27 Nov (1 Tim 3-4)

1 Timothy 3

(v.1) A Bishop in this instance is what we would call an Assistant Pastor to a church. This person is not the head of that church, but is the right hand of the Head Pastor. As with the Head Pastor, the bishop is not to be given to drinking...being influenced by alcohol or any drug. The most important thing, is that the bishop should have his house in order...for if he can't teach and keep his own house in order, how could he do the same with a church?

(v.6) When we first come to Christ, and learn so much about Him, we want to share and teach it to others. Paul is warning a church from doing that with new believers, for they haven't lived that long walking with God, and they haven't been tested by life and the devil that long. Remember, the devil's pride is what made him fall away from God, and someone who thinks they know it all when seeing God's wisdom, can do the same!

(v.7) Not only should believers have good things to say about a potential bishop or assistant pastor, but non-believers as well. It's one thing to act right with other believers, but if we are truly a light to the world, then non-believers should at least attest to the good character of the candidate.

(v.8) Deacons are also what we would call Assistant Pastors, but they are usually assigned specific ministries in a church (Children's Ministry, Missions Ministry, Men's Ministry, etc.)

They are not the right hand of the Head Pastor like the bishop is, but they are in the inner circle of the church affairs, and need to be sober-minded and godly. Often, these men help in the alms and tithing collection, and they need to be grounded and without temptation to steal.

(v.16) These are great topics to discuss with your kids:

God was manifested in the flesh ~ Why did God have to become man? Our kids need to know that the book of Ruth and other books speak about our Kinsman Redeemer (Goel in Hebrew) in order to die for us.

Justified in the Spirit ~ Jesus had the Holy Spirit in Him as man

Seen by angels ~ This is fascinating to me! Scholars believe that up until that point, the angels NEVER looked upon God, for fear of being consumed by His power. Not until God became man, were they able to see God...Jesus!

Preached among the Gentiles ~ Up until this point, only the Jews were being taught the Law and the teachings of the prophets. Also, since this is after Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was at work collecting the Bride for Jesus.

Believed on in the world ~ Through missionary work, the whole world was being taught the Gospel.

Received up in glory ~ Jesus became man for the sole purpose to redeem us to the Father. Once He died on the cross and was resurrected, He glorified the Father, and the Father glorified the Son!

1 Timothy 4

(v.1) The Church has been saying it's in the Last Days for centuries, but not until this present time in history, can it be deemed near. Prophecy has pointed to powers and alliances that are only now coming into place (Russia and Iran for example), and with the great influence of Islam, Mormonism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism and even Jehovah's Witness, can we see the apostasy in full form.

For those of you that are reading this, and are of the faiths I just cited, I don't mean to insult you or to judge you. I do, however, ask that you examine those faiths, and see that the teachings of those faiths follow ONE MAN. They have added or deleted from the Bible, and have gone the way of man's wisdom, not God's wisdom.

Paul is speaking about this very thing to Timothy, and with the Church reading this over the centuries, he is speaking to us. We need to go to the original text (in Hebrew and Greek) to find the root of doctrine, and not follow a single man's quest to find Divine Truth and be followed.

Please read Acts 17:11 and take that to heart...even with what I teach on this blog...check it against Scripture and see for yourselves what God says.

(v.3) Scholars believe that this is alluding to the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church where leaders are not allowed to be married. This is not Scriptural, for even Peter himself was married, and the RCC believes he was the first pope! The first institution established by God was marriage, and I even believe that the New World Order and the Coming World Leader will abolish marriage to try to keep the world population down.

(v.7) The book of Proverbs admonishes us from being given to gossip...it is destructive and not godly.

(v.8) We hear people cite "our body is the Temple of the LORD" and say that means that we are to be physically fit. Of course, taking care of one's health is good, but God is more concerned with the health of our minds and our spirit, for that is what sustains us and what we use to serve God.

(v.13) The Head Pastor is to teach and read the Word daily. The assistant pastors are to serve the body and do the daily church tasks.

