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Useless trivia
A 21-year-old college student has been charged with first-degree murder after Florida authorities say he drove to his mother's home and stabbed her multiple times over the weekend because "she got on my nerves", authorities said.
Kurt...
Cobain, certainly had some issues that people weren't following. I read a Wiki about his life and addictions that caused his health problems. That and success was overwhelming.
Nirvana was in constant rotation with MTV. Their videos were played constantly.
Nirvana was in constant rotation with MTV. Their videos were played constantly.
What Makes Jesus Unique? No one else made the claims that He did, He is alive...............
But if that evil servant says in his heart, my master's delaying his coming and begins to beat his fellow servants and eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of and will cut him into and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This is the second thing I've changed my position on.
By the way, if you look up the phrase weeping and gnashing of teeth, which was a Hebrew idiom at the time, if you look up that phrase in the Bible, you'll find it's only ever used by Jesus.
He uses it to describe those who do not belong to God. But are under the mistaken impression that they do belong to God, in other words, I personally believe that this evil servant is someone who thinks they're a believer, but they're really not someone like many of the religious leaders of Jesus Day.
And what Jesus is highlighting here is the fact that true believers endeavor to live their lives in light of eternity.
If you're a genuine Jesus follower, then the way you live your life, the things you prioritize, will be radically affected by the reality that eternity is real. Everything. God's word says is real. And Jesus could come for you at any moment. In contrast, those who are not true believers claim to believe in the reality of eternity, claim to believe in the Bible, claim to believe Jesus is coming back.
But there's nothing in their life. That shows any evidence that they actually believe that. In the example Jesus gives this, this fake believer doesn't have any love for his fellow servants and he doesn't have any conviction about his sin. Jesus is saying, if you don't love your brothers and sisters in Christ.
If you don't have any conviction about living in a way that honors God, if you don't even want to live righteously, if you love sin, if you're living like Jesus isn't coming back and heaven isn't real and this life is all there is, Jesus says watch out, because one way or another, you're in for a rude awakening.
And what we're meant to do with these words of Jesus is turn the spotlight on ourselves and evaluate our own lives.
We're not meant to read this and say, oh, you know, who needs to hear this? Me, I need to hear this. That's the idea. And I'm meant to ask myself. Which servant am I? If you look at my life. How I live, which servant am I? Write this down, unchecked sin and a lack of love for others are potential symptoms of a fake faith. Unchecked sin and a lack of love for others are potential symptoms of a fake faith, say, Jeff, that's heavy.
I know it's meant to be. Jeff, that's judgmental. That's because Jesus is the judge and he's the one saying it. There are only two servants in this illustration. It's not a spectrum, it's just two servants'. Which one are you? The servant who's watching and living ready for the master's return or the servant who says he's not coming back anytime soon? People have been saying that for centuries. I'm going to indulge my lusts.
I'm going to live how I want. I'm going to do what I want. Jesus isn't coming back anytime soon. Which one are you? Have you noticed how Jesus has been emphasizing things like faithfulness, watchfulness, stewardship, expectancy preparedness throughout what we've study today?
To me, it's clear and obvious that Jesus wants his disciples. That's you, me, to be watching and longing for his coming. He wants our expectation of his coming to motivate us to live for him in a radical way, on a daily basis.
And even though this conversation took place almost 2000 years ago, it's clear that Jesus wanted the expectation of his return to motivate his disciples after he returned to heaven.
This is the second thing I've changed my position on.
By the way, if you look up the phrase weeping and gnashing of teeth, which was a Hebrew idiom at the time, if you look up that phrase in the Bible, you'll find it's only ever used by Jesus.
He uses it to describe those who do not belong to God. But are under the mistaken impression that they do belong to God, in other words, I personally believe that this evil servant is someone who thinks they're a believer, but they're really not someone like many of the religious leaders of Jesus Day.
And what Jesus is highlighting here is the fact that true believers endeavor to live their lives in light of eternity.
If you're a genuine Jesus follower, then the way you live your life, the things you prioritize, will be radically affected by the reality that eternity is real. Everything. God's word says is real. And Jesus could come for you at any moment. In contrast, those who are not true believers claim to believe in the reality of eternity, claim to believe in the Bible, claim to believe Jesus is coming back.
But there's nothing in their life. That shows any evidence that they actually believe that. In the example Jesus gives this, this fake believer doesn't have any love for his fellow servants and he doesn't have any conviction about his sin. Jesus is saying, if you don't love your brothers and sisters in Christ.
If you don't have any conviction about living in a way that honors God, if you don't even want to live righteously, if you love sin, if you're living like Jesus isn't coming back and heaven isn't real and this life is all there is, Jesus says watch out, because one way or another, you're in for a rude awakening.
And what we're meant to do with these words of Jesus is turn the spotlight on ourselves and evaluate our own lives.
We're not meant to read this and say, oh, you know, who needs to hear this? Me, I need to hear this. That's the idea. And I'm meant to ask myself. Which servant am I? If you look at my life. How I live, which servant am I? Write this down, unchecked sin and a lack of love for others are potential symptoms of a fake faith. Unchecked sin and a lack of love for others are potential symptoms of a fake faith, say, Jeff, that's heavy.
