2 Kings 5:1-3
Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
Truth: God uses any person He puts in the right place at the right time.
There are no coincidence in God's plan for mankind. God has a perfect plan and He works that plan using a variety of people. In our society you often hear about how "lucky" people are to have something happen or to meet someone. In God's world there is no such thing as luck. Every thing is by design and by His plan. In the above story a young Jewish girl was taken from her land in a raid by the Syrians. I must have been traumatic for her to be a prisoner of war in a foreign land and away from her parents. Imagine the bitterness that could have entered her life. She could have shut down and become senseless and no-responsive to life. Yet, in the midst of this conflict, God uses her memory and the connection she makes between her captor's leprosey and her memory of the great prophet, Elisha. God uses this little girl to connect the prophet to the commander of the army that took her from her home. God uses people in all kinds of places. When Paul was taken captive by the Roman guards after being attacked by the religious leaders in his day, it was his nephew who God used to uncover a plot.
Acts 23:16
Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.
God places people, all kinds of people, in the right places at the right time to accomplish His tasks. There is no meaningless meeting between two people in God's plan. God has a purpose for each interaction. Joseph was in prison for a false crime after being sold into slavery by his wicked brothers. The baker and the cupbearer of the king are tossed into prison and "just happen" to have a dream that Joseph interprets for them. The cupbearer "just happens" to remember the interpretation at the right time for Joseph to be requested by the king and set free. There are no coincidences with God's plan. God uses any person to accomplish His plans. No age, no gender, no ethnicity restrain God from using His creatures to accomplish His plan.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Monday, June 29, 2015
Truth #183 - God is concerned about hour holiness in everthing - Leviticus 10-12
Leviticus 11:1-2
And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth.
Truth: God demands holiness in all that we do.
In the above text we have the instruction of God, through Moses, about dietary laws and regulations. In the verses in chapter eleven God was not trying to restrict the nation of Israel from eating a great bacon-cheese-burger, as much as He was preventing them from being made sick by certain food items for those particular days and to make them distinct from their neighbors. God knew that in the roaming in the desert there were certain foods that would not be healthy for them, nor would be able to be kept clean and free from diseases from them. He also knew that to keep them separate from the other nations, that would include how and what they ate. At the end of the chapter, God gives the reason for the dietary rules and laws:
Leviticus 11:44a
For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.
These laws are why Daniel, even in captivity stood his ground and asked to be excused from the eating of items that God had forbidden him to eat from this passage:
Daniel 1:8
But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.
In the book of Acts, Peter is challenged with the eating of these types of food, because God removed the restriction to demonstrate His love for all kinds, i.e. the Gentiles. When seeing animals of all types, forbidden foods, ascend from heaven Peter was told by God to eat them, which perplexed Peter. It is no doubt he knew the instructions of Leviticus 11 and, yet, this is what God said to him:
Acts 10:13-15
And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”
God is concerned about all aspects of our holiness. In the day of the nation of Israel that holiness was manifested in "what" they ate. Later God would change that manifestation. In Christ it became about "why" we eat. Note the passage Paul writes to the church at Corinth about eating meat that was sacrificed to idols previously ... should we eat it?
1 Corinthians 8:10-13
For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
God is concerned about our holiness ... but that is manifested differently by God. In our day it is less about "what" we eat and more about "why" we eat. He still demands that we are holy, however.
And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth.
Truth: God demands holiness in all that we do.
In the above text we have the instruction of God, through Moses, about dietary laws and regulations. In the verses in chapter eleven God was not trying to restrict the nation of Israel from eating a great bacon-cheese-burger, as much as He was preventing them from being made sick by certain food items for those particular days and to make them distinct from their neighbors. God knew that in the roaming in the desert there were certain foods that would not be healthy for them, nor would be able to be kept clean and free from diseases from them. He also knew that to keep them separate from the other nations, that would include how and what they ate. At the end of the chapter, God gives the reason for the dietary rules and laws:
Leviticus 11:44a
For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.
These laws are why Daniel, even in captivity stood his ground and asked to be excused from the eating of items that God had forbidden him to eat from this passage:
Daniel 1:8
But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.
In the book of Acts, Peter is challenged with the eating of these types of food, because God removed the restriction to demonstrate His love for all kinds, i.e. the Gentiles. When seeing animals of all types, forbidden foods, ascend from heaven Peter was told by God to eat them, which perplexed Peter. It is no doubt he knew the instructions of Leviticus 11 and, yet, this is what God said to him:
Acts 10:13-15
And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”
God is concerned about all aspects of our holiness. In the day of the nation of Israel that holiness was manifested in "what" they ate. Later God would change that manifestation. In Christ it became about "why" we eat. Note the passage Paul writes to the church at Corinth about eating meat that was sacrificed to idols previously ... should we eat it?
1 Corinthians 8:10-13
For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
God is concerned about our holiness ... but that is manifested differently by God. In our day it is less about "what" we eat and more about "why" we eat. He still demands that we are holy, however.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Truth #182 - God's Love enables God's discernment - Phillipians 1-2
Philippians 1:9-11
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Truth: When we have the love of God flowing from our hearts, we have the discernment of God flowing from our minds.
There is no doubt we spend much time in our hearts and minds trying to decide the direction of our lives. We often turn things over and around in our minds like a mixing bowl filled with possibilities. We struggle so much with the questions of lefts and rights that we often miss the right nows, right heres. The "should we" questions often steal and capture our joy. Since Paul wrote the book of Philippians to teach the believers in this church how to allow the Joy of Christ rule in their hearts, the problem of worry in the act of discernment is an important topic for him to write about. In the above set of verses it is important to see how Paul couples our living out God's love in our hearts with the act of knowledge and discernment. Paul wants them to know that "how" they love is directly propitiate to how they move forward in discernment and acting out in righteousness. To understand this concept we have to remember that upon salvation, God placed love in our hearts:
Romans 5:5
... and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Because love is a fruit of the Spirit Paul knows that this love, in turn, is the both the rudder and the sail of our discernment. Note the following comments:
Word Biblical Commentary:
This love, he trusts, will be accompanied by knowledge and depth of insight. Paul was not blind to the dangers of emotion uncontrolled by intelligence. He was resolved, by his own account, to pray and sing “with my spirit, but … also … with my mind” (1 Cor 14:15), and he was equally concerned that he and his converts should love in spirit and mind alike.
It is love that fosters the growth of true knowledge and discernment or spiritual perception. “Knowledge,” divorced from love, “puffs up,” whereas “love builds up” (1 Cor 8:1). But if love is indispensable, knowledge and depth of insight are necessary. The truth of the gospel is liable to be subverted where ignorance and faulty judgment provide a foothold for the unsound teaching against which the Philippians are put on their guard in chapter 3.
Paul wants these believers in Phillipi to beware of false teaching, which will eventually collapse their joy. To assure that this does not happen Paul prays for them NOT that they might study harder. But rather that they might love deeper (more and more) AND that this love might abound so that their knowledge and discernment will allow them to "approve" (and my inference "disapprove") anything that is excellent. God's love is the key component in our discernment. We can't expect to know God's will when we are refusing to DO God's love that was placed in our hearts by the Spirit of God.
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Truth: When we have the love of God flowing from our hearts, we have the discernment of God flowing from our minds.
There is no doubt we spend much time in our hearts and minds trying to decide the direction of our lives. We often turn things over and around in our minds like a mixing bowl filled with possibilities. We struggle so much with the questions of lefts and rights that we often miss the right nows, right heres. The "should we" questions often steal and capture our joy. Since Paul wrote the book of Philippians to teach the believers in this church how to allow the Joy of Christ rule in their hearts, the problem of worry in the act of discernment is an important topic for him to write about. In the above set of verses it is important to see how Paul couples our living out God's love in our hearts with the act of knowledge and discernment. Paul wants them to know that "how" they love is directly propitiate to how they move forward in discernment and acting out in righteousness. To understand this concept we have to remember that upon salvation, God placed love in our hearts:
Romans 5:5
... and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Because love is a fruit of the Spirit Paul knows that this love, in turn, is the both the rudder and the sail of our discernment. Note the following comments:
Word Biblical Commentary:
This love, he trusts, will be accompanied by knowledge and depth of insight. Paul was not blind to the dangers of emotion uncontrolled by intelligence. He was resolved, by his own account, to pray and sing “with my spirit, but … also … with my mind” (1 Cor 14:15), and he was equally concerned that he and his converts should love in spirit and mind alike.
It is love that fosters the growth of true knowledge and discernment or spiritual perception. “Knowledge,” divorced from love, “puffs up,” whereas “love builds up” (1 Cor 8:1). But if love is indispensable, knowledge and depth of insight are necessary. The truth of the gospel is liable to be subverted where ignorance and faulty judgment provide a foothold for the unsound teaching against which the Philippians are put on their guard in chapter 3.
Paul wants these believers in Phillipi to beware of false teaching, which will eventually collapse their joy. To assure that this does not happen Paul prays for them NOT that they might study harder. But rather that they might love deeper (more and more) AND that this love might abound so that their knowledge and discernment will allow them to "approve" (and my inference "disapprove") anything that is excellent. God's love is the key component in our discernment. We can't expect to know God's will when we are refusing to DO God's love that was placed in our hearts by the Spirit of God.
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Truth #181 - God doesn't value money like we do - Luke 15-16
Luke 16:14-15
The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
Truth: God doens't value money the same way as man.
For those who are working to "earn" this passage from Luke's Gospel is very important to understand and digest. God has a different priority about wealth. In today's society, much more than in the days of the Pharisees, we equate financial wealth with success. The Pharisees equated financial wealth with God's blessings. It is of little doubt that when they heard Jesus' teaching and equated the disciplines and Jesus as poor, and therefore not blessed by God. They were lovers of money ... money equated to power for them. Note the principle Jesus states, however, in regard to their belief system: "For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God." The immediate context of this statement is in regard to financial gain and accumulated wealth as a measurement for God's blessing, and by inference, success. What is quite powerful in the statement is that our Savior uses "abomination" to describe such a thought process. That changes our thinking (or, should change it) in regard to why we work and what we are attempting to accumulate. Jesus' point it that the heart that has money on the altar is an abomination to God. Whatever we exalt in place of Jesus will be an abomination in the sight of God ... and, what is in our heart IS in the sight of God. Whatever we exalt, when it is not Christ, is an abomination. God demands that He is on the throne. Nothing else is worthy to be on the throne of our hearts. Money is a heart issue, not a earnings issue. Money is a detractor that the world system, at the hands of Satan's fingers, is used to pull us away from the priority and obligation of worship. We are sucked into the vortex of earning wealth at an early age. Children are taught to earn for the purpose of purchasing or saving for something. The Pharisees would be proud of our modern day teaching to youth about money, earning and purpose in life. What Jesus is teaching in these two chapters is the priority we ought to have for the lost and for finding those who need to hear the message of the Gospel. God is in the business to seeking the lost (the lost lamb, the lost coin, the lost son ... all examples of God's passion and our purpose). If anything else is on the throne of our lives it is an "abomination" in the sight of God.
