Matthew 1- Immanuel God with Us

SLIDE   1 Welcome back, ladies. Tonight was a real taste of CBS core groups. I hope those new to CBS will feel free to share and bless others with your thoughts. It may take a little time to realize what the writers of these lessons are wanting in the questions. Don’t worry about it! That is why we share our answers in core group and I do the wrap up after core.  You bible scholars out there wait 10 seconds to answer. Give the new ladies time to process and gather up courage to jump in. Although Matthew’s parables and events may be familiar to us there are many nuggets worth digging for in this wonderful book. Our Theme tonight is God’s ways are not our ways.

SLIDE   2 Immanuel: God with us

·  Genealogy of Jesus Chris

·  Prophecy fulfilled

·  Emmanuel :God with us

God’s ways are not our ways.

 SLIDE   3 Genesis 17:-6 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.⁵ No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. ⁶ I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 

As Jesus preached to the crowds during His earthly ministry many times…  They answered him, "Abraham is our father."  John 8:9 The Jews were proud of their heritage. It was important Matthew for to begin his gospel with the genealogy of Jesus proving his rightful place as King of the Jews.

SLIDE  4 Many prophecies for the Messiah are fulfilled through Jesus. As we go through the Gospel of Matthew, we will identify some of these prophesies from the Old Testament and relate how Jesus has fulfilled them ALL.  Many young men may have similar lineage and many more are named Jesus but no other man could fulfill a fraction of these prophecies. Hang tight ladies and prepare to dive deep into the Gospel of Matthew.  We must remember God’s ways are not our ways.

Let us pray.

Now ladies if you will open your bibles to Matthew 1.

Matthew 1: The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

¹    The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

SLIDE   5 ²Abraham was the FATHER of Isaac, and

Genesis 17:19 At 100 Abraham laughs when God suggest 90 year old Sarah will conceive. Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.” And that was the miracle God’s ways are not our ways.

 Isn’t that the way God works?...through extraordinary means.

verse 2.Isaac the FATHER of Jacob, Remember the story of Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25. When Rebekah conceived twins … And the LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger." v.23

SLIDE  6 Rebekah like Sarah tried to make God’s promise come true by deceiving her husband Isaac by dressing the younger twin Jacob like his brother Esau.

Ladies have you noticed God does not need your help. Lay your burdens down at the foot of the cross and do not pick them up again.

SLIDE  7. verse 2  Jacob the FATHER of Judah and his brothers
 Jacob(Also known as Israel) which make the 12 Tribes of Israel. Did anyone wonder why Judah? Not Joseph? Can you say it with me God’s ways are not our ways.

Clickfor arrow Genesis 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

verse 3. Judah the FATHER of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and

SLIDE   8 Heritage and property are very important in the Jewish community. The eldest son was to inherit the greater potion. God saw wickedness in Judah first son Er, and took his life. Judah told his second son to “perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother." Genesis 38: 8 Selfishly Onan refused to comply and God put him to death also. Judah tried to save his younger son from a similar fate and tricked Tamar to remain a widow in her father’s house. Tamar took initiative to make sure she conceived an offspring from the line of Judah. Genesis 28:26 ²⁶     Then Judah identified (the signet and the cord and the staff) and said, "She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah."

If God determined who he wants in the lineage of his Son, who is man to deny it! Because  God’s ways are not our ways.

SLIDE 9 As we look at verse 5 let’s talk about these two remarkable women in the geneology. Salmon the FATHER of Boaz by Rahab,

The story of Rahab from the book of Joshua and with is one of my favorite bible stories. Who but God would see the value in a woman of her profession? Ladies this is hope for all of our sister who have been trafficked into a lifestyle not of her choosing.

Rahab’s FAITH in the God of Israel saved the spies and the scarlet cord hanging from her window in the wall of Jericho won freedom for herself and her family.

  Remember God’s ways are not our ways.

