Tag: God’s Word Can Be Trusted - 2 Chronicles 33-36

2 Chronicles 34:21

“Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do according to all that is written in this book.”

Tag: God’s Word can be trusted!

The above verse is taken from the words of young King Josiah.  Josiah had started out to simply clean the Temple and reconstruct what was torn down by previous kings.  In the process of cleaning he found a copy of the “LAW.”  It would be imagined it would be the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament.  Upon reading the scroll what happened?

2 Chronicles 34:19

And when the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes.

King Josiah saw that the Word of God was powerful and was to be followed at all cost.  His early reforms were fueled by more revelation of God’s Word.  The reading of God’s Word should always fuel our desire to seek more of God and to impact the world around us for God.  God’s Word is NOT to be sturdier as a text book, it is to study us and revel in us and to us the character and the plans of God.  It ought to humble us.   It will never disappoint us.  Note what Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome:

Romans 10:11

For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Other versions read, “Everyone who believes will not be disappointed.”  God’s Word will never let us done.  I am actually writing this on the October 31, 2017.   This is the 500 year of the Reformation when another young man, Martin Luther, read God’s Word and moved forward with what he read.  His moving forward with God’s Word sparked a fire in the Catholic Church.   God’s Word will NEVER disappoint. When mixed with faith, God does amazing reforms in our lives and in the lives of others.  

Tag; The God Who Owns the Word, Choose Us!!! - Deuteronomy 10-12

Deuteronomy 10:14-15

Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.

Tag:  God Owns the World, YET Loves a Little Nation

In the above two verses we have such a contrast in Biblical truths.  In verse 14 we read that God “owns” the world and all that is in it.  There is nothing on the face of this early and in the stars of the heavens that was not made by God and therefore, owned by God. It all “belongs” to God. The world leaders, thinkers and knowledge barriers would like to dispute that.  If they can disprove that God owns it all, they can diminish God’s claim on them and their responsibility to God in obedience (which this chapter in Deuteronomy is all about).  God owns it all.  We can rejoice in that, as believers.   Verse 15 opens with the little word, “YET.”  This shows the stark contrast we are about read.   Although God owns it all, God “choose” to “set His heart in love” upon the little nation of Israel.  In fact, when God did set His heart on them, they were NOT a nation, but rather one man: Abram.   Note what the writer of Hebrews says about Abram (soon to be renamed Abraham):

Hebrews 11:8

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Abraham was “called to go out to a place that he WAS to receive as an inheritance.”   The God who owns the universe set His love, not upon some great big nation, but one, insignificant man.   God is the God who owns the world but chooses to love individuals.  My significance is not in my being someone in the eyes of the world, or even in my eyes.  My significance is being a C.K.  A Child of the King.   He choose me to set His love upon me.  He, who owns the universe, choose me:

Ephesians 1:3-4

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 ... 

Tag: Brotherly Responsiblity - James 4-5

James 5:19-20

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Tag:  Brotherly Responsibility 

We often wander from the truth.   As believers we still have the sin nature dwelling within.   We still have the sin nature warring against the new nature given to us by God.   When we see that in our lives we are to crucify the flesh and, with the Spirit of God, yield our bodies as instruments of righteousness, rather than instruments of unrighteousness (Romans 6).   In the above passage, however, we are also told to come to the side of others who are failing in their walk.   The word for “wander” above is the same word Jesus uses in the story of the 99 sheep and the one who went “astray.”  Jesus said to leave the 99 and go to the one who wandered off.   This is the same reference, here.   When we see a brother wander from truth we are to go to them and bring them back, or give them truth to get them back.  Paul says something similar in his letter to the Galatian Christians:

Galatians 6:1-2

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.

We have a Christian responsibility to reach out to those who may wander, to help them find truth, to restore them back into the truth of Christ.  When we do that, the above passage says we save his “soul from death and will cover a multitude” of sins.   This is not an option in the Christian faith.  Once we come to faith in Christ we have moral obligation to “fulfill the Law of Christ (loving others).”   When we love others we will step up and step in when we see them “wandering” from the truth.  It is what believers do for each other.   It is God’s method to keep us all within His truth.  If we fail to speak truth to them, for fear they may reject us, we fail to fulfill God’s Word, we allow them to live in non-truth and we fail to help them escape danger.    That is not love.   

Tag: The Spriit Moves - Acts 11-12

Acts 11:17

If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” 

Tag: When We are Saved, God’s Spirit Moves in our Lives

This is a key verse in the entire book of Acts. It is to tell us that the movement of the Spirit in our lives is the demonstration of our salvation.   Every time a new group (ethnic, or otherwise) is introduced to this new Gospel, they Spirit of God verifies their receiving the Gospel with the same signs.  That only happens four times in Acts. It is not a pattern for all believers, every time, but in Acts, to show that the Gospel is for all “groups.”    The evidence, however, is true that God does pour His Spirit out on us at our salvation.  We are not much aware of it, at the time. But, as we grow, we ought to see the evidence of the Spirit in our lives.  What evidence, if it is not speaking in tongues and fire on our heads?  Paul, in his letter to Galatians tells us what the fruit of the Spirit is:

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

When we are born again we should have evidence of the Spirit’s work in our lives.  The work of the Spirit is seen in the fruit of the Spirit.  These are the things God is producing in our lives.  

