2 Chronicles 20:5-6
"Jehoshaphat’s Prayer
Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord before the new court, and he said, “O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You."
When King Jehoshaphat was confronted with an issue, he turns to God in prayer. The prayer (and the way it is formatted) is a great example to us on how we should pray and how we should acknowledge God's work in our lives in the midst of a bad situation. The first lesson is in the above passage: He acknowledges God's sovereign rule over all of mankind and that power is in God's hands. The second lesson: He acknowledges God's faithfulness in the past. See 20:7
" Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?"
The third lesson: Like the three Hebrews at the fiery furnace he is willing to stand even if it looks like, feels like, or evil is getting a momentary victory. See 20:9
" ‘Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and deliver us.’"
The fourth lesson: He acknowledges his own weakness. See 20:12
" O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”"
The fifth prayer lesson is in 20:13. He inspired others to also pray and praise God despite the situation:
" All Judah was standing before the Lord, with their infants, their wives and their children."
The last lesson is that he praised God for the answer even though the answer had not yet come: See 20:18-19
" Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel, with a very loud voice."
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Monday, October 6, 2014
Do you wonder why you move from place to place? Numbers 33-36
Numbers 33:2
" Moses recorded their starting places according to their journeys by the command of the Lord, and these are their journeys according to their starting places."
In this chapter, Moses writes out the exact places that the nation of Israel traveled on their journeys. As we read the next verses it is like reading an atlas and a road map. The nation, over 40 years, went from city to city. They walked many miles. The Lord instructed Moses to record these journeys for us. To God, theses journeys the nation took, were important. God is interested in each step we take and in each place we wander. He is not absent in those journeys. We would do well to remember that on each place they journeyed God lead them during the day with a cloud and at night with a fire. These were not mere wanderings. God had a purpose for each step and a design for each path. God is interested in what we do and where we go and how we do it. God wanted them, for some reason, to remember each step and that is why Moses was instructed to write it out. God is not absent in our journeys and does not ignore our daily walks. God had a design for each of the places He took them. We should not be surprised when God moves His cloud or His fire (in our lives, the Holy Spirit) and directs us to go one place or another. Every time the cloud/fire moved they had to pack up and travel. The wilderness they traveled through was not a large area. In 40 years they would have traveled enough to see some familiar sights and landscapes. Their willingness to follow God would have been a matter of their heart. We sometime object when God cancels a job and moves us somewhere else. He sometimes moves from neighborhood to neighborhood, or church to church, or state to state. God has a purpose for our lives. Rejoice in His care and His sovereign rule in our lives.
" Moses recorded their starting places according to their journeys by the command of the Lord, and these are their journeys according to their starting places."
In this chapter, Moses writes out the exact places that the nation of Israel traveled on their journeys. As we read the next verses it is like reading an atlas and a road map. The nation, over 40 years, went from city to city. They walked many miles. The Lord instructed Moses to record these journeys for us. To God, theses journeys the nation took, were important. God is interested in each step we take and in each place we wander. He is not absent in those journeys. We would do well to remember that on each place they journeyed God lead them during the day with a cloud and at night with a fire. These were not mere wanderings. God had a purpose for each step and a design for each path. God is interested in what we do and where we go and how we do it. God wanted them, for some reason, to remember each step and that is why Moses was instructed to write it out. God is not absent in our journeys and does not ignore our daily walks. God had a design for each of the places He took them. We should not be surprised when God moves His cloud or His fire (in our lives, the Holy Spirit) and directs us to go one place or another. Every time the cloud/fire moved they had to pack up and travel. The wilderness they traveled through was not a large area. In 40 years they would have traveled enough to see some familiar sights and landscapes. Their willingness to follow God would have been a matter of their heart. We sometime object when God cancels a job and moves us somewhere else. He sometimes moves from neighborhood to neighborhood, or church to church, or state to state. God has a purpose for our lives. Rejoice in His care and His sovereign rule in our lives.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
What makes Christ so superior? Hebrews 5-7
Hebrews 7:26-27
" For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself."
