1 – Matthew 18:1-5 (ESV) At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ² And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them ³ and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

⁵ “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,

RAF: Greatness in the Kingdom is not like it is here. Here, greatness revolves around giftedness, lineage, exploits and station. There, greatness is bound up in trust, humility and utter dependence. Those who in the most faith, live simply and confidently as His dear ones.

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1 – Matthew 14:13-14 (ESV) ¹³ Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. ¹⁴ When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

RAF: There is no question that Jesus withdraws at least in part to deal with His own personal grief. John, above all others, knew who Jesus was, and shared the most with Him. He paved the way for Him. He was His cousin, and uniquely called to his prophetic office in direct connection with Jesus. Now, John was senselessly and brutally murdered because a spineless, immoral political leader driven by impulse at the sight of a young girl acting lewdly for his illicit pleasure – didn’t even have the decency to stop himself in the face of something so heinous. So it is, upon hearing this news, Jesus withdrew. But look at how wonderful our Savior is. Withdrawing in these moments, nevertheless, refusing to shut His heart at the sight of these people. He does not let His own grief destroy His compassion for them. Still, He meets out mercy, while reeling from the blows of such wickedness. This is our Lord.

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1 – Matthew 13:3-9 (ESV) ³ And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. ⁴ And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵ Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, ⁶ but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. ⁷ Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸ Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹ He who has ears, let him hear.”

RAF: This is the 1st of 7 parables concerning the mysteries of the Kingdom. This one is about the mystery of PROPAGATION – How the Kingdom expands. “The sower sows the Word” (Mark 4:14) This is God’s means and method, all other schemes, programs, arrangements and allurements are human inventions without the promise of blessing. It is not about one nation rising and conquering – it is about the Word of God bringing forth its fruit. Preach the Gospel, it is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe.

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1 – Matthew 1:1 (ESV) The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

RAF: The one-word theme of Matthew is: MESSIAH-KING. Matthew writes his Gospel with this firmly in view – he desires to establish by various means, Jesus’ rightful claim to the throne of David, and His being the divine fulfillment of the Old Testament’s prophecies regarding the Jewish Messiah. One unique feature is to note how many times he appeals to something which either occurred, Jesus said, or Jesus did, “to fulfill” the Scriptures.

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1 – Micah 1:1 (ESV) The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

RAF: The one-word theme of Micah is: WICKEDNESS. At a time of high prosperity in Judah, he exposes both their wickedness and that of Israel to the north. The underlying sins of self-idolatry (living in greed, lust, self-advancement, oppression of those less fortunate etc.) will eventually manifest themselves as full-blown idolatry in both nations. A contemporary of Isaiah, he saw the siege and destruction of Israel during his lifetime. His sense of how sin ends is personal, and sharp. However severe his warnings, like his fellow prophets, there are amazing words of hope in the God who is full of mercy and grace – the One who will send His Redeemer.

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1 – Joel 1:1 (ESV) The word of the Lord that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel:

RAF: The one-word theme of Joel is: LOCUSTS. Joel is probably the earliest of the minor prophets. His ministry was to the southern kingdom of Judah, and it seems during relatively good times spiritually in the nation’s history. He makes no mention of idolatry in Judah for instance. What he does do is see a connection between a dreadful locust invasion to which he was witness. This plague, was a tremendous natural disaster, and Joel is motivated by the idea that such disasters serve to point out God’s coming judgment. Judgment not only on the heathen nations he mentions, but on Israel too. Hence, it is a call to repentance. Hidden sin will not be overlooked in the day of the Lord, either among the nations, nor His own people. The seeds of the idolatry which will erupt openly soon, are already sprouting below the surface. He is calling us to examine our hearts – and not rely on a mere external appearance of fidelity toward our God.

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1 – Ezekiel 43:25-27 (ESV) ²⁵ For seven days you shall provide daily a male goat for a sin offering; also, a bull from the herd and a ram from the flock, without blemish, shall be provided. ²⁶ Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar and cleanse it, and so consecrate it. ²⁷ And when they have completed these days, then from the eighth day onward the priests shall offer on the altar your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, and I will accept you, declares the Lord God.”

