Saturday, November 29, 2008
Neutrality
Neutrality is not an option for believers, in an article by Greg Bahnsen title Evangelism and Apologetics. Riding the fence just shows what side your really on, and it may not be the one you want.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Joel 3:17-21
The conclusion to this book and our study comes with such hope. "And Jerusalem shall be holy." I see Jerusalem here as a reference to God's chosen people (you're more than welcome to disagree with me on this). We are now God's chosen people, and His people shall be holy. Not because of any merit on our part-all contributions on our part deter our progress toward holiness-but by the fact that we are His, and He will do with us what He wills. He wills us to be holy, so we shall be such a holy people.
"I will avenge their blood, blood I have not avenged, for the LORD dwells in Zion." Why will the Lord avenge their blood? The answer follows: "for the LORD dwells in Zion."
I have very much enjoyed our study, and want to specifically thank Jordan and Candace for your involvement in keeping this blog afloat as I have had to reduce my involvement. It's been a joy and I look forward to keeping this blog going for much longer.
"I will avenge their blood, blood I have not avenged, for the LORD dwells in Zion." Why will the Lord avenge their blood? The answer follows: "for the LORD dwells in Zion."
I have very much enjoyed our study, and want to specifically thank Jordan and Candace for your involvement in keeping this blog afloat as I have had to reduce my involvement. It's been a joy and I look forward to keeping this blog going for much longer.
The Glorious Future of Judah
17 “So you shall know that I am the Lord your God,who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain.And Jerusalem shall be holy,and strangers shall never again pass through it. 18 “And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine,and the hills shall flow with milk,and all the stream beds of Judahs hall flow with water;and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord and water the Valley of Shittim. 19 “Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a desolate wilderness,for the violence done to the people of Judah,because they have shed innocent blood in their land.20 But Judah shall be inhabited forever,and Jerusalem to all generations.21 I will avenge their blood,blood I have not avenged, for the Lord dwells in Zion.”
There is hope for those who trust in God!!! By Christ's death evil has been defeated, it has no hold on us. And on the day the Lord returns, we will not longer sin or suffer! All temptations will be blotted out. And we will live with Him for eternity!!! The Lord goes before us in ALL we do. We need to trust this as we live each day, preach the gospel, and obey. There is no one greater than our God!
As I was reading Stott's "The Cross of Christ" I came across this quote by P.T. Forsyth that spoke about God satisfying His own judgement. It made me more in awe of how Awesome and Marvelous Our God is!
"God dying for man, I am not afraid of that phrase; I cannot do without it. God dying for men; and for such men - hostile, malignantly hostile men. Again, because the holiness of God...is meaningless without judgement, the on thing God could not do in the face of human rebellion was nothing. He must either inflict punishment or assume it. And he chose the latter course, as honouring the law while saving the guilty. He took his own judgement."
"Amazing love! How can it be, That thou, my God, should'st die for me?" - Charles Wesley
There is hope for those who trust in God!!! By Christ's death evil has been defeated, it has no hold on us. And on the day the Lord returns, we will not longer sin or suffer! All temptations will be blotted out. And we will live with Him for eternity!!! The Lord goes before us in ALL we do. We need to trust this as we live each day, preach the gospel, and obey. There is no one greater than our God!
As I was reading Stott's "The Cross of Christ" I came across this quote by P.T. Forsyth that spoke about God satisfying His own judgement. It made me more in awe of how Awesome and Marvelous Our God is!
"God dying for man, I am not afraid of that phrase; I cannot do without it. God dying for men; and for such men - hostile, malignantly hostile men. Again, because the holiness of God...is meaningless without judgement, the on thing God could not do in the face of human rebellion was nothing. He must either inflict punishment or assume it. And he chose the latter course, as honouring the law while saving the guilty. He took his own judgement."
"Amazing love! How can it be, That thou, my God, should'st die for me?" - Charles Wesley
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Joel 3:1-16
3:1 “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, 3 and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it. 4 “What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will return your payment on your own head swiftly and speedily. 5 For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples. 6 You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their own border. 7 Behold, I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and I will return your payment on your own head. 8 I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away, for the Lord has spoken.” 9 Proclaim this among the nations:Consecrate for war; stir up the mighty men.Let all the men of war draw near;let them come up.10 Beat your plowshares into swords,and your pruning hooks into spears;let the weak say, “I am a warrior.” 11 Hasten and come,all you surrounding nations,and gather yourselves there.Bring down your warriors, O Lord.12 Let the nations stir themselves up and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. 13 Put in the sickle,for the harvest is ripe.Go in, tread,for the wine press is full.The vats overflow,for their evil is great. 14 Multitudes, multitudes,in the valley of decision!For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.15 The sun and the moon are darkened,and the stars withdraw their shining. 16 The Lord roars from Zion,and utters his voice from Jerusalem,and the heavens and the earth quake.But the Lord is a refuge to his people,a stronghold to the people of Israel.
The first nine verse of this passage are a wonderful for telling of the victory Christ will have over sin! The Israelites had hardened their hearts and giving themselves over to the sinful pleasures of the world. In love God allowed them to suffer and in love He brought them up and restored them. Just as they wanted nothing to do with God, we ourselves were the same. We had disobeyed God's perfect law and deserved to be given over to our enemies and death. Yet in rich mercy, He who knew NO sin, took our blame, so that we may enjoy His righteousness!!! Nothing or no one can stand against the mighty power of our God!
Verses 9-16: "Here is a challenge to all the enemies of God's people. There is no escaping God's judgments; hardened sinners, in that day of wrath, shall be cut off from all comfort and joy. Most of the prophets foretell the same final victory of the church of God over all that oppose it. To the wicked it will be a terrible day, but to the righteous it will be a joyful day. What cause have those who possess an interest in Christ, to glory in their Strength and their Redeemer! The acceptable year of the Lord, a day of such great favour to some, will be a day of remarkable vengeance to others: let every one that is out of Christ awake, and flee from the wrath to come." - Matthew Henry
This section is a both a strong warning and a great encouragement. If you are not in Christ, there is wrath coming, awake and turn from your sins! If you in Christ rejoice in His strength and mercy, for you have been redeemed! This should also be an encouragement for believers to evangelize. How amazing it is that God placed His wrath on His Son so that His return may be a "remarkable day" for those who call on His name!
