Herod....a good bad example

Bible Verse: Mark 6:14-29

Hollyview Family Fellowship…….August 15, 2010

King Herod….a good bad example
Mark 6:14-29

1 Corinthians 10:11-13 (NIV)
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Everybody's good for something, even if it's just to be a bad example

Everyone is good for something…..someone like Herod is a good example on how not to live, what things we should not pursue. I was reading the gospel of Mark last week and I saw this story of Herod with fresh eyes.

All the people we meet in the pages of the Bible are to help us better understand our relationship with God. They all serve as good and bad examples….most of them are a mixed bag.

Take David for example….all of us should try to be like David…”a man after God’s own heart” David had a heart that was open and responsive to God….David had a heart for worship….Even though he was a mighty warrior….he was a mighty worshipper as well….he wrote and sang many songs as his heart soared in worshipping His God.

But there are some examples of David we do not want to follow….like his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband Uriah.

Abraham is another great example. To have faith like Abraham when God told him to take his only son and offer him as a sacrifice….We find Abraham rising early in the morning and taking Issac and some servants to the appointed place.
(I think he arose early to avoid Sara, there was no way she was going to sign off on this)

He took fire in his hand….and wood for the offering….On the way Issac asked him….Father, where is the sacrifice…I have to imagine Abraham choked out the words…..God will provide a sacrifice.

Abraham carries out God’s command….the knife is in his hand ready to strike his son…and an angel stays his hand……
Genesis 22:12 (ESV)
12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
Don’t miss this…..God knew the extent of Abraham’s faith…..on this day….Abraham knew how much he trusted God

And don’t miss the fact…of the sacrifice of the only son…..

Abraham acted out the drama that God the Father would carry out……God’s only son would be sacrificed ….and no angel would interfere…..

Abraham was a great example of faith….not perfect….but a man of great faith and trust in God….as a matter of fact we read…..

Hebrews 11:17-19 (ESV)
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,
18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”
19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

You can read all the amazing examples of faith in Hebrews 11……..

Hebrews 11:33-35 (ESV)
33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.

Well let’s get back to Herod……because we don’t want to follow the same path he walked.

He is a good example of how not to live.

The Herod in this story in Herod Antipas….His father Herod the great was the one who killed the babies in Bethlehem….when he was trying to kill Jesus……and there is another Herod in the book of acts….but this Herod is in the middle…..

The first thing I would like us to notice about Herod…..he had a desire for God…this may surprise you….but I believe everyone has a desire for God…..they may hide it well….even from themselves….but God has planted it in their hearts…..we read….

Mark 6:20 (ESV)
20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

Herod recognized that John was a holy man….and that caused him to fear….because he knew he was not….but in his fear he was keeping John safe….and he we go and listen to what John the Baptist had to say…..

That is what is says….he heard him gladly.

I can imagine him going to the cell late at night when others weren’t around and talking to John and discovering things about God.

But there were two things that kept Herod from following God….
His lust and His pride……we read about both of these in this story……

1. HIS LUST……

He stole his brother’s wife….
Mark 6:17 (ESV)
17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her.
This is why John was in prison….he had called Herod out on this….

He was a prophetic preacher….and he said…you have broken God’s law….you have stole your brother’s wife….Repent…

Remember that was John’s message….

Matthew 3:1-8 (ESV)
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”
4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,
6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
John was calling people to repent….to turn from their sins….

Herod had stole his brother’s wife…..

Seems there is a commandment about that….

Exodus 20:17 (ESV)
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Seems Herod wanted his brother’s wife…and he took her….He was king…..he could do as he pleased……..Or so he thought….I believe he must have done this out of lust…..

Another example of his lust was the dance of his step daughter…..

Mark 6:21-23 (ESV)
21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.
22 For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.”
23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”

This was the dance of Salome….It would have been a seductive type of dance…and it the heat of the dance…..Herod makes an unwise vow……

I will give you whatever you want…up to half the kingdom.

She runs to her mother…..what should I ask….Her mother Herodias tells her ….Ask for the head of John the Baptist.

Remember when John the Baptist was calling out Herod on his sin….He was also calling her out on her sin…..

