Dr. Ronnie Wolfe
How
many times have we read this portion of Scripture? Each time we do, it
convicts our hearts of our hesitation to reap a harvest of souls that
are ripe for the word of God.
The Harvest Is READY, 35
It
is now time for all of us to be busy about our Father's business of
preaching the Gospel to every creature. Just as harvesting is not easy,
so witnessing is not easy; but the harvest must be gathered in to the
glory of God. It is better that we who love the Lord and love truth
harvest these who are ready to believe rather than some who may lead
them into error.
The Harvest is REWARDED, 36
Yes,
the work that we as evangelists and soul-winners do will be rewarded,
first with the fruit of eternal life in those who believe and also in
our reward received at the hand of our God in judgment, since He
promised it to us, bringing his reward with Him.
The Harvest is RECEIVED, 37-38
Where
the Old Testament prophets sowed the prophetic word of God, so the
apostles and New Testament believers reaped from that prophetic prose in
giving the true message of Jesus' coming as the Messiah to seek and to
save that which was lost.
Also, we today harvest the sowing of
the apostles as they ministered and wrote down the divine, inspired word
of God for our easy use today. They have sown; we are reaping the fruit
of their labors with a simple but powerful message of the Gospel of
grace to those who are so much in need of it.
Also, we are
reaping where God sows the word of God into the hearts of those to whom
we are witnessing. Without His work, there would be no harvest, for He
is the originator and the provider of a good harvest.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Forsaking The Law Of The Lord
Dr. Ronnie Wolfe
2 Chron. 12:1 And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.
Solomon had received wisdom from God and had done great things for Israel. Although he did great public works and established many luxurious and beautiful things in Israel, he also served the Lord and was obedient to God.
However, Solomon's son, Rehoboam, although taught in the ways of the Lord, turned his attention to political and public affairs rather than to the Lord and obedience to God's law.
From the beginning of his reign, he listened, as you remember, to the youth rather than to the older leaders for advice and would not take good and sound advice but turned to the advice of public opinion. This was devastating to his reign as king over all Israel.
As a result, Shishak, king of Egypt, came up against Israel and took the cities surrounding Jerusalem. Then Shemaiah, the prohet, gave Rehoboam a message from God. That message was that, because Rehoboam has forsaken the Lord, God has left Israel in the hands of the king of Egypt.
Now Rehoboam humbled himself along with the princes of Israel (verse 6), and God determined, then, not to destroy Jerusalem; but he caused Israel to be the servants of the king of Egypt. Notice this: 2 Chron. 12:12 And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well. So Rehoboam and Israel became servants to Egypt, the very place that God had delivered them from many years earlier.
When we rebel against the Lord, we turn back to the beggarly elements of the world (Gal. 4:9), and we become servants (slaves) of the world again.
Notice one more point in 2 Chron. 12:14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD. This is the same reason that believers today become entangled in the world: they do not prepare their hearts to serve the LORD in their lives. Grace prepared us for God's salvation and protection, but only our complete surrender to God can prepare our hearts to serve him and live abundantly for him.
Let us today prepare our hearts for service and expect persecution from those who do not love the LORD. We need not be slaves to the world's addictions and lusts, for the Lord has saved us and separated us from the world (John 15:19).
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
John 4:32-34
Dr. Ronnie Wolfe
"I have meat to eat that ye know not of."
Jesus expressed that he has meat to eat that the disciples do not about. What is that meat that he can eat that they do not know about? How can he have meat that they do not know about? Where is this meat? Who brought this meat to Jesus? So many questions entered into the minds of Jesus' disciples as they contemplated this mysterious statement. Even after Jesus expressed that his meat was to do the will of his Father, they still did not understand. Oh, we of little faith and understanding! It takes the Spirit of God to bring us to the truth and its understanding.
The will of God for Jesus, of course, is for him to be a witness of the Father, because he was sent to earth to manifest the Father to human being.
The will of God for Jesus is also for him to suffer and die on the cross for our sins, lie in the tomb for three days and nights, and resurrect on the third day, go to Heaven, make intercession for all believers, and return the second time. Hallelujah!
John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. . . . 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. See also 1 Cor. 11:24.
So, our meat is to eat the flesh of the Son of man symbolized in The Lord's Supper's bread and to drink the blood of the Son of man in drinking the drink in this same Supper. We do this in a symbolic way to show forth his death until he come, 1 Cor. 11:26.