The first nine verse of this passage are a wonderful for telling of the victory Christ will have over sin! The Israelites had hardened their hearts and giving themselves over to the sinful pleasures of the world. In love God allowed them to suffer and in love He brought them up and restored them. Just as they wanted nothing to do with God, we ourselves were the same. We had disobeyed God's perfect law and deserved to be given over to our enemies and death. Yet in rich mercy, He who knew NO sin, took our blame, so that we may enjoy His righteousness!!! Nothing or no one can stand against the mighty power of our God!
Verses 9-16: "Here is a challenge to all the enemies of God's people. There is no escaping God's judgments; hardened sinners, in that day of wrath, shall be cut off from all comfort and joy. Most of the prophets foretell the same final victory of the church of God over all that oppose it. To the wicked it will be a terrible day, but to the righteous it will be a joyful day. What cause have those who possess an interest in Christ, to glory in their Strength and their Redeemer! The acceptable year of the Lord, a day of such great favour to some, will be a day of remarkable vengeance to others: let every one that is out of Christ awake, and flee from the wrath to come." - Matthew Henry
This section is a both a strong warning and a great encouragement. If you are not in Christ, there is wrath coming, awake and turn from your sins! If you in Christ rejoice in His strength and mercy, for you have been redeemed! This should also be an encouragement for believers to evangelize. How amazing it is that God placed His wrath on His Son so that His return may be a "remarkable day" for those who call on His name!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Joel 2:28-32 There Shall Be Those Who Escape!
"It shall come to pass afterward." This phrase fights to remove any doubt that you may have about the validity of the following declarations. "I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh." As I perceive it, there are two wonderful things to contemplate in this phrase. The Spirit will be poured out. God does not have to do this. He desires to do so. Secondly, the Spirit won't simply be poured out, but it will be poured out on all flesh. I have hope to have the Spirit poured into me. The result of this follows in the next few verses with the following occurrences:
Sons/Daughters: Prophesy
Old Men: Dreams
Young Men: Visions
"Even on the male and female servants I will pour out my Spirit." Even to those who are looked down upon by those in their society. One's social class does not matter to the Lord. He will pour out His Spirit.
The passage then goes discussing briefly some of the wonders that will be shown. What is the result of this little bit? To draw people to Himself. "And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." What marvelous truth we can cling to with all our might. It doesn't matter what situation in which we find ourselves. We who have called on the name of the LORD will be saved.
To conclude today's section, we are given another reminder of the judgment that is proclaimed in this book. But not in the way one would expect. "For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls." There shall be those who escape! This phrase is simply bursting with hope. "Among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls." This here is an interesting little nugget pointing to God's election.
Sons/Daughters: Prophesy
Old Men: Dreams
Young Men: Visions
"Even on the male and female servants I will pour out my Spirit." Even to those who are looked down upon by those in their society. One's social class does not matter to the Lord. He will pour out His Spirit.
The passage then goes discussing briefly some of the wonders that will be shown. What is the result of this little bit? To draw people to Himself. "And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." What marvelous truth we can cling to with all our might. It doesn't matter what situation in which we find ourselves. We who have called on the name of the LORD will be saved.
To conclude today's section, we are given another reminder of the judgment that is proclaimed in this book. But not in the way one would expect. "For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls." There shall be those who escape! This phrase is simply bursting with hope. "Among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls." This here is an interesting little nugget pointing to God's election.
Living for That Day
"28“And it shall come to pass afterward,that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,your old men shall dream dreams,and your young men shall see visions.29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. 30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls."
Matthew Henry sums the section up:"The promise began to be fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out, and it was continued in the converting grace and miraculous gifts conferred on both Jews and Gentiles. The judgments of God upon a sinful world, only go before the judgment of the world in the last day. Calling on God supposes knowledge of him, faith in him, desire toward him, dependence on him, and, as evidence of the sincerity of all this, conscientious obedience to him. Those only shall be delivered in the great day, who are now effectually called from sin to God, from self to Christ, from things below to things above." - Matthew Henry
This passage is a picture of THAT glorious and awesome day when the Lord will return! How gracious of the Lord to allow those who call on His name to be saved. He put that desire in our hearts and allowed for it! As I read this passage I was reminded of the importance to be living each day in light of eternity. We don't know what tomorrow may bring, but we don't have to worry! Our hope is eternal!
Matthew Henry sums the section up:"The promise began to be fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out, and it was continued in the converting grace and miraculous gifts conferred on both Jews and Gentiles. The judgments of God upon a sinful world, only go before the judgment of the world in the last day. Calling on God supposes knowledge of him, faith in him, desire toward him, dependence on him, and, as evidence of the sincerity of all this, conscientious obedience to him. Those only shall be delivered in the great day, who are now effectually called from sin to God, from self to Christ, from things below to things above." - Matthew Henry
This passage is a picture of THAT glorious and awesome day when the Lord will return! How gracious of the Lord to allow those who call on His name to be saved. He put that desire in our hearts and allowed for it! As I read this passage I was reminded of the importance to be living each day in light of eternity. We don't know what tomorrow may bring, but we don't have to worry! Our hope is eternal!
Friday, November 21, 2008
The Lord Had Pity!!!
18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land and had pity on his people.19 The Lord answered and said to his people,“Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil,and you will be satisfied;and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.20 “I will remove the northerner far from you,and drive him into a parched and desolate land,his vanguard into the eastern sea,and his rear guard into the western sea;the stench and foul smell of him will rise,for he has done great things.21 “Fear not, O land;be glad and rejoice,for the Lord has done great things!22 Fear not, you beasts of the field,for the pastures of the wilderness are green;the tree bears its fruit;the fig tree and vine give their full yield.23 “Be glad, O children of Zion,and rejoice in the Lord your God,for he has given the early rain for your vindication;he has poured down for you abundant rain,the early and the latter rain, as before.24 “The threshing floors shall be full of grain;the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.25 I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,my great army, which I sent among you.26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,and praise the name of the Lord your God,who has dealt wondrously with you.And my people shall never again be put to shame.27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
Yet another wonderful testimony of God's goodness and love. He not only spares His people, but He also will restore their riches and bless them with food that they may be satisfied. The Lord did a great thing and was calling his people to rejoice. My heart is filled with rejoicing as I read this! This is truly a great and marvelous example of grace, He turns away His Holy perfect deserving wrath and pours out blessings instead. The people receive what they don't deserve and not getting what they do.
“You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,and praise the name of the Lord your God,who has dealt wondrously with you.And my people shall never again be put to shame.27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame." Reading the line "who has dealt WONDROUSLY with you," wow! How amazing it is that God would do this, for me a poor wretched sinner. I don't deserve to be dealt with wondrously by God. God's love is wondrous! I am constantly affected by this and it is a glorious mystery! He is not going to put me to shame! He is in the only one who can satisfy, nothing else!
