Tag: Knowledge Doesn’t Always Improve Confidence - Genesis 1-3

Genesis 3:7

Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Knowledge Doesn’t Always Improve Confidence

Eve, standing before the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, is tempted by Satan to take fruit from it and eat of it.   She is promised, by Satan, that the tree will make her wise:

Genesis 3:4-5

But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

She is temped to eat the from a tree God told her and Adam NOT to eat from:

Genesis 2:16-17

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Yet, they do.  The promise of Satan, as always, turns to disaster.   What comes out of her and his disobedience to God is shame.  Prior to their disobedience they were not ashamed:

Genesis 2:25

And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

The knowledge they received from this act of disobedience did not give them what they logically thought they would get.   Satan, using logic, concluded with them that this knowledge would be beneficial.  Instead, this act of disobedience brought shame into their lives.   Before disobedience their nakedness, together, was nothing to be ashamed of.   After their disobedience they were full of shame.   When we fill shame we can bet it is based upon some act of disobedience toward our Redeemer.   God does not shame those He loves.  Shame comes from feelings of inadequacy.   This new knowledge Adam and Eve now have did not propel them into enlightenment.   Instead it compelled them to cover themselves.   Knowledge, without faith and obedience to God, does not build up.   It simply exposes our sin and shame.   When we walk with God we are “not ashamed.”  When we disobey God the only thing our eye are open to is our shame.   Knowledge does not always build us up.   Satan created an argument that the woman thought sounded logical (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).  Instead it proved to be fatal.   

Tag: Nature is a Bad Teacher - Jude

Jude 1:10

But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.

Tag: Nature is a Bad Teacher

Jude is a short little book in the New Testament and one of the last books added to the cannon of Scripture. There was some dispute as to its inclusion to the Scriptures.  The book was written to warn the early Church about the false teachers who had crept in among them.  Jude’s message is that, like false speakers in the past (no matter their form), so, too, these false teachers will be judged and destroyed.   The reason for their destruction?   The above verse lays out Jude’s argument.   These were teachers who were “blasphemous” of the Gospel message.  They denied the Savior, and, as John taught us, they were thus “antichrist.”

1 John 2:22

Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

As Jude states in his inspection of these teachers, they did not “underhand” the Gospel.   Instead of obeying, by faith, the teaching of the Apostles, these blasphemers, instead, relied upon their own “instincts.”   The Greek word in the above text translated “instinctively” is “physikōs.”    It is where we would get the English word ‘physical” from.  It means their “natural” understanding.  We might say their “intuition” was giving them understanding.   That “physikos” led these false teachers, not the Word of God.   When we rely upon our natural instincts and intuition to make decisions or to lead us in a direction, and those instincts and intuition are contrary to God’s Word, we become blasphemous in our living.   This happens to many, who refuse to trust in God’s Word and who rely on what their own imaginations and own natures tell them.   God demands we allow His Word to trump our own reasonings and our own false arguments.   When we rely upon “physikos” we will fail in our walk with Christ.

Tag: Mob Mentalty - Acts 27-28

Acts 28:3-6

When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

Tag:  Mob Mentality: The Mob is Seldom Right

In the above story we are picking up the narrative immediately after Paul’s strenuous shipping disaster.  In Acts 27 Paul had warned the captain and owner of the ship he was about to be placed upon to NOT set sail.  The centurion who was in charge of Paul listened to the shipping voices and not to Paul’s voice.  The result was the crashing of the ship, the loss of all cargo and the landing on the shores of this island, Malta.   The residents of the island came to rescue them and the above narrative takes place.   Paul, as a prisoner, is gathering sticks and is bitten by a snake.  Because he is bitten by the snake the residents of the land, the mob, believes he must, indeed, be a murderer.   The mob sees the circumstances and makes a logical conclusion based upon their past experiences.   Yet, the mob is wrong on several accounts.  Paul is NOT a prisoner because he killed someone, but because he was willing to stand up for his faith and witness for Christ.    Yet, the mob uses their logic and, as a result, they condemn Paul.  But, Paul does not die from the snake bite.  Instead, he shakes the snake off and goes about his life.   Now, the mob switches their interpretation of the events and Paul is now a “god.”   In one short time period, Paul goes from murderer to Majesty!!   Paul is neither.   God has placed Paul in the midst to communicate the message of the Gospel. If we read further we will see that while on the island Paul performs miracles and teaches about Christ.   The mob is seldom right because they rely solely on logic to develop their conclusions.  Their logic is often, if not always, wrong when it comes to Christ’s plan for our lives.  God allowed all of this to happen to Paul to bring him to a new place to preach the Gospel and to witness to the crew on the boat and to the centurion guarding him that God is powerful and real and transcends all logic.   Note what happens on Malta next:

Acts 28:7-9

Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him. And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.