She responded differently than Herod….

Mark 6:19 (ESV)
19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not,

So we find her devising another plan to get her way.

And she knew Herod’s weakness….she knew of his lust and her daughter was the tool for her revenge.

Then we see Herod’s second sin….
The sin of pride…..

When Herodias asks for the head of John the Baptist on a platter……

What a gruesome picture….what a gruesome request….

We read of Herod’s pride….

Mark 6:26-28 (ESV)
26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.
27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison
28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.

His word was more important than a righteous man’s life….

He could not lose face…he had promised….he would deliver.

These are quite the trio….Herod, Herodias and Salome…..All given into to their passions and all unwilling to repent……

How did all of this effect Herod?

He knew he had done wrong….and his conscience would not allow him to forget it….so we read….

Mark 6:14-16 (ESV)
14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.”
15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”
16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

Herod thought Jesus was John resurrected. His conscience was condemning him…..

When we think of the night of John’s beheading….our minds cry out at the indignity of it all….

A righteous man killed…..Salome and Herodias giddy with their revenge…..Herod, backed into a corner by his pride and lust……

Sometimes it is helpful to draw back the curtain of eternity ……What really happen on that night….

John was ushered into God’s presence….in the twinkling of an eye after his brutal death….John was the victor…….

Not so for the other three…..they had to live on and their sins chased after them…..

Herod was seeing ghosts…..John back from the dead…….

The last we hear of Herod has to do with Jesus trial….

Luke 23:8-11 (ESV)
8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.
9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer.
10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.
11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate.

It seems Herod did not learn…he only wanted to see a miracle from Jesus….and when no miracle was forthcoming….He mocked him and sent him to his death.

I don’t believe he ever repented of his evil.

Moses warned the people of God…..

Numbers 32:23 (NIV)
23 "But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.

That is the promise of scripture…..If we fail to repent….our sin will find us out.

Sin will always….
Take you further than you want to go…
Keep you longer than you want to stay…
Cost more than you want to pay…..

So if we don’t want to follow Herod’s example, then we need to heed the advice of this promise.


We started with these verses….

1 Corinthians 10:11-13 (NIV)
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.


When temptation arises…
Call out to God….ask for his help.

When you fail….repent and ask for his forgiveness….He is always reaching out to us…He always stands ready and willing to forgive.

1 John 1:9 (ESV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Big Sinner Little Sinner

Bible Verse: Luke 19:9-14

Hollyview Family Fellowship…….August 8, 2010
Wonderful Grace of Jesus…#114
Amazing Grace…#107
Big Sinner….Little Sinner…….Luke

Janet and I watched a show on Tv….It was about honor killings in America……..
Hosted by Bill Hemmer
For two years, Fox News has been investigating the short lives and violent deaths of Texas teenagers Amina and Sarah Said.

The sisters were riddled with bullets in their dad's borrowed taxi cab on New Year's Day 2008. As 911 operators listened in, Sarah appeared to name her father as the killer — her dying words: "Help! Help! My dad shot me... and now I'm dying!"
This kind of crime isn't supposed to happen in America's heartland — an honor killing.
Honor killings are when a father, husband or brother kills a wife, daughter or sister because he thinks she has "shamed" the family. The United Nations has found such murders are all too common in Muslim lands. Now they are happening here.

Doesn’t this story make your blood boil….How could a father do this to his children…...This is certainly a big sin…and we find some comfort in these words of scripture….

________________________________________
Nahum 1:3 (ESV)
3 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

We are glad God will not clear the guilty…..but I believe Satan uses this kind of thinking pattern to help us avoid our own sinfulness…..We look at the big sinners
….and we focus our attention on them and we forget about ourselves…we are little sinners and our sins are not so horrific…not so ugly…

Could this be a strategy of our enemy? I think it is……As I was thinking about the times Jesus addresses sinners….He seems to extend grace to those who recognized their sin and he had harsh words for those who failed to see their sins…Let’s just consider three passages in Luke this morning

FIRST….THE PUBLICAN AND THE PHARISEE……

Luke 18:9-14 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: [10] "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. [11] The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. [12] I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' [13] "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' [14] "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Listen why Jesus told this parable….because some were confident in their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else……
There are two characters in this story….a Pharisee and a tax collector…..The Pharisee would normally be considered the good guy….He was the rule follower…..He fasted twice a week….that’s good…I have Pastor friends who have had extended fasts as they seek God’s will. I have tried it before, but have not made it a part of my routine….perhaps I should.

