Judges 20:18-22
The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, “Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?” And the Lord said, “Judah shall go up first.”
Then the people of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah. And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin, and the men of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah. The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites. But the people, the men of Israel, took courage, and again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day.
Tag: Trusting God in Defeat
In the above passage we have the first of three inquires by Israel concerning going to war. The tribe of Benjamin had done a wicked thing in Israel so all the other eleven tribes sought to destroy them for this wickedness. Israel muster up 400,000 soldiers to crush Benjamin, who had 26,000 supreme soldiers. Benjamin's force had superior skill, while Israel had superiority of numbers. Israel, in the above passage, would inquire of God whether they should go to war. God, on this occasion and two others, would say, "Yes! Go to war!" However, on the first two occasions, despite asking God and getting His permission, Benjamin would do great harm to Israel. It would only be on the third occasion that God would give the nation of Israel victory. The lesson here is that sometimes God allows us to go to war and knows we will lose. In the end the victory will be Gods. But, along the way we may lose battles. The first two losses to Benjamin were costly to Israel. The first attack would cost them 22,000 warriors and the second attack 18,000. Yet, God had a purpose to draw out this conflict. God may give permission to war, but not give the victory in the first battles. When we go up against the enemy we might see defeat. That doesn't mean that God is not in the war, it just means God has something bigger in store. In the third conflict Israel gets certain and catastrophic victory over Benjamin. We may have to keep fighting, by faith, despite the obvious loss in the beginning.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Monday, February 27, 2017
Tag: Promises and Prayer - Genesis 32-35
Genesis 32:11-12
Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”
Tag: Promises and Prayer
Jacob as afraid to meet his brother Esau. Earlier in his life, Esau had traded away his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of soup and later in his life Jacob had deceived their father for the first-born blessing. Esau had every reason to be both angry and seek revenge. This is the context of the above prayer. It was a real threat. Jacob had no reason to believe that Esau wouldn't want him dead. He had sworn such, forcing Jacob to flee. Note the following:
Genesis 27:41
Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
But, Jacob had God on his side. More importantly, Jacob had a promise from God on his side. Note the above prayer and Jacob claiming the promise of God. On more than one occasion God had promised this to Jacob. If we are in the midst of fear and pray to God, our weapon against the enemy are the promises of God. God CAN NOT go back on His promises. God must fulfill them in our lives. No matter the fear or the enemy we have the promises of God!!
Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”
Tag: Promises and Prayer
Jacob as afraid to meet his brother Esau. Earlier in his life, Esau had traded away his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of soup and later in his life Jacob had deceived their father for the first-born blessing. Esau had every reason to be both angry and seek revenge. This is the context of the above prayer. It was a real threat. Jacob had no reason to believe that Esau wouldn't want him dead. He had sworn such, forcing Jacob to flee. Note the following:
Genesis 27:41
Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
But, Jacob had God on his side. More importantly, Jacob had a promise from God on his side. Note the above prayer and Jacob claiming the promise of God. On more than one occasion God had promised this to Jacob. If we are in the midst of fear and pray to God, our weapon against the enemy are the promises of God. God CAN NOT go back on His promises. God must fulfill them in our lives. No matter the fear or the enemy we have the promises of God!!
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Tag: Ordained by Christ - Romans 15-16
Romans 15:28-29
When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
Tag: Ordained by God for Ministry
This section of Romans is a practical description of Paul's work and desire for work in the ministry, for Christ. Paul was still planning on more ministry He was looking for more fruit in more places despite the current battles. He was on his way to Jerusalem to deliver a collection he has been accumulating from the churches he has been visiting. There was both a famine in the land, impacting the believers in Jerusalem, and persecution of believers in the church at Jerusalem. Paul had impressed on the churches to support them. But, after he delivers the gifts, he was determined to make sure he made it to Rome. He doesn't even know that when he gets to Jerusalem his accusers will get him to Rome ... bound in chains. Paul, however, doesn't care. He knows he is going to Rome in "the fullness of the blessing of Christ." However, he gets there, he gets there. He knows he is ordained by God and in the blessings of Christ. Whatever his ministry takes him, he knows he is ordained by God and will be blessed.
When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
Tag: Ordained by God for Ministry
This section of Romans is a practical description of Paul's work and desire for work in the ministry, for Christ. Paul was still planning on more ministry He was looking for more fruit in more places despite the current battles. He was on his way to Jerusalem to deliver a collection he has been accumulating from the churches he has been visiting. There was both a famine in the land, impacting the believers in Jerusalem, and persecution of believers in the church at Jerusalem. Paul had impressed on the churches to support them. But, after he delivers the gifts, he was determined to make sure he made it to Rome. He doesn't even know that when he gets to Jerusalem his accusers will get him to Rome ... bound in chains. Paul, however, doesn't care. He knows he is going to Rome in "the fullness of the blessing of Christ." However, he gets there, he gets there. He knows he is ordained by God and in the blessings of Christ. Whatever his ministry takes him, he knows he is ordained by God and will be blessed.
Saturday, February 25, 2017
Tag: Sovereignty of God - Matthew 20-22
Matthew 21:2-3
saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”
Tag: Sovereignty of God
The above verses are a great example of the Sovereignty of God. Jesus tells the disciples something that was going to be pre-arranged by God. In our lives, God "prearranged" meetings and events. Jesus had much control over the last days of His life, as ordained by the Father. He is often told that it was not "time" for differing events. God has arrange this "transportation" to ride into the city to fulfill the prophecy of the O.T. God arranges the events of life to fulfill His word and His plans. If we watch the world around us we can think and often do think that "things just happen." That is a favorite mantra of the world's philosophy. However, things don't just happen. God uses evil in this world to accomplish His task (Genesis 50:20). God uses events in this world to fulfill His Word. Imagine the owners of the donkey and colt. They had to be in the right place at the right time to make this happen. God does that in our lives, too!! God is sovereign in our lives.
saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”
Tag: Sovereignty of God
The above verses are a great example of the Sovereignty of God. Jesus tells the disciples something that was going to be pre-arranged by God. In our lives, God "prearranged" meetings and events. Jesus had much control over the last days of His life, as ordained by the Father. He is often told that it was not "time" for differing events. God has arrange this "transportation" to ride into the city to fulfill the prophecy of the O.T. God arranges the events of life to fulfill His word and His plans. If we watch the world around us we can think and often do think that "things just happen." That is a favorite mantra of the world's philosophy. However, things don't just happen. God uses evil in this world to accomplish His task (Genesis 50:20). God uses events in this world to fulfill His Word. Imagine the owners of the donkey and colt. They had to be in the right place at the right time to make this happen. God does that in our lives, too!! God is sovereign in our lives.
Friday, February 24, 2017
Tag: Our purpose in life - Isaiah 40-44
Isaiah 43:7
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
Tag: Our Purpose
Why we are here? What reason do we have for our existence. The average life span is predicted at just under 80 years. What are we to do with them? In the above passage Isaiah has been writing about the people of Israel. he is telling them in this chapter of the greatness of God and of His great care for them. He has "redeemed" them out of Egypt. He literally has killed other men and women to simply bring them into a place of pleasure for them. They have high value. In the above passage we have the reason God created them ... and us!! God has created us for HIS glory. We are not created to bring glory to ourselves. We are created to bring glory to God. He is glorified in me when I have put everything else under Him. My greatest passion should be Him, for this reason I was created. I can not find perfect harmony and great peace unless I first realize that my reason for existence is not to based upon my own pleasures, desires and needs. My reason for existence is for His glory. When I have that in the forefront of my mind, goodness and mercy will follow me (Psalm 23).