Ask Publius, or his father, about the mob’s mentality.  They saw the power of the gospel.  The mob lives and reacts to circumstances.   God’s people live and react to circumstances by faithful obedience.   

Tag; The Power of the Savior - Revelation 18-22

Revelation 19:11-16

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Tag:  The Power of the Savior

In the above passage we have the description of Jesus, coming to destroy Satan and to rule the earth.   He is dressed in light and with the power of God’s Word.  Jesus was the Living Word and He fulfills the Written Word.  He is Faithful and True.  In order for someone to be Faithful and True, there has to be a standard for what is Faithful and True.   That is God!!  Jesus is Call Faithful and True because He fulfills all of God’s Word and is the Son of God.   Jesus is the embodiment of the Word of God.  He is the Living Word.   He will come someday and rule the earth in power and in righteousness.   We can rejoice in that day and in that rule.  He will bring the wrath of God upon those who disobey the Word and who reject the Son of God.   He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.   

Tag: Longing for Love to be Known - Song of Songs 7-8

Song of Songs 8:1

Oh that you were like a brother to me

who nursed at my mother's breasts!

If I found you outside, I would kiss you,

and none would despise me.

Tag:  Longing for Love to be Known

In the final chapter of the this love song, the two lovers are finally to the point that they want their love for each other known.   In the above verse we hear the bride wish she could acknowledge their love opening ... to the point as though her lover were as known as her brother.   She does not wish him her brother, but rather that their love might be public and known to all.    We have to put our understanding of all this in context of the day this was written.   Even married couples in this day did not show open affection. The bride is so in love with her lover she wants all to know.   Showing love to each other is important.  Showing love to each other so all can see is paramount.  Our love for each other should not be private.  We need to show open love.   Since this entire book is also a analogy of Christ and His Bride (the Church) we ought to have the same desire for open love for our Savior.   We ought to long that our love is known.   

Tag: It is Easy to Praise God - Psalms 149-150

Psalms 150:2

Praise him for his mighty deeds;

praise him according to his excellent greatness!

Tag:  It is Easy to Praise God

It is pretty easy to find a way to be negative in this life.  Life has a lot of turns, bumps and mountains to climb.  That is because there is sin in this world.  God did not create the world to be rough and bumpy.   God created it the world to have fellowship with Him.  Note before sin how God and man met:

Genesis 2:7-9

then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

God created it all good.  Then sin came in and took away that nice garden and life became rough.  We can easily find reasons not to praise and be thankful.  

BUT, there are a million more reasons to be thankful and to praise God.   The above passage tells us to “praise Him for His mighty deeds.”  This is NOT an option.  Refusal to praise God is sin and sin will destroy your joy.  The verse does not say, “Praise God if your circumstances so allow it.”   The verse tells us to praise God for his “mighty deeds.”   What deeds?  How about our salvation?   The greatest of all might deeds is when death died in the grave the moment Jesus rose from that grave.  That ONE act, that ONE deed of greatest is a MIGHTY deed.   That alone is enough to praise God all the time.  We worry about this side of life and our pathetic circumstances.   Yet, God did the ultimate and saved us for glory.   We might not have the smooth life we want but God did not promise us a smooth life.  He promised us He would pay the penalty for our sin.  He promised us a room with Him in glory.  He promised to walk beside us and carry us through ever life trial.  He did not promise NO life trials.  He only promised to walk with us.   We have much to praise God for in our lives.  Or, we can simply complain.   Praising God gives us a life of joy.    Dwelling on the negative in our life sucks the marrow right out of our bones.  Why people choose to be mourning vs praising is beyond knowledge.   This verse commands us to praise Him for His might deeds.  

Tag: Joy is Contigous - Esther 6-10

Esther 8:15-17

Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.

Tag:   Joy Is Contiguous 

In the story of Esther we see where Esther, the Queen, is put in the exact spot she needed to be to save her uncle Mordecai and the Jewish nation.   Esther was willing to trust God and to wait for God and obey God.  She put herself in danger by going to to the king with her request, but she trusted God and His Sovereign control over all things.  