Fasting is not bad it is good. It was good this Pharisee fasted. This Pharisee was a tither…He gave to God 10% of all his wealth….that was a good thing…it is good to give….God loves a cheerful giver…He is not being condemned for the good things he did…but that he trusted they were enough…that he could earn his way to heaven….

The second man we meet would normally be considered the bad guy….a tax collector….they are not highly esteemed in our society…It the Jewish society they were hated…..They collected for Rome…and the Jews hated being under the dominion of Rome…..

I know a tax collector…..who is fond of saying…..yes he is a tax collector, but that is better than being a sinner…..because the NT always speaks of tax collectors and sinners.
I suppose if I had to choose….I would rather be a tax collector than a sinner….but the truth is he is both….we are all sinners.

Jesus did here what he often did he surprised them by turning things around….Here the good guy…is not the Pharisee…but the Tax collector….why???….not because of their deeds…not how they lived their lives….but because of the way they approached God…

The Tax collector knew he did not measure up to God ‘s standard….He could not even lift his eyes toward heaven…He just cried out…..GOD HAVE MERCY ON ME….GOD HAVE MERCY ON ME…….

NOT SO THE PHARISEE….He thought God was quite lucky to have him on his side….He threw his shoulder out patting himself on the back for what a good guy he was…..

Who found favor in God’s eyes…don’t miss this….Who?
….the Tax collector
…..why ? He was not trusting in his own righteousness….only on the mercy of God….

If we were to judge who was the big sinner and who was the little sinner….We would have to conclude…Tax collector…big sinner…Pharisee little sinner….
Who finds grace and mercy….the one who recognizes his sin

Our second story has a Pharisee and Prostitute…

Another story of Big Sinner ….Little Sinner….
Luke 7:29-50 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged that God's way was right, because they had been baptized by John. [30] But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.) [31] "To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? [32] They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:

" 'We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.'
[33]
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' [34] The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' [35] But wisdom is proved right by all her children." [36] Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. [37] When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, [38] and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. [39] When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner." [40] Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you.""Tell me, teacher," he said. [41] "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. [42] Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" [43] Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.""You have judged correctly," Jesus said. [44] Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. [45] You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. [46] You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. [47] Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." [48] Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." [49] The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" [50] Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Who is the hero is this story?….Big sinner or little sinner…..
The Big Sinner….the prostitute….she lavished her love all over the feet of Jesus….she poured perfume on them….she wept over his feet and washed them with her tears…….

Could you imagine being at that dinner party?…


every thing in Simon’s house was perfect…the table was set just right….every piece of silverware was in exactly the right place….
How uncomfortable this woman must have made everyone…everyone but Jesus…..And he does not hurry her up…He doesn’t say to her….don’t do that, don’t humble yourself..get up…your embarrassing me…
He allows her a full measure of repentance….He allows her repentance to run it’s course…….and then he tells her…
Your sins are forgiven…Your faith has saved you…Go in peace.

Can you imagine how she felt when she heard those words?…Your sins are forgiven…you are saved….Go in peace

I hope you can imagine it…I hope you have experienced it!!!!

Once again it is the Big sinner who finds the mercy of God…and Simon the Pharisee is stewing that his dinner party is ruined….His “A” guest list was marred by this notorious woman….

Our Last story in Luke is the best known….
WE HAD THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN
……………….THE PHARISEE AND THE PROSTITUTE
……………..THE PHARISEE AND THE PRODIGAL….
The story didn’t really say the older brother was a Pharisee but everyone else began with a P…so I couldn’t resist….His attitude was identical to the Pharisees
You know the story….One Dad ….and two boys….The younger one couldn’t wait to get away from Dad and all his rules….He wanted his freedom….He wanted to make his own choices…He wanted his Dad’s money….He said ….Dad, give me my inheritance and I’m out of here….
Soon he was on his way….He spent his money on wine, women and song….and as soon as his money was gone…so were all his new friends….He ended up in the pig pen…..but there …..he came to his senses….and decided to return to the Father….and ask for mercy and forgiveness…..