17 Nov (Acts 22-24)

Acts 22

(v.3) Paul reminds the crowd that he was a Jew like them, and was taught personally by the revered Rabbi Gamaliel. He also gives them some props by telling them that they are zealous for God like he is. Paul starts off speaking in their language, and giving them a compliment...they are ready to listen.

(v.14) Paul was unique to personally hear the voice of the risen LORD, who was also in heaven! This is what we will experience in heaven as well.

Acts 23

(v.8) Paul shows us the great divide among the Jewish scholars:

Pharisees ~ they believe in the resurrection of the dead, angels and the spirit world. They are extreme in their adherence of the Law, and Jesus rebuked them for being more in love with the Law than the One who gave them the Law.

Sadducees ~ The are more liberal than the Pharisees, and they don't believe in the resurrection, angels or the spirit world.

Pastor Chuck Smith likes to joke that they are accurately named, since it's sad, you see, that they don't believe in the resurrection!

(v.11) The LORD stood by Paul...how cool is that!?! When God speaks to us, we need to listen and obey.

Acts 24

Paul defends himself, showing the Romans that he didn't agitate by design, but the crowd was upset with the truth!

I like to compare this chapter with what Jesus went through with the Pharisees and Pilate. Jesus didn't defend Himself, fulfilling Isaiah 53:7, where Paul did.

4 Nov (1 Cor 15-16)

1 Corinthians 15

(v.3) In case you don't know, or wish to have your kids understand the Gospel in definition, Paul gives it to us plainly:

1. Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures...I stress that Christ fulfilled prophecy since the Jews of that day and many throughout history don't see that Christ was spoken about in detail all through the Old Testament.

2. ...and that He was buried...Christ actually died and was buried. He didn't get revived in the grave, but was dead and God brought Him back to life.

3. ...and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Jesus told the disciples many times He would be killed and rise again in three days. Also, He gave the Pharisees notice that like Jonah, He would die and be alive again in three days. Matt 12:39, 16:4

Verses 5-8 show us that there were eye witnesses, and not just a few, but hundreds...this shows us that this wasn't made up. For if there was any falsehood in these statements, there were people still alive that could refute it...but none did.

(v.12) We often focus on the death of Christ, but not the resurrection. They are both important. Jesus' death on the cross justified us back to the Father. But without His resurrection, we would be lost in death. We needed our Savior to live again so we can follow Him and live again!

(v.22) Adam's sin cursed all of us to be sentenced to hell. But Christ's death and resurrection washes away that curse, and we are alive in Him by faith.

(v.36) Paul uses an illustration that makes sense to the people of that time...farming. A seed is not alive...it is dead. When it is buried in the ground, it will become alive again and bear fruit. Does this sound familiar? When we are born again, we are truly alive, and we bear fruit by our faith and works.

(v.44) Once again, we see why the disciples didn't recognize Jesus after the Resurrection...He was in His heavenly body. God will take one piece of our DNA and make our corruptible bodies into incorruptible. If this is hard to believe, then ask yourself why it's so hard for us to believe that God spoke the universe into existence, and we can't believe He can recreate our bodies?

(v.47) Paul makes a great comparison here...we are born of the earth, since Adam was born of the dust. But when we have a spiritual rebirth, we are born of the Spirit, which is not mortal.

(v.52) Paul gives us a clear and simple picture of the Rapture:

1. Christ will meet all believers in the clouds

2. Those that have already died in faith, will have their DNA raised and given new immortal bodies

3. Those believers who are still on earth, will be lifted up in a twinkling of an eye...that is fast!

(v.58) Memorize this verse...it should motivate us daily!

1 Corinthians 16

Paul gives orders and encouragement to the Church in Corinth, and leaves them with wishes of love and grace!