The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
Truth: God doens't value money the same way as man.
For those who are working to "earn" this passage from Luke's Gospel is very important to understand and digest. God has a different priority about wealth. In today's society, much more than in the days of the Pharisees, we equate financial wealth with success. The Pharisees equated financial wealth with God's blessings. It is of little doubt that when they heard Jesus' teaching and equated the disciplines and Jesus as poor, and therefore not blessed by God. They were lovers of money ... money equated to power for them. Note the principle Jesus states, however, in regard to their belief system: "For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God." The immediate context of this statement is in regard to financial gain and accumulated wealth as a measurement for God's blessing, and by inference, success. What is quite powerful in the statement is that our Savior uses "abomination" to describe such a thought process. That changes our thinking (or, should change it) in regard to why we work and what we are attempting to accumulate. Jesus' point it that the heart that has money on the altar is an abomination to God. Whatever we exalt in place of Jesus will be an abomination in the sight of God ... and, what is in our heart IS in the sight of God. Whatever we exalt, when it is not Christ, is an abomination. God demands that He is on the throne. Nothing else is worthy to be on the throne of our hearts. Money is a heart issue, not a earnings issue. Money is a detractor that the world system, at the hands of Satan's fingers, is used to pull us away from the priority and obligation of worship. We are sucked into the vortex of earning wealth at an early age. Children are taught to earn for the purpose of purchasing or saving for something. The Pharisees would be proud of our modern day teaching to youth about money, earning and purpose in life. What Jesus is teaching in these two chapters is the priority we ought to have for the lost and for finding those who need to hear the message of the Gospel. God is in the business to seeking the lost (the lost lamb, the lost coin, the lost son ... all examples of God's passion and our purpose). If anything else is on the throne of our lives it is an "abomination" in the sight of God.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Truth #180 - God is pateint - Ezekiel 14-18
Ezekiel 18:23
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?
Truth: God takes no pleasure when people die without faith in Him.
Note the following verse that closes this chapter of Ezekiel's prophecy, as well as the one above:
Ezekiel 18:31-32
Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
God is a patient God and takes no pleasure when others reject Him and they suffer for it. God is grieved by those who reject Him. In this portion of Ezekiel God is telling the nation of Israel that because of their sin they must suffer discipline for it. Yet, God takes no pleasure in it. Notice a couple of New Testament passages that echo this verse:
1 Timothy 2:4
who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Romans 2:4
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
God is patient. We ought to learn from this. We tend to want wrath right away. But, God doesn't. He tolerates sin for more than we know. Isn't it great that God is patient toward us ... even when we are impatient toward others? God is not slack, but long suffering. That is a trait we should worship, rejoice around and practice in our lives.
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?
Truth: God takes no pleasure when people die without faith in Him.
Note the following verse that closes this chapter of Ezekiel's prophecy, as well as the one above:
Ezekiel 18:31-32
Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
God is a patient God and takes no pleasure when others reject Him and they suffer for it. God is grieved by those who reject Him. In this portion of Ezekiel God is telling the nation of Israel that because of their sin they must suffer discipline for it. Yet, God takes no pleasure in it. Notice a couple of New Testament passages that echo this verse:
1 Timothy 2:4
who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Romans 2:4
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
God is patient. We ought to learn from this. We tend to want wrath right away. But, God doesn't. He tolerates sin for more than we know. Isn't it great that God is patient toward us ... even when we are impatient toward others? God is not slack, but long suffering. That is a trait we should worship, rejoice around and practice in our lives.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Truth #179 - God gives wisdom to leadership - Proverbs 7-8
Proverbs 8:15, 16
By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, All who judge rightly.
Truth: God gives wisdom to leadership
Leadership begs for wisdom. Leadership wants wisdom more than anything else. Yet, they don't always know they want it, need it or can seek it. Solomon tells us in these two verses that God provides wisdom to those who lead and it gives them the power to "reign"; to decree "justice"; to "rule"; and to "judge." "Kings;" "rulers;" "princes;" and "nobles" are all titles for those in authority and in much need of leadership. True, Biblical leadership, can't do without Godly wisdom. We rule and reign with wisdom. Seeking it gives us the capacity to rule and lead. We can try to rule in other ways but only through Godly wisdom can we rule justly and in righteousness. The last line gives us the key to the two verses: "All who judge rightly." That phrase shows us what we do with Wisdom. It shows us that Wisdom is the key component of leadership. Wisdom is the "Fear of the Lord." So, the key ingredient to true wisdom and great leadership is acknowledgement that God is who He says He is. We are to fear the Lord and that is the avenue to wisdom. Wisdom is the avenue to great leadership. Chase God and get what you need for leadership.
By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, All who judge rightly.
Truth: God gives wisdom to leadership
Leadership begs for wisdom. Leadership wants wisdom more than anything else. Yet, they don't always know they want it, need it or can seek it. Solomon tells us in these two verses that God provides wisdom to those who lead and it gives them the power to "reign"; to decree "justice"; to "rule"; and to "judge." "Kings;" "rulers;" "princes;" and "nobles" are all titles for those in authority and in much need of leadership. True, Biblical leadership, can't do without Godly wisdom. We rule and reign with wisdom. Seeking it gives us the capacity to rule and lead. We can try to rule in other ways but only through Godly wisdom can we rule justly and in righteousness. The last line gives us the key to the two verses: "All who judge rightly." That phrase shows us what we do with Wisdom. It shows us that Wisdom is the key component of leadership. Wisdom is the "Fear of the Lord." So, the key ingredient to true wisdom and great leadership is acknowledgement that God is who He says He is. We are to fear the Lord and that is the avenue to wisdom. Wisdom is the avenue to great leadership. Chase God and get what you need for leadership.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Truth #178 - God IS near! - Psalm 75-77
Psalms 75:1
We give thanks to you, O God;
we give thanks, for your name is near.
We recount your wondrous deeds.
Truth: God is near!!
There are those who don't believe that truth. There are those who believe, that even if there is a God, He is distant and unengaged in our lives. Or, He is inactive because He is impotent. They believe He has no power to intervene in our lives so, they believe, He has chosen to be a spectator and commentator rather than a Savior and a Friend. There are still others who hold that God is there but too distant and too might for us to know. To them, God is powerful and awesome but distant and beyond our comprehension. But, the above verse and several others say otherwise. In this opening verse we read and can believe with real assurance that God IS near. In fact, the writer assures of this by telling us to simply recounting God's wondrous deeds. God has done great things, is doing great things and has many great and wondrous deeds yet He will do in our lives. Notice where the "nearness" of God is also stated in Psalm, even in a more concise manner:
Psalm 145:18
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
In this psalm we are told that those who approach God "in truth" can be assured that God is near to them. To approach God in truth we must have a relationship with the God who is truth. Jesus came and told us that He was the "way, the truth and the life and no man comes unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6). Having a relationship, by grace through faith, allows us to call upon God in truth. We come to God because Christ made a way for us to draw near in faith to Him. Note what the writer of Hebrews tells us:
Hebrews 10:19-23
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
We can draw near to God and know that He IS near because Christ made the way for us to draw to Him. This is a divine truth that we can be thankful for. He has done wondrous deeds by removing the barrier between God and us and making a way to enter into a relationship with the Father, through the Son.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Truth #177 - Persistence in prayer pays off - 1 Kings 18-22
1 Kings 18:41-46
And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
Truth: Persistency in prayer pays off
The apostle James uses the above story about Elijah to talk about prayer and the persistence we need to have in prayer. Note what he writes:
James 5:16-18
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
Christ taught us a similar lesson in the following:
Luke 18:2-8
He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Our persistence in prayer will pay off. God gives us that promise in these passages.
And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
Truth: Persistency in prayer pays off
The apostle James uses the above story about Elijah to talk about prayer and the persistence we need to have in prayer. Note what he writes:
James 5:16-18
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
Christ taught us a similar lesson in the following:
Luke 18:2-8
He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Our persistence in prayer will pay off. God gives us that promise in these passages.
Monday, June 22, 2015
Truth #176 - God must change our clothes when we come before Him - Leviticus 7-9
Leviticus 8:5-9
And Moses said to the congregation, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded to be done.” And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. And he put the coat on him and tied the sash around his waist and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him and tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod around him, binding it to him with the band. And he placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. And he set the turban on his head, and on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate, the holy crown, as the Lord commanded Moses.
Truth: We must all put on garments acceptable to God.
In the above passage we have the initial institution of the priestly garments to be placed on Aaron and his sons. For the priest to enter the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, they would need to be clothed in proper attire. God had designed the attire, the workers had made the attire and now they would be placed on Aaron and his sons and then consecrated to God for worship. The priestly garments were fashioned in color and design to represent many pictures for God. Since all aspects of the Tabernacle, the Altar, the Sacrifices and the Priestly duties and clothes were pictures for what Christ would do for us and with us, we need to understand the need to be clothed properly. God is in the process of clothing us. When we are regenerated, God changes our spiritual garments. God is clothing us today with His Spirit and with the fruit of the Spirit. We are to put on the "clothes" of God. Our inner self out to reflect God and that should carry through to our outer self. Note what Peter says about how to clothe ourselves in this world:
1 Peter 5:5
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Notice what he says to women in the same book about how their dress is not now the outward, but the inward:
1 Peter 3:1-6
Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.
Notice what Paul says to the worker in the market place in regard to how they should act in front of those who are over them:
Titus 2:10
not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
Today we are not required to wear the outer shell of clothes and attire that Aaron and his sons wore when we worship to God. However, we are to wear the inward humility and grace of God in our hearts and come before Him with the garments of holiness in our hearts.
And Moses said to the congregation, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded to be done.” And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. And he put the coat on him and tied the sash around his waist and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him and tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod around him, binding it to him with the band. And he placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. And he set the turban on his head, and on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate, the holy crown, as the Lord commanded Moses.
Truth: We must all put on garments acceptable to God.
In the above passage we have the initial institution of the priestly garments to be placed on Aaron and his sons. For the priest to enter the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, they would need to be clothed in proper attire. God had designed the attire, the workers had made the attire and now they would be placed on Aaron and his sons and then consecrated to God for worship. The priestly garments were fashioned in color and design to represent many pictures for God. Since all aspects of the Tabernacle, the Altar, the Sacrifices and the Priestly duties and clothes were pictures for what Christ would do for us and with us, we need to understand the need to be clothed properly. God is in the process of clothing us. When we are regenerated, God changes our spiritual garments. God is clothing us today with His Spirit and with the fruit of the Spirit. We are to put on the "clothes" of God. Our inner self out to reflect God and that should carry through to our outer self. Note what Peter says about how to clothe ourselves in this world:
1 Peter 5:5
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Notice what he says to women in the same book about how their dress is not now the outward, but the inward:
1 Peter 3:1-6
Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.
Notice what Paul says to the worker in the market place in regard to how they should act in front of those who are over them:
Titus 2:10
not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
Today we are not required to wear the outer shell of clothes and attire that Aaron and his sons wore when we worship to God. However, we are to wear the inward humility and grace of God in our hearts and come before Him with the garments of holiness in our hearts.
