God’s Power Produces Fear - Joshua 1-5

Joshua 5:1 (ESV Strong's)
As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.

God’s Power Produces Fear in the World

The world is very much afraid of God.  Many of them do not want to even admit there is a God.  By not admitting there is a God they don’t have to submit to Him.  By denying His existence they can disregard His power, might and judgment.    In the above passage we really see that happens in the heart of a non-believer when they see the power of God being displayed.   This is why believers should be living their lives out loud in front of the non-believing world.    When the world sees the power of God their hearts melt.     This is what happened when David killed Goliath with a small stone.  The Philistines ran in fear.  

1 Samuel 17:51 (ESV Strong's)
Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

This is what happened when Paul was saved from a snack bite:

Acts 28:5-6 (ESV Strong's)
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.

This is what happened when Ananias’ and Sapphira died in the church for their lying:

Acts 5:11 (ESV Strong's)
And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

When God moves in the lives of His people, the world notices.   We ought to embrace that thought and live our lives completely out loud.  

Confession is for Us!! - Genesis 1-3

Genesis 3:11-12 (ESV Strong's)
He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”

Confession is for Us!

In the above verses, Adam is caught red-handed eating the forbidden fruit.   God confronts him with this truth and Adam is forced to confess his misdeeds.   God didn't ask them because He didn't know what Adam did, but wanted Adam and Eve to confess to Him. This is the reason we must confess our sins.  It is for us not for Him.  It is why we have to say the sin.  John said it this way:

1 John 1:9-10 (ESV Strong's)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

If we don’t confess the sin we are, in essence, saying we have not sinned.  Therefore we make God a liar.  In the above passage, when God confronts Adam, God is pointing out Adam’s sin.   If Adam does not confess, he is saying God is a liar.   In Adam’s case, he confesses the sin, but blames the wife.   That was NOT a confession.   That was a blaming and shaming.   Eve would end up blaming the serpent.   When we confess out sins, we need to take personal responsibility for the sin.   It isn’t someone else, it isn’t Satan, and it wasn’t God’s fault.   Note what James says:

James 1:13-15 (ESV Strong's)
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Confession is the pathway to forgiveness.   Our coming to Christ confess admits our sin and our inability to solve the problem, alone.  Only Christ can remove the shame of the sin.  

False Teachers Are Among Us - Jude

Jude 1:17-19 (ESV Strong's)
But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

False Teachers Are Among Us

Jude, the brother of James, writes one of the last letters of the New Testament.   The book was written sometime between 65-80 A.D.    This was at the height of persecution.    Yet, despite the persecution, there were false teachers coming into the church.

Jude 1:4 (ESV Strong's)
For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

In verses 12-16 Jude identifies them we several very bad metaphors.   He is calling them out, in public, for perverting the Gospel of Christ.    In the above passage he is reminding the church that the other apostles warned that this would happen.   Paul in particular wrote:

2 Timothy 3:1-7 (ESV Strong's)
Godlessness in the Last Days
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

The church needs to be aware that false teaching will become more and more evident.   Today’s false teachers are prominent in our churches.   Jude is warning us that they will come in an lead the weak to follow them.  We need to spend time in God’s Word, learn it, so that we can recognize when a false version of the Gospel is being presented.   Studying God’s Word and learning it is the antidote for false teachers.

Celebrate God’s Sovereign Work - Acts 27-28

Acts 28:15-16 (ESV Strong's)
And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.

Celebrate God’s Sovereign Work

To really understand the above passage we have to read a couple of previous verses.    In chapter 27 we see quite an ordeal as Paul is taken to Rome to appear before Caesar.    It is such an ordeal that it would be natural for Paul to rehearse the story to those who meet him in Rome.   Paul did not worry about getting to Rome, however.   He was not worried about circumstances or situations.  Here is why.  First, Paul was promised to be in Rome by prophecy:

Acts 21:10-14 (ESV Strong's)
While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”

During the ship wreck in chapter 27, Paul was again given a message by God about the trip.  Right in the middle the ship wreck, here is what God told him:

Acts 27:21-25 (ESV Strong's)
Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.

Paul lived on promises.   Paul knew that God was trustworthy and someone to be trusted.     Paul knew he could trust the promises of God.  When Paul arrived at Rome he would recount God’s promises to him.   God had directed him to Jerusalem.   Jerusalem would direct him to Rome.   God had Paul on a mission.   God had him right where He wanted him and that was a reason to rejoice.   When God puts us were He wants us and we have gone through amazing circumstances for that to happen, we ought to “thank God and take courage.”

Blessed Are ... - Revelation 18-22

Revelation 20:6 (ESV Strong's)
Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Blessed Are ...

The word “blessed” in the above verse is the Greek, “makarios.”  It is the same word used throughout the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.   The word means that those who qualify (in this case, Kingdom Citizens) will have an abundant and spectacular life, above and beyond all imagination.   Besides the above, in chapters 19-22 the word is used three other times.  

Revelation 19:9 (ESV Strong's)
And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Revelation 22:7 (ESV Strong's)
“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Revelation 22:14 (ESV Strong's)
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

The point being that the citizens of the Kingdom of Christ are going to reign with Christ and be part of the eternal Kingdom of God in the New Heaven and the New Earth.  This current earth, with all this death and destruction will be done away with, and we, as believers, will experience makarios in a way no one can imagine. This is what John is describing in these last chapters of Revelation.    What will it look like?

Revelation 22:3 (ESV Strong's)
No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.

Christ will be the center.  Our makarios is the beauty of worshiping Christ at the center of everything, where “no longer will there be anything accursed.”   This is the Kingdom of Christ ... what we are living or and hoping for.  

