Judges 2:10
And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.
Tag: Transition of Leadership
The above verse is a great principal for believers to grasp. When we fail to teach and transition someone to take leadership we risk the beliefs, values and purpose of our lives being lost to the next generation. Moses taught Joshua. Joshua did not teach anyone to fill his spot. To his defense, Joshua was a follower of God and his job was to get the twelve-tribes to the promise land. Each tribe was to go out, on their own, to secure the land. Joshua was not instructed to train his assistant. Yet, the failure of that tasks not being completed, produced the above statement. When we fail to train the younger generation they will forget God and they will fail to carry out the Word of God.
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Monday, February 6, 2017
Tag: God's Providence - Genesis 20-23
Genesis 21:21
He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Tag: God's providence in the lives of others
In Genesis 21 we have the story of Isaac (Abraham's first son by his wife Sarah) being born AND the separation of Abraham from the son (Ishmael). born by Hagar, Sarah's handmaiden. Most historians believe that when God told Hagar that He would make of Ishmael a "great nation," God was referring to what would become the Arab people. Ishmael is the first born of Abraham's son, but not by Sarah. God established His people through Abraham's son Issac - who would be the son of the covenant. The conflict created in this situation has produced the world we have today in the Middle East. Because Sarah was impatient with God's promise that she would have a child, she sought to solve the issue herself, through Hagar. God would send His on via the nation of Israel, however. He would not send salvation through Ishmael. The way of life is not through the Muslim faith that sprang from Ishmael. Redemption would come from the Messiah, the Son of David, through the nation of Israel.
He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Tag: God's providence in the lives of others
In Genesis 21 we have the story of Isaac (Abraham's first son by his wife Sarah) being born AND the separation of Abraham from the son (Ishmael). born by Hagar, Sarah's handmaiden. Most historians believe that when God told Hagar that He would make of Ishmael a "great nation," God was referring to what would become the Arab people. Ishmael is the first born of Abraham's son, but not by Sarah. God established His people through Abraham's son Issac - who would be the son of the covenant. The conflict created in this situation has produced the world we have today in the Middle East. Because Sarah was impatient with God's promise that she would have a child, she sought to solve the issue herself, through Hagar. God would send His on via the nation of Israel, however. He would not send salvation through Ishmael. The way of life is not through the Muslim faith that sprang from Ishmael. Redemption would come from the Messiah, the Son of David, through the nation of Israel.
Sunday, February 5, 2017
Tag: Election - by Grace through Faith - Romans 9-11
Romans 11:28-32
As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
Tag: Election - Salvation through Faith by Grace
In Romans 9-11 we are given Paul's thesis on election. You might not like it, but the fact that God "elects" those He wants to save "by grace through faith" is clearly stated. In the above verses we have the driving words behind what Paul has written in the previous chapters. This is not just his summary statement of what he has just said - this is the goal he was driving his readers to understand. Note the following commentary on these verses:
Understanding the Bible Commentary Series:
"Israel is both God’s enemy and God’s friend. Israel is an enemy as far as the gospel is concerned, but loved on account of the patriarchs (v. 28; so Jub. 15:30; 22:9; 4 Ezra 3:13; 5:27). Gentiles once were objects of wrath (1:18ff.), but they are now objects of mercy because of their faith in the gospel. For Jews the issue is exactly the opposite: they once were objects of mercy because of their election and knowledge of the law, but they are now objects of wrath because of their disbelief in the gospel. Thus, God comes to his people in only one of two ways, in wrath or mercy. There is no third way. If we will not receive the mercy of God then we must face the wrath of God which would drive us to his mercy (Isa. 63:10–14). God’s mercy is the final word, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable (v. 29)."
God, by grace through faith, choose those He wants to save. That grace wins no matter what. No one person (or nation) can fraught the gospel message and the plan of God. God is saving those He will by grace, through faith.
As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
Tag: Election - Salvation through Faith by Grace
In Romans 9-11 we are given Paul's thesis on election. You might not like it, but the fact that God "elects" those He wants to save "by grace through faith" is clearly stated. In the above verses we have the driving words behind what Paul has written in the previous chapters. This is not just his summary statement of what he has just said - this is the goal he was driving his readers to understand. Note the following commentary on these verses:
Understanding the Bible Commentary Series:
"Israel is both God’s enemy and God’s friend. Israel is an enemy as far as the gospel is concerned, but loved on account of the patriarchs (v. 28; so Jub. 15:30; 22:9; 4 Ezra 3:13; 5:27). Gentiles once were objects of wrath (1:18ff.), but they are now objects of mercy because of their faith in the gospel. For Jews the issue is exactly the opposite: they once were objects of mercy because of their election and knowledge of the law, but they are now objects of wrath because of their disbelief in the gospel. Thus, God comes to his people in only one of two ways, in wrath or mercy. There is no third way. If we will not receive the mercy of God then we must face the wrath of God which would drive us to his mercy (Isa. 63:10–14). God’s mercy is the final word, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable (v. 29)."