The Father was waiting…He was looking down the road…he loved his son…and wanted him home so badly….

When he sees his son….He runs to him…He has the servants put a robe on him…a ring on his finger….sandal on his feet
and he throws a party….

Again who is the hero in this story….the big sinner or the little sinner….Big sinner wins again…Big sinner finds mercy….

Remember what the The Older Brother said.....listen to his words.....Luke 15:28-32 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. [29] But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. [30] But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' [31] " 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. [32] But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "

Jesus is not trying to elevate sin…..He is not saying sin more so I can pour out more grace…..
But what he is saying…what he is warning against is…don’t depend on your own good deeds….they are not good enough…Don’t think you are good enough to stand before God….
Don’t measure yourself against others…..
Not like the Pharisee….
Use God’s measuring line…..Use his standard…..
Do you remember God’s standard…Jesus gave it in the gospel of Matthew

Matthew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

If you want to be judged on merit…..Than that is your standard.

I heard about a Dad who was a workaholic….Every night he brought home a big briefcase full of paperwork….His son wanted to play with Dad…but Mom would always run interference….Honey your Dad has a lot of work, he has so much work he can’t finish it there so he has to bring it home.

The little boy thought about that for a moment and then he said,
Maybe they should put him in a slower group at work.

Many people try to run their spiritual relationship like this Dad….work, work, work….trying to please God….
Will they ever reach that perfect standard…..No Way.

Jesus invites us to Come to him and find rest for our souls….



We need to discover…..We are in need of his grace and forgiveness…..

Don’t get caught in the comparison trap…..

Don’t focus your attention on all the Big Sinners out there…..

Look to you own soul….realize your own need for the Saviour…

We must have a Spiritual Base for your life……

B Believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for me and showed he was God by coming back to life.
1 Cor. 15:2-4 and by which your life has been saved. (I'm assuming, now, that your belief was the real thing and not a passing fancy, that you're in this for good and holding fast.) [3] The first thing I did was place before you what was placed so emphatically before me: that the Messiah died for our sins, exactly as Scripture tells it; [4] that he was buried; that he was raised from death on the third day, again exactly as Scripture says;

A Accept God’s free forgiveness for my sins.

Romans 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,

S Switch to God’s plan for my life.
Mark 1:15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

E Express my desire for Christ to be the director of my life.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.


Have you come to Christ for forgiveness……
Have you heard those words from His lips….
Your sins are forgiven…..You are saved…….Go in peace.

Great and Marvelous....Just and True

Bible Verse: Revelation 15

Hollyview Family Fellowship…July 1, 2007

Great and Marvelous, Just and True Revelation 15

As I have been reading the book of Revelation, you can not help but notice all the judgments that the people of the earth will finally face.

There are the seal judgments, the trumpet judgments, the bowl judgments……It would be safe to say that none of us want to be around when any of these judgments take place.

But just as Revelation is a book full of the judgments of God….It is also a book full of praise for God. There are incredible visions of worship and the majesty of God…..one of these vistas of the majesty of God is found in

Rev. 15:1-4 (NIV)
I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues--last, because with them God's wrath is completed. [2] And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God [3] and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:

"Great and marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the ages.
[4] Who will not fear you, O Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed."


Notice that those faithful people of God who had overcome the beast sang a song….the song is identified as the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb…...

We read about the song of Moses in the book of Exodus…..It is a song of praise as God delivered the nation of Israel from Pharaoh and His army……

Pharaoh had finally relented and allowed the Israelites to go free after the 10 plagues God had sent as judgments on the Egyptians…..and then Pharaoh changed his mind…..and he and his army went after Moses and Israel.

Moses and Israel….were between the Devil and the Deep blue sea…..well, how about between Pharaoh and the Red sea……As you recall…..I always have this vision of Charlton Heston at the Red Sea….