8 Oct (Luke 24:13-45; John 20:24-29)

The Gospels: Jesus Reveals Himself to the Disciples

Luke 24

(v.15) While these disciples were talking about the last week's events, and wondering what comes next, Jesus suddenly appears with them! This is one of many examples we will see of the power of Jesus' heavenly, resurrected body. Our bodies will enjoy the same powers and dimensions that Jesus does!

(v.19) I love this verse! Here was the Creator of the universe, who just was beaten, spat upon, had His beard ripped off His face, crucified and buried, and He has the sense of humor to say, What things? Who says God doesn't like to laugh or tease us!

(v.26) Jesus reminds them that they should have known from the Scriptures what would happen...especially if they read Daniel 9, Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53! In addition to that, Jesus told the disciples many times that He would be killed and rise again in three days!

(v.30) We must remember that the host is the one to bless the bread and pray, but they let this stranger do it...why? Perhaps they felt He had authority, and knew it was proper to let Him do it. And when they saw the holes in His wrists, they knew it was Him!

(v.31) Their eyes were opened...isn't that like us as well when we come to see Jesus as the Creator of the universe, who willingly died in our place, so we could be redeemed to the Father for eternity?

(v.32) Doesn't it warm your heart when God is speaking to you in His Word?

(v.36) I explain to my kids that on earth, we experience three dimensions plus time. So four dimensions are all we can understand. However, physicists have discovered that there are at least 10 dimensions in space, so Jesus had the ability to enter rooms and disappear, even though He was flesh and bone. We will have these same dimensions when we're in heaven. I believe Adam and Eve enjoyed these things in Eden before they sinned...then only four were allowed.

(v.39) Here were the men who spent three years, day after day with Jesus, and He told them many times He would be killed and resurrected, yet they didn't believe! This should give us comfort, for in those days our faith is tested, and we doubt. No matter what, if we are His, He will keep comforting us and showing us His love!

Another thing to note...Jesus says flesh and bones...not flesh and blood. This is important...He shed all His blood on the day He was crucified, and that blood was sprinkled on the throne in heaven to wash away our sins forever if we have faith!

(v.45) Jesus used the Word of God...the Scriptures to show them that what they had seen, and what they will see, is what God had the prophets speak about. What a Bible study that must have been!

John 20

(v.25) This is where the term Doubting Thomas came from. Thomas wanted to see the LORD before He would believe. How many skeptics say, If God would just show Himself to me, I would then believe? Our response should be, you see Him every day, in the sunset, in the trees, in the animals, and in a child's laugh.

(v.28) Thomas says something interesting here...My LORD and my God! This is one of many instances that show that Jesus is God, not an enlightened man like Ghandi or Buddha.

(v.29) Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. That's us...we haven't walked physically with Jesus, but He has reached us through His Word, through another Christian, and through His Holy Spirit! That's called FAITH!!!

7 Oct (Matt 28:11-15; John 20:2-18)

The Gospels: The Resurrected Jesus!

John 20

(v.2) My kids love it when I read from this gospel...it seems that John likes to have fun with Peter! John likes to mention that he is the disciple whom Jesus loved.

(v.4) My kids laugh again as we see that John likes to mention that he runs faster than Peter!

(v.6) Here we see how the personalities are here...John is hesitant to go into the tomb, and Peter just comes barreling in!

(v.12) Don't let skeptics trip you up with how many angels are at the tomb...it's all about timing and perspective. We know that two people can see the same event and remember different things. The facts are the same, but the details are remembered differently. This is not an example of Scripture contradicting itself.

(v.14) Why didn't Mary recognize Jesus? There are three possibilities, and I believe all three are true:

1. Mary was so sad, her eyesight and focus could have been blurred, thus, she didn't recognize Him.

2. Remember, Jesus was brutally beaten and whipped, and they plucked out His beard from His face. Isaiah 50:6 He didn't have a normal looking beard, and looked scarred.

3. Jesus was in His resurrected body, that is different than our earthly bodies. He must have looked similar, but through human eyes, it was different enough to not recognize Him right away.