I know it's meant to be. Jeff, that's judgmental. That's because Jesus is the judge and he's the one saying it. There are only two servants in this illustration. It's not a spectrum, it's just two servants'. Which one are you? The servant who's watching and living ready for the master's return or the servant who says he's not coming back anytime soon? People have been saying that for centuries. I'm going to indulge my lusts.
I'm going to live how I want. I'm going to do what I want. Jesus isn't coming back anytime soon. Which one are you? Have you noticed how Jesus has been emphasizing things like faithfulness, watchfulness, stewardship, expectancy preparedness throughout what we've study today?
To me, it's clear and obvious that Jesus wants his disciples. That's you, me, to be watching and longing for his coming. He wants our expectation of his coming to motivate us to live for him in a radical way, on a daily basis.
And even though this conversation took place almost 2000 years ago, it's clear that Jesus wanted the expectation of his return to motivate his disciples after he returned to heaven.
What Makes Jesus Unique? No one else made the claims that He did, He is alive...............
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet, the hope of salvation for God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us.
That whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him, therefore comfort each other and edify. That means encourage one another, just as you are also doing.
What will be a most glorious event for believers will be a most terrible event for nonbelievers, for it will mark shortly the beginning of the most tumultuous season of history the world will ever know.
And so Paul tells us, hey, don't tune out and waste your time on meaningless things in life.
Don't fall asleep in terms of your focus and priorities. Don't get caught up in sin. Stay righteous and encourage each other in these things because Jesus is coming for us soon.
Back to Matthew, 24, and I just want to highlight Verse 8 for one more time, Jesus says, therefore, you also be ready for the son of man is coming at an hour. You do not expect.
And I think the best way to interpret this is to say be ready for Jesus to come sooner than you expect and be ready for Jesus to come later than you expect. Be ready for either scenario.
And that's a healthy balance because I believe Jesus could come back. Right. Now, I'm going to keep trying it right now, but I still have life insurance. Jesus could come back in a month. It doesn't mean you should hear these messages from me and Pastor BJ and say, I know what I need to do, I need to go and buy that huge TV that I've been putting off because Jesus is coming back soon. And guess what? You can't come collect a debt if I'm not even on the earth.
Baby, that's not what you're supposed to do with this information. I need to be ready for Jesus to come back today and I need to be ready for him to come back in 30 years.
So write this down. The believer is called to live ready to be taken by Jesus at any moment.
At any moments.
And now Jesus shifts gears and he really begins to talk about how we should process this information, and as I shared, that's going to continue into chapter 25 in verse 45, he says, who then is a faithful and wise servant whom his master made ruler over his household to give them food in due season?
Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly I say to you that he will make a ruler over all his goods.
So if you're watching for the master's coming and living your life ready for his return, the Master Jesus is going to bless you in incredible ways when he counts.
The picture is the master of a house returning to find that his servant has the table set.
Be ready the bed made the fireplace going. Everything ready for the master's return. And Jesus says live like that. Live ready for me to come to you? Jesus says, I don't want to come to rapture my church and I call your name and your response is like I'm an unwelcome relative showing up at the door spontaneously for dinner. And you're like, Jesus. Oh, wow. What a what a surprise. What are you doing here?
Just give me a few minutes to clean a few things up. Delete my browser history.
Come on in. Jesus.
Jesus says I want you to be living in such a way that when I show up, your response is yes. I've been expecting you. I'm so glad you're finally here, I'm ready, I'm ready up and ready for a while. Make a note of this. The servants of God are busy serving God and preparing for his return.
The servants of God are busy serving God and preparing for his return.
Now the contrast is shared by Jesus in verse 48, he says.
That whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him, therefore comfort each other and edify. That means encourage one another, just as you are also doing.
What will be a most glorious event for believers will be a most terrible event for nonbelievers, for it will mark shortly the beginning of the most tumultuous season of history the world will ever know.
And so Paul tells us, hey, don't tune out and waste your time on meaningless things in life.
Don't fall asleep in terms of your focus and priorities. Don't get caught up in sin. Stay righteous and encourage each other in these things because Jesus is coming for us soon.
Back to Matthew, 24, and I just want to highlight Verse 8 for one more time, Jesus says, therefore, you also be ready for the son of man is coming at an hour. You do not expect.
And I think the best way to interpret this is to say be ready for Jesus to come sooner than you expect and be ready for Jesus to come later than you expect. Be ready for either scenario.
And that's a healthy balance because I believe Jesus could come back. Right. Now, I'm going to keep trying it right now, but I still have life insurance. Jesus could come back in a month. It doesn't mean you should hear these messages from me and Pastor BJ and say, I know what I need to do, I need to go and buy that huge TV that I've been putting off because Jesus is coming back soon. And guess what? You can't come collect a debt if I'm not even on the earth.
Baby, that's not what you're supposed to do with this information. I need to be ready for Jesus to come back today and I need to be ready for him to come back in 30 years.
So write this down. The believer is called to live ready to be taken by Jesus at any moment.
At any moments.
And now Jesus shifts gears and he really begins to talk about how we should process this information, and as I shared, that's going to continue into chapter 25 in verse 45, he says, who then is a faithful and wise servant whom his master made ruler over his household to give them food in due season?
Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly I say to you that he will make a ruler over all his goods.
