What Happens Beyond the Grave?

Notes: What Happens Beyond the Grave?
Harvest OC
Pastor Greg - March 30th, 2014
Studying John 5:25-29/Revelation 20

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 2 A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment

Only those who are prepared to die are really ready to live.

After the grave, you continue to live.

Read: John 5:25-29 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

1. Death is not the end of existence.

2. There is a final judgment.
(Acts 17:30-31Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”)

2 Peter 2:9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment

Matthew 12:36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

The fact that there is a future judgment assures us that ultimately God is fair.

Studies show that people who forgive will live longer, knowing there will be a judgement should make it easier to forgive.

Every wrong in the universe will be paid for, by believers Jesus paid for it at the cross. The non-believer will pay for it a judgement.

Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”[a] says the Lord.

3. There are two forms of existence beyond the grave.
(John 5:28-29 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.)

There are two forms of resurrection, one for the just and one for the unjust.

Read: Revelation 20:4-6 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a[a] thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

True believers will experience a just resurrection, you will immediately go into the presence of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:8-9 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

What type of bodies will we be given in heaven? According to 1 Corinthians 15:42-43 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.

If you are disabled or in pain on earth, you will not be in heaven.

Heaven is the earthly life of the believer glorified and perfected.

Our minds and memories will be clearer and better then ever before.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

When Jesus appeared after the resurrection, He ate fish, He showed up on other sides of doors, He ascended to heaven.

In heaven we will know one another.

We shall “know fully” even as we are known.
(1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.)

The desire to sin will be gone. Heaven is the reunion and the reconnection. Death breaks ties on earth, but is a reunion in heaven.

Luke 24:39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

4. Do people in heaven know what is happening on earth?

Your loved ones do not speak to you from heaven. There are arguments that those in heaven do know what is going on down here in heaven.

Revelation 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

This is an interesting scripture because it speaks of an awareness of time in heaven and that those in heaven are aware of the suffering on earth.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

It is not true to say that there is no sadness or tears in heaven. In Revelation 5 they speak of weeping in heaven. They also speak of wiping away tears in heaven. A chronology, if a Christian dies they go to heaven, then they come to earth with God during the second coming. In the new Jerusalem all of the tears and suffering will be gone.

In heaven we will have a different perspective, so even though we might understand people on earth are suffering with our perspective, being the same as Gods, we will not need to be sad. Our knowledge and perspective will put us in a better place.

The first resurrection is the rapture of the church.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

When a Christian dies you go straight to heaven, we do not get our glorified body until after the rapture.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Will we see out loved ones again? 1 Thessalonians 4:17  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Death is the great separator, but Jesus Christ is the Great Reconciler.

There will be a judgement for Christians in heaven, this judgement will be like a reward ceremony, not a determination if you get in or not:

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Matthew 6:4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

Our presence in heaven is guaranteed by God’s promise, but our position in heaven is earned or lost by the quality of service we offer.

God has given all of us, time, treasure and talent.

You will be held accountable for what you could do, not what others could do.

To the nonbeliever, God will ask, “What did you do with Jesus Christ?”

To the believer, God will ask, “How did you glorify and serve Jesus Christ?”

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

The second resurrection comes after the thousand years.

Revelation 20:13-14 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

If you believe what that says, then you should let it affect your life.

Pastor Greg said he is going to heaven! Are you?

The Good, the Bad, and the Godly

Notes: The Good, the Bad, and the Godly

March 27, 2014 

Pastor Jeff Lasseigne

Harvest OC 

Tonight's text: 3 John

It has been said that the church wouldn't have any problems if it wasn't for all the people.

3 John 1:1-8 NKJV

[1] The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: [2] Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. [3] For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. [4] I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. [5] Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, [6] who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, [7] because they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. [8] We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

1. The Good

Gaius the diligent- John calls him beloved and in the the truth.

Many are doing well spiritually but very poorly physically. It is better to have this then the opposite.

The spiritual is more important, but physical health is important and should be prayed for.

The word "truth" is used four times in the first four verses. Gaius is describe this way.