The Israelites were at the Red Sea….and Pharaoh’s army was bearing down on them …..we read in Exodus that the Israelites were terrified….they began to turn on Moses…..(It wouldn’t be the first or the last time)…..They said….weren’t there enough graves in Egypt that you brought us out here to die….why didn’t you leave us alone….It would have been better to remain slaves in Egypt than to die in this desert…….

Exodus 14:13-14 Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. [14] The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

And Moses raised His staff over the sea….and God opened a path for them…and they crossed the sea….and when the Egyptians tried to follow……God brought the waters crashing down on their heads……

And it was on that occasion …..Moses wrote his song…..
Don’t worry….I won’t try to sing it….but he began with these words….
Exodus 15:1-2 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:

"I will sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
The horse and its rider
he has hurled into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father's God, and I will exalt him.

The theme of his song is that God is the deliverer….God is the source of salvation….and that God is worthy of praise and exaltation. They clearly could not save themselves, they had to wholly rely upon God.

I imagine they were in awe from the method God had used to deliver them. They were ecstatic. One minute they thought their lives would be over, that Pharaoh and his army would kill them, and then ….they were delivered.

The song of Moses is similar to this song we discover in Revelation 15……The Song of the Lamb…..
Rev. 15:3 and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:

"Great and marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the ages.

The occasion of this song, was the deliverance of God’s people from the beast described in the book of revelation…….

We read in Revelation that the beast made war on the people of God…..He did all in his power to annihilate them.

The song of the lamb declares….
Great and Marvelous are your deeds ….Lord God Almighty…..
Just and True are your ways………

This is a wonderful description of God……

God is Great and Marvelous…..Just and True….

But you know…not everyone believes this…..Not everyone accepts this……

As a matter of fact many outright reject this….and fight against it.

One case is point is the author, Christopher Hitchens.
His latest book is, god is not Great, subtitled “How religion poisons everything.”



The subtitle…how religion poisons everything is really an outrageous statement. He choses to be blind to all the good that has come from faith. He is an outspoken critic of Mother Teresa, if you can believe it…..but he is out to sell a lot of books. He is being interviewed on almost every talk show imaginable. Most recently he made hateful and evil comments regarding Jerry Falwell’s death….saying he hoped there was a hell for him to suffer in….He believes Jerry Falwell was a cheat and a charlatan and that he did not really believe what he taught and preached. I beg to disagree, I have read quite a bit about Jerry Falwell……I did not agree with all he had to say, but he was a faithful pastor, who led many people to faith in Christ, and he believed very much in what he taught and preached.

Christopher Hitchens objects to religion for four reasons……He writes…

There are four irreducible objections to religious faith:
1.that it wholly misrepresents the origins of man and the cosmos,
2. that because of this original error it manages to combine the maximum of servility with the maximum of solipsism,
3. that it is both the result and the cause of dangerous sexual repression,
4. that it is ultimately grounded on wish-thinking.

When I read that…..I thought ….Wow, he really is smart…I had to look up a few of his words to understand what he was saying.

But the bottom line is…… He does not believe God is Great…. He does not believe in God…..

And a few scriptures came to my mind.

First the Bible tells us that creation itself reveals that there is a God.

Psalm 19:1-4
For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
The skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

The heavens are shouting the fact that there is a God…..every day and every night, every star shouts out…..There is a God……this is proclaimed to the ends of the world.

Paul argues in the book of Romans….

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

There really is no excuse to not know there is a God, from whom all things come.

This brings us to The question in Revelation 15:4
Rev. 15:4
Who will not fear you, O Lord,
and bring glory to your name?

The Bible states many times, that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

There is a God…..
Solomon the wisest man in his day wrote…..
Eccles. 12:13-14
Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing,
Whether it is good or evil.

Christopher Hitchens does not believe in God, so he simply dismisses his commandments.

Good luck with that. I don’t wish hell upon him; I pray that his eyes might be opened to the truth of our Great God.

We read in Proverbs…..
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.

