Matthew 24:35 ~ HIS Words

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.


We rush past so many known, familiar, loved, comforting Words of Jesus and what do they actually say?

One answer immediately is - we all have opinions on interpretations on God's Word and also the validity. God is God. And God does not lie. Just because we don't believe some of God's Word to be His, His Word is not invalidated.

A human being can pray as Hezekiah does for a Word of God to be miraculously changed. That rarely happens. This is far different from prayer.

Prayer is promised many times in Scripture to be loved, heeded and answered. Miracles occur because the Heart of God warms to His Word being sent forth.

"Just because you believer or disbelieve God's Scripture - this doesn't suggest this doesn't apply to you."

And in the Old Testament we needed a prophet to explain what God means. God is so Vast while our lives are small, and the years are short, we might not encounter all of God's Word in our lives.

You might not encounter real war in our daily lives.
We might not encounter the amazing and overwhelming miracles of the New Testament.
Yet we live in a world changed and referenced by historians to this Word of God.

One of the right answers to the unanswerable "This isn't the Word of God" ? Fine, debate it with me in 90 years.

Right err on the side of Life and Mercy!

The first part is easy to understand!  We Know we will all pass on.  All of to His Heaven. Joel 3 tells us we will all have time with God. And we will be Judged.

 No one can be good enough, and we rely upon Jesus.

Will Heaven pass away?

Jesus says right there, Matthew 24, that Heaven passes away. Jesus is explaining what?

Jesus explains Heaven a lot.

Acts 23:8
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.


Matthew 22
28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?”

29 Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.


346 Times Heaven is referred to in the Old Testament.

Then Jesus tells us of a New Covenant.

The Old Testament contains  346 references to Heaven. This is called  Sheol - the Place of the Dead.Yet not like Hades, God is present! Matthew 22 refers to Heaven before the New Covenant.

Jesus is in the process of the Lord's Prayer ~ Bringing God's Will in Heaven being done on earth. Good News!

John 15:15
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you

How is Jesus changing Heaven?
Immediately we see, Jesus is calling for a warmer Heaven. We are not just servants.

John 16:23
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Luke 10
And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you."


We all know about Elijah in the Transfiguration, Elijah has Jesus refers to as John the Baptist. Joshua of the Exodus  has a parallel (I'm fond of saying the Bible repeats, so we remember and learn again in new paths). Joshua is repeated in the return from Babylonian Exile. A repeat of a good Joshua! (No, not reincarnation.)

Joshua the High Priest of the newly built Second Temple is in Ezra and Nehemiah's High Priest; he is called Joshua ,son of Jehozadak, in the books of Haggai and Zechariah.

Zechariah 3 tells us of the end of the old Heaven  Old Testament and reverses the story of Job Chapter one and two. Satan has not been thrown out of Heaven before. God's Heaven had to accept all of the living.

Isaiah 14 explains Satan wanted to surpass God.

Ezekiel 28:13
You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. 14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. 16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. 17Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.

I looked up once so see if cherubim was cherub and found NO.








A New Heaven and a New Earth

Here is the end of Job Chapter One and Two with Satan chatting up God in His Kingdom. Job is harassed by the devil.  And is a repeat of Jesus explanations of His Loving Father.

Zechariah 3

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan[a] standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”

3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”

Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.”

5 Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.

6 The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: 7 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.

8 “‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch"


Tada. Here is Jesus and warm up, the pre-repeat - the Prodigal Father running to us ~ the unworthy!

And we are not required to sit next to the cherub who would plot against us or God. Not suffering the same fate as perilously awful.

Revelation 21:1
Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away


Revelation 21 continues

23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.


The Gates of Heaven are now Open. God is our Light.






And Earth?
We used to need a prophet to explain this to us and explain.
God uses His Spirit and His Word now.
Jesus has made us clean before God. 
Teaching is helpful as our soul, filled with the Holy Spirit speaks to us.
All that is required of us is to invite Jesus to dwell within us.

God promises if we seek, He will answer.


John 4
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”


1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus








Jesus is the Word of God for us.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:9
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

We should not worry for God's Holy Spirit coming to dwell in us. He is not like the old Star Trek movies demanding the use of the starship. God creates us to be ourselves, because this is why God loves us. We are His Children.

John 1:12
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 Corinthians 3:11
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.



Thanks Be to God our Father Running to us. Jesus the Lord! Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Matthew 20 ~ sent them

Matthew 20

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

What did Jesus know of vineyards?

Matthew has 10 examples
Mark 4
Luke 7

And, of course, Jesus' first sign was to make wine - for Mary.

Jesus for His Joy in life was known, and referred sarcastically as the Pharisees proclaimed Him to be a drinker and a glutton - Matthew 11:19. Jesus lived the goodness of God in Genesis 1. Jesus was part of this life.



