Subject: The Tongue - Job 1-2

Job 2:13 (ESV Strong's)

And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

Subject:  The Tongue

When God allows Satan to attack Job personally, it was not a pretty sight.   When his three friends approached from a distance they didn't even recognize him.  The boils he had (from head to toe) are so bad that it has disfigured his body.   His capacity to do anything has been taken away and he sits on the ground in pain and suffering.   What do you say to someone in this situation?  That will be the central theme of the book:  What do you say to someone who is in physical pain due to a health alignment suddenly attacking him?  At first these three friends have nothing to say.   As we study the book we realize that was probably their best choice.   Their silence doesn't last.  They soon start talking and so miss the point of what is really happening with Job, that by the end of the book they are rebuked by a fourth friend we didn't know was even present.  The tongue is a powerful tool at the disposal of every person.   You can use it for good or you can use it for bad.  These three men attempt to "help" Job.   However, their words are more swords than salve.   Note what Solomon would say about the tongue:

Proverbs 18:21 (ESV Strong's)

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

When we come across someone who is in distress and struggling with some affliction of life we ought to remember Job's friends and Solomon's wisdom.   We have the opportunity to bring life or death; we have the opportunity to bring healing:

Proverbs 12:18 (ESV Strong's)
There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Job's friends should have kept their tongues from becoming sword thrusts, and rather bring healing.

Subject: God's Sovereignty - Psalms 1-2

Psalms 2:1-3 (ESV Strong's)

Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”

Subject:  God's Sovereignty

As the nightly news blares through most homes across the country we hear about one leader after another rage about what they would do in this situation and that situation.   A number of them are non-believers and they rage and sprout out words against the plan of God and the people of God.   These leaders have come to the point where they think their leadership and position have given them power to do harm to God's people.   They have read so much about themselves that they begin to believe it and will be crushed as a result of it.   In the next verse, after these three, the Psalmist writes, "He who sits in the heaven laughs;".     God is amused by these self-proclaim pontiffs. He does not fear them and He does not ignore them.   The world is completely taken aback by their rhetoric and their extremes mis-Justice of power.   The believe extreme violence will demonstrate their commitment to their cause.  Yet, their cause will be crushed by Jesus Christ, the maker and creator of all power.   They have their power because Jesus gives them their power.   He sets them simply to take them down.   They may plan but the victory is from the Lord.  

Subject: Victory in faith is to give God the credit - Joshua 1-5

Joshua 2:24 (ESV Strong's)

And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.”

Subject:  Victory in faith is to give God the credit.

The two spies Joshua sent to investigate Jericho are successful in their journey.   Upon their return they report to Joshua what they have discovered.  The big take-a-way of their mission is stated in the above verse.  They recognize a truth that is often lost on today's believer:  IF victory is is only by God's grace.   Today many believers think they can have victory over sin by their own efforts.   When we read God's Word daily we might want to take credit for doing so and thus believe or effort and discipline of reading God's Word is why we are victorious.    Yet, our reading is not the reason we have victory.  The victory comes when God uses His Word to change our lives.   Non-believers can read God's Word every day.   The Pharisees are a good example of this.   Yet, they didn't have any spiritual growth as a result.   God is the one who takes the Word and adds our faith to it and gives us victory.  These spies saw that if they would have victory over these nations in the land it was because of the work of God, not their sharp spears, intense effort, or deceptive strategy.   God would use all those things, as we will see.  But, God has to give the victory for those things to have any meaning.   God has to take our daily reading of the Word and use it to carve out our lives for Him.   It is His work that gives us the victory.   Satan does not melt away at the sound of our name. He melts away at the sound of Jesus name.

Subject: Work - Genesis 1-3

Genesis 3:17-19 (ESV Strong's)

And to Adam he said,
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten of the tree
of which I commanded you,
‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you;
in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
and you shall eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread,
till you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken;
for you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.”

Subject:  Work

Man was created to fellowship with God and was given the job of caring for God's creation, especially the Garden of Eden.   Adam and his wife were to care for a place that was perfect and, at the beginning, contained no sin nature.   That means the animals were in sync with creation and man and man was in sync with all creation.   There was no pollution, no sickness, no violence, nor anger.   But, because of the disobedience of eating the fruit, Adam would now have a nature that was in opposition to creation.  As part of the curse the land would now bring forth "thorns and thistles."   As part of the curse the earth would have to be subdued and there would be pain and sweat in regard to the earth.   Labor would no longer be a purpose of creation, but rather it would be a curse of creation.   Because of man's new sin nature, Man would now toil in the earth, when originally there was to be harmony with the earth.   Today our "jobs" and our interaction with the earth is troublesome.  We often see two extremes: Man hates work and avoids it, or man is consumed by work.  The ground has been cursed and the man who is to work the ground is cursed with it.   Romans tells us that along with the earth, man longs for redemption:

Romans 8:22-23 (ESV Strong's)
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

So, when God redeems us, we have a new perspective on work and toil.  Our sin nature will continue to fight, but our new nature has a new purpose; a restoration of the original purpose.  We have be born again to serve the creator and to care for His creation and to toil in creation toward Him.   It is only the redeemed who can properly understand the nature of work, because only the redeemed as a new nature toward work.

Truth #364 - We have a duty to protect the church from false teaching. Jude

Jude 1:20-23 (ESV Strong's)

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
And have mercy on those who doubt;
save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Truth:  Believers have a duty to correct and stay clear of false teachers

In Jude we have a warning to the church about how to interact with and deal with false teachers in the church.  It is not a question of "if" we will have a false teaching, but "when" will be have false teaching.  It is only a question of "what" will be our response to false teaching.   In the above passage, Jude outlines a multi-prong approach:

1]  We are to pray in the Holy Spirit for our safety, the churches holiness and their judgement.   We must make sure we realize this is a war of God against evil and our part is to petition God's intervention.

