1 -e-bible study

2012-01-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

"You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give."
What a great pattern for us in our giving to the Lord. He wants us to let our hearts lead us in our giving.

God tells Moses that the people are to build a tabernacle and that is where His presence will dwell. What a great foreshadowing for us. Our bodies are to be a tabernacle for the Holy Spirit to dwell!

Did God give Moses the plans for the building of the tabernacle while he was on the mountain? Did Moses write all those many, many details down on something or did he just supernaturally remember? Or did God refresh his memory from time to time?

The breastpiece for the priest was to be used for making decisions. How does that relate to us as Christians with the breastplate of righteousness?
Eph 6:14
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Check out this video, The Bells Are Ringing. It relates the high priest to Jesus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAMLAIqUoYo

Isn’t it remarkable that these men who were skilled in brick making now have been given skills as seamstresses for making the garments for the priests? Just an example of how God gives us spiritual gifts and uses us for tasks that we could have never dreamed of doing.

Are all of us using our God-given spiritual gifts? If you have never identified your spiritual gift(s), or if you would like a refresher, email us for a Spiritual Gifts Inventory. Once your gift(s) have been identified, we can send you more information on your gift(s).

2012-01-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

Exodus 19:3
Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain...

Ever wonder why the word God and the LORD are used, seemingly interchangeably? Well, we must go back to the Hebrew words to understand. The word God is Eloheim (meaning Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The word LORD is Yehovah (meaning Jesus). Moses went up the mountain to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit but is was the Son who spoke to him. Using the meanings of the Hebrew words gives us a better vision. This same thing is especially true with the following verse:
Exodus 19:16
On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast.
Now if we look only at the English words, we envision a storm on the mountain, black heavy clouds, booming thunder, and flashes of lightning. But using the Hebrew word meanings, we get a completely different picture. Here's how it would read in the Hebrew.
There were loud voices in proclamation blowing a great trumpet accompanied by bright, glittering gleams enveloped in bright clouds. Does that sound a bit like the company of angels that announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds??? It should. Just read these verses: Dan 7:9-10, Matt 17:2-5, Acts 7:53, Gal 3:19, Heb 2:2, Rev 4:1, Rev 8:13, Rev 9:14.

God spoke the words of the Ten Commandments the first time. The people did not want to listen to the voice of God. A similar thing happened with Jesus.
John 12:28-29
Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

Who is this "angel" God sent to go with them who has the power to forgive sin?
1 Cor 10:1-4
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

John 5:22
Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son

Pretty clear...the "angel", God's Presence, was God, the Son.

Another example of how God, the Son interacted with people in the Old Testament is found in this passage.
Exod 24:9-11
Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself. But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.

And then we have this verse.
John 6:46
No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.

If no one can see the Father then how can Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, along with the seventy elders see God? Again, it's perfectly clear... the leaders saw God, the Son.

2012-01-27T20:45:00.000-05:00

Don't forget the Discussion Session at our house Monday, January 30 at 7:00 pm.

2012-01-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

As we begin reading of the journey of the Israelites there is an interesting pattern that will emerge, one that is often overlooked. God tells the people that He will protect them from diseases if they will just listen to Him and follow His commands. At this time the only new commands they had were the ones given to them as they traveled, commands such as gathering manna daily six days a week. How hard was that??? It is only later when the people have consistently disobeyed and grumbled and complained that God sent Moses from the mountain with a set of laws carved in stone.

We often equate “carved in stone” as something that is unmoving, unwavering, unchanging, consistent, completely fixed. Yet some people today want to bend and change the Ten Commandments when they literally were carved in stone. Shouldn’t that tell us something?

There is a great lesson to be learned concerning the manna. The Israelites had to trust God daily to supply their needs. Shouldn’t we do that too? Just wake up each morning trusting God to meet our every need. Meet Him with this request, "Lord, here I am, what would you have me do today?"

2012-01-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Lord went ahead of the Hebrews as they made their exodus from Egypt. He guided them in a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. They were following the Lord and He guided and protected them. The people were told to “Stand firm.” And “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to stand still.”

It is so hard for us to be obedient in standing still, isn't it? We tend to want to DO something.

Then the Lord tells the Israelites to “move on”. If only we would listen to the Lord and stand still when He tells us to and to move on when He tells us to.

Seems as if God displays a sense of humor when He causes the wheels of the Egyptian chariots to fall off.

The word "salvation" appears often in Scripture. Interestingly the English word salvation is translated from several Hebrew words. Sometimes salvation means “save or rescue”. However in the case of the word salvation used in Exodus 15:2, the Hebrew word is "yeshuw` ah." Sound familiar??? It should. It means “He who saves” – Jesus!

Exodus 15:13 is an excellent verse to ponder for today (or any day for that matter).
“In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

God's love for us is never-ending. It is everlasting and unfailing. We are the redeemed. He leads us in His perfect love. He leads. We follow. That's His perfect plan. If we rely on His strength, He will guide us in everything we do in this life and ultimately into our heavenly reward, His holy dwelling. We need only to allow Him!

2012-01-25T17:53:00.002-05:00

HI EVERYONE
Here are some "conversations" we had with one of the participants in the e-bible study. Thought you might be interested. We love hearing from all of you.

QUESTIONS
January 17th: I've run across this before, but the story of Er and Onan makes my ... eyebrows raise a bit. Paraprashing: Er was wicked so God put him to death. Then Onan didn't want to give Er's wife offspring in lieu of Er. God saw Onan as wicked and put him to death as well.

Without more details from our (ignorant human) perspective, death seems a pretty harsh punishment, especially for Onan. Don't you think?
These passages always seemed odd to me. What are we supposed to gather from these?
PHIL AND PATTI RESPONSE- It is a broad and much detailed answer - bottom line - Yes it does seem pretty harsh. Both deaths are the result of disobedience of what God commanded. Even for us now, the result of our sin is death - but Jesus...
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus' genealogy is to be traced from Jesus to Judah through Tamar. God does accomplish His purposes, one way or another. Since the sons refused to do as God instructed, God completed the genealogy line from Judah through Tamar the hard way. The two sons could have done it God's way, the easy way. God gave them the harsh punishment because it was a severe crime against God. While we may not understand all of God's plan, we must remember that we do not have the mind of God. We just have to trust in Him and know that because of Jesus we do not have to worry about that kind of punishment.

I don't think I asked this one very well. I understand everything you replied here, but doesn't really answer the question I "should" have asked. 1) "Er was wicked in God's eyes. So He had him put to death." Wicked? What had he done that was so bad that he deserved death? Details. Details. 2) What was so wrong with what Onan did? Which of 10 Commandments did he break here? (Tongue in cheek since I know we haven't gotten to the 10 Commandments, yet.) Again, what Law/rule did Onan break here to deserve death? The writer's (of the Bible) could certainly have mentioned these details. Us humans are linear. It hard to understand how we get to C without knowing what A and B are. I assume that there some "unmentioned" rules or Laws that we're dealing with here. Yes?

PHIL AND PATTI RESPONSE-These are great questions, wish we had all the answers. 1)The Bible doesn't tell us what Er's sin was. All it says is that Er was wicked in God's eyes. The Hebrew word for wicked means "morally evil". So, obviously we don't have all the details here and probably never will have. We don't think it was just one sin that Er committed that caused God to slay him. Rather, it was his morally corrupt character, along with his actions. 2) Apparently there was an unwritten law concerning such matters. God conveyed to them differences between right and wrong in some way. Just as Cain knew it was wrong to kill his brother Abel. And both Cain and Abel knew to bring sacrifices and offerings to the Lord. How God chose to convey this to them we don't really know. Onan's duty was the law, according to God. Culturally and socially, it was the right thing to do as far as the widow was concerned. Tamar had no one to take care of her, especially important as she aged. Sons took care of their mothers. Without a son or husband, Tamar was in danger of being destitute in her old age. It could be that Onan didn't want his offspring to be considered as his brother's. Maybe there was a bit of pride and jealousy surfacing here. Onan would have to give up part of his inheritance if he shared it with his elder brother's son. So, yes there are some "unmentioned" rules and laws. It's very difficult to get to C without knowing A and B - just think what's going to happen before we get to Z! That's why we're reading the entire Bible.

January 22nd:
Exodus 3: 1-6 ...There "the angel of the Lord" appeared to him in flames of fire...

I don't follow the reference here. I always thought it was God speaking directly to Moses. What is "the angel of the Lord"?
PHIL AND PATTI RESPONSE-Oh, so glad you asked about this one! The angel of the Lord is the Son of God. Remember, God the Son was with God in the very beginning (or really before what we consider the beginning). See John 1.There are many other details, such as Hagar's response to the angel of the Lord. She said he was the "God who sees me". So even she identified the angel as God (the Son). There will be lots of other references as we continue reading the Old Testament. Stay tuned!

Ah! Excellent. I figured it had to be something like that.

Exodus 4:24-26 ...the Lord met Moses (his son that is) and was about to kill him. But Zippy(sp) circumcised him. So, the Lord let him alone.

Again, it seems like there are some details left out here. How did the Lord "meet him"? How do we know what God was thinking? Why the harsh punishment for not being circumcised? Shouldn't someone have let Moses' son know about the "requirements" before going on the trip?
PHIL AND PATTI RESPONSE-Really love the nickname Zippy. It sounds so appropriate to what she did. If we read carefully verses 24-26 it reads that God was about to kill Moses, not his son. Again, it seems pretty harsh punishment for what we would consider a minor crime. However, circumcision was man's part of the covenant with God. There are probably many details left out. It makes us have to dig a little deeper. As a matter of fact, there are other writings that are not in the Bible that give some more of the details. The Book of Jasher says that the reason Moses didn't circumcise his son is at the command of his father-in-law, defying God's command to do so. As far as the Lord meeting him - it is the Son of God who met Moses and that's how we know what God was thinking.

Again, nice details to know. It was hard for me to understand how "We're" enlisting Moses' help, and then all of a sudden We want him dead. I was getting worried that God was manic-depressive or something. Just didn't make sense. Thanks for the insight!! Sorry for the Zippy thing... I just couldn't resist.

Between Creation and Moses, it seemed we were in the soap opera portion of the Bible. Lot of relationships between people of questionable character. Now it seems we're starting to get into some of the meat, so to speak.

PHIL AND PATTI RESPONSE-It gets better and then worse, then better and then worse, then better and then worse, etc....!

2012-01-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

God’s instructions to the Hebrews concerning the Passover are very specifically detailed. The great significance of the Passover is in the prophetic symbolism. Some 1500 years later Jesus became the fulfillment of the Passover by becoming the Passover lamb. The days, hours, minutes, the directions and orders concerning the regulations of the Passover are exact. They are specific so that we can recognize the connections between the first Passover and the fulfillment in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The prophecies were fulfilled exactly. From the penning up of the lamb on the tenth of the month to the slaughter of the lamb at twilight on the 14th of the month, Jesus fulfilled these prophecies precisely. As we go through this study we will discover many prophecies that point to Jesus and the cross. Details are on the website www.philandpatti.com concerning the prophetic messianic symbolism of the Passover. Look under A Biblical View of Holy Week.

The Israelite men (by most records men were those over age 20 and under age 60, those who were of fighting age) who left Egypt in the exodus numbered 600,000, not counting women and children. Whew!

When the Lord instituted the Feast of Unleavened Bread, He said to do this as a remembrance of how He had brought them out of Egypt. “This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the Lord is to be on your lips”

A sign on our hand is what we do. A reminder on our forehead is what we think and remember. The law of the Lord should be in what we communicate to others.

How do we as Believers observe and honor our remembrance of what God has done for us?

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

If all the livestock died during Plague #5, what animals had boils in Plague #6? It seems as if there is a difference made between livestock and animals. Perhaps the animals with the boils were household animals or other animals not considered livestock.

After the plague of boils, Pharaoh doesn't harden his heart, it is God who hardens Pharaoh's heart.

During the plague of hail, again livestock is mentioned. Some time must have passed since Plague #5 for them to have livestock. They could have acquired more animals from outside the city of Egypt and from the land of Egypt. (Egypt is the city. The land of Egypt is the surrounding fields and country.)

In Exodus 8:25, Pharaoh tells Moses they can sacrifice to God but to do it within the land. Moses responds with saying that sacrificing animals in the land would be an abomination to the Egyptians. What he means is that the very animals that the Hebrew people would be sacrificing are the animals that the Egyptians considered "gods".

In the plague of darkness, it says that the darkness can be felt. What kind of darkness can be felt? Praise God, that Jesus is our Light!

1 Pet 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

2012-01-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

Moses goes back to Egypt with his brother Aaron. He asks Pharaoh to let the people go so that they may go and worship God. Pharaoh perceives that he will loose his slave laborers if they make this three day journey. He punishes the people by ordering them to make bricks without providing straw for them. Straw mixes with mud to make the brick stronger and to hold it together while it dries.

“I will redeem you with an outstretched arm….”Moses delivered this amazing prophetic statement to the Hebrew slaves. God was telling them that He would redeem them from the yoke of slavery. He is telling us that He will redeem us with outstretched arms on the cross of Calvary.

Look at what God promises the Israelites:
1. I will free you from slavery. (Jesus frees us from being slaves to sin.)
2. I will redeem you. (Jesus redeems us.)
3. I will take you as my own. (Jesus brings us into His family.)
4. I will be your God. (Jesus is Lord of our lives.)
5. You will know that I am your God. (Jesus reveals Himself to us continually.)
6. I will bring you into the land and give it to you as your possession. (Jesus brings us into the Kingdom of Heaven and makes a special place just for us.)

The people did not listen then. Do the people listen now?

Again, the all important staff is used. Keep paying attention to the staff!

Interesting comment in the commentary on page 103. Pharaoh avoids God through procrastination, compromise, and insincere repentance. Sounds like us today, doesn’t it? And to add insult to injury…with each attempt at resisting God, Pharaoh’s (our) heart gets harder until we are so unaffected by God’s influence in our lives that nothing could get our attention, not even with the death of God’s only Son.

Even though our hearts may become hardened, we as Believers have circumcision of the heart.

Rom 2:29
No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

Phil 3:3
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh--

Col 2:11
In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ,

Only through Jesus can have circumcision of a hardened heart.

2012-01-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

Moses was a "fine child". KJV says he was a "goodly" child. Was he one of those "easy" babies who don't cry very often? Is so, it would be easier to hide him, at least for the first few months.

Notice the verse about Pharaoh ordering that all baby boys be thrown into the Nile. Moses' mother was obedient to the order. She did add a little detail however when she placed him in a basket first. When Moses was found by Pharaoh’s daughter, she gave him back to his mother to take care of him, and not only take care of him, but she paid Moses’ mother to do it! Isn’t it just like God? He does more for us than we could ever imagine!

How did Pharaoh's daughter know Moses was a Hebrew baby? Could it be because he was circumcised?

The angel of the Lord appeared to Moses from within a bush. God spoke to Moses from within the bush. Can we connect some dots here???

Our granddaughter, age 5 when retelling this story, related that God told Moses to take off his sandals because they were on fire.

God asked Moses to go to Egypt to bring the Israelites out. Moses offered up:
EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES
1. Moses: "Who am I that I should go?"
God: "I will go with you."
2. Moses: "What is your name?"
God: "I AM."
3. Moses: "What if they don't believe me?"
God: "You will show them signs and wonders."
4. Moses: "I don't speak very well."
God: "I will help you speak."
5. Moses’ fifth excuse as to why he couldn’t go was “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.”

At this final excuse, the Lord's anger burned against Moses and so God says He will send Moses' brother Aaron. Interestingly, Aaron was already on his way.

Pay very close attention to the staff that is mentioned over the next few days' readings. There is great significance to this staff.

God also told Moses that He would harden Pharaoh's heart. But we find out later that there is a reason for this hardening of the heart. God gave Moses the entire plan.

Going back to Moses' excuses, can we draw some conclusions concerning ourselves? How often have all of us offered up the same or similar excuses when God calls us to do His work?

We must remember that God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called!

2012-01-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

Click on this link (or copy and paste this link) for a beautiful video showing the banners for the 12 tribes of Israel. The pictures were taken at a Messianic Jew conference in Portland Oregon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZKkln_GeLM

Jacob singles out the sons of Joseph saying that Manasseh will become a nation and Ephraim will become a group of nations.

Jacob pronounces blessings on his sons. Their sins are not forgotten in the blessings that are given out. Reuben slept with Rachel’s maidservant. The men of Shechem were killed by Simeon and Levi. They are held accountable when the time comes for the blessings. It is at this point that Judah is given the scepter promise, the line of kingship. Later the kings will rightfully come only from the line of Judah. Pay careful attention to the blessings of Judah. Can you see a connection there with Jesus? Check out verse 10 in Chapter 49, "until he comes to whom it belongs" . KJV says "until Shiloh comes". Shiloh is the name of the Messiah in the Jewish Talmud. Hmmm....

Verse 11 - He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch;
The Hebrew definition for vine is Israel (figuratively). God, the Father chose Israel. His Son chose those who will believe in Him (that would be us). Hmmm....again....

See other connections???

Joseph’s response to his brothers concern that he held a grudge against them is laid to rest when Joseph makes this great statement, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…”

How many times in our lives can we look back on events in our lives that seemed at the time to be devastating and yet God intended it for good? Time to take another look back at our lives???

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Joseph sent word to his father Jacob to come to live in Egypt. He told him not to bother about his belongings, that the best of Egypt would be his. Yet Jacob took all his possessions with him. He held on to what he had. This speaks volumes about trust. Is it that Jacob didn’t quite trust that he would be provided for?

Quite reminiscent of the Jewish people. God sent His Son, Jesus, the new covenant, and they held on to the old.

Same thing happened to some of the early Gentile Christians. They still held on to the pagan customs and traditions of their familiar gods, even though they were believers in Jesus.

Many times Christians hold on to secular customs and traditions, many of them contrary to God's Word.

Often we think of Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob, during this time of famine as being a young boy or a young man. The truth is he was old enough to have ten sons.

As the famine becomes more and more severe, the Egyptians no longer have the money to buy grain. They begin to sell their livestock and eventually they sell their land and themselves into servitude. This sets the stage for the Israelites to acquire property and become dominant in the land of Egypt. At this point the Egyptians are becoming servants to the Israelites. The Israelites held on to the dominance of the Egyptians as long as any of Jacob's sons were alive.

Gradually this situation was reversed. The Israelites later allowed themselves to become slaves to the Egyptians.

So, how about us believers in Jesus, do we allow ourselves to become slaves to the world or do we become slaves of THE WORD!

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

What must Joseph have thought when he saw the fulfillment of his dream of sheaves bowing down as his brothers bowed down before him?

What is the significance of Reuben offering both his sons as “hostage” in the situation concerning the return of Benjamin? Why offer his sons, why did he not offer himself? Could it be that if Reuben's sons were killed, then Reuben would suffer as Jacob suffered at the loss of Benjamin and Joseph?

Wonder what the brothers thought when Joseph seated them in order of their birth? It says they were astonished. And what's this with Joseph giving Benjamin five times as much food?

Judah presents himself as a protector of Benjamin. It is the beginning of the alliance with Judah and Benjamin as they will later be known as the Jews.

Later, Judah’s character surfaces once again as he offers himself in place of Benjamin (a foreshadowing of Jesus’ offer). His willingness to defend Benjamin, to honor his father, and be willing to substitute himself is another reason the line of the Messiah comes through Judah.

Great verse hidden away in today's reading - "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God."

How often in our lives can we look at bad things that happen to us and yet see the hand of God at work? Maybe, it's time to stop and reflect.

2012-01-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

“The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered…”

Joseph prospered? As a slave? How can this be?

When we have God's presence with us we will prosper…not by the world’s standards, but certainly by God’s standards. This is a great lesson for us. Serve the Lord, no matter our station in life.

We couldn’t help but notice the similarities between Joseph and the prophet Daniel. Daniel also prospered while he was in captivity in Babylon.

Joseph refused to succumb to the temptation of Potiphar’s wife and called it a sin against God. Joseph's character certainly was displayed at this time. Other historical writings tell us that Potiphar knew Joseph's character and also the character of his wife and believed Joseph. However, in order to save face with his wife and his servants, he sent Joseph to jail. The jail in which Joseph was placed was different from the Roman jails of Jesus' day. In many cases the jails were more like houses. Depending on the person and their crime, often it was more like house arrest instead of being thrown into a dark and damp dungeon.

Notice when Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, he gave God the credit. Even Pharaoh knew that the spirit of God was in Joseph.

At this point in the Biblical timeline, Pharaoh places Joseph as second-in-command in all Egypt. Joseph was 30 when he entered into service with Pharaoh. He was about 17 when he first came to Egypt.

God provided an abundance harvest for seven years. They were able to store up huge quantities of grain and still have an abundance.

Notice that Israel (Jacob) protects Benjamin and refuses to let him go with the brothers to Egypt to get grain. Later the tribe of Benjamin will also be protected.

Wonder why Joseph didn't go to see his family in Canaan once he was no longer a slave? Guess he was a little busy running things in Egypt!

2012-01-17T13:19:00.002-05:00

DISCUSSION SESSION
Come prepared to share with others what God's Word has revealed to you this past month. We want to hear what you have to say. This is the time for comments, questions, clarifications, etc. We will meet at our home on Monday night, January 30 at 7:00 pm. Please let us know if you plan to attend. Email us for directions. Hope you will be able to join us.

2012-01-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

Joseph's multi-colored coat was a major source of contention between Joseph and his brothers. It was a symbol that Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons. This coat was probably of a kind worn by royalty, long-sleeved, ankle length and colorful. Most coats were knee length, short sleeve and plain.

His brothers already hated him and then when Joseph told them about his dreams, they hated him all the more. Joseph’s brothers’ jealousy had reached a crescendo when they plotted to kill him. Joseph was sold more than once before he reached Potiphar's house.

