Ezekiel 47:12
And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”
Truth: God's flood of waters is life giving.
In Ezekiel 47 the prophet is describing a river that flows from the Temple to the east. As Ezekiel wades into the river it is ankle deep and then waist deep and then deep enough for swimming and then, too deep for any activity. Yet, the river is one that provides water, fish and sustenance for those who wish to take the refreshens it offers. In Psalm 46 we have similar description of God providing, from His presence, the water of refreshens. The writer there actually makes a comparison between the raging waters of the world that destroy and the refreshing waters that God provides:
Psalms 46:1-5
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
As I write this blog I am sitting in New Orleans. Ten years ago from this writing the waters from hurricane Katrina destroyed much of this city. The first day we arrived in the city the newspapers still had articles about the flooding and the rebuilding. Rushing waters, uncontrolled and with no purpose, can be destructive. As the psalmists writes, "its waters roar and foam." Yet, God's flooding waters are refreshing. Ezekiel tells us that they provide water and refreshens those that drink from them. As in Psalm 1, those who have faith in God are satisfied by the waters from God and not destroyed by the rushing waters of destruction. Note how the man of faith benefits from God's flowing water:
Psalms 1:3
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
Christ, in John 4, tells us that He is the "living" water and that we can drink, through faith, and never thirst again. That is the picture Ezekiel is telling us about in the above truth. God's flooding is refreshing not destructive.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Truth #214 - Only Jesus knows our pain - Proverbs 14
Proverbs 14:10
The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.
Truth: No one knows the pain we feel but Jesus
When we see a person's face we can often discern the heart. Those going through great difficulty often don't have a way to hide the connection between the heart and the muscles of the head. Frowns on the lips are often caused by wrinkles in the heart. Yet, although we may "see" the conflict in the heart we can not really know the depth of the bitterness that resides there. We may have our own experience, which although similar to the one we see, is never the same. To say, "I know how you feel," is a polite phrase; one often uttered as a replacement for known words of assurance. When we can't help others we at least want them to know that we can relate. But, Solomon says we can't. Only the person who carries the heart can know the pain and the joy of it. We might often see a lingering glow of self-confidence beaming from the face. But, we lack the depth of knowledge to know the real excitement and joy that precipitates the bursting forth of the springs of splendor. Only the heart knows the heart. We can emphasize, sympathize and over analyze, but we can never truly realize what the heart is feeling. A stranger doesn't know its pain or share its joy. The believer knows not the pain in the heart masked by the unbelievers false smirk. The unbeliever knows nothing of the unending peace within the heart of the believer despite the confused and contrite look on the cancer ridden face of the believer. But, Christ, while on this earth felt all the pains, frustrations, disappointments, etc. that we feel. We can go to Him because He CAN relate to us. He has felt the rejection in the heart. He has felt the fear (in the garden He prayed that the cross would be nice from His path). Yet, He felt all that without sin so that He might represent us and that He might be able to relate to us. We don't know what is in the heart of others but Jesus does.
The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.
Truth: No one knows the pain we feel but Jesus
When we see a person's face we can often discern the heart. Those going through great difficulty often don't have a way to hide the connection between the heart and the muscles of the head. Frowns on the lips are often caused by wrinkles in the heart. Yet, although we may "see" the conflict in the heart we can not really know the depth of the bitterness that resides there. We may have our own experience, which although similar to the one we see, is never the same. To say, "I know how you feel," is a polite phrase; one often uttered as a replacement for known words of assurance. When we can't help others we at least want them to know that we can relate. But, Solomon says we can't. Only the person who carries the heart can know the pain and the joy of it. We might often see a lingering glow of self-confidence beaming from the face. But, we lack the depth of knowledge to know the real excitement and joy that precipitates the bursting forth of the springs of splendor. Only the heart knows the heart. We can emphasize, sympathize and over analyze, but we can never truly realize what the heart is feeling. A stranger doesn't know its pain or share its joy. The believer knows not the pain in the heart masked by the unbelievers false smirk. The unbeliever knows nothing of the unending peace within the heart of the believer despite the confused and contrite look on the cancer ridden face of the believer. But, Christ, while on this earth felt all the pains, frustrations, disappointments, etc. that we feel. We can go to Him because He CAN relate to us. He has felt the rejection in the heart. He has felt the fear (in the garden He prayed that the cross would be nice from His path). Yet, He felt all that without sin so that He might represent us and that He might be able to relate to us. We don't know what is in the heart of others but Jesus does.
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Truth #213 - God care spans day and night - Psalm 90-92
Psalms 92:1-3
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.
Truth: God cares for us at night and continues to show us His love in the day
God doesn't take the night off. He doesn't take the mornings off and sleep in. God's faithfulness extends through the deepest dark of night and His love is refreshed each day for us. We often get lost in the dark. We grope and search for things in the dark and wake up worried about our station, standing and safety in the day. In this Psalm the writer tells us it is good for our focus to be on Him and His faithfulness. God is to be our focus ... we are to sing about His love and faithfulness. The writer says it is "good to give thanks to the Lord." We spend most of our lives asking God for things and worried about things, rather than rejoicing in Who God is and what He does for us each day. God is faithful and God is loving. He shows us His steadfast love by forgiving us of all our sins. Paul sums us this love and faithfulness in several ways, but perhaps in no greater passage than this:
Colossians 2:13-14
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.
God both "made us alive" and has "forgiven us all our trespasses." That might be the most motivating news and powerful words in all Scripture. Those two verses are the "gospel" and it is wha the writer of this Psalm was expressing in Psalm 92. When we know that God's love makes us a live and His faithfulness cancels our sins by paying the debt for us, we ought to burst forth in praise and song. The "lute and the harp" are not enough instruments for this great truth but, they are a start. We need to wake up each day to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to His name, "O most High!"
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.
Truth: God cares for us at night and continues to show us His love in the day
God doesn't take the night off. He doesn't take the mornings off and sleep in. God's faithfulness extends through the deepest dark of night and His love is refreshed each day for us. We often get lost in the dark. We grope and search for things in the dark and wake up worried about our station, standing and safety in the day. In this Psalm the writer tells us it is good for our focus to be on Him and His faithfulness. God is to be our focus ... we are to sing about His love and faithfulness. The writer says it is "good to give thanks to the Lord." We spend most of our lives asking God for things and worried about things, rather than rejoicing in Who God is and what He does for us each day. God is faithful and God is loving. He shows us His steadfast love by forgiving us of all our sins. Paul sums us this love and faithfulness in several ways, but perhaps in no greater passage than this:
Colossians 2:13-14
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.
God both "made us alive" and has "forgiven us all our trespasses." That might be the most motivating news and powerful words in all Scripture. Those two verses are the "gospel" and it is wha the writer of this Psalm was expressing in Psalm 92. When we know that God's love makes us a live and His faithfulness cancels our sins by paying the debt for us, we ought to burst forth in praise and song. The "lute and the harp" are not enough instruments for this great truth but, they are a start. We need to wake up each day to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to His name, "O most High!"
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Truth #212 - Age doesn't matter when it comes to serving God! 2 Kings 21-25
2 Kings 22:1-2
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.
Truth: Age doesn't matter when you decide to live for God!
After the death of King Manasseh and his son, Amon, young Josiah was given the reigns of leadership in Judah. Manasseh was a very wicked king and his son, Amon, continued in his footsteps. After the death of Amon, it would be "normal" to be wicked. Manasseh and Amon had put God completely out of the temple and replace Him with star worship, sex worship and self worship. No one would have been surprised if Josiah would have lead the country down the same paths. Yet, Josiah was a man of God. Like a lilly pad in the swamp, Josiah, at the age of eight, was a beautiful picture in the time of muck and mire. Josiah starts a reform of the country, the political and spiritual aspects. God was willing to give Josiah a heart for Himself. Like David, Josiah was someone who had God in the foremost parts of his heart. As he surrounded himself with other men of God, Josiah was able to transform the country ... if only for a moment. God calls for men to stand in the gap and during this time, that was God's call that Josiah answered. Perhaps, Josiah, was in the court of the temple or standing around a city square when the prophet Ezekiel stated and/or wrote the following:
Ezekiel 22:30
And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
Josiah responded to God's Word and he stood, for a moment, in the breach. That is our call, no matter how old or how young we are. When it comes to standing for God, age, means nothing.
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.
Truth: Age doesn't matter when you decide to live for God!
After the death of King Manasseh and his son, Amon, young Josiah was given the reigns of leadership in Judah. Manasseh was a very wicked king and his son, Amon, continued in his footsteps. After the death of Amon, it would be "normal" to be wicked. Manasseh and Amon had put God completely out of the temple and replace Him with star worship, sex worship and self worship. No one would have been surprised if Josiah would have lead the country down the same paths. Yet, Josiah was a man of God. Like a lilly pad in the swamp, Josiah, at the age of eight, was a beautiful picture in the time of muck and mire. Josiah starts a reform of the country, the political and spiritual aspects. God was willing to give Josiah a heart for Himself. Like David, Josiah was someone who had God in the foremost parts of his heart. As he surrounded himself with other men of God, Josiah was able to transform the country ... if only for a moment. God calls for men to stand in the gap and during this time, that was God's call that Josiah answered. Perhaps, Josiah, was in the court of the temple or standing around a city square when the prophet Ezekiel stated and/or wrote the following:
Ezekiel 22:30
And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
Josiah responded to God's Word and he stood, for a moment, in the breach. That is our call, no matter how old or how young we are. When it comes to standing for God, age, means nothing.
Monday, July 27, 2015
Truth #211 - There is a time to rest and no longer work - Leviticus 22-24
Leviticus 23:31
You shall not do any work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.
Truth: There is a time when work is no longer appropriate
In this section of Leviticus, Moses is giving instruction to Aaron and his sons in regard to the responsibility of the priest during times of worship and sacrifices. The command, "you shall not do any work," is repeated throughout this section. God was quite specific about the nation (lead by the priests) to cease from work and give reverence to God. One of the Commandments was to Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. It is obvious that God has not just prescribed a "no work" zone for man (in this section and many others) but designed our life to not only need rest, but to intent-fully structure it into our lives. God, in Genesis, in the story of creation, "rested" on the seventh day (that would have been Saturday). God, the creator of the universe structured into the creation story a time for Him to rest. God did not do this because He was tired, but because He established for us, a pattern. God intends on us resting. Too much rest we call slothfulness. No rest we call a workaholic. God intended us to work the other days and times, but He did design a time for us to rest and to honor Him through the rest. The rest is not to simply refresh our bodies (although that is certainly the case, as well). The rest is to honor God and take time out of our work to thank Him and worship Him. During rest we are to reflect on Him and HIs work in our lives, not simply vacation our minds and bodies. We are to take the time to seek Him, above our work and beyond our work. Our work is not to be our goal in life. Our work is to be for Him and we stop doing the work to honor Him in the rest. Take time to rest. God created it for us to enjoy it. Some people can't stop working ... they try to make that sound like they are champions of a "good and strong work ethic they learned from their parents." In reality, it is sin when you can STOP and rest. The nation of Israel stopped observing the Sabbath, the Sabbatical years (every seven years) and the Year of Jubilee (every seven of seven years ... year 49). Instead of resting the land and themselves they worked. It takes faith to rest. It takes faith not to clock in more hours. God intended the nation of Israel and us to live by faith. Taking a day of rest from work is an act of faith. Taking time to rest is trusting that God will honor His Word and bless you, despite the time of not working. There is a time when work is no longer appropriate ... it is actually sin.
You shall not do any work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.