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Truth #175 - Work is a place to worship God - Ephesians 4-6
Ephesians 6:5-8
Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
Truth: Work is a place to please God and receive His blessings.
In the Theology of work we need to come to grips what work is for and why we are called to do work. Notice when God created man what He did with man:
Genesis 2:15
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
We were created to work!! God put man in the Garden to "keep" it .. to work it!! It wasn't until the sin in that same garden that mad sin a burden to us. Now we resist work and sin causes us to hate work. The redeemed man has to come to a new belief about work to make sure he/she is doing work to the glory of God. Our restoration in Christ is to restore us back to the image God originally designed. In the above passage Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus he tells the believers there that the work they do is to be done to the glory of God and not for the praise of man. He changes their belief about the purpose of work and challenges what they value about work. Notice he tells them, "... knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord ...". In using the phrase "whatever" good we have to remember he is talking about the market place here. He is not talking about the work we do in the Church setting. Paul has already told them that we have been created for good works (Ephesians 2:10). He has changed their belief about their purpose in life. But, to make sure that new belief and value is not thought by them to be restricted to only the church, Paul expands this concept of dong good works and introduces it to the market place. He even states that someone who lives and works in this manner will, "receive back from the Lord." This is why Paul also tells the Corinthian church that whatever they do, in word or in deed, do it to the glory of God: 1 Corinthians 10:31. We need to have a good belief about why we work and to what extent God has intended this for us. We work because in the original design we were tooled and skilled to work. Now we do so for the same reason ... to glorify God with the skills and tolls He has equipped us to use in that work. We are not to work for wealth, position or pride. That is the earthly belief and philosophy that creeps into our value structures that needs to be replaced. When we believe the way the world does we can look at work as a burden, since we, as believers, are not their to accumulate wealth or status. Yet, when we realize we were created to work and that this is just another location we can worship, we will have a new philosophy of belief and therefore a new value for it. We value our occupations because they are an alter on which we worship our Savior.
Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
Truth: Work is a place to please God and receive His blessings.
In the Theology of work we need to come to grips what work is for and why we are called to do work. Notice when God created man what He did with man:
Genesis 2:15
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
We were created to work!! God put man in the Garden to "keep" it .. to work it!! It wasn't until the sin in that same garden that mad sin a burden to us. Now we resist work and sin causes us to hate work. The redeemed man has to come to a new belief about work to make sure he/she is doing work to the glory of God. Our restoration in Christ is to restore us back to the image God originally designed. In the above passage Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus he tells the believers there that the work they do is to be done to the glory of God and not for the praise of man. He changes their belief about the purpose of work and challenges what they value about work. Notice he tells them, "... knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord ...". In using the phrase "whatever" good we have to remember he is talking about the market place here. He is not talking about the work we do in the Church setting. Paul has already told them that we have been created for good works (Ephesians 2:10). He has changed their belief about their purpose in life. But, to make sure that new belief and value is not thought by them to be restricted to only the church, Paul expands this concept of dong good works and introduces it to the market place. He even states that someone who lives and works in this manner will, "receive back from the Lord." This is why Paul also tells the Corinthian church that whatever they do, in word or in deed, do it to the glory of God: 1 Corinthians 10:31. We need to have a good belief about why we work and to what extent God has intended this for us. We work because in the original design we were tooled and skilled to work. Now we do so for the same reason ... to glorify God with the skills and tolls He has equipped us to use in that work. We are not to work for wealth, position or pride. That is the earthly belief and philosophy that creeps into our value structures that needs to be replaced. When we believe the way the world does we can look at work as a burden, since we, as believers, are not their to accumulate wealth or status. Yet, when we realize we were created to work and that this is just another location we can worship, we will have a new philosophy of belief and therefore a new value for it. We value our occupations because they are an alter on which we worship our Savior.
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Truth #174 - Time is running out!! - Luke 13-14
Luke 13:1-9
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
Truth: Time is running out!!
One of the ten truths on my work web site that I confess over and over in front of audiences where I speak states, "Time is running out." It is one of my life laws. There are many things in life we are not sure of, but one thing we can count on for sure, is that time is, indeed, running out. In the above story and parable, Jesus is confronted by "some present" about two specific disasters that had recently occurred. We have no other reference in God's Word, or historical document about these events. The events, however, happened and "some present" wanted Jesus take on it. By His answer we can assume those asking wanted to know if their "sin" caused this to happen? Jesus takes the incidents to press them toward repentance. His teaching tells us the quantity of the sin of those killed was not the point to consider, but rather that time is running out and one must use that time left to seek God in repentance. To fuller illustrate the point Jesus tells them a parable about a fig tree that has not born any fruit (a fig tree planted in a vineyard). The vinedresser was ready to uproot and destroy the fig tree. However, the "vinedresser" was willing to work on the fig tree and was given one more year to cultivate it, inducing fruit, or it would be destroyed. The emphasis of the parable is to illustrate what Jesus just taught about limited time in this life to repent. The fig tree bearing fruit is the picture of mankind repenting while we have time to repent. The entire teaching in this chapter and the preceding is on the judgment of God that is coming on mankind and our response to it. We like to plan our lives for retirement. We seek enjoyment and pleasure and NO WORK in our later years. What Jesus is telling us is that time is running out and we ought to seek Him in repentance before the end comes. We don't know the end and have no assurance of any further days on this earth. We only have this moment and that should be used for seeking Him through the fruit of repentance. Luke may be the only Gospel writer who spoke of these two stories, but he is not the only one who emphasized repentance:
Matthew 3:7-9
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
Truth: Time is running out!!
One of the ten truths on my work web site that I confess over and over in front of audiences where I speak states, "Time is running out." It is one of my life laws. There are many things in life we are not sure of, but one thing we can count on for sure, is that time is, indeed, running out. In the above story and parable, Jesus is confronted by "some present" about two specific disasters that had recently occurred. We have no other reference in God's Word, or historical document about these events. The events, however, happened and "some present" wanted Jesus take on it. By His answer we can assume those asking wanted to know if their "sin" caused this to happen? Jesus takes the incidents to press them toward repentance. His teaching tells us the quantity of the sin of those killed was not the point to consider, but rather that time is running out and one must use that time left to seek God in repentance. To fuller illustrate the point Jesus tells them a parable about a fig tree that has not born any fruit (a fig tree planted in a vineyard). The vinedresser was ready to uproot and destroy the fig tree. However, the "vinedresser" was willing to work on the fig tree and was given one more year to cultivate it, inducing fruit, or it would be destroyed. The emphasis of the parable is to illustrate what Jesus just taught about limited time in this life to repent. The fig tree bearing fruit is the picture of mankind repenting while we have time to repent. The entire teaching in this chapter and the preceding is on the judgment of God that is coming on mankind and our response to it. We like to plan our lives for retirement. We seek enjoyment and pleasure and NO WORK in our later years. What Jesus is telling us is that time is running out and we ought to seek Him in repentance before the end comes. We don't know the end and have no assurance of any further days on this earth. We only have this moment and that should be used for seeking Him through the fruit of repentance. Luke may be the only Gospel writer who spoke of these two stories, but he is not the only one who emphasized repentance:
Matthew 3:7-9
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
Friday, June 19, 2015
Truth #173 - God's Word might seem to delay, but WILL BE fulfilled - Ezekiel 7-12
Ezekiel 12:21-25
And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, what is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel, saying, The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing’? Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.’ But say to them, The days are near, and the fulfillment of every vision. For there shall be no more any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the Lord; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord God.”
Truth: God's Word might seem to delay, but WILL BE fulfilled!
There are many in this land, as in the days of Ezekiel, that mistake God's patience and forbearance for a lack of concern or, worse, an inability to perform. Many today believe that since God has done nothing, He can't do something, or won't do something to judge man and intervene in regard to the evil in this world. They have mistakenly come to believe that God is either impotent to correct the challenges in this world, or He is ignorant of the issues in this world. Yet, God is simply a patient God. Note how Paul attempts to correct this thinking for the believers in Rome:
Romans 2:4
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Romans 3:23-26
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
God was only "overlooking" sin for the purpose of leading you and I to repentance!! People today, in their arrogance, believe that God has missed their sin and has no interest in correcting them, much less punishing them. Yet, they err!! God is a just God and He WILL punish those who sin and reject His free gift of grace and atonement. Note the mode of Ezekiel's words in the above text. God is going to punish those who reject Him. They might have a "proverb" that says, "The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing." But, God will fulfill His Word. People openly mock and reject God's Word. Even today, under the simply threat of political correctness (shaming someone for what they say) men of God are backing off from what God's Word actually says. The political landscape has caused the modern day preacher to bend to the press more than the Word!! God's word will come to fulfillment. That is a truth!!
And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, what is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel, saying, The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing’? Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.’ But say to them, The days are near, and the fulfillment of every vision. For there shall be no more any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the Lord; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord God.”
Truth: God's Word might seem to delay, but WILL BE fulfilled!
There are many in this land, as in the days of Ezekiel, that mistake God's patience and forbearance for a lack of concern or, worse, an inability to perform. Many today believe that since God has done nothing, He can't do something, or won't do something to judge man and intervene in regard to the evil in this world. They have mistakenly come to believe that God is either impotent to correct the challenges in this world, or He is ignorant of the issues in this world. Yet, God is simply a patient God. Note how Paul attempts to correct this thinking for the believers in Rome:
Romans 2:4
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Romans 3:23-26
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
God was only "overlooking" sin for the purpose of leading you and I to repentance!! People today, in their arrogance, believe that God has missed their sin and has no interest in correcting them, much less punishing them. Yet, they err!! God is a just God and He WILL punish those who sin and reject His free gift of grace and atonement. Note the mode of Ezekiel's words in the above text. God is going to punish those who reject Him. They might have a "proverb" that says, "The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing." But, God will fulfill His Word. People openly mock and reject God's Word. Even today, under the simply threat of political correctness (shaming someone for what they say) men of God are backing off from what God's Word actually says. The political landscape has caused the modern day preacher to bend to the press more than the Word!! God's word will come to fulfillment. That is a truth!!
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Truth #172 - God knows our path! Proverbs 5-6
Proverbs 5:21 (NASBStr)
For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord,
And He watches all his paths.
This proverbs should be viewed with one that Solomon is recorded as having said later in this book:
Proverbs 15:3 (NASBStr)
The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
The last line of Proverbs 5:21 should be viewed in light of what Solomon says in the following:
Ecclesiastes 12:14 (NASBStr)
For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
Truth: God knows our path
The context of Proverbs chapter five is that of the adulterous women and the foolish man who , might, succumb to her wanton ways. When the act of adultery takes place it is done so in secret; at least that is what is in the mind of the two parties. Don't let anyone know. Keep it secret. The looks, the glances, the not-so-innocent-touches; are all done and thought hidden. Yet, in 5:21 we read that a very comforting truth to those who are living free from sin is also a warning to those who think they sin in secret. God is watching and will hold anyone accountable for sins, both done in public view or private vexation. The same truth that provides peace to some (that God is always watching) can be haunting to others. He "watches" or "ponders" our path. He holds accountable. He can, because He is the only one who sees it all. When we think we are in secret and can sin without harm, we fail to know the truth of 5:21. Make 5:21 a blessing and not a curse by allowing the Spirit of God to keep you from sin.