Mention is made of a shrine prostitute. These people committed the act of prostitution as an act of worship, committed by both men and women. They did this for the glory of their false gods. Judah, thinking he was with a shrine prostitute, was with his daughter-in-law, who conceived and gave birth to twin sons.

The daughters of Lot have something in common with Tamar. Later in the timeline they will have something in common with another Biblical character. All have prominent roles in the genealogy of Jesus. Just another example of how God uses events laden with sin to fulfill His later and greater purpose.

When Jacob was mourning the supposed death of Joseph, his daughters (plural) came to comfort him. Does this mean Jacob had other daughters beside Dinah?

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

Today's reading is full of genealogies. While we may think genealogies are insignificant as reading material, they are very significant in documenting genealogy.

As an act of defiance toward Isaac, Esau married Canaanite women including Ishmael’s daughters. These are the women that Abraham didn't want Isaac to marry.The land of Canaan was given to Jacob as part of the blessing, passed from Abraham through Isaac. Esau was excluded from this blessing. By moving to the hill country of Seir, Esau was paving the way for Jacob to claim his promised blessing.

When God makes a promise, He makes a way for that promise to be fulfilled.

Can we all ponder some examples from our lives? Have there been times we have wondered in amazement at the way God honors His promises? Are all of us as faithful as God is?

2Ti 2:13
If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful because he cannot be untrue to himself.

2012-01-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

WOW! Dinah’s brothers certainly took some drastic measures in their response to the rape. First of all they bargained with the men of Shechem to be circumcised, then while the men were still in pain, Dinah's brothers killed them. They will pay for this later when their father Jacob gives out the blessings.

By using circumcision in this way, they defiled the symbol of the covenant between God and Abraham. The brothers Simeon and Levi lost part of their inheritance because of this.

To his credit, Jacob tells his people to rid themselves of all the foreign gods they have with them, which they do. However, instead of destroying them, he buries them under the oak at Shechem.

God reemphasizes Jacob's name change to Israel. Did Jacob forget? Or did Jacob slip back into some old ways of doing things and God had to remind him that with the change of name comes a change in character?

Since Rachel had great difficulty in giving birth, the birth of Benjamin may have been a breech birth. Interesting that this birth took place near Bethlehem. Another significant birth also took place in Bethlehem.

Reuben sins with Isaac's concubine. Later Jacob takes away part of Reuben's inheritance. Just another example that "sin has consequences".

Also interesting that Isaac lived many years after his "dying" blessing to Jacob.

2012-01-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

Why did Rachel steal her father’s household "gods"? Was it because she believed that the household "gods" had powers and she thought her father could find out from these "gods" where she had gone with Jacob.

Amazing example of an encounter with God the Son when Jacob wrestles with the “man”. He wrestled with God to secure a blessing. Do we wrestle with God to secure a blessing or do we wrestle with God in defiance in order to get away from His authority?

Jacob's name is changed to Israel. When there is a change of name there is a change of character. When we become believers we take on His name. When we take on His name, we take on His character. That of course means we change our way of doing things, we change our character, we become a new creation, His creation.

2 Cor 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

In response to Jacob’s cry of deception concerning the substitution of Leah for Rachael, Laban responds with “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.”

When we look at all the times that God bypasses the firstborn in favor of younger sons, it seems as if God says repeatedly that man’s ways are not His ways. God is telling us He doesn’t play by our rules.

If God set down the rules of marriage in the Garden of Eden to be between one man and one woman, why does Jacob have two wives and two concubines? Even though the custom of the day allowed such a thing, it was still contrary to God's plan. Another example of how God's people are called to be different from the world around them. No matter what the custom of our day is, we should always seek God's ways and not the ways of the world. However, as usual, God used Jacob to fulfill His plans anyway!

What on earth is the significance with the speckled, spotted, dark and light colored lambs, goats, and sheep? And what’s the deal with the white striped branches?

The manipulation of the colored animals was purely a matter of dominate and recessive genes. Jacob received more of the speckled and spotted, lambs, goats, and sheep simply because that was in the genetic code. The striped branches had nothing to do with it, except for the fact that Jacob appears to be superstitious. Not a good thing!

2012-01-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

Jacob received the birthright earlier when Esau bargained for a bowl of soup. Jacob deceitfully received the blessing, which gave him and his future descendants riches and power. The birthright was the scepter promise which gave him the right for future generations to be kings. The birthright was a legitimate purchase from Esau. The blessing was stolen.

Rebekah fears for Jacob's life and sends him away to Haren. This was not a short journey. It was between 600 and 700 miles away.

What is the significance of angels ascending and descending from heaven in the dream that Jacob had? Does it have something to do with angels interacting with humans now? Jesus told the disciple Nathanael that he too would see something similar.

John 1:51
He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Jacob names the place Bethel, which means house of God. It is here that God confirms the promise that He made earlier to Abraham and He offers this same promise to Jacob. Bethel became an important center for worship but later became a center for idol worship, which the prophet Hosea condemned. Isn't that just like Satan? He takes a place for worship of God and turns it into something evil. This makes us want to guard closely our place of worship and be careful to keep evil from slipping in.

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

The second wife of Abraham is often forgotten. After the death of Sarah, Abraham took another wife named Keturah and she bore him six sons. He even had sons by his concubines. He was 100 years old when Isaac was born, and then he fathered more children after age 100!

An interesting side note -Abraham and Sarah's burial site is a place of contention among Muslims, Jews, and Christians. No surprise there, scripture tells us that the descendants of Ishmael "lived in hostility toward all their brothers." Gen 25:18

And so they do...even now.

In the commentary on page 52 it mentions that the major events of the first 2500 years have been chronicled as only a brief outline. There are however other writings that fill in many details.

Isaac and Rebekah waited 20 years for the birth of their only sons, Esau and Jacob.

Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. This was a legitimate transaction, unfair though it may seem.

When there is another famine in the land Isaac heads south toward Egypt. Sound familiar? Isaac lands in Gerar which is near Egypt in southern Israel. There Isaac lies to the men in the land telling them that Rebekah is his sister. Sound familiar?

To his credit, Isaac obeys God's instructions to stay away from Egypt. And there Isaac is blessed tremendously.

Gen 26:24
That night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham."

God promised Isaac that He would bless him because of what his father Abraham had done. Does that make us want to be obedient to the Lord knowing that it will bless our children and future generations? A point to ponder, wouldn't you say?

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Abraham sent his servant quite a distance to find a wife for Isaac. Nahor was about 600 miles north from where Abraham was living. It was between the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers near the Turkey border.

Abraham's servant prayed a very specific prayer for requirements of a wife for Isaac. The hospitality of the day required that women at the well offered water to travelers, but it was not the custom to offer to water the animals. When Rebekah offered to water the ten camels, she understood how many camels there were and how much water that would be for that many thirsty camels. Estimates are that it would take about 25 gallons of water per camel after a week's journey. Wonder how many trips she made back down into that well.

Notice when the servant prayed, his prayer was answered even before he had finished praying. Similar to what happens to the prophet Daniel

Dan 9:23

As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the message and understand the vision:

Can we be sure that as soon as we begin to pray that God will hear and answer our prayers? Are there some things that may hinder our prayers?

James 4:3
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Abraham's servant's motives were pure. It was an unselfish prayer on his part. He didn't ask for success for himself, only that God would show kindness to his master.

How is it with us believers? Do we pray with the wrong motives or attitude or do we pray in faith that God will answer our prayers in His way and in His time?
Ps 5:3
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

Do we lay our requests before Him and wait in expectation for the perfect answer? Wouldn't that be a great way to start every day?

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Gen 22:1-2
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

God told Abraham to take his ONLY son. Even though Abraham had another son, Ishmael, by Hagar, Isaac was the son of promise.

Notice all the parallels to Jesus in the sacrificing of Isaac. It was a three day journey for Abraham and Isaac. It was a three day journey for Jesus from the cross to the resurrection. Isaac carried the wood for the sacrifice. Jesus carried the wooden cross for His sacrifice. Isaac submitted to the will of his father. Jesus submitted to the will of His Father. Isaac was saved by the substitution of another sacrifice. We are saved by the sacrifice of Jesus. The place of Isaac's near sacrifice was Mount Moriah, the same place that Solomon built the temple (2 Chron 3:1), and the same place Jesus was crucified, Jerusalem.

Who was the “angel of the Lord” with Abraham and Isaac? Sounds a lot like the Son of God. Look at the blessings and promises given to Abraham. Only God can make those promises.

2012-01-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Wouldn’t you think that Abraham would have learned his lesson when he went to Egypt? But no, he had to lie to Abimelech and tell him that Sarah was his sister, getting in even more trouble. Oh, what a tangled web we weave.....

God spoke to Abimelech telling him that Abraham was a prophet. Hmm...never quite thought of Abraham in that way before.

Finally Sarah conceives, after waiting 25 long years. What a great lesson for us to learn...to believe that God keeps His promises, no matter how long we must wait to see the fulfillment, or how slow God seems.

2 Pet 3:9a
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.

Claimed any of the Lord's promises today?

2012-01-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

Sarah laughed at the thought of having a child at her advanced age. God responded with
"Is anything too hard for the Lord?"
Isn't this a verse we should claim on a daily basis? Indeed, IS anything too hard for the Lord?

When Abraham interacted with the three men, he spoke of the… “Judge of all the earth…” Who is the Judge of all the earth? And how did Abraham know that? We know from John 5:22 that Jesus is the judge of all the earth, so that must mean that one of the three men was indeed the Son of God.

Why did Abraham bargain with the Lord for ten people? He started bargaining for 50 righteous people. Did he think that Lot had some influence on the sinful people there? He must have thought that surely Lot could have influenced that many people. How is it with us as Christians? Do we have influence over at least 50 people?

Notice that the angels had to practically drag Lot and his family from Sodom. They didn't seem to want to leave.

Why did Lot’s wife look back? What exactly is a “pillar of salt”? Was this city Lot's wife's hometown? Did she look longingly back at the life she had there? This city was definitely "sin city".

Before we become Christians we are dead in our sins. We are citizens of "Sin City". Once we become believers in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior we are then citizens of "The Kingdom of Heaven". Shouldn't we live then as if we are citizens of the Kingdom? We should never look back at the life we had in "Sin City".
(Email us for the writing - "Kingdom Living in a Foreign Land".)

Concerning Lot's two daughters getting their father drunk - were they so desensitized to the sexual perversion in Sodom that they saw nothing wrong with having sexual relations with their father?

Now concerning Lot, "And they made their father drink wine that night: and the first-born went in, and lay with her father; and he knew not when she lay down, nor when she arose". The same thing happened with the second daughter.

This scripture does not say that Lot was unaware of the actual act of intercourse, only that he was unaware when his daughters lay down nor when they got up. It says nothing about the act itself. So was Lot aware of that? If so, had he become desensitized to the sexual perversion of Sodom as well?

How is it with us as Christians? Have we become desensitized to any and all sexual perversion?

2012-01-06T11:46:00.002-05:00

One of our e-bible study friends mentioned that the study notes for today's reading reminded her of the old hymn Trust and Obey. When I read her email I was immediately "transported" back to my hometown church in Jonesborough, Tennessee. I could hear our pastor's voice as he announced the number of the hymn. I knew it by heart. I can still hear my parents' voices as they sang those familiar words. Maybe this hymn can bring back memories for you too. Contemplate God's great promises for you as you read (or sing) the words to Trust and Obey.

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
- Refrain:
  Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
  To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go; Never fear, only trust and obey.

Some words are in larger print. In order for us to really claim those great promises of God, we MUST lay our lives on the altar and be obedient to Him!

2012-01-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

Who is "the word of the Lord" and "the angel of the Lord"? In many instances in Scripture these two phrases are synonymous for the Son of God, the pre-incarnate Jesus. Abram asks God for a sign of His promise to bless Abram's descendants. This covenant is extremely significant.

God promises Abram the land, not the land of Israel as we know it today. These borders listed in Gen. 15:17-21 include the land from Baghdad to Cairo and from Turkey to the Persian Gulf. (Email us for a map of the boundaries of this land) All Abram had to do was to walk the land and claim it. Again, did Abram obey? NO.

God also tells Abram that his descendants will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. And so they were.
Exo 12:40
And the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years.

When Sarai offered Hagar to Abraham, so that she and Abraham could have a child, she was trying to "help God out". Sarai was doing what was culturally acceptable but it was morally wrong. How often do we as Christians do and say things that are acceptable by the world, but wrong by God's standards?

Notice when Hagar runs away, the angel of the Lord promises her something. "I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count." Does a simple angel have this kind of power? Hagar knew who this angel was. She identifies him as God, as the "God who sees me".
Gen. 16:13.

Again Abram didn't trust God or wait patiently on Him. And look what happened. If Abram had trusted God to take care of him during the famine and had not gone to Egypt, there would have been no Hagar and no Ishmael.

God institutes the sign of circumcision as a confirmation of His covenant and He changes the names of Abram and Sarai. This circumcision is a foreshadowing of circumcision of the heart.
Notice also that Isaac was not conceived until after Abraham's circumcision. And God makes it clear to Abraham that His covenant is with Isaac and not Ishmael.

Lessons to be learned from Abraham? If only we would obey God completely and trust Him completely and wait patiently on Him, life would be so much easier, wouldn't it???

2012-01-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

God told Abram to leave his country, his people, his father’s household and go. Yet, Abram took possessions, and people, including Lot. He didn’t obey God completely. Incomplete obedience is disobedience . How often do we obey God only when it's something we want to do, completely ignoring other things that we should do? Complete obedience is not an easy thing to do.

Back to Abram. He next decided to go to Egypt, instead of trusting God to provide for him during the famine. If Abram had taken only what God told him to take, he wouldn’t have had to worry about taking care of all his entourage. (see the writing on the website www.philandpatti.com under Chronological Chronicles II "Disobedient Abraham".)

In this context of people living lives of 200+ years, a man of 75 would be considered middle age.

Abram is fearful of the Egyptian men so he passes Sarai as his sister. Pharaoh in effect "pays" Abram for the "use" of Sarai when he takes Sarai into his harem. It may have taken years for Sarai to be completely prepared to actually become Pharaoh's wife.

When Abram leaves Egypt, he goes to the land of Canaan and there he and Lot discover that there isn't enough room for both of them and so Abram gives Lot a choice of where to go. Lot chooses the fertile land (keep in mind that at this time the land surrounding that area was fertile - not so now - it is a desolate place) and pitches his tent among the cities of the plain near Sodom. Bad idea!

Notice God tells Abram that He will give him all the land that Abram can see. God tells Abram to walk the length and breadth of the land. This "walking the land" was to show the people there that Abram was claiming the land as his own. But did Abram walk the land? Well, read it for yourself. (Gen. 13:18)

Abram was not a perfect man. He sinned. But God used him anyway! None of us are perfect. We all sin. But God can use us anyway!

Then this man...Melchizedek...just who is He anyway??? See the book of Hebrews. It explains it very clearly!

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Gen 11:1
Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.

Gen 11:4
Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

In Gen. 9:1 God tells Noah and his family to “fill the earth”. God didn’t say to go build cities for yourselves. Cities often require leaders who lead the people away from the authority of God.

The people wanted to “make a name for ourselves”. What “name”? And they didn't want to be scattered. Yet this is exactly what God wanted them to do. In fact, that is exactly what He DID do. Sounds as if pride was creeping in and we know what happens with pride.

Gen 11:4
Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

Is there anything significant that the people built the Tower of Babel out of brick instead of stone? Stone is something found in nature, something created by God, each one unique. Brick is man-made and uniform in appearance. Seems as if the people wanted to do things on their own, and not do things God's way. Isn't that just like us? Do we often make our own plans and then ask God to bless them instead of asking God what His plans are for us?

Another interesting thing - the Hebrew word for mortar is the same root word used in the word for materialism. The ways of the world are what bound the people together in the days of the Tower of Babel. The people in those days rebelled against God. Anything changed today? The words of the prophets are very clear. In the last days there will be a great confederation of rebellion and worldwide religious apostasy. There will eventually be a one world political and religious system in place (the bricks in the Tower of Babel), all bound together with a common love of materialism (the mortar in the Tower).

Once the people were scattered and their language confused, they congregated in groups with common languages, creating ethnic clans.

People begin to live shorter lives after the flood. Why? The protection of the canopy was gone, and the people were subjected to solar and cosmic radiation of which they were not accustomed. Before the flood the canopy prevented radiation from striking harshly against the earth. The atmospheric gas was higher in oxygen than it is now and air pressure was approximately twice what it is now. After the flood when the canopy fell radiation damaged cell structure of the human body, oxygen ratio was lowered and pressure diminished.

The things that caused longer life is gone...all because of...sin!

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

The “sons of God” were the godly descendants of Seth. The “daughters of men” were the ungodly descendants of Cain. The Nephilim were giants intellectually and physically.

(1Jn 3:10) You can tell God's children from the devil's children, because those who belong to the devil refuse to do right or to love each other.

Gen 6:5
The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.
What a condemning verse...every inclination and evil all the time.

Gen 6:6
The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.
He was displeased in the very center of His being.

And so God sent the flood.

Scripture says that Noah was blameless? Noah was not without sin. It means he sinned but was not held to account for his sins.

Did Noah and Mrs. Noah only have the three sons or did they have other children? Seems that there were lots of years before their births for Mrs. Noah to bear many, many children. And yet, only three were saved from the flood. What does that say about the other children they may have had?

Noah took two of every unclean animal and seven of every kind of clean animal. The animals came willingly to the ark.

Gen 7:11
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month-- on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened.

The floodgates of heaven opened when the heavy water vapor above the earth (the canopy) fell. Water trapped inside the earth's crust gushed out when the crust of the earth was broken by earthquake activity. See the Creation study for more details.

When Noah sent out the raven it "kept flying back and forth". Seems as if the raven didn't return to the ark, but just kept flying. The waters had not yet receded so was the raven feasting on dead things that had floated to the surface?

Notice when the animals came out of the ark they came out in an orderly manner…one kind after another. It wasn't a stampede. Wonder of they came out in alphabetical order? Aardvarks first???

The first thing Noah did when he left the ark was to offer a sacrifice to God. Look how God reacted. … “he said in his heart….” . And God was pleased with Noah's sacrifice.

Gen 8:21
The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

What a great illustration of God’s mercy and grace. Even though every inclination was still evil.

Before the flood, animals were not afraid of man. After the flood they were. Why? The animals were now allowed by God for food for man. The animals had reason to be afraid of man.

Why did the rainbow make such an impact on Noah and his family? Why did God use the rainbow as a sign? We see rainbows all the time. Could it be that the canopy that covered the earth was the reason? Could it be that they had never seen a rainbow before?

Why did Noah curse Ham’s son? It was Ham who did a disrespectful thing to Noah, yet it was Ham's descendants who will suffer the consequences.

This is a classic example of how when we sin, it often affects more than just the sinner. Other people often get hurt in the process.

Look back at Gen 6:6. Shouldn't that make people want to everything we can to keep from filling God's heart with pain?

2012-01-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

Can we even begin to imagine how wonderful life was for Adam and Eve? Ever wondered how long they lived in the garden before the fall?

Why was Abel’s offering more pleasing to God than Cain’s offering? Could it be because of the attitude of the giver? Did Cain give his best? Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil. But, (implying a contrast) Abel brought fat portions from the firstborn of the flock. Abel's offering required the killing of an animal demonstrating that he was bringing more than just an offering, he was bringing a sacrifice. Abel knew that he needed forgiveness of his sins, and that could only come with the blood of an animal sacrifice. However, if he was bringing only an offering, that should have been done from the firstfruits.
Hebrews 9:22
In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Could it be that Cain had so sense of sin or need of atonement? Did he think he didn't need to be forgiven.

Gen 4:7
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

Just as Satan tempted Eve, he is crouching at our door waiting to tempt us as well.

1 Pet 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Notice the ages of the people listed in the genealogies. Why did people live so long before the flood? Email for an updated copy of the Creation study. It explains all about the protective canopy that allowed people to have longer and healthier lives.

2012-01-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

"In the beginning, God..."
What beautiful words to start the new year...in the beginning. These words appear at the start of the Old Testament, in the psalms, at the start of the book of John and the book of Hebrews. Beginnings permeate God's Word. He is the God of new beginnings. Praise God, He doesn't look at our past, but He meets us where we are...right now...at this very moment. Every moment for us is a new beginning with Him!

In Genesis on Day 1 light is created. Yet God did not create the sun until Day 4. Light (day) is good. Dark (night) is bad. Contrast this to Jesus, the light of the world and Satan, the prince of darkness.

John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Rev 21:23
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

Jesus was the light at the beginning and He will be the light at the end.

At the end of the first six days of creation, these words are written, "And there was evening and morning...". These words were not written at the end of the seventh day. God had completely finished creating. We are living the seventh day. These words are the reason that the Jewish day begins at sundown. Evening comes first.

When Satan tempted Eve to sin, he used doubt as his tool, "Did God really say...". He planted a seed of doubt. Which is exactly what he still does with each of us. He tries to place a bit of doubt in the mind of believers.

One of the consequences of Eve's disobedience was that her pains in childbearing would increase. This implies that there were babies born to Adam and Eve before the fall.

God sacrificed the first animals as a covering for their nakedness, a foreshadowing of the sacrifices to follow, sacrifices that had to be done for the atonement for sin, a covering of the sin temporarily. Sacrifices had to be done repeatedly in order for sins to be "covered".

Aren't we glad that Jesus became our permanent sacrifice, our atonement for sins forever!

Heb 10:22
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

He didn't just cover our sins, but He cleansed us from a guilty conscience. Let us draw near to Him as He desires to draw near to us.

2011-12-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

Bittersweet! We come to the end of a year long journey. We have gained many valuable insights as we have read, reread, studied, pondered, and meditated on God’s Holy Word. We pray that you will continue on the journey. Allow God to direct your steps! Thank you for making this journey with us. Please consider giving us some feedback on this study.

Imagine with us the wedding banquet in the New Jerusalem.

