Genesis 14:18 - Jerusalem was first named “Salem,” later “Jebus.”

Salem means “peaceful;” Jerusalem means “city of peace.”

Melchizedek means “king of righteousness” or “righteous king.”

Jesus, at the last super, connected bread and wine with his accomplishments on the cross.

During its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times.

Some of the biblical names Jerusalem has been called or will be called:

Zion - Isaiah 12:6; 52:1

The city of David - 2 Sam. 6:12

The city of the great king - Matt. 5:35

The holy city - Isa. 48:2; 52:1; Matt. 4:5

The city of God - Ps. 46:4; 48:1, 8; 87:3

The city of Yahweh - Isaiah 60:14

The city of Yahweh of hosts - Ps. 48:8

The city of righteousness - Isa. 1:26

The holy mountain - Psalm 2:6; 48:1; Isaiah 83; Zechariah 8:3

The city of truth - Zechariah 8:3

The perfection of beauty - Lamentations 2:15

The joy of the whole earth - Lamentations 2:15

The Lord our righteousness - Jeremiah 33:16

The Yahweh is there - Ezek. 48:35

The throne of Yahweh - Jeremiah 3:17

Ariel, the hearth of God - Isa. 29:1

December 6, 2017, the United States officially acknowledged Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and plans to move our embassy there. This decision has caused great turmoil.

December 22, 2017, the UN General Assembly voted to condemn President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

What happens in Jerusalem is spiritual, at times influenced by Yahweh and at times by Satan.

Exodus 15:17 and 18 - The mountain of Your inheritance; the place Yahweh made for His dwelling

Deuteronomy 12:5, 6, 10, 11, and 26 - Before Israel entered the Promised Land, God told them about the place but did not identify the specific location.

15:19 and 20 - The firstling offering was to be eaten at this place.

16:2, 6 - The Passover was to be sacrificed in this place.

16:11 - People of Israel were to rejoice before God at this place.

16:16 - The three major feasts were to be kept in this place.

17:8 and 9 - High priest’s judgments were to be done at this place.

18:6 - The priests and Levites would minister out from this place.

31:10-12 - Every seven years, the Law was to be read to all Israel from Joshua 10:1. (Adoni-Zedek means “Lord of righteousness.”)

5 - Gibeon had to be punished to prevent any further defections to Israel and to eliminate the threat of their siding with Israel in time... To read the rest of the notes visit lhim.org/sermons

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Luke 1:26-35 Mary and the angel

Son of David -- Isaiah 16:5; Jeremiah 23:5 and 6; Ezekiel 34:23 and 24; 37:24 and 25; and Amos 9:11

Luke 1:36-55 Mary and Elisabeth

Matthew 1:18-25 Mary and Joseph

Luke 2:1-18 Birth of Jesus Christ

Luke 2:21-38 Simeon and Anna

Matthew 2:1-18 Magi

Matthew 2:17 and 18 Jesus to Egypt

Luke 1:31-33

His name shall be Jesus. Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:21

He shall be great. Ephesians 1:20-23; Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 5:12

Called the Son of the Highest - John 1:49; 3:18

Given the throne of his father David - Isaiah 9:7

Reign over the house of Jacob

His kingdom shall not end. Daniel 2:44; 7:14 and 27

Birth Prophecies

Matthew 1:23 Virgin shall be with child -- Isaiah 7:14

Matthew 2:6 Bethlehem - Micah 5:2

Matthew 2:15 Out of Egypt - Hosea 11:1

Matthew 2:18 Herod’s murderous response - Jeremiah 31:15

Rabbi: my lord, or my master; title of honor, generally associated with a master of the Torah...The master of Torah, whether disciple or teacher, would demonstrate his mastery not merely through what he said in the discussion of legal traditions or what he did in court but also by how he sat at the table, by what ritual formulas he recited before eating one or another kind of fruit or vegetable, by how he washed his hands, and so on--by performing all mundane acts according to “Torah.”...Long ago, it was taught that the master took the place of the father. The father brought the son into this world; the master would lead him into the world to come. (Dictionary of Judaism in the Biblical Period p. 516)

In what follows we will consider three of Jesus’ teachings on the subjects of authenticity, humility, and love.

Authenticity

Matthew 6:1-18 Jesus teaches us to do righteous deeds for God rather than for people. Then he provides three examples to illustrate what he means:

1. Matthew 6:2-4 giving

2. Matthew 6:5-15 prayer

3. Matthew 6:16-18 fasting

Humility

Mark 9:33-37; 10:13-16, 35-45 The disciples argue about who is the greatest, but Jesus teaches them the first must be the servant of all. In another incident he explains that the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like children.

Love

Mark 12:29-34 The greatest commandment is to know and love God with everything. The second is to love your neighbor as yourself. The key then, is to remove the focus from yourself and put it on others.

John 8.31-32 “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”

Are you truly his disciple?

Jesus Christ is the head.

1. The head, the cornerstone upon which everything is built

2. The head, the leader, chief in position and authority

3. The head, the one in charge to whom others submit

4. The head of the body providing nourishment, guidance, and direction to the individual members

The head, the cornerstone

Ephesians 2:20

having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,

The cornerstone (or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. This is important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.

Matthew 21:42-45; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17-18; Ps 118:22-23; Acts 4:11-12; 1 Peter 2:4-8; Isaiah 28:16; Luke 6:46-49

The head, the leader, chief in position and authority

At the right hand of God, Jesus has been placed as head over all power and authority.

Matthew 28:18-20; Colossians 1:15-20; 2:10; Ephesians 1:19-23; 2:13-22

The head, the one in charge to whom others submit

Ephesians 5:22-24, 31-32 -- Two become “one flesh” -- “one body”. This is a great mystery (a reference to Christ and the church). Romans 6:12-18; 7:1-6

The head of the body provides nourishment, guidance, and direction to the individual members.

Romans 12:4-5

1 Corinthians 12:11-27 -- Through the one and same spirit

Ephesians 5:15-16 (verses 17-32 - “...if you have heard him and have been taught in him”)

Colossians 2:18-19 (verses 20-23; 3:1-17)

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1. God’s Wisdom in Gratitude

1 Thessalonians 5.18; Ephesians 5.4; Colossians 3.15 God actually commands us to be thankful. God didn’t go on and on expounding all the benefits of gratitude; he just “do this”--that is--“be thankful.”

2. Thankful for the Basics

1 Timothy 6.6-8 We need to thank God for the basics. So long as we have food and clothing, let's be content.

3. Thankful for the Family of God

1 Corinthians 12.12-27 In the family of God we support one another, giving care to the member who is suffering and rejoicing alongside the one who is celebrating.

4. Thankful for God’s Attention

Matthew 10.29-31; 6.25-26 God’s so immense, intelligent, powerful. He even created the shovel snouted lizard, and yet he cares for each of us individually.

5. Thankful for the Cross

1 John 4.8-12; John 3.16; When you were lost without hope, without God, by nature following the course of this age, influenced by the prince of the power of the air, full of disobedience, living out the passions of your flesh, carrying out the desires of the body, by nature a child of wrath like the rest of humanity, then God showed us his love by sending his son.

1 Corinthians 11.23-28

God’s commandments are to be obeyed. A commandment is not a suggestion. Throughout the Scriptures, God told His people to obey His commandments.

Deuteronomy 27:10

You shall therefore obey the LORD your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.

A person is blessed when he obeys God’s commands.

Deuteronomy 28:1-2; Jeremiah 7:23

However, cursing will come upon a person who is disobedient. Deuteronomy 28:15

Samuel compared disobedience to the sin of divination or witchcraft, iniquity, and idolatry.

1 Samuel 15:22-23a

Being subordinate to another, to be told to obey, is not vogue. It is not always looked on fondly in our society. Human beings are prone to rebellion of authority, rules, regulations, and ordinances. God’s people, the nation of Israel, often times rejected God’s commandments. Jeremiah 7:24-26

In the book of Hebrews, God calls this pattern of disobedience an “evil heart of unbelief.”

Hebrews 3:12 (KJV)

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

However, in Scripture, when God gave commandment for His people, He never forced them to obey. Mankind has always had the free will to choose. Obedience to God’s commands is never to be burdensome, but rather the motivation for obedience should always be a response of love. The first great commandment is not to “obey,” but it is to “love.” Matthew 22:37-38

Jesus said, if we love him, we will keep his commandments. John 14:15, 21, 23-24

The way you show your love for another is not through vain words or self-centeredness, but rather loving actions of submission and obedience speak louder than anything you might say.

“Don’t tell me that you love me; show me.”

So, too, we express our love for God and for Jesus through loving obedience. 1 John 2:3-6

Do you find it difficult to obey God’s commands? Do you feel as though your Christian walk is draining, difficult, and burdensome? If so, your issue is not an obedience problem, but rather you have a love problem.

John 4:19

We love, because He first loved us.

Psalm 119 -- If you find it difficult to be obedient, try praying some of these prayers from the psalmist. Seek God, and ask Him to change your heart.

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