2 Peter 1:8 (ESV Strong's)
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Subject: Sanctification
Growing in the spiritual realm is about "increasing" in the things God has given us. He has given us His Spirit who produces fruit. That fruit is listed by Peter just prior to this verse:
2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV Strong's)
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
In verse 8 he is telling us that as we increase these qualities (listed in 5-7) we will "keep" us from being "ineffective" and "unfruitful" in knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. Our fellowship with Christ is impacted by our yielding to the Spirit of God while He produces these qualities as we walk in faith to Him. If I don't love someone, I must yield in faith to love them and obey Christ. That is when I act like Christ and "know" Him. That conforms us to His image. As I grow in these I become more effective and more fruitful.
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Subject: Evangelism - Acts 17-18
Acts 17:32-34 (ESV Strong's)
Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
Subject: Evangelism
Paul, in the above passage, has just engaged with the philosophers and leaders in Athens. At one time, Athens would be THE place to be for intellectual expansion. Paul provides a compelling and challenging message this body of philosophers would ever hear. The response of those philosophers isn't much different than the academic world today. They basically rejected the gospel message of Christ's death, burial and resurrection. They even "mocked" Paul and the message. That could have been very discouraging to most people. The "fear of man" and their response to us seems to seize most. Paul leaves the scene, but not alone. A man named Dionysius and a women named Damaris and a few others, believed. Paul was not looking for the masses to come to Christ (He, of course, would have taken that), but he knew there was some whom God would call. When we preach the gospel we have to remember that God will call whom He will call. God wants our attention on our "Dionysius" and "Damaris." We need to know that God is going to use us, in any circumstance, to call whom He will.
Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
Subject: Evangelism
Paul, in the above passage, has just engaged with the philosophers and leaders in Athens. At one time, Athens would be THE place to be for intellectual expansion. Paul provides a compelling and challenging message this body of philosophers would ever hear. The response of those philosophers isn't much different than the academic world today. They basically rejected the gospel message of Christ's death, burial and resurrection. They even "mocked" Paul and the message. That could have been very discouraging to most people. The "fear of man" and their response to us seems to seize most. Paul leaves the scene, but not alone. A man named Dionysius and a women named Damaris and a few others, believed. Paul was not looking for the masses to come to Christ (He, of course, would have taken that), but he knew there was some whom God would call. When we preach the gospel we have to remember that God will call whom He will call. God wants our attention on our "Dionysius" and "Damaris." We need to know that God is going to use us, in any circumstance, to call whom He will.
Friday, November 18, 2016
Subject: God's Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness - Zechariah 8-14
Zechariah 10:6 (ESV Strong's)
“I will strengthen the house of Judah,
and I will save the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back because I have compassion on them,
and they shall be as though I had not rejected them,
for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.
Subject: God's Grace and Mercy and Forgiveness
Zechariah is the Minor Prophet who tells us the most about the Messiah. There are many references to the Messiah and His ministry in this powerful prophetic book. The above prophecy is the core of those prophecies. In the restoration of Judah and Israel, the Messiah is going to strengthen and save the house of Joseph and the house of Judah. The key phrase (that typifies the New Testament) is, "I will bring them back because I have compassion on them." Are there any words greater or better in any language than those words? God has compassion on us because His compassion is forever and eternal. This is the core of God's grace, mercy and forgiveness. God is gracious. He is always extending His grace. His salvation is about His reaching out to those who don't deserve it and giving them His grace. God will "bring us back".
“I will strengthen the house of Judah,
and I will save the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back because I have compassion on them,
and they shall be as though I had not rejected them,
for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.
Subject: God's Grace and Mercy and Forgiveness
Zechariah is the Minor Prophet who tells us the most about the Messiah. There are many references to the Messiah and His ministry in this powerful prophetic book. The above prophecy is the core of those prophecies. In the restoration of Judah and Israel, the Messiah is going to strengthen and save the house of Joseph and the house of Judah. The key phrase (that typifies the New Testament) is, "I will bring them back because I have compassion on them." Are there any words greater or better in any language than those words? God has compassion on us because His compassion is forever and eternal. This is the core of God's grace, mercy and forgiveness. God is gracious. He is always extending His grace. His salvation is about His reaching out to those who don't deserve it and giving them His grace. God will "bring us back".