Revelation 19:7
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

Jesus compares our relationship with Him as a marriage. We can compare the betrothal agreement in the Jewish and Hebrew wedding ceremonies to the wedding in the New Jerusalem.

In the Jewish and Hebrew betrothal ceremony the groom would give the bride a ring. He would confirm his love for her and his desire to be united to her in the bond of marriage. The ring would be given as a token, a promise of the wedding to come.

Jesus offers us the engagement agreement. He offers us salvation. We accept and the promise of our later wedding is confirmed and sealed with the Holy Spirit. Just as the betrothal agreement in a Jewish wedding is sealed with the giving of a ring, our agreement is sealed by the indwellment of the Holy Spirit. As the ring guarantees the marriage, the beginning of a forever relationship, so the Holy Spirit guarantees our marriage in a forever relationship to the Lamb.

Our betrothal period, our waiting time, is our life here on this earth until the day arrives of our marriage to the Lamb. During this time of betrothal, just as any bridegroom would do, Jesus is preparing a particular, exceptional sectioned off room just for us in His Father’s house. (John 14:2-3)

We will be clothed with garments of righteousness as we are changed into spirit. Just as any groom views his bride as beautiful and perfect, so Jesus sees us as perfect. (Jude 24)

Jesus is the bridegroom who comes for us. He will come to take us to be with Him. All along the route to His Father’s house the cry rings out from the great heavenly multitude. The wedding has come. The bride is ready. The Holy Spirit has guaranteed this marriage will take place. The vows have been made, we have accepted Jesus’ offer and are secured salvation with Him. The marriage celebration supper follows as we take up residence in His Father’s house, the new heaven, the New Jerusalem. In eternity we will know God fully with an intimacy that we could never have on earth in our physical bodies. (I Corinthians 13:12) This will be the banquet in the mansion.

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Jude 1:24
To him (Jesus) who is able to keep you (put your name here) from falling and to present you (put your name here) before his glorious presence (God the Father) without fault and with great joy—“

Revelation 22:20
He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

The Bible ends the way it begins…….perfect……and in paradise.

For us as believers it ends with an urgent note, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
In a dark and evil world with problems, persecution and suffering,
we can have hope.

God is in control.

His will WILL be done!

Revelation 22:21

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people.

AMEN!

2011-12-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

On the Great Day of the Lord’s wrath, God will shield from the firestorm a select number of extraordinary people…the 144,000.

They have a specific number…144,000, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. They are not all Jews. They will have the seal of God on their foreheads. It seems that there is a foreshadowing of these 144,000 in the writings of the prophet Ezekiel. Since the word woman often refers to the church in Biblical analogy, not being defiled by women could mean that these select few will be repulsed by the activities of the false church and absolutely incensed at the abominations that have been committed in God’s name. If it is a mark placed on the forehead it would be conspicuous, and would be something which could at once be recognized designating them as true servants of God. Figuratively speaking, the sealing of the 144,000 could be a protection for them.

Ezekiel 9:4
and said to him, "Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it."

These exceptional ones will be protected from the wrath of God and the wrath of Satan. Their purpose is to follow Jesus and serve Him personally.

The 144,000 are listed as pure and not defiled by women. They will not participate in the activities of the false and apostate church. They will be of a pure heart and mind and that is why they will be selected.

Rev 14:14-16
I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one "like a son of man" with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

God the Father will give Jesus the word that the harvest is ripe. The trumpet will sound. Heaven will stand open. Jesus will thunder amid billows of smoke at the head of his vast army of warrior angels as they leave the clouds of heaven. Their numbers will be beyond measure. Their mounts will be white horses, primed and geared for battle. These warrior angels will be dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords will be dressed in a robe dipped in blood, with eyes of blazing fire. On His head will be many crowns. He will come with burning anger to execute the wrath of God. (Joel 3:13, Revelation 14:14-16, Matthew 24:14-16, Luke 3:17, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 19:11-15, II Thessalonians 1:5-7, Revelation 2:18, Revelation 19:12, Isaiah 13)

For the continuation of this narrative, see the book These Last Days.

2011-12-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

The seven trumpets in the book of Revelation show that Satan will be allowed to perform counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders in the last days. God will not cause these things to happen but He will allow them to happen. Satan will be able to accomplish many of these counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders through the False Prophet first and then later through the Antichrist. Some of these signs and wonders will be from the realm of nature.

Satan has been allowed to control nature before, such as described in the book of Job. Satan used raiding parties to take Job’s livestock and kill his servants. Satan used fire from the sky to destroy servants and sheep. He used a mighty wind to kill Job’s children. God has allowed Satan, in the past, to cause natural disasters. In the last days Satan will be allowed to control nature again.

God will allow some true believers to feel the wrath of Satan. Believers in Jesus are however always protected from the wrath of God.

Some of these trumpet events appear to have already happened. However, they may be a foreshadowing of things yet to come. For example, in the third trumpet a star is named wormwood. The word wormwood in the Ukrainian language is Chernobyl. They both mean bitter water, each in a different language.

The atrocities committed against the Jews during the Holocaust and the persecution of the Christians during Nero’s time are foreshadows of atrocities committed by Satan through the Antichrist during the covenant period.

Satan is known by many names, among them “dragon” found in Revelation 12 and 13. For more details see the book These Last Days.

2011-12-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

People explain the seals in the book of Revelation in many different ways and have them mean many different things. Labeling, and placing things in categories is not really important. Essentially, the seals are just a way of explaining some ongoing events. There is nothing really mysterious about it. What is really important is how we live our lives in anticipation of these last days.

The mystery surrounding the seven seals and especially the first four seals, also known as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, can be incredibly confusing and also very frightening. For clarification concerning the four horses see Zechariah 6:1-8.

God allows some terrible things to happen to fulfill his purposes. God continually gives humanity a choice. How are we to choose if there is only good and no evil from which to choose?

The process of winemaking illustrates the point. A vintner will pour the juice of crushed grapes into a clean container. According to his recipe he will add a certain amount of sugar to the grape juice. If nothing else is added to the recipe there will be no wine. It will eventually be only vinegar. In order for the grape juice to make wine another element must be added to the recipe and that element is yeast. Yeast is an agitating force in the making of wine just as evil is an agitating force in the human condition. The vintner separates the dregs from the good wine at the end of the winemaking process. Our struggles between good and evil on the earth are nothing more than the fermentation of the plan of redemption. Whether we live in a condition of eternal death or eternal life depends on how we react to the yeast that God puts into our lives. God will separate the righteous from the unrighteous at the end of days. God gives us the choice.

God has a plan. Satan tries to subvert that plan with his own plan…a devious plan…a clever plan. He is a master at marketing his demon resources. Satan is dealing with a finite number of evil spirits and demons. If his goal is to deceive a thousand people, which would be more resourceful and time efficient… to send out a thousand evil sprits or one evil spirit who would inhabit a religious leader who would deceive a thousand people? All Satan has to do is influence one strong leader who will deceive and influence many people. The choice is set before us. We can choose to believe Satan’s lie or God’s truth. The choice is ours.

The first five seals are ongoing and have been since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden. False teaching (the white horse) began in the garden and has plagued mankind since. Satan taught Eve that God did not have ultimate authority. She believed it. That is the spirit of the white horse. False religion is any spirit that teaches against God. That is exactly what Satan did to Eve. While professing to teach the truth he taught against God and she believed it. This is what is symbolized in the first seal.

Our world has been inundated with oppressive governments (the red horse) and greed (the black horse) that takes many forms. All these choices made by mankind illustrate man’s freedoms to choose. These choices have consequences. The consequences of all three horses are illustrated by the fourth horse, the pale (green) horse. Mankind’s freedom of choice ends with the fifth seal.

The evil spirits of the four horses are the mixer, the yeast in the wine that God has put in place to keep things agitated so that humanity has an opportunity to choose between God and Satan. These spirits are catalysts that God has put in place to give us a legitimate choice.

What will we as Christians choose?

The 144,000 that are sealed are not all Jews. They are from the 12 tribes, of which Judah (Jews) is a part.

Rev. 7:9-17 is a parenthetical and is out of order in the sequence of events in the book of Revelation.

Rev 8 picks up with the seventh seal. Why was there silence in heaven?

2011-12-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

Better take a deep breath as we plunge into the deep waters of the book of Revelation.

Revelation 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Scripture tells us that we are blessed if we read and hear words of prophecy. But we must do more than read and hear these words of prophecy; we must take them to heart. We must internalize them, believe them, know them and live them.
Why? “because the time is near”.

Revelation 22:18-19
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

So many people are afraid of studying the book of Revelation, in part because of these verses in Revelation 22. Yet God tells us that we will be blessed if we read it and hear it. A general attitude today is that much concerning these last days cannot be known. This attitude is designed by Satan to keep us from receiving the promise. God has promised us that He will tell us great and unsearchable things. Satan wants to keep us from understanding these great things and to keep us from receiving the blessing.

Revelation 1:1-2
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw-- that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

God sent His angel (His son, the messenger Jesus) to reveal His plan to John, His servant. John has revealed God’s great plan to us. John saw the Word of God, Jesus. The testimony is what John heard. This was written about 96 AD, yet God said that this plan “must soon take place”. There is an element of urgency in this Scripture as there are elements of urgency in much of Scripture concerning the coming Kingdom and these last days.

Revelation 1:10
On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,
“The Lord’s Day” does not mean that what John saw was on Sunday. John was in the Spirit.

In order to understand what John said we must know where John was in time. The language of the following verse identifies past, present and future tense.
Revelation 17:8
The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come

The beast John saw was (past), and now is not (present), and will come (future). The latter part of the verse also tells that the beast “once was, now is not, and will come”. There is a time in which the beast, Satan “once was”. This time begins on earth in the Garden of Eden and it ends with the time yet in our future when he will be thrown into the Abyss. The time that the condition exists when the beast “is not” is when Satan is confined in the Abyss during the Millennium. The future tense of that verse “will come up” tells us that he will come up out of the Abyss. Satan will be thrown into the Abyss right before the Millennium begins. So from this we know that John has been moved to a point in time somewhere during the Millennium, a time yet in our future. He is looking back in time to eternity past, to a time before the creation of the world. In looking back John was allowed to see the war in heaven when Satan was thrown like lightning and took 1/3 of the angels with him. (Luke 10:18, Ezekiel 28:12-17, Revelation 12:7-9, Revelation 12:4a) He is also looking forward in time to eternity future, to a time beyond the end of the Millennium when Satan is thrown into the lake of fire to stay forever. John saw everything from eternity past all the way through history and into eternity future. His vantage point in this timeline has been identified. John is in the spirit world and advanced in time to the Millennium.

Revelation 1:8
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

Jesus is the great “I Am!” He Is, He Was, and He Is To Come! Jesus’ kingdom, unlike Satan’s kingdom will never be destroyed. There will never be a time when Jesus “is not”.

Revelation 1:19
"Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.

John is directed to write what he sees in imagery and symbolism and to send it to seven churches in Asia. The first three chapters of Revelation primarily concern the letters to seven specific churches in John’s time. Each of those churches had a specific nature about them. Today these natures exist in the churches that call themselves Christian. The natures exist in the large church denominations as well as in individual local churches. These natures also exist in the people within these churches. The message is not just to those seven churches in John’s day. Neither are they about churches or movements in the past; however their characteristics may fit any number of churches or movements. Those letters are there for the churches today. They are there for us as individuals today. They are there to encourage us and at times rebuke us for things we are doing or things we are allowing to happen, things that are contrary to the teachings of Scripture. We are admonished through these letters to become the church and the people that Jesus wants us to be.

So how are all of us doing???

2011-12-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

Just to put a timeline to this writing, John wrote this letter about 30 years after Paul was killed. The 12 apostles have no doubt also been killed by now.

Again, like all the other letters, are warnings about false teaching. Remember the Gentile church has a pagan influence background which has infiltrated all the churches.

This first letter is all about contrasts; light and dark, good and evil, love and hate, truth and lies. John makes it clear that anyone who is against Jesus is an antichrist.

John mentions the devil has been sinning from the beginning and Jesus appeared to destroy the devil's work. Satan's sinning began in heaven and started on earth with Eve.

John warns about worldly doctrines. These had infiltrated the churches then as they have now. How often do we hear "powder puff" theologies that lean to the ways of the world and all the sinful desires associated with it.

This letter ends with the assurance that we have security in Jesus Christ.

It seems that there is mixed interpretation from biblical scholars as to who the “chosen lady” is in 2 John. Some think it refers to the church as a whole. Others, such as John Wesley, believe it to be a specific person. The word "lady" is the Greek word "kuria" and means "a specific woman". Most likely a leader of a house church or a woman whose home was used as a house church. Contrast the word lady with the word sister at the end of the letter. "Sister" is the Greek word "adelphe" and means "one connected by tie of Christian religion".

II John 1:9
Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
Do we sometimes run ahead of God? Are we impatient? Do we try to put God on our timetable? Do we sometimes embrace teachings that are not biblical? Isn’t it hard to wait???

In 3 John we see a great contrast between two individuals. John is warning against being like Diotrephes and is encouraging being like Gaius. “…do not imitate what is evil but what is good.”
Attributes of Diothrephes:
1. Loves to be first
2. Gossips maliciously
3. Refuses to welcome the brothers
4. Stops those who want to welcome the brothers and puts them out of the church

Attributes of Gaius:
1. Faithful in doing for the brothers, showing hospitality
2. Loves the brothers
3. Sends the brothers on their way in a manner worthy of God

We end this blog entry the way John ends 3 John, “Peace to you.”

2011-12-25T06:00:00.001-05:00

Hebrews 10:19-20Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,
That's why the curtain was ripped in two at the crucifixion.

Matthew 27:50-51 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

How did the priests react to this???

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

To spur is to pointedly direct someone so much so that becomes almost an irritation, like one would do with spurs on a horse, or to use a goad on an animal to cause it to go in a certain direction. So if we spur one another, using truth as our goad, we will irritate a person with the truth in order to move that person into a different understanding or action.

Psa 78:49
He sent on them the heat of His anger, wrath and fury and trouble, by sending evil angels.

Heb 10:26-27
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
Very potent words!

Hebrews 10:38
But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.”
Shrink back implies a "falling away" or apostasy. It can also imply hiding, retreating, or being timid. So, if we shrink back, God isn't pleased with us. On the other hand if we take to heart the words in Hebrews concerning the ancients who lived by faith and live our lives by faith, He will be pleased with us and will not be ashamed to be called our God. In fact He has even prepared a city for us.

Heb 11:1-2
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.
Remember the “shadow” from yesterday’s reading? The ancients believed that the “shadow” represented the real thing that they could not see. This was credited to them as righteousness. They believed in advance.

Matthew 13:17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Joh 1:45
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, We have found Him of whom Moses wrote in the Law and the Prophets, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Heb 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

This reward comes to those who “seek”. This is not just the reward of eternal life (though that would certainly be enough) but He rewards us now with the joy we have in reading and studying His word.

Heb 11:17
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,
Wait a minute…didn’t Abraham have a son before Isaac? Ishmael? Why is Isaac called his only son? And interestingly, Abraham had other sons after the death of Sarah by his wife Keturah. Isaac, however, was the son of promise.

Heb 11:23
By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
In Chapter 106 of the book of Enoch, it gives great detail about the appearance of Moses when he was born. No question, according to Enoch that Moses was not “ordinary”!

Read Hebrews 11:32-38 again concerning the judges, kings, and prophets and the persecutions and sufferings they endured. And we think we're being persecuted because we can't say "Merry Christmas". By the way, the phrase "Merry Christmas" first started with the poem A visit From St. Nick, a very secular writing. So if we insist on saying "Merry Christmas", we are in effect giving the phrase a secular meaning. But more importantly, most of the references in the Bible using the word merry are associated with drunkenness and revelry, so maybe we shouldn't even be saying "Merry" Christmas. (see KJV Gen 43:34, Judges 9:27.16:25, 19:6, 19:9, 19:22, Ruth 3:7, 1 Sam 25:36, 2 Sam 13:28, 1 King 4:20, 2 Chron 7:10, Est 1:10)

Heb 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

We are in control of throwing off things that hinder us. We must get rid of the sin that captures and holds us hostage so that we may be unencumbered to “live a life worth of the calling we have received”.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…”
Run the race with the prize in mind.

Heb 12:7
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

The words punishment and discipline are both used here. Discipline is used as instruction to bring about a change. Punishment is a penalty for wrong doing that doesn't necessarily have a change of behavior as the ultimate outcome, it is just the consequence of doing wrong. Both hurt. Jesus took our punishment so that God would only discipline us from time to time.
Remember God is the perfect parent!

2011-12-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

For more insight into the promise God made to Abraham in which God swore by Himself read Genesis 15 again. In this passage in Genesis, the lamp represents Jesus as the light of the world and the furnace represents the lake of fire.

Ever wondered who Melchizedek is?

Heb 7:1
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,
Ps 110:4
The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."
Heb 6:20
where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Heb 7:3
Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.

Still wondering??? If so read Hebrews 7 again.

In writing about the priests…
Heb 8:5
They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."
We could think of the tabernacle as a foreshadowing of what is to come. Or we could think of the tabernacle as a shadow like the shadow of a person. A shadow is not the real thing. It is not a living, breathing, moving thing on its own.

The book of Hebrews is full of references comparing the old covenant to the new. The old law was based on works. A person had to DO something, again and again. The new law is based on grace. Jesus is the one who had to DO something once for all. All we have to DO is believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Heb 9:13-14
The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
Jesus cleanses our conscience. Sacrifices covered up the sin, and only temporarily, they didn’t cleanse the conscience.

Why did the Ark of the Covenant contain the jar of manna, Aaron's staff, and the stone tablets? Obviously they are there as reminders, but reminders of what?

Heb 9:22
In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Heb 9:28
so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Jesus has appeared "once for all at the end of the ages..." Jesus instituted a new covenant at the end of "ages". These ages represent changes in man's relationship to God. The time periods can be broken down as:
1. Adam and Eve before the fall
2. Adam and Eve after the fall till Noah
3. Noah to Moses
4. Moses to Jesus

"...man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment..."
The dead know nothing until the judgment. We await the judgment having no knowledge of the passage of time. (see also John 5)
Ecc 9:5
For the living know that they shall die; but the dead do not know anything, nor do they have any more a reward; for their memory is forgotten.

Daily the priests stood to perform their duties implying that they had to continually sacrifice for the people. Jesus on the other hand, sacrificed once for all, mission accomplished, and then He sat at the right hand of God.

Heb 10:14
because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
We are being "made holy". We are all “in process”. God isn’t finished with us yet.

2011-12-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

There are many opinions on the author of the book of Hebrews. We believe it was a collaborative effort with Paul and some of his closest companions. Most commentators agree on the time frame of the writing and it would place the writing of Hebrews near the time of Paul's death. In his last recorded letter Paul asks Timothy to bring the scrolls, especially the parchments. Could it be that the parchments had no writing on them and that is what was used to write Hebrews?

Heb 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God's glory (see Genesis 1) and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
God spoke in the past through the prophets, the Old Testament. Now we have God speaking to us through His Son, the New Testament. Not only did Jesus create everything, He sustains it and keeps it together. There will come a time when He will stop sustaining everything and there will be a new heaven and a new earth. (see 2 Peter)

Until we make the "Son" the center of our universe with all our lives revolving around Him, then we fall short of all God wants us to be.

Heb 1:14
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
This verse is a great comfort for those of us who have loved ones who are not yet believers. Even when they have not made a decision, angels are sent to serve them. This verse took us on a thought journey concerning holy angels and evil angels. It seems that only holy angels have the ability to manifest themselves in human form. Evil angels must inhabit some person or animal and are unable to manifest themselves in human form. They are however able to inhabit unbelievers.

Heb 2:15
and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
How many believers live in fear of death? So many of us "worms" are afraid to go into the "cocoon" in order to emerge as a beautiful "butterfly". Jesus freed us from the fear of death.

Heb 3:6
But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.
Courage and hope are built on the foundation of Jesus. We are His "house" while we sojourn here.

Heb 3:10-13
That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.' So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
The writer(s) or Hebrews tells us that God was angry with the generation of Moses and said that they would never enter His rest. They wandered around for forty years and were not allowed to go into the "Promised Land". If we substitute salvation for rest, we can make the connection that if we do not know His ways, if our hearts go astray, if we have a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from God, we will not have His "rest" (salvation).

The "Today" that is mentioned in this passage is the first day of our eternity. Today begins at the moment of our conversion and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This is what the criminal on the cross experienced.

Luke 23:43
Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Heb 3:19
So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
They don't have salvation, therefore no rest. The gospel was preached to Moses and the others in the desert. The message was of no value to them because they did not combine it with faith.

Heb 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
How is the word of God living and active?

Heb 4:16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
We have this confidence in Him not in ourselves. It is approaching the throne without doubt or fear and with respect.

Heb 6:1-2
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
As Christians we should have no need of laying again the basic foundations of the faith. We should know the fundamentals. We grow in our understanding of those areas that may be "fuzzy" for us.

Heb 6:7
Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.
Sounds as if we should drink in the nourishing "rain" and produce a crop of righteousness.
Matt 13:8
Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop-- a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

2011-12-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

In 1 Peter he uses the name Peter, the Rock. Here in 2 Peter he addresses himself as Simon Peter. And he also describes himself as a servant of Jesus.

2 Pet 1:2
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Grace and peace in abundance are promised to us through Jesus. Only through Him do we get real peace. But we get that grace and peace through the knowledge of God and of Jesus. Peace increases as we know Him better. We cannot just know about Him, we must know Him.

2 Pet 1:4
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Peter lists the qualities necessary to go beyond knowledge and into love and he says,

2 Pet 1:8
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We certainly do not want to be ineffective and unproductive on our knowledge of Him.

2 Pet 1:15
…and I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.
Boy, did he ever!!! You are remembering them now…here…wherever you are at this moment.

2 Pet 1:18
We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
Peter is referring to the Mount of Transfiguration in which he, James, and John witnessed the appearing of Moses, Elijah, along with Jesus.