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
Tag: Our Purpose
Why we are here? What reason do we have for our existence. The average life span is predicted at just under 80 years. What are we to do with them? In the above passage Isaiah has been writing about the people of Israel. he is telling them in this chapter of the greatness of God and of His great care for them. He has "redeemed" them out of Egypt. He literally has killed other men and women to simply bring them into a place of pleasure for them. They have high value. In the above passage we have the reason God created them ... and us!! God has created us for HIS glory. We are not created to bring glory to ourselves. We are created to bring glory to God. He is glorified in me when I have put everything else under Him. My greatest passion should be Him, for this reason I was created. I can not find perfect harmony and great peace unless I first realize that my reason for existence is not to based upon my own pleasures, desires and needs. My reason for existence is for His glory. When I have that in the forefront of my mind, goodness and mercy will follow me (Psalm 23).
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Tag: Counseling when people are suffering - Job 15-17
Job 16:1-2
Then Job answered and said:
“I have heard many such things;
miserable comforters are you all.
Tag: Counseling when people are suffering
Doctors have an oath they make that commits them to "do no harm." It is called the Hippocratic Oath. It is a Greek oath that new doctors swear by a number of healing gods to follow a certain set of ethical guidelines. Outside the "healing gods" of the Greeks, it is a good thing to confess and swear you will do no harm to those you treat with your practice of medicine. Those who offer counsel to others ought to have to hold to a similar oath: Do No Harm! The three friends of Job, as stated by him in the above verse, were "miserable comforters" ... all of them. Job's friends came to him and had committed themselves to bring him comfort. Note:
Job 2:11
Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him.
Epic fail!!! This is what happens when we try to figure out the "why" and simple don't work on the "who"! They lost all comfort when they wanted to blame Job for his own failures. Our job is to point people to God and show them His grace, mercy, power and His hope. All else makes us miserable comforters.
Then Job answered and said:
“I have heard many such things;
miserable comforters are you all.
Tag: Counseling when people are suffering
Doctors have an oath they make that commits them to "do no harm." It is called the Hippocratic Oath. It is a Greek oath that new doctors swear by a number of healing gods to follow a certain set of ethical guidelines. Outside the "healing gods" of the Greeks, it is a good thing to confess and swear you will do no harm to those you treat with your practice of medicine. Those who offer counsel to others ought to have to hold to a similar oath: Do No Harm! The three friends of Job, as stated by him in the above verse, were "miserable comforters" ... all of them. Job's friends came to him and had committed themselves to bring him comfort. Note:
Job 2:11
Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him.
Epic fail!!! This is what happens when we try to figure out the "why" and simple don't work on the "who"! They lost all comfort when they wanted to blame Job for his own failures. Our job is to point people to God and show them His grace, mercy, power and His hope. All else makes us miserable comforters.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Tag: God's Provision - Psalm 21-23
Psalms 23:5
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Tag: God's Provision
Psalm 23 tells us that God is the God who cares for us. He provides for us. The above verse tells us that the place, the audience, or capacity we have does not prevent God from blessing us. God can prepare a table in the middle of the valley of death. Remember, this Psalm of Davids is an expression of his trust in God while he walks "through the valley of the shadow of death." As the above states, David trusts God to prepare a table "in the presence of my enemies." Imagine that scene!! You are surrounded by enemies ... those who want your demise. They are yelling, screaming, threatening and looking to intimidate you. Yet, you sit down, in front of them, to enjoy a juicer steak!! That God has prepared!!! The anointing of the head is an expression of God's pleasure in you. He values you. Remember the prostitute that poured oil on the feet of Jesus was showing Him honor. Here we have God caring for us in the most honorable way ... in front of our enemies. The greatest truth may be the final line - God prepares us so that our "cup overflows." Imagine this thought. We come with a grande cup and God pours in a venti drink. We come with a 12 oz tumbler and God pours in 16 oz!! Our capacity does not limit God's generosity!! When we follow Jesus as our shepherd God's generosity overwhelms us. He is truly our shepherd.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Tag: God's Provision
Psalm 23 tells us that God is the God who cares for us. He provides for us. The above verse tells us that the place, the audience, or capacity we have does not prevent God from blessing us. God can prepare a table in the middle of the valley of death. Remember, this Psalm of Davids is an expression of his trust in God while he walks "through the valley of the shadow of death." As the above states, David trusts God to prepare a table "in the presence of my enemies." Imagine that scene!! You are surrounded by enemies ... those who want your demise. They are yelling, screaming, threatening and looking to intimidate you. Yet, you sit down, in front of them, to enjoy a juicer steak!! That God has prepared!!! The anointing of the head is an expression of God's pleasure in you. He values you. Remember the prostitute that poured oil on the feet of Jesus was showing Him honor. Here we have God caring for us in the most honorable way ... in front of our enemies. The greatest truth may be the final line - God prepares us so that our "cup overflows." Imagine this thought. We come with a grande cup and God pours in a venti drink. We come with a 12 oz tumbler and God pours in 16 oz!! Our capacity does not limit God's generosity!! When we follow Jesus as our shepherd God's generosity overwhelms us. He is truly our shepherd.
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Tag: Thank God for Spiritual Wives - Judges 12-16
Judges 13:21-23
The angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord. And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.” But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these.”
Tag: Thank God for Spiritual Wives
In the above passage we have the conclusion of the announcement of the birth of Samson by God to Manoah and his wife. The story begins with the Angel of the Lord (an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament ... known as a Theophany) appearing to Manoah's wife to announce her pregnancy for Samson (we are never told her name). Based upon the way the story develops and with the above passage as our shinning light, it appears as though Manoah is spiritually dull! He doesn't seem to "get it." In the above passage His I've has to explain him the simply logic that if God was going to use them for the birth of Samson, God was not going to kill them. Yet, his faith is either non-existent at the worse, or , severally limited at the best. Manoah needed to be thankful for a Godly wife. Many wives spend hours of energy working on the outside of their bodies. Apparently Manoah's wife had spent some time on the inside of her life. She was spiritually sensitive to the things of God. A wife that is sensitive to God is a wife who can be sensitive to the needs of her husband. A wife who pleases God is a wife who can please her husband. Solomon, who had countless wives and concubines (unexplainable), said it best in these verses:
Proverbs 12:4
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
Proverbs 18:22
He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 19:14
House and wealth are inherited from fathers,
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
The angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord. And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.” But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these.”