So if you're watching for the master's coming and living your life ready for his return, the Master Jesus is going to bless you in incredible ways when he counts.
The picture is the master of a house returning to find that his servant has the table set.
Be ready the bed made the fireplace going. Everything ready for the master's return. And Jesus says live like that. Live ready for me to come to you? Jesus says, I don't want to come to rapture my church and I call your name and your response is like I'm an unwelcome relative showing up at the door spontaneously for dinner. And you're like, Jesus. Oh, wow. What a what a surprise. What are you doing here?
Just give me a few minutes to clean a few things up. Delete my browser history.
Come on in. Jesus.
Jesus says I want you to be living in such a way that when I show up, your response is yes. I've been expecting you. I'm so glad you're finally here, I'm ready, I'm ready up and ready for a while. Make a note of this. The servants of God are busy serving God and preparing for his return.
The servants of God are busy serving God and preparing for his return.
Now the contrast is shared by Jesus in verse 48, he says.
What Makes Jesus Unique? No one else made the claims that He did, He is alive...............
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet, the hope of salvation for God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us.
That whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him, therefore comfort each other and edify. That means encourage one another, just as you are also doing.
What will be a most glorious event for believers will be a most terrible event for nonbelievers, for it will mark shortly the beginning of the most tumultuous season of history the world will ever know.
And so Paul tells us, hey, don't tune out and waste your time on meaningless things in life.
Don't fall asleep in terms of your focus and priorities. Don't get caught up in sin. Stay righteous and encourage each other in these things because Jesus is coming for us soon.
Back to Matthew, 24, and I just want to highlight Verse 8 for one more time, Jesus says, therefore, you also be ready for the son of man is coming at an hour. You do not expect.
And I think the best way to interpret this is to say be ready for Jesus to come sooner than you expect and be ready for Jesus to come later than you expect. Be ready for either scenario.
And that's a healthy balance because I believe Jesus could come back. Right. Now, I'm going to keep trying it right now, but I still have life insurance. Jesus could come back in a month. It doesn't mean you should hear these messages from me and Pastor BJ and say, I know what I need to do, I need to go and buy that huge TV that I've been putting off because Jesus is coming back soon. And guess what? You can't come collect a debt if I'm not even on the earth.
Baby, that's not what you're supposed to do with this information. I need to be ready for Jesus to come back today and I need to be ready for him to come back in 30 years.
So write this down. The believer is called to live ready to be taken by Jesus at any moment.
At any moments.
And now Jesus shifts gears and he really begins to talk about how we should process this information, and as I shared, that's going to continue into chapter 25 in verse 45, he says, who then is a faithful and wise servant whom his master made ruler over his household to give them food in due season?
Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly I say to you that he will make a ruler over all his goods.
So if you're watching for the master's coming and living your life ready for his return, the Master Jesus is going to bless you in incredible ways when he counts.
The picture is the master of a house returning to find that his servant has the table set.
Be ready the bed made the fireplace going. Everything ready for the master's return. And Jesus says live like that. Live ready for me to come to you? Jesus says, I don't want to come to rapture my church and I call your name and your response is like I'm an unwelcome relative showing up at the door spontaneously for dinner. And you're like, Jesus. Oh, wow. What a what a surprise. What are you doing here?
Just give me a few minutes to clean a few things up. Delete my browser history.
Come on in. Jesus.
Jesus says I want you to be living in such a way that when I show up, your response is yes. I've been expecting you. I'm so glad you're finally here, I'm ready, I'm ready up and ready for a while. Make a note of this. The servants of God are busy serving God and preparing for his return.
The servants of God are busy serving God and preparing for his return.
Now the contrast is shared by Jesus in verse 48, he says.
That whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him, therefore comfort each other and edify. That means encourage one another, just as you are also doing.
What will be a most glorious event for believers will be a most terrible event for nonbelievers, for it will mark shortly the beginning of the most tumultuous season of history the world will ever know.
And so Paul tells us, hey, don't tune out and waste your time on meaningless things in life.
Don't fall asleep in terms of your focus and priorities. Don't get caught up in sin. Stay righteous and encourage each other in these things because Jesus is coming for us soon.
Back to Matthew, 24, and I just want to highlight Verse 8 for one more time, Jesus says, therefore, you also be ready for the son of man is coming at an hour. You do not expect.
And I think the best way to interpret this is to say be ready for Jesus to come sooner than you expect and be ready for Jesus to come later than you expect. Be ready for either scenario.
And that's a healthy balance because I believe Jesus could come back. Right. Now, I'm going to keep trying it right now, but I still have life insurance. Jesus could come back in a month. It doesn't mean you should hear these messages from me and Pastor BJ and say, I know what I need to do, I need to go and buy that huge TV that I've been putting off because Jesus is coming back soon. And guess what? You can't come collect a debt if I'm not even on the earth.
Baby, that's not what you're supposed to do with this information. I need to be ready for Jesus to come back today and I need to be ready for him to come back in 30 years.
So write this down. The believer is called to live ready to be taken by Jesus at any moment.
At any moments.
And now Jesus shifts gears and he really begins to talk about how we should process this information, and as I shared, that's going to continue into chapter 25 in verse 45, he says, who then is a faithful and wise servant whom his master made ruler over his household to give them food in due season?
Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly I say to you that he will make a ruler over all his goods.
So if you're watching for the master's coming and living your life ready for his return, the Master Jesus is going to bless you in incredible ways when he counts.
The picture is the master of a house returning to find that his servant has the table set.
Be ready the bed made the fireplace going. Everything ready for the master's return. And Jesus says live like that. Live ready for me to come to you? Jesus says, I don't want to come to rapture my church and I call your name and your response is like I'm an unwelcome relative showing up at the door spontaneously for dinner. And you're like, Jesus. Oh, wow. What a what a surprise. What are you doing here?
Just give me a few minutes to clean a few things up. Delete my browser history.
Come on in. Jesus.
Jesus says I want you to be living in such a way that when I show up, your response is yes. I've been expecting you. I'm so glad you're finally here, I'm ready, I'm ready up and ready for a while. Make a note of this. The servants of God are busy serving God and preparing for his return.
The servants of God are busy serving God and preparing for his return.
Now the contrast is shared by Jesus in verse 48, he says.
What Makes Jesus Unique? No one else made the claims that He did, He is alive...............
Because, you know, this is coming because I've told you this, pay attention. And by the way, that word watch is a command. It's not a suggestion from the Lord Jesus to his disciples. Why do we care about this End-Time stuff? Because Jesus commands us to, he says, watch.
Therefore, for you do not know when our lord is coming, but know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
Therefore, you also be ready for the son of man is coming at an hour. You do not expect. Now this is interesting because when you think about it, you start running into some problems with this metaphor and the different characters in it.
Because the view I hold is not the commonly taught view. It certainly wasn't when I was growing up in the church. As always, I'll share my view.
You discern and consider it is verse 8 -43. This is what I believe the house is idiomatically the earth.
The house represents the Earth. Now, understanding that who then idiomatically would be the master of the house, who's the master of the earth at that time?
And I'm asking you to go out on a limb here because.
Because you're thinking you're like, if I'm wrong, Jeff, I'm going to be saying literally the opposite of what it actually is. So I won't make you do that.
But I believe the master of the house here is Satan. Would you write that down and hang with me? I'm going to walk us through this.
Which means, as strange as it may sound in this specific metaphor, who is the thief?
It's Jesus, it's Jesus, Jesus is going to come and steal away his church at a time that will take Satan by surprise, which lends some credence to the reason that God, the father, may not have revealed the day, an hour of the rapture to Jesus while he was on the earth because he didn't want Satan to know for Satan to warn the nonbelievers.
You need to know this. Jesus will seem like a thief when he rapture's his church, and if this thief illustration is unsettling, you and I can read a room.
Let me point out that we find our brother Paul using the same illustration with the same characters in a way, in First Thessalonians, five verse is one to 11, you can turn their aura or I'll read it to you First Thessalonians five beginning in verse one, it says it's actually it's on your outlines.
But concerning the times in the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you for.
You yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes worth as a thief in the night. Paul saying, guys, you already know this.
This is what I taught you when I was with you. And then, as I shared earlier, when I went through the same passage in an earlier message, notice how Paul switches pronouns.
Now he switches from talking about you, the believers and Thessalonica to talking about they who are the nonbelievers.
And he says, for when they say peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you brethren are not in darkness so that this day should overtake you as a thief. You are all Sons of Light and Sons of the Day, we are not of the night nor of darkness.
So to believers, Jesus won't seem like a thief when he comes for his church.
He'll be the most welcome sight we've ever seen.
But to nonbelievers, Jesus and that whole day of the Lord will seem like a thief when the Rapture takes place.
Are you tracking with me the same event?
The rapture of the church is going to be perceived completely differently by believers and nonbelievers, Paul says.
Therefore, let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night and those who get drunk get drunk at night.
Therefore, for you do not know when our lord is coming, but know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
Therefore, you also be ready for the son of man is coming at an hour. You do not expect. Now this is interesting because when you think about it, you start running into some problems with this metaphor and the different characters in it.
Because the view I hold is not the commonly taught view. It certainly wasn't when I was growing up in the church. As always, I'll share my view.
You discern and consider it is verse 8 -43. This is what I believe the house is idiomatically the earth.
The house represents the Earth. Now, understanding that who then idiomatically would be the master of the house, who's the master of the earth at that time?
And I'm asking you to go out on a limb here because.
Because you're thinking you're like, if I'm wrong, Jeff, I'm going to be saying literally the opposite of what it actually is. So I won't make you do that.
But I believe the master of the house here is Satan. Would you write that down and hang with me? I'm going to walk us through this.
Which means, as strange as it may sound in this specific metaphor, who is the thief?
It's Jesus, it's Jesus, Jesus is going to come and steal away his church at a time that will take Satan by surprise, which lends some credence to the reason that God, the father, may not have revealed the day, an hour of the rapture to Jesus while he was on the earth because he didn't want Satan to know for Satan to warn the nonbelievers.
You need to know this. Jesus will seem like a thief when he rapture's his church, and if this thief illustration is unsettling, you and I can read a room.
Let me point out that we find our brother Paul using the same illustration with the same characters in a way, in First Thessalonians, five verse is one to 11, you can turn their aura or I'll read it to you First Thessalonians five beginning in verse one, it says it's actually it's on your outlines.
