Sunday Morning IBC. 5/19/2013. Luke 4.

Luke 4:31-37. The Power of Jesus' Words.
Pastor Nam Park.

Luke 4:31 And He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and He was teaching them on the Sabbath; 32 and they were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, he came out of him without doing him any harm. 36 And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another saying, “What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out.” 37 And the report about Him was spreading into every locality in the surrounding district.

There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. - CS Lewis. The Screwtape Letters.

1. No existence of Devils. (Materialist).

2. Believing Demons overwhelmingly powerful. (Magician).

Jesus travels down to Capernaum (a valley) and the emphasis of his ministry was to simply to teach on the Sabbath, in the synagogues. The people were astonished with His message, because it was with Authority.

What gave His message Authority?

1. Jesus simply preached the scriptures.

http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/articles/index.php?view=article&aid=22527

Once Harry Ironside was greeted by a visitor who said he had enjoyed the service, although he did not think Ironside was a great preacher. Ironside replied, "I know I'm not a great preacher. But what was it about my preaching that brought you to that conclusion" The man answered, "I understood everything you said" This was an unwitting confession of one of the reasons for Ironside's greatness. Jesus too, when he preached the Word, was clear and painfully direct in his application, as we see again and again in the Gospels. The conclusion in Capernaum was that "he taught them as one who had authority"

As Amy Carmichael, the great missionary, said, "If you have never been hurt by a word from God, it is probable that you have never heard God speak" The people were shocked, thunderstruck, sublimely hurt. Jesus' teaching was authoritative because he proclaimed God's Word clearly and with conviction. We ought to pray for such divine hurt'.

He preached the Scriptures with knowledge, clarity, and insight.
Jesus also gave a sense that God cared for those in trouble (through his message).

People are starving for the grandeur of God, and the vast majority do not know it. - John Piper.

2. Jesus demonstrated His authority over the demons.

These demons are personable beings, yet they believe and fear the reality of who God is.

Luke 4:34 “Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 
- The demons never lie about God and some have better theology than select Christians today.

Jesus didn't necessarily need to yell. He speaks, the demons obey.
Nam's paraphrase: "Can you be quiet? And, can you leave?"
Luke 4:35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, he came out of him without doing him any harm.

Why the demonic activity?
A: To demonstrate the authority of Jesus over sin, punishment, and evil. And if He has authority, then what He says about releasing the captives is true.

Luke 4:18 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.

He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set free those who are oppressed,

19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

We can see the authority dripping off of Him.

Sunday Morning IBC. 5/12/2013. Luke 4.

Luke 4:22-30. Rejecting Jesus. (Part II).
Pastor Nam Park.

We assume that if we're decent people, we are more likely to end up in the Kingdom of Heaven. Those that reject Jesus, reject the fact that they need God's grace, because:
1. They find Him too familiar. 
2. They feel too privileged (sense of entitlement).
3. They are too invested (in worldly ventures).

Luke 4:22 And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”
- They thought much of Jesus, but He was the familiar, "hometown" kid.

Then Jesus started to challenge those that felt "Privileged."

Luke 4:25 But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; 26 and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath,in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

- Elijah went to a Phoenician widow (from Sidon)... a foreigner.
- Elisha cleansed Naaman the Syrian... another foreigner. [[2 Kings 5:1-13]] 

Too Invested. 
When Nam talks to his Aunt about salvation, he sees her thinking: If what you're saying is true, then where have all my loved ones (who have passed) gone? Either the scriptures are true, or her own made-up theologies are true. Some are too invested in what they have believe in for so long.

Luke 4:28 And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; 29 and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. 30 But passing through their midst, He went His way.
- The people were enraged. "Who does Jesus think He is???" Yet, Jesus spoke accurately of the inward condition of their heart. They wanted to kill Him. This was similar to "lynching-laws" of old times. Yet Jesus either by being physically-fit or by supernatural means managed to escape them.