In the above account, as the people are being saved from utter destruction, we see gladness and joy and honor and light coming into play.  In what was a day of certain darkness (the destruction of the Jews), light was produced.   The odd aspect of this story is what is found in the end of this section.  Note what it says:

“... And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.”

When the other nations saw that the Jews were the favored people in the Assyrian nation, they all wanted to convert to become Jews.   The fact that the Jews practiced joy and gladness and expressed honor and light, others wanted to become Jewish.  The alternative would be to be destroyed.  Today is the same thing.  Christian’s ought to be so filled with joy and peace and glory for God, that the world around us ought to see us as the answer.  They ought to be running to us to avoid the death and destruction of unbelief.   Joy is contagious.   We are to be people of joy.  

Tag: When God Says NO! - Deuteronomy 32-34

Deuteronomy 34:4

And the Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.”

Tag:  When God Says NO!

In the above text we read that God showed Moses the Promise Land.  He let him see it from the top of the mountain.   Moses lead the nation of Israel on the other side of the mountain for 40 years.  Now he was able to get right to the edge of the promised land and God said, “No!”    God was not going to let him enter the promise land.  Why? 

Deuteronomy 32:50-52

And die on the mountain which you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died in Mount Hor and was gathered to his people, because you broke faith with me in the midst of the people of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, and because you did not treat me as holy in the midst of the people of Israel. For you shall see the land before you, but you shall not go there, into the land that I am giving to the people of Israel.”

God sometimes tells His best servants, “No,” at times.   Notice Paul:

2 Corinthians 12:7-9

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Notice what the writer of Hebrews says about Moses:

Hebrews 11:27

By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

Moses was NOT disappointed that God said NO, because Moses was not really looking for “earthly land” or “earthly possessions.”  Paul was not looking for a “healthy body.”   Both these great men of God (perhaps the most famous in the Old and New Testament Scriptures), were simply looking for the grace that can be found in a relationship with God via Christ.   Moses was looking forward to seeing Christ and Paul was looking both backward on what Christ had done and forward to when he would be with Christ.   Faith looks for something unseen.  Hope trust in the future of the Kingdom with God.  That can’t be taken away.  Moses was told NO but it did not disappoint because his eyes were on the real real prize.  Disappointment only comes when we don’t experience what we hoped for.  If we hope for the earthly we will always be disappointed.  To those hopes God does say NO.  But, if we hope for the heavenly, we can’t be disappointed, because God has promised and always says YES to Him.     

Tag: It is AntiChrist to Not Confess Christ - 2 John

2 John 1:7

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

Tag:  It is AntiChrist to not Confess Christ

We often water-down those around us who do not believe in Christ.   We simply refer to them as unbelievers.   That is a true title, but it lacks what we see the braveness of their situation that John points out in the above text.   John is in the midst of educating his readers in this house-church to beware of traveling false teachers.   He will later tell them to not even help them on their way or give them a place to rest their heads at night:

2 John 1:10-11

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

To John these are not just “unbelievers” or “false-teachers.”    To John ANYONE who does not CONFESS Jesus Christ is the Son of God in the flesh, he/she is not simply and unbeliever living next door, he/she is a “deceiver” and the “antichrist.”   John is not saying the are THE antichrist (as referred to in his book, The Revelation).  He is saying, however, that anyone who does not confess (that means believe) that Jesus is the Son of God, who came in the flesh and died for our sins (the Gospel message) is a deceiver and anti everything that is Christ.   In the beginning verses of this little book John refers to “truth” multiple times.   Here he is saying that those who do not believe in the truth of Christ are to be warned against and to be understood in the context of antichrist.   Few believers in churches today would go to this extent in their neighborhoods, communities and workplaces to refer to those around them as antichrist.  But, one only has to listen to the news and the entertainment media to realize we truly do live among antichrist.   John is warning us.  Be warned.  

