• Ellen G. White
    THE SABBATH IS THE LORD’S DAY — NOT SUNDAY

    There is a phrase in Scripture that deserves our careful attention: “MY DAY.”

    God does not speak of the Sabbath as merely a Jewish tradition or a human religious custom. He claims it as His own day.

    Isaiah 58:13
    “If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day…”

    Notice the language: “MY holy day.”

    God says:

    “My sabbath” — Ezekiel 20:12
    “My sabbaths” — Ezekiel 20:20
    “The sabbath of the LORD thy God” — Exodus 20:10
    “My holy day” — Isaiah 58:13

    And who is the Lord of the Sabbath?

    Mark 2:28
    “Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.”

    Jesus did not say He was Lord of Sunday. He identified Himself as Lord of the Sabbath.

    Go back even further—to Creation.

    Genesis 2:2–3
    “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made… And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.”

    The seventh day was blessed and sanctified before there was a Jew, before there was Moses, and before there was Mount Sinai.

    Then God placed it in the heart of His moral law:

    Exodus 20:8–11
    “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy… But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God.”

    The question is therefore not simply, “What day do I prefer?”

    The deeper question is:

    “What day has God Himself claimed as His?”

    Scripture answers: the seventh-day Sabbath.

    Sunday may be widely observed by tradition, culture, or religious practice, but we must distinguish between what God commanded and what human tradition established.

    Jesus warned:

    Mark 7:7–9
    “But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

    The Sabbath is not presented in Scripture as something God casually gave and later abandoned. Isaiah points forward to the new earth:

    Isaiah 66:22–23
    “And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.”

    From Creation, through the Ten Commandments, through the ministry of Christ, and into the new earth, Scripture consistently gives the seventh day a unique place.

    So let us not allow tradition to speak louder than Scripture.

    The Sabbath is not my day. It is not your day. It is God’s day.

    “The seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God.” — Exodus 20:10

    If God calls it “MY holy day,” shouldn't we be willing to honor what He has claimed?

    AMAZING LOVE
    Ellen G. White THE SABBATH IS THE LORD’S DAY — NOT SUNDAY There is a phrase in Scripture that deserves our careful attention: “MY DAY.” God does not speak of the Sabbath as merely a Jewish tradition or a human religious custom. He claims it as His own day. Isaiah 58:13 “If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day…” Notice the language: “MY holy day.” God says: “My sabbath” — Ezekiel 20:12 “My sabbaths” — Ezekiel 20:20 “The sabbath of the LORD thy God” — Exodus 20:10 “My holy day” — Isaiah 58:13 And who is the Lord of the Sabbath? Mark 2:28 “Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” Jesus did not say He was Lord of Sunday. He identified Himself as Lord of the Sabbath. Go back even further—to Creation. Genesis 2:2–3 “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made… And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.” The seventh day was blessed and sanctified before there was a Jew, before there was Moses, and before there was Mount Sinai. Then God placed it in the heart of His moral law: Exodus 20:8–11 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy… But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God.” The question is therefore not simply, “What day do I prefer?” The deeper question is: “What day has God Himself claimed as His?” Scripture answers: the seventh-day Sabbath. Sunday may be widely observed by tradition, culture, or religious practice, but we must distinguish between what God commanded and what human tradition established. Jesus warned: Mark 7:7–9 “But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” The Sabbath is not presented in Scripture as something God casually gave and later abandoned. Isaiah points forward to the new earth: Isaiah 66:22–23 “And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.” From Creation, through the Ten Commandments, through the ministry of Christ, and into the new earth, Scripture consistently gives the seventh day a unique place. So let us not allow tradition to speak louder than Scripture. The Sabbath is not my day. It is not your day. It is God’s day. “The seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God.” — Exodus 20:10 If God calls it “MY holy day,” shouldn't we be willing to honor what He has claimed? AMAZING LOVE
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  • *MOUNT ZION SHEPHERD HOUSE MINISTRIES
    _Daily Scriptural Prayer Broadcast_

    Topic: HE NEVER FAIL, KEEP TRUSTING HIM

    Bible Reading: PSALM 55

    _. _Meditation:
    Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

    Therefore I decree:
    * Your confidence in God shall never fails you
    * Let God remember you and all requests before Him today
    * Let every agent of frustration assigned against you be frustrated
    * Let God visit you and renew every area of your life
    * Let every hindrance between you and God be removed
    * Let all your troubles receive divine visitation and vanish
    * Let testimonies always abound in your life, in the mighty name of Jesus. Good Morning............