Too familiar. (Loving church culture and treating Christ only as an appendage).
Too entitled. (I'm a pretty good person, compared to that other person.)
Too invested. (Hoping for things in the world over the hope of Jesus.)

What do they lose? Not something small. They lose eternal life, and not just that: the abundance of what life is supposed to be. Is this life sufficient for you?  A good job... a good family... a good hockey game?  You are just a tragedy away from weeping; from losing your life or loved ones. If your life is blessed, praise the Lord, but in this life, you will have tribulation.  The life you WANT is the hope that you find, that lasts unto eternity and can only be found in the forgiveness of sins, through Jesus Christ. That's His message. That's the message that we can't afford to reject.

Living it: There is amazement in the simplicity of the gospel. Meditate on it. Sinners are saved!

Sunday Morning IBC. May 5th, 2013. Luke 4.

Luke 4:14-30. Rejecting Jesus. (Part I).
Pastor Nam Park.

Jesus had a clear sense of His ministry, yet His home town rejected Him. He was too "ordinary." This serves as a warning: Jesus was rejected by those that should have known best.

Luke highlights that Jesus was praised for his teachings. His reputation was growing by leaps and bounds.

Luke 4:15 And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.

Luke 4:17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed,

19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

They would have been familiar with these words Jesus read. Yet Jesus was selective. Jesus makes the assertion clear: that HE is exactly the ONE who the Spirit of the Lord is upon.

Isaiah 58:6 “Is this not the fast which I choose,

To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free
And break every yoke?

Suspense builds as the people wait to hear what Jesus will comment on what He's just read.

Luke 4:21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 

They knew exactly what Jesus was claiming. Full understanding. They were astounded but a bit put off. Their response:

Luke 4:22 And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

An Excerpt from R.Kent Hughes_____________________________

A large prestigious British church had three mission churches under its care. On the first Sunday of each new year all the members of the mission churches would come to the parent church for a combined Communion service. In those mission churches, located in the slums of a major city, were some outstanding cases of conversions - thieves, burglars, and others. But all knelt as brothers and sisters side by side at the Communion rail. 

On one such occasion the pastor saw a former burglar kneeling beside a judge of the Supreme Court of England - the very judge who had sent him to jail where he had served seven years. After his release this burglar had been converted and became a Christian worker.

After service, the judge was walking out with the pastor and said to him, "Did you notice who was kneeling beside me at the Communion rail this morning?" The two walked along in silence for a few more moments, and then the judge said, "What a miracle of grace." The pastor nodded in agreement. "A marvelous miracle of grace indeed." The judge then inquired, "But to whom do you refer?" "The former convict," the pastor answered. The judge said, "I was not referring to him. I was thinking of myself." The minister, surprised, replied, "You were thinking of yourself? I don't understand."

"You see," the judge went on, "it is not surprising that the burglar received God's grace when he left jail. He had nothing but a history of crime behind him, and when he understood Jesus could be his Savior, he knew there was salvation and hope and joy for him. And he knew how much he needed that help. But look at me -- I was taught from earliest infancy to live as a gentleman, that my word was to be my bond, that I was to say my prayers, go to church, take Communion and so on. I went through Oxford, obtained my degrees, was called to the bar, and eventually became a judge. I was sure I was all I needed to be, through in fact i too was a sinner. Pastor, it was God's grace that drew me. It was God's grace that opened my heart to receive Christ. I'm the greater miracle."

Sunday Morning IBC. 4/28/2013. Luke 4.

Luke 4:1-13.  The Validation of the Messiah. (Part II): The Temptations of Jesus.
Pastor Nam Park.

Jesus is here validated as the Son of God.
We might not see these temptations as similar to our own, yet they are genuine and real.
In the end, temptation is a diminishment of God. We are tempted in that moment to suggest/believe that God is less than He claims to be. He is less in control... He is less good, so I must take control... He is less than the satisfaction I need, so I look for satisfaction... This is practical atheism.

2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
1 Peter 2:22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;
1 John 3:5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.

