Our Heavenly Father's Forgiving Heart Luke 15 20-32

Read the passage: Luke 15

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+15&version=ASV

1) A concern not tied to a response.
20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

2) A love that requires no prompting. 20

3) A love greater than sin.
21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

4) Worthiness given for the unworthy. 21

5) He adds His own view of a life.
22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

6) He gives what He deems best. 22

7) He celebrates over restoration of a heart.
23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

8) He values restoration of life.
24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

9) He sees fulfilled purpose for a life. 24

10) He defends and upholds with His favor.
32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. 

The True Measure of Grace Luke 15 12, 20-24

Read the passage: Luke 15

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+15&version=ASV

v.12 1. Allowing one loved the freedom to make wrong choices.
 (...Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.)

v.12-2. Not writing off the transgressor .
  20 (and he divided unto them his living.) (But when he was yet a great way off,)

v.20 3. Awaiting the transgressors returning, holding open the opportunity. 
(But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him,)

v.20 4.Having compassion because of the need sin has caused. 
(and had compassion,)

v.20 5. Loving the transgressor even before his repentant expression. 
( and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.)

v.22, 6. Treating the erring one with royal generosity.
  23(But the father said to his servants, bring forth the best robe, ...)

v.24 7. True rejoicing because of the reconciliation of a wayward life to the Father. 
(For this, my son, was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.) 

When God Makes His Call Psalms 89 19-24

Read the passage: Psalms 89

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalms+89&version=ASV

v.19 1. He chooses one to help become Godly.
(Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have)

v.19 2. He raises up and appoints the leader.
( I have exalted one chosen out of the people.)

v.20 3. He is looking for a servant.
(I have found David my servant; with)

v.20 4. He anoints His leader into special service. 
(with my holy oil have I anointed him:)

v.21 5. He make a commitment to that ministry.
(With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm )

v.21 6. He gives His enduring strength.
 (mine arm also shall strengthen him.)

v.22 7. He appoints bounds of protection over his life.
(The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.)

v.23 8. He defends him.
(And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.)

v.24 9. He extends His faithfulness into his life.
(But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in)

v.24 10.He extends the blessing of His own name. 
(and in my name shall his horn be exalted.) 

The Day of Avenging Esther 8 11-14

Read the passage: Esther 8

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=esther+8&version=ASV

Applying new testament understanding to an old testament story.

1.Evil plots against God's people throughout this age.

v.112.A day is coming when God will gather His own unto Himself.

(gather themselves together)

v.113.God will revoke the license of evil.

(to defend their lives)

God is allowing evil its ruinous work today.

But, God controls everything. Thus, evil will cease when God says.

v.114.God will rend evil powerless.

(all the power of the people and province that would assault them)

v.115.God will bring judgment upon all who oppose Him and His own.

(to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, ...)

v.12,6.The day of avenging is coming to God's people- will be granted by God. 

  13(Upon one day ... and that the Jews should be ready to avenge themselves on their enemies.)

v.147.God will hasten judgment until it is satisfied.

(...being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment.)It will happen.  

God's people will be free from the judgment of sin.

God's people will return with Christ at Armagaddon.

What the Enemy Never Counts On Matthew 2 5-19

Read the passage: Matthew 2

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+2&version=ASV

v.5 1. Though he would hear the truth, he can never prevent the truth.
(And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea for thus it is written by the prophet,) ...

v.7 2. Calculation can never be as exacting as is the God who controls time. 
(Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.)

v.7,3.The enemy has no control over creation, only the creator does. 
  9 (what time the star appeared.)

v.8 4. The enemy knows not what true worship is.
(bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.)

v.10 5. The enemy has no capacity for joy.
(When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.)

v.12 6. The enemy does not have access to God’s private line of communication. 
(And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.)

v.13 7. The enemy has no control over God or God’s servants.
(And when they were departed, behold the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee)

v.13- 8. The enemy has limited influence.
(flee into Egypt,) Herod had no jurisdiction there.

v.15 9. The enemy has no control over his own bounds. 
(and was there until the death of Herod:)

v.15 10. The enemy has no control over the word of God.
(that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.) 

The Coming of Evil 2 Kings 8 10-14

Read the passage: 2 Kings 8

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+kings+8&version=ASV

vs.10 1. God sees the evil which is to come upon His people. 

(Howbeit, the Lord hath showed me that he shall surely die.)
God knows what is going to take place. God knows what evil is planning.
God knows the signs of the times. God knows the time in which man is living.
In today's world environment, God knows precisely man's condition.
God knows what lies ahead for his people.
God knows evil is out to ensnare his people through apostate teachings, through lust, the cares and riches of the world, etc.
God knows the times which lie ahead for His people. God knows of the evil which lies ahead.
God is able to respond to His people regardless of what lies ahead.

v.11 2. God has very great compassion for his people.
(the man of God wept)
God sees what lies ahead for his people and has great compassion for them. God does not want to see his people hurt, but God is very judicious.
God would have desired that His people obey Him so that He would not have had to allow their exile and punishment by foreign powers.
It hurts God to see his people miss out on his abundant provision, to willfully reject his free gift of salvation and His totally redeemed life, free and abundant who choose to resist Him.
God has a very great compassion for His people.

3.  Unregenerate man lacks compassion and understanding. He is unable to see what God sees.

(Hazael said, why weepest ...)
He simply cannot have compassion because he doesn't know Jesus.
Men today typically say, "What is the problem", "It will work out", "We are on
top of the situation", "Just give our plan a little more time", ''we will fix
everything up", etc.
Man develops his plans without compassion simply because he lacks it.
Thus, the plans of man are not and cannot be in the best interests of man's needs.
Evil is not out to protect man's interests or to encourage ~and build up man;
but, to the contrary, to kill and destroy. John 10:10
God alone is compassionate.
When a man is regenerated, then this Godly quality may be shared and comprehended by man and communicated by the Holy Spirit through the spirit of man.

v.12 4. God knows the heart and way of unregenerate man.
(Because I know the evil ...)
Hazael didn't even know his own heart.
Probably throughout history, if evil and cruel man had been asked before their terrible deeds if they would ever commit such atrocities, they would say no. 
Yet man has.

Man can behave very animalistic, very insensitive and calloused, disrespectful of life.
Why? Because that is the way of satan.
God knows what man is capable of.
We are living in a day preceding some terrible atrocities to be placed upon man. God knows man's real heart and the terrible evil man is capable of and of his stubborn cold-bloodedness. God sees today the evil of men's hearts.

v.13 5. Unregenerate man knows not the wickedness of his own heart.
(But what is thy servant, a dog)
Man considers himself decent and respectable, sophisticated, knowledgeable, etc.
Humanistic thinking and teaching says man doesn't need God, that man can figure out himself what is best and manage his own environment.
Man doesn't know how much trouble he has gotten himself into.
When in trouble since he shut God out from the outset, man doesn't know what to do to alleviate his problems.
Thus, he really becomes degenerate and his lower nature of sin rules strongly. Man is ruled by the deceit and wickedness of his own heart.
In the interest of self preservation he will resort to any wicked devices which he can think of.

v.13 6. God allows evil to come on his people.
(The Lord hath shown me)
God knew evil was coming and allowed it.
Scriptural precedence says God allows evil to pass onto a nation which rebels Against God.
God judges that nation.
America had better wake up. God is saying that evil is coming. God will allow it.
The precedent is set in God's word. God will not hold it back.

v.14 7. Unregenerate man is unable to handle the responsibility of distinguishing between good and evil. He follows evil.
(he departed ... he answered ... )
Hazael knew the King was going to die. Yet Hazael wanted to be king.
He could not appear before his master and follow good because his heart was evil.
Men today with evil in their hearts cannot report good and conduct the affairs of responsibility for the good of man.
At their very heart of deceit is a program of design to bring evil and to conquer and rule over man .
satan is the originator of this desire in man. An evil man will become more evil. The evil forces in our world today, if unchecked, will become more evil, destroying anything they can that opposes their evil desires.
They will go as far as God allows them to go. 

The Container of Truth Mark 2 21, 22

Read the passage: mark 2

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+2&version=ASV

vs.21 1) Don't need truth patched in to human experience. 
(No man seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment,)

vs.21 2) The pattern of human experience will tear away the message of truth.
( ... the tear is made worse)
It doesn’t fit together.
Characterized by an attempt to fit Jesus into our way of thinking, or exalting our thinking by equating it with God’s thinking.

vs.22 3) An unsealed vessel cannot hold truth.
( ••• else the new wine doth burst the wineskins) 
Ephesians 1:18
.
v 22 4) A fixed capacity container cannot contain (hold all of) truth.
vs.22 (old wineskins)
A believer is a new wineskin.
A believer can pour truth into fleshly concepts, mix with ideas of world, vanities of mind, legalism, cultural methods, and so on, but it doesn’t mix with truth. Truth rejects all error.

vs.22 5) Truth not held is truth lost to that vessel. 
(the wine is spilled.)

vs.22 6) Absence of truth results in a marred vessel. 
(the wineskins will be marred;)

vs.22 7) Truth's integrity will not be changed by the change in the vessel(s). 
(new wine) 

The Characteristic of Spiritual Dumbness Luke 1 20

Read the passage: Luke 1

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+1&version=ASV

(And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.)

1. Getting weary or giving up on spiritual hope. v.1...
   (for thy prayer is heard; )
   
   
2. Failing to attribute integrity to God’s revealed truth.
   v.14,15 ( And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and ...)
   
   
3. Not being sensitive to God’s greater purposes and plan.
   v. 16- (And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.)
   
   
4. Hearing God, but not hearing God.
   
   
5. Not relating Biblically revealed truth to the message of need of God’s people.
   v.17- (And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.)
   
   
6. Relying upon human (natural) evidences.
   v.18- (And Zechariah said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.)
   
   
7. Resisting God’s sent messenger who bears the truth of God.
   v.19-(And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show)
   
   
8. Failing to allow a joyful heart.
   v. 19-(and to show thee these glad tidings.)
   
   
9. Having to have sight to walk by.
   v.20- (and, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed,)
   
   
10. Failing to acknowledge God’s seasons. - a season of faith, of hope, of waiting, of trusting, of ministry, of fulfillment, of testimony.