Tag: We are Empowered to Proclaim Christ - Acts 25-26

Acts 26:19-23

“Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

Tag:  We are Empowered to Proclaim Christ

In the above passage we are dropped right at the end of Paul’s defense before the Roman leader, Fetus and, the more knowledgeable in Jewish teachings, King Agrippa.   Paul was given a chance to, once again, defend himself against the Jewish leaders who had come from Jerusalem; accusing him of violating the Law and being blasphemous to God.   Paul makes a valiant defense and is bold in his proclamation of the Gospel.  Paul is, a great logical debater.   He can lay is argument down better than most.  (Perhaps on a side note, Paul’s many, many “opportunities” to defend himself might be why he was SO good at laying out an argument.   God was using these “opportunities” to hone his craft - a craft Paul would use to write great books like Galatians and Romans.)  How was Paul able to be so bold.  We read earlier this argument was not done in a backroom some place:

Acts 25:23

So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

What we read in our story is that Paul was empowered by God do proclaim the gospel:

Acts 26:22

To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:

We can ask God for many things.  But, one of the things we ought never worry to ask for, knowing we will receive, is the power from God to proclaim the Gospel.  For this reason we have been saved and sent.  God empowers us to be bold at the darkest hours.  We have but to trust in that empowerment.  

Tag: God Uses Satan’s Evil Agaist Him - Revelation 12-17

Revelation 17:15-18

And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”

Tag:  God Uses Satan’s Evil Against Him.

In the above section we are listening in on the Apostle John’s discussion with “the angel.”  “The angle” was sent to him to tell him and show him the things to come in regard to the final steps of God’s plan.  The key characters in the section are:

1. The Beast - the right-hand man beside Satan

2. The Ten Horns - probably the “regional” leaders under the “Beast” and Satan.  

3.  The “prostitute” - the religious system that has turned its heart away from Christ and established a false system. 

4. The “Woman” (Great City) - probably either the Capital of the World system; or the world system.   

The “Beast” has just faked being raised from the dead.  He has done so to show his power over the entire world.  Satan wants power over the entire world and the entire world system.  This is the Unified World and Satan is the king.   That is what he wants.  However, God uses the evilness in the hearts of the “prostitute” (False Religion) to be raised up against Satan.   Satan has attempted to destroy any other power in the world (so that he can be the ultimate focus of worship).   Remember, Satan wanted Christ to worship him in the temptation:

Luke 4:6-7

and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”

However, God turns that evilness in the hearts of false worshippers to destroy Satan.  God is in complete control.   When He acts He can, and does, create calamity using the evilness of those He will:

Isaiah 45:7

I form light and create darkness,

I make well-being and create calamity,

I am the Lord, who does all these things.

In the case of Job, we see God allows Satan to use the evilness of an entire nation to accomplish God’s purpose:

 Job 1:17

While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

God uses the evilness of mankind to accomplish His own purposes.   

Tag: Separation is Sorrowful and Beautiful at the Same Time - Song of Songs 5-6

Song of Songs 6:13

Others:

Return, return, O Shulammite,

return, return, that we may look upon you.

He: 

Why should you look upon the Shulammite,

as upon a dance before two armies?

Tag:  Separation Is Sorrowful and Beautiful at the Same Time. 

If you have ever had a daughter married to the love of her life, you can relate to this passage in Song of Songs.   In the context of the entire poem/love song, we are reaching the end of the story.   The romance has led to a wedding.  The wedding is now over and the bride is about to leave with her groom.  But, dressed in her wedding gown and all the array of a wedding, the bride is REALLY something to look upon.  She is beautiful.   To those who are observing the wedding (the term “Others” in the editors notes on this passage) she is someone they want to continue to “look upon.”   They want her to “return, return” so they can gaze one more time at her beauty.   However, the Groom (the “He” in the above passage ... again, a note added by the editor) wants her to come with him and he questions their motives for wanting to continue “gaze” upon the bride.   He uses a phrase that is not easily identified in the Hebrew text.  He asks if they want to look upon her as one would look “upon a dance before two armies.”   In other translations the phrase reads: “... as at the dance of the two companies?” (NASV); or, “... as on the dance of Mahanaim?” (NIV).  It is not clear what the “groom” means. The “dance of Mahanaim” might simply be a traditional dance that was either seen at a wedding, or a formal dance before a battle, or even a dance that might be interpreted as a battle.   The point the groom is making, is to say, “My bride is not a show for you all. She is now my wife.”     Everyone loves the thrill of a wedding.  However, there is a time that she (the Bride) ceases to be the centerpiece of everyone’s eyes and must become the wife of the one she married.  She is now the centerpiece of his eyes.  The beauty and splendor of the bride is now the focus attention of the groom.  That is the transition of the wedding.   This passage is often interpreted with the bride as the subject and focus of the verse.  She is beautiful and those around her want to continue to behold that beauty.  Her parents want to continue to see her as daughter and bride.  Her friends want to continue to gaze on her as long lasting friend.   But, the wedding is a departure from all that and her attention is now to the Groom and his to his new Bride.   This is true in any marriage.  The wedding day is great, but the next day the attention is only for each other.  The past is left and the new present and future begins.   We can see the relationship this would have to the believer (the Bride of Christ) and Christ (the Groom of the Church).   We are to leave this world.  The world keeps calling us to come back, come back and continue the party.   But, just as the bride is to leave the father and mother to become one with the groom, so, too, are we to leave this world and become one with Christ.  The show is over.  It is time to commit to the relationship.   We can’t hang on to one and then hope to have love in the other.   