    For prayers and counseling: 08114857087
    For donations, tithe and offerings: church acc:
    3003819228
    Name: Mount Zion Shepherd House Ministries
    Bank: KUDA MICROFINANCE BANK

    Pastor Bamidele Olusegun Moses
    🏠 *MOUNT ZION SHEPHERD HOUSE MINISTRIES _Daily Scriptural Prayer Broadcast_ Topic: HE NEVER FAIL, KEEP TRUSTING HIM Bible Reading: PSALM 55 _. _Meditation: Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Therefore I decree: * Your confidence in God shall never fails you * Let God remember you and all requests before Him today * Let every agent of frustration assigned against you be frustrated * Let God visit you and renew every area of your life * Let every hindrance between you and God be removed * Let all your troubles receive divine visitation and vanish * Let testimonies always abound in your life, in the mighty name of Jesus. Good Morning............ For prayers and counseling: 08114857087 For donations, tithe and offerings: church acc: 3003819228 Name: Mount Zion Shepherd House Ministries Bank: KUDA MICROFINANCE BANK Pastor Bamidele Olusegun Moses
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  • At Mount Valor University, we're committed to developing leaders who are grounded in faith, equipped with practical experience, and prepared to make a lasting impact.

    Explore the Vision & Model: mountvaloruniversity.org

    Become a Founding Partner: mountvaloruniversity.org/partner-in-the-founding-of-mount-valor-university

    Make A Founding Gift: www.convergepay.com/hosted-payments/?ssl_txn_auth_token=Y7hKV8fGSRClkCLL0qGDwwAAAZ1y5hIX#!/payment-method

    #MountValorUniversity #WhatMakesUsDifferent #ChristCenteredEducation #EducationWithPurpose #FaithAndLearning #ChristianLeadership #FutureLeaders #PurposeDriven #HigherEducation #LeadWithPurpose
    📚 At Mount Valor University, we're committed to developing leaders who are grounded in faith, equipped with practical experience, and prepared to make a lasting impact. 🌐 Explore the Vision & Model: mountvaloruniversity.org 🤝 Become a Founding Partner: mountvaloruniversity.org/partner-in-the-founding-of-mount-valor-university 🎁 Make A Founding Gift: www.convergepay.com/hosted-payments/?ssl_txn_auth_token=Y7hKV8fGSRClkCLL0qGDwwAAAZ1y5hIX#!/payment-method #MountValorUniversity #WhatMakesUsDifferent #ChristCenteredEducation #EducationWithPurpose #FaithAndLearning #ChristianLeadership #FutureLeaders #PurposeDriven #HigherEducation #LeadWithPurpose
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  • Monks in Greece took apart a 1,500-year-old manuscript of Paul's letters and reused its pages as binding material for other books.
    Centuries later, scientists found the lost text hiding in the ink of the pages that replaced it.
    Codex H is a sixth-century Greek manuscript containing the letters of the Apostle Paul, one of the oldest and most important New Testament witnesses in existence. In the 13th century, it was dismantled at the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, and its parchment — valuable and reusable — was cut up and repurposed as binding material and flyleaves for other manuscripts. Its surviving fragments ended up scattered across libraries in Italy, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, and France.
    Here's what made recovery possible. At some point the manuscript had been re-inked, and the chemicals in that new ink bled faintly onto the facing pages — a reversed, mirror-image imprint of text that no longer physically existed on the page itself. It was invisible to the naked eye, but not to a camera.
    A research team led by Professor Garrick Allen at the University of Glasgow, working with the Early Manuscripts Electronic Library, used multispectral imaging — capturing the parchment under wavelengths from ultraviolet to infrared — to bring those ghost imprints back into view. Combined with radiocarbon dating to confirm the manuscript's sixth-century origin, the team reconstructed 42 lost pages, recovering around 130 verses. The find includes some of the earliest known chapter divisions for Paul's letters and roughly a hundred scribal corrections and annotations, giving scholars a rare window into how early Christians actually studied and compared their copies of Scripture.
    And here's the part worth sitting with: the recovered words match the text already preserved in other ancient New Testament copies. After thirteen centuries in pieces, scattered across four countries, cut up and reused as bookbinding — the words hadn't changed.
    Share this with someone who thinks ancient texts are fragile things we can't trust.
    "The word of our God will stand forever." — Isaiah 40:8
    #CodexH #BiblicalArchaeology #ApostlePaul #ManuscriptDiscovery #ChurchHistory
    Monks in Greece took apart a 1,500-year-old manuscript of Paul's letters and reused its pages as binding material for other books. Centuries later, scientists found the lost text hiding in the ink of the pages that replaced it. Codex H is a sixth-century Greek manuscript containing the letters of the Apostle Paul, one of the oldest and most important New Testament witnesses in existence. In the 13th century, it was dismantled at the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, and its parchment — valuable and reusable — was cut up and repurposed as binding material and flyleaves for other manuscripts. Its surviving fragments ended up scattered across libraries in Italy, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, and France. Here's what made recovery possible. At some point the manuscript had been re-inked, and the chemicals in that new ink bled faintly onto the facing pages — a reversed, mirror-image imprint of text that no longer physically existed on the page itself. It was invisible to the naked eye, but not to a camera. A research team led by Professor Garrick Allen at the University of Glasgow, working with the Early Manuscripts Electronic Library, used multispectral imaging — capturing the parchment under wavelengths from ultraviolet to infrared — to bring those ghost imprints back into view. Combined with radiocarbon dating to confirm the manuscript's sixth-century origin, the team reconstructed 42 lost pages, recovering around 130 verses. The find includes some of the earliest known chapter divisions for Paul's letters and roughly a hundred scribal corrections and annotations, giving scholars a rare window into how early Christians actually studied and compared their copies of Scripture. And here's the part worth sitting with: the recovered words match the text already preserved in other ancient New Testament copies. After thirteen centuries in pieces, scattered across four countries, cut up and reused as bookbinding — the words hadn't changed. Share this with someone who thinks ancient texts are fragile things we can't trust. "The word of our God will stand forever." — Isaiah 40:8 #CodexH #BiblicalArchaeology #ApostlePaul #ManuscriptDiscovery #ChurchHistory
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  • TruLight Daily Manna for 19 August 2026 ::: It is Finished !!! tetelestai /// The Future Of The Temple Mount: The Most Explosive Flashpoint In The Middle East ::: https://trulightdailymanna.co.za/19-august-2026
    TruLight Daily Manna for 19 August 2026 ::: It is Finished !!! tetelestai /// The Future Of The Temple Mount: The Most Explosive Flashpoint In The Middle East ::: https://trulightdailymanna.co.za/19-august-2026
    TRULIGHTDAILYMANNA.CO.ZA
    19 August 2026
    Hosted by TruLight Ministries International – The Place of Truth SELECT YOUR READING LANGUAGE – BOTTOM LEFT = YOUR DAILY MANNA NOW AVAILABLE IN 103 LANGUAGES @ TruLight Daily Manna is not Just a Bible Verse with a Small Prayer . NO ::: WE SERVE DAILY Manna for the ENTIRE Day . Breakfast , Lunch , Dinner , Plus tea Times and even
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  • THE SPIRITUAL TRUTHS OF EACH BEATTITUDE…

