This is a Biblical teaching channel for individual and group study. Its purpose is two-fold: for you to get to know the Word of God and for you to get to know the God of the Word. My prayer is that you will be blessed.

Kathleen Kasper

Luke the Physician is the one recording for us the Book of Acts. The Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts are written to a person known only to us by his name, Theophilus. Luke's desire is to give Theophilus a detailed record of the things about which he had been taught. By doing this, we also become recipients of the wonderful book of the Bible 
 
Forty-three days into the counting of the Omer, Jesus gathers his disciples together on the Mount of Olivett to give them some instructions before he ascends into heaven. He tells them to WAIT before they go out to carry out the commission he has given them. The waiting period wasn't wasted time. No, they needed to WAIT until they were clothed with power from on high before going out into the world with the Gospel. To not wait on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit would not only have been disobedient; it would have been foolishness on the disciples' part. They need to have power to do the work God had given them to do. We need the same power for ministry just as much as they did. 
 
So they returned to Jerusalem: the eleven remain disciples, Mary, the mother of Jesus, Jesus' brothers, and the women who travelled with jesus and the disciples. They returned to Jerusalem waiting. While they waited they prayed and were of one mind.

Luke the Physician is the one recording for us the Book of Acts. The Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts are written to a person known only to us by his name, Theophilus. Luke's desire is to give Theophilus a detailed record of the things about which he had been taught. By doing this, we also become recipients of the wonderful book of the Bible

Forty-three days into the counting of the Omer, Jesus gathers his disciples together on the Mount of Olivett to give them some instructions before he ascends into heaven. He tells them to WAIT before they go out to carry out the commission he has given them. The waiting period wasn't wasted time. No, they needed to WAIT until they were clothed with power from on high before going out into the world with the Gospel. To not wait on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit would not only have been disobedient; it would have been foolishness on the disciples' part. They need to have power to do the work God had given them to do. We need the same power for

'The Disciples Are Told To Wait!' Acts 1:1-14

'God's Strong Remnant AND God's Future Plans for Israel' - Micah 5:7-15

This passage from Micah 4 and 5 touches on events that would be for Israel and Judah in their near future, then at the coming of Jesus, but also into the distant future. Often we read Micah 5:2 without thinking too much beyond the birth of Jesus. But there is more to this prophecy than meets the eye. In this message, we will consider some of the more of what is there for us to see.

'The Ruler From Ancient Times' Micah 4:9-5:6

'God is NOT Mocked!'  Micah 2:7-3:12

God has may ways to speak to people. In Micah 1, God's uses the names of some towns in Judah to be a prophetic witness to His people. 
 
In Micah 2, through His prophet, God speaks out against wicked people who devise schemes to oppress others in the quiet of the night, while they lay on their beds. These plot evil during the night and then carry out their evil plans when the sun comes up. 
 
God is against such wickedness and will bring down trouble upon the schemers themselves. It is a terrible thing to have the Lord come against you. However, even should such a terrible thing happen, God's judgment is nevertheless still meant for our good because through it God's desire is for those upon whom trouble comes to turn from their wickedness and turn to God. The work of God's prophets was often to warn the people of the disaster that would come their way if they did not repent. The trouble, however, was that too few people were willing to listen to the prophet. They didn't mind listening to "prophets" who told them what they wanted to hear, but listening to prophets who spoke the truth was anothe thing altogether. 
 
Reproach cannot be turned back if a warning is not given in the first place. If we know Jesus Christ and know that God's desire is for us to proclaim Christ and the Truth of who God is, we have got to speak out - even though it may not be popular. The world needs to hear the Truth. If believers in Jesus don't speak it out, then who will?

God has may ways to speak to people. In Micah 1, God's uses the names of some towns in Judah to be a prophetic witness to His people. 

In Micah 2, through His prophet, God speaks out against wicked people who devise schemes to oppress others in the quiet of the night, while they lay on their beds. These plot evil during the night and then carry out their evil plans when the sun comes up. 

God is against such wickedness and will bring down trouble upon the schemers themselves. It is a terrible thing to have the Lord come against you. However, even should such a terrible thing happen, God's judgment is nevertheless still meant for our good because through it God's desire is for those upon whom trouble comes to turn from their wickedness and turn to God. The work of God's prophets was often to warn the people of the disaster that would come their way if they did not repent. The trouble, however, was that too few people were willing to listen to the prophet. They didn't mind listening to

'Speak God's Truth: The World Needs It!' Micah 1:10-2:6

The trouble Israel faced because of its unfaithfulness to God is a foreshadowing of what all peoples will face if God's warnings are not heeded. God's desire is for all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the Truth. The Truth is information. The Truth is a person - the man Jesus. He is the promised One of God. He is the One every man, woman,and child on earth needs. 
 