Truth: There is a time when work is no longer appropriate
In this section of Leviticus, Moses is giving instruction to Aaron and his sons in regard to the responsibility of the priest during times of worship and sacrifices. The command, "you shall not do any work," is repeated throughout this section. God was quite specific about the nation (lead by the priests) to cease from work and give reverence to God. One of the Commandments was to Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. It is obvious that God has not just prescribed a "no work" zone for man (in this section and many others) but designed our life to not only need rest, but to intent-fully structure it into our lives. God, in Genesis, in the story of creation, "rested" on the seventh day (that would have been Saturday). God, the creator of the universe structured into the creation story a time for Him to rest. God did not do this because He was tired, but because He established for us, a pattern. God intends on us resting. Too much rest we call slothfulness. No rest we call a workaholic. God intended us to work the other days and times, but He did design a time for us to rest and to honor Him through the rest. The rest is not to simply refresh our bodies (although that is certainly the case, as well). The rest is to honor God and take time out of our work to thank Him and worship Him. During rest we are to reflect on Him and HIs work in our lives, not simply vacation our minds and bodies. We are to take the time to seek Him, above our work and beyond our work. Our work is not to be our goal in life. Our work is to be for Him and we stop doing the work to honor Him in the rest. Take time to rest. God created it for us to enjoy it. Some people can't stop working ... they try to make that sound like they are champions of a "good and strong work ethic they learned from their parents." In reality, it is sin when you can STOP and rest. The nation of Israel stopped observing the Sabbath, the Sabbatical years (every seven years) and the Year of Jubilee (every seven of seven years ... year 49). Instead of resting the land and themselves they worked. It takes faith to rest. It takes faith not to clock in more hours. God intended the nation of Israel and us to live by faith. Taking a day of rest from work is an act of faith. Taking time to rest is trusting that God will honor His Word and bless you, despite the time of not working. There is a time when work is no longer appropriate ... it is actually sin.
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Truth #210 - We should be known for our faith not our skill in the flesh - 1 Thessalonians 1-3
1 Thessalonians 3:6-7
(Timothy's Encouraging Report)
But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.
Truth: When people report about you, it should be about your walk in "faith."
In this letter Paul wrote to the church in the city of Thessalonica, Paul expresses a great love for them and great memories of his time with them. He has stated, on numerous occasions in the first three chapters, how he misses them and wishes he could see them. Because he can't (he is under "house-arrest" for his faith), he sands young Timothy to check on them. He is their "father" in the faith, having led them to the Savior. He now wishes to know about them and their subsequent walk with Christ. When Timothy returns he reports that they are, indeed, still walking in faith. That faith is producing children in Christ who express love to each other and toward Paul, himself. Paul is encouraged about their walk in faith. That should be the measurement of what we are all about. When others talk about you, do they marvel at your faith? We tend to make popular the talents of others; the skill-sets of others; the knowledge of others. In reality what we ought to celebrate is a life of faith that produces love for others and hope in Christ. That is what happened in the lives of these believers Paul was writing to and about in this letter. In Hebrews 11 we have what is typically called the Hall of Faith. The men and women listed in that chapter were all memorialized for their walk of faith. They might have been talented, skilled and knowledgable, but God was pleased with them because they were not men and women of the flesh, but of faith. That is what we ought to leave as a legacy and reputation. Do people talk about our faith in Christ or talent in the flesh?
(Timothy's Encouraging Report)
But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.
Truth: When people report about you, it should be about your walk in "faith."
In this letter Paul wrote to the church in the city of Thessalonica, Paul expresses a great love for them and great memories of his time with them. He has stated, on numerous occasions in the first three chapters, how he misses them and wishes he could see them. Because he can't (he is under "house-arrest" for his faith), he sands young Timothy to check on them. He is their "father" in the faith, having led them to the Savior. He now wishes to know about them and their subsequent walk with Christ. When Timothy returns he reports that they are, indeed, still walking in faith. That faith is producing children in Christ who express love to each other and toward Paul, himself. Paul is encouraged about their walk in faith. That should be the measurement of what we are all about. When others talk about you, do they marvel at your faith? We tend to make popular the talents of others; the skill-sets of others; the knowledge of others. In reality what we ought to celebrate is a life of faith that produces love for others and hope in Christ. That is what happened in the lives of these believers Paul was writing to and about in this letter. In Hebrews 11 we have what is typically called the Hall of Faith. The men and women listed in that chapter were all memorialized for their walk of faith. They might have been talented, skilled and knowledgable, but God was pleased with them because they were not men and women of the flesh, but of faith. That is what we ought to leave as a legacy and reputation. Do people talk about our faith in Christ or talent in the flesh?
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Truth #209 - The last thing Christ did on earth was bless believers - Luke 23-24
Luke 24:51
While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
Truth: The last thing Christ did on earth was bless believers.
If you had one moment left on earth, what would you do. Of course, the comparison I am making is unfair, but the last thing Christ did on earth, was bless His followers. We might not think this way, but Christ wants us to be blessed. Note what Paul tells us in his letter to the Galatians:
Galatians 3:9
So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
God wants us to believe, by faith, that He wants the best for us. God's blessing on us is of importance because the world wants us to think that "blessing" (a good life as defined by the world) comes from hard work, a great education, connection with the right people and a boat load of luck. However, the only real blessing we have in life is from God. God blesses us when we choose to fear Him. The Fear of the Lord is the fountain of life.
Proverbs 14:27
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.
God continues to bless us through Christ today. In Him are all the blessings of life. We are tempted to chase the world's definition and the world's "shinny objects" when trying to get blessings. But, that is not the answer. Only Christ can bless us and what He started the day of his ascension He will finish until the day of ours.
While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
Truth: The last thing Christ did on earth was bless believers.
If you had one moment left on earth, what would you do. Of course, the comparison I am making is unfair, but the last thing Christ did on earth, was bless His followers. We might not think this way, but Christ wants us to be blessed. Note what Paul tells us in his letter to the Galatians:
Galatians 3:9
So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
God wants us to believe, by faith, that He wants the best for us. God's blessing on us is of importance because the world wants us to think that "blessing" (a good life as defined by the world) comes from hard work, a great education, connection with the right people and a boat load of luck. However, the only real blessing we have in life is from God. God blesses us when we choose to fear Him. The Fear of the Lord is the fountain of life.
Proverbs 14:27
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.
God continues to bless us through Christ today. In Him are all the blessings of life. We are tempted to chase the world's definition and the world's "shinny objects" when trying to get blessings. But, that is not the answer. Only Christ can bless us and what He started the day of his ascension He will finish until the day of ours.
Friday, July 24, 2015
Truth #208 - God moves us for His purpose and at His pleasure - Ezekiel 37-42
Ezekiel 40:4
And the man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you, for you were brought here in order that I might show it to you. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel."
Truth: God takes where He wants for the purposes for which He has.
In the above passage we are introduced to Ezekiel, once again, being moved from where he was to another location. This time for the purpose of seeing a vision of the New Temple and the exact measurements of the entire outlay. This entire book is a outline of Ezekiel being taken from one place to another. Note early in the book the following:
Ezekiel 3:12
Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great earthquake: “Blessed be the glory of the Lord from its place!”
Ezekiel was constantly being lifted up by the Spirit. God would take him where He wanted him and something different would happen. In this section we are reading today, notice how it starts out:
Ezekiel 37:1
The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.
God moves His servant where He wants His servant. The servant doesn't always know the reason he is being moved from one place or another, but God does. In the above passage God tells him that He took Ezekiel to this new location, "... in order that I might show it to you." The "it" of the verse is the New Temple. God takes us from one place to another to use us and to show us things for His glory. We might not always know why or what He has for us, but, by faith we are to relax and embrace where He takes us. God is about moving us to His place for His glory and His purpose. We might not be comfortable with the moves, but that is not the issue. We are to be faithful in the moves and allow Him to use us as He wishes. He has a purpose for each move He does in our lives.
And the man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you, for you were brought here in order that I might show it to you. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel."
Truth: God takes where He wants for the purposes for which He has.
In the above passage we are introduced to Ezekiel, once again, being moved from where he was to another location. This time for the purpose of seeing a vision of the New Temple and the exact measurements of the entire outlay. This entire book is a outline of Ezekiel being taken from one place to another. Note early in the book the following:
Ezekiel 3:12
Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great earthquake: “Blessed be the glory of the Lord from its place!”
Ezekiel was constantly being lifted up by the Spirit. God would take him where He wanted him and something different would happen. In this section we are reading today, notice how it starts out:
Ezekiel 37:1
The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.
God moves His servant where He wants His servant. The servant doesn't always know the reason he is being moved from one place or another, but God does. In the above passage God tells him that He took Ezekiel to this new location, "... in order that I might show it to you." The "it" of the verse is the New Temple. God takes us from one place to another to use us and to show us things for His glory. We might not always know why or what He has for us, but, by faith we are to relax and embrace where He takes us. God is about moving us to His place for His glory and His purpose. We might not be comfortable with the moves, but that is not the issue. We are to be faithful in the moves and allow Him to use us as He wishes. He has a purpose for each move He does in our lives.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Truth #207 - Our words matter to us as much as to others - Proverbs 13
Proverbs 13:2
From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,
but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
Truth - Our words matter to us as much as to others
Have you ever stuck your foot in your mouth? That phrase is typically associated with someone who said something they regret and wish they could take back. We understand the problem when our mouth talks and says some things that gets into trouble. Young children who don't know the truth of that statement have a long struggle in front of them until they do. What Solomon is telling us in this proverb is the opposite of that truth. Just like a poor use of the tongue can get you into trouble, the good use of it provides plenty of good. Using your mouth to do good things reveals the content of the heart and a good heart leads to a good life. On the opposite side of this truth is the second line of the proverb. A treacherous heart breeds violence. The tongue is simply the bucket that comes from the well. A heart that is good will use their tongue to promote and to build and to encourage. When we have a pure heart we use our mouths in a good way and that allows us to enjoy a good life: The fruit of the pure man's mouth enjoys good as opposed to the treacherous heart that breeds violence.
You pick fruit from trees and vines, mostly. There is nothing like a fresh apple, orange, grape or other fruit direct from the branch handing it to you. You are refreshed and can have great enjoyment. You might enjoy it, but the tree or vine doesn't. Yet, that is what this proverb tells us. This proverb tells us that we, like a tree, produce fruit from our mouths (fruit being used as a picture of the words that come from our tongue). However, it doesn't say that we will benefit the hearer (although other proverbs do say that). It says that the person speaking will benefit from the words that flow from their mouth. Solomon goes so far as to compare these self-benefiting words with the evil desires of the treacherous. Just as those desires are violent (not specifying who they are violent against), so too the words we produce that are good tasting are good for us, as well as them. When we produce good from our mouths we can be assured that we will derive some enjoyment from them ourselves. It could be simply by observing the response to your words and that gives you some enjoyment. It could be because, after sharing some great, fruitful words, they, in turn, bless you in some way. We aren't told how they find the enjoyment. We are only told we will enjoy something good ... just as the opposite is true ... evil desire will produce violence. We have a choice in what words we use to speak to others. We can produce joy in their lives and, in ours, in return.
Note what our Savior said on this same subject:
Matthew 12:33-37
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,
but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
Truth - Our words matter to us as much as to others
Have you ever stuck your foot in your mouth? That phrase is typically associated with someone who said something they regret and wish they could take back. We understand the problem when our mouth talks and says some things that gets into trouble. Young children who don't know the truth of that statement have a long struggle in front of them until they do. What Solomon is telling us in this proverb is the opposite of that truth. Just like a poor use of the tongue can get you into trouble, the good use of it provides plenty of good. Using your mouth to do good things reveals the content of the heart and a good heart leads to a good life. On the opposite side of this truth is the second line of the proverb. A treacherous heart breeds violence. The tongue is simply the bucket that comes from the well. A heart that is good will use their tongue to promote and to build and to encourage. When we have a pure heart we use our mouths in a good way and that allows us to enjoy a good life: The fruit of the pure man's mouth enjoys good as opposed to the treacherous heart that breeds violence.
You pick fruit from trees and vines, mostly. There is nothing like a fresh apple, orange, grape or other fruit direct from the branch handing it to you. You are refreshed and can have great enjoyment. You might enjoy it, but the tree or vine doesn't. Yet, that is what this proverb tells us. This proverb tells us that we, like a tree, produce fruit from our mouths (fruit being used as a picture of the words that come from our tongue). However, it doesn't say that we will benefit the hearer (although other proverbs do say that). It says that the person speaking will benefit from the words that flow from their mouth. Solomon goes so far as to compare these self-benefiting words with the evil desires of the treacherous. Just as those desires are violent (not specifying who they are violent against), so too the words we produce that are good tasting are good for us, as well as them. When we produce good from our mouths we can be assured that we will derive some enjoyment from them ourselves. It could be simply by observing the response to your words and that gives you some enjoyment. It could be because, after sharing some great, fruitful words, they, in turn, bless you in some way. We aren't told how they find the enjoyment. We are only told we will enjoy something good ... just as the opposite is true ... evil desire will produce violence. We have a choice in what words we use to speak to others. We can produce joy in their lives and, in ours, in return.
