Joseph Habedank has spent over two decades pursuing a dream that began when he was just five years old. His love for southern gospel music started early, with influences from legendary groups like Gold City, the Kingsmen, the Singing Americans, and the Cathedrals.
Reflecting on his childhood, Joseph shared his deep connection to the music. “I remember as a five-year-old sitting with my headphones listening to Gold City and the Kingsmen and the Singing Americans, Cathedrals, and thinking this is what I want to do. I mean, I can remember sitting on the couch, but I fell in love with the music and I just wanted to do it the rest of my life.”
Provided to YouTube by Daywind Records Jesus walked in (feat. Chris Blue) · Joseph Habedank · Chris Blue autobiography ℗ 2024 Daywind Records Released on: 2024-04-19
For Joseph, the clarity of his passion at such a young age was unique. “It was crazy. It sounds so odd to say as a five-year-old I knew, but I knew,” he recalled. His determination to follow his dream has led to a successful career that he remains committed to. “So yeah, I’m so grateful I get to live out my dream and been doing it for over two decades now and I don’t think I’m going to quit anytime soon,” he added.
Joseph’s latest song, Jesus Walked In, continues to showcase his love for gospel music and his dedication to sharing its message with audiences. For him, the journey is far from over, as he remains deeply inspired by the genre that first captured his heart.
The audio on this video is the property of Thru the Bible. It is offered free of charge. If you wish to make a donation, do not send it to us. Visit http://www.ttb.org for information. The audio is attributed to Dr. J. Vernon McGee and Thru the Bible. Intellectual property rights are those of Thru the bible. Copyright information obtained from https://ttb.org/about/copyright-policy
In Matthew chapter 8, following the high ethical standards presented in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew introduces a series of miracles performed by Jesus. These miracles are not presented in chronological order but rather in a logical sequence to demonstrate that the King who gave the ethic also possesses the power to enable its accomplishment. Dr. McGee emphasizes that just as believers today can do nothing without Christ, these miracles reveal Jesus’ divine power. The chapter begins with Jesus descending from the mountain, followed by great multitudes, and proceeds to narrate six miracles showcasing his power over various realms.
The miracles in Matthew 8 illustrate Jesus’ comprehensive authority. He heals a leper through touch, signifying his power over human disease. He heals the Centurion’s servant from a distance, demonstrating his authority without physical contact and marveling at the Centurion’s faith. Jesus then heals Peter’s mother-in-law by touching her and casts out demons, moving into the supernatural realm. He further demonstrates his power over nature by stilling a storm. Finally, he casts out demons from two men, highlighting his authority over the spiritual realm and a particularly difficult case. These miracles are presented to show the multifaceted power of the King.
Moving into Matthew chapter 9, the theme of Jesus’ power continues with six more recorded miracles. Upon returning to Capernaum, Jesus heals a paralytic, notably connecting the healing with the forgiveness of his sins, a power exclusive to God. Matthew himself is called to be a disciple, and Jesus associates with publicans and sinners, emphasizing his mission to call the sick rather than the righteous. The chapter also includes the healing of a woman with a twelve-year issue of blood after she touched his garment, and the raising of a ruler’s daughter from the dead, marking the first instance of Jesus raising someone from death in the Gospels. Additionally, he heals two blind men and a dumb man possessed by a demon, further displaying his widespread healing power.
In Matthew chapter 10, having demonstrated his power through these twelve miracles, Jesus commissions his twelve disciples, now referred to as apostles, to go to the nation of Israel and preach the gospel of the Kingdom. He gives them authority over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal all kinds of sickness and disease, providing them with the same credentials he possessed. Their specific mission is directed towards “the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” and they are instructed to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons freely. Dr. McGee emphasizes that these instructions were specific to that time and mission to Israel, not necessarily a direct mandate for all Christians today.
While the specific instructions given to the apostles in Matthew 10 were for a particular context, Dr. McGee points out that the chapter also contains general principles applicable to all believers. Jesus warns them of coming persecution, instructing them to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. He tells them not to fear those who can kill the body but rather fear God. He assures them of God’s care and the importance of confessing him before men. The chapter concludes with a call for total commitment and the promise of reward for those who receive his messengers. Dr. McGee encourages listeners to interpret these instructions within their historical context while still recognizing the enduring spiritual truths they contain.
In recent years, society has experienced a significant spiritual shift. This change mirrors the pattern described in the Bible, particularly in the book of Romans. As evolution becomes the prevailing worldview and people live as if God doesn’t exist, society has embraced behaviours that the Bible considers sinful.
