Impact Church London

Matthew 8:2-3

“And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

Mark 6:56 

“Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.” 

 “Hem” (kraspedon) :— edge, skirt, margin, a tassel, tuft: the Jews had such appendages attached to their mantles to remind them of the law

Malachi 4:2  (NLT)

“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.”

Overcoming The Primary Obstacle To Healing

Isaiah 53:5

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”

Mathew 8:16-17

“When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:‘He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.’”

1 Peter 2:24  (NLT)

“He personally carried our sins

in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.”

1 Peter 2:24 (AMP)

“He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross [willingly offering Himself on it, as on an altar of sacrifice], so that we might die to sin [becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin] and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you [who believe] have been healed.”

Romans 5:17-18

“For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.”

Romans 5:20-21

“Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

“Abound”:— (pleonazō) to abound, to increase in quantity.

“Abound Much More”(hyperperisseuō) :— to abound beyond measure, abound exceedingly to overflow, to enjoy abundantly.

Romans 6:1-11

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

For he who has died has been freed from sin. (Noun – Condition) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. 

Death no longer has dominion over Him.  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:14

“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

Dead to sin. No Obligations. 

Free from guilt, shame and condemnation!

2 Corinthians 3:6-11

“God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 

But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away,  how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?

For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.”

Matthew 9:5-6

“For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins—then He said to the paralytic, ‘Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’”

John 8:10-11

“When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’”

Psalm 32:3-5 (Message)

“When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder, my words became daylong groans. The pressure never let up; all the juices of my life dried up.

Then I let it all out; I said, ‘I’ll come clean about my failures to God.’ Suddenly the pressure was gone—  my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared.”

John 3:17

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Sermon: Healing Settled Once And For All.    By D. Karl Thomas

God is willing to heal ALL THE TIME. It is always His will that healing be manifest. Why would He purchase the right to manifest something on our behalf and then withhold it from us? 

There are NO deficiencies on His part, in compassion, in promise or in performance. 

We must settle this issue on our part for there is no lack in Him.

Mark 6:56 

“Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.” 

Mark 5:25-34

“When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.  For she said, ‘If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.’”

     She Heard.    She Said.     She Came.     She Touched.      She Was Healed. 

Malachi 4:2  (NLT)

“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.”

Psalm 78:40-42 

“Yes, again and again they tempted (Provoked) God, And limited the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember His power: The day when He redeemed them from the enemy,…”

Judges 2:10 

“After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.”

Acts 4:29-30 

“Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

Now they knew Jesus was in heaven so what they were asking for was that God would use them, the body of Christ, to manifest His healing touch. Let our hands be your hand extended and continue healing this broken, sick world.

Acts 5:12 

“And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people;…”  

Clearly their prayer was answered as we can see in the following verse: Acts 5:16 “Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.”

It wasn’t just the apostles. Philip, one of the first Deacons went out and had a signs and wonders revival.

Acts 8: 6 “And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.”

A disciple named Ananias was active in the supernatural. — Conversing with the Lord and obediently releasing the miraculous. 

Acts 9:17-18 

So Ananias left and went into the house. And he laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you along the way by which you came here, has sent me that you may …

… recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And instantly something like scales fell from [Saul’s] eyes, and he recovered his sight. Then he arose and was baptized,…”

Acts 9:17-18 

The Apostle Paul always ministered in the power of signs and wonders. He considered the full presentation of the Good News of Christ is not without the miraculous.

Acts 14:3 

“Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”

Romans 15:18-19 

“Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them. …

They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.”

1 Corinthians 4:20 

“For the kingdom of God is not in word (logus) but in power (dunamis).”

Jesus said if there is not the evidence of the miraculous don’t listen to the message.

John 10:37-38 (NLT) 

“Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”

John 15:24 (NLT) 

“If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father.”

John 20:30-31  

“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

The early church insisted on the miraculous. 

The Apostle Paul insisted on the miraculous. 

Jesus insisted on the miraculous. 

What about us?

If the early church, that was living in the shadow of the resurrection of Christ, needed authenticating miracle then we need to command then to manifest in our day!!! 

Healing Made Simple — D. Karl Thomas

Leviticus 13:45-46  “Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his mustache, and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ … He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.”

