I see Upon His Sacred Brow

I see upon His sacred brow
A crown of thorny danger
His blood fell in drops upon the ground
The baby in the manger

The Father Crushed His only Son
God’s wrath my sin did anger
His crimson blood pulsed to the last
I am no longer a stranger

His mother crying at his side
She laid Him in a tomb
His lifeless body in a cloth
His life ended too soon

Guards guarded Jesus grave all day
Until an angel descended
He rolled that lifeless stone away
The story had not ended

Halleluiah to the Lamb of God
He conquered death forever
Glory to the Prince of Peace
I’ll live with Him forever

First in a Series of 10 Sermons on the 10 Commandments

I am begining a series on the 10 Commandments and their current application. I am actually going to encourage participation from the congregation. My goal is to have them understand that the 10 Commandments are still applical in their daily lives. I want them to take away a better understanding of the Law. We will be going into Leviticus in the near future and studying more of the laws to better understand our freedom from the Law.

Exodus Chapter 20
The Ten Commandments

1 Then God spoke all these words:

2 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.[1] Dt 5:6–21

3 Do not have other gods besides Me.

God is Jealous
Exodus 20:5 You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers’ sin, to the third and fourth [generations]* of those who hate Me,

Exodus 34:14 You are to never bow down to another god because the LORD, being jealous by nature, is a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 4:24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.[5] Ex 20:5; 34:14; Heb 12:29

Deuteronomy 5:9 You must not bow down to them or worship them, because I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers’ sin to the third and fourth [generations]* of those who hate Me,

Deuteronomy 6:15 for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God.[10] Dt 5:9 Otherwise, the LORD your God will become angry with you and wipe you off the face of the earth.

Joshua 24:19 But Joshua told the people, “You will not be able to worship the LORD, because He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not remove your transgressions and sins.

Nahum 1:2 The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is fierce in[2] Lit is a master of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance against His foes; He is furious with His enemies.[3] Dt 6:15; Jr 46:10; Zph 1:18

God is Holy
Leviticus 11:44 For I am the LORD your God, so you must consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy.[31] Lv 11:45; 19:2; 20:7,26; 1 Pt 1:16 You must not defile yourselves by any swarming creature that crawls on the ground.

Leviticus 11:45 For I am the LORD, who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God,[32] Lv 25:38,42; 26:13,45; Ex 20:2 so you must be holy because I am holy.

Leviticus 19:2 “Speak to the entire Israelite community and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.[1] Lv 11:44–45; 20:7,26; 1 Pt 1:16

Leviticus 21:8 You are to consider him holy since he presents the food of your God. He will be holy to you because I, the LORD who sets you apart, am holy.

Joshua 24:19 But Joshua told the people, “You will not be able to worship the LORD, because He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not remove your transgressions and sins.

1 Samuel 2:2 There is no one holy like the LORD. There is no one besides You! And there is no rock like our God.[2] 2 Sm 7:22; Ps 18:31

Psalm 99:1 – 9 1 The LORD reigns! Let the peoples tremble. He is enthroned above the • cherubim.[1] Ex 25:22; 1 Sm 4:4; Ezk 11:22 Let the earth quake. 2 The LORD is great in Zion; He is exalted above all the peoples. 3 Let them praise Your great and awe–inspiring name.[2] Ps 44:8; 138:2; Neh 1:5 He is holy. 4 The mighty King loves justice.[3] Ps 37:28; Isa 61:8 You have established fairness; You have administered justice and righteousness in Jacob. 5 Exalt the LORD our God; bow in worship at His footstool.[4] Ps 132:7; 1 Ch 28:2; Isa 66:1 He is holy. 6 Moses and Aaron were among His priests; Samuel also was among those calling on His name. They called to the LORD, and He answered them. 7 He spoke to them in a pillar of cloud;[5] Nm 12:5; 14:14; Dt 31:15–18 they kept His decrees and the statutes He gave them. 8 LORD our God, You answered them. You were a God who forgave them, but punished[6] Lit avenged their misdeeds.[7] Or but avenged misdeeds done against them [8] Lv 26:25; Dt 32:41 9 Exalt the LORD our God; bow in worship at His holy mountain,[9] Ps 2:6; 48:1; Ezk 20:40 for the LORD our God is holy.

Isaiah 5:16 But the LORD of Hosts is exalted by His justice, and the holy God is distinguished by righteousness.

Isaiah 48:17 This is what the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for [your]* benefit, who leads you in the way you should go.

God is Righteous
Ezra 9:15 LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we survive as a remnant today. Here we are before You with our guilt, though no one can stand in Your presence because of this.

Psalm 7:9 Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous. The One who examines the thoughts and emotions[14] Lit examines hearts and kidneys is a righteous God.[15] Heb 4:12

Psalm 116:5 The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is compassionate.

