I just finished an Early American History class at a local Community College and this is one of the papers I had to write. The professor gave me a 92 A on the paper and I recieved a B in the class.
Southern Nationalism During The Civil War
History 220
Kishwaukee College
April 2008
Nationalism is defined as a devotion to one’s cause. During the Civil War, in the 1860s, the morale of the Confederate soldiers and the citizens of the Confederacy was low. The Union blockade eroded the civilian morale by hitting it economically. Militarily the troops were demoralized from loss of life and the economic hardship as well. Despitethe economic hardships and loss of morale, songs such as “The South” and the “Song ofthe Baltimore Rebels,” were written in order to increase the morale of the army andinfluence Southern Nationalism.
These songs reminded the southerners what they were fighting for: liberty and independence. They believed the right to own property, such as slaves, was at stake. The song “The South” is sort of a rallying call for all slave states to combine forces and standup for their freedoms. “The South, the South, the glorious South, Now calls forth all her men, Let her summons fly from mouth to mouth, To gather stragglers in."
We are also reminded in the song, “The South,” how quickly other southern states responded to the call. “We hear it, and will quick respond, From our homes-our cause, Our fire-sides and families fond, We will uphold Jeff’s laws." They are referring to Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy, and their desire to follow him and rally behind him. “With Lee to lead us who’ll despair, Of hanging Lincoln high, As Haman- and to birds of the air, His body soon prey shall fly." They are also reminded of the leadership of General Robert E. Lee. When they thought of Lee they remembered the great victories they have won such as Bull Run.
South Carolina was the first to withdrawal from the Union, and the other southern states soon rallied behind them and followed. “South Carolina leads the van, The South now follows soon, We’ll make the North dance to a man, For Dixie is our tune. Old Maryland will yet be true. We feel and know it well, And Southern breezes soon to you, Our rallying shall tell.’ In this last verse of the song we see that the south was hoping that Maryland, a fellow slave state, would follow them in their example and secede from the union as well.
The “Song of the Baltimore Rebels” encouraged the men of the south to join the army by reminding them of the victory they had at Bull Run. “Let us join the army, let us join the army, Let us join the army, and drive the Hessians home. When we drove them from us our friends down south did say, Be quiet there in Baltimore, and we will name your day. Just open up the Northern gate, down to Washington, And let them bring their biggest crowd, and their biggest gun. Well down they come a rushing, you’d thought the game was up, To see such crowds of Hessians and Yankees all mixed up. They mustered their Grand Army, McDowell had the Lead, And marched off for Manassas, at a moderate speed."
Southerners were motivated because they were not only defending their right to own slaves, but they were also fighting for their homes and families as well since most of the fighting was done on southern soil. The thought of the North burning down their homes and towns was enough to motivate them to fight harder. “For five days they were marching, and burning houses down. But scowled at by the women, while passing through their town." Southerners took great pride in the protection of southern womanhood.
The Southerners were reminded that Confederate Generals Beauregard and Johnson set up a defensive wall of troops eight miles long and how General McDowell could not break through and get a victory. ”The sixth day they made Bull Run, but the gate was shut, For Beauregard and Johnson had their men drawn up. McDowell tried to get through, by using his craft and skill, And for a while his men went at their work with a will. But the Maryland boys were angry, being driven from their homes, Poured hotly on the Hessians and crushed their quaking bones."
The last verse of the song reminded them of the victory they had at Bull Run. The Southerners chased the Yankee soldiers and spectators, who came out to see the battle, back to Washington. “Then commenced the races, the Yankees had the lead, Driving up to Washington at a fearful speed. Leaving their slain and maimed, And Millions worth of property the Dixey boys had gained."
Even though the morale was low in the South we see through these songs, “The South” and “Song of the Baltimore Rebels,” that the Southern States were motivated to join the cause of the Confederacy. The song “The South” reminded them that they were all in this together. “The Song of the Baltimore Rebels” reminded them that they were fighting for their homes and families and protecting them against northern invasion. They were not just fighting for the right to own slaves; they were fighting for what their forefathers had won in the Revolutionary War: liberty and independence.