Yet another wonderful testimony of God's goodness and love. He not only spares His people, but He also will restore their riches and bless them with food that they may be satisfied. The Lord did a great thing and was calling his people to rejoice. My heart is filled with rejoicing as I read this! This is truly a great and marvelous example of grace, He turns away His Holy perfect deserving wrath and pours out blessings instead. The people receive what they don't deserve and not getting what they do.
“You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,and praise the name of the Lord your God,who has dealt wondrously with you.And my people shall never again be put to shame.27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame." Reading the line "who has dealt WONDROUSLY with you," wow! How amazing it is that God would do this, for me a poor wretched sinner. I don't deserve to be dealt with wondrously by God. God's love is wondrous! I am constantly affected by this and it is a glorious mystery! He is not going to put me to shame! He is in the only one who can satisfy, nothing else!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Joel 2:12-17
These few verses have much intrigue in them. God's judgment is being declared, and there is a precious pause in that declaration. "Yet even now." What words of hope! The very phrase gives indication that God's judgment does not have to be toward us. The next verse goes into visible signs of repentance displayed in the Old Testament.
I find the last verse of our section (vs 17) very interesting. Between the vestibule and the altar, which was the usual place for intercession for the people made by the priests. The Lord commands the priests to go there and plead for the people. We see the result of that pleading in the following verses. The Lord promises salvation. "Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied." Todd Twining in his discussion on this section helped me make some good connections. The grain (bread) symbolizes the body of Christ, the wine symbolizes the blood of Christ, and the oil is the symbol of the anointing of the Spirit. I found those connections really interesting.
I find the last verse of our section (vs 17) very interesting. Between the vestibule and the altar, which was the usual place for intercession for the people made by the priests. The Lord commands the priests to go there and plead for the people. We see the result of that pleading in the following verses. The Lord promises salvation. "Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied." Todd Twining in his discussion on this section helped me make some good connections. The grain (bread) symbolizes the body of Christ, the wine symbolizes the blood of Christ, and the oil is the symbol of the anointing of the Spirit. I found those connections really interesting.
Joel 2:12-17
12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,“return to me with all your heart,with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.”Return to the Lord your God,for he is gracious and merciful,slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;and he relents over disaster.14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,and leave a blessing behind him,a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion;consecrate a fast;call a solemn assembly;16 gather the people.Consecrate the congregation;assemble the elders;gather the children,even nursing infants.Let the bridegroom leave his room,and the bride her chamber.
17 Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, “Spare your people, O Lord,and make not your heritage a reproach,a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples,‘Where is their God?’”
What strikes me is the verse 13..."for he is gracious and merciful,slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;and he relents over disaster." Our God who is glorious and mighty, above all and has the power to whatever He wills. We deserved to be snuffed out in an instance! Yet he gives us a gracious chance to repent and to change our ways and run to Him. He still desires to show us mercy. It would be very frightening to live every day if we knew that He was not gracious or quick to anger!!! Yet even in our foolishness he calls us to repent and if we do, he relents His wrath. He hears our cries and does not turn a deaf ear towards them. And His is steadfast! It is not going to change from one occasion to the next. Forever He will love us! How exciting and freeing! This whole chapter is a wonderful picture of God's future plan of salvation, through the death of His Son. We get to enjoy that now! We must be humble and not forget our God and who He is and what He has done for us!
Matthew Henry said: "God is ready to succour his people; and he waits to be gracious. They prayed that God would spare them, and he answered them." The next section goes into how God answered them. But the fact that we would even do that and wait graciously for them to respond, is AMAZING! What are we doing a daily basis to recount the glories of our God? When God graciously reveals sin in our lives, how will be respond? Also, when others sin against us and wrong us, how will we respond? Like our Heavenly Father, slow to anger and in gracious mercy and love?
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion;consecrate a fast;call a solemn assembly;16 gather the people.Consecrate the congregation;assemble the elders;gather the children,even nursing infants.Let the bridegroom leave his room,and the bride her chamber.
17 Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, “Spare your people, O Lord,and make not your heritage a reproach,a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples,‘Where is their God?’”
What strikes me is the verse 13..."for he is gracious and merciful,slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;and he relents over disaster." Our God who is glorious and mighty, above all and has the power to whatever He wills. We deserved to be snuffed out in an instance! Yet he gives us a gracious chance to repent and to change our ways and run to Him. He still desires to show us mercy. It would be very frightening to live every day if we knew that He was not gracious or quick to anger!!! Yet even in our foolishness he calls us to repent and if we do, he relents His wrath. He hears our cries and does not turn a deaf ear towards them. And His is steadfast! It is not going to change from one occasion to the next. Forever He will love us! How exciting and freeing! This whole chapter is a wonderful picture of God's future plan of salvation, through the death of His Son. We get to enjoy that now! We must be humble and not forget our God and who He is and what He has done for us!
Matthew Henry said: "God is ready to succour his people; and he waits to be gracious. They prayed that God would spare them, and he answered them." The next section goes into how God answered them. But the fact that we would even do that and wait graciously for them to respond, is AMAZING! What are we doing a daily basis to recount the glories of our God? When God graciously reveals sin in our lives, how will be respond? Also, when others sin against us and wrong us, how will we respond? Like our Heavenly Father, slow to anger and in gracious mercy and love?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The Day of The Lord
Joel 2:1-11
Joel chapter 2 begins by describing judgment that will come - a mighty army set against Judah. Since this is all part of “God’s day” not “man’s day,” it is described as the day of the Lord. When we have a right standing with God, we want the day of the Lord. We long for Him to show His strength because we know that we abide in Him (John 15:4). When we do not have a right standing with God, we dread the day of the Lord. In Joel’s day Judah was not right with God, so the day of the Lord was nothing but dreadful, dark, and gloomy to them.
Where is our standing today? Do we dread the Lord’s intervening into circumstances? Or do we want and long for God’s intervening?
Just as Paul did in the New Testament, we should consider ourselves to be like an army. This passage shows us things that can make God’s people more effective. We need to keep order, work hard, and serve Christ!
Psalm 118:24- “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Joel chapter 2 begins by describing judgment that will come - a mighty army set against Judah. Since this is all part of “God’s day” not “man’s day,” it is described as the day of the Lord. When we have a right standing with God, we want the day of the Lord. We long for Him to show His strength because we know that we abide in Him (John 15:4). When we do not have a right standing with God, we dread the day of the Lord. In Joel’s day Judah was not right with God, so the day of the Lord was nothing but dreadful, dark, and gloomy to them.
