Matthew 26:41 (ESV Strong's)
41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Prayer Prevents Temptation
The above passage is about the time Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, prior to His crucifixion. Jesus brought the disciples with Him into the garden and asked them to pray with Him. When He goes farther into the garden and prays, He comes back and finds the disciples fast asleep. Instead of being diligent prayer warriors, they turned out to be sleepy. Jesus wants them to know the power of prayer. Prayer has so many facets to it. We have the power of prayer in our lives and we tend to neglect it. We use entertainment instead of diligent prayer. We use friendship instead of perseverance in prayer. We use work responsibilities instead of being powerful prayer warriors. Prayer, according to Jesus, can prevent temptation. Notice they fell asleep and within a few hours they denied Jesus. When believers know the power of prayer they see the power of God in their lives. Temptation will come. Notice how it came to Paul in Romans 7:20.
We are reminded to pray. We are told to pray. We are encouraged to pray. We are provided power for prayer. Prayer is available to prevent temptation. When we are in the midst of prayer, Satan’s temptation will still be there. Remember that Jesus was tempted after He fasted and prayed for forth days. But, He did not “enter” into that temptation. Prayer gives us the power to stop the temptation before we fall into sin.
Saturday, March 7, 2020
Friday, March 6, 2020
He TOOK OUR Griefs - Isaiah 51-55
Isaiah 53:4-6 (ESV Strong's)
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
He TOOK OUR Griefs
Imagine if someone walked up to you on the street and stated to you:
“I will take all your past and future debts, all your current pain, all your future sufferings and provide you all you could ever hope for ... right now, for free! They only requirement you have to make is to believe I can do it and love me for it. You in?”
What would you say? This is the above passage of Isaiah that the prophet is telling us. The “he” in verse 4 is Jesus Christ. He is offering to:
1. Take our griefs!
2. Take our sorrows!
3. Take our Transgressions!
4. Take our iniquities!
He wants to give us:
1. Peace!
2. Healing!
He wants to turns from:
1. Our own way to His way!
2. Put our iniquities on Him!
Paul said the same thing, shorter, this way:
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV Strong's)
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
This is often called the Divine Exchange. God, through His dear Son, exchanged all our bad for all His good. No man on the street would do that, could do that, would believed if they offered that. God has that offer. Rejoice that God is giving us Him and taken us to Him!!
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
He TOOK OUR Griefs
Imagine if someone walked up to you on the street and stated to you:
“I will take all your past and future debts, all your current pain, all your future sufferings and provide you all you could ever hope for ... right now, for free! They only requirement you have to make is to believe I can do it and love me for it. You in?”
What would you say? This is the above passage of Isaiah that the prophet is telling us. The “he” in verse 4 is Jesus Christ. He is offering to:
1. Take our griefs!
2. Take our sorrows!
3. Take our Transgressions!
4. Take our iniquities!
He wants to give us:
1. Peace!
2. Healing!
He wants to turns from:
1. Our own way to His way!
2. Put our iniquities on Him!
Paul said the same thing, shorter, this way:
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV Strong's)
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
This is often called the Divine Exchange. God, through His dear Son, exchanged all our bad for all His good. No man on the street would do that, could do that, would believed if they offered that. God has that offer. Rejoice that God is giving us Him and taken us to Him!!
Thursday, March 5, 2020
They Don’t Deny Themselves of Anything - Job 20-21
Job 20:20-21 (ESV Strong's)
20 “Because he knew no contentment in his belly,
he will not let anything in which he delights escape him.
21 There was nothing left after he had eaten;
therefore his prosperity will not endure.
They Don’t Deny Themselves Anything
The above words are taken from the second speech of Job’s friend,, Zophar. He is trying to convince Job that the reason for his many challenges and sufferings is that the wicked always end up suffering. Therefore, Zophar reasons, since Job is suffering, he must be wicked. Of course, we know that Zophar’s truth is only half truth and it is completely applied in a wrong way to Job’s situation. Job is declared righteous by God in chapters one and two of this book and, in the next chapter (21) Job helps Zophar remember that there are MANY wicked who live very prosperous lives on this earth. So, Zophar is wrong on application and conclusion, but he has struck some truth in the above verses. In the above passage he states that the wicked are never content and they attempt to fill their lack of contentment by delighting themselves in anything that strikes their fancy. In fact, they “eat” everything they can to try to fill the whole in their heart. They “eat” so much, there is nothing left to consume. Yet, they are still lacking contentment. Notice how Solomon, in the book of Ecclesiastes says the same thing:
(ESV Strong's) Ecclesiastes 5:13
There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, 14 and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand.
