Psalms 141:8-10
But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
and from the snares of evildoers!
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I pass by safely.
Subject: God is my defender
In Psalm 140-142 we have prayers of David probably spoken when he was in the caves running from King Saul. David does not want to take matters into his own hands. He wants to make sure he puts his complete trust in God. Saul and others were out to get him. He had several chances to exact his own vengeance and revenge. But, he doesn't - instead he puts his trust in God to be his keeper, his sustainer and his defender. This is not a normal way of doing things in our society. We are taught at an early age to get the upper hand on others. We are taught to take our shots when we have the chance to take our shots. We are taught to fight and not have flight. Yet, David gives us the answer, even for our society today. Put your trust in God and allow Him to fight your battles. He is the Righteous Judge, we are not.
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Subject: Our Strength is in the Joy of the Lord - Nehemiah 5-9
Nehemiah 8:9-12
And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
Subject: Our Strength is in the Joy of the Lord
The above passage is found in the midst of the building of the walls of Jerusalem upon the return of Nehemiah and the captives. Although they are still, technically, captives in their own land, the leadership wants them to rejoice in the completion of the walls. However, they more want them to rejoice in the fact that God's Word has been fulfilled and is being fulfilled. The leadership wants them to realize that their strength and security is not found in brick and mortar and timber and iron on the walls, but in the "joy of the Lord." Having our walk in the commands of God should give us joy and that joy is the strength we can lean upon. God wants us to rejoice in Joy we have in Him. We can get so fixed on insignificant things that give us false hope and temporary joy. But, trusting in God's Word and knowing that God's Word is being fulfilled in our lives gives a strength we can rejoice in and trust in.
And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
Subject: Our Strength is in the Joy of the Lord
The above passage is found in the midst of the building of the walls of Jerusalem upon the return of Nehemiah and the captives. Although they are still, technically, captives in their own land, the leadership wants them to rejoice in the completion of the walls. However, they more want them to rejoice in the fact that God's Word has been fulfilled and is being fulfilled. The leadership wants them to realize that their strength and security is not found in brick and mortar and timber and iron on the walls, but in the "joy of the Lord." Having our walk in the commands of God should give us joy and that joy is the strength we can lean upon. God wants us to rejoice in Joy we have in Him. We can get so fixed on insignificant things that give us false hope and temporary joy. But, trusting in God's Word and knowing that God's Word is being fulfilled in our lives gives a strength we can rejoice in and trust in.
Monday, November 28, 2016
Subject: Love and grace for others - Deuteronomy 23-25
Deuteronomy 24:10-13
“When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.
Subject: Love and grace for others
When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment of the Law was, He said to love God with al your heart, soul and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. The entire Law can be wrapped up in those two laws. The above portion of the Law is an example of what Jesus was saying. In the above law the treatment of someone who owed you a debt is much hire than the debt itself. If someone owed you a debt they would often give you a "pledge" - something of value to hold until they could pay you. That something might often be their "cloak" or the covering they used to keep warm in the coldness of the night. If that were the case, the person who is owed the debt was not to keep the cloak or coat or covering, but allow the debtor to have the pledge to keep warm at night. It is supposed they would, in the morning, return the pledge to the debtor until the debt was paid. God's character is coming into to play here as He wants the nation of Israel to treat others with respect, kindness and grace, despite the debt they may owe. This is where loving others like yourself would come to play. We would not want to sleep in the cold without our covering. So, too, we should not have others in debt to us do so. Love and grace for others trumps collection of a debt.
“When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.
Subject: Love and grace for others
When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment of the Law was, He said to love God with al your heart, soul and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. The entire Law can be wrapped up in those two laws. The above portion of the Law is an example of what Jesus was saying. In the above law the treatment of someone who owed you a debt is much hire than the debt itself. If someone owed you a debt they would often give you a "pledge" - something of value to hold until they could pay you. That something might often be their "cloak" or the covering they used to keep warm in the coldness of the night. If that were the case, the person who is owed the debt was not to keep the cloak or coat or covering, but allow the debtor to have the pledge to keep warm at night. It is supposed they would, in the morning, return the pledge to the debtor until the debt was paid. God's character is coming into to play here as He wants the nation of Israel to treat others with respect, kindness and grace, despite the debt they may owe. This is where loving others like yourself would come to play. We would not want to sleep in the cold without our covering. So, too, we should not have others in debt to us do so. Love and grace for others trumps collection of a debt.
Sunday, November 27, 2016
Subject: Sinning and Sanctification - 1 John 1-3
1 John 3:9
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
Subject: Sinning and Sanctification
The verse written by John just before this says the following:
1 John 3:8
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
Jesus came to destroy the devil, who is the father of sin and the instigator of sin in our lives. The devil stirs up the sin nature inside of us with temptations from the world. The sin nature needs no stirring up, but the devil adds to the already hot flames. They world's sinful systems also add to this bed of hot embers. Our sin nature, the devil and the world WILL BE successful in getting us to sin ... even getting believers to sin. However, this is where our original verse comes into play. We WILL sin, but we WILL NOT keep on sinning, if we are truly believers of Christ. Jesus came to break the power of sin and the cycle of sin in our lives. IF we are truly believers we cannot "keep on sinning because we have been born of God." It does not say we WON'T sin, but that we won't keep on sinning. This is the glorious truth of our sanctification. God is in the process of changing us from one degree of glory to the other (2 Corinthians 3:18). In that changing we will sin, but we will not be practicing sin, which is the point of John's teaching in this chapter. Those who are born of God are not free of sinning but they won't practice sinning. When a believer sins they should have a sense of guilt and a sense of repentance. They will sin again, even after confessing, but those not born of God don't confess, repent or recoil from sin. If you are born of God your attitude toward you sin should tell you something about your sanctification process. Those born of God don't continually practice sin, but will confess it and allow the power and work of Christ to purify them.
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
Subject: Sinning and Sanctification
The verse written by John just before this says the following:
1 John 3:8
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
Jesus came to destroy the devil, who is the father of sin and the instigator of sin in our lives. The devil stirs up the sin nature inside of us with temptations from the world. The sin nature needs no stirring up, but the devil adds to the already hot flames. They world's sinful systems also add to this bed of hot embers. Our sin nature, the devil and the world WILL BE successful in getting us to sin ... even getting believers to sin. However, this is where our original verse comes into play. We WILL sin, but we WILL NOT keep on sinning, if we are truly believers of Christ. Jesus came to break the power of sin and the cycle of sin in our lives. IF we are truly believers we cannot "keep on sinning because we have been born of God." It does not say we WON'T sin, but that we won't keep on sinning. This is the glorious truth of our sanctification. God is in the process of changing us from one degree of glory to the other (2 Corinthians 3:18). In that changing we will sin, but we will not be practicing sin, which is the point of John's teaching in this chapter. Those who are born of God are not free of sinning but they won't practice sinning. When a believer sins they should have a sense of guilt and a sense of repentance. They will sin again, even after confessing, but those not born of God don't confess, repent or recoil from sin. If you are born of God your attitude toward you sin should tell you something about your sanctification process. Those born of God don't continually practice sin, but will confess it and allow the power and work of Christ to purify them.
Saturday, November 26, 2016
Subject: Miracles and the Power of God - Acts 19-20
Acts 19:11-12
And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
Subject: Mireles and the Power of God
God grants His power to whom He wants and how He wants. In our minds, we tend to confine God and His acts of power and miracles to what we can reason and understand. In the above passage we see something quite odd to our rational thought process. In this incident God used a handkerchief to accomplish His plan. In the past God used a donkey (Balaam); some ravens (Elijah); a big fish (Jonah); a rock (Moses and the water); quail (Moses in the desert); and several other "tools." In the above passage God uses a piece of cloth to heal someone. It wasn't the clothe and it wasn't Paul's skin, it was the power of God that healed. Yet, God choose this method and this messenger to accomplish His will. God does what He wants. We tend to think God has decided to no longer do miracles like this. Yet, that is exactly what God does. He expresses His power in amazing and confounding ways. He uses His Saints and their love for others to touch the hearts of the hurting so that they can come to Christ (the greatest miracle of all). God uses odd means to accomplish great things for His plan. Rejoice in these things, but don't limit them because you mind can't grasp them.