(v.16) However Jesus looked, when He said, Mary, she recognized it was Him! Remember, the sheep hear the voice of their Good Shepherd! John 10:27

Matthew 28

(v.15) The Jews didn't want the people to believe that Jesus was resurrected, so they had the guards lie and make up a story. Unfortunately, many people didn't come to faith because of this lie.

4 Oct (Matt 27:45-54)

The Gospels: Open Graves and the Veil Torn

Matthew 27:45-54

(v.45) This was in the morning hours, when there was normally daylight. Even if it was a cloudy and rainy day, there was light. This darkness was supernatural. As we saw in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was sweating blood because He knew He would be separated from the Father for the ONLY TIME in eternity! This was that time...three hours of hell for Jesus only because He and the Father love us so much!

(v.46) Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?...My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

If we read Psalm 22:1 David says the same thing here...why? First of all, we can at least suggest that the Son was grieved to be without the Father for three hours. But there was more to this...what?

In Psalm 22, David writes as if he is on a cross being crucified...David was led by the Holy Spirit to write this for this very moment!

In those days, at the end of a teaching by the Rabbi, he would read aloud the upcoming lesson's first verse, and it was the people's jobs to read that for background for the next lesson.

So here is Jesus pointing us to Psalm 22...a book written hundreds of years prior, that perfectly describes what Jesus is going through on the cross! Coincidence? I think not!

(v.50) Man can't kill God...only God can give up His Spirit. Jesus gave it up for all of us! In the other gospels, Jesus says, It is finished! Jesus accomplished the task of taking our place and our sins for us...thank you Jesus!

(v.51) Once Jesus died on the cross, a great earthquake shook the land. If you saw the Passion of the Christ, it does a good job of depicting this. However, what it didn't do, was the most important thing...the veil was torn in two...from top to bottom! Why is that important?

When God instructed Moses to build the Tabernacle, there was a veil of linen and cloth that became the partition of the Holy of Holies...only the High Priest could go in there on behalf of the people. In this case, that was Moses.

The same thing happened with the Temple built by Solomon. Once a year, the High Priest would go into the Holy of Holies and sprinkle lamb's blood on the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat. The High Priest did this on behalf of all the people for forgiveness of sins. Heb 9:25

This veil of linen and cloth was 18 inches thick! For it to be torn would be impossible for anyone except for God! Also take notice that it was ripped from top to bottom...this is symbolic in that God was giving access to us. Before, man had to have an intercessor, a priest, go to God for us. But now, since Jesus died for our sins, those of us who are washed in His blood by our faith, we can directly pray to the Father!

(v.52) This must have been quite a show! People that were known to be dead for years are all of a sudden walking around! This is a prelude to the last days 1 Cor 15:22 when all will be raised from the dead for judgment...the faithful to the Bema Seat of Christ, and the unfaithful to the Great White Throne of Judgement. Rev 20:11

(v.53) Notice that they came out AFTER Christ's resurrection...Jesus was resurrected first, and then because of that, we are as well.

(v.54) Sometimes it takes an earthquake in our lives to bring us to believe in Jesus! That is one of the reasons there are evil and terrible things in this life...to draw us to Good...Jesus!

22 Sep (John 16:16-33)

The Gospels: Jesus Has Overcome the World

John 16:16-33

(v.20) Jesus' death on the cross was not a tragedy...it was a victory! Jesus is telling the disciples that they will first feel sadness, but then they will understand what God had done, and they will be joyful.

This is the same thing that happens to us when we become saved...we are saddened by our sin and filthiness, but when we realize that God made the way for salvation for us, we are grateful and full of joy!

(v.22) Jesus is giving them comfort in the fact that He is telling them that they will be sad, but then joyful when they see Him in His resurrected body!

(v.24) We have joy when we are doing what God wants us to do. So if we ask God for strength to do something for someone else, He will bless that. If we are walking in His will, our lives will be joyful and full of satisfaction.