Before we can understand the deeper meaning of the above text and appreciate what the writer of Hebrews is telling us, we need to revisit the first verses that start this beloved book. Note the following:
Hebrews 1:1-3
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,"
In the opening lines of the book the writer makes a point to state what will become the theme of the book: The Superiority of Christ. Christ is superior to everything and, after He "made purification of sins, He sat down ..."! The writer wants to establish that the sacrificial system was a picture of what was to come. Whereas other priest needed to offer up many sacrifices and many priest were needed to do so, because they were both sinful and terminally ill. But, Jesus was a priest of a different order and only needed to offer ONCE and then, completing the offering for all of us this one time, sat down ... He WAS FINISHED. The finality of Christ's offering and work is a theme of the book of Hebrews. Our sins (past, present and future) we paid for on the cross, ONCE!! Christ is the superior sacrifice as He declares Himself both the offerer and the offering. Other religions are not built on this premise. The individual must continue to seek the favor of God in their systems and, by continually sacrificing good works, their sins can be atoned for and they can receive a heavenly blessing. Yet, in the Christian faith the sins of the people, the believers, are cared for ONCE FOR ALL! Rejoice in the fact that ALL sins of the believer were cared for once for all. There remains no more sacrifice for sin. That is the real peace of the believers life. No more penalty for ANY sin, since ALL Sins are cared for by a one time sacrifice.
" For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself."
Before we can understand the deeper meaning of the above text and appreciate what the writer of Hebrews is telling us, we need to revisit the first verses that start this beloved book. Note the following:
Hebrews 1:1-3
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,"
In the opening lines of the book the writer makes a point to state what will become the theme of the book: The Superiority of Christ. Christ is superior to everything and, after He "made purification of sins, He sat down ..."! The writer wants to establish that the sacrificial system was a picture of what was to come. Whereas other priest needed to offer up many sacrifices and many priest were needed to do so, because they were both sinful and terminally ill. But, Jesus was a priest of a different order and only needed to offer ONCE and then, completing the offering for all of us this one time, sat down ... He WAS FINISHED. The finality of Christ's offering and work is a theme of the book of Hebrews. Our sins (past, present and future) we paid for on the cross, ONCE!! Christ is the superior sacrifice as He declares Himself both the offerer and the offering. Other religions are not built on this premise. The individual must continue to seek the favor of God in their systems and, by continually sacrificing good works, their sins can be atoned for and they can receive a heavenly blessing. Yet, in the Christian faith the sins of the people, the believers, are cared for ONCE FOR ALL! Rejoice in the fact that ALL sins of the believer were cared for once for all. There remains no more sacrifice for sin. That is the real peace of the believers life. No more penalty for ANY sin, since ALL Sins are cared for by a one time sacrifice.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Who is your health-care provider? Acts 3-4
Acts 3:16
" And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all."
In our modern health-care industry and systems in our country, the above verse doesn't rise to much of an interest to those who are in charge. It is doubtful that those who write the health-care policies of our land meditate much on Peter's words, above. Peter and John, in the context of this passage, were on their way to worship when man who was crippled from birth began to beg food from them. Peter, in what could be characterized as the record of the shortest sermon he ever preached, stated that often quoted verse, "Silver and gold I have known but what I have I give to you." Peter than prayed that in the name of Jesus, God would raise up the man and restores his health. And God did!! We are not all, today, in the mode or vain of faith healing. In fact, only a few are. I personally am not sure that God uses faith healers today, as he did in the first church. I believe that these miracles were signs of authenticity and, since the growth of the church, they died out. Even in Peter and Paul's ministry, as the early church unfolded and grew, sign gifts were less and less used or demonstrated. That is an historical fact. Peter and Paul and the apostles didn't have less faith as the church grew, but their was less necessity of faith healing as a way to authenticate the message. The massive growth of the church and the written Word of God in the "New Testament" replaced sign-gifts and awesome miracles. The miracle of a changed life on the inside replace the miracle of the changed life on the outside. However, it should be noted that the principle taught in the above passage is still true. Strong physical health, restored or retained, is a miracle of Christ and should be pursued first and foremost in faith. Peter is NOT ruling out doctors. Peter IS affirming for us that strength of health (he uses the words "perfect health" above) was exacted by faith in Jesus. This is so important for us to learn as a lesson in life. When people attempt to lose weight, most don't do so as an act of faith. Yet, to lose weight we need self-control and self-control is a fruit of the Spirit and the Spirit only works in our lives by faith. We might worship Christ for our salvation but we worship Blue Cross/Blue Shield for our health-care provider. It was on the basis of faith that this man was healed. We would do well to never leave the concept of faith in our approach to life and our own health-care policy and practices.
" And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all."