Tag: Thank God for Spiritual Wives
In the above passage we have the conclusion of the announcement of the birth of Samson by God to Manoah and his wife. The story begins with the Angel of the Lord (an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament ... known as a Theophany) appearing to Manoah's wife to announce her pregnancy for Samson (we are never told her name). Based upon the way the story develops and with the above passage as our shinning light, it appears as though Manoah is spiritually dull! He doesn't seem to "get it." In the above passage His I've has to explain him the simply logic that if God was going to use them for the birth of Samson, God was not going to kill them. Yet, his faith is either non-existent at the worse, or , severally limited at the best. Manoah needed to be thankful for a Godly wife. Many wives spend hours of energy working on the outside of their bodies. Apparently Manoah's wife had spent some time on the inside of her life. She was spiritually sensitive to the things of God. A wife that is sensitive to God is a wife who can be sensitive to the needs of her husband. A wife who pleases God is a wife who can please her husband. Solomon, who had countless wives and concubines (unexplainable), said it best in these verses:
Proverbs 12:4
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
Proverbs 18:22
He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 19:14
House and wealth are inherited from fathers,
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Monday, February 20, 2017
Tag: Encounter with God - Genesis 27-31
Genesis 28:18-22
So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”
Tag: Encounter with God
Jacob is on the run! He is leaving his father and mother (Isaac and Rebekah) and will soon meet Rachel (his future wife) and crooked Laban (his father-in-law). in the middle of all of this, Jacob has an encounter with God. On the place where this all happens Jacob erects a monument called, Bethel. The term Bethel means, House of God. Jacob had meet God in the middle of his fear. In the middle of the fear, in the middle of his running, God stepped into his life. If we are going to have a relationship with God we have to have a God ordained encounter with God. Jacob prays that "if" God brings him back to this place and blesses him, Jacob will give God tithes. This must have been so laughable to the God of the universe. God wanted Jacob's life, Jacob was going to give God a tenth of his wealth ... wealth he admitted would come from God anyhow. Encounters with God are intended to establish a relationship with God to produce a Lordship with God. We all need an encounter ... but it comes with Lordship. Until God meet Jacob here, the name of the place was Luz. The meaning of the place is nothing special. Luz meant "almond tree." Apparently for the many almond trees in the area, but that is like calling something an "oak tree" in the land of "oak trees." When God meets Jacob here the place becomes a "place of God." God turns the ordinary into extraordinary. That is what an encounter with God does to us. We owe Him our lives as a result.
So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”
Tag: Encounter with God
Jacob is on the run! He is leaving his father and mother (Isaac and Rebekah) and will soon meet Rachel (his future wife) and crooked Laban (his father-in-law). in the middle of all of this, Jacob has an encounter with God. On the place where this all happens Jacob erects a monument called, Bethel. The term Bethel means, House of God. Jacob had meet God in the middle of his fear. In the middle of the fear, in the middle of his running, God stepped into his life. If we are going to have a relationship with God we have to have a God ordained encounter with God. Jacob prays that "if" God brings him back to this place and blesses him, Jacob will give God tithes. This must have been so laughable to the God of the universe. God wanted Jacob's life, Jacob was going to give God a tenth of his wealth ... wealth he admitted would come from God anyhow. Encounters with God are intended to establish a relationship with God to produce a Lordship with God. We all need an encounter ... but it comes with Lordship. Until God meet Jacob here, the name of the place was Luz. The meaning of the place is nothing special. Luz meant "almond tree." Apparently for the many almond trees in the area, but that is like calling something an "oak tree" in the land of "oak trees." When God meets Jacob here the place becomes a "place of God." God turns the ordinary into extraordinary. That is what an encounter with God does to us. We owe Him our lives as a result.
Sunday, February 19, 2017
Tag: Clothe yourself in Christ - Romans 13-14
Romans 13:14
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Tag: Clothe yourself in Christ
What are you wearing today? People spend much time clothing themselves. They stand in front of the closet and wonder, of the plethora of choices, they should wear. They consider the day's activity; they consider the days audience; they consider the weather. What is in their closet is determined by their bank account. The billions of dollars of money spent on clothing characterizes the priority we put on how we look. The age-old adage typically goes like this: The clothes make the man (person). This is the thought that Paul has in the above text. He is telling us that "how we clothe ourselves" will determine the person. Since we are believers, we ought to put away the old clothes of "darkness" (vs. 10-13) and we out to put on Christ (the "armor of light" v. 12). "Clothing" ourselves in Christ is the mandate for the day. Imagine if the money and time we spent on clothing and cosmetics was spent our our "spiritual clothing?" The problem with the comparison is that you can take someone of complete ill repute and put them in a tux ... even they look good. Notice what Solomon said about a immoral woman Proverbs:
Proverbs 11:22
Like a gold ring in a pig's snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
You can change the clothes in the real world, but the heart is the same. In Paul's world (our world) when God changes the heart (Romans 1-11) the outward clothes change - it is a daily process.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Tag: Clothe yourself in Christ
What are you wearing today? People spend much time clothing themselves. They stand in front of the closet and wonder, of the plethora of choices, they should wear. They consider the day's activity; they consider the days audience; they consider the weather. What is in their closet is determined by their bank account. The billions of dollars of money spent on clothing characterizes the priority we put on how we look. The age-old adage typically goes like this: The clothes make the man (person). This is the thought that Paul has in the above text. He is telling us that "how we clothe ourselves" will determine the person. Since we are believers, we ought to put away the old clothes of "darkness" (vs. 10-13) and we out to put on Christ (the "armor of light" v. 12). "Clothing" ourselves in Christ is the mandate for the day. Imagine if the money and time we spent on clothing and cosmetics was spent our our "spiritual clothing?" The problem with the comparison is that you can take someone of complete ill repute and put them in a tux ... even they look good. Notice what Solomon said about a immoral woman Proverbs:
Proverbs 11:22
Like a gold ring in a pig's snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
You can change the clothes in the real world, but the heart is the same. In Paul's world (our world) when God changes the heart (Romans 1-11) the outward clothes change - it is a daily process.
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Tag: Nature of Man - Matthew 17-19
Matthew 18:1-4
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Tag: Nature of Man
In the deepest part of man's nature is the desire in that is demonstrated in the above verse. The disciples, no doubt, had political and ruling aspirations. They had come, by faith, to realize that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah. As the Messiah and their closeness with Christ, they "might" be first in line for positional seats in the new kingdom. The answer Jesus gave them must have been shocking to their system. Certainly "becoming like children" was not the answer to "who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Truly "might" not "humility" was the door to position in a kingdom, much less THE KINGDOM! Yet, Jesus is the power and positional leader of the Kingdom of Heaven. God wants us to be totally dependent (like a child) to enter the kingdom. Greatest is through steps of humility and total dependence on Him.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Tag: Nature of Man
In the deepest part of man's nature is the desire in that is demonstrated in the above verse. The disciples, no doubt, had political and ruling aspirations. They had come, by faith, to realize that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah. As the Messiah and their closeness with Christ, they "might" be first in line for positional seats in the new kingdom. The answer Jesus gave them must have been shocking to their system. Certainly "becoming like children" was not the answer to "who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Truly "might" not "humility" was the door to position in a kingdom, much less THE KINGDOM! Yet, Jesus is the power and positional leader of the Kingdom of Heaven. God wants us to be totally dependent (like a child) to enter the kingdom. Greatest is through steps of humility and total dependence on Him.
Friday, February 17, 2017
Tag: The World's View of God's Power - Isaiah 34-39
Isaiah 36:4-7
And the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours? Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me? Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. But if you say to me, “We trust in the Lord our God,” is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, “You shall worship before this altar”?
