Prayer letter link

     I am sorry about the wait for a new blog for the last week but we will be putting out a new blog within the next week or two. We have been focusing our attention on the ministry that the Lord seems to now be leading us to which is with Rock Haven Ministries out of the Arkansas area.

     We are excited to see how the Lord has been leading us and moving us forward. We have just finished our first prayer letter and have sent out our first batch on e-mail. We will soon be sending out our prayer letter by snail mail as well. 

     If you have not but would like to read our prayer letter please feel free to go to the following link. We are looking for brothers and sisters who will be a part of our ministry in prayer. Please copy and paste the following address in your browser window and it will take you to our prayer letter.

     May God richly bless you as you serve Him. The Moores

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=9tx9x9dab&v=001UQ183hrEIiHldvS7ilct47X91rG4YCUQrp9LEgduhswqzjzUcqABJfstL7kX1mcUY6i7qBj56S0Txivn0CSHMLF6eQTK7vxj1xk04fJ6ZHtElE7dA47PynMRW2JSy3jzbBUKrFifL3wnVNIf3nPPmVBH47X5cxR4haq1gwLPHVXD7YHFtGNEhsQGvZq2w60Mhhi3h0mEeMZyDxPXuXljxnDOoDN00r8VNkxfxDi0qOcJ6eAMS4UnMuoxdS1fuQo4Wc_5td6XseoQXxL7k1xCe5xJn6TQmqMFGhVqZBHi-gCV8Py-TsxNqtcBKDvdK2b-7syjNiv1j3e2IqS9bGSw6A4oo7brRtx1fj-EtfbHd_JgpYPyHPp1S2Am3u-g_9HL31Y-yZ0x7lsWCUYCRZ9d6CmO3EknwqSqlFlALiaMQ0mtBs-LCxYJg4PPOmV2Qfez&id=preview

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD. Part two

Luke 3:7-9 ( ESV )

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⁷He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

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⁸Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

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⁹Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

·         John was always honest with people and let them know first of all that they were sinners. He calls them vipers which were looked upon as unclean animals. The heavy part of this is in the parallel passage in Matthew 3:7 John is addressing specifically the Pharisees and Sadducees. Even the quote religious ones were lost. He even goes a step further  by saying, Who warned you to flee? He was tired of those who pretended to be believers when they were really enemies of God.

·         He begged of them to live a life that did not just go through the motions and say the right words but that they would be changed and bear fruit. Their ancestry could not save their souls. God could make these rocks into a people who would follow after Him. He also can change a heart of stone into a heart of flesh.

·         Judgment is coming. The whole thing root and all would perish as unfruitful trees would be cut down and thrown into the fire. So is the person who lives religiously yet lives without a true relationship with Christ as they will face an eternal judgment of fire.

Luke 3:10-14 ( ESV )

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¹⁰And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?”

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¹¹And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics^£ is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”

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¹²Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

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¹³And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.”

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¹⁴Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”

·         When confronted with their need and punishment that was in store for them many wanted help and asked what could be done?

·         In the next few verses we read how repentance will affect us all differently. For some they would become more giving.  A tunic was a shirt like garment and only one could be worn at a time. John was still stressing the coming judgment. This is not a time to hoard surplus goods. If you have an abundance of food sacrifice it for others.

·         Tax collectors were told not to collect more than they should. This was a common practice as many would pocket the difference.

·         Soldiers were told not to shake people down with violence to gain more money or to accuse people wrongly. They were to be content or satisfied with what they had.

Luke 3:15-17 ( ESV )

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¹⁵As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,

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¹⁶John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

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¹⁷His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

·         The people were now anticipating the coming of the Messiah and many were reasoning within themselves if John was the one who would be Him.

·         Note John’s humility as he tells them there is one who is stronger. He saw himself as not even being worthy to act as a slave to him and untie his shoes. John simply offered water as a sign of his coming. Messiah would baptize them with the Holy Spirit but he would also baptize many of them with fire in the form of punishment. The reason why I say this is as you look at the immediate context this is what he is talking about.  A winnowing fork was used for tossing grain into the wind so that the chaff would be blown away. He will gather the wheat or the believers into his barn but the unbelievers would be burnt in the unquenchable fire of Hell.