The Senses Are Powerful Members of the Body - Song of Songs 7-8

Song of Songs 7:2-4 (ESV Strong's)
Your navel is a rounded bowl
that never lacks mixed wine.
Your belly is a heap of wheat,
encircled with lilies.
Your two breasts are like two fawns,
twins of a gazelle.
Your neck is like an ivory tower.
Your eyes are pools in Heshbon,
by the gate of Bath-rabbim.
Your nose is like a tower of Lebanon,
which looks toward Damascus.

The Senses Are Powerful Members of the Body

In the 21st century we can’t say much good about Solomon’s descriptions of his lover.   Telling the woman you love her belly is “a heap of wheat” would not conjure a intimate night out.  Telling her that her neck is “an ivory tower” would not help much either.  The point being made in these verses is the Solomon’s love has captured all his senses.  He “sees” her; he eventually will “touch” her;  he will then “taste” her.   The fact that they have an exchange of words and voices means they “hear” each other.   He even talks about her fragrance and “smells” her.   The power of the senses in our lives is unmatched.  God has made us in such a marvelous manner.  In the confines of the marriage relationship these “senses” are powerfully romantic.   These “members” of our body are often tempted by folly to do her bidding, as well, however.  Note what happens when the naive one meets the Woman Folly on the open street.  Notice how she uses the “members of his senses” to seduce him:

Proverbs 7:13-18 (ESV Strong's)
She seizes him and kisses him,
and with bold face she says to him,
“I had to offer sacrifices,
and today I have paid my vows;
so now I have come out to meet you,
to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.
I have spread my couch with coverings,
colored linens from Egyptian linen;
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,
aloes, and cinnamon.
Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;
let us delight ourselves with love.

This is why Paul warned us about giving our senses over to sin as instruments of unrighteousness:

Romans 6:12-14 (ESV Strong's)
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

When we use our “members” (our senses) as instruments of righteousness we honor God and He bestows blessings on us.  When we present our members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness we fall into the same trap as the naive one in Proverbs 7.   Solomon, in his song to his lover (soon to be wife) is highlighting the power of the senses in the romantic relationship of the two of them.   We ought to use our members in this manner and not as the naive one.

Proverbs 7:21-23 (ESV Strong's)
With much seductive speech she persuades him;
with her smooth talk she compels him.
All at once he follows her,
as an ox goes to the slaughter,
or as a stag is caught fast
till an arrow pierces its liver;
as a bird rushes into a snare;
he does not know that it will cost him his life.

The Role of Believers: Enact Vengeance - Psalms 149-150

Psalms 149:7-9 (ESV Strong's)
to execute vengeance on the nations
and punishments on the peoples,
to bind their kings with chains
and their nobles with fetters of iron,
to execute on them the judgment written!
This is honor for all his godly ones.
Praise the Lord!

The Role of Believers:  Enact Vengeance

One of the things the nation of Israel looked for was redemption from God from their enemies.  Psalm 149 was written after the nation had returned from captivity.  They had rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem and the walls of the Temple.  The final product paled compared to the days of Solomon and the original edifice.    Never-the-less, the walls were built and the nation was redivide.  But, it had no standing army and no national presence.  Yet, the writer of the song comes along and composes lines that praise God for the final victory of God’s enemies, by the hands of God’s people.  This must have been both a glorious and confusing song for them to sing in worship.   The role of believers in the final judgment is to be part of God’s agents in that judgement.    There is some tension in this Psalm with Isaiah, however. In his description of the Day of the Lord, he states that God will have vengeance, alone:

Isaiah 63:3 (ESV Strong's)
“I have trodden the winepress alone,
and from the peoples no one was with me;
I trod them in my anger
and trampled them in my wrath;
their lifeblood spattered on my garments,
and stained all my apparel.

The tension might be solved as we think about God doing the work alone in His power.   We do know by reading Revelations that the angels and other agents are used to carry out God’s judgments.  In the above passage we are told that the “godly ones” (believers) will “execute the judgments written” on the nations.   The point of the Psalm is that God will have vengeance on the wicked and He will do so using, in some way, those that believe on Him.  God says, “vengeance is mine, I will repay.”   We are not to conduct our own vengeance apart from God. It is God who will conduct vengeance on those who reject Him.   He will, in the end, use the saints as part of that work.  

What You Sow, You Reap - If you Sow judgment on others, you will be judged!! (Easter 6-10)

Esther 9:1 (ESV Strong's)
(The Jews Destroy Their Enemies)
Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them.

What You Sow, You Reap

Solomon said the above thoughts in a different manner. He wrote:

Proverbs 14:32 (ESV Strong's)
The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
but the righteous finds refuge in his death.

Haman was a man who wanted to destroy all the Jews in general and Mordecai specifically.  He had an elaborate plan to make sure Mordecai was hung on the gallows and that all the Jews would be destroyed.   But, God intervened.   God always intervenes for those who believe in Him.   Instead of Mordecai hangin on the gallows, Haman and his ten sons were hung on the very gallows they built.   Such is what happens with God’s enemies ... eventually.   There is going to come a time when God will destroy those who destroy His people:

Revelation 19:1-2 (ESV Strong's)
Rejoicing in Heaven
After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
for his judgments are true and just;
for he has judged the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

There will be rejoicing in heaven one day, just like the rejoicing the day the Jews were set from from the curse of Haman.  God will take vengeance upon His enemies and on those who persecuted the saints.  There will be no more mercy given to them.   God will destroy them.   This is something we should both grieve over and rejoice in.  We should grieve that mankind will not repent and worship Christ.  We should rejoice in the fact that Judgment will come by the grace and mercy of a righteous God.

Not Empty Words - Deuteronomy 32-34

Deuteronomy 32:47 (ESV Strong's)
For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

The Word is NOT Empty

The above verse is taken at the very end of a song that Moses composed.   It is a portion of God’s Word.   The song was written by Moses as one last word to the nation of Israel before they entered the promise land.  The song is filled with history (where did they come from), with promises (what can they rely upon), and with warnings (what happens if they don’t obey God’s word).    Moses makes a bold statement in the last line of this song: “For it is no empty word for you ...”.     God’s word is not “empty.” God’s Word has power and is to be obeyed, faithfully.  

