True Prosperity

Myth I : Wealth is a sign of God's favor
Christians and non-Christians can be rich
Matthew 5:44-45 (NLT)

Wealth can be a trap for those who aren't righteous - hearts aren't right for the Lord.
James 5 : 1-6 (NLT)
James are talking to people in church, to people who has resources.

Wealth can tempt us to sin
People can sinned because of treating other people
can also sinned by discriminating coz others having something more

James 2 : 1 (NLT) - how can you claim?
James 2 : 2-4 (NLT)

Wealth can hide our true condition
Revelations 3:17 (NIV) - Spiritual issued are hidden and ignored because of wealth

Godliness is not a means to financial gain - and never should been!
I Tim 6:5-11 (NLT)
v.5 ... a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy...

Myth I
Wealth is a sign of God's favor
[B U S T E D]

Some verses are "myth-staken"-ly used to support prosperity gospel teaching

I. 3 John 2

3 John 2 is a greeting. This is a common way of opening a letter - standard way those days.
3 John is arguably the most personal letter, written to his "most beloved" friend Gaius.
It is common for one to wish someone to do well and to have good health - especially in such a personal letter. It would be hard to expect anything else.
Good health and to "go well" or "prosper" is indeed a good thing - and of course we can pray for these things.

But to say that we should be expecting these things is an entirely different thing. Definitely not something we can infer from a letter opening/greeting.

In fact, the greeting emphasis is not on physical health or physical "prosperity" but on Spiritual wellness.

Verses 3 and 4 are what John was really emphasizing - that people should walk/stay in truth.

An excerpt from a sermon I read :
"This in not what John is talking about in this passage. John is not saying that every Christian is going to be a fabulously wealthy, deliriously prosperous, and unendingly healthy. Those things would be indeed be a blessing - were the Lord to give us wealth or were the Lord to give us health - but these are not the things that are promised to every believer. The Lord Jesus Christ's own life bears witness of this. At any rate, John's point in this passage is to raise the issue of the spiritual health of Gaius which is described in the following verses. And we too should long to have that kind of spiritual maturity and growth manifested in our lives.."

So John was praying for good health and prosperity but what he was expecting was for people to walk in the truth. Not the other way around.

Not "Christians should be physically prosperous"
but "it would be nice for Christians to be prosperous, but what's important is that you stay in truth"

Hope this is of some help.

Soli deo Gloria,
Gray Sutanto

2. Matthew 6 :33
NLT
NIV ..these.. - foods and clothes

It is very unlikely that Jesus promised us abundant material life in Matthew 6:33. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Many people believe that this means that if they become a good Christian, do their prayers and devotions etc., pay their tithes. God would then be obliged to give them anything they ask for : money, spouse, power, fame, etc.

This verse is part of Matthew's account of Jesus teaching that were collected as the Sermon on the Mount. By examining the other financial teachings in this passage, it is clear that Jesus did not promise us a wealthy lifestyle in Matthew 6:33.

Matt 6:19
Matt 6:20

This passage clearly speaks of Jesus' focus on the things that have everlasting value instead of the things that will pass away. It is obvious that Jesus did not attach high value of financial possession, therefore it would not make sense if just a few verses later he'd change his mind and promise his students a wealthy lifestyle if they would only serve him first.

Matt 6:24

In this passage Jesus taught that God's people should not be slaves of greed. Keep God as our sole focus. In this passage, he did not only teach that material things have no value, he also warned that financial issues can take our focus away from serving God! Again, making it very unlikely that Jesus promises wealthy lifestyle in v.33

Finally, the immediate context of v.33, v. 25-34. shows us that the issue here is not about God providing us whatever we ask of Him but instead it is God's promise that He will provide for our basic needs. The whole passage is an explanation on the imperative : Do not worry, in v.25 where it says : "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" The context of the promise then is clear : food and clothing, the basic needs that are still difficult to meet even now in many parts of the globe. The passage then goes on talking that God provides food and clothing even to animals and plants. Therefore, remembering that the people whom Jesus addressed were barely living hand-to-mouth, it is very unlikely that Jesus promised them anything more than the basic needs of everyday life. Jesus promised them food and clothing, that is already abundance for these people.
-Mario Tahitoe.

3. John 10:10
KJV
NLT
The argue is, you're not just going to be living, but going to be rich.

John 9 : Jesus was talking to the Pharisees after healing a blind man on a Sabbath. The Pharisees, as usual, claimed that Jesus was a sinner because He broke the Sabbath Law. The previously blind man, his family, and all of Israel must not listen to him who taught false teachings and came from the devil. Jesus told them that they were blind and that their sins remain because of their unbelief. The context then of the John 10 passage is the issue of authority : whom should people follow - Jesus or the Pharisees?

In John 10, Jesus explained that his people would instinctively know whom they should follow, just like the sheep would follow the good Shepherd instead of the thieves. Using the good shepherd metaphor (it's not really parable), Jesus explained that the good shepherd would sacrifice himself to take care of his sheep (v.15) while the hired hand would only look after their own needs (v.12).
Therefore, it is only natural that the sheep would follow the one who always provide and protect them: the good shepherd.

Therefore, there are some strong reasons why v.10, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly, cannot be used as proof text for a promise of a wealthy life :
1. The point of the passage was not abundant living or a wealthy lifestyle. Instead, judging by the aforementioned context John 9-10, in v.10 Jesus was contrasting his motivation and the Pharisees : Jesus came to provide and take care his people while the Pharisees were trying to exploit them for their own benefits.
2. Jesus did not give any explanation here of what "abundant life" means. The word perisso\n were more often translated as more, remaining, to the full. What does an abundant life, a more kinda life, a life to the full mean? We do not know, Jesus did not explain further because wealth was not the issue of this passage. However, it would be against Jesus' teaching on financial life to argue that Jesus was promoting a wealthy lifestyle. Jesus himself did not seek financial power, in fact if financial security proves to be stumbling block, Jesus would tell us to ditch it. It does not make sense then to argue that Jesus was promising his followers a wealthy lifestyle in John 10:10.
3. The Pharisees were rich and powerful and they lived the kind of life that the prosperity people want to live. It would be ironic that Jesus claimed that he offered something better, something different, and that the life turned out to be just a wealthy materialistic religious/financial lifestyle that the Pharisees lived and offered.

Mario Tahitoe.

MYTH 2 : Poverty is more spiritual - revival leads to poverty, not poverty leads to revival

There is nothing wrong with material possessions as long as they are not our treasures.

"We must never forget that the riches of this world, whether they are to be regarded as good or evil, are realities that do not just disappear if we abandon them, they will continue to exert their effects. Possessions and use of them will occur. Someone will control them, and the fact that we do not possess them does not mean that they will be better distributed. So to assume the responsibility for the right use and guidance of possessions through ownership is far more of a discipline of the spirit than poverty itself. Our possessions vastly extend the range over which God rules through our faith. Thus they make possible activities in God's power that are impossible without them." - Dallas Willard.

1 Tim 6:17-19 (NLT) - not been told to give wealth away, don't put trust in your wealth, enjoy the wealth, and generous to the ones in need.

2 Cor 9:10-11 (NLT) - God is taking care of all the process. God makes it more, so that you can be generous. He give wealth so you can be generous.

Rom 12:6-8 (NLT) There are many gift and of them is the gift of giving

Philippians 4:10-13 (NIV)
v.13 ..everything.. plenty - want, fed - hungry

1 Tim 6:6-8 godliness with contentment

Paul is thankful for what has been put to him He was in jail.
"I have been in both circumstances".
Paul was a prosperous person background, then he encountered Jesus and end up being poor. Paul can go through everything.

Barnabas, Simon Peter, Ananias - dropped dead.
Act 5:4 - money wasn't the issue. The problem was the lying.
Forbes doesn't come out with the more kindest people list.
Money is everything for the world.

Don't sinned because of money.

MYTH 2
Poverty is more spiritual [BUSTED]

Stepping into Your Miracle

Pt. Parkash Khubani

Joshua 3:14-17

A miracle is an unexpected event attributed to divine intervention. One of the greatest tragedies in life is to live and never discover your destiny, but worse than that is to discover your destiny and forfeit it. We are God's precious children and we deserve the best, each of us has a promise from God, and each of us should have our mind made up, that whatever it costs you're going to get what God has promised you.
Now it you're satisfied where you're at, with what you've got, seeing what you're seeing, and doing what you're doing and experiencing what you're experiencing. Then this message is probably not for you.
But if you happen to be one of those rare breeds called dreamers, and if something inside of you is kicking, and if your spirit is divinely dissatisfied, and if you know God has destined you for more, then this message is for you.
But remember that every promise comes with a price. There is no victory without a fight, and there is no testimony without a test. There is no crown without a cross and there's no resurrection without a crucifixion.


1. WORD - Peter

Luke 5:5 - nevertheless!
Remember that word of God, claim it for your life!!

2. FAITH - woman with the issue of blood

Mark 5:28
your determination will move God's heart

3. PRAISE - Paul and Silas

Are we just calling and praising God, just because we're needing Him?
Praising God will make heaven doors open!

Act 16:25

4. ACTION - Bartimaeus

You don't get a miracle if you don't act on it. Meet God in half way.

Mark 10:47

5. COURAGE - David

everyone is facing trials and tribulations, do we have the courage to fight and to ask help from God?

1 Samuel 17:45

6. PATIENCE - Joseph

"God has given me a dream, am just going to be patient to receive my miracle"

Gen 50:20

7. PEACE - Elisha

2 Kings 6:16

8. DETERMINATION - Samson

Judges 16:30

9. OBEDIENCE - Noah
Gen 6:22

10. HUMANITY - Naaman

Some of us need to be changed first, just like Naaman.

2 Kings 5: 14

---------

Somebody is one step away from your miracle, one step away from your breakthrough. One step away from a too much blessing. You've put in your time of toiling, and trying and praying and confessing, and waiting, and watching. And I tell you, that you are one step away from what you've been believing for. One step is moving us from borrowers to lenders. From barely making it to more than enough, from weeping to rejoicing. I'm trying to tell you, one step can turn your situation around and put you in charge. I don't know what "Jordan" you may be facing today. Your "Jordan" may be completely different from what I describe to you from my own life. And I don't know what that one step is that you need to take, but if you will obey God and take that step, "-Jordan" is gonna run from you!

God of Comfort

Pt. Dave Kenney

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NIV)

Comfort and Suffering
Time for a Biblical perspective

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NIV)

overcome when He died and ressurected.

Sickness
Death
Persecution
Temptation - we are tempted, and sometimes we gave into it.
Trials
Natural events

...They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Acts 5:40-41 (NIV)

I am happy because I am worth suffering!

What did Jesus say about suffering?
John 15:20 - If you are a body of Christ, you will be persecuted.

What did Paul say?
2 Tim 3:12 - same thing, will be persecuted.

Why do we have to suffer?
Why should we suffer? We are better equiped to be suffer.

Our sufferings have a purpose - Paul rejoice because he know it has a purpose

• Suffering changes us.

Romans 5 : 3-5

• Suffering draws us close to Christ

philippians 3 : 10
romans 8 : 15-18

Jesus suffers in this earth. we co-heirs with Jesus.
Paul was beaten with stone, persecuted, had a terrible life. But everything means nothing.

• Suffering enables us to comfort others.

2 Cor 1:3-4

• Suffering creates endurance in others

2 Cor 1:6 - it enables us to be persistance.

• Suffering produce community

2 Cor 1:7 - suffering is not that God wants us to experience bad things. It's just sometimes God will answer immidately like Job, or sometimes He just hold our hands all the way..

How does God comfort us?

His presence
Matt 28:20

His promise
John 14 : 26-27

His provision
Heb 13:5-6 - God wil always provide our needs, and not our wants! :)

How do we comfort others?
2 Cor 1 : 5

First, accept God's comfort - experienced it!

Secondly, reach out to comfort others

• be with them
• encourage them
• help them

Application

• Surrender everything in prayer
• Be in Christ's body!

Good Friday

Cross isn't a decoration

Jesus was put on the cross, coz the Romans wants to make sure that no one makes mistakes.

Christians in Chorintians [profoundly wise people] - your leader was crucified which is only received by pirates -> embarassed them.

1 Cor 1:18-25 [NIV]

v.18
there's 2 ways : there is God's way or without God's way.
we need to chose.

v.19
No one is not too smart to find God.
It is God's plan.
It is not the preeching that saved people, but the Message -Jesus Christ crucified on the cross, that's been shared.

Relationship with God can't be : learned, earned, bought, transfered.
Only when He extend His offer : received the Son.

No one can aquired a relationship, only when God offers.
God choose His way.

The cross is the way God extended Grace for us.

I only can take whatever He offers.
I can't offer Him anything to make it ____ [value? unless?]
whatever I offer can't earned me His love.

v.22-24

There's nothing profound about "God". It's just the matter of God's way or without God's way.
They are just looking for someone to defeat Romans. It's weak and it's foolish.

v.25
The weak and foolish - that is what God's offer.
"The first will be last, and last will be first"

The Seven Cities : Thyatira

Pt. Dave Kenney

Rev 2:18-29 (NIV)

¹⁸"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. ¹⁹I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. ²⁰Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. ²¹I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. ²²So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. ²³I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. ²⁴Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you) ²⁵Only hold on to what you have until I come. ²⁶To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—
²⁷'He will rule them with an iron scepter;
he will dash them to pieces like pottery — just as I have received authority from my Father. ²⁸I will also give him the morning star. ²⁹He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Review:
We have seen that knowing the culture and history of the city is a key to understanding the message that was written to them. Pascal - gambling theory to follow Christ. We have also seen that the early church was a minority faith in the late first century AD.



Background:
Thyatira was a small city but an important manufacturing center located approximately forty miles southeast of Pergamum.

Every artisan belonged to a guild, and every guild, which was an incorporated organization, possessed property in its own name, made contracts for great constructions, and wielded a wide influence.
If you are a Christian, and follow a guild, you need to follow worshiping the idol the guild worships. If you don't, you lose the ability to earn money. Dilemma.

Let's look at some of the Key Thoughts in the Passage:

The church is commended:

• for it good works - loves
• for growing in those works v.19

The problem is a false prophetess.

Jesus says He gave her time to repent, but she chose not to - v.21
He will judge the woman and her followers - v.22,23
Jesus says, He will not "put any other burden on you (the faithful believers) - v.24

Act 15:28-29 (NIV)
²⁸It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: ²⁹You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

The obedient believers are told to "hold on to what you have until I come."

Two points:
their works are good.

Jesus reassures them that He is coming back to earth.
Rev 1:7
Christians in this environment are powerless. He is remembering them.

The rewards : "I will give him authority over the nations"
Jesus also says, "I will also give him the morning star" v.28

Applications for IES today:

1. For those who are doing good, keep on doing good.
2. For those who are doing bad, STOP! Repentance is a change of habit.
3. Don't confuse "food offered to idols" with the body and blood of Jesus.

1 Cor 10 : 14-22 (NIV)
¹⁴Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. ¹⁵ I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. ¹⁶Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? ¹⁷Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

¹⁸Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? ¹⁹Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? ²⁰No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. ²¹You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. ²²Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

1 Cor 11:23-26
²³For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." ²⁵In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." ²⁶For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Valentine's Day Weekend

Pt. Dave Kenney

Gen 2:18-24 (NIV)

¹⁸ The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

¹⁹ Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. ²⁰ So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. ²¹ So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. ²² Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

²³ The man said,
"This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called 'woman,
for she was taken out of man."

²⁴ For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

I. Romance and God

We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19
We are created in His image spiritually

• God created romance - God made us the way we are, to be romantic.
• God gave us a romantic Bible

Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sara, Jacob and Leah and Rahel, Isaac and Rebbecca, Ruth and Boas. None of them are perfect, but they have great stories.

• God gave us marriage

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. v.24 The great romance of love is when it continues to marriage.

• Song of Songs [Solomon] - only a book about romance and sex, context a lot about being romance.

Christ wants us to learn about romance, and passion. And there's nothing wrong about it.

II. Romance and Passion

• God created sex - it's a gift from God. Created for a reason. When it's used unintended/outside of God, then it will leads to sin.
• Passion's role

men : physically and emotionally driven
women : emotionally and physically driven
doesn't mean men don't obey God.
This leads to caring.
Passion is included in God's package.

• Passion and Lust - outside marriage is wrong, outside God is a sin.

III. Romance as Teacher

• Romance teaches us about other kinds of love

⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸Love never fails.
1 Cor 13:4-8 NIV

• Romance teaches us about ourselves, from "as good as it gets" till "you want me to be a better man"

• Romance teaches us about Christ and the church

²⁵Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰for we are members of his body. ³¹"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." ³²This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Eph 5:25-33 [NIV]

• Good romantics make good Christians

IV. Redeeming Romance

"Good Christians should be good romantics"

• Romance has a purpose
• Romance must be nurtured- "Nothing kills a good romance quicker than a bad marriage"
• Romance should grow

The Seven Cities : Smyrna

Pt. Bernard Persichetti
IES South

Rev 2: 8-11
⁸"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. ⁹ I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. ¹¹He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.

Smyrna was only second to Ephesus, the only city that is still remain until now.

v.8 The city was dead and now alive - used to be said to the city of Smyrna, that's why it clicks when Jesus that.

Then God said : "I am the First and the Last" - He is saying, He is in control, He knows everything.

v.9 I know what is going on.. [ i know about your suffering!]
situation : if you want to fit in socially and economically, you need to confess that ceaser is Lord.
Christians was pressed by the gentiles and also by the jews.
Jews got special treatment from Roman. Christians was seen as under the Jews. Later Jews was distancing themselves from the Christians.

Remember:
to be a Christians, Jesus didn't promise there will be no suffering.

2 Cor 1:8-9

⁸We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. ⁹Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

Everyone has been crushed and overwhelmed.
Has nothing to do with faith and trust to God - and by the way, this is Paul.

We are going through all of this, the same stuffs, to learn to stop relying on ourselves and start relying on God.

2 Cor 4:8-18

⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. ¹²So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

¹³It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. ¹⁵All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

v.8
Preplexed - these are all the experience in our Christian lives, and it has nothing to do with your faith.

v.9
v. 17 eternal perspective
v.18 To NOT look on the trouble that we can see, focus on the thing we can't see - it's a lfie long learning process.

Rev 2 : 9
I know your poverty - but you are rich

[define] poverty :

1. the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor; indigence.

2. deficiency of necessary or desirable ingredients, qualities, etc.: poverty of the soil.

3. scantiness; insufficiency: Their efforts to stamp out disease were hampered by a poverty of Medical supplies.

They were rich in spiritual/faith in Jesus

2 Cor 6:10
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

James 2:5
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

Money is a tool
Rich people is not evil and money is also not an evil.
But the love of money is!!

Rev 2:
i know the blasphemy..

about being Jew
Rom 2 : 28,29

²⁸A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. ²⁹ No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

you can't be a Christian just because your parents are one.

v.10 "suffer for 10 days.." - means a short time.

Polycarp disciple of John, appointed bishop of the Church in Smyrna, was burned to death because he defuses to declare Caesar is God.

Jesus didn't ask us to do something like that. Just make sure we be faithful till the end!

The Seven Cities : Ephesus

Pt. Tommy Pacatang

[video] The Mark of the beast
Paul was thrown out of Ephesus because he was teaching another religion/belief.

Revelation 2 : 1-7 (NIV)

¹"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands: ²I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. ³You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. ⁴Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. ⁵Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place. ⁶But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ⁷He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

what we learn from this passage is,

• losing our first love
• how to make it rose again
• how to be in love with Christ over and over again

"I Know..." [Jews said]

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands: ²I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. ³You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Rev 2:1-3

Deeds - Jesus recognize our hearts
How they live their lives. Not just specific deeds, but the manner of life and behaviour.

Hard work
Their persistent and painful struggles to maintain their Christian testimony in Ephesus, because the pressure was huge.

Perseverance
Patient endurance of suffering, discrimination and persecution. The quality of not giving up!
Toiling to the point of exhausted.
endurance under trials.

Don't tolerate wicked people - everyone in Ephesus knows they're Christians.
Lifestyle of sin.

Tested apostles
Issues of doctrine, leadership, attitude, and grace.
Ephesians' church also separate their doctrine from Paul's and his deeds, to make it pure.


"I hold this against you"

⁴Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. ⁵Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place. ⁶But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolai tans, which I also hate.

What does it mean to forsake your first love?
Love of Christ?
Love of the body of Christ?
Love of the lost?

"You do not love as you did at first" - J.B. Philips

What we do, and why we do these things :
first love is like the first honeymoon of a husband and wife. Through the years it should have grow stronger.
It's good for a change, but many times it's been drifted.

Solutions [to restore the first love] :

1. Remember
"remember" this is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE meaning
"always keep in mind - occupied your mind.

2. Repent : to change mind, need to decide.
Repentance is not emotion. It is changing the direction of your life to consistently go the correction direction. Not a feeling but a decision.

3. Do the first things.
"Get your priorities right!"
Love the Lord your God, not half hearted.
Love your neighbor
God wants our heart [mark 12]

Warning
Removes the church.
churches that loose its heart will lose its light.
⁶But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Nicolaitans were people who practiced and taught that Christians could participate in sexual immorality and idolatry.

"I will give"
⁷He who has an ear (minimum), let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

What does this mean to us today?

Christ's Active Presence - in our daily life

"Him who... walks among the seven golden lamp stands"
"I know" - constant companionship
"I will come to you..." - Jesus is involve
"I will... remove your lamp stand from its place."

First Love
"You do not love as you did at first"

Remember
from where we have fallen in love with God, keep on remembering, always out that in mind. Loving God from the inside out. Do the right thing, with the right person.

Repent - not just emotionally
Change of mind set. Change of direction.

Do the first things - living from inside out. You need to proof it, put it in action.

Compromise
You hate the practice of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Additional Notes
Ephesus

1. It was the largest city of Roman province of Asia Minor. It was not the capital, though the Roman governor lived there. It was a commercial center because of its excellent natural harbor.
2. It was a free city, which allowed it to have local government and much freedom, including no garrison of Roman soldiers.
3. It was the only city which was allowed to hold the bi-annual Asian games.
4. It was the site of the Temple to Artemis (Diana in Latin), which was one of the seven wonders of the world of its day. It was 425' x 220' with 127 columns which were 60'tall; 86 of them were overlaid with gold (see Pliny's Hist. Nat 36:95 ff). The image of Artemis was thought to have been a meteor which resembled a many breasted female figure. This meant that there were many cultic prostitutes present in the city (cf. Acts 19). It was a very immoral, multicultural city.
5. "Ephesian letters" were written charms or good luck notes that were bought and sold. People would attach them to their clothing.
6. Paul stayed in this city more than 3 years (cf. Acts 18:18 ff; 20:13)
7. Tradition asserts that it became John's home after Mary's death in Palestine.
8. The church there had a difficult time earlier with false teachers who were elders. The book of 1 and 2 Timothy were written by Paul to Timothy when he was in Ephesus to correct the false teachers and save the church.

Common elements in the seven letters.

1. Description of Jesus taken from 1:12-20, introduce each message
2. Jesus' knowledge of the churches, both positive and negative, "I know..." (cf. 2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:1, 8, 15)
3. Jesus addresses the individual churches and their cultural, geographical and spiritual settings.
4. Jesus speaks of His sudden, soon coming, either in temporal judgement or the Second Coming (cf. 1:1,3 ; 2:5,16,25 ; 3:3,11)
5. Jesus admonishes spiritual hearing and understanding (cf 2:7,11,17,29 ; 3:6,13,22). Jesus used< "He who has an ear, let him hear" in the Gospels (cf. Matt 11:15 ; 13:9,43 ; Mark 4:24)
6. Jesus promises a reward for faithful followers, who are "comers" (cf. 2:7,11,17,2526; 3:4-5, 11-12, 21)
7. These elements are not consistent in each letter. The order changes and some elements are left out in certain churches, but overall this structures shows one of several of John's seven-fold literary structures.

The Seven Cities : The Author

Pt. Dave Kenney

Revelation 1 : 1-8

¹The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, ²who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. ³Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

⁴John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, ⁵and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, ⁶and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
⁷Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

⁸"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

This is a real letter written by the Apostle John, probably around 90-95 AD (60 years after Christ)

It was written to the seven real cities and addresses real issues in those seven churches. These churches were facing persecution and difficult times.

It was also intended to be God's Word and shared with the entire church throughout history.

Our meaning come from th meaning of the words that JOhn wrote, to his audience, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

There is a clear prophetic element to the book. It is not always clear which parts are addressing contemporary issues and which are foretelling future issues.

We will understand visions as symbolic, not historic, literal or 21st Century events that John could not understand.
Gernica [Pablo Picaso] 3,5 tall, +7 wide -> symbolic not representation

1. Uncovering
¹The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, ²who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev 1:1-2

The uncovering - God has uncovered something for us, because we need to know it.

• Given by God - The Message
• Belongs to Jesus - the only God's agent
• Sent by an angel - to John
• For all of us (His servant)

2. the Message : Blessing - we're been promised to be blessed by reading the book.
³Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

• read aloud- until modern time, only then people read in silence. Not just reading, but take it to heart. why? because those time are tough.
• Listen to it

3. God - we will get a beautiful picture of who God is

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, ⁵and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

• God the Father

"Him who is, and who was, and who is to come" - eternity. God doesn't stuck in time.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega" - God will always be around, in any circumstance.
"the Almighty" - God is never surprised. He is always in control.

• Jesus the Son

"the faithful witness" - if you seen Me, you have seen the Father.
"the firstborn from the dead"
"the ruler of the kings of the earth"
"Him who loves us"
"Him who...freed us from our sins by His blood" - what did u really give up to follow Jesus?
"made us to be a kingdom and priests" - we're all priests (mediate someone between him/her and God), all believer.
"He is coming with the clouds" - (symbol) He is coming in Majesty
"Every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him"

• The Spirit

"the seven Spirits before His throne" - those days numbers has meaning. Seven means perfection. A symbol of perfection.

2012 and the End of the World

Pt. Dave Kenney

2 Pet 3 : 1-18
¹ This is my second letter to you, dear friends, and in both of them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory. ² I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles.

³ Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. ⁴ They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”

⁵ They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. ⁶ Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. ⁷ And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.

⁸ But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. ⁹ The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

¹¹ Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, ¹² looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. ¹³ But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

¹⁴ And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

¹⁵ And remember, the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—¹⁶ speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.

¹⁷ I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. ¹⁸ Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

What does the Bible says about the end of the world?
Is the world going to end?
when?
How does that impact my life?

Is it going to end? - YES, with fire!
psalm 102:25-26
²⁵ Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth
and made the heavens with your hands.
²⁶ They will perish, but you remain forever;
they will wear out like old clothing.
You will change them like a garment
and discard them.

isaiah 66:15-16
¹⁵ See, the Lord is coming with fire,
and his swift chariots roar like a whirlwind.
He will bring punishment with the fury of his anger
and the flaming fire of his hot rebuke.
¹⁶ The Lord will punish the world by fire
and by his sword.
He will judge the earth,
and many will be killed by him.

When?

• Unexpected - timing is unknown

Matt 24:36-39
³⁶ “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
the decision is in the hand of the Father. Doesnt mean the Son doesnt know.
if you are asking this, you are betraying the parable Son-Father who wants to get married [i am preparing you a place..]

³⁷ “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. ³⁸ In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. ³⁹ People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.

• God has a reason - why is God waiting?

2 Pet 3 :8,9
⁸ But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. ⁹ The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
SO, God is not slow. He is waiting for more people!

• Last Days - beguns when God raised Jesus from the dead. We should stop predicting!

2 Pet 3:3-4
³ Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. ⁴ They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”

How does that impact my life?

1 Peter 4 :7-11
7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. ⁸ Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

¹⁰ God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. ¹¹ Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

The world is gonna end, and we are going to die anyway!
How should be live?
Holy and Godly lives
Pure and blameless lives
Peaceful lives
Clear minded - based on principal!
Self-controlled - no to the NO things!
Love each other
Use your gifts
Take things seriously

You don't want to be Christians that's just good enough to go to heaven.
We need to get prepare for the end of the world, but most importantly we need to prepare others for the ends of the world.

Cookout on the Beach

Pt. Dave Kenney

Luke 5 : 1-11 (NLT)

Why did John write John?

John 20:30-31 (NLT)
He had a reason / purpose :

• How many miracle in the book of John? NONE. He recorded it as signs, and only 7 signs - would believe the Son of Messiah.
• Three books he wrote together? He isn't trying to cover what the others are writing. E.q Last Supper. He wrote it differently. It helps to see who Jesus is but different from what others has covered.

What has happened just before this event? The disciples had gone to Jerusalem and had experienced in less than 6 weeks a tumultuous series of events :

• The Triumphal Entry - start from Lazarus' death, then Palm day
• the expectation of a new kingdom
• a betrayal by a trusted friend
• near arrest
• denial of Jesus by their leader Peter
• the agonizing crucifixion of Jesus - He let the Roman catches Him
• the Resurrection
• and the appearances of the risen Lord

Many Bible shcolars believe that Chapter 21 was written later as kind of an epilogue by John. It is not wrong or unspiritual to believe this.

¹ Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. ² Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.

³ Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”

“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.

• Jesus showed up but not for many people. He didn't go back and get revenge from Pontius Pilatus :)
• Peter still has influence

Back to finishing

⁴ At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. ⁵ He called out, “Fellows have you caught any fish?”

“No,” they replied.

⁶ Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

⁷ Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. ⁸ The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. ⁹ When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.

Where have we seen this before?

Why did Jesus do miracles twice?
Wants to remind them that He still has control on their calling as a "fisherman" - common used by teachers to their disciples, not only Jewish but also Romans.
He was using the same common language that they understood.

¹⁰ “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. ¹¹ So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.

¹² “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. ¹⁴ This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.

Jesus' attitude (been executed, humiliated, and raised) is now serving breakfast :
He is still living up, aboutbeing great in God's Kingdom, serving others. Not trying to look important.

How about us? Do we serve, or we expect to be served?
What about the attitude that we have? [clip : the denial of Jesus by Simon Peter]

¹⁵ After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?

“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”

“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

¹⁶ Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

¹⁷ A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

¹⁸ “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

Seem to be three things here

First - We all been called as "fisher of man"
Love God, Love Others, and Reachout for others

Second - Peter has been totally faithfull, even with all this waving. Peter has been totally unstable, but turned out to be the Rock till the end. Crucified upside down!
John wrote to showed that Peter has been trully restored to Jesus. NOT once, twice. BUT three times. Has been totally forgiven.
This denial part will be forgiven by grace!

Thirdly - Peter thinks he loves Jesus more then any disciples. Turn out not so true! :) The truth of love isn't in the boasting, but in the doing!

²⁰ Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved (john)—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” ²¹ Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”

²² Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” ²³ So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

²⁴ This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate.

²⁵ Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.

Why did John write this?

• wants to clear the rumour.
• The nature of human / Peter - v.21 , always live our life compares to others. What about comparing to HIM? Try to loive our journey according to HIS.
• John got to clear the rumour because he is getting older and people is expecting Jesus to come soon.

Applicaitons:
we have all been called to be a fisher of man

IES is a harvest church - make disciples of Jesus everywhere

Do you serve or do you expect to be served?
Are you an asset of the Kingdom of God or an deficit?

You may be sinned many times, but Jesus is looking for people who is willing to fish for men and feed the lambs.

Don't compare yourself with others.

Focus on being ready and being busy for the Kingdom (NOW)

Supplemental Material
John 21 : 15-17
Many commentaries point out that, in this conversation, two different words are used for "love". In His questions in John 21:15-16, our Lord used agape, which is the Greek word for the highest kind of love, sacrificing love, divine love. Peter always used phileo, which is the love of friend for friend, fondness for another. In John 21:17, Jesus and Peter both used phileo.
However, it is doubtful that we should make too much of an issue over this, because two words are often used interchangeably in the Gospel of John. In John 3:16, God's love for man is agape love; but in John 16:27, it is phileo love. The Father's love for His Son is agape love in John 3:35 but phileo in John 5:20.
Christians are supposed to love one another. In John 13:34, this love is agape love; but in John 15:19, it is phileo love. It would be appear that John used two words as synonyms, whatever fine distinctions there might have been between them. The Bible Exposition Commentary

The Second Donkey

Pt. Dave Kenney

Matthew 17:24-27 (NIV)
²⁴After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?"

²⁵"Yes, he does," he replied.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?"

²⁶"From others," Peter answered.

"Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. ²⁷"But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."

********

After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?"
"Yes, he does," he replied.

Capernaum

Peter's real name is Simon.
Capernaum is a small city, head city of fishing field. Most of the disciples originate came from Batsyeba [means house of fishing] : Simon, James, John, Matthew, Philip, Nathaniel.. 7(12).
Jesus is the living in Capernaum.
That's why the question pop out.

Temple Tax

a voluntarily tax - every non slave through out Mediterian will sent it.
Rome conquered and destroyed the temple, but keep the tax system but sent it to Rome.
That's why they are questioning Jesus' on paying taxes.

Peter is always quick in giving answer.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes - from their own sons or from others?"
"From others," Peter answered.

Taxes are from others to the King, not the king to the King.
"I don't have to pay cause I am the SON." Not obligated.

Simple Parable - Jesus give answers to Peter.

"Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. ²⁷"But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours." Matthew 17: 27 (NIV)

Jesus wants to do it because He doesn't want to offend others.

• What kind of fish is this?
• it might have been a tilapia [also called St. Peter's fish]

• 

• The coins came out - this is one out of two stroy that don't have result.
• Only Peter's tax was paid. Why? Because Peter is older. Jesus was 30. The others is under 20 years old.

So why this story became important? Why did the Holy Spirit inspired Matthew to tell this story?

1. Jesus is God's son - check out the parable about King and Son.

2. Jesus uses His power
Jesus knows what's going on.
miracle with the coin [pix of coins eating fish]
It was at the right time, right coins : Miracle!
Jesus' miracle is the same kind of miracle. When He says something, it actually happens!

3. Jesus has total control.

Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."
[they didn't bring him to be repent, but to get him healed]
At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!"
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say,'Get up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on eart to forgive sins..." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." ANd the man got up and went home. WHen the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.
Matthew 9:1-8

it's easier to say "your sins are forgiven" - everyone can say, coz there's no evidence.
That's why then Jesus decide to say 'Get up and walk' so crowd knows the power He have. This is the miracle He did to validate.

4. Jesus accepts everyone.

Jesus chose :
Peter - failed as a Rabi
Matthew - tax collector, a crook.
Levi
James and John - disciples of John the Baptist.
Nathanael, Philip, Andrew - no one want then for students.

These are all non star potential Galalean - they talk funny, and people make fun of them.

Applicaitons

Jesus really is God's Son
He is the Son of God. Not just as a role model.
How do you related yourself to Him?

Jesus uses His power - and keep using it. We just need to be reminded.

Jesus has total control
He knows every action. But He doesn't control what you want and what you desire.

Jesus accepts everyone
Not just accepts. BUT He chose, and give value and purpose in people's life.