Matthew 26 - 4.10.25

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 26:26-30

26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take and eat; this is my body.

27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.”  28“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins”.29 ”I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”  30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

OBSERVATION

Definition of New Covenant: The New Covenant replaces the Passover the Jews celebrated and is the promise that God will forgive sin and restore fellowship with those whose hearts are turned toward Him. Jesus Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant, and His death on the cross is the basis of the promise , “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20). Moments before, the Lord had broken the bread and given it to His disciples with the words, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (verse 19). With these symbolic actions Jesus instituted the ordinance of communion, or the Lord’s Table.  And they are powerful pictures of bread and wine to partake of, to know what Jesus did for us so that believing in Him brings us eternal life with HIM. 

And they sang a hymn.

When they had sung a hymn: We don’t often think of Jesus singing, but He did. He lifted His voice in adoration and worship to God the Father. We can wonder what His voice sounded like, but we know for certain that He sang with more than His voice, and He lifted His whole heart up in praise.  

And from there they went out to the Mount of Olives: There, Jesus prayed before His betrayal and crucifixion, however, it is also from there that Jesus triumphantly ascended into Heaven (Luke 22:39-44, Acts 1:11). The Mount of Olives also holds the hope of His victorious second coming (Zechariah 14:4). It is a sacred Biblical location that still exists today and is central to God’s plan of redemption.

APPLICATION

When we take communion/Eucharist it isn’t symbolism but its Jesus’s promise. WE ARE THE YOU!! Until that day when I drink it new with YOU in My Father’s kingdom: This is the fulfillment in My Father’s kingdom that Jesus longed for.  And when we sing to HIM in words of praise and worship, reminds us that God wants to be praised with singing to draw us near to HIM and it’s from our hearts to Him of all He has done for us.  As we stand with arms raised high singing of HIS glory and HIS unfailing love for us, we praise him for all HE has done to fulfill HIS promises!! UNTIL THAT DAY!! 

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, words fail with tears to know all of you did for us:  living a sinless life in a fallen world, believing all God gave you to give for US; to teach to heal to remind everyone of God’s words in the OLD TESTAMENT.  AND dying on a cross for our redemption and the promise that you left with the Holy Spirit which right now are the words (scriptures and hearing you) I want from you.  Lord, let me never take for granted your crucifixion and resurrection when we have communion in your honor; and when we sing to you Jesus, as a sweet incense up to heaven.  And Lord Jesus there are not words that can thank you enough; you opened a door for us to be with you NOW and forever.  Let me live my life honoring you, listening to your words, being with others who know and love you and understand and remember what you’ve done.  And bringing others who don’t know you through seeds of your words to them, and knowing someone  WILL water those seeds to fruition. So that through your word multitudes WILL come to know who you are and accept you as LORD Jesus, the hope and Savior of the world.  HUMBLY I thank you Jesus! Thank you for who you are: OUR Trinity…Father, Son and Holy Spirit. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Amen

- Charleen Zakarian

Matthew 25 - 4.9.25

Scripture: Matthew 25:10-13

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Observation

Jesus died to save us from our sin, not because we did anything to deserve it, but simply because of his great love for us. Once we accept his salvation, it should be evident in our lives. In three separate parables in Matthew 25, Jesus warns us not to become complacent. If we truly love God, we should want to please him by following his commands.

Application

On Sunday, Pastor Levi shared the story of the fig tree that did not bear fruit. And within days, I am again reminded that God loves me, but he also requires something of me.

It is easy to become complacent in his love. But Jesus warns us throughout scripture that we have a duty to stay focused on him; to follow God’s commands, to love others, and to share his word.

Matthew 10:5-8 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.  As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Prayer

Lord, please forgive me for my complacency. Forgive me for putting you second, or sometimes even last. Forgive me for testing you. Freely you shower me with your love and forgiveness. Help me to stay focused on you and connected to you. Help me to walk in a way that is pleasing to you.