Bibliography:
“The South,” American Singing, Nineteenth-Century Song Sheets, Ca. 1800-1880, n.d., Database online. Available from Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress.
“The Song of Baltimore,” American Singing, Nineteenth-Century Song Sheets, Ca. 1800-1880, n.d., Database online. Available from Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Parables, The parable of the two sons.
The Parable of the Two Sons
Matthew 21:23-32
Read Matthew 21:1-22. Look at how Jesus entered the city, cleansed the temple, and cursed the fig tree. He did it with authority.
Think of a time when you refused to obey someone because you disputed that person's authority. What actions did you take to avoid being obedient? How did your actions affect your relationship with that person?
Matthew 21:23-27
Look at the conversation between Jesus and the Religious leaders.
a) Role of religious leaders
b) Religious leaders rude interruption of Jesus's teaching
c) Their private conversation concerning their answer
d) Their lame response to Jesus' question
The religious leaders did not acknowledge Jesus' authority and therefore avoided obeying Him.
Have you ever questioned or challenged the authority of Jesus in your life? How did you feel afterwards?
1 Samuel 15:22-23
How did Saul fail to submit to God's authority in this story? (He refused to destroy everything according to God's word. vs. 1-21)
Do you only submit to God's will only when you agree with what he says or when you find it convenient?
Or do you try to obey God at all times, no matter what He says?
Matthew 21:28-30
What would your reaction be if these were your children?
What was the difference between the response of the two sons? (one obeyed the other did not)
The first son refused to obey, but changed his mind (or repented) and went to work in the vineyard. The second son did not follow through with his commitment to work. He lied to his father. In the first century a son would not think about refusing a command from his father.
List commands of Jesus that are difficult to obey.
a) witnessing
b) not judging
c) tithing
List commands of Jesus that are easy to obey
a) do not murder
b) give to the needy
c) Love one another
Look at the "difficult" list again. Some of these difficult items we at first say no to but we eventually obey. THE POINT IS OBEDIENCE DOES EVENTUALLY COME.
Look at the "easy" list of commands of Jesus.
Why is it easy to say yes to these items?
When we say yes, do we really follow through?
Is our claim not to be a murderer valid in the light of Matthew 5:21-22.
To sum up this section, obedience to Jesus may mean doing something we don't want to do. Obedience is not simply making promises, it is demonstrating those promises through our actions.
Matthew 21:31-32
Which of the two son's did what the father wanted?
Compare those who Jesus considered obedient with those who were considered disobedient.What do you think was going through their minds when they heard Jesus say that others were ahead of them.
Why were those people considered obedient or disobedient? (They either believed John's message about righteousness and changed their lives or they did not believe.
Conclusion
Think of a commitment that you have made in the past to Jesus and have not followed through on. Obedience is not related to commitment but to action.
Matthew 21:23-32
Read Matthew 21:1-22. Look at how Jesus entered the city, cleansed the temple, and cursed the fig tree. He did it with authority.
Think of a time when you refused to obey someone because you disputed that person's authority. What actions did you take to avoid being obedient? How did your actions affect your relationship with that person?
Matthew 21:23-27
Look at the conversation between Jesus and the Religious leaders.
a) Role of religious leaders
b) Religious leaders rude interruption of Jesus's teaching
c) Their private conversation concerning their answer
d) Their lame response to Jesus' question
The religious leaders did not acknowledge Jesus' authority and therefore avoided obeying Him.
Have you ever questioned or challenged the authority of Jesus in your life? How did you feel afterwards?
1 Samuel 15:22-23
How did Saul fail to submit to God's authority in this story? (He refused to destroy everything according to God's word. vs. 1-21)
Do you only submit to God's will only when you agree with what he says or when you find it convenient?
Or do you try to obey God at all times, no matter what He says?
Matthew 21:28-30
What would your reaction be if these were your children?
What was the difference between the response of the two sons? (one obeyed the other did not)
The first son refused to obey, but changed his mind (or repented) and went to work in the vineyard. The second son did not follow through with his commitment to work. He lied to his father. In the first century a son would not think about refusing a command from his father.
