The book of Hebrews discusses in great detail how Jesus Christ is the ultimate High Priest.  He accomplished what the Levitical priests could only be hopeful of. Hebrews 2:17 describes how He came to earth to become like man “in order that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people”.  He was tempted yet victorious.  Earthly priests were weak and full of sin.  They needed to offer a sacrifice to cleanse themselves before they could offer a sacrifice for their people.  Jesus is far superior to the earthly priests.  He was sinless so He did not need atonement for Himself.  He is able to take His people into God’s presence, persistently pray for them, and provide holiness and purity.¹  Hebrews 9:24 explains how He entered into Heaven to continue His work for mankind in God’s presence.  He is holy, He is eternal, and His priesthood is permanent.

On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would sprinkle the blood of animals upon the Mercy Seat.  It is important to note that animal sacrifices could never fully eradicate the effects of sin; it was a shadowy copy of the ideal atonement.²  It is known from Leviticus 17:11 “it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life”.  This type of sacrifice was completely ineffective.  Hebrews 9:12 describes the blood of goats and bulls as ceremonially clean yet only able to sanctify a person to be outwardly clean.  The sacrifice Jesus made was not that of an unwilling animal; He went to the cross as a willing sacrifice to give His own blood.³  He lived a perfect life with no sin and then gave His life as a ransom so that anyone could be forgiven.  Hebrews 9:14 eloquently tells how Jesus, “through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God to cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God”.  

The Israelites made sacrifices daily, but the Day of Atonement happened only once a year at an appointed time to illustrate that Christ would die only once at God’s perfectly appointed time.⁴  The sacrifices made by the Levitical priests were temporary.  They were unable to clear the conscience of the Israelites, they could not bring liberty to one’s spirit, and the moment a person sinned they were no longer clean.⁵    Hebrews 10:10 proclaims that the sacrifice Jesus made through His own body was once and for all.  It was permanent.  Jesus only needed to offer a single sacrifice and that sacrifice needed no repetition.⁶  The priests had to continually do their work and repeatedly offer their sacrifices while Jesus was able to sit down at the right hand of God having finished His work of sacrificing for sins.⁷ 

On the Day of Atonement, a sinful priest made an ineffective and temporary sacrifice.  On the day of crucifixion, a sacrifice was also made.  Only this time it was a perfect sacrifice for an eternal atonement of sins because the blood that was offered was Jesus Christ’s.  Just as the Israelites were called to observe a Sabbath rest while the priests completed their tasks, God calls His people today to do the same.  A new covenant has been offered and it is strictly because of the completed work of Christ.  As God’s followers, His people are to rest in those promises and preserve in faith.  God vows in Hebrews 12:28 that His kingdom cannot be shaken, and He goes on to tell His people they should be thankful and worship Him with reverence and awe.  This is because, as Jesus Himself said, it is finished.

1. Anders and Lea, Holman New Testament Commentary, 127
2. Hanno Langenhoven et al., “The Day of Atonement as a Hermeneutical Key to the Understanding of Christology in Hebrews,” Journal of Early Christian History 1:1 (2011): 92
3. Don Stewart, “How is Jesus’ Priesthood Better than that of the Earthly Priests?,” Blue Letter Bible, accessed February 24, 2020, https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_1359.cfm
4. C.H. Spurgeon, “The Day of Atonement: A Sermon,” Blue Letter Bible, August 10, 1856, accessed February 24, 2020, https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0095.cfm
5. Anders and Lea, Holman New Testament Commentary, 167
6. Anders and Lea, Holman New Testament Commentary, 137
7. David Guzik, “Study Guide for Hebrews 10,” The Enduring Word Commentary, March 10, 2017  

The post The Day of Atonement Fulfilled (pt 2) appeared first on Katie Hauck Ministries.

The inner court was divided into two parts.  It was thirty feet long, fifteen feet wide, fifteen feet high and contained the Altar of Incense, a lampstand, table, and the Bread of the Presence.²  There was a curtain in the room that separated these items from the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat.  This section was called the Holy of Holies and could only be entered once a year on the Day of Atonement.  The exact details of how and when the High Priest was to enter to perform sacrifices come in Leviticus 16-17.  It was to be performed annually on the tenth day of the seventh month.  He must first wash himself in holy water and put on the holy linen tunic and trousers.  Then he was required to create a cloud of incense to cover the Holy of Holies. 