Peter, along with the other writers of the New Testament consistently warn of the dangers of false teaching. Peter uses the phrase, "exploit you with stories they have made up." We must be extremely careful of what we hear, see, or read.

2 Pet 2:4
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;
KJV uses “chains of darkness” in place of “gloomy dungeons”. Satan and his demons are like dogs on a chain. They are only allowed to move and do just so much, only what God allows them to do depending on the length of their “chain”.

2 Pet 3:1
Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.

If we read God’s Word we will be stimulated to wholesome thinking. If our minds are filled up with wholesome thinking, we won’t have room for unwholesome thinking. Peter tells us that this is his reason for writing both of the letters.

2 Pet 3:9a
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
Or to quote my dad (Patti’s)…”I know you’ll keep your promises, Lord, I just wish you wouldn’t wait until the last minute.”

2011-12-21T06:00:00.001-05:00

Peter addresses himself not as Simon but as Peter, “The Rock”, a name given to him by Jesus. He also acknowledges himself as an apostle, a “sent one”. He is writing to “strangers in the world”. Those to whom he is writing had been dispersed throughout a wide area. They are strangers, as we are strangers in an alien land. Our real home is in heaven. We are sojourners here, as they were there. It seems that Peter may be strengthening and building on what Paul had started. If that is the case, it is a great example of two aspects of the gift of apostleship. One characteristic is that an apostle can blaze new ground and establish new ministry. Another characteristic of an apostle is that of empowering a ministry that may be floundering and breathe into it new life. In either case, Peter certainly was using his gift of apostleship.

Peter tells us that we may suffer grief in all kinds of trials so that our faith may be proved genuine. Faith is proved genuine by persevering through many trials. If our faith crumbles under pressure, we probably haven’t had enough trials in our lives.

1 Pet 1:12b
Even angels long to look into these things.
Angels are curious about the gospel and salvation through Jesus, but they have no need of it. They cannot receive salvation because they are not equal with believers.

1 Pet 2:2
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
We grow as Christians much like we grow as babies and children. As we get nourishment from milk, we grow, and soon that nourishment is not enough. It isn’t healthy. It would not be healthy to give a child, or an adult, just milk. We need to move on to more solid food.

1 Pet 3:7b
…so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
What are some things that may hinder our prayers?

1 Pet 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
That’s why we all need to study the Bible, not just read the words, but really study.

Jesus "went and preached to the spirits in prison" during the days of Noah. When the people were destroyed by the flood those evil spirits who had inhabited people suddenly had no one to inhabit. The only place they could go was to the abyss. (see Jude)

1 Pet 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
This was 2,000 years ago. The beginning of the end had begun.

“Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.”
We should not be distracted by anything, or as we are told earlier “so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

1 Pet 4:16
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
What a great responsibility we have as Christians! We bear His Name!

1 Pet 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
He didn’t say some things, or just the big stuff…he said ALL. He can handle it! He’s GOD!

1 Pet 5:8-9
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

There is nothing that Satan would like any better than to devour (Greek -katapino - to gulp entirely). Satan seeks to devour our testimony, our witness. We must be alert to his schemes, and they are many. Peter tells us that we must “submit to God” and be “clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray” and then we are told to “stand firm”!

Pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who are undergoing sufferings just because they bear His Name.

Peter exhorts the people concerning suffering by telling them that they must suffer "a little while" and after that they will be restored and made strong, firm, and steadfast. Was Peter speaking from experience? Think of what Peter suffered during the three days between Jesus' death and the time that He appeared privately to Peter. What agony must Peter have suffered and what joy he felt to be restored! No wonder Peter could be strong, firm, and steadfast!

Peter mentions "She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings...", a sentence that implies present tense. Does this mean that Peter was in Babylon (60 miles southeast of Baghdad in modern day Iraq) when he wrote this letter?

2011-12-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

James was the brother of Jesus, but notice James does not list that fact. He calls himself a “servant” of Jesus. Josephus says that James was the bishop of the church in Jerusalem. This would be the followers of the Way, made up mostly of the Messianic Jews there.

James 1:1-6
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
While James' letter is for all of us today, the writing of the letter is addressed specifically to the scattered tribes as far as Western Europe.

Greetings. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Quite a tall order to consider all these trials and testings pure joy! Testing that comes our way is not for God to see what we will do. It’s for us to see what God will do through the testing. Can we have faith that is mature and complete without the trials, testing, and perseverance?

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
God gives wisdom generously to those who ask, if they believe and not doubt.

James 1:22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
It's very easy to listen to a pastor on Sunday morning and be lulled into an assumption that we don't need to do anything more than that. We are deceived if we think that.

James 2:19
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-- and shudder.

James makes it very clear in the previous two verses that merely listening to the Word or just believing is not enough. Those who just believe are “shadow makers” in the pews. The idea is not to just believe there is a God but instead believe in the God that is just. We must believe in Him, not just acknowledge he exists.

James 3:2a
We all stumble in many ways.
And yet our ever faithful God catches us as we stumble and sets us back on the right track.

James 4:1-4
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.

This scripture is often taken out of context. Look what comes after that.

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Ouch!

Jude was most likely writing to Jewish believers and not to the Gentile churches. Gentile believers didn’t have the background of Hebrew and Jewish teaching to fall back on. Probably most of the Gentiles had had some deity they worshiped before being introduced to Messiah Jesus. This naturally polluted their ways of worship once they became “the church”. And they, no doubt were letting some of their pagan practices creep into their church. Jude was warning the Jewish believers, followers of The Way, of this. Are we any different in the church today mixing myths, fantasies, and pagan practices?

So Jude lays out a warning about false teaching and apostasy. But we all know that this apostasy or a falling away from the truth begins with apathetic people. Apathetic people are uninterested, unconcerned, lethargic, and basically lazy. Jude is saying to us that many will be led astray by this false teaching, especially if they are apathetic. However, we as believers in Jesus should not be led astray. We should be just the opposite of apathetic. We should be interested, concerned, enthusiastic, and energetic. While we will read about many warnings from Jude, we need to remember that we who are believers in Jesus as Messiah are different from the world. We need to act like we are!

2011-12-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

During the writing of the second letter to Timothy, Paul is once again in Rome. This time he is a prisoner in chains, not under house arrest. While we may want to think of Paul as having some amount of freedom and humane conditions while in prison, most likely that was not the case. For information on prisons at the time of Paul, go to these websites.
http://www.mpumc.org/uploads/file/Prisons%20in%20Paul.pdf
http://www.scribd.com/doc/14354155/Life-in-Prison-in-1ad

2 Tim 2:9
for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.
Praise God, His Word is not chained!

Paul warns Timothy (and all of us) about godless men who are teaching in the church. Some very stinging words follow. "Their teaching will spread like gangrene." Could he be talking about the myths that he mentioned earlier? Paul hoped that God will lead them "to a knowledge of the truth" and "escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." Again Paul warns about quarreling over such matters. Arguing a case is one thing, but quarreling is going too far.

Paul warns us that there will be terrible times in the last days.
2 Tim 3:1-5
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
Sound familiar???

2 Tim 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

What a powerful piece of Scripture this is! Check out the definitive words ALL, THOROUGHLY, and EVERY. All Scripture is God-breathed! That would include the Old Testament - after all the only Scripture they had at the writing of this letter would have been the scrolls. And this mostly for the Jews. Many of the Gentiles had no background of the scrolls. The leaders of the early church really had their work cut out for them.

Paul mentions that he was "delivered from the lion's mouth". Was he delivered from being sent to the arena where Christians were thrown to the lions?

2 Tim 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
What a great statement of faith, from Paul or from any Christian!

We would urge you to re-read 2 Timothy 4:9-18 and weep in remembrance of Paul!

2011-12-18T06:00:00.003-05:00

Paul is no longer under house arrest when he wrote this letter to Titus. He made visits that are recorded in other writings that tell about Paul's travels to the furthermost reaches of the Roman Empire (which abruptly ended at Hadrian's Wall in Scotland). Monasteries, museums, cathedrals, and even the Vatican itself records Paul's travels into Western Europe. Paul went to other places, travels that are not recorded in the canonized Bible. In these other travels Paul established a faith in Jesus as the Messiah to the people of Western Europe. There is a link to a website that tells a bit about Paul's other travels.

http://www.matthewmcgee.org/paultime.htm

After preaching both in the east and west, he gained the illustrious reputation due to his faith, having taught righteousness to the whole world, and come to the extreme limit of the west, and suffered martyrdom under the prefects" (The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, Chapter 5).

Clement lived at the same time as Paul and had knowledge of Paul and his travels.

The letter to Titus is full of warnings about false teachers and false doctrine. Titus was a Greek believer taught and nurtured by Paul, who later became the overseer of the churches on the island of Crete. This letter helps us know how to train others to lead and teach. The church there was most likely started in Jerusalem at Pentecost.

We must remember that Paul was preaching to the Gentiles and his letters were to the leaders and teachers of the Gentile churches. Most of them did not have the background of the scrolls (the Old Testament). Possibly many of them worshiped pagan gods before being introduced to Jesus. Most of the believing Jews did have this background. The Gentiles didn't have a moral code from God or even from their pagan gods. They weren't even looking for a messiah like the Jews were.

Titus 1:2
a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,

Eternal life was promised to us before the beginning of time. These plans were established before the creation, before time (as we know it) began on the fourth day of creation. What an amazing thought! But not only does God promise eternal life through Jesus, He has promised us wisdom, destined for our glory before time began.
1 Cor 2:7
No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
And not only does He promise us eternal life and wisdom and glory, He redeems us and He summons us by name!
Isa 43:1
But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
And not only does He summon us by name, He leads us out!
John 10:3
The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

Totally AMAZING!

How do we “make the teaching about God our Savior attractive”? (Titus 2:10)

Titus 2:15
These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise (disregard) you.
“Encourage and rebuke” is to build others up but to also hold others to account, as we should have someone to hold us to account. In other words, we need a Barnabas in our lives.

Believers should always be "...eager to do what is good.."
To be eager is to have a keen interest in something. In this case we should have a keen interest in doing good things. But, of course, it goes way beyond that. It also means that we should be burning with zeal, vehemently contending. So, not only should we have a keen interest in doing good things but we should be burning with zeal to be doing good things. That takes some effort!

2011-12-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

Timothy was one of Paul’s young converts and one of his closest companions. Timothy had been sent to the church at Ephesus to counter the false teaching there. Paul gave Timothy practical advice about the ministry. Apparently Timothy struggled with a timid and reserved nature and allowed others to look down on his youth. I heard a pastor say once that every Christian should have in his life a “Paul” (someone to look up to and imitate), a “Timothy”(someone to disciple), and a “Barnabas”(someone to encourage us and to hold us to account).

Paul has already urged Timothy to command certain men not to teach false doctrines or devote themselves to myths. What myths do we devote ourselves to today - fictions, fables, false traditions, lies? Following such teaching results in controversies rather than bringing about unity by following the truth. How much energy is expended when believers attempt to defend the competing factions of myths? The pure truth has no factions, therefore no controversies.

1 Tim 1:18-20
Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
How can a person shipwreck their faith? What does “handed over to Satan” mean? Paul had already addressed this very thing regarding this discipline in 1 Corinthians 5. This person is to be handed over to Satan so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved.

Paul makes it clear that we are to pray for our leaders, even when we don't want to pray for them.

1 Tim 2:9-12
I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.
In the culture of the day, for women to dress this way was disrespectful. Some also placed undue emphasis on the outward appearance. Women were not usually taught scripture in those times. Many of those who were learning of Jesus’ teachings were trying to teach others without being properly trained and were speaking in human wisdom and not led by the Holy Spirit wisdom.

Paul specifically states the requirements of the leaders of the churches (elders and deacons) for positions of authority. He certainly sets up a high standard, not only for the leaders but for their families as well. He mentions "not indulging in too much wine". Later he tells Timothy to "use a little wine because of your stomach"

Deacons "must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience."
A lesson for all of us today - when we know a deep truth we must not compromise. If we compromise or water it down we can't have a clear conscience.

Paul also warns what happens when we abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits. “…consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.”
What happens when something is seared? Nerves are killed and have no feeling.

Paul again warns "Have nothing to do with godless myths..."

1 Tim 4:12
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
I remember one of our Sunday school second graders (now a freshman in college) reciting this verse. He still sets an example!

In the next few verses Paul mentions a firm foundation. Jesus is the foundation. We build on our faith in Him. (1 Cor 3:11)

1 Tim 6:17-19
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
What a great way to end 1Timothy!

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

The city of Philippi received its name from Philip of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great. It is a tender letter written to a church with which Paul was very familiar.

Phil 1:14
Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
If we think of this verse in a worldly manner, what Paul is saying doesn’t make sense. God allowed Paul’s suffering so that others may be encouraged.

Phil 2:15-16a
so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—
We shine like stars in this dirty world. We hold out to the world the word of abundant life here and eternally. Remember yesterday’s blog entry about night light or flood light?

Phil 3:10-11
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
That word attain is loaded with meaning. Paul is saying here that he wishes to do something more than to obtain a resurrection. He aspires to something greater. Once we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we automatically obtain eternal life through resurrection. We obtain through belief. Attain means to reach in excellence or degree; to equal. Paul wants to equal Christ in suffering and death and so attain a better resurrection. (see Hebrews 11)

When Paul is speaking of perfection, he is saying he is “perfected” (fit) for the race. The "be perfect” is to be ready to receive the prize.

Phil 3:13
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
It makes no difference what has happened in the past, what really matters is what is ahead!
“…our citizenship is in heaven…”
Once we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, our destiny is sealed, our citizenship is transferred to heaven.

Phil 3:21
who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
We will not stay “seeds”. We will be “planted” only to rise again as a beautiful “flower”.

Paul ends this letter with "All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household". So Paul's work had made believers even in the household of Nero. Paul was under house arrest in Rome from 61 to 63 AD. Nero was Caesar from 54 to 68 AD.
What a great testimony to Paul's witness and work.

2011-12-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

Have we ever said in our daily entries that today’s reading is rich? Well, we’ll say it again! Today’s reading is rich!

Eph 1:13
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
Sealed (Greek “sphragizo”) means we are preserved, fenced in, protected. Once we become a believer, God preserves and protects us. He fences us in. He stamps us with His signet or mark. We are HIS! Wow!

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms..."
Notice the use of the past tense verbs, raised and seated. God sees us in the future tense.

Eph 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ever stop to contemplate just what God has prepared for each of us to do? He offers us the job. It’s up to us. Do we take the assignment or allow someone else to be blessed by it? God has given us the spiritual gifts to do these “good works”.
Eph 4:12
to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

Eph 3:10
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
We, the church, the believers are the revelation of the mystery made known to the angels, both Holy angels and evil angels.

Eph 3:12
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
This is an amazing promise verse, witnessed by the following verse.
I Jn 5:14
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
We can approach our Heavenly Father with confidence! Not in an arrogant way, but with confidence that if we are in His will, He will hear us!

Eph 3:16-20
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
It’s bigger than we can know! Get hold of this part of the passage, “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”
If we imagine that the Holy Spirit that is at work in us is LIGHT. What we do with that light is up to us. We can tap into the LIGHT and use the power as a night light or a flood light.
We could continue this blog entry for several more pages, but will stop here. Read this letter of Paul’s again to the church at Ephesus and be blessed!

2011-12-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

Paul writes this letter to the Colossians while he was under house arrest. He has never visited this church and writes this letter to combat some heresies similar to Gnosticism. Gnostics believed that it took special knowledge to be accepted by God and that Jesus alone was not the way to salvation. Paul wrote the letter to clear up their confusion.

Paul’s Prayer for the Colossians
Here is a perfect pattern for intercessory prayer, even for those whom we don’t even know. After all, Paul didn’t know these people personally. The church was founded by one of Paul’s converts.
Pray:
For Knowledge of God’s will
For Spiritual wisdom and understanding
To Please and honor God
To Bear good fruit
For Endurance
To be Filled with God’s strength
For Patience
To Have great joy

When Paul wrote the word "church" he was speaking of the church in its purest form.
Col 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Much false doctrine is taught that sounds attractive because it identifies with basic principles of this world. If we are grounded in God’s word through personal study and sound Bible teaching, we will know the truth. We will be able to recognize false doctrine and teaching. There are many human approaches to life’s problems that do not include God.

Paul writes that in the old law, circumcision was a symbol of God’s covenant with man. This was a literal physical act of circumcision. Under the new covenant, we are circumcised figuratively by the infusion of the Holy Spirit. It is a circumcision of the heart. It denotes a change in character.

Paul mentions the worship of angels. Is this why God does not reveal angels very often - we might brag about how important we may feel and loose sight of God?

Col 3:5
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

This verse lays to rest any confusion anyone might have about what idolatry is. Greed would be a quest for power, prestige, position, and possessions, not necessarily just money.

If we put our mind on things above, we will put to death the old ways which may include this list. But Paul goes on to say that we used to walk in these ways, and now we have died to the old nature, we must put away other things as well: “anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language”.

Col 3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Clothe is an action word. We must do this daily. Just like we clothe our body every day, we must clothe ourselves in Christ and all the attributes of a Christian. We must consciously think about being all these things and start every day promising that we will be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Sometimes it may mean going out of our way to display these qualities.

Col 3:14
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Think about a necklace of jewels. The precious sparkling jewels are separated by a jewel of love so that we have a necklace that looks like this:
Compassion***love***kindness***love***humility***love***gentleness*** love***patience***love***

Paul writes about someone named Epaphras, who most likely is a Gentile believer.
Col 4:12b
He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
The Greek word for wrestling means to agonize, with an intense desire for their salvation.
How are all of us as Believers doing with this way of praying? Are we agonizing in our prayers for others' salvation?

2011-12-13T06:00:00.001-05:00

In today's reading, Paul warns about the dangers of sailing at that time of year. The Fast was the Day of Atonement, which was commemorated sometime in September or October during the Feast of Tabernacles. Paul was warning them not to make the voyage. Ships had no compass then. They navigated by the stars or simply followed the coastlands when possible. Overcast weather made sailing almost impossible and very dangerous. Sailing was doubtful in September/October and practically impossible by November, especially made difficult by the storms.

Notice in the readings for today that Paul begins this voyage as a prisoner in chains. Then the sailors listen to him and do what he suggests. He went from being in chains in the hold to advising the captain of the ship what to do. Paul tells them that an angel of God appeared to him during the night...not only appeared to him but stood beside him and spoke to him.

The centurion appears to be very sympathetic toward Paul. Was he beginning to believe Paul?

The ship is wrecked on the island of Malta. Malta was located 60 miles south of Sicily, had excellent harbors and was ideally located for trade. The islanders were from Phoenician ancestry.

Paul healed many people while he was on the island of Malta. We have stated many times that Scripture supports that the apostles (including Paul) were given all the gifts of the Spirit to the max. In this passage there is evidence of a couple of those gifts. The passage also helps us to understand the difference between two similar gifts.

There is a nuance on the words healed and cured. Paul healed the father of Publius. This word means the man was instantly healed and made well. This would be the gift of miracles. When the rest of the sick from the island came to Paul it says he cured them. The word cured means a continuing treatment and slow healing. This would be the gift of healing. Paul quoted Isaiah who also mentions the word "heal". Isaiah is saying that if people will see, hear, understand, and turn, God would heal them, meaning it would be an instant thing.

The Jewish leaders came to see Paul in Rome saying, "...we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect." They were speaking of the sect, "The Way". Isn't it interesting that even today in Israel, the Jews are talking against the "sect" - the Messianic Jews.

A perfect example of how God turns bad into good is this one. While Paul was under house arrest he wrote the letters of Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon. Had Paul not been confined, maybe he wouldn’t have written those letters and we wouldn’t have them to read today!

Paul spent a total of five years in chains.

The book of Acts ends abruptly but powerfully and beautifully with Paul giving us a wonderful example of Christian living.
“Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.”

2011-12-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

Indictments were made against Paul for teaching “The Way” in the temple. It would be a similar situation if someone were to go and teach the New Testament at a Jewish synagogue in Indianapolis.

Paul is given many opportunities to witness as he is brought before many authorities. He takes advantage of these opportunities. Do we as Christians take advantage of every opportunity to witness for Him?

When Paul addressed Felix, the governor of Judea, concerning righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was obviously upset and sent Paul away. Hmmm, sounds like Paul was getting dangerously "close to home". Was Felix being convicted? Obviously Felix cared more about getting the bribe than being uncomfortable with Paul's discourses. Isn't it ironic that in order to get the bribe, Felix had to listen to Paul's words. Secular history indicates that it was the Jews who prompted Felix's recall to Rome. Could the Jews have been concerned that Felix was beginning to believe what Paul was saying?

When Paul spoke before King Agrippa, he mentions that he lived as a child in another country. We know from Scripture that Paul was a citizen of Rome. That doesn't mean he was born and lived previously in Rome. He was born in Tarsus located in the Roman province of Cilicia, modern day Turkey. Citizenship outside of Italy was an honor reserved for people who made great contributions to the Empire. So, we may conclude that Paul's parents were people of influence and perhaps even moderate wealth. His father was a Pharisee of pure and unmixed Jewish blood.

Tarsus, the city of Paul's birth combined both Roman and Greek (politics of Rome and Greek culture). It was the seat of a famous university, higher in reputation even that the universities of Athens and Alexandria. Paul spent his childhood here. No doubt he left his home during early adolescence and taken to Jerusalem for his formal education in the most prominent rabbinical schools of the day.

Acts 26:29
Paul replied, "Short time or long-- I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."
Paul was praying for those of us who are reading and listening to this Scripture today. Do you think that Paul had any idea of the millions (or even billions) of people who would be influenced by his words???

We are not in literal “chains” like Paul was, but are there some “chains” that bind us from teaching about Jesus? What might some of those “chains” be? How can we break those “chains”?