But concerning the times in the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you for.
You yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes worth as a thief in the night. Paul saying, guys, you already know this.
This is what I taught you when I was with you. And then, as I shared earlier, when I went through the same passage in an earlier message, notice how Paul switches pronouns.
Now he switches from talking about you, the believers and Thessalonica to talking about they who are the nonbelievers.
And he says, for when they say peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you brethren are not in darkness so that this day should overtake you as a thief. You are all Sons of Light and Sons of the Day, we are not of the night nor of darkness.
So to believers, Jesus won't seem like a thief when he comes for his church.
He'll be the most welcome sight we've ever seen.
But to nonbelievers, Jesus and that whole day of the Lord will seem like a thief when the Rapture takes place.
Are you tracking with me the same event?
The rapture of the church is going to be perceived completely differently by believers and nonbelievers, Paul says.
Therefore, let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night and those who get drunk get drunk at night.
What Makes Jesus Unique? No one else made the claims that He did, He is alive...............
And that's why when someone says, well, I heard that Noah's Ark was just a fable passed down through o*al tradition, I really don't care.
I trust what Jesus said about them, because all those theories end up being proven wrong by archaeology sooner or later.
And so I'm going to stick with the one who said he himself was the way the what? The truth and the life.
Good job. And so should you.
You say you don't need to argue with people about things in the Old Testament that Jesus said were real.
The issue is always is Jesus, because if Jesus rose from the dead, then he is who he said he is. Right, he's God. And if God says, oh, yeah, the flood, Jonah, Sodom and Gomorrah. Yeah, that's all true. Then guess what? It's true. It's true. If the resurrection is true, the New Testament is true and you get the Old Testament thrown in for free. So don't waste your time on foolish discussions about Old Testament mythologies.
Believe what Jesus said.
So write this down. Jesus always talks about Old Testament characters and accounts as being literally true.
He speaks of them as being literally true. Now, last week, we talked about what the rabbis call a Remez, a mystical and often prophetic level of understanding that's hidden just under the surface of certain scriptures, and it requires a little bit of digging. And so last week, we looked at the possible Remez of political Israel in the parable of the fig tree. Some of you will know that I personally believe there is a Remez in Jesus's reference to the days of Noah.
There are many other biblical examples of sudden catastrophe befalling a group of people or a city. But the Lord specifically chose the days of Noah.
Why? Why that specifically? I believe there's a specific reason that is fascinating and I don't have time to talk about it in this message. That's how you rope people. And if you're looking to learn how to do that, if you want to learn more about that, I put a link on the outlines for you that you can check out in your own studies this week. Let's keep reading in verse 40. Jesus says then two men will be in the field.
Speaking of the time of the rapture, one will be taken and the other left. So he's speaking of the rapture.
But you'll find many good scholars who love Jesus who will say, well, no, no, no, because it's being likened to Noah's day. Jesus is clearly talking about one being taken away in judgment while the other is left.
For those of you who are interested in such discussions, I disagree with that view because Jesus uses a completely different Greek word for taken in verse 40. Then he uses for took in verse 39. They're completely different root words in the Greek.
And if you want to get into that, go on the blue letter Bible dot com, look up the verse , use the interlinear feature, get into the original Greek and you'll be able to see what I mean, even if you don't understand Greek.
Now, in this verse 8, the term refers to grinding wheat on a millstone. Everybody with me. OK, this is the context. I'm just building the tension, OK, Verse 8- 41, Verse 8 -41, two women will be grinding at the mill, one will be taken and the other left.
So are you understanding the picture that Jesus is painting in these examples here? He's describing an instantaneous event that will result in one person being removed while the other person right next to them is left. And when it happens, they're doing everyday tasks. It's going to be just another day, he says in verse 40 to watch, therefore watch.
I trust what Jesus said about them, because all those theories end up being proven wrong by archaeology sooner or later.
And so I'm going to stick with the one who said he himself was the way the what? The truth and the life.
Good job. And so should you.
You say you don't need to argue with people about things in the Old Testament that Jesus said were real.
The issue is always is Jesus, because if Jesus rose from the dead, then he is who he said he is. Right, he's God. And if God says, oh, yeah, the flood, Jonah, Sodom and Gomorrah. Yeah, that's all true. Then guess what? It's true. It's true. If the resurrection is true, the New Testament is true and you get the Old Testament thrown in for free. So don't waste your time on foolish discussions about Old Testament mythologies.
Believe what Jesus said.
So write this down. Jesus always talks about Old Testament characters and accounts as being literally true.
He speaks of them as being literally true. Now, last week, we talked about what the rabbis call a Remez, a mystical and often prophetic level of understanding that's hidden just under the surface of certain scriptures, and it requires a little bit of digging. And so last week, we looked at the possible Remez of political Israel in the parable of the fig tree. Some of you will know that I personally believe there is a Remez in Jesus's reference to the days of Noah.
There are many other biblical examples of sudden catastrophe befalling a group of people or a city. But the Lord specifically chose the days of Noah.
Why? Why that specifically? I believe there's a specific reason that is fascinating and I don't have time to talk about it in this message. That's how you rope people. And if you're looking to learn how to do that, if you want to learn more about that, I put a link on the outlines for you that you can check out in your own studies this week. Let's keep reading in verse 40. Jesus says then two men will be in the field.