Once inside he must take the blood of a bull and sprinkle it on the mercy seat seven times.  This was to cleanse himself from sin.  He would bring two goats with him and then cast lots to find out which one would be sacrificed, and which would be the scapegoat.  The goat that was chosen for the sacrifice would be slaughtered and the blood would be sprinkled in the same way as the bulls.  The scapegoat was kept alive and the wickedness of the Israelites was symbolically laid on its head.  It was released into the wilderness and never allowed to return.  The Height Priest would then wash, change, and complete the sacrifice by burning the fat of the sin offering on the Altar of Incense.  During this time, the Israelites were required to observe a Sabbath day of rest as they meditated on the atonement that was being made for their sins.

Curious how this was fulfilled in Christ?  Look for my next Dig Deeper!

1. Unless otherwise noted all Biblical references are from the New International Version.
2. Max Anders and Thomas D. Lea, Holman New Testament Commentary: Hebrews & James, (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 166.  

The post The Day of Atonement (pt 1) appeared first on Katie Hauck Ministries.

Jacob Wrestles with Samael

In Jewish literature, there is an angel named Samael, which is another name for Satan.  He is identified as Esau’s guardian angel, which implies that Esau is evil.  In his book, “Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism,” H. Schwartz recognizes the man who wrestled with Jacob as Samael.¹  This interpretation believes that the angel’s goal was to make Jacob weak and exhausted so when he met his brother the following day Esau could easily defeat him.  Jacob wrestled with Samael all night and eventually came out victorious.  Before he allowed the angel to leave, he demanded a blessing on his offspring.  The author explains the angel was forced to give that blessing which would save them from times of great danger as Satan was promising not to destroy them.

Jacob Wrestles with His Doubt

Jacob had worked for many years to become prosperous when the Lord called him to return to the land of his relatives in Genesis 31:3.²  He was forced to decide between relinquishing his rightful inheritance of land while staying in a place God had not intended him to stay and listening to God, returning to his home, and facing the brother who wanted to kill him.  Fred Blumenthal writes in his article entitled “Who Wrestled with Jacob?” that the fight Jacob had with an unnamed man was a symbolic representation of Jacob’s conscience struggling to make this difficult choice.³  He explained how his inner voices were conflicting, one arguing for Jacob to stay in the land he was in to enjoy the prosperity he’d secured and the other arguing for him to enter into his homeland and receive the land he was entitled to.  The terms “day” and “night” as written in this story were simply allegorical words; “day” meaning determination, confidence, and self-assurance and “night” meaning indecision, fear, and hesitation.  At the end of a difficult challenge, Jacob silenced his doubt and emerged with clarity on his calling.  Jacob asks the “angelic wrestler” in Genesis 32:30 what his name was yet no answer was recorded.  The only response was a question wondering why Jacob wanted to know.  The meaning of the Hebrew expression used conveys the idea that the asker should know the answer.  Genesis 32:28 records Jacob’s name as being changed, yet he will still be referred to as Jacob throughout most of Scripture.  According to Blumenthal, this is because the Jacob side of him was full of doubt, but the Israel side was confident.  The limp Jacob sustained from the fight was a symbolic reminder which helped him make decisions the rest of his life.

Jacob Wrestles with God

Jacob had been traveling with his family, his servants, and many animals.  Finally, the night before meeting his brother he spent alone as everyone else had been sent ahead.  David Guzik comments on how important it was that he quit busying himself with a thousand different tasks so that he could give his full attention to God.  Guzik is confident the man who wrestled with Jacob was God Himself in the human form, a special appearance of Jesus before His incarnation in Bethlehem.⁴  God desired to take away Jacob’s pride, self-reliance, and scheming even if He needed to take it from Him forcefully.  The wrestling match appeared to last all night and Jacob seemed to be victorious.  This would have bolstered is pride, that is until in an instant the man defeated him with a single touch.  At that moment Jacob knew he was standing in the presence of God.  He finally understood the God he served was greater than anything else and was infinitely able to conquer all things.  Jacob wrapped his arms around this man and demanded a blessing.  He was grasping tightly to His Lord while being delivered and changed.  God publicly accepted this change of heart with a change of name; he was no longer Jacob the cheater but now Israel meaning God rules.

