Posts Tagged ‘ Grass ’

Advent 2022 – Day 10: Isaiah 40:6-8

A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

Isaiah 40:6-8, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.

Sin is the act of willfully separating from God, putting something between God and ourselves, weakening ourselves from the inside out as we cut ourselves off from the source of life.

And God will let us have what we want. (Romans 1:20-32)

Therefore, we internally die continually, and the only hope is a long life to stave off the eternal death and suffering.

All because we choose our sin over God and His Word.

Yet, God came to us, breathing out His Word and His Spirit to give us new life through His death and resurrection.

We therefore prepare ourselves by investigating His eternal Word through reading the Scriptures and trusting in the Son.

We may still suffer in this world, but we have the hope of eternal life in New bodies with our Lord forever.

May we seek the Lord who gives us life, preparing ourselves by seeking His Word.

Sermon on the Mount study notes: Matthew 6:25-34

I have started a small group series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). I am sharing my notes in case anyone else wants to use them with their group. [Reminder that these are only notes!]

Sermon on the Mount – Part 11

Matthew 5:1-2:
Jesus wants to teach the crowds: Who are they? Jewish disciples: People who understand the
Scriptures (at least to a point). Notice from 7:28 the crowds still came along, but this teaching is for His disciples.

What does “blessed” mean?
Based on the first twelve verses, blessed means realizing our own wretchedness and need for a Savior. In other words, it is becoming/being a Christian.

What was discussed last time?

  • Where we store our riches
  • Inner darkness vs. light
    • Is our focus on the Kingdom or ourselves?
    • Are we listening to/teaching selfish, worldly teachings?
  • We can’t serve two masters.

Matthew 6:25:
“Therefore …”: Jesus has been leading to a point in this chapter:

  • We give to those in need
  • We fast and pray
  • We do it all to focus on God and His Kingdom

Since we are focusing on God:

  • Why should we worry?
    • Food
    • Water
    • Clothes

Matthew 6:26-32:
We get a mini-lesson on why not to worry:

  • Birds of the air
    • Psalm 147:9 (see vv. 7-11)
    • Job 38:41
  • Solomon and flowers
  • If these can be clothed so beautifully, yet …
    • Isaiah 40:8, 61:10-11
      • We are reminded that nothing in this world lasts, so we should trust what God says.
      • 2 Peter 3:9-13
      • This all reminds us that such as the Prosperity Gospel is false

Matthew 6: 33-34:
We get the reminder that we trust God alone. And what does that look like?

  • Philippians 4:4-7
  • 1 Peter 5:5-11

VerseD: 1 Peter 1:24-25

for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
1 Peter 1:24‭-‬25, ESV

The Word (Bible) tells us we are all destined for destruction, unless we follow and believe the Eternal Word (Christ) has shed His blood on our behalf and rose to life again to give us hope of eternal life.