The question is: 'Will we heed them?'

The trouble Israel faced because of its unfaithfulness to God is a foreshadowing of what all peoples will face if God's warnings are not heeded. God's desire is for all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the Truth. The Truth is information. The Truth is a person - the man Jesus. He is the promised One of God. He is the One every man, woman,and child on earth needs.

The question is: 'Will we heed them?'

'Warnings from God: Will We Heed Them?' Micah 1:1-9

Though God has wonderful plans for Jerusalem, there nevertheless is coming a day when the enemies of Israel with capture Jerusalem. Their victory will NOT be permanent but they will certainly feel secure for a little while. 
 
God's people in Jerusalem need to be ready to flee at the first hint of trouble or else they will suffer a great deal of hurt.

Though God has wonderful plans for Jerusalem, there nevertheless is coming a day when the enemies of Israel with capture Jerusalem. Their victory will NOT be permanent but they will certainly feel secure for a little while.

God's people in Jerusalem need to be ready to flee at the first hint of trouble or else they will suffer a great deal of hurt.

'Future Trouble For Jerusalem' Zechariah 14:1-2

Zechariah is instructed by God to "shepherd the flock doomed to slaughter." So Zechariah pastures this flock. He takes two staffs with which to shepherd the flock. One staff he called 
'Pleasantness' and the other staff he called 'Union.' He gets rid of three worthless shepherds in one month. Not only that, we read that he becomes vexed with the sheep and we hear that they become nauseated with him. The situation is so bad that he says he will no longer shepherd these sheep and he breaks the staffs. 
 
What will this mean for God's people? It is a terrible thing to be shepherdless and God's people have been basically "shepherdless" ever since they did not receive Jesus their Messiah. 
 
So what will the sheep give to this whepherd for the shepherding he has done for them. They weigh out thirty pieces of silver - a mere pittance of what the shepherd is worth - but this amount becomes the amount that Jesus' disciple Judas was given to betray him. As we know from Scripture, Judas didn't keep the money. No, it was used to buy the 'potter's' field - just as it was foretold in this passage. 
 
What the sheep will end up getting is a worthless shepherd who cares nothing for the flock.

Zechariah is instructed by God to "shepherd the flock doomed to slaughter." So Zechariah pastures this flock. He takes two staffs with which to shepherd the flock. One staff he called  
'Pleasantness' and the other staff he called 'Union.' He gets rid of three worthless shepherds in one month. Not only that, we read that he becomes vexed with the sheep and we hear that they become nauseated with him. The situation is so bad that he says he will no longer shepherd these sheep and he breaks the staffs.

What will this mean for God's people? It is a terrible thing to be shepherdless and God's people have been basically "shepherdless" ever since they did not receive Jesus their Messiah. 

So what will the sheep give to this whepherd for the shepherding he has done for them. They weigh out thirty pieces of silver - a mere pittance of what the shepherd is worth - but this amount becomes the amount that Jesus' disciple Judas was given to betray him. As we know from Scripture, Judas didn't kee

'The Shepherd and The Sheep' Zechariah 11:7-17

The Lord through His prophet Amos reveals that He does nothing without first revealing His plans to His prophets. 
 
God wants us to know in advance what He is planning to do so that when His plans and purposes come to pass, we know it is God at work. Though Zechariah lived nearly six centuries before Rome demolished Jerusalem and the Temple, God foretold their destruction through him. He also prophesied that there would great internal strife among the Jews at that same time. 
 
All this trouble DID come to pass just as God said it would. 
 
Though this trouble did come upon God's people, God did NOT reject His people forever. Israel IS FOREVER. Jerusalem IS the location of God's earthly throne. It is the place from which Jesus will reign throughout the millennia. 
 
The reason for their destruction and dispersal throughout the nations was not necessarily willful sin (as it had been when Assyria and Babylon took them into captivity), but the refusal to be gathered to God through His Messiah Jesus.

The Lord through His prophet Amos reveals that He does nothing without first revealing His plans to His prophets. 

God wants us to know in advance what He is planning to do so that when His plans and purposes come to pass, we know it is God at work. Though Zechariah lived nearly six centuries before Rome demolished Jerusalem and the Temple, God foretold their destruction through him. He also prophesied that there would great internal strife among the Jews at that same time.

All this trouble DID come to pass just as God said it would. 