Tag: The World's View of God's Power
It is silly for people of the world to give commentary on God, His power and His plans. As though they were studying general business math, they comment as though they know the mind of God. Even believers have come to realize that God is deep and, even in faith, much remains secret to God:
Deuteronomy 29:29
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
We only know what God chooses to revel to us. I would doubt, in the above passage, that the Commander (The Rabshakeh) of the Assyria army would know much about God. He, earlier, compares Yahweh with every other god the Assyrian army has destroyed. Again, he knows little of what he is talking about. When the world talks about God it is important to remember they have to access point for God. The unbelieving world can know the power of God, for God has revealed it to them in nature. In Romans chapter one the Apostle Paul tells us that the world can know the nature of God, even His eternal power and godhead. However, their commentary, as seen above, lacks insight into the mind of Christ. Paul later, in chapter eight of Romans, explains only the mind of God can be understood by the Spirit of God and only those who have the Spirit of God can know it. We often get fearful of the world as they speak foolishly of God. But, since they refuse to believe in God and His plans, they are only fools (Psalms 53:1)
And the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours? Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me? Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. But if you say to me, “We trust in the Lord our God,” is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, “You shall worship before this altar”?
Tag: The World's View of God's Power
It is silly for people of the world to give commentary on God, His power and His plans. As though they were studying general business math, they comment as though they know the mind of God. Even believers have come to realize that God is deep and, even in faith, much remains secret to God:
Deuteronomy 29:29
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
We only know what God chooses to revel to us. I would doubt, in the above passage, that the Commander (The Rabshakeh) of the Assyria army would know much about God. He, earlier, compares Yahweh with every other god the Assyrian army has destroyed. Again, he knows little of what he is talking about. When the world talks about God it is important to remember they have to access point for God. The unbelieving world can know the power of God, for God has revealed it to them in nature. In Romans chapter one the Apostle Paul tells us that the world can know the nature of God, even His eternal power and godhead. However, their commentary, as seen above, lacks insight into the mind of Christ. Paul later, in chapter eight of Romans, explains only the mind of God can be understood by the Spirit of God and only those who have the Spirit of God can know it. We often get fearful of the world as they speak foolishly of God. But, since they refuse to believe in God and His plans, they are only fools (Psalms 53:1)
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Tag: Hope - Job 14
Job 14:7-10
“For there is hope for a tree,
if it be cut down, that it will sprout again,
and that its shoots will not cease.
Though its root grow old in the earth,
and its stump die in the soil,
yet at the scent of water it will bud
and put out branches like a young plant.
But a man dies and is laid low;
man breathes his last, and where is he?
Tag: Hope
Hope is a powerful thing. When people have lost hope their posture changes. They walk with their head down. They sit in a chair slumped down. Their eyes are cast down. Those who have hope typically are looking up, with a spark in their step. They eyes can not conceal that hope. In the book of Job we have a story of someone who has lost hope. Job has lost all. Family, wealth, status, health and all in the category of loss for Job. But, in this chapter, the one thing that he talks about losing is hope. In the above passage he talks about the hope of the tree. Even though the tree is cut down, there is hope, because the roots are there to taste again the rain of life and sprout once more in life. Job's point is, what about man? What hope do we have? Job is not looking at this through the eyes of Christ, of course. Christ is who and what gives us hope. We have hope in Christ. Read any of the Pauline epistles and know that God is there to give us hope. When we lose hope despair, depressions and disaster soon follow. Hope is the remedy to depression. Satan, as in Job's case, wants to remove anything that we hope in so that we will fall into despair. That was the point Job was making when he made this bet with God. Note Satan's words to God:
Job 1:9-11
Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”
IF we have our hope in the "props" of life, rather than the God who gives life, we will lose hope when these things are taken away. We have hope in Christ!!! Trust in no other for your hope.
“For there is hope for a tree,
if it be cut down, that it will sprout again,
and that its shoots will not cease.
Though its root grow old in the earth,
and its stump die in the soil,
yet at the scent of water it will bud
and put out branches like a young plant.
But a man dies and is laid low;
man breathes his last, and where is he?
Tag: Hope
Hope is a powerful thing. When people have lost hope their posture changes. They walk with their head down. They sit in a chair slumped down. Their eyes are cast down. Those who have hope typically are looking up, with a spark in their step. They eyes can not conceal that hope. In the book of Job we have a story of someone who has lost hope. Job has lost all. Family, wealth, status, health and all in the category of loss for Job. But, in this chapter, the one thing that he talks about losing is hope. In the above passage he talks about the hope of the tree. Even though the tree is cut down, there is hope, because the roots are there to taste again the rain of life and sprout once more in life. Job's point is, what about man? What hope do we have? Job is not looking at this through the eyes of Christ, of course. Christ is who and what gives us hope. We have hope in Christ. Read any of the Pauline epistles and know that God is there to give us hope. When we lose hope despair, depressions and disaster soon follow. Hope is the remedy to depression. Satan, as in Job's case, wants to remove anything that we hope in so that we will fall into despair. That was the point Job was making when he made this bet with God. Note Satan's words to God:
Job 1:9-11
Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”
IF we have our hope in the "props" of life, rather than the God who gives life, we will lose hope when these things are taken away. We have hope in Christ!!! Trust in no other for your hope.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Tag: God Rescues and Promotes - Psalm 18-20
Psalms 18:46-48
The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation—
the God who gave me vengeance
and subdued peoples under me,
who delivered me from my enemies;
yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;
you rescued me from the man of violence.
Tag: God Rescues Us/Promotes Us
In Psalm 18 we have the song/Prayer of David after he was rescued from King Saul. Saul was a disappointing king and God removed him for his disobedience. However, he was not pleased. David was to replace him. King Saul sought to slay David. Many times Saul had David in places where the King could take his life, and, yet, God rescued David. But, as the above passage states, God did not simply rescue David, He promoted David "above those who rose against me." God, when He saves us, does not ONLY deliver us from peril. God also provides us extreme living for every more. Jesus tells us in the Gospel that He came to give us Life, but not just life. Note His words:
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
He saves us from our enemies, yes! But, God also promotes us and gives us abundant life and promotes us above our enemies.
The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation—
the God who gave me vengeance
and subdued peoples under me,
who delivered me from my enemies;
yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;
you rescued me from the man of violence.
Tag: God Rescues Us/Promotes Us
In Psalm 18 we have the song/Prayer of David after he was rescued from King Saul. Saul was a disappointing king and God removed him for his disobedience. However, he was not pleased. David was to replace him. King Saul sought to slay David. Many times Saul had David in places where the King could take his life, and, yet, God rescued David. But, as the above passage states, God did not simply rescue David, He promoted David "above those who rose against me." God, when He saves us, does not ONLY deliver us from peril. God also provides us extreme living for every more. Jesus tells us in the Gospel that He came to give us Life, but not just life. Note His words:
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
He saves us from our enemies, yes! But, God also promotes us and gives us abundant life and promotes us above our enemies.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Tag: God uses the outcast - Judges 6-11
Judges 11:1-4
Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah. And Gilead's wife also bore him sons. And when his wife's sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You shall not have an inheritance in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman.” Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob, and worthless fellows collected around Jephthah and went out with him.
After a time the Ammonites made war against Israel.