List commands of Jesus that are difficult to obey.
a) witnessing
b) not judging
c) tithing
List commands of Jesus that are easy to obey
a) do not murder
b) give to the needy
c) Love one another
Look at the "difficult" list again. Some of these difficult items we at first say no to but we eventually obey. THE POINT IS OBEDIENCE DOES EVENTUALLY COME.
Look at the "easy" list of commands of Jesus.
Why is it easy to say yes to these items?
When we say yes, do we really follow through?
Is our claim not to be a murderer valid in the light of Matthew 5:21-22.
To sum up this section, obedience to Jesus may mean doing something we don't want to do. Obedience is not simply making promises, it is demonstrating those promises through our actions.
Matthew 21:31-32
Which of the two son's did what the father wanted?
Compare those who Jesus considered obedient with those who were considered disobedient.What do you think was going through their minds when they heard Jesus say that others were ahead of them.
Why were those people considered obedient or disobedient? (They either believed John's message about righteousness and changed their lives or they did not believe.
Conclusion
Think of a commitment that you have made in the past to Jesus and have not followed through on. Obedience is not related to commitment but to action.
(The content of this bible study was taken from various sources. If you would like a list of those sources, let me know and I would be glad to email them to you)
For Futher Study visit these links:
1. The Source of Jesus' Authority
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/?action=getCommentaryText&cid=1&source=1&seq=i.47.21.5
2. Pretend Obedience Versus Delayed Obedience
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/index.php?action=getCommentaryText&cid=1&source=1&seq=i.47.21.6
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Parables, Parable of the Sower
The Parable of the Sower
Matthew 13:1-23
If you had 4 containers: 1 with rocks, 1 with briar's or weeds, 1 empty, and 1 with potting soil. If you were going to plant seeds in one of them, which one would you choose?
Intro:
Ask the people to plant their seeds in one of the containers?
1) Why did you choose that container?
2) How will the seed respond to the empty container?
3) How will the seed respond to the one with rocks?
4) How will the seed respond to the one with briar's?
5) How will the seed respond to the one with potting soil?
1) What is a parable? (Short story to get the point across)
Matthew 13:1-3
1) What motivated these people to swarm to Jesus?
2) What do people gather to hear or see today? (Self-Help messages, Political topics, and Social issues.)
3) What draws people to these settings?
4) What motivates people to listen to the gospel now?
Matthew 13:4-7,18-22
People respond to Jesus in different ways. Just as the seed responds to different types of soil.
List 3 inadequate responses to Jesus' message of the kingdom in these verses under the following headings.
1) Evil one snatches away
pride
false friends
greed
callused attitude
envy
2) No roots
follower
new/weak christian
quick answers
3) Worries/Wealth choke
strong sources
rich
pride
conviction
pre-occupation
Matthew 13:8,23
It is important to have rich soil if a seed is going to grow and be fruitful.
1) Why is soil so important? (Soil provides nutrients, facilitates root growth, protects the roots.)
2) What are some preparations needed to have good soil? (Fertilizer, compost, cultivation, weeds pulled, crop rotation.)
Good soil- Life of a person who heard and understood the message of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Just like preparing for a heavy crop, we need to prepare (hear and understand) the message of the Kingdom of Heaven, to prepare our lives to be good soil.
3) What things must happen in a person's life for that person to hear and understand? ( Bible study, worship attendance/participation, prayer, spiritual warfare, relationships with other Christians for fellowship and accountability.)
4) What is the fruit Christians should bear? (Another christian)
Galatians 5:22-23
Character qualities every christian should manifest as he or she grows in Christ.
Matthew 13:9
"He who has ears let him hear."
1) What did Jesus mean?
2) What does it mean to be accountable to respond to the message?
Joe was arranging folding chairs in the auditorium, he noticed a woman sitting nearby and asked her to give him a hand. The woman nodded and smiled, but made no move to help him. Joe asked again, but the woman responded as before. Finally, Joe gave up and continued the job himself. Later someone else entered the room and began speaking to the woman in fluent Spanish.
The point is: People hear the gospel-they listen, but without understanding. We need to pray that they would hear the gospel, will do so with understanding and respond with faith.
*Challenge for the Week*
Look at the 3 columns, which area do you/we need to work on.