7 Sep (John 11)

The Gospels: The Resurrection of Lazarus

John 11

(v.5) We see Mary and Martha here again, because their brother, Lazarus, is dying. Jesus knew this, and stayed an extra two days in another town, before He went to Bethany. Why did Jesus wait? Was He mean and wanted Lazarus to die and his family suffer? Yes and no.

Jesus used this situation for good...it makes me think of Romans 8:28

(v.15) Jesus tells the disciples the reason for His tardiness to get to Bethany...to show them that He is God who can resurrect the body.

(v.27) When we last saw Martha, she was being told by Jesus that she had the wrong motives for her anger. Now, she is the first to run out to Jesus! Martha was always a believer, and she proves that here by her proclamation who He is!

(v.32) Once again, Mary is at Jesus' feet...the right place for all of us!

(v.35) This is the shortest verse in the Bible! Although it is short, it tells us much about God. Here is the Creator of the universe, who knew all this would happen, yet He is moved by our tears. He is that way now with us, and He longs for us to call out to Him for everything we do!

(v.43) My kids love it when I do this part, since I note that Jesus didn't just say "Come forth"...if He did, ALL the dead would have been raised!!! Jesus wisely said, "Lazarus, come forth!"

(v.48) Like then, and like today, many people who take on authority (whether spiritual or political) can become consumed with the desire for power. The Pharisees were supposed to be helping the people walk with God...instead, they created all these rules that prevented the people from focusing on God.

This relates to Mary and Martha...Mary was doing the right thing by being still when God speaks, and Martha was too worried about doing things...her focus was blurred.

9 Aug (Matt 1:1-17 & Luke 3:23-38)

Why are there four gospels? Why not one? The Holy Spirit wished to reveal four different aspects to Jesus.

Matthew ~ Matthew wrote specifically for the Jews, and his emphasis on the Feasts of Israel point them to Christ...the Messiah! Matthew wrote his gospel with Jesus as the King of the Jews.

Mark ~ Mark focused on Jesus' servant hood. Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, and showed all of us, that to live godly, we need to serve others.

Luke ~ Since Luke was a doctor, he focused on the humanity of Jesus. Luke is very precise in his descriptions of Jesus, as a doctor who dissects things.

John ~ John focuses on the deity of Jesus...the Son of God. It all starts with John 1:1 and throughout his account, we see that Jesus wasn't just a prophet or great teacher...He was and is God in the flesh.

As with the camp of Israel in the Wilderness and the four faces of the cherubim, these four aspects of Christ are revealed:

Lion ~ Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah...the King of Kings, and the LORD of Lords!

Ox ~ The Ox is used for work...servant hood.

Man ~ God became man in order to save mankind from eternal doom in hell

Eagle ~ The eagle is associated with deity, and Jesus is the Son of God, part of the Holy Trinity!

Matthew 1

(v.1) Since Matthew is writing for the Jews, he starts his genealogy with the first Jew...Abraham.

(v.16) Notice that Joseph is listed as the husband of Mary...this will be key when we look at Luke.

(v.20) The Holy Spirit made Mary pregnant, so none of Joseph's DNA was in Jesus...again, this will make sense when we look at Luke.

(v.23) Matthew quotes the Old Testament the most out of all the gospels, which makes sense, since he is preaching to the Jews who hold the Torah and Tenach as the Scriptures.

Luke 3

(v.31) When we compare Luke's genealogy of Jesus against Matthew's, we see an interesting difference...Matthew shows Jesus' bloodline through David's son Solomon...the next king in the Tribe of Judah. But in Luke's account, David's other son, Nathan is listed...why?

In Jeremiah 22:30 God proclaimed a curse on the royal line of kings...this seemed like God just nullified the only way the Messiah could come and save mankind. After all, Joseph was a direct descendant of Jeconiah, so Joseph's blood was cursed...no son of his could rule on the Throne of David.

However, in the book of Luke, we see how God got around that...He used the bloodline from David through his other son, Nathan. Mary is a direct descendant of Nathan, so Jesus has the royal kingly blood of David in Him, but not the curse!