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV Strong's)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 4:12-13 (ESV Strong's)
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.

Psalms 119:105 (ESV Strong's)
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.

God’s Word is the source of what we need in life. It is not empty.    When we lack faith it is God’s word that provides it:

Romans 10:17 (ESV Strong's)
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Faith comes from hearing God’s Word.  When we lack faith it is reading God’s Word over and over that emboldens our faith.   When we read God’s promises and about how God keeps His promises we come to believe, by faith, that God will keep His promises in our lives, as well.  God’s Word is not empty.  

Support These Types of People - 3 John

3 John 1:8 (ESV Strong's)
Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

Support People Like These

The book of Third John is a short letter to a church, someplace in Asia Minor.  We have no idea the exact location.   We have to remember, for all three of John’s letters, that the church was under great persecution at the time.   There was little doubt that a letter to an exact location would carry great risks.   However, we do know that John was writing to a church that had three individuals as part of their body:

1. Gauls - a beloved man who seems to be doing great things.

2. Diotrephes - a man who was doing evil things and even tried to stop other church members from doing good things.

3. Demetrius - another good man who had a great reputation in the church and was to be honored.

There is another group mentioned, however, not by name.  This is a group of “traveling” ministers who are doing the work of teaching the Gospel to various churches.    We know three things about them:

1. They have gone out to testify of the Gospel.

2. They are “strangers” to the church - which means no one knows them.

3. They are living off the offerings of ONLY the church and taking nothing from Gentile sources ... they are only supported by the Body of Christ; the Church.

John tells us that these are those we should consider to support.   It is intriguing the mindset of “taking nothing of the Gentiles.”    In our society today we see many churches teaming up with the world’s system to practice some work of the Gospel; done exclusively by the church, but co-funded by the “Gentiles.”    It is uncertain how that might work in the first century church, but John commends these teachers of the Gospel for relying exclusively on the believers they were teaching.    These, John says, at the type of people we should “support.”    God has outlined for us what and who He wants honored.   Since we get what we honor, we might want to follow this pattern in our own churches today.   When we honor those who, by faith, are supported by the Church, we will get more like them to go out and present the Gospel.  

The Nations Have Their Ways!! Acts 25-26

Acts 25:16 (ESV Strong's)
I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him.

The Nations Have Their Ways!!

The above passage is being taken from Paul’s defense before one of Caesar’s representative:   Festus.  He was the procurator of the providence to represent Caesar’s interest.  The main emphasis of his work was financial in nature - making sure Caesar could collect the taxes he needed to collect.  But, Festus would also be in charge of legal manners.  As the “governor” of the providence, he would hear cases that were not decided by lessor men of authority.   In this case, Paul was brought before him in regard to the charges of the Jewish leaders who had come from Jerusalem.  They wanted Paul dead.   But, Festus saw no reason for Paul to be put to death, despite the Jews false claims.   When King Agrippa arrived, Festus wanted to explain to him Paul’s case.  Agrippa had a great familiarity with both the Jewish laws and the Roman laws.   In the above verse Festus highlights the pinnacle of Roman society: Their Legal System.   The Babylonians and Persian nations had their power.   The Greeks had their philosophy.  The Romans had their laws, rules and legal system.    Festus is quite proud of Roman’s system and wants to show Agrippa he is knowledgeable in this area.    Paul had appealed to the Roman legal system.  Festus and Agrippa were willing to allow it to free him or convict him.  The pride of Festus in the “legal” approach is seen in the above text.   But, the legal system, as great as it was, would not bring redemption to Festus, Agrippa, or anyone else that day.  Paul would present to them the power of the Gospel. That was God’s system.   The world has their structure and system.   God has His structure and system: The Gospel!!  There is no similarity in the nation’s way and Christ’s way.   King Nebuchadnezzar thought he could bring peace to the world through power; the same with Cyrus and Darius the kings of the Medes and Persians.  But, where are those great, powerful nations now?  The philosophers of the Greeks (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle) all thought they could bring peace to the world through intellectual thought.   Where is that great nation today?  The Romans thought their great legal minds and legal society would bring peace to the world.  Where is that great nation today?   Jesus comes to introduce His great Kingdom.  It is a Kingdom of peace and love and justice and power.   The nations have their way.  But, their ways always fail.    Jesus’ Kingdom last forever!!!

Let’s Talk About and Praise God’s Wrath - Revelation 12-17

Revelation 16:4-7 (ESV Strong's)
The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say,
“Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,
for you brought these judgments.
For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink.
It is what they deserve!”
And I heard the altar saying,
“Yes, Lord God the Almighty,
true and just are your judgments!”

Let’s Talk About and Praise God’s Wrath

It is doubtful that we go to a church setting and sing songs and hear messages about the glory of God’s wrath.  Churches and preachers would rather sing and speak about the love of God.   Yet, in the above passage we see a song being song to worship and praise God’s wrath on mankind.   Not very many of today’s Christian artist have been inspired to write a song like the one John as composed, above.  In chapter sixteen of this Revelation we have John’s account of the Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath being poured out in rapid fire onto the earth ... onto those on the earth who continue to reject Christ’s rule and reign.    In this song we see that God is being praised for judging those who reject Him.  The song says that the judgment is “... what they deserve!”    The problem with the “God is Love ... Only” group, is that they don’t realize you can’t have genuine love without having a standard of behavior.  You can’t have love unless there is righteousness and you can’t have righteousness without judgment.   We should rejoice over God’s wrath in the same way John is seeing heaven rejoicing over God’s wrath.   God is both Love and Judgement.   You can’t have one without the other and you should not worship the one without worshipping the other.  