The times required the drinking of wine.

1 Timothy 5:23
No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

This was practical.

And Jesus spoke of working hard and used analogies people could relate to their lives.

I was looking a few years ago at Rick Warren's Facebook. The complaints were heated and Rick Warren specifically asked people not to argue on his FB page.

The Complaints on Rick Warrens FB page ran like this:

First Person: I really don't like Pastor Warren to refer or to sermonize the Old Testament. The ways are brutal and unloving. Paster Warren should stick only to the New Testament.

Second Reader: I object to the parts of the Bible written by Paul. Surely, Jesus was unknown to Paul and we should only adhere to the Gospels of Jesus.

Reader 3: Oh, many parts of the New Testament are quite questionable. But even so, we see Jesus acting with such hostility in the Gospels. We should realize God is only Love and only proclaim His mercies. 









Jesus Christ is the Same Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. His most blessings oriented Words are found surrounding His Laws. Hear O Israel, The Lord Thy God is One. 

The Law isn't for grins. This is God putting forth "Love Thy Neighbor" as a courtesy. Keeping Peace. Encouraging Love and harmony in orderly conduct.





















So let's not add to Scripture. Fully and completely saying this is not Scripture, instead let's call this a modern day parallel as our modern parable.

We can work all our lives to complain and tear the Bible down about our doubts as to Scripture and Promises. We can fully say these doubts. However, our opinions are but dust in the wind. There is one Employer in Life. And His Workers generally can't carry their own doubts and arguments forth about their own opinions longer than about 80 years.

Because the One Employer retires His Workers.

And His Words continue to go forth.

God has a little something to say about that.

Isaiah 45

Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it. 9"Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker-- An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands '? 10"Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?'


Our words will melt away.

The Word of God endures, prospers, proclaims and will go forth to His Glory. And Jesus says this so much better: 


Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.


And we say with relief and prayer.  If GOD is for us, who can be against us. Jesus Christ be for us and guide, lead and protect us we pray. Your will be done. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Luke 12:29-31 ~ your Father knows that you need these things

Luke 12:29-31

"Do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you."

These Olive Trees in the Garden of Gethsemane have seen two millenniums. Josephus records them being spared when Jerusalem became rubble in 70 A.D. These trees have probably seen more upheaval than peace. How will peace be obtained?

In the small things in life. A lamp is mended. A fan is repaired. Small acts of kindness giving the heart a chance to be grateful. A son returns home. A wash basin is restored.

You see, reconciliation is great, but living together, working together, serving each other - now that involves some interesting dynamics! Every one of us knows from experience that being reconciled is not the same as living together. The dynamics of living together takes on going work. It takes commitment to relationship, habits of healthy and fair communication, and especially keeping the relationship clean. All of us know that in living together, working together, little things can irritate, habits can unintentionally offend, communication in the negotiation of life can become harsh and undisciplined and we can end up regretting what we are saying and the relationship becomes defiled. Now this happens when people are compatible, the personalities fit well together. Just imagine the dynamics when sinful people try to get alone with a holy God who is a consuming fire. The wash basin, which was the next piece of furniture after the bronze altar of sacrifice had to do with the dynamics of keeping the relationship with God clean.

Exodus 30
17 Then the Lord said to Moses, 18 “Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it. 19 Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. 20 Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made to the Lord by fire, 21 they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.”

How will we sweep away what clutters us?

Jesus knew His disciples had come to a time of decision. Some wanted seats in Heaven. They had almost all left upon finding Jesus wanted them to eat His Body and Blood.

The things God asks of people are difficult. Only faith in God gets us by. Humans change, fade and wither. God wants us to develop our skill to see further than the immediate journey.

John 9:4
"We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work."

Jesus said Give us the Day.

Ecclesiastes 9:10
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."

Paul explained this. Peter spoke of this.

John 13:9
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!

Isaiah said "Send me!"

So many people fear God will send them forth to scary places.
God is with us every day and all of time.

Matthew 8:27
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!”

Matthew 7:25
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

Matthew 8:26
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

Acts 2:2
Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

John 6:68
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

For millenniums, people have looked, prayed, trusted God with His guidance. Including the ancestry of Jesus.

Ruth 1:16-17
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Luke 15:11-24 ~ I will set out

Luke 15:11-24

Jesus continued: 
“There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’

So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses,
he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off,
 his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

We know Jesus healed usually immediately. And we know the woman who waited twelve years. We remember the man who was blind his entire life.

What about unconditional love and forgiveness?

The absolute truth is a lot of things are never given an apology.

God Requires this in our relationship with Him.

Mortals are vastly different. More like Jacob and living, coping, surviving his sons' plot to cover up selling Joseph.