He walks in truth and walk in genuine works

James 2:26 NKJV

[26] For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

3 John 1:6 NKJV

[6] who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well,

Gaius operated in a God like manner.

Matthew 10:39-42 NKJV

[39] He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. [40] "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. [41] He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. [42] And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."

2. The Bad

Diotrephes: the Dictator

3 John 1:9-11 NKJV

[9] I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. [10] Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. [11] Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.

In the church we are either part of the problem or part of the progress.

Learning from a bad example:

1. Don't seek to promote yourself.

Don't be the big shot, that makes you struggle with pride.

Mark 10:38 NKJV

[38] But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"

2. Don't resist authority.

You can't get away from it.

Spureon said - A man who will not do well in his present place because he wants to be higher, then his current place is already too high.

3. Don't put others down, to build yourself up.

Winston Churchill - We are masters of the unspoken words but slaves of the ones that we let slip out

4. Don't be vindictive.

Making people guilty by association.

Don't be upset by others success.

Root, pray, help one another. Diotrephes did not do these things.

He was kicking people out of the church for being hospitable. 3 John 1:10 NKJV

[10] Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.

5. Don't get yourself on God's list. Proverbs 6

A list of things from Proverbs that God does not like. Pride, a lying tongue, a heart that devises wicked plans, be swift into running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, he who sells discord among the brethren.

Speaking of Bobby Jones, he would not give up his integrity. Told the story of when he lost the US Open because he gave himself a stroke for touching the ball even though no one saw it.

3 John 1:11 NKJV

[11] Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.

3. The Godly

Demetrius: The Dependable

3 John 1:12 NKJV

[12] Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.

1. Be part of the progress, and not part of the problem.

2. Truth and love must wok together.

3. We share in the rewards of those we help.

4. Always lean on prayer.

5. Use your spiritual gifts.

"True repentance is seldom late, and late repentance is seldom true."

Romans 10:9-10 NKJV

[9] that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Do You Want to Change Your Life?

Notes: Do You Want to Change Your Life?
Harvest 
March 23, 2014 
Pastor Greg
John 5:1-18 / 1 Corinthians 11

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

John 5:1-18 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda,[a] having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.[b] 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” 11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’” 12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” 15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him,[c] because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” 18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 

As Christians, we don’t believe in coincidence; we believe in providence.

Nothing is “luck” it is the Lord’s leading. 

John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”

The Jews wanted to kill Jesus because in that statement He made Himself equal to God.

Jesus reaches out to lonely people all of the time, like the woman at the well and Nicodemus. 

Most people seem to have a very lonely part of their life. We all seem to have a lonely part in our life.

The person in this story, was sitting alone by the water. Hoping to be healed by the local legend that every once in a while an angel would come down above this water and heal people miraculously. In this man’s case, his sin and his illness were connected. That is not always the case, sin and illness are not always linked. 

This man needed help, and God himself came to him. 

John 5:14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” 

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned

 John 5:3  In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.

Romans 5:6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  

Contrary to popular opinion, the Bible does not teach, “God helps those that help themselves.” To sum up the Bible, God helps those who can’t help themselves.

2 Corinthians 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Proverbs 4:19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.

You could be lost, that is when God typically steps in and helps.

There is nothing you can do for a person that does not want to be changed. There are many sinners, drug addicts, alcoholics and others that don’t want to change. You can not help them. Greg compares them to a pig to a pig sty. 

John 3:19-20 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Many are comfortable in the dark, and do not want to live in the light like a Christian does. Evil and sin are more comfortable in the dark so they want to stay there. The light of the gospel is too much for some.

Oswald Chambers said, "Sin enough and you will be unconscious of sin."

John 5:7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”

Jesus says this is not about getting to the pool, it is about getting right with God.

 1. He asks the impossible. (John 5:8  Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”)

If God ask you to do it, then you can do it. God makes any thing possible. (Peter did walk on the water for a time.)

2. He removes all possibility of a relapse.

He told him to pick up his bed, meaning to remove the sin. Burn that bridge to sin. 

Elisha in the Bible, chopped up his clothes and cooked his cattle for a meal. There was no going back, he burned those bridges.