2]. We are to continue to demonstrate the love of God and what that means in the walk of faith.  This "love" will eventually lead to "mercy" and "eternal life" for some.   Our job is to love others to Christ.  

3]. We are to show mercy on those we can show mercy.   There will be some who are overtaken by the false teaching.  We are to reach out in mercy and show them the error of the teaching and lead them back, in mercy, to the truth of the Gospel.

4]. We are "snatch" others from the fire.   There will be times, in the church, that we need to have a sense of urgency of warning those who are entering into sin and who are in danger of God's judgement (Galatians 6:1-2; 1 John 5:16-17).

5.  We need to make sure we are not stained by the same false teaching.  The vivid picture Jude gives is that of someone who is so filthy from their own excrements that they have soiled their clothes, as well.   What Jude is saying is don't get close to them lest they soil you, as well.  There is a separation clause in Jude's warning.

God takes false teaching very serious in the church.  We are to handle it as a cancer but with grace and love and mercy and in the power of the Holy Spirit.  

Truth #363 - In all circumstances preach Christ - Acts 27-28

Acts 28:23-24 (ESV Strong's)

When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.
And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.

Truth:  No matter the circumstances there is always an opportunity  to tell the story of Jesus

Paul finally makes it to Rome.  Satan didn't want him to be there.  Satan knew that Paul would use the opportunity in the world's biggest city to further preach Christ.   The final leg of the trip to Rome was full of peril.  From shipwreck to sneak bite, Paul survives and arrives.   In an unusual twist, rather than recover, within three days Paul "called together" the local Jewish leaders.   It was their counterparts in Jerusalem who made the original charges against Paul.   Yet, he calls for them!!   Paul had earlier written to the Roman believers, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God."   Here he demonstrates what he was saying.   He invites these leaders and many more to his prison home and expounds for a full day the Gospel as seen in the O.T.   Some would believe and some would not .   Paul was, however, only the tool God used.  He so realized that no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in, Christ is to be preached.   God has someone out there we are to tell about Christ.   Paul could have retired.  Paul could have rested.  Paul could have complained.   Instead, Paul preached Christ.  

Truth #362 - Christ's return with judgement is an act of His Grace - Revelaiton 18-22

Revelation 22:20-21 (ESV Strong's)

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Truth:  Christ's return with judgement is an act of His Grace.

In the last chapters of the Book of the Revelation we have the final judgment on man, Angels and Satan himself.   God is going to judge them for their rejection of His Son and the Son will be the one who does the judging (along with the Saints who believe in Christ).   The torment that will be inflicted upon man is hard to read.   If we believe it to be true we can't help but think of our loved ones who have rejected Christ and stand to be inflicted by God's wrath.   Yet, John ends the book by saying He is coming soon and "grace" be on all.  There are some difficulties with the text in regard to who the grace is spoken to.   Some translate it "all" as in "all mankind" and others translate it "all" as in "all believers."   (The issue with the interpretation of "all mankind" is argued that all mankind are not receiving grace ... Just read the way God's wrath is being poured out on them.).  The key to understanding the phrase however, is to realize the God's wrath is an expression of God's grace.  It is grace that defeats evil. It is God's grace that carries fourth judgement.   If God were not to carry forth judgement the world would destroy itself with evil.   If God were to allow evil to prevail, that is not a gracious act.   So, God's judgement is an act of His grace.  When a father punishes a child (for the own good), it is an act of grace.    Christ is coming to defeat evil and to rule in perfect grace.    That includes His perfect judgment.

Truth #361 - God created love-making for us to enjoy - Song of Solomon 7-8

Song of Songs 8:14 (ESV Strong's)

She Make haste, my beloved,
and be like a gazelle
or a young stag
on the mountains of spices.

Truth:  God created loving for us to enjoy

Hollywood and the Internet have objectified the love making between man and a woman.  They have exploited for their own gain and for the moral corruption of society.  They were not the first.  They are simply one group(s) in a long line throughout the centenaries of man's existence.   The book of Song of Solomon is a complete story of a man and a woman, in love, and wanting to fulfill love.   It is God's narrative on love-making.   It is, perhaps, the most mis-understood book in the Bible (perhaps even more than The Revelation and Daniel).  It is always difficult in the book to know who is talking and if the metaphor is speaking of sex, or, actually, it is not a metaphor.   It isn't then surprising to come to the last verse (above) in the book and wonder what the main female character is saying to us.   The book is a culmination of the two lovers adoring, gazing, dreaming and/or thinking of the other in the context of physical attraction and sexual desire.   The last verse is the female speaking to the male and telling him to "make haste" (like a gazelle or young stag ... a very fast animal) on the "mountains of spices."   Assuming "mountains of spices" is one last metaphor for the sexual experience, or, at least, for the body of the woman that awaits the man, it is God's last words on the beauty of the sexual experience.  The metaphor of spices was used before by Solomon in Proverbs 7 to create a vision of the sensualness and pleasure found in the sexual experience.   When you open the cupboard in the kitchen that contains the various spices for cooking, the fragrances are amazing.   Imagine a "mountain" of spices.    That is the picture God leave us in regard to the sexual experience.  The main male figure in the story is told to "make haste" to this mountain.  I doubt if he has to be told.   The beauty of the sexual experience, as told by God, stands in stark contrast to the smut and denigration the world has made the art of love-making.   We are to rejoice in what God intended.   Sexual pleasure is a mountain of spices.