We, then, have bread to eat that the world does not know and drink to drink that the world knows not. Let us often partake of the Lord's Supper in our own local church in order to be reminded of the Lord's death "till he come."
"I have meat to eat that ye know not of."
Jesus expressed that he has meat to eat that the disciples do not about. What is that meat that he can eat that they do not know about? How can he have meat that they do not know about? Where is this meat? Who brought this meat to Jesus? So many questions entered into the minds of Jesus' disciples as they contemplated this mysterious statement. Even after Jesus expressed that his meat was to do the will of his Father, they still did not understand. Oh, we of little faith and understanding! It takes the Spirit of God to bring us to the truth and its understanding.
The will of God for Jesus, of course, is for him to be a witness of the Father, because he was sent to earth to manifest the Father to human being.
The will of God for Jesus is also for him to suffer and die on the cross for our sins, lie in the tomb for three days and nights, and resurrect on the third day, go to Heaven, make intercession for all believers, and return the second time. Hallelujah!
John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. . . . 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. See also 1 Cor. 11:24.
So, our meat is to eat the flesh of the Son of man symbolized in The Lord's Supper's bread and to drink the blood of the Son of man in drinking the drink in this same Supper. We do this in a symbolic way to show forth his death until he come, 1 Cor. 11:26.
We, then, have bread to eat that the world does not know and drink to drink that the world knows not. Let us often partake of the Lord's Supper in our own local church in order to be reminded of the Lord's death "till he come."
Friday, January 15, 2016
John 4:27-31
Dr. Ronnie Wolfe
"Why talkest thou with her?" (verse 27)
When the disciples came to the Lord, they were amazed that he was talking with this Samaritan woman, since they were not to have any dealings with them. This question "Why talkest thou with her?" is not answered at this time, but we are told that the woman went her way and told the men of the city about this man, who could be the Christ. This is the very reason he spoke to her: he knew that she would go and tell everyone of himself.
She went and told the men about Jesus, and they, doubtful, came to see Jesus for themselves. The supreme object of Jesus' work here was to bring men to himself through faith. Jesus was reaching into the arena of Gentile in order that the Jews might be a light unto the Gentiles, that it might be brought about that was later said, " . . . how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles (Acts 14:27).
"Why talkest thou with her?" (verse 27)
When the disciples came to the Lord, they were amazed that he was talking with this Samaritan woman, since they were not to have any dealings with them. This question "Why talkest thou with her?" is not answered at this time, but we are told that the woman went her way and told the men of the city about this man, who could be the Christ. This is the very reason he spoke to her: he knew that she would go and tell everyone of himself.
She went and told the men about Jesus, and they, doubtful, came to see Jesus for themselves. The supreme object of Jesus' work here was to bring men to himself through faith. Jesus was reaching into the arena of Gentile in order that the Jews might be a light unto the Gentiles, that it might be brought about that was later said, " . . . how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles (Acts 14:27).
Friday, January 8, 2016
John 4:26
Dr. Ronnie Wolfe
"Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he."
Matt. 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
What a pronouncement this was to the Samaritan woman! She knew about the coming of the Messiah, but she did not know that Jesus was that Messiah. Neither did those who were in the synagogue who heard Jesus say in Luke 4:21, . . . This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
We must remember that Jesus must reveal God the Father to us. It is not too much to ask for this kind of grace from God, for it is by His grace that we are saved through faith, and without this grace no one would be saved, neither know the Father. Everyone must come to the Father by Jesus (John 14:6).
This woman knew nothing of Jesus, but she needed Jesus, and Jesus revealed Himself to her and saved her; then later a church was begun in Samaria which gave witness to this same Jesus for many years to come.
"Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he."
Matt. 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
What a pronouncement this was to the Samaritan woman! She knew about the coming of the Messiah, but she did not know that Jesus was that Messiah. Neither did those who were in the synagogue who heard Jesus say in Luke 4:21, . . . This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
We must remember that Jesus must reveal God the Father to us. It is not too much to ask for this kind of grace from God, for it is by His grace that we are saved through faith, and without this grace no one would be saved, neither know the Father. Everyone must come to the Father by Jesus (John 14:6).
This woman knew nothing of Jesus, but she needed Jesus, and Jesus revealed Himself to her and saved her; then later a church was begun in Samaria which gave witness to this same Jesus for many years to come.