For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord,
And He watches all his paths.
This proverbs should be viewed with one that Solomon is recorded as having said later in this book:
Proverbs 15:3 (NASBStr)
The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
The last line of Proverbs 5:21 should be viewed in light of what Solomon says in the following:
Ecclesiastes 12:14 (NASBStr)
For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
Truth: God knows our path
The context of Proverbs chapter five is that of the adulterous women and the foolish man who , might, succumb to her wanton ways. When the act of adultery takes place it is done so in secret; at least that is what is in the mind of the two parties. Don't let anyone know. Keep it secret. The looks, the glances, the not-so-innocent-touches; are all done and thought hidden. Yet, in 5:21 we read that a very comforting truth to those who are living free from sin is also a warning to those who think they sin in secret. God is watching and will hold anyone accountable for sins, both done in public view or private vexation. The same truth that provides peace to some (that God is always watching) can be haunting to others. He "watches" or "ponders" our path. He holds accountable. He can, because He is the only one who sees it all. When we think we are in secret and can sin without harm, we fail to know the truth of 5:21. Make 5:21 a blessing and not a curse by allowing the Spirit of God to keep you from sin.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Truth #171 - My failure is trumped by God's faithfulness - Psalm 72-74
Psalms 73:25-26
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Truth: My failure is trumped by God's faithfulness!
The truth of the matter, we all fail. Our failures may not always be public, but never-the-less we all fail. In our walk with God we find other things to replace Him with in our lives, if only on a temporary basis. We attempt to find peace, fulfillment, and/or relief in things that are of temporal value. We ought to be able to say with writer of the above psalm, "There is nothing on earth that I desire besides you." Yet, we know that is not always, and perhaps, seldom, true. We want things more than God. We want relationships with people more than relationships with God. These false desires take us away from Him who is the fulness of all knowledge and wisdom (Colossians 2:3). That is when our heart fails us. We stumble and are afflicted and crushed. That is when we know we have the faithfulness of God. If our salvation was dependent upon our constant walk with God we would be ever lost. Yet, the strength of our heart is not the constancy of our walk, but he congruent faithfulness of God. Our portion is not the things of this world, but of Him. The failure might not be of the "front page" variety in our life, but it is a failure and only the faithfulness of God can and will cover it in His divine forgiveness. Our failure may not be of the open and public nature of adulatory or robbery, but it will be of covetousness and envy. Ego will cause more failure than any accounts of public immorality. It won't get the same press but it is of the greater failure. But, when we fail thus, He is there for us. He is our portion ... forever. That is a great truth to hold on to in the midst of the pain and suffering.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Truth: My failure is trumped by God's faithfulness!
The truth of the matter, we all fail. Our failures may not always be public, but never-the-less we all fail. In our walk with God we find other things to replace Him with in our lives, if only on a temporary basis. We attempt to find peace, fulfillment, and/or relief in things that are of temporal value. We ought to be able to say with writer of the above psalm, "There is nothing on earth that I desire besides you." Yet, we know that is not always, and perhaps, seldom, true. We want things more than God. We want relationships with people more than relationships with God. These false desires take us away from Him who is the fulness of all knowledge and wisdom (Colossians 2:3). That is when our heart fails us. We stumble and are afflicted and crushed. That is when we know we have the faithfulness of God. If our salvation was dependent upon our constant walk with God we would be ever lost. Yet, the strength of our heart is not the constancy of our walk, but he congruent faithfulness of God. Our portion is not the things of this world, but of Him. The failure might not be of the "front page" variety in our life, but it is a failure and only the faithfulness of God can and will cover it in His divine forgiveness. Our failure may not be of the open and public nature of adulatory or robbery, but it will be of covetousness and envy. Ego will cause more failure than any accounts of public immorality. It won't get the same press but it is of the greater failure. But, when we fail thus, He is there for us. He is our portion ... forever. That is a great truth to hold on to in the midst of the pain and suffering.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Truth #170 - Good works bring praise to God - 1 Kings 14-17
1 Kings 17:24
And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”
Truth: Our good works ought to point others to God and His truth.
In the above passage we have the end of a story about Elijah and the widow he was staying with and who was caring for him. God had sent Elijah to the widow during the drought in the land. God had promised that the widow would care for Elijah's needs. When the widow's son suddenly died, Elijah felt especially concerned. Elijah takes the son to God and a miracle happens. God heals the son at Elijah's request. Elijah's prayer for the boy brought about a miracle just like later his prayer for rain will bring about a miracle. Note what the Apostle James has to say about this later to the early church:
James 5:16-18
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
A strong prayer life and a strong life of faith will result in powerful works being done in the midst of the world. The widow, even though she had already seen a miracle, upon seeing her son raised to life, now believed what Elijah was saying was true. She already had the jar of oil and pot of flour never running out, yet, this miracle caused her to believe in God and to recognize truth. Yes, Elijah was a powerful prophet of God, but God promises the same thing to us. If we do the works that we were sent to do (Ephesians 2:10) then the world will see those good works and, as we attribute them to God, they will glorify God and sing praises to Him. Not our Saviors words in Matthew's gospel:
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Good works done in God's name will always bring praise to God! It will allow others to see that what you are saying is truth.
And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”
Truth: Our good works ought to point others to God and His truth.
In the above passage we have the end of a story about Elijah and the widow he was staying with and who was caring for him. God had sent Elijah to the widow during the drought in the land. God had promised that the widow would care for Elijah's needs. When the widow's son suddenly died, Elijah felt especially concerned. Elijah takes the son to God and a miracle happens. God heals the son at Elijah's request. Elijah's prayer for the boy brought about a miracle just like later his prayer for rain will bring about a miracle. Note what the Apostle James has to say about this later to the early church:
James 5:16-18
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
A strong prayer life and a strong life of faith will result in powerful works being done in the midst of the world. The widow, even though she had already seen a miracle, upon seeing her son raised to life, now believed what Elijah was saying was true. She already had the jar of oil and pot of flour never running out, yet, this miracle caused her to believe in God and to recognize truth. Yes, Elijah was a powerful prophet of God, but God promises the same thing to us. If we do the works that we were sent to do (Ephesians 2:10) then the world will see those good works and, as we attribute them to God, they will glorify God and sing praises to Him. Not our Saviors words in Matthew's gospel:
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Good works done in God's name will always bring praise to God! It will allow others to see that what you are saying is truth.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Truth #169 - We have a responsiblity to keep the community pure - Leviticus 4-6
Leviticus 5:1
“If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity;
Truth: We are responsible to speak up about sin
In the above passage we have an admonition to the nation of Israel about keeping the nation pure. In this entire section the solution was for the guilty party to come to an understanding about their sin and to confess it, offering some sort of sacrifice on the alter, thus making their confessing and purification. Sacrificial atonement was the only avenue for freedom from guilt. To assure that the community is kept pure, the above verses are written out for us. If anyone observes or hears (come to know the matter) he or she has an obligation under the law to speak out about that sin. IF they do not speak out than they will bear the same iniquity of the one who sinned. The only way the community would be kept free from sin was for everyone to take part in the identification of the sin and the subsequent purification around it. Paul spoke of similar thoughts in his letter to the churches in Galatia:
Galatians 6:1-10
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.
Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
To keep the "household of faith" on the track of faithfulness we have a responsibility to speak up and bear witness about sin in our midst. Notice that Paul did not just write about this concept, he actually practiced it when he confronted Peter about his own hypocrisy.
Galatians 2:11-12
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.
Paul understood the thought process of keeping the body pure. In the letter to the church at Corinth he writes to them about a young man who was opening living in a sexual relationship with his step-mom. The church, rather than correct it, were boasting about it. Paul calls them out:
1 Corinthians 5:6-7
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
The truth is if we want the community to be pure we have an obligation to call out impurity.
“If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity;
Truth: We are responsible to speak up about sin
In the above passage we have an admonition to the nation of Israel about keeping the nation pure. In this entire section the solution was for the guilty party to come to an understanding about their sin and to confess it, offering some sort of sacrifice on the alter, thus making their confessing and purification. Sacrificial atonement was the only avenue for freedom from guilt. To assure that the community is kept pure, the above verses are written out for us. If anyone observes or hears (come to know the matter) he or she has an obligation under the law to speak out about that sin. IF they do not speak out than they will bear the same iniquity of the one who sinned. The only way the community would be kept free from sin was for everyone to take part in the identification of the sin and the subsequent purification around it. Paul spoke of similar thoughts in his letter to the churches in Galatia:
Galatians 6:1-10
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.
Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
To keep the "household of faith" on the track of faithfulness we have a responsibility to speak up and bear witness about sin in our midst. Notice that Paul did not just write about this concept, he actually practiced it when he confronted Peter about his own hypocrisy.
Galatians 2:11-12
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.
Paul understood the thought process of keeping the body pure. In the letter to the church at Corinth he writes to them about a young man who was opening living in a sexual relationship with his step-mom. The church, rather than correct it, were boasting about it. Paul calls them out:
1 Corinthians 5:6-7
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
The truth is if we want the community to be pure we have an obligation to call out impurity.
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Truth #168 - Truth: Jesus not only reconciles us to God but also to each other - Ephesians 1-3
Ephesians 2:14-17
For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
Truth: Jesus not only reconciles us to God but also to each other.
The fact that we are hostile to God in our basic nature would not surprise many. Many people would recognize that there is something that prevents them from a "natural" relationship with God ... hence the numerous systems of work-based-salvation-religious-systems. Whereas many would agree with this hostility, most would agree man has hostility with each other. You can listen to the local news on any night and here the open hostility men have with each other. Wether domestic, inter-racial, political, national or multi-national, hostility with our fellow men is a fact. In Noah's day this was a mark of the evilness of man. Most would agree, also that Jesus came to restore the hostility between man and God. Few, however, realize the truth of the above verse: That Christ also came to restore the open hostility between one man and another. In the verse story of the Bible we have the narrative of a husband and wife in dispute over who caused the disobedience of the rules in the Garden of Eden. The second story in the Bible is a story of their sons fighting and one killing the other. The results of sin are the open hostile relationships we have with each other. Yes, we are hostile to God. Yes, we are hostile to each other. This is why Christ came. Christ came to restore our relationship with His Father. But, He also came to restore the relationship we have with each other. He came to "reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility." This is why it is so dangerous for Christians to fight, war, and have strife between them. The foundation of faith is that we are stored to Him, through Him, for Him and IN Him with each other. Having hostile relationships with other brothers in Christ is like having one hand constantly slapping the other hand in your own body. Or, like having one leg wanting to go left and the other leg wanting to go right. Christ came to reconcile us to God and to each other.
For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
Truth: Jesus not only reconciles us to God but also to each other.
