1 Kings 10:23-24 (ESV Strong's)
Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.
Subject: God's Wisdom
James, the Apostle, tells us something very important about wisdom, we struggle to believe and put into practice in our daily lives:
James 1:5-8 (ESV Strong's)
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Solomon is God's example of this for our living. Solomon saw the awesome responsibility in front of him and asked God for wisdom. The Queen of Sheba was only one example of those seeking Solomon's advice and answers to questions. When we walk with God and ask in faith we can have the same wisdom God gave to Solomon. Here, the Old and New Testament walk in harmony. The only difference is that Christ is the Wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1-2) and we have Christ dwelling in us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. So, our tapping into wisdom is not so much getting something special from God, but yielding to the Lordship of Christ and have Him reveal wisdom to us. By faith we yield to the wisdom found in Christ.
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Monday, June 6, 2016
Subject: Pleasing the Lord - Leviticus 1-3
Leviticus 1:13 (ESV Strong's)
but the entrails and the legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall offer all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
Subject: Pleasing the Lord
We all wish to please; mostly other people ... even those who say they don't have a desire to please others have an inward desire to please themselves. We have an innate inward bent to please. God has placed it there. When we bend to the peer pressure of the world, that is a desire to please them. This is why marketing works. When a "marketing fade" is created we jump on board so we are accepted by others in that same group dressed alike; eating alike; doing the exact same activity. We love to please. In the above passage we are told that the proper sacrifice to the Lord is a "pleasing aroma." In fact, this same phase is used 17 times in Leviticus about our sacrifice to the Lord. We can't offer a "pleasing" sacrifice to the Lord in our sinful condition. It is only have we have Christ offer for us that Romans can be true:
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV Strong's)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 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 are to offer a "pleasing" sacrifice to God. This is only done when we are in Christ, who was fully accepted and pleasing to God:
2 Peter 1:17 (ESV Strong's)
For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,”
but the entrails and the legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall offer all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
Subject: Pleasing the Lord
We all wish to please; mostly other people ... even those who say they don't have a desire to please others have an inward desire to please themselves. We have an innate inward bent to please. God has placed it there. When we bend to the peer pressure of the world, that is a desire to please them. This is why marketing works. When a "marketing fade" is created we jump on board so we are accepted by others in that same group dressed alike; eating alike; doing the exact same activity. We love to please. In the above passage we are told that the proper sacrifice to the Lord is a "pleasing aroma." In fact, this same phase is used 17 times in Leviticus about our sacrifice to the Lord. We can't offer a "pleasing" sacrifice to the Lord in our sinful condition. It is only have we have Christ offer for us that Romans can be true:
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV Strong's)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 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 are to offer a "pleasing" sacrifice to God. This is only done when we are in Christ, who was fully accepted and pleasing to God:
2 Peter 1:17 (ESV Strong's)
For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,”
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Subject: Confronting the Failings of Others - Galatians 4-6
Galatians 6:1-5 (ESV Strong's)
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.
Subject: Confronting the Failings of Others
Perhaps the hardest thing a believer can do is correct another believer who is involved in an act of sin. In the above passage Paul gives us the steps and outlines the attitudes for us if such a need arises. Paul himself, earlier in this book, had to confront Peter. Peter was submitting to the leaders who thought believers should still follow the rules of The Law. Note what Paul says:
Galatians 2:11-12
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.
Paul instructs us to be humble in our confronting others who are involved in sin. We are to have a "spirit of gentleness." But, in our confrontation we are also supposed to "watch" ourselves. Paul knew how hard it was to keep a humble spirit and not get "high and mighty" when correcting someone else. He was worried in our working with others we would fall into sin. We are to "test" our own work. The minute we start looking at others we take our eyes off our own lives. Paul wanted to make sure that in our helping others we didn't fall into a greater sin.
As a further example of this principle, see Joshua 22
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.
Subject: Confronting the Failings of Others
Perhaps the hardest thing a believer can do is correct another believer who is involved in an act of sin. In the above passage Paul gives us the steps and outlines the attitudes for us if such a need arises. Paul himself, earlier in this book, had to confront Peter. Peter was submitting to the leaders who thought believers should still follow the rules of The Law. Note what Paul says:
Galatians 2:11-12
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.