Luke 3:18-22 ( ESV )

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¹⁸So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.

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¹⁹But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done,

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²⁰added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

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²¹Now when all the people were baptized, and when^£Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened,

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²²and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;^£ with you I am well pleased.”^£

·         What was the good news John preached? Repent for the Messiah is coming. He had to bring them to a point of recognizing that they were sinners in need of a Savior.

·         We must realize that in sharing the Gospel as well that like John when we speak truth not all will want to hear the message.  We know that it cost John as He had told Herod it was not right for him to commit the sins he had with Herodias and for his other sins. He would be confined into prison and eventually it would cost John his life.

·         Before this takes place though Jesus would identify himself with John’s message of people’s need for repentance and the righteousness that only God could give. Even though He was sinless by being baptized He declared to all of mankind their need for a savior who alone could save them.

·         At the baptism all of the trinity were involved and represented. The Spirit descended on Jesus in bodily form like a dove which represented a symbol of virtue. The Father testified to the world of His Son’s perfect and sinless character in whom He had the greatest pleasure in.

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD PART ONE

Luke 3:1 ( ESV )

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¹In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

·         The Jews were looking for a Messiah but it for sure would not come from the political arena. No one could qualify for that position among these men who were the leaders of the day. Let us look at this cast of characters.

·         Tiberius Caesar-After being raised to supreme power he became cruel and vindictive. Christ would die during his reign.

·         Pilate- He was known for his cruelty to the Jews and had certain Galileans killed in Luke 13:1. He had emperor worship enforced. He would also listen to the voices of men over the voice of God.

·         Herod-A ruler over Galilee who would leave his first wife for his brother Phillip’s wife. He was a cruel and perverted man who was willing to hand over the life of John the Baptist so that he could be with his niece.

·         Lysanias-What is amazing is how little was known about him and how many doubted his existence until recent archaeological finds.

Luke 3:2 ( ESV )

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²during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,^£the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

·         They would also not find their Messiah through their high priest. The irony of this passage is that Annas means the humble one. He would be taken down by the Roman Procurator of Judea and later on his son-in-law was appointed to the position.  So both he and Caiaphas would be called the high priest by the people. Caiaphas acted as the high priest and Annas was the president of the Sanhedrin.

·         Yet the messenger who would proclaim the Messiah to come would be a lowly prophet by the name of John who had been out of the public eye and in the wilderness. Yet the time had come for a message of hope and change through this one.

Luke 3:3-6 ( ESV )

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³And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

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⁴As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, ^£“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,^£ make his paths straight.

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⁵ Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways,

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⁶ and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

·         Baptisms were not new for the Jews as Mosaic laws had prescribed various kinds for uncleanness and defilement. (Lev. 11-15 and Numb. 19) Yet this one was different in that it was symbolically preparing people to be aware that Messiah was coming.

·         The people’s hearts and mind were being challenged about their need to repent. They needed to be forgiven and pardoned. This baptism was to symbolize and testify of the forgiveness of Christ that was received. The water did not save them but the people were humbling themselves before God and preparing their hearts for the Messiah to come.

·         These words are from the book of Isaiah are from Isaiah 40:3-5 talking about John the Baptist and his message of the Messiah.

·         John proclaimed with a loud voice this message as one who had walked and would walk in the solitary places. The idea of the word prepare is drawn from the custom of sending people in front of kings on their journey and their job was to make the roads passable for them to go on. Note what he says every mountain and hill shall be made low and the crooked shall be made straight. John would not do this physically but he was spiritually preparing people to meet their God. He was telling them that Messiah would come and they should prepare their hearts to meet him. (We as believers today are to shout out to the world, “Believe in Christ, put your faith in Him and Him alone who can save you.)

·         The beauty of this message is that it was not a message for just the Jews but for all of mankind. The salvation of God is coming was his message but our message today is that the Salvation of God has come. Jesus is willing to save man if they are willing to believe in Him. 