That is the reason for the Virgin Birth...Jesus had to be both man and God at the same time, so without tainted blood, He fulfilled the Scriptures and the Law for all of us, and His death and resurrection made the way back to the Father possible!

18 Jul (Daniel 12)

Daniel 12

(v.1) There are three mighty angels, called cherubs, that we know their names:

Michael ~ God's fighting angel

Gabriel ~ God's messenger

Lucifer ~ Considered the head cherub, but fell away by pride

God describes the last days here...Michael will fight Lucifer and his demons, while the Jews will endure the Great Tribulation.

The key to this verse is the Book of Life...those who love and worship God by faith will be in it. Those that don't will face eternal torment for their foolish pride.

(v.2) Everyone who has lived will be resurrected...the faithful and the unbelieving. All will stand before God and give account for their lives. The good news is that those in Christ will be judged in order to receive rewards in heaven, while the unbelievers will face judgment based upon the Law.

I think it's important to hammer home the concept of resurrection. We would not be saved unless Jesus was resurrected...we would be eternally in this sinful state. I remind my kids that after Adam and Eve sinned, God sent them out of the Garden of Eden, in order that they don't eat from the Tree of Life...if they had then, they would have spent eternity in their sinful state. It took the blood of God to wash that away, and to be resurrected into His heavenly body. We will do the same. 1 Cor 15:35-44

It makes more sense to my kids when I remind them that after Jesus was resurrected, His disciples didn't recognize Him at first. There was something different about Him. But after they spent some time with Him, they knew it was Him. This is what will happen with us...we will have our earthly bodies resurrected, and God will give us an immortal body. We will recognize family and friends, but we'll all be slightly different, and able to enjoy more than the four dimensions we experience now!

(v.4) Daniel didn't completely understand all this that God told him, but as history has unfolded, and the current events that line up with prophecy, we have the privilege to see God's Word come to life!

(v.10) We are wise because we have God's wisdom...the more we read and study the Word, the more we'll understand it. When we understand it, we can see God's plan of redemption clearly, and we see His will acting out in our lives.

(v.13) God tells Daniel to not worry about the prophecies, since he will be in the grave by then. But again, God tells Daniel that he will be resurrected in the last days, and then he will understand.

20 May (Jonah 3)

Jonah 3

Now, this is the part that everyone has a hard time believing...that Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, and survived! Here is a story of a sailor in the 19th century that survived being in a whale's belly for over half a day!

www.ycaol.com/swallowed.htm

This man was in the belly of a whale for 15 hours, so that isn't the same as 72 hours, but what if Jonah did die in the belly of the great fish? As I noted last post, it may be that Jonah died and was resurrected after three days to be a sign when Jesus did the same. After all, if I went into a whale or great fish's belly...I wouldn't wait three days to pray! I wouldn't have waited even three seconds! This is why I believe Jonah died, and when he was brought back to life, he gave praise to God and was spit out on the beach.

Whether Jonah died or not, his appearance MUST have been altered. Anyone who understands anatomy knows that the stomach has gastric juices to break down food. As we see in the link, the man who was in the whale's belly for only 15 hours had a profound affect on him:

~ All body hair was burned off!

~ His skin was white like an albino...he looked like he was bleached!

~ The gastric juices made him blind and delirious

So here is Jonah...probably close to blind, white as a ghost and without any hair walking into the dreaded city of Nineveh!!! It really doesn't matter if Jonah lived or died in the belly of the great fish, but Jesus confirms that it happened, and Jonah did preach to Nineveh! So let's not let the skeptics shut us off with dwelling on whether Jonah lived or died, and offer the idea that he may not have lived in the belly, and explain why that points to Jesus!

(v.4) Jonah predicts that Nineveh will burn in 40 days...remember that numbers mean things in Hebrew culture and the Bible...the number 40 represents judgement and testing.