The fact that we are hostile to God in our basic nature would not surprise many. Many people would recognize that there is something that prevents them from a "natural" relationship with God ... hence the numerous systems of work-based-salvation-religious-systems. Whereas many would agree with this hostility, most would agree man has hostility with each other. You can listen to the local news on any night and here the open hostility men have with each other. Wether domestic, inter-racial, political, national or multi-national, hostility with our fellow men is a fact. In Noah's day this was a mark of the evilness of man. Most would agree, also that Jesus came to restore the hostility between man and God. Few, however, realize the truth of the above verse: That Christ also came to restore the open hostility between one man and another. In the verse story of the Bible we have the narrative of a husband and wife in dispute over who caused the disobedience of the rules in the Garden of Eden. The second story in the Bible is a story of their sons fighting and one killing the other. The results of sin are the open hostile relationships we have with each other. Yes, we are hostile to God. Yes, we are hostile to each other. This is why Christ came. Christ came to restore our relationship with His Father. But, He also came to restore the relationship we have with each other. He came to "reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility." This is why it is so dangerous for Christians to fight, war, and have strife between them. The foundation of faith is that we are stored to Him, through Him, for Him and IN Him with each other. Having hostile relationships with other brothers in Christ is like having one hand constantly slapping the other hand in your own body. Or, like having one leg wanting to go left and the other leg wanting to go right. Christ came to reconcile us to God and to each other.
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Truth #167 - False teaching hinders people from coming to Christ - Luke 11-12
Luke 11:52
Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”
Truth: Religious systems can, and often do, restrict people from the knowledge of the truth, rather than enable it.
In chapter eleven of Luke's gospel we Jesus invited for dinner at the home of a Pharisee. Along with this Pharisee there were Scribes and Lawyers (those who recorded the truth spoken by the Pharisees and who interpreted the truth they spoke). This was a great gathering of influential men. These men had opened up their home to Jesus and now was His chance to entice them and invite them to follow Him. What marketing methods would the modern church recommend that Jesus follow in this situation? What argumentation and debate techniques would the modern Christian communication director tell Jesus to use? We may not agree on what He would be told by today's pastors and priest, but we can agree that what He did do would not be repeated in most settings today. Jesus actually insulted them all. He called the hypocrites. He told them they were full of sin on the inside and pretended to look good on the outside. Note what one of the Lawyers says to Him just before Jesus states the above statement:
Luke 11:45
One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.”
The Lawyer is saying, "by insulting the Pharisees you insult us also." Can you hear his "lawyering" coming through. The Lawyer must be thinking, "defamation lawsuit." This is where Jesus unfolds even more defaming statements. He tells the Lawyer(s) that their interpretation is not just hindering their own path to God, their system is restricting others from understanding and having the "key of knowledge" to come to God. Although religious systems and doctrines ought to be like navigation points we place in our GPS to keep us on track and course, the doctrines and the systems of this group was actually hindering those who followed them from hearing the true knowledge of Jesus Christ, the, soon, risen King. Later Jesus will state, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by Me." That is a dogmatic doctrine. The religious system of the Lawyers, Pharisees and Scribes was not pointing the people to the Messiah King, Jesus. It was pointing them to a works based doctrine to please men and to meet the requirements found and taught in the system. Systems of belief are important anchors to keep us from following foolish men. But, systems of belief can prevent us from see God in the affairs of men and His plan to save us through His Son, Jesus Christ, the only true Lord. Jesus entered the house of the Pharisee and told him and his guests the truth: That their system was actually preventing people to find the knowledge of Christ. That ought to be the true measurement of any system of belief. If it doesn't point to Christ as the only way to salvation, the system is flawed. John would say as much in his epistle, years after Christ had this exchange with the religious demagogues of the day:
1 John 4:1-3
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”
Truth: Religious systems can, and often do, restrict people from the knowledge of the truth, rather than enable it.
In chapter eleven of Luke's gospel we Jesus invited for dinner at the home of a Pharisee. Along with this Pharisee there were Scribes and Lawyers (those who recorded the truth spoken by the Pharisees and who interpreted the truth they spoke). This was a great gathering of influential men. These men had opened up their home to Jesus and now was His chance to entice them and invite them to follow Him. What marketing methods would the modern church recommend that Jesus follow in this situation? What argumentation and debate techniques would the modern Christian communication director tell Jesus to use? We may not agree on what He would be told by today's pastors and priest, but we can agree that what He did do would not be repeated in most settings today. Jesus actually insulted them all. He called the hypocrites. He told them they were full of sin on the inside and pretended to look good on the outside. Note what one of the Lawyers says to Him just before Jesus states the above statement:
Luke 11:45
One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.”
The Lawyer is saying, "by insulting the Pharisees you insult us also." Can you hear his "lawyering" coming through. The Lawyer must be thinking, "defamation lawsuit." This is where Jesus unfolds even more defaming statements. He tells the Lawyer(s) that their interpretation is not just hindering their own path to God, their system is restricting others from understanding and having the "key of knowledge" to come to God. Although religious systems and doctrines ought to be like navigation points we place in our GPS to keep us on track and course, the doctrines and the systems of this group was actually hindering those who followed them from hearing the true knowledge of Jesus Christ, the, soon, risen King. Later Jesus will state, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by Me." That is a dogmatic doctrine. The religious system of the Lawyers, Pharisees and Scribes was not pointing the people to the Messiah King, Jesus. It was pointing them to a works based doctrine to please men and to meet the requirements found and taught in the system. Systems of belief are important anchors to keep us from following foolish men. But, systems of belief can prevent us from see God in the affairs of men and His plan to save us through His Son, Jesus Christ, the only true Lord. Jesus entered the house of the Pharisee and told him and his guests the truth: That their system was actually preventing people to find the knowledge of Christ. That ought to be the true measurement of any system of belief. If it doesn't point to Christ as the only way to salvation, the system is flawed. John would say as much in his epistle, years after Christ had this exchange with the religious demagogues of the day:
1 John 4:1-3
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
Friday, June 12, 2015
Truth #166 - Where God calls He equips - Ezekiel 1-6
Ezekiel 3:4-9
And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel— not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.”
Truth: God prepares and equips before He sends us!!
The book of Ezekiel is the record of the prophet Ezekiel who was sent by God to the nation of Israel and Judah in the beginning and midst of their captivity. He was of priestly descent and is best known for the unusual visions he prophecies about and the unusual methods God uses through him to covey the message God has for the people in captivity and for us. Ezekiel is asked to do some unusual illustrations to communicate the rebellious nation that God is a jealous God and God is going to punish them for their idolatry. The people, in their captivity, had already heard the prophecy of Isaiah and Jeremiah. They had been warned and rejected that warning. Ezekiel is, yet, another voice God is using to condemn, correct and, hopefully, change the hearts of this wicked and rebellious nation. Yet, God knows their hearts won't change. Their hearts are "stubborn" and their foreheads are "hard" the above text tells us. How do you preach to a group of people with such hard foreheads and stubborn hearts? You send a prophet with a harder face and forehead and heart that is firm with God's Word. In the above text we see that God is sending Ezekiel to his own people. He will not be a missionary to another country, having to learn the customs, language and ways of a strange land. (God even mocks the nation telling Ezekiel that if he was sent to a land of strange tongue and different culture THEY would listen to Ezekiel's message from God.) Ezekiel, however, is sent to his own people and they WILL reject him. Yet, God prepares His servant for the work He sends him to do. God tells them that even though their foreheads are hard and the hearts are stubborn, God is going to make Ezekiel's head harder. Ezekiel is going to be hard-headed. God tells Ezekiel that he does not have to fear them because as "emery" is harder than "flint," so he will be harder than the nation of rebellious people. God prepares Ezekiel for the hard work he is asked to do. God will give him endurance when he is asked to illustrate God's punishment will last 390 years by having the prophet lay on his left side for 390 days. Ouch!! Where his audience will be strong willed, Ezekiel will be strong-willed-times-two!! Like Paul after him, Ezekiel will not be afraid because he goes in the power and strength of God. Where God calls, He equips.
And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel— not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.”
Truth: God prepares and equips before He sends us!!
The book of Ezekiel is the record of the prophet Ezekiel who was sent by God to the nation of Israel and Judah in the beginning and midst of their captivity. He was of priestly descent and is best known for the unusual visions he prophecies about and the unusual methods God uses through him to covey the message God has for the people in captivity and for us. Ezekiel is asked to do some unusual illustrations to communicate the rebellious nation that God is a jealous God and God is going to punish them for their idolatry. The people, in their captivity, had already heard the prophecy of Isaiah and Jeremiah. They had been warned and rejected that warning. Ezekiel is, yet, another voice God is using to condemn, correct and, hopefully, change the hearts of this wicked and rebellious nation. Yet, God knows their hearts won't change. Their hearts are "stubborn" and their foreheads are "hard" the above text tells us. How do you preach to a group of people with such hard foreheads and stubborn hearts? You send a prophet with a harder face and forehead and heart that is firm with God's Word. In the above text we see that God is sending Ezekiel to his own people. He will not be a missionary to another country, having to learn the customs, language and ways of a strange land. (God even mocks the nation telling Ezekiel that if he was sent to a land of strange tongue and different culture THEY would listen to Ezekiel's message from God.) Ezekiel, however, is sent to his own people and they WILL reject him. Yet, God prepares His servant for the work He sends him to do. God tells them that even though their foreheads are hard and the hearts are stubborn, God is going to make Ezekiel's head harder. Ezekiel is going to be hard-headed. God tells Ezekiel that he does not have to fear them because as "emery" is harder than "flint," so he will be harder than the nation of rebellious people. God prepares Ezekiel for the hard work he is asked to do. God will give him endurance when he is asked to illustrate God's punishment will last 390 years by having the prophet lay on his left side for 390 days. Ouch!! Where his audience will be strong willed, Ezekiel will be strong-willed-times-two!! Like Paul after him, Ezekiel will not be afraid because he goes in the power and strength of God. Where God calls, He equips.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Truth #165 - What's in the well comes up in the bucket - Proverbs 4
Proverbs 4:24
Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious speech far from you.
Truth: What is in the well comes up in the bucket
The mouth of a person is a gateway to their heart. You know a lot about a person by listening to their speech and their talk. Solomon is warning us in this proverb that those who have a deceitful mouth and devious speech should be avoided ... why? Because their tongue is simply a billboard for their heart. A deceitful tongue reveals a deceitful heart. Devious speech betrays a devious heart. What does Solomon say we should do when we find ourselves in the midst of such talk and such hearts? He tells us to "put away" those who are such and to put them "far from you." We are not to engage in a discussion with them in hopes of changing their way of life. When we find they are devious we are to separate ourselves. And, we are not to separate ourselves a little ... but put the "far" from us. When we fail to do so we are allowing their speech ... their hearts ... to draw us into their corrupt world. We don't keep ourselves pure by mixing with such language. We keep ourselves pure by avoiding and separating form such language. A deceitful tongue is to be avoided at all cost. Don't try to mingle with it and be with it ... the tongue is simply revealing a heart that is bound to corrupt.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious speech far from you.