Pictures: Leprosy and Jesus healing a Leper

Matthew 8:2-3 “And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

 “The Power Of Touch” (Psychology Today) Rick Chillot March 11, 2013

Touch is the first sense we acquire and the secret weapon in many a successful relationship.

If you’re close enough to touch, it’s often the easiest way to signal something, … We feel more connected to someone if they touch us…”

University of Miami School of Medicine’s Tiffany Field, director of the Touch Research Institute, has linked touch, in the form of massage, to a slew of benefits, including better sleep, reduced irritability, and increased sociability among infants—as well as improved growth of preemies.

Mark 6:56  “Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.” 

 “Hem” (kraspedon) :— edge, skirt, margin, a tassel, tuft: the Jews had such appendages attached to their mantles to remind them of the law

Picture of Tzitzit

Numbers 15:37-41 (NLT) “Then the Lord said to Moses,  ‘Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord.

When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do. 

The tassels will help you remember that you must obey all my commands and be holy to your God.  I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt that I might be your God. I am the Lord your God!’”

Tzitzit:—  Tassel,Each tassel has 8 threads and 5 sets of knots, totaling 13. The sum of all numbers is 613. (Commandments) Type of blue dye (Heaven Throne) as physical reminder that the people belonged to God.

John 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

5:— Grace.   8:— New Beginning 

2 Corinthians 5:17 “…behold, all things have become new.”

Mark 5:25-34 “Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,  and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.

When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.  For she said, ‘If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.’

Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”

But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

      She Heard

      She Said

      She Came

      She Touched 

      She Was Healed 

Acts 5:12-16 “And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people … bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.”

Acts 19:11 “Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,…” 

Mark 16:17-18  “These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: … They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” 

TOUCH

More recent studies have found that seemingly insignificant touches yield bigger tips for waitresses, that people shop and buy more if they’re touched by a store greeter, and that strangers are more likely to help someone if a touch accompanies the request. Call it the human touch, a brief reminder that we are, at our core, social animals. “Lots of times in these studies people don’t even remember being touched. They just feel there’s a connection, they feel that they like that person more,” 

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign psychologist Michael Kraus tracked physical contact between teammates during NBA games. The study revealed that the more on-court touching there was early in the season, the more successful teams and individuals were by season’s end. The effect of touch was independent of salary or performance, eliminating the possibility that players touch more if they’re more skilled or better compensated.

“We were very surprised. Touch predicted performance across all the NBA teams,” says Kraus. “Basketball players sometimes don’t have time to say an encouraging word to a teammate; instead, they developed this incredible repertoire of touch to communicate quickly and accurately,” he explains, adding that touch can likely improve performance across any cooperative context. “touch strengthens relationships and is a marker of closeness,” he says. “It increases cooperation but is also an indicator of how strong bonds are between people.”

If a post-rebound slap on the back or the brush of a hand while delivering a bill can help us all get along a bit better, it may be because “when you stimulate the pressure receptors in the skin, you lower stress hormones,” says the Touch Research Institute’s Field. At the same time, warm touch stimulates release of the “cuddle hormone,” oxytocin, which enhances a sense of trust and attachment.

The release also helps explain our propensity for self-caressing, which we do hundreds of times each day as a calming mechanism. “We do a lot of self-touching: flipping our hair, hugging ourselves,” Field notes. Other common behaviors include massaging our foreheads, rubbing our hands, or stroking our necks. Evidence supports the idea that it’s effective: Self-massage has been shown to slow the heart rate and lower the level of the stress hormone cortisol.

Series “#OOTD” – Sermon #5  “Divine Peace” 

Ephesians 6:10-13 (TPT) “Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you.”

Watchman Nee (Sit Walk Stand) “For our part, we need not struggle to occupy ground that is already ours. In Christ we are conquerors, nay, “more than conquerors” (Rom. 8: 37). In Him, therefore, we stand. Thus, today we do not fight for victory; we fight from victory. We do not fight in order to win, but because in Christ we have already won. Overcomers are those who rest in the victory already given to them by their God. When you fight to get the victory, then you have lost the battle at the very outset.”

Ephesians 6:14 (TPT) “Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph.,…” 

(AMP)  “So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist …”

Belt Of Truth

Victory or defeat is determined by the loins. Strength is in the loins.

The roman soldier kept his money, his sword, his writing instruments, and his garments tucked in his belt.  A person not established in truth will be poor, defenseless, misunderstood, and unkempt.

If you don’t fix yourself in truth you pervert all other instruments of war.

Truth is the first piece of armour. 

Truth is the central piece of armour.

Not the accumulation of information but foundational sincerity of heart.

Breastplate Of Righteousness

2 Corinthians 5:21 (AMP) “He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].”

Romans 5:17 “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”

Shoes Of Peace

Battle boots were a high priority.  So much so that they budgeted the same amount of money for their boots as they did their swords.  They must be strong and durable.  They must give great protection.  They must give stability and balance.

Romans 16:20 “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.” 

Ephesians 6:15 “…shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.”

Ephesians 6:15 (NLT) “For shoes, (having NKJV) put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.”

Psalm 85:10 “…righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” 

Isaiah 32:17 “…the effect of righteousness will be peace [internal and external], and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever.” 

Righteousness – peace are connected. 

No peace check your righteousness.

Mark 4:39 “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”

Luke 24:36 “Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you.’”

Definition Peace:

Hebrew “shalom” :– completeness, soundness, health, prosperity, security, welfare, peace. 

Greek “eirene” :– harmony, concord security, safety, prosperity, felicity, a peace and harmony that makes and keeps things safe and prosperous.

Results Of Standing Firm In Peace

1. Peace With God. 2. Peace Of God. 3. Peace In God. 4. Peace For God

1. Peace With God

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,…”

A Spiritual experience. 

Reconciled with God. God is for you. Not His enemy … loved embraced accepted.

Colossians 1:20  “…reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” 

2. Peace Of God 

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” 

A Physiological Experience 

Peace established on the inside.  He makes the call on your emotions.

Philippians 4:7  “…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23  “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

3. Peace In God 

Psalm 34:14 (Living Bible) “Try to live in peace with everyone; work hard at it.” 

Ephesians 4:3 “…endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” 

A Relational Experience 

Maintaining clear open relationships.

Romans 12:18 “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

4. Peace For God 

Romans 10:15 “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 

A Cosmological Experience 

Peace established in the cosmos. Manifesting His Kingdom.

Matthew 5:9  “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”

“Peace is not the absence of conflict it is the presence of justice.” Harrison Ford — (Airforce One)

We must bring peace to the deceived, sick, poor, broken, and the lost. 

2 Corinthians 5:20  “…we are ambassadors for Christ, …God were pleading through us: we implore you … be reconciled to God.”

Series “#OOTD” – Sermon #3  “Divine Truth” 

Ephesians 6:10-13 (TPT) “Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you.

Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies (wiles KJV) of the accuser! Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings,

but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage.

Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides so you’re protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious. (Stand NKJV).”    Prophetic Outcome

People who base there relationship with God on their performance are only as free and satisfied as they are able to sustain their performance. 

Those who choose to be clothed by God are completely satisfied and free because of His performance.

Sunday Prayer West Point: Make us choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be contented with half truth when the whole truth can be won. Endow us with courage that is born of loyalty to all that is noble and worthy, that scorns to compromise with vice and injustice and knows no fear when right and truth are in jeopardy.

Ephesians 6:14 (TPT) “Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph.,…” 

(AMP)  “So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist …”

Acts 28:16 “Now when we came to Rome, … but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.”

God prepared a winning strategy and provided effective armour.

****** Picture Of Roman Soldier Belt *************

Victory or defeat is determined by the loins. Strength is in the loins.

The roman soldier kept his money, his sword, his writing instruments, and his garments tucked in his belt. 

A person not established in truth will be poor, defenseless, misunderstood, and unkempt.

Deuteronomy 33:11  “Strike the loins of those who rise against him, And of those who hate him, that they rise not again.”

1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind,…”

If you don’t fix yourself in truth you pervert all other instruments of war.

Truth is the first piece of armour.  Truth is the central piece of armour.

Not the accumulation of information but foundational sincerity of heart.

Victory or defeat is determined by the loins. Strength is in the loins.

The roman soldier kept his money, his sword, his writing instruments, and his garments tucked in his belt. 

A person not established in truth will be poor, defenseless, misunderstood, and unkempt.

2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Notice the different tense:

First three pieces of armour:  “having girded your waist with truth,”(NKJV)

Second three pieces of armour:  “Taking up”

The first three are armour that you establish yourself in continually.

John 18:37-38 (AMP) “This is why I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the Truth. Everyone who is of the Truth [who is a friend of the Truth, who belongs to the Truth] hears and listens to My voice. Pilate said to Him, What is Truth?”

Abraham Lincoln on Truth: “How many legs would a sheep have if you called its tail a leg?” They quickly answered, “Five!” The President then said, “No, it would only have four legs. Calling a tail a leg doesn’t make it one.”

George Barna in “Virtual America” “72% of Americans agree, There is no such thing as absolute truth; two people could define truth in totally conflicting ways, but both could still be correct.” (pp.83, 283) “71% …there are no absolute standards that apply to everybody in all situations.” (pp. 85, 230)

Barna also discovered that 53% of those who claim there is no such thing as absolute truth identify themselves as born-again Christians (p. 83).

42% of those who identify themselves as evangelical Christians agree that there is no such thing as absolute truth (p. 83).

“Unfortunately, correcting people’s mistaken assumptions about Bible content is made nearly impossible by their self- assurance about their beliefs. Even if they are exposed to good Bible teaching they typically fail to absorb that input because they think they already know it all.” George Barna

The History Of Truth: 

1. Pre-modernism:– Authorities and tradition establishes truth. 

2.  Modernism:– Only what can be scientifically proven is truth.

3.  Post-modernism:– Every man for himself is truth.

Truth :– (alethia) the unvieled reality at the basis of and agreeing with the appearance; the manifested and veritable essence of matter.

Truth:— An objective standard by which reality is measured. Fidelity to an original or standard. Truth is that which conforms to reality.

What is reality?  What is the objective standard?

“To ascend towards God is to walk into a furnace of truth where falsehood is extracted from our souls. … Each ascending step upon the hill of God is a thrusting of our souls into greater transparency, a more perfect view into the motives of our hearts.” Frances Frangipane

LONDON … TIME BIG BEN … IF YOU DON”T MATCH BIG BEN YOU CHANGE.

Atomic Cock (NIST) in Boulder, Colorado, serves as the United States primary time and frequency standard. So accurate that it would neither gain nor lose a second in over 30 million years.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “… we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,…”

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”

John 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

1 Timothy 3:15 “…in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

John 16:13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”

John 8:31-32 “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

1. Truth Is Personal       Jesus

2. Truth is Knowable     Revelation

3. Truth is Powerful.      Freedom

Charles Lindburgh “Spiritual truth is more important to a nation than the mortar in it’s cities walls. For when the actions of a people are undergirded by spiritual truths there is safety.”

China was overrun when a gatekeeper accepted a bribe. 

Walls only keep out your friends.

Luke 24:45, 49 “Then He [thoroughly] opened up their minds to understand the Scriptures, …

And behold, I will send forth upon you what My Father has promised; but remain in the city [Jerusalem] until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Series “#OOTD” – Sermon #2   “Divine Apparel” 

Ephesians 6:10-12 (TPT) “Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you.

Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies (wiles KJV) of the accuser! Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings,

but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage.”

Isaiah 59:17 “He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.”

The essence of all spiritual warfare is to embrace your UNION with Christ Jesus!   Armour of light Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

Wiles:— methodeia (meth-od-i’-ah) two words; Journey and With, to follow up or investigate by method and settled plan;  to follow craftily, frame devices, deceive.

1 John 3:8 “The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done].”

I thought the devil was defeated.  Why do I have to engage the enemy?

Colossians .2:15  “…he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” 

Hebrews 2:14 “…he might destroy him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil”

The New Testament also says:

Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be angry, and do not sin : do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil”

2 Corinthians 2:11 “… lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

1 John 5:18 (TPT) “We are convinced that everyone fathered by God does not make sinning a way of life, because the Son of God protects the child of God, and the Evil One cannot touch him.“

Mark16:15-17  “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons;”

Luke 24:48-49 (NASB) “You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Genesis 3:10-11 “‘Where are you?’ So he said, ‘I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.’… who told you…”

F  ear  — I don’t trust you.    I   gnorance — I don’t know you.   G uilt — I’m no good.  

SIN DID THIS NOT GOD!

Eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil brought sin and death into the world.

A culture of judging, condemning and comparison.  SELF GOVERNING

Love alway honours and brings value to a person.

Guilt — is connected to behaviour.    Shame — is linked to identity.

I behaved a certain way therefore I am a bad person. I am broken and devalued.

Brought dishonour on myself. Every person wants to be valued!   Honoured!!!

Where the concept of honour has been corrupted shame begins to dominate.

Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;”

2 Types Of Honour:

1. Achieved Honour — Based on my ability to perform at a certain level.

2. Ascribed Honour — ascribe righteousness, to someone by virtue of a similar quality in another.

Christ’s righteousness ascribed to us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

God dealt with the sin problem, once and for all, so that we could have His righteousness.  Ascribed Glory

John 8:1-11 “When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’”

Luke 19:1-10 “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house. … Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

John 4 “For you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; … went her way into the city, and said to the men, ‘Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?’ Then they went out of the city and came to Him.”

Biblical Honour is ASCRIBED.

Psalm 62:7 “In God is my salvation and my glory;”  kaw-bode’:— glory, honour, dignity, reputation.

Isaiah 55:5 “Because of the Lord your God, … For He has glorified you.”

Psalm 3:3  “But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.”

John 17:22 “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:”

Romans 8:30 “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”

John 5:44 “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” The religious people wanted to kill Jesus because he changed all the rules.  

John 1:29 “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Genesis 3:21 “Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.”  Blood was shed!

Hebrews 9:7 “…not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins

People who base there relationship with God on there performance are only as free and satisfied as they are able to sustain their performance. 

Those who choose to be clothed by God are completely satisfied and free because of His performance.

Series “#OOTD” – Sermon #1  “Proper Alignment” 

Ephesians 6:10-12 (TPT) “Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you.

Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies (wiles KJV) of the accuser! Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings,

but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage.”

The essence of all spiritual warfare is to embrace your UNION with Christ Jesus!

Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

Wiles:— methodeia (meth-od-i’-ah) two words; Journey and With, to follow up or investigate by method and settled plan;  to follow craftily, frame devices, deceive.

I thought the devil was defeated.  Why do I have to engage the enemy?

Colossians .2:15  “…he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” 

Hebrews 2:14 “…he might destroy him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil”

1 John 3:8 “The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done].”

The New Testament also says:

Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be angry, and do not sin : do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil”

2 Corinthians 2:11 “… lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

John 17:15  “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” 

1 Peter 5:8 “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 

Why do we have this battle?   Why did God allow the influence of evil after the cross?

Judges 3:2 “It was only that the generations of the Israelites might know and be taught war, at least those who previously knew nothing of it.”   

The Kingdom of God is eternal but DOMINION is generational.

Acts 13:36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep,…”

Psalm 115:16 “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men.”

John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, … because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

Genesis 3:4 “Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’”

Satan’s challenge to Adam and Eve was, don’t you want to be like God.

The fruit of self was introduced to mankind. INDEPENDENCE 

We have the ability to now determine what is right and wrong. We will self govern!

Ezekiel 28:17 (NLT) “Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty. Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor. So I threw you to the ground and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings.”

Don’t trust God. Be your own boss.

Pride in your appearance

Pride in your own understanding knowledge

Pride in your own giftedness

Pride in your experience, in life or in God

Pride in your rights you have offended me.

James 4:6-7  (AMP) But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it). So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.”

1 Corinthians 15:10 (TPT) “But God’s amazing grace has made me who I am! And his grace to me was not fruitless. In fact, I worked harder than all the rest, yet not in my own strength but God’s, for his empowering grace is poured out upon me. “

“Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”       C.S. Lewis

Matthew 16:17-19 “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

RESTORED TO REIGN!!!

Matthew 22:11-12 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.” 

2 Kings 2:12-13 “And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.”

John 14:30-31 (AMPC) “… for the prince (evil genius, ruler) of the world is coming. And he has no claim on Me. [He has nothing in common with Me; there is nothing in Me that belongs to him, and he has no power over Me.]

But [Satan is coming and] I do as the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know (be convinced) that I love the Father and that I do only what the Father has instructed Me to do. [I act in full agreement with His orders.] Rise, let us go away from here.”