Friday, November 25, 2016
Subject: God's Blessing in Giving - Tithing - Malachi
Malachi 3:11-12
I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
Subject: God's Blessing - Tithing
In this section of Malachi God is rebuking the nation for this failure to trust Him in their giving and tithing. God instituted the tithe so that they would give and support the Levi tribe, who was responsible for the worship of the nation. The Levi tribe would live off the tithe. The worship of the animals were the source of food for the tribe of Levi since they had no land or other work. Yet, God also instituted the tithe to demonstrate to the nation that He would bless them if they would be obedient. They failed to trust Him for this aspect. In the above verses we see that God is telling them, had they tithed, this is the promise they would have experienced. The verse states that God will "rebuke the devourer" and, thus, protect their work and bless their giving. The fact that God says He will "rebuke" this "devourer" means there is a "devourer." We don't live our lives in this thought pattern. Satan is the ultimate devourer. Our trusting God in faith in our giving is not so that we will be blessed by God, but so that in our giving we learn to trust God and to honor God. The blessing that comes from trusting God and honoring God (through obedience) is benefited by His blessing ... the Devourer is stopped!! For that we can rejoice.
I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
Subject: God's Blessing - Tithing
In this section of Malachi God is rebuking the nation for this failure to trust Him in their giving and tithing. God instituted the tithe so that they would give and support the Levi tribe, who was responsible for the worship of the nation. The Levi tribe would live off the tithe. The worship of the animals were the source of food for the tribe of Levi since they had no land or other work. Yet, God also instituted the tithe to demonstrate to the nation that He would bless them if they would be obedient. They failed to trust Him for this aspect. In the above verses we see that God is telling them, had they tithed, this is the promise they would have experienced. The verse states that God will "rebuke the devourer" and, thus, protect their work and bless their giving. The fact that God says He will "rebuke" this "devourer" means there is a "devourer." We don't live our lives in this thought pattern. Satan is the ultimate devourer. Our trusting God in faith in our giving is not so that we will be blessed by God, but so that in our giving we learn to trust God and to honor God. The blessing that comes from trusting God and honoring God (through obedience) is benefited by His blessing ... the Devourer is stopped!! For that we can rejoice.
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Subject: Old Age - Maturity - Ecclesiastes 11-12
Ecclesiastes 12:1
Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;
Subject: Growing Old - Maturity
In the previous chapter the "Preacher" starts to tell his readers about the future of old age:
Ecclesiastes 11:7-8
Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
Darkness is coming. Chapter 12 begins with a poem about the plight of old age. The writer uses a decaying house and failing moments to depict the diminished capacity of old age. This is why he begins with the above verse. We are to remember the Creator in the days of our youth. He doesn't tell us to remember the days of our youth. He tells us to remember the "Creator" in the days of our youth. He is not merely reminiscing about youth. He is not simply telling us to remember the good times. He is telling us focus on God in our youth. The reason for this is that in old age we lose our strength, beauty, whit and simply enjoyment of a good nights sleep. In youth we see people worship their bodies, focus on their education and take the little things for granted. The Preacher is telling us to focus on the Creator and not these temporal things. They will all pass away. The only thing that is left, especially in old is, is our relationships with Yahweh!!! God created us and we need to focus on the Creator not His creation we see in the mirror. Rejoice in your knowledge and relationship with Him and the old age thing, when it happens, will be less traumatic.
Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;
Subject: Growing Old - Maturity
In the previous chapter the "Preacher" starts to tell his readers about the future of old age:
Ecclesiastes 11:7-8
Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
Darkness is coming. Chapter 12 begins with a poem about the plight of old age. The writer uses a decaying house and failing moments to depict the diminished capacity of old age. This is why he begins with the above verse. We are to remember the Creator in the days of our youth. He doesn't tell us to remember the days of our youth. He tells us to remember the "Creator" in the days of our youth. He is not merely reminiscing about youth. He is not simply telling us to remember the good times. He is telling us focus on God in our youth. The reason for this is that in old age we lose our strength, beauty, whit and simply enjoyment of a good nights sleep. In youth we see people worship their bodies, focus on their education and take the little things for granted. The Preacher is telling us to focus on the Creator and not these temporal things. They will all pass away. The only thing that is left, especially in old is, is our relationships with Yahweh!!! God created us and we need to focus on the Creator not His creation we see in the mirror. Rejoice in your knowledge and relationship with Him and the old age thing, when it happens, will be less traumatic.
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Subject: God's Ominpresnece and Omniscience - Psalm 137-139
Psalms 139:11-12
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
Subject: God's Omnipresence and Omniscience
David is writing Psalm 139 at a time when he was very reflective and in need of comfort from God. It must have been a time of struggle as he prays for protection from his enemies. But, his focus is not on the struggle, but rather on the God who protects him and cares for him. David gives us some great insight into the character and attributes of God. In the above verses David focuses on the fact that God is all knowing and all present in our lives. God knows everything about us. We might think we are in the dark, but the darkness to God is bright as the brightest day. David recognizes that even in some light, we might feel in great darkness. Yet, that should not cause us to fear. God is the God of light and He makes even the darkest night seem as the noon day sun. Our vision of that dark might not be such, but, by faith, we hold to the fact that God does. God shines His always presence and always knowing over ever situation we have. God is our light and our knowledge. He is always there for us, despite the darkness and the dark circumstances around us.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
Subject: God's Omnipresence and Omniscience
David is writing Psalm 139 at a time when he was very reflective and in need of comfort from God. It must have been a time of struggle as he prays for protection from his enemies. But, his focus is not on the struggle, but rather on the God who protects him and cares for him. David gives us some great insight into the character and attributes of God. In the above verses David focuses on the fact that God is all knowing and all present in our lives. God knows everything about us. We might think we are in the dark, but the darkness to God is bright as the brightest day. David recognizes that even in some light, we might feel in great darkness. Yet, that should not cause us to fear. God is the God of light and He makes even the darkest night seem as the noon day sun. Our vision of that dark might not be such, but, by faith, we hold to the fact that God does. God shines His always presence and always knowing over ever situation we have. God is our light and our knowledge. He is always there for us, despite the darkness and the dark circumstances around us.
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Subject: Workers for God - Nehemiah 1-4
Nehemiah 3:8
Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.
Subject: Workers for God
In chapter three of Nehemiah the walls of Jerusalem are being built. Nehemiah had requested to return to his beloved city to rebuild the city walls. Not only was the city in shambles, but the resistors to the work were well organized and determined to stop Nehemiah from building. But, perhaps the worst obstacle was the fact that Nehemiah did not have a professional construction crew rebuild the city walls. This project would be completed by who ever Nehemiah could inspire to help. In the above verse we see that perfumers and goldsmiths were solicited to do some of the work. These are men of refine work. These are not day labors. A professional perfumer was a like a chemist in that day. He would not be used to heavy lifting or the construction trades. The same would be true of the goldsmiths. Yet, God used them to build this portion of the wall. Nehemiah didn't have a choice as to "who" would work, only "what" work needed to be done. He had to trust that God would supply the labors. Even though they were not traditional labors, God enabled them to perform the tasks. God provides the labors when we are determined to do His work ... even if they don't look qualified.
Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.
Subject: Workers for God
In chapter three of Nehemiah the walls of Jerusalem are being built. Nehemiah had requested to return to his beloved city to rebuild the city walls. Not only was the city in shambles, but the resistors to the work were well organized and determined to stop Nehemiah from building. But, perhaps the worst obstacle was the fact that Nehemiah did not have a professional construction crew rebuild the city walls. This project would be completed by who ever Nehemiah could inspire to help. In the above verse we see that perfumers and goldsmiths were solicited to do some of the work. These are men of refine work. These are not day labors. A professional perfumer was a like a chemist in that day. He would not be used to heavy lifting or the construction trades. The same would be true of the goldsmiths. Yet, God used them to build this portion of the wall. Nehemiah didn't have a choice as to "who" would work, only "what" work needed to be done. He had to trust that God would supply the labors. Even though they were not traditional labors, God enabled them to perform the tasks. God provides the labors when we are determined to do His work ... even if they don't look qualified.
Monday, November 21, 2016
Subject: Acts of Love vs. Partiality - Deuteronomy 20-22
Deuteronomy 21:15-17
Inheritance Rights of the Firstborn
“If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him children, and if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, then on the day when he assigns his possessions as an inheritance to his sons, he may not treat the son of the loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn, but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.
Subject: Acts of Love
In this section of Deuteronomy we have various laws and explanations of moral conduct. This is a "if this happens, do this" section of God's Word. There is no way every situation can be laid out, but God, in His Wisdom knows the laws man needs to conduct himself in the image of God. Remember, the Law, when kept to its fullest, is a reflection of the character of God and the way He wants us to live. In the above passage we see the Law correcting the sin of preferential treatment. We see this when we prefer one child over the other. In our modern day setting this might be a picture of a blended family. God is telling the people to make sure they honor those who are to be honored and to not show partiality in the expression of their giving. Remember, Jesus summed up the Law as loving God with all your might and your neighbor as yourself. So, in the above passage we can see that definition worked out. God wants us to treat others with amazing love. That means we have to rid ourselves of partiality and petty preferences.