For more info visit these links:
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/index.php?action=getCommentaryText&cid=1&source=1&seq=i.47.13.3
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/index.php?action=getCommentaryText&cid=1&source=1&seq=i.47.13.4
Matthew 13:1-23
If you had 4 containers: 1 with rocks, 1 with briar's or weeds, 1 empty, and 1 with potting soil. If you were going to plant seeds in one of them, which one would you choose?
Intro:
Ask the people to plant their seeds in one of the containers?
1) Why did you choose that container?
2) How will the seed respond to the empty container?
3) How will the seed respond to the one with rocks?
4) How will the seed respond to the one with briar's?
5) How will the seed respond to the one with potting soil?
1) What is a parable? (Short story to get the point across)
Matthew 13:1-3
1) What motivated these people to swarm to Jesus?
2) What do people gather to hear or see today? (Self-Help messages, Political topics, and Social issues.)
3) What draws people to these settings?
4) What motivates people to listen to the gospel now?
Matthew 13:4-7,18-22
People respond to Jesus in different ways. Just as the seed responds to different types of soil.
List 3 inadequate responses to Jesus' message of the kingdom in these verses under the following headings.
1) Evil one snatches away
pride
false friends
greed
callused attitude
envy
2) No roots
follower
new/weak christian
quick answers
3) Worries/Wealth choke
strong sources
rich
pride
conviction
pre-occupation
Matthew 13:8,23
It is important to have rich soil if a seed is going to grow and be fruitful.
1) Why is soil so important? (Soil provides nutrients, facilitates root growth, protects the roots.)
2) What are some preparations needed to have good soil? (Fertilizer, compost, cultivation, weeds pulled, crop rotation.)
Good soil- Life of a person who heard and understood the message of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Just like preparing for a heavy crop, we need to prepare (hear and understand) the message of the Kingdom of Heaven, to prepare our lives to be good soil.
3) What things must happen in a person's life for that person to hear and understand? ( Bible study, worship attendance/participation, prayer, spiritual warfare, relationships with other Christians for fellowship and accountability.)
4) What is the fruit Christians should bear? (Another christian)
Galatians 5:22-23
Character qualities every christian should manifest as he or she grows in Christ.
Matthew 13:9
"He who has ears let him hear."
1) What did Jesus mean?
2) What does it mean to be accountable to respond to the message?
Joe was arranging folding chairs in the auditorium, he noticed a woman sitting nearby and asked her to give him a hand. The woman nodded and smiled, but made no move to help him. Joe asked again, but the woman responded as before. Finally, Joe gave up and continued the job himself. Later someone else entered the room and began speaking to the woman in fluent Spanish.
The point is: People hear the gospel-they listen, but without understanding. We need to pray that they would hear the gospel, will do so with understanding and respond with faith.
*Challenge for the Week*
Look at the 3 columns, which area do you/we need to work on.
For more info visit these links:
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/index.php?action=getCommentaryText&cid=1&source=1&seq=i.47.13.3
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/index.php?action=getCommentaryText&cid=1&source=1&seq=i.47.13.4
Friday, May 16, 2008
Miracles (part 4)
Feeding the Five Thousand
Matthew 14:13-21
Feeding the Four Thousand
Matthew 15:32-37
In this class I used a video as a major part of the class. I took a video correspondence class on the Life of Christ and I used the video for Feeding the 5,000 as the discussion starter. We actually watched a college professor teach this lesson and we had a discussion afterwords.
Place yourself in the crowd. Imagine if you were the last person in line to get food. What would be going through your head when you found out how much food Jesus had to start with. Would there be enough?
Now imagine the moment you find out that there will be enough food. How do you feel?
Place yourself as one of the disciples. What are you thinking?
Place yourself as someone who was not there but was told what happened by someone who was there.
What if you were the little boy with the fish and bread? Would your eyes be bugging out? I can imagine him rushing home to tell his parents what he saw.
God will provide for our needs. Look at Moses and the Israelites in the desert.
Matthew 14:13-21
Feeding the Four Thousand
Matthew 15:32-37
In this class I used a video as a major part of the class. I took a video correspondence class on the Life of Christ and I used the video for Feeding the 5,000 as the discussion starter. We actually watched a college professor teach this lesson and we had a discussion afterwords.