·         I am reminded of the words of Amos the prophet who told the people of his time. “Prepare to meet Your God.” Amos 4:12. I ask of you today like Amos and John the Baptist, “Are you ready to meet Your God?” 

I HAVE COME TO DO MY FATHER'S BUSINESS

Luke 2:41 ( ESV )

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⁴¹Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

·         Every year-This was about a one hundred mile journey from Nazareth that was a custom for them to make and was required by the Law.

·         According to Exodus 12 it took place during the month of Abib or our March-April . They would take a lamb for their household or share it with another one. The lamb accordingly was to be without blemish or spot and about a year old. This is a beautiful picture of Jesus as the Lamb of God. I Peter 1:18-19, 2:22 and 3:18. On the 14^th day they were to kill it around 3:00-5:00 P.M. They were then required to take its blood and strike it on the 2 sides of the post and at the top. Deut. 16:16 They were required to go to Jerusalem during the Passover, Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Tabernacles. The city of Jerusalem would be packed during this time with crowds of people.

Luke 2:42-44 ( ESV )

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⁴²And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.

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⁴³And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,

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⁴⁴but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,

·         Jesus was 12 at this time and at the age of 13 boys would be known as the Son of the Commandment. At 12 most boys would celebrate their first feast in preparation for manhood. Once again we are told that His parents were devout to this custom.

·         When the feast was finished and they had done what the Lord had commanded them to do they were ready to leave. Families during this time would go in lines as 100s of people from various communities would go together. The women and children would be in one group while the men would go in another. How could they have not kept track on Jesus whereabouts? I believe that the best answer to that is that as Jesus was 12 he could go with either his mother or his father. Both of them probably thought he was with the other. Note they have already gone a whole day’s journey away from Him.

Luke 2:45-47 ( ESV )

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⁴⁵and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.

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⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

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⁴⁷And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

·         Can you imagine the fear that must have went through His parents mind and heart? Where could the one that the Father had entrusted them with be gone?

·         They were probably separated from Him around 3 day’s altogether. A day away from Him, a day getting back and the last day. The idea is that they searched intently for Him.

·         After all of this time they finally find Him in the temple surrounded by those who knew the Law. Jesus we are told listened to them but He also placed questions to these learned men. He literally amazed them with his understanding and question. The idea of the word amazed has the idea of throw out of position or displace.

·         One of the challenges personally that we see in this passage is that no matter how young we are we should be able to defend our faith. II Tim. 3:16-17 and I Peter 3:15

Luke 2:48 ( ESV )

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⁴⁸And when his parents^£ saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”

·         Think about it for a moment, Why would they be astonished?  He was not only a child but also their Lord. Secondly, He was being obedient to His Father. Lastly, God was His Father not Joseph.

·         Mary and Joseph had been brought to a point of distress in their search. The word here for distress is like that of a soul lost in Hades. Luke 16:24-25. They were in great grief over trying to find Him.

Luke 2:49-50 ( ESV )

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⁴⁹And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”^£

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⁵⁰And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.

·         Why would you search for me? It is only natural that I would have been here.  Then He reminds them of where His Father would have him to be. Jesus had an end goal and a job to do. Heb. 10:5-9 He would say, I have come to do your will. (esp. v. 7 and 9) He would complete the sacrifice with these words in John 19:30, It is finished.  What about us are we willing to forsake all to be about the work of our Father? We are only told that Mary and Joseph still did not understand. The same will be true of us at times when we are obedient to our heavenly Father. Our actions just don’t make any sense no matter how right they are.

Luke 2:51-52 ( ESV )

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⁵¹And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

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⁵²And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature^£ and in favor with God and man.

·         He was still submissive to them and proved His obedience to Mary and Joseph.  Think of it the King of Glory was willing to walk in complete humility and be obedient. He was willing to obey His family, government and others even to the point of death. (Phil. 2:5-11) His conduct was pleasing to all who saw and knew Him.