Paul instructs us to be humble in our confronting others who are involved in sin. We are to have a "spirit of gentleness." But, in our confrontation we are also supposed to "watch" ourselves. Paul knew how hard it was to keep a humble spirit and not get "high and mighty" when correcting someone else. He was worried in our working with others we would fall into sin. We are to "test" our own work. The minute we start looking at others we take our eyes off our own lives. Paul wanted to make sure that in our helping others we didn't fall into a greater sin.
As a further example of this principle, see Joshua 22
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Subject: God's Glory - Luke 9-10
Luke 9:32 (ESV Strong's)
Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.
Subject; God's Glory
Peter, James and John were able to see God's Glory!!! This is what the Gospel is really all about. A couple of verses prior Jesus had said to the disciples: "But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God." Jesus was telling these three disciples that they would soon see what they saw eight days later: God's Glory, which is manifested in Christ and the power of the Gospel, is the "kingdom of God.". Later, in this same chapter Christ performs a miracle and heals a young boy. Note what the people did after seeing Christ's work:
Luke 9:42 (ESV Strong's)
While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astonished at the majesty of God.
2 Peter 1:17 (ESV Strong's)
For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,”
Note the word "majesty" is used in both places to describe the work of God. The Glory of God is the work of Christ in the lives of men. That is the Glory of God.
Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.
Subject; God's Glory
Peter, James and John were able to see God's Glory!!! This is what the Gospel is really all about. A couple of verses prior Jesus had said to the disciples: "But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God." Jesus was telling these three disciples that they would soon see what they saw eight days later: God's Glory, which is manifested in Christ and the power of the Gospel, is the "kingdom of God.". Later, in this same chapter Christ performs a miracle and heals a young boy. Note what the people did after seeing Christ's work:
Luke 9:42 (ESV Strong's)
While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astonished at the majesty of God.
2 Peter 1:17 (ESV Strong's)
For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,”
Note the word "majesty" is used in both places to describe the work of God. The Glory of God is the work of Christ in the lives of men. That is the Glory of God.
Friday, June 3, 2016
Subject: God's Sovereignty - Lamentations
Lamentations 5:19 (ESV Strong's)
But you, O Lord, reign forever;
your throne endures to all generations.
Subject: God's sovereignty
Lamentations is a book describing Jeremiah's pain and suffering and weeping over the fall of Jerusalem. He is bemoaning the taking captive of the people of Judah into slavery, captivity, death and peril. There is much pain describe in the book. Yet, at the end, the above verse is Jeremiah's conclusion. Through the tears in his eyes, Jeremiah can still see the power and the majesty of God. This is what faith is all about. Faith has to see God when all the circumstances says He is not there. When Jeremiah looked at the city the walls were torn down and the Temple destroyed. When he looked at the people there was death, dying and shackles. There was nothing to see with the natural eye that God was even real, much less cared for this nation as the apple of His eye. Yet, that is the natural eye. The spiritual eye sees God in the midst of all this suffering and conditions. Faith sees God despite the scene in front of us. We might see cancer with the natural eye, but with the eyes of faith we can still see a God who is working behind the scenes. We might see a car accident and death, like the natural world around us. But, the eyes of Faith sees God doing a work and rejoices in that work. God reigns!! That is the truth we hold when the world around is not making sense.
But you, O Lord, reign forever;
your throne endures to all generations.
Subject: God's sovereignty
Lamentations is a book describing Jeremiah's pain and suffering and weeping over the fall of Jerusalem. He is bemoaning the taking captive of the people of Judah into slavery, captivity, death and peril. There is much pain describe in the book. Yet, at the end, the above verse is Jeremiah's conclusion. Through the tears in his eyes, Jeremiah can still see the power and the majesty of God. This is what faith is all about. Faith has to see God when all the circumstances says He is not there. When Jeremiah looked at the city the walls were torn down and the Temple destroyed. When he looked at the people there was death, dying and shackles. There was nothing to see with the natural eye that God was even real, much less cared for this nation as the apple of His eye. Yet, that is the natural eye. The spiritual eye sees God in the midst of all this suffering and conditions. Faith sees God despite the scene in front of us. We might see cancer with the natural eye, but with the eyes of faith we can still see a God who is working behind the scenes. We might see a car accident and death, like the natural world around us. But, the eyes of Faith sees God doing a work and rejoices in that work. God reigns!! That is the truth we hold when the world around is not making sense.
