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June 22,2007; Jesus, Prince of Preachers and Premier Prophet (3 of 12)

Focus Text: John 5.17-29

Today we continue to consider the character of Jesus as revealed in His sermons.

“But Jesus answered them [the hostile Jewish leaders in Jerusalem], ‘My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.’ Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. Then Jesus answered and said to them…” (John 5.17-19a). What follows in…  ( Click for more )

June 21,2007; Jesus, Prince of Preachers and Premier Prophet (2 of 12)

Focus Text: John 4.19-26

God’s only Son was a preacher but don’t let that throw you off track; He was nothing like the buffoons and con artists you see today! He was genuine to the core and truly loved the people to whom He ministered. He came to serve and not to be served. Plus, He came with a mission that would not be compromised, a mission directly from the throne room of Heaven. See how this played out in His life as a preacher and a prophet.

We last visited Jesus as He talked with…  ( Click for more )

June 20,2007; Jesus, Prince of Preachers and Premier Prophet (1 of 12)

Focus Text: John 4.19-24

An astute observer once said, “God had but one Son, and He was a preacher!” Lest we overlook that fact, it should be pointed out that there are no less than seven verses in the New Testament that explicitly state the fact that Jesus was a preacher, or that He preached from time to time (see Matthew 4.17; 4.23; 9.35; 11.1; Mark 1.14; 7.22; 9.60). In addition to these explicit verses there are literally scores of others that point out the fact that Jesus was a preacher.…  ( Click for more )

June 19,2007; Paul, Peerless Apostle and Prophet (15 of 15)

Focus Text: 2 Thessalonians 3.1-2

As we have observed, Paul was a man of fervent and continuous prayer. He prayed for many things, thanked God for multitudes of blessings, and besought others to pray in the same vein. However, there was one thing for which he prayed and for which he instructed others to pray that is typical of his entire life as a Christian. Note the thing about which we speak: “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with…  ( Click for more )

June 18,2007; Paul, Peerless Apostle and Prophet (14 of 15)

Focus Text: Philemon 1.1-9

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3.17). This text as much as any other reveals the heart of Paul! It seems that he not only was able to give thanks in all circumstances, he also could encourage others to do the same. Today’s devotional will take a look at Paul and the giving of thanks.

Paul gave thanks that others obeyed the gospel of Christ and reacted positively to…  ( Click for more )

June 15,2007; Paul, Peerless Apostle and Prophet (13 of 15)

Focus Text: Philippians 1.1-9

No view of Paul could be complete without considering his teachings and his practice regarding prayer. The final three installments of this miniseries will consider this facet of Paul, the peerless apostle and prophet.

Perhaps we ought to begin with Saul of Tarsus as he waited in the city of Damascus after encountering Jesus while on the road going there. It was the Lord’s plan that Ananias visit Saul to communicate the terms of the gospel to him. To execute that plan, Ananias…  ( Click for more )

June 14,2007; Paul, Peerless Apostle and Prophet (12 of 15)

Focus Text: Philemon 1.1-9

Barabbas was a prisoner, but he was released due to the sinister motives of a mob (see Matthew 27.16-26). There were man prisoners in the jail at Philippi when a mighty earthquake flung open the doors and loosed everyone’s bonds. With great certainty, the jailer reasoned that surely all the prisoners had fled as he prepared to take his own life (see Acts 16.25-27). The Hebrews writer mentioned the plight of the [Christian] prisoners and asked that they be remembered by the faithful…  ( Click for more )

June 13,2007; Paul, Peerless Apostle and Prophet (11 of 15)

Focus Text: 1 Corinthians 4.1-3

Charges against the grand apostle were aplenty; the Jews and the Judaizers were quick to point the finger of blame at Paul. He could have literally consumed all his time in defending himself against the multiplicity of charges against him. However, he had a higher strategy! Rather than waste time with individual charges levied at him, why not go to the tap root of all issues and stop matters there? That is precisely what Paul did when he penned today’s focus text.

“Let…  ( Click for more )

Tuesday, June 12; Paul, Peerless Apostle and Prophet (10 of 15)

Focus Text: 1 Corinthians 3.1-11

The church at Corinth had tremendous spiritual problems. These problems were impetus behind Paul’s first epistle to them (see 1 Corinthians 1). At the root of the problems in Corinth was a perennial human problem, the problem of carnality. So significant was this root from which their other problems sprung, Paul wrote, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with…  ( Click for more )

June 11,2007 - The World’s Most Potent Poison

Focus Text: Acts 14.1-3

NOTE: PLEASE PRAY FOR CARA, A VERY SPECIAL YOUNG LADY AND FRIEND OF MY FAMILY. ALSO, PRAY FOR OTHERS WHO WERE HURT IN ANY WAY BY THE SERIOUS AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT LAST WEEKEND. PLEASE, DO IT NOW!

Do you think you know the world’s most deadly poison? Well, I’ll admit right up front that this is sort of a trick question. You see, the world’s most deadly poison is not one which affects the central nervous system, or the cardio-pulmonary system, or the digestive system, or the liver,…  ( Click for more )

Paul, Peerless Apostle and Prophet (9 of 15)

Focus Text: 2 Corinthians 5.18-20

Paul wrote, “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5.18-20).

The…  ( Click for more )

Paul, Peerless Apostle and Prophet (8 of 15)

Focus Text: Philippians 1.27-30

Among other self-applied descriptions, Paul was an unrelenting contestant. We will take a look at some of the passages where he used this imagery to describe his own work as well as the expectations he had of other believers.