Place yourself in the crowd. Imagine if you were the last person in line to get food. What would be going through your head when you found out how much food Jesus had to start with. Would there be enough?
Now imagine the moment you find out that there will be enough food. How do you feel?
Place yourself as one of the disciples. What are you thinking?
Place yourself as someone who was not there but was told what happened by someone who was there.
What if you were the little boy with the fish and bread? Would your eyes be bugging out? I can imagine him rushing home to tell his parents what he saw.
God will provide for our needs. Look at Moses and the Israelites in the desert.
Monday, May 12, 2008
The Shema
A friend of mine gave me a plaque written in Hebrew to hang over my door. They told me it was based on Deuteronomy 6:4-9. I copied the following information from the website http://www.followtherabbi.com/
One day a student came to Jesus and asked, Teacher, what is the greatest commandment?"
You might recall that Jesus included? Love God and love your neighbor, In his response. Do you remember, however, that Jesus answered by quoting a portion of the Shema? ("Shema" means "Listen" or "Hear"). Shema is found in the Torah of the Hebrew Bible. Jesus answer to the student's question begins, "Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God! The Lord alone!"
In Jesus' day, reciting Shema meant renewing your relationship with God. This was done regularly, perhaps several times a day. Whenever a person recited the Shema, they celebrated God's covenant or promise of grace. Shema firmly acknowledges allegiance to God alone. To recite Shema is to whole-heartedly accept the Kingdom or Reign of God in life. Again and again and again.
When the student asked Jesus his question, he asked Jesus in the language of their culture, "Rabbi, what is your yoke?" or "Rabbi, what is your interpretation of Torah?" The student wanted to know Jesus' "bottom line," his summary of Torah.
And so the greatest commandment is the answer to questions like, "What is the Bible all about? What is God all about? Who is the Christian, and what is he/she doing here?"
The greatest commandment also underlines that a loving relationship with God is absolutely essential for God's people! Loving others is meaningless if that love is not in response to a loving, covenantal relationship with Almighty God. A loving relationship with God must be set and nurtured first; only then will love for others flow out in response.
Life itself is all about loving God with all of every part of you in response to God's covenant of grace. And love for God is best expressed in loving others.
The Shema expresses the foundation of Christian living. Jesus obeyed and loved God, and he loved others, perfectly. If we are to be like Jesus, the desperate desire of our hearts is to do the same. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the community of faith expresses unconditional love of God through obedience and through loving others.
Finally, at a minimum, the Shema included Deuteronomy 6:4-9:
Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them to your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Miracles (part 3)
Jesus Calms the Storm, Matthew 8:23-27
Jesus Walks on Water, Matthew 14:22-33
Today's lesson examines two nature miracles in which Jesus called the disciples to trusting faith rather than to doubting fear: Matthew 8: 23-27, where Jesus calmed the storm and Matthew 14:22-33 where Jesus and Peter walk on the water.
In each case Jesus was not concerned with the problem the disciples faced or even the solution to the problem. Jesus' concern was that in times of natural disaster His followers would draw near to Him in faith rather that agonizing in fear.
How desperately do unbelievers in the world need to see that Jesus makes the difference! Faith, like fear, can be contagious. Our faith in God not only glorifies Him, but it also can inspire others to believe in Him.
Matthew 8:23-27
What should have been the disciples reaction to the storm?
What did Jesus want to see in them?
Contrast the faith of these Old Testament characters and that of the Disciples.
Daniel 3:16-18
Job 13:15
God is not at the beck and call of every person who encounters natural disasters. Every cry for help will not result in miraculous intervention or deliverance because the Sovereign Lord of the universe is always working out His will. God's will for us is to take us through trials, not out of them. (1Cor 10:13)
Matthew 14:22-27
What does the Lord provide when He does not provide deliverance? (He is the Source of strength and courage that enables believers to overcome their fears.)
Is there ever a time He is not with His people? (No-even before Jesus joined the disciples, He knew where they were and cared fro them.)
Matthew 14:28-33
Imagine yourself as Peter in the scene described in these verses. Describe what Peter would have been thinking and feeling as he stepped out of the boat to walk toward Jesus on the water.