The apostle Paul’s words in Romans 1 seem eerily relevant to our current situation. He describes a society where God “gave them over” to their sinful desires. This phrase, originally a legal term, signifies divine judgment on nations that reject God’s truth.
The progression of this judgment follows a clear pattern:
Sexual immorality becomes widespread
Immorality is embraced and celebrated
A “reprobate mind” takes hold, where people can no longer discern right from wrong
Sadly, these stages are evident in society today. From the normalization of sexual promiscuity to the widespread acceptance of immorality, and the celebration of increasingly depraved behaviours, the parallels are striking.
Romans 1:28 states, “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.” This verse encapsulates the current state of affairs, where moral relativism reigns and biblical values are scorned.
In light of this sobering reality, Christians are called to pray fervently for a spiritual revival. Only through a return to the gospel can the nation hope to reverse this downward spiral and experience God’s grace once more.
The audio on this video is the property of Thru the Bible. It is offered free of charge. If you wish to make a donation, do not send it to us. Visit http://www.ttb.org for information. The audio is attributed to Dr. J. Vernon McGee and Thru the Bible. Intellectual property rights are those of Thru the Bible. Please contact us if you feel our understanding of the terms of use are in error. Copyright information obtained from https://ttb.org/about/copyright-policy
Dr. J. Vernon McGee in his exposition of Matthew 5-7, known as the Sermon on the Mount, emphasizes its significance while clarifying its proper interpretation. He notes that while excerpts appear in other gospels, Matthew provides the most extensive account. McGee believes Jesus likely repeated these teachings on multiple occasions. He highlights two contrasting and erroneous viewpoints on the Sermon: the “far left” liberal theologians who consider it the entirety of the gospel and the only crucial part of Scripture, sometimes even reducing it to the Golden Rule, and the “far right” hyper-dispensationalists who dismiss it as irrelevant to believers today.
McGee firmly states that the Sermon on the Mount is not the Christian Gospel. He contrasts it with Paul’s declaration of the gospel in Corinthians, which centers on Christ’s death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection according to the Scriptures. These foundational elements of the Christian faith are absent from the Sermon on the Mount. Treating the Sermon as the gospel leads to hypocrisy because its ethical standards are impossibly high for unregenerate individuals to achieve. McGee argues that proclaiming to live by the Sermon while failing to do so creates hypocrites within the church.
He explains that the ermon on the Mount presents law lifted to its highest degree, even exceeding the demands of the Old Testament law. For instance, Jesus redefines murder as including anger towards a brother and adultery as including lustful looking. According to McGee, if one honestly examines the Sermon, they will realize their inability to measure up to its standards and recognize their need for a savior.
Furthermore, McGee clarifies that the modus operandi for Christian living in the present age is not found within the Sermon on the Mount. While it provides high ethical standards that are not contrary to Christian living and indeed express the mind of Christ, it lacks the dynamic power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which is essential for believers to live righteously. The Sermon offers the ethic, but the Holy Spirit provides the power to live it out.
McGee posits that the primary purpose of the Sermon on the Mount is to set forth the law of the Kingdom of Heaven. He identifies Matthew’s Gospel as presenting Jesus as the King, and the Sermon as the King’s manifesto or the platform of the Prince of Peace. He believes this law will find its full fruition during the Millennium when Christ returns to Earth to rule, enforcing every word of it. While it is for us to learn and understand today, it is not fully in effect in the current age.
Despite this, McGee emphasizes that Christians who acknowledge Jesus as Lord should not despise the Sermon but seek to understand and apply its principles in light of other Scriptures, recognizing they can only obey through the power of the Holy Spirit. He notes that the Sermon on the Mount can bring conviction to the hearts of men, revealing their sinfulness and their falling short of God’s glory. It reveals Christ’s deeper definitions of sin, like murder and adultery of the heart.
McGee then delves into specific aspects of the Sermon. The Beatitudes describe the characteristics of the citizens of the Kingdom, such as being poor in spirit, mourning, and meek. He stresses that these are states of being, not achieved through human effort but produced by the Spirit of God. He points out that some of these promises, like the meek inheriting the earth, are not currently being fulfilled, indicating their future application in the Kingdom.
In chapters 6, McGee discusses the externalities of religion – giving of alms, prayer, and fasting – emphasizing that these should be done sincerely and privately as acts of devotion to God, not for public recognition or praise. He criticizes ostentatious displays of piety, noting that those who seek human glory have already received their reward. He considers the Lord’s Prayer a model prayer, offering guidance on how to pray with sincerity and simplicity, but cautions against its rote recitation, especially when its specific petitions don’t align with one’s present circumstances. He also addresses the topic of money, urging believers to invest in eternal treasures by supporting the Lord’s work. He touches on anxiety about material needs, encouraging trust in God’s provision while still exercising wisdom.