“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict [note the word conflict] which you saw in me and now hear is in me.” (Philippians 1.29-30). The word translated conflict…  ( Click for more )

Paul, Peerless Apostle and Prophet (8 of 15)

Focus Text: Philippians 1.27-30

Among other self-applied descriptions, Paul was an unrelenting contestant. We will take a look at some of the passages where he used this imagery to describe his own work as well as the expectations he had of other believers.

“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict [note the word conflict] which you saw in me and now hear is in me.” (Philippians 1.29-30). The word translated conflict…  ( Click for more )

IS HE PRINCE OF YOUR LIFE?

The Prince of Life (Acts 3:15) describes Jesus Christ. In addition to all the reasons previously given for this descriptive phrase, today’s final installment on this subject will offer one last reason for using this term. Might I suggest that He is called the Prince of Life because that, i.e. life, was and is His grand design for all humanity?

Of His mission on earth, John wrote “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but…  ( Click for more )

JUDGE OR FATHER? WHICH WILL IT BE?

The Father of the victim sits in the judge’s seat. The victim himself is acting as the defense attorney for the accused. What chance is there that justice will be served in such a situation? Don’t be too quick to jump to conclusions! Chances are you’d be wrong!

Having read previous devotionals, you recognize this to be the scenario in which the killers of Jesus found themselves. Peter spoke plainly when he charged that they had killed the Prince of Life (Acts 3:15), the one whom God had resurrected to His own right hand.…  ( Click for more )

Who Would YOU Want as the Judge?

In one of the most controversial elections ever, the brother of George Bush recused himself from serving in any way connected with the vote recounts in Florida. He did this to avoid any actual or apparent conflict of interest. This was certainly advisable since it is highly unlikely that he could render impartial judgments in such a case. I’m sure of one thing. If I were ever before the bar of human justice, I would not want any biases against my case; neither would I want biases on the side of those opposing me! However, consider the following…  ( Click for more )

FROM WORST TO FIRST - AND THEN SOME

“You denied Him. God glorified Him. You killed Him. God raised Him from the dead.” These words summarize Peter’s opening words to the bewildered crowd gathered on Solomon’s Porch immediately after the healing of the lame man in Acts 3. These two sets of contrasting statements represent the greatest miscarriage of justice that has ever occurred in human history. But, they also tell of the greatest remedy for human injustice. Consider the role of the Prince of Life in this remedy.

His first role was the role of the…  ( Click for more )

God Approves; Man Disapproves

“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.” (Acts 3:14). Simplifying the sentence structure, this verse reads, “God glorified Jesus; you delivered Him up and denied (Him).” Let’s examine this statement.

“God glorified Jesus!” This statement is the zenith of all approvals. Men glorify other men. Sometimes men are glorified undeservedly. Sometimes they are glorified…  ( Click for more )

A STARK CONTRAST

The miracle was undeniable. There the man stood! In stark contrast, someone had carried him there a little while earlier. Now he stood and leaped and walked! Now he ascribed glory to God as he clung tenaciously to the ones who had a part in his healing (Acts 3:1-9). This unexpected happening had ignited the curiosity of the crowds coming into and going out of the temple and “all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed.” (Acts 3:11b). The unrestrained joy of the man could not be suppressed and his attraction…  ( Click for more )

A SUMMARY VIEW

Peter and only Peter referred to Jesus as the Prince of Life. He stated, “But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.” (Acts 3:14,15). Why call Him the Prince of Life? Consider this summary.

o As the Divine Agent of creation, He was the original giver of the Breath of Life (John 1:3 & Genesis 2:7).

o Through His Divine Will and in keeping with His desire for man to have life, man was granted access…  ( Click for more )

THE WATER OF LIFE

Before resuming our thoughts on the Prince of Life (Acts 3:15), we will examine one more “of life” expressions from the scriptures. This final phrase, the “Water of Life,” is used 3 times in the scriptures and all three references are from the book of Revelation.

First, consider the reality of the Water of Life. John affirmed that an angel “showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” (Revelation 22:1). Jesus told the Samaritan woman during His earthly ministry…  ( Click for more )

The Book of Life

Peter was the only inspired writer to use the expression “Prince of Life.” He used this phrase to convince a group of fellow-Hebrews at the temple that Jesus was the promised Messiah of the Old Testament (Acts 3:15). We are examining other “of life” expressions in the scriptures. The phrase under consideration today is the “book of life.” This expression is found 8 times in the New Testament; it appears in the books of Philippians and Revelation, Paul and John being the only writers to use it.

“And I urge you…  ( Click for more )

In quest of an understanding of the phrase “the Prince of Life” as used by Peter at Acts 3:15, we looked at other “of life” expressions. These phrases included breath of life (Genesis 2:7), tree of life (Genesis 2:9), word of life (1 John 1:1-2), and bread of life (John 6:35). We now resume this review.

Human history as recorded in the Old Testament is bitter-sweet. Created in perfection, man fell through transgression. His struggles became struggles of hope. The only real source of hope lay in the promises of a Messiah revealed by the Old Testament…  ( Click for more )

Life through the Promised Messiah

The expression “Prince of Life” used by Peter (Acts 3:15) is both unique and important. To appreciate its significance, let’s look at some of the other “of life” phrases in the Bible. In doing this, we will be able to better comprehend the expression “The Prince of Life!”

The first “of life” phrase is Genesis 2:7. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” The breath of life is the…  ( Click for more )