• after healing two men with demons (8:28-34) and calming the storm (8:23-27)
• from Gadara back to Capernaum and its implications (9:1)
• from words of life (5-7) to deeds of power (8-9)

• some people brought the man to Him
• Jesus sees and says

• the scribes accuse Him of blasphemy (Lev. 24:16, Isa. 43:25)
• divine discernment and thoughtful interrogation

• purpose: that you may know
• rise…and he rose
• immediate cure and the impact of unprecedented authority

• If Jesus says you’re forgiven, you are.
• putting a finger on the pulse of the real problem
• “The degree to which you see your own need for forgiveness is the measure of how clearly you understand the gospel.” (S. Ferguson)
• “My sin, o the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul.” (H. Spafford, “It Is Well with My Soul”)

• conclusion of Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7): story of two hearers/builders
• immediate context: fruit inspection (15-20) and more than words (21-23)

• pattern of life marked by submission to teachings of Jesus
• present and future perspectives
• rock: safety/security and connection to “these words of mine”
• rain, floods, winds: no collapse

• pattern of life marked by lack of submission to teachings of Jesus (James 1:22)
• present and future perspectives
• sand: unstable/fragile and connection to “these words of mine”
• rain, floods, winds: catastrophic collapse

• high Christology (1 Cor. 3:11-15)
• contrast to other teaching sources
• storms of life? (Psa. 119:165)

• Since Jesus is the ultimate authority and determiner of your destiny, hear and do what he says.
• “…to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled…” (“How Firm a Foundation,” R. Keen)

• Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7): Serving God rules out serving money (6:19-24).
• A repeated command and a key reminder: Assured of God’s care, pursue His kingdom and conquer anxiety.

• the “world’s trinity of cares”:
• look at the birds…(food)
• consider the lilies…(clothing)
• the ineffectiveness of anxiety

• a Gentile obsession
• The Father’s knowledge
• antidote: a prioritized pursuit
• kingdom and righteousness

• facing your future
• tomorrow “personified”
• what we’re not promised

• Seize present privileges and remember that He who creates is He who sustains.

• connection to Isa. 60
• a focus on discipleship following the beatitudes (5:1-12)

• emphatic declaration of identity
• distinctive features: preservation and purification
• assessment of “unsalty” salt
• objective: permeation

• derived and not generated
• inevitable visibility
• objective: illumination

• good work as evidence of internal transformation
• behavior beyond human terms
• between promise and fulfillment

• Because your obedience glorifies God, live distinctively and visibly as a transformed disciple.
• Reject both cultural isolation and cultural assimilation.
• Doxological living: lives that function like a great hymn
• “Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ; Ye blind, behold your Savior come, and leap ye lame for joy.” (“O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” Wesley)
• “So, our hearts and voices raising through the ages long, ceaselessly upon You gazing, this shall be our song: Yours the glory and the crown, the high renown, the eternal name.” (“Christ Triumphant, Ever Reigning,” Saward)

• a focus on the coming anointed conqueror (59:14-63:6)
• a conflation of advents

• summons to “walk” in the light
• subjective experience with an objective basis
• addressing a national and global need
• magnetizing manifestation of glory

• a gathering not hindered by distance or frailty
• a thrilling and enriching processional
• from begrudging enemies to glad tributaries

• Magi in Matt. 2:1-12
• Simeon in Lk. 2:25-32
• Jesus in Jn. 8:12
• Paul in Rom. 13:11-4
• John in Rev. 21:23-26

• Because Jesus Himself is the arrival of prophesied light, cherish His presence and treasure His promises.
• “There I find an experience fully God-centered, asking of God no gift more urgently than His presence, the gift of Himself, joyous to the highest degree, and unmistakably real.” (C. S. Lewis in Reflections on the Psalms)
• “And our eyes at last shall see Him, through His own redeeming love; for that Child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heav’n above, and He leads His children on to the place where He is gone.” (“Once in Royal David’s City,” F. Alexander)

• shift from condemnation to consolation
• a focus on the advent of the Warrior Shepherd

• a lifting of voice
• a prohibition of fear
• a God to behold

• look at the verbs
• a Sovereign who rules mightily
• a Shepherd who sustains tenderly

• pardoned iniquity
• revealed glory
• enduring word
• sole Creator and Controller

• Considering Scripture’s absolute accuracy and enduring character, magnify its message of consolation this Christmas.
• Connections to NT and Christ: Matt. 9:36, Jn. 10:11, 14; Heb. 13:20
• “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!” (“O Holy Night” J. Dwight)
• “Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed, but yet in love He sought me; and on His shoulder gently laid, and home, rejoicing, brought me.” (“The King of Love My Shepherd Is” H.W. Baker)

• start of a series of “woe oracles” (Isa. 28-33)
• more than 700 years before the first Christmas

• Ephraim’s drunken pride
• trusting everything except the LORD
• case of misplaced confidence

• rebuke of Jerusalem’s leaders
• the scoffing of spiritual cynics
• weakness revealed by crisis

• foundation stone in Zion (Rom. 9:33, 1 Pet. 2:6)
• proven, precious and permanent
• settled and not scrambled

• Because God exposes the folly of human pursuit of ultimate security, heed His warnings and hope in His Son.
• Only the installed foundation can bear the weight of reality.
• What particles of panic do you need to discard this Christmas season?
• connection to Christ and NT: 1 Cor. 3:10-15
• “And we will never face life alone now that God has made Himself known, Father and Friend with us to the end, Emmanuel!” (Steven Curtis Chapman, “Our God Is with Us”)

A. A Historical Review (vv. 1–4; see Acts 7:38, 53; Gal 3:19; Heb 2:2)
B. The Longing for the Messianic King (v. 5)
C. A Prayer for the Coming of the Messianic King (v. 7; see Gen 49:10)
D. Praise for the Lord Who Blesses Israel (vv. 26–29)

• last psalm in Book II of the Psalter (Psalms 42-72)
• messianic psalm with connections to Isa. 11:1-5 and Zech 9:9 (immediate reference/ultimate fulfillment)

• petition for the king
• guardian of justice and protector of the poor (Mt. 25:35)

• dynastic endurance (2 Sam. 7:16)
• a word from Pastor Watts (“Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun”)

• extension of the empire of God’s chosen king
• prophecy of worldwide dominion

• tender care of a sovereign
• display of “diverse excellencies”

• blessed by all and a blessing to all

• delight in the hope of His forever rule (2 Sam. 23:1-7; Rev. 21:24)

• Because all your blessings flow from the identity and activity of King Jesus, thank Him for His reign.
• “He comes with succor speedy to those who suffer wrong; to help the poor and needy, and bid the weak be strong; to give them songs for sighing, their darkness turn to light, whose souls, condemned and dying, are precious in His sight.” (James Montgomery, “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”)

• transition from exposition of the law to allegiance to the LORD as lawgiver
• Moses engages in strategic reinforcement.

• exalted over other nations by God’s sovereign choice
• conditional
• comprehensive
• edification

• consigned to Baalism’s illusory offerings
• conditional
• comprehensive
• disintegration

• Because conformity to the LORD’S commands has distinct consequences, prioritize obedience.
• connection to Christ: Gal. 3:13
• Christ bore the covenant curse that we might inherit covenant blessing.
• “His oath, His covenant, His blood, support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.” (E. Mote, “The Solid Rock”)