    The Beatitudes, delivered by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-12), are far more than a moral code or a list of pleasant virtues. They map out a radical spiritual inversion—a pathway where worldly weakness becomes divine strength and the values of the human ego are completely upended by the reality of the Kingdom of Heaven.

    "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
    The Spiritual Truth: Spiritual Bankruptcy is the Gate to Grace.
    Insight: To be "poor in spirit" means recognizing your utter inability to save, justify, or sustain yourself spiritually on your own terms. It strips away self-sufficiency and spiritual pride. The paradox is that you can only inherit divine richness when you admit your spiritual destitution.

    2. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
    The Spiritual Truth: Holy Sorrow Prepares the Heart for Divine Joy.
    Insight: This mourning refers not just to general grief or bereavement, but to deep contrition over personal sin and the brokenness of the world. In a culture that desperately pursues endless distraction and superficial happiness, this truth teaches that facing the weight of human suffering and our own shortcomings creates an empty space that only divine comfort can fill.

    3. "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
    The Spiritual Truth: Surrendered Power is True Strength.
    Insight: Meekness (prautes) is often misunderstood as weakness or timidity, but in the ancient world, it described a wild stallion that had been broken and trained to respond to the slightest touch of its master's reins. It is power under control. The meek do not need to manipulate, dominate, or defend themselves because they trust God to vindicate them, ultimately inheriting the renewed creation.

    4. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
    The Spiritual Truth: Desire Determines Destiny.
    Insight: Most people hunger for comfort, approval, status, or security. This beatitude points to a relentless, visceral appetite—like a starving person craving food—for alignment with God's justice, character, and righteousness. Spiritual fullness is not given to the self-satisfied, but to those whose deepest craving is union with the divine good.

    5. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
    The Spiritual Truth: Grace Given is Grace Received.
    Insight: Mercy is withholding judgment and extending active compassion where it is completely unearned. Spiritually, we cannot truly comprehend or hold onto the mercy we’ve received from God if we hoard it from others. Extending forgiveness and empathy is the mirror that reflects our own participation in God's forgiving nature.

    6. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."
    The Spiritual Truth: Internal Singleness of Purpose Leads to Divine Vision.
    Insight: Purity here does not mean flawless perfection; it means integrous and undivided. A pure heart is one whose motives are transparent, unclouded by hypocrisy, double-mindedness, or hidden agendas. When the lens of the heart is wiped clean of ego-driven distortions, God stops being a theological concept and becomes a lived reality you can perceive everywhere.

    7. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."
    The Spiritual Truth: Active Reconciliation Mirrors the Family Likeness.
    Insight: Peacemaking is vastly different from mere "peacekeeping" (which often just sweeps conflict under the rug to keep things quiet). Peacemakers actively step into hostility, brokenness, and division to bridge gaps, absorbing conflict to restore harmony. By doing this, they act like their Father, bearing the unmistakable family resemblance.

    8. "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
    The Spiritual Truth: Friction is the Proof of Alignment.
    Insight: When a life completely aligns with transcendent truth and selfless love, it inevitably clashes with a world system built on self-preservation and compromise. This beatitude reframes suffering not as a sign of divine abandonment, but as the ultimate badge of honor—proof that your life is echoing a reality higher than this world.