Conclusion

While these three interpretations are very different, the only one that is biblically accurate is the one that illustrates the man wrestling with Jacob as God incarnate.  This story is similar to so many in Scripture and sounds familiar even in my own life.  We wrestle with God because we want to do things our way.  We fight the plans He has laid out for us.  We refuse to give Him control and authority.  We struggle and struggle until we finally relent and allow God to win.  When that finally happens the peace, joy, and blessings that come with it are incredible.  In Genesis 25 God divinely elected Jacob to be the one from whom would come a great nation, yet Jacob was far from great.  God had to mold and shape him into the man He needed Jacob to be.  

In Genesis 32:30 Jacob named the place where the fighting took place “Peniel” because it means “I saw God face to face and yet my life was spared”.  Jacob recognized that his life would never be the same again.  He would fail many times going forward, but he had a new name and a limp to remind him of God’s magnificent power.  

1.  H. Schwatrz and C. Loebel-Fried, Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004), 359
2. Unless otherwise noted all Biblical references are from the New International Version
3. Fred Blumenthal, “Who Wrestled with Jacob?,” Jewish Bible Quarterly 38 (April 2010).
4. David Guzik, “Study Guide for Genesis 32,” The Enduring Word Commentary, March 10, 2017

The post Wrestling with God appeared first on Katie Hauck Ministries.

The identity of the “sons of God” in Genesis 6:2 has been a topic of debate for many centuries.  There are three main theories to define who these men are.  This paper will discuss the different opinions and give a conclusion as to which is most biblically accurate.

The “Sons of God” as Angels

The term “sons of God” occurs many times in the Bible but doesn’t always refer to the same type of being.  It is used three times outside of Genesis to mean angelic bodies which is why Ayantunde Olaoluwa Meshach writes in his article, “The Sons of God in Genesis 6:1-6” that it may also mean “angels” in Genesis 6:2¹.  Most early church fathers accepted this to be the correct interpretation largely because the Septuagint translated “sons of God” as angels, spirits, or even Satan himself.  Meshach describes how these non-human men lusted after human women and took them as wives.  Many would argue that Jesus states in Matthew 22:30 that angels in Heaven do not marry but it does not say they cannot marry, not to mention these were fallen angels not heavenly ones².  The Nephilim were likely mysterious mythological offspring born from these unions, corrupting the human race.  God become very angry at the intermingling and punished the wickedness with the flood.

The “Sons of God” as Ancient Rulers

According to Stephen Hre Kio in his article entitled, “Revisiting ‘The Sons of God’ in Genesis 6.1-4” the best possible explanation of who the “sons of God” are is what he calls the “ruling class ‘harem’ view”³.  In this interpretation, the term “sons of God” should be translated as rulers in human societies.  The reasoning for this theory is the fact that there is biblical support for the word “Elohim” to be translated not just as “God” but also as “gods” in Exodus 21:6 and “judges” in 2 Samuel 7:14. He claims the expression was never used to designate a relationship with God prior to this passage so the author was trying to differentiate gods of the earth from the Creator of the earth.   The ancient Aramaic Targum of Onkelos and the Greek translation of the Old Testament by Symmachus both translate this passage of Scripture as “sons of nobles”.  The sin that angered God was that these rules had harems, or multiple wives.  The arrogance that came with the power they held caused them to believe they could possess any woman they found beautiful.  That was not God’s design for marriage.  The children born from these relationships were called Nephilim, a term that describes heroic warriors, princes, or men of great stature.  The consequences of earthly rulers abusing their power by taking so many wives led to the flood of Noah’s time.

The “Sons of God” as Descendants of Seth

Matthew Henry explains in his commentary of Genesis 6 that the “sons of God” were godly men from the line of Seth⁴.  These men should have preserved their purity by marrying equally yoked women.  Unfortunately, they lusted after beautiful women and married them despite the fact they were strangers to God because they were from the excommunicated line of Cain.  This was something forbidden according to Deuteronomy 7:3-4.  These religious men should have sided with the Spirit but instead allowed their carnal flesh to rule.  The intermingling between the godly men and ungodly women caused a wicked generation of people.  These families turned away from God causing Him great anger.  The children born from these unions, called Nephilim, were a degenerate race of sinners who were honored for their evil ways.  Their principles were corrupt, so the judgement God brought upon them was the great flood.