Solomon goes on to say:
(ESV Strong's) 5:18-20
Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. 19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.
Only God can give “enjoyment” to the things we posses. It is NOT wrong to possess things and/or enjoy them. It IS wrong to put those things before our relationship with God, which is Solomon’s conclusion at the end of his book. Zophar was correct in saying that the wicked tend to devour whatever they want, in order to satisfy the longing in their heart. They pursue it so hard there is nothing left for others. This is why our society is called a “consumer” society. We consume anything in our path. Job understands this, but only objects that he sees many who consume simply going on to consume more and more. The wicked to not always suffer on this earth (chapter 21). But, they do fill their hearts with the wrong things and when they die, their wealth dies with them. Job would teach us that the suffering we might have as believers will have an eternal hope in the end (Job 23:10).D
20 “Because he knew no contentment in his belly,
he will not let anything in which he delights escape him.
21 There was nothing left after he had eaten;
therefore his prosperity will not endure.
They Don’t Deny Themselves Anything
The above words are taken from the second speech of Job’s friend,, Zophar. He is trying to convince Job that the reason for his many challenges and sufferings is that the wicked always end up suffering. Therefore, Zophar reasons, since Job is suffering, he must be wicked. Of course, we know that Zophar’s truth is only half truth and it is completely applied in a wrong way to Job’s situation. Job is declared righteous by God in chapters one and two of this book and, in the next chapter (21) Job helps Zophar remember that there are MANY wicked who live very prosperous lives on this earth. So, Zophar is wrong on application and conclusion, but he has struck some truth in the above verses. In the above passage he states that the wicked are never content and they attempt to fill their lack of contentment by delighting themselves in anything that strikes their fancy. In fact, they “eat” everything they can to try to fill the whole in their heart. They “eat” so much, there is nothing left to consume. Yet, they are still lacking contentment. Notice how Solomon, in the book of Ecclesiastes says the same thing:
(ESV Strong's) Ecclesiastes 5:13
There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, 14 and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand.
Solomon goes on to say:
(ESV Strong's) 5:18-20
Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. 19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.
Only God can give “enjoyment” to the things we posses. It is NOT wrong to possess things and/or enjoy them. It IS wrong to put those things before our relationship with God, which is Solomon’s conclusion at the end of his book. Zophar was correct in saying that the wicked tend to devour whatever they want, in order to satisfy the longing in their heart. They pursue it so hard there is nothing left for others. This is why our society is called a “consumer” society. We consume anything in our path. Job understands this, but only objects that he sees many who consume simply going on to consume more and more. The wicked to not always suffer on this earth (chapter 21). But, they do fill their hearts with the wrong things and when they die, their wealth dies with them. Job would teach us that the suffering we might have as believers will have an eternal hope in the end (Job 23:10).D
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
The Voice of the Lord - Psalms 27-29
Psalms 29:5-9 (ESV Strong's)
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
The Voice of the Lord
There was an old television ad designed to promote a brokerage firm, E.F.Hutton. The firm is long gone now, but the ad might have a tag line that was one of the most famous of all tag lines. The scene for the ad would always be the same: A large group of people traveling, or walking down the street or gathering somewhere. Two actors would be talking about the fear of their investments and then one of them would suddenly say, “Well, my broker is E.F.Hutton, and E.F.Hutton says ...”. When that line was stated the entire cast of characters would stop and listen. They would be on the edge of their seat to hear what E.F.Hutton told this poor soul. That very long, silent, “pregnant pause” would be followed by a voice over saying, “When E.F.Hutton talks, people listen!” That would be the end of the ad and everyone would get back to their favorite show. The point of the ad was that people should pay attention to E.F.Hutton if they want to have financial security.
