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Jesus arrives at the feast and preaches in the temple about the authority of his teaching. The religious leaders are frustrated, and the crowd is split on deciding whether he is Messiah or not.

John 7:14-27

Spine of a Bible ca. 2001, "Used with permission from Microsoft."

Jesus had delayed in coming to Jerusalem. He now makes an appearance in the middle of the week of festivities. Not hiding at all, he goes right to the temple to teach. The Jews, particularly the religious leaders marveled at his depth of understanding scripture. Jesus was an untrained man, not from their familiar schools of thought.

Similar to his statements in the previous chapter, Jesus points to a higher source for his authority. This source of understanding didn't originate in other people. It didn't come from books or even from within him. His understanding of the word came from the author of that word. He came to glorify the one who sent him,

For those who are willing, and the intentional choice made to listen to the truth, it is easy to understand where the authority behind Jesus comes from. God's truth is discernable from the knowledge of mankind. A step of obedience is required. Whose truth are you faithful toward?

Whoever the source of knowledge is, that is who is being glorified. Is it yourself, a school of thought, or a philosophy? Is it God's truth and authority?

Jesus tries to connect with something the audience would know, Moses' law. He specifically points out a command being broken, trying to kill him. Whether stated or not in John's gospel, Jesus knows their heart and unspoken motives.

A quick review. Jesus delayed coming to the mandatory feast after his brothers urged him to come to reveal himself. He did it quietly and in his own time. Verse 11 states the Jews were seeking him, and It wasn't for good intentions. People in the crowd had grumbled and were split on whether Jesus was good or bad for the nation.

There's no record in this passage on the deed that Jesus did to upset the Jews. In the previous chapter, Jesus taught the controversial idea of being the bread from heaven. In the 6 months since his sermon on being the Bread of Life, he probably taught and healed many times, even on the sabbath. The last time John places him in Jerusalem, he cleared the temple.

All in the crowd were not in on a murder plot. But whether they were innocent bystanders, or guilty of a murderous plot, wouldn't you say the same thing they did? "You're nuts! You have a demon! You're crazy! Who wants to kill you?"

Again, John doesn't record all of the healings and teachings of Jesus. The response Jesus gives points to a particular deed. He qualifies his response with something the Jews would know well, and hold dear. The reference to Moses and circumcision, something considered holy enough to do on a sabbath. This leads us to believe the deed had to do with something Jesus did on the sabbath. The one event John records were the healing of the paralytic in chapter 5.

Circumcision removes something. Jesus made a man whole again. Isn't healing a body to make it whole again a higher work? Don't base your response of judgment on a favored doctrine or practice. Don't allow yourself to fall back onto a surface appearance or cherry-picking favorite teachings. Righteous judgment can be known in a practical way and the world of reality.

The crowd at large is divided from the religious elite. Not knowing the motives of their leaders. The crowd is evenly divided among themselves, identifying him as the targeted man. . Those were likely afraid of the leadership, not caring to form an opinion on Jesus

Others in the crowd were willing to think for themselves as they got mixed signals. Jesus has the green light to speak in the temple. He's approved,

Jesus arrives at the feast and preaches in the temple about the authority of his teaching. The religious leaders are frustrated, and the crowd is split on deciding whether he is Messiah or not. John…

Finishing our three part examination of Psalm 66, annd the journey from a global praise to community thanksgiving, we wrap up with sharing individual expressions of worship.

Spine of a Bible ca. 2001, "Used with permission from Microsoft."

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We enter God's house to offer praise, but what is this house? From the beginning, God never commanded a permanent house be built for him. His temple is not built with hands. It's his gathered people. When ever, or where ever we get together, it's the right time to present our meager offerings, and finalize vows.

While in trouble or in debt, a vow is a way to express devotion to God.

The best gift anybody can hope to offer to seal a vow is a fattened, burned animal. But the smoke of a burnt offering is far from being powerful enough to cover sin. They might be fine for completing a vow, but today we have a more complete solution in Jesus. His substitutionary atonement goes beyond the animal sacrifice. listed, which are more for communal sins, not individual).

16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.

Come and hear. Come and share all the good things God has done. What have you experienced lately? Celebrate with others as they also testify about what the lord has done for them. Count your blessings.

All those who fear God should be able to resonate. Remember, the word for revere is to admire something that is both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. That common love for God is the glue that sticks his people together.

In a close family, let the emotions flow. Cry, lament, sing, praise, and everything in between. Declare your loyalty to God.

Be aware though, there is one thing that drives a wedge to keep God from doing all he wants to do in your life. What does this look like? Holding love for sin in your heart, secretly desiring the rebelious nature of the world, . clinging to the creature comforts of the culture. This is a person who God won't obligate himself to listen to the prayers of such a person.

The proof of a pure heart is when God listens and answers prayer. That's how you know. Bless him, praise him, reflect his mercy and grace back to him out of honor and gratitude. He has been faitful through the hard times. Be faithful to him. Give him (thanksgiving) for answered prayer, and his steadfast (enduring) love.

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Preached 11-24-19 and taken from Psalm 92

https://life-truth.com/wp-content/uploads/11-24-19-Ps-92-Give-Thanks.mp3

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What do you do when someone offends you greatly?  Preached 6-23-19 by  Nathan Caldwell at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Houston, AR.

https://life-truth.com/wp-content/uploads/6-23-19-When-People-Hurt-You.mp3

Finishing our three part examination of Psalm 66, annd the journey from a global praise to community thanksgiving, we wrap up with sharing individual expressions of worship. We enter God’s house to offer praise, but…

Continuing to use Psalm 66 for giving thanks to God in praise. The focus shifts from how the world should universally praise him, to the more specific way that his community of believers gives him praise.

"Used with permission from Microsoft."

Those in the tribe of believers are called to adore him. The flock should obediently kneel in worship to him alone. Everything we enjoy in this life ultimately comes from him. Do you have a job that pays you a nice salary? You owe him for the intellect and health that makes that happen. Do you enjoy the fruits of the labor of your hands? Besides good health, thank him for the sources of life that make it possible. The atmosphere that people and plants need. The air we breathe and the water we need. It truly is a gift of grace that he established the chain of life we find in the natural world.

Often those gifts are taken for granted. God sees fit to put his people to the test. Not always as a reminder of his goodwill, but to refine us to become a more value creation. When a vegetable garden is harvested, there's cutting, plucking, washing, peeling, and any number of other processes to extract food from its raw form to make it usable in the kitchen. In this passage, God's community is compared to silver. There is a much more difficult process to extract silver from its ore. Repeated processes of heating and melting take place to remove impurities.

It takes time to finally remove the dross until the remaining silver reflects the face of its maker to him. The testing isn't quite over as the bending, twisting, and fusing takes place to make yet another creation out of the silver. Beautiful jewelry, a vessel of utility, or any number of items of value.

It can feel like a setup. Like being led into a trap, like a burden is placed on us beyond what we can handle. . Life seems out of control, especially when others end up in charge of us. People who don't love God or respect his ways. A proverbial baptism by water or even fire.

yet God will ultimately be victorious. Hardship leads his people to seek his saving grace.

His precious flock will be led to a place of abundance for his purposes, and at the time and place that gives him glory.

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