God, by grace through faith, choose those He wants to save. That grace wins no matter what. No one person (or nation) can fraught the gospel message and the plan of God. God is saving those He will by grace, through faith.
Saturday, February 4, 2017
Tag: God's Wisdom will Shine - Matthew 11-13
Matthew 11:18-19
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
Tag: God's Wisdom will Shine Through
When we read the teaching of Jesus in the Gospels we have to make sure we understand his audience. He has the obvious audience of the disciples. One of the reasons Jesus kept "hiding" Himself from the Pharisees is because He was time for the crucifixion ... He still had things to teach the disciples. The religious leaders were an audience. Jesus had to show these leaders that their version of the truth was not His version of truth. Jesus was also teaching the church. He would know that later His teaching would be part of the Cannon of Scripture and be the marching manual for all believers. What lesson, then, was He trying to teach all three of those groups in the above verses? The lesson is that everything we do will eventually demonstrate and indicate what the ultimate catalyst was for their behavior. The Pharisees were judging John's and Jesus' behavior through a false lens. We do that a lot in our society. We judge the immediate thing we see. That often leads us to a wrong conclusion. Jesus teaching in the above passage for all three groups is that Godly wisdom will produce Godly fruit. Earthly wisdom will produce earthly fruit. "Wisdom" will be "justified" by her "fruits." Your motivations and source of reasons will produced some fruit and that fruit will tell the world what type of wisdom you used to produce the fruit. The world has a hard time with Christianity because of the fruit it produces. The world can't disclaim the changed lives that belief in Christ produces. Psychological wisdom doesn't produce fruit like this. Wisdom is known by its fruit.
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
Tag: God's Wisdom will Shine Through
When we read the teaching of Jesus in the Gospels we have to make sure we understand his audience. He has the obvious audience of the disciples. One of the reasons Jesus kept "hiding" Himself from the Pharisees is because He was time for the crucifixion ... He still had things to teach the disciples. The religious leaders were an audience. Jesus had to show these leaders that their version of the truth was not His version of truth. Jesus was also teaching the church. He would know that later His teaching would be part of the Cannon of Scripture and be the marching manual for all believers. What lesson, then, was He trying to teach all three of those groups in the above verses? The lesson is that everything we do will eventually demonstrate and indicate what the ultimate catalyst was for their behavior. The Pharisees were judging John's and Jesus' behavior through a false lens. We do that a lot in our society. We judge the immediate thing we see. That often leads us to a wrong conclusion. Jesus teaching in the above passage for all three groups is that Godly wisdom will produce Godly fruit. Earthly wisdom will produce earthly fruit. "Wisdom" will be "justified" by her "fruits." Your motivations and source of reasons will produced some fruit and that fruit will tell the world what type of wisdom you used to produce the fruit. The world has a hard time with Christianity because of the fruit it produces. The world can't disclaim the changed lives that belief in Christ produces. Psychological wisdom doesn't produce fruit like this. Wisdom is known by its fruit.
Friday, February 3, 2017
Tag: Christ's Redemption - Isaiah 28:16-17
Isaiah 28:16-17
therefore thus says the Lord God,
“Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion,
a stone, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:
‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
And I will make justice the line,
and righteousness the plumb line;
and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,
and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”
Tag: Christ's Redemption
This portion of Isaiah is basically filled with God's description of His wrath and judgment being poured out upon mankind. It is not pretty prose to read. Yet, as always in the prophets, God's redemption through His eternal love comes shinning through ... as in the above passage. Here is a passage that speaks of God sending His son, establishing a plumb-line of righteousness and purifying the planet. Jesus is the "cornerstone." Jesus is the "sure foundation." "Whoever believes will not be in haste." When destruction comes the believer will rest in Christ not run in fear. He is our "stone." He is our "tested stone." When floods come the only thing that is left are the strong rocks which do not move. Those who cling to Christ, the Rock, will never be moved.
therefore thus says the Lord God,
“Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion,
a stone, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:
‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
And I will make justice the line,
and righteousness the plumb line;
and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,
and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”
Tag: Christ's Redemption
This portion of Isaiah is basically filled with God's description of His wrath and judgment being poured out upon mankind. It is not pretty prose to read. Yet, as always in the prophets, God's redemption through His eternal love comes shinning through ... as in the above passage. Here is a passage that speaks of God sending His son, establishing a plumb-line of righteousness and purifying the planet. Jesus is the "cornerstone." Jesus is the "sure foundation." "Whoever believes will not be in haste." When destruction comes the believer will rest in Christ not run in fear. He is our "stone." He is our "tested stone." When floods come the only thing that is left are the strong rocks which do not move. Those who cling to Christ, the Rock, will never be moved.
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Tag: The Wicked's Last Breath - Job 11
Job 11:20
But the eyes of the wicked will fail;
all way of escape will be lost to them,
and their hope is to breathe their last.”