Speaking of the time of the rapture, one will be taken and the other left. So he's speaking of the rapture.
But you'll find many good scholars who love Jesus who will say, well, no, no, no, because it's being likened to Noah's day. Jesus is clearly talking about one being taken away in judgment while the other is left.
For those of you who are interested in such discussions, I disagree with that view because Jesus uses a completely different Greek word for taken in verse 40. Then he uses for took in verse 39. They're completely different root words in the Greek.
And if you want to get into that, go on the blue letter Bible dot com, look up the verse , use the interlinear feature, get into the original Greek and you'll be able to see what I mean, even if you don't understand Greek.
Now, in this verse 8, the term refers to grinding wheat on a millstone. Everybody with me. OK, this is the context. I'm just building the tension, OK, Verse 8- 41, Verse 8 -41, two women will be grinding at the mill, one will be taken and the other left.
So are you understanding the picture that Jesus is painting in these examples here? He's describing an instantaneous event that will result in one person being removed while the other person right next to them is left. And when it happens, they're doing everyday tasks. It's going to be just another day, he says in verse 40 to watch, therefore watch.
What Makes Jesus Unique? No one else made the claims that He did, He is alive...............
And Jesus says, Guys, here's the similarity. Right before the disaster of the flood came upon the earth, right up to the moment the rain began to fall, probably for the first time in history story for another day, people were going about their daily lives as normal as normal.
That's what people are going to be doing on the day when the rapture takes place.
They're going to be busy with their normal lives.
And while Noah was getting ready for the flood, what was he doing?
Well, a brother, Peter, tells us in the New Testament that he was preaching for decades. Noah was preaching and warning people, but all they did was write him off as a kook, a religious nut job oblivious to their pending doom.
Today, I think the reality of our situation is even more glaring. And I'll tell you why. I'll tell you why. Because when the flood happened, it wasn't disasters progressively getting worse and worse and then the flood happened.
It was life as normal. Then the flood happens.
How many people can perceive, at least on some level, that something is wrong? How many people right now can perceive something is off in the world in a significant way and it is not getting better?
And yet, other than ranting on social media, those same people simply continue with life as normal, refusing to consider whether God might have something to do with this.
The ones who are most concerned about what's going on in the world and in culture almost never turn to Jesus.
They write about their concerns on the Internet.
They make videos in their basement for YouTube. They start Facebook groups to find other concerned individuals so they can all be terrified together and talk about how nobody understands what's really going on except them. But turn to Jesus. Now the signs are everywhere, but nobody really cares.
Oh, they pounded on the door of the ark once they realized what was happening. But the Bible says the Lord was the one who had sealed the door and they couldn't get in.
It was too late. Jesus says the rapture. It's going to be like that. Most of the world is going to be busy with their daily lives, ignoring the gospel, refusing to repent, oblivious to the fact that Jesus is about to judge the Earth. And what's interesting to me is that Jesus doesn't describe the world as some sort of post apocalyptic wasteland when the rapture happens.
Instead, he describes life just going on as normal, the usual daily stuff happening, which is weird when you pair that description with the description of labor pains that Jesus gave us earlier in Matthew, 24, things like wars and earthquakes, diseases.
And so a picture emerges when you put these two things together. And the best way I can describe it is to say it like this.
This is the first fill in on your outline just before the rapture takes place.
Life on Earth will be business as usual in a very unusual time.
It will be business as usual in a very unusual time. And could you think of a better description than that for our world right now?
It was years ago that I taught this for the first time by the by the way, and I made that same point back then. And it's happened pretty quickly. All the same daily stuff pretty much keeps happening. But the world is falling apart when you step back and you take a look at it. I also noticed that when Jesus talks about Noah, this is a big Bible, bit of knowledge to understand when Jesus talks about Noah. He talks about him literally.
Jesus doesn't talk about Noah as those as though he's a fable or a myth or a parable or someone who didn't really live. He talks about Noah as being literally true.
Just as Jesus talked about Noah, I'm sorry, just as Jesus talked about Jonah and the fish who swallowed him as being literally true, you see, whenever Jesus talks about Old Testament stories in persons, he always speaks of them literally.
That's what people are going to be doing on the day when the rapture takes place.
They're going to be busy with their normal lives.
And while Noah was getting ready for the flood, what was he doing?
Well, a brother, Peter, tells us in the New Testament that he was preaching for decades. Noah was preaching and warning people, but all they did was write him off as a kook, a religious nut job oblivious to their pending doom.
Today, I think the reality of our situation is even more glaring. And I'll tell you why. I'll tell you why. Because when the flood happened, it wasn't disasters progressively getting worse and worse and then the flood happened.
It was life as normal. Then the flood happens.
How many people can perceive, at least on some level, that something is wrong? How many people right now can perceive something is off in the world in a significant way and it is not getting better?
And yet, other than ranting on social media, those same people simply continue with life as normal, refusing to consider whether God might have something to do with this.
The ones who are most concerned about what's going on in the world and in culture almost never turn to Jesus.
They write about their concerns on the Internet.
