Acts 27:1-3
And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.
Subject: God's Care for His People
Paul is actually a prisoner. In the above passages we can read what was happening to him on his trip to Rome. He was headed there to be taken to court before Caesar. The Roman court system and prison system was not necessarily a "equal treatment under the law" system. However, Paul was a Roman citizen and due certain rights. What we see in the above passage, however, is God's intervention in the affairs of His faithful believers. God is constantly watching and caring for us. He provides special treatment for those faithful to Him!! Julius did not have to give Paul the above privileges. But, he did. God moved into his heart to move him and put Paul favorable in his eyes. God does this for us. We are special to God and He moves the hearts of even unbelievers to treat us in a way He prefers. We might often think that our behaviors and personality and skill sets are giving us special privilege in front of the world. However, it is God's care for us and opening hearts to be favorable to them. God puts those feelings in people's hearts, not us. God cares for His faithful believers.
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Friday, December 30, 2016
Subject: God's final Judgement - Revelation 18-22
Revelation 18:21-24
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,
“So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,
and will be found no more;
and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters,
will be heard in you no more,
and a craftsman of any craft
will be found in you no more,
and the sound of the mill
will be heard in you no more,
and the light of a lamp
will shine in you no more,
and the voice of bridegroom and bride
will be heard in you no more,
for your merchants were the great ones of the earth,
and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints,
and of all who have been slain on earth.”
Subject: Final Judgement
In this chapter the political, military, material and powerful world of Babylon will finally be destroyed. Babylon, in Scripture, is both a system and an actual place. In this chapter, although John is writing about an actual place, he is also describing the system. However, he refers to an actual city four times in this chapter, so it is most like Babylon the capital city of Babylon the system. It is a representative city. God's destruction of this place is so devastating that there were be "no more" sound of music, sound of craftsmanship, marriage celebrations, visible light or exchanging of commerce. The Antichrist, by this time, will build a tremendous commercial system with himself at the center of worship. These things will be destroyed, not because they are evil, but, as the last verse states, because this commercial world was used to deceive all nations. They were deceived through commercialism and sorcery (the use of drugs and witchcraft). The "city" and "system" will be destroyed because of this deception and because they oppressed the believer(s). God's final judgement will be on the rich and powerful who have no time or respect for God and Jesus Christ. This was all stated years prior to this book in Psalm 2:
Psalms 2:1-4
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
God gets the last laugh!!!
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,
“So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,
and will be found no more;
and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters,
will be heard in you no more,
and a craftsman of any craft
will be found in you no more,
and the sound of the mill
will be heard in you no more,
and the light of a lamp
will shine in you no more,
and the voice of bridegroom and bride
will be heard in you no more,
for your merchants were the great ones of the earth,
and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints,
and of all who have been slain on earth.”
Subject: Final Judgement
In this chapter the political, military, material and powerful world of Babylon will finally be destroyed. Babylon, in Scripture, is both a system and an actual place. In this chapter, although John is writing about an actual place, he is also describing the system. However, he refers to an actual city four times in this chapter, so it is most like Babylon the capital city of Babylon the system. It is a representative city. God's destruction of this place is so devastating that there were be "no more" sound of music, sound of craftsmanship, marriage celebrations, visible light or exchanging of commerce. The Antichrist, by this time, will build a tremendous commercial system with himself at the center of worship. These things will be destroyed, not because they are evil, but, as the last verse states, because this commercial world was used to deceive all nations. They were deceived through commercialism and sorcery (the use of drugs and witchcraft). The "city" and "system" will be destroyed because of this deception and because they oppressed the believer(s). God's final judgement will be on the rich and powerful who have no time or respect for God and Jesus Christ. This was all stated years prior to this book in Psalm 2:
Psalms 2:1-4
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
God gets the last laugh!!!
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Subject: Satan's Mission and Work - Job 1-2
Job 1:6-7
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.
Subject: Satan's mission and work
Although it is not wise to blame all the bad in our lives on Satan's work, it is quality foolish to discount his work in the bad of our lives. Satan's mission is to corrupt through deceit. Here is what Jesus said about his work:
John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
From the above text we can see that Satan has access to God and attempts each moment to corrupt through deceit those that believe. Satan's tool is accusations and false implications:
Zechariah 3:1 (ESV Strong's)
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
See also: 1 Kgs 22:19-22; Zech 6:5
In 1 Peter 5:8 we are told Satan is a lion roaming the earth seeking to devour us. In Daniel 7:9-14 we are told that Satan even fights the angels who do the work of God to hinder them. See also Ps 7:8 [7]; 29:9-10; 82:1; 89:7-8 [6-7]; 103:19; Isa 6:1-8; 40:13-14; Job 15:8. Satan is an active foe who seeks our demise. He creates a system in the world that is based upon deceit for the purpose of our demise. We must fight him and resist him in the Name of Christ. His work is real and affective on those who ignore him or consider him a myth.