Truth #360 - There is much reason to boast about God!! - Psalm 149-150

Psalms 150:6 (ESV Strong's)

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

Truth:  There is much reason to boast about God!!

It is fitting that the Book of Psalms would end with such statements as those above.   The entire book is about singing out praise to God and why that praise is both commanded and a natural out-pouring of the life of a believer.   The book would be better named Book of Boasting about God!!    The Hebrew word in the above verse is the word "halal".   The first time in the Old Testament we see the word is in Genesis when Abraham arrived in Egypt and the princes of Pharaoh "boasted" to Pharaoh of how beautiful Sarah was.   The word is used in the O.T. more that 165 times.  Almost half of those times the word is used in Psalms.   What the writer is saying is that everyone who has breath should "boast" about God.   In the early parts of this particular psalm the writer tells us to use certain types of instruments to "halal" about God.   The English word, "hallelujah" is the combination of "halal" and "Yahweh" the Hebrew word for God.   So, hallelujah means, "boast about God."   Throughout the entire book of Psalm the writers are telling us the way and reason to boast bout God.    So, to end the book, in this manner, is to realize that the very breath we have is to be spent praising God and boasting about what He has done for me and will, yet, do for me!!   What a way to spend the day!!

Truth #359 - God has the power to put His people in places of power - Esther 6-10

Esther 9:4 (ESV Strong's)

For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai grew more and more powerful.

Truth:  God has the power to put His people in places of power.

The above verse is just one example of God putting His people in places of power to influence the non-believing kings of the world.  Probably the most famous of these "influencers" is Joseph and Daniel.   Both these men, slaves by trade, were, through Divine circumstances, placed in positions of great power.  They were given great influence over the decisions of the land.  They were enable to do great things for the People of God.    Joseph, Daniel and Mordecai are great examples of what God can do in our lives if we but submit to His sovereign rule and reign.   God is not intimidated by the leaders of this world or any world.    We often come to a place of fear because of what some crazy dictator or selfish politician can do to those around them, especially to the Christian.  Yet, God has positioned in the exact right place someone to be the voice in the ear of such men to divert their plans or influence their decisions.   We ought not to fear what man can do to us.   We ought to be in the fear of the Lord of how God can place us, like these great men, in the exact location to whisper into the ear of the king (whatever type of "King" it is) and affect a decision for the Kingdom of God.    Proverbs 22:1 states the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord and like the waters in a river are controlled by the banks of the river, so too is the king's heart controlled by God.   What a blessed and restful thought.

Truth #358 - God saved Israel and us for His Namesake - Deuteronomy 32-34

Deuteronomy 32:26-27 (ESV Strong's)

I would have said, “I will cut them to pieces;
I will wipe them from human memory,”

had I not feared provocation by the enemy,
lest their adversaries should misunderstand,
lest they should say, “Our hand is triumphant,
it was not the Lord who did all this.”’

Truth:  God saved Israel for His namesake and not because they deserved it.

Over the years, Israel became quite puffed up that they were "God's people."  The book of Romans was written so that the Jews who were Christians in the church would not think they had special privilege over the Gentiles in the body.   The council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 was held because the Gospel had come to the Gentiles and the Jews felt that the Gentiles should have to take on some of the Jewish customs and add those customs to their salvation requirements.   When Peter was told to go to the Gentiles in Acts 10 he, at first, stated that he had never done anything so unclean.   In John 4 Jesus is discovered by the disciples talking to a Samaritan, and, in that, a women.   To say that the Jewish people had an arrogance about them would be a gross understatement.   They believed they were God's chosen people ... And they were!!   Yet, as the above verse states (and is repeated throughout Scripture) they were God chosen people because God chose them.  It was not because they deserved it.  God saved them and rescued them for His own reputation and His own greatness.    The same is true today.  We are not the "elect" because of something we did, but because God chose to make us holy through the death of His Son.   We can often get  proud of our Christianity and believe we had something to do with it, or that Christ saved us because He saw something special in us.   That is the farthest thing from truth.   God saved them and us because we have a need to be saved and because He is a gracious God who promised to save.   Israel was boastful because they were rescued.   That is like someone being saved from drowning and trying to take the praise from the one who dove into the chilling water and rescued us.  We need to praise God for our salvation.

Truth #357 - When you mimic - mimic good - 3 John

3 John 1:11 (ESV Strong's)

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

Truth:  When you mimic - mimic good.

We all mimic something or someone.  We see someone wearing a particular outfit, hat, boots, shoes, or jacket and determine that we would also look good in such a look.  Those who produce particular products pay much money for "product placement" in a movie or show.  They know that if others see the look, they will want to mimic that look.   The Greek word for "imitate" in the above passage is were we get our English "mimic."   What the writer is saying is he wants us to mimic good and not evil.   This desire to follow other patterns innate in us.   We were made in the image of God.   Our heart's desire out to be to mimic God.  However, due to our sin nature, we can't mimic God.  Jesus Christ came to not only give us a pattern to mimic but also the power to mimic Him.   The thought here is that we are to mimic Christ.   Those who mimic Christ demonstrate evidence that they are from God.  Those who do not mimic Christ give evidence that they are from the Evil One.   In this short book John is stating that Diotrephes was a man in the church who did not do good.   John is telling them:  "Don't mimic Diotrephes."   John then tells them about a man in the church named Demetrius.   Demetrius was doing good in the church.  John is saying, "Mimic him!"    When we see a look in Holloywood or a life style in the world we ought be careful what we mimic.  Is the mimic based upon what is good (Christ) or what is evil (Satan's world)?