They make videos in their basement for YouTube. They start Facebook groups to find other concerned individuals so they can all be terrified together and talk about how nobody understands what's really going on except them. But turn to Jesus. Now the signs are everywhere, but nobody really cares.
Oh, they pounded on the door of the ark once they realized what was happening. But the Bible says the Lord was the one who had sealed the door and they couldn't get in.
It was too late. Jesus says the rapture. It's going to be like that. Most of the world is going to be busy with their daily lives, ignoring the gospel, refusing to repent, oblivious to the fact that Jesus is about to judge the Earth. And what's interesting to me is that Jesus doesn't describe the world as some sort of post apocalyptic wasteland when the rapture happens.
Instead, he describes life just going on as normal, the usual daily stuff happening, which is weird when you pair that description with the description of labor pains that Jesus gave us earlier in Matthew, 24, things like wars and earthquakes, diseases.
And so a picture emerges when you put these two things together. And the best way I can describe it is to say it like this.
This is the first fill in on your outline just before the rapture takes place.
Life on Earth will be business as usual in a very unusual time.
It will be business as usual in a very unusual time. And could you think of a better description than that for our world right now?
It was years ago that I taught this for the first time by the by the way, and I made that same point back then. And it's happened pretty quickly. All the same daily stuff pretty much keeps happening. But the world is falling apart when you step back and you take a look at it. I also noticed that when Jesus talks about Noah, this is a big Bible, bit of knowledge to understand when Jesus talks about Noah. He talks about him literally.
Jesus doesn't talk about Noah as those as though he's a fable or a myth or a parable or someone who didn't really live. He talks about Noah as being literally true.
Just as Jesus talked about Noah, I'm sorry, just as Jesus talked about Jonah and the fish who swallowed him as being literally true, you see, whenever Jesus talks about Old Testament stories in persons, he always speaks of them literally.
RE: Kurt...
Kurt and Nirvana (and other bands) brought us grunge. I just read Dave Grohl's book, and his roots were punk. The amalgam of the band's music was so interesting. It's a shame Kurt killed himself. Such a great band...
Grunge was a new niche, so in that way Kurt Cobain's legacy did change the landscape of music.
Grunge was a new niche, so in that way Kurt Cobain's legacy did change the landscape of music.
WORLD DIVIDED
Slovakia, a member of NATO, has elected a new leader who is not sympathetic to the Ukraine cause. This is a weakness to NATO and this attitude should be noted by other members.
OLD SCHOOL
Danni
You think I was naughty, I know. Don't you find that the human mind makes you do things, sometimes extreme, to overcome situations. I think it's a protective measure that is built into us, and those who don't use it face more severe consequences.
Was I eventually found out? You will need to ask for the next episode.
You think I was naughty, I know. Don't you find that the human mind makes you do things, sometimes extreme, to overcome situations. I think it's a protective measure that is built into us, and those who don't use it face more severe consequences.
Was I eventually found out? You will need to ask for the next episode.
RE: Speed dating
You gave me an idea for speed dating now. Thanks Suzie. I gave your blog a thumbs up for that. I was intimidated by them until now. Now I’m intrigued.
Speed dating
Promise me if you find a speed-dating thing in your general area you'll go 
it's all about people who want to meet people whereas here on CS for eg some have complicated motives for being here. At least in just 5 minutes nobody will (surely?) be asking if you found Jesus, or talking at random for the sake of talking. Oh help maybe some will sit down and launch straight into politics 
well you don't tick their name on the list, sorted!
it's all about people who want to meet people whereas here on CS for eg some have complicated motives for being here. At least in just 5 minutes nobody will (surely?) be asking if you found Jesus, or talking at random for the sake of talking. Oh help maybe some will sit down and launch straight into politics well you don't tick their name on the list, sorted!Speed dating
A guy honest enough to say yes, hmm. At least you could watch them wriggle and no no I want a companion for long walks on the beach and sitting in front of the fire and and well okay maybe a quick fumble or two 
Trouble is I'm older than you so if I tried that I'd scare them off. Maybe for me the line would be 'do you just want your feet massaged'
Trouble is I'm older than you so if I tried that I'd scare them off. Maybe for me the line would be 'do you just want your feet massaged'
RE: Speed dating
Seems complicated was never any good at getting dates lol. One thing i do have to offer is a whole bunch of attention. I was always attentive and it was mever said that i never spent enough time with anyone.
was never any good at getting dates lol. One thing i do have to offer is a whole bunch of attention. I was always attentive and it was mever said that i never spent enough time with anyone.OLD SCHOOL
Thanks Danni. You're right of course. Why a headmistress didn't understand, is a puzzle. But some people are not really cut out for a job that requires understanding that we all learn differently.
I realise also that I must have had a school phobia. I was probably more anxious than others.
My father died when I was 12 and I was still at that school. I took matters into my own hands and instead of going to school on certain days, I would stay on my bus and not get off at the school, but instead stay till it reached the city. I would spend the whole day train spotting and looking round toy shops. I would of course go home at the usual time.
Was that naughty or not?
I realise also that I must have had a school phobia. I was probably more anxious than others.
My father died when I was 12 and I was still at that school. I took matters into my own hands and instead of going to school on certain days, I would stay on my bus and not get off at the school, but instead stay till it reached the city. I would spend the whole day train spotting and looking round toy shops. I would of course go home at the usual time.