Note what our Savior said on this same subject:
Matthew 12:33-37
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Truth #206 - We were created to sing praises to God and about God - Psalm 87-89
Psalms 89:1
I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
Truth: Our mouths and voices are created to sing and proclaim the love of God.
The above verse has been quoted and song in churches for centuries. The truth that God's steadfast love is ... steadfast ... is an incredible and amazing truth. Despite our constant sin against Him and our failing after failing, God continues to love us in the midst of the sin and despite the sin. He has so loved us that He even poured that love into our hearts, through Christ and by the Spirit. His steadfast love is in our lives and it should burst forth in the praise depicted in the above verse. Our voices were created to sing praise to God's love. We are to proclaim how faithful He is to every generation. Christianity flourishes in this concept. One generation boast about God's love and faithfulness to another generation. God does what He says He will do ... that is being faithful. God loves us because He said He would ... He is faithful to His own Word. His promises are sure. This gives us reason to sing and praise Him!! We need to lift up our voices and shout at the top of our lungs that God loves and is faithful. In a world that lacks both these two, we need to remind the generation to follow that God continues to love and continues to be faithful to His Word and His plan, despite how corrupt we are.
I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
Truth: Our mouths and voices are created to sing and proclaim the love of God.
The above verse has been quoted and song in churches for centuries. The truth that God's steadfast love is ... steadfast ... is an incredible and amazing truth. Despite our constant sin against Him and our failing after failing, God continues to love us in the midst of the sin and despite the sin. He has so loved us that He even poured that love into our hearts, through Christ and by the Spirit. His steadfast love is in our lives and it should burst forth in the praise depicted in the above verse. Our voices were created to sing praise to God's love. We are to proclaim how faithful He is to every generation. Christianity flourishes in this concept. One generation boast about God's love and faithfulness to another generation. God does what He says He will do ... that is being faithful. God loves us because He said He would ... He is faithful to His own Word. His promises are sure. This gives us reason to sing and praise Him!! We need to lift up our voices and shout at the top of our lungs that God loves and is faithful. In a world that lacks both these two, we need to remind the generation to follow that God continues to love and continues to be faithful to His Word and His plan, despite how corrupt we are.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Truth #205 - Sin overinflates itself and understates God's love and power - 2 Kings 16-20
2 Kings 18:31-35
Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern, until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey, that you may live, and not die. And do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you by saying, “The Lord will deliver us.” Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’”
Truth: Sin attempts to inflate itself and deflate God's power.
In the above passage, King Hezekiah and the nation of Judah had been attacked by Assyria. The Assyrian commander came before the people to tempt them to give up on King Hezekiah's leadership and to surrender and follow him by to the land of Assyria. In his attempt to persuade them, he overstates the greatness of the place they are gong to be taken. He doesn't tell them they are going to be slaves. He doesn't tell them that they will be treated as slaves. He does try to tell them that their God, Jehovah, is a weak god and can't deliver them. He wants them to believe that what God is promising is bad and what he can promise and deliver is better - good. Does this trick sound familiar. Note the following:
Genesis 3:4-6
But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Satan tempted Eve by telling her the same thing that this Assyrian commander was saying to the people of Judah. God is weak, I have "blessings" and if you follow me things will be great. Again, there is no mention that you will be a permanent slave!! In Proverbs 7 King Solomon tells us a similar story about the young and naive one who encounters Lady Folly. Note what she says to him to persuade him to leave his morals:
Proverbs 7:14-20
“I had to offer sacrifices,
and today I have paid my vows;
so now I have come out to meet you,
to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.
I have spread my couch with coverings,
colored linens from Egyptian linen;
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,
aloes, and cinnamon.
Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;
let us delight ourselves with love.
For my husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey;
he took a bag of money with him;
at full moon he will come home.”
Lady Folly in Proverbs 7; Satan in Genesis 3; and, the Assyrian Commander in the above passage in 2 Kings, all tell us the same thing: Sin attempts to over-inflate what it can and will do for us and under-state the reality of God's power and God's love for us. Sin attempts to show us God's power is impotent and His love inadequate to satisfy us.
Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern, until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey, that you may live, and not die. And do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you by saying, “The Lord will deliver us.” Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’”
Truth: Sin attempts to inflate itself and deflate God's power.
In the above passage, King Hezekiah and the nation of Judah had been attacked by Assyria. The Assyrian commander came before the people to tempt them to give up on King Hezekiah's leadership and to surrender and follow him by to the land of Assyria. In his attempt to persuade them, he overstates the greatness of the place they are gong to be taken. He doesn't tell them they are going to be slaves. He doesn't tell them that they will be treated as slaves. He does try to tell them that their God, Jehovah, is a weak god and can't deliver them. He wants them to believe that what God is promising is bad and what he can promise and deliver is better - good. Does this trick sound familiar. Note the following:
Genesis 3:4-6
But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Satan tempted Eve by telling her the same thing that this Assyrian commander was saying to the people of Judah. God is weak, I have "blessings" and if you follow me things will be great. Again, there is no mention that you will be a permanent slave!! In Proverbs 7 King Solomon tells us a similar story about the young and naive one who encounters Lady Folly. Note what she says to him to persuade him to leave his morals:
Proverbs 7:14-20
“I had to offer sacrifices,
and today I have paid my vows;
so now I have come out to meet you,
to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.
I have spread my couch with coverings,
colored linens from Egyptian linen;
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,
aloes, and cinnamon.
Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;
let us delight ourselves with love.
For my husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey;
he took a bag of money with him;
at full moon he will come home.”
Lady Folly in Proverbs 7; Satan in Genesis 3; and, the Assyrian Commander in the above passage in 2 Kings, all tell us the same thing: Sin attempts to over-inflate what it can and will do for us and under-state the reality of God's power and God's love for us. Sin attempts to show us God's power is impotent and His love inadequate to satisfy us.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Truth #204 - Sex matters to God - Leviticus 19-21
Leviticus 20:13
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
Truth: God is concerned about our sexuality
This is being written several weeks after the Supreme Court legalized Sodomy in the United States. It surprised most people, but shocked the Christian world. To legalize sodomy was and is completely contrary to the Christian life and since this country was founded upon Christian principles the decision runs contrary to all we believe. In the above passage we have the bases for our belief and why that decision disappoints, surprises and even angers believers. The truth is God is concerned about sexuality. God created us and created sex. God, as the Creator, as the blueprint for what is best for us and what will enable us to reach the ultimate purpose of sex: To glorify God. That is the real issue in this discussion. When we hear the dialogue about the legalization of homosexuality we here the emphasis that each person has a "right" to do what they want in their own homes and lives. And, based upon our constitution, which centers on the rights of everyone to pursue their own happiness, you could say the Justices got it right. IF that is your goal in life: Your own pursuit of your own happiness. But, we are not Constitutionalist, we are Biblicist. We believe our finally authority is God's Word and we are to live out God's Word to His glory. He created sex for us to glorify Him with it. In our arguments against sodomy we need to remember that we are not arguing the "rights" of individuals. The above passage is in the context of "be holy for I am holy." God, in this section of Leviticus is telling us that He demands holiness and holiness is manifested in using our bodies in a way that glorifies God. It should be noted, but is often overlooked in our argument against the legalization of homosexuality, that God also states, in the same lines, that adultery is also forbidden. He also states, under the same thought process of "be holy for I am holy," that we are to not do unkind things to our neighbor; we are not to have unjust business practices; we are not to tattoo our bodies; we are not to glean our fields completely, but leave some of the food in the field for the poor and the traveler. These "don't do" areas are all contained in the same chapter as the above passage. We must be careful to not pick and choose the "sin" we want to emphasize. If the church is outraged at this Supreme Court ruling, and they would be wise to be so, they ought also be outraged about how Christian men and women do their business practices, or paint their bodies, or treat their neighbors, or any of the other areas listed in God's outline of what is holy. We are not to shrink away from our fight about the legalization of sodomy. But, we ought not be hypocritical and believe other sins don't matter. God demands holiness and holiness includes our sex life, our business life, our life in our community. We are to show love to everyone (that is the sum of all the Law) but making sure they know that what is best for them is not the perversion of a gift from God to please themselves, but how to use the gift from God (sex) in a way that glorifies God. Sex matters to God. Not our pleasure in it, but glorifying Him in the act of sex.
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
Truth: God is concerned about our sexuality
This is being written several weeks after the Supreme Court legalized Sodomy in the United States. It surprised most people, but shocked the Christian world. To legalize sodomy was and is completely contrary to the Christian life and since this country was founded upon Christian principles the decision runs contrary to all we believe. In the above passage we have the bases for our belief and why that decision disappoints, surprises and even angers believers. The truth is God is concerned about sexuality. God created us and created sex. God, as the Creator, as the blueprint for what is best for us and what will enable us to reach the ultimate purpose of sex: To glorify God. That is the real issue in this discussion. When we hear the dialogue about the legalization of homosexuality we here the emphasis that each person has a "right" to do what they want in their own homes and lives. And, based upon our constitution, which centers on the rights of everyone to pursue their own happiness, you could say the Justices got it right. IF that is your goal in life: Your own pursuit of your own happiness. But, we are not Constitutionalist, we are Biblicist. We believe our finally authority is God's Word and we are to live out God's Word to His glory. He created sex for us to glorify Him with it. In our arguments against sodomy we need to remember that we are not arguing the "rights" of individuals. The above passage is in the context of "be holy for I am holy." God, in this section of Leviticus is telling us that He demands holiness and holiness is manifested in using our bodies in a way that glorifies God. It should be noted, but is often overlooked in our argument against the legalization of homosexuality, that God also states, in the same lines, that adultery is also forbidden. He also states, under the same thought process of "be holy for I am holy," that we are to not do unkind things to our neighbor; we are not to have unjust business practices; we are not to tattoo our bodies; we are not to glean our fields completely, but leave some of the food in the field for the poor and the traveler. These "don't do" areas are all contained in the same chapter as the above passage. We must be careful to not pick and choose the "sin" we want to emphasize. If the church is outraged at this Supreme Court ruling, and they would be wise to be so, they ought also be outraged about how Christian men and women do their business practices, or paint their bodies, or treat their neighbors, or any of the other areas listed in God's outline of what is holy. We are not to shrink away from our fight about the legalization of sodomy. But, we ought not be hypocritical and believe other sins don't matter. God demands holiness and holiness includes our sex life, our business life, our life in our community. We are to show love to everyone (that is the sum of all the Law) but making sure they know that what is best for them is not the perversion of a gift from God to please themselves, but how to use the gift from God (sex) in a way that glorifies God. Sex matters to God. Not our pleasure in it, but glorifying Him in the act of sex.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Truth #203 - God's Word in - God's Fruit out!! Colossians 3-4
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Truth: As the Word of Christ dwells richly in us, it can't help but come out gloriously from us
The reverse of the old computer adage might be best used to describe this verse in Paul's letter to the church in Colossians. The adage states: "Garbage in - Garbage out" when referring to what happens when bad code is entered. You get bad results out. In the above truth, stated by Paul, we read the opposite: God's Word in - Teaching, praise, worship and gratitude out. Paul, in the preceding verses, has just told the members of the church to "put away" their former way of life, now that they were in Christ, and to "put on" the new way of life. That new way included God's love and God's peace in their lives. He now, in the above passage, brings us to the point where the "how" might be understood in his teaching. In order to put away something and put something else on there has to be a way and the phrase above might give us that "way-power." As we allow the Word of Christ (both words from Christ and words about Christ ... the gospel) to dwell in us and we can begin to see changes in our lives. This might be one of the most mysterious, but blessed truths, in all the teachings of Paul: When we allow Christ's Words and the Words of Christ to "dwell" in us, something happens. It should be noted that Paul tells them to all the Word to dwell in us "richly." Although the following from Word Biblical Commentary is long, it is worth reading to better understand the word "richly."
