56.2 You Are The Light Of The World

(Matthew 5:14-16)

"You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead he puts it on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house.  In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.

56.1 Jesus Is The Light Of The World

(John 1:1-12)

Before the world was created, the Word already existed; he was with God, and he was the same as God.  From very beginning the Word was with God.  Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him.  The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness had never put it out.

God sent his messenger, a man named John, who came to tell people about the light, so that all should hear the message and believe. .He himself was not the light; he came to tell about the light.  This was the real light-- the light that comes into the world and shines on all mankind.

The Word was in the world, and through God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him.  He came into his own country, but his own people did not receive him.  Some, however, did not received him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God's children.

55.4 All Will Be Included In The New Jerusalem

(Psalm 87)

The Lord built his city on the sacred hill;
more than any other place in Israel
he loves the city of Jerusalem.
Listen, city of God, to the wonderful
things he says about you.:

"I will include Egypt and Babylonia
when I list the nations that obey me;
the people of Philistia, Tyre, and Sudan
I will number among the inhabitants of Jerusalem."

Of Zion it will be said that all nations belong there
and that the Almighty will make her strong.
The Lord will write a list of the peoples
and include them all as citizens of Jerusalem.
They dance and sing.
"In Zion is the source of all our blessings."

55.3 The Fulfillment of What Exists: Everything is Restored Under Christ's Leadership

(Ephesians 1:7-10)

For by the death of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven.  How great is the grace of God, which he gave to us in such large measure!

In all his wisdom and insight God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head.

55.2 It Is Like A Wedding Feast

(Matthew 22:1-14)

Jesus again used parables in talking to the people,, "The Kingdom of heaven is like this.  Once there was a king who prepared a  wedding feast for his son. He sent his servants to tell the invited guests to come to the feast, but they did not want to come.  So he sent other servants with this message for the guests: "My feast is ready now; my steers and prize calves have been butchered, and everything is ready.  Come to the wedding feast! But the invited guests paid no attention and went about their business: one went to his farm, another to his store, while others grabbed the servants, beat them, and killed them.  The king was very angry; so he sent his soldiers, who killed those murderers and burned down their city.  Then he called his servants and said to them, "My wedding feast is ready, but the people I invited did not deserve it. Now go to the main streets and invite to the feast as many people as you find.' So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, good and bad alike; and the wedding hall was filled with people.

The king went it to look at the guests and saw a man who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes? the king asked him. But the man said nothing.  Then the king told the servants, 'Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him outside in the dark. There he will cry and gnash his teeth.'"

And Jesus concluded, "Many are invited, but few are chosen."

55.1 It Is A Hidden Treasure Or A Pearl For Which We Sell Everything

(Matthew 13:44-46)

"The Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man happens to find a treasure hidden in a field.  He covers it up again, and is so happy that he goes and sells everything he has, and then goes back and buys that field."

"Also, the Kingdom of heaven is like this.  A man is looking for fine pearls, and when he finds one that is unusually fine, he goes and sells everything he has, and buys that pearl."

54.5 The Kingdom Of The Messiah

(Psalm 72)

Teach the king to judge with your righteousness, O God;
share with him your own justice, so that he will rule over your people with justice and govern the oppressed with righteousness.
May the land enjoy prosperity; may it experience righteousness.
May the king judge the poor fairly; may he help the needy and defeat their oppressors.
May your people worship you as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon gives light, for ages to come.

May the king be like rain on the fields, like showers falling on the land.
May righteousness flourish in his lifetime, and may prosperity last as long as the moon gives light.

His kingdom will reach from sea to sea, from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.
The peoples of the desert will bow down before him; his enemies will throw themselves to the ground.
The kings of Spain and of the islands will offer him gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Ethiopia will bring him offerings.
All kings will bow down before him; all nations will serve him.

He rescues the poor who call to him, and those who are needy and neglected.
He has pity on the weak and poor; he saves the lives of those in need.
He rescues them from oppression and violence; their lives are precious to him.

Long live the king!
May he be given gold from Arabia; may prayers be said for him at all times;
may God's blessings be on him always!
May there be plenty of grain in the land; may the hills be covered with crops, as fruitful as those of Lebanon.
May the cities be filled with people, like fields full of grass.
May the king's name never be forgotten; may his fame last as long as the sun.
May all nations ask God to bless them as he has blessed the king.

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel!
He alone does these wonderful things.
Praise his glorious name forever!
May his glory fill the whole world.

Amen! Amen!

54.4 The Kingdom Is Not Of This World; It is For Those Who Are Committed To Truth

(John 18:33-37)

  Pilate went back into the palace and called Jesus. "Are you the king of  the Jews?" he asked him.

  Jesus Answered, "Does this question come from you or have others told you about me?"

  Pilate replied. "Do you think I am a Jew? It was your own people and the chief priests who handed you over to me.  What have you done?"

   Jesus said, "My kingdom does not belong to this world; if my kingdom belonged to this world , my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. No, my kingdom does not belong here!"

   So Pilate asked him, "Are you a king, then?"

   Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. I was born and came into the world for this one purpose, to speak about truth.  Whoever belongs to the truth listens to me." 

54.3 The Kingdom Is For Those Who Are Ready

(Matthew 25:1-13)

"At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like this, Once there were ten girls who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish, and the other five were wise.  The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any extra oil with them, while the wise ones took container full of oil for their lamps.  The bridegroom was late in coming, so the girls began to nod and fall asleep.

It was already midnight when the cry rang out, "Here is the bridegroom! Come and meet him!" The ten girls woke up and trimmed their lamps. Then the foolish ones said to the wise ones, 'Let us have some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.' 'No, indeed,' the wise ones answered, 'there is not enough for you and for us. Go to the store and buy some for yourselves.' So the foolish girls went off to buy some oil' and while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived.  The five girls who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was closed."

"Later the other girls arrived. 'Sir, sir! Let us in!' they cried out. 'Certainly not! I don't know you,' the bridegroom answered."

And Jesus concluded, "Watch out, then, because you do not know the day or the hour."

54.2 For People Who Are Humble As Children

(Matthew 18:1-3)

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, asking, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"

So Jesus called a child, had him stand in front of them, and said, "I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven."

54.1 It Is As A Mustard Seed And Yeast: It Grows: The Whole World Will Be Filled With The Spirit of God

(Matthew 13:31-33)

Jesus told them another parable:  "The Kingdom of heaven is like this.  A man takes a mustard seed and sows it in his field.  It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it grows up, it is the biggest of all plants.  It becomes a tree, so that birds come and make their nests in its branches."

Jesus told them still another parable: "The Kingdom of heaven is like this.  A woman takes some yeast and mixes it with a bushel of flour until the whole batch of dough rises."

53.4 Lord, You Know Everything, Guide Me

(Psalm 139)

Lord, you have examined me and you know me.
You know everything I do; from far away you understand all my thoughts.
You see me, whether I am working or resting; you know all my actions.
Even before I speak, you already know what I will say.
You are all around me on every side; you protect me with your power.
Your knowledge of me is too deep; it is beyond my understanding.

Where could I go to escape from you?
Where could I get away from your presence?
If I went up to heaven, you would be there; if I lay down in the world of the dead, you would be there.
If I flew away beyond the east or live in farthest place in the west, you would be there to lead me, you would be there to help me.

I could ask the darkness to hide me or the light around me to turn into night, but even darkness is not dark for you, and the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.

You created every part of me; you put me together you are to be feared; all you do is strange and wonderful.
I know it with all my heart.
When my bones were being formed, carefully put together in my mother’s womb, when I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there—you saw me before I was born.
The days allotted to me had all been recorded in your book, before any of them ever began.
O God, how difficult I find your thoughts; how many of them there are!
If I counted them, they would be more than the grains of sand.
When I awake, I am still with you.

O God, how I wish you would kill the wicked!
How I wish violent men would leave me alone!
They say wicked things about you; they speak evil things against your name.
O Lord, how I hate those who rebel against you!
I hate them with a total hatred; I regard them as my enemies.

Examine me, O God, and know my mind; test me, and discover my thoughts.
Find out if there is any evil in me and guide me in the everlasting way.

53.3 Judgment Of The Wicked

(Ezekiel 9:1-6)

Then I heard God shout, “Come here, you men who are going to punish the city. Bring your weapons with you.” A once six men came from the outer north gate of the Temple, each one carrying a weapon. With them was a man dressed in linen clothes, carrying something to write with. They all came and stood by the bronze altar.

Then the dazzling light of the presence of the God of Israel rose up from the winged creatures where it had been, and moved to the entrance of the Temple. The Lord called to the man dressed in linen, “Go through the whole city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the forehead of everyone who is distressed and troubled because of all the disgusting things being done in the city.”

And I heard God say to the other men, “Follow him through the city and kill. Spare no one; have mercy on no one. Kill the old men, young men, young women, mothers, and children. But don’t touch anyone who has the mark on his forehead. Start here at my Temple.” So they began with the leaders who were standing there at the Temple.