Tag: God Speaks - It IS Done!!

Psalms 147:15

He sends out his command to the earth;

his word runs swiftly.

Tag:  God Speaks - It IS Done!!

In this section of Psalm 147 we are being told that God is in control of weather; harvest; peace within the borders; ice and snow accumulations; nations; etc.   The writer is telling us that the way God controls and commands the world is through His Word.   God speaks and it happens.   We never have to worry about life because God’s Word is quick and powerful.  Note what the writer of Hebrews says about His Word:

Hebrews 4:12-13

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

The power of God’s Word is amazing.   As we digest it we are empowered by it, to obey it.   The Spirit of God uses God’s Word to correct us and help us.  The Spirit of God has “anointed” us and teachers us through the Word of God:

1 John 2:27

But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

God speaks and His Word quickly accomplishes the task it was sent to perform.  In Isaiah, the prophet is speaking about the same command of God over the weather and says the following:

Isaiah 55:10-11

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven

and do not return there but water the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

God commands the world.  If He can command the world via His Word, we should allow Him to command us via His Word.  

Tag: Even IF - Esther 1-5

Esther 4:15-17

Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

Tag:  Even IF

While the nation of Israel was in captivity, Satan used this occasion to try to destroy all the Jewish nation.   It was from this nation that God would send Christ.   Satan’s plot was to see ever Jew killed.   Under the hatred of Haman, this plot of Satan’s was unfolding.  Haman, the right had man of the king, had authorized, with the King’s permission, the complete and utter destruction of all Jews.  That would include Queen Esther, although, at the time, the King did not realize the Queen was Jewish.   Mordecai, Esther’s adopting father, warned Ester to do something, even if it was to be her life.    The young queen had a decision to make.  In the above verses we see her resolution.   Esther decided she would make a decision to live for God, even “IF” God did not rescue her.   She may have taken her lead from the story of the three Hebrew boys who refused to boy down to the king’s statue while in captivity.  Note their replay to the King when he threatens to put them in the furnace of fire:

Daniel 3:17-18

If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

We have the same language here as Esther used.  The three slave boys and Esther both had a great understanding of the God of the universe.  They all preferred to live in the fear of God vs the fear of Man.  A truly committed believer does not live light of circumstances, but rather in light of the power of God and His Sovereign rule in their lives.  When we truly believe that God is ultimately sovereign, we can face down any set of circumstances in our lives.  Whether those circumstances are a furnace of fire or a decree to be utterly destroyed.   Esther had the right thoughts in her mind to make the right judgements in her life.  

Tag: God is in Control - Deuteronomy 29-32

Deuteronomy 32:39

“‘See now that I, even I, am he,

and there is no god beside me;

I kill and I make alive;

I wound and I heal;

and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.

Tag:  God Is In Control

We often, as mankind, think that we are in control of our lives.  We are not.  We often have the sense that we can do what we want, but, in realty we can’t.   In the above text we are jumping into the middle of a poem/song Moses has written just before his death.   He wants the next generation of Israelites to follow God with all their soul, might and strength.   To help them in that process he wants to remind them of an aspects of God’s Divine character.   God is sovereign in all that He does.   The above passage, very much echos a similar passage in Isaiah:

Isaiah 45:7

I form light and create darkness,

I make well-being and create calamity,

I am the Lord, who does all these things.

God makes all that happens, happen.  He does so without compromising his holiness.  God can create calamity and can cause death and wounds to happen, without bringing damage to His desire for goodness.  God can bring light, make alive and heal and it doesn’t disappoint His desire for justice.   God is sovereign in all that He does.   We can rejoice in that truth no matter what life might give to us.  

