15 November 2015
Two-Minute Features | 22 November 2015 | 08 November 2015

The Disciples were Anticipating an Earthly Kingdom (TMF:295)

Friday, November 20, 2015
Peace to Live By: The Disciples were Anticipating an Earthly Kingdom (TMF:295) - Daniel Litton
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       So, Peter had his mind on earthly things. He wasn’t thinking about what God was actually doing through Jesus, but he was thinking about what he wanted to happen. He was hoping to have a place in Jesus’ earthly kingdom, which he thought was going to be established very shortly. And Peter’s hopes were encouraged all the more when one day Jesus made a triumphal entry into Jerusalem. John recorded the event in John 12, and it states the following: “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him” (John 12:12-16, ESV). But the disciples believed that this event was the beginning of Christ taking Jerusalem and becoming king of Israel, as it also appears that that was what the crowd thought as well.

Jesus' First Trip was for His Death & Resurrection (TMF:294)

Thursday, November 19, 2015
Peace to Live By: Jesus' First Trip was for His Death & Resurrection (TMF:294) - Daniel Litton
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       When Jesus called his disciples—that is, called them to follow him in his earthly ministry—they believed that he was the Christ, but that he was going to establish an earthly kingdom at that time. But Jesus made it clear to them that this trip to the earth was not for the kingdom for the Nation of Israel, but rather was for his crucifixion and resurrection. But they didn’t understand this. The following is recorded in Matthew 16: “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Matthew 16:21-23, ESV). So, Peter had his mind on earthly things. He wasn’t thinking about what God was actually doing through Jesus, but he was thinking about what he wanted to happen. He was hoping to have a place in Jesus’ earthly kingdom, which he thought was going to be established very shortly.

Jesus Told His Disciples to Pray for the Kingdom (TMF:293)

Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Peace to Live By: Jesus Told His Disciples to Pray for the Kingdom (TMF:293) - Daniel Litton
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       If you'll remember, Jesus taught his disciples how they should pray, on more than one occasion, by reciting to them the Lord's Prayer. In the prayer, he told his disciples to pray for God's kingdom to come. Remember, it says, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10, ESV). Undoubtedly, the disciples wanted this kingdom to come. They believed Jesus was going to be the king. One time Jesus even asked the disciples who they thought he was, and “Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”” (Matthew 16:16 ESV). You see, the disciples believed Jesus was the Messiah, and that he was going to reign as king in Jerusalem, over Israel. The angel Gabriel had told Mary, before she became pregnant with Jesus, that, “”He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end”” (Luke 1:32-33, ESV).

God Promised Israel an Everlasting Kingdom (TMF:292)

Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Peace to Live By: God Promised Israel an Everlasting Kingdom (TMF:292) - Daniel Litton
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       In the last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry, there were a series of events that took place that lead to Jesus’ crucifixion, and then ultimately, his resurrection. Now, in the Old Testament, God had promised the Nation of Israel, his chosen people, that he would establish an everlasting kingdom on the earth for them. Therefore, the mindset of the Jewish people, at the time of Jesus, was that the Messiah would come and establish this kingdom. So, the Jews were constantly looking for the Messiah to come. Some even believed that the Messiah was John the Baptist, but he made it clear that he was not the Christ. But he did bare witness that Jesus was the Christ when he saw him. We even read in John 1 that “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ)” (John 1:40-41, ESV). If you'll remember, Jesus taught his disciples how they should pray, on more than one occasion, by reciting to them the Lord's Prayer. In the prayer, he told his disciples to pray for God's kingdom to come. Remember, it says, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10, ESV). Undoubtedly, the disciples wanted this kingdom to come.

Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior (TMF:291)

Monday, November 16, 2015
Peace to Live By: Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior (TMF:291) - Daniel Litton
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       If you would like to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior today, and be set free from any possibility of ever entering hell, then just follow my lead in this prayer: God, I am a sinner. I have spent my life going against you, doing things against you. But today I want to accept your free gift of salvation through Jesus. I believe he died for my sins and rose from the dead, and that I can have a new life in you today. I give my life over to you, so that you will make me new. Please, God, change my life, and make me a better person, like Jesus. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Let's pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for your wonderful love today. I thank you that you have provided a way of escape for us so that we do not have to go to hell, and be separated from you after we die. Father, there is no other reality apart from you that is good and honest. We really can trust in you today. You can be counted on. I love you, Father, and I pray those who have heard this message today, and who don't know you, that they will accept your truth. I pray that they will believe in Jesus.”