Tag: God uses the outcast
In the book of Judges we have the cycle of Israel falling into sin - God sends a nation to oppress them because of their sin - Israel cries out in repentance and asks for deliverance - God rises up a "judge" to lead them to repentance and into battle against the oppressor God sent - God delivers them from the oppressor He sent to oppress them because of their sin - The people rejoice - the people fall into sin and the cycle repeats. Here in the above passage we see the background of one of the "judges" God sends to lead them into Repentance and battle. Jephthah is an outcast. Throughout Judges we see the least of those in the nation become leaders. God does not start with the rich and mighty. He does not deliver them via the "top shelf" people - but rather through the "lowly." God is a God who values those He can use because they are the lowly. They don't have their own riches, status or power to rely on. God uses those who trust in Him and He is all they have. God sues those who have nothing so that at the end of the battle it is not their power, wealth or status they can point to, but rather their complete and utter trust in God. God uses fishermen to tell his story not royal scribes of learned universities. God uses the weak to confound the wise and the strong.
Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah. And Gilead's wife also bore him sons. And when his wife's sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You shall not have an inheritance in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman.” Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob, and worthless fellows collected around Jephthah and went out with him.
After a time the Ammonites made war against Israel.
Tag: God uses the outcast
In the book of Judges we have the cycle of Israel falling into sin - God sends a nation to oppress them because of their sin - Israel cries out in repentance and asks for deliverance - God rises up a "judge" to lead them to repentance and into battle against the oppressor God sent - God delivers them from the oppressor He sent to oppress them because of their sin - The people rejoice - the people fall into sin and the cycle repeats. Here in the above passage we see the background of one of the "judges" God sends to lead them into Repentance and battle. Jephthah is an outcast. Throughout Judges we see the least of those in the nation become leaders. God does not start with the rich and mighty. He does not deliver them via the "top shelf" people - but rather through the "lowly." God is a God who values those He can use because they are the lowly. They don't have their own riches, status or power to rely on. God uses those who trust in Him and He is all they have. God sues those who have nothing so that at the end of the battle it is not their power, wealth or status they can point to, but rather their complete and utter trust in God. God uses fishermen to tell his story not royal scribes of learned universities. God uses the weak to confound the wise and the strong.
Monday, February 13, 2017
Tag: Bitterness will consume you - Genesis 24-27
Genesis 27:41
Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
Tag: Bitterness will consume you
To say Esau was bitter would be an understatement. For a mere bowl of soup he gave up his birthright to his brother Jacob. By trickery Jacob, following his mother's lead, he also stolen the blessing from his father, Isaac. This all could have been voided if mom and dad would have communicated and trusted in God's plan. It is assumed, or imagined, that Rebekah did not tell Issac about God's Word that was spoken to her when she was carrying Esau and Jacob in her womb.
Genesis 25:23
And the Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other,
the older shall serve the younger.”
God has ordained this to happen. Yet, instead of teaching their boys this truth and promise from God mom and dad turned it into a war. Esau's bitterness was birthed by Rebekah and Issac's failure to communicate and teach their sons the glory of God. Esau becomes a bitter man because he had his flesh in mind. Jacob is sent off to another country because Rebecca had her flesh in mind. Bitterness is a result of flesh thinking not faith thinking. The suffering in this family was because they failed to see the glory of God in His plans.
Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
Tag: Bitterness will consume you
To say Esau was bitter would be an understatement. For a mere bowl of soup he gave up his birthright to his brother Jacob. By trickery Jacob, following his mother's lead, he also stolen the blessing from his father, Isaac. This all could have been voided if mom and dad would have communicated and trusted in God's plan. It is assumed, or imagined, that Rebekah did not tell Issac about God's Word that was spoken to her when she was carrying Esau and Jacob in her womb.
Genesis 25:23
And the Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other,
the older shall serve the younger.”
God has ordained this to happen. Yet, instead of teaching their boys this truth and promise from God mom and dad turned it into a war. Esau's bitterness was birthed by Rebekah and Issac's failure to communicate and teach their sons the glory of God. Esau becomes a bitter man because he had his flesh in mind. Jacob is sent off to another country because Rebecca had her flesh in mind. Bitterness is a result of flesh thinking not faith thinking. The suffering in this family was because they failed to see the glory of God in His plans.
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Tag: Christian Love vs. Evil - Romans 12
Romans 12:9
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
Tag: Christian Love
It is interesting, in the verse, that Paul ties love with abhorring evil. In today's society the interpretation would be love conquers all and if you love you will ignore evil. The the world love means allowing others to live in evil. To the modern thinker, interfering with the way someone lives, even if it is evil, is "unloving." Yet, what we see from Paul is that for our love to be "genuine" we must "abhor" what is evil. The one is not separated by the other. In fact, the Greek word for "genuine" carries the meaning to love without hypocrisy, but also carries the meaning to properly discern. We are to make sure our love is not polluted. Love can't look past sin. It must discern the difference between good and evil and choose good. Love can cover sin, but it cannot mix with sin. You can't love and ignore sin. You can conquer sin by love, but the two can't dwell in the same room and breath equally the same air. Christian love is to love the world and love the person in sin, but not to abhor the sin.
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
Tag: Christian Love
It is interesting, in the verse, that Paul ties love with abhorring evil. In today's society the interpretation would be love conquers all and if you love you will ignore evil. The the world love means allowing others to live in evil. To the modern thinker, interfering with the way someone lives, even if it is evil, is "unloving." Yet, what we see from Paul is that for our love to be "genuine" we must "abhor" what is evil. The one is not separated by the other. In fact, the Greek word for "genuine" carries the meaning to love without hypocrisy, but also carries the meaning to properly discern. We are to make sure our love is not polluted. Love can't look past sin. It must discern the difference between good and evil and choose good. Love can cover sin, but it cannot mix with sin. You can't love and ignore sin. You can conquer sin by love, but the two can't dwell in the same room and breath equally the same air. Christian love is to love the world and love the person in sin, but not to abhor the sin.
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Tag: Fear of Man - Matthew 14-16
Matthew 14:6-9
But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given.
Tag: Fear of Man
Before we look at the above text, note what "King" Solomon tells us about being in authority and having a fear of man:
Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
Herod was not a real king. He was the ruler of a "client" state of Rome. His territory was subservient to Rome and he was "allowed" by Rome to rule the "client kingdom." With that in mind we look at the above verses. When Herod heard that Jesus was performing miracles, he thought John the Baptist must have rose from the dead (interesting that he believed someone "could" raise from the dead "now" but won't believe Jesus "did" raise from the dead later. The death of John the Baptist was based upon King Herod's fear of man. He didin't kill him earlier because "he feared the people." But, he would have him beheaded later because he feared the "guests" that were with him. The fear of man is a snare that corrupts leadership. When we make decisions based upon the attitudes of men and not the principles of God we fall into a trap. The trap is that we have to make sure we don't do things because we fear what men will think of us, or what men will do to us, or what men will say about us. If we act simply on principle it doesn't matter what they say, feel or how they act against us, as we have acted on principle and that should be enough to allow us to rest on our decision. There is, however, a difference between "fearing man" and having "empathy for man." Empathy will be the conduit we used to act toward man. The "fear of man" tends to be the reason we act. We can act on principle with empathy. We should act on principle with empathy. Herod failed as a leader because feared the reaction of men and not the glory of God.
But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given.