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.
Subject: Satan's mission and work
Although it is not wise to blame all the bad in our lives on Satan's work, it is quality foolish to discount his work in the bad of our lives. Satan's mission is to corrupt through deceit. Here is what Jesus said about his work:
John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
From the above text we can see that Satan has access to God and attempts each moment to corrupt through deceit those that believe. Satan's tool is accusations and false implications:
Zechariah 3:1 (ESV Strong's)
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
See also: 1 Kgs 22:19-22; Zech 6:5
In 1 Peter 5:8 we are told Satan is a lion roaming the earth seeking to devour us. In Daniel 7:9-14 we are told that Satan even fights the angels who do the work of God to hinder them. See also Ps 7:8 [7]; 29:9-10; 82:1; 89:7-8 [6-7]; 103:19; Isa 6:1-8; 40:13-14; Job 15:8. Satan is an active foe who seeks our demise. He creates a system in the world that is based upon deceit for the purpose of our demise. We must fight him and resist him in the Name of Christ. His work is real and affective on those who ignore him or consider him a myth.
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Subject: Praise and Worship - Psalm 148-150
Psalms 148:1-6
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!
Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
Subject: Praise for God from all sources
Psalm 148 is a call to praise from two sources: Heaven (vs. 1-6) and Earth (vs. 7-14). The writer is calling upon all to praise Him, both animate and inanimate. In the above passage we see the writer calling for the created heavens and the created heavenly hosts to praise God (in the first section). In the second section the people and the creation on earth are called to worship and prizes. The key to the Psalm is that all things are called to praise and worship God. This is not an option we reserve for a one-hour service on Sunday, however. In each section there is a reason given as to why God deserves are worship. Neither of the reasons given is because it is Sunday and time for Church. The reason given (above) is because God created you, therefore worship Him. He establishes us. In the second session the reason for the worship is because God has "raised up a horn for His people" and His name "alone is exalted." We worship a God who deserves our worship 24/7 because He is who He is and because we are His created being.
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!
Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
Subject: Praise for God from all sources
Psalm 148 is a call to praise from two sources: Heaven (vs. 1-6) and Earth (vs. 7-14). The writer is calling upon all to praise Him, both animate and inanimate. In the above passage we see the writer calling for the created heavens and the created heavenly hosts to praise God (in the first section). In the second section the people and the creation on earth are called to worship and prizes. The key to the Psalm is that all things are called to praise and worship God. This is not an option we reserve for a one-hour service on Sunday, however. In each section there is a reason given as to why God deserves are worship. Neither of the reasons given is because it is Sunday and time for Church. The reason given (above) is because God created you, therefore worship Him. He establishes us. In the second session the reason for the worship is because God has "raised up a horn for His people" and His name "alone is exalted." We worship a God who deserves our worship 24/7 because He is who He is and because we are His created being.
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Subject: Revenge and Justice - Esther 6-1
Esther 7:9-10
Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, “Moreover, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits high.” And the king said, “Hang him on that.” So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated.
Subject: Revenge and Justice
One of the most difficult aspects of life is dealing with an injustice that has been done against you, or will be done against you. We have such an innate sense of justice, we know when something isn't "right" and we fight to make it "right." In the story of Esther and Mordecai we have such an issue. Wicked Haman sought to have Mordecai killed by having all the Jews killed. He even built gallows in his back yard to hang Mordecai. But, God intervened. God rescued His people and had Haman hung on those very gallows.
Proverbs 26:27
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
God is a God of justice and He will turn the very things in unjust do, back onto their own heads. Paul recognized the feelings and anger we get and the desire for revenge we get within ourselves. In Romans 12 Paul tells us to NOT take vengeance but to release the injustice to God. This is the only way true "justice" can be had. We are not just people and skew justice to meet our version of truth. God is the only one who can exact perfect, righteous, justice. This is the story of Mordecai and Esther. We are to give our enemies and issues over to God and allow Him to work those things out. That is living by faith in the midst of injustice.
Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, “Moreover, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits high.” And the king said, “Hang him on that.” So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated.
Subject: Revenge and Justice
One of the most difficult aspects of life is dealing with an injustice that has been done against you, or will be done against you. We have such an innate sense of justice, we know when something isn't "right" and we fight to make it "right." In the story of Esther and Mordecai we have such an issue. Wicked Haman sought to have Mordecai killed by having all the Jews killed. He even built gallows in his back yard to hang Mordecai. But, God intervened. God rescued His people and had Haman hung on those very gallows.