When someone questions, “Can you believe…..what God did?” Yes, I can.

My God created the earth from nothing. He is almighty omnipotent Ruler of all creation.

SLIDE  10 verse 5 Boaz the FATHER of Obed by Ruth,

Ruth another of those faithful women in the bible left her homeland to care for her widowed mother-in-law. She fearlessly followed Naomi to her homeland where she met her Kinsman Redeemer, Boaz. Ruth produce an heir to the kingdom of God.

SLIDE  11 Don’t you see how God has a special place for women in the Bible in the lineage of the Messiah the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Sisters He is your Kinsman Redeemer, the Lover of your soul. And he has promised never to leave us or forsake us. I am so glad that God’s ways are not mans ways.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9

v 6.  Jesse the FATHER of David the king.

Isaiah 11:1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. You know the story of Samuel seeking a new king from among the sons of Jesse.

SLIDE  12 1 Samuel 16:10  And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these."¹¹Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here."   We see His choices as out of the ordinary, but God chooses who he chooses. That’s how I felt when I was chosen to be your Teaching Director. When I told one friend she laughed out loud. God’s ways are not man’s ways. 

SLIDE 13 Note the wording v.5 David was the FATHER of Solomon by the wife of Uriah,

2 Samuel 11 speaks of the sins of David in coveting Uriah’s wife, committing adultery and having him killed in battle. God takes the child of their union, but gives David two more sons with Bathsheba: Solomon and Nathan.  

Hold on to Nathan for a minute. I discovered something I have never heard from a pulpit. Notice this name in verse 11 Josiah (one of the truly good kings) is the FATHER of

Jech o ni ah and his brothers,  at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

Let’s skip 12 generations to verse 16. Again notice the wording…
¹⁶ Jacob the FATHER of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

SLIDE  14 Interesting fact: in Jeremiah 22:30  King Jechoniah was cursed… none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David and ruling again in Judah." Therefore if Joseph was the natural father Jesus could not be King.  Joseph was the legal father.

The lineage of royalty came from Mary, Jesus’ only biological parent.  It was through her ancestry that Jesus had a birthright in the bloodline of the Tribe of Judah. The genealogy of Jesus through Mary is through Nathan (the second surviving son of King David and Bathsheba.) God’s ways are not man’s ways. 

SLIDE  15 Jeremiah 23:5-6 Tells us Messiah will come through David.

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.⁶ In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.'

SLIDE  16 ¹⁷   So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

“750 years separated Abraham from David, 400 years separated David from the Babylonian Exile, and 600 years separated the Babylonian Exile from Jesus' birth."

We must recognize the definition of terms Matthew used which enlarges the notion of a generation. “Just as Matthew can use the word 'son' to mean any descendant in the direct line, so can he use the word 'begot' to mean any ancestor in the direct line.”

This division of the names in groups of 14 was doubtless adopted for the purpose of aiding the memory. Since the Jews did not have personal copies of the scrolls, they would memorize the major events in history. They devised plans to keep up the remembrance of important facts history.  As a side note.

Gematria /ɡəˈmeɪ.tri.ə/ is an Assyro-Babylonian system of numerology later adopted into Jewish culture that assigns numerical value to a word. From the Hebrew name דָּוִד (Dawid), which was probably derived from Hebrew דוד (dwd) meaning "beloved". If your leave out the vowels in DAVID Dalet counts as 4, Waw counts as 6, and another Dalet adds 4 more.

SLIDE  17¹⁸Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

 ¹⁹And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

I really enjoy the verse that says “Joseph was just a man” Ladies how many times have you said that about your son, husband, workman. Just as God’s ways are not our ways? Men’s ways are not women’s ways. God’s ways are not man’s ways. 

SLIDE   18 What a compassionate man of God to try to spare her reputation and shame? To save his standing in the community he was going to divorce her quietly. But our God is full of surprises!

