Matthew 24 - 8.26.24

Scripture

Matt. 24:42

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Observation

This chapter speaks about the End Times and Jesus’ return. It started when His disciples were admiring the buildings around them, but Jesus told them they would pass away. His disciples then asked when this would happen. Jesus explained to His disciples the importance of being ready now, because the day or hour of His return is unknown. Jesus and the angels do not even know when it will happen (Matt. 24:36). 

At the end of the chapter, He speaks about a wicked servant who was tired of waiting for his Master and started living like his Master would never return.  He started beating his servants, and getting drunk with other drunkards. The master returned at that time and the servant was assigned a place with the hypocrites, where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth (aka hell).

Application 

Stay faithful and obedient. Be Kingdom minded and focused. This world is not our home.

As we put our hope and faith in the promise of Christ’s return and our eternal home, the struggles of this life pale in comparison. Let us be encouraged to not give up in the faith! Do not give up doing our Master’s business and living with integrity so that we could hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” It is not worth the fate of hell that the wicked servant received, whom the Master was displeased with when He returned. God always keeps His promises and the promise of Jesus' return WILL happen.

In this world, we will have trouble, but Jesus promised that He has overcome the world. (John 16:33)

“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:17 NIV)

Also, according to Hebrews 11:13-16 (which documents the heroes of the faith and their life of faith in Christ), some people lived by faith until they died, even though they didn’t see or receive the things promised to them. What kept them going is their hope of eternity, knowing that this was their temporary, not permanent home.

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” -Hebrews 11:13-16 NIV

Prayer

Dear Lord, I pray that our faith in You would strengthen as we remember and wait on Your promised return. I pray we would be encouraged to keep pressing forward in obedience, knowing that our home is not here, but in Heaven. I pray we would wait on You. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

Psalm 33 - 8.23.24

Scripture: ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭33‬:‭4‬-‭11 ‭NIV‬‬

”For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.“‭

Observations:

This Psalm is a song to be sung and played, even shouted to declare God’s love, all He has done, the power He gives, and His protection. 

By His word everything in this incredible world was made. He spoke and it came to be.  

He thwarts the plans of kings and peoples, but His heart and plan will be through all the generations. They cannot trust in their army or other tools at their disposal for success. God delivers those who hope in Him. 

Application:

I can, as this Psalm concludes, trust God and hope in Him. He is worthy’s of my praise and to make known by my voice all He has done with joy. 

Look at all He “spoke” into existence!  He is the same yesterday today and forever. (Hebrews13:8). So, He is still speaking today. Not just to inform me, but to transform me and my circumstances.  I need to seek His plans as they are the ones who stand. It may appear the peoples’ or king’s plans will dictate the future. If it is not His will they will fail. 

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Thank you for your love and care for me. You have a plan and see the beginning and the end.  Help me to sing a new song to you and rejoice at all you are doing. When I doubt that you are capable, lack trust, or forget your love for me, may I turn to your Word or look to your creation. Your love is evident throughout. I wait in hope for You. Thank you for being my help and my shield. In You my heart rejoices, for I trust in your holy name. May your unfailing love be with me, Lord, even as I put my hope in you.

Amen

- Cindy Howard

Matthew 22 - 08.22.24

SCRIPTURE -Matthew 22:8-13 NIV

““Then he said to his servants, 

‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 

So GO to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 

So the servants went out into the streets 

and gathered all the people they could find, 

the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was FILLED with guests. 

“But when the king came in to see the guests, 

HE noticed—a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 

He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’  The man was speechless. 

“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, 

and throw him outside, into the darkness, 

where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

OBSERVATION 

Jesus shares a Parable about “The Wedding Banquet” 

In the Culture of Jesus’ day, two invitations were expected whenever a Banquet was given.

The First invited the guest to attend; the Second announced that everything was ready.

In this Parable, a King is giving a Banquet for his son. When the King sent his second invitation to announce that all was ready—the guests who had already “accepted” the invitation “refused” to come. The King became furious and even sent out his armies to destroy their city (22:7) and then instructed his servants to GO Out into the Street Corners and Invite EVERYONE regardless of their social standing, reputation, or moral character—outcasts and sinners!

APPLICATION 

ROOM AT JESUS’ WEDDING FEAST—For ALL who say-YES!

Jesus parable was about “The Wedding Feast—in—the Kingdom of Heaven”.

The Invitation to “attend” the Wedding Feast—went First to God’s Chosen-the Jews. 

The Problem was—most of them—though Chosen-were relying on their own “identity” as Jews to save them—and NOT on God’s Promised Messiah. They studied scripture-and missed “Their MESSIAH”  who was the hope and redemption of ALL mankind—The Way, The Truth, and The Life—when HE was standing right in front of them.

The invitation—Good News—went out to the Jews First AND then proceeded out to the Gentiles and then—to EVERYONE—

The Good News is that we are ALL outcasts and sinners—but Jesus takes us IN and clothes us in His forgiveness and righteousness AND assures us of eternal life in Heaven with Him-when we Accept “HIS Invitation”.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, 

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 

Therefore GO and MAKE disciples of ALL nations, 

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

and teaching them to OBEY— everything I have commanded you. 

And remember—I AM with you always, 

to the very end of the age.””

(Matthew 28:18-20)

Who was the man at the “wedding banquet” without the “wedding clothes”?

Anyone who goes to a wedding would naturally wear their very Best— Perfectly Clean-attire. You would never think to wear an old, soiled, dirty garment.

The Church-as The Bride of Christ will be no different. 

We will be dressed for “This Wedding Banquet” with the Pristine “Garment” provided by Christ-His bright, clean, ROBE of Righteousness!

Anyone without this Robe will NOT be permitted into this Banquet.

-instead—they will have been thrown into hell and after Judgement the Lake of Fire.

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give HIM glory! 

For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and HIS bride has made herself ready. 

Fine linen, BRIGHT and CLEAN, was GIVEN her to wear.” (Revelation 19:7-8 NIV)

“Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. 

The lake of fire is the second death. 

Anyone whose name was not found 

written in the [Lamb’s] book of life 

was thrown into the lake of fire.”

(Revelation 20:14-15 NIV)

Heaven and Hell are very REAL Places. Heaven is a FREE Gift. But it is a Gift that must be Received. Anyone whose NAME is not written in the Lamb’s book of Life (Accepted Christ’s Free GIFT of Salvation through faith in Jesus ) will be eternally separated from God.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,

Two very different eternal consequences. This gives me such an ache in my stomach for those who will be eternally lost.

Today I pray this ache will not leave me. I pray it is not passing or “emotional” but rather Your Calling. I pray Your Holy Spirit bears hard down on my Soul—Filling me and using me to Share Your Love-even when I’m fatigued, even when I’m in pain, even when I’m feeling like my words won’t make sense. Help me to rely on the knowledge that YOU are ALL I need. Your Faithfulness will be complete and Your Power IS made manifest in my weakness. Father, SEND Me and SEND More people out INTO Your Harvest Fields to Know Your very Great Love for them. In Jesus Name. Amen. 

 Tina L Kudelka