Truth: What is in the well comes up in the bucket
The mouth of a person is a gateway to their heart. You know a lot about a person by listening to their speech and their talk. Solomon is warning us in this proverb that those who have a deceitful mouth and devious speech should be avoided ... why? Because their tongue is simply a billboard for their heart. A deceitful tongue reveals a deceitful heart. Devious speech betrays a devious heart. What does Solomon say we should do when we find ourselves in the midst of such talk and such hearts? He tells us to "put away" those who are such and to put them "far from you." We are not to engage in a discussion with them in hopes of changing their way of life. When we find they are devious we are to separate ourselves. And, we are not to separate ourselves a little ... but put the "far" from us. When we fail to do so we are allowing their speech ... their hearts ... to draw us into their corrupt world. We don't keep ourselves pure by mixing with such language. We keep ourselves pure by avoiding and separating form such language. A deceitful tongue is to be avoided at all cost. Don't try to mingle with it and be with it ... the tongue is simply revealing a heart that is bound to corrupt.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Truth #164 - Our lives might be a mystery to others, but someone to rescue to God - Psalm 69-71
Psalms 71:7
I have been as a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.
Truth: When others think our life is a mysterious and complex wonder of curses, God remains our refuge to deliver us!!
In order to understand this one single verse from Psalm 71 we have to step back and view the entire Psalm first. Whoever wrote this worship song he has been following God since his youth (vv. 5, 17, "since my youth) and he is now old and gray (v. 9 and v. 18). Whatever was happening in his old age he recognizes that the present situation has him under duress and he is, as in the past, appealing to God for deliverance. This Psalm could have been written by David when Absalom, his son, ran him out of the kingdom and began to pursue him in the caves and hills of the country. It could have been written by Moses, in his old age as the nation of Israel continued to rebel against God. It could be song today by any number of Pastors who have served God faithfully over the years despite difficulty and trials. The phrase contained in the first line of the above verse is quite complexing. The writer has told us thus far (in the first six verses) that he has served God from his youth and that someone is being cruel to him. He has given us no indication of sin or despair in his life, other than this persecution. But, in this verse he refers to himself as a "portent" to many. The Hebrew word for "portent" is unusual and has, perhaps, duel meanings. Note what one commentator says about the word:
The Hebrew term behind portent (môpēt) is the same one used in the word pair familiar from the exodus story, “signs and wonders.” There is thus the sense that the speaker’s life is an inexplicable wonder to many. Most often the term denotes a wonder or portent of judgment, like those against the Egyptians (78:43; 135:9; Exod. 7:3; 11:9–10; Deut. 6:22; 34:11). This negative connotation is implied by the parallel line of our psalm: because many perceive the speaker’s life to be an omen of judgment, he contends, but you are my strong refuge. (Understanding the Bible Commentary Series - Old Testament Set (18 vols).
For some reason this writer was viewed by the world around him as cursed or judged by God. Perhaps we can think of the man Job, here. Job was afflicted and tormented by Satan for the purpose of showing God that Job would eventually curse God. And, although he never cursed God, Job did get to the point of questioning God's integrity. To his friends, however, Job was "a portent" ... a mystery and clouded by a possible judgment by God. They ridiculed and accused him, falsely, of deep sin. What the writer of the Psalm states to us is that no matter what others my think of our situation (and at times it looks like we might be being judged) God is still our refuge. The contrast of the second line to the first line indicates that the first line is to be viewed as bad and the second line is to be viewed as our relief and our joy. Despite how others view the difficulty in our lives, God IS our refuge. He knows the truth and the reasons for the difficulty in our lives and it is ONLY He who can rescue us and deliver us from that difficulty. We might be "a portent" to many, but to Him we are loved and therefore He IS our refuge ... our "strong" refuge.
I have been as a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.
Truth: When others think our life is a mysterious and complex wonder of curses, God remains our refuge to deliver us!!
In order to understand this one single verse from Psalm 71 we have to step back and view the entire Psalm first. Whoever wrote this worship song he has been following God since his youth (vv. 5, 17, "since my youth) and he is now old and gray (v. 9 and v. 18). Whatever was happening in his old age he recognizes that the present situation has him under duress and he is, as in the past, appealing to God for deliverance. This Psalm could have been written by David when Absalom, his son, ran him out of the kingdom and began to pursue him in the caves and hills of the country. It could have been written by Moses, in his old age as the nation of Israel continued to rebel against God. It could be song today by any number of Pastors who have served God faithfully over the years despite difficulty and trials. The phrase contained in the first line of the above verse is quite complexing. The writer has told us thus far (in the first six verses) that he has served God from his youth and that someone is being cruel to him. He has given us no indication of sin or despair in his life, other than this persecution. But, in this verse he refers to himself as a "portent" to many. The Hebrew word for "portent" is unusual and has, perhaps, duel meanings. Note what one commentator says about the word:
The Hebrew term behind portent (môpēt) is the same one used in the word pair familiar from the exodus story, “signs and wonders.” There is thus the sense that the speaker’s life is an inexplicable wonder to many. Most often the term denotes a wonder or portent of judgment, like those against the Egyptians (78:43; 135:9; Exod. 7:3; 11:9–10; Deut. 6:22; 34:11). This negative connotation is implied by the parallel line of our psalm: because many perceive the speaker’s life to be an omen of judgment, he contends, but you are my strong refuge. (Understanding the Bible Commentary Series - Old Testament Set (18 vols).
For some reason this writer was viewed by the world around him as cursed or judged by God. Perhaps we can think of the man Job, here. Job was afflicted and tormented by Satan for the purpose of showing God that Job would eventually curse God. And, although he never cursed God, Job did get to the point of questioning God's integrity. To his friends, however, Job was "a portent" ... a mystery and clouded by a possible judgment by God. They ridiculed and accused him, falsely, of deep sin. What the writer of the Psalm states to us is that no matter what others my think of our situation (and at times it looks like we might be being judged) God is still our refuge. The contrast of the second line to the first line indicates that the first line is to be viewed as bad and the second line is to be viewed as our relief and our joy. Despite how others view the difficulty in our lives, God IS our refuge. He knows the truth and the reasons for the difficulty in our lives and it is ONLY He who can rescue us and deliver us from that difficulty. We might be "a portent" to many, but to Him we are loved and therefore He IS our refuge ... our "strong" refuge.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Truth #163 - Men devise worship systems to maintain their power - 1 Kings 10-13
1 Kings 12:33
He went up to the altar that he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month that he had devised from his own heart. And he instituted a feast for the people of Israel and went up to the altar to make offerings.
Truth: Men devise worship systems in their own mind and pretend God is pleased. The above passage of Scripture was captured from the story of Jeroboam, who was becoming King of Israel. Rehoboam, Solomon's son, was supposed to be king, but because Solomon had disobeyed God and introduced the entire nation to false worship, God took ten of the tribes away from Solomon's descendants and, in this case, gave them to Jeroboam. God choose Jeroboam back in Solomon's day. In fact, Solomon had sought to kill Jeroboam because God had told Solomon that Jeroboam would be the king over a portion of Israel. After Solomon dies the kingdom is, indeed, split and Jeroboam is given ten tribes to the north, named Israel. Rehoboam is given two tribes to the south, named Judah. However, since Jerusalem was in Judah, Jeroboam was fearful that the people would return to Judah (and thus Rehoboam) if they had to go to Jerusalem to worship God. Despite being told by God to NOT seek other gods (like Solomon did), Jeroboam concocts a worship system to be practiced in his own nation (Israel) and to worship gods he alone created. Jeroboam knew the people had a hole in their heart that needed to be filled in regard to worship. He created a peg for the hole that he thought would replace their need to worship Yahweh. By doing so, like Solomon, he, too, introduced idolatry to the entire nation. Solomon had done the same thing but out of love for his many wives. Jeroboam was now introducing false worship, not out of love for women, but out love for power. He was not in charge and the worship system he designed would allow him to maintain power. Think of how many worship systems are concocted to simply maintain and sustain someone's power!! The Pharisees and religious leaders of the day rejected Christ because the could see that He was winning the hearts of the people and they were afraid of losing their power. Power corrupts. Men design worship systems to not honor God but to maintain their hunger for power. God told Jeroboam He would give him the ten tribes. God told Jeroboam to NOT worship idols. But, instead of worshipping God properly and seeking God's righteousness, Jeroboam created a false worship system simply to keep his followers in line. Men devise false system to maintain something, not to worship God. You can tell a lot about the system of worship by how the leaders use and abuse their power.
He went up to the altar that he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month that he had devised from his own heart. And he instituted a feast for the people of Israel and went up to the altar to make offerings.
Truth: Men devise worship systems in their own mind and pretend God is pleased. The above passage of Scripture was captured from the story of Jeroboam, who was becoming King of Israel. Rehoboam, Solomon's son, was supposed to be king, but because Solomon had disobeyed God and introduced the entire nation to false worship, God took ten of the tribes away from Solomon's descendants and, in this case, gave them to Jeroboam. God choose Jeroboam back in Solomon's day. In fact, Solomon had sought to kill Jeroboam because God had told Solomon that Jeroboam would be the king over a portion of Israel. After Solomon dies the kingdom is, indeed, split and Jeroboam is given ten tribes to the north, named Israel. Rehoboam is given two tribes to the south, named Judah. However, since Jerusalem was in Judah, Jeroboam was fearful that the people would return to Judah (and thus Rehoboam) if they had to go to Jerusalem to worship God. Despite being told by God to NOT seek other gods (like Solomon did), Jeroboam concocts a worship system to be practiced in his own nation (Israel) and to worship gods he alone created. Jeroboam knew the people had a hole in their heart that needed to be filled in regard to worship. He created a peg for the hole that he thought would replace their need to worship Yahweh. By doing so, like Solomon, he, too, introduced idolatry to the entire nation. Solomon had done the same thing but out of love for his many wives. Jeroboam was now introducing false worship, not out of love for women, but out love for power. He was not in charge and the worship system he designed would allow him to maintain power. Think of how many worship systems are concocted to simply maintain and sustain someone's power!! The Pharisees and religious leaders of the day rejected Christ because the could see that He was winning the hearts of the people and they were afraid of losing their power. Power corrupts. Men design worship systems to not honor God but to maintain their hunger for power. God told Jeroboam He would give him the ten tribes. God told Jeroboam to NOT worship idols. But, instead of worshipping God properly and seeking God's righteousness, Jeroboam created a false worship system simply to keep his followers in line. Men devise false system to maintain something, not to worship God. You can tell a lot about the system of worship by how the leaders use and abuse their power.