Word Biblical Commentary: πλουσίως ("richly," "abundantly") describes the manner of the Word's indwelling. Elsewhere in the epistles this adverb is found in statements which describe God's gracious and rich bestowal of his gifts: at 1 Timothy 6:17 it is used of "God who richly (πλουσίως) furnishes us with everything to enjoy," in contrast to the "rich in this world"; while at Titus 3:6 the Holy Spirit is "poured out upon us richly (πλουσίως) through Jesus Christ our Savior," and in 2 Peter 1:11 an "entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly (πλουσίως) provided." Here in Colossians πλουσίως ("richly") appears within an exhortation: the gospel is to have its gracious and glorious way in their lives. If the double reference of ἐν ὑμῖν ("within you" and "among you") is in view then this rich indwelling would occur when they came together, listened to the Word of Christ as it was preached and expounded to them (see Schrage, Einzelgebote, 91, Ernst, 229, and Schweizer, 157) and bowed to its authority. By this means Christ's rule would be exercised in their lives. As the Spirit of God indwells believers (Rom 8:9, 11; 2 Tim 1:14; cf. 1 Cor 3:16) so the "Word of Christ" should reside among them in rich abundance, producing great blessing (cf. Ernst, 229, and Lohse, 150).
The result of the Word of Christ dwelling in us richly is what follows in our above verse. Teaching one another follows. One cannot take God's Word in and allow it to richly work without an utterance wanting to come out. Wisdom comes out of the one who allows the Word of Christ to richly dwell within. All manner of songs and praise will flow from those who allow the Word of Christ to richly control within (true worship is not about the band leader or song writer ... it is about having the Word of Christ dwell in you and that must and will come out in great praise). One further result of Christ word in us is thankfulness flowing out. You can only be thankful if you know Christ died for you and indwells in you. So, how do you "let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly?" You, by faith, read it and study it and allow it to control all aspects of your being. It is a faith act, not a flesh act. It is listening to God's Word in faith and allowing it to have full authority in your life. That is when the Spirit can take the Word and produce fruit we never would produce on our own. God's Word in - God's fruit out!!
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Truth: As the Word of Christ dwells richly in us, it can't help but come out gloriously from us
The reverse of the old computer adage might be best used to describe this verse in Paul's letter to the church in Colossians. The adage states: "Garbage in - Garbage out" when referring to what happens when bad code is entered. You get bad results out. In the above truth, stated by Paul, we read the opposite: God's Word in - Teaching, praise, worship and gratitude out. Paul, in the preceding verses, has just told the members of the church to "put away" their former way of life, now that they were in Christ, and to "put on" the new way of life. That new way included God's love and God's peace in their lives. He now, in the above passage, brings us to the point where the "how" might be understood in his teaching. In order to put away something and put something else on there has to be a way and the phrase above might give us that "way-power." As we allow the Word of Christ (both words from Christ and words about Christ ... the gospel) to dwell in us and we can begin to see changes in our lives. This might be one of the most mysterious, but blessed truths, in all the teachings of Paul: When we allow Christ's Words and the Words of Christ to "dwell" in us, something happens. It should be noted that Paul tells them to all the Word to dwell in us "richly." Although the following from Word Biblical Commentary is long, it is worth reading to better understand the word "richly."
Word Biblical Commentary: πλουσίως ("richly," "abundantly") describes the manner of the Word's indwelling. Elsewhere in the epistles this adverb is found in statements which describe God's gracious and rich bestowal of his gifts: at 1 Timothy 6:17 it is used of "God who richly (πλουσίως) furnishes us with everything to enjoy," in contrast to the "rich in this world"; while at Titus 3:6 the Holy Spirit is "poured out upon us richly (πλουσίως) through Jesus Christ our Savior," and in 2 Peter 1:11 an "entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly (πλουσίως) provided." Here in Colossians πλουσίως ("richly") appears within an exhortation: the gospel is to have its gracious and glorious way in their lives. If the double reference of ἐν ὑμῖν ("within you" and "among you") is in view then this rich indwelling would occur when they came together, listened to the Word of Christ as it was preached and expounded to them (see Schrage, Einzelgebote, 91, Ernst, 229, and Schweizer, 157) and bowed to its authority. By this means Christ's rule would be exercised in their lives. As the Spirit of God indwells believers (Rom 8:9, 11; 2 Tim 1:14; cf. 1 Cor 3:16) so the "Word of Christ" should reside among them in rich abundance, producing great blessing (cf. Ernst, 229, and Lohse, 150).
The result of the Word of Christ dwelling in us richly is what follows in our above verse. Teaching one another follows. One cannot take God's Word in and allow it to richly work without an utterance wanting to come out. Wisdom comes out of the one who allows the Word of Christ to richly dwell within. All manner of songs and praise will flow from those who allow the Word of Christ to richly control within (true worship is not about the band leader or song writer ... it is about having the Word of Christ dwell in you and that must and will come out in great praise). One further result of Christ word in us is thankfulness flowing out. You can only be thankful if you know Christ died for you and indwells in you. So, how do you "let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly?" You, by faith, read it and study it and allow it to control all aspects of your being. It is a faith act, not a flesh act. It is listening to God's Word in faith and allowing it to have full authority in your life. That is when the Spirit can take the Word and produce fruit we never would produce on our own. God's Word in - God's fruit out!!
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Truth #202 - Escpaing from temptation begins with prayer - Luke 21-22
Luke 22:39-40
And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Truth: Escaping from temptation begins with prayer
Early in this book of Luke's gospel, Luke recorded Jesus and the disciples discussion centered around prayer. In that dialogue, the Lord taught His disciples to pray, He taught them as follows:
Luke 11:4
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
Jesus wanted them to know the power of prayer in relationship with day-to-day temptations. In the above passage, as Jesus entered into the Mount of Olives He again, tells the disciples to pray. Jesus, himself, was to face the torment of death and sought God out in prayer ... asking for strength to endure this cup of suffering. Coming to God in prayer is a confession that you can't handle something on your own and that you need the strength of the Creator to avoid some evil or accomplish some task. Prayer is to be done in a way to acknowledge our lack of power and His sovereign power over the universe ... including over evil. God had the power to protect us from evil before it comes and to deliver us from it when it comes. Jesus, in the Garden, tells His disciples to make use of this power and this privilege as we approach life and the evil found in it. Coming to God, through Christ, in prayer is a faith act. It places our fight in life for God's righteousness in out lives in the aspect of faith. We don't live our lives in in the flesh and become successful. We can only have success in our lives in Christ through faith. This passage is a great example of how life works. As we enter a difficult situation (although the disciples didn't even know it was a difficult situation), we need to seek Him in prayer for strength and for power. These men fell asleep. Creature comfort was more favored than seeking Godly power. But, so is life with us. We approach our days as though they are all the same. We seldom see the temptation coming and therefore seek Him for power in our lives. We should start each day seeking His power for the temptation(s) we are going to face. We should pause each day to seek His power for the temptation(s) we are facing. We should end each day seeking His power for the temptation(s) we are still facing.
And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Truth: Escaping from temptation begins with prayer
Early in this book of Luke's gospel, Luke recorded Jesus and the disciples discussion centered around prayer. In that dialogue, the Lord taught His disciples to pray, He taught them as follows:
Luke 11:4
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
Jesus wanted them to know the power of prayer in relationship with day-to-day temptations. In the above passage, as Jesus entered into the Mount of Olives He again, tells the disciples to pray. Jesus, himself, was to face the torment of death and sought God out in prayer ... asking for strength to endure this cup of suffering. Coming to God in prayer is a confession that you can't handle something on your own and that you need the strength of the Creator to avoid some evil or accomplish some task. Prayer is to be done in a way to acknowledge our lack of power and His sovereign power over the universe ... including over evil. God had the power to protect us from evil before it comes and to deliver us from it when it comes. Jesus, in the Garden, tells His disciples to make use of this power and this privilege as we approach life and the evil found in it. Coming to God, through Christ, in prayer is a faith act. It places our fight in life for God's righteousness in out lives in the aspect of faith. We don't live our lives in in the flesh and become successful. We can only have success in our lives in Christ through faith. This passage is a great example of how life works. As we enter a difficult situation (although the disciples didn't even know it was a difficult situation), we need to seek Him in prayer for strength and for power. These men fell asleep. Creature comfort was more favored than seeking Godly power. But, so is life with us. We approach our days as though they are all the same. We seldom see the temptation coming and therefore seek Him for power in our lives. We should start each day seeking His power for the temptation(s) we are going to face. We should pause each day to seek His power for the temptation(s) we are facing. We should end each day seeking His power for the temptation(s) we are still facing.
Friday, July 17, 2015
Truth #201 - Reward for ministry is an after-thought - Ezekiel 32-26
Ezekiel 33:33
When this comes—and come it will!—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”
Truth: The rewards of ministry, from an earthly point of view, will follow a ministry. They should not live alongside the ministry.
We live in a society, even in the Christian culture, that is in love with compensation, reward and public acclamation. Child want to know what they will get, before they do something, rather than wait for "a" reward to follow. The enticement aspect of our motivation is unparelled in human history. In the prophet Ezekiel's day God wanted the prophet to avoid that same trap. He wanted the prophet to know that the suffering he was experiencing as a messenger of God was not unnoticed by God. God wanted Ezekiel to know that God would reward him and that his legacy would be remembered. But, the emphasis on the reward was that it would be something that followed Ezekiel, when his ministry was completed. It was not something he should expect WHILE he ministered. The rewards for ministry are not to be considered in the midst of ministry. This is the plight of the modern day mega-church pastor ... and, even some in lesser size ministries. They believe their "compensation" out to be commensurate of the "Lord's work." Yet, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Hosea and the other prophets, seldom had any favorable conditions, and certainly less reward in this life. Abraham and Moses, in Hebrews 11, are said to be so focused on the life of God in the future that they both saw the riches and comfort in front of them as temporal and meaningless. Note what the writer of Hebrews says about Moses:
Hebrews 11:24-27
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
We need to be careful that we don't expect rewards for ministry as we are ministering. Our reward for serving God is the legacy we leave others and the blessing we have eternally with God.
When this comes—and come it will!—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”
Truth: The rewards of ministry, from an earthly point of view, will follow a ministry. They should not live alongside the ministry.
We live in a society, even in the Christian culture, that is in love with compensation, reward and public acclamation. Child want to know what they will get, before they do something, rather than wait for "a" reward to follow. The enticement aspect of our motivation is unparelled in human history. In the prophet Ezekiel's day God wanted the prophet to avoid that same trap. He wanted the prophet to know that the suffering he was experiencing as a messenger of God was not unnoticed by God. God wanted Ezekiel to know that God would reward him and that his legacy would be remembered. But, the emphasis on the reward was that it would be something that followed Ezekiel, when his ministry was completed. It was not something he should expect WHILE he ministered. The rewards for ministry are not to be considered in the midst of ministry. This is the plight of the modern day mega-church pastor ... and, even some in lesser size ministries. They believe their "compensation" out to be commensurate of the "Lord's work." Yet, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Hosea and the other prophets, seldom had any favorable conditions, and certainly less reward in this life. Abraham and Moses, in Hebrews 11, are said to be so focused on the life of God in the future that they both saw the riches and comfort in front of them as temporal and meaningless. Note what the writer of Hebrews says about Moses:
Hebrews 11:24-27
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
We need to be careful that we don't expect rewards for ministry as we are ministering. Our reward for serving God is the legacy we leave others and the blessing we have eternally with God.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Truth #200 - Truth in the heart produces truth on the lip - Proverbs 12
Proverbs 12:17 (NASBStr)
He who speaks truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
Truth: Truth in the heart produces truth on the lips
When Eve was in the garden Satan came to her in the form of the serpent. He quoted to her portions of God's Word that were just enough to make her think he was telling her the truth. However, he misquoted God's Word enough to lead her astray and cause her and her husband, Adam, to sin: In such a way that it brought about the total depravity of mankind. Satan simply changed a few words around to make it sound like truth. But it wasn't. Satan could not speak the truth because he is the father of lies. Note what Jesus said about Satan when addressing the Pharisees (who were also twisting God's Word for their own gain):
John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
A false witness has falsehood in his/her heart. One who speaks truth must have truth in his/her heart. That is the only way we can utter truth. We have to have the One who is truth in our hearts (John 14:6). The Hebrew word in the above proverb for "speaks" can be translated "breath." What Solomon is telling us is that when we are full of truth we tell what is right, no matter what we are speaking of or about. But, someone who has falsehood in their heart can only deceive others. Truth must be in us for it to come out of us. So, speaking the truth is first about receiving the truth. As the Truth reigns in us we can breath the truth and others can be assured we are telling what is right.