    THE SPIRITUAL TRUTHS OF EACH BEATTITUDE… The Beatitudes, delivered by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-12), are far more than a moral code or a list of pleasant virtues. They map out a radical spiritual inversion—a pathway where worldly weakness becomes divine strength and the values of the human ego are completely upended by the reality of the Kingdom of Heaven. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The Spiritual Truth: Spiritual Bankruptcy is the Gate to Grace. Insight: To be "poor in spirit" means recognizing your utter inability to save, justify, or sustain yourself spiritually on your own terms. It strips away self-sufficiency and spiritual pride. The paradox is that you can only inherit divine richness when you admit your spiritual destitution. 2. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." The Spiritual Truth: Holy Sorrow Prepares the Heart for Divine Joy. Insight: This mourning refers not just to general grief or bereavement, but to deep contrition over personal sin and the brokenness of the world. In a culture that desperately pursues endless distraction and superficial happiness, this truth teaches that facing the weight of human suffering and our own shortcomings creates an empty space that only divine comfort can fill. 3. "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." The Spiritual Truth: Surrendered Power is True Strength. Insight: Meekness (prautes) is often misunderstood as weakness or timidity, but in the ancient world, it described a wild stallion that had been broken and trained to respond to the slightest touch of its master's reins. It is power under control. The meek do not need to manipulate, dominate, or defend themselves because they trust God to vindicate them, ultimately inheriting the renewed creation. 4. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." The Spiritual Truth: Desire Determines Destiny. Insight: Most people hunger for comfort, approval, status, or security. This beatitude points to a relentless, visceral appetite—like a starving person craving food—for alignment with God's justice, character, and righteousness. Spiritual fullness is not given to the self-satisfied, but to those whose deepest craving is union with the divine good. 5. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." The Spiritual Truth: Grace Given is Grace Received. Insight: Mercy is withholding judgment and extending active compassion where it is completely unearned. Spiritually, we cannot truly comprehend or hold onto the mercy we’ve received from God if we hoard it from others. Extending forgiveness and empathy is the mirror that reflects our own participation in God's forgiving nature. 6. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." The Spiritual Truth: Internal Singleness of Purpose Leads to Divine Vision. Insight: Purity here does not mean flawless perfection; it means integrous and undivided. A pure heart is one whose motives are transparent, unclouded by hypocrisy, double-mindedness, or hidden agendas. When the lens of the heart is wiped clean of ego-driven distortions, God stops being a theological concept and becomes a lived reality you can perceive everywhere. 7. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." The Spiritual Truth: Active Reconciliation Mirrors the Family Likeness. Insight: Peacemaking is vastly different from mere "peacekeeping" (which often just sweeps conflict under the rug to keep things quiet). Peacemakers actively step into hostility, brokenness, and division to bridge gaps, absorbing conflict to restore harmony. By doing this, they act like their Father, bearing the unmistakable family resemblance. 8. "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The Spiritual Truth: Friction is the Proof of Alignment. Insight: When a life completely aligns with transcendent truth and selfless love, it inevitably clashes with a world system built on self-preservation and compromise. This beatitude reframes suffering not as a sign of divine abandonment, but as the ultimate badge of honor—proof that your life is echoing a reality higher than this world.
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  • Education with Purpose. A Future Built on Faith.

    At Mount Valor University, we're building more than a university—we're cultivating a Christ-centered community where students grow in faith, leadership, and purpose.

    Our vision is to equip the next generation through:
    Biblical Formation
    Leadership Development
    Community Partnership
    Vocational Excellence
    Faithful Service

    Learn more: www.mountvaloruniversity.org

    Become a Founding Partner: mountvaloruniversity.org/partner-in-the-founding-of-mount-valor-university

    Make A Founding Gift: www.convergepay.com/hosted-payments/?ssl_txn_auth_token=Y7hKV8fGSRClkCLL0qGDwwAAAZ1y5hIX#!/payment-method

    #MountValorUniversity #EducationWithPurpose #ChristianEducation #FaithBasedEducation #ChristCentered #BiblicalFormation #LeadershipDevelopment #HigherEducation #FaithAndLearning #KingdomImpact #BuildingTomorrowLeaders
    🎓 Education with Purpose. A Future Built on Faith. At Mount Valor University, we're building more than a university—we're cultivating a Christ-centered community where students grow in faith, leadership, and purpose. Our vision is to equip the next generation through: ✨ Biblical Formation ✨ Leadership Development ✨ Community Partnership ✨ Vocational Excellence ✨ Faithful Service 🌐 Learn more: www.mountvaloruniversity.org 🤝 Become a Founding Partner: mountvaloruniversity.org/partner-in-the-founding-of-mount-valor-university 💳 Make A Founding Gift: www.convergepay.com/hosted-payments/?ssl_txn_auth_token=Y7hKV8fGSRClkCLL0qGDwwAAAZ1y5hIX#!/payment-method #MountValorUniversity #EducationWithPurpose #ChristianEducation #FaithBasedEducation #ChristCentered #BiblicalFormation #LeadershipDevelopment #HigherEducation #FaithAndLearning #KingdomImpact #BuildingTomorrowLeaders
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  • *MOUNT ZION SHEPHERD HOUSE MINISTRIES
    _Daily Scriptural Prayer Broadcast_

    Topic: CONSISTENCY

    Bible Reading: GAL. 6

    _. _Meditation:
    1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

    Therefore I decree:
    * Let frustration and tiredness never prosper in your life
    * Let great boldness and courage always possess you
    * Let God surround you with people who will always encourage and support you
    * You shall never be alone in the cause of your life
    * Your life shall always be a good example of progressive testimony, in the mighty name of Jesus. Good Morning...........

