Zion's Hill

It's The End of The World!

2011-10-20T06:54:00.000-07:00

Maybe not! Once again Harold Camping is predicting that the end of the world and the return of Jesus is going to happen on October 21, 2011. The last predication was that Jesus would return on May 21, 2011. I am not certain but does Jesus really like the 21st of the month? Despite Harold Camping's good intentions about encouraging people to return to faith or come to faith in Christ before the last and terrible day, he is utterly wrong. Jesus said in Matthew 24 "From the fig tree learn its lesson, as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things you know that he is near, at the very gates. But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." What will be the signs of the end of the age? Come to bible class on October 29th to discover the signs of the end of the age. Unless Jesus returns sometime after the 21st.

Blessings

Pastor Phil

Time To Get Back To It

2010-10-13T11:05:00.000-07:00

A few people have reminded me that we have this blog on the church website and that we need to get back to it. It is strange how technology has really changed how we communicate and get information.

Well, Zion's Hill is back online and I will do my very best to keep things up to date and new information posted on this blog. Keep watch tomorrow on the Devotions and for the bible class on this upcoming week.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Phil

The Whole Enchillada Matthew 28

2010-01-19T19:03:00.000-08:00

I like going to movies on the first night that they come out. It is fun to be there with all these people to see a new block buster. At the end of the movie. Everyone cheers or claps. I really have not figured out why people clap at the end of a movie, but it's a free country. Yet when I read the last chapter of Matthew, I cannot help but cheer.

In just a few verses the entire kingdom of the devil, the power of sin, and even death fall. Their defeat is announced with these words, "He is not here! He is risen just as he said." It makes me want to cheer! All my sins are left in the tomb. The devils accusations are buried. Even death no longer has anymore power over me. Now the words of the angels, "Do not be afraid" can be applied to me. I now no longer have anything to fear.

All of this puts the last few verses into context, "Go and make disciples." Go and tell the world of the victory that Jesus has won for all of us. It is enough to have the whole world rejoicing in what Jesus has done and what is now ours by faith.

These Are Hard Sayings: Matthew 22-23

2010-01-15T13:03:00.000-08:00

These chapters are hard to read because we see ourselves so easily in them. The law of God is doing it's job!

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet exposes us for who we are as sinners. God has invited us to a great banquet of his gifts of forgiveness, life, and peace. We are promised eternal life and a new relationship with God all for free! We are too busy. We don't want it. Unfortunately we are worse. Many times we are like that one who was found in the banquet hall uninvited, without the wedding clothes.

Only Jesus can invite us and gathers us in as the people from the streets both good and bad. Only when we see ourselves as the ones who are not worthy to be in his banquet, the ones he had to even dress for the banquet do we fully understand the measure of God's grace. We cannot buy it, steal it, or earn it. It is given to us as a free gift.

Jesus makes other difficult sayings about the resurrection and our "not knowing the scriptures and doubting the power of God." We all have questions about what the resurrection will be like from how old we will be to whether God can raise a body that has been cremated. God is a God of the living and not the dead. At the resurrection we will see His power and his grace.

We then come to the seven woes. Jesus thunders against the teachers of the law who replace the teaching of the scriptures with their own interpretations. The teachers of the law had tied on to the people of God rule upon rule concerning tithes, offerings, and cleanliness. All the while they were just as guilty and unclean. The seven woes show us how we have not kept the law perfectly either and how our only hope is to rely upon the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who has called, redeemed and rescued us from the woes and terrors of hell.

The video from Sunday's bible class is up! Thank you Jeremy Brown for making the recording.

Signs and Words--Matthew 16-17

2010-01-12T12:42:00.000-08:00

In chapter 16 today Jesus warns against those who seek a sign. The only sign that they will be given is the sign of Jonah. It is then that Jesus warns the disciples to be on guard against the words and teaching (the leaven) of the Pharisees. Signs and Words are what we still deal with today. People seek some sort of sign to validate their faith and they cling to words that do not point back to Jesus and his grace, but to our works.

I find it amazing how the disciples were worried about not bringing bread with them on the journey. It is then that Jesus starts talking about the "leaven of the pharisees." He knows that they are worried about the bread and tells them that they are slow to understand. The Lord then reminds them of the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand and how much was left over. The disciples were simply to rely upon the Lord, to trust him instead of themselves.

I find it is easier to worry and forget about all that God has done. I can so easily see what is right in front of me and the problems that I have and forget that the savior who conquered death, who was their at the moment of creation is the same one who is now with me by grace, who has promised to uphold me, sustain me, and be with me even to the end of the age. All of us find it eaiser to seek a sign that God is with us, that he is helping us and the sign that we recieve is the sign of Jonah. We have been united with Christ in his death, buried with him in the tomb, and raised with him in new life. It all happened in the waters of Baptism and happens daily as we read the Word of God. We recieve a sign and words that point us constantly back to Jesus.

I return to Decatur tomorrow. I am sucking up as much sun as possible. If I could bottle it and bring it back I would. Yet I am comforted by the fact that in June they will be at 90 degrees and 90 percent humidity. While we will be enjoying the blessed summer of Indiana. The video will be up as soon as possible when I get back. Also don't be afraid to ask questions in class or on this blog.

Jesus The Servant

2010-01-11T12:37:00.000-08:00

Today we read Matthew 14 and 15 where Jesus hears of the death of John the Baptist, feeds the Five Thousand, heals people by them just touching the hem of his robe, feeds the four thousand, walks on water, Confronts the Pharisees, and heals the Canaanite woman's child. Jesus is busy! In all of this He did not send people away but healed them, he did not turn the hungry away but fed them. Jesus came to serve and not be served.

We see the amazing attitude of Jesus when He is confronted by the Pharisees. He does not get angry and yell but he gently, humbly, and with authority teaches the way of God. The Apostle Paul later would write in Philippians that we should let this same mind be in us, the humility of Christ who did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made himself nothing becoming obedient, even to death upon a cross.

All of these miracles, all of these signs and wonders point us to these words of Jesus to the Pharisees. These Pharisees were only concerned about the outward keeping of the law but had failed to see that only God could make them clean from sin. What we eat, drink, or wear does not make us unclean but what comes out of our hearts. How can we clean up our hearts? We can't but the Word of God can. We are to let it dwell in us richly and produce in us the very fruits of the Spirit.

Currently in Houston. It is 52 degrees and sunny. It is great. Even though I still look forward to seeing all of you again soon.

The Start of Something Big

2010-01-07T06:47:00.001-08:00

Today is the first post in a blog that is hopefully going to go for two years and cover the devotions and readings that we are doing at Zion Adult Bible Class. It is not just my preparation for class but also my own personal devotion. I began a little late this week because I let some other things begin to take priority, but I remembered that I can do my devotion any time of the day, not just in the early morning. Today is Thursday and the snow is coming down like mad and school has been canceled due to a heating problem and all is quiet. A good time to begin something small that will have big impact on my own faith.

Today I read Matthew 8 and 9. Jesus is healing people right and left. He does not even need to be in the room to heal someone as a Centurion pointed out. Jesus even said, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith." Jesus calms a storm, casts out demons, raises the dead, and heals the blind and mute. Amazing! Jesus even takes time to call a man named Matthew to be his follower saying, "Come, Follow Me."

We sometimes forget that the same Jesus who did all of these things is the same Jesus who is in our lives through baptism. He forgives our sins, calls us to follow, and encourages us with his words. What problem, worry, or doubt do we have that we cannot give to Jesus? He can do all these things and can handle all these things. He can handle our struggles, strifes and difficulties. He is our savior and He is with us still today.