Where is our standing today? Do we dread the Lord’s intervening into circumstances? Or do we want and long for God’s intervening?
Just as Paul did in the New Testament, we should consider ourselves to be like an army. This passage shows us things that can make God’s people more effective. We need to keep order, work hard, and serve Christ!
Psalm 118:24- “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Cry Out To God
Verse 13-This verse is a call to repentance. Joel calls the religious leaders to lead the nation in repentance. He tells the priests to “put on their sackcloth” and prepare to do the work of repentance.
Verse 14- Joel tells them how to do the work of repentance (borrowed from enduring word commentaries):
-Consecrate a fast: Make getting right with God so important that even eating isn’t important
-Call a solemn assembly: Call for God’s people to come together and repent
-Gather the elders: The leaders of the people should make a special point to be part of the work of repentance
-Into the house of the Lord your God: Come to the place where you should meet together with God and cry out unto the Lord.
-Cry out to God: simply cry out to God and trust that He will respond in mercy
Verses 15-20:
“The sorrow of the people is turned into repentance and humiliation before God. With all the marks of sorrow and shame, sin must be confessed and bewailed. A day is to be appointed for this purpose; a day in which people must be kept from their common employments, that they may more closely attend God's services; and there is to be abstaining from meat and drink.” –Matthew Henry
The idea behind the phrase “the day of the Lord” is that it is God’s time. Man has his “day,” and the Lord has His day. God’s timing is PERFECT our timing is not! In the ultimate sense, the day of the Lord is fulfilled when Jesus judges the earth and returns in glory. In a lesser sense, a time of judgment as Judah experienced with the locusts and drought or when we are in need for God to intervene in a situation are also examples of the day of the Lord.
In this time of drought, all Judah could do was cry out to God. They were powerless to “fix” the drought problem. But, as always, God was faithful and sent them to a place where only heaven could help them, so they would look no other place.
“Their crying to God in those cases, shames the stupidity of those who cry not to God in any case” –Matthew Henry
Psalm 40:1- “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock making my steps secure.”
What an example David is in this Psalm! Far too often do I do the opposite of this. It is all over scripture to “cry out to God” for help in troubled times. How foolish of me to not do this at ALL times. Just as David did, we need to cry out to God for our help and strength. He is the ONLY source of strength in troubled times. He is the solid rock that will lead us to righteousness. How exciting it is that though we cannot do anything on our own strength, with Christ, we are strong!
“In Luke 13:1-5 Jesus was confronted with the problem of a disaster that killed 18 people. Instead of acting as if it were just an accident of blind fate, Jesus used it as a wake-up call for repentance. Jesus showed that “Why did this disaster happen to them?” is the wrong question. The right question is “Am I ready to face such a disaster in this fallen world?”
“The outcome of our lives in not determined by what happens to us but by how we respond to what happens to us.” –Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Verse 14- Joel tells them how to do the work of repentance (borrowed from enduring word commentaries):
-Consecrate a fast: Make getting right with God so important that even eating isn’t important
-Call a solemn assembly: Call for God’s people to come together and repent
-Gather the elders: The leaders of the people should make a special point to be part of the work of repentance
-Into the house of the Lord your God: Come to the place where you should meet together with God and cry out unto the Lord.
-Cry out to God: simply cry out to God and trust that He will respond in mercy
Verses 15-20:
“The sorrow of the people is turned into repentance and humiliation before God. With all the marks of sorrow and shame, sin must be confessed and bewailed. A day is to be appointed for this purpose; a day in which people must be kept from their common employments, that they may more closely attend God's services; and there is to be abstaining from meat and drink.” –Matthew Henry
The idea behind the phrase “the day of the Lord” is that it is God’s time. Man has his “day,” and the Lord has His day. God’s timing is PERFECT our timing is not! In the ultimate sense, the day of the Lord is fulfilled when Jesus judges the earth and returns in glory. In a lesser sense, a time of judgment as Judah experienced with the locusts and drought or when we are in need for God to intervene in a situation are also examples of the day of the Lord.
In this time of drought, all Judah could do was cry out to God. They were powerless to “fix” the drought problem. But, as always, God was faithful and sent them to a place where only heaven could help them, so they would look no other place.
“Their crying to God in those cases, shames the stupidity of those who cry not to God in any case” –Matthew Henry
Psalm 40:1- “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock making my steps secure.”
What an example David is in this Psalm! Far too often do I do the opposite of this. It is all over scripture to “cry out to God” for help in troubled times. How foolish of me to not do this at ALL times. Just as David did, we need to cry out to God for our help and strength. He is the ONLY source of strength in troubled times. He is the solid rock that will lead us to righteousness. How exciting it is that though we cannot do anything on our own strength, with Christ, we are strong!
“In Luke 13:1-5 Jesus was confronted with the problem of a disaster that killed 18 people. Instead of acting as if it were just an accident of blind fate, Jesus used it as a wake-up call for repentance. Jesus showed that “Why did this disaster happen to them?” is the wrong question. The right question is “Am I ready to face such a disaster in this fallen world?”
“The outcome of our lives in not determined by what happens to us but by how we respond to what happens to us.” –Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Joel 1:13-20 - Call to Repentance
13 Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar.Go in, pass the night in sackcloth,O ministers of my God! Because grain offering and drink offering are withheld from the house of your God. 14 Consecrate a fast;call a solemn assembly.Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your God,and cry out to the Lord. 15 Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near,and as destruction from the Almighty it comes.16 Is not the food cut off before our eyes,joy and gladness from the house of our God? 17 The seed shrivels under the clods; the storehouses are desolate;the granaries are torn down because the grain has dried up.18 How the beasts groan! The herds of cattle are perplexed because there is no pasture for them;even the flocks of sheep suffer. 19 To you, O Lord, I call. For fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness,and flame has burned all the trees of the field. 20 Even the beasts of the field pant for you because the water brooks are dried up,and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.
Sorry for the short post, I am busy today. Candace did an excellent job breaking down this section, refer to her post.
This passage is a strong call to repentance. Those that did not heed this were fools. Same with us when we do not heed God's strong/gracious warnings. Our desire should be to please and glorify God. God's way is perfect, our is not, we need to trust Him. Let's be a people who are quick to repent and change and praise God that He has opened our eyes to see where we need to change and repent. What an amazing God we serve!
Sorry for the short post, I am busy today. Candace did an excellent job breaking down this section, refer to her post.