(v.5) I remind my kids that the people of Nineveh worshipped the fish god, Dagon, and here was a man who came out of a fish...looking creepy telling them to repent...I would listen as well!

(v.6) The king led by example and told the city to repent...we can all learn from this king, and desire to have our leaders be as godly as he acted.

(v.10) The key to this was the whole city repented from their wicked ways and cried out to God. They weren't faking, and God knew it...that is why God blessed them and gave them mercy.

19 May (Jonah 2)

Jonah 2

(v.1) As we concluded chapter 1, we see that God had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah, and he was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights? Does this sound familiar? Jesus refers to this in Matt 12:40

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Also, in Luke 11:29 Jesus calls Jonah a prophet, thus giving Jonah an importance and status that most people don't realize. Whether Jonah was in a whale, a shark or some kind of serpent, it doesn't matter...it was big enough to swallow him whole! The Hebrew word used for fish is Dag and can mean fish or serpent. Most often, it was used to reference a fish, but that may be because people discussed fish more than serpents!

(v.2) What a prayer from Jonah! Like most of us, it takes extreme measures for us to get serious and really cry out to the LORD!

I also take time to remind my kids that Jonah mentions the Hebrew word Sheol (it is called Hades in Greek), which is the spiritual place where all who died go to. As we discussed in previous books, the believers went to Abraham's Bosom, and the unbelievers went to Sheol. Not until Jesus' blood washed away sin, could Moses, Abraham, David and all the other believers enter heaven with the Father...they were still in a sinful state. The moment Jesus died on the cross, and hereafter, all who die in faith will immediately go to heaven with the Father, but before that, the faithful had to wait in Abraham's Bosom. If you wish to learn more about this, read Luke 16 where Jesus tells us of this.

I also point out to my kids that Jonah didn't pray until three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish. This is why I believe that Jonah actually died, and he was resurrected and spit out onto the beach...he was again a type of Christ, who was dead for three days and three nights, then resurrected. I can't prove that, but it fits the pattern, and since Jonah's life is mirroring the life of Jesus in many ways, it makes sense to me!

(v.5) Read these verses with Jesus in mind, and it fits. Jesus freed that "captives" in Abraham's bosom. Luke 4:18

Jonah is describing the center of the earth...the abyss. The Greek word for that is Abusso, which is referred to mean hell. Notice how Jonah says the earth with its bars closed behind me forever...he is describing hell...or Sheol/Hades.

(v.9) Whether Jonah was physically dead or not, he was in a bad situation! He prayed fervently to the LORD, and He heard Jonah. I think what did it, was Jonah called upon the name of the LORD by saying, Salvation is of the LORD. This is the name of Jesus...YHWH Saves!

Mar 29 (Psa 8, 16, 19, 24)

Songs of Joy

Psalm 8

(v.3) As part of our daily prayers, we should meditate and praise God for His wonderful handiwork with His creation. Think on the wonderful sunrises and sunsets, the beauty of an eagle in flight, the gurgling of a newborn baby...God has thought of everything, and He did this for our pleasure!

I even take this subject a little further, by reminding my kids that God's original creation was MUCH better than the most beautiful things we see today. After the Fall of Adam and Eve, and the Flood of Noah, this universe has been under the curse of sin. Even so, it's loaded with such beauty amongst evil and darkness. I try to have my kids think upon how wonderful it will be when all we will see is beauty, instead of limited amounts.

(v.6) God made Adam ruler of the earth, and to keep it. But after Adam sinned, the earth is under the power of Satan. One glorious day, the last Adam, Jesus, will take back what was given to us, and rule with love and justice!

Psalm 16

(v.3) God delights in us believers, and He enjoys guiding us for His purposes...let's make the effort to allow Him to do that since He knows what is best for each of us!