Could Jesus Have Sinned?
"If Jesus as a person had sinned, involving both His human and divine natures, then God Himself would have sinned." - Wayne Grudem 
Jesus is the God-man.  If Jesus had sinned, then God would have sinned.  His dual nature of God and man prevented Him from sinning.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Marathon Running. How painful is it? To find out, you ask the individual that has finished the race. Jesus likewise experienced it all (temptations).

Temptation #1: SURVIVE AT ALL COST.

The temptation to use the power that God gave you to take care of yourself. 

Surviving at the diminishment of God? 
A: Jesus quotes scripture. Authority found in Scripture.
Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

Miracles were happening all around them, yet they were constantly complaining. Yet, in the wilderness, God gave them Manna to teach them to depend on Him every single day.
Deuteronomy 8:3 He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

Exodus 16:17-18 The sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much and some little. 18 When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat.

Joshua 5:12 The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year.

Shall I diminish God and take care of things on my own, or shall I trust in God's intention for why I am here? Was it the Father's will that He was there at that difficult time? 

Following God is more important than survival.
Our temptation is to doubt God's constant goodness.
Ex. The flight that crashed and survivors became cannibals.
Survival at all cost is not a Godly virtue.

This life is not all that God has promised us. In the end we will be glorified and enjoy our Savior forever. Let's not diminish God in order to survive.

Temptation #2: SUCCEED AT ALL COST.
Satan is the ruler of this world, yet the lie is that he has the power to give it away.
Satan lies but God is still in Control.

Daniel 2:21 “It is He who changes the times and the epochs;

He removes kings and establishes kings;

He gives wisdom to wise men

And knowledge to men of understanding.

Daniel 4:25 that you be driven away from mankind and your dwelling place be with the beasts of the field, and you be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven; and seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.

Satan tempts Jesus by giving Him the "cup-of-noodles" route to ruling as Messiah; an offer to escape suffering. Yet Jesus wasn't going to give in, but it must have been tempting.

Is it okay to succeed at the diminishment of God?
There is a cost: Luke 4:7 Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.”
[Just to bow your knee for one second.]
Luke 4:8 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’
Honoring God is more important than success. Even if the potential of failure existed out before Him.
Jesus' response is a somewhat summarized form of Deuteronomy 6:13.

Deuteronomy 6:13 You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name. 

Jesus is not here just to accomplish good for the world. His first and primary purpose is to serve the Will of the Father. 
Sometimes we forget our primary purpose here on earth. God has to be more important than accomplishment and success.
Ex. Alexander the Great weeping over no lands left to conquer.
Ex. Jim Elliot's death as not being a waste but that it was worthwhile to honor God with it.

Temptation #3: SIGNIFICANCE AT ALL COST.
Demons know how to quote scripture.
To demand miraculous protection from God is not loyalty to Him or faith.
Exodus 17:3-7; verse 7 He named the place Massah and Meribah because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us, or not?”
Contentment, Satisfaction, Joy with God are more important than personal significance.

Following God is more important than Survival.
Honoring God is more important than Success.
Contentment with God is more important than Personal Significance.

Love God, Trust Him. Fight temptation.
Jesus exemplified what it meant to struggle, felt the weight, and came out victorious.

Living It: Priorities. Honoring God with our lives, as a slave would for his/her master... Doulos for Christ.

Sunday Morning IBC. 4/21/2013. Luke 3:21-28.

Luke 3:21-28. The Validation of the Messiah. (Part I)

Pastor Nam Park.

Luke gives us 3 Areas of Evidence of the Valid Nature of Jesus as the Messiah.

- v.21-22. God the Father gives Divine Affirmation.

- v.23-28. Historic (Hereditary) Qualification.

- Luke 4:1-13. Spiritual Affirmation: The temptation of Jesus.

Idea: The Messiah must be validated.  The more difficult the task, the more qualifications necessary. Example: "I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV." Haha. In actuality, if you search for a surgeon, you want someone with credentials.

DIVINE AFFIRMATION.