This passage is a strong call to repentance. Those that did not heed this were fools. Same with us when we do not heed God's strong/gracious warnings. Our desire should be to please and glorify God. God's way is perfect, our is not, we need to trust Him. Let's be a people who are quick to repent and change and praise God that He has opened our eyes to see where we need to change and repent. What an amazing God we serve!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Joel 1:1-12
It's difficult not to be astonished by the strong language used in the minor prophets. It gives us a glimpse into God's mind, that we might see how He hates sin, yet loves us. I see this to be a consistent theme of the minor prophets: declaration of judgment with calls of repentance and promises of acceptance when faithful to repent peppered through them. These are incredibly interesting books to study, and I would encourage you not to simply allow your study to stop after we conclude Joel, but to continue on in the minor prophets. If you're anything like me, you overlook them constantly when considering what to read in your times in the Word. Well, onto today's section.
Locusts destroyed all of the crops. As a result, the people are unable to give their grain and drink offerings. (verses 9-11). God calls them on the fact that they have not given their offerings in verse 13 (sorry to jump ahead of our schedule, but I found this really interesting). "Go in, pass the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God! Because grain offering and drink offering are withheld from the house of your God." Our offerings to God are contingent on God giving us something to offer, then the ability to offer them. Even though God has cut off the ability for the people to give such offerings, they are still required. This puts the people in an impossible situation. They seem to be unable to please the Lord in themselves. Sound familiar? I found this to be an excellent reminder as it pertains to tithing, which our church has been addressing. Everything I have has come from God, and I am to give the firstfruits of that back to God. It has been quite a helpful reminder as God is dealing with my heart as it comes to giving financially.
Locusts destroyed all of the crops. As a result, the people are unable to give their grain and drink offerings. (verses 9-11). God calls them on the fact that they have not given their offerings in verse 13 (sorry to jump ahead of our schedule, but I found this really interesting). "Go in, pass the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God! Because grain offering and drink offering are withheld from the house of your God." Our offerings to God are contingent on God giving us something to offer, then the ability to offer them. Even though God has cut off the ability for the people to give such offerings, they are still required. This puts the people in an impossible situation. They seem to be unable to please the Lord in themselves. Sound familiar? I found this to be an excellent reminder as it pertains to tithing, which our church has been addressing. Everything I have has come from God, and I am to give the firstfruits of that back to God. It has been quite a helpful reminder as God is dealing with my heart as it comes to giving financially.
God: The Only True Source of Joy and Happiness!
1:1 The word of the Lord that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel:
An Invasion of Locusts
2 Hear this, you elders;give ear, all inhabitants of the land! Has such a thing happened in your days,or in the days of your fathers?3 Tell your children of it,and let your children tell their children,and their children to another generation. 4 What the cutting locust left,the swarming locust has eaten. What the swarming locust left,the hopping locust has eaten,and what the hopping locust left,the destroying locust has eaten. 5 Awake, you drunkards, and weep,and wail, all you drinkers of wine,because of the sweet wine,for it is cut off from your mouth.6 For a nation has come up against my land, powerful and beyond number;its teeth are lions' teeth,and it has the fangs of a lioness.7 It has laid waste my vine and splintered my fig tree;it has stripped off their bark and thrown it down;their branches are made white. 8 Lament like a virgin wearing sackcloth for the bridegroom of her youth.9 The grain offering and the drink offering are cut off from the house of the Lord.The priests mourn,the ministers of the Lord.10 The fields are destroyed,the ground mourns,because the grain is destroyed,the wine dries up,the oil languishes. 11 Be ashamed, O tillers of the soil;wail, O vine dressers,for the wheat and the barley,because the harvest of the field has perished.12 The vine dries up;the fig tree languishes.Pomegranate, palm, and apple,all the trees of the field are dried up,and gladness dries up from the children of man.
This first part of Joel in chapter 1 introduces the Lord's judgment by way of a locust infestation, drought, and the coming of a great army. These "plagues" on the “day of the Lord” are then followed by a call for repentance the in verses in tomorrows section.
"The most aged could not remember such calamities as were about to take place. Armies of insects were coming upon the land to eat the fruits of it. It is expressed so as to apply also to the destruction of the country by a foreign enemy, and seems to refer to the devastations of the Chaldeans. God is Lord of hosts, has every creature at his command, and, when he pleases, can humble and mortify a proud, rebellious people, by the weakest and most contemptible creatures. It is just with God to take away the comforts which are abused to luxury and excess; and the more men place their happiness in the gratifications of sense, the more severe temporal afflictions are upon them. The more earthly delights we make needful to satisfy us, the more we expose ourselves to trouble." - Matthew Henry
The last line of Henry's quote is very true..."The more earthly delights we make needful to satisfy us, the more we expose ourselves to trouble..." This is what Israel had done. They had forgotten how great and powerful their God was. And what He had done for them in that past. They began to enjoy their blessings more than the one who gave them those blessings. As the generations went on, they did not recount of pass on the great things the Lord had done. They became very self-centered and selfish. What a wonderful example of how NOTHING in this world satisfies. How sad it is when we turn to other things or trust other things to bring us joy and happiness. The question is what and who will we delight in? Hopefully it will not take plagues to wake us up and focus and on God our provider and strength. Henry continues this thought:
All who labour only for the meat that perishes, will, sooner or later, be ashamed of their labour. Those that place their happiness in the delights of sense, when deprived of them, or disturbed in the enjoyment, lose their joy; whereas spiritual joy then flourishes more than ever. See what perishing, uncertain things our creature-comforts are. See how we need to live in continual dependence upon God and his providence. See what ruinous work sin makes. As far as poverty occasions the decay of piety, and starves the cause of religion among a people, it is a very sore judgment. But how blessed are the awakening judgments of God, in rousing his people and calling home the heart to Christ, and his salvation! - Matthew Henry
How exciting that when our happiness and trust is in God the rock of our salvation that our spiritual joy flourishes! Happiness and hope placed in anything else is meaningless and will crash and burn. We would be blind to this and would not even realize it had God not called us and saved us through Christ. We would be wondering around in utter misery, continually seeking worthless things to bring us fleeting and temporal happiness. What great loving mercy! Just as God used these events in the lives of the Israelites to remind them where their hope and security was, so he also uses trials and sufferings in our own lives. Because of Christ we can repent and put our focus back where it needs to be. How Great Is Our God!!!