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Subject: Live life and Work with Vigor - Ecclesiastes 9-10
Ecclesiastes 9:10 (ESV Strong's)
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
Subject: Live life and Work with Vigor
Before we can grasp the meaning of the above verse we have to make sure we recall the meaning and purpose of the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon (the Preacher) is giving us a running commentary on his exploits and discoveries of life. When we read, we are living life vicariously through Solomon. At times, he is not suggesting we do what he does. He IS suggesting that we LEARN from what he does. The above verse being a prime example of that thought. Solomon is in a section where he is bemoaning the fact that no matter who you are and not matter what you spiritual status, social status, or economic status, we all end up in the same place ... the grave (Sheol). Death happens to us all. Nothing prevents it. Since EVERYONE is going to end up in the grave, how should we live? Insert the above verse here!! God is giving us a life. It is a gift. He will, eventually take that life. Our approach to life should be what Solomon suggests, above. We are live life intensely. We are to grab as much of it as we can and not waste a minute of it. Paul would echo this, but add a very important nuance:
1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV Strong's)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
In Ecclesiastes the writer is not yet where Paul is. Solomon will get there (see the last two verses of Ecclesiastes). Paul gets us there immediately. We are to live our lives with gusto, but do so in a way that glorifies God.
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
Subject: Live life and Work with Vigor
Before we can grasp the meaning of the above verse we have to make sure we recall the meaning and purpose of the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon (the Preacher) is giving us a running commentary on his exploits and discoveries of life. When we read, we are living life vicariously through Solomon. At times, he is not suggesting we do what he does. He IS suggesting that we LEARN from what he does. The above verse being a prime example of that thought. Solomon is in a section where he is bemoaning the fact that no matter who you are and not matter what you spiritual status, social status, or economic status, we all end up in the same place ... the grave (Sheol). Death happens to us all. Nothing prevents it. Since EVERYONE is going to end up in the grave, how should we live? Insert the above verse here!! God is giving us a life. It is a gift. He will, eventually take that life. Our approach to life should be what Solomon suggests, above. We are live life intensely. We are to grab as much of it as we can and not waste a minute of it. Paul would echo this, but add a very important nuance:
1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV Strong's)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
In Ecclesiastes the writer is not yet where Paul is. Solomon will get there (see the last two verses of Ecclesiastes). Paul gets us there immediately. We are to live our lives with gusto, but do so in a way that glorifies God.
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Subject: God is King - He is Sovereign - Psalms 134-136
Psalms 136:17-21 (ESV Strong's)
to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Subject: God is King - He is Sovereign
Today I write this blog post the day after the 2016 US elections. Yesterday, the political world and the established world was set on its ear. I would not say God favors one party over the other, or one of the two candidates over the other. But, what we do know is what is stated in the above verse. It is God who is in control of who reigns and who does not. Note what the Psalmist said a few chapters back:
Psalms 75:7 (ESV Strong's)
but it is God who executes judgment,
putting down one and lifting up another.
And consider Solomon's words (one of the greatest kings of all time):
Proverbs 21:1 (ESV Strong's)
The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will.
God is in charge of leadership. The people did not speak on election day, God did!! For whatever reason, God made the change He did in leadership. The people in a democracy can claim all the power they want. But, it is God who gives people positing, power and influence. We are to praise God for His moving ... no matter who wins or who loses.
to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Subject: God is King - He is Sovereign
Today I write this blog post the day after the 2016 US elections. Yesterday, the political world and the established world was set on its ear. I would not say God favors one party over the other, or one of the two candidates over the other. But, what we do know is what is stated in the above verse. It is God who is in control of who reigns and who does not. Note what the Psalmist said a few chapters back:
Psalms 75:7 (ESV Strong's)
but it is God who executes judgment,
putting down one and lifting up another.
And consider Solomon's words (one of the greatest kings of all time):
Proverbs 21:1 (ESV Strong's)
The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will.