Monday, June 8, 2015
Truth #162 - God wants our gifts no matter the type or size - Leviticus 1-3
Leviticus 2:9
And the priest shall take from the grain offering its memorial portion and burn this on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
Truth: It doesn't matter the type of gift we offer, any gift is a pleasing aroma to the Lord. In our society we have put a lot of emphasis on the talented. Those with the most talent get much more honor in our society. That thought is probably played out in the athletic field of competition than any other field. Those with the most athletic ability get more honor and are viewed as special. Kids flock to get the autograph of the athlete on the field not the grounds person on the field. The financial world also honors those who are talented with making money. That is a talent. We seek them out and ask them to make us money ... and we pay them ... thus making them more money. Talent wins in Hollywood, as well. We love to watch talented actors and actresses play their part and we honor them with red carpet treatment. However, it should be noted that God is not blown away by talented people. God only expects the most talented to use that talent for Him and worship Him with it. BUT, He also expects those of less "talent" to use what they have to honor Him. In the above passage we see the "grain" offering is to be "a pleasing aroma to the Lord." In the preceding chapter and verses we are told that a pure lamb from the heard is to be "a pleasing aroma to the Lord." It doesn't matter the type of offering, it all needs to be presented to God, no matter if it is a lamb, some grain, or a small bird (Leviticus 1:14). God gives us talent for us to honor and worship Him with it. Not for us to be honored with it. God gives talent to EVERYONE. We make a judgment on good talent verses lesser talent. God, however, gives us the talent He wants us to have and we have the obligation to present it back to Him in worship. Jesus' parable of the talents bears this out. It is not the size of the talent we are given but what we do with the talent through faith:
Matthew 25:14-30
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
And the priest shall take from the grain offering its memorial portion and burn this on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
Truth: It doesn't matter the type of gift we offer, any gift is a pleasing aroma to the Lord. In our society we have put a lot of emphasis on the talented. Those with the most talent get much more honor in our society. That thought is probably played out in the athletic field of competition than any other field. Those with the most athletic ability get more honor and are viewed as special. Kids flock to get the autograph of the athlete on the field not the grounds person on the field. The financial world also honors those who are talented with making money. That is a talent. We seek them out and ask them to make us money ... and we pay them ... thus making them more money. Talent wins in Hollywood, as well. We love to watch talented actors and actresses play their part and we honor them with red carpet treatment. However, it should be noted that God is not blown away by talented people. God only expects the most talented to use that talent for Him and worship Him with it. BUT, He also expects those of less "talent" to use what they have to honor Him. In the above passage we see the "grain" offering is to be "a pleasing aroma to the Lord." In the preceding chapter and verses we are told that a pure lamb from the heard is to be "a pleasing aroma to the Lord." It doesn't matter the type of offering, it all needs to be presented to God, no matter if it is a lamb, some grain, or a small bird (Leviticus 1:14). God gives us talent for us to honor and worship Him with it. Not for us to be honored with it. God gives talent to EVERYONE. We make a judgment on good talent verses lesser talent. God, however, gives us the talent He wants us to have and we have the obligation to present it back to Him in worship. Jesus' parable of the talents bears this out. It is not the size of the talent we are given but what we do with the talent through faith:
Matthew 25:14-30
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Truth #161 - Christ is sufficent; why return to the world's ideas? Galatians 4-6
Galatians 4:9
But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
Truth: Christ is supreme, which means we don't need to return to the world's philosophy. In the early church the false teachers of the day were trying to water down the sufficiency of Christ and the need for grace alone. Their beliefs and teachings were to add to Christ the thoughts of man: Paul refers to them in the above verse as "weak and worthless elementary principles of the world." He stated the same thing a few verses above in Galatians, as follows:
Galatians 4:3
In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.
Paul is telling us that we were once slaved to these principles but now that we have Christ, we have NO need for them. Yet, the churches in Galatia were being enticed by and were beginning to be enticed by this teaching. It was the same in the church of Colossae. Note what Paul says to them:
Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Despite our being taught that Christ is the all sufficient one and all we need is Him, some in the church and most in the world attempt to lead us far from Christ, back to the elemental spirits of this world ... typically human knowledge and human accomplishment. We have a large emphasis in this world on education. People are enticed to "further" their lives via education, not the pursuit of Christ. People are told the can make more money and have higher status and be more confident with a diploma or a certificate in their hands, or on their walls. What Paul is telling us is that Christ is the one only we need for a strong productive and fruitful life. If that is true, why would we turn back to the ideas of the world? Yet, we do. We turn back to the ideas of the world in regard to job selection - picking an occupation that gives us a great life rather than seeking God's thoughts. We turn back to the ideas of the world in regard to retirement - seeking comfort rather than service for Him to the end. We turn back to the ideas of the world on how to handle struggles in our lives - seeking to get back at others rather love those who hate us. We turn to the ideas of the world on how to handle money - seeking to save and secure our future. Think about the practical elements of your life and decide if Christ's sufficiency is at work, or if you have given the ideas of the world a stronghold.
But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
Truth: Christ is supreme, which means we don't need to return to the world's philosophy. In the early church the false teachers of the day were trying to water down the sufficiency of Christ and the need for grace alone. Their beliefs and teachings were to add to Christ the thoughts of man: Paul refers to them in the above verse as "weak and worthless elementary principles of the world." He stated the same thing a few verses above in Galatians, as follows:
Galatians 4:3
In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.
Paul is telling us that we were once slaved to these principles but now that we have Christ, we have NO need for them. Yet, the churches in Galatia were being enticed by and were beginning to be enticed by this teaching. It was the same in the church of Colossae. Note what Paul says to them:
Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Despite our being taught that Christ is the all sufficient one and all we need is Him, some in the church and most in the world attempt to lead us far from Christ, back to the elemental spirits of this world ... typically human knowledge and human accomplishment. We have a large emphasis in this world on education. People are enticed to "further" their lives via education, not the pursuit of Christ. People are told the can make more money and have higher status and be more confident with a diploma or a certificate in their hands, or on their walls. What Paul is telling us is that Christ is the one only we need for a strong productive and fruitful life. If that is true, why would we turn back to the ideas of the world? Yet, we do. We turn back to the ideas of the world in regard to job selection - picking an occupation that gives us a great life rather than seeking God's thoughts. We turn back to the ideas of the world in regard to retirement - seeking comfort rather than service for Him to the end. We turn back to the ideas of the world on how to handle struggles in our lives - seeking to get back at others rather love those who hate us. We turn to the ideas of the world on how to handle money - seeking to save and secure our future. Think about the practical elements of your life and decide if Christ's sufficiency is at work, or if you have given the ideas of the world a stronghold.
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Truth #160 - Christ has power over authorites and gives it to us - Luke 9-10
Luke 9:1-2
And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
Truth: Jesus can give us power over all authority because He has power over all authority. In the above passage and the next chapter, Jesus demonstrates and gives power to His disciples to have power over the authorities of this world. In order to give that kind of power to others you have to possess that power yourself and be allowed to give it. We should know this by numerous passages in the Scripture. In Proverbs 8 we are told that God, by Wisdom, made the heavens and the earth. In 1 Corinthians 1-2 we are told that Christ is Wisdom. The inference is plain ... by Christ the Worlds were made. In John's gospel he starts the book out:
John 1:1-4
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Christ was the Word that made the world. Christ is the maker of the universe, therefore He has power over the authorities in the universe and can give that power to whom He will. Note what Paul tells the church later:
Colossians 2:10-15
and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
It is doubtful that most believers live there lives with the understanding of the power of God at their very finger tips. We often become subject to the most trivial of emotions, when in reality we have the very power of God available through the power of Christ living in us. In the above passage, Jesus gives power to and sends out His "apostles" (the word here is a generic description for "sent ones" vs. the title of the twelve disciples who would become THE APOSTLES). This power they had was a gift of God based upon the authority of Christ. We ought not fear the powers and rulers of this world. Satan obviously is a scary demon. All demons should be scary ... they are real powers. Yet, they have been, as Paul states to the Colossians, they are "disarmed" and we are fully "armed." Rejoice in the truth that Christ has authority, gives it to us and disarms all the others ... we ought to live victorious with that mentality and battle plan.
And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
Truth: Jesus can give us power over all authority because He has power over all authority. In the above passage and the next chapter, Jesus demonstrates and gives power to His disciples to have power over the authorities of this world. In order to give that kind of power to others you have to possess that power yourself and be allowed to give it. We should know this by numerous passages in the Scripture. In Proverbs 8 we are told that God, by Wisdom, made the heavens and the earth. In 1 Corinthians 1-2 we are told that Christ is Wisdom. The inference is plain ... by Christ the Worlds were made. In John's gospel he starts the book out:
John 1:1-4
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Christ was the Word that made the world. Christ is the maker of the universe, therefore He has power over the authorities in the universe and can give that power to whom He will. Note what Paul tells the church later:
Colossians 2:10-15
and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
It is doubtful that most believers live there lives with the understanding of the power of God at their very finger tips. We often become subject to the most trivial of emotions, when in reality we have the very power of God available through the power of Christ living in us. In the above passage, Jesus gives power to and sends out His "apostles" (the word here is a generic description for "sent ones" vs. the title of the twelve disciples who would become THE APOSTLES). This power they had was a gift of God based upon the authority of Christ. We ought not fear the powers and rulers of this world. Satan obviously is a scary demon. All demons should be scary ... they are real powers. Yet, they have been, as Paul states to the Colossians, they are "disarmed" and we are fully "armed." Rejoice in the truth that Christ has authority, gives it to us and disarms all the others ... we ought to live victorious with that mentality and battle plan.
Friday, June 5, 2015
Truth #159 - Only God can restore - Lamentations
Lamentations 5:21
Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored!
Renew our days as of old—
Truth: Only God can restore the days of old. The nation of Israel has been taken captive. The city walls are destroyed. The people have come to ruin. Their enemies and foes are laughing at them, pillaging them, punishing them. They are being treated as poorly as any captor could treat their booty. But, perhaps the worse pain they suffer is stated in the early part of Jeremiah's lament:
Lamentations 1:7
Jerusalem remembers
in the days of her affliction and wandering
all the precious things
that were hers from days of old.
Is there anything more cruel than remembering the past and the beauty it contained and to no longer experience it? This is the plight of the people of God who so reject Him that He must punish them with this cruel discipline. God has brought them low. However, in what is the second to the last verse in the entire lament the prophet gives the solution: Cry out to God for His restoration. Jeremiah knows that the only way for things to be restored is for God to restore it. Jeremiah wants the restoration of God to be so mighty that God restores them "our days as of old." He is thinking back to when the miracles were done in their midst, no doubt. He is recalling when the cloud led them day and the pillar of fire by night. He is asking for God to restore them to a time when they conquered their enemies and had peace all around ... the time of Solomon, no doubt. When we ask God to restore is we have an image in our mind of what that looks like. God is in the process of making our lives restored in Christ. Through Christ, though we were hostile to God, we have been restored to what God intended in the beginning of creation. Note what Paul tells us about the gospel message and his mission to the believers in the early church:
Colossians 1:21-22
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
God is in the process of restoring us. Jeremiah knew this and cried out to God in prayer at the very end of his lament. When we lament we must eventually get to the part where we cry out to God to restore things like they used to be ... Like God intended them to be.