Was that naughty or not?
Speed dating
So maybe not your opening line go with I'm a musician, happiest playing my guitar, love animals and handy round the house (are you handy round the house? Women LOVE handy round the house) (if not handy round the house go on a DIY course, lots of women do those because there are so few men handy round the house)
There are single blokes here but some are gay and some are shy and some are rich and afraid of being chased for their money and some are poor and want to see your bank account before they'll commit ... but the point is when you meet someone speed-dating two questions are ticked immediately
Single? yes
Looking? yes
Aha!
Unless you HAVE to live at home you can also tick another box on some lists, 'ready able and willing to move in' some women do like a man around all the time, they feel incomplete without one even if they don't actually NEED one they prefer one, preferably doting, on tap in case.
go with I'm a musician, happiest playing my guitar, love animals and handy round the house (are you handy round the house? Women LOVE handy round the house) (if not handy round the house go on a DIY course, lots of women do those because there are so few men handy round the house) There are single blokes here but some are gay and some are shy and some are rich and afraid of being chased for their money and some are poor and want to see your bank account before they'll commit ... but the point is when you meet someone speed-dating two questions are ticked immediately
Single? yes
Looking? yes
Aha!
Unless you HAVE to live at home you can also tick another box on some lists, 'ready able and willing to move in' some women do like a man around all the time, they feel incomplete without one even if they don't actually NEED one they prefer one, preferably doting, on tap in case.
RE: Speed dating
sure no problem, hey! If you need books recommendation just drop a blog about and I'm happy to help.
RE: Speed dating
My dates would end the second i told them i live at home and dont work
Speed dating
Just the first time, though - subsequent dates could last, what, 20 minutes?
Making an impression, being irresistible in the 5 minutes before the bell pings, no pressure
Making an impression, being irresistible in the 5 minutes before the bell pings, no pressure
Speed dating
Oh, I will, and will report back when / if it ever happens.
I joined an expats club recently and noticed they have a night for solo members, might venture along for that, there could after all be members under 90 years old, although I've yet to see on one under 90 at their backgammon mornings
I joined an expats club recently and noticed they have a night for solo members, might venture along for that, there could after all be members under 90 years old, although I've yet to see on one under 90 at their backgammon mornings
RE: OLD SCHOOL
It can have negative effects on mental health, leading to shame, fear, and anxiety.
There is a risk of physical harm, such as bruises and injuries.
It often fails to address the root cause of behavior and does not teach positive alternatives.
It can role model violence as an acceptable solution to problems.
Many countries consider it illegal and a violation of children's rights to a safe learning environment.It can have negative effects on mental health, leading to shame, fear, and anxiety.
There is a risk of physical harm, such as bruises and injuries.
It often fails to address the root cause of behavior and does not teach positive alternatives.
It can role model violence as an acceptable solution to problems.
Many countries consider it illegal and a violation of children's rights to a safe learning environment. Here's the reason why but I reckon there's nothing wrong with corporal approach but as society evolve do as people.
There is a risk of physical harm, such as bruises and injuries.
It often fails to address the root cause of behavior and does not teach positive alternatives.
It can role model violence as an acceptable solution to problems.
Many countries consider it illegal and a violation of children's rights to a safe learning environment.It can have negative effects on mental health, leading to shame, fear, and anxiety.
There is a risk of physical harm, such as bruises and injuries.
It often fails to address the root cause of behavior and does not teach positive alternatives.
It can role model violence as an acceptable solution to problems.
Many countries consider it illegal and a violation of children's rights to a safe learning environment. Here's the reason why but I reckon there's nothing wrong with corporal approach but as society evolve do as people.
RE: Speed dating
I don't know about other places but here its a lot easier for a woman to date than a guy. Typically women can pick and choose who they want because there are a lot of single guys here to choose from and the guys are all fighting over the same women. Its actually a bit toxic when you look at it from a distance.
OLD SCHOOL
Thanks Danni 
These days, teachers would never be allowed to hit kids. They would be sacked and charged with assault. When I was elected school captain and wore a badge, this entitled me the special privilege of being driven by the headmistress to the cricket game instead of using the bus. Part of that woman liked me, I know, but her method of teaching did not show an understanding that we all learn differently, especially at a young age, and you don't use violence to correct a minor indiscretion.
These days, teachers would never be allowed to hit kids. They would be sacked and charged with assault. When I was elected school captain and wore a badge, this entitled me the special privilege of being driven by the headmistress to the cricket game instead of using the bus. Part of that woman liked me, I know, but her method of teaching did not show an understanding that we all learn differently, especially at a young age, and you don't use violence to correct a minor indiscretion.
RE: Speed dating
Most of them are taken lol. Here where I am, dating is hard, not a lot of availability in a isolated place.
RE: Speed dating
Speed dating is about first impressions. Which isn’t all bad since a lot of men are just about sex right off the bat. I would sit down and ask do you just want sex? He would lean in and say to be honest…yeah. Then I would say okay. This speed date is over. NEXT! You know maybe it just would work for me after all.
RE: How can anyone vote for Trump, when even his staff won’t support him.
I seem to have caught you at a bad time, I'll try again later. 
RE: Speed dating
Been doing that but no one wants to date a live at home burned out pot head 