God sees far into the heart and He records our lives, by name, before we are born in the Lamb's Book of Life. God gives us Jesus and we are Forgiven!

What about mortals not getting an apology and still being urged "FORGIVE" with enthusiasm. And this can be self-righteous. And almost a "shut up" mentality. And God's challenge to Grow Up and Love more.

I was told to forgive once. I felt ANGRY. And talked with my friend Allen. Allen said, with calm assurance, "You have forgiveness issues. And you have to forgive." I retorted, "You want me to Jump 12 feet up? Straight in the air?" "Yes, He does."

Let me tell you about that. Can't be done.

So see Luke 15. There is something important there.

1. So he divided his property between them.
2. set off for a distant country
3. squandered ~ After he had spent everything
4. I will set out and go back to my father
5. while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled

What do the 5 phrases have in common??? A time to ponder, to reflect, to sort, to heal.

NOT an immediate response.

God is going to make, with prayer and His help, a way to jump to that forgiveness.

God FORGIVES according to 1 Corinthians 13 - IMMEDIATELY - a Sincere Apology.

We should as well. Honestly doing what is within our ability.

"I will set out" - Father God, please forgive me my sins. I Really Need That! I want to forgive the other person. Let me, with the Help You have, in the Love You have for that person - to forgive.


And we just saw God the Father running to us - telling us about - time - is a process before forgiven sinks in (sometimes). Forgiveness in our depths..

1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19We love, because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

Jesus waited for James, Joses, Jude and Simon to understand. God is Good. HE is the one Good one. He will allow time for the process. And love in the duration.

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding

1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your cares on Him because He cares for you

Father God,
Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.


Jesus the Lord.

Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved. Amen!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Isaiah 55:2 ~ Listen carefully

Can we achieve Contentment in the face of Changes?

Maybe I'm illogical, but we sometimes really teeter on emotions.

Saying the Lord's Prayer, helps me A LOT.





Myth and Reality

Long Dusty Robes equal tranquility. Maybe we should phone the Anti-depressant makers and tell them.

Except the reality of Life - we need the Changes. Not to be bored. The Disciples sat on cutting edge. Not tranquility.



Seasons. God is growing us, most crops grow in four seasons. God is interesting that way.
When the Lord's Prayer doesn't center us - it's time to look at what we are learning, experiencing. Tear glands come in handy for honest restoration to the path forward.


Let's look at Contentment.

Continual Feast
"All the days of the afflicted are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast."
Proverbs 15:15

"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones."
Proverbs 17:22


What do we Expect? Working with single moms at the pregnancy assistance center, makes me realize love goes a long way.





"If they hear and serve Him, they will end their days in prosperity and their years in pleasures."
Job 36:11

There is an adventure to Serving God. Rarely do you see a Minister who serves Him get stuck forever. Sure they experience hard things. Yet God will stir the Wind.

Paul said, "We are going to see how it goes with me."





Cal and I sat at lunch. He moved this week and moving is assessment, logistics, physically difficult - home arrival was 4 a.m. We were quiet. And finally I said, let's discuss two life styles.

I know a family and the father was a Korean Veteran. He got an engineering degree from the GI Bill. He told his three kids, I'm only going to pay for U of H. No Greeks. Get a part-time job. Live at home. More or less he told them work is a privilege and partying was out. His kids stayed in the area to care for his widow for 30 years. They have good jobs and many connections in the city. The three adult siblings have started a profitable after hours career. (In wine ! With no whining!)

Then you have the rest of us. We moved from Dallas and it took about two years to feel comfortable in another city. We sent our kids to college and Cal moved back to the Dallas area. His job sent their employees to work from home - rather than live in an apartment 24/7 Cal moved home to be with us. That's an adjustment. A lot of his friends are in other cities, like he has been. And I said, Cal, the adjustments in life teach us, we can "adjust".

Suddenly Life was more fun. Sincerity is part of Contentment. We were being quiet not exchanging some serious thoughts. Truth spoken created comfort.


"Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance."
Isaiah 55:2




I was looking at a friend's pamphlet on Alzheimer's.

They presented two versions of the same story.

"Mom is so out of it. She looks vague and different. Doesn't know my name. She can't function in the world anymore. The institution is not her home."

"Mom is always smiling when I go to see her. She is holding hands with the lady next door. They told me, smiling like five year olds, that they are Best Friends for Years. They sometimes sing songs like school kids. Mom doesn't know my name, but she knows she is cared for and secure."







A Continual Feast is a treasure hunt. And requires sincerity.


Father God, help me to be in the sight of God chosen and precious, building up like living stones. Building up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood.

Offering up spiritual thanks, putting my hands out for you, looking for Your Wind. Being acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Knowing it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Jesus is our Hope. Let's See how this will go with me!

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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