Inheritance Rights of the Firstborn
“If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him children, and if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, then on the day when he assigns his possessions as an inheritance to his sons, he may not treat the son of the loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn, but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.
Subject: Acts of Love
In this section of Deuteronomy we have various laws and explanations of moral conduct. This is a "if this happens, do this" section of God's Word. There is no way every situation can be laid out, but God, in His Wisdom knows the laws man needs to conduct himself in the image of God. Remember, the Law, when kept to its fullest, is a reflection of the character of God and the way He wants us to live. In the above passage we see the Law correcting the sin of preferential treatment. We see this when we prefer one child over the other. In our modern day setting this might be a picture of a blended family. God is telling the people to make sure they honor those who are to be honored and to not show partiality in the expression of their giving. Remember, Jesus summed up the Law as loving God with all your might and your neighbor as yourself. So, in the above passage we can see that definition worked out. God wants us to treat others with amazing love. That means we have to rid ourselves of partiality and petty preferences.
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Subject: Sanctification (Growin in Christ) - 2 Peter
2 Peter 1:8 (ESV Strong's)
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Subject: Sanctification
Growing in the spiritual realm is about "increasing" in the things God has given us. He has given us His Spirit who produces fruit. That fruit is listed by Peter just prior to this verse:
2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV Strong's)
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
In verse 8 he is telling us that as we increase these qualities (listed in 5-7) we will "keep" us from being "ineffective" and "unfruitful" in knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. Our fellowship with Christ is impacted by our yielding to the Spirit of God while He produces these qualities as we walk in faith to Him. If I don't love someone, I must yield in faith to love them and obey Christ. That is when I act like Christ and "know" Him. That conforms us to His image. As I grow in these I become more effective and more fruitful.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Subject: Sanctification
Growing in the spiritual realm is about "increasing" in the things God has given us. He has given us His Spirit who produces fruit. That fruit is listed by Peter just prior to this verse:
2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV Strong's)
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
In verse 8 he is telling us that as we increase these qualities (listed in 5-7) we will "keep" us from being "ineffective" and "unfruitful" in knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. Our fellowship with Christ is impacted by our yielding to the Spirit of God while He produces these qualities as we walk in faith to Him. If I don't love someone, I must yield in faith to love them and obey Christ. That is when I act like Christ and "know" Him. That conforms us to His image. As I grow in these I become more effective and more fruitful.
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Subject: Evangelism - Acts 17-18
Acts 17:32-34 (ESV Strong's)
Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
Subject: Evangelism
Paul, in the above passage, has just engaged with the philosophers and leaders in Athens. At one time, Athens would be THE place to be for intellectual expansion. Paul provides a compelling and challenging message this body of philosophers would ever hear. The response of those philosophers isn't much different than the academic world today. They basically rejected the gospel message of Christ's death, burial and resurrection. They even "mocked" Paul and the message. That could have been very discouraging to most people. The "fear of man" and their response to us seems to seize most. Paul leaves the scene, but not alone. A man named Dionysius and a women named Damaris and a few others, believed. Paul was not looking for the masses to come to Christ (He, of course, would have taken that), but he knew there was some whom God would call. When we preach the gospel we have to remember that God will call whom He will call. God wants our attention on our "Dionysius" and "Damaris." We need to know that God is going to use us, in any circumstance, to call whom He will.
Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
Subject: Evangelism
Paul, in the above passage, has just engaged with the philosophers and leaders in Athens. At one time, Athens would be THE place to be for intellectual expansion. Paul provides a compelling and challenging message this body of philosophers would ever hear. The response of those philosophers isn't much different than the academic world today. They basically rejected the gospel message of Christ's death, burial and resurrection. They even "mocked" Paul and the message. That could have been very discouraging to most people. The "fear of man" and their response to us seems to seize most. Paul leaves the scene, but not alone. A man named Dionysius and a women named Damaris and a few others, believed. Paul was not looking for the masses to come to Christ (He, of course, would have taken that), but he knew there was some whom God would call. When we preach the gospel we have to remember that God will call whom He will call. God wants our attention on our "Dionysius" and "Damaris." We need to know that God is going to use us, in any circumstance, to call whom He will.
Friday, November 18, 2016
Subject: God's Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness - Zechariah 8-14
Zechariah 10:6 (ESV Strong's)
“I will strengthen the house of Judah,
and I will save the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back because I have compassion on them,
and they shall be as though I had not rejected them,
for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.
Subject: God's Grace and Mercy and Forgiveness
Zechariah is the Minor Prophet who tells us the most about the Messiah. There are many references to the Messiah and His ministry in this powerful prophetic book. The above prophecy is the core of those prophecies. In the restoration of Judah and Israel, the Messiah is going to strengthen and save the house of Joseph and the house of Judah. The key phrase (that typifies the New Testament) is, "I will bring them back because I have compassion on them." Are there any words greater or better in any language than those words? God has compassion on us because His compassion is forever and eternal. This is the core of God's grace, mercy and forgiveness. God is gracious. He is always extending His grace. His salvation is about His reaching out to those who don't deserve it and giving them His grace. God will "bring us back".
“I will strengthen the house of Judah,
and I will save the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back because I have compassion on them,
and they shall be as though I had not rejected them,
for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.
Subject: God's Grace and Mercy and Forgiveness
Zechariah is the Minor Prophet who tells us the most about the Messiah. There are many references to the Messiah and His ministry in this powerful prophetic book. The above prophecy is the core of those prophecies. In the restoration of Judah and Israel, the Messiah is going to strengthen and save the house of Joseph and the house of Judah. The key phrase (that typifies the New Testament) is, "I will bring them back because I have compassion on them." Are there any words greater or better in any language than those words? God has compassion on us because His compassion is forever and eternal. This is the core of God's grace, mercy and forgiveness. God is gracious. He is always extending His grace. His salvation is about His reaching out to those who don't deserve it and giving them His grace. God will "bring us back".
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Subject: Live life and Work with Vigor - Ecclesiastes 9-10
Ecclesiastes 9:10 (ESV Strong's)
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
Subject: Live life and Work with Vigor
Before we can grasp the meaning of the above verse we have to make sure we recall the meaning and purpose of the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon (the Preacher) is giving us a running commentary on his exploits and discoveries of life. When we read, we are living life vicariously through Solomon. At times, he is not suggesting we do what he does. He IS suggesting that we LEARN from what he does. The above verse being a prime example of that thought. Solomon is in a section where he is bemoaning the fact that no matter who you are and not matter what you spiritual status, social status, or economic status, we all end up in the same place ... the grave (Sheol). Death happens to us all. Nothing prevents it. Since EVERYONE is going to end up in the grave, how should we live? Insert the above verse here!! God is giving us a life. It is a gift. He will, eventually take that life. Our approach to life should be what Solomon suggests, above. We are live life intensely. We are to grab as much of it as we can and not waste a minute of it. Paul would echo this, but add a very important nuance:
1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV Strong's)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
In Ecclesiastes the writer is not yet where Paul is. Solomon will get there (see the last two verses of Ecclesiastes). Paul gets us there immediately. We are to live our lives with gusto, but do so in a way that glorifies God.
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
Subject: Live life and Work with Vigor
Before we can grasp the meaning of the above verse we have to make sure we recall the meaning and purpose of the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon (the Preacher) is giving us a running commentary on his exploits and discoveries of life. When we read, we are living life vicariously through Solomon. At times, he is not suggesting we do what he does. He IS suggesting that we LEARN from what he does. The above verse being a prime example of that thought. Solomon is in a section where he is bemoaning the fact that no matter who you are and not matter what you spiritual status, social status, or economic status, we all end up in the same place ... the grave (Sheol). Death happens to us all. Nothing prevents it. Since EVERYONE is going to end up in the grave, how should we live? Insert the above verse here!! God is giving us a life. It is a gift. He will, eventually take that life. Our approach to life should be what Solomon suggests, above. We are live life intensely. We are to grab as much of it as we can and not waste a minute of it. Paul would echo this, but add a very important nuance:
1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV Strong's)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
In Ecclesiastes the writer is not yet where Paul is. Solomon will get there (see the last two verses of Ecclesiastes). Paul gets us there immediately. We are to live our lives with gusto, but do so in a way that glorifies God.