Anticipation and Dismay in Love - Song of Songs 5-6

Song of Songs 6:11-12 (ESV Strong's)
“She” is Speaking:

I went down to the nut orchard
to look at the blossoms of the valley,
to see whether the vines had budded,
whether the pomegranates were in bloom.
Before I was aware, my desire set me
among the chariots of my kinsman, a prince.

Anticipation and Dismay

The above two verses are the most difficult verses in all of the Song of Songs to interpret.  Verse twelve in particular is the most of any verse to translate.   Here is what one commentator stated about verse twelve:

UBC OT:
This verse is so difficult to understand that a few commentators refuse even to translate it.   A very literal rendering is:

“I did not know my desire-being-soul-it-you-she set me chariots of Ammi-Nadib.”

Perhaps the best way to simply glean some practical insight from the two verses is to understand that the context is the bride longing for her groom.   In the first verse (11) she is in great “anticipation” for him.  She is going down to some location. We don’t know if it is an actual orchard, or this is a euphemism about a sexual desire she has.   We are not really sure.   Remember, the Song of Songs goes from the literal to the metaphor very easily.   What we do read is that she is in great anticipation of something.   The next verse (12), however, show something startling.   Something happens.   Here is one one commentator World Biblical Commentary) states about the opening phrase as:

“Before I knew it ...”
“I do not know my-self ...”
“I can hardly keep my composure ...”
“I am bedside myself ...”

The point is that in the middle of a pursuit of anticipation, something happens that takes her by surprise.  She suddenly finds herself in a place she was not expecting.    Perhaps the ambiguity and the difficult of interpretation gives us a lesson for all lovers and all couples who are in a relationship:  Love is both anticipation and filled with surprise and dismay.  She went somewhere, expecting one thing, and found another.  Perhaps this is the journey of couples in love.   Marriage starts out with a dream and then ends with a reality path of life.   What we anticipate is not always what we find.   That is neither bad nor good.  The key is trusting in the sovereignty of God to allow the journey of love with mother to unfold and take you where He wants you to go.  God is not mentioned in these verses, but it is the theme of the book.  Jesus Christ is our groom and we are His bride.  We head out for something in our walk with Him and He brings us to another place, we did not expect.   In the act of love and in the act of faith there is anticipation and dismay at the journey.   The key is having faith in God that He is directing the journey in His sovereign grace.   In the final like the bride finds herself among the “prince.”  We have no idea what that means.   What we do realize, by reading the rest of the book, is that she is in a good place.   Whatever has happened to her leads her to communion with her love.    That is the power of the song.  Love always brings them together.  God’s love will always bring us back to Him.

He Declares His Word - Psalms 146-148

Psalms 147:19-20 (ESV Strong's)
He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and rules to Israel.
He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his rules.
Praise the Lord!

He Declares His Word

In the above passage we read that God “declares” He Word to Jacob (Israel).   But, He does not do this with “other nations.”   The fact that God choose Jacob shows us God’s proactive intersection with man.  Note what an earlier Psalm stated:

Psalms 135:4 (ESV Strong's)
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel as his own possession.

God chooses.   Note Paul’s statement:

Ephesians 1:3-4 (ESV Strong's)
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

He makes these choices “before the foundation of the world.”    In the case of this above Psalm, God choose to give this “rules” (His Law) to Jacob.  God reveals His Word to those He wishes.   It is His word that changes us.   We need Him to reveal and convey His Word for us to be regenerated:

Titus 3:5 (ESV Strong's)
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

We should not take for granted that we have His Word.  It is God’s grace that He has revealed His Word to us.  

Me TOO Movement - 480 BC Style - Esther 1-5

Esther 1:10-12 (ESV Strong's)
Queen Vashti's Refusal
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.

Me Too Movement - 480 BC Style

The current ME TOO movement has nothing on what happened with King Ahauerus in 480 BC.  The king had thrown a party to show his power and prestige.  In that process he “beckoned” Queen Vashti was summed to parade in front of the King’s friends and influencers.   The Queen took issue with that.  She decided she would not be paraded in front of men with the googling eyes.   This infuriated the king and Queen Vashti was banished from the king’s presence and never heard from again.  She was the originator of the movement that stated “you will not objectify me.”   The King goes on a hunt for a new female to make his “own,” and that is the subplot of the book of Esther.    Suffice to say that Ahasuerus is an example of the typical mideastern male; the wester male and every male in between. Perhaps the underlying story of the Old Testament is the poor treatment of woman.   God created woman and made her a co-equal partner to man.  Yet, man has displaced this partnership with his own version of superiority.   In the New Testament we see Christ changing both the interaction with woman, as well as their importance in the Kingdom of God.   The roles are defined different than the world would like them today, but the co-equal status of woman in the Body of Christ is undisputed.  Note:

Galatians 3:28 (ESV Strong's)
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

We are ALL ONE in Christ Jesus.  That is not just a doctrinal truth, it is a practical truth.  The objectification of women should not be tolerated in any society.  It should NEVER be a practice in the Church and not be Godly men.  Ahasuerus was a powerful king who wanted woman as toys.   Godly men should oppose this thought and treat woman as the co-equal person in the Body of Christ they were intended to be.

Read God’s Word - Deuteronomy 29-31

Deuteronomy 31:9-13 (ESV Strong's)
The Reading of the Law
Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. And Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

Read God’s Word

The above passage is the setting for Nehemiah 8.  After the people returning from exile rebuilt the Temple and the City (under Nehemiah, Haggai and Ezra) they became discouraged.   That is when Ezra and Nehemiah brought out the Book of the Law and read it in the hearing of the people.   The reading of the Law was supposed to give the people both pause (allow them to take a minute to compare their life vs the Law) and to give them encouragement as they read the blessings in the Law, for obedience.   The act of reading God’s Word is supposed to be a time of reflection and a time of correction and a time of inspiration.   Moses instructed the nation to read the law on a regular schedule so they would not forget God’s great work in their life, God demands for their life and God’s promises surrounding their life.   This is where the nation became lost.  They failed to read God’s word on a regular basis and this became their downfall.  They forgot God’s great work in the past.  They forgot God’s commands and demands.  They forgot God’s promises.  How do you live a productive life for God, forgetting all those things?   God established His Word to give us hope and life.   Failure to read it puts us in a place that it put the nation of Israel: In captivity and a need to rebuild the destruction of our past.  

