In Matthew 17, Jesus is transfigured into His glorified body. Moses and Elijah appeared with Him. They were talking to Jesus. Then God appeared in a cloud over them. Then Jesus was by Himself. Both Moses and Elijah are prominent in both old and new testament. Both because they did many things to led the people to God. But they are prominent for another reason. There are 3 people who haven’t died on earth and went home to heaven. They are Enoch, Moses and Elijah. Enoch walked with God and was not, because God took him. Moses watched as the children of Israel walked over the Jordan river. Moses climb up mount Nebo and disappeared. Elijah was walking along as a chariot of fire came from heaven and took him home. You’ll find the stories in Genesis 5, Joshua 22 and 2 Kings 2. Enoch is mentioned in 2 scriptures. But what it says applies to us today. Enoch walked with God and God took him and he was no more.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 17:1-8, Jesus had finished teaching the disciples. He took Peter, James and John up Mount Hermon. When they reached a pinnacle, there appeared Moses and Elijah standing next to Jesus. They were talking to Him. Jesus was transfigured before their face into His glorified body. He shown like the sun. Peter said it’s good that we are here. Peter wanted to make 3 tabernacles. A cloud descended upon Jesus and Moses and Elijah. Then God spoke and said, this is My beloved Son, hear Him. Peter, James and John fell on their faces, because they knew it was God Himself. Jesus told not to be afraid. When they looked up, it was just Jesus. God will confirm all things to us. Peter, James and John saw a portion of heaven. We see in part, but when we will be there we shall know as we are known.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

How many of you want to die? But if you aren’t dead, you aren’t a Christian. Jesus is our example. In Matthew 16:21-28, Jesus began to tell the disciples that He must go to Jerusalem to suffer and die. Peter spoke up first and said God forbid. Jesus rebuked him for being selfish. Jesus told him that he was thinking of himself not God’s will. God’s plan for each of us is corporate. It not only includes us but everyone else. God brings you along and to the place where His plan unfolds and it effects everyone. No one is a loner. We are a church fitly joined together. Jesus is the cornerstone. In Galatians 2:20, it says I’m crucified with Christ. It means we are dead to ourselves. And don’t own yourself any more. We are to follow. Paul said it, I die daily. And this how we are to live. And those who choose not to will lose everything they have, including Jesus.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 16:13-20, Jesus had finished His ministry around the city of Magdala. They got into their boat and begin rowing north, up the river Jordan. They came to the coast of Caesarea Philippi, which is today in northern Israel in the Golan heights. Jesus left the multitude and took His disciples to speak to them privately. Jesus asked them who that people say He is? The disciples said, some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, some say Jeremiah and others one of the prophets. Then Jesus asked the disciples, who do you say I am? Peter answered and said, thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus said upon that belief, I will build my church. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Who are the church. It isn’t the buildings or the demonination. It is the people who believe in Jesus Christ as savior, no matter what church they attend or where there faith is. If they believe in Jesus, they are brethren. Do you know what Jesus said about coming against the brethren? Christian or non Christian who come against the brethren will suffer the same result as coming against God. The people you thought were not worth being in your church, you will spend eternity next to. God sees your heart, not your clothes or pocketbook.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 16;5-12, Jesus had just rebuked the pharisees and sadducees. Jesus and the disciples got into their boat and went to the other side of the sea of Galilee. When they got there, Jesus spoke to them in a parable. He said, beware of the leaven of the pharisees and sadducees. The disciples didn’t understand what He was talking about. Jesus had to explain that the leaven of the pharisees and sadducees is their doctrines, they had made up. They weren’t following God. Jesus said, it’s not what we eat that defiled us. It is what comes out of our heart, that does. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The disciples understood. The title is from a John Steinbeck book, Of Mice and Men. It says, the best laid plans of mice and men go awry. With God all things are possible. This is why we must guard our hearts and minds with the peace of God.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 16:1-4, Jesus had to deal with the unbelief of the pharisees and sadducees. He used the example of the sky. If it’s red in the evening, bad weather is over. But if the sky is red in the morning, there is a storm coming. Then He said, if you can discern the face of the sky, why can’t you discern the signs of the times? The only sign that you will recieve is the sign of Jonah, 3 days in the belly of the whale. Unbelief is the opposite of faith. It is opposite sides of the same coin. That coin is us. Jesus said how can fresh and salt water come out of the same well? It can’t. It’s one way or the other. It starts with hope, then becomes faith. But to keep the faith, takes effort on our part. We must seek after God by reading the word of God and praying. Then doing the word of God. This is how to deal with unbelief.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 15:32-39, Jesus was in the wilderness teaching a multitude of people for 3 days. He asked His disciples to feed the people before He dismissed them. Jesus had the people to sit down. The disciples said we’re in the wilderness and don’t have enough food for them. Jesus asked what do you have? They said 7 loaves and a few fish. Jesus said bring it. He blessed the food and began to give it to the disciples to give it out. Everyone ate and were filled. The disciples gathered 7 baskets of food left over. God will never ask you to do something without providing for it. God uses what is in your hands to perform a miracle. It only takes faith to produce this miracle. Whether it’s food, healing, salvation or provisions. The one element that causes this miracle to work is faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Yes, faith is always walking into the unknown. You don’t know exactly what God is going to do, but you have the assurance that God is going before you. And He will make that way for you.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Jesus looked upon the multitude and saw a flock without a shepherd. God has compassion for this world, as a shepherd for His flock. In Matthew 15:29-31, Jesus went to sea of Galilee up into the mountains. A great multitude gathered. They were blind, lame, dumb, maimed and many others. Jesus healed all who came unto Him. For God so loved this world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes, shall have everlasting life. It’s what motivates God to compassion. Jesus went about doing good and healing all who are oppressed by the devil. And with God, mercy triumphs over judgement. All of our life we look for a never ending love. And it’s right in front of our face and always has been.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 15:21-28, Jesus and His disciples left Israel and went to Phoenicia, around Tyre. There came a Phonician woman crying out to Jesus to heal her daughter. Jesus didn’t answer her. She persisted and cried out more. Even the disciples ask Jesus to get rid of her. Finally Jesus said, I’m sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. She fell before Jesus worshipping and said, Lord help me. Jesus said, it’s not right to give the children’s bread to the dogs. She said, even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master’s table. Jesus answered, great is your faith. It will be done as you asked. Her daughter was healed that hour. Even the worst sinner can turn to God and be forgiven. Faith, trusting and believing, is what moves God. It’s the key to entering heaven. By faith people are justified.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 15:10-20, Jesus explained what He said to the pharisees. The disciples said that the pharisees were offended by what Jesus said. Jesus talked about what comes out of your heart. He said that is what defiles a man. Why? Your heart is who you are. This is the part of you that is eternal. It came from God when you were born and it is the part you that goes back to God. Jesus said it a different way, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. He explained the principle to the disciples. Jesus said, the pharisees are the blind leading the blind. He said to leave them alone. Jesus talked about the wisdom of God and then said, with wisdom get understanding. We are made up of 3 parts, body, soul and spirit. The body is the dust of the earth, our soul is the life of God and our spirit is who we are. So, we are to guard our mouth and have God to change our heart into His image. Because that which proceeds out of our mouth defiles the man.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com