Many people believe as Christopher Hitchens…They don’t believe in God…some would say they are atheists as he does, some would say they are agnostics, they simply don’t know….some would not say either of those…..they simply live their lives as if there is no God and no future judgment. But the scripture tells us …..that is the way to death…it may seem right to them…but it is not. Truth is important. God has revealed himself.
David knew God. David praised God more that most. When it came to this subject listen to what David had to say.

David teaches us in …….
Psalm 53:1

The fool says in his heart,
"There is no God."

The fool is really hoping there is no god. No one to give an account for they way they lived their lives. But that is simply not the truth.

God has made us. We are responsible to Him. It really does matter who we worship. It really does matter how we live our lives.

I really like our Bible reading program…..we read something in the OT ….something in the NT….and a Psalm and a Proverb.

This last little while we have been reading in I Kings…….As we have read about the lives of the Kings, comments were made as to how they lived their lives….how they believed…it was really important.

Solomon who did so well for so long made some wrong turns at the end…..

1 Kings 11:4-6 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. [5] He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. [6] So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.

It was important to worship the true God,…..not Ashtoreth of Molech….false and detestable gods…….

Because of this the kingdom was divided after Solomon’s death.

If you continue reading, each King is judged on whether or not he followed the Lord God of Israel or whether they were led astray by some detestable Idol.

It matters very much that we worship the true God…..

Jesus taught this in the Gospel of John……

John 4:21-24 Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. [22] You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. [23] Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. [24] God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

Let us be those people…..those who worship God in spirit and in truth…..let us follow closely the word of His law, and let us point others to the true worship of God.

Not out of pride, we have nothing to be proud of…….
Not mean spirited, God does not condone that….
But obviously out of love….
Let us have the heart of the Savior in this……

1 Tim. 2:3-4 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, [4] who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

This must be our heart’s desire…..
We should never be feuding and fighting….

Paul gave his young disciple, Timothy this advice when it came to speaking to those who disagree with you.

2 Tim. 2:23-26 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. [24] And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. [25] Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, [26] and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

This must be our attitude as we share the wonderful news of our God who is Great and Marvelous, Just and True.

The Good Samaritan

Bible Verse: Luke 10:25-37

Hollyview Family Fellowship..........June 29, 2008

Parables…..Luke 10: 25-37
The Good Samaritan, Go and Do Likewise

In His Steps video…..We are going to view a short play that is taken from A book that may have changed more lives than any other outside of the Bible. In His Steps is a novel written by Charles M. Sheldon in 1896. experts have ranked it as the tenth-most-read book in the world.

In simple style, In His Steps tells the story of self-satisfied congregants of a midwestern church who are challenged by a tramp during a Sunday service to live up to their declaration of faith. …. So moved are the minister and his parishioners that they pledge to live their lives for one year asking themselves, "What would Jesus do?"

VIDEO……..

Today we want to consider the parable of the Good Samaritan….I believe the message in this parable is the same message of the book “In His Steps”


In the book, the author is trying to help us to really see others, and then to ask ourselves the question, How would Jesus serve them? How would Jesus love them?

This is precisely what Jesus does for us in the parable…..let’s take a look at it and listen to what the Spirit wants us to do.

Luke 10:25 (NIV)
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Don’t think for a moment that this expert in the law did not think he knew the answer to this question. He had probably taught classes for years concerning this topic….
Sometimes people ask questions they think they know the answer too….they ask it to embarrass or trick the person they are questioning…..
Like asking a political candidate how much a gallon of milk is…..they try to embarrass and make the one they question look foolish.

This verse tells us this expert in the law was trying to test Jesus…..more like stump him….
But Jesus turns the table on him…..we read….

Luke 10:26 (NIV)
"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

You are an expert in the law…..what do you think it says…..

Someone once asked a Jew, “Why do you always answer a question with a question?”
The Jewish man replied, “What do you mean?”

This Jewish scholar did answer well…..

Luke 10:27 (NIV)
He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

You may remember, Jesus gave this same answer to someone who asked him which was the greatest commandment.

I believe this tells us, that it was common knowledge among the learned, that this was what God required. That these two statements did sum up the law. If you love God and love your neighbor, you will keep the law.

Jesus was pleased with his answer…..

Luke 10:28 (NIV)
"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

The expert in the law…got the answer right…but Jesus knew that knowledge alone was not enough.