Grace, Mercy and Peace via Truth and Love - 2 John

2 John 1:3 (ESV Strong's)
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.

Grace, Mercy and Peace via Truth and Love

John is writing this little letter to a gathering of believers.  They are not formally identified.  That might be because of the persecution of either John, them or both.    At the end of the letter John tells them he has hopes to come to them and talk face to face to them.   This indicates a specific location and a specific group of individuals.   Apparently there were false teachers traveling about and attempting to persuade this group of believers to believe something else.   John wants to correct two things:  First, the doctrine they are teaching is differing from the doctrine of love and obedience to Christ that John taught.  Second, the very greeting them and assisting them on their way (perhaps out of love) is in essence joining them in the spread of this false doctrine.   To start this letter, John provides a typical greeting, used by most of the New Testament writers.  He expresses a desire for them to be showered with God’s grace, mercy and peace.   He states that these three (the hallmark of the Gospel message) are provided by God the Father and the son, Jesus Christ.   He further states that these three blessings (gifts) are not given to us out of duty, fear, manipulation, and/or enticement.   He states that these are given our of LOVE and TRUTH.    It would be good to remember that the Scriptures say, God is LOVE and Christ said He was the way, the TRUTH, and the life.   So, grace, mercy and peace are given by the Father and the Son and they are LOVE and TRUTH.  The very character of the Godhead makes it both possible and necessary for God to provide grace, mercy and peace.   Having these three provided through the Father and the Son in TRUTH and LOVE, means, also, that it is pure and right toward us.   No other person on the face of the planet can provide these type of blessings in TRUTH and LOVE.   Even the most loving person has sin in the life and their love or us cannot be in perfect truth.   This is unique to God.  He provides to us, grace, mercy and peace, in perfect TRUTH and LOVE.  

Mission vs Method!! Acts 23-24

Acts 23:23-24 (ESV Strong's)
(Paul Sent to Felix the Governor)
Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”

Mission vs Method!!

The only way to fully understand the above passage is to read what God told Paul previously; before and during his arrest:

Acts 21:13-14 (ESV Strong's)
Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”

Acts 23:11 (ESV Strong's)
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.”

God wanted Paul in Rome to proclaim the Gospel of Christ at the highest level.   It is obvious that Paul, like anyone, would want to go there on his own terms.  But, God allowed the envy and jealousy of the Jews to put Paul into a prisoner status.   He would go to Rome.  But, he would go in chains.   We may not like the way God moves us around, but we must rejoice that God IS moving us and putting us where He wants to use us.   Paul simply wanted to be used by God.  He was less concerned about the method and more emphatic about the mission.   We should always rejoice about mission over method.   Noah rejoiced over mission vs method.   Abraham in offering his son Issac rejoiced over mission vs method.   David rejoiced over mission vs method as he found himself in caves, hunted by Saul.   Jeremiah rejoiced over mission vs method as he sat in a pit for the name of God.    Daniel rejoiced over mission vs method as he was tossed into the lion’s den.   Mission always trumps method.  God puts us where He wants in ways we may not like.  But, we will be were God wants us to be to accomplish His mission for us.  

God’s Wrath: What Should Be Our Response? Revelation 5-11

Revelation 11:16-18 (ESV Strong's)
And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying,
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power
and begun to reign.
The nations raged,
but your wrath came,
and the time for the dead to be judged,
and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,
and those who fear your name,
both small and great,
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”

God’s Wrath: How Do WE Respond?

In chapters 5-11 of this book John is writing about the wrath of God being poured out on mankind for their sin and constant rejection of His love, grace and mercy.   Instead of praising God for His love, they reject Him.   Therefore, God pours out His wrath on man.  To read these chapters is to quake in our souls of what God is about to do to mankind ... to our unsaved family, friends and foes.   God is going to destroy them.   What should our response to these revelations be.  John mentions the response of the unrepentant world:

Revelation 9:20-21 (ESV Strong's)
The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Mankind, despite the horrific pain that will be inflicted upon the earth and man, is said to still reject God.   When God’s messages during this time are killed in the streets (to shut them up), here is mankind’s response:

Revelation 11:10 (ESV Strong's)
and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.

These are the responses of the soul that rejects God’s love.  However, those who trust God and follow them in faith have a different response.  It is stated at the top of this post.   Those who “fear” God’s name rejoice in the sovereign rule of God, His grace, power, love and mercy on them.  But, they also rejoice in the final destruction of sin and those that reject God.    There comes a point that they simply rejoice in God establishing His righteous rule on the earth.  Yes, this will “destroyer the destroyers” of the earth.   But, it will establish the permanent righteous rule of God.   To have a revolution you have to have destruction.  The above “praise of worship” is the response of the Saints to God’s outpouring wrath on mankind.  This is the appropriate response.   We may grieve at the destruction of family, friend and foe, but we must not shrink from worshiping God for the establishment of His righteous rule!!

Making an Entry!!! Song of Songs 3-4

Song of Songs 3:6-8 (ESV Strong's)
What is that coming up from the wilderness
like columns of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,
with all the fragrant powders of a merchant?
Behold, it is the litter of Solomon!
Around it are sixty mighty men,
some of the mighty men of Israel,
all of them wearing swords
and expert in war,
each with his sword at his thigh,
against terror by night.

Making an Entry!!

