The title of this short blog may have gotten your attention. A question that is asked sometimes is, “If God already knows what I need and what I’m going through, why bother to pray to Him?” Sometimes people may also think, “If God will do what He has already promised to do, why bother praying? It’s going to happen anyway, right?” It is true our Heavenly Father knows what we need before we ask Him. In Matthew 6:8 Jesus said, “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” What a blessing to know our God sees what we experience. It is also true our heavenly Father is faithful in every way. He is trustworthy, reliable, and does what He says He will do. In 2 Timothy 2:13 it says, “If we are faithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” In Titus 1:2 Paul says, “In the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago.” While some may have this disposition of feeling like we don’t need to pray to God since He already knows that perspective is wrong. First, in Matthew chapter six, Jesus is teaching His disciples how to pray. The fact that Jesus is teaching how to pray means that His people must be people who pray to the Father diligently. Secondly, in passages like 2 Samuel 7:18-29, we find King David praying the promises of God. In Nathan Ward’s book on prayer, “Our Eyes Are On You’ he states, “David is among those who pray the promises. He does not merely hint at the covenant by mentioning God’s covenant name or recalling God’s past dealings with His covenant people. Rather, he quotes God’s very promise back to him directly (vs 27) and indirectly (vv. 28-29). Miller says of this prayer what we have already seen multiple times and will continue to see throughout this study: David asks of the Lord what He has already promised, which ‘takes us right to the heart of Biblical prayer. Prayer is, in essence calling on Yahweh to do what He has said.’” [1] We should pray because prayer is an expression of trust! “God’s promises are not to be received casually and in an entitled spirit, but with submissive thanksgiving. God is a relational being who wants relationships with His creation. One key element in all relationships is trust, particularly when one party is stronger than the other. How much more, then, is this the case when the one party is not merely stronger, but is God! Our expression of God’s promises to God himself is a way we remind ourselves of the one we trust in as we seek to align ourselves more to His will and less to our own.” [2] [1] Our Eyes are On You; Nathan Ward page 50. [2] Ibid page 51

If Christians live under the New Covenant, why is more than half of our Bible the Old Testament? Previous posts have established that the Law of Moses served a specific purpose, that God's plan was always moving toward Christ, and that we now live under the New Covenant. So why continue studying Abraham, Moses, David, Israel, the sacrifices, the temple, and the prophets? The answer comes from an important distinction: We are no longer under the Old Covenant, but that doesn't mean the Old Testament no longer has value. The Old Testament is not our covenant, but it remains God's Word written for our learning. Are Christians Picking and Choosing? One common criticism of Christianity goes something like this: "Christians pick and choose which parts of the Bible they want to follow. Leviticus condemns certain behaviors but also contains dietary restrictions. Why follow one and ignore the other?" Similar arguments can be made about Israel's civil laws and penalties. If Christians really believe the Bible, why don't we enforce those laws today? That argument sounds powerful if we treat the Bible as one enormous list of commands addressed equally to every person throughout history. But it isn't. The Law of Moses was a covenant given to Israel. Christians don't disregard Mosaic dietary laws because we've arbitrarily decided we don't like them. We don't ignore Israel's civil laws because we're embarrassed by them. We aren't Israelites living under the Mosaic Covenant. So when reading a biblical command, the question isn't simply, “Is this somewhere in the Bible?” We also need to ask, “Who was this given to, under what covenant, and does the New Testament establish it as God's will for Christians?” That isn't picking and choosing Scripture. It's understanding Scripture. So What Do We Do With the Old Testament? Paul answers that question directly: “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning...” — Romans 15:4 The Old Testament wasn't preserved so Christians could continue living under the Mosaic Covenant. It was preserved because we need what it teaches us. Here are 4 things we learn from the Old Testament. #1 - We Learn Who God Is There's a difference between knowing that someone exists and actually knowing them. The same is true of God. Believing there is a Creator is only the beginning. Scripture reveals what that Creator is actually like, beginning with the first words of the Bible: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” — Genesis 1:1 Even that single verse tells us something about Him. God existed before creation. He possesses the power and intelligence necessary to create. Everything around us ultimately exists because of Him. The rest of the Old Testament gives us thousands of years of interactions between God and humanity. We don't merely read that God is patient—we watch His patience with Israel. We don't merely hear that He is just—we see His response to sin. We see His mercy toward the repentant, His faithfulness to Abraham, His holiness in worship, and His love for His people. If you want to know who God is, watch what He does. #2 - We Learn God's Pattern The covenant may change, but God's character doesn't. The God revealed in the Old Testament is the same God we encounter in the New Testament. Throughout biblical history, we repeatedly see recognizable patterns in how He interacts with humanity. God loves His creation. He expects those who trust Him to obey what He reveals. He teaches humanity about the seriousness of sin and the necessity of sacrifice. And He repeatedly demonstrates His desire to save. God saved Noah from the Flood. He delivered Israel from Egypt and brought them through the Red Sea. He rescued His people from enemies and preserved the faithful through judgment. Those acts of salvation prepare us to understand the ultimate salvation He provides through Christ. God's methods of dealing with people under different covenants may change, but His character does not. #3 - We Learn From Great Faith—and Terrible Failure Hebrews 11 does something fascinating. A New Testament writer teaches Christians about faith primarily by pointing backward to people in the Old Testament. Abel offered. Noah built. Abraham went. Sarah believed. Moses chose. Israel crossed. Rahab acted. Then the writer essentially says there isn't enough time to keep listing examples and mentions Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Why teach New Testament Christians using people who lived under previous covenants? Because the specific commands may change, but the nature of faith remains recognizable: Hear God → Trust God → Obey God. But the Old Testament doesn't only give us examples to imitate. It also gives us mistakes to avoid. Paul specifically points Christians toward Israel's failures in 1 Corinthians 10. Their idolatry, immorality, dissatisfaction, testing of God, and complaining became warnings for Christians who came centuries later. That's one of the great values of biblical history. We can learn from thousands of years of other people's faithfulness—and their failures—without having to repeat their mistakes ourselves. #4 - We Learn the “Why” Behind the New Testament Perhaps most importantly, the Old Testament helps us understand why the New Testament means what it means. Hebrews describes the Law as: “...a shadow of the good things to come...” — Hebrews 10:1 A shadow isn't the thing itself, but it tells you something is there. It gives you its shape and helps you recognize what's coming. That's what so much of the Old Testament does for Christ. Why is Jesus called the Lamb of God? Why does His blood matter? Why do we need atonement? Why is Jesus our High Priest? Why was the temple veil being torn significant? Why does Hebrews talk about a Most Holy Place? Why do we even need a covenant? The New Testament answers these questions, but the Old Testament gives us the framework necessary to fully appreciate those answers. We Don't Live Under It, But We Need It Christians don't need to choose between two extremes. We shouldn't place ourselves back under the Law of Moses as though Christ never established a New Covenant. But neither should we treat the Old Testament as an outdated portion of Scripture that has little relevance to Christians. Paul tells us exactly why it remains: It was written for our learning. Through it, we learn who God is. We see the consistency of His character. We encounter extraordinary examples of faith and sobering examples of failure. And perhaps most importantly, we gain the background necessary to understand what Jesus accomplished. We don't live under the Old Testament, but we cannot fully understand the New Testament without it.

If God had already given His people a covenant, why did they need another one? Normally, when we replace something, it's because the old one is broken or defective. So was something wrong with the Old Covenant? Did God give Israel a flawed covenant and later have to fix it? No. The Old Covenant accomplished exactly what God intended it to accomplish. It wasn't God's failed first attempt. It was part of a larger plan that was always moving toward Jesus Christ. The Old Covenant Was Part of the Blueprint Think about building a house. The foundation isn't defective because you eventually build walls on top of it, and the walls aren't defective because you eventually cover them with drywall. Each stage serves its purpose while preparing for what comes next. The Old Covenant worked the same way. It had a specific purpose within God's plan, but it was never intended to be the final stage. The Old Covenant wasn't God's mistake. It was part of God's blueprint. Paul explains one of its purposes in Galatians 3:24: “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ...” For generations, God's people were being taught concepts they would eventually need to understand Jesus: sin, holiness, obedience, sacrifice, blood, atonement, priesthood, worship, and forgiveness. The Law was creating a framework through which the cross could eventually be understood. Why Didn't Jesus Just Come Immediately? Imagine Jesus dying immediately after the events of Genesis 3. Why would His death mean anything? Why does blood matter? Why does someone need to die because of sin? Why would Jesus be called a Lamb? Why do we need a priest or mediator? What is atonement? Now imagine growing up under the Mosaic system. You've watched animals sacrificed. You've seen blood. You've watched priests make offerings for sin. You've learned that sacrifices must meet God's requirements and that atonement comes at a cost. Then John points to Jesus and says: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” — John 1:29 Suddenly, centuries of teaching come together. The Old Testament doesn't compete with Jesus. It teaches us why we need Him. The New Covenant Was Always Coming The New Covenant wasn't something God invented after the Old Covenant went wrong. Hundreds of years before Jesus, God had already promised: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant...” — Jeremiah 31:31 The plan reaches even further back. Immediately after sin entered the world, Genesis 3:15 pointed forward to One who would ultimately defeat the serpent. Israel certainly broke its covenant with God—Jeremiah 31:32 explicitly says so—but their failure wasn't the reason God suddenly needed a new plan. Even if Israel had perfectly kept the Law, God's plan was still moving toward Christ. The New Covenant wasn't Plan B. Christ was the plan all along. The Shadow and the Substance Hebrews 10:1 describes the Law as “a shadow of the good things to come.” Colossians 2:17 similarly calls these things “a shadow of things to come” and says the substance belongs to Christ. Think about a shadow. It tells you someone is coming. It gives you their shape and helps you recognize them. But when the actual person arrives, you don't embrace their shadow. You embrace the person. The Old Covenant worked in much the same way. Leviticus taught that “it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11). But animal blood was pointing toward something greater. The sacrifices, priesthood, blood, and atonement were preparing God's people for Christ. The Old Covenant contained the shadow. Christ is the substance. So Why Do We Need a New Testament? The answer is simple: Because we need Jesus. The Old Covenant accomplished the purpose God gave it. It established His covenant with Israel, taught His people about sin and holiness, demonstrated the necessity of sacrifice and atonement, and prepared the world to understand what Christ would accomplish. There was nothing wrong with God's plan in the Old Covenant. The New Covenant was necessary because the story wasn't finished yet. Jesus wasn't God's correction to the plan. He was the fulfillment of it.

Most of us learn the Bible one story at a time. Noah built an ark. Abraham was promised a son. Moses led Israel out of Egypt. David defeated Goliath. Daniel survived the lions' den. Jesus died on the cross. Peter preached on Pentecost. Paul traveled throughout the Roman world preaching the gospel. We know the stories. But knowing the stories isn't necessarily the same thing as understanding the Story. Sometimes we learn these events individually without ever building the bridge between them. Why did God choose Abraham? Why did Israel need a law? Why were animals sacrificed? Why were priests necessary? Why did God establish a tabernacle and later a temple? And what does any of that have to do with Jesus dying on a cross? The Bible has two testaments and can be understood through three major periods of biblical history, but from beginning to end it tells one unified story of God preparing humanity for salvation through Jesus Christ. Three Major Periods of Biblical History It can be helpful to organize the biblical story into three major periods: The Patriarchal Age — Creation through the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. The Mosaic Age — The giving of the Law through the death of Jesus. The Christian Age — The death of Christ through today. These periods don't perfectly correspond to the physical division between the Old and New Testaments in our Bibles. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are located in the New Testament, but most of the events they record occurred while the Law of Moses was still in effect. Jesus was born and lived under that covenant. The transition to the New Covenant occurs through His death. Understanding these periods helps us answer a critical question whenever we read Scripture: Who was God speaking to, and under what covenant were they living? The Patriarchal Age: God Speaks to the Fathers The Patriarchal Age stretches from creation to the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. The word patriarch refers to the head or chief of a family. During this period, God dealt directly with individuals and family heads rather than giving mankind a written covenant like the Law He would later give Israel. Hebrews begins: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets...” — Hebrews 1:1 God communicated His expectations to people such as Adam, Cain, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and eventually Moses. They didn't possess the Law of Moses, but that doesn't mean they didn't have law. Adam and Eve were given commands. Cain was warned about sin. Noah received detailed instructions for building the ark. Abraham was commanded to leave his homeland and later to offer Isaac. The absence of the Mosaic Law did not mean the absence of law, sin, or moral responsibility. Sacrifice Before Moses Something else appears remarkably early in the biblical story: sacrifice. Cain and Abel brought offerings to God. Noah built an altar and offered burnt offerings after leaving the ark. Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac. Isaac and Jacob built altars to God. Long before Leviticus established an elaborate sacrificial system for Israel, sacrifice was already present. For people whose wealth and livelihood were often measured in livestock, offering an animal wasn't an empty ritual. It cost something. These early sacrifices begin introducing concepts that become increasingly important as God's plan unfolds: sin has consequences, approaching God requires reverence, and obedience costs something. A Promise Begins to Take Shape Almost immediately after sin enters the world, God begins pointing toward its eventual defeat. Genesis 3:15 contains the first promise that the offspring of woman would ultimately defeat the serpent. Jesus doesn't simply appear unexpectedly thousands of years later in Bethlehem. The story has been moving toward Him since Genesis. Then God calls Abraham and makes three tremendous promises to him: Land — His descendants would receive Canaan. Nation — His family would become a great nation. Seed — Through his offspring, all the families of the earth would be blessed. Those promises become a roadmap for much of the rest of Scripture. The land promise points toward Canaan. The nation promise points toward Israel. And the seed promise ultimately points toward Jesus Christ. The Mosaic Age: A Covenant With a Nation After delivering Abraham's descendants from slavery in Egypt, God brings Israel to Mount Sinai and establishes a covenant with the nation through Moses. The Law of Moses was much more extensive than the Ten Commandments. It governed Israel's morality, worship, civil life, diet, priesthood, sacrifices, and relationship with God. For centuries, Israel's judges, kings, priests, and prophets all lived within this covenant. God called Israel to love Him, walk in His ways, and obey His commandments. Obedience wasn't simply about following arbitrary rules. It was the appropriate response of a people living in covenant with God. The Sacrificial System Under the Law of Moses, sacrifice became much more detailed. Leviticus describes burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. Each served particular purposes within Israel's relationship with God. God even specified what could be offered. Animals were expected to meet His requirements and be without defect. Sacrifice was teaching Israel something: Sin is serious. Atonement is necessary. And God deserves our best. But those sacrifices were also preparing Israel to understand something much greater. Priests, the Tabernacle, and God's Presence God established the tabernacle as a special place where He would dwell among His people. Inside were the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, separated by a veil. Ordinary Israelites couldn't simply enter God's presence. Priests served as mediators and performed the service God prescribed. Eventually, the tabernacle was replaced by Solomon's temple, but the lessons remained: Holiness. Separation. Sacrifice. Mediation. Atonement. God's desire to dwell among His people. By the time Jesus arrives, God has spent centuries giving humanity the vocabulary necessary to understand what He's about to do. Why Did All of This Have to Come Before Jesus? Imagine opening the Bible for the first time and beginning with the crucifixion. A man named Jesus is nailed to a cross. Why should that mean anything to you? Why does someone have to die because you've sinned? Why does blood matter? Why would you need someone to stand between you and God? What is atonement? Why is Jesus called a Lamb? Why does Hebrews describe Him as a High Priest? Without the Old Testament, much of the language surrounding the cross would have little meaning. The Mosaic Age supplied the imagery: Sacrifice. Lamb. Blood. Priest. Temple. Atonement. Covenant. Holiness. Redemption. God had been teaching these concepts for centuries so that when Christ came, humanity could understand what His death meant. Jesus wasn't a sudden change in God's plan. He was the centerpiece toward which the entire plan had been moving. The Christian Age: The Picture Becomes Clear Jesus was born under the Law of Moses. He was circumcised, His family observed the purification requirements of the Law, and they traveled to Jerusalem for Passover. That's why Jesus sometimes instructed people to do things Christians aren't commanded to do today. Most of His earthly ministry occurred while the Mosaic covenant was still in effect. But Jeremiah had prophesied that something new was coming: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant...” — Jeremiah 31:31 That New Covenant came through Christ. When Jesus died, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. The old priestly and sacrificial system had reached its fulfillment because Jesus had accomplished what those sacrifices had been pointing toward all along. The Sacrifice Everything Was Pointing Toward Peter describes Jesus as: “a lamb without blemish and without spot.” — 1 Peter 1:19 That description means far more after understanding what came before it. Jesus is the spotless sacrifice. His blood provides redemption. He is our mediator. He accomplishes what the animal sacrifices could never fully accomplish. The sacrifices of the Old Testament weren't meaningless rituals that Christians eventually outgrew. They were teaching. They were preparing. They were pointing forward. Christ is the fulfillment of the picture God had been developing throughout the biblical story. Abraham's Promises Come Full Circle Now return to Abraham. God promised him land, a nation, and a seed. During the Patriarchal Age, those promises were given. During the Mosaic Age, Abraham's descendants became the nation of Israel and received the land of Canaan. Through that nation, God preserved the line through which the promised seed would eventually come. Then, in the Christian Age, the greatest part of the promise becomes clear. The Seed is Jesus Christ. What began with one man and one family ultimately extends God's blessing to people of every nation. Abraham isn't an isolated Bible character whose story we learn in Genesis. His story is part of the road to Jesus. Why Understanding the Timeline Matters This isn't just interesting Bible trivia. Understanding where we are in the biblical story changes how we read Scripture. God commanded Noah to build an ark. God commanded Israel to offer animal sacrifices. God commanded priests to serve in the tabernacle. God commands Christians to follow Christ under the New Covenant. Every one of those commands is part of inspired Scripture. But that doesn't mean every command was given to every person in every age. So when we encounter a command in the Bible, it's not enough to ask: “Is this in the Bible?” We also need to ask: When was it given? To whom was it given? Under which covenant? What purpose did it serve? How does it connect to Christ and the New Covenant? Those questions help transform a collection of familiar Bible stories into something much greater. One story. One plan. One Savior. Two testaments. Three major periods. One message: God was preparing humanity for salvation through Jesus Christ.

Many Christians can quote Bible verses. They know familiar passages by heart and have heard countless sermons throughout their lives. But there is an important distinction that often gets overlooked: Knowing the Bible is not the same as understanding the Bible. That difference matters. One of the most common mistakes people make is building an entire belief on a single verse without considering its context or how it fits into the rest of Scripture. God's Word was never intended to be read as a collection of isolated quotes. It is one unified story with one Author and one purpose. The more we understand that story, the better we understand God Himself. Reading vs. Understanding In Acts 8, Philip encountered the Ethiopian eunuch reading from the book of Isaiah. Philip didn't ask whether he was reading Scripture. He asked a much deeper question: "Do you understand what you are reading?" (Acts 8:30) The eunuch's response was honest: "How can I, unless someone guides me?" That exchange reminds us that reading Scripture and understanding Scripture are not always the same thing. Think about an instruction manual. Reading a few paragraphs doesn't suddenly qualify someone to repair an engine or assemble a complicated piece of equipment. In the same way, memorizing a handful of verses doesn't automatically produce a complete understanding of God's Word. We need to study carefully, examine context, and learn how each passage fits within the larger message of Scripture. Paul encouraged Timothy to do exactly that: "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God... rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15) To "rightly divide" God's Word means to handle it accurately—to keep it straight instead of twisting it to fit our own ideas. The Bible Is a Library, Not Just a Book Many Christians know the Bible contains 66 books, but far fewer understand how those books fit together. Questions like these reveal why structure matters: Why do we still study the Old Testament? Why doesn't Jesus appear until the New Testament? Who were the prophets? Why are some books history while others are poetry or letters? The word Bible comes from the Greek word biblia, meaning "the books." Rather than being one book written at one time, the Bible is a collection of inspired writings produced over many centuries by many different human authors. Yet despite its diversity, it tells one consistent story because its ultimate Author is God. What Is a Testament? Before we can understand the Bible's structure, we need to understand what a testament actually is. A testament is another word for a covenant—a binding agreement between two parties. We still use covenants today, even if we don't always call them that. Marriage is a covenant. Contracts are covenants. Even a "Last Will and Testament" is a legal agreement that takes effect under certain conditions. The Bible contains several covenants, but two form the backbone of the entire biblical story. The Old Testament centers on God's covenant with Israel through Moses. The New Testament centers on the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ. Understanding these two covenants helps explain why the Bible is divided into two major sections. Understanding the Old Testament The Old Testament contains 39 books written over about 1,100 years of history, from around 1500 BC to 400 BC. Although it was written by more than thirty different men—including Moses, David, Solomon, Jeremiah, Ezra, and many prophets—its message remains remarkably unified because "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16). The books are not arranged chronologically. Instead, they are organized by category: Law – God's covenant and instructions for Israel. History – The story of Israel from entering Canaan through the return from exile. Wisdom and Poetry – Practical wisdom, worship, and reflections on life. Major Prophets – Longer prophetic books calling God's people back to faithfulness. Minor Prophets – Shorter prophetic books with the same authority and purpose. The terms Major and Minor refer only to the length of the books—not their importance. Understanding the New Testament The New Testament contains 27 books and records events from the birth of Jesus through the end of the first century. Like the Old Testament, its books are grouped by type rather than chronology. Its five major sections include: The Gospels – The life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Acts – The beginning and growth of the early church. Paul's Epistles – Letters written to churches and individuals about Christian doctrine and living. General Epistles – Letters written by other inspired writers to Christians. Revelation – A prophetic message encouraging believers to remain faithful. The word epistle simply means letter. Chapters and Verses Weren't in the Original Bible Many people are surprised to learn that the original biblical writings did not contain chapter numbers or verse numbers. Those were added centuries later to make Scripture easier to reference and study. Likewise, the books were grouped into categories to help readers locate material more easily. These organizational tools are incredibly helpful, but we should never mistake them for part of the inspired text itself. They serve us best when they help us see the Bible more clearly—not when they cause us to treat each verse as though it stands alone. Seeing the Big Picture The Bible is far more than a collection of ancient religious writings. From Genesis to Revelation, it tells one grand story: God's plan to redeem humanity through Jesus Christ. Every book contributes something to that story. Every covenant moves it forward. Every passage gains deeper meaning when we understand where it fits in the whole. Knowing the Bible means recognizing its words. Understanding the Bible means recognizing its message. As we grow in our understanding of Scripture's structure, context, and purpose, we become better equipped to handle God's Word accurately and to appreciate the incredible unity found across all sixty-six books. The Bible isn't just a book to read—it is God's unfolding story of redemption, and every page points us toward Him.

Introduction As I’ve learned more about the Catholic Church and even the Eastern Orthodox Church, I’ve noticed the heavy emphasis on traditions. When denominations start speaking of their ancient traditions, it often appeals to the masses. There is something attractive about being connected to something old, historical, and longstanding. However, something being ancient and a tradition does not make it right. God’s Word is the standard. That is what I wish to demonstrate—to protect our faith and to pull some from the fire. Paul warned the saints in Colossae and elsewhere not to be deceived. “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men... rather than according to Christ” (Colossians 2:1-8). The question is not, “How old is this tradition?” The question is, “Does it come from God?” Traditions What Is Tradition? Tradition is what has been handed down for the next generation to believe and practice. There is nothing inherently wrong with that. Teachings and practices are meant to be passed down. Tradition is necessary and unavoidable. No one is without tradition of some kind, including those who claim to dislike tradition. However, we must be very careful in our thinking about tradition. There are at least three categories we need to distinguish. 1. Truth Some traditions are truth. These are teachings revealed by God and passed down from generation to generation. Truth is meant to be preserved and transmitted. Consider the instructions of Deuteronomy 6:4-9, where parents were commanded to diligently teach God's word to their children. This is tradition in the best sense of the word. When Paul spoke of traditions in the New Testament, he often referred to revealed truth. Paul's Traditions Were Inspired Truth In 1 Corinthians 11:2, Paul commended the brethren because they were holding firmly to the traditions he delivered to them. Why? Because: Paul spoke by inspiration of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). What he taught were the commandments of God (1 Corinthians 14:37). What he taught in every church was God's word (1 Corinthians 4:16-17). Likewise, in 2 Thessalonians 2:14-15 and 3:6, Paul urged saints to stand firm in the traditions they had received. Notice what those traditions were: The Thessalonians received God's word (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Paul reasoned from the Scriptures with them (Acts 17:1-3). They were called through the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14). Their faith rested upon truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13). These were not human traditions. These were divine traditions. They came from God through inspired men. Those traditions are to be believed, obeyed, and preserved. 2. Error Unfortunately, traditions can also be wrong. Erroneous traditions can be handed down just as easily as truth. Consider the position of the Greek Orthodox Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church highly respects the Bible, but it does not view Scripture as the complete and final standard by itself. The Orthodox Church teaches that the Bible is central and that “everything in the Church must be Biblical,” yet it also teaches that the Bible receives its proper interpretation and significance only within the life of the Church. Scripture is viewed as one expression of revelation within a broader body of traditions. The problem is that this contradicts Scripture. Consider: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Jude 3 Galatians 1:8-9 The Bible presents itself as sufficient and complete. Furthermore, Jesus condemned traditions that contradicted God's word. In Matthew 15:1-9, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because their traditions invalidated the commandment of God. That same danger exists today. Infant Baptism as an Example One example is infant baptism. Some argue that the households mentioned in Acts 16:30-34 must have included infants. Yet the text never says that. That is not Scripture. It is an unnecessary inference being elevated into doctrine. Notice Paul's instruction: “Believe in the Lord Jesus…” Infants cannot do that. We cannot claim that a tradition is given by the Spirit if that tradition negates what the Spirit Himself has revealed. When a tradition contradicts Scripture, Scripture must win every time. 3. Choice Many traditions are neither right nor wrong. They fall into the realm of judgment and choice. For example, the specific time a congregation assembles for worship. Acts 20:7 authorizes worship on the first day of the week. The specific hour is not specified. Morning worship does not violate God's word. Evening worship does not violate God's word. These are matters of judgment. They are traditions of choice rather than truth or error. A Necessary Distinction Let me be clear. The traditions Paul spoke about in the New Testament are truth and must be practiced. Traditions that are error and contrary to the Holy Spirit's revelation must be abandoned. No tradition, regardless of its age, has the authority to override what God has revealed. When man-made traditions are elevated to the level of Scripture, it is only a matter of time before tradition itself swallows Scripture. What About Traces of the Church Throughout History? One reason many people flock to certain churches is because of their age. They are ancient. The argument often sounds like this: “If something is ancient, it can't be wrong.” “We can trace our church back to Christ.” “Churches of Christ cannot do that.” “Your heritage comes from Alexander Campbell and the Restoration Movement.” These arguments sound persuasive on the surface. But do they hold up? Pattern Versus Succession The issue is not succession. Succession is the belief that church authority and legitimacy are transmitted through an unbroken line of leaders extending back to the apostles. But the real issue is this: Does a church follow the apostolic pattern revealed in Scripture? Authority rests in God's revealed word, not in a historical chain of succession. Paul emphasized the importance of following a pattern. 2 Timothy 1:13 Acts 2:42 The standard is the apostolic doctrine. Not a lineage. Not a headquarters. Not a historical chain. A pattern. Josiah: A Powerful Example Consider the days of Josiah. In 2 Kings 23:22-23, the Passover was restored. The text tells us it had not been observed like that since the days of the Judges. Think about that. We're talking approximately 500-700 years. For centuries, God's people had drifted away from the pattern. Yet when the Book of the Law was discovered, they could return to God's instructions. The authority was not in uninterrupted practice. The authority was in what God had written. The same thing happened during the Restoration Movement. People went back to Scripture and began examining the New Testament pattern. A new church was not created. Rather, God's pattern was observed. Ancient Doesn't Mean Accurate Jesus warned about man-made traditions in Matthew 15:1-9. Traditions often gain credibility simply because they are old. People think: “We've always done it this way.” “This church is ancient.” “Millions believe it.” Yet error does not become truth through age. The question is not: “Which church is oldest historically?” The question is: “Which church follows the doctrine of Christ?” (2 John 9) The Example of Jeroboam Israel repeatedly drifted from God's pattern. Jeroboam is a classic example. In 1 Kings 12:28-33 he created an alternative worship system. Think about what he introduced: Alternative worship locations. New feast days. A new priesthood. A more convenient religion. Today we might call that: Innovation. Modernization. Contemporary worship. Keeping things fresh. Yet God did not authorize any of it. Jeroboam's religion was ancient by Josiah's day. But it was still wrong. Age did not make it true. Popularity did not make it true. Tradition did not make it true. The Standard Has Always Been God's Word By Josiah's day, people had abandoned God's pattern. Yet God still expected them to return to it. Why? Because the standard never changed. Consider these passages: John 17:17 “Your word is truth.” Colossians 3:17 “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord.” 2 John 9 “Abide in the doctrine of Christ.” Jude 3 “The faith once for all delivered.” The authority has always been God's revealed word. Not history. Not popularity. Not emotions. Not tradition. Conclusion What kind of foundation are we standing on? Some have been shaken and disturbed by arguments about tradition, church history, and succession. Yet we must remember this: A church is not sound because it is old. A church is not sound because it is large. A church is not sound because it is emotional. A church is not sound because it can claim an ancient lineage. Rather: A church is sound because it abides in the apostles' doctrine. The question has never been, “How old is it?” The question has always been: “Does it follow the pattern God revealed?” That was true in Josiah's day. That was true in the first century. And it is still true today.

Introduction Who are God’s chosen people? It depends on who you ask. Many politicians say the modern nation of Israel is still God’s chosen people. Many religious leaders teach that God still has a special covenant with the Jewish Nation today. If true, it has enormous ramifications on salvation, the church, etc. To bring this into clarity, we begin with Abraham’s story, Genesis 12:1-3. “God promised never again to cleanse by flood, God chose another way – separating from the world a faithful family in order to bring into the world an eternal answer to wickedness, a dying savior.” The Nation Promise (Genesis 12:2) God promised Abraham that a great nation would come from him, Genesis 12:2. Specifically Israel. “This nation would be great in number and also in significance. How? It would be the nation to carry the Messianic line.” As we will see, Paul is going to argue that the ultimate great nation of Abraham is the community of the faithful, whether circumcised or not, Romans 4:9-12; Galatians 3:7-9. It would not be through Lot or Ishamel. Isaac was the child of promise, Genesis 17:16-21. Isaac would have Jacob who would have 12 sons that became the 12 tribes of Israel. They would become a great nation in Egypt, Genesis 46:2-4. God chose Israel, established a covenant and gave Laws to them, Exodus 19:4-6; Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 7:6. The Land Promise (Genesis 12:1) A land would be given to the offspring of Abraham. It’s not initially specified but is in Genesis 13:15. That would be the land of Canaan or the Promised Land. Instructions were given of how to live in this land, Deuteronomy 27:1-4; 28:1-3,15. This promise was fulfilled, Joshua 21:43-45. The Blessing Promise (Genesis 12:3; 22:18) Let’s break this verse down into two sections. Verse 3a, "Bless and curse," was personal to Abraham. This was made personally to Abraham, not a future nation; Genesis 20:1-8. Verse 3b, "All families of the earth shall be blessed..." ultimately points to Jesus as Savior. The Nation Promise and Land Promise were never the end of the story. Moses spoke of another prophet all needed to heed: Jesus, Deuteronomy 18:15-18. Jesus was a descendant of Abraham, Matthew 1:1. He would save His people from their sins, Matthew 1:21. He didn’t come merely to save Israel, but the world, John 3:16. Peter preached this and taught Deuteronomy 18:15-18 was fulfilled in Christ, Acts 3:18-19. He quotes from Genesis 12:3 demonstrating this was fulfilled in Jesus. Jews first entered the kingdom of God. Then Gentiles, Acts 2:41; Acts 10. In Acts 13, Paul emphasized "The Promise" pointing to Jesus fulfilling Genesis 12:3. Acts 13:17: God had CHOSEN ISRAEL. The NATION PROMISE was fulfilled. Acts 13:19: The LAND PROMISE was fulfilled. Acts 13:20-23: "According to promise" God brought a Savior Jesus. Acts 13:24-26: Paul recognized his audience as being physical descendants of Abraham who feared God! Yet they ignored the prophets and Jesus and killed him, Acts 13:27-30. He was resurrected, Acts 17:31-32. Paul preached the good news of the "Promise." The good news is Jesus, Galatians 3:8-9. Acts 13:33: This promise (Blessing Promise) has been fulfilled. Acts 13:38-39: Through Jesus is where forgiveness of sins is found. The chosen of God in the New Covenant today are those who belong to Christ, 1 Peter 2:9; Galatians 3:6-9; Galatians 3:29; Colossians 3:12. Is the Jewish Nation God's Chosen People Today? No. Consider Romans 9:1-8. The current state of Israel does not have a divine status in the New Covenant. We are NOT commanded by God from scripture to support the current state of Israel. Supporting the current state of Israel may or may not politically wise. That’s politics. More important than politics is that God’s chosen people today are not identified by physical descent from Abraham but rather identified by faith in Jesus Christ, Galatians 3:24-27. What does this mean for Israel in the first century and beyond, Romans 9:1-6; 10:1-4? In the first century, Paul’s desire was that they would be saved. Those outside of Christ are not saved. But there is hope for Israel if they believe in Jesus, Romans 11:23. What this doesn’t mean: Hatred toward any Jewish person, James 2:11. Conclusion God’s chosen people today are NOT those who are physical descendants of Abraham (Israel), but those who have faith in Jesus to be the Son of God. This means anyone in this room—Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, young or old—can become part of God’s chosen people through Jesus. A Christian's allegiance is NOT to ANY nation (Israel/America) but must be to King Jesus, Israel 6:16.

What John 6 Teaches About Faith John 6 is one of the most remarkable chapters in the Gospels. It contains the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus walking on the water, and His famous "Bread of Life" discourse. At first glance, these appear to be three separate events, but they're actually connected by a single theme. Jesus is testing faith. Not faith in the sense of simply believing He exists, but faith that trusts Him when circumstances seem impossible and His teachings become difficult. Why Were They Following Jesus? John begins by telling us why the crowds were following Jesus. "A large crowd was following Him because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick." (John 6:2) Notice what John doesn't say. The people weren't following Jesus because they believed He was the Messiah or because they longed for eternal life. They were following Him because of what He could do for them. They loved the miracles. Instead of immediately engaging the crowd, Jesus went up on a mountain and sat down with His disciples. That detail is easy to overlook, but I don't think it's accidental. Before Jesus addresses the crowd, He first spends time with the men He is training. The crowd wanted miracles. Jesus wanted disciples. An Impossible Test As Jesus looked at the thousands of people gathering below, He turned to Philip and asked, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" John immediately reveals something Philip didn't know. "This He was saying to test him." So what exactly was the test? It wasn't whether Philip could solve a logistics problem. There wasn't a solution. There wasn't enough money. There wasn't enough food. There wasn't enough time. Jesus intentionally presented His disciples with an impossible situation. Philip immediately did what most of us would have done. He started doing the math. "Two hundred denarii worth of bread isn't enough." Andrew wasn't much different. He found a boy with five loaves and two fish, but immediately dismissed the idea. "What are these for so many people?" Both disciples had the same problem. Their thinking was governed by what they could see rather than by who Jesus was. God Often Tests Us the Same Way I think this is where John 6 becomes deeply personal. How often do we face a situation that seems impossible and immediately begin calculating? We measure our finances, our abilities, our resources, and our opportunities. We determine what is and isn't possible based entirely on what we can accomplish. But what if that's exactly what Jesus is testing? God frequently allows us to encounter situations we cannot fix because those are the moments that reveal where our trust truly rests. If every challenge could be solved by our own wisdom, there would be very little reason to depend on Him. Faith begins where our ability ends. After hearing Philip's and Andrew's responses, Jesus gave an unexpected command. "Have the people sit down." Imagine being one of the disciples. You have just spent several minutes explaining why feeding this crowd is impossible. Now Jesus wants everyone seated for dinner. I can't help but wonder what they were whispering to each other. "Does He have a plan?" "Where is the food coming from?" "This is going to be embarrassing." Yet they obeyed. Then Jesus began breaking the bread. It kept multiplying. The fish kept multiplying. Everyone ate until they were full. Then Jesus told the disciples to gather the leftovers. Twelve baskets worth of left overs. Think about carrying one of those baskets back. Every step would have reminded them that they had completely underestimated Jesus. The baskets weren't simply leftovers. They were lessons. The Point of the Test The miracle wasn't primarily about feeding hungry people. It was about teaching the disciples. Jesus wanted them to fully grasp one truth: You don't have enough. And you never will. The resources required are impossible. That's the point. As long as they believed the outcome depended on their own resources, they would continue to fail the test. Only when they learned to trust the One who supplied the resources would they begin to understand faith. The Crowd Still Doesn't Understand The next day the crowd found Jesus again. At first, that sounds encouraging, but Jesus exposed their real motivation. "You seek Me... because you ate of the loaves and were filled." They wanted another meal. Jesus wanted to give them eternal life. He redirected the conversation away from temporary bread and declared that He Himself was the Bread of Life. "Show Us a Sign" Perhaps the most surprising moment in the chapter comes next. The people asked Jesus for a sign. Think about that. He had just fed more than five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. Less than a day later...They wanted more evidence. The problem wasn't a lack of miracles. It was a lack of faith. No amount of evidence will ever satisfy a heart that has already decided not to trust. The Hard Teaching As Jesus continued teaching, His words became increasingly difficult. He told the crowd they must eat His flesh and drink His blood if they wanted eternal life. The people immediately began arguing because they misunderstood Him. Jesus wasn't speaking literally. He was teaching that following Him requires complete dependence. Just as physical food sustains our bodies, Christ must become the very source of our spiritual life. Many people couldn't accept that. John tells us they stopped following Him. Not because the evidence wasn't convincing. Because the teaching was too hard. The Final Test After the crowds began leaving, Jesus turned away from them and looked directly at the Twelve. "Do you also want to go away?" Peter's response may be one of the greatest statements of faith in all of Scripture. "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." Notice what Peter doesn't say. He doesn't say, "We understand everything." He simply knows there's nowhere else to go. Sometimes faith isn't having all the answers. Sometimes faith is knowing Who has them. The Same Test Today That same question still confronts us today. Many people are willing to follow Jesus when He provides bread. Far fewer are willing to follow Him when He asks for surrender. The real test of faith has never been whether Jesus can perform miracles. The real test is whether we will continue following Him when trusting Him costs us something.

Introduction Everything I’m about to share I verified by visiting a Catholic Church, speaking to someone there, and also picking up a booklet they give out for free! I told them who I was, where I preach, and why I was there. The Eucharist: What Catholics refer to as the Lord’s Supper. Webster’s Dictionary: “Communion.” Word: From the Greek Word ‘Eucharistia’ which means thanksgiving or gratitude. It’s related to the Greek verb ‘Eucharisteo’ meaning ‘to give thanks.’ In Matthew 26:27; Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24 the Greek text uses forms of Eucharisteo. The Belief: The elements LITERALLY becomes the body and blood of Jesus. “From the booklet Sacraments: The Seven Spiritual Wonders of the World: “The Catholic Church takes the words of John 6:53-55 literally.” Even though it remains in its regular substance. It’s believed when the priest pronounces sacred words “This is my body…” the bread and the fruit of the vine are transformed into the literal body and blood of the Savior. “The priest at each Mass repeats the words of Jesus over the bread and wine. An ordained priest is also required for the consecration of the bread and wine. The priest stands in the place of Christ, the one High Priest, and therefore must be a man. In the words of the consecration at each Mass, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood, the very Soul and Divinity, of Christ – a process is formally referred to as transubstantiation.” Also: It’s believed Jesus is LITERALY being sacrificed again. This is why it’s been called the ‘sacrifice of the mass.’ According to the dictum handed down by the Council of Trent, this sacrifice is identical with the type of sacrifice that Jesus suffered on the cross. For many centuries in Roman Catholic history, lay members commonly received only the bread while the priest alone drank from the cup, a practice known as ‘communion under one kind.’ The lay members eat only the bread (wafer), but supposedly he receives both elements (flesh and blood) within the bread. Some may offer both now. Talking to someone at the Catholic Church, they have only had the bread (which they refer to as the ‘host’) since 2020, due to COVID. The priest at the taking of the Fruit of the Vine also adds a little bit of water. This is the doctrine of Transubstantion. It developed later in church history. The Eucharist is part of the 7 Sacraments which derives from the Latin ‘sacramentum.’ The meaning is “a thing set apart as holy.” These are Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, the Eucharist, Sacred Orders, Holy Matrimony, and Extreme Unction. By Medieval Times (C.A. 500-1500), the Roman Church had become deeply steeped in considerable error. The Augustinian cleric, Hugo of St. Victor (1096-1141) characterized the sacraments as outward and visible signs of an inward and spiritual grace. Some Protestants, while rejecting five of the so-called sacraments, nonetheless adorned both baptism and the Eucharist. The formal doctrine of transubstantiation: not defined until the medieval period, especially at the Fourth Lateran Council (1215) and the Council of Trent in 1551. This is a part of Catholic Theology. But is it Biblical Reality? NO! Why is any of this important? The Eucharist, along with infant baptism, and sprinkling for baptism along with many other false doctrines are a result of a departure from the faith, 1 Timothy 4:1-4; 2 Timothy 4:1. What do scripture teach concerning the Lord’s Supper? And why do many believe the false doctrine of Transubstantion? First, let’s look at the truth: God’s word. The Lord’s Supper in the New Testament Designed by Christ Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. “Lord’s Supper is found in 1 Corinthians 11:20. Jesus partook of it with His apostles prior to His death, Matthew 26:26-29. All About Christ Notice what Jesus emphasized. “Take, eat; this is My body…” “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sin.” Matthew 26:27-28. In 1 Corinthians 11:23-24, as Paul rehearsed the words of Jesus, we learn how this meal is to be done in remembrance of Jesus. “We proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes…” It’s to Be Done Often It’s to be done often, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. The frequence: The first day of the week, Acts 20:7. Through an approved apostolic example and necessary inference. A Meal That Can Bring Judgment It’s a meal that can bring judgment, 1 Corinthians 11:27-29. An Unseen Guest Is Present Matthew 26:26-29. “I will not drink this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Jesus had partaken this meal with the apostles physically, but that would change. In the kingdom (which is present), Christ would be them and the saints. He wasn’t literally eating and drinking with them, but through His death they had fellowship with Him. The kingdom exists. We’re in the kingdom of God. We have communion (this word is ‘koinonia’ and means fellowship) with Him, 1 Corinthians 10:16. There’s No Variety The Elements are the Unleavened Bread and Fruit of the Vine, Matthew 26:26-29. The Unleavened Bread represents His body which was given for us. Through His body and sacrifice, we have been delivered from death. The fruit of the vine “Was a Jewish idiom for the juice of the grape.” The fruit of the vine represents Christ’s blood of the New Testament. It is through His blood that we can obtain redemption from our sins. The emphasis in the New Testament is NOT the container, but rather the contents the container held. Comparing the New Testament with Catholic Tradition Everyone is to eat and drink. Yet in the Catholic church only the priests drink the cup. It’s to be done to remember the sacrifice of Jesus. It’s not Jesus being sacrificed over and over again, Hebrews 9:28. To believe so is to diminish what He accomplished on the cross. After giving thanks in Matthew 26:28-29 Jesus still referred to it as “The Fruit of the Vine.” Paul repeatedly calls it “Bread, Cup, Proclamation.” Even after the prayer/blessing, Paul still calls it bread and not the literal body of Jesus. If it literally changed, why still call it bread? As we give thanks, we’re not making some mystical statement asking God to somehow change the emblems into the literal body of Jesus. There’s no Bible evidence of Jesus, the apostles, or saints believing or teaching that they were literally consuming the physical body and blood of Jesus. Rather, these elements are symbols to help us remember His sacrifice. So, why do so many believe this to be true? Misinterpreting John 6 Part of the confusion that’s led some to believe this is their understanding of John 6. In John 6:51-54, Jesus says one must eat His flesh and drink His blood if they want to have eternal life. Even the Jews at that time grumbled with these words. Some believe John 6 is about the Lord’s Supper. That’s false! This chapter has nothing to do with the Lord’s Supper. Even some brethren are wrong. First: The Lord’s Supper had not yet been instituted by Jesus, John 13-17. Second, the context is about believing in Jesus. John 6:1-15: Jesus early had fed 5,000. Then He walked on water, John 6:18-22. The people searched for Jesus, John 6:25-26. They were seeking Him for more food. Jesus speaks of food that endures to eternal life, John 6:27. Is that literal food we consume through our mouth and into our belly? No! Rather, it’s belief in Jesus, John 6:29. This chapter is emphasizing faith in Jesus! Jesus repeatedly connects “eating” with faith, John 6:35. “He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and He who believes in Me shall never thirst.” Are we take that literally? If so, we’re all in trouble, because we continue to get hungry and thirsty! Even Paul was, 2 Corinthians 11:27. During His ministry, Jesus at times would use figurative language, John 16:23-29. He would describe Herod as a “Fox” Luke 13:32. He wasn’t a literal fox! Jesus described Himself as “The Door.” Are we take that as a literal door with a frame? He calls Himself the vine, John 15:5. He calls disciples the salt of the earth, Matthew 5:13. Are we take these literally? No one does! Now, connect that to when Jesus says, “This is My body.” Here, He was speaking figuratively. But what does it mean then when He says, “Eat My flesh?” In John 6:50-56, Jesus is emphasizing He’s the source of eternal life. If one is to have eternal life, they must have faith in Him. This is about fellowship with Jesus. “Abiding” language is used. One eats and drinks of Jesus when… They hear and our taught by Him, John 6:44-45. When they believe and abide. When they live for Him. This chapter has nothing to do with Transubstantiation or the LS. Literal Interpretation Creates Serious Problems Jesus would be commanding cannibalism. The disciples would have violated Jewish prohibitions concerning blood, Leviticus 17:10-12. Christ’s physical body would supposedly be present in thousands of places simultaneously. Scripture presents it as: Symbolic, Memorial, Spiritual Fellowship. Apostolic Tradition or Man-Made Tradition What’s happened with the Catholic church, is that they have departed from scripture. First century saints were to abide in the apostles doctrine, Acts 2:42. Anything that conflicted with apostolic teaching was/is to be rejected, 1 John 4:1-6. We’re to stand firm in the apostles tradition, 2 Thessalonians 2:15. Paul is speaking of words that are the very words of God, 1 Thessalonians 2:10-13. When people depart from Scripture they fall into error. When examining the first century church, worship was quite simple, Acts 2:42-47. The Catholic Church is an invention of men. See Matthew 16:18. This should encourage us to never lose the desire to search the scriptures, Acts 17:11. Some Catholics would have us believe we’re missing out if not partaking the Eucharist. Conclusion Jesus is head over His church, Ephesians 1:21-22. The King resides in Heaven. The Eucharist, Infant Baptism, Sprinkling give people false hope. They are to be rejected. True hope is found in Jesus and the words recorded for us.

Israel was successful. By God’s power, they conquered their foes in Canaan. The young nation then enjoyed in the glory of God and indulged itself in the luxurious Promise Land that flowed with milk and honey. They faithfully served the LORD. In Joshua 24:31 it says, “Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, and had known all the deeds of the LORD which He had done for Israel.” But their faithfulness didn’t last; they forgot God. The book of Judges provides a terrible snapshot for Israel. One of the problems was that Israel left an opening for the devil. In Judges 1:28, it says, “It came about when Israel became strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely.” The enemy was not driven out. With time, a defection of heart occurred. In Judges 2:10-13, it reads, “All the generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel. Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals, and they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the LORD to anger. So they forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.” This was the beginning of a cycle that was repeated in Judges: a cycle of rebellion, retribution, repentance, rescue and rest. In the periods of the rescue, God raised up deliverers to lead Israel: judges. The first was Othniel, Judges 3:7-11. Yet Israel continued to repeat the same mistakes. Why? They forgot God – and forgetting leads to failure! The book of Judges says a lot about Israel’s on and off relationship with God; it shows people leaving God and returning – and may raise questions about us. Judges is a grotesque book in that it demonstrates how awful sin really is. It also reveals a lot about Satan. We quickly see Satan is a relentless adversary. He pursued Israel. He will pursue us as well, 1 Peter 5:8. Let’s consider what other observations we can learn. Satan works to make men forget God. During the days of Joshua, the people had a close union with God, but they couldn’t rely on the past to secure the present. They forgot. It’s easy to focus on the past. But we must ask, “Where am I now?” Not, did I seek Him then, but do I seek Him now? In the days of Jeremiah, the people also forgot God, Jeremiah 2:32. The scripture says, “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.” Backsliders often seem unaware they have fallen away – another scheme of Satan. Israel was slow to discover their failure; they were surprised God was against them. Have we fallen into the same trap, James 4:2-4? We must examine our faith, 2 Corinthians 13:5. Israel failed to examine themselves. While God may not be completely removed from our minds, we can forget Him by ceasing to rely upon Him, include Him, consider Him, and render acts of service to Him. We can forget Him by failing to honor Him through loving obedience; we forget our sense of indebtedness. People leave God after they’ve first forgotten God! Failure’s end is worse than we imagine. In Judges 3:8, it says, “Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, so that He sold them into the hands of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the sons of Israel served Cushan-rishathiam eight years.” That name means, “Cushan of two-fold wickedness.” He was double bad! His name described his reputation as an oppressor and a ruthless warlord. Israel engaged in idolatry and so God them a savage and barbaric heathen king to rule over them. Why did they wait 8-years to repent? Why do we wait so long to change? The end is worse than we can imagine. Don’t wait to turn back to God. God makes a way back. Satan wants us to think that we can’t return to God. That’s a lie. We can! God provides a way back. Israel acknowledged their sin. God provided a deliverer through Judges. They were delivered by God’s mercy and power. Recovery and change began with the people when they cried out to the LORD, Judges 3:9. They repented and sought the LORD. Jesus is our deliverer, Romans 5:8. He can and will continue to deliver us, 1 John 1:8-10. Is it time to return to Him?

Prayer is one of the greatest privileges God has given His people. Through prayer we bring our worries, fears, hopes, and needs before the Creator of the universe. Yet sometimes I wonder if we unknowingly approach prayer with the roles reversed. We may not say it out loud, but sometimes our prayers can become little more than a list of things we want God to do for us. We tell Him what problem needs fixing, what door needs opening, what blessing needs providing, and what outcome we expect. Without realizing it, we can begin to think of prayer as a way of directing God rather than submitting ourselves to Him. It is as though God exists to serve our needs. Of course, no faithful Christian would consciously say that. Yet our attitude in prayer can sometimes reveal that we have the relationship backward. God is not our servant. He is our King. When we pray, we are not standing over God giving instructions. We are kneeling before the throne of heaven. That perspective changes everything. Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Before any requests are made, there is submission. Before daily bread, before forgiveness, before deliverance, there is an acknowledgment that God’s will is greater than our own. Jesus Himself demonstrated this attitude in the Garden of Gethsemane. Knowing the suffering that lay ahead, He prayed, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). If anyone had the right to ask for relief, it was Jesus. Yet even His prayer was offered in complete submission to the Father’s will. The apostles taught the same mindset. Paul instructed Christians, “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Notice that Paul calls them requests. A request is not a demand. A request recognizes the authority of the one being asked. This does not mean God is distant or uncaring. Quite the opposite. Scripture invites us to cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us. We are encouraged to pray boldly and confidently. But confidence should never be confused with entitlement. A citizen may confidently approach a good king. A child may confidently approach a loving father. Yet neither has the authority to demand that their wishes be granted. The same is true in prayer. We may ask. We should ask. God wants His children to bring their needs before Him. But every request should be offered with the understanding that He is wiser than we are, sees more than we see, and knows what is ultimately best. When we pray, we submit ourselves to God and recognize that we are kneeling before the King. We may make requests of Him, but we do so in full submission to His will. Whether He grants those requests is His decision, not ours. Perhaps our prayers would be transformed if we remembered that simple truth. Prayer is not about getting God to follow our agenda. It is about placing ourselves before His throne and trusting Him enough to say: “Your will be done.”

There are moments in life when doing the right thing seems to make life harder instead of easier. That was true for the prophet Jeremiah. He was faithful to God, yet he still suffered greatly because of it. In Jeremiah 19–20, we get a glimpse into the heart of a weary servant of God. The same challenge existed in the churches of Galatia. Paul told the saints in Galatians 6:9-10 not to grow weary in doing good. Why would he say that? Because serving God can become exhausting. Restoring those caught in sin can be tiring. Refuting false teachers can drain us. Helping others sometimes creates tension and frustration. Faithful living always comes with a personal cost. Discouragement can slowly creep in. Yet Paul kept serving. He loved the brethren even when he was weary. His example was Jesus Christ. Loving God with all our heart is not merely knowing the right thing to do, but also having the endurance to keep doing it when life gets hard. When we look at Jesus, we see someone who truly understood weariness. His workload was heavy. He became physically tired. His soul was deeply grieved. There were frustrating moments with the apostles. He dealt with misunderstandings, weak faith, petty disputes, and enormous pressure. Yet there is a key distinction: Jesus felt weary, but He never quit doing good. At the well in John 4, Jesus was tired, but He still spoke to the Samaritan woman and brought many people to God. In Gethsemane, His soul was deeply troubled, but He still went to the cross. Tired, but not done. Jesus also never grew weary praying for His people. Despite the flaws and failures of the apostles, He continued investing in them because He saw the bigger picture. He understood the eternal mission of God. The apostles learned this same mindset after the resurrection. Suffering no longer stopped them because their perspective changed. Paul endured hardship because he focused on eternity rather than temporary pain. His identity in Christ became bigger than his suffering. The same must be true for us. If our purpose is only about ourselves, we will not last. We must align our thinking with the mind of Christ. When we truly comprehend the love of God, our perspective changes. Imagine what a congregation can become when people refuse to grow weary in well-doing. Souls will be saved. Visitors will not go unnoticed. Struggling Christians will be restored. Young people will not feel invisible. There will be plenty of willing teachers that will help to avoid burnout. The church will be built up through truth, encouragement, and spiritual maturity. A marathon runner does not quit at mile twenty because they see the finish line ahead. The same is true spiritually. God sees your labor. Don’t grow weary. Keep going. The harvest is coming.