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Subject: God is King - He is Sovereign - Psalms 134-136
Psalms 136:17-21 (ESV Strong's)
to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Subject: God is King - He is Sovereign
Today I write this blog post the day after the 2016 US elections. Yesterday, the political world and the established world was set on its ear. I would not say God favors one party over the other, or one of the two candidates over the other. But, what we do know is what is stated in the above verse. It is God who is in control of who reigns and who does not. Note what the Psalmist said a few chapters back:
Psalms 75:7 (ESV Strong's)
but it is God who executes judgment,
putting down one and lifting up another.
And consider Solomon's words (one of the greatest kings of all time):
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.
God is in charge of leadership. The people did not speak on election day, God did!! For whatever reason, God made the change He did in leadership. The people in a democracy can claim all the power they want. But, it is God who gives people positing, power and influence. We are to praise God for His moving ... no matter who wins or who loses.
to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Subject: God is King - He is Sovereign
Today I write this blog post the day after the 2016 US elections. Yesterday, the political world and the established world was set on its ear. I would not say God favors one party over the other, or one of the two candidates over the other. But, what we do know is what is stated in the above verse. It is God who is in control of who reigns and who does not. Note what the Psalmist said a few chapters back:
Psalms 75:7 (ESV Strong's)
but it is God who executes judgment,
putting down one and lifting up another.
And consider Solomon's words (one of the greatest kings of all time):
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.
God is in charge of leadership. The people did not speak on election day, God did!! For whatever reason, God made the change He did in leadership. The people in a democracy can claim all the power they want. But, it is God who gives people positing, power and influence. We are to praise God for His moving ... no matter who wins or who loses.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Subject: God is in control - even of ungodly rulers in our midst - Ezra 6-10
Encouragement can come in many ways. God's Word can and does and should encourage us. God's people can and do and should encourage us. But, should something that an ungodly politician do encourage us? Note Ezra's response to the King of Persia's decrees concerning the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem:
Ezra 7:27-28
Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to adorn the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, and has extended lovingkindness to me before the king and his counselors and before all the king’s mighty princes. Thus I was strengthened according to the hand of the Lord my God upon me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
Subject: God is in control - even of the ungodly rulers in our midst
Even in the midst of captivity God was moving. God, after exactly 70 years (the time He said they would be in captivity) moved in the heart of an ungodly king to send the captives back to build the temple. The king also sent them back with all the treasures that the previous king had taken from the temple. The king also made sure they had material to build the temple and were not taxed in the same way others in the land were currently taxed. In a time of great evil God protected His people. In a time of great hardship and captivity God not only protected His people He accomplished His will through an ungodly king. This was an encouragement to Ezra. When Ezra sees the "kindness of the king" he is not confused as to where this kindness comes from. It wasn't out of the bowels of the king but from the compassion and sovereign moving of his God. Ezra sang the praises of God in this doxology. God had moved in the heart of an ungodly king to have compassion on His people. In the midst of a society like we live in today, let's not forget that God can and does move in the rulers of today. God can and does move the "kings" heart the way He wants. God uses His sovereign power to accomplish His will. That should encourage you.
Ezra 7:27-28
Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to adorn the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, and has extended lovingkindness to me before the king and his counselors and before all the king’s mighty princes. Thus I was strengthened according to the hand of the Lord my God upon me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
Subject: God is in control - even of the ungodly rulers in our midst
Even in the midst of captivity God was moving. God, after exactly 70 years (the time He said they would be in captivity) moved in the heart of an ungodly king to send the captives back to build the temple. The king also sent them back with all the treasures that the previous king had taken from the temple. The king also made sure they had material to build the temple and were not taxed in the same way others in the land were currently taxed. In a time of great evil God protected His people. In a time of great hardship and captivity God not only protected His people He accomplished His will through an ungodly king. This was an encouragement to Ezra. When Ezra sees the "kindness of the king" he is not confused as to where this kindness comes from. It wasn't out of the bowels of the king but from the compassion and sovereign moving of his God. Ezra sang the praises of God in this doxology. God had moved in the heart of an ungodly king to have compassion on His people. In the midst of a society like we live in today, let's not forget that God can and does move in the rulers of today. God can and does move the "kings" heart the way He wants. God uses His sovereign power to accomplish His will. That should encourage you.
Monday, November 14, 2016
Subject: Don't look like the Word - Deuteronomy 16-19
Deuteronomy 18:9 (ESV Strong's)
“When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.
Subject: Sanctification (Don't look like the world)
God had redeemed the nation of Israel out of Egypt. As a result He was putting His imprint upon them. He wanted them to be like Him in character and in walk. God was going to drive out the inhabitants of the land they would possess. The above instruction is for them to NOT take on the practices of those He was going to drive out. We know, soon, they would do just that. Yet, this was not God's plan for them. God wanted them to holy (sanctified) for Him and Him alone. God promised them blessings if they kept themselves holy. They were to look different than the world. Note what Paul will tell the Roman Christians centuries later:
Romans 12:2 (ESV Strong's)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
God is consistent. He does not want us looking like or living like the world. He wants us to be holy, sold to Him. We should look and act different than the world. That is why He redeemed us.
“When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.
Subject: Sanctification (Don't look like the world)
God had redeemed the nation of Israel out of Egypt. As a result He was putting His imprint upon them. He wanted them to be like Him in character and in walk. God was going to drive out the inhabitants of the land they would possess. The above instruction is for them to NOT take on the practices of those He was going to drive out. We know, soon, they would do just that. Yet, this was not God's plan for them. God wanted them to holy (sanctified) for Him and Him alone. God promised them blessings if they kept themselves holy. They were to look different than the world. Note what Paul will tell the Roman Christians centuries later:
Romans 12:2 (ESV Strong's)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
God is consistent. He does not want us looking like or living like the world. He wants us to be holy, sold to Him. We should look and act different than the world. That is why He redeemed us.
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Subject: Conduct in the End of Times - 1 Peter 4-5
1 Peter 4:7 (ESV Strong's)
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
Subject: Conduct in the end of times
Peter has been speaking to the believers in regard to the tremendous suffering they are going through. They are suffering because of their faith in Christ. He is telling them that this is the ultimate way to defeat sin, since their suffering lead to death and death is the ultimate victory over sin (1 Peter 4:1). He is telling them that the end is at hand. The final days are upon us and we will more and more be suffering for claiming the Deity and Supremacy of Christ in our lives and in our world. What conduct should we have? Peter tells us to be self-controlled and sober minded. The mind that is upon Christ is focused on the same purpose of Christ in regard to suffering: Glorifying God and ushering in His plan and His will. The mind that is out of control and thinks about indulging their own flesh, can't find a purpose for suffering. Therefore they can't glorify Christ. Setting our mind on the things of God will enable us to have communion with Christ. This is why Peter gives us the motivation to be sober and self-controlled to assure our prayer life is fit. Prayer is communion with God. Having a mind focused on the right purpose of suffering is to have a mind of Christ. That is the ultimate communion. When we allow our mind to run away into worldly things we no longer can commune with God in prayer. Our mind is on the flesh. Prayers are hindered by minds adrift.
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
Subject: Conduct in the end of times
Peter has been speaking to the believers in regard to the tremendous suffering they are going through. They are suffering because of their faith in Christ. He is telling them that this is the ultimate way to defeat sin, since their suffering lead to death and death is the ultimate victory over sin (1 Peter 4:1). He is telling them that the end is at hand. The final days are upon us and we will more and more be suffering for claiming the Deity and Supremacy of Christ in our lives and in our world. What conduct should we have? Peter tells us to be self-controlled and sober minded. The mind that is upon Christ is focused on the same purpose of Christ in regard to suffering: Glorifying God and ushering in His plan and His will. The mind that is out of control and thinks about indulging their own flesh, can't find a purpose for suffering. Therefore they can't glorify Christ. Setting our mind on the things of God will enable us to have communion with Christ. This is why Peter gives us the motivation to be sober and self-controlled to assure our prayer life is fit. Prayer is communion with God. Having a mind focused on the right purpose of suffering is to have a mind of Christ. That is the ultimate communion. When we allow our mind to run away into worldly things we no longer can commune with God in prayer. Our mind is on the flesh. Prayers are hindered by minds adrift.
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Subject: Sacrifice for Service/Evangelism - Acts 15-16
Acts 16:3-4 (ESV Strong's)
Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.