He who speaks truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
Truth: Truth in the heart produces truth on the lips
When Eve was in the garden Satan came to her in the form of the serpent. He quoted to her portions of God's Word that were just enough to make her think he was telling her the truth. However, he misquoted God's Word enough to lead her astray and cause her and her husband, Adam, to sin: In such a way that it brought about the total depravity of mankind. Satan simply changed a few words around to make it sound like truth. But it wasn't. Satan could not speak the truth because he is the father of lies. Note what Jesus said about Satan when addressing the Pharisees (who were also twisting God's Word for their own gain):
John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
A false witness has falsehood in his/her heart. One who speaks truth must have truth in his/her heart. That is the only way we can utter truth. We have to have the One who is truth in our hearts (John 14:6). The Hebrew word in the above proverb for "speaks" can be translated "breath." What Solomon is telling us is that when we are full of truth we tell what is right, no matter what we are speaking of or about. But, someone who has falsehood in their heart can only deceive others. Truth must be in us for it to come out of us. So, speaking the truth is first about receiving the truth. As the Truth reigns in us we can breath the truth and others can be assured we are telling what is right.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Post #199 - Being where God wants us to be is better than any place else - Psalm 84=86
Psalms 84:10
For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Truth; Being where God wants you is better than being where you want to be.
I struggle with where I am in this life. That is a confession I wish I didn't have to make. Early in my life I "felt" a call to full time ministry and my anchored thought of what that meant was not what I believe it is today. God has so miraculously guided my life, I ought not have second thoughts of where I am. It is sin for me to fail to "rest" in the place He has me. That is why I find this verse, above, so refreshing and so inspiring. The psalm is written by 'The Sons of Korah." This group was the group in charge of keeping the Temple. There was no doubt, as they watched the priests perform their duties, that thy would have wondered what it would be like to be at that level of ministry. They probably, also, had a chance to observe those outside the Temple. Those who lived their lives full of their own-selves and not in a way honoring to God. What is the result of their observations? The above truth. These men, the Sons of Korah, had come to a place to realize that even being a simple "doorkeeper" in the house of God was better than any other place to be. They were there to keep the house. We can envy another type of ministry, but that is as much sin as any other sin. To have the contentment of these men is to be desired. God has a place for us each and when we come to the point to realize that where He has us is better than a thousand elsewhere. The truth is, it is better to be where God wants you and to have your wants to be there too. John Piper echoes this passage when he says the following;
God is most glorified in me, when I am most satisfied in Him.
Once we are satisfied in Him we can find peace and glorify Him.
For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Truth; Being where God wants you is better than being where you want to be.
I struggle with where I am in this life. That is a confession I wish I didn't have to make. Early in my life I "felt" a call to full time ministry and my anchored thought of what that meant was not what I believe it is today. God has so miraculously guided my life, I ought not have second thoughts of where I am. It is sin for me to fail to "rest" in the place He has me. That is why I find this verse, above, so refreshing and so inspiring. The psalm is written by 'The Sons of Korah." This group was the group in charge of keeping the Temple. There was no doubt, as they watched the priests perform their duties, that thy would have wondered what it would be like to be at that level of ministry. They probably, also, had a chance to observe those outside the Temple. Those who lived their lives full of their own-selves and not in a way honoring to God. What is the result of their observations? The above truth. These men, the Sons of Korah, had come to a place to realize that even being a simple "doorkeeper" in the house of God was better than any other place to be. They were there to keep the house. We can envy another type of ministry, but that is as much sin as any other sin. To have the contentment of these men is to be desired. God has a place for us each and when we come to the point to realize that where He has us is better than a thousand elsewhere. The truth is, it is better to be where God wants you and to have your wants to be there too. John Piper echoes this passage when he says the following;
God is most glorified in me, when I am most satisfied in Him.
Once we are satisfied in Him we can find peace and glorify Him.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Truth #198 - Your name is your reputation
2 Kings 12:15
And they did not ask for an accounting from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to pay out to the workmen, for they dealt honestly.
Truth: Your reputation is your name!!
We live in a world that struggles with trust within organizations. Holding people accountable is actually a skill taught in leadership classes. Since we have sin in our lives we are suspicious of others and we constantly want to "verify" their work or their word. This fact is what makes the above passage so unusual for us. This was a time when Jehoash was the king, but more importantly, when Jehoiada was the priest. Jehoiada was a powerful influence on the king and the kingdom of Judah. Under their combined leadership they wanted to rebuild the temple. Jehoiada required that the people give to the project and then the money be given to the builders. The men who gave the money to the builders were, apparently, honest men. This trust in them, which negated any accounting procedures, is unmatched in most of the stories we have in life. We aren't given much information about these men. We know nothing of their names, background or station in life. We do know they were honest. We have in this passage the mention of the honesty of the men but not their names. Their reputation lives on in Scripture forever, but without anyone knowing their names. Solomon actually wrote about this aspect of our reputation in the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 22:1
A good name is to be more desired than great wealth,
Favor is better than silver and gold.
Proverbs 10:7
The memory of the righteous is blessed,
But the name of the wicked will rot.
Or, note what the Psalmist says:
Psalm 112:6
For he will never be shaken
The righteous will be remembered forever.
We do not know the names of these men, but we do know they were righteous men and faithful to the task set before them. Today men want to be known for their position, possession and power. These men wanted to be known for doing what they were asked in regard to the work of the rebuilding of the temple. Their reputation was their name ... they were trustworthy!!
And they did not ask for an accounting from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to pay out to the workmen, for they dealt honestly.
Truth: Your reputation is your name!!
We live in a world that struggles with trust within organizations. Holding people accountable is actually a skill taught in leadership classes. Since we have sin in our lives we are suspicious of others and we constantly want to "verify" their work or their word. This fact is what makes the above passage so unusual for us. This was a time when Jehoash was the king, but more importantly, when Jehoiada was the priest. Jehoiada was a powerful influence on the king and the kingdom of Judah. Under their combined leadership they wanted to rebuild the temple. Jehoiada required that the people give to the project and then the money be given to the builders. The men who gave the money to the builders were, apparently, honest men. This trust in them, which negated any accounting procedures, is unmatched in most of the stories we have in life. We aren't given much information about these men. We know nothing of their names, background or station in life. We do know they were honest. We have in this passage the mention of the honesty of the men but not their names. Their reputation lives on in Scripture forever, but without anyone knowing their names. Solomon actually wrote about this aspect of our reputation in the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 22:1
A good name is to be more desired than great wealth,
Favor is better than silver and gold.
Proverbs 10:7
The memory of the righteous is blessed,
But the name of the wicked will rot.
Or, note what the Psalmist says:
Psalm 112:6
For he will never be shaken
The righteous will be remembered forever.
We do not know the names of these men, but we do know they were righteous men and faithful to the task set before them. Today men want to be known for their position, possession and power. These men wanted to be known for doing what they were asked in regard to the work of the rebuilding of the temple. Their reputation was their name ... they were trustworthy!!
Monday, July 13, 2015
Truth #197 - Unclean living will destroy the land - Leviticus 16-18
Leviticus 18:24-27
“Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean, and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you (for the people of the land, who were before you, did all of these abominations, so that the land became unclean),
Truth: Unclean living, contrary to God's law, will destroy the land of the living
In the above passage, Moses has been outlining that the nation of Israel is not to be like the other nations around them. The particular commands in the preceding verses had to do with sexual immorality, specifically dealing with incest, adultery and/or sodomy. The message God gives is plain: The nations that were in the land before Israel arrived were involved in all types of sexual deviation. It should be noted that this sexual immorality is being mirrored today in our society. We, too, are involved in incest, adultery and sodomy. Our Supreme Court has just legalized sodomy. Note, above, the punishment for such sin: ... the land became unclean. We cannot expect to find a different outcome for our country than what occurred in the country prior to Israel's occupation of the land. Israel was being warned not to commit the same sins. God warns them that if they did they can expect the same fate. Remember the story of Lot in the city of Sodom and Gomorra! The entire city was destroyed and never rebuilt!! Do we think our land will be any more fortunate?
“Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean, and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you (for the people of the land, who were before you, did all of these abominations, so that the land became unclean),
Truth: Unclean living, contrary to God's law, will destroy the land of the living
In the above passage, Moses has been outlining that the nation of Israel is not to be like the other nations around them. The particular commands in the preceding verses had to do with sexual immorality, specifically dealing with incest, adultery and/or sodomy. The message God gives is plain: The nations that were in the land before Israel arrived were involved in all types of sexual deviation. It should be noted that this sexual immorality is being mirrored today in our society. We, too, are involved in incest, adultery and sodomy. Our Supreme Court has just legalized sodomy. Note, above, the punishment for such sin: ... the land became unclean. We cannot expect to find a different outcome for our country than what occurred in the country prior to Israel's occupation of the land. Israel was being warned not to commit the same sins. God warns them that if they did they can expect the same fate. Remember the story of Lot in the city of Sodom and Gomorra! The entire city was destroyed and never rebuilt!! Do we think our land will be any more fortunate?
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Truth #196 - The Word doesn't want us know the truth in Christ - Colossans 1-2
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.
Truth: The world doesn't want us to know the truth in Christ!
The purpose of Paul writing to the believers in the Colossians' letter is to warn them about the dangers found in the false philosophy of the world. The false teachers noticed the fertile ground in the church and sought to "take captive" those who would listen. In the above passage Paul warns the church to be aware of this false teaching and to "see to it" that they are no so lead astray. This phrase, "see to it" is the Greek, "blepo" and Vine states the following in regard to its use here:
2. blepo (βλέπω, 991) is also used of (a) bodily and (b) mental vision, (a) “to perceive,” e.g., Matt. 13:13; (b) “to take heed,” e.g., Mark 13:23, 33; it indicates greater vividness than horao, expressing a more intent, earnest contemplation; in Luke 6:41, of “beholding” the mote in a brother’s eye; Luke 24:12, of “beholding” the linen clothes in the empty tomb; Acts 1:9, of the gaze of the disciples when the Lord ascended. The greater earnestness is sometimes brought out by the rendering “regardest,” Matt. 22:16. See beware, heed, lie, look, perceive, regard, see, sight.
Paul is warning these believers to have an urgent look and make sure that the things they are listening to and following are not the philosophies of the world, that will be the opposite of what Paul says about Christ in Colossians 2:3. In that passage Paul says the following about Christ:
Colossians 2:3
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
They were to understand that "in Christ" they had all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and therefore what the world offered in its teaching was "empty deceit." Paul offered Christ (full of knowledge and wisdom), while the teaching of the world offered "human traditions and elemental spirits of the world (empty deceit). Paul goes on to state that not only was the content of their teaching empty and based upon man's simply thoughts, their teaching also "takes you captive." Christ teaching set us free (Galatians 5:1). The teaching of the world takes us captive. They world, Satan's tool to hold back Christ's message, wants to deny us the truth found in Christ. They offer nothing that can satisfy or make us complete. Christ, on the other hand, has made us free and has filled us by us being IN Him. That's what he goes on to say, after telling these believers to be ware:
Colossians 2:9-10
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
We are complete in Christ and need nothing else to satisfy our longing souls. The world's teaching keeps you wanting more and never filled. Christ fills us by our being IN Him. We are to be assured we aren't taken captive by these false teachings.
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.
Truth: The world doesn't want us to know the truth in Christ!
The purpose of Paul writing to the believers in the Colossians' letter is to warn them about the dangers found in the false philosophy of the world. The false teachers noticed the fertile ground in the church and sought to "take captive" those who would listen. In the above passage Paul warns the church to be aware of this false teaching and to "see to it" that they are no so lead astray. This phrase, "see to it" is the Greek, "blepo" and Vine states the following in regard to its use here:
2. blepo (βλέπω, 991) is also used of (a) bodily and (b) mental vision, (a) “to perceive,” e.g., Matt. 13:13; (b) “to take heed,” e.g., Mark 13:23, 33; it indicates greater vividness than horao, expressing a more intent, earnest contemplation; in Luke 6:41, of “beholding” the mote in a brother’s eye; Luke 24:12, of “beholding” the linen clothes in the empty tomb; Acts 1:9, of the gaze of the disciples when the Lord ascended. The greater earnestness is sometimes brought out by the rendering “regardest,” Matt. 22:16. See beware, heed, lie, look, perceive, regard, see, sight.