Daniel 9:14 So the LORD kept the disaster in mind and brought it on us, for the LORD our God is righteous in all He has done. But we have not obeyed Him.

What are other Gods?
Nature:
People – Spouse, Rulers, Doctors, Scientists, Preachers . . .
Animals – Eagle, Raven, Lion, Cow, Dog, Cat . . .
Rocks and Metals – Diamonds, Gold, Silver, Platinum, Turquoise . . .
Trees – Redwood, Cedar, Rosewood, Dogwood . . .
Plants – Cocoa, Poppy, Marijuana, Roses . . .
Stars – Mars, Venus, Mercury, Alpha Centari . . .
Moon
Sun

Religion:
Christianity – Mary, Bible, Crucifix, Buildings, Music . . .
Geo – Earth, Ecology, Animals, Nature . . .
Humanity – Logic, Science, Politics, Self . . .

And So On and So On

Matthew Chapter 5 1 – 12 The "Be" Attitudes

I have just noticed that my Greek Font did not translate in this format. Bummer.

These are my notes for Sunday Morning. Have fun!

Chapter 5
The Sermon on the Mount

1 When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.

Jesus led the way for the disciples. He was their leader and they followed Him.

2 Then[1] Lit Then opening His mouth He began to teach them, saying:

The Beatitudes
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

The poor in spirit? What is poor in spirit? What is their? How did they assume ownership?

Greek: maka,rioj, blessed, fortunate, happy
Greek: ptwco,j, poor; perhaps pitiful or inferior
Greek: basilei,a, reign, rule; kingdom, domain
Greek: ouvrano,j, heaven

Fortunate or happy or blessed are the poor in spirit. The meaning appears to be that those who are not spiritually strong are fortunate. They themselves will reign or rule heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted.

Why are mourners blessed? How are they comforted?

Greek: maka,rioj, blessed, fortunate, happy
Greek: penqe,w mourn, be sad, experience sorrow
Greek: parakale,w beg, urge; encourage, speak words of encouragement

Fortunate or happy or blessed are those who are experiencing mourning or are sad. How can someone who is sad be fortunate? They themselves will speak words of encouragement. This is good.

5 Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth.

How do gentle people inherit the earth? How do gentle people inherit anything and keep it?

Greek: maka,rioj, blessed, fortunate, happy
Greek: prau<j, humble, gentle
Greek: klhronome,w receive, gain possession of, share (in)
Greek: gh/, the earth; land, country, region; soil, ground

Fortunate or happy or blessed are the humble or gentle. They themselves will receive or gain possession of the land of the earth. What good is having possession of that which will fade away?

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled.

What will fill them?

Greek: maka,rioj, blessed, fortunate, happy
Greek: peina,w be hungry, hunger
Greek: diya,w be thirsty; long for
Greek: dikaiosu,nh, what God requires; what is right, righteousness, uprightness, justice
Greek: corta,zw feed, satisfy

Fortunate or happy or blessed are they themselves who are hungry and thirsty for what God requires: uprightness. Their hunger and thirst will be fed.

7 Blessed are the merciful, because they will be shown mercy.

Greek: evleh,mwn, merciful

This is the first one in this set to re-use the same word. What is mercy?

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God.

What is pure in heart? Who has seen God?

Greek: kaqaro,j, pure, clean; innocent
Greek: kardi,a, heart, inner self; mind; will, desire, intention; interior (of the
Greek: qeo,j, God
Greek: o`ra,w see, observe, notice

Fortunate or happy or blessed are they themselves who are the innocent or clean in their heart. They themselves will see or observe God. Who can have a pure or clean heart?

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God.

I thought that the sons of God were His adopted Children. I also thought that the term sons of God was applied to angels.

Greek: eivrhnopoio,j, peacemaker
Greek: ui`o,j, son; descendant, offspring, heir
Greek: qeo,j, God
Greek: kale,w call, name, address; invite

Fortunate or happy or blessed are they themselves who are peacemakers. They themselves will be called, named or addressed as sons or descendants of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

Greek: diw,kw persecute (pursue, chase Re 12.13); seek after, strive for
Greek: dikaiosu,nh, what God requires; what is right, righteousness, uprightness, justice
Greek: basilei,a, reign, rule; kingdom, domain
Greek: ouvrano,j, heaven

11 “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me.

Why am I fortunate when people insult me? Persecute me? Lie about me? Should I feel blesses because I get to suffer just like you?

Greek: ovneidi,zw reproach, denounce, insult
Greek: diw,kw persecute (pursue, chase Re 12.13); seek after, strive for
Greek: le,gw say, speak, tell
Greek: ponhro,j, evil, bad, wicked, sinful
Greek: yeu,domai lie, speak untruth

You are fortunate when you are denounced and insulted and when you are persecuted and when people say wicked, sinful lies about you because of Me.