2011-12-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

When Paul reported to the brothers in Jerusalem what God had done through his (Paul’s)ministry, they praised God, not Paul.

These leaders reported to Paul some misconceptions that people had concerning his teaching. Some said that Paul was teaching against Moses, telling them not to circumcise and not to live according to our customs. This is not exactly what Paul was saying. Since he was presenting the gospel to the Gentiles, he was saying to them that it wasn't necessary to go through Judiasm in order to believe in Jesus as Messiah. Paul did not discount the customs of the Jewish way of life. Paul continued to observe the feast days and certain other things, much as the Messianic Jews do today. Paul was willing to compromise on non-essential points but remained firm on essentials.
The Jews seized Paul in the temple. Paul was only teaching against legalism. He was saying "hold on to salvation through Jesus". Those Jews believed that they could earn their place in heaven through strict obedience of the law. Paul taught against legalism and the observance of the laws to be saved. They were upset with Paul because they thought he had brought Greeks into the temple area. Greeks were not allowed there, they were limited to the Court of the Gentiles.

One of the commanders questioned Paul about a revolt. Josephus, an ancient historian, wrote of an Egyptian who led a revolt in Jerusalem in AD 54, then disappeared. The commander may have thought Paul was this man.

When Paul made his defense to the crowd, he spoke in Aramaic, the language of the common people. Paul spoke Greek and Hebrew as well, maybe others. In order for us to minister to people we must speak their language. This applies literally as well as figuratively.

Acts 22:3
"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.

This was the same Gamaliel in Acts 5:34. He was the most honored rabbi of the 1st century, an expert on religious law. He passed more traditional rules and laws than any others in the same amount of time than anyone else in Judean history.

Paul retells the story of his conversion experience. I wonder how many times he told this story! This was the first time Jesus spoke to Paul. It is interesting to note that He spoke to Paul in Aramaic. Paul also relates a second time that Jesus spoke to him, this time in a trance.

Paul was brought on trial before the Sanhedrin.
The Pharisees were the most numerous of the Jewish parties or sects. They were members of the middle class, mostly businessmen (merchants and tradesmen). They taught that the way to God was through obedience to the law. They accepted the entirety of the Old Testament as authoritative. They established and controlled synagogues and exercised great control over the general population, serving as religious authorities over most Jews. They were also known as the scribes.

The Sadducees were from the aristocracy, the rich descendants of the high priestly line. They were in charge of the temple and its services. They exercised great political control through the Sanhedrin. They accepted only the Torah (the written law of Moses) and practiced a literal interpretation of the law, stressing strict observance of the law. They denied divine providence, the concept of life after death, and the existence of angels and demons. They were also known as the chief priests and elders.

The Pharisees and Sadducees were the two main groups within Judaism. The Sanhedrin usually tried to maintain a balance of power between them.

The Sanhedrin was the Jewish ruling council composed of both the Pharisees and the Sadducees. It was the highest ruling body and court of justice among the Jewish people. It was headed by the high priest and was granted limited authority over certain religious, civil, and criminal matters. It was composed of 71 members. The Romans left most of the business of governing the Jews to the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin even had its own police force. This is the force that arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Romans denied them the power of capital punishment.

Paul very shrewdly pitted the Pharisees against the Sadducees when he brought up that he believed in a resurrection of the dead, which created a huge dispute between the two ruling parties.

Paul also mentions the third time when Jesus appeared to him and encouraged him to take courage. This time Jesus appeared in bodily form and not in a vision or trance.

Acts 23:12
The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
They were really motivated to kill Paul. But they weren’t successful. Does this mean they died of starvation??? Or did they break their vow??? Hmmmm...

2011-12-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

In Paul's travels, notice he tries to make time for the feast days. He sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread and wanted to make it to Jerusalem in time for Pentecost, having only about 45 days to do so once he started the journey. Interestingly, there were many Jews in Jerusalem for that feast who would cause Paul quite a bit of trouble.

Kind of an amusing story concerning the young man Eutychus, who fell asleep during one of Paul’s long sermons, fell out of a third story window, died, and was revived by Paul. I'm sure each of us could think of a time when we took a little nap during a sermon.

Acts 20:26
Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
This is a great testimony of Paul’s faith in knowing that he is forgiven for persecuting and killing Christians.

He also warned the elders from Ephesus that after he left them. "savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock." At first this seems as if these "wolves" will do them harm, but that is not necessarily the case. "Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them."
Paul had been telling them of the hardships that followers of Jesus would have to endure. How easy it would be for "wolves" to come into the groups and entice them away from the teachings of Paul. After all what had Paul been telling them about the hardships? These "wolves" could have presented a much softer life. Paul agonized "with tears" over this possibility. Many times we as Believers think that this kind of dedication was only for the people we read about in the Bible. But was it?

Acts 21:8
Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven.
When we read one of the Seven (with a capital S) we thought that perhaps there were only seven remaining apostles living at this time, Philip being one of the Seven. After doing some research, we discovered that most commentaries agree that this Philip was not one of the apostles, but one of the seven deacons. (Acts 6:5)

It is very difficult to read the story of the sad farewell (Acts 20:36-38) and not be moved to tears.

There was some confusion (by us) concerning the Spirit warning Paul about what was to happen to him in Jerusalem. Paul was warned by the Holy Spirit and other people were also warned about what Paul would have to suffer there. After studying further, it seems as if the Holy Spirit was telling the people that Paul would face much suffering in Jerusalem. The people loved Paul and wanted to save him. But the Holy Spirit didn’t tell them to try to stop Paul. Paul was ready to go, face persecution, and death because he knew that was his destiny.

Something for us to ponder.
We may be warned of the danger of taking a certain stand, either by our friends or by the Word of God, or by the Holy Spirit and still it may be our duty to take the stand. Our duty consists in following the will of God, and encountering whatever trials may come our way.

2011-12-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Rom 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship.
What does it mean to offer our bodies as living sacrifices?

When God asks for sacrifices, He asks for only our best. He wants the first, not what’s left over.

Rom 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.
It’s very clear that we as Christians are not to conform to the standards of acceptance of a morally decadent world.
How do we conform to the standards of this world?

To be transformed is to be “born again” with a new mindset, a new attitude.
We learn and understand what God’s will is for us by reading, studying, and meditating on His word and in prayer to Him, being submissive to the Holy Spirit.

Rom 13:10
Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
If we obey the first two commandments, then all the others simply fall into place.

Rom 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
If we use the scriptures, both Old and New Testament to get the full picture we will be encouraged and strengthened. The more we read, the more we understand and the more we will trust in Him. It is only with the full context of scripture that we can understand.

Rom 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Imagine a clear glass. As we trust in Him, he begins to fill us (the glass) with joy and peace. He fills us more and more as we trust in Him more and more until finally our glass overflows. What might prevent us from allowing Him to fill us?

Rom 15:29
I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.
Paul has the Lord’s blessing for coming to them, the established church. This will be a time of spiritual nourishment and encouragement for Paul. God knows that Paul, like many true servants, needs refreshment from time to time.

Notice Paul did not do his own writing of this letter. Tertius wrote it. Is his eyesight failing so badly that he can no longer write?

2011-12-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Rom 9:3
For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race,
What an offer! Moses did a similar thing.

Rom 10:2
For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.
They were zealous based on the law (legalism) and didn’t have the knowledge of Jesus. This puts us in mind of the Orthodox Jews today.

Rom 10:10
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Once we believe and are made right, then we want to live right.

Rom 10:13-15
for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Believers are sent to preach – others hear – others believe – they call on Him – they are saved. Bottom line here is believers are sent and others are saved! Again, we're thinking of Moshe in Israel. He has been sent to Israel, he preaches, others hear, believe, call on Jesus and are saved.
We might add that it's not only Moshe but his whole family as well.

Rom 10:17
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
When we (Phil and Patti) were children, we heard the message. We accepted what Christian adults told us. It brought about a measure of faith in what they were telling us. So that when we accepted Jesus for ourselves we already had a measure of faith. Phil likes to say that we knew Jesus first as a friend before we even knew we needed a Savior.

Rom 10:20
And Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."
We have often used the analogy of a horizontal line. Our life is like a horizontal line. We stay on the line and to eventual destruction until at some point (or many points) God reaches down to us and we reach back to Him. Then we are on the vertical line and on our way to life eternal.

Paul warn the Gentiles of boasting. It seems as if there are some folks today who believe that Israel has been replaced by the church and all the promises to Israel are now promised to only the church. Paul warned about boasting that,"Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." Later Paul says, "And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in."
Our prayer as Believers should be that Israel will not persist in unbelief. That when God reaches down to them (perhaps through people like Moshe in Israel) that they will reach back.

2011-12-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

Righteousness is through Jesus and not the Law.
Rom 3:22-24
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
No question here that ALL have sinned. Also, no question that we are justified freely by His grace!

Rom 4:3
What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
Rom 4:10
Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!

Interesting that the “son of promise”, Isaac, was conceived after Abraham’s circumcision. Ishmael was conceived before the circumcision.

Abraham’s faith didn’t waver concerning the promise of an offspring. Sarah, on the other hand, felt that she should offer her handmaiden, Hagar to Abraham in order to fulfill the promise, since she was too old to bear children (or so she thought).
Rom 4:20-21
Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
Do we as Christians waver through unbelief regarding the promises of God or are we strengthened in our faith and give glory to God? Are we fully persuaded that God has power to do what he has promised or are we like Sarah and try to “help God out”?

Paul wrote about the value of circumcision. Circumcision is like signing a document you've already agreed to. Substitute the words water baptism for circumcision. Water baptism is an outward sign of an inward change. A person has already agreed to believing in Jesus as Savior and baptized by the Holy Spirit. Water baptism is like signing the document for all to see.

"And hope does not disappoint us."
Worldly hope often disappoints. We "hope" that something will happen. It may or may not happen. But God's hope on the other hand is GUARANTEED!

"The law was added so that the trespass might increase."
This can be a bit confusing at first. But look at it this way, the law was added so that we might know our trespasses.

We had another "rhema" moment from the Lord today. (Rhema is a quickened word from the Lord in which a particular passage of Scripture takes on additional meaning).

Imagine that you died from a heart attack. Medical personnel pronounced you dead. The time of death was noted on your chart. The sheet was pulled over your head. You were wheeled to the morgue. Then suddenly you came back to life. How would you feel? You have been given a new lease on life. Would you change anything about your life?

We, as Believers have been brought back to life. We were dead in our sins before Jesus. We are a new creation.
"...rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life..."

Rom 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

Just before Jesus was arrested, He prayed this prayer in the Garden.
Mark 14:36
"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
Abba is a term of endearment, something like our English word, Daddy. As we have watched Jesus repeatedly speak of the Father the closer He gets to the crucifixion, it seems as if He hungers for the presence of Abba, Daddy. Do we as Christians hunger to be in the presence of Abba, Daddy?

Rom 8:37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul makes it pretty clear that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus! Praise God for that!

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

Paul wrote the book of Romans as a well thought-out statement of his faith. It does not appear as one of his typical letters. The church at Rome was mostly Jewish but also had a number of Gentiles. It had probably been started by believers who were present at Pentecost. He had never met most of the believers there so he sent this as a letter of introduction. He really presents the foundations of the gospel as salvation for all, saved by grace through faith. He gives clear practical guidelines for the Roman believers.

Paul reminds the people about the prophecies in Holy Scripture. This would be our Old Testament.

“First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you…”
Notice Paul thanks God for the people. He doesn’t thank the people.

“I am not ashamed of the gospel.”
Paul’s rewards are still coming in.

"...first for the Jew, then for the Gentile..."
See Matthew 10:5-6, Matthew 15:24, John 4 - the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. and many others.

“…men who suppress the truth…”
“…so that men are without excuse…”
God’s power has manifested itself from the beginning. Those who suppress the truth are called wicked.

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather that the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen.”
An example of exchanging the truth of God for a lie would be evolution. It is non belief in a Creator. It takes more faith to believe in evolution than to believe in God.

“…received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.”
Sin has consequences. Sin also hurts more than just the sinner.

Romans 1:28-32 seems to describe a slice of life today. And notice it all started with..."since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God..." All of the other things listed in this passage take place because people do not retain the knowledge of God.

“…but also approve of those who practice them.”
People are watching what we do as Christians. We must be careful that by our silence we are in effect condoning sinful behavior. Silence can speak volumes!

Circumcision was a symbol of God’s covenant with his people. Circumcision of the heart by the Spirit happens at acceptance of Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit. However, we must be on guard or our hearts may become hardened.

2011-12-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

“…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
When faced with temptation, it’s nice to have a Bible verse to quote in order to take every thought captive. Because we will be judged for every careless word we've ever spoken.

Many people said that Paul's letters were weighty and forceful but in person he was unimpressive. It seems that Paul was forceful in his letters. People read them, had time to digest them so that by the time Paul visited these people, there was no need for him to be forceful.

Paul had some strong words to say, “When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves to themselves, they are not wise.”
Would this be ego-mania to the max!?!

“…for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light”
Satan will use any means possible, including passing himself off as God, using both subtle and blatant means. He is the great deceiver. Satan is not omnipresent. He can’t make us do anything. Don’t give him too much credit.

Notice all the sufferings Paul lists. With all the punishment his body received, he probably never fully recovered from any of them. Can you imagine suffering without pain medication or the comfort of our homes and people to take care of us? Being a Christian does not guarantee a “cushy” life. Paul seemed to relate that the physical pain he endured was nothing compared to his concern for the spiritual.

“…caught up to the third heaven…”
Many think that this happened during the three days after Paul’s conversion experience while he was blinded. The first heaven contains clouds and air. The second heaven contains stars and sky. The third heaven is where God lives, where His glory shines. See the firmament in Genesis.
The natural response to this experience would be pride. No one else experienced this so Paul was given a thorn in the flesh. Any handicap we might live with can be our thorn in the flesh. Satan wanted this to turn Paul. God wanted to humble Paul. Pride doesn’t exist in people of pain. It is not always God's will to keep us from pain and pressure. Remember that suffering is not new. Pride comes with achievement. Contentment does not require comfort.

“…a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.”
Many scholars have done extensive research to discover what this “thorn” in the flesh was and no one can say for sure. But whatever it is, the most important thing is that Paul accepts this and even boasts about this weakness. Rejoice and be glad to be found worthy to suffer for the cause of Christ.

2011-12-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Paul writes in the beginning of 2 Corinthians about comfort in Jesus. We must also remember that Jesus told us in Matthew 10"34 and Luke 12:51 that He did not bring peace but division. So we cannot equate comfort with peace.

Paul tells the church that they have gone through many hardships. “But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God…”
What would happen if we relied on God instead of ourselves? Would the hardships be less? Paul also mentions that he suffered in Asia so much so that they despaired even of life. Is this hardship because Paul went to Asia when he wasn't supposed to go? See Acts 16:6,7.

“For we are not unaware of his schemes.”
What schemes? Satan's schemes are not always blatant and "in your face". Most often they are very subtle. Check out the Chronological Chronicles on the website for a writing entitled Too Busy? It tells all about Satan’s schemes!

Chapters 2 and 3 contain some vivid contrasting images.
Smell of death - fragrance of life
Tablets of stone - tablets of human hearts
The letter (of the Law) kills - the Spirit (Jesus' ultimate sacrifice) gives life

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
We are constantly being transformed into the likeness of Christ, if we allow it and work toward it.

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”
What an awesome responsibility and privilege!

“Therefore come out from them and be separate…”
When we step out of worldliness and into Godliness, we are different. This difference will attract others. We will be that "light" shining in the "darkness".

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence to God.”
What contaminates body and spirit?

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Notice all the "alls". The Scripture containing all the "alls" follow the Scripture containing words about giving cheerfully! Any connections???

2011-12-03T07:58:00.001-05:00

“Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”
This James is thought by most scholars to be the brother of Jesus who at first did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but later believed and became a leader of the church in Jerusalem.

Paul says that he was abnormally born. Not many of us have the spiritual birth that Paul did.

Concerning spiritual bodies…we have a natural body and a spiritual body. It’s hard for us to comprehend what our spiritual bodies will be like. Imagine an apple seed. If we plant an apple seed, a seed doesn’t grow – ultimately a large beautiful apple tree with leafy branches, beautiful blossoms, and luscious fruit grows. The final result looks nothing like the seed. Our resurrected bodies will be far more beautiful than a “seed”.

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
What a statement this is! Death is not defeat. Believers are victors in death because we will have inherited eternal life.

“…because a great door for effective work has been opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”
Just like Paul, we will have opposition if we are doing effective work for the Lord. Has a great door been opened to us Christians for effective work? Do we have the courage to walk through that door, knowing we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit or are we weak because there are many who oppose us?

1 Cor 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

So even if we think we aren't making a difference, God says we are! What encouragement!

2011-12-02T06:51:00.001-05:00

“Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.”
We are supposed to know and understand our spiritual gifts. The body of Christ, the church is diverse. Because of our different spiritual gifts we view things differently and we interpret things differently. We are motivated to do things differently. We are born with certain talents and natural abilities but when we are born again, we are given certain spiritual gifts. Talents are natural. Gifts are supernatural. Evidence of a spirit-filled church is one in which the members exercise their gifts for one another. God has chosen to minister to his people through us!

“…since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church…”

“Tongues, then, are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.”

“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.”
Paul explains that those who have the gift of prophecy speak to believers for edifying the church – for strengthening, encouragement, and comfort. Those who speak in tongues edify themselves unless there is an interpreter present. To excel in a gift is to exercise it, to use it and find out more about it.

Paul warns about allowing women to lead in church. We have to remember that girls were not formally taught like the boys were. They did not have knowledge of scripture. They didn’t have the foundation to speak with understanding. Many women were speaking and confusing others. This is why Paul warned about allowing women to lead. The same warning applies to new believers. They are simply not equipped yet with that firm foundation of the knowledge of spiritual matters. However, Jesus made it clear that there is definitely a place for women in leadership. Whew! Glad He did!

2011-12-01T07:10:00.001-05:00

Paul addresses a specific incident concerning sexual immorality and tells them to how to deal with the person. “When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.”
This person has to “hit rock bottom”, be at the bottom of the pit and have no where to go but up.

Paul warns about the yeast of malice and wickedness (most of the time when yeast is mentioned it is not a good thing, in fact is a symbol of sin) and encourages them with the bread of sincerity and truth.
“For Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed.”
Our sins are forgiven, obliterated, not just covered over temporarily as with the old covenant.

Paul separated sexual immorality from other sins. He says that the one who sins sexually sins against his own body and that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Our relationship with God has been repeatedly compared to a marriage relationship. In Corinth as well as in today’s society, sex outside marriage was treated as a normal, even desirable part of life, while marriage was seen as confining and joyless. Paul made it clear that Christians should take no part in sexual immorality, even if it is accepted in society. It is a sin against God, it hurts all those involved.
“..You are not your own; you were bought with a price…”
Christians don’t belong to themselves.

Paul expresses that he doesn’t want to be distracted by a family. He believed if he had a family it would slow him down in his ministry.

“But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.”
HA!

“…but there is one God, the Father…and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ…”
Paul makes a distinction here between God and Lord, identifying God as the Father and Jesus as the Lord. The word God means supreme deity. The word Lord means supreme authority.

“I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means, I might save some.”
Paul met them where they were without condemning them.

“…for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.”
No doubt here that it was the Son of God who interacted in the wilderness with Moses.

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.”
We must stand firm with the whole armor of God, not standing firm with our own confidence or only with part of the armor.

“And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear…”
Good news for all believers when faced with temptation.

2011-11-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

Corinth was a major seaport and trade center, the capital of Achaia (present day Greece). The city was very prosperous with great cultural and religious diversity. It was ripe for corruption, filled with immorality. Idolatry flourished with more than a dozen pagan temples employing more than a thousand prostitutes. The temple of the love goddess Aphrodite was there. Sex was a part of the worship ritual.

The church at Corinth had been established by Paul on his second missionary journey, made up largely of Gentiles. The Christians there were struggling with the corruption all around them and felt the pressure to adapt. Paul wrote this letter to offer solutions to the many concerns and to answer the questions that had been raised.

“Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift…”
The body of Christ as a whole does not lack any spiritual gift. In any body of Christ, truly seeking Him, there will be no lack of gifts. It may be that one spiritual gift may be enhanced over another if there is a need for that particular gift in that particular body.

Paul didn’t seem all that too concerned about baptism. He said Christ didn’t send him to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with his own words. Be baptized (immersed) in the Holy Spirit.

Paul tells the Corinthian church that he did not come to them with eloquence or superior wisdom, but with a personal testimony of the Spirit’s power. He was demonstrating a characteristic of the gift of evangelism. Paul was thoroughly educated in the scriptures and could have spoken with superior wisdom, yet he spoke from personal experience.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him…”
In our wildest imaginations, we can never imagine what God has prepared for us!

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.”
Paul told them of salvation through Jesus. Apollos nurtured, educated, and encouraged them. But when all is said and done, it is up to God to produce the growth. We can do what we have been gifted to do, then leave it in the Lord’s very capable hands.

If we are “servants of Christ” then as servants we must do what the Master tells us to do. We are servants who have been “entrusted with the secret things of God”. It is up to us to prove faithful and share those “secret” things with others. As we learn more and more about Him, through Bible study, prayer, devotions, we must witness for Him. We must be faithful to His word and be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

“Therefore I urge you to imitate me…”
This appears on the surface and taken out of context to be arrogant on the part of Paul. We must read the previous passages to understand what Paul is referring to in this instance. He just told the Corinthians that he and his companions in the gospel were hungry, thirsty, in rags, brutally treated, homeless, cursed, persecuted, and slandered. And that his response to this was to bless, endure, and answer kindly.
In other words, Paul is saying that everything we do as Christians is the opposite of human logic when it comes to dealing with the enemy.

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”
Talk is cheap! Do all of us as Christians walk the talk?

2011-11-29T18:06:00.001-05:00

Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians was a bit different from his first one. The first was full of thanksgiving and exhortation. The second letter was a bit more somber. Apparently between the two letters, the church there had come under some persecution.