Paul is warning these believers to have an urgent look and make sure that the things they are listening to and following are not the philosophies of the world, that will be the opposite of what Paul says about Christ in Colossians 2:3. In that passage Paul says the following about Christ:
Colossians 2:3
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
They were to understand that "in Christ" they had all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and therefore what the world offered in its teaching was "empty deceit." Paul offered Christ (full of knowledge and wisdom), while the teaching of the world offered "human traditions and elemental spirits of the world (empty deceit). Paul goes on to state that not only was the content of their teaching empty and based upon man's simply thoughts, their teaching also "takes you captive." Christ teaching set us free (Galatians 5:1). The teaching of the world takes us captive. They world, Satan's tool to hold back Christ's message, wants to deny us the truth found in Christ. They offer nothing that can satisfy or make us complete. Christ, on the other hand, has made us free and has filled us by us being IN Him. That's what he goes on to say, after telling these believers to be ware:
Colossians 2:9-10
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
We are complete in Christ and need nothing else to satisfy our longing souls. The world's teaching keeps you wanting more and never filled. Christ fills us by our being IN Him. We are to be assured we aren't taken captive by these false teachings.
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Truth #195 - It matters not what you have, but what you do with what you have Luke 19-20
Luke 19:17
And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’
Truth: It matters not what you have, but what you do with what you have.
In the parable in Luke 19 we have the story of a rich business man who is temporarily leaving his business matters in the hands of ten of his associates. He is going to receive more riches in another kingdom far away. While he travels he leaves a each of the ten servants a gift (the gift would illustrate to us today as skills, talents, seed money for investment, etc.). Each of the men get one mina. A mina was worth about three months wages. This is not a lot of wealth for them but it illustrates to us that we are each responsible for whatever God gives them. When the man returns he wants to know what the men did with the gift they were given. We have to remember that the gift they were given was never their gift. It was always the master's gift. It was their responsibility to do something with the gift. Upon the return on servant had translated the one mina into ten. That translates into quite a sizable profit. The man takes three months of wages and converts it into enough wages for 2 and 1/2 years. . The above passage shows the pleasure of the rich man over what the first servant had done. He was rewarded according to his work. The second man took the one mina and turned it into five mina (1 and 1/2 years of wages). Even though the second man was only able to convert the mina into one-half what the first man did, they both received the a commendation. The first received 10 cities for his reward. The second received 5 cities. Neither man had any city when he started. Both men were given the same gift. They were rewarded for what they did with the gift. The gift was not there own, but they now were rewarded with cities of their own. A third man in the story did nothing with his mina (remember, ten men were given the gift of one mina ... we are only told about three of them ... there may have been others who did nothing with their mina, as well). This man, because he feared the ruler, simply buried the gift and did nothing with it. His own words condemn him since he feared the ruler. The ruler takes the one mina he has and gives it to the one who had produced the ten minas. Jesus add to this teaching the following:
Luke 19:26
‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
The principle taught in this story needs to be viewed based upon the introduction of the story. Note how chapter 19 begins:
Luke 19:11
As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.
Jesus is telling them that He is going away and there will be a delay in His return. While He is gone (securing His kingdom) we are to take the gifts He gives us and use them in a way that will bring more glory to Christ. Those who use their gifts in a way that will glorify Christ, will receive more gifts. We will receive more gifts in the proportion we use the ones Christ gave us. However, those who simply sit on their gifts and don't use them for Christ will see their gifts taken away and given to others more faithful. The truth is that it matters not what Christ gives you but what you do with it that matters. Being faithful to use the gifts Christ gives us is the key to being assured Christ can use us for more work ... work others have neglected in their service.
And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’
Truth: It matters not what you have, but what you do with what you have.
In the parable in Luke 19 we have the story of a rich business man who is temporarily leaving his business matters in the hands of ten of his associates. He is going to receive more riches in another kingdom far away. While he travels he leaves a each of the ten servants a gift (the gift would illustrate to us today as skills, talents, seed money for investment, etc.). Each of the men get one mina. A mina was worth about three months wages. This is not a lot of wealth for them but it illustrates to us that we are each responsible for whatever God gives them. When the man returns he wants to know what the men did with the gift they were given. We have to remember that the gift they were given was never their gift. It was always the master's gift. It was their responsibility to do something with the gift. Upon the return on servant had translated the one mina into ten. That translates into quite a sizable profit. The man takes three months of wages and converts it into enough wages for 2 and 1/2 years. . The above passage shows the pleasure of the rich man over what the first servant had done. He was rewarded according to his work. The second man took the one mina and turned it into five mina (1 and 1/2 years of wages). Even though the second man was only able to convert the mina into one-half what the first man did, they both received the a commendation. The first received 10 cities for his reward. The second received 5 cities. Neither man had any city when he started. Both men were given the same gift. They were rewarded for what they did with the gift. The gift was not there own, but they now were rewarded with cities of their own. A third man in the story did nothing with his mina (remember, ten men were given the gift of one mina ... we are only told about three of them ... there may have been others who did nothing with their mina, as well). This man, because he feared the ruler, simply buried the gift and did nothing with it. His own words condemn him since he feared the ruler. The ruler takes the one mina he has and gives it to the one who had produced the ten minas. Jesus add to this teaching the following:
Luke 19:26
‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
The principle taught in this story needs to be viewed based upon the introduction of the story. Note how chapter 19 begins:
Luke 19:11
As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.
Jesus is telling them that He is going away and there will be a delay in His return. While He is gone (securing His kingdom) we are to take the gifts He gives us and use them in a way that will bring more glory to Christ. Those who use their gifts in a way that will glorify Christ, will receive more gifts. We will receive more gifts in the proportion we use the ones Christ gave us. However, those who simply sit on their gifts and don't use them for Christ will see their gifts taken away and given to others more faithful. The truth is that it matters not what Christ gives you but what you do with it that matters. Being faithful to use the gifts Christ gives us is the key to being assured Christ can use us for more work ... work others have neglected in their service.
Friday, July 10, 2015
Truth #194 - God employees strange workers - Ezekiel 25-30
Ezekiel 29:18-20
“Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made his army labor hard against Tyre. Every head was made bald, and every shoulder was rubbed bare, yet neither he nor his army got anything from Tyre to pay for the labor that he had performed against her. Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he shall carry off its wealth and despoil it and plunder it; and it shall be the wages for his army. I have given him the land of Egypt as his payment for which he labored, because they worked for me, declares the Lord God.
Truth: God employees the strangest of workers to accomplish His plans.
In the above passages in Ezekiel, the prophet is prophesying about the nations who did Israel harm, highly exalted themselves and refused to honor and give glory to God. God sees their pride and uses other nations to correct and discipline them. One of those nations God used was Babylon. Tyre had highly exalted herself in the midst of the world (see chapters 27-28). God brought her low by sending to her Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. God would, eventually, bring down Nebuchadnezzar, for the same reasons He brings down the king of Tyre: Pride and self-exaltation. But, the above passage is about how God used the king of Babylon as His instrument to complete His tasks. We often think that the wicked of this world have one mission; to destroy God's plan. Although that may be true in their overall plan, as they don't consider God's plan, it is not true of how God uses them to accomplish His task. There is not doubt, as we see later, that Nebuchadnezzar had no respect for God. Note that one of his commanders says to the King of Judah during one of their many sieges of the city of Jerusalem:
2 Kings 18:19-25
And the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours? Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me? Behold, you are trusting now in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. But if you say to me, “We trust in the Lord our God,” is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, “You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem”? Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them. How then can you repulse a single captain among the least of my master's servants, when you trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? Moreover, is it without the Lord that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.’”
God used Babylon to correct Tyre, but also to correct Judah and Israel. Later God would destroy Nebuchadnezzar because of his own pride. But, the truth we have to see is that when we see the wicked flourish we might consider that God is using their very wickedness to discipline and to enact His plan. God does this by simply removing His restraining grace. If it were not for God grace in the world we would all consume each other. Sin would run rampant without God's grace. When God uses wicked people, like Nebuchadnezzar, He doesn't make Nebuchadnezzar wicked. Nebuchadnezzar is already wicked. God simply removes His restraints and allows that wickedness to do what it does; practice evil. So, we can see that God employees some strange workers.
“Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made his army labor hard against Tyre. Every head was made bald, and every shoulder was rubbed bare, yet neither he nor his army got anything from Tyre to pay for the labor that he had performed against her. Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he shall carry off its wealth and despoil it and plunder it; and it shall be the wages for his army. I have given him the land of Egypt as his payment for which he labored, because they worked for me, declares the Lord God.
Truth: God employees the strangest of workers to accomplish His plans.
In the above passages in Ezekiel, the prophet is prophesying about the nations who did Israel harm, highly exalted themselves and refused to honor and give glory to God. God sees their pride and uses other nations to correct and discipline them. One of those nations God used was Babylon. Tyre had highly exalted herself in the midst of the world (see chapters 27-28). God brought her low by sending to her Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. God would, eventually, bring down Nebuchadnezzar, for the same reasons He brings down the king of Tyre: Pride and self-exaltation. But, the above passage is about how God used the king of Babylon as His instrument to complete His tasks. We often think that the wicked of this world have one mission; to destroy God's plan. Although that may be true in their overall plan, as they don't consider God's plan, it is not true of how God uses them to accomplish His task. There is not doubt, as we see later, that Nebuchadnezzar had no respect for God. Note that one of his commanders says to the King of Judah during one of their many sieges of the city of Jerusalem:
2 Kings 18:19-25
And the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours? Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me? Behold, you are trusting now in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. But if you say to me, “We trust in the Lord our God,” is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, “You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem”? Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them. How then can you repulse a single captain among the least of my master's servants, when you trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? Moreover, is it without the Lord that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.’”
God used Babylon to correct Tyre, but also to correct Judah and Israel. Later God would destroy Nebuchadnezzar because of his own pride. But, the truth we have to see is that when we see the wicked flourish we might consider that God is using their very wickedness to discipline and to enact His plan. God does this by simply removing His restraining grace. If it were not for God grace in the world we would all consume each other. Sin would run rampant without God's grace. When God uses wicked people, like Nebuchadnezzar, He doesn't make Nebuchadnezzar wicked. Nebuchadnezzar is already wicked. God simply removes His restraints and allows that wickedness to do what it does; practice evil. So, we can see that God employees some strange workers.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Truth #193 - God's righteousness to us can be used by God for others - Proverbs 10-11
Proverbs 11:30
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls."
Truth: God's righeousness to us can be used by God to rescue others
This proverb tells us that righteous people should be doing two things in regard to there relationship with others: One, they should be imparting positive fruit, as from a tree. And, two, they should seek to win others (or attract) others to that tree. The first line in this Hebrew poem tells us that righteous people should be producing fruit. And that fruit is a source of “life” for those who partake. This goes right along with Christ telling the disciples they were to be the “salt of the earth.” As righteous people we should be the source of life for a broken and dieing world. The second line tells us that those who “win” souls are wise. The win here is not to win them as to win people to Christ (although that surely is the goal). The word "win" in the NASV is translated differently in the ESV. Note:
Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and whoever captures souls is wise.
There are some commentaries who have a problem with the Hebrew word translated in the ESV as "captures." The word is always used in the Old Testament in a violent sense. Yet, When we understand that the righteous is trying to provide words that can take a person off the path of foolishness, sin and death, we can better understand the word choice. This is a war. Note what James says about preventing a person from sinning:
James 5:20
... let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
A person who speaks righteous words will be a tree of life to those who listen and will also, through the violent actions of the Spirit, rescue them from death.
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls."
Truth: God's righeousness to us can be used by God to rescue others
This proverb tells us that righteous people should be doing two things in regard to there relationship with others: One, they should be imparting positive fruit, as from a tree. And, two, they should seek to win others (or attract) others to that tree. The first line in this Hebrew poem tells us that righteous people should be producing fruit. And that fruit is a source of “life” for those who partake. This goes right along with Christ telling the disciples they were to be the “salt of the earth.” As righteous people we should be the source of life for a broken and dieing world. The second line tells us that those who “win” souls are wise. The win here is not to win them as to win people to Christ (although that surely is the goal). The word "win" in the NASV is translated differently in the ESV. Note:
Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and whoever captures souls is wise.