We often know what the right thing to do is…..we don’t always do it…..

I know for my health when I go to Red Robin should choose the chicken burger….but I seldom do…..my favorite is the guacamole burger


I indentify with Max Lucado….I am burger addicted.

Knowing the right thing and doing the right thing are not the same.

Actually pretty soon I will not be eating many burgers….my diet will consist of pizza and pasta.


When confronted with Jesus’ words….Do this and you will live…….the expert in the law answered….

Luke 10:29 (NIV)
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

He most likely identified his neighbor very narrowly….we are guilty of that as well….so Jesus tells this wonderful parable to expand our understanding of who God loves…and who we are to love……

Luke 10:30-35 (NIV)
30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.
32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.
34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.
35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

Traveling in the wilderness was dangerous business….robbers beat him, stripped him and left him to die.

Three people pass this misfortunate man……Those who might be expected to help did not….a priest and a Levite….These were those who were held in esteem in Jesus’ society…..Surly the priest will help…surly the chosen tribe of Levi…where the priests are chosen….If anyone is to do a kind deed, we would expect them to do it….
But they simply pass on by……
Maybe they were afraid the same robbers would attack them…..Maybe the simply did not care enough….they knew what should be done…they just didn’t do it….

And then enters our hero….The Good Samaritan….the most unlikely of the three…..to a Jew…a Samaritan was a half breed…half Jew and half pagan….and to them…that made them all bad…they despised them…had nothing good to say of them…..
And yet we read of the Samaritan….He saw the wounded man, took pity on him, cared for him at his own cost and peril.
He is truly a noble example of someone loving his neighbor……

Then Jesus asks the expert in the law….

Luke 10:36 (NIV)
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
Some suggest that the expert in the law could not even bring himself to say the word “Samaritan”….so he replies…..

Luke 10:37 (NIV)
The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Jesus message is really quite clear…..Go and do what the good Samaritan did…..love your neighbor….

Our society is no different than when Jesus told this story…..perhaps you heard of this news story of last month….




Description: A surveillance camera captures disturbing footage of a hit and run in Hartford, Connecticut, that left a man paralyzed. But what it shows after
the accident is what really has the police chief outraged.

"The guy landed on the ground, blood everywhere, his head was cracked."

Angel Torres was crossing the street on Friday (May 30) when a car swerved over the center line, hit him and kept going. Torres landed in the middle of the road. Ten cars passed by Torres. Two others turned around and went the opposite way. Witnesses who stopped to gawk never called 911.

A police officer, on his way to another call, saw Torres in the street and called dispatch for an ambulance.

"It's a clear indication of what we have become," said Hartford Police Chief Daryl Roberts. "We see a man laying in the street who has been hit by a car and people are just driving by, and people around him walk by him. People always say 'what are the police doing'. That is not a police problem."

We must not hid our eyes from the pain and the need around us…..

This is a picture of a homeless youth….there are young people all over Portland who are in need…..One of them held up a sign…Do you see me….because most people walk by and try not to make eye contact….afraid they will be asked for money……

My study bible has this note on this parable….


A Collection of Attitudes
To the expert in the law, the wounded man was a subject to discuss.
To the robbers, the wounded man was someone to use and exploit.
To the religious men, the wounded man was a problem to be avoided.
To the innkeeper, the wounded man was a customer to serve for a fee.
To the Samaritan, the wounded man was a human being worth being cared for and loved.
To Jesus, all of them and all of us were worth dying for.
Life Application Study Bible.

We must learn to see in everyone…the image of God…Oh son of Adam, Oh daughter of Eve….how did you come to this place…and then we must respond as Jesus asked us to….

Go and Do Likewise….Go and act like the Good Samaritan….
See their need
Act on it…bind up their wounds
Help them..even if it costs you

And this is not just Jesus message to us for the homeless….the desperate….it is his message to us for everyone….to love them….then we are truly his disciples…and the world will notice.

Did people notice Mother Teresa?…..yes, they did.

When you live in love…..it will be the best witness for Jesus.

Hear, Jesus command….

Go and do Likewise.