Conclusion

This debate is very interesting, and I have to admit that the evidence leaves a lot of uncertainty.  Prior to doing this research, I would have stated the “sons of God” were fallen angels.  Jude 6 does tell us about angels who did not keep their proper dwelling but left their own habitation and then immediately starts speaking about sexual immorality and perversion.  The book of 1 Enoch, which is not a part of the canon but is considered Jewish historical literature, tells a story of angels who lusted after earthly women, so they chose some for themselves and impregnated them with giants⁵.  We know from the story of Adam and Eve how Satan wanted to destroy mankind and sending his angels to intermarry with humans would definitely corrupt their offspring.  The biggest question I now have is why God would punish mankind for the sins of angels.  The other problem with this theory is that we must assume to marry human women the angels must have taken a human body which is not something specifically discussed in Scripture.  While the other theories have some noteworthy references and justifications, I believe none of them are conclusive.  Despite the questions above, I believe the theory that the “sons of God” were fallen angels is still the best explanation.

1. Ayantunde Olaoluwa Meshach, “The Sons of God in Genesis 6:1-6,” Pharos Journal of Theology 100, no. 7 (2019): 1-7, accessed January 31, 2020, https://www.pharosjot.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_7_vol_100_2019_nigeria.pdf
2. Unless otherwise noted all biblical references are from the New International Version
3. Stephen Hre Kio, “Revisiting ‘The Sons of God’ in Genesis 6.1-4,” The Bible Translator 52, no. 2 (April 2001): 234-239, accessed January 31, 2020, https://journals-sagepub-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/doi/pdf/10.1177/026009430105200206.
4. Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Genesis 6 (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1996).
5. David Guzik, “Study Guide for Genesis 6,” The Enduring Word Commentary, March 10, 2017

The post The Sons of God appeared first on Katie Hauck Ministries.

Walking on Water

Jesus was in the mountains praying when His disciples set off across the Sea of Galilee in their boat.  While they were rowing a strong wind started blowing, the water turned rough, and the disciples became frightened.  Jesus came to them, but not by boat.  He walked across the water, startling them even more.  Jesus calmed their fears by saying, “It is I” and revealing His true identity as the Son of God¹.

Jesus used the words “I Am” (or “It is I”) when speaking in the style of the deity and unveiling for man something that is otherwise not known².  The disciples learned from this sign miracle that Jesus had power over natural laws and would never forsake them, even in a storm³.

Sight to the Man Born Blind

Jesus had just escaped being stoned and was walking towards the Temple when He came upon a blind man.  Despite the fact that it was the Sabbath, Jesus chose to stop and heal this man.  He spit on the ground, made mud, and rubbed it on his eyes.  He then commanded the blind man to go and wash in the Pool of Siloam.  The man was obedient and received his sight.

The fact that Jesus was willing to stop under these circumstances and heal this man was a great example of His true nature as One who loves and ministers to others⁴.  Some of the Pharisees believed that this miracle could not have been done by the Son of God because He broke a commandment by healing on a Sunday, but others knew that a sinner could not do such a sign⁵.  Jesus shows in this sign miracle that He cares about His followers’ physical needs and has power over the physical laws that bind them⁶.

Raising Lazarus

Jesus’ dear friend Lazarus became sick, so his sisters, Mary and Martha, sent word to Him.  He knew that the sickness would not end in death but would actually glorify Him⁷.  Jesus waited four days before going to Bethany and when He arrived Lazarus was already dead and placed in the tomb.  Mary and Martha were distraught, but Jesus assured them that their brother would rise, explaining that whoever believed in Him would never die.  Jesus went to the tomb and commanded Martha to remove the stone.  Though she did not understand, she was obedient.  Jesus commanded in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” and he departed the tomb still wearing grave clothes⁸.

Jesus allowed Lazarus to lie dead for four days so that this sign miracle would be even more remarkable⁹.  This showed the amazing truth that Jesus has power over death.  Just by speaking the words Jesus gave life to Lazarus, just as the Word gives life today¹⁰.  The result of this sign miracle is that many came to believe that Jesus really was the Son of God¹¹.

Miraculous Catching of the Fish

After Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection He appeared before His disciples who were fishing on the Sea of Galilee.  They had not caught anything all night, so Jesus commanded them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat.  They did and caught so many fish they couldn’t lift the net into the boat.  While the main subject of this story is the catching of 153 fish, the fact that the net did not tear, and Peter hauled in the net alone despite its weight are also miracles¹².

While this sign miracle occurs after Jesus’ public ministry, it continues to point to the spiritual truth of the Gospel¹³.  Jesus is the Son of God and has complete power over everything.  This could only be done by the One who has a special relationship with the Father as God’s hand can be seen in this miracle.