Truth #356 - Our heart's desire ought to be the salvation of others. Acts 25-26

Acts 26:27-29 (ESV Strong's)

King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”
And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”
And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

Truth:  Our heart's desire ought to be the salvation of others.

Paul was arrested in Jerusalem by the Jews who accused him of desecrating the temple.  In the aftermath Paul appealed to Caesar's court and the Roman legal system.  It is stated in v. 32 by the leaders that are present that Paul would be set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.   God had another plan for Paul.   Instead of setting him free, God gave him a chance to proclaim Christ in front of King Agrippa and Governor Fetus.   Paul, without this issue in his life, would probably never get a chance to witness to the king and the governor.   God used the "chains" of Paul's life to put him in the exact position God wanted him to be in to witness to the powers that be in the land.  God uses these circumstances to test us and to shape us into His image.  But, God also uses these issues to give us a platform to share the forgiveness that is in Christ.   Paul had the chance.   Although the King mocks him, Paul tells us the reason he is there: "I would to God that not only but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am ...".    This ought to be our desire for those we meet no matter the circumstances of that meeting.   This is are purpose in life.  

Truth #355 - Satan waits for an opportunity to crush Christ - Revelation 12-17

Revelation 12:3-4 (ESV Strong's)

And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.
His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.

Truth:  Satan waits for an opportunity to crush Christ.

In the above passage we see John describing the attitude and activity of Satan, in regard to Christ's birth.   In the ancient world it was not unusual for the enemy to wait patiently for the birth of the next leader and attempt to kill him at birth, thus ending the rule of the current King and his family.   This practice and the above passage reflect what happen when Christ was born.   Herod the king was jealous and suspicious of the New Born King of the Jews.  So, in his rage, he had all the baby boys killed, hoping to kill the Christ child.   This was done by the act of Herod, an actual historical figure, but done as a plan of Satan.   The acts we see against Christ and Christianity are committed by men but are done so at the bequeath of the Chief Demon!!   The cruel acts we see in the world today, albeit committed by mere men in the name of their twisted faith, are actually acts orchestrated by Satan to destroy Christ and those who pledge allegiance to Him!   We are not in a war with mere men and their religion.  We are in a war with Satan over the power of Christ and the rule of Christ.    These chapters of the book of the Revelation are written to tell us that Christ will eventually not only administer justice over those who fought against Him, but will ultimately rule the earth.   The Dragon attempt to destroy the King of Kings, but ultimately he will be defeated by God's great power and Justice.

Truth #354 - God creates sexual and physical attraction - Song of Solomon 5-6

Song of Songs 6:4-5a (ESV Strong's)

He You are beautiful as Tirzah, my love,
lovely as Jerusalem,
awesome as an army with banners.
Turn away your eyes from me,
for they overwhelm me—

Truth: God made the love of a man and a woman a captivating love.

Chapter five and six of this book is about the sexual tension building up between the man and the woman before their nuptials.  They are gazing on each other and exploring their own sexuality and dreaming of the sexual encounter they will be sharing after their wedding (chapters seven and eight).  In the above verse we see another aspect of the love they have for each other.  The man is gazing at his bride and is totally captivated by her.   She has in essence, "taken his breath away."  He states her beauty "overwhelms" him.   To be taken in by the beauty of your love is something created and bestowed upon us by God.   God created beauty and it is only He who can cause the one we love to overwhelm us.   The man is so taking in the women he has asked her to "turn away" her eyes from him.   This is true captivation.  Her eyes are so full of beauty that he asks her to turn away from him.  Imagine the love God has bestowed upon us and the aspect of physical attraction that God has bestowed on us and enabled us to have with another person.  This love of each other comes as a gift from God.   We ought to praise Him for the sexual and physical attraction we have with another.  

Truth #353 - Peace is a gift of God, not a war to be won! Psalm 146-148

Psalms 147:12-14 (ESV Strong's)

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you.
He makes peace in your borders;
he fills you with the finest of the wheat.

Truth:  If we have peace it is a gift of God not a work of man

Our world is in an uproar!!   There is a "holy war" going on between God and Satan; between Christ and the Evil One.   The Evil One is using false doctrine to caused deception, derision and death.   Our world and political governance is trying to find peace.  They are trying to legislate it!  They are trying to orchestrate it!!  They are trying to create it!!!   Yet, in the above verse we read that IF we have peace in our "borders," it is because: He makes peace in your borders!!   The emphasis is on the "HE" of the verse.  He "strengthens the bars of your gates" the verse says.   Our world will not be able to experience peace until it recognizes the source of peace: God the Father, through Christ the Son, in the Power of God the Spirit.  Unless the rulers of the world come to their knees and are willing to submit to the God of the universe, they will not have peace.   Christ said, just before He died and rose again, that He would leave peace with this who believe:

John 14:27 (ESV Strong's)
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Peace, according to this verse, is not the absence of war, it is the presence of something Christ provides.   The world wants the fighting to stop. That is not peace.  Peace, according to the Word of God, is the presence of something only God can provide.  We ought to pray for peace.  But, we ought not get caught up in the world's definition and outline for peace.   Christ was sent as the Peace of the World.   Christ is the gift of peace.   Until the world recognizes it they can only fight each other for their fake versions of peace.

Truth #352 - God can move any heart for His plan - Esther 1-5

Esther 5:1-2 (ESV Strong's)

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, in front of the king's quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace.
And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

Truth:  Even God can overcome the issues of a paranoid king.