Colossians 1:9-12 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

- Debbie Dunn

1 Chronicles 29 - 4.8.25

SCRIPTURE:  1 CHRONICLES 29:1 – 5

Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the Lord God. 2 With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise,[a] stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities. 3 Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: 4 three thousand talents[b] of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents[c] of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, 5 for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?

6 Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly. 7 They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents[d] and ten thousand darics[e] of gold, ten thousand talents[f] of silver, eighteen thousand talents[g] of bronze and a hundred thousand talents[h] of iron. 8 Anyone who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

OBSERVATION

King David is addressing the assembly with a heartfelt message. He is not only preparing a way for his son, Solomon, to build the temple for God, but is providing a wonderful image of what it means to put action to your love for God. David details that he provided a lot of special items for the temple through his resources. He tells the assembly about what he’s provided – which is a long list of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, onyx, and many types of stones and marble for the temple. You would think after listing all these things, that would be more than enough to build a wonderful temple… but it wasn’t enough for David. Because of his love for God, he wanted to give more out of his personal treasures. He gave “over and above” out his devotion to God and the temple. He not only gave a few more things but thousands more. He was showing his love for God by giving in great measure.

David was also a good father – supporting his son Solomon in God’s design for him to be ruler of Israel and for building the temple. David could have easily been jealous or sad that God didn’t choose him to building the temple for God. Instead, David took God’s decision for his son, Solomon, and exceeded God’s commands.

David set the example of what it meant to give everything to God. He then rallied the leaders and challenged them by saying in verse 5 “Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?” He set the example and asked others to rise up and commit themselves to God in the same way he did - by exceedingly giving to the temple church - out of his deep love for God.

APPLICATION

Throughout David’s writings, you find someone who loved God with all his heart and showed his love to God often. Before David became King, Saul was rebuked by Samuel and foretold David’s appointment to be king by saying in verse 14 “the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” No other person in all the Bible has earned the title of “after his (God’s) heart” than David.

When I look at David’s actions in this scripture (and many others), he set many examples for us. He used his resources, possessions, finances and his entire life as a way to praise and worship God for all that God had done in his life. He also showed the full circle of giving in the prayer in verse 16, that it comes from God and it all belongs to God:

16 Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.

David’s method of praise and worship to God is the perfect example for our own lives. Think about all that God has done for you, his saving grace, provisions, and deep love – and then decide how much you can give in response. Is giving to God’s church nothing at all, the bare minimum or above and beyond? Just like David said to the assembly “Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?” The word “consecrate” here means “to set apart or dedicate oneself fully to God’s service” in the building of the temple. We can take inspiration from David, his passion and love for God and the building of the temple, to consecrate ourselves to God’s church at Desert Streams Church. Can you use David’s method of giving, with a full heart of love towards God, and commit to give fully – even above your normal -  to God’s church at Desert Streams?

Wouldn’t it be great to have the same results at Desert Streams like the people responded in verse 6 – 8  to what David asked? They saw David’s example and gave fully to God in order to build the temple. If we apply David’s example to how we give, we could all rejoice like the people and David did in verse 9, because of the willing response of all who gave “freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord” at Desert Streams Church. Let’s plan on rejoicing together, in praise to God, for the blessings of giving back to God.

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for David and all that he did in praise and worship to you. He knew how to show his love towards you in many ways - in praise and worship to you. He set a wonderful example for me and all who read your scriptures. Thank you for all you’ve done in my life. Not only saving me but blessing my life. I owe everything to you! Please let my service and giving be a blessing to your church at Desert Streams. Help me to always give based on my love for you and nothing else. It’s not about the amount given but being a cheerful giver as 2 Corinthians 9:7 says that “God loves a cheerful giver.” Thank you for the opportunity to give to your church. Giving is a blessing. Thank you for that blessing and the gift of giving. I give you all the praise! In Jesus name. Amen

- Mary Oberg