Benjamin / Brennan / Byron Fresh Manna

Reflections on the Gospels
1. Auflage 2020
ISBN: 978-1-0983-2396-7
Verlag: BookBaby
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 188 Seiten

Bible reading and reflections have been a lifelong activity for the Francois families. As a result, the blessings gained are plentiful. The 4 Francois' challenge you in this book 'Fresh Manna' to discover how relevant, contemporary and 'fresh' the Gospels and the Word of God is today. As God fed the Children of Israel, while in the desert, with Manna provided daily, so He feeds His children today with 'Fresh Manna' from His Word. This book is designed to inspire readers to approach the 4 Gospels with a mindset that recognizes, God still speaks to everyone who listens. Reflect with the Francois' while reading the Bible Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Benjamin, Brennan

Benjamin,

Brennan,

Byron,

Francois, Cedric

Leseproben

Reflections on
the Book of Matthew Reflections on Matthew 1 Who’s Your Daddy? “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” It seems unusual that Matthew would begin his gospel with a long list of names. Why Matthew would embark on such a task? They believed in the purity of one’s lineage. The importance of this can be understood in the groupings of Jesus’ lineage. There are three groups, each with 14 individuals. The groups are arranged in such a way that we can readily memorize them. These groups also make it clear that Jesus is from the linage of David. There is no misunderstanding this fact. New Testament writers such as Peter (Acts 2:29-36) and Paul (Romans 1:3) both speak of Jesus being a descendent of David. Repeatedly, Jesus is addressed as the Son of David in various text, Matthew 12:23, Matthew 15:22, Matthew 20:30, 31 and Matthew 21:9, 15. We live in an era where individuals are extremely interested in their family lineage. With all of the genealogy and D.N.A. testing kits available to us, searches can lead to incredible results. However, when considering the lineage of Jesus Christ and the names on his family tree, there is no doubt that the genealogy of Jesus is accurate and factual. These names consist of people who are from various backgrounds. It breaks down the barrier that exist between people based on race, gender; and most important of all the barrier between the saint and sinner. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 1:18. Mary who is engaged to Joseph is pregnant with a baby that was gifted to her by the Holy Ghost. There could not have been a more loving way for God to demonstrate His love and care for all of humanity in this miraculous act. Only God could have done such a thing, the progenitor of life. What a huge responsibility it must have been for both parents to raise Jesus, especially Joseph. He is called to be the father of a child that he did not have anything to do with bringing into this world. He was given the responsibility to raise Jesus. Can you imagine some of the experiences they shared during those early years and into the teen years? Think about your experiences with your dad as a young boy. Maybe Jesus shared some similar experiences that related to His day. While we all have dads, we must know who our true father is. Who’s your daddy? Reflections on Matthew 2 How Smart Are You? “1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to 9have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” The text says “…wise men…” went looking for the baby Jesus. The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation is a journey for wise men to search for and come to know Jesus. From the first man and woman, Adam and Eve to the Israelites experience in Egypt, man has been looking for Jesus. The prophets of old looked for Jesus. The prophets of old looked for Jesus and the apostles of the New Testament looked for this Jesus, the coming Messiah. Why do the wise men found in the Gospel of Matthew look for Jesus? Like the wise before them, and the wise in this generation, they read the prophecies and were blessed with insight and understanding. This insight caused them to look for and follow His star. No distance prevented them from seeking and finding Jesus. They knew He was the answer to every question. He was the solution to every problem. He is air, light, water and everything we need to live now and for eternity. Wise men today must look for Jesus also. With the many issues facing us today, from physical, mental and social health to financial concerns, we would be wise to look for Jesus. The wise will look for Jesus in every life experience, whether positive or negative. Some men do not seek Jesus because they do not believe in Him. “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God…”
Psalm 14:1. How wise are you? Matthew tells us that when the wise men found Jesus they “…fell down, and worshipped him…” Matthew 2:11. Finding Jesus is like finding a treasure that cannot be quantified. Jesus is worthy of our worship and praise and once He is found by us there is nothing that can contain our worship of Him. Finding Jesus will not cause our problems and sorrows in life to disappear; but He will give us the ability to bear any and every burden that we are called to carry. Worship Jesus in all circumstances. Our circumstances do not change who Jesus is or what He can and will do on our behalf. “13And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” An angel of the Lord tells Mary and Joseph to flee to Egypt with the baby Jesus. Herod angered that the wise men did not return to him with the location of the Christ child, decides to kill all of the children in Bethlehem under the age of two. This foolish ruler believes he can preserve his kingship by eliminating any potential threat to his rule. How foolish to think you are able to take the life of the one who He Himself is the giver and sustainer of life. How foolish to believe you can receive the worship that is due only to the one true King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus. Wise men know this. How wise are you? Just as God sustained the life of His Son Jesus, God will also sustain us. Being sustained may mean being led to a place we have never been or participating in something that we have never done. My daily prayer is for Jesus to lead me. Where He leads me I will follow. Some call that foolish, but I call it being wise. “19 But when Herod was dead…” Consider carefully the words of this verse, Herod dies. The Herod wished for the baby Jesus turned out to be his own undoing. Know this; what the devil intends to bring your harm is the very thing that destroys him. God promises that He will make your enemies your footstool, (Hebrews 1:13). Herod dies and Jesus returns to Nazareth. Herod reaches an end as Jesus begins His life and ministry. Reflections on Matthew 3 A Church Without Walls “1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Preaching in the wilderness, what an unusual concept. Even during the times of Christ wilderness preaching would be uncommon. It is intriguing that John did not set up his pulpit in the city or the sanctuary of his day. Rather he found himself in the wilderness proclaiming the good news. In such a vast space his voice must have resounded over the hills and down through the valleys of the wilderness. It seems evident that John is a student of what we know now to be the Old Testament, because he has taken up the call given in Isaiah 58:1, “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” The word of God has the power to draw men, women, boys and girls as evident by the preaching of John. Not only did people come out to the wilderness to hear him, they were beginning to confess their sins and submitted to baptism. When we are convicted by the word of God, there is an urgency to share that word with anyone who will hear us. In John’s day, there was no internet. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Myspace were not around to inform people that John was preaching in the wilderness. John’s preaching, like a magnet, drew people. What they heard brought conviction to the soul. When they returned to their homes, they shared what they heard. This preaching was not the “pie in the sky” message many want to hear. This preaching was a denunciation of evil and sin regardless of whom the sinner was. Calling men to repentance was the theme of the message. Always be mindful that when the Word of God is proclaimed, there will be some who will come out, not to be enlightened by the word, but to be “pot stirrers,” as I like to call them, those who only want to cause problems. “7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism… 9 And think not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our father…11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. But he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather...