Four Points Church

"Fulfilled - "Jesus Conqures the Flesh " Matt 26:30-75 " Sep 15,2019

Jesus and His disciples end their final Passover meal with singing. This was common practice in Judaism during the first century. The Jewish hymnbook was the Psalms. Psalms 113-118 were known as the “Hallel” or “praise psalms” and traditionally sung at Passover. If Jesus followed the custom, Psalm 118 would be the hymn that was sung in this text. Jesus then took His disciples to the Mount of Olives. Once there He laid another bitter truth on the disciples. He told them, “they would all fall away this very night” (vs. 31). Peter becomes the focus of their prophesied failure, but “all” the disciples claim their loyalty, and they “all” fail their Lord (vs. 56). Jesus took His inner circle, Peter, James, and John, into a garden to pray.

"Fulfilled - The Passover Matthew 26: 14-29" September 08, 2019

It is the time of the Passover celebration.  This is a significant festival within Judaism that lasts an entire week and consists of two meaningful events.  The first is the Passover meal.  This meal occurs in one evening and commemorates God’s provision of the paschal lamb.  The blood of the lamb was placed on the doorposts of the Israelite homes.  The death angel saw the blood and then “passed over” their homes thereby saving their families from God’s wrath (Exodus 12:1-13).  Next, the feast of unleavened bread begins and lasts the remainder of the week.  This extended celebration commemorates the Israelites freedom from their slavery in Egypt (Exodus 13:1-10). It is very significant that the betrayal, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus begins during the onset of these feasts.  It will be made known throughout the entire church age that the blood of Jesus saves us from the wrath of God (Romans 5:9-11) and also frees us from the bondage of our sin (Romans 6:18).

"Fulfilled - "Waht a Waste " Matt 26:1-16 " Sep 01,2019

Last week we finished the Olivet Discourse, the final section of Jesus’ teaching in the book of Matthew. This week, we begin the Passion Narrative, the story of how Jesus willingly offers Himself for those he came to save. In this passage, Matthew gives us four brief scenes which build on one another towards the crucifixion, which is to come.

"Fulfilled - Waiting and Working Matthew 25" August 25, 2019

Chapter 25 begins with two parables. Parables are an ancient way of making one or two points, but are not meant to be taken literally line or line. This final section of the last sermon of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew is sometimes presented in a way that promotes worldwide evangelization. However, this view is only one hundred years old. Worldwide evangelization is seen in Matthew 28 and is clearly realized as making disciples of all the nations. This last parable shows us the way we should act toward fellow believers.

"Fulfilled - Senior Pastor Jesus Matthew 24: 1-51" August 18, 2019

The disciples have asked Jesus some very important questions about the destruction of the temple. Many argue that the temple mentioned in this text is in fact a new temple that will be built in Jerusalem at some point in the future. However, the evidence from the text suggests that the temple that is destroyed is in fact the same temple the disciples have seen (Matt. 24:1). Jesus answers His disciples questions with detail and compassion. He is not trying to confuse them or inundate them with esoteric information. Instead, Jesus speaks to promote obedience and faith that His disciples will need in a very disturbing time they will experience. A time when Jesus won’t be there with them in physical form. You will see and recognize the compassion of Jesus for His disciples throughout this text.

"Fulfilled - "The Olivet Discourse" Matt 24:1-3 " Aug 11,2019

Since chapter 21, we have seen Jesus performing His ministry within the temple in Jerusalem. The temple that Jesus ministered in is known as Herod’s temple and is actually considered the 3rd temple to have existed. The first temple was built by Solomon and was glorious and adorned with gold and precious jewels. However, this temple was destroyed by Babylon in 587 BC. The second temple, known as Zerubbabel’s temple, was completed around 516 BC. This temple fell greatly beneath the glory of Solomon’s temple. Through a political act to achieve favor with the Jews, Herod the Great began to remodel the second temple around 19 BC. This renovated third temple was the temple in which Jesus ministered.

"Fulfilled - The Disease and Its Cure Matthew 23" August 04, 2019

After successfully defending His ministry three times, Jesus now turns to the crowds and His disciples to teach them.  It must be understood that the religious leaders have not suddenly disappeared.  They are there to hear these scathing judgments from Jesus.  However, Jesus doesn’t refer to them personally.  He is shepherding His people.  The scribes and pharisees do not belong among that number as Jesus points out in seven distinct woes, or judgments, against them.  The main theme in the first 13 verses is what Jesus identifies as the disease and its cure.  The disease is pride.  The cure is humility.

"The Gospel According to The Psalms - Psalms 48 - Restoration and the Unshakable Kingdom" July 28, 2019

Psalm 48 is a hymn and ritual worship song that was sung by Jewish pilgrims to Jerusalem.  It is a song that praises the eternal attributes of God by looking at the physical architecture of Jerusalem.  The psalm directs the pilgrims’ attention to the elevated mount as they approach the city, the walls and citadels as they enter the city, the temple mount and dwelling of God for worship, and the towers/ramparts as they leave.  This is a psalm sung to remember the majesty, glory, and eternal protection/deliverance of God.

"The Gospel According to The Psalms - Psalms 103 - Remember Redemption" July 21, 2019

We all have a natural propensity to forget information. Whether it’s forgetting an item on a grocery list or forgetting a birthday of a loved one, we can all recall a situation in which we had a difficult time remembering something. This becomes a serious problem when we connect this to our relationship with Jesus. Even in the midst of our forgetfulness, God remembers us and is compassionate because of His redemptive love He has shown us in Jesus.

"The Gospel According to The Psalms - Psalms 51 - The Fall" July 15, 2019

Last week, we looked at Creation in Psalm 8, how God made everything good, to reflect His character. Man was given a special position, to rule over creation, and the privilege of bearing His image and likeness (Gen 1:26-27). This week we look at the Fall through Psalm 51, David’s prayer for cleansing and restoration following his sin with Bathsheba, his friend Uriah’s wife (2 Sam 11-12).