When some people enter the room they simply walk in.  When others enter the room they make and ENTRY!!!   The above passage is from the “brides” point of view as the “groom” (Solomon) makes an ENTRY.   In our modern day weddings it is the bride who makes the entry.  All eyes are on the bride.   But,  for the church, we are the bride.  Christ is the “groom.”  It is Christ that will make the entry.  Although the above image is truly the real story of Solomon and his bride’s courtship and wedding, the word pictures we see are very much images of what will happen on the day that Christ appears.  Notice that Solomon shows up with an entourage, so, too, Christ will come with the Saints who have passed before in death.   Solomon shows up with armed soldiers.  So, too, will Christ arrive with angels ready to destroy those who rejected Christ.   The above is a picture of making a firm entry for the one you love.   To capture her and take her to the grooms new home.  So, too, Christ is coming again to take us to a home to be with Him forever:

John 14:1-2 (ESV Strong's)
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

We need to be looking forward, like the bride, for His return.   Note:

Revelation 6:1-2 (ESV Strong's)
The Seven Seals
Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

It is YOU God!! Psalms 143-145

Psalms 143:9-12 (ESV Strong's)
Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
I have fled to you for refuge.
Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
on level ground!
For your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
for I am your servant.

It Is YOU God!

In the above passage, the word “you” or “yours” is used eight times.   David is writing a song to express his trust and confidence in the fact that God is the one who cares for him, upholds him, protects him and enables him.   God does all this for David because of God’s name; because of God’s love; because of God’s Spirit; because of God’s righteousness; because of God’s will!!  And He does it because David is God’s servant.   When’s e think of the power of God watching over us and wonder if “our” conduct is deserving, David teaches us that it is NOT our conduct that makes these things happen.  It is because of God’s character.  That should give us confidence and boldness.  

Nehemiah Also Rebuilds Worship - Nehemiah 10-13

Nehemiah 12:44-47 (ESV Strong's)
Service at the Temple
On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered. And they performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon. 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. And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.

Nehemiah Also Rebuilt Worship of Praise

Nehemiah was sent back to Jerusalem to build the city.   He lead the remnant that had returned to the land and those that had been left there during the captivity to rebuild the city walls.   That was the reason he returned.   However, he realized that the reason for the city walls being destroyed was the lack of following God’s law.   Once the city was built, Nehemiah set out to rebuild the reason the city was there ... to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.   In the above section we read some of the final acts of that restored worship.   There was much to be done and many of the nation of Israel would have to participate.  They all needed to commit to make the city not just a place to live, but the center of worship for the entire nation of Israel.   One of the key aspects of that worship was the practice of “thanksgiving.”  Unlike our US holiday, this was not thanksgiving day dinner once a year.  This was the continuous practice of giving praise and honor to God.   There were actual leaders of this praise put in place.   Having a city restored without having the worship restored would have returned the city to destruction, once again.  Nehemiah knew that to complete the building of the city it would be necessary to complete the worship.  To complete the worship the men and women of Israel would have to be lead in the aspect of singing and thanksgiving.  Singing and Thankfulness are a direct avenue to giving glory to God.   Nehemiah made sure this part of the city was restored as well.

The Impact of Sin on our Mind - Deuteronomy 26-28

Deuteronomy 28:54-55 (ESV Strong's)
The man who is the most tender and refined among you will begrudge food to his brother, to the wife he embraces, and to the last of the children whom he has left, so that he will not give to any of them any of the flesh of his children whom he is eating, because he has nothing else left, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy shall distress you in all your towns.

The Impact of Sin on the Mind of Man

In chapter twenty-eight of this book Moses is pronouncing the “blessings” and the “curses” on the nation of Israel if they choose to obey or disobey God’s Word.  God has laid out for them all of His requirements.  The above verses are taken from the list of “curses” the nation will endure if they disobey God.   Man’s disobedience to God is because of his/her sin nature.   The result of that disobedience does something to the mindset of man.  Notice the depravity he sinks to as a result of disobedience.   Moses has told them that if they disobey they will be given over to a foreign nation who will come and besiege Jerusalem.   During that siege they will run out of food.   The result of that situation will cause men to eat their own children.  Imagine the depravity of mind that would cause that to happen.   Can you even imagine that?   Yet, think of today.   We have parents who beat their children; rape the children; even sell their children.  We have parents who neglect their children to feed their own appetites of lust and ego.   Sin impacts the mindset of mankind in such a way we can’t even really believe it is true.  Yet, that is what happens when we reject God.   Sin impacts the mindset in such a way we eat our own young.    Sin destroys lives.  Jesus came to redeem us  from our sin. We can rejoice that He has lifted us from that evil and giving us a new mindset.  

We Have the Spirit - Evidence of our Assurance - 1 John 4-5

1 John 4:13 (ESV Strong's)
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

We Have the Spirit

John is going through a series of “proofs” for the church to assure them that God is indeed with them and on their side.  He starts chapter four by telling them that the elitist believers around them were teaching false doctrine.  These were “believers” (at least they would claim as such) that thought sin in the life didn’t matter as long as you elevated to a greater knowledge of God apart from a relationship with Christ (known as “Gnosticism.”) The pursuit was cognitive knowledge of God and not the indwelling holiness only Jesus could produce.  But, because of this gnostic teaching was impacting the local believers.  John was attempting in this book to help the true believers (those who believed that Jesus was the Son of God) have the confidence and assurance that they were indeed His Children.   He has just finished telling them that assurance is seen in the love they have for their brothers (the theme of the book).  In the above passage John gives them another “assurance” marker:  They can “know” that they are children of God because the Spirit indwells them.    He said something earlier to end the last chapter:

1 John 3:24 (ESV Strong's)
Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

Jesus had told them that He would not leave them as “orphans” when He ascended to the Father; but would leave them a “Comforter.”