1. Has anyone ever stepped out in courage to walk toward Jesus in your lives?
2. What caused Peter to be distracted and lose confidence, sinking into the sea? What was it that Peter feared?
3. What distractions do we have that might threaten our confidence in walking toward Christ in our lives?
4. Why did Jesus followers sometimes experience doubt even when they witnessed His miracles many times?
5. How can we replace fear with faith?
Compare the response of Jesus' rescue of Peter to that of Jesus calming the storm in Matthew 8:27.
Some people say, “If I had seen the miracles that Peter and the other Disciples saw, I would never doubt again.” The problem is not that we need to see the miracles to believe. We need to trust and obey His Word as our soul authority for faith and practice.
Jesus Walks on Water, Matthew 14:22-33
Today's lesson examines two nature miracles in which Jesus called the disciples to trusting faith rather than to doubting fear: Matthew 8: 23-27, where Jesus calmed the storm and Matthew 14:22-33 where Jesus and Peter walk on the water.
In each case Jesus was not concerned with the problem the disciples faced or even the solution to the problem. Jesus' concern was that in times of natural disaster His followers would draw near to Him in faith rather that agonizing in fear.
How desperately do unbelievers in the world need to see that Jesus makes the difference! Faith, like fear, can be contagious. Our faith in God not only glorifies Him, but it also can inspire others to believe in Him.
Matthew 8:23-27
What should have been the disciples reaction to the storm?
What did Jesus want to see in them?
Contrast the faith of these Old Testament characters and that of the Disciples.
Daniel 3:16-18
Job 13:15
God is not at the beck and call of every person who encounters natural disasters. Every cry for help will not result in miraculous intervention or deliverance because the Sovereign Lord of the universe is always working out His will. God's will for us is to take us through trials, not out of them. (1Cor 10:13)
Matthew 14:22-27
What does the Lord provide when He does not provide deliverance? (He is the Source of strength and courage that enables believers to overcome their fears.)
Is there ever a time He is not with His people? (No-even before Jesus joined the disciples, He knew where they were and cared fro them.)
Matthew 14:28-33
Imagine yourself as Peter in the scene described in these verses. Describe what Peter would have been thinking and feeling as he stepped out of the boat to walk toward Jesus on the water.
1. Has anyone ever stepped out in courage to walk toward Jesus in your lives?
2. What caused Peter to be distracted and lose confidence, sinking into the sea? What was it that Peter feared?
3. What distractions do we have that might threaten our confidence in walking toward Christ in our lives?
4. Why did Jesus followers sometimes experience doubt even when they witnessed His miracles many times?
5. How can we replace fear with faith?
Compare the response of Jesus' rescue of Peter to that of Jesus calming the storm in Matthew 8:27.
Some people say, “If I had seen the miracles that Peter and the other Disciples saw, I would never doubt again.” The problem is not that we need to see the miracles to believe. We need to trust and obey His Word as our soul authority for faith and practice.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Miracles (part 2)
Healing the Demon Possessed men
Matthew 8:28-34
Word Study: Demons were originally angels created by God to serve Him. When one powerful angel now known as Satan rebelled, many angels rebelled against God with Him (Rev. 12:4). They torment people, enter their bodies, and vex them with unusual behavior and diseases. Paul said the nations' ”gods”are demons (1Cor. 10:20). They inspire idolatrous worship and sacrifice. Christians should not fear them, sacrifice to them or obey their teachings. At the end of this age, they will be tormented forever.
1) What encouragement do you find in Jesus' power over the demons in this account?
2) How would you defend Jesus' actions to someone who was upset because of the loss of the pigs?
3) In what areas of our society or our lives might Jesus be unwelcome today?
4) Why might some people today plead with Jesus to leave their presence when the witness His power to decieve people from evil influences over their lives?
The demons knew Jesus is Lord of nature.(calming the storm) The appointed time for His full destruction of their power had not yet come. Jesus allowed this bizarre, destructive act; and many pigs were drowned. But do not forget that the two men, created in God's image, were sitting their in their right minds. Jesus cared for two people no one else carred about. These men were a lot more important that a herd of pigs.