An Invasion of Locusts
2 Hear this, you elders;give ear, all inhabitants of the land! Has such a thing happened in your days,or in the days of your fathers?3 Tell your children of it,and let your children tell their children,and their children to another generation. 4 What the cutting locust left,the swarming locust has eaten. What the swarming locust left,the hopping locust has eaten,and what the hopping locust left,the destroying locust has eaten. 5 Awake, you drunkards, and weep,and wail, all you drinkers of wine,because of the sweet wine,for it is cut off from your mouth.6 For a nation has come up against my land, powerful and beyond number;its teeth are lions' teeth,and it has the fangs of a lioness.7 It has laid waste my vine and splintered my fig tree;it has stripped off their bark and thrown it down;their branches are made white. 8 Lament like a virgin wearing sackcloth for the bridegroom of her youth.9 The grain offering and the drink offering are cut off from the house of the Lord.The priests mourn,the ministers of the Lord.10 The fields are destroyed,the ground mourns,because the grain is destroyed,the wine dries up,the oil languishes. 11 Be ashamed, O tillers of the soil;wail, O vine dressers,for the wheat and the barley,because the harvest of the field has perished.12 The vine dries up;the fig tree languishes.Pomegranate, palm, and apple,all the trees of the field are dried up,and gladness dries up from the children of man.
This first part of Joel in chapter 1 introduces the Lord's judgment by way of a locust infestation, drought, and the coming of a great army. These "plagues" on the “day of the Lord” are then followed by a call for repentance the in verses in tomorrows section.
"The most aged could not remember such calamities as were about to take place. Armies of insects were coming upon the land to eat the fruits of it. It is expressed so as to apply also to the destruction of the country by a foreign enemy, and seems to refer to the devastations of the Chaldeans. God is Lord of hosts, has every creature at his command, and, when he pleases, can humble and mortify a proud, rebellious people, by the weakest and most contemptible creatures. It is just with God to take away the comforts which are abused to luxury and excess; and the more men place their happiness in the gratifications of sense, the more severe temporal afflictions are upon them. The more earthly delights we make needful to satisfy us, the more we expose ourselves to trouble." - Matthew Henry
The last line of Henry's quote is very true..."The more earthly delights we make needful to satisfy us, the more we expose ourselves to trouble..." This is what Israel had done. They had forgotten how great and powerful their God was. And what He had done for them in that past. They began to enjoy their blessings more than the one who gave them those blessings. As the generations went on, they did not recount of pass on the great things the Lord had done. They became very self-centered and selfish. What a wonderful example of how NOTHING in this world satisfies. How sad it is when we turn to other things or trust other things to bring us joy and happiness. The question is what and who will we delight in? Hopefully it will not take plagues to wake us up and focus and on God our provider and strength. Henry continues this thought:
All who labour only for the meat that perishes, will, sooner or later, be ashamed of their labour. Those that place their happiness in the delights of sense, when deprived of them, or disturbed in the enjoyment, lose their joy; whereas spiritual joy then flourishes more than ever. See what perishing, uncertain things our creature-comforts are. See how we need to live in continual dependence upon God and his providence. See what ruinous work sin makes. As far as poverty occasions the decay of piety, and starves the cause of religion among a people, it is a very sore judgment. But how blessed are the awakening judgments of God, in rousing his people and calling home the heart to Christ, and his salvation! - Matthew Henry
How exciting that when our happiness and trust is in God the rock of our salvation that our spiritual joy flourishes! Happiness and hope placed in anything else is meaningless and will crash and burn. We would be blind to this and would not even realize it had God not called us and saved us through Christ. We would be wondering around in utter misery, continually seeking worthless things to bring us fleeting and temporal happiness. What great loving mercy! Just as God used these events in the lives of the Israelites to remind them where their hope and security was, so he also uses trials and sufferings in our own lives. Because of Christ we can repent and put our focus back where it needs to be. How Great Is Our God!!!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Joel
It was my turn to make the final call on what to study, so let us study through the book of Joel. We'll begin posting on Monday, November 17. So in the mean time, I'd encourage you to be reading through Joel a few times. A few months ago, Todd Twining did a class on the minor prophets. It was a very helpful class that provides an excellent jumping off point for study. The link is provided here (http://sow.metrolife.org/)and in the "studies" section of the blog. The mp3 on Joel is from 07.09.2008. We shall break Joel up just as the English Standard Version of the Bible breaks it up.
Mon 11/17/08 - Joel 1:1-12
Tue 11/18/08 - Joel 1:13-20
Wed 11/19/08 - Joel 2:1-11
Thu 11/20/08 - Joel 2:12-17
Fri 11/21/08 - Joel 2:18-27
Mon 11/24/08 - Joel 2:28-32
Tue 11/25/08 - Joel 3:1-16
Wed 11/26/08 - Joel 3:17-21
I'm looking forward to being involved in this study. I was so disappointed that I was unable to participate in the last study. Again, as Jordan has stated, participate as you can. And on a final note, if you desire to participate in this study with us, we'd love to have you join us. Simply let myself or Jordan know your intentions, and we'll give you permission to post.
Mon 11/17/08 - Joel 1:1-12
Tue 11/18/08 - Joel 1:13-20
Wed 11/19/08 - Joel 2:1-11
Thu 11/20/08 - Joel 2:12-17
Fri 11/21/08 - Joel 2:18-27
Mon 11/24/08 - Joel 2:28-32
Tue 11/25/08 - Joel 3:1-16
Wed 11/26/08 - Joel 3:17-21
I'm looking forward to being involved in this study. I was so disappointed that I was unable to participate in the last study. Again, as Jordan has stated, participate as you can. And on a final note, if you desire to participate in this study with us, we'd love to have you join us. Simply let myself or Jordan know your intentions, and we'll give you permission to post.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
What's Next?
You all have any thoughts on what to study next? Another Article? Book in the Bible or passage of scripture? Love to hear them. Hopefully your schedules will allow for more participation this time. Remember this is open, participate as you can and invite people.
Looking forward to next time...
Looking forward to next time...
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Let's Fight!
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and 11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
Timothy was commanded to be different from those who lived for riches and material wealth. He was to flee the proud arguments of those who misuse God’s Word. "Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness." Instead of pride and riches, Timothy was to make these things his pursuit. These are things which are not valued in the world, but are very valuable to God. This challenge to leave some things and follow hard after some other things isn’t just directed to Timothy, but to everyone who would be a man [or woman] of God. Going God’s way – against the flow of this world – isn’t easy. Therefore, Timothy had to have a soldier’s determination. God calls us to be fighters, not just any fighters. One’s that flee worldly passions! We are to fight the good fight of faith – a fight where some may lose a battle here and there, but they will carry on the fight with great determination until the war is over. What a glorious celebration it will be!
