Matthew 16 - Outline

v1-4

A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign;

v5-12

beware of the Pharisees' and Sadducees' teachings, which are like leaven

v13-20

who Jesus Christ is

v21-23

which things do you savor?

v24-26

self-denial is worthwhile for following Jesus

v27-28

the kingdom of the glorified Christ is coming

don't do what you tell others not to

Genesis 38

v24

And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she [is] with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.

Judah was such a hypocrite: he accused Tamar of being immoral when it and other sins were actually his own doing.

v26a

And Judah acknowledged [them], and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son...

This is just like what I said yesterday. When we can see that something is a bad and wrong thing to do, sometimes it is good to tell other people that it is sin and that they shouldn't do it; but then, we need to make sure to stand firmly against participating in that same thing ourselves, so that we don't become hypocrites, telling other people not to do a certain thing but doing the same thing ourselves.

Romans 2:1

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

1 Samuel 27 - Key

v5

And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?

David and his people needed their own city so that they could be independent, and free to do what they thought they should, without having to worry too much about Achish and what he would think. As the Lord's people, the Lord wants us to have some manner of separation from some other people and things in the world.

2 Corinthians 6:17

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you...

Under the new testament, we are not necessarily supposed to be physically separate from other nations, or from unbelievers, but we are supposed to be separate from sin.

Application

2 Corinthians 6:14

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

When I tell other people that they shouldn't do certain things, because they are wrong, then I need to make sure that I do not end up doing the same things (or I would be a hypocrite!) I will stand firm to not participate in things that I know, and tell others, are wrong--even if there is a strong influence to do so.

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1 Samuel 27 - Outline

v1-4

David ran away to the enemy, so Saul stopped trying to hunt him down

v5-7

Achish the Philistine gave David his own city of Ziklag

v8-9

while living among the Philistines, David going to war against the other enemies of Israel

v10-12

David tricked Achish into believing he had been going to war against Israel and their friends, instead

don't refuse to be comforted

Genesis 37

v35

And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

It really struck me this morning that he refused to be comforted. I thought of how we can get depressed about our situations sometimes, and refuse to be comforted like that. The deceiver tries to convince us that our situations are completely miserable and hopeless.

v33

And he knew it, and said, [It is] my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

Since all indicators pointed to the worst case scenario, Jacob presumed that it was without doubt. Even when everything seems to be hopeless, who knows what kind of great miracles the Lord is performing behind the scenes, and what kind of great blessings He has for His people in the future? If we don't see situations with our own eyes, and know for a fact what is the case, then we shouldn't be the slightest bit presumptuous even if all indicators strongly point to one conclusion.

v34

And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.

We shouldn't wallow in self-pity forever, when something bad happens to us. v35 said that And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him... We should accept the means of comfort that the Lord provides for us, and not buy the enemy's lie that there is no hope.

Philippians 3:13b,14

...forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 15:21-39 - Key

v36

And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake [them], and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

We should be willing to give up what we have for the Lord and for other people. Even if you think it looks insufficient to you, God can bless it and make something much greater out of it than you think.

Application

Sometimes it seems like the amount of time that I have is too little to get anything of value done. Then I might be tempted to just waste the little bit of time that I have because I feel like it couldn't get anything done in that amount of time anyway.

When that happens, I'll give the little bit of time that I have to the Lord, and do what I should with it. Then we'll see what the Lord can do with that.

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Matthew 15:21-39 - Outline

v21-28

...him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37b)

v29-31

Jesus healed crowds of people from all kinds of physical disabilities

v32-38

Jesus fed more than 4,000 people with seven loaves of bread and a few small fishes

v39

Jesus went on to the next place