Title Heading for v.21-22. "Jesus is Baptized" Yet these verses are one long sentence and the minor item is the baptism while the main clause is the Father's voice booming.  The baptism was occasion for Jesus' earthly ministry to start.

Why would the Sinless One get baptized?

1. Jesus was validating the Baptizing ministry of John.

2. Jesus was identifying with sinners.

Matthew 3:14-15 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” 15 But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.

Jesus had to grow up and participate on the days of atonement. Why was He involved in all these ceremonies? A: To live this perfect life in order to have His life evaluated. The exchange on the cross is that He lived a perfectly righteous life, in place of our sinfulness.

Hebrews 10:4 "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."

Animals were not sufficient to die for a man, neither were the Angels sufficient. A man has to die for a man, yet only if he lives a perfect life and Christ lived 30 years righteously. And Jesus identified with sinners, because He was a man. 

Characteristic of our Savior: He prays. [While the Heavens tore open]. What was revealed?

v.22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

What is God pleased with?

The Father was pleased with the 30 years of a devoted life. A life well-lived. The Father would later be pleased to crush Him, found in Isaiah 53.

Isaiah 53:10 

But the Lord was pleased

To crush Him, putting Him to grief;

If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,

He will see His offspring,

He will prolong His days,

And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.

The Holy Spirit comes and anoints human beings for a certain purpose. IE: King David, Sampson. So why does the Holy Spirit come from the heavens in the visible form of a dove?   A: To absolutely validate that Jesus is not just an average prophet or a moral teacher. So that Jesus was visually verified as the Son of God, for ministry... Along with the thunderous, booming affirmation of the Father.

HISTORICAL QUALIFICATION.
The Messiah needed to come from the Line of David.
Book of Matthew (Genealogy through Joseph): Abraham ---> Jesus.
Book of Luke (Genealogy through Mary): Jesus ---> Adam, and ultimately the Son of God.

Matthew as author tried to establish Jesus as the Jewish Messiah. Yet Luke goes further and takes the genealogy to Adam, the Son OF God.  Jesus came from God.

How is Jesus validated for the ministries He's about to embark on?  The skies tore open, the Holy Spirit descended and the Father spoke His affectionate affirmation. And genealogically, He is the Son of God. There is only one King that could be THIS King. One Lamb that could be THIS Lamb. One Savior that could die and take on the sins of the world.

Sunday Morning IBC. 4/14/2013. Luke 3:15-20.

Luke 3:15-20. One Greater than John.
Pastor Nam Park.

Would it had been sinful if John had gotten married? ...had lived in a city (instead of the wilderness) ...to wear jeans (instead of camel skins) ...or ate tasty food (instead of locust and honey)?  Yet John was so committed that he would sacrifice these things for something else.

Motivation for his consecration, his willing sacrifice:
Sacrifice is a function of value.
We will sacrifice more for something of more intrinsic value to us.
ex. Alabaster vial: She found Jesus of far exceeding value, worth the sacrifice of the wage of the costly perfume.

We look at Christ through the eyes of John the Baptist: the greatest of the old testament prophets. Some things are worth the sacrifice... and of all things that are worth the sacrifices of our lives, surely our Savior should exceed them all. John's consecration was natural to him because he saw something so much greater in its value that he would lay down his life... and the Savior was worth it all.

Luke 3:15-20 Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ, 16 John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 So with many other exhortations he preached the gospel to the people. 19 But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the wicked things which Herod had done, 20 Herod also added this to them all: he locked John up in prison.

John constantly maintained a distinction between himself and the Christ. He believed:
1. the Messiah is Mightier.  v.16 "...but One is coming who is mightier than I"
2. the Messiah is Greater in Honor.  v.16 "...I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals"  Only the lowliest servant performed this job since feet were covered in dirt from walking around all day.
3. the Messiah comes with a Greater Baptism. v.16 "...He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." The baptism of the Messiah is supernatural. The symbol of John's baptism wouldn't be as powerful as that of the source. Christ's baptism is the REAL thing.