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
"Being rich in this world is wholly different from being rich towards God. Nothing is more uncertain than worldly wealth. Those who are rich, must see that God gives them their riches; and he only can give to enjoy them richly; for many have riches, but enjoy them poorly, not having a heart to use them.” Matthew Henry
20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.
The gospel is a trust committed to pastors like Timothy; but also to all believers. When that trust is broken, we have “swerved” from our faith. We must fight as hard as we can to keep this trust!
Are there any barriers that are holding us back? Let’s remove them and press on in the battle for Christ!
1 Corinthians 10:31- “For whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
1 John 2:15-17- “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that are in the world- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions-is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desire, but whoever does the will of God abides FOREVER.”
Ever since I read this passage earlier today, I've had the "Rocky" theme song stuck in my head =) No, it's not necessarily biblically sound, but it's a good reminder to fight hard! I am pumped! Let's put on our armor and win this fight! Thanks so much for letting me participate in this study. I have benefited from it greatly!
Timothy was commanded to be different from those who lived for riches and material wealth. He was to flee the proud arguments of those who misuse God’s Word. "Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness." Instead of pride and riches, Timothy was to make these things his pursuit. These are things which are not valued in the world, but are very valuable to God. This challenge to leave some things and follow hard after some other things isn’t just directed to Timothy, but to everyone who would be a man [or woman] of God. Going God’s way – against the flow of this world – isn’t easy. Therefore, Timothy had to have a soldier’s determination. God calls us to be fighters, not just any fighters. One’s that flee worldly passions! We are to fight the good fight of faith – a fight where some may lose a battle here and there, but they will carry on the fight with great determination until the war is over. What a glorious celebration it will be!
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
"Being rich in this world is wholly different from being rich towards God. Nothing is more uncertain than worldly wealth. Those who are rich, must see that God gives them their riches; and he only can give to enjoy them richly; for many have riches, but enjoy them poorly, not having a heart to use them.” Matthew Henry
20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.
The gospel is a trust committed to pastors like Timothy; but also to all believers. When that trust is broken, we have “swerved” from our faith. We must fight as hard as we can to keep this trust!
Are there any barriers that are holding us back? Let’s remove them and press on in the battle for Christ!
1 Corinthians 10:31- “For whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
1 John 2:15-17- “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that are in the world- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions-is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desire, but whoever does the will of God abides FOREVER.”
Ever since I read this passage earlier today, I've had the "Rocky" theme song stuck in my head =) No, it's not necessarily biblically sound, but it's a good reminder to fight hard! I am pumped! Let's put on our armor and win this fight! Thanks so much for letting me participate in this study. I have benefited from it greatly!
Fight the Good Fight
Unfortunately, I do not have much time to go into this passage today. It was been a wonderful study and I look forward to more to come. Hopefully every one's schedule's will allow for more participation next time. I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions for what to study next. Thanks!
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
Just as Timothy was charged, so we are also charged. Our fight is to be strong and zealous. We have been given eternal life with God! Let us not waste what we have so graciously been given. Paul's charge is serious and needs to be heeded. Our fight is good, because it is a fight we have been called to by God and given by Christ. We are given the Holy Spirit to helps us in our fight, we are sustained! May we put to death sin, hack it to pieces, and pursue holiness by His grace!
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. 20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.
Grace be with you.
Here Paul recaps his whole letter to Timothy. God is the only true source of joy. He is the ultimate provider and has blessed us more than we can imagine. We are to enjoy him him and be thankful. What we have been given is good, do not buy into the lies and enticement of the false teachings of the world. I pray that we would press on hard in the life we are given here on earth, but always remember that it is not death to die! By His grace we will live with him for eternity with no pain, no sickness, and NO SIN! Grace be with us!
It is not death to die
To leave this weary road
And join the saints who dwell on high
Who’ve found their home with God
It is not death to close
The eyes long dimmed by tears
And wake in joy before
Your throne
Delivered from our fears
O Jesus, conquering the grave
Your precious blood has power to save
Those who trust in You
Will in Your mercy find
That it is not death to die
It is not death to fling
Aside this earthly dust
And rise with strong and noble wing
To live among the just
It is not death to hear
The key unlock the door
That sets us free from mortal years
To praise You evermore
- SGMusic
Monday, November 3, 2008
Have an Eternal Perspective!
6:1 Let all who are under a yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things.
Though we are not "slaves" this passage applies to us today. How we work at our job is an example to both believers and non-believers. How are we standing out "from the crowd?" Are non-believers looking at us saying, "there is really is something different about them, I want that." Or "They SAY there is something different about them, but they act just the same as me." Our responses speak very loudly. Honoring God is something we should do at all times and people are watching us, whether we think they are or not. We should apply ourselves at work and not be lazy or complain when we are given something we don't want to do.
3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
The true teachings of Christ are what lead to godliness. Teach or believe anything else, you are believing/teaching a lie. Verses 4-5 contain a very strong description of what a false teacher is. It is very far from godliness, the exact opposite. "He understands nothing..." Is a very humbling line. Apart from the grace of God we cannot understand anything. If we are to reject His absolute truths then we are rejecting the gift of understanding. Most people today think they do understand, because they create what they want to hear in conceit. They say there are no absolutes. Their minds have become depraved of the truth, they twist scripture to make their own "perfect" God. If we buy into the worldly lies and deception of false teaching, we can slip into this "mindless" state. That is a scary place. What a gift God's word is to warn us about this and to help us fight!
6 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
We must have an eternal perspective! We must be content in what we are given. We have been given more than we could ask for or know how to ask for. We have been blessed with salvation! Receiving what Christ deserved, while He got what we deserved! Our great problem and need has been taken care of. God is sovereign and the ultimate provider. We must trust in Him. I am thankful for verse 7. What a humbling reminder of how minuscule we are. Money is a blessing from God, we are to be thankful for it, but not love it. We should be craving Christ and not craving money. Money only buys what is temporal, Christ has bought and given us what is eternal!!!
Though we are not "slaves" this passage applies to us today. How we work at our job is an example to both believers and non-believers. How are we standing out "from the crowd?" Are non-believers looking at us saying, "there is really is something different about them, I want that." Or "They SAY there is something different about them, but they act just the same as me." Our responses speak very loudly. Honoring God is something we should do at all times and people are watching us, whether we think they are or not. We should apply ourselves at work and not be lazy or complain when we are given something we don't want to do.