In the days of Esther, the king of the Medes was a paranoid and fearful man.   No one was able to come into the chamber of the king without his direct permission.   We have to remember that in those days the coup to overtake a leader was quite common.   It was nothing for an enemy to enter the kingdom by deception with the desire to kill the king.   Even the kings own family would have aspirations to kill the king.   The "cupbearer" of the king would drink and taste everything so that the king could feel safe.   When Esther became queen she was vetted for one-year, along with all the other virgins.  This was no doubt to assure she was not carrying some disease, or was a potential murderous.   This is what makes the story of Esther coming to the king so intriguing.   Esther's cousin (Mordecai ... who had raised Esther) had alerted Esther to the decree, instituted by evil and jealous Haman, to have all the Jews killed.  Esther needed to approach the king to ask him to rescind the decree.  But, Esther couldn't just rush into the king.  She would have to summoned.   She asks Mordecai to ask all the Jews to pray and fast for three days.   As a result of their imploring God for her, she simply waits outside the door and the king summons her into his chambers.   Esther shows great wisdom and faith as she does the impossible.  Through her faith she sees that God can turn the heart of the king.   Perhaps she had a copy of the book of Proverbs and had read the following:

Proverbs 21:1 (ESV Strong's)
The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will.

Whatever the reason for her faith, it demonstrates to us that God can work in the hearts of anyone to accomplish His task for His people.

Truth #351 - God must open our eyes to His truth - Deuteronomy 29-31

Deuteronomy 29:4 (ESV Strong's)
But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.

Truth:  God must open our eyes to see the truth of God's Word.

Later in this chapter Moses is going to tell the nation that God has secrets and those secrets are beyond their understanding.  Note:

Deuteronomy 29:29 (ESV Strong's)
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Here Moses gives us a truth that God has truth that only He can reveal.   some things are a mystery that only God can reveal.  The nation of Israel was not always ready to receive these things because of their disobedience.    Later in the New Testament Paul writes about this mystery:

Colossians 1:24-28 (ESV Strong's)
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,
the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

They "mystery" that God must reveal to us is the Gospel message: That Christ died for our sins and lives again for our power and freedom from sin.   By faith we must come to God and believe that He will reveal Himself to us.   We can rejoice that He choose to reveal Himself to us and we can learn more and more about that mystery.   The nation of Israel did not always have the faith to trust God for Him to reveal Himself to them.   Despite the wonders and the power He showed them, they still sought the gods of the world.  

Truth #350 - Truth is not simply a command, it is a relationship - 2 John

2 John 1:2 (ESV Strong's)

because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

Truth:  Truth is more than a command, it is a relationship with the Christ you is TRUTH.

2 John was written to make sure the church John is writing to will continue their walk in love for one another.  The reason that is so important is that true Biblical love is not simply based upon obeying a command of Christ to love one another (although, that would be enough if that were the only reason).   The reason John wants them to walk in love is because true Biblical love is based upon truth!!   Truth, however, is not a mere systematic set of rules.  Truth is a person.  Note:

John 14:6 (ESV Strong's)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

If Truth were simply a set of known and agreed upon statements, it would "abide" in us by our knowledge of those statements and our agreement to them.  However, Biblical Truth is the Person of Christ.   Christ is the embodiment of all Truth.   When we believe in Christ we have the living Truth living within us to influence us, empower us, equip us, and motivate us to love our fellow believers.   The Truth (Christ) is the motivation to love others.  Love, per John, is the single most important outcome of a relationship with Christ.   Since THE Truth loved us, and the THE Truth is indwelling us, we can't help but love others and abide in the faith.    When John tells us that the truth abides in us he wants us to know this a personal relationship and not some mere commitment to some stated and agreed upon premise.   The Truth is a relationship.

Truth #349 - The resurrection is the single most offensive belief - Acts 23-24

Acts 24:21 (ESV Strong's)

other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”

Truth:  The one thing that offends the world the most is our belief that Jesus rose from the dead!!

The central theme of Christianity is that Jesus was crucified for us and rose from the dead to defeat the bounds that sin and death have on us.   Other "religions" have worship services.  Other "organizations of faith" have hierarchy of leadership.   Other "faith-based" groups have "steps to right living."   Other "churches" even have a person in their past they either worship or derive their inspiration.  However, NO other faith even claims the claim of Christianity:  A Savior who died for us and rose from the dead.  Other faiths put the responsibility on the worshipper to become holy "enough" to pass the test to qualify for the after-life.    In the above passage Paul is defending himself in front of a Roman puppet leader.   The province Paul was in had a Roman leader and his authority extended to this dispute between Paul and the Jewish leaders.  Paul is making his defense.  He is telling the Roman authority that his ONLY crime was claiming that Jesus rose from the dead.   That, however, will be enough in our world.  The resurrection is offensive to the non-believer because it defines the need for a non-repenting world to repent!!   The resurrection defines a future "after-life" for everyone and that implies that we will be judged!  That judgment is offensive to the world.   Other faiths have a judgement, but the results of their judgement is based upon their own standards ... did they "work" enough to "earn" their after-life blessing.   In Christianity the resurrection of Christ makes it clear we must believe and accept Christ's work for us to have an after-life with Him.   That offends the non-repenting person in the world.  The resurrection of Christ is the single-most offensive belief we hold.   Hold it strong!!

Truth #348 - In the end, Christ's work will be fully manifested - Revelation 6-11

Revelation 7:15-17 (ESV Strong's)

“Therefore they are before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Truth:  In the end, Christ's work will be fully manifested to Israel.