Christ’s Love, Pas and Present, Cures All - 2 John

2 John 1:5

And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.

Tag:  Christ’s Love, Past and Present, Cures All

John is writing to a church-home that is, at the time, experiencing some schism.  A false teacher, or teachers, has entered the church and deny Christ.  Note:

2 John 1:7

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

Some, in this church, had thought of entertaining these false teachers when they come.  John warns them, not to:

2 John 1:10

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,

The false teaching denies the work of Christ.  That work was done out of love for us.   The point the Apostle is making is that the antidote for false teaching is to love one another, just has they have been taught by the Savior and observed demonstrated by the Savior and prayed for by the Savior.   John had already recorded Jesus’ prayer before His death.  Note:

John 17:25-26

O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Christ prayed that we would be One with Him and love each other as He loved us.  Love is the ultimate expression of Christ.     This is not a new concept or believers to hold.  This is the normative.  Christ loved those He died for.  If we truly love Christ we will love His children.  The love of the family of God (the Church) is the ultimate sign of our own love for Christ.   

God’s Sovereign Rule - Acts 23-24

Acts 24:22

But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.”

Tag: God’s Providence 

In the above passage we read about Paul standing before the Roman Governor, Felix.   The Jews had attempted to kill Paul and a Roman Commander (known as a “tribune”) had made sure Paul was safely taken to Felix, to be judged.   Felix, a pure political hack, was more than willing to hear the case.  Notice the reason he kept Paul under guard:

Acts 24:26

At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.

The Roman Commander, the Tribune, was Claudius Lysias.  He was the one who wrote the letter to Felix and sent Paul to Felix under guard:

Acts 23:26

“Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings.

In the above passage Felix is trying to decide the truth of the matter and decides to let Lysias to testify to the facts of the case.  God is using a Roman Tribune to protect Paul. God had already told Paul not to fear because God wanted Paul in Rome to testify of the grace of God in the Gospel message:

Acts 23:11

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

In this story, God also used Paul’s nephew to warn Lysias of the plot to kill Paul:

Acts 23:16-17

Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.”

Notice how God uses a young boy and a Roman centurion to accomplish a plan He has for His messenger, Paul.   God is a sovereign God who orchestrates our lives to accomplish His plan for them.  Each step along the way is God bringing something about in that plan for our lives and His over arching plan for the Kingdom.  If we rest in those plans, we can find the peace we are looking for in our lives.  When we resist those plans and disobey His Word, we lose out on the peace He has for us.   Just as the Jews did in this story who are trying to stop Paul and his message rather than repent and believe in Christ.  

Tag: The Sovereign God Rules the Universe - Revelation 6-11

Revelation 6:4

And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.

Tag: The Sovereign God Rules the Universe

Our nation’s leaders and the other leaders of the world often talk of peace.   We strive for peace in this world and he politicians believe their negotiations and agreements are the backbone of established peace in the land.   Although this journal entry will be posted later, it is being recorded on December 7, a day that will “live in infamy.”   Today is the anniversary of the day Japan boomed Pearl Harbor.   Later the U.S. would drop an atom boom on a little island of their own.  A “peace” treaty was signed as a result.    However, the leaders of this world do not have control over peace.   God does.  In the above verse see that Jesus Christ will, in the end times, remove peace from the land.  When He does, men will be free to slay each other.   Paul shows that during this current age, God is holding back the wickedness of men:

2 Thessalonians 2:7

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.

God, at this present time, “restrains” the wickedness of mankind.  If it were not for the fact that God is holding back the evil of this world, evil would destroy all things and all people. We can rejoice that it is God, and not our political leaders, who controls the peace and welfare of the world.   Left to their own devices, man would simply devour one another:

 Galatians 5:13-15

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

We have the capability to simply destroy one another.  But, God restrains us ... until He doesn’t. 

Tag: Charater Fosters Love - Song of Songs 3-4

Song of Songs 3:9-10

King Solomon made himself a carriage

from the wood of Lebanon.

He made its posts of silver,

its back of gold, its seat of purple;

its interior was inlaid with love

by the daughters of Jerusalem.