    For prayers and counseling: 08114857087
    For donations, tithe and offerings: church acc:
    3003819228
    Name: Mount Zion Shepherd House Ministries
    Bank: KUDA MICROFINANCE BANK

    Pastor Bamidele Olusegun Moses
    🏠 *MOUNT ZION SHEPHERD HOUSE MINISTRIES _Daily Scriptural Prayer Broadcast_ Topic: CONSISTENCY Bible Reading: GAL. 6 _. _Meditation: 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Therefore I decree: * Let frustration and tiredness never prosper in your life * Let great boldness and courage always possess you * Let God surround you with people who will always encourage and support you * You shall never be alone in the cause of your life * Your life shall always be a good example of progressive testimony, in the mighty name of Jesus. Good Morning........... For prayers and counseling: 08114857087 For donations, tithe and offerings: church acc: 3003819228 Name: Mount Zion Shepherd House Ministries Bank: KUDA MICROFINANCE BANK Pastor Bamidele Olusegun Moses
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  • Mount Valor University is dedicated to bringing families, churches, and employers together.

    Learn more at: www.mountvaloruniversity.org

    #MountValorUniversity #BiblicalEducation #LeadershipDevelopment #ChristianEducation #CharacterAndCompetence
    ✨🎓 Mount Valor University is dedicated to bringing families, churches, and employers together. 🌐 Learn more at: www.mountvaloruniversity.org #MountValorUniversity #BiblicalEducation #LeadershipDevelopment #ChristianEducation #CharacterAndCompetence
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  • BEHIND JESUS

    TEXT: Acts 18:28

    SUPPORTING TEXTS: John 1:1–14; John 4:8, 24; Philippians 3:3

    OBJECTIVES

    At the end of this teaching, participants should be able to:

    1. Understand that God is Spirit and that He has revealed Himself to humanity through Jesus Christ.

    2. Recognize the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ, and understand why God manifested Himself in the flesh.

    3. Explain why Jesus is the only way to salvation and why human religion, morality, or religious tradition cannot save man.

    4. Defend the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and God manifested in the flesh, using Scripture.

    INTRODUCTION

    Acts 18:28 (KJV):

    “For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”

    The subject of Jesus Christ goes beyond what can be seen physically. To understand Jesus, we must look behind Jesus—behind His humanity, His earthly appearance, His birth, His ministry, His death and resurrection—to discover who He truly is.

    The Bible teaches that God is Spirit:

    John 4:24 (KJV):

    “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

    God is also love:

    1 John 4:8:

    “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

    Love cannot be seen with the physical eyes, and the Spirit cannot be seen with the physical eyes. Yet both are real.

    QUESTION

    Have you ever physically seen love? Have you ever physically seen a spirit?

    Although you cannot see love itself, you can see the manifestation of love through actions. Likewise, God, who is Spirit, made Himself known to humanity through Jesus Christ.

    John 1:14 (KJV):

    “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”

    Jesus is therefore the visible manifestation of the invisible God.

    Colossians 1:15:

    “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.”

    1. GOD MANIFESTED HIMSELF THROUGH MAN

    God revealed Himself through the human life of Jesus Christ so that humanity could know, believe, and receive Him.

    John 1:14:

    “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”

    Jesus did not merely come to teach people about God. He came as God manifested in the flesh.

    1 Timothy 3:16:

    “God was manifest in the flesh…”

    Jesus showed mankind what God is like through His character, words, works, compassion, holiness, power and love.

    2. THE BREATH OF MAN IS LIMITED

    Man's physical life is temporary. The breath of man is dependent upon God.

    Isaiah 2:22:

    “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?”

    James 4:14:

    “For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

    Man's life is limited, but God's life is eternal.

    3. THE LIFE OF GOD IS ETERNAL

    God does not depend upon another source for His existence. He is the eternal God.

    John 1:4:

    “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

    John 11:25:

    “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life…”

    1 John 5:11:

    “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”

    The eternal life of God is revealed to humanity through Jesus Christ.

    4. THE CHARACTER OF MAN IS CORRUPTED BY SIN

    Humanity, because of sin, cannot become its own saviour.

    Jeremiah 17:9:

    “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked…”

    Romans 3:23:

    “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

    Man therefore needs salvation from outside himself.