Matthew 12:22-24
Not all physical problems are because of the influence of demons, but this man's was.
1) What might the implications of Jesus' healing of the man have in the lives of people today?
2) What is a Pharisee?
The name Pharisees means ”separated ones” and referred to hard working religious men who taught in the synagogues. The common people respected them highly. They believed, as did the early Christians, in angels, demons, and the resurrection of the dead. The Sadducees who were in charge of the temple denied all three. It is not surprising that the Pharisees were the ones who felt compelled to explain away Jesus' phenomenal power over demons, for they must have felt their authority threatened by Jesus. Their responce was absurd: “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” They didn't even give Jesus the dignity of a name. They attributed to Satan works that could only come from God, thus committing or comming dangerously close to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (vs. 31-32) They argued that Jesus had such great power over the demons of all, Beelzebub, the prince of demons-Satan himself.
Word Study:
The name Beelzebub referred to a pagan deity, the ruler of all evil spirits. The name's orgin is unclear. Some say that Beelzebub (”Lord of the flies”) was a Philistine god whose name the Israelites corrupted to Beelzebul (Ba'alzebel, “Lord of dung,”associated with impurity) to show their disgust and refusal to honor him. Still others say Ba'alzebul (”Lord of the dwelling”), a place occupied by evil spirits. Jesus' reference to the “master of the house” may be an allusion to this meaning. Whatever the orgin of the name, Beelzebub is Satan himself.
Matthew 12:25-32
The Pharisees and other Jews allowed exorcisms. These were done by means of herbs and magic formulas, and they were usually unsuccessful (Acts 19:13-16). They tried however, and the custom was accepted by the Pharisees. If they condemned Jesus' exorcism of demons, they condemned their own people's beliefs and would have to explain their position to them.
Put 2 columns on the board. One Jesus the other Pharisees.
List.
1) What were some reasons for the Pharisees skepticism.
2) What are some of the Pharisees thoughts?
Matthew 12:30
The Pharisees skepticism and rejection of Jesus' authority as being from God placed them in danger of rejecting God Himself.
3)How and why might some contemporary religious leaders might express similar concerns to those of the Pharisees?
4) Why did Jesus say He had authority to heal those oppressed by demonic spiritual powers?
5) How and why might contemporary Christians express confidence in Christ as the supreme authority over spiritual matters?
Conclusion:
Many people today live in terror of the spirit world. Voodoo ceremonies, lucky charms, and zodiac columns are all used for protection. Jesus, however, the one who died for our sins, is Lord over the spirit world and everything in it. Perfect love casts out fear (1John 4:18). Jesus demonstrated He had power to tread on all the resources of Satan. He plunders him and casts out fear of what would happen to us if we do not respect demonic powers. We serve One who has more power than all demons and Satan put together-the Lord Jesus Christ.
The source of Jesus' power and the source of the Christian's hope are the same, God. Though people today often deny Jesus' power to dispute His authority just as the pharisees did, Jesus' line of argument still works. Satan is not destroying his own kingdom; therefore, Jesus' power is God-given, genuine, and mighty. He drives out demons by the Spirit of God, and the kingdom of God has indeed come upon us. We must live our lives in the light of this glorious truth.
Although Christian should be aware of Satan and his “schemes” (2Cor. 2:11) and wear their armor to actively engage in warefare against him (Eph. 5:12-17), our minds, souls, and spirits should be occupied with Christ (Col. 3:1-3). Being preoccupied with Satan, demons, and their activies is not our calling. We must “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2), knowing that Christ will have the final victory over Satan (Rev 20).
Matthew 8:28-34
Word Study: Demons were originally angels created by God to serve Him. When one powerful angel now known as Satan rebelled, many angels rebelled against God with Him (Rev. 12:4). They torment people, enter their bodies, and vex them with unusual behavior and diseases. Paul said the nations' ”gods”are demons (1Cor. 10:20). They inspire idolatrous worship and sacrifice. Christians should not fear them, sacrifice to them or obey their teachings. At the end of this age, they will be tormented forever.
1) What encouragement do you find in Jesus' power over the demons in this account?
