Proverbs 27:17
Friday, December 5, 2025
Bible Study
Hello All,
Please join us, our Zoom Link is below for this Saturday's session at 8:00 AM PST 12/06/2025. I am thankful for all of you. We show gratitude to God by "giving thanks in all circumstances ..." [1Thess. 5:18a]
We learn from Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Plain and the Sermon on the Mount that we are to be: "poor in spirit." This is the essence of His introductory teachings that lay out His message. We must be thankful for Jesus' message in these first teachings: They lay out how we are to relate to each other and to Him. We must be even more thankful for the courage He gives us to hear Him and apply His teachings.
Love, hank
Zoom Link:
For Study, Prayer and Fellowship - 8:00 AM PST 12/06/2025:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82968961343?pwd=LzcwVjJKcWVESDRURlhDcXlNV0JUdz09
Meeting ID: 829 6896 1343
Passcode: 77299ere:
Study Notes:
12/06/2025 – Prologue – What does Jesus mean by ‘poor in spirit”? Or as Luke stated, “you poor.” What kind of poverty is he talking about? If you have money, you will say spiritual poverty. If you have little money, you will say physical poverty. The rich thank God for Matthew; the poor thank God for Luke. Both will say, “He blessed me!” Who received the blessing?
Neither! It is this attitude of self-praise, self-justification and self-satisfaction that robs people of any sense of need for God’s kingdom and its blessings. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the other.” [Phil. 2:3-4] If one says, “I do not need to be poor in things; I am poor in spirit.” Another says, “I do not need to be poor in spirit, I am poor in things.” Both justify themselves by saying, “I do not need.” And saying that they are unable to repent. It is not wealth nor poverty that keeps people out of the kingdom – it is pride. In all people, there are few with spiritual resources. We are all tempted by the excesses of the world. We all need help from above. We all need the kingdom of heaven. And those who deeply feel their great need for the kingdom, they receive it. Having moved through Jesus’ very first teachings where He laid out, for all to hear, His fundamental message are we confident in His message? [Matt. 5:1-12] We are blessed that Matthew and Luke each addressed these sermons (TSM and TSP) early in their gospels.
[Matthew 5:13-20] – Fulfilling the Law – It is one thing to stand on the sidelines and rage against abuses; it is another to govern. When faced with revolution one must ask, can the newbies do a better job? Yes, if they remain faithful to the truth. Or will the populace soon be faced with one more tyrant? Jesus was starting a revolution, but truly different. He had two tasks: Show the Jews that He fulfilled all that the Jews believed and longed for. Show that He and His followers were living according to His preaching. (Big task for the folks.) Today the tension between those two tasks still exists and we will explore His how and why, because it is often misunderstood. But first, we must understand Jesus offered something absolutely revolutionary, to which He remained faithful. Enter His followers – they not so much. Initially, we must assure ourselves that all of Israel’s history and tradition pointed toward Jesus. We remind ourselves that [v. 3-12; Luke 6:39-49] introduces Jesus’ main theme – He has come to fulfill the law and the prophets. The remainder of TSM will explain what law and prophets means right through to [v. 7:11]
Do to others, He says, what you would like them to do unto you; - because that is what law and prophets is all about. TSM [7:13-27] ends with a sharp warning to pay attention to what Jesus is saying. These verses are gateway verses. Jesus is calling Israel to be Israel after all He is present, as proclaimed by the prophets. What he says applies to all Christians. Israel was to be the ‘salt’, but they were not behaving in that way: power politics, internal squabbles, fractionalization and militantism. How could God keep the world from going bad – salt – commonly available, even 2,000 years ago. Salt – why is it so important? Salt preserves. Salt stops decay. Salt adds flavor, a seasoning. Salt carries an electrical current in the body such that humans are unable to survive without salt. Thus, salt is essential for life. Salt produces electrolytes which conduct electricity, important in organ functioning. Salt is an osmotic solute – it transports water in and out of a cell. Salt reduces tooth decay. Salt in excessive quantities increases cardiovascular disease. I am hard pressed to think of anything more vital for life whether in its elemental or molecular state. WOW! We often think of salt as a few white grains available in a package, inexpensively obtainable in a grocery store. Unfortunately, some view Jesus through the same lens.
But Israel’s salt had lost its essential character – saltiness. How about our generation? Why are folks crying for manners, attention to detail, appropriate attire, respect, revival, common sense – a ‘saltiness’ available to all people – rich or poor. God called Israel to be the light of the world. [Isa. 42:6; 49:6] It was through Israel that God hoped to be able to shine his light into the dark corners of the earth. Jerusalem, a city set on a hill, was to be a beacon to the world, to other nations. His followers were to keep God’s laws and that would be a sign. It would be Jesus and His followers would be like that as well.
How many Jews made the observation that here is just another teacher, when we already have the Pharisees? What is different with this man? Jesus answered that the Pharisees do teach in accordance with God’s covenant. But we are hearing about God’s own sovereign rule, the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus is informing His hearers that His message is way beyond what the Pharisees could teach. Jesus did not intend to abolish the law and the prophets. [Matt. 5:17] Israel’s whole story, commands, and promises were to come true in Him. Now, He was here and the world would open not only for Israel, but all the world. To make God’s covenant work required a change of behavior, but also a change of heart and mind. Yes, revolutionary, but in tune with Biblical promises. Jesus brought it about in His own person: salt of the earth, light of the world, set on top of a hill – crucified for all to see. He was drawing to Him people to worship his father; showing the power of self-giving love. From this we may draw that the sayings that were applied to Jesus; now provide a beacon of hope and new life for everyone. It is the way of self-giving love. AMEN
Hank Hohenstein, OFS
Land Steward
161 Osprey Vista
Shady Cove, OR 97539
Cell: 541-973-5442
hankhohenstein@gmail.com
Thursday, December 4, 2025
Observations from the Text: Elijah obeyed and positioned himself to hear from the Lord (v. 11) God showed Elijah he was not speaking to him in the ways he used to (v. 11) God spoke to Elijah in a new way (v. 12) Elijah responds in humility (v. 13)
Observations from the Text:
Elijah obeyed and positioned himself to hear from the Lord (v. 11)
God showed Elijah he was not speaking to him in the ways he used to (v. 11)
God spoke to Elijah in a new way (v. 12)
Elijah responds in humility (v. 13)
Listening for God
Listening for God
God speaks in many different ways.
When we feel like we’ve stopped hearing from God, it might feel like he’s stopped speaking altogether. But what if he’s communicating in a new way?
The prophet Elijah saw God speak through miracles: providing food for a widow who had nothing, raising that same widow’s son from the dead, sending fire from Heaven to display his power, and sending a torrential downpour to break a three-year drought.
But when Elijah had to flee to the desert to escape being murdered, God showed up quietly, giving Elijah rest, and speaking in a whisper.
God might speak to us in an unexpected way, too. Sometimes, we need to slow down and quiet our lives enough to listen for his voice.
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