²⁰But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

That is also what Gabriel said in Luke 1:30  "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

SLIDE   19 ²¹She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

Ladies, that is what Jesus wants for you freedom from fear. Rest in the peace that passes all understanding.

²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

SLIDE   20 ²³"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel"(which means, God with us). Isaiah 7:14 God’s ways are not man’s ways. 

²⁴When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,²⁵but knew her not until she had given birth to a son.

Intro to Gospel of Matthew

SLIDE 1 Good Evening Ladies; we are so happy you are here for Gastonia Women’s Evening Class. It has been three month since our CBS class have met together to study God’s Word. I really miss it during the summer months. The wonderful part about this Bible Study is that it engages the members to dig deep into scripture and consume the good news of God’s Salvation Plan.

SLIDE 2 Last Sunday as I taught Revelation 10 in our women’s class the Mighty Angel was holding out the little scroll to John. Warren Wiersbe states “God is a gentleman, even as he stands at the door and knocks waiting for you to invite Him in; He will not thrust His Word into our mouth and force us to receive it. He holds it out to us and we must take it. Read and digest His sweet promises.” To get the most from CBS experience you must spend personal time in bible study answering the questions in preparation for next week’s core group.

SLIDE 3 CBS Plan of Study

·        Wrap up by TD or ATD

·        Read you Commentary (Lesson 1)

·        Pray for Guidance of the Holy Spirit

·        Day 1-5 write answers to Study Questions

·        Share answers in Core Group

PRAY

SLIDE 4 Welcome to the teaching element of CBS which wraps up the lesson. As the Teaching Director I have the privilege and honor with the guidance of the Holy Spirit to study various versions of the bible and some commentary writers to add insight to the time and circumstances when the Gospel Matthew was written. I promise to dismiss at 8:30.*We ask that you answer your questions as I do without commentary or study bible prayerfully asking the Holy Spirit to teach you.

Last year we studied Revelation, the last book in the bible and this year we will The Gospel According to Matthew the first book of the New Testament.

SLIDE 5 Gospel means “Good News!” Did any of you find a wonderful new restaurant, a great bargain, a steal of a deal? We share these with our friends. Ladies we should be shouting from the rooftops about the inconceivable free gift “paid in full” we can claim by knowing Christ as our Savior. You are a Princess and your Father is the KING.

SLIDE 6 *As you traveled this summer, I’m sure many of you shared a specific experience with others, perhaps witnessed a car accident. (We’ll talk later!) As different witnesses view the same event each may highlight unique details from their perspective. And each gospel writer wrote with a different purpose is mind.

No one gospel is able to tell the entire story as God wants to reveal it but as we put the four Gospels together we have a composite picture of the person and works of our Lord.  

SLIDE 7 Matthew wrote for Jewish readers using OT to establish the lineage of the Promised Messiah. Matthew’s book is called the gospel of the king.

·        Mark the shortest gospel probably composed with Peter in Rome.  From Peter he received first-hand information of the events and teachings of the Lord, and preserved the information in written form. It is thought that this gospel had been written first. Mark aims to present Jesus as the humble servant constantly doing His Father’s business was written primarily to instruct Roman Readers.

·        Luke the physician and historian was not an eyewitness but he methodically collected and combined facts from those who were present. Being a man of science he arranged these accounts in a chronological order. Written for gentiles, mainly the Greeks, Luke presents Christ as the perfect Son of Man. He traces Mary’s ancestry from her father all the way to Adam emphasizing Christ’s humanity.

·       Johns appeal is universal. He presents Jesus as the Word of God setting forth seven miracles or signs showing Christ’s supernatural powers. Seven times Jesus announces He is “I AM.” Christ’s deity as the Son of God is John’s focus. His aim to convince the lost to believe in Jesus. “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31)

SLIDE 8 Of the four gospels, Matthew was probably placed first because he leads off with the paternal ancestry of Jesus by his earthly father Joseph to Father Abraham and King David. Since Matthew is writing primarily to Jewish readers he naturally began by emphasizing Jesus Jewish heritage. The Old Testament is a book a promise while the New Testament is a book of fulfillment. The word fullfilled is a keyword in the Gospel of Matthew use 15 times.