In the above Psalms we read that there is really only one voice that should, could and would do that for us. It is the voice of God. God’s voice is the voice, that would heard, causes birth to take place. God’s voice breaks down a forest. God’s voice causes the storms of life. God’s voice is powerful. It has the power, authority and healing power nothing else can compare to. The writer of Hebrews said it this way:
Hebrews 4:12-13 (ESV Strong's)
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Listen to God’s Voice. When God’s Voices people should listen ...
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
The Voice of the Lord
There was an old television ad designed to promote a brokerage firm, E.F.Hutton. The firm is long gone now, but the ad might have a tag line that was one of the most famous of all tag lines. The scene for the ad would always be the same: A large group of people traveling, or walking down the street or gathering somewhere. Two actors would be talking about the fear of their investments and then one of them would suddenly say, “Well, my broker is E.F.Hutton, and E.F.Hutton says ...”. When that line was stated the entire cast of characters would stop and listen. They would be on the edge of their seat to hear what E.F.Hutton told this poor soul. That very long, silent, “pregnant pause” would be followed by a voice over saying, “When E.F.Hutton talks, people listen!” That would be the end of the ad and everyone would get back to their favorite show. The point of the ad was that people should pay attention to E.F.Hutton if they want to have financial security.
In the above Psalms we read that there is really only one voice that should, could and would do that for us. It is the voice of God. God’s voice is the voice, that would heard, causes birth to take place. God’s voice breaks down a forest. God’s voice causes the storms of life. God’s voice is powerful. It has the power, authority and healing power nothing else can compare to. The writer of Hebrews said it this way:
Hebrews 4:12-13 (ESV Strong's)
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Listen to God’s Voice. When God’s Voices people should listen ...
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Under His Wings - Ruth
Ruth 2:12 (ESV Strong's)
12 The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”
Under His Wings
Ruth was a foreigner to the nation of Israel. She married Naomi’s son, who died shortly after their marriage. Ruth could have stayed in her foreign land and could have worshiped the gods of her country. Instead, she came with Naomi back to Israel. When Ruth meets Boaz (her future husband) she is fully vested in the service and worship of Yahweh. Boaz, recognizes this. He is attracted to Ruth because of her commitment to Yahweh. Boaz sees her character and wants her to know that he values someone who would sick refuge under the wings of Yahweh. Perhaps Boaz was thinking of this Psalms of Moses when he said those words to Ruth:
Psalms 91:1-4 (ESV Strong's)
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
Those who are “under his wings” enjoy a sense of peace, bliss and comfort, only the God of the universe can provide. It does not mean that we will suffer no harm. But, it does mean that whatever harm comes our way we can rejoice that God is very much aware and will comfort us in it and bring us through it. This is the essence of Ruth’s character. She had a bad life, but knew that God would bring her through. And He did.
12 The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”
Under His Wings
Ruth was a foreigner to the nation of Israel. She married Naomi’s son, who died shortly after their marriage. Ruth could have stayed in her foreign land and could have worshiped the gods of her country. Instead, she came with Naomi back to Israel. When Ruth meets Boaz (her future husband) she is fully vested in the service and worship of Yahweh. Boaz, recognizes this. He is attracted to Ruth because of her commitment to Yahweh. Boaz sees her character and wants her to know that he values someone who would sick refuge under the wings of Yahweh. Perhaps Boaz was thinking of this Psalms of Moses when he said those words to Ruth:
Psalms 91:1-4 (ESV Strong's)
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
Those who are “under his wings” enjoy a sense of peace, bliss and comfort, only the God of the universe can provide. It does not mean that we will suffer no harm. But, it does mean that whatever harm comes our way we can rejoice that God is very much aware and will comfort us in it and bring us through it. This is the essence of Ruth’s character. She had a bad life, but knew that God would bring her through. And He did.
Monday, March 2, 2020
God Causes Favor on His Children - Genesis 36-39
Genesis 39:4-6 (ESV Strong's)
4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate.
Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
God Causes Favor on His Children
In the above passage we read about Joseph being place in captivity in the house of a high ranking official named Potiphar. God was so involved in Joseph’s life that He blessed Potiphar as a result. God blessed Joseph’s “job” as Jospeh was willing to lean into God, via faith. God watches over those who He calls. God had a mission for Joseph. That mission caused him to be rejected by his brothers and sold into slavery. Joseph could have rejected God at this point. He will soon (in the next few verses) be tempted by Potiphar’s wife in a sexual manner. Joesph is so committed to God, that God CAN bless him. God blesses as when we are doing His work. We might not see it. A pit, a prison and being enslaved does not sound like God’s blessings, but Joesph saw God’s hand in his life. God even blessed Potiphar as a result. We can rejoice that God sends His blessing on the believer who trusts Him and that blessing can overflow to the unsaved world.
4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate.
Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
God Causes Favor on His Children
In the above passage we read about Joseph being place in captivity in the house of a high ranking official named Potiphar. God was so involved in Joseph’s life that He blessed Potiphar as a result. God blessed Joseph’s “job” as Jospeh was willing to lean into God, via faith. God watches over those who He calls. God had a mission for Joseph. That mission caused him to be rejected by his brothers and sold into slavery. Joseph could have rejected God at this point. He will soon (in the next few verses) be tempted by Potiphar’s wife in a sexual manner. Joesph is so committed to God, that God CAN bless him. God blesses as when we are doing His work. We might not see it. A pit, a prison and being enslaved does not sound like God’s blessings, but Joesph saw God’s hand in his life. God even blessed Potiphar as a result. We can rejoice that God sends His blessing on the believer who trusts Him and that blessing can overflow to the unsaved world.
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Grace = Enrichment - 1 Corinthians 1-2
1 Corinthians 1:4-5 (ESV Strong's)
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—
Grace = Enrichment
Because of our relationship with Christ we are “enriched.” Through Christ we have the Spirit of God. The Spirit, in grace, gives us gifts to do the work God calls us to do. Paul uses this same word, “enriched,” in his second letter to the church at Corinth, when speaking of both spiritual AND monetary riches:
2 Corinthians 6:10 (ESV Strong's)
10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
2 Corinthians 9:11 (ESV Strong's)
11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
Until the Christian believer undestands that God “enriches” us, we will lack the resources, power and purpose God intends. When we become believers we do not take personal inventory and see what we have that God can use. When we become believers, we are “enriched” with God’s gifts, by His grace. Many believers are held back due to their mindset of “lacking individual resources” self-argument and narrative. It is through faith that we come to understand that God has “enriched” us with all the gifts we need. We are empty vessels and have nothing to offer God; even after salvation. We are “gifted” by the Spirit to serve and to become holy. When we remain in the thoughts that think: “Look at my life ... I am so terrible,” we fail to see what God can do in us and through us by how He gifts us. On the other side of that argument we have some believers who remain in the thoughts that think: “Look what I have, God is so lucky to have me,” we also fail to understand the power of God in our lives to enrich us. Our pride hinders God from impacting us. We must, by faith, understand that God is enriching us for His purpose and those gifts are provided to praise Him and do His work.
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—
Grace = Enrichment
Because of our relationship with Christ we are “enriched.” Through Christ we have the Spirit of God. The Spirit, in grace, gives us gifts to do the work God calls us to do. Paul uses this same word, “enriched,” in his second letter to the church at Corinth, when speaking of both spiritual AND monetary riches:
2 Corinthians 6:10 (ESV Strong's)
10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
2 Corinthians 9:11 (ESV Strong's)
11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
Until the Christian believer undestands that God “enriches” us, we will lack the resources, power and purpose God intends. When we become believers we do not take personal inventory and see what we have that God can use. When we become believers, we are “enriched” with God’s gifts, by His grace. Many believers are held back due to their mindset of “lacking individual resources” self-argument and narrative. It is through faith that we come to understand that God has “enriched” us with all the gifts we need. We are empty vessels and have nothing to offer God; even after salvation. We are “gifted” by the Spirit to serve and to become holy. When we remain in the thoughts that think: “Look at my life ... I am so terrible,” we fail to see what God can do in us and through us by how He gifts us. On the other side of that argument we have some believers who remain in the thoughts that think: “Look what I have, God is so lucky to have me,” we also fail to understand the power of God in our lives to enrich us. Our pride hinders God from impacting us. We must, by faith, understand that God is enriching us for His purpose and those gifts are provided to praise Him and do His work.
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