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Truth #158 - The fear of God heals body and soul - Proverbs 2-3
Proverbs 3:7-8
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
Truth: God's Word and the Fear of the Lord produce spiritual and physical blessings. People tend to go to pastors, priests and//or church for spiritual needs and to the doctors and hospitals for the physical needs. What if the two were mutually inclusive? What if you could go to the church and know that your body of flesh would be better? We don't like to think this way because it sounds "super-spiritual" or "fringe faith" behavior. However, note the above proverb and how it applies to this arena of thought. God is the source of life and love for all things. It only goes to show that if we walk in the fear of the Lord and turn away from evil our body will benefit. Note how wrecked the bodies of flesh are of those who turn away from God. Note what happens when we seek pleasures and sin rather than righteousness and godliness. God has and will care for those who trust in Him and pursue His ways and His truth. God can heal the bones of those who put their faith in Him because His ways create healthy choices. Those healthy choices are refreshing to the flesh and the bones. Those who make poor choices and simply seek their own pleasures do harm to their health and flesh, because pleasure does not typically come with good choices. We can, of course, have pleasure when we come to God and seek His ways. But, what Solomon is referring to in the above passage is the choices of pleasure that are evil. Paul's lists them in Romans 1. He talks about those who have rejected God's way and sought their own life. They rebel against the knowledge of God and seek their own ways. That always brings about pain and suffering. Note Paul's thoughts ... this is what happens when we fail to observe the truth in the above passage:
Romans 1:21-27
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
Truth: God's Word and the Fear of the Lord produce spiritual and physical blessings. People tend to go to pastors, priests and//or church for spiritual needs and to the doctors and hospitals for the physical needs. What if the two were mutually inclusive? What if you could go to the church and know that your body of flesh would be better? We don't like to think this way because it sounds "super-spiritual" or "fringe faith" behavior. However, note the above proverb and how it applies to this arena of thought. God is the source of life and love for all things. It only goes to show that if we walk in the fear of the Lord and turn away from evil our body will benefit. Note how wrecked the bodies of flesh are of those who turn away from God. Note what happens when we seek pleasures and sin rather than righteousness and godliness. God has and will care for those who trust in Him and pursue His ways and His truth. God can heal the bones of those who put their faith in Him because His ways create healthy choices. Those healthy choices are refreshing to the flesh and the bones. Those who make poor choices and simply seek their own pleasures do harm to their health and flesh, because pleasure does not typically come with good choices. We can, of course, have pleasure when we come to God and seek His ways. But, what Solomon is referring to in the above passage is the choices of pleasure that are evil. Paul's lists them in Romans 1. He talks about those who have rejected God's way and sought their own life. They rebel against the knowledge of God and seek their own ways. That always brings about pain and suffering. Note Paul's thoughts ... this is what happens when we fail to observe the truth in the above passage:
Romans 1:21-27
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Truth #157 - God never takes a day off!! Psalm 66-68
Psalms 68:19
Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation. Selah
Truth: God does not take a day off!! Most of us enjoy a day off. Since we just went through a Memorial Day celebration and had a long day off, it was refreshing and enjoyable. Some people do activities, while others simply take a day off to rest. Some take days off, just to do something different, or to keep an appointment. We would all agree a day off is great. But, when we take a day off, who does our work? Our job? Fulfills our responsibilities? Someone has to step in and complete the task, job, roles, in the same manner, enthusiasm or discipline we would (or, if possible, better). So, what happens when God takes the day off? Who would fill in and complete His role? If He is the ONLY all-powerful God of the universe, who could fill in? NO ONE!! That is why God never takes the day off from watching over us and carrying our load for us. Note that the writer of this psalm wants us to praise God for the fact that God is watching us "daily" and "bears us up" daily. God does not take the day off!! He is constantly watching us and caring for us. We might forget Him minute by minute, but he never forgets us moment by moment!! We are to pray to God, asking for our "daily" bread. That is because if we asked for our monthly bread, by the middle and end of the month we would not even have God in our sights. When the cupboards are full we tend to be less thankful and in deep prayer. When the cupboards run out (at the end of the day) we tend to come to God asking for tomorrow's bread ... hence, the phrase "give us this day our daily bread." This is why the Israelites we given the Manna each morning and were only to gather enough for what they needed. If they gathered more it would mold and stink. God wants us to seek Him daily and He cares for us each day. He never takes a day off!!!
Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation. Selah
Truth: God does not take a day off!! Most of us enjoy a day off. Since we just went through a Memorial Day celebration and had a long day off, it was refreshing and enjoyable. Some people do activities, while others simply take a day off to rest. Some take days off, just to do something different, or to keep an appointment. We would all agree a day off is great. But, when we take a day off, who does our work? Our job? Fulfills our responsibilities? Someone has to step in and complete the task, job, roles, in the same manner, enthusiasm or discipline we would (or, if possible, better). So, what happens when God takes the day off? Who would fill in and complete His role? If He is the ONLY all-powerful God of the universe, who could fill in? NO ONE!! That is why God never takes the day off from watching over us and carrying our load for us. Note that the writer of this psalm wants us to praise God for the fact that God is watching us "daily" and "bears us up" daily. God does not take the day off!! He is constantly watching us and caring for us. We might forget Him minute by minute, but he never forgets us moment by moment!! We are to pray to God, asking for our "daily" bread. That is because if we asked for our monthly bread, by the middle and end of the month we would not even have God in our sights. When the cupboards are full we tend to be less thankful and in deep prayer. When the cupboards run out (at the end of the day) we tend to come to God asking for tomorrow's bread ... hence, the phrase "give us this day our daily bread." This is why the Israelites we given the Manna each morning and were only to gather enough for what they needed. If they gathered more it would mold and stink. God wants us to seek Him daily and He cares for us each day. He never takes a day off!!!
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Truth #156 - God's presence is overpowering - 1 Kings 5-9
1 Kings 8:10-11
And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.
Truth: When God is present there is room for no other!! Solomon had spent 20 years building the Temple and his own palace. The Temple was a one-of-a-kind structure and was to honor God and be a place that God could show His glory to the world. In the subsequent prayer of Solomon, the Temple was to be a place the nation could pray to and God would "hear from heaven" and move in some favorable way to and for the nation. The Temple would be the picture of God on the earth and would be the artifact that would draw others to Him. God's people was supposed to be that artifact ... as today. Yet, God allowed the Temple to be built in honor of Him and to worship and glorify Him. At the end of the construction God comes and fills the Temple. His glory was so vast and so overwhelming, the priest could not stand to minister. Imagine a church service that the Spirit of God is so filling the place that Pastor's can't preach, worship leaders can bang the drums and ushers can't collect the funds. Imagine the place full of God's Glory. Such is the scene in the Temple as Solomon and the priest began to worship. When God so ordains a place and so approves of the worship He indwells the place with His certain power and presence. God did the same thing when Moses consecrated the Tabernacle in the desert. God can so fill what He honors that we can be overwhelmed with that filling. Think of God so filling us that we are overwhelmed with His presence. When Christ is in us, that is God's glory filling us. We have all the fullness of God indwelling us. Christ in us is God's dwelling in us (Colossians 2). We need to rejoice when God's presence is in us and in the place we worship.
And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.
Truth: When God is present there is room for no other!! Solomon had spent 20 years building the Temple and his own palace. The Temple was a one-of-a-kind structure and was to honor God and be a place that God could show His glory to the world. In the subsequent prayer of Solomon, the Temple was to be a place the nation could pray to and God would "hear from heaven" and move in some favorable way to and for the nation. The Temple would be the picture of God on the earth and would be the artifact that would draw others to Him. God's people was supposed to be that artifact ... as today. Yet, God allowed the Temple to be built in honor of Him and to worship and glorify Him. At the end of the construction God comes and fills the Temple. His glory was so vast and so overwhelming, the priest could not stand to minister. Imagine a church service that the Spirit of God is so filling the place that Pastor's can't preach, worship leaders can bang the drums and ushers can't collect the funds. Imagine the place full of God's Glory. Such is the scene in the Temple as Solomon and the priest began to worship. When God so ordains a place and so approves of the worship He indwells the place with His certain power and presence. God did the same thing when Moses consecrated the Tabernacle in the desert. God can so fill what He honors that we can be overwhelmed with that filling. Think of God so filling us that we are overwhelmed with His presence. When Christ is in us, that is God's glory filling us. We have all the fullness of God indwelling us. Christ in us is God's dwelling in us (Colossians 2). We need to rejoice when God's presence is in us and in the place we worship.
Monday, June 1, 2015
Truth #155 - God must consecrate and make holy - Exodus 37-40
Exodus 40:9
“Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it may become holy.
Truth: God must consecrate and make things holy, no matter if they were made according to His pattern.
The above verse was written after all the tabernacle, ark and utensils were completed and then set up in the wilderness. The men Moses appointed to construct and fulfill the design of the tabernacle had completed the work and it was now completely set up in the desert. Imagine the scene. The nation of Israel had given the silver, gold and precious stones; the land had given the special wood, the talented had given their talent. The work was completed by God's design, done by God's people, done with God's resources. Yet, it still was not complete. Designed by God and completed by God's people doesn't mean a thing is holy. The entire process still needed to be touched by God and consecrated to Him. You can build a church building and put ceremonial objects, dress and people inside and still not have a place inhabited by God. When the ark was taken captive by the Philistines and the priest, Eli and his sons, were killed in the battle, the daughter-in-law named one of her children in honor of this terrible moment:
1 Samuel 4:21
And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
The Philistines had the ark but had no glory. They had the furniture but not the Person who was to be honored with through the furniture. God must make something holy for Him to use it. That nation of Israel may have had made it all according to the pattern but unless God consecrates the objects there is no glory to Him or by Him. After Moses consecrates the tabernacle God will come and fill the temple with his presence. We can do all the motions of belief and still not have God's consecration. Note what Christ said about this, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew:
Matthew 7:22
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
These souls had the actions and mission down to a tee. Yet, they didn't have the consecration of God. God must make something holy no matter the pattern.
“Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it may become holy.
Truth: God must consecrate and make things holy, no matter if they were made according to His pattern.
The above verse was written after all the tabernacle, ark and utensils were completed and then set up in the wilderness. The men Moses appointed to construct and fulfill the design of the tabernacle had completed the work and it was now completely set up in the desert. Imagine the scene. The nation of Israel had given the silver, gold and precious stones; the land had given the special wood, the talented had given their talent. The work was completed by God's design, done by God's people, done with God's resources. Yet, it still was not complete. Designed by God and completed by God's people doesn't mean a thing is holy. The entire process still needed to be touched by God and consecrated to Him. You can build a church building and put ceremonial objects, dress and people inside and still not have a place inhabited by God. When the ark was taken captive by the Philistines and the priest, Eli and his sons, were killed in the battle, the daughter-in-law named one of her children in honor of this terrible moment:
1 Samuel 4:21
And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
The Philistines had the ark but had no glory. They had the furniture but not the Person who was to be honored with through the furniture. God must make something holy for Him to use it. That nation of Israel may have had made it all according to the pattern but unless God consecrates the objects there is no glory to Him or by Him. After Moses consecrates the tabernacle God will come and fill the temple with his presence. We can do all the motions of belief and still not have God's consecration. Note what Christ said about this, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew:
Matthew 7:22
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
These souls had the actions and mission down to a tee. Yet, they didn't have the consecration of God. God must make something holy no matter the pattern.
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