John 16:7 (ESV Strong's)
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

But what does that look like?  What does the Spirit of God “indwelling” believers, look like?   Jesus told us that the Spirit of God is like the wind; we don’t see it, we only see the effects of the Spirit:

John 3:8 (ESV Strong's)
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

They only way you know you have the Spirit of God in your life is to see the impact in your life that the Spirit of God is producing.   Having the Spirit of God is not a feeling.  The “Fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5;22-24), is NOT “feeling and/or emotions.”  The Fruit of the Spirit begins with Love.  That is the main theme of John’s writing.  John is saying that we can have assurance that we are a child of God because we have the indwelling ministry of the Spirit of God, WHO IS PRODUCING unnatural love for the believers around us.  That is the evidence of the ministry of the Spirit ... that we love others.  That gives us the assurance we have the Spirit of God indwelling because He produces His fruit.   That fruit, being produced, gives us the assurance we need to know we are child of God.  

Beaten, but Still Full of Compassion! - Acts 21-22

Acts 21:37-40 (ESV Strong's)
As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:

Beaten, but Still Full of Compassion!

What would you do if an angry mob didn’t like what you were saying about your faith and beat you?  What would be your response?   And what would happen if the authorities showed up and instead of rescuing you from the mob, they assumed you were the problem and arrested and bound you?   What would be your response.  Most of us in the USA would probably argue for their constitutional rights.   That would be our first response.  Our second response, once the situation was sorted out, we would press charges to the person(s) who beat us.  The above passage, however, is not happening in the USA and it is not Paul’s response.  Instead, Paul wishes to have the mob become his audience.  The persecuted becomes the preacher.   His physical beating has only stirred up his heart of compassion.   Instead of being filled with anger and rage for what was done to him, Paul is filled with love to rescue this audience from the wrath and rage God will pour out of them if they do not repent.   Instead of allow the false assumptions to condemn them, Paul wants to speak truth to redeem them.  Paul was called to do this very thing.  He was told the chapter before he should not go to Jerusalem because this very thing would happen.  Yet, Paul’s response:

Acts 20:24
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Actually, believers everywhere were called to practice this response. Note what Peter told the early church and all believers:

1 Peter 4:12-14 (ESV Strong's)
Suffering as a Christian
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

We are to count it worth to suffer for Christ and to proclaim his name. This is how it was in the early church:

Acts 5:41 (ESV Strong's)
Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

That is how it should be for us. Our first response to persecution ought to be to preach the word of the Gospel of Christ.

Christ is Worthy - Revelation 1-5

Revelation 5:1-5 (ESV Strong's)
(The Scroll and the Lamb)
Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Christ is Worthy

The above passage is one of the most victorious passages in Scripture.   The scene is set in the preceding chapter with John being taken to heaven and sees the vision of God.   John is also surrounded by the 24-elders, four incredible beasts and a scene from heaven that is breathtaking.    In the midst of this scene, God, who is seated on the throne, holds out a Scroll that contains writing on both sides.   The writing on both sides is probably referring to the “completeness” of the message.   As we read the rest of the book of Revelation the message of the scroll is unfolded.  It contains the wrath of God on the unbelieving world and those who crucified and subsequently rejected His Son, Jesus.    When John sees the scroll he immediately knows the importance of it.  It is the “decrees” of God that will bring, yes, judgment to the world, but, also, will establish Christ rule and reign permanently.  The scroll must be opened.  John immediately begins to cry because he does not see anyone who is worthy to open the scroll.   How desperate would that situation be if there was no one worthy to open up and bring to fruition the decrees of God that would establish the righteous rule of Christ?   John sees the gravity of the moment, but is, momentarily, blinded to the solution.   One of the elders intervenes in John’s mental block and reveals that the “Lamb of God” (Jesus) is able to open the scroll.  By the means of Jesus’ obedience unto death (Philippians 2:8) he became the soul heir to the throne. For this there is rejoicing in heaven and on earth.   When we pray “thy kingdoms come, thy will be done in heaven and on earth,” we are praying for this very moment in Revelations 5.   This is a victorious moment.  This is the moment God decrees His wrath on those who reject Christ and victory for Jesus to take the throne He earned in His death. John cries because he does not immediately see Jesus’ conquering quest.   The book of The Revelation is the unfolding of the above event.  The seals will be opened and God’s wrath revealed.  But, more importantly, this even begins the reign of Christ and the glorification of believers in that reign.  It is a tremendous moment in God’s plan.  

Anticipation - Song of Songs 1-2

Song of Songs 2:8-9 (ESV Strong's)
(The Bride Adores Her Beloved)

The voice of my beloved!
Behold, he comes,
leaping over the mountains,
bounding over the hills.
My beloved is like a gazelle
or a young stag.
Behold, there he stands
behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
looking through the lattice.

Anticipation

The book of Song of Songs is a love song.   Solomon and his Bride are exchanging words expressing their love.   In the above passage the Bride is envisioning the arrival of Solomon.  She is in great anticipation.   She is longing for him to arrive and sees him coming in strength and in power.   She sees him gazing through the lattice and calling for her.  This is a picture of great anticipation.   The book should be interpreted literally for what it is saying about love.   This is a great book to tell us what love “feels” like.  There is an “anticipation” for something that is so real.   She can “feel” that anticipation.    As the book unfolds it shows that the anticipation is fulfilled with the “acts” of love.   We should rejoice in how God made us in this way.  There should be a harmony between our anticipation and the acts.  This is true love.   God gives us this “feeling” of anticipation to enjoy.  We should rejoice in that emotion.  

Although we want to interpret this book literally, there is also a metaphor at place when reading this story.   This is a great picture of Christ (Solomon) and the Church (the Bride).   The Bride/Church is waiting in great anticipation for Solomon/Christ.  Our love for Christ ought to be that same anticipation for His coming.  Our love for our “love” is seen in our anticipation for him/her.  Our love for Christ is seen the same way.   We should be anticipating His coming in strength.  We should be anticipation His watching us and calling for us.  Anticipation for something shows our love for something.  It is a powerful emotion.   Our love for God ought to be demonstrated in our anticipation for Him.   Anticipation shows our love for other things in our lives.  We anticipation him/her arriving.  We anticipation the big game.  We anticipate the graduation.  These are all things we love. We don’t have a great anticipation for a root canal.  We don’t have a great anticipation for a lawsuit.   But, we should have great anticipation for Christ’s return:

Galatians 5:5 (ESV Strong's)
For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

God Knows - Psalms 140-142

Psalms 142:3 (ESV Strong's)
When my spirit faints within me,
you know my way!
In the path where I walk
they have hidden a trap for me.