There are some commentaries who have a problem with the Hebrew word translated in the ESV as "captures." The word is always used in the Old Testament in a violent sense. Yet, When we understand that the righteous is trying to provide words that can take a person off the path of foolishness, sin and death, we can better understand the word choice. This is a war. Note what James says about preventing a person from sinning:
James 5:20
... let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
A person who speaks righteous words will be a tree of life to those who listen and will also, through the violent actions of the Spirit, rescue them from death.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Truth #192 - God will protect us from our enemies for His glory - Psalm 81-83
Psalms 83:13-18
O my God, make them like whirling dust,
like chaff before the wind.
As fire consumes the forest,
as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,
so may you pursue them with your tempest
and terrify them with your hurricane!
Fill their faces with shame,
that they may seek your name, O Lord.
Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever;
let them perish in disgrace,
that they may know that you alone,
whose name is the Lord,
are the Most High over all the earth.
Truth: The world may conspire against God's people, but God is still in control
In Psalm 83 we read a prayer of the psalmist asking God to protect His people and thwart the plans of the wicked. Notice what the writer states early in the Psalm:
Psalms 83:2-4
For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
those who hate you have raised their heads.
They lay crafty plans against your people;
they consult together against your treasured ones.
They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”''
As in the past years of Israel, so today's society is plotting their plans against today's believer. Through their legal and political system the world thinks they can subdue and even eliminate the believing church of Christ. Yet, this Psalm, like many others, gives us great hope. God will not allow the believer to suffer beyond what God intends. We can, in perfect faith, rest in God's abiding presence and continuous care. In the days of Elisha the Syrians had come to destroy the nation of Israel. On one particular battle the Syrians had besieged a city, waiting for hunger, thirst and fear to take there toll on the inhabitants of the city. Yet, through prayer and faith, note what happens to the Syrians, the enemies of God's people:
2 Kings 7:6
For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians hear the sound of chariots and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to come against us.”
As in our above Psalm 83, God sends the sounds of whirlwinds and blows them away like chaff in the wind. Why? For God's glory!! So that they might know the power of God!! God has a purpose and that purpose is to display His glory in all things. We can rejoice that God will protect us, because it is for His Glory to fulfill His Word.
O my God, make them like whirling dust,
like chaff before the wind.
As fire consumes the forest,
as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,
so may you pursue them with your tempest
and terrify them with your hurricane!
Fill their faces with shame,
that they may seek your name, O Lord.
Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever;
let them perish in disgrace,
that they may know that you alone,
whose name is the Lord,
are the Most High over all the earth.
Truth: The world may conspire against God's people, but God is still in control
In Psalm 83 we read a prayer of the psalmist asking God to protect His people and thwart the plans of the wicked. Notice what the writer states early in the Psalm:
Psalms 83:2-4
For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
those who hate you have raised their heads.
They lay crafty plans against your people;
they consult together against your treasured ones.
They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”''
As in the past years of Israel, so today's society is plotting their plans against today's believer. Through their legal and political system the world thinks they can subdue and even eliminate the believing church of Christ. Yet, this Psalm, like many others, gives us great hope. God will not allow the believer to suffer beyond what God intends. We can, in perfect faith, rest in God's abiding presence and continuous care. In the days of Elisha the Syrians had come to destroy the nation of Israel. On one particular battle the Syrians had besieged a city, waiting for hunger, thirst and fear to take there toll on the inhabitants of the city. Yet, through prayer and faith, note what happens to the Syrians, the enemies of God's people:
2 Kings 7:6
For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians hear the sound of chariots and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to come against us.”
As in our above Psalm 83, God sends the sounds of whirlwinds and blows them away like chaff in the wind. Why? For God's glory!! So that they might know the power of God!! God has a purpose and that purpose is to display His glory in all things. We can rejoice that God will protect us, because it is for His Glory to fulfill His Word.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Truth #191 - God knows the minds of the non-believer and will stop their actions when He pleases 2 Kings 6-10
2 Kings 6:11-12
And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”
Truth: God knows the minds of the non-believer and will stop their actions when He pleases
The King of Syria was attempting to conquer Israel. The King had repeatedly set traps for the King of Israel, but each time, Elisha the prophet, warned him. The King of Syria asks his servants who was giving the King of Israel inside information and it was discovered that, Elisha, the man of God, was not only able to know of all his plans ... even from the quiet words in his bedroom. God was using the knowledge He had of the King of Syria to make sure God's plan was still in tack and not challenged. It is important for us to remember and rest in the assurance that God knows the evil plans of the non-believer and God is still in complete control. We could get mighty fearful and act foolishly if we thought the non-believing world was out of control and could do whatever they wanted. But, God is in complete control, even when the world does not know about God's plan and God's control. God will not allow anything to happen to us in regard to man's evil deeds, without God being fully knowledgable and fully allowing it to happen. That is the truth!!!
And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”
Truth: God knows the minds of the non-believer and will stop their actions when He pleases
The King of Syria was attempting to conquer Israel. The King had repeatedly set traps for the King of Israel, but each time, Elisha the prophet, warned him. The King of Syria asks his servants who was giving the King of Israel inside information and it was discovered that, Elisha, the man of God, was not only able to know of all his plans ... even from the quiet words in his bedroom. God was using the knowledge He had of the King of Syria to make sure God's plan was still in tack and not challenged. It is important for us to remember and rest in the assurance that God knows the evil plans of the non-believer and God is still in complete control. We could get mighty fearful and act foolishly if we thought the non-believing world was out of control and could do whatever they wanted. But, God is in complete control, even when the world does not know about God's plan and God's control. God will not allow anything to happen to us in regard to man's evil deeds, without God being fully knowledgable and fully allowing it to happen. That is the truth!!!
Monday, July 6, 2015
Truth #190 - God is concerend about our health ... for a good resason - Leviticus 13-15
Leviticus 14:33-35
The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “When you come into the land of Canaan, which I give you for a possession, and I put a case of leprous disease in a house in the land of your possession, then he who owns the house shall come and tell the priest, ‘There seems to me to be some case of disease in my house.’
Truth: God is concerned about the cleanliness of our living and life.
In Leviticus 13-15 we have the laws about infections skin diseases, often referred to as a leprous disease. Since the term "leprosy" was later used to define a specific disease, the word is often misunderstood as that disease only. The better interpretation is that, in regard to the body, God is warning the nation about any type of skin disease that might cause a mass contamination with the entire nation. God wanted to protect His people and, since the Messiah would come from this nation, Satan could use any form necessary to cause them to vanish off the earth. A skin plague, of any type, could diminish the nation. The same was true about the homes and buildings they would inherit after they took possession of the land. Like ticking bombs, mold and disease in the structure of the building can have adverse affects on the health of the nation. In our modern day thinking, we might consider asbestos and lead paint. There have been strong connections about health issues in relationship to these types of things in buildings and homes. To the point that lending institutions will not loan money to purchases that might have these affects. God was well ahead of lead paint and asbestos. God knew to warn the nation of Israel about the forms of danger that might hinder their growth as a nation and the plan to have a "healthy" nation bring fourth, The Messiah. God is concerned about cleanliness and order in out lives. He wants us to practice good, healthy living, so that we can carry out His plans for His Kingdom. We ought not to practice healthy living for the purpose of insurance, attraction or prestige. But, God has a plan and chooses to use us to carry out that plan. He wants us to be healthy for that purpose. Our health is to be considered a way to glorify Him and not to lower insurance rates, attract attention to ourselves, or promote a style of living that borders on "worship" of the body. He is concerned about our health ... for the purpose of bring glory to Himself and keep us purified for His plans.
The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “When you come into the land of Canaan, which I give you for a possession, and I put a case of leprous disease in a house in the land of your possession, then he who owns the house shall come and tell the priest, ‘There seems to me to be some case of disease in my house.’
Truth: God is concerned about the cleanliness of our living and life.
In Leviticus 13-15 we have the laws about infections skin diseases, often referred to as a leprous disease. Since the term "leprosy" was later used to define a specific disease, the word is often misunderstood as that disease only. The better interpretation is that, in regard to the body, God is warning the nation about any type of skin disease that might cause a mass contamination with the entire nation. God wanted to protect His people and, since the Messiah would come from this nation, Satan could use any form necessary to cause them to vanish off the earth. A skin plague, of any type, could diminish the nation. The same was true about the homes and buildings they would inherit after they took possession of the land. Like ticking bombs, mold and disease in the structure of the building can have adverse affects on the health of the nation. In our modern day thinking, we might consider asbestos and lead paint. There have been strong connections about health issues in relationship to these types of things in buildings and homes. To the point that lending institutions will not loan money to purchases that might have these affects. God was well ahead of lead paint and asbestos. God knew to warn the nation of Israel about the forms of danger that might hinder their growth as a nation and the plan to have a "healthy" nation bring fourth, The Messiah. God is concerned about cleanliness and order in out lives. He wants us to practice good, healthy living, so that we can carry out His plans for His Kingdom. We ought not to practice healthy living for the purpose of insurance, attraction or prestige. But, God has a plan and chooses to use us to carry out that plan. He wants us to be healthy for that purpose. Our health is to be considered a way to glorify Him and not to lower insurance rates, attract attention to ourselves, or promote a style of living that borders on "worship" of the body. He is concerned about our health ... for the purpose of bring glory to Himself and keep us purified for His plans.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Truth #189 - Our gains in righteousness are a loss; His righteousness for us is gain! Phillipians 3-4
Philippians 3:7-11
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Truth: Our gains in righteousness are a loss; His righteousness for us is gain!
When we attempt to take our achievements and accumulated accomplishments to become the righteousness we need to please God, we lose!! Anything that is a gain, for us, is a loss and rubbish. That gain is a hinderance our being found in Christ. The only way we can find Christ's righteousness is the righteousness that comes by faith in what Christ has done. We attempt to live our lives and make our own righteousness. Paul is telling us that anything we attempt to gain for our own righteousness is counted as a loss toward real righteousness. We are not taught that. We are programed that we gain achieve righteousness. Some faith-based denominations even teach that we are to work to achieve a righteousness that gives us favor with God. In the above passage Paul is telling us that we can't do anything by way of work that warrants God's unmerited favor. The reason it is called "unmerited favor" is that it is "unmerited." Paul, only through faith, wants to know the power in Christ's righteousness. Faith in Christ is the avenue that we can achieve the sharing of His suffering and the power of His resurrection. We not only can't achieve God's unmerited favor through our own achievements, we can't experience the power of Christ in our lives through our own work. The power of His resurrection and the sharing in His sufferings can only happen through faith. It is through this faith in Christ that we can "know" His power and share in His sufferings. We are not programmed to want to partake in "sufferings." Everything in our body wants us to avoid suffering. Yet, through faith in Christ's work, that is what happens. Faith in Christ allows us to partake in His suffering AND the power of His resurrection.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Truth: Our gains in righteousness are a loss; His righteousness for us is gain!
When we attempt to take our achievements and accumulated accomplishments to become the righteousness we need to please God, we lose!! Anything that is a gain, for us, is a loss and rubbish. That gain is a hinderance our being found in Christ. The only way we can find Christ's righteousness is the righteousness that comes by faith in what Christ has done. We attempt to live our lives and make our own righteousness. Paul is telling us that anything we attempt to gain for our own righteousness is counted as a loss toward real righteousness. We are not taught that. We are programed that we gain achieve righteousness. Some faith-based denominations even teach that we are to work to achieve a righteousness that gives us favor with God. In the above passage Paul is telling us that we can't do anything by way of work that warrants God's unmerited favor. The reason it is called "unmerited favor" is that it is "unmerited." Paul, only through faith, wants to know the power in Christ's righteousness. Faith in Christ is the avenue that we can achieve the sharing of His suffering and the power of His resurrection. We not only can't achieve God's unmerited favor through our own achievements, we can't experience the power of Christ in our lives through our own work. The power of His resurrection and the sharing in His sufferings can only happen through faith. It is through this faith in Christ that we can "know" His power and share in His sufferings. We are not programmed to want to partake in "sufferings." Everything in our body wants us to avoid suffering. Yet, through faith in Christ's work, that is what happens. Faith in Christ allows us to partake in His suffering AND the power of His resurrection.