2) How would you defend Jesus' actions to someone who was upset because of the loss of the pigs?
3) In what areas of our society or our lives might Jesus be unwelcome today?
4) Why might some people today plead with Jesus to leave their presence when the witness His power to decieve people from evil influences over their lives?
The demons knew Jesus is Lord of nature.(calming the storm) The appointed time for His full destruction of their power had not yet come. Jesus allowed this bizarre, destructive act; and many pigs were drowned. But do not forget that the two men, created in God's image, were sitting their in their right minds. Jesus cared for two people no one else carred about. These men were a lot more important that a herd of pigs.
Matthew 12:22-24
Not all physical problems are because of the influence of demons, but this man's was.
1) What might the implications of Jesus' healing of the man have in the lives of people today?
2) What is a Pharisee?
The name Pharisees means ”separated ones” and referred to hard working religious men who taught in the synagogues. The common people respected them highly. They believed, as did the early Christians, in angels, demons, and the resurrection of the dead. The Sadducees who were in charge of the temple denied all three. It is not surprising that the Pharisees were the ones who felt compelled to explain away Jesus' phenomenal power over demons, for they must have felt their authority threatened by Jesus. Their responce was absurd: “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” They didn't even give Jesus the dignity of a name. They attributed to Satan works that could only come from God, thus committing or comming dangerously close to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (vs. 31-32) They argued that Jesus had such great power over the demons of all, Beelzebub, the prince of demons-Satan himself.
Word Study:
The name Beelzebub referred to a pagan deity, the ruler of all evil spirits. The name's orgin is unclear. Some say that Beelzebub (”Lord of the flies”) was a Philistine god whose name the Israelites corrupted to Beelzebul (Ba'alzebel, “Lord of dung,”associated with impurity) to show their disgust and refusal to honor him. Still others say Ba'alzebul (”Lord of the dwelling”), a place occupied by evil spirits. Jesus' reference to the “master of the house” may be an allusion to this meaning. Whatever the orgin of the name, Beelzebub is Satan himself.
Matthew 12:25-32
The Pharisees and other Jews allowed exorcisms. These were done by means of herbs and magic formulas, and they were usually unsuccessful (Acts 19:13-16). They tried however, and the custom was accepted by the Pharisees. If they condemned Jesus' exorcism of demons, they condemned their own people's beliefs and would have to explain their position to them.
Put 2 columns on the board. One Jesus the other Pharisees.
List.
1) What were some reasons for the Pharisees skepticism.
2) What are some of the Pharisees thoughts?
Matthew 12:30
The Pharisees skepticism and rejection of Jesus' authority as being from God placed them in danger of rejecting God Himself.
3)How and why might some contemporary religious leaders might express similar concerns to those of the Pharisees?
4) Why did Jesus say He had authority to heal those oppressed by demonic spiritual powers?
5) How and why might contemporary Christians express confidence in Christ as the supreme authority over spiritual matters?
Conclusion:
Many people today live in terror of the spirit world. Voodoo ceremonies, lucky charms, and zodiac columns are all used for protection. Jesus, however, the one who died for our sins, is Lord over the spirit world and everything in it. Perfect love casts out fear (1John 4:18). Jesus demonstrated He had power to tread on all the resources of Satan. He plunders him and casts out fear of what would happen to us if we do not respect demonic powers. We serve One who has more power than all demons and Satan put together-the Lord Jesus Christ.
The source of Jesus' power and the source of the Christian's hope are the same, God. Though people today often deny Jesus' power to dispute His authority just as the pharisees did, Jesus' line of argument still works. Satan is not destroying his own kingdom; therefore, Jesus' power is God-given, genuine, and mighty. He drives out demons by the Spirit of God, and the kingdom of God has indeed come upon us. We must live our lives in the light of this glorious truth.
Although Christian should be aware of Satan and his “schemes” (2Cor. 2:11) and wear their armor to actively engage in warefare against him (Eph. 5:12-17), our minds, souls, and spirits should be occupied with Christ (Col. 3:1-3). Being preoccupied with Satan, demons, and their activies is not our calling. We must “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2), knowing that Christ will have the final victory over Satan (Rev 20).
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