Chapter 7 addresses judging others, cautioning against harsh and condemning judgment of inward motives. However, McGee clarifies that this doesn’t forbid discerning fruits and judging wrong actions. He uses the analogy of a speck in a brother’s eye versus a log in one’s own to illustrate the hypocrisy of focusing on others’ minor faults while ignoring one’s own significant shortcomings. He also discusses the principle of not casting pearls before swine, implying a need for discernment in sharing spiritual truths. McGee highlights the importance of prayer in understanding how to interact with others and emphasizes the Golden Rule as a principle to operate by, within the broader context of seeking God’s will. He contrasts the straight and narrow way to life with the wide path to destruction and warns against false prophets, who are to be known by their fruits. He concludes by reiterating that not everyone who claims to follow Jesus will enter the Kingdom, but only those who do the will of the Father. True discipleship involves building one’s life on the rock foundation of Christ.
In a concluding summary, McGee explains that God governs mankind through three great systems: the Mosaic Law, which revealed sin; the present age of Grace, where salvation is by faith in Christ and believers live by the power of the Holy Spirit; and the future Kingdom, where the law of the Sermon on the Mount will be enforced by Christ. He stresses that salvation today is solely through faith in Christ’s death and resurrection not by adherence to any law, including the Sermon on the Mount. The human heart is the fundamental problem, requiring regeneration by God. The Christian life in this age is characterized by the fruit of the Spirit, not by striving to keep a code of conduct through human effort. The Sermon on the Mount, therefore, serves to highlight our spiritual inadequacy and drive us to seek salvation and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ.
Dr. McGee’s message in these excerpts from his study of Matthew emphasizes that the Gospel of Matthew was specifically written to the nation of Israel and aims to demonstrate how the life and ministry of Jesus Christ fulfilled numerous Old Testament prophecies. He highlights the visit of the wise men, correcting the common misconception of there being only three and pointing out that their journey, prompted by a star (which he believes was a supernatural event, not merely astronomical), was in response to prophecies like Balaam’s prophecy of a star coming out of Jacob. The gifts they brought had symbolic significance, with gold representing his kingship, frankincense his life, and myrrh his death.
Dr. McGee explains the subsequent flight into Egypt and the return to Nazareth as literal fulfillments of Hosea 11:1 and Isaiah 11:1 (as it relates to being called a Nazarene) respectively, showing how God orchestrated events to align with prophecy. He underscores that these seemingly disparate prophecies were fulfilled literally and naturally.
The introduction of John the Baptist is presented as the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy of a messenger preparing the way for the Lord. John’s message was one of repentancebecause the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand, which Dr. McGee clarifies as the rule of heaven over the earth, present in the person of the King.
The baptism of Jesus by John was not for Jesus’ own repentance, as he was sinless, but rather for him to identify with sinful mankind and to fulfill all righteousness. Dr. McGee also notes that it set him aside for his office as priest, with the Holy Spirit descending upon him.
The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness was a genuine test, but Dr. McGee insists that Jesus could not have fallen. This test was to prove and demonstrate his perfect character, contrasting it with the temptation of Eve. Jesus consistently used scripture to overcome Satan’s temptations, highlighting the importance of knowing and using the Word of God. Dr. McGee also raises the point that the devil seemed to have the authority to offer Jesus the kingdoms of the world.
Dr. McGee then discusses Jesus moving his headquarters from Nazareth to Capernaum, explaining this as another fulfillment of prophecy from Isaiah, bringing light to the region of Galilee of the Gentiles. Jesus continued the message of repentance and the nearness of the Kingdom of Heaven, echoing John the Baptist. He called his first disciples, promising to make them “fishers of men”. Jesus’ ministry in Galilee involved teaching, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and performing numerous healings, demonstrating his power and authority. Dr. McGee concludes by mentioning the Sermon on the Mount as the manifesto of the King.
The audio on this video is the property of Thru the Bible. It is offered free of charge. If you wish to make a donation, do not send it to us. Visit http://www.ttb.org for information. The audio is attributed to Dr. J. Vernon McGee and Thru the Bible. Intellectual property rights are those of Thru the Bible. Please contact us if you feel our understanding of the terms of use are in error. Copyright information obtained from https://ttb.org/about/copyright-policy
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