RAF: There is an inherent dualism in the sacrificial system that is reinforced and made quite explicit in this passage. Amidst this vision of rebuilding Jerusalem’s Temple and the restoration of its sacrifices, we see that one whole set of sacrifices is aimed at making atonement “for the altar”, to “clease it, and so consecrate it.” Such atonement here is not for the people, but for the altar. And the reason is stated explicitly: “then from the eighth day onward the priests shall offer on my alter YOUR burnt offerings and YOUR peace offerings, and I will accept YOU.” (Emphases mine) There is a dimension of the sacrificial system which makes God willing to accept our offerings, and, we are to bring our offerings – in Christ. The mere making atonement for the altar is not the sum of the situation. We cannot rely only on its having been done, we now must bring our own sacrifices of worship. Nor can we bring them and have them accepted until the atonement for the altar is done. Christ must do His full work – both in propitiating the Father, and, in being the only sacrifice we may bring to be accepted. In Him alone is salvation. In Him alone, is the full work done. What a wonderful and complete Savior He is!

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1 – Ezekiel 17:1-2 (ESV) The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, propound a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel;

RAF: This parable is most helpful. It is often the case that when we are being disciplined by God, we will leave off looking to Him as our help and supply. We imagine that if He is somehow displeased with us, He then wants nothing to do with us. But nothing could be further from the truth. As the parable unfolds – our condition is greatly compounded by our own responses. If, when disciplined, we run to other sources for the nourishment and provision we ought to be gaining from Him, we will bring ruin to our souls. Whereas, in His discipline, He is not after our ruin, but our recovery. If you are suffering under His chastening hand beloved, do run from Him, look to Him for the strength and blessing to sustain you even then. He loves you and seeks your good. Even in those hours, when you know you’ve sinned against Him and set hard and wicked things into motion – run to Him. He does not abandon His own. He will receive you and comfort you and supply your needs still. Our God is GOOD!

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1 – The one-word theme of Ezekiel is: REVIVAL. Not in the sense which it has come to mean in popular American Christianity. We think of revival as a series of special meetings, or simply a time of unique blessing from God. Those are not totally wrong in and of themselves, but the word itself connotes much more. Re-vival, re-vivification – restoring from the dead, bringing back to life that which either was, or seemed to be, beyond hope. That which had lost the essence of its life, being brought back to vibrant vitality. The picture of Judah now in the grave of its exile, being breathed on again like Adam was when he was made “a living soul” instead of just a clay form. God coming back to indwell and raise up His people. The idea will culminate in the valley of dead bones in Chap. 37.

And how the Church has needed such times of revival, when she seems to have been given over to lifelessness. We can need such revival personally, in our local assembly, regionally, nationally or globally. America needs it desperately right now. The soul of the Church needs to be so revitalized, so revived, that once again her zeal for God, His House and His glory – the fame of His name – that the earth would tremble under the revelation of His glorious mercy and grace through His Bride.

It always begins with a fresh vision of God.

Father, send us true, sin destroying, life giving, soul cleansing, Christ exalting, Gospel proclaiming, Christ’s Kingdom advancing – Revival. Restore us in Him. Send your Spirit in power once again. To me. To our Church. To our city. To our State. To our Nation. To the World. Revive us.

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1 – Jeremiah 52:1-3 (ESV) 12 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. ² And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. ³ For because of the anger of the Lord things came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence.

And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

RAF: Do not let the irony of this passage escape you – Zedekiah, the king whose wicked reign brought the final destruction of Jerusalem upon it – had Jeremiah the prophet as his counselor. We can have the very best of preaching and teaching among us – the very oracles of God expounded to us by divine revelation, and yet if our ears will not hear, if our hearts will not yield, it is for naught. Merely having our Bibles means nothing, if we are not reading, studying, obeying. We have the very Word of God at our finger tips, and how little we know it and feast upon it. Beloved, do not squander the means God has appointed to bring you the fountains of His grace. Whatever our excuses, whatever our reasons – do not fail to attend to His Word. In reading, in preaching – wherever and whenever you can obtain it. Hear God. There is safety, salvation in no other place.

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