Conclusion

John’s greatest desire is for everyone who reads his Gospel to come to the knowledge that Jesus is the Messiah and have eternal life because of their belief¹⁴.  To believe in the name of Jesus means to believe that He came from God, taught things of God, died so God’s will could be done, and rose in God’s power¹⁵.  John includes these signs because they produce the faith needed to accept that Jesus is who He says He is.

1. Towns, The Gospel of John, Chapter 7.
2. Morris, Jesus is the Christ, Chapter 6.
3. Towns, The Gospel of John, Introduction.
4. Towns, The Gospel of John, Chapter 10.
5. Morris, Jesus is the Christ, Chapter 1.
6. Towns, The Gospel of John, Introduction.
7. John 11:4 (New International Version).
8. John 11:43 (New International Version).
9. Morris, Jesus is the Christ, Chapter 3.
10. Towns, The Gospel of John, Chapter 12.
11. Towns, The Gospel of John, Chapter 12.
12. Towns, The Gospel of John, Chapter 122.
13. Morris, Jesus is the Christ, Chapter 2.
14. Towns, The Gospel of John, Introduction.
15. Morris, Jesus is the Christ, Chapter 5.

The post Sign Miracles (part 2) appeared first on Katie Hauck Ministries.

John wrote his gospel so that all who read it would believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God¹.  He recorded eight sign miracles to show how Jesus manifested His glory, proving His deity².  A sign miracle is a distinct word John uses to describe a miracle that has a deeper meaning³.  This paper will describe each of those miracles and how they point to the fact that Jesus was indeed the Son of God.

Water into Wine

The first sign miracle that Jesus performed in His earthly ministry was turning water into wine.  Jesus had just returned to Cana of Galilee from Bethany when He and His disciples were invited to join in the celebrations of a wedding.  Jesus’ mother, who was most likely helping in the kitchen, came to Him with a problem⁴.  The host had run out of wine.    Jesus questioned why she would involve Him and responded, “My hour has not yet come”⁵.  Morris explains that this is a forward-looking reference to Jesus’ death on the cross⁶.  Though Jesus did not verbally offer to help His mother, she knew He would, so she instructed the servants to do whatever He told them to do.  This is the perfect example of how God expects His people to do everything they can to help accomplish His work on earth⁷.

There were six ceremonial pots which Jesus had the servants fill with water and deliver to the master of the feast.  The master was shocked that the drink they brought him was the finest wine of the event, exclaiming that the bridegroom generally brought the best first and not last.  John writes, “What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which He revealed His glory”.  While this miracle may seem insignificant, it shows the power of Jesus to bring out new beginnings⁸.  The Jews were under an old covenant, but He was about to bring a new covenant full of mercy and grace.  Jesus used a very creative way to demonstrate His power over creation which helped bring about the development of faith in those who witnessed or heard about Him⁹.

Healing the Nobleman’s Son

Jesus travelled to Galilee where a high-ranking royal official begged Him to cure his son, who was laying sick at Capernaum.  Jesus knew that He did not need to make a trip to heal the young man in order to heal him¹⁰. He simply said to the official, “Go, your son will live”¹¹.  Though most Galileans were fickle in their beliefs, this man showed great faith as he returned to his household¹².  While he was still travelling his servant met him with the news that his son had been healed at the exact moment Jesus had spoken.  The entire household then believed that Jesus was the Messiah.

This sign miracle was used to produce faith¹³. Jesus performed signs for those who had eyes to see them, not for the whole world to see at once¹⁴.  This sign miracle was used to show His deity by proving that he had power over all things including space¹⁵.  

Healing the Lame Man

Jesus was in Jerusalem for a festival when he saw a man who had been unable to walk for 38 years.  Jesus spoke to him to see if he truly wanted to be healed.  The man made the excuse that no one would help him into the pool, but Jesus commanded him to pick up his mat and walk.  At His words, the man was instantly healed and began to walk.  Jesus gave hope to a disabled man and met a need that no one else could meet¹⁶.

This sign miracle proves that Jesus is more powerful than time.  Despite the fact that he had been crippled for many years, the lame man was immediately able to walk when Jesus healed him. He had waited a long time for a miracle and had become discouraged, yet Jesus brought him hope.  While He was a teacher and leader the most important thing John sees about Jesus is that He is One who saves¹⁷.  He not only brings salvation but desires that those who believe on Him have life abundantly¹⁸.