3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
The true teachings of Christ are what lead to godliness. Teach or believe anything else, you are believing/teaching a lie. Verses 4-5 contain a very strong description of what a false teacher is. It is very far from godliness, the exact opposite. "He understands nothing..." Is a very humbling line. Apart from the grace of God we cannot understand anything. If we are to reject His absolute truths then we are rejecting the gift of understanding. Most people today think they do understand, because they create what they want to hear in conceit. They say there are no absolutes. Their minds have become depraved of the truth, they twist scripture to make their own "perfect" God. If we buy into the worldly lies and deception of false teaching, we can slip into this "mindless" state. That is a scary place. What a gift God's word is to warn us about this and to help us fight!
6 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
We must have an eternal perspective! We must be content in what we are given. We have been given more than we could ask for or know how to ask for. We have been blessed with salvation! Receiving what Christ deserved, while He got what we deserved! Our great problem and need has been taken care of. God is sovereign and the ultimate provider. We must trust in Him. I am thankful for verse 7. What a humbling reminder of how minuscule we are. Money is a blessing from God, we are to be thankful for it, but not love it. We should be craving Christ and not craving money. Money only buys what is temporal, Christ has bought and given us what is eternal!!!
True and Lasting Contentment
1 Let all who are under a yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.
These same principles apply to our occupations today. When we work hard and honor our employers, it glorifies God. But when we are bad workers and disrespectful to our supervisors, it brings shame on the name of Jesus Christ. We should ask ourselves if we are leading people to Christ by how we work, or if we are leading people away from Christ by our bad work and testimony at our jobs.
Colossian 3:22-24- Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
“We are to serve with double diligence and cheerfulness, because of our faith in Christ, and as partakers of His free salvation. We are not to consent to any words as wholesome, except the words of our Lord Jesus Christ; to these we must give unfeigned consent.” Matthew Henry
We should never expect special treatment because our boss or supervisor is a Christian. Instead, that should motivate us to work all the harder, because we can then be a blessing to him/her.
Teach and urge these things. 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
Timothy must be on guard against those who would misuse the word of God. Paul warned Timothy against those who seemed to treat the Word of God more as a toy instead of a precious gift. To put our own “spin” on the Word of God is very prideful. It shows someone has more confidence in their own wisdom and opinions than in the straightforward truth of God.
“He that is godly, is sure to be happy in another world; and if contented with his condition in this world, he has enough; and all truly godly people are content.” MH
6 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
“When brought into the greatest straits, we cannot be poorer than when we came into this world; a shroud, a coffin, and a grave, are all that the richest man in the world can have from all his wealth. If nature should be content with a little, grace should be content with less. The necessaries of life bound a true Christian's desires, and with these he will endeavor to be content.” MH
Godliness is great gain; but only when accompanied by contentment! We should crave things that glorify God, not the things that bring satisfaction to the world, for they are slight and momentary compared to the glory of eternity. It is very easy to come up with reasons and excuses of why these sins of greed and materialism don’t apply to us. But whenever we think getting something material, or getting more of it, will answer our life’s needs, we lack this contentment. Whenever we are deeply grieved at material loss, we lack this contentment. Whenever we get an inordinate pleasure from buying or having some material thing, we lack this contentment. A heart of contentment begins with seeing our material possessions and resources in an eternal perspective. The desire to be rich can really only be satisfied in Jesus Christ, and satisfied with spiritual riches rather than material ones. Everything else falls short.
Take all I am, Lord, and all that I cling to
You are my Savior I owe everything to
Take all the treasures that lie in my storehouse
They cannot follow when I enter Your house
So I surrender all to You
I surrender all
Take all my cravings for vain recognition
Fleshly indulgence and worldly ambition
Iwant so much Lord to make You the focus
To serve You in secret and never be noticed
Take all my hunger for all that’s forbidden
Every desire and sin I keep hidden
Search me and know me I want to bring to You
A life that is holy and sanctified through You
Rich Dalmas- SG Music
These same principles apply to our occupations today. When we work hard and honor our employers, it glorifies God. But when we are bad workers and disrespectful to our supervisors, it brings shame on the name of Jesus Christ. We should ask ourselves if we are leading people to Christ by how we work, or if we are leading people away from Christ by our bad work and testimony at our jobs.
Colossian 3:22-24- Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
“We are to serve with double diligence and cheerfulness, because of our faith in Christ, and as partakers of His free salvation. We are not to consent to any words as wholesome, except the words of our Lord Jesus Christ; to these we must give unfeigned consent.” Matthew Henry
We should never expect special treatment because our boss or supervisor is a Christian. Instead, that should motivate us to work all the harder, because we can then be a blessing to him/her.
Teach and urge these things. 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
Timothy must be on guard against those who would misuse the word of God. Paul warned Timothy against those who seemed to treat the Word of God more as a toy instead of a precious gift. To put our own “spin” on the Word of God is very prideful. It shows someone has more confidence in their own wisdom and opinions than in the straightforward truth of God.
“He that is godly, is sure to be happy in another world; and if contented with his condition in this world, he has enough; and all truly godly people are content.” MH
6 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
“When brought into the greatest straits, we cannot be poorer than when we came into this world; a shroud, a coffin, and a grave, are all that the richest man in the world can have from all his wealth. If nature should be content with a little, grace should be content with less. The necessaries of life bound a true Christian's desires, and with these he will endeavor to be content.” MH
Godliness is great gain; but only when accompanied by contentment! We should crave things that glorify God, not the things that bring satisfaction to the world, for they are slight and momentary compared to the glory of eternity. It is very easy to come up with reasons and excuses of why these sins of greed and materialism don’t apply to us. But whenever we think getting something material, or getting more of it, will answer our life’s needs, we lack this contentment. Whenever we are deeply grieved at material loss, we lack this contentment. Whenever we get an inordinate pleasure from buying or having some material thing, we lack this contentment. A heart of contentment begins with seeing our material possessions and resources in an eternal perspective. The desire to be rich can really only be satisfied in Jesus Christ, and satisfied with spiritual riches rather than material ones. Everything else falls short.
Take all I am, Lord, and all that I cling to
You are my Savior I owe everything to
Take all the treasures that lie in my storehouse
They cannot follow when I enter Your house
So I surrender all to You
I surrender all
Take all my cravings for vain recognition
Fleshly indulgence and worldly ambition
Iwant so much Lord to make You the focus
To serve You in secret and never be noticed
Take all my hunger for all that’s forbidden
Every desire and sin I keep hidden
Search me and know me I want to bring to You
A life that is holy and sanctified through You
Rich Dalmas- SG Music
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