The above "hymn" of praise is spoken as a response to what John prophesies about the "144,000 of Israel" that will be rescued in the end times.    There is much debate as to whether this is "physical" Israel (the actual nation of Israel on earth today), or if it is "spiritual" Israel (those, who by faith, are born into the chosen family of God).   The debate will continue to rage over that question.   Whether physical or spiritual Israel, the result of God's plan is stated in the above verse.  God will, in the end, bless "Israel" (both physical and spiritual).   In the end, the plan is that God will be victorious over His enemies and will bless those who find rest in Him through Christ by faith.   The hymn states that Christ will "shelter them" with His presence.   Today we have God's protection, but in the end those who place faith in Him will be completely sheltered.   The hymn says they will "hunger no more, nether thirst anymore."   In the previous chapters the end of the earth brings famine and corrupts the water supply.  Yet, God, in the end, will make sure those who trust Him will have complete physical care.   This hymn states that Christ will even protect them from the sun and the scorching heat.   It states that Christ will, in the end, be their Shepherd and will guide them and take away the tears from their eyes."  This is the final victory of Christ's work.   We may not know the "who" of this hymn, but we do know the "what" of God's plan.   We can rejoice in God's final act being directed to those He loves to give them final rest and blessing.   This is the plan of God.  

Truth #347 - Beauty is a creation of God to be enjoyed - Song of Songs 3-4

Song of Songs 4:1 (ESV Strong's)

He Behold, you are beautiful, my love,
behold, you are beautiful!
Your eyes are doves
behind your veil.
Your hair is like a flock of goats
leaping down the slopes of Gilead.

Truth:  Beauty is a creation of God!

In chapters three and four of this Song, we have a very intimate setting.   The references are the bride and the groom dreaming and imagining their future together, primarily the physical-sexual aspects.   They long to be intimate with each other.  God's Word does not objectify sexual encounters like the world does.  God's Word characterizes the intimacy of a man and a women in the context of love and the bounds of marriage (at this point in the story, however, the betrothal).   At this point in the text we only have the activity of their minds.  Since they are not official married, the actual intimacy hasn't yet taken place.   At this point there is only admiration and desire.   In that desire (building up to the actual act) the bride and groom describe their emotion and their admiration and desire for each other.  In these two verses the groom speaks of the beauty of the bride.   Although the actual lines may not resonate with us (saying your bride/wife's hair looks like "flocks of goats leaping" may not get you any points at home), the groom is captivated with the appearance of his bride.  She apparently strikes quite a figure.   The key element here is that God has created our beauty to beheld by the one we love.  There is no physical attraction here of a stranger.   She is not attempting to be attractive to the world, but to her love.   This is shared moment in which the two of them admire the appearance of the other (the entire chapter four theme).  Admiration and recognition of the appearance of the spouse to be is part of the build-up of the marriage act.   God created beauty and our appreciation of beauty to be part of the act of marriage.   Sexual relationship in the bounds of marriage includes the aspect of the beauty of one capturing the eye of the other.   When the beauty is in the bounds of the marriage it is holy and Godly.   Outside the marriage it is objectifying and lustful.   Here the man is attracted by her appearance in a way that will build their relationship together.   Recognizing the beauty of the one you love should be a natural part of the sexual process.

Truth #346 - God is near those who pursue Him in truth - Psalm 143-145

Psalms 145:18 (ESV Strong's)

The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.

Truth:   God is near those who pursue them without hypocrisy!

Many people pursue God.  But, many of those who pursue God with a design in mind.   They want a God is loving and seldom want a God who is BOTH loving AND just.   Somehow those who pursue God believe that He should be what they are looking for, rather than pursuing Him in truth ... in a way free from falsehood.  The only way to pursue God in truth is to assure we are doing so by faith with no prejudice in what we want to find.  The women at the well had a preconceived idea of what worship should look like.  However, Jesus told her that her worship would be different if she pursued Him in faith:

John 4:23-24 (ESV Strong's)
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

God is there for those who want to believe in Him.  God will reveal more and more about Himself if we start with the belief that He is God and we are men and we no nothing about Him.  What we know about Him comes from His revealing Himself to us.   But, we can't know Him if we start with a false premise and a false desire to know who He IS and not who we WANT Him to be.   God reveals Himself to those who pursue Him by faith and the Spirit and in Truth.

Truth #345 - God remembers the good we do!! Nehemaih 10-13

Nehemiah 13:30-31 (ESV Strong's)

Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work;
and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits.
Remember me, O my God, for good.

Truth:  God remembers the good we do!

Nehemiah, on four separate occasions asks God to "remember" the good that he did.   He had returned from captivity (they were in captivity because they disobeyed God) and he spent his life re-building the city walls and assisting Ezra in rebuilding the Temple.   In the later time of his ministry he was dedicated to rebuilding the hearts of the people and the practical day-to-day lives of the people.   For instance, Nehemiah wanted to keep the Sabbath holy.  God had commanded them to do no work, so Nehemiah stopped the sale of goods on the Sabbath.  God had commanded them to not marry wives from foreign lands.  Nehemiah stopped this practice.   In each step he made to restore the walls and worship center of the people, Nehemiah matched it that by establishing the walk of the people before God.   Nehemiah new that the real work was not the symbolic brick and mortar of the buildings and the city, but the walk and step each day of their lives.  This was the good work.  Nehemiah prayed that God would remember this work he did.   In essence Nehemiah is simply claiming the promises of God.  God had told the nation (in Deuteronomy 25-28) that if they obeyed God they would be blessed.   If they disobeyed God they would be cursed.   Because the captivity was based upon their disobedience, it was important in the rebuilding that they obey and not return to captivity.   That is why Nehemiah claims the promises of blessing for purifying the nation's practices.   So, the "remember me" was not a prideful claim of, "look what I have done," but a prayer based upon the promises of God and claiming those promises.   We should constantly be claiming the promises of God.   That is our praise and worship to Him.   It is an act of faith for us.

Truth #344 - Only God can cause you to be respected and honored Deuteronmy 26-28

Deuteronomy 28:9-10 (ESV Strong's)

The Lord will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways.
And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you.

Truth:  Only God can cause you to be respected and honored.  

In this section of Deuteronomy we have the "blessings and the curses."   God is giving the nation the outline of what can and will happen if they obey Him and what can and will happen if they disobey Him.   If they disobey they have nothing but cures in front of them.  If they obey, they have blessings.   It was a simply as that.  Blessing (even in tough times and in suffering) follows those who follow God's word and obey Him.   The specific blessing mentioned above is that the nation can be blessed by having their enemies and the peoples of the world "fear them."  That might not sound much good to us, in our society.  However, in Israel's day (they were about to enter the promise land) this was huge.   Having your enemies fear you, rather than believe they can conquer you, meant many wars avoided and many victories ahead.   Only God can bring this kind of honor upon us.   Solomon makes mention of honoring being a blessing found for those who fear the Lord and obtain wisdom:

Proverbs 3:16 (ESV Strong's)
 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

God causes others to fear us and to honor us.  Honor is His to bestow.   Honor is not what we have done, or achieved, or earned.  Honor is a blessing from God that comes to those who Honor God.

Truth #343 - Someone's belief about Christ determines if they are antichrist - 1 John 4-5

1 John 4:2-3 (ESV Strong's)

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

Truth:  What someone believes about Christ determines if they are with Christ or anti-Christ.

There are many religions who profess a form of belief in "God."   They practice faith and preach faith and even propagate faith.   Yet, the substance of their faith is missing the main point ... THE Son of God!!   The above passage (and many that follow in these two chapters) tell us that we MUST believe that Jesus was the Son of God and the Messiah, the Savior of the World.   John is emphatic that we believe that Jesus was the ONLY Son of God.   We can determine if a faith is true or false based upon this single doctrine.   The reason we can is because that is what John tells us.  We might differ in many other aspects of our faith and doctrine.   But, we have to start with this one main thought: Jesus Christ is THE Son of God and in Him ONLY is our salvation.   If we stray from that truth we leave the very cornerstone of faith.    John tells us that those who deny Christ are antichrist.   He also tells us that the "spirit of antichrist" is already in the world.   We were told by Christ that the end times would find a spirit of antichrist, but John tells us it is already amongst them.   So, too, with us today.   Those who deny that Christ was THE Son of God and THE Savior of the Word are many.  Today they continue to preach their own doctrine and they continue to deny Christ.  Ask someone if they believe if Jesus is THE ONLY, TRUE Son of God and Savior of the world.  That will tell you if they or their faith is Spirit filled by Christ, or antichrist.

Truth #342 - By faith we are to take the hardest road for Christ - Acts 21-22

Acts 22:25-26 (ESV Strong's)

But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?”
When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”

Truth:  When suffering for Christ Paul was willing to do so at the highest level.

When reading the above passage, we see that Paul, about to be flogged for his faith, appeals to his Roman citizenship.   This appeal actually stops the flogging.   Paul speaks out and avoids the beating.   We might have a trouble with this passage when we read it in light of what Peter tells us in his epistle.   Note Peter's words in regard to suffering for Christ (also composed by the Holy Spirit):

1 Peter 2:21-23 (ESV Strong's)

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Peter tells us to suffer like Christ did.  Christ said nothing and took the punishment for us.  Why did Paul, then, claim his citizenship to Rome?  Why not commit himself to "him who judges justly?"   The key here is to realize that Paul had already been told by God, through a prophet, that he would suffer in Rome (Acts 21:10-12).   By appealing to Roman law, Paul was willing to go to the highest court in the land to suffer.   Paul was not appealing to Roman law to escape suffering.  By appealing to Roman law he was putting himself right in the path of greater suffering.  In fact, by going to Rome  he would seal his death for Christ.   Paul was willing to suffer to the greatest part for Christ.   A beating would have been easy compared to what Paul was about to endure.   By faith, he took the hard road.

Truth #341 - We are created to worship Christ - Revelation 1-5

Revelation 5:13-14 (ESV Strong's)

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Truth:  When it is all said and done we will sing praise to the worthiness of Christ!!

Chapters 1-5 of Revelation are all about the Son of God and His knowledge of the Church; His power over the Church; His chastisement of the Church; His blessing for the Church; and, the Honor due Him from the Church (which is His bride).   In each "era" of the Church (written about in regard to a specific city) Christ speaks to them that He "knows their works."  After reveling what He knows to John, the prophet is brought further into the the throne room of God and there he sees the 24 elders and the host of heaven singing praise to the Lamb of God: Christ.   The praise is because "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain" (Revelation 5:12).   Because Christ is worthy "every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea" break out in praise.  Imagine that scene!! Imagine if, today, that scene were to take place!!!   The worship of Christ because He is worth of worship is the main occupation of heaven.  We often think of heaven as the perfect place for "us."   However, heaven is about Christ, not us.   We are called to worship Christ.  We can't because of our sin.  We are therefore saved to worship Christ!!   That is what we are created to do.

Truth #340 - Unconditional love can change how someone views themselves. Song of Solomon 1-2

Song of Songs 1:5-7 (ESV Strong's
She I am very dark, but lovely,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
like the tents of Kedar,
like the curtains of Solomon.

Do not gaze at me because I am dark,
because the sun has looked upon me.
My mother's sons were angry with me;
they made me keeper of the vineyards,
but my own vineyard I have not kept!

Truth:  Unconditional love can overcome self-doubt and self-deprecation.

The Song of Solomon is either a love song written by Solomon or a love song written about Solomon and his lover and eventual bride. Whichever the case, the above verse indicates that his future bride is experiencing some interchange with the world around her in regard to her skin color.   Before we get to far into an application, here is what one commentary stated about this section:

(Word Biblical Commentary) Also, this description of the woman's appearance is strikingly similar to what we read of the young David's appearance: "he was reddish [deeply tanned?] with beautiful eyes and good looks" (1 Sam 16:12). Even the reason for David's reddened skin is similar: "he is looking after the sheep" (1 Sam 16:11). Perhaps the woman's keeping of the vineyard is to be regarded as the feminine counterpart to David's watching of the sheep. It is difficult to know what to make of this parallel; is it coincidental or deliberate on the part of the Song? If the latter, perhaps the point is to endow the woman with the same youthful vigor and heroic stature that the attentive reader associates with David.
She therefore demands that the girls not look at her with disdain for her dark skin (1D-E). Her concern here is with standards of beauty in her society and with class identification, not with race. Her words are a cultural code for "Do not regard me as a plain, unimportant peasant girl."

Apparently the woman is feeling a little put out by the "looks" she is getting.   The "daughters of Jerusalem" seem to notice her and she as them not to "gaze" on her because she is "dark."   She does a play on words and tells them the reason she is dark is because the sun has "looked" upon her.   The entire section here is about societies evaluation of beauty.  In the society we live in, the country spends a fortune on getting our skin dark.   In Japan, whiter skin is more attractive.   The point of the text is that the woman feels self-conscious about her looks in front of other women.   This is something most of us can relate to, as this happens repeatedly in our society.   It should be noted, however, that after she experiences Solomon's love, note what she says:

Song of Songs 1:15 & 2:1 (ESV Strong's)

He:  Behold, you are beautiful, my love;
behold, you are beautiful;
your eyes are doves.

She:I am a rose of Sharon,
a lily of the valleys.

Solomon's unconditional love of the woman overcomes the inferior or consciousness of her differences to other women.   Solomon loves her without prejudice and his expression of her beauty to him changes her view point of herself.  Just as God loves us the way we are can change the view point of we have of ourselves, so true and unconditional love can do the same for the one God gives us to love.  

Truth #339 - Only God can protect the heart and the lips - Pslam 140-142

Psalms 141:3-4 (ESV Strong's)

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
keep watch over the door of my lips!
Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who work iniquity,
and let me not eat of their delicacies!

Truth:   Only God can protect the heart and the lips.

In this Psalm the writer is asking God to protect him from unrighteousness and unrighteous people.   The writer knows that one goes with the other.  In these two verses in particularly the writer ties those two thoughts together.   My lips speak what is in my heart.   My heart is affected by those around me.   The prayer on his lips is that God will guard the lips and the heart through the contact we have with others.   When we surround ourselves with wicked people and with those who practice or entertain us with wickedness, don't be surprise if our heart is affected.  And don't be further surprised if our heart affects our lips.  If we want to protect our lips we have to protect our heart.  If we want to protect our heart we have to have God's protection for those we come in contact with who might lead us from God and from righteousness.  Proverbs tells us as a mirror reflects the face so the heart reflects the man:

Proverbs 27:19 (ESV Strong's)
 As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.

If the heart reflects the man, the tongue is the conduit for the heart to be expressed.  Note how Solomon confirms this thought:

Proverbs 15:28 (ESV Strong's)
 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

If you want to guard the tongue, the Lord will have to protect you from the influence of the unrighteous on your heart.

Truth #338 - God keeps His promises - Nehemiah 5-9

Nehemiah 9:7-8 (ESV Strong's)

You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham.
You found his heart faithful before you, and made with him the covenant to give to his offspring the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite. And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous.

Truth:  God keeps His promises.

In the above couple of verses we have a portion of Nehemiah's prayer before the people.   He has assembled all the leadership and the follower-ship and makes a confession-petition type prayer before God.  They were being oppressed by a number of groups in the land and Nehemiah knew it was due to their own sin and that God was the Person to seek relief.   In the prayer he works through Israel's long history of rebellion, repentance, rebellion, repentance, repeat!   In these two verses he is beginning the prayer by reflecting on the call of Abraham.   He confesses that God "chose" Abram and renamed him, Abraham; as well as gave Abraham the promise of the land.  This is key to their spirit to rebuild the city of Jerusalem (the main thought of the book of Nehemiah).  Since God gave the land to Abraham and they were in the land (currently still being oppressed), then the land was theirs!!!   Nehemiah then proclaims, "And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous."   This is the key motivator to the reason for the book and the lesson we are to learn.   If God gave them the land they should not shrink back in defeat.  They should boldly move forward to proclaim God's promise(s) and live boldly before their enemies, who are oppressing them.   God wants us to live in light of His promises and that He is a righteous God and must, therefore, keep His promises.    That is supreme motivation.   I am not bold because of my strength (Nehemiah confesses they continually fail). I am bold because of the righteous promises of God!!