Though this trouble did come upon God's people, God did NOT reject His people forever. Israel IS FOREVER. Jerusalem IS the location of God's earthly throne. It is the place from which Jesus will reign throughout the millennia. 

The reason for their destruction and dispersal throughout the nations was not necessarily willful sin (as it had been when Assyria and Babylon took them into captivity), but the refusal to be gathered to God through His Messiah

'The Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD Foretold' Zechariah 11:1-6

There are some people who think that God gave up on Israel a long time ago. This is NOT true. "The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable." God's relationship with Israel continues. The prophet Zechariah spoke of this continuing relationship and we do well to listen to what the Lord says through him. 
 
There is much to consider in this message. Many examples of how God deals with those who "touch" Israel are recounted. These can be found in their entirety in 'Eye to Eye: Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel' by William R. Koenig and John McTernan and 'Israel Omen' and 'Israel Omen II' by David Brennan.

There are some people who think that God gave up on Israel a long time ago. This is NOT true. "The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable." God's relationship with Israel continues. The prophet Zechariah spoke of this continuing relationship and we do well to listen to what the Lord says through him.

There is much to consider in this message. Many examples of how God deals with those who "touch" Israel are recounted. These can be found in their entirety in 'Eye to Eye: Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel' by William R. Koenig and John McTernan and 'Israel Omen' and 'Israel Omen II' by David Brennan.

'God and Israel - the Relationship Continues' Zechariah 1:18-2:13

The first words the prophet Zechariah (whose name means 'the LORD remembers) is given to give to God's people is a call for the people to return to the LORD. The LORD points to the fact that the people's forefather didn't take heed when the LORD had come to them through the prophets and so they ended up deported to Babylon. When the LORD speaks THAT is the time to act! Already God's people had been back in Judah and Jerusalem for 18 years, yet the temple of the LORD had not been rebuilt. It was still in ruins. 
 
Zechariah here receives his first of many visions from the LORD. The nations are at rest when God's people are not yet at rest. How long would this last? Would God return to Jerusalem? Would His presence return to the temple? Would Jerusalem be rebuilt? Would Israel/God's people prosper? These questions are answered in this vision.

The first words the prophet Zechariah (whose name means 'the LORD remembers) is given to give to God's people is a call for the people to return to the LORD. The LORD points to the fact that the people's forefather didn't take heed when the LORD had come to them through the prophets and so they ended up deported to Babylon. When the LORD speaks THAT is the time to act! Already God's people had been back in Judah and Jerusalem for 18 years, yet the temple of the LORD had not been rebuilt. It was still in ruins.

Zechariah here receives his first of many visions from the LORD. The nations are at rest when God's people are not yet at rest. How long would this last? Would God return to Jerusalem? Would His presence return to the temple? Would Jerusalem be rebuilt? Would Israel/God's people prosper? These questions are answered in this vision.

'Return to the LORD' Zechariah 1:1-17

Paul, in writing to the believers in Colossae, reveals to us not only what we are to 'put off' but what we are to 'put on.' The old nature must be put off. The new nature must be put on. It is a singular act. The old nature cannot be redeem. It must be replaced. This God does for us. This is explored in this message.

'Old Nature/New Nature' Colossians 3:9-17

The text for this message is Colossians 1:9-14. Paul continues to encourage the Colossians believers to please God. They are already bearing good fruit through their faith in Jesus and their love for the saints. Now he tells them that they please God by growing in the 'knowledge of will in all wisdom and understanding so they may live and life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way.' There is more...listen and may you be blessed by the hearing of God's Word.

'How Can We Please God?' - Colossians 1:9-14

The Church has been given the responsibility to make "known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms" the manifold wisdom of God. What does this mean? First...the Church declares to the world that through Christ God has reconciled all men to Himself. Second...the Church declare to the evil powers that they've been defeated by the Lord Jesus. Third...the Church enforces the defeat of the evil powers through the delegated power the Church has been given in Christ. 
 
Paul once again prays for the Ephesian believers. He prays that they be strengthened in the inner man; that they experience the indwelling of Christ through faith; that they comprehend the love of Christ; and that they be filled with all the fullness of God. 
 
Paul has absolute confidence in God ability to answer his prayer for the Ephesians AND that God can do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine."

The Church has been given the responsibility to make "known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms" the manifold wisdom of God. What does this mean? First...the Church declares to the world that through Christ God has reconciled all men to Himself. Second...the Church declare to the evil powers that they've been defeated by the Lord Jesus. Third...the Church enforces the defeat of the evil powers through the delegated power the Church has been given in Christ. 

Paul once again prays for the Ephesian believers. He prays that they be strengthened in the inner man; that they experience the indwelling of Christ through faith; that they comprehend the love of Christ; and that they be filled with all the fullness of God.