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Truth #188 - Forgiveness is a commandment, not a choice of feeling - Luke 17-18
Luke 17:1-4
And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Truth: Forgiveness is hard, but commanded
If we wait to forgive someone until we feel like it, we probably will never forgive them. IF forgiveness is dependent upon the feelings of the offended, than forgiveness will forever be locked in the abyss of emotion. IF forgiveness is dependent upon our "thinking" the offending party deserves forgiveness, we will never see forgiveness carried out. Jesus knew this and, instead of allowing either our thinking or our emotions to control what God does for us out of character, commanded that we forgive. That makes forgiveness and act of obedience rather than a something we feel or think warranted. In the above passage the context is more than important. Prior to the commandment of forgiveness, Jesus has explained to His disciples how important it is to never offend a weaker brother. Jesus explains to them that temptations will come and in the temptation we are not to offend another brother. If we do offend them it would be better that we are drowned in the sea. Jesus than tell us to "pay attention" ... which could be a warning to not offend (the past statement) or warning to make sure we forgive (the following statement). What Jesus seems to be saying is that believers will be tempted to sin. When we do sin, we ought to be careful, in that choice of the temptation to not only not sin, but also to not offend our brother. IF, however, we do offend our brother, THAT brother is not to hold that sin against us. That offended brother is to rebuke the one who fell into temptation, sinned and, thus offended us. But, WE are to make sure we keep a spirit of forgiveness in our hearts and not continue to hold his sin over him. IF he asks forgiveness we are to grant it. Not just once, but repeatedly. So, one brother is not to offend another brother by sining in front of him/her. But, if the sin is committed in front of him/her, than him/her is to practice unlimited forgiveness toward the sinning brother. That is a radical thought process. That is what makes Christianity so bizarre. Those who practice such behavior are odd, unique and peculiar ... something we are supposed to be to the world. Note what Peter says about us:
1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Showing remarkable forgiveness to the outside world by forgiving those on the inside of the Kingdom should be a hallmark of our lives. However, instead of forgiving we blog about them; openingly gossip about them; and, continually hold it against them. This is neither Godly or obedient. Forgiveness is a commandment.
And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Truth: Forgiveness is hard, but commanded
If we wait to forgive someone until we feel like it, we probably will never forgive them. IF forgiveness is dependent upon the feelings of the offended, than forgiveness will forever be locked in the abyss of emotion. IF forgiveness is dependent upon our "thinking" the offending party deserves forgiveness, we will never see forgiveness carried out. Jesus knew this and, instead of allowing either our thinking or our emotions to control what God does for us out of character, commanded that we forgive. That makes forgiveness and act of obedience rather than a something we feel or think warranted. In the above passage the context is more than important. Prior to the commandment of forgiveness, Jesus has explained to His disciples how important it is to never offend a weaker brother. Jesus explains to them that temptations will come and in the temptation we are not to offend another brother. If we do offend them it would be better that we are drowned in the sea. Jesus than tell us to "pay attention" ... which could be a warning to not offend (the past statement) or warning to make sure we forgive (the following statement). What Jesus seems to be saying is that believers will be tempted to sin. When we do sin, we ought to be careful, in that choice of the temptation to not only not sin, but also to not offend our brother. IF, however, we do offend our brother, THAT brother is not to hold that sin against us. That offended brother is to rebuke the one who fell into temptation, sinned and, thus offended us. But, WE are to make sure we keep a spirit of forgiveness in our hearts and not continue to hold his sin over him. IF he asks forgiveness we are to grant it. Not just once, but repeatedly. So, one brother is not to offend another brother by sining in front of him/her. But, if the sin is committed in front of him/her, than him/her is to practice unlimited forgiveness toward the sinning brother. That is a radical thought process. That is what makes Christianity so bizarre. Those who practice such behavior are odd, unique and peculiar ... something we are supposed to be to the world. Note what Peter says about us:
1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Showing remarkable forgiveness to the outside world by forgiving those on the inside of the Kingdom should be a hallmark of our lives. However, instead of forgiving we blog about them; openingly gossip about them; and, continually hold it against them. This is neither Godly or obedient. Forgiveness is a commandment.
Friday, July 3, 2015
Truth #187 - When we pursue idols over God, God uses those idols over us! Ezekiel 18-24
Ezekiel 23:22
Therefore, O Oholibah, thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will stir up against you your lovers from whom you turned in disgust, and I will bring them against you from every side:
Truth: When we pursue idols over God, God uses those idols over us!
The nation of Israel had pursued worthless idols and now those idols, based upon the above passage, would be used by God to correct and discipline Israel. God had worshipped the glory of the Kings and armies of the surrounding nations. Instead of turning to God in their needs, they turned to Egypt and Babylon and other nations. God would use those very nations as the yoke of correction. God uses the things we pursue to correct us. When we pursue wealth over God, God will use that wealth to correct us and cause us to turn toward him (See the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus). When we pursue power and might, God will use power and might to correct us (See the story of Simon the sorcerer in Acts). When we pursue sex over God, God will use sexual issues to correct us (See the story of David and Bathsheba). God uses the things we love to correct us. When we put worthless idols in place of God we will find that God will turn those idols into tools to correct us. This entire section of Ezekiel is an explanation of God's anger and wrath at the nation of Israel for their rebellion against Him. In all the cases of correction, God uses the very things that they pursued, over Him, as tools to correct them. Pursue something other than God and we can expect that "thing" to become a tool in God's hand to bring us back to Him.
Therefore, O Oholibah, thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will stir up against you your lovers from whom you turned in disgust, and I will bring them against you from every side:
Truth: When we pursue idols over God, God uses those idols over us!
The nation of Israel had pursued worthless idols and now those idols, based upon the above passage, would be used by God to correct and discipline Israel. God had worshipped the glory of the Kings and armies of the surrounding nations. Instead of turning to God in their needs, they turned to Egypt and Babylon and other nations. God would use those very nations as the yoke of correction. God uses the things we pursue to correct us. When we pursue wealth over God, God will use that wealth to correct us and cause us to turn toward him (See the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus). When we pursue power and might, God will use power and might to correct us (See the story of Simon the sorcerer in Acts). When we pursue sex over God, God will use sexual issues to correct us (See the story of David and Bathsheba). God uses the things we love to correct us. When we put worthless idols in place of God we will find that God will turn those idols into tools to correct us. This entire section of Ezekiel is an explanation of God's anger and wrath at the nation of Israel for their rebellion against Him. In all the cases of correction, God uses the very things that they pursued, over Him, as tools to correct them. Pursue something other than God and we can expect that "thing" to become a tool in God's hand to bring us back to Him.
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Truth #186 - How you interact with non-believers matters - Provebs 9
Proverbs 9:7-8
" He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,
And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,
Reprove a wise man and he will love you."
Truth: How you interact with unbelivers matters
When you work with, lead or are in a position where you have to have a relationship with a scoffer, you are in a hard spot. Scoffing in our society is often defined as an act of jeering or mocking something. And, even though the Old Testament uses a similar meaning Solomon carries an additional aspect of the scoffer's life in that he/she is often tied to the rejection of wisdom, sound advice, or correct counsel. The scoffer DOES mock and jeer, but the reason they mock or jeer is because they reject the truth being spoken. Scoffers are like fools in that they reject truth, but the scoffer is the outward, verbal or aggressor of this rejection. The scoffer has past the point of the fool and is certainly far more advanced than the naive one. The scoffer not only can't handle the truth and doesn't like the truth, they want to attack and ridicule the truth, thinking that promotes them. In the above two proverbs the scoffer is seen as a the one who attacks the one correcting him and actually brings dishonor on the person speaking the truth. You WON'T win an argument with a scoffer. He will hate you in the end. In contrast, a wise man looks for and desires correction. You can tell if you are talking to a wise man or scoffer by how they handle correction. You will walk away with honor or dishonor depending on the person you are talking to, not the truth you are talking. Odd, but true.
" He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,
And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,
Reprove a wise man and he will love you."
Truth: How you interact with unbelivers matters
When you work with, lead or are in a position where you have to have a relationship with a scoffer, you are in a hard spot. Scoffing in our society is often defined as an act of jeering or mocking something. And, even though the Old Testament uses a similar meaning Solomon carries an additional aspect of the scoffer's life in that he/she is often tied to the rejection of wisdom, sound advice, or correct counsel. The scoffer DOES mock and jeer, but the reason they mock or jeer is because they reject the truth being spoken. Scoffers are like fools in that they reject truth, but the scoffer is the outward, verbal or aggressor of this rejection. The scoffer has past the point of the fool and is certainly far more advanced than the naive one. The scoffer not only can't handle the truth and doesn't like the truth, they want to attack and ridicule the truth, thinking that promotes them. In the above two proverbs the scoffer is seen as a the one who attacks the one correcting him and actually brings dishonor on the person speaking the truth. You WON'T win an argument with a scoffer. He will hate you in the end. In contrast, a wise man looks for and desires correction. You can tell if you are talking to a wise man or scoffer by how they handle correction. You will walk away with honor or dishonor depending on the person you are talking to, not the truth you are talking. Odd, but true.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Truth #185 - Only God can restore our trampled garden - Psalm 78-80
Psalms 80:14-18
Turn again, O God of hosts!
Look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
the stock that your right hand planted,
and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.
They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down;
may they perish at the rebuke of your face!
But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
Then we shall not turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call upon your name!
Truth: Without God's intervention we are nothing but a trampled garden
In the above passage the writer of Psalm 80 is expressing to God and confessing to God what the current state of Israel is in their rebellion and God-imposed discipline. They had rejected God's truth and had wandered into idolatry. God had sent an enemy to them to punish them. That punishment is characterized in the above portion of the psalm. The writer describes the nation (and people) as an overrun garden. Israel was God's chosen Vine. God plucked it from no-where and made it a great nation. Here is what the writer said, just a few verses earlier:
Psalms 80:8-10
You brought a vine out of Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
You cleared the ground for it;
it took deep root and filled the land.
The mountains were covered with its shade,
the mighty cedars with its branches.
Now, however, due to their idolatry, God had punished them and overrun the garden. The Vine was now trampled, cut down and burned. This passage, above, is a confession and acknowledgment of their position and plea for deliverance. Until we understand out plight and the reason for our plight we can't fully appreciate what God, and ONLY God, can do for us. They plead with God for deliverance. When we are in our sin and we continue to repeat our sin, that is when we have to realize that only God can deliver us. He wants to deliver us. God does deliver Israel. God can restore the vine. In John 15 we are told that He is the Vine and we are His Branches. God is restoring us, even as we live and breath. Only God can take the wicked people that we are and makes us flourishing branch for Him!!!!!
Turn again, O God of hosts!
Look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
the stock that your right hand planted,
and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.
They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down;
may they perish at the rebuke of your face!
But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
Then we shall not turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call upon your name!
Truth: Without God's intervention we are nothing but a trampled garden
In the above passage the writer of Psalm 80 is expressing to God and confessing to God what the current state of Israel is in their rebellion and God-imposed discipline. They had rejected God's truth and had wandered into idolatry. God had sent an enemy to them to punish them. That punishment is characterized in the above portion of the psalm. The writer describes the nation (and people) as an overrun garden. Israel was God's chosen Vine. God plucked it from no-where and made it a great nation. Here is what the writer said, just a few verses earlier:
Psalms 80:8-10
You brought a vine out of Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
You cleared the ground for it;
it took deep root and filled the land.
The mountains were covered with its shade,
the mighty cedars with its branches.
Now, however, due to their idolatry, God had punished them and overrun the garden. The Vine was now trampled, cut down and burned. This passage, above, is a confession and acknowledgment of their position and plea for deliverance. Until we understand out plight and the reason for our plight we can't fully appreciate what God, and ONLY God, can do for us. They plead with God for deliverance. When we are in our sin and we continue to repeat our sin, that is when we have to realize that only God can deliver us. He wants to deliver us. God does deliver Israel. God can restore the vine. In John 15 we are told that He is the Vine and we are His Branches. God is restoring us, even as we live and breath. Only God can take the wicked people that we are and makes us flourishing branch for Him!!!!!
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