The choice remains for every person: Who do I trust? Who is in CONTROL?

He wants you to live your life with Him as your source, partnering under an open heaven.

JOKE:     Speaking dog.

A man tried to sell his neighbor a new dog. “This is a talking dog,” he said, “and you can have him for five dollars.”

The neighbor said, “Who do you think you’re kidding with this talking dog stuff? There’s no such animal.”

Suddenly the dog looked up with tears in his eyes. “Please buy me, Sir,” he pleaded. “This man is cruel. He never buys me a meal, never bathes me, never takes me for a walk. And I used to be the richest trick dog in America. I performed before kings. I was in the army and was decorated ten times.”

“Hey!” said the neighbor. “He can talk. Why do you want to sell him for just five dollars?”

“Because,” said the seller, “I’m getting tired of all his lies.”

Series: “DNA Of Christmas” — Sermon #3 “Engaging The Impossible”

Christmas / The Incarnation — God becomes one with His creation. Jesus:— God Saves

It gets so noisy. We can allow the precious to become common and familiar.

Matthew 1:1, 5-6, 16  “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, … Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar…  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab,. … Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.”

Jesus Family Tree: Christmas Table

A girl involved in incest.

A hooker who ran a brothel.

A pagan idol worshipper.

An adulteress who’s boyfriend killed her husband.

A teen girl pregnant and unmarried. 

Luke 1:26-38 “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.  And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!’

But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.  Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.’ Then Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?’

And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; 

and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.’ Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.

Luke 1:44-45 “For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

1. Miraculous Announcement

“For with God nothing (Rhema) will be impossible.”

No word from God is without power.

There is nothing to hard for God Nothing is to hard for YOU.

Mark 9:23 “Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’” 

2. Miraculous Assignment

“…the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Matthew 1:21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”   Reconcile mankind to the Father.

Romans 8:18 “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.”

Colossians 1:27  “Christ in you the hope of Glory.”

Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

3. Miraculous Acceptance 

“Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”

I surrender everything to you!   Hopes / Dreams / Reputation / Future

Acts 1:14 “These all continued with one accord … and Mary the mother of Jesus,…”

Mary carried the the anointed one to full term … birth and nurtured. 

Now she says yes to carrying the Anointed One again.

Acts 2:3-4  “Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

At Christmas the volume gets turned up! 

Jesus met the pain head on!

God wants to do the impossible through you! 

Mark 16:20  (NLT)  “And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.”

Series: “DNA Of Christmas” — Sermon #2 “From The Brothel To The Throne”

Many approach the bible looking for moral examples. How to be a good person.

The point of the bible is to be a mirror to show us the human condition.

From cover to cover the bible points to our need for a saviour.

The Scriptures ultimately bear witness to Christ, and Christ perfectly bears witness to God. While we are searching the Bible to find out what God is like, the Bible is all the while resolutely pointing us to Jesus.   Brian Zahnd

Matthew 1:1, 5-6, 16 “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, …,…  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, … and Jesse begot David the king. … Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.”

Jesus Family Tree: Christmas Table

A girl involved in incest.  A hooker who ran a brothel.   A pagan idol worshipper.

An adulteress who’s boyfriend killed her husband.   A teen girl pregnant and unmarried. 

Rahab:  A Canaanite — wicked people    A Woman — few social rights  A Prostitute — sold herself     A notorious sinner, in great fear of judgement, believes in the Greatness of God, and pleads mercy.

Joshua 2:1,9 “‘Go, view the land, especially Jericho.’ So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there…. ‘ ‘know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us,…’”

Joshua 2:12-13  “Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”

Joshua 2:18 “…when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home.”

Joshua 2:21   “Then she said, ‘According to your words, so be it.’ … And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.”

Joshua 6:23   “And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel.”

1. She acknowledged her need    “deliver our lives from death.” 

2. She exercised faith  “she bound the scarlet cord…” 

3. She experience redemption  “…went in and brought out Rahab…”

Hebrews 11:31   “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.” 

Matthew 9:9 “As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ So he arose and followed Him.”

Matthew knew the power of GRACE!

Revelation 12:10-11 “…who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

Accuser (Katagereao} :— to accuse before a judge, to charge with some offence. 

English word category come from this word. To Label. 

The devil tries to label you as broken and worthless

The blood will speak by the power of the Spirit to every circumstance in your life!!!

You apply the blood by testifying with your mouth. 

The blood will break every label and position you for constant victory!

Ephesians 1:7  “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

Hebrews 10:12, 14  (MSG) “As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. … By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process.”

“Scripture teaches … that life lies in the blood. Blood, therefore , is the mysterious link between matter and spirit. …certain it is that this is the mysterious link which unite these apparently dissimilar things together, so that the soul can inhabit the body, and the life can rest in the blood”  

C.H. Spurgeon

Revelation 1:5-6 {AMP}   “To Him Who ever loves us and has once [for all] loosed and freed us from our sins by His own blood, And formed us into a kingdom (a royal race), priests to His God and Father.” 

Revelation 5:9-10 “For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

1 Peter 1:9-10 (NLT). “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life (labels) you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.”

1 Peter 2:24 (NLT) “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.”

“Jesus was cursed on the tree in our place and bore our sin in His own body. He did not bear our sin in His blood. It was just as holy on the cross as it ever was. As He offered the sin sacrifice to God, He was covered with pure, innocent, justifying, redeeming, sanctifying blood so that He was able to dismiss His spirit to His Father at death.”  David Alsobrook

Matthew 1:21  “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus came for Judah and for Tamar.  Jesus came for Rahab

Series: “DNA Of Christmas” — Sermon #1 “The Good The Bad And The Ugly”

John Stott   “We often come to the Bible looking for some wonderful (i.e. nice things) but often God wants to show us disturbing things.”  

Disequilibrium – Being knocked out of your comfort zone (RUT) in order to realize another stage of growth. 

Hebrews 1:1-3   “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son,  … ; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person…”

Colossians 1:15 NKJV  “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” 

AMP  “[Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible];”

The Scriptures ultimately bear witness to Christ, and Christ perfectly bears witness to God. While we are searching the Bible to find out what God is like, the Bible is all the while resolutely pointing us to Jesus.   Brian Zahnd

“Jesus Christ is perfect theology”: means that we have a perfect revelation of what God is like in the person of Jesus. And any belief we have about God that we cannot find in the person of Jesus is a belief to be questioned.   Bill Johnson

Matthew 1:1-3, 16 “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, … Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar,… Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.”

Jesus Family Tree: Christmas Table

A girl involved in incest. /  A hooker who ran a brothel. /.  A pagan idol worshipper.

An adulteress who’s boyfriend killed her husband.  /. A teen girl pregnant and unmarried. 

Genesis 50:20 (CEB) “You planned something bad for me, but God produced something good from it, in order to save the lives of many people, just as he’s doing today.”

Genesis 37:26-27 “So Judah said to his brothers, ‘What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites,…’”

Genesis 38  “It came to pass at that time that Judah departed (Went Down KJV) from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her.”

So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.

Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord killed him.  And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, (Levirate) and raise up an heir to your brother.”

But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother.  And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also.

Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house. Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died …

…and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.  And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife.

When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”

And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.”  So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?” Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.  

So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood. And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her. Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?”

And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.” (Temple Prostitute)

So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place.”

Then Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.”

And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.” So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!”

When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are—the signet and cord, and staff.”

So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again. Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, … 

… that behold, twins were in her womb. And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.”

Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez. Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.”

Genesis 44:33 “So please, my lord, let me stay here as a slave instead of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. For how can I return to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn’t bear to see the anguish this would cause my father!”

Genesis 45:1 “Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, … Joseph made himself known to his brothers.”

Judah’s Recovery

1. He Came To His Senses

2. He Forgave Tamar and Himself

3. He Returned Home

4. He Walked In Light

5. He Honoured His Father

6. He Restored His Brother

We are most like beasts when we kill. We are most like men when we judge. We are most like God when we forgive. William Arthur Ward. (Thoughts of a Christian Optimist)

Genesis 49:10 “The scepter or leadership shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh [the Messiah, the Peaceful One] comes to Whom it belongs, and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”

Many approach the bible looking for moral examples.

How to be a good person.

The point of the bible is to be a mirror to show us the human condition.

From cover to cover the bible points to our need for a saviour.

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus came for Judah and for Tamar

Matthew 1:21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”