Paul has absolute confidence in God ability to answer his prayer for the Ephesians AND that God can do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine."

Ephesians 3:10-21

The believer is blessed with great and wonderful blessings "in Christ." We receive every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. We are chosen to be holy and blameless in God's sight. We were predestined to be adopted as God's sons. We have received redemption, the forgiveness of sins. We know the purposes of God and we were chosen by God according to His plan and purpose. Christ is our hope and we've been marked with a seal, the Holy Spirit has been deposited in us as the guarantee of our inheritance. 
 
Jesus Christ is absolutely CENTRAL to everything. 
 
Paul's pray to God for the Ephesian believers was that He give them "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that [they] would know Him better. 
 
God can be known and wants to be known. Most Christians are satisfied with knowing ABOUT God. But knowing about God is not the same thing as KNOWING God. 
 
God is as close and we want Him to be. Let's purposely choose to desire Him more and more each day.

The believer is blessed with great and wonderful blessings "in Christ." We receive every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. We are chosen to be holy and blameless in God's sight. We were predestined to be adopted as God's sons. We have received redemption, the forgiveness of sins. We know the purposes of God and we were chosen by God according to His plan and purpose. Christ is our hope and we've been marked with a seal, the Holy Spirit has been deposited in us as the guarantee of our inheritance.

Jesus Christ is absolutely CENTRAL to everything.

Paul's pray to God for the Ephesian believers was that He give them "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that [they] would know Him better.

God can be known and wants to be known. Most Christians are satisfied with knowing ABOUT God. But knowing about God is not the same thing as KNOWING God.

God is as close and we want Him to be. Let's purposely choose to desire Him more and more each day.

Ephesians 1:11-23

Paul writes that Gentile believers are grafted into Israel. Branches do NOT support the root of the tree. The roots support the tree.

Romans 11:11-36

Paul has shared with us his very personal struggle with sin. Now, however, he opens chapter 8 with these encouraging words: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." 
 
God does not condemn anyone who holds on to His Son by faith. The fact that God does not condemn us doesn't give us license to keep on sinning as we may have in the past. Having died to sin, we are now to live for God through Jesus. 
 
Jesus met the full requirements of the Law and now we "do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." But as Paul has pointed out to us, this is easier said than done. Though we now belong to Christ, we continue to have three enemies. These enemies are: the devil, the world, and our own flesh. These three work hard to pull us back into the slavery of sin, however, the Spirit who dwells in every believer, works in us to enable and empower us to overcome these three enemies. 
 
This passage points us to the fact that the creation itself is groaning as it waits for the "sons of God" to be revealed. The creation was subjected to frustration when Adam and Eve sinned. In a very real sense, the creation has been trapped in the FALLOUT of sin by no fault of its own. Now, however, its waits for the "sons of God" to be revealed. The "sons of God" are all who are led by the Spirit. 
 
By the Spirit, by adoption into God's family, we can now call God 'Daddy.' Jesus made this possible for us. God is not like our human daddies. God is perfect and His love for us is perfect and because God is our Father, we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, "if indeed we share in his sufferings..." 
 
Unfortunately, we don't generally raise our hands and eagerly volunteer to suffer for anything, but Jesus calls us to pick up our CROSS and follow him. The fact is that we may very well have to suffer on account of Christ. Many people suffer daily throughout the world on account of Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Any sufferings we may go through amount to a mere blink of an eye when compared to the eternal joys that are waiting for us.

Paul has shared with us his very personal struggle with sin. Now, however, he opens chapter 8 with these encouraging words: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

God does not condemn anyone who holds on to His Son by faith. The fact that God does not condemn us doesn't give us license to keep on sinning as we may have in the past. Having died to sin, we are now to live for God through Jesus. 

Jesus met the full requirements of the Law and now we "do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." But as Paul has pointed out to us, this is easier said than done. Though we now belong to Christ, we continue to have three enemies. These enemies are: the devil, the world, and our own flesh. These three work hard to pull us back into the slavery of sin, however, the Spirit who dwells in every believer, works in us to enable and empower us to overcome these three enemies.

This passage points us to the fact that the creation

Romans 8:1-27

Paul answers his question: "So do you think we should continue sinning so that god will give us even more grace?" He says "By no means!" then he goes on to write about what happens within every baptized believer. He states that in Baptism we are connected to Christ in his death...the Old Adam dies...and the covenant with sin is severed. 
 
It is vital for us to understand this because we can only become covenanted with a new "spouse" when the old covenant is severed by the death of one of the partners in the covenant. 
 