At one of the Harvest Crusade 25 years ago, a drug dealer gave a counselor his pager. That pager is how he did his drug deals and getting rid of it was burning that bridge.

3. He expects continued success.

You have to do your part. 

We don’t work for our salvation, but if you are a Christian you are to live it out.

If you say that you “tried” Christianity, did you do the following 7 things?

1. After you were converted, did you begin to study and memorize Scripture? (Psalm 119:11Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.) 

2. Did you actively and regularly get involved in a church? (Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.)

3. Did you get baptized? (Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.)

 4. Did you turn from all known sin? (Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.)

5. Did you develop a prayer life?

6. Did you deny yourself and take up the cross?

7. Did you keep His commandments? (1 John 2:3-5  Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.)

 If “it” didn’t work it’s your own fault, because we’re not dealing with an “it,” but a Him.

You can not hide from God, you can not pretend you tried. God knows what is in your heart.

Where are you, that is what God asked Adam? God ask where you are, so He knows how to get you to where you want to be.

1 Corinthians 11:23-31For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat;[b] this is My body which is broken[c] for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood[d] of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner[e] eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s[f] body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.

John 5:14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

Although Scripture is clear that illness is not always an immediate result of personal sin, it does teach some sicknesses are directly related to deliberate disobedience. 

There is cause and effect, there are things you can do and then reap the consequences of. 

As David said: Psalm 38:3-8 There is no soundness in my flesh Because of Your anger, Nor any health in my bones Because of my sin. 4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds are foul and festering Because of my foolishness. 6 I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. 7 For my loins are full of inflammation, And there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart.

When you don’t confess your sin, it tears your up in side. David’s conscience was working, is yours?

King for a Day

Notes: King for a Day

Harvest 

March 20, 2014 

Pastor Greg

What makes you mad? People's cell phones drive Greg nuts. People sitting at green lights.

People get IED it is a disease that 10 million people have. It's a disease of anger.

I write letters and don't send them.

Luke 19:37-48 NKJV

[37] Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, [38] saying: " 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" [39] And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." [40] But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out." [41] Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, [42] saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. [43] For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, [44] and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation." [45] Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, [46] saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'" [47] And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, [48] and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him. …

Ephesians 4:26 NKJV

[26] "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

[27] nor give place to the devil.

Jesus himself got angry.

Hebrews 4:15 NKJV

[15] For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Luke 19:11 NKJV

[11] Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

[14] if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

If a nation wants revival and spiritual awakening, it starts with the church.

Jesus did not come as a military, economic, political, or social Savior. He came as a spiritual Savior from sin and death.

The incarnation was for the purpose of the atonement; the birth of Jesus was so there would be the death of Jesus.

Revelation 13:8 NKJV

[8] All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Luke 19:37-44 NKJV

[37] Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, [38] saying: " 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" [39] And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." [40] But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out." [41] Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, [42] saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. [43] For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, [44] and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."

Zechariah 9:9 NKJV

[9] "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

Malachi 3:1 NKJV

[1] "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts.

Luke 19:38 NKJV

[38] saying: " 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

Romans 9:20 NKJV

[20] But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?"

If God didn't meet your expectations then maybe your expectations were just wrong.

A faith that can be lost is no faith at all.

Unbelief and rejection breaks Gods heart. Even of the wicked.

“He saw the city and wept over it.”

(Luke 19:41)

Luke 19:45-48 NKJV

[45] Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, [46] saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'" [47] And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, [48] and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.

This situation angered him. He cleaned out the Temple twice. Jesus did a violent thing when he over turned the table, not violent to others, but in action with the table. It was for illustration,

Mark 11:15 NKJV

[15] So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.

Just as the temple needed to be cleansed a second time, sometimes so do we.

Jesus is also meek. Meekness is not weakness, it is power under restraint.

Isaiah 56:6-7 NKJV

[6] "Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants- Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant- [7] Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."

The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints!

When a church or Christian keeps a person away, that makes Jesus angry.

Are you a stepping stone to Christ or a stumbling stone. Are you a bridge or are you a barrier to Christ?

1 John 1:8-9 NKJV

[8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

You don't need to clean up your life to go to Christ, you need to go to Christ to clean up your life.