Paul wrote this second letter less than a year after writing the first one. There was some confusion among the people concerning the second coming. Many thought it was imminent and so were just waiting without doing much. He wrote this letter to clear up the confusion concerning Jesus’ second coming. Read I Thes 4:16-17 and then read II Thes 2:1-12. Paul made it very clear what things MUST take place BEFORE Jesus returns.

The events before the second coming include a “falling away” and the man of lawlessness revealed:
1. falling away
2. anti-Christ is revealed,
3. anti-Christ will declare he’s God in a temple not yet built.

The lawless one will display counterfeit signs, wonders, and miracles and deceive many people. People will perish because they do not love the truth. If we love the truth we will study and search for it. If we don’t know the truth we will be deceived.

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”
We should have no fear of the evil one or the powerful forces of evil because we will be protected from spiritual harm if we trust in Him. We do need to stand firm with all the armor of God in place. (see Ephesians 6)

We must understand that spiritual warfare is real. We must take spiritual attacks seriously. How do we know when something is a spiritual attack? We must know our enemy the devil, his tactics and his style. How do we know our enemy? We must study, memorize, and apply scripture. We must be in communication with the Lord through prayer. We must be in fellowship with other believers.

As humans we think of attacks as something that hurts. In reality the attacks from Satan may feel good. He whispers in the ear such things as, “you don’t really need to go to church today, or you’re too tired to read your Bible, or you’re running late this morning so you don’t have time to pray", etc. He helps us rationalize away spiritual disciplines, (devotions, prayer, Bible study, worship and praise, fellowship with other believers) things that draw us closer to God.

Some of the devil’s deadly “Ds”:
Doubt, when unchecked leads to disbelief. Disappointment leads to discouragement, which leads to despair. Distraction, delay, discord, deceit, all lead to division.

If the things that happen to us push us away from God, then it’s from Satan. If things pulls us to God and gives glory to Him, then it’s from God no matter what it feels like to us, even if it’s painful.

What is Paul’s distinguishing mark? Could it be the large letters he uses as he writes because his vision is poor?

Apollos “was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.”

Apollos knew about Jesus but didn’t know Jesus. He, along with the Old Testament people believed in the Messiah, the Redeemer, in advance of His coming. Apollos was teaching about the Messiah.

A similar thing occurred with Paul and some followers in Ephesus. They received only the baptism of John, the baptism of repentance. Paul baptized them in the name of Jesus and they received the Holy Spirit.

Why were the seven sons of Sceva not able to drive out the evil spirit? Could it be that they were just saying words and weren’t given the power or authority to drive out demons? Notice what happened when the people heard about it. They were seized with fear and openly confessed their sins. Many who practiced sorcery brought their scrolls and burned them publicly. These scrolls were very valuable, just for the paper itself, not to mention what was inscribed on them. The parchment itself was expensive. The scripture tells us that the scrolls were worth about 50,000 days wages. That’s the equivalent of about 137 years wages. Talk about selling out!

2011-11-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

Thessalonica was the capital and largest city in Macedonia, a Roman province. It was one of the wealthiest and most flourishing trade centers, due mostly because of its location on the highway from Rome to the Orient. There was also a thriving seaport located there. The city was exempt from most restrictions placed by the Romans because they were allowed self rule there. It was the site of many pagan religions.

Paul tells us that faith comes first, and then works. From our faith we are motivated to do good works. Work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, endurance inspired by hope. Work is a deed or act, labor is work involving pain. We make a progression from a deed to real work that involves some sacrifice or pain, leading to endurance which is cheerful waiting.

“We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts…”
We can please men by saying what they want to hear and be a Christian, but we can’t be content to just please men, saying what they want to hear and be a servant of Christ. To be a servant of Christ we are compelled to bind or knit ourselves to Christ.

Paul mentions that the Thessalonians had suffered from the Jews. "They displease God and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they many be saved."
We couldn't help but think about the Messianic Jews in Israel, recipients of the hostility from the Orthodox Jews. The Messianics are not proselytizing the Jews but yet the Orthodox Jews don't want the Messianics to witness to the Gentiles or atheists either. Paul tells us how God feels about that. "they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last."
The same demons are at work today. The demons know the truth and want to stop it.

“…let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet…”
Again we have the faith, love, and hope as Paul gave us at the beginning of this letter. The helmet and breastplate defend the two vital parts, the head and the heart respectively. The head needs to he kept from error, the heart from sin.
Work and labor paired with faith and love. Cheerful waiting paired with salvation – the hope of eternal rest.

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Remember, God is the perfect parent! It’s appropriate for us to say, “This is God’s will so it must be good for me.” We may never know how we’ve witnessed to others simply by the way we react to difficult circumstances. Look at what happened with Paul and Silas and the jailer. The saved ones are the product of our witness – our glory and joy – great is our reward!

2011-11-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

Paul circumcises Timothy. This appears to be a contradiction. Paul had just established at the Jerusalem Conference the importance of not imposing circumcision upon the Gentile converts. He even had the decrees of the council at Jerusalem with him. Yet he circumcised Timothy. Possibly Paul thought that if Timothy remained uncircumcised he would be considered unclean by the Jews to which he would minister and that they might be prejudiced against him and his message. Paul was using circumcision in Timothy’s case, not as necessary to salvation, but conducive to the building up of the church. Timothy was to be Paul’s assistant and constant companion and might not be accepted if he were uncircumcised. (“to the Jews he became as a Jew, that he might gain the Jews”)

The slave girl in today’s passages was inhabited by a spirit. Paul commanded the spirit to leave the girl. Even though the things she was saying were true, they were not from God. This is an example of Satan’s deceit and craftiness. He will tell just a little bit of truth so that some will believe and be drawn to a particular person or group. That’s the hook. Then he will be able to teach falsehoods and so deceive people. He tells just enough truth so that people are easily fooled.

The owners of the slave girl were angry that Paul and Silas had stopped their intake of money from the girl fortune teller. That’s why they had Paul seized claiming he and Paul were advocating unlawful customs. The magistrate ordered them to be stripped and beaten. KJV says the magistrates rent off their clothes, ordering the lectors to tear them off, expressing the roughness done to prisoners, preparatory to whipping.

They were severely flogged and then placed in prison in stocks. This was the inner prison (pestilential cells) damp, dark, and cold where chains rusted on the prisoners. During the time of Paul’s journeys, many died from flogging. Many died from the stocks.

The stocks were instruments of torture, made of wood bound with iron, with holes for the feet, which were stretched apart according to the severity of the punishment or torture. Yet the response to this persecution??? Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God. The Greek words here mean “as they prayed they kept singing praises unto God”. The word for hymn is the one used for the Paschal hymn (Psalm 113 - 118) which might have been the hymn sung by Jesus and the disciples after their last supper together.

The prisoners kept listening to Paul and Silas instead of sleeping. They were awake and listening. A violent earthquake shook the foundations of the prison, the prison doors opened; all the prisoner’s chains were loosed. But no one escaped. What a great witness to the jailer! It was so great a witness that the jailer and his whole household were saved. When the magistrates sent for their release, Paul responded with. “No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.” WAY TO GO PAUL!!!

Paul and Silas went to Lydia’s house and encouraged the brothers. Interestingly it was Paul and Silas, the ones who were tortured and imprisoned that encouraged the brothers, not the other way around.

In Athens the people had many gods and objects of worship, even an altar “To An Unknown God” just in case they had missed one. KJV says the city was wholly given to idolatry (covered with idols).

Epicureans were a well-known school of atheistic materialists, who maintained that the universe is the product of chance, and that pleasure was the chief end of human existence. Sounds a bit like humanism among other false religions today.

When they called Paul a babbler they were insulting him. It was a general term of contempt for any pretend teacher.

When Paul came to Corinth he devoted himself exclusively to preaching to the Jews. After Paul left the synagogue he left the Jews and went to the Gentiles. Then the Lord spoke to him in a vision. He was told to stay in the area and to continue speaking and that he would be protected. “So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.” It’s as if God were giving Paul a much needed time of rest, relief, and rejuvenation. Preaching vs. teaching. Paul was preaching to the perishing, teaching to the believers.

2011-11-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

Paul writes to the church at Galatia giving them some of the most stinging words in all of his letters.
Gal 1:9-10
As we said before, and now I say again, If anyone preaches a gospel to you beside what you have received, let him be accursed. For now do I persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

He makes it perfectly clear how he feels about someone preaching another gospel. He says let them be eternally condemned. Phew!

He also writes to the church there giving his credentials to be called an apostle. He defends his position in several of the other letters as well. He wanted people to know that his revelations from God didn’t stop at his “flash bulb” experience on the road to Damascus. He let them know that he spent other time with Jesus. He also relates how he persecuted (tried to kill) the church.
He says that he was "set apart from birth." Our understanding of the English word "birth" is that it means when a child is born and makes the entrance into the world. This is not the definition of the word "birth" in the Greek or Hebrew. The origin of a living being is at conception. So Paul acknowledges that he was "set apart" at his conception.

Peter, James (Jesus' brother, not the apostle), and John were appointed to go to the Jews and Paul to the Gentiles.

“When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.”
Paul didn’t beat around the bush!

“What is the purpose of the law?”
The law was given as an illustration that a sacrifice must be paid for sin. Sacrifice of the animals was a foreshadowing of the sacrifice that Jesus would make for the remission of sins. The provisions of the old law were never enough. Sacrifices had to be continually made. Complete remission of sins was never satisfied. That can only come through Jesus alone. We don’t receive eternal life through strict adherence to the law. Until Jesus came people were held in bondage to the law.

“Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.”
Now that Jesus has come, we aren’t bound to the strict observance of all the laws. Being given an understanding of all the laws give us better insight into the good news of salvation through Jesus, and not salvation through the law.

Some more stinging words from Paul are these:
"You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?"
This is truly something to contemplate. What are some things that can "cut in" on us? When we know the truth, are we sometimes reluctant to obey the truth for fear of what others might think?

Paul speaks about an “illness” when he first preached the gospel and that it was a trial to them.
“…you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me…”

Is Paul’s vision not completely restored? Did the blinding light on that road to Damascus still have lingering affects? Did the beatings and stoning have residual affects? Did the marks on his body include a visual reminder?
“See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand.”

“…for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus…”
Paul was experiencing the many persecutions that he himself had inflicted on Jesus’ followers.

2011-11-25T06:00:00.001-05:00

Paul and Barnabas were “sent on their way by the Holy Spirit…” What does it mean to be sent by the Holy Spirit?

“…all who were appointed for eternal life believed.”
This is the foreknowledge of God, not predestination. God knew ahead of time whose names were written in the Book of Life.

Persecution was stirred up against Paul and Barnabas, “So they shook the dust from their feet…”
Often the Jews would shake the dust off their feet when leaving a Gentile town, so this was a familiar phrase. It symbolized cleansing themselves from the contamination of those who did not worship God. Jesus told his disciples to do this if any town would not accept them or listen to them. What does that mean for us as Christians today? If we have faithfully, carefully, and sensitively presented the message of Jesus Christ we are not held responsible for the decision the other person may make. Being filled with joy is a great indicator of being in God’s will and knowing when to “shake the dust”.

When Paul delivered his first recorded sermon, he was speaking to the Jews in the synagogue. They were accustomed to the old law of sacrificing animals for the forgiveness of sins. Paul introduced the new order of things. Paul says, "I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses."
This was a totally new concept. To stop animal sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins was a radical move for them.

Paul was stoned and dragged outside the city where he was left for dead. After the disciples gathered around him, Paul not only got up and went back into the city but he preached the good news and won a large number of disciples. The stoning itself could have killed Paul, the dragging certainly could have. Yet he was able to return to his mission, almost immediately. What happened when the disciples gathered around him????

2011-11-24T06:00:00.001-05:00

“The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” Previous to that they were called “Followers of The Way”. We are currently reading a book called "The Ways of the Way" by Bob Fisher, a Messianic Jew from Israel. It gives details about the early church and how we can apply their "ways" to our worship services today.

Cornelius, the centurion was told by the angel, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God." This is exactly how we should view all our good works - as offerings to the Lord, not as something to make us feel good.

When the Holy Spirit came to those people gathered with Cornelius, Peter spoke these words, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
These words tell us that they had already received (or were baptized into) the Holy Spirit before they were baptized. Peter makes sure that they understand that the water baptism is their outward demonstration to others. Remember they were witnessing to the Gentiles.

Antioch was the third largest city in the Roman world. The first Gentile church was founded there. It was also the center of worship for several pagan cults that promoted sexual immorality. Antioch was a vital commercial center. Paul used Antioch as his home base during his missionary journeys.

Fascinating story of Peter’s rescue from prison by the angel. Someone once said, “Prayer moves angels.” God certainly overrides the natural order of things. When Rhoda announces that Peter is at the door, the people said, "It must be his angel." Do our guardian angels look like us?

Notice the way that Herod died. Usually flesh is eaten by worms after death. In this case Herod was eaten by worms first, and then he died. As our granddaughter, Kylie might say, “Gross!”

2011-11-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

The day that Stephen was stoned a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem. This caused many to scatter and thus they preached the word wherever they went. If the persecution had not broken out would the word have spread so rapidly?

We took an interesting journey while reading the account of the people in Samaria and Simon the Sorcerer. A careful reading lets us know that the people believed what Philip was saying and doing, but they didn't necessarily believe in Jesus "because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus".
They probably had only been water baptized and not Spirit baptized. A clue hidden away in the little word "in"speaks volumes.

These people had been baptized "in" or "into" the name of the Lord Jesus. This word "in" comes from the Greek word "eis" and means "a going through, expressing motion". In other words, they went through the motions of baptism. Contrast this word with the word "in" from Acts 2:38
Then Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The word "in" in this verse is the Greek word "epi" and means "superimposition" in relation to "distribution". So while the word eis means going through the motions, Epi means a distribution as in the distribution of the Holy Spirit. Who would have thought a tiny word like that could make such a difference in our understanding. It's just one of those little jewels hidden away just waiting for us to dig it out, polish it up, and admire it!

What a responsibility for those who have been given the gift of teaching! The Ethiopian eunuch depends on Philip to give him understanding of the scriptures. This man was most likely very dedicated to God because he had traveled a long distance from Ethiopia, located in Africa south of Egypt. His conversion took Christianity into another government.

What happened to Philip after the baptism of the eunuch? Seems as if he was spirited away.

We made another interesting journey concerning Acts 8:37. Check it out. That verse may not be in the Bible you are using. Why???

In our e-sword, there are 24 Bible versions. Of those 24 versions, nine of them did not have Acts 8:37. Of those nine, seven are fairly contemporary versions. Most of the other 15 versions included Acts 8:37 and are much older versions. The verse follows the verse in which the eunuch asked to be baptized in water.
Act 8:37
Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, it is lawful. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
When Philip said baptism by water was lawful (Greek word exesti), he was saying that this water baptism was a "completion of the act" of believing and carries the figurative idea of "being out in public". In other words, this act of water baptism was an outward sign of an inward change. This Ethiopian eunuch was most likely traveling with an entourage of people. He was after all an important official in charge of the treasury of the queen. He wanted all to know that he was a believer in Jesus. Obviously, the baptism of the Holy Spirit had already occurred in the chariot when he first believed.

Saul, the great persecutor of the Followers of “The Way” becomes a changed man. He was going to Damascus with letters in hand giving him authority from the chief priests to arrest any of the followers of Jesus. Since Damascus (located about 175 miles northeast of Jerusalem in Syria) was a commercial city that linked many other cities throughout the Roman world, Saul may have thought he could prevent the spread of Christianity to other major areas.

Does Jesus still come and go as He did when Saul had his conversion experience on the road to Damascus?

What must Anannias have thought when the Lord told him to go and ask for a man named Saul of Tarsus? What must the disciples have thought when Saul tried to join them? Saul was well known as a persecutor of the Followers of the Way.

God says He will show Saul how much he must suffer. Did Saul know ahead of time what persecutions he must endure for the cause of Christ?

2011-11-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

The first recorded martyrdom was that of Stephen. When he appeared before the Sanhedrin Stephen’s face “was like the face of an angel.” What does an angel look like?

When he gave his defense he gave a summary of Abraham through the death of Jesus. He obviously was well taught in the scrolls and scripture or he had been supernaturally empowered with knowledge and understanding. Look at what he said about educated Moses. Yet what excuse did Moses give God at the burning bush? Didn't Moses offer up the excuse that he didn't speak very well???

When Stephen was stoned, he “looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”
What a tribute to Stephen! Jesus STOOD to receive him into the “great cloud of witnesses”, the martyrs.

2011-11-21T06:00:00.001-05:00

Too often in our churches today, some parts of the Bible are ignored. The Scriptures in today’s reading are among them. Many times, we want to focus only on the passages that make us feel good and not on the passages that tell us about hardships, trials, and sufferings. The apostles and followers of Jesus risked everything to testify to Jesus. They were imprisoned and tortured and yet Luke records that they never stopped testifying about Jesus. In today’s culture we, as Christians in the United States may never be imprisoned and tortured. We don’t have to experience the consequences that the followers of Jesus in the early church did when they testified to Jesus. Since we are not under that kind of fear, shouldn’t we be all the more willing to testify to Jesus?

Gamaliel, a Pharisee probably wanted to prevent a division in the council and even to prevent a riot with the people who supported the disciples’ teachings. Paul was one of Gamaliel’s students. After the trial the apostles were flogged and ordered not to speak in the name of Jesus. But look what they did.
“The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”

“So the word of God spread…”
Aren't we glad they never stopped teaching and proclaiming? Should we do any differently today?

Seven men were chosen who were full of the Spirit and wisdom to help the apostles so that they could give their attention to prayer and the ministry of the word of God. This task was not taken lightly. Those selected had requirements of being full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Laying hands on someone was an ancient Jewish practice and was done as a way to set a person apart for special service. Hannah Sturm (2003) in our second grade class described it this way, “It’s like laying your hands on somebody with God laying his hands on top.” AMEN Hannah!

2011-11-20T06:00:00.001-05:00

In keeping with the fulfillment of the prophecies through the ordinations of the Old Testament once again symbolism comes alive in the Christian world. Pentecost (Feast of Weeks) was celebrated in the Old Testament as a praise and thanks to God for the wheat harvest. The Holy Spirit came to dwell within the Christian workers at Pentecost to begin the new harvest. Jesus was very clear that the apostles were to wait in Jerusalem until they had been baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost, this second of the great Jewish national festivals was observed on the 50th day, or 7 weeks, plus one day past the Saturday Sabbath that occurs during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Old Testament describes this celebration as The Feast of Weeks. In the New Testament it is called Pentecost.

At Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks, the ripe wheat was presented as a thanksgiving offering before the Lord. This was done early in the morning of that day by 9:00 am., which incidentally was around the same time that the Holy Spirit came to those believers in Jesus.

Peter begins to teach the people from the prophecies of Joel and clearly points to the return of Jesus. Very soon after Jesus ascended into heaven, His followers were looking for His return.

"About three thousand were added to their number that day". They were baptized but it says nothing about water. They needed to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

2011-11-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

In the Chronological Bible there are a few details concerning the resurrection that are out of order. When you compare all the gospel accounts, it flows better.

There are a couple of astounding things that happen at the resurrection. A question for you…when Jesus appeared to Mary, she was not allowed to touch Him. Yet when Jesus appeared to the other women they were allowed to clasp His feet. Why the difference? What happened between the time of Jesus appearing to Mary and the time He appeared to the other women?
Details on the website.
http://www.philandpatti.com/abiblicalviewofholyweek
Part 4

What a picture of Jesus cooking breakfast on the beach! Using original meanings of the Greek words, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” Peter responds with, “Yes, Lord, I like you.” Jesus asks the same question a second time. Peter responds the same way. The third time Jesus asks, “Peter, do you like me?” not "Peter, do you love me?" Jesus meets Peter just where he is in his faith journey. Then Jesus gives Peter some strict instructions as shepherd of the flock. Feed my lambs. (nourish and teach the babes in the faith). Take care of my sheep. (take care of the mature ones in the faith). And finally, feed my sheep. (even those who are mature in the faith still need to be nourished).

Notice that Jesus brings Peter full circle with these words, “Follow me.” Good instructions for us too, eh?

2011-11-18T06:00:00.001-05:00

“It was the third hour when they crucified him.” This was when the act of crucifixion started.
Normally those who were crucified were left on the crosses, according to some commentaries as long as nine days. Jesus suffered pain, thirst, torture, insects, crowd insults…it was supreme torture and humiliation.

There were many, many prophecies fulfilled in the crucifixion. You can read all about them in Psalm 22. It reads like an eyewitness account.
Mark 15:34
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"-- which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Ps 22:1
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?

When Jesus spoke these words from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", He was telling those who were listening to look at Psalm 22.

“Father into your hands I commit my spirit.”
“..they did not break any bones.”
The breaking of bones was a way to hasten death. When they pierced Jesus’ side with a spear bringing a flow of blood and water it was proof of death. There was no need to break His bones.

Who were these holy people that were raised to life? Could they be the prophets who were allowed to see the fulfillment of their prophecies??? Scripture says they longed to see what the disciples saw. And why did they not appear to people in the holy city until after Jesus' resurrection? Could it be that they were buried in other places in Israel? It doesn't say that the tombs were in the vicinity of Jerusalem.

For details concerning the trials and a physician’s view of the crucifixion see
http://www.philandpatti.com/abiblicalviewofholyweek
(Part 2 and Part 3)

Crucified bodies became the property of the state and were dumped in the garbage pile at Gehenna. Only by permission could the bodies be taken for proper burial. Joseph of Arimathea was rich, had great influence and many connections. He was also Mary’s great uncle, possibly a kinsman redeemer. This gave him legal standing to go to the Roman authorities and claim the body. He and Nicodemus were both members of the Sanhedrin.