Having the covenant with sin severed,we are no longer under sin's control. We also are able to establish a new covenant with Christ. To continue to sin AFTER becoming covenanted with Christ greatly dishonors Christ. 
 
In this new relationship, we continue to have enemies which "war" against us to pull us away from Christ. These enemies are: the devil, the world, and our own flesh. Paul writes about his own struggle with his flesh in chapter 7.

Paul answers his question: "So do you think we should continue sinning so that god will give us even more grace?" He says "By no means!" then he goes on to write about what happens within every baptized believer. He states that in Baptism we are connected to Christ in his death...the Old Adam dies...and the covenant with sin is severed.

It is vital for us to understand this because we can only become covenanted with a new "spouse" when the old covenant is severed by the death of one of the partners in the covenant.

Having the covenant with sin severed,we are no longer under sin's control. We also are able to establish a new covenant with Christ. To continue to sin AFTER becoming covenanted with Christ greatly dishonors Christ.

In this new relationship, we continue to have enemies which "war" against us to pull us away from Christ. These enemies are: the devil, the world, and our own flesh. Paul writes about his own struggle with his flesh in chapter 7.

Romans 6:1-7:25

"[Jesus] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." There is now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus. This is the wonderful Good News Paul preached everywhere he went. This is the wonderful Good News for everyone in the world. A righteousness apart from law has INDEED been made known to the world. It comes through faith in Jesus. 
 
Faith in Jesus is our access to peace with God AND faith in Jesus is our access to God's GRACE. As children of God through faith in Jesus, we can approach God without fear of any kind. Covered with the blood of Jesus...covered with his righteousness...we are forgiven. 
 
Since Jesus finished the work his Father gave him to do through the cross and grave, we can now look forward to a future hope in God and rejoice. Amazingly, Paul writes that we can also "rejoice in our sufferings." The sufferings we undergo produces perseverance; perseverance produces character; character produces hope AND hope does not disappoint us "because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." 
 
At just the RIGHT time Christ died for us. It was "while we were still sinners" that "Christ died for us." 
 
Paul compares what Jesus has accomplished for us to what happened when Adam sinned. He tells us that the "gift" is NOT like the trespass. He tells us five separate ways how the "gift is not like the trespass."

"[Jesus] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." There is now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus. This is the wonderful Good News Paul preached everywhere he went. This is the wonderful Good News for everyone in the world. A righteousness apart from law has INDEED been made known to the world. It comes through faith in Jesus.

Faith in Jesus is our access to peace with God AND faith in Jesus is our access to God's GRACE. As children of God through faith in Jesus, we can approach God without fear of any kind. Covered with the blood of Jesus...covered with his righteousness...we are forgiven.

Since Jesus finished the work his Father gave him to do through the cross and grave, we can now look forward to a future hope in God and rejoice. Amazingly, Paul writes that we can also "rejoice in our sufferings." The sufferings we undergo produces perseverance; perseverance produces character; character produces hope AND hope does

Romans 5:1-6:2

To the Jews who had believed in him Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." His listeners couldn't accept what they heard. As far as they were concerned, as descendents of Abraham, they'd never been slaves of anyone. This wasn't true, but, rather than attempt to correct them, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin." 
 
Did these people want to be slaves or sons? Slaves have no permanent place in a household BUT sons do. The relationship Jesus was offering these people was a relationship of sonship with his Father. The relationship Jesus offers all people is the relationship of "sonship" with his Father. Did these people want a permanent place in the Father's household? Do we? 
 
In John 9, Jesus a man who was born blind. The man had not sinned and neither had his parents. He was born blind "so that that the work of God might be displayed in his life." The religious leaders would not accept what Jesus had done, as being from God, because Jesus had healed the man on a Sabbath. The religious leaders were blind to what God was doing among them because what God was doing did not fit their traditional understanding of they were to observe the Sabbath. They also did not understand the passage, "I desire mercy not sacrifice."

To the Jews who had believed in him Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." His listeners couldn't accept what they heard. As far as they were concerned, as descendents of Abraham, they'd never been slaves of anyone. This wasn't true, but, rather than attempt to correct them, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin."

Did these people want to be slaves or sons? Slaves have no permanent place in a household BUT sons do. The relationship Jesus was offering these people was a relationship of sonship with his Father. The relationship Jesus offers all people is the relationship of "sonship" with his Father. Did these people want a permanent place in the Father's household? Do we?

In John 9, Jesus a man who was born blind. The man had not sinned and neither had his parents. He was born blind "so that that the work of God might be displayed in his life." The religi

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