Feeding the Multitude

Many people started following Jesus because of the signs He had performed when healing the sick.  These crowds came to Him when He was on His way to the Jewish Passover Festival.  Jesus knew that they were spiritually starving so He created a feast that met those needs along with their physical ones¹⁹.  Jesus used five small barley loaves, two small fish, and the obedience of a young boy to feed 5,000 people.  They ate until they were satisfied and even had 12 baskets full of leftovers.

This miracle shows that Jesus is able to provide for man’s physical needs in any way necessary²⁰.  He is able to use whatever one is willing to give Him, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem²¹.  Jesus came from heaven and is the true Son of God so He alone can satisfy the spiritual needs of his followers²².  This sign miracle proves that Jesus has power over all things, including food²³.

Read about the next four sign miracles in Part Two.

1. John 20:31 (New International Version).
2. Elmer Towns, The Gospel of John: Believe and Live (AMG Publishers, 2002), Introduction.
3. Leon Morris, Jesus is the Christ, (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Ferdmans Publishing Company, 1989), Chapter 1.
4. Towns, The Gospel of John, Chapter 3.
5. John 2:4 (New International Version).
6. Morris, Jesus is the Christ, Chapter 2.
7. Towns, The Gospel of John, Chapter 3.
8. Morris, Jesus is the Christ, Chapter 2.
9. Towns, The Gospel of John, Chapter 3.
10. Towns, The Gospel of John, Chapter 5.
11. John 4:50 (New International Version).
12. Towns, The Gospel of John, Chapter 5.
13. Towns, The Gospel of John, Chapter 5.
14. Morris, Jesus is the Christ, Chapter 1.
15. Towns, The Gospel of John, Introduction.
16. Towns, The Gospel of John, Chapter 6.
17. Morris, Jesus is the Christ, Chapter 4.
18. John 10:10 (New International Version).
19. Towns, The Gospel of John, Chapter 7.
20. Morris, Jesus is the Christ, Chapter 6.
21. Towns, The Gospel of John, Chapter 7.
22. Morris, Jesus is the Christ, Chapter 6.
23. Towns, The Gospel of John, Introduction.

The post Sign Miracles (part 1) appeared first on Katie Hauck Ministries.

Paul starts off his prayer in Ephesian 3:14 with the words, “For this reason”.¹  To understand what the reason is, the previous segment must be considered.  Verses 1-12 explain that while the ways of God had always been a mystery, His intent, through the church, was to reveal His wisdom so that He may be approached with freedom and confidence.  This is to show the believer that they are called for something far greater than their own salvation.  Paul is praying for the church to gain the understanding of God’s purpose for them so that they might have insight to His will. ² God’s will was for the church to share the promises of Jesus Christ with the rest of the world, just as Paul had been doing.

Question #2 Why does he pray for this?

Paul knows that the church will face opposition so he prays that they will have the strength to endure, not according to their own physical abilities but through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Paul knows that in order to reach the world, the church must love the world.  In order to love a broken, corrupt, vulgar world a believer must fully understand how exceedingly great the love of Christ is.  It is wide enough to include every single person, long enough to last forever, deep enough to reach the worst offender, and high enough to take His people to heaven.³  Paul’s desire is that church is deeply planted in the tender love of Christ⁴ so that they can share that love with the world and glorify God.

Question #3 What is the goal of praying for it?

Paul’s ultimate goal is for the church to become like Christ.  He wants them to be growing closer to perfection daily and to be filled with the fullness of God.  This is not for their own gain, but for God’s honor.  If the church is filled with the Spirit of God, they will exhibit faith and power that go beyond understanding.  The church needs to use this to share the gospel with the world.  James 2:17 states that, “faith, by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead”.  If God’s character is developed in the body of believers, then His glory can be seen through them.⁵

Question #4 What does “more than we ask or think” refer to?

There is no limit to what God can do.  Anything a believer could think, dream, ask, or pray for God can surpass.  The way God can do that is through His power at work inside the believer.  There may be people that feel they are not strong enough, educated enough, or bold enough to complete the calling on their lives.  Paul shows that this is true, they are not good enough.  God, however, can do all things!  If the believer accepts the Holy Spirit, He will give them the capacity to be effective in the world.   If one simply has faith, God can do incredible things through them which will bring Him glory for ever and ever.