    5. THE CHARACTER OF GOD IS GOOD

    God is holy, righteous, loving and good.

    Psalm 100:5:

    “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

    Psalm 145:9:

    “The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.”

    Jesus demonstrated the goodness and character of God among humanity.

    Acts 10:38:

    “…who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

    6. MAN CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF — JESUS SAVES

    Religion cannot save man. Human wisdom cannot save man. Good works, by themselves, cannot save man.

    Ephesians 2:8–9:

    “For by grace are ye saved through faith… Not of works…”

    Salvation is found in Jesus Christ.

    Acts 4:12:

    “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

    The God whom humanity could not physically see came near to humanity in Jesus Christ—and Jesus saves.

    THE REASON GOD MANIFESTED HIMSELF IN THE FLESH

    1. SO THAT WE COULD SEE HIM

    God became visible through Jesus Christ.

    John 14:9:

    “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father…”

    Jesus is the revelation of the invisible God.

    Colossians 2:9:

    “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

    2. SO THAT WE COULD TOUCH HIM AND KNOW HIM

    John testified that Jesus was physically real.

    1 John 1:1:

    “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes… and our hands have handled…”

    The apostles did not proclaim an imaginary person. They witnessed, heard and physically encountered Jesus Christ.

    3. SO THAT WE COULD FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM

    Jesus did not merely appear to humanity from a distance. He lived among people.

    1 John 1:3:

    “…that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us…”»l

    Jesus also fellowshiped with His disciples.

    Matthew 26:30:

    “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.”

    He ate with them, walked with them, taught them and fellowshipped with them.

    4. TO REVEAL THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH THE FLESH

    Jesus demonstrated God's power through miracles, healing, deliverance and authority.

    John 2:11:

    “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory…”

    Acts 2:22:

    “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs…”

    His works revealed what was behind the humanity—the divine nature and power of God.

    5. TO EXPERIENCE HUMANITY AND IDENTIFY WITH US

    Jesus experienced hunger, thirst, weariness, sorrow, rejection and temptation, yet without sin.

    Hebrews 4:15:

    “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities…”

    Hebrews 2:17:

    “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren…”

    He understands what humanity experiences.

    6. TO SHED HIS BLOOD FOR OUR SALVATION

    The ultimate reason for His manifestation was redemption.

    Matthew 26:28:

    “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

    1 Peter 1:18–19:

    “…ye were not redeemed with corruptible things… But with the precious blood of Christ…”

    Jesus came to die for the sins of humanity and rise again.

    1 Corinthians 15:3–4:

    “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day…”

    YOU CANNOT GET GOD CHEAPLY

    Gold does not usually lie openly on the surface. It must be sought, discovered and refined.

    In the same way, we must look beyond the outward appearance of Jesus to understand who He truly is.

    Jeremiah 29:13:

    “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

    Behind the soil, there may be gold.

    Behind the humanity of Jesus, there is the revelation of God.

    Jesus appeared as a man, but He was more than merely a man.

    John 10:30:

    “I and my Father are one.”

    John 20:28:

    “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”

    The Messiah was hidden behind the humanity of Jesus until He was revealed to those who believed.

    ANY SPIRIT THAT DENIES JESUS CAME IN THE FLESH

    The Bible gives a serious warning concerning any teaching that denies the incarnation.

    1 John 4:2–3:

    “Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God…”

    Jesus truly came in the flesh.

    He was not merely a spiritual appearance. He was genuinely human while being divine.

    WHY ACTS 18:28 IS IMPORTANT

    Acts 18:28:

    “For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”

    Apollos and the early Christian preachers had to convince the Jews from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah.

    Many Jews expected the Messiah to establish an earthly political kingdom and deliver them from their enemies. They struggled to understand the manner in which the Messiah would first come.

    Jesus did not come first as an earthly political ruler. He came as the suffering Servant who would deal with the deeper problem of humanity sin.

    Isaiah 53:5:

    “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…”

    His kingdom is ultimately spiritual and eternal.

    John 18:36:

    “My kingdom is not of this world…”

    Luke 1:32–33:

    “…the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever…”

    Therefore, Jesus did not fit the people's expectation of what the Messiah should look like, but the Scriptures testified concerning Him.

    PRACTICAL EXAMPLE: WHY PEOPLE STILL REJECT JESUS

    Even today, many people reject Jesus because they do not understand what is behind the Gospel.

    Some see religious hypocrisy, fanaticism, scandals, poor leadership or people who claim Christianity but do not demonstrate Christ-like character.

    But the failure of people does not invalidate Jesus.

    We must distinguish between Jesus Christ and the imperfections of people who claim to represent Him.

    Hebrews 12:2:

    “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…”

    Our faith must ultimately be placed in Christ, not in imperfect human beings.

    Some people look to God for survival, prosperity, longevity or protection but do not truly know Him.

    They may place their hope in religious traditions, human philosophies or personal beliefs while rejecting God's saving grace.

    But the Gospel points us back to Jesus.

    THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO GOD

    Jesus made this clear:

    John 14:6:

    “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

    Peter also declared:

    Acts 4:12:

    “Neither is there salvation in any other…”

    Jesus did not merely claim to know the way. He declared Himself to be the Way.

    His resurrection became one of the greatest proofs of His identity.

    Romans 1:4:

    “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”

    The Christian faith is therefore not founded merely on human philosophy but on the person, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    CONCLUSION: WHO IS BEHIND JESUS?

    Behind the humanity of Jesus is the divine revelation of God.

    Jesus is the Word who became flesh.

    John 1:1–3:

    “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him…”

    And then:

    John 1:14:

    “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”

    Jesus is the image of the invisible God.

    Colossians 1:15:

    “Who is the image of the invisible God…”

    The fullness of God dwells in Him.

    Colossians 2:9:

    “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

    He existed before Abraham.

    John 8:58:

    “Before Abraham was, I am.”

    He is one with the Father.

    John 10:30:

    “I and my Father are one.”

    Thomas called Him God.

    John 20:28:

    “My Lord and my God.”

    And the Father Himself speaks concerning the Son:

    Hebrews 1:8:

    “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever…”

    Therefore, when we look at Jesus, we must look beyond the physical appearance of the man and understand the divine truth revealed through Him.

    Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh.
    Jesus Christ is the revelation of God.
    Jesus Christ is the Messiah.
    Jesus Christ is the Saviour.
    Jesus Christ is the Way to the Father.
    And in Him is eternal life.

    FINAL CHALLENGE

    Do not stop at what you see on the surface.

    Look behind Jesus.

    Look beyond His humanity and discover His divine identity through the Scriptures.

    John 20:31:

    “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

    The goal is not merely to know about Jesus. The goal is to know Jesus, believe in Him, and receive the salvation and eternal life that are found in Him.
    BEHIND JESUS TEXT: Acts 18:28 SUPPORTING TEXTS: John 1:1–14; John 4:8, 24; Philippians 3:3 OBJECTIVES At the end of this teaching, participants should be able to: 1. Understand that God is Spirit and that He has revealed Himself to humanity through Jesus Christ. 2. Recognize the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ, and understand why God manifested Himself in the flesh. 3. Explain why Jesus is the only way to salvation and why human religion, morality, or religious tradition cannot save man. 4. Defend the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and God manifested in the flesh, using Scripture. INTRODUCTION Acts 18:28 (KJV): “For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” The subject of Jesus Christ goes beyond what can be seen physically. To understand Jesus, we must look behind Jesus—behind His humanity, His earthly appearance, His birth, His ministry, His death and resurrection—to discover who He truly is. The Bible teaches that God is Spirit: John 4:24 (KJV): “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” God is also love: 1 John 4:8: “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” Love cannot be seen with the physical eyes, and the Spirit cannot be seen with the physical eyes. Yet both are real. QUESTION Have you ever physically seen love? Have you ever physically seen a spirit? Although you cannot see love itself, you can see the manifestation of love through actions. Likewise, God, who is Spirit, made Himself known to humanity through Jesus Christ. John 1:14 (KJV): “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” Jesus is therefore the visible manifestation of the invisible God. Colossians 1:15: “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” 1. GOD MANIFESTED HIMSELF THROUGH MAN God revealed Himself through the human life of Jesus Christ so that humanity could know, believe, and receive Him. John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” Jesus did not merely come to teach people about God. He came as God manifested in the flesh. 1 Timothy 3:16: “God was manifest in the flesh…” Jesus showed mankind what God is like through His character, words, works, compassion, holiness, power and love. 2. THE BREATH OF MAN IS LIMITED Man's physical life is temporary. The breath of man is dependent upon God. Isaiah 2:22: “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” James 4:14: “For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Man's life is limited, but God's life is eternal. 3. THE LIFE OF GOD IS ETERNAL God does not depend upon another source for His existence. He is the eternal God. John 1:4: “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 11:25: “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life…” 1 John 5:11: “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” The eternal life of God is revealed to humanity through Jesus Christ. 4. THE CHARACTER OF MAN IS CORRUPTED BY SIN Humanity, because of sin, cannot become its own saviour. Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked…” Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Man therefore needs salvation from outside himself. 5. THE CHARACTER OF GOD IS GOOD God is holy, righteous, loving and good. Psalm 100:5: “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” Psalm 145:9: “The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.” Jesus demonstrated the goodness and character of God among humanity. Acts 10:38: “…who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” 6. MAN CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF — JESUS SAVES Religion cannot save man. Human wisdom cannot save man. Good works, by themselves, cannot save man. Ephesians 2:8–9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith… Not of works…” Salvation is found in Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” The God whom humanity could not physically see came near to humanity in Jesus Christ—and Jesus saves. THE REASON GOD MANIFESTED HIMSELF IN THE FLESH 1. SO THAT WE COULD SEE HIM God became visible through Jesus Christ. John 14:9: “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father…” Jesus is the revelation of the invisible God. Colossians 2:9: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” 2. SO THAT WE COULD TOUCH HIM AND KNOW HIM John testified that Jesus was physically real. 1 John 1:1: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes… and our hands have handled…” The apostles did not proclaim an imaginary person. They witnessed, heard and physically encountered Jesus Christ. 3. SO THAT WE COULD FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM Jesus did not merely appear to humanity from a distance. He lived among people. 1 John 1:3: “…that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us…”»l Jesus also fellowshiped with His disciples. Matthew 26:30: “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.” He ate with them, walked with them, taught them and fellowshipped with them. 4. TO REVEAL THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH THE FLESH Jesus demonstrated God's power through miracles, healing, deliverance and authority. John 2:11: “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory…” Acts 2:22: “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs…” His works revealed what was behind the humanity—the divine nature and power of God. 5. TO EXPERIENCE HUMANITY AND IDENTIFY WITH US Jesus experienced hunger, thirst, weariness, sorrow, rejection and temptation, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities…” Hebrews 2:17: “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren…” He understands what humanity experiences. 6. TO SHED HIS BLOOD FOR OUR SALVATION The ultimate reason for His manifestation was redemption. Matthew 26:28: “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” 1 Peter 1:18–19: “…ye were not redeemed with corruptible things… But with the precious blood of Christ…” Jesus came to die for the sins of humanity and rise again. 1 Corinthians 15:3–4: “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day…” YOU CANNOT GET GOD CHEAPLY Gold does not usually lie openly on the surface. It must be sought, discovered and refined. In the same way, we must look beyond the outward appearance of Jesus to understand who He truly is. Jeremiah 29:13: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Behind the soil, there may be gold. Behind the humanity of Jesus, there is the revelation of God. Jesus appeared as a man, but He was more than merely a man. John 10:30: “I and my Father are one.” John 20:28: “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” The Messiah was hidden behind the humanity of Jesus until He was revealed to those who believed. ANY SPIRIT THAT DENIES JESUS CAME IN THE FLESH The Bible gives a serious warning concerning any teaching that denies the incarnation. 1 John 4:2–3: “Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God…” Jesus truly came in the flesh. He was not merely a spiritual appearance. He was genuinely human while being divine. WHY ACTS 18:28 IS IMPORTANT Acts 18:28: “For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” Apollos and the early Christian preachers had to convince the Jews from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. Many Jews expected the Messiah to establish an earthly political kingdom and deliver them from their enemies. They struggled to understand the manner in which the Messiah would first come. Jesus did not come first as an earthly political ruler. He came as the suffering Servant who would deal with the deeper problem of humanity sin. Isaiah 53:5: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…” His kingdom is ultimately spiritual and eternal. John 18:36: “My kingdom is not of this world…” Luke 1:32–33: “…the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever…” Therefore, Jesus did not fit the people's expectation of what the Messiah should look like, but the Scriptures testified concerning Him. PRACTICAL EXAMPLE: WHY PEOPLE STILL REJECT JESUS Even today, many people reject Jesus because they do not understand what is behind the Gospel. Some see religious hypocrisy, fanaticism, scandals, poor leadership or people who claim Christianity but do not demonstrate Christ-like character. But the failure of people does not invalidate Jesus. We must distinguish between Jesus Christ and the imperfections of people who claim to represent Him. Hebrews 12:2: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…” Our faith must ultimately be placed in Christ, not in imperfect human beings. Some people look to God for survival, prosperity, longevity or protection but do not truly know Him. They may place their hope in religious traditions, human philosophies or personal beliefs while rejecting God's saving grace. But the Gospel points us back to Jesus. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO GOD Jesus made this clear: John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Peter also declared: Acts 4:12: “Neither is there salvation in any other…” Jesus did not merely claim to know the way. He declared Himself to be the Way. His resurrection became one of the greatest proofs of His identity. Romans 1:4: “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” The Christian faith is therefore not founded merely on human philosophy but on the person, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. CONCLUSION: WHO IS BEHIND JESUS? Behind the humanity of Jesus is the divine revelation of God. Jesus is the Word who became flesh. John 1:1–3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him…” And then: John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Colossians 1:15: “Who is the image of the invisible God…” The fullness of God dwells in Him. Colossians 2:9: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” He existed before Abraham. John 8:58: “Before Abraham was, I am.” He is one with the Father. John 10:30: “I and my Father are one.” Thomas called Him God. John 20:28: “My Lord and my God.” And the Father Himself speaks concerning the Son: Hebrews 1:8: “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever…” Therefore, when we look at Jesus, we must look beyond the physical appearance of the man and understand the divine truth revealed through Him. Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh. Jesus Christ is the revelation of God. Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Jesus Christ is the Saviour. Jesus Christ is the Way to the Father. And in Him is eternal life. FINAL CHALLENGE Do not stop at what you see on the surface. Look behind Jesus. Look beyond His humanity and discover His divine identity through the Scriptures. John 20:31: “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” The goal is not merely to know about Jesus. The goal is to know Jesus, believe in Him, and receive the salvation and eternal life that are found in Him.
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