Tag: Fear of Man
Before we look at the above text, note what "King" Solomon tells us about being in authority and having a fear of man:
Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
Herod was not a real king. He was the ruler of a "client" state of Rome. His territory was subservient to Rome and he was "allowed" by Rome to rule the "client kingdom." With that in mind we look at the above verses. When Herod heard that Jesus was performing miracles, he thought John the Baptist must have rose from the dead (interesting that he believed someone "could" raise from the dead "now" but won't believe Jesus "did" raise from the dead later. The death of John the Baptist was based upon King Herod's fear of man. He didin't kill him earlier because "he feared the people." But, he would have him beheaded later because he feared the "guests" that were with him. The fear of man is a snare that corrupts leadership. When we make decisions based upon the attitudes of men and not the principles of God we fall into a trap. The trap is that we have to make sure we don't do things because we fear what men will think of us, or what men will do to us, or what men will say about us. If we act simply on principle it doesn't matter what they say, feel or how they act against us, as we have acted on principle and that should be enough to allow us to rest on our decision. There is, however, a difference between "fearing man" and having "empathy for man." Empathy will be the conduit we used to act toward man. The "fear of man" tends to be the reason we act. We can act on principle with empathy. We should act on principle with empathy. Herod failed as a leader because feared the reaction of men and not the glory of God.
Friday, February 10, 2017
Tag: Prayer - Isaiah 29-33
Isaiah 33:2
O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you.
Be our arm every morning,
our salvation in the time of trouble.
Tag: Prayer
Perhaps the greatest prayer we could pray are the words of this verse. When we are in the place of understanding that only God can be our help and only God can be our salvation and only God can give us grace: We are in a good place. We should start each day with this frame of mind: "O Lord, be gracious to us!" Those who are far from God and do not recognize Him in their lives, do not live with the words, "... be gracious to us ...". Those are words of someone who realizes it is God who sustains us and protect us. This is a prayer we should pray every day. It is only by His grace that we can do His work. It is only by doing His work we can bring Him glory.
O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you.
Be our arm every morning,
our salvation in the time of trouble.
Tag: Prayer
Perhaps the greatest prayer we could pray are the words of this verse. When we are in the place of understanding that only God can be our help and only God can be our salvation and only God can give us grace: We are in a good place. We should start each day with this frame of mind: "O Lord, be gracious to us!" Those who are far from God and do not recognize Him in their lives, do not live with the words, "... be gracious to us ...". Those are words of someone who realizes it is God who sustains us and protect us. This is a prayer we should pray every day. It is only by His grace that we can do His work. It is only by doing His work we can bring Him glory.
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Tag: God's Sovereignty- Job 11-12
Job 12:7-9
“But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you;
And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you.
“Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you;
And let the fish of the sea declare to you.
“Who among all these does not know
That the hand of the Lord has done this,
Tag: God's Sovereingty
Do you know what God is doing? Do you stop to ponder God's work in the day-to-day functions of life? In this section of Job, the suffering servant is trying to, once again, make his case that he is innocent and his friend's accusations are baseless. Job sincerely believes God has given this suffering to him and wants to talk to God to present his case before Him. His argument in the above passage is that God has put wisdom into the minds of these animals to know that NOTHING happens without it being from God. His reasoning is that since these animals know this, you, my friends, should know this. His main argument is that these animals are highly conscious of God's work, are we? Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount that the lilly flower doesn't get all worked up, but knows that God will care for it. He told us that the birds of the air don't worry about their food, because God will care for them. Yet we, His most marvelous creation, worry about life and unconscious of His activity in our lives. Job is wrong about who "did this" to him (Satan did it, yet, with God's approval). But, Job is not wrong that the creation around us is much more conscious than we are about Gods involvement in our activity.
“But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you;
And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you.
“Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you;
And let the fish of the sea declare to you.
“Who among all these does not know
That the hand of the Lord has done this,
Tag: God's Sovereingty
Do you know what God is doing? Do you stop to ponder God's work in the day-to-day functions of life? In this section of Job, the suffering servant is trying to, once again, make his case that he is innocent and his friend's accusations are baseless. Job sincerely believes God has given this suffering to him and wants to talk to God to present his case before Him. His argument in the above passage is that God has put wisdom into the minds of these animals to know that NOTHING happens without it being from God. His reasoning is that since these animals know this, you, my friends, should know this. His main argument is that these animals are highly conscious of God's work, are we? Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount that the lilly flower doesn't get all worked up, but knows that God will care for it. He told us that the birds of the air don't worry about their food, because God will care for them. Yet we, His most marvelous creation, worry about life and unconscious of His activity in our lives. Job is wrong about who "did this" to him (Satan did it, yet, with God's approval). But, Job is not wrong that the creation around us is much more conscious than we are about Gods involvement in our activity.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Tag: Prayer for vindication and justice - Psalm 15-17
Psalms 17:1-2
Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry!
Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
From your presence let my vindication come!
Let your eyes behold the right!
Tag: Prayer for vindication
When we are being attacked by others, prayer for help from God is the best and only, real, approach. Psalm 17 is such an approach. David is feeling threatened, unjustly. This could be at any time in David's life. He lived under the threat of constant judgement. David's prayer was for God to vindicate him. He doesn't just want God to reward him, he wants God to act in His justice to vindicate him. But, not according to David's own justice system, but according to God's justice system. Only God can really judge, justly. Man has a failed sense of justice. We all want justice, but our justice is evil, because we are evil. We are sinners and therefore we have an inability to judge righteously. David pleads to God to "hear" him. He wants God to have His "eyes behold the right!! In this Psalm David will go on to share with God that he is innocent. Not that he is innocent of evil, but rather he is innocent of what this person(s) is saying about him. He doesn't defend himself, however. He allows God to defend him.
Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry!
Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
From your presence let my vindication come!
Let your eyes behold the right!
Tag: Prayer for vindication
When we are being attacked by others, prayer for help from God is the best and only, real, approach. Psalm 17 is such an approach. David is feeling threatened, unjustly. This could be at any time in David's life. He lived under the threat of constant judgement. David's prayer was for God to vindicate him. He doesn't just want God to reward him, he wants God to act in His justice to vindicate him. But, not according to David's own justice system, but according to God's justice system. Only God can really judge, justly. Man has a failed sense of justice. We all want justice, but our justice is evil, because we are evil. We are sinners and therefore we have an inability to judge righteously. David pleads to God to "hear" him. He wants God to have His "eyes behold the right!! In this Psalm David will go on to share with God that he is innocent. Not that he is innocent of evil, but rather he is innocent of what this person(s) is saying about him. He doesn't defend himself, however. He allows God to defend him.
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Tag: Transition of Leadership - Judges 1-5
Judges 2:10
And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.
Tag: Transition of Leadership
The above verse is a great principal for believers to grasp. When we fail to teach and transition someone to take leadership we risk the beliefs, values and purpose of our lives being lost to the next generation. Moses taught Joshua. Joshua did not teach anyone to fill his spot. To his defense, Joshua was a follower of God and his job was to get the twelve-tribes to the promise land. Each tribe was to go out, on their own, to secure the land. Joshua was not instructed to train his assistant. Yet, the failure of that tasks not being completed, produced the above statement. When we fail to train the younger generation they will forget God and they will fail to carry out the Word of God.
And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.