In our modern health-care industry and systems in our country, the above verse doesn't rise to much of an interest to those who are in charge. It is doubtful that those who write the health-care policies of our land meditate much on Peter's words, above. Peter and John, in the context of this passage, were on their way to worship when man who was crippled from birth began to beg food from them. Peter, in what could be characterized as the record of the shortest sermon he ever preached, stated that often quoted verse, "Silver and gold I have known but what I have I give to you." Peter than prayed that in the name of Jesus, God would raise up the man and restores his health. And God did!! We are not all, today, in the mode or vain of faith healing. In fact, only a few are. I personally am not sure that God uses faith healers today, as he did in the first church. I believe that these miracles were signs of authenticity and, since the growth of the church, they died out. Even in Peter and Paul's ministry, as the early church unfolded and grew, sign gifts were less and less used or demonstrated. That is an historical fact. Peter and Paul and the apostles didn't have less faith as the church grew, but their was less necessity of faith healing as a way to authenticate the message. The massive growth of the church and the written Word of God in the "New Testament" replaced sign-gifts and awesome miracles. The miracle of a changed life on the inside replace the miracle of the changed life on the outside. However, it should be noted that the principle taught in the above passage is still true. Strong physical health, restored or retained, is a miracle of Christ and should be pursued first and foremost in faith. Peter is NOT ruling out doctors. Peter IS affirming for us that strength of health (he uses the words "perfect health" above) was exacted by faith in Jesus. This is so important for us to learn as a lesson in life. When people attempt to lose weight, most don't do so as an act of faith. Yet, to lose weight we need self-control and self-control is a fruit of the Spirit and the Spirit only works in our lives by faith. We might worship Christ for our salvation but we worship Blue Cross/Blue Shield for our health-care provider. It was on the basis of faith that this man was healed. We would do well to never leave the concept of faith in our approach to life and our own health-care policy and practices.
Friday, October 3, 2014
Do you need to be in a place of discomfort to have your best worship? Jonah
Jonah 2:1
" Jonah’s Prayer
Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish,"
When Jonah was tossed into the sea and swallowed by the fish, God put him in the exact place where he could ... worship! Worship? Yes, Worship!!! Read chapter two of Jonah and you will read a marvelous prayer of worship. Jonah lifts up and acknowledges his own sin and God majesty. He acknowledges his dependance on God and God's desire to meet that need. That is worship. The belly of the whale might seem like a strange worship center. It doesn't have glass stain windows, a praise team, a pulpit, coffee in the back, or a visitor's center. But, it was a worship center for Jonah. Jonah didn't want to worship God earlier from his home. Or, on his way in obedience to Nineveh. So, God put him in the exact place he could find his worship heart and voice. Sometimes we leave God no choice. We attempt to live without Him and run from Him only to find ourselves in a strange place and a sudden "need" to fear God and worship. The prodigal son did so from a pig pen (Luke 15). David did from broken bones and broken heart (Psalm 51). Peter had to hear a cock crow three times before he found the place to come to God in repentance and worship. The belly of the fish was a bad place to be. But, Jonah finally did the right thing from that bad place. Wherever you find yourself is a good place to worship. However, if you don't do in the comfort of your own surroundings you WILL find yourself in an uncomfortable place to find the voice of praise and worship.
" Jonah’s Prayer
Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish,"
When Jonah was tossed into the sea and swallowed by the fish, God put him in the exact place where he could ... worship! Worship? Yes, Worship!!! Read chapter two of Jonah and you will read a marvelous prayer of worship. Jonah lifts up and acknowledges his own sin and God majesty. He acknowledges his dependance on God and God's desire to meet that need. That is worship. The belly of the whale might seem like a strange worship center. It doesn't have glass stain windows, a praise team, a pulpit, coffee in the back, or a visitor's center. But, it was a worship center for Jonah. Jonah didn't want to worship God earlier from his home. Or, on his way in obedience to Nineveh. So, God put him in the exact place he could find his worship heart and voice. Sometimes we leave God no choice. We attempt to live without Him and run from Him only to find ourselves in a strange place and a sudden "need" to fear God and worship. The prodigal son did so from a pig pen (Luke 15). David did from broken bones and broken heart (Psalm 51). Peter had to hear a cock crow three times before he found the place to come to God in repentance and worship. The belly of the fish was a bad place to be. But, Jonah finally did the right thing from that bad place. Wherever you find yourself is a good place to worship. However, if you don't do in the comfort of your own surroundings you WILL find yourself in an uncomfortable place to find the voice of praise and worship.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Do you see how pretentios the rich are? Proverbs 28
Proverbs 28:11 (NASV)
The rich man is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding sees through him.
Proverbs 28:11 (NIV)
A rich man may be wise in his own eyes,
but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.
Money can distort a man's vision. It can make them "think" they are wiser than they really are. People love to run to rich men to ask them for advice. The assumption is that if they have money they also must have wisdom. The contrast is also assumed: If we don't have money we are not successful and, therefore, not worthy to ask for wisdom. But, God's wisdom is not the same as man's logic. Man's logic fails in the face of Godly truth. God states that a poor man with discernment can see right through the rich man's facade. Like the Wizard of Oz the poor man sees them standing behind the curtain. The Fear of The Lord produces wisdom and discernment. The Fear of Money (respect for it and desire for it) produces a false sense of security both in the one who has it and the one who doesn't have it. Men will constantly look to the rich for their wisdom. The poor, who have nothing and have come to the point where they realize it, are given Wisdom and Discernment. It is better to be poor with discernment than wealthy with false wisdom.