Monday, January 4, 2016
John 4:25
Dr. Ronnie Wolfe
The woman at the well was not ignorant of the coming of a Messiah. She understood, having some Jewish training, no doubt, through her family, that a True Messiah was to come. So, she said, "I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ."
Certainly Messiah does come, and He is here at this time in this verse. Jesus Himself stood in the synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth and read from the scriptures the prophecy of the coming of the Messiah and said in "Luke 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. The ears of the hearers there were not only shocked, but they were angry that Jesus expressed that He was that Messiah. -- And all they in the synagogue, . . . when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong (Luke 4:28-29).
No less was this woman surprised to learn that Jesus was that Messiah and expressed that when he is come, he will tell us all things (25); and certainly He did tell her all things that ever I did (4:29).
Yes, Jesus is the Messiah, and He has come. He has come to die for sinners, to set the captives free, to call His sheep, save His sheep, secure His sheep, and has resurrected to make intercession for His sheep.
One day we, his sheep, will be with him where He is. That will be a glorious day, will it not?
The woman at the well was not ignorant of the coming of a Messiah. She understood, having some Jewish training, no doubt, through her family, that a True Messiah was to come. So, she said, "I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ."
Certainly Messiah does come, and He is here at this time in this verse. Jesus Himself stood in the synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth and read from the scriptures the prophecy of the coming of the Messiah and said in "Luke 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. The ears of the hearers there were not only shocked, but they were angry that Jesus expressed that He was that Messiah. -- And all they in the synagogue, . . . when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong (Luke 4:28-29).
No less was this woman surprised to learn that Jesus was that Messiah and expressed that when he is come, he will tell us all things (25); and certainly He did tell her all things that ever I did (4:29).
Yes, Jesus is the Messiah, and He has come. He has come to die for sinners, to set the captives free, to call His sheep, save His sheep, secure His sheep, and has resurrected to make intercession for His sheep.
One day we, his sheep, will be with him where He is. That will be a glorious day, will it not?
Friday, January 1, 2016
John 4:23-24
Dr. Ronnie Wolfe
The time has come when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. That indicates that Jesus has finally come to earth to redeem his people from their sins; therefore, every believer should bow down to Jesus and honor him as the Son of God, the Messiah. We are to do that in spirit, which means that the religious part of us needs to be in tune with God the Father and learn more and more about Jesus. As we read in Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: It is our spirit that adores him, exalts him in our minds, and surrenders to his will as we live on this earth.
Our text goes on to say that the Father "seeketh such to worship him." As the Father looks at every aspect of our lives, what does he find in us? Does he find a sincere heart full of love for him and dedicated to serving him? We are all human and make human mistakes, but I pray that God will lead us into the whole truth of Scripture so that we can worship him in spirit and truth. "God is a Spirit," and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and truth (24).
The truth is the Bible. No other book has even come close to shining godly truth into the hearts of believers. All writings should be measured against the perfection of the word of God -- James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
The time has come when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. That indicates that Jesus has finally come to earth to redeem his people from their sins; therefore, every believer should bow down to Jesus and honor him as the Son of God, the Messiah. We are to do that in spirit, which means that the religious part of us needs to be in tune with God the Father and learn more and more about Jesus. As we read in Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: It is our spirit that adores him, exalts him in our minds, and surrenders to his will as we live on this earth.
Our text goes on to say that the Father "seeketh such to worship him." As the Father looks at every aspect of our lives, what does he find in us? Does he find a sincere heart full of love for him and dedicated to serving him? We are all human and make human mistakes, but I pray that God will lead us into the whole truth of Scripture so that we can worship him in spirit and truth. "God is a Spirit," and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and truth (24).
The truth is the Bible. No other book has even come close to shining godly truth into the hearts of believers. All writings should be measured against the perfection of the word of God -- James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Happy New Year
Dr. Ronnie Wolfe
Great
joy is in the hearts of most citizens of the United States today,
because this is a new day and a new year. Psychologically people desire
to have a new beginning, a time when everything can be started anew.
Even though a change of year is not a divine dispensation under the
order and command of the Lord, yet in the mind of most people a new era
begins in their lives.
Let
us use this opportunity to add to our faith, grow in grace, and humble
ourselves under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, giving appropriate
time over to Bible reading and study and meditating on the word of God so
that sin may not get a hold on our lives to bring us down to the realm
of the carnal mind.
God
bless everyone through this new year. May God give his churches the
wisdom to make good decisions, and may our preachers continue to preach
the word of God alone without any addition of tradition or fables.
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