12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Be glad and rejoice, looking abck to verse 11. Your reward in is heaven, not hear on earth. Hmmm! That is how the persecuted the prophets before you. I personally find it amazing that His vision is always on the prize. The prize is always in heaven and never here on earth. Why do we focus on getting our prize here on this earth when the real prize is never achieved or received in this flesh?

Why do we allow our attention to be taken off of the prize when things happen to us? How do we take the “Be” attitudes to make us stronger in our life? What does each of these attitudes teach us about our relationship with God?

Joshua Chapter 1:1 – 9 Preaching Notes

I am using the Holman Christian Standard Bible for all of my preaching. All of my notes are using the HCSB. I use BibleWorks Bible software to assist me with Hebrew and Greek.

The first thing that will appear is the verse. It is blue superscript with an underline. Any number that is bracketed like [1] is in the Hollman notes.

Any Blue text appears in the study notes of the HCSB

After the Biblical verse, I put down my initial thoughts about what I have read. I go back to the Hebrew in this case and pull out key words and concepts from the Hebrew.

This is what I preach from. I use illustrations from history, world events and personal stories to illustrate points beyond the text.

I use the “What.” “so What” methodology for current application to the lives of the believers present.

Joshua

Chapter 1
Encouragement of Joshua
1 After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua[1] = The Lord Will Save, or The Lord Is Salvation; Joshua is related to the name Jesus. son of Nun, who had served Moses:

God had only spoken to Moses to this point in Joshua’s life. God did not speak to Aaron or any of the other priests, only to the prophet. God speaking to Joshua must have some significant importance? What is it? Is it significant at all?

Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

2 “Moses My servant is dead.[2] Dt 34:5–8 Now you and all the people prepare to cross over the Jordan to the land I am giving the Israelites.

All of the original slaves are now dead except for Joshua and ___________ . Now that Moses is dead, it is time to move on with your life, go and prepare to cross the Jordan. This is the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

3 I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised Moses.[3] Dt 11:24

The sole of the foot was never a clean place, bit it held significance in that it is how the people traveled. God is giving them everywhere they travel.

Hebrew gives the idea that wherever your foot is now and wherever your foot will go.

4 Your territory will be from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great Euphrates River—all the land of the Hittites—and west to the Mediterranean Sea.[4] Lit and to the Great Sea, the going down of the sun [5] Dt 11:24

It is not that big of a place, but it is going to be their place.

5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or forsake you.[6] Heb 13:5

I found this interesting, “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live.” This appears to be a promise only to Joshua since God is speaking to Joshua and not the people. As long a Joshua is alive, no one (I assume enemy) will be able to stand against him. I will be with you just as I was with Moses, that is power. Almost every great and amazing miracle in the OT was performed through Moses. God promises the same special relationship with Joshua.

Hebrew gives the concept that during your life not one person will stand up to you face to face.

6 “Be strong and courageous,[7] Jos 1:7,9,18; 10:25; Dt 31:7 for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance.[8] Gn 15:18; Ex 32:13

This is the first charge to be strong and courageous. He will also be given the responsibility to distribute the land. To be able to distribute the land, it must be conquered. Joshua is told here that during his lifetime that the land will be conquered and that the people will have their own possession.

Hebrew – Grow strong and bold and stout so you can take as a possession the land for this people.

7 Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go.

This is the second charge for Joshua to be strong and courageous. He is also told to be careful to observe the whole instruction. This is every bit of the Levitical law and the laws in the books of Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. He is not allowed to deviate from it to make it more stringent or more lax. He is to follow the whole instruction. Success will come wherever they go if they keep the whole instruction.

Hebrew the order and commands I gave Moses.
Hebrew – Do not turn aside for any reason to the right hand or the left.

8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night, so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.

Here is a command to recite the word both day and night. This is amazing in that Joshua as the leader is commanded to recite the word of the entire Pentateuch and to observe everything written in it.

Hebrew – Moan, growl, utter, speak or muse during the daytime and at night taking rush, (Take immediate ownership; possession) and prudence.

9 Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous?[9] Jos 1:6–7,18; 10:25; Dt 31:7 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
This is the third charge to be strong and courageous. God is going to be with Joshua everywhere he goes. Do not be afraid or discouraged, this is a joyous place to be in your life, do not be afraid or discouraged, but be strong and courageous, what a powerful position in your personal life.
Hebrew – Do not tremble or be shattered or dismayed when God gives you everywhere you go.

I Got Busy This Weekend

I went ahead and put two books out this weekend. They are here if you want to look http://www.lulu.com/jimmiekersh

Have a great week. It is time for me to rest for a few hours. I will be starting a new book in the next few days.

CastMaster Ministries Biblical Model for Local Church Ministry

If you want to buy CastMaster Ministries Biblical Model for Local Church Ministry, it is now available at http://books.lulu.com/content/448501