Light-house, Jesse Costales

John the Baptists' life parallels Jesus Christ's life. John had a miraculous birth announced by the Angel Gabriel, Luke 1 . John had a Violent death, Matthew 14 & Mark 6 . John & Jesus lived about the same amount of time, 33 years. I. A Witness of the Light John recognized the Light. He was the forerunner of Christ. He was from the tribe of Levi, a cousin of the Lord. It was his job to introduce Jesus as the Lamb of God. It was John who had the honor of baptizing Christ at the Jordan. John 1:6 - 8, 35 & 36 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! II. The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness If ...

We are all familiar with Nativity Scene during the Christmas Season. The traditional account has Jesus, Mary & Joseph along with shepherds, angels and the three wise men all at the manger on Christmas Night. Much of this is erroneous and most of the account is chronologically and locationally inaccurate according to the Bible. This study is my attempt to put the accounts of Matthew 1 - 2 & Luke 1 - 2 in chronological order and give a more accurate account of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. I. Chronology of Events 1 - 2 years Luke 1:5 - 25 Jerusalem - Gabriel visits Zacharias, before Christmas Elisabeth conceives. 9 mos. Luke 1:26 - 38 Galilee - The Annunciation & Immaculate Conception. 6 - 9 mos. Matt. 1:18 - 25 Galilee - Angel, probably Gabriel, appears to Joseph. Luke 1:39 - 56 Jerusalem - Mary visits Elisabeth & ...

Luke 2:7, And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. The world today is trying to take Jesus Christ out of Christmas. But without Jesus, there is no season of rejoicing. Christ is the reason for the season. A Holy God becoming a Man is the miracle of the holiday. Jesus is the Savior of this world, but the world rejected Him at His birth and crucified its Lord. John 1:10, 11 & 14, He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. I. No Clothes Jesus was born to die. At His birth, His mother wrapped Him in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger. At His death, Mary wrapped Him in linen and laid Him in a borrowed tomb. Mark 15:46 & 4...

More than likely, when you hear the Christmas story, it might begin in Luke 2 with Mary & Joseph journeying to Bethlehem. Some might start the Christmas story back in Luke 1, with the Annunciation to Mary by the angel Gabriel. But seldom do people start the Christmas story with Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. The main character of the first chapter of Luke, is Zacharias - not Mary, Elisabeth or John - not even Jesus. Yet he is hardly remembered, which is ironic because Zacharias name means "Remembrance of the Lord". But, I going to write on four things about Zacharias, in Luke, that we should remember about the Forgotten Man of Christmas. I. The Office of Zacharias Luke 1:5, There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. Zacharias was a priest. His job was to burn incense, which is connected to prayer in the bible. He...

1st Corinthians 13 is known as the Great Love Chapter. In the New Testament Greek, there are two words that are translated into love, agápē  and philia . The King James translators uses “charity” for the Greek word agápē, in this section - I always liked this. It is said that you can give without loving, but you can't love without giving. In chapter 13, charity is the highest form of love. I. The Motive of Love, verses 1 - 3. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. What we say, think and do is not as important than why we said, thought or did those...

While the Bible is inspired by God, it was written by men hand, 2 Peter 1: 21 . But the Ten Commandments are unique in that they are written by God own hand. Exodus 31: 18 . Since God took time to write them, we need to look at them a little closer. Exodus 20:1 - 17 I. And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. III. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for...

  This is a blog of my Bible lesson outlines and thought on God Word. I thought I would share them and hope they might be a blessing to some. It helps me study the Word of God and remember what the Lord has opened to me. Almost forty years ago, I got saved and God called me to Bible College while I was a Marine. I wanted to study math, after getting out of the Corps. But, I remember kneeling by my bunk one night and feeling God wanted me to learn His Word first, even though I didn't feel I was called to the ministry. If I learned everything else but did not know God and His Word, it wouldn't really matter. I realized that the most important thing I could learn was the Bible. I attended Pensacola Bible Institute and received a Bachelors of Divinity. Fifteen years later, God granted me the opportunity to receive a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science. While I make a living as a programmer, it is my faith and knowledge of the Word that gives me a reason to live. God has used me...