The rich man is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding sees through him.
Proverbs 28:11 (NIV)
A rich man may be wise in his own eyes,
but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.
Money can distort a man's vision. It can make them "think" they are wiser than they really are. People love to run to rich men to ask them for advice. The assumption is that if they have money they also must have wisdom. The contrast is also assumed: If we don't have money we are not successful and, therefore, not worthy to ask for wisdom. But, God's wisdom is not the same as man's logic. Man's logic fails in the face of Godly truth. God states that a poor man with discernment can see right through the rich man's facade. Like the Wizard of Oz the poor man sees them standing behind the curtain. The Fear of The Lord produces wisdom and discernment. The Fear of Money (respect for it and desire for it) produces a false sense of security both in the one who has it and the one who doesn't have it. Men will constantly look to the rich for their wisdom. The poor, who have nothing and have come to the point where they realize it, are given Wisdom and Discernment. It is better to be poor with discernment than wealthy with false wisdom.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Do you repeatedly and verbally state the truths about God's character? Psalm 117-118
Psalms 118:2-4
" Oh let Israel say,
“His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
Oh let the house of Aaron say,
“His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
Oh let those who fear the Lord say,
“His lovingkindness is everlasting.”"
If we don't get the point of these three verses we are very dull in spiritual living. Like all the Psalms, Psalm 118 is a song to the Lord that is used in spiritual worship. Like many of our contemporary worship songs today the writer of this song uses repetition to drive how his point. The point he wants to shout in our worship is the lovingkindness of God. We can't read much of Scripture and not recognize God's unending and everlasting love. God has given everything for us in His Son. No greater love can be expressed. God forgives continually, even when we don't deserve it (1 John 1:9). Like a refrain of a great song we are to sing this truth out. Notice in the above passage the writer instructs Israel to say it, he instructs Aaron, the representative of the Levitical priesthood, and he instructs anyone outside the chosen nation and chosen worshippers, who fear the Lord to say it. God's chosen people need to say it repeatedly that God's lovingkindness is everlasting. God's chosen worshippers, the professionals at worship, need to say God's lovingkindness is everlasting. And, those not in the household of the chosen, but who fear God (Gentiles throughout the world) need to say that God's lovingkindness is everlasting. Why say it, especially if you simply know it is true and believe it to be true? Because saying it out loud and repeatedly makes it real in our lives. Because saying it out loud and repeatedly allows those who are not in the fold, now, to hear it and believe it. Our verbal utterance of God's great character is God's chosen method to declare His greatness throughout the world. You might think the street preacher is odd and out of place, but he or she might just be doing something we are should be doing ... Oh, let those who fear the Lord say, "His lovingkindness is everlasting."
" Oh let Israel say,
“His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
Oh let the house of Aaron say,
“His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
Oh let those who fear the Lord say,
“His lovingkindness is everlasting.”"
If we don't get the point of these three verses we are very dull in spiritual living. Like all the Psalms, Psalm 118 is a song to the Lord that is used in spiritual worship. Like many of our contemporary worship songs today the writer of this song uses repetition to drive how his point. The point he wants to shout in our worship is the lovingkindness of God. We can't read much of Scripture and not recognize God's unending and everlasting love. God has given everything for us in His Son. No greater love can be expressed. God forgives continually, even when we don't deserve it (1 John 1:9). Like a refrain of a great song we are to sing this truth out. Notice in the above passage the writer instructs Israel to say it, he instructs Aaron, the representative of the Levitical priesthood, and he instructs anyone outside the chosen nation and chosen worshippers, who fear the Lord to say it. God's chosen people need to say it repeatedly that God's lovingkindness is everlasting. God's chosen worshippers, the professionals at worship, need to say God's lovingkindness is everlasting. And, those not in the household of the chosen, but who fear God (Gentiles throughout the world) need to say that God's lovingkindness is everlasting. Why say it, especially if you simply know it is true and believe it to be true? Because saying it out loud and repeatedly makes it real in our lives. Because saying it out loud and repeatedly allows those who are not in the fold, now, to hear it and believe it. Our verbal utterance of God's great character is God's chosen method to declare His greatness throughout the world. You might think the street preacher is odd and out of place, but he or she might just be doing something we are should be doing ... Oh, let those who fear the Lord say, "His lovingkindness is everlasting."
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