Jesus was taken from the cross; His body was hurriedly anointed with some spices that Nicodemus had brought. The preparation that Joseph and Nicodemus did was an intended temporary measure.

They quickly placed Jesus in Joseph’s tomb before the Sabbath began at 6:00 pm. When
unembalmed bodies were placed in tombs, spices, ointments and wrappings were temporarily put in place. Three days later the stone would be rolled back and people could inspect the body to insure that the person was really dead and not just comatose. (the odor after three days would be more than enough to indicate death.) It was and still is customary for a permanent preparation to be made three days after death. After the permanent preparations are taken care of the tomb is resealed and about one year later it is reopened. The bones are then gathered and placed in ossuaries. The tomb can then be reused for another year with another body. This is why the women were in no hurry to go to the tomb before three days had expired. As another example of how this process worked we can read about what happened with Lazarus. Jesus planned the delay of four days to raise Lazarus. That is so there would be no doubt that Lazarus was indeed dead. The body would have been inspected and permanently prepared a day earlier, when three days had passed, the normal custom of the day.

It is only through learning of the burial customs of the day that we understand a great truth. Jesus was in the tomb three full days and three full nights validating proof of His messiahship, His only sign.
Mat 12:38-40 Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet: for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Jesus' validating proof of three days and three nights matters for only one reason. When there appears to be a conflict between what Scripture says and what tradition says, Christians should always be prepared to give an answer from the Bible to clear up any confusion.

2011-11-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

The Jews did not enter into the palace of Pilate because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover meal. They couldn’t go into Gentile property after 6:00 pm. This is confirmation that THE Passover meal had not been eaten yet.

“…it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.”
Pilate knew what they were doing and that they set Jesus up, using the political powers to do their dirty work. Pilate was under investigation by Rome for cruelty. He may have been in fear of Rome if he killed an innocent man. They were envious of Jesus. People were following after Jesus and listening to Him instead of the religious establishment of the day.

Pilate asked Jesus what crime He had committed. Jesus tells Pilate that His kingdom is not of this world. Many or most of His followers thought His kingdom WAS of this world. They were looking for a conquering Messiah who would usher in a political kingdom.

Jesus said, "Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
Those people who are seekers of the truth want to know the truth even if it contradicts what they want to believe.

When Pilate asked the people what crime Jesus committed, they never answered his question, they just shouted to crucify him.

Pilate asks again and again trying to get Jesus released, he fails again and again. Finally he gives up and “washes his hands”.

The people answer “Let his blood be on us and on our children.” Curses are called down and the suffering continues to this day.

For more information on the six illegal trials of Jesus see the website.
http://www.philandpatti.com/abiblicalviewofholyweek
(Part 2 and Part 3)

2011-11-16T06:00:00.001-05:00

Gethsemane was a garden in the Mount of Olives. Jesus had been going there with the disciples when they left Jerusalem, at least for several nights. It was quite possibly inside a gated garden spot. John records that Jesus "went out" from the garden spot to address the soldiers who had come to arrest Him.
John 18:4
Then Jesus, knowing all things that were coming upon Him, went out and said to them, Whom do you seek?

In the garden, Jesus asks his disciples to wait with Him. Their normal routine was probably to go to sleep. This is what they had been doing.

“…and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled…”
"Deeply distressed" means "struck with terror". "Troubled" means "to be ill at ease, uncomfortable on the inside". Jesus began falling to the ground and praying continually. This is a verb tense that means he repeatedly did this.

Luke says sweat came as great drops of blood. Doctors have said it is possible to be in such agony that a person can sweat drops of blood. That beautiful painting of Jesus praying in the garden…was it really serene? Jesus was in agony, so much that an angel was sent from heaven to strengthen him. Luke says Jesus knelt down, Matthew and Mark say he fell down on the ground. Luke records, “Father”. Mark records, “Abba, Father.” Abba is the Hebrew word, a more familial term, much like “Daddy”.

We made the observation before that Jesus spoke repeatedly about the Father, more so the closer He came to the time of the crucifixion. At this point He no longer called Him “Father”, but “Abba”, the more familiar term. Jesus was calling God, the Father, "Daddy".

When they came to arrest Jesus, he clearly demonstrated who was in control. He went willingly.

When Peter used his sword to strike the soldier he was using it as an offensive weapon (not the way Jesus wanted him to) and chances are he wasn’t going for the ear.

The young man in the linen garment...just who was he? Ponder this...suppose that this young man lived in the house where Jesus and the disciples ate their last meal together, the upper room. Suppose that he was curious and after dressing for bed (often people, especially wealthy ones, slept in a linen garment) decided to listen in on what Jesus and the disciples were doing. Looking at the accounts in the Chronological Bible for Nov. 14 reading, immediately following the display of the swords, they all left. Suppose this young man was still curious and decided to follow them, not taking the time to go and dress in anything other than the linen garment. Still being curious, he continued to follow them on to the garden and got caught up in the arrest of Jesus. Many think this young man could have been Mark, whose mother was wealthy and who had provided necessary supplies for Jesus and the disciples. The upper room could have been in her house. Anyway, just some points to ponder....

Peter disowns three times being one of Jesus’ disciples. The other times he answers the questions of being with Jesus. There is a difference between being “with” Jesus and being one of Jesus’ own. It’s being with Him vs. knowing Him.

When Peter denies Jesus for the third time “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.”
The look in Jesus’ eyes was a confirmation of what He had told Peter earlier. Can we even begin to imagine how Peter must have felt? Peter was grieved and wept. In Scripture there are at least two meanings for the word wept. This one is the most sorrowful. It means to "wail aloud bitterly". But the good news is…keep reading for the answer!

2011-11-15T06:00:00.001-05:00

We would urge you to read the passages in John 15 again and really ponder the message of staying connected to Him and being able to bear much fruit.
Secrets of the Vine is an excellent little book to read that explains this passage beautifully.

John 16:11
and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
Satan may be prince of this world now, but he stands condemned at judgment.

Read John Chapter 16 again.
John 16:23
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
If you read this in full context, it becomes clear what Jesus is talking about in regards to what we are to ask for. (See James 1:5)

James 1:5
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and with no reproach, and it shall be given to him.

When Jesus speaks to the disciples about sending the Holy Spirit, they didn't have a handle on exactly what that meant. They understood about the Holy Spirit "coming upon" someone temporarily but they really didn't understand about the Holy Spirit coming to dwell within. They didn't quite get the personal relationship that they could have with God, the Father and God, the Holy Spirit.

Jesus prays for Himself. He prays for the disciples. And lastly this…
John 17:20
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
That’s us!!! Jesus is praying for US! In His last hours on earth, He was praying for US! What an awesome and humbling thought!

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

The last supper…not THE Passover supper, simply the last supper the disciples would have with Jesus before the crucifixion. During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, meals together were called Passover meals. Notice in this passage the disciples are now called apostles. Disciples are learners. Apostles are the “sent out ones”. They are being prepared by Jesus to be sent out.

When Jesus announces that one of them would betray Him, the disciples didn’t automatically think of Judas. This lets us know they didn't suspect Judas of any wrongdoing or at least they ding's suspect him of anything this wrong.

The passage about washing the disciples’ feet is so much deeper that just Jesus setting the example of servitude. It’s all about forgiveness. Jesus set the example of forgiveness of sins. He forgave their sins, they were in turn to forgive each other. We need to come to Jesus daily for the removal of the dirt of sin from our lives. If we are saved we are clean but our feet get dirty living in a sinful world.

John 14:13
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
Whatever prayers we lift up should bring the Father glory!

Mark 14:26
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Go to this link for more information on just what that hymn might have been.

http://www.philandpatti.com/abiblicalviewofholyweek

2011-11-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

If ever there was a doubt concerning the Son of God appearing to the Old Testament people, this one lays that to rest.
John 12:41
Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.

As you continue reading, start paying close attention to the frequent mentioning of the Father by Jesus. He begins to mention the Father more and more the closer He gets to the crucifixion. I (Patti) tend to wonder how Jesus felt. When I was younger (before I met Phil) I always had a very loving relationship with my parents. Whenever I was hurt or upset or scared, I always sought the comfort of my parents, especially my daddy. Wonder if the human part of Jesus was feeling that way and He was longing for the comfort of the Father. Something to think about…

2011-11-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

There is so much to say about the Scripture in today’s reading and we have tried to keep things short…but this reading can’t be kept short. With so much talk from so many places today on the events of these last days, it is easy to get caught up in what people are saying. The question for us as Christians is this:
What Did Jesus Say?

Jesus words are written in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 concerning the signs of His coming and the events of the last days. Considering that at the time Jesus spoke these words He had only a few more days with the disciples before the crucifixion, we can logically conclude that the things Jesus would tell the disciples at this time would be extremely important. If they were important enough for Jesus to tell in His remaining few days before the crucifixion, shouldn’t they be important enough for us to pay close attention to today?

Jesus’ lessons had gotten progressively more intense than when He first began teaching. The heart of His teaching began to move away from taking care of the physical needs, the miraculous healings and the feeding of the multitudes, and became more focused on the coming kingdom.

This conversation took place three days before His crucifixion. Jesus and the disciples left the temple in Jerusalem. They journeyed on to the Mount of Olives, opposite the temple. Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Jesus privately what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the age.

Matthew 24:3
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
These inner four disciples are asking, “When are you coming back to establish your kingdom to stay forever? What supernatural occurrence is going to happen to tell us that you are coming?” That’s what they were really asking.

Jesus answers their question with a warning to watch out and not be deceived. He tells His disciples that false prophets will come claiming to be the Messiah or claiming they know who and where the Messiah is. Some false prophets will also acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah but will pervert and distort the gospel. False prophets will claim, without using evidence that the end is near. They will misquote Scripture. Many will be deceived. Jesus warns His disciples that if anyone claims that they know where He is, to not believe it because He says He will come so that no one can miss it. There will be wars and rumors of wars. Nations will rise up against nation, kingdom against kingdom, not necessarily against each other in battle but will just rise up beside each other. There will be new nations and kingdoms formed, greedy for power and wealth. There will be earthquakes, famines, pestilences, fearful events and great signs from heaven.

Jesus tells them not to be alarmed. These things will happen. They are the beginnings of birth pains but the end is still to come. As the time gets closer to Jesus’ coming, the events of these last days will be on an ever increasing scale. As time progresses, they will become more severe. They will increase in intensity and frequency, just as labor pains.

Next Jesus tells the disciples what will happen to them before all this takes place. Jesus tells them that they will be handed over to local councils and flogged in synagogues. They will stand before governors and kings and those in authority. They will be put in prison. They will be betrayed by parents, children, brothers, relatives and friends. They will be hated by all nations for no other reason than their faith in Jesus. They will be persecuted and even put to death. He warns them to be on their guard. He tells them not to worry beforehand about what they are to say in their defense. The Holy Spirit will be speaking for them with words and wisdom that none of their adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

Jesus tells His disciples that when they see these things happen, they will know that the end is near, right at the door. Jesus also reminds the disciples that no one knows the day or hour, not the angels in heaven, or even Jesus Himself, only God the Father knows. And while we cannot know the day or hour, we can know the "season".

Jesus compared events of the last days to labor pains. As birth pains increase, become more frequent and closer together, so will the frequency and intensity of events that lead up to Jesus’ coming. Then many more false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect-- if that were possible. There will be more wars and rumors of wars. More nations will rise up against nations, more kingdoms against kingdoms, greedy for power and wealth. There will be many more earthquakes, famines, pestilences, fearful events and great signs from heaven.

When all these things happen that Jesus predicted many people will be leading normal lives in their unbelief, eating, drinking, marrying, etc. just like they were in Noah’s day before the flood. They will be unaware that Jesus’ return is imminent. And they will not care. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

The events of these last days will be startling when they take place to those who don’t know what to be watching for. Those who are learning about the events leading up to these last days will know the signs so that those days will not catch them by surprise. They will not be “comatose”. The day of the Lord will not come upon believers like a thief in the night. We are watching because we are children of light.

The events of these last days are nothing to fear. When we read of devastating events going on around us it can be very frightening. But in many ways it can be very comforting to know that these things must take place. We must endure these things as we wait for His glorious appearing.

2011-11-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

This verse leaped off the pages of the Bible for us when we read it. This is what could be referred to as a "rhema" word from the Lord.

Matt 22:2
"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.

God is the King who is preparing a wedding banquet for His Son, Jesus and Jesus’ bride (that would be us!) This gives us a foretaste of the banquet that is to come, the heavenly banquet as we prepare to take up residence in our eternal home. Our temporary life here should be lived in anticipation of our eternal life to come. In light of the uncertainties and uneasiness of the political climate of today, the most important thing is to keep our eyes on eternity. For additional writing on how to live our lives as Christians in a fallen world email us for the writing Kingdom Living in a Foreign Land.

See the book These Last Days for other details on the heavenly banquet to come.

2011-11-10T06:00:00.001-05:00

A very crucial verse is the one that tells us that Mary anointed Jesus in Bethany six days before the Passover. This little verse establishes the entire timeline of Holy Week. Scripture tells us the next day (Saturday, not Sunday) was the triumphant entry.
For clarification see the website writings A Biblical View of Holy Week.
http://www.philandpatti.com/abiblicalviewofholyweek

Bethany was the home of Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and also Simon the Leper. It was about two miles from Jerusalem.

Many in the crowd that met Jesus and shouted Hosanna to Him were expecting a conquering Messiah.

John 12:16
At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

The disciples still do not understand. Many people think of the disciples as being well versed in Jewish law and scripture but they may not have been. They may not have been regular worshipers at all and may have know very little of the prophecies of the Messiah. That may explain why they did not understand so many things, even after Jesus explained things to them. They didn’t understand many things until Jesus was glorified.

The Pharisees were worried that "the whole world has gone after him!" Since there were people from all over the known world, they perceived Jesus to be a real threat to them.

"The next day as they were leaving Bethany...". Jesus and the disciples left Jerusalem on that Saturday (the Triumphal Entry) and traveled back to Bethany. The next day would have been Sunday when they arrived back in Jerusalem and Jesus cursed the fig tree.

Jesus was very indignant when he overturned the tables of the moneychangers in the temple. He did the same thing at the beginning of His mission. Since Jesus lived a perfect life, His actions tell us that righteous indignation is not a sin.

When Jesus quoted scripture, He was quoting from the law which the chief priests and teachers of the law knew very well. They knew the law. Jesus knew they knew the law. That’s why He quoted it!

The crowd said they had heard in the Law that the Christ must remain forever. This is why they were confused when Jesus said He must be crucified. The Law in this case means all of the Old Testament writings, not just the first five books of Moses or just the Ten Commandments.

When Jesus say “Father, glorify your name!” a voice spoke from heaven. Some said it thundered, others said an angel had spoken. Why the difference? Could it be that non-believers heard thunder, believers heard an angel? Why would people have thought they heard thunder? Was there a presence of dark clouds? Are we as believers listening for the voice from heaven? If we are, maybe, just maybe we may hear it!

2011-11-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

Since we could write a “book” on each day’s reading, we are going to try to pick out only a few selected verses to write about.

Jesus left no questions on this one A "no-fault" divorce is not scriptural. Modern day Jews however have something known as a "get" which is basically a "no-fault" divorce.

The rich young man was keeping the old law. Jesus tells him, there's more.

When Jesus talks about the "renewal of all things", He is speaking of the Millennial Kingdom when the earth will be renewed. That is when the disciples will rule the twelve tribes of Israel. Couldn't help but think about missionaries concerning leaving everything behind. Not only will they receive eternal life, but will receive a hundred fold.

When speaking to the disciples about His soon-to-come crucifixion, Jesus said men would condemn Him to death and...
Mark 10:34
who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise."

Jesus makes it pretty clear that He will rise in three days (three full days and three full nights), not three “parts” of days.

Mark 10:38
"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"

This baptism has nothing to do with water. Salvation happens when a person becomes a believer in Jesus. Being water baptized is an outward symbol of an inward change. The real baptism is baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus asked the blind man, “What do you want me to do for you?” Kind of a rhetorical question, don’t you think? But it illustrates an important point. Even though God knows what we need before we ask Him, He still wants us to ask. Amazing!

For details concerning the parable of the minas, see Parables to Ponder on the website.
http://www.philandpatti.com/biblestudies

One of the most important verses in Scripture for understanding the timeline of the last week of the life of Jesus is the following:

John 12:1
Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

For details concerning the timeline of Holy Week and the anointing of Jesus by Mary, see A Biblical View of Holy Week on the website.
http://www.philandpatti.com/abiblicalviewofholyweek

Let's ponder this verse today, the question that Jesus asked blind Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” and think about all we ask Jesus to do for us. How about directing that verse to Jesus and ask Him what He wants us to do for HIM!

2011-11-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

When Jesus learned that Lazarus was sick, he delayed two more days. Why? By the time Jesus reached Lazarus' tomb, he had been in the tomb for at least three days. Mary and Martha would have already been back after the customary three days to permanently anoint his body. They knew Lazarus was dead. See the website writing A Biblical View of Holy Week for details on the importance of the three days.

KJV says he “tarried”. How often when we are in distress and call out to God, does He “tarry” in His answer? But look at why He tarried. He tarried so that they would believe. Could He tarry with our answers to prayer to bring about an even deeper faith or that we may grow spiritually?

When Jesus was returning to raise Lazarus, the disciples knew that He was in danger by going there, yet they said they were willing to die with Him. What happened later when Jesus was arrested? Were they willing to die for Him then?

When Jesus saw them weeping over Lazarus, he was deeply moved in spirit. KJV says he “groaned in the spirit”. He was troubled not only because they were sorrowful, but also troubled that they didn’t understand the “cocoon”. We can equate our life on earth as the life of a “caterpillar”. It isn’t until we go into the “cocoon” of death and spend a time that we are able to emerge as beautiful “butterflies” in the resurrection. Too often we want to remain a worm! Stay tuned for Phil's newest book - Butterfly Living in a Caterpillar World.

When the Sanhedrin met, they were concerned about what Jesus was doing and wanted to stop Him. Notice what Caiaphas prophesied.

Jesus avoided them after that and retired to Ephraim, a city sixteen miles northeast of Jerusalem on the borders of the wilderness.

Jesus rebuked the disciples concerning the children. In fact, He was indignant! He said they should not hinder them. Does that tell us how Jesus feels about little children? Does that tell us how important is the teaching of children?

Even adults should enter into salvation with the innocence and faith of little children and with the temper and spirit of a child with a teachable, mild, and humble spirit, free from prejudice.

The rich young ruler had been keeping the old law, but Jesus is telling him there is more.
“Jesus looked at him and loved him”. Put your name in there. See how it sounds?

Love of possessions. Having wealth won’t keep you from heaven, making wealth your god, (instead of making Jesus your God will).

There is much debate on the camel and eye of the needle. Many think camel may have been mistranslated and it should have read rope instead of camel. It would be harder for a rope to go through the eye of a needle. Others think the eye of the needle was a small gate going into the Jerusalem wall. In order for a camel to get through this gate, all the baggage heaped upon the camel would have to be removed and the camel to go down on it’s knees to get through. This sounds like we must get rid of all the “baggage” of sin that we carry with us, or anything that hinders us and get down on our knees to enter heaven. Or Jesus may have meant it exactly as it is written, for a camel to go through the eye of needle, a profound and comical illustration.

Jesus tells the disciples they will sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

James and John, the sons of thunder, the bold and the loud, want Jesus to do whatever they ask of Him. They were thinking earthly. They were asking to be on either side of Him in His kingdom. How they must have felt to know about the two criminals on either side of Him at the crucifixion.

“…you will drink the cup I drink…”
Jesus is telling His disciples that “the cup” is His death and that they will also drink of “the cup”.

When blind Bartimaeus shouted out to Jesus to have mercy, Jesus asked him what he wanted. Jesus knew what he wanted! The man was blind! Jesus wanted him to ask. Just as God wants us to ask even though He already knows what we want before we ask Him.

2011-11-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

In response to the question, “Are only a few people going to be saved?”, Jesus responded by telling them that it is a narrow door and many will try to enter and not be able to. Many say, “I came to church, I took communion, I served, I listened.” But did they really? Was it just “lip service”? Delusional involvement? What does God say about that?

Each one of us must weigh in our hearts what God wants us to do. “For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” We speak and act from an attitude of our hearts.
For many of us, serving may not mean serving inside the walls of the church, it may be serving and witnessing on the job, in our homes, in our families, in our neighborhoods.

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Psalm 118 is the center chapter of the Bible – the heart of the Bible you might say. It is a prophecy of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the beginning of Holy Week. He enters through the east gate of Jerusalem. Jesus calls Himself the gate. Psalm 118 says we will enter the gates of righteousness which Jesus will open for us.

In the parable of place of honor Jesus is teaching basic humility.

Jesus says to invite the poor, etc. and you will be blessed. If we give expecting something in return and get it we have already received our reward, but it is better to give not expecting anything in return, then our reward will come later.

Parable of the Great Banquet
Jesus is making the illustration of salvation and the invitations given to us. We have all received the invitation. The master of the banquet says to the servant to go to those who have been invited (the Jews) and tell them to come, everything is ready. But they are too busy with things of this world. Then the master says to go into the streets and bring in the poor, etc. (the tribes of Israel). The servant does so and they come to the banquet but there is still room for more. The master says to go into the country lanes (everybody else, the rest of the world) and make them come in until his house is full.

The first invitation was to those who were directly and selectively invited- the Jews. The second invitation was to bring in (to lead into) the people in the streets and alleys (the other tribes of Israel). This invitation was a little more persuasive. The third invitation was to make them come in. This word "make" means "to compel, to necessitate with an implication of distress". In other words, this invitation came with an exclamation mark! The objective was to fill the house. There is a certain number of souls to be saved. There is a finite number written in the Book of Life. John 1:35-51.

What did Jesus mean when He said we must hate our family or we can’t be His disciple?
To hate in this case means to love less. Compared to our love for God it should be so much greater than our love for anything else that is off the scale. We must love everything else less than our love for Jesus.