1. Unless otherwise noted all Biblical references are from the New International Version
2. David Guzik, “Ephesians 3 – The Revealing of God’s Mystery,” Enduring Word, 2018, https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/ephesians-3/
3. Guzik, “Ephesians 3.”
4. Dr. Harrold L. Willmington, Willmington’s Guide to the Bible, (Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc), 359.
5. Tim Jennings, “Pray for Spiritual Growth,” Focus Magazine, October 21, 2013.
6.

The post Paul’s Prayer in Ephesians appeared first on Katie Hauck Ministries.

New Jerusalem will be approximately fifteen hundred miles long, fifteen hundred miles wide and fifteen hundred miles high.³  The city will shine with the glory of God and its brilliance will be like that of jasper though clear as crystal.⁴  There will be great walls, not because they city needs to be able to defend itself, but it will be in order to give it definition and illustrate that some of mankind was unable to enter the city.⁵  There will be twelve gates, three on each side, with one of the names of the twelve tribes written on each.  This communicates the unity and heritage of the Israelites and shows that God will eternally remember them.⁶  Each will be made of a single pearl and will be guarded by an angel.⁷ The city will have twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles as a testimony of the early church.⁸  Each of these layers of foundation will be made from precious stones; jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, onyx, ruby, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, turquoise, jacinth, and amethyst.⁹  These stones will form a galaxy of varied colors, like a rainbow with every shade reflected, creating a breathtakingly amazing sight.¹⁰  The streets will be made of gold and as pure as transparent glass^.11 All these riches are not to give the impression of fortune or luxury, but to illustrate the incredible value of what God is creating for His beloved people.¹²  In the city there will be no need for a temple as God and Jesus will be the eternal temple, accessible by all.¹³  Every area will be the holy dwelling place of God.¹⁴ There will also be no sun, no moon, and no stars because God’s glory will be all the light needed.  The river of life, clear as crystal, will be flowing from the throne of God down the middle of the city. ¹⁵ The fact that the water is coming from God’s throne proves it will be abundant and pure.¹⁶  On each side of the river will stand the tree of life, which has not been seen by mankind since the Garden of Eden, confirming that the curse is gone forever. ¹⁷ 

God will create a new heaven and a new earth, replacing the broken one that now exists.  New Jerusalem will come down from heaven and will be suspended above the earth as if floating in space.¹⁸  It will be the final and eternal bond between heaven and earth.¹⁹  The fact that it comes from Heaven will signify that it is a gift from God and more impressive than anything man could ever create.²⁰  The saints will not live in New Jerusalem, they will reside on the new earth, but will travel here to worship and commune with their Creator.²¹   

In John’s incredible vision of heaven, an angel refers to the holy city of New Jerusalem as the bride and wife of the Lamb.  As a bride prepares for her wedding, she puts an enormous amount of work into looking beautiful for her future husband.  God uses the illustration of a bride to demonstrate the exquisite beauty of this new creation and the love he put into it.²²  New Jerusalem is the place where the bride of Christ, the church, will gather and God wants it to be perfect.  This illustration portrays two attributes of the holy city, one being God’s relationship with His people and the other the life of His people living in communion with Him.²³

Those that will be present in New Jerusalem will be the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, the angels, the elders, and all the redeemed.²⁴ What is not there is even more significant.  In New Jerusalem there will be no tears, no death, no sorrow, no pain, and no darkness.²⁵ God’s people will walk in the glory of God and dwell in His presence for all eternity.  The gates will never be shut and nothing impure will ever enter.²⁶ It will be a place of pure worship, joy, beauty, and knowledge.²⁷  God and the Lamb will reign for ever and ever.²⁸  Best of all is that Jesus promises He will be returning soon and, in the meantime, He is preparing this place for all of His followers.