Tag: Transition of Leadership
The above verse is a great principal for believers to grasp. When we fail to teach and transition someone to take leadership we risk the beliefs, values and purpose of our lives being lost to the next generation. Moses taught Joshua. Joshua did not teach anyone to fill his spot. To his defense, Joshua was a follower of God and his job was to get the twelve-tribes to the promise land. Each tribe was to go out, on their own, to secure the land. Joshua was not instructed to train his assistant. Yet, the failure of that tasks not being completed, produced the above statement. When we fail to train the younger generation they will forget God and they will fail to carry out the Word of God.
Monday, February 6, 2017
Tag: God's Providence - Genesis 20-23
Genesis 21:21
He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Tag: God's providence in the lives of others
In Genesis 21 we have the story of Isaac (Abraham's first son by his wife Sarah) being born AND the separation of Abraham from the son (Ishmael). born by Hagar, Sarah's handmaiden. Most historians believe that when God told Hagar that He would make of Ishmael a "great nation," God was referring to what would become the Arab people. Ishmael is the first born of Abraham's son, but not by Sarah. God established His people through Abraham's son Issac - who would be the son of the covenant. The conflict created in this situation has produced the world we have today in the Middle East. Because Sarah was impatient with God's promise that she would have a child, she sought to solve the issue herself, through Hagar. God would send His on via the nation of Israel, however. He would not send salvation through Ishmael. The way of life is not through the Muslim faith that sprang from Ishmael. Redemption would come from the Messiah, the Son of David, through the nation of Israel.
He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Tag: God's providence in the lives of others
In Genesis 21 we have the story of Isaac (Abraham's first son by his wife Sarah) being born AND the separation of Abraham from the son (Ishmael). born by Hagar, Sarah's handmaiden. Most historians believe that when God told Hagar that He would make of Ishmael a "great nation," God was referring to what would become the Arab people. Ishmael is the first born of Abraham's son, but not by Sarah. God established His people through Abraham's son Issac - who would be the son of the covenant. The conflict created in this situation has produced the world we have today in the Middle East. Because Sarah was impatient with God's promise that she would have a child, she sought to solve the issue herself, through Hagar. God would send His on via the nation of Israel, however. He would not send salvation through Ishmael. The way of life is not through the Muslim faith that sprang from Ishmael. Redemption would come from the Messiah, the Son of David, through the nation of Israel.
Sunday, February 5, 2017
Tag: Election - by Grace through Faith - Romans 9-11
Romans 11:28-32
As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
Tag: Election - Salvation through Faith by Grace
In Romans 9-11 we are given Paul's thesis on election. You might not like it, but the fact that God "elects" those He wants to save "by grace through faith" is clearly stated. In the above verses we have the driving words behind what Paul has written in the previous chapters. This is not just his summary statement of what he has just said - this is the goal he was driving his readers to understand. Note the following commentary on these verses:
Understanding the Bible Commentary Series:
"Israel is both God’s enemy and God’s friend. Israel is an enemy as far as the gospel is concerned, but loved on account of the patriarchs (v. 28; so Jub. 15:30; 22:9; 4 Ezra 3:13; 5:27). Gentiles once were objects of wrath (1:18ff.), but they are now objects of mercy because of their faith in the gospel. For Jews the issue is exactly the opposite: they once were objects of mercy because of their election and knowledge of the law, but they are now objects of wrath because of their disbelief in the gospel. Thus, God comes to his people in only one of two ways, in wrath or mercy. There is no third way. If we will not receive the mercy of God then we must face the wrath of God which would drive us to his mercy (Isa. 63:10–14). God’s mercy is the final word, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable (v. 29)."
God, by grace through faith, choose those He wants to save. That grace wins no matter what. No one person (or nation) can fraught the gospel message and the plan of God. God is saving those He will by grace, through faith.
As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
Tag: Election - Salvation through Faith by Grace
In Romans 9-11 we are given Paul's thesis on election. You might not like it, but the fact that God "elects" those He wants to save "by grace through faith" is clearly stated. In the above verses we have the driving words behind what Paul has written in the previous chapters. This is not just his summary statement of what he has just said - this is the goal he was driving his readers to understand. Note the following commentary on these verses:
Understanding the Bible Commentary Series:
"Israel is both God’s enemy and God’s friend. Israel is an enemy as far as the gospel is concerned, but loved on account of the patriarchs (v. 28; so Jub. 15:30; 22:9; 4 Ezra 3:13; 5:27). Gentiles once were objects of wrath (1:18ff.), but they are now objects of mercy because of their faith in the gospel. For Jews the issue is exactly the opposite: they once were objects of mercy because of their election and knowledge of the law, but they are now objects of wrath because of their disbelief in the gospel. Thus, God comes to his people in only one of two ways, in wrath or mercy. There is no third way. If we will not receive the mercy of God then we must face the wrath of God which would drive us to his mercy (Isa. 63:10–14). God’s mercy is the final word, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable (v. 29)."
God, by grace through faith, choose those He wants to save. That grace wins no matter what. No one person (or nation) can fraught the gospel message and the plan of God. God is saving those He will by grace, through faith.
Saturday, February 4, 2017
Tag: God's Wisdom will Shine - Matthew 11-13
Matthew 11:18-19
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
Tag: God's Wisdom will Shine Through
When we read the teaching of Jesus in the Gospels we have to make sure we understand his audience. He has the obvious audience of the disciples. One of the reasons Jesus kept "hiding" Himself from the Pharisees is because He was time for the crucifixion ... He still had things to teach the disciples. The religious leaders were an audience. Jesus had to show these leaders that their version of the truth was not His version of truth. Jesus was also teaching the church. He would know that later His teaching would be part of the Cannon of Scripture and be the marching manual for all believers. What lesson, then, was He trying to teach all three of those groups in the above verses? The lesson is that everything we do will eventually demonstrate and indicate what the ultimate catalyst was for their behavior. The Pharisees were judging John's and Jesus' behavior through a false lens. We do that a lot in our society. We judge the immediate thing we see. That often leads us to a wrong conclusion. Jesus teaching in the above passage for all three groups is that Godly wisdom will produce Godly fruit. Earthly wisdom will produce earthly fruit. "Wisdom" will be "justified" by her "fruits." Your motivations and source of reasons will produced some fruit and that fruit will tell the world what type of wisdom you used to produce the fruit. The world has a hard time with Christianity because of the fruit it produces. The world can't disclaim the changed lives that belief in Christ produces. Psychological wisdom doesn't produce fruit like this. Wisdom is known by its fruit.
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
Tag: God's Wisdom will Shine Through
When we read the teaching of Jesus in the Gospels we have to make sure we understand his audience. He has the obvious audience of the disciples. One of the reasons Jesus kept "hiding" Himself from the Pharisees is because He was time for the crucifixion ... He still had things to teach the disciples. The religious leaders were an audience. Jesus had to show these leaders that their version of the truth was not His version of truth. Jesus was also teaching the church. He would know that later His teaching would be part of the Cannon of Scripture and be the marching manual for all believers. What lesson, then, was He trying to teach all three of those groups in the above verses? The lesson is that everything we do will eventually demonstrate and indicate what the ultimate catalyst was for their behavior. The Pharisees were judging John's and Jesus' behavior through a false lens. We do that a lot in our society. We judge the immediate thing we see. That often leads us to a wrong conclusion. Jesus teaching in the above passage for all three groups is that Godly wisdom will produce Godly fruit. Earthly wisdom will produce earthly fruit. "Wisdom" will be "justified" by her "fruits." Your motivations and source of reasons will produced some fruit and that fruit will tell the world what type of wisdom you used to produce the fruit. The world has a hard time with Christianity because of the fruit it produces. The world can't disclaim the changed lives that belief in Christ produces. Psychological wisdom doesn't produce fruit like this. Wisdom is known by its fruit.