Tag: Seek God - Zephaniah

Zephaniah 2:3

Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land,

who do his just commands;

seek righteousness; seek humility;

perhaps you may be hidden

on the day of the anger of the Lord.

Tag;   God wants us to Seek Him

Zephaniah is about “the Day of the Lord.”  It particular talks about the wrath that is going to be poured it upon the enemies of God and those who reject His truths and commands.  In the midst of all this prophecy of doom and destruction, however, we have the above passage.  It stands out like a lilly pad in a swamp:  Surrounded by darkness these words catch our eye with their beauty and refreshing content.  In the midst of the announcement of God’s wrath, we read a great call and offer based upon His mercy and grace.   God wants us to realize the greatest of His wrath, but, also, to not forget the glory of His mercy and grace.   Even in the midst of doom and gloom, the only true exercise to work on, is seeking a holy and righteous God. In this prophetic message by Zephaniah, the nation is hearing all the doom about to be poured out upon the surrounding nations and, in some cases, on their fellow countrymen.   Yet, in the midst, we have the formula for success.  They are not to focus on their circumstances, but on their Savior.  Seeking Him in Humility and seeking righteousness rather than comfort or convenience or correction of others, God is asking us to seek Him.   Notice what Christ will say a few hundred years after Zephaniah:

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

In the above verse “all these things” (that will be added to you) are the creature comforts we all desire.  What Christ is teaching us is that seeking Him and the Kingdom of God, above all else, allows God to open up blessings for the other things.  We don’t seek Him to “get” those things, but when we seek Him it opens up the window so that He CAN bless us.   

Seek first His righteousness ... God will take care of all the other things.   

Tag: Work is a Curse and a Gift - Ecclesiastes 3-4

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.

Tag:  Work is a Curse and a Gift from God

When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden he was given a curse that carries to all men ... it was “imputed” to us from Adam.  The main focus of the curse was separation: From God; from the Graden; from true pleasure in work.  Note what the curse says:

Genesis 3:17-19

And to Adam he said,

“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife

and have eaten of the tree

of which I commanded you,

‘You shall not eat of it,’

cursed is the ground because of you;

in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;

thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;

and you shall eat the plants of the field.

By the sweat of your face

you shall eat bread,

till you return to the ground,

for out of it you were taken;

for you are dust,

and to dust you shall return.”

This “... in pain you shall eat of it ...,” is saying that your “work” to get food and drink from this earth is going to be in pain.  Only with this understanding can we read the above passage from Ecclesiastes.  In this passage Solomon tells us that “work”” is a “gift” to man and he should enjoy the work and enjoy the food and drink God provides.  Man was created and immediately put into the Garden of Eden to “care” for it.  He was given work right away.   Man was created in the image of God and the first thing we learn about God is that He works (created heaven and earth) and then “rested” from His labor.   What we learn from these passages is that God has given us a gift of work and Adam’s sin has made that gift arduous.   We are still rejoice in work - it is a gift from God.  But, we are to realize that the pain and struggle work creates for us, is part of the fall.  Only the Redeemer in our life can change that and return to us the real meaning and enjoyment in work, that God intended.  As we work for Christ’s glory we can embrace what He has provided as a gift.  Our meaning in life, however, is not found int he work, but that we CAN work and do work ... it is a gift from God to be enjoyed and used to worship God. It is not an idol to be worshipped.  

Tag: God Knows Our Tears - Psalm 125-127

Group Text:   I am sorry I did not lead you all to what we had hoped.  This morning God gave me this passage.  Here is what I read and my journal entry I wrote about it.   I am hoping it will encourage you:   Psalms 126:4-6
Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like streams in the Negeb!
Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.

Tag: God Knows Our Tears

The above verses are taken from a Psalm about the restoration of the city of Jerusalem.   When God took the nation into captivity for their disobedience, He also promised to restore to them the prominence and glory of His name IN Jerusalem.   These three verses are the song writer telling the nation to NOT stop in their pursuit of restoring the glory of the city, that ONCE WAS and WILL YET BE AGAIN.  The writer gives us two word pictures to reflect on when we are in times of grief and don’t see the beauty or restoration of life.   The first is the picture of a stream in the desert.  The “Negab” was an actually place that was like a desert.  Except, in the spring, the winter snow would melt and fill the place with streams of water.  The writer is saying, DON’T stop praying that God WILL restore us, just like the streams that come in the spring to the dessert.  He is telling us, that RIGHT NOW it is dray and fruitless.  But, he knows, that God can turn deserts into streams.  The second picture the writer gives is that of a farmer who sows seeds and has hope of a great harvest.  What the song is telling us is that IF we sow the right seeds it will ALWAYS come back with a plentiful harvest.   God will turn our weeping into joy.  That is what God does.  In the times of pain, suffering, disappointment and, in the case of those who were to sing this song, captivity, God promises us that IN HIM we can have hope of something in the future.  The present may not be what we want, the future, in Christ, is always true and sure.  Rejoice in God’s promises to turn tears into fruit.