NOT ON BREAD ALONE 2016 01 10 Happy

NOT ON BREAD ALONE 2016 -01 -10

Happy New Year!

1. PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD

[1] In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea [2] and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. ” [3] This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. ’” Matthew 3: 1 -6 (NIV)

[4] John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. [5] People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. [6] Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. Matthew 3: 1 -6 (NIV)

Prepare the Way

A) LEVEL, SMOOTHEN, STRAIGHTEN

[4] As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. [5] Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. [6] And all mankind will see God's salvation. ’” Luke 3: 4 -6 (NIV)

They had to come forward themselves

E. g. Hoarders

Is that the state of our spiritual lives?

Repent for the kingdom of God is HERE near

B) RELIGIOUS VS RIGHTEOUS

[7] But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? [8] Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. [9] And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father. ' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. [10] The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 3: 7 -12 (NIV)

Pharisees Sadducees

Pharisees • Around 2 nd century BC • Common people • Torah and the oral tradition • Resurrection & afterlife • Rejected Greek culture • Opposed Roman rule Sadducees 166 -163 BC Aristocracy Only the Torah No resurrection & no afterlife • Accepted Greek culture • Friendly towards Roman rule (political) • •

Pharisees Sadducees • Remove Jewish religion from control of priests • Removed some temple ceremonies & placed them in Jewish home • Proclaimed law of God to the people • Controlled temple & religious affairs of country • Exercised considerable control over the people

Agreement with Jesus Pharisees • Respect for the law • Belief in the resurrection of the dead • Committed to obeying God's will Sadducees • Showed great respect for the five books of Moses • As well as the sanctity of the Temple

Disagreement with Jesus Pharisees Sadducees • Rejected Jesus' claim to be • Denied the resurrection of Messiah the dead • Did not follow all their • Thought the Temple could traditions also be used as a place to transact business • Associated with notoriously “sinful” people

[7] But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Matthew 3: 7 (NIV)

Brood of Vipers

“It is found that when the male and female come together, at the very moment of impregnation, the female seizes the male by the neck, and having once fastened, cannot be brought to leave go till she has bit the neck entirely through. And so the male perishes; but after a while he is revenged upon the female by means of the young, which, while still unborn, gnaw a passage through the womb, and then through the belly of their mother, and so make their entrance into the world. ” Herodotus [5 th century BCE] (History, book 3)

After almost 200 years, they were no closer to God or His word.

[8] Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Matthew 3: 8 (NIV)

In 2016…

…Prepare the Way for the Lord

2. EVERY WORD THAT COMES FROM GOD

[1] Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. [2] After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. [3] The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. ” Matthew 4: 1 -4 (NIV)

[4] Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. ’” Matthew 4: 1 -4 (NIV)

Real Food

Food Today?

Real Food vs Commercialised Food

What happens when you starve spiritually?

Protein Calorie Malnutrition Enlarged liver Loss of muscle mass Leads to weak abdominal muscles Weakened lymphatic system Unable to keep up with the body’s liquid wastes • Wastes accumulate in the abdomen • • •

Every Word that Comes from God!