Friday, February 3, 2017
Tag: Christ's Redemption - Isaiah 28:16-17
Isaiah 28:16-17
therefore thus says the Lord God,
“Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion,
a stone, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:
‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
And I will make justice the line,
and righteousness the plumb line;
and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,
and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”
Tag: Christ's Redemption
This portion of Isaiah is basically filled with God's description of His wrath and judgment being poured out upon mankind. It is not pretty prose to read. Yet, as always in the prophets, God's redemption through His eternal love comes shinning through ... as in the above passage. Here is a passage that speaks of God sending His son, establishing a plumb-line of righteousness and purifying the planet. Jesus is the "cornerstone." Jesus is the "sure foundation." "Whoever believes will not be in haste." When destruction comes the believer will rest in Christ not run in fear. He is our "stone." He is our "tested stone." When floods come the only thing that is left are the strong rocks which do not move. Those who cling to Christ, the Rock, will never be moved.
therefore thus says the Lord God,
“Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion,
a stone, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:
‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
And I will make justice the line,
and righteousness the plumb line;
and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,
and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”
Tag: Christ's Redemption
This portion of Isaiah is basically filled with God's description of His wrath and judgment being poured out upon mankind. It is not pretty prose to read. Yet, as always in the prophets, God's redemption through His eternal love comes shinning through ... as in the above passage. Here is a passage that speaks of God sending His son, establishing a plumb-line of righteousness and purifying the planet. Jesus is the "cornerstone." Jesus is the "sure foundation." "Whoever believes will not be in haste." When destruction comes the believer will rest in Christ not run in fear. He is our "stone." He is our "tested stone." When floods come the only thing that is left are the strong rocks which do not move. Those who cling to Christ, the Rock, will never be moved.
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Tag: The Wicked's Last Breath - Job 11
Job 11:20
But the eyes of the wicked will fail;
all way of escape will be lost to them,
and their hope is to breathe their last.”
Tag: The Wicked's Last Breath
The above verse is the last verse of one of Job's friends' speech - Zophar. Zophar is the third friend of Job to condemn him. As you read the three speeches of his friends, you can see that Job is wearing on them, fast! Zophar is less politically correct than the first two. He jumps right into Job with both feet. He simple tells Job he knows nothing and if he knew even a glimpse of God's knowledge and wisdom he would repent immediately, quit claiming his innocence in this matter and make it right before God. He believes Job is wicked and he paints the picture of the beauty of repentance and the tragedy of the wicked's last breath. He, like the others, has some truth in his doctrine and is light-years off in his application to Job's situation. God has already declared Job innocent, so in Job's mind he is struggling with the logic of his friends that this suffering is due to his sin. Job isn't saying he is righteous - not yet - but that the suffering is not due to some unrepentive and unrighteous acts. Zophar is right about the wicked, however. The wicked, someday will see their "eyes" fail - this is a metaphor for their hope. Their "escape" will be lost. Their breath is all they can cling to ... once that is gone, their is no hope. The righteous are not so. We have hope in Christ and hope in an eternity with Christ. Our last breath is the gateway to heaven. When we gasp that last time our next breath is celestial. Not so the wicked. Their last breath cuts off all hope and their next breath is eternal damnation. Zophar did get something right - just not in Jobs case.
But the eyes of the wicked will fail;
all way of escape will be lost to them,
and their hope is to breathe their last.”
Tag: The Wicked's Last Breath
The above verse is the last verse of one of Job's friends' speech - Zophar. Zophar is the third friend of Job to condemn him. As you read the three speeches of his friends, you can see that Job is wearing on them, fast! Zophar is less politically correct than the first two. He jumps right into Job with both feet. He simple tells Job he knows nothing and if he knew even a glimpse of God's knowledge and wisdom he would repent immediately, quit claiming his innocence in this matter and make it right before God. He believes Job is wicked and he paints the picture of the beauty of repentance and the tragedy of the wicked's last breath. He, like the others, has some truth in his doctrine and is light-years off in his application to Job's situation. God has already declared Job innocent, so in Job's mind he is struggling with the logic of his friends that this suffering is due to his sin. Job isn't saying he is righteous - not yet - but that the suffering is not due to some unrepentive and unrighteous acts. Zophar is right about the wicked, however. The wicked, someday will see their "eyes" fail - this is a metaphor for their hope. Their "escape" will be lost. Their breath is all they can cling to ... once that is gone, their is no hope. The righteous are not so. We have hope in Christ and hope in an eternity with Christ. Our last breath is the gateway to heaven. When we gasp that last time our next breath is celestial. Not so the wicked. Their last breath cuts off all hope and their next breath is eternal damnation. Zophar did get something right - just not in Jobs case.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Tag: Wicked live in Terror - Psalms 14:5-6
Psalms 14:5-6
There they are in great terror,
for God is with the generation of the righteous.
You would shame the plans of the poor,
but the Lord is his refuge.
Tag: Wicked live in terror
In Psalm 14 we are being made familiar with the "fool." The fool is defined in the first verse of the chapter as someone who fails to acknowledge God in their life and plans. They fool has not acts of kindness or love in their lives, because they reject the God of love. Therefore all they do will be oppressive in one way or another. We might not agree with that analysis of a man without God, but that is the truth stated in this chapter. In the above two verses we need to know that the "they" and the "you" are referring to these who have rejected God and find no understanding of Him. The first line of each of the above two verses is speaking of the wicked, the second line in each of the verses is speaking about the righteous, or poor, who are those who, in this Psalm, have faith in God and have acknowledged God in their lives. The wicked live "in great terror." They don't confess this terror, of course. That would mean they have to acknowledge God. Despite their life in terror they still try to hurt the poor ("shame the plans of the poor"). The fool, who has no relationship with God, lives in terror. Reject God and lose peace in your heart.
There they are in great terror,
for God is with the generation of the righteous.
You would shame the plans of the poor,
but the Lord is his refuge.
Tag: Wicked live in terror
In Psalm 14 we are being made familiar with the "fool." The fool is defined in the first verse of the chapter as someone who fails to acknowledge God in their life and plans. They fool has not acts of kindness or love in their lives, because they reject the God of love. Therefore all they do will be oppressive in one way or another. We might not agree with that analysis of a man without God, but that is the truth stated in this chapter. In the above two verses we need to know that the "they" and the "you" are referring to these who have rejected God and find no understanding of Him. The first line of each of the above two verses is speaking of the wicked, the second line in each of the verses is speaking about the righteous, or poor, who are those who, in this Psalm, have faith in God and have acknowledged God in their lives. The wicked live "in great terror." They don't confess this terror, of course. That would mean they have to acknowledge God. Despite their life in terror they still try to hurt the poor ("shame the plans of the poor"). The fool, who has no relationship with God, lives in terror. Reject God and lose peace in your heart.
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