God is in charge of leadership. The people did not speak on election day, God did!! For whatever reason, God made the change He did in leadership. The people in a democracy can claim all the power they want. But, it is God who gives people positing, power and influence. We are to praise God for His moving ... no matter who wins or who loses.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Subject: God is in control - even of ungodly rulers in our midst - Ezra 6-10
Encouragement can come in many ways. God's Word can and does and should encourage us. God's people can and do and should encourage us. But, should something that an ungodly politician do encourage us? Note Ezra's response to the King of Persia's decrees concerning the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem:
Ezra 7:27-28
Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to adorn the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, and has extended lovingkindness to me before the king and his counselors and before all the king’s mighty princes. Thus I was strengthened according to the hand of the Lord my God upon me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
Subject: God is in control - even of the ungodly rulers in our midst
Even in the midst of captivity God was moving. God, after exactly 70 years (the time He said they would be in captivity) moved in the heart of an ungodly king to send the captives back to build the temple. The king also sent them back with all the treasures that the previous king had taken from the temple. The king also made sure they had material to build the temple and were not taxed in the same way others in the land were currently taxed. In a time of great evil God protected His people. In a time of great hardship and captivity God not only protected His people He accomplished His will through an ungodly king. This was an encouragement to Ezra. When Ezra sees the "kindness of the king" he is not confused as to where this kindness comes from. It wasn't out of the bowels of the king but from the compassion and sovereign moving of his God. Ezra sang the praises of God in this doxology. God had moved in the heart of an ungodly king to have compassion on His people. In the midst of a society like we live in today, let's not forget that God can and does move in the rulers of today. God can and does move the "kings" heart the way He wants. God uses His sovereign power to accomplish His will. That should encourage you.
Ezra 7:27-28
Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to adorn the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, and has extended lovingkindness to me before the king and his counselors and before all the king’s mighty princes. Thus I was strengthened according to the hand of the Lord my God upon me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
Subject: God is in control - even of the ungodly rulers in our midst
Even in the midst of captivity God was moving. God, after exactly 70 years (the time He said they would be in captivity) moved in the heart of an ungodly king to send the captives back to build the temple. The king also sent them back with all the treasures that the previous king had taken from the temple. The king also made sure they had material to build the temple and were not taxed in the same way others in the land were currently taxed. In a time of great evil God protected His people. In a time of great hardship and captivity God not only protected His people He accomplished His will through an ungodly king. This was an encouragement to Ezra. When Ezra sees the "kindness of the king" he is not confused as to where this kindness comes from. It wasn't out of the bowels of the king but from the compassion and sovereign moving of his God. Ezra sang the praises of God in this doxology. God had moved in the heart of an ungodly king to have compassion on His people. In the midst of a society like we live in today, let's not forget that God can and does move in the rulers of today. God can and does move the "kings" heart the way He wants. God uses His sovereign power to accomplish His will. That should encourage you.
Monday, November 14, 2016
Subject: Don't look like the Word - Deuteronomy 16-19
Deuteronomy 18:9 (ESV Strong's)
“When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.
Subject: Sanctification (Don't look like the world)
God had redeemed the nation of Israel out of Egypt. As a result He was putting His imprint upon them. He wanted them to be like Him in character and in walk. God was going to drive out the inhabitants of the land they would possess. The above instruction is for them to NOT take on the practices of those He was going to drive out. We know, soon, they would do just that. Yet, this was not God's plan for them. God wanted them to holy (sanctified) for Him and Him alone. God promised them blessings if they kept themselves holy. They were to look different than the world. Note what Paul will tell the Roman Christians centuries later:
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.
God is consistent. He does not want us looking like or living like the world. He wants us to be holy, sold to Him. We should look and act different than the world. That is why He redeemed us.
“When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.
Subject: Sanctification (Don't look like the world)
God had redeemed the nation of Israel out of Egypt. As a result He was putting His imprint upon them. He wanted them to be like Him in character and in walk. God was going to drive out the inhabitants of the land they would possess. The above instruction is for them to NOT take on the practices of those He was going to drive out. We know, soon, they would do just that. Yet, this was not God's plan for them. God wanted them to holy (sanctified) for Him and Him alone. God promised them blessings if they kept themselves holy. They were to look different than the world. Note what Paul will tell the Roman Christians centuries later:
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.
God is consistent. He does not want us looking like or living like the world. He wants us to be holy, sold to Him. We should look and act different than the world. That is why He redeemed us.
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