Tag: The Wicked's Last Breath
The above verse is the last verse of one of Job's friends' speech - Zophar. Zophar is the third friend of Job to condemn him. As you read the three speeches of his friends, you can see that Job is wearing on them, fast! Zophar is less politically correct than the first two. He jumps right into Job with both feet. He simple tells Job he knows nothing and if he knew even a glimpse of God's knowledge and wisdom he would repent immediately, quit claiming his innocence in this matter and make it right before God. He believes Job is wicked and he paints the picture of the beauty of repentance and the tragedy of the wicked's last breath. He, like the others, has some truth in his doctrine and is light-years off in his application to Job's situation. God has already declared Job innocent, so in Job's mind he is struggling with the logic of his friends that this suffering is due to his sin. Job isn't saying he is righteous - not yet - but that the suffering is not due to some unrepentive and unrighteous acts. Zophar is right about the wicked, however. The wicked, someday will see their "eyes" fail - this is a metaphor for their hope. Their "escape" will be lost. Their breath is all they can cling to ... once that is gone, their is no hope. The righteous are not so. We have hope in Christ and hope in an eternity with Christ. Our last breath is the gateway to heaven. When we gasp that last time our next breath is celestial. Not so the wicked. Their last breath cuts off all hope and their next breath is eternal damnation. Zophar did get something right - just not in Jobs case.
But the eyes of the wicked will fail;
all way of escape will be lost to them,
and their hope is to breathe their last.”
Tag: The Wicked's Last Breath
The above verse is the last verse of one of Job's friends' speech - Zophar. Zophar is the third friend of Job to condemn him. As you read the three speeches of his friends, you can see that Job is wearing on them, fast! Zophar is less politically correct than the first two. He jumps right into Job with both feet. He simple tells Job he knows nothing and if he knew even a glimpse of God's knowledge and wisdom he would repent immediately, quit claiming his innocence in this matter and make it right before God. He believes Job is wicked and he paints the picture of the beauty of repentance and the tragedy of the wicked's last breath. He, like the others, has some truth in his doctrine and is light-years off in his application to Job's situation. God has already declared Job innocent, so in Job's mind he is struggling with the logic of his friends that this suffering is due to his sin. Job isn't saying he is righteous - not yet - but that the suffering is not due to some unrepentive and unrighteous acts. Zophar is right about the wicked, however. The wicked, someday will see their "eyes" fail - this is a metaphor for their hope. Their "escape" will be lost. Their breath is all they can cling to ... once that is gone, their is no hope. The righteous are not so. We have hope in Christ and hope in an eternity with Christ. Our last breath is the gateway to heaven. When we gasp that last time our next breath is celestial. Not so the wicked. Their last breath cuts off all hope and their next breath is eternal damnation. Zophar did get something right - just not in Jobs case.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Tag: Wicked live in Terror - Psalms 14:5-6
Psalms 14:5-6
There they are in great terror,
for God is with the generation of the righteous.
You would shame the plans of the poor,
but the Lord is his refuge.
Tag: Wicked live in terror
In Psalm 14 we are being made familiar with the "fool." The fool is defined in the first verse of the chapter as someone who fails to acknowledge God in their life and plans. They fool has not acts of kindness or love in their lives, because they reject the God of love. Therefore all they do will be oppressive in one way or another. We might not agree with that analysis of a man without God, but that is the truth stated in this chapter. In the above two verses we need to know that the "they" and the "you" are referring to these who have rejected God and find no understanding of Him. The first line of each of the above two verses is speaking of the wicked, the second line in each of the verses is speaking about the righteous, or poor, who are those who, in this Psalm, have faith in God and have acknowledged God in their lives. The wicked live "in great terror." They don't confess this terror, of course. That would mean they have to acknowledge God. Despite their life in terror they still try to hurt the poor ("shame the plans of the poor"). The fool, who has no relationship with God, lives in terror. Reject God and lose peace in your heart.
There they are in great terror,
for God is with the generation of the righteous.
You would shame the plans of the poor,
but the Lord is his refuge.
Tag: Wicked live in terror
In Psalm 14 we are being made familiar with the "fool." The fool is defined in the first verse of the chapter as someone who fails to acknowledge God in their life and plans. They fool has not acts of kindness or love in their lives, because they reject the God of love. Therefore all they do will be oppressive in one way or another. We might not agree with that analysis of a man without God, but that is the truth stated in this chapter. In the above two verses we need to know that the "they" and the "you" are referring to these who have rejected God and find no understanding of Him. The first line of each of the above two verses is speaking of the wicked, the second line in each of the verses is speaking about the righteous, or poor, who are those who, in this Psalm, have faith in God and have acknowledged God in their lives. The wicked live "in great terror." They don't confess this terror, of course. That would mean they have to acknowledge God. Despite their life in terror they still try to hurt the poor ("shame the plans of the poor"). The fool, who has no relationship with God, lives in terror. Reject God and lose peace in your heart.
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