jesus is to love the One who sent Him.  First and foremost, keep My commandments.  He tells them that He is not deserting or abandoning them.  He reassures them that His presence will remain with them after He is gone. 

The Father will send someone to take His place and act and serve as a Helper to guide and direct them to discover all the things they need to know.  He will not be recognized by the world because He will not be detectable with human senses. 

But Jesus assures them that the Spirit of Truth, Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit will dwell with and in them in His stead.  Because He lives, they too will live because through Him all believers will overcome death. 

He repeats the real evidence of love for both Him and the Father is how we keep His commandments.  Keeping His commandments demonstrates our love for God as His children and He loves His children with a special love. 

God reveals Himself to His children, those who love Him, in ways that are not recognizable to the rest of the world.  God is a Spirit and He communes and communicates with His children in spiritual ways.  This is why the world rejects God because of its reliance on the physical while ignoring the spiritual as if the spiritual doesn’t exist. 

Jesus closes this section of His dialog with His disciples by giving and leaving them His peace.  His peace is an everlasting assurance not to be anxious about the future or what is to come.  They, like us today and believers in all ages, have and will face uncertain, volatile and precarious times, circumstances and situations. 

But the peace He leaves, which Paul describes as surpassing all understanding, will remain with, comfort and reassure those who believe and love the Lord. 

He told them they should be happy for Him that He is returning to the Father.  As great as He was among them, they will see that the Father is greater than He was among them.  I believe Jesus means in one sense the Father is greater because He is responsible for all the things that have been and shall be done on behalf of His children. 

As they, and we today and others in time pass and to come, see the future unfold, Jesus tells us and them don’t be surprised because He is telling them beforehand how it shall happen. 

Today, is a precarious time for the church.  The gospel is under assault through the lure of sensuality, greed and the deceit.  Even though these things along with others were and are going to happen, the children of God must hold on to His peace and assurance we find Jesus providing in today’s text.  

Well, be sure to look over the study again and come prepared to offer your comments, questions and perspective on the meaning of the study.  If you can’t attend your own Sunday School class this Sunday, you can join us live and online at 9:00 am at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link. 

You can also join us live by dialing 508 924-2890.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section or you can share them on Sunday.  So, let’s all have a great lesson and discussion this Sunday and remember to fear God and keep His commandments. 

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments