MEM

Today if you wanted to draw a large enthusiastic crowd, charge a lot of money and sell goods, you would not announce some weird fellow was preaching repentance and something about the Kingdom of God, you would put on a rock concert.

When John the Baptist came proclaiming "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:1-2). Multitudes flocked to hear his message and seek entrance into that Kingdom.

Yeshua (Jesus) preached the same: From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17 (Kingdom of heaven is used by Matthew which is the same as Kingdom of God see Matthew 12:28 and the other gospels.) Again large crowds, multitudes came to listen (we know there were 5,000 men besides women and children all at one time Matthew 14:21).

Yeshua sent out the disciples to proclaim: "And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Matthew 10:7. This was about the great promise of the kingdom to come.

Why did the multitudes of Israel come to listen? Because it was in the Scripture from the very beginning.

The whole of the gospels is about repentance, the forgiveness of sin and teaching the good news of the Kingdom of God. The prophets prophesied about the promised reign and rule of the heavenly King and His saints. It is written in the Torah and in the Psalms. No wonder when John came proclaiming the Kingdom, throngs of people flocked to listen and seek; And the crowds were questioning him, saying, "Then what shall we do?" Luke 3:10 (NAS unless noted). John answered them with everyday examples of what it meant to repent and bear its fruit.

When Yeshua came preaching the Kingdom, thousands upon thousands came to listen. He had little or no time to eat or sleep as the crowds pressed in on Him. He taught them thru parables about the kingdom. Yeshua insisted a new birth was necessary to enter that Kingdom: Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3.

The forgiveness of sin is not all there is; it is about a changed life; it is about the restoration of the Kingdom of God. YHVH (the LORD) made it possible for us to enter that Kingdom by giving us the means to eternal life through His Son (see John 3:16).

A strange and puzzling Scripture was spoken by our Savior: Matthew 11:11-15 "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. "For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. "And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

First of all we are told to listen to what is being said here; that seems to be a favorite saying of the Messiah. The inference is not only to listen but to understand. When we hear about the Kingdom we have to equate it with the promise of eternal life (Matthew 19:28-29). This is why anyone in the Kingdom is greater than John, as they would have eternal life.

What does it mean the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force? Luke gives further insight about Yeshua’s statement in Matthew 11.

Luke 16:16 "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

Here are a few commentary notes about Matthew 11 verse 12:

Barnes: Verse 12. And from the days of John, etc. That is, from the days when John began to preach. … Our Saviour here simply states a fact. He says there was a great rush, or a crowd pressing to hear John. Multitudes went out to hear him, as if they were about to take the kingdom of heaven by force. … Since the kingdom of heaven, or the gospel, has been preached, there has been a rush to it. Men have been earnest about it; they have come pressing to obtain the blessing, as if they would take it by violence. …With such earnestness and violence, he says, men had pressed around him and John, since they began to preach…

Clarke: Verse 12. The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence The tax-gatherers and heathens, whom the scribes and Pharisees think have no right to the kingdom of the Messiah, filled with holy zeal and earnestness, seize at once on the proffered mercy of the Gospel, and so take the kingdom as by force from those learned doctors who claimed for themselves the chiefest places in that kingdom. Christ himself said, The tax-gatherers and harlots go before you into the kingdom of God. He that will take, get possession of the kingdom of righteousness, peace, and spiritual joy, must be in earnest: all hell will oppose him in every step he takes…

Gill: Ver. 12. …and the violent take it by force; …had their affections set upon the things of another world: these having the Gospel preached to them, which is a declaration of God's love to sinners, a proclamation of peace and pardon, and a publication of righteousness and life by Christ, they greedily catched at it, and embraced it.

MHC: Oh that we could see a greater number, not with an angry contention thrusting others out of the kingdom of heaven, but with a holy contention thrusting themselves into it!

Poole: The violent take it by force: they are not lazy wishes or cold endeavours that will bring men to heaven.

RWP: …These difficult words of Jesus mean that the preaching of John "had led to a violent and impetuous thronging to gather round Jesus and his disciples" (Hort, _Judaistic Christianity_, p. 26).

Back to our announcement that we have a speaker proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Would you be one striving to get there with the zeal mentioned above, if you did not know the Kingdom was your goal?

Would your expectation for the promised restoration to be building as you are personally going further into debt; your privileges and freedoms are being eroded; slavery is the only way of defining your condition; not only from without but from within. Or do you have it all together and have no need to pursue another way?

When you heard about the envoy for the Kingdom announcing the good news that God’s Kingdom is about to come. Would you be searching him out? If you told others about him would they believe or call it all hogwash? Would jeering and ridicule dissuade you?

When you arrive at the afore mentioned convention would the throngs of people turn you away? How can you get close enough to even hear what he is saying and what you need to do? By now some, being discouraged, give up and go home. Some just sit on the sidelines discussing their options, voicing their opinions. Others are drawing away small groups by proclaiming their own conclusions about what is happening. But are you truly fed up with the present system and your unrighteous condition? Do you want to reach this promised utopia with your whole heart? Would you push through the mumbling crowd, step over those who had fallen asleep, ignore the naysayer, and push past the lethargic? You want to be in the front row where you can hear first hand the message about the Kingdom.

It is not hard to understand what it was like during John and Yeshua’s time. Under Roman rule, paying tribute to a foreign power, the political, economic and religious system corrupt to the core. When the good news that the Kingdom of God was at hand, multitudes streamed out to hear because it was foretold in Scripture. What about you? Are you seeking (forcefully, earnestly, and diligently) His kingdom and His righteousness first? Is there anything that hinders you? Have you truly counted the cost? Read the gospels, no, read all the Scriptures, with the mindset that the Kingdom (eternal life) is the only real goal. Read how Yeshua instructs us to conduct ourselves so we might prepare to be a part of that Kingdom: "Thy Kingdom Come!"

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Quoted form Yeshua, Matthew 11:15.

Proverbs 8:17 "I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.

Proverbs 12:24 The hand of the diligent will rule…

Being diligent requires us to keep focused on our goal. We have to ignore the things that distract us from our ultimate goal, which is the Kingdom of God. Yeshua tells us: "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14

"Priorities are activities that serve our mission, roles, and goals." Stephen R. Covey

Only until we have a positive goal in mind will we be able to arrange our activities and thoughts into priorities. When we have the Kingdom of God as our ultimate goal we use YHVH’s word as our manual. There we read how we are to order our life. He tells us to love Him above all else, Deuteronomy 12: 12-13 "Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the LORD’S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?

That is first, then we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. James 2:8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well.

1. Complete the beatitude, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the …"
2. How many of Messiah’s apostles were named James?
3. To what country did Abraham’s servant go to find a wife for Isaac?
4. Into what kind of wineskins must a new wine be poured?
5. The word "gerah," the smallest of the Hebrew weights, signifies what?
6. Which old woman saw the baby Yeshua (Jesus) when He was first brought to Jerusalem?
7. Who said, "How is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit"?

In our pursuit of humility:

"People sometimes speak of humility and meekness as something that would rob us of what is noble and bold. Oh, that all would realize that this is the nobility of the kingdom of heaven, that this is the royal spirit that the King of heaven displayed, that this is godlike, to humble oneself and to become the servant of all! This is the path to the gladness and the glory of Christ’s presence in us, of His power resting upon us." Andrew Murray

When Yeshua came to preach repentance for the Kingdom of God is at hand, He set the example of humility and how we are to conduct ourselves. He humbled Himself to be born of woman, to teach us, and die for us. He was resurrected to life, and is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven to intercede for us. He sent His Spirit to dwell in us that we might learn His humility, to serve others and to die for them if need be. Our goal is to be with Him in His Kingdom. To do so we must be born again of His Spirit and have His humility and His righteousness. Praise YHVH!

Subject: Something to think about

The Global Islamic population is approximately 1,200,000,000 ONE BILLION TWO HUNDRED MILLION or 20% of the world's population.

They have received the following Nobel Prizes:

*TOTAL: 7 SEVEN*

The Global Jewish population is approximately 14,000,000 FOURTEEN MILLION or about 0.02% of the world's population.

They have received the following Nobel Prizes:

*TOTAL: 129 ONE HUNDRED TWENTY NINE!*

Regardless of your feelings about the crisis between Israel and the Palestinians and Arab neighbors, even if you believe there is more culpability on Israel's part, the following two sentences really say it all:

'If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel '

-Benjamin Netanyahu

Don't let your worries get the best of you;
Remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited
Until you try to sit in their pews.

It is easier to preach ten sermons
Than it is to live one.

People are funny; they want the front of the bus,
Middle of the road,
And back of the church.

Opportunity may knock once,
But temptation bangs on the front door forever.

Quit griping about your church;
If it were perfect, you couldn't belong.

If a church wants a better pastor,
It only needs to pray for the one it has.

We're called to be witnesses, not lawyers or Judges.

Be ye fishers of men. You catch 'em - He'll clean 'em.

Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

Forbidden fruits create many jams.

God doesn't call the qualified,
He qualifies the called.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

If God is your Co-pilot, swap seats!

Prayer: Don't give God instructions, just report for duty!

Why did God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son? When sacrificing children was done to idols.

I have no idea why Israel sacrificed their children to idols. Was it just because the heathen around them did? Jeremiah 7:31 "They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, and it did not come into My mind.

So why did God ask Abraham to sacrifice Isaac?

We cannot grasp all the implications of this test of faith unless we understand the relationship Abraham had with YHVH (in fact we really need to go back to the creation to fully understand, see the Passover Lamb topic). Abraham was living out the plan of YHVH. He was in special training to be the father of many nations and through him the promised Seed was to come.

The following outline may help understand this special relationship.

• Was called of God Acts 7:2
• Obeyed YHVH Genesis 26:5; Hebrews 11:8-19
• Believed God Romans 4:3
• Received a covenant to bless all nations Galatians 3:8; Acts 3:25
• Was called the friend of God Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23
• YHVH changed his name to father of many nations Genesis 17: 4-5
• Had a face to face relationship with YHVH Genesis 17:22; Genesis 18: 1
• Was given insight into God’s plans Genesis 18:17-19
• Had such a relationship with YHVH he could intercede Genesis 18:22-23
• Received the promise of a miracle son Genesis 17:17; Hebrews 11:12
• Received the promise of the Seed, Messiah Galatians 3:16 (Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.); see John 8:56
• Was 100 years old when Isaac was born Genesis 21:2-5
• Was a type of the heavenly Father, Isaac the Son Genesis 22:1-2; John 3:16; Heb 11:17

This is a story that was burned into the minds of the descendants of Abraham. They looked forward to the one promised Seed that would stand in their stead. The One that would restore the kingdom to Israel.

How important is Abraham?

Matthew 22:32 ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."

Galatians 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

Romans 4:13 For the promise to Abraham …he would be heir of the world …

Luke 13:28 "…when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out.

Hebrews 11:13-16 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises…But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

As we partake of the Passover (Lord’s Supper, Last Supper) this new year consider the Lamb.

John the Baptist said:

John 1:29 … "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

What did this mean to the multitudes that came out to hear John? What does it mean to you today?

If one is interested this whole line of thought can be traced way back, to the foundation of the world.

Re 13:8 …in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.(AV)

It is in the events of the garden of Eden, Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham and Isaac, the Passover Lamb of Egypt and every Passover since. For Paul tells us:

1Corinthians 5:7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.

So from the beginning the Deliverer of mankind, the Redeemer, the Savior, Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah was promised and proclaimed. It is all about Messiah, for He said after His resurrection:

Luke 24:27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

Luke 24:44 …"These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."

Abraham said: Genesis 22:8 …"God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.

And well He did provide The Lamb. Thank you Master Yeshua for willingly living the sinless life that provides us forgiveness and promised eternal life in Your Kingdom.

Praise YHVH!

Once upon a time a man appeared in a village and announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for $10 each.

The villagers, knowing there were many monkeys, went to the forest and started catching them. The man bought thousands at $10 and, as supply started to diminish, the villagers stopped their effort.

He then announced that he would buy monkeys at $20 each. This renewed the villagers efforts and they started catching monkeys again.

Soon the supply diminished and people started going back to their farms. The offer increased to $25 each and the supply of monkeys became so scarce it was an effort to even find a monkey, let alone catch it!

The man now announced that he would buy monkeys at $50 each! However, since he had to go to the city on some business, his assistant would buy on his behalf.

The assistant told the villagers, "Look at all these monkeys in the big cage that my boss has already collected. I will sell them to you at $35 and when my boss returns, you can sell them to him for $50."

The villagers rounded up all their savings and bought all the monkeys for 700 billion dollars.

They never saw the man or his assistant again, only lots and lots of monkeys!

Now you have a better understanding of how the WALL STREET BAILOUT PLAN WORKS!

It doesn't get much clearer than this.

"We have not been men of prayer. The spirit of prayer has
slumbered among us. The closet has been too little frequented and
delighted in. We have allowed business, study or active labor to
interfere with our closet-hours. And the feverish atmosphere in
which both the church and the nation are enveloped has found its
way into our prayer closets…" - Andrew Bonar

1. Kingdom of Heaven - Matthew 5:10

2. Two, son of Zebedee and son of Alphaeus - Matthew 4:21-22; 10:2-3

3. Mesopotamia - Genesis 24:9-10

4. New wineskins - Luke 5:38

5. A kernel or grain (the smallest weight of measure)

6. Anna - Luke 2:22, 36-38

7. Peter - Acts 5:3