SLIDE 9 “The Old Testament prophesied that the Messiah would be the Son of David; the son of Abraham.

In the very first sentence, Matthew points to Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.  Matthew 1:1The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

There are wonderful resources listing thousands of  Prophecies of the Messiah and the scripture references. I will post a link to several sites if you are interested. http://www.newtestamentchristians.com/bible-study-resources/351-old-testament-prophecies-fulfilled-in-jesus-christ/
http://www.christsavesministries.org/index.php?proc=pbp&sf=vw&id=52

SLIDE 10 2 Samuel 7:12-16 English Standard Version (ESV) speaking of  David

¹² When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴ I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, ¹⁵ but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. ¹⁶ And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.^[a] Your throne shall be established forever.’”

Matthew not only connected Jesus to David, but back yet further to Abraham. Jesus is the Seed of Abraham in whom all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth
 will be blessed through you.

This genealogy in the early verses of Matthew establishes Jesus' claim to the throne of David through his adoptive father Joseph. This is not blood lineage of Jesus through Mary found in Luke’s gospel, but the legal lineage of Jesus through Joseph. Remember Jesus’ family had to travel to Bethlehem to pay taxes in the City of David.

SLIDE 11 Matthew also has more references to the Old Testament; 41 specific quotes by Jesus the Christ. The Gospel of Matthew is a bridge from the Old Testament to the New Testament a natural choice after a silence of over 400 years.   

Genesis 5:5Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.
31 times in Genesis lists the names of descendant and he died
The first book in the NT introduces a genealogy that emphasizes birth not death.

Matthew’s name means gift of Jehovah. Jesus called him Levi. Matthew introduces us to  Jesus against the backdrop of Old Testament promise, prophecy, type and symbol emphasizing his royalty.

SLIDE 12 The Gospel of Matthew is very orderly and concise.
As a tax collector, Matthew possessed a skill that makes his writing all the more exciting for Christians. Tax collectors were expected to be able to write in a form of shorthand, which essentially meant that Matthew could record a person’s words as they spoke, word for word. This ability means that the words of Matthew are not only inspired by the Holy Spirit, but should represent an actual transcript of some of Christ’s sermons. Rather than write in chronological order, Matthew arranges this Gospel through six discourses.
For example, the Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in chapters 5-7, is almost certainly a perfect recording of that great message. Got Questions?

SLIDE 13 As an apostle, Matthew wrote the Gospel of Matthew in the early period of the church, probably in A.D. 55-65. The second generation of Christians when most were Jewish converts. Matthew’s focus on Jewish perspective in this Gospel is understandable. Matthew wrote for a community of Greek-speaking Jewish Christians, located probably in Syria (Antioch, the largest city in Roman Syria. )

•      25 parables

•      17- 20specific miracles

•      6 major messages

•      66 references to the Old Testament

•      41 of those are specific quotations by Christ.

•      Only gospel to mention the church.

SLIDE 14 As a tax collector, Matthew was viewed by other Jews as collaborators with the Romans to enforce paying taxes to Caesar. He probably was a rich man because tax collectors often took over the amount the government required.  We know in chapter 9 Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.   Ladies I am going to help you with your homework. A review question ask what is something new to Matthew’s Gospel. Here are some things I learned. SLIDE 15 Unique to Matthew •      Story of the Wise Men •      Angel visit to Joseph •      The Beatitudes •      Peter’s attempt to walk on water •      Only gospel to use of word “church” •      Full Olivet Discourse SLIDE 16 Nowhere in the four Gospels do we find any recorded word that Matthew spoke. Matthew describe Jesus as a doer and the teacher  60% of the book focuses on teaching of Jesus. Matthew’s book is not chronological but rather topical he groups 10 miracles together and chapters 8 and 9 instead of putting them in historical sequence. If you consult any good harmony of the gospel you will see while Matthew does not contradict the three Gospel writers he does follow his own pattern.

Matthew's account uses the word "kingdom" 50 times and the "kingdom of heaven" 32 times.

Using Fisher

Slides 17-20

Final Lecture Revelation 22 “COME LORD JESUS”

SLIDE 1  Revelation 22 “COME LORD JESUS”

1.  More about Heaven   
2. Christ Last Challenge to Humankind

·        People Get Ready

Seeing a church sign -Holy Christian Singers –Homecoming, it made me think of our study. Ladies we will sing and rejoice at our homecoming. Even if you screech at the high notes or can’t carry a tune, in heaven you will sing like an angel. PRAY

SLIDE 2 Tim LaHaye Revelation Unveiled  comments on chapter Revelation 22
“It is a fitting way to end not only this greatest book of all books on prophecy The Revelation of Jesus Christ, but also the library of God's Word. The Bible opens with two chapters in Genesis we encounter God's description of creation and heavenlike conditions on earth prepared for humankind. The last two chapters of Revelation describe the eternal heaven that God will reestablish for them. All the chapters in between contains a great conflict of the ages as human beings turn their backs on God and He seems to  draws them to himself.”

As beautiful and lush as the Garden of Eden was prepared by our Father for His new creation,  but  Heaven cannot be described with mere words from a man.  

1 Corinthians 2:9 

 “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— People Get Ready

SLIDE 3   What’s new in 22?

1.     The River of the Water of Life

2.     The Tree of life

3.     No longer any Curse

4.     Face to face with God

5.     No night

We learned in chapter 21 that the New Jerusalem will have no seas but verse one of Chapter 22 promises water of life. Fact: An adult can perhaps survive 3-5 days without water; however, a baby locked in a hot car could potentially die of dehydration within several hours.

SLIDE 4 Ladies don’t be shy, if you see a baby or a pet alone in a hot car; make some noise. We need water to survive, but we need the living water to life.

1      Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

Isaiah 55:1 Invites us to come to the Father everyone that is thirsty. "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! “

John 4:13-14 Jesus talked to the Samaritan women at the well about the living water. "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

SLIDE 5 ²through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month.

Adam was commanded "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Genesis 2:16-17 Once they sinned, they were cast out of the garden.

But in Heaven we will eat from the tree of life freely, constantly. We don’t know if we will eat meat, (I think not because the animals will roam around us like pets free from fear of man.) We don’t know what kind of fruit will be on the tree. But this I know my Father will provide us with every good thing. We will be so happy that we will not grumble or complain. We will not gain weight because we will have a perfect body, no indigestion nor acid reflux. Can I hear an “Amen?” Just wait until next week’s dinner.

SLIDE 6 2- The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Healing not from sickness or disease (which will not be present in heaven) but means health and harmony the word “nations” encompasses every inhabitant. Can you imagine relationships without pouting, or whining, no disagreements or bitterness?  Shouldn’t we start practicing it now! People Get Ready

Proverbs 11:19 Wisdom(good sense) makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

SLIDE 7 ³No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.

Satan and his demons are in the lake of fire. They no longer have access to the throne or man.  No ungodly thing will be in the city. The throne of God will be foremost in the city and we will constantly sing and praise and worship Him forevermore.

SLIDE 8 4-We will see his face! This is my greatest desire. Though Moses was considered a friend of God he did not see God’s face.…. Exodus 33:18-23 Moses asked God, "Please show me your glory."²But," God (he) said, "you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live."….I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.²³…you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen."  