Spirit and fire...
Option 1: Jesus will send the Spirt and it will cleanse with Spirit and fire.
Option 2: Believers are baptized with the Spirit but for the unbeliever, a baptism of judgement, with fire.
Nam leans more to option 1 since it's a bit more encouraging. 

v.17 His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

John has already called them broods of vipers, but when the Messiah comes, He will separate them, like wheat (heavier pieces) and the chaff (lighter husks of the wheat).
Fire consumes and destroys. But, consider a fire that doesn't get satiated. Why do we underestimate Hell: the eternal fire. It'll be a horrible reality for those that did not Value the Son. His eternal wrath will burn them and not consume them.

John Piper mentions: It is good news when someone wakes you up and says, "Quick the hotel is on fire, but there is still time. I'll show you how to get out." The gospel must always contain a warning of God's wrath: "The chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire."

v.19-20 the Messiah was greater than John's own life... And if there is something of great value, you will find yourself driven to obtain it. 

Matthew 13:45-46 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

The biography of John ends in v.20

Herod Antipas married his brother's wife: Herodias.  They were a new testament match to Ahab and Jezebel (wicked wife). And the cherry on top of the wicked life that Herod Antipas led was that he put John (the man of God) in jail, and eventually took his head.

Hebrews 11:37-38 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

"men of whom the world was not worthy": is the value of John. These men/women did whatever it cost to honor their Savior. A higher affection would consume them. And God would call some of them to be martyred because the world was not worthy to be in their presence.

John does not call us to be just like him, but in his affections, we should seek to be identical.

Living it: Value Christ. Live a life that has great affection for the Lord. 

Sunday Morning IBC. 4/7/2013. Luke 3.

Luke 3:1-14. A Voice in the Wilderness. (Part III).
Pastor Nam Park.

God is Holy. Definition by negation: God is without sin. Yet holiness can also be translated as being "consecrated" and "set appart." Our God is distinct and above other gods. Usually, the opposite of being holy is something that is normal and mundane.
In light of that, how should we live our lives since we are not without sin?  A: We are to live a life that is consecrated and set appart for a holy purpose.

Recap: Why was John's Preparation ministry necessary?  A: The people had forgotten that they needed a savior. John understood what Jesus would be sent to do and John cried out John 1:29b "...Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
This message was offensive to the Jews who didn't readily admit that they were sinners that needed forgiveness.

The Jews believed that they were saved by their birth-right. They were "born" physical children of Abraham. Yet Galatians 3 states that it's by faith that we are Sons of Abraham. We are not to rely on our birthright for salvation. God is not obligated to save us in this manner.
Galatians 3:7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.
Galatians 3:26-29 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. 

It is urgent that we believe NOW. 
Luke 3:9 Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
John Piper mentions: It is good news when someone wakes you up and says, "Quick the hotel is on fire, but there is still time. I'll show you how to get out." The gospel must always contain a warning of God's wrath: "The chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire." 

Then the crowds questioned John what they should do?
Luke 3: 10-14 10 And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” 11 And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” 12 And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” 14 Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.”

John instructs:

1. Share clothing, Share food. [Basic necessities. Material care for those in need. Not giving away all that you have, but rather he commanded them to SHARE.]

2. Tax Collectors (grouped with sinners since they had committed themselves to a life of sin by their conscious career choice) were instructed to only collect what was necessary. They were to be a testimony by their transformed life to those they had previously cheated (who would now know the prior evilness) and to the other tax collectors (who might possibly persecute them for collecting only what was right).

3. Soldiers (who might have bullied the people by falsely accusing the people) were instructed to be content with their wages and seek no excess unjustly from the people.

We are to demonstrate a difference in our life, not by running away, but by staying where God has placed us and being different. At home. At work. In all things that we do.

Remember that we are to be an aroma to the world.

2 Corinthians 2:15-16 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; 16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?

Living It: Be different than the world. An aromatic testimony to those that don't know the gospel.