(v.10) This verse is cited by scholars to be a verse about the Resurrection of Jesus...our Savior and Holy One. Peter cited this verse on the day the Church was born...the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:27

(v.11) God will direct us to a life of joy and contentment. I also take the time to show my kids that whenever the Bible cites the right hand, it is a sign of authority. This is usually given to Jesus, since He was given the seat at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Matt 25:34 & Acts 2:33

Psalm 19

(v.1) I teach my kids the silliness of the theory of evolution often, since it goes directly against the Word of God. He made all that we see today, including dinosaurs, in the beginning around 6,000 years ago. The whole universe speaks of a Creator and Designer, a loving God that created with Intelligence, not random chance.

(v.7) This points us to what Paul was saying in Romans 7 where the Law convicts us to see that we need God to save us from our sins. God in the flesh, Jesus, did that on the cross!

(v.11) We are warned to listen to God and obey, for if we do, we are rewarded with blessings and joy that the world envies!

Psalm 24

This psalm is about prophecy. Jesus fulfilled hundreds of prophecies in His First Coming. One of the most important, was His entry into Jerusalem riding a donkey Luke 19 & Zech 9 on Palm Sunday. Most rejected Him as foretold, and Jesus ascended to heaven after His crucifixion and resurrection, to glory with the Father. Lastly, He is coming again to take ownership of the title deed of the earth that Adam relinquished to Satan in the Garden of Eden. When Jesus returns, He will have collected His Bride, the Church, and saved Israel from her enemies. He will rule and reign for 1,000 years, called the Millennium, and bring judgment upon the wicked and all those who refused Him.

Mar 27 (Psa 49, 50, 73, 84)

Songs About Right and Wrong

Psalm 49

(v.7) This is a verse that contradicts what the Roman Catholic Church taught, and why Martin Luther and other Catholic priests rebelled. The RCC was corrupt, and taught the people that they could by their own way, and their dead relative's way, out of Pergatory by indulgences. This was not Scriptural, and was opposed by the Reformers. Satan has entered the Church after he realized that his persecution of it was making the Church grow. All denominations, and all cults are man-made, and prone to corruption. The only way to keep ourselves on track, is to obey God's Word...not man's word.

Jesus is the ONLY way to salvation...not by our works, our being "good people" or any other way other than our faith in what Jesus did on the cross for us. 1 Thes 5:9

(v.15) This verse speaks of the physical resurrection in the last days. When we die, our spirit will immediately be with Christ. But after the Great Tribulation, all believers will be resurrected in body, and given new heavenly bodies.

Psalm 50

(v.5) This alludes to the Rapture, where God will gather His Church before He brings His wrath upon the world.

(v.17) This is a sobering verse...all those who rejected Jesus and God's plan of redemption, will have their will be granted. They refused God's love and mercy, and they will live eternally with their own decision...eternally separated from God in hell. This is why I teach my kids that hell is real, and we need to share God's love and Gospel to all...so they can be saved from their sins that Jesus died for.

Psalm 73

The psalmist battles with the question, "Why do wicked people prosper in this world?" We all have seen the bad guys win and gain power over our lifetimes. But we must remember that this world is just a blip in eternity. What does it gain someone to be rich and powerful if they lose their soul? Matt 16:26

(v.26) I love this verse! Our flesh fails us daily, but our God does not! The more we rely on Him to guide our actions every day, the less we will allow our flesh to fail us. This is what the meaning of Jesus being our LORD really is...if we are His servants, then He is our Master.

Psalm 84

(v.5) This is a powerful verse that I focus on with my kids. We are just pilgrims here on this earth...our home is in heaven. If we keep our focus on heavenly things, and not worldly things, we will be blessed and joyful. But if we dwell upon the things of this world, we will be disappointed and miss out on God's plans for us.

(v.10) The worst job in heaven is exponentially greater than the best day on earth or in hell. I just want to be with God eternally...that may be a doorkeeper, a janitor, or whatever! No matter what it is, I will be grateful and enjoy the beauty of the LORD forever!

(v.11) I stress to my kids, that if we obey God's Word, He will bless us and give to us abundantly. He will not hold back His blessings if we are doing His will...He can't. It's against His character.