What does it mean to carry his cross?
We may not be called to die for Jesus, but to live for Him!

Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin
Jesus says there is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents, and there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of heaven over one sinner who repents. The only time the Bible says the angels sing is when they sing the new song. (KJV records the angels say)

Parable of the Lost Son
The son wanted his reward now. He still is the son of his father and will inherit but his rewards will be less. Our salvation is secure. We can store up treasures in heaven or use them up here on earth. The lost son was not removed from the family, even though the older son thought he should be. The older son could be compared to “cradle” Christians who have been Christians most of their lives and have lived for Him and served Him.

Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man - also known as a midrash

There are a couple of lessons to be learned:
1. There is no second chance! When the door is shut, the door is shut!
2. Someone needs to go evangelize those who are not saved and are facing eternal death.
3. There are some who will not believe even if someone rises from the dead to tell them about it.

…the kingdom of God is within you.” The Holy Spirit dwells within every believer.

Parable of the Persistent Widow
Jesus is telling the disciples they should always pray. God will bring about justice for his chosen ones who pray to him.

Parable of the Vineyard Workers
Many come to salvation at the 11^th hour, but still receive salvation. “Cradle” Christians should not look down on “criminal on the cross” conversions.

When all is said and done, what matters is that we find that narrow gate to eternal life with Him!

2011-11-05T06:00:00.000-04:00

Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. His entire being was focused on the job He had to do in Jerusalem.

When the people in a Samaritan village refused to welcome Jesus, the disciples James and John (the sons of thunder) wanted to call down fire from heaven but Jesus rebuked them. Jesus had no problem rebuking even His disciples.

The ten lepers according to Jewish law had to go show themselves to the priest to be declared to be officially clean, by going through ceremonial washing. This declaration of being was not made easily or quickly. See the Leviticus rules. They are specific and lengthy.
The man who came back to thank Jesus was the only Samaritan of the group. Isn’t it ironic that the only one who came back was a Samaritan? It was a Samaritan village who had not welcomed Jesus and the disciples.

When the 72 returned they were filled with joy.
“…rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Jesus was full of joy through the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ spirit testifies to their spirits. Their joy was genuine for all the right reasons. They had been obedient!
Just imagine, if we are full of joy through our obedience, then Jesus is full of joy because of it and He praises God, the Father. Filled Jesus with joy lately???

“For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” This sounds like a contradiction. Didn’t He earlier say that we must take up our cross and follow Him? How then can it be easy and light? The word "easy" means it is "well fitted". Whatever He asks us to do is a job well fitted just for us. He never asks us to do anything that He doesn't "fit" us to do. If we are well fitted for a job, the burden is not burdensome. It is light.

In the story of Mary and Martha, what was it that Jesus valued most? Martha was busy “doing”. Mary was devoted in her "listening" to the words of Jesus. We do that today through worship, Bible study, and prayer.

“…everyone who asks receives…”
What was He referring to in the asking? Later on He says “…how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Asking doesn't always mean physical, earthly things.

Solomon’s Colonnade was a roofed portico (porch) on the east side of Herod’s Temple. It was a part of the outer courtyard. This was most likely the place where Jesus later stood during His trial before the crucifixion when He looked at Peter when Peter denied Him.

“…no one can snatch them out of my hand…”
Praise God our salvation is secure with Him!

2011-11-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”
We should go to the well (the Bible) to be filled, and then spill ourselves out for others.
Just as a tree soaks up water and produces luscious fruit, if we soak up God’s word, we’ll bear fruit. The more we delight in God’s presence the more fruitful we are. If a tree is planted by streams of water, it survives when drought or bad times come. If we “plant our tree” by God’s word, we will survive when bad times come.

Who was The Prophet the people were looking for?
Is The Prophet John the Baptist? Or Jesus? Who?

The woman caught in adultery…the Law of Moses commanded both parties be put to death. Where was the man?
What did Jesus write on the ground when the woman caught in adultery was brought to Him? Could it be that Jesus was writing the men's names in the dirt when He bent down the first time? When He wrote the second time, immediately after asking them about their own sins, could He have written down some secret sin they had each committed?
When Jesus said he didn’t condemn her, He also admonished her to go and sin no more. There are conditions to "no condemnation".

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
“While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Jesus was the light of the world at the beginning as He will be at the end. “And God said, ‘Let there be light…”
“The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”
Jesus tells us that while He was walking on this earth, He was the light of the world. He no longer walks on the earth as a human man. When He left earth He promised His disciples He would send them the Holy Spirit. When we have the Holy Spirit living in us, we are the light of the world.

Jesus had no problem telling the Jews the way things really were with them. He rebuked them openly, even saying to them that they belong to their father, Satan.
“When he lies, he speaks his native language.”

“…before Abraham was born, I am!” Jesus establishes himself as the Divinity. He has no past tense, no future tense, but always the present.
“I AM” of the Old Testament. Jesus is not the “I was” or the “I will be”. He is the “I AM!” And always will be!

Jesus heals the blind man but notice the man doesn’t believe in Jesus at first. In fact he seems to not really know who Jesus is. When he is questioned by the Jews he is beginning to believe. “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” The Jews threw him out of the temple. They not only threw him out of the building, but by implication, excommunicated him. When Jesus finds the man he asks if he believes. This is the first time the man has actually seen Jesus. When Jesus healed him, the man had to go to the pool to wash before his sight was restored. The man’s response to Jesus’ question, “Lord, I believe.” Not only did Jesus open the man’s eyes, but He opened his “eyes” of understanding as well.

“…the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.” Only through Jesus is salvation. He makes it pretty plain!

“The watchman opens the gate for him…” God, the Father, is the watchman.

“…He calls his own sheep by name…” He knows us and calls us by name.

“…his sheep follow him because they know his voice…” We know Him and know His voice and follow Him. If we really know Him, we will be able to recognize false teachers and false teaching.

Jesus identifies himself as the gate. He tells us that He has come that we might have life abundant. That doesn’t just mean everlasting life. He has come so that we may have an abundant life here on this earth.

“…but I lay it down of my own accord…”
Jesus willingly allowed himself to be arrested and crucified. Are all of us as Christians willing to lay down our own lives in service to Him?

2011-11-03T06:00:00.001-04:00

It is at Caesarea Philippi that Jesus asks the question of a lifetime. “Who do you say that I am?”
Our entire destiny depends on how we answer that question.

Matt 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
To better understand this passage we must look at the Greek words and their meanings.
Peter (petros- a piece of a rock) rock (Petra – a mass of rock) When Jesus says He will build His church on this rock, He is speaking of Himself (Jesus) as the foundation. Jesus is saying that Peter is a part – a piece of the rock.

When Jesus spoke of the "gates of Hades" He was referencing gates as being somewhat of the courthouse of the day. Jesus is saying that Satan's rulership of eternal death will not prevail against believers.

Jesus gives the "keys of the kingdom", He gives the power and authority so that all things that we bind or loose on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven. If we have the power and authority of the kingdom, we will be only operating in righteousness.

Peter rebukes Jesus telling Him that His crucifixion will never take place. John Wesley says that this was the deadliest advice that could ever be given. If Jesus had not gone to the cross, where would we be? Notice Peter goes from being the ROCK to being a stumbling rock.

Jesus says that some of them will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come in power. He is telling them that some of them will see Him transfigured. John got a “double dose”, once on the mountain and once on the Isle of Patmos.

While on the mountain, a bright cloud enveloped Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. This word "enveloped" is the same Greek word used concerning Mary at the conception of Jesus, except it is translated overshadow in that gospel account. "Overshadow" means "to envelop in a haze of brilliancy".

Jesus said, "Elijah comes and will restore all things." The word "restore" in this passage was a bit confusing to us until we looked at the Greek word. It means that John completed the prophecies concerning the Messiah and ushered in a new order of things.

Immediately following the transfiguration. Scripture says the people were overwhelmed with wonder when they saw Jesus. Why? Could it be that He still glowed somewhat from the transfiguration? Remember Moses’ face when he came down from the mountain?

In the epileptic boy episode, we can see a micro model of Satan and his inter action and demise in the world. The man who brought his son to have demons cast out, told Jesus that the disciples had tried and could not drive the demon out. Was it the man’s lack of faith that may have contributed to the failure? He asked Jesus, “… if you can do anything…”
Jesus responds with, “If you can?”
When Jesus rebukes the evil spirit he commands it to come out and never enter again. The spirit shrieks and convulses the body before it comes out. If we compare this to Satan’s reign on earth, he knows he has been defeated, but he is convulsing us now. He will shriek at the end!

Jesus tells the disciples that they were not able to drive out the spirit because they have so little faith. And these were His disciples! They had seen Him perform many signs and wonders. Was it their lack of faith in Jesus or their lack of faith in God’s ability to work through them? They had been given the power but maybe they had turned the spigot off. Or were they trying to do it in their own strength. "This kind can come out only by prayer." Some manuscripts add the words "and fasting." The Greek word for prayer is "proseuche" and carries the idea of abiding in an intimate relationship with God as we present our prayers and are willing to sacrifice something back to God in thanksgiving for answers to those prayers. This adds a bit of a different perspective to praying doesn't it?

Jesus tells the disciples they should become like little children, with a childlike innocence, to believe without question.

“See that you do not look down on one of these little ones…”
How little is little? Is it as little as two cells at conception? The words "look down on" means "to entice to sin, to cause to distrust, to fall away, to place a stumbling block in front of". With that definition in mind, the meaning of the verse reads quite deeper.

“thrown into hell, where their worm does not die…”
Hell in this instance is the Valley of Hinnom, ghenna, a valley outside Jerusalem where garbage is burned. The fire never goes out. It smolders and burns all the time. Worm here means grub, maggot, earthworm, all those things that go along with dead, rotten things.

“Everyone will be salted with fire.”
Everyone will be salted. Will we be salted in hell’s fire and make it burn better or will we be salted with His Divine grace?
Fire is brought into our lives to make them better. It stings and smarts but it often takes us in a new and better direction.

Jesus explains about the testimony of two or three witnesses. This is important when studying the Bible as well. Check scripture to see if it confirms itself.

Jesus explains to Peter about forgiveness. This was a whole new concept for Peter. How about all of us Christians? Do we have a handle on the importance of forgiveness? It isn't always easy is it?

2011-11-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

“He looked up into heaven and with a deep sigh…”
Jesus seems tired because all the people want physical healing and not spiritual healing. Could it be Jesus was demonstrating to the Father and to the people around Him how exasperated He was?

Jesus feeds 4,000 with seven loaves and some fish, with seven baskets left over. What was different this time from the feeding of the 5,000? There must be something significant in this because Jesus spoke to His disciples about it.

Jesus warns them about the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Leaven is not a good thing in this case.

Why did Jesus perform this miracle of restoring sight to the blind man in two parts?
This blind man was brought by friends. The friends begged Jesus to touch him. Could it be the man didn’t have the faith himself? Was his belief or knowledge of Jesus confused or fuzzy at first (like the man saw fuzzy shapes at first). As knowledge and faith grows, things are seen more clearly. Faith is active. It requires action on the part of the person being healed. This man at first didn’t act. It was the action of his friends. Faith is personal!

Is our faith and knowledge in Him growing so that we are beginning to see more clearly like the blind man that Jesus healed? Is our faith active?

2011-11-01T06:00:00.000-04:00

When Jesus fed the 5,000 men (not counting women and children, the number was much higher) He was moved with compassion. This means he was full of tenderness and concern at their plight. Notice Philip immediately told Jesus how much food it would take to feed this many people. Andrew on the other hand immediately brought Jesus the loaves and fishes, knowing that He could somehow make it work.

The people thought the Prophet had come. They wanted to make Jesus king. They wanted their physical needs met.

Jesus sent His disciples ahead of Him with the promise that He would join them later. It was between the hours of 3 and 6 am when they saw Jesus walking on the water. Peter wanted to come to Him, so Jesus commanded him to come. Peter did just fine until he took his eyes off Jesus. Does that happen to us? When we take our eyes off Jesus we begin to sink. When the winds of life thrash around us, do they beat us down and make us afraid?

Jesus rebukes the people who are looking for miraculous signs. Even though they had witnessed the miracle of the feeding of the multitude and they knew the crossing to the other side of the lake was a miracle, they still seemed to pay little attention to it and only wanted the miracles of God in ways to satisfy the physical needs, namely the demands of their appetite. Few were looking for the spiritual blessings.

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.”
If we bury ourselves in the Word, we will eat and drink the Word, something we must do every day! Just as we must eat every day or we will get weak. If we don’t internalize the Word every day we will get weak in our faith.

“From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.”
Did they turn back to their sinful ways? To remember the parable of the soils, did the birds come and eat the seeds? Did they turn back because of hard teaching or because they didn’t believe? Check out the address of this scripture. Its John 6:66.

Jesus asked the Twelve if they wanted to leave too. Peter answers, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words to eternal life.”
Indeed! Only Jesus!

Jesus condemned many of the traditions, such as the ceremonial washing of dishes.
“You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.”

Can you think of some ways that we hold on to the traditions of men and ignore the commands of God? How about the way we celebrate Jesus’ birth? Do we celebrate according to the traditions of men? Or do we honor His birth as fulfillment of prophecy?

2011-10-31T06:00:00.000-04:00

Jesus preaches throughout the country. He went into large wealthy cities and into the poor, obscure villages. He preached and healed both rich and poor. He taught in the synagogues. He had compassion on them, but in a spiritual way. His concern was that they were ignorant with a lack of spiritual vision.

Sheep without a shepherd…can you imagine a field of sheep with no direction and no shepherd?
This would be a sad condition of those who are without Christ. Sheep when they have gone astray are helpless and exposed to danger. They are not capable of finding their own way. They need shepherds to bring them into the fold and give them direction and protection. When Jesus spoke of false shepherds, they not only led the sheep away from the fold but they also fleeced the flock. They didn’t feed them. They didn’t nourish them with the word of truth.

“Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
People obviously wanted the teaching that Jesus was giving them. They needed it, they desired it, and they went out of their way to get it. There were few teachers who were teaching the truth. Jesus sent out his disciples.

Work is to be done now. Are there enough laborers to do the work?

“Shake the dust” is mentioned. When we are unwelcome, at times we need to just walk away.

To just be left alone as sheep where they may be in danger from wolves was one thing, but to send them out among known wolves was something else. They could expect from this warning that they would be like a helpless sheep among a herd of ravenous wolves to be devoured and destroyed. But because He sends them forth, He will protect them. Be aware of the dangers but be meek and mild.

Who can kill the soul? Rejecting Jesus and salvation through Him...that will kill our souls.

Jesus calls His disciples “little ones”. They were “babes in the faith”.

John the Baptist is beheaded. He had completed his mission on earth. Herod thought Jesus was John the Baptist who had risen from the dead - Herod was a Sadducee: and the Sadducees denied the resurrection of the dead. They also denied the existence of angels. So Herod was shaken by Jesus. This says he didn’t know much about Jesus.

As we reflect on the Scripture readings for today, let's take to heart the words of the Lord of the Harvest, let's go out as workers into His harvest field!

2011-10-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

When Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead, He gave orders not to tell anyone about it. He told the blind men the same thing. Why? Earlier He told the demon possessed man to tell. What was the difference? Whenever Jesus heals the physical, He asks people not to tell. When He performs a spiritual miracle, such as driving out demons, He wants people to tell. This gives us a clue as to the importance Jesus places on the spiritual. He wants the spiritual healings to be broadcast to everyone.

Jesus’ family is listed in today’s reading, his mother, Mary, his brothers James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon, and sisters who are not named. But we know He has at least 2.

Jesus didn’t do miracles in his hometown, except for a few sick people. It was their lack of faith that prevented them from being healed.

Is our lack of faith preventing us from receiving or witnessing miracles? Are we putting limits on Jesus because of our lack of faith?

2011-10-29T06:00:00.000-04:00

Today’s reading is filled with parables. A parable is a short, simple story designed to communicate a spiritual truth, religious principle, or moral lesson; a figure of speech in which truth is illustrated by a comparison or example drawn from everyday experiences. The Greek word for parable literally means “a laying by the side of or a casting along side of”, thus a comparison or likeness. In a parable something is placed alongside something else, in order that one may throw light on the other. A familiar custom or incident is used to illustrate some less familiar truth.

We can look at the surface meaning of a parable or we can dig deeper and discover a much deeper meaning. In finding the central meaning of a parable, the reader needs to discover the meaning the parable had in the time of Jesus. As an illustration, let’s look at the parable of the pencil. (Thanks to a friend who sent this to us several years ago.)

PARABLE OF THE PENCIL

In the beginning the pencil maker created the pencil. “You must remember these five things,” the maker told the pencil.

You will do great things but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand.
You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time but it is required if you are to become a better pencil.
You have the ability to correct any mistakes you might make.
The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.
No matter what the conditions, continue to write as you submit to the master’s hand, leave a clear, legible mark no matter how difficult.

If we compare ourselves to the pencil, we can do great things if we allow ourselves to be held in God’s hands and allow other people access to our many gifts. We may undergo a painful “sharpening” by various problems to make us stronger and sharper. We will be able to correct our mistakes or we might grow through them. The most important part of us is what’s inside. On every surface we walk we should leave our mark serving God in everything, following His leading, and never taking credit for authorship of the work.

If this parable had been told in Jesus’ time, would they have understood it? But if we could explain our culture and the importance of pencils and how they are used, then they might have understood the practical application of this parable of the pencil.

For some thoughts on the parables, go to this link and the writing Parables to Ponder.
http://www.philandpatti.com/biblestudies

Jesus gives us the secrets to the kingdom of heaven. Are we getting just the surface meanings or are we going after the hidden treasures? How are we doing digging into his word for those secrets? Are we really working to dig out the nuggets?

2011-10-28T06:00:00.000-04:00

Jesus condemns hypocrisy. One of the most scathing condemnations is this one.
Luke 11:52
"Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."
Those experts were not teaching the truth and were quenching the spirit of those who were seeking the truth. Not much has changed today.

For those of you out there who are “worry warts”…this verse is for you!
Matt 6:27
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Jesus said to seek first His kingdom. What does it mean to seek His kingdom?

Jesus also said to be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. What does it mean to be ready?

To repeat a previous blog entry, Jesus made it very clear in this verse that baptism has nothing to do with water. It has everything to do with spiritual matters.
Luke 12:50
But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!

Luke 3:16
John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

So often during the Christmas season we hear the words, “Peace on earth.” Did Jesus come to bring peace on earth?
Luke 12:51
Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.

This verse should bring us comfort as believers in Jesus Christ. If we are His followers and doing His will, there will be division, not only in the world, but in our churches and even within our families. We must stand firm with the Monument of Truth no matter what happens around us.

2011-10-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

John the Baptist inquires for confirmation of Jesus’ divinity.
Luke 7:20
When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'"

Jesus didn’t answer with a yes or no. He answered with:
Luke 7:22
So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

It is only after the disciples of John leave that Jesus tells the crowd that “there is no one greater than John…”

Why didn’t Jesus tell that to the messengers from John? Wouldn’t that have given great comfort to John? Or was Jesus preventing even a hint of pride to creep into John?

Some interesting reading on the anointing by the sinful woman can be found on the website. Click here:
http://www.philandpatti.com/abiblicalviewofholyweek

What is the unforgivable sin as identified by Jesus in today’s reading?

Luke 11:27-28
As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you." He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

Jesus didn't seem to bless His mother above anyone. He was more concerned with those of us who hear and obey the word of God.

2011-10-26T06:00:00.000-04:00

Ah…the Sermon on the Mount…just a few thoughts.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit…” Poor in spirit refers to a state of mind, as in a broken and contrite spirit, drained of self, emptied in order to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

“Blessed are those who mourn…” This mourning is a Godly sorrow, a mourning over sin.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

The Jews, under the guidance of the Pharisees were taught to keep the inward manifestations of the Law. Jesus commands that the heart be purified. These who are pure in heart will see God with spiritual vision by faith. They can see God in all things, both here and in eternity.

“Blessed are you when people insult you…” Sometimes this can take the form of unchristian talk around you.

“Rejoice and be glad…” Easy to say, not so easy to do when we are being insulted and persecuted.

When Jesus responded to Satan, He said, “It is written…” Jesus quoted Scripture. During the readings for today, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said…”
Jesus made it very clear that we shouldn’t rely on what others say or what traditions hold, but that we should go straight to what is written in God’s Word.

Jesus warns several times about doing good works only for the praise.

Some very hard teaching in this passage, so hard that many spiritual leaders avoid for fear of being judgmental or politically incorrect. But…God’s Word says it and that settles it! No “wiggle” room here! Not all pathways lead to God.
Matt 7:13-14
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Jesus tells us that He is that narrow gate.
John 10:9
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

There is NO other way!

2011-10-25T06:00:00.000-04:00

The tax collector Levi (Matthew) is called by Jesus. Notice Levi got up and followed. Now the fishermen had done a similar thing. When Jesus called, they followed. The fishermen however could go back to fishing (which they did). Once Matthew left his lucrative tax collecting business, he burned a bridge. He couldn’t go back.

Some significant pieces of Scripture in today’s reading.
John 5:21
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.

John 5:28-29
"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out-- those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

John 5:25
I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

God the Father raises ALL the dead. Only those who hear (know Him and have salvation) Jesus’ voice will live forever. Those who are raised and do not know Jesus will die the second death.

John 5:46
If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.
Moses…wrote about Jesus??? How can this be???

Several times Jesus gives strict orders to the demons and evil spirits not to tell who He was. Why?

Luke 6:12-13
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:

Jesus had many disciples or followers, not just the twelve. A disciple is someone who wants to learn. Many people followed Jesus around to learn from Him. But Jesus chose twelve to become apostles (sent out). He chose these twelve to be the ones to send out and be the leaders of the others. Interesting that Jesus spent the night in prayer before choosing the twelve. If Jesus spent the night in prayer with His heavenly Father, shouldn’t we spend time in prayer with Him too?