Tag:  Character Fosters Love

In this love letter we are reading the thoughts of two people in love.  In the above verses we are reading from a section where the bride is admiring her lover.  Specifically she is enamored with the mans skills and craftsmanship.   This might seem as odd lines in a love poem.   But, perhaps not.  In the passage we are not just reading about Solomon’s craftsmanship.   It is doubtful that a man of Solomon’s wealth and position actually made the “carriage” that is being described in the verse (the word for “carriage” could also be translated as a “royals chair”).   The point of her admirations is not what is being made, but rather how it is made/designed  and what that says about the character of the designer.   Solomon is a master craftsman.  Note the design and the beauty of his piece.  She has fallen in love with a man who shows meticulous work.  He has an eye for beauty.  He has a desire for excellence.   Solomon does not simply do things to just get by.  These are the qualities that attracted her to him.  The description is not as much about the product he made as it shows her observations about his life.  In much of this love poem, The Song of Songs, we read about the physical attraction the two have.   And, physical attraction is certainly part of the loving process for two lovers (Song of Songs proves that God designed that aspect of our lives).   But, in this small portion of the book we are more seeing the inward character of the man she is loving.   We might learn from this section.   We are not simply going through life doing “things.”  We are not simply characters doing projects.  In reality, our projects reveal our character.  Love should be created by many different aspects of our lives.   Physical attraction is one of those.   Inward character is another.   When we see the work product of others it tells us a lot about their character.   What’s in the well comes up on the bucket.  Or, in this case, what’s in the well comes up in the beauty of the carriage.  Character matters and you can see the character of a man by watching his actions and product of his life.   Good product, great character.  Bad product, bad character. 

Tag: God Fulfills Our Desires AS We Fear Him - Psalm 143-145

Psalms 145:19

He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;

he also hears their cry and saves them.

Tag:  God Fulfills Our Desires AS We Fear Him

It would be very easy and joyful to read the above verse as follows:

“He fulfills our desires and hears our cry and saves us.”

Perhaps, this is how most people read the verse.   But, the verse actually says that God fulfills the “desires” of those “who fear him.”   The point the writer is making is that when we “fear him” we want what He wants; when we want what He wants we can be guaranteed that He will give it to us; because that is what He, too, wants for us.  This is not a verse that is telling us to come to God like He is some cosmic fairy that grants wishes.   This verse is telling us that as we bend our desires in the context of fearing God and giving Him the Awe and Glory and Praise and Control He deserves, we an be assured God will grant our desires.  When our desires align with God’s wishes we can know He will grant them.   What does God wish for us? 

1 Thessalonians 4:3

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

That is just one verse that tells us what God desires ... our “sanctification.”   That means His will is that we are “holy” before Him.  We are not living in sin but living in a way that reflects His character. 

Here is another “will of God:”

1 Thessalonians 5:18

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Being holy and being “thankful” is the will of God.   So, if we just desired these two things, we can be assured God will give them to us.   If we desire to live a holy life and thankful life, God will answer those prayers and grant us the desire of our hearts.   There are many more “will of God” areas we can look at.  He does not keep them in secret.  The point is the above verse in Psalm is teaching us that as we desire what God desires for us (to fear Him) we can be assured God will grant that desire in our heart ... that we wish to fear Him and honor Him and glorify Him.  

Tag: Great Leaders Know the Power of Prasing God - Nehemiah 11-13

Nehemiah 12:8

And the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who with his brothers was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving.

Tag:  Great Leaders Know the Power of Praising God

Nehemiah made sure, as he was re-building the city of Jerusalem, that he had all the necessary leadership in place.  In the above text we read about a few of them.  Nehemiah takes a pause to highlight, Mattaniah.  The name means, “gift from Jehovah.”   Mattaniah was a descendant of Aspah the Levite who wrote a number of great Psalms.   It is clear that Mattaniah job was to make sure that the inhabitants of Jerusalem gave thanks to God in a proper way.  Nehemiah made sure he had a Mattaniah in his core leadership team ... someone who knew the power of praising God and celebrating the accomplishments God gave them:

Nehemiah 11:17

and Mattaniah the son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, who was the leader of the praise, who gave thanks, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun.

Nehemiah 12:24-25

And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers who stood opposite them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch by watch. “Mattaniah”, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers standing guard at the storehouses of the gates.

Nehemiah 12:27

And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres.

Nehemiah 12:31

Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks. One went to the south on the wall to the Dung Gate.

Nehemiah 12:38

The other choir of those who gave thanks went to the north, and I followed them with half of the people, on the wall, above the Tower of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall,

Nehemiah 12:40

So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me;

Nehemiah 12:46

For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

Great leaders make sure we give proper praise.