God Knows

Psalm 142 is a song-prayer that was written by David when he was alone and in a cave.   He was on the run from King Saul, who wanted to kill him.   He had others in his life, but they were not the best type of support for hm.  Note:

1 Samuel 22:1-2 (ESV Strong's)
David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

How can you be lonely when you are surrounded by 400 people?   Because the 400 people we not walking with God and did not know how to point David back to the ONE who fills all loneliness:  God.   In this lament David cries out to God and acknowledges the key to the song-prayer.  David states that “when my spirit faints within me” he remembers that God “knows my way.”   He knows that in the path in front of him (unknown where that might bring him) lies “hidden” traps for him.   Yet, he can rest in this time of loneliness in the fact that God knows about those traps and will care for David despite those traps.  

This is the blessed assurance of this psalm.   David does not jump up and down because he believes that God is going to remove those traps, however.   He simply rest assured that God knows about the traps in front of hm and will care for him.  He goes on to sing/write/pray:

Psalms 142:4-5 (ESV Strong's)
Look to the right and see:
there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
no one cares for my soul.
I cry to you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”

God is NOT always going to remove the traps the world has set for us.  But, we can travel our day’s journey knowing that the path we are on is known to God, He knows the traps others set for us and, if He does remove them, will walk beside us and carry us through them.   That is the act of faith.  God is the God who knows our path and knows what is on the path.   He will continue to carry us through it.  

False Narratives - Nehemiah 5-9

Nehemiah 6:5-9 (ESV Strong's)
In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.” Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

False Narratives

The man Sanballat lived in the land of Israel while other Israelites were in captivity.  When Nehemiah came back to re-build the walls of Jerusalem, Sanballat, and his friends, saw that has a possible loss of their power.   Therefore, while Nehemiah was building the wall, Sanballat was attempting to dissuade them with in a number of ways.  In the above approach, Sanballat builds a false narrative that he knows won’t get past Nehemiah, but he also knows many people will believe it and join him in his angst against Nehemiah’s work.   This is a common approach to the world around us.  They love to create false narratives to convince and ignorant world of their way of doing things; for the purpose of staying in power.   False narratives are contrary to God because God is the God of truth.  It is easy for us to create a false narrative in our minds and live that narrative out, repeatedly.  We often hear the tape of the false narrative play over and over again in our heads and we, eventually, treat it as truth.   This is why Paul told the believers in Rome to renew their minds with the truth of God’s Word:

Romans 12:2 (ESV Strong's)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

We can’t know God’s perfect will when we have an old mindset based upon false narratives.   Satan is the father of lies and tries to create false narratives for us:

John 8:44 (ESV Strong's)
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

If we want to finish the work God gave us to do we have to avoid and reject false narratives and believe truth.   Here is what happens when we think about truthful things vs false narratives.  We have peace:

Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV Strong's)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness - Deuteronomy 23-25

Deuteronomy 23:14 (ESV Strong's)
Because the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and to give up your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy, so that he may not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you.

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness

No, that phrase is NOT in the Bible.   No where in God’s Word does it say, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.”    However, that is exactly the context of the above verse.   In the verse that proceed the above verse we read about what the nation of Israel are supposed to do for restroom facilities and for “nocturnal emissions.”    The male is supposed to go “outside” the camp to clean up and to bury their excrements..    Why must they do this?   Because the Lord your God walks in the midst and the camp must be holy.   If someone was paraphrasing this passage they would be hermeneutically correct to say, “Cleanliness is Next to Godliness.”  But, it would be a paraphrase and would not be a quote in the Bible.   The point of God’s Word here is that spiritual holiness will overflow into practically cleanliness.   Believers of a holy God ought to reflect that holiness in clean living and clean practices.    God is a God of order and purity.   We ought to reflect that in the way we run our lives.    We are a reflection of Him.

Loving Others Enables Us to Overcome Sin in Our Own Lives - 1 John 1-3

1 John 2:9-11 (ESV Strong's)
Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Loving Others Enables Us to Overcome Sin!

In the beginning of chapter two of this letter, the Apostle John states:

1 John 2:1
My little children, I am writing these things to so that you may not sin.

John has just spent the entire first chapter telling us that we WILL sin.    He is writing to combat the Gnostic belief of the day that knowledge of God was to overcome ignorance, not sin.  To the Gnostic the spiritual aspect of life and the moral practice of life, had no connection.   To them, knowing Christ enabled them to be like God and overcome human ignorance.   So, John is writing to the church to remind them they are sinners, although Jesus has and will forgive us.   In chapter two he wants them to know that they CAN overcome that sin.  In the verses at the top of this post, we read that the way to overcome sin is to love our neighbor, our brother, as ourselves.   This overcome sin.  How? Why?   Because John tells that overcoming sin is only possible if we “walk in the light” as He (Jesus) is “in the light.”   What does “walking in the light” mean?  Note:

1 John 2:3 (ESV Strong's)
And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

How did Jesus sum up the “commandments” of the Old Testament?  He said it was loving God with all your heart and soul and loving your neighbor as yourself.    John’s syllogism is simple:

We all sin
To overcome sin we have to keep God’s commandments;
To keep God’s commandments we have to love others more than ourselves (God and our neighbor);
When we practice and do God’s commandments (loving God and others ... putting them before ourselves) we over come sin (being selfish and pleasing ourselves).  

That is the message of 1 John 2.   Paul summed it this way:

Galatians 5:6 (ESV Strong's)
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.