Proverbs 26:27
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
God is a God of justice and He will turn the very things in unjust do, back onto their own heads. Paul recognized the feelings and anger we get and the desire for revenge we get within ourselves. In Romans 12 Paul tells us to NOT take vengeance but to release the injustice to God. This is the only way true "justice" can be had. We are not just people and skew justice to meet our version of truth. God is the only one who can exact perfect, righteous, justice. This is the story of Mordecai and Esther. We are to give our enemies and issues over to God and allow Him to work those things out. That is living by faith in the midst of injustice.
Monday, December 26, 2016
Subject: Testing - Job 23
Job 23:10
But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
Subject: Testing
Job is unaware of the Satan vs God discussion of chapters one and two. Job is only aware of the suffering he has been through. He is not assuming that God is using all this for a test. He is assuming that God knows. God knows the path he takes in life. Therefore, as Job's friends accuse him of wickedness and unfaithfulness, Job is stating, "Since God knows all, you guys can't be right. If God knows all He will know the purity of my heart (and the sin in my heart) and will judge me faithful and I will be seen, by God, through Christ, as Gold." Job knows that God, if He is giving a test, does not grade on a curve. Job knows that God must make him righteous (we see this in other parts of the book). There is a sense that Job is justifying himself and he may be, to his friends. The friends are putting him in a place of defense. They came to comfort him, but he is, instead, needing to defend himself. The truth here, however, is that God does know that Job is blameless (see chapter 1). Job has some credibility to say this, even if he is acting piously. We have to be careful to remember that "coming out as gold" is a God thing. Job must simply remain faith. Which is what Satan is trying to demonstrate to God about Job. Satan thinks if God allows this to happen to Job he will curse God. Job is challenging God, but he is not cursing God.
But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
Subject: Testing
Job is unaware of the Satan vs God discussion of chapters one and two. Job is only aware of the suffering he has been through. He is not assuming that God is using all this for a test. He is assuming that God knows. God knows the path he takes in life. Therefore, as Job's friends accuse him of wickedness and unfaithfulness, Job is stating, "Since God knows all, you guys can't be right. If God knows all He will know the purity of my heart (and the sin in my heart) and will judge me faithful and I will be seen, by God, through Christ, as Gold." Job knows that God, if He is giving a test, does not grade on a curve. Job knows that God must make him righteous (we see this in other parts of the book). There is a sense that Job is justifying himself and he may be, to his friends. The friends are putting him in a place of defense. They came to comfort him, but he is, instead, needing to defend himself. The truth here, however, is that God does know that Job is blameless (see chapter 1). Job has some credibility to say this, even if he is acting piously. We have to be careful to remember that "coming out as gold" is a God thing. Job must simply remain faith. Which is what Satan is trying to demonstrate to God about Job. Satan thinks if God allows this to happen to Job he will curse God. Job is challenging God, but he is not cursing God.
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Subject: Worship of Christ - Jude
Jude 1:25
to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Subject: Worship of Christ
The book of Jude is a warning to the false teachers about their failure to honor Christ in their teaching. Jude warns us that in the last days there will be those who teach another doctrine for their own personal gain (prosperity gospel churches would fit this description). These are teachers who are more concerned with their market share and gain market share under the guise of the Gospel of Christ. The accumulation of their wealth is more important to them than their honor of Christ, albeit the former is done under the banner of the latter. Christ is to be honored about all things. Paul did not accumulate wealth via the Gospel. These false teachers did not put the above doxology in their lives, although it may have been posted on their walls. Jesus Christ our Lord is to have glory, majesty, dominion and authority. That is the focus of our teaching and living. God will grant wealth, but it ought not be in the perversion of the Gospel message, to water it down to gain converts to stuff coffers.
to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Subject: Worship of Christ
The book of Jude is a warning to the false teachers about their failure to honor Christ in their teaching. Jude warns us that in the last days there will be those who teach another doctrine for their own personal gain (prosperity gospel churches would fit this description). These are teachers who are more concerned with their market share and gain market share under the guise of the Gospel of Christ. The accumulation of their wealth is more important to them than their honor of Christ, albeit the former is done under the banner of the latter. Christ is to be honored about all things. Paul did not accumulate wealth via the Gospel. These false teachers did not put the above doxology in their lives, although it may have been posted on their walls. Jesus Christ our Lord is to have glory, majesty, dominion and authority. That is the focus of our teaching and living. God will grant wealth, but it ought not be in the perversion of the Gospel message, to water it down to gain converts to stuff coffers.
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