 1. Edward Hindson, The Book of Revelation, (Clifton, TX: AMG Publishers, 2010), Chapter 21
 2. Revelation 21:4-5 (New International Version)
3.  Dr. J. Vernon McGee, “New Jerusalem: The Eternal Home of the Church,” Blue Letter Bible, accessed May 3, 2020, https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mcgee_j_vernon/eBooks/new-jerusalem.cfm
4. Revelation 21:11
5. David Guzik, “Study Guide for Revelation 21,” The Enduring Word Commentary, March 10, 2017
6. Guzik, “Study Guide for Revelation 21”
7.  Revelation 21:21
8. Guzik, “Study Guide for Revelation 21”
9. Revelation 21:19-20
10.  McGee, “New Jerusalem”
11. Revelation 21:21
12. Guzik, “Study Guide for Revelation 21”
13. Revelation 21:22
14. Guzik, “Study Guide for Revelation 21”
15. Revelation 22:1-2
16. Guzik, “Study Guide for Revelation 21”
17. Revelation 22:2-3
18. Dr. Harrold L. Willmington, Willmington’s Guide to the Bible, (Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc), 419
19. Hindson, The Book of Revelation
20. Guzik, “Study Guide for Revelation 21”
21. McGee, “New Jerusalem”
22. McGee, “New Jerusalem”
23. Hindson, The Book of Revelation
24. Willmington, Willmington’s Guide to the Bible
25. Hindson, The Book of Revelation
26. Revelation 21:25-27
27. Guzik, “Study Guide for Revelation 21”
28. Revelation 22:5

The post The New Jerusalem appeared first on Katie Hauck Ministries.

There are a total of 18 different gifts and every believer will receive at least one.³   The first set of gifts are the sign gifts.  These were first given to authenticate the authority of the disciples and lay out new revelation and information.  The gift of apostleship falls into this category, which was given by Jesus to the men He called, as was the gift of prophecy, which is the ability to receive knowledge about future events from God.  Also in this grouping is the gift of miracles.  This is where the Holy Spirit gives the receiver the ability to perform supernatural acts, such as raising someone from the dead.  Others are the gift of healing, the gift of knowledge, and the gift of tongues.  There is much debate as to whether these sign gifts are still given to believers today.  

The second set of gifts, which are unarguable available for believers today, are the stationary gifts.  These include the gifts of wisdom, spiritual discernment, mercy-showing, ruling, giving, and ministering.  Using these gifts to benefit others allows them to see God through us.  Jesus told us in Matthew 5:16 that others should see our good deeds so our Father in Heaven can be glorified.  Sometimes the Holy Spirit will give out the gift of evangelism, teaching, or pastor-teacher.  These are so important to grow the body of believers and help them build their knowledge of Jesus Christ.  One of the greatest gifts you could receive is the gift of faith.  Having the ability to demonstrate supernatural confidence in God’s promises and power would certainly be a powerful example to the church.  The gifts are wonderful, and Paul tells us that we should desire the greatest of these gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31), but they are nothing if we do not have love.  Love is the only way to share our gifts in a meaningful, exalting way.  Prophecies will cease, tongues will be stilled, knowledge will pass away, but faith, hope, and love remain; and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 8-13).

1. Willmington, Willmington’s Guide to the Bible, 325
2. Billy Graham, “Answers,” June 1, 2004, accessed June 25, 2019, https://billygraham.org/answer/are-the-gifts-of-the-spirit-valid-for-today/ 
3. Willmington, Willmington’s Guide to the Bible, 325 

The post Gifts of the Holy Spirit appeared first on Katie Hauck Ministries.

The moment we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us.  We are His temple, and He sees and hears everything we do.  This is an extremely special relationship that does not come and go but is constant so that a believer’s character can be defined.²  When you recognize this, it makes it much more difficult to sin.  1 John 3:9 tells us that anyone born of God cannot continue sinning because God’s seed is in him.  The Holy Spirit does not condemn our bad choices but helps to convict our hearts so that we come to realize our sins.

Jesus tells us throughout the Bible that the most important thing we can do is love others.  That is not always an easy task, but the Holy Spirit can help us.  Paul tells us in Galatians 5:22 that the Spirit gives us love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Having these attributes allows us to deny our fleshly desires and put other’s needs above our own, which glorifies Christ.  

During this life we face many trials, Jesus knew it would be this way.  He knew that the broken world we live in would be filled with hate, evil, sickness, and death.  He is so loving that He wants to comfort us during these difficult moments.  That is one of the biggest roles of the Holy Spirit.  Paul tells us that He will fill us with peace and joy so that we can overflow with hope (Romans 15:13).  Without the Holy Spirit guiding, comforting, loving, and helping us it would be impossible to live a life that would bring God glory and allow us to spend eternity in Heaven with Him.  How great is it that God knew this and sent us the perfect advocate? 

1. Unless otherwise noted all Biblical references are from the New International Version.
2. Dr. Harrold L. Willmington, Willmington’s Guide to the Bible (Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.), 533

The post The Holy Spirit appeared first on Katie Hauck Ministries.