Subject: Sacrifice for Service/Evangelism
In the above passage we see how Paul handles difficult situations in the world of a missionary. Paul wants to impact others for Christ (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). He is willing to become what he needs to become to reach them for Christ and he does not want a stumbling block in the way. Because Timothy had a Greek father, he was undoubtably not circumcised. Paul had just argued, in Acts 15, to keep faith in Christ away from the requirement of circumcision. If Paul thought it not necessary to circumcise Timothy, most would not argue and understand why. It was NOT a requirement for our relationship with Christ. However, if Paul wanted to go into synagogues and open up the Old Testament to explain Christ's gift of grace, Timothy would not be allowed to do so, without being circumcised. Paul has Timothy go through the pain of circumcision so that he could have the delight of evangelism. This act was not legalism (doing some to earn God's grace) but an act of sacrifice (in order to convey God's grace). Note what John MacArthur writes in his commentary about this passage:
(MacArthur NT) With Timothy’s father likely dead, and having been a Gentile in any case, Paul assumed the role of a father and took Timothy and circumcised him. Some have sharply criticized Paul for doing so, accusing him of falling into the same heresy he fought at the Jerusalem Council. But such criticism could not be further from the truth. Nowhere is it stated or implied that Paul circumcised Timothy so that he could be saved. The text clearly says that Paul circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. Circumcision was the sine qua non of Judaism. Had Timothy not been circumcised, the Jews would have assumed he was renouncing his Jewish heritage and choosing to live as a Gentile. Paul’s circumcision of Timothy had nothing to do with salvation; he did it for expediency’s sake, to avoid placing an unnecessary stumbling block in the way of Jewish evangelism. Timothy’s circumcision granted him full access to the synagogues he would visit with Paul and Silas.
Far from lapsing into legalism, Paul was being consistent with a principle he would later express in 1 Corinthians 9:19-22:
For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law, though not being myself under the Law, that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
Significantly, Paul refused to circumcise Titus (Gal. 2:3). Titus, unlike Timothy, was a full-blooded Gentile. To have circumcised him would have been to capitulate to legalism.
From Paul’s actions concerning his two companions an important principle becomes evident. Missionaries must be sensitive to the unique characteristics of the cultures in which they work. As Paul did in circumcising Timothy, they should avoid giving any unnecessary offense. But like Paul in refusing to circumcise Titus, they must not compromise any of the timeless truths of Scripture.
We all have the obligation to do what we can to reach the loss. Sacrifice is part of that reaching.
Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.
Subject: Sacrifice for Service/Evangelism
In the above passage we see how Paul handles difficult situations in the world of a missionary. Paul wants to impact others for Christ (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). He is willing to become what he needs to become to reach them for Christ and he does not want a stumbling block in the way. Because Timothy had a Greek father, he was undoubtably not circumcised. Paul had just argued, in Acts 15, to keep faith in Christ away from the requirement of circumcision. If Paul thought it not necessary to circumcise Timothy, most would not argue and understand why. It was NOT a requirement for our relationship with Christ. However, if Paul wanted to go into synagogues and open up the Old Testament to explain Christ's gift of grace, Timothy would not be allowed to do so, without being circumcised. Paul has Timothy go through the pain of circumcision so that he could have the delight of evangelism. This act was not legalism (doing some to earn God's grace) but an act of sacrifice (in order to convey God's grace). Note what John MacArthur writes in his commentary about this passage:
(MacArthur NT) With Timothy’s father likely dead, and having been a Gentile in any case, Paul assumed the role of a father and took Timothy and circumcised him. Some have sharply criticized Paul for doing so, accusing him of falling into the same heresy he fought at the Jerusalem Council. But such criticism could not be further from the truth. Nowhere is it stated or implied that Paul circumcised Timothy so that he could be saved. The text clearly says that Paul circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. Circumcision was the sine qua non of Judaism. Had Timothy not been circumcised, the Jews would have assumed he was renouncing his Jewish heritage and choosing to live as a Gentile. Paul’s circumcision of Timothy had nothing to do with salvation; he did it for expediency’s sake, to avoid placing an unnecessary stumbling block in the way of Jewish evangelism. Timothy’s circumcision granted him full access to the synagogues he would visit with Paul and Silas.
Far from lapsing into legalism, Paul was being consistent with a principle he would later express in 1 Corinthians 9:19-22:
For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law, though not being myself under the Law, that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
Significantly, Paul refused to circumcise Titus (Gal. 2:3). Titus, unlike Timothy, was a full-blooded Gentile. To have circumcised him would have been to capitulate to legalism.
From Paul’s actions concerning his two companions an important principle becomes evident. Missionaries must be sensitive to the unique characteristics of the cultures in which they work. As Paul did in circumcising Timothy, they should avoid giving any unnecessary offense. But like Paul in refusing to circumcise Titus, they must not compromise any of the timeless truths of Scripture.
We all have the obligation to do what we can to reach the loss. Sacrifice is part of that reaching.
Friday, November 11, 2016
Subject: God's Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness - Zechariah 8-14
Zechariah 10:6 (ESV Strong's)
“I will strengthen the house of Judah,
and I will save the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back because I have compassion on them,
and they shall be as though I had not rejected them,
for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.
Subject: God's Grace and Mercy and Forgiveness
Zechariah is the Minor Prophet who tells us the most about the Messiah. There are many references to the Messiah and His ministry in this powerful prophetic book. The above prophecy is the core of those prophecies. In the restoration of Judah and Israel, the Messiah is going to strengthen and save the house of Joseph and the house of Judah. The key phrase (that typifies the New Testament) is, "I will bring them back because I have compassion on them." Are there any words greater or better in any language than those words? God has compassion on us because His compassion is forever and eternal. This is the core of God's grace, mercy and forgiveness. God is gracious. He is always extending His grace. His salvation is about His reaching out to those who don't deserve it and giving them His grace. God will "bring us back".
“I will strengthen the house of Judah,
and I will save the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back because I have compassion on them,
and they shall be as though I had not rejected them,
for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.
Subject: God's Grace and Mercy and Forgiveness
Zechariah is the Minor Prophet who tells us the most about the Messiah. There are many references to the Messiah and His ministry in this powerful prophetic book. The above prophecy is the core of those prophecies. In the restoration of Judah and Israel, the Messiah is going to strengthen and save the house of Joseph and the house of Judah. The key phrase (that typifies the New Testament) is, "I will bring them back because I have compassion on them." Are there any words greater or better in any language than those words? God has compassion on us because His compassion is forever and eternal. This is the core of God's grace, mercy and forgiveness. God is gracious. He is always extending His grace. His salvation is about His reaching out to those who don't deserve it and giving them His grace. God will "bring us back".
Subject: Knowing God's Word and God's Will - Zechariah 1-7
Zechariah 1:9 (ESV Strong's)
Then I said, ‘What are these, my lord?’ The angel who talked with me said to me, ‘I will show you what they are.’
Subject: Knowing God's Word and Will
Zechariah is, probably, the hardest of all the minor prophets to understand. It is the longest of all the minor prophets. It is filled with imagery and mystic. It might typify what Paul calls the "mystery of Christ." Zechariah is called upon to deliver this enigma. At a first reading the book can be overwhelming and confusing. Yet, even when the prophecy was delivered to Zechariah, he, too, was overwhelmed and confused. In the above verse we see his response to the first of many visions in the book. Like us, he asks, "What are these, My Lord?" Through the book the prophet asks the same question. When presented with a new vision he asks again, "What does this mean?" The book is a conversation between the prophet and God, more than a delivery of a message. The lesson here is that even God's faithful messengers can be confused with the vision. John, in The Revelation, is meet with similar scenes from heaven. He, too, ask for meaning. God is not opposed to our asking Him for clarity and meaning of the Word. In John we read the following words of Jesus in regard to knowing God's will and God's Word:
John 16:13 (ESV Strong's)
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
God does not want to hide things from us. He does, however, want us to rely on Him, via the Spirit, to seek the truth and to ask, "What are these Lord?" God favors our pursuit of His Word and our desire to want Him to teach us. That is the act of faith that pleases God. We don't have to know all of God's Word, but we have to be willing to have the Spirit, through Faith, teach us God's Word.
Then I said, ‘What are these, my lord?’ The angel who talked with me said to me, ‘I will show you what they are.’