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Subject: Saftey and Security - Proverbs 2-3
Proverbs 3:21-26 (ESV Strong's)
My son, do not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.
Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.
If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught.
Subject: Safety and Security
The above set of proverbs are told to the "son" about the benefits of holding onto, seeking and keeping wisdom. The theme of the book of Proverbs is summed up in these six proverbs. If the son will "keep" wisdom benefits will flow. The word "keep" is used ten times in Psalm 119 in regard to guarding the Word of God. The point here is that we are to make sure we don't lose sight of God's Word because the benefits are amazing. Security is the main benefit. While the wicked are plotting against us and the terrors of night attempt to overtake us, (the writer does not tell us what these terrors are, only that they are sudden), we will be secure in the arms of the Lord. Our confidence is not in our own strength, resources, or talent base. Our confidence is in the Lord, who supplies the wisdom we need to make decisions, which in turn would steer us clear of danger. Faith in God's Word to supply us wisdom provides safety and security when all others are fearful of terror and turmoil.
My son, do not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.
Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.
If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught.
Subject: Safety and Security
The above set of proverbs are told to the "son" about the benefits of holding onto, seeking and keeping wisdom. The theme of the book of Proverbs is summed up in these six proverbs. If the son will "keep" wisdom benefits will flow. The word "keep" is used ten times in Psalm 119 in regard to guarding the Word of God. The point here is that we are to make sure we don't lose sight of God's Word because the benefits are amazing. Security is the main benefit. While the wicked are plotting against us and the terrors of night attempt to overtake us, (the writer does not tell us what these terrors are, only that they are sudden), we will be secure in the arms of the Lord. Our confidence is not in our own strength, resources, or talent base. Our confidence is in the Lord, who supplies the wisdom we need to make decisions, which in turn would steer us clear of danger. Faith in God's Word to supply us wisdom provides safety and security when all others are fearful of terror and turmoil.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Subject: Power - Psalm 66-68
Psalms 68:34 (ESV Strong's)
Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
and whose power is in the skies.
Subject: Worship
The Hebrew word in the above passage for the word translated "ascribe" is the word "Natan.". Natan has several meanings in Scripture, but note what Vine says about here:
(Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary) Natan can be used of “giving” or “ascribing” something to someone, such as “giving” glory and praise to God (Josh. 7:19). Obviously, nothing is passed from men to God; nothing is added to God, since He is perfect. This means, therefore, that a worshiper recognizes and confesses what is already His.
The writer of the Psalm is instructing us in worship. Specifically David, the writer, is telling us to rejoice in what God is going to do to protect us from our enemies. As he reaches the end of his song he wants to make sure we are recognizing that power flows from God. We are to ascribe this power to God. This is a form of worship. When we talk about worshipping God this is one of the areas we can worship. We must agree and recognize that God is the supreme holder of all power. We give Him glory for this power when we worship Him for His power.
Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
and whose power is in the skies.
Subject: Worship
The Hebrew word in the above passage for the word translated "ascribe" is the word "Natan.". Natan has several meanings in Scripture, but note what Vine says about here:
(Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary) Natan can be used of “giving” or “ascribing” something to someone, such as “giving” glory and praise to God (Josh. 7:19). Obviously, nothing is passed from men to God; nothing is added to God, since He is perfect. This means, therefore, that a worshiper recognizes and confesses what is already His.
The writer of the Psalm is instructing us in worship. Specifically David, the writer, is telling us to rejoice in what God is going to do to protect us from our enemies. As he reaches the end of his song he wants to make sure we are recognizing that power flows from God. We are to ascribe this power to God. This is a form of worship. When we talk about worshipping God this is one of the areas we can worship. We must agree and recognize that God is the supreme holder of all power. We give Him glory for this power when we worship Him for His power.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)