SLIDE 9 But in heaven…

·  We shall behold Him

·  Face to face in all of His glory

·  We shall behold Him

·  Face to face, our Savior and Lord

SLIDE 10 4-His name will be on our foreheads indicating that we are blood bought children of God.

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Greg Laurie says “Heaven is prepared for those who are prepared for heaven.” Are you Ready?

1 John3: 1See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,^a we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 

SLIDE 11 ⁵And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

As I prayed over this last lecture, the Holy Spirit urged me to show you activities to help you get ready for the Lord’s Return.

SLIDE 12 Greg Laurie says: In the New Testament's 260 chapters, Christ's return is mentioned no less than 318 times. Statistically, one verse for every 25 pages of the Bible refers to the return of Jesus Christ in some way, shape, or form. Make no mistake about it: Jesus Christ will come back again, and God has given us specific instructions for what we are to do while we wait. What can you do to Ready?

SLIDE 12 Christ Last Challenge to Humankind

·        Obey God’s Commands

·        Serve the Lord

·        Keep God’s Word

·        Be watchful

People Get Ready

Greg Laurie Taken from "While You Wait" “ We should anxiously await His return. Have you ever been looking forward to seeing someone? You wait for the sound of that person's car in the driveway. You pull the door open before your friend can even knock. That's what it means to "anxiously await" someone's arrival. If anything would cause us hesitancy in saying, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20 NKJV), then we need to carefully examine our lives.

SLIDE 13 Biscuit is my daughter’s “third child.” She adopted him when Gaven grew out of the baby stage. He goes to work with her, and is the official greeter dog at Lineberger Vet. When he stays with NannyAnn he always know the sound of Kristen’s car as she drives down my street. He jumps off the sofa and runs around in circles and makes a little whimpering sound waiting for her to come through the door. Ladies that is “anxiously awaiting.” Are you anxiously waiting? People Get Ready

SLIDE 14 Jesus Is Coming

⁶     These words are trustworthy and true.

¹²"Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. ¹³I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."

This statement will either scare you to death or fill you with joy. Are you ready?

SLIDE 15 Obey God’s Commands

•     2 Peter 3:14  Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

•     1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

SLIDE 16  14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. How do we wash our robes? Only in the blood of Jesus Christ can we be pure and spotless.

¹⁷The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

Let’s close our eyes right now. If someone needs an invitation, here it is! Three times it says Come! Come to the Savior now. Accept Jesus as Lord and leave your burdens at Calvary. Maybe you want to pray for a loved one who is not ready.

SLIDE 17  Serve the Lord

•      Luke 12: ³⁷Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes.

⁴³ will find so doing when he comes.

•      Ephesians 6:7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord,

SLIDE 18 What should we be doing? Loving others, telling the wonderful story of Jesus,  sharing our blessing with those in need. Widows and orphans are close to my heart, but each women here has a purpose. Woe to the one not serving when He comes.

      

SLIDE 19 Keep God’s Word

·        Deuteronomy 4:2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.

·        Matthew 5:18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” NASV

·        Revelation 22:7 Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.

^{Verse 7}  Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

This is different from obeying God’s commandments. This is especially for Pastors and teachers. Woe to the ones that do not teach about heaven and hell.

SLIDE 20 We don’t change the Word of God, the Word of God changes us!

¹⁸ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,

¹⁹ and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

Ladies I have read and studied many resources. I have prayed and listened to the Spirit to deliver the Word accurately and fully. My best efforts to stay true to the Word of God will be incomplete because I can’t know it all. I sincerely beg forgiveness from God for any misspeak or wrong interpretation due to lack of knowledge or misunderstanding. 

SLIDE 18 Be watchful

From the first chapter in Revelation 1:³Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

•      Matthew 24:44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

•      Revelation 16:15 ("Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!")

Where do you want to be when the LORD comes? What do you want to be doing?

Salutations from John

²⁰   He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

²¹   The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

This world is not my home, Iam so ready to see Jesus face to face.

Ladies are you ready?

Prayer