Subject: Knowing God's Word and Will
Zechariah is, probably, the hardest of all the minor prophets to understand. It is the longest of all the minor prophets. It is filled with imagery and mystic. It might typify what Paul calls the "mystery of Christ." Zechariah is called upon to deliver this enigma. At a first reading the book can be overwhelming and confusing. Yet, even when the prophecy was delivered to Zechariah, he, too, was overwhelmed and confused. In the above verse we see his response to the first of many visions in the book. Like us, he asks, "What are these, My Lord?" Through the book the prophet asks the same question. When presented with a new vision he asks again, "What does this mean?" The book is a conversation between the prophet and God, more than a delivery of a message. The lesson here is that even God's faithful messengers can be confused with the vision. John, in The Revelation, is meet with similar scenes from heaven. He, too, ask for meaning. God is not opposed to our asking Him for clarity and meaning of the Word. In John we read the following words of Jesus in regard to knowing God's will and God's Word:
John 16:13 (ESV Strong's)
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
God does not want to hide things from us. He does, however, want us to rely on Him, via the Spirit, to seek the truth and to ask, "What are these Lord?" God favors our pursuit of His Word and our desire to want Him to teach us. That is the act of faith that pleases God. We don't have to know all of God's Word, but we have to be willing to have the Spirit, through Faith, teach us God's Word.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Subject: Hope and Patience - Ecclesiastes 7-8
Ecclesiastes 7:8 (ESV Strong's)
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,
and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Subject: Hope and Patience
This section of Ecclesiastes is known as the "better than" section. He starts out in the first verse of the chapter saying a "good name is better than precious ointment." He will add in another verse "it is better" to hear rebuke than "the song of fools." So, the writer is telling us that there are truths in the world that are competing for our loyalty and our faith. In the above verse the truth is that what we see in the beginning is not necessarily the best. It is the end that brings blessing. Being patient and waiting for the end result is better than being proud in the moment. The moment has no context. In the moment we might find joy but it might not be lasting. The wicked rejoice in the moment. The righteous should rejoice in the moment, but only as it has context in the future of God's omnipotent plan. We can really get caught up in the world of the immediate for our pleasure. God takes a longer view. He has a plan. Job is a good example. God had a bigger plan. The friends of Job were caught up in the moment. The first verse in this chapter is a great example of this truth:
Ecclesiastes 7:1 (ESV Strong's)
A good name is better than precious ointment,
and the day of death than the day of birth.
Solomon is telling us that a good name is better than wealth (precious ointment). He tells us the same thing in Proverbs 22:1. However, the second line is the truth of our above verse. A good name is only good once we die. Hence, the day of death better than the day of birth. Solomon is telling us that a good name can change and be damaged. But, if we die with a good name, the end is better than the beginning. We need to realize that circumstances are God's way of shaping us to the final image of His son. The end is better than the beginning. 2 Corinthians 3:18 sums it up for us:
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV Strong's)
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,
and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Subject: Hope and Patience
This section of Ecclesiastes is known as the "better than" section. He starts out in the first verse of the chapter saying a "good name is better than precious ointment." He will add in another verse "it is better" to hear rebuke than "the song of fools." So, the writer is telling us that there are truths in the world that are competing for our loyalty and our faith. In the above verse the truth is that what we see in the beginning is not necessarily the best. It is the end that brings blessing. Being patient and waiting for the end result is better than being proud in the moment. The moment has no context. In the moment we might find joy but it might not be lasting. The wicked rejoice in the moment. The righteous should rejoice in the moment, but only as it has context in the future of God's omnipotent plan. We can really get caught up in the world of the immediate for our pleasure. God takes a longer view. He has a plan. Job is a good example. God had a bigger plan. The friends of Job were caught up in the moment. The first verse in this chapter is a great example of this truth:
Ecclesiastes 7:1 (ESV Strong's)
A good name is better than precious ointment,
and the day of death than the day of birth.
Solomon is telling us that a good name is better than wealth (precious ointment). He tells us the same thing in Proverbs 22:1. However, the second line is the truth of our above verse. A good name is only good once we die. Hence, the day of death better than the day of birth. Solomon is telling us that a good name can change and be damaged. But, if we die with a good name, the end is better than the beginning. We need to realize that circumstances are God's way of shaping us to the final image of His son. The end is better than the beginning. 2 Corinthians 3:18 sums it up for us:
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV Strong's)
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Subject: Daily Focus - Psalm 131-133
Psalms 132:1-5 (ESV Strong's)
Remember, O Lord, in David's favor,
all the hardships he endured,
how he swore to the Lord
and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,
“I will not enter my house
or get into my bed,
I will not give sleep to my eyes
or slumber to my eyelids,
until I find a place for the Lord,
a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
Subject: Focus on God
There is much in this life for us to be focus upon. We can certainly focus on sports. Our country is obsessed with sport ... at every level. We could focus on the political world around us ... depressing, but certainly a main focus of our world, today. We could focus on our families. That is almost a religion to some. There is much in this world to catch our focus. In King David's day much of the same existed. David could have had a number of areas of interest and focus. In fact, his sin with Bathsheba shows his focus on sex. That, too, is a main focus or our society. With all these life distractions we have our choice each day were our focus will center. In the above passage, King David gives us the ultimate focus. David is concerned about where God will reside in his midst. He actually endured "hardships" in his pursuit of a place for God to dwell on earth. Jerusalem will be the place where God dwell. David swears to give no sleep to his eyes until he makes this happen. Imagine that type of focus on a daily basis. Our focus ought to be such that we have God at the center of our lives in the same way as David. We get so distracted in life. God at the center of our lives is the reason we were created. Giving God our full attention, fully throughout our day, every day is how we are designed to live. All the rest is just noise.
Remember, O Lord, in David's favor,
all the hardships he endured,
how he swore to the Lord
and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,
“I will not enter my house
or get into my bed,
I will not give sleep to my eyes
or slumber to my eyelids,
until I find a place for the Lord,
a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
Subject: Focus on God
There is much in this life for us to be focus upon. We can certainly focus on sports. Our country is obsessed with sport ... at every level. We could focus on the political world around us ... depressing, but certainly a main focus of our world, today. We could focus on our families. That is almost a religion to some. There is much in this world to catch our focus. In King David's day much of the same existed. David could have had a number of areas of interest and focus. In fact, his sin with Bathsheba shows his focus on sex. That, too, is a main focus or our society. With all these life distractions we have our choice each day were our focus will center. In the above passage, King David gives us the ultimate focus. David is concerned about where God will reside in his midst. He actually endured "hardships" in his pursuit of a place for God to dwell on earth. Jerusalem will be the place where God dwell. David swears to give no sleep to his eyes until he makes this happen. Imagine that type of focus on a daily basis. Our focus ought to be such that we have God at the center of our lives in the same way as David. We get so distracted in life. God at the center of our lives is the reason we were created. Giving God our full attention, fully throughout our day, every day is how we are designed to live. All the rest is just noise.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Subject: Transition from Old to New - Ezra 1-5
Ezra 3:11-13 (ESV Strong's)
And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord,
“For he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.”
And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.
Subject: Transition from Old to New
When you get older your memory fails you. At least your short term memory does. However, your long term memory haunts you. You can't remember the name of the person you just met, but you swear he looks likes you fifth grade teacher, whose name and face you remember vividly. When we are older we remember the old days. We don't recognize the new ones. In the above passage this is what is happening to the older generation who has returned to the land to rebuild the Temple. Whereas the younger generation rejoiced in the fact that the foundation was laid and saw a reason to rejoice, the older generation only had the haunting comparison of "what used to be." It is, in most cases, as curse. The older generation couldn't rejoice in the same manner as to what God was doing because their memories of the past still seized them. They lost a great opportunity to rejoice, praise and worship with focus on the "new" for God because they were stuck in their time-warp of the "old." God has called us to remember the past, but not to cling to the past. God wants us to learn from the past (1 Corinthians 10:11, but not be held by the past. When we are tempted to say, "This is not how it was!", we ought to instead rejoice and say, "This is how God now wants it!!"
And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord,
“For he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.”
And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.
Subject: Transition from Old to New
When you get older your memory fails you. At least your short term memory does. However, your long term memory haunts you. You can't remember the name of the person you just met, but you swear he looks likes you fifth grade teacher, whose name and face you remember vividly. When we are older we remember the old days. We don't recognize the new ones. In the above passage this is what is happening to the older generation who has returned to the land to rebuild the Temple. Whereas the younger generation rejoiced in the fact that the foundation was laid and saw a reason to rejoice, the older generation only had the haunting comparison of "what used to be." It is, in most cases, as curse. The older generation couldn't rejoice in the same manner as to what God was doing because their memories of the past still seized them. They lost a great opportunity to rejoice, praise and worship with focus on the "new" for God because they were stuck in their time-warp of the "old." God has called us to remember the past, but not to cling to the past. God wants us to learn from the past (1 Corinthians 10:11, but not be held by the past. When we are tempted to say, "This is not how it was!", we ought to instead rejoice and say, "This is how God now wants it!!"
Monday, November 7, 2016
Subject: Caring for the Poor - Dueteronomy 13-15
Deuteronomy 14:28-29 (ESV Strong's)
“At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.
Subject: Care for the Poor
We react to the poor when we sense they are poor due to their own bad choices. We lose our mercy when we think they are poor because they are getting what they deserve. However, in the nation of Israel, God actually had a system to care for the poor and God, Himself, draws little discussion as to the reason they are poor. Yes, there are some New Testament passages that talk about working and making sure laziness is not rewarded. But, note what one commentary states about the above couple of verse. Verses that speak of a "tithe" (something we give to God) known as the "triennial tithe." This was a tithe to God via opening our blessings to the poor:
(UBC OT) The triennial tithe. This use of the tithe in the third year is a unique provision of Deuteronomy, not found in the other texts. Its importance, however, is underlined by the repetition of its obligation in the solemn religious affirmations of 26:12–15. This triennial tithe was an element of Israel’s welfare system for the relief of poverty. Other provisions included the annual gleaning rights (24:19–22), the sabbatical fallow year (cf. Exod. 23:11), and the range of legislation regarding debt, etc. The OT makes a structural, systemic response to economic disparities. Proper storage and controlled distribution of these food stocks would have needed careful supervision, monitoring, and accounting by the civil authorities. Probably the administration of this “social fund” fell among the other responsibilities of community elders. In other words, care for the poor was structured into the regular economic life of the nation. It was not left to private charity. Rather, it was a public duty that the weakest and poorest should also be enabled to eat and be satisfied from the blessing of Yahweh on the whole nation. Only thus, indeed, would that blessing abide (v. 29b). Only by sharing the blessing would the blessing continue—a central spiritual and ethical principle (cf. 15:14, 18).
We are not in the Old Testament anymore. However, this triennial tithe does show us the character of God and His desire for us all to show mercy on those who have less than us. It is a "tithe" that is obligatory to God!.
“At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.
Subject: Care for the Poor
We react to the poor when we sense they are poor due to their own bad choices. We lose our mercy when we think they are poor because they are getting what they deserve. However, in the nation of Israel, God actually had a system to care for the poor and God, Himself, draws little discussion as to the reason they are poor. Yes, there are some New Testament passages that talk about working and making sure laziness is not rewarded. But, note what one commentary states about the above couple of verse. Verses that speak of a "tithe" (something we give to God) known as the "triennial tithe." This was a tithe to God via opening our blessings to the poor:
(UBC OT) The triennial tithe. This use of the tithe in the third year is a unique provision of Deuteronomy, not found in the other texts. Its importance, however, is underlined by the repetition of its obligation in the solemn religious affirmations of 26:12–15. This triennial tithe was an element of Israel’s welfare system for the relief of poverty. Other provisions included the annual gleaning rights (24:19–22), the sabbatical fallow year (cf. Exod. 23:11), and the range of legislation regarding debt, etc. The OT makes a structural, systemic response to economic disparities. Proper storage and controlled distribution of these food stocks would have needed careful supervision, monitoring, and accounting by the civil authorities. Probably the administration of this “social fund” fell among the other responsibilities of community elders. In other words, care for the poor was structured into the regular economic life of the nation. It was not left to private charity. Rather, it was a public duty that the weakest and poorest should also be enabled to eat and be satisfied from the blessing of Yahweh on the whole nation. Only thus, indeed, would that blessing abide (v. 29b). Only by sharing the blessing would the blessing continue—a central spiritual and ethical principle (cf. 15:14, 18).
We are not in the Old Testament anymore. However, this triennial tithe does show us the character of God and His desire for us all to show mercy on those who have less than us. It is a "tithe" that is obligatory to God!.
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Subject: Election and Sanctification - 1 Peter 1-3
1 Peter 1:1-2 (ESV Strong's)
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Subject: Election and Sanctification
If you want to split believers into various "camps" just mention to the group you want to discover what is meant by "election" and "sanctification." Despite the clarity in God's Word, as we will see above, man's natural mind cannot wrap their head around the fact that God "elects." Peter is not dissuaded by the complaints that flow from our carnal minds. He boldly just states that his letter is written to "THE ELECT." To deny election would be to say Peter wrote his book to no one. Yet, Peter calls the believers that have been dispersed abroad by persecution and suffering as "elect." He goes on to say that God did this election, in the "sanctification" of the Spirit. Not only does God rob man of any contribution to his own salvation through the thought of election, the perfection of his salvation (sanctification) is also stated as a work completely by God, via the Spirit. Man wants to take some credit for some part of his holiness. Peter states right up front in this book, NO!! God started man's salvation ("according to the foreknowledge of God"); elected man on the basis of that foreknowledge; purifies that election (sanctification) via the Spirit. Outside of Paul's long opening sentence in his letter to the Ephesians believers, these two opening verses are one of the best opening statements as to the character of Salvation. The fruit of our salvation is that it "grace and peace" will be multiplied to us. Having grace and peace in our lives is the benefit of a God who acts sovereignly in our lives to bring us to Him. We should be humbled at the thought!! We should rejoice in His choosing us. Some reject these thoughts because we can't understand them. Yet, some make it an issue of what God is allowed or not allowed to do as God. Rejoice in what He has done, not what you would do!!1
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Subject: Election and Sanctification
If you want to split believers into various "camps" just mention to the group you want to discover what is meant by "election" and "sanctification." Despite the clarity in God's Word, as we will see above, man's natural mind cannot wrap their head around the fact that God "elects." Peter is not dissuaded by the complaints that flow from our carnal minds. He boldly just states that his letter is written to "THE ELECT." To deny election would be to say Peter wrote his book to no one. Yet, Peter calls the believers that have been dispersed abroad by persecution and suffering as "elect." He goes on to say that God did this election, in the "sanctification" of the Spirit. Not only does God rob man of any contribution to his own salvation through the thought of election, the perfection of his salvation (sanctification) is also stated as a work completely by God, via the Spirit. Man wants to take some credit for some part of his holiness. Peter states right up front in this book, NO!! God started man's salvation ("according to the foreknowledge of God"); elected man on the basis of that foreknowledge; purifies that election (sanctification) via the Spirit. Outside of Paul's long opening sentence in his letter to the Ephesians believers, these two opening verses are one of the best opening statements as to the character of Salvation. The fruit of our salvation is that it "grace and peace" will be multiplied to us. Having grace and peace in our lives is the benefit of a God who acts sovereignly in our lives to bring us to Him. We should be humbled at the thought!! We should rejoice in His choosing us. Some reject these thoughts because we can't understand them. Yet, some make it an issue of what God is allowed or not allowed to do as God. Rejoice in what He has done, not what you would do!!1
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Subject: The Gospel - Acts 13-14
Acts 14:27 (ESV Strong's)
And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
Subject: The Gospel
In chapters 13 and 14 of Acts we have the story of the first formal missionary journey of the church. Paula and Barnabas went from city to city and declared the Gospel of Christ. In each city they were meet with opposition and yet saw great fruit. The above verse is the summary of their work that they declared to the Church. The key to the passage is the statement that they declared "all that God had done with them" and "how He had opened a door of faith." The work that was accomplished was accomplished by God. This is not a report of how skilled Paul was as an orator or as an apologist for the Gospel: Although this might be true. God did not need either of these two men to accomplish the task He wanted to accomplish: Faith the Gentiles. The work we do in presenting the Gospel is the work of Christ. It is God's work in man's lives and He simply chooses to use us. He doesn't need us. Paul and Barnabas gave praise to God for the door "He opened." We ought not to fear presenting the Gospel - it is the power of God unto Salvation. The above verse is the proof of it in the early church.
And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
Subject: The Gospel
In chapters 13 and 14 of Acts we have the story of the first formal missionary journey of the church. Paula and Barnabas went from city to city and declared the Gospel of Christ. In each city they were meet with opposition and yet saw great fruit. The above verse is the summary of their work that they declared to the Church. The key to the passage is the statement that they declared "all that God had done with them" and "how He had opened a door of faith." The work that was accomplished was accomplished by God. This is not a report of how skilled Paul was as an orator or as an apologist for the Gospel: Although this might be true. God did not need either of these two men to accomplish the task He wanted to accomplish: Faith the Gentiles. The work we do in presenting the Gospel is the work of Christ. It is God's work in man's lives and He simply chooses to use us. He doesn't need us. Paul and Barnabas gave praise to God for the door "He opened." We ought not to fear presenting the Gospel - it is the power of God unto Salvation. The above verse is the proof of it in the early church.
Friday, November 4, 2016
Subject: Motivation - Haggai
Haggai 1:13 (ESV Strong's)
Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord's message, “I am with you, declares the Lord.”
Subject: Motivation
The book of Haggai is a book about motivating the people of Israel to finish the rebuilding of the Temple after the captivity. Haggai becomes a motivational speaker. His job is to convey the message of God, which, in turn, will motivate the people to complete the work God assigned them. He uses several motivational tools to do this work. In the above verse we see him remind the people that they are not alone in the work: God is with them. The presence of God in our lives ought to be highly motivational to the people of God. When Jesus ascended into heaven, the last words He said was that He would be with them always ... even to the ends of the earth. Twice in this book Haggai states that God is with them (2:4-5). This book very much shows the activity of the Spirit in the lives of the workers and leaders. God has promised us the Spirit of God as our comforter and our peace. He is with us. Whatever our fear and whatever our foe, we have One greater than all with us. We step on no battle field, into no urgent care, or sit around no board room without the constant presence of Him!! The operating room has all the medical staff assigned by the hospital protocol - the Great Physician is with us!! The nation of Israel had the cloud by day and the fire by night to remind of God's constant presence and His ever care. We have the Spirit of God. God is with us!!! That might be the greatest motivation, ever!!
Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord's message, “I am with you, declares the Lord.”
Subject: Motivation
The book of Haggai is a book about motivating the people of Israel to finish the rebuilding of the Temple after the captivity. Haggai becomes a motivational speaker. His job is to convey the message of God, which, in turn, will motivate the people to complete the work God assigned them. He uses several motivational tools to do this work. In the above verse we see him remind the people that they are not alone in the work: God is with them. The presence of God in our lives ought to be highly motivational to the people of God. When Jesus ascended into heaven, the last words He said was that He would be with them always ... even to the ends of the earth. Twice in this book Haggai states that God is with them (2:4-5). This book very much shows the activity of the Spirit in the lives of the workers and leaders. God has promised us the Spirit of God as our comforter and our peace. He is with us. Whatever our fear and whatever our foe, we have One greater than all with us. We step on no battle field, into no urgent care, or sit around no board room without the constant presence of Him!! The operating room has all the medical staff assigned by the hospital protocol - the Great Physician is with us!! The nation of Israel had the cloud by day and the fire by night to remind of God's constant presence and His ever care. We have the Spirit of God. God is with us!!! That might be the greatest motivation, ever!!
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Subject: Enjoyment of Life - Ecclésiastes 5-6
Ecclesiastes 6:1-2 (ESV Strong's)
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil.
Subject: Enjoyment
In our society we do a lot to find enjoyment. The budget of a family has much set aside just to enjoy life. We actually think we have some control over our own enjoyment. However, in the above text we see that WITHOUT God's intervention, even having a ton of money won't bring enjoyment IF God doesn't so will it. If ANYONE has victory and prosperity, it comes from God, not their own strength. That prosperity, however, can't be enjoyed unless God gives them enjoyment. God has to give us the "power to enjoy" that prosperity. That comes from God. We have here the picture of the man who is working so hard to keep the money flowing he has no time to enjoy it and the stress of the money is killing him inside out. The family gets destroyed by the prosperity because God did not give them, also, the power to enjoy it. Victory is not the thing ... enjoyment of the victory is the thing. That can only come from God.
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil.
Subject: Enjoyment
In our society we do a lot to find enjoyment. The budget of a family has much set aside just to enjoy life. We actually think we have some control over our own enjoyment. However, in the above text we see that WITHOUT God's intervention, even having a ton of money won't bring enjoyment IF God doesn't so will it. If ANYONE has victory and prosperity, it comes from God, not their own strength. That prosperity, however, can't be enjoyed unless God gives them enjoyment. God has to give us the "power to enjoy" that prosperity. That comes from God. We have here the picture of the man who is working so hard to keep the money flowing he has no time to enjoy it and the stress of the money is killing him inside out. The family gets destroyed by the prosperity because God did not give them, also, the power to enjoy it. Victory is not the thing ... enjoyment of the victory is the thing. That can only come from God.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Subject: Blessings of God - Psalm 128-130
Psalms 128:1 (ESV Strong's)
Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in his ways!
Subject: Blessings from God
This is one of the psalms the nation of Israel would sing when they were, as a group, making their way to Jerusalem for the Passover, or Pentecost, etc. This is a song they would sing during that long walk. It begins by affirming to God that blessings from God only flow from those who know God and revere Him. God does not shower blessings without some discrimination. True, God does have common grace He gives to all. Jesus told us this while He taught on the earth:
Matthew 5:45 (ESV Strong's)
so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
But, the blessings we see in this Psalm are for those who "fear the Lord." In verse two we see the blessing of fruit from our labor. To some this might sound like money. Perhaps it is. If what God is saying is that we will earn a living from our labor when we fear the Lord, many might say that their are many who earn a living from their labor and DON'T fear the Lord. The key here is that when God gives us the earnings they don't come with pain and difficulty (Note what Solomon tells us about much money in the book of Ecclesiastes.) When God gives blessing (money or other fruit from our labor) it doesn't come with stress. In verse three we read the blessing is on the family. The man who fears the Lord will have a fruitful wife (children or labor or character) and children who are like "olive shoots around your table." This means they are children who are productive and provide blessing and not cursing. In verse five we are told our worship will be blessed when we fear God. In verse six it tells us that our legacy will be blessed when we fear God. We will see our children's children. This is a true blessing. Fear the Lord ... it comes with blessing.
Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in his ways!
Subject: Blessings from God
This is one of the psalms the nation of Israel would sing when they were, as a group, making their way to Jerusalem for the Passover, or Pentecost, etc. This is a song they would sing during that long walk. It begins by affirming to God that blessings from God only flow from those who know God and revere Him. God does not shower blessings without some discrimination. True, God does have common grace He gives to all. Jesus told us this while He taught on the earth:
Matthew 5:45 (ESV Strong's)
so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
But, the blessings we see in this Psalm are for those who "fear the Lord." In verse two we see the blessing of fruit from our labor. To some this might sound like money. Perhaps it is. If what God is saying is that we will earn a living from our labor when we fear the Lord, many might say that their are many who earn a living from their labor and DON'T fear the Lord. The key here is that when God gives us the earnings they don't come with pain and difficulty (Note what Solomon tells us about much money in the book of Ecclesiastes.) When God gives blessing (money or other fruit from our labor) it doesn't come with stress. In verse three we read the blessing is on the family. The man who fears the Lord will have a fruitful wife (children or labor or character) and children who are like "olive shoots around your table." This means they are children who are productive and provide blessing and not cursing. In verse five we are told our worship will be blessed when we fear God. In verse six it tells us that our legacy will be blessed when we fear God. We will see our children's children. This is a true blessing. Fear the Lord ... it comes with blessing.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Subject: God's Promise of Discipline - 2 Chronicles 33-36
2 Chronicles 36:15-17 (ESV Strong's)
The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy.
Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged. He gave them all into his hand.
Subject: God's promise of discipline
We love to tout the promises of God. We love to claim them and rejoice in them. We fail, however, to remember that God not only has promises of blessings, He also has promises of cursing. God sent, time and again, His "messengers" to the Kings of Judah. But, "they kept mocking the messengers of God." They kept "despising His words and scoffing at His prophets." As a result, God allowed Babylon (the Chaldeans) to capture and pilage the great city Jerusalem. The very Word of God is coming true in the midst of them, even though they refused to believe it when it was prophesied to them. God's promises are true. The are abundantly true. Even if the promise is for discipline when we disobey God and refuse to repent when God sends messengers to us to confront us with His word. ALL His promises are true.
The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy.
Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged. He gave them all into his hand.
Subject: God's promise of discipline
We love to tout the promises of God. We love to claim them and rejoice in them. We fail, however, to remember that God not only has promises of blessings, He also has promises of cursing. God sent, time and again, His "messengers" to the Kings of Judah. But, "they kept mocking the messengers of God." They kept "despising His words and scoffing at His prophets." As a result, God allowed Babylon (the Chaldeans) to capture and pilage the great city Jerusalem. The very Word of God is coming true in the midst of them, even though they refused to believe it when it was prophesied to them. God's promises are true. The are abundantly true. Even if the promise is